English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com

knave

The origin and history of knave.

Etymology

From Old English cnafa, originally just meaning "boy" or "male servant." Over the centuries the word's meaning darkened from a harmless term for a young servant into one for a dishonest, untrustworthy man.

← Back to the full definition of knave
Etymology from freedict-original, original.