knokken

Dutch

Etymology

First attested in the early 18th century. Probably borrowed from English knock. The simplification of /kn/ to /n/ was already widespread around 1700, but not at all general. (In fact, some northern English dialects retained /kn/ until the recent past.) Moreover, the word may have been borrowed into Dutch some time before its first appearance in writing. Accordingly there is no phonetic objection to English origin. Alternatively, however, it might have been derived from Dutch knok, a variant of knook (“knuckle, bone”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈknɔ.kə(n)/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: knok‧ken
• Rhymes: -ɔkən

Verb

knokken

1. (informal, intransitive) to brawl, to fight (physically)
2. (informal, transitive) to hit, beat, dust up

Conjugation

Conjugation of knokken (weak)
infinitive	knokken
past singular	knokte
past participle	geknokt
infinitive	knokken
gerund	knokken n
	present tense	past tense
1st person singular	knok	knokte
2nd person sing. (jij)	knokt, knok2	knokte
2nd person sing. (u)	knokt	knokte
2nd person sing. (gij)	knokt	knokte
3rd person singular	knokt	knokte
plural	knokken	knokten
subjunctive sing.1	knokke	knokte
subjunctive plur.1	knokken	knokten
imperative sing.	knok
imperative plur.1	knokt
participles	knokkend	geknokt
1) Archaic. 2) In case of inversion.

Derived terms

• afknokken
• geknok
• knokfilm
• knokker
• knokpartij
• knokploeg
• knokwerk
• neerknokken
• opknokken

 

Middle English

Alternative forms

• cnoken, knocke, knok, knoke, knokke, knokkyn

Etymology

From Old English cnocian, from Proto-West Germanic *knokōn, from Proto-Germanic *knukōną. Forms with a short vowel are possibly due to trisyllabic shortening.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈknɔkən/, /ˈknɔːkən/, /ˈknɒːkən/

Verb

knokken (third-person singular simple present knokketh, present participle knokkynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle knokked)

1. To pound; to beat down.
2. To strike (with a weapon or one's head)
3. To knock or rap on (something).
   • c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.)‎^[1], published c. 1410, Apocalips 3:20, page 118v, column 1; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:

     lo I ſtonde at the doꝛe .· ⁊ knocke if ony man heriþ my voys · ⁊ openeþ þe ȝate to me · I ſhal entre to hym · ⁊ ſoupe with hym · ⁊ he with me

     I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door for me, I'll go and dine with them, and them with me.

4. To beat against the breast.
5. To pulverise; to crush to bits.
6. (rare) To assault; to attack.

Conjugation

Conjugation of knokken (weak in -ed)

infinitive	(to) knokken, knokke
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	knokke	knokked
2nd-person singular	knokkest	knokkedest
3rd-person singular	knokketh	knokked
subjunctive singular	knokke
imperative singular		—
plural1	knokken, knokke	knokkeden, knokkede
imperative plural	knokketh, knokke	—
participles	knokkynge, knokkende	knokked, yknokked

¹Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Derived terms

• knok

Descendants

• English: knock
  • → Dutch: knokken; nokken
• Scots: knock, tnock, knack
• Yola: knockt (preterite)

References

• “knokken, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.