different between nab vs knab

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /næb/
• Rhymes: -æb

Etymology 1

From dialectal nap (“to seize, lay hold of”), probably of North Germanic origin, from Old Swedish nappa (“to pluck, pinch”).

Related to Danish nappe (“to tweak, snatch at, catch, seize”), Swedish nappa (“to take, grab, pinch”), Norwegian nappe (“to pluck”).

Alternative forms

• knab

Verb

nab (third-person singular simple present nabs, present participle nabbing, simple past and past participle nabbed)

1. (informal, transitive) To seize, arrest or take into custody (a criminal or fugitive).
   • 1887, Anna Katharine Green, 7 to 12, A Detective Story, G. P. Putnam's Sons, page 2:

     As I was going out of the door, a fellow detective came hurriedly in. "Nabbed them," cried he.
2. (informal, transitive) To grab or snatch something.

Synonyms

• (arrest a criminal or fugitive): nick, bust, cop

Derived terms

• nabber
• kidnap

Translations

Etymology 2

Compare knap, knop, knob.

Noun

nab (plural nabs)

1. The summit of an eminence.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Halliwell to this entry?)

2. The cock of a gunlock.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Knight to this entry?)

3. (locksmithing) The keeper, or box into which the lock is shot.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Knight to this entry?)

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “nab”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

Anagrams

• ABN, BAN, BNA, Ban, NBA, ban

Northern Kurdish

Adjective

nab

1. pure

Southeastern Tepehuan

Etymology

Cognate with Northern Tepehuan návoi, O'odham nav, Central Tarahumara napó, Mayo naabo, Hopi naavu.

Noun

nab

1. prickly pear cactus (clarification of this definition is needed)

Derived terms

• nab junma?n

References

• R. de Willett, Elizabeth, et al. (2016) Diccionario tepehuano de Santa María Ocotán, Durango (Serie de vocabularios y diccionarios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 48)?^[2] (in Spanish), electronic edition, Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, A.C., page 132

White Hmong

Etymology

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *?na? (“snake”). Cognate with Iu Mien naang.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /na?/

Noun

nab

1. snake.
2. worm.

Derived terms

• cua nab (“earthworm”)
• ntses nab (“eel”)
• nab qa (“lizard”)

References

• Heimbach, Ernest E. (1979) White Hmong — English Dictionary?^[3], SEAP Publications, ?ISBN.

English

Etymology

See nab, and compare knap.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /næb/
• Rhymes: -æb

Verb

knab (third-person singular simple present knabs, present participle knabbing, simple past and past participle knabbed)

1. (colloquial) To nab or steal.
2. (obsolete) To seize with the teeth; to gnaw.

   • a Mouthful of Fresh Grats to Knab upon

Anagrams

• Bank, bank, nabk