Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A certain quantity of grain or meal from a grinding, to which the servant (knave) of a mill was legally entitled.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Scot. A small due, in meal, established by usage, which is paid to the under miller.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun uncountable The condition of being a knave (used mockingly)
  • noun countable (obsolete) (Scotland) A quantity of corn or flour due to a miller's servant from each batch in a thirlage mill

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Above all, she could not understand why, since she had acquaintances in the family, and since the Dame Glendinning had always paid her multure and knaveship duly, the said lass of the mill had not come in to rest herself and eat a morsel, and tell her the current news of the water.

    The Monastery 2008

  • “And I marvel thy knaveship knows him not on professional acquaintance,” replied Ramorny; “but I see thy nose is unslit, thy ears yet uncropped, and if thy shoulders are scarred or branded, thou art wise for using a high collared jerkin.”

    The Fair Maid of Perth 2008

  • Above all, she could not understand why, since she had acquaintances in the family, and since the Dame Glendinning had always paid her multure and knaveship duly, the said lass of the mill had not come in to rest herself and eat a morsel, and tell her the current news of the water.

    The Monastery Walter Scott 1801

  • "And I marvel thy knaveship knows him not on professional acquaintance," replied Ramorny; "but I see thy nose is unslit, thy ears yet uncropped, and if thy shoulders are scarred or branded, thou art wise for using a high collared jerkin."

    The Fair Maid of Perth St. Valentine's Day Walter Scott 1801

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