e idea of any
work, however light, being relaxation; just as giving up taking in heavy
beams of timber and being set to carry deals, is not really knocking off
work.

KNOLL. The top of a rounded hill; the head of a bank, or the most
elevated part of a submarine shoal. [Perhaps derived from _nowl_, a
provincialism for head.]

KNOPP. _See_ KNAP.

KNOT. A large knob formed on the extremity of a rope, generally by
untwisting its ends, and interweaving them regularly among each other;
of these there are several sorts, differing in form, size, and name, as
diamond knot, kop knot, overhand knot, reef knot, shroud knot, stopper
knot, single wall knot, double wall knot. The bowline knot is so firmly
made, and fastened to the cringles of the sails, that they must break,
or the sails split, before it will slip. (_See_ RUNNING BOWLINE.) The
sheepshank knot serves to shorten a rope without cutting it, and may be
presently loosened. The wall-knot is so made with the lays of a rope
that it cannot slip, and serves for sheets, tacks, and stoppers. Knots
are generally used to act as a button, in preventing the end of a rope
from slipping through the hole of a dead-eye, or through the turns of a
laniard, by which they are sometimes made fast to other ropes.--_Knot_
also implies a division on the log line, bearing a similar proportion to
a mile, which half a minute does to an hour; that is, it is 1/120 of a
mile; hence we say, the ship was going 8 knots, signifying 8 miles per
hour. Indeed, in nautical parlance, the words knot and mile are
synonyms, alluding to the geographical mile of 60' to a degree of
latitude.

KNOWL. A term commonly given to the summits of elevated lands in the
west of England, therefore probably the same as _knoll_.

KNOWLEDGE. In admiralty law, opposed to ignorance, and the want of which
is liable to heavy penalty.

KNUCKLE. A sudden angle made on some timbers by a quick reverse of
shape, such as the knuckles of the counter-timbers.

KNUCKLE-RAILS. Those mouldings which are placed at the knuckles of the
stern-timbers.

KNUCKLE-TIMBERS. The top-timbers in the fore-body, the heads of which
stand perpendicular, and form an angle with the flare or hollow of the
top-side.

KNUCKLE-UNDER. Obey your superior's order; give way to circumstances.

KNURRT. Stunted; not freely grown.

KOFF. A large Dutch coasting trader, fitted with two masts, and sails
set with sprits.

KOMETA. A captain formerly elected in th