Forms: α. 4–6 knoppe, 5–6 knopp, knope, (6 noppe), 5– knop. β. 4–6 knappe, (5 cnap), 6 knapp, (knepp), 5– knap, (7–8 nap). [ME. knop = OFris. knop, MDu. cnoppe, cnop (Du. knop), MLG. knoppe (hence Da. knop, Sw. knopp), OHG. chnoph, chnopf (G. knopf knob, head, knot, button, etc.) The form knap may repr. ON. knapp-r knob, stud, button (Sw. knapp, Da. knap), perh. cognate with OE. cnæp, KNAP sb.1 The ulterior etymology is obscure.]
1. A small rounded protuberance, a knob (esp. one of an ornamental character, e.g., upon the stem of a chalice, a candlestick, etc.); a boss, stud, button, tassel, or the like; in Arch. = KNOB sb. 1 d. (Sometimes prob. a carved representation of a flower-bud; cf. 2 below.) Obs. or arch. exc. in specific applications.
α. a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 1080. With a bend of gold tasseled, And knoppis fyne of gold enameled.
1455. in Rymer, Foedera (1710), XI. 369. With Knopps and Tassells.
1483. Cath. Angl., 205/2. A knoppe of a scho, bulla.
1527. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), V. 225. Sex silver spones with knopis of oure Ladie.
1535. Coverdale, Jer. lii. 22. Vpon the rope were brasen knoppes.
1676. Worlidge, Cyder (1691), 182. A knop at the end of a slender handle or stick.
1861. Times, 12 July, 5/6. The crown and the knops which adorn the turret were gilt by him.
1865. S. Evans, Bro. Fabian, 105. Ornan … Unlooped the ruby knops Loosing her kirtle.
β. [a. 1000. in Wr.-Wülcker, 238/33. Fibula, cnæp, sigl, spennels.]
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VII. 257. His cloke of Calabre, with … knappes of Gold.
1420. E. E. Wills (1882), 45. A becure of seluer y-keueryd,… þe cnap of þe couercle ys an-amylyd with blewe.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 80/2. Scourge him then with whips … with knaps of lead at the ends.
1577. Lanc. Wills (1857), II. 92. Twelve silver spones with kneppes gilt wrought with a lyon.
1623. Hart, Arraignm. Ur., V. 27. To snatch and pull the naps of the coverlid.
17[?]. in Child, Ballads, VIII. 295/2. The naps of gold were bobbing bonnie.
2. The bud of a flower; a compact or rounded flower-head or seed-vessel. (Cf. KNAPWEED.) arch.
α. 1388. Wyclif, Num. xvii. 8. Whanne knoppis weren greet, the blossoms hadden broke out.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 280/2. Knoppe, or bud of a tre.
1495. Trevisa’s Barth. De P. R., XVII. cxxxvi. (W. de W.), 692. The fruyte of the rose is smalle rounde knoppes [Bodl. MS. knappes] and harde.
1508. Dunbar, Gold. Targe, 22. The rosis yong, new spreding of thair knoppis.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. xxv. § 2. 217. At the top of the stalke growe small knops, from which come flowers.
1697. Phil. Trans., XIX. 793. I have … wondered … to see those little Snails … on the Knops and Branches of the Vine.
1894. R. Bridges, Shorter Poems, 97. The chestnut holds her gluey knops upthrust.
β. 1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. xxiv. (MS. Bodl.), lf. 196 b/1. Þe cipresse … haþ leere knappes in stede of frute.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, I. xxxii. 45. The floures … do likewise turne into little knappes, or heads.
1656. W. Coles, Art of Simpling, xii. 38. Some [seeds] grow in Knaps like Bottles, as Knap-weed.
1879. Britten & Holland, Plant-n., Knap, flowers of Trifolium pratense.
b. Hence, A popular name of Red Clover. U.S.
1897. Britten & Brown, Flora North States, II. 276. Trifolium pratense … Honeysuckle Clover, Knap, Suckles.
† 3. The rounded protuberance formed by the front of the knee or the elbow-joint. Obs.
α. 14[?]. Nominale, in Wr.-Wülcker, 678/29. Hoc internodium, the knope of the kne.
1590. W. Burch, MS. Scrap Bk., in Chapter Libr. Canterb. Cathedr. The Arme in lenghthe must com short of ye knop of the kne.
β. 1652. Burgh Rec. Glasgow (Burgh Rec. Soc.), II. 242. The knap of hir elbow.
1734. Act Crt. Session, in N. & Q., 3rd Ser. IV. 125/2. Heads, knaps, tongues, and marrow bones cut out by themselves.
c. 1817. Hogg, Tales & Sk., IV. 146. His breeches came exactly to the knap of the knee.
† b. A swelling upon the skin; a wart, pimple, etc.: = KNOB sb. 1 b. Obs.
1556–8. Phaër, Æneid, IV. L j. From a tender colt they take the knapp.
1562. Turner, Baths, 4. It is good … for suche as have any knoppes or hard swellinges upon any membre.
1598. Florio, Verruche,… also wartes or knops of flesh rising in the bodie.
4. attrib. and Comb., as knop-fly (Angling) = knob-fly; knop-sedge, the bur-reed, Sparganium.
1562. Turner, Herbal, II. 143 b. It maye be called bede sedge or knop sedge.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, IV. (Arb.), 113. For to snip, in the foaling, from front of fillye the knap-knob.
1799. G. Smith, Laboratory, II. 310. Knop-fly. Dubbing, of the down of an otter-cub.
