knave
pronunciation
How to pronounce knave in British English:
UK [neɪv]
How to pronounce knave in American English:
US [nev]
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- Noun:
- a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
- one of four face cards in a deck bearing a picture of a young prince
Word Origin
- knave (n.)
- Old English cnafa "boy, male servant," common Germanic (cognates: Old High German knabo "boy, youth, servant," German knabe "boy, lad," also probably related to Old English cnapa "boy, youth, servant," Old Norse knapi "servant boy," Dutch knaap "a youth, servant," Middle High German knappe "a young squire," German Knappe "squire, shield-bearer"). The original meaning might have been "stick, piece of wood" [Klein]. Sense of "rogue, rascal" first recorded c. 1200. In playing cards, "the jack," 1560s.
Example
- 1. Knave is usually a person who gets into trouble .
- 2. He is more of a fool than a knave .
- 3. We choose a knave or an eunuch .
- 4. So who is this knave of hearts ?
- 5. The knave deprived you of some horses .