knave

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A boy

   A boy; especially, a boy servant.

2. 2

   Any male servant

   Any male servant; a menial.

   • Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave that, doting on his own obsequious bondage, wears out his time, much like his master's ass, For naught but provender, and when he's old – cashier'd! Whip me such honest knaves.
3. 3

   A tricky, deceitful fellow

   A tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person.

   • I could plainly diſcover from whence one Family derives a long Chin; why a ſecond hath abounded with Knaves for two Generations, and Fools for two more; why a third happened to be crack-brained, and a fourth to be Sharpers.
   • I had never defrauded a man of a farthing, nor called him knave behind his back. But now the last rag that covered my nakedness had been torn from me. I was branded a blackleg, card-sharper, and murderer.
4. ›+ 1 more definitionshow fewer

   1. 4

      A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or a soldier.

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