Close-knit means bound together tightly by affection. A close-knit family, a close-knit community, close-knit and loyal.
It is nearly always used of families and small communities and is always approving, though the same closeness can shut outsiders out entirely. The image is knitting worked so tight that nothing passes through.
1adjectiveclose-knitBound together tightly by affection.
“They're a close-knit family who eat dinner together every Sunday.”
close-knit is a quality.
Close plus knit, from the image of stitches worked tightly together.
From close + knit.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in Family & People