On 2008-10-10 02:24, Brian M. Scott wrote:
> I've two questions. First, have I overlooked some obvious
> problem with the idea? Secondly, has anyone seen <-ivet> or
> the like as an AFr treatment of OE <-iht>?
No, I haven't, and I think you're absolutely rivet. I suppose the
editors of the MED think likewise. They cite a number of names of
places, people and ships containing <knight>, with the whole range of
odd ME spellings, but nothing like "knivet". They have the following
entry for <knivet>:
knivet (n.) Also knevet. [?Dim. of kni:f.]
(a) A knife; (b) as surname.
(a) a1475 PPl.A(1) (Ashm 1468) 5.62: Kneuet [Trin-C: a knyf be his syde].
(b) (1232) Inquis.PM Hen.III 3: Thomas Knyvet.
Piotr