a. and sb.
A. adj. Characterized by ‘knocking out’ (see KNOCK v. 12); spec. a. of, or in connection with, an auction sale (see quots.); b. of a blow, etc.: Such as to disable or knock out of the contest.
a. 1818. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 373/1. Combinations, by a set of men who attend real sales, and drive, by various means, respectable purchasers away, purchase at their own price, and afterwards privately sell the same, under a form of public auction, termed ‘Knock-out Sales.’
1895. W. Roberts, Bk.-Hunter in London, iii. 121. This auction [1726], is interesting … as being the genesis of the knock-out system.
1896. Farmer, Slang, s.v., The lot is knocked down to the knock-out bidders.
b. 1898. Times, 24 Dec., 8/5. The effect of the ‘knock-out’ blow,… delivered, not straight from the shoulder, but sideways and on the tip of the chin, was to produce unconsciousness.
B. sb. 1. The practice of ‘knocking out’ at auction sales or in similar transactions; a knock-out sale; also, one of the confederates who ‘knock out’: see A. a, KNOCK v. 12 c.
1854. Illustr. Lond. News, 7 Oct., 342/2. A knock-out is a combination of bidders at a sale, who, deputing one to bid, save the increase of price which further competition causes, and subsequently have a private sale among themselves.
1864. East London Observer, 25 June. Witness said a knock-out was where a sum of money was divided among the contractors, and the officials generally,… out of the contract price over and above what ought to be paid for the work…. Those who did not get the work had money for putting in tenders so that the favored one got it, and the officials also.
1883. A. Lang, in Longm. Mag., II. 522. The auctioneer put up lot after lot, and Blinton plainly saw that the whole affair was a knock-out.
2. A knock-out blow: see A. b.
1894. A. Morrison, Tales Mean Streets, Three Rounds, 138. It was a hard fight, and both the lads were swinging the right again and again for a knock-out.
3. Polo. (See quot.) U.S.
1894. Rules of Amer. Polo Assoc., in M. H. Hayes, Mod. Polo (1896), 314. When the ball goes out ends, the side defending that goal is entitled to a knock out from the point at which it crossed the line. When the player having the knock out causes unnecessary delay, the Referee may throw a ball on the field and call play.
