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knock under. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
knock under, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
knock under in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
knock under you have here. The definition of the word
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knock under, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Perhaps from the old practice of knocking under the table with the knuckles, when conquered. Compare knuckle under
Verb
knock under (third-person singular simple present knocks under, present participle knocking under, simple past and past participle knocked under)
- (intransitive, dated) To acknowledge oneself conquered; to submit, to yield.
1823, [James Fenimore Cooper], chapter XIV, in The Pioneers, or The Sources of the Susquehanna; , volume II, New York, N.Y.: Charles Wiley; , →OCLC, page 209:I pull the second best trigger in this county. I knock under to Natty Bumppo there, sin' he shot the pigeon.
1852, William Makepeace Thackeray, “I Come to an End of My Battles and Bruises”, in The History of Henry Esmond, Esq. , volume III, London: Smith, Elder, & Company, , →OCLC, page 4:When he heard this news of Beatrix's engagement, Colonel Eſmond knocked under to his fate, and reſolved to ſurrender his ſword, that could win him nothing now he cared for; […]