knock up

K k

Definitions of knock up words

verb without object knock up to strike a sounding blow with the fist, knuckles, or anything hard, especially on a door, window, or the like, as in seeking admittance, calling attention, or giving a signal: to knock on the door before entering. 1
verb without object knock up to strike in collision; bump: He knocked into a table. 1
verb without object knock up to make a pounding noise: The engine of our car is knocking badly. 1
verb without object knock up Informal. to engage in trivial or carping criticism; find fault. 1
verb without object knock up Cards. to end a game, as in gin rummy, by laying down a hand in which those cards not included in sets total less than a specific amount. 1
verb with object knock up to give a sounding or forcible blow to; hit; strike; beat. 1

before 1000

One of the 6% oldest English words

before 1000; 1890-95 for def 4; Middle English knokken, knoken (v.), Old English cnocian, cnucian; cognate with Old Norse knoka to thump, knock

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adjective

verb

adverb

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preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 93% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer