Forms: 1–2 cnol(l, 3–5 knol, 5 (9 dial.) knolle, 7 (9 dial.) knowle, (nowle), 7–9 knole, knowl, 6– knoll. [OE. cnoll hill-top, cop, summit, hillock, from same root as Du. knol, formerly knolle clod, ball, turnip, Ger. knollen, MHG. knolle clod, lump, knot, tuber; Norw. knoll, Sw. knöl, Da. dial. knöl, knöld hillock.
OE. cnoll might represent an OTeut. *knoð-lo, with usual assimilation of ðl to ll, and thus be radically connected with KNOT. Cf. for the form Ger. knödel dumpling.]
1. The summit or rounded top of a mountain or hill (obs. exc. dial.).
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xii. Se þe wille fæst hus timbrian, ne sceall he hit no settan upon þone hehstan cnol.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. viii. 5. On þam teoþan monþe æteowodon þæra munta cnollas.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 4129. At munt nemboc on ðat knol fasga,… Saȝ ðe lond of promission.
1706. Phillips, Knoll, the top of a Hill, a Word much us’d in the West; especially in Hereford-shire.
1825. Brockett, Knoll, Knowl, Knowe, the top of a hill, a bare rounded hillock.
b. Naut. ‘The head of a bank, or the most elevated part of a submarine shoal’ (Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 1867).
2. A small hill or eminence of more or less rounded form; a hillock, a mound.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. (Th.), xli. 7. On þam lytlan cnolle, þe Ermon hatte.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 111. He cumeð stridende from dune to dune, and ouer strit þe cnolles [L. colles].
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter lxiv. 13 [lxv. 12]. Gird sal be knolles with faines.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, V. ii. 5. Eneas … Syne spak thir wordis on a knollis hycht.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 128. To cary grauell & fyll it vp as hygh as ye other knolles be.
1604. Edmonds, Observ. Cæsar’s Comm., 84. A knowle exceedingly fortified.
1628. Le Grys, trans. Barclay’s Argenis, 82. A Knole fitly placed … for a Cittadell.
1686. Evelyn, Diary, 23 Oct. It stands on a knowle … insensibly rising.
1780. A. Young, Tour Irel., I. 92. A knole of lawn rises among them.
1816. W. Smith, Strata Ident., 21. Rounded low hills, which are called knolls or knowls.
1865. Geikie, Scen. & Geol. Scot., vii. 153. Hills and crags of every size down to mere hummocks and knolls.
1884. Q. Victoria, More Leaves, 64. At half-past two we five ladies lunched on a heathery knoll.
† b. (See quot. and cf. HUMMOCK 1 b.) Obs.
1772. J. G. W. De Brahm, Hist. Georgia (1849), 45. The second Species of Pine … is only met with on the Knowls (small Islands in Swamps).
† 3. A swelling upon the skin; = KNOB sb. 1 b.
1499. Promp. Parv., 280/1 (Pynson). Knolle (K., H. Knobbe) of a mannys hande or in another part of him…, callus.
† 4. A turnip. Obs. dial.
1669. Worlidge, Syst. Agric. (1681), 328. Knolls, Turnips.
1674. Ray, S. & E. C. Words, 70. Knolles; Turneps, Kent.
5. A lump, a large piece. Sc.
1829. Hogg, Sheph. Cal., II. 19. The auld wife … brought a knoll o’ butter like ane’s nieve.
