KNAVE. A false, dishonest, or deceitful person. This signification of the word has arisen by a long perversion of its original meaning. 2. To call a man a knave has been held to be actionable. 1 Rolle's Ab. 52; 1 Freem. 277.,

Source: Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
 

Knave \Knave\ (n[=a]v), n. [OE., boy, servant, knave, AS. cnafa boy, youth; cf. AS. cnapa boy, youth, D. knaap, G. knabe boy, knappe esquire, Icel. knapi, Sw. knape esquire, kn[aum]fvel knave.]

1. A boy; especially, a boy servant. [Obs.]

--Wyclif. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

O murderous slumber, Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy That plays thee music ? Gentle knave, good night. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. Any male servant; a menial. [Obs.]

--Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

He's but Fortune's knave, A minister of her will. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. A tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person; a rogue; a villain. "A pair of crafty knaves." --Shak. [1913 Webster]

In defiance of demonstration, knaves will continue to proselyte fools. --Ames. [1913 Webster]

Note: "How many serving lads must have been unfaithful and dishonest before knave -- which meant at first no more than boy -- acquired the meaning which it has now !" --Trench. [1913 Webster]

4. A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or soldier; a jack; as, the knave of hearts. [1913 Webster]

Knave child, a male child. [Obs.]

--Chaucer.

Syn: Villain; cheat; rascal; rogue; scoundrel; miscreant. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Varlet \Var"let\, n. [OF. varlet, vaslet, vallet, servant, young man, young noble, dim. of vassal. See Vassal, and cf. Valet.]

[1913 Webster]

1. A servant, especially to a knight; an attendant; a valet; a footman. [Obs.]

--Spenser. Tusser. [1913 Webster]

2. Hence, a low fellow; a scoundrel; a rascal; as, an impudent varlet. [1913 Webster]

What a brazen-faced varlet art thou ! --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. In a pack of playing cards, the court card now called the knave, or jack. [Obs.]

[1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

77 Moby Thesaurus words for "knave": ace, bad boy, bastard, best bower, blackguard, booger, bower, buffoon, bugger, cards, clubs, cutup, deck, deuce, devil, diamonds, dummy, elf, enfant terrible, face cards, flush, full house, funmaker, hand, hearts, heel, hood, hoodlum, hooligan, imp, jack, joker, jokester, king, left bower, little devil, little monkey, little rascal, lowlife, minx, mischief, mischief-maker, miscreant, pack, pair, picture cards, pixie, playing cards, practical joker, prankster, precious rascal, puck, queen, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, round, rowdy, royal flush, rubber, ruff, ruffian, scalawag, scamp, scapegrace, scoundrel, shyster, singleton, sneak, spades, spalpeen, straight, trey, trick, trump, villain, wag

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

knave

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Knave \Knave\, n. [OE., boy, servant, knave, AS. cnafa boy, youth; cf. AS. cnapa boy, youth, D. kna?p, G. knabe boy, knappe esquire, Icel. knapi, Sw. knape esquire, kn["a]fvel knave.]

1. A boy; especially, a boy servant. [Obs.]

--Wyclif. Chaucer.

O murderous slumber, Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy That plays thee music ? Gentle knave, good night. --Shak.

2. Any male servant; a menial. [Obs.]

--Chaucer.

He's but Fortune's knave, A minister of her will. --Shak.

3. A tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person; a rogue; a villain. ``A pair of crafty knaves.'' --Shak.

In defiance of demonstration, knaves will continue to proselyte fools. --Ames.

Note: ``How many serving lads must have been unfaithful and dishonest before knave -which meant at first no more than boy -- acquired the meaning which it has now !'' --Trench.

4. A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or soldier; a jack.

Knave child, a male child. [Obs.]

--Chaucer.

Syn: Villain; cheat; rascal; rogue; scoundrel; miscreant.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)