Knave — (n[=a]v), n. [OE., boy, servant, knave, AS. cnafa boy, youth; cf. AS. cnapa boy, youth, D. knaap, G. knabe boy, knappe esquire, Icel. knapi, Sw. knape esquire, kn[ a]fvel knave.] 1. A boy; especially, a boy servant. [Obs.] Wyclif. Chaucer. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
KNAVE — in Charta Anni 22. Henr. VII. Regis Angl. apud Henr. Spelmann. Ioh. fil. Vilhelmi Conper de Denby Knave, ad satifaciendum Regi etc. forte Armiger est. s. scuti famulus; samulum enim vox Saxonibus sonat. Vide Ian. Dolmer. ad Ius Aul. antiquum… … Hofmann J. Lexicon universale
knave — [neıv] n [: Old English; Origin: cnafa boy, male servant ] 1.) BrE the playing card with a value between the ten and queen = ↑jack ▪ the knave of hearts →↑card1 (7) 2.) old fashioned a dishonest boy or man … Dictionary of contemporary English
Knave — [neiv] der; s, s <aus gleichbed. engl. knave, dies aus altengl. cnafa »Knabe« (ahd. knabo)> engl. Bez. für Bube, Schelm; Bube im Kartenspiel … Das große Fremdwörterbuch
knave — index criminal, hoodlum Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
knave — [ neıv ] noun count 1. ) an old word meaning a dishonest man 2. ) a JACK in card games ╾ knav|ish adjective: a knavish trick … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
knave — (n.) O.E. cnafa boy, male servant, common Germanic (Cf. O.H.G. knabo boy, youth, servant, Ger. knabe boy, lad, also probably related to O.E. cnapa boy, youth, servant, O.N. knapi servant boy, Du. knaap a youth, servant, M.H.G. knappe a young… … Etymology dictionary
knave — *villain, scoundrel, blackguard, rascal, rogue, scamp, rapscallion, miscreant … New Dictionary of Synonyms
knave — ► NOUN 1) archaic a dishonest or unscrupulous man. 2) (in cards) a jack. DERIVATIVES knavery noun knavish adjective. ORIGIN Old English, «boy, servant» … English terms dictionary
knave — [nāv] n. [ME knaue < OE cnafa, boy, male child, akin to Ger knabe] 1. Archaic a) a serving boy or male servant b) a man of humble birth or status 2. a dishonest, deceitful person; tricky rascal; rogue 3. JACK (n … English World dictionary