knock-up

knock-up (plural knock-ups)

1. (sports) A short practice session before a tennis match.
   • 1932, American Lawn Tennis (volume 26, page 72)

     In the way of friendly knockups I played at times with both the Renshaws and Lawford, but at that time there is no doubt that they were better than I was.

2. Something constructed shoddily or hastily.
   • 2000, Jonathan Kellerman, Monster (page 47)

     One of those unadorned late-fifties hillside knockups posing as intentionally contemporary but really the product of a tight construction budget.

3. (slang) A pregnancy.
   • 2016, Veronica Valles, Back To The Center (page 54)

     When will we wake up? I see young girls pregnant and young boys adding up their “knock-ups” like a scorecard at a mob gambling venue.

• knock up