Emily Dickinson Lexicon

KNEEL'ED, pp. [of Kneel.]

And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” – Acts vii. 60.

KNEEL'ER, n. [nee'ler.]

One who kneels or worships by kneeling.

KNEEL'ING, ppr. [neeling.]

Falling on the knees.

KNEEL'ING-LY, adv.

In a kneeling position.

KNEE'PAN, n. [neepan.]

The round bone on the fore part of the knee.

KNEE'TRIB-UTE, n. [nee'tribute.]

Tribute paid by kneeling; worship or obeisance by genuflection. – Milton.

KNELL, n. [nell; Sax. cnyll; cnyllan, to beat or knock; W. cnul, a passing bell; G. knallen, to clap or crack; Sw. knalla; Dan. gneller, to bawl.]

Properly, the stroke of a bell; hence, the sound caused by striking a bell; appropriately, and perhaps exclusively, the sound of a bell rung at a funeral; a tolling.

KNELT, v. [pret. and pp. of Kneel; but kneeled is to be preferred.]

KNEW, v. [pret. of Know.]

KNICK'KNACK, n.

A trifle or toy.

KNIFE, n. [nife; plur. Knives; nives. Sax. cnif; Dan. kniv; Sw. knif; Fr. ganif or canif. This word seems to have a connection with the D. knippen, Sw. knipa, to clip or pinch, to nip; Dan. kniber, G. kneifen, W. cneiviaw, to clip, to shear. Its primary sense then is an instrument that nips off, or cuts off with a stroke.]

1. A cutting instrument with a sharp edge. Knives are of various shapes and sizes, adapted to their respective uses; as, table knives; carving knives, or carvers; pen-knives, &c.
2. A sword or dagger. – Spenser.

KNIGHT, n. [nite; Sax. cniht, cneoht, a boy, a servant, Ir. cniocht, G. knecht, D. knegt, Sw. knecht, Dan. knegt.]

1. Originally, a knight was a youth, and young men being employed as servants, hence it came to signify a servant. But among our warlike ancestors, the word was particularly applied to a young man after he was admitted to the privilege of bearing arms. The admission to this privilege was a ceremony of great importance, and was the origin of the institution of knighthood. Hence, in feudal times, a knight was a man admitted to military rank by a certain ceremony. This privilege was conferred on youths of family and fortune, and hence sprung the honorable title of knight, in modern usage. A knight has the title of Sir. – Encyc. Johnson.
2. A pupil or follower. – Shak.
3. A champion. – Drayton. Knight of the post, a knight dubbed at the whipping-post or pillory; a hireling witness. – Johnson. Knight of the shire, in England, one of the representatives of a county in parliament, originally a knight, but now any gentleman having an estate in land of six hundred pound a year is qualified. – Johnson.

KNIGHT, v.t. [nite.]

To 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. – Johnson.

KNIGHT'ED, pp.

Created a knight.

KNIGHT-ER'RANT, n. [knight and L. errans, erro, to wander.]

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

KNIGHT-ER'RANT-RY, n.

The practice of wandering in quest of adventures; the manners of wandering knights.

KNIGHT'HEADS, n.

In ships, bollard timbers, two piece of timber rising just within the stem, one on each side the bowsprit to secure its inner end; also, two strong frames of timber which inclose and support the ends of the windlass. – Mar. Dict.

KNIGHT'HOOD, n.

1. The character or dignity of a knight.
2. A military order, honor, or degree of ancient nobility, conferred as a reward of valor or merit. It is of four kinds, military, regular, honorary, and social. – Encyc.

KNIGHT'ING, ppr.

Creating knights.

KNIGHT'LESS, a.

Unbecoming a knight. – Spenser.

KNIGHT'LIKE, a.

Resembling a knight. – Scott.

KNIGHT'LI-NESS, n.

Duties of a knight. – Spenser.

KNIGHT'LY, a.

Pertaining to a knight; becoming a knight; as, a knightly combat. – Sidney.

KNIGHT'MAR-SHAL, n.

An officer in the household of the British king, who has cognizance of transgression within the king's household and verge, and of contracts made there. – Encyc.

KNIGHT-SER-VICE, n.

In English feudal law, a tenure of lands held by knights on condition of performing military service, every possessor of a knight's fee, or estate originally of twenty pounds annual value, being obliged to attend the king in his wars.