A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1584-1676
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Knavish, Knaifish, a. Also: knavis(he, knewish; knaifveishe. [e.m.E. knavish, e.m.E. and ME. knavyssh (Chaucer), f. Knave n.] Knavish, rascally. Also comb. with -lyke.(a) 1586 Gray Lett. & P. 107.
He [King James] is content how strictly she [Mary] be keipit, and all hir auld knaifish servantis heingit 1614 Glasgow Weavers 65.
In calling him ane knaifveische knave(b) 1597 James VI Daemonol. 46.
That knauish and cunning woorkeman [sc. the Devil] a1585 Polwart Flyt. 606 (T).
Sua knavishe, cankerd, execrabill And vareit ane wicht 1623 Elgin Rec. II. 180.
Ye hawe bein in England and that is ane Englisch knewish trik 1669 Rothesay B. Rec. 171.
Thair officer being … knawin to be faultie and knavis in his officecomb. 1676 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 240.
The matter being so knavish lyke, nevertheless I was offered reparatioun
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"Knavish adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/knavish>
