▪ I. knag, n.1
(næg)
Forms: 5 knage, 5–7 knagge, 5, 9 knagg, 6– knag.
[ME. knag or knagge = G. (orig. LG.) knagge knot, peg, etc., whence prob. Da. knag, Sw. knagg. Gael. cnag may be from Sc. knag v. and knagged, regarded as derivatives of this word, are evidenced before it.]
1. A short spur or stiff projection from the trunk or branch of a tree, as the stunted dead branch of a pine or fir; hence, a peg or hook for hanging anything on.
| c 1440 Syr Gowghter 194 in Utterson Early Poetry I. 169 He made prestes and clerkes to lepe on cragges, Monkes and freres to hong on knagges. c 1440 Bone Flor. 1795 Take here the golde in a bagg, I schall hyt hynge on a knagg, At the schypp borde ende. 1483 Cath. Angl. 204/2 A knage. 1535 Lyndesay Satyre 3090 (Bannatyne MS.) It will hurt bettir,..Richt now, quhen ye hing on a knag. 1662 in Pitcairn Crim. Trials III. 605 It wes hung wp wpon an knag. 18.. Hogg Tales & Sk. (1838) III. 250 Where is my cloak?.. It is hanging on one of the wooden knags in the garret. |
† 2. One of the knobs or points of a stag's horn; a tine. Obs.
| 1578 Bannister Hist. Man i. 3 Sharpe but not so slender, as the knagge of a hartes horne. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 324 The ashes of Harts horn serueth..the very tip and points of the knags are thought more effectuall. 1603 ― Plutarch's Mor. 1276 Woonderfull hornes for bignesse, and most dangerous by reason of their sharpe and branching knagges. 1657 W. Coles Adam in Eden ccxxxviii, [Leaves] gashed in on both sides into three or four gashes, and pointed at the ends, resembling the Knaggs of a Bucks-horne. |
3. A knot in wood, the base of a branch.
| 1555 W. Watreman Fardle Facions i. iii. 37 Trees..of a wondrefull heigth, smothe, and without knagge or knotte. 1639 T. de Grey Compl. Horsem. 41 If the staffe have knags or knots upon it. 1706 Phillips, Knag, a Knot in Wood. 1852 Seidel Organ 44 The knots and knags in the wood are glued over with leather. |
4. A pointed rock or crag.
| 1552 Huloet, Knagge, scopulus. 1825 Brockett, Knaggs, pointed rocks, or rugged tops of hills. |
▪ II. knag, n.2 Sc.
[Origin uncertain: cf. noggin.]
A small cask or barrel; a keg.
| a 1585 Polwart Flyting w. Montgomerie 790 Buttrie bag, fill knag! thou will rag with thy fellows. 1596 Compt Buik Dav. Wedderburne (S.H.S.) 46 Ane Knag of Vinacre. 1703 Rules Edin. Fire Co. in Maitland Hist. Edinb. v. (1753) 329 Threttie sex Stings with Knags..whereof sex standing full of Water. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 8 (Jam.) To slock our drouth's a knag o' berry brown. |
Hence ˈknaggie (dim.), a small wooden vessel (of the capacity of a pint or so) with an upright handle. Sc.
▪ III. † knag, n.3 Sc. Obs.
The Woodpecker.
| 1639 Sir R. Gordon Gen. Hist. Earls Sutherland 3 In these fforests..steares or stirlings, lair-igigh or knag (which is a foull like unto a paroket or parret, which makes place for her nest with her beck in the oak tree). 1769 De Foe's Tour Gt. Brit. IV. 261. |
▪ IV. † knag, v. Obs.
Also 5 gnag.
[f. knag n.1]
trans. To hang, fasten up.
| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 577 Greuez With polaynez piched þer-to,..Aboute his knez knaged wyth knotez of golde. c 1450 Cov. Myst. xli. (Shaks. Soc.) 384 Sweche schul ben..gnaggyd up by the gomys tyl the devyl doth hem grone. |
▪ V. knag etc.,
early var. nag v., etc.