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Literary notes about Knap (AI summary)

The word “knap” assumes a variety of roles in literature, shifting in meaning according to context. In many works it designates a topographical feature—a hill or mound—from which characters observe or depart, as seen in phrases like “upon the knap” on high ground [1, 2, 3, 4]. In other texts it forms part of compound terms such as “knap‐sack,” underscoring a practical, travel-related function, whether it's carrying provisions or military gear [5, 6, 7, 8, 9]. As a verb, “knap” conveys the act of striking or breaking with a sharp impact, a sense vividly captured in expressions that highlight abrupt, forceful action [10, 11, 12]. Finally, the term enters the narrative as a proper name or nickname, lending an archaic local flavor to characters or locations [13, 14, 15].
  1. And 'tis on the knap afore the old captain's house at Mistover.
    — from The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
  2. On the knap of the hill the Major turned for a last look.
    — from The Mayor of Troy by Arthur Quiller-Couch
  3. "A bit of a nip" they call the sharp road on the way to Lansallos, by which you see that the old word "knap," for a hill, is degenerating.
    — from The Cornish Coast (South), and the Isles of Scilly by Charles G. (Charles George) Harper
  4. The Quiet Woman Inn was visible on the low margin of the heath in one direction, and afar on the other hand rose Mistover Knap.
    — from The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
  5. He planned to load his knap-sack upon it.
    — from The Red Badge of Courage: An Episode of the American Civil War by Stephen Crane
  6. Lord Mountclair had me on the telephone, last night—" "Also a good, heavy walking-stick, Baxter, and a knap-sack."
    — from The Money Moon: A Romance by Jeffery Farnol
  7. He went to his room, strapped on his heavy knap-sack, and came down stairs.
    — from Veronica by Johanna Spyri
  8. In my knap-sack I had water, hard tacks and other food."
    — from Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States, From Interviews with Former SlavesVirginia Narratives by United States. Work Projects Administration
  9. When we first started from Thomasville one of the guards came up to me and said, 'Yank, I want you to carry this knap-sack.
    — from The Dispatch Carrier and Memoirs of Andersonville Prison by William N. (William Nelson) Tyler
  10. Also, a blow or correction, as "you'll knap it," for some misdeed.
    — from The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by W. H. (William Henry) Smyth
  11. [79] —knapp'd ginger, ; To knap is to break short.
    — from Shakespeare's play of the Merchant of Venice Arranged for Representation at the Princess's Theatre, with Historical and Explanatory Notes by Charles Kean, F.S.A. by William Shakespeare
  12. Knap , v. to snap, break with a noise, SkD; imp.
    — from The United States Bill of Rights The Ten Original Amendments to the Constitution of the United States by United States
  13. At Groton, a spirit controlling the form of Elizabeth Knap, in 1671, made avowal that he was “a pretty black boy, and not Satan.”
    — from Witchcraft of New England Explained by Modern Spiritualism by Allen Putnam
  14. The sellers of herbs … shall stand from Knap Hall towards Quatervois.
    — from Extracts Relating to Mediaeval Markets and Fairs in England by Helen Douglas-Irvine
  15. Knap’s Independent Pennsylvania Battery “E” supported Mansfield’s corps.
    — from Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland by Frederick Tilberg

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