Also 4–7 knacke, 5–6 knak. [In senses 2 and 3 = Du. knakken (first in Kilian), MHG. knacken (also gnacken), MLG. knaken (hence prob. Sw. knaka, Da. knage); cf. also Sw. knäcka, Da. knække, Norw. knekkja, to break, snap. Of echoic origin: cf. CLACK, CRACK.]
† 1. intr. To deal (sharp sounding) blows. Obs. Cf. KNACK sb.1 1.
1575. R. B., Appius & Virg., in Hazl., Dodsley, IV. 121. Nay then, by the mass, it’s time to be knacking.
2. trans. To strike (things or their parts) together so as to produce a sharp abrupt noise; to gnash (the teeth); to snap (the fingers). Now dial.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xix. 406. He knacked his teeth for angre.
1577. H. Rhodes, Bk. Nurture, in Babees Bk., 79. Cast not thy bones vnder the Table, nor none see thou doe knack.
1611. Cotgr., Matassiner des mains, to moue, knacke, or waggle the fingers, like a Iugler.
1735. E. Chicken, Collier’s Wedd. (Northumbld. Gloss.), The pipes scream out her fav’rite jig, She knack’d her thumbs and stood her trig.
† b. To break or crack with a sharp sound. [Cf. Swed. knacke-brod, a sort of biscuit or cracknel.]
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 66. Knak me that nut.
1573–80. Baret, Alv., K 85. To knacke, or breake a nut.
3. intr. To make a sharp abrupt noise, as when stones are struck together. Now dial.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1276. Knacking (as it were) with his fingers over his head.
1617. Bp. Hall, Quo Vadis? § 20. If they can heare their beads knacke vpon each other.
1646. Fuller, Wounded Consc. (1841), 282. Sheep … fly without cause, scared (as some say) with the sound of their own feet: their feet knack because they fly, and they fly because their feet knack.
18[?]. Colliers’ Pay Week, in Brockett, N. C. Gloss., He jumps, and his heels knack and rattle.
† 4. trans. To ‘break’ (notes: see BREAK v. 2 h, NOTE sb.); to sing with trills or runs; to sing in a lively or ornate manner, to trill forth. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 192. Þre or foure proude & lecherous lorellis schullen knacke þe most deuout seruyce þat noman schal here þe sentence … & þanne strumpatis & þeuys preisen sire iacke or hobbe,… how smale þei knacken here notis.
c. 1388. in Wyclif’s Sel. Wks., III. 482. God seis not þat he is blessid þat syngus or knackus swete notis.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xiii. 659. For to sing vs emong right as he knakt it, I can.
† b. intr. To sing or speak in a lively manner; to ‘descant.’ Obs.
a. 1529. Skelton, Agst. Comely Coystrowne, Wks. 1843, I. 15. Curyowsly he can both counter and knak of Martyn Swart and all hys mery men.
c. intr. To talk finely or mincingly. dial.
1674–91. Ray, N. C. Words, Knack, to speak finely. And it is used of such as do speak in the Southern dialect.
1825. Brockett, Knack, to speak affectedly, to ape a style beyond the speaker’s education.
1855. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., s.v., She knacks and knappers like a London miss.
† 5. trans. To mock, taunt. Obs. (chiefly Sc.).
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. x. 1728. This Kyng Edward all wyth gawdys Knakkyd Robert the Brws wyth frawdis.
a. 1500. Ratis Raving, II. 371. Thai wyll men … scorn & knak.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, II. iii. [ii.] 13. A multitude ȝong Troianis Byssy to knak and pull the presoneir.
