Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Knight, n. p. 742A young servant or follower; a military attendant; a follower. 2. A young man when admitted to the privilege of bearing arms; hence, one of a certain chivalric or feudal rank; a champion. Did I for…Knight, v. t. p. 742To dub or create a knight, which is done by the king, who gives the person kneeling a blow with a sword, and says, Rise, Sir —. A soldier, by the honor-giving hand Of Cœur-de-Lion knighted in the…Knight'age, n. p. 742The body of knights taken collectively.Knight'-bäch'e-lor, n. p. 742One of the lowest order of knights, who were expected to remain unmarried until they had gained some renown by their achievements. [Obs.]Knight'-băn'ner-et, n. p. 742A 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. He was created by the…Knight-bār'o-net, n. p. 742A baronet. See BARONET.Knight-ěr'rant, n. p. 742A wandering knight; a knight who traveled in search of adventures, for the purpose of exhibiting military skill, prowess, and generosity.Knight-ēr'rant-ry, n. p. 742The practice of wandering in quest of adventures; the manners of wandering knights; a quixotic or romantic adventure or scheme. The rigid guardian [i. e., conscience] of a blameless heart Is weak…Knight'-er-răt'ic, a. p. 742Pertaining to knight-errantry. [Rare.]Knight'-head, n. p. 742(Naut.) One of two pieces of timber rising just within the stem, one on each side of the bowsprit to secure its inner end;—called also bollard-timber. Totten.Knight'hood, n. p. 742The character, dignity, or condition of a knight. 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 at a particular…Knight'less, a. p. 742Unbecoming a knight. [Obs.] Spenser.Knight'li-ness, n. p. 742Duties of a knight.Knight'ly, a. p. 742Pertaining to a knight; becoming a knight; as, a knightly combat. For knightly justs, and fierce encounters fit. Spenser.Knight'ly, adv. p. 742In a manner becoming a knight.Knight'-mār'shal, n. p. 742(Eng. Law.) An officer in the household of the British king, who has cognizance of transgressions within the king's household and verge, and of contracts made there, a member of the household being…Knight'-sērv'īce, n. p. 742(Eng. Feudal Law.) A tenure of lands held by knights on condition of performing military service;—the same as tenure in chivalry. See CHIVALRY.Knīt, v. t. p. 742To form into a knot, or into knots; to tie together, as cord; to tie; to fasten by tying. And he saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending to him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the…Knĭt, v. i. p. 742To unite or weave any thing by making knots. 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 come to a close. “It remaineth…Knĭt, n. p. 742Union by knitting; texture.Knĭtch or Knĭtch'et or Knĭtch'it, n. p. 742Something knit or united together; a bundle; a fagot; and the like. [Obs.] When they be dried [the stems of asphodel], they ought to be made up into knitchits, or handfuls. Holland.Knĭt'ster, n. p. 742A female who knits. [Prov. Eng.]Knit'ta-ble, a. p. 742Capable of being knit.Knit'ter, n. p. 742One who knits.Knit'ting, n. p. 742The work of a knitter; union formed by knitting; junction. 2. The net-work formed by knitting.Knit'ting-nee'dle, n. p. 742A long needle used for knitting threads into stockings, and the like.Knit'ting-sheath, n. p. 742A small article to be fastened to the side, having a perforation to receive the end of a needle in knitting.Knīt'tle, n. p. 742A string that gathers or draws together a purse. 2. (Naut.) A small line, composed of two or three yarns twisted together, used for various purposes, as for seizings, or hammock clews, or in pointing…Knives, n. p. 742pl. of knife. See KNIFE.Knŏb, n. p. 742A hard protuberance; a hard swelling or rising; a bunch; as, a knob in the flesh, or on a bone; hence, a round ball at the end of any thing; as, the knob of a lock. 2. A rounded hill or mountain; as…Knŏbbed, a. p. 742Containing knobs; full of knobs. The horns of a roe deer of Greenland are pointed at the top, and knobbed or tuberous at the bottom. Grew.Knŏb'ber, n. p. 742A knobbler. See KNOBBLER.Knŏb'bi-ness, n. p. 742The quality of having knobs, or of being full of protuberances.Knōb'bler, n. p. 742The hart in its second year; a young deer. [Written also knobber.] Halliwell. He has hallooed the hounds upon a velvet-headed knobbler. W. Scott.Knōb'by, a. p. 742Full of knobs or hard protuberances. 2. Hard; stubborn. [Obs.] The informers continued in a knobby kind of obstinacy, resolving still to conceal the names of the authors. Howell. 3. Abounding in…Knŏck, v. i. p. 742To strike or beat with something hard or heavy; as, to knock with a club or with the fist; to knock at the door. For harbor at a thousand doors they knocked; Not one of all the thousand but was…Knŏck, v. t. p. 742To strike; to drive against; as, to knock the head against a post. 2. To strike for admittance; to rap upon, as a door. To knock down. (a.) To strike down; to fell; to prostrate by a blow or by…Knŏck, n. p. 742A stroke with something thick or heavy. 2. A stroke on a door, intended as a request for admittance; a rap.Knŏck'down, n. p. 742A blow which strikes a person to the ground. Knockdown argument, an argument which can not be answered, and which completely overthrows the reasoning of the person against whom it is directed.…Knŏck'er, n. p. 742One 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, I said; Tie up the…Knöck'ing, n. p. 743A beating; a rap.Knŏck'-kneed, a. p. 743Having the legs bent inward so that the knees touch in walking. [Written also knock-kneed.]Knŏck'-stōne, n. p. 743A block of stone or iron used for breaking things upon. Mining Journal.Knōll, v. t. p. 743To ring, as a bell; to strike a knell upon; to express or proclaim by ringing. “His knell is knolled.” Shak.Knōll, v. i. p. 743To sound, as a bell. Shak. For a departed being’s soul The death-hymn peals, and the hollow bells knoll. Byron.Knōll, n. p. 743The ringing of a bell; knell; as, the curfew knoll. The far roll Of your departing voices is the knoll Of what in me is sleepless. Byron.Knöll, n. p. 743The top or crown of a hill; especially, a little round hill or mount; a small elevation of earth.Knöll'er, n. p. 743One who tolls a bell.Knŏp, n. p. 743A knob; a tufted top; a bud; a bunch; a button. [Obs.] 2. (Arch.) A boss; an ornament consisting of a round bunch of flowers or leaves; also, the foliage on the capital of a pillar; — called also…Knŏpped, a. p. 743Having knops or knobs; fastened as with buttons. [Obs.]Knöp'pern, n. p. 743An excrescence produced by the puncture of insects on the flower-cups of the oak; a kind of gall-nut.Knŏp'-weed, n. p. 743The same as KNAP-WEED and HORSE-KNOP.Knôr, n. p. 743A knot; a knar. [Obs.]Knösp, n. p. 743The unopened bud of a leaf or flower; hence, an ornament resembling such a bud. “The carver of the capital, the molding, the knosp, or the finial.” Milman.Knŏt, n. p. 743A complication of threads, cords, or ropes, formed by tying, knitting, or entangling, and resisting separation or loosening; a close tie; a fastening of cord. 2. A bond of union; a connection; a tie.…Knŏt, v. t. p. 743To complicate or tie in a knot or knots; to form a knot. “Knotted curls.” Drayton. 2. To unite closely. Bacon. 3. To entangle; to perplex. They are catched in knotted law-like nets. Hudibras.Knŏt, v. i. p. 743To form knots or joints, as in cord or plants. 2. To knit knots for fringe. 3. To unite, as in sexual congress or intercourse; to copulate; to embrace. Keep it as a cistern for foul toads To knot and…Knŏt'-bĕr'ry, n. p. 743(Bot.) A plant of the genus Rubus, and its fruit.Knŏt'-grăss, n. p. 743(Bot.) (a.) A weed-like plant of several species, of the genus Polygonum; — so called from the joints of its stem; knot-weed. (b.) A plant of the genus Triticum (T. repens). See DOG-GRASS. An…Knŏt'less, a. p. 743Free from knots; without knots.