Knave

Pronunciation

• enPR: nāv, IPA: /neɪv/
• Rhymes: -eɪv
• Homophones: nave

Origin

From Middle English knave, from Old English cnafa ("child, boy, youth; servant"), from Proto-Germanic *knabô ("boy, youth"), from Proto-Indo-European *gnebʰ- ("to press, tighten"), from Proto-Indo-European *gen- ("to pinch, squeeze, bend, press together, ball"). Cognate with German Knabe ("lad") and Dutch knaap ("lad"). Related also to knape.

Full definition of knave

Noun

1. (archaic) A boy; especially, a boy servant.
2. (archaic) Any male servant; a menial.
3. A tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person; a rogue; a villain.
• 1977, Geoffrey Chaucer, , Penguin Classics, p. 204:God's bones! Whenever I go to beat those knaves
  my tapsters, out she wife comes with clubs and staves,
  "Go on!" she screams — and its a caterwaul —
  "You kill those dogs! Break back and bones and all!"
4. (cards) A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or soldier; a jack.

Synonyms

Derived terms

• knavery
• knavish