knavish

American  

[ney-vish] / ˈneɪ vɪʃ /

adjective

1. like or befitting a knave; untrustworthy; dishonest.

2. Archaic. waggish; roguish; mischievous.

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Other Word Forms

• knavishly adverb
• knavishness noun

Etymology

Origin of knavish

First recorded in 1350–1400, knavish is from the Middle English word knavyssh. See knave, -ish ¹

Explanation

Use the word knavish to describe someone who is mischievous, like a rascal or a hooligan. Their knavish behavior might seem playful, but it can be dangerously thoughtless. Since the 14th century, this adjective has been used to mean "low or vulgar" or "like a knave" though both knave and knavish are rarely used these days. A knave was originally simply "a boy." As time went on, the word gained negative connotations, meaning "rogue or rascal" by the 1200s. So anyone who acts in a rascally way — playing pranks, being disobedient, or teasing little kids — is knavish.

Example Sentences

His DJ, on the other hand, is a knavish Han Solo type without a mitigating heroic streak.

From The Verge • Mar. 30, 2018

Gentle readers will recall that this is the Shakespeare play in which, among a great many other things, a knavish sprite named Puck turns a man into an ass.

From Salon • Jun. 28, 2017

Ms. Steinmetz’s partner, John Russell, who plays the knavish John Willoughby, met the Bedlam crowd through her.

From New York Times • Jul. 13, 2016

The phrase "Thy choicest gifts in store" sounds like a supermarket advert, and "knavish tricks" is all too reminiscent of the Bullingdon Club.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2016

I thought of the knavish Edmund and his dark desires.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein