Lexic.us

Definition of Knock up

1. Verb. Make pregnant. "He impregnated his wife again"

Definition of Knock up

1. Verb. (colloquial) To put together, fabricate, or assemble, particularly if done hastily or temporarily. See also (term knock together). (defdate from 16th c.) ¹

2. Verb. (British) To awaken (someone) as by knocking at the door; rouse; call; summon; also, to go door-to-door on election day to persuade a candidate's supporters to go to the polling station and vote. See also (term knocker up). (defdate from 17th c.) ¹

3. Verb. (dated) To exhaust; wear out; weary; beat; tire out; to fatigue until unable to do more. (defdate from 18th c.) ¹

4. Verb. (dated intransitive) To become exhausted or worn out; to fail of strength; to become wearied, as with labor; to give out. (defdate from 18th c.) ¹

5. Verb. (slang) To impregnate, especially out of wedlock. See '''knocked up'''. (defdate from 19th c.) ¹

6. Verb. (context: racket sports intransitive) To gently hit the ball back and forth before a tennis match, as practice or warm-up, and to gauge the state of the playing surface, lighting, etc. See '''knock-up'''. (defdate from 19th c.) ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Knock Up

Literary usage of Knock up

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The London Magazine by John Scott, John Taylor (1826)
"The friends of " life"—but strive their cares to drown— In lush, and max, and heavy—ah, for who, Who shall knock up, whom death has once knock'd down ? ..."

2. In the Land of the Lion and Sun, Or, Modern Persia: Being Experiences of by Charles James Wills (1891)
"... to post—-Reach Teheran—Obtain leave—Difficulty at Kasvin—Punishment of the postmaster—Catch and pass the courier—Horses knock up —Wild beasts—Light a ..."

3. With H.M. 9th Lancers During the Indian Mutiny: The Letters of Brevet-major by Octavius Henry St. George Anson (1896)
"I hope he will not knock up. We are pitched in a dense jungle. We cannot remain in it with any safety, so I have no doubt we shall move ten miles on ..."

4. Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine (1849)
"He'll soon knock up. Those long fellows always knock up."—" Shouldn't wonder if he gets the fever next autumn. Then what will his mammy say ? ..."

5. A Zulu-English Dictionary with Notes on Pronunciation: With Notes on by Alfred T. Bryant (1905)
"or a man drinking off a great pot of beer (ace. = guba); knock up against one's foot, trip up, as a stone projecting in one's path might a person (ace. ..."

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