knap

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To break (something) into small pieces with a cracking sound; to fragment, to smash; also, to break (something) apart sharply; to snap.
2. (especially, specifically, transitive) To break (something) into small pieces with a cracking sound; to fragment, to smash; also, to break (something) apart sharply; to snap.
3. (transitive) To strike (something) sharply; to knock, to rap.
4. (transitive) Followed by off: to break (something) away from another thing by striking or tapping sharply.
5. (figuratively, transitive) To say (something) crisply or sharply.
6. (intransitive) To break or fracture suddenly; to snap.
7. (intransitive) To make a cracking or snapping sound; to crack, to snap.
8. (intransitive) To strike sharply.
9. (figuratively, intransitive) To speak crisply or sharply.
10. (figuratively, intransitive, obsolete) To cheat while gambling, especially at a dice game.

Noun

1. (dialectal) A sudden, sharp blow, knock, or slap; a rap, a whack.
2. (dialectal) The sound made by such a blow, knock, or slap.
3. (dialectal) Synonym of chattering damsel (“a component of a traditional mill which creates a vibratory motion to impel portions of grain toward the millstone; a clapper”).
4. (figuratively, obsolete) A method of cheating at a dice game.

Noun

1. (UK, dialectal) A piece of raised ground or a short, steep slope; a small hill; a hillock, a knoll.
2. (UK, dialectal) The crest or top of a hill.

Synonyms

rap

break off

hill

cut off

chip

knoll

box

📦

catch

chop

drive

flick

flip

get hold of

gnaw

hillock

hit

hummock

jab

knack

knock

knot

🪢

mount

nibble

pick up

pull

punch

👊

slog

smite

strike

strike down

swelling

tangle

top

🔝

tuft

visit

whack

whang

small mountain

strike hard

tuffet

drag a bunt

attack

👊

tump

bang

bash

beat

belt

bop

Translations

kırmak

βουναλάκι

ύψωμα

yarmak

θρυμματίζω

σάκκος εφόδιων στρατιώτη

σμπαραλιάζω

σπάζω πέτρες

συντρίβω

rap

ثلّم

slaan

bater

Pronounced as (IPA)

/næp/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: knappen

Inherited from Middle English: knappe

Inherited from Old English: cnæp

In summary

The verb is derived from Late Middle English knappen (“to strike (something)”); further etymology uncertain, probably related to Middle Dutch knappen, cnappen (“to break (something) with a sharp sound, snap; to crack or crackle”) (modern Dutch knappen), probably ultimately onomatopoeic.
The noun is derived from Late Middle English knap, knappe (“sharp blow, strike”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from the verb (see above), or related to an ancestor of Danish knep and Swedish knäpp (“a flick, rap, snap”), probably ultimately onomatopoeic.