knock|a|bout

knock|a|bout «NOK uh _BOWT», noun, adjective.

–n.

1. a small, easily handled sailboat having one mast, a mainsail, and a jib, but without a bowsprit.

2. something suitable for rough use, such as a car: »

He drives an old knockabout.

3. British. a) slapstick; horseplay: »

There was a distinct note of burlesque in its Restoration knockabout (Punch).

b) the act of knocking about; a boisterous exchange of words, blows, or ideas: »

There was a good party knockabout on pensions on Monday (Punch).

–adj.

1. suitable for rough use: »

A knockabout weekend satchel made of this canvas in tan or navy blue (New Yorker).

2. rough; boisterous; noisy.

3. (of comic acting or writing) characterized by or adept in slapstick and horseplay: »

an excellent knockabout comic, a knockabout farce.

4. characterized by being driven to and fro, or knocking about.

╂[American English < knock + about]