Chapter I: W. W (8)

KNAVE Knave, n. Etym: [OE., boy, servant, knave, AS. cnafa boy, youth; cf. AS. cnapa boy, youth, D. kna, G. knabe boy, knappe esquire, Icel. knapi, Sw. knape esquire, knäfvel knave.]

1. A boy; especially, a boy servant. [Obs.] Wyclif. Chaucer. O murderous slumber, Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy That plays thee music Gentle knave, good night. Shak.

2. Any male servant; a menial. [Obs.] Chaucer. He's but Fortune's knave, A minister of her will. Shak.

3. A tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person; a rogue; a villain. "A pair of crafty knaves." Shak. In defiance of demonstration, knaves will continue to proselyte fools. Ames.

Note: "How many serving lads must have been unfaithful and dishonest before knave -which meant at first no more than boy -- acquired the meaning which it has now !" Trench.

4. A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or soldier; a jack. Knave child, a male child. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Syn. -- Villain; cheat; rascal; rogue; scoundrel; miscreant.

KNAVERY Knav"er*y, n.; pl. Knaveries (.

1. The practices of a knave; petty villainy; fraud; trickery; a knavish action. This is flat knavery, to take upon you another man's name. Shak.

2. pl.

Defn: Roguish or mischievous tricks. Shak.

KNAVESHIP Knave"ship, n.

Defn: A small due, in meal, established by usage, which is paid to the under miller. [Scot.]

KNAVESS Knav"ess, n.

Defn: A knavish woman. Carlyle.

KNAVISH Knav"ish, a.

1. Like or characteristic of a knave; given to knavery; trickish; fraudulent; dishonest; villainous; as, a knavish fellow, or a knavish trick. "Knavish politicians." Macaulay.

2. Mischievous; roguish; waggish. Cupid is knavish lad, Thus to make poor females mad. Shak.

KNAVISHLY Knav"ish*ly, adv.

1. In a knavish manner; dishonestly; fraudulently. Holland.

2. Mischievously; waggishly; roguishly. "Knavishly witty." Gayton.

KNAVISHNESS KNav"ish*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being knavish; knavery; dishonesty.

KNAW Knaw, v. t.

Defn: See Gnaw. [Obs.] Sir T. More.

KNAWEL Knaw"el, n. Etym: [Akin to G. knauelk, knäuel,prop., a ball of thread, coil. Cf. Clew.] (Bot.)

Defn: A low, spreading weed (Scleranthus annuus), common in sandy soil.

KNEAD Knead, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kneaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Kneading.] Etym: [OE. kneden, As. cnedan; akin to D. kneden, G. kneten, Sw. kn, Icel. kno; cf. OSlav.gnesti.]

1. To work and press into a mass, usually with the hands; esp., to work, as by repeated pressure with the knuckles, into a well mixed mass, as the materials of bread, cake, etc.; as, to knead dough. The kneading, the making of the cake, the heating of the oven, and the baking. Shak.

2. Fig.: To treat or form as by kneading; to beat. I will knead him : I'll make him supple. Shak. Kneading trough, a trough or tray in which dough is kneaded. Ex. viii. 3.

KNEADABLE Knead"a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be kneaded; capable of being worked into a mass.

KNEADER Knead"er, n.

Defn: One who kneads.

KNEADINGLY Knead"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In the manner of one kneading.

KNEBELITE Kne"bel*ite, n. Etym: [From Major von Knebel.] (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of a gray, red, brown, or green color, and glistening luster. It is a silicate of iron and manganese.

KNECK Kneck, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Naut.)

Defn: The twisting of a rope or cable, as it is running out. [Eng.]

KNEE Knee, n. Etym: [OE. kne, cneo, As. cneó, cneów; akin to OS. knio, kneo, OFries. kni, G. & D. knie, OHG. chniu, chneo, Icel. kn, Sw. knä,Dan. knæ, Goth. kniu, L.genu, Gr. janu, Cf. Genuflection.]

1. In man, the joint in the middle part of the leg.

2. (Anat.) (a) The joint, or region of the joint, between the thigh and leg. (b) In the horse and allied animals, the carpal joint, corresponding to the wrist in man.

3. (Mech. & Shipbuilding)

Defn: A piece of timber or metal formed with an angle somewhat in the shape of the human knee when bent.

4. A bending of the knee, as in respect or courtesy. Give them title, knee, and approbation. Shak. Knee breeches. See under Breeches. -- Knee holly, Knee holm (Bot.), butcher's broom. -- Knee jerk (Physiol.) a jerk or kick produced by a blow or sudden strain upon the patellar tendon of the knee, which causes a sudden contraction of the quadriceps muscle; one of the so-called tendon reflexes. -- Knee joint. See in the Vocabulary. -- Knee timber, timber with knees or angles in it. -- Knee tribute, or Knee worship, tribute paid by kneeling; worship by genuflection. [Obs.] "Knee tribute yet unpaid." Milton.

KNEE Knee, v. t.

Defn: To supplicate by kneeling. [Obs.] Fall down, and knee The way into his mercy. Shak

KNEEBRUSH Knee"brush`, n.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tuft or brush of hair on the knees of some species of antelopes and other animals; -- chiefly used in the plural.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A thick mass or collection of hairs on the legs of bees, by aid of which they carry the collected pollen to the hive or nest; -- usually in the plural.

KNEECAP Knee"cap`, n.

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The kneepan.

2. A cap or protection for the knee.

KNEE-CROOKING Knee"-crook`ing, a.

Defn: Obsequious; fawning; cringing. "Knee-crooking knave." Shak.

KNEED Kneed, a.

1. Having knees;- used chiefly in composition; as, in-kneed; out- kneed; weak-kneed.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Geniculated; forming an obtuse angle at the joints, like the knee when a little bent; as, kneed grass.

KNEE-DEEP Knee"-deep`, a.

1. Rising to the knees; knee-high; as, water or snow knee-deep. Grass knee-deep within a month. Milton.

2. Sunk to the knees; as, men knee-deep in water. Where knee-deep the trees were standing. Longfellow.

KNEE-HIGH Knee"-high`, a.

Defn: Rising or reaching upward to the knees; as, the water is knee- high.

KNEE JERK Knee jerk. (Physiol.)

Defn: A jerk or kick produced by a blow or sudden strain upon the patellar tendon of the knee, which causes a sudden contraction of the quadriceps muscle.

KNEEJOINT Knee"joint`, n.

1. The joint of the knee.

2. (Mach.)

Defn: A toggle joint; -- so called because consisting of two pieces jointed to each other end to end, making an angle like the knee when bent.

KNEEJOINTED Knee"joint`ed, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Geniculate; kneed. See Kneed, a., 2.

KNEEL Kneel, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Knelt or Kneeled (p. pr. & vb. n. Kneeling.] Etym: [OE. knelen, cneolien; akin to D. knielen, Dan. knæle. See Knee.]

Defn: To bend the knee; to fall or rest on the knees; -- sometimes with down. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. Acts vii. 60. As soon as you are dressed, kneel and say the Lord's Prayer. Jer. Taylor.

KNEELER Kneel"er, n.

1. One who kneels or who worships by or while kneeling. Tennyson.

2. A cushion or stool to kneel on.

3. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: A name given to certain catechumens and penitents who were permitted to join only in parts of church worship.

KNEELINGLY Kneel"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a kneeling position.

KNEEPAN Knee"pan`, n. (Anat.)

Defn: A roundish, flattened, sesamoid bone in the tendon in front of the knee joint; the patella; the kneecap.

KNEEPIECE Knee"piece`, n.

Defn: A piece shaped like a knee; as, the kneepieces or ears of a boat.

KNEIPPISM; KNEIPP'S CURE; KNEIPP CURE Kneipp"ism, n. Also Kneipp's, or Kneipp, cure.

Defn: Treatment of disease by forms of hydrotherapy, as walking barefoot in the morning dew, baths, wet compresses, cold affusions, etc.; -- so called from its originator, Sebastian Kneipp (1821-97), a German priest.

KNELL Knell, n. Etym: [OE. knel, cnul, AS. cnyll, fr. cnyllan to sound a bell; cf. D. & G. knallen to clap, crack, G. & Sw. knall a clap, crack, loud sound, Dan. knalde to clap, crack. Cf. Knoll, n. & v.]

Defn: The stoke of a bell tolled at a funeral or at the death of a person; a death signal; a passing bell; hence, figuratively, a warning of, or a sound indicating, the passing away of anything. The dead man's knell Is there scarce asked for who. Shak. The curfew tolls the knell of parting day. Gray.

KNELL Knell, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Knelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Knelling.] Etym: [OE. knellen, knillen, As. cnyllan. See Knell, n.]

Defn: To sound as a knell; especially, to toll at a death or funeral; hence, to sound as a warning or evil omen. Not worth a blessing nor a bell to knell for thee. Beau. & Fl. Yet all that poets sing, and grief hath known, Of hopes laid waste, knells in that word, "alone". Ld. Lytton.

KNELL Knell, v. t.

Defn: To summon, as by a knell. Each matin bell, the baron saith, Knells us back to a world of death. Coleridge.

KNELT Knelt, imp. & p. p.

Defn: of Kneel.

KNEW Knew, imp.

Defn: of Know.

KNICKER Knick"er, n. Etym: [D. knikker.]

Defn: A small ball of clay, baked hard and oiled, used as a marble by boys in playing. [Prov. Eng. & U. S.] Halliwell. Bartlett.

KNICKERBOCKER Knick"er*bock`er, n.

Defn: A linsey-woolsey fabric having a rough knotted surface on the right side; used for women's dresses.

KNICKERBOCKERS Knick"er*bock`ers, n. pl.

Defn: The name for a style of short breeches; smallclothes.

KNICKKNACK Knick"knack`, n. Etym: [See Knack.]

Defn: A trifle or toy; a bawble; a gewgaw.

KNICKKNACKATORY Knick"knack`a*to*ry, n.

Defn: A collection of knickknacks. Richardson.

KNICKKNACKERY Knick"knack`er*y, n.

Defn: Knickknacks.

KNIFE Knife, n.; pl. Knives. Etym: [OE. knif, AS. cnif; akin to D. knijf, Icel. knifr, Sw. knif, Dan. kniv.]

1. An instrument consisting of a thin blade, usually of steel and having a sharp edge for cutting, fastened to a handle, but of many different forms and names for different uses; as, table knife, drawing knife, putty knife, pallet knife, pocketknife, penknife, chopping knife, etc.

2. A sword or dagger. The coward conquest of a wretch's knife. Shak. Knife grass (Bot.) a tropical American sedge (Scleria latifolia), having leaves with a very sharp and hard edge, like a knife. -- War to the knife, mortal combat; a conflict carried to the last extremity.

KNIFE Knife, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Knifed; p. pr. & vb. n. Knifing.]

1. (Hort.)

Defn: To prune with the knife.

2. To cut or stab with a knife. [Low]

KNIFEBOARD Knife"board`, n.

Defn: A board on which knives are cleaned or polished.

KNIFEEDGE; KNIFE-EDGE Knife"*edge`, n. (Mech.)

Defn: A piece of steel sharpened to an acute edge or angle, and resting on a smooth surface, serving as the axis of motion of a pendulum, scale beam, or other piece required to oscillate with the least possible friction. Knife-edge file. See Illust. of File.

KNIFE SWITCH Knife switch. (Elec.)

Defn: A switch consisting of one or more knifelike pieces hinged at one end and making contact near the other with flat gripping springs.

KNIGHT Knight, n. Etym: [OE. knight, cniht, knight, soldier, As. cniht, cneoht, a boy, youth, attendant, military follower; akin to D. & G. knecht servant; perh. akin to E. kin.]

1. A young servant or follower; a military attendant. [Obs.]

2. (a) In feudal times, a man-at-arms serving on horseback and admitted to a certain military rank with special ceremonies, including an oath to protect the distressed, maintain the right, and live a stainless life. (b) One on whom knighthood, a dignity next below that of baronet, is conferred by the sovereign, entitling him to be addressed as Sir; as, Sir John. [Eng.] Hence: (c) A champion; a partisan; a lover. "Give this ring to my true knight." Shak "In all your quarrels will I be your knight." Tennyson. Knights, by their oaths, should right poor ladies' harms. Shak.

Note: Formerly, when a knight's name was not known, it was customary to address him as Sir Knight. The rank of a knight is not hereditary.

3. A piece used in the game of chess, usually bearing a horse's head.

4. A playing card bearing the figure of a knight; the knave or jack. [Obs.] Carpet knight. See under Carpet. -- Knight of industry. See Chevalier d'industrie, under Chevalier. -- Knight of Malta, Knight of Rhodes, Knight of St. John of Jerusalem. See Hospitaler. -- Knight of the post, one who gained his living by giving false evidence on trials, or false bail; hence, a sharper in general. Nares. "A knight of the post, . . . quoth he, for so I am termed; a fellow that will swear you anything for twelve pence." -- Nash. -- Knight of the shire, in England, one of the representatives of a county in Parliament, in distinction from the representatives of cities and boroughs. -- Knights commanders, Knights grand cross, different classes of the Order of the Bath. See under Bath, and Companion. Knights of labor, a secret organization whose professed purpose is to secure and maintain the rights of workingmen as respects their relations to their employers. [U. S.] -- Knights of Pythias, a secret order, founded in Washington, d.C., in 1864, for social and charitable purposes. -- Knights of the Round Table, knights belonging to an order which, according to the legendary accounts, was instituted by the mythical King Arthur. They derived their common title from the table around which they sat on certain solemn days. Brande & C.

KNIGHT Knight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Knighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Knighting.]

Defn: To dub or create (one) a knight; -- done in England by the sovereign only, who taps the kneeling candidate with a sword, saying: Rise, Sir ---. A soldier, by the honor-giving hand Of Cknighted in the field. Shak.

KNIGHTAGE Knight"age, n.

Defn: To body of knights, taken collectively.

KNIGHT BACHELOR Knight" bach"e*lor; pl. Knights bachelors (.

Defn: A knight of the most ancient, but lowest, order of English knights, and not a member of any order of chivalry. See Bachelor, 4.

KNIGHT BANNERET Knight" ban"ner*et; pl. Knights bannerets.

Defn: A knight who carried a banner, who possessed fiefs to a greater amount than the knight bachelor, and who was obliged to serve in war with a greater number of attendants. The dignity was sometimes conferred by the sovereign in person on the field of battle.

KNIGHT BARONET Knight" bar"o-net.

Defn: See Baronet.

KNIGHT-ERRANT Knight"-er`rant, n.; pl. Knight-errants, or Knights-errant.

Defn: A wandering knight; a knight who traveled in search of adventures, for the purpose of exhibiting military skill, prowess, and generosity.

KNIGHT-ERRANTRY Knight"-er`rant*ry, n.; pl. Knight-errantries (.

Defn: The character or actions of wandering knights; the practice of wandering in quest of adventures; chivalry; a quixotic or romantic adventure or scheme. The rigid guardian [i. e., conscience] of a blameless heart Is weak with rank knight-erratries o'errun. Young.

KNIGHT-ER-RATIC Knight"-er-rat"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to a knight-errant or to knight-errantry. [R.] Quart. Rev.

KNIGHTHEAD Knight"head`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A bollard timber. See under Bollard.

KNIGHTHOOD Knight"hood, n. Etym: [Knight + hood: cf. AS. chihthad youth.]

1. The character, dignity, or condition of a knight, or of knights as a class; hence, chivalry. "O shame to knighthood." Shak. If you needs must write, write Cæsar's praise; You 'll gain at least a knighthood, or the bays. Pope.

2. The whole body of knights. The knighthood nowadays are nothing like the knighthood of old time. Chapman.

Note: "When the order of knighthood was conferred with full solemnity in the leisure of a court or court or city, imposing preliminary ceremonies were required of the candidate. He prepared himself by prayer and fasting, watched his arms at night in a chapel, and was then admitted with the performance of religious rites. Knighthood was conferred by the accolade, which, from the derivation of the name, would appear to have been originally an embrace; but afterward consisted, as it still does, in a blow of the flat of a sword on the back of the kneeling candidate." Brande & C.

KNIGHTLESS Knight"less, a.

Defn: Unbecoming a knight. [Obs.] "Knightless guile." Spenser.

KNIGHTLINESS Knight"li*ness, n.

Defn: The character or bearing suitable for a knight; chivalry. Spenser.

KNIGHTLY Knight`ly, a. Etym: [AS. cnihtlic boyish.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a knight; becoming a knight; chivalrous; as, a knightly combat; a knightly spirit. For knightly jousts and fierce encounters fit. Spenser. [Excuses] full knightly without scorn. Tennyson.

KNIGHTLY Knight"ly, adv.

Defn: In a manner becoming a knight. And why thou comest thus knightly clad in arms. Shak.

KNIGHT MARSHAL Knight" mar"shal. (Eng. Law)

Defn: An officer in the household of the British sovereign, who has cognizance of transgressions within the royal household and verge, and of contracts made there, a member of the household being one of the parties. Wharton.

KNIGHT SERVICE Knight" serv"ice. (Eng. Feud. Law)

Defn: A tenure of lands held by knights on condition of performing military service. See Chivalry, n., 4.

KNIGHT SERVICE; KNIGHT'S SERVICE Knight service. Also Knight's service.

1. (Feud. Law) The military service by rendering which a knight held his lands; also, the tenure of lands held on condition of performing military service.

By far the greater part of England [in the 13th century] is held of the king by knight's service. . . . In order to understand this tenure we must form the conception of a unit of military service. That unit seems to be the service of one knight or fully armed horseman (servitium unius militis) to be done to the king in his army for forty days in the year, if it be called for. . . . The limit of forty days seems to have existed rather in theory than practice. Pollock & Mait.

2. Service such as a knight can or should render; hence, good or valuable service.

KNIGHT'S FEE Knight's fee. (Feudal Law)

Defn: The fee of a knight; specif., the amount of land the holding of which imposed the obligation of knight service, being sometimes a hide or less, sometimes six or more hides.

KNIGHT TEMPLAR Knight" Tem"plar; pl. Knights Templars (.

Defn: See Commandery, n., 3, and also Templar, n., 1 and 3.

KNIT Knit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Knit or Knitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Knitting.] Etym: [OE. knitten, knutten, As. cnyttan, fr. cnotta knot; akin to Icel. kn, Sw. knyta, Dan. knytte. See Knot.]

1. To form into a knot, or into knots; to tie together, as cord; to fasten by tying. A great sheet knit at the four corners. Acts x. 11. When your head did but ache, I knit my handkercher about your brows. Shak.

2. To form, as a textile fabric, by the interlacing of yarn or thread in a series of connected loops, by means of needles, either by hand or by machinery; as, to knit stockings.

3. To join; to cause to grow together. Nature can not knit the bones while the parts are under a discharge. Wiseman.

4. To unite closely; to connect; to engage; as, hearts knit together in love. Thy merit hath my duty strongly knit. Shak. Come , knit hands, and beat the ground, In a light fantastic round. Milton. A link among the days, toknit The generations each to each. Tennyson.

5. To draw together; to contract into wrinkles. knits his brow and shows an angry eye. Shak.

KNIT Knit, v. i.

1. To form a fabric by interlacing yarn or thread; to weave by making knots or loops.

2. To be united closely; to grow together; as, broken bones will in time knit and become sound. To knit up, to wind up; to conclude; to come to a close. "It remaineth to knit up briefly with the nature and compass of the seas." [Obs.] Holland.

KNIT Knit, n.

Defn: Union knitting; texture. Shak.

KNITBACK Knit"back`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The plant comfrey; -- so called from its use as a restorative. Dr. Prier.

KNITCH; KNITCHET Knitch, Knitch"et, n. Etym: [Cf. Knit.]

Defn: A number of things tied or knit together; a bundle; a fagot. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. When they [stems of asphodel] be dried, they ought to be made up into knitchets, or handfuls. Holland.

KNITS Knits, n. pl. Etym: [Prob. same word as nit a louse's egg.] (Mining)

Defn: Small particles of ore. Raymond.

KNITSTER Knit"ster, n.

Defn: A woman who knits. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

KNITTER Knit"ter, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, knits, joins, or unites; a knitting machine. Shak.

KNITTING Knit"ting, n.

1. The work of a knitter; the network formed by knitting.

2. Union formed by knitting, as of bones. Knitting machine, one of a number of contrivances for mechanically knitting stockings, jerseys, and the like. -- Knitting , a stiff rod, as of steel wire, with rounded ends for knitting yarn or threads into a fabric, as in stockings. -- Knitting sheath, a sheath to receive the end of a needle in knitting.

KNITTLE Knit"tle, n. Etym: [From Knit.]

1. A string that draws together a purse or bag. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

2. pl. (Naut.)

Defn: See Nettles.

KNIVES Knives, n. pl.

Defn: of Knife. See Knife.

KNOB Knob, n. Etym: [A modification of knop. Cf. Nob.]

1. A hard protuberance; a hard swelling or rising; a bunch; a lump; as, a knob in the flesh, or on a bone.

2. A knoblike ornament or handle; as, the knob of a lock, door, or drawer. Chaucer.

3. A rounded hill or mountain; as, the Pilot Knob. [U. S.] Bartlett.

4. (Arch.)

Defn: See Knop. Knob latch, a latch which can be operated by turning a knob, without using a key.

KNOB Knob, v. i.

Defn: To grow into knobs or bunches; to become knobbed. [Obs.] Drant.

KNOBBED Knobbed, a.

Defn: Containing knobs; full of knobs; ending in a nob. See Illust of Antenna. The horns of a roe deer of Greenland are pointed at the top, and knobbed or tuberous at the bottom. Grew.

KNOBBER Knob"ber, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Knobbler.

KNOBBING Knob"bing, n. (Stone Quarrying)

Defn: Rough dressing by knocking off knobs or projections.

KNOBBLER Knob"bler, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The hart in its second year; a young deer. [Written also knobber.] Halliwell. He has hallooed the hounds upon a velvet-headed knobbler. Sir W. Scott.

KNOBBLING FIRE Knob"bling fire

Defn: . A bloomery fire. See Bloomery.

KNOBBY Knob"by, a. Etym: [From Knob.]

1. Full of, or covered with, knobs or hard protuberances. Dr. H. More.

2. Irregular; stubborn in particulars. [Obs.] The informers continued in a knobby kind of obstinacy. Howell.

3. Abounding in rounded hills or mountains; hilly. [U.S.] Bartlett.

KNOBKERRIE Knob"ker`rie, n. [Boer D. knopkirie, fr. D. knop-hout, knotty stick + Hottentot kïrri club.]

Defn: A short club with a knobbed end used as a missile weapon by Kafir and other native tribes of South Africa.

KNOBSTICK Knob"stick`, n.

Defn: One who refuses to join, or withdraws from, a trades union. [Cant, Eng.]

KNOCK Knock, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Knocked; p. pr. & vb. n. Knocking.] Etym: [OE. knoken, AS. cnocian, cnucian; prob. of imitative origin; cf. Sw. knacka.Cf. Knack.]

1. To drive or be driven against something; to strike against something; to clash; as, one heavy body knocks against another. Bacon.

2. To strike or beat with something hard or heavy; to rap; as, to knock with a club; to knock on the door. For harbor at a thousand doors they knocked. Dryden. Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Matt. vii. 7. To knock about, to go about, taking knocks or rough usage; to wander about; to saunter. [Colloq.] "Knocking about town." W. Irving. -- To knock up, to fail of strength; to become wearied or worn out, as with labor; to give out. "The horses were beginning to knock up under the fatigue of such severe service." De Quincey. -- To knock off, to cease, as from work; to desist. -- To knock under, to yield; to submit; to acknowledge one's self conquered; -- an expression probably borrowed from the practice of knocking under the table with the knuckles, when conquered. "Colonel Esmond knocked under to his fate." Thackeray.

KNOCK Knock, v. t.

1. To strike with something hard or heavy; to move by striking; to drive (a thing) against something; as, to knock a ball with a bat; to knock the head against a post; to knock a lamp off the table. When heroes knock their knotty heads together. Rowe.

2. To strike for admittance; to rap upon, as a door. Master, knock the door hard. Shak. To knock down. (a) To strike down; to fell; to prostrate by a blow or by blows; as, to knock down an assailant. (b) To assign to a bidder at an auction, by a blow or knock; to knock off. -- To knock in the head, or on the head, to stun or kill by a blow upon the head; hence, to put am end to; to defeat, as a scheme or project; to frustrate; to quash. [Colloq.] -- To knock off. (a) To force off by a blow or by beating. (b) To assign to a bidder at an auction, by a blow on the counter. (c) To leave off (work, etc.). [Colloq.] -- To knock out, to force out by a blow or by blows; as, to knock out the brains. -- To knock up. (a) To arouse by knocking. (b) To beat or tire out; to fatigue till unable to do more; as, the men were entirely knocked up. [Colloq.] "The day being exceedingly hot, the want of food had knocked up my followers." Petherick. (c) (Bookbinding) To make even at the edges, or to shape into book form, as printed sheets.

KNOCK Knock, n.

1. A blow; a stroke with something hard or heavy; a jar.

2. A stroke, as on a door for admittance; a rap. " A knock at the door." Longfellow. A loud cry or some great knock. Holland. Knock off, a device in a knitting machine to remove loops from the needles.

KNOCKABOUT Knock"a*bout`, a.

1. Marked by knocking about or roughness.

2. Of noisy and violent character. [Theat. Slang]

3. Characterized by, or suitable for, knocking about, or traveling or wandering hither and thither.

4. That does odd jobs; -- said of a class of hands or laborers on a sheep station. [Collog., Australia]

KNOCKABOUT Knock"a*bout`, n.

1. (Naut.) A small yacht, generally from fifteen to twenty-five feet in length, having a mainsail and a jib. All knockabouts have ballast and either a keel or centerboard. The original type was twenty-one feet in length. The next larger type is called a raceabout.

2. A knockabout performer or performance. [Theat. Slang]

3. A man hired on a sheep station to do odd jobs. [Colloq., Australia]

KNOCKDOWN Knock"down`, n.

Defn: A felling by a knock, as of a combatant, or of an animal.

KNOCKDOWN Knock"down`, a.

Defn: Of force sufficient to fell or completely overthrow; as, a knockdown blow; a knockdown argument. [Colloq.]

KNOCKER Knock"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, knocks; specifically, an instrument, or kind of hammer, fastened to a door, to be used in seeking for admittance. Shut, shut the door, good John ! fatigued, knocker; say I'm sick, I'm dead. Pope.

KNOCKING Knock"ing, n.

Defn: A beating; a rap; a series of raps. The . . . repeated knockings of the head upon the ground by the Chinese worshiper. H. Spencer.

KNOCKINGS Knock"ings, n. pl. (Mining)

Defn: Large lumps picked out of the sieve, in dressing ore.

KNOCK-KNEE Knock"-knee`, n. (Med.)

Defn: A condition in which the knees are bent in so as to touch each other in walking; inknee.

KNOCK-KNEED Knock"-kneed`, a.

Defn: Having the legs bent inward so that the knees touch in walking. [Written also knack-kneed.]

KNOCK-OFF Knock"-off`, a.

Defn: That knocks off; of or pertaining to knocking off.

KNOCK-OFF Knock"-off`, n.

Defn: Act or place of knocking off; that which knocks off; specif. (Mach.),

Defn: a cam or the like for disconnecting something, as a device in a knitting machine to remove loops from the needles.

KNOCK-OUT Knock"-out`, n.

Defn: Act of knocking out, or state of being knocked out.

KNOCK-OUT Knock"-out`, a.

Defn: That knocks out; characterized by knocking out; as, a knock-out blow; a knock-out key for knocking out a drill from a collet.

KNOCK-OUT DROPS Knock-out drops.

Defn: Drops of some drug put in one's drink to stupefy him for purpose of robbery, etc. [Slang, U. S.]

KNOCKSTONE Knock"stone`, n. (Mining)

Defn: A block upon which ore is broken up.

KNOLL Knoll, n. Etym: [AS. cnoll; akin to G. knolle, knollen, clod, lump, knob, bunch, OD. knolle ball, bunch, Sw. knöl, Dan. knold.]

Defn: A little round hill; a mound; a small elevation of earth; the top or crown of a hill. On knoll or hillock rears his crest, Lonely and huge, the giant oak. Sir W. Scott.

KNOLL Knoll, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Knolled; p. pr. & vb. n. Knolling.] Etym: [OE. knollen, AS. cnyllan. See Knell.]

Defn: To ring, as a bell; to strike a knell upon; to toll; to proclaim, or summon, by ringing. "Knolled to church." Shak. Heavy clocks knolling the drowsy hours. Tennyson.

KNOLL Knoll, v. i.

Defn: To sound, as a bell; to knell. Shak. For a departed being's soul The death hymn peals, and the hollow bells knoll. Byron.

KNOLL Knoll, n.

Defn: The tolling of a bell; a knell. [R.] Byron.

KNOLLER Knoll"er, n.

Defn: One who tolls a bell. [Obs.] Sherwood.

KNOP Knop, n. Etym: [OE. knop, knoppe; cf. D.knop, knoop, G. knopf, Dan. knap, knop, Sw. knapp, knopp, button, bud, Icel. knappr, and E. knap, n. Cf. Knap, Knob.]

1. A knob; a bud; a bunch; a button. Four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. Ex. xxv. 21.

2. (Arch.)

Defn: Any boldly projecting sculptured ornament; esp., the ornamental termination of a pinnacle, and then synonymous with finial; -- called also knob, and knosp. Knop sedge (Bot.), the bur reed (Sparganium); - - so called from its globular clusters of seed vessels. Prior.

KNOPPED Knopped, a.

Defn: Having knops or knobs; fastened as with buttons. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

KNOPPERN Knop"pern, n. Etym: [Cf. G. knopper. See Knop.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A kind of gall produced by a gallfly on the cup of an acorn, -- used in tanning and dyeing.

KNOPWEED Knop"weed`, n.

Defn: Same as Knapweed.

KNOR Knor, n.

Defn: See Knur. [Obs.]

KNOSP Knosp, n. Etym: [Cf. G. knospe bud, E. knop, knar.] (Arch.)

Defn: Same as Knop,2. Milman.

KNOT Knot, n. Etym: [OE. knot, knotte, AS. cnotta; akin to D. knot, OHG. chnodo, chnoto, G. knoten, Icel. kn, Sw. knut, Dan. knude, and perh. to L. nodus. Cf. Knout, Knit.]

1. (a) A fastening together of the pars or ends of one or more threads, cords, ropes, etc., by any one of various ways of tying or entangling. (b) A lump or loop formed in a thread, cord, rope. etc., as at the end, by tying or interweaving it upon itself. (c) An ornamental tie, as of a ribbon.

Note: The names of knots vary according to the manner of their making, or the use for which they are intended; as, dowknot, reef knot, stopper knot, diamond knot, etc.

2. A bond of union; a connection; a tie. "With nuptial knot." Shak. Ere we knit the knot that can never be loosed. Bp. Hall.

3. Something not easily solved; an intricacy; a difficulty; a perplexity; a problem. Knots worthy of solution. Cowper. A man shall be perplexed with knots, and problems of business, and contrary affairs. South.

4. A figure the lines of which are interlaced or intricately interwoven, as in embroidery, gardening, etc. "Garden knots." Bacon. Flowers worthy of paradise, which, not nice art In beds and curious knots, but nature boon Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain. Milton.

5. A cluster of persons or things; a collection; a group; a hand; a clique; as, a knot of politicians. "Knots of talk." Tennyson. His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries. Shak. Palms in cluster, knots of Paradise. Tennyson. As they sat together in small, separate knots, they discussed doctrinal and metaphysical points of belief. Sir W. Scott.

6. A portion of a branch of a tree that forms a mass of woody fiber running at an angle with the grain of the main stock and making a hard place in the timber. A loose knot is generally the remains of a dead branch of a tree covered by later woody growth.

7. A knob, lump, swelling, or protuberance. With lips serenely placid, felt the knot Climb in her throat. Tennyson.

8. A protuberant joint in a plant.

9. The point on which the action of a story depends; the gist of a matter. [Obs.] I shoulde to the knotte condescend, And maken of her walking soon an end. Chaucer.

10. (Mech.)

Defn: See Node.

11. (Naut.) (a) A division of the log line, serving to measure the rate of the vessel's motion. Each knot on the line bears the same proportion to a mile that thirty seconds do to an hour. The number of knots which run off from the reel in half a minute, therefore, shows the number of miles the vessel sails in an hour. Hence: (b) A nautical mile, or 6080.27 feet; as, when a ship goes eight miles an hour, her speed is said to be eight knots.

12. A kind of epaulet. See Shoulder knot.

13. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sandpiper (Tringa canutus), found in the northern parts of all the continents, in summer. It is grayish or ashy above, with the rump and upper tail coverts white, barred with dusky. The lower parts are pale brown, with the flanks and under tail coverts white. When fat it is prized by epicures. Called also dunne.

Note: The name is said to be derived from King Canute, this bird being a favorite article of food with him. The knot that called was Canutus' bird of old, Of that great king of Danes his name that still doth hold, His appetite to please that far and near was sought. Drayton.

KNOT Knot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Knotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Knotting.]

1. To tie in or with, or form into, a knot or knots; to form a knot on, as a rope; to entangle. "Knotted curls." Drayton. As tight as I could knot the noose. Tennyson.

2. To unite closely; to knit together. Bacon.

3. To entangle or perplex; to puzzle. [Obs. or R.]

KNOT Knot, v. i.

1. To form knots or joints, as in a cord, a plant, etc.; to become entangled. Cut hay when it begins to knot. Mortimer.

2. To knit knots for fringe or trimming.

3. To copulate; -- said of toads. [R.] Shak.

KNOTBERRY Knot"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The cloudberry (Rudus Chamæmorus); -- so called from its knotted stems.

KNOTGRASS Knot"grass`, n. (Bot.) (a) a common weed with jointed stems (Polygonum aviculare); knotweed. (b) The dog grass. See under Dog.

Note: An infusion of Polygonum aviculare was once supposed to have the effect of stopping the growth of an animal, and hence it was called, as by Shakespeare, "hindering knotgrass." We want a boy extremely for this function, Kept under for a year with milk and knotgrass. Beau. & Fl.

KNOTLESS Knot"less, a.

Defn: Free from knots; without knots. "Silver firs with knotless trunks." Congreve.

KNOTTED Knot"ted, a.

1. Full of knots; having knots knurled; as, a knotted cord; the knotted oak. Dryden.

2. Interwoven; matted; entangled. Make . . . thy knotted and combined locks to part. Shak.

3. Having intersecting lines or figures. The west corner of thy curious knotted garden. Shak.

4. (Geol.)

Defn: Characterized by small, detached points, chiefly composed of mica, less decomposable than the mass of the rock, and forming knots in relief on the weathered surface; as, knotted rocks. Percival.

5. Entangled; puzzling; knotty. [R.] They're catched in knotted lawlike nets. Hudibras.

KNOTTINESS Knot"ti*ness, n. Etym: [From Knotty.]

1. The quality or state of being knotty or full of knots.

2. Difficulty of solution; intricacy; complication. " Knottiness of his style." Hare.

KNOTTY Knot"ty, a. [Compar. Knottier; superl. Knottiest.]

1. Full of knots; knotted; having many knots; as, knotty timber; a knotty rope.

2. Hard; rugged; as, a knotty head.[R.] Rewe.

3. Difficult; intricate; perplexed. A knotty point to which we now proceed Pope.

KNOTWEED Knot"weed", n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Knot.

KNOTWORT Knot"wort, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A small, herbaceous, trailing plant, of the genus Illecebrum (I. verticillatum.)

KNOUT Knout (nout or nt), n. Etym: [Russ. knut'; prob. of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. knut knot, knout, Icel. kn knot: cf. F. knout. See Knot.]

Defn: A kind of whip for flogging criminals, formerly much used in Russia. The last is a tapering bundle of leather thongs twisted with wire and hardened, so that it mangles the flesh.

KNOUT Knout, v. t.

Defn: To punish with the knout Brougham.

KNOW Know, n.

Defn: Knee. [Obs.] Chaucer.

KNOW Know, v. t. [imp. Knew; p. p. Known; p. pr. & vb. n. Knowing.] Etym: [OE. knowen, knawen, AS. cnäwan; akin to OHG. chnäan (in comp.), Icel. knä to be able, Russ, znate to know, L. gnoscere, noscere, Gr. jn; fr. the root of E. can, v. i., ken. (Ken, Can to be able, and cf. Acquaint, Cognition, Gnome, Ignore, Noble, Note.]

1. To perceive or apprehend clearly and certainly; to understand; to have full information of; as, to know one's duty. O, that a man might know The end of this day's business ere it come! Shak. There is a certainty in the proposition, and we know it. Dryden. Know how sublime a thing it is To suffer and be strong. Longfellow.

2. To be convinced of the truth of; to be fully assured of; as, to know things from information.

3. To be acquainted with; to be no stranger to; to be more or less familiar with the person, character, etc., of; to possess experience of; as, to know an author; to know the rules of an organization. He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin. 2 Cor. v. 21. Not to know me argues yourselves unknown. Milton.

4. To recognize; to distinguish; to discern the character of; as, to know a person's face or figure. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Matt. vil. 16. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him. Luke xxiv. 31. To know Faithful friend from flattering foe. Shak. At nearer view he thought he knew the dead. Flatman.

5. To have sexual commerce with. And Adam knew Eve his wife. Gen. iv. 1.

Note: Know is often followed by an objective and an infinitive (with or without to) or a participle, a dependent sentence, etc. And I knew that thou hearest me always. John xi. 42. The monk he instantly knew to be the prior. Sir W. Scott. In other hands I have known money do good. Dickens. To know how, to understand the manner, way, or means; to have requisite information, intelligence, or sagacity. How is sometimes omitted. " If we fear to die, or know not to be patient." Jer. Taylor.

KNOW Know, v. i.

1. To have knowledge; to have a clear and certain perception; to possess wisdom, instruction, or information; -- often with of. Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Is. i. 3. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. John vii. 17. The peasant folklore of Europe still knows of willows that bleed and weep and speak when hewn. Tylor.

2. To be assured; to feel confident. To know of,to ask, to inquire. [Obs.] " Know of your youth, examine well your blood." Shak.

KNOWABLE Know"a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be known; capable of being discovered, understood, or ascertained. Thus mind and matter, as known or knowable, are only two different series of phenomena or qualities. Sir W. Hamilton.

KNOWABLENESS Know"a* ble*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being knowable. Locke.

KNOW-ALL Know"-all`, n.

Defn: One who knows everything; hence, one who makes pretension to great knowledge; a wiseacre; -- usually ironical. [Colloq. or R.]

KNOWER Know"er, n.

Defn: One who knows. Shak.

KNOWING Know"ing, a.

1. Skilful; well informed; intelligent; as, a knowing man; a knowing dog. The knowing and intelligent part of the world. South.

2. Artful; cunning; as, a knowing rascal. [Colloq.]

KNOWING Know"ing, n.

Defn: Knowledge; hence, experience. " In my knowing." Shak. This sore night Hath trifled former knowings. Shak.

KNOWINGLY Know"ing*ly, adv.

1. With knowledge; in a knowing manner; intelligently; consciously; deliberately; as, he would not knowingly offend. Strype.

2. By experience. [Obs.] Shak.

KNOWINGNESS Know"ing*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being knowing or intelligent; shrewdness; skillfulness.

KNOWLECHE Knowl"eche, n. & v. [Obs.]

Defn: See Knowl, edge. We consider and knowleche that we have offended. Chaucer.

KNOWLECHING Knowl"ech*ing, n.

Defn: Knowledge. [Obs.] Chaucer.

KNOWLEDGE Knowl"edge, n. Etym: [OE. knowlage, knowlege, knowleche, knawleche. The last part is the Icel. suffix -leikr, forming abstract nouns, orig. the same as Icel. leikr game, play, sport, akin to AS. lac, Goth. laiks dance. See Know, and cf. Lake, v. i., Lark a frolic.]

1. The act or state of knowing; clear perception of fact, truth, or duty; certain apprehension; familiar cognizance; cognition. Knowledge, which is the highest degree of the speculative faculties, consists in the perception of the truth of affirmative or negative propositions. Locke.

2. That which is or may be known; the object of an act of knowing; a cognition; -- chiefly used in the plural. There is a great difference in the delivery of the mathematics, which are the most abstracted of knowledges. Bacon. Knowledges is a term in frequent use by Bacon, and, though now obsolete, should be revived, as without it we are compelled to borrow "cognitions" to express its import. Sir W. Hamilton. To use a word of Bacon's, now unfortunately obsolete, we must determine the relative value of knowledges. H. Spencer.

3. That which is gained and preserved by knowing; instruction; acquaintance; enlightenment; learning; scholarship; erudition. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 1 Cor. viii. 1. Ignorance is the curse of God; -Knowledge, the wing wherewith we fly to heaven. Shak.

4. That familiarity which is gained by actual experience; practical skill; as, a knowledge of life. Shipmen that had knowledge of the sea. 1 Kings ix. 27.

5. Scope of information; cognizance; notice; as, it has not come to my knowledge. Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldst take knowledge of me Ruth ii. 10.

6. Sexual intercourse; -- usually preceded by carnal; as, carnal knowledge.

Syn. -- See Wisdom.

KNOWLEDGE Knowl"edge, v. t.

Defn: To acknowledge. [Obs.] "Sinners which knowledge their sins." Tyndale.

KNOWN Known, p. p.

Defn: of Know.

KNOW-NOTHING Know"-noth`ing, n.

Defn: A member of a secret political organization in the United States, the chief objects of which were the proscription of foreigners by the repeal of the naturalization laws, and the exclusive choice of native Americans for office.

Note: The party originated in 1853, and existed for about three years. The members of it were called Know-nothings, because they replied "I don't know," to any questions asked them in reference to the party.

KNOW-NOTHINGISM Know"-noth`ing*ism, n.

Defn: The doctrines, principles, or practices, of the Know-nothings.

KNUBS Knubs, n. pl.

Defn: Waste silk formed in winding off the threads from a cocoon.

KNUCKLE Knuc"kle, n. Etym: [OE. knokel, knokil, AS. cuncel; akin to D. knokkel, OFries. knokele, knokle, G. knöchel, Sw. knoge, Dan. knokkel, G. knochen bone, and perh. to E. knock.]

1. The joint of a finger, particularly when made prominent by the closing of the fingers. Davenant.

2. The kneejoint, or middle joint, of either leg of a quadruped, especially of a calf; -- formerly used of the kneejoint of a human being. With weary knuckles on thy brim she kneeled sadly down. Golding.

3. The joint of a plant. [Obs.] Bacon.

4. (Mech.)

Defn: The joining pars of a hinge through which the pin or rivet passes; a knuckle joint.

5. (Shipbuilding)

Defn: A convex portion of a vessel's figure where a sudden change of shape occurs, as in a canal boat, where a nearly vertical side joins a nearly flat bottom.

6. A contrivance, usually of brass or iron, and furnished with points, worn to protect the hand, to add force to a blow, and to disfigure the person struck; as, brass knuckles; -- called also knuckle duster. [Slang.] Knuckle joint (Mach.), a hinge joint, in which a projection with an eye, on one piece, enters a jaw between two corresponding projections with eyes, on another piece, and is retained by a pin which passes through the eyes and forms the pivot. -- Knuckle of veal (Cookery), the lower part of a leg of veal, from the line of the body to the knuckle.

KNUCKLE Knuc"kle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Knuckled;; p. pr. & vb. n. Knuckling.]

Defn: To yield; to submit; -- used with down, to, or under. To knuckle to. (a) To submit to in a contest; to yield to. [Colloq.] See To knock under, under Knock, v. i. (b) To apply one's self vigorously or earnestly to; as, to knuckle to work. [Colloq.]

KNUCKLE Knuc"kle, v. t.

Defn: To beat with the knuckles; to pommel. [R.] Horace Smith.

KNUCKLED Knuc"kled, a.

Defn: Jointed. [Obs.] Bacon.

KNUFF Knuff, n. Etym: [Cf. Cnof a churl.]

Defn: A lout; a clown. [Obs.] The country knuffs, Hob, Dick, and Hick, With clubs and clouted shoon. Hayward.

KNUR Knur, n. Etym: [See Knurl.]

Defn: A knurl. Woodward.

KNURL Knurl, n. Etym: [See Knar, Gnar.]

Defn: A contorted knot in wood; a crossgrained protuberance; a nodule; a boss or projection.

2. One who, or that which, is crossgrained.

KNURL Knurl, v. t.

Defn: To provide with ridges, to assist the grasp, as in the edge of a flat knob, or coin; to mill.

KNURLED Knurled, a.

1. Full of knots; gnarled.

2. Milled, as the head of a screw, or the edge of a coin.

KNURLY Knurl"y, [Compar. Knurlier (; superl. Knurliest.] Etym: [See Knur, and cf. Gnarly.]

Defn: Full of knots; hard; tough; hence, capable of enduring or resisting much.

KNURRY Knur"ry, a.

Defn: Full of knots. [Obs.] Drayton.

KOAITA Ko*ai"ta, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Coaita.

KOALA Ko*a"la, n.

Defn: A tailless marsupial (Phascolarctos cinereus), found in Australia. The female carries her young on the back of her neck. Called also Australian bear, native bear, and native sloth.

KOB; KOBA Kob, Ko"ba, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of African antelopes of the genus Kobus, esp. the species Kobus sing-sing.

KOBALT Ko"balt, n.

Defn: See Cobalt.

KOBELLITE Ko"bel*lite, n. Etym: [From Franz von Kobell, of Munich.] (Min.)

Defn: A blackish gray mineral, a sulphide of antimony, bismuth, and lead.

KOBOLD Ko"bold, n. Etym: [G., perh. orig., house god, hose protector. See Cobalt]

Defn: A kind of domestic spirit in German mythology, corresponding to the Scottish brownie and the English Robin Goodfellow.

KODAK Ko"dak, n.

Defn: A kind of portable camera.

KOEL Ko"el, n. Etym: [Native name in India.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of cuckoos of the genus Eudynamys, found in India, the East Indies, and Australia. They deposit their eggs in the nests of other birds.

KOFF Koff, n. Etym: [D. kof.]

Defn: A two-masted Dutch vessel.

KOFTGARI Koft`ga*ri", a. [Hind. koft garï goldbeating. fr. Per. koft beating + garï trade.]

Defn: Ornamental work produced by inlaying steel with gold, -- a variety of damascening much used in the arts of India.

KOHINOOR; KOHNUR Koh`i*noor", Koh`*nur, n. Etym: [Per. koh-i-n, lit., mountain of light.]

Defn: A famous diamond, surrendered to the British crown on the annexation of the Punjab. According to Hindoo legends, it was found in a Golconda mine, and has been the property of various Hindoo and Persian rulers.

KOHL Kohl, n. Etym: [See Alcohol.]

Defn: A mixture of soot and other ingredients, used by Egyptian and other Eastern women to darken the edges of the eyelids.

KOHL-RABI Kohl"-ra`bi, n.; pl. Kohl-rabies. Etym: [G. Cf. Cole, Rape the plant.] (Bot.)

Defn: A variety of cabbage, in which the edible part is a large, turnip-shaped swelling of the stem, above the surface of the ground.

KOKAMA Ko*ka"ma, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The gemsbok.

KOKLASS Ko"klass, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any pheasant of the genus Pucrasia. The birds of this genus inhabit India and China, and are distinguished by having a long central and two lateral crests on the head. Called also pucras.

KOKOON Ko*koon", n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The gnu.

KOLA; KOLA NUT Ko"la, Kola nut .

Defn: Same as Cola, Cola nut.

KOLARIAN Ko*la"ri*an, n. (Ethnol.)

Defn: An individual of one of the races of aboriginal inhabitants which survive in Hindostan. -- a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Kolarians.

KOLINSKY Ko*lin"sky, n. [Russ. kolinski of Kola, a district in northeasten Russia where the finest minks abound.]

Defn: Among furriers, any of several Asiatic minks; esp., Putorius sibiricus, the yellowish brown pelt of which is valued, esp. for the tail, used for making artists' brushes. Trade names for the fur are red sable and Tatar sable.

KOLUSCHAN; KOLUSHAN Ko*lusch"an, Ko*lush"an, a. [From Russ. kalyushka piece of wood (worn in the nether lip).]

Defn: Designating, or pert. to, a linguistic stock of North American Indians comprising the Tlinkit tribes of the Alexander Archipelago of southeastern Alaska and adjacent coast lands. Their language bears some affinity to Mexican tongues.

KOMENIC Ko*me"nic, a. Etym: [Prob. G. mekonin (by transposition of letters) + -ic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to, or designating, an acid derived from meconic acid. [Written also comenic.]

KOMTOK Kom"tok, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An African freshwater fish (Protopterus annectens), belonging to the Dipnoi. It can breathe air by means of its lungs, and when waters dry up, it encases itself in a nest of hard mud, where it remains till the rainy season. It is used as food.

KON Kon, v. t.

Defn: To know. See Can, and Con. [Obs.] Ye konnen thereon as much as any man. Chaucer.

KONITE Ko"nite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Conite.

KONSEAL Kon*seal", n. [Prob. formed from conceal.] (Med.)

Defn: A form of capsule for inclosing a dose of medicine that is offensive, caustic, or the like.

KONZE Konze, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large African antelope (Alcelaphus Lichtensteini), allied to the hartbeest, but having shorter and flatter horns, and lacking a black patch on the face.

KOODOO Koo"doo, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large South African antelope (Strepsiceros kudu). The males have graceful spiral horns, sometimes four feet long. The general color is reddish or grayish brown, with eight or nine white bands on each side, and a pale dorsal stripe. The old males become dark bluish gray, due to the skin showing through the hair. The females are hornless. Called also nellut. [Written also kudu.]

KOOKOOM Koo"koom, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The oryx or gemsbok. [Written also kookaam.]

KOOLOKAMBA Koo`lo*kam"ba, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A west African anthropoid ape (Troglodytes koolokamba, or T. Aubryi), allied to the chimpanzee and gorilla, and, in some respects, intermediate between them.

KOOLSLAA Kool"slaa`, n.

Defn: See Coleslaw.

KOORD Koord, n.

Defn: See Kurd.

KOORDISH Koord"ish, n.

Defn: See Kurdish.

KOORILIAN Koo*ril"i*an, a & n.

Defn: Same as Kurilian.

KOP Kop, n. [South Afr. D., fr. D. kop head, akin to G. kopf and prob. to E. cop top.]

Defn: Hill; mountain. [South Africa]

KOPECK Ko"peck, n. Etym: [Russ. kopeika.]

Defn: A small Russian coin. One hundred kopecks make a rouble, worth about sixty cents. [Written also kopek, copec, and copeck.]

KOPJE Kop"je, n. [South African D., dim. of kop. See Kop.]

Defn: A hillock; a small kop. [South Africa]

The colloqual Dutch pronunciation as here given is the usual one in South Africa.

KORAN Ko"ran, n. Etym: [Ar. goran. See Alcoran.]

Defn: The Scriptures of the Mohammedans, containing the professed revelations to Mohammed; -- called also Alcoran. [Written also Kuran or Quran.]

KORIN Ko"rin, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The gazelle.

KORRIGUM Kor"ri*gum, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A West African antelope (Damalis Senegalensis), allied to the sassaby. It is reddish gray, with a black face, and a black stripe on the outside of the legs above the knees.

KOSHER Ko"sher, a. [heb. koshër fit, proper.]

Defn: Ceremonially clean, according to Jewish law; --applied to food, esp. to meat of animals slaughtered according to the requirements of Jewish law. Opposed to tref. Hence, designating a shop, store, house, etc., where such food is sold or used.

KOSHER Ko"sher, n.

Defn: Kosher food; also, a kosher shop.

KOSHER Ko"sher, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Koshered; p. pr. & vb. n. Koshering.]

Defn: To prepare in conformity with the requirements of the Jewish law, as meat.

KOSMOS Kos"mos, n.

Defn: See Cosmos. Gladstone.

KOTOW Ko*tow", n. Etym: [Chinese, knock head.]

Defn: The prostration made by mandarins and others to their superiors, either as homage or worship, by knocking the forehead on the ground. There are degrees in the rite, the highest being expressed by three knockings. [China]kowtow S. W. Williams.

KOTOW Ko*tow", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Kotowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Kotowing.]

Defn: To perform the kotow.kowtow

KOULAN Kou"lan, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A wild horse (Equus, or Asinus, onager) inhabiting the plants of Central Asia; -- called also gour, khur, and onager. [Written also kulan.]

Note: It is sometimes confounded with the dziggetai, to which it is closely related. It is gray in winter, but fulvous in summer. It has a well defined, dark, dorsal stripe, and a short, erect mane. In size, it is intermediate between the horse and ass.

KOUMISS Kou"miss, n. Etym: [Russ. kumys; of Mongolian origin.]