Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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noun
A sudden, sharp blow, knock, or slap; a rap, a whack.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dialectal
Qualifier: chiefly archaic or obsolete except UK
Topics: etymology, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The sound made by such a blow, knock, or slap.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dialectal
Qualifier: chiefly archaic or obsolete except UK
Topics: etymology, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Synonym of chattering damsel (“a component of a traditional mill which creates a vibratory motion to impel portions of grain toward the millstone; a clapper”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dialectal
Qualifier: chiefly archaic or obsolete except UK
Topics: agriculture, business, etymology, human-sciences, lifestyle, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: chattering damsel
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A method of cheating at a dice game.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, obsolete
Topics: dice, etymology, gambling, games, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A piece of raised ground or a short, steep slope; a small hill; a hillock, a knoll.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, dialectal
Topics: etymology, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The crest or top of a hill.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, dialectal
Topics: etymology, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To break (something) into small pieces with a cracking sound; to fragment, to smash; also, to break (something) apart sharply; to snap.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: etymology, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To break (something) into small pieces with a cracking sound; to fragment, to smash; also, to break (something) apart sharply; to snap.
To break away flakes from (a brittle material which fractures conchoidally (“with planar concentric curves”), usually a mineral such as chert, flint, or obsidian), often to form a tool with a sharp edge or point.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: especially, specifically, transitive
Topics: archaeology, etymology, history, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: chip
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To strike (something) sharply; to knock, to rap.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: etymology, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: knack
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Followed by off: to break (something) away from another thing by striking or tapping sharply.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: etymology, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To say (something) crisply or sharply.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, transitive
Topics: etymology, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To break or fracture suddenly; to snap.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Topics: etymology, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To make a cracking or snapping sound; to crack, to snap.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Topics: etymology, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To strike sharply.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Topics: etymology, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To speak crisply or sharply.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, intransitive
Topics: etymology, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To cheat while gambling, especially at a dice game.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, intransitive, obsolete
Topics: dice, etymology, gambling, games, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To take a small, quick bite at or of (someone or something); to nibble, to nip, to snap.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, dialectal, transitive
Topics: etymology, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To take a small, quick bite.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, dialectal, intransitive
Topics: etymology, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Obsolete spelling of nap (“to arrest (someone); to grab or nab (someone or something); to steal (something); (obsolete) to receive (severe punishment), especially during a boxing match or a flogging; (generally) to receive (something)”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, alt-of, dialectal, obsolete, transitive
Topics: etymology, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
break a small piece off from
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: chip, cut off, break off
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: cut
verb
strike sharply
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: rap
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: strike
Narrower terms: knock
History
The verb is derived from Late Middle English knappen (“to strike (something)”); further etymology uncertain, probably related to Middle Dutch knappen, cnappen (“to break (something) with a sharp sound, snap; to crack or crackle”) (modern Dutch knappen), probably ultimately onomatopoeic. The noun is derived from Late Middle English knap, knappe (“sharp blow, strike”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from the verb (see above), or related to an ancestor of Danish knep and Swedish knäpp (“a flick, rap, snap”), probably ultimately onomatopoeic.
From Middle English knap, knappe (“small projection, knob (button, tassel, tuft, etc.); hill; hilltop; etc.”), from Old English cnæp, cnæpp (“summit, top”); further etymology uncertain, possibly related to Old Norse knappr (“small projection, knob (button, head of a stick, etc.)”) (whence English knop), from Proto-Germanic *knappô, *knuppô.
Origin uncertain; possibly: * from Middle English *kneppen (compare Middle English knippette (“pincers for cracking nuts”)), from Old Norse kneppa (“to pinch, press, squeeze; to button, clasp; to hug”), from Proto-Germanic *knappijaną (“to clamp; to squeeze”), from Proto-Indo-European *gnebh- (“to constrict, tighten; to press”); * related to knap (etymology 1); or * imitative of a mouth snapping shut; compare gnap (“to snap at”) (obsolete except Scotland), nab (“to bite gently, nibble”) (obsolete except Southern and Western England).
See nap (etymology 5).
Across languages
6 source translations are retained for this English entry.
