1369, "deception, trick, device," of uncertain origin, probably from a Low Ger. word meaning "a sharp sounding blow" (cf. M.E. knak, c.1380; Ger. knacken "to crack"), of imitative origin. Sense of "special skill" is first recorded 1581, if this is in fact the same word.
a special way of doing something; "he had a bent for it"; "he had a special knack for getting into trouble"; "he couldn't get the hang of it" [syn: bent]
Knack\, v. i. [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. G. knacken to break, Dan. knage to crack, and E. knock.]1. To crack; to make a sharp, abrupt noise to chink. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] --Bp. Hall. 2. To speak affectedly. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.
Knack\, n. 1. A petty contrivance; a toy; a plaything; a knickknack. A knack, a toy, a trick, a baby's cap. --Shak. 2. A readiness in performance; aptness at doing something; skill; facility; dexterity. The fellow . . . has not the knack with his shears. --B. Jonson. The dean was famous in his time, And had a kind of knack at rhyme. --Swift. 3. Something performed, or to be done, requiring aptness and dexterity; a trick; a device. "The knacks of japers." --Chaucer. For how should equal colors do the knack ! --Pope.
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
Audio Help [nak] Pronunciation Key 
