knock-up en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
Deverbal from knock up.
Meanings
-
A short practice session before a tennis match.
In the way of friendly knockups I played at times with both the Renshaws and Lawford, but at that time there is no doubt that they were better than I was.
1932, American Lawn Tennis, volume 26, page 72:
-
Something constructed shoddily or hastily.
One of those unadorned late-fifties hillside knockups posing as intentionally contemporary but really the product of a tight construction budget.
2000, Jonathan Kellerman, Monster, page 47:
-
(slang) A pregnancy.
When will we wake up? I see young girls pregnant and young boys adding up their “knock-ups” like a scorecard at a mob gambling venue.
2016, Veronica Valles, Back To The Center, page 54:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| knockup | alternative | lexicographic | |
| knock-ups | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
Translations (3)
ru разминка (short practise session) · pl rozgrzewka (short practise session) · it palleggio (short practise session)