knap
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /næp/
homophone: nap
rhymes: -æp
Forms: form: knaps
Etymology: The verb is derived from Late Middle English knappen (“to strike (something)”); further etymology uncertain, probably related to Middle Dutch knappen, cnappen (“to break (something) with a sharp sound, snap; to crack or crackle”) (modern Dutch knappen), probably ultimately onomatopoeic.
The noun is derived from Late Middle English knap, knappe (“sharp blow, strike”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from the verb (see above), or related to an ancestor of Danish knep and Swedish knäpp (“a flick, rap, snap”), probably ultimately onomatopoeic.
Senses: qualifier: chiefly archaic or obsolete except UK
glosses: A sudden, sharp blow, knock, or slap; a rap, a whack.
examples: text: Foot Stomp […] The sole of the attacker's foot covers the victim's foot without actually touching it. The sounds of the attacker's heel striking the floor creates the knap. The victim adds vocal and physical pain reactions.
ref: 1982, J. D. Martinez, “Kneeing, Kicking, and Stomping”, in Combat Mime: A Non-violent Approach to Stage Violence (A Burnham Publishers Book), Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, published 2001, →ISBN, page 148:
text: Pulling the punch straight back to its initial starting position, sometimes referred to as "snapping it back," is the most effective way of selling the straight punch. It tells the audience the punch was thrown, they hear a knap, and the victim is 'injured.' […] The knap sound, like all punches, is crucial to the effect of selling the punch, but the technique used to get the knap sound has to be well hidden.
ref: 2012, Andrew Ashenden, “The Straight Punch”, in Basics of Stage Combat: Unarmed, Boca Raton, Fla.: Universal-Publishers, →ISBN, page 63:
qualifier: chiefly archaic or obsolete except UK
glosses: The sound made by such a blow, knock, or slap.
topics: agriculture
business
lifestyle
qualifier: chiefly archaic or obsolete except UK
glosses: Synonym of chattering damsel (“a component of a traditional mill which creates a vibratory motion to impel portions of grain toward the millstone; a clapper”).
synonyms: word: chattering damsel
extra: a component of a traditional mill which creates a vibratory motion to impel portions of grain toward the millstone; a clapper
examples: text: 'Tis your pence a piece, / […] / Preſto begon? or come aloft? VVhat vvay? / Doublets? or Knap? The Cog? lovv Dice? or high?
ref: a. 1659 (date written), John Cleveland, “The Publick Faith”, in The Works of Mr. John Cleveland, […], London: […] R. Holt, for Obadiah Blagrave, […], published 1687, →OCLC, page 200:
text: And fights vvith Money-bags as bold, / As men vvith Sand-bags did of old: / […] Engages blind and ſenſeleſs Hap / 'Gainſt High, and Lovv, and Slur and Knap, […]
ref: a. 1681 (date written), Samuel Butler, “Satyr”, in R[obert] Thyer, editor, The Genuine Remains in Verse and Prose of Mr. Samuel Butler, […], volume I, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1759, →OCLC, page 83, lines 45–46 and 51–52:
topics: dice
gambling
games
glosses: A method of cheating at a dice game.
Derived terms: knappish
knappy
knapskull