etymology · 900s–1200s
knave
Drift #20 · Jun 1, 2026 · status
Meaning comparison
Today it means
an archaic term for a dishonest person; also a jack in a deck of cards
It used to mean (900s–1200s)
a boy; a male child; a male servant
Etymology
'Knave' comes from Old English 'cnafa' — a boy, a male child, then a male servant. As servants were considered base and untrustworthy, the word drifted downward from 'boy' to 'low servant' to 'rogue.' The playing-card jack was originally called the knave — the lowest male court card.
The Drift
How the meaning shifted over time
the drift
In Historical Context
The merchant sent his knave to the market at dawn to secure a good price for the cloth before the other traders arrived.
drift fact
When playing cards came to England, the lowest male court card was called the 'knave' — later renamed 'jack' to avoid confusion with the 'king.'
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