Old English cnafa "boy, male servant," common Germanic (cognates: Old High German knabo "boy, youth, servant," German knabe "boy, lad," also probably related to Old English cnapa "boy, youth, servant," Old Norse knapi "servant boy," Dutch knaap "a youth, servant," Middle High German knappe "a young squire," German Knappe "squire, shield-bearer"). The original meaning might have been "stick, piece of wood" [Klein]. Sense of "rogue, rascal" first recorded c. 1200. In playing cards, "the jack," 1560s.
双语例句
1. the knave of clubs
梅花杰克
来自《权威词典》
2. Once a knave, ever a knave.
一次成无赖, 永远是无赖.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. Better be a fool than a knave.
宁做傻瓜,不做无赖.
来自《简明英汉词典》
4. A crafty knave needs no broker.
狡猾的无赖无需中间人.
来自《简明英汉词典》
5. You look a fool at the best, and a knave at worst.
