Definition of "knap"

knap¹

/næp/

verb
third-person singular simple present knaps, present participle knapping, simple past and past participle knapped
1. (transitive) To shape a brittle material having conchoidal fracture, usually a mineral (flint, obsidian, chert etc.), by breaking away flakes, often forming a sharp edge or point.
2. (transitive) To rap or strike sharply.
  Quotations
  Knap the tongs together […] about a handful from the bottom.
  1631, Francis [Bacon], “(please specify |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […]
  Some entered the ring in very bad condition, and immediately got a-piping, like hot mutton pies - fell on their own blows, and knapped it every round, till they shewed the white feather and bolted.
  1820, The Edinburgh Monthly Magazine, volume 8, no.43, page 81, October 1820.
  "That will be sixpence," he said without looking up. She knapped her lips together and turned on her heel without another word.
  1977, Marilynne K. Roach, Encounters with the Invisible World, page 10
3. (obsolete, UK, dialect) To bite; to bite off; to break short.
  Quotations
  He breaketh the bow, and knappeth the spear in sunder.
  1549 March 7, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, The Booke of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacramentes, […], London: […] Edowardi Whitchurche […]
  "Horses..turn'd to knap each other at their ease."
  1821, John Clare, The Village Minstrel
4. To make a sound of snapping.
  Quotations
  Press back the head of the Femur into its Acetabulum , and it will knap in
  1676, Richard Wiseman, Severall Chirurgicall Treatises, London: […] E. Flesher and J. Macock, for R[ichard] Royston […], and B[enjamin] Took, […]
noun
plural knaps
1. A sharp blow or slap.
  Quotations
  It tells the audience the punch was thrown, they hear a knap, and the victim is 'injured'.
  2012, Andrew Ashenden, Basics of Stage Combat: Unarmed

knap²

/næp/

noun
plural knaps
1. A protuberance; a swelling; a knob.
  Quotations
  you shall see many fine seats set upon a knap of ground
  1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Building”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret
2. The crest of a hill
3. A small hill
  Quotations
  the highest part and knap of the same Iland
  1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “(please specify |book=I to XXXVII)”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], (please specify |tome=1 or 2), London: […] Adam Islip, published 1635

Definition of "knap"

knap1

verb

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noun

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knap2

noun

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knap¹

knap²