GN- and KN- WORDS

GN- WORDS

last tweaked 02 April 2004

The gn- combination seems to be mostly confined to the effects of friction and forceful grinding; most of the gn- words have some such meaning. It's fitting, too, because that's the kind of harsh, grinding sound that comes when the gn- is pronounced. In Standard English, the g became silent, much as the k in kn- did.

• gnaff : small, stunted creatures/beings; one who is ill-mannered
• gnark/knark : to crunch using one's teeth
• gnarl : to deform, contort (as if its contents had been chewed)
• gnash : to grind between two moving objects (like teeth or millstones)
• gnast : to gnash, grind together
  ---------- also from this root, Ger. Gneiss (a type of stone)
• gnat : a tiny two-winged fly that bites
• gnatling : someone who is trivial, insignificant, or of no importance
• gnatter : to nibble
• gnaw : to bite or chew using the teeth;
  ---------- to wear away or shape by way of persistent chewing;
  ---------- to vex in a manner like unto persistent chewing
• gnawer : a descriptive term for a mouse
• gnede/gneath : to be very sparse, sparing, stingy in supplying
• gnidge/knidge : to heavily press down on; heavy pressure; squeeze
• gniff : to peer, spy
• gnirr/gnoar/gnar(r) : to snarl, growl
• gnisk : to make a weak grin
• gnist/knist : a spark, esp. when used to ignite something
• gnithe : to rub or crush something between one's hands
• gnize : to show a toothy grin
• gnob : to nibble
• gnoust : a live coal, faint in the ashes
• gnornove : room for mourning or penitence; prison cell
• gnoud/gnud (also 'gnew') : to rub s.th. between one's hands.

also :
nosh : to eat in little bites; to eat in small, scattered amounts

There are a few non-Germanic sources for gn- words. For instance, the derivatives of the Greek gnosis (to know), cousins to our English word 'know' :

• gnomon : (1) an object that is used to measure the time of day; the stylus of a sundial;
• ----------- (2) what's left of a parallelogram after removal from it of a similar parallelogram which includes only one of its corners.
• gnostic : one who holds the beliefs of Gnosticism
  
• gnosticism : the belief that one can attain full knowledge of spiritual truth within this 'material' life by way of faith; corrolary beliefs include that such knowledge provides attainment of perfection, and that the 'material' life we live in is a soul-imprisoning evil and needs to be shunned as fully as possible. (See under 'hogwash'.)
• gnotobiotic : describes an organism that has been made clear of bacteria, germs, parasites, and symbionts

Also, these words :

• gnathic : that which relates to the jaw
• gnathitis : infection of the lower jaw
  
• gnome : a small legendary being who lives underground. Their specific purpose was to guard various stores or treasure or valuable resources.
• gnu : an African variety of ox (genera Connochaetes and Gorgon)

KN- WORDS

And now, the kn- words. They have Indo-European roots, reflected mostly in Germanic and (in gn- forms) Greek.

Some of these have to do with knobs, lumps, bumps or clots. I'll clump them together first:

• knag : a knot or limb-stump that sticks out from the tree; a peg to hang things on
• knap : hill crest
• knapsack : a canvas or leather bag strapped onto the back (used for carring supplies while hiking or marching
• knapweed : a plant, genus Centaurea
• knar : (n) a knot in wood
• knasp : bud (see 'knosp')
• knast : clump, lump; esp. of dough, thus, an unshaped loaf of bread
• knead : to work and press into a mass or lump, using one's hands
• kneep/knievel : a lump; a steep hill
• kneeve : fist (when used for fighting)
• kniffle : to muzzle, gag
• knipplings : lace
• knewel/knool : a wood pin fixed at the end of a halter
• knill : stoned; laid inanimate by drink or drugs
• knist : foot bunion
• knit : to form by interlacing thread into a series of connected loops, by way of a needle; thus, to attach fabric together by way of knitting
• knob : a lump, protuberance (for instance, a door handle, or a hill, or a bump in an ornament).
• knoll : a mound or small hill
• knoost : a large lump or chunk;
• knoot : short, fat kid
• knop : a type of ornamental knob
• knosp : a bud-shaped architectural ornament
• knot : an interlacement of the parts of one or more flexible bodies, parts or chords so as to form a lump
• knotlings : pork sausage in casings, knotted into small links
• knurl : (1) a ridge in a series of ridges or grooves on the edge of a metal object (esp. a thumbscrew), to help someone grip it; an edge roll

also:

• gnirls/knirls/nirls : measles, pox, or any other disease that causes one to break out in red skin bumps
• nut : (1) a hard, dry fruit or seed, with a separable shell;
  ----------- (2) any action that is particularly difficult to do;
  ----------- (3) a grooved piece of metal that is used to hold a screw in place;
  ----------- (4) (music:) a ridge on a stringed instrument, located at the top end of the fingerboard, over which the strings pass.
  ----------- (5) cranium; thus, someone whose cranial content is not operating in a proper manner; thus, a wacko, a crazy, a lunatic, one whose actions are insane.

Another group of these words have to do with striking, hitting, pressing or making a percussive sound:

• knall : bang; a loud, heavy sound like that which comes from an explosion
  ------ knall gas : any mixture of gases which, when mixed, turns explosive
  ------ knall out : to lose one's temper; to 'blow up'
• knap : (2) to shape flint or sticks by breaking off pieces by way of quick blows.
• knar : (1) (v) to rattle
• knatter : to crackle, to rumble or roar with energy
• kneck : to fold, crease (clothes)
• knell : to ring a bell or chime, esp, to mark death or disaster
• knide : to beat, strike
• knife : a cutting tool made up of a sharp blade fastened to a handle; designed for easy use by a single hand
• kniff : a crease in fabric
• knipe : to cut or slash someone with a knife
• knirk/knirkle : a crackling or snapping sound
• kniss/kneeze : to bruise by pounding or punching
• knock : to strike something with a sharp blow; to damage with such a blow; thus, to find fault with something/someone
• knockwurst/knackwurst : a short, thick, spicy kind of German sausage
• knout : a knotted leather whip used for torture or punishment
• knuckle : the rounded joints on one's fingers
• knuffle : to poke at playfully, nudge

also :

• nip : (1) to take a pinch off of;
  ---------- (2) to curtail, stop; to enforce an end to something
• nith : a battering ram
• noothe : to hold into place by nail, rivet, or stake
• nop : to pluck something out of something else

There are assorted others as well, which may or may not be related to the above:

• knack : (1) a innate, un-taught capacity for doing something;
  ------------ (2) a trick, stratagem;
  ------------ (3) a task that requires specialized abilities
• knacker : (1) a saddle-like item put on the back of a horse's neck;
  ------------ (2) one who buys old or worn-out livestock or equipment, to sell its parts
• knar : a sharp, loud screech or squeak like that of scraping on a blackboard
• knarple : cartilage
• knave : (1) a servant of early teenage years;
  ------------ (2) a rogue, rascal; one who is unruly or unworthy of trust
• knawel/knawl : a low, spreading weed, genus Seleranthus, esp. annuus.
• knear : the galley of a ship
• knee : the bending-joint of the leg
• kneef : alert, energetic, active, healthy
• kneel : to bend at the knees; to go to the ground on one's knees
• kneardness : persistent effort, diligence
• kneating : (n.) a questioning or disputing of accepted facts
• knetch : to spew, sputter, splash
• knetter : to sputter
• knickpoint : the angle made by a pediment and an adjoining point or peak
• knieburn : an infant not yet able to walk
• knight : a male soldier of special military rank and honor, serving a feudal lord; usually mounted, with protective gear; orig., a young male, usu. teen, who was give the role of personal servant
• knish : a lump of dough filled with potato, and cheese or meat, then fried or baked
• knoar : clever, inventively smart
• knoot : opulent, show-offish, lavish
• knope : a kind of tavern or pub
• know : to perceive or cognize directly; to understand, discern, become familiar with in detail; to have sexual intercourse with
• knuff : to chat, talk familiarly
• knunn : a full-grown hare
• knuse : to bear a heavy load (of freight)
• knushy : thick, hefty, firm, strong

OTHER NOTES

There are a handful of Germanic-rooted words that were hn- at the time of Old English and Old Norse. Like gn- and kn-, they started out with a khn- type sound, then the kh- reduced to a breath (hence hn- forms), then disappeared. In the case of hn-, it was lost even in the spelling by the Middle English period. In sound, the same path was taken by all three combinations, just at different times in history : first hn-, then gn- and kn-.

• nap : a brief period of sleep
• neck : a body part that connects the head with the body
• neigh : the sound of a horse
• nit : egg or larvae of a louse
• nod : to shake one's head in a downward motion (as in dropping off to sleep, or signifying agreement)
• nook : a corner, esp. if obscured or sheltered from view

For those into the word origins of gn- & kn-, I have a tentative page for it. If you have any comments or corrections for any of this stuff, send me a note.

Return to my front page, or the languages front page.