knapp German · revision 35067

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=16th century, Fischart}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /knap/, [knap]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''knapp''' (strong nominative masculine singular knapper, comparative knapper, superlative am knappsten)^(Wiktionary)

+ In early High German texts the Low German ⟨pp⟩ was sometimes turned into ⟨pf⟩, giving ''knapf''.^(DWB|11, 1338) The comparative and superlative are mostly without umlaut.^(DWB|11, 1338)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|gml|knap|t=narrow, scarce, sparse]], taken into the literary language in the 16th century.^(Kluge 2011|505)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch) Related words are [[nl|knap|t=close-fitting, quick, clever]], [[non|knappr|t=quick (of waves)]] and, unless it is from Middle Low German, [[sv|knapp|t=scanty, sparing, quick]].^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ Its further origin is unclear.^(Kluge 2011|505)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020) Kluge and Duden mention a derivation from [[m|gem-pro|*ge-hnapp]], linked with [[m|non|hneppr|t=narrow, scant]] and [[m|non|hneppa|t=to pinch, constrain]], but Kluge notes that the Norse word also has regional forms with kn-, so the cluster may be old.^(Kluge 2011|505)^(Duden 7 2020) Kluge also considers the words with kn- for “to squeeze” ([[kneipen]], [[knapsen]]), and Pfeifer, with a question mark, an expressive doubling of the consonant in a labial extension of [[ine-pro|*gen-|t=to squeeze, pinch]], the root he gives for [[knicken]], [[Knopf]] and [[Knoten]].^(Kluge 2011|505)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Fischart, in the 16th century, is the first to use it, of clothes, meaning “close-fitting”, hence “neat, pretty”, and also “nimble”, as Dutch ''knap''.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) Middle Low German ''knap'' meant “narrow, scarce, sparse”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the 16th and 17th centuries it is used of goods, money and time that are scarce or barely sufficient, as today.^(Paul 2002) Schottelius in 1663 also records “lively, skilful” (''ein knappes Mädlein'') and “meagre, frugal” (''es gehet hier knap her''), and the adverb “only just”.^(Paul 2002) The sense “tight” of clothes appears in Kramer's dictionary of 1700, and “brief, terse” of speech in the 18th century.^(Paul 2002) Paul finds the development hard to trace, because the probable original sense “tight” is recorded late.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ The word long remained northern: the Bremen dictionary thought it hardly known to High Germans, and Denzler's Basel dictionary of 1716 does not list it.^(DWB|11, 1338) The phrase ''nicht zu knapp'' “quite a lot” is a modern ironic use of the sense “meagre”.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 16th century – Fischart uses it of close-fitting clothes.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)

+ * 16th–17th century – The sense “scarce, barely sufficient”.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1663 – Schottelius records “lively, skilful” and “meagre”.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1700 – Kramer records the sense “tight” of clothes.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1716 – Denzler's Basel dictionary still lacks the word.^(DWB|11, 1338)

+ * 18th century – The sense “terse” of speech.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|scarce|alt=Scarce]], barely sufficient: ''das Wasser wurde knapp'';^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''knapp bei Kasse sein'' “to be short of money”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Just sufficient, narrow: ''eine knappe Mehrheit''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Somewhat less than (a number or period): ''knapp zwei Stunden''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Very close to: ''knapp hinter der Grenze''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Of clothes: [[m|en|tight]], too short: ''die Jacke sitzt knapp''.^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE)^(Paul 2002)

+ # [[m|en|concise|alt=Concise]], terse: ''eine knappe Antwort''.^(Wiktionary DE)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Narrowly, barely: ''sie hat den Zug knapp verpasst''.^(Wiktionary)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Knappheit]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[knapsen]]

+ * [[kneipen]]

+ * [[nl|knap]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Jemanden knapp halten'' is to give someone only the bare minimum, for example of money.^(Duden GWDS 1999) The colloquial ''kurz vor knapp'' means “at the very last moment”.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}