knock

(on a door), prob. also strike a bell: a weak verb; cf. MHG. *knellen (in comp. er-knellen) (a strong verb, pret.*knal, pp.*geknollen), G. knellen, clap, make a loud noise, = Icel. knylla, beat with a blunt weapon; ef. D. knellen, pinch, squeeze, oppre ; parallel with another series.of weak verbs, with a more sonorous vowel, ME. knollen (for *knallen, BE. knoll) = D. knallen = G. knallen = Dan. knalde = Sw. knalla, clap, resound, give a loud report (cf. Icel. gnella (pret. mall), sere am, gnollra, howl, bark); words of imitative origin, or subject to imitative variation, and to be compared with the other imitative series knack, knap1, knock, etc., the forms with final / being more suited to expre a prolonged resounding noise, and in mod. E. confined to the slow, resounding peal of a heavy bell.] I. trans. 1}. To strike; knock. Ther hy were knulled y the putfalle, This eorles ant barouns. Political Songs (ed. Wright), p. 193. 2+. To toll, as a bell; ring for or at a funeral; knoll. His Brederne and Susters shall come to their Gilde-Halle togedre, when the more Belle at Powles chirch is knelled. English Gilds (E. E. T. 8.), p. 189. 3. ee summon by or as if by a knell. [Poetical. “Each matin bell,” the baron saith, « Knells us back to a world of death,” Cole ridge, Christahel, ii. That iron tongue in the tower of yonder old-cathedral 2 has chimed monarchs to their thrones, and knelled them to their tombs. Everett, Ovations, IT, 252. II. in trans. 1. To sound, as a bell, especially as a funeral bell. Not worth a ble ing, nor a bell to knell for thee. Fletcher, Spanish Curate, iv. 1. At every tate o’ Annie’s horse’ mane There hang a silver bell; And there came a wind out frae the south, Which made them a’ to knell Sweet Willie and Fair Annie (Child’s Ballads, 11. 136). Henee—2. To sound as an omen or a warning of coming evil. [Rare.] Hawks are whistling; horns are knelling. Scott, Hunting Song (1808). knell (nel), ». [