knockoff
UK[ˈnɒkɒf]US[ˈnɑːkɔːf]
n
a cheap copy of a popular product.
n
a person or thing that is a pale imitation of another.
Morpheme Breakdown
knock
off
knock
to strike
off
away, from
Etymology
the word 'knockoff' is a modern american english compound, originating in the mid-20th century from the phrasal verb 'to knock off', meaning to stop work or to produce something hastily. the literal sense of striking ('knock') something away ('off') evolved in slang to mean 'to make a quick copy' or 'to discontinue an imitation'. this metaphorical shift captures the idea of something being hastily produced or derived from an original, leading to its current primary meaning as an unauthorized, usually inferior, copy of a branded item.
Analysis
Structure: knock (to strike) + off (away, from)
knock (old english 'cnocian', of imitative origin; verb). off (old english 'of', of germanic origin; adverbial particle).
Examples
the street market was full of cheap knockoffs of designer handbags.
the film was dismissed as a poor knockoff of a classic heist movie.
he bought a knockoff watch that broke after a week.