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)

  1. (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.

Translations
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