Now dial. Forms: α. 5– knap, 5–6 knapp, 9 nap. β. 5–7 knop. [Echoic, going with KNAP sb.2; cf. Du. and G. (orig. LG.) knappen to crack, crackle, etc.; to break (a thing) with a sharp crack. Gael. cnap to strike, knock, is prob. from Sc. As in the case of other words that express an action by an imitation of its sound, the sense diverges in various directions, according as the sound or the action is prominent. In knack we think more of the sound, in knap of the stroke and its result.]
1. trans. To strike with a hard short sound; to knack, knock, rap.
α. c. 1470. Henryson, Mor. Fab., IX. (Wolf & Fox), iii. Thow can knap doun caponis on the nicht.
1550. Coverdale, Spir. Perle, vi. (1588), 63. The heuenly scholemaster knappeth vs on the fingers, til we apprehend and learne his will.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 133. Knap a pair of Tongs some depth within the Water, and you shall hear the Sound of the Tongs well.
1895. Crockett, Men of Moss-Hags, iii. 27. It was ever his wont … to knap his toes on the edge of the step.
β. c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xxi. 408. I can my hand vphefe and knop out the skalys.
b. absol. or intr.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 467. This Gregour gaif him feild,… knappit on quhill mony ane wes keild.
1676. Wiseman, Chirurg. Treat., VII. v. 488 (R.). The people standing by heard it knap in, and the Patient declared it by the ease she felt.
1886. Mary Linskill, in Gd. Words, 86/1. T’ noise they [crutches] made knap, knappin’ up an’ doon t’ deck o’ that ship rings i’ my ears yet.
2. trans. To break into parts or pieces with a sharp cracking sound; to snap or break by a smart blow. Now used spec. of the breaking of flints or of stones for the roads: cf. KNAPPER3.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. xlv[i.] 9. He hath knapped the speare in sonder.
a. 1572. Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 147. Rockettis war rent, typpetis war torne, crounis war knapped.
1647. Fanshawe, Pastor Fido (1676), 120. Pil’d in one heap dogs slain, spears knapt, men wounded.
1648. Herrick, Hesper., Bracelet to Julia. ’Tis but silke that bindeth thee, Knap the thread and thou art free.
1820. J. Cleland, Rise & Progr. Glasgow, 107. 330 persons knapping stones for the road.
1862. Instructor, I. 122. Picking up flints and knapping them, as the method of breaking them is called.
β. 1675. Depos. Cast. York (Surtees), 218. 8 halfe crownes,… the said Auty clipt that night, for she heard the knoping of them, being in the next room.
b. intr. To break off short; to snap.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph., II. (Arb.), 111. The string … beynge sore twined must nedes knap in sunder.
1623. Gouge, Serm. Extent God’s Provid., § 15. The Summier … being over-burdened … knapt suddenly asunder in the midst.
3. trans. To break off by a smart blow, stroke or tap: to strike or knock off.
1600. Holland, Livy, I. liv. 38. With his rod … he knapt of the uppermost heads and tops of the poppies.
1710. T. Fuller, Pharm. Extemp., 170. A Scorbutic Foment … knappeth off the sharp points of the Salt.
1830. Galt, Lawrie T., IV. i. (1849), 143. He took the cigar from his lips, and knapped off the ashes.
4. To utter smartly; to talk, chatter (a language): = CRACK v. 5. Also intr. Sc. and north. dial.
In quot. 1886 said of the stonechat, ‘so called from the similarity between its alarm note and the striking together of two pebbles’ (Swainson, Prov. Names Brit. Birds, 1885).
1581. J. Hamilton, Facile Treat., Quest. Ministers, xiii. King James the fyft,… hering ane of his subjectis knap suddrone, declarit him ane traiteur.
1681. Colvil, Whigs Supplic., I. (1695), 56. Like Highland Lady’s knoping speeches.
c. 1690. Lintoun Addr. to Prince of Orange, in Watson, Coll. Sc. Poems (1706), I. 20. English Andrew, who has Skill, To knap at every word so well.
1812. Scott, Lett. to Morritt, 29 Nov., in Lockhart. He answered … that he could knap English with any one. Ibid. (1816), Old Mort., vii. Ilka auld wife in the chimley-neuk will be for knapping doctrine wi’ doctors o’ divinity.
1886. Mary Linskill, Haven under Hill, II. xi. 147. There was a stone-chat knapping out its song.
