Obs. exc. dial. Also 9 nap. [Echoic: goes with KNAP v.1: cf. KNACK sb. and v., and Sw. knäpp, Da. knep, a rap, fillip. Gael. cnap, a sharp blow, may be from Sc.]
1. An abrupt stroke or blow; a smart knock.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6437. Mony strokes,… þo stithe men hym gefe, Till þe knight, vndur knappis, vppon knes fell.
14[?]. Sir Beues (MS. N.), 1895 + 4. I wol fonde to ȝeue þe a knap.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., I. 143. At that counter wes mony crwell knap.
1575. Turberv., Faulconrie, 100. You myght chaunce to catch a knappe of hir beake.
1603. Owen, Pembrokeshire (1892), 280. I have by it gotten store of Knappes on my head and shoulders.
1737. Ramsay, Scot. Prov. (1750), 109. When the lady lets a pap, the messan gets a knap.
1828. Craven Dial., Knap, a blow.
b. The sound of a sharp blow.
1870. Lubbock, Orig. Civilis., ix. (1875), 403. Sounds … The collision of hard bodies … as clap, rap, tap, knap, snap.
2. The clapper of a mill.
1622. J. Taylor (Water P.), A Thiefe, Wks. (1630), II. 119/2. A fellow … hearing neither noyse of knap or tiller, Laid downe his corne, and went to seeke the miller.
† 3. A cheating trick with dice: see quots. s.v. KNAPPING vbl. sb. Obs.
a. 1658. Cleveland, Wks. (1687), 200. Doublets? or Knap? The Cog? low Dice? or high?
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 83. Engages blind and senseless Hap ’Gainst High, and Low, and Slur, and Knap.
Knap, variant form of KNOP sb.1 and 2.
