What does knave mean in Shakespeare?

A knave is a deceitful or dishonest person. It is often used in Shakespeare's plays to refer to a servant or other low-ranking person who is untrustworthy or scheming. For example, in the play "King Lear," the character Edmund is referred to as a "knave" because he betrays his father and brother in order to gain power. In the play "Hamlet," the character Polonius is referred to as a "knave" because he is a scheming and manipulative courtier.