knob etymology

Etymology and Meaning of "Knob"

The word "knob" has multiple etymological origins:

1. Middle English "knoppe" - Meaning: A knot or lump - Origin: Old English "cnæp" (a knob or button)

2. Middle Dutch "knobbe" - Meaning: A small, rounded lump - Origin: Proto-Germanic "*knapp-" (to strike or hammer)

3. Scots "knapp" - Meaning: A small hill or prominence - Origin: Uncertain, possibly related to the Germanic root "*knapp-"

Thus, the word "knob" originally referred to a small, rounded protrusion, whether on a person's body, an object, or a landscape feature.

Modern Meaning and Usage

Today, "knob" has the following meanings:

• A rounded or spherical projection or handle used to control a device (e.g., a door knob, temperature knob)
• A small, rounded lump or protuberance (e.g., a skin knob)
• A small hill or prominence (used primarily in Scotland)
• A person who is short and stout

knob relate terms

• door knob

  Etymology Door Middle English dore from Old English dor from Proto Germanic dur

• door

  Etymology The word door comes from the Old English word dor pronounced door whi

• knob

  Etymology and Meaning of Knob The word knob has multiple etymological origins 1 Mi

• gnarled

  Etymology The word gnarled is derived from the Middle English word gnarren which me

• knob

  Etymology and Meaning of Knob The word knob has multiple etymological origins 1 Mi

• knock

  Etymology Middle English knokken from Old English cnocian Germanic root knut to

• knuckle

  Etymology The word knuckle is derived from the Old English word cnucl which referred

• knoll

  Etymology The word knoll comes from Middle English knolle which itself is derived f

• knurl

  Etymology The word knurl is derived from the Middle English word knur meaning a knot

• gnarl

  Etymology Middle English gnarre knarre Old English cnearran cnyssan Proto Germanic

• gnarly

  Etymology The word gnarly is believed to have originated from the Proto Germanic root

• pommel

  Etymology The word pommel comes from the Old French word pumel which means a knob

• boss

  Etymology The word boss has a long and complex etymology derived from several languag

• bolero

  Etymology and Origin Bolero is derived from the Spanish bolero which originally me

• stud

  Etymology The word stud originates from the Middle English word studde which in turn

• bull

  Etymology The word bull comes from the Middle English word bulle which in turn came

• bullet

  Etymology Old French boulete Medieval Latin bulleta Late Latin bulla Meaning

• newel

  Etymology Of uncertain origin It was originally spelled newell and the el has bee

• post

  Etymology From Middle English post from Anglo Norman and Old French post from Latin p

• spot

  Etymology The word spot traces its origins back to Old English OE specifically to t

• stop

  Etymology The word stop comes from the Middle English word stoppen which itself deri