v. t. To call knave. [ Obs. ] Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE., boy, servant, knave, AS. cnafa boy, youth; cf. AS. cnapa boy, youth, D. knaap, G. knabe boy, knappe esquire, Icel. knapi, Sw. knape esquire, knäfvel knave. ] 1. A boy; especially, a boy servant. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

O murderous slumber,
Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy
That plays thee music ? Gentle knave, good night. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any male servant; a menial. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

He's but Fortune's knave,
A minister of her will. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person; a rogue; a villain. “A pair of crafty knaves.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

In defiance of demonstration, knaves will continue to proselyte fools. Ames. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ “How many serving lads must have been unfaithful and dishonest before knave -- which meant at first no more than boy -- acquired the meaning which it has now !” Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or soldier; a jack; as, the knave of hearts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Knave child, a male child. [ Obs. ] Chaucer.

Syn. -- Villain; cheat; rascal; rogue; scoundrel; miscreant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Knaveries 1. The practices of a knave; petty villainy; fraud; trickery; a knavish action. [ 1913 Webster ]

This is flat knavery, to take upon you another man's name. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. Roguish or mischievous tricks. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A small due, in meal, established by usage, which is paid to the under miller. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A knavish woman. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. nef, fr. L. navis ship, to which the church was often likened; akin to Gr. nay`archo`s, Skr. nāus, and perh. to AS. naca boat, G. nachen, Icel. nökkvi; cf. L. nare to swim, float. Cf. Nausea, Nautical, Naval. ] (Arch.) The middle or body of a church, extending from the transepts to the principal entrances, or, if there are no transepts, from the choir to the principal entrance, but not including the aisles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. nafu; akin to D. naaf, G. nabe, OHG. naba, Icel. nöf, Dan. nav, Sw. naf, Skr. nābhi nave and navel: cf. L. umbo boss of a shield. √260. Cf. Navel. ] 1. The block in the center of a wheel, from which the spokes radiate, and through which the axle passes; -- called also hub or hob. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The navel. [ Obs. ] hak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. nafela, fr. nafu nave; akin to D. navel, G. nabel, OHG. nabolo, Icel. nafli, Dan. navle, Sw. nafle, L. umbilicus, Gr. 'omfalo`s, Skr. nābhīla. √260. See Nave hub, and cf. Omphalic, Nombril, Umbilical. ] 1. (Anat.) A mark or depression in the middle of the abdomen; the umbilicus; called also belly button in humans. See Umbilicus. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The central part or point of anything; the middle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Within the navel of this hideous wood,
Immured in cypress shades, a sorcerer dwells. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Gun.) An eye on the under side of a carronade for securing it to a carriage. [ 1913 Webster ]

Navel gall, a bruise on the top of the chine of the back of a horse, behind the saddle. Johnson. --
Navel point. (Her.) Same as Nombril. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A type of orange in which the fruit incloses a small secondary fruit, the rind showing on the exterior a navel-like pit or depression at the apex. There are several varieties; they are usually seedless, or nearly so, and are much grown in California. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. The umbilical cord. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A European perennial succulent herb (Cotyledon umbilicus), having round, peltate leaves with a central depression; -- also called pennywort, and kidneywort. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. navel, naveau, a dim. fr. L. napus navew. Cf. Napiform. ] (Bot.) A kind of small turnip, a variety of Brassica campestris. See Brassica. [ Written also naphew. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To surpass in knavery. [ 1913 Webster ]