knock English · revision 5802

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=c. 1000}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /nɒk/, US /nɑːk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|knoken]], [[inh|ang|cnocian]] (West Saxon cnucian),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) probably imitative of the sound,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) like Middle High German knochen “to press” and Old Norse knoka “to hit, beat”.^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To strike with a sounding blow, as on a door: about 1000 in the OED and Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To strike hard, without reference to the sound, is from before 1300.^(OED 1989) The noun is from the mid-14th century, 1333–52 in Barnhart,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and ''knocker'' from before 1382, in the Wycliffe Bible.^(Barnhart 1988) To make a woman pregnant is from 1598, and ''knocked up'' from the early 19th century.^(OED 1989)^(Cresswell 2021) ''Knock it on the head'', to put an end to a plan, was established by the late 16th century.^(Cresswell 2021) Several phrases come from the auctioneer's hammer, such as ''knock down'' (1760).^(Etymonline) To astonish is from 1715, and to impress from 1883.^(OED 1989) To criticize, ''knock'', is American from 1892.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Cresswell 2021) The knocking of an engine is from 1869 for the verb and 1899 for the noun.^(Etymonline) ''Knock back'' a drink is from 1931,^(Etymonline) and ''knockout'' in boxing from 1887.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – to strike with a sound.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-14th century – the noun.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1598 – to make pregnant.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1760 – ''knock down'' at auction.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1869 – of an engine.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1887 – ''knockout''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1892 – to criticize.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To hit a [[door]] or other surface to attract attention.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To hit or push, often by accident: ''knocked his head''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make something by hitting: ''to knock a hole in the wall''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' To [[criticize]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of an [[engine]], to make a knocking noise.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A sharp blow, or the sound of hitting a door.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A [[setback]] or misfortune.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[knockless]]

+ * [[antiknock]]

+ * [[knock-knee]]

+ * [[no-knock]]

+ * [[school of hard knocks]]

+ * [[knock rummy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[knocker]]

+ * [[knockout]]

+ * [[knock-kneed]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Knock, a hill, is a different word, from Gaelic and Irish cnoc “knoll”, found in Scots place names.^(SOED 2002)^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}