Knockoff
Knockoff turns up in 2 fields: textiles, shop slang. Here is what it means to the people in each one.
Knockoff in textiles
A knitting machine component that pushes completed loops off the needles.
A mechanical element on a knitting machine that actively pushes or strips the finished yarn loops off the needle hooks. This action clears the needle bed so the next row of stitches can form without jamming the machine or dropping stitches.
"Check the knockoff cam on the back bed, it looks like it's missing the loops on the left side."
Knockoff in shop slang
An unauthorized, low-quality copy of a branded tool or component.
A counterfeit or unbranded replica of a recognized piece of equipment, replacement part, or tool. These items are typically sourced cheaply to save money but suffer from inferior metallurgy, poor tolerances, and a high failure rate. Workers despise them because they break under load and compromise safety.
"Who bought these knockoff cutting discs? Three of them shattered before lunch."