knoll

¹

[ nohl ]

noun

1. a small, rounded hill or eminence; hillock.

knoll

²

[ nohl ]

verb (used with object)

1. to ring or toll a bell for; announce by tolling.
2. to ring or toll (a bell).

verb (used without object)

1. to sound, as a bell; ring.
2. to sound a knell.

noun

1. a stroke of a bell in ringing or tolling.

knoll

¹

/ nəʊl /

noun

1. an archaic or dialect word for knell

knoll

²

/ nəʊl /

noun

1. a small rounded hill

Derived Forms

• ˈknoller, noun
• ˈknolly, adjective

Other Words From

• knolly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of knoll¹

before 900; Middle English cnol, Old English cnoll; cognate with Norwegian knoll hillock; akin to Dutch knol turnip, Icelandic knollur, German Knollen, Danish knold tuber

Origin of knoll²

1350–1400; Middle English (noun and v.); variant of knell

Word History and Origins

Origin of knoll¹

Old English cnoll; compare Old Norse knollr hilltop

Example Sentences

“They were shots fired from different grassy knolls,” Mr. Cogdell said in an interview.

From New York Times

During the afternoon, we sprawled out on a grassy knoll by the beach.

From Los Angeles Times

For Kennedy assassination followers, the allegation inevitably brings to mind the purported second shooter on the “grassy knoll” in Dallas’ Dealey Plaza on Nov. 22, 1963.

From Los Angeles Times

Finally, a driver came to the rescue, jumping out of his car and racing onto the knoll, baiting the turkey to give chase.

From Seattle Times

Highway 50, where the Caldor Fire had continued burning out of control toward Lake Tahoe, Safford parked his SUV and scrambled up a rocky knoll to point out a slope barren of trees.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• bluff
• cliff
• dune
• hilltop
• promontory
• ridge