(common), a champion of any sort and in any walk of life. Knocker-out = a pugilist who is an adept at putting to sleep (q.v).
1891. Sporting Life, 25 Mar. The Barrier man was nearly helpless, and Choynski tried frantically to pull himself together for one good knock-out.
1892. Chevalier, Idler, June, p. 549. Oh! 'e's a little champion, Do me proud, well 'e's a knock out.
1894. Illustrated Bits, 7 April, 4, 2. They all called her Miss Tricky, except some of the lads who preferred to describe her with fervour as 'A fair knock-out.'
1894. Arthur Morrison, Tales of Mean Streets, 134. It was a hard fight and both the lads were swinging the right again and again for a knock-out.
1895. E. B. Osborn, in New Review, April, 450. The hit out of the guard to the point of the chin, which is the prettiest application of the theory of the lever—is equally dangerous when it comes from a gloved hand. Accordingly, modern boxers (so-called) will give up everything for an opportunity of striking this particular blow; and a contest with or without the gloves degenerates into a struggle of waving hands and woven paces for the one position in which 'tis possible to deliver it with a fair chance of knocking-out.
Knocksoftly, subs. (old).—A fool;
a soft (q.v.).
1864. Derby Day, p. 69. 'I say,' cried Mr. Dobson. 'What's the row now? Ain't you going to let us in?' 'What! to be larruped? Not if I know it. You must think me a jolly knock-softly.'
Knot, subs. (old: now recognised).—A
crew, gang, or fraternity.
1597. Shakspeare, Rich. III, iii. 3. A knot you are of damned blood-suckers.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Verb. (old).—To copulate. For synonyms see Greens and Ride.
1602. Shakspeare, Othello, iv. 2. Keep it as a cistern for foul toads To knot and gender in.
To knot it, verb. phr. (common).—To abscond. For synonyms see Absquatulate.
To tie with St. Mary's knot, verb. phr. (common).—To hamstring.
To tie a knot with the tongue that cannot be untied with the teeth, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To get married.
Know, verb. (conventional).—To
copulate: applied to women.
Also to know carnally and
to have carnal knowledge.
For synonyms see Greens and
Ride.
To know, one's way about, round, a thing or two, a trick worth two, the ropes, the time of day, what's o'clock, what's what, one's book, life, how many blue beans make five, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be well-informed, experienced, wide-awake; to be equal to any emergency; fly (q.v.).
1534. N. Udall, Roister Doister, i. 2, p. 17 (Arber). Have ye spied out that? Ah sir, mary nowe I see you know what is what.
1598. Shakspeare, 1 Henry IV, ii. 1. Soft, I pray thee: I know a trick worth two of that.
1609. Jonson, Silent Woman, v. Daw. O, it pleases him to say so, sir; but Sir Amorous knows what's what as well.
1679. W. Wycherley, Love in a Wood, Act iii. Sc. i. But you, gossip, know what's what.
1711. Spectator, No. 132. This sly saint, who, I will warrant, understands what is what as well as you or I, widow, shall give the bride as father.
