knave
UK: neɪv | US: neɪv
n. 1. A dishonest or unscrupulous man; a rogue.
n. 2. (Archaic) A male servant or menial worker.
n. 3. (Cards) The jack in a deck of playing cards.
The word "knave" traces back to Old English cnafa, meaning "boy" or "male servant," akin to German Knabe (boy). Over time, its meaning shifted pejoratively, reflecting societal distrust of servants or lower-class men, eventually settling on "dishonest person." In card games, the jack was historically deemed the lowest court card, reinforcing the term's association with low status or trickery.
The tale portrays the king’s advisor as a cunning knave.
In medieval times, a knave often performed humble tasks for nobles.
He played the knave of hearts to win the trick.
The merchant was cheated by a knave posing as a nobleman.
Shakespeare’s fools often outwit the knaves in his plays.