knack

Pronunciation: /næk/

The English word “knack” has 5 meanings listed here.

noun

A readiness in performance; aptness at doing something.
A petty contrivance; a toy.
Something performed, or to be done, requiring aptness and dexterity.

verb

To crack; to make a sharp, abrupt noise; to chink.
To speak affectedly.

Etymology

Late Middle English, use as "special skill" from 1580. Possibly from 14th century Middle English krak, knack (“a sharp sound or blow”), knakke, knakken, from Middle Low German and of imitative origin, similar to Dutch knak (“snap, crack”). Latter cognate to German knacken (“to crack”). See also crack.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.