Now dial. [Cf. GNAP v. and KNAB v.; also Du. and G. (orig. LG.) knappen to crack, snap, bite, which unites the senses of this and the prec. In Eng. also, the sense ‘snap’ seems to unite this with sense 2 of KNAP v.1 See also KNEP v.]
intr. and trans. To bite in a short or abrupt way; to snap; to nibble.
1575. Turberv., Faulconrie, 141. If she chaunce to knappe or byte at the sticke let hir bite hardly.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. i. 10. As lying a gossip … as euer knapt ginger.
1611. Cotgr., Brouter, to brouze; to knap, or nible off the sprigs, buds, barke &c., of plants.
1617. Janua Linguarum, 22. Mules knap one another.
1721. Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. I. xxxi. 222. These Elyot compared to a galled horse … always knapping and kicking at such examples and sentences as they felt sharp.
1819. W. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d (1827), 52. Some knapp’d awa’ at kebbuck-stumps.
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., II. 106. [Horses] turn’d to knap each other at their ease.
Knap, obs. form of NAP sb. and v.
