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'I heard the bells jingle at the back of the stand, and a red leg waved over it; then a black one. So, very slowly, Rahere the King's jester straddled the edge of the planks, and looked down on us, rubbing his chin. Loose-knit, with cropped hair, and a sad priest's face, under his cockscomb cap, that he could twist like a strip of wet leather. His eyes were hollow-set.

This is from "Simple Simon" in "Rewards and Fairies" by Kipling.

http://www.telelib.com/authors/K/KiplingRudyard/prose/RewardsFaries/treejustice.html

I do not understand the meaning of below.

Loose-knit,

What does "loose-knit" mean here?

and

His eyes were hollow-set.

I am so glad if somebody kindly teach me.

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It means the same as "deep-set" or "deep-socketed" when referring to eyes. Usually it refers to eyes that are set deeply (in hollows) into the skull.

Asians are unlikely to have deep-set eyes because the epicanthic fold effectively fills in the overhang of the ocular orbit.

Also, "loose-knit" means not bound tightly together. For example, a loose-knit group of people would be a group that does not have many strong ties holding them together. Contrast that with, say, a family or clan that is bound together by blood ties.

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  • Thank you so much for your answer. I understand so well.
    – Hiroshi Inagaki
    Commented Jan 31, 2018 at 7:26
  • @HiroshiInagaki: If this answer satisfies your question, you might consider accepting it by clicking the checkmark.
    – Robusto
    Commented Jan 31, 2018 at 12:17

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