Knackish

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Displaying the characteristics of having a special skill or clever trick; showing a knack for something in a somewhat affected or pretentious manner
2. Exhibiting a certain skillfulness or aptitude in a manner that may come across as pretentious or overly showy
3. demonstrating a talent that borders on affectation in its presentation

Etymology: "Knackish" is a plain formation: the noun "knack," meaning a clever or dexterous skill, with the suffix "-ish" attached, which in adjectives means "having the character of" or "somewhat like." Put together, a knackish performance is one that shows a skill so visibly that it tips over into showiness. The noun "knack" itself is the older piece, and it dates back to Middle English, where it could mean a trick or a clever device, and a neat contrivance. That sense of a clever device is still visible in the adjective: the skill being described is often a trick of presentation rather than deep mastery, which is why the word leans toward affectation rather than plain competence.