[Pa. pple. of KNIT v.]
1. Knotted, tied, fastened together; contracted together: see the verb.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 279/2. Knytte, nodatus, nexus, connexus.
1605. Verstegan, Dec. Intell., iii. (1628), 79. The knit vnitie and conioyned concord of the Saxons.
1715–20. Pope, Iliad, XX. 554. Where the knit nerves the pliant elbow strung.
1851. D. Jerrold, St. Giles, xiv. 139. He turned with knit eyebrows to his wife.
b. With qualifying adv., as well-knit.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XVIII. 259. Thy well-knit frame … Speaks thee an hero, from an hero sprung.
1871. Tylor, Prim. Cult., II. xiv. 122. Well-knit harangues full of the poetic figure and metaphor of the professional orator.
2. Formed as a texture by knitting: see KNIT v. 2 b.
Formerly sometimes hyphened, as knit-stockings.
[1488. Will, in Ripon Ch. Acts (Surtees), 286. j knyt gyrdyll.]
1587. Harrison, England, II. xxii. (1877), I. 342. In colouring their knit hosen.
1612. Sturtevant, Metallica, 71. Knit stockings with loome, which is a late Inuention of one Maister Lee.
1720. De Foe, Capt. Singleton, xviii. (1840), 302. He at length obtained it for a knit cap.
1818. Lady Morgan, Autobiog. (1859), 86. A knit silk scarf.
Mod. Trade Rep., The knit goods market is in a flourishing condition.
† 3. Having conceived, pregnant. Obs.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 218. No sooner doth she perceive herselfe to be knit with egge, but she falleth presently to build her nest.
1781. W. Blane, Ess. Hunting (1788), 118. The Doe … seldom holds an end, unless knit; or at the end of the season has kindled.
Knit, variant of NIT sb. and v.
