knokken

Dutch

Etymology

Usually regarded as a borrowing from English knock, despite the enounced k- in Dutch. Alternatively, and less likely, perhaps a derivative of 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 fight, to dust up
2. (informal, transitive) to hit, to beat

Inflection

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	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.

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.