from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
knockabout \knock"a*bout`\, a.
1. Marked by knocking about or roughness.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
2. Of noisy and violent character; marked by farce,
pratfalls, and horseplay; as, knockabout comedy. [Theat.
Slang]
Syn: boisterous, slapstick.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
3. Characterized by, or suitable for, knocking about, or
traveling or wandering hither and thither; suitable for
use in rough activity; suited for everyday use; -- used
especially of clothing.
Syn: casual, everyday.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
4. That does odd jobs; -- said of a class of hands or
laborers on a sheep station. [Collog., Australia]
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Knockabout \Knock"a*bout`\, n.
1. (Naut.) A small yacht, generally from fifteen to
twenty-five feet in length, having a mainsail and a jib; a
sloop with a simplified rig and no bowsprit. All
knockabouts have ballast and either a keel or centerboard.
The original type was twenty-one feet in length. The next
larger type is called a {raceabout}.
[Webster 1913 Suppl. + WordNet 1.5]
2. A knockabout performer or performance. [Theat. Slang]
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
3. A man hired on a sheep station to do odd jobs. [Colloq.,
Australia]
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]