KNAP

chip, knap, cut off, break off

(verb) break a small piece off from; “chip the glass”; “chip a tooth”

rap, knap

(verb) strike sharply; “rap him on the knuckles”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Verb

knap (third-person singular simple present knaps, present participle knapping, simple past and past participle knapped)

(transitive) To shape a brittle material having conchoidal fracture, usually a mineral (flint, obsidian, chert etc.), by breaking away flakes, often forming a sharp edge or point.

(transitive) To rap or strike sharply.

(obsolete, UK, dialect) To bite; to bite off; to break short.

To make a sound of snapping.

Usage notes

(to shape a brittle material) In modern usage knap is restricted to the specific technique of percussion flaking whereby flakes are removed across an entire face or facet leaving a conchoidal fracture. It is distinguished from the more general verb chip and is different from "carve" (removing only part of a face), and "cleave" (breaking along a natural plane). The term is used in archaeology for the production of flaked stone tools and in gunsmithing for the production of gunflints. Knap is rarely used in stonemasonry except to denote fine chipping done with smaller hammers but without the chisel.

Synonyms

• (break flakes from brittle material): chip

Noun

knap (plural knaps)

A sharp blow or slap.

Etymology 2

Noun

knap (plural knaps) (chiefly dialect)

A protuberance; a swelling; a knob.

The crest of a hill

A small hill

Source: Wiktionary

Knap, n. Etym: [AS. cnæp, cnæpp, top, knob, button; cf. Icel. knappr knob, Sw. knapp, Dan. knap button, W., Gael., & Ir. cnap knob, button, and E. knop.]

Definition: A protuberance; a swelling; a knob; a button; hence, rising ground; a summit. See Knob, and Knop. The highest part and knap of the same island. Holland.

Knap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Knapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Knapping.] Etym: [D. knappen to chew, bite, crack, take hold of; prob. of imitative origin.]

1. To bite; to bite off; to break short. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] He will knap the spears apieces with his teeth. Dr. H. More. He breaketh the bow, and knappeth the spear in sunder. Ps. xlvi. 9 (Book of Common Prayer.)

2. To strike smartly; to rap; to snap. Bacon.

Knap, v. i.

Definition: To make a sound of snapping. Wiseman.

Knap, n.

Definition: A sharp blow or slap. Halliwell.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition