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English word knave comes from Proto-Indo-European *gen-, and later Proto-Germanic *knabô (A boy, a youth. A knob.)
*gen- (Proto-Indo-European)
to pinch, squeeze, bend, press together, ball3, to pinch, squeeze, bend, press, ball up
*gnebʰ- (Proto-Indo-European)
to press, tighten
*knabô (Proto-Germanic)
A boy, a youth. A knob.
cnafa (Old English)
Boy; lad; young man.
knafe (Middle English)
knave (English)
(archaic) A boy; especially, a boy servant.. (archaic) Any male servant; a menial.. (cards) A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or soldier; a jack.. A tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person.