Where does “knave” come from?
Knave derives from Middle English knave, from Old English cnafa, from Proto-Germanic knabô, originally meaning boy or servant.
knave (English): A boy; especially, a boy servant; Any male...
Definitions
- A boy; especially, a boy servant; Any male...
Ancestry of “knave”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | knave | son, male child; boy, lad, male child or baby;... |
| 2 | Old English | cnafa | boy; lad; young man |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | knabô | — |
Words derived from “knave”