An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Knecht

by Friedrich Kluge

Knecht, m., ‘servant,’ from MidHG. knëht, OHG. chnëht, m., ‘boy, youth, fellow, man, squire,’ often also ‘hero’; comp. AS. cniht, m., ‘boy, youth, man capable of bearing arms, hero,’ E. knight; probably a West Teut. word, unknown to Goth. and Scand. (Dan. knegt and Swed. knekt are borrowed). The same variety of meanings in West Teut. words is found in Knabe and Knappe (comp. also AS. mago, ‘son, boy, man, champion,’ see too Kerl). However probable its close connection with Knabe and Knappe may be, yet it is not possible to define it strictly. Kneckt is more probably allied to the root ken, from Aryan gen (Lat. genus, γένος, Lat. gi-gn-o, γίγνομας), than Knabe, because a suffix -ëht exists in Teut.