knight of the post
English
Etymology
Suggesting that such a person would be familiar with the whipping-post or pillory.
Noun
knight of the post (plural knights of the post)
- (archaic) A professional false witness.
- 1663, Samuel Butler, Hudibras, part 1, canto 1:
- […] But with more lucky hit than those
- That use to make the stars depose,
- Like knights o' th' post, and falsely charge
- Upon themselves what others forge;
- As if they were consenting to
- All mischief in the world men do […]
- Nash
- A knight of the post […] quoth he, for so I am termed; a fellow that will swear you anything for twelve pence.
- 1663, Samuel Butler, Hudibras, part 1, canto 1:
Translations
professional false witness
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