carnal knowledge

carnal knowledge (uncountable)

1. (archaic, chiefly law) Sexual intercourse.

   to have carnal knowledge of someone

   • 1785, [Francis Grose], “Knock”, in A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, London: […] S. Hooper, […], →OCLC:

     to knock a woman, to have carnal knowledge of her

   • 1836, Michael Ryan, A Manual of Medical Jurisprudence, 2nd edition, London: Sherwood, Gilbert, and Piper, page 309:

     The legal definition of rape, is the carnal knowledge of a woman by force, and against her will. The carnal knowledge of a child, under ten years of age, with or without her consent, is considered rape.

• carnal commerce
• know someone in the biblical sense