Forms: 4–5 knokk(e, 4–6 knok, 6 knoke, 6–7 knocke, 7– knock. [f. KNOCK v.]
1. An act of knocking; a sounding blow; a hard stroke or thump; spec. a rap at a door to call attention or gain admittance.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. X. 327. Þanne shal þe abbot of Abyndoun and alle his issu … Haue a knokke of a kynge.
1460. Capgrave, Chron. (Rolls), 284. He schal for his spoilyng have as good knokkis as evyr had Englischman.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 223 b. As a nayle, the moo knockes it hath, the more sure it is fixed.
a. 1550[?]. Freiris of Berwik, 154, in Dunbar’s Poems (1893), 290. His knok scho kend, and did so him in lett.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. i. 200. And prove their Doctrine Orthodox By Apostolick Blows and Knocks.
1742. Pope, Dunc., IV. 443. A drowsy Watchman, that just gives a knock, And breaks our rest, to tell us what’s a-clock.
a. 1844. L. Hunt, Our Cottage, 10. No news comes here,… not a postman’s knock.
1866. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., III. 317. The telegraph boy gave his double-knock.
fig. 1649. T. Ford, Ludus Fort., 92. Our bodies are but fraile, earthen vessels, subject to every knock of sicknesse.
1898. Doyle, Trag. Korosko, ii. 37. We get hard knocks and no thanks, and why should we do it?
2. A clock. Sc.
1502. Ld. Treas. Acc. Scot., II. 159. To Schir James Petegrew, to his expens cumand to Strivelin to divis ane knok iijli. xs.
1559. Kennedy, Lett. to Willock, in Wodrow Misc. (1844), 270. Att ten houris of the knoke.
1826. J. Wilson, Noct. Ambr., Wks. 1855, I. 272. Do you put back … the lang hand o’ the knock.
Comb. 1540. Ld. Treas. Acc. Scot., in Pitcairn, Crim. Trials, I. 305*. William Purves, Knok-makar and smyth.
1663. Inv. Ld. J. Gordon’s Furnit., A going knock and knockcaice.
1885. Edgar, Old Ch. Life in Scotl., I. 29. The knock house stood in a little gallery called the knock loft.
