here - Norm's Book Club

the eleventh letter ot the alphabet in 

K(k

KA-. 

-, frequent variant of CA-, in ME., and in 

modern of alien words from oriental 

representation 

and other languages; e.g. kaaba,kabaye,kabane, 

kackle kadi, kaffeine, kage, kalme, kamel, handle. 

f Kfiak, v. Obs. : cf. 

[Imitative CAWK sb? and 

zi.l Mr. Of a crow : to caw. 

i6o SYLVESTER Du Bartas n. iii. I. Vocation 1276 As thick 

as Crowes in hungry shoals do light On new-sown lands, 

. . Kaaking so loud. 

Kaak, obs. form of CAKE. 

II Kaania (ka'ma). Also caama, kama, khama 

(kgama). [Given by Burchell as the Hottentot 

name, but app. now current in Secrmana (Lloyd 

Three Great African Chiefs 18).] The hartebeest, 

a South African antelope {Alcelaphus caama). 

1814 BURCHELL Trav. II. 81 The Hartebeest of the Cape 

Colony is called Caama or Kaama by the Hottentots. 1834 

Penny Cycl. II. oo/i The caama . . inhabits the plains of 

South Africa. 1866 LIVINGSTONE Last Jrnls. (1873) I. vi. 

157 Much spoor of elands, zebras, gnus, kamas. 1883 J. MAC- 

KENZIE Day^tawn 48 In the distance we sometimes descried 

the sly khama. 

Kaan, Kaava, Kab, Kabac: see KHAN 1 , 

KAVA, CAB rf.l, CABAC. 

llKabalassOU(kncbal3e-sw). Also cab-. [? Altered 

from next.] The giant armadillo, Priodontes 

648 

1340 HAMPOLE Pr, Consc. 1539 Some gas als hypand a ka. 

^1450 HOLLAND Howlat 191 Crawls and Cais, that cravis 

Ihe corne. 1483 Cath.Angl. 200/1 Ka (A. Kae), MMfluM* 

1535 LYNDESAV Satyrt 5241 direct.^ An Crow or ane Ke 

saRJe castin vp, as it war his saull. 1536 BELLENDEN Cron. 

Scot. (1821) II. 450 Kayis and piottis, clekit thair birdis in 

winter. 1786 BURNS Earnest Cry quick, fierce. 

Kaffe, kaff, north, dial, forms of CHAFF sbl 

fKafer. Obs. rare- 1 . [?a. G.&afcr.] =CHAFKR!. 

1590 T. M[OUFET] Silfawomnes 53 Nor eate they all, as 

greedy Kafers do. 

Kafeyah, kaffiyeh, variants of KEFFIYEH. 

Kaffir (kse-fai) ; prop. Kafir (ka-fir). Also 

kaffer, kaffre ; and see CAFFRE. [a. Arab, kafir 

infidel : see CAFFRE.] 

1. = CAFFRE i, * 

infidel ', Giaour. 

1814 SOUTHEV Roderick y. 198 A Moor came by, 

seeing him [the Goth], exclaimed Ah, Kaffer ! 

and 

KAIBINE. 

covered bird from New Caledonia. 

1883 

Casselts Nat. 

Hist. IV. 175 Both the Kagu and the Sun Bittern.. go 

through, even in captivity, the extraordinary antics . . 

characteristic of the Crane family. 1893 NKWTON Diet. 

Birds 472 The Kagu. -is rather a long-legged bird, about as 

large as an ordinary Fowl. * 

II Kahau (^ka'hau). [MalayâlS kdhau, so called 

from its cry.] The proboscis-monkey of Borneo 

(JVasalis larvalus). 

1840 Penny Cycl. XVI. 02/2 In the Kahau the hairs on 

the chin scarcely assume the appearance of a beard. 1861 

WOOD Nat. Hist. I. 41 In size the Kahau is about equal to 

the hoonuman, and seems to be an active animal. 

K.-ihli t. obs. pa. t. and pple. of CATCH v. 

II Kahikatea (ka,ikat< T 

-a). Also kaikaterre, 

kakaterra. [Maori.] A New Zealand tree, Podo- 

carpus dacrydioides, N.O. Coniferx (or Taxaceie) ; 

called by the colonists White Pint. Also attrib. 

1823 CRUISE Ten Months N. Zfal. 145 (Morris s. v. 

Kauri) The timber purveyor of the Coromandel having 

given cowry a decided preference to kaikaterre. 1875 

T. LASLETT Timber 304 (Morris) The kahikatea or kakaterratree. 

W. BLAIR in Trans. N. Zeal. lust. IX. x. 160 

1876 

(ibid.) This timber is known in all the provinces, except 

Otago, by 

' 

the native name of Kahikatea . 

gig115- 1884 Stand. Nat. Hist. V. 50 The Kabalassous, or Priodontines, 

exhibit a still further deviation . . in the structure 

of the fore feet. 

II KabaSBOU (kabse-sz/). [F. (Buffon) a. Galibi 

capafou (Sauvage T)ict. 1763).] An armadillo of 

the genus Xenurus. 

1774 GOLDSM. Nat, Hist. (1862) I.vi. iii. 471 The fifth kind 

of Armadillo is the Kabassou or Cataphractus, with twelve 

bands. 1834 Penny Cycl. 1 1. 354/2 The Kabassous, or fourth 

division of"Baron Cuvier, have, .five toes. 

II Kabaya (kaba-ya). Also 6 cable, cabaia, 

7 cabbay, oabay(e, -ya. [Ultimately of 1'ers. 

or Arab, origin. The forms cabie, cabbay are perh. 

directly a. Pers. (_jU> qabay; cabaia, cabaya are 

from Pg., whence also F. cabaye. Kabaya is immed. 

from Malay, whence also Du. kabaaj.] A light 

loose tunic such as is commonly worn in the East; 

now spec, that worn in Malay countries by native 

women and by Europeans in dishabille. 

1585 R. FITCH in Hakluyt's Voy. (1810) II. 386 The King 

is apparelled with a Cabie made like a shirt tied with strings 

on one side. 1508 tr. Linschoten's Voy. 70 They wear 

sometimes when tney go abroad athinne cotton L?or] linnen 

gowne called Cabaia. 1634 SIR T. HERBERT y'rav. 81 Attiring 

himselfe in red, his ' 

\ 

I 

Tulipant, Cabbay, Boots, Scabberd. 

1662 J. DAVIES tr. Maitdelslo's Trav. E. /. 64. 1883 MRS. 

BISHOP Sk. Malay Penins. iii. in Leisure Ho. 81/1 Their 

lower garment, or sarong, reaching from the waist to the 

ankles .. above which is worn a loose-sleeved garment, called 

a kabaya, reaching to the knees. 

Kabbala;h, -ism, -ize, var. CABBALA, etc. 

Kabbelow, kabeliau,var. C ABILLIAU, cod-fish. 

Kabber, obs. form of CABER. 

Kabitka, Kabob, var. KIBITKA, CABOB. 

1798 T. MORTON Seer, worth knowing i. i, One of your 

fine kabobbed fricasees. 1883 H. W. V. STUART Egypt 

296 Kabobs or little disks of various meats impaled upon 

wooden skewers,, -and brought up hissing hot. 

Kac,c)he, Kacchere, Kace, obs. ff. CATCH, 

CATCHER, CASE. Kacheree, var. CUTCHERRY. 

Kad- : see also CAD-. 

Kadarite (kardareit). Also Kaderite. [f. 

Arab. .& qadar predestination + -ITE.] A member 

of a Mohammedan sect, aJqadariyah, which denies 

predestination and maintains the doctrine of free j 

will. 

1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl., Kadari or Kadarites. 1860 

GARDNER Faiths World II. 465/2 Kaderites. 

II Kaddish Also (kse-dij). 7 kaddesch, kiddisch. 

[Aram, ffinp qaddtsh holy, holy one.] 

A portion of the daily ritual of the synagogue, 

composed of thanksgiving and praise, concluding 

with a prayer for the advent of universal peace ; 

specially recited also by orphan mourners. 

1613 PURCHAS Pilgrimage (1614) 181 The son of a deceased 

lew is bound to say, for the space of one yeare, a prayer 

called Kiddisch. Ibid. 200 Then the. .Chanter, smgeth 

halfe their prayer called Kaddesck. 1876 GEO. ELIOT Dan. 

Der. liii, If you think Kaddish will help me say it, say 

it. You will come between me and the dead. 1892 ZANG- 

WILL Childr. Ghetto xxii, Moses bore the loss with resignation, 

his emotions discharging themselves in the daily 

Kaddish. 

II Kadi, kadee, variants of CADI. Hence 

Ka'dilik, the jurisdiction of a cadi. 

1704 J. PITTS Ace. Mahometans 27 The Man to be 

married .. goes to the Kadee, i.e. Judge, or Magistrate. 

1802-3 tr. I'allas- Trav. (1812) II. 308 Villages .. added to 

.l north, dial, and Sc. Forms: 4-6 

ka, 5 kaa, 6 oa, kay, ke, 5, 8- kae. [Northern 

form of ME. Co, corresponding to MDu. ca, ka(e 

(Du. Uta), OHG. chaha, chd (MHG. ka}, Da. kaa, 

Norw. kaae. The direct source may have been an 

ON.*H* Cf. CHOUGH.] A jackdaw. 

worshipper of 

wood and stone. 1865 Daily Tel. 23 Oct 5/1 Mecca., if the 

' 

Moslems would . permit .a kaffir ' 

to come there. 

2. = CAFFRE 2 one of a South African race 

; 

belonging to the Bantu family. Also attrib. and 

, 

as the name of their language. 

1801 Monthly KIT, XXXV. 346 The incursions of the 

tribe of people called Kaffers. 1834 BOYCE (title) Grammar 

of the Kaffir Language. 1857 Chambers's Inform. People 

II. 294/2 The Kafirs, a race strikingly different both from 

Hottentots and negroes. The Kafir nation consists of numerous 

sections. 1890 Pall Mall G. 15 May 3/1, I asked 

questions about the Kafir voter. 

b. //. The Stock Exchange term for South 

African mine shares. Also attrib. 

1889 Rialto 

23 Mar. (Farmer), Tintos climbed to 12.}, and 

even Kaffirs raised their sickly heads. 1895 Daily News 

2 Apr. 2/2 Dealers in the Kaffir market. 1895 Nation (N.Y.) 

19 IJec. 451/2 The mines floated on the London Stock Kxchange 

which are classed under the general head of Kaffirs '. 

1899 H. FREDERIC Market Place 32 It was one of the men 

I've been talking about one of those Kaffir scoundrels. 

3. A native of Kafiristan in Asia. 

1854 LATHAM Hum. Spec. In Orrs Circle Sc., Organ. Nat. 

I. 336 Kafiristan, or the Land of the Kafirs.. on tne watershed 

between the Oxus and the north-western system of 

the Indus. Ibid. 338 A Kafir, when sitting on the ground, 

stretches his legs like a European. 1896 SIR G. ROBERTSON 

(title) Kafirs of the Hindu Kush. 

4. attrib. and comb. Kaffir-boom [Du. boom 

tree] = Kaffir-tree Kaffir bread, the name of 

several species of South African cycads with edible 

pith; Kaffir corn, Indian millet, Sorghum mtlgare\ 

Kaffir date or plum, or Kaffir's scimitar 

tree, a South African tree, Harpephyllum caffrum, 

N.O. Anacardiacew Kaffir ; tea, the plant Htlichrysum 

mtdifolium\ Kaffir('s) tree, a South 

African leguminous tree, Erythnna caffra. 

1880 Silver $ Co.'s S. Africa (ed. 3) 135 *Kaffir-boom . . 

wood soft and light. 1882 Garden 10 June 410/3 Encephalartos, 

or *KafTir Bread, is a genus confineito South Africa. 

1836 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 7) XII. 

659/2 The soil is fertile, and 

has produced three , 

crops of *Kaftre and Indian corn in the 

year. 1896 N. Ainer. Rev. CLXIII. 715 Put the land into 

kafir corn. 1880 Silver '3 qaimaqam, ad. Arab, ^liu ^\i 

qa'im magam one standing in the place (ol another), 

f. qa'im standing + maifdm place, station.] 

In the Turkish Empire: A lieutenant, deputy, substitute; 

a lieutenant-colonel; a deputy-governor; 

spec, the deputy of the Grand Vizier, and governor 

of Constantinople. 

(1645 HOWELL Lett. in. xxi. (1705) 127 He desir'd him to 

leave a charge with the Caimackam, bis deputy. 

1682 

WHELER Jtntrn. Greece n. iSoAll Civil and Criminal Causes 

are tryed by the Vizier, or his Deputy, the Chaimacham. 

1718 LADY M. W. MONTAGU Let. to C'tess Bristol 10 Apr., 

I was forced to send three times to the caituaikan (the 

governor of the town). 1772 Hartford Merc. Suppl. 18 Sept. 

i/i The victory of Ali-Bey over the Kiaja of the new 

Caimacan of Egypt. 1810 T. S. HUGHES Trav. Sicily I. vi. 

188 His caimacam or vice-roy. 1876 GLADSTONE Bulg. 

Horrors b\ The Turks., their Kaimakams and their Pashas, 

one and all, bag and baggage. 

Hence Kaimaka mlik. the jurisdiction of a 

kaimakam. 

Kaiman, Kain : see CAYMAN, CAIN. 

Kainite (.kai'nait). Mitt. Also csenite, oenite. 

[ad. Ger. kainit, f. Gr. Kaiv-os new + -ITE : named by 

C. F. Zincken in 1865, with reference to its recent 

formation.] Hydrous chlorosulphate of magnesium 

and potassium, found in Prussia and Galicia, 

largely used as a fertilizer. 

1868 DANA Min. (ed. 5) 642 Kainite . . is nothing but the 

impure picromerite. 1877 Daily News 8 Oct. 2/6 Since the 

memorable discoveries of kainit and other mineral salts 

nearly twenty years ago at Stassfurth and Leopoldshall. 

i88a PLAYFAIK Indust. U. S. in Macm. Mag. XLV. 335 The 

old exhausted soils lost their productiveness chiefly by the 

withdrawal of potash, but this is now found in the minerals 

carnallit and kainit. 

Kainozoic, var. CAINOZOIC, Tertiary (Geol.~). 

Kaip, obs. form of CAPE sbl, COPE sl>. 1 

Kaipoun, Kaip-stone, obs. Sc. ff. CAPON, 

COPESTONE. Kair, obs. Sc. form of CARE s/>. 1 

Kair, Sc. dial, form of caer for calver, pi. of 

CALF : see CAURE, KAWR. 

1626 in Cramond Ann. Sanff'(iSgi) I. 55 Persons . . have 

Kye and Kair daylie going throw ther nkhtbours comes. 

Kairdique, Sc. var. of CARJIF.CU Obs. 

i&4$Sc.ActsChas. 7(1819) VI. 197/2 The Rose Noble eleven 

punds. The Kairdique twentie shilling. 

Kairilie (kai-rein). Chem. f. [app. Gr. itaip-6s 

proper time, opportunity + -INE".] A chinolinecompound, 

oxy- methyl-quinoline tetrahydnde, 

sometimes used in medicine as a strong antipyretic. 

1883 Times 2 Aug. 10/1 Professor Fischer, of Munich . . 

found that . . a substance can be obtained, in the form of a 

white crystalline powder, from coal tar, which greatly 

resembles quinine in its action on the human organism.

KAISER. 

Fischer has given it the name of 'kairin'. 1891 THORPE 

Diet, Applied Ckem. s.v., The hydrochloride . . crystallises in 

colourless, lustrous, monoclinic forms . . and was at one time 

employed as a febrifuge, under the name of kairine. 

Kairn, Kairte, obs. ff. CAIKN, CARTE. 

Kaiser (kai'zar). Forms: a. 2-4 oaisere, 

2-5 caysere, 3-4 kaisere, caiser, 3-6 oayser, 

3, 6 oaisar, (5 kayssar), 4-6 (9) kayser, 4-6, 9 

kaisar, 3-4, 6, 9- kaiser. 0. 3 keisere, (Orm. 

kej^sere), kseisere, 3, 7-9 keiser, 4 keyzar, 

4~7 (9) keysar, 6-7 keisar, keyser. 7. 6-9 

kesar, 6 keaser, 7-8 ksesar, 9 kezar. [Ultimately 

ad. L. Caesar C^SAB, which at an early period 

passed (perh. through Gr. Kaiaap) into the Teutonic 

langs., appearing as Goth, kaisar, OHG. keisar 

(MHG. keisar, G. kaiser], OS. klsur, -ar (MDu. 

keiser, keyser, keser, \)\\.keizer), OFris. keisar, -er. 

In OE. casern and ON. keisari the terminal syllable 

was assimilated to the -ere, -ari of agent-nouns. 

OE. cdsere normally gave early ME. caser KASER; 

the usual ME. forms kaiser, keiser, and later 

variants, were adopted afresh from other Teutonic 

languages. Ormin used both kasere, kaserr from 

OE. and ke)jsere from ON. 

In 14-15111 c. the word was mainly northern, and the 

a/-fprm prevailed. About the middle of the i6th c. ei(ey) 

again became usual, prob. under Dutch or German influence. 

The mod. form kaiser is directly adopted from G., 

in which it represents a Bavarian (and Austrian) spelling 

which supplanted the normal keiser in the ijth c. (see 

Grimm and Kluge, s.v.).] 

a. The : Emperor cf. EMPEROR i and 2. 

T (a) The (ancient) Roman Emperor (obs.) ; () The Emperor 

of the West ; the head of the Holy Roman (German) Empire 

(now Hist.); (c) The Emperor of Austria (since 1804); (d) 

(Now esp.) The German Emperor (since 1871). The mod. 

English use in sense I), whence c and d follow, appears to be 

mainly duetoCarlyle. 

c 1160 Hatton Gosp. Matt.- xxii. 21 At^yfecS ban caysere 

ha bing be has cayseres synde. John xix. 12 Ne ert 

pu }>as caiseres freond. cxzoo ORMIN 3519 Forrbi chaes he 

to wurrben mann O patt Ke^seress time, a 1225 Juliana 

67 Alaximien be mihti caisere of rome. 1607 J. BARLOW 

Columb. v. 679 The Austria's keiser and the Russian czar. 

1858 CARLVLE Frcdk. Ct. i. v. (1872)^ I. 43 Kaiser Leopold [I] 

. .had no end of Wars. Ibid. n. v. I. 70 Barbarossa himself, 

..greatest of all the Kaisers. 1866 Spectator i Dec. 1326 

It is rumoured that the Kaiser intends to offer the Hungarians 

the possession of their own army. 1888 Times 

(weekly ed.) 10 Aug. 16/3 The author's personal intercourse 

with the late Kaiser. 1897 W. T. STEAD in Contemp. R'ev. 

April 596 The Kaiser's chief. .offence in the eyes of most 

Englishmen was his telegram of congratulation to President 

Kruger after the surrender of Dr. Jameson. 

b. An emperor, as a ruler superior to kings. 

Eip. in king or kaiser, an alliterative phr. common from 

I3th toi7thc. ; in modern use an archaism, chiefly due to Scott. 

a. a. 1225 Ancr. R. 138 Hire . . schuppare bet is King and 

Kaiser of heouene. a 1300 [see 0j. 1:1300 Havelok 1725 

pe beste mete [>at king or cayser wolde etc. la 1400 Morte 

Arth. 1894 We hafe cownterede to day, . . With kyngez and 

kayseres. 1:1440 York Myst. xvi. 15 Kayssaris in castellis 

grete kyndynes me kythes. 1513 DOUGLAS jfcneis vni. Prol. 

137 Sum [wald be] capytane, sum Caisar, and sum King. 

1563 GOOGE Eglogs, etc. (Arb.) 84 Court and Cayser to forsake, 

And lyue at home, a 1618 SYLVESTER Mem. Mortality 

xiv, This Life (indeed) is but a Comosdie, Where this, the 

Kaisar playes; and that, the Clown. xSiS SCOTT r. Lamm. 

xxvi, And what signifies 't..to king, queen, or kaiser? 1825 

Talism. xi, As high as ever floated the cognizance of 

king or kaiser. 1843 LYTTOM Last Bar, vni. i, To ride by 

the side of king or kaisar. 1882 MRS. RIDDELL Pr. IVales's 

Garden-Party 19 Whether her husband' were King or 

Kaiser, ..signified not a pin to the bishop's daughter. 

0. c 1205 LAY. 7331 pu benchest to beon keisere of alle 

quike monne. 1x1225 St. Martur. 4 Icrunet .. keiser of 

kinges. a 1300 Cursor M. 3359 (Cott.) Yon es pi keiser 

[zr.rr. kayser, caisere] sal be bin. 1:1375 Ibid. 9409 (Laud) 

Wytte and skylle he yaf. .Ouyr alle this world to be keyzar. 

1546 J. HEYWOOD Prov. (1867) 39 Kyng or keyser must haue 

set them quight. 1620 SHELTON Quix. III. i. 3 To tell neither 

King nor Keisar, nor any earthly Man. 1640 BROME Antip, 

II. v. Wks, 1873 III. 365 No degree, from Keyser to the 

Clowne. 1682 MRS. BEHN Round-heads i. i. Wks. (1716) 

396 He is our General, our Protector, our Keiser. 

y- '539 TAVF.RNER Erasm. Prov. (1545) 64 Though he be 

hym selfe a prynce, a kynge, a kesar. 1567 TURBERV. in 

Chalmers Eiig. Poets II. 648/1 He slayes the Keasers and 

the crowned Kings. 1591 SPENSER Teares Muses 570 Hir 

holie things, Which was the care of Kesars and of Kings. 

1647 H. MORE Song of Soul n. App. civ, Which were erect 

to the memorial! Of Kings, and Kaesars. 1722 ATTERBURY 

Let. to Pope 6 Apr., As far from Kings and Kaesars as the 

space will admit of. 1832-4 DE QUINCEY Ciesars Wks. 1862 

IX-7 Modern kings, kesars or Gloss. 

emperors. 1876 Whitby 

s.v., They nowther heed for king nor Iceiar. 

' 

Hence Kai serling, a minor emperor Xarser- 

; 

ship. the office of emperor, the rule of the Kaiser. 

1852 Tail's Mag. XIX. 550 Let them bring us a king. 

ling 1 !; or kaiserling's heir. 1888 Contemt. Rev. LIV. 622 The 

' 

weakening 'of Wilhelm's opposition to the Kaisership. 1892 

Daily News 27 Feb. 5/2 That party in Germany which does 

riot find the Kaisership a perfect instrument of progress. 

Kaist, obs. Sc. t. pa. of CAST v. 

1563 WINJET Four Scoir Thre Quest. Wks. 1888 I. 127 

Disciplis . . quha sauld thair geris . . and kaist the prices 

Ihairof at the Disciplis feit. 

Kaitif, Kaitrine, obs. ff. CAITIFF, CATERAN. 

1 

obs. Sc. f. CAVEL si. , lot. 

Kaivle, 

Kajak, variant of KAYAK. 

IlKajawah (kadâ-wa, ka-dgawa). Forms: 7 

cajua, oajava, kedg-, oedgeway, 9 kedjav

KALEEGE. 

: 

-leaf, -plant, -seed, -seller, (sense 2) kale-pot also 

kale-bell, the dinner-bell; kale-brose, oatmealbrose 

made with the fat skimmings of meat-broth ; 

kale-gully, a knife for catting kale ; kale-runt, 

-stock, the stout stem of a kale-plant, a castock : 

kale-time, dinner-time ; kale-turnip = KOHL- 

RABI (Chamberf Encycl. 1890); kale-wife, a 

woman who sells kale or greens; kale-worm, the 

Gallophasis, found in the Himalayan region. 

(Corruptly college-pheasant.} 

1864 OWEN Power of God 43 Peacocks and kaleeges are 

indigenous to Southern Asia and its islands. 1886 YULE 

Gloss., College-pheasant, .. the name ,. for the 

Aîglo-Ind. 

birds of the genus Gallophasis of Hodgson, intermediate 

between the Pheasantsand the Jungle-fowls. 1893 NEWTON 

Diet. Birds, Kallege or Kalij. 

Kalei'dograph. f f. as next + Gr. ypaQos writing, 

writer.]- An apparatus for displaying on a 

screen or a glass disk the symmetrical patterns seen 

in a kaleidoscope. 

Kaleidophone (kahi-dofon). [f. as next + 

Gr. an>ri An instrument 

sound.] (invented by 

Prof. Wheatstone) for exhibiting the phenomena 

of sound-waves, by means of a vibrating rod or 

plate having a reflector at the end. 

1827 Q. Jrnl. Sc. 344 Description of the Kaleidophone or 

phonic Kaleidoscope, a new philosophical toy. 1873 W. 

LEES Acoustics u. iv. 68 The magic disc, the thaumatrope, 

the kaleidophone. .etc., all owe their action to this principle. 

Kaleidoscope (kabi-d0skop). [f. Gr. KaK-ut 

beautiful + iKo-s form + -SCOPE. Named by its 

inventor, Sir David Brewster, in 1817. 

Calidoscope in Newman, Gramm. Assent i. v. (1870) 107.] 

An optical instrument, consisting of from two to 

four reflecting surfaces placed in a tube, at one end 

of which is a small 

compartment containing pieces 

of coloured glass: on looking through the tube, 

numerous reflections of these are seen, producing 

brightly-coloured symmetrical figures, which may 

be constantly altered by rotation of the instrument. 

1817 Sfecif. Brtwster's patent No. 4136 (heading} A new 

optical instrument called the Kaleidoscope. 1818 MURRAY 

Let. to Byron in Smiles Mtm. (1891) I. xvi. 398, I send you 

aver)' well-coiutructed Kaleidoscope, a newly.mvented toy. 

650 

little rough gravelled approach and kail-yard. 

2. Used with reference to a class of recent fiction, 

affecting to describe, with much use of the vernacular, 

common life in Scotland; hence attrib. as 

Kailyard School, a collective term applied to the 

writers of such novels or sketches ; kailyard dialect, 

vocabulary. Hence Kailya-rder, -ism. 

[The appellation is taken from the Scottish Jacobite 

song ' 

There grows a bonnie brier bush in our kailyard ', 

from which ( 

Ian Maclaren ' 

took the title of the of 

series^ 

short stories ' 

Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush' (1894), which 

was an early and popular example of this school of writing.] 

1895 J. H. MILLAR Literature of^Kailyardm New Rcviriv 

Apr. 384 Mr. J. M. Barrie is fairly entitled to look upon 

himself as pars niagna, if not pars maxima, of the Great 

Kailyard Movement. 1895 Black. Mag. June, Those 

romances in dialect, very fitly and cleverly called the 

Literature of the Kailyard by a recent critic. 1896 Dundee 

Advertiser i Aug., Having been assured by many critics 

that the Kailyard School is quite photographic in its 

reproduction of Scottish life and character. 1896 ll-'eitm. 

Gaz. 7 Nov. 3/2 Among its contributors lately has been . . 

one of the minor ' 

kailyairders '. 1899 Academy 7 Jan. 3/1 

But Mr. Crockett is no Kailyarder in his romances. Ibid. 

. 

14 Jan. 5o/2AlittleoutburstofKailyardism. 

p June 709/3 He wrote as he spoke, and his kailyard vocabulary 

occasionally baffles his editor. 

Kalf(f, obs. forms of CALF!. 

Kali (kiE-li, kvHi). Forms : 7 chali, 8 kaly, 

caly, 6- kali. [Arab. ^ qali: see ALKALI.] 

1. The Prickly Saltwort or Glasswort (Salsola 

Kali) ; = ALKALI 2. Also applied to other species 

of Salsola, as Barilla (Salsola Soda). 

1578 LYTE Dodoens i. Ixxviii. 115 The herbe named of the 

Arabians or Alkali. 

Kalij 1615 G. SANDYS Trav. 116 A 

desart producing here and there . . a weed called Kali 

{printed Kail) by the Arabs. i4 SIR T. BROWNE Pseud. 

Ep. 51 Glasse, whose materialls are fine sand, and the 

ashes of Chali or Fearne. 1766 W. STORK Ace. E. Florida 49 

This herb resembles entirely our samphire in England, and 

is called barilla or kaly. 1884 Evang. Mag. 343 Here, 

among the softer sand . .is growing, .the Kali, or Saltwort. 

b. Eg)'ptian Kali, name for Mtsembryanthenttim 

nodiflorum. 

1760 J. LEE Introd. Bol. App. 316. 1794 MARTYN Rousseau's 

Bot. XXL 293 Egyptian Kali, esteemed for making 

the best potash, is also of this genus. 

1 2. A saline substance obtained by the calcina- 

tion of saltwort ; soda-ash ; = ALKALI i ; hence, 

ZALONG. 

c 1730 BURT Lett. N. Scotl. (1818) I. 108 Your ordinary fare 

haslcen liltle else beside brochan, cale, etc. 1816 SCOTT /. 

Dvar/l, I will be back here to my kail against ane o clock. 

1858 (CuttAT AV//n. Ser. I. v. (1860) 108 The o d-fash.oned 

easy way of asking a friend to dinner was to ask him if he 

would take his kafi with the family. 1873 C. GIBBON Lack 

ofGold iii, We'll sup our kail out o't together. 

b. Sc. Phrases: CauU kale het again, something 

stale served up again ; e. g. an old sermon doing 

duty a second time. To give one Ms kale through 

the reek, to treat one in some nnpleasant fashion, 

to let one 'have it'. 

1660 in f. Ramsay Scot!. I, Scotsmen i8M Cent. (1888) II. 

80 We will take cold kail het again tomorrow. 1816 SCOTT 

Old Mart, xiv, When my mither and him forgathered they 

set till the sodgers, and I think they gae them their kale 

through the reek ! 18*3 GALT Entail III. xxx. 282 Theirs 

was a third marriage, a cauld-kail-het-again affair. 1840 C. 

BRONTE in Mrs. Gaskell Lift 142 He would have given the 

Dissenters their kale through the reek a Scotch proverb. 

8. Comb., as (sense i) kale-Made, -ca 1821 J. FLINT Lett. Amer. 20 The Kaleidoscope of Dr. 

Brewster is here fabricated in a rude style, and in quantities 

so great, 

stock, -knife, 

that it is given as a plaything to children. 1878 

HUXLEY Physiogr. 62 The beautifully symmetrical shapes 

seen in a common kaleidoscope. 

b. Jig. A constantly changing group of bright 

colours or coloured objects; anything which exhibits 

a succession of shifting phases. 

1819 HYRON yuan n. xciii.This rainbow look'd like hope- 

Quite a celestial kaleidoscope. 1824 MACAULAY Misc. Writ. 

I. 82 The mind of Petrarch was a kaleidoscope. 1864 PUSEY 

Lect. Daniel Pref. 29 To allow truth and falsehood to be 

jumbled together in one ever-shifting kaleidoscope of 

^ 

opinions. 1878 HUTTON Scott i. 8 A hundred changing 

turns of the historical kaleidoscope. 

c. attrib. 

1834 Edin. Rev. LX. 69 The few kaleidoscope passages, 

where ambitious words and crowded figures are so richly 

embroidered in. 1855 BRIMLEY Ess.,_Noct. Amor. 306 A 

kaleidoscope quickness and variety of intellect. 

Kaleidoscopic (kabid^sk^pik'), a. [f. prec. + 

-1C.] Of or belonging to the kaleidoscope; exhibiting 

brightly coloured or continually varying 

figures like those seen in the kaleidoscope. 

a. With reference to (changing) colours. 

1846 in WORCESTER. 1853 FORBES & HANLEY Hist. Brit. 

Mollusca\. 9 Fewbodies. .exhibit such exquisiteand kaleido- 

kaleon, kalliyun, kaly an. See also CALEAN. 

[Pers. (jLS 

in the combinations of the 

kalian, Arab. uUV5, uj*& qalyan, 

qalyiin.] A Persian form of the hookah or narghile, 

a tobacco-pipe in which the smoke passes 

through water. 

1835 Court Mag. VI. 65/2 Goorgoory kalian, or pipe smoked 

through water. 1876 A. ARNOLD in Contemp. Rev. Tune 49 

They sit smoking a kaleon. 1881 Daily News 15 July 5/3 

We had the usual half-hour's pause, .to smoke the kahoun, 

or water 

pipe. 1890 Times 17 Feb. 13/2 Tobacco., adapted to 

the smoking of the Persian kalian, or Turkish narghileh. 

Kaliborite (krclibo->-n>it). Min. [f. KALI + 

BOH-ON + -ITE 'A !.] hydrous borate of magnesium 

and potassium, found in small, white, monoclinic 

crystals' (Chester). 

1892 in DANA Min. (ed. 6). 1895 THORPE Diet. Applied 

Chem., Kaliborite, a mineral resembling kieserite, found by 

Felt in the salt deposits at Schmidtmannshall. 

II Kalidinm (kali-di#m). Bot. [mod.L. a. Gr. 

vegetable alkali, potash. (Latinizedî7///, whence 

the chemical symbol K for potassium.) 

1799 W. G. BROWNE Trav. Africa, etc. xxv. 397 note, 

Twenty-five pounds of kali, and five pounds of pulverized 

chalk. 1811 A. T. THOMSON Land. Disp. (1818) 437 Take of 

nitrate of kali, six 

pounds. 1819 Pantologia s. v., The kali 

of the pharmacopeias is the vegetable alkali or potash. 

II Kalian, kaliouii (kalya n, kaly-n). Also 

caterpillar of the cabbage butterfly; a caterpillar in 

general. See also KALE-YARD and CALGAUTH. 

a 1776 Watty f; Madge in Herd Call. Scat. Sengs II. 109 

But hark ! the 'kail-bell rings, and I Maun gae link aft 

the poL 1840 Sidonia Sore. I. 249 The sexton rung the 

kale-bell. This bell was a . . sign to the women-folk, who 

were left at home . . to dinner. 1816 SCOTT 

prepare Antiy. 

xxi, As caller as a "kail-blade. 1816 Old Mart, xxviii, 

When the quean threw sae muckle gude *kail-brose scalding 

het about my lugs. 17^15 RAMSAY Christ's Kirk Gr. n. i, 

Arm'd wi a great "Kail-gully. 1612 N. Riding Rec. (1884) 

I. 263 An assault with a 'Cayle knife. 1483 Cat/:. Angl. 

51/2 A *Cale lefe .., caulis. 

1555 STEWART Cron. Scot. 

III. 412 Scant worth ane kaill leif. 1578 LVTE Dodoens 

II. Ixxxi. 258 The leaues of the same rested in a Call 

leaffe. 14*5 Langl.'s P. PI. B. vl. 288, I haue percil and 

porettes and many kole-plantes {MS, Cambr. Dd. 1. 17 *caleplantes]. 

1787 GROSE Prov. Gloss., *Kale-pot, pottage-pot. 

North. 1862 I. GRANT Capt. of Guard xiv, The iron bar 

whereon the kail-pot swung. 1785 BURNS Death tf Dr. 

Horn-bit, xvii, Fient haet o't wad hae pierc'd the heart Of a 

*kail-runt. 1871 C. GIBBON Lack of ' 

Gold v, Kail runts', 

from which the leaves had been picked clean. 1743 MAX- 

WELL Sel. Trans. Soc. Improv. Agric. Scot. 269 A Description 

of the Method of raising "Kail-seed, from burying the 

Blades in the Earth. 1483 Cath. Angl. 51/2 A *Cale seller, 

otitor. a 1670 SPALDING Troub. Chas. 7(1792* II. 241 John 

Calder, kail-seller there, f 14x5 Voc. in Wr.-Wiilcker 644/5 

Hoc magudcrr, *calstok. 1522 SKELTON Why not to Court 

350 Nat worth a soure calstocke. 1681 COLVIL Whigs 

Supplic. (1751) 58 They.. rooted out our kail stocks. 1821 

GALT Ann. Parish xxviii. (1895) 178 Among the kailstocks 

and cabbages in their yards. 1787 BURNS Let. to W. Nicol 

i June, After "kail-time. 1827 SCOTT Jrnl. 19 Mar., We 

will hear more in detail when we can meet at Kail-time. 

'5*3 WINJET Four Scoir Thre Quest. Wks. 1888 I. mmarg., 

>ea, the *cailwyfe seis ?ow heir, bund fute and hand. 1785 

Jrnl. Land, to Portsmouth in R. Forbes Poems Buchan 

Dial. 8 They began to misca' ane anither like kail-wives. 

1483 Cath. Angl. 51/2 A 'Cale worine, entca. 1818 SCOTT 

Hrt. Midi, xii, It is but a puir crawling kail-worm after a'. 

Kaleege, kalij (kalrd,?, ka'lidz,). . Ittd. 

Also kallege. [a. Hindi kalij (Yule).] An 

Asiatic pheasant of the genus Euplocaunis or 

scopic figures as these . . displayed 

compound Ascidians. 1873 G. C DAVIES Mount. $ Mere 

viii. 56 Kaleidoscopic effects of sunshine and shade. 

b. fig- 

1855 H. SPENCER Princ. Psychol. (1872) I. ll. ii. 182 A perpetual 

kaleidoscopic change of feelings. 1858 O. W. HOLMES 

A ut. Breakf.-t. (1865) 153 An array of pleasant kaleidoscopic 

phrases. 1884 Pub. Opinion 12 Sept. 318/2 One brief incident 

of a kaleidoscopic career. 

Kaleidosco-pical, a. [See -ICAL.] = prec. 

1858 Times i Dec. 8/3 Brilliant, and prismatic, and kaleidoscopical 

are the intellects. 1861 T. L. PEACOCK Gryll 

Grange xiv. 114 His imagination .. is overloaded with 

minutiae and kaleidoscopical colours. 

Hence Kaleidosco-pically a,fe, after the manner 

of a kaleidoscope, with continual changes. 

1866 Sat. Rev. 7 Apr. 400 Mr. Gladstone is always in 

earnest . . But then he is so kaleidoscopically sincere. 1891 

T. HARDY Life's Little Ironies (1894) 91 The long plateglass 

mirrors . . flashed the gyrating personages and hobbyhorses 

kaleidoscopically into his eyes. 

Kalend, -ar, etc. : see CAL-. Kalenge, obs. 

f. CHALLENGE. Kaleon, variant of KALIAN. 

Ka'le-, kai'1-yard. Sc. [f. KALE + YAKD. 

The stiictly Sc. form is kail-yaird (kvliye-rd).] 

1. A cabbage-garden, kitchen-garden, such as is 

commonly attached to a small cottage. 

1725 RAMSAY Gentle Sheph. n. iii, A green kail-yaird. 

c 1730 BURT Lett. N. Scotl. (1754) I. ii. 33 A fit Enclosure 

for a Cale-Yard, /. e. a little Garden for Coleworts. 1800 A. 

CARLYLE/l/W,r. 473 Trees, .planted in every kail-yard, as 

their little gardens are called. 1816 SCOTT Old Mart, xxxviii, 

What comes o' our ain bit free house, and the kale-yard, and 

the cow's grass? 1894 MRS. WALFORD Ploughed 42 The 

Ka\i8tov, dim. of /coXid hut.] In florideous alga;, 

a cystocarp containing undivided spores. 

1872 MRS. HOOKER tr. Lc Maout fj Decaisne's Syst. Bot. 

(1876) 968 Kalidia, capsules, and cystocarps are bodies of 

the same form as the preceding but containing undivided 

spores. 1890 Cent. Diet. s. 

y. Kaltymenia, The cystocarps 

or kalidia which are formed in the middle of the frond are 

hemispherical. 1900 JACKSON Gloss. Bot. Terms, Kalidion, 

Kalidium . . = Cystocarp. 

Kaliform (kre-lii(7jm\ a. [f. KALI + -FORM.] 

Having the appearance of the Kali or Glasswort. 

1868 in PAXTON Bot. Diet. 

Kaligenons (ka'li-dg/has), a. Chem. Also 

-geneous. [f. KALI + -GEN + -ous cf. F. kali- 

; 

gt'iieux'] Producing an alknli : said of metals that 

form alkalis with oxygen. Cf. ALKALIGENOUS. 

1854 J. SCOFFERS- in Orr's Circ. Sc., Chem. 438 The kaligenous 

metals, potassium and sodium . . readily admit of 

welding, c 1865 I. WYLDE in Circ. Sc. I. 371/2 We shall 

divide them into three classes; namely, metals proper, kaligeneous, 

and terrigeneous. 

Kalij, variant of KALEEGE. 

Kalimeter, -metry, Kalinc : see ALKAL-. 

1890 in GOULD Med. Diet, 

Kalinite (krc linsir. Min. kaline = [f. ( alkaline) 

+ -ITE 1.] Native potash alum. 

1868 in DANA Min. (ed. 5) 652. 1887 MALLET Mineral. 

India 147 Kalinite occurs as an aggregate of minute crystals. 

Kaliophilite (ktcliip'filait). Min. [Named 

1886, f. mod.L. kali-inn potassium + Gr. -i\-os 

loving + -ITE 1 A silicate of aluminium and .] 

potassium, 

found in colourless prismatic crystals. 

1887 Amer. Jrnl. Sc. Ser. in. XXXIII. 424 Mierisch de. 

scribes a mineral allied to nephelite, calling it kaliophilite. 

Kalioun : see KALIAN. 

Kalisaccha-ric, a. [f. KALI -f SACCHARIC.] A 

synonym of GLUCIC, q.v. 

Kalk'fe, Kalketrappe,obs. ff. CAULK,CALTROP. 

Kalkyn, Kail, Kallash.obs.ff. CALKIN, CALL, 

CAUL, CALASH. Kallaut, variant of KHILAT. 

Kalli-, a recent spelling of some words in 

CALLI-. 

Kallilite (karlilait). Min. [ad. G. kallilith 

(f. Gr. xa\\i-, comb, form of xaXXot beauty + Ai'flos 

stone : see -LITE), transl. Sfhonstein, name of the 

place where it is found.] Sulphide of bismuth and 

nickel. (Dana Min. 1892.) 

Kalliver, Kalliyun : see CALIVEB, KALIAN. 

|| Kalmia (kje-lmia). Bot. Also calmia. 

[mod.L., f. Kalm, name of a pupil of Linnreus.] 

A genus of American evergreen shrubs, N. O. Erica- 

cese., with showy flowers ; the principal species 

being the American Laurel, A", latifolia. 

1776 J. LEE Bot. Table L 282 Kalmia, dwarfAmerican laurel. 

1784 ANNA SEWARD Lett. (i8ri) I. 15 Dr. Darwin .. asked if 

I had seen the Calmia. 1841 BRYANT Poems, Earth's 

Children Cling to Earth, Yon wreath of mist that leaves 

the vale.. Clings to the fragrant Kalmia. 

Kalo-, a recent variant of CALO-. 

Kaloge, obs. form of GALOSH. 

1373-4 Durham Ace. Rolls (Surtees) 578 Pro bots, kaloges 

empL pro dicto d'no Priore,

KALOTBOPE. 

Java, Sumatra, and adjacent islands, where it is 

used for food. 

1824 HORSFIELD Zool. Res. Java, Pteropus rostratus The 

Pteropus rostratns..Ktar less abundant than the Pteropus 

javamcus or Kalong. ,837 Penny Cyel. VII. 2 7/, The 

ofthe night 

Kalong is slow and steady, pursued in a straight line, and 

capable of long continuance. ,883 Casscll's Nat. Hist. 1.271 

Kalotrope (kx-\otro"p). [f. Gr. KaAos beaulilul 

+ -Tyioiros turning.] The name given to a kind of 

geometric thaumatrope. 

,846 J. JOYCE Sci. Dial. xxii. 333 The Kalotrope is a modification 

of the dissolving views, c 1865 J. WYLDE in Circ. 

*6 1. 77/2 Mr. Rose . . has invented a very interesting instrument, 

which he calls the kalotrope. 

Kalotypo graphy. Beautiful printing. 

1834 SouTHEY Doctor ii. 27 Perfect therefore it [the dedication] 

shall be, as far as kalotypography can make it 

II Kalpa 

(kse-lpa). [Skr. kalpa.} In Hindu 

great age of the world (see quot. 

cosmology : A 

'834) ; a day of Brahma; a thousand yugas. 

1794 SULLIVAN new Nat. II. xliv. 287 The Hindoos are 

taught to believe that at the end of every kalpa, or creation 

all things are absorbed in the Deity. ,834 Nat. Philos. Ill' 

Hist. Astron. 1 App. 17 The Bramins at this time chose to 

select a period of 4,320,000,000 years, which they called a 

Kalpa. 1899 A. B. BRUCE Moral Order World'i. 20 A great 

Kalpa is the period beginning with the origin of a world and 

extending beyond its dissolution to the commencement of 

a new succeeding world. 

Kalpac(k, -pak, var. of CALPAC(K, an oriental 

cap. Hence Kalpacked = CALPACKED. 

1717 LADY M. W. MONTAGU Lett., to C'tess Mar 10 Mar. 

(1827) 225 Round her kalpac she had four strings of pearl 

,882 E. O'DoNovAN Merv Oasis I. i. 15 There are kalpaked 

.tartars in the streets. 

Kalsomine, erron. form of CALCIMINE. 

Kalstocke, Kalunder, obs. forms of CASTOCK. 

CALENDAR. 

Kaluszite (kalirsait). Min. [ad. G. kaluszit 

(1872), f. Kahisz in Galicia.] = SYNGENITE. 

,873 WATTS Diet. Cliem. VH. 1142 Analyses (made on 

specimens originally called kaluszite). 

Kalver, variant of CALVER a. 

1342-3 Durham Ace. Rolls 38 In 3 salmon Kalver, 3*. 

: Kalyan see KALIAN. Kam- : see also CAM-. 

Kara, obs. var. CHAM, KHAN l, var. CAM a. and 

adv. ; obs. f. came, t. pa. of COME v. Kama, 

Kamachi, var. KAAMA, KAMICHI. 

Kamacite (karmasait). Min. [ad. G. kamacit \ 

(Keichenbach, 1861), f. Gr. a//o, KO.[UIK-, vine- j 

i shouted 

! \ 

pole: see -ITE!.] A variety of meteoric iron, ex- 

hibiting certain peculiar figures in its structure. 

,890 in Cent. Diet. 1898 in DANA Text-bk. Min. 281. 

rium I 

'i 

Kamala (ksnnala). [Skr. kamala. The from 

Hindi form kamila or kamela is recognized, with 

hairs from the fruit-capsules of an East Indian 

j 

euphorbiaceous tree ! 

{Mallolus philippinensis or 

Rottlei-a 

tinctorid), used for dyeing silks ! 

yellow, 

and employed as a vermifuge. Also attrib. 

,820-32 in W. ROXBURGH Flora Indica. 1858 HANBURY in ! 

Pharmaceut. Jrnl. Feb. ,866 Treas. Bot. 993/1 A red ; 

mealy powder, .well known in India as Kamala, and much 

used by Hindoo silk-dyers. 1876 HARI.EY Mat. Med. (ed. 6) 

444 The Kamala Tree is common in hilly districts" of India. 

Kamarband, variant of CUMMERBUND. 

Kamas, variant of CAMAS, QUAMASH. 

Kambe, Kambrell, obs. ff. COMB, CAMBREL. 

Kame, kaim (ke'm). North, and Sc. form of 

COMB si. 

(q.v.) 

in various senses, esp. that of a steep 

and sharp hill ridge ; hence in Geol. one of the 

elongated mounds of post-glacial gravel, found at 

the lower end of the great valleys in Scotland and 

elsewhere throughout the world an ; esker or osar. 

,862 [see COMB so. 6 d]. ,863 A. C. RAMSAY Phys. Geog. 

xxvi. (1878) 430 Those marine gravelly mounds, called Kames 

or Eskers. 1884 Geol. Mag. 565 He [Prof. H. Carvell Lewis] 

described in detail a number of marginal kames in Pennsylvania. 

1894 Jrnl. R. Agric. Sac. June 388 The most 

southerly examples of true eskers or kames in this country. 

Kame, 

obs. Sc. and north, f. COMB w.l 

t Kameka, var. CAMACA, silk, satin. Obs. 

1338 Durham Ace. Rolls (Surtees) 375, j pannus novus de 

serico viridis coloris de Kameka. 

Kamel, -elle, obs. ff. CAMEL. Kamela, 

-eela : see KAMALA. Kamelyne, var. CAME- 

I.INE si.'i Obs. Kamester, var. KEMBSTER. 

' 

II Kami (ka-iru). [Japanese, = superior, lord '.] 

1. A title given by the Japanese to daimios and 

' = governors, lord '. 

2. In the Shinto or native religion of Japan, 

A divinity, a god (used by Protestant missionaries 

and their converts as the name of the Supreme 

Being, God). Also attrib., as kami-religion. 

1727 SCHEUCHZER tr. Kzmpfer's Japan I. 206 Superstition 

at last was carried so far, that the Mikaddo's . . are looked 

. . upon as true and living images of their Kami's or Gods, as 

Kami's themselves. 1871 TYLOR Prim. Cult. xvii. II, 317 

The . . Japanese have 

. . . . kept up the religion of their former 

| 

t kanarl.] 

651 

IIXamicM (ka-miji). [Brazilian, through F. 

kanachi 

(Buffon), Kamichy (174: Barrere, cited 

by Hatz.-Darm.).] The horned screamer (Palamedeacomuta}, 

a bird of Guiana and the Amazon. 

' 

E Cmicr sAni"'- Kingd. ,54 The Kamichi 

res!^W ^T 

pS^r i vfe anas b t 0n a 

'/ r\ very !arse scale - l84 

.A 

,? -J l - ISS/2 D Azara ^y5 '>"" both this bird 

e a 

Sase of ,he fTatherr *"*** *Wl * C " ny d W" at ** 

Kamila : see KAMALA. 

Kamis, Kamisado, var. CAMISE, -SAHO. 

Kamme, obs. form of CAM a. and adv. 

Kammede, Kammok, : Kamp see CAM-. 

r!'IKam,p0ng (kam P-n). Also oampong. 

(.Malay kampong, karnpung inclosure : see COM- 

POUND sb.'\ 

A Malay village. 

1844 BROOKE Jrnl. in Mundy Narrative Borneo (1848) I 

il/L/ '^kV was ,f.Singi. '875 THOMSON Straits 

Malacca 18 There are Malay camfongs (villages) scattered 

over the island. 1900 Blackw. Mag. Mar. 401/2 The rebel 

chiefs, .are hustled out of the kampongs. 

Kampseen, Kamsin, variants of KHAMSIN. 

Kaiuptulicoil (kEempti-likj?n). [A tradename, 

made up from Gr. /ca/tjir-oj flexible + ouA-os 

thick + -ut6v neut. adj. suffix.] Floor-cloth com- 

posed of a mixture of india-rubber, gutta-percha, 

and cork, mounted on canvas. 

(The material was patented by E. Galloway in 1844 (No. 

10054), but the word does not 

appear in the specification ) 

1844 G. WALTER (title) Description of the Patent Kamp. 

tulicon Life Boat. 1851 Specif. L. Bunns patent No. 13713 

Improvements in the manufacture of Kamptulicon. 

Ann. ,858 

Reg. 196 The floor is covered with a carpet of Kamptulicon, 

an excellent non-conductor. 

Kan, obs. f. CAN sl>. and v., KHAN 2 ; Var. KHAN!. 

[[Kanaka (kae-naka, in Australia improperly 

kansrka). Also canaker, kanaker, kanaeka. 

[Hawaiian kanaka = 

Samoan, Tongan, and Maori 

tangata man.] A native of the South Sea Islands, 

esp. one employed in Queensland as a labourer 

on the sugar plantations. Also attrib. 

1840 R. H. DANA Bcf. Mast xx. 59 The Catalina had several 

Kanakas on board. 1837 R. TOMES Amer. in Japan vi. The 140 

Sandwich Islanders or Kanakas, as they are now 

familiarly known to the sailors and traders. 1890 BOLDRE- 

WOOD Col. Reformer xv. 175 You must get a Kanaka crew 

that can t be drowned. 1893 R - KIPLING Banjo Song, We've 

on seven-ounce nuggets, We've starved on a kanakaspay. 

II Kanari (kana-ri). Also -rie, -ry. [Malay 

An East Indian tree of the genus Cana- 

(N. O. Burseracex'), producing edible nuts, 

which oil is extracted. Also attrib. 

1779 FORREST Voy. N. Guinea 152 Got a great many 

j 

pron. (kanu-la), in some recent diets.] A fine 

orange-coloured powder consisting of the Kanary nuts, the kernels of which . . are full of oil 1800 

A at'c A n - RV; Mi*- Tr. 

i *i 2o8/r The kanary is a remark- 

! glandular ably fine kind of almond. ANNA FORBES Insulinde ii. 

i 21 

1887 A long wide avenue of kanarie-trees. 

Kanaster, var. CANASTER, a kind of tobacco. 

Kanat, kanaut, var. CANAUT. 

II Kaiichil (kcrntjil). [Malay kanchil, kanchil.} 

The smallest known species of chevrotain Tra- 

( 

gulus Kanchil}, found 

Java, and Malacca. 

in the forests of Borneo, 

1820 SIR S. RAFFLES in Trans. Linn. Sac. (1822) XIII. 263 

It is a common Malay proverb to designate a great rogue 

to be as cunning as a Kanchil 1885 Stand. Nat. Hist. V. 

i 

287 

he commonest species, the Kanchil of the Malays. 

Kancre, obs. f. CANKER. Kand, var. CAND, 

fluor-spar. Kandel, -dil, obs. ff. CANDLE. 

Kandjar, variant of KHANJAR, dagger. 

Kane, variant of kain, CAIN, payment in kind. 

Kane, obs. form of CANE st.i, KHAN 1. 

Kanell, variant of CANEL, CANNEL si. 1 

fKaner. Sc. 06s. rare-1 , 

[f. kane, CAIN rf.i 

+ -ER 1.] One who collects cain or rent ; a steward. 

*S9?. Thanes 

'", ofCawdor (Spald. CD 193 Item to the 

Lairdis Kaner for keiping of the yair. .thre bollis victuell 

Kaneuas, obs, form of CANVAS. 

II Kaiig (kserj). Also k'ang, khang. [Chinese.] 

A kind of stove for warming rooms nsed by the 

Chinese; also, a brick or wooden erection for 

sleeping upon, warmed by a fire placed underneath. 

1770 Ace. of the Kang in Phil. Trans. LXI. 62 The parts 

of a Kang are, r. a furnace i 2. a pipe for the heat [etc.]. 1870 

Mem. W. C. Burns 514 Mr. Burns's room with its two chairs 

table and khang. 1892 T. M. MORRIS Winter N. China in 

The ground floor was occupied by a k'ang about fourteen 

feet by six feet. 

Kang, variant of GANG si. and a. 

Kangaroo ^kserjgara-), si. Also 8 kanguru, 

-gooroo, 8-9 -guroo, (8 gamgarou). [Stated 

to have been the name in a native Australian lang. 

Cook and Banks believed it to be the name given to the 

animal by the natives at Endeavour River, Queensland, 

and there is later affirmation of its use elsewhere. On the 

other hand, there are express statements to the contrary 

(see (juots. below), showing that the word, if ever current 

in this sense, was merely local, or had become obsolete. 

' 

The common assertion that it really means I don't under- 

(the supposed reply of the native to his questioner) 

barbarism. This is the Kami-religion, Spirit-religion. ,886 seems to be of recent origin and lacks confirmation. (See 

HUXLEY in iqtA Cent. XIX. 494 The state-theology of Morris Austral English s.v.1 

' 

' 

China and the Kami-theology of Japan. note, Kami 

1770 

is used in the sense of Elohim, but is also, like our word 

' 

Lord ', employed as a title of respect among men. 

COOK Jrnl. (1893) 224 (Morris) (Aug. 4) The animals 

which I have before mentioned, called by the Natives 

Kangooroo or Kanguru. 1770 J. BANKS Jrnl. ^896) 301 

stand ' 

i 

KANGAROO. 

(Aug. 26) The largest [quadruped] was called by the natives 

kangooroo ,787 ANDERSON in Cook; YoJ. () IV 

1295 We found, that the animal called kangaroo, a 

deavour 

Eni 

River, was known under the same name here 

lasmama] 

[, " 

,792 J. HUNTER Port Jackson (1793) 54 Tl 

animal, called the kangaroo (but by the natives 

we found pataloronS 

in great numbers. 1793 W. TENCH 

7 8Z$*% 

71 The lar8 

th ,^ ,""rD r , 

e' OT gy kanguroo, to which 

" JackS n] give the "ame of Pat-ag-a-ran 

Note Kanguroo IcT I was a name unknown to them for any 

animal, until we introduced it. 

Gram 1834 THRELKELD Austral 

(Hunter's River) 87 (Morris) llong-go.rong, Êmu 

..likely the ongm of the barbarism, kangloo.^sed byZ 

English, as the name of an animal called Mo-a-ne. TB WILSON ,835 

WorlS 

A^r,,^. 

n, (ibid.) They [natives cf 

rh , h S 

>P' Y- A ' d 'stinctly pronounced ' 

kangaroo ' 

without 

haying heard any of us utter the sound. 

Ind aSfnt 

Arch,pelago IV. ,88 (Kangaroo.) It is 

that very remarkable 

this word 

supposed to be Australian, is not to be 

as the 

found 

name of this singular marsupial animal in any Ianguage 

of Australia . . I have this on the authority ofmy friend 

waptam King.] 

1. A marsupial mammal of the family Macropodidm, 

remarkable for the great development of the 

hind-quarters and the 

leaping-power resulting from 

this. 1 he species are natives of Australia, Tasmania, 

Papua, and some 

neighbouring isles; the 

larger kinds being commonly known as kangaroos, 

and the smaller ones as wallabies. 

,J 

he fi 

?' s P? cies known in Europe was the great kangaroo 

(Macropusg.ganteus), di.scovered'byCaptainCook inô" 

the male of this is about 6 feet in height when standing erect 

(Also used by sportsmen as a collective plural ) 

1773 HAWKESWORTH Voy. III. 578 (,rf V y. Coot) The next 

day our Kangaroo was dressed for dinner and proved most 

excellent meat. ,774 GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. V,L xvi II 4 

1 he kanguroo of New Holland, where only it is to be found 

is often known to weigh above 60 pounds. ,796 Genii. Mag. 

LAVL t. 467 The Gamgarou, or as Pennant calls it Kangaroo, 

is a native of New South Wales. 

,845 DARWIN Nat. xix. Voy. 

(1852) 441 Now the emu is banished to a 

distance 

long 

and the kangaroo is become scarce. ,884 KOLDRE- 

WOOD MM. Mem. m. 23 Though kangaroo were plentiful, 

they were not.. overwhelming in number. 

2. With qualifying words, as Antelope or Antilopine 

Kangaroo, one of the larger kangaroos 

(ffalmatunu antilofinus) ; Banded K., the 

banded wallaby (genus Lagostrophus) ; Brush 

= 

K. 

WALLABY (cf. BRUSH ^.1 4) ; Forest K. (cf. 

FOREST si. 5); Giant, Great (f Sooty) K 

Maeropus giganteus (see i); Hare-K., a small 

kangaroo, ot the genus Lagorchestes ] 

(cf. HARE si. 6) ; 

Musk K., a very small kangaroo (genus Hypsiprymnodoii) 

; Kat-K. = KANGAROO-RAT ; Bock K., 

the 

rock-wallaby (genus Petrogalt) ; Tree K., an 

arboreal kangaroo (genus Dendrolagus). 

,802 BARRINGTON Hist. N. S. Wales viii. 273 A place 

thickly inhabited by the small brush kangaroo. ,825 FIELD 

O. S. Wales Gloss., Forest-kangaroo, Maeropus major. 

rt&Encycl. Brit. (ed. 7) XIV. 129/1 A still larger species, 

called the sooty kangaroo .. inhabits the south coast of New 

Holland. Ibid., The banded H&UUI.M kangaroo. ivuii^.n \nj. . inhabits imiuuns the me islands 

on the west coast of New Holland. ,839 Penny Cycl XIV 

463/1 Skeleton of Maeropus major (the Great Kangaroo)' 

*?.J' GOULD Monograph Maerofod. i. Plate xii, That 

division of the family which includes the Rat and Jerboa 

Kangaroos. Ibid., The name of Hare Kangaroo has been 

given to this species [Laforc/icstcs leporoides}. Ibid. 11. Plates 

xi & XM, Dendrolagus ursinus and D. inustus, .. two very 

remarkable and highly interesting species of Tree Kangaroos. 

1840 tr. K. WATERHOUSE Nat. Hist. Manini. I. 96 The Anlilopme 

Kangaroo is clothed with short stiff hairs, and these 

he close to the skin, as in many of the Antelope tribe. Ibid 

168 1 he specimens of the Snub-tailed or Rock Kangaroo in 

the British Museum were .. procured by Mr. Gould from 

the Liverpool Range. ,836 KNIGHT Cycl. Nat. Hist. III. 

712 The Hare-Kangaroo is a pretty little Kangaroo, about 

the size of the common hare. ,863 GOULD Mammals 

Austr. II. 54 No other species of Rock Kangaroo has yet 

been discovered with such short and scanty hair as the 

Petrogale h-achyotis. Ibid. 57 The Tree-Kangaroo has only 

in one instance been brought alive to Europe. 1881 Eneycl. 

Brit. XIII. 840/2 The potoroos or rat-kangaroos are small 

animals, none of them exceeding a common rabbit in size. 

3. Jig. a. An animal which leaps like a kangaroo. 

b. One who advances by fitful jumps. 

1827 P. CUNNINGHAM N. S. Wales I. xvi. 290 A stockyard 

under six feet high, will be leaped by some of these 

kangaroos (as we term them) with the most perfect ease. 

,865 Cornh. Mag. Feb. 2,3 I'm capable of a great jerk, an 

effort, and then a relaxation but steady every-daygoodness 

is beyond me. I must be a moral kangaroo ! 

c. humorous. A native of Australia. 

,888 Pall Mall G. 12 

Apr. 5/2 The ' 

kangaroos 'as our 

colonial friends are sometimes dubbed. ,897 Globe g July 

,/4 Thomas Atkins.. has nicknamed the Colonial troops the 

' 

Kangaroos '. 

t d. A kind of chair (? named from its shape). 

1834 MAR. EDGEWORTH Helen I. xv, It was neither a 

lounger, nor a dormeuse, nor a Cooper, nor a Nelson, nor 

a kangaroo. 

e. A form of bicycle with sloping backbone, intro- 

an early form of the ' 

' 

safety type. 

' 

Premier 

duced in 1884 : 

1884 Cyclist g Julv , (Advt.) The ' 

Kangaroo '. 

Safety Bicycle '. Since its introduction early in the present 

season[etc.]. 1884 Wheel. H'orMNov. 241/1 The long-anticipaled 

' 

Kangaroo Safety Bicycle' run duly came off. ,897 

M ECREDY & WILSON A rt Cycling 28 In 1884 came the great 

'Kangaroo ' 

rage. . the 'Kangaroo's ' 

popularity waned rapidly. 

f. //. In Stock : Exchange slang West Austra- 

lian mining shares ; also, dealers in these shares. 

1896 igtA Cent. Nov. 7,1 Westralian mining shares .. 

'Kangaroos', as they were fondly called. ,897 Westm. 

147-2

KANGAROO. 

Gat. 10 June 8/1 Even among the lively Kangaroos, practical 

joking in the House seems to have come to a full stop. 

Ibid, i Oct. 8/1 The Kangaroos are coming on . . but other 

markets, .are still awaiting the public's pleasure. 

4. attrib. and Comb. a. General combs., as 

kangaroo attitude, hunt, hunting, leather, market 

(sense 3), net, tail, tendon; also kangaroo-like 

adj., -wise adv. 

1818 P. CUNNINGHAM N. S. Walts (ed. 3) II. 82 Kangaroo, 

leather boots. 1835 Court Mag. VI. 11/2 The finical air and 

kangaroo attitude with which nis kid-gloved hands hold the 

white reins. 1859 CORNWALLIS New Worldl. 197 Kangarootail 

soup, which was there I Melbourne) much esteemed. 1877 

E. R. CONDER Bos. Faith Note F 447 This kind of reason, 

ing neither marches nor soars : it progresses kangaroo-wise 

by wide leaps. 1884 Stand. Nat. Hist. V. 96 The . . Pocketmice, 

a number of which are jerboa.like or kangaroo-like. 

1894 MRS. C. PRAED Chr. Chard I. i 8 They knighted him 

because he got up a kangaroo hunt for a prince. 1897 

Wcstm. Gaz. 10 June 8/1 In the Kangaroo market . . the outlook 

is equally favourable. 

b. Special combs. : kangaroo-apple, the edible 

frail of the Australian plants Solatium laciniatum 

(or avicularc) and Solatium vescum ; also, the 

plants bearing this ; kangaroo-bear, the Austra- 

lian tree-bear or koala (ncycl. Did. 1885); 

kangaroo-beetle, a beetle with enlarged hind- 

legs, csp. one belonging to the genus Sagra ; 

kangaroo-dog, a large dog trained to hunt the 

kangaroo; kangaroo-fly, a small Australian fly 

(Cabarui) ; kangaroo('s)-foot-plant, the Australian 

ylaiAAnigozanthus Manglesii ( Treas. Bot^}; 

kangaroo-gross, a tall fodder-grass (Anthistiria 

australis), found in Australasia, Southern Asia, 

and Africa ; kangaroo-hound = kangaroo-dog- ; 

kangaroo-mouse, (a) the Australian pouched 

mouse ; a small American rodent of the (P~) genus 

Perognathus ; kangaroo-skin, the skin of the 

Australia I. ii. 71 (Morris) Our camp was infested by the 

"kangaroo-fly, which settled upon us in thousands. 1827 P. 

CUNNINGHAM N. S. Wales I. xii. 209 Of native grasses we 

possess the oat-grass, rye-grass, fiorin, "kangaroo-grass, and 

timothy. 1884 UOLDREWOOD Melb. Mem. 19, I .. feel the 

thick Kangaroo grass under my feet. 1865 LADY BARKER 

Station Life N. Zeal. 28 (Morris) A large dog, a ''kangaroohound 

(not unlike a lurcher in appearance). 1888 MAC- 

DONALD Gum Boughs 256 (ibid.) The tiny interesting little 

creature known on the plains as the ' 

*kangaroo-mouse '. 

1777 COOK in Bischoff Van Oilmen's Land (1832) II. 41 

These females wore a 'kangaroo skin. 1828 P. CUNNINGHAM 

N.S. Wales (ed. 3) 1 1. 151 A desperate-looking ruffian habited 

in a huge hairy cap and shaggy kangaroo-skin jacket. 1872 

C. H, EDEN In 

Queensland 106 (Morris) Kangaroo-skin 

boots are very lasting and good. 

Kangaroo (kserjgara-), v. [f. prec. sb.] 

1. intr. To hunt the kangaroo. Chiefly in pres. 

pple. and vU. sb. 

1849 STURT Centr. Austr. I. 91 [The natives] were about 

to go out kangarooing . . They had their hunting spears. 1890 

R. BOLDREWOOD Robbery under Arms 15 We were sick of 

kangarooing, like the dogs themselves. Miner's Right 

(1899) 135/2, I lent it to him to go tangarooing. 

2. intr. To make a great jump (lit. and _/?.). 

1889 Chicago Advance 12 Dec., Those who kangaroo from 

the foregoing inferences.. to the conclusion that [etc.]. 1892 

Pall Mall G. 19 Sept. 2/3 When the horses kangarooed over 

the 8-ft. water-jump. 

Kangaroo-rat. 

1. A small Australian marsupial, belonging to 

one or other of several genera, esp. Polorous and 

Rettongia ; a rat-kangaroo, potoroo, or 

bettong. 

1788 PHILLIP in Hist. Rec. N. S. Wales I. it 135 (Morris) 

Either the squirrel, kangaroo rat, or opossum. 1828 P. CUN- 

NINGHAM N. S. Wales (ed 3) I. 289 The kangaroo rat, or 

more properly rabbit, is about the size of the smallest of 

the latter kind of animal. 1856 KNIGHT Cycl. Nat. Hist. III. 

710 The manners of the Kangaroo-Rat are mild and timid. 

2. An American pouched rodent, Dipodomys, 

common in the south-western States and in Mexico. 

1891 FLOWER & LYDEKKER Mammals 479 D[ipodomys\ 

pkillipsi, the Kangaroo-Rat of the desert regions east of the 

Rocky Mountains 

Ka-ngled, ///. a. Obs. exc. dial. 

[f. tangle, 

to tangle ; still in midland dial.] Tangled. 

S77 KENDALL Trifles 28 TheComte, Adornde with teeth on 

eueryside.,1 pane the kangled locks. 1851 STERNBERG Dial, 

ffortkants (E. D. D. s.v. Cangle), That thread be kangled. 

Kanhschipe, var. CANGSHIP 06s., folly. 

fKa-niker. Obs. rare- 1 . Later form of 

GANNEKEB, a seller of ale. 

652 

1619 DALTON Country Just. vii. (1630) 32 In Townes which 

are no thorow-fare, the lustices shall doe well be 

to_ sparing 

in allowing of any Alehouse . . And then Kanikers (onely 

to sell to tne poore, and out of their doores) would suffice. 

K -inkar, another spelling of KUNKUB. 

f Kankedo-rt. Obs. rare. Also 4-5 kankerdort. 

[Of unascertained etymology.] ? A state of 

suspense ; a critical position ; an awkward affair. 

c 1374 CHAUCER Troylus n. 1703 (1752) Was Troylus nought 

in a kankedort [v. r. kankerdort, rimes sort, comfort] That 

lay and myghte whysprynge of hem here? [Cf. 1493-1500 

MEDWALL Nature (Brandl) l. 1286 He wyll no lengar me 

support And that were a shrewd crank dort.] 

t .Kanker, -kre, obs. forms ofCANKER sb. and v. 

1426 LYDG. De Guil. Pilgr. 4230 Thow lefftyst the rust To 

kankren in thy conscience. Ibid. 11837 Vertues . . Han 

dyuers extremytes, Kankres at outher ende That ffrete on 

hem. 1530 PALSGR. 316/2 Kankred as brasse . . 

, vermolu. 

(kse'nki). Also 8 canky. [West 

|| Kaiikie 

African ; nkankye in Ashantce, kankyew in Fantee.] 

Native African bread made from maize-flour. 

1735 S. ATKINS Voy. Guinea oo Salary sufficient to buy 

Canky, Palm-oil, and a little Fisn,to keep them from starving. 

1863 R. F. BURTON W. Africa II. ix. Kankie is 

14^4 

native bread; the flour., must be manipulated till it becomes 

snowy white ; after various . . complicated operations it is 

boiled or roasted and packed in plantain leaves. 1887 

MOLONEY Forestry W. Afr. 448 On the Gold Coast the 

natives., make it into a kind of bread resembling the kankie. 

Ibid. 451 Converted by the Fames into kankie-cakes. 

Kannakin, variant of CANNIKIN. 

1851 H. MELVILLE Whale Ixxii. 359 Will you look at that 

kannakin, sir? 

Kanne, obs. form ofCAN sb.\ KHAN z. 

Mediterranean; also, a vessel containing this 

weight of any article. 

1555 EDEN Decades 229 One Cantar is a hundreth pounde 

weight. 1615 W. BEDWELL Arab. Trudg. N ij b, s. v. Rethl, 

Now an hundred Relhels do make a Cantar, or Kintar as 

some do pronounce it, that is an hundred weight. 1773 

BRYDONE Sicily xvii. 

(1809) 186 Mortars to throw a hundred 

cantars of cannon-ball or stones. tr- 1802-3 Pallas's Trav. 

(1812) I. 488 Vessels sailing under the Turkish flag are paid 

about one-third less for their freight, computed per Kantar. 

1894 Timesb Nov. 5/6 The Egyptian cotton crop is estimated 

at nearly 5,500,000 kantars (the kantar-og lb.). 

f Kantch. Obs. rare 1 

. App. the dialect word 

canch (see E.D.D. s.v., and KENCH ' ) 'slice, small 

addition, pile', used for the sake of a rime. 

1608 TOPSELL Serpents (1658) 618 Of green hogs-fennel, 

I 

KAOLINIZE. 

first Princ. i. iii. 15 (1875) 49 Shall we then take refuge 

in the Kantian doctrine? shall we say that Space and Time 

are forms of the intellect a priori laws or conditions of 

the conscious mind ? 1877 E. CAIRO Philos. Kant 666 The 

ultimate decision.. as to the Kantian Criticism of Pure 

Reason must turn 

_ upon the opposition of perception and 

conception, as factors which reciprocally imply, and yet 

exclude, each other. 

B. sb. One who holds the philosophical system 

of Kant. 

1831 Edin. Rev. LVI. 164 note. The Kantians 'make a 

broad distinction between the Understanding and Reason '. 

Hence Kantianism; so Kantism, Ka'atist, 

Ka'ntite (rare). 

1803 DEDDOES Hyglia IX. 205 note, I hate metaphysics . . 

that is, the school-learning of old and modern Kantianism. 

1819 Pantologia s.v., Kantian Philosophy, Kantism, or 

Critical Philosophy. 1825 CARLYLE Schiller (1845) App. 

290 He answered me like an accomplished Kantite. 1830 

MACKINTOSH Eth. Philos. Wks. 1846 1. 214 The. .professor. . 

has rapidly shot through Kantianism. 1839 CARLYLE Misc., 

St. Germ. Lit. (1872) I. 67 The Kantist, in direct contradiction 

to Locke and all his followers, .commences from within. 

1845 MAURICE Mot. ff Met. Philos. in Encycl. Metrop. II. 

667/1 Kantism.or the attempt to build upon this doctrine of 

a practical and speculative reason, has inevitably led to the 

loss of all these good consequences. 1886 SIDGWICK Hist. 

Ethics (1892) 271 Kantism in the ethical thought of modern 

Europe holds a place somewhat analogous to that occupied 

by the teaching of Price and Reid among ourselves. 

II Ka iitikoy, canticoy, kintecoy. Amer. 

Ina. Also 7 cantica, -oo; kinticoy, 9 kentikaw, 

kantickie. [An Algonquin word.] A dance 

practised by some of the American Indians on 

various occasions ; a dancing-match. Also transf. 

1670 D. DENTON Descr. New York (1845) u At their 

Cantica 's or dancing Matches, where all persons that come 

are freely entertain 'd. 1671 New Jersey Archives (1880) I. 

73 The Proposal!.. was to cause a Kinticoy to bee held. 

'675 in J. Easton Narr. (1858) 126 Several Indyans..are in 

a few Dayes to have a great Kintecoy at Seaquetalke. 1683 

PENN Wks. (1782) IV. 309 Their worship consists of two 

parts, sacrifice and cantico. 1701 C. WOLLEY Jrnl. Neiv 

york (1860) 37 Their Kin-tau-Kauns, or time of sacrificing 

is at the beginning of winter. 1860 BARTLETT Diet. Ainer., 

Canticoy,. .an Iroquois Indian word. .It is still used by aged 

people in New York and on Long Island. 1866 WHITTIER 

Marg. Smith's Jrnl. Pr. Wks. 1889 I. 144 Wauwoonemeen 

. . told us that they did still hold their Kentikaw, or Dance 

for the Dead. 

Hence Ka'ntikoy (kintecoy, etc.) v. 

kangaroo used as leather or fur; kangaroo-thorn, 

an Australian spiny shrub {Acacia armata) used for 

hedges ; kangaroo-vine, an evergreen climber, Cissus 

antarcticus 1 (Craig 848). Also KANGAROO-RAT. 

1834 Ross Van Dietnen's Land Ann. 133 (Morris) The 

* 

kangaroo-apple, resembling the apple of a potato. 1846 

G. H. HAYDON 5 Yrs. Austral. Felix 85 (ibid.) The kangaroo- 

. . apple is a fine shrub found in many parts of the country. 

1839 WESTWOOD Insects I. 214 A South American insect, 

figured long since by Francillon, under the name of the 

"Kangaroo Beetle, .in which the size of the hind legs is still 

more extraordinary. 1883 Casselts Nat. Hist. V. 348 The 

large brilliantly-metallic Sagrx, or Kangaroo-beetles of 

tropical Asia and Africa. 1806 Hist. N. S. IfatcsdSi&l 265 

(Morris) Four valuable "kangaroo-dogs, 1850 J. K CLUTTER- 

BUCK Port Phillip iii. 35 A cross of the Scotch greyhound 

and English bulldog, called the Kannell-bone, var. CANNEL-BONE. Kannette, 

var. KENNET 

Kangaroo dog. 1890 R. 

BoLDREWOOoCW. Ref. (1891) 314 A brace of rough greyhounds1 

.the kangaroo-dog of the colonists. 1833 C, STURT .S . 

2 . Kanny, obs. f. CANNY a. 

11 Kauoon (kanw-n). Also kanun. [a. Pers. or 

Arab. 

yj>\i qanun.~\ A species of dulcimer, harp, 

or sackbut, having fifty to sixty strings, which rest 

on two bridges and are played with the fingers. 

1817 MOORE Lalla R., Fire-Worshippers (1854) 155 Singing 

over Some ditty to her soft Kanoon. 1864 ENGEL Mus. 

Anc. Nat. 45 Among the different species of dulcimers at 

present in use in the East the kanoon must be noticed. 1891 

HALL CAINE Scapegoat vii, He began to play on his Kanoon. 

Kansaruah, variant of KHANSAMAH. 

Kant, obs. form of CANT a., and of CANT sb.^, 

esp. in sense 5 ; also an oblique arm of a pier. 

1793 SMEATON Edystone L. 51 The bottom projection, 

which has been called the Kant, and which fills up the angle 

formed between the uprights and the sloping surface of the 

rock. 1861 SMILES Engineers II. VII. vii 217 note, Two great 

piers, one. .the straight part extending outwards about 154 

yards, from which there were to be two kants of about 64 yards 

each. Ibid. 219 The moment the vessel gets within the outer 

angles of the two return arms or kants, she may be said to 

be in or out of the harbour, as the case may be. 

II Kantar (kanta'j). Also 7 kiutar, -,- oantar. 

[Arab. .Iklji qintar, pi. qanatir, ad. (prob. through 

Syriac) L. cenilnarium CENTENARY sb.^ In OF. 

quantar, canter, med.L. cantdr(i)um (Du Cange), 

It. cantaro. The form qintar is represented by 

OF. yuintar, Sp. and F. quintal, QUINTAL. 

(Sp. ctintara, cantaro, a wine-measure, is unconnected.)] 

A weight, properly 100 (Arabic) pounds, but 

varying considerably in different who are to Kintecoy there. 

Kantref, Kantry, obs. ff. CANTREP. 

Kanvas, Kanyon, etc. : see CAN-. 

Kaolin (ka-^lin, k^-

KAPELLE. 

DAWSON Inaug. Addr. Brit. Assoc., [Not] a process of 

kaolinisation so perfect as to eliminate all alkaline matters. 

Kap- : see CAP-. 

Kape, obs. form of CAPE sb.l, COPE sb.T- 

II Kapelle (kape-le). Also cap-. [Ger. ad. 

med.L. capella CHAPEL.] In Germany, a musical 

establishment consisting of a band or orchestra, 

with or without a choir, such as used to be maintained 

at most of the German courts. Hence 

|| Kapellmeister (kape-lmsi'star), the leader or 

conductor of a knpelle, chapel choir, or orchestra. 

1838 Penny Cycl. XII. 341/2 In 1816 he became Kapellmeister 

to the king of Wiirtemberg. 1873 OUIDA Pascarel 

I. 193 He was kapellmeister in our burgh. 1880 POHL in 

Grove Diet. Mus. I. 705/1 To secure the young composer 

as his second Capellmeister. 

Kaper, Kapnite, var. CAPER, CAPNITE. 

Kapnography (kaepnjrgran). Gr. [f. xamu-s 

smoke + -fpatpia writing.] Name for a mode of 

producing designs or pictures on a smoked surface 

of glass, etc. Hence Kapnogra-phic a. 

1890 in Cent. Diet. 

II Kapok (ka-pffk). Also kapoc, CAPOC. [Malay 

(jsli kapoq.] A fine short-stapled cotton wool, 

known as silk cotton, surrounding the seeds of the 

tree Eriodendron anfractuosum used for ; stuffing 

cushions, etc. Also attrib, as kapok-tree. 

1750 [see CAPOC]. 1858 in SIMMONDS Diet. Trade. 1881 

WATTS Diet. C/tem.VIIl. II44 The kapok-tree .. of Java 

and the Indian Archipelago bears a seed resembling .. that 

of the cotton plant. Ibid., Kapok cake. 1887 MOLONEY 

Forestry W. Afr. 184. 1888 Hatter's Gaz. i Mar. 143/2 In 

Java, where it is met with abundantly, kapok has attracted 

considerable attention. . .It was first imported into Europe 

in 1851. 

Kapp (kaep). [Named after Gisbert Kapp, a 

celebrated designer of dynamos, who adopted this 

unit for convenience in practical use. Cf. Ampere, 

Ohm, Volt.] A workshop unit of magnetic lines 

of force, = 6000 times the centimetre-gramme- 

second unit. 

1891 L. CLARK Diet. Metr. Meas. 50. 

Kar, obs. form of CAR, CAKE. 

t Xarabe !l-a-rate). Obs. = [ F., It., Pg. carabi 

(also F., Pg. karabe), ad. Arab, kahrubd, a. Pers. 

l>^feO kdhruta 'attracting straws,' amber, f. ^ 

kah straw + \i. rtibd carrying off.] Yellow amber. 

Karabe of Sodom, bitumen. 

1545 RAYNOLD Byrth Mankynde H. vi. (1634) 126 Karabe, 

otherwise named Amber. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl.,Atnaer, 

Succinum, or Karabe. 1704 SULLIVAN View Nat. II. 105 

The Karabe of Sodom . . is black, not very weighty and solid. 

1799 G. SMITH Laboratory II. 443 Take one ounce of the 

whitest Karabe (Amber). 

Hence Kara'bic a., in karabic acid = succinic 

acid (Syd, Soc. 

Karagan 

Lex. 1887). 

I! f. kara black: 

(ka-ragan). [Turki, 

so mod.F. kai-agan.~\ A species of fox, Vulpes 

karagan, inhabiting Tartary. 

1800 SHAW Zool. I. 323 Karagan Fox.. a small species, 

which, according to Dr. Pallas, is very common in almost 

all parts of the Kirghisian deserts. 1869 GRAY Catal. Mam. 

inalia 205 Vulpes karagan (Karagan). Larger than the 

Corsac. 

Karaism (ke-ra|iz'm'). as KARAITE : 

[f. see 

-ISM.] 

The religious system of the Karaites. 

1882-3 SCHAFF Encycl. Relig. KnowL II. 1225 The founder 

of Karaism was Anan, the son of David. 

Karait, variant of KRAIT. 

Karaite (keVraiait). [f. Heb. D'JOp q'raim 

scripturalists (f. top qdra to read) -t- -ITE!.] A member 

of a Jewish sect (founded in the eighth cent. 

A.D.), which rejects rabbinical tradition and bases 

its tenets on a literal interpretation of the scriptures. 

They are found chiefly in the Crimea, and the 

adjacent parts of Russia and Turkey. 

1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s. v. Caraite, The Caraites themselves 

pretend to be the remains of the ten tribes led captive 

by Salmanassar. 1839 E. D. CLARKE Trav. Russia, etc. 

97/1 The Karaites deem it an act of piety to copy the Bible. 

1893 Daily News 3 Mar. 5/4 There are at present but few 

Karaites, who all live in the Crimea, speak the Tartar 

tongue, and dress after the Tartar fashion. 

attrib. 1900 Expositor Sept. 238 The British Museum 

contains a considerable number of Karaite MSS. 

Hence Xa'raitism = KARAISM. 

1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v. Caraite, A contrary party, 

continuing to keep close to the letter, founded Caraitism. 

II Karaka 

(kara-ka). Also kuraka. [Maori.] 

The bow-tree of New Zealand, Corynocarpns Isevigata 

(N. O. Anacardiacex). Also attrib., as 

karaka-berry', -fruit, -leaf, -nut, -tree. 

The fruit has an edible pulp and poisonous kernel, which 

however may be eaten after being roasted and steeped in 

a running stream of water for a considerable length of time. 

1845 E. J. WAKEFIELD Adv. New Zeal. I. 233 (Morris) j 

The karaka-tree much resembles the laurel in its growth | 

and foliage. 1859 A. S. THOMSON Story New Zeal. i 157 

(ibid.) The karaka fruit is about the size of an acorn. 1883 

RENWICK Betrayed 35 Bring the heavy Karaka leaf. 

Hence Kara kin Chem. [-IN 1], a substance ex- 

j 

traded from karaka-nuts by the process of washing. , 

653 

1875 WATTS Diet. Chetn. 2nd Suppl. 710 The bitter substance, 

karakm, ..crystallises in beautiful radiate needles. 

II Karamu (faerim*). [Maori.] The name of 

several 

species of Coprosma, a genus of Australasian 

trees and shrubs (N. O. Rubiaccx), some 

of which produce edible fruits. 

Bush-karamu, the Otago orange-leaf, or Looking-glass 

bush (C. lucida). 

1874 J. WHITE Te Rou 221 (Morris) Then they tied a few 

Karamu branches in front of them. 1876 in Trans. New 

teal. Inst. IX. 545 (ibid.), I have seen it stated that coffee 

of fine flavour has been produced from the karamu. 

Karat, obs. form of CAKAT. 

II Karatas 

(kar/'-tas). Also 8 karata. [? Of 

Carib origin: the name is mentioned in 1667 by 

Du Tertre Hist. Antilles (Hatz.-Darm.).] A West 

Indian and South American plant (Bromelia 

Karatas), allied to the pine-apple, and yielding 

a valuable fibre ; silk-grass. 

1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl., Karata. by some called caraguata 

niaca, a kind of aloe growing in America. 1768 

MILLER Card. Diet., Karatas, the wild Ananas or Penguin. 

..This plant is very common in the West Indies, where the 

juice of its fruit is often put into 

punch, being of a sharp 

acid flavour. 1848 in CRAIG ; also in later diets. 

Karat-tree (ka:-rat|trf). [f. CARAT + TREE.] 

The Abyssinian Coral-tree, Eiylhrina abyssinica 

(N. O. Legnminosse), with scarlet flowers, and 

seeds which have been supposed to be the original 

of the carat-weight (Paxton Bot. Diet. 1868). 

Karausse, obs. f. CAROUSE. Karavan, 

-serai, obs. ff. CARAVAN, etc. Karboy, var. 

CARBOY. Karcas(s)e, 

obs. f. CAKCASE. Kar- 

cheffe, -cher, obs. ff. KERCHIEF, KEROHER. 

Kard(e, obs. f. CARD sb\ and v.l; var. CARDE. 

Kardel, var. CARDEL. 

fKa-rdester. Obs. rare. [Obs. form of *cardster, 

fern, of CAHDER.] A woman who cards. 

1363 Kails Parlt. II. 278/1 Brotldesters, Kardesters, 

Pyneresces de Leine. 14.. Voc. in Wr.-Wiilcker 575/40 

Corptrix, a kardestere. 

Kardil, obs. f. CRADLE. Kardio- : see 

CARDIO-. Kare, obs. f. CARE sl>. 

II Kareao, kareau (kar,au-, -a-). [Maori.] 

The native name for the New Zealand creeping 

plant Ripogonum parviflorum. Also kareao-vine. 

1845 E. J. WAKEFIELD Adv. New Zeal. I. 218 (Morris) 

A tedious march .. along a track constantly obstructed by 

webs of the kareau, or supple-jack. 1873 BULLER Birds 

New Zeal. (1888) II. 317 Our shins aching from repeated 

contact with the kafeao-vines. 

Karect(e, var. CARACT obs. f. 

; CARAT. 

Karelinite (koe-relinait). Mitt. [Named 1858, 

after Karelin its discoverer: see -ITE 1 A .] leadgrey 

oxysulphide of bismuth found in the Altai. 

1861 in BRISTOW Gloss. Min. 1868 in DANA Min, 

Karelling, obs. form of CAROLING. 

fKaremon, var. CARMAN 2 Obs., man, male. 

a 1400 Pistill of Susan 249 (Cotton MS.) Sche. .karpyd 

to bat karemon, as she well kowthe. 

Kareyn(e, Karf(e, obs. ff. CARRION, CARVE. 

Kari, Karibdous : see KARRI, KAKYBDTS. 

Karite, variant of KHAIT. 

f Karite, karitep, obs. forms of CHARITY. 

c 1200 Vices fff Virtues 37 Se Se wune5 on karite, he wuneo" 

on gode. Ibid., Wuni3en on karite, bat is, luue of gode and 

of mannen. 1706 PHILLIPS, Karite or Carite, a Name which 

our Monks in former times gave to the best Drink or strong 

Beer that was kept in their Monastery. 

Kark, var. CARK sb. Karkaise, -keia, obs. 

ff. CARCASS. Karkee, bad f. KHAKI. Karknett, 

karkynet, obs. ff. CARCANET. 

Karl(e, Karl-hemp, obs. ff. CARL, CARL-HEMP. 

variant of CARLINE 1. 

Karling, 

II Karma (kauma). Also karman. [Skr. 

karma, karman-, action, fate.] In Buddhism, the 

sum of a person's actions in one of his successive 

states of existence, regarded as determining his 

fate in the next ; hence, necessary fate or destiny, 

following as effect from cause. 

1828 B. H. HODGSON in Trans. R. Asiat. Soc. (1830) II. 

250. 1836 Penny Cycl. V. 531/1 The progress of the 

soul towards matter is therefore the effect of a succession 

of acts (Karma whence the name of the school Karmika) 

on the part of the soul. 

1853 

P. D. HARDY Budhisnt 

39 As the cause of reproduction, karma, is destroyed, 

it is not possible for him [the rahat] to enter upon any 

other mode of existence. 1879 MAX MULLER Sel. Ess. 

(1881) II. 495 What the Buddists call by the general name 

of Kartnan, comprehends all influences which the past 

exercises on the present, whether physical or mental. 1882 

WOOD tr. Earth's Relig. India. 112 The individual . . entirely 

perishes. The influence of its karman alone, of its acts, j 

survives it. 1892 Month Jan. 10 ' i Karma' .. literally signi- 

BURCHELL TVa;?. 1.267 The kaross,a genuine Hottentot dress, 

madeof sheepskin prepared with the nair on, was ] 

fies 'action', and in Theosophic phraseology indicates the 

pretty much 

used by both sexes, 1824 Ibid. II. unvarying chain of cause and effect that governs the 

universe. 

350 Kaross and kobo are 

Kurmatlliail, Car- (kaim.?"bian), sb. ft. 1785 

(adj.}. 

G. FORSTER tr. Span-man's Voy. Cape G. H. (1786) 

I. 188 The women have a long peak to their karosses. 1822 

BURCHELL Trav ~ 

used by both sexes. 1824 Ibid. II. 350 Kaross and kobo are 

[After Karmat, the founder of the sect.] One of t 

a sect of Mohammedans, founded in the gth cent. 

Also as 

adj. Belonging to this sect. 

1819 Pantologia, Jfannatzans, a sect of Mohammedans, 

who once occasioned great disorders in the empire of the 

Arabs. T&jt,Encycl. Brit. II. 250/2 As to the special tenets 

professed by the Karmathians . .they were, in their ultimate 

KAROSS. 

expression, pantheistic in theory and socialist in practice. 

*3jMS XVI. 594/1 Towards 887 A. D. an Ismailian, 

Hamdan, surnamed Karmat, founded the branch sect of 

the Carmathians. 

Karmic (kaumik), a. [f. KARMA + -ic.] Of, 

pertaining to, of the nature of, karma. 

1885 A. P. SINNETT Karma II. no To seek .. some 

comprehension of the Karmic principle in operation. 

Karn, -e, var. CAIRN ; obs. f. KERN si.i 

Karnel, obs. f. KERNEL ; var. CAKNEL. 

Karob, -e, obs. forms of CAROB. 

1658-1706 in PHILLIPS. 

tKarol, karolle, etc. obs. ff. CAROL sb. and v. 

Early examples of sense 5 of the sb. 

1419-20 Durham Ace. Rolls (Surtees) 28 Et in soluc. 

facta pro karolles in claustro, lor. 1483 CatA. Angl. 200/2 

A Karalle or a wryting burAe,fluteus. 

Karolingian, variant of CAROLINGIAN. 

II Karoo, karroo (kara-). Also 8 karo, 9 

karro. [Of Hottentot origin; but the precise 

etymology is uncertain. According to Lichtenstein 

(1811) and Burchell (1822), karoo or karro is 

a Namaqua Hottentot adj. meaning 'hard', but 

later authorities give for this ka'rusa (Tindall 

1857) r ga-rosa (Kroenlein 1889), while the 

modern Hottentot name for the karroo is said to 

be Tor6 (Kroenlein). Garo 'desert', has also 

been suggested as a possible source. Lichtenstein 

and Burchell may have wrongly identified Tor6 or 

garo with the adj. meaning 'hard'. (See J. Platt, 

in N. &> Q. 9th s. IV. 105; Athenaeum 19 May, 

1900.) 

The earlier spellings indicate a pron. (karo') ; it is not clear 

whether (karw*) is a phonetic development of this or due to 

the influence of Dutch orthography.] 

The name given to barren tracts in South Africa, 

consisting of extensive elevated plateaus, with a 

clayey soil, which during the dry season are 

entirely waterless and arid. 

The Great Karoo extends over an area 300 miles from 

West to East, and from 70 to 80 from South to North, in the 

centre of Cape Colony. 

1789 PATERSON Narr. 4 Journeys 44 Next day we proceeded 

through what the Dutch call Karo, an extensive 

plain. 1812 ANNE PLUMPTREE tr. Lichtenstein s Trav. S. 

A/r. 112 The Great Karroo, as it is called, a parched 

and arid plain. 1822 BURCHELL Trav. I. 207 A range of 

mountains.. separates th'e great Karro from the inhabited 

parts of the colony. 1845 DARWIN Jrnl. Beagle v. 89 

Rhinoceroses and elephants [roaming] over the Karros of 

Southern Africa. 1847 Nat. Encycl. I. 256 The karoos in 

the dry season are almost as barren as the wastes of the 

Sahara. 1880 S. Africa (ed. 3) 155 Grasses and herbage 

found on the.. Veldts and the Karroo. 

ta. at/rib., as karoo bush, country, desert, shrub ; 

also karoo beds, formation, series, an important 

South African series of rocks, of Triassic age, 

chiefly sandstone mixed with volcanic matter ; 

karoo ground, a yellowish iron-clay. 

1836 Penny Cycl. VI. 257/2 The Great Karroo.. is one of 

the most barren and desolate spots imaginable. ..The soil is 

a_sand mixed with clay containing of 

particles iron, which 

gives it a yellowish colour : all soil of a similar colour in 

other parts of the Colony is called by the name of Karroo 

ground. 1842 MOFFAT Miss. Tours S. i. Afr. 17 The 

Karroo . . country is a parched and arid plain. 1876 Encycl. 

Brit. V. 42/1 The ' 

Karroo beds ' 

. . are believecl from the 

abundance of fossil wood and fresh-water shells to be of 

lacustrine origin. 1885 RIDER HAGGARD K. Solomon's Alines 

v. 64 The waterless desert covered with a species of karoo 

shrub. 1886 H. CARVELL LEWIS Papers on the Diamond 

(1897) 7 The diamond-bearing pipes [at Kimberley] penetrate 

strata of Triassic age which are known as the Karoo beds. 

Ibid., The Kimberley shales belong to the lower Karoo 

formation. 

t Karos, obs. f. CARUS, heavy sleep, torpor. 

1598 SYLVESTER Du Bartas n. L in. Furies 356 The Karos, 

th' Apoplexie, and Lethargic. 1623 in COCKERAM. 

KarosS (karrs). Forms: a. 8krosse,cross, 8-9 

kross ; 0. 8- kaross, 9 eaross, karross. [South 

African karos : see note below.] 

A mantle (or sleeveless jacket) made of the 

skins of animals with the hair on, used by the 

Hottentots and other natives of South Africa. 

a. 1731 MEDLEY tr. Kolbtn's Cape G. Hope I. 187 Their 

Krosses (as the Hottentots term them) or mantles, cover the 

trunk of their bodies. 1775 MASSON in Phil. Trans. LXVI. 

295 These Hottentots were all cloathed in crosses, or mantles, 

made of the hides of oxen. 1785 G. FORSTER tr. Sparr. 

man's Voy. Cape G. Hope in 1772, etc. II. v. 187 These cloaks 

or Krosses, as they call them in broken Dutch. 1814 

THUNBERG Ace. Cape in Pinkerton's Voy. XVI. 33 The 

sheepskin, which they call a Kross. 1839 MARRYAT Phant. 

Ship x, They wore not their sheepskin Krosses. 

but two vfbrds for the same thing: the former belongs tothe 

Hottentot, and the latter to the Sichuana language. 1834 

PRINGLE Afr. Sk. i. 132 Dressed in the old sheep-skin 

mantle or eaross. 1880 SIR S. LAKEMAN What I saw in 

Kaffir-Land 58 Blankets and karosses were'also left behind. 

Comb. 1883 J. MACKENZIE Day-dawn in DarkPlaces 170 

Disturbed . . in their skin-dressing and kaross-making. 

[Not a Bantu word, and app. not Hottentot In W. Ten 

Rhyne's vocabulary of 1673 (in Churchill's Voy. IV. 845) 

' 

' 

Karos colobium (i. e. a jacket without sleeves or with arm- 

' 

holes) is placed among the Corrupt Dutch Words which are 

',

KARREE. 

-c,,.,r.itl from the 'Original Hottentot Words Ir >*>P*"; 

man's I 'oy. 1772-6 (see quoL 1785! is called broken Dutch . 

P Kolbe (1745, >n Astley's Voyage! III. 35") gives the name 

of kul-kros 10 the skin-apron worn by women, and kul-kros 

to that of the men : in these the first element is Dutch. 

But it has not been ascertained of what Dutch word kros 

or karos could be a corruption. (Mr. James Plan, to 

whom these data for the history of the word are due, has 

Pg. curral.) See Notes and Queries 9th Ser. V. 125, 236; 

Atktnxum 19 May 1900.) But Hesseling, Het Afrtkaansch 

(Leiden 1899) 81, thinks the word Hottentot.) 

Karoyne, Karp(e, obs. ff. CARRION, CARP z>.l 

Karrat, Karrawan, Karre, Karreine, 

Karrek, obs. ff. CARAT, CARAVAN, CAKK*, 

CARRION, CARRACK. 

Ii Karree 

(kae-n). [S. Afr. Dn. karree (-/tout, 

-boom), from Hottentot name.] A South African 

tree (XAus viminalis) resembling a willow, used 

for making bows. 

[i8u BURCHELL Trar. I. 179 Very large bushes of Karreehout, 

which . . have a great resemblance to our common 

willows.) 1814 Ibid. II. 199 The bow itself is made not 

always of the same sort of wood. . . The karree-tree . . is most 

generally used for this purpose. 1841 MOFFAT Miss. Tours 

S. i. Afr. 6 Kharree trees and shrubs umbrageous at all 

seasons of the year. 1876 Miss FREWER tr. Verne's Adv. 

in S. Afr. v. 39 The karrees with dark green foliage. 

II Karri (kse-ii). Also kari. [Native name 

(W. Australia).] An Australian tree (Eucalyptus 

diversicolor, one of the ' 

blue gums'); also, its hard 

red timber, used in street-paving. Also attrib. 

1870 W. H. KNIGHT W. Austral. 38 (Morris) The Karri.. 

Office, where the wear and tear is exceedingly heavy. 18 

lllustr. Land. News i . . May 598 They neither rot in the 

ground nor yield to the ravages of the white ant . . it is not 

necessary to creosote Karri or Jarrah sleepers. 

Karroo, var. spelling of KAROO. 

Karstenite (ka-istensit). Min. [ad. G. karstenit, 

named 1813, after D. L. G. Karsten : see 

-HE 1 .] Anhydrous sulphate of lime; now called 

ANHYDRITE. 1844 in DANA Min. 

t Kart, Kart-, obs. form of CART sb., CART-. 

1425 l**ffc. in Wr.-Wiilcker 650/21 Hie carpentarius, 

kartwryght 14.. Ibid. 568/16 Bigata, a kartlode. Ibid, 

593/29 Lolidolium, a kartsadell. Ibid. 611/6 Selabicalis 

[? read scala bigalis\, a kartladdere. 

II Kartel (kaut'l). Also oartle. [S. African 

Dutch; app. ad. ' 

Pg. catel, [title, catre little bed ', 

according to Schuchardt (Kreol. Stud. IX. 119), a 

South Indian word, Tamil kattil bedstead, adopted 

and diffused by the Portuguese.] The wooden 

bed or hammock, in a South African ox-wagon. 

1880 P. GTU.MORE On Duty 275 The worthy missionary 

had his waggon brought in front of the porch, swung a 

cartle in it, and made my bed there. 1883 OLIVE SCHREINER 

Story Afr. Farm II. xii. (1887) 276 Next day Gregory carried 

' 

her. .to the . waggon. .As he laid her down on the kartel' 

she looked far out across the plain. 1885 RIDER HAGGARD 

K. Solomon's Mines iii. (1887) 42 In this after part was 

a hide ' 

cartle ' 

or bed. 

Karthe, erron. f. scart, SCRAT, hermaphrodite. 

Karval, -vel, obs. forms of CARVEL. 

Karve, Karver, obs. ff. CARVE, CARVER. 

Kary, Karyage, obs. ff. CARRY. CARRIAGE. 

fKarybdys, Karibdous, obs. ff. CHARVHDIS. 

c 1400 Rom. Rose 4713 It [Love] is Karibdous perilous, Disagreable 

and gracious, c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. 

Lordsh. 50 Sylla and karybdys. 

obs. forms of CARRION. 

Karyn, karyun, 

t Karyn(e, var. CARENE 2 Obs., forty days' fast. 

1502 ARNOLDE Ckron. 150 Here folow' the knowelege wh.it 

a Karyne vs. ..He that fulfilleth alle thes poyntis vij. yere 

duryng, dothe and wynnethe a Karyne, that ys to sey 

a Lenton. 

Karyo- (kae'rio), sometimes caryo-, combining 

form of Gr. xapvov nut, kernel, employed 

in a 

number of biological terms referring to the nucleus 

of an animal or vegetable cell, esp. to changes 

which take place in its structure. The earliest of 

these were karyolysis, karyolylic (introduced by 

Auerbach in 1874) and karyokinesis (Schleicher). 

Those generally recognized are the : 

following 

Karyokinesis (-ksinfsis) [Gr. Ktvrjois motion], 

the complicated series of changes observed in 

indirect or ' 

mitotic ' 

division of a cell-nucleus ; 

hence Karyokinetic (-ksine'tik) a., pertaining to 

karyokinesis. Xa-ryoly mph, the more fluid 

portion of a cell-nucleus. Karyolysis (koerijrlisis) 

[Gr. Ai!

KATHENOTHEISM. 

Katharsis, Kathartic : see CATHAE-. 

Katlienotheism (kabe-nohîz'm). [f. Gr. 

ica0' iva. ' 

one by one' + THEISM. Cf. HENOTHEISM.] 

The form of polytheism characteristic of the Vedic 

religion, in which each god for the time is considered 

single and supreme. 

1863 MAX MULLER Sel. Ess. (1881) II. 137 This surely is 

not what is commonly understood by polytheism. Yet it 

would be equally wrong to call it Monotheism. If we must 

have a name for it I should call it Kathenothcism, or simply 

Henotheismi. e. a belief in single gods. 1871 TYLOR Prim. 

Cult. II. 32r. 

Katheran, obs. f. CATERAN : see KETHERIN. 

Katheter, Kathetometer : see CATHET-. 

1840 R. V. DIXON Heat i. 52 An instrument, since called 

a kathetometer. .used in physical investigations for the purpose 

of measuring small differences of vertical heights. 

Kathode, -odic, Kation, etc. : see CAT-. 

Katipo (k;e-tip0). [Maori.] A poisonous 

spider (Latrodec/ns scelio or katipo) of New Zealand 

and Australia. 

1832 MUNDY Our Antipodes (1857) 178 A bite on the face 

by a venomous spider called by the natives Katipo. 1870 

CHAPMAN in Trans. New Zeal. Inst. II. 82 Proofs of the 

violently poisonous nature of the bite of the Katipo. 

Katour, var. CATER sl>. 1 Katow, obs. f. 

KOTOW. Katri, var. KHATRI. Katt, -e, obs. 

ff. CAT. Kattair, obs. f. CATARRH. Kattamaran, 

obs. f. CATAMARAN. 

tKa-tted,///. a. Obs. [For catted, f. dial, cat, 

a lump of clay mixed with straw. See Eng. Dial. 

Diet, s.v.] 

Plastered with clay. 

1684 I. MATHER Remark. Provid. (1856) sb, A violent 

flash ..of lightning, which brake and shivered one of the 

needles of the katted or wooden chimney. [1883 Century 

Mag. XXIX. 874/1 The chimneys were usually built of 

sticks of wood and well plastered on the inside with clay. 

These ' 

Katted ' 

chimneys, as they were called in New Eng. 

land, often took fire.] 

Katterwayng, Kattesminte, obs. ff. CATER- 

WAULING, CATMINT. Kattie, katty, var. 

CATTY. Katwal, var. COTWAL. 

t Katy. Obs. rare '. [dim. of the female name 

Kate: cf. KITTOCK, KITTY.] A wanton. 

J53S LYNDESAY Satyre 267 Pray my Ladie Priores The 

suith till declair, Gif it be sin ta tak ane Kaity [v. r. Katy]. 

Katydid (.k/'-tidid). U.S. Also kattiedid, 

kittydid. [Echoic.] A large green orthopterous 

insect of the family Locustidx, of arboreal habits, 

which produces by stridulation a noise to which 

its name is due; the common or broad-winged 

species (Cyrtophylluni concavuni) abounds in the 

central and eastern states of America. 

1800 A. WILSON in Poems ff Lit. Prose (1876) II. 346 Owls, 

Crickets, treefrogs, kittydids resound. l8os/^V 113 October 

. . roused the katydid in chattering wrath. 1832 MRS. F. 

TROLLOPE Dom. Mann. Amer. (1894) I. 135 Locusts, kattiedids, 

beetles, and hornets, 1838 O. W. HOLMES Aut. 

Breakf.-t. (1883) 186 Voices., stridulous enough to sing duets 

with the katydids. 

Katy-handed, a. Sc. [Of doubtful origin. 

Both form and meaning suggest connexion with Da. 

keithaandet left-handed (f. keithaand, keite the left hand) ; 

but cf. also Gael, ciotag left hand. Cf. KAY a.] 

Left-handed. 

1822 GALT Steam-boat ix. 191 The . . spurtle-sword was 

very incommodious to me on the left side, as I have been all 

my days Katy-handed. 

see also CAU-. 

Kan- : 

Kauce, obs. f. CAUSEY. Kauch, var. KIAUGH. 

Kaue, Kauelacion, obs. ff. CAVE sb. 1 , CAVIL- 

LATION. Kauersin, var. CAORSIN. Kaught, 

kaujt, obs. ff. : caught see CATCH. Kauk, 

var. CAUK sb. obs. f. CAULK v. Kaul(l, obs. f. 

CAUL. Kaulk, var. CAWK sb. 1 Kaupe, obs. f. 

COPE v. 2 COUP sbl , Kauret, obs. f. COWRIE. 

Kauri (kau'ri). Also cowry, -ie, cowdi(e, 

kourie, kowrie. [Maori kauri, in Lee's New 

Zeal. Vocab. (1820) written kaitdi, r and d inter- 

changing in Maori.] 

A tall coniferous tree of New Zealand (Agathis 

or Dammara australis), which furnishes valuable 

timber and a resin known as kauri-gum. 

1823 R. A. CRUISE Ten Months New Zeal. 145 (Morris) 

The banks of the river were found to abound with cowry. 

1833 W. YATE Ace. Nevj Zeal. 37 (ibid.) As a shrub . . the 

kauri is not very graceful 1832 MUNDY Our Antipodes 

(1857) 128 Thirteen fine young Kauris varying in girth 

from that of a quarter cask to a hogshead. 1883 RENWICK 

Betrayed 47 As some tall Kauri soars in lonely pride. 

b. attrib. and Comb., as kauri bush, forest, 

pine, spar, trade, tree, wood: also kauri-gum, 

-resin, the fossil resin of kauri, used as a varnish 

(cf. DAMMAR) ; obtained in quantities by digging 

where the trees have formerly grown. 

[1831 Illustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib. 204 Gum kauri, or 

Australian copal.] 1852 MUNDY Our Antipodes (1857) r27 

A forest of the Kauri pine, the pride of the New Zealand 

Sylva. Ibid. 185 Intending to touch in that country to get 

Kauri spars. 1838 SIMMONDS Diet. Trade 111/2 From the 

fossil deposits.. the kowrie resin of commerce is obtained. 

1867 HOCHSTETTER New Zeal. 148 The Kauri pine yields . . 

a second very valuable product, the Kauri gum. 1873 URE 

Diet. Arts III. 25 Kourie wood. .It is also called cowdie 

and kaurie wood. 

655 

II Kausia (kg-sia, katrsia). Gr. Antiq. Also 

causia. [Gr. icavala.] A low broad-brimmed felt 

hat worn by the ancient Macedonians. 

1830 LEITCH tr. C. O. Milller's Anc. Art \ 338 (ed. 2) 

402. 1836 GHOTE Greece n. xciv. XII. 337 Himself [Alex, 

ander the Great] steering his vessel, with the kausia on his 

head, and the regal diadem above it. 1860 W. ALEXANDER 

his k"^"''"'' 1 H lida*

KAZOO. 

Gen. 30 Jaa (Y.) The presence of Kazis . . fe required at the 

celebration of marriages. 

KazOO (kazK-). [Of U. S. origin ; app. with 

some reference to the sound.] A noisy toy made 

of a wooden tube containing a piece of stretched 

catgut, which vibrates with a harsh sound when 

the tube is sung into. 

1884 in Lisbon (Dak.) Star 31 Oct., A kazoo is an instrument 

invented to give pleasure and satisfaction to the small 

IlKea^'a). [Maori: from the cry of the bird.] 

The "Green Alpine Parrot of New Zealand (A r estor 

iiotabilis^, which destroys sheep in order to prey 

upon their kidney-fat. 

It was originally frugivorous, but had become before 1881 

a pest to sheep-farmers in the Southern Alps of N. Z. 

1861 J. VON HAAST Exfiler. Head Waters Waitaki in 

Gtol. Westland (\fy$ 36 (Morris) A number of large green 

alpine parrots. . the kea of the natives. 1871 Nature IV. 480/1 

The Kea . . may 

be seen and heard in certain localities amidst 

the wild scenery of the Southern Alps in the middle island of 

New Zealand. 1883 Standard 7 Sept. 5/2 The rabbit, the 

sparrow, and the kea are getting so numerous that . . the 

squatters are almost in despair. 1895 Times 20 Dec. 13/1 

Tfie Kea of New Zealand . . a mountain parrot naturally 

frugivorous, which has developed a fatal taste for mutton. 

Kea-, a frequent dial. (Sc. and N. Eng. ) representative 

of CA-, Ka-, as in keake, keale, etc. 

Keach (kftjl, 

v. 06s. exc. dial. Forms: 4 

keohe, keoohe, kyohe, 6 kicbe, 6-7 keech, 7 

keatch, ketch, 7- keaoh. [Of obscure origin: 

cf. CLKACH v. (sense 3).] trans. To take up 

(water, etc.) with a shallow vessel to ; scoop up, 

ladle out : = CLEACH v. 3. 

1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) VIII. 235 Ye schal kecche 

up water [v. rr. kyche, clechel 1598 FLORIO, Infingere, to 

dip in, to kiche up [1611 to keech up). 1611 Ibid., Attinfere, 

. . to diaw or keach water, c 1682 J. COLLINS Salt cy Fishery 

89 The will Oyle swim at top, from whence it may be 

keeched with a pot. 1881 Oxfordsh. Gloss. SuppL, Keach 

up. to take up water by ladling. 

Hence Kea'ching iibl, sb., in' Comb, keaohingladle; 

keaching-net = CLEACHINC-NET. 

1634-5 Altkorp MS\ in Simpkinson The Washington* 

(1860) App. p. lix, For mending the drag nett & for 2 new 

keatching netts. 1633-4 Ibid. p. To the tinker for 

jxiii, 

mending the keechingfladle in the kitching. 

Keach, keagh, variants of KIAUGH, Sc. 

t Keach-cup. 06s. rare~ l . 

[f. keach vb. dial. 

to toss + CUP.] A toss-pot, drunkard. 

a 1225 Alter. R. 216 Gif be gulchecuppe [C. keache cuppe, 

T. kelche cuppej weallinde bres to drmcken. 

fKeacl, obs. form of CADE sd.- 

1688 R. HOLME Armoury n. 176/2 Kead Lamb, when 

brought up without the help, or sucking of the Ewe. 

tKeak (k&), v. Obs. rare. Also 6 keke, 7 

keake, keek. [Imitative.] inlr. To cackle. 

1545 ASCHAM Toxopli. ih (Arb-J 130 Theues on a night had 

stolne lupiter, had a gouse not a kekede, 1598 Herrings 

Tayle A ij, Helpe sportfull Muse to tunemygander-keaking 

quill. 1621 J. TAYLOR (Water P.) Taylor's Goose Wks. 

(1630) t. 104/1 The sober Goose .. did harshly keake and 

hisse. 1634 T. JOHNSON Farcy's Ctiirurg. n. (1678) 42 The 

Geese -.take care, that by their keeking and their noise, they 

do not expose themselves to the rapacity of Birds of prey. 

1 

t Keak, sb. Obs. rare 

. In 7 keake. [f. prec. 

vb.] 

A cackle, cackling. 

1600 BRETON Pastjuils Mad-cappe (1626) E, He.. Must be 

attentiue to the Ganders keake, Or giue a plaudite, when 

the Goose doth speake. 11878 Cuinbld, Gloss. SuppL, Kayk, 

the cry of a goose.) 

Keal, -e, Keallach, Keame, Keap, var. 

KEEL, KELLACH, KEJIB, KEP. 

Keap-, Kep-, Keaping-stane, Sc. forms of 

COPE-, COPING-STONE. 

tfao Burgli Rcc. Aberdeen fSpalding Club) II. 300 The i 

keaping stane to be of outlairis, me wark, and boulted with ! 

irne. 1667 J. LAMONT Diary (1810) 246 By the fall of a i 

k cap-stone.. his head was bruised into pieces. 

Keare, Kearl, Kearmas, Kearnê, Kearnach, 

Keatch, Keather, obs. or var. ff. KIEB, 

CARL, KEBMIS, CAIBN, KEEN, KEENAUGB, KEACH, 

CATHEB. 

Keave, dial, form of CAVE sb. and v. Keaver, 

obs, f. KIVER, Keavle, Sc. dial. f. CAVEL s/>. 

1 

Keb (keb), sbl lecal. Also 6 kebbe, 9 kebb. 

[Etymology uncertain ; cf. G. kibbe, kippc, ewe.] ! 

A ewe tba{ has lost her lamb, or whose lamb is 

still-born. Also ktb-ewe. 

581 J. 

AnfW.Osor. 431 h, Full of sicknesse, and like an olde kebbe 

full of wrinckfes. 1822 W. J. NAPIF.R Pract. Store-farm. 

60 Of lambs, the superabundance of twins has far exceeded 

Ihe loss by kebbs. 1814 GaUovid. Encycl., Keb-Ewes. 

b. Comb., as keb-b.ou.se (see quot.). 

1886 C SCOTT Sheep-Farming 1 18 Such a shed . . is termed 

a keb-house, a ' 

keb ' 

being a ewe that has lost her lamb, 

and the house the place where she may be confined while 

being made to adopt another. 

t Keb, kebb, sb*, var. CAB so* Obs., Cavalier. 

c 1645 T. TULLY Siege Carlisle (1840) 45 Y whole body 

charging, the Kebs were put to a second retreat. 1664 

Depos. Cast. York (Surtees) 118 Hee would banish both the 

informer and all his like, kebbs as they were. 

I Keb, .l Obs. rare. [Perh. from root of MDu. 

ktbbtltn, E.Kris. kabbtln to chatter, babble; MDu. 

656 

kabbelen (Du. kibbelen\ LG. kabbeln to quarrel, 

dispute.] intr. To boast, brag. 

^1315 SHOREHAM 96 Wanne he aldey swereth ydelleche, 

In kebbynge and in caute. Ibid, in $ef that kebbede eny 

of ous, Ich wojt wel that he lej. Ibid., Wyth kebbynges 

''iCeb (keb), v.2 dial. [Cf. KEB *M] intr. Of 

a ewe : a. To cast a lamb prematurely, or dead. 

b. To keb at, to refuse to suckle (a lamb). 

1816 SCOTT Bl. Dwarf ii, Bewitching the sheep, causing 

the ewes to 'keb'. 1883 GRAHAM Writings II. 36 (E.D.D.) 

She wad keb at it, as me black ew did at '.he white ew's 

lamb. 1893 Northumbld. Gloss., Keo, to drop a dead lamb. 

Hence Kebbed a. 

(kebd),/^/. 

1824 BTac&iv. Mag. XV. 181 A kebbed ewe Is one whose 

lamb dies. 1893 Northumbld. Gloss. s.v., When a lamb 

dies in birth it is called a kebbed lamb and the mother 

a kebbed yow. 

Kebar, kebir, var. CABER, pole, spar. Sc. 

t Ke'bber. Obs. Also 8 kebbar. [? Related 

to KEB sby\ An old or diseased sheep which is 

a crone. 

removed from the flock ; 

1538 EI.YOT Jfr'M., Reiecufa uel reijculx oucs, sheepe 

drawen out of the folde for aege or syckenesse, kebbers, 

crones, or cullyars. 1611 COTGR. s. v. Rebut y Brebis de 

rebut, Drapes, Cullings, or Kebbers ; old, or diseased sheepe 

which be not worth keeping. 17*6 Diet. Rust. (ed. 3) s.v., 

Kebbers or Cullers, refuse Sheep taken out of the Flock, 

Ke'bbie, ke'bby. north, and Sc. [cf. KIBBLE, 

KIBBO.] A staff or stick with a hooked head. 

1816 SCOTT Old Mori, xiv, Ane o' them was gaun to strike 

my mither wi' the side o' his broadsword So I got up my 

kebbie at them, and said I wad gie them as gude. 1899 

Cuinbld. Gloss. 182/2 Kebly stick,. . a hook-headed walkingstick 

; shepherd's crook. [Also kebby.\ 

Kebbuck (ke-bak). Sc. Forms: 5-6 cabok, 

7 kebeck, S cabbac(k, 9 kebbock, kibbock, 

(kebec), S- kebbuck. [Of obscure : origin Gael. 

cabag cheese, not in Irish, may be from Sc.] A 

cheese: sometimes denoting a special kind (see 

quot. 1816). Formerly also a'kebbnck of cheese. 

c 1470 HENRYSON Mof. Fab. x. {Fox fy Wolf) xviii, Ye sail 

ane cabok haif in to your hand. Ibid. xxiv. 1493 Acta, 

Audit. (1839) 176/2 A cabok of cheiss takin for a halfpenny. 

1565 Prcstiuick fi&rgh Rec, (1834)68 Ane cabok of cheys. 

1715 RAMSAY Christ's Kirk Gr. n. xx, A kebbuck . . that maist 

could creep. 1785 BURNS Cotter's Saturday Nt. xi, The 

dame brings forth . . To grace To grace the lad, her weel-hained 

kebbuck. 1816 SCOTTr Old Mart, Alert, viii, A huge kebbock 

a cheese, that is, made with ewe-milk mixed with cow's milk. 

1893 CROCKETT Stickit Minister 276 A little round kebbuck. 

attrib. 1787 BURNS Holy Fair xxv, An' dinna, for a 

kebbuck-heel, Let lasses byaffronted. 

Kebla, Keblock, Kebob, Kecche, Keche, 

var. or obs. ff. KIBLAH, KEDLOCK, CABOB, CATCH v. t 

KEACH v. 

tKe'Chel. Obs. rare. [OE. ceecilj prob. c^cil 

MHG. chuechel (G. dial. Michel) \-*kokilo- related 

to OHG. chuoche (MHG. kuoche, G. kucheii}^ 

MLG. k6kt\*kdkon-\ f. *kok- ablaut-variant of 

9 

*fcak- whence t CAKE, q.v. See also KICHEL.] A 

little cake. A God's kechel*. a cake given as alms 

in the name,- or for the sake, of God (cf. GOD i6c). 

a 700 Epinal Gloss. 903 Tortum coecil. c 1200 ORMIN 8662 

Ace nllre firrst mace pu to me J>aerofTe an litell kechell. 

c 1386 CHAUCER Sompn. T. 39 Yif vs a busshel whete malt 

or reye, A goddes kechyl.[c-.rr.--el, -il] or a trype of cheese, 

Kechen(e, -in ve, -ing, etc., obs. ff. KITCHEN. 

Keck (kek), sb. Now dial. [A sing- of kex^ 

kecks j mistaken as a pi. form.] Any of the large 

Umbel lifene, 

or their hollow stems: = KEX. 

Broad-leaved Keck, the Cow Parsnip (Heracleutn 

Sphondyliunt\\ Trumpet-keck, ? Wild Angelica. 

(21624 I' 1 '- M* SMITH Serin. (1632) 234 The old man threw 

a dart; it had been as good he had thrown a kecke or a 

straw. 1706 PHILLIPS, Kecks, dry Stalks. 1821 CLARE Vttl. 

Minstr. II. 100 Half hid in meadow-sweet and keek's high 

flowers. 1827 Sheph, CaL, etc. Last 

of Autumn xi, 

Trumpet -kecks . . Whose hollow stalks inspired such eager 

joy. 1887 -S', ChcsJt. Gloss, s. v., As dry as a keck. 

b. Comb, as i keck-stalk\ fkeck-bugloss, some 

medicinal herb. 

1x1693 URQUHART Rabelais in. xxxi, The Fervency of 

Lust is abated . . by Chastree, Mandrake, Rennet, Keck- 

buglc*se[F. orchis lcpetit\ 1821 CLARE Sonn. Night in 

Vill. Minstr. II. 179 From keek-stalk cavity, or hollow bean. 

Keck (kek), v. [Echoic. 

Cf. 1575 Gamm. Gurton, iv. ii, Till I made her olde wesen 

to answere again, kecke.] 

1. intr. To make a sound as if about to vomit ; 

to retch ; to feel an inclination to vomit ; hence to 

keck af, to reject (food, medicine, etc.) with loath- 

ing. Also_/^f. expressing strong dislike or disgust. 

1601 HOKLAND Pliny II. 148 Their pouder b.. ordained 

for them who . . are ready to keck and heaue at euery little 

thing. 164* MILTON Apol. Smcct. Introd. Wks. (1851) 265 

The worser stuffe she strongly keeps 

in her stomach, but the 

better she is ever kecking at, and is queasie. 1681 TEMPLE 

Mem. in. Wks. 1731 I. 335, I had propos'd Lord Hallifax as 

one of the Lords, whom the King had indeed keck'd at .. 

more than any of the rest 1710 SWIFT Lett. (1767) III. 61, 

I have taken a whole box of pills, and keckt at them every 

night. 1821 LAMB Etta Sen i. Imperf. Symp.^ If they 

can sit with us at table, why do they keck at our cookery ? 

b. = KINK z/. 1 

(Cf. Norw. kikje.} 

1721 BAILEY, To Keck, Keckle, to make a Nobe in the 

Throat, by reason of Difficulty in Breathing. 

2. intr. Of a bird : To utter a sound like keck. 

KED. 

1844 in Whitelaw Bk. Scot. Song (1875) 347/2 Our grey 

clocking hen she gaed Kecking her lone. 1878 P. ROBINSON 

Indian Garden l. Green Parrots, The hawk now and again 

affords healthy excitement to a score of crows who keck at 

him as he flaps unconcerned . . through the air. 

Hence Ke'cking vbl. sb. 

than keckings at stomach. 

t Ke'ckish, a. Obs. rare. [f. KECK v. + -isu 1.] 

Inclined to keck ; squeamish. 

1603 HOLLAND Plutarch's Mor. 781, Inordinate passion of 

vomiting, called Cholera, is nothing different from a keckish 

stomacke and a desire to cast. 

Keckle tke-k'l),z/.l Forms: 6 kekell, kekkyl, 

6-7 kekle, 7- keckle. [var. (chiefly Sc.) of 

CACKLE w.i, and in sense 2 of CHECKLE v.] 

1. inlr. Of a hen or other bird : To cackle. 

1513 DOL'GLAS sEneis vn. Prol. 118 And kais keklis on the 

ruiff abone. 1549 Coiupl. Scot. vL 39 Quhilk gart the hennis 

kekkyl. 1635 BARRIFFE Mil. Discip. (1643) 351 That will 

not take the liberty of a Hen to keckle over her owne 

egge. 1883 GRAHAM Writings II. 31 (E. D. D.) Whan the 

hens begin to keckle. 

2. Of a : person Tochuckle, laugh. giggle,CHECKLE. 

1513 DOUGLAS SEneis v. iv. 40 The Troianis lauchis fast 

seand hym fall, And, hym behaldand swym, thai keklit all. 

1728 RAMSAY Bob of Dunblane i, For fainness, deary, I'll 

gar ye keckle. 1833 M. SCOTT Tom Cringle xi. (1859) 246 

He keckled at his small joke very complacently. 

b. trans. To utter with or express by chuckling. 

1857 KINGSLKY Two Y. Ago iv. I. 104 'Ah, you're a wag, 

Sir', Keckled th old man. 1874 LISLE CARR Jud. Gtiynne 

I. ii. 58 Then she keckled a tiny laugh of supreme derision, 

Hence Ke-ckliug vbl. sb. and ppl. a. 

1719 RAMSAY -yd. Answ. Hamilton xv, Gin ony .. Ca' 

"Keckle(ke-k'l),z>.2 Naut. See also CACKLE v.2 

[Etym. unknown.] trans. To case a cable or 

hawser with rope in order to prevent chafing. 

4627 CAPT. SMITH Seaman's Gram. vii. 30 To keckell or 

sarue the Cable, as is said, is . . to bind some old clouts to 

keepe it from galling in the Hawse or Ring. 1678 PHILLIPS 

(ed. 4), Keckle (in Navigation), to turn a small Rope about 

the Cable or Bolt-rope, when we fear the galling of the 

Cable in the Hawse. 1882 NARES Seamanship (ed. 6) 24 

Keckling a hawser tis] serving it over with rope, which 

keeps it from being chafed. 

Hence Ke'okling vbl. sb. also ; center, (see quot.). 

1753 CHAMBERS Cycl. Supp. S.V., When the cables gaul in 

the hawse . . the seamen wind some small ropes about them ; 

and this is called kcckling. 1769 FALCONER Diet. Marint 

(1789), Kaicling, or Keeling, a name given to any old ropes, 

which are wound about a cable. 

Ke'Ckle, "'. :1 dial, [freq.of KECK.] =KECK v. \. 

1619 W. WHATELY God's Husb. t. (1622) 72 The hypocrite 

.. can swallow a Cammell with the same throat, which did 

eiien keckle at a Gnat. 1893 Northumbld. Gloss., Keckle, 

. . to make a noise in the throat when swallowing. 

Keckle (ke-k'l), sb. Sf. [f. KECKLE w.l] a. A 

short spasmodic laugh ; a chuckle, b. Cackling, 

chattering, etc. (Cf. CACKLK sb. 3 b.) 

1820 Blackw. Mag. VIII. 260 Miss Becky Glibbans gave 

a satirical keckle at this. 1822 GALT Prcxust xii. (1842) 38 

' 

I' gude faith \ cried the bailie, with a keckle of exultation, 

'here's proof enough now'. 1871 W. ALEXANDER Johnny 

a lauch. 

1 

Gibb xlvi. (1873) 257 A bit keckle o 

Keckle-meckle. Mining. ? Obs. (See qnot.) 

1747 HOOSON Miner's Diet. K iv b, Keckle-Meckle. The 

poorest kind of mines that yields Ore, and the Ore is of the 

sort, . . KeckU-M^ckU Stuff has the Ore run with it 

poorest 

in small Strings and Races, or spotted with it much like 

Birds Eyes, 

| Ke'cklish, a. Obs. rare. [f. KECKLED. 3 +- 

-ISH!.] = KECKISH. 

1601 HOLLAND Pliny xx. xiv, The female . . 

Penyrcoall 

Staieth a kecklish stomack. Ibid. xxm. Proeme. 

Kecks, Kecksie, variants of KEX, KEXY. 

Keek-shoes, -shose, obs. variant of KICKSHAW. 

Kecksy (ke'ksi). Chiefly dial. Also 7 keksy, 

9 kicksey, kexy,. gicksy. [f. kecks, KEX, prob. 

by taking the pi. kexes as = kexies.} = KEX, a 

hollow plant-stem. 

1599 SHAKS. Hen. V, v. ii. 52 Hatefull Docks, rough 

Thistles, Keksyes, Burres. 1800 HURDIS fat'. Village 109 

Thou . . frost, that in a night . . covers the lake, E'en to the 

kicksey vulnerable. 1816 COLERIDGE Lay Scrm. in Biag. 

Lit. (1882) 326 Among other odd burrs and kecksies. 1825 

BRITTON Beauties Wilts. III. (E. D. S.), Kecks, Kecksy. 

1886 S. W. Line. Gloss. s.v. Kex, As dry as an did kecksy. 

tKe'Cky, a. Obs. rare- 1 , 

[f. KECK sb. + .Y.] 

Of the nature of a keck or kex = KEXY. 

; 

a I7ii GREW (J.), A sort of cane . . (which) consisteth of hard 

and blackish cylinders, mixed with a soft kecky body. 

Ked, kade (ked, kAl). Also 6 cade, 7 

(? kidde), kaid, 8-9 kead. [Of unknown derivation 

the ; phonology points to cade as the etymological 

form this would ; give north.Eng. and 

south.Sc. kead, keade, which, on the analogy of 

head head, would be anglicized as kead, ked (ked).] 

A sheep-tick or sheep-louse (Me/ophaus ovinits}. 

1570 LEVINS Manip. 8 A cade, sheepe louse, a 1605 MONT- 

COMERIE Flyting w. Polviart 492 Some, luikand lyce, in the 

crowne of it keeks; Some choppes the kiddes into their 

cheeks. w- 1653 LAWSON Comin. Seer. Angling in Arb. 

Garner I. 196, 1 rather think the kades and other tilth that

KEDGE. 

fall from sheep do so glut the fish that they will not take any 

artificial bait. 1697 CLKLAND Poems 34 (Jam.) Their swarms 

of vermme, and sheep kaids Delights to lodge, beneath the 

plaids. 1781 J. HUTTON Tour to Caves Gloss. (E. D S ) 

Kead,a. sheep's louse. 1811 Mann, f, Cast, in Ann Rtf, 

443/2 The sheep are very much infested by vermin known 

in England by the name of ticks or kerfs. 1842-51 H 

STEPHENS Bk. of Farm (1891) III. ,40 Keds become most 

numerous when sheep get from a lean to a better condition. 

Ked, kedde, var. kidde, pa. t. and pa. pple. of 

KITHE v. Keddah, var. KHEDA. Keddie 

Keddle, kedel(l, Kede, obs. ff. KIDDY j*.i, 

KIDDLE, KID sb.i 

Kedge (ked^), sb. 

[? short for KEDGE-ANCHOR. 

Also catch : see CATCH 5.3] = KEDGE-ANCHOE. 

1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine (1789), Kedge, a small anchor 

used to keep a ship steady whilst she rides in a harbour or 

river, particularly at the turn of the tide. .. The kedges are 

also . . useful in transporting a ship, i. e. removing her from 

one part of the harbour to another, by means of ropes. 

1833 M. SCOTT Tom Cringle ix. (1859) 97 The schooner 

every now and then taking the ground, but she was always 

quickly warped off again by a kedge. 1854 H. MILLER 

Sen. ft Sckm. (1858) 22 The other moiety of the men, tugging 

hard on kedge and haulser, drew the vessel off 

Comb. 1836 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 7) XII. 684/1 This is 

prevented by a kedge-rope that hinders her from approach, 

ing it. 

Ige, a. E. Angl. dial. Also 5 kygge, 

kydge (?kyde), 9 kidge. [Of unknown etym. ; 

cf. KEDGT, CADOY.] Brisk, lively; in good spirits. 

c 1440 Promp. Pan,. 274/2 Kygge, or ioly (H. kydge, P. 

Kyde), jocundus, hillaris, vernosus. 1674 RAY S. ////. Trans. XIX. 343 The Decoy-men Contract for 

them all at a certain Rate per Dozen, which the Carryers 

(Kedgers) are obliged to take off their Hands. [Still dial., 

Yorksh., Norfolk, etc. ; see E. D. D.) 

I] Kedgeree (ke'dsarz). Forms: 7 kits-, ketch-, 

quiche-, kichery, cutcherry, 8 1694 WESTMACOTT Script. Herb. (1695) 86 Hemlock . . 'tis 

known to most, being called also Kex, or Kedlock. 1887 

.S. Chesh. Gloss., Kedlock (ky'ed-liik), an umbelliferous plant. 

Kee, s.w. dial. f. kye, pi. of Cow : cf. KEY sb. 

1714 GAY Sheph. Week n. 21 Cicly the Western Lass that 

tends the Kee, The Rival of the Parson's Maid was She. 

\_Note: Kee, a West-Country Word for Kine or Cows.) 

a 1746 Exmoor Scolding (E. D. S.) 202 Whan tha goast 

kitcheree, -aree, 

9 kedjerie ; keg-, kedg-, kidgeree, khicrm. 

[Hindi khichri, Skr. Krsara 'dish of rice and 

sesamnm'.] An Indian dish of rice boiled with 

to 

tha melking o' tha Kee. 

f Kee, weakened form of : quo(th cf. KA v? 

1602 Narcissus (1893) 575 He bee at hand, kee pickpurse. 

Kee, Keeble, obs. ff. KEY st.i, KIBBLE st.'-i 

Keecll (k/'ij), sl>. Obs. exc. dial. Also keach. 

[Of obscure origin. Some mod. dialects (Wilts, 

Hants) have a vb. keech to congeal, consolidate 

(as fat). Sense 2 appears to be related to the 

root of KECHEL; but cf. quot. 1879 in i.] 

1. A lump of congealed fat ; the fat of a slaughtered 

animal rolled up into a lump. Also dial. 

with other allied meanings. 

In quot. 1613 referring to Cardinal Wolsey, as the son of 

a butcher. 

Tallow^ catch in i Hen. IV, n. iv. 252 is explained 

by some editors as tallmu keech. 

[1597 SHAKS. 2 Hen. IV, n. i. 101 Did not goodwife Keech 

the liutchers wife come in then?] 1613 Hen. VIII, ]. i. 55, 

I wonder, That such a Keech can with his very bulke Take 

vp the Rayes o' th' beneficiall Sun, And keepe it from 

the Earth. [Cf. STEEVENS note (1778).] 1773 JOHNSON in 

J. ff Steevens' Shaks., Hen. VIII, n. i, A keech is a solid 

lump or mass. A cake of wax or tallow formed into a 

mould is called yet in some places a keech. 1879 Miss 

JACKSON Shropsh. Word-bk., Keech, a cake of consolidated 

fat, wax, or tallow. 1886 ELWORTHY W. Sow. Word-bk., 

Keech, the fat from the intestines of slaughtered animals; 

the caul. It is usually rolled up while warm into a solid lump. 

2. (See quot. Cf. M. O" Q. 9th s. VII. 94/2.) 

1677 LITTLETON Lat. Diet., Keech, a kind of Cake, collyra, 

libum. 1854 Miss BAKER Northampt. Gloss., Keech, a 

large oblong or triangular pasty, made at Christmas of 

raisins and apples chopped together. 

Hence Keech v. dial, (see quots.). 

1863 BARNES Dorset Gloss., Ketch, Keach, to set hard, as 

melted fat cooling. 1879 Miss JACKSON Shropsh. Word-bk., 

Keech, to consolidate, as warm fat, wax, etc. does in cooling. 

1893 Wilts. Gloss, s. v. Catch. Keach, Keatch, to grow 

thick, as melted fat when setting again. 

Keech, Keed, obs. ff. KEACH v., KID rf.i 

: Keef, Keejang see KEF, KIDANG. 

Keek (kfk), v. Now only Sc. and north, dial. 

Forms: 4 kike, kyke, keke, 5 keky(y)n, kek, 

5-6 Sc. keik, 7- keek. [Not known in Keeker (kf-kai). 

OE., but 

has LG. : cognates MDn. Mken, kieken (Du. kijken), 

north, dial. KEEK [f. v. + 

' 

-EK 3.] A peeper, a gazer; in //. the eyes, peepers' ; 

spec, an overlooker or inspector in a coal-pit, who 

sees that the coal is sent up in a proper state. 

1808-18 JAMIESON, Keekers, a cant term for eyes. Ibid., 

Starn-keeker, a star-gazer. 1863 in Robson Raids 

of^Tyne 

92 Tell wor keeker aw deed . . Tell wor owners an viewers 

aw'l howk ne mair coal. 1893 Durham Direct. 90 Bennett, 

J., keeker. 

Keeking-glass. Sc. and north, dial. [See 

KEEK v.] A looking-glass. 

a 1724 in Ramsay Tea-t. Misc. (1733) I. 60 For the love ye 

bear to me Buy me a keeking-glass, a 1796 BURNS Impromptu 

3 My face was but the keekin' glass, An' there 

ye saw your picture. 1820 SCOTT Monast. xiv, A breastplate 

you might see to dress your hair in, as well as in that 

keeking-glass. 1882 J. WALKER Jaunt fy other Poems 12 

A bonnie lass That plaits her ringlets at the keeking glass. 

Keek-keek, int. Sc. and north, dial. Also 6 

Sc. keik, keik. [f. KEEK v.] A call used by 

children in the game of hide-and-seek. 

a 1568 Jok ff Jynny 13 in Laing Anc. Poet. Scot. 358 'Te 

' 

he ', quod Jynny, keik, keik, 1 se gow '. 1893 Northumbla. 

Gloss., Keek-keek, the word used by children in playing 

hide-and-seek. 

Keel (kil), sli. 1 Forms: 4-6 kele, (4 kelle, 5 

keole,6 kyele,kile),6-7 keele, Sc. keill,7-keel. 

[prob. a. ON. kjfl-r (Da. kjjl, Sw. kot) :*kelu-z ; 

not connected with Dn. and G. /,?/( KEEL si>. 2 ). 

F. quille, 

in a Rouen document of 1382 (Hatz.- 

Darm.), was prob. also from ON. ; Sp. cjuilla, It. 

chiglia may be from French. The sense-development 

of the English word has been influenced by 

its use to translate L. canna keel, hull, ship. 

ON. kjglr is not parallel, either in sense or form, with the 

OE. (scipes) celae, which in the earliest glossaries renders 

L. rostrum beak.] 

1. The lowest longitudinal timber of a ship or 

boat, on which the framework of the whole is built 

up ; in boats and small vessels forming a prominent 

central ridge on the under surface ; in iron vessels, 

a combination of iron plates taking the place and 

serving the purpose of the keel of a wooden vessel. 

148

KEEL. 

keel, the plate-keel in the hull of an iron vessel ; 

plate-keel, a keel formed by a line of iron plates, 

which do not project below the hull ; rank-keel, 

a very deep keel ; sliding keel, a centre-board ; 

vertical keel (see quots. 1883 and 1890); etc. See 

also BlLGK-KEEL,yf-fe/ (FlN sb. 6). 

1627 False keel [see FALSE a. 17 b). 1691 T. H[ALE] Ace. 

NC-M Invent. 49 New Stirrups put to secure the false Keel. 

1706 PHILLIPS, Rank-keel is a deep Keel, which keeps a Ship 

well from rolling. 1792 LD. CHATHAM in Naval Chron. 

XIII. 203 His Majesty's armed Vessel built with sliding 

Keels. 1805 Ibid. 201 In the year 1774, that gentleman 

fCapt. J. Schank, R.N.] first constructed a Boat 

with sliding keels. 1825 CLARK, etc. Shipwrights Scale 

Prices 4 To chisel up the under side of the main or false 

keel. 1874 THEARLE Naval Archit. 69 There are three 

principal forms of keel in vogue, viz-. bar, flat plate, and 

centre plate or side bar keels. Of these the former is the 

commonest. 1883 NARES Constr. Ironclad 4 The vertical 

keel, .is placed upright on its edge on the outer keel. . It is 

about 3^ feet high, and on it, parallel to the outer keel, is 

fastened the inner keel. 1890 W. J. GORDON Foundry 65 

On the blocks is laid the flat keel, which is practically the 

centre-line of ; on this is 

plating placed the vertical keel, and 

on this come the keelsons. 

c. Phr. f In keel, in the hull. On (or with) even 

keel, with the keel level : see EVEN a. \ c. 

1568 SEMPILL Marg. Fleming 9 in Satir. Poems Reform. 

xlyi, With evin keill befoir the wind Scho is richt fairdy 

with a saill. 1627 CAPT. SMITH Seaman's Grain, xi. 54 

Trying her sailing.. upon an euen Keele. 1643 PRYNNE 

Sov. P.* Obs. rare. [?a. LG. keele, keelle, 

kelle = G. kelle (OHG. chella), ladle, vessel, tub : 

in quots. 1617 and 1730-6 app. erron. associated 

with KEEL zi.l, KEELER^.] A tub or vat for 

holding liquor. 

1485 Naval Ace. Hen. F//(i8o6) 72 Keeles. .iij, Spittes of 

Iren..j, Gridirnes. .ij. 1617 MINSHEU Ductor 259/1 Keele, 

a vessell to coole wort or new brewed Ale and Beere. 1648 

HEXHAM, A Keel for wine or beer, een vat ofte kuype [etc.]. 

1730^6 BAILEY (fol.), Keel, a vessel for liquors to stand and 

cool in. 

Keel(k/l),zv.l Obs. exc. dial. Forms: I ccelan, 

celan, 2-4kelen, 4 keelen, 4-6 kele, 5 keyle, 

keille, 6 kiele, keale, 5-7 keele, 6- keel. [Com. 

Tent. : OE. cdlan, cttan = Du. koelen, LG. k'dlen, 

OHG. chuolen, kualm (MHG. kuelen, G.kuhlen), 

ON. kala (Da. kfle, Sw. kyla} :-*koljan f. *kol-: see 

COOL a. and v., and cf. AKELE.] 

1. trans. To cool ; to cause to lose heat ; to 

refresh by cooling. 

esp. Psalter xxxviii. [xxxix.] 14 >et ic sie jecoeled

KEEL. 

[L, ut refrigercrl agoo O. E. Martyrol. 18 Mar 40 Se 

uphcasffi celeo baera tungla Imo. a isoo Cursor M. 1 254? 

He hem his hand and bleu bar-in Keland he made al hale 

his hand 1382 WYCLU. Luke xvi. 24 Send Lazarus, that he 

reath to kcale your potage. 

b. spec. To cool (a hot or 

boiling liquid) by 

stirring, skimming, or pouring in something cold, 

in order to prevent it from 

boiling over; hence 

ireq. in phr. to keel the pot. Alsofig 1393 LANGL, P. PL C. XXH. 280 And lerede men a ladel 

bygge with a long stele, That cast for to kele [B.-text xix 

275 kepe] a crokle and saue be fatte aboue. ^,420 Liter 

WhenI welles 

W,,T"l',Y up, thou schalt hit kele 

With a htel , 

Jltt 

ale. 1536 Remedy Sedition 21 a. 1388 SHAKS. 

L.L.L. v. IL 930 While greasie lone doth keele the pot' 

1602 MARSTON Ant. 4- Mel. v. Wks. r856 I. 56 Boy, keele 

your mouth, it runnes over. 

1607 - What you will\nAnc. 

fJramall. ,90 Faith Doncus, thy biain boils, keel it, keel 

it, or all 'he fat s in the fire. 1781 HUTTON Tour Caves 

.3] trans. To 

mark with ruddle. Hence Kee-ling vbl. sb. 

1508 KENNEDIE Flyting v>. Dunbar 431 Thow has thy 

clamschellis, and thy burdoun kelde [Bann. MS. keild]. 

1362 WINJET Cert. Tractates Wks. 1888 I. 33 Be war to 

moue..seditioun in this nobyll town be ôure calking and 

keling. (71817 HOGG Tales ^Sk. 1. 142 Sheep, .all.. smeared 

and keeled. 1886 C. SCOTT Sheep Farming 151 The sale 

ewe lambs in hill flocks are also keeled on the neck to distinguish 

them from the wether lambs. 

: 

; 

to 

659 

Keel, obs. variant of KILN. 

. Keelage (b'-ledg). rare. [f. KEEL tf.i + -AGE ; 

in med.L. 

ktllagtum.'] A toll or due 

a 

payable by 

ship on entering or 

anchoring in a harbour 

R> r 

sc lfc?t .7, "n f^" VII t S7 ,? CaPk ibi 

a 

Killagium, 

CUln B td ' a 

Denar os fT n p ? PP''nte ibi.Octo 

wher/h K^L l^ 9 BLOUNT Anc' Te>"< H6 Keelage, 

whereby he had 

by custom what is here expressed for 

boat ^Lc 5- VCry Sh ' Came into his 

'f ^\ iea^ w"h a 

H.JrtS rf*lS I" Lcy ! Aee'"fe -- k Custom paid 

Hartlepool in boat. 

at ] 

Durham, for every 

that 

Ship coining into 

* ' A combination of 

iT 

young blackguards 

"IK i? a s e nce termed - n themselves the Keelie , 

Gang.] 

1863 N.B. Daily Mail 18 

Aug., The defender .. said tha 

1 was a Saltmarket keelie, a fighting man, a thief. 

Keeling (krlirj), s&.l Sc. and north, dial. 

*orms: 3-9 keling, (4 kyling, 5 chelynge, 5-6 

kelyng(e, 6 kieling, Sc. keyling, killine, 6-7 

killing, 7 killin, 7-8 Sc. keilling, 8 

kiling), 

7- keeling. [Origin uncertain : the name, like 

COD, seems to be confined to English, but may be 

ultimately related to Icel. keila ' 

gadus longus ', or 

to Da. kolle, kuller, Sw. kolja haddock. Ir. ceilliuin, 

Gael, cilcan are no doubt from English. The 

form cheling is 

difficult.] A cod-fish. 

The exact sense seems to have varied, in different localities 

' 

from large cod to ' 

small cod ' 

or ' 

codling '. 

c 1300 Have/ok 757 Keling he tok, and tumberel Herine 

and be makerel. 1323-4 Ace. Rolls Durham (Surtees) 13 

In 13 Kelmges. 1340 Ibid. 37 In . . 4 kyling. c 1440 

Parv. 

Promp. 

72/1 Chelynge, fysche. c 1430 Two Cookery-bks. 94 

lake paunches and lyuers of a codlyng, or haddok, or elles 

?'>'"? , 'S? 6 DALRYMPLE tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. 13 

sindne fresche water lochis . . that abundes in mony kyndes 

of fische, cheiflie .. Killine, Skait, and Makrell. c 1620 2 

BOYD Zion's Flowers (1855) 72 The Killings, Herrings, 

Castocks. 1710 SIBBALD Hist. Fife 51 Asellus major vulgans, 

the Cod ; our Fishers call it Keeling, and the young 

Ones Codlings. 1793 Statist. Ace, Scot. VII. 205 Large 

cod called Keilling are also got in Spring and Summer. 

NNI s 

J , & Scot. Mid. ,' 

Ages viii. 237 Our common sea 

fish . . Keling, hng, haddock. 

Keeling (to-lirj), ^.2 [f. KEEL sb.i + -JNG i.] 

The material or make of a ship's keel. 

1884 Lake's Falmouth Packet 13 Sept. 5/5 The ' 

nette . . was 

Migno- 

really half cutter, her keeling and timbers being 

those of a 40 ton vessel. 

Keeling, vbl. st.l Ols.eac.dial. [f. KEELZ/.I + 

-ING 1 .] The action of the vb. KEEL; cooling. 

1382 WVCLIF Acts iii. 20 Whanne the tymes of kelynge 

\rloss or . . refreischinge] schulen come. 1398 TREVISA Barih. 

DC P. R. v. xix. (MS. Bodl.) If. 10/1 Wi>oute keling jierof 

pe hert schuld be brende. 1373 Art Limning (1588) 106 

Stirre it [Vermilion] well together in the keeling. 1637 R. 

LICON Barbadoes (1673) 90 After much keeling, they take it 

out of the tach. 

Keeling, iibl. sl>s.~ and 3 : see KEEL vbs.Z and *. 

Kee livine, keelie vine. Sc. and north. 

dial. Also (8 kilie vine), 9 kyle-, keela-, keely-, 

guilli-, cala-, -vine. [Of uncertain origin. 

In South of Scotl. and Northumberland pronounced as 

"O 11U1I1 1XC.&L. OK. Tvlnc uclcllulg lu II1C pCIICll Vine Or 

cedar), the name being only applied to a pencil enclosed in 

wood. But in other districts the name is pronounced as one 

word, and applied to the substance black-lead itself: cf. 

KILLOW, another name of this. See other suggestions in 

Jamieson. If quot. 1720 belongs here, the correct etymology 

ought also to explain kilie vert there mentioned.] 

A black-lead pencil, or. more generally, any 

coloured pencil enclosed in wood (as a red keelie- 

vine); also, in some places, black-lead, plumbago. 

[1720 DR. MITCHELL Let. (Jam.), If Gods Providence were 

not wonderful, I would long since been crying Kilie vine, 

and Kilie vert, considering I began upon a crown, and a 

poor trade.] 1808-18 JAMIESON, Keelivine, a black-lead 

pencil. 1826 J. WILSON Noct. Ambr. Wks. 1855 1. 146 With 

the verra mere, naked unassisted keelivine (that day fortunately 

it was a red ane) I caught the character o' the 

apparition. 1884 Scot. Ch. Rev. I. 5 His appliances as yet 

are a keelyvine and a Balaam-box. 1893 Northumbld. 

Gloss., Keely-vine, a pencil, originally a pencil made from 

' 

keel, but applied generally to vines ' 

or pencils. 1899 

Cumbld. Gloss., Calavine, a black-lead pencil. 

b. attrili., as keelivine pen, a pencil. 

1782 SIR J. SINCLAIR Obs. Sc. Dial. 120 Black-lead is 

called killow, or collow, in Cumberland ; and a guillivinepen, 

is probably a corruption of a fine killow pencil. 1816 

SCOTT Antiq. xxxviii, Put up your pocket-book and your 

keelyvine pen. 1833 Fraser's Mag. Oct. 398 In a hole he 

had. .jock-to-legs, keelavine pens, 

Hence Xee'liviiied a., marked with pencil. 

c 1818 SCOTT in Lockhart xlii, I thought it had been well 

known that the keelavined egg must be a soft one for the 

Sherra. 

148-2

KEELLESS. 

Keelless (kfl,li-s), a. [f. KEEL **.i + -LESS.] 

1. Of a boat : Having no keel. 

1879 Daily News 7 Apr. 3/3 The worst crew that either 

University has sent to Putney since the days when keelless 

boats first came into use, just 22 years ago. 1896 /IV..////. 

Cat. TO June 5/2, 1 was out since six o'clock in my shallow 

keelless boat. 

2. Zool. Having no keel along the breast-bone. 

1884 G. ALLEN in Longm. Mag. Jan. 293 Keelless and 

often almost wingless birds. 1886 Century Mag. XXXI. 

358 This great order of the Ratita:, or keelless birds. 1895 

Pop. Sci. .Monthly Apr. 762 All had keelless sterna. 

Keelman ! (krlm&n). [KEEI. sb.*\ One who 

works on a keel or barge. 

1516 Patent Roll 8 Hen. VIII, Pt. i, m. 15-16 (P. R. O.) 

The craftes of. .Porters, Kelemen, Sclalters. 1592 Wills 

f, Inv. N. C. (Surlees 1860) 251 Henrie Robinsone of the 

towne of Newcastell-upon-Tyne, keillman. 1695 Land. 

Gaz. No..3iQ3/3 Newcastle, June 12... The Keel Men are 

gone to work again. 1774 WESLEY Wks. (1872) IV. 21 In 

the morning 1 preached at the Ballast-Hills among the 

glassmen, keelmen, and sailors. 1829 SOUTHEY Sir T. More 

(1831) II. 56 It has become a place of colliers and keelmen. 

Kee'lmau *. Sc. [KEEL sb.y\ 

1. A dealer in keel or ruddle. 

1796 Ace. in Scott Old Mart. Introd. (1862) 8 To 3 Chappins 

of Yell with Sandy the Keelman, 009. 

2. One of a class of Irish linen -dealers (see quot.). 

1821 BRENNER Irish Linen Trade in CasselFs Gt. Indust. 

Gt.Brit. (1878-80)!!. xvL 196 The' Keelmen 'were so-called 

from the first persons who got into the trade being very 

illiterate, and, unable to write in ordinary characters, they 

marked on each piece of linen the price at which it was 

bought with ' 

keel '. 

Keels, variant of KAYLES. 

Keelson (also Keelsale), var. KELSON. 

t Keel-toll. 06s. [f. KEEL rf.i (or ?rf.2) + 

TOLL.] = KEELAGE. 

? 1499 in Gross did Merck. II. 44 (Chester) De qualibet 

Naue intrante libertatem predictam cum quibuscunque 

maicandisis seu victualibus vocatum Keyltoll iiii.. 

[a. Ir. caoine (krno), f. caoinim 

(Olr. cainim, coinini) I weep, wail, lament ; cf. 

KEEN v.-} An Irish funeral song accompanied 

with wailing in lamentation for the dead. 

1830 CROFTON CROKER in Fraser's Mag. I. 191 The following 

Keens .. I have translated from the Irish. 1841 

S. C. HALL Ireland I. 226 The keener having finished a 

stanza of the keen, sets up the wail. 1895 Q. Rev. Oct. 319 

His mother was famed . . for her skill in giving the keen. 

Keen (kin), a. (adv.) Forms: i c6ne, 2-6 

kene, 3-4 ken, 4-7 keene, (5 Sc. keyne, 6 

kein(e), 7- keen. [Com. Teut. : OE. ct!>ie = OS. 

"koni (MDu. coene, Du. koen}, MI.G. kSne, keene, 

OHG. chdni, chuoni (MHG. kueiu, G. kilhn}, ON. 

kacnn: OTeut. *konjo-. There are no cognates 

outside of Teutonic. 

The original meaning is somewhat obscure. The prominent 

sense in OE., as in Low and High German, was that 

of ' 

' 

bold, brave ,' but ON. ktenn meant only expert, skilful, 

clever ', a sense also represented in OE. (ODa. kion, kon, 

OSw. kon, tyn, ' 

bold are ', app. from LG., the original Scand. 

' 

sense being found in ODa. lovkion learned in the law '.) 

It has been suggested that the ON. sense is the original 

one, the connecting link with the other being the idea of 

'skilled in war , 'expert in battle' (-ON. vlgka-nn), but 

there is no clear evidence of this. The development of the 

specifically English sense 'sharp' is also obscure.] 

1 1. Wise, learned, clever. Obs. {Cf. 7 b.) 

a looo Boeth. Metr. x. 51 Se waes uflwita aelces binges 

cene and craftij, bwm was Caton nama. c 1205 LAY. 4989 

Pa aide quene, a wifmon wis and kene. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 

2070 Beo nu ken & cnawes . . hu heh & hu hali is (>es cristencs 

godd. 13 .. E. E. Allit. P. B. 1575 per comen mony 

Clerkcs out of Caldye bat kennest wer knauen. 

1 2. a. Brave, bold, valiant, daring. Obs. 

^897 K. ALFRED Gregory's Past, xxxiii. 218 Betra biS se 

XeSyldcsa wer Sonne se stronga & se kena. 993 Battle of 

Maldon 215 Nu m.-ts cunnian hwa cene sy. 

naoo ORMIN 

19962 Godess bodeword . . to kibenn forh Biforenn kafe & 

kene. c 1205 LAY. 520 He nom his kene men ha to compe 

weren gode. a 1300 K. Horn 164 Whannes beo }e, faire 

gumes,. .Of bodie swibe kene.

KEENER. 

1811 in 

[implied KEENER]. 1845 MKS. S. C. HALL White- 

' 

boy vL 55 The men. .in general suffer the women to keen ' 

as long as they please. 1833 C BRONTE Villette xlii. (1890) 

518 Peace, peace, Banshee ' 

keening ' 

at 

every window ! 

1857 G. LAWRENCE Guy Lit: xvii. (1866) 165 It is the wild 

Irish women keening over their dead. 

2. trans. To bewail with Irish wailing. 

1830 CROFTON CHOKER in Frasers Mag. I. 200 Suppose 

that I am dead, and you were sent for to keen me.. No one 

would keen you as I would. 

3. To utter in a shrill wailing tone. 

w- 1893 R - LE FANU 70 Yrs. Irish Life 278 The wild, 

wailing Iri^h cry, * 

keened ' 

by many women. 1897 Cornli. 

' 

Mag. Mar. 339 His witch-like voice keened out, Good 

God!' [etc.] 

Hence Kee'ning obi. sb. 

1876 STAINER & BARRETT Diet. Mus. Terms 248 When the 

body was laid down.. the keening was suspended. 1892 

STEVENSON Across the Plains 264 The high voice of keen- 

. ing. strikes in the face of sorrow like a buffet. 

Keen, var. KIN sb.'*; 

obs. dial. var. kine, pi. of 

Cow ; obs. f. KEN v. 1 

Keend, obs. var. KEEN a. ; obs. f. KIND a. 

Keener (kfnai). [f. KEEN w.2 + -ER!.] One 

who keens or laments ; a professional mourner at 

Irish wakes and funerals who utters the keen. 

1811 BUSBY Diet. Mus. (ed. 3!, Keeners, the name of the 

Irish Singing Mourners. 1845 MRS. S. C. HALL Whiteloy 

VL 55 The ban caointhc, or chief keener, had assumed her 

place beside the head of the bed. 1894 W. B. YEATS Celtic 

Twilight 101 As he drew near came to him the cry of the 

keeners. 

t Kee'nly, a. Obs. rare. [ME. *kSnllch (superl. 

kenlokeste) = MHG. kuenltck : (G. kuhnlicli] see 

KEEN a. and -LY 1.] Bold, courageous. 

c 1205 LAY. 25429 Ah hit weoren men |>a kenlukeste [c 1275 

f>e kenlokeste men] ba xi mon ikende. 1570 Satir. Poems 

Reform, xxiii. z O Kenely knicht, in martiall deidis most 

ding. 

Keenly (krnli), adv. Forms: i oSnlioe, 

2-3 ken(e)liohe, 3-4 ken(e)li, 4-5 -ly, 6keenly. 

[OE. cenlice = MDu. cotnlijc, -like, 

MLG. kSnltken, MHG. kiienjche (G. kithnlicK) : 

see KEEN a. and -LY 2.] In a keen manner. 

1 1. Fiercely, boldly. Obs. 

c 1000 ÊLFRIC Saints' Lives, Osiuald(i&qp) II. 126 Oswold 

him com to, and him cenlice wiSfeaht. c 1175 Lamb. Horn. 

107 5if we kenliche fehtaS. c 1300 Cursor M. 24769 (Edin.) 

Selcube kenli cube he fiht (1400 Destr. Trey 7231 He 

keppit hym kenely, and coupid to-gedur. 

2\ Eagerly, ardently. 

c 1350 Will. Palerne 859 Fayn sche wold . . haue him 

clipped and kest kenely bat tide, c 1400 Destr. Troy 5270 

What causes ye.. so kenly to pray, This syre for to saue. 

c 1400 Melayne 1286 With dartis kenely owte thay caste. 

1513 DOUGLAS sEncis ix. XL 3 Thayr bustuus bowys keynly 

do thai bend. 

t b. Sharply, quickly, in haste. Obs. 

13. . Gaw. fy Gr. Knt. 1048 Then frayned be freke-.Ouhat 

derne dede had hym dryuen. .So kenly fro be kyngez kourt 

to kayre al his one. 13. . E. E.Allit. P. B. 945 pise aungeles 

. .beden hem passe fast & bay kayrene con 8: kenely flowen. 

(11400-50 Alexander 1353 pe kynge callez a clerke kenely 

on be morne, Als radly-as euer he rose. 

3. With, or as with, a sharp edge or instrument ; 

sharply : cuttingly, piercingly. 

c 1592 MARLOWE Massacre Paris in. iv, Whet thy sword 

on Sextus' bones, That it may keenly 

slice the Catholics. 

1645 MILTON Tctrach. To Parlt., To smite so keenly with 

a reviling tongue. 121794 SIR W. JONES ist Nem. Ode 

Pindar 111. iii, For private woes most keenly bite Self-loving 

man. 1837 MARRYAT Dog-fiend i, The wind was from the 

northward and blew keenly. 

4. trans/. Sharply, piercingly, incisively a. Of 

; 

sensuous : impressions Acutely. 

(1205 LAY. 21296 pa clupede be king, kenliche hide. 1:1384 

CHAUCER //. Fame III. 635 Thrugh the worlde wente the 

soun, Also kenely, and eke softe. a 1400-50 Alexander 

2154 Knyghtez kest vp a cry & kenely bairn mene. 1810 

SCOTT Lady of L. in. The i, warning note was keenly 

wound. 1821 JOANNA BAILLIE Metr. Leg. 154 His brightest 

than Summer's settled sheen. 

hour . . More keenly bright 

b. Of expression of (critical) opinion, etc. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 14621 Allan iesus bairn stod emid, Keneli 

to him bai resun did. a 1400 Pistill of Susan 214 Heo.. 

comaunded hem kenely be sates to close. 1440 York 

Myst. xxiv. 64 Woman ! wher are bo wighte men went 

That kenely here accused be? 1841 W. SPALDING Italy * 

It. 1st. II. 36 The origin of these .. monuments has been 

keenly disputed. 1879 MCARTHY Own Times II. xxviii. 

350 Every detail was keenly criticised. 

c. Of the exercise of the organs of sense, the 

attention, or the intellect. 

1824 R. STUART Hist. Steam Engine 29 The attention of 

mechanics, thus keenly directed to the subject. 1845 

DISRAELI Sybil (1863) 201 'You are right', said Morley 

looking at her rather keenly. 1876 LOWELL Among my Bks. 

Ser. n. 323 Byron the most keenly intellectual of the three. 

5. With reference to : feeling Acutely, intensely, 

deeply, strongly. 

a 1400-50 Alexander 4151 pan was knijtis of be case kenely 

affraid. 1792 Anecd. W. Pitt II. xxviii. 119 Perhaps no 

gentleman ever felt the poignant sting of ingratitude so 

keenly. 1849 RUSKIN Sea. Lamps p. v, There are . . cases in 

which men feel too keenly to be silent. 1876 GREEN Stray 

Stud. 18 No one enjoyed more keenly the pleasures of life 

and society. 1881 LADY HERBERT Edith 5 Gordon was 

keenly interested in the questions of the day. 

Keenness (kf-n,nes). [f. KEEN a. + -NESS.] 

The quality of being keen ; sharpness, acuteness. 

1. Sharpness of edge or point. 

661 

1530 PALSGR. 235/2 Kenesse, sharpnesse, asprcte. 1697 

DRYDEN sEneid XIL 143 The God of fire . . Immortal keenness 

on the blade bestowed. 1833 J. HOLLAND Manuf. 

Metal II. 19 A blade . . with the greatest keenness of edge. 

2. Piercing severity, intensity (of heat, cold, etc.). 

1605 DRAYTON Eclogues x. i, The poor herds.. Shudder'd 

with keenness of the winter's cold. 1694 SALMON Bates' 

Dispens. (1713) 509/1 It is good for any Disease proceeding 

from sharp Humours, because it . . asswages them, taking 

away their Keenness. 1828 SCOTT F. M. Perth xii, Exposed 

to the keenness of a Scottish blast in February, a 1848 R. 

W. HAMILTON Rew. $ Punishm. viii. (1853) 345 What could 

soften the keenness of that flame? 

3. Intensity of feeling or action ; eagerness, inci- 

siveness. 

1596 SHAKS. Merck. V. iv. L 125 No mettall can..beare 

halfe the keennesse Of thy sharpe enuy. 1695 J. EDWARDS 

Perfect. Script. 424 This.. makes him with an unwonted 

keenness and severity cry out against them. 1723 Wodrtno 

Corr. (1843) III. ii Fiee from severity and keenness, that is 

ready to mix in with debates of this nature. 1875 M' LAREN 

Sernt. Ser. n. ii. 199 Youth has mostly a certain keenness 

of relish for life. 1878 LECKY Eng. iS/A Cent. II. vit 417 

Abundant evidence of the keenness of the antagonism. 

4. Intellectual sharpness acuteness ; ; shrewdness. 

1707 WYCHERLEY Pope's Lett. (1735) I. 27 The Keenness of 

the Mind soonest wears out the Body. 1828 CARLYLE Misc. 

(1857) I. 211 In the Poetry of Burns, keenness of insight 

keeps pace with keenness of feeling. 1849 MACAULAY Hist, 

Eng. viii. II. 407 His meagre and wrinkled, .face strongly 

expressed, .the keenness of his parts. 1885 Manch. Exam. 

4 Feb. 3/5 Severity in selection and .. keenness in criticism. 

5. Acuteness of the senses or organs of sense. 

1859 GEO. ELIOT A. Bede ii, There was no keenness in the 

eyes ; they seemed rather to be 

shedding 

love than making 

observations. Mod. Their keenness of sight is remarkable. 

t Kee'nsllip. Obs. rare. In 3 kenschipe, 

-s(c)ipe. [f. KEEN a. + -SHIP.] Keenness, boldness, 

fierceness. 

c 1205 LAY. 6364 pes biget Jresne kinedom Jnirh kenschipe 

muchele. a.1225 St. Marlier. n Ich habbe adun the drake 

idust. ant his kenschipe akast. 

Keep (k/~p), v. Pa. t. and pa. pple. kept. 

Forms : \ 

Infin. (2) c6pan, 2-3 kepan, 2-4 -en, 

(4 -in, 5 -yn), 3-5 kep, 3-6 kepe, 5-7 keepe, 

(6 keype, Sc. keip(e), 6- keep. Pa. t. i c6pte, 

3-5 kepte, (3-4 kipte), 3- kept; 4-5 keped(e, 

5 -id, -yd, 5-6 Sc. -it, -yt. Pa. pple, 4 i-kept, 

4- kept ; 6 Sc. kepit. [Late OE. : c^pan no related 

words known in the cognate langs. ; ulterior ety- 

mology unknown. The primary sense in OE. is 

also difficult to ascertain the verb ; 

appears to have 

been orig. construed with a genitive. 

' 

may have been to lay noia witn me nanas, ana nence 

' 

with the attention, to keep an eye upon, watch '. About 

looo, it was taken to render L. obsemare (orig. * to watch, 

keep an eye upon, take note of), and its subsequent development 

seems to have been largely influenced by the 

senses of this L. word, nearly all of which it has been used 

to render. It also renders the simple L. scrvare (orig. 'to 

watch, observe '),and the compounds conservdre,prxscrvare, 

rescrvare. In sense there is also close affinity between keep 

and HOLD forig. 'to keep watch over', 'keep in charge'): 

in many uses they are still synonymous, and many phrases 

which have now the one verb formerly had the other ; but 

in later usage, at least, keep implies the exercise of stronger 

effort to retain, so that have, hold, keep, form a series, the 

members of which pass into each other with progressive 

intensity of action. Hold has moreover often a sense of 

' 

sustain, support, keep from falling ', not belonging to keep. 

If cfyan was an old word, it would go 

back to an OTeut. 

*kdpjan ; but no trace of this vb. is found elsewhere. Some 

compare OE. copidn (found only once) L. ' 

compilare and 

', 

ME. copnien to watch or wait for; but uncertainty as to 

the length of the o in these words makes it doubtful whether 

they belong to the root k&p-. Kluge (Beitrage VIII. 537) has 

suggested radical connexion with OHG. c/tuofa, OLG. 

kdpa cask, coop (as a thing for holding or keeping). The 

alleged Fleni. kepen in Kilian is an error. 

Uncertainty as to the original sense makes a historical 

scheme of the sense-development difficult. In the following, 

some early (and obsolete) senses are placed first under 

branch I; branch II has the chief trans, senses, *=' pay atten- 

tion, observe ', **-' guard, preserve ',***=* hold in custody ', 

**** 

'conduct, carry on'; III the intrans. senses derived 

from these ; IV the combinations with adverbs. Although 

the four groups under II are distinct enough in the primary 

and literal senses, the distinction tends to melt away in the 

fig. uses, and esp. in the innumerable phraseological ex- 

pressions into which keep enters; in several cases these 

combine the notions of two or more In 

groups. many 

phrases, also, the sense of is 

keep 

so indefinite and so dependent 

upon that of the object or complement, as to be 

scarcely capable of separate analysis ; such phrases are 

treated under the sb. or adj. in question: e.g. keep COM- 

PANY, keep WATCH, keep CLOSE.] 

I. Early senses (ytilh genitive 

in OE., afterwards 

with simple object). 

1. To seize, lay hold of; to snatch, take. Obs. 

ciooo ^LFRIC Horn. II. 246 Swa hwilcne swa ic cysse. 

cepa5 his sona. a 1175 Cott. Horn. 243 Gif hi us ofercumeO 

ne cepeS hi of bus gold ne selfer bute ure bane. 1297 

R, GLOUC. (Rolls) 2050 Eldol, erl of gloucestre .. Barnde & 

kepte her & f>er, & slou aboute wyde. c 1330 R. BRUNNE 

Chron. (1810) 166 Fulie brobely & brim he kept vp a 

trencheour. 

f 2. To try to catch or get ; to seek after. Obs. 

ciooo ^LFRIC Horn. II. 522 Se Se oSerne Iufa5..nele he 

him hearmes cepan. ciooo St. BasiTs Admon. v. (1849) 46 

Ne kepSu-.oinuni nextan facnes. cwjsLamb. Horn. 107 

KEEP. 

pet weo on gode weorcas godes luue kcpan, and naut Jdel- 

ci2 ORMIN 

jelp. 

1277 Fra J>att hire make iss daed Ne 

kepejjj? ?ho nan oj>err. 

to. To take in, receive, contain, hold. Obs. 

c 1020 Rule St. Benet xxxvi. (Logeman) 67 Ah ba sylfan 

untruman .. ge}yldelice sind to cepanne (L. patienter partandisunt\ 

rt 1225 /,at J>cr heo wolden kepen. 

fc. trans. To intercept (a missile); toward off 

(a stroke). See KKP v. Obs. 

c\\"]$Lamh. Horn. 153 pe duntes bo5 uuel to kepen, J?et 

mon nat nefre on hwilche nalue ho wilen falle. c 1450 Merlin 

223 Frelent raised the axe. .And he kepte the stroke upon 

his shelde. 

1 7. To meet in resistance or opposition ; to 

encounter. Obs. 

(1205 LAY. 23939 Frolle.,igra;p his spere longe, and kept 

Ar5ur anan alse he aneoust com. 13. . Gaiu. er )>mge. 'S02 

LANGL. P. PL A. iv. 156 So pat Concience beo vr counseiler, 

kepe I no betere. c 1420 Pollod. on Husb. xn. 270 But as 

of grauel lond no thing they kepe. 1423 JAS. I Kingis Q. 

cxh, More loy in erth kepe I noght bot ?our grace, 147^ 

85 MALORY Arthur VL xv, I had kepte no more ioye in this 

world but to haue thy body dede. 

f 10. intr. To have care, take care to ; give 

heed, attend, lobk to. Obs. 

aiyso Cursor M. 26170 (Cott.) Es na herd set for to kepe 

Wit right bot til his aun scepe. c 1340 Ibid. 20009 (Tnn.) 

I shal oiteche be a fere pat trewely shal kepe \G6tt. take

KEEP. 

kept] lo be. 1382 WYCLH. ZKk. xi. u.The pore of the.Hoc 

IhaYkcpen 10 me, kncwen thus, for It is Ac word of the 

Lord. 01400-50 Alexander 821 Comand kencly hys 

knyghtez to kepe to hys blonkez. 

11T trans. To pay attention or regard to to ob- 

; 

serve, stand to, or dutifully abide by (an ordinance, 

law custom, practice, covenant, promise, faith, a 

thing prescribed or fixed, as a treaty, truce, peace, 

a set time or day ; see further under the sbs.). 

In some of these 'the sense appears to blend with that of 

maintain, preserve intact '. In this sense it is usually the 

ODDosite of disregard, violate, /mat. 

c loao /KLKKIC Horn. II. 324 Swa swa 5a ctenan nytenu 

cepaS heora liman. Ibid. 1. 102 Nu ff cepao dajas and 

monoas mid ydelum wijlunguiu |cf. 1381 WVCLIF Gal. iv. 10 

?e kepen \MS. Q gloss or weylen] dayes [Vulg. dies obscrvatis\ 

and monelhis, and a. tymesl 1380 St. Ambrose 1119 

in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1878) 25 Whon I come at Rome 

I kepe )>e maner of >at fay. .To what churche so euer bou 

cumT>cr of kep bou be custum. 1387 TREVISA Higden 

(Rolls) VIII. 19 He bitook his breperen bre poyntes to 

kepe and seide bat he hadde kepte hem..al hislyftyme. 

1485 CAXTON Chas. Gt. 195 Obeye and kepe hys comandenientes. 

01533 Lo. BERNERS Huott xlv. 151, I know you 

wyll kepe couenaunt with me in that ye haue promysyd 

me. 1549 LATIMER 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 87 

Thy ludges are vnfaythefull, they kepe 

no louche.. they 

wil pretende this and that, but thei kepe no helpc 

promise. 

,563 WINJET Four Scoir Thrc Quest. Wks. 1888 1. 115 

to kepe a towne or a castell. 1569 DAUS tr. Slcidanc's 

Comm. 400 t>, The horsemen were left . , to defende and kepe 

the passage. 1672 R. MONTAGU in Buccleucli MSS. (Hist. 

MSS. Comm.) I. 519 To help in keeping my corner against 

your enemies and mine. 1683 Plymouth Col. Rec. (1856) VI. 

114 Keeping the dores and not opening them to the said 

"ohn Irish when bee come. 1841 MACAULAY Horatius xxix, 

ôw who will stand on either hand, And keep the bridge 

with me ? 1891 St. Nicholas Mag. XIV. 541/2 They're not 

keeping our goal as they ought to. 

c. from some injurious operation or accident. 

Salte . . kepeb , _ _. 

GOSSON Sch, Abuse (Arb.) 61 Keepe your sweete faces froi 

scorching. 1596 SHAKS. Tarn. Shr. in. ii. 59 To keepe hu 

from stumbling. 1631 GOUGE Gods Arrows in. 65. 304 

They were wont . . to annoint their rolles. .with a liquour.. 

which kept them from rotting. 

fd. refl. To defend oneself; to be on ones 

SL Paull commandit . . his traditionis to be keipit. 1668 

R. STEELE Husbandman s Calling*.. (1672) 273 As breaking 

rules turn'd the fiist husbandman out of Paradise, so keeping 

rules will bring you into Paradise again. 1711 STEELE 

Spcct. No. 41 F 7 It is certain no Faith ought to be kept with 

Cheats. 1867 TROLLOPE Chron. Barset II. Ixxx. 346 A 

' 

gentleman should always his 

keep 

word to a lady. 1869 

FREEMAN Norm. Cony. III. XIL 246 Such an oath was one 

which he certainly had no thought of keeping. 1891 G. 

MEREDirH One ofour Cong. III. xii. 252 He rose; he had 

to keep an appointment. 

12. To observe with due formality and in the 

prescribed manner (any religious rite, ceremony, 

service, feast, fast, or other occasion) ; 

solemnize. 

to celebrate, 

1431-50 tr. Higden (Rolls) VI. 53 Ordeynenge be faste of 

Lente to be kepede in his realme. 1463 Bury Wills 

(Camden) 17 The wiche messe of our lady I wille the Seynt 

Marie preest kepe in a whith vestement. 1535 COVERUALE 

i Sam. xxx. 16 They were scatred vpon all y grounde, 

eatinge and drynkynge, and kepynge holy daye. a 1548 

HALL Chron., Hen. VI, 167 b, Sent to the towre of London, 

wheie he without great solempnitie, kept a dolefull Christmas. 

1560 DAUS tr. Slcidanc s Comm, 224 But what tyme 

the maryage was in maner appointed to be kept, he died. 

Ibid. 451 b, Kyng Ferdinando kept her funerall at Auspurge. 

1687 W. SHERWIN in Magd. Coll. (O. H. S.) 216 They, .keep 

a place appointed. 1877 Miss YONGE Cameos Ser. in. I. 4 

The King was keeping the feast of Easter. 1887 BOWEN 

Virg. Eclogues in. 76 To-day my birthday is kept. 

13. To observe by attendance, presence, residence, 

performance of duty, or in some prescribed or 

regular way. 

Formerly in to keep church, evensong, market, etc. ; now 

chiefly in to keep chapels, halls, roll-call (at college or 

school), to keep (prescribed) terms, residence, etc. Also, in 

weakened sense, to kecpregularm proper(pn& so irregular, 

late, early) hours. See the sbs. 

1450-1530 Myrr. our Ladye 29 They that kepe the Chyrch 

ar parteners of theyr mynistracion. 1479 in Eng. Gilds 

662 

guard. Obs. 

c 1175 Lamb. Horn. 59 To blecen. .his nome and kepen us 

from hearm and scome. c 1375 Cursor Jlf.iooji (Laud) Was 

no man . . Might kepe hym from that fend felle. c 1400 

Destr. Troy 7860 We are folke full fele.. Assemblit in this 

Cite oure seluyn to kepe. 1470-85 MALORY Arthur ix. 

xyii, 

Sir Tristram drewe oute his swerd, and said, sire Kehydius, 

kepe the. 1535 COVERDALE Jer. ix. 4 One must kepe himself 

from another. 1634 W. TIRWHYT tr. Balzac s Lett. 

(voL I.) 15, I keepe my selfe as carefully as though I were 

composed of christalL 

1 15. To be on one's guard against some action 

or occurrence to take ; care, beware (that . . .). a. 

refl. Obs. 

1340 Cursor M. 8389 (Trin.), I haue me kept bat neuer 

vysyon to no man. 

f b. intr. or with obj. 

cl. Obs. 

c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints iii. (Andrew) 216 . . pe luge dange 

hym in a dongeone depe, pat he na schapit bad to kepe 

f bade to take care that he escaped not], c 1386 CHAUCER 

Prol. 130 Wei koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe That 

no drope ne fille vp on hire brist. c 1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) 

xxiii. 108 Before be dure standez certayne lordes . . for to kepe 

bat nane entre in at he dure. 1:1500 Melusinc 112 Kepe 

wel ye borow nothing but that ye may yeld it ayen. 15x6 

TINDALE Patlnu. Script. Wks. (Parker Soc.) I. 23 We tame 

the flesh theiewith. .and keep that the lusts choke not the 

word of God. 

16. To take care of, look to the well-being of ; 

to look after, watch over, tend, have charge of. 

a. a person. 

c 1250 Gen. $ Ex. 2625 Ghe it kepte wel in fostre wune, 

Ghe knew it for hire owen sune. a 1300 Cursor M. 16761 

Als for his moder lohn hir keped, And in his ward hir toke. 

KEEP. 

and order (a record, diary, journal, accounts of 

money received and paid, etc.). To books, to 

keep 

make the requisite entries in a merchant s books so 

that these shall always represent the state of his 

commercial relations : see BOOK-KEEPING. 

1552 Ordrc Hasp. St. Barthol. Bvb (Treasurer) Ye shal 

also kepe one seueral accompte betweene the Renter & you. 

Ibid. Cj (Almoner) Keping one cntierand perfecte Inuentarie 

. .in a bpke. 1560 DAUS tr. Sleidane's Comm. 175 Notaryes 

and scribes . . whyche shoulde penne, and kepe althynges 

diligentelye. 1604 E. GJRIMSTONE] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies 

iv. viL 226 The first Registers of Entries are not so exactly 

kept asatthisday. X633MASSINGER Guardiani. i, Ahopeful 

youth, to keep A merchant's book. 1751 LABELYE IVestm. 

Br. 66 The keeping proper Accounts of these was . . allotted 

to Richard Graham. 1803 Pic Nic No. 14 (1806) II. 251 He 

had kept a diary of all his transactions 1869 W. LONGMAN 

Hist. Edw. Ill, I. xiv. 262 No record was kept of the losses 

of the English. 1891 Speaker 2 May 531/1 The useful habit 

of keeping commonplace books. 

19. To provide for the sustenance of; to provide 

with food and clothing and other requisites of 

life ; to maintain, support. Also rejl. 

1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. Prol. 76 Thus bey geuen here golde 

glotones to kepe [A. Prol. 73Giotonye tohelpen]. c\qj$~Rau/ 

Coilêar 960 Than Schir Rauf gat rewaird to keip his 

Knichtheid. 15. . in Dunbars Poems (S. T. S.) 306/44 Spend 

pairt of the gude thow wan, And keip the ay with honestie. 

1616 BEAUM. & FL. Scorn/. Lady in. ii, What shall become 

keep themselves 1668 R. 

16 A husbandman 

of . . my poor family? They must 

STEELE Husbandman's Calling ii. (1672) 

is a man . . that makes the ground that bred him keep him. 

1858 JrtU. R. Agric. Soc. XIX. i. 207 The land would barely 

keep the cows. 1889 MRS. LYNN LINTON Thro' the Long 

Night I. i. viit 131 Should he ever be able to keep a wife? 

Mod. He cannot keep himself yet, but is dependent on his 

parents. 

b. Const, in (the particular item provided). 

1888 Miss TYTLER Blackliall Ghosts II. xix. 117 Jem has 

to keep us in everything, in clothes as well as the rest. 1890 

MRS. H. WOOD House of Halliwell I. xii. 323 He kept the 

younger ladies in gloves. 

20. To maintain, employ, entertain in one's 

service, or for one's use or : enjoyment in reference 

to animals or things, there is a mingling of the 

sense of possession. 

01548 HALL Chron., Edm. IV, 233 b ; [He] caused -iij' C. 

men of armes to be kept secretly in their capitaynes houses. 

1598 SHAKS. Merry W. i. i. 284, I keepe but three Men, and 

a Boy yet, till my Mother be dead. 1607 Timon iv. iii. 

200 Because thou dost not keepe a dogge. 1637 Star Chamt. 

Decree 28 No Master- Founder .. shall aboue two 

keepe 

Apprentices. 1789 BRAND Hist. Newcastle II. 237 November 

24th 1697, there is an order of this society forbidding the 

apprentices . . to keep horses, dogs for hunting, or fighting 

cocks. 1833 H. MARTINEAU Briery Creek iiL 63 1 his morning, 

Rich men kept a newsmonger, as they kept a valet, 1893 

National Observer 6 May 619/2 He need not himself keep 

chickens. 

b. To keep a woman as mistress ; to keep a news- 

(1870) 426 The Maire & Shiref shall . . kepe theire Aduent 

sermondes. 15. . in Pre/. to Ld. Berners' Froiss. (1812) 13 

The King hymselfe. .kepte euensong of saynt george in his 

robe of the garters. 1608 Bp. HALL Virtues

KEEP. 

Err. in. ii. 138 The Ancients . . did keep a frequent use of 

baths and frictions. 1698 FRYER Ace. E. India Sf P. 331 

To make them [Lamb-skins] keep their Cm I. a 1715 BURNET 

Own Time (1823) II. in. 51 To keep no farther correspon- 

dence with duke Hamilton. 1750 GRAY Elegy xix, Along 

the cool sequester'd vale of life They kept the noiseless 

tenour of their way. 1818 SHELLEY Rev. Islam n. xviii, 

Did Laon and his friend . . a lofty converse keep. 1822 

Hellas 18 Who now keep That calm sleep. 1890 F. M. 

CRAWFORD Cigarette-make: ker s Rom. I. iii. 99 The Count himself 

kept his composure admirably. 

24. With : complement To preserve, maintain, 

retain, or cause to continue, in some specified con- 

dition, state, place, position, action, or course. 

The complement may be an adj., sb., pple., adv., or prep, 

phrase, e. g. to keep alive, clean, close, dark, dry, fast, holy, 

open, secret, still, siveet, warm ; to keep a prisoner, a secret ; 

to keep going, shut ; to keep at arm's length, at bay, at it, 

at work, in countenance, in readiness, in repair, in suspense, 

in touch, out of-mischief, to time, etc. For these in specialized 

senses, and for phrases, such as to keep the ball rolling, 

the pot boiling, one's hair on, one's eye upon, one's eyes about 

one, one's head above water, etc., see the adjs. or sbs. 

c 1340 HAMPOLE Prose Tr. 8 Scho [the bee] kepes clene 

and Dryghte hire winges. 1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. v. 623 }>e 

dore closed Kayed and cliketted to kepe be with-outen. 

1414 BRAMPTON Penit. Ps. xix. (Percy Soc.) 8 My synne[s], 

that I in schryfte schulde schewe, 1 kepe hem clos for schame 

or fere, a 1500 in Bailees Bk. 19/42 Yt kepys hym out offe 

synne & blame. Ibid. 21/66 Hande, & fpte, fynger kepe 

fc>ou styll. 1500-20 DUNBAR Poems xlviii. 70 Scho bad elk 

Juno . . That scho the hevin suld keip amene and dry. 1585 

T. WASHINGTON tr. Nicholay's Voy. in. xxii. 112 To keepe 

the Arabians . . in greater sobriety. Ibid. iv. xv. 130 They 

, . kept the portes and passages so 

shuttCj 

that they kept 

away the corne. 1593 SHAKS. Rich. II, in. ii. 28 That Power 

that made you King Hath power to keepe you King. 1607 

TOPSF.LL Four-f. Beasts (1658) 119 It is necessary that their 

kennel be sweet and 

kept dry. 1657 R. LIGON Barbadoes 

(1673) 102 To keep it continually in the shade. 1698 FRYER 

Ace. E, India q- P. 125, I kept the Coolies to their Watch. 

1712 STEELE Sped. No. 263 f 4 It is [thus] . . that Hatreds 

are kept alive. Ibid. No. 264 F2 While he could keep his 

Poverty a Secret. 1774 GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. (1776) V. 126 

He is . . still kept fast by a string. 1840 yrnl. K. Agric. 

Soc. I. in. 225 The ploughmen could scarcely keep their 

i. 66 

ploughs in the ground. 1845 FORD Handbk. Spain 

Keep the door shut and ihe devil passes by. 1854 DICKENS 

Hard Times I. xiv, In the daytime old Bounderby has been 

keeping me at it rather. 1883 G. M. FENN Middy f,- Ensign 

xxxi, I'll keep him to his promise. 1890 T. F. TOUT Hist. 

Eng. fr. 1689, 48 He kept the merchants and tradesmen 

Whigs by his sound commercial . . measures. 1891 Temple 

Bar Mag. Feb. 281 There was the steam-kettle to keep on 

the boil. 1892 National Observer 17 Dec. 100/1 It promises 

help . . to keep him in funds when he is out on strike. 

b. To refl. preserve 

or maintain oneself, or continue, 

in such condition, etc. (Hence the intrans. 

use in 39.) 

1362 LANGL. P. PI. A. I. 169 Curatours )>at schulden kepe 

hem clene of heore bodies. (11380 Virg. Antioch 137 in 

Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (18781 27, I may me kepe chast 

eueridel. citfMDestr. Troy 10513 Kepis you in couer.cleane 

out of 1 sight ci43o Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 2835 This traitour 

kept him close that night, c 1489 CAXTON Sonncs of'Aymon 

xxiv. 512 Baron, kepe you by reynawde. a 1533 LD. BERNERS 

Huon xxi. 64 Yf ye can kepe your selfe without spekynge 

keepe themselves in an ambush neare unto a wood. 1788 

W. BLANE Hunt. Excurs. 15 The Prince, by laying hold of 

the Howdah, kept himself in his scat. 1879 BROWNING 

Martin Relph 32 The many and loyal should keep themselves 

unmixed with the few perverse. 

*** To detain or hold in custody, restraint, con- 

cealment, etc. ; to prevent from escaping or being 

taken from one. 

25. To hold as a captive or prisoner; to hold 

in custody or in restraint of personal liberty ; to 

prevent from escaping. 

1:1330 R. HRUNNF.C/I>-O. (1810)219 pat kept him inprisoun, 

Edward did him calle. 1375 BARBOUR Bruce xvlll. 512 He 

. . bad haf him avay in hy, And Ink he kepit war stratly. 

1382 WYCLIF Acts xvi. 23 Thei senten hem into prisoun, 

commaundinge to the kepere that he diligentli schulde kepe 

hem. ci/ftaDestr. Troy 12084 pat commly be keppet, ne 

in cloese haldyn. 1526 TINDALF. Acts xxviii. 16 Paul was 

suffered to dwell alone with wone soudier that kept hym. 

1585 T. WASHINGTON tr. Nicholay's l-'oy. i. vii. 6 They kept 

me as prisoner. 1892 Law Times XCIII. 414/2 Hedid not 

think that the defendant ought to be kept in prison any 

26. To retain in a place 

or position by moral 

constraint; to restrain from going away ; to cause 

or induce to remain; to detain. 

1653 MIDDLETON & ROWLEY Changeling v. iii, Keep life 

in him for further tortures. 1782 COWPER Progr. Err. 416 

A dunce that has been kept at home. 1801 PITT in G. Rose s 

Diaries (1860) I. 291, I have been till kept this instant. 

1877 Miss YONGF. Cameos Ser. in. xxix. 291 Colet would fam 

have kept Erasmus to lecture at Oxford. 1885 E. F. BYRRNF. 

Entangled II. xviii. 29 Don't let me keep you. 1890 CLARK 

RUSSELL Ocean Trag. I. ii. 31 There was nothing to keep 

me in England. 

27. To hold back, prevent, withhold ; 

to restrain, 

control. Const, from (off, out of). 

c 1340 Cursor M. 2893 iFairf.) Ihesu criste ?ou kepe fra 

syn cu6o Urbanitas 74 in Babees Bk. 15 In chambur 

among ladyes bry?th Kepe thy tonge and spende thy syjth. 

I9 BIBLE (Great) Ps. xxxiv. 13 Kepe thy tonge from euell. 

663 

viii, How hard is it when a man meets with a Foole to keepe 

hi_s tongue from folly ! 1650 WELDON Crt. Jos. 1 139 The 

Bishops might have done better to have kept their voyces, 

1729 BUTLER Serin. Balaam Wks. 1874 II. 87 Those partial 

regards to his duty, .might keep him from perfect despair. 

1858 Jrnl. K. Agric. Sac. XIX. i. 184 A cold, dry spring 

may keep the seed from germinating. 

b. refl. To restrain oneself, refrain, hold back ; 

to abstain. (Hence intr., sense 43.) 

1340 HAMPOLE Pr. Consc. 954 Gude it es J>at a man him 

kepe Fra worldisshe luf and vany worshepe. (1460 in 

Babees Bk. is/ 1 ? Fro spettyng & snetyng kepe \>e also. 

1483 CAXTON G. ae la TaurDvb, This is a good ensample 

to awarraunt and kepe hymself of fals beholdynge. c 1500 

Melusine xxxvi. 295 Hys brother coude not kepe hym, but 

he asked after Melusyne. a 1533 LD. BERNERS Huon lix. 

205 He . . coude not a kept hym selfe fro lawghynge. 1601 

SHAKS. Two Gent. iv. iv. n 'Tis a foule thing, when a cur 

cannot keepe himselfe in all companies. 1892 Black $ 

White 26 Nov. 610/1, 1 shall not be able to keep myself from 

strangling her. 

28. To withhold from present use, to reserve ; 

to lay up, store up. reft. To reserve oneself. 

c 1340 Cursor M. 970 (Fairf.) Of alkyn frute bat ys Jnne 

Kepe me be teynde for J>at ys myne. c 1400 MAUNDEV. (1839) 

v. 52 The Gerneres . . to kepe the greynes for the perile of 

the dere }eres. 1535 COVERDALE 2 Esdras ix. 21, I.. haue 

kepte me a wynebery of the grapes. 1579 GOSSON ScA. 

Abuse (Arb.) 17 Philip .. exhorted his friends to keepe 

their stomackes for the seconde course. 1632 LITHGOW 

Trav. vi. 258 The water of Jordan . . the longer it is kept, 

it is the more fresher. 1822 SHELLEY Hellas 879 The 

Anarchs.. keep A throne for thee. 1868 FREEMAN Norm. 

Conq. II. x. 428 The . . Chronicler . . seems rather to keep 

himself for great occasions. 1875 Hid. (ed. 2) III. xii. 77, 

I have purposely kept that question for this stage of my 

history. 

29. Actively to hold 

one's power 

in possession ; to retain in 

or control ; 

to continue to have, hold, 

or possess. Also atsol. (The opposite 

of to lose : 

now a leading sense.) 

c 1400 MAUNDEV. xxiii, (1839) 252 Thei con wel wynnen 

lond of Straungeres, but thei con not kepen it. c 1460 

FORTESCUE Al>s. if Lim. Mon. vi. (1885) 121 It is power to 

mowe haue and kepe to hym self, c 1470 HENRY Wallace 

IX. 1935 Off ryches he kepyt no propyr thing; Gaiff as he 

wan. 1559 Mirr, Mag., M. Suffolk viii, To get and kerjc 

not is but losse of payne. 1596 SHAKS. I Hen. IV, \. ili. 

213 He keepe them all. By heauen,he shall not hane a Scot 

of them. 1662 STILLINGFL. Orig. Sacr. in. iii. 8 With what 

care they are got, with what fear they are kept, and with 

what certainty they must be lost, a 1715 BURNET Oiun Time 

(1823) I. ii. 159 The great art of keeping him long was, the 

being easy, and the making everything easy to him. 1803 

Pic Nic No. 8 (1806) II. 41 These poets now keep but 

a feeble hold of the stage. 1861 Temple Bar Mag. III. 

336 The variety keeps the children's attention. 1890 Lippincotfs 

Mag. May 632 His slim forefinger between its 

leaves to keep the place. Mod. The difficulty now is not to 

make money, but to keep it ; you make it and lose it. 

t b. To keep one's own = to hold one's own (HOLD 

v. 31). Keep your wind: see the sbs. 

luff, offing, 

1627 CAPT. SMITH Seaman's Gram. ix. 39 If you would., 

keepe your owne, that is, not . . fall to lee-ward. 

c. fig. in phrases, 

as to keep one's temper (i.e. 

not to lose : it) see the sbs. 

f d. ellipt. To retain in the memory, remember. 

'573 BARET Ah. I 27 We keepe those thinges most surely, 

that we learne in 

youth. 

1612 BRINSLEY I.ud. Lit, 141 Thus 

they shall keepe their Authours, which they haue learned. 

SO. To withhold (from) : implying exertion or 

effort to prevent a thing from going or getting to 

another. 

ci46i Paston Lett. II. 73 It is a comon proverbe, ' A man 

xuld kepe fro the blynde and gevyt to is kyn '. 1568 

GRAFTON C/iron. II. 282 Mine adversary, who kepeth wrong, 

fully from me mine heritage. 1583 T. WASHINGTON tr. 

Nicholay's l-'oy. IV. xvi. 131 Where they would not receive 

his salvation, the same for ever shalbe kept from them. 

1667 MILTON P. I., ix. 746 Great are thy Vertues, doubtless, 

best of Fruits, Though kept from Man. 

31. To hide, conceal not to ; divulge. Chiefly 

in phr., 

as to keep COUNSEL, a SECRET : see the sbs. 

1382 WYCLIF Isa. xlviii. 6 Thingus. . kept ben that thou 

knowist not. c 1400 Rom. Rose 2858 A felowe that can 

welle concele, And kepe thi counselle, and welle hele. 1560 

DAUS tr. Sleidane's omm. 321 b, To the promotours they 

promise a reward and to kepe their counsel. 1781 D. 

WILLIAMS tr. Voltaire's Dram. Wks. IJ. 233 Take^he money 

and keep the secret. 1847 MARRYAT Cltildr. N. Forestall, 

'You must keep our secret, Oswald'. 1859 THACKERAY 

Virgin, xxi, There is no keeping any thing from yon. 1888 

G. GISSING Life's Morn. II. xiv. 227 For a week he kept his 

counsel, and behaved as if nothing unusual had happened. 

32. To continue to follow (a way, path, course, 

etc.), so as not to lose it or get out of it. 

CI42S LYDG. Assembly of Gods 256 Thowgh ye wepe yet 

shal ye before me Ay kepe your course. 1553 S. CABOT in 

Hakluyt Voy, (1589) 259 All courses in Navigation to be set 

and kept by the aduice of the Captain. 1595 SHAKS. John 

n. i. 339 Vnlesse thou let his silner Water, keepe A peacefull 

progresse to the Ocean. 1598 Merry W. in. it i Nay 

keepe your way . . you were wont to be a follower, but now 

you are a Leader. 1632 LITHGOW Trav. vi. 258 The Friers 

their course towards 

and Souldiers removed; keeping 

lericho. 1719 DE FOE Crusoe n. ix, We kept no path. 1870 

E. PEACOCK Half Skirl. II. 98 Taking care to keep the 

middle of the road. 1892 Field 21 May 777/1 How the 

driver kept the track is a marvel. 

33. To stay or remain in, on, or at (a place) ; 

not to leave ; esp. 

in to keep one's bed, one's room 

(as in sickness) ; to keep the house. Cf. keep 

to* 44 b. 

1413 PHgr. Sowle (Caxton) i, xxii. (1859) 25 Thou kepyst 

KEEP. 

now thy bed. Thync ydlenes and slouthe hath this y bred, 

e 1430 .SyrGw, (Roxb.) 1 526" HisdoghtreClarionas She kept 

the chambre, as Reason was. 15*3 LD. BERNERS Froiss. I. 

xlix. 6q These engyns dyd cast night and day great stones . . so 

that they within were fayne to kepe vautes and sellars. 

1534-1828 [see BED st>. 6 cj. 1542-1864 [see HOUSE sb. 17 dj. 

1575 LANEHAM Let. (1871) 33 The weather being hot, her 

hignnes kept the Castl for coolness. 1647 TRAPP Comm, t 

Titus II. 343 The Aegyptian women ware no shoes, that 

they might the better keep home, 1667 SIR E. LYTTELTON 

in Motion Corr. (Camden) 51, I have kept my chamber 

ever since last Tuesday. 1796 JANE AUSTEN Pride $ Prej, 

xiii, My poor mother is really ill, and keeps her room. 1885 

EMILY LAWLESS Millionaire's Cousin iv. 76 Am I bound to 

keep my own side of the partition? 

b. To stay or retain one's place in or on, against 

as to keep the deck, the saddle, the field, 

opposition ; 

the one's stage', seat, one's ground. 

1599 SHAKS. Hen. y, iv. vi, 3 But all's not done, yet keepe 

the French the field. 1632 LITHGOW Trav. in. 99 The tem- 

pest 

capable of keeping the deck. 1823 Blackw. Mag. XI V. 555 

Not a single tragedy of Beaumont and Fletcher's has been 

able to keep the stage. 1835 THIRLWALL Greece I. iv. 113 

It [the story] kept its ground in spite of the interest.. in 

distorting or suppressing it. 1849 MACAULAY Hist. Eng. \. 

I. 579 The wonder is . . that they were able to keep their 

seats. 1890 Blackw. Mag. CXLVIII. 435/2 A first-class 

boat, capable of keeping the sea all the year round. 

**** To carry on, conduct, hold. 

34. To carry on, conduct, as presiding officer or 

a chief actor (an assembly, 

etc.) - HOLD v. S. 

; 

court, fair, market, 

1432-50 tr. Higden (Rolls) V. 1 19 [Silvester] whichekepede 

the firste grete cownsayle of Nicene. c 1489 CAXTON Sonnes 

of Aymon 202 He wolde kepe parlyamente wyth them. 

1535 COVERDALE 2 Mace. iv. 43 Of these matters therfore 

there was kepte a courte agaynst Menelaus. 1546 in Eng. 

Gilds (1870) 222 In the same Towne there ys a merkett, 

wekely kepte. 1585 T. WASHINGTON tr. Nicholay's Voy. 

III. xvii. 102 b, There .. they kept a generall chapter or 

assembly. 1634 W. WOOD New Eng. Prosp. (1865) 42 This 

Towne [Boston], -being the Center of the Plantations where 

the monthly Courts are kept. 1752 FIELDING Amelia XI. 

iii, His wife soon afterwards began to keep an assembly, or, 

in the fashionable phrase, to be 'at home' once a week. 

1877 Miss YONGE Cameos Ser. in. xxi. 196 Henry was keeping 

court at Lincoln, where he meant to spend Easter. 

35. To carry on and mannge, to conduct as one's 

own (an establishment or business, a school, shop, 

etc.). To keep house : see HOUSE sb. 17 a, b. 

1513 MORE in Grafton Chron, (1568) II. 761 Edward the 

his house at Ludlow in Wales. 1601 

Noble Prince . . kept 

SHAKS. Twit. N. in. ii. 81 Like a Pedant that keepes a 

Schoole i' th Church. 1660 F. BROOKE tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 

29 He kept an Inn common to all passengers. 1698 FRYER 

Ace. E. India A> P. 194 Barbers, .seldom keep Shop, but go 

about the City with a checquered Apron over their bhulders. 

1711 STEELE Spect. No. 155 F 2, 1 keep a Coffee-house. 

1877 W. O. RUSSELL Crimes tf Misdem. n. xxviii. 427 The 

keeping a bawdy-house is a common nuisance. 1890 Harper's 

Mag. Oct. 747/2 They came here and kept lodgings. 

36. To carry t on, maintain to continue to ; 

make, 

cause, or do (an action, war, disturbance, or the 

like). Cf. keep up, 57 f. 

c 1425 LYDG. Assembly of Gods 1825 In man shall thow 

fynde that werre kept dayly. 1560 DAUS tr. Sleidane's 

Comut, 208 b, Warre was to be kepte upon hys frontiers. 

1568-1807 [see COIL st.- 4). 1590 SHAKS. Com. Err. in. i. 61 

Who is that at the doore y 1 

keepes all this noise? 1601 

T-wcl. N. II. iii. 76 What acalterwallingdoeyou keepe heere? 

1602 MARSTON Antonio's Km. in. iv, What an idle prate thou 

keep'st, good nurse ; goe sleepe. 1665 GLANVILL Def. Vain 

Dogm. 41 'Tis strange that the Ancients should keep such 

in Mrs. 

ado about an easie Probleme. (11784 JOHNSON 

Piozzi's A need. 34 The nonsense you now keep such a stir 

about. 1818 SHELLEY Rn: Islam vi. vii, Ships from Propontes 

keep A killing rain of fire. 

III. Intransitive uses. 

* 

Arisingfrom ellipsis of reflexive pronoun. 

37. To reside, dwell, live, lodge. (Freq. in 

now only co/loq., 

literary use from c 1580 to 1650 ; 

esp. at Cambridge University and in U. S.) 

[1402-3 Durham Ace. Roits(SurteK) 217 Camera ubi pueri 

custodiunt.] 

CI400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) xxv. 117 pis emperour . . base 

many men kepand 

at his courte. 1401 Pol. Poems (Rolls) 

II. 65 Sich as ben gaderid in coventis .. the whiche for 

worldly combraunce in cloistris. 

kepen 1504 Bury Wills 

(Camden) 102, I wyll y 1 he or they shall keep at Cambryge 

1. 127 Among the mountaines 

at scoole. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny 

of this tract, the Pygmajans, by report do keepe. 1633 

P. FLETCHER Purple Isl. v. xxv, Here stands the palace of the 

noblestsense; HereVisuskeeps. 1719^ Willis & Clark Cambridge 

(1886) II. 214 In y Room where M' Maynard keeps 

there was acted . . a Pastoral. 1775 ABIGAIL ADAMS in J. 

Adams' Fam. Lett. (1876) 128, I have .. been upon a visit to 

Mrs. Morgan, whokeepsat Major Mifflin's. 1825 J. NEAL Bra. 

Jonathan I. 255 A little ' 

Virginny gal ' 

who was ' 

keepm 

college. 1889 Boston (Mass.) jfrnl. 8 July 3/3 Just where 

Mrs. Stevens kept in Boston is unknown to history. 

38. To remain or stay for the time (in a par- 

ticular place or spot). 

1560 DAUS tr. Sleidane's Comm. 214 The rest . . were 

driven to kepe in caves and sellars under the earth. 1597 

MORLEY Introd. Mus. Pref., Being compelled to keepe at 

home. 1606 SHAKS. Ant. f, Cl. m. vii. 75 Marcus Octauius 

. . and Celius are for Sea : But we keepe whole by Land. 

on board. Ibid, 

19 DE FOE Crusoe I. iv, We had kept 

i, I . . kept within doors. 1863 GEO. ELIOT Romola xxxv.

Keep moving ', 

KEEP. 

He suggested that she should keep in her own room. 1890 

CLARK RUSSELL Ocean Trag. III. xxx. 136, I told him to 

keep where he was. 1891 F. W. ROI.INSON Her Love f, His 

Life\\\. vi. ii. i" The wind kept in the proper quarter. 

39. To remain or continue in a specified condition, 

state, position, etc. 

: 

a. With adverbial or prepositional phrases 

see 

also branch IV. 

iu>8 SHAKS. Merry W. ill. iii. 89 Keepe in that mmde, lie 

deserue it. 1660 F. BROOKE tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 93 You 

must recede and keep at distance. 1670-98 LASSELS Vtf. 

Italy 1 1. 234 We . . strangers must keep out of their way, and 

stand a loof off. 1697 DRYDKN /Kneidn. 086 Creusa kept 

behind. 1705 BOSMAN Guinea 114 If they have not hit the 

Buffel they sit still, and keep out of Danger. 1805 NELSON 

20 Oct in Nicolas Disp. (1846) VII. 136 To keep .. in sight 

of the Enemy in the night 1823 Douglas, or, Otterburn 1 1. 

viii 102 Mervine kept by the side of his friend. 1883 FENN 

Middy * Ensign xxviii. .71 The men kept in excellent 

health. 1890 T. F. TOUT Hist. Eng.fr. 1689, vnl. iv. 48 He 

kept in touch with public opinion. 

b. with adj. (or equivalent substantive). 

1500 SHAKS. Com. F.rr. n. i. 26 This makes 

servitude 

youto keepe vnwed. ct6ooAcc.-Bk. W. Wray'm Antiquary 

XXXII. 80 This .. will kepe but one yeare good. 1609 

DAMPIFR Voy. II. in. iv. 47 When these hot Winds come the 

better sort of People . . keep close. 1814 DOYLE in W. J. 

Fitz-Patrick Life (1880) I. 66 We were constantly making 

efforts to keep clear of them. 1825 JVnv Monthly Mag. XV. 

406 It will keep sweet a very long time. 1870 LOWELL 

Stud, tt'ind. 120 It is the part of a critic to keep cool under 

whatever circumstances. 1883 FENN Middy I, Ensign xiv. 

78 We want to keep friends. 

40. To continue, persevere, go on (in a specified 

course or action). 

a 1548 HALL Chron., Edw. IV 21 1 b, The Dukes messengers 

..durst not kepe on their iorney. 1568 GRAFTON Chron. 

II. 91 He had such comfort of the king, as he kept on his 

purpose. 1593 SHAKS. Kick. 11, v. ii. 10 The Duke.. With 

slow, but stately pace, kept on his course. 1709 STEELE 

Taller No. 48 r 4 We kept on our Way after him till we 

came to Exchange-Alley. 1857 B. TAYLOR North. Trav. 48 

We kept down the left bank of the river for a little distance. 

1889 W. WESTALL Birch Dene III. ii. 41 Turn to the left 

and keep straight on. 1891 H. S. MERRIMAN Pris. ff Capt. 

III. xiv. 235 After passing Spitzbergen they would keep to 

the north. 

b. With pres. pple. 

as complement. 

1794 GIFFORD Baviad (1800) 27 note, Some contemptible 

vulgarity, such as 'That's your sort I'..' What 's to b. To confine or restrict oneself to. To keep 

to oneself, also (colloq.) 

to keep oneself to oneself, 

to avoid the society of others. 

1698 

pay?' 

' 

etc. 1806-7 } BERF.SFORD Miseries Hum. 

FRYER Ace. E. Ind. * P. 174 He is married to Four 

Wives, to whom he keeps religiously. 1711 ADDISON Spect. 

No. 129 r i Did they keep to one constant Dress they would 

sometimes be in the fashion. 1788 W. BLANE Hunt. Excurs. 

17 They generally keep to the thick forests where it is 

impossible to follow them. 1816 DISRAELI Viv. Grey v. xv, 

We had much better keep to the road. 1881 G. M. CRAIK 

(Mrs. May) Sydney III. li. 44 He had merely to keep to the 

sofa for two or three days. 1880 J. MASTERMAN Scotls of 

Westminster I. iv. 142 Content with each other, they kept to 

themselves. 1891 Sat. Rev. 18 Apr. 483/1 She shall keep to 

her room and he will keep to his. 

45. Keep with . To remain or stay with ; to 

associate or keep company with ; to keep up with. 

'S33 LD. BERNERS Hvon liv. 181 He may as sone go to 

your enemyes pane as to kepe with you. 1611 SHAKS. 

Wint. T. i. ii. 344 Goe then ; and . . keepe with Bohemia, 

And with your (jueene. 1817 W. SELWYN Law Nisi Prius 

(ed. 4) II. 940 To keep with convoy during the whole voyage. 

1891 Field 19 Dec. 956/3 The very select few who were 

fortunate enough to keep with hounds. 

IV. With adverbs. 

46. Keep away. a. trans. To cause to remain 

absent or afar to ; prevent from coming near. 

11548 HALL C/;ra., Edw. IV z\i Her frendes.. said, that 

she was kept awaie . . by Sorcerers and Necromanciers. 

1591 SHAKS. i Hen. VI,iv. iv. 22 Let not your priuate discord 

keepe away The leuied succours that should lend him 

ayde. 1871 FREEMAN Europ. Hist. xvii. 3. 352 The French 

frontier, which first reached the Rhine in 1648, is now kept 

quite away from it, 

b. intr. To remain absent or at a distance to ; 

hold one's course at a distance to move off. 

; 

1604 SHAKS. Oth. in. iv. 173 What? keepe a weeke away? 

Seuen dayes, and Nights? a 1889 W. COLLINS Blind Lmte 

(1890) III. liii. 130, I could not keep away from you. 

c. Natit. trans. To cause to sail ' 

off the wind ' 

or to leeward, intr. To sail off the wind or to 

leeward. 

1805 SIR E. BERRY 13 Oct. in Nicolas Disp. Nelson (1846) 

VII. 118 note, I was determined not to keep away, and 

I could not tack without the certainty of a broadside. 1867 

SMYTH Sailor's Word-bit, s. v., Keep her away, alter the 

ship's course to leeward, by sailing further off the wind. 

1875 BEDFORD Sailor's Pocket Bk. iv. (ed. 2) 127 If the vessel 

keeps away [from wind's eye] 5 points, she must steam or 

Life (1826) vi. Miseries Stage Coaches iv, The Monster .. 

keeps braying away. 1858 HAWTHORNE Fr. ff It. Jrnls. 1. 124 

T. F. TOUT 

Niagara . . keeps pouring on forever and ever. 1890 

Hist. Eng. fr. 1689, 134 He kept changing his plans. 1892 

Temple Bar Mag. Feb. 198 She kept tumbling off her horse. 

41. To remain in good condition ; to last without 

spoiling. Also _/%. to admit of being reserved for 

another occasion. 

1586 SIDNEY Arcadia (i 598) 76 Doth beauties keepe which 

never sunne can burne Nor stormes do turne ! 1626 BACON 

Sylva 627 Grapes.. it is reported.. will keep better in a 

vessel half full of wine, so that the grapes touch not the wine. 

1705 Lett, in Chr. Wordsworth Scholx Academ. (1877) 

291 When he is to be buried I can't tell, but they say he 

can't keep long. 1719 DE FOE Crusoe i. xii, I had no hops 

to make it keep. 1836 GEN. P. THOMPSON Exerc. (1842) IV. 

106, I will defer any observations.. till my next And there 

was nothing but what will keep. 1847 MARRYAT Childr. N. 

Forest v, He brought home more venison than would keep 

in the hot weather. 1889 DOYLE Micah Clarke xi. 92 Your 

story, however, can keep. 

** With prepositions in specialized senses. 

(Chiefly from 38, 39, 40.) 

42. Keep at . To work persistently at ; to 

continue to occupy oneself with. Also to keep at 

it: see AT prep. 16 b. 

1825 New Monthly Mag. XVI. 490 He should have kept 

at the law, he would have done for that. 1846 Jrnl. R. 

Agric. Soc. VII. i. 130 By keeping at it all day he is able 

to get over nearly 2 acres. 1890 Pictorial IVorld 9 Oct. 

445/3 Whocould keep at work on a morning like this? 1891 

St. Nicholas Mag. 261 Still they keep at it, early and late. 

b. Hence humorous nonce-compounds. 

1882 Three in Norway v. 38 In a nice keep-at-it-all-day-ifyon-like 

kind of manner. 1895 Proc. \\th Conv. Amer. 

Instruct. Deaf p. lxix,In school, and out of school, ..at work 

or play ; 

in short, by everlasting keep-at-it-iveness. 

43. Keep from . To abstain from ; to remain 

absent or away from. 

1513 MORE in Grafton CArtfn. (1568) II. 767 The prosperitie 

whereof. .standeth.. in keeping from enemies and evill dyet. 

c 1586 C'TKSS PEMBROKE Ps. LXXIV. x, What is the cause .. 

That thy right hand far from us keepes? 1590 SHAKS. Com. 

Err. in. L 18 You would keepe from my heeles, and beware 

of an asse. 1727 GAY Beggar's Op. L viii, I shall soon know 

if you are married by Macheath's keeping from our house. 

b. To restrain or contain oneself from. 

1877 Miss YONGE Cameos Ser. in. xiv. 125 Nor was Louis 

able to keep from turning pale. 1889 DOYLE Micah Clarke 

it 20 We could not keep from laughter. 1890 Lippincott's 

Mag. Feb. 150, I could hardly keep from smiling. 

44. Keep to . a. To adhere to, stick to, 

abide by (a promise, agreement, etc.) to ; continue 

to maintain or observe. Also with indirect passive. 

1625 BURGES Pers. Tithes 24 He must to his 

keepe Rule, 

or hee damnably sinneth. 1697 DAMPIER Voy. (1729) I. 518 

Not finding the Governour keep to his agreement with me. 

1779 SHERIDAN Critic i. i, If they had kept to that, I should 

not have been such an enemy to the stage. 1802 MAR. 

EDGEWORTH Moral T. (1816) I. x. 85, I will keep to my 

resolution. 1825 New Monthly Mag. XV. 511/2 The author 

has kept very closely to the historical facts. Mod. I hope 

the plan will be kept to. 

664 

sail at the rate of 7-2 knots, to be in an equally good position. 

47. Keep back. a. trans. To restrain ; to detain 

; to hold back forcibly; to retard the progress, 

advance, or growth of. 

1535 COVERDALE 2 Kings iv. 24 Dryue forth, and kepe me 

not bak with rydinge. 1560 DAUS tr. Sleidane's Comm, 

463 b, I have kept backe no man from the true Religion. 

1678 WANLEY Wond. Lit. World v. i. 98. 468/1 He.. 

strongly kept back the Turk from encroachments upon his 

Dominions. 1698 FRYER Ace. E. India tr P. 310 The 

Wheat stands, to endure a farther ripening, being kept back 

by the Chill Winds. 1848 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. IX. 11. 556 

Bine that has been kept back . .by cold weather. 1890 FENN 

Double Knot I. iv. 129 She made a brave effort to keep back 

her tears. 

b. To withhold; to retain or reserve designedly; 

to conceal. 

1535 COVERDALE Ps. xxxix. [xl.] 10, 1 kepe not thylouynge 

mercy. .backe from the greate congregation. ijSsSTUBBES 

Anal. Alnts. n. (1882) So The church will keepe _no part of 

the liuing backe from the pastor, if he doe his dutie. 1607-12 

BACON Ess., Seeming Wise (Arb.) 2r6 Some are so close, and 

reserved, as they ..seeme alwaies to keepe back somewhat. 

1647 H. MORE Song o Soul n. i. n. vii, Long keppen back 

from your expecting sight. 1888 G. GISSING Life's Morn. 

II. xv. 302 It really seemed to me as if she were keeping 

something back. 

c. intr. To hold oneself or remain back. 

1837 DICKENS Pickw. ' 

' 

iv, There was a request to keep back 

from the front. 

48. Keep down. a. trans. To hold down to ; 

hold in subjection or under control ; to repress. 

1581 PETTIE tr. Guazzo's Civ. Com', i. (1586) 30, Sudden 

(lames by force kept downe. 1607 TOPSELL Four-/. Beasts 

(1658) 155 They keep them low and down by substraction of 

their meat. 

1659 D. PELL Impr. Sea 38 You should . .keep 

down your spirits lx>th in this and other cases. 1732 DE FOE 

Col. Jack (1840) 67 Will kept the man down who was under 

him. 1849 MACAULAY Hist. Eng. i. I. 34 A hundred thousand 

soldiers ..will keep down ten millions of ploughmen and 

artisans. 1889 Repent. P. IVentmorth III. xvi. 291 She 

had hard work to keep down her tears. 

b. To keep low in amount or number ; to prevent 

from growing, increasing, or accumulating. 

1818 CRUISE Digest (ed. 2) II. 201 The executors .. ought 

to keep down the interest. 1840 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. I. III. 

259 The Tartarian oats kept down the clover. 1851 Beck's 

Florist Jan. 21 Pick off decaying leaves, and keep down 

insects. 1869 W. LONGMAN Hist. Ed-.t>. Ill, I. xvi. 309 

Employers,, combined to keep down wages. 

c. Painting. (Seequot. 1854.) 

1768 W. GILPIN Prints 210 The effect .. might have l>een 

better, if all the lights upon it had been kept down. 1805 

E. DAYES Works 290 Should the objects give a sufficient 

quantity of Light and Shade, the sky may l>e kept down. 

1854 FAIRHOLT Diet. Terms Art, Kept down, subdued in 

tone or tint, so that that portion of the picture thus treated 

is rendered subordinate to some other part. 

d. Printing. To get in lower-case type, as a word 

or letter; to use capitals somewhat sparingly. 

1888 JACOBI Printers' Vocab. 

e. intr. To remain low or subdued. 

1889 MARY E. CARTER Mrs.Severn III. m.ix.2i9 Praying 

that the wind would keep down for a few hours. 

KEEP. 

49. Keep in. a. trans. To confine within ; to 

hold in check ; to restrain ; not to utter or give 

vent to ; spec, to confine in school after hours. 

a 1420 HOCCLEVE De Reg. Princ. 1015 We .. keepe muste 

our song and wordes in. 1491 Chast. GoddesChyld. 18 To 

kepe in his chyldern that they shold not sterte abrode fro 

the scole. 1601 SHAKS. T-wel. N. i. v. 209 It is more like to 

be feigned ; I pray you keep it in. 1690 W. WALKER 

fdiomat. Anglo-Lat. 24 He is not able to keep in his anger. 

1713 ADDISON Cato i. iv, Your zeal becomes importunate .. 

but learn to keep it in. 1893 Pall Mall Mag. I. 28 He had 

been ' 

kept in '. . and his schoolmates had all , gone. 

T" b. To keep from public currency. Obs. 

1573 BARET Alv. K 25 To keepe in corne, to the end to 

make it deere. 1671 M. BRUCE Good News in Evil Times 

in our 

(1708) 68 Thanks be to him that hath ay keeped 

Black side yet, and hath not let the World see it yet. 

c. To keep (a fire) burning : cf. IN adv. 6 g. 

Also intr. of a fire : To continue to burn. 

'659 J. ARROWSMITH Chain Princ. 160 As culinary fire 

must be kindled and kept in by external materials. 1711, 

1793 [see IN adv. 6g]. 1849 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. X. I. 149 

The fire.. keeps in well twelve hours. 1891 Review of Rev. 

15 Mar. 299/1 The fire can be kept in all night 

d. Printing. To set type closely spaced. 

1683 MOXON Meek. Exerc., Printing Diet., Keep in, is a 

caution either given to, or resolved on, by the Compositer, 

where there may be doubt of Driving out his Matter beyond 

his Counting off. 1888 JACOBI Printers' Vocab. 

e. To keep one's hand in : see HAND sb. 52. 

f. intr. To remain indoors, or within a retreat, 

place, position, etc. 

c 1430 .Syr Gener. (Roxb.)7iiEuermoreshekepthirin. 1518 

in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford 18 The inhabitants of 

thos bowses that be . . infectyd shall kepe in. 1652 GAUI.E 

Magastrom. 250 It still keeps in (like an owle) all the day- 

' 

' 

time. 1850 F. T. FINCH in Bat Cricket Man. 95 Though 

for years we may keep in, we must at length go out. 

g. To keep in line or in touch with. 

1781 W. BLANE Ess. Hunting (1788) 35, I could never yet 

see any creature on two legs keep in with the Dogs. 

h. To remain in favour or on good terms with. 

Cf. IN adv. 9 a. (Now colloq?) 

1398 GHENEWEY Tacitus, Ann. iv. v. (1622) 96 He kept m 

with Caesar in no lesse fauour then authority. 1666 PFPYS 

Diary i July, Though I do not love him, yet I find it 

necessary to keep in with him. 1720 OZELL Vertot's Rom. 

Rep. II. xiv. 333 Cassar .. resolved to keep in equally with 

the Senate and Antony. 1883 BLACK Yolande III. v. 86 

He's violent enough in the House ; but that's to keep in 

with his constituents. 

50. Keep off. a. trans. To hinder from coming 

near or touching to ward off to avert. 

; ; 

a 1548 HALL Chron., Edw. IV 233 b, Covered with bordes, 

onely to kepe of the wether. 1592 SHAKS. Rom. tr Jul. in. 

iii. 54 He glue thee Armour to keepe off that word. 1662 J. 

DAVIES tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 24 Having white staves 

in their hands, to keep off the people. 1727 GAY Begg. Op. 

l. viii, (1729) ii O Polly. .By keeping men off, you keep 

them on. 1883 FENN Middy

KEEP. 

b. Printing. To set type widely spaced. 

1683 MOXON Mcch. Excrc., Printing Diet. s. v., He Sets 

Wide, to Drive or Keep out. 1888 JACOBI Printers' Vocat. 

53. Keep over, trans. To reserve, hold over. 

1847 Jrnl. R. Agric. Sac. VIII. i. 6 Some breeders keep 

them [lambs] over until the next spring. 1803 Field 4 Mar 

331/2 Keeping over old wheat stocks for a rise in price. 

54. Keep to. Naut. trans. To cause (a ship) to 

sail close to the wind. 

1692 Capt. Smith's Seaman's Gram. xvi. 76 In keeping 

the Ship near the Wind, these terms are used . .keep her to, 

touch t/ie Wind. 1706 PHILLIPS, Keep your loo/ or her 

Keep 

to. 

55. Keep together, a. trans. To cause to 

remain in association or union. To keep body 

(\life~) and soul : together to keep (oneself) alive. 

1601 SHAKS. Twel. N. in. i. 56 Clo. Would not a paire of 

these haue bred sir? Via. Yes being kept together, and put 

to vse. 1693 TATE in Dryden's Juvenal xv. (1697) 375 The 

Vascons once with Man's Flesh (as 'tis sed) Kept Life and 

Sou! together. 1841 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. II. i. 43 It is a poor 

loose sand . .only kept together by the roots of the sea-bent. 

1884 Century Mag. Nov. 54/2 How on earth they managed 

to keep body and soul together. 

b. intr. To remain associated or united. 

1560 DAUS tr. Sleidane's Comm. 435 Let them .. kepe 

together, and in no wise scatter abrade. 1599 SHAKS, 

Hen. V, ii. ii. 105 Treason, and murther, euer kept together. 

1768 J. BYRON Narr. Patagonia (ed. 2) 13 It did not become 

:ep togi 

56. Keep under, trans. To hold in subjection 

or under control ; 

to keep down. 

1486-1504 Quintan MSS. in Denton Eng. in itfh cent. 

Note D. (1888) 318 For mane men wyll ley owt more to kepe 

vnder the pore th(en) for to helpe thaym. 1579 GOSSON 

Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 37 Giue them a bitte to keepe them vnder. 

1611 BIBLE i Cor. ix. 27, I keepe under my body, and bring 

it into subiection. 1712 BERKELEY Pass. Obed. 13 Like 

all other passions, [they] must be restrained and kept under. 

1843 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. IV. i. 116 The services of birds 

in keeping under noxious insects. 1889 J. MASTERMAN Scotts 

of Bestminster II. ix. 115 She had been accustomed to be 

kept under all her life. 

57. Keep up. a. trans. To keep shut up or 

confined. 

1604 SHAKS. Oth. I. ii. 59 Keepe vp your bright Swords, for 

the dew will rust them. 1654 in Picton L'pool Munic. Rcc. 

(1883) I. 191 Swyne.. ought to bee kept up in their styes. 

1673 WYCHERLEY Gentl. Dancing Master n. i, Have you 

kept up my daughter close in my absence ? 1737 WHISTON 

Josephus, Antig. IV. viii. 36 If his owner.. having known 

what his nature was.. hath not kept him [an ox] up. 1847 

Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. VIII. i. 31 When sheep are kept up in 

sheds during the winter. 

( b. To keep secret or undivulgcd. Ol>s. 

1678 CUDWORTH Iniell. Syst. i. iii. 38. 177 So long as these 

things are concealed and kept up in Huggermugger. 0:1715 

BURNET Own 7Y7(i823) II. 115 They. .had not sailed when 

the proclamation came down : yet it was kept tip till they 

sailed away. 1725 RAMSAY Gent. Skeph. n. iii, What fowk 

say of me, Bauldy, let me hear; Keep naithing up. 

c. To support, sustain; to prevent Irom sinking 

or falling. Also intr. To bear up, so as not to 

break down. 

To keep the ball up (see BALLÂ 1 

18). To keep one's wicket 

up (cricket) : to remain in, to continue one's innings. 

1681 FLAVEL Meth. Grace ix. TOO Of great use to keep 

up the soul above water. 1694 F. BRAGGE Disc. Parables 

xiii. 425 To keep up their spirits. 1801 H. SWINBURNE in 

Crts. Europe close last Cent. (1841) II, 299 This ridiculous 

folly keeps the stocks up. 1868 ROGERS Pol. Econ. ix. (1876) 

88 The purpose of a trades-union is to keep up the price of 

labour. 1884 Lillyiuhite's Cricket Ann. 60 He kept up his 

wicket until the finish. 1889 J. MASTERMAN Scotts ofBestminster 

II. xii. 262 But for her sweetness and bravery, 

I never could have kept up through all this terrible trial. 

d. To maintain in a worthy or effective condition ; 

to support ; to keep in repair ; to keep burning. 

1552 HULOET, Kepe vp by cheryshinge, alo,foveo. Kepe 

vp by maintenaunce, sustcnlo. 1670 SIR S. CROW in nth 

that business 

Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 15 Findeing 

. . a burden . . to keepe it upp in that perfection I found and 

made itt. 1678 LADY CHAWORTH Ibid. 51 The King had 

a mind . . to keep up his army and navy till that peace was 

made. 1701 W. WOTTON Hist. Rome, Marcus VI. 106 The 

Athenians still kept up regular Professors for all those 

Sciences. 1840 R. H. DANA Bcf. Mast xxvi. 86 We kept up 

1875 FREE- 

a small fire, by which we cooked our mussels. 

_ 

MAN Norm. Cong. III. xii. 173 A causeway which is still in 

being and which is kept up as a modern road. 

e. To maintain, retain, preserve (a quality, state 

of things, accomplishment, etc.) to ; keep from 

deteriorating or disappearing. 

1670 A. ROBERTS Adv. T. S. 51 Orders of Men . .that keep 

up the Honour of Religion amongst them. 1705 ADDISON 

Italy Wks. II. 132 Albano keeps up its credit still for Wine. 

1791 Gentl. Mag. 20/2 The clergy would, from the calls of 

their . . profession keep up their classical acquirement^ 1836 

JAS. GRANT Gt. Metropolis I. ii. 44 They 

must maintain their 

dignity; they must keep up appearances. 1884 MRS. PIRKIS 

Judith Wynne I. v. 48 Oughtn't she to have a horse, and 

keep up her riding? 

I. To maintain, continue, go on with (an action 

or course of action). 

1513 MORE in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 778 For his dissimulation 

onely kept all that mischiefe up. 1711 STEELE 

Sped. No. sr F 2 The Difficulty of keeping up a sprightly 

Dialogue for five Acts together. 1781 Hist. Eur. in Ann. 

Reg. 16/1 Continual firing.. was kept up during the day. 

1869 FREEMAN Norm. Cony. III. xiv. 367 The fight is kept 

ii He and 

up till night-fall. 1890 Lippincotfs Mag. Jan. 

I have kept up a correspondence. 

VOL. V. 

665 

g. To cause to remain out of bed. 

1766 GOLDSM. Vic. W. ix, Well pleased, that my little ones 

were kept up beyond the usual time. 1839 THACKERAY 

Fatal Boots xn, Keeping her up till four o'clock in the 

morning. 1889 ADEL. SERGEANT Luck of House II. xxxvi. 

228, I will keep you up no longer, for you look terribly pale 

and fagged. 

h. Printing. To keep (type or 

matter) stand- 

ing ; also, to use capitals somewhat freely. 

1888 JACOBI Printers' Vocat. 

i. To keep ^^p to : to prevent from falling below 

(a level, standard, principle, etc.) ; to keep informed 

of. Also intr. for refl. 

1712 STEELE Sped. No. 308 F 2 My Lady's whole Time 

and Thoughts are spent in keeping up to the Mode. 1726 

LEONI Albertts Archit. 1. 46/z This Strength in the Corners 

is.. only to keep the Wall up to its duty. 1841 Jrnl. R. 

Agric. Soc. II. 1. 144 It keeps him better up to his work. 1889 

J. MASTERMAN Scotts of Bestminster III. xv. 41 A London 

correspondent who kept the country-folk up to the doings 

of the townsfolk. 1890 Univ. Rev. Aug. 633 We should 

keep up to the mark in these matters. 

j. intr. To continue alongside, keep abreast ; to 

V. 58. Combs., as fkeep-door (nonce-wd.), 

a porter, door- ward; t keep-friend (see quot.) ; 

t keep-net, ? a net for keeping fish in ; f keep-off, 

a means of keeping (persons, etc.) off; also as adj., 

serving to keep (foes) off. Also KEEPSAKE. 

1682 MRS. BEHN City Heiress 45 Good Mistriss "keepdoor, 

stand by; for I must enter. 1675 Hist. Don Qui.r. 

45 He had besides two iron rings about his neck, the 

one of the chain, and the other of that kind which are called 

A "keep-friend, or the foot of a friend ; from whence descended 

two irons unto his middle. 

1623 WHITBOURNE Nevjfound- 

land 75 Ten *keipnet Irons.. Twine to make Keipnets, &c. 

ri6n CHAPMAN lliad\\\. 121 He fought not with a *keep-off 

spear, or with a far-shot bow. 1615 Odyss. xiv. 759 A 

lance .. To be his keep-off both 'gainst men and dogs. 

Keep (k/~p), sb. Forms : 3-5 kep, 3-6 kepe, 

(5 kype), 4-6 Sc. keip, 4-7 keepe, (9 keape), 

3- keep. [f. KEEP v."\ 

fl. Care, attention, heed, notice; usually in 

phrases to mm, take, give keep, to take or give 

heed, take notice. (Const, of, in/in., or clause?) 

1250 Gen. fy Ex. 1333 Bi-aften bak, as he nam kep, faste 

in Sornes, he sa} a Sep. a 1300 Cursor M. 20128 Hir sun 

to serue was al hir kepe. Ibid. 20498 To bis ferli tas all nu 

kepe. a 1325 Prose Psalter Ixix. [Ixx.] i 5eue kepe, God, 

to my helpe. 1:1400 MAUNDEV. (1839) v. 51 A Man ought 

to take gode kepe for to bye Bawme. 1509 BARCLAY Sliyp 

ofFolys (1570) 174 What God hath done for you ye take no 

keepe. 1602 Narcissus (1893) 712, I tooke good keepe, and 

saw thee eke shedd teares. 1647 H. MORE Song of Soul in. 

in. xxxvii, Who of nought else but sloth and growth doth 

taken keep. [1886 A. LANG Lett. Dead Auth. 36 As to 

things old, they take no keep of them.] 

2. Care or heed in tending, watching, or preserv- 

ing ; charge ; orig. only in phr. f to take keep. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 5729 (G6tt.) Moyses bat time tok kepe 

To his elde fadris schepe. c 1440 Partonope 289 Partanope 

ys now softe falle on sleeps This fayre lady of hym takyth 

keepe. c 1475 Rauf Coifyar 640 Tak keip to my Capill, 

that na man him call. 1491 CAXTON Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 

1495) n. 241 a/i Take euer a besy kepe of thy selfe. a 1568 

ASCHAM Scholem. i. (Arb.) 49 Vnder the kepe, and by the 

counsell, of some graue gouernour. 1586 J. HOOKER Hist. 

Irel. in Holinslicd II. 100/2 Your dominion in Ireland, 

whereof they haue so little keepe. 1647 H. MORE Poems 

311 Of his precious soul he takes no keep. 1818 KEATS 

Endym. i. 68 If from shepherd's keep A lamb stray'd far. 

t b. That which is kept a ; charge. 06s. 

1579 SPENSER Sheph. Cat. July 133 Often he vsed of hys 

keepe a sacrifice to bring. 

3. Hist. The innermost and strongest structure 

or central tower of a mediaeval castle, serving as 

a last defence ; a tower; a stronghold, donjon. 

Perhaps orig. a translation of It. tenazza. 

a 1586 SIDNEY Arcadia (1598) 249 He who stood as watch 

upon the top of the keepe. 1598 BARRET Theor. Warres 

vi. iv. 244 The Tenaza or Keepe, which stands without the 

body of the Castell. 1654 EVELYN Mem. 8 June, The 

Castle itself is large in circumference... The Keep, or mount, 

hath . . a very profound well. 1796 BURKF. Let. Noble Lord 

Wks. VIII. 49 Like the proud Keep of Windsor rising in 

majesty of proportion, and girt with the double belt of its 

kindred and coeval towers. 1813 SCOTT Trierm. I. xiii, 

Buttress, and rampire's circling bound, And mighty keep 

and tower. 1819 W. BURGH Notes Mason's Eng. Card. iv. 

Note L, The Gothic castle . . consisted, in every instance, of 

the keep or strong-hold, and the court or enclosure annexed 

to the keep. 1877 TENNYSON Harold n. ii, The walls oppress 

me, And yon huge keep that hinders half the heaven. 

4. An article which serves for containing or re- 

taining something, fa. A meat-safe. 06s. rare. 

1617 MINSHEU Ductor s.v., A Keepe is . . also vsed for 

a safe, which is a thing to keepe the meate from the flies in 

221 A 

Sommer season. 1649 Bury Wills (Camden) . 

bord, a keepe, two wrought chairs. 

. cup. 

KEEPER. 

b. A stew, pond, or reservoir for fish ; a weir or 

dam for retainihg water, rare. 

1617 MINSHEU Ductor s.v., A Keepe is also used., for 

a place made in waters to keep and preserve fish. 1847 

J. DWYER Pritic. Hydraul. Engin. 75 The motion of water 

over a bar or keep, such as Bad been calculated for the 

new cut. 

t c. A clasp or similar fastening. 06s. 

1615 CHAPMAN Odyss. xvm. 432 Buttons .. made to fairly 

hold The robe together, all lac'd downe before, Where Keepes 

and Catches both sides of it wore. 

d. Coal-mining. One of the set of movable 

iron supports on which the cage rests when at the 

top of the shaft = : KEP sb. 

1851 GREENWELL Coal-trade Terms Northumb. t, Durh. 

33 The cage rising between the keeps, and forcing them 

back ; but when drawn above the keeps, they fall forward 

to their places. 1867 W. W. SMYTH Coal $ Coal-mining 

166 The cage is lifted ..a little above the plane of the bank 

..and then allowed to drop on to the keeps. 

6. Mech. In a locomotive engine : A part of the 

axle-box, fitted beneath the journal of the axle and 

serving to hold an oiled pad against it. 

1881 Metal World No. 15. 227 Care should be taken in 

boring out the axle-box keeps, as if the keeps are not bored 

correctly the journals .. will not work true in them. 

t 5. A keeper, a herd (in N.America). Obs.rare. 

1641 Boston Rec. (1877) II. 60 If any goates be without 

a keep after the i4th day of the next moneth . . the owners 

of them shall forfeit . . halfe a bushel of Corne. Ibid. 61 

[They] shall agree with a Cowe keep for the towne for the 

present summer. 

6. The act of keeping or maintaining ; the fact 

of being kept. See KEEP v. 19-24. 

1763 in F. B. Hough Siege Detroit (1860) 191 The Safety 

and Protection of Schenectady depends in a great Measure 

proceed at an equal pace with (lit. andyf^.). 

a. 1633 G. HERBERT Country Parson ii. (1652) 5 They are 

not tobe over -submissive and base, but to keep up with the 

Lord and Lady of the house. 1706 Wooden World Disseeled 

(1708) 35 He tries every Way. .to keep up with his 

Leader. 1890 W. F. RAE Maygrave II. vii. 272 Don't walk 

so fast . . I can hardly keep up with you. 

f k. To stay within doors ; to put up or at. 

stop 

1704 D'CHESS MARLBOROUGH in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. 

MSS. Comm.) I. 353, I am very sorry to hear LordMonthermont 

has had any accident to make him keep up. 1768 

STERNE Sent. Journ. (1778) II. 195 (Case Delicacy) The 

Voiturin found himself obliged to keep up five miles short 

of his stage at a little decent kind of an inn. 

on the keep of a good Guard in the Town. 1824 Miss MITFORD 

Village Ser. i. (1863) 64 Our old . spaniel .and the blue greyhound.. 

both of which fourfooted worthies were sent out to 

keep for the summer. 1847-78 HALLIW. s. v. Keep, Out at 

keep, said of animals in hired pastures. 

b. In good keep, well kept, in good condition ; 

so in low keep, etc. 

1808 Trial Lieut. Gen. Whitelocke I. 2rs Many of them 

exceedingly good horses, but in low keep. 1811 LAMB 

Good Clerk Misc. Wks. (1871) 384 As the owner of a fine 

horse is [solicitous] to have him appear in good keep. 

c. The food required to keep a person or animal; 

provender, pasture ; maintenance, support. 

a 1825 FORBY Voc. E. Anglia s. v., I am short of keep for 

my cows. 1829 SOUTHEY Pilgr. Compostella Poet. Wks. 

VII. 264 The Corporation A fund for their keep supplied. 

1848 LOWELL Biglovj P. Poems 1890 II. 148 You're so 

darned lazy, I don't think you're hardly worth your keep. 

7. Phr. For keeps : to keep, for good ; hence, 

completely, altogether. U. S. colloq. 

1886 Advance 9 Dec. (Farmer), We. .promise not to play 

marbles for keeps, nor bet nor gamble in any way. 1897 

R. KIPLING Captains Courageous 263 I'm coming into the 

business for keeps next fall. 1899 H. FREDERIC Market 

Place 195 I've got something the matter with me.. I've got 

it for keeps. 

8. Comb., as keep-tower = sense 3 ; keepworthy 

a., worth keeping, worthy of being kept. 

1830 W. TAYLOR Hist. Germ. Poetry I. 182 Bodmcr . . was 

the editor of the Zurich charter . . and of other keep-worthy 

documents. 1865 STREET Goth. Archit. Spain 187 The 

enormous Keep-tower which rises out of its western face. 

Keepable (k;-pab'l), a. 

[f. KEEPZ;. + -ABLE.] 

That can be kept or preserved. 

1891 Field -21 Nov. 774/2 Another fish .. not.. quite up to 

the size we had decided to be keepable. 

Keeper (krpai). [f. KEEP v. + -EB 1.] One 

who or that which keeps. 

I. From trans, senses of the vb. 

1. One who has charge, care, or oversight of any 

person or thing; a guardian, warden, custodian. 

a 1300 Cursor M. roo6 Quen was i keper of bi child, c 1330 

R. BRUNNE Chron. Ivace (Rolls) 15812 Ne God wil namore 

j>at bey be Keperes of bat dignete. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints 

xii. (Mathias} 137 He hyme mad hale kepare of al pe thinge, 

bat he had in-to gowernynge. 1382 WYCLIF Gen. iv. 9, 1 wote 

neuere ; whether am I the keper of my brother ? [COVERD. 

I knowe not : Am I my brothers keper ?]. Acts xvi. 27 

The kepere of the prisoun . . seynge the }atis of the prisoun 

openyd . . wolde sle hym silf. 1388 Gen. iv. 2 Abel was a 

kepere of scheep, and Cayn was an erthe tilyere. c 1400 

MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) xxiv. no [|>ai] ware made hirdmen and 

kepers of bestez. 1509-10 Act i Hen. VIIf, c. 17 J The 

Keper of the said great Warderobe for the tyme beyng. 

ai533 La BERNERS Huon viii. 19 Gerarde..demandyd.. 

whether he was kepar 

of that passage 

or not. 1570 Satir. 

Poems Reform, xviii. 37 He was keipar of sour commoun 

weill. 

1631 GOUGE God's Arrows in. 65. 304 The Church 

..is a faithful keeper and of the Oracles of God. 

preserver 

1693 DRYDEN Juvenal vi. (1697) 140 Keep close your 

Women, under Lock and Key : But, who shall keep those 

Keepers? 1718 PRIOR Knowledge 203 Untam'd and fierce 

the tiger ..seeks his keeper's flesh. 1810 SCOTT Lady of 

L. in. xiv, The herds without a keeper strayed. 

b. Forming the second element in many com- 

as alphabet-keeper, ass-keeper, beast-keeper, 

pounds ; 

book-keeper, bridge-keeper, cash-keeper, chapel-keeper, 

cow-keeper, deer-keeper, dog-keeper, door-keeper, 

gamekeeper, gate-keeper, goal-keeper, green-keeper, 

hound-keeper, housekeeper, etc., of which those 

of permanent standing will be found in their 

alphabetical places. 

c 1440 [see HOUSEKEEPER]. 1535 [see DOOR-KEEPEK]. 1555 

[see BOOK-KEEPER). 1670 [see GAMEKEEPER). 1707 J. CHAMBER-

KEEPEB. 

No. 461 f ii A Man maybe a very fine Gentleman, tho' he is 

neither a Keeper nor an Infidel. 1748 RICHARDSON Clarissa. 

(1811) IV. The risk of a 

151 keeper, who takes up with 

a low-bred girl. 

5. One who or that which keeps or retains, in 

various senses of the vb. Also 

keeper-back. 

a 1548 HALL Chron., Hen. K8i There is no lesse praise to 

lie geven to the keper then to the getter. 1593 SIIAKS. 

Rich. II, u. ii. 70 He is a Flatterer, A Parasite, a keeper 

backe of death, a 1617 HIERON Wks. (1620) II. 457 Keepers 

from Gods ministers, that which they ought to haue. "1859 

MACAULAY Hist. Eng. xxiii. V. 105 The best keeper of secrets 

in Europe. 

6. a. Any mechanical device for keeping some- 

thing in its place; a clasp, catch, etc. spec, 

a loop securing the end of a buckled strap ; 

(a) 

() 

the mousing of a hook; (c} a jam- nut or check- 

nut ; (rf) the gripper in a flint-lock, securing the 

flint; (t) the box into which the bolt of a lock 

projects when shot. (Knight Diet. Mech., 1875.) 

1575 LANEHAM Let. (1871) 37 A narro gorget, fastened afore 

with a white clasp and a keepar close vp to the chin. 16*5 

ffaworth llouseh. Bks. (Surtees) 214 Tape, claspes and 

keepers. 1867 Vestry Bks. (Surtees) 336 To Tho. Cooper 

for makeing a keeper for M r Lambton's pew dore. id. 1778 

Eng. Gazetteer (ed. a) s. v. Highatn, Great catch-hooks and 

keepers of silver. 1867 J. HOGG Microsc. I. ii. 84 A gilt iron 

bar, ledge, or keeper, serves for an object-rest 1888 Set. 

AmemanL\lll.ôS/iA glove fastener has been patented. 

666 

..It has a cylindrical keeper with one lower edge struck up 

to form a lip. //'/. Hist. MSS. Conim. App. v. 71 Some actions.. 

put your petitioner on his keeping. 1898 KATH. TYNAN in 

Westm. Gaz. 12 Oct. 1/3 He was already, as they say in 

Ireland, ' 

' 

on his keeping ; that is to say, a hunted man. 

to. A flock (of sheep). Cf. herd. Obs. rare-*. 

1641 BEST Farm. Bks. (Surtees) i A flocke, a keepinge, or 

a fold of sheepe. 

3. The taking care of a thing or person the 

; 

giving of attention so as to maintain in good 

order or condition the state or condition in which 

; 

a thing is kept. 

^1330 R. BRUNNR Chron. Wace (Rolls) 14887 Giue Eng- 

KEEPING. 

LAYNE Pm. St. Gt. Brit. HI. 679 Officers of the Foreign 

[Post] Office . . Mr. James Lawrence, Alphabet -Keeper, ioo/. 

1766 ENTICK London IV. 295 I" ''' f ? re'8" office, there us 

also a comptroller, and an alphabet keeper. 1807 Outing 

(U. S.) XXIX. 44/3 The old hound-keeper declared that 

Ith.- bitch] Nwxild never come back. 1900 Daily News 

\ July 7/5 One piece fell beside the register-keeper. 1900 

West. Gaz. 14 July 2/3 The street chapel-keeper also 

wished K) desert his post. 

c. Special 

uses : 

Keeper of the Exchange and Mint : the Master of the 

Mint, an office held since 1870 by the Chancellor of the 

Fxchequer. Keeper ofthe Great (t Broad) Seal: an officer 

in England and Scotland who has the custody of the Great 

Seal; in England the office is now held by the Lord High 

Chancellor. Keeper of the Privy Seal : (a) in England an 

officer through whose hands pass charters, etc. before coming 

to the Great Seal, now called Lord Privy Seal i (t} a similar 

officer in Scotland and the Duchy of Cornwall. \Keeper of 

the Touch : see quot. 1607. 

1413 Rolls Parlt. IV. 257/1 If.. the.. Keper of the louche 

afore seid louche ony such Hernois wyth the Liberdisheed. 

1454 Jtiii. V. 256/2 The Chaunceller of Englond, and the 

Keper of the prive Scale. 1467-8 Hid. V. 634/1 Hugh Bryceof 

London.Goldsmyth, keper ofthe Kyngseschaunge in London. 

1477 Act 17 Edw. IV, c. 5 Such and as many keepers of the 

same Seals, as he shall think necessary. iS-3 Broad Seal 1863 H. Cox Instit. \. vii. 

Q2 The Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper is .. Prolocutor or 

Speaker of the House of Lords. 

d. An officer who baa the charge of a forest, 

woods, or grounds ; now esp. GAMEKEEPER. 

1488 9 Act 4 Hen. VII, c. 6 Stiwards Foresters and other 

kepers within the Kynges Forest of Ingilwode. a 1530 

HEYWOOD Weather (Brandl 1898) 413 Rangers and kepers 

of certayne places, As forestes, parkes, purlewes and chasys. 

1601 -2nd ft. Return fr. Parnass. n. v. 883, I causd the 

Keeper to seuer the rascal! Deere from the Buckes of the 

Bab. i. (1889) 16 He did not know that a keeper is only 

a poacher turned outside in, and a poacher is a keeper 

turned inside out 

T e. A nurse one who has ; charge of the sick. 

c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 3624 Walstede, he sais, entir 

with me, For my kepar sail' bou be. c 1470 HENRY Wallace 

\\. 366 Quhen Wallace was ralesched off his payne..His 

trew kepar he send to Elrisle. 1587 FLEMING Contn. Holinslied 

III. 1376/1 In some great extremilie of sicknesse .. 

some honest ancient woman a keeper, may watch with anie 

of them. 1651 WITTIE tr. Primrose's Pop. Err. III. iv. 144 

Such as bee sick of feavers, for whom principally keepers 

are provided. 

2. One who observes or keeps a command, law, 

promise, etc. 

1382 WYCLIF Ezek. xliv. 8 3e han putte keepers of myn 

obseruances in mysayntuarie to ;our self. 15*6 Pilgr. Perf. 

(W. de W. 1531)54 He calleth the kepers of the commaundementes 

his frendes. 1625 BACON Ess., Koldness (Arb.) 519 

For Boldnesse is an ill keeper of promise, a 1796 BURNS 

Verses to Kankine i, I am a keeper of the law In some 

sma' points, altho' not a'. 1875 JOWETT Plato (ed. 2) III. 

428 From being a keeper of the law he is converted into 

a breaker of it. 

3. One who owns or carries ou some establishment 

or business. 

Often the second element in combs., as alehouse-, hotel-, 

lodging-housekeeper; INNKEEPER, SHOPKEEPER. 

c 1440 Promp. Parv. 272/1 Kepare of an howse, or an 

howse holdare, paterfamilias. 1495 Act 11 Hen. VII, 

c. 2 5 To take suertie of the kepers of ale houses of their 

gode behavyng. 1713 Lond. Gaz. No. Also, one of the lateral projections 

5141/4 Isaac Beckett 

..Alehouse-keeper. 1851 HAWTHORNE Ho. Sev. Gables iii. 

39 A forlorn old maid, and keeper of a cent-shop. 1870 

W. M. BAKER New Timothy 167 (Cent.) A weakly, aged 

keeper of a little shoe-store in a village. 

1 4. One who keeps a mistress. Ol>s. 

1676 ETHEREDGE Man ofMode i. i, An old doting keeper 

cannot be more jealous of his mistress. 1712 STEELE Spcct. 

attached to the poles 

of an electro-magnet to bring these into close proximity 

to the revolving armature; a shoe (Knight Diet, Mech, 

Suppl. 1884). 

1837 BREWSTER Magnet. 312 The weight was carefully 

removed, so as not to displace the armature or keeper. 

ci86o FARADAY Forces Nat, v. 133. 1868 LOCKYER Elent. 

Astron. 274 A pricker attached to the keeper of an electromagnet. 

c. A ring that keeps another (esp. the weddingring) 

on the finger a ; guard-ring. 

1851 MAYHEW Lond. Labour I. 499 (Hoppe) A gold ring, 

a silver ring, and a chased keeper. 1858 Ann. Register 7, 

150 wedding rings and keepers. 1894 HALL CAINE JT/a.rman 

iv. xiv, She .. hurried every thing into it the money, 

the earrings, the keeper off her finger, and then she paused 

at the touch of the wedding-ring. 

II. From intr. senses of the verb. 

7. One who continues or remains at n place. 

1611 BIBLE Tit. ii. 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at 

home. 

8. A fruit, or other product, that keeps (well or ill). 

1843 Jrnl. A*. Agric. Soc. IV. ii. 389 An excellent apple, 

and good keeper. \&)2 Garden 27 Aug. 178 The best . Apple. 

splendid keeper, will last until May. 1893 Seed Catalogue, 

Royal Ash-leaf kidney [potato], heavy cropper and good 

keeper. 

Hence Kee pering-, the work of a gamekeeper. 

1892 J. WILKINS Autobiog. Gamekpr. i. L 13 It made me 

take a liking for keepering. 

Keepex*ess ^kf'pares). rare. [f. prec. + -ESS.] 

A female keeper or custodian, b. A woman who 

keeps a man. 

1748 RICHARDSON Clarissa (1811) VI. 359 (D.) Hardly ever, 

I dare say, was there a keeper that did not make a keeperess ; 

who lavished away on her kept-fellow what she obtained 

from .. him who her. 

kept 1863 RKADE Hard Cash III. 66 

The keeperesses eclipsed the keepers in cruelty to the poorer 

patients. 

Kee'perless, a- rare. [f. as prec. + -LESS.] 

Not having a keeper or guardian. 

1836 T. HOOK G. Gurney (1850) I. Hi. 40 People accounted 

sane and permitted to range the world keeperless. 

Keepership (la-psjfip). [f. as prec. + -SHIP.] 

The office or position of a keeper. 

1530 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford 67 Richard 

Edys, nowe Keper of Bockardowe, to enjoy the kepershippe 

of Bocardowe. 1627 DK. NEWCASTLE Let. in Life (1886) 322 

Since I am not repaired in the Keepership. 1825 BENTHAM 

Ojfic. Apt. Maximized^ Observ. Peel's Sp. (1830) 37 The 

keepership of the prison named after his judicatory [the 

King's Benchl- 1880 Antiquary May 227/1 The keepership 

of the mineralogical department of the British Museum. 

tKee'pful,

KEEPING. 

Salt., hinders their Ale from keeping. 1776 I HUNTFB r tt 

tojcnner 22 Jan., Wks. I. 

,835 59 Their , keeping one 

substance would make me inclinable la believe that it is 

a new substance. 1785 SAKAH FIELDING Ophelia. I xxv 

mage my d'SOrd' :r to excuse my at hmne. 

Beeping 

III. 11. With adverbs, as keeping back, down 

, out, : up see KEEP v. IV. 

Mackintosh s Hist. Rev. (1887)366 By resistance they mea,u 

the keeping out of James the Third. 1884 Nonconf. I Indcp 

25 bept. 927/3 The system of 'keeping in' [at school] is 

barbarous. 1897 AllbutfsSyst. Mcd. IV. 37I The 

down of uraemic keeping 

accumulation. 

IV. 12. attrib. and Comb., as 

keeping-beer, eivelamb, 

-ground, -sheep, etc. 

1741 Compl. Fam.-Piece i. vi. 284 The Season for brewing 

Keeping-beer. 1773 Hist. Brit. Dom. N. Amer. n. ii. I2 

217 When whales are much disturbed, they quit their 

keepmg-ground. 1886 SCOTT 

Sheep-Farming 115 A new 

system of not weaning the keeping ewe lambs at all. 

Keeping, ///. a. 

[f. as prec. + -ING 2 .] 

That 

keeps, in various senses (see the verb). 

f 1430 ABC of Aristotle in Babees Bk. 12 [Be not] to 

kinde, ne to kepynge, ,t be waar of knaue tacchis. 1677 

MRS. BEHN Rover n. ii, All this frights me not : 'tis still 

much better than a keeping husband. 1703 ROWE Fair 

o'(\!' ' 236 Some kee P'"g Cardinal shall doat upon thee. 

1801 WOLCOTT (P. Pindar) Tears r Smiles Wks. 1812 V. 30 

Daughters and dead fish, we find Were never keeping wares. 

Kee;ping-room. local and u. S. [KEEP v. 

century ; 

1790 MAD. D'ARBLAY Diary Apr., She sent me a little neat 

pocket volume, which I . accept .as just the keepsake [etc.]. 

1794 MRS. RADCLIFFE Myst. Udolpho xxvi, A beautiful new 

sequin, that Ludovico gave me for a keepsake. 1861 Sat. 

Rev. 7 Dec. 587 She pulls out a pair of scissors, and cuts out 

a patch as a keepsake. 1862 THORNBURY Turner I. 249 About 

1824, the frivolous keepsake mania ..gave an impetus to 

modern art. Keepsakes are said to have originated in an 

idea suggested by Mr. Alaric Watts. 1883 R. BUCHANAN 

Annan Water iv, Take the money and buy yourself a keepsake 

to remind you of me. 

b. attrib. ; spec. Having the inane prettiness of 

faces depicted in a keepsake volume ; having the 

namby-pamby literary style of such books. 

1848 (title) Keepsake Gift Book of Tales and Poetry. 1895 

HAMILTON Aiof: Elizabeth's Pretenders 199 With the faintest 

touch of . rouge .and her keepsake air, she felt herself to be 

irresistible. 1898 Daily Chron. 8 Oct. 4/7 'Eyes raised 

' 

towards heaven are always fine eyes may have a sort of 

' 

'keepsake prettiness, but is really not common sense. 

Hence Kee'psaky a., of the style of the compositions 

or illustrations in a keepsake volume. 

1871 GEO. ELIOT in Cross Life III. 145 That keepsakey, 

impossible face which Maclise gave him [Dickens]. 1891 

Daily News 26 Dec. 3/1 The more smooth and keepsaky 

style [of illustration]. 

Keercheef, obs. form of KERCHIEF. 

Keer-drag. A form of drag-net having a very 

small mesh towards the end, used by zoologists for 

collecting small fishes and other marine animals. 

1836 YARRELL Brit. Fishes I. 211 Fishing with a small but 

very useful net.. called a keerdrag. 1833 P. H. GOSSE in 

Zoologist II. 3993, I take it in considerable numbers in 

Weymouth Bay, by means of the net known as a 'keerdrag 

', which rakes the bottom. 

Keere, Keerie : see KIEB, KEBRIE. 

Keeslip, Sc. form of CHEESELIP 1, rennet ; 

a name of Galium verum = CHEESE-RENNET. 

also 

Keest (kist). Sc. Also kiest, kyst. [a. Du. 

keest marrow, kernel, best part of anything.] 

Marrow, sap, substance, vigour. Hence Kee'stless 

a. . void of sap or substance. 

1802 SIBBALD Chron. Sc. Poetry Gloss., Kystless, tasteless. 

1814 CARLYLE Early Lett. Oct. (1886) I. 26 So cold and 

kiestless am I. 1823 JAMIESON, Keest, sap, substance. 1890 

Alison H. Dunlop 132 The ceaseless wetting of the thread 

would take the substance the very keest out of his 

ward's body. 

Keest, obs. pa. t. of CAST v. 

Keething, Keetlyng : see KITHING, KITLING. 

Keeve, kive (kz~v, k9iv). Forms : a. i c#f, 

2 ouf, 3 kiue, 4-8 kive, 6 kyve. P. 5-6 keve, 

8-9 kieve, 9 keave, 7- keeve. [OE. cyf may represent 

an OTeut. *kutjd, but has no exact equiva- 

667 

lent in the cognate langs. The sense is that of 

I.G. kuven, keuben and G. kiibel (MHG. also 

kubbel; cf. OHG. milich-chubili milk-pail) but 

these have short as stem-vowel. 

The normal repr. of OE. cyf,cife is kive, but the word is 

now practically obs., exc. in s. w. dial., where the form is 

keeve ; cf. fere, here, heve, kee=fire, hire, hive, bye.} 

1. A tub or vat ; spec, a vat for holding liquid 

in brewing and bleaching; in Mining, a vessel in 

winch tin or copper ore is washed. 

a. ^low ÊLFRIC Horn. \. 58 Se het afyllan ane cyfe mid 

weallendum ele. Ibid. II. 178 fa stod oasr an amtii cyf. 

a 1300 Sat. People Kildare xiv. in E. E. P. (!862) 155 Hail 

be 30 skinners wib }ure drenche kiue, Who so smillib ber-to 

wo is him aline. 1309 Yatton Churchw. Ace. (Som. Rec. 

boc.) 130 Payd to y hoper for hopyng of y kyve \d. 

a 1661 ! ULLER Worthies, Derbysh. \. (r662) 230 They must 

brew every day, yea pour it out of the Kive into the Cup. 

1743 Land. $ Country Brew. iv. (ed. 2) 266 In Winter they 

lerment a little first in the Kive or Tun to put to the Wort 

m the Barrel. 1733 SHEBBEARE Lydia (1769) II. 100 (E. D. D ' 

) 

A brewer s kive filled with new beer. 

ft 1446 Yatton Churchm. Ace. (Som. Rec. Soc.) 83 It. for 

the chetyl and the keve . . virf. 1374 in Worth Tavistock Par. 

Ace. (1887) 30 For mendyng of the lyme Keve vjrf. 1674 

RAY S. , E. Country Words 69 A Keeve (Devon), a Fat 

wherein they work their beer up before they tun it. 1747 

MAXWELL .SW Trans. Soc. Improv. Agric. Scot. 343 As fo? 

the Bleachmg-house, it ought to be furnished with .. good 

Keeves or Tubs for Bucking. 1776 BOLTON in A. 

Tour 

Young 

fret. (1780) 1 1. 201 (Cider-making) As the juice is thus 

pressed out, let it be poured into large vessels, usually called 

Keeves, to undergo the fermentation. 1875 Ure's Diet. Arts 

1 1. 107 A large kieve of water, in which the sieve is suspended 

by the iron rod. 

2. A local name for the mill-hoop, the 

enclosing 

case of a run of stones in a flour mill (Hoop 

37.] The room usually occupied by a person or 

family as a sitting-room ; a parlour. 

1790 MARSHAM in G. White's Selborne (1877) II. 257 On 

the 24th I found a dark butterfly in my keeping-room. 1704 

A. YOUNG Agric. Suffolk (1797) n The door .opening 

immediately from the external air into the keeping-room. 

1852 MRS. STOWE Uncle Tom'sC. xv,In the family 'keepings 

your study. 

Keepsake (kf-ps^k). KEEP [f. v. + SAKE : cf. 

namesake.} Anything kept or given to be kept 

for the sake of, or in remembrance of, the giver. 

spec. The name ^ 

given to certain 

literary annuals 

consisting of collections of verse, prose, and illustrations, 

common in the early part of the nineteenth 

so called as being designed for sb.l 2). 

3. atlrib. and Comb., as keeve-net 

(Cornw.), 

keeve-work. 

1550-1600 Customs Duties (B. M. Add. MS. 25097), Kive 

or dole cles, the barrell of either, xxxs. 1776 G. SEMI-LE 

Building in Water 60 Keeve-work, that is, making large 

Vessels ofred Deal Boards, hooped both with Iron and strong 

Oak Hoops. 1883 

gifts. 

Leisure Hour 697/2 These [pilchards] 

he catches ..m his 'kieve net' a net somewhat like an 

angler's landing-net. 

Keever, obs. form of KIVER. 

II Kef, keif, kief (kef, kaif, ktf). Also kaif, 

keef, kiff. [Arab. t_ajT kaif, colloquially kef, 

well-being, good-humour, enjoyment, pleasure.] 

1. A state of drowsiness or dreamy intoxication, 

such as is produced by the use of bhang, etc. b. 

The enjoyment of idleness; -'dolce far niente". 

7'o make (or do) kef, to pass the time in idleness. 

1808 R. DRUMMOND lllustr. Gram. Guzarattee, etc. (Y.), 

A kind of confcctio Japonica.. causing keif, or the first degree 

of intoxication. 1852 BADGER Ncstorians I. 327 Parties 

of Christians were making keif, i.e. taking their pleasure 

and drinking arack. 1864 SALA in Daily Tel. 23 Dec., Yo 

ane tougt. 13 RS. . ARDtr. miel'sjrnl, (1891) 

72, I came to understand the Buddhist trance of the Soufis, 

the kief of the Turk. 1892 MARIANNE NORTH Recoil. 

his Kaif, his perfect idleness. 

2. (In Morocco and Algeria, in form kief, keef.} 

Indian hemp or other substance smoked to produce 

this state. Also altrib. 

1878 HOOKER & BALL Morocco 188 The habitual uses of 

kief prepared from Indian hemp. 1889 HALL CAINE Scapegoat 

(1801) I. 193 Men layabout holding pipes charged with 

keef. 1892 Blackvi. Mag. Sept. 426 The lazyslave of Wazan 

lounging in the sun, kiff-pipe in mouth. 

Ke'ffekilite. Min. [f. next + -HE 1; named (in 

Ger. form keffekilitlt) by Fischer 1811.] A greyish 

greasy lithomarge found in the Crimea. 

1868 in DANA Min, 

II Keffekill. Min. Obs. rare. Also kifie-, 

kiefe-. [' Said to mean the earth of Keffe or Kaffe, 

the town of the Crimea from which it was shipped' 

(Chester, Diet. Aâmes Min.}. Perh. repr. Pers. 

Jji__fti kef-i-gil ' 

foam of clay '; but the classical 

' Pers. name is b^ i_af kef-i-darya foam of the 

sea ' 

(J. T. Platts).] = MEERSCHAUM. 

[1758 CRONSTEDT Mineralogie 79 states, that the Keffekil 

Tartarorum was used by the Tartars as soap.] 1784 KIKW AN 

Elem. Min. 59 Meershaum of the Germans, Keffekill. 1796 

Ibid. (ed. 2) I. 145 Keffekill or myrsen,.is said to be when 

recently dug of a yellow colour, and as tenacious as cheese 

or wax. 1807 T. THOMSON Chem. (ed. 3) 1 1. 477 To the first 

of these classes belongs the ruby j to the second, steatites and 

kiffekille. 

Ke'ffel. dial, and obs. slang. Also 7-8 keffal, 

8 kefield, 9 kephel. [a. Welsh ceffyl horse : see 

CAPLE.] A horse, esp, a sorry horse. 

KEIB. 

Keilhauite was found 

er. Jnl. Sc. Ser. ll. II. 4'5 

neaTArendal in Norway. 1868 DANA Mi*, (ed. 5) 387 

The Alve keilhauite has two cleavages inclined 

tSri Sc. Obs.rare~\ [Cf. ON. keyra to 

drive.] trans. To drive off. 

.56. A. SCOTT Poems (S. T. S.) i. 150 Be thai vnpayll, thy 

pursevandis ar socht To pund pure communis corne, and 

cattell keir [rime jeirl 

1609 SKENE tr. Regiam Maj. iv. xxxviii, Item, Kelchyn of 

ane Earle is thriescore sax kye, and halfe ane kow. .. Ane 

husband-man [rusticus] has na Kelchyn. Gif the wife of 

ane frie man is slane, her husband sail haue the Kelchyn, 

sail haue the Cro and Galnes. Item, gif 

and her friend[s] 

the wife of ane husband-man (rustici\ is slane, the Lord of 

the land quhare she duelles sail haue the Kelchyn, and her 

kinsmen sail haue the Cro and the Galnes. 

[dial, form of COLD 

tKeld, sbl Obs. rare- 1 , 

sb. ; see KELD v.] Cold. 

a 1310 in Wright Lyric P. 37 Casten y wol the from cares 

Keld (keld), j*.2 north, dial. Also 7 kell. 

[a. ON. kelda (Sw. kalla, Da. /

KELP. 

to jio, for their labours during the kelping season. 1852 

RAINE Hist. N. Durham 146 A ridge of kelpy stone, over 

which it is no easy matter to pass. 1890 Scribner's Mag-. 

XIX. 659/1 The mother, .struck out through the kelpy waters 

for the shore. 1895 Longm. Mag. Nov. 33 The kelper's year 

may be reckoned from mid November. Ibid. 39 The old 

stories linger among the kelping people. 

fKelp 2 . Obs. rare- 1 . [Obscure: connexion 

with KILP sb. seems unlikely.] ? Sword-belt, 

scabbard. 

13.. Disf. Mary ff Cross 283 in Leg. Rood 140 His 

swerd he pulte vp in his kelp. 

Kelpie, kelpy (ke-lpi). Sc. [Of uncertain 

etyra. ; Gael, calfa, cailpeach, bullock, heifer, colt, 

has been suggested, but positive evidence is wanting.] 

The Lowland Scottish name of a fabled 

water-spirit or demon assuming various shapes, but 

usually appearing in that of a horse ; it is reputed 

to haunt lakes and rivers, and to take delight in, 

or even to bring about, the drowning of travellers 

and others. Also water-kelpie. 

The beliefs relating to the kelpie are essentially the same 

as those connected with the Danish and Norw. njkken, and 

the Ice!, nykur or nennir; but in Scotland the kelpie was 

sometimes held to render assistance to millets by keeping 

the mill going during the night. 

1747 COLLINS Pop. Superst. Highlands 137 Drowned by 

the kelpie's wroth. 1792 BURNS Let. to Cunningham 

10 Sept., Be thou a kelpie, haunting the ford or ferry. 

1805 Scorr Last Minstr. vi. xxiii, But the Kelpy rung, and 

the Mermaid sung, The dirge of lovely Rosabelle. 1813 

HOGG Queen's Wake 192 The darksome pool. -Was now no 

more the kelpie's home, 1881 GREGOR Folk-lore 66 (E.D.D.) 

The wife . . tried to dissuade him under the fear that Kelpie 

would carry him off to his pool. 

Ke'lpwort. [f. KELP! + WOKT.] = GLASS- 

WORT b, Salsola Kali. 

1787 WITHERING Brit. Plants (ed. 2), (Br. & Holl.). 

Kelson, keelson (ke-lssn). Naut. Forms: 

a. 7 kelsine, kilson, 7- kelson, (9 kelston). 

(3. 7 keeleson, 7- keelson, (8 keelstone, 9 keel- 

sale). [ = - Du. kohwijn, kohem, LG. kielsivtn, 

G. kielschwein, Da. kfisvin, Sw. kolsvin. The 

first element is app. KEEL sb\, but of the second 

the original form and meaning are obscure. 

In all the equivalents cited, except Du. kolsem, the second 

element is identical with the word corresponding to E. 

siyine, 

and it appears that in i8th c. LG. swln was used by itself 

in the sense of ' 

' 

keelson (see Grimm). The English forms 

may therefore represent a ME. *&tlswl* : cf. the reduction 

of boatsivain to boteson, boson,bos'n. The reason for calling 

the timber by this name does not appear, but this is also the 

case with many similar applications of the names of animals, 

as cat, dog, hog, horse, etc. The original may have been 

an unrecorded ON. *kjplsvin or *kjalsv(n, independently 

adopted in Eng. and LG. The corruptions keelstone, 

kelston, kelsom, keelsaie, originate mainly in the lack of 

stress on the second element. Eng. stemson and sternson 

are app. recent formations on the analogy of keelson. It has 

been suggested that the original form may be preserved in 

Norw. dial. kjflsvill= 'keel-sill', but this may also be an 

alteration, by popular etymology, of the usual kjjlsvin. 

The most usual spelling from the first has been kelson : 

recently, however, there has been a tendency to spell keelson, 

though the pron. (ke'lsan) still prevails.] 

1. A line of timber placed inside a ship along the 

floor-timbers and parallel with the keel, to which 

it is bolted, so as to fasten the floor-timbers and 

a similar bar or combination of 

the keel together ; 

iron plates in iron vessels. 

a. cx6ix CHAPMAN Iliad i. 426 The top-mast to the 

kelsine then with halyards down they drew, a 1618 RALEIGH 

Royal Navy 4 Even from the Batts end to the very Kilson 

of a Ship. 1637 HEYWOOD Royall Ship 44 That one peece 

of Timber which made the Kel.son. 1711 W. SUTHERLAND 

Shifbuild. Assist. 26 Bolt the Kelson through every other 

Floor-timber. 1867 MACGREGOR Voy. Alone (1868) 6 She has 

an iron keel and kelson to resist a bump 

on rocks. 

p. 1627 CAPT. SMITH Seaman's Cram. ii. 3 Lay your 

keeleson ouer your floore timbers, which is another long 

tree like the keele. 1706 Wooden World Dissected (1708) 3 

Some compare her to a Common-wealth, and carry the 

Allegory from the Vane down to the Keelson. 1805 Naval 

Chron. XIV. 172 Placing it on the keelsaie. 1840 R. H. 

DANA Bef. Mast xv. 39 Everything has been moved in the 

hold, from stem to stern, and from the water-ways to the 

keelson. 1866 Morn. Star 19 Mar. 2/1 The ship is built 

up from a keelson, formed of a huge bar of iron. 

fig, 1751 SMOLLETT Per. Pic. IV. Ixxxvii, Something 

shoots from your arm, through my stowage, to the very 

keel-stone. 1855 WALT WHITMAN Song ofMyself $, I know 

. . that a kelson of the creation is love. 

b. With qualifying terms: assistant kelson 

or keelson = side-kelson; bilge-k., an additional 

strengthening beam placed fore-and-aft in the 

bilge of a vessel, parallel to the kelson; boiler-k., 

a bilge- or cross-kelson supporting the boilers of a 

steamer (Hamersly Naval Encycl. 1881); box-k., 

a kelson whose section is ; box-shaped cross-k., 

a beam placed across the kelson to support the 

boilers or engines of a steamer (Webster, 1864) ; 

engine-k., a side- or cross-kelson supporting the 

engines in a steamer (Hamersly, 1881); false k., 

an additional beam placed longitudinally above 

the kelson in order to it strengthen (Young Naut. 

Diet. ; 1846) hog k. ? = false kelson; main k., 

the kelson proper, 

as distinguished from the side- 

kelsons, etc. ; 

rider-fc., a false kelson, kelson-rider 

669 

(Knight Diet. Mech. 1875); side- or sister k., 

a second kelson parallel with the main one. 

1825 CLARK, etc. Shipwrights' Scale Prices 16 Main, Hog, 

or Assistant Keelsons. Ibid., All Hog Keelsons under 

6 inches thick to be paid plank price. 1859 J. S. MANSFIELD 

in Merc. Marine Mag. (1860) VII. 15 She was strengthened 

by the addition of two bilge keelsons, having been originally 

constructed with a keelson and two sister keelsons. 1867 

SMYTH Sailors Word-bk. s.v. Keelson, The main keelson, 

in order to fit with more security upon the floor -timbers, is 

notched 

opposite 

to each of them. Ibid., Side-keelsons.. 

First used in mortar-vessels to support the bomb-beds ; later 

they have crept in to support the engines in steamers. 1869 

SIR E. REED i. Shipbuild. 7 A large central box-keelson 

completed these lower strengthenings. 

2. Used as = KEEL sb.l i. rare. 

1831 TRELAWNEY^^Z'. Younger Sonll. 261, 1 could almost 

see the kelston as she rolled heavily. 1837 MARRYAT Dog* 

fiend x, Lowering him down over the bows, and with ropes 

retaining him exactly in his position under the kelsom, while 

he is drawn aft by a hauling line until he makes his appearance 

at the rudder-chains. 

3. Comb., as kelson-bolt, -plate; kelson-rider 

= false kelson (Young Naut. Diet. 1846). 

1825 CLARK, etc. Shipwrights' Scale Prices 4 Main Keel, 

exclusive of Shores, Blocks, and Keelson Bolts. 1875 KNIGHT 

Diet. Mech. 1223/2 Pigs of iron . . laid over the keelson-plates. 

1 

t KelsOUnS. Sc. Obs. rare , [a. F. ca/econs 

(in Cotgr. calfon, calson) : see CALZOONS.] Drawers, 

linen trousers. 

1568 in Hay Fleming Mary Q. Scots (1897) 512 Item ane 

curchshe - [ curch]. Item ane pair of kelsounis. 

Kelt * (kelt). Now only Sc. [Etym. unknown.] 

A salmon, sea-trout, or herling, in bad condition 

after spawning, before returning to the sea. 

c 1340 Durham Ace. Rolls (Surtees) 36 In playces et keltis 

emp., 6s. 1793 Statist. Ace. Scotl., Forfar. VIII. 204 No 

salmon ; except at the end of the fishing season, when a few 

of what are called foul fish, or kelt, are caught. 1834 JARDINE 

in Proc. Berm. Nat. Club I. No. 3. 51 The return of the 

old fish or kelts to the sea. 1884 SPEEDY Sport vii. So 

Good runs with sea-trout kelts of considerable size. 

attrib. 1883 Fisheries Exhib. Catal. (ed. 4) 96 Large 

Kelt Salmon.. with arrow-headed parasites in the gills. 

Hence Ke'lty a., like a kelt. 

1884 Chamb. Jrnl. 29 Mar. 204/2 Nothing but huge, lanky, 

kelty-looking fish. 

Kelt 2 . Sc. and north, dial. [Of obscure origin. 

Ir. and Gael, cealt cloth, clothing, may be from 

Eng. or Sc. Cf. KELTER 1.] A kind of homespun 

cloth or frieze, usually of black and while wool 

mixed, formerly used for outer garments by country 

people in Scotland and N. England. Also attrib. 

1583 Leg. Bp. St. Androis 573 in Satir. Poems Reform. 

xlv, Ane hamelic hat; a cott of kelt Weill beltit in ane 

lethrone belt. 1611 Rates s. (Jam. v. Kendilling), Kelt or 

kendall freese. 1791 Statist. Ace. Scotl. I. 356 They [fanners 

c 1750] were clothed in a homespun suit of freezed cloth, 

called Kelt, a 1833 ANDERSON Cumbtd. Ball. (1840) 123 

note An oaken , staff, a pair of clogs, and a kelt surtout. 

b. fig. Applied to a sheep's fleece. 

1722-8 RAMSAY Ram fy Buck 38 Ye've a very ragged kelt on. 

Kelt, -ic, -icism, etc. : see CELT i, CELTIC. 

Kelt, erroneous form of CELT 2 . 

1862 LATHAM Channel fsl. in. xviii. (ed. 2) 414 Kelts, arrowheads.^!^ 

hammers, all of stone. 

Kelt, obs. form of KILT st>. 1 

t Ke'lter l . north. Obs. [Of obscure origin ; 

cf. KELT 2 . Ir. and Gaelic cealtar prob. from Eng.] 

1. A coarse cloth used for outer garments. Chiefly 

attrib. 

1502 Ld. Treas. Ace. Scot. (1900) II. 198 For making of 

ane cote of kelter. 1505 Ibid. III. 38 For ane blak keltir 

cote to the King. 1543 Richmond Wills (Surtees) 39, 1 gyue 

and beqwethe to Henry Warryner a kelter jacket. ? 16 . . 

Lord ofLorn in Roxb. Ball. (1873) II. 350 He put him on 

an old Kelter coat, And Hose of the same above the knee. 

2. A garment made of this cloth. 

1562 Richmond Wills (Surtees) i52,vkeltersandablakene 

xliiij'. 1580 Inv. T. Wilson, Kendal (Somerset Ho.), A 

Romeland keltar. 

Hence Kelterin? vbl. sb., ? lining with kelter. 

1507 Ld. Treas. Ace. Scot, (igoi) III. 254 Item, for vj elne 

Rislis blak to be an cote to the King. -vj/;. Item, for kel- 

tering of it . . iijs. 

Kelter 2 , kilter (ke-ltsj, ki-ltai). [Etym. 

obscure. Widely diffused in Eng. dial, from 

Northumb. and Cumb. to Cornwall, and occasional 

in literature. More frequent in U. S. (in form 

kilter).'] Good condition, order; state of health 

or spirits. Used in the phrases out of kelter, in 

(good, high) kelter, to get into kelter. 

a. 1643 R. WILLIAMS Key Lang. Amer. 177 Their Gunnes 

they . .often sell many a score to the English, when they are 

a little out of frame or Kelter. 1674 RAY 5. fy E. Country 

Words 69 Kelter or Kilter, Frame, order, a 1677 BARROW 

Serm. vi. Wks, 1716 I. 50 If the organs of Prayer are out of 

Kelter, or out of tune, how can we pray ? 1722 in Connect. 

Col. Kec. (1872) VI. 335 Mending, cleansing and keeping in 

good kelter the firelocks left with his Honour. 1828 SCOTT 

Jrnl. 20 May, The rest are in high kelter. 1875 Contemf. 

Rev. XXV. 262 Some part of her internal economy is 

chronically out of kelter. 

(3. a 1657 BRADFORD Plymouth Plant. (1856) 235 Nether 

durst they scarce handle a . . gune y very sight of one 

(though out of kilter) was a terrour unto them. 1681 in New 

Eng. Mag. (r8o8) June 450/1 The seats some burned and 

others out of kilter. 1862 LOWELL Lett. I. 359, I must rest 

awhile. My brain is out of kilter. 1883 J. HAWTHORNE 

Dust I. 16 There's something awkward here. .. A joint out 

KEMB. 

of kilter perhaps. 1893 STEVENSON Let. C. Baxter 19 July 

in Lett. Fam. etc. 11.300, I ..am miserably out of heart and 

out of kilter. 

Ke-lter 3. north, dial. [Origin obscure. Sheffield 

Gloss, gives kelt in same sense.] Money, cash. 

1807 in Anderson Cumbld. Ball. 138 -His billet a bad yen, 

his kelter aw duin. 1825 BROCKETT, KeIter.. also means 

money, cash. 1828 Craven Dial., Kelter, a cant term for 

money. W. Yorksh. dial. He's a rich man, he is worth 

plenty of .kelter. 

Ke-lter*. dial. [In dialect use from Durham 

to S. Lincolnsh.] Rubbish ; nonsense. 

1847-78 in HALLIWELL. 1870 E. PEACOCK Ralf Skirl. II. 

48 Loqkin' at their tongues, feelin' of their pulses, or ony 

such like kelter. Ibid. III. 78 What can a man like you 

want wi' that kelter ? 

Kelto-, variant of CELTO-. 

t Ke'lty. Sc. Obs. [According to the Stat. 

Ace. Scotl. XVIII. 474 (quoted in full by Jamieson), 

Keltie was a Scottish laird famous for his 

drinking powers.] 

1. A term denoting the complete draining of 

a glass of liquor (indicated by turning it upside 

down). 

1664 COTTON Scarron. 108 With that she set it to her 

Nose, And off at once the Rumkin goes. ..Then turning 

Topsy [Margin: alias Kelty} on her Thumb, Says, look, 

here's Supernaculum. 1818 SCOTT Rob Roy xxviii, Are ye 

a' cleared kelty aff ? Fill anither. 

2. A glass or bumper imposed as a fine on one 

who does not drink fair. Also Keltic's Mends. 

1692 Sc. Presbyt. Eloq. (1738) 143 Lord give thy Enemies 

the Papists and Prelates a full Cup of thy Fury 

to drink ; 

and if they refuse to drink it off, then good Lord give them 

Kelty.^ 170 Statist. Aec. Scot!., Pert/is. XVIII. 474 Nothing 

is more common, at this very day, when one refuses 

to take his glass, than to be threatened with Keltic's Mends. 

a 1835 HOGG Tales (1866) 405 (E. D. D.) Gin he winna tak 

that, gie him kelty. 1879 P. R, DRUMMOND Perth Bygone 

' 

Days xii. 66 To drink Kelly' or another glass. 

Kelyn, -yng, obs. ff. KEEL 0.1, KEELING. 

Kelyphite. Min. [f. Gr. Kf\v

KEMBEB. 

c. humorously. To beat, thrash ; = COMB z.l 3. 

c ,566 Merit T. in Skeltons Wks. (.843) I; P- 1'x, H>.s wife 

woulde diuers tymes in the weeke kimbe his head with a ill 

footed stoole. 1769 WALLIS An/if. Nhb. in N. , Q. (1877) 

h I VII 2^8 fSJ, ..often use'l l,y borderers when they 

threaten in a passionate 

tone to beat an assailant. 

f2. To prepare (wool, flax, etc.) for spinning by 

parting and straightening the fibres with woolcombs 

or cards = COMB z/. 

; 1 2. Also absol. Obs. 

a 1300 Sat. People Kildare xix. in E. E. P. (1862) 155 Fi 

a debles kaites that kemith the wolle. 1377 LANGI, P. J I. 

B. x 18 Carded with coueytlse, as clotheres kemuen Bere 

wolle. 1393 Ibid. C. x. So Bobe to karde and to kembe, to 

clouten and to wasche. 1543 TRAHERON 11. 

Vigos Chirurg. 

iv ii. 66 Unwashed woalle ..or towe wel kembed. 

1627-77 

FELTHAM Resolves ii. Ix. 285 We are like Flax that s dress d, 

and dry'd, and kemb'd. 1715 tr. Pancirollus RerumMeni. 

1L xxiv. 403 They were famous for kembing silken Fleeces. 

fb. To tear or lacerate with a comb-like 

instrument. Obs. 

"375 Sc. Leg. Saints xx. (Blasius) 187 [He] gert )>ame 

keme his tendir flesch with Irne camys. I483CAXTON Gold. 

Leg. 121 b/i Thenne the bochyers toke combes of yron and 

began to kembe hym on the sides within the flesshe. 

f 3. To kemb from or off: 

to remove or obtain 

by means of combing, or by a similar process. 

Also with out. Cf. COMB v\ 4. Obs. 

1601 HOLLAND Pliny vi. xvii, They kembe from the leaves 

of their trees the hoarie downe thereof. 1605 CAMDEN Rem. 

Tears of Trees, which are kembed from the Beards of Goats. 

t SComber. Obs. [f. KEMB v. + -EH i ; cf. MDu. 

kemmer, G. hammer, Da. &MMW.] 

combs (wool) : 

= COMBER! i. 

One who 

1511-1 Act 3 Hex. VIII, c. 6 I I The breker or kember to 

delyver..the same Woll so broken and kempt. 1697 View 

Penal Laws 66 Kember, Spinster or Weaver of WoolL 

variant of KEMPSTEB. 

Kembestere, 

t Ke'mbing, vbl. sb. Obs. [f. KEMB v. + -ING 1.] 

1. The action of the verb KEMB ; combing. 

1-1440 Promp. Parv. 270/2 Kemynge of here, or wulle, 

pectinacio. 1508 DUNBAR Tua. Mariit Wcinen is.. 

i82_He 

Alse curtly of his clething, and kemmyng of his hair. 1547 

BOORDE Brco. Health cxxxiii. 49 After keymyng of the 

Haire worthy 

head. 1634 PEACHAM Genii. Excrc. i. xxiii. 74 

the kembing. 

2. Comb., 

as kembing-claith, Sc., combing- 

cloth ; kembing-stock, the stock or frame on 

which the combs were fixed for dressing wool, 

rippling lint, and breaking flax. 

1418 Bury Wills (Camden) 3, j par de wollecombes 

j kembyngstok. 1533 in Weaver Wells Wills (1890) 155 A 

payre of woll combes with a kemynge stoke, a 1568 Wyfof 

Auchterm. 84 in Laing Anc. Poet. Scot. 340 He fell backward 

into the fyre,And brack his head on the 

kerning 

stock. 

1578 Inv. in Hunter Biggar ff House ofFleming XXVL (1862) 

332 Ane kame caiss & ane auld kimi[n]g clayth about ye 

same, a 1776 Country Wedding in Herd Coll. Sc. Songs 

II. 89 A keam but and a keaming-stock. 

Kembo, Kemelin(e, -ing, etc., Kemelyng, 

Kernes, Kemester : see KIMBO, KIMNEL, COJIE- 

LING, CHEMISE, KEMPSTEB. 

Kemp, sb. 1 Obs. exc. dial. Forms : I cempa, 

(csempa), 2 cempe, 3-5 kempe, (3 kimppe), 

4-6, 9, kemp. [OE. ce_mpa wk. masc. = OFris. 

kcmpa, kampa, OS. *kempio (MDu. kemp(e, kimp(e, 

MLG. kempe), OHO. chemph(i]o (MHG. kempfe; 

G. kiimpe, from LG., for earlier : kdmpfe) \VGer. 

*kampjon-. It is doubtful whether this is an 

independent formation from kamp- (CAMP sb) 

battle, or ad. late L. campion-em (see CAMPION).] 

1. A big, strong, and brave warrior or athlete ; 

a professional fighter, wrestler, etc. ; 

a champion. 

ajoo Epinal Gloss. 481 Gladiatores, caempan [Erfurt 

cempan]. 995 Deatli of Byrktnoth 119 Him et fotum 

feoll faê cempa. a 1175 Cott. Horn. 243 Gif we ofercumed 

heom we scule bien imersed alle gode cempen. a 1225 

Ancr. R. 196 I3e vihte aêines ham, heo biîteo be blisfule 

kempene crune. c 1300 Havelok 1036 He was for a 

kempe told, c 1350 Will. Palerne 3352 Ober kud kempes. 

1470-85 MALORY Arthur vit. viii, They rasshed to gyders 

lyke two myghty kempys. 1517 Ld. Treas. Ace. Scotl. in 

Pitcairn Crim. Trials I. "271 Item, to John Drummond, 

callit the . . kingis kemp xv li. 1561 WINJET Tractates Wks. 

1888 L 33 Albeit thir twa }oure kempis dar not for schame 

ansuer in this mater. 1818 SCOTT Burt's Lett. N. Scotl. I. 

Introd. 62 Hammer Donald . . (like Viga Glum and other 

celebrated Kemps and homicides of the North). 1832 

MOTIIERWELL Poems (1847) 7 In starkest fight where kemp 

to kemp, Reel headlong to the grave. 1893 Northumbld. 

Gloss., Kemp, an impetuous youth, 

2. = KEMPER a. 

S73 Satir. Poems Reform, xlii. 276 All the come of the 

Countrie Be hes not bene 

kempis schorne, we see. 

3. Sc. A seed-stalk of the ribwort (Plantago lan- 

ceolata], used in a children's game: see quot. 1825. 

[So Norw. kjeempe, Sw. kampa^ Cf. COCKS. 

1825 JAMIESON s. v.,.Two children, or young people, pull 

each a dozen of stalks of rib-grass ; and try who with his 

kemp, can decapitate the greatest number of those belonging 

to his opponent. 1853 fi ' JOHNSTON Ifat. Hist. E. Bord. I. 

170 It is customary with children to challenge each other to 

' 

try the kemps '. 1893 in Northumbld. Gloss. 

Kemp (kemp), sb* [app. the same as CAMP 

sb.*, a. ON. kamp-r beard, moustache, whisker of 

a cat, lion, etc.] A coarse or stout hair, as those 

670 

of the eyebrows {obs.~) ; now, hair of this kind 

occurring among wool. Also in comb, kemphair 

; kemp-haired a. 

1386 CHAUCER Knt.'s T. 1276 Lik a grifphon looked he 

aboute, With kempe [v. r. keempe] heeris on hise browcs 

stoute. 1570 LEVINS Manip. 59/45 Kemp, haire, grandebala. 

1641 BEST Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 9 To cutt of all the 

shaggie hairy woll . . this the call 

shepheardes forcmge 

of them, and cuttinge of kempe-haires. Ibid, ri Sheepe 

which . .are thinne skmn'd . .or kempe. hair 'd. 1805 LUCCOCK 

Nat. Wool 170 Its staple was perfectly free from kemps and 

wild hair, so common upon the backs of northern sheep. 

1849 ROWLANDSON in Jrnl. R. Agric. Sac, Eng. X. it. 436 The 

fineness of the Ryeland fleece and freedom from kemps. 

t s/>3 Kemp, Obs. rare. ? A barrel or cask. 

1301 Karl Derby's Exp. (Camden) 77/22 Pro ij kempes de 

rubiis allecibus. r 1440 Promp. Pant. 270/2 Kempe of 

herynge, or spyrlynge. 

t sb'.* Kemp, Obs. rare. A kind of eel. 

c 1440 Promp. Para. 270/2 Kempe eel [no Latin]. 1515 

BARCLAY Egloges iv. (1570) Civb/2 Fed .. with crudd, Or 

slimy kempes ill smelling of the mud. 1551 HUI.OET, Kempe 

or small eale, anguilula. 1884 DAY Brit. Fishes II. 243. 

Kemp, sbS> Sc. [f. KEMP v.] A contest, esp. 

of reapers when kemping. 

1786 Har'st Rig in Chambers Pop. Hum. Scot. Poems 

(1862) 50 The master . . cries with baste, ' 

Come, lads, forbear, 

This kemp let be'. 1844 RICHARDSON Borderer's Table 

Bk. VII. 372 The stormy Kemp, or emulous struggle for 

the honour of the ridge-end. 1870 HUNTER Stud. Pref. 

(E. D. D.), What ever lesson we began to, we gaed at it just 

like a kemp on the hairst rig. 

Kemp (kemp), v. Sc. and north, dial. [ME. 

kempcn MDu. kempen, kimpen, LG. ktimpen, 

OHG. chemfan (MHG. kempfen, G. kdmpfen], ON. 

keppa (\ *kempa; Sw. kampa., Da. k-xmpe): 

OTetit. *kampjan, f. kamp-: see CAMP sli.i and 

KEMP rf. 1 ] intr. a. To fight or contend in battle 

with another, b. To contend or strive in doing 

a piece of work said ; esp. of a set of reapers 

' 

striving to finish their first. 

rig 

a. 1 a 1400 Morte Arth. 2634 There is no kynge undire 

Criste may kempe with hym one ! 1893 Northttmbld. Gloss. 

S.V. Kemps, They are called by children kemps. .an& are 

used to ketiip or fight with. 

b. 1513 DOUGLAS sEneis in. x. 20 We . . kempand with 

airis in ail our mane, Wp welteris waiter of the salt se nude. 

1685 Lintoun Green (1817) 95 (E. D. D.) [She] could . . kemp 

wi' Kate or Wull, On harvest day. 1786 Har'st Rig in 

Chambers Pop. Hum. Scot. Poems (1862) 48 This sets the 

lave a-working fast They kemp at length, a 1881 CARLYLE 

in Mrs. C.'s Lett. (1883) II. 192 His reapers had taken to 

' 

and spoiled him much stuff. 

kemp ' 

Ke'mper. Sc. or arch. [f. KEMP v. + -ER i ; 

cf. MDu. kemper, MHG. kempfer, G. kdmpfer, 

Da. k&mper.] a. Sc. One who kemps or strives 

for victory, esp. 

in reaping, b. arch. KEMP sbl 

a. 1641 FERGUSON Prov. No. 70 A' the corn in the country 

is not shorn by kempers. 1776 C. KEITH Farmer's Ha' in 

Chambers Pop. Hum. Scot, /tote (1862) 28 The lasses.. Are 

.sittin at their spinnin-wheels, And weel ilk blyth.some kemper 

dreels. 1821 Blackvj. Mag. Jan. 401/1 Helping to give a hot 

brow to this bevy of notable kempers. 

b. 1891 R. W. DIXON Hist. C/;. Eng. IV. 469 The spirit 

of the northern kempers. 

f Ke-mpery. Obs. rare. [f. prec. : see -ERY.] 

The practice 

of kemping or fighting. Only in 

kempery-man = KEMP sl^ i. 

(11765 King Estmcre liv. in Child Ballads ill. Ix. (1885) 

54/1 Downe then came the kemperye man. Ibid. Ixvi, Up 

then rose the kemperye men. [1865 KINCSUEY Hcreut. (1867) 

I. 77, I knew you would turn Viking and kemperyman.] 

Ke'mping, vbl. sb. [f. KEMP v. + -ING i.] The 

action of the verb KEMP. 

'793 Statist. Ace. Scotl., Dumfr. VII. 303 A boon of 

shearers.. turned into large grey stones, on account of their 

kemping, i. e, striving. 1816 SCOTT Antiq. xxviii, A soldier, 

the reaping of their ridges before those who had entered theirs 

prior to them. 1893 Nortkumbld. Gloss., Kcmpin, a contest 

between reapers in the harvest field. 

i Ke'mpkiii. Sc. Obs. rare 1 , [ad. MDu. 

kimmckijn, var. of kindekijn KILDERKIN; cf. 

KINKIN.] A small barrel, a keg. 

1580 Shi/>ping Lists Dundee (S. H. S.) 199 Ihone Smyth ij 

kempkynnis of seap [ soap]. 

Ke'juple. Sc. 1 Obs. Also 7 kimple. [Etym. 

obscure.J A Scotch measure of hay or straw, 

varying in amount (see quots.). 

1619 MS. Charter (Byrehills, Fife), Et quatuor oneribus 

equorum straminum vulgariter nuncupatis ffour kimples of 

stray. 1676 Charter (of same lands), Ffoure kemples of strae. 

1706 Ace. Bk. Sir "J. Faults (1894) 428 For 7 kemples of 

strae. 1805 Edin. Even. Courant 18 July (Jam,), The Kemple 

of straw must consist of forty windlens . . so that the kemple 

must weigh fifteen stones trone. 1849 H. STEPHENS Bk. of 

Farm 1 1. 347 The straw will weigh 9 kemples of 440 Ibs. each. 

[In Morton s Cycl. Agric. (1863) given as = 358 Ibs. trone.] 

Kemp-shot(t, variant of CAMP-SHOT. 

1795 Act 35 Geo. Ill, c. 106 23 Any Kempshot or other 

such Work, for the Purpose of haling Barges. 1848 M. 

ARNOLD Lett. (1895) 12 Bathed with Hughes in the Thames, 

' 

having a header off the Kempshott '. 

t Ke'mpster . Obs. Forms: 4 keme-, 5 kempstare, 

kembestere, cem-, kem-, 5-6 kemp-, 

(7 kemester). [f. KEMB v. + -STER. Cf. MDu. 

kemsUr(e.'\ A comber (of wool) ; properly, a 

female comber. 

KEN. 

a 1400 Burgh Laws c 103 (Sc. Slat. I.) Gif ony kemestaris 

levis be burgn to dwell wyth uplandys men. c 1440 Promp. 

I'oc. in Wr.-Wulcker 

Parv. 270/2 Kempstare,/e-t/>. 14.. 

6oi/io/V^r/,r,akembe5tere. c 1483 C*\TOH Dialogues 32/12 

Katherin the kempster,. swore.. That she kembyth never 

Wulle so well. 1530 PALSGR. 481/1 This felowe chattereth 

lyke a kempster, ,.coime vne piegneresse de layne. 1641 

FERGUSON Sc. Prov. No. 566 Kemsters are ay creishie. 

b. Comb. 

1356 in Riley Mem. London (1868) 283 [8 pairs of] kemstercombes, 

[and one] boweshawe, i\d. 

Kempt (kemPt), ppl. a. Now arch. Forms : 

i cemd- , 5 kempte, kembyd, 6 kemmyt, kemt, 

5-7 kembed, 4- kempt, KEMB [f. z/.] Of hair 

or wool : Combed. Also with ads., as well- 

kempt, etc. Cf. UNKEMPT. 

c 1050 Ags. Gloss, in Wr.-Wulcker 387/23 De stuppe 

stamineo, be cemdan wearpe. 1:1380 WYCLIF Wks. (1880) 

426 3if a man haue a kempt bed panne he is a leccherous 

man. 1513 DOUGLAS sEneis x. xiv. 19 Hys weyll kemmyt 

herd. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny I. 228 A distafle, drest and 

trimmed with kembed wool. 1863 MRS. WHITNEY Faith 

Gartney iv. (1869) 30 Carefully kempt tresses. 1867 J. B. 

ROSE tr. Virg. SEneid 307 His kempt beard adown his 

bosom spread. 

Ke'mpy, sb. Sc. and north, dial. [f. KEMP .?.'] 

A kemp or champion ; one given to fighting ; 

a rough or uncouth fellow. 

1525 in Pitcairn Crim, Trials I. 126* John Steill, alias 

Kempy Steill. 1801 MACNEILL Poet. Wks. 

convicted_. 

(1856) 

172 I've heard some hair-brained kempy Growl when your 

chappin bottle's empty. 1822 SCOTT Pirate xxviii, When 

kempies were wont, long since, to seek the habitations of 

the galdragons and spae-women. 1874 WAUGH Chimn. 

' 

Corner (1879) I 58 (E. D. D.) Never.. quiet but when he 're 

' 

feightin'.' Ay, he're a regilar kempie . 

Kempy (ke-mpi), a. 

[f. KEMP sb. 2 + -T !.] Of 

wool : Abounding in kemps or coarse hairs. 

1805 LUCCOCK Nat. Wool 242 Its wool was kempy, rough 

a black -faced sheep, but rather kempy in the wool. 

Kemse, Kemster : see CHEMISE, KEMPSTEB. 

Kemstock, obs. var. of CAPSTOCK, CAPSTAN. 

1653 URQUHART Rabelais n. xxv, Panurge took two great 

cables of the ship and tied them to the kemstock or capstane. 

Ken (ken), j*.l Also 7 kenn(e. [f. KEN v.l] 

) 1. = KENNING vbl. sb.^ 4b. Obs. 

1545 St. Papers Hen. VHI, I. 815 The place, wher we be 

at this present, ys thwartt of Shorham, too kennys allmoste 

frome the shore. 1574 BOURNE Regim. for Sea xviii. (1577) 

48 b, Neyther is it possible to see any lande further.. wherefore 

6. leagues or 9. leagues is called a ken. 1580 LYLY 

Euphues (Arb.) 250 Lette this suffice, that they are safely 

come within a ken of Douer. 1611 SHAKS. Cymb. in. vi. 6 

Milford, When from the Mountaine top, Pisanio shew'd 

thee, Thou was't within a kenne. 1625 CARPENTER Geog. 

Del. ii. vii. (1635) 121 The Fisher-man iudging by sight, 

could not see about a kenne at sea. 

2. Range of sight or vision ; in phrases in or 

within ken, beyond, out of, or past ken. Now rare. 

1590 GREENE Orl. Fur. \. Wks. (Rtldg.) 90 The bordering 

islands, seated here in ken. 1594 NASHE Un/ort. Trav. 85 

Out of ken we were ere the Countesse came from the feast. 

1624 MASSINGER Bondman iv. The i, conquering army Is 

within ken. 1691 RAY Creation I. (1692) 4 Beyond all Ken 

by the best 

Telescopes. 1725 POPE Odyss. v. 456 Scarce in 

ken appears that distant isle. 1882 F. MYERS Renewal of 

Youth 77 Thro' space, if space it be, past count or ken. 

b. With possessive or equivalent. 

1630 DRAYTON Noah's Flood (R.), On which they might 

discern within their ken The carcasses of birds, of beasts, 

and men. a 1677 HALE Prim. Orig. Man. IV. viii. 365 The 

Intellect .. taketh a flight out of the ken or reach of Sense. 

1791 COWPER Iliad in. 15 The eye Is bounded in its ken 

to a stone's cast. 1864 H. AINSWORTH John Law\: x. (1881) 

283 Many remarkable personages came under Evelyn's ken. 

t 3. Sight or view of a thing, place, etc. ; possibility 

or capacity of seeing ; chiefly in phrases in, 

within, out of ken of. Obs. 

1593 SHAKS. Lucr. clx, Tis double death to drown in ken 

of shore. 1634 MASSINGER Very Woman v. v, Hardly We 

had lost the ken of Sicily, but we were Becalm'd. 1691 RAY 

Creation i. (1692) 86 Scarce daring to venture out of the Ken 

of Land. 1745 De Foe's Eng. Tradesman (1841) I. viii. 64, 

I sent out m> servant to watch . . these . . strollers, and . . keep 

within ken of them. 

4. Power or exercise of vision ; look, gaze. 

1666 DRYDEN Ann. Mirab. cxi, Each ambitiously would 

claim the ken That with first eyes did distant safety meet. 

1736 W. THOMPSON Nativity xi, Faith led the . . van, Steady 

her ken, and gaining on the skies. 1814 CARY Dante's Inf. 

iv. 4, 1 .. search 'd, With fixed ken, to know what it place was 

Wherein I stood. 

b. Mental perception 

or recognition. 

c 1560 A. Scorr Poems (S. T. S.) xxxv. 28 Every gait oft 

wicket stait Sail perreiss owt of ken. 1701 ROWE Amt. 

Step-Moth, in. iii. 1340 Whose Orb, with streaming Glories 

fraught, Dazles the Ken of human thought. 1836-7 SIR W. 

HAMILTON Metaph. xviii. (1870) 361 Acts of mind so rapid 

and minute as to elude the ken of consciousness. 1871 W. 

ALEXANDER Johnny Gibb xlii. (1892) 235 My vera memorandum 

book blottit oot' o' ken. 

Ken (ken), sb? Also 6 kene. [Vagabonds' 

slang.] A house; esp. a house where thieves, 

beggars, or disreputable characters meet or lodge. 

Freq. with qualifying words, as bousing-, dancing-, 

smuggling-, stalling-, touting-ken (q. v.) Phr. to 

burn the ken (see quot. I7 2 

5). 

1567 HARMAN Caveat (1869) 83 A ken, a house. Ibid. 85 

Tower ye = [ look you), yander is the kene. 1622 FLETCHER

KEN. 

Beggars' Bush v. i, Surprising a boore's ken for grunting 

cheatcs. 1641 BROME ymiaii Crew n. Wks. 1873 III. 388 

Bowse a health to the Gentry Cofe of the Ken. 1725 New 

Cant. Diet., Burnt the Ken, when Strollers leave the Alehouse, 

without paying their Quarters. 1800 Sporting Mag. 

XVI. 26 Called at a ken in the way home. 1851 MAYHEW 

Land. Latoitr I. 351 Up she goes to any likely ken, ..and 

commences begging. 1860 DIXON Pers. Hist. I.d. Bacon v. 

15 These . .skulk about the kens of Newgate Street. 

Ken (ken), v\ Forms : I cennan, ôsennan), 

3-4kennen, (5 -yn), (3-5 kene, 3 cene, 5 keen), 

3-7 kenne, 3- ken, (3, 8 kenn, 5 kyn). Pa. t. 

3-5 kende, 3- kenned(e, kenn'd, kend; 9 Sc. 

kent. [Com. Tcut. : OE. cennan (cyide, canned) 

= Fris. kanna, kenna, OS. (anf)keunian (MDu. 

and Du. kennen}, OHG. (';-, in-, pi-) chennan 

(MHG. and G. kennen), ON. kenna (Sw. kciima, 

Da. kjenJe, kende), Goth, kannjan, factitive of the 

preterite-pres. *kann-, I know : see CAN v\ 

The form is properly causative 'to cause to know', 'to 

make known ', and was restricted to this use in Goth, and 

OE. At an early period, however, in all the Teutonic tongues, 

the verb also acquired the sense 'to know'. In Eng, this 

may have been taken from Norse, in which both senses 

were in early use. In mod. Eng. Hen is only archaic (in 

sense 6} and has its pa. t. and pa. pple. kenned (cf. pen, 

penned)', in Sc. (where it has entirely displaced knaw 'to 

know ') the t. pa. and pple. are now kent ; south Sc. kend.] 

I. In causative senses. (All Obs.) 

fl. trans. To make known, declare, confess, 

acknowledge. Obs. 

Bccnmtlt "1219 (Z.) Con free mid crsefte & byssum cnyhtum 

wes lara lifte. 975 Laws K. Edgar iv. 10 Gif he bonne 

cen5 [11 caennej pa:t he hit mid êwitnysse bohte. c 1000 

Ags. Ps. (Th.) cvii[i.]. 8 Ic me to cyninge cenne Indus .. ic 

Idumea ealle cenne. < 1203 LAY. 6639 Ne der ich noht 

kennen . .bat ich her king weore. 

) 2. To make known, to impart the knowledge 

of (a thing). 

To make a 

Usually with dat. of : 

person (or to) 

thing known to one; to teach one 

how to do something. Obs. 

a 1300 Cursor ilf. 7363, I sal be ken To knau him a-mang 

ober men. 1362 LANGL. /'. PI. A. n. 4 Kenne me bi somme 

crafte to knowe be fals. 1375 HARBOUR Brucey.. 544, 1 vndirtak..For 

to ken sow to clym the wall, a 1529 SKELTON 

P. Sparowe 970 Now Phebus me ken To sharpe my pen. 

f c. absol. To give instruction or directions. 

c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. IVace iRolls) 663 Parys dide as 

Venus kende. 1393 LANGL. P. PI. C. v. 40 Thanne reson rod 

forth . . And dude as conscience kenned. 

1 4. To direct, guide, show the way to (unto, 

till) a place or person. Obs. 

c 1200 Trin. Coll. Horn. 45 He is cleped king, for bat he 

kenneo eure to rihte. c 1325 Metr. }Iotn. 50, I openly Ken 

you till him of quaim I spek. 1362 LANGL. P. PI. A. xi. 104, 

I schal kenne be to myCosyn hat Clergye is I-hoten. 1:1440 

York Myst. xxxiv. 350 If anye aske aftir vs Kenne thame 

to Caluarie. 1:1470 HENRY Wallace v. 414 A trew Scot .. 

kend thaim to that place, c 1560 A. SCOTT Poems (S. T. S.) 

xxxvi. 55, I sal! thame ken to consolatioun. 

fb. intr. and To direct one's 

refl. course, 

betake oneself, proceed, go. Obs. 

f 1205 LAY. 26467 5'f aeuer aie is swa kene.. bat us after 

kenne, ich hine wulle aquelle. 1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) App. 

xx. 482 pe kyng to yrlonde wende In be mon}>e of octobre, 

and sebbe in may horn kende. ^1305 St. Christopher 212 in 

E. E. P. (1862)65 Ouer Cristofre an arewe : heng bat toward 

be king kende. c 1320 Sir Beues 334 (MS. A.) Toward his 

court he him kende [v. r. went anoon]. 

1 5. trans. To consign, commend, deliver, bestow. 

Obs. 

121300 Cursor M. 1584 (GBtt.) Al mankind forsoth he 

wend, To his will all suld be kend. c 1340 Itid. 8840 (Fairf.) 

671 

Ne ware J?ai neuer beiben dispende Til bai ware til ludas 

kende. 13.. Gaw. ty Gr. Knt. 2067 ]>is kastel to kryst 

I kenne, He gef hit ay god chaunce ! a 1400-50 Alexander 

5383 With bat scho kende him a croun clustrid with gemmes. 

ci44o Bone Flor. 1566 To Florence they can hur kenne, 

To lerne hur to behave hur among men, 

II. la non-causative senses. 

6. To descry, see to catch ; sight of, discover by 

sight ; to look at, scan. Now only arch. 

c 1205 LAY. 1659 J>a GofTar be king |>ane castel kennede .. 

swioe wa him was. a 1300 Body Soul \i scalt to haelle, J>er Jw miht kenne 

muche of bine cunne. aiyyo Cursor M, 1152 Bituix quat 

lede sum J?at bou lend, Euer sal ôu and bine bi kend. 

c 1450 Merlin 45 ' 

Sirs ', seide the kynge, * 

Tit.ix.29 She. .cannot remove tenants, till the Sheriff kens 

her to her terce. 1808 JAMIESON, To ken a widow to her 

tercet ,,A. phrase still used in our courts of law. 

f 9. To get to know, ascertain, find out. Obs. 

1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. (1810) 270 Clerkis and lewed men 

Kuld..trie be soth and ken, in whom be wrong lay. ^1400 

Destr. Troy 1452 What myschefe befell, here no cause was 

to ken but vnkynd wordes. 1450-70 Golagros 4- Gaw. 1325 

Sa that the caus may be kend and knawin throw skill. 1586 

WARNER Alb. Eng, i. vi. 23 Calde .. To ken of whence and 

where they would. 

10. To know (a person) ; to have acquaintance 

with to be ; acquainted with. Now Sc. 

1375 BARBOUR Bruce i. 327 That he wald trawaile our the 

se .. And dre myscheiflf quhar nane hym kend. 1:1420 Sir 

Amadace ii, Sithun duelle here, quere I was borne ..And 

I am so wele kenniL c 1450 Merlin 72 He mette with a 

man that he nothinge kenned, a 1568 Peebles to the Play 

iii, Than spak hir fallowis, that hir kend, Be still, my joy, 

and greit not. 1597 MONTGOMERIE Sonn. xxvi, In Cupids 

court ?e knau I haif bene kend. 1606 HOLLAND Sueton. 

Annot. 14 Al while that I you kenned not, I cald you 

KENCH. 

Arraignm. Paris i. iv, That kens the painted paths of 

pleasant Ida. ai66i FULLER Worthies (1840) III. 281 He 

did ken the ambassador -craft as well as any in his age. 1702 

C MATHER Magn. Chr. \\. App. (1852) 218 Any governour 

that kens Hobbianism. 1827 COLERIDGE Sibyl. Leaves Poems 

1 1. 300 Yet well I ken the banks where amaranths blow. 1879 

T. ARM:STRONG 

Kielder Hunt (in Northumbld. Gloss.) r.), He 

kens th< ic hauds on Tosson hills, he kens the holes at Rae. 

b. To know, understand, or perceive (a fact, 

etc.) ; to be aware of, to be aware that (what, 

etc.). Now chiefly Sc. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 6418 Quits moyses heild vp his bend It 

was wel in |>at bateil kend. ^1375 Sc. Leg. Saints ii. (Paul) 

375 5e suld wele ken, pat here slane has bene mony men. 

c 1400 SoT.udone Bab. 799 Litill kennyth he what I may doo. 

1567 Satir. Poems Reform, iii. 137, I ken rycht weill 

ge knaw gour dewtie. (71634 RANDOLPH Poems, Eglogue 

Assemblies Cotswold (1638) 115 Dost thou ken, Collen, what 

the cause might be Of such a dull and generall Lethargic? 

1714 GAY Sheph. Week HI. 89 Now plain I ken whence Love 

his Rise begun. 1844 DICKENS Christmas Carolm. (Househ. 

ed.) 23/1 Little kenned the lamp-lighter that he had any 

company but Christmas. 1865 G. MACDONALD A. Forbes 43, 

I dinna ken what ye mean, Alec 

C. With compl. (Chiefly in pass.} Now Sc. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 6715 (Cott.) If his lauerd kenne him kene 

of horn. 1300 Ibid, 25151 (Cott. Galba) For 

gpddes sun 

may he noght be kend. r 1400 Melayne 1437 jitt are we 

ten thowsande here ..pat wele for kene are kende. 1721 

RAMSAY Addr. Town Counc. Edin, iii, To you, ne'er kend 

to guide ill.. My case I plainly tell. 18*9 HOGG Sheph. 

CaL I. 232 Ye're kenn'd for an auld-farrant man. 1869 

C. GIBBON R. Gray iii, Ivan Carrack was ay kenned to be 

ready tae flee in the face o' Providence. 

12. a. intr. or absol. To have knowledge (of or 

about something), f Also with inf. : To know how 

to, to be able to (obs.). 

13.. E. E. Allit. P. C. 357 penne he cryed so cler, bat 

kenne mygt alle. < 1400 Destr, Troy 1583 Of all be craftes 

to ken as bere course askit. 1508 D UNBAR Tita Mariit 

something. 0!>s. 

KENDAL. 

the ablaut-grade 

*ki>ik- is the base of CHINK z>.l 

and KINK intr. To z/.i] 

laugh loudly. 

a . 1225 Katk. 2042 per me mahte iheren be cnstene 

kenchen and berien fro healent c ,.30 //A VW,i Hu 17 

tc deoueles hoppen & kenchinde beaten hondes to-gederes. 

Kench, variant of KINCH, noose. 

Kend, variant of KENT///, a. 

Kendal (ke-ndal). Kendal in Westmor- 

[f. 

land, the place of manufacture. 

Rrmer's Ftrdera II. 825 has a letter of protection, of the 

year ii to John Kempe of Flanders, who established cloth- 

weaving at Kendal. See Westmorland Note-bk. 1. 241-250.] 

f 1. A species of green woollen cloth. Oat. 

1389 Act 13 Rick. II, c. 10 f i Certeines draps en diverses 

Countees Dengleterre appelez Cogware & Kendalecloth. 

1410 Rolls of Parlt. III. 643 Draps appelles Kendales, 

Kerseis, Bakkes, [etc.]. rlf+Mann. % Househ. Exp. (Roxb.) 

377 Payd for iiij. jerdys and iij. quarterys 

kendalle for a 

gowne and a sadyll clothe, the yerde ix. d. 1483 Act 

i Rich. Ill, c. 8 18 Any Cloths called Kendals. 1497 Ld. 

Treas. Ace., Scat, I. 340 For vij elne of grene Kentdalee. 

,joj md. III. 37 For x elne Kentdale to be ane cote to the 

King, ciyjo Pride tf Lowl. (1841) 33 Of Kendall very 

course his coate was made, a 1687 COTTON Poet. Wks. (1705) 

82 His Breeches.. Were Kendal, and his Doublet Fustian. 

fb. attrib. Obs. 

c 1425 LYDG. Assembly of Gods 356 On hys hede he had 

a thredebare kendall hood, c 1550 Disc. Common Weal 

Eng. (1893) 82 A servinge man was content to goe in a 

Kendall cote in somer. 1611 Cotyafs Crudities Panegyr. 

Verses, The Mayor of Hartlepoole . . Put on 's considering 

cap and Kendall gowne. 

2. Kendal green, 

arch, or Hist. 

a. = sense I. Now only 

1514 BARCLAY Cyt. % Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.) p. vii, 

His costly clothing was threadebare kendall grene. 1532 

MORE Confut. Tindale Wks. 618/2 Tyl he do of his gray 

garmentes and clothe him selfe cumly in gaye kendall 

greene. 1596 SHAKS. i Hen. IV, ir. iv. 246 Three mis-begotten 

Knaues, in Kendall Greene. 1812 SCOTT Rokeby v. xv, 

A seemly gown of Kendal green. 

b. The green colour of Kendal cloth ; also, the 

plant Dyer's Greenweed, with which it was dyed. 

l8/*: hence in Blount,Phiilips,etc.) 

b. Comb. fKennet-coloura., grey-coloured. 

1530 PALSGR. 235/2 Kenet coloure, cendre.

KENNING-. 

[Kennet, Naut. ; error for KEVEC, (q. v.), in 

Kersey s Phillips 1706, whence in Bailey, Chambers 

Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Century Diet., etc.] 

Ke-nning, sb. north.dial. [Derivation obscure 1 

A dry measure: = two pecks, or half a bushel; 

a vessel 

containing this 

quantity 

J32^fi R "S D 

. "'""''\ H 496 In xlvij qr. ij ken. 

which at the first kenning, they tooke to be french Shippc 

1586 R. LANE in Capt. Smith Virginia \. 5 The passag 

from thence was thought a broad sound within the maine 

being without kenning of land. 1598 TOFTE Alba. (1880) 

34 He is in kenning of his wished Home. 1599 HAKLUVT 

Voy. II. i. 102 We had also kenning of another Hand called 

Lissa. 1630 LENNARD tr. Charron's Wisd. in. xxiv. (1670) 

491 Again, at a kenning we cannot see of the Earth above 

ten or twelve leagues, a 1697 STRATHSPEY in Aubrey's 

Misc. (1721) 203 The Lady Gareloch was going somewhere 

from her House within kenning to the Road which Clunie 

was coming. 

t 4. Range of sight: = KEN s&J 2. Obs. 

1530 PALSGR. 431, I am within syght, as a shyppe is that 

cometh within the kennyng. 1599 T. M(OITET) Silkivermes 

15 Not dreaming that her loue in kenning were. 1601 

HOLLAND Pliny I. 61 Without your kenning "lyeth Sardinia 

fast vpon the Africke sea, 

to. The distance that bounds the range of 

ordinary vision, esp. at sea; hence, a marine 

measure of about 20 or 21 miles. Cf. KEN sb.^ i. 

41490 BOTONER Itin. (Nasmith 1778) no Per distanciam 

de le narrow see . . v kennyngys, et quilibet kennyng continc't 

..21 miliaria. (1500 Melusine 104 He sawe the ship th 

-y West. . 

Cornew'aulle. _ 16514 MOTTEUX Rabelais iv. xxii. 11737)94, 

I see Land . . 'tis within a Kenning. 

5. Mental cognition ; knowledge, cognizance ; 

recognition. Now Sc. and north, dial, f Fleshly 

kenning, carnal knowledge. 

c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 64 py seluyn hadcle 

takyn deed, (>urgh be hete of fleschly kennynge with here. 

c 1440 Promp. Paru. 271/2 Kennynge, or . . 

knowynge, 

, 

t ye're past kt 

b. A recognizable portion; just enough to be 

perceived ; a little. Sc. and north, dial. 

1786 BURNS Unco Guid\\\, Tho' they may gang a kennin 

wrang, To step aside is human. 1805 J. Nicoi. Poems I. 

187 (Jam.) Gif o' this warl, a kennin mair, Some get than 

me, I've got content. 1876 Whithy Gloss, s. v., That string's 

just a kenning thicker than the other. 1893 STEVENSON 

Catriona 103 His father was.. a kenning on the wrong side 

of the law. 

6. One of the periphrastic expressions used instead 

of the simple name of a thing, characteristic 

of Old Teutonic, and esp. Old Norse, poetry. 

Examples are oar-steed ship, storm of swords = battle. 

The term is adopted from the mediaeval Icelandic treatises 

on poetics, and is derived from the idiomatic use of henna 

' 

vi?t or til, to name after ', 

1883 VICFUSSON & POWELL Corfus Poet. Bar. II. 448 The 

extreme development of the ' 

' 

kenning in Northern Poetry. 

1889 COOK Judith Introd. 59 A characteristic ornament of 

Old English, as well as of early Teutonic poetry in general, 

are the kennings. 1896 Scott. Rev. Oct. 342 note, The ken. 

' 

' 

nings for man in Grondal's Clavis Poetica extend to 33 

closely printed columns. 

7. Comb., as f kenning-glass, a spy-glass, small 

f kenning-place, a place prominently 

telescope ; 

in sight. 

1603 Reg. Stationers' Co. 15 June (Arb.) III. 238 A Booke 

Called A Kennyng glass for a Christian Kinge. 1610 

HOLLAND Camden's Brit. i. 606 It standeth forth as a Kenningplace 

to the view of eyes. 

t Kenning, vbl. so.'2 Obs. rare. Also 7 

kinning. [app. f. KEN w. 2 + -ING!; cf. OE. canning 

birth.] The cicatricula or tread of an egg. 

1585 HIGCINS tr. Junius' Nomenclator, Ovi umbilicus, the 

streine or kenning of the egge. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny I. 298 

There is found in the top or sharper end of an egge within 

the shell, a certaine round knot resembling a drop or a 

nauil, rising aboue the rest, which they call a Kinning. 

Kennit, obs. f. KENNED, KJENT ///. a. 

VOL. V. 

673 

Keno, kino (kfno). U. S. [Origin unknown.! 

A game of chance based on the drawing of numbers 

and covering of corresponding numbers on 

1882-3 SCHAFF Eticycl. Relig. Knovil. I. 461 The Kenotic 

view of Giessen is more in accordance with the facts of 

Christ's life. Ibid., The Kenotic controversy was renewed 

recently. 1895 CIi. Q. Rc->. 487 [A] leaning towards the 

Kenotic theories of the Incarnation. 

Hence Keno'ticism, the doctrine of, or belief in, 

the kenosis of Christ ; Keno'ticist, one who believes 

in, or maintains, the kenosis. 

1882-3 SCHAFF Encycl. Relig. Knowl. I. 458 Baur, Dorner, 

Rothe,nnd the modern Kenoticists. 1891 Ch. Q. Rev.Oct. 9 The 

Kenoticist does not deny them, but practically he gets rid of 

them, . by his theory of kenosis. 1899 W. BRIGHTLaw ofFaith 

337 Kenoticism may indeed be described as a solvent of faith. 

Kenotism(ke-n0tiz'm). Theol. - KENOTICISM. 

So Ke'notist = KENOTICIST. 

1896 E. H. GIFFORD in Expositor Sept. 166 Speculation 

concerning the fulness of the Godhead in the Incarnate 

Christ, and the opposite doctrine of Kenotism. 1899 Ck. 

Times 3 Feb. 117 The Modern Theories of the Kenotibts 

with reference to Our Lord's Knowledge. 

see KINGRIK, KEENSHIP. 

Kenrik, Kenschipe : 

Kenspeck (ke-nspek), a. dial. Also 8 -spaok, 

9 -spec, -spao. [Origin obscure : the form agrees 

with Norw. kjennespak, Sw. kiinspak, quick at 

recognizing persons or things (cf. ON. kennispeki 

faculty of recognition) ; but the change from the 

active to a passive sense makes difficulties. Some 

have suggested confusion with conspicuous, but 

evidence is wanting. Kensp'ecked is given by 

Skinner (1671) and Ray (1674), and in Craven and 

other Northern glossaries.] = next. 

1590 SIR T. COCKAINE Hunting Dj, The most Buckes 

h.iue some kenspeck marke to knowe them by vpon their 

heads. 1715 THORESBY Leeds in Craven Dial., A convention 

at some noted oak, or to use a local word, kenspack 

ake. 1841 DE QUINCEY^ Homer Wks. 1857 VI. 375 The 

Homeric metre . . is certainly kenspeck, to use a good old 

English word that is, recognisable. 1855 ROBINSON Whitby 

' 

Gloss, s. v., As kenspac as a cock on a church broach '. 

Kenspeckle (ke-nspe k'l), a. Sc. and north. 

dial. Also -speckled; cf. prec. [See prec. ; the 

ending may be -LE r, as in brittle, etc.] Easily 

recognizable ; conspicuous. 

1714 MRS. CENTLIVRE Wonderm, Eng. Man. . .What kind 

of a Woman is it you enquire after? Gib. Geud troth, she's 

ne Kenspekle, she's aw in a Clowd. 1795 BURNS Let. to 

G. Thomson May, My phiz is sae kenspeckle that the very 

joiner's apprentice, .knew it at once. 1820 SCOTT Monast. 

xxxiv, It is a kenspeckle hoof-mark, for the shoe was made 

by old Eckie of Canonbie. 1862 DARWIN Let. 25 Jan. in 

Life II. 

(188^) 385 Your notion of the Aristocrat being kenspeckle, 

.is new to me. 

t Ke'nsy. Sc. Obs. rare. [Of unknown etym. 

The erron. form kenyie (see Jam.) is due to a mis- 

interpretation of Ramsay's spelling kenzie, in his 

edition of Christs Krrk.] A rough or rude fellow. 

KENTISH. 

'i??-" D B* Poems Ix. 16 Fowll jow iourdane heditjevelhs, 

Cowkin kenseis and culroun kewellis. Chris-is 

K.rke Gr vii. (Bann. MS.), The kensy cleikit loVhe caVel" 

n *enny 'i> f nS of wh oute kenning [v.r. techyng] of eni 

KDiruue* man. c ijjo j"7. .,_ iir /T-i_ii.v *... K 

. *JO** * v * 

t2. a. Sign, token, b. Appearance. Obs. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 18332 (Cott.) . . pou has be kenenini? 

' h 15 en cards, m a manner similar to lotto. 

1879 Scribner's Mag. JCIX. 386/1 To play cards and keno 

for small stakes. 1884 Pall Mall G. 26 /une 

rode $ Raised in erth 

f*, of urranscum. Hid. 

24086 (Cott.) Vnethes i his kenning kneu. 

to. Visual cognition; sight or view: ' 

=KENji.l^. 

Phrases in, within, beyond, out of kenning. Obs'. 

, t/2 He 

a door and ushered me 

opened 

in, and the first exclamation I 

was 

heard 

Kino and a grunt of satisfaction. . . Some of the members 

were lying about asleep in the gaming room, . . 

beenhit hard having 

by the latest American importation kino. 

t Ke-nodoxy. Obs. rare~. [ad. Gr. KevoSofia, 

f. Kfv6So(-os vain-glorious, f. wei/o-s empty + Sofa 

' 

' 

glory.] The love, study, or desire of 

vain-glory 

(Blount Glossogr. 1656; hence in Phillips i6s8, 

and Bailey 1730). 

Kenogenesis (knwdse-nesis). Biol. 

[irreg. 

for cxno- or kainogenesis, f. Gr. KCUV&S new + yWis 

genesis.] Haeckel's term for the form of ontogenesis 

in which the true 

hereditary development 

of a germ is modified by features derived from its 

environment (opposed to 

palingenesis). Hence 

Kenogeue'tic a. 

1879 tr. HaeckeVs Evol. Man I. i. 10 The term Kenogenetic 

process (or vitiation of the history of the germ) is 

applied to all such processes of the germ-history as are not 

to be 

explained by heredity from primaeval parent.forms. 

I/nd. ii 1 his distinction between Palingenesis or inherited 

evolution, and Kenogenesis or vitiated evolution, has not 

yet been sufficiently appreciated by naturalists. 

II Keuosis (kftiou-sis). Theol. [a. Gr. ittiiuaK 

an 

emptying, f. n(i>6(tv to empty, with ref. to Phil. 

ii. 7 iavTov fKfvaaf 'emptied himself'.] The selfrenunciation 

of the divine nature, at least in 

part, 

by Christ in the incarnation. 

[1844 W. H. MILL Semi. Tempt. Christ v. 113 Here 

especially we behold that fVu

KENTISHLY. 

in reference to meetings held in Kent in 1828-9, 

to the Catholic Relief Bill : see N. 

in opposition 

& O series 3, I. 183, 423; VIII. 278); Kentish 

glory a large beautiful moth, Endromis versicolor; 

t Kentish Knocker Kentish Knock the 

[f. 

sand-bank before the mouth of the Thames], a 

Kentish smuggler ; Kentish long-tails, a phrase 

embodying the old belief that the natives of Kent 

had tails ; also, the Bearded Wild Oat-grass, Avena 

fatua(E. D. D.) Kentish ; nightingale, the black- 

plant.] In Keora oil, an essential oil obtained from 

the male flowers of Pandanus odoratissimus also 

; 

called Ketgee oil. 1858 SIMMONDS Diet. Trade. 

Keorfen, keorven, 

obs. inf. of CARVE v. 

Kep (kep), v. Sc. and north, dial. Also 6 kepp, 

8 keap, kaip, 9 cape. [Differentiated form of 

KEF.P v. (cf. s. v. senses 6, 7, 8), the short vowel of 

the t. pa. kept having been carried into the present 

and infinitive. In some Sc. dialects, now cape 

Qffp), with abnormal lengthening.] 

1. trans. To meet, intercept, throw oneself in the 

way of (a person or thing) ; to stop the course of; 

to receive the force of (a blow) ; t to catch hold of. 

c 1400 Destr. Troy 6875 Eneas to Aiax angarely rode, 

And he keppit hym cantly with a kene spere. c 1420 A nturs 

of Arth. >Douce MS.) 618 Gawayne bi be coler keppes 

[Thornton MS. clekis] be kni;te. 1513 DOUGLAS jEneis 

x. xiii. 97 The bytand brand vphevyt keppit he. 1596 

DALRYMPLE tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. II. 165 Thay prepare, .and 

quiklie cumis furth to kepp the Scottis in thair cinning. 

1620 A. HUME Brit. Tongue iv. (1865) 12 Thre be, as it 

were, hammeres stryking, and the rest stiddies, kepping the 

slrakes of the hammeres. Ibid. v. 14 Behind the voual, if 

a consonant kep it, we sound it 

alwayes as a k. 1793 T. 

SCOTT Poems 364 (E. D. D.) Whare Benlomond keps, an' 

cleaves the cluds. 1862 G. MACDONALD D. Elginorod I. 68 

(K. D. D.) I'm no gaein to kep her at ilka turn. 

674 

2. To catch, in the hands or otherwise, so as to 

prevent from falling ; to catch (falling liquid) as 

in a vessel. 

1500-10 DUNBAR Poems xiii. 30 Sum standis besyd and 

skaild law keppis. 1573 Satir. farms Reform, xxxix. 88 

Thay.. keppit standfulis [of water] at the sklatis thair in. 

1637 RUTHERFORD Lift. (1862) I. 385, I shall be glad., 

to kep and receive the off-fallings .. that fall from His 

sweet fingers. 1691 RAY N. C. Words 40 To kep a Ball, is 

to catch it; to keep it from falling. Is?.. Sang; Lords 

Marie (Jam.), The Lords Marie has kepp'd her locks Up 

About six years ago, she was without God in the world, 

being a kept mistress. 1897 Allbutfs Syst. Med. IV. 363 

A kept woman ..having been deserted by her protector, took 

to furious drinking. 

b. Financially supported by, and in consequence 

under the private control of, interested persons. 

1888 Pall Mall G, 29 Sept. 7/2 Mr. Chamberlain, speaking 

at Nottingham, is reported to have said, '..The Irish party 

is a kept party '. 1900 Daily News 23 Feb. 6/4 The confederacy 

of international financiers working through a kept 

Press. 

2. Maintained in ordinary or good condition. 

1856 OLMS-CKD Stave States 6 The kept grounds are very 

limited, and in simple but quiet taste. 1897 MARY KINGSLEY 

W. Africa 67 Every village having a kept piece of ground 

outside it which is the dancing place for the village. 

fKer, kerre, obs. ff. CAURS, wet marsh, fen. 

Ker, kerr, variant of CAB a., left. 

Ker- (also occasionally ke-, ca-, ka-). U. S. 

mdgar. The first element in numerous onomatopceic 

or echoic formations intended to imitate the sound 

or the effect of the fall of some heavy body, as 

kerchunk, -flop, -plunk, -slam, -slap, -slash, -souse, 

-swash, -swosh, -thump, -whop, etc. 

1843 Major Jones's Courtship i. (Farmer), Kerslash 1 I 

went rite over Miss Stallinses spinnin* wheel onto the floor. 

Ibid. (Bartlett), Kerslosh he went into a tub of water. 1850 

Americans at Home I. (ibid.), The dugout hadn't leaped 

more'n six lengths from the bank, afore.. ke-souse I went. 

1875 My Opin. iff Betsey Boobet's 99, I fell kerslap 

over a rail 

that lay in the grass. 1885 J. RUNCIMAN Skippers ff Shellbacks 

85 They hoists him over and lets him go ker-whop. 

1897 Outing(\S. S.) XXX. 127/2 Across the lower end of the 

. . swamp back we go kerslosh-kersplash for another quarter 

of a mile. 1899 F. T. BULLEN Way Navy 52 Down came 

the bunch of sacks kerslam on the deck below. 

KEEATO-. 

Kera- (ke-ra), from Gr. xipas horn, occas. used 

in combination in place of KEKATO-, as Keracele 

(ke'rasil), [Gr. /tr/Ai; tumour], a horny tumour of 

the external surface of the hoof of the horse (Syd. 

Soc. Lex. 1887). Keralite [-LITE], hornstone. 

Keraphy llite [Gr. $v\\ov leaf], a variety of 

hornblende (Watts Diet. Chem. 1865-72). Kera.phyllous 

a. Meci., consisting of horny laminae 

(Syd. Soc. Lex.) Ke-ratome = keratotome : see 

KERATO- ; hence Kera'tomy, keratotomy. 

1811 PINKERTON Pctral. II. 51 Keralite, with Chlorite. .. 

This combination often forms the green keralite. 1874 

LAWSON Dis. Eye 160 Having made the section.. either with 

a large .keratome or with Graefe's cataract knife. 

cap; Kentish plover, a ring-plover, ^gialilis 

cantianus, in Britain chiefly confined to Kent; 

Kentish rag, a hard compact limestone found in 

Kent, used for paving and building; Kentish 

tern, the Sandwich tern, Sterna cantiaca. 

1703 MOXON Meek. Exerc. 239 Plain Work is done with 

the Grey "Kentish Bricks. 1766 C. LEADBETTER Royal 

Ganger n. xiv. (ed. 6) 372 Names of : 'Kentish 

Paper Cap. 

Dimensions of each Sheet Length 21$ Bread. r8. 156* Act 

8 Elii. c. 6 2 Anye Clothe commonly called *Kentyshe 

same with that [of].. cousins germans quite remov'd. 1893 

P. H. EMERSON Lagoons (1896) 156 (E. D. D.) We saw a 

hawk chasing a "Kentish crow. 1834 LD. WINCHELSEA Sp. 

at Dublin, 15 Aug. (Reddall Fact, Fancy ff Fable, 1889,301) 

Let it be given with "Kentish Fire. 1883 CHAMBERLAIN Sp. at 

B'ham 30 Mar., The cheers.. are your prompt reply to the 

Kentish-fire with which Birmingham Tories are wont to solace 

themselves. 1891 W. C. SYDNEY Enr. in MA C. I. 358 Gangs 

of fortyorfifty' 'Kentish Knockers , as these smugglers were 

called. 1844 Zoologist 11.620 Blackcap. ..It is frequt 

called the ' 

ap. 

..It is frequently 

"Kentish nightingale ', which epithet it dese:rves. 

breeding place in Britain limited to the pebbly beach 

between Sandwich and Hastings. 1769 De Foe's Tour Gt. 

Brit. I. 158 From the Weald of Kent, .they bring. .A Kind 

of Paving Stone, called 'Kentish-rags. 1879 RUTLEY Study 

Rocks iii. 20 Some, .as the Kentish rag, afford good building 

stones. 17*0 GAY Poems (1745) II. 100 Thy trembling 

lip.. Red as the cherry from the "Kentish tree. 

Hence Ke ntishly aiiv., in the Kentish manner. 

1588 W. KEMPE Educ. Childr. Civ, Yea, in one house, we 

heare one speake Northernly, another Westernly, another 

Kentishly. 

Kentle, obs. form of QUINTAL. 

Kentledge (ke-ntledg). Mmf. Forms : 7 

kiutledge, kinttlidge, 7-8 kintlage, 8 kent(i)lage, 

9 kentledge. [Of obscure origin. 

?f. ktntle, kental, kintal, QUINTAL + -AGE ; cf. dunnage.} 

Pig-iron used as permanent ballast, usually laid 

upon the kelson-plates. Also attrib. 

1607 KEELING in Purchas Pilgrims (1625) in. vi. 2. igr 

Our too great quantitie of kintledge goods, maketh our 

ship to labour marvellously. 1626 CAPT. SMITH Accid. 

Yng. Seamen 13 Ballast, kintlage, canting Coynes. 1723 

Lond. Gaz. No. 6116/2 The Iron Kentilage from aboard the 

Carnarvon. 1860 H.GoUGER hnprisonnt. Burinah x. nr 

Logs of pure silver, shaped like pieces of ship's kentledge, 

but. .wanting the handle with which kentledge is furnished 

for the convenience of lifting. 1892 Fall Mall G. 3 Oct. 

3/2 In order to give.. greater stability.. nearly 

one hundred 

tons of iron pigs or 'kentledge ' 

was fitted into the open 

spaces along the keelson between her frame*. 

Kentrolite (ke-ntnflsit). Min. [f. (1880) 

Gr. KtvTfo-v sharp point + -LITE.] A silicate of 

lead and manganese, in small sharp-pointed crystals. 

1882 DANA Mm. App. in. 65 Websky calls attention to the 

fact that the angles of kentrolite agree very closely with 

those of descloizite. 

t Kenyon, variant of CANION, Obs. 

1588 Lane, ff Chesh. Wills III. 139 One new paire of 

round hose..lyned w th satten and the kenyons of tuftafita. 

t Keo, variant of KAE, Co, jackdaw, Obs. 

1440 Pramf. Parv. 272/1 Keo, or chowghe, supra in 

cadaw, et infra in koo, bryd, moticdttla. 

II Keora (k,6'ra). E. Ind. [Hindi keora the 

manly breast, a 1802 Lanckin x. in Child Ballads iv. 

332/3 A bason . . To cape this ladie's blood, a 1856 J. 

' 

BALLANTYNE Song, Confide ye ay in Providence', Ilka 

blade o' grass keps its ain drap o* dew. 

\ b. To kep skailh, to ' 

catch ' 

or receive harm. 

1572 Satir. Poems Refortn. xxxi. 14 That nane of gow kep 

ony skayth For laik of Premonitioun. 1721 RAMSAY Fygar 

rub her iv, Laying a' thewyte On you, if she kepp ony skaith. 

Hence Kep sb., a catch a haul also in ; ; Mining 

= KEEP sb. 4

KERATODE. 

Solution Keratonyxis consists in breaking-up with a fine 

needle the central portion of the capsule of the lens 1774 

GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. VIII. 197 Corahnes,.. sponges astroites 

and 'keratophytes. T&)T Allbutt s Syst. Med. II. 79 Boeckmann 

and Kaurm have found *Keratotomy sometimes of 

use in saving a cornea from a growth [of leprosy] encroaching 

from the sclerotic. 

Keratode (ke-rato'd). [ad. Gr. Kt/MTwSrjs 

horn-like, f. Kipas, Ktpar- horn.] = KERATOSE sb. 

1872 NICHOLSON Palxont. 67 The ordinary sponges of 

commerce, in which the skeleton is composed of a horny 

substance called 'keratode'. 

Keratoid (ke-ratoid), a. fad. Gr. Kf/xwofiSjjs 

horn-like : see prec. and -DID.] 

1. Math. Resembling a horn in shape. Keratoid 

cusp: a cusp at which the two branches of the 

curve lie on opposite sides of the common tangent; 

a cusp of the first species. 

1873 SALMON Higher Plane Curves 46 These two kinds of 

cusps have been called keratoid and ramphoid from a fancied 

resemblance to the forms of a horn and a beak. 1875 Too- 

HUNTER Diff. Calc. (ed. 7) xxii. 301 Cusps of the first 

species have been called ' 

keratoid '. cusps 

2. Resembling horn in substance. 

1885-8 FAGGE & PVE-SMITH Princ. Mcd. (ed. z) I. j 17 The 

analogy of keratoid carcinoma, .suggests that they may be 

in great part made up of pre-existing tissue elements. 

Keratose (ke'rat

KBBPED. 

1678 PHILLIPS (ed. 4) App. s. v., Among Woodmen Kerf 

signifieth a parcel of Loppings of wood. 1730 in Swayne 

Ckurchw. Ace. Sarum (1896) 35 Carrying away a Kerfc 

of half a foot of earth. 1800 Cent. Diet., Kerf, in a clothshearing 

machine, the woof taken off in one passage through 

the cutter. 

5. Comb, as êrf-shears. 

6 in Rilcy Mem. London (1868) 283 [4 small] anfeldes 

[for goldsmiths, and z] ketfsheres. 

1- 

Hence Ke-rfed a., having kerfs or slits. KeTflng 

machine, a machine for sawing kerfs in a board 

(Knight Diet. Meth. 1875). 

Kerf, obs. pa. t. of CABVB v. 

IlKeri (krf) Heb. O. T. Also k'ri, q'ri. 

[Heb., imp. of lp q3.r& to read.] In the Hebrew 

text of the O. T., the word, given in the margin, 

to be substituted in reading for that standing in 

the text (KETHlB), the latter having been retained by 

the Masoretes as evidenced by MSS. or tradition, 

though considered erroneous or unintelligible. 

1644 MILTON Areof. (Arb.) 46 Ask a Talmudest what ails 

the modesty of his marginall Keri, that Moses and all the 

Prophets cannot persuade him to pronounce the textual! 

Chetiv. 1659 BP. WALTON Consul. Considered 112 Certain 

marginal notes in the Hebrew Bibles, where the Keri is the 

word that must be read, placed in the margin, with a : "p 

the Ketib, or word written in the text, marked with a little 

circle or cipher. 1881 W. R. SMITH Old Test, in Jew. Ck. 

iii 16 These notes are called Keris, the word Keri being 

the imperative ' 

read ! The expression actually written in 

the text, but not uttered is called Kethib (written). 

Kerije, variants of KEIBI, KEBBIE. 

tEerimery. Obs. rare. Also kermery, 

kyrymyry. [a. AF. ? kyrymyty, kermery ^\ Filigree 

work. 

1414 in Sir F. Palgrave Antient Kal. tr Invent. (1836) II. 

117 Item i hanap d ore coyre del ovrage d un kyrymyry. 

1437 Ibid. 166 Item i peire basyns d arg dorrez chacez 

& pounsonez. .faitzde kermery. 2449 Ibid. 202 Item i cuppe 

of gold coverd of kerimery werk. 

Kerioil (kio-ri^n). Path. [a. Gr. Krjpiov, lit. 

'honey-comb'.] A pustular folliculitis of the 

scalp (Quain Diet. Med. 1882). 

Kerite (ki'rsit). [f. Gr. ni]p-6s wax + -ITU 1 ; 

named by the inventor A. G. Day (1866).] A kind 

of artificial caoutchouc for coating telegraph wires, 

made with tar or asphaltum, oils and sulphur. 

1873 KNIGHT Meek. Diet. s. v.. The principal use of kerite 

has been as an insulating material in telegraphy. 

t Kerl(e, obs. forms of CAUL sAj 

1489 CAXTON Blanchardyn 173 Men sayen 

that 'of a 

kerle may nought come but poyson and fylth '. 1654 GAYTON 

Pleas. Notes in. i. 65 As the Scotch Kerle saith. 

Kerlew(e, obs. forms of CURLEW. 

Kerling, variant oicarling, CARLINE*. 

Kerloc(;k, variants of CHARLOCK: cf. KEDLOCK. 

a. 1387 Sinaii. Barthol. (Anecd. Oxon.) 36 Rapistntm, i. 

Uerloc. 1879 BRITTEN & HOLLAND Plant-n., Kerlock [in 

Gloucester, etc.]. 

Kermes (ka-imft, -mez). Forms: 6-7chermez, 

(8 chermes), 7 kermez, (eremes), 7- kermes. 

See also ALKERMES. [= F. kermis, It. chermes,^ 

Sp. carmes, Pg. Ttermes, ad. Ar. and Pers. ',*/ 

qirmiz (whence also carmine, cramoisy, crimson}.'] 

1. The pregnant female of the insect Coccus ilicis, 

formerly supposed to be a berry ; gathered in large 

quantities from a species of evergreen oak in S. 

Europe and N. Africa, for use in dyeing, and formerly 

in medicine; the red dye-stuff consisting of 

the dried bodies of these insects = ; ALKERMES I. 

1610 W. FOLKINGHAM Art of Survey iv. ii. 8t Drugs, 

as Mechoacan, Kermez, Methium, [etc.]. 1626 BACON 

Sylva 738 The Scarlet Powder, which they rail Kermez. 

1741 Compl. Fam. -Piece I. iv. 245 To which add Juice of 

Chernres i Pound. 1774 GoLDSM- Nat. Hist. (1862) II. IV. 

vi. 551 An insect of great use in medicine, is that . . known 

by the name of the Kermes. 1816 J. SMITH Panorama Sc. 

if Art II. 537 Kermes has not been much used since the 

art of brightening cochineal with tin was discovered. 1865 

Morn. Star 5 Apr., 

Plants infested by the aphis grub, 

weevil, kermes, cochineal, or tipula. 

2. The small evergreen species of oak ( Quercus 

cocci/era) on which this insect lives. More fully 

kermes oak. 

1598 SYLVESTER Du Sartas II. i. I. Eden 600 There grows 

..the Chermez. which on each side arms, With pointed 

prickles, all his precious arms. 1718 OZKI.I. tr Toiirne/orfs 

Voy. I. 177 The island, .is fertile in fine plants, and covered 

with Lentisks, Kermes, and Cistus's. 1858 HOGG Veg. 

Kingd. 698 Qucrcns cocci/era, .is called the Kermes Oak. 

3. Amorphous trisulphide of antimony, of a 

brilliant red colour. More fully kermes mineral. 

'753 CHAMBERS Cycl. Stiff, s. v., The kermes mineral was 

a preparation of Glauber, .made public in 1720. Ibid., The 

more the kermes contains of a regulus easily revivified, the 

more It 

proves emetic. 1706 KIHWAN Elem. Min. (ed. 2) 

II. 251 Mr. Sage thinks it [Red Antimonial ore] a natural 

Juwnes. 1831 J. DAVIES Manual Mat. Med. 328 When 

administered in the dose of a few grains, kermes acts as an 

emetic. 1857 SF.MPLE Diphtheria 10 Kermes mineral. 

4. attnb. and Comb., as kermes-berry , grain, 

insect (= sense i) ; kermes lake (see quot. 1850). 

1671 RAY Corr. (1848) 46, I did not then suspect it to be 

anything akin to the Kermes kind. 1673 Journ. Low C. 

457 As for the grains themselves they are so like the 

Kermes grains. 1676 GREW Expcr. Luctat. Mtnstr. i. 

I 15 Kermes-berries, commonly, but ignorantly, so called. 

676 

1841 Penny Cycl. XIX. 213/2 The Kermes insect, which 

yields 

so brilliant and permanent a blood-red dye. 1850 

WEALE Diet. Terms, Kermes lafte t an ancient pigment. 

Kermesite (ka-jmezait). Min, [Named 1832, 

f. KERMES -T--ITE 1 .] Native red antimony, a compound 

of the oxide and sulphide, occurring in 

six-sided prismatic crystals of a cherry-red colour. 

1843 E. J. CHAPMAN Min. 61 Kermesite. Sulphuret of Oxide 

of Antimony. 1887 MALLET Min. India 62 Kermesite and 

cervantite are found in connection with, .stibuite. 

II Kermis (kdumis) . Forms : 6 kirkemesse, 

7 carrnas, kermas, kirmish, 7- kermis, 8 kearmas, 

9 kermess(e, kirmessê. [a. Du. kermis 

(earlier ker-, kirmisse : orig. kerk-^ kirkmisse}, 

f. kirk KIRK + mis MASS : cf. MHG. kirmesse^ 

G. kirmes, kirms (also kirckmesse), OFris. tserk- 

mt'sse, ON. kirkjumessa (Norw. ^kjorntes, -messe) ; 

F. kermesse\ orig. the mass or service on the anniversary 

of the dedication of a church, on which 

also was held a yearly fair or festival. (Cf. St.Giles's 

Fair in Oxford.)] In the Low Countries, parts of 

Germany, etc.: A periodical (properly, annual) 

fair or carnival, characterized by much noisy merrymaking. 

Also U. S. an imitation of this, usually 

got up for charitable purposes. 

1577 HARRISON England n. xviii. (1877) i. 303 Albeit some 

of them [fairs] are not much better than the common 

kiikemesses beyond the sea, yet there are diuerse not 

inferiour to the greatest marts in Europe. i6zx L. WHIT- 

AKER in Coryat Crambe b ij a, Dutch Pappigeay and 

Carmas gay [Margin, A kind of drunken Dutch faire held 

on Sundaies and holidaies in afternoones in Sommer time]. 

1641 EVELYN Diary 28 July, It was now Kermas, or 

a fair, in this town. 1695 DKVDEN Parall. Poetry fy Paint, 

Wks. 1821 XVII. 305 The paintingof clowns, the representation 

of a Dutch kermis. 1756 MRS. CALDERWOOD Lett, # 

Jrnls. (1884) 108 As we came through Harlem, it was 

Kearmas, which is a great fair, which all the towns in 

Holland hold once every year. 1818 Blackw. Mag, III. 

406 It would, .have done the readers good, To see the pair 

to kerk or kermis going. 1883 G. H. BOUGHTON in Harpers 

Mag. Apr. 690/1 He arrived during the wildest powwow 

of the ' 

kermesse (Holland]. 1888 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 12 

Dec. i/8 Salem Mechanic Light Infantry Kirmess..is 

destined to prove a brilliant success. 

Kern, kerne (k5jn), $bJ> Forms : 4- kerne, 

6 karn(e, 6-8 kearne, 6- kern. [ad. Ir. ceithern^ 

(ceatharri}, pronounced (Iwhern) or (kd'arn), Olr. 

ceitern t OCelt. keterna, a band of foot-soldiers ; 

adopted in Eng. not only in its collective sense, 

but also to denote an individual soldier, = the Irish 

ceithearnach, ceatharnach, whence KERNAUGH. Cf. 

KETHERIN and CATERAN, representing adoptions of 

ceithern or the synonymous Sc. Gael, ceatharn^ 

at a time when the dental was still pronounced. 

Stanyhurst (Descr, IreL viii.) gives a fanciful derivation of 

ceithern from ccath or cith shower, and ifrinn hell. 

'Kerne signifieth (as noble men of deepe judgement informed 

me) a shower of hell, because they are taken for no 

better than for rakehels.' In later Irish cearn (for ccatharn} 

is used in the sense of ' 

banditti '.] 

1. Hist. A light-armed Irish foot-soldier (cf. 

quot. 1600) ; one of the poorer class among the 

' 

wild Irish*, from whom such soldiers were drawn. 

(Sometimes applied to Scottish Highlanders.) 

Stanyhurst divides the followers of an Irish chief into five 

classes daUirls or boys, grooms, kerns, gallowglasses, and 

horsemen. 

1351 Ordin. Ditbl. $ Kilk. ii. in loM Rep. Hist. MSS. 

Coinm. App. v. 257 Si nul..ne tiegne kernes, hobelours ne 

udives gentz en terre. lbid.> Que kerne ou nul altreprenge 

nul manere des vitailles ou altre biens. 1358 Ord. Hibern.^ 

31 Ediv. ///, m. ii, 12 (Blount Law Diet.) Nee non de illis 

qui dicuntur homines ociosi, et malefactoribus, qui etiam 

Kernys dicuntur. 1433 Rolls Parlt. IV. 199/1 What tyme 

the same Kernes hadde hym in governance, they bette hym. 

1556 W. TOWRSON in Hakluyt Voy. (1589) 112 The South 

which were wilde 

with barbed heades, or els 3 dartes. 1700 DRYDEN Fables 

Ded. 58 Hibernia, at 

prostrate your feet. ..The sturdy 

kerns in due subjection stand. 1810 SCOTT Lady of L. v. 

xiv, Soars thy presumption then so high Because a wretched 

kern ye slew? 1873 DIXON Two Queens I. iv. viii. 227 He 

was.. bribing Irish kernes to rise against the English rule, 

b. In collective sense ; f orig. a troop or band 

of Irish foot-soldiers (obs.\ 

1422 tr. Secreta Secret,, Priv. Priv. 133 He slowe the 

same Waltere wyth a grete kerne dyscomfitid. 1550 Acts 

Privy Counc. Eng. (1891) III. 70 To paie the waiges of the 

Kerne being at Chester and at London. 1612 DAVIES Why 

Ireland, etc. (1787) 182 Horsemen and kern should not be 

by them. 1633 T. STAFFORD Pac. Hib. i. iv. (1810) 58 lohn 

Fitz Thomas accompanied with one hundred Kerne. 1813 

SCOTT Rokeby v. x, I've seen a ring of rugged kerne, With 

aspects shaggy, wild, and stern. 187* Deeside Tales 125 

(E. D. D.) The kern were makan* aff wi' a stirkie frae 

Rhtneton as well. 

2. transf, A rustic, peasant, boor ; ^contemptuously 

vagabond, rascal (obs.}. 

Now rare. 

1553 GRJMALDE Cicero's Offices n. (i 558) 82 He commaunded 

a kerne and hym also, .be prynted with Thracean markes, 

to goo beefore with a drawne swoorde. 1582 STANYHURST 

sErteis n. (Arb.) 43 What curst Myrmidones, what karne 

of canckred Vlisses? 1600 HOLLAND Livy in. Ixix. 135 The 

, rocks 

] Salt.. 

| 

; Norw. 

| *kumjan, 

KERNAUGH. 

countrie kernes that fled (to Rome,), .reported more foule 

and cruell outrages. 1656 BLOUNT Clossogr. s. v., We take 

a Kern most commonly for a Farmer or Country Bumpkin. 

1856 W. E. AYTOUN Both-well (1857) 2 The villain kernes 

Who keep me fettered here. 

>2 rare. [A word of late : 

appearance 

related to KERN v.i and KERNEL. Cf. MDu. 

kern(e, (Du. kern\ OHG. cherno (MHG. kerne, 

G. kern), ON. kjarni (Da. kserne, Sw. kdrnd) 

kernel, pip, etc. ; but it may repr. an OE. *cyme ; 

cf. Norw. kyrne grain, and see CUBN j.] 

f 1. Kernel (of a nut). Obs. 

1570 LEVINS Manip. 81/39 Kerne of a nut, nucleus. 

2. A grain (of wheat, sand, etc.). Hence Kern- 

stone, ? coarse-grained sandstone; or perh. oolite. 

1753 CHAMBERS Cycl. Sitpp. s. v. Kern-stone, The little 

grains of sand are still visible In all parts of this stone, and 

are what induced the people to call it kerti stone, as 

they 

caU these kerns, or kernels. 1867 ROCK Jim an' JvV//cxiii, 

With that Jones hulled out a kern. 1880 BLACKMORE 

Mary Anerley I. 57 Grained with kerns of maxim'd thought. 

Kern (kain), sb$ Printing. [For *carn, a. F. 

carne * 

projecting angle, nib of a quill pen', a 

northern form (for *charne) : L. cardinem hinge.] 

A part of a metal type projecting beyond the body 

or shank, as the curled head of f and tail of j, as 

formerly made, and parts of some italic letters. 

(Cf. KERNED///, a.*) 

1683 MOXOH Meek. Exerc., Printing xix. F 7 Every next 

Letter is turned with its Nick downwards, that the Kern of 

each Letter may lie over the Beard of its next. 1824 

J. JOHNSON Typogr. II. 655 Kern of a Letter , that part 

which hangs over the body or shank. 

Kern (kain), t/.l Now chiefly dial. Forms: 3-4 

curne, 4 kurne, 4-7 kerne, 7 kearn, (quern), 7- 

kern. [ME. kerne, curne (cf. G. kornen, kurnen, 

kyrnat), app. repr. OE. : *cyrnan OTeut. 

f. : see hump- CORN sbl 

An OE. cyrnian is app. implied in the obscure gloss 

vecyrnodc (cambas) in Napier's O. E. Glosses 26/15.] 

1. intr. Of corn : To form the hard grains in the 

ear, to seed ; = CORN v. 6. Also of fruit : To set. 

1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 10044 pe bridde time JK> grene corn 

in somerssolde curne. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret. Priv, , Priv. 

141 Reyne .. makyth herbis .. cornys, treis and rootes 

sprynge, blowe, and kerne. 1591 PERCIVALL Sp. Dict. t 

Granar^ to kerne as corne doth, in gran a. dnrescere. 1699 

Poor Man's Plea 5 The continued good Weather, .gave the 

Corn so much time to knit and kearn, as they call it. 

J744-SO W. ELLIS Mod. Hitsbandm. III. 1. 150 Unlesswheat 

blooms well, it cannot kern well. 1880 W. Cornwall Gloss. 

s.v. Kerned^ ' The apple blowths have kerned '. 1897 BLACK- 

MORE Dariel 63 Whfle the corn began to kern. 

yb. trans. To make into hard grains, Obs. 

a 1571 jEVfVLStrM.Afatt.ix. 37-8 The corn., was ripened, 

and kerned by the Spirit of God. a 1722 LISLE Husb. (1752) 

159, I told in those cnests five compleat grains full kerned. 

f 2. trans. To cause to granulate; to make (salt) 

into grains = ; COEN v. i. Obs. 

1600 HAKLUYT Voy. (1810) III. 147 Salt kerned on the 

very white. 1628 The World Enc. by Sir F. Drake 9 

is increased upon the sands by the flowing of the sea, 

andtheheate of the Sunne kerning the same. ij*6G. ROBERTS 

4 years' Voy. 262 If too deep, those Hollows, .could not, in 

so short time, kern any Salt. 

b. To cover with crystalline grains of salt; 

to salt (meat) = CORN v. ; 3. Obs. exc. dial. 

1613 PURCHAS Pilgrimage (1614) 333 nole If., a bird 

t 

toucheth it with her wings they are kerned with salt. 1687 

RYCAUT Hist. Tnrkes II. 101 Masts, Yards, and Decks 

were querned with a white Salt. 1721 BAILEY, To Kern^ 

to corn, to salt or powder, as Beef, Pork, etc. 1886 ELWORTHY 

W. Somerset IVord-bk. s. v. Kerned^ That'll be a beautiful 

bit when he's well a kerned not to zalt. 

C. intr. Of salt, sugar, etc. : To 

crystallize in 

grains; to granulate ; =CoRN v. 2. Obs.zm.dial. 

1657 R. LIGON Barbadoes (1673) 90 A liquor. .which they 

Temper, without which, the Sugar would continue a 

! call 

part of Irelande . . The country people 

! Kernes. 1593 SHAKS. Rich. //, n- i. 156 Now for our Irish Clammy substance and never kerne. 1697 DAMPIER Voy. L 

! iii. 

warres, We must supplant those rough rug-headed Kernes, 

56 The Salt begins 

Which Hue like venom. 1600 DYMMOK Ireland (1843) 7 

The kerne is a kinde of footeman, sleightly armed with a 

sworde, a targett of woode, or a bow and sheafe of arrows 

to kern, or grain, in April. 1753 in 

! CHAMBERS Cycl. Suj>p. s.v. [of salt]. 1880 Ii7 . Cornwall 

Gloss, s. v. Kerned, Metal fixed or concreted around quartz 

is also said 

j 

' 

to have kerned '. 

F Halli well's kerne ' 

to sow with corn ', copied by later Diets., 

i is an error : in Purvey's Isa. xxviii. 24, misquoted by him, the 

i correct reading is fierue, carve. The old ed. of Roland 

KERNED. 

labouring man in husbandry nor horseboy, nor kernaugh shall 

not buy any horse. iSzx D. STEWART Highlanders Scot 

(1825) I. 11. 40 There was a peculiar class called Kearnachs. 

of these Kearnachs died in my remembrance. 

. . Some 

Kerned (kamd),///. a.i [f. KEK.V w.i] 

a. Of cereal grains or fruit: (111 or well) formed, 

set, or hardened. Said also of a crop, f b. Of salt : 

(Small, large, hard, etc.) -grained. 06s. C. dial. 

- CORNED a.l 2. d. Of ore : see quot. 1850. 

i6oa CAREW Cornwall 20 b, An ill kerned, or saued Harvest 

soone emptieth their old store, c 1681 J. COLLINS Salt * 

1-isliery 53 It is a pure hard kerned Salt. 1847-78 HALLI- 

WF.LL, Kerned beef, salted beef. Hants. 1850 WEALE Diet, 

rerms, Kerned, a term applied to a heap of mundic or 

C P P er or e harjencd b 

D / , , , 

y , , 

lying exposed to the sun. 1865 

Fall Mall G. it July 5/2 The straw was about six feet 

lone, and the grain exceedingly well kerned 

Kerned (kSind), ppl. a.Z Printing, [f. KERN 

v2] Said of a type which has its top or bottom 

projecting beyond the square metal or shank. 

1683 [see KERN .']. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury m. 122/2 

Kern, or Kerned Letter; such as have part of their face 

hanging over., their Shanks. 1814 J. JOHNSON Typogr.ll. 

22 In Roman, f and j are the only kerned letters; but, in 

Italic, d, g,j, /,_yare kerned on one side, and/on both sides 

of its face._ Ibid., Most Italic capitals are kerned on one 

side of their face. 

[Kerned, error for kerued, CARVED, castrated. 

1655 MOUFET & BENNET Health's Improv. (1746) 126 

Beasts, kerned Fowls, and barren Fish. .as an Ox amongst 

Beasts, a Capon amongst Birds, and a Pike wounded in the 

Belly. 1661 LOVELL Hist. Anim. f, Min. Isagoge, The 

males are more strong . . but the kerned are ofa better nature.] 

Kernel (ka-jnel), rf.l Forms : a. i cyrnel, 

2-6 curnel, (3-6 kurnel, 5 curnyll, 6- -ell), 

5-8 cornel, (6 -ell), 6 coornel(l. ft 3-7 kirnel, 

(4 -elle, 6-7 -ell), 5-6 kyrnel, (-ele, etc.) 7. 

5-7 kernell, -e, 4- kernel. S. 4-6 karnel, 4-7 

caruell, (6 -ill), 5-7 oarnel. [OK cyrnel, dim. of 

corn seed, grain, CoRN:-OTeut. *kurnih-. Cf. 

(without umlaut) MHG. kornel a grain, MDu. 

cornel coarse meal ; also MDu. kernel (f. kern; see 

KERN sb.-*). 

OE. cyrnel gave ME. curnel in south. 

and kirnel in midl. and north, dial.; from curnel 

came cornel, coornel, while kirnel became kernel, 

whence again camel.] 

1 1. A seed ; esp. the seed contained within any 

fruit the ; pip of an apple or similar fruit a ; grapestone. 

06s. exc. dial, 

. ciooo AL.LFSIC Horn. 1.236 Men JeseoS oft bait of nnum 

lytlum cyrnele cymS micel treow. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 

7/218 Ane Appel bare-of he nam And bi-tok Seth breo 

curneles bar-of. 13.. Creation (Vernon MS.) in Horstm. 

Altengl. Leg. (1878) 226 preo curnels of an appel be angel 

tok. c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. x. 163 By cornels or sleuynge 

The bisynesse of settynge [apples] ful wel spende is. 1573 

MASCALL Pla'nt. ff Graff. (1592) 61 Apples, . . in a leape 

yeere (as some do say) the Curnelles or Pepines, are turned 

contrarie. 1653 J. HALL Paradoxes 96 They may dye by 

the cornel of the grape. 1738 [G. SMITH] Curious Relat. 

II. v. 150 1'ake some of the Cornels of Pine-Apples. 

/3. 01300 Cursor M. 1385 Mani kirnels of a tre mast. 

(71400-50 Alexander 2070 The kyng ..on be kirnels [ 

onion-seed] bote. 1:1440 Pronip. Pa>~u. 276/1 Kyrnel of 

fiutc, graituw, grancllum. TUSSER Husb. 1573, (1878) 85 

Sowe kirnels and hawe, where ridge ye did drawe. 1632 

SANDERSON Serin. 554 A kirnell sprowt and grow into a tree. 

y. 1493 Trcvisa's Earth. De P. R. xvn. cxxii. (VV. de W.) 

684 Whan the pyne appyll kernell shall be vsed : it nedyth to 

hete easely all the pyne appyll vpon coles. 1599 H. BUTTMS 

Dyets drie Dinner Cvij, Granatuni, or Pome-granate, of 

his multitude of grains or kernels. 1601 SHAKS. All's Well 

ii. iii. 276. 1650 FULLER Pisgah H. x. 219 Grapes of goodly 

greatness; yea the Hebrews report them to have been 

without any kernels. 1764 HARMER Observ. in. v. 209 

The pounded kernels of dates. 

1863 BARNES Dorset Gloss., 

AVrwr/,..commonlyapplied to the pips of pomaceous fruit. 

1. 1375 Cursor M. 1385 (Laud) Thise carnellis lest & most 

Come from the holy gost. 1373 Creation 800 in Horstm. 

Altengl. Leg. (1878) 134 pat angel ?af him bre Karnelis of 

bat appel-tre. 1534 MORE Treat, on Passion Wks. 1282/2 All 

the sowre crabes . . do take theyr sowrenes of the carnell 

whereof the tree grew. 1609 BIBLE (Douay) Ps. viii. Comm. , 

The huskes and camels [of grapes] cast to hogges. 

2. The softer (usually edible) part contained 

within the hard shell of a nut or stone-fruit. 

ciooo Sax. Leechd. III. 134 And obera hnutena cyrnlu. 

cii75 Lamb. Horn. 79 Me brekeS be nute for to habbene 

be curnel. c 1330 R. BRUNNE Citron. Wace (Rolls) 14682 

Luytel notes Jvey toke, & holede bem, be kerneles out schoke. 

1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. XL 253 After bat bitter barke Is a 

kirnelle \v. r. curnel] of conforte. 1-1440 Gcsta Rom. Ivi. 

373 (Addit. MS.) The ape wil gladly Etc the kyrnell of the 

note, for it is swete. 1526 Pilgr. Per/. (W. dc W. 1531) 5 b, 

As the shale of the nut to be broken that he may fede of the 

Cornell. 1583 STUBBES Anat. Abns. n. (1882) 72 Bicause 

he cannot come by the carnell at the first, will therefore cast 

awaie both the nut and the carnell. 1640 QUARLES Enchirid. 

II. xxxvi, He.. casts away the Kirnell, because hee hath 

lost the Shell. 1780 COWPER Progr. Err. 419 We slight the 

precious kernel of the stone, And toil to polish its rough 

coat alone. 1865 KINGSLEV Herevj. xii, A man . . so strong 

that he could shake a nut till the kernel went to powder. 

3. The body of a seed within its husk romismg well-husked nut, but only to find it kernelless. 

t Ke'rnelliug, vbl. sb. Obs. rare. [f. KERNEL 

z>.l + -ING 1.] The forming of kernels or grains. 

i53*-3 Act 24 Hen. VIII, c. 10 As well in the sowing of 

the same corne and grayne, as at the riping and kernelling 

of the same. 

t Ke'rnellish, a. Obs. rare 1 , 

[f. KERNEL 

st.l + -ISH i 2.] = KEBNELLY i ; glandular.

KERNELLY. 

1543 TRAHERON Vigo's Chirurg. I. x. 10 The other parte of 

iheMesenterium is kerncll 

a. Forms : see KEB- 

Kernelly, -ely (ks-jneh), 

KKL sA.i ['KEKNEL J*.i + -vj 

1 1. Of flesh : Consisting of; or full of, glands ; 

glandular. Obs. 

1398 TREVISA Barth. De P. R. v. Ixii. (MS. Bodl.) If. 3r/2 

pereis ke manere of flessche .. be brid is curnely. 154' 

COPLAND Guy Jon's Quest. Chirurg. Ciij, The other is .. 

cruddy and kyrnele. 1545 RAYNOLD Byrth Mankynde (1564) 

46 Karnels and fatnesse spread abroade euery where on the 

karnelly body. 1548-77 VICARY A nat. ii. (1888) 22 Glandulus, 

knotty, or kurnelly fleshe. 1683 A. SNAPE A nat. Horse i. 

xxiii. (1686) 48 These arc glandulous, or kernelly. 

t b. Containing granular concretions, rare- 1 , 

c 1400 Laxfranc's Cirurg. 93 pese ben be tokenes of be 

cnnkre..be Bppis ben grete, wan, or blak, hard, andwibinne 

kirnely [f. r. kernelly]. 

2. Of the nature of, or like, a kernel. 

*S5 MOUFET & BENNET Health's Iniprov. (1746) 148 A 

Sow . . her Throat [is never void] of Kernelly Apostcms. 1667 

Phil. Trans. II. 511 Kernelly and fleshy substances. 1840 

Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. I. iv. 384 A sweet kernelly taste. 

Hence Ke rnelliness, ' 

fulness of kernels ' 

( Bailey) . 

Kerner : see KEBN z. 2 

Kerning (ka-jnin), vbl. sbl [f. KERN f.l + 

-ING The !.] process of forming into grains seed- 

; 

ing ; granulation. Also attrib., as kerning-period, 

-season, -time; kerning-ground (see quot. 1732). 

1669 WORLIDGE Syst. Agric. (1681) 135 The greater 

Trees, in their blossoming and kerning-time. 1699 DAMPIER 

Voy. II. n. 43 The Indians whose business . . is to gather 

the Salt thus into Heaps, wait here by turns all the Kerning 

Season. 1732 W. ELLIS Pract. Fanner Gloss., Kerning 

ground is that which, drest well, will produce a great 

of corn,as gravel 

fuantity 

does. 1744-50 Mod. Huskandm. 

. i. 47 A better kerning of the blossoms. 1894 Agric. Gaz. 

16 July, The kerning period has been so favourable that 

there is every reason to expect a good yield in proportion to 

straw. 

Kerning (ka-inirj), vbl. sb.l [f. KERN v. ijr -ING 1.1 The operation of making kerns on type ; 

the making of kerned letters. Also attrib. as kern- 

ing-knife, -stick, tools used in kerning letters. 

1683 MOXON Klech. Excrc., Printing xix. f 5 This Kern- 

ing-stick is somewhat more than an Handful long. . . He 

also provides a Kerning-knife. 1788 Chambers's Cycl. s. v. 

Fonndery, These .. are scraped on the broad-sides with 

a knife or file. ..This operation is called kerning. 1824 

I. JOHNSON Typogr. 1 1. 22 The kerning of letters, it must 

be owned, may serve many good purposes. 

tKe*rni8h l

KERYGMA. 

II Kerygma (km-gma). [Gr. r//)uWa proclamation, 

preaching, f. mipvaativ to 

proclaim.] 

Preaching; proclamation of religious truth. 

1889 Dublin R . Apr. 315 My account of the 

and the Rule of Kerygma 

faith. ,894 

tr. Harnack's Hist. 

w. Dogma 

255 note, The traditional complex of the Christian 

Krygma. 1899 STALKER Christology of Jesus i. 

words of 

24 [The 

JesusJ are kerygma, not dogma ; nature, not science. 

Kerystic (kzri-stik), a. and sb. 

[ad. Gr. type 

*/n)pvo-TiKos, f. Kr/pvaativ to 

preach.] a. adj. Re 

lating to, of the nature of, preaching, b. sb. in pi 

The study of 

preaching. 

1882-3 SCHAFF Encycl. Relig. Knou'l. II. ion Some, .have 

' 

discarded the term 'homiletics altogether, and substitutec 

in its stead, as ' 

more comprehensive, kerystics '. 

Kes, Kesar, obs. forms of Kiss, K \ISER. 

dial, forms of KEX. 

Kesh, kesk, 

Kesh-work : see KISH si.T- 

Keskoo, keskossou, var. Couscous, -coussou 

1878 HOOKER & BALL Morocco 268 A dish of keskossou 

1891 HALL CAINE Scapegoat xxv, Fifty camels' load o 

keskoo. 

Keslep,-lip, -lop, northern ff.CHEESELiP,-LEpt 

'534-5 Durham Ace. Rolls (Surtees) 112 Et sol. pro le 

kesseloppes..4i. 1570 LEVINS Manif. 70/25 Keslep, renet 

bag coagulum. 1624 Nawrtli Househ. Bks. (Surtees) 216 

ij keslops, viij*. 

Kesse, obs. f. Kiss v. Kest, -e, obs. ff. CAST 

sb. and v. ; obs. pa.t. of Kiss v. Kesteyn, var. 

of CHESTEINE Obs. 

Kestrel (ke-strel). Forms: a. 6-7 castrell, 6-8 

-el, 6-9 -ill, 7-8 -il, -eril; kastrell, -il(l, -al, -el. 

0. 6-7 kist-, 7kest-, kaist-, keistrell, 6-kestrel, 

-il. 7. 7-9 ooistrell, -il, ooystrel, -il. [ME. 

castrel, app. corresp. (through *cas'rel, *casseret) to 

OF. cresserelle, crecerelle, quercerelle, mod. Poitevin 

casserelle. The ulterior etymology is obscure, and 

it is difficult to reconcile the different OF. forms 

with each other or the It. equivalents. See Godef., 

Cotgr., and Rolland Faime popul. de la France II. 

31. The rare coistre! is prob. due to confusion 

with COISTREL, groom, varlet.] 

1. A species of small hawk (Falco tinnunculus, 

or Tinnunculus alaudarius~), also called Stantiel 

or Windhover, remarkable for its habit of sustaining 

itself in the same place in the air with its head 

to the wind. The name is extended to about 15 

foreign species of the restricted genus Tinnunculus. 

a, 14.. Turn. Totenham, Feest ix, Ther was castrell in 

cambys. And capulls in cullys. 1577 B. GOOGE Heresbach's 

Husb m. (1586) 170 There is a kinde of Hauke, that natur- 

ally is terrible to other Haukes, and preserveth the Pigion : 

the common people call it Castrell. 1621 BURTON Anat. 

Mel. II. ii. IV (1651) 268 Some reclaime Ravens, Castnls, 

Pies, etc., and man them for their pleasures. 1726 LEONI 

tr. Albertis Archit. I 97/1 If in one corner, .you enclose a 

Kastrel, it will secure your Dove-house fiom birds of prey. 

1829 J. HOGG in FonrC. Eng Lett. (Camden) 421 The hills 

of Westmoreland that can nourish nothing better than a 

castrill or stone-chat ! 

&. 1602 znd Pt. Retitrn/r Parnass. \ ii, 175 Those eggs 

which have ben filcht from the nest[s] of Crowes and 

Kestrells. 1608 TOPSELL Serpents (1658) 655 Those kind of 

Hawks which are called Kaistrels or Fleingals, 1766 PEN- 

NANT Zool. (1768) I. 140 The kestril breeds in the hollows of 

trees. 1816 KIRBY & SP. Entomol. (1828) I. ix. 288 Among 

the Accipitres the kestril devours abundance of insects. 

1870 MORRIS Earthly Pur, II. in. 348 As on unheard wings 

The kestrel hangs above the mouse. 1893 NEWTON Did. 

Birds 479 Some of the islands of the Ethiopian Region 

have peculiar species of Kestrel, as the T. neivtoni of Madagascar. 

.and T gracilis of the Seychelles;, .the Kestrel of 

the Cape Verd Islands has been separated as T. neglectus. 

y. a 1613 OVERBURY A Wi/e. etc. (1638) 183 Like a 

Coistrell he strives to fill himselfe with wind, and flies 

against it. 1687 DRVDEN Hindtf P. in 1119. 1831 H. NEELE 

Romance Hist. I. 21, I would stake my noblest falcon 

against the vilest coystril in England. 

!& fig-> or in fig. context, applied to persons, 

usually with contemptuous force. 

1589 GREENE Menaphon (Arb.) 64 Nay I thought no 

lesse . . that you would prone such a kinde of kistreli. 1621 

FLETCHER Pilgrim i. i, But there is another in the wind 

some castrell That hovers over her. 1820 SCOTT Monast. 

xix, Thou art thyself a kite, and kestrel to boot. 

2. atlrib., as kestrel bird, breed, kind. 

1590 SPENSER F. Q. il iii. 4 In his kestrell kynd A pleasing 

vaine of glory he did fynd. 1596 NASHF. Saffron Walden 

K ij, One of these kistreli birds, called a wind-sucker. 1831 

H. NEELE Romance Hist. I. 194 A bird of such a coystril 

breed. 

Ket 1. Obs. exc. dial. Also 6 kytte. [a. ON. kj'ft 

(:-*ketwo m }, flesh, in mod. Icel. also ket (Sw. kbit, 

Da. kjd, kjjct).~\ Raw flesh ; carrion also ; fig. 

trash, rubbish. 

c 1220 Bestiary 438 He billeS one Se foxes fel, Wo so telleS 

idel spel, And he tireS on his ket Wo so him wi5 sinne fet 

[=feeds]. 1586 Scatter Manor Records in N. W. Line. 

Gloss., That no man throwe no kytte or caryon vnto the 

heighe waye. 1616 SURFL. & MARKH. Country Farwe 677 

Your raw flesh meate (which amongst huntsmen is called 

ke " 

ca 

nniiiKuv, t:.-.jj(-t.uni} Mict-jj, IM.IL ii.nc UIL-I.I t 

accident. 1893 Northumbld. Gloss., Ket. 

Comb. 1828 Craven Dial., Ket-craw, a carrion crow. 

Ket 2 . Sc. rare- 1 

, [cf. COT sb.V] 'A matted, 

hairy fleece of wool' (Jam.). 

679 

1782 BURNS Poor Mailie's Elegy vi, She was nae get 

o moorland tips, Wi' tawted ket, an' hairy hips. 

Ketate (kru't). Chem. [f. KET-ONE + -ATE* 1 

An ether of ketone. 

1892 MORLEY & MUIR Watii Diet. diem. III. 101/2 

Ketch (ket[), si.l JVaut. [Later form of cache, 

CATCH M, with e for a as in keg, kennel, kestrel, 

etc.] A strongly-built two-masted vessel, usually 

from 100 to 250 tons burden, formerly much used 

as a bomb-vessel (see BOMB-KETCH); now a 

similarly rigged small 

coasting vessel. 

: W 7 1 e CA Tf. H sb l6 

'} SS CROMWELL Let. 13 

in June 

Carlyle Those [dispatches] which were sent by a ketch 

immediately from hence. 1665 Loud. Gaz. No. 3/4 Thursday 

last the Drake Friggot, and a Ketch with Goods, 

were put back by the storms. 1720 DE FOE Catt. Singleton 

xvm. (1840) 315 She sailed.. with square sail and mizenmast, 

like a ketch. 1876 T. HARDY Etltelberta. II. 44 

Outside these lay the tanned sails of a ketch or smack 

b. attrib. and Comb., as ketch fashion, 'rig-, 

ketch-rigged *$. 

1819 REES Cycl. s. 

v., At present only a few coasting 

vessels are rigged ketch fashion. 1845 NICOLAS 

Nelson 

Disp. 

II. 177 La Vierge de Consolation, one hundred and 

twenty tons, ketch-rigged. 1891 Daily News 13 Feb. 3/5 

borne twelve thousand square feet of sail spread in what 

is known as the ' 

Salcombe ketch rig '. 

Ketch, sb.'t [See JACK KETCH.] The hangman. 

Hence Ketch v. trans., to hang; Ketchcraft, the 

hangman's craft. 

1681 T. FLATMAN Heraclitus Ridens No. 14 'Squire Ketch 

rejoices as much to hear of a new Vox, as an old Sexton 

does to hear of a new Delight. Ibid. No. 18 Well ! If he 

has a mind to be Ketch 'd, speed him say I. 1706 Wooden 

World Dissected (1708) So For a running Noose, this new 

Ketch is but a Fool to him. 1840 Fraser's Mag. XXI. 210 

Ignorant of many of the secrets of ketchcraft. 1859 MATSELL 

Vocab. s. v. (Farmer), I'll ketch you ; I'll hang you. 

Ketch, var. CATCH sb?-; obs. f. KEACH v. 

t Ketcheplllar. Sc. Obs. rare 1 , 

[f. *ketche-, 

cachepill, CACHESPELL -t- -ER 1.] A tennis-player. 

1500-20 DUNBAR Poems xiv. 66 Sa mony rakkettis, sa 

mony ketche-pillaris, 

Sic ballis, sic nackettis, and sic tutivillaiis. 

.Within this land was nevir hard nor sene. 

Ketchup (ke-tjtfp). Also Skitchup: see also 

CATCHUP, [app. ad. Chinese (Amoy dial.) kSe- 

chiap or ki-tsiap brine of pickled fish or shell-fish 

(Douglas Chinese Diet. 46/1, 242/1). Malay 

kechap (in Du. spelling ketjaf], which has been 

claimed as the original source (Scott Malayan 

Wds. in English 64-67), may be from Chinese. 

The Japanese kitjap, alleged in some recent diets., is an 

impossible form for that language. (? error for Javanese.}} 

A sauce made from the juice of mushrooms, 

walnuts, tomatoes, etc., and used as a condiment 

with meat, fish, or the like. Often with qualification, 

as mushroom ketchup, etc. 

1711 LOCKVER Ace. Trade India 128 Soy comes in Tubbs 

from Jappan, and the best Ketchup from Tonquin ; yet 

good of both sorts are made and sold very cheap in China. 

1748 MRS. HARRISON Honse-kfr.'s Pocket-bk. i. (ed. 4) 2, 

I therefore advise you to lay in a Store of . Spices, .neither 

ought you to be without .. Kitchup, or Mushroom Juice. 

1817 EYKON Be/>po viii, Buy in gross .. Ketchup, Soy, Chilivinegar, 

and Harvey. 1840 DICKENS Barn. Kvdge (1849) 

oi/r Some lamb chops (breaded, with plenty of ketchup). 

1874 COOKE Fungi 89 One important use to which several 

. . fungi can be applied, is the manufacture of ketchup. 

Ketch-word, obs. f. CATCHWOKD (sense 3). 

1715 M. DAVIES Athen. Brit. I. Pref. 4 Pamphlets become 

more and more.. Ketch- words to Informers, ..Heartease 

to Censurers. 

t Kete, a. and adv. Obs. [Early ME. kete 

(k(te), not known in OE. : etymology uncertain. 

Perh. related to ON. txti sb. , cheer, gladness, f. kiitr 

cheerful, merry. Kluge (Panfs Grundr. (ed. 2) I. 939) sug- i 

gests an unrecorded ON. kaetr, beside katr, but ~of this I 

there is no evidence. Cf. also Bjorkeman Scandinavian \ 

Loanwds. in ME. (1900) 174.] 

A. adj. 1. Of persons (or animalsj : Bold, forward; 

brave; distinguished. 

CI275 Sayings ofBcde 47 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 

506 Plkede be|i be shete, And wormes ier bebkete [r/wi-jhete, 

lunimete] To don b_e soule tene. Ibid. 131 Satanas be kete 

'rimes strete, ounimete, bijete] Here soule wille derien. 

.Cf. other versions in Sinners Beware 53, 143 in O. E.Misc. 

f3, 76.] CI3SP n'ill Palerne 330 Whanne bou komest 

o kourt among be kete lordes. r 1400 St. Alexius 201 

Laud MS.) He to a borugh com pat mychel was & kete 

rime grete in/.}. 1449 PECOCK Refr, 1. 1 5 In this..holdng 

thei ben so kete and so smert and so wantoun. 

2. Of things : Great, strong, powerful, violent. 

a 1290 Magdatena 369 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 472 pe stormes 

>eoth so kete [rime lete inf.] To queilen us huy benchez. 

a 1300 Fragm. Pop. Sc. (Wright) 262 For the grete hete Of 

he sonne that is above, the leomes beoth so kete. a io 

"5yr Degarre 337 Thanne he herde a noise kete In o valai, 

in dintes grete. 

B. adv. Boldly, bravely ; quickly. 

^1380 Sir Fervnib. 3667 pe Sarasyn bat opon him set 

After Richard prikede ket. Ibid. 45,96 A litel by-fore be 

eate. . .Charlys gan fi}te. .And sloê pe Sarsyns kete. 

Hence fKetly adv., quickly, hastily. Obs. 

ci-yyt Wilt. Palerne 1986 5he..kom ketly to bemperour 

kurteisly him gret. Ibid. 3023 pan bat coinli quen kelli 

p rises. 

t Kete v., obs. var. GET v. (pa. t. kat, pa. pple. 

y)kete). 

c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 673 For he shuld knowell b' he had 

etc of God mercy and grace. And kete w 1 hurr' repentaunce 

KETTLE. 

hevene blys. Itid. 840 Kyng Edgarus doujter yche wene he 

was, Y-ketebot a wenche. Ibid. 

upon 1094 And w his 

travell his lyf lode kat. 

Kete, obs. f. KITE. Ketel, Ketelok, obs. ft" 

KETTLE, KEDLOCK. Keth, kethe(n, var. KITES 

v. Ketharan, -therin, obs. ff. CATEKAN 5.i 

Kether, dial. corr. of QOOTHA. 

1698 c/a/.^/M^(N.)Hei,heil handsom.kether ! sure 

somebody has been rouhng him in the rice. 

II KethiVibh 

(kej>rv). Heb. 0. T. Also ketiv, 

ohetiv, oetib. [Heb. yna k'thibh written.] The 

name given to the traditional reading in the text 

of the Hebrew Old Testament : see KEKI. 

1644, etc. [see KERI]. 

Ketine (krtain). Chem. [f. KET(ONE + -INE 5 ] 

An oily liquid, C 6H 8N 3) or one of a series of 

homologous bases C,,H 2,,_,N2 formed by the 

reduction of nitrosoacetone and its homologues by 

sodium (or tin) and hydrochloric acid. 

1892 MORLEY & Mum Watts' Diet. Chem. III. 101. 

Ketling, -yng, obs. forms of KITLING. 

Ketlock, var. KEDLOCK. Ketly : see KETE a. 

Ketone (kf-t

KETTLE. 

speake, The Trumpet to the Cannoneer without. 

6. Comb, a. Gen. combs., as sense i) kettle- 

boiling, -hanger, -hook, -iron, -maker, -prop; (sense 

40) kettle-formation, -hole, -moraine, -valley, b. 

Special combs. : kettle-boiler, an old type of 

steam-boiler, having a rounded top (Knight Diet. 

Mech. 1875); kettle-bread, home-made bread, 

baked under a 'kettle' or pot ; kettle -broth (see 

quot.) ; kettleoase, a popular name of Orchis 

mascula; kettledoek, a popular name of the 

Ragwort, Senecio facobsea ; also applied to the 

Broad-leaved Dock, Rumex oklnsifoliits (Uritt. & 

H., Miller Plant-n.}; kettle-faced a., having a 

face as black as a kettle: t kettle-fats = BATTERY 

13; fkettle-flsh, small fish; kettle-furnace. 

(a) a basket-furnace in which lead or solder is 

melted for plumbing ; ($) a furnace lor heating 

a kettle ; kettle-holder, a piece of cloth or the 

like used in lifting a kettle, to protect the hand 

from the heated handle ; transf. a kind of smalL 

bonnet; fkettlelnan, ? = KETTLER; kettle-maw, 

the angler (fish) ; f kettle-mill, a device for raising 

water ; kettle-net, a form of net used in fishing 

for mackerel. 

1897 Daily News 9 Dec. 10/3 A question of cigar-lighting 

or *kettle-boiling. 1882 EDNA LYALL Donovan xx. 239 

Donovan sat down with the farmer and his wife to broth 

and "kettle bread'. 1880 ELEANOR G. O'REILLY Sussex 

Star. II. 187 (E. D. D.) '"Kettle-broth '.. consists of pieces 

of stale bread liberally moistened with boiling water, and 

besprinkled with salt and pepper. 1680 OTWAY Caius 

Marius it. 

i, I'm an honest, olack, tauny, * Kettle.fac'd 

Fellow. 1812 J. SMYTH Pract. ofCustoms (1821) 120 Metal 

prepared ; and Battery, which are commonly called *Kettle 

Fats. This last is known by the dint of the mill-hammers 

upon the kettles. 1630 in Descr. Thames (1758) 69 That no 

Peter-man . . take any Flounders, or any other short Fish 

which they have usually called "Kettle-Fish. 1861 GEO. 

ELIOT Silas M. 32 A small bit of pork suspended from the 

"kettle-hanger. 1853 Miss YONGE Heir Redclyffe I. 101 

Charlotte worked a 'kettle-holder. 1867 Morn. Star 17 Sept. 

5 The small bonnets, which are known as 'kettle-holders '. 

1887 STEVENSON in Scribner's Mag. I. 612/2 A kettle-holder 

in Berlin wool. 1889 G. F. WRIGHT Ice Age N. Amer. n 

A true terminal moraine is made up of knolls and bowlshaped 

depressions called 'kettle-holes. 1485 Naval Ace. 

Hen. K// (1806) 51 Potte hokes..j, *ketle hokes. .ij. 1483 

CAXTON Dialogues 46/37 Ysaac the "ketelmaker Gyveth four 

ketellis. 1629 in New Romney Par. Keg., Thomas Well, 

"Killleman [buried]. 01978 PENNANT Journ.fr. Lond. to 

680 

ciating it with the tea-kettle. 

1861 Times i July 12 Then the 5 o'clock tea, the sort of 

little assembly so happily called 'kettledrum '. 1888 Lady 

25 Oct. 374/1 We ask them to afternoon tea, or have kettle. 

d aims at Le Repos. 

Ke'ttledmm, v. [f. prec. sb.] intr. To 

beat the kettledrum; to make a noise like a kettle- 

drum. Hence Ke'ttledru'mming vbl. sb. 

1848 B. WEBB Continental Ecclesiol. 277 There was a 

great deal too much trumpeting and kettle-drumming in 

the orchestra. 1893 CROCKETT Stickit Minister 175 He 

he.iid.. his own heart kettle-drumming in his ears. 

Kettledrummer (ke-t'l|drz*m3i). [f. as prec. 

+ -EB !.] One who plays the kettledrum. 

1683 CLAVERHOUSE in i*,th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. 

vm. 284 Licence to . . import gray cloath for the trompeters 

and ketledrumers. 1807 W. IRVING Salinag. (1824) 72 The 

kettle-drummers .. aie confounded and lost in the military 

crowd. 

Kettleful (ke-t'l,ful). [f. KETTLE + -FUL.] As 

much as a kettle will hold. 

1862 H. MARRVAT Year in Sweden I. 273 A kettleful of 

powder. 

t Kettle-hat. Obs. A kind of helmet in use 

in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. 

1380 Exch. Rolls Scot/. III. 654 note, Capelli de calibe 

dicti Ketilhattis. 1399 Will in Hampolc's Wks. (1896) II. 

449 My ketylle.hat. ? a 1400 llorte Arth. 2994 Ketelle 

hattes they cleve evene to be scholdirs ! c 1440 Promp. 

Parv. 273/2 Ketylle \i&\.,pelliris, .. galerus. 

Kettle-pins, Kettles, variants of KITTLE-PINS, 

KITTLES. 

tKettler.ketler. rare-^. [f. KETTLE + -ERI.] 

One who mends or repairs kettles, a tinker. 

1604 T. M. Black Bk. in Middletons Wks. (1840) V. 543, 

I would have the sometimes go disguised fin honest apparel), 

and so drawing in amongst bunglers and ketlers, under the 

plain frie7e of simplicity [etc.]. 

Ke'ttle-stitcli. [ad. G. kettehtich chainstitch, 

f. keltel a small chain + stick stitch.] In 

bookbinding: A knot made at the head and tail 

of a book in sewing it, by which the thread holding 

one sheet is fastened to the thread in the next. 

1880 ZAEHNSDORF 'Bookbind. 17 The head and tail must 

now be sewn in to imbed the chain of the kettle stitch. 

Ibid, 21 The needle brought out of the kettle-stitch hole on 

the left or tail of the sheet, 

t Kettlin, obs. f. CATLING, lute-string, etc. 

1578 Richmond. Wills (Surtees) 280 Thread lace, garters, 

A gros of kettlins, iij*. iij dos of mynykens iij'. vj* 1 . 

Ke'tton-stone. An oolitic limestone obtained 

from quarries at Ketton, in Rutland. 

1796 KIRWAN Elem. Min. (ed. 2) I. 83 Ketton stone, whose 

colour is reddish brown, and consists of small rounded 

particles compacted together like the roe of fish. 1817 

KEVEL. 

Pot Black-Arse. 1755 JOHNSON s.v., In the kitchen the name 

of fot is given to the boiler that grows narrower towards the 

top, and of kettle to that which grows wider. 1866 R. M. 

BALLANTYNK Shift. Winds i. i (188.) The family kettle .. 

was singing on the fire. 

2. Phrase. A kettle offish. 

a. On the Tweed, etc. A kettle of fish cooked 

alfresco, at a boating excursion or picnic ; hence, 

applied to the picnic itself. Also simply kettle. 

1791 NEWTF. Tour Eng. H Scot. 394 It is for 

customary 

the 

gentlemen who live near the Tweed to entertain their neighbours 

and friends with a Fete Champetre, which they call 

giving 'a kettle of fish'. Tents or marquees are pitched 

near the flowery banks of the river. . a fire is kindled, and live 

salmon thrownintoboilingkettles. iS^ScOTiSt.Konax'sxii, 

The whole company go to the water-side today to eat a kettle 

of fish. 1881 A CARTER in Picturesque Scot, ' 

n; A 'kettle 

in Berwick parlance is a picnic party with this specialty 

about it that fish is the chief thing consumed, and this fish is 

salmon taken out of the river . . and cooked upon the spot. 

b. Usually with adj. ironically, as pretty, fine, 

nice, rare (f also simply a : fine kettle) A mess, 

muddle, disagreeable or awkward state of things. 

1742 RICHARDSON Pamela III. 308 He has made a fine 

Kettle on 't han't he ! 1742 FIELDING ?. Andrews i. xii, 

' 

Here s a pretty kettle of fish ', cries Mrs. Tow-wouse. 1749 

Tom Jones xviit. viii, Fine doings at my house ! A rare 

kettle of fish I have discovered at last. 1800 WELLINGTON 

Let. to Close 2 Oct. in Gurw. Desp. (1837) I. 245 If so, we 

shall have a fine kettle of fish at Seringapatam. 1820 LAIIY 

GRANVILLE Lett. 7 Oct. (1894) I. 184 Ministers are in a nice 

kettle of fish, to be sure. 1854 DICKENS Hard T. i. iv, Your 

training schools, and your whole kettle-of-fish of schools. 

3. A kettle of hats : a quantity of hats dyed at 

the same time in a dye-kettle. 

1789 Trans. Soc. Arts I. 184 Upon dying a Kettle of hats 

of twenty-four dozen. 1900 [Still in use in the trade]. 

4. trans/. &. ' The brass or metal box of a compass' 

(Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 1867). 

b. Sc. Mining. A kind of shallow tub or kibble 

in which miners descend and ascend the shaft, or 

in which material is brought to the surface. 

1894 Daily News 9 May 7/7 Four pit-sinkers were being 

drawn up a shaft . . when the ' 

kettle ' 

on which they were 

standing . . swung from one side of the shaft to the other and 

three men fell off. 1894 Labour Commission Gloss., Kettle, 

a Scotch mining term for the basket or kibble which takes 

the place of a cage in shafts not ' 

provided with . . guides It 

U like a half-barrel attached to the winding-rope. 

C. A deep circular hollow scoured out in a rocky 

river bed, or under a glacier, etc.; a pot-hole. Cf. 

giant's kettle Islt of Wight (1801) II. 74 The common . . angler from the 

vast width of its mouth, it is called here the *Kettle-maw. 

1570 DEE Math. Pref. 37 The sundry wayes to force water 

to ascend, eyther by Tympane, 'Kettell mills [etc.]. 1577 

B. GOOGE Hereslach's Huso. (1586; 49 b, Some pump to be 

made, 

(GlANT 6), also HELL-KETTLE. 

1874 J. GEIKIE Gt. Ice Age (1894) 431 Everyone who has 

visited the Glacier Garden at Lucerne will remember the 

fine display of 'kettles 'seen there. 1893 Northumbld. Gloss., 

Kettle, a pot-hole or circular hole, scoured out in a rocky 

river bed by the swirling action of pebbles. 

1 5. Short for KETTLEDBUM. Obs. 

1602 SHAKS. Ham. v. ii. 286 Let the Kettle to the Trumpets 

or Kettle-Miil, or such like, as may serve the turne of 

a natural! streame. 1881 HAMERSLY Naval Encycl. U. S., 

''Kettle-net, a net formerly used in catching mackerel. 1881 

LESLIE tr. Nordenskielcts Voy. ' 

Vega' II. xv. 291 A high 

plain.. interrupted at many places by deep "kettle valleys. 

Hence Ke 'tiled a. Geol., worn into kettle-shaped 

hollows. 

1898 Amer. Geologist Nov. 298 Crevasses and moulins 

would be formed . . producing such a profusely kettled surface 

as in the Glacier Garden. 

Kettle-bottom. 

1. lit. The bottom of a kettle. Jig. A name given 

to a hill with broad flat top and sloping sides. 

1746 MS. Log of the shit ' ' 

Wake 13 SepL, The High 

Land of Pullicat from ye Kittle Bottom. 1809 HORSBURGH 

Direct. I. 

Sailing 322 Far inland . . there is a round conical 

hill called the Kettle Bottom. 

2. 'A ship with a flat floor' (Smyth Sailor's 

Word-bk. 1867). So Kettle-bottomed a. 

1840 R. H. DANA Be/. Mast xxix. 101 She was a good, 

substantial . . ship wall-sided and kettle-bottomed. 

Kettle-de-benders : see K.iTnx-benders. 

Kettledrum (ke-t'l|dro:m), sl>. 

1. A musical instrument of percussion consisting 

of a hollow hemisphere of brass or copper, over 

the edge of which is parchment stretched and 

tuned to a definite note : cf. DRUM s6. 1 i. 

[1554 MACHYN Diary (Camden) . . 76 Thrumpets and drumes 

mad of ketylles.] 1602 SHAKS. Ham. \. iv. n The kettle 

Drum and Trumpet thus bray out The triumph of his 

Pledge. 1730 FIELDING Toin Thumb ii. iv, A noise, Great 

as the kettledrums of twenty armies. 1844 Regul, fy Ord. 

Army 30 No Trumpet to sound, or Kettle-Drum to beat. 

attrib. 1874 T. HARDY Far fr. Madding Crowd I. 68 

His head being dandled up and down on the bed of the 

waggon like a kettledrum-stick. 1898 Westm. Gaz. 6 Sept. 

4/3 The kettledrum boy plays his incessant pom-pom-pom. 

f 2. = KETTLEDBUMMER. Obs. 

1543 SIR T. SEYMOUR Let. to Hen. VIII, in St. Papers 

IX. 501 The captaynes that your Heynes wolde retayne, 

the dromes and fyffes, the ketyl dromes, a 1548 HALL Chron., 

Hen. VIII . . 239 b, Trompettes twelve in nombre besyde 

two kettle Drommes on horsebacke. 1669 Lond. Gaz. No. 

4012/3, 6. Trumpets and 2. Kettle-Drums in rich Liveries. 

1703 VANBRUGH \. Confed. ii, The rogue had a kettledrum 

to his father. 1755 Mem. Capt. P. Drake I. xv. 143 One 

Morgrigg, a Kettle Drum to the Queen's Life-guard. 

3. colloq. An afternoon tea-party on a large scale. 

A punning term, implying that the gathering was a smaller 

affair than the usual ' drum ' 

J. BRADBURY Trav. Amer. | 287 That species of limestone 

called ketton-stone, or compact 

(see DRUM sbs 10) and asso- 

limestone of Kirwan. 1839 

E. D. CLARKE Trav. Russia 116/1 The chemical analysis 

of this mineral is nearly that of the Ketton-stone. 

Kettrln, variant of CATEBAN. 

Kettule, variant of KITTUL, jaggery palm. 

Ketty (ke-ti), a. Now dial. [f. KET l + -Y 1.] 

Having bad flesh ; carrion-like ; rotten, foul, nasty ; 

worthless. Of soil : Soft, peaty. 

1607 MARKHAM Caval. lit. (1617) 25 If your horse be grose, 

fat, and a foule feeder, which is calld a kettie horse. 1674-91 

RAY N. C. Words 40 A Ketty Cur, a nasty stinking Fellow. 

1818 Craven Dial, Ketty, worthless. 1855 ROBINSON Whitby 

Gloss., Ketty, putrid. 1872 in N. W. Line. Gloss, s. v., By 

the river some more [land] Rotten and ketty and bad. 

Kettysol(l, variants of KITTISOL. 

fKeup. Obs. rare~ '. [a. Du. kuip: see COOP 

J*.l] A barrel, cask, tub. 

1:1483 CAXTON Dialogues 44/16 Poule the couper Maketh 

and formaketh the keupis, Barellis, vessellis. 

II Keuper (koi'paj). 

Geol. [A German miners' 

term.] The name given in Germany, and thence 

by English geologists, to the upper member of the 

Triassic system, consisting in Germany of marls, 

shales, sandstones, gypsum, and clays, in England 

chiefly of marls and sandstones. 

1844 ANSTED Geol. I. xix. 295 The Keuper, the uppermost 

division of the Triassic system, is called by the French 

tnarnes iristcs. 1858 WHEWELL Novum Org. Renov. iv. ix. 

(ed. 3) 288 The term t'eedlite [was] proposed by Mr. Conybeare 

to designate the group of strata which lies below the 

oolites and lias, including the new red or variegated sandstone, 

with the keuper above, and the magnesian limestone 

below it. 1863 LYELL A ntiq. Man xvi. (ed. 3) 332 It is mottled 

with red and green, like the New Red Sandstone or keuper. 

Keuvrepane, variant of COVERPANE, Obs. 

t Keve, v. Obs. rare. [Of obscure origin and 

meaning. 

ON. kefja to dive, sink, has been suggested, but is scarcely 

satisfactory for the second passage.] 

13 .. E. E. A Hit. P. A. 320 py corse in clot mot calder 

keue. Ibid. 980, I . . blusched on the burghe . . Byjonde )* 

brok fro me-warde keued. 

Keve, obs. form of KEEVE. 

Kevel (ke'v'l), j

KEVEL. 

_ 1360 FaMc Rolls York Minster (Surtecs) 2 Pro factura 

'* ve novo kevell et j melle ferri. 

jSJf 

I368 Durham 

Ace. Rolls (Surtees) 571 Pro .. pikkis, hakkis, et kevellis 

faciend. 1404 Ibid. 397 In custodia Sementarii ..j kewll 

1793 SMEATON Edystone L. 108 A tool called a Kevel 

ed * hammer ' ? nd .* ">e other an axe, 

les. 

1893 Northumbld. Gloss., Kevel, kyevel, a stone/ 

the common tammer, 

gavel. Kyevel.hammer, a heavy hammer mer used 

bystone-breakers to break up the large blocks of road metal. 

Kevel (ke'vl),^.l Mining, local. Alsokeval 

-il. [Origin obscure.] The name given by Derbyshire 

lead-miners to a calcareous stone found 

mingled with the ore (see quots.). 

1747 HOOSON Miners Diet. E j, Burr [is] a hard Knot or 

Lump in the Vein, or Sticking, of Caulk, Chirts, Kevells, 

&c. mixed with the Ore. 1802 MAWE Mineral. Derbysh. 

Gloss., Kevel, a sparry substance found in the vein, composed 

of calcareous spar, fluor, and barytes. 

t Kevel, sb.s Obs. [Given by Adanson as the 

native name in 

Senegal.] A species of 

antelope, 

now identified with the common gazelle. 

, 

I 

7S?, tr ' Adanson's Senegal. 1774 Gouts*. Nat. Hist. 

(.1862) I. n. 111. ,07-8 The .. second he calls the Kevel. which 

is rather ess than the gazella. 1834 Penny Cycl. II. 83/2 

Ihe kevel [is] found only on the opposite side of the (Treat 

African desert to that inhabited by the dorcas. 

Kevel, kevil : see CAVEL sb.l and 2. 

Ke vel, v. 1 Obs. exc. dial. In 5 kevylle, 6 

kewle, 9 dial, kibble, [a. ON. kefla to bridle, 

gag, f. kefli, KEVEL sb.t] trans. To bit or bridle. 

a 1400 SyrPerc. 424 (Thornton MS. If. 164) Brydille base 

cord of a halter into a horse's mouth by way of bit, 

2 . Kevel, : see under KEVEL sA.3 

t Ke-venliuller. Obs. Also Khevenhullar. 

[f. the name of the Austrian general, Andr. von 

Khevenhiiller (1683-1744).] 

a. attrib. Applied to a high cock given to a 

broad-brimmed hat worn in the middle of the 

iSth c. (see Fairholt Costume in Eng. (1860) 299); 

hence also with hat. b. absol. A cock of this 

form a ; hat cocked in this fashion. 

1746 Brit. Mag. 309 A laced Hat pinched into what our 

Beaux have learnt to call the Kevenhuller Cock. 1750 

COVENTRY Pompey Lift. n. iv. (1785) 58/1 Jockey-boots, 

Khevenhullar-hats, and Coach-whips. 1753 Proc. Commis. 

sion ofCommon Sense (Fairholt I. 377) Is not the Dettingen 

cock forgotten? the noble Kevenhuller discouraged? 1762 

Land. Chron. XI. Chapter of Hats (Planche), Hats are 

now worn, upon an average, six inches and three-fifths broad 

in the brim and cocked between Quaker and Kevenhuller. 

Kever, common ME. form of COVER z/.l and z>. 2 

in midl. and south, dial. ; rare obs. f. COVER rf.l 

1570 LEVINS Manip. 74/38 Keuer, operculum. 

Keverche, -Cher, var. KERCH, KERCHER, Obs. 

t Keverfue, obs. form of CURFEW. 

14 .. Voc. in Wr.-Wiilcker 588/40 Ignitegium, keuerfve. 

Kew, kewe, obs. forms of CUE sbl, 2 . 

Kewery, variant of CURY 1 Obs., cookery. 

i Kew-kaw, kew-waw, adv. Obs. [Origin 

obscure.] Upside down. (Used as.r*. in quot. 1399.) 

1399 LANGL. Rich. Redeles m. 299 In well and in woo be 

werld euere turneth, 3it ber is kew-kaw bous he come late, 

A new bing bat noyeth nedy men and ober. 1630 J. TAYLOR 

(Water P.) Wks. n. 233 The Picture topsie-turuie stands 

kewwaw : The World turn'd vpside downe, as all men know. 

t Kewt, v. Obs. rare. 

[Imitative.] intr. To 

mew as a cat. Hence t Kewting vbl. sb. 

c 1440 Promp. Parv. 274/1 Kewtyn, as cattys, catillo,glatio. 

Ibid., Kewtynge of cattys, catillatus, glaticus. 

Kex (keks). Obs. exc. dial. Forms: a. 4- kex, 

6-7 kexe, 6 keokes, 8 kecks, (9 dial, kesk, 

kesh). 0. 4-6 kyx, 6-8 kix(e, (6 kiokes, kykkes, 

9 dial, gix, gicks, kish). See also KECK, KECKSY, 

CASSHE. [Origin unknown; W. cecys pi., sometimes 

cited as the source, is no doubt from Eng.] 

1. The dry, usually hollow, stem of various 

herbaceous plants, esp. of large umbelliferous plants, 

such as Cow Parsnip, Wild Chervil, and Marsh 

681 

Miseries 

2. An umbelliferous plant with a hollow stalk. 

1578 LYTE Dodoens HI. xxiii. 306 Sagapenum is the sap 

M gl m of 

i- ,m a klnde of Ferula or k '*- 

?., 'S8 ROWLAND 

Moufet s Theat. Ins. 1003 They are - - 

commonly found in Key 

or Asse Parsly in the summer time. 

upright water-parsnip, in rivers and ditches. 1847 TENNYSON 

PriHC. iv. 59 Tho' the rough kex break The Starr 'd mosaic. 

1880 JEFFERIES Gt. Estate vii. 136 Cutting a dry ' 

gicks ' 

so 

that it should be open at either end, like a tube. 

1 3. The husk, sheath, or hard case of a chrysalis, 

cifioo HOLLAND, When the kex, or husk, is broken, he 

proveth a fair flying butterfly. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury 

11. 371/1 Kex, or husk of Worms. 

1 4. Jig. A dried-up sapless person. Obs. 

1611 BEAUM. & FL. King s, No King v. ii, lie make 

these withered kexes bear my body two hours together 

above ground. 1659 Lady Alimony IL v. in Hazl. Dodsley 

i M 3 S* Fl ' The >ssue madi>m? Med. None; nor ever 

shall With that searj suckless kex. 1709 Brit. Apollo II 

No. 54. 3/2 If a weighty Boss She, And a slender Kecks 

He. 01711 KEN Edmund Poet. Wks. 1721 II. 360 I'll 

follow glorious Edmund to his Urn, The Embers of his 

r ire this Kix will burn. 

t Ke'xen, a. Obs. rare-1 . In 6 kieson. [f. 

prec. + -EN4.] Made of kexes. 

. '57.9 PUTTENHAM Pafthenides xi, One daye agayne will, 

in his rage, Crushe it all as a kieson cage, And spill it quite. 

Ke'xy, a. Obs. exc. dial. Also 7 keoksie, 9 

dial, keeksy, kiskie. [f. KEX + -Y. Cf. KECKY.] 

Like a kex ; dry and brittle ; withered, sapless. 

1608 SYLVESTER Du Bartas n. iv. iv. Schisme 396 Thou . . 

Shalt play no longer thy proud Kingling's Part On such a 

Kixey stage. 1653 A. WILSON Jas. 1 159 His Kecksie car- 

kass was made to ride . . with his face to the horse tail. 

1660 H. MORE Myst. Godl. yi. x. 240 The Earth . .will become 

more kexy, and loose of its Solidity, a 1825 FORBY Voc. 

E. Anglia, Kisky, dry, juiceless, husky. 1884 Cheshire 

Gloss. s.v., Celery, when it is inclined to run up to stalks, 

would be called ' 

very keeksy '. 

Key (kf), sb Forms: i esss, ese, (ksese, 

kaise), 2 kseie, 3 keije, //. keyjen, keien, 4 

keyê; 3-4 kai, 3-8 kay, (4 cay, kaie, pi. oaiss), 

4-6 kaye, (5-6 //. kaies) ; 3-6 keye, (fl. keis), 

3-7 keie, 5-7 kee, 7 kie ; 4- key, (//. 4-6 -es, 

4- -s) ; [OE. cxg str. f. (pi. c&ga) and csege wk. f. 

(pi. csegari) = OFris. kei, kay ; not found in the 

other Teut. languages ; ulterior etym. unknown. 

The mod. pronunciation (kJ) is abnormal. The other OE. 

words ending in -afe have uniformly mod. (I'}, as clxg clay, 

grxg grey, gray, hwxs whey; and that key had the same 

vowel as these in ME. is proved not only by the frequent 

spelling kay, but by its constantly riming with day, way, 

say, play, etc. This was evidently the standard pron. down 

:o the close of the I7th c. ; Dryden has the rime with 'way 

more than once in one of his latest works (1700). On the 

other hand, we find even in isth c. a (northern) spelling kee ; 

and in Scottish MSS. of the same cent, the form key (pi. 

keis) shows that the vowel in that dialect was not the same 

as in day or clay, in somewhat later Scottish (i6th-i7th c.) 

the identity of the vowel with that which gives mod. (?) is 

established by rimes. In mod. Southern Sc. also, key has 

the same diphthong (kei) as be, me, we, dee, see, tree, etc., 

proving that it must from an early period have had the 

same sound as e, ee had at the time. The vb. weigh has 

the same history in Sc. (wi), but in Eng. remains (w^ 1 

). 

The_mod. pronunciation (kz) thus appears to be of northern 

origin, and it is difficult to know how it came into general 

Eng. use. Cf. the surname Kaye or Key (Caius) in Caius 

(i. e. Key's) College, Cambridge.] 

I. 1. An instrument, usually of iron, for moving 

the bolt or bolts of a lock forwards or backwards, 

and so locking or unlocking what is fastened by 

it ; usually fitted on the bit or web with more or 

less elaborate incisions, etc., adapted to the wards 

of the lock. 

a 1000 Riddles xliii. 12 (Gr.) Hwylc \>xs hordgates ca^&an 

crsefte ba clamme onleac. 1018 Laws of Cnut n. c. 76 i 

J?aera cseêan heo sceal weardian. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 

200/14 P? prior haueth be keiê in warde. a 1300 Cursor M. 

17357 Pa i sperd fast wit lok and kai [v.rr. kay, key] pe seles 

alssua bai bar away, c 1320 Sir Beues (MS. A) 3207 A . . 

schette |?e dore wib be keie [rime veie ( = fey)]. 1375 Sc. 

Leg. Saints xlvii. (Effame') 73 po he had be keys brocht 

Vith hyme, duris opyn he [ne] mocht. 1463 Bury Wills 

(Camden) 22 A keye of the grete gardeyn gate. 1491-2 in 

Swayne Sarum Church-w. Ace. (1896) 40, j key to the Organ 

dore & iij keyis to the quer dorys vijd. 1535 COVERDALE 

Judg. iii. 25 (For no man opened the perler dore) they toke 

Angelica. 

1377 LANGL. P. PL B. xvn. 219 Glowande gledes gladieth 

nou^te bis werkmen .. As doth a kex [C. xx. 185 kyx] or a 

candel pat cau^te hath fyre & blaseth. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 

277/2 Kyx, or bunne, or drye weed, calamus. 1530 PALSGR. 

235/2 Keckes of humblockes, tviav. Ibid. 236/r Kiekes 

the drie stalke of humlockes or burres, tvyav. 1577 B. GOOGE 

Heresbach's Husb. (1586) 177 b, Take a peece of a reede or 

a kex. 1589 Pappe w. Hatchet C iv, Elders they may 

bee, which being fullest of spungie pith, proue euer the 

driest kixes. 1672 JOSSELYN New Eng. Rarities 74 The 

Stalkes are as hollow as a Kix, and so are the Roots. 1723 

J. NOTT Confectioner's Diet. Pref., Upon the Battlements 

of the Castle [of pastry] were planted Guns made of Kexes. 

1768-74 TUCKER Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 596 Taking for our support 

a withered kecks instead of the staff of life. 1842 

AKERMAN Wiltsh. Gloss., Gix, the dry stalks of hemlock. 

1891 T. HARDY Tess (1892) 139, I should be as dry as a kex 

wi' travelling so far. 

t b. Without a : collectively, or as a material. 

In some cases perh. taken as pi. of KECK, a form which 

was prob. evolved from this collective sense. 

1562 J. HEYWOOD Prov. % Epigr. (1867) 106 Of kyks for 

cage woorke, to builde thy the keye, and opened it. 

1552 

house hie. 1597 GERARDE 

Herbal n. xvii. i. rgg The stalke is rounde, smooth and 

VOL. V. 

HULOET, Kaye, clauis. 1596 

SPENSER F. Q. iv. x. 18 Either through gifts, or guile, or 

such like waies, Crept in by stouping low, or stealing of the 

kaies. 1632 LITHGOW Trav. iv. 137 The dopre, 

that he had 

newly locked, and taken the key with him to the 

ship. 

1700 DRYDEN Sigism. fy Guise. 133 The dame, who long in 

vain had kept the key, Bold by desire, explored the secret 

way. Hid. 156, 294. 1772 Junius Lett. Ixviii. 354 A key 

was found in his room. 1820 KEATS St. Agnes xli, The key 

turns, and the door upon its hinges groans. 1877 J. M. 

PORTEOUS Turkey 20 A key was an emblem carried before 

the troops of the prophet. 

b. Phrases and proverbs: t Under key, under 

lock and key (see LOCK). As cold as a key (cf. 

KEY-COLD To a.). lay (01 put} the key under the 

door, to shut up house and go away. To get (have} 

the key of the street (ironical), 

to be shut out for 

KEY. 

the night, or have no house to go to. Key and 

m & - 

?M Kings keys (see quot. 1824). 

)' nscd m a Môd of divination. 

Yha 

ke'neVi \?%JS?r^ in ?"" g An*"' LIIL 4 

cfnf IT 8S Th l? .("w dav- w 

uay, may]. 1390 GOWER 

Conf II. 188 The Priest Thoas, which .. the Palladion 

Troie 

of 

Kepte under keie. 1501 DOUGLAS PaL 

With 

Hon. 674 

quaiVand voce and hart cald as a key {rimes fey, pley 

etc.). a ,541 WYATT Poet. Wks. (186,) ,2. What Vaffeth' 

under keep treasure 

kayjo alway, That never shall see 

K ?' f^ MONTGOMERY Sonn. xli, My lyfe .. from my 

body fled And left my corps als cold i ony kie [Hmes 

thee, ee thrie]. 1677 YARRANTON Eng. In,prov. 126 The 

lenant lays the Key under the Doon ,824 SCOTT Red. 

gauntlet ch. xix Constables .. considered^ worthy to 

use what are called the king's keys. [Cf. Antiy. xxi. 

Ihe lot,, 

kings keys are, in law phrase, the crow-bars and 

hammers used to force doors and locks, in execution of the 

kings warrant.) 1837 DICKENS Pickw. xlvii, Its too late 

now: you cant get in to-night; you've got the key of the 

street, my friend. 1894 G. PARKER Transl. Savage j6i 

8 SWeeper early to his task ' or ho'ding the 

the key of 

stre'e" 

c. The representation of a key, in painting 

sculpture, etc. St. Peter's keys, the cross keys borne 

m the Papal arms (see 4). Greek key, each of the 

key-like bends of which the Greek fret consists. 

c 

1450 HOLLAND How/at 345 Twa keyis our croce, of siluer 

so cleir, In a feild of asure flammit on fold. . 15 . Sym * his 

bruderis in Lajng Anc. Poet. Scot. 315 

sanct 

Thay. .ciampit vp 

Peteris keis {rimes leis, weis, sleuis] Bot of ane auld 

reid gartane. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury m. 3o,/2 He 

beareth Azure, a key double Bited in Fesse. 1897 Wcftm 

Gna. 2 Sept 3/2 Its trimmings.. running in vertical lines 

that end in Greek keys. 

2. In pregnant sense, with reference to the power 

of custody, control, admission of others, etc., im- 

plied by the possession of the keys of any place ; 

hence as a symbol of office, and fig. the office 

itself. Gold key, the office of groom of the stole 

a 900 [see 4] !297 R GLOUC. (Rolls) 3848 pe conseil of 

france. .jolde him vp al bat lond & be keyen {v. rr. keysen 

keyes] of parys. c 1385 CHAUCER L.G.W. 2298 (Philomela) 

Myn yonge doughter. .That betyth the keye of al myn 

nertislyf. a 1400-50 Alexander 2147 pai vnjarked him be 

Satis & said him fe keys {MS. D. kees]. 1546 J. HEY. 

WOOD Prcw. (1867) 30 The kays hang not all by one mans 

gyrdell. a 1548 HALL Chron., Hen. YI 162 All the townes 

in Acquitayne (except Bayon) delivered their keys, and 

became vassals. 1642 G. MOUNTAGU in B-uccleitch MSS 

(Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 299 These Lords, Holland and' 

Essex, .. accordingly delivered their key and staff respectively 

to the Lord Falkland. 1676 C. HATTON in H Corr. 

(Camden) 138 His office of Chamberlaine is here incompatible 

w" his other character. It is generally beleeved he 

will lose his Key. 1761 DK. NEWCASTLE Lett. Dk. Devonsh. 

13 Mar. in W. E. Manners Mrq. Granby (1899) 196 Lord 

Bute told me the King wished to give the Gold Key to the 

Duke of Rutland and the Staff to my Lord Talbot. 1795 

SOUTHEY Joan of Arc vi. 168 Of every captured town the 

keys Restore to Charles. 

II. fig. (often in figurative context). 

3. Something compared to a key, with its power 

of locking or unlocking that ; which opens up, or 

closes, the way to something ; that which gives 

opportunity for or precludes an action, 

state of 

things, etc. 

a 1000 Czdmon's Exod. 524 gif onlucan wile lifes wealhstod..gastes 

caeôn, 

run bio jerecenod. c 1200 Vices

KEY. 

Bot playn power of his [the Pope's] dignite. 1416 AUDELAY 

Points 20 Cal the clarge to jour counsel, that bcryn Cnstis 

kay ISS LVNDESAY Monarcke 4820 1 hose spiritual keis 

quhillds Christ to Peter gaif. IS*" D*"S H.Sleidane's Comm. 

4i 7 Whether Priestes onlye have authoritye of the Keyes. 

}>rivt Counc. in Land. Gaz. No. 1670/1 The Intrinsick 

Spiritual Power of the Church, or Power of the Keys, as it 

was exerced by the Apostles. (11711 KEN Hymiwtheo 

Poet. Wks. 1721 III. 131 Jesus to you the ghostly Keys 

commits, And those you here absolve, in Heav'n acquits. 

1849 MACAULAY Hiit Eng. I. iv. 466 Lewis .. was in turn 

accused by the Pope of encroaching on the spiritual power 

of the keys. 

5. A place which from the strategic advantages 

of its position gives its possessor control over the 

passage 

into or from a certain district, territory, 

inland sea, etc. 

c 1440 CAPGRAVE Life St. Kath. I. 71 Therfor bis kyng 

ryght as for a keye Of all hys kyngdame set hys town her. 

a 1548 HALL Chron., Hen. VI 153 Which towne was the 

kay and passage over the ryver of Soame, from Fraunce to 

Normandy, a 1600 MONTGOMERIE Misc. Poems xlviii. 115 

For these tua Castells ar the only kees Of all Turkic, 

and do divide the sees. 1684 Land. Gaz. No. 1954/3 A very 

Important place, which is the Key of Sclavonia. 1733 

BERKELEY Querist 266 Whether the sea-ports of Galway, 

Limerick, Cork, and Waterford are not to be looked on as 

keys of this kingdom ? 1838 THIRLWALL Greece 1 1. xv. 291 

He had now the key of Northern Greece in his hands. 1838 

Penny Cycl. XI. 214/2 (Gibraltar) Henry IV, king of 

Castile.. gave it the arms it still bears, viz. a castle with 

a 

key hanging to the gate, alluding to its being the key to 

the Mediterranean. 

trans/. 1869 HUXLEY in Sd. Ofin. 5 May 506/1 And yet 

this is the key of the whole position. 

6. That which serves to open up, disclose, or 

explain what is unknown, mysterious, or obscure ; 

a solution or explanation. 

c 897 K. ALFRED Gregory's Past. xv. 90 Baet word Saere 

Sreaunge is caez, foroaem hit oft onlycS & ReopenaS 3a scylde 

be se him self aer nyste se hie ourhteah. ciooo J"ELFRIC 

Gram. Pref. (Z ) 2 Staefcraeft is seo cae$ 8e Sana boca and jit 

unlicS. 1382 WYCLIF Luke xi. 52 Woo to }ou, wyse men of 

lawe, for ;e ban take awey the keye of kunnynge. c 1422 

HOCCLEVE Learn to Die 12 Thow of al science berst the 

keye. 1597 MONTGOMERIE Cherrie $Slae 411 EuerCurage 

keipis the keyis Of knowledge at his belt. 1643 FULLER 

Holy 4- Prof. St. in iv. 158 Get the Language (in part) 

without which Key thoushalt unlock little of moment. 1713 

ADDISON Spect No 435 

r 6, 1 have one general Key to the 

Behaviour of the Fair Sex. 1788 MAD. D ARBI.AY Diary 

31 July, 1 felt his meaning, though I had no key to it. 1883 

S. C. HALL Retrospect II. 305 It was the key to his success; 

he knew the value of time. 

b. spec. The alphabet or explanatory scheme 

for the interpretation of a cipher, an allegorical 

statement, or other composition of hidden or veiled 

the features of a 

meaning ; any scheme explaining 

picture, identifying the persons represented, etc.; 

an 

to 

outline or simplified map or chart, intended 

make a full map, etc., more intelligible a ; 

work containing solutions of mathematical or other 

; problems a translation of a book or exercise in a 

foreign language, to facilitate the work of learners. 

1605 Implied in key-cipher [see 16], 1675 Essex Pupers 

(Camden) I. 290 'Tis most of it in cypher, w cl1 

y 8 Key will 

unfolde. 1711 ADDISON Spect. No. 37 P 2 The New Ata. 

lantis, with a Key to it. 1753 Scots Mag. Apr. 208/2 A 

burlesque upon some late, .transactions; but seems to want 

a key. 1800 DK. WELLINGTON Let. to Lieut. Col. Close in 

Gurw. Desf>. (1837) I. 151, I beg also that you will send me 

a key of the cipher. 1816 SVD. SMITH Wks. (1867) II. 102 

Some of the best Greek and Roman classics should be immediately 

published, with keys. 1827 HARE Guesses Ser. ii. 

(1873) 296 Poetry is the key to the hieroglyphics of nature. 

1870 A. R. HOPE My Schoolboy Fr. (1875) 52 Where the 

master used a Key to Henry's Exercises. 

7. Mus. t a. [after Gnido Aretino's use of davis.] 

The lowest note or tone of a scale or sequence of 

notes ; the key-note. Obs. Hence, b. A scheme 

or system of notes or tones definitely related to 

each other, according to (or in) which a piece of 

music is written; such scheme being based upon 

and named after some particular note (the keynote), 

as the key of C. Hence, c. The sum of 

melodic and harmonic relations existing between 

the tones of such a system ; tonality. 

MAJOR,_MINOR, NATURAL (etc.) key: see these words. 

(There is app. some relationship between this sense and it, 

but its precise nature is not clear j its 

origin prob. lies outside 

Eng., in the use, in mediaeval music, of L. clavis (whence, 

1590 SHAKS. Mids. If. in. ii. 206 Both warbling of one 

song ; both in one key. 1597 MORLF.Y Introd. Mus 4 4 Now 

I praie you shew me all the seuerall Keyes wherein you may 

begin your sixe Notes [i. e. hexachords). 1609 DOULAND 

Ornith. Microl. 7 A Key is the opening of a Song, because 

like as a Key opens a dore, so doth it the Song. 1674 PLAY- 

FORD Skill Mns. i. xi. 57 To shew in what Key the Song was 

set, and how each Musical Key had relation one to another. 

1694 W. HOLDF.R Hmnmaitjyi) 119 Draw a second Scale 

. . but let the Key, or First Note be D Sol re. 1731 KELLER 

Knits /or Thorna-Bass in Holder Harmony 192 The extream 

Sharp in a sharp Ii. e. major] Key, is the half Note 

(i. e semitone) below the Key. 1787 WIJLCOTT (P. Pindar) 

Ode upon Ode Wks. i8u I. 421 To hear her pompously demand 

the Key Of every piece Musicians play. 1826 B NESS 

682 

BUNSF.N in Hare Life I. vii. 268, I have often practised 

writing out parts in the different keys. 1898 STAINER Diet. 

Afus. Terms 253/2 The key of C requires no flats or sharps 

for this purpose, hence it is called the normal key. 

8. transf. and a. 

fig. tramf. (High or low) 

tone (of the voice) ; pitch. 

1599 B. JONSON Cvnthids Rev. iv. i. Wks. (Rtldg.) 84/1 

There's one speaks in a key, like the opening of some Justice's 

gate, or a postboy's horn. 16*3 MASSINGER Dk. Milan 

ii. i. Plays (1868) 74/1 I'll speak to her, And in a high key 

too. 1700 BERKELEY Th. Vision 46 Men speak in a high 

or a low key. 1748 J. MASON Elocut. 10 Carefully to preserve 

the Key (that is, the Command) of your Voice. 

1877 

BLACK Green Past. xxxv. (1878) 282 Loudly discoursing m 

a high shrill and plaintive key of his troubles. 

( 

b. Jig. Intensity or force, pitch ' 

(of feeling or 

action) tone or ; 

style (of thought or expression) ; 

sometimes, prevailing tone or idea, * 

key-note *. 

1594 NASHE Un/ort. Trav. 36 As for my cariage, he knew 

hee was to tuene it at a key, either high or low, as he list. 

1599 DANIEL MusefiA.Wks. (1601) Bv, His passions set to such 

a pleasing kay. 1621 QUARLES Div. Poems, st&tr(inj) 131 

Let peace and love exalt your Key of mirth. 1646 EVANCE 

Noble Ord. 16 Which is the right Key of obedience. 1770 

LANGHORNE Plutarch (1879) II. 904/2 The key of politics, 

which he first touched, he kept to without variation. 1816 

KEATINGE Trav, (1817) L 234 He returned in a high key of 

spirits in consequence of the reception he was favoured with. 

1875 STUBBS Const. Hist. I. xiv. 129 The writs to the barons 

. .are shorter but in the same key. 

C. Tone or relative intensity (of colour). 

1851 H. WILSON Compos. Light $ Shade 65 Pictures, 

' 

painted in a light key , possess many advantages. 1876 

RUSKIN Arrows of Chace (1880) I. 174 Their harmonies of 

amber-colour and purple are full of exquisite beauty in their 

chosen key. 

III. Applied to various mechanical devices, in 

function or form suggesting the key of a lock. 

9. A piece of wood or metal which is inserted 

between other pieces; usually, a pin, bolt or wedge 

fitting into a hole or space contrived for it so as to 

lock various parts together ; a cotter. 

Also, in special senses : (a) A piece of timber framed between 

floor-joists by mortice and tenon, (b) Apiece of wood 

let into the back of a board or set of boards, across the grain, 

to prevent warping, (c) In stone-work : the piece or wedge 

of iron used to secure a dovetail in a hole, or driven between 

two * feathers ' 

to split a stone (see quots. 1793). (d) In book- 

a metal U-shaped instrument by which each band 

binding : 

is secured in the sewing-press. 

[1408-19 Ace. Roll in Raine BriefAce. Durh. Cath. (1833) 

88, ^d. each for 280 ' 

keys ', or bosses for the crossings of the 

beams.] c 1440 Promp. Parv. 269/2 Key, or knyttynge of 

ij. wallys, or trees yn an . vnstabylle grownde, . loramentum. 

1497 Naval Ace. Hen. l^//(iBg6) 84 Boltes forlokkes kayes 

lynces and a taile pynne for the said Curtowe. 1533 FITZHERB. 

Husb. 5 The bod ye of the . . wayne the crosse somer, the keys 

and pikstaues. 1603-4 in Swayne Sarum Church-tv. Ace. 

(1896) 152 Boltes and kayes for the belle*;. 1660 BOYLE New 

Exp. Phys. Mech. ii. 37 The brass Key (formerly described 

as a stopple in the brass Cover). 1730 A. GORDON Maffeis 

Amphitk. 213 The Stones, .are pieced together, .with Keys 

of Iron or Stones left projecting out in what was already 

built, the better to join them. Ibid. 215 Keys or Cramps of 

Metal. 1787 WINTER Syst. H-usb. 312 Take out the pins or 

keys which fasten the iron work of the brass collars. 1793 

SMEATON Edystone L. 51 The iron stanchions .. were not 

fixed into the rock in the method of Key and Dovetail . . but 

were fixed in with club ends. Ibid. 147 A method sometimes 

used, .for the division of hard stones, called the Key 

and Feather.. The Key is a long tapering wedge.. The 

Feathers are pieces of iron, also of a wedge-like shape. 1838 

SIMMS Pub. Wks. Gt. Brit. 15 Two wrought iron keys for 

fixing the rail in the chair. 1857-62 NICHOLSON Diet. Archil. 

II, 86 When a key is passed through .. two or more thicknesses 

of metal or other material . . it is customary to clasp 

them together by gibbs, previous to inserting the key. 1891 

D. A. Low Machine Draw. 22 Keys are wedges, generally 

rectangular in section, but sometimes circular ; they are made 

of wrought iron or steel, and are used for securing wheels, 

pulleys, cranks, &c., to shafts. 

F In the following passages L. cldvus tiller, rudder, is confused 

with clavis key. 

c 1374 CHAUCER Boeth. in. pr. xii. 81 (Camb. MS.) He is 

as a keye [L. clauus] and a stiere by which bat the edifice 

of this world is I-kept stable. 1423 JAS. I Kingis Q. c, 

O anker and keye of oure gude auenture. 

10. That which completes or holds together the 

of an arch, 

parts of any fabric ; esp. the key-stone 

which by its position and wedged form locks the 

other stones and holds together the structure. 

Also (a) the last board laid in a floor (Nicholson Did, 

Archit. 1857-62); (b) the bent bar of iron which in wellboring 

supports the train of rods (Knight/?/V/. Meek. 1875). 

1523 FITZHERB. Husb. 3 The sharebeame, the whiche is 

the keye and the chiefe bande of all the plough. 1624 

WOTTON Archit. in Reliq. (1651) 290 If the great Doore be 

Arched with some brave Head, cut In fine Stone or Marble 

for the Key of the Arch. 1703 MOXON Mech. Exerc. 273 

The under side of the Arch at the Key to rise in height 

18 Inches from the level of the place, whence you begin to 

spring the Arch. 1723 CHAMBERS tr. Le Clerks Treat. 

Archit. I. 52 Keys .. ought to be . . a real support, and not 

stand for mere Ornaments as they frequently do. 1892 

Daily News 22 Nov. 3/1 The hole will be lined all the way 

round with an iron plate two inches thick. This will be laid 

' 

all round in 14 segments, and a key ' 

at the top. 

fb. fig. The leading person or mainstay of 

a society, etc. ; one of the best dogs in a pack ; 

a cardinal point or principle. Obs. 

1559 Mirr. Mag.i Dk. Clarence xviii, Where decayed the 

kayes of chiuairie. 1578 T. N. tr. Cong. W. India 319 The 

key of all these wars consisted in this victory, c 1620 A. 

HUME Brit. Tongue vii. 18 That general, quhilk I called the 

keie of , . orthographic that is the congruence of the symbol 

KEY. 

and sound symbolized. 1652 CULPECPER Eng. Physic. (1809) 

336 The one must keep his credit, and the other get money, 

and that is the key of the work. 1693 EVELYN De la Quint. 

Compl. Card. I. 103 Which.. are among our Fruits that 

in a Pack of Hounds are in 

which those called the Keys 

Hunting. 

c. That portion of a first coat of wall-plaster 

which passes between the laths and secures the 

rest; the hold which plaster has on a wall by 

means of roughnesses in the surface ; the roughness 

of a wall-surface which enables plaster to 

adhere to it; the roughing on the under-side of 

a veneer, giving the glue a better hold. 

1825 I. NICHOLSON Oferat. Mechanic 612 The plaster is 

crossed all over with the end of a lath, to give it a tie or key 

to the coat which is afterwards to be laid upon it. 1842-76 

GWILT Archil, (ed. 7) 1899 A better key is obtained upon 

the bricks and mortar. 1888 C. F. MITCHELL B-uild. Constr. 

L viL (1889) 104 Tredgold recommends the arrises of wide 

timbers to be taken off, so as not to interrupt the key for 

plaster. 

11. In the organ, pianoforte, and other ('key- 

board') instruments : Each of the levers, or more 

usually only the exposed front end of each of 

these, which are pressed down by the fingers in 

playing, and actuate the internal mechanism so as 

to produce the various notes. 

[This sense appears to be confined to Eng. It is app. 

related in origin to 7 : see the note there.] 

c 1500 Frcrv. in Anliq. Rep. (1809) IV. 407 He must 

handill the keyes all lyke. 1513 in Kerry Hist. St. Lawr. t 

Reading (1883) 60 Payd for y6 lokks to the same organs, one 

for the stopps and the ober for the keyes. 1626 BACON Sylva 

158 In Clericalls, the Keyes are lined. 1632 QUARLES 

Dot, Fancies i The unseen Bellows, nor the hand that plays 

Upon th' apparant note-dividing Kayes. 1664 PEPYS Diary 

Arched Viall . . played 

5 Oct., The new instrument . . the 

on with kees like an organ. 1785 MAD. D'ARBLAY Diary 

16 Dec., 'Are you sure you never play? never touch the 

' 

keys at all ? 1876 F. E. TROLLOPE Charming Fellovj II. L 4 

[She] began to run her fingers over the keys of the piano. 

1896 HIPKINS Pianoforte 28 The lower keys 

are called the 

naturals and, where seen, are covered with ivory ; the visible 

ends of the shorter upper keys, called sharps, are raised to 

the height required by blocks of ebony glued upon them, 

b. In some wind instruments, as the flute, oboe, 

etc. : Each of the small metal 

clarinet, concertina, 

levers, actuated by the fingers, which cover or 

uncover the holes so as to modify the length of the 

vibrating column of air and thus produce the 

various notes. 

i76sCROKER, etc. Diet. Arts, etc. s. v. Flute, Stopped and 

opened the little 

by_ finger's pressing on a brass, or sometimes, 

a silver key, like those in hautboys, bassoons, &c. 

1829 Specif. Patent 5803 Finger keys have also been added 

to such instruments [as the concertina]. 1831 lllustr. Catal. 

Gt. Exhib. 1105 D flute of ebony, with keys.. Clarionets in 

B and D, in German silver, with all the keys. 

fc. Each of the vibrating steel tongues of a 

musical box. Obs. 

1823 J. BADCOCK Dom. Aitiusem. 67 Long bits of steel 

called the keys of the instrument. 

12. Hence a. In telegraphy, A mechanical device 

for breaking and closing an electric circuit, b. 

In a type-writer or similar instrument, each of 

a set of levers pressed by the fingers in the same 

manner as the keys of a pianoforte or organ. 

1837 Specif. Patent No. 7390, 4 Giving signals . . . . by 

pressure of his . . fingers upon suitable buttons or finger keys. 

1846 Penny Cycl. ist Suppl. II. 616/1 In M. Alexander's 

instrument, a set of keys resembling those of a pianoforte, 

and corresponding to the number of needles, were arranged 

on a frame or table. 1867 SABINE Electric Telegraph 41 

The transmitting key used by Morse in his later . . 

apparatus 

consisted of a lever. 1876 PREECE & SIVEWRIGHT Telegraphy 

58 To send dots and dashes by this key it is only necessary 

to tap or move it as one would the key of a piano. 

13. An instrument for grasping a square or polygonal-headed 

screw, peg, or nut, and turning it by 

lever action ; esp. (a) 

for winding a clock, watch, 

or clock-work machine ; (b) for turning the wrest- 

pins of stringed instruments ; a tuning-hammer ; 

(c) for turning a valve or stop-cock; (d) for turning 

a nut a ; screw-wrench or spanner. 

The reference in quot. 1610 is somewhat uncertain. In 

quot. 1659 applied to the plug of a cock or tap. 

1610 SHAKS. Temp. i. ii. 83 Thy false vncle . . hauing both 

the key, Of Officer, and office, set all hearts i'th state To 

what tune pleas 'd his eare. 1659 LEAK Waterwks. 14 The 

Cock D ; whose barrel is . . pierced to the end that the key C 

turning either one way or the other,, .the Water, .may run 

when the hole of the key C shall agree with one or the other 

of them. ' 

1729 SWIFT Direct. Servants Wks. (1879) 559/2 

Hide the key of the jack. 1755 JOHNSON Diet., Key. . 3. An 

instrument by which something is screwed or turned. 1783 

Phil. Trans. LXXIII 443 Those stop. cocks must be turned 

by meansofakey adapted to their square tops. 1828 WEBSTER 

s.v., The key of a watch or other chronometer. 1851 I/lustr. 

CataL Gt. Exhib. 1147 Ordinary tuning-keys are generally 

formed in one piece of hard iron. 1884 F. BRITTEN Watch 

J. 

ij- Clockm. 131 Capable of being wound without a key. 

b. An instrument for extracting teeth, consisting 

of a firm handle, with a claw, beak, or hook at 

right angles to it, and moving upon a pivot. 

1854-67 C. A. HARRIS Diet. Med. Terminal. 377/2 Since 

the time of Garengeot, the key has undergone a number of 

. . improvements almost every dentist has felt the necessity 

of modifying the instrument. 1856 DRUITT Surgeon's I'ade 

M. 450 The key is.. often employed for the extraction of 

the bicuspides and molars.

KEY. 

pieces of wood, etc., by means of a key dovetailed 

into each ; key-drop, an external keyhole-guard, 

which falls by its own weight ; key-fastener, 

any device to prevent a key from being turned in 

a lock (Knight Diet. Mech. 1875) a ; wedge securkey- 

ing the breech-block of a gun (Cent. Diet.) ; 

file, a flat file, of the same thickness throughout, 

used in filing the wards of keys ; key-frame = 

KEYBOARD 2; key-fruit = KEY 14; key-groove 

Mech. = : key-seat hence key-grooving machine ; 

t key-gun, ^key-pistol; key-hammer, a hammer 

for driving in keys or wedges; f key-herd Obs. 

= KEY-KEEPER ; key-loader, a workman who 

balances the wooden keys of a musical instrument 

by the insertion of lead pellets 

lock and key; key-money, a payment required 

from the tenant of a house before he is allowed 

to have the key; key-movement, the mechanism 

of the keys of an organ ; key-pattern, a fret or 

meander; key-pin, the pin on which a pianoforte 

or organ key is centred ; key -pipe, in a lock, the 

tabular opening in which the shank of the key 

turns; f key-pistol, a small pistol disguised in 

the form of a key; key-point = KEY 5 (a\sojig.) ; 

key-ring (a) a finger-ring having a small key 

; f key-locks, 

combined with it ; (*) a ring on which a number 

of keys are hung ; key-screw = KEY 1 3 ; key-seat 

Mech., a key-bed or key-way (see quot. for key- 

bed); hence key-seated a. ; t key-shot, shot 

consisting of a bunch of pieces of metal ; key-stop, 

a key fitted to a violin to assist in stopping the 

683 

The square in "key-winding watches by means of which the 

hands are set to time. 

Key 0 s&- 2 Now written QUAY. Forms : 

4-5 keye, 4-9 key ; also 5-8 kay, (5-6 kaie, 

6 kaye, keay, 8 kea). [a. OF. kay, kai, cay (131 i in 

Godef. Compl.), whence also Du. kaai (earlier had, 

kae, kaeye), Ger. and Da. kai, Sw. kaj. Cognate 

with the OF. word is Sp. cayo shoal, reef (see 

next) : for the ultimate etymology see CAY. In 

Eng., J4-i8th c., usually written key (less freq. 

kay), which latterly underwent the same change of 

pron. as KEY s6.l In early i8th c., the spelling 

quay was introduced, after later F. quai, but did 

not finally supersede kay, key till nearly a century 

later; in spite of this change of spelling the 

pronunciation remains that of key (kz~ ).] 

A wharf, a quay. 

[1306 Rolls Parlt. I. 200/2 Per exaltationem Caye & 

diversionem aqux.] 0:1400 Sir Beues (MS. S) 141/3056 Sir 

Saber . . went him forth also bliue Tille be keye here be schip 

scholde ryue. 1467 Ord. Worcester in Eng. Gilds 374 That 

the slippe and the keye, and the pavyment ther, be ouerseyn 

and repared. 1495 Naval Ace. Hen. VII (1896) 265 Ankers 

Receyved at the Kay in Hampton, a 1548 HALL Chron., 

Hen. VIII, 209 The water rose three foote above the wharfe, 

where the Key stode in Andwarpe. 1593 NORDEN Spec. 

Brit., M'sex i. 34 Billingsgate is a harbor or kaye for 

shipping. 1621 QUARLES Dai. Poems, Esther (1717) 8 The 

Keel begins t' obey Her gentle Rudder, leaves her quiet 

Key. 1628 WITHER Brit. Rememb. i. 75 At her Ports and 

Keyes, Take in the wealth of Kingdomes and of Seas. 

1718 Freethinker No. 16 P 4 A young Fellow., fell from 

a Key into the River, and was drowned. 1721 PERRY 

Daggenh. Breach. 24 To lade and unlade their Goods.. at 

the Keas of the City. 1759 MARTIN Nat. Hist. Eng. II. 

Suffolk 48 It is clean, and has a good Kay on the River 

Aid. 1773 BRYDONE Sicily ii. (1809) 25 The key [at Messina] 

exceeds anything I have yet seen, even in Holland. 1779-81 

JOHNSON Lives, Drake Wks. 1787 IV. 413 The people, .ran 

in crowds to the key with shouts and congratulations. 1800 

R. LANGFORD Introd. Trade 132 Key, kay, or quay, a wharf 

for loading or unloading vessels. 

fig. 1666 DRYDEN A nil. Mirab. ccxxxi, A Key of fire ran 

all along the shore, And lightened all the river with a blaze. 

KEYAGE. 

IV. 14. A dry fruit with a thin membranous 

wing, usually growing in bunches, as in the ash 

and sycamore. 

15*3 FITZHERB. Surv. xxix. (1539) 51 Ye may gette the 

Keys of asshes, rmttes, and suche other. 1562 TURNER Herbal 

11. 6 They are called in Englishe ashe Keyes, because they 

hangh in bunches after the maner of Keyes. 1664 EVELYN 

Sylya (1679) 4 Oaklings, young beeches, ash, and some others, 

spring from the self-sown mast and keys. 1789 G. WHITE 

Selborne (1853) 387 Many ash-trees bear loads of keys every 

year. 1880 GRAY Struct. Bot. (ed. 6) 294 The Samara, sometimes 

called in English a Key, is an indehiscent one-seeded 

fruit provided with a wing. 

15. Key of the sea, the Pelican's foot shell. 

1854 Zoologist XII. 4425 Aporrhais pes-pelecani .. This 

common shell is popularly known as the ' 

key of the sea '. 

"V. attrib. and Comb. 

16. General combs., as (sense i), key-basket, 

-maker, -rack \ key-headed, adj. ; (sense 6) keybook, 

-cipher, -list, -map, -sentence, -word; (sense 

7) key-relationship, -sigiiature ; (senses 9 and 10) 

key-beam, -course, -log, -piece, -pile. 

1888-9 Century Mag. XXXVII. 841 A mob-cap covering 

her grey hair, and *key-basket in hand. 1865 R. HUNT Pop. 

Rom. West Eng. (1896) 112 (E. D. D.) They were playing all 

sorts of pranks on the "key-beams and rafters. 1826 E. 

IRVING Batylon I. i. 54 These two "key-books [Daniel and 

Revelations] and the treasure-books, which they unlock. 

1605 BACON Adv. Learn, n. xvi. 6 The kinds of Ciphers. . 

are many, according to the nature or rule of the infolding ; 

Wheel-ciphers, "Key-ciphers, Doubles, &C. 1703 MOXON 

Meek. Exerc. 282 The middle of the "Key-course will be the 

middle of the Arch. 1859 C. FORSTER Primev. Lang., Man. 

Assyria 13 Clavi-formed or nail-headed, cleidi-formed or 

"key-headed, cuneiform or wedge-shaped. 1868 Harper s 

Mag. XXXVI. 423 The most vulnerable point, the "key-log 

of the jam issought, i^^Cath.Angl. 200/1 A"kay maker, 

clauicularius, clauicularia. 1851 in lllustr. Loud. News 

on a fair scale with a key-map for reference. 1891 Pall 

MallG. 7 Nov. 2/1 Fourteen segments and a *keypiece will 

make up a ring 2^ ft. wide. 1882 STEVENSON New A rab. 

Nts. (1884) 297 The landlord .. rose from a business table 

under the "key-rack. 1881 BROADHOUSE .flfMS. Acoustics in 

So many stumbling-blocks, in the way of understanding 

"key-relationship. 1859 C. FORSTER Primcv. Lang., Mon. 

Assyria 207 The inscriptions terminated with their *keysentence. 

1875 STAINER & BARRETT Diet. Mus. Terms (1898) 

404^/2 The "key signatures, including the clefs, are usually 

written on every stave. 1879 STAINER Music of Bible 164 

The different versions begin and end in the same "keytonality. 

1839 C. FORSTER Printer. Lang., Mon. Assyria 

40 The "key-word of these inscriptions. 1885 MERRIAM Sain. 

Bowles II. xxxiv. 66 The key-word of life is 'Thy will be 

done'. 

17. Special combs. : key-action, the mechanism 

by which sounds are produced in musical instruments 

that have a keyboard; f key-band Mech., 

a pin or wedge used in tightening machinery; keybed 

Mech., the part of a shaft on or in which 

a key rests (see quot.) ; key-bit = BIT rf.l 7 ; 

key-bolt Afech., a bolt which is secured in its 

place by a key or cotter (Hamersly Naval . Encycl 

1881); key-bone, (a) the collar-bone, clavicle 

(nonce-use); (6) a bone forming the key of a 

structure ; key-check (see quot.) ; key-chord 

Mus. the common chord of the , key-note ; ) keyclock, 

?a pine cone (cf. CLOCK sii. 1 9); keycolour, 

the leading colour in a picture; key-desk 

Mus., the case enclosing the keys and strings (Cent. Diet.); key-stringed a., having 

strings which are sounded by means of keys ; keytail, 

the part of a piano or organ key which lies 

behind the key-pin ; key-trumpet, a trumpet 

fitted with keys; key-way Mech., a groove cut 

in a shaft, or in the boss of a wheel, to receive 

a key (see quot. for key-beef) ; key-winding a., of 

a watch, that is wound up with a key. 

1881 EDWARDS Organs 

stops of an 

organ; key-dovetailing, a method of joining two 

vi. (Heading) 67 *Key Action. 1774 

PkiL Trans. XXXVIII. No. 434 Engraving, The Screw 

or "Key-band to confine all close and tight. 1892 D. A. Low 

Machine Draw. 22 The part of the shaft upon which a key 

rests is called the "key bed or key way, and the recess in the 

boss of the wheel or pulley into which the key fits is called 

the key way ; both are also called key seats. 1875 [/re's 

Diet. Arts III. 142 By turning the handle, the "key-bit. .is 

brought into contact with the works of the lock, so as to 

shoot and withdraw the bolt. 1791 COWPER Iliaitv. 171 One 

with his huge falchion smote Fast by the "key-bone. 1854 

OWEN Skel. , Teetli in Circ. Sc., Organ. Nat. I. 206 It .. 

completes the neural arch, as its crown or key.bone. 1875 

STAINER & BARRETT Diet. Mus. Terms (1898) 341 The pieces 

of wood on each side of the manual, to which the pin-rails 

* 

are firmly fixed, are called key-checks. Ijjfd. 254 C, E, G 

is the "key-chord of C. 1577 B. GOOGE HeresbacWs Hnsb. 

(1586) 95 The Pine.. is planted not muche unlike to the 

Almond, the Kernels of the "Keie clockes being set as the 

Almond is. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 21 Jan. 4/2 The console or 

"key-desk is movable. 1847 SMEATON Builder's Man. 90 

The first method .. is called, amongst workmen, keying 

together; the second .. "key-dovetailing. 1831 Cassell's 

lllustr. Exhibitor 52 [Foucault'sJ Printing key frame 

by which the blind may write. 1835 URE Phjlos. Manuf. 

21 The dexterous hands of the filer and driller are now 

superseded by the planing, the "key-groove cutting, and 

the drilling machines. 1663 DAVENANT Siege Rhodes Wks. 

(1673) 65, I hope he wears no charms About him, "Key 

Guns or Pistols charg'd with White Powder. 1884 Mil. 

Engineering I. ]l. 59 The tools required are..i rammer, 

i "key-hammer, 2 beaters, c 725 Corpus \}loss. 490 Clamcularius, 

"caejhiorde. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Haiti. 193 De 

heuenliche keiherde sainte peter. 1886 Standard 10 May 

2/6 He had worked . .as a "key-loader. 1018 Laws ofCnut 

n. c. 76 i Buton hit under paes wifes "cteg-locan sebroht 

wsere, sy heo clxne. a 1687 COTTON Poet. Wks. (1765) 7 

And here, in House, with her own Key. locks, She us'd to 

keep her Coach and Peacocks. 1898 Daily News 19 Dec. 

6/7 The rent was higher than was stated on the rent book 

and the "key money exorbitant. 1881 EDWARDS Organs vi. 

(Heading) 67 The Claviers and "Key Movement. 

1876 

HUMPHREYS Coin-Collector's Man. iv, The figure known in 

Greek ornament as the ' 

"key pattern . 1887 J. R. ALLEN 

Karly Chr. Symbol, in The cross. .is enclosed in a rectangular 

frame of key-pattern. 1655 MRQ. WORCESTER Cent. 

Inv. Index p. iv, A "Key-pistol [art. 44. .a Key of a Chamber 

door, which.. shall become a perfect pistol]. 1870 LOWELL 

Study Wind. 256 They have not learned the art of concentrating 

their force on the "key-point of their hearers' 

interest. 1874 RAYMOND Statist. Mines Pf Mining 509 

Upon the upper end of the sleeve., a "key -seat of from four 

to six feet in length is cut . . ; over this sleeve a . . pinion also 

key-seated, is slipped. 1652 Sea-I'ight bctw. Eng. fy Dutch 

(30 Nov.) 4 So close and thick did they pl 

"Key-shot, long Chains, and Bolts of Ir 

BARRETT Diet. Mus. Terms (1898) 

apparatus of a "key-stringed instrument. . . 

18 Mar. 652/3 The driving shaft is cut with a feather groove 

or "key way. 1893 Pall Mall_ G. 2 Jan. 5/2 He drilled three 

keyways 

out of solid steel in the collars and fitted steel 

bolts into them. 1884 F. t b. transf. A harbour, haven, nonce-use. 

1621 QUARLES Argalus f, P. (1678) 41 That thou maist 

safely slide Into the bosome of thy quiet Key, And quit 

thee fairly of th'injurious Sea. 

c. attrib. and Comb., as key-duty, -gale, -master, 

-side, -wall; key -wood, wood landed at a quay 

(see quot. 1467). 

1425 MS. Found. Chart. Thornton's Hasp., Newcastle, 

A via regia voc. le keyside. 1467 E. E. Gilds 383 That 

better gouernaunce and rule be hadd, and better ouersight, 

vppon keywood, crates, and colez. 1477 Water/. Arch, in 

lo/A Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 313 To stoppe the 

saide key yate with lyme and stone. 1638 Plan malls 

Newcastle in Archxol. SEliana XII. PI. xiii. 230 The Newe 

and had the key-duties. 

Key (kf), sd.3 Also 8-9 kay. [var. of CAT, 

ad. Sp. cayo shoal, reef. The spelling and pron. 

are due to the influence of prec.] A low island, 

sand-bank, or reef, such as those common in the 

West Indies or off the coast of Florida. Cf. the 

place-name Key 

J. BRITTEN Watch $ Clockni. 240 

West. 

1697 DAMPIER Voy. I. 22 These Islands or Keys, as we 

call them, were first made the Rendezvous of Privateers in 

the year 1679. Ibid. 249 A mile and half from the shore 

there is a small Key, and within it is a very good Harbour. 

1726 G. ROBERTS 4 Yrs. Voy. 345 The Rock is. .flat on the 

lop like a Key, which the Inhabitants call Kaay. 1761 

Descr. S. Carolina 63 There a pretty many Indians among 

the Kays, about the Cape of Florida. 1828 W. IRVING 

Columbus (1831) 167 He soon got entangled in a complete 

labyrinth of small islands and keys. 1885 C. F. HOLDER 

Marvels Anim. Life 22 The group, comprising seven or 

eight Keys, made up of coral, is surrounded by a long reef. 

t Key, jtf.4 obs. , pi. of Cow, q. v. Hence t keywhit 

(= -quit), money paid in lieu of the tithe of 

milk. 

1507 Pillon Church-ill. Ace. (Som. Rec. Soc.) 54 Item 

Receved of Willyam Townysende and lohn Dore for Key 

1 Why t . . ix" v' . 

Key (kz~), v. [ME. keije(n, keie(n, etc. f. keije, 

KEY sbl An OE. cfeggian is alleged by Somner.] 

1. trans. To lock with a key to lock ; up to 

; 

fasten securely. AXsojig. rare. 

1362 LANGL. P. PI. A vi. 103 pe dore I-closet, I-keiset and 

I-kliketed, to kepe be ber-oute. c 1425 Disp. Mary *,- Cress 

241 in Leg. Rood(i%ii} 205 Heuene gate was keiyed [printed 

keibed] clos. 1433 LYDG. St. Edmund \. 1072 Cloos in his 

herte ech uertu was I-keied [v. r. ykeyed]. 1555 ABP. 

PARKER Ps. cxix. 352 Keyd fast thy word : was so to me : in 

hope that I have done. 1780 Newgate Cat. V. 201 Mrs. 

Penleaze swore that the windows were constantly barred 

and keyed every night. 1791 COWPER Odyss. xxi. 286 Be the 

palace-door Thy charge, ..key it fast. 

2. a. To fasten by means of a pin, wedge, bolt, 

or wooden cross-piece. 

1377 HARRISON England n. xi. (1877) i. 227 An ax, keied 

or fastened with iron into the wood. 1654 WHITELOCKE 

Jrnl.Smed. Etub. (1772) I. 196 The bodyes of great trees 

squared, and. .keyed togither by other great pieces of timber. 

1793 SMEATON Edystone L. 302 To key home the plates 

of the cupola to the ribs. 1839 R. S. ROBINSON Naut. 

Steam Eng. 57 It is keyed or wedged in, and rusted in so 

as to be immoveable. 1881 YOUNG Every Man his own 

Mechanic 550 Immovably keyed upon the cranked shaft 

is a heavy wooden cone pulley. 

b. To cause (plaster) to adhere (to laths). 

1881 YOUNG Every Man his own Mechanic | 1383 When 

the mortar is put over the laths, part of it penetrates between 

them, and when hard keys, as it were, the plaster to the 

laths and renders it difficult of removal. 

3. To regulate the pitch of the strings of a 

a certain 

musical instrument. Hence/^. : To give 

tone or intensity (to feelings, thoughts) ; 

to key up, 

to stimulate, to raise to a high pitch. 

1636 HEYWOOD Challenge Beautie Pro]., And Poets strive 

to key their strings more loud. 1655 H. VAUGHAN Silex 

Scint. i. Affliction 36 Thus doth God key disorder'd man 

. .Tuning his brest to rise or fall. 1866 ALGER Solit. Nat. 

(r Man iv. 257 The fervid quickness and strength of 

Rousseau's feelings keyed him on so high a pitch that [etc]. 

If Mr. Balfour 

1888 HURLBERT Irel. under Coerc. I. i. 46 

keys up the landlords to stand out. 

b. To fix the strings of a musical instrument 

upon the pegs or keys. 

1872 W. SKEEN Early Typogr. 90 They were as useless to 

him as unstrung harp-strings are unmusical until they are 

keyed and stretched and tuned. 

4. To insert the keystone in (an arch). Also 

with in. 

1735 J- PRICE Stone-Bridge Thames 8 After the Arches 

are thus turn'd and key'd. 1751 LABELYE Westm. Br. 75 

The last Arch was key'd in. 1770 Chron. in Ann, Reg. 

97/2 The new bridge, .fell down after it was key d in. 

Key, var. KAY a., left (hand or foot). 

Keyage (kfedg). Now written QUAYAGE. 

Also 6 kei-, 7 kay-, caiage. [a. OF. kaiage, caiage 

etc. (1295 in Godef.; med.L. caiagium is found 

in 1167); see KEY sb? and -AGE.] Quay-dues; 

quayage. 

[1324 in Gross GildM. I. 195 note 4 De hujusmodi theolonio 

. . anchoragio, tenagio, kayagio.] c 1440 Promp.Pam. 

260/2 Keyage, or botys stondynge, ripatum. 1511 Water/. 

Arch, in loth Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 325 Noo 

man . . shall reise keiage of noo kaye nor othre . . 

place 

except it be buylded as a keay. 1610 FOLKINGHAM Art of 

. . 

Survey iv. L 80 Profits of Faires, Markets, Pontage, 

Caiage, Cranage. 1681 W. ROBERTSON Phraseol. C7e.(i693) 

151-3

KEY-BEARER. 

78* Kevace or kavafie, foriorium. 778 Eng. Gazetteer 

(ed. 2)Tv g ^y The toll of the market and fairs, and 

keyage of the harbour. 

Key-tea 

rer. [f. KEY rf.i + BEARER : OE. 

had CKfbora in same sense.] 

1 One who bears a key or keys. (Cf. KEY sbl 2.) 

M Nominate in Wr.-Wulcker 684/9 Hie claviger,a. 

kayberere. 1486 Lichfield Gild Ord. (E. E T. S.) 22 "I he 

foure kayberers or ther deputies. 1552 HULOET, Kaye 

bearer or keper. 1778 Bp. Low Transl. Isaiah Notes 

(ed. 12) 254 The priestess of Juno is said to be the key-bearer 

of the Goddess. 1846 ELLIS Elfin Marb. I. 120 The figure 

of a key-bearer. 

2 fig. One who is entrusted with authority symbolized 

by keys. Cf. KEY sbl 4 and KEY-KEEPER 2. 

a 1540 BARNES Wks. (1573) 262/2 S. Fetter, .commaundeth 

you that you shoulde bee alonely but ministers, & keybearers 

of these keyes. 1669 BAXTER Power Mag. * Ch. 

Past. n. xi. (1671) 29 Christ made these Officers the Keybearers 

of his Churches. 1895 Tablet 2 Nov. 700 The Prince 

of the Apostles, the key-bearer of eternal life. 

So Key-bearing, sb. and a. 

1669 BAXTER Power Mag. t, Ch. Past. II. xii. (1671) 29 This 

Key-bearing power (never denyed them from Chnsts time). 

1863 W. CORY Lett. * jfrnfi. (1897) 93, I should have lost 

the respect of the key-bearing woman [= guide]. 

Keyboard (k-bojd). [KEY rf.i n.] 

1. The set or row of keys in such musical instrumftits 

as the organ and piano. 

1819 Pantologia s. v. Organ, Worked by. .a treadle, which 

comes out in the front of the instrument, under the key 

board. 1856 MRS. C. CLARKE tr. Berlioz' Instrument. 126 

A large organ generally possesses five key-boards one above 

the other. 1896 HIPKINS Pianoforte 5 The keyboard with 

its ivory and ebony notes [is seen] when the front of the 

instrument is opened. 

fig. 1884 tr. Lotze's Metaph. 491 In this case the soul 

would stand ..before the open key-board of the central 

nerve-terminations. 1892 STEVENSON Across the Plains 79 

Uproar that runs, .up and down the long key-board of the 

beach. 

attrib. 1896 HIFKINS Pianoforte 46 The various keyboard 

instruments. Ibid. 65 A keyboard psaltery of a 

harp-shaped disposition. 

2. The set of keys in a type-writing machine. 

1851 Illustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib. 1187 A printing key. 

board, by which the blind are enabled to write. 1881 Span's 

Diet. Indust. Arts 1608 The ' 

Remington ' 

machine has in 

front a key-board holding the letters and numerals. 

: 

Key-bn gle. A bugle fitted with keys to 

increase the number of its sounds. 

(Invented by James Halliday about 1815, and by him 

named the Kent Bugle.) 

1836-9 DICKENS St. Boa (1850) 249/1 The loud notes of 

a key-bugle broke the monotonous stillness of the street. 

1884 J. COLBORNE Hicks Pasha viii. 86 Each battalion 

marched out to the inharmonious braying of their key-bugles. 

Key-Clog. A piece of wood tied to a key, to 

prevent it from being easily lost. 

1552 HUI.OET, Kaieclogge. [No Latin.) 1555 R. SMITH 

in Foxe A. fy M. (1684) III. 343, I have sent you a key-clog 

for a token. 1632 I. L. Wont. Rights 19 She is able.. to 

have the key clog at her girdle. 1805 

G. ELLIS E. E. Metr. 

Rom. II. 381 The active princess, .seized the key-clog which 

hung from his shoulder. 

Key-cold, a. Now rare. [Cf. KEY sb^ I b.] 

As cold as a key; devoid of heat ; esp. cold in death. 

1529 MORE Dyaloge II. Wks. 185/2 That body bereth them 

yet about sicke and noughty and cay colde as thei be. 1593 

Tell-Troth's N. Y. Gift 4 Joyning burning sommer with 

kea-cold winter. 1594 SHAKS. Rich. Ill, \. ii. 5 Poore keycold 

Figure of a holy King. 1667 DRYDEN Sir Martin 

Mar-all in. ii, Mill, Feel whether she breathes, with your 

hand before her mouth. Rose. Noj madam, 'tis key-cold. 

1894 HALL CAINE Manxman VI. xiii. 405 The word was 

scarce out of his mouth when he was key-cold. 

b. fig. Entirely devoid of warmth of feeling ; 

having no zeal or fervour ; apathetic. 

1534 MORE Com/, agst. Trio. in. xxvii. (1847) 313 The consideration 

of his incomparable kindness could not .. fail to 

inflame our key-cold hearts. 1565 STAPLETON Fortr. Faith 

123* Kaye colde Christians, a 1659 Bp. BROWNRIG Serm. 

(1674) I. xxxi. 393 Men are many times. .luke-warm, yea, 

key-cold in the execution of justice, 

a 1734 WODROW Set, 

Biog. (1845-7) I. 397 (E. D. D.) The nobility . . are either 

key-cold, or ready to welcome Popery. 

t B. As sb. (jocularly) : A 

severe cold. Obs. 

1602 DEKKER Satirom. Wks. 1873 I. 206 Sir Adam is best 

you hide your head for feare Your wise braines take key-colde. 

Hence t Key-coldness, utter coldness. 

1641 R. BAILLIE Unlawf. Lim. Episc. 5 The greatest 

part of your professed vertue, we find to consist in a keycoldnes. 

Keyed (kd), a. [f. KEY sb)- or v. + -ED.] 

1. Of a musical instrument: Furnished with keys. 

Keyed bugle = KEY-BUGLE. 

1796 BURNEY Mem. Metastasio II. 320 note, Pieces for 

keyed-instruments. 1806 CALLCOTT Mus. Gram. n. i. 99 Both 

which are, upon Keyed Instruments, performed with the 

sameKeys. i849lx>NGF. JfavanafAxxix, Silas, who breathed 

his soul out upon the ah- of summer evenings through a 

keyed bugle. 

2. In carpentry, engineering, etc. : Secured, 

fastened, or strengthened by means of a key. 

1823 P. NICHOLSON Pract. Build. 587 Keyed^lado, dado 

secured from warping by bars grooved into the back. 1874 

THEARLE Naval Archil. 79 A keyed and riveted scarph, 

two arms. 

joining 

3. Of an arch : Constructed with a keystone. 

1841 W. SPALDING Italy $ ft. Isl. I. iv. 155 In the time of 

Pericles.. we discover in at least one of the great temples 

of Greece the keyed arch. Ibid. v. 183 The keyed arch was 

introduced for strength. 

684 

Keyhole (krh*l). 

1. The hole by which the a lock. 

key is inserted into 

In an ordinary house- or rObm-door the keyhole usually 

goes right through, and thus affords opportunities of peeping, 

listening, etc. which are often alluded to: see thequots. 

c 1592 MARLOWE few of Malta 11. Wks. (Rtldg.) 158/2 

Yet through the key-hole will he talk to her. 1592 NASHE 

Through key-holes we do glide, 1715 BURNET Own Time 

(1766) II. 212 He looked through the key-hole and there 

saw him lying dead. 1833 N. ARNOTT Physics (ed. 5) II. 

222 A candle carried past a key-hole, throws its light on the 

opposite wall. 1887 RUSKIN Przterita II. ii. 52 An ominously 

/Kolkui keyhole in a vile inn. 

2. A hole made to receive a peg or key used in 

carpentry or engineering. 

1703 T. N. City % C. Purchaser 33 Round-bolts.. with 

a Head at one end, and a Key-hole at the other, c 1860 

H. STUART Seaman s Catech, 6t The lower keyholes should 

be clear, to allow the water to run out freely. 

3. In New Brunswick : A round harbour or cove 

with narrow entrance. 

1896 W. F. GANONY in Trans. R. Soc. Canada Ser. n. II. 

ii. 210. 

4. attrib., as key-hole prospect, slit, view, keyhole 

escutcheon, an escutcheon-shaped plate of 

metal surrounding a keyhole; keyhole guard, 

protector, a metal plate which falls over (or into) 

and closes a keyhole ; keyhole limpet, a gastro- 

pod of the family Fissurellidse, having a shell with 

an aperture at the apex ; keyhole saw, a narrow 

saw for culling keyholes, etc. ; keyhole whistler, 

slang, (see quot.) 

1889 Sci. Amer. LXI. 195 Bennett's improved *key-*hole 

guard . . preventing any view through the keyhole. 1869 

J. G. WOOD Common Shells 96 In the there is 

^Tusk-shells 

an aperture at the peak, and the same is the case with the 

*Key-hole Limpet Fissurella reticulata. 1885 Stand. 

Nat. Hist, I. 320 The Fissurellidx, or key-hole limpets, 

are structurally closely allied to the . , Haliotidz. 1851 

H. MELVILLE xvii. 

Whale^ 92 The *key-hole prospect was 

but a crooked and sinister one. 1816 J. SMITH Panorama 

Sc.

KEY-STONED. 

c. esp. The central principle of a system, course 

of action, etc., upon which all the rest depends 

18.7 COLERIDGE Biog. Lit. 96 Religion, as both the corner 

stone, and the key-stone of morality. 1833 LEWIS Usef,A6 

Pal. Terms xm. 163 The keystone on which all government 

principle of unlimited liability is t'hTke'ystonec/the'system 

2. A bond-stone. 

1823 P NICHOLSON Pract. Build. 339 Key-Stones, a term 

frequently used for bond-stones. 

3. In chromolithography : see quot. 

1875 Ures Diet. Arts III. 135 A drawing of the subject, in 

outline,, .is made., when transferred to a stone, this drawing 

is called the keystone, and it serves as a guide to all the 

others, for it must be transferred to as many different stones 

as there are colours in the subject. 1889 Pall Mall G. 

3 Jan. 3/1 Offsets ..are tracings of those portions of matter 

in the keystone which are to go in each colour, an offset for 

the red, one for the blue, and so on. 

4. A block of cast-iron used to fill up certain 

spaces in a Scotch lead-smelting furnace. 

1857 TO.MLINSON in Encycl. Brit. (ed. 8) XIII. 300/1 (Lead) 

I he space at each end of the fore-stone is closed by a cube 

of cast-iron called a key-stone: two similar stones fill up 

the space between the fore-stone and the back Dart of the 

furnace. 

5. attrib. and Comb., as keystone-mask; keystone-mill, 

a kind of mill used for grinding tanning 

materials ; Keystone State, U.S., popular 

appellation of Pennsylvania, as being the seventh 

or central one of the original thirteen states. 

1881 Sfou't Diet. Indust. Arts 1227 The well known 

' 

American keystone mill. 1800 Daily News 26 Nov. 7/3 

The quite famous sculptured keystone-masks on the east 

and west sides of the central arch of Henley Bridge. 

Hence Ke-ystoned a., having a keystone. 

1887 T. HARDY Woodlanders I. iv. 52 Under that keystoned 

doorway. 

Keyth, var. KITHE z>. 06s., to make known, etc. 

t Key-turner. 06s. A turnkey. 

1607 DEKKER Knt.'s Coajur. (1842) 45 Hee's as surly as 

those Key-turners are. 1618 MYNSHUL Ess. Prison. (1638) 29 

The master of a prison is the primum mobile.. and those 

key-turners and street-walkers are the petty and necessary 

slavish wheeles. 1786 J. ROBERTS Life 83 A piece of 

service I did him .. officiating as key-turner, and preventing 

two notorious robbers from breaking out. 

Keytyf, -teyves, obs. forms of CAITIFF, -s. 

: Key-whyt see KEY s6.* 

variant 

Khab(^b)ar, 

of KHUBBER. 

II Khair (kaij). Also kheir, kiar. [Hindi 

khair, khayar, = Skr. khadird.'] The Acacia 

Catechu of India, from which cutch is obtained. 

1831 TRELAWNEY Adv. Younger Son II. 198 The kiar 

backstays, strong and elastic as they are, snapped like cast 

iron. 1835 BURNES Trim. Bokhara (ed. 2) I. 112 Clumps of 

tamarisk, khair, im,..and such other shrubs as are to be 

found in the Thurr. 1862 Catal. Intermit. Exhib, III. 

India 105 Kheir-gum. 1866 Trcas. Bot. 646/1 Khair-tree. 

II Khakail (kaka-n). Also khaean. [Turk! 

(hence Pers. and Arab.) ÎSli. khaqan king, 

emperor, Great Khan: see CHAGAN and KHAN 1 

.] 

A Tartar ruler i a khan. 

"777 J. RICHARDSON Dissert. East Nat. 26 The Khakan 

used often to preside at their exercises of genius. 1859 

?. FORSTER Primeval Lang., Man. Assyria 314 note, 

When the present khaean shall have departed, this man 

will succeed to the throne. 

Hence Xhaka'iiship, the office of khakan. 

1859 C. FORSTER Primeval Lang., Man. Assyria 314 note, 

They give the khacanship only to Jews. 

II Khaki (ka-kz), a. and si. Also khakee, 

ka(h)ki, kharki(e, karkee, etc. [Urdu (Pers.) 

khaki dusty, f. i)li. khdk dust.] 

A. adj. a. Dust-coloured; dull brownish yellow, 

drab. b. (attrib. use of B.) Made of khaki cloth. 

1863 Corah. Mag. Jan. 45 As to dress.. he [Capt. Cureton] 

confined himself to causing their clothes to be dyed khakee, 

or mud-colour. 1869 E. A. PARKES Pract. Hygiene (ed. 3) 

305 The comfortable gray or dust-coloured native Khakee 

cfoth. 1884 J. COLBORNE Hicks Pasha 2 We had to pro- 

'vide ourselves with . . Karkee jackets. 1884 Health Exhib. 

Catal. 35/2 The new Khaki cloth, the material adopted by 

the War Office for the troops on active service. 1890 WATT 

Diet. Econ. Prod. India IV. 566 It is needless to attempt 

an enumeration of all the Khaki dyes of India. 1898 

B. BURLEIGH Sirdar fy Kkalifa'vt. 128 The Kharkie trousers 

of the Lincolns and Warwicks. 1900 Daily News 24 Mar. 6/5 

Stockings, gloves, sunshades, all are to be khaki. 

B. sb. A fabric of this colour now largely employed 

in the British army for field-uniforms. 

Originally of stout twilled cotton (Khaki drill), 

but more recently made also of wool (Khaki Bed- 

ford, K. serge). 

In India, khaki was used for uniforms by the Guide Corps 

under Lumsden and Hodson in 1848, by the troops in the 

Mutiny of 1857, in the Afghan campaigns of 1878-80, etc. 

1857 H. B. EDWARDES Let. 21 July in Lumsden & Elsmie 

Lumsden ofGuides (1899) 200 The whole of the troops here 

are dressed in khakee. 1859 SIR J. MURRAY Disp, 27 Apr. 

in Delhi Gaz. 23 June, The Infantry were dressed in 

khakee. 1879 E. S. BRIDGES Round the World in 6 

Months 203 The troops here are dressed in khaki.. It is 

a kind of strong brown holland, and appears to me to be 

685 

made of flax 1883.Times 1 1 July 7 Marksmen . . in the case 

ot some of the Indian team, in the light serviceable dustcoloured 

khakee. 1886 YULE s.v., The original khakee was 

a stout cotton cloth, but the colour was also used in broadcloth. 

1892 Pall Mall G. 25 Apr. 7/1 Khaki is not showy 

enough except when it is new and well made up, and if 

constantly worn it tends to promote slovenliness. 1800 

b. CRANE in Carnh. Mag. Dec. 749 In came Casper, thin 

yellow, and m soiled khaki. 

b. Used for a soldier clothed in khaki. 

1899 LUMSDEN & ELSMIE Lumsden of Guides 85 There 

used to be a good deal of rivalry between the Guides and 

the ist Punjab Rifles.. the former were styled 'Khakis' 

from their dust-coloured clothing. Mod. Nnvsfr., Before 

daylight the Khakis were at them again. 

C. As adj., adv., or sb. in such constr. as to 

vote khaki, a khaki election, a khaki policy, the 

khaki loan 

(khakis), etc., used in reference to the 

South African War of 1899-, and the war spirit 

in England at the time. 

1900 G. FABER Sp. in Yorksh. Herald 5 Jan. . 6/2 Are 

you.. going to.. vote solid for our Government? Or imay 

I put it m another way, .. will you vote khaki? 1900 

tm. Gaz. 7 Feb. 2/2 The electors at York have voted 

khaki, as Mr. Faber invited them to do. Ibid. 8 Mar. Q/I The 

market does not know whether the new war loan, Khakis, 

will be offered at 97, 98, 99, or 100. Ibid. 10 Mar. 2/2 The 

financial aspects of the ' 

Khaki ' 

Loan of .30,000,000. Ibid. 

23 Mar. 1/3 Complications of all kinds are likely to arise 

as the khaki feeling dies down. Ibid. 26 May 2/2 The 

result in South Manchester is a great deal more khaki than 

that in the Isle of Wight. 1900 Dundee Advertiser 

2i Aug. 4 What right has the Government to attempt to 

ride back to power on 'khaki'? 1900 St. James's Gaz. 

21 Sept. 6/1 Khaki and Imperialistic allusions are worked in 

[to a play] to the entire satisfaction of the audience. 

D. Comb., as khaki-bound, -clad, -clothed, 

coloured, -hued adjs. 

1879 F. POLLOK Sport Brit. Burmah II. 177 Khakie. 

coloured cloth is the best for shooting purposes. 1896 

C. DOYLE in Westm. Gaz. g Apr. 2/1 We had speech with 

three khaki-clad men. 1899 Keene's Bath Jrnl. 2 Dec. 6/1 

It was impossible to distinguish the khaki-clothed firing line. 

1900 Westm. Gaz. 16 Feb. 3/2 The eleven will wear khakihued 

jerseys. 1900 Academy 14 Apr. 313/1 A little 

khaki-bound collection of ditties about fighting and fightingmen. 

1900 Westm. Gaz. 30 Oct. 8/1 What boys they 

looked, some of the sunburnt khaki. men, 

|| Khalifa (kalf'fa), variant of CALIPH, represent- 

ing more closely the Arab, khalifah. So Khalifat (e, 

Khaleefate, variants of CALIPHATE. 

1728 MORGAN Algiers I. iv. 153 From Alexandria . . came 

all the Mighty Armadas set on Foot by the Saracen Khalifas. 

1844 LD. HOUGHTON Palm Leaves 10 The just successor of 

the Khaleefate. 1898 Manch. Guard. 14 Oct., The Khalifate 

had belonged to the Khalifa, and not to the Khedive. 

Khalsa(h (ka-lsa). East Ind. [Urdu (Pers.) 

khalifah, k!ial(a(k, fern, of Arab. ..oJli. 

khalic. pure, real, proper, properly belonging.] 

1. The revenue department of the government in 

Indian states ; the state exchequer. Also attrib., 

as khalsa-grain, -land. 

1776 Trial Joseph P'oûke B 14/1, 1 will procure for you the 

Kallaut of the Aumeen [= Aumil] of the Khalsa. 1801 

R. PATTON Asiat. Mon, 129 The injunctions on this head 

from the khalsa, or revenue department, are imperious and 

strong. Ibid. 157 The nankar lands of the zemindar, which 

have, .been converted into khalsah lands. 1862 BEVERIDGE 

Hist. India II. v. VL 418 The officers of the khalsa (revenue 

office). 1897 LD. ROBERTS 41 Yrs. India liii. 427 The 

herdmen.. refused to deliver the khalsa grain. 

2. The Sikh community or sect. 

1790 G. FOKSTER Journ. Bengal to Eng. (1798) I. 267 note, 

The government at large, and their armies, are [by the 

Sicques] denominated Khalsa, and Khalsajee. 1882 WOOD 

tr. Barth's Relig. India 246 Govind . . Singh completed the 

transformation of the sect, or, as it was henceforth called. . 

the Khalsa, ' 

the property, the portion (of God) '. 

II Khamsin (kre-msin). Forms : 7 camsim, 

8-9 oampsin, (9 kampseen), 9 kamsin, kham- 

sin, -seen. [Arab. ,--_v^ khamsin, mod. collo- 

quial form (= oblique case) of ,..,,^ khamsfm 

fifty (see def.).] An oppressive hot wind from the 

south or south-east, which in Egypt blows at intervals 

for about 50 days in March, April, and May, 

and fills the air with sand from the desert. 

1685 BOYLE Salub. Air 74 A kind of Dew, which, .purifies 

the Air from all the Infection ofCamsims. 1757 HUXHAM 

in Phil. Trans. L. 428 The wind we had, like the Campsin, 

actually blew hot. 1804 C. B. BROWN tr. Volney's Vie 

Soil U. S. 142 The kamsin, or south wind, in Egypt, and the 

south-west at Bagdat and Bussora, have the same properties. 

1883 E. F. KNIGHT Cruise 'Falcon' (1887) 65 The 

atmosphere is hot, dry, and oppressive as that of North 

Africa when the khamsin blows, attrib. 1896 Blackw. Mag. 

Sept. 332 The hot kbamseen winds parch the fields. 

Khan 1 (kaen, kan). Forms : 

4 caan, 4-6 

cane, 4-7 can, 6 canne, 7 eaunn ; 4-5 ohaan, 

4-6 chane, 7 chahan, ehawn, 4, 7-9 chan ; 7-8 

ban; 9 khaun, khan (kan, kaan). See also 

CHAM. [a. Turk! (hence Pers. and Arab.) khan 

^li. 

lord, prince, generally regarded as a modified form 

of 

^jlalifc khaqan see KHAKAN and CHAGAN. 

The title became known in Europe partly through the 

Mongol invasions in the first half of the thirteenth century 

appearing in med.L. as chanis, canis, Gr MOOTI;, Kawt, OF. 

chan, cham. etc.), but more esp. through the European 

missions to the Mongol court in the same century (1245-1255) 

and by the narrative of Marco Polo (1298). In the original 

KHANSAMAH. 

French text of the latter the spelling Kan, Can or Chan 

ries mil^JCaaa or Caan, apparently intended to represent 

Tartar jjHj qa'an, the special title adopted by Oktai the 

son of ChingTz Khan, and his successors. Caanus is also 

found in med.L. (Du Cange, s. v. Cagan), but the usual 

lorms in the European languages are based on Khan.} 

a. Hist. The specific title (usually with great, 

Ifgrand, or the additions of Tartary, of Cathay) 

given to the successors of Chinglz Khan, who were 

supreme rulersover the Turkish, Tartar, and Mongol 

tribes, as well as emperors of China, during the 

middle ages. b. In later use : A title (now of 

slight import) commonly given to rulers, officials, 

or men of rank in Central Asia, Afghanistan, etc. 

1:1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) xiv. 64 pis Tartary es halden of 

Grete Caan of 

Jje 

Cathay. I494 FABYAN Chron. VH. 331 

1 he Great Cbaan of . . Tartharys sent an hooste into the 

lande of Hungry. 1534 MORE Com/, agst. Trib. HI. Wks. 

1241/1 Both Prester lohns land, and the graunde Canes too 

- ^, J*s *...., v..i>ig >*.

KHARAJ. 

In India : A 

house-steward ; 

household goods.] 

a native male servant (usually a Mohammedan), 

the head of the kitchen and pantry department. 

c 1645 HOWELL Lett. i. xxviii. I (1705) met with Camillo 

39, 

your ConMOrman here lately. 1759 m R. O. Cambridge 

War in India (1761) 231 Order, under the Chan Sumaun, 

or Steward s seal. Il'id. 232 Caun Samaun, or Steward to 

his Majesty. I77 Trial Joseph Fmvkc 6/1, I put the 

arzee under the care of the Consumma. 1788 GLADWIN tr. 

Mem Kk. AMulkurreem 56 [He] asked the Khansaman, 

what quantity was remaining of the clothes. MRS. 

îSi^-^ 

SHERWOOD Lit. Henry Bearer >*]! wife of the khedive; KhecU val, 

Xhedl'vial a., of or pertaining to the khedive ; 

KliecU vate, Khedi'viate, the office, authority, 

or government of the khedive. 

1890 Daily Nums ^ Feb. 5/4 Miss E. M. Merrick . . last 

year had the honour of painting a portrait of her Highness 

the Khediviah. 1899 Ibid. 4 Dec. 6/3 The Khedivah, the i 

Khedivah mere, and their enormous entourage. 1882 Sat. \ 

Rev. 17 June 749/1 The Khedival and Turkish portion of 

the Government got .to away, Alexandria. 1882 Standard 

24 July 5 The fine Khedivial Library ..grew, .into a collection 

of fame. 1880 Daily Ne^vs 12 July 5/6 It seems 

almost as though Midhat Pacha wishes to establish a Khediviate 

in Syria, with himself as Khedive, 1892 Times 15 

Apr. 3/1 Turkish intrigues for reducing Egypt from the 

status of a Khedivat . . to a vilayet. 

Khemkaub, Khettrie, Kheveuhuller, var. 

KINCOB, KHATRI, KEVENHULLER. 

II Khidmutgar 

(ki-dmtgai). Also 8-9 kid-, 

kis(t)-, 9 k(h)itmutgar ; 8 khidmidgar, 9 

khid-, khitmatgar.khid-, khed-, khitmutghar, 

khitmutkar, etc. [Urdu (from Pers.) .Ik^ji. 

khidmatgdr, = kkidmal service + -gar , agent-suffix.] 

In India : A male servant who waits at table. 

1765 HOLWELL Hist. Events (1766) I. 60 They were taken 

into the service of Soujah Dowla . . : Hodjee, in capacity 

of his first Kistmutgar lor valet). 1776 Trial of Nundocomar 

56/1 Q. Who came with Bollakey Doss? A. He 

came afone, only his kidmutgar. 1824 [SHERER] Sketches 

in India 247 His father had been a Khidmutgar to a British 

Colonel 1873 Miss THACKERAY Wkt. (1891* I. 269-70 A 

Kitmutghar who had drained off a bottle of her eau-de- 

Cologne. 

j 

686 

II Khilat, khelat (ki-lt). East hid. Forms : 

7 oalaat, collat, 8 kail-, kellaut, 8-9 khilat, 

khelaut, 9 khelat, kheliat, khillaut, calatte, 

(khelut, khillut, killut, -laut). [Urdu (Pers.) 

.jl-.l^. khile-al, khalc-at, a. Arab. ida. khilf-ah 

(-a/).] A dress of honour presented by a king or 

other dignitary as a mark of distinction to the person 

receiving it; hence, any handsome present 

made by an acknowledged superior. 

1684 J. PHILLIPS tr. Tnvernier's Trav. I. in. v. 108 

The Garment of Honour, or the Calaat, the Bonnet, and 

Girdle. 1698 FRYER Ace. E. India f, P. 87 He had a 

Collat or Seerpaw, a Robe of Honour from Head to Foot, 

1837 BACON First Impr. Hindustan^ II. 146 (Y.) To look 

over the edge of the narrow footpath into the Khud. 1870 

Gd. Words 133/2 The depth of the khuds is very great, and 

the slope so rapid that you can scarcely find footing when 

once off the beaten road. 1886 R. KIPLING Departm. Ditties, 

etc. (1899) 87 Death .. drops the reckless rider down The 

rotten ram-soaked khud. 

attrib. 1896 SAHAH J. DUNCAN His Honor fy a Lady xix. 

244 The tin roofs of the cottages down the khud-side. 

: Khukri, Khunjur see KUKRI, KHANJAK. 

. {J 

J>. k/ias- 

khas.~\ The sweet-scented root of an Indian grass, 

largely used in the manufacture of mats or screens 

(' tatties '), which are wetted to cool the air passing 

through them. Also attrib. 

1810 [see Cuscus 2 !. A^lArtJrnl.Illustr.Catal. in Forbes 

Veg. World II. p. ivf, Deliciously fragrant screens are made 

by the H i ndoos from khus-khus, the A ndropogon muricatum. 

1886 Offic. Catal. Ind. Exhib. 33 (Stanf.) Fans made of the 

fragrant root of the khaskas grass. 1890 SIR S. BAKER Wild 

Beasts I. 233 With good tents, kuskos tatties, and cool 

drinks, the heat was bearable. 

II Khutbah (ku-tba) . Also kootbah, khootba, 

khotbeh, -bah. [Arab. iJsi. khutbafi, khotbeh, f. 

\_Ja^ khataba to preach.] A form of sermon or 

oration used at the Friday service in Mohammedan 

mosques ; the name of the ruling sovereign is 

inserted near its close. 

1800 Asiat. Ann. Keg., Misc. Tr. 49/1 He repeatedly read 

the kootbah, or prayer, containing the name and titles of the 

prince of the age. 1815 ELPHINSTONE Ace. Caubnl (1842) 

I. 112 

note^ Inserting a prince's name in the Khootba, and 

inscribing it on the current coin, are reckoned in the East 

the most certain acknowledgments of sovereignty. 1841 

Penny Cycl. XX. 325 His lieutenant deposed the Fatimite 

dynasty by a simple ordinance that the khotbah or public 

prayer should be read in the name of the Abbasside caliph 

Mostadhi. 1860 GARDNER Faiths World II. 467/2 In the 

mosque on the Friday, which may be termed the Mohammedan 

Sabbath, the Khotbeh.. is regularly recited. 

KIBE. 

Ki II (kf). [Hawaiian, = general Polynesian rt.] 

A liliaceous plant, Cordylinc terminalis, found in 

China and the islands of the Pacific, of which the 

root is baked and eaten in the Sandwich Islands; 

the fermented juice yields an intoxicating drink. 

1860 Mere. Marine Mag. VII. 295 A kind of liquor. .a 

deadly stuff, expressed from the ki root. 1889 Tablet 1 8 May 

762/2 Drinking fermented ki-root beer, home made alcohol. 

Kiabooca, -bouca, variants of KYABUKA. 

II Kiack (ki,e-k). [Burmese.] A Burmese 

Buddhist temple. 

1599 HAKLUYT Voy. II. i. 261 The people send rice and 

other things to that kiack or church of which they be. 

tribute.] Tribute ; rent : 

; poll-tax see CARATCH. 

1860 Times 25 June 10/6 The allegation that the word 

'tribute* is incorrectly used, .'kharatch 'ur ' 

poll-tax being 

the expression in the original. 1881 Edin. Rev. Apr. 342 

Unable to pay their kharag or rent. 

Khas-kh)as: see KHUS-KBUS. 

Khatri (kae'trz, kzrtn). Also 7 cuttery, 

quetery, 8 katri, khettrie, kittree, 9 ketra, 

khiitri. [Hindi khatrl : Skr. kshatriya.~\ A 

member of the second or military caste among the 

Hindus (cf. KSHATRIYA). 

1630 LORD Banians ft Persees \. 5 And because Cuttery 

was of a Martiall temper, God gaue him power to sway 

kingdomes with the Scepter. 1665 SIR T. HERBERT Trav 

(1677) 52 The Cutleries. . being men of War they scruple not 

to shed blood, eat flesh, and.. are for the most part called 

Rajaes or great men. 1698 FRYER Ace. E. India % P. 

193 Opium is frequently eaten in great quantities by the 

Rashpoots, Queteries, and Patans. 

1725 

R. MILLAR Hist. 

Prt'pag. Chr. II. vn. 208 The Katris are degenerate 

into Merchants 1776 Trial ofNundocomar 36/1 Another 

letter came to me with a peon and kittree, from Roopnarrain 

Chowdree. 1814 W. BROWN Hist. Propag. Chr. II. 170 

The Hindoos were originally divided into 4 casts or tribes; 

the Brahmin, the Ketra, the Bice, and the Sooder. 1885 

Panjad Notes $ Q. II. 75/1 These ceremonies are observed 

by Brahmans, Khatris, and Baises. 

II Kheda, keddah (krda, ke-da). Also khedda(h, 

(kiddah). [Hindi kkedd.] An enclosure 

used in Bengal, Assam, etc., for the capture of 

wild elephants ; corresp. to the corral of Ceylon. 

1799 CORSE in Phil. Trans. LXXXIX. 38 She was driven 

by Mr. Leekes elephant hunters into a keddah. 1827 

D. JOHNSON Ind. Field Sports 55 Elephants are numerous, . . 

The principal Keddah for catching them is in the district 

of Tipperah. 1879 F. POLLOK Sport Brit Burmah I. 80, 

I remember, when kheddahs were started in Burmah, 

_ 

nearly a hundred elephants had been driven into an 

inclosure. 1889 Daily News 27 Nov. 5/4 A kheda..has 

been formed in the jungle near an elephant cover. 

II Khedive (kedf -v). (Also 7 quiteue.) [a. F. 

khidive, a. Turk, (from khediv, khidcv 

Pers.)jjjJ>. 

prince, sovereign.] The title of the viceroy or 

ruler of Egypt, aecorded to Ismail Pasha in 1867 by 

the Turkish government. 

[1625 PURCHAS Pilgrims II. IV. 1537 (Stanf.) He is called 

Quiteue a title royall and no proper name.] 1867 Times 

24 May 1 1/1 At a council of the Turkish Cabinet, held 

on the I4th inst., the title to be granted to the Pasha of 

Egypt was at length definitely settled. His Highness is to 

as the Arabic 

was roug me. was resse n as a . 1803 

EDMONSTONE in Owen Mrq. Wellesley's Desp. (1877) 325 

He is admitted to the privilege of investing the Peishwa 

with a khelaut. 1845 STOCQUELER Handbk. Brit. India 

(1854) 239 The king.. maintains the royal privilege of conferring 

khillaiits. 1876 JAS. GRANT Hist. India \. 

xxxyii. 

191/1 No peishwa 'could be appointed without first receiving 

the khelat. 1886 YULE, Killut, Killaut. 

II Klioja (kflu-dga). Forms : 7 hoiah, hodgee, 

-gia, hugie, hoggie, 7-8 hogi, 8 hoage, hogia, 

cojah, 9 hoja.h, hodja, khodgea, khodja, -djo, 

khoja. [Turk, and Pers. &a-U khojah, prop. 

khwaja/i.} A professor or teacher in a Mohammedan 

school or college; a schoolmaster; a 

scribe, clerk. 

1625 PURCHAS Pilgrims ix. xv. 8. II. 1598 From fiue 

yeers of age vntill ten. .they haue their Hoiah (that is, their 

Schoole-master) appointed them by the King to teach them. 

1630 A'. 'Johnson s Kingd. $ Commit}. 525 The third, are 

Hogi, Writers of Bookes; for they have no Printing. 1704 

J. PITTS Ace. Mahometans 21 Rides in the Van of the 

Army, with two Hoages, or Clerks. 1786 A rt. Charge W. 

Hastings in Burke Writ. (1852) VII. 27, 

I sent for Retafit 

Ali Khan, the Cojah. 1834 Ayesha I. xi. 265 They collected 

all that the city possessed of wisdom and learning, Khodjas, 

Mollahs, Hakims, Imams. 1887 L'pool Daily Post 14 

Feb. 5/4 This last savant brings a Knoja, who has just 

arrived from Bombay. 

Khookheri, obs. form of KUKKI. 

II Klior (kju). [Arab. â. khurr, khorr^\ A 

watercourse, ravine, nullah, dry bed of a stream. 

1884 Times 28 Mar. 5 Our route lay . .along the bottom of 

the valley leading to the khor. Ibid., The khor winds considerably, 

and splits into two or three smaller ravines. 1896 

Westm. Gaz. 12 June 2/1 A swarm of Arabs came down upon 

them through a neighbouring khor. 

Khotbah, -beh, variants of KHUTBAH. 

II Khubber (ktrbai). Eastlnd. Alsokhuber, 

khab(b)ar. [Urdu (Pers., 

Arab.)^,*. khabar] 

Information, news, report, rumour. 

1878 Life in the Mo/ussil I. 159 (Y.) Khabar of innumer. 

able black partridges has been received. 1879 Vanity Fair 

29 Nov. 299 (Y.) He will not tell me what khabbar has been 

received. 1891 R. KIPLING City Dread/. A7. 75 Just fancy, 

among these five thousand people, what sort of effect the 

Muter of an accident would produce ! 

II Klvud (kwd). East Ind. [Hind! khad."} A 

deep ravine or chasm ; a precipitous cleft or descent 

in a hill-side. 

Kiaja, variant of KEHAYA. 

Kiang, variant of KTANG, a Tibetan wild horse. 

Kiapootee, anglicized phonetic spelling of 

Cajttputi, Malay Kayu-pulih, CAJOPUT. 

1831 TRELAWNEY Adv. Younger Son xxiii. 111.280 Among 

the rest was a large proportion of Kiapootee and colalava oil. 

Kiar (kai-aa), variant of KHAIR. 

Kiaugh (kyax), kauch (kax). Sc. In other 

Sc. dialects oaigh, keaoh, keagh (k^X) k^x w )- 

[Origin obscure.] Trouble, worry. 

1786 BURNS Cotter's Sat. Nt. His clean jii, hearth-stane, 

his thrifty wifie's smile, The lisping infant, prattling on his 

knee, Does a' his weary kiaugh and care \ed. 1787 carking 

cares] beguile. 1794 Poems, Eng. Scotch , Latin 97 (Jam.) 

Your caigh and care ahint you fling. 1824 MACTAGGART 

Gallovid. Encycl. s. v. To be in a , 

kauch, to be in an extreme 

flutterj not knowing which way to turn ; over head and ears 

in business. 1825-80 JAMIESON, Keach, Keagh, uneasiness 

of mind, ..bustle, anxious exertion. Dumfries], 1881 MRS. 

WALFORD in Gd. Wards 402/1 Me in a kauch of work, an' 

Meg kirnin', an' a' the hooss wrang side up maist. 

Kibab, kibaub, variants of KABOB. 

Kibble (ki'b'l), s.* [? Altered form of cobble, or related 

to KIBBLE v\\ = COBBLE si. 1 

1891 Times 12 Oct. 4/5 The demand for coal, kibbles, and 

slack.. is very active. 1893 Daily News 8 May 2/7 House 

coal is quiet, ..kibbles Ss. $d. to Bs. 6d., with superior sorts 

approximately dearer. 

Kibble (krb'l), z\l [Etym. obscure : the form 

is dim. or freq., but the root does not appear; cf. 

KIBBLE sb.^} trans. To bruise or grind coarsely ; 

to crush into small pieces. Also absol. Hence 

Ki'bbled ///. a. ; Kibbling-mill, a hand-mill 

for kibbling grain, beans, etc. 

1790 in W. MARSHALL Midi. Counties (E. D. S.). 1826 

Sporting Mag. XVII. 352 A question in your last Magazine, 

respecting kibbled corn for hunters. Ibid. XVIII. 75 There 

is no kibbling mill equal to the horse's grinders, c 1880 Sale 

Catal., Those [corn crushing machines).. will kibble beans, 

peas, Indian corn. 

Kibble (ki-b'l), v? [f. KIBBLE sb2] To 

convey ore or rubbish in a kibble. 

1891 Labour Commission Gloss., Kibbling. 

Kibbo (ki-bo). dial. ? Obs. : cf. 

[Obscure 

KEBBIE and KIBBLE sbl] A stick, cudgel. 

1688 SHADWELL Sor. Alsatia H. i, And I tak kibbo, I'st 

raddle the Bones o thee. c 1746 J. COLLIER (Tim Bobbin) 

View Lane. Dial. (1862) 52 With o Wythen Kibbo he had 

in his Hont. 

Kibe (ksib), sb. Also 5-7 kybe. [Of uncertain 

origin ; not from OE. cf. Welsh citi ; (also cibwst} 

of the same meaning, which, if native, may be the 

source of the English word.] 

1. A chapped or ulcerated chilblain, esp. one on 

the heel. 

1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) VIII. 227 Alsowi(> his penne 

he made |>ris croys on a kybe [L. antkrncem] J>at he hadde, 

and hit vansched awey. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 5 Of

KIBE. 

wryncles, & chynes of handes, and kybis on be ffete. 1544 

PHAER AJ-. CHildr. (1553) R vij b, Sedesof net tels.. sodden in 

becomes ulcerated or forms a kibe. 

\>.fig. in phrases, as: To gall m tread on (one s) 

kibes, to press upon closely so as to irritate or 

annoy, to hurt one's feelings ; to tread or follow 

on the kibes of, to come closely at the heels of ; etc. 

1602 SHAKS. Ham. v. i. 153 The toe of the Pesant comes 

s the heeles of our Courtier, hee galls his Kibe. 1771 

the whole crew on our kibes. 1883 Contemp. How JefzTjune'goT 

closely this spectre [suicide] follows on the kibes of 

pleasure and extravagance. 

2. transf. a. A sore on a horse's foot (see 

CBEPANCE and cf. KIBY quot. 1886). 1 Obs. 

1639 T. DE GREY Compl. Horsem. 38 Swellings in the 

hinder legs, foundrings, selenders, scratches, kybes [etc ] 

1725 BRADLEY Fam. Diet., Scratches, a distemper incident 

to Horses, .being distinguished indeed by several names viz 

Crepances, Rats tails, Mules, Kibes, Pains, etc. 

b. A breaking out at the top of the hoof in 

sheep. (So Welsh ct'6i.) 

1846 J. BAXTER Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 1 4 II. 282 The footrot 

and kibe. Ibid. 283, I consider the kibe to be.. contagious, 

and all sheep attacked with the disorder should, be 

removed from the flock. 

t C. A hump or 

swelling. Obs. rare. 

1567 MAPLET Gr. Forest 75 There are two kindes of 

Caramels, one which is onely in Arabic, which hath two 

kibes in his back : the other in many other countries, al 

plain in his back. 

3. Comb., as kibe-heel; kibe-heeled adj. 

i63 DAVENANT Cruel Bro. H. Dram. Wks. 1872 I. 136 

How . . they trip On their wanton toes, like kibe-heel'd 

k. fairies. 1658 ROWLAND Moufefs Theat. Ins. 1104 Their 

ashes .. laid on with oyl of Roses cures Kibe-heels. 1741 

Compl. Fam. Piece i. i. 17 Nothing so effectually cures 

Kibe Heels. 

Kibe (kaib), v. rare. 

[f. prec.] trans. To 

affect with kibes or chilblains; incorrectly, to kick 

or gall (with allusion to quot. 1602 in prec. i b). 

1757 Mns. GRIFFITH Lett. Henry f, Frances (1767) IV. 

206, I had walked.. to London-House, with, .the Boots that 

had kibed me at Windsor on my Legs. 1887 A. BIRRELL 

Obiter Dicta Ser. H. 267 The toe of the peasant is indeed 

kibing the heel of the courtier. 

Kibed v kaibd), a. Also 6-8 ky-. [f. KIBE 

sb. + -ED 2 .j Affected with chilblains on the heels. 

c 1500 How Plowman lerned Pater-Noster 108 in Hazl. 

E. P. P. I. 213 No wonder yf he halted, for kybed were his 

helys. 1546-62 J. HEYWOOD Prov. $ Epigr. (1867) 134 How 

euer kybde heeles doo, kybd hartis do not weele. 1720 

W. STUKELEY in Mem. (1882) I. 13, I used to be troubled in 

. . my youth with kyb'd heels. 1822 LAMB Elia Ser. i. Praise 

Chimneysweepers, A pair of kibed heels. 

II Kibitka (kibHka). Also 8-9 -ki, 9 -ke. 

[Russ. KnfrjTKa kibitka, tent, tilt-wagon, 

f. Tartar 

kibits, with Russ. suffix -ka : cf. Arab, ili qubbat 

' 

tent covered with skins '.] 

1. A circular tent made of lattice work and 

covered with thick felt, used by the Tartars; transf. 

a Tartar household or family. 

1799 W. TOOKE View Russian Emp. II. 86 The nether 

horde. .consisting of 30,000 kibitkas. 1814 tr. Klaproth's 

Trav. 162 The Russians determine the number of families 

by that of the felt juries or kibitkes. 1884 E. O'DoxovAN 

Story of the Merv v. 55, I was conducted to the kibitka of 

the village smith. 1899 Daily News 14 Jan. 2/1 His typical 

studio should be a kibitka of the Steppes. 

2. A Russian wagon or sledge with a rounded 

cover or hood ; a sledge with a tilt or 

covering. 

1806 HF.BER Let. 4 Jan. in Sat. Mag. No. 444. 215/1 We 

performed the journey in Kibitkas, the carriages usually 

employed by the Russians in their winter journies, 1823 

BYRON Juan ix. xxx, There in a kibitka he roll'd on, (A 

prisoners' kabitkas that stood ready tc 

IlKiblab. (ki-bla). Also 8 kiblS, 8-9 kebl. 

[Arab, ii.5 qiblah, that which is placed opposite, 

f. qabala to be opposite.] The point (the temple at 

Mecca) to which Mohammedans turn at prayer. 

For a short period in the early history of Islam the kiblah 

was at Jerusalem. 

1704 J. PITTS Ace. Mahometans 40 They all stand 

with their Faces one way, i. e. toward the Kiblah, or the 

Temple at Mecha. 1855 MILMAN Lat. Chr. vn. v.i. (1864) 

IV. 172 The prophet had wavered between Mecca and 

Jerusalem as the Kebla of prayer for his disciples. 1895 

A. MtVtUaffitt. Kelig. 231 This setting of a new 'kiblah ', 

as it is called, declared that Islam . . had an Arab not a 

Jewish centre. 

b. A niche in a Mohammedan building on the 

side towards Mecca. 

1775 R. CHANDLER Trav. Asia M. (1825) I. 143 The inside 

is mean, except the kibie, or portion towards Mecca. 1825 

[SHERF.R] fmpr. Egypt .3 Obs. rare. In 6 kik, ^ 

7 kicke. 

[ad. Gr. KI'KI.] The castor-oil plant. 

1597 GERARDE Herbal n. cxxxi. i. 400 Ricinus, Palma 

Christi, or Kik, hath a great round hollow stalke. 1611 

COTGR., Pauline de Christ, Kicke, Ricinus, Palma Christi. 

Kick (kik), v. 1 Forms: 4 kike, 4-6 kyke, 6 

keke, kicke, 5- kick. [ME. kike, kyke, of unknown 

origin. The W. cicio, often cited as the 

source, is from English (Prof. Rhs).] 

I. 1. intr. To strike out with the foot. 

1386 CHAUCER Wife's T. 85 Ther is noon of vs alle If 

any wight wol clawe vs on the galle That we nel kike [v. r. 

kyke]. 1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) V. 355 pere bou 

my5te 

assaye how strongliche bese mares konnef kyke [v. r. kike], 

1398 Earth. De P. R. vi. v. (MS. Bodl.) If. 36 b/t Whanne 

the modre wasscheb and kemej* ham [children] bei kikeb 

and praunsej?. a 1529 SKELTON Elynour Rumitiyug 450 Of 

the tewsday in the weke Whan the mare doth keke. 1548 

LATIMER Ploughers (Arb.) 23 If they be prycked, they wyll 

kycke. 1599 B. JONSON Ev. Man out of Hum. Induct., 

They. ., like galled camels, kick at every touch. 1733 POPE 

Hor. Sat. n. i. 87 'Tis a Bear's talent not to kick, but hug. 

1862 CARLYI.F. Fredk. Ct. ix. vi. (1872) III. 125 Adead horse, 

or a dying, in the next stall,, -he at least will not kick upon 

us, think the neighbouring Kings. 

b. slang. To die. Also to kick it. Cf. kick up 

(9b), one's keels (5), the bucket (4), k. out (8 c). 

1725 New Cant. Diet., Kick'd, gone, fled, departed. 1858 

TROLLOPE Dr. Thome III. vii. 123 There are fellows have 

done ten times worse than I ; and they are not going to 

kick.. you are trying to frighten me. 1892 HUME NISBET 

Bail Up 105 (Farmer) Four on them sickened all at once. . 

and after they had kicked it, my two mates went with me. 

1899 E. PHILLPOTTS Hnman Boy 10 Then they get microbes 

on the chest, and kick. 

C. Phrases. To kick against the pricks (spur, 

goad} : to strike the foot against such sharppointed 

or piercing weapons ; also fig. to be recalcitrant 

to one's own hurt. To kick over the 

traces : (of a horse) to get a leg over the traces so 

as to kick more freely and vigorously ; fig. to 

throw off the usual restraints. 

c 1380 WYCLIF Stl. Wks. III. 436 It is hard to kyke a?en 

be spore. 1382 Acts ix. 5 It is hard to thee, for to kyke 

a3ens the pricke. 1755 SMOLLETT Quix. (1803) IV. 214 

Advising that honest man is kicking against the pricks. 

1861 H. KINGSLEY Ravenshoe xlii, I'll go about with the 

rogue. He is inclined to kick over the traces, but I'll 

whip him in a little. 1871 E. F. BURR Ad Fidem \. 4 

Kicking against the pricks of the constitution, and course 

of nature. 1876 L. STEPHEN Hours in Library II. 354 The 

effervescence of genius which drives men to kick over the 

traces of respectability. 1882 BESANT Revolt Man i. 32 

Always., some kicking over the limits of convention. 

2. intr. fig. To show temper, annoyance, defiance, 

dislike, etc. ; to rebel, be recalcitrant. To kick

KICK. 

against or at, to object strongly to, rebel against, 

kick the wind or clouds, to be hanged (slang}. To 

kick the tucket, to die : (slang] 

see SOCKET sb? 

To kick one's heels : see HEEL rf.l 17. 

1500 SHAKS. Com. Err. HI. i. 17, 1 should kicke being kickt, 

gun kicked my shoulder, and has made it all black. 

6. With adv. or prep, (see also : II.) To impel, 

drive, or move, by or as by kicking. To kick 

down the ladder : see LADDER. To kick up one's 

heels: see HEEL sb.'1 23. 

1598 FLORIO, Fare iI fane, to dye, to kick vp ones heeles. 

1604 [See HEEL sb. 1 23]. a 1616 FLETCHER Nice Valour \. 

Wks. (Rtldg.) 456/1 If he were not kick'd to th' church o' 

th' wedding day, I'll never come at court. 1711 ADDISON 

Spect. No. 57 F 3 [She] threatens to kick him out of the 

House. 1749 FIELDING Tom Jones\. xiii. When once you 

are got up, to kick the stool from under you. 1775 J. 

TRUMBULL McFingal I. 96 Some muskets .. though well 

aim'd..Bear wide and kick their owners over. 1841 LANE 

Arab. Nts. 1.98 The 'Efreet then kicked the bottle into the 

sea. 1871 L. STEPHEN Playgr. Europe iii. (1894) 86 Every 

little bit of snow that we kicked aside started a young 

avalanche on its own account. 1886 STEVENSON Treasure 

1st. iv. xviii, Ball after ball flew over or fell short, or kicked 

up the sand in the enclosure. 

b. To drive forcibly and contemptuously to 

; 

drive or force (out of, into, etc.). To kick down- 

stairs, to turn out, eject unceremoniously or ignominiously 

; hence, jocularly, to be kicked upstairs, 

to be removed from the scene of action by promotion 

to an ostensibly higher post. 

1678 MARVELL Groivth Popery Wks. 1776 I. 643 In this 

manner they [the Pailiament]werekicktfrom adjournment to 

adjournment. 1685 WOOD Life 27 Feb. (O.H.S.) III. 133 

' 

Musae repifdiatae, Muses kickt downe staires '. c 17*8 

EARL OF AILESRURY Mem. (1890) 640 Forgetting, like good 

Christians.. their kicking us out of the pepper trade in the 

Indies. 1809 J. QUINCY Life 19 Jan. 17^ To use a strong 

but common expression, it [the majority in Congress] could 

not be kicked into such a declaration [of war] by either nation. 

x8ai CHOKER Diary 31 May in C. Papers (iSB^l.vil. 186 Lord 

Melville informs me that he is about to be kicked upstairs 

(his expression) to be Secretary of State for the Home 

Department, 1834 J. HALLEYIU Life (1842)21 The Faculty., 

kicked us out of college. 

8. To accomplish, make, or do, by kicking. 

a. Football. To win (a goal) by a kick. b. To 

force or make (one's way) by kicking. Also^-. 

1857 HUGHES Tom Brown i. v, It is all Lombard-street to 

a China orange that the School-house kick a goal. 1891 

Times 15 Oct. 5/3 From this try Shorland easily kicked 

a goal. 1893 R. KIPLING Many Invent. 156 The Rathmines 

kicked her way northward through the warm water. 

II. With adverbs, in special senses (see also 5). 

688 

7. Kick off. 

a. trans. To throw off (shoes) by kicking or 

jerking the foot. (So kick on.) 

1840 DICKENS Old C. Shop xlix, He. .kicked offhis shoes, 

and groped his way upstairs. 1890 G. GISSING The 

Emancipated III. n. xvii. 289 He kicked off his boots, 

kicked on his slippers. 

b. Football, intr. To give the first kick. 

1857 HUGHES Tom Brown l. v, The School are going to 

kick off. 1880 Daily Tel. 20 Dec., The Southern captain 

kicked off with the wind against him. 

8. Kick out. 

a. trans. To expel or turn out with a kick, or in 

1801 WOLCOTT (P. Pindar) Odes to Ins fr Outs vi. Wks. 

1812 IV. 359 The tumult on that kick-out day Was mob-like 

at a house on fire. 1828 MOIR Mansie Wauch v, Fleeing 

down the street, with the kickba'at their noses. 1854 K. H. 

CHAPIN Humanity in the City vii. 200 They are running 

about at kick-ball and cricket. 1862 THACKERAY Philip 

I. x. 172 Phil, for his part, adopted towards his cousin 

a kick-me-down-stairs manner. 1877 Day of my Life at 

Eton 07 There's kick-about going on in the passage. 1889 

Standard 23 Dec., Following the kick-out, Christopherson 

got possession and narrowly missed dropping a goal. 1893 

STEVENSON Catriona viii. 94, I will be a kick-ball between 

you and the Duke no longer. 1899 E. PHILLPOTTS Human 

Boy 9 The half hour ' 

kick-about ' 

in the playground. 

Kick (kik), v. 2 slang. [Possibly 

a transferred 

use of prec.] a. intr. To make a demand or 

request for money, work, etc. b. trans. To appeal 

to, dun (a person)y0rsomething; to obtain (something) 

by asking. 

1791 GALLOWAY Poems 31 (E. D. D.), I kik'd a saxpence 

frae my master. 1819 Sporting Aftig. XXIII. 293 They do 

not like two coachmen kicking in fifty miles. 1858 A. 

MAYHEW Paved with Gold 254 (Farmer) Ned Purchase 

suggested that they might as well try and kick him for some 

coppers. Mod. Sc. (tailors' slang) He cam into the shop 

yesterday to kick the cork [ = master] for a job. 

Kickable (ki-kab'l), a. 

[f. KICK .i -i- -ABLE.] 

That may be kicked. 

1647 WARD Simp. Cobler (1843) 26 Fitter to be kickt, if 

shee were of a kickable substance. 1876 GEO. ELIOT Dan. 

Der. n. xii, He was not unconscious of being held kickable. 

Kickee (kik* ). [-EE !.] One who is kicked. 

1833 Examiner 148/1 One man kicked > another, and after- 

wards disclaimed personality. ..The kickee..was content 

with the explanation. 1864 Daily Tel. 21 Dec. 4/6 It was 

. . the kicker not the kickee who was entitled to the sympathy 

of the public. 

Kicker (ki-ksi), sb. 

[f. KICK i*.i + -ER i.] 

1. One that kicks ; spec, a horse or other animal 

given to kicking. 

1573-80 BARET AIv. K 45 A kicker or winser, calcitro. 

1611 BEAUM. & FL. King ft No King\\. iii, The boy., being 

thorowly kick'd, laughs at the kicker. 1660 SANDERSON 

Serm. II. 411 The Persecutors . . kick against the . . pricks 

which pierce into the heels of the kicker. 1884 St. James's 

Gas. 10 Sept. 4/2 The camel, .is a powerful kicker. 

KICKSEY-WINSEY. 

b. fig. One who protests, objects, or rebels ; 

one who breaks away from his party. Chiefly U.S. 

1888 BRYCE Amer. Comnrw. II. in. Ixiii. 459 He who takes 

his own course is a Kicker or Bolter. 1893 Harper's Mag. 

Apr. 709/2 The pioneer is radical, impatient of dogmas, and 

a kicker ' 

by instinct. 

2. A cricket-ball that rises more than usual in 

ofSg7 .63 SANDERSON Serm. (.68.) II. 8 Our proposals 

re suspectea; our counsels .. scorned and kickt at 1847 

TENNYSON Princ. iv. 393 A rampant heresy, such as.. 

Would make all women kick against their Lords. 1871 

FREEMAN Hist. Ess. Ser. n. iii. .16 Human nature craves for 

something like religion, and it does not always kick ata little 

superstition. 1887 BESANT The Worldwent i, He was compelled 

to taste the medicines, and his stomach kicked thereat. 

8. trans/, a. Of firearms : To recoil when fired. 

837 DICKENS flCRll*. XIX, 1 nau no lucu mcsc anmn 

fire-arms kicked so. 1858 GREENER Gunnery 322 Dirty guns 

..kick violently, simply from the greater friction. 

b. Cricket. Of the : ground To cause a ball to 

rebound in a more neatly vertical direction than 

usual. (Cf. 9 c.) 

1881 Standard 29 Aug. 3/2 The rain had made the wicket 

' 

kick ' 

a good deal. 1899 Westm. Gat. 21 July 5 The turf 

..played. .without the slightest trace of a desire to 'kick . 

4. trans. To strike (anything) 

with the foot. To 

and being at that passe, You would keepe from my heeles. 

1598 FLORIO 96/1 Dar de' calci a Rouaio, to be hang'd, to 

kicke the winde. 1711 STEELE Sped. No. 2 r i Sir Roger., 

had kick'd Bully Dawson in a Coffee-house. 1711 ADDISON 

Spect. No. 112 T4 An idle Fellow, and at that Time was 

kicking his Heels for his Diversion. 1787 'G. GAMBADO' 

Acad. Horsemen 39 By mounting thus, you avoid all danger 

of being kicked, or bit. 1811 Lex. Sal. s.v., To kick the 

clouds before the hotel door, i.e. to be hanged. 1842 

MACAULAV Ess., Fredk. Gt. (1858) I. 528 He reviled his 

Chancellor. He kicked the shins of his Judges. 1890 G. 

ALLEN Tents ofShem x, Sir Arthur.. will do the right thing 

in the end before he kicks the bucket. 

b. To work (a printing-press) with the foot 

(Cent. Diet.-}. 

c. U. S. slang. To dismiss, discharge (cf. KICK 

rf.l i e) ; to reject (a suitor). 

' 

1860 BARTLETT Diet. Amer. s. v., Miss A has kicked the 

Hon Mr. B, and sent him off with a flea in his ear.' (Confined 

to the South.) 1895 Outing (U. S.) XXVII. 74/2 Some 

years ago, when a Suffolk gal kicked me. 

d. transf. Of things : an ignominious fashion. 

1697 DRVDEN yirg. Past. ix. 8 Kick'd out, we set the best 

face on't we cou'd. 1794 LD. SHEFFIELD in Ld. Auckland's 

Corr. (1862) III. 168 You would be all kicked out before 

24) 

d 

isy p 

b. Football, intr. To re-start the game by 

kicking 

To strike (anything) with 

a violent impact. Of a : gun To strike in the 

recoil. To kick the beam : see BEAM rf.l 6 b. 

1667 MILTON P. L. iv. 1004 The latter [weight] quick up 

flew, and kickt the beam. 1748 SMOLLETT Rod. Rand, ix, 

A straw thrown into either scale would make the Balance 

kick the Beam. 1875 JowF.TT/Yafoled.z) III. 101 Richesare 

thrown into the scale, and virtue kicks the beam. Mod. The 

the ball towards the opposite goal from the 

25-yard line, after the defending side has touched 

down or the attacking side has failed to make a 

goal from a try. 

In the old Rugby school-game (to which quot. 1857 refers) 

the term was differently used. If one side touched down 

the ball behind the goal-line of the other, a player of 

the attacking side had the right to ' kick out ' 

from the 

goal-line, giving to his own side (under certain conditions) 

the chance of a kick at goal. 

1857 HUGHES Tom Brown i. v, He will not kick out till 

they are all in goal. 

c. intr. To die. slang. 

1898 United Service Mag. Mar. 649 ' Here comes the 

parson', 1 once heard a man say; 'he thinks I'm going to 

kick out, but I'm not '. 

9. Kick up. 

a. trans. To raise (dust, etc.) by or as by kicking 

; hence, to make (any disturbance or nuisance). 

1756 FOOTE Eng. fr. Paris ll. i, You must know he intended 

to kick up a riot tonight, at the play-house. 1786 

BURNS Ordination iii, This day the Kitk kicks up a stoure. 

c 1800 RHODES Bomb. Fur. i. (1830) n Begone, brave army, 

and don't kick up a row. 1801 in Anderson Cuiitbld. Ball. 

20 Robbie he kick'd up a dust in a crack. 1844 W. H. 

MAXWELL Sports $ Adv. Scot. ix. (1855) 88 The wind.. 

had . . kicked up more sea than was . . agreeable. 1857 

HUGHES Tom Brown 11. iii, He had been kicking up horrid 

stinks for some time in his study. 1886 J. K. JEROME 

Idle Thoughts (1889) i They kick up such a shindy. 

fb. intr. To die (cf. I b). Obs. 

a 1658 CLEVELAND Poems, Obscguies 82 The rest that 

kick'd up were the smaller Fry. 1813 PICKEN Poems I. 46 

(E. D. D.) Soud ye kick up an' slip awa, They'll scrimply 

find anither As guid. 

c. Cricket, intr. Of a ball : To rebound more 

or less vertically. (Cf. 3 b.) 

1895 Daily News 29 May 8/5 A knock on the hand from 

a ball, .which kicked up a little. 

III. 10. Phrases used as sbs. or adjs. ; spec. 

kick-about, an irregular form of football kick- 

; 

ball, Sc., a football, or the game of football rebounding 

; 

kick-out (see 8 b). See also KICK-OFF, KICK-UP. 

from the pitch. 

1894 N. GALE Cricket Songs, Ode to W. G., Nothing 

comes amiss, Kicker, shooter, yorker. 

' 

3. Mining. A liberating catch made in the 

form of a bell crank lever rocking on a horizontal 

axis' (Gresley Gloss. Coal Mining 1883). 

4. Mining. See quots. [peril, a distinct word.] 

1747 HOOSON Miner's Diet. Lj, Kicker [is] a Branch or 

small Piece of Wholes, left for the support of some Rider 

or large Stone, or else some Lid. 1881 RAYMOND Mining 

Glass., Kicker, ground left in first cutting a vein, for support 

of its sides. 

f Kickie-wickie. Obs. rare- 1 

, [app. a humorous 

formation : cf. KICKSEY-WINSEY. Mod. editors 

usually adopt kicksy-wicksy, after the later folios.] 

A jocular or ludicrous term for a wife. 

1601 SHAKS. Alts Well 11. iii. 207 He weares his honor in 

a boxe vnseene That hugges his kickie wickie \f-\th folios 

kicksie-wicksie] heare at home. 

Kicking (ki'kirj), vbl. sb. [f. KICK v.'1 + -ING *.] 

The action of the vb. KICK, in various senses. 

I55a HULOET, Kyckynge, calcitratio. 1612 SIR H. NEVILL 

in Bucclcuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 112 Much 

kicking there is both against you and me severally, but 

more against the coupling of us together. 1842 S. LOVER 

Handy Andy iii, Her sobs, and. .stampings and kickings, 

amazed young gallipot. 1869 LD. CLERMONT Fortescue- 

Family Hist. 11. ix. 138 Having missed every shot . . from 

the excessive 'kicking ' 

of the gun. 

b. attrib'., as kicking -distance, room, etc. : 

kicking -muscle, the muscle which raises the 

femur in kicking; kicking-strap, a strap adjusted 

to prevent a horse from kicking ; alsoyf^. 

1838 J. L. STEPHENS TVvra. Greece, etc. 40/1 I . . measured off 

; 

space enough to fit my body, allowing turning and kicking 

room. 1861 HUGHES Tom Brown at Ox/, vi. (1889) 56 

They had. .his belly-band buckled across his back, and no 

kicking strap. 1866 W. B. HAWKINS Artistic A nat. Horse 

(ed. 3) 72 Prominent on the front and outer part of the 

haunch is the glvtxus mcdius. ..It has been called the 

' 

kicking muscle '. 1807 Century Mag. 562/2 Not to allow 

one's horse to approach within kicking-distance of another. 

Ki'Cking, ///. [-ING 2 .] That kicks, in senses 

of the verb also in ; 

colloq. phr. alive and kicking. 

1551 HULOET, horse, c 1610 

Kyckynge Women Saints 25 

The wanton or kicking flesh of yong maydes, she woujd 

represse with often or double fastings. 1797 BURKE Regie. 

Peace iii. Wks. VIII. 272 The Turk, .gave him two or three 

lusty kicks. . .Our traveller, .begged the kicking Mussulman 

4 

to accept his perfect assurances of high consideration '. 

1860 Grandmothers Money I. 124 So 1 started off to Stamford 

Street, just to shew that I was alive and kicking. 

1888 Daily News 5 July 5/2 He says that good batsmen 

to-day cannot play on a rough kicking wicket. 1890 Boston 

(Mass.) Jrnl. 20 Feb. 2/2 A kicking Democratic Senator in 

Ohio threatens to upset the.. apportionment scheme. 

Ki'ckisli, a. Obs. exc. dial. KICK z;.i + 

[f. 

-ISH.] Given to kicking ; irritable. 

1589 Pappe vi. Hatchet If he ride me.let the foole sit 

p 

fast, for my wit is verie kickish. i6 DEKKSR & MAS- 

SINGER Virg. Mart. n. i But that is a kickish jade, fellow 

Kick-Off kik^-f). [See KICK K.I 7 b.] The 

first kick to the ball in a football match. 

1857 HUGHES Tom Brown I. v, Hasn't old Brook won the 

toss . . and got choice of goals and kick-off ? 1895 WELLDON 

G. Eversley's Friendsli. 161 The match was hotly con- 

tested from the kick-off to the finish. 

fig. 1875 Punch 27 Feb. 88/2 Sir H. James asked the 

Attorney.General three questions, by way of kick-off. 

variant of KECKSY. 

Kicksey, 

Kickseys, kicksies (ki-ksiz), sb. pi. slang. 

Also -es. [Cf. KICK sb2 2.] Breeches ; trousers. 

1811 J. H. VAUX Flash Diet., Kickseys, breeches; .. a 

. . purse got from the . . kickseys. To turn out a man's kickseys 

means to pick the pockets of them. 1834 H. AINSWORTH 

Kookwood in. v. (1878) 189 Jist twig his swell kickseys and 

pipes. 1851 M AYHEW Land. Labour I. 52 A pair of Kerseymere 

Kicksies, any colour, built very slap up. 

f Kicksey-winsey, sb,, a. and adv. Obs. 

Also kicksie winsie, kicksy wincy, kioksee 

winsee, //. kickshiwinshes. [app. a whimsical 

formation, suggested by kick and wince ; but the 

recorded senses seem to connect it with kickshaw s.] 

A. sb. A fantastic device ; a whinf or erratic 

.- , 

giddy ear-wig brains. 1619 J. TAYLOR (Water P.) title, 

The Scourge of Basenesse; a Kicksey Winsie or a Lerry 

come Twang. 1635 BROME Sparagus Card. in. xi Wife. 

[I long to be] here, and there, and here againe ; and all at 

once. Brit. Hey kicksie winsie. 

B. adj. Fantastic, whimsical, erratic. 

1:1650 1 CLEVELAND Obseq. "}. Prideaux in R. Fletcher 

Efigr., etc. (1656) 168 Perhaps an Ignis fatuus now and 

then Starts up in holes, stincks and goes out agen. Such 

Kicksee winsee flames shew but how dear Thy great Light s 

resurrection would be here, a 1651 BROME Covent Card. 

l. i. Wks. 1873 II. 17 This kicksy wincy Giddibram will 

spoil all. 

I'le no more Italian tricks.

KICKSHAW. 

C. adv. ? Topsy-turvy. 

1621 J. TAYLOR (Water P.) Farem. Tower bottles Wks 

(1630) m. 126/2 And (but for me) apparantly 'tis knownt 

You had beene kicksie wmsie ouerthrowne. 

Kickshaw, -shaws (ki-kjj, -J z ). Forms 

a. sing. 6-8 (in

KID. 

Kiddah, variant of KHEDA. 

t Kiddaw (ki-d9). Omith. Obs. [Cf. CADDOW, 

cadaw.} A Cornish name for the guillemot. 

1674 RAY Collect. Words 6r In Cornwal they call the 

guilliam a kiddaw. 1678 - Willughby's Omith. 324 The 

Bird called by the Welsh and Manks-men, a Guillem ; . . by 

the Comish, a Kiddaw. 

Kidded (ki-ded), a. 

[f. KID sb.l 3 + -ED 2.1 

Covered or furnished with kid-gloves. 

1879 CABIS OldCrtoU Days, 'Titt PouUttt (1883) 52 The 

690 

the sea-beach for the same purpose (see quot. 1891). 

The word is chiefly. found in some early statutes (Latin and 

Anglo-French) and in later references to these : there is no 

clear evidence that it was actually current in sense a later 

than 1550. 

[i5 Magna Carta xxxiiL in Stubbs Sel. Charters(iZg^> 3o 

Omnes kydelli de cetero deponantur penitus de Thamisia, 

et de Medewaye, et per totam Angliam, nisi per costeram 

mans. 1175 in Bundello Escatt. de an. 3 Edw. I. (Du 

Cange) Et fuit aeisitus de uno Kidello vocato a were, ac de 

libera piscaria in Potlok. 1350 Act 25 Edtv. Ill, stat. 4. c. 4 

KID-GLOVED. 

in our cuntre kyddist in Armys. c 1425 WYNTOUN Cron. u. 

v. 388 Threpyt thai ware spyis Or to the kyng kyd innymys. 

S7. Proph. Merling in Whole Proph. Scot. (1603), He shall 

be kid conquerour, for he is kende Lord, Of all Bretaine that 

bounds to the broad Sea. [1875 J. A. H. MURRAY Thomas 

' 

ofErceldoune Introd. 28 The belief in the kyd conqueror 

yet to come must have cheered the Cumbrian Britons during 

the long struggle.] . 

Kid (kid), Z*.1 KID sbl Cf. Norw. kia 

[f. 

( = *

. KIDLIN G. 

hands. 1899 STEAD in Daily News 19 July sA He ' was 

always somewhat of a kid-gloved gentleman. 

Kidknapper, obs. form of KIDNAPPER 

?' Km sb ' 1 + 

rv??*?* (k - 

li9) 

ON. i? 

Mhngr, Norw. and Sw. kidling.] 

1. A little kid. 

1586 WEBBE .ff 

trym kydli 

1613-16 W. 

2. j/aw?-. A little child ; a baby 

tSKfsusxzs&te The >o r H"u k!di!^' 

Kidmutgar, variant of KHIDMUTGAB. 

Kidnap (ki-dnae^p), v. 

[f. Km rf.i c c + NAP 

., to snatch, seize (cf. NAB) ; possibly as a backiormatton 

from KIDNAPPER. The words no doubt 

originated among the class which followed the 

practice of 

kidnapping. Bailey, Johnson, Ash, 

etc. stress 

kidna-p, which is still usual in the 

north.] Originally, to steal or carry off (children 

or others) m order to provide servants or labourers 

for the American plantations; hence, in general 

use, to steal (a child), to carry off (a person) by 

illegal force. 

E 

ha 

of London against him. 1688 Land. Gaz. No. 2360/3 John 

Dykes.. Convicted of Kidnapping, or Enticing away, His 

fe'*l. Sub J^ s ' S Servants into the Foreign 

men for settlers or servants in Batavia. 1849 JAMES 

xvm, You go kidnapping people's children, you thieves of 

human flesh. 1884 PAE Eustace 103, I am not a common 

seaman, to he kidnapped in this fashion 

fig- '73* SWIFT Corr. Wks. 1841 H. 669 We [the Irish] 

have but one dunce of irrefragable fame, ..and the Scots 

have kidnapped him from us. 1850 KINGSLEY Alton Locke x, 

The people who see their children thus kidnapped into hell 

Hence Xi dna^pped ///. a., Ki'dna pping vbl. sb. 

and ppl. a., Kidnappingly adv. 

napped victims whom Phoenician vessels brought from 

abroad. 1682 LUTTRELL BriefR el. (1857) I- '87 The witnesses 

. . were . . to prove that there was .. such a trade as 

kidnapping or spiriting away children. 1769 BLACKSTONE 

Comm. IV. xv. 219 The other remaining offence, that of kidnapping, 

being the forcible abduction or stealing away of 

man, woman, or child from their own country, and selling 

them into another. 1830 SCOTT Deinonol. iv. 127 This kidnapping 

of the human race, so peculiar to the whole Elfin 

people. 1867 FREEMAN Norm. Cong. I. v. 365 The kidnapping 

of persons of free condition was not unknown. 1887 A thenxutn 

19 Mar. 375/3 The "kidnapping grandmother. . is not so repellent 

as might be supposed. 1838 Tail's Mag. V. 206, 1 hold 

it to_have been wickedly, ..crimpingly, 'kidnappinglydone. 

Kidnapper (ki-dnaeipai). Also 7 -knapper, 

-nabber. ff. as prec. + -EH 1. Originally kidna'pper 

(quot. 1679); als in Johnson, Ash, etc.; so still 

in northern use.] One who kidnaps children or 

others ; a stealer of human beings. AlsoyTf. 

1678 PniLLire(ed. 4), Kitlk>iiipfers[l6g&-rja6Kidnappers'\, 

. , . 13 How like kid-nappei _ 

day In every corner they survey. 1684 BUNYAN Pilgr. H. 

109 Thou practises the craft of a Kidnapper, thou gatherest 

up Women, and Children, and earnest them into a strange 

Countrey. 1778 A. HAMILTON Wks. (1886) VII. 541 For 

punishing kidnappers or persons who aid the enemy in 

carrying off the peaceable inhabitants. 1834 LYTTON 

Pompeii \\. 

i, The Thessalian kidnapper had stolen the 

blind girl from gentle parents. 1865 LIVINGSTONE Zambesixx.\. 

434 It is dangerous to remain in their villages at this time 

of year when kidnappers are abroad. 

Hence Kidna ppery. 

1890 Murray's Mag. Apr. 463 The regions of kidnappery, 

slave-trading, and freebooting ! 

Kidney (ki'dni). Forms: 4kidenei, 4-6 kydney 

(5 ? kidneye, 6 kydne), 6- kidney. ? Sing. 

or PI. 4 kydnere. PI, a. 4 kideneiren, kydeneyrea; 

/3. 4 kide-, kydeneris, kidneris, 

-nares, kydneers, -ners ; 7. 6 kidneies, -neis, 

kydneys, -nes, 6-7 kidneyes, 6-9 kidnies, 6kidneys. 

[Of obscure formation. 

On the supposition that the sing, was kid{e}nere, this has 

been inferred to be a compound, having as its second 

element ME. nere kidney ; and it has been conjectured that 

kid(e)- might represent OE. ciuiS, cwtfn, or ON. ki'H belly, 

womb. But this is on many grounds improbable; above all, 

because the ordinary sing, in ME. was in -ei, -ey, the solitary 

instance of kydnere, c 1420 (i b below), being probably a pi. 

for kydneren. It is thus possible that/*V/fr/, pi. kideneiren, 

had as its second element ey, pi. eyren, eiren, eyre, eyer, 

EGG. (Cf. Ger. eier testicles.) The pi. kid(e)tteris might 

possibly owe its form to association with neres, neeres, pi. 

of nere ; the later kidneies, -neys, was a new pi. from tne 

unanalysed singular. But the first element remains uncertain.] 

1. One of a pair of glandular organs situated in 

the abdominal cavity of mammals, birds, and 

691 

reptiles, which excrete nrine and so remove effete 

nitrogenous matter from the blood. Also a gland 

with similar functions found in some animals of 

lower organization. The kidneys of cattle, sheep, 

and pigs are an article of food. 

a. sing. 

^."^'A^' 82 I he 5 tones 

or rafcu'ous 

, 

concretions . 

in 

or bladder. 

kidney 

,871 M COLLINS Mrg. , Mcrch. I. ix. 293 

Waiter, bring me a kidney and some stout. 

D. Of doubtful number. 

^'t 20 L b'r C coru'" I0 

! i Take bo hert and bo 

and be mydruv 

kydnere, And hew horn smalle, as I be lereT 

C. pi. 

kid. 

.*;.. C K ' 

[3 MSS. 

kydners] ten chaunged. 

xaJ. xxix. 

see a). 1388 -Lev. i, 

. . 111.4 Thei schulen offre twey kydeneris 

\p.r. kideneiren, 138* the two reyns]. 

MoRE Picus Wks 2 A My "Vnes r kidneis, 

hath chiden me vnto the night, c 1531 Du WES Introd 

J-r. in Palsgr. 904 ! The kydneys, Its rognons. 1533 COVER. 

DALE Lev. m. 10 The two kydneys with the fat .and thf 

if Di, 

256 It is suspected to be hurtful to the Kidneys. 1803 Med. 

Jrnl. X. 82 Affections of the bladder and kidnies. 1857 G. 

eaten at once ? 

fig. 1591 SYLVESTER Du. Bartas i. ii. 585 If heav'ns bright 

torches, from earth's kidneys, sup Sum somwhat dry and 

heatfull Vapours up. 1710 STEELE Tatlcr No. 268 r 2 

A Youth, who officiates as the Kidney of the Coffee-house. 

" fig- Temperament, nature, constitution, dis- 

position ; hence, kind, sort, class, stamp. 

a 1555 LATIMER Serin. % Rem. (Parker Soc.) 312 To pronounce 

all to be thieves to a man, except myself, of course 

and those men.. that are of my own kidney. 1598 SHAKS 

Merry tV. in. v. 116 Thinke of that, a man of my Kidney; 

. . that am as subiect to heate as butter. 165* J. HALL 

Height Eloq. p. Ixxxii, Is it not better for us that are 

men of this Kidney to have a Ruler set over us then to 

be left to our freedome. 1733 FIELDING Don Quixote in 

Eng. m. iv, This fellow is not quite of a right kidney, the 

dog is not sound at the bottom. 1880 DISRAELI Endyin. 

xvn, It was a large and rather miscellaneous party, but 

all of the right kidney. 

fb. Proper condition or state, order, colloq. Obs. 

1^63 COLMAN Terrse Fiiius No. i Attempt to put their 

Hair out of Kidney. 

3. Something resembling a kidney in shape, etc. 

Obs.rare~ l 

. 

fa- An ovary. 

1576 TURBERV. Generic Ixvi. 186 The kydneys whiche 

gelders take awaye from a bytche when they spaye hir. 

b. More fully kidney potato ; an oval variety of 

potato. 

1796 C. MARSHALL Garden, xv. (1813) 249 The red nosed 

kidney, .is a great favorite. 1839 I'enny Cycl. XIII. 291/2 

The earliest potato is called the Superfine White Kidney. 

1840 HOOD Up the Rhine in The next dish.. was of very 

small, very waxy kidney potatoes. 1892 ZANGWILL Child. 

Ghetto II. 6 Kidneys or regents, my child? 

t 4. Kidneys of wheat, an imperfect reproduction 

of the Scriptural expression ' 

fat of kidneys of 

wheat' Deut. xxxii. 14 : cf. Ps. cxlvii. 14 'the fat 

of wheat', the finest of the wheat, in allusion to the 

fat, and esp. the kidney-fat, as the choicest part 

of an animal, which was therefore offered in 

sacrifice. 

neys of the wheat, a 1673 G.SwiNNocKin Spurgeon Treas. 

Dav. Ps. xxxvi. 8 [Bread] made of the kidneys of the wheat, 

of the finest flour. 

5. attrib. and Comb. a. attributive : Of or be- 

longing to the kidneys, as kidney disease, fat, 

form, substance, suet, -tube, -vein, etc. ; made 

of or containing Kidneys, as kidney pie, soup. 

b. similative, as kidney-form, kidney-shaped adjs. 

1889 Sci. Amer. LXI. 48 Liver and *Kidney Diseases. 

1806 A. HUNTER Culina (ed. 3) 213 The *kidney fat of a loin 

of veal. 1885 HAYTER Carboona 3 Great virtues are attributed 

by the Australian aborigines to the kidney-fat of their 

enemies. 1796 KIRWAN Eletti. Min. (ed. 2) I. 30 Sidneyform, 

or reniform, round elevations. 1811 PINKERTON 

Fetral. II. 123 They are quite different from rolled pebbles, 

and are often ofa flattened, sometimes a 'kidney form. 1836-9 

DICKENS Sk. JBoz, The Streets 

(1850) 33/2 The "kidney-pie 

man has just walked away with his warehouse on his arm. 

1757 PULTNEY in Phil. Trans. L. 67 The receptacle is 

convex on both sides, and *kidney-shaped. 1887 W. PHILLITS 

Brit. Disconiyceles 17 Lobes deflexed, kidney-shaped. 1887 

Spans' Househ. Man. Index, "Kidney soup. 1873 T. H. 

GREEN Introd. Palhol. (ed. 2) 285 The capsule.. cannot be 

removed without tearing the *kidney substance. 1822 in 

Cobbett Rur. Rides (1885) I. 93 Their skins, colour of veal 

*kidney.suet. 1847-9 TODD Cycl. Anat. IV, 254 The epi- 

KIER. 

SON Ani,,, Li/eiia The pulmonary vein . . is joined . . 

it enters 

fcfore 

the auricle by the efferent kidney veins 

c. Special combs. : 

kidney-cotton, a variety of 

Gossypium barbadense, a cotton plant of which the 

seeds are in 

kidney-shaped masses; t kidney-fetch 

^kidney-vetch; kidney-link, a coupling below 

the collar of the harness of a horse; fkidneylipped 

a., hare-lipped; kidney ore, haematite 

occurring m kidney-shaped masses ; kidney-paved 

., paved with cobble stones; kidney-piece a 

cam with a 

U kidney-shaped 1 J f~ outline; kidney-potato "J -&\J\IO,H\. 

see 3 b ; kidney-stone, a stone of a kidney shape, a 

Me ; sfec. see quot. 1861 ; kidney table, a tab] table 

appear only in kidney-ores, and present the most delusive 

appearances. 1889 Daily Tel. .9 Apr. 6/4 The principal 

street.. emerged from the 'kidney-paved condition and got 

itself macadamised. 1884 F. J. BRITTEN Watch t, Cloctm. 

43 On the arbor of the annual wheel is fixed a brass cam or 

kidney piece '. 1861 BRISTOW Gloss. Mi*., "Kidney-stones, 

a local name for small hard nodules . . washed out of the 

cliffs on the north shore of Weymouth. 1890 igtA Cent 

Nov. 842 Regimental highlows will not stand the rough 

kidney stones of the barrack stables for more than six months. 

1843 DISRAELI Sftil(iS63> '93 He was seated in an easy chair 

before a'kidney table at which he was writing. 1706 PHILLIPS 

Kidney-vetch and Kidney-wort, several sorts of Herbs 

Kidney bean, kidney-beau. 

1. The ordinary name given to two species of 

Phaseolus (N.O. Leguminosse), known as the 

dwarf French bean (P. milgaris), and the Scarlet 

Runner (P. multiflorus) , of which the unripened 

pods and the ripe seeds are used as food : see BEAN 3. 

1348 TURNER Names ofHeroes 75 Smilax Jwrtensis . . may 

be called in english Kydney beane, because the seede is 

lykeaKydney. 1548-62 [see BEAN 3]. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny 

I. 570 The Pulse called Phaseoli, i. Kidney Beans vse to 

be eaten cod and al together. 1732 ARBUTHNOT Rule; cf 

Diet i. in Aliments, etc. 251 Beans and Kidney-Beans have 

the same Qualities. 1882 Garden i Apr. 222/2 Few plants 

are more tender early in the season than Kidney Beans. 

2. Kidney-bean tree. A climbing shrub of the 

leguminous genus Wistaria as the American 

species, W.frutescens, and the Chinese, W. chinen- 

sis, both grown as wall-climbers in Great Britain. 

1741 Compl. Fam..Piece H. iii. 380 There are several other 

Trees and Shrubs which are now in Flower, as . . Catesby's 

Climber, or Carojina Kidney-Bean-tree. 1760 J. LEElvtrod. 

Bot. App. 316 Kidney Bean-tree of Carolina, Glycine. 1897 

BRITTON & BROWN Flora North. Slates Canada II. 294 

Krauntia frutescens American Wisteria .. Called also 

Kidney-bean Tree. 

Ki-dueywort. Herb. [See \VoKT.] The plant 

Cotyledon Umbilicus, also called Navelwort; see 

also quot. 1866. 

1640 PARKINSON Theat. Bat. 74! Wall Pennywort, Hipwort, 

Kidneywort. 1854 GISSING in Pharmac. Jrnl. XIII. 459 

One of the common names.. is kidney-wort. 1866 Treas. 

Bot. 646/2 Kidney-wort, Umbilicus pendulinus, also Saxifraga 

stellaris, 

Ki'd-skiu. The skin of a kid, csp. such skin 

tanned and used for gloves ; also applied to 

skins of lambs and other animals used for this purpose. 

Also attrib., as kid-skin glove. 

KIEBFUL. 

Da. Aar) = OHG. char, Goth, has.'] fa. A 

brewing- vat (also boiling-, brewing-, gyle-, gyhngkier). 

Obs. b. A large 

vat in which cloth is boiled 

for bleaching or other purposes (bltaching-kier). 

Alia. '579 loia. (t-nemam, 1001; 101 oix IC 5th Ser. XI. 245 A7/, an eel-trap, called also a 

' 

weel * 

or ' 

weal '. In use on the Thames. 

Kill (kil), v. Pa. t. and pa. pple. killed (kild). 

Forms: a. 3-4culle(n, kuUe(n(tf). 0. 4kille(n, 

4-5 kylle, 6 kyll, 6-7 kil, 6- kill. y. 5-6 kelle. 

5. Sc. 5-6 kele, keill. Pa. t. 3-4 culde, 4-6 

kild(e, 5 kyld(e, (5-6 kelit, etc.) ; 4- killed. 

Pa.pple, 4(y-)culled,(i-)kilde),y-keld,4-killed 

(5-6 kyld, kelyt, keild, etc., 6 kylt, 6- kilt). [Of 

obscure origin ; 

not found in the cognate langs. 

KILL. 

If in OE., its type would be *cylian t conjecturally referred 

to an OTeut. *kuljan t ablaut*variant of *kwaljatt t whence 

OE. cwellan to QUELL ; but the original sense is against 

this. Known first in Layamon, and in southern texts, in 

form ciillen, kullen. In midl. dial, normally killein, kill^ 

the common form in ME. ; kelle is rare. The usual Sc. 

form in is-i6th c. was kele, keill, the vowel of which is 

difficult to account for. In ME. the t. pa. and pa. pple. 

varied between killed and kild\ exceptionally the pple. 

appears as kilt (cf. spilf), now regarded as an Irishism, and 

sometimes used jocularly, esp. in sense 6 b.] 

tl. trans. To strike, hit to ; beat, knock. Also 

with off, and absol. or intr. AlsoyS^. Obs, 

c 1*05 LAY. 20319 Ofte me hine smast mid smaei te êrden ; 

ofte me hine culde ; swa me de5 crosce. a xu Ancr. R. 

126 J?auh a word culle be = [ thee] ful herde up o pine heorte. 

13. . E. E. Allit. P. B. 876 We kylle of pyn heued. a 1375 

Joseph Arim. 545 He starte vp and streijte to his hacne, 

culles on mennes hedes pat bei doun lyen. 

t b. To cast or throw out ; to clear out* 

(For a similar connexion between the notions of striking 

and throwing, cf. the senses of G, schlagen (Da. slaa] SLAY, 

and schtngissen (Da. smide) SMITE.) 

a 1225 Ancr. R. 746 Auh to hire owune schrift-feder, o5er 

to summe o5re lif-holie monne : gif heo mei hine habben, 

kulle al ut pet is i5e krocke [i>. r. culle a) be pot m J. 

2. To put to death to ; deprive of life to ; slay, 

slaughter. 

In early use implying personal agency 

and the use of a weapon ; later, extended to any 

means or cause which puts an end to life, as an 

accident, over-work, grief, drink, a disease, etc. 

a. 1330 King of Tars 179 The Sarazins withouten fayle 

The Cristene culde in that batayle. 13.. Song Yesterday 

146 in E. E. P. (1862) 137 5if P' nei3ebor pe manas, Obur to 

culle, opur to bete. 1377 LANGL. P. PL B. Prol. 185 Thou? 

we culled \C~text 199 hadde ycullid] pe catte,3ut sholde per 

come another. Ibid. xvi. 137 Thei casten & contreueden 

To kulle hym whan bei mi^te. 

. 

1374 CHAUCER Anel. fy Arc. 53 Yche other for to 

kylle With blody speris. 1381 WYCLIF Luke xx. 15 This is 

the eyr, sle we him. . .And thei killiden him. I387TREVISA 

Higden (Rolls) VIII. 5 At Wycombmalban bey were i-kilde 

\v. r, y-keldj. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1343 paire kyng was 

kylt. 

1538 STARKEY England I. iii. 98 Commynly they be other 

kyld where they are brede or sold. 1590 SPENSER /**. Q. I. 

v. 26 What art thou, that telst of Nephews kilt? 1631 

LITHCOW Trav. x. 479 Men are rather killed with the 

impatience they have m adversity, then adversity it selfe. 

1697 DRYDEN Virg. Georg. iv. 758 Orpheus. . Whom ev'n the 

savage Beasts had spar'd, they kill'd, And strew'd his mangled 

Limbs about the Field. 1774 GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. (1776) I. 

358 This terrible blast . . instantly kills all those that it 

involves in its passage. 1848 THACKERAY Van. Fairx\v, 

He was killing himself by late hours and intense application. 

1895 Law Times C. 133/2 A man who had been 

killed at a level crossing by a railway train. 

fig. 1614 SAUL Game Chesse A iv b, But as they [pawns] 

march who so they finde doe in their colour stand, Such 

may they kill. 

y. 1387 [see 0], a 1400 Octoutan 1063 Thy fader hath 

keld Well many a bole and doun yfeld. c 1440 Partonope 

1054 Kelle these peuple of fats lawe. 15.. in Bann. MS. 

If. 145 a, Telyeouris ar tyrranis in kelling of lyiss. 

5. 1470 HENRY Wallace vi. 651 His brothir Hew was 

kelyt thar full cald. 1508 KENNEDIE Flyting iv, Dunbar 

271 The feild, Quhair twelve thowsand trew Scottismen wer 

keild. 157* Satir. Poems Reform, xxxiii. 46 Sair boistit 

thay my husband commoun-weill, And maid thairvowis and 

aithis him for to keill. a 1605 MONTGOMERIE Misc. Poems 

Hi. 29 Vncourtesly thus keill thay mo Than I. 

b. With adverbial extensions, as kill out (away> 

\-down, fw/), kill off) to cut off completely, to 

remove, extinguish, or get rid of (a number, a whole 

tribe, etc.) by killing. 

1400-50 Alexander 2377 f>e kyng of baire kythe was 

killid doun & heded. c 1450 HOLLAND Howlat 566 He.. 

Kelit dovne thar capitanis. 1530 PALSCR. 598/2, I kyll up, 

as one that kylleth the resydewe where many have ben 

kylled afore. 1607 TOPSELL Fonr-f. Beasts (1658) 520 

Although the fecundity of Swine be great, yet it is better 

to kill off two or three, . .then to permit them to suck their 

dam. 1641 HINDE J. Bruen xiv. 47 Hee presently killed up 

the game, and disparked the Parke. 1849 Tatfs Mag, 

XVI. 90/1 The wars of the Roses killed them out. 1876 

TENNYSON Queen Mary in. v, Sometimes I have wish'd 

That I were caught, and kill'd away at once Out of the 

flutter. 1894 H. DRUMMOND Ascent Man 264 [Nature] 

produces fitness by killing off the unfit. 

C. With complement expressing the result : to 

kill to (f into, unto} death, to kill dead. (Cf. Ger. 

todtschlagen, Du. doodslaan.} 

136* LANGL. P. PI. A. xi. 282 Poule be apostil pat no pite 

ne hadde, Cristene kynde to kille to depe. c 1400 Destr. 

Troy 1734 The Grekes. .kyld all our kynnesmen into colde 

dethe. 1614 BP. HALL No Peace with Rome 21 (L.) In the 

popish churches, .theirvery walls kill us dead. i67oCoiTON 

Espernon. I. I. 35 Some of the company, .found the Horse. . 

kill'd stone dead. 1700 FARQUHAR Constant Couple W. ii, 

Are you sure you killed him dead? x88j J. C. MORISON 

Macaulay iii. 92 Bentley did kill his adversary dead. 

d. absol. To perform the act of killing; to 

commit murder or slaughter. 

1535 COVERDALE Exod. xx. 13 Thou shall not kyll. 1593 

SHAKS. 2 Hen. K/. iv. iii. 8 Thou shall haue a License to 

kill for a hundred lacking one. 1653 HOLCROPT Procopius t 

Pers. Wars I. 2 Which gives such force to the Arrow, that 

where it lights it kils. 1810 Sporting Mag. XXXV. 300 

They killed in one of the new plantations near Blankney. 

1883 W. BLACK in Harper 's Mag. Dec. 64/2 They had not 

been ' 

killing 1 

at any of the farms. 

e. intr. in passive sense : To 

be killed ; to suffer 

killing. Of an animal : To yield (so much meat) 

when kilted. 

1857 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. XVIII. i. 162 On inquiry of 

butchers..! find that one characteristic of a beast which

KILL. 693 KILL-DEVIL. 

kills well, is to have a little _stomach. 

1888 Whitby Gaz. 

25 Feb. 4/7, 1 saw the cow in the slaughter-house. ..She 

killed 34 stones. 

f. trans. To procure (meat) by killing animals. 

1560 BIBLE (Genev.) i Sam. xxv. n My bread, & my 

water, & my flesh that I haue killed for my sherers. 1689 

iM-mm-i. BriefRel. (1857) I. 511 The lords of the admiralty 

have sent orders, .to kill beefe and pork for 65 men of war. 

1838 JAMES Robber vi, The beef was not killed at the end 

of the table. 

g. To represent as killed or as dead. To kill 

off: 

to remove the names of dead officers from the navylist 

(Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 1867). 

1867 FREEMAN Norm. I. iii. Cony. 199 note, Richer seems 

to kill him [Rolf] at Eu in 925. Mod. A novelist who 

always kills the hero in the last chapter. 

3. transf. To destroy the vitality of (any organism 

or organic substance), the activity of (a disease, etc.). 

Also, in later use, To destroy, break up, or ruin 

anything. 

1530 PALSGR. 598/2, I kyll, as any freatynge medecyne 

kylleth deede flesshe. 15518 WARDE tr. Alexis' Seer. (1568) 

40 a. An oyntment to kill the plague. 1608 TOPSELL 

Serpents (1658) 725 With this they kill hair, for upon the 

this bloud, and 

place where the hair was puld off, they pour 

then it never groweth more. 1658 A. Fo_x WurtJ Surg. 

n. ix. 83 A Surgeon made experiment on him with the white 

of Eggs and Bole, whereby the Eye was killed. 1697 

Thistles choak'd the 

DRYDEN Virfr. Georg, i. 225 Tough 

Fields, and kill'd the Corn. 1799 YOUNG Agric. Lines. 145 

(E. D. D.) Potatoes have quite killed the land. i872HuxLEY 

Phys. i. 18 A burn may kill more or less of the skin. Mod. 

With us the fuchsia is killed down every winter, and so 

never grows to a shrub in the open air. 

b. To destroy the active quality of (a substance) ; 

e. g. the fluidity of mercury, the ductility of wire. 

1613 PURCHAS Pilgrimage (1614) 724 note. Some thinke 

that Quicke-silver cannot quite be killed. 1694 SALMON 

Bate's Dispens. (1713) 661/2 The Quick-silver, before it can 

be mixed with the other Ingredients, is to be killed with 

the Turpentine. 1865 Morn. Star i June, If the phosphorus 

had not been properly 'killed' by being mixed with gum, 

it would probably explode when chloride of potass was 

added. 1875 Ure's Diet. Arts III. 846 The lye will have 

lost its causticity, or, in technical . . language, it is killed. 

1876 PREECE & SIVEWRIGHT Telegraphy 177 The wire .. 

to be then stretched (' killed ') to the extent of two per cent, 

in diameter or 

by passing round drums, either varying 

differentially geared as to speed. 1881 YOUNG Every man 

his own Mechanic 1406 Dampness in the air technically 

speaking kills the size, that is to say deprives it of its 

binding power. 

C. To neutralize the effect of. 

18580. W. HOLMES Aut. Breakf.-t. (1865) 122 Indefinite 

quantities of black tea to kill any extra glass of red claret 

he may have swallowed. 

4. Jig. To destroy, do away with, put an end to, 

suppress (a feeling, desire, project, or other nonmaterial 

thing). 

1435 MISYN Fin of Love 81 Well vsyd in . . prayinge all 

wykkydnes kylland & vnclennes. 1573 CARTWRIGHT Repl. 

Answ. Admonit. 26 Sufficient to quench her thirst and kill 

her hunger. 1579-80 NORTH Plutarch (1595) $36 Too 

sodaine honour in youth killeth further desire of fame. 

1617 R. WILKINSON Barivick-bridge 22 Yea, warre and 

contention kill up even conscience it selfe. 1710 Tatler 

No. 191 P i The monstrous Affectation of being thought 

artful, immediately kills all Thoughts of Humanity and 

Goodness. 1851 D. JERROLD St. Giles iy. 31 [He] detected 

his wife painfully endeavouring to kill a laugh. 1872 

LIDDON Elem. Relig. vi. 214 In the Jew of the age of Tiberius, 

the national feeling, .had almost killed out the human. 1873 

BLACK Pr. Thule xix, You have killed her faith as well as 

ruined her life. 

b. To neutralize, destroy, or spoil (an appearance 

or quality) by contrast or incongruity. 

1859 GULLICK & TIMBS Paint. 117 The necessity of using 

body-colour, in order, by its opacity, to kill' using 

^' 

the 

chancel. . 

6. To consume or spend (time, or any portion oi 

time), so as to bring it to an end. Said of a person, 

or an occupation or amusement. 

1728 VANBR. & CIB. Prov. Hush. i. i, What think you, if we 

three sat soberly down to kill an hour at ombre? 1768-74 

1'ucKExLt.Wat. (1834)11. 578 It is ridiculous toseehow many 

shifts are made to kill time, as it is called. 1826 DISRAELI 

Viv Grey \. v, A sawney who was killing the half-holiday 

by looking out of the window. 1874 L. STEPHEN Hours in 

Library (1892) I. ii. 64 Tapestry, in which ladies employed 

their needles by way of killing time. 

6. In hyperbolic 

use: To come near to killing. 

a. To overwhelm (a person) by a strong impression 

on the mind, as of admiration, astonishment, alarm, 

with irresistible force. 

With *ki 

V cli, Gath flesht in battlf 

broiles, and bl d, A kill-man fron im his youth. 1842 S. LOVER 

Handy Andy v. 50 He sang too with a *kill-me-quite air, as 

if no lady could resist his strains. 1616 B. JONSON Masque 

Christmas, This Carol plays, and has been in his days 

A chirping boy, and a kill-pot. 

Killable (ki-lab'l), a. 

[f. KILL v. + -ABLE.] 

1. Kit to be killed for food or other use. 

1817-18 COBBETT Resid. U. S. (1822) 91 What animal pro- 

duces flesh meat like the . . hog? The animal killable at all 

ages. 1823 COL. HAWKER Diary (1893) I. 267, I. . honestly 

bagged 46 killable trout. 

2. Capable of being 

killed ; easy to kill. 

1823 Mirror I. 296/1 That killable species of ghost that 

could be shot with a sixpence. 1877 T. A. TROLLOPE Life 

r 

PiusIX,\u. viii. II. 84 The experience, .would have gone 

tr to kill any man killable by disappointment and sorrow. 

far 

I Killadar (kHadaa). East Ind. Also 8 

killahdaur, 8-9 kelli-, kille-, keeledar. [Urdu 

(Pers.) -Ijjtb qils-adar, f. Arab. ixLs qale-ah (pi. 

gilds.) fort + Pers. -dar holder.] The command- 

ant or governor of a fort or castle. 

1778 ORME Hist. Indostan II. 217 The fugitive garrison .. 

returned, with 500 more, sent by the Kelhdar ofVandiwash. 

1783 Hat. Eur. in Ann. Keg. 97/1 The killedar or . 

governor 

with his rabble . . fled into the fort. . 

e 1803 WELLINGTON Let. 

. . 

to Col. Murray 16 July in Gurw. Desp. (1837) II. 95 It is 

imagined that the Killadar of Perinda is not unfaithful to 

the Nizam's government 1862 BEVERIDGE Hist. India I. 

in. xi. 622 The native governor or killedar. 

Hence Xi'lladary, the of a lort. 

governorship 

1803 WELLINGTON in Desp. (1844) I. 355 The letters respecting 

the killadary of Darwar. 

Killas (ki'las). Also 7-9 kellus, 8 killos. 

[Cornish.] The Cornish Miners' term for clayslate 

; geologically, the clay-slate of Cornwall, of 

Devonian age, which rests on the granite. 

1674-91 RAY Coll. Words Metals 

Prepar. (E. D. S.) ii 

Above the spar lies another kind of substance like a white 

soft stone, which they call kellus. 1758 BORLASE Nat. Hist. 

Cornwall 92 Round the town of Marazion . . there rises a 

very tender killas, of the cinereous, and also of the yellow 

colour. 1833 LYELL Princ. Geol. III. 370 At the junction of 

the granite and killas in Si. Michael's Mount. 1875 GEIKJE 

Life Murchison I. 301 The Devonshire killas answered in 

point of geological time to the old Red Sandstone. 

attrib. 1807 VANCOUVER Agric. Devon (1813) ii note, The 

shillot or killas rock.. will always be found accompanied 

with a similar soil or covering. 

tKillat. Obs. rare. [a. Sp. or Pg. quilate 

= carat.] CABAT. 

harm by mistaken and excessive kindness. 

1596 SHAKS. Tarn. Shr. iv. i. 211 This is a way to kil 

a Wife with kindnesse. 1698 FRYER Ace. E. India 4- P. 100 

Tom Coriat . . was killed with Kindness by the English 

Merchants. 1698 FARQUHAR Love ff Bottle in. i 1 bear her 

: 

an amorous grudge still .. I could kill her with kindness. 

e. Kill or cure, with reference to medical treatment 

or remedies, which either cure or prove fatal ; 

also attrib., and absol. assb. 

1764 FOOTE Mayor of G. I. Wks. 1799 I. 162 Your 

Worship knows, that, kill or cure, 1 have contracted to 

physic the parish-poor by the great. 1778 in James Dissert. 

Fevers (ed. 8) 114 Dr. James's Powder, which I was determined 

to take, kill or cure. 1875 JOWETT Plato (ed. 2) III. 

39 Asclepius .. adopted the 1580 FRAMPTON Dial. Yron $ 

rough' kill or cure' method. 

1898 Folk-lore IX. 14 The Lebanon mother knows no other 

in the sea for her babe. 

Steele 170 At the tyme they 

melt . . y* gold, that it may fine and ryse of more killats,. . 

they cast it [etc.]. 1589 R. PARKE tr. Mendoza's Hist. China 

(1854) II. 303 Pearles. .which . . do in many killats exceede 

them that are brought from Karen. 

t Krllbuck. Obs. rare. Also 7 kilbuck. [f. 

KILL v. + BUCK sb.l Cf. next.] 

1. A fierce-looking fellow. 

1612 CHAPMAN Widowes T. I. iv, Thar. Well, have you 

done now, Ladie? Ars. O my sweet kilbuck. Thar. You 

now in your shallow pate thinke this a disgrace to mee. 

1660 H EXHAM, Kilbuck, or fierce-look, Suyrgesieht. 

2. Applied to the of a 

keeper deer-park, nonce-use. 

1826 SCOTT Woodst. iii, A poor kill-buck that never 

frightened anything before save a dun deer. 

Ki'11-COW, so. and a. Obs. exc. dial. Also 6-7 

kileow(e. [f. KILL v. + Cow sb2\ 

A. sb. 1. A swashbuckler, bully, braggadocio ; 

a terrible or great person a man of ; 

importance. 

1589 R. HARVEY PI. Perc. (1590) Aiij, What neede all 

this stir? this banding of kilcowes to fight with a shadow? 

1639 EARL STRAFFORD Lett.

KILLED. 

(1887) 112 Thechiefe fudling they make in the Island is 

Rumbullion, alias Kill-Devill, and this is made of saggar 

canes distilled, a hotl, hellish and terrible liquor. 1654 

Connect. Col. Rec. 1. 

(1850) 

255 Her Dados Liquors commonly 

called Rum, Kill Deuill.or the like. W "'//:, 7?"'"'" 1 11 - 

, 

is 

31 Rum-punch not improperly called Kill-devil ; for 

Thousands lose their Lives by its means. 1706 STEDMAN 

Surinam I. 96 The furnace which distils the kill-devil. 

3. An artificial bait used in angling, made to 

spin in the water like a wounded fish. 

1833 Rtrwlker's Art Angling 33 There are.. three modes 

of Trolling. ..The third is called the kill-devil, and ..it 

answers I think the best of all. 1839 COL. HAWKER Diary 

(1893) II. 161 Lord Saltoun's brass 'Kill-devil,' xiv. 32 We usually keep 

the only 

artificial bait that I ever found to take in our river. 1860 

SIMEON Stray Notes Fishing 22, I have fished with 

artifi lificial spinning-baits (killdevils) of nearly every kind. 

B. adj. That would kill devils ; deadly. 

anchored by a small kedge, or 

kceleg. 1883 Times 18 May 7 With some bits of wood and 

a large stone.. [is) fashioned a very good kedge or killick. 

1897 R. KIPLING Captains Courageous 63 Dad says next 

one [anchor] he loses, .he'll give him the kelleg. 

Killickinnick, variant of KINNIKINNICK. 

Killifish (kHifiJ"). Also killy-. [Commonly 

supposed to be f. KILL sb.- + FISH; but cf. KILLING 

///. a. i b.] The name given to several genera of 

small fish of the family Cyprinodontidie found in 

, 

sheltered places on the east coast of North America, 

and used as bait ; esp. fundulus hcleroclitus, the 

green killifish. 

1836 J. RICHARDSON Fishes N. Amer. 56 This Stickleback 

is said, by Dr. Mitchell, to inhabit the salt waters of New 

York, and to consort with the Killifish. 1885 Stand. Aat. 

Hist. III. 170 The large family of Cyprinodontida: or killifishes, 

is distinguished., by the structure of its mouth. 

local. Also kille-. An old name for 

the . _ 

which infested and annoyed us. 

Killed (kild), ///. a. 

[f. KILL v. + -ED i.] 

1. Deprived of life; put to death. Usually of 

meat, with qualifying word, as fresh-, countrykilled, 

etc. 

.1440 Promp. Pan. 274/2 Kyllyd, interfeclus. l8i 

Examiner 5 OcL 628/1 We have found here 2000 killed or 

amputated Russians. 886 Daily News 16 Sept. 2/5 The 

small 

supply 

of fresh killed meat. 

Ibid, ii May 2/6 

1887 

The heaviest decline being on country-killed beef. 

b. with adv. (In quot. as sb.) 

1815 BENTHAM Offic. Apt. Maximized, Indications (1830) 

84 The deaths of Jefferies's killed-offs were speedy. 

2. Of a substance : Deprived of active property. 

1894 BOTTONE Electr. Instr. Making (ed. 6) 5 Chloride of 

zinc (killed spirits of salt). Ibid. ^ Spidering 

with chloride 

' 

of zinc C killed spirits ', soldering fluid > 

Killedar, variant of KILLADAB. 

Killer (ki-bj). [f. KILL v. + -EH 1.] 

1. One who or that which kills ; a slayer,. butcher. 

1535 COVERDALE Tobit iii. 9 Thou kyller of thy huszbandes. 

1552 HUI.OET, Kyller of mise and rattes, myopk\o\nos. 1696 

Statutes (Scottish) c. 33 title, Act against killers of black 

fish, and destroyers of the fry and smolts of salmon. 1741 

MIDDLETON Cicero I. vi. 538 One Licinius, a killer of the 

victims for sacrifice. 1810 CARLYLE Misc., Voltaire (1872) 

II. 131 Hehashis coat of darkness, ..like that other Killer of 

Giants. 1871 O. W. HOLMES Poet Breakf.-t. ix. (1885) 225 

She is a killer and a cannibal among other insects. 

b. fig. in various senses. 

1555 L. SANDERS Let. in Foxe A. ft M. (1631) HL XI. T4I/2 

Christ the killer of death. 1819 Hermit in Loud. II. 170 

She is the most desperate killer of time I ever met with. 

1838 MARY HOWITT Birds * Fl., Ivy-bush iv, What a killer 

of care, old tree, wert thou 1 

o. In many combinations, as dragon-, giant-, 

etc. : 

see these words. 

lady-, lion-, pain-killer, 

2. A name of the grampus, Orca gladiator, and 

other ferocious cetaceans of kindred genera. 

1715 DUDLEY in Phil. Trans. XXXIII. 265 These Killers 

are from twenty to thirty Feet long, and have Teeth in 

both 

Jaws. ..They.. set upon a young Whale, and will bait 

him like so many Bull-dogs. 1897 F. T. BULLEN Cruise 

'Cachalot* 196 A large bowhead rose near the ship. ..Three 

' 

Killers' were attacking him at once, like wolves worrying 

a bull. ..The ' 

Killer or Orca ', gladiator, is a true whale, 

but, like the cachalot, has teeth. 

3. An effective angler's bait. 

1681 CHETHAM Angler 's Vade-m. xxxv. 4 (1689) 207 An 

admirable Fly, and in great repute for a killer. 1787 BEST 

Angling (ed. 2) 109 There are likewise two Moths.. great 

killers about twilight in a serene evening. 1867 F. FRANCIS 

Angling v. (1880) 155 If he cannot find a killer among 

them his hopes of sport are very small. 

4. A club of hard wood for killing fish with. 


5. An agent used to neutralize the active property 

of anything, e. g. to neutralize a colour, to 

remove spots or stains, prevent pitch-stains on 

pine-boards, or the like. 

1893 in Funk's Standard Diet. 

Killer, mod. dial, variant of KEELKR 2. 

KHlesse, -ese, var. CULLIS sbt, a groove or 

gutter ; spec, in a cross-bow, or in a roof. Hence 

Ki-llea s)ed a., having a killesse. 

1649 in Nichols Progr. II. 418 One barn of four bayes of 

building well tyled and killesed on two sides and one end 

thereof. 1867 SMYTH Sailor's Word-bk., Killese, the groove 

in a cross-bow. 

Xillick, killock (ki-lik, -ak). Naut. Also 7 

kelleok(e, -oek, 8-9 -iok, 9 -agri, -eg, keeleg. [Of 

obscure origin ; the spelling is unfixed, but most 

favour killick or killock.'} 

A heavy stone used on 

small vessels as a substitute for an anchor ; also a 

small anchor, f To come to a killick : to come to 

anchor (o/>s.). Up killick: to weigh anchor. 

1630 WINTHROP AVry Eng. (1825) I. 40 The wind overblew 

so much at N.W. as they were forced to come to a killock 

at twenty fathom. i6s T. MORTON New Eng. Canaan 

(1883) 262 The inconstant windes shiftinge at night did 

force the kellecke home, and billedge the boat. 1643 R. 

WILLIAMS Key Lang. Amer. rn Kuinwsnep, a Killick, or 

Anchor. 1670 NARBOROUCH Jrnl. in Ace. Sev. Late Voy. i. 

(1711) 107 Instead of Anchors, they have modern Crab-claws, 

or Kellocks. 1758 A nn. Reg. 292/1 They sent out another 

float, with killicks and ropes. 1768 I. BYRON Narr. Patagonia 

(ed. 2) 82 We hove up our . . Kellick, which we had 

made to serve in the room of our grapnel. 1837-40 HALI- 

BURTON Clockm. viii. (1862) 29, I shall up killoch and off 

to-morrow to the Tree mont. 1840 R. H. DANA Bef. Mast 

Ki'lligrew. 

694 

the Cornish chough. 

1668 CHARLETON Onomasticon 68 The Cornish Chough 

(..in Cornubia . . vitlgo nuticupatur the Killegrew). 1893 

NEWTON Diet. Birds, Killigrew. 

Killin(e, killing, obs. forms of KEELING 1. 

Killing (ki-lin), vbl. sb. 

[f. KILL v. + -ING!.] 

The action of the vb. KILL, in various senses. 

c 1400 Deslr. Troy 6635 fere was kyllyng of knyghtis, 

crusshyng of helmys. 1390 SHAKS. Mids. N. in. i. 15, I 

beleeue we must leaue the killing out, when all is done. 

1607 HIERON Wks. I. 208 All delaies are euen a very killing 

to the soule. 1737 BRACKEN Farriery Impr. (1757) II. 247 

It is a very odd . . Notion, which the Vulgar entertain, with 

relation to (what they call) killing of Quick-silver. 1748 

Anson's Voy. in. iii. 325 The killing and preparing of provisions. 

1890 BOLDREWOOD Col. Reformer (1891) 306 Killing 

is not the fashion much in this country. 

b. attrib. and Comb., as killing- clothes, -floor, 

-ground, -house, -tackle, -yard; also killing-sheep, 

a sheep intended or fit to be killed for food; 

killing-time, (a) the time at which an animal is 

(fit to be) killed ; (6) in Sf. Hist., part of the year 

1685, during which many covenanters were put to 

death (by later writers extended to 1683-85, or 

even the whole period 1679-88) ; killing-value, 

the value of stock when killed for food. 

1828 MOIR Mansie Wauch v. 40 Out flew the flesher 

in his 'killing-claiths. 1853 WHITMAN Leaves Grass, Songs 

of Myself 12 The butcher-boy puts off his killing-clothes. 

1897 R. KIPLING Seven Seas_, Rhyme Three Sealers 70 

He 11 lie down on the ""killing-grounds. 1578 Nottingham 

Rec. (1889) IV. 180 No butcher shall put into y 

medowes aboue fiue score *killinge shepe. 1687 A. SHIELDS 

Hind let loose 200 In the beginning of this *killing-time, 

as the Country calls it, the first author and authonzer of 

all these mischiefs, Charles 1 1, was removed by death, i 

P. WALKER Life Cargill 90 He was taken in November 

1684, the two slaughter years of Killing-Time being begun 

in the isth day of August before. 1818 SCOTT Hrt. Midi. 

xviii, It was in killing time, when the were 

plowers drawing 

alang their furrows on the back of the Kirk of Scotland. 

1843 J. AITON Dottiest. Econ. (1857) 236 The . . pig will be 

about a year old at killing time. 

Killing (ki-lin), PP1- a - U- KlLL v - + -ING 2 

1. That Kills or deprives of life. lit. andyff. 

1435 MisYN-FiVtf ofLove 89 Bittyr hony&kyllande frnyte. 

1609 RIBLE (Douay) Jer, xxii. 7, I wil sanctifie upon thee 

a killing man and his weapons. 1613 SHAKS. Hen. VIII, 

in. ii. 355 The third day, comes a Frost ; a killing Frost. 

1646 P. BULKELEY Gospel Covt. i. 95 These are the killing 

and destroying sinnes, that leave no remedy. 1703 KELSEY 

Serin. 130 The killing Interpretations of Pharisaical Pride. 

1821 SHELLEY Hellas 234 Apollo, Pan, and Love.. Grew 

weak, for killing Truth had glared on them. 

b. Of bait, etc.: Deadly; sure to kill. 

1681 CHETHAM Angler's Vade-m. iv. 25 (1689) 56 As 

killing a Bait as any whatever. 1867 F. FRANCIS Angling\. 

(1880) 46 Fishing with the young frog is a very killing 

method of fishing for chub. 

2. In hyperbolic use : Able to kill. a. Crushing, 

oppressive ; 

fatal. 

1615 G. SANDYS Trav. 194 Where they say that the 

blessed Virgine..fell into a trance at the sight of that 

killing spectacle, a 1711 KEN Sertn. Wks. (1838) 184 It was 

a killing consideration, to lie buried in such a sorrow. 1790 

BURKE Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 193 The killing languor.. of those 

who have nothing to do. i84iCATi.iN^V. Amer Itid. (1844) II. 

xxxvii. 37 Unshackled by the killing restraints of society. 

1848 THACKERAY Van. Fair xxix, The General went on with 

killing haughtiness. 

settles' an 

t b. Of a proof or argument : That ' 

opponent ; overpowering, fatal. Obs. 

1654 BRAMHALL Just Vittd. (1661) 249 To this supposed 

killing argument I give three clear solutions. 1673 Ess. 

Educ. Gentlevjotn. 32 This is the killing Objection. 1676 

MARVELL Mr. 

SmirKeô Away he goes with it., and knocks 

all on the head with a Killing Instance. 

c. Overpoweringly beautiful or attractive. 

1634 SIR T. HERBERT Trav. Ded. A ij b, Those who are 

suddenly taken with a killing beautie. 1676 WYCHERLEY 

PI. Dealer n. Wits. (Rtldg.) 115/2 With you ladies too, 

martial men must needs be very killing. 1768-74 TUCKER 

Lt. Nat. I. 

(1854) 40 The maid.. tiffing out her mistress in 

a killing attire. 1840 DICKENS Barn. Ritdge xx, Curling 

her hair on her fingers,.. and giving it some killing twists. 

d. Physically overpowering ; exhausting. 

1850 T. A. TROLLOPE Impress. Wand, xxv. 383 The last 

three hours of our journey were the most killing part of the 

day's work. 1855 W. H. RUSSELL The War xxvii. 17 The 

pace at which ' 

they went was really killing '. 

e. 'Excruciatingly' funny; that makes one 'die' 

with laughing, colloq. 

ZILIT. 

3. As adv. = KILLINGLY. 

blew killing chill. 

Hence Ki'llingly adv., in a killing manner; 

Ki-lling-ness. 

[1593 NASHE Christ's T. (1613) 134 Sight-killingly.] 1641 

MILTON Animadv. Pref, Nothing could be more killingly 

spoken. 1642 J. EATON Honey-c. Free jfustif. 124 We 

must all preach it [the Law] .. as killingly 

as we can. 

1730 LILLO George Barnwell I. ii. Mill. How do I look 

to-day, Lucy? Lucy. Oh. killingly, madam ! A little more 

red, and you'll be irresistible. 1839 BAILEY Festus xx. 

(1852) 313 There are three things I love half killingly. 1840 

R. BREMNER Ejccurs. Denmark, etc. I. 314 A large bunch of 

flowers in the hand, or on the breast, which most of the 

young fellows displayed with conscious killingness. 

Kiilinite (ki'linait). Min. [Named, 1818, 

after Killiney Bay near Dublin : see -ITK 1.] A 

mineral of a pale-green colour, an alteration product 

of spodumene. 

1818 Trans R. Irish Aead. XIII. 4 Kiilinite occurs 

imbedded, in elongated prisms. 1878 LAWRENCE tr. Cotta's 

Rocks Class. 19 Kiilinite is a product of the weathering or 

decomposition of spodumene. 

sb. Ki'11-joy, and a A. sb. One who or that 

which destroys joy or pleasure; one who throws a 

gloom over social enjoyment. 

1776 BURNEY Hist. Mus. (1789) I. 455 The Gods were not 

then, says M. Rousseau, regarded as kill-joys and shut out 

of convivial meetings. 1863 GEO. KLIOT Romola xxv, Licentious 

young men, who detested him as the kill-joy of 

Florence. 1896 J. P. MAHAFFY in Chautauquan Oct. 49/2 

Reserve, if apparent, is the real kill-joy of conversation. 

B. adj. That kills or an end to 

puts joy. 

1822 SCOTT Pirate \, His kill-joy visage will never again 

stop the bottle in its round. 

Killock, variant ot KILLICK. 

Killogie, -logy (kiUw'gi). Sc. Now rare or 

Obs. Also 7, 9 kiln-logie. [f. kill, KILN + LOOIE, 

sometimes used in the same sense as killogie.] 

The covered space in front of the fireplace of 

a kiln, serving to give draught 

to the fire and to 

shelter the person attending to it ; formerly often 

used as a place for sheltering or hiding in. 

15.. King Berdok (Bann. MS.) 31 Berdok fled in till 

a killogy. 1563 Edin. Ttnun Council Rec. 18 June, Ihonne 

Knox was apprehendit and tane forth of ane kilfogye. a 1670 

SPALDING Troub. Chas. 7(1829) 27 This night he was laid 

in the kiln-logie. 1815 SCOTT Guy M. vi, The muckle 

chumlay in the Auld Place reeked like a killogie in his 

time. 1881 W. GREGOR Folk-lore 84 (E. D.D.) This clue 

was cast into the kiln-logie. 

Killos, variant of KlLLAS. 

t Killow. Obs. Also 7 kellow, 8 oullow. [Of 

unknown origin. 

Mod. diets., into which the word has passed from Johnson, 

Todd, etc., repeat the suggestion of Woodward (cited by J.) 

that killovj may be connected with COLLOW, soot, grime ; but 

the formes against this.] 

A name formerly given (orig. in Cumberland) to 

black-lead, plumbago, or graphite. 

1666 MERRETT Pinax Brit. 218 Lapis cjeruleus Killow 

dictus ducendis lineis idoneus. 1698 PLOT in Phil. Trans. 

XX. 183 The Mineral substance, called, Black Lead, .found 

at Keswick in 

only Cumberland, and there called, Wadt, or 

Kellow. 1706 PHILLIPS, Killow, a sort of Mineral Stone. 

1763 W. LEWIS Comm. Phil. Techn. 324 The black earthy 

substance called Killow. . . The killow has somewhat of a 

bluish or purplish cast mixed with its blackness. 

An occu- 

Krll-time, sb. (a.) [See KILL v. 5.] 

' 

pation or amusement intended to kill time '. 

1748 RICHARDSON Clarissa (1811) yill. 397 The more 

active and lively amusements and kill-times. 1811 COLERIDGE 

Lect. Shaks. (1856) 3 Where the reading of novels prevails 

as a habit, .it is not so much to be called pass-time as killtime. 

1865 Ch. Times ii Mar. 76/1 One of the pretty killtimes 

which consume modern society. 

B. adj. Adapted to kill time. 

1897 Westm. Gaz. 25 Jan. 5/1 Play at this very scientific 

kill-time gametchess]. 

Killut, Killyflsh: see KHELAT, KILLIFISH. 

Kiln (kil, kiln), s/>. Forms : a. i oyline, -ene, 

oyln(e, 4 kulne, 4-5 kylne (kyllne), 6-8 kilne, 

6- kiln. ft. 5-6 kylle, 6-7 kyll, 7 kil, 5-8 kill. 7. 

6-8 (9 dial.) kell. 8. 6-7 keele, 7 kiele. [OE. 

cylene, etc. :*cu'lina, a. L. ciilina kitchen, cooking- 

with usual shifting of Latin 

stove, burning-place ; 

stress (cf. kitchen). 

Outside of English known in 

only Scand., ON. kylna 

(Norw. kjflne, Sw. kolna, Da. kflle], prob. from 

adopted 

Eng. (as Welsh cilin, til certainly are). In ME. the final -; 

became silent (in most districts), hence the frequent spellin 

killin place of the etymological kiln; cf. I 

//,MiLL.] 

1. A furnace or oven for burning, baking, or 

drying, of which various kinds are used in different 

industrial processes : e. g. (a) a furnace for burning 

a substance, as in calcining lime (LIME-KILN) or 

making charcoal; (6) an oven or furnace for 

baking bricks (BRICK-KILN), tiles, or clay vessels, 

or for melting the vitreous glaze on such vessels ; 

() a building containing a furnace for drying grain, 

hops, etc. or for making malt. 

o. -725 Corpus Gloss. 906 Fornacula, cyline, heorfie. 

ciogo Suppl. jElfric's Voc. in Wr.-Wiilcker 185/30 Siccatorium, 

cyln, uel ast. c 1315 Gloss. W. de Sataw. in 

Wright Voc. 158 Toral (kulne). c 14*0 Avow. Arth. xv,

KILN. 

- - ... your Kiliu 

ordered and bedded, you shall lay as manysheaues theicuu, 

as it can containe. 1683 Lonct. Gaz. No. 1789/4 A Kilne 

for making of Mault. 1703 MOXON Mech. Exerc. 242 Lime 

..newly drawn out of the Kiln. 1719 DE FOE Crusoe i. ix. 

A Kiln, such as the Potters burn in. 1851 LONGF Cold 

Leg i, A smouldering, dull, perpetual flame, As in a kiln.' 

burns in my veins. 

P. 1471 Yatton Church.w. Ace. (Som. Rec. Soc.) 107 For 

makyng a Wle and y lyme-berner x: 1509 BARCLAY Shyf 

Hide them in the clay in the bricke kill. 1663 GERBIER 

Counsel 52 A Kill . . for the making of twenty thousand of 

Bricks. 1728 RAMSAY Monk $ Miller's Wije 48 Step ve 

west the kill A bow-shot, and ye'll find my hame. 1777 H 

GATES in C. Gist Jrnls. (1893) 280 The extensive Buildings 

and Kills. .arealso laid inAshes. 1828 Craven Dial, s v 

A lime kill, a maut kill. 

y. 1577 HARRISON England in. viii. (1878) n. 53 The Chiues 

. . are dried vpon little kelles couered with streined canuasses 

1625 LISLE Du Bartas, Noe 46 The Tyler bakes within his 

smoakie kell this clay to stone. 1706 PHILLIPS, Kelloi Kiln 

1875 Sussex Gloss., Kell, a kiln. 

[ha - . ^ u , a ^ c .c 

BACON 'Sylva f 648 The drying [of maltfupon the'ic'eele." 

b. In phrases and proverbs : esp. to set the kiln 

on fire (Sc. a-low), to fire the kiln, to cause a 

serious commotion or turmoil; sathekilnsonfire. 

1590 LODGE Eufhues Cold. Leg. in Halliwell Shakespeare 

VI. 42 Tush, quoth Ganimede, all is not make that is cast 

on the kill. 1603 FLORIO Montaigne (1634) 503 It is that 

which some sayprouerbially, ' 

111 may the Kill call the Ouen 

"burnt taile" . 

for my Peck of 

Hist Suff Ch. __ ..._ 

posing Ihe Clause, excepting Ihe King's Sons and Brother!, 

had_fired the Kiln 1818 SCOTT Hrt. Midi, xlv, The Captain's 

a queer hand, and to speak to him about that.. wad 

be to set the kiln a-low. 1819 Leg Montrose xx, He has 

contrived to set the kiln on fire as fast as I put it out. 

C. = KlLNFUL. 

1744-50 W. ELLIS Mod. Husbandm. VI. i. 21 They fetch 

five quarters of lime from the kiln, which they call a kiln of 

lime, because it is all they burn at once. 

2. attrib. and Comb., as kiln-board, -burning, -dust, 

fire, -man, -mouth, -wife; kiln-burnt adj.; kilnbarn, 

a barn containing a kiln ; f kiln-cloth, a 

cloth on which the grain was laid in a kiln kiln- 

; 

eye, (a) an opening for removing the lime from a 

lime-kiln = ; (b) kiln-hole; fkiln-haire = kiln-cloth; 

t kiln-hamer (?) ; kiln-hole, the fire-hole of a 

kiln (see also quot. 1828) ; kiln-house, a kiln, or 

building containing one ; kiln-logie (see KILLOGIE) ; 

kiln-pot, ? the floor of a malting or drying kiln ; 

kiln-rib, -stick, -tree, one of the sticks on. which 

the grain is laid in a kiln. Also KILN-DRY v. 

a 1670 SPALDING Troub. Chas. I (Spald. CU I. 61 Thay.. 

schot hir self wilh hir barnes to duell in the "kilbarne. 1882 

ing. 1850 GOSSE Rivers Bible (1878) 174 *Kiln-burnt bricks. 

1877 RAYMOND Statist. Mines $ Mining 98 Kiln-burned 

coal would, it is estimated, weigh 20 pounds per bushel, 

1573-80 BARET Alv. K 60 The *kill cloth of haire, cilicittm, 

1660 HEXHAM, A Kill-cloath of hair, 1763 Museum Rust. 

I. 114 To distinguish the genuine malt-dust from that which 

is called "kiln-dust, which falls through the gratings from 

the malt whilst it is drying 1603 OWEN Pembrokeshire 

(18^1) 70 A kill..havinge two lope holes in the bottome 

which they call the *kiU eyes. 1873 KNIGHT Diet. Meek. 

II. 1228 The *kiln-fire is supplied with warm air. 1567 

Richmond Wills (Surteesi 211 In the kilne, one seastron 

and one *kUne hare. 1351 Wills $ Inv. AT. C. (Surtees, 

.1835) 134 In the r 

kyell..a*ky_Uhame and a wyndooclothe x". 

1598 SHAKS. Merry W. iv. a. 50 Creepe into the *Kill-hole. 

1828 Craven Dial., Kill-hole^ the hole of, or a hovel adjoining, 

the kill. 1417 Surtees Misc. (1888) 12 The *kylne bowse 

of the same Sir John. 1544 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. 

Oxford 174 The kyll howses beneyth the [Oseney] mylls. 

1508 SYLVESTER Du Bartas n. ii. Babylon 164 There, busie 

*Kil-men ply their occupations For brick and tyle. 1874 

T. HARDY Far fr. Madding Crmvd I. 86 The room inside 

was lighted only by the ruddy glow from the *kiln mouth. 

1783 BURNS Halloween xi. note, An answer will be returned 

from the *kiln-pot, by naming the Christian and surname 

of your future spouse. 1790 FISHER Poems 149 (E. D. D.) 

She straught gaed to a deep kiln pot Her fortune for to try. 

1737 BRACKEN Farriery Impr. (1757) II. 150 His Body as 

dryasa*Kiln-stick. ctQjsPut. Voc. in Wr.-Wiilcker 792/39 

Hec usrinatrixt a *kylme wife. 

Hence Ki-lnful, as much as a kiln can hold. rare. 

1714 RAMSAY Tea-t. Misc. (1733) I. 9 A kilnfu' of corn I'll 

gi'e to thee. 

Kiln (kil, kiln), v, [f. prec.] trans. To burn, 

bake, or dry in a kiln ; to kiln-dry. 

1715 LEONI Palladia s Archil. I. 

(1742) 4 It must be em. 

as soon as kiln'd, otherwise it wastes . . away. Ibid. 

floy'd I. 54 Lime, the manner of killing it. 1725 BRADLEY Fa-m. 

Diet- s. v. Malt) There is also another Error in drying and 

kilning of Malt. 1881 BLACKMORE Christowell xxv, The 

clay 

was so inferior, and they were kilned in such a doltish 

manner. 

Kiln, variant of KILL sb.^ 

Ki'ln-dry, v. trans. To dry in a kiln. 

^1540 Plumpton Corr. 237 As for barly, is now much redy 

& in chambers.. Yowr men also kiln dry. 1573 TUSSER 

Hush (1878) 127 The hop kell dride, will best abide. 1649 

695 

BLITHE Eng. fmfrov. Impr. (1653) 260 Drying it up, and 

housing it, and kilne-drying it. 

1727 BRADLEY Fam. Diet. 

s. v. Bean, The best way is to kiln-dry them [beans], or to 

dry em well in the Sun. 1846 McCuLLOCH Ace. Brit. Empire 

(1854) I- 363 Much, .of the corn of Ireland could not be 

preserved, unless it were kiln-dried. 

Hence Ki-ln-dried///. a., Ki 'In-drying vbl. sb. 

1823 J. BADCOCK Dam. A musem. 28 Heat, i. e. kiln-drying, 

..will not answer the end proposed. 1854 RONALDS & 

RICHARDSON Cliem. Technol. (ed. 2) 1. 189 Kiln-dried earthy 

lignite (20 per cent moisture and no ash). 

Kilo-. An arbitrary derivative of Gr. x** 101 

a thousand, introduced in French in 1795, at the 

institution of the Metric system, as a formative of 

weights and measures containing 1000 times the 

simple unit. Also Kilo (ki'b) sb., familiar abbreviation 

of KILOGRAMME. 

1870 Daily News 2 Dec., They provide the bread at 35 cent, 

a kilo, the same price as . . in Belgium. 1887 MOLONEY 

forestry W. A/r. 77 The price for each hundred kilos of oil 

produced . . varies according to the pressures. 

Kilodyne (ki-lodain). [f. KILO- + DYNE.] 

A measure of force equal to a thousand dynes. 

1873 ist Rep. Brit. Assoc. 224 The weight of a gramme., 

is about 980 dynes, or rather less than a kilodyne. 

Kilogramme, -gram (ki-l^grgem). Also 

chiliogramme. [a. F. kilogramme (1795): see 

KILO- and GRAMME, GRAM.] In the Metric system, 

a weight containing 1000 grammes, or about 

2-205 Ib. avoirdupois. 

1810 Naval Chron. XXIV. 299 The French weight called 

Kilogramme. Ibid. 301 Killogram (weight of cubic decimeter 

of water). i8zg J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 53 

A man going up stairs for a day raises 205 chiliogrammes to 

the height of a chiliometre. 1871 [see next]. 1898 H. O. 

ARNOLD-FORSTER (title) The Coming of the Kilogram, or the 

Battle of the Standards. 

Kilogrammetre,-meter(ki:Wgra;m l mr-t3t). 

[a. F. kilogrammelre : see prec. and METRE.] The 

quantity of energy required to raise a weight of 

one kilogramme to the height of one metre. 

1866 ODLING Anim. Chem. 104 It is convenient to apply 

the expression kilogram-metre to the product of the kilogrammes 

lifted into the metres of height. 1871 B. STEWART 

Heat (ed. 2) 314 The unit of work being always the amount 

represented by raising one kilogramme one metre against 

terrestrial gravity, or the Kilogrammetre. 1878 TOLHAUSEN 

Technol. Diet., Kilogrammeter. 

Kilolitre, -liter (ki'l^lJtaj). [a. F. kilolitre 

(1798): see KILO- and LITRE.] In the Metric 

system, a measure of capacity containing 1000 

litres. 

1810 Naval Chron. XXIV. 301 Killolittre, Metercube. 

1828 WEBSTER, Kiloliter. 1871 C. DAVIES Metr. Syst. 14 

The kilolitre, or stere, is the cube constructed on the metre 

as an edge. Hence, the litre-is one-thousandth part of the 

kilolitre. 

Kilometre, -meter (krUmasi). [a. F. 

kilometre (1795): see KILO- and METRE. (The 

stress is marked by Webster (1828), Craig, and 

Cassell as kilo-metre)'] In the Metric system, 

a measure of length containing 1000 metres, or 

3280-89 feet, or nearly five-eighths of a mile. Also 

Comb., as kilometre-stone (cf. mile-stone). 

1810 Naval Chron. XXIV. 301 Killometer, 1000 M. 1868 

Morn. Star 25 Feb., The tunnel will cost i6o,ooo/. per 

kilometre. 1881 HALSTED Mensuration z The kilometer is 

used as the unit of distance. 1888 PENNELL Sent. Journey 

166 The kilometre-stones no longer marked the distance. 

Kilometric (kilome-trik), a. [f. prec. + -1C: = 

F. kilomttrique (1878 in Diet. Acad.}^ Of or 

pertaining to a kilometre ; marking a kilometre on 

a road. So Kilome'trical a., in same sense. 

1867 Even. Standard 6 Aug. 5 The Public Conveyance 

Company of Paris invited, in i86r, designs for a kilometrical 

measuring machine. 1881 HALSTED Mensuration 2 Along 

roads and railways are placed kilometric poles or stones. 

Kilowatt (krWwgt). Electr. [f. 

KILO- + 

WATT.] A thousand watts. Also attrib. 

1802 BARN. SMITH & HUDSON Arithm. for Schools 147 

A Kilowatt is about i & Horse-power. Ibid., This is a 

Kilowatt. hour and is equivalent to 3-6 Megajoules. 1895-6 

Calendar Univ. Nebraska 196 Dynamos and motors from 

25 Kilo-watts capacity down. 

Kilp. north, dial. Forms : 5-6 kylpe, 5 kelpe, 

6 kilpe, 7-9 kilp, 9 kelp. [cf. ON. kilpr handle, 

loop ; also CLIP j&l sense 2.] The movable or 

detachable handle (pair of clips) of a pot or 

cauldron ; also, a pot-hook or crook from which 

a pot is suspended ; the bail or hoop-handle of a 

pot or kettle ; rarely, a hook in general. 

142$ Mem. Ripon (Surtees) III. 156 Item pro scitulis 

emptis Ebor., lad. Item pro uno kylpe de ferro ad 

eosdem, irf. 1483 Cath. Angl. 203/1 A kylpe (A. kelpe) of 

a ca.ldron,Jer4endicufaM. 1590 /r. JohnNevilofFaldingworth, 

One brasse pot with kilpes. 1674-91 RAY N. C. 

Words 40 Kilps, pot-hooks. 1855 ROBINSON Whitty Gloss., 

Keifs, the iron pothooks suspended in the chimney; also 

the bow or circular handle of the pot itself. x88x J. SAR- 

GISSON Joe Scoap 287 (Cumberl. dial.) T' kilps an' creuks 

fer t' back band. 

Kilt (kilt), v. Also 5 kylte. [app. of Scand. 

origin : cf. Da. kilte (also kilte of) to tuck up, 

Sw. (dial.) kilta to swathe, swaddle; ON. had 

kilting, kjalta skirt, lap.] 

1. trans. To gird up ; to tuck up (the skirts) 

round the body. Also with up. 

KIMBO. 

a 1340 HAMPoLE/>{afl-lxiv.7 [Ixv.6J Graythand hilles in bi 

vertu kiltid in powere [accinctusfotentia], 1483 Cath. Angl. 

203/1 To kylle, . . svffercinare, succingere. 1513 DOUGLAS 

JEneisi. vi. 27 Venus.. With. .Hir skirt kiltit til] hir bair 

kne. 1535 LYNDESAY Satyre 1380 Then help me for to kilt 

my clais. a 1724 in Ramsay Tea-t. Misc. (1733) II. 144 

Come kilt up ye'r coats And let us to Edinburgh go. 1792 

BURNS Bratu Lads Galla Water iii, I'll kilt my coats aboon 

my knee, And follow my love thro' the water. 1853 READE 

Chr. Johnstone ii. 25 Of their petticoats, the outer one was 

kilted or gathered up towards the front. 

2. To fasten or tie up to ; pull or hoist np ; to 

' 

string up ', to hang. 

67 CLELAND Poems 30 (Jam.) Their bare preaching now 

Makes the thrush-bush keep the cow, Better than Scots or 

English kings Could do by kilting them [the thieves] with 

strings. 1810 COCK Simple Strains 69 (Jam.) Many ane 

she's kiltet up Syne set them fairly on their doup. 1818 

SCOTT Jrnl. 20 Feb., Our ancestors brought the country to 

order by kilting thieves and banditti with strings. 

3. intr. To go lightly and expeditiously (i. e. as 

with the loins girded). 

1816 SCOTT BL Dwarf xvii, He.. maun kilt awa' wi' ae 

bonny lass in the morning, and another at night, . . but if 

he disna kilt himself out o' the country, I'se kilt him wi' 

a tow. 1894 IAN MACLAREN Bonnie Brier Bush iv. iii. 150 

Kiltin' up the braes. 

4. trans. To gather in vertical pleats, fastened 

at the top and free at the bottom, as in a kilt. 

1887 J. ASHBY STERRY Lazy Minstrel (1892) 171 The 

skirt is of flannel most cunningly kilted. 

Kilt (kilt), i*. Also8quelt,kelt. [f. KILTZ*.] 

A part of the modern Highland dress, consisting 

of a skirt or petticoat reaching from the waist to 

the knee : it is usually made of tartan cloth, and is 

deeply plaited round the back and sides; hence, 

any similar article of dress worn in other countries. 

CI730 BURT Lett. N. Scotl. xxii. 

(1754) 

II. 185 Those 

among them who travel on Foot.. vary it [the Trowze] into 

the Quelt . . a small Part of the Plaid is set in Folds and 

girt round the Waste to make of it a short Petticoat that 

reaches half Way down the Thigh. 1746 Act 19-21 Geo. II, 

c. 39 17 The..pbilebeg or little kilt. 1771 SMOLLETT 

Humph. Cl. 3 Sept., His piper. .has a right to wear the 

kilt, or ancient Highland dress, with the purse, pistol, and 

durk. 1771 PENNANT Tour Scot. (1790) I. an The feil beag, 

i. e. little plaid, also called kelt . . is a modern substitute for 

the lower part of the plaid. 1814 SCOTT Wav. xvi, The short 

kilt, or petticoat, showed his sinewy and clean-made limbs. 

1850 K. G. GUMMING Hunters Life S. Afr. (ed. 2) I. 231 

The dress of the [Bechuana] women consists of a kaross 

depending from the shoulders, and a short kilt. 1874 

BOUTELL Arms Sr Arm. viii. 147 Thus was formed a species 

of kilt of armour, or iron petticoat. 

Kilt, obs. or dial. pa. pple. of KILL v, 

Kilted (ki-lted), 

a. 

[f. KILT si>. + -ED 2.] 

ing a kilt. 

Wear- 

1809 BYRON Eng. Bards $ Sc. Review. 526 The kilted 

goddess kissed Her son, and vanish 'd in a Scottish mist. 

1848 CLOUGH Bot/iie ix. 149 This is the letter of Hobbes, 

the kilted and corpulent hero. 1900 Scott. Antig. XV. 31 

The earliest kilted force.. in the king's pay was the Black 

Watch. 

Kilted (ki-lted), ///. a. [f. KILT v. + -ED 1.] 

1. Tucked up ; having the skirts tucked up. 

1724 RAMSAY The Toast ii, If ye bare-headed saw her, 

Kilted to the knee. 1865 HAMILTON Poems 88 (E. D. D.) 

Wi' kilted coats, knee-deep among the heather. 

2. Gathered in a series of vertical pleats. 

1896 Daily News 19 Mar. 6/5 Kilted silk, net, and lace 

will be largely used for capes. 1900 Westm. Gaz. 20 Sept. 

3/2 The bodice is made with this same very closely-kilted 

chiffon drawn into a wide berth of cream lace. 

Kilter, variant of KELTER si." 

Kilting (ki-ltirj), vbl. sb. 

[f. KILT v. + -ING The action of the vb. KILT ; 

1.] 

the act of girding or 

tucking up, or of plaiting like a kilt ; the result of 

this. Also attrib., as killing-belt, -machine. 

1521 Churchvj. Ace. St Michaels, York (Nichols 1797) 

309 P d for Kilting Belts i d . 1721 KELLY Sc. Prov. 300 

note. Women, when they to 

g_o Work, truss up their Petti. 

coats with a Belt, and this they call their Kilting. 1880 

CasselFs Mag: June 441 Killings are yielding to box -plaits. 

1884 litest. Morn. News 9 Aug. 1/3 Kilting machine, work. 

room tables. 

Kimbe, obs. form of KEMB v. 

Kimberlite(ki-mb3jlait). Min. [Named, 1886, 

from Kimberley in Cape Colony + -ITE i 2 b.] The 

eruptive rock, or ' 

blue ground which is the 

', 

matrix of the diamond at Kimberley and elsewhere 

in South Africa ; it occurs in cylindrical 

' 

pipes ', often having a diameter of several hundred 

feet, and of unknown depth. 

1887 H. CARVILL LEWIS in Papers on the Diamond (1897) 

50 There appears to be no named rock-type having at once 

the composition and structure of the Kimberley rock. . .It 

is now proposed to name the rock Kimberlite. . . Kimberlile 

is a rock sui generis, dissimilar to any other known species. 

1899 Edin. Rev. Apr. 319 This 'blue 'rock named ' 

Kimberlite 

' 

by Professor Carvill Lewis is really of a dull green 

tint, due to its impregnation with iron oxides. 

Kimbling, var. kimlin(g: see KIMNEL. 

Ki-mbo, in phr. on kimbo : see A-KIMBO. 

tKrmbo, a. Obs. rare- 1 , 

[f. A-KIMBO.] Re- 

sembling an arm a-kimbo. 

1697 DRYDEN Virg. Past. HI. 67 Two [Bowls]. ..The 

Kimbo Handles seem with Bears-foot carv'd. 

f Ki-rnbo, v. Obs. rare. Also 8 kembo. [f. 

A-KIMBO.] trans. To set a-kimbo. Hence 

fKi-mboed///. a.

KIME. 

1748 RICHARDSON Clarissa (i8n) IV. xxxvi 240 For 

a wife to come up with kemboed arm. 1754 Grandison 

IV. xxxvii, He kemboed his aims and strutted up to me. 

1808 SF.DLEY Asmodeus I. 41 Who thrusts herself into every 

company with kimboed arms. 

tKime. Obs. rare- 1 . Also kyme. [ttym. 

obscure ; app. the root of AKIMED cf. also western 

; 

dial, kimet silly, stupid, dizzy.] A simpleton, fool. 

c lias Plowman's Tale ll. 605 The emperour yaf the pope 

somtvme So hyghe lordship him about, That, at [the] laste, 

the ly kyme [later edd. kime], The proude pope putte 

him out. 

Kimenell, obs. form of KIMNEE. 

a. and adv. Obs. exc. dial. Also 

Kim-kam, 

8 ohim-oham. [app. f. kam, CAM a., crooked, 

awry, reduplicated as w. flim-flam, jim-jam, etc.] 

A. adj. Crooked, awkward, perverse, contrary. 

1581 STANYHURST JEneis n. (Arb.) 44 Thee wauering 

Commons in kym kam sectes ar haled, a 1734 NORTH 

Kimple, 

696 

variant of KKMPLB Sc. 

Kin (kin), J*.' Koims: I oyn(n, oinn, 1-6 

kyn(n; 2-3 oun, 3-4 kun; 2 oen-, 2-4 ken(ne; 

4-6 kynne, Sc. kine, kyne, 5-7 kinne, 3- kin. 

[Com. Tent. : OE. cyn(n, neuter, = OFris. kin, 

ken, kon, OS. kunni (MDu. kunne, konne, Du. 

kunne), OHG. ckunni (MHG. kunne, kunne), 

ON. kyn (Da., Sw. &>'), Goth, kuni: OTeut. 

*kunjo , from the weak grade of the ablaut-series 

kin-, kan-, kun- *> Aryan gen-, fan-, gn-, 'to pro- 

duce, engender, beget', whence also Gr. yu>os, 

yoVos, yiyvo/juu, L. genus, gigntre, 

etc. Cf. KEN v.'* 

In the Teutonic word, as in Latin genus and Greek yew?, 

three main senses appear, M race or stock, (2) class or kind, 

(3) gender or sex ; the last, found in OE. and early ME., but 

not later, is the only sense in mod. Du., Da., and Sw.] 

I. Family, race, blood-relations. 

1. A group of persons descended from a common 

KIN. 

(1891) 329 Sir Thomas . . Pope did not saddle [Trinity College] 

witn any of the preferences for founder's-kin which proved 

fertile in litigation elsewhere. 

b. Without article or pronoun. Now rare, exc. 

in kith and (or) kin : see KITH. 

city Hymn to God 30 in Trin. Coll. Horn. App. 259 

Fader forîf vs . . Al swo we doS . . to freflmede & kunne. 

c 1315 Chron. Eng. 92 (Ritson) Bruyt hade muche folk with 

him, Bothe frcmede and eke kun. 1450 St. Cuthbert 

(Surtees) 4326 pai spared nouthir kynn na kyth. "1592 

GREENE Jos. IV, v. ii, What was I born to be the scorn of 

kin? 1607 SHAKS. Timon l.i. 121 One onely Daughter haue 

I, no Kin else. 1836 W. IRVING Astoria II. 63 One of those 

anomalous beings., who seem to have neither kin nor country. 

c. Used of a : single person Kinsman, relative; 

= KINDRED 4b. arch. 

c iioo MS. Digty 59 in Opera Symeon Duntlm. (Surtees) 

I. 190 Sic dicimus vulgariter Nother kyn nor tuyn, id est 

neque cognatum neque amicum. c 1205 LAY. 13730 He wes 

heore cun & heore freond. Ibid. 21462 Hercne me Cador; 

t'u ;nt min a3e cun. 138* WYCLIF Ruth ii. 20 And eft she 

seith, Oure ny} kyn is the man. c 1475 Partenay 6278 Ny 

kyn he is to king off norway, For of Melusine discended 

all thay. 1601 SHAKS. Tviet. N. v. L 237 Of charity, what 

kinne are you to me ? 1790 SHIKREFS Poems 78 (E. D. D.) 

Were he a Laird, he'd be nae kin to me. 1864 SWINBURNE 

Atalanta 398 O sweetest kin to me in all the world. 

d. In predicative use passing into adj. - Related, 

Exam. l. iii. 47 (1740) Now the Reason of all this 

15.' 

Chim-Cham Stuff, is the ridiculous Undertaking, of the 

Author, to prove Gates' Plot.. out of Coleman's Papers. 

1879 Miss JACKSON Shn/ish. Word-bk. s. v., Let's a none 

o' yore kim-kam ways. 

B. adv. Crookedly, awry ; in a wayward, perverse, 

or contrary way. 

1603 HOLLAND Plutarch's Mar. 452 Every thing then was 

turned upside downe, and., all went kim kam. 1658 

J. HARRINGTON Prerog. Pop. Govt. i. xii. (1700) 310 He 

. . presumes [etc.] Kim Kam to the Experience of all Commonwealths. 

1691-1 AUBREY Brief Lives (1898) I. 47, [1666] 

This all yeare my businesses and affaires ran kim-kam. 

18.. WHITTAKER in Lancash. Gloss., Kim-kam, (to walk) 

with a throw of the legs athwart one another. 

Klmlin(g, kimmel : see KIMNEL. 

Kimmen, -in, -ond, var. CDMMINO Sc. (Cf. 

KIMNEL.) Kimmer, variant of CUMMEB. 

Kininieridge (ki-marids). A village on the 

Dorsetshire coast, where extensive beds of the 

Upper Oolite formation are developed. Hence, 

Kimmeridge clay, a bed of clay in the Upper Oolite containing 

bituminous shales. Kimmeridge coal, shale of the 

Kimmeridge clay containing so much bitumen that it may 

be burnt as coal J Kimmeridge coal money, disks of shale 

found near Kimmeridge, popularly supposed to have been 

used as coins by the ancient inhabitants. 

1831 DE LA BECHE Geol. Man (ed. 2) 319 The Kimmeridge 

clay., has a considerable range, particularly over England 

and France. 1851 D. WILSON Preh. Ann. (1863) I. ll. vi. 

438 Objects on which the name of Kimmeridge coal-money 

was conferred. 1871 Imperial Gazetteer Eng. fr Wales I. 

1104/2 Bracelets made of the Kimmeridge coal were found 

in an ancient burial place at Dorchester in 1830. 

Hence Kimmeri-dglan a. Geol., the specific 

epithet of that subdivision of the Upper Oolite 

which is prominent at Kimmeridge. 

1863 DANA Man. Geol. 440 The British subdivisions are 

for the most part recognized in France.. in the Oolite i, 

Bajocian..6, Kimmeridgian. 

Krmnel. 06s. exc. dial. Forms : a. 3 (kembelina), 

4 kym-, kemelyn, 5 kymlyn(e, 5-6 

kemelin(e, 5-7 -ing, 6 kymlen, -ling, gim-, 7 

kimline, -liege, -blinge, kemelling, 9 (dial.) 

kimlin(g, gimlin. 0. 5-6 kymnell(e, 6 kimen-, 

kimn-, kimmell, 7 kym-, kimnel(l, kemell, 9 

(dial.) kimnel. [ME. kem(b)c/in, kim(e]lin, and 

kim(e)nel, of somewhat obscure formation, but 

app. related to OE. cumb, ME. combe, COOMB 1; 

see sense 2 there. 

The earlier form is that in Jin ; for that in -nel, cf. cracknel 

from V.craguelin (also surviving as cracklin(g). More obscure 

is the Sc.*/OTrELPRIC i. 24 msexSJ be nefer ne abeah to nane deofel . . jyld 

and bes cenne [ÊLFRIC maexSe] god saelde and jesette ae. 

1197 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 9137 So bat of |>ulke kunne ber nas 

po no fere, c 1369 CHAUCER Dethe Blaunche 438 By tho 

figuris mowe al ken . . rekene and novmbre. 1604 ROWLANDS 

Looke to it ii You that deny the stocke from whence you 

came, Thrusting your selfe into some Gentle kin. 1879 

HKARN Aryan Househ. xii. 280 By the natural expansion 

of the Household kins are formed ; and these kins in turn 

form within themselves smaller bodies of nearer kinsmen, 

intermediate, .between the Household and the entire kin. 

t b. The family or descendants of a specified 

ancestor; offspring, progeny, posterity; = 

1 1 b, KINDRED 2 b. 06s. 

viper 

cynnes stry 

semen tuum] sceal selSeodij wunian on oSrum earde. c 1200 

ORMIN 9837 We sinndenn Abrahamess kinn & Abrahamcss 

chilldre. c 1300 Cast. Lave 179 Alle the kynne that of hym 

come Shulde have the same dome. 1567 Gude Godlie B. 

fy 

(S. T. S.) 8 Than pray. .That je may be of Isackis kin. 

f c. The group of persons formed by each stage 

of descent in a family or clan a ; generation = ; 

KIND sb. ne, KINDRED 2 c. Obs. 

c BJS Vesp. Psalter Ixxxiv. 6 Ne aSene Su eorre Sin from 

cynne in cynn. c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Th.) Ixxvii. 7 pact hi heora 

bearnum budun .. and cinn oSrum cySden. a 1300 Cursor 

M. 11401 (Cott.) pis writte was gett fra kin to kin. Ibid. 

1464 (Golt.), laraeth pat was be fift kin fra seth. 

t d. Genealogy, descent = KIND sb. 1 1 

; d, KIN- 

DEED 2 d. Obs. 

c 891 0. E. Chron. (Parker MS.) an. 716 Eawa [waes] Pybing, 

baes cyn is beforan awriten. cuoo ORMIN 2059 Ne talde 

pea nohht te^re kinn . . Bi wimmenn,..& all forrbi wass 

Cristess kinn . . Bi Joszep reccnedd. a i$ Leg. Kath. 464 

3ef bu wult cnawen my cun, ich am kinges dohter. c 1330 

R. BRUNNE Chron. Wace (Rolls) 14975 Of Ethelbright haue 

1 told |?e kyn. 

2. Ancestral stock or race; family. Usually 

without article and with descriptive adj. or sb., esp. 

in 

phr. (come) ofgood (noble , etc.)&'; = KIND**. 

12, KINDRED 3. Obs. exc. dial. 

c iioo O. E. Chron. (MS. D) an. 1067 Of jeleaffullan & 

ffiSelan cynne heo was asprungon. c iioo Vices

Kllf. 

P> 

rf 

M NNER S -* RT ' ' e and ,. ' ' for th e-tik) a., belonging to kina;sthesis. 

1880 BASTIAN Brain as an Organ of Mind xxv. 543 We 

may. .speak of a Sense of Movement, as a separate endowment, 

[ffatt] Or in one word, Kiiuesthesis. . . To speak of 

a Kmaesthetic Centre ' 

will certainly be found more con- 

venient than to 

speak 

of a ' 

Sense of Movement Centre '. 

1891 V. HORSLEY in igth Cent. June 859 Bastian coined the 

term 'kma:sthesis . 

',. further, he .. postulated the view that 

such kinaesthesis, or sense of movement, strain, effort, &c, 

must naturally find its seat or localisation in the so-called 

motor or Rolandic region of the brain. Ibid. 868 Given that 

the cortex of the Rolandic region is kinajsthetic, from which 

element of it does the efferent impulse start? 

Kinate, obs. form of QUINATE. 

t Kinboot. Sc. Obs. Forms : 5 kynbwt, -bute, 

6 ktnbute, 7 -but, (9 -bot). [f. KIN slt.l + BOOT 

sb.l 9.] A wergeld or man-boot paid by a homicide 

to the kin of the person slain. (Not the same as 

the OE. cynebSt or royal compensation.) 

c 1425 WYNTOUN Cron. vi. xix. 2282 For a yhwman twelf 

markis ay pe slaare suld for kynbwt pay. 1478 Acta Dom. 

Concil. (1839) 9/1 pt waiter blare sail.. pay to Robert of 

Cargill..xxvmercis..forakynbute. 1606 I. n. RoxBURGHin 

14/4 Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. in. 32 [He then offers 

a sum of money.. for] kinbut and satisfaction. [1876 A. 

LAING Lindores Abbey xxv. 328 He shall be free on payment 

of twenty-four merks of Kinbot.] 

Kincajou, variant of KINKAJOU. 

Kinch (kinj), 

sb. Sc. Also 6- kinsch, kinsh, 

9 kenoh. [In sense I, a parallel form to KINK 

si>. 1 : cf. benk, bench, etc. Sense 3 may be uncon- 

nected.] 

1. A loop or twist on a rope or cord, esp. the 

loop of a slip-knot ; a noose. 

1 a 1800 Surv. Moray Gloss. (Jam.), Kinsch, a cross 

rope capped about one stretched along and tightening il. 

1808-80 JAMIESON, Kinsch, the twist or doubling given to 

a cord or rope, by means of a short stick passed through it, 

in order to draw it tighter. 1828 MolR Mansie Wauch 

xix. 280 Having fastened a kinch of ropes beneath her 

oxters. 1844 CROSS Disruption xxviii. (E. D. D.), I hae 

maist got my neck intil a kinch for my pains. 

1861 M'LEVY 

Curios. Crime Edinburgh, Handcuffs 29, 1 put his right hand 

into the kench. 

2. fig. A catch, hold, advantage. ? Obs. 

_ 1635 D. DICKSON Pract. Wks. (1845) I. 78 Everyone seeking 

a kinsh of his neighbour. ? a 1800 Surv. Moray Gloss. 

(Jam.), Kinsch, an advantage unexpectedly obtained. 

t3. ? (One's) lot. Obs. 

a 1600 MONTGOMERIE Cherrie & Slat rr The man may 

ablens tyne a slot That cannot count his kinsch. Sonn. 

xxxvii, I can not chuse; my kinsh is not to cast. 1606 

BIRNIE Kirk-Buriall (tin) ir Our Heroik burials are oft 

led like a martiall . triumphe. But alas, if in death we could 

count our just kinsh, we might rather dismay and feare. 

Hence Kinch v. a. (see quot. 1808-18); b. to 

put a string noose on the tongue of (a horse), in 

order to exercise control over it. 

180818 JAMIESON, To Kinsch, to twist and fasten a rope. 

1864 LATTO Tammas Bodkin xxvi. (E. D. D.), The tooth 

cud be easily pu'd oot by means o a rosety string, kinched 

roon the root o't. 1891 Scot. Leader 17 Apr. 5 Thecruejty 

attached to ' 

Kinching ' 

a . . pit pony to hold that kinching 

in no cases should be resorted to. 

Kinchin (ki-ntjin). Cant. Also 6 (kitohin), 

kynchen, -ching, 7 -chin, 9 kinchen. [The 

form of the word and the history of some other 

, MDu. 

KIND. 

early words of the same class 

suggest that it was 

a corrupt form of G. kindthtn or MLG. kindekin, 

kindeken, LG. kindken, little 

child] 

in kittcf ""-> "nies are sai ; 

a re I" 

,'- ,!' 

"? sln I w ,d, . ?s a kinchen-mort. 1838 DICKENS O. Twist 

xlu, ihe kinchins.. is the young children that's sent on 

errands by their mothers. 1897 P. WARUNG Tales Old 

Kcgime 231 1 here yer are now, making the woman snivel 

and you have frightened her kinchins too. 

2. atlrib. in kinchin-lay, the practice of stealing 

money from children sent on errands. Also fir 

3 D < 

?. 

'. V KENS - Twist xlii ' - agit ,: Hasti *f* '" Burke"* Wks. 

( '52) VII. 23 (Y.) She would ransack the zenanah..for 

Kmcobs, muslins, cloths. 1813 J. FORBES Oriental Mem. 

L?* 4 .5. rawe r s ,f on and gold. Keemcab. ,829 J. 

~ ^ ~j .... *. AAI. KI|J 

kinquaub. 1843 STOCQUELER ^/aarfW. Br,t.India(ilu) 210 

Gold and silver brocades, called Kincaubs. 1881 Cornh. 

Mag. Jan. 103 Shawls, scarves, and pieces of silk and kincob. 

b. atlnb. 

ijit Spcct. (Advt.), One Isabella colour Kincob Gown, 

flowered with Gieen and Gold. 1781 India Gaz. 24 Feb. (Y.), 

A rich Kingcob Waistcoat. 1883 Mus. LYNN LINTON Chr. 

Kir/tland 1. 21 That green shawl with the kincob pattern. 

Kincough, variant of KINKCOUQH. 

Kind(kaind),rf. Forms: [i seeynde, seoynd, 

2-3 i-ounde, i-kunde (2 1-ohinde) ; ] 

i oynd, 

2-4 ounde, 2 ouinde, 3 kuinde, kund, 3-4 

kuynde, kunde, 3-5 kende, (5 keende), 3-6 

kynd, 3-7 kinde, 4-7 kynde, (5 kyyude), 3kiud. 

[OE. gecynde n., gecynd fern, and n., f. ge- 

(see I-, Y-) + *cynd(f-.-*kundi-z, f. the root kun- 

(see KIN 1) + -di-, Aryan -ii-. OE. instances of 

cynd are doubtful, but the prefix disappeared early 

in ME., 1150-1250. 

The only cognate sb. out of Eng. is a doubtful OS 

gicnnd (suggested in Hel. 2476). But the adj. ending, 

Goth, -knnds, OS. -ctind, OHG. -chund, kumi=Q'E. '" 

I'-' 

bijite mine ikunde [1:1275 cundej. Ibid. 21492 Cador cuoe 

bene wsei pe toward his cunde lei. 1340 Ayenb. 37 J>e 

children, .pet hi hef> be spousbreche, berp away pe kende. 

fb. That which naturally belongs to or befits 

one. Of/s. 

c 1470 HENRY Wallacei. 217 Ane Erschemantill it war tin 

kynd to wer. a 1670 SPALDING Troub. Chas. I (Spald. Cl.) 

1. 199 Thay took ane of the tounes cullouris of Abirdein, and 

gave it to the toune of Abirbrothokis soldiouis..quhilk wes 

not thair kynd to cary. 

3. The character or quality derived from birth 

or native constitution ; natural disposition, nature. 

(Common down to ci6oo; in later use rare, and 

blending with sense 4.) 

c888 K. ALFRED Boeth. xxxiv. u pa stanas. .sint stillre 

gecynde & heardre. Ibid. xxxv. 4 gif hio hire cynd 

[Bodl. MS. gecynd] healdan wille. f 1175 Lamb. Horn. 51 

153

KIND. 

pis fi s is of swulc cunde, bet [etc.]. c IKXJ UKMIN 3075 

Marwss child was* mann & Godd, An had i twinne kinde. 

a 11.5 Ancr. R. 120 He uorleoseS monnes kunde, & .. uorschuppeS 

him into bestes kunde. CIICD Gen. t, Ex. 189 

And euerilc on in kinde good, Dor quiles adam fro sinne 

stod. a 1300 Cursor kind o 

^..8452 

thinges he 

Jerd 

be Godnede ana manneuc. t i*yi w. ^ 

,2 In some men the bodely is febhd 

kynde by a soden 

heuynes. a 1547 SURREY On Lady refusing to dance m 

Tottelfs Misc. (Arb.) 219 My kinde is to desire the honoure 

of the field. io SPENSER F. Q. n. ii. 36 But young 

Perissa was of other mynd. .And quite contrary to her sisters 

kynd. 1697 DRYDEN Virg. Gtorg. II. 326 Sweet Grapes 

degen'rate there, and Fruits . . renounce their Kind. 1784 

COWPER Tirx. 6 Th' associate of a mind Vast in its pow rs, 

ethereal in its kind. 1857 BUCKLE Civilis. I. via. For 

52.4 

as to the men themselves, they merely acted after their kind. 

tb. Of his (own) kind: by its (own) nature, 

of itself, naturally. Obs. rare. 

1399 LANGL. Rich. Redeles m. 19 pis beste, of his kinde, 

Sccheth and sercheth { schrewed wormes. 1530 RASTELL 

Bk. Purgal. n. x, The soule shall .. perceyve of hys owne 

kynde. 1578 LYTE Dodotns n. Ix. 227 Hyssope groweth 

not of his owne kinde in this countrey. 1610 SHAKS. Temp, 

n. L 163 Nature should bring forth, Of it owne kinde, all 

foyzon. 

f C. To do (or laorK) one ! kind: To act accord- 

ing to one's nature ; 

to do what is natural to one ; 

spec, to perform the sexual function. Obs. 

c lajo Hali Meid. 25 Leasse ben beastes ?et, for beos doS 

hare cunde. .in a time of be ?er. 1197 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 

6576 pat water dude uorb is kunde & was euere uaste. 

Ibid. 8353 Mid wimmen of painime hii dude hor foule 

kunde. 1:1430 Hymns Virg. 83 pe kinde of childhode 

y dide also, Wib my felawis to fi?te and brete. 

1554^9 

Songs t Ball. (1860) i Fortune worketh but her kynde, To 

make the joyfull dolorus.

KIND. 

' 

a thing of this kind '. For the history of this, see 

KIN i 6 b. 

As the original genitive phrase was in attrib. relation to 

the 

following sb., the natural tendency is still to treat all 

kindof, no kind of,whut kindof,ttc. (like ME. alkin, nakin, 

who/kin), and, hence also, the simple kind of (co\\oq. kind 

o', kind a, kintier), as an attrib. or adj. phrase qualifying 

the sb. Hence the uses in b, c, d. 

CI470 K. Estmere 193 in Percy's RcL, He lett for 

no kind of thyng. 15.. Sir Andrew Barton xxxviii. in 

Surtees Misc. (1888) 74 They came fore noe kind of thinge, 

But Sir Andrewe Barton they would see. a 1548 HALL 

Chron. , Hen. VII 3 b, A newe kynde of sickncs came sodenly 

.. into this Isle. - 27 You..gaue 

me wordis curteyse and kynde. 1670 EARL ANGLESEY in 

i2//( Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 15 My sonne is at 

Newmarket . . or else would acknowledge your Ladyship's 

kind mention of him. 1779-81 JOHNSON L. P., Milton Wks. 

II. 

134 Paradise Lost broke into open view with sufficient 

security of kind reception. 1846 TENNYSON in Mem. (1807) 

239 Your kind letter gave me very sincere pleasure. 

6. Of persons, their actions, etc. : Affectionate, 

heir, tenant, etc.). Cf. KINDLY a. 3. 

a looo Boeth. Metr. i. 6 Gotan . . haefdan him gecynde 

cyningas twegen. a noo O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1014, 

Him nan leofre hlaford naere bonne heora gecynde hlaford. 

1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 6429 pe kunde eirs to bitraye. c 1320 

Sir Beues (MS. A) 1398 Ariseb vp..And wolcomeb ;our 

kende lord, c 1440 Bone Flor. 1259 And crowne Mylys my 

brodur . . For kyndyst heyre ys hee. 

f b. Native = KINDLY a. ; 3 b. Also with to. 

rare. Obs. 

1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 851 Many kundemen of bis lond 

Mid king Leir hulde also. Ibid. 937 be kunde vole of (*= 

lond adde to horn onde. 1375 BARBOUR Bruce ix. 448 Thai 

war kynde to the cuntre. 

t c. Having a specified character loving, 

by nature, or 

a specified status by birth ; by birth, natural, born. 

fond ; on intimate terms. Also euphemistically. 

Now rare exc. dial. 

1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 724 pine sostren ssolle^ abbe al, vor 

hor herte is so kunde, & pou ssalt vor bin vnkundhede be 

out of al min munde. c 1330 Will. Palerne 3474 Wib 

clipping & kessing & alle kinde dedus. 1526 Pilfr. Per/. 

(W. de W. 1531) 4b, If they had ben kynde & louynge to 

god. 1594 CONSTABLE Diana vin. i, Women are kind by 

kind, but coy by fashion. 1698 FRYER Ace. E. India

KIND. 

1563 Homilies II. Time of Prayer i. (1850) 339 He should 

declare himself thankful and kind, for all those benefits. 

1610 B. JONSON Alck. v. iv, Sob. Why doe you not thanke 

her Grace ? Dap. I cannot speake, for ioy. Sob. See, the 

kind wretch ! 1877 JV. W. Line. Gloss, s. v., I'm very kind 

to Mrs . 'cause she sent me them coals i' th' winter. 

8. dial, or techn. Soft, tender; easy to work. 

1747 W HOOSON Miners Diet. Uijb, We drive at the 

Vein Head in the first Place, because there it is likely 

that the Vein may be the most Kind or Lcppey. 1828 

Craven Dial., Kind, soft. 

' As kind as a glove.' Kindharlid, 

soft-haired. 1831 J. HOLLAND Manuf. Metal I. 

243 To distinguish between hard and kind steel, that is, 

between steel that has been more or less carbonated. 1848 

KEARY in Jrnl. R. Agric. Sac. IX. n. 429 

Breeders .. are 

now alive to the 

fully importance of kind hair and good flesh 

in a feeding beast. 1883 GRESLEY Gloss. Coal Mining 147 

Kind generally signifies tender, soft, or easy to work. 

III. 1O. Asadv. = KINDLY. (Here perh. belongs 

.} Now colloq. or vulgar. 

the phr. to take it kind 1 

1607 SHAKS. Timon l.'ii. 225, I take all, and your seuerall 

visitations So kinde to heart. 17*5 RAMSAY Gent. Sheph. 

I. i, Ye . . wha have sae kind Redd up my ravel'd doubts. 

1750 H. WALPOLE Lett. (1845) II. 354 He took it 

mighty 

kind. 1781 JOHNSON 3 June in Boswell, Tell him, if he'll 

call on me.. I shall take it kind. 1800 MRS. HERVEY 

Mourtray Fam. III. 102 AH this would be mighty well .. 

if Lady C. behaved kind and tenderly to you. 1849 DICKENS 

' ' 

Dav . Copp. xlii, How kind he puts it ! said Uriah. 

IV. 11. Comb., as kind-minded, -tempered, 

-thoughted, -witted; kind-contending; kind-cruel. 

1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. xn. 109 Namore kan a kynde witted 

man . . Come for al his kynde witte to crystendome and be 

saued. 1591 SYLVESTER Du Bartas i. vi. 48 Pierc't with 

glance of a kinde-cruell eye. 1727-46 THOMSON Summer 

39 The kind-temper'd change of night and day. 1728-46 

Spring 506 The thrush And woodlark o'er the kindcontending 

throng Superior heard. 1858 FABER Spir. 

Confer. (1870) 25 The kind-thoughted man has no. .selfimportance 

to push. 

t Kind, v. Obs. rare. 

1. f. [app. prec. adj.] trans. 1 To treat kindly. 

a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 112 The . . hynde whanne the 

moder of other bestis be slaine, yet wolle she gladly of her 

gentille nature norishe the yonge-.and kindithe hem title 

they may susteine hem selff. 

2. [f. KIND sb.] In fa. pple. Sprung, begotten. 

? pseudo-arch. 

1596 SPENSER F. Q. v. v. 40 Not borne Of Beares and Tygres, 

nor so salvage mynded As that.. She yet forgets that she 

of men was kynded. 

Kindcough, erron. variant of KiNKCotiGH. 

t Ki-nded, a. rare. [f. KIND sb. + -ED 2.] In 

comb. Of (such a) kind, as lean-kinded. 

1601 J. HARRINGTON Let. in Monthly Rev. XLII. 55 Many 

lean kmded beastes and some not unhorned. 

Kinder = kind : of see KIND sb. 14 d. 

Kindergarten (ki-ndaigaut'n). [a. Ger. 

' 

Kindergarten, lit. children's garden '.] A school 

for the instruction of young children according 

to a method devised by Friedrich Frobel (1782- 

1852), for developing the intelligence of children 

by interesting object-lessons, exercises with toys, 

games, singing, etc. 

. . 

_(' Johannes Range took refuge in England in 1850, and, 

with the assistance of his wife, established at his house 

a kinder-garten.' Allibone Diet. Authors.) 

1852 MOTLEY Corr. (1889) I. v. 145 Mary has not yet found 

a school. We have sent her to a kindergarten. 1854 Rep. 

to Governor of Connecticut in Encyd. Brit. XIV. 80 The 

first kindergarten was opened at Blankenburg, near Rudolstadt, 

in 1840. 1855 RONGE (title) Practical Guide to the 

English Kinder Garten. 1878 N. Amer. Rev. CXXVI. 

370 Such as would be of use in a Kindergarten. 

Hence Ki-nderga rteu, -ga rtenize vis., to employ 

the kindergarten method ; Kindergartener 

-gartner), a kindergarten teacher ; Kimderga rtenism, 

the kindergarten system. 

1872 Daily ffmvs i Aug., You have been reading that article 

on Kinder Gartenism. [1881 FITCH Led. Teaching 198 Your 

thorough going Kindergartner.] 1889 Jrnl. Educ. i Aug. 

410/2 A band of kindergarteners who teach them the rudiments 

of education. 1893 J. STRONG New Era xv. 340 

There is. .no sectarian way of kindergartening. 

obs. variants of KILDERKIN. 

Kinderkin(d, 

t Ki-ndhead. Obs. rare. Forms : see KIND a. 

[f. KIND a. + -HEAD.] a. Kinship, b. Kindness. 

1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 756 pe king of scotlonde vor reube 

& for kundhede [v. rr. kundede, kyndehede, kuyndhede] 

Hym nom to hym in to his hows. Ibid. 10589 Heyemen 

of engelond..Vor kundede hor herte to kinit henry here. 

Ibid. 11834 Vor kundede of blode. 

Kind-hearted, a. [KIND a. n.] Having 

naturally a kind disposition. 

1535 COVERDALE Song 3 Childr. 67 O geue thankes therfore 

vnto y> Lorde : for he is kynde halted. ci6oo SHAKS. 

SOHH.lt, Be., gracious and kind, Or to thy selfe at least kind 

harted proue. 1681 DRYDEN Pro!. Univ. Oxford 6 Of our 

sisters, all the kinder-hearted [are] To Edenburgh gone. 1787 

biR I. HAWKINS Johnson 336 He was by nature a friendly 

and kind-hearted man. 1860 G. H. K. in Vac. Tour. 116 

Donald, kindest-hearted and keenest of stalkers. 

Hence Kindhea-rtedneas. 

1583 GoLDiNG Calvin on Deut. Ii. 303 That God had no 

pitie nor kindeheartednesse. a 1735 ARBUTHNOT Gulliver 

Decypherd Misc. Wks. 1751 1. 84 Noted for her kindheartedness 

to her Husband's Patients. 1896 ANNE ELLIOTT Ld. 

Harborough\\. 264 All this gratified her importance .. and 

also her kindheartedness. 

tKindlaik. 

Kindness. 

Obs. rare. 

[f. KIND a. + -LAIK.] 

700 

n 1400-50 Alexander 2718 Quat bounte bou shewis, Quat 

curtassy & kyndlaike I ken alto-gedire. 

Kindle (krnd'l), sb. Forms : 3 kundel, pi. 

-les, 4 //. kyndles, -(e)lis, 5 -yll, kindtl, 7, 9 

kindle. [Appears in early ME. (along with the 

cognate KINDLE z>. 2 ) : app. a deriv. of cynd-, stem 

olwcynd, KIND sb. Cf. G. kind child.] 

f 1. a. The young (of any animal), a young one. 

b. collect. A brood or litter (of kittens). Obs. 

c 1220 Bestiary (Elephant) 620 Danne }e sal hire kindles 

beren, In water 3e sal stonden. a 1225 Ancr. R. 82 Heo is 

neddre kundel. Ibid. 200 pe Neddre of attri Onde haue[o] 

seoue kundles. r 1380 WYCLIF Wks. (1880)2 Joon baptist 

and crist clepede hem ypocritis and serpentis and addir 

kyndles. 1486 Bk. St. Albans Fvj, A Litter of welpis, a 

kyndyll of yong Cattis. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury ii. 132/1 

[A company of] Cats [is] a Kindle. [An error of Holme.] 

2. In kindle (of a hare) : 

With young. 

1877 Daily Nevjs 23 July 2 A fine hare, and.. a doe in 

kindle. Mod. Advt. 3 pure Belgian hare does, in kindle. 

Kindle (ki-nd'l), vl Forms : a. 3 kundlen, 

kindlen, (Orm. kinudlenu), 3-5 kindel(l, kyndel(l, 

-il(l, -yl(l, (4 kinl-, kynl-), 5-6 kyndle, 

5- kindle (mod.Sc. kynnle, kinnle). /3. 4-6 

keudyl, (6 Sc. -yll), 5-6 Se. -ill. [app. 

f. ON. 

kynd-a to kindle (trans, and intr.) + -LE : cf. ON. 

kyndill a candle, torch.] 

In most of the senses up may be added as an intensive. 

1. trans. To set fire to, set on fire, ignite, light 

(a flame, fire, or combustible substance). 

c 1200 ORMIN 16135 Hat lufess fir..Iss kinndledd i batt 

herrte. 0:1300 E. E. Psalter xvii. 9 Koles. . Kindled ere of 

himglouand. 1:1300 Havelokgis Stickes kan ich breken 

and kraken, And kindlen ful wel a fyr. 1388 WYCLIF 

Judg. xv. 4 He . . boond brondis in the myddis, whiche he 

kyndlid with fier. ciqj$Raiare In 

lacob. 1495 Trevisa's Earth. De P. R. xvii. iv. (W. de W.) 

606 Gleymy fatnesse . . of this tree Abies kyndly th full soone 

and brennyth wyth lyght leyle. a 1533 LD. BERNERS Gold. 

Bk. M, Aurel. (1546) P iij b, In great thycke and dry busshes, 

the fyres kendle moste easyly. 1679 BEDLOE Popish Plot 15 

They know not how it [a fire] came to kindle there. 1719 

YOUNG Btisiris n. i, Think not, Mandane, this a sudden start ; 

A flash of love, that kindles and expires. 1820 W. IRVING 

Sketch Bk. I. 45 A spark of heavenly fire.. which kindles 

up and blazes in the hour of adversity. 1848 C. BRONTE 

7. Eyre xii, My eye. .caught a light kindling in a window. 

3. Jig. trans. &. To inflame, excite, rouse, inspire 

(a passion or feeling). 

a 1300 Cursor M. 6791 And sal mi wrath be kindeld sua. 

^1380 WYCLIF Set. Wks. II. 240 pis wolde kyndele oonhede 

and love, a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 64 It is the synne 

of pride, and engenderithe and kendelithe lechery. 1547-8 

Ordre of Commvnion 9 We kyndle Gods wrathe ouer vs. 

1638 Penit. Conf. yiii. (1657) ^35 Kindling in his heart faith, 

whereby he is justified. 1759 ROBERTSON Hist. Scot. n. Wks. 

1813 I. 145 The protestant army, whenever it came, kindled 

or spread the ardour of reformation. 1874 GREEN Short 

Hist. iii. | 5. 141 The wholesale pillage kindled a wide 

spirit of resistance. 

b. To inflame, fire, excite, stir up (a person, the 

mind, etc.) ; to make ardent or eager. Const. 

t in (f of), to, or with inf. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 19436 (Colt.) Eth es to kindel bat es 

kene. c 1340 Ibid. 15390 (Trin.) Of al venym and of envye 

ful kyndeled he was. 1440 Pol. Rel. q- L. Poems (ed. 2) 

227/620 Kindele bou me in charitee. a 1547 SURREY SEneid 

ii. 131 This kindled us more egre to enquire. 1600 SHAKS. 

A. Y. L. i. i. 179 Nothing remaines, but that I kindle the 

boy thither. 1657 TRAPP Comm, Nehem. i. 4 These good 

men . . by mutual confidence kindle one another. 1775 JOHN- 

SON Tax.no Tyr.il Some discontented Lord., would., have 

quickly kindled with equal heat a troop of followers. 1824 

BYRON Juan xvi. xii, The thrilling wires Died from the 

touch that kindled them to sound. 1871 R. ELLIS Catullus 

xvi. 9 It shall kindle as icy thought to courage. 

c. To arouse or give rise to (fcare, trouble, 

etc. (obs.), war, strife). 

a 1300 Cursor M. 24149 Ye luus bat kindeld all bis care. 

1325 Metr. Horn. 37 Thai kindel baret wit bacbiting. 

c 1470 Golagros 4- Gaw. 1121 It semyt be thair contenance 

that kendillit wes care. 1513 DOUGLAS JEneis ix. viii. 99 

As scho thus kyndillis sorow and wo. 1567 Satir. Poems 

Reform, xi. 48 Throw the is kendlit ciuil weir. 1761 HUME 

Hist. Eng. II. xxix. 151 He took measures for kindling a 

war with England. 1764 GOLDSM. Hist. Eng. in Lett. 

(1772) I. 95 The wars that were now kindled up between 

England and France. 1847 MRS. A. KERR Hist. Servia 

312 Time_ was gained for kindling the revolution in the 

neighbouring districts. 

KINDLER. 

4. intr. a. Of passion or feeling (fcare or 

to be excited. 

trouble) : To rise, to be aroused, 

c 1340 Cursor M. 6791 (Trin.) penne shal my wreche kyndel 

[other MSS. be kindeld]. a 1352 MINOT in Pol. Poems (Rolls) 

I. 62 Rough-fute riveling, now kindels thi care, a 1400-50 

Alexander 2724 Myn angire on bine arrogance sail at pe 

last kindill. 1508 DUNBAR Tua. Mariit Wemen 94 Quhen 

kissis me that carybald, than kyndillis all my sorow. 1788 

GIBBON Decl. .] 

Of a female animal : To bring forth, give birth to 

(young). Also/. 

c 1220 Bestiary 16 Wanne he is ikindled Stille US Se leun. 

i22j Ancr. K. 328 Euerich on [sin] kundle3 more and 

wurse kundles ben be sulue moder. a 1300 E. E. Psalter 

vii. 15 Bihald, he kyneld \v. r. kineled] un-rightwisnesse, Onfang 

sorwe and bare wickednesse. 1579-80 NORTH Plutarch 

(1895) III. 275 A rat was taken full of young, and kendled 

five young rats in the trappe. 1600 SHAKS. A. Y. L. in. ii. 

358 As the Conie that you see dwell where shee is kindled. 

1725 BRADLEY Fain. Diet. s. v. Rabbit. When a Doe has 

kinnell d one Nest, and then kinnell'd another, the first must 

be taken from her. 

b. absol. ;Of hares or rabbits.) 

c 1310 Prophecy (MS. Harl. 2253) in Thomas Erceld. (1875) 

Introd. 18 When hares kendles obe herston. 1486 Bk. St. 

Albans E iij, Now of the hare . . Other while he is male. . 

And other while female and kyndelis by kynde. 1530 

PALSGR. 598/2 A konny kyndylleth every moneth in the 

yere. 1614 MARKHAM Cheap Husb. (1623) 131 The Females 

[of Rabbits or Conies] after they have kindled, hide their 

young ones. 1781 W. BLANE Ess. Hunt. (1788) 102 The 

Doe makes choice of some thick dry brake.. to kindle in. 

1810 Treat. Live Stock 170 (E. D. D.) The males or bucks 

should be parted from the does, or females, till the latter 

kindle. 1828 Craven Dial., Kinnle, to bring forth young. 

t c. intr. To be born. Obs. rare, 

a 1400-50 Alexander 696 pat euer he kyndild [Dubl. MS. 

come] of his kynde kend he bot litill. 

t Ki-ndle-coal. Obs. [f. KINDLE z.i + COAL.] 

A kindler of strife a mischief-maker. Cf. ; next. 

1632 SHERWOOD, Kindle-cole (or stirre-suit). 1635 R. N. 

Camdens Hist. Eliz. iv. an. 42. 534 Essex . . hearkened to 

Cuffe and other kindle-coles of sedition. 1650 HUBBERT 

Pill Formality 5 Art thou a kindle-coal and an incendiary ? 

165^ GuRNALLCAf. inArtn. 1. 175 In these civil wars among 

Saints, Satan is the great kindle-coal. 

Obs. [f. as prec. + FIBE. Cf. 

i Kindle-fire. 

F. = boute-feu.] KINDLE-COAL. 

1601 DANIEL Civ. Wars vi. xiii, Warwick.. The fatall 

kindle-fire of those hot daies. 1613-18 Coll. Hist. ng. 

(1626)42 The Bishop .. became the onely kindle-fire to set 

them alt into more furious combustion. l6s5GuRNALLC^r. 

in Arm. xxv. 4 Such a kindlefire sin is that the flames it 

kindles fly. .from one nation to another. 

Kindler (ki-ndlaj). [f. KINDLE v. 1 + -EB 

i.J 

1. Onewho kindles one who ; sets anything on fire. 

a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 54 Delycious metes and 

drinkes-.kindelers of the brondes of lecherye. 1483 Cath. 

Angl. 203/2 A kyndyller, incensor, incendiarius . 1600 

FAIRFAX Tasso XVIH. Ixxxv, A sudden .. blast The flames 

against the kindlers backward cast. 1726 CAVALLIER Mem. 

I. 99 They discover 'd great Fires every where, but cou'd

KINDLESS. 

not find out the Kindlers of them. 1821 BYRON- Diary in 

yuan i. cxiv. note (Wks. 1846), The kindler of this dark 

lantern. 

2. One who or that which inflames, incites, or 

stirs up. 

1577-87 HOLINSHED Chron. III. 184/2 The sedition (whereof 

he hunselfe had beene no small kindler). 1639 J. CORBET 

Ungird. Scot. Ann. 27 Be not the kindlers of this unlawful! 

war. 1714 GAY Trivia in. 3 2r Kindlers of riot, enemies 

of sleep. 1878 N. Amer. Rev. CXXVII. 497 The kindler 

of endless wars. 

3. Something that 

a fire. 

will kindle 

readily, used for 

lighting 

1851 S. JUDD Margaret ii, Put some kindlers under the 

pot 1854 KNIGHT Once upon a Time II. 276 In those days 

there was a bundle of green sticks called a kindler, which 

no power but that of the bellows could make burn. 

b. An arrangement to assist in kindling the fire 

in a stove (Knight Diet. Meek. 1875). 

Kindless (ksi-ndles), a. [t KIND sb. + -LESS.] 

fl. Without natural power, affection, feeling, 

etc. ; unnatural. Obs. rare. 

c I200ORMIN 2 3IO EIysabab..patt tawass swibe winntredd 

wif, And kmdelss to tajmenn. 1599 PEELE David f, Bcthsabe 

Wks. (Rtldg.) 466/2 Amnon's lusty arms Sinew'd with 

vigour of his kindless love. 1602 SHAKS. Ham. n. ii. 609 

Remorselesse, Treacherous, Letcherous, kindles villaine ! 

2. [As if f. KIND a.] Devoid of kindness, rare. 

1847 Graham's Mag. Mar., Calculated to draw out their 

true nature, whether it were kind or kindless. 1881 G. 

MACDONALD Mary Marston xxxvii, It was a sad, gloomy, 

kindless November night. 1887 SWINBURNE Locrine m. ii. 

75 One that had No thought less kindly toward even thee 

that art Kindiess than best beseems a kinsman's part. 

Hence Kl ndlessly adv., without affection. 

1883 R W. DIXON Mano I. xi. 32, 1 was . . by my parents 

kindlessly designed To marry one whom fate my equal 

made. 

Kindlily(k3i-ndlili),o. (1856) 111.544, I have taken very kind- 

lily to every thing in Holland. 1842 LONGF. in Life (1891) 

I. 441 He thanks you most kindlily for your poems. 1868 

Contemp Rev VIII. 6ro The golden chain linking it closely 

but kindlily with all that has gone before. 

Krndliuess. as [f. prec. + -NESS.] 

1. The quality or habit of being kindly, b. with 

pi. An instance of this, a kindly deed. 

c 1440 Promp. Parv. 271/2 Kendlynesse of a gentyl herte . . 

, 

gratiiiido. x6i NORTON & SACKV. Gorlodnc i. i, In kinde 

a father, not m kindlinesse. 1645 MILTON Tetrach. Wks. 

(1847) 185/2 (Gen. ii. 24>The fleshly act indeed may continue, 

but.. more ignoble than that mute kindliness among the 

herds and flocks. 1791 BOSWELL Johnson 17 Apr. an. 1778, 

A kindliness of disposition very rare at an advanced age. 

1883 BLACK Shandon Bells xxxi, Their life. .was. .full of 

cheering activities and kindlinesses. 

2. Mildness or amenity (of climate or season) 

favourable to vegetation. 

1654 WHITLOCK Zootomia 427 Fruits, and Corn are 

much advanced by temper of the Aire, and Kindlinesse of 

Seasons 1794 G. ADAMS Nat. .2] 

1. The bringing forth of young. 

c 1440 Promp. Parv. 275/2 Kenlynge, or forthe bryngyng 

of yonge beestys (A*, kindeling, P. kyndlinge),./^ra. 1725 

BRADLEY Fam. Diet. s. v. Rabbit, The Tame [Coneys] at 

one Kindling, bringing forth more than the Wild do. ^ 

2. a. collect. A brood or litter; progeny, issue. 

b. iing. One of a brood or litter a ; young animal. 

| 

701 

wich is this addres kyndlyng. 1324 

the Apostate. 1781 W. BLANE Ess. Hunt. (1788) 103 The 

three Leverets were the most in number I ever saw, that in 

appearance were the same Kindling. 

Kindling (ki-ndlin), ppl. a. 

[f. KINDLE z>.i] 

That kindles, in senses of the vb. (chiefly intr.). 

1483 Cath. A ngl. 203/2 Kyndyllynge, incendens. 1728-46 

THOMSON Spring 184 Swift fancy .. Beholds the kindling 

country colour round. 1791 COWPER Iliad u. 1 13 A kindling 

rumour .. Impelled them. 1810 SCOTT Lady of L. in viii 

Before the kindling pile. 1833 HT. MARTINEAU Vanderput 

added the pastor, gravely meeting the 

,*. s ;,. ' l8 ' ês ' 

kindling eyes of Christian. 

Hence Ki-ndling-ly adv. 

. 1885 G. MEREDITH Diana III. viii. 137 Man's nuptial half 

is kindhngly concerned in the launch of a new couple 

Kindly (kai-ndli), a. Forms : see KIND. [OE. 

ycyndelic, l.gecynde, KIND + -Me, -LY i.] 

I. 

Pertaining to nature or birth. 

1 1. Natural, in various senses. Obs. a. That is, 

exists or takes place according to natural laws ; 

consonant or congruent with nature ; natural, 

as opposed to artificial = ; KIND a. I a. 

C888 K. ALFRED Boeth. xxxix. i Hwy ne magon ge 

Sebidon Recyndelices deaoes. c 1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 90 Swa 

bait bast blod ne mat fornicacion 

es na dedly hot a kyndely thing. Ibid, xviii. 82 Simulacres 

er ymages made to be liknes of sum thing |>at es kyndely. 

1496 Dives tf Paup. (W. de W.) i. xlvii. 88/2 It is a kyndly 

thynge in somer tyme to thondre. a 1547 SURREY SEneid 

iv. 929 Neither by lot of destiny Nor yet by kindly death 

she perished. 1607 TOPSELL Four-/. Beasts (1658) 130 The 

whole estate of kindly hunting consisteth principally in 

these two points, in chasing the beast that is in hunting, 

or in taking the bird that is in fowling. 

t b. Implanted by nature; innate ; inherent in 

the nature of a person or thing = ; KIND a. i b. 

971 BlicH. Horn. 7 Seo gecyndelice hstu . . sestilleb on be. 

1340 HAMPOLE Pr. Consc. 2003 pe dede fra a man his mynd 

reves And na kyndely witte with hym leves. 1480 CAXTON 

Descr. Brit. 14 It accordeth better to kendly reson, 1587 

GOLDING De AFomay i. 9 To loue company, and to clad 

himself.., (which tilings wee esteeme to be verie kindlie). 

1590 SPENSER /'. i. iii. Q. 28 The earth shall sooner leave 

her kindly skil To bring forth fruit.. Then I leave you. 

1607 SHAKS. Timon n. ii. 226 'Tis lacke of kindely warmth, 

they are not kinde. 

f c. Naturally belonging to or connected with 

a person or thing ; own, proper, suitable; = KIND 

a. i c. Const, for, to. Obs. 

c 888 K. /ALFRED Booth, xiv. 2 pincS him genoj on . . Jam 

fodre te him gecyndelic biS. a 1300 Cursor M. 1912 pe 

beist thoght selcut.li god pat bai hade raght bair kindle fode. 

1387-8 T. USK Test. Love Prol. (Skeat) 1. 36 Lette frenchernen 

in their frenche also enditen their queinte termes, for 

it is kyndely to their mouthes. c 1400 Destr. Troy 2412 

Thou shalbe wisest of wit. . And know all the conyng, J>at 

kyndly is for men. 1470-85 MALORY Arf/turxix. x, Here : 

we muste begynne at kynge Arthur,- as is kyndely to be- 

gynne at hym that was the mpost man of . . worshyp at that 

tyme. a 1586 SIDNEY Arcadia in. (1627) 350 Doe you not i 

know that daintinesse is kindly vnto vs? 

16^7 WARD Simp. I 

Cobler 69 Ropes and hatchets are not the kindliest instruments 

to set it. 1674 N. FAIRFAX Bulk 4- Selv. 79 The 

kindliest attribute of time, which is successiveness in abiding, j 

1727 BRADLEY Fam. Diet. s. v. Cheese, The Season of the j 

Year denies a kindly Drying or Hardening thereof. 

J5y'i 

Irel. 12 Trywly with hym for to hold frome f>at tym forward, 

as har kyndly lord. 

15x3 MORE Rich. Ill, Wks. 67^2 As 

though the killing of his kinsmen could., make him a kindly 

king. 1548 UDALL, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. v. 44 To be the 

kyndely children of the heauenly father. 1563 Sc. Acts 

Alary c. 13 Nakyndlie lauchfull possessour tennent or occu- 

pyar of ony of the saidis Kirk landis be remouit fra thair 

kyndelie rowme. 1600 Rental in Orig. Paroch. Scot. (1851) 

: requital! 

| 

, whom 

KINDLY. 

1.517 [The teinds of the parish of Lintoun] quhairof my Lord 

of Mortoun is kyndlie takisman. 

1773 ERSKINE Inst. Law 

icott. n. vi. 37 A rental is a particular species of tack 

now seldom used, granted by the landlord, for a low or 

favourable tack-duty, to those who are either presumed to 

be lineal successors to the ancient possessors of the land, or 

the proprietor designs to gratify as such : and the 

lessees are usually styled rentallers, or kindly tenants. 

1816 SCOTT Old Mart, vii, Your service is not gratuitous 

I trow ye hae land for it. Ye're kindly tenants. 1879 HEARN 

Aryan Hovseh. 73 He must be a genuine or kindly son 

one born in lawful marriage. 

trans/ 1786 MACKENZIE Lounger No. 87 F 4 It was 

tenanted by kindly daws and swallows. 

b. Native-born = ; KIND a. 3 b. arch. 

1820 SCOTT Monast. iii, God keep Jhe kindly Scot from the 

cloth-yard shaft, and he will keep himself from the handy 

stroke. ? a 1833 Otterburn in Child Ballads III. 300 Let 

never living mortal ken That ere a kindly Scot lies here. 

II. Characterized by good nature. 

4. Of good nature or natural qualities ; excellent 

of its kind ; of a good sort ; in good condition, 

thriving; goodly. Cf. KIND a. 4. arch, or dial. 

Quot. r548-g is doubtful ; some take it in sense i. 

c 1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) vii. 26 Balme bat es kyndely and 

gude es njt clere and jalow. 1541 R. COPLAND Galyetis 

rerapeut. 2 A lij b, It behoueth than that the sayd flesshe be 

kyndely. 1548^9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Litany, To geue 

and preserue to our use the kyndly fruytes of the earth. 

1574 R. SCOT Hop Card. (1578) 9 The good and the 

kindely Hoppe beareth a great and a greene stalke. 

1697 DAMPIER Voy. (1729) I. 419 The fattest and kindliest 

Beef, that I did ever taste. 1772 Ann. Reg. 106/2 What the 

graziers call a kindly sheep ; 

one that has always an inclination 

to feed. 1772-84 COOK Voy. (1790) IV. 1222 There is a 

large plain, .producingathick, kindly grass. 1887 i. Chesh. 

Gloss., Kindly, . . ' 

healthy. My plants binna very kindly.' 

5. Of persons: Having a friendly benevolent dis- 

position; kind-hearted, good-natured. Hence also 

of character, feelings, actions, etc. Cf. KIND a. 5. 

1570 LEVINS Manip. 100/14 Kyndly, benignus. 1606 SHAKS. 

Ant.

KINDNESS. 

UIC IUIIC5 illC ticcut. /J*'-'' ' 

' 

7 . ,, i ... ~i 

(1771) 2TO The Suppuration proceeding kindly, the Wound 

became a simple Wound. 1841 J. AITON Domest. hcon. 

(1857) 107 The butter and the cheese.. are kindliest dealt 

with at home. 

c. In an easy, natural way ; readily ; con- 

genially; spontaneously. Now dial, or colloq. 

14 Sir Seues(UK. M) 95/1917 He gaue hym adynt than, 

His sworde so kyndly yode, That at the breste the dynt 

stode. c 1400 Destr. Troy 8601 Thay knew hym full kyndly 

be caupe of his sworde. 1563 HYLL /Irt Garden. (1593) 5 

Every ground doth not kindlie bring up Garden hearbes. 

1658 MANTON Exf. Jutie verse 2 As we say of children that 

lake the dug kindly, thty will thrive and do well enough. 

1793 SMEATON Edystone L. 259 The ground chain now 

came in kindly. 1886 Sat. Rev. 6 Mar. 327/2 One often 

hears it said, ' 

Such and such an animal knows So-and-so 

the moment he gets up, and always goes kindly with him '. 

td. Properly; thoroughly, exactly. 06s. 

1340 HAMPOLE/V. Cause. 221 If hehym-seif knewkyndely, 

He suld haf knawyng of God almyghty. 13.. E. E. AIM. 

P. B. 319 Awyndow wyd In be compas of a cubit kyndely 

sware. 1361 LANGL. P. PI. A. vi. 29. 1 knowe him as kuyndeliche 

as Clerk dob his bokes. 1401 Pal. Poems (Rolls) II. 

65 Sichasben gaderid in couemis togidere . . this clepe we 

monasticall, that kendly is knowun. 1591 SHAKS. Rom. ff 

Jut. it. iv. 50 Rom. Meaning to cursie. Mer. Thou hast 

most kindly nit it. 

IT. 2. With natural affection, affectionately, lovingly; 

with sympathy, benevolence, or good nature. 

c 1150 Gen. t, Ex. 2500 He it for-gaf hem mildelike, And 

luuede hem allekinde-like. c 1350 Witt, Palerne 1613 Eiber 

ober keste kindeliche bat time, c 1400 Destr. Trey 657 The 

Knight was curias, ' 

& kendly hesaide : Most louesom lady, 

your lykyng be done 1' 1535 COVEHDALE Bible Prol., How 

kyndly and fatherly he [God) helpeth the. 1600 SHAKS. 

A. Y. L. i. i. 144, 1 thanke thee for thy loue to me, which. . I 

will most kindly requite. 1611 BIBLE Gen. 1. 21 Hee comforted 

them, and spake kindly vnto them. 1697 DAMPIF.H 

Voy. I. 52, I was aboard twice or thrice, and very kindly 

a 1400-50 Alexander 1982 Token be to knaw my kyndnes 

here-eftir Bath my grace & my glon & my grete strenthe. 

Ibid. 4700 All joure lefing & joure lare, at je so loude prayse, 

702 

It comis bot of a kyndnes, & of na clene thewys. 1674 N. 

FAIRFAX Bulk f, Selv. 17 Either we want a kindness for the 

business, .or else that we want respect enough for the Author. 

b. Good natural quality or aptitude. 

1834-43 SOUTHEY Doctor cxliii. (1848) 367/1 Kindness of 

disposition in a beast, importing in their language, that it 

fattens soon. 1875 Encycl. Brit. I. 171/1 A good loaf should 

have kindness of structure, being neither chaffy, nor flaky, 

nor crummy, nor sodden. 

4. The quality or habit of being kind kind 

; 

nature or disposition, or the exhibition of this in 

action or conduct. 

c 1350 Will. Pnlerne 321 [They] ban al kindenes me kyd, 

& y ne kan hem jelde. 1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) iv. 

xx. 66 Is there in the no drope of kyndenesse ? 1513 MORK 

in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 757 The common people, which 

oftentymes more esteme, and take for great kindnesse a little 

courtesye then a great benefite. 1567 Gude Godlie B. 

 

men bote lyte!. 1483 Cath. Angl. 303 '2 A kynredynge 

cognactOi consattguenitas, geneolagia [etc.], 1587 GOLDING 

De Mornay xvi. 253 The kinred that is betweene all men, 

deriued from the father of their Soules, mouetb vs very 

little, but the vile kinred of the flesh moueth vs very much. 

163* HEVWOOD \st Pt. Iron Age v. i. Wks. 1874 III. 339 

Wee plead not kinred Or neare propinquity. 1678 BUTLER 

Hud, HI. iii. 451 Tho' we're all as near of Kindred As th' 

outward man is to the Inward. 1776 PAINE Com. Sense 

(1791) 49 Every day wears out the little remains of kindred 

between us and them. 1874 GREEN Short Hist. iii. 

j. 148 

A secret match with.. the King's sister .. raised him to 

kindred with the throne. 

b. fig. Affinity in respect of qualities ; resem- 

blance, agreement. 

1577 B. GOOGE HeresbacKs Husb. (1586) 60 b, The smoke, 

for the Kinred it hath with the Onyon. 1638 ROUSE Heav. 

Univ. iv. (1702) 29 Yet have we other fruits that by some 

kindred may seem to counterfeit som Lineaments of that 

taste. 1850 TENNYSON In Mem. I . 

Ixxiv, .know Thy likeness 

to the wise below, Thy kindred with the great of old. 

2. A group or body of persons related to each 

other by blood a ; family, clan, tribe, etc. = KIN ; 1 1 , 

KIND sb. n. Now rare, f The human kindred, 

the human race (ofa.) 

c 1175 Lamb. Horn* 141 pa twelf kunreden sculden bermide 

neore burst kelen. 1250 Gen. $ Ex. 4127 Do 

twelue kinderedes..He gaf bliscing. 13.. K. Alls. 6423 

Unlossom is that kynrede. 138* WYCLIF Matt. xxiv. 30 

Alle kynredis {gloss or lynagis], of erthe schulen weyle, 

1480 CAXTON Chron. Eng. cxcvii. 175 One kynred had no 

more pite of that other than an hungary wolfe hath of a 

shepe. c 1533 Du WES Introd. Fr. in Palsgr. 1065 To dye 

for the humaine kyndred. 1674 N. FAIRFAX Bulk fy^Selv. 

To Rdr., A patcht up Tongue from Lands and Kinreds 

round about. 1874 STUBBS Const. Hist. I. iii. 57 The little 

territory of Dithmarschen was colonised by two kindreds 

from Friesland and two from Saxony. 

f b. The family, offspring, or descendants of a 

welcomed both by the Captain and his Lieutenant. 1733 

DE FOE Col. Jack (1840) 151 They would be.. used kindlier. 

1766 GOLDSM. Vic. W. xiv, Mr. Thornhill having kindly 

promised to inspect their conduct himself. 1875 JOWETT 

Plato

KINDREDLESS. 

fig. 1687 DRYDEN Hind i, P. H. 396 The dame.. looking 

upward to her kindred sky. 1814 SCOTT Ld. of Isles in. ix 

I long'd for Carrick's kindred shore. 1871 R. ELLIS 

Catullus Ixiv. 160 Yet to your household thou, your kindred 

palaces olden, Might'st have led me. 

b. Belonging to, existing between, or done by 

relatives. 

1390 GOWER Conf. 1. 1 70 He . . seide hem for the kindeschipe, 

That thei have don him felaschipe, He wole hem do som 

grace ayein. 1591 2nd Pt. Trout. Raigne K. John (i6ir) 

85 What kindship, lenitie, or Christian raigne, Rules in the 

man to bear this foul impeach? 0:1641 Bp. MOUNTAGU^C/S 

4- Man. (1642) 252 Herod, out of high stomach, ..or distrust 

of his honesty, refused his kindship. 

Kindtcough, obs. form of KINKCOUGH. 

Kine, archaic pi. of Cow sb.^ (see i b /3); occas. 

atlrib. or in Comb., as kine-killing, -pox. 

1800 B. WATERHOUSE (title) A Prospect of exterminating 

the Small- Pox ; being the History of the . . Kine-Pox, commonly 

called the Cow-Pox. 1894 Daily News 23 Apr. 3/5 

The kine-killing practice of the Mohammedans at their 

festivals. 

t Kine- (also rarely kyne-, kini-, cune-), the 

representative in early ME. of OE. cyne-, cyni-, 

used in numerous combs, with the sense of 'kingly, 

royal', as cyne-bearn, -cynn, -d6m, etc., also in 

personal names as Cynebald, -gils, -mund, -wulf, 

etc., corresponding to OHG. chuni- in chunirtche, 

Chunipald, -per(h}t, -gund, -nmnd, etc. (But in 

OHG., combs, are usually formed with clmninc-, 

king, as chunincduom, -helm, -rlche, -stuol, whereas 

those formed with cyning- are comparatively rare 

in OE. : 

e. g. cyning-cynn, -d6m, -feorm, -stdn.) 

[Neither OE. cyne nor OHG. chuni is found as a separate 

word, and two views are possible as to the exact etymology 

of the element ; either that it is the simple stem of OTeut. j 

*kunjo-, Goth, kuni, OE. cynn, KIN, race, in ! 

combination, 

or that it represents a masculine derivative of this, of form 

*kuni-z, equivalent to ON. konr 'man of race, man of gentle 

or noble birth ', taken also by some as the immediate source 

of OHG. chuning, OE. cyning, KING. For the former view, 

cf. the combining use of dryht, ' 

people, folk, army ', in sense 

'lordly 1 

, in dryht-bearn lordly or princely child, lit. child i 

of the folk, etc.] 

The following combinations of kine- are found in 

early ME.; few of them survived the middle of the 

1 3the. Kine-aerd [ERD], kingdom. Kine-be(a)m 

[BAIRN], child of royal birth. Kine-bench, throne, i 

Xine-born a. , of royal birth. Xine-bnrh [BDRGH], | 

royal city. Xine-erpe [EARTH], kingdom. Kinehelm, 

-halm, crown. Xine-laverd, -loverd 

[LORD], royal master, king. Kinelich a., royal. I 

Kine-lond [LAND], kingdom, realm. Kine-mede 

[MEED], royal reward. Xine-merk [MARK], a 

mark indicating royal birth. Kine-mote [Mooi], 

royal council or court. Kine-ringr, royal ring, i 

Kine-srete [SEAT], throne. Kine-scrud [SHROUD], 

royal robes. Xiue-setle [SETTLE], Xine-stol 

[STOOL], throne. Kine-peod [THEDE], kingdom. 

Xine-worp, -wnrp [WORTH] a., royal; hence Kine- ; 

wurpliche adv., royally. Kine-}erde [YARD], 

sceptre, royal power. See also KINDOM, KINRIK. 

c 1205 LAY. 19433 He .. letten beoden uerde "eond al his 

*kine-aerde [1:1275 kine-erbe]. ciooo Andreas 566 (Gr.) 

Synnige ne mihton oncnawan bset *cynebearn. c 1200 

Trin. Coll. Horn. 47 Seinte Marie . . bar hire holie cunebern. 

a. 1240 Wohunge in Cott. Horn. 273 Kine beam . . 

j 

of dauiSes kin. c 1205 LAY. 9693 pus seide be . . king, ber i 

he saet. .an his *kine-benche. c 1000 ÊLFRIC Lives Saints 

ii. 326 pa waes on rome byri^ sum *cyne-boren mieden. J 

1 

j 

703 

cisoj LAY. 22142 per come breo ibroScren, be weore kiniborne, 

a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1882 Under HS, come be burs 

Maxence . . ajem to his *kineburh. c 1275 *Kine-erbe [see 

kme-zrd\. 971 Blickl. Horn. 23 pa wundan bear of bornum 

1873 W. K. CLIFFORD Pure Sciences in Contemp. Rep, 

(1874) Oct. 717 These rules are called the laws of kinematic, 

or of_the pure science of motion. 

Kinematical (kainzmse'tikal), a. [f. as prec. 

+ -AL.] Of or pertaining to kinematics; kinematic. 

1864 in WEBSTER. 1879 THOMSON & TAIT Nat. Phil. 1. 1. 

qi These and kindred curves, which give good instantces 

of kinematical theorems. 1884 Health Exhib. Catal. 1443/2 

Kinematical Apparatus. 

Kinema'tics. [In form a pi. of KINEMATIC : 

see -ic 2, and quot. 1840.] The science of pure 

motion, considered without reference to the matter 

or objects moved, or to the force producing or 

changing the motion. (Cf. KINETICS.) 

184^0 WHEWELL Philos. Induct. Sc. I. 146 M. Ampere, in 

his Essai sur la Philosophic des Sciences (1834). .proposes to 

term it Kinematics (Cine"matique). 1859 J. R. \j\iKttMotion 

v, The phasnomena of Motion . . what has hitherto been 

called (though not universally) Kinematics. 1879 THOMSON 

& TAIT Nat. Phil. (ed. 2) Pref. 6 We adopt the suggestion 

of Ampere and use the term Kinematics for the purely 

geometrical science of motion in the abstract. 1882 MINCHIN 

(title) Uniplanar Kinematics of Solids and Fluids. 

Kinematograph (kainf -matogrcif, kainzrnae-tiJgraf). 

Also cin- (sain-). \&&.i.cintmatographe, 

i. Gr. Kiv-rj/ja, uivy/taro- motion + -GRAPH.] A 

contrivance (invented by Messrs. Lumiere of Paris) 

by which a series of instantaneous photographs 

taken in rapid succession can be projected on a 

screen with similar rapidity, so as to give a lifelike 

reproduction of the original moving scene. 

1896 Daily News 21 Feb. 8/4 An exhibition of the ' 

Cinematographe 

', in the Marlborough Hall of the Polytechnic, 

Regent-street, yesterday afternoon. The ' 

' 

Cine"matographe 

is an invention of MM. Lumiere, and it is a contrivance by 

which a real scene of life and movement may be reproduced 

before an audience in a life size picture. 1897 Weslm. Gaz. 

5 May 8/1 It was the lamp of the kinematograph which set 

the place on fire. 1897 Pop. Set. Monthly Dec. 180 In the 

cinematograph . . they are projected upon a screen. 1899 

Harper's Mag. Feb. 385 What is called ' 

the American 

Biograph ' 

an improved form of the kinematograph. 

fig. 1899 Month Apr. 378 Reducing to order and viewing 

synoptically the kinematograph of life. 

Hence Kine matogra phic a. 

1897 Westm. Gaz. 6 May 8/2 The celluloid films upon 

which the cinematographic pictures are printed. 1900 AX -5- 

Q. gth Ser. VI. 206/2 A novel by.. Galdos. .with a wonderful 

kinematographic style. 

Kineograph, (kai-nz'^graf ). 

Also cineograph. 

[irreg. f. Gr. Klve-tiv to move + -GRAPH.] A picture 

representing objects in ' 

motion, produced by bring- 

ing separate pictures before the eye in such quick 

succession as to blend the images into one continuous 

impression. 

1891 Anthony's Pl:otogr. Bull. IV. 100 A simpler optical 

illusion still is that known as the ' 

kineograph '. 1899 Daily 

News 14 July 6/4 Cineograph, or better, Kineograph, means 

a picture of movement of moving objects. 

: Kine-pox see KINE. 

Kinesi- (ksinfsi), before a vowel also kines-, 

combining form of Gr. KiVijffis motion, used in 

certain scientific and medical terms : as Kinesi- 

KINETO-. 

a-tric a. [see IATRIC], relating to kinesiatrics 

(Ogilvie 1882). Kinesla'trios [see -10 2], the 

treatment of diseases by means of gymnastics or 

'593 SHAKS. Rich. II, n. i. 1,82 (Qo. i) His hands were guilty 

of no kmred [1623 kindreds] bloud. 1718 ROWE tr. Lucan 10 

1 he tender Ties of Kindred-love were torn. 1730 SMOLLETT 

Regicide iv.vi, What kindred crime, alas ! am I decreed To 

expiate. 1850 TENNYSON / Mem. Ixxix, Ere childhood's 

flaxen ringlet turn'd To black and brown on kindred brows. 

2. Allied in nature, character, or properties; 

possessing similar qualities or features ; cognate. 

'.340 Ayenb. 228 ' ' O ', zayb he, huet is uayr chastetiS kenrede 

mid '. bnjtnesse 1595 SHAKS. John in: iv. 14 Who hath 

read, or heard Of any kindred-action like to this ? 1697 

DRYDEN Alexander's Feast 95 'Twas but a kindred sound 

to move, For pity melts the mind to love. 1781 GIBBON Decl. 

! F. xviii. II. 79 The kindred names of Constantine, Con. 

stantms, and Constans. 1878 HUXLEY Physiogr. 38 To 

study the formation of rain and kindred phenomena. 

Hence Ki'ndredless a., having no kindred or 

relatives. Xi-ndredly adv., in a kindred way, 

cognately. Xi ndredness, Xi-ndredship, the 

quality or state of being of kin or akin ; kinship. 

1835 LYTTON Rienzi v. iv, Shouldst thou be friendless, 

kmdredless, alone.. I may claim thee as my own. 1864 

A. B. GROSART Lambs all Safe (1865) 85 Many "kindredly 

inscrutable and tremendous things. 1838 CHALMERS Wks. 

XIII. 96 A "kindredness in their heart with its flavour and 

phraseology is a kindredness with heaven. 1882 C. E. 

TURNER Stud. Russ. Lit. \. 10 The resemblance consists 

only in the form and in the kindredness of subject 1769 

ROBERTSON Chas. V (1796) I. 256 He was deemed to have 

renounced all the rights and privileges of "kindredship. 

1885 E. F. BYRRNE Entangled I. I. v. 69 A certain kindredship 

of soul and likeness of quality. 

t Kvndsfolk. Obs. rare- 1 . [Cf. KIND sb. n.] 

KINSFOLK. 

1587 RALEIGH in Collect. (O. H. S.) I. 203 My Lady's 

frends and kindsfolkes. 

tKi'ttdship. Obs. & nine setton on heafod for *cynehelme. c 1205 LAY. 6766 

He his kmehelm on-feng. Ibid. 18158 Nim bu bene kinehalm. 

eiooo in Kemble Cod. Dipl. IV. 266 purh base his 

cynehlafordes JESelredes 

cynges. c 1205 LAY. 2501 For 

Locnnes lufe, be wes hire kine louerd. Ibid. 9831 pn art 

me swa leof swa mi kine-lauerd. cyxt tr. Bxda's Hist iv 

xxvi[i], (1890) 358 Seo "cynelice faemne J.\Rxd. c 1205 LAY. 

rl'3 r 

[f. KIND a. + -SHIP.] = 

KINDNESS. 

1 0116 me senne castel 3er ane ",'? 

kineliche burh. 

Ibid. 183 He wes king & heo quen, & 'kine-lond heo welden. 

Ibid. 2523 Heo 5ef Madan an hond Al his fader kine-lond. 

a th 

f*5 i* ? 3" And tu schalt to curt 

.; cumen 

and 

seo5en, 

kinemede ikepen. c 1300 Havelok 604 On his rith 

shu shuldre dre a kyne kvne merk. . an izae r.pp- JfntJt - rt \.,,i,..i.: 

1225 Leg. Kath. 1979 And te king 

heold ta..hise *kmemootes. 

Ibid. 409 He .. sende iseelede 

-o 

.. *, . va. .... i.t. ..''f 

n u k'oî iidiaic cyiieset! 

and heafod ealles eastrices. a 1125 Leg. Kath. 45 He 

set o kine setle. 0:900 CYNEWULF Crist j 

1217 (Gr.) ponne 

Crist siteS on his *cynestole. c 1203 LAY. 4517 Stille he wes 

iswojen On his kine-stole. Itid. 22300 ArSur letten beoden 

|eond al his *kine-beoden. c 1275 Ibid. 11026 pat he . . his 

'kmeworbe lond Sette Custance an hond. c 1320 Cast 

Love 14 Worschupe him. .pat kineworbe kyng [is] vs aboue. 

a 1225 Juliana 62 pus J>u..of be breo kinges were 'kinewurShche 

iwurjet. c looo JEiTmc Horn. II. 502 Hi to pa:s 

caseres *cyne-xyrde jebuxon. c 1200 ORMIN 8182 And himm 

wass sett inn hiss nhht hannd An dere kinejerrde. 1306 

Sir Simon Fraser'm Pol. Songs (Camden) 215 Hii .. token 

him a kyne-jerde, so me kyng sholde, to deme. 

Kinematic (kainfmse-tik), a. and si. [f. Gr. 

muscular action. Kinesio -meter, 

Kivt]jia, KirrifiaT- a motion (f. xu/tTv to -I- move) -1C.] 

A. adj. Relating to pure motion, i.e. to motion 

considered abstractly, without reference to force or 

mass. 

1864 A thenxiim No. 1924. 340/3 Kinematic effects of revolution 

and rotation. 1879 THOMSON & TAIT Nat. Phil. I. i. 

483 The design of a kinematic machine . .essentially involves 

dynamical considerations. 1880 Nature XXI. 244/1 M. 

Mannheim has recently introduced the expression kinematic 

geometry., dealing with motion independently of forces and 

times. 

B. sb. = KINEMATICS. 

' 

an instrument 

for ' 

determining quantitatively the motion of a part 

(Gould Med. Diet. 1890). Kine-sipatli [cf. ALLO- 

PATH], one who treats diseases by kinesipathy. 

Kinesipa-thic a., pertaining to kinesipathy. Kinesl-pathist 

= 

Kintsipath (Webster 1864). Kinesi-pathy 

= Kinesiatrics. Kine-siscope, an electrical 

instrument (invented by Capt. McEvoy) 

placed at the sea bottom to detect the presence of 

steam vessels in the neighbourhood. Xineslthe-rapy 

[Gr. Ofpairfla medical treatment ; cf. F. 

kinesithe'rapie] - Kinesiatrics. Kinescrdic a. 

[Gr. 65-6i a path; cf. f.kin^sodigue}, transmitting 

motor impulses from the brain, efferent. Kineso-patuy, 

erroneous form of 

Kinesipathy. 

1856 M. ROTH Mavem. Cw(L.), The treatment by movements 

(which is also called 

kinesitherapy, *kinesiatrics) 1860 

All Year Round No. 45. 450 One of these *Kinesipaths in- 

' 

vented the amusing theory that synovia ' 

was the cause of 

all bodily ailments. 

1855 MAYNE ' 

Expos. Lex., Kinesipathy 

.. a system of athletic exercises and feats of muscular 

strength, invented by . . a fencing master and teacher of 

gymnastics in Stockholm. 1860 RUSSELL REYNOLDS Yes * 

No II. 139 He ' 

has gone the round of the pathies ',. .he has 

tried homoeopathy, hydropathy, kinesipathy, ..and I know 

not what besides. 

1893 D**& News 8 June 5/8 The hydrophone, 

in connection with a new instrument named a *kinesiscope. 

1874 DUNGLISON Med. Diet., "Kinesodic. 1878 

FOSTER Phys. in. v. 3. 488 They speak of it accordingly as 

kmesodic and sesthesodic, as simply affording paths for 

motor and sensory impulses. 1864 Miss MULOCK Ld. Erlistouri2 

3 i He . . tried allopathy, homoeopathy, *kinesopathy, 

and heaven knows how many pathies besides. 

ECinesthesia, -esthetic: see KIMISTHESIA. 

Kinetic (kaine-tik), a. (s6.) [ad. Gr. KlvrjriKoi 

: moving see 

-1C.] 

1. Producing or 

causing motion. rare~". 

1855 MAYNE Expos. Lex.,Kinetic..(Physiol.\ exciting to 

move, or to act. 

2. Of, pertaining or relating to, motion ; due to 

or resulting from motion. 

Kinetic energy: see ENERGY 6. Kinetic theory of heat, 

: ofgases the 

theory that heat, or the gaseous state, is due 

to motion of the particles of matter. 

1864 Reader 2 Apr. 429/^3 Till and about the year 1780. . 

the weightiest authorities inclined towards the kinetic theory 

of heat. 1866 Lond. Rev. 2 June 615/2 Correct principles 

of kinetic science. 1870 P. G. TAIT in Nature 29 Dec. 163/2 

The grand modern ideas of Potential and Kinetic Energy 

cannot be too soon presented to the student. 1871 SIR W. 

THOMSON in Daily News 3 May, The kinetic theory of gases, 

shadowed forth by Lucretius, definitely stated by Daniel 

Bernoulli, largely developed by Herapath, made a reality 

by Joule, and worked out to its present advanced state by 

Clausius and Maxwell. 1879 THOMSON & TAIT Nat. Phil. 

I. i. 

357 If, from any one configuration, two courses differ, 

ing infinitely little from one another have again a configuration 

in common, this second configuration will be called a 

kinetic focus relatively to the first ; or . .these two configurations 

will be called conjugate kinetic foci. 1881 STEVENSOX 

Virg. Puerisque (ed. 8) nij I still remember that the spinning 

of a top is a case of Kinetic Stability. 

B. sb, KINETICS. 

Kinetical (kaine-tikal), a. 

[f. as prec. + -AL.] 

Of or pertaining to kinetics. 

1882 MINCHIN Unipl. Kineniat. 107 D'Alembert, in enunciating 

the kinetical principle known by his name, speaks 

of force of inertia as effective force. Ibid. 190 To introduce 

here a proposition which is not kinematical but kinetical. 

Kinetics. [In form a pi. of KINETIC: see 

-102.] 

The branch of dynamics which investigates the 

relations between the motions of bodies and the 

forces acting upon them ; opposed to Statics, which 

treats of bodies in equilibrium. 

1864 in WEBSTER. 1866 Lond. Rev. 2 June 615/2 Between 

whiles he has his kinetics to get up for the next morning. 

1882 MINCHIN Unipl. Kinemat. 59 The particular case in 

which the resultant acceleration of a moving point is alwa_ys 

directed towards a fixed.. centre is deserving of special 

notice on account of the part which it plays in kinetics. 

KinetO- (kaim'to), repr. Gr. Klciyro-, comb, 

form of KlvrjT6s movable, used in several terms of 

recent origin, as Kinetoge'nesis, the (theoretical) 

origination of animal structures in animal movements. 

Kine'tograph, an apparatus for photographing 

a scene of action in every stage of its 

progress; hence Kinetogra'phic a. Kinetophcrnograph, 

a kinetograph with mechanism for 

' 

recording sounds. Kine-toscope, (a) a sort of 

movable panorama' (Webster 1864); (6) an apparatus 

for reproducing the scenes recorded by the 

kinetograph; (c) an instrument by which arcs of 

different radii are combined in the production of 

curves (Knight Diet. Mech. 1875); hence Xine'tosco-pic 

a. Kine tO|Sko'toscope [Gr. ovcoro; dark- 

ness : see -SCOPE] (see quot.). 

1884 E. D. COPE Orig. Fittest (1887) 423 The ' 

and effort ' 

. . 

law of use 

that animal structures have been produced, 

directly or indirectly, by animal movements, or the doctrine

KING. 

of *kinetogenesis. 1893 OSBORNF. in Williams Gfol. 

(1895) 324 The changes en route the 

[in Mammalia) lead us 

to believe either in predestination . . or in kinetogenesis. 

1891 Times 29 May 5/1 [Mr. Edison said] The "kinetograph 

is a machine combining electricity with photography. 1894 

UICKSON Life Edison 316 The dramatis personse of the 

kinetographic stage. Ibid. 303 The comprehensive term 

for this invention is the *kineto-phonograph. Ibid., The 

kinetograph and the *kinetoscope .. relate respectively to 

the taking and reproduction of movable but soundless objects. 

Ibid. 3ir A popular and inexpensive adaptation of 

'kinctoscopic methods. 1896 Westm. Gas. 18 Mar. 2/1 The 

*kinetoskoloscope. .. By means of this barbarously termed 

piece of apparatus it is possible, so we are told, to see the 

motions of the bones of the finger when bent backwards and 

forwards. 

King (kin), sb. Forms: i cyning, (-incg), 

kyning, cining, eynis, 1-2 oyng, cing, (i oyncg, 

ohing), 1-6 kyng, 4-6 kynge, (4 kinge, kin, 

5 kyiinge. kink, keng), 2- king. [A Com. 

Teut. word: OE. cyning OFris. tin-, ken-, 

toning, OS. tuning (MDu. coninc, Du. toning, 

MLG. kon(n)ink}, OHG. chun-, tuni>tg:-OTeut. 

*kuningo-z, a derivative of *kunjo-, Goth, tuni, 

OE. cynn, KIN, race, etc. The ON. equivalent was 

konong-r, -ungr (Sw. konung). Finnish kuningas 

king, and Lith. kuningas lord, priest, were early 

adoptions from Teut. In most of the Teut. lan- 

guages two reduced forms : I appear ) OE. = tynig 

OFris. tinig, etc., OS. kunig (MDu. conick), 

OHG. cAun-, kunig (MHG. tunic, kiinec, G. kbnig, 

t kunig) ; 2) OE. cyng, cing MHG. kiinc (obs. 

G. kung, kung}, ON. kingr (Sw. kung, Da. konge). 

Compare OE. penig (G. pfennig) PENNY, for 

fening; ON.pengurpl. (Da. penge) iat peningar. 

As to the exact relation, in form and sense, of king to kin, 

views differ. Some take it as a direct derivative, in the sense 

either of ' scion of the kin, race, or tribe or ', ' 

scion of a (or 

' 

the) noble kin ', comparing dryhten (: *tnthtino-z) lord ' 

from dryht (: *truhti-z) ' 

army, folk, people ', drykt-leartt 

' 

lordly or princely child, prince ', lit. 'child of the nation', nation 

ON. fylkir ng' item folk, Goth, 

fiiudans 'king', from 

' 

king ' 

from folk, Goth, biudans ' 

king ', fron. 

Pittda people, nation. Others refer *kuningo-z immediately 

to the supposed masc. *kuni-z, preserved in comb, in OHG. 

chuni-, OE. cyne. (see KINE-), taking it as = 'son or descendant 

of one of (noble) birth '. See Hildebrand in Grimm, 

and Kluge, s. v. Konig; Franck s. v. Koning, etc.] 

(The genitive plural in southern ME. was kingent, -en, -yn.) 

I. 1. The usual title of the male sovereign ruler 

of an independent state, whose position is either 

purely hereditary, or hereditary under certain legal 

conditions, or, if elective, is considered to give to 

the elected the same attributes and rank as those 

of a (purely or partly) hereditary ruler. 

In OE. the title appears first as the name of the chiefs of 

the various Anglian and Saxon ' 

kins ', tribes, or clans, who 

invaded Britain, and of the petty states founded by them, 

as well as of the native British chiefs or 

princes 

with whom 

they fought, and of the Danish chiefs who at a later time 

invaded and occupied parts of the country. Among the 

Angles and Saxons the kingship was not strictly hereditary, 

according to later notions ; but the cyninff was chosen or 

accepted in each case from a recognized kingly or royal 

cynn or family (usually tracing its genealogy up to Woden). 

With the gradual ascendancy and conquests of Wessex in 

the oth and loth c., the king of the West Saxons became 

gs came to an en. ut tere sti remaine a King 

Scotland, and seveial petty kings in Ireland. In European 

and other more or less civilized countries, king is now the 

title of the ruler of an independent organized state called a 

kingdom; but in mediaeval limes, as still in the German 

Empire, some kings were really or nominally subordinate 

to the Emperor (as ostensibly representing the Roman Caesar 

or Imperator}, and a King is still held to rank below an 

Emperor. In reference to ancient times the name is applied, 

like L. rex, Gr. /3acriAeu;, Heb. 

"pn melek, to the more or 

less despotic rulers not only of great dominions like Assyria, 

Persia, Egypt, but of petty states or towns such as 

Jericho, Ai, Mycenae, Ithaca, Syracuse, and Rome. It is 

still applied to the native rulers of petty African states, 

towns, or tribes, Polynesian islands, and the like. 

King designate, possessive: seetheadjs. Uncrowned king, 

one who has the power, though not the rank, of a king. 

a 855 O. E. Chron, an. 577 Her Cubwine and Ceawlin 

fuhton wifc> Brettas, and hie .Hi. kyningas ofslojon, Coinmail, 

and Condidan, and Farinmail. 858 Charter in O. E. 

Texts 438 Se cyning sealde . . wullafe fif sulung landes. 875 

O.E. Chron., And forGodrumand Oscytel and Anwynd, fa 

.lii.cyningas, ofHreopedunetoGrantebrycgemidmiclehere, 

and salon baer an jear. 971 Blickl. Horn. 69 Hi .. hine weorpodon 

swa ciniê geriseb. Ibid. 71 He waes to cingc ongyten 

& gehered. c 1001 O. E. Chron. (Parker MS.) an. 1001 pas 

cynmcges jerefa. a 1131 O. E. Chron. an. 1123 Se kyng 

alihte dune of his hors. Ibid. an. 1124 Se king let don bone 

on. .on heftnunge. c 

1175 Lamb. Horn. 115 DCS kingges 

rihtwisnesse areteS his kme setle. c 1105 LAY. 24609 pider 

weoren icumen seouen kingene sunen. c 1250 Gen. ft Ex. 

834 Nej ilc burse hadde ise louereding, Sum was king, and 

sum kumeling. 1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 8179 He smot boru 

out wib a launce on of hor hexte kinge. a 1300 Cursor M. 

5382 Ysmael had wijfs thrin pat kinges twelue bar come of 

him. Ibid. 4243 To putifer, f>e kingstiward. 1387 TREVISA 

Higden (Rolls) V. 263 Wei nygh al )>e kyngyn lynage of 

straunge naciouns come of bis Woden. Ibid. VI. 151 Cedwalla, 

a stalworbe ?ongelyng of kyngene kynde. c 1400 

Rom.Rosef&si These emperours.. Or kyngis, dukis, & lordis 

grete. c 1430 SyrGener. (Roxb.) 888 Of the Rodes he was a 

king son. c 1460 FORTESCUE Abs. 4 Lim. Mon. v. (1885) 1 19 

What dishonour is this, and abalyngc of the glorie of a 

kynge. 1535 COVERDALE i Pet. ii. 17 Feare God. Honoure 

the kynge [1382 WYCLIF Make je the kyng honourable; 

704 

1388 onourc 5e re kinges J>e comen of 

estriche. 1350 Winner er J?e kynges ligges. 1387 TREVISA /f&t&v (Rolls) 

IV. 283 pe bre kynges [L. tnagt] come to Jerusalem. Ibid. 

VIII. 43 Rauph bisshop of Coloyne brou^t }>e bodies of J>e 

(pre) kynges of Coloyne out of Melan. c 1400 Three Kings 

Cologne 2 [pe] J>ree holy and worsbipfull kyngis of Coleyn : 

laspar, Melchyor, and Balthaser. 1583 Leg. Bp. St. Androis 

669 As Culen Kyngis that Christ adorned. Per aliam viam 

he returned. 

d. The Books of Kings : certain books of the Old 

Testament which contain the history of the Kings 

of Israel and Judah. Also ellipt. Kings. 

In the original Hebrew text there was only one book so 

called, corresponding to ist and 2nd Kings in the present 

English Bible. In the Septuagint, followed by the Vulgate, 

and so by the older English versions, these two are reckoned 

as the 3rd and 4th, the two books of Samuel being called ist 

and 2nd Kings. 

138:1 WYCLIF i Kings [i. e. i Samuel] Prol., In this book 

of Kingis the first is contened, how Anna..axide of God to 

haue a sone. c 1460 FORTESCUE Abs. ff Lint. Mon. i. (1885) 

no The th 

viij chapiter of the first boke of kynges [i Sam. 

viii.]. 1535 COVERDALE, The first boke of the kynges, 

otherwyse called the first boke of Samuel. 1611 BIBLE, The 

first Booke of Samuel, otherwise called, The first Booke of 

the Kings. Ibid., Contents. .1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, i. Kings, 

2. Kings, i Chronicles [etc.]. 

2. With additions : a. As a title, now placed immediately 

before a personal name, as KingEdward, 

fin OE. (rarely in later use) immediately after it, 

as Alfred cyning^ Harold cyng\ formerly also the 

King) before or after the name. 

In OE. Chron. (Laud MS.) the annal of 1066 has se cyng 

Eadweard) Harold eorl Harold y cyng) Willelm eorlt }e 

cyng Willelut, 

O. E. Chron. an. 588 Her Mile cyning for> ferde. Ibid. 

604 East Seaxe . . under Saebrihte cinge and Mellite bisceope. 

836 Charter in O. E. Texts . . 453 Ecjhard 5es friodom 

waes bizeten act Wi^lafe cyninge. c 888 K. ALFRED Boeth. i, 

pa..yfel be se cyning Deodric-.dyde. 971 Blickl. Horn. 161 

On Herodes dajumâes cyninges. a 1020 in Kemble Cod. 

Dipl. IV. 9 Cnut cing gret Lyfing arcebisceop. a noo O. E. 

Chron. an. 1066 pe cyng Willelm êherue bait secgen. 

a 1150 Ibid. an. 1132 Dis gear com Henri king to bis 

land. 1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 7574 King Macolom spousede 

Margarete so; Ac king Willam..Wende ajen to normandie. 

c 1400 Three Kings Cologne 12 Kyng Ezechias was syke to 

be dethe. Ibid. 1 4 perfore god sent to Ezechias be kyng. 1535 

COVERDALE Matt. i. 6 Dauid the kynge begat Salomon. 

1501 SHAKS. i Hen. K/, n.v. 66 The lawfull Heireof Edward 

King, the Third of that Descent, /bid. 76 Third Sonne To 

King Edward the Third, a 1635 NAUNTON Fragm. Reg. 

(Arb.) 28 The people hath it to this day in proverb, King 

Harry loved a man. 1711 ADDISON Sêct. No. 129 P 10 We 

fancied ourselves in King Charles the Second's reign. 1784 

COWPER Task vi. 663 Two staves, Sung to the praise and 

;aying 

Cong. V. xxii. 16 The two great notes of time [in Domesday] 

are ' 

' 

the time of King Eadward ', and the time when King 

William came into England'. 1895 JVewsfir. King Khama's 

visit to England. 

b. "With specification of the people or country 

over which a king's rule extends, as King of the 

Romans, of Italy. Also King of Kings , a king 

who has other kings under him, an emperor : often 

assumed as a title by Eastern monarchs. King 

of men, translating Gr. &va avfywv. 

a8< O. E. Chron. an. 488 Her JEsc feng to rice, and was 

.xxiiii. wintra Cantwara cyning. Ibid. an. 508 Her Cerdic 

and Cynric ofslogon aenne Bretusc cyning, pam was nama 

Natanleod. 975 O. E. Chron. (Parker MS.) an. 975 Eadgar 

Engla cyning ceas him o3er leoht. a noo O. E. Chron. 

KING. 

I.aitfl MS.) an. 1079 Melcolm cyng of Scotlande. c 1154 

Ibid. an. 1 129 Se kyng of France, c 1205 LAY. 13320 pe king 

of Norewa:i3e..& fcere Densemonne king, c 1330!*. BRUNNF 

Chron. Wacc (Rolls) 11945 First com Epistrot be kyng of 

Grtce . . Pandras (>e kyng of Egiple. 1382 WYCLIF Ezra vii. 

12 Arlaxerses, king of kmgus, lo Esdre theprest. Dan. 

g of Scotland, a 1552 

Collect. (1774) II. 547 Edwarde de Bruse,. .proclayming hym 

self King of Kinges yn Ireland. 1647 WARD Simp. Cooler 

51 There is a quadrobulary saying, which passes current in 

the Westerne World, That the Emperour is King of Kings, 

the Spaniard, King of Men, the French King of Asses, the 

King of England, King of Devils. 1715-20 POPE ///nrfxix. 

54 The king of men, Atrides, came the last. iSssTmRLWALL 

Greece I. v. 120 He leads an army against Augeas, king 

of Elis. 1876 A. ARNOLD in Contemp. Rev. June 32 The 

King-of-Kings. .signified his willingness. 

C. KingCharles,.short for King Charles's Spaniel 

(see SPANIEL) ; King Harry, the goldfinch. 

[a 1825 FORBY Voc. E. Anglia s. v., King Harry Redcap, 

isthegold-finch..King Harry Blackcap, is the bird which 

is commonly called simply the blackcap.] 1848 Zoologist 

VI. 2186 The goldfinch .. is the King Harry from its beautiful 

crown. 1883 Casselts Nat. Hist. II. 132 The King 

Charles of the present day is an interesting example of 

deterioration. 

3. Applied to a woman, esp. one who rules or 

bears herself like a king. rare. 

1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 869 Hennin & Morgan . . adde despit 

pat womman king ssolde alonde beo. 1796 BURKE Regie. 

Peace iv. Wks. IX. 53 The Hungarian Subjects of Maria 

Theresa.. called her. .a King. ..She lived and died a King. 

1898 Daily News 30 Aug. 4/5 After the King died his consort 

determined that her daughter should be a King, not a 

Queen. 

4. Applied to God or Christ. Freq. in phr. King 

of heaven, of bliss, ofglory, King of kings, etc. 

871-89 Charter in O. E. Texts 452 gehalde hine heofones 

cyning in bissum life. 971 Blickl. Horn. 203 To bacm 

. lg of glory 

e '375 $c - Leg. Saints ii. (Paul} 906 He . . [at the] last lugment 

sail 

bryng_ 

nere hand all men befor be kyng. 1382 

WYCLIF Rev. xvii. 14 For he is Lord of lordes and kyng of 

kyngis[i6n For heisLordof Lords, and King of kings], 1387 

TREVISA Higden (Rolls) VIII. 189 Kyngene Kyng schal 

destroye bis rewme wib double meschef. c 1400 MAUNDEV. 

(Roxb.) Pref. i He bat was King of heuen and of ertlve. 

1500-20 DUNBAH Poems x. 28 To him that is of kingis King. 

1548-58 Bk. Com. Prayer (Prayer Queen's Majesty), O Lord 

our heuenly father, high and mighty king of kynges, Lorde 

of lordes, the onely ruler of princes. 1667 MILTON A Z. v. 

640 Th' all-bounteous King, who showrd With copious band. 

1781 COWPER Truth 179 What purpose has the King of 

Saints in view ? 1871 E. F. BURR AdFidem iv. 68 The King 

whose twin names are Light, and Love. 

5. A title given to certain persons holding a real 

or pretended supreme authority or rank, or to one 

who plays the king. 

e. g. King ofHeralds, the King Herald or King.of-Arms ; 

King of Ribalds: see RIBALD; King ofthe Sacrifices, one 

of the Roman priests (rex sacroriun); esp. the leading 

person in some game or sport, as King of the Bean, of the 

Cockneys,of May, ofMisrule: see BEAN, etc.; King Arthur, 

King I am, King of Cantland, King of the Castle, certain 

games (see quots.) so called from the chief player. 

1656 BLOUNT . Glossogr., Xirtf ofHeraIds . is an Officer at 

Arms, that hath the preheminence of this Society. 1709 

Grecian Plays 43 [The Greeks] had likewise their Basilinda, 

representing our Questions and Commands, or King I am. 

1781 GIBBON Dec!. IT F. xxviii. III. 71 The King of the 

Sacrifices represented the person of Numa, and of his 

successors, in the religious functions, which could be performed 

only by royal hands. 1808-25 JAMIESON, King of 

Cantland, a game of children in which one of a company 

being chosen King o 1 

Cantland, and two goals appointed 

[etc.]. 1847-52 HALLIWELL, King-Arthur, a game used at 

sea, when near the line, or in a hot latitude. It is performed 

thus [description follows]. 1890 J. G. Wood's Boy's Mod. 

Playmate 147 Kingofthe Castle. . . One player stands upon 

a mound, 'I 

crying, am king of ihe castle ', and the others 

to pull him down. 

try 

6. One who in a certain sphere or class has 

supremacy or pre-eminence compared to that of a 

king. In recent use often applied to great merchants, 

manufacturers, etc., with defining word 

prefixed, as alkali-, fur-, railway-king. 

1382 WYCLIF Job xli. 25 [34] He [Leviathan] ys king vpon 

alle the sones of pride. 1508 KENNEDIE Flytingvj. Ditnltar 

326 Confess thy crime, hald Kenydy the king. 1567 Gitde 

f, Godlie B. (S. T. S.) 12 Distroy the Deuill. .Quhiik of this 

warld is Prince and King. 1592 DAVIES linmort. Soul 

xxxii. Ix, Why made he Man, of other Creatures, King? 

1623 H. HOLLAND Lines Shaks., Those bayes, Which 

crown'd him Poet first, then Poets King, a 1649 DRUMM. 

OF HAWTH. Poems 46 What those kings of numbers did 

conceive By muses nine. 1789 BURNS Willie brevfd iv, 

Wha first beside his chair shall fa' He is the King among 

us three. 1792 Auld Rob Morris \, He's the king o' 

gude fellows and wale of auld men. 1806 Guide to Watering 

Places 14 Richard Nash, the first King of Bath, was a native 

of Swansea. 1821 SHELLEY Adonais xlviii, The kings of 

thought Who waged contention with their time's decay. 

18848. E. DAWSON Handbk. Dam. Canada 154 Here the furkings 

of the North-West lived and spent their profits in 

generous hospitality. 1894 Outing (U. S.) XXIII. 380/2 

Relics of the palmy days of the old sugar kings of Jamaica. 

1898 Daily News 23 Mar. 6/3 Mr. Audubon, you are the 

king of ornithological painters. 

b. Applied to things personified as King Caucus, 

King Cotton. King of day, the sun. King of 

terrors, death (see TEBBOB).

KING. 

1392 SHAKS. Rom.

KING. 

king-cob = KINO-CUP; king-cure, name for 

American species of fyrola and Chimaphila; 

king-devil, Hieracium prteallum, a troublesome 

weed, common in some parts of America, but 

originally introduced from Europe; king-fern, 

the royal 

fern (Osmunda regalis); king-nut, the 

t king-pear, an old 

name of a species of hickory ; 

variety of pear ; king-pine, f (a) the pine-apple : 

(b) a large and stately Himalayan fir, Pieea Webbiana 

; king-plant, a Javan Orchid, Anxctochilus 

setaceus, having purple-brown 

leaves marked with 

yellow Iines(Miller/ > 

/a/-.);king-tree(see quot.). 

1707 MORTIMER Hust. i. (1708) 519 The "King Apple, tho' 

not common, yet is by some esteemed an excellent Apple. 

1507 GERARDE Herbal n. cccli. 805 Crowfoote is called 

in English 'King kob. 1874 DUNGLISON Med. Diet., 

"King cure, Pj/rala maculata. 1898 BRITTON^& BROWN 

Ct 

*King-pine, growing in Barbados. 1863 BATES Nat. A mazon 

ii. (1864) 38 The Moira-tinga (the White or *King tree) 

probably the same as, or allied to, the Moira Excelsa which 

Sir Robert Schomburgk discovered in British Guiana. 

14. Combinations with king's, a. Used in 

numerous titles or appellations, in the sense Of, 

belonging to, in the service of the king, as head of 

the State (in which use it interchanges, during the 

reign of a female sovereign, with queen's), royal ; 

asking's coin, commission, court(s, customs, soldiers, 

taxes, tower, etc. ; also King's ADVOCATE, BEADS- 

MAN, COUNSEL, ENGLISH, EVIDENCE, HIGHWAY, 

KEYS, PEACE, PRINTER, REMEMBRANCER, SCHOLAR, 

SCHOOL, SHIP, THANE, WIDOW, WBIT, for which 

see these words, b. f king's ale, the strongest ale 

brewed ; king's (bad) bargain (see quots.) ; 

fking's bird: see KINGBIRD i 

; thing's books, 

the taxation lists ; king's chair = kings cushion ; 

king's cup, lemonade ; king'scushion, a seat made 

by the crossed hands of two persons ; f king's day, 

the King's birthday, coronation-day, and similar 

anniversaries; fling's flsn ( see quots.); firing's 

freeman, Se., one who, in return for services 

rendered to the king, had the right to trade as 

a freeman without being member of a gild ; f king's 

friends, Hist., a political party which supported 

George III in his attempts to increase the power 

of the crown; king's -hood, Sc. [cf. Da. kongehslte], 

the second stomach of ruminants; firing's 

language = King's ENGLISH ; king's letter men, 

a former class of officers of similar rank with midshipmen 

(Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 1867); f king's 

piece: see KING-PIECE; t king's silver, (a) silver 

blessed by the king, and intended for : 

cramp-rings 

(b) money paid in the Court of Common Pleas for 

licence to levy a fine ; t king's stroke, the touch 

of the royal hand for king's evil ; f king's wand, 

a sceptre ; king's yellow, orpiment or yellow 

arsenic used as a pigment. See also KING'S 

BENCH, KING'S EVIL, KING'S MAN. 

1574 Hurgli Rec. Glasgow (1876) I. 25 That thair be na 

derare aill sauld nor sax penneis the pynt, and that the 

samyn be *kingis aill and werraye guid. 1783 GROSE | 

Diet. Vulg. T. s.v. f One of the *king's bad bargains: a 

malingerer, or soldier who shirks his duty. 1867 SMYTH 

706 

useful and most brilliant. 1823 P. NICHOLSON Pract. Build. 

414 King's Yellow is a pure orpiment, or arsenic, coloured 

with sulphur. 

c. in names of plants, as king's bloom, the 

peony ; king's crown, (a) = Melilot or King's 

Clover : 

(i>) Viburnum Opulus; king's ellwand, 

the foxglove (Britt. & Holl.) ; king's feather, 

London Pride (Miller Diet. Plant-n. 1884) ; 

flower, a S. African liliaceous plant, 

king's 

Eucomis 

regia ; king's knob = KING-CUP (Britt. & Holl.) ; 

king's spear, kingspear, Asphodelus luteus and 

A. ramosus; king's taper, the Great Mullein. 

Also King's CLOVEB, CousonND, etc. q.v. 

16x1 COTGR., Peone, Peonie, *Kings-bloome, Rose of the 

Mount. 1597 GERARDE Herbal App., *King's crowne is 

Melttotus, 1879 BRITTEN & HOLLAND Plant-n., King's 

Crown, . . Viburnum Opulus. ism GERARDE Herbal i. 

Ixiv. i. 88 The leaues of the *Kings speare are long, 

narrow, and chamfered or furrowed. 1625 B. JONSON Pan s 

Antiiv., Bright crown imperial, kingspear, hollyhocks. 

l8pa AGNES M. CLERKE Fain. Stud. Homer viii. 213 The 

tall white flowers of the king's spear. 1861 MRS. LANKESTER 

Wild Fl. roa Great Mullein . . The common name, ' 

Torch- 

' 

blade ', or *King's taper ', may have arisen from its candlelike 

appearance. 

15. Phraseological combinations, as King 

Charles's Spaniel (see SPANIEL); f King Harry 

out (see quot. 1611); King Henry's shoestrings, 

a dish in cookery; King William's 

cravat, a cravat of the kind worn by King William 

III (1689-1702). 

1611 COTGR., Balafrc, a slash ouer the face ; a king Harry 

cut. 1748 RICHARDSON Clarissa II. i. 7 A King-William's- 

Cravat, or some such antique chin-cushion as by the pictures 

of that prince one sees was then the fashion. 1887 Sfon's 

Hoifseh. Man. 413 King Henry's Shoestrings. Make a 

batter with J Ib. flour [etc.]. 

King (kin), v. [f. prec. sb.] 

1. intr. (mostly with if). To act the king ; to 

to rule, govern. 

perform the part of a king ; 

c 1420 HOCCLEVE De Reg. Princ. 3307 Out of pitee, growith 

mercy and . . springib, What prince hem lakkith, naght 

aright he kyngeth. 1645 HOWELL Lett. (1650) II. 41 The 

Lord Deputy Kings it notably in Ireland. 1701 ROWE A mb. 

r-j-j H^-J/- ... I - ^7 !/: ,.. I */ ._ a 

, .. - .___ , igmg 

it in his manger. 

2. trans. To make (one) a king. 

1593 SHAKS. Rick. //, v. v. 36 Then crushing penurle, 

Perswades me, I was better when a King : Then am I king'd 

againe. 1656 S. H. Gold. Law 24 It un-king'd him, and 

King'd his un-kingers in point of Power, a 1716 SOUTH 

Twelve Serin. (1744) II. 51 Those traiterous Captains of 

Israel, who kinged themselves by slaying their masters. 

I843LYTTON Last Bar. viii. viii, The recreant whom I kinged. 

3. To rule over, to govern, as a king. rare. 

1599 SHAKS. Hen. Vt n. iv. 26 Shee [France] is so idly 

king d, Her Scepter so phantastically borne. 1839 BAILEY 

Festus ii. (1852) 15 Why mad'st Thou not one spirit, like 

the sun, To King the world ? 

4. quasi-^n?#j. To mention the name of 'king'. 

(Cf. BUT v.) nonce-use. 

1605 Tryall Chevalry i. i. in Bullen 0. PI. III. 271 King 

me no Kings. 

Hence Ki-nging vbl. sb^ the act of making, or 

fact of being made, a king. 

1656 S. H. Gold. Law 64 Solomon also opprest the people 

so, ..as it obstacled his son Rehoboams Kinging. 1708 T. 

WARD Eng. Ref, (1716) 95 Till once again he fell to Kinging, 

And then ne got a Rope to swing in. 

King-at-arms : see KING-OF-ARMS. 

King-bird. 

A 

j 

KINGDOM. 

in the guides, the whole weight of the cage is transferred to 

the king-bolt by which it is suspended. 1888 C. F. MITCHELL 

Building Constr. i. ix. (1889) 129 Feet of King or Queen 

Bolts. These may pass through cast-iron sockets which are 

indented into the tie-beam. 

t Ki*ng-by-your-lea've. Obs. A variety of 

the game of hide-and-seek (see quot. 1572). 

1573 HULOET, Kinge by your leaue. a playe that children 

haue, where one 

sytting bfyndefolde in the midle, bydeth so 

tyll the rest haue hydden them selues, and then he going to 

seeke them, if any get his place in the meane space, that 

same is kynge in his roume. x6xx FLORID, Abomba, is properly 

the place, where children playing hide themselves, as 

at a play called 

king by your leave. [1884 BLACK Jud, 

Shaks. iii. Is it anything worse than the children .. having 

a game of ' 

King by your leave '?] 

Kingcough, variant of KINKCOTJGH. 

Ki'ng-crab. [f. KINO + CEAB sb^\ 

1. A large arthropodous animal of the genus 

Litmtlus, having a convex carapace somewhat of 

the shape of a horseshoe; the horseshoe or Molucca 

crab. , 

Formerly classed among the Crustacea* but now generally 

placed under the Arachnida or Spiders; in structure it 

differs considerably from the typical form of both classes, and 

is considered to be the nearest living representative of the 

extinct Trilobites. 

1698 J. PETIVEK in Phil. Trans. XX. 394 A King Crab of 

the Molucos Island. 178* ANDRE ibid. LXXII. 440 The 

Monoculus 

Polyphemus, or King Crab .. frequently grows 

to a very large size. 1847 ANSTED Anc. World ix. 188 The 

prawns and the king-crabs of the existing seas. 

2. The British thomback-crab (Mata squinado}. 


Krng-craft. The art of ruling as a king ; the 

skilful exercise of royalty; esp. the use of clever or 

crafty diplomacy in dealing with subjects. 

[1650 WELDON Crt. Jas. /, 102 Nor must I forget to let 

you know how perfect the King [Jas. I] was in the art of 

dissimulation, or to give it his own phrase (Kingcraft).] 

1643 PRYNNE Sov. Power Parlt. ii. 34 In this dissembling 

age ; when King-craft is improved to the utmost. 1677 GALE 

Crt. Gentiles iv. 4 Solomon was endowed with this natural 

sagacitie . . which kind of sagacitie Politicians cal King-craft. 

1827 HALLAM Const. Hist. (1876) III. xviii. 376 The kingcraft 

and the priest-craft of the day taught other lessons. 

1874 GREEN Short Hist. viii. 7. 534 With Charles they 

were simply counters, in his game of king-craft. 

Ki'ng-cup. A name given in many parts of 

England to the common species of buttercup, 

Ranunculus acrisy bulbosus, and repens\ also to 

Marsh Marigold, Caltha palustris. 

1538 TURNER Libellus, Rauvncvtvs t .,K.yngecuppe, 1551 

Herbal i. I v b, A yelow floure like vnto the kyngcuppe 

called Ranunculus. 1634 PEACHAM Genil. Exerc. n. vii. 124 

A garland of Bents, King-cups, and Maidens haire. 1784 

COWPER Task vi. 303 To gather king-cups in the yellow 

mead. 1802 WORDSW. Small Celandine i Pansies, lilies, 

kingcups, daisies, Let them live upon their praises ! 1833 

TENNYSON Poems 38 Methinks that I could tell you all The 

cowslips and the kingcups there. 

Kingdom (krrjdam), sb. Forms : i cyning-,3 

kung-, 4-5 kyng-, 4- kingdom; also 4 king-, 

4-5 kyngdam(e; 4-5 kinge-, 5 kynge-, 4-7 

kyng-, 6-7 kingdome, (7 -doume), (4 kingdon, 

5 kyngham). [OK. cyningd6m = Q$>. kuningdbm 

(MDu. koninghdonij T)\\.koningdom}, G. konigtum 

see KING 

(only since i8th c.), ON. konungddni'r : 

and -DOM. 

OE. cyningd6m is found only in the poem of Daniel^ the 

usual word being cyned6m^ whence ME. kinedom^ KINDOM. 

The use of kingdom in ME. was further limited by the 

existence of KINGRIK and KINRIK, with the same senses.] 

fl. Kingly function, authority, or power; sovereignty, 

supreme rule ; the position or rank of 

a king, kingship. Obs. a. Without article. 

a 1000 Daniel 567 Se [metod] bee aceorfe5 of cyningdome. 

Sailor's IVord'bk., King's bargain, Good or Bad', said of 

a seaman according to his activity and merit, or sloth and 

demerit. ci6oo DAY Begg. Bednall Gr. 11. it (1881) 39 You 

are more in the "Kings Books than he, and pay more Scot 

and lot a fair deal, so ye do. 1892 Cooley's Pract. Receipts 

948 Lemonade. Syn. Lemon-sherbet, "King's cup. 1818 

SCOTT Hrt. Midi, vii, He was now mounted on the hands 

of two of the rioters, clasped together, so as to form what is 

called in Scotland, 'The "King's Cushion'. 1622 Direct. 

Cone. Preachers in Rushw. Hist. Coll. (1659) I- 4 Upon 

the "Kings days, and set Festivals. 1705 BOSMAN Guinea 

278 Vast Shoals are taken of the Saffer, or "Kings-fish. 1712 

W. ROGERS Voy, 77 La Plata, .and Uraguay abound so 

with Fish, ..one of the choicest, call'd the Kings-Fish, is 

small without Bones, and taken only in Winter. 

1770 

BURKE Prcs. Discont. Wks. 1815 II. 258 The name by which 

they chuse to distinguish themselves, is that of king's men 

or the "king's friends. 1844 LD. BROUGHAM Brit. Const. 

viii. (1862) 105 'King's friends' men for the most part 

attached to his service, by holding military or household 

places. 1685 Lintoun Green (1817) 92 (E. D. D.) Pow'ssowdy, 

*king's-hoods, mony-plies, Sheep's trotters. 1782 

A. MONRO Contpar. Anat. (ed-3) 39 The second stomach, 

which is the anterior and smallest, is called, .the bonnet, or 

king's-liood. 1620 A. HUME Brit. Tongue Ded. 2 Your 

courteoures, quha..sum tymes spilt (as they cal it) the 

l n s slilteri ls 

. 

properly that money, which is due to the 

King in the Court of common plees, in respect of a licence 

there granted to any man for passing a fine. 1888 W. RYE 

Records and Rec. -search 39 note, The King's Silver (or the 

Post Fine) was the fine paid to the King for liberty to 

compromise the imaginary suit. 1613 ZOUCH Dove 30 O ! may 

some Royall Heau T n grac'd hand asswage This swelling 

Euils "Kings-stroke-asking rage I a 1300 Cursor M. 7864 

|>ai sett a ceptre in his hand 1 

1. (Also king s-bird, king 

pat man clepes *kyngs wand. 

ri79o I.MISON Set. Aft II. 72 "King's Yellow is the most 

bird of paradise.} 

species of bird of paradise, Paradisea regia. 

1779 FORREST Voy. N. Guinea 141 The late Linneus, as 

well as Count Buffon, reckon the King's bird among the 

birds of paradise. 1828 WEBSTEK, Kingbird^ a fowl of the 

genus Paradisea. i86a WOOD Nat. Hist. II. 418 The 

Manucode, or King Bird of Paradise, so called because it 

was thought to exercise a regal sway over the other species. 

2. A royal bird ? the ; eagle. 

1840 BROWNING Sordello vi. 

^83 As the king-bird with 

ages on his plumes Travels to die in his ancestral glooms. 

o. An American tyrant fly-catcher, usually Tyrannus 

carolinensis (also called 'Bee-Martin'), remarkable 

for its boldness and intrepidity during 

the breeding season. 

1828 in WEBSTER. 18. . in Encycl. Brit. (ed. 7) XVI. 560/1 

With spring's return the king-bird hither hastes. 1858 O. W. 

HOLMES Aut. Breakf.-t. (1865) 28 If you ever saw a crow 

with a king bird after him, you will get an image of a dull 

speaker and a lively listener. 1896 NEWTON Diet. Birds 

1000 The glory of the Family may be said to culminate in 

the king of King-birds, Muscivora regia. 

4. A sailor's name for various species of tern 

(Newton Diet. Birds s.v.). 

Ki'ng-bolt. A main or large bolt in a mechanical 

structure. 

a. An iron rod in a roof, used instead of a king-post, b. A 

vertical bolt passing through the axle of a carriage or railway 

car, and forming a pivot on which the axle swings in 

taking curves, o. A bolt from which the cage of a mining 

shaft is suspended. 

18*5 J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 563 Constructed 

with one king-bolt in the middle. 1874 KNIGHT Diet. Meek. 

839/2 The king-bolt is the center of oscillation, and the fifthwheel 

forms an extended support to Ibid. 680 pa was endedaej, pees be Caldeas cynmgdom 

ahton. c 13*5 Know Thyself'76 in E. E. P. (1862) 132 pau? 

J>ou haue kyngdam and empyre. 1539 RASTELL Pastyme l 

Hist. Rom. (1811) 13 

prevent the careening 

of the carriage-bed. 1882 Rep. to Ho. Repr. Prec. Met. 

U, S. 591 As soon as these arms become engaged and fixed 

Put downe from his dignyte of kyngdome. 

1533 BELLENDEN Livy \. (1822) 12 Avarice and desire 

of kingdome. a 1679 HOBBES Rhet. viii. (1681) 19 

Monarchy .. which Government, if he limit it by Law, is 

called Kingdom ; if by his own will, Tyranny. 

b. With poss. pron. or the (passing into 2 or 3). 

a 1300 Cursor M. 7613 He dred his kingdon [v. r. -dome] 

to lese,pat )>ai to king suld dauid chese. 1390 GOWER Con/. 

I. 142 Thus was he from his kingdom Into the wilde Forest 

drawe. c 1415 Eng. Cong. Irel. 28 Sume of hys eldre to-fore 

hym hadden somtyme the kynge-dome of all Irland. 1535 

COVERDALE i Sam. xiv. 47 Whan Saul had conquered the 

kyngdome ouer Israel. 1594 SHAKS. Rich. Ill, iv. ii. 62 Else 

my Kingdome stands on brittle Glasse. 

1651 WEEVER Anc. 

Fun. Mon, 767 Sigebert. .resigned vp his kingdome. 

2. An organized community having a king as its 

head ; a monarchical state or government. 

Latin Kingdom (see LATIN). Middle Kingdoin^ a translation 

of Chinese chung kwoh ' 

central state ', originally the 

name given, c B. c. 1150, under the Chan dynasty, to the imperial 

state of Honan, in contrast to the dependencies surrounding 

it. In mod. use the term is sometimes confined to 

the eighteen provinces of China Proper, but is also used to 

denote the whole Chinese Empire. United Kingdom^ Great 

Britain and Ireland, so called since the Act of Union of 

1800. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 2127 (Cott.) pe mast cite .. And mani 

riche kingdon [Go'tt. mani a no)>er riche kingdame]. 1387 

TREVISA Hlgden (Rolls) 1. 31 Somtyme )*re were foure principal 

kyngdoms . . |>e firste kyngdom was vnder cure fore 

fadres from Adam to Moyses. 1657-8 Burton*s Diary (1828) 

II. 403 The Commons of England will quake to hear that

KINGDOM. 

they are returning to Egypt, to the garlick and onions of. . 

a kingdom. 1672 TEMPLE Ess., Government Wks. 1731 I. 

102 If. .a Nation extended it self over vast Tracts of Land 

and_ Numbers of People, it thereby arrived in time at the 

ancient Name of Kingdom, or modern of Empire. 1734 POPE 

Ess. Man iv. 

133 

This world . . Contents us not. A better shall 

we have ? A kingdom of the Just then let it be. 1790 BURKE 

f-r.Kcv. Wks. V. 48 There is ground enough for the opinion 

that all the kingdoms of Europe were at a remote period 

elective. 1801 Proclamation 22 Jan., George the Third,, .of 

the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King. 1885 

S. W. WILLIAMS Middle Kingdom I. 4 A third [name] ii 

" or 

- / 3? Mlddle 

, Kingdom. 'l 

1883 Standard 6 Apr. 

5/2 I he Middle Kingdom has forwarded the.. articles. 1900 

Westm. Gaz. 15 Oct. 4/2 His invitation having been.. 

the 

only 

second to a foreigner, by the Kingdom of the Chrysanthemum 

[Japan]. 

3. The territory or country subject to a king ; the 

area over which a king's rule extends a ; realm. 

c 1250 Gen. , Ex. 1260 A kungriche his name bar ; And of 

duma his sexte sune, A kungdom dirima. c 1340 Cursor M. 

55O7 (Tnn.) penne commaundide . . kyng pharao Ouer al his 

kyngdome euery where [etc.], c 1400 Three Kings Cologne 

8 In all be londys and be kyngdoms of be eest. a 1450 Cov. 

Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 210 Naverne and the kyngdom of 

bpayn. 1591 SHAKS. Two Gent. II. vii. 10 A true-deuoted 

Pilgnme is not weary To measure Kingdomes with his 

feeble steps. 1667 MILTON P. L. ii. 361 The utmost border 

of his kingdom. 1794 BURKE Corr. (1844) IV. 255, I wish 

he may be able to find his kingdom in the map of the 

British territories. 1841 W. SPALDING Italy

KINGLIKE. 

manding qualities. 

fig. 1853 KANE Grbmell Exp. xlix. (1856) 461 The kingly 

bergs began their impressive march. 1877 TENNYSON Harold 

m. i. 79 The kingliest Abbey in all Chnstian lands. 

Kingly, adv. [f. as prec. + -LY 2. Cf. MDu. 

conincffkc, ON. konungliga.] In a kingly manner, 

royally ; regally. 

1586 MARLOWE u/ Pi. Tamburl, in. iii, Each man a crown I 

Why, kingly fought, i 

1 

faith. 1658 CLEVELAND Rustic Ram. 

pant Wks. (1687) 442 This Way he could not but dye Kingly, 

at least, like a Gentleman. 1741 POPE Dune. iv. 207 Low 

bow'd the rest : He, kingly, did but nod. 187* TENNYSON 

Garitk >f Lyiatte 124 When I was frequent with him in my 

youth, And heard him Kingly speak. 

708 

4 Ki ng-ma:ker. One who makes or sets up 

kings ; spec, an epithet of Richard Neville, Earl of 

Warwick, in the reigns of Henry VI and Edward IV. 

4, 6 kingrik(e, 7 -rick. [OK cyningrice (f. 

cyning KINO + rice kingdom, RICHE, KIKE) = 

MDu. conincrike (Du. koninkrijK), OHG. chunincrtchi 

(MHG. k&nicrichc, G. konigreicK), ON. 

konungrlki (Sw. konungrike, Da. kongerigi). Cf. 

KINRICK.] = KINGDOM, in various senses. 

a. a 1067 in Kemble Cod. Dipt. IV. 229 For aelre 8ere kynga 

sawle Be aefter me Svses kvnyngriches wajldeS. c 1250 Celt, 

ft Ex. 1258 A kungriche his name bar. a 1300 K. Horn 17 

In none kinge-riche Nas non his iliche. 

1377 LANGL. P. PI. 

B. Pro!. 125 Crist kepe be, sire 

kyng, Andpi kyng-riche. 

/J. 111300 Cursor M. 416 Als mighti king in his kingrike. 

"375 BARBOUR Bruce I. 57 Thai said, successioun of kyngrik 

Was nocht to lawer feys lik. c 1470 HARDING Chron. 

CLXXXVII. iii, Aboue all men within his hole kyngrike. 1579 

I. STUBBES GapingGul/C vij b, Our Elizabeth, .hauing the 

kingrike in her owne person. 

attrib. 1663 Bp. GRIFFITH Serm. 4 Admir. Beasts 10 The 

Regal or Kingrick office of Christ. 

KING'S MAN. 

Kinglike (ki-nbik), a. and adv. KING sb. 

[f. 

+ -LIKE.] A. adj. Resembling a king; characteristic 

of, or befitting, a king ; kingly ; regal. 

1561 T NORTON Calvin's last. IV. xix. (1634) 726 marg., 

Rasure of the crowne [is] ministred in token of spiritual 

Kinglike dignitie. 1636 MASSINGER Bash/. Lever m in, 

Tis truly nolle, having power to pumsh,-Nay, kinglike 

to forbear it. 1661 GAUDEN in Birch Mtltoti s Wks. (1738) 

I. 67 What was dona like a King, should have a Kmglike 

Retribution. 

B. adv. Like, or in a manner befitting, a king. 

1884 TENNYSON Becket iv. ii, He . .kinglike fought the proud 

archbishop, kinglike Defied the Pope. 

Kingliness (ki-rjlines). [f. KINGLY a. + -NESS.] 

Kingly quality or character. 

1548 UDALL, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark iii. 28 Shewed no 

poynte of Kingliness. s. Also kingVpiece. = 

KING-POST. 

1664 EVEI.YN tr. Freart's Archit. 133 The Hyperthyron 

which the Italians call Soppra frontale, and our Carpenters 

the King-piece. 1679 MOXON Mcch. Exerc. 169 King peece, 

see Joggle peece. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury m. 450/1 

Kings piece.. which stands upright in the middle of the 

Gable end [of a wooden house]. 

Ki'ng-pin. 

fl. The tallest (central) pin in the game of kayles. 

1801 STRUTT Sports fy Past. in. vii. 239 One of them.. is 

taller than the rest, and this, I presume, was the king-pin. 

2. = KINO-BOLT. Hence Jig., that which holds 

together any complex system or arrangement. 

1895 Libr. Jrnl. (U.S.) June 202 Mr. Vinton. .believed 

cataloging to be the king-pin of the library system. 1808 R. 

KIPLING Fleet in Being vi. 76 The newer generation, -know 

that he is the king-pin of their system. 

Ki'iig-post. Carpentry. An upright post in 

the centre of a roof-truss, extending from the ridge 

to the tie-beam. 

1776 G. SEMPLE Building in Water 115 The King-post, h. 

may be the same. 1817 B. HALL Voy. Loo C/ioo (1820) 54 

The roof was well constructed, the rafters being mortised 

into the ends of the horizontal beams, and braced to the 

middle by a perpendicular beam or king-post. 1891 A. 

WHITE Tries at Truth iii. 15 In building a porch, the kingpost 

is the beam on which the whole structure rests. 

b. attrib., as king-post roof, truss. 

1845 Ecclesiologist I. 149 Tie-beams, which sustain a low 

king-post roof. 1886 E. S. MORSE Japanese Homes i. 10 

[He] fairly loathes a structure that has no king-post, .truss. 

King's Bench. [See BENCH sb. 2 b.] A former 

court of record and the supreme court of common 

law in the kingdom ; now, under the Judicature 

Act of 1873, represented by the King's Bench 

division of the High Court of Justice. 

1362- [see BENCH so. 2 b]. 

D. In full, Kings Bench Prison, A jail formerly 

appropriated 

t Ki-ngrick, -rik, -rich.. Obs. Forms : a. 

I kynyng-, 3 kung-, kinge-, 4 king-, kyng(e)riche. 

0. 4 kinge-, 4-5 kyngrik(e, (5 -ryke), 

to debtors and criminals confined by 

authority of the supreme courts at Westminster, etc. 

1428 E. E. Wills (1882) 78 The prisons of Ludgate, Marchalsie, 

Kyngesbenche, And the Countours in London. 

1436 Ibid. 106 The Prisoners of the Kynggis bench. 1501 

Bury Wills (Camden) So To the prisoners in Newgate, 

Ludgate, to the Kyngs Benche, and to the Marshals}-, to 

eche of them vj s. viij d. 1849 DICKENS Dav. Copp. xlix, 

My feet will naturally tend towards the King's Bench Prison. 

1898 BESANT Orange Girl u. xxvi, A Newgate bird and 

a bird of the King's Bench. 

King's evil. [tr. med.L. regius morbus (in 

classical L. = jaundice) ; cf. MDu. conincsevel, OF. 

le mal le 

roy.~\ Scrofula, which in England and 

France was formerly supposed to be curable by 

the king's (or queen's) touch. (Cf. EVIL sb. 7 c.) 

The practice of touching for the king's evil continued 

from the time of Edward the Confessor to the death of 

Queen Anne in 1714. The Office for the ceremony has not 

been printed in the Prayer-book since 1719. 

1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) V. 49 [God] destroyed the 

secounde witnesse by the Kynges evel [1432-50 the kynges 

iekenesse], 1398 Earth. De P. R. xvii. cxxxiii. (MS. 

Bodl.) If. 224/1 pe smel of leke..heleb be kinges yuel and 

be 

dropsie. 1533 ELYOT Cast. Helthe (1541) ooa, Swel- 

Hnges m the neck ful of matter, called the kinges evyll. 

1580 LYLY Etipkues (Arb.) 322 There is nothing that can 

cure the Kings Euill, but a Prince. 16x5 CROOKE Body oj 

Man 340 The seauenth Sonne is able to cure the Kings 

Euill. 1660 PEPYS Diary 23 June, Staid to see the King 

touch people for the King's evil. 1722 W. BECKETT (title) 

A Free and Impartial Inquiry into the Antiquity and Efficacy 

of Touching for the King's Evil. 1791 BOSWELL Johnson 

(1887) I. 41-2 Young Johnson had the misfortune to be much 

afflicted with the scrophula, or . . King's-evil, His mother. . 

carried him to London where he was actually touched by 

Queen Anne[i7i2]. 1839 KEIGHTLEY Hist. Eng. I. 66 The 

Confessor was the first who touched for the King's evil. 

1898 BESANT Orange Girl i. 

iv, Rheumatism, gout, and the 

King's Evil. 

fig. 1692 WASHINGTON tr. Stilton's De/. v. 

Pop. 

M.'s Wks. 

(1851) 134 You had not then been bribed with Charles his 

Jacobusses. You had not got the King's-Evil. 

Hence f King's-e vil'd, -e'villy, adjs., affected 

with the king's evil. 

1706 BAYNARD in Sir J. Floyer Hot /, CM Bath. n. 

(1709) 

257 Their children . . Rickety, King's or 

jEvil'd, Consumptive. 

Ibid. 335 Miserable small . King's-Evilly. Infants. 

King's : Highway see HIGHWAY. 

Kingship (ki-rjjip). [f. KING sb. + -SHIP ; cf. 

MDu. conincscap (Du. koningschaf), G. konigschaft. 

OE. had cynescipe (see KINE-). The early 

occurrence of the word in one MS. of Cursor 

Mundi is remarkable.] 

1. The office and dignity of a king; the fact of 

being king ; reign. 

c 1325 Cursor M. 8583 (Cott.) In his kingscip [Fair/., 

Trin. kingdome ; Gdtt. king-riche] be fourte [other MSS. 

forme, former] daus, O-mang his folk he sett his laus. 

1642 

SIR E. DERING Sp. Relig. 96 The Kingship and Priestship 

of every particular man. 1765 BLACKSTONE Comm. I. vii. 

24_9 

Immediately upon the decease of the reigning .his 

prince. 

kingship or imperial dignity, .is vested at once in his heir. 

1869 FKEEMAN Norm. Conq. III. xiv. 374 The few days of 

life and kingship which still were his. 

fig. 1865 RUSKIN Sesame 121 The kingship, .which consists 

in a stronger moral state, .than that of others. 

2. The rule of a king; monarchical government. 

1648 Eikon Bos. x. 78 They designed, and proposed to me 

the new modelling of Sovereignty and Kingship. 1692 

SOUTH 12 Sertn. (1697) I. 409 While his army believed him 

real in his Zeal against Kingship. 1840 CARLYLE Heroes vi. 

In rebellious ages, when Kingship itself seems dead and 

abolished, Cromwell, Napoleon step forth again as Kings. 

3. With : poss. pron. The personality of a king ; 

(his) royal majesty. Also fig. 

1648 HERRICK Hesper., Past. Birth Pr. Chas., I a sheephook 

will bestow To have his little King-ship know, As he 

is prince, he's shepherd too. 1660 A. SADLER Subj\ Joy 28 

Though, .his fifty Boyes Do run before his Kingship. 1832 

J. WILSON in Wackw. Mag. XXXI. 870 Then shall we 

skirt his kingship [Scafell] all the way to the head of Seathwaite 

Tarn. 1861 Du CHAILLU Equat. Afr. xii. 183 His 

ebony kingship. 

4. The dominion or territory of a king. 

1864 DASENT Jest & Earnest (1873) H. 158 So long as 

countries are split into small kingships, and each valley has 

its chief. 

King's man, krngsman. 

1. A partisan of the King a ; royalist. In Se. 

Hist., (see quot 1862). 

a 1639 SPOTTISWOOD Hist. Ch. Scotl. (1655)253 [anno 1571] 

One professing to be the Kings man, another the Queens. 

1659-60 Hist, znd Death Rump i/i Two Kings-men Last 

week to the Country did gallop. 1770 BURKE Pres. Discont. 

Wks. 1815 II. 256 The name by which they chuse to distinguish 

themselves, is that of lung's men, or the king's 

friends. 1862 HUNTER Biggar $ Ho. Fleming xxviiL^s/ 

In the year 1571 .. the people of Scotland were divided into 

two inveterate factions, called respectively Queensmen and 

Kingsmen. 

2. A custom-house officer. 

1814 SCOTT Diary 25 Aug. in Lockhart, We observed a 

hurry among the inhabitants, owing to our being as usual 

suspected for king's men. 1824 MACTAGGART Gallovid.

KINGSTON. 

Encycl. (1876) 362 He was one of the greatest smugglers on 

..the Solway, and outwitted the most sagacious kingsmen. 

3. slang, (see quot.). 

1831 MAYHEW Lond. Labour I. 51 The man who does not 

wear his silk neckerchief his ' 

King's-man' as it is called 

is known to be in desperate circumstances. 

King's Peace : see PEACE. 

Kingston (ki'rjstan). Also 7 kingstone, 8 

king's stone, kinson, A name for the angel-fish 

or monk-fish (A'&tna squatina). 

1.666 MERRETT Pinax 186 Squatina, a Kingstone. 1747 

MRS. GLASSE Cookeiy xxi. 163 Fish in Season . . Thornback, 

and Homlyn, Kinson, Oysters [etc.]. 1760 HEWSON in 

Phil. 1 rails. LIX. 205, I next went to Brighthelmstone, 

where I found kingston, or monk-fish, a species of skate. 

1836 YARREI.L Brit. Fishes II. 407 It is common on the 

coasts of Kent and Sussex, where it is called a kingston. 

tKi.iih.ead. Obs.rare. In 4 kunhede, kinhed. 

[f. KIN l + -HEAD.] Kinship : cf. KINDHEAD a. 

1:1350 Will. Palerne 4515 To litel bow me knowest or 

kinhed me kibes, c 1400 R. Glouc.'s Chron. (1724) 447 

(Harl. MS.) Erl Roberd .. held hem bobe a 3 e be kyng, to 

(>enche on kunhede [other MSS. kundhede] Vor [be] emperesse 

was hys soster. 

tKi'uhood. 06s. rare- 1 . In 5 kynhod. [f. 

KIN l + -HOOD.] Kindred. 

c 1440 CAFGRAVE Life St. Kath. i. 526 The kynhod of hir 

this Cite. 

Had_foynded 

Kinic, Chem., obs. form of QUINIC. 

Kink (kirjk) , rf.l Also 7 keenk, 8 kenk. [prob. 

a. Da. kink twist, twirl, = G*. kink, kinke, Da., 

Sw. kink, app. from a root *kink-, *kik-, to bend, 

twist ; cf. Icel. kikna to bend at the knees, keikr 

bent back.] 

1. A short twist or curl in a rope, thread, hair, 

wire, or the like, at which it is bent upon itself; 

esp. when stiff so as to catch or cause obstruction. 

(Orig. nautical.) Also transf. of a 'crick' or 

stiffness in the neck, etc. 

1678 PHILLIPS (ed. 4) App., Keenk (in Navigation), is when 

a Rope which should run smooth in the Block, hath got a 

little turn, and runs as it were double. 1769 FALCONER Diet. 

Marine (1789), Kink, a sort of twist or turn in . . any rope, 

occasioned by it's being very stiff or close-laid ; or by being 

drawn too hastily out of the roll. 1778 NAIRNE in Pliil. 

Trans. LXVIII. 834 Where there happened to be kenks in 

the wire, a 1825 FORBY Voc. E. Anglia, Kink, an entanglement 

in a skein. 1833 MARRYAT P. Simple xx, Your back 

with a bow like a kinkin a cable. 1851 H. MELVILLE Whale 

in, I tore myself out of it in such a hurry that I gave myself 

a kink in the neck. 1893 G. D. LESLIE Lett. Marco xxv. 

167 The clematis, tomato, and some others, form kinks in 

their leaf-stems, which secure the plants very effectively. 

1894 BOTTONE Electr. fnstr. Making fed. 6) 125 Care should 

be taken to wind this wire evenly, closely, and without kinks. 

2. Jig. a. A mental twist an odd or ; fantastic 

notion ; a crotchet, whim. b. An odd but clever 

method of doing something; a 'dodge', 'wrinkle'. 

18. . CARLTON New Purchase (Bartlett), It is useless to 

persuade him to go, for he has taken a kink in his head that 

he will not. 18. . Major Jones's Courtship 20 (ibid.), I went 

down to Macon to the examination, whar I got a heap of 

new kinks. 1876 W. CORY Lett, ff Jrnls. (1897) 414, I have 

done a little towards bringing up young people without 

kinks. 1889 Anthony's Photpgr. Bull. II. no The hundred 

and one recent valuable wrinkles, dodges and kinks that float 

through the photographic press. 

Kink (kink), sb.'* Sc. and north, dial. [f. 

KINK w. 1 : cf. the equivalent CHINK sb^\ A fit or 

paroxysm, as of laughter or coughing, that for the 

moment catches the breath. 

1788 W. MARSHALL Yorksh. Gloss, s.v. (E. D. S.), A kink 

of laughter. 1790 MORRISON Poems 215 (Jam.) We value 

their frowns not a kink. 1822 HOGG Perils ofMan I. xii, 

311 The honest man's gane away in a kink. 1880 Antrim 

ff Down Gloss., Kink, keenk, a paroxysm of coughing or of 

laughter. 

Kink (kink), V. 1 Sc. and north, dial. Forms : 

(i oinoian), 4 kino, 5 kynke, 7 kinck, 7- kink. 

[Northern form of CHINK v.i, OE. cindan, corresp. 

to LG. kinken, app. a nasalized variant of Teut. 

*kik-an, whence MHG. kichen, Ger. keichen, Sw. 

kikna, Norw. kikje, to gasp, pant, fetch breath 

with difficulty. Occurs in most modern Teutonic 

langs., as the first element of the name of the chincough, 

kinkcough, or kinkhost.] 

intr. To gasp convulsively for breath, lose the 

breath spasmodically, 

as in hooping-cough or a 

severe fit of laughing, a. with laughing. 

c io$oSnppl. MIfHe's Voc. in Wr.-Wiilcker 171/39 Cochinnatio, 

ceanhetung uel cincung. c 1325 Metr. Horn. 83 Full 

ille bers us lah and kinc Quen apon this bischop we think. 

perhaps elsewhere, of a child's losing its breath by coughing 

especially, or crying, or laughing. 1886 .S. W. Line. Gloss., 

Kink, to . . labour for breath, as in the whooping-cough. 

Mod. Sc. She does not kink much, she has it lightly. 

Hence Kruking vbl. sb.^ and///, a.l 

709 

c 1050 [see a above]. 1607 WALKINGTON OfI. Glass 81 With 

ever-kmckmg vaine The bellowes of his breath he tore in 

twame. 

Kink (kink), v.'* Also 8 kenk. [prob. a. Du. 

kinken (Hexham) f. kink , KINK sb?\ 

1. intr. To form a kink ; to twist or curl stiffly, 

esp. at one point, so as to catch or get entangled : 

said of a rope or the like. 

1697 DAMPIER Voy. I.n. 17 The Line in drawing after him 

chancd to kink, or grow entangled. 1787 BEST Angling 

(ed. 2) 48 Always have one, or more swivels on the line, 

which will prevent its kenking. 1867 F. FRANCIS Angling 

iv. (1880) 107 The running line snarls, and kinks. 1891 H. L. 

WEBB in Electr. in Daily Life, Making a Cable 193 Occasionally 

a sounding was spoiled by the wire kinking. 

2. trans. To cause to kink to ; form a kink upon ; 

to twist stifHy. Also^/%-. (Usually in 

passive.) 

1800 JEFFERSON Writ. (1859) IV. 

346 Arguments.. such as 

none but a head, entangled and kinked as his is, would ever 

have urged. 1886 J. M. CAULFEH.D Seamanship Notes 4 

Cable is full of turns and kinked. 1897 A Ubutfs Syst. Me.t. 

III. 651 The shortened bowel may be kinked or twisted. 

Hence Kinked (kinkt)///. a., Kinking vbl. sb? 

and///, a. 2 ; also Ki-nkable a., liable to kink. 

1794 Rigging

KINO. 

son Loud. Disp. (1818) 216 Botany Bay kino is inodorous; 

tastes bitterish and more austere than the African. 1830 

LINDLEY Nat. Syst. Bot. 91 Gum Kino is the produce of 

Pterocarpus erinacea. 1851 MORFIT Tanning ft Currying 

('853) 69 African . . Kino, Asiatic Kino, . . American Kino, 

from a decoction of the fibrous wood of Ccft oloba uvifera. 

The African, which is the most common kind, differs from 

the rest in coming in small, angular, glittering, black 

granules. 1879 Sf. George's Hosp. Rep. IX. 200 After five 

days 1 

treatment by kino with opium and ipecacuanha. 

b. attrib. 

1881 WATTS Diet. Chem. VIII. 1158 Kino-red yields by 

dry distillation a small quantity of watery and oily dis. 

tillate. 1897 Allbutt's Sjrst. Mcd, II. 743 Compound kino 

powder in 10 grain doses is also very useful 

2. Any of the trees or plants which yield this 

substance : see above. 

1878 HARLEY Mat. Med. (ed. 6) 644 Kino is a lofty tree . . 

native of Ceylon, and the adjacent part of India. 1887 

MOLONEY Forestry W. A/r. 324 African or Gambia Kino . . 

Tree often 

ô 

to 70 feet high, with a very hard, fine-grained 

red wood suitable for naval construction, planking, &c. 

Hence Kinoflnons (kin^n/âs) a. [after melli- 

Kino'ic a., 

fluous}, ' 

' 

exuding kino (Cent. Diet) ; 

of or pertaining to kino; Kinoin (kfn0,in), Chem., 

a crystalline substance (C H 14 12 O6 ) obtained from 

East Indian kino Kiiio-tannic ; acid, Kino- 

tannin, the varieties of tannic acid and tannin 

occurring in kino. 

1853 Pharm. Jrnl. XIII. 79 Hennig calls this substance 

kinoic acid. 1881 WATTS Diet. Chem. VIII. 1158 By 

repeatedly crystallising.. pure colourless crystals of kinoin 

are obtained .. Kinoin is anhydrous; it dissolves sparingly 

in cold water, easily in hot water and in alcohol. 1888 Syd. 

Soc. Lex., Kinotannic acid, a reddish-brown translucent 

substance forming some 95 per cent, of kino. 185* MORFIT 

Tanning- - II. 7 Of his kynrik be 

xix jer. 1533 STEWART Cron. Scot. II. 7 His croun agane 

and klnrik for to win. 1609 SKENE Reg. Maj. 112 Disherished. 

.of all the lands in the Kinrick, that his father held. 

Kinsfolk, -folks (ki-nzfoak, -0ks). Now 

rare. [f. KIN l + FOLK, after kinsman] Persons 

of the same kin ; relations by blood ; relatives. 

0. c 1450 Paston Lett. (K. O.), Kynsefolke. 1526 TINDALE 

Luke ii. 44 They, .sought hym amonge their kynsfolke and 

acquayntaunce. 1546 HEYWOOD Prov. (1867) 37 Many kynsfolke 

and few freends, some folke sale. 1598 GRENEWEY 

Tacitus, Germanie \. (1622) 260 Their family and friends, 

and kinsfolcke. 1855 KINGSLEY Heroes, Argon. \. 76 That 

I may go home to my fathers and to my kinsfolk. 

/3. 1514 E. E. Gilds (1870) 144 Hys kynfalkes benefactours 

and alle crysten saules. Ibid. r45 There kynsfolkes, benefactours. 

1553 EDEN Decades 70 The prosperitie of owre 

contrey and kynsefolkes. 1653 C. B. STAPYLTON Herodian 

161 Their Friends and kinsfolks them upbraid. 

Kinship (krnjip). [f. KIN i + -SHIP. A 

modern word : not in Johnson, Todd, Webster 

1828.] 

The quality or state of being of kin. 

1. Relationship by descent ; consanguinity. 

1833 MRS. BROWNING Prom. Bound Poems 1850 I. 141 

An awful thing Is kinship joined to friendship. 1868 

STANLEY Westm. Abb. iii. 172 In consideration of her 

kinship with no less than twelve sovereigns. 1880 DIXON 

Windsor III. xiii. 119 She was of kinship with the queen. 

2. fig. Relationship in respect of qualities or 

character. 

1873 M. ARNOLD Lit. f. Dogma (1876) 239 We see how far 

it has any kinship with that doctrine of the Godhead of the 

Eternal Son. 1878 R. W. DALE Lict. Preach, iv. 90 Those 

mysterious instincts which vindicate our kinship to God. 

1899 W. M. RAMSAY in Expositor Jan. 42 Peter was., 

among the older apostles . . the one with whom Paul felt 

most kinship in spirit. 

t Kinsing, vU. sb. Obs. rare~ l . 

'Or l gi n and meaninK obscure: see Nares.and quot 1899.] 

1598 BP. HALL in Marston's Sco. Villanie m. x. (1509) 

323, I ask't Phisitions what their counsell was For a mad 

dogge, or for a mankind Asse? They told me. .The dogge 

wa* M?t cured by cutting and kinsing. [1899 E. GOSSE 

Life of John Donne I. 33 Marston. .liked to be known by 

' 

the nickname of Kmsayer, as one who 'kinsed or docked 

the tails of wandering dogs and stray social abuses.] 

Kinsman (ki'nzmsen). Forms: 3-4 cunnes-, 

kun(n)ea- (3-5 kenes-, 5 kenneu-, -ys-), 3-5 

710 

kinnea(s-, 3-6 kynues-, 4-5 kines-, 4-7 kinse-, 

5-6 kyns(e-, 6- kinsman. [Early ME. f. cunnes, 

'kiniics, gen. of KIN + MAN.] A man of one's 

own kin ; a relative by blood (or, loosely, by 

marriage). (Now chiefly literary.) 

(ciosi O. E. Chron. (MS. C.) an. 1052 Hit waes heom 

maest eallon laS bat big sceoldpn f[ejohtan wi5 heora agenes 

cynnes mannum.] c 1200 Vices fr Virtues 75 Ne Sine 

breSren . . ne Sine kenesmen, ne oine neihibures. c 1200 

ORMIN 7613 Cristess kinness menn baer brohhtenn Crist to 

kirrke. 1290 6". Eng. Leg. I. 456/3 His freond and is 

cunnes-men pe gretteste maystres 

were, a 1300 Cursor M. 

6434 letro . . was moyses kynnes-man \Gott. kinesman]. 

c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret. Gov. Lordsh. 106 , My kennysmen 

and ancestres yn be self lawe dwellyd. c 1477 CAXTON Jason 

50 That my kinnesmen and frendes be assembled. 1555 

EDEN Decades 2 for 

No..kynseman kynseman. .coulde do 

more. 1613 PURCHAS Pilgrimage (1614) 273 Hali, Mahomets 

nearest kinsman and sonne in lawe. I768STERNE.5VH/. jfount. 

(1778) II. 31 (Captive) Nor had the voice of friend or kinsman 

breathed through his lattice. 1855 MACAULAY Hist. Eng. 

xy. III. 605 It was no pleasant task to accuse the Queen's 

kinsman in the Queen's presence. 1865 KINGSLEY Herevj. 

i, He is your mother's kinsman. 

fig. 1590 SHAKS. Coin. Err. v. i. 80 Moodie and dull 

melanchofly, Kinsman to grim and comfortlesse despaire. 

1635 SWAN Spec. M, v. 2 (1643) 148 Dew.. being a near 

kinsman to rain. 

Hence Ki-nsmanly a., appropriate to or characteristic 

of a kinsman. 

1838 J. MARTIN Rein, ft Serin, vii, 168 True kinsmanly 

affection to our brethren in Christ. 1885 Spectator 31 Jan. 

154/2 The claims of New England upon the kinsmanly 

interest and affection of all travellers from the mothercountry. 

Kiusmanslvip (ki'nzmaenfip). [f. prec. + 

-SHIP.] The relation of kinsmen; kinship. Also/ff. 

1842 Tail's Mag. IX. 563 Little.. did I surmise your 

kinsmanship with a man so disgraced. 1874 SAYCE Compar. 

Philol. v. 189 The surest ' 

differentia ' 

of linguistic kinsman- 

ship. 

Kinson, variant of KINGSTON. 

Ki nspeople. U. S. = KINSFOLK. 

1866 HOWELLS Venet. Life xviii. 267 Kinspeople of herself 

or her husband. 1881 Harper's Mag. July 266/1 Pike 

was . . free-handed, especially to his kinspeople. 1891 J. 

WINSOR Columbus v. 86 Here his kinspeople ruled. 

Ki-nswoman. Forms : see KINSMAN, [f. as 

kinsman + WOMAN.] A woman of one's own kin ; 

a female relative. (Now only literary.) 

< 1400 MAUNDEV. xxviii. (1839) 2^8 Hire othere kynneswommen 

[Roxb. sibbe wymmenj. c 1460 Toiuneley Myst. 

xi. 15 My dere kyns Woman. 1586 Q. ELIZ. in Ellis Orig. 

Lett. Ser. l. III. 23 Yow have not in the World a more 

lovinge kinswoman . . then my self. 1699 BENTLEY P/uil. 88 

Autonoe, a Kinswoman of the Tyrants. 1741-70 ELIZ. 

CARTER Lett. (1808) 353, I wish, .. in the next edition 

Mr. Richardson would leave out the grievous old-fashioned 

word kinsivoman. 1855 MACAULAY Hist. Eng. xviii. IV. 

168 He tried to restore harmony between his kinswomen. 

1868 FREEMAN Norm. Cony. 1 1. vii. 54 The murdered prince 

had married a kinswoman of the Earl. 

Kintal, early form of QUINTAL, a weight of one 

hundred pounds. 

: Kintecoy see KANTIKOT. 

Kintlage, -ledge, -lidge, obs. ff. KENTLEDGE. 

Kintra, kintry, 

Sc. forms of COUNTRY. 

t Kinyng, var. cutting; obs. f. CONY, rabbit. 

c 1450 Inv. in Archseologia. XXI. 264 Item, j redde panne 

of kinyng skynnys. 

II Kiosk (kiip-sk). Also 7 (ohouske), chios- 

que, 7-9 kiosque, 8 kioske, kioso, ohiosk, 9 

keosohk. [ = F. kiosque (It. chiosco), a. Turk. eU.^ 

kinshk pavilion, Pers. kiiskh palace, portico.] 

1. An open pavilion or snmmerhouse of light 

construction, often supported by pillars and surrounded 

with a balustrade ; common in Turkey 

and Persia, and imitated in gardens and parks in 

Western Europe. 

1625 PURCHAS Pilgrims II. ix. 1581 Some [Rooms] also 

vpon the Sea side, which are called Kiosks, that is Roomes 

of faire prospect, or (as we terme them) banquetting Houses. 

/bid. 1626 Banquetting Houses, which they call Chouskes. 

1682 WHELER Journ. Greece n. 204 A stately Chiosque, or 

Summer-house. 1717 LADY M. W. MONTAGU Let. to Mrs. 

great Cedar . . Before it lost its top . . must have nearly 

equalled the brass kiosk in elevation. 1863 KINGLAKE Crimea 

(1876) I. i. 20 The summer kiosks, and the steep shady gardens 

looking down on the straits between Europe and Asia. 

2. A light ornamental structure resembling this, 

used for the sale of newspapers (in France and 

Belgium), for a band-stand, or for other purposes. 

1 

1865 Daily Tel. 5 Dec. 3/4 A 'kiosk 

i.e., a place for 

the sale of newspapers. 1868 Morn. Star 26 The 

Feb., 

kiosques in which tne two military bands were stationed, 

were illuminated by lampions and electric light. 1870 

W. CHAMBERS Winter Mentont i. 13 At kiosks on the 

Quai.. several Paris daily newspapers may be purchased. 

Kiotome (kai-otonm). Surg. Also ciotome. 

[irreg. for *kionotome, f. Gr. K'UOV pillar + Top6s 

cutting. (Cf.ClONOTOME.)] An instrument invented 

by Desault for dividing pseudo-membranous bands 

in the rectum or bladder ; also used for removing 

the tonsils. 

1841 DUNGLISON Med. Lex. (ed. 3). 1855 MAYNF. Expos. 

Lex., Kiotome, see Ciotome. 1888 Syd. Soc. Lex. , Kiolome. 

KIP. 

Kip (kip), sb.l Also 6 kyppe, keippe, kepe, 

7 kipp(e. [Of uncertain origin. Sense 2 corresponds 

to MDu. kip, kij'p, pack or bundle, esp. of 

hides (see Verwijs and Verdam) ; but there is no 

direct evidence that sense I was developed from 2. 

Hardly to be connected with Flem. kippe new-born or 

young calf, G. kippe ewe.] 

1. The hide of a young or small beast (as a calf or 

lamb, or cattle of small breed), as used for leather. 

1530 PALSCR. 236/1 Kyppe of lambe a furre [no Fr.J. 1617 

Nottingham Rec. IV. 353 A kipp to make a cover for the 

charter. 1776 Excise-book in Dorset County Chron. (1881) 

2 June, [Kinds of hides] sheep and lamb, butts and backs, 

calves and kips. 1852 MORFIT Tanning $ Currying (1853) 

146 Kips, consisting of the younger growth of the above 

animals [oxen, horses, cows, bulls, and buffaloes]. 1875 

Urt't Diet. Arts III. 24 The tanners call the skins of 

young animals kips. The skins of full-grown cattle of 

small breed are also so called, a 1882 KENDALL Poems 

(1886) 192 A hero in moleskin and kip. 

2. A set or bundle of such hides, containing a 

definite number : see quots. 

c 1525 Northumbld. Hoiiseh. Bk. (1827) 555, ij Keippe and 

a half [of lamb skin] after xxx Skynnes in a Kepe. 1612 

A. HOPTON Concord. Yeares 164 The skins of Goats are 

numbered bjr the Kippe, which is 50. 1674 JEAKE Arith. 

(1696) 67 Skins of Goats. In i Kippe, 50 Skins, c 1890 

Correspondent, A kip of chamois skins is now 30. 

3. attrib., as kip leather (used chiefly for the 

uppers of shoes), kip-skin. 

1828 Craven Dial., Jfip-leat/ter, the tanned hide of a stirk. 

1833 Act 3 q 4 Will. IV, c. 56 Calf Skins and Kip Skins, 

in the Hair, not tanned. 1844 Port Phillip Patriot 

2 5 July 3/6 Half ton Hobart Town kip leather. 1891 

A nckland (ff. Z.) Star r, Oct. 1/4 A hundred gross of Kip 

Leather Laces. 

Kip, sb? Sc. Also kipp. [Cf. Germ. (prop. 

LG.) kippe point, peak, tip.] 

1. 'A term denoting anything that is beaked' 

(Jam.), e.g. the tip of the lower jaw of a male 

salmon at the time of spawning (cf. KIPPER sb. 

etym. note). 

2. A sharp- pointed hill; also, a jutting point, 

on the side of a hill, etc. (Jam.) 

1815 ARMSTRONG in Pennecuik Descr. T-wceddale 228 

(Jam.) The kipps, above this, are remarkably steep and 

pointed hills. 

attrib. 1868 J. HARDY in Proc. Berwick. Nat. FieldCliib 

376 Kip rocksâre numerous in Scotland, the name being 

applied to jutting eminences or upright points of rocks. 

Kip, i*. 3 

slang. [Cf. Da. kippt mean hut, low 

alehouse ; horekifpe brothel.] 

1 1. A house of ill-fame, a brothel. Obs. 

1766 GOLDSM. Vic. W. xx, My business was to attend him 

at auctions, .to take the left hand in his chariot when not 

filled by another, and to assist at tattering a kip, as the 

phrase was, when we had a mind for a frolic. [S. BALDWIN 

Note Tattering a : kip we have never heard this expression 

in England, but are told that it is 

frequent among the young 

men in Ireland. It signifies, beating up the quarters of 

women of ill fame.] 

2. A common lodging-house ; also a lodging or 

bed in such a house ; hence, a bed in general. 

which, for the moderate sum of fourpence, supplies the 

applicant with a bed. 1892 M. WILLIAMS Round London 

(1893) 38 The sort of life that was led in ' 

kips ', or ' 

doss- 

houses '. 

Kip, sb.* Coal-mining. 

1883 GRESLEY Gloss. Coal Mining Terms, Kip (N.), a level 

or gently sloping roadway going ontbye at the extremity of 

an engine plane, upon which the full tubs stand ready for 

being sent up the shaft. 

Kip, sb Also kipp. A local name for a tern. 

1802-3 '" Co'.- Hawker Diary (1893) II. 358 Kipps. .5. 

[Note, A kipp is a genus of tern peculiar to the vicinity of 

Romney.J 1885 SWAINSO SWAINSON Prov. Names Birds, Common 

Tern . . also called d . . Kip. 

f Kip, v. Obs. Forms: 3-4 kippe, 4 kip, kyp, 

4-5 kyppe ; pa- t. 3 kypte, 3-4 kipte, kipt, 4 

kyppid. [ME. kippen : cf. ON. kippa to snatch, 

tug, pull ; also MDu. kippen to catch, grip, G. dial. 

(Swiss) kippen to steal, 'prig'.] trans. To take 

hold of, take in the hand, seize, snatch, catch. 

c 1250 Gen. ff Ex. 3164 Do was non biging of al egipte 

lich-les, so mani3e dead oor 

kipte. 1207 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 

2667 ' 

Nimeb goure sexes ', & is men per wib Echon 

Kipte 

hor longe kniues. 1300 Havelok 1050 He.. kipte up pat 

heui ston. 13.. E. E. Allit. P. B. 1510 Kyppe kowpes in 

honde kyngez to seme, c 1400 Sege Jerrts. (E. E. T. S) 

27/478 Cayphas of be kyst kyppid a rolle & radde. c 1440 

Protnp. Pan>. 276/1 Kyppyn, idem quod hynton. 

b. âbsol. or intr. 

c 1460 Taivneley Myst. xii. 253 Be God, he bot syppys, 

begylde thou art ; Behold how he kyppys. Ibid. xiii. 557 

Any lord myght hym haue This chyld to his son. When he 

wakyns he kyppys, that ioy is to se. 

H In many passages, kip, kipte, appear to be = 

kepe, kepte, from KEEP v. 

c 1300 Beket 1841 That was signe of his baner, for other ne 

kipte he non [S. Eng. Leg. \. 158/1805 c 

kepte]. 1305 

St. Dunstan 64 in E. E. P. (1862) 36 He ne kipte of hem 

non hure. 1311 Pol. Songs (Camden) r52 Thus y kippe 

ant cacche caresful colde. 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. (1810) 

182 Togidir I rede we kip. c 1340 Cursor M. 3079 (Trin.) 

Whenne [Ismael] hadde good elde kipte he spoused a wif. 

Hence Krpping vtl. sb. ; also attrib., as in 

kipping- line, 1 some kind of fishing 

line : 

cf. next.

KIP-. 

c 1440 Promp. Pa.ru. 276/1 Kyppynge, or hyntynge (K., P. 

hentynge), raftus. c 1689 Depred. Clan Campbell (1816) 104 

Ane long fishing lyne. .and three kipping lynes. 

tKip-, the stem of KipV in comb., as kiphook, 

kip-net, some kind of hook and net used in 

fishing; kip-string, some part of the harness of 

a draught horse ; kip-tree, a wooden lever used 

in drawing water from a well. 

1615 E. S. Britain's Buss in Arb. Garner III. 642 Each 

man fishing for Cod and Ling useth at once two * Kip-hooks. 

1622 WHITBOURNE in Capt. Smith Virginia vi. 245, io*Kipnet 

Irons, ioj. Twine to make kipnets and gagging hooks, 

6s. c 1330 Durham Ace. Rolls (Surtees) 518 In 40 capistris 

Kipe (kaip), sb. Now dial. Forms: I cype, 

3-4 (?) cupe(), 4 type, 6 kepe, 8-9 kipe. [OE. 

cype wk. f., app. =LG. kiipe (keupe) basket carried 

in the hand or on the back. LG. has also 

kipe, 

kiepe (recorded from I5th c., also spelt kype,kypp); 

whence mod.G. kiepe, Du. kiepe(korf}. The relationship 

of the forms is obscure, as is that between 

LG. kupe basket and kfipe tub, cask, and that of 

OE. cype to ME. : ciipe see Coop rf.l] 

A basket ; \spec. an osier basket used for catch- 

ing fish (obs.} ; a basket used as a measure (dial.). 

.1000 Ags. Gosp. Luke ix. 17 Man nam ba jebrotu be bar 

belifon, twelf cypan fulle. a noo in Napier O. E. Glosses 

xviii. 3 Corbes, cypan. 1-1320 Cast. Love 1278 Twelf cupeful 

weoren vp i-bore. 1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) IV. 359 

He was i-Iete a doun in a cupe [v. r. kype] over be wal. 

1398 

Earth. De P. R. xvil. cxlii[i]. (MS. Bodl.) If. 227 b/2 

Wylowe. .berof beb made diuers nedefulle binges to household 

as stoles sotels panyers and kuypes. 1558 Act i Eliz. 

c. 17 3 No . . Person.. shall fish.. with any manner of Net, 

Tramel, Kepe, Wore [etc.]. 1706 PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey), 

Kipe, a Basket made of Osiers, broader at Bottom, and 

narrow'd by Degrees to the Top, but left open at both Ends ; 

which is used for taking of Fish, particularly at Otmpre in 

Oxford-shire, where this manner of Fishing is called Kiping, 

and going to Kipe. 1879 Miss JACKSON Shropsh. Word-bk., 

Kipe, a strong osier basket with a twisted handle on each 

side, of circular form, but wider at the top than the bottom. 

Ibid. Intr. 85 A kype is often used as a measure for 

potatoes, 

apples, etc. When filled level with the top it equals a halfstrike 

heaped. 

Hence Kipe v. intr., to catch fish with a kipe. 

Ki'ping- vbl. sb. 

1706 [see above]. 

Kippage (ki-ped^). Sc. [Corruptly a. F. Equipage 

EQUIPAGE.] 

f 1. 

' The company sailing on board a | 

Salmons I 

I -7/2. 

! or 

1 

ship, 

whether passengers or mariners' (Jam.). Cf. 

EQUIPAGE 13. 

1578 Sc. Acts fas. VI (1814) III. 104 Considder diligentlie 

how mekill fiesche may serve euerie schip and thair kippage 

for that present veyage. 

2. 'Disorder, confusion' (Jam.); a state of excite- 

ment or irritation. 

Cf. such F. phrases as mettre en piteux /^wzjztag? to wreck 

or destroy (Littre). 

1814 SCOTT Wav. liii, The Colonel's in an unco kippage. 

1818 Br. Lamm, xxvi, Dinna pit yoursell into a kippage. 

1825-80 JAMIESON s. y., One is said to be in a sad kippage, 

when reduced to a disagreeable dilemma, Loth. 

Kippeen, kippin (kipf-n, ki-pin). 

Irish, [a. 

Irish : cipin cf. Gael, cipean, cipein stump, peg, 

wooden pin.] A stick or dibble used for planting; 

a short thin stick. 

1830-2 CARLETON Traits (1843) 1. 133 A good root-growing 

kippeen. 1841 S. C. HALL Ireland I. 122 The tree beside it 

grew out of the Kippin of the spancel which she carried in 

her hand. 

Kipper (ki-pai), sb. and a. Forms: (i cypera), 

4 kypre, 6-7 kypper, 6-8 kepper, 6- kipper. 

it is also doubtful how 

[Etymology uncertain ; 

sense A. 2, which goes with KIPPER o., is connected 

with i and indeed whether it is the same word. 

, 

At the approach of the breeding season, the lower jaw of 

the male salmon becomes hooked upward with a sharp 

cartilaginous beak known as the kip, which is used as a 

weapon by the fish when two or more fight for the same 

female ; from this ' 

kip the name ', ' 

' 

kipper is_ currently 

explained ; but this is not compatible with the identity of 

kipper and OE. ME. cypera, kypre, which, itself, though 

phonetically unobjectionable, is also unproved, since the 

exact sense in which these words were used does not appear 

from the context. Moreover, in the quots. of 1376 and 

1533-4, in B. i, kipper appears to include both sexes.] 

A. sb. 1. A name given to the male salmon (or 

sea trout) during the spawning season. (The female 

is then called a shedder.} 

' 

Some recent writers give as the meaning the male salmon 

when spent after the spawning season thus ', making the term 

equivalent to KELT ; but this is not borne out by the earlier 

instances, which, when clear, evidently relate to the time 

when the fish is full of milt, and needs protection on account 

of its breeding value ; nor does it harmonize with some later 

authorities, e.g. Jamieson, who says, 'kipper, salmon in the 

state of spawning ' 

; it is directly challenged by some (cf. 

quot. 1879) ; andit seems to have arisen from misapprehension 

' 

' 

as unseasonable ', not wholesome ', 

of such qualifications 

really applied to fish from the approach of the spawning 

season. For this Pennant seems largely responsible: see 

quot. 1766 in B. i. 

a 1000 Boeth. Metr. xix. 12 Hwy je nu ne settan on sume 

dune fiscnet eowru, bonne eow fon lysteS leax oo5e cyperan. 

c 1567 Sun. Warkworth in Hist. Northumtld. (1899) V. 

151 The salmon fishing mainteyned, no kipper slaynealonge 

711 

the water of Cockett. 1581 LAMBARDE Eircit. iv. iv (1588) 

450 Any Salmons or Trouts, out of season, that is being 

kippers or shedders. 1597 Sc. Acts Jos. V\-,v (ed. Skene) 

heading, Of slauchter of redde fish or Kipper. 1614 in N 

Riding Rec. (1885) III. ii. 228 For killing salmoiiin time 

of kipper. 1705 Act 44-5 Anne c. 21 The old Salmon or 

Kippers, which, during that Season [i Jan. to 10 Mar ] are 

out of kind, and returning to the Sea. 1848 Chambers' 

Inform, for People I. 687 The adult fish [salmon] having 

spawned, being out of condition, and unfit for food .. are. . 

termed kelts ; the male fish is sometimes also called a kipper, 

and the female a shedder or baggit. 1861 J. BROWN Horse 

Subs. Ser. n. 243 The poaching weaver who had . . leistered 

a prime kipper. 1879 T. T. STODDART in Academy 30 Aug. 

151/2 On the banks of our Scottish salmon rivers, the designation 

kipper is applied to the male fish before parting with 

its milt, when the beak is fully developed. After spawning, 

it shares along with the female fish the term kelt. 1898 

Westm. Gaz. 14 Oct. 7/2 The heaviest salmon . . was a fine 

'kipper', weighing close on 30 lb., which he captured on 

Saturday last [8th Oct.]. 

2. A kippered fish (salmon, herring, etc.) ; now 

esp. a herring so cured : see KIPPER v. 

(It is doubtful whether the quots. from the Durham Ace. 

Rolls belong here ; they may relate to the fish in sense i, 

without reference to any particular mode of preparation.) 

1326 Durham Ace. Rolls (Surtees) 15 In u Kypres emp., 

$s. 4rf. 1340 Ibid. 37 In 6 kypres emp. et i salmone salso, 

2J. 2rf. 1769 DeFoes Tour Gt. Brit. III. 336 Preserving 

Salmon by making it into what they call : Kipper This is 

done by dividing it in the Middle from Head to Tail, and 

drying it slowly before a Fire. 1815 SCOTT Guy M. v,Ye're 

no eating your meat ; allow me to recommend some of the 

kipper. It was John Hay that catcht it. 1824 CABLVLE in 

Froude Life (1882) I. 263 His heart . .is as dry as a Greenock 

kipper. 1837 M. DONOVAN Dom. Ecoit. II. 231 Some 

people, in order to give the kipper a peculiar taste . . carefully 

smoke it with peat-reek or the reek of juniper bushes. 

B. adj. (attrib. use of sb.) 

1. Said of a male salmon (or sea trout), at the 

breeding season: see A. i. In quots. 13/6 and 

1 5 33-4 'kipper' appears to include both sexes. 

[137^6 Rolls Parlt. II. 331/2 Qe null Salmon soit pris en 

Tamise entre Graveshend le Fount de Henlee sur Tamise 

en temps q'il soit kiper : C'est assavoir, entre les Festes de 

1'Invention del Crois, & le Epiphanie.] 1533-4 Act 25 

Hen. VIII, c. 7 That no maner of persone or persones 

. . frome the feaste of the exaltation of the holy crosse to the 

feaste of Seynt martyn in wynter .. kyll or distroye any 

not in season called kepper Salmons. 1558 Act i 

c. i 17 Any Salmons or Trouts, not being in Season, 

being Kepper-Salmons or Kepper-Trouts, Shedder-Salmons 

Shedder-Trouts. 1603 OWEN Pembrokeshire (1891) 118 

In wynter, when.. they are found kipper, leane and vnholesome. 

1653 WALTON Angler vi. 136 The He Salmon .. is 

more kipper, & less able to endure a winter in the fresh 

water, than the She is. 1766 PENNANT Zool. (1769) III. 242 

After spawning they [salmon] become very poor and lean, 

and then are called kipper. 

2. transf. Shaped like the lower jaw of a kipper 

salmon : see etymological note above. 

1822 HOGG Perils ofMan II. ii. 50 Tarn and Gibbie, with 

their long kipper noses, peeping over his shoulder. 

C. attrib. and Comb., as t kipper-time, the 

period of close-time for salmon. 

1706 PHILLIPS, Kipper-Time, a Space of Time between 

the Festival of the Invention of the H. Cross May 3d. and 

Twelfth-Day ; during which, Salmon-fishing in the River 

Thames was forbidden by Rot. Parl. 50 Edw. 3. [See quot. 

1376 in B. i.] 1894 HALL CAINE Manxman in. xii. 171 The 

ould kipper-box rolling on a block for a boat at sea do you 

mind it? 1899 Daily News 27 Oct. 2/3 At Great Yarmouth, 

where there are some 350 boats and some 4,000 fishermen 

and kipper-girls engaged in the . . 

great herring fishery 

some 800 girls are curing the enormous catches for the Continental 

and the other markets of the world. 

Kipper, . 

[? f. prec. sb. 

If really derived from the sb., it seems most reasonable to 

infer that this process was originally used for the preservation 

of ' 

kipper ' 

salmon ; but no direct evidence has been found.] 

trans. To cure (salmon, herring, or other fish) by 

cleaning, rubbing repeatedly with salt and pepper or 

other spice, and drying in the open air or in smoke. 

1773 [see KIPPERED below]. 1835 SOUTHEY in C. Southey 

Life\\. 281 Salmon which he had kippered the preceding 

night. 1848 Life Nortnandy (1863) II. 56 [Salmon out of 

season] are., more frequently kippered ; that is to say, they 

are cured with salt, sugar, and spice, and then dried in the 

smoke. 1885 Times (weekly ed.) 2 Oct. 15/1 Smoking and 

kippering them [mackerel] for winter use. 

Hence Ki-ppered ppl. a. ; Ki-ppering vbl. sb. 

'773 MRS. GRANT Lett.fr. Mount. (1807) I. ii. 20 We had 

. .kippered salmon. vjtj^Statist. Ace. Scot., Sterlings. XVI. 

of salmon is successfully practised in 

122 The kippering 

several parts of the 

parish. 1863 in Tyneside Songs 91 

A cask o' the best kipper'd herrins. 1885 Pall Mall G. 

ii June 9/2 A large kippering establishment at Stornoway. 

1892 E. REEVES Homeward Bound . . 31 Fisher-girls at 

Grimsby, splitting herrings for kippering, seven a minute. 

Ki-pperish, a. rare. [f. KIPPER sb. + -ISH l] 

Characteristic of a ' 

kipper ' 

fish : see KIPPER a. I. 

1658 R. FRANCK North. Mem. (1821) 296 [The salmon] is 

then prohibited the benefit of salt-water to bathe her fins., 

which is the natural cause of her kipperish infirmity. 

At 

Kipper-nut. [Origin unknown. 

r'l ** . _1 

' 

in sense pu 

pickle, 

1. = EARTH-NUT i. 

1597 GERARDE Herbal n. ccccxv. 905 Earth Nut, Earth 

Chestnut, or Kipper Nut. 1611 COTOR., Noix chastaigne, 

the earth nut, Kipper nut, earth Chestnut. 1722 QUINCY 

Lex. Phys. Med. (ed. 2) 348 The Earth-nut, Kipper-nut or 

Pig-nut. 1846 SOWERBY Brit. Bot. (ed. 3). 

2. The tuber of the Heath-pea: = EARTH-NUT 2. 

KIRK. 

1863 PRIOR Pop. Names Brit. Plants. 1879 BRITTEN & 

HOLLAND Plant-n. 

Kippe-sole, corrupt f. KITTISOL. 

Kipple, Sc. and dial. f. COUPLE sb. and v. 

tKipsey, kibsey. Oh. exc. dial. Also 7 

kybzey. [Origin uncertain : cf. KIPE.] A small 

wicker-basket. 

XI 

ni 

th , ._-. 

or upon any bough you pleased 1706 PHILLIPS', 'Kibsey, a 

kind of Wicker-basket. 1754 MARTIN Eng. Diet. (ed. 2), 

Kibsy, a sort of wicker basket. 1879 HORSLEY in Macm. 

Mag; XL. 501, I was coming home with my kipsy (basket), 

Kirat, obs. form of CARAT. 

1568 TURNER Herbal m. 50 If one kirat of it be geven in 

wine, it maketh a man wonderfully dronken. 1616 BULLOKAR 

Eng. Expos., Kirat, an Arabian word signifying the weight 

of three graines. 

Kirb, Kirble, Kirb-roof, Kirch, var. CURB, 

KERB, CURBLE, CURB-ROOF, CURCH. 

Kirchenwasser : see KIRSOHWASSER. 

Kircher, -chowe, obs. ff. KERCHER, KERCHIEF. 

Kirie-mirie-buff : see KERRY-MERHY-BDFF. 

Kirk (ksik, Sc. kerk), s6. Forms : 3 (Orm.} 

kirrke, 3-7 kirke, 4-6kyrke, 4-7 kyrk, (4 kiro, 

6 kerke, 6-9 kurk), 4- kirk. [Northern form of 

CHURCH : cf. OE. cine, and ON. kirkja, Da. kirke, 

Sw. kyrka.~\ 

1. The Northern English and Scotch form of the 

word CHURCH, in all its senses. 

a. In Northern English: formerly used as far 

south as Norfolk ; and still extending in dialect 

use to north-east Lincolnshire : see E. 0.D. Fre- 

quent in proper names all over its original area. 

c 1200 ORMIN 3533 Halljhedd inn hiss kirrke. c 1330 R. 

BRUNNE Chron. (1810) 92 Clerkes of holy kirke. a 1340 

HAMPOLE Psalter Prol., pis boke . .is mast oysed in halykyrke 

seruys. c 1400 Melayne 29 In kirkes and abbayes that there 

were, f 1450 Mirour Saluacionn 1422 After the trewe 

kyrkes vsage. c 1550 CHEKE Matt. xvi. 18 note, Yis word 

church . .commeth of y e greek KVftttut6y, .as ye north doth yet 

moor truli sound it, y e kurk, and we moor corruptli and 

frenchlike, y e church. 1579 SPENSER Sheph. Cal. July 97 

To Kerke the narre, from God more farre, Has bene an oldsayd 

sawe. a 1656 USSHER Power Princes n. (1683) 234 

That place which.. all men did call a Kirk. 1674-91 RAY 

N. C. Words 41 Kyrk, Church, KvpiaKov. 1785 HUTTON 

Bran New Wark (Westmld.) 14 Be serious and devout, 

net come to kirk with a moon belief. 1802 in Anderson 

Cumbld- Ball. 24 Helter skelter frae the kurk. 1828 Craven 

Dial. s. v., He's as poor as a kirk mouse. 1877 Holdemess 

Gloss., Kirk, a church. Not much used. That at Owthorne 

on the coast is called the ' 

Sister Kirk '. 

b. Used in literary Sc. till 1 7th c., and still retained 

in vernacular use in the general sense of 'church'. 

1375 BARBOUR Bruce n. 71 Quhen he..ln-till the kyrk 

Schyr Ihone haid slayn. c 1475 RaufCoifyar 574 The hie 

Mes was done, The King with mony cumly out of the Kirk 

is gane. 1567 Gude $ Godlie B. (S. T. S.) n We trow the 

kirk Catholik be Ane Faithfull Christin cumpanie. 1643 

Petit. Ass. Kirk Scot, in Clarendon Hist. Reb. vi. 340 The 

Kirk of England (which We ought to tender as our own 

bowels). 1648 in Rec. Kirk of Scot. (1838) I. 507 All the 

corruptions that have been formerly in the Kirks of God 

in these Lands [England and Scotland], a 1649 DRUMM. 

OF HAWTH. Poems Wks. (1711) 49 The Scottish kirk the 

English church do name ; The English church the Scots 

a kirk do call, a 1653 BINNING Serin. (1743) 607 Unless their 

prayers do it, or their keeping the kirk, a 1704 T. BROWN 

Cupid turn'd Tinker Wks. 1730 I. 112 At play-house and 

kirk Where he slily did lurk. 1786 BURNS 7'wn Dogs 19 At 

' 

' 

kirk or market, mill or smiddie. 1894 IAN MACLAREN 

Bonnie Brier Bush, Lachlan Campbell \\\. 145 Away on the 

right the Parish Kirk peeped out from a clump of trees. 

c. In official use, the name ' 

Kirk of Scotland ' 

gave place to ' Church of Scotland ' 

at the date of 

the Westminster Assembly: see quots. 1645, 1648. 

But (d) in subsequent English (as opposed to 

Scottish) usage, the term ' kirk ' 

has often been 

' 

opposed to church ' 

to distinguish the Church of 

Scotland from the Church of England, or from the 

Episcopal Church in Scotland. So Free Kirk for 

the Free Church of Scotland. 

O. 1560 (.title) The Booke of the Universal! Kirk of Scotland. 

1637-50 Row Hist. Kirk (1842) 3 Instructed, .in the 

exact knowledge of the Estate of this Kirk of Scotland. 

1645 in Rec. Kirk of Scot. (1838) I. 431/1 Subscribed in 

name of the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, by 

the Moderator of the Assembly. [1648 Ibid. I. 506 (title) 

A Declaration and Exhortation of the General Assembly of 

the Church of Scotland, to their Brethren of England. 1691 

{title) The principal Acts of the General Assembly of the 

Church of Scotland conveened at Edinburgh the i6th day 

of October, 1690.) 

d. a 1674 CLARENDON Hist. Reb. xn. 121 Nor did she 

[the queen] prefer the glory 

of the church of England before 

the sordidness of the kirk of Scotland. 1708 SWIFT Sacram. 

Test Wks. 1755 II. i. 135 To swear ..as they do now in 

Scotland, to fie true to the kirk. 1791 HAMPSON Mem. 

Wesley II. 19 A member of the kirk. 1831 MACAULAY Ess., 

Hampden (1887) 210 This government, .called a general 

assembly of the Kirk. 1850 WHIPPLE a. $ Rev. (ed. 3) 

I 213 Examples which tell against kirk as well as against 

church. 1854 KINGSLEY Let. 22 Feb. in Life xii. (1879) I. 321 

Erskine and others think [the lectures] will do much good, 

but will infuriate the Free Kirk. 

2. Sometimes affected to render Du. kerk, LG. 

kerke, or Ger. kirche. 

1673 RAY Jmrii. Low C. 25 Here (Delft) are two large

KIRK. 

again At * kirk-skail time she came. 1819 Lc 

Peter's Lett. Ixxiii. III. 265 When the service is over.. (for 

which moment the Scotch have, in their language, an appropriate 

and picturesque term, the *kirk-skailing). 1826 J. 

WILSON Noit.Ambr. Wks. 1855 11.312 The cock on a 'kirksteeple. 

1552 LYNDESAY Monarche 4729 Thay hauld the 

Corps at the *kirk style. 1820 SCOTT Monast. iii, To hear ye 

even the Lady of Avenel to seeking quarters wi* a *kirkvassal's 

widow 1 1430 in' 14^4 Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. 

App. in. 21 [A penalty of ,20 Scots to be paid to the] 

*kiikweik [of Glasgow]. 1467 [see CHURCH-WORK]. 1680 

G. HICKES 

Sfirit ofPopery Pref. i, Citing out of the "Kirk- 

Writers their . . Papal, Schismatical and Rebellious Principles. 

1888 BARRIE When a Man's single i, A kitchen in 

the *kiik-wynd of Thrums. 

Kirk, v. Now Sc. [f. KIRK sb.] 

1. trans. = CHURCH v. r. 

c 1425 WYNTOUN Cron. v. xii. 4904 In honoure off that 

madyn clere That wes kyrkkyd as that day. c 1470 [see 

CHURCH v. ibj. 1818 SCOTT Hrt. Midi, xliii, I'm to be 

married the morn, and kirkit on Sunday. 1825 JAMIESON, 

A bride is said to be kirkit, the first time she goes to church 

after she has been married ; on which occasion she is usually 

attended by some of the marriage-company. ..A family is 

also said to be kirkit, the first time they go to church after 

there has been a funeral in it. 1891 BARRIE Little Minister 

xliv, All he had to do was to re-marry him, and kirk him. 

f 2. To lay up or deposit in a church. (Cf. 

CHURCH v. 3.) Obs. 

1606 BIRNIE Kirk-Buriall xi, The wel deseruing by the 

purse, . . was in vse to be Kirked vp in burial. 

3. To send or drive (the ball) to the church, as a 

goal. 

1834 T. BROWN in Prac. Berw. Nat. Clvb I. No. 2. 46 The 

person who succeeded in kirkingor in milling such are the 

phrases the.. golden ball. 

Hence Ki-rking vbl. sb. (also 

, by 

office-bearers, ..walk to the kirk. Mod. Sc. saying, ' A bride 

is a bride fra her crying to her kirking ' 

(i. e. from the proclamation 

of banns to her first attendance at church). 

t Kirk-ale. Obs. In 5 kirkehale, 6 kirkall. 

- CHURCH-ALE. (But in quot. 1470 (if not simply 

an error) app. used as = CHURCHING I : cf. quots. 

t Kirked, a. Obs. ? a dialectal variant of 

CROOKED (or perh. a scribal error for kroked}. 

ci4 Rom. Rose 3137 His nose frounced fulle kirked 

stood e. 

Kirkemesse, obs. variant of KERMIS. 

712 

Kirker (ka-jkai). rare. [f. KIRK sb. + -ER'.] 

A member or adherent of the 'kirk', i.e. the 

Church of Scotland. Now Obs.exc.colloq. in comb., 

as Auld Kirker (an adherent of the ' auld kirk '), 

Free Kirker. 

1680 G. HICKES Spirit ofPopery 5 Which is the Kirk, and 

Kirkers usual sence of free grace, according to the Assemblies 

larger and shorter Catechisms. 1716 M. DAVIES Athen. 

Brit. II. 310 Twenty Episcopals. .to one Kirker of the 

Calvinistical Order. 1893 Daily Neivs TO June 5/8 ' What 

Chas. I (1817) V. 128 With all manssis gleibs kirklands. 

Kirkless, Sc. form of CHURCHLESS a. 

1801 H. MACNEII.L Poet. Wks. (1856) 171 After a Sunday's 

feast or pascal, Wi' you, ye kirkless, canty rascal. 1895 

Westni. Gaz. 8 Jan. 8/r The kirkless ministers of his country 

. -will applaud him. 

Kirkmau (ka-jkmaen). [Sc. and north, form 

of CHURCHMAN.] 

L An ecclesiastic ; = CHURCHMAN i. (In later 

use only Sc.) 

temporal lords and kirk-men. 01548 HALL Chron., Hen. 

VIII, 255 b, Their Kirkmen preached, that in Englande 

was neither Masse, nor any service of God. 16318 Act 

Assembly in Coll. Conf. II. MS (Jam.) The civil places and 

powers of Kirkmen declaied to be unlawful. 1733 NEAL 

Hist. Purit. II. 238 That part of it [the Act] which referred 

to the Apparel of Kiikmen. 1853 CADENHEAD Bon-Accord 

188 (E D. D.) Nane but kirkmen daur'd to preach. 

2. A member or adherent of the ' 

kirk ', i. e. the 

Church of Scotland : see CHURCHMAN 4. 

1650 Nicholas Papers (Camden) 205 The Kirkmen and 

their faction adhering still very rigidly to their mad principles. 

i66oR. CoKKPowerfy Sufy.zfa The English Presbyterians 

(who had most basely accepted a canting thing called 

the Covenant from the Kirkmen of Scotland). 1752 CARTE 

Hist. Eng. Ill 425 A number of the most zealous kirkmen, 

meeting at Leonard's Craig near Edenburgh. 1893 Diet. 

Nat. Biog. XXXIII. 1002 Rothes had never been a fanatical 

puritan ; he was a politician and a patriot rather than 

a kirkman. 

Kirk-master, -maister. north, dial. 

1. In northern English, A churchwarden. 

1429 Test. Ebor. (Surtees) I. 417 Item to the kyrkmasters 

a nobill. 1512 Chnrchw. Ace. Wigtoft, Line. (Nichols 1797) 

205 Ye cayrke maysters of Wygtoft. 1674-91 RAY A7 . C. 

Words 41 Kyrkmaster, Churchwarden. 1876 Mid. Yorksh. 

Gloss, s. v. Kirk, Kirkmaister.. often heard fiom old Mid- 

Yorkshire people. 

1 2. Sc. a. ' A deacon in the church, one who has 

' 

the charge of ecclesiastical temporalities (Jam.). 

b. The deacon of an incorporated trade : see DEACON 

3. Obs. rare. 

1505 in Pennecuik Blue Blanket (1756) 44 Compeired. .the 

Kirk-Master and Brether of the Surgeons and Barbaris. 

1522 in Charters of St. Giles, Edin. (Bann.) 213-16 Kirkmaisters 

of the confrary and altare of the haly blude. 157* 

Sc. Acts Jos. VI (1814) III. 76' Thair was not Kirkmaisteris 

or Deaconis appointit 

in the Parpchinnis to ressaue the 

tixatioun appointit. 

KIRN. 

Churahes, the one called the old, the other the new Kirk. 

1851 LONCF. Gold Leg. n. Village Ch. 69, I may to yon 

kirk go, To read upon yon sweet book. 

8. Phr. (Sc. colloq.) To make a kirk and a mill 

of: to put to any use one pleases, to do what one 

will with. But Kelly gives what may have been the 

earlier meaning. 

1721 KELLY Sc. Prov. 252 Make a Kirk and a Mill of it, 

that is, make your best of it : It does not answer to the 

English, ' Make a Hog or a Dog of it ' 

: For that means, 

bring it either to one use, or another. 1822 GALT Entail I. 

xviii. 147 The property is my own conquesting. .and surely 

I may make a kirk and a mill o't an I like. 1887 MRS. 

ALEXANDER Manas Choice II. vii. 173, I doubt but the man 

I let the land to is just making a kirk and a mill of it. 

4. attrib. and Comb, (see also, in many cases, 

corresponding combinations of : CHURCH) as kirk 

act, bell, door, -goer, government, preacher, rent, 

steeple, stile, vassal, writer; kirk-greedy, kirklike 

adjs. ; kirk-assembly, Assembly of the 

Church of Scotland ; kirk-burial, burial within 

a church ; kirk-fast, a fast ordained by the Church ; 

t kirk-feuar Sc. = 

church-feuar (CHURCH sb. 18) ; 

kirk-gate, the high-way or street leading to a 

church ; kirk-keeper Sc., a constant attendant at 

' 

the kirk ; f kirk-lair Sc., a lair or burial place 

within a church, the right of burial within a church ' 

(Jam. Suppl.)', ) kirk-loom, church machine or 

utensil; kirk -shire (see quot.) ; kirk-skail, 

-skailing Sc., the dispersion of the congregation 

after divine service; kirk-work Sc. = CHURCH- 

WORK a. ; kirk-wynd, the lane leading to a church. 

Also KIRK-ALE, -OAHTH, -YAKD, etc. 

1606 BIRNIE Kirk-Bvriall xix, The *Kirk acts against 

*Kirk-buriall. 1752 CARTE Hist. Eng. III. 425 Going.. to 

the ''Kirk-assembly at Edenburgh. 1830 GALT La-wrie T. 

vi. ii. (1849) 257 To hear the far-off *kirk-bell ringing. 1814 

SCOTT Wav. xxx, He would drive a nail for no man on the 

Sabbath or "kirk-fast. iBzo Monast. xvii, The son of a 

*kirk-feuar is not the stuff that lords and knights are made 

of- 1643 Declar, Commons (Reb. Ireland) 56 Desires for 

establish: Wishing Unity of Religion, and Uniformity of "Kirkxix, 

Secluding all from the "Kirk-laire. c aboot..the ministers wha are na' auld Kirkers?' his companion., 

.a Free Kirker, rejoined. 

Kirkereve, north, var. CHURCH-REEVE Obs. 

Kirk-garth, 

1450 HOLLAND 

Howlat 82 The plesant Pacok, . . Constant and "kirklyk vnder 

his cler cape, Myterit, as the maner is. 18x9 W. TENNANT 

Papistry Storm d (1827) 201 The mickle pu pit;., was the 

Cardinal's ain 'kirk-loom, He brocht it in a ship frae Rome. 

1844 LINGARD Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858) I. iv. 144 note, These 

north, dial. Also 3 (Orm.) 

kirrkegaerd. KIRK [f. sb. + GARTH, an enclosure: 

cf. Icel. kirkju-garVr, Da. kirkegaard. Cf. also 

CHURCH-QARTHandKiBK-YAED.] NorthernEnglish 

= : Churchyard formerly prevalent from Cumberland 

to Lincolnshire ; now much restricted. 

1200 ORMIN 15254 To birrjenn i Juw kirrkegaerd. a 1300 

Cursor M. 27198 In kyrcgarth, chapell or kyrk. 1417 

Surtees Misc. (1888) n Anent Al Halow Kyrk garth wall 

on the Pament. 1483 Cath, Ansl. 204/1 Kyrkegarthe, 

cimitorium. 1508 Will in N. w. Line. Gloss, s. v.. My 

body to be beried in the kirkgarth of our lady of ffrothingham. 

1708 T. WARD Eng. Ref. ill. (1710) 18 Crosses In 

Kirk-Gatths, and in Market places. 1785 HUTTON Bran 

New Wark 14 A covetous man trapes to th' kirk -garth on 

a Sunday morning. 1839 Cumbld. ff Westmld. Dial. 47 What 

they see i th Kitk.garth. [In Snaledale Gloss. 1873, Cumbld. 

Gloss. 1878.] 

Kirkify (kaukifai), v. rare. [f. as : 

prec. see 

-IT : cf. CHURCHIFY.] trans. To imbue with the 

principles of the ' kirk ' 

or Church of Scotland ; to 

make like a Scottish church. 

1661 R. L'ESTRANGE Relafs'd Apostate 6 Your Kirkify'd 

Reformers j ..that made such Conscience of a Ceremony. 

1854 HAWTHORNE Eng. Note-Iks. II. 286 St. Giles's 

Cathedral, .. having been kirkified into three interior divisions 

by the Covenanters. 

Kirkin-head. Arch. f. [app. KIEK sb.] The 

end of a building in which the upper half of the 

gable is hipped off; the truncated gable and the 

triangular piece of roof above it ; = JERKIN-HEAD, 

of which it is app. the original form. 

1703 T. N. City ff C. Purchaser 22 All Buildings, where 

there is either a Gable or a Kirkin-Head. 1727 BRADLEY 

Font. Did. s. v. Bargeôurse. 1851 Diet. Archil. I. 53 

Any building where there was a gable or Kirkin-head. 

t Ki-rkist. nonce-tad, [f. KIRK sb. + -IST.] An 

adherent of the ' 

kirk ' 

or Scottish church. 

1652 URQUHART Jewel Wks. ^834) 277 What hath been 

done by kirkists these last dozen of yeers. 

Ki rkland. Sc. and north. = CHURCH-LAND. 

c 1450 HOLLAND Hcwiat 784 Thai ete of the corne in the 

kirkland. c 1500 Rowlis Cursing 31 in f Kirkomanetic, a. nonce-wd. Labouring 

under 

Laing Ane. Poet. 

Scot. 212 Kiikland hay, or gerss to a waill 1633 Sc. Acts 

' 

kirkomania ' 

; adhering fanatically to the 

'Kirk'. 

1652 URQUHART Jewel Wks. (r834l 211 New Palestine, as 

the Kirkomanetick Philarchaists would have it [Scotland] 

called. 

Kirk-scot : another form of CHURCH-SCOT, q.v. 

Kirk-session (kaakise-jan). The lowest court 

in the Established Church of Scotland and other 

Presbyterian Churches, composed of the minister 

and elders of the parish or congregation. 

(The Free Church having revived the office of deacon, has 

as its lowest court a Deacons' Court.) 

1717 DE FOE Mem. Ch. Scot. (1844) 6 The Subordination 

of Judicatories is such, and the Proceedings so nicely accounted 

for by the Kirk-Sessions to the Presbyteries, by the 

Presbyteries to the Provincial Synods, and by the Synods 

to the General Assemblies, that there can no Mistake pass 

unobserved. 1806 Gazetteer Scot. (ed. 2) Introd. 19 The 

Kirk Session, composed of the minister, elders, and deacons 

of every parish, forms the lowest ecclesiastical court of 

Scotland. 1871 SIR H. MONCRIEFF Pract. Free Ch. 

Scotl.j 

The Pastor or Pastors of each Congregation, along with 

a suitable number of elders who are not pastors, constitute 

a governing body which is called the Kirk-session. 

Kirkset: see KIRSET. 

fKi-rkship. nonce-wd. [See -SHIP.] A humorous 

title for a church dignitary (? after worship). 

1710 Pol. Ballads (1860) II. 95 To know what his Kirkship 

wou'd have 'em to do. 

[t Kirk-shot : known only in the ballad cited ; 

taken as = Churchyard (but prob. a corruption of 

some kind). 

a 1827 Bailad, Weary Coble o' Cargill x. (Motherwell 

Minstrelsy iyi} And there they got the bonnie lad's corpse, 

In the kirk shot o' bonnie Cargill.] 

Kirk-shot : see CHURCH-SCOT. 

Kirk-town. Sc. Also kirk-ton. The town, 

village, or hamlet in which the parish church is : 

= church-town (CHURCH sb. 18). b. A glebe. 

1706 SEMPILL Piper Kilbarchan in Chambers Pop. Hum. 

Scot. Poems (1862) 24 Or who can for our kirk-town cause 

Stand us in stead? 1864 Glasgow Herald 16 May, The 

word Kirktoun . . applied to all collections of houses, not farm 

touns, which surrounded parish kirks. 1872 E. W. ROBERT- 

EON Hist. Ess. 136 The ordinary amount of Kirktown or 

lebe assigned to the church.. was a half-da voch. a 1894 

TEVENSON Olalla Wks. 1895 I II. 313 The mountain village, 

which was, as we say in Scotland, the kirk-ton of that thinly 

peopled district. 

t Ki'rkward, sb. Hist. = CHURCH-WARD sb. i. 

1883 I. G. SMITH & P. ONSLOW Worcester 31 The kirkward 

of St. Peter's peaceably handed over the keys. 

Ki'rkward, adv. (adj.) [See -WARD.] Towards 

the kirk or church ; churchward. 

18.. Ballad in Scott Hrt. Midi, xl, When six braw 

gentlemen Kirkward shall carry ye. 1832 A. CUNNINGHAM 

in Blackw. Mag. XXXI. 996 Much they talked upon their 

kirkward way. 

Kirkya'rd. Now Sc. Also 4 kyrk-yarde, 

4-5 kirk(e)-Jerd(e, 5 kyrkjerd, kyrkejerde, 

KIRK sb. + 

kyrk-yharde, 7- Sc. kirkyaird. [f. 

YARD.] Northern form of CHURCHYARD : now 

confined to Scotland : cf. KIRK-GARTH. 

4x1300 Cursor M. 29349 In kyrk-yarde aght naman him 

detuen. [1377 LANGL. P. PI. 6 xni. 9 No corps in her 

kirkeêrde ne in her kyrke was buryed. 14.. Nominale in 

Wr.-Wulcker 722/12 Hoc semitorium, a kyikêrd. c 1475 

Pict. Voc. ibid. 803/5 Hoc atrium, a kyike;erde.] 111636 B. 

JONSON Sad Sheph. u. iii, Our dame Hecate Made it her 

gaing-nigbt, over the Kirk-yard. 1816 SCOTT Old Mort. 

Introd., The Cameronian monuments, in the old kirkyard of 

Kirkchrist. 1896 New. York .Scot. American Oct., The auld 

kirkyaird on the giey hillside. 

Kirle, obs. form of CURL sb. 

1612 tr. Benvenittos Passenger (N.), Artes to stiffen their 

kiilcs on the temples, and to adorne their foreheads. 

Kirmess, -toish, variants of KERMIS. 

t Kirmew. Olis. [a. Ger. kirrmeve, f. kirren 

to coo, chirp, cry with a harsh sound + meve gull, 

MEW.] The common Tern. 

It is doubtful whether the word has any standing in 

English except as occurring in quot. 1694 (transl. from 

German), which is also the source cited by Pennant, from 

whom subsequent writers get the name. Montagu (Oruit/i, 

Diet. 1802-33) gives also kirman, prob. an error. 

1694 Ace. Sea. Late Voy. n. (1711) 82, I have heard the 

Kirmew and Kutyegehf cry. Ibid. 92 The Kirmew hath a 

thin sharp-pointed bill as red as blood. ..It is commonly 

called Kirmew from its Cry. 1766 PENNANT Zool. (1768) 

II. 4_28. Kirn (kwn, Sc. kern), so. 1 Sc. and north, dial. 

Also 4-6 kirne, 5-6 kyrn(e north. ; Eng. 7 kerne, 

form of CHURN st. : 

7-9 kern, kuru. [Northern 

cf. ON. kirna, in same sense.] 

1. A churn. 

1338-9 Ace. Rolls Durham (Surtees) 311 In j kime emp. 

pro eadem [dayerial, $d. 1483 Cath. Angl. 204/1 (MS. A.) 

A kyrne, cimba, fiscina. 1562 Wills % 1m. N. C. (Surtees 

1835) 207, j kime with staffe xiiijd. 1681 Itvu. in Hunter 

Biggar fy Ho. Fleming vL (1862) 62 Ane say, ane kerne and 

two four gallon trees. 1728 RAMSAY Betty $ Kate vii, Sae 

cat the way to the kirn. 1825 BROCKKTT, Kern. 1876 Mid 

Yorksh. Gl., Kurn. 

' 

2. Jig. Applied to a mire' in which the mud is 

chnrnedup; 'adisgustingmixture'. 'Theground's 

a mere kirn.' (Jam.)

KIRN. 

3. Comb., as kirn-milk, -sta/jF: see CHURN. 

(E. D. D.) Shecl kedge our kites with good kirne-milk and 

whig. 1724 RAMSAY Evergreen, Wyfe ofA uchtermuchty xii, 

He tuke the kirnstaffbe the shank, a 1774 FERGUSSON Poems 

(1807) 225 My kirn-staff now stands gizzened at the door. 

1818 SCOTT Hrt. Midi, xxvii. note, He dealt in th wholesome 

commodity called kirn-milk. 

Kirn (kam, Sc. kern), st* Sc. and north, dial. 

Also 9 kern, kurn, curn. [Of uncertain etymo- 

logy : see Note below.] 

1. A feast or merry-making held on the com- 

pletion of the harvest ; 

a harvest-home or harvest- 

supper. (Thing and name are passing out of use.) 

1777 [see KIRN-BABY]. 1786 BURNS Two. Dogs 124 As 

blealc-fac'd Hallowmass returns, They get the jovial, ranting 

1 

kirns, When rural life, o ev'ry station, Unite in common 

recreation. 1806 DOUGLAS Poems 143 (E. D. D.) Hame they 

gang to get the kirn. 1808 SCOTT Martn. iv. Introd. 101 

Who envies now the . shepherd's lot,. His rustic kirn's loud 

revelry. 1883 Lonrtn. Mag. Apr. 657 The oldest rustic 

festival here [m Lothian] is the harvest home, or ' 

kirn '. 

2. The cutting of the last handful of corn (the kirn- 

cut) on the harvest-field. Chiefly in the phrases 

To win (get) the kirn : to gain the distinction of 

cutting down the last armful of corn ; to succeed 

in finishing the harvest ; To cry or shout the kirn: 

to cheer or shout in token of this. (Now rare.) 

1808-18 JAMIESON, Kirn, the last handful of grain cut down 

on the harvest-field. 1821 Blackui. Mag. 400 I 

(Jam.), 

shall 

either gain a kiss from some fair lip for winning the kirn, 

or some shall have hot brows for it. 1836 J. M. WILSON 

Tales Bord, II. 209 (E. D. D.) An hour would be sufficient 

to terminate their harvest toils and win the kirn. 1866 

HENDERSON Folk-lore N. Counties 66 When the sickle is 

laid down, and the last sheaf of golden corn set on end, it is 

said that they have ' 

got the kern '. [The words I have 

heard used in crying the kirn in Roxburghshire, a 1860, were 

' 

'The corn's shorn, the kirn's won, Kirnie, kirnie, coo-oo-oo ! 

the last word much prolonged. J. A. H. M.] 

3. attrib. and Comb., as kirn-bannock, -feast, 

-night kirn-out = sense 2 ; ; kirn-supper, the 

harvest-home supper (see also churn-supper, s.v. 

CHURN sb. 5) kirn-winning ; sense 2. 

1824 MACTAGGART Gallovid. Encycl. (1876) 405 A piece., 

of the ^kirn-bannock. 1810 CROMEK Rein. Nithsdale 

Song 259 From the same pin depended the *kirn-cut of 

corn, curiously braided and adorned with ribbons. 1862 

J. GRANT Capt. ofGuard xlv, Above the mantelpiece hung 

the. .kirn-cuts of corn gaily ornamented with ribbons the 

trophies of the last year's harvest home. 1846 Drnt>imond's 

Muckomachy 32 (E. D. P.) At fairs, *kirn-feasts, and penny 

weddins. 1789 BURNS Let. Lady Glencairn, At gala-times, 

such as New-year's day, a christening, or the 'kirn-night, .. 

my punch-bowl is brought from its dusty corner. 1777 

*Kern Supper [see KIRN-BABY]. 1822 BEWICK Mem. 26 The 

man.. when he met me had been on his way to a 'kirn 

supper '. 1864 Chambers Bk. 

of_ Days 1 1. 379/2 In Scotland, 

under the name of the Kirn or Kirn-supper. 1819 

in Anderson Cuwbld. Ball. 65 To murry-neets, *kurnwinnins, 

Hannah ne'er went. 

{Note. The instances of the word kirn or kern are quite 

recent, and leave us in the dark as to its earlier history. The 

popular notion often associates it with KIRN sb^, CHURN ; 

and there are positive statements that a churnful of cream 

was a prominent item in the harvest-supper (J. Nicol Poems 

(1805) I. 154; Hone Year-bit. (1832) 10 Sept. 534/2; Haliburton 

P-uir Auld Sc. (1887) 148-9). See also churn-supper, 

VOL. V. 

713 

human figure made out of the last handful of corn cut 

on the harvest-field, and dressed as a female, which 

formerly played a part in the ceremonial of the 

kirn or harvest-home, and was afterwards often 

hung up on the farmer's kitchen wall until the 

next harvest, when its place was taken by a new 

one. Also called kirn-doll or -dolly, maiden or 

kirn-maiden, harvest-queen, and, in books, after 

a mistaken suggestion of Brand (qnot. 1777), 

corn-baby. 

In the most usual form, the cluster of ears formed the head 

of the figure, while part of the stalks were plaited into two 

arms, and the rest expanded as a in body skirts, the whole 

being decorated with ribbons or gaily dressed in doll's 

clothes. 

1777 BRAND Pop. Antiq. xxxi. 307 Kern Safy..tix 

northern Word is plainly a Corruption of Corn Baby or 

Image, as is the Kern or Churn Supper of Corn Supper. 

1787 GROSE Prov. Gloss., Kern-baby, an image dressed 

up with corn, carried before the reapers to their mellsupper, 

or harvest home. 1813 ELLIS Brand's Antiq. 

I. 422 note, An old woman .. informed me that, not half a 

century ago, they 

used every where [in Northumberland] to 

dress up something, similar to the figure above described, 

at the end of Harvest, which was called a Harvest Doll, 

or Kern Baby. 1826 in Hone Every-day Bk. II. 1166. 

1846 RICHARDSON Borderer's Table-Bk. VII. 375 The 

corn-baby or kirn-dolly. 

1866 W. HENDERSON Folk Lore 

N. Counties 66 When the sickle is laid down and the last 

sheaf set on end. .an image is at once hoisted on a pole. . 

crowned with wheat ears and dressed up in gay finery, 

a white frock and coloured ribbons being its conventional 

attire. The whole group [of reapers] circle round this 

harvest queen or Kernbaby, curtseying to her, and dancing 

and singing. 1868 ATKINSON Cleveland Gloss., Kern baby, 

an image, or possibly only a small sheaf of the newly 

cut corn, gaily dressed up and decorated with clothes, 

ribbons, flowers. &c. 

Kirnel, -ell, -elle, obs. forms of KERNEL. 

Kir-re, obs. f. QUARRY rf.l (hunting term). 

II Kirsell (kirj). Also kirsh. [F. kirsch, 

abbrev. of next.] = KIRSCHWASSER. 

1869 Daily News 25 Aug., Distillers of the cherry-stone 

liquor, called kirsh. 1874 T. G. APPLETON in Longfellow's 

Life (1891) III. 229, I tried coffee and kirsch, and they had 

the good old taste. 

II Kirschwasser (ki-rfvasar\ Also kirschen-. 

i. [Ger. kirsch(eri)ivasser kirsche , 

cherry + luasser 

water.] An alcoholic spirit distilled in Germany 

and Switzerland from a fermented liquor obtained 

by crushing wild cherries. 

1819 SCOTT Leg. Montrose ii, We had drunk .. about two 

mutchkins of kirschenwasser. 1826 DISRAELI Viv. Grey 

vm. iv, A bottle of Kerchen Wasser, from the Black Forest. 

1855 'E. S. DELAMER' Kitchen Garden (1861) 1.18 The 

famous cordials known as kirschwasser and maraschino. 

Kirsen, -dom, obs. or dial. ff. CHRISTEN v., 

CHRISTENDOM. 

I Kirset '. Sc.Laiv. Obs. Alsokerset.kirseth, 

kyrset(t. [app. a. ON. kyrrseta or kyrrsxti, 

sitting in peace and quiet, freedom from disturb- 

ance.] Exemption from the payment of taxes, 

granted for one year to a new burgess (see quot.). 

In some MSS. of the Burgh Laws the erroneous form 

kirksett is found : 

KIBWANITE. 

Gosf. Matt. vii. 15 WarnieS eow wiS leasan witeên, be 

cume3 to eow on sceapene kertlen. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Ham. 

139 He ches..Stiue here to shurte and gret sac to curtle. 

c 1200 Vices S, Virtues 127 Se be benimS 3e bine kiertel, aif 

him bine mantel, c 1290 Becket 1155 in S. Eng. Leg. 1. 130 

Is Cuyrtel Jwijt blaunket. a 1300 Cursor M. 4161 His 

kyrtil [Go'lt. MS. cirtil] sal we riue and rend, c 1386 CHAUCER 

Miller's T. 135 I-clad he was . . Al in a kirtel of a lyght waget, 

1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) VII. 307 pe curtelle of wolle 

and a pilche. a. 1440 Sir Eglam. 1255 To onarme hym the 

knyght goys In cortyls, sorcatys and schorte clothys. 1494 

FABYAN Chron. vn. ccxxxvii. 276 A man . . barefote, and in 

a whyte kyrtel!. 1552 HULOET, Kyrtyll of a kynge worne 

vnder the mantyll of estate, trabea. 1577 HARRISON England 

n. v. (1877) ' "6 Giuing them [knights of the Garter] 

laps or skirts. 1870 MORRIS Earthly Par. II. in. 341 A 

white-haired elder clad in kirtle red. 

2. A woman's gown. b. A skirt or outer petticoat. 

(See quot. a 1825.) 

App. in common use down to about 1650, and now, as 

an archaism, much more frequent than sense i. 

o. 995 in Kemble Cod, Dipl. VI. 133 Hio becwiS 

jE5elf[lsede] Elhhelmmesdehter. .hyre twihbrocenan cyrtel. 

c 1205 LAY. 4993 Heo nom hire on anne curtel [v. r. cuertel] 

..hire hem heo up i-taih, hire cneon he was swiSe nehi. 

c 1330 R. BHUNNE Chron. (1810) 122 Scho gede out in hir 

smok..Withouten kirtelle or kemse. 13.. E. . Allit. P. 

A. 203 Her corteL.With precios perlez al 

umbe-pyghte. 

c 1440 Generydes 4395 The quene dede on hir kirtill fayre 

and well, c 1485 Digby Myst. v. 165 Here entreth v. virgynes 

in white kertelys. 1546 J. HEYWOOO Prov. (1867) 23 Though 

ny be my kyrtell, yet nere is my smocke. c 1550 Image 

Hypocr. i. 417 in Sltclton's Wks., Your curtles be of silke 

With rochetes white as mylke. 1650 HOWELL Giraffi's 

Rev. Naples ii. (1664) 9 Ladies and gentlewomen were forbidden 

likewise to go abroad with wide-hoop'd gowns or 

kirtles. 1742 SHENSTONE Schoolmistr. 65 A russet kirtle 

fenc'd the nipping air. 0x825 FORBY Voc. E. Anglia, 

Kirtle, an outer petticoat to protect the other garments 

from dust, c. in riding. ..Scarcely, if ever, heard of now 

that pilliuns are so gone out of use. 1873 OUIDA Pascarel 

I. 117 In her ruddy serge kirtle and her great Tuscan hat. 

3. Jig. A coat or covering of any kind ; a coat- 

ing of paint. 

1398, 1582 [see CURTEL]. c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. \. 417 

Thre kyrtils do theron, of marbul greyne; But first let on 

be drie, and then engre[y]ne A smaller cote ahoue on that. 

1878 GILDER Poet fy Master 14 The gray rock had not made 

Of the vine its glistening kirtle. 

4. attrib. and Comb. 

1530 in Weaver Wells Wills(&go) 118 To by a kyrtilcloth 

for my mother. 1725 Cock-laird in Orpheus Caledonius 

(1829), I maun hae a silk hood, A kirtle-sark, wyliecoat, And 

a silk snood, a 1800 Clerk's Tu>a Sons in Child Ballads 

(1857) 11- 7 en it came the Mayor's dauchters Wi' kirtle 

coat alone. 

t Kirtle, rf.2 Obs. ?An error for kintle, 

QUINTAL. 

1688 R. HOLME Anhoury in. 106/2 Kirtle Flax is twelve 

heads in a bunch, and is about an hundred pounds in 

weight. 1726 Diet. Rust. (ed. 3), A Kirtle of Flax is the 

quantity of about 100 pounds Weight, containing 12 Heads 

in a Hunch. 

Kirtle (ksut'l), v. [f. KIRTLE rf.i] 

trans. To cover or envelop as with a kirtle. 

1888 A. S. WILSON Lyric of Hopeless Love Ixviii, Dreams 

Kirtle thee in robes too fair For jealous Dawn to see thee 

wear. 1896 J. LUMSUEN Poems 198 Corn fields. .Kyrtle 

This God's acre like a queen. 

Kirtlecl (kaut'ld), a. [f. KIRTLE sb,~i + -ED 2.] 

Clothed in a kirtle : often in parasynthetic comb. 

1634 MILTON Comus 254 Amid'st the Naiades. 

flowry-kirtl'd 

1812 BYRON Ch. Har. n. Iviii, The wild Albanian kirtled to 

his knee, a 1850 ROSSETTI Dante q Circ. I. (1874) 141 A 

lady .. sweetly kirlled and enlac'd. 

etymology. If the word were old, it might in form represent 

an OE. *ge-cyrn = OHG. gikurni, shortened kitrni, 

churn], MHG. kurne, kurn, 'corn collectively or of all 

kinds (see Grimm, s.v. Korn i d). But this hardly suits the 

sense, unless indeed *zecyrn could have meant something 

like 'completion (of the reaping or ingathering of all the 

corn) '. (Prof. E. Sievers.)) 

Kirn (k5an, Sc. kern), v. Also dial, kern, 

kurn. [Northern form of CHURN z/.] 

1. a. trans, and absol. To churn ; to make butter 

by churning, b. intr. Of butter : To form by 

' 

churning, to come'. 

' 

15.. Hyfe of Anchtermnchty v, Scho kyrnd the kyrne, 

and skwm'd it clene. 1723 RAMSAY Gent. Sheph. n. iii, Tibby 

kirn'd, and there nae butter came, a 1774 FESGUSSON 

Poems 74 (Jam.) Nae mair the thrifty gudewife sees Her 

lasses kirn. 1801 in Anderson Ciimbld. Ball. 19 For tou 

can kurn, am' darn, and spin. 1856 HENDERSON Pop. 

Rhymes 56 (E. D. D.) The gudewife's butter wadna kirn. 

2. transf. a. trans. To mix or stir by a process 

like that of churning cream ; to keep turning over, 

up, etc. b. intr. To perform the act of stirring 

something to etc. 

; puddle, 

1822 GALT Sir A. WyKe xxxiv. (E.D. D.) It would hae 

been mair to the purpose had ye been kirning drogs with 

the pistle and mortar in your ain shop. 1869 R. LEIGHTON 

Scotch Wds. 20 I've just been kirnin' through the Word o 

God. 1892 N. DICKSON Auld Min. (1896) 106 Busy kirnin' 

among clay an' makin' bricks. 

Hence Kirned///. a. Ki-rnin.gr tt to., churning, 

attrib. zskirning-day; kirning-rung = kirnsta/(KiRX 

sb.\ 3). 

1790 A. WILSON Pack Poems 59 Gin ye please our John 

an' me, Ye'se get the kirnan rung see Jamieson, s.v. 

14.. Burrow Lawns c. 27 Quha sum evir be made new 

burges of a waste lande and he hafe na lande wythin be 

burgh herberyt 

To lick, this day. 1808 

ELIZ. HAMILTON Cottagers Glenbtmiie (Jam.), The very 

first kirning after, her butter was burstet and gude for 

naething. 1824 MACTAGGART Gallmiid. Encycl. (1876) 39 

Twas fed on new kirned butter-milk. 1899 CROCKETT Kit 

Kennedy 217 The morn, .is kirning-day. 

Ki-rn-taa:by. Also kern-, KIRN [f. 

**. + 

BABY sb. 2 'doll, puppet'.] A rude semblance of a 

in be fyrst êre hesallhaf kyrset {Latin text 

kirseth] And efter be fyrst gere he sail haf herberyt lande 

and byggyd. [1609 SKENE Reg. Maj. 122 He may haue 

respit, or continuation for payment of his burrow mailes for 

ane zeare, quhilk is called hyrsett (sic).} 

t Kirset *, kyrsede, -ett(e, obs. ff. CRESSET. 

1459-60 Ace. Rolls Durham (Surtees) 88 Le Kirsettez in 

domo capitulari et Refectorio. c 1497 Inventory in MS. 

Ashmole 1519, If. 141 b, In : coquina a chawfere, a brandlet, 

a kirset. 1505-6 Ace. Rolls Durham (Surtees) 104 Deîi 

petr. feodi [coquinas] pro le kyrsett ad portam abbathie. 

1569 Inv. in Trans. Cumbld. % Wcstmld. Arch. Sec. X. 34 

On Kyrsede & ij trepetts price vs. 

Kirsine, -some, obs. corruptions of CHRISTIAN. 

Kirsp, variant of CRISP s/>. 

Kirtle (ks-jt'l), rf.l Forms: a. i oyrtel, 3 

cuer-, ouyrtel, 3-6 cur-, kur-, -tel(l(e, -til, 

-tyll; 4-5 cartel, -yl. 0. 2 oer-, kier-, 2-5 

kertel, (5 -tyl), 6 kertle, 6-7 -tell. 7. 3 cirtil, 

3-8 kir-, kyr-, -tel, -til, etc., 5- kirtle, (6-8 

kyrtle). [OE. cyrtel= ON. kyrtill tunic (Da. kjortel 

tunic, gown, Sw. kjortel skirt, petticoat) :*kurtil-, 

app. a dim. of *kurt- 'short', commonly regarded 

as an early adoption of L. curtus. The sense 

' 

short coat ', as opposed to ' 

long gown would 

', 

suit the ordinary meaning of the ON. word, but 

does not apply to the use in Eng.] 

1. A man's tunic or coat, originally a garment 

reaching to the knees or lower, sometimes forming 

the only body-garment, but more usually worn 

with a shirt beneath and a cloak or mantle above. 

In early instances freq. transl. L. tunica. As the common 

name for an article of male attire, kirtle seems to have gone 

out of use about or shortly after 1500 writers of the i6th 

; 

and i7th c. use it chiefly in describing robes of state. I 

survived to some extent in dialects, applied to a short 

jacket or blouse (see quots. 1706 and 1828). 

893 K. ÊLFRED Oros. \. i. 17 Se byrdesta sceall jyldan 

. .berenne kyrtel o35e yterenne. c 1000 J^LFRIC Horn. I. 64 

NimaS bis gold . . BicjaS Kirve (kaiv), 

eow paillene cyrtlas. c 1160 Hatton 

v. Also kerve, curve, [a. ON. 

kyrfa to carve :*kurtjan : see KERF.] 

f 1. To carve. Hence kirving-knife, carvingknife. 

Obs. rare. 

1484-5 Ace. Rolls Durham (Surtees) 649 Pro emundacione 

de le kirvyngknyflez d'ni Prioris, i2*/. 

2. Coal-mining. To undercut a seam to hole. 

; 

Hence Ki-rviug vbl. sb. the , wedge-shaped excavation 

made with the pick at the bottom of a seam, 

previous to blasting or bringing down the coal. 

1827 WILSON Pitman's Pay n. xxvii, What he gat was 

varry sma', Frae out the kirvens and the nickens. 1851 

GREENWELL Coal-trade Terms Northumb. % Durh. 33 The 

coals obtained from the kirving are always small ) and as 

the size of the kirving is pretty constant.. it follows that a 

greater per centage of small is made in working a thin than 

a thick seam of coal. 1865 JF.VONS Coal Quest. (1866) 72 

The waste of coal in the ' 

kirving ' 

or cut made by the 

hewer. 1883 GRESLEY Gloss. Coal Mining, Kirve, to hole. 

Hence fXirver (in 6 kyrvour), a carver. Obs. 

1535-7 Ace. Rolls Durham (Surtees) 703 Sol. Thome 

Whythed, kj'rvo r , zos. 

Kirwanite (kauwansit). Min. [Named after 

R. Kirwan, an Irish mineralogist (1733-1812): 

see -ITU 1 A .] fibrous, green, chlorite-like mineral, 

found in the basalt of the North of Ireland. 

1811 PINKERTON Petro.1. I. 561 Kirwanite. 1833 Philos. 

Mag. III. 85 Kirwanite Found by Mr. P. Doran m 

the Greenstone and Porphyry of Mourne, and named by 

Dr. Thomson. 

f Kis. Obs. rare-*, [a. Gr. m's.] A weevil. 

1658 ROWLAND Moufefs Theat. Ins. 1086 The English 

call the Wheat-worm Kis, Pope, Bowde, Weevil, and Wibil. 

155

KISH. 

1776 G. SEMPI.E Building in Water 59 Kesh-work, that is, 

a kind of large Baskets, made of the Boughs and Branches 

of Trees, about the size of four or five Feet Square; these 

they sink in rows, by throwing stones . . into them till they 

ground, and then filling them up. Kid. 60 They, .so begin 

to build their Piers, banking the Kishes all round with other 

Stones and hard Stuff thrown in. 

Kish. 2 (kij). [Etym. obscure. Cf. F. Masse, 

in Normandy quiasse, kiasse scum of metals.] 

A form of impure graphite, which separates from 

certain kinds of iron in the process 

of smelting, 

floating on the top in the form of scales. Also, 

A dross on the surface of melted lead. Hence 

Ki-shy a. (see qnot. 1825). 

i8i SIR H. DAVY Chent. Philos. 301 There is a substance 

formed in iron foundries called kish, of a brilliant appearance, 

usually in thin scales, analogous to plates of polished 

steel. It consists chiefly of carbonaceous matter united to 

iron. 1835 J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 330 The appear, 

ance of this substance, called by the workmen kish, . ._is so 

common an attendant on the production of the most highly 

carbonized iron, that the workmen have applied the term 

kitky to that peculiar sort of iron. 1881 RAYMOND Mining 

Gloss., Kish, the blast-furnacemen's name for the graphitesegregations 

seen in pig-iron and in the cinder of a furnace 

making a very gray iron. 

II Eishen I. 

(ki-Jan). of Man. Also kischen, 

kishon. [Manx kishan Ir. cisean, dimin. of cis, 

KISH l.] 

A measure containing eight quarts. 

1825 Pious Manx Peasant in Houlston Tracts I. No. 17. 

8 She . . brought him two fat hens, and . . a kishon of oats to 

feed them. 1890 HALL CAINE Bondman i. vii, The April 

rain would bring potatoes down to sixpence a kishen. 

portion, lot, fate, f. qasama to divide.] Destiny, 

fate. 

1849 E. B. EASTWICK Dry Leaves 46 One day a man related 

to me a story of Kismat or 

destiny. 1865 MRS. 

GASKRLL in Cornh. Mag. Feb. 210 It's a pity when these 

old Saxon nouses vanish off the land ; but it is ' 

kismet ' 

with 

the Hamleys. 1883 F. M. CRAWFORD Mr. Isaacs i. 19 The 

stars or the fates . . or whatever you like to term your kismet. 

Kiss (kis), sb. Forms : a. 1-4 cos, ooss, 3-5 

cosse, 4-6 kosse. 0. 4 cuss, 5 cus, cusse, kus, 

6 kusse. 7. 4-7 kisse, 5 kys, 5-6 kysse, 4, 7kiss. 

[OE. coss = OFris. kos, OS. cos, kus (MDn. 

cus, cuss, Dn. kus), OHG. chus (MHG. kus, kos, 

G. kuss}, ON. koss: OTeut *kuss-oz. ME. cuss 

(kus) was app. developed from coss, as it appears 

to have had (u) not (ii), and occurs in texts which 

do not use cusse (cusse) for the vb. The mod.Eng. 

form (like Da. kys, Sw. kyss) is from the vb.] 

1. A touch or pressure given with the lips (see 

Kiss v. i), in token of affection, greeting, or 

reverence a ; salute or caress given with the lips. 

a. (looo ./ELFRIC Horn. II. 32 Ic hine to minum cosse 

ararde. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Luke xxii. 48 Mannes sunu bu 

mid cosse sylst. a 1100 .Ags. Voc. in Wr.-Wiilcker 309/8 

Osculum, cos. a 1125 A ncr. A*. 194 Wo wurSe his cos : vor 

hit is Judases cos bet he ou mide cusseS. 13. . Gaw. 4- Gr. 

Knt. 1300 He had craued a cosse, bi his 

courtaysye. 138* 

WYCLIF Song 

Sol. i. r Kisse he me with the cos of his mowth. 

1481 Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 25 He., with cossis and terys 

watryd the fete of the crosse. a 1553 UDALL Royster D. i. 

iii. 24, 1 will not sticke for a kosse with such a man as you. 

ft. 1390 GOWER Conf. II. 348 Yit wol he stele a cuss or tuo. 

c 1430 Hymns Virgin 12 Ful curteis was bi comeli cus [rime 

ihesus]. c 1440 Partonope '3236 Ther with she yaf hym a 

swete cus. "1529 SKELTON P. Sparrow 361 Many a prety 

kusse Had I of his swete musse. 

y. CI340 Cursor M. 15779 (G6tt.) Wid a kiss [other MSS. 

coss, cosse] has bu mannes sune ynto bi bandun broght. 

Ibid. 17108 (Gott.) Kisse of saghtling bu me bedis. c 1440 

Promp. Pant. 277/1 Kys, or kus, osmium, basium. c 1489 

CAXTON Blanchardyn ix. 39 To haue a kysse or cusse of her 

mouth. 15*6 Pilgr. Per/. (W. de W. 1531) 278 b, Kysse me 

lorde, with the kysse of thy mouth. 1599 SHAKS. Much Ado 

II. i. 322 Speake cosin, or. .stop his mouth with a kisse, and 

let not him speake neither. 1667 MILTON P. L. iv. 502 He. . 

press'd her Matron Up With kisses pure. 1796-7 COLERIDGE 

To Sara 4 Ah why refuse the blameless bliss ? Can danger 

lurk within a kiss? 1833 TENNYSON Fatima iii, He drew 

With one long kiss my whole soul thro 1 

My lips. 1851 

HOOK Ch. Diet. (1871) 424 The kiss of peace, .was one of 

the rites of the eucharistic service in the primitive church. 

1871 R. ELLIS Catullus vii i Ask me, Lesbia, what the 

sum delightful Of thy kisses. 

714 

Kish ! Cîf). Also 8 keah. [a. Ir. cis (kif), ceis 

(kef) basket, hamper: cf. KISHEN.] A large 

wickerwork basket, used in Ireland chiefly lor 

carrvine turf; sometimes mounted on a car. 

1780 A! YOUNG Tour Irel. I. 61 A kish of turf bums 

2 barrels of lime. i8oa EDGEWORTH Irish Bulls x. 1 (1803) 80 

An Irish boy . . saw a train of his companions leading their 

cars loaded with kishes of turf. 1841 S. C..H*ui Ireland 

II us nott He pointed to the potatoe Kish which was 

placed upon the table. 1843 S. LOVER Handy And? xix. 

166 The cars were in great variety, .some bore klshes in 

which a woman and some small children might be seen. 

b. Used, like gabions, in building the piers of 

bridges, etc. 2. A fig. light touch or- impact. 

1588 SHAKS. L. L. L. iv. iii. 26 So sweete a kisse the 

golden Sunne giues not, To those fresh morning drops vpon 

the Rose. iSai SHELI.EY Epifsych. 547 Where the pebblepaven 

shore, Under the quick, faint kisses of the sea 

Trembles and sparkles. 1850 TENNYSON In Mem. cxvii, 

Every kiss of toothed wheels. 

b. Billiards, 

(see qnot.). Hence Kish-work. 

etc. (See Kiss v. 3 c.) 

' 

1836 T. HOOK G. Gumey III. 154 That is a cannon how- 

' 

ever '. Not a bit of it ! . . a kiss 1 1859 CRAWLEY Billiards 

95 All these canons are made by a kiss from the cushion. 

1874 J. D. HEATH Croquet Player 35 A proper laying of the 

balls will preclude the undesirable kiss. 

3. Name for a small sweetmeat or piece of confectionery 

; a sugar-plum. 

1825 BROCKETT, Kisses, small confections or sugar plums. 

Perhaps the same as Shakspeare's kissing-comfits. 1887 

STEVENSON in Scritner's Mag. 1. 612/4 Munching a ' 

barleysugar 

kiss '. 

4. A fanciful term for a drop of sealing-wax 

accidentally let fall beside the seal. 

1829 Young Lady's Bk. 337 No drops, or, as our country 

cousins designate them, kisses, will fall in the passage of 

the wax from the taper to., the seal. 1848 THACKERAY Van. 

Fair xxvii, ' 

linage, 

It 's Peggy O'Dowd's fist said ', George, laugh- 

' 

ing. I know it by the kisses on the seal '. 1850 DICKENS 

Detective Police Party Wks. (Libr. ed.) VIII. 307, 1 observed 

that on the back of the letter there was what we call a kiss 

a drop of wax by the side of the seal. 

5. //. A local name for the heartsease (Viola 

and busse, and cull, and cusse thy darling apishe 

fruite. 1825 BROCKETT, KH$S> to kiss. 

y. c laoo Vices $ Virtues 1 17 Rih(t)wisnesse and Sibsumnesse 

kesten hem to-gedere. a 1300 Cnrsor M. 24533, 1 kest 

him J>an bath frunt and chek. c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. 

IVace (Rolls) 6804 pe Romajrns J>em keste, & wente fcer weye. 

c 1375 Sc, Leg. Saints xviii. (Egipdane) 1050 Zozimas ran 

To kes hyre fete, c 1449 PECOCK Repr. 270 Thei kessiden 

the feete of the ymage. 

8. c 1000 ÊLFRIC Horn. I. 566 Heo Sa mid micelre blisse 

hit awrehte, and wepende cossode. 1382 WYCLIF Gen. xxvii. 

27 He com nerre, and cossyde hym, 1555 PHAER sEneid 

L 1 1 And swetely kost his doughter dere, [So 1584 TWYNE], 

b. transf. Of birds : To touch lightly with the 

bill by way of a caress. 

1398 TREVISA Bartk. De P. R. xn. vii. (MS. BodU If. 1 17 b/2 

pe culuere is a lecherous bridde and kussej? euerich oper 

tofore ye tredi'nge. a 1519 SKELTON Sp, Parrot 269 Now 

kus me, Parrot, kus me. 

2. intr. or absol. : usually of two persons, in 

reciprocal sense. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 9750 (Colt.) And dom and pes do samen 

kys. c 1330 R. BRUNNE Citron. (1810) 86 He said |?an his 

avis, ' 

Kisse & be not wroj>e \ At be first J>ei kiste, as frendes 

felle to be. 1390 GOWER Conf. II. 27 Therupon thei kisten 

bothe. 1470-85 MALORY Arthur 11. vi, Whan they were 

mette they putte of her helmes and kyssed to gyders. 1604 

E. G[RIMSTONE] D'Acostas Hist. Indies v. iv. 339 To make 

a certaine sound with their mouthes (like people that kissed). 

tricolor} ; cl.kiss-me, etc., in Kiss-, KISS-ME-QUICK 3. 

1840 SPURDENS Suppl. Forty, Kisses, the pansy; heart'sease. 

6. Comb., as kiss-giver, -thrower; kiss-worthy 

adj. kiss-wise ; 

adv., in the manner of a kiss. 

a 1586 SIDNEY Astr. q Stella Ixxiii, Thy most kisse-worthy 

face. 1735 Fanshaw's tr. Gitarinis Paslor Fido u. l, 

shall receive her mead. 1860 

She, that is The best kiss-giver, 

T. L. PEACOCK Gryll Gr. 298 A most beautiful kiss-thrower. 

1875 LANIER Poems, Symphony 291 Lips kiss-wise set. 

Kiss (kis), v. Pa. t. and pple. kissed (kist). 

Forms : a. 1-2 cyssan, 2-5 kyssen, 3-6 kysse, 

(4 kyse, kise, 4-6 kys, kia), 4-7 kisse, 4- kiss. 

ft. 2-6 cusse, 3-4 kusse, 4 cus, kus;?

KISS-. 

1610 SHAKS. Temp, 11. ii. 145 Come, sweare to that : kisse the 

Booke. 1765 BLACKSTONE Comm. I. vi. (1809) 255 After this 

the king or queen.. shall say, 'The things which I have 

here before promised I will perform and keep : so help me 

God ': and then shall kiss the book. 1899 BESANT Orange 

Girl ii. xii, After kissing the Testament .. he turned an 

unblushing front to the Prosecutor. 

b. a 1420 HOCCLEVE De Keg. Princ. 3815 More is . .honurable, 

a man compleyne of thrist, Than dronken be, whan he 

be cuppe nab kist. 1579 GOSSON Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 25 Kiss, 

ing the cupp too often. 1623 COCKERAM, Delibate, to sippe, 

or kisse the cup. 1808 SCOTT Marm. v. xii, The bride kissed 

the goblet ; the knight took it up, He quaffed off the wine, 

he threw down the cup. 

c. 1835 I. TAYLOR Spir. Despot, x. 410 To kiss the dust 

before monstrous superstitions. 1867 TROLLOPE Ckron. 

Barset II. Ivi. 129 She had yielded, and had kissed the dust. 

d. 1589 Pasquil's Ret. B, Ouerthrow the state, and make 

the Emperiall crowne of her Maiestye kisse the ground. 1601 

R. JOHNSON Kingd. >, Conimw. (1603) 149 In the Church 

he kisseth the grounde with his forehead. 1782 COWPER 

Koadicea 19 Soon her pride shall kiss the ground. 1841 

LANE Aral. Nts. I. 86 He went again to the King, and 

kissed the ground before him. 

e. c 1575 Diurn. Occnrr. (Bannatyne Club) 332 The castell 

men kust thair hand with schutting of small artailyerie. 

1593 SHAKS. Rich. II, m. iii. 104 Thy thrice-noble Cousin, 

Harry Bullingbrooke, doth humbly kisse thy hand. 1654 

SIR E. NICHOLAS in ff. Papers (Camden) II. 94 My sonne 

will kiss your hands in a letter of his owne by the next post. 

1670 LADY MARY BERTIE in iith Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. 

App. v. 21 The Dutchesse .. presented mee to kisse the 

Oueene's hand. 1680 LADY CHAWORTH ibid. 55 Mr. Vicechamberlaine. 

.kisses your hands and begs your commands 

if any into France sudainly. 1710 Land. Gaz. No. 4722/2 

He had this Day the Honour of kissing Her Majesty's 

Hand. 1768 in Priv. Lett. Ld. Malniesbury I. 159, I had 

intended to set off, as soon as I could kiss hands. 1809 G. 

ROSE Diaries (1860) II. 434 The Marquis could not kiss 

hands for the Seals. 1854

KIT. 

the ground for a garden was discovered another tomb, 

kisti-vaen. .of five flags, without an urn, or any remains of 

bones. 1807 G. CHALMERS Caledonia I. i. 11. 84 Among the 

varieties, in the manner of burial,.. the-Cistraen is remark- 

able. 1827 O. HIGGINS Celtic Druids 217 In the Welsh 

megalithic forms of interment, consisting of kistvaens, or 

sepulchral underground chambers, formed of four huge slabs, 

covered with an immense capstone. 

Kit (kit), rf.l Forms : 4-5 kyt, 4-7 kitt, 5-6 

kytt(e, 6- kit. [app. a. MDu. title a wooden 

vessel made of hooped staves (Du. kit tankard) : 

ulterior etymology uncertain.] 

1. A circular wooden vessel, made of hooped 

staves; in different localities applied to vessels of 

various sizes, with or without a lid, and usually 

having a handle or handles ; as, a small open tub 

with one or two of the staves fashioned into 

handles, used for holding water or 'washing up'; 

a deeper vessel with a lid used as a milking-pail ; 

a tub- or pail-shaped vessel, often with a lid, used 

for holding or carrying milk, butter, fish, or other 

commodities; whence, by extension, sometimes, a 

square box used for the same purpose. 

I BARBOUR Bruce xvnr. 168 Thai strak his hed 

375. 

of, and 

syne it Thai haf gert salt in-till a kyt [v. r. kitt] And send 

it in-till Ingland. 14.. Nominate in Wr.-Wulcker 696/14 

Hoc multrum, a kytt. 1485 Inv. in Ripon Ch. Acts 

(Surtees) 371, i kitt cum cooperculo. 1565 Inn. in Trans. 

Cunibld. If Westmld. Arch. Sac. X. 31 In the brew howse 

A Leade, a mashe fat. . -Two Kytts. 1370 LEVINS Manif. 

148/43 Kit, a litle vessel, canthariis, fidelia. 1633 m 

Cramond Ann. Banff'(1891) I. 71 Paid for three Kims of 

Salmound. 1649 BLITHE Eng. Improv. Impr. ix. (1653) 56 

As a man doth with a hand-scoop, pail, or kit, cast water out 

of a ditch. 1674 RAY N. C. Words 27 A Kit or milking 

Pail .. with two Ears and a Cover. 1701 C. WOLLEY Jriil. 

Nav York (1860) 55, I.. ordered him to fetch a kit full of 

water and discharge it at them. 1771 SMOLLETT Humph, 

Cl. 3 Sept., The following articles formed our morning's 

repast! one kit of boiled eggs; a second, full of butter; 

a third full of cream. 1795 j. RICHARDSON in J. Robertson 

Agric. Perth (1799) 378 Salmon was.. preserved in vinegar, 

and packed up in small wooden vessels called kits. iSoa 

MAWE Min. Derbysh. Gloss. (E. D. S.), Kit, a wood vessel 

of any size. 1815 BROCKETT, Kit, properly a covered 

milking-pail with two handles, but often applied to a small 

pail of any sort. 1832-53 Whistle-Biiikie Ser. HI. 114 We've 

kits fu' o' butter we've cogs fu' o' brose. 1878 CtimbM. 

Gloss., Butter kits, square boxes used for conveying butter 

to market in a wallet on horseback. 1883 Fisheries Exhib. 

Catal 72 Samples of Red Herrings in kits. 1888 Sheffield 

Gloss , Kit or Kitty, ..a wooden tub with one handle, in 

which . .grinders 

cool their knives, saws, etc. 

b. A kind of basket, esp. one made of straw or 

rushes for holding fish. 

1847-78 in HALLIWELL. 1859 SALA Tw. round'C/oci(i86i) 

' 

' 

20 Crabs are sold by the kit (a long shallow basket) and 

by the score. 

2. a. A collection of articles (called articles of 

kit) forming part of the equipment of a soldier, 

and carried in a valise or knapsack ; also, the 

valise containing these, or this with its contents ; 

sometimes = outfit, 'turn-out', uniform. 

1785 GROSE Diet. Vulg. T. s. v., The kit is likewise the 

whole of a soldier's necessaries, the contents of his knapsack. 

1813 SIR R. WILSON Priv. Diary II. 18 Considering that 

we were conspicuous a cheval, and in glittering kits, it is 

wonderful that no marksman fired with unerring aim. 1820 

J. W. CROKER in C. Papers 16 June (1884), Several [soldiers] 

. . removed their kits from the barracks. 1855 THACKERAY 

Neuicowes xxvi, His kit is as simple as a subaltern's. 

1868 Rcgul. ., or with KIT sb.S\ The game of 

tip-cat. 

1664 COTTON Scarron. iv. Poet. Wks. (1734) 88 Then in 

his Hand he takes a thick Bat, With which he us'd to play 

at Kit-Cat, a 1825 FORBY Voc. E. Anglia, Kit-cat, a game 

played by three or more players. The cat is shaped like 

a double cone. 

b. Comb. Kit-cat-roll (see quot.), probably so 

in the game. 

called from the shape of the ' cat ' 

a 1825 FORBY Voc. E. Anglia, Kit-cat-roll, a bellied 

roller for land ; . .going in the furrow, and the roller acting 

on the sloping surface of the ridge on each side. 

Kit-cat 2 (ki-tkset). Also 8-9 kit-kat. [f. 

Kit (= Christopher) Cat or Catling, the keeper 

of the pie-house in Shire Lane, by Temple Bar, 

where the club originally met.] 

1. attrib. with Club : A club of Whig politicians 

and men of letters founded in the reign of James II. 

1705 HEARNE Collect. 6 Dec. (O. H. S.) I. 116 The Kit 

Cat Club came to have it's Name from one Christopher 

Catling. {Note, a Pudding Pye man.] 1710 Ace. Tom 

Whig 31 Your Kit-Cat Clubs, Calfs-Head Clubs, Junto's, 

and other infernal Cabals. 1821 (title) Portrait and Memoirs 

of the Celebrated Persons composing the Kit-Cat Club. 

1829 LYTTON Deyereux n. vi, That evening we were 

engaged at the Kit-Cat Club, 

b. absol. in same sense. 

1704 Faction Displ. 15, I am the founder of your lov'd Kit- 

Kat, A Club that gave Direction to the State. 1719 D'URFEY 

Pills VI. 349 The Kit Cat, and the Toasters, Did never care 

a Fig. 1749 FIELDING Tom Jones iv. ii, Thou mayest 

remember each bright Churchill of the galtaxy, and all the 

toasts of the Kit-cat. 

attrib. c 1706 BLACKMORE Poem Kit-cat Club, Hence did 

th' 

Assembly's 

Title first arise, And Kit-Cat Wits spring 

first from Kit-Cat's Pyes. 

C. A member of this club. 

1704 Faction Displ. 14 Testers, Kit-Kats, Divines, Buffoons 

and Wits. 

1722 MARY ASTELL Eng. after Wit Ded., To the 

most Illustrious 

Society 

of the Kit-Cats. 1883 Harper's 

Mag. July 181/2 The Kit-Kats were the greatest gentlemen 

of the day. 

2. attrib. with size, portrait, etc. : A particular 

size of portrait, less than half-length, but including 

the hands. 

Said to have been so called because the dining-room of the 

club at Barn Elms was hung with 

portraits 

of the members 

and was too low for half-size portraits. 

1754 A. DRUMMOND Trav. i. 31 There is . . a kit-cat size 

of St. Ignatius holding a crucifix. 

1778 PENNANT Tours in 

Wales (1883) I. 15 Here is another picture, .a kit-cat length 

of Sir Roger Mostyn. 1875 Miss BRADDON Strange World 

II. i. 4 It was a kit-kat picture of a lad in undress uniform. 

b. absol. in same sense. 

1800 MALONE Dryden 534 note, The canvas for a Kit-kat 

is thirty-six inches long, and twenty-eight wide. 1840 

Polytechnic Jrtil. II. 322 The portraits .. will be of the 

proportion of what is termeda Kit-Kat. iSSiD.C. MURRAY 

Hearts I. 92 All the portraits in the Shire Hall are Kit-cats. 

V-fig- 

1803 Edin. Rev. II. 427 As Virgil 

did 

leaving some half lengths, others kit -cat. 

with his verses, 

1822 COLERIDGE 

Lett., Convers., etc. II. 144, I destroyed the Kit-cat or bust 

at least of the letter I had meant to have sent you. 

Kitchen (ki-tjen), sb. Forms: a. i eycene, 

kycen(e, cicen(e; 3 kycohen, (4-5 -yne), 3-4 

kiohene, (3-7 -ine, 7 -en), 4-5 kychene, 5 -en, 

-ing, -o(u)n, 5-6 -yn(e, 6 kytchyn(e, -in(e, 

-en, kitchyn(e, -ine, (kitschine, chit-, citchen), 

6- kitchen, (6-8 -in, -ing, 7 -ein). 0. 3 ku-, 3-4 

ouchene(); 5 cochyn(e, 5-6 kochyn. 7. 4-5 

kechene, -ine, -yne, 4-7 -ing, 5 -ynne, 5-6 -yn, 

-en, 6 -in, 

chechyn). 

(4-5 keiteh-, keiching ; ketchyne, 

[OE. eycene wk. fem. = OLG. *kukina 

(MDu. coken(e, koekene, kuekcne, Du. keuken ; 

MLG. kokene, LG. koke(n, ko'k hence Da. ; 

k'dkken, 

also dial, koken, Sw. kok), OHG. chuhMna (MUG. 

kiiche(ji, kuche(n, G. kiiche, and obs. or dial, kiich, 

kuch(e} : vulg. L. cucina, coctna, var. of coquma, 

f. coquere to COOK. Of the ME. forms, those vay, 

i were orig. midland and north. ; those in 

southern and esp. s.w., with - OE. y ; those in e 

partly Kentish with e for OE. y, partly north, and 

midl. witli e widened from z'.] 

I. L That room or part of a house in which food 

is cooked a ; place fitted with the apparatus for 

cooking. Clerk of the Kitchen : see CLERK si. 6. 

a. ,1000 Ags. Voc. in Wr.-Wulcker 283/12 Coquina, 

eycene. c 1000 ^LFRIC Hotn. II. 166 J>a wurpon hi Sa 

anlicnysse inn to heora kycenan. 4:1050 Suppl. sKl/nc's 

Voc. in Wr.-Wulcker 184/11 Coquina, uel culina, cicen. 

c 1275 LAY. 3316 We habbeb cocus to cwecche to kichene. 

(.1300 Havelok 936 He bar it in, A[l] him one to the kichin. 

c 1380 WYCLIF Serin. Sel. Wks. I. 215 Sum men ben proude 

in her herte..of hi?e kycchynes. 1450 Rolls Parlt. V. 

192/1 John Hardewyk Clerk of cure Kechon, William

KITCHEN. 

Pecke Clerk of oure Spicerye. 1481 CAXTON Reynard 

xxxii. (Arb,) 90 Therwyth the wulf was had to kychen and 

his lyuer taken out. 1552 HULOET s.v., All kindes of meat 

dressed in the kitchen. 1616 SURFL. & MARKH. Country 

Faritie 3 The first foundation of a good House must be the 

Kitchin. 1656 FINETT For. Ambuss. 168 Giving him a 

lodging to lye in and no Kitching to dress his meate in. 

1718 NEWTON Cknmol. Amended \. 337 Kitchins to bake 

and boil the Sacrifices for the People. 1832 G. DOWNES Lett. 

Cant. Countries I. 189 The dishes were 

conveyed from the 

kitchen by a kind of windlass, erected in the dming-hall. 

ft. c 1205 LAV. 24602 pas bcorn ba sunde from kuchene. 

KITCHEN-MIDDEN. 

ifiSo BALE Votaries n. N iv. The king toke al their wiucs, 

otherwise called Iheir kichine maides ..and put them all in 

the tower of London. 1675 WOOD Life 31 Mar. II. 311 

Disinherited .. because debauched and married his kilchin 

niaid 1891 MRS. OLIPHANT Cuckoo in Nest II. xxv. 133 The 

dinner, which an eager kitchen-maid, .had the charge of. 

Kitchen-midden (ki-t/enmi'd'n). [A transl. 

of Da. kjakkenor 

: kokkenwbdding see KITCHEN 

and MIDDEN, dung-hill, refuse-heap.] A refuseheap 

of prehistoric date, consisting chiefly of the 

shells of edible molluscs and bones of animals, 

among which are often found stone implements 

and other relics of early man. Also^. 

and atlrib. 

Such mounds are characteristic of the Danish 

especially 

coast, and were first brought into scientific notice by Danish 

archaeologists, but they are also found in many other parts 

of the world. 

|i86> LATHAM Channel 1st ill. xviii. (ed. 2) 415 Just as in 

the Danish kjokkt-middings whole heaps of shells of the 

edible mollusca have been preserved.] 1863 I.vi LI. Antiq. 

Man xix. 372 The old refuse-heaps, or 'kitchen-middens'. 

1877 DAWSON Orig. World xiv. 311 The accumulation of 

kitchen-midden stuff in the course of the occupancy of 

caverns. 1883 Conteittp. Rev. June 788 The mental kitchen 

middens of generations of savages. 

Ki'tclieil-phy sic. humorous. Nourishment 

for an invalid, suitable for ' 

feeding up '. 

1591 GREENE Upst. Courtier in Hart. Misc. (ed. Park) V. 

406 If 1 be ill at ease, I take kitchyn I 

physicke, make my 

wife my doctor, and my garden my apoticaries shop. 1658 

Sir T. Mayerne's Archim. Anglo-Gall. Pref. 2 The Excellency 

of Kitchin-physick, beyond all Gaily pots. 1738 

SWIFT Pot. Conversat. ii. 154 Well, after all, Kitchen-Physic 

is the best Physic. 1863 J. R. W. By-gone Days 5 The 

Manse.. being the resort of the sick and aged.. when in 

want of what the minister's wife termed ' 

kitchen physic '. 

So Ki tcheii physi'ciaii. 

1797 MRS. A. M. BENNETT Beggar Girl IV. i. 21 The fever 

took its departure, and left Rosa in the hands of an excellent 

kitchen physician. 

Kitchenry(ki-t/enri).>-rt^. Alsoykitchinree. 

[f. KITCHEN so. + -KT.] 

t 1. The body of servants employed in a kitchen. 

1609 HOLLAND Amm.-Marcell.xiv. vi. 12 Next unto whom 

goeth the blacke guard and kitchinree [L. atratum coquiny 

ministerium\. 1658 W. SANDERSON Graphice 26 The Hall 

with Paintings of Neat-beards, .. Milke-maides Minding 

Cattle, in proper degrees, some other also, of Kitchenry. 

1 2. The art of cooking, cookery. Obs. 

1610 HOLLAND Camden's Brit. \. 450 Those .. who beeing 

deinty toothed are iudicious clerkes in Kitchenrie. 

3. Kitchen-utensils. 1890 in Cent. Diet. 

Ki'tchen-stuff. 

1. Material used in cooking; requisites 

for the 

kitchen, esp. vegetables. 

1606 -SVrG. Goosecappe in. ii. in Bullen O. PI. (1884) III. 

52 To sooth their pallats with choyce kitchin-stuff. 1710 

Another Garden for Kitchen 

CELIA FIENNES Diary(i88&) 299 

Stuff. 1744 (title) Adam's Luxury and Eve's . . 

Cookery 

Containing. .Receipts for Dressing all sorts of Kitchen-Stuff. 

2. The refuse or waste products of the kitchen ; 

spec, dripping, kitchen-fee. 

2) 49 They make them [candles] 

stuffe, and other stinking baggage. 1697 DAMPIER Voy. (1729) 

! 537 When they want Oil, they make use of Kitchin-stuff. 

1719 D'URHEY Pills (1872) VI. 125 Come Maids bring out 

your Kitchen-stuff, Old Rags, or Women's Hair. 1836-9 

DICKENS Sk. Boz v. (1849) 43/2 Shops for the purchase of 

rags, bones, old iron, and kitchen-stuff. 

b. fig. Of persons or things, contemptuous. 

1637 HEVWOOD RoyallKingm. Wks. 1874 VI. 46 Where 

be those kitchinstuffes here, shall we have no attendants? 

1654 VILVAIN Theol. Treat. Suppl. 216 (They] scorn the 

book of Homilies as most cours contemptible Kitchin-stuf. 

1754 WARBURTON Ld. Bolingbroke's Philos. (R.), Would you 

easily believe his lordship could pride himself in cooking up 

this old kitchin-stuff? 


1603 DEKKER Wonderfull Yeare F ij, All the way he went, 

was moie greazie than a kitchin stuffe-wifes basket. 1608 

MIDDLETON Trick to Catch Old One in. iv, Thou Kitchen, 

stuff-drab of beggary, roguery, &c. 1681 W. ROBERTSON 

Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 789 A kitchin-stuff-wench. 

Ki'tchen-wench. arch. A girl employed in 

the kitchen, a kitchen-maid, contemptuous. 

1590 SHAKS. Com. Err. in. ii. 96 She's the kitchin wench, 

& al grease. 1678 OIWAY Friendship in F. n. i, Chloris 

dwindles into a Kitchen-Wench. 1840 BARHAM Ingol. Leg., 

The Ghost, His wife would, .strike with all her might, As 

fast as kitchen-wenches strike a light. 

Kitcheny (ki'tjeni), a. rare. [f. KITCHEN sb. 

+ -Y.] 

Of or pertaining to the kitchen. 

1874 MRS. WHITNEY We Girls v. 100 A specialty .. hers 

was a very womanly . . not to say kitcheny one. 

Kitchin, obs. var. of KINCHIN. 

Kite (kait), sb. Forms: i oyta, 4 kete, kijt, 

kuytte, 4-5 kuyte, 4-7 kyte, (6 kight, -e, kyght, 

Sc. kyt), 5- kite. [OE. cyla (:-*kutjon-) ; no 

related word appears in the cognate languages.] 

1. A bird of prey of the family fa/cpntdm and 

718 

715 Corfus Gloss. . 333 Butio, cyta. 13. K. Alls. 3048 

Nultow never late ne skete A goshauk maken of a kete. 

< 1386 CHAUCER Knt.'s T. 321 Ther cam a kyte, whil they 

weren so wrothe, And baar awey the boon bitwixe hem 

bothe. f 1450 Bk, llaivkyng in Ret. Ant. I. 298 Draw 

hym oute of the mewe and put him in a grove, in a crowys 

neste, other in a kuytes. 1539 TONSTALL Serin. Palm Sund. 

(1823) 74 Their carkases there to lye to be deuoured by 

kytes & crowes. 1593 SHAKS. 2 Hen. V[t in. i. Wer't 

249^ 

not all one, an emptie Eagle were set, To guard the Chicken 

from a hungry Kyte. 1663 COWLEY Verses $ Ess., Ode 

Liberty vi, To kites and meaner Birds he leaves the mangled 

Prey. 1766 PENNANT Zoot. (1768) 1. 141 The kite generally 

breeds in large forests, or wooded mountainous countries. 

1828 Scorr F. M. Perth xix, Her ear for bad news was as 

sharp as a kite's scent for carrion. 1870 MORRIS Earthly 

Par. II. in. 301 With wide wing The fork-tailed restless kite 

sailed over her, Hushing the twitter of the linnets near. 

b. Applied with qualifying words to other 

species of the genus, or of the subfamily Milvinse. 

Arabian K., Milvus legyfliacus; Australian or 

Square-tailed K., M. isurus (Lophaictinia isura) ; 

Black K. f Al. ater of southern Europe and northern 

Africa ; Black-winged K., Elanus cxruleus of northern 

Africa ; Brahminy K., Haliastur indus of Hindustan : 

Indian or Pariah K., Milvus govinda ; Mississippi K., 

letMa mississippiensis; Pearl or White-tailed K., 

Elanus leucurus of N. America; Swallow-tailed K., 

Elanoidesforficatus of N. America. 

Also locally applied (or misapplied), with or without qualification, 

to birds belonging to other divisions of Falconids, 

as the Buzzard (Bald K.), Hen-harrier, and Kestrel. 

x6n COTGR., Buzart, a Buzzard, or Bald-kite, c 1813 

[see BRAHMINEE a.\. 1843 YARRELL Brit. Birds I. 72 The 

Swallow-tailed Kite.. is only an occasional visitor to this 

country. 1847 LEICHHARDT Jrnl, x. 321 We had to guard 

it by turns . . from a host of square-tailed kites (Milvus 

isiirns). 1893 NEWTON Diet. Birds 491 There is a second 

European species, .the Milvus migrans or M. ater of most 

authors, smaller in size. . . In some districts this is much commoner 

than the red Kite. 

2. jig. A person who preys' upon others, a rapacious 

person a ; sharper ; also more indefinitely as 

a term of reproach or detestation. 

'S53 UDALL Royster D. v. v. (Arb.) 83 Roister Doister 

that doughtie kite. 1599 SHAKS. Hen. V, n. i. 80 Fetch 

forth the Lazar Kite of Cressids kinde, Doll Teare-sheete. 

1605 Lear I. 

iy. 284 Detested Kite, thou 1606 

lyest. 

Ant. $ Cl. in. xiii. 89 Ah you Kite, t 1614 FLETCHER Wit 

without money i. i, Maintaining hospitals for kites and 

curs. 1841 CARLYLE Misc., Baillie (1872) VI. 235 Food for 

learned sergeants and the region kites I 

3. [From its hovering in the air like the bird.] 

A toy consisting of a light frame, usually of wood, 

with paper or other light thin material stretched 

upon it; mostly in the form of an isosceles triangle 

with a circular arc as base, or a quadrilateral 

symmetrical about the longer diagonal ; constructed 

(usually with a tail of some kind for the 

purpose of balancing it) to \>eflown in a strong 

wind by means of a long string attached. 

Kites are also used of special shapes, or with special 

appliances, for various scientific and other purposes, e.g. the 

bird-kite, used to frighten partridges (see KITK v. 2); cf. 

also ELECTRIC *z. 2 b, quot. 1898 here, and combs, in ob. 

1664 BUTLER Hud \\. in. 414 As a Boy one night Did flie 

his Tarsel of a Kite, The strangest long-wing'd Hawk that 

flies. 167* MARVELL Reli. Transp. i. 58 He may make a 

Paper-kite of his own Letter of 850 pages. 1789 

freat IRS. PIOZZI Jaurn. France, etc. I. 129 Boys flying kites, 

cut square like a diamond. 1837 D. JOHNSON hid. Field 

Sports 22 A frame-work of split bamboos, resembling the 

frame of a paper kite. 1880 Daily Nevjs i Sept. 5/2 The 

kite has been fiercely attacked as . . a mean advantage to 

take of the birds [partridges], 1898 Westnt. Gaz. 8 Mar. 10/1 

Our own War Office have intimated that they are not prepared 

..to make further trials with kites for military purposes. 

Jlf. 1781 Bell's Poets I. Life King p. xxiii, Some of the 

political kites which flew about at that time. 

b. Tofly (or send up) a kite : 

(Jig.') to try 'how 

the wind blows i. 

', e. in what direction affairs are 

tending. (See also 4. ) 

1831 PALMERSTON in Sir H. Lytton Bulwer Life (1871) II. 

65 Charles John [King of Sweden] flew a kite at us for the 

Garter the other day, but without success. 

4. Commercial slang. (With jocular allusion to 

a paper kite, sense 3.) A bill of exchange, or 

negotiable instrument, not representing any actual 

transaction, but used for raising money on credit ; 

an accommodation bill. A person thus raising 

money is said iofly a kite : see FLY z/.l K a. 

1805 Sporting Mag. XXV. 290 Flying a kite in Ireland is 

a metaphorical phrase for raising money on accommodation 

bills. ?i8i7 MAR. EDGEWORTH Love t, Law i. i, Here's bills 

plinty . . but even the kites, which I can fly as well as any 

man, won't raise the wind for me now. 1859 Riddles $ 

Jokes 98 Plunkett . . used to say 

there was this difference 

between boys' kites and men's kites that with boys the 

wind raised the kites, but with men the kites raised the 

wind. 1894 J. C. JEAFFRESON Bk. Recoil. I. v. 84 The 

it. But 

wretched piece of paper, with my autograph upon 

no harm came to me from the little kite. 

5. Naut. (pi.) A name for the highest sails of 

a ship, which are set only in a light wind. Also 

subfamily Milvinx, having long wings, tail usually 

forked, and no tooth in the bill. a. orig. and esp. 

the common European species Milvus ictinus 

(M. regalis, M. vulgaris), also distinctively called 

Fork-tailed Kite, Royal Kite, or flying-kites. 

1856 EMERSON Eng. Traits ii. 33 Our good master keeps 

his kites up to the last moment, studding-sails alow and 

(from its reddishbrown 

general colour) Red Kite, and Glede, formerly 

common hi England, but now very rare. 

aloft. 1867 SMYTH Sailor's Word-bk., Flying.kites, the very 

lofty sails, which are only set in fine weather, such as skysails, 

royal studding-sails, and all above them. 1875 BED- 

FORD Sailor's Pocket Bk. iv. (ed. 2) 90 When the glass falls 

low, Prepare for a blow ; When it rises high, Let all your 

kites fly. 

KITE'S-FOOT. 

0. Local name of a fish, the Brill. 

1836 YARRELL Brit. Fishes II. 24r The Kite of the Devon, 

khire and Cornish coasts is the same as the Brill. 1884 DAY 

Brit. Fishes II. 16. 

7. Name for a variety of the Almond Tumbler 

pigeon, having black plumage with the inner webs 

of the quill-feathers passing into red or yellow. 

1867 TEGETMEIER Pigeons xi. 118 Kites, though seldom 

regarded as exhibition birds are exceedingly valuable as 

breeding stock. . .An Almond and a Kite will often produce 

an Almond and a Kite in each nest. 

8. Geom. A quadrilateral figure symmetiical 

about one diagonal (from its resemblance to the 

form of a toy kite, sense 3) ; also called DELTOID. 

1893 '" FUNK. 

9. aitrib. and Comb. a. in sense i, as kite-andcrow, 

kite-colour; -coloured ad]. ; kite-eagle, name 

for Neopus (Ictinxtus) malaycnsis, an East Indian 

hawk ; kite-falcon, a hawk of the genus Baza, 

having a crested head and two teeth in the beak ; 

kite-fish, a species of gurnard; t kite-key (erron. 

kit-key), a name for the 'key' or fruit of the ash- 

tree ; kite-tailed a., having a long tail like that 

of a kite, as the kite-tailed widgeon, a species of 

duck (Daflla acnta) found in Florida; fkite-wolf, 

rendering of Gr. IKTIVOS (properly 'a kite', also 

a kind of wolf), b. in sense 3, as kite expert ; 

kite-flier, -flying (also in sense 4) ; kite-shaped 

adj. ; kite-balloon, a balloon with a long string 

or wire attached, used for scientific or other purposes 

; kite-photograph, a photograph taken by 

means of a camera attached to a kite or kiteballoon; 

kite-tail attrib., in kite-tail pltig, name 

for an obstetric dressing made with pledgets of lint 

or gauze affixed at intervals to a string or tape, 

like the pieces of paper in the tail of a kite ; 

kite- 

track (see quot.). v 

1887 Academy 7 May 319/1 *Kite-and-crow struggles of 

Swabian and Wiirtembeiger. 1898 Westm. Gaz 8 Mar. 

10/1 The German military authorities are experimenting 

with *kite-balloons 1682 Land. Gaz. No. 1736/4 Stolen or 

Strayed... two Mares, one of a 'Kite-colour, i-jo* Ibid. 

No. 3814/4 A large Sandy or Kite-colour Grey Gelding. 

1676 Ibid. No. 1092/4 A "Kite-coloured Roan Nag. 1883 

Cassell's Nat. Hist. Ill 283 The "Kite Eagle is about 

thirty inches in length. 1898 Westm. Gaz. 8 Mar. 10/1 

*Kite experts, who . . are building up an art . . destined to 

be of the greatest utility to science and watfate. 1684 

LITTLETON Lat. Diet., The 'Kite-fish, Milvus piscis 1896 

Daily Nnus i Dec 8/5 Franklin's experiences as a scientific 

'kite-flyer. 1827 D. JOHNSON Ind. Field Sports 168 This . . 

man spent .. his time in .. pigeon flying, or paper 'kite 

flying. 1834 Blaclav. Mag. XXXVI. 500/2 Some accommo. 

dating associate in the noble art and mystery of ' 

kiteflying 

'. 1578 LYTE Dodocns vi. Ixx. 748 The huskes or fruile 

theieof [the Ash] are called in shoppes Lingua atiis, and 

Lingua passerina : in English, "Kytekayes. 1620 VENNER 

Via Recta (1650) 136 Ash-keys, commonly called Kite-keys 

of the Ash. 1656 BULLOKAR Eng Expos . Kitkaies, the 

fruit of the ashen tree. 1807 Daily News 4 Nov. 6/4 A view 

of the City Hall, New York, with a portion of Lower 

Broadway and adjacent streets .. what is called 'a "kite 

photograph'. 1818 TYTLEH Hist. Scot, (1864) I. 321 The 

'kite-shaped shield of the Normans. 1896 A llbutt's Syst. 

Med. I. 

^39 

For supporting the uterus and packing round 

the cervix several of these rolls are attached to the one 

string, forming the ' 

kite-tail ' 

plug 1893 Outing (U. S ) 

XXII. 97/2 A "kite track [for racing] consists of two stietches 

of one-third of a mile each, with a connecting curve of one. 

third of a mile. 1607 TOPSELL Four.f Beasts (1658) 570 

One of them hath a back of a silver . colour, .this is Ictinus, 

canus, a gray *Kite-wolf. 

Kite, v. [f. prec. sb.] 

1. intr. To fly, soar, or move through the air, 

with a gliding motion like that of a kite; also,_/?f. 

of a person, colloq. 

1863 LE FANU Ho. ty Churchyard II. 66 He has been 

'kiting all over the town. 1894 J. J. ASTOR Journ. other 

Worldsu. iii.i45 Whenever a large mass seemed dangerously 

near the glass, they.. sent it kiting among its fellows. 

b. trans. To cause to fly nigh like a pnperkite. 

1865 E. BURRITT Walk Land's End 379 We pulled in our 

kited fancies soaring so high. 1868 BuaHNBU. Sena. Liv. 

Sub}. 62 We are going .. to be kited or aerially floated 

no more. 

2. To terrify grouse or partridges by flying a 

paper kite, shaped like a hawk, over their haunts, so 

as to make them lie close till the guns come near. 

1880 Daily NtzusiSept. 5/2 The practices known as driving 

and kiting. 

3. Commercial slang, a. intr. To ' 

' 

fly a kite : 

see KITE sb. 4. b. trans. To convert into a ' kite ' 

or accommodation bill. 

1864 WEBSTER, Kite, v. i. (Literally, to fly a kite.) To 

raise money, or sustain one's credit, by the use of mercantile 

paper which is fictitious. 1901 Dundee Advertiser 10 Jan. 

6/2 It seemed.. as if every one in London who had a sixpence 

to 

purchase 

a stamp had 'kited' paper with my 

signature forged to it. 

Kite, obs. f. CUT v. ; var. KYTE, belly. 

fKitekin. Obs. [f. KIT sb.* or kitty 

-KIN.] = CATKIN. 

1578 LYTE Dodoens vi, Ixvii. 743 A Chatton, Kitekin, or 

Catteken. 

Kite's-foot, kitefoot. 

1 1. Name of some herb. Obs, 

1580 HOLLYBAND Treas. Fr. Tong, Pled dc inilatt,..&n

KIT-FOX. 

herbe called kitesfoote. 1611 in COTGR. s. v. Milan. 1706 

in PHILLIPS. 

2. Name of a variety of tobacco, from its colour. 

[1688 J. CLAYTON in Phil. Trans. XVII. 943 Aranoko 

Tobacco, whose Scent is not much minded, their . . aim 

being., to procure it a bright Kite's-foot colour.] 1796 

MORSE Amer. Geog. I. 544 The kitefoot tobacco. 

Kitesoll : see KITTISOL. 

Kit-fox, [perh. from KIT sl>.3, in reference to 

its small size.] A small fox ( Fulpes velox), peculiar 

to North-western America, scarcely half the size of 

the common fox, of a prevailing yellowish grey 

colour, with a black-tipped tail ; the American 

corsak or swift-fox. Also, by ellipsis, kitt. 

1812 J. CUTLER Topogr. Descr. Ohio 139 The Christenoes 

..traffic in beaver, otter, lynx, ..small fox or kitts, dressed 

elk, and moose deer skins. 1815 LEWIS & CLARKE Trav. 

xxiv. III. 29 The kit-fox or small red fox of the plains. 1829 

RICHARDSON Fauna Bar. Amer. I. 98 It has long been 

known to the Hudson Bay fur-traders, its skins forming a 

portion of their annual exports, under the name of kitfoxes. 

Kith, (kib), sb. Forms: i cyppo, cyp(p, 2 oef, 

chep, 3-4 cuppe, (4 cupphe, kuppe, outh), 4 

keppe, kippe, kip, kyp, (kypthe, kitth, -e, 

kiyth, kuith, kuythe, kygth, kid, kidh"), 4-5 

kithe, kythe, (kyght, -e, 5 kyghth, kide), 4-6 

kyth, 4- kith. 0. 6-7 fciffe, 6-8 kiff. [OE. 

cySS, cyS, earlier cySSn = OHG. chitndida : OTeut. 

*kunlipa, abstr. sb. from *kun]i- known, OE. cuS, 

COUTH. In ME. the (') forms were s. w., the 

e forms Kentish.] 

fl. Knowledge, acquaintance with something; 

knowledge communicated, information. 06s. 

CQOO tr. Bxdas Hist. v. xxii[i.], Of minre sylfre cybbe. 

c looo ÊLFRIC Horn. I. 396 pe nane cySoe to Code naefdon. 

a 1400 Sir Perc. 1281 So kyndly takes he that kyth, That 

up he rose and went hym wyth. c 1450 Rel. Ant. I. 308 

Spare no}th an hauke yf he lye in thy kyth. 

1 2. Knowledge how to behave ; rules of eti- 

quette. 

Obs. 

c 1350 Will. Palerne 331 Whanne bou komest to kourt 

among be kete lordes, & knowest alfe be kubês bat to 

kpurt langes. c 1470 Gol. fy Gam. 320 The king cumly in 

kilh, couerit with croune. 1804 TARRAS Poems 32 (Jam.) 

But nature, thy feature, An' mien o' various kythe. 

f3. The country or place that is known or 

familiar; one's native land, home; hence gen. 

country, region, quarter. Obs, 

c888 K. /ELFRED Boeth. xxvii. 4 pact hi on heora ajenre 

cyhbe ealne wej maejen. Ibid, xxxiii. 4 pses waeLeres 

a^nu cyb is on eorban. a 1175 Cott. Horn. 231 pa sende se 

king his aerndraches of fif ceoen to alle his underbeoden. 

Ibid. 235 Isent of fif cheoen. c 1205 LAV. 2435 Guendoleine 

he sende into hire fader londe, ..into hire cu55e. 01300 

Cursor M. 5452 (Cott.) Drightin ban was our eldres wit, 

He mon vow bring in to your kyth [Gdtt. kid]. 

Ibid. 9074 

(Cott.) Far wil i fie In vncuth kygth [fair/, kib] fra bis 

cuntre. 1362 LANGL. P. PI. A. in. 197 He hedde beo lord 

of bat lond . . And eke kyng of bat cubbe. la 1400 Morte 

Artli. . . 3997 pe kyng kayres furthe with be cors in kyghte 

bare he lenges. ^1440 York Myst, xviii. 91 Us most flee 

Owte of oure kyth where we are knowyn. 1513 DOUGLAS 

sEneis iii. 

yn. 59 Sers and inquyr . .of this kith quhair standis 

the cheif citee. 

f 4. The persons who are known or familiar, taken 

collectively ; one's friends, fellow-countrymen, or 

neighbours; acquaintance; 

in later use sometimes 

confused with kin : see 5. Obs. or arch. exc. as in 5. 

c 1000 Afs. Gosp. Luke ii. 44 Hi;;.. bine sohton betux his 

maâs & his cucSan [Littdisf. cuoo, R-ushw. c 

CySdpl. 1325 

Metr. Horn. 108 Thai him soht Imang thair kith. 1330 

R. BRUNNE Chron. Wace (Rolls) 8443 pe men of kuythe (>at 

he wel knewe, pat he wyste were gode and trewe. c 1615 

W. BROWNE Yng. Willie $ Old Wernock (R.), My near 

kith. 1825 BROCKETT, Kith, acquaintance. ..Not obsolete 

as stated in Todd's John. 1848 LYTTON Harold in. iii, 

High persons of his own kith. 

5. Phr. Kith and kin : orig. Country and kinsfolk 

(see 3) ; in later use, Acquaintance and kinsfolk, 

one's friends and relatives; in mod. use often taken 

merely as a pleonastic phrase for Kinsfolk, relatives, 

family connexions. (Formerly sometimes corrupted 

to kiff and kin.) 

a. 1377 LANC.L. P. PI. B. xv. 497 How ri;twis men . . Fer fro 

kitth and fro kynne yuel yclothed ;eden. a 1400 Octouian 

1822 I-dryue Ywas, ..From ken and kyghth. (1450 St. 

Cnthbcrt (Surtees) 23 Of saynt cuthbert kyth and kynne. 

1570 LEVINS Manip. 150/36 Kith or kin, cognatio. 1794 

BURNS 'My Lady s gown' ii. My lady's white, my lady's 

red, And kith and kin o Cassillis' blude. 1824 BYRON Juan 

xv. xxxi, Daughters, brothers, sisters, kith or kin. 1872 

BLACK Adv. Phaeton viii, If any extra bit of comfort or 

kindness is wanted for their own kith and kin. 

/3. 1573 TUSSER Hnsb. (1878) 22 For kiffe nor for km. 1584 

3 Ladies Lond. I. in Hazl. Dodslcy VI. 250 They forsake. . 

prince, country, religion, kiff and kin. 1620 MIDDLETON 

Chaste Maid iv. i. 86 A mayd that's neither kiffe nor kin 

to me. 1719 D'URFEY Pills IV. 151 To visit Kiff and Kin. 

fig. 1851 MRS. BROWNING Casa Guidi Wind. i. 888 Mark 

the natural kiths and kins Of circumstance and office. 1861 

MAX MULLER Sci. Lang. iv. 156 That Greek and Latin were 

of the black 

of the same kith and kin as the language 

inhabitants of India. 

t Kith, v. Oiis. Forms : 3 cuWsen, (Orm.) kijjpenn, 

4 kuppe(n, keppe. [Early ME. caVSen (ii), 

repr. an OE. *cy68an, f. cy8(H, KITH sb.] trans. 

or familiar; refl. to become 

To make friendly 

acquainted, or associate oneself (witK) ; to greet 

each other as friends or familiar acquaintances. 

719 

c 1200 Trin. Coll. Horn. 45 Wille we.. mid swiche weldede 

cuo5en us wiS alre kingene king, c 1200 ORMIN 16979 patt 

he wib|> Crist i sunnderrrun Himm awihht haffde kibbedd. 

CI350 Will. Palerne ion pan eiber hent ober hastely in 

armes, And wil> kene kosses kubbed hem to-gidere. Ibid. 

4964 Whan bei samen mette, With clipping and kissing to 

kebbc hem to-gadere. 

Kithe, kythe (ksK), v: Now Sc. and north. 

dial. Forms : see below. [Com. Teut. : OE. cyOan 

(ME. ciipen, kylen, Kifen, kejten) = OFris. ketha, 

keda, OS. ktiSian; MLG. kunden, MDu. conden, 

(Du. (ver)konden\ f. *kundian - OHG. chundian, 

chunden (MHG. e, kib]. Ibid. 22737 His come to kyeth. 

c 1385 CHAUCER L. G. W. 912 Thisbe, I schal a-non it kythe. 

(1475 RaitfCoilyar 107 Kyith I am cummin hanic. 1486 

Bk. St. Allans E vij b, That he wolde hym kith. 1530 

LYNDESAY Test. Papyngo 128 To keyth hir craftynes. 1573 

Satir. Poems Reforjn. xli. 34 Thair loukers durst not kyith 

thair cure. 

1594 

Battell Balrinness in Scot. Poems i6M C. 

II. 349 Giue he into this countrie kaithe [rime blaithe]. 

/3. c 1175 Lamb. Horn. 109 His leoman him cu|?a5 }>et he 

ne bi5 quic longe. CI2OO Trin. Coll. Horn. 181 Dat child.. 

cu3 mid his wope. a 1240 Lofsong in Cott. Horn. 215 Cuio 

in me hwat is milce. 1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 2963 Cuêb 

noube bat }e be|j men [v. rr. Kithe, Cuybe]. 1320 Cast. 

Love 590 pat so muche loue hi kuipe wolde. 1377 LANGL. 

P. PI. B. v. 181, 1 couth \v, r. kibe] it in owre cloistre 

bat al owre couent wote it. 

v. 13x3 SHOREHAM 7 God borwe miracles kebeb hit. 

Ibid. 20 To keben ous hiis ryche. c 1330 Artli. fy Merl, 

2131 Merlin.. bad him orpedliche he schuld kethe [rime 

dethe], c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints vii. (Jacolnts minor] 387 

For-bi bi crane bu keth one me, And waryse myn Infyrmyte. 

2. Pa. t. a. I cySde, 1-2 cydde, 2, 4-5 kydde, 

3-6 kidde, (3-4 kidd), 4-5 kydd(e, kyd, 4-6 

kid, (5-6 kyde) ; 4 kiped, -id, kyj>ed, (4-6 -it, 

-yt, -yd), 4- kythed, kithed. /3. 2-4 oudde, 

3-4 kudde, 4 kud. -y. 3-5 kedde, 4 &. kethit. 

a. 1x900 CYNEWULF Crist 65 [Hi] Cy5don cristes jebyrd. 

c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. viii. 33 Da . . hyrdas cyddon [r 1160 

Hatton Gasp, kydden] ealle fas bing. a 1173 Cott. Horn. 

227 Se aengel. .cydde hyre bat godes sune sceolde beon 

acenned of hire, c 1250 Gen. fy Kx. 1394 Rebecca, .kidd it 

to hire bro3er. 

1330 R. BKUNNE Chron. (1810) 281 pe 

werre bigan, and kid it so couth, c 1350 Will. Palerne 5287 

pe..messangers..kibed here arnd. 1387 TREVISA Higdcn 

(Rolls) IV. 411 He turned to and kydde \v. r. kudde] al the 

myght of his wicche craft. 1535 SJEWART Cron. Scot. II. 

100 The grit wonder and miraclis that tha kid. 1560 

ROLLAND Crt. Venus n. 790 Sen ê on me befoir kyde sic 

kindnes. 1637-50 Row Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.) 438 

He kythed such great gifts. 

. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Horn. 35 pe engel cudde Jw herdes. . 

ba t be helende was..iboren. 1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 2379 

pere 

he kudde wat he was. 1387 Kudde [see a]. 

V. c 1200 Moral Ode 193 (Trin. MS.) Muchel luue he us 

kedde. c 1330 Arth. fy Merl. 3910 Thai kedden her noble 

might, c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xii. (Mathias) 232 pat kethit 

wele bat he was meke. 

he was good at nede. 

c 1460 Lawifal 580 Gyfre kedde 

3. Pa. fpk. a. i se)cyped, 4 i-kid, (kide, 

keid),4-5 y-kyd, y- kidde, kyd,kydd(e,kidd(e, 

kid, 5 y-kydde, y-kid, kyde, (kyth, 6 kyith) ; 

4-9 kythed, kithed, 5-6 -it, 6 -yd, kyithit. P. 

3 ikudd, 3-5 kud, 4-5 ioud, ikud, ykud. 

7. 4 ked, 5 kedd(e. 

0. C900tr.ir

KITHLESS. 

kithing of ani man. 1591 R. BRUCE Sertn. (1843) 215 The 

manner or form of the Kything of the Sign. 1823 GALT 

Gilhaise i (E D. D.), His abundant hair, .was also clouded 

3-4 kithli. [f. KITH sb. + -LY 2 . Perh. distinct 

formations. (OE. ffcySellc 'manifest', in Bosw.- 

Tolleris an error for ycyndelic natural.)] 

1. Familiarly. 

c 1200 OHMIN 16532 Ne tetenn kij>beli5 wib(> hemm. 

tilbis werld. 

Kitish (kai-tij), a. [f. KITE sb. + -ISH 1.] Resembling 

or of the nature of a kite ; greedy. 

1566 W. ADLINCTON Golden Asse (1893) 131, I could not 

escape the kitish eyes of the old woman. 1567 TURBERVILE 

Aunsw. Worn, to hir Louer Epitaphs, etc. 32 All your 

maners more agree vnto the Kytish kmde. 1608 T. MORTON 

Preamb. Encounter Pref. 3 Is not your Defence. . a Kilish 

Doue? 

Kitist (ksi-tist). nonce-wd. [f. KITE sb. + -IST.] 

One skilled in flying kites. 

1844 P. Parley's Ann. V. 313 The great kitist turned to 

tight. 

t Kit-key : see kite-key s.v. KITE sb. 9. 

Kitling (ki-tlirj). Now dial. Forms : 3 kiteling, 

4 keetlyng, 5 kytylyng, oytlyng, 5-6 

kytling, -lyng(e, 6 kytlyn, kitlyng, -linge, Sc. 

-lyne, 6-7 ketlyng, -ling, 6-9 kitlin, -ling, 

kittling, 7-9 -lin, 8 Sc. -len. [Commonly identified 

with ON. kettling-r, ketling-r (Norw. kjet- 

Ung) kitten, dim. of koitr (stem kattii] ; though the 

form of the earliest Eng. instance, and the fact that 

the sense is not confined to 'young cat' make 

difficulties. But if from OE., the form would be 

*cyteling, of which no explanation appears.] 

f 1. The young of any animal; a cub, a whelp. 

a 1300 E. E. Psalter Ivi. 5 pe kitelinges of liouns. 1382 

WYCUF Deut. xxxiii. 22 Dan, keetlyng of a lyon. 1440 

Gesta Rom. i. Hx. 243 (Harl. MS.) Thenne saide the sarpent, 

' 

I am a beste, and I have her in myn hole kytlingis, that I 

have browt forthe'. r 1450 [see KITTEN i b, quot. 1495], 

1603 HOLLAND Plutarchs Mor. 218 They [sea-weasels or 

sea-dogs] breed their young whelpes or killings alive within 

their bellies, and when they list, let them foorth. 

Now dial. 

a 1530 Johan $ Tyb (Brandit 591, I haue sene the day 

that pus my cat Hath had in a yere kytlynseyghtene. 1530 

[see KITTLE v.- i]. 1605 B. JONSON Volpone v. xi, Whether 

goe you, now?. . to drowne killings? 1783 JOHNSON Let. to 

Miss S. Thrale 18 Nov., Bickerstaff. .gives, .an account of 

his cat. I could tell you as good things of Lily the white 

Kitling. a 1825 FORBY Voc. E. Anglia, Kitling, a young 

cat. 1894 CROCKETT Lilac Sunbonnet I m 187 ower auld a 

Pussy Bawdrons to learn new tricks o' saym' ' miauw ' 

to the 

kittling. 

1 3. Applied to a ; person either = child, off- 

spring (cf. cub, whelp} ; or as resembling or acting 

like a kitten in some way. Obs. 

1541 Aberd.Reg. XVII. (Jam.) Calling of him theiff. . howris 

geyt, preistis kitlyne. 

1621 FLETCHER Wild-Goose Chase\\\ 

iii, Out, kittlings ! What catterwauling's here ! 1702 DE 

FOE Good Advice to Ladies 84 Come, says the patient Kitling, 

Husband come. (11745 SWIFT Whs. (1841) II. 59 Bid 

your mistress go hang herself . . you whore's killing. 

B. altrit. or adj. Resembling a kitten or that 

of a kitten ; inexperienced ; diminutive. 

1604 MIDDLETON Father Hubbards T. Wks. 1840 V, Like 

an old cunning bowler to fetch in a young ketling gamester. 

1648 HERRICK Hesper., Oberons Feast, His kitling eyes. 

1689 PHlLOPOLlTESL7rw7^/f/. Crew 3 A new Oath of Allegiance 

. . which every Kitling Critic. . takes upon him to censure. 

Kitmutgar, var. KHIDMUTAR. Kitool: see 

KITTOL. Kitoun, obs. f. KITTEN. Kitsol(l, 

kittasole : see KITTISOL. 

Kitten (ki-t'n), sb. Forms : 4 kitoun, ketoun, 

4-5 kyton, 5 kytton, 7- kitten. [ME. app. a. 

AFr. *ki/oun, *ketnn Q, chitotin, cheton, obs. 

var. of F. chaton kitten. 

The F. form chitoun occurs in Gower Mirour de Fomme 

8221: Teut ensement comme du chitoun, Qi naist sanzvieue 

et sanz resoun.] 

1. The young of the cat a ; young cat (not full- 

grown). 

1377 LANCL. P. PI. B. Prol. 190 pere (>e catte is a kitoun 

be courte is ful elyng. ci4oo Master of Game ix. (MS. 

Digby 182) pel beer hir kitouns..as ober catles, saue bei 

haue not but two ketouns at ones, c 1450 Merlin 665 He 

caste his net into the water, and drough oute a litlil kyton 

as blakke as eny cool. 15915 SHAKS. i Hen. IV, in. i. 129, 

I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Then one of these 

same Meeter Ballad-mongers. 1776 WHITEHF.AD Variety 9 

720 

The Kitten too was comical. She play'd so oddly with her 

tail. 1852 Miss MULOCK Agatha's Husli. i, Carrying not 

only the real black kitten, but the.. allegorical 'little black 

dog ' 

on her shoulder. 

and streaked with the kithings of the cranreuch of age. 

t 2. Acquaintance, recognition also concr. Ac- 

; 

quaintance, 

kith. Obs. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 4817 Cuth [*/. r cowde] bat wit him na 

kything tak. And vncuthh to bam he spak. Ibid. 11080 All 

mad bat mirth at his bering, Fader and moder and )>air 

k 

Kit!lleSS (ki-bles), a. [f. KITH sb. + -LESS.] 

Without kith or acquaintances; having no one 

whom one knows. (Cf. KWLESS.) 

c 1750 in Ld. Campbell Chancellors (1857) VI. cxxxiv. 250 

No thanks to them [Cromwell's Judges] kithless loons ! 

1861 Times 27 Mar. 8/4 The kithless outcasts of every 

country. 1887 FARJEON Tragedy Featherstone 1. 1. i. 6 He 

was alone in the world, kinless and kithless. 

t Kithly, adv. Obs. Forms: b. transf. Applied to the young of some other 

animals. 

1495 Trevisa's Earth. De P. R. xvm. Ixxiv. (W. de W.) 

829 Thewesell. .nouryssheth her kyttons [MS. Bodl. (1450) 

ketelinges] 

3 Orm. kippelij, 

in bowses and bereth them fro place to place. 

1899 Blackw. Mag.j&n. 41/1 Each beaver-plewof full-grown 

animal or ' 

kitten ' 

fetched six to eight dollars overhead. 

c. fig. Applied to a young girl, with implication 

of playfulness or skittishness. 

adj.; kitten-hearted a., faint-hearted, timorous; 

kitten-moth, a collector's name for the bombycid 

of Dicra- 

1894 H. NISBET Bush Girts Rom. 74 After fishing all she 

could, artful, artless little kitten that she is. 

2. Short for kitten-moth : see Z- 

1874 NEWMAN Brit. Moths 210 The Alder Kitten. 

3. attrib.xn& Comb.^kittendaysjace-îtten-like 

moth Centra furcula ; also for species 

nura, as D. bifida (poplar-kitten), D. bicuspis 

(alder-kitten). 

2. In a way that is known or manifest ; manifestly. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 22742 His ober aiming sal he scau kithli 

1821 CLARE Vill. Minstr. I. 166 The gamesome plays 

That mark'd her happy *Kitten-days. 1813 

Sketches Character 

(ed. 2) I. 157, 1 see her "kitten face looking about, trying 

to understand what's going forwards. 1831 

the boys who held her . . . . alleging that they held her too 

T. ATTWOOD 19 

Sept. in Life xi. (1885) 171 The tame *kitten-hearted slaves. 

1838 DICKENS Nick. Nick, xxxiv, Pouncing with *kittenlike 

playfulness upon a stray sovereign. 1819 SAMOUELLE 

Entom. Usi'/ul Conip. 248 Cerura Vinula (puss moth), 

Centra. Furcula (*kitten moth). 

Hence Ki-ttendom, Ki-tteiihood, the state or 

condition of being a kitten. 

1886 BESANT Childr. Gibeon n. xxii, A man whom they 

[the cats] had known and respected since kittendom. a 1843 

SOUTHEY Nondescripts i. 50 Thou art beautiful as ever cat 

That wanton'd in the joy of kittenhood. 

Ki'tteii, v. [f. prec. sb.] Of a cat : To bring 

forth kittens also of some other animals : To 

; 

bring forth young, to litter, (intr. and transf 

vbl. sb. 

Hence Ki'ttening 

1495 Trevisa's Earth. De P. R. xvm. Ixxiv. (W. de W.) 

eevj/i Theyr opynyon is false . . that wesels conceyue atte 

mouth and kytneth [MS. Bodl. whelhib] att the eere. 1597 

SHAKS. i Hen. IV, in. i. 19 If your Mothers Cat had but 

kitten 'd. 1824 Miss MITFORD Village Ser. I. (1863) 191 Two 

as fine litters of rabbits as ever were kittened. 1859 MRS. 

GASKELL Round the Sofa 335 My cat has kittened, too. 

Kittenish (ki-t'nij), a. [f. KITTEN sb. + -ISH I.] 

Like a kitten, or that of a kitten ; having the 

qualities or characteristics of a kitten ; playful. 

1754 RICHARDSON G>-a>id'ison(i&i2) IV. 115 Such a kittenish 

disposition in her. 1844 DICKENS Mart. Chuz. ii, She was 

all girlishness, and playfulness, and wildness, and kittenish 

buoyancy. 1895 M. E. FRANCIS Frieze 4- Fustian 45 The 

kittenish grace of her small slight figure. 

Hence Ki-ttenishly adv. 

Phayre 

1896 LOCKE < Demagogue Lady iii. 22 The little 

blue ribbon. . with the bow tied kittenishly under her ear. 

Kittereen (kitsrrn). Also kittar-, kitur-. 

[Origin unascertained. 

The statement in Gardener's Hist. Jamaica (1873) 163, 

that it was named from being made at Kettering, proves to 

be unfounded; that in quot. 1880 is prob. not more reliable.] 

A kind of covered vehicle. ) a. In West of Eng., 

A kind of omnibus (obs.). 

b. In West Indies, A 

kind of one-horse chaise or buggy. 

1792 Descr. Kentucky 42 In 1787 were exported Chaises 40, 

Kittareens 10, Sulkeys 7. 1831 JANE PORTER Sir E. Seau>ards 

Narr. II. 336, I desired Drake to. .hireakittereen 

a sort of one-horse chaise. 1865 R. HUNT Pop. Romances 

W. Eng. Introd. 14 Within my own memory [born 1807] the 

ordinary means of travelling from Penzance to Plymouth 

was a van called a ' 

kitterine and three ', days were occupied 

in the journey. 1880 J. \V. in IV. Corniu. Gloss, s. v., The 

Kit-Tereen was an open car that ran between Penzance and 

Truro, set up by Christopher Treen. [Jago adds Kit Treen.] 

1885 LADY BRASSEY The Trades 224 We . .packed ourselves 

into buggies.. the body being in some cases sheltered by a 

' 

movable hood, when they are called Kittereens'. 

Kitth, -e, obs. forms of KITH. 

t Kittisol (ki'tispl). Obs. Forms: 6-7 quitasole, 

7 quita-, quitta-, quittusol ; kittasole, 

kittisal, kitesoll, (kippe-sole, kettysol), kit- 

sol(l, 8 kitysol, 8-9 kittisol, (9 ketty-, kettisol). 

[a. Pg. and Sp. quitasol, f. quitar to take away, 

ward off + sol sun.] A sunshade, parasol, umbrella : 

almost always in reference to the East Indies or 

China ; spec, a Chinese umbrella made of bamboo 

and oiled paper. 

1 

This word survived till lately in the Indian Tariff, but it 

' 

is otherwise long obsolete (Yule). 

1588 PARKE tr. Mendoza's Hist. China (Hakluyt Soc.) II. 

105 Two quitasoles of silke, and a horse. 1611 HAWKINS 

in Purchas Pilgrims (1625) I. 217 Of Kittasoles of state, 

for to shaddow him, there bee twentie [in the treasury 

of Akbar]. 1615 R. COCKS Diary (Hakluyt Soc.) I. 28 

The China 

Capt. ..brought me a present from his brother, 

viz., i faire kitesoll. 1625 PURCHAS Pilgrims I. iv. 559 

Many Canopies, Quittusols and other strange ensignes 

of Maiesty. 1662 Bp. NICHOLSON David's Harp, The 

Lord is thy shade umbraculum a quittasol upon thy 

right hand. 1687 Let. Crt. Directors in Wheeler Madras 

inOlden 7Y(i86i)I. 2oo(Y.) They [Aldermen of Madras] 

may be allowed to have Kettysols over them. 1698 FRYER 

Ace. E. India

KITTLE. 

1785 BURNS To W. Simpson v, I kittle up my rustic reed ree 

1814 SCOTT Won. xxix, 'Her ain sell', replied Callu 

could., kittle his quarters wi' her skene-occle ' 

i8zo 

Blackw. Mag.July 386/1, I wad kittle the purse-proud 

carles under the fifth rib wi' the bit cauld steel. 1824 

SCOTT RcdgctunUct Let. x, The best fiddler that ever 

kitt ed thairm with horse-hair. 1828 Craven Dial. s. v., ' To 

kittle the fire ', to stir it. 

2. 

fig. To stir with feeling or emotion, usually 

pleasurable; to excite, rouse; to 'tickle'. 

a 1340 [see KITTLING]. 1513 DOUGLAS Êneis v. xiv. 3 

Ulaidnes and confort . . Begouth to kittill Eneas thochtful 

x "' Pro '- 22 

'ii , . 

9 Quhen new curage kytlis al 

gentill hartis. 1534 HACKET Let. to Hen. VIII in St. 

Papers VII. 556 Able to cawse the Kyng of Denmark to 

s 5 lng'ondc w"h out any infrangyng of peace betwi: 

-._. -& D The corn-riggs kittle the farmer's e'e. 

0. To puzzle with a question, a riddle, etc. 

1824 SCOTT St. Ronan's xv, To kittle the clergymen with 

doubtful points of controversy, a 1832 in Lockhart's Scott 

(1839) V II- I9S flo aremark. .that he seemed to know some- 

thing of the words of every song . . he replied] I daresay ' it 

wad be gay ill to kittle me m a Scots one at any rate. 

Ki'ttle, . 2 Now Sc. and north, dial. Also 6 

kyt(t)ell. [perh. a back formation from KITLING : 

but cf. Norw. kjetla, in the same sense.] 

1. = KITTEN v. 

153 PALSGR. 599/1 Whan your catte kytelleth, I praye 

you, let me have a kytlynge. 1611 COTGR., Chatonner, to 

kittle. ?i7.. in Scott Minstr. Scot. Bord. II. 285 (Jam.) 

The hare sail kittle on my hearth stane. 1825 BROCKETT, 

Kittle, to bring forth kittens. 

2- fig. (intr. and pass.} To be engendered or 

produced ; 

to come into being. 

1823 GALT Entail II. xxx. 282, I would be nane surprised 

if something had kittled between Jamie and a Highland 

lassie. 1824 SCOTT St. Ronan's ii, Before ony of them were 

born, or ony sic vapouring fancies kittled in their cracked 

brains. 1827 J. WILSON Noct. Ambr. Wks. 1855 I. 277 The 

cursedest kintra that ever was kittled. 

Kittle, obs. form of KETTLE sb. 

Kittle-pins, ke-ttle-pms, sb. pi. Now 

only dial. [The relation of this to SKITTLE has 

not been determined.] Skittles, nine-pins. 

1649 G. DANIEL Trinarch., Hen. V, clxiii, Quoyts, and 

Kettle-pins. 1649 SADLER Rights Kingd. 43 When shall our 

kittle-pins return again into the Grecian skyttals. 1679 

Trial Laiighorn 32, I saw him in the Garden with a Lay- 

Brother at Kittle-pins in the view of all the Colledge. 1801 

STRUTT Sports $ Past. ill. vii. (1810) 239 Loggatts .. is 

the same which is now called kittle-pins, in which the boys 

often make use of bones instead of wooden pins. 1886 

ELWORTHY W. Somerset Word-bk., Kittle-pins, skittles 

applied to the pins and not to the game. 

bo Ki-ttles sb. pi., skittles. 

1697 View Penal Laws 329 If any person.. shall by any 

Fraud., at.. Kittles.. Win Money. 1719 D'URFEY Pills III. 

162 We merrily Play At Trap, and Kettles. 

Kittling, vbl. sb. Sc. and north, dial. [OE. 

kitelung: see KITTLE w.l] The action of KITTLE w. 1 ; 

tickling (lit. and fig). 

ciooo Ags. Voc. in Wr.-Wulcker 278/6 Titillatio, kitelung, 

a 1340 HAMPOLE Psalter ii. 4 Dissayued thurght 

quayntis of be deuel and kitlynge of baire flesch [MS. Coll, 

Eton. 10, If. 4, kitellynge of thaire fiesshe]. 1483 Cath. 

Angl. 204/2 A kytyllynge, titillacio. 1822 HOGG Perils 

Man II. vi. 234 A kind o' kittling, a sort o' 

prinkling in 

my blood like. 1830 GALT Lawrie T. vn. vi. (1849) 330 

Ye'll never laugh or smile At the kittling o' your knee. 

Kittling, kittlin, obs. forms of KITLING. 

Kittly (ki'tli), a. Sc. and U.S. [f. KITTLE z/.l 

+ -Y ; cfi Norw. kitlug, Sw. kitlig, LG. kitlich, G. 

kitzlich. For the sense ' 

risky ' 

in the compound 

kittly-benders, cf. KITTLE a.] Easily tickled ; susceptible 

or sensitive to tickling ; ticklish ; tickly. 

. 1822 GALT Steam-boat viii. 155, I was no so kittly as 

she thought, and could thole her progs and jokes. 1830 

Lawric T. v. ii. (1849) J 99 ^ made the very soles of my 

feet kittly to hear it. 

b. Kittly-benders (also corruptly kettle-de- 

benders), thin ice which bends under one's weight; 

the sport of running over this. ( U. S. colloq) 

1854 THOREAU IValden 353 Let us not play at kittlybenders. 

1872 E. E. HALE How to Do it iii. 46 You will, 

with unfaltering step, move quickly over the kettle-de. 

benders of this broken essay. 

Ki-ttock. Sc. ?0l>s. [f. 

A familiar or disrespectful term for a girl or yo.ung 

woman ; esp. a woman of loose character, a 

wanton ; a mistress. 

c 1470 HENRYSON Mor. Fat. in. (Cock $ Fiur) xx, He was 

sa lous and sa lecherous : He had . .kittokis ma than sevine. 

Taillis 108 He did lift ane 

c 1538 LYNDESAY Against Syde 

Kittokis claithis. 1603 Philotus iv, Ha, ha, quha brocht 

thir kittocks hither The mekill feind resaue the fithir. 1706 

R. SEMPILL Piper ofKilbarchan in Chambers' Pop. Hum. 

Scot. Poems (1862) 26 He was conveyer of the bride, With 

kittock hinging at his side. 

Kittree, obs. variant of KHATBI. 

II Kittul, kitool (kitzH). Also 7 kettule, 9 

kettal, (? -ul), kittool. [Cingalese kitul.~\ 

The jaggery palm, Caryota urens ; hence, a strong 

black fibre obtained from the leaf-stalks of this, 

used for making ropes, brushes, etc. 

1681 R. KNOX Hist. Ceylon 15 The next Tree is the 

Kettule. It groweth streight, but not so tall or big as 

VOL. V. 

721 

a Coker-Nut-Tree. 1857 R. TOMES Amer. in Japan ii. 4 

Ceylon abounds in.. trees of great utility; among which, . 

there is the kettul-tree, from the sap of which is producea 

a coarse sugar. 1866 Treas. Bot. 647 Kittool, Kittul. a 

Unghalese name for Caryota wens ; also for the strong 

fibre obtained from its leaf-stalks. 1884 Pub. Opinion i 

J u 'y 47/1 Ropes made of kitool are used to tether and secure 

wild elephants.. .Kitool fibre is [used] ..in the manufacture 

of brooms and brushes. 

Kitty 1 (ki-ti). Also 6 Sc. kittie. [One o. 

the pet forms of the female name Catherine ; cf 

KATE, KATY, KIT si.* 

(Cf. also CUTTY si., senses 

2 and 3.)] 

fl. A girl or young woman; a wench; sometimes 

= ( kittie unsell) a woman of loose character 

(Cf. KITTOCK.) Sf. Obs. 

1500-20 DUNBAR Poems xiv. 76 Sa mony ane Kittie, drest 

vp with goldm chenje. a 1550 Christis Kirke Gr. i, Thair 

come our kitteis weschin clene, In thair new kirtillis 

c 1560 A. SCOTT Poems (S. T. S.) xxvi. 19 I can thame call 

bot kittie 

vnsellis, That takkis sic manerisat thair motheris. 

*tB*Lamtmt Lady Scotl. 112 in Satir. Poems Reform. 

xxxni, Bot at the last, throw filthy speiche and Counsel!, 

That scho did heir of sum curst Kittie vnsell. 

2. Local name for the wren also ; kitty-wren. 

1825 BROCKETT, Kitty-wren, or fenny-wren, the wren. 

1860 All Year Round No. 63. 295 The male wrens of North 

America, .build 'cock-nests '. .like the males of our distinct 

kitty-wrens. 1885 SWAINSON Prov. Names Brit. Birds 35 

Wren. . . Familiar names. Kitty, Jenny. 1893 NEWTON 

Diet. Birds, Kitty, a local nickname of the Wren. 

b. Also prefixed to, or forming part of the local 

names of other birds, as kitty-coot, the moorhen 

(Gallinula chloropus); kitty-needy, the sandpiper 

; kitty-witch = KITTIWAKE also ; name of 

a small swimming crab, Porcellana platycheles. 

' 

1850 Zoologist VIII. 2644 note, Kittie-needie ' 

[Aber. 

deenshire]. .the common sandpiper. 1876 SMILES Sc. Natur. 

vii.(ed. 4) 125 The piping of the kittyneedy. .the boom of the 

snipe, were often heard at night. 1885 SWAINSON Prov. 

Names Brit. Birds 178 Moor Hen. . . Kitty coot (Dorset). 

Kitty 2. 

[f. as KIT j*.s + -y.] A kitten; used 

esp. as a pet name. 

1719 D'URFEY Pills II. 82 A pretty young Kitty, She had 

that could Purr. 

Kitty 3. Short for KITTIWAKE. 

1806 R. FORSYTK Beauties Scotl. IV. 460 Some people are 

fond_of eating the young kitties. 

Kitty 4 . north, dial, and slang. [Origin uncertain 

: cf. KIDCOTE.] 

1. A prison , jail, or lock-up a ; house of correction. 

1825 BROCKETT, Kitty, the house of correction. Newcastle. 

1832 W. STEPHENSON Gateshead Local Poems 28 We had 

a nice tollbooth, .. And in its stead we ve got.. A vile 

pernicious kitty. 1864 Daily Tel. 22 Sept., The Provost 

[of Jedburgh] ordered another man to betaken into custody; 

said the crowd, ' 

If ane gangs t' the kitty, we'll a' gang '. 

1888 Monthly Chron. N. C. June 285/1 Wey, man, that's 

a fine kitty. 

2. 'A pool into which each player in a card-game 

puts a certain amount of his winnings, to be used in 

meeting expenses, as for room-rent, refreshments, 

etc.' (Cent. Diet.) 

1892 Daily Chron. 5 Mar. 9/2 (Farmer Slang} Five or six 

len playing ' 

Nap ', with a kitty for drinks, kitty being the 

pool and the payment to it of a half-penny. 

: Kitysol see KITTISOL. 

Kive, variant of KEEVE, tub, vat. 

Kiver (krvai). Obs. exc. dial. Also 5 kevere, 

7 keuer, kearer, kiever, 8 keever. [app. connected 

with KEEVE, kive : but the force of the suffix 

is unexplained.] A shallow wooden vessel or tub. 

a. 1407 in Kennett Par. Ant. (1818) II. 212 Et pro novo 

Cowele empto, ix*. Et pro novo Kevere empto, viiid . 1609 

C. BUTLER Fern. Man. x. i, Wiping the . . Bees, into a keuer 

or other vessel. 1610 Althorp MS. in Simpkinson The 

Washingtons (1860) p. vii, Itm little keavers..iiij. 1676 

WORLIDGE Cyder (1691) 109 Either a tub or kiever or else 

a square chest. 1706 PHILLIPS, Keeve or Keever, a kind 

of Tub. 

/3. 1623 C BUTLER Fern. Man. (ed. 2) x. n, A Ridder, resting 

vpon Tongs ouer a cleane Pan or Kiuer that will not leake. 

1744-50 W, ELLIS Mod. Husbandm. III. i. 129 Divide [the 

milk] into several pans, or leads, or kivers. 1750 Covntry 

Houseiv. 19 Kneading-kiver, or trough, or tub. 1876 S. 

Warwicksh. Gloss., Kiver, the tub that the butter is made 

up in. 1881 Oxfordsh. Gloss. Suppl., Kiver, a trough to 

IV. Sussex Gas, 25 Sept., 

make dough, butter, &c. in. 1884 

Brew vat and stand, oval Kiver, two so-gallon casks. 

Kiver, obs. and dial, form of COVER si. and v. 

|| Kiwach, another form of CowAGE. 

1876 HARLEY Mat. Med. (ed. 6) 635 The Kiwach or 

ôwhage Plant .. is a lofty climber. 

Kiwi (kz'-wi). Also kiwi-kiwi, kivi. [Maori.] 

The native New Zealand name of the APTEBYX, 

now commonly used in English. 

1835 W. YATE Ace. New Zeal. 58 (Morris) Kiwi the most 

remarkable and curious bird in New Zealand. 1852 Zoologist 

~I. 3409 On the Habits of the Kiwi-kiwi. 1873 BULLER 

'irds New Zeal. (1888) I. 237 Last Sunday I dined on 

:ewed Kiwi, at the hut of a lonely gold-digger. Ibid. II. 

3i3Old experienced Kiwi-hunters. Ibid. 315 The heights of 

iangitoto, where.. there exists another Kiwi-preserve. 

Kix, Kixen, obs. or dial. ff. KEX, -EN. 

Kiyaya, variant of KEHAYA. 

Ki-yi (kai'yar), v. U.S. colloq. Also ki-hi. 

Echoic. According to Farmer, of Negro origin.] 

'ntr. To howl or yelp as a dog, or utter a sound 

compared to this. 

KLEPTOMANIA. 

1860 MRS. STOWE Oldtown 332 (Cent.) Hang him [a dog] 

we did, and he ki-hied with a vigor that strikingly increased 

the moral effect. 

Hence Ki-yi si., the howl or yelp of a dog; a 

whoop ; a shout of exultation. 

I8 

. . ft Breadwinners 210 You ought to have heard the 

ki-yi s that followed. 1886 Detroit Free Press 4 Aue 

(tarmer), Now and then you will hear a joyous ki.yi come 

from the direction of a woolly-headed worker. 

Kiyn, obs. pi. of Cow. Kiyth, obs. f. KITHE v 

Kjerulfin(e (kye-rulfin). Min. [Named in 

1873, after Prof. Kjerulf, a Norwegian mineralogist.] 

A variety of Wagnerite, occurring in large crystals 

and cleavable masses ; found at Bamle in Norway. 

1875 WATTS DM. Chem. VII. 715 Kjerulfin differs from 

wagnerite, which it resembles in many respects, by contain, 

ing less fluorine and sodium, and more calcium. 

K1-, occasional ME. spelling for d-, as in klath, 

klawe, kleane, klee, for clath (cloth), claw, clean, 

dee, etc. ; now only in words of foreign origin. 

tKla-prothine. Min. Obs. [Named in 1811, 

after Prof. M. H. Klaproth of = Berlin.] LAZDLITE, 

1837 PHILLIPS Min. 159 Klaprothine, a synonym of 

Azurite. 1852 Ibid. 524 Klaprothine. . .Is found in crystals, 

but more frequently massive. 

Kla-prothite. Min. [f. as prec. + -ITE V] 

a. = KLAPKOTHINE. b. = KLAPBOTHOLITE. 

1872 [see next]. 

Klaprotholite (klseprOT-t^bit). Min. [f. as 

prec. -t- -LITE. Changed in 1872 from Klaprothite, 

the name given by Petersen in 

1868.] A sulphide 

of bismuth and copper related to Wittichenite, 

occurring in steel-grey orthorhombic crystals. 

_ 1872 G. J. BRUSH in Dana's Min. App. i. 8 Klaprotholite 

is generally associated with a cobalt-tetrahedrite. . . The 

name klaprothite was given to Uuulite by Beudant in 1824, 

we therefore change Petersen's name to klaprotholite. 

II Kleenebok Qde-nSbfk, klrnLyk). [s. Afr. 

Du., = little buck (antelope).] A small S. African 

antelope (Cephalophus monticola, Thunb.), also 

called Blue Duiker. 

1834 Penny Cycl. II. 82 The Kleenebok (A. perfusilla, 

H. Smith) very improperly called giievi by M. Desmarest, 

is about a foot high at the shoulder. 1867 Nat. Encycl. I. 

809 The Kleeneboc . . in the thick brushes of South Africa. 

Kleet, variant of CLEAT. 

1883 Fisheries Exhib. Catal. 45 Model of Collapsible 

Kleet, for instantly liberating entangled ropes. 

Kleistian (kbi-stian), a. [After Ger. kleistisch 

(klfistische, kleislsche flasdie a Leyden jar), f. name 

of Domherr von Kleist, one of the discoverers 

of the properties of the : jar see -AN.] Kleistian 

jar, a Leyden jar. 

1881 ROSENTHAL Muscles ;S thief.] One of the 

body of Greeks who refused to submit to the 

Turks after the conquest of Greece in the fifteenth 

century, and maintained their independence in the 

mountains. After the war of independence (1821- 

28) those who continued this existence became 

mere brigands. Hence, A brigand, bandit. 

1820 T. S. HUGHES Trav. Sicily, etc. I. vi. 178 Here we 

pitched our tent and dined, but the tatar would not permit 

us to sleep under it for fear of the kleftes or banditti. 1847 

CHURCH in Life ff Lett. 20 Apr. (1894) 106 1'he difficulty of 

the . road, .and the fear of klephts. 1888 BLACKIE in Times 

7 Apr. 7/2 The assertors of Greek independence . . were, in 

fact, a sort of patriotic brigands, known as klephts. 

Hence Klephtic a. , belonging to or characteristic 

of klephts ; Kle-phtism, brigandage. 

1834 LD. HOUGHTON Mem. Many Scenes, Suliot to Frank 

[1844) 28 The Suliot character and method of life, .the rash 

impartiality with which they conducted their klephtic enter, 

prises. 1858 FREEMAN in W. R. W. Stephens Life (1895) I. 

239 Plenty of evils, peculation, klephtism, what not but 

jood stuff at the bottom. 

Klepsydra, variant of CLEPSYDRA. 

Gr. KACTT. 

Kleptic (kle'ptik), a. rare 1 , [ad. 

TIX-OS thievish : see next.] Thievish. 

at the thief's clever 

1865 Pall Mall G. 7 Apr.. A laugh 

mpudence and a joke about his kleptic propensities. 

Klepti'Stie, a. rare- 1 

, [f. Gr. xAfirr-i/s a thief 

+ -ISTIC.] 

Related to or consisting in stealing. 

1742-3 FIELDING Phil. Trans. Wks. 1775 IX. 231 Indeed 

here is a method [of subdividing the guinea] called the 

Kleptistic.. ^but this is too dangerous. 

Kleptoeraey (kleptp-krasi). [f. as next + 

CBACY.] A ruling body or order of thieves. 

1819 L. HUNT Indicator No. 12 (1822) I. 95 Titular orna. 

ments, common to the Spanish kleptocracy. 

Kleptomania (kleptomania). Also olepto-. 

f. Gr. *\tHTO-, combining form of KAt'imfS thief + 

ilAKJA.] An irresistible tendency to theft, actuating 

persons who are not tempted to it by necesitous 

circumstances, supposed by some to be a 

orm of insanity. 

1830 New Monthly Mag. XXVIII. 15 Instances of this 

leptomania are well known to have in this 

happened_ 

the rich and noble. 1861 Critic 19 Oct. 

ountry, even among 

10 Persons . . subject to what has been characterised as 

15Q

KLEPTOMANIAC. 

'Kleptomania'. 1871 GF.O. ELIOT Middlcm. xxiii, When 

a youlhful nobleman steals jewellery we call the act kleptomania. 

Hence Deptoma'nlac, one affected with kleptomania 

(also attrib. or as a,//.} ; Klepto-manist. 

1861 R. F. HURTON City ofSaints 74 'J'he Dakota of these 

regions are expert and daring kleptomaniacs. 1874 MAUDS- 

LEY Respons. in Ment. Dis. iii. 82 Many kleptomaniacs 

have . . been moral imbeciles. 1884 Graphic Christm. No. 

11/1 A kleptomaniac ape. 1861 M. B. EUWARDS John * / 

xliv. (1876) 321 No more, .than a kleptomanUt can keep his 

finders off the goods on a shop-counter. 

Klej>e, Klepinge, Kley, obs. ff. 

CLEADINO, CLAY. Kliek, -er, -et, 

CI.EAD, 

obs. ff. 

CLICK, etc. Kling: see CLING. 

t Klrngstone. Min, Obs, [ad. G. = CLINKSTONE. 

klingstein\ 

1800 HENRY Epit. Chent. (1808) 364 Soda [has been foundl 

in basalt: in pitch-stone; and inkling-stone. x8n PINKKR- 

TON I'etral. 1. 175 The klingstone employed in the preceding 

experiments was from the Donnersberg. 

Klino- (kbino), var. of CLINO-, as in klinoclase, 

-crocite,-hui>iite, -meter, -phxite,-pinacoid, -rhombic, 

etc. ; also Klinocephalic (-stfse-lik), -cephalous 

(-se'falas), adjs., having a saddle-shaped depression 

at the vertexof the skull ; hence Klinoce'phalism, 

-ce'plialy. Klinostat (kbi'ntfstoet) , a stand on 

which germinating seeds or growing plants are 

placed, 

and which is made to revolve so as to 

& Cox Dict.Sci.. *Klinoincter. 

etc., 1875 BENNETT&DYKR 

tr. Sachs' Bot. 50 It is uncertain whether they belong to the 

hexagonal or the "klinorhombic system. 1855 MAYNE Expos. 

Lex., "Klinorhomboid, -rhomboidal. 1880 C. & F. DARWIN 

Mcniem. PI. 03 Seven seeds were allowed to germinate, .in 

a *klinostat, by which means geotropism was eliminated. 

|| Klipdas [S. African : Du.] see HYBAX. 

II Klipspringer (.kli-psprrrpa). [S. African Du., 

f. klip rock + springer SPRINGER.] A small S. 

African antelope (Oreotragns saltatrix, or Nano- 

tragus oreolragiis'). 

1785 G. FORSTER tr. Sparrman's Voy. Cape G. Hope II. 

224 The klip-springer has obtained the name it bears from 

its running with the greatest velocity, and making large 

bounds even on the steepest precipices. 1834 PRIXGLE Afr. 

Sk. vi. 104 Several species of beautiful wild animals such 

as the quagga, zebra,, .klipspringer. i&&$Macm. Mag. Feb. 

280/1 'I lie klip-springer, the little chamois that is so clever 

at eluding dogs and men. 

Klipsteinite (kli-pstainait). Min. [Named 

1866 after Prof. A. von Klipstein of Giessen.] 

A hydrous silicate of manganese and iron, amor- 

phous and of a dark brown colour. 

1868 DANA Min. (ed. 5) 511. 

Kloof (kl0- D>. Do- *lof (Mtf) 

cleft : see 

CLOVE In s/i.y] South Africa : A deep narrow 

a ravine or gorge between mountains. 

1731 MEDLEY Kolben's Cape G. Hope II. 18 The Lion is 

valley ; 

separated from the Table-Hill by a small Kloof, as the 

Dutch call it, i. e. a Cleft or Descent. 1775 MASSON in t'hil. 

Traits. LXVI. 273 We ascended the mountains by an exceedingly 

steep rugged path, which the peasants call Hottentot 

Holland Kloof. 1834 PRIKGLE A/r. Sk. v. 209 Lofty 

hills . . broken by kloofs, or subsidiary dales. 1849 E. E. 

NAMER Excurs. S. Aft: II. 20 On a nearer approach, dark 

glens and gloomy 'kloofs' are found to furrow the mountain 

sides, attrib. 1899 RIDER HAGGARD Swallow iv, Her face 

was rich in hue as a kloof lily. 

Klop (klpp), sb. Also clop. [Echoic: cf. 

CLIP-CLOP, and Du. klop, G. klopf. In quot. 1893 

prob. suggested by the Du. word.] The sound of 

the impact of something solid on a hard surface : 

see 

quots. Also reduplicated klop-klop. 

1841 I. H. SEALY Porcelain Tomer, Marr. in Mast 206 

A rustle of pig tails and a klop-klop of [Chinese] ladies' 

feet. 1854 W. COLLINS Hirit q Seek i, He heard the heavy 

clop-clop of thickly-booted feet. 1891 Pall Mall G. 10 Jan. 

beast falling]. 

So Klop v., intr. to produce a somewhat hullow 

sound by striking a hard surface. 

1841 J. H. SEALY Porcelain Tower, Hyson ff Bohea 99 

The sad Bohea, who stay'd awake to weep, Rose from her 

' 

couch, and lest her shoes should klop, Padded the hoof, 

and sought her father's shop. 

Klopemania (klo"pftn^-nia). [f. Gr. xXoiriy 

theft + MANIA.] = KLEPTOMANIA. 

1855 in MAYNE Expos. Lex. : whence in mod. Diets. 

II Kloster : (kl

KNACKATORY. 

^1380 WYCLIF ins. (i 

lecherous lorellis schullen knacke 

&>at noman schal here be sentence . . & 

c or foure proude & 

banne strumpatis & 

: most , deuout seruyce 

beuys preisen sire iacke or hobbe, ..how smale bei knacken 

here notis. 1:1388 in Wyclifs Sel. Wks. III. 482 God seis 

not bat he is blessid bat^syngus or knackus swete notis. 

c 1460 Towneley Myst. xiii. 659 For to sing vs emong right 

as he knakt it, 1 can. 

f b. intr. To sing or speak in a lively manner ; 

to ' descant '. Obs. 

a 1529 SKELTON Agsl. Comely Coystrowne Wks. 1843 I. 15 

Curyowsly he can both counter and knak of Martyn Swart 

and all hys mery men. 

C. intr. To talk finely or mincingly. dial. 

And 

1674-91 RAY N. C. Words, Knack, to speak finely. 

it is used of such as do speak in the Southern dialect. 1825 

BROCKETT, Knack, to speak affectedly, to ape a style 

beyond the speaker's education. 

1855 ROBINSON Whitby 

Gloss, s. v., She knacks and knappers like a London miss. 

f 5. trans. To mock, tannt. Obs. (chiefly St.), 

1425 WYNTOUN Cron. vm. x. 1728 This Kyng Edward 

all wyth gawdys Knakkyd Robert the Brws wyth frawdis. 

a 1500 Ratis Raving II. 371 Thai wyll men. .scorn knak. 

1513 DOUGLAS SEneis \\. iit, fiLJ 13 A multitude 3ong 

Troianis Byssy to knak and pull the presoneir. 

t Kna-ckatory. Obs. rare. A shop for knickknacks. 

Cf. KNICK-KNACKATORY. 

1709 Brit. Apollo II. No. 56. 3/2 You keep a Knackatory. 

Knacker 1 (nse-ksj). KNACK v. + -EH [f. 1.] 

1 

f 1. One who sings in a lively manner. Obs. 

1380 WYCLIF Wks. (1880) 191 3if J*es knackeris excusen 

hem bi song in be olde lawe. 

2. Something that makes a sharp cracking noise; 

spec, a Castanet. Now dial. 

16.. MIDDLETON & ROWLEY Span. Gipsy in. ii, Our 

knackers are the fifes and drums. Our knackers are the 

shot that fly. 1647 R. STAPYLTON Juvenal 220- Castinetta's; 

knackers of the form of chesnuts, used to this day by the 

Spaniards in their dances. 1649 W. CAVENDISH Varietie 

in. 43 A Bachanalian dancing the Spanish Morisco, with 

knackers at his fingers. 1877 N. IV. Line. Gloss., Knackers, 

flat pieces of wood with which children beat time. 

t Knacker 2 . Obs. [Cf. KNACK sb* i.] A 

trickster, deceiver. 

1380 WYCLIF Wks. (1880) 156 He bat. .can helpe to anoie 

a pore man by knackis or chapitris . .siche knackeris ben as 

proude of here veyn kunnynge as lucifer. 

: Knacker (nse-ksj). [Origin obscure. In 

sense I, the knacker may orig. have made only the 

kn&Jis or smaller articles belonging to harness, 

and hence have taken his name ; but this is doubt- 

ful, as is also the connexion of sense 2.] 

1. A harness-maker; a saddler, dial. 

1573 TUSSER Hush. (1878) 137 Plowwrite, cartwrite, knacker 

and smith. 1622 F. MARKHAM Bk. War in. iv. 6. 96 

Men of these trades, as Codders, or Knackers, Cartwrihts, 

Smiths, and the like. 1691 RAY .V. $ E. Country Words 

104 A Knacker, One that makes Collars and other Furniture 

for Cart-horses. Mod. Northampton Dinl., You must take 

this collar to the knacker's to be altered, it wrings the 

horse's shoulders so much. 

[Ainsworth Lat. Diet. (1736) has 'A Knacker, Rtstio . 

(Restio is a ropemaker.) Johnson (1755) has Knacker 

' 

I. A maker of small work' (quoting 1573 above). ' 

2. A ropemaker' 

(quoting Ainsworth). Craig 1847 has 'A maker of 

knacks, toys, or small work ; a rope-maker ; a collar-maker'. 

All these dictionary-explanations or misunderstandings seem 

to arise out of the sense ' 

harness-maker '.] 

2. One whose trade it is to buy worn out, dis- 

eased, or useless horses, and slaughter them for 

their hides and hoofs, and for making dog's-meat, 

etc. a ; horse-slaughterer. 

1812 Sporting Mag. XXXIX. 209 He was a knacker 

[note, A purchaser of worn-up horses). 1824 Monthly Mag. 

LVII. 109 The nackers' and catgut-makers' yards. 1875 

HELPS Soc. Press, ii. 9 Four or five hundred horses are 

carried to the knacker's yard each week in London. 

b. One who buys old houses, ships, etc., for 

the sake of their materials, or what can be made 

of them. 

1890 Times 2} Aug. 4/6 Worm-eaten hulks .. sent by ship 

knackers to find freight or a grave in the North Atlantic. 

1899 Daily News 2 Feb. 1 3/ The old house knacker was bad 

. . but he was innocence itself, compared with the 

enough, 

new house knacker that has risen up. Too. 12 June 8/4 

Lovers of old London have been grieved by the news that 

No 47 Leicester-square . . where the painter [Reynolds] 

lived and worked . . was to be made over to the houseknackers. 

lish horstTwas dead beat as any 'used-up knacker. 

Knackery (nas-kari). [f. prec., 

sense 2 : see 

-EKY.] A knacker's yard. 

1869 E. A. PARKES Pract. Hygiene (ed.s) 114 Evidence to 

showthat the workmen in knackeries are in noway injured. 

1888 W. WILLIAMS Veterin. Med. (ed. 5) 765 Dogs that freauent 

knackeries and slaughter-houses. 

t Kna-cking, vl>l. sb. Obs. KNACK v. + 

[f. 

-ING The action of the verb KNACK in various 

l.] 

senses. 

wo e no fert>er |>en holy wntte ana oiue MUUIJII MU*H " 

newe knackynge of sotile cavellacione*. 1548 W. PATTEN 

Ext Scotl.mAA.Garncrlll.7i Knakkynge of headstones 

in every pew. 1607 TOPSELL Serpents (1658) 633 A certain 

significant noise, made by knacking of the fingers. 1644 

BOLWU Chirol. 176 To compresse the rmddle-finger with 

the Thumbe by their complosion.. .This knacking with the 

Fingers. 

723 

t Kna-cking,///. a. Obs. [f. as prec. + -ING 2.] 

That knacks : in senses of the verb. Knacking 

earnest, downright earnest. 

1496 Dives ff Paup. (W. de W.) i. lix. 102/1 Thiscuryouse 

knackynge songe of the vycyouse mynystres in the chirche. 

1516 SKELTON Magnyf. 33 Pel. Here you not howe this 

gentylman mockys. Lyb. Ye, to knackynge ernyst what an 

it preue? a 1553 UDALL Royster D. in. ii. (Arb.) 41 Sure, 

the partie is in good knacking earnest. 1644 BULWER Chiron. 

82 This knacking adjunct of expression. Mod. Yorksh. 

Dial., He is a knacking sort of talker. 

t Kna'Ckish, a. Obs. rare. [f. KNACK si.% + 

-ISH !.] Characterized by knacks or tricks; artful, 

tricky ; artificial. 

i66o_H. MORE Myst. Godl. ix. viii, Beating the Air with 

knackish forms of gracious speeches and vain grandiloquence. 

1694 S. S. Loyal 4- Impart. Satirist 20 With 

knackish Prayer he does the Poor undoe : So Cain could 

Sacrifice and Murder too. 

Hence t Xna ckishness, artificiality. 

1660 H. MORE Myst. Godl. x. xiv, A set Form will prevent 

all Pride and knackishness, and preserve the publick 

worship in its due reverence and honour. 

Knacky (iwki), a. Also 8 nacky. KNACK 

[f. 

j*. 2 + -Y.] Characterized by or having a knack; 

artful, clever, adroit, ingenious. 

1710 RUDDIMAN Gloss. Douglas's Virgil s.v. Knak, A 

knacky man ; *'. e. witty and facetious. 1719 HAMILTON 

znd Ep. Ramsay xi, Mony a bonny nacky tale. 1828 

Craven Dial., Knacky, ingenious, fond of knick-knacks. 

1880 Jubilee of Rer. W. Orr Fenwick 72 His sermons 

often exceedingly knacky in their division were always 

logical in their structure. 1900 Daily News ii Jan. 7/3 He 

stoops, with his back to the derailed trucks, and with a 

knacky sort of jerk gets them on the line again. 

Knag (noeg), slil Forms: 5 knage, 5-7 

knagge, 5, 9 knagg, 6- knag. [ME. . Mod. dial. (Lincolnsh. 

etc.) has knowl, knoll in same sense.] A stroke, 

knock, esp. on the head. 

c 1380 Sir Femmb. 463* On byn heued y 3eue be a knal. 

Knap (ncep), 

sbJ- Forms : a. I cnsepp, cnepp, 

1-2 oneep, 6 knappe, (knape), 7 knapp, 6- knap, 

(7, 9 nap). /3. knop. [OE. cnsep(p, top, summit 

(of a hill) ; perh. cognate with ON. knapp-rknott, 

head of a stick, button, etc. (see KNOP sb.l). Irish, 

Gael., and Welsh cnap, knob, knop, boss, button, 

lump, knap, hillock, knoll, may be from Norse or 

Eng.] 

1. The head, crest, or summit of a hill ; a small 

hill, hillock, or knoll ; a rising ground ; a short 

steep ascent. Chiefly dial. (Cf. KNOB sb.-, NAB.) 

a. c xooo ^LFRIC Exod. xix. 20 Drihten code uppan baes 

muntes cna^p. c looo Ags, Gosp. Luke iv. 29 Hix*. Izeddon 

hine ofer 3

KNAP. 

1. trans. To strike with a hard short sound ; to 

knack, knock, rap. 

a. c 1470 H ENRVSON Mor. Fai. ix. (Wolff, Fox) iii, Thow 

can knnp cloun caponis on the nicht. 1530 COVERDALE 

Stir Pcrlt vi. (1588)63 Theheuenlyscholemasterknappetn 

vs on the fingers, til we apprehend and learnc his will. 

1616 UACON Syh'a 133 Knap a pair of Tongs some depth 

within the Water, and you shall hear the Sound of the 

'Jongs well. i8?s CROCKETT Men a/ Muss Hags iii. 27 It 

was ever his wont .. to knap his toes on the edge of the step. 

ft. c 1460 Tovnuley Afyst. xxi. 408, I can my hand vphefe 

and knop out the skalys. 

b. al'sol. or inlr. 

is STEWART Cron. Scot. II. 467 This Gregour gaif him 

feifuV-.knappit on quhill mony ane wes keild. 1676 WISE- 

MAN Surg. vii. v. (RJ.The people standing by heard it knap 

in, and the patient declared it by the ease she felt. 1886 

Gd. Words 86 The noise my crutches made knap, knapping 

up and down the deck. 

2. trans. To break into parts or pieces with a 

to snap or break by a smart 

sharp cracking sound ; 

blow. Now used spec, of the breaking of flints or of 

stones for the roads : cf. KNAPPEB 3. 

'535 COVERDALE Ps. He hath 

xlv[i.].p knapped the speare 

in sonder. 11572 KNOX Hist. Re/. Wks. 1846 I. 147 

Rockettis war rent, typettis war torne,crouniswar knapped. 

1647 FANSHAWE Pastor Fido (1676) 120 Pil'd in one heap 

dogs slain, spears knapt, men wounded. 1648 HERRICK 

Hester., Bracelet to fulia, 'Tis but silke that bmdeth thee, 

Knap the thread and thou art free. 1820 J. CLELAND 

Glasgow 107, 330 persons knapping stones for the road. 

i85i Instructor 1. 122 Picking up flints and knapping them, 

as the method of breaking them is called. 

/3. 1675 Depos. Cast. York (Surtees) 218, 8 halfe crownes, 

. . the said Auty clipt that night, for she heard the knoping 

of them, being in the next room. 

b. intr. To break off short to ; snap. 

1545 ASCHAM Toxoph. if. (Arb.) in The string .. beynge 

sore twined must nedes knap in sunder. 16*3 GOUGE Ser/tt. 

Extent God's Provid. 15 The Summier . . being overburdened, 

.knapt suddenly asunder in the midst. 

8. trans. To break a. off by smart blow, stroke, 

or tap ; to strike or knock off. 

1600 HOLLAND Livy I. liv. 38 With his rod.. he knapt 

of the uppermost heads and tops of the poppies. 1710 

T. FULLER Pharm. Extern^. 170 A Scorbutic Foment . . 

knappeth off the sharp points of the Salt. 1830 GALT 

Lawrie T. iv. i. (1849) 143 He took the cigar from his lip-, 

and knapped off the ashes. 

4. To utter smartly; to talk, chatter (a language) : 

= CRACK v. 5. Also intr. Sc. and north, dial. 

In quot. 1886 said of the stonechat, 'so called from the 

similarity between its alarm note and the striking together 

of two 

suddrone, declarit him ane traiteur. 1681 COLVIL Whigs 

Svpplic. i. (1695) 56 Like Highland Lady's knoping speeches. 

c 1690 LintoutL Addr. to Prinze of Orange in Watson 

Coll. Sc. Poems (1706) L 20 English Andrew, who has Skill, 

To knap at every word so well. i8ia SCOTT Let. to Morritt 

29 Nov. in Lockhart, He answered. -that he could knap 

Knglish with any one. 1816 Old Mort, vii, Ilka auld 

wife in the chimley-neuk will be for knapping doctrine wi' 

doctors o' divinity. 1886 MARY LINSKILL Haven under Hill 

II. xi. 147 There was a stone-chat knapping out its song. 

Knap (nsep), v.'* Now dial. [Cf. GNAP v. 

and KNAB v.; also Du. and G. (orig.LG.) knappen 

to crack, snap, bite, which unites the senses of this 

and the prec. In Eng. also, the sense ' 

snap' seems 

to unite this with sense a of KNAP z>.! See also 

KNEP z/.] 

intr. and trans. To bite in a short or abrupt way; 

to snap ; to nibble. 

1575 TURBERV. Faulconrie 141 If she chaunce to knappe 

or byte at the sticke let hir bite hardly. 1596 SHAKS. 

Merch. V. ill. i. 10 As lying a gossip.. as euer knapt ginger. 

i6xx COTGR., Brouter, to brouze; to 

knap, 

or nible off the 

sprigs, buds, barke &c. of , plants. 16x7 Janita Lingiianun 

22 Mules knap one another. 1721 STRVPE Eccl. Mem. I. L 

xxxi. 222 These Elyot compared to a galled horse . . always 

knapping and kicking at such examples and sentences as 

they felt sharp. 18x9 W. TENNANT Papistry Stormed 

(1827) 52 Some knapp'd awa' at kebbuck-stumps. 1821 

CLARE Vill. Minstr. II. 106 Horses .. turn'd to knap each 

Other at their ease. 

Knap, obs. form of NAP sb. and v. 

young man, youth, fellow. Obs. 

c icoo JELFRIC Gen. xxi. 19 Heo of bam sealde ham cnapan 

drmcan. ciaoo ORMIN 4106 To clippenn swa \x cnapess 

shapp. c 1150 Gen. tf Ex. 2575 ^ knapes to deade giuen, 

And leten oe mayden childre liuen. c 1330 Artk. $ Merl. 

7821 Ac right now a litel knape To Bedmgham com with 

jape. 13. . Caw. , Gr. Knt. 2136 pase he be a sturn knape. 

' 

' 

t 2. A man-servant, male attendant, man : 

= KNAVE sb. i. Obs. 

724 

c 1000 wELFRic Gen. xxii. 19 Abraham )?a jecyrde sona to 

hys cnapum. c 1000 Ags. Gosfi. Matt viii. 6 Mm cnapa 

Ho on mmum huse lama, r 1250 Gen. tf Ex. 477 His knape 

wende it were a der, 1390 GOWER Conf. III. 321 This 

cherles knape Hath lad this maiden ther he wolde. 1508 

DUNBAR Tita Mariit Wemen 125, I dar nought kcik to the 

knaip that the cop fillis. 1513 DOUGLAS /Kneis XH. ii. 87 

The byssy knaipis and verlettis of his stabill. 

b. dial. A thatcher's requisite. (See quots.) 

1764 BURN Poor Laws 127 The thatchers to this day have 

an instrument that holds their straw, which they call a 

knape. 1805 East Anglia Gloss., Knape or Knave, the 

frame which contains the straw which is carried up the ladder 

to the thatcher. 

3. As term of contempt or reprobation (also 

rascal, rogue, knave: KNAVE sb. 3. 

jocularly) : A 

Obs, exc. dial. 

a 1450 LVDG. Merita Missae 190 Prowde knapys, That 

make in holy chyrche lapis. 15x3 DOUGLAS JEneis ix. ix. 

77Turnus..Thusdyd hym chyde: O cative rakles knaip. 

a 1553 UDALL Royster D. v. vi. (Arb.) 88 Good night Roger 

oldeknaue, knaue, knap. 1855 ROBINSON Whitby Gloss. t 

A Knap, a person not strictly honest . .' A regular knap '. 

4. attrib., as f knape child = ( KNAVE-CHILD). 

cizoo ORMIN 7903 Forr cnapechild is afledd wel Affterr 

weppmanne kind. ciz$o Gen. $ Ex. 2585 

Euerilc knape 

child of Sat kin, ben a-non don 3e flod wiS-in. 

Knapholt, knappald., var. KNAITLE sb. Obs. 

"\ Klia ppan. Obs. [Welsh cnapan, deriv. of 

cnap knob, lump, round piece.] 

An old Welsh 

game in which a wooden ball was hurled through the 

air by successive players, each side endeavouring to 

drive it as far as possible in one direction ; also the 

ball with which this game was played. 

1573 PHAER sEneid vn. warp,, This play is yet used 

in Wales,-*ind the ball is called Knappan. 1603 OWEN 

Pembrokeshire (1892) 271 Of thesa Knappan dales in 

Penbrokshere there were wont to be fyve in nomber. Ibid, 

273 There is a rounde bowle prepared.. of some massye 

wood, .. and should be boyled in tallow, for to make it 

slipperye, and harde to be holden, this bowle is called 

Knappan. and.. he that catcheth it hurleth it towardes the 

countrey he playeth for, for gole, or appointed place. 

Hence f Xna'ppaner, a player at this game. 

1603 OWEN Pembrokeshire (1892) 280 Saw none but himselfe 

and this old rude Knappaner in place. 

Knapped (nsept), ///. a. [f. KN-AP w.i + -ED!.] 

Broken by a sharp blow, broken ofT short. 

_ 1861 Times 28 Sept., AdvL, Freehold Villa Residence, .. 

in the style of the domestic architecture of the I4th century, 

most substantially built of knapped flints, interlaced with 

brickwork and with dressings of Bath stone. 1809 Daily 

News 16 Sept. 7/6 The fragment of a bridge; ..a fine piece 

of work, with alternations of stone and knapped flints. 

Knappell, var. KNEPPEL Obs. t clapper of a bell. 

t Knappei* 1 . Sc. Obs. rare. In 6 -ar. 

* A 

[Jamiesou suggests derivation from KNAPE.] 

boor, a menial* (Jam.). 

1513 DOUGLAS sEneis vin. Prol. 121 Grathit lyke sum 

knappar \Cctmb. MS. gnappar], 

t Snapper 2 . Obs. [f. KNAP z>.2 + -BE i.] One 

who bites abruptly, or snaps. 

1500-10 DUNBAR Poems xxvii. 10 Off seme byttaris and 

beist knapparis. 1611 COTGR., Rotigevrt a. gnawer, knapper, 

nibler. 

Kuapper 3 (nse-pai). dial, and local, [f. KNAP 

one 

z/. 1 H- -EB *.] One who or that which ' 

knaps ' 

; 

who knaps or breaks stones, flints, or the like ; esp. 

one whose occupation is the shaping of flints by 

strokes of a hammer. 

1 

knapping '. 

c. attrib., as knapping-hammer, -machine, -tool. 

1785 BURNS ist Ef. to Lafraik xi, Ye'd better taen up 

KNAPSCALL. 

spades and shools Or knappin -hammers. 1883 Ardixcl. 

Cant. XV. 103, 1 have.. discovered numerous flint hammers, 

and knapping tools. 

tKna-ppish,a. Obs. ^^ dial. [f. KNAP z>.2 + 

-ISH 1. Cf. snappish^ Rudely abrupt or froward, 

testy. 

1513 MORE in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 809 He rejected 

the Dukes request with many spitefult and knappishe wordes. 

1542 UDALL fcrasnt. Apoph. (1877) 165 A certaine saucie or 

knappishe young springall. 1577-87 STANYHURST in Holin- 

with 

' 

shed Chron. I. 35/1 Answering your snappish Quid ' 

' 

a knappish Quo '. 1629 Z. BOYD Last Betttell 169 Your 

spirit is so knappish and way-ward. 

Hence f Knappishly adv., 1 

Kna ppishness. 

1549 CHALONER Erasm. on Folly Tiij b, If ought shall 

seeme to you to have been saied . 

.moreknappishely. 1573-80 

BARF.T Alv. Fii54 Frowardly. .malapertly, knappishly, protcrne. 

1617 MINSHEU Ductor, Knappish, knappish nesse. 

sb. Sc. Obs. Also 

fKnapple, knappel, 

knappald, knapholt. [Scotch variant of clap- 

palde, -olde, CLAPHOLT ; app. with substitution of 

knap for clap.] CLAPBOARD. 

1496 Ld. Treas. Ace. Scot. I. 285 Item, for leding of ix e 

knapholtis furth of Leith to the Castel of Edinburgh, .iijf. 

liijV. Ibid. 278 Item, .for ix c knappaldis. .iiij /:. xs. îS7S 

Balfour's Practicks^ Custuwis (1754) 88 The great hundreth 

knapple, contenand xxiiij small hundrethis. 1661 Sc. Acts 

Chas. //, c. 33 (Jam.) That the whole coupers. .make the 

said salmond barrels of good and sufficient new knappe]. 

1707 G. MIECE St. Gt. Brit. n. 30 Pitch, Steel-Kits, Knapple, 

Oak, Wainscoat. 1753 MAITLAND Hist. Edinb. in. 248 For 

every hundred of Dantzic Knappell.. 4 pennies. [1898 

Compt Buik Dav. Wedderburne (S. H. S.) Introd. 44 The 

Norwegian timber consisted of . . roofspars, knapholt and 

burnwood.] 

fKna'pple, .* Obs. In 7 knaple. [Frequentative 

of KNAP z/. 2 : see -LE and cf. KNABBLE.] 

To bite shortly and repeatedly; to nibble. 

1611 COTGR., Grignoter, . . to gnaw, knaple, or nible away. 

1847-78 HALLIWELL, Knapple^ to bite, or nibble. North. 

tKna-pple, z/.2 Obs. rare- . [Frequentative 

of KXAP -v\ see = -LE.] KNAP vl a, 3. 

x 

?55 JOHNSON, Knapple^ to break off with a sharp quick 

noise. Ainsworth. 

Xna*ppy, a. Now dial. [f. KNAP sb. and v* 

+ -T.] (See quots.) 

155* HULOET, Knappye, or full of knappes, vemtcosus. 

1855 ROBINSON Whitby Gloss. ^ Na^pyt ill-natured, testy. 

* As nappy and as nasty as you please.' 

[E. D. D. Knapfy^ 

snappishl] 1887 JAMIKSON A'/////., A"//*y, in small rounduh 

lumps, abounding in small lumps; Orkn. 

Snappy, obs. form of NAPPY. 

Knapsack (nce-pssek). [a. LG. knapsack (Du. 

knapzakj G. knafpsack), first recorded in i6th c. 

The first element is somewhat obscure, but is 

generally taken as LG. and Du. knappen = KNAP z>. 2 , 

G. knapp eating, food; cf. also SNAPSACK. Also 

adopted in F. (about 1600) as canapsa (now obs.).] 

A bag or case of stout canvas or leather, worn by 

soldiers, strapped to the back and used for carrying 

necessaries; any similar receptacle used by 

travellers for carrying light articles. 

1603 DRAYTON Bar. Wars i. (R-), Each one fills his knapsack 

or his scrip With some rare thing that on the field is 

found. 1608 CAI-T. SMITH 7"rw^^/a/.Wks.(Arb.)2oOnethat 

vsually carried my Gowne and Knapsacke after me. 1645 

Mass. Col. Rec. (1854) III. 40 Every souldier. .with muskett, 

sword, bandaleers, and knapsacke. 1793 BURNS Sodger*$ 

Retunt i, My humble knapsack a' my wealth, A poor but 

honest sodger. 1858 LYTTON What will He do i. xix, He 

t Kna-p bottle. Herb. Obs. The Bladdercampion, 

Silent iitflata, so called from its inflated 

calyx which snaps when suddenly compressed. 

1640 PARKINSON Tneat. Bot. 263 Some with us call it 

Knap bottle, and others Spatling or Frothy Poppy. 

Knape. Obs. exc. dial. Forms : i cnapa, 

a-3 cnape, 3-6 (8 dial.) knape, 6 Sc. knaip, 

7 (9 dial.) knap. [OE. cnapa = OFris. ' 

hammer of fine steel, of which the face is set obliquely also, 

. . One smart blow strikes off the rough end, another detaches 

a piece of the proper 

knapa, 

ODu./ttf/o(MDiLa/,Du.sa/),MLG. (hence 

MHG.) knape, ON. knapi (ODa. and OSw. knape) 

: OTeut. *knapon-. The ulterior etym. and 

relation to OE. cnafa, knave, are uncertain : see 

note to KNAVE.] 

fl. A male child, a boy (= KNAVE sb. i) a ; lad, 

size for a gun-flint. 1894 Athenzum 

27 Jan. 1 1 i/i 'Knapping' flints, as practised on Brandon 

Heath, in Suffolk, is exceedingly hard work, though there 

the ' 

knapper ' 

labours for ' 

his own hand '. 

b. A hammer used for shaping flints ; also, Sc. 

a stone-breaker's hammer ; a knapping-hammer. 

1787 SHIRREF Jamie .l 

[f. + -ING 1 .] 

The action ol KNAP w.l ; the action of striking or 

knocking ; a. spec, a form of cheating in throwing 

dice (see quots., and cf. KNAP sb.% 3) ; b. in mod. 

local use, the action of breaking stones or flints. 

a. 1680 KIRKMAN Eng. Rogue IV. 226 Knapping, is when 

you_strike one Die dead. 1822 SCOTT packed up 

Nigel xxiii, Men talk 

of high and low dice,, .topping, knapping, slurring. 

b. 1835 CARLYI.E Let. in Froude Life in Lomi. (1884) I. L 24 

Walk out of this if even into the knapping of stones. 1887 

Magazine ofArtH.Ao6 The third process, or 'knappine'. .. 

TJ_rj: .I.- n_l.- -._ -f a- . -. ..L ;._ f r 

his knapsack, and started for the train. 1868 

Regul. ^ Orders Army 604 d, The havresack is to be 

worn on all occasions when the knapsack is worn. 

fig. 1658 CLEVELAND Char. CoJtntry-Cowm.wan'Wks. 

(1687) 76 A short-handed Clerk, tack'd to the Rear of him 

to carry the Knapsack of his Understanding. 1841-4 

EMERSON Ess., Nature Wks. (Bohn) I. 224 The knapsack of 

custom falls off his back. 

b. attrih. 

1633 SHIRLEY Yng. Admiral \. Vittori. He is 

ii, valiant 

truly That dares forget to be rewarded. Soldier. This Is 

but cold comfort for a knapsack-man. 18*3 CRABB Technol. 

' 

Diet. s. v. Drill, Knapsack-Drill a sort of ', punishment for 

minor offences, which consists in marching soldiers round the 

barrack-yard, &c. for a certain time, with 6 or 12 Ib. shot 

tied to their knapsacks. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 16 Nov. 12/2 

An Oxford Bible, .printed on Oxford India paper .. and 

bound in khaki, .will be known as the Knapsack Bible, and 

is specially designed for use by soldiers and sailors. 

Hence Kna-psacking- vbl. sb. (cf. coaching, training], 

travelling with a knapsack; Kna'psackwise 

adv.j in the manner of a knapsack. 

1877 H.DRUMMONDJnG. A. Smith Lifev. (1898) 115, I was 

glad to. .go knapsacking with Professor Geikie. 1886 Ibid. 

xi. 269, I have often marked this spot in my knapsackine 

days. 1899 Blackw. Mag. Aug. 162/1 A large basket carried 

knapsack wise. 

i Knapscall. Sc.Obs. Forms: 5 knapescall, 

6 knapscall, -scull, -shal, -ska, -skaw, -scha, 

knopska, 6-7 knapiskay, 7 knapskall, -schaw, 

9 arch, knapskull. [The first element has been 

supposed to be KNAPE sb. t lad, attendant, man, or 

its possessive knafs\ the second is doubtful.] 

Some kind of helmet or headpiece; generally 

worn by persons of inferior rank ; perhaps origin- 

ally by the servants of the men-at-arms. 

1498 in Durham Eccl. Prec. (Surtees) 42 Galea, Anglice a 

Salet or a knapescall. a 1571 KNOX Hist. Kef. Wks. 1846 

I. zjo To address thame selves in thare most warlyk array.

KNAPSCAP. 

with jack, knapscall, splent, speir, and axe. 1572 Satir. 

Poems Reform, xxxiii. 264 To ride furth to the weir, With 

Jak and Sword, gude hors, Knapscull, and speir. 1586 

J. CARMICHAEI. Let. in Wodrow Sac. Misc. (1844) I. 442 He 

did use you to go before uthers-.with the reade Knapska. 

1609 SKENE Reg. Maj. 6 b (Acts Will. c. 23) Ane habergeon, 

ane knapiskay of iron, ane sword, ane dagger. [1820 SCOTT 

A bkot xxvi, Get on your jacks, plate-sleeves, and knapsculls.] 

t Kna-pscap. Sc. Obs. app. an altered form 

of prec. ; conformed to cap. 

a 1802 Jamie Telfer xxxv. in Child Ballads vn. cxc. 

(1890) 7/2 Willie was stricken ower the head, And through 

the knapscap the sword has gane. 1830 

R. CHAMBERS 

Jos. I, I. iii. 04 We find, .knapscaps burnished up. 

Knapweed (mse-pwfd). [Orig. knapweed, f. 

KNOP sb + WEED st>. ; from the hard rounded 

involncre.] The common name of species of 

Centaurea (N. O. Composites), esp. C. nigra, a 

common weed with a hard tongh stem, and light 

purple flowers set on a hard rough dark-coloured 

head ' 

or involucre. 

globular ' 

a. 14.. MS. Laud 553 If. 13 lasia nigra. .is an herbe y* 

me clepitth maidfeloun or bolwes or yrnehard or knopwed. 

1530 PALSGR. 236/2 Knoppe wede an herbe. 1691 RAY Coll. 

-Ivords Postscr. 171 For Knapweed, Knopweed, because of 

the knops at the top. 1787 WITHERING Brit. Plants (ed. 2), 

Knopweed. 1863 PRIOR Plant- n., Knap-weed, Knop-, or 

Knob-weed. 

S. 1597 GERARDE Herbal n. 

ccxxxyiii. 588 Matfellon or 

is doubtlesse a kinde of Scabious.. the 

blacke Knapweede 

flowers do grow at the top of the stalks, being first small 

scaly knops, like to the knops of Corne flower. 1656 W. 

COLES Art ofSimpling 38 Some grow in knaps like bottles 

as knapweed. 1785 MARTYN Rousseau's Bat. xxvi. (1794) 401 

Common or Black Knapweed . . which the country people 

in some places call Hard-heads. 1896 R. F. HORTON in 

Sunday Mag. Nov. 722 Within the enclosure were ragwort, 

knapweed, and scabious. 

Knar (nai). Forms : 3-4 knarre, 7, 9 knare, 

9 knar, knaur; 5, 7 gnarre, 9 gnar(r. [ME. 

knarre = LG. knarre(n, Du. knar stump (of an 

old tree), knot, knob. Cf. KNUR. 

The history in Eng. is obscure. From I4th to igth c. 

there are app. no genuine examples of its use, Dryden's 

knare (copied by later writers) being based on knarie, 

KNARRY in Chaucer. The spelling with gn-, usual in recent 

glossaries, may be partly due to gnarled.] 

1. A rugged rock or stone. Now dial. 

a 1250 Owl Sf Night. 999 That lond nis god, . . Ac wildernisse 

hit is and weste, Knarres and eludes. 13.. Gaw. fy 

Gr. Knt. 2166 Hy}e bonkkez & brent ..& ru}e knokled 

knarrez, with knorned stonez. 1837 THORNBER Hist. Black- 

fool 184 (E. T). D.) Gnarrs are large beds of stones, covered 

with incrustations formed by insects for their habitations. 

2. A knot in wood ; spec, a mass originating 

in an abortive branch, forming a protuberance 

covered with bark, on the trunk or root of a tree. 

1382 WYCLIF Wisd. xiii. 13 A crokid tree, and ful of knarres 

[1388 knottis]. 1623 COCKERAM, Gnarre, a hard knot in 

wood. 1700 DRYDEN Palamon $ Arc. 1146 Prickly stubs, 

instead of . trees, . Or woods with knots and knares deformed 

and old. 1805 Miss SEWARD in Polwhele Trad. Sf Recoil. 

(1826) II. 572 The .. knots and knares with which it was 

covered. 1814 GARY Dante's Inf. xm. 4 Not light The 

boughs and tapering, but with knares deform'd. 1854 Miss 

BAKER Nortliamft. 

Gloss, s. v. (E. D. D.), The stick with 

which the game is played, having a gnar or knot at the end 

of it. 1869 MASTERS Veg. Terat. 419 Knaurs may occasionally 

be used for purposes of propagation. 

f 3. A knotted, thick-set fellow. Obs. 

c 

1386 CHAUCER Prol. 549 He was short scholdred, brood, 

a thikke knarre {so most MSS. ; Lansd. gnarre]. 

Hence Knarred (niud) a., knotted, gnarled. 

1849 LONGF. Building of the Ship 59 The knarred and 

crooked cedar knees. 1856 AIRD Poet. Wks, 19 Gnared 

with knots and knobs. 

Kliark (naak). slang. Also nark. [Cf. Da. 

knark an old crabbed person.] a. A hard-hearted, 

unfeeling person, b. (See quot. 1873.) 

1851 MAYHEW Lond. Labour I. 343 (Hoppe) He was a 

good man ; he couldn't refuse a . . dog, but he had a butler, 

a regular ' 

knark '. 1873 Slang Diet., Nark, a person in the 

ay of the police ; a common informer ; one who gets his 

pa 

iving by laying traps for publicans, etc. 

Jivi 

Kiiarl (nail), rare. [Related to KNAB; cf. 

knur and knurl.] 

1 1. A tangle, knot. Obs. 

1598 GRENEWEY Tacitus, Ann. in. ii. (1622) 65 The poison 

was found hidden in a knarie of her haire. 

2. dial. 'A hunch -backed or dwarfish man' 

725 

[I Kna'Ster, German spelling of CANASTER 2, a 

kind of tobacco. 

1798 FERRIAR lllnstr. Sterne 306-7 Who Knaster loves not, 

be he doom'd to feed With Cadres foul, or suck Virginia's 

weed. . . But Knasler always, Knaster is my song, In studious 

gloom, or 'mid th 1 

assembly's throng. 1853 Black. 

Mag. LXX1V. 132 The dried leaves, coarsely broken, are 

sold as canaster or knaster. 

1858 CAHLYLE Fredk. Gt. v. vii. 

(1872) II. 118 Long Dutch pipe in the mouth of each man ; 

supplies of knaster easily accessible. 

Knat, obs. form of GNAT 1 and %. 

Knatch, variant of KNETCH v. Obs. 

Knau(e, Knaulag(e, obs. ff. KNOW v., 

KNOWLEDGE. 

Knauling: see KNAVE- LINE. 

fKnavate. Obs. nonce-wd. A knave. 

a 1529 SKELTON Epitaphe Poet. Wks. 1843 I. 170 Fratres, 

orate. For this knauate, By the holy rode, Dyd neuer man 

good. 

Knave (n^'v), sb. Forms: I onafa, 3 onafe, 

3-4 cnaue, 3-7 knaue, (4-5 knawe, knaf(e, 

5 knaffe, 5-6 Sc. knaif(f), 4- knave. [OE. cnafa 

= OHG. knabo, chnabe (MHG. and G. knabe): 

OTeut. *kndton-. The relation between this and 

the synonymous cnapa, KNAPE (q. v.) is not clear. 

OHG. had also knappo (MHG. and G. knaffe): on the 

supposed relationship between this and knabo, see Streitberg 

Urgerm. Gram. p. 151.]' 

1 1. A male child, a boy. Obs. 

a 1050 Liber Scinttll. Iv. (1889) 172/19 Na JedafenaS bam 

se to fulfremednysse hogaS, gamenian mid cnafan [L. cum 

offering up. 

b. In various proverbial expressions. 

1546 J. HEYWOOD Prov. (1867) 29 Two false knaues neede 

no broker, men say. Hid., Some saie also, it is mery when 

knaues meete. Ibid. 47 An olde knaue is no childe. 1617 

MORYSON Itin. in. 5 Thus the English Prouerb saith, No 

knaue to the learned knaue. 

c. Jocularly, or without seriously implying bad 

qualities (cf. rogue, rascal"). 

Now rare. 

a 1553 UDALL Royster D. in. iii. (Arb.) 46 Good night 

Roger olde knaue ! 1605 SHAKS. Lear i. iv. 107 How now, 

KNAVESHIP. 

the quiltourne. T6E8 R. HOLME Armoury in. 287/2 The 

Reeling Pin (which some call a Knave ..) is for the Spool 

to run or turn upon whilst it is Reeling upon the Reel. 

6. atlrib. and Comb., as knave-fool ; knave-born 

adj.; f knave -seller, a slave-dealer; f knave's 

grease, a flogging; f knave's mustard, some 

cruciferous plant. Also KNAVE-BAIBN, -CHILD. 

1860 GEN. P. THOMPSON Audi Alt. III. cxxxviii. 112 Get 

up knave-born falsehoods against the people and governors 

of foreign countries. 1627 DRAYTON Moon-cal/ftxms (1810) 

129/1 Whilst that 'knave-fool . . Smiles at the coxcomb, 

which admires him so. 1552 HULOET, *Knaue seller, or 

he that selleth knaues or slaues. 1608 Withats Diet. 

Childr. 73 Masligitphorus, . . that is worthie to bee beaten, 

orscpurged, they cal it "knaues grease. 1597 GERARDE//^^/ 

n. xix. 206 The thirde kinde of treacle Mustarde, named 

*knaues Mustard (for that it is too bad for honest men). 

Knave (n^v), v. [f. KNAVE st.] trans. In 

various nonce-uses : a. To call (any one) knave. 

b. To make a knave of. c. To steal like a knave. 

d. To force knavishly. Hence Kna'ving vbl. sb. 

IS45 "I Exam. AnneAskewe in Bale's Sel. Wks. (Parker 

Soc.) 173 Dog's rhetoric and cur's courtesy, knavings, 

brawhngs, and quarrellings. 1598 J. M. Seruingmans 

Comf. (1868) 162 What cares a Gentleman now adayes to 

knaue and rascall his Man at euery worde ? 1605 KYD ist 

ft. Jeronimo in Hazl. Dodsley IV. 361 He's a great man, 

therefore we must not knave him. 1658 SIR T. BROWNE 

Hydriot. ii, To be knav'd out of our graves. 1732 Gentleman 

Instructed (fA. 10)477(0.) How many nets do they lay 

parvulo}. cx2o5 LAY. 292 pa be time com: pat be cnaue 

wes iboren. (-1250 GV. % Ex. 1151 -So Sat he haue3 .. on 

eioer here a knaue bi-geten. a 1300 Cursor M. 10267 Pe 

lagh . . Biclepis bat man for maledight pat has un barn, ne 

mai ne knaue. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xvi. (Magdalena} 362 

Grant ws grace a barne- to hafe, othire a madyne or a knaf. 

c 1460 Towneley Myst. xiii. 554 Is youre chyld a knave ? 

2. A boy or lad employed as a servant ; hence, 

a male, servant or menial in general ; one of low 

condition. (Freq. opposed to knight.) Now arch. 

c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Spelman) Ixxxv. 16 (Bosw.) Syle mihte 

cnafan binum [L.fuero tud\. a 1225 Ancr.R. 380 pe kokes 

knaue, bet wassheS be disshes i5e kuchene. a 1300 Cursor 

M. 3153 He bad cum wit him knaues tua. 1393 LANGL. 

P. PI. C. vi. 54 Men sholde constreyne no clerke to knauene 

werkes. a 1420 HOCCLEVE De Reg. Princ. 506 There may 

no lord take up a newe gise, But that a knave shalle the 

same uptake. 1509 HAWES Past. Pleas, xxix. (1845) J 35 

Icham a gentylman of much noble kynne, Thoughe Iche be 

clad in a knaves skynne. 1600 DYMMOK Ireland (1843) 7 

Every Horseman hath two or thre horses, and to every 

horse a knave. 1697 DRYDEN Virg. Past. in. 22 What 

Nonsense wou'd the Fool thy Master prate, When thou, his 

Knave, canst talk at such a rate ! 1820 SCOTT Monast. xiii, 

A man seeks but- his awn, and yet folk shall hold him for 

both miller and miller's man, that is miller and knave. 

1825 Talism. xx, Thou art an apt, and wilt doubtless be- a 

useful, knave. 

3. An unprincipled man, given to dishonourable 

and deceitful practices; a base and crafty rogue. 

(Now the main sense. Often contrasted with fool?) 

In early use the sense may have been 'one of low or 

' 

ignoble character a mean ', 

person '. 

c 1205 LAY. 16303 For vnwis is be king, .. & a cnaue is his 

broSer. 13. . E. E. Allit. P. B. 855 What ! he wonded no 

wobe of wekked knauez. 1481 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 315 Yf 

any Brother . . dysspysse anoder, callenge hym knaffe, or 

horson, or deffe, or any voder mysname. 1500-20 DUNBAR 

Puetns xxvm. 39 

In Hevin 36 salbe sanctis full cleir, Thocht 

5e be knavis in this cuntre. 1555 EDEN Decades 33 His 

accusers . . were nowghtye ffelowes, abhominable knaues &. 

vylaynes. 1668 PEPYS Diary 29 The veriest knave 

Jan., 

and bufflehead that ever he saw in his life. 1726 SWIFT 

Gulliver I. vi, The honest dealer is always undone, and the 

knave gets the advantage. 1800 WELLINGTON Let. to Lieut. 

Col. Close in Gurw. Desp. (1837) 1. 258 The common practice 

is to accuse a man of being either a fool or a knave. t Knave-bairn. Sc. and north. Obs. '= next. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 2668 Do your knauebarns to circumces. 

c.1375 

1847 

TENNYSON Princ. iv. no Knaves are men, That lute and 

flute fantastic tenderness, And dress the victim to the 

Sc. Leg. Saints xii. (Mathias) 31 Gyf I consawyt haf 

bis nycht a knafe barne. c 1425 WYNTOUN Cron. vn. xiii. 

115 pe Erlys awyn wyf wes lychtare Of a Knaive Barne. 

a 1800 Tam-a-Line in Child Ballads (1857) I. 366 If it 

be a knave bairn, He's heir o' a' my land. 1815 SCOTT Guy 

M, xi, He tell'd the Laird that the Evil One wad have 

p.ower over the knave-bairn. 

t Kna've-clxild. Obs. A male child. 

c iiisLamb. Horn. 77 pu scald .. bare Knaue child. 1275 

LAY. 15526 5ef man funde.. eny cnaue child, bat neuere fader 

nadde. c 1320 Sir Beues (MS. A) 3714 Fond he ber nober 

3ong ne elder, Ijoute twei hebene knaue childer. 1440 

Gesta Rani. i. Ixxii. 390 (Add. MS.) With in few dayes after 

she was delyuered of a fayre knave childe. 

t Kna^ve-line. Naitt. Obs. In 7 knauling, 

knaueline. One of the small lines in the tackling 

of a vessel (see quot. 1627). 

1626 CAPT: SMITH Accid. Yng. Seamen 15 Small cordage, 

as head lines, the knaulings, gassits or furling lines. 1627 

Seaman's Gram. v. 24 The Knau-line is a rope [that] 

hath one end fastened to the crosse trees, and so comes 

downe by the ties to the Rams head, .to keepe the ties and 

Halyards from turning about one another when they are 

new. 1678 PHILLIPS (ed. 4), Knaue Line. 1867 in SMYTH 

Sailor's Word-bk. s. v. Line. 

t Kna-vely, adv. Obs. rare- 1 , KNAVE sb. + 

[f. 

-LT 2 .]. In the mariner of a knave. 

c 1592 MARLOWE Jew ofMalta iv. v, Knavely spoke, and 

like a man at arms. 

Knavery (n^'-vari.nf'-vri). Also 6 Sc. knaifrie. 

[f. KNAVE sb. + -EBY.] 

1. Performance characteristic of a knave; dishonest 

and crafty dealing ; trickery, roguery. With 

a and pi., A knavish deed or practice. 

1528 TINDALE Obed.Chr. Man Wks. (1573) 147/2 Because 

of a litle knavery which a Deacon at Constantinople plaide 

thorough confession with one of the chiefe wiues of tlje citie. 

1546 BALE Eng. Votaries I. (1560) 64 All suche knaueryes 

must haue a pretensed colour. 1612 DEKKER If it be not 

gtJod'Wks. 1873 III. 312 The Sun sees much Knauery in a 

yere, and the Moone more in a quarter. 1673 TEMPLE Ess., 

/re/and"Wks. 1731 I. 115 The Unskilfulness, or Carelesness, 

or Knavery of the Traders. 1724 RAMSAY Vision xiii, 

Knaivry, and slaivrie, Ar equally dispysd. 1747 WESLEY 

Prim. Physic (1762) p. xiv, Either through the Ignorance 

or Knavery of Physicians, 1870 SPURGEON Treas. Dav. Ps, 

xxxiii. 10 He frustrates their knaveries, and makes their 

promising plots to end in nothing. 

b. As a mock title : = KNAVESHIP i. 

1871 R. ELLIS Catullus xxxiii. 5 Please your knaveries 

hoist a sail for exile, Pains and privacy? 

1 2. In weakened sense : Roguishness, waggishness, 

playing of tricks. Obs. 

1590 SHAKS. Mids. N. in. ii. 346 This is thy negligence, 

still thou mistak'st, Or else committ'st thy knaueries wilfully. 

1599 Hen. V, iv. vii. 52 He was full of iests, and gypes, 

and knaueries, and mockes. 1646 EVELYN Diary 7 Oct., 

Yet are they chereful and full of knavery, 

t b. concr. Tricks of dress or adornment. Obs. 

1596 SHAKS. Tarn. Shr. iv. iii. 58 With Scarfes, and 

(Brockett N. C. Gloss. 1825). 

Knarie, Knarled, obs. ff. GNABL, -ED. 

Knarry (na-ri), a. rare. Also 7, 9 gnarry. 

[f. KNAB 4- -Y.] Having knars or knots ; knotty. 

1386 CHAUCER Knt. 's 7". 1119 A forest .. With knotty 

knarry ITfiynne's ed. knarie] bareyne trees olde, Of stubbes 

sharpe. 1567 TURBERV. tr. Ovid's Epist. 22 This rygor to 

the woods and knarrie trees expell. Ibid. 23 My brothers 

bones with balefull blowes of knarrie clubbe he brake. 1613 

R. CAWDREY Table Alph., Knarry, knotty, stubbie. 1623 

COCKERAM n, Knotty, Gnarry. 1882 SWINBURNE Athens 7 

in Tristr. Lyonesse 179 Boughs all gaunt and gnarry. 

Knash, obs. or erron. variant of GNASH v. 

Cl6ao BUREL Pilgr. in Watson Coll. Sc. Poems (1706) 

li. 25 Sick hashing and knashing, Cums not of cleinlie 

cukis. 1826 J. DOYLE Ess. Cath. Claims 248 Some tub for 

a whale of prejudice to knash its teeth my pretty knaue, how dost thou? 1670 EACHARD Cant. 

Clergy 4 Lads, that are arch knaves at the nominative case. 

1848 THACKERAY Van. Fair v, A roar would follow from 

all the circle of young knaves, usher and all. 

4. In playing-cards: The lowest court card of 

each suit, bearing the representation of a soldier 

or servant the ; jack. 

1568 FULWELL Like will to Like in Hazl. Dodsley 

against. 

Knast, variant of GNAST sb. 

c 

1440 

CAPGRAVE Life St. Kath. 1. 159 Ovre wyt on-to bis 

wyt is but a knast. 

III. 309 

(Stage direction} Here entereth Nichol . . Newfangle and 

hath a knave of clubs in his hand, a 1612 HARINGTON 

Epigr., A sawcy Knave, to trump both King and pjueene. 

1712-14 POPE Rape Lock in. 87 The Knave of Diamonds 

tries his wily arts, And wins.. the Queen of Hearts. 1796 

ELIZA HAMILTON Lett. Hindoo Rajah I. 150 If any one 

of the figures has any claim to European origin, it is that 

of Knaves. 1868 PARDON Card Player n The old German 

cards had neither queen nor knave. 

1 5. A contrivance in which a spool or spindle 

revolves. Obs. rare. 

1564 Inv. in Noake Worceslersh. Relics (1877) 13 Fannes, 

In the 

weaving shoppe ij pare of shuttels, a swiste and a knave to 

and double change of brau'ry, With Amber Bracelets, 

Beades, and all this knau'ry. 

t 3. A popular name for the plant Narthecium 

ossifragum, Bog Asphodel. (Cf. honesty, pride, 

thrift^ Obs. 

[1547 BOORDE Brev. Health 151 Put no Lubberworte into 

theyr potage, and beware of knauerynge aboute theyr hert.] 

1640 PARKINSON Theat. Bot. 1219 My good friend Doctor 

Anthony Salter of . Exeter, .could understand of the countrey 

people 

no other name thereof, or propertie appropriate unto 

It but knavery. 

Knaveship (n

KNAVESS. 

well, does your Knaveship dare walk the street? 1767 

THORNTON tr. Plautus II. 322 Let him try the cause., 

whether too your knaveship Should not be clapt in prison. 

1887 SWINBURNE Locrinc n. ii. 28 The liar will say no more 

his heart misgives His knaveship. 

f2. St. The quantity of corn or meal payable 

to a miller's servant (cf. KNAVE si. 2, quot. 1820) 

as one of the sequels or small dues levied on each 

mill. 06s. 

15. . Aberdeen Kef. (Jam.), Prewing of the auld statutis & 

lot of corn ground at a thirlnge 

vse that that hed wownt to hef of the multur of ilk boll, 

and quhat knaship. 1575 Burgh Kec. Glasgow (Mail. Cl. 

1832) 37 Taking furth |>airof of v multours and thre knaifschips 

of malt. 1596 Reg. Mag. Sig. (1890) 176/1 Cum 

astrictis multuris acraruin de F. vocat. le knaifschip. 1609 

SKENE Kef. Maj. 3 (Act Will. c. 9) Ane free man or ane 

free balder, sail gif for at the 

mujture 

milne . . of tuentie 

holies, ane firlot (as knawship). 1754 ERSKINE Princ. Sc. 

Law n. ix. 19 The sequels are the small parcels of corn or 

meal given as a fee to the servants, over and above what is 

paid 

to the multurer ; and they pass by the name of knave- 

ship. 1818 SCOTT Hrt. Midi, viii, Regular payment of. . 

multure, lock, gowpen, and knaveship, and all the various 

exactions now commuted for money. 

Kna-vess. nonce-wd. [See -ESS.] A she-knave. 

1833 CAHLYLE Ct. Cagliostro in Misc. Ess. (1872) V. 89 

Cullies, the easy cushions on which knaves and fcnavesses 

repose and fatten. 

t Knaviga-tion. Obs. [Jocular, after navigation^ 

A knavish invention or relation. 

1613 PURCHAS Pilgrimage vn. viii. 693 For . . my part 

I could wish such complaints to be but calumnies, and to 

be the knavigations of false discouerers. 

f Knavinge, obs. form of GNAWING. 

,1440 Promf. Parv. 279/1 Knavynge, or gnavynge 

(A'., H., P. knawynge), corrosio. 

Knavish, (n^'-vif), a. [f. KNAVE sb. + -ISH '.] 

Characteristic of or appropriate to a knave ; having 

the character of a knave. 

1 1. Low, vulgar ; obscene. Obs. 

c 1386 CHAUCER Manciple's T. 101 His wyf anoon hath for 

Mr femman sent. Hir lemman ? certes, bis is a knauyssh 

speche. Foraeueth it me. a 1529 SKELTON Col. Clovte 653 

Howe ye were wonte to drynke Of a lether bottell With 

a knauysshe stoppell. 

t 2. Roguish, rascally, mischievous, impertinent. 

1552 HULOET, Knauishe, proteruus. 1573 BARET Alv. 

K 87 A Knappish, or knauish tongue, lingua proterita. 

1590 SHAKS. Mids. N. n. i. 32 That shrew'd and knauish 

spirit Cal'd Robin Good-fellow. Ibid. in. ii. 440 Cupid is 

a knauish lad, Thus to make poor females mad. 1603 DEKKCR 

Grissil (Shaks. Soc.) 15 You may be ashamed to lay such 

knavish burden upon old age's shoulders. 

3. Basely unprincipled, fraudulent, rascally. 

1570 LEVINS Manip. 145/33 Knauish, pzntersus. 160* 

SHAKS. Ham. in. iL 250 Tis a knauish peece of worke. 

a 1704 T. BROWN Two Oxf. Schol. Wks. 1730 I. 8 Some.. 

are poor and cannot pay, and others knavish and will not 

pay. a 1800 COWPEK Ep. Protest. Lady 6 Praise is the 

medium of a knavish trade. 1856 FROUDE Hist. Eng. (1858) 

I. v. 405 It was a knavish piece of business, a 1859 MACAULAY 

Hist. Eng. xxiii. V. 38 He had employed a knavish Jew to 

forge endorsements of names. 

Knavishly (n?-vi/li), adv. [f. prec. + -LT 2.] 

In a knavish manner ; villainously, dishonourably, 

dishonestly, fraudulently ; roguishly, trickily. 

1481 CAXTON Reynard (Arb.) 94 Alas there rauysshyd he 

and forcyd my wyf so knauisshly that I am ashamed to 

telle it. 1552 HULOET, Knauishly, protertte, proteruiter. 

1603 HOLLAND Plutarch's Mor. 423 One of those slaves 

.. had behaved himselfe somewhat too insolently and 

knavishly against him. c 1710 PRIOR Viceroy 95 That he did 

likewise traitorously.. Enrich himself most knavishly. 1823 

M^CuLLOcH Pol. Econ. n. in 84 As it has been sometimes 

ignorantly or knavishly represented. 

Knavishness (n^'-vijnes). [f. as prec. + 

-NESS.] The quality of being knavish ; knavery ; 

petty villainy, dishonesty, trickery. 

1515 BARCLAY Eghges in. (1570) Cij b/2 If thou haue one 

with knauishenes infect, Then all the other shall folowe the 

same secte, 1783 Ainsivorth's Lat. Diet., Knavishness, 

nequitia, scelus. 

Knavyn, knaw(e, 

obs. forms of GNAW. 

Knaw, Knawe(n, Knawledgo, obs. var. 

KNOW, KNOWN, KNOWLEDGE. 

Knawel (ng'el). [a. Ger. knanel, kneuel knot- 

grass ; cf. Ger. knauel, kndnel clew, ball of : yarn 

see Grimm.] A book-name of the knot-grass, 

Sclerant/nts, a weed frequent in sandy soil. 

1578 LYTE Dodoens l. Ixvii. 07 Amongst the kindes of Knot 

grasse, we may well recken that herbe, whiche doth so wrap 

and enterlace it self, and is so ful of ioynts, that the base 

Almaignescal it Knawel, that is to say, Knot weede. 1640 

PARKINSON Theat. Bat. 446 Trie Germanes Knawell sendeth 

forth from a small slender threddy roote, divers small 

branches. 1760 J. LEE Introd. Bat. App. 316 Knawel, 

ScUraitthut, 1816-43 KIRBY & Sp. Entomol. I. 270 The 

scarlet grain of Poland.. is found on the roots of the 

perennial knawel. 

Knawin, knawyn, obs. ff. GNAW, KNOW. 

Knax, obs. 

pi. of KNACK. Kne, obs. f. KNEE. 

Knead (nfd), v. Pa. t. and pa. pple. kneaded. 

Forms: see below. [Orig. a strong vb. : OE. 

cnedan, pa. t. cnsed, pi. cnsdon, pa. pple. cneJen, 

= OS.A>ie

KNEE. 

the thigh and the lower leg; by extension, the 

part of the thigh of a sitting person over the knee. 

a. cSas I'csp. Psalter cviii. 24 Cneow min fceuntrumad 

smd fore festenne. 971 Blickl. Horn, 43 Hine besencton . . 

ict his cneowa. c 1000 Ags. Ps. tTh.) cviii. 24 Me synt 

cneowu swylce cwicu unhale. ciooo Sax. Lcechd. I. 186 

13 ebe bonne ba fet & pa. cnewu. ci2oo Vices ff Virtues 51 

He oat alle cnewes to cneliS. c 1290 St. Michael 725 in 

$ E-ng.Leg. I. 320 J>ekneuwene in eibur eiê. 1377 LANGL. 

P. PL B. v. 359 Clement the cobelere . . leyde hym on his 

knowes. 

ft. a 1000 Phoenix 514 f>onne anwald eal . . ban fcegaedraS 

. . fore cristes cneo. c izoo ORMIN 4775 Cnes, & fet, & 

shannkess. c 1275 XI Pains Hell 96 in O.E. Misc. 149 pat 

stondeb vp to heore kneow. a 1300 Cursor M. 12685 Hes 

knes war bolnd sua bat he ne moght vnnethes ga. c 1400 

Trevisas Higden (Rolls) V. 461 He wolde . . lenye on his 

kneon \v.r. knees]. CIQJQ HENRY Wallace i. 323 On kneis 

he faucht. ?rti$oo Chester PL (E. E. T. S.) 403 Hym 

honour we and all men, devoutly kneling on our knen. 

1597 SHAKS. 2 Hen. IV, n. iv. 347 Sit on my Knee, Do!. 

lym-ia SWIFT Lett, (1767) HI. 291 The queen has the gout 

in her knee. 1800 WORDSW. Pet Lamb 7 Wiih one knee on 

the grass did the little maiden kneel. 1835 Mus. HEMANS 

Graves of a Hoitseh. vii, Whose voices mingled as they 

prayed, Around one parent knee. 1841 H. SMITH Addr. 

Mummy xi, Have children climbed those knees and kissed 

that face? 1858 GEN. P. THOMPSON Audi Alt. (1859) JI - 

Ixxix. 36 One of the earliest stories learned at a mother's knee. 

2. In various phrases : a. Kneebyknee, side by side 

and close together ; kneetoknee^ = prec. ; also, facing 

each other with the knees touching, b. To offer 

or give a fotee, to act as second in a pugilistic 

encounter, it being customary for a second to give 

a principal the support of his knee between the 

rounds. C. Oft the knees of the gods (Gr. Qtuv iv 

yowaai, Horn.), dependent on superhuman disposal, 

beyond human control. 

a. 1759 COOPF.R in Phil. Trans. LI. 39 Another old woman 

sitting knee to knee with her companion. 1798 COLERIDGE 

Anc. Mar. v. xii, The body of my brother's son Stood by 

me, knee to knee. 1842 TENNYSON Vision of Sin 84 Sit 

thee down, . . Cheek by jowl, and knee by knee. 1899 Daily 

News 27 June 5/7 Men were wedged tightly knee-to-knee 

as they rode at a gallop. 

b. 1848 THACKERAY Van. fairv, Everybody was anxious 

to have the honour of offering the conqueror a knee. 1857 

HUGHES Tom Brown \\. v, Tom .. with Martin to give him 

a knee, steps out on the turf. 

C. 1879 BUTCHER & LANG Odyssey i. 9 Howbeit these things 

surely he on the knees of the gods, whether he shall return 

or not. 1900 Daily News 17 Aug. 6/5 Such things are yet 

upon the knees of the gods. 

3. esp. In phrases having reference to kneeling or 

bowing in worship, supplication, or submission. 

a. With governing prep.: On or upon the (one's) knce(s; 

to fall, go, kneel, "\lie, ^sef oneself, t sit down on one's 

knees (t on knee(s)* to bring one to his knees ; see also AKNEE, 

FALL v. 20. b. With governing vb. : To bend, bow, drop, 

^foldi put the (ones} knee; see also Bow z/. 1 

9 c, BENDED. 

C. As the part of the Hmb used in kneeling or bowing; to 

owe a knee, to owe reverence or adoration ; f with cap and 

knee: see CAP j/'. 1 

4g. 

a. ^893 K. ALFRED Oros. in. ix. 14 peh be hie hiene 

meSigne on cneowum sittende metten. aiooo Elene 1136 

iGr.) Cwene willa heo on cneow sette. c 1200 ORMIN 6627 

Bu?henn himm o cnewwe. Ibid, 6467 pe;^ .. fellenn dun o 

cnewwess. c 1205 LAV. 12685 5 bidden for me on eower 

bare cneowen. Ibid. 12941 He . . feol on his cneowen. 

ci38S CHAUCER Knt.'s T. 1017 Doun on knees wente every 

maner wight. 1390 GOWER Conf. I. 286 Sche began merci 

to ci ie, Upon hire bare knes. a 1548 HALL Chron., Hen. Vt 

50 On theyr knes desired to have theyr lives saved. 1717 

LADY M. W. MONTAGU Let. to C'tess Bristol i Apr., A 

minister of state is not spoken to, but upon the knee. 1800 

I. MILNER in Life xii. (1842) 204 In a very short time you 

may be on your knees to this very B[uonaparte]. 1855 

MACAULAY Hist. Eng. xx. IV. 402 The Marshal reasoned : 

he implored : he went on his knees. 1887 Times (weekly 

ed.) 4 Nov. 10/3 A very efficacious method of bringing a . . 

troublesome class of offenders to their knees. 

b. CQSpLindisf.Gosp.'MiM.. xxvii, 29 Cnew [cyfiRushw. 

Cosp. kneuj gebeged bifora him. c 1000 Ags, Go$f>. ibid., 

Bijdon heora cneow beforan him. a 1240 Ureisun in Cott. 

Horn. 191 To be ich buwe and mine kneon ich beie. 1382 

WYCLIF Acts xx. 36 His knees putt, he preiede with alle 

hem. 1367 Gude fy Godlie B. (S. T. S.) 51 The kneis of my 

hart sail I bow. 1580 SIDNEY Ps. v. iii, I ..in Thy feare, 

knees of my heart will fold. 1593 SHAKS. Rich. II, iv. i. 165, 

I hardly yet haue learn'd To insinuate, flatter, bowe, and 

bend my Knee. 16x1 BIBLE Prayer Manasses, I bow the 

knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace. 1667 MILTON 

P. L. v. 788 Will ye submit your necks, and chuse to bend 

The supple knee? 1715 R. NELSON tr. A Keinpis' Chr. 

Exerc. in. vi. 116 When with knees bended, thou entreatest 

for the Pardon of thy Sins. 1857 KFBLE Eudtar. Ador. 3 

If we kneel and bow the knees of our hearts to receive a 

blessing. 

C- 1513 MORE in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 761, I would 

never have wonne the curtesie of so many mens knees with 

the losse of so many mens hands. 1596 SHAKS. i Hen. /yt jv. iii. 68 The more and lesse came in with Cap and Knee. 

1607 Cor. v. iii. 57 What 's this? your knees to me? To 

your corrected son ? 1640 BP. REYNOLDS Passions xiii, I can- 

not but think that . . the reed and knees of those mocking and 

blasphemous Jews were so many drops of that full cup. 

rt 1699 KIRKTON Hist. Ch. Scot. (1817) 210 (E. D. D.) When 

they came to town they were so attended with salutations, 

caps, and knees. 

4. A joint in an animal likened to, or regarded 

as corresponding in position OT shape to, the human 

knee. a. The.carpal articulation of the foreleg of 

the horse, cow, cat, or other quadruped, b. The 

tarsal articulation or heel of a bird. c. The joint 

of an insect's leg between the femur and the tibia. 

727 

ci45o Two Cookery-bks. 116 Lete a fesaunt blode in the 

mouth . . & kutt . . a-wey the legges by the kne. 1486 Bk. 

St. Albans Bj, The federis that Lene at the : loynte at the 

hawkes kne thay stonde hangyng. 1626 BACON Syfoa 45 

A pottage of strong nourishment, .made with the knees and 

sinews of beef, butlong boiled. 1753 CHAMBERS Cycl. //., 

Knee in the Manege, is the joint of the fore quarters, that 

joins the fore thigh to the shank. 1831 YouATT Horse (1848) 

339 In examining a horse for purchase the knees should I e 

very strictly scrutinised. 1858 FRED. SMITH CataL Brit. 

Foss. Hymenopt. in Didineis lunicornis .. Female . . the 

legs simple, with the knees of the anterior femora .. of a 

testaceous yellow. _ 1893 NEWTON Diet. 'Birds 498 Knee^ 

a term commonly misapplied by many ornithological writers 

to the intertarsal (often called tibio-tarsal) joint. 

5. The part of a garment covering the knee. 

x66a PEPYS Diary 12 June, I tried on my riding-cloth suit 

with close knees . . I think they will be very convenient, if 

not too hot to wear any other open knees after them. 1844 

J. T. HEWLETT Parsons fy W. x, His coat and waistcoat 

off, and his knees unbuttoned. 1887 Miss BRADDON Like

KNEE. 

knee at the bottom of knee-breeches; knee-swell, 

in the harmonium and American organ, a lever 

operated by the performer's knee for producing 

crescendo and diminuendo effects ; knee-table, 

a knee-hole table; f knee-ties = knee-strings. Also 

KNEE-CAP, -DEEP, -HALTEK, etc., q. v. 

1826 KIRBY & SP. Entoinol. III. 385 Afolula (the *Kneeball), 

the convex and sometimes bent head of the Tibia, 

armed with a horny process on each side, by which it Is 

WITHERING Brit. Plants 

attached to the thigh. 1776-96 

(ed. 3) II. 119 Straw not only ascending, but *knee-bent. 

1886 ELWORTHY W. Somerset Word-bit.^ * Knee-bowed, said 

of corn after much rain, c 14*5 Voc. in Wr.-Wiilcker 637/13 

Hecfragus, *kneborde. c 1410 Chron. Eng. 758 Hys legges 

hy corven of anon, Faste by the *kneo-bon. 1898 Westm. 

Gaz. 21 July 7/1 [He] stated that successful cases of the 

binding of the knee-bone had been known after a fortnight's 

delay. 1794 W. FELTON Carriages (1801) I. 205 At the top 

of some ^knee-boots, an iron-jointed rod is sewed in the 

leather, which fixes in spring sockets on the elbow-rail. 

1832 Gentlewomen's Bk. Sports I. 97, I wear a waterproof 

skirt, and india-rubber knee-boots. 1816 J. WILSON Noct. 

Ambr. Wks. 1855 II. 275 There he is, wi* his..licht 

casimer *knee-breeks wi' lang ties. 1833 HT. MARTINEAU 

Loom .$ Lugger i. L 4 It is so odd to see such a little fellow 

with knee-breeches. 1860 FAIRHOLT Costume Eng. Gloss, 

(ed. 2} 400 The plain tight knee-breeches, still worn as 

court-dress. 1884 Harper's Mag. Jan. 303/1 Some two 

hundred and fifty apostles of the knee-breeched cultus. 

1833 Penny Cycl. II. 75/2 Another [species of antelope] 

diners from the general type in the nossession of *kneebrushes, 

1882 BESANT All Sorts xii, The brave [Salvation 

Army) warriors were now in full blast, and the fighting, 

' 

*knee-drill', singing., were at their highest. 1808 Allbutt's 

1897 Allbntt's Syst. Med.. II. 367 The physiological deep 

reflex called the 'knee-jerk' or ( 

patellar reflex '. 1898 

J. HUTCHINSON Archives Surg. IX. 135 His *Knee-jump 

was poor. 1889 T. HARDY Mayor Casterbr. xliii, Fresh 

leggings, *knee-naps, and .corduroys. 1666 Lond. Gaz, 

No. 68/1 One [Fly-boat] of 300 Tuns, with.. Deal, ''Kneepieces, 

and other Oak timber for ships. 1677-83 [see kneerafter}. 

1869 BOUTELL Anns $ Arm. x. 11874) 190 The 

pouleyns,genouilU2res, or knee-pieces became general before 

the close of the i3th century. 1884 MILLER Plant-n. 231 

Pinus Miigho vnr, nana *Knee t Pine. 1889 Science (U. S.) 

XIII. 176/2 The trees [swamp cypresses] which grew 

upon high ground failed to develop any *knee processes. 

1884 F; J. BRITTEN Watch a disease of cattle, affecting their joints. 1884 

KNIGHT Diet. Meek. Surjpl., *Knee-iron, an angle-iron at 

the junction of timbers in a frame. 1876 FOSTER Pkys. 

(1888) 913 Striking the tendon below the patella gives rise 

to a sudden extension of the leg, known as the *knee-jerk. 

' 

took out his 

knife, and, had .1 not been close by, would have ' 

kneed ' 

the 

steer before letting him up. 

Hence Knee 'ing vbl. sb. 

a 1240 Ureisun in Cott. Horn. 199 Jhi miht forjelden . . Al 

mi swine and mi sor and mine kneouwunge. 

Knee-cap (nf-ksep). [f. KNEE sb. + CAP.] 

1. A cap or protective covering for the knee; 

spec.) a genouillere. 

1660 Survey Arm. Tower Lond. in Archseologia XI. 98 

Gushes, Knee capps, 1827 SCOTT JrnL 25 Jan., I have got 

a piece of armour, a knee-cap of chamois leather. 1858 

SIMMONDS Diet, Trade^ Knee-cap, a cover or protection for 

the knee of a stumbling horse. 1860 FAIRHOLT Costume Eng. 

(ed. 2) 128 Small plates of metal also begin to appear at the 

elbows and krtees. . . The knee-caps were styled genouilleres. 

1884 Mil. Engineering (ed. 3) I. n. 72, 4 pairs of knee-caps. 

1886 T. HARDY Mayor Casterbr. iv, Thatcher's knee-caps, 

ploughman's leggings. 

b. (Surgical.) A water- or ice-bag for topical 

appliances to the knee. 

1884 in KNIGHT Diet. Mech. SuppL 

2. The convex bone in front of the knee-joint ; 

the patella, knee-pan. 

1869 HUXLEY Elem. Phys. (ed. 3) 186 The ligament of the 

knee-cap, or patella. 1884 BOSANQUET tr. Lotzes Metapk. 

506 If we touch any of the skin that is 

part 

stretched above 

a bone, whether it be the forehead, the knee-cap, or the 

heel, feelings are. .aroused which have a common tone. 

Kneed (md), a. [f. KNEE sb. and v. + -ED.] 

1. Furnished with knees : chiefly in parasynthetic 

compounds, as broken-, weak-, KNOCK-KNEED. 

1652 GAULE Magastrom. 186- That loose kneed, signifies 

lascivious, and baker kneed effeminate. 17x9 DE lew. Crusoe 

I. iv, My breeches.. were.. open knee'd. 

b. Bot. Having joints like knees; bent like 

a knee; knee-jointed; geniculate. Kneed grasst 

a name of Setaria verticillata. 

J 

597 GERARDE Herbal i. iii. 4 Slender bentie stalks, kneed 

or jointed like those of corne. Ibid. \. xii. 13 Kneed grasse 

hath straight and vpright strawie stalks. 1853 G. JOHNSTON 

Nat.Hist.E. Bord. I. 214 The branchlets..of the Oak [arej 

irregular, kneed, and spreading. 1861 Miss PRATT Flower, 

PI. VI. 57 Stem kneed at the joints. 

C. Having ,an angle like a knee; also teehn. % 

Having a knee or knees (in senses 7, 8 of the sb.). 

1775 L-IND in Phil. Trans. LXV. 353 This cover and the 

kneed tube are connected together by a slip of brass. 1823 

P. NICHOLSON Pract. Build, 201 The same part of a rau 

may therefore be both ramped and knee'd, 1848 B. WEBB 

Continental Ecclesiol. 151 The gables are universally kneed ; 

i. e. the lines of the . . gable spread outwards in a larger angle 

towards the bottom. 

1 2. Having the knees bent, as in kneeling. (In 

quot.^.) 06s. 

1657 N. W[HITINC] Albino * Bettama En. Ded. (1639) 

Aij D, These lines, In which.. shines You/ worth, en-fired by 

my kneed quill. 

3. Of trousers : Bulged at the knees. 

1887 Trade testimonial. If the trousers are kneed it has 

the effect of it taking out. 

Kneed, obs. form of KNEAD, 

Knee-deep, a. 

1. So deep as to reach to the knee. Said of 

water, snow, mud, grass, etc. ; also of the ground 

submerged or covered by these. 

x35 STEWART Cron. Scot. II. 619 In wynter in ane kne 

deip snaw. 1555 EDEN Decades 116 They make a hole in 

the earth knee deape. 1647 H. MORE Insontn. Philos. xii, 

Great fields of Corn and Knee-deep grasse were seen. 1748 

Anson's V&y. n. iv. 160 Her decks were almost constantly 

knee-deep m water. 1862 BEVERIDGE Hist. India III. vn. 

v. 148 Rice fields and plains knee-deep in water. 

2. Sunk to the knee (in water, mud, etc.). Alsoyf^. 

 

the cord or halter used in doing this. 

1849 E. E. NAPIER Exeurs. S. Afr. II. 16 Whilst the 

'knee-haltered' horses, and out-spanned oxen, were busily 

engaged. 1850 R. G. GUMMING Hunters Life S. Afr. (ed. 2) 

I. 129 Having off-saddled our horses, we knee haltered them. 

1868 ATKINSON Cleveland Gloss., Knee-halter, to apply 

restraint to an animal's motions by means of tying. 1892 

Cradock {S. Afr.) Reg. 4 Mar. 2 Brown mare.. marks of 

kneehalter on left front leg below knee. 1898 Daily News 

13 June 5/5 Should one man be shot, the others would 

kneehalter their horses and go on working the gun. 

Knee* -hole. A hole or space between the 

pedestal drawers of a writing-table, to receive the 

knees and enable one to sit close up to it. Also 

attrib. b. ellipt. A knee-hole table. 

1862 LYTTON Sir. Story I, 214 The arm-chair by the fireplace 

; "the knee-hole writing-table beside it. 1893 Westm, 

Gaz. 22 Apr. 6/3 His desk of mahogany.. with knee-hole 

and drawers, stood in the recess. 1895 British Weekly 

10 Oct. 395/2 [His] writing table is a plain, substantial 

kneehole. 

Kiiee*-lio:lly. In OE. cnow-holen. [f. 

KNEE sb. (perh. in reference to its height) + holen, 

HOLLY (as a prickly evergreen).] A name of 

Butcher's Broom (Rnscus acnleattts}. 

c looo Sax. Leechd. I. 162 Wi5 f>one dropan,..genim 

twegen scenceas fulle wosesfiysse wyrt |>eman ..cneownolen 

nemneS. ('1265 Voc. Names PI. in Wr.-Wiilcker 557/33 

Frisgonem, 

i. fresgun, i, cnehole. 1661 LOVELL Hist. Anim. 

ff Min. 448 Asparagus, grasse, knee holly, marsh-mallows. 

1785 MAKTYH Rousseau's Bot.^ xxix. (1794) 461 Butcher's 

Broom, or Knee Holly, bears its flowers in the middle of 

the leaves. 1866 Treas. Bot. 999. 

Knee'-holm. [f. as prec. + HOLM 2.] = pre c. 

1562 TURNER Herbal \\. 121 b, Ruscus is named,, in 

English Kneholme, or Knehull, and of other Bucher broume. 

1610 MARKHAM Alasterp. n. clxxiiL 485 Brusca, which we 

cat butchers broome, or knee holm. 1712 tr. Pontefs Hist* 

Drugs I. 66 Berries of the Bigness of Holly-Oak, or Knee* 

Holm. 1864 PRIOR 

Plant-n.^ Knec-hohn> -'hither, or -holly, 

referred to the holms or hollies on account of its evergreen 

leaves. 

t Knee-hull, -hul, -hulver. Obs. [See HDLL 

s.3, HULVER.] = prec. 

i$6j [see prec.J. 1578 LYTE Dodoens vi. xiii. 674 In 

English, Kneeholme, Kneehul .. and Petigree. 1864 [see 

prec.]. 

t Knee-ify, r>. Obs. nonce-wd. To make a knee 

of: in quot., to attach (the toe of a shoe) to the 

knee by a chain, as was the fashion in the I4th c. 

c 1630 Trag. Rich. If (1870) 50 This chayne doth (as it 

were) soe tooefy the knee, and so kneefye the tooe, that 

betweene boeth it makes a most methodicall coherence. 

Knee'-joint. 

1. The joint of the knee. 

1648 WILKINS Math. Magick \. v. 36 The weight of the 

body doth be>ir most upon tbe knee-joints. 1831 YOUATT 

Iforse (1848) 337 Many horses are sadly blemished .. by 

wounds in the knee-joint. 1876 Clin. Soc. Trans. IX. 176, 

J ordered.. an evaporating lotion to be kept applied to the 

knee-joint. 1891 FLOWER Horse 148. 

2. Mcch. A joint formed of two pieces hinged 

together endwise so as to resemble a knee, a togglejoint, 

t Formerly applied to a ball-and-socket 

joint. Also attrib. t as knee-joint press. 

i7i J. JAMES tr. Le Blond's Gardening 81 The Semicircle 

is mounted upon a Knee-joint, or Ball, for the Conveniency 

of turning it every way. 1851 Illustr. Catal. Gt. 

Exhib. 287 The introduction of the knee-joint gives to the 

dies a variable motion, and causes the greatest force.. at 

the closing of the 

joint. 1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mech., Knee' 

joint Pri'ss, one in which power is applied by means of 

a double knee-joint articulated at the top to the upright 

framework, and at the bottom to a cross-head, from which 

proceeds the shaft which applies the force. 

So : Knee--Joi--nted a., geniculate cf. KNEED i b. 

1776-96 WITHERING Brit. Plants (tA. 3) II. 120 Alofecnrus 

geniculatus, spiked straw knee-jointed. Ibid. 454 Geum.. 

Seeds many, with a knee-jointed awn. 1855 Loudon's 

Encycl. Plants Gloss, noi Kneed OT knee-jointed^ bent like 

the knee-joint. 

Kneel (nfl), v. Pa. t. and pple. kneeled 

(nfld), knelt (nelt). Forms : a. I cngowlian, 

2-4 cnewlen, 3 cneoulen, kneuli(3en, 3-4 

kneulen, 4 knewlen. #. 2 cnylen, 2-3 cneoleu, 

cnelen, 3 cneoli, -ly, kneolien, -ly, -len, 3-4 

knelen, (kn-, cnely), 3-6 knele, (5-6 knyl, Sc. 

kneil(l), 6-7 kneele, 7- kneel. [Early ME. 

cneolen\ OE. cntcnvlian =* Dn. knielen, MLG., 

LG. knelen ; deriv. of cnlow t knie, KNEE sl>. The 

pa. t. and pple. knelt appear to be late (ipth c.) 

and of southern origin. Ci. feelj felt. 1 

intr. To fall on the knees or a knee to ; assume, 

or remain in, a posture in which the body is sup- 

ported on the bended knees or on one of them, as 

in supplication or homaget Const, to ; also, with

ZNEELER. 

indirect passive, to be knelt to. Sometimes of the 

knee: To bend to the ground in supplication or 

reverence. 

a. Taiooo Canons ofK. Edgar (MS. Colt. Tiberius A. Hi. 

If. 96), Silf he on diglum cneowlie [a. r. (Thorpe A tut. Laws 

II. 382) jecneowjse] xelome and hine on eoroan swioe 

abeme. c 1200 Tria. CM. Horn. 25 After be forme word of be 

salme [bu] abuiest gode and cnewlest tosenes him. c 1300 

Beket 540 The Bischop of Northwich . . Kneulede tofore him 

wepmge. ciyo Sir Bout (US. A) 259 perl knewlede to 

pemperur. 

0. CI200 Vices f, Virtues 51. He Sat alle cnewes to cneliS. 

Ibid. 145 Cnyle Sar niSer to-foren hise fet. -1205 LAY. 

10976 per 19 gon cneoli [c 1275 cneoly] be king. a 1223 A ncr. 

K. 20 Et Us word..buwe& o8er kneoleS. 1297 R. GLOUC. 

(Rolls) 7607 pis heyemen, in chirche me may yse Knely 

[v.rr. Kneleb, Kneulijeb] to god. c 1386 CHAUCER Knt.'s 

T. 39 1 her Kneled m the weye A compaignye of ladyes. 

c 1394 P. PI. Creite 124 pou chulde.st cnely bifore Crist. 

ci47o HENRY Wallace vn. 578 The hardy Scottis..Be fors 

off hand gert mony cruell kneill. 1548-9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. 

Prayer, Communion, Make your humble confession to 

almightie God..mekely knelyng upon your knees. 1610 

SHAKS. Temp. n. i. 128 You were kneel'd too, & importun'd 

otherwise By all of vs. 1637 POCKLINGTON Altare Chr. 154 

His knees may not buckle to Baal, nor kneele at the Communion. 

1756-7 tr. Keysler's Trail. (1760) II. 231 On these 

stones St. Peter kneeled. 1818 CRUISE Digest (ed. 2> III. 

14 The clerk kneels before the ordinary, whilst he reads the 

words of the institution. 1840 DICKENS Old C. Shop xvii, 

The homely altar where they knelt in after-life. 1884 

F. M. CRAWFORD Rom. Singer I. ii. 25 Most of the people 

around him kneeled. 

fig. 1633 HERBERT Temple, BurittuUlB Who in heart not 

ever kneels. 1821 SHELLEY Prometh. Gut. i. i. 378 Let the 

will kneel within thy haughty heart. 1855 BROWNING Childe 

Roland xx, Low scrubby alders kneeled down over it [the 

river]. 

b. With down : (adown) To go down on the 

knees. So kneel up, to rise on the knees. 

a 1225 St. Mar/ur. 20 Heo bigon on hire cneon to cneolin 

adun. (1x300 Cursor M. 4816 Dun bai kneld {v.rr. knelid, 

kneled] at his fette. 1450 St. Cuthtert (Surtees) 1145 

pai knelyd doune at be water syde. 1587 FLEMING Contn. 

Holinshed III. 1321/1 Who. .falling downe prostrate on his 

face, and then kneeling up, concluded this noble exercise 

with these words to her Majestic. 1606 SHAKS. Ant. ff Cl. 

in. ii. 19 But as for Cassar, Kneele downe, kneele downe, 

and wonder. 1750 N. LARDNER Wks. (1838) III. 292 They 

kneeled down to the elect to ask their blessing. 1817 

SHELLEY Rev. Islam x. xxxix, He knelt down upon the 

729 

Knee-let, rare. [f. KNEE sb. + -LET : cf. arm- 

let, earlet.~\ A piece of armour or clothing protecting 

or covering the knee ; spec., a genouillere. 

01843 SOUTHEY Doctor clxxxviii. 

(1848)497 A necessary 

part of a suit of armour was distinguished by this name 

{genouilleres) in the days of chivalry; and the article of 

dress which corresponds to it may be called kneelets, if for 

3 ew artlcle we strike a new w . 

"n 

?rd. 1896 Westm. Gaz. 

31 Mar. 3/2 This is, properly speaking, not a garter at all : 

it is a kneelet, if I may coin the term. 

Kneeling (nf-lin), vol. si. [f. KNEEL v + 

-ING 1.] 

1. The action of the vb. KNEEL ; a falling down, 

or remaining, on the knees in worship, submission, 

etc.; in quot. 1631, advancing on the knees; 

formerly often with//., a genuflexion. 

cizoo Vices ff Virtues 127 OSSer mid cnewlinge, o33er 

mid swinke. CIAOO MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) xxvi. 122 pai do 

grete wirschepe also to be sonne, and mase many knelinges 

berto. 1500 FISHER Fun. Serin. Ctess Richmond Wks. 

(1876) 294 The blessyd Martha is commended, in orderynge 

of her soule to god. by often knclynges. 1631 WEEVER A tic. 

Fun, Man. 202 There was . . such creeping and kneeling to 

his Tombe. 1769 Junius Lett. xv. (1835) 72 A Court, in 

which prayers are morality and kneeling is religion. 1881 

Miss YONGE Lads Langley ii. 69 The next time there was 

a kneeling ; that is to say, when the children and Miss Dora 

went down on their knees, as Frank had never seen any one 

. . except perhaps the clergyman, kneel before. 

2. transf. A place or space for kneeling in a 

place of worship. 

1587 in Picton L'pool Manic. Rec. (1883) I. 105 Highest 

place in that form where they have been and are accustomed 

to be and have their kneeling. 1645 HABINGTON Snrtt. 

Wore, in Wore. Hist. Sac. Proc. III. 507 In the .. highest 

windowe, under which Habington's auncesters haue formerly 

had theyre kneelinge. 1852 Ecclesiologist XIII. 309 

The Chapel of the Holy Trinity, which . . is also furnished 

with similar kneelings. 1861 BERESF. HOPE Eng. Cathedr. 

iqth C. 116 Space beyond that which is required for the 

sittings or kneelings of the average place of worship. 

3. Comb., as kneeling-cushion, -desk, -place, -stool, 

-support; f kneeling-rail, a rail of triangular 

section, to the vertical face of which the pales or 

boards of a fence are nailed ; kneeling-sap, a 

mode of sapping in military engineering (see quot.). 

1876 T. HARDY Elhelberta (1890) 368 Chickerel turned 

KNELL. 

orig. *'- sbs. from strong vbs.) : thence app. Welsh 

cnul, cnull, death-bell, passing-bell, knell'. The 

later form knell goes with the same form in the vb. 

Cf. Ger. and Du. knoll ' 

clap, loud report ' 

from 

knellen."] The sound made by a bell when struck 

or 

rung, esp. the sound of a bell rung slowly and 

solemnly, as immediately after a death or at a 

funeral. 

o. co6i .rETHELWOLD Rule St. Benet xlviii. 74 SiSban hy 

(wne forman cnyl to none xehyren, gangen hy ealle from hyra 

weorce. c 1000 /Elfric's Colloq. in Wr.-Wulcker 103 Hwilon 

ic gehyre cnyll, and ic arise, c 1300 Vox If Wolf*$\ in 

Ret. Ant. II. 277 Thi soul-cnul ich wile do ringe. 01512 

FABYAN Will in Chron. Pref. 5, I will that my knyll be 

"' * L ~ 

rongyn 

..quhen he seis man 

ony 

cummand to the toun ridand.. 

[sal] gif hot a knell with the bell, and gif thair beis tua, 

tua knellis. a 1541 WYATT Louer showing continualfaines 

(R.), The doleful bell that still doth ring The woful 

knell of all my ioyes. 1591 SPENSER Daphnaida 334 Let 

.. the ayre be fil'd with noyse of doleful! knells. 1605 

SHAKS. Macb. 11. i. 63 The Bell inuites me. Heare it not, 

Duncan, for it is a Knell, That summons thee to Heauen, 

or to Hell. 1750 GRAY Elegy i The curfew tolls the knell 

of parting day. 1814 SCOTT Ld. of Isles iv. xx, The Convent 

bell Long time had ceased its matin knell. 1881 BESANT 

& RICE Chapl. of Fleet I. 3 All the morning the funeral 

knell has been tolling. 

b._/%-. A sound announcing the death of a person 

or the passing away of something; an omen of 

death or extinction. Also, allusively, in phrases 

expressing or having reference to death or extinction. 

ft. 1613 SHAKS. Hen. VIII, n. i. 32 Brought agen to th' Bar, 

to heare His Knell rung out, his lodgement. 1784 COWPEK 

Task iv. 148 No stationary steeds Cough their own knell. 

1878 EMERSON Misc., Fort. Repub. Wks. (Bohn) III. 393 

Men whose names are a knell to all hope of progress. 

c. transf. A sound resembling a knell; a doleful 

dust. 1849 DICKENS Dav. Cofp. ii, When I kneel up, early 

in the morning, in my little bed . . to look out. 

c. With reft. pron. (see HIM 40). arch. 

1:1430 Life St. Kath. (1884) 9 A lord aroos..and kneled 

hym doun before be queen. 1595 DANIEL Civ. Wars n. 

Ixiii, He kneeles him downe euen at his entering. 1805 

SCOTT L. Minstr. vi. xxix, There they kneeled them do\vtj. 

d. With : impers. object To kneel it. 

1656 S. H. Gold. Law 91 We beg and entreat, and bend 

also ; yea and kneel it. 

Kneeler (nrlaj). [f. prec. + -ERI.] 

1. One who kneels, esp. in reverence; spec, in 

i6-!7th c., one who received the Lord's Supper 

kneeling. 

1:1380 WYCLIF Serin. Sel. Wks. II. 3 Whos knelere, I, am 

unworbi to unbinde be lace of his snoon. 1551 RECORDE 

Cast. Knowl. (1556) 264 Hercules, whom the greekes do 

call Engonasin, as it were the kneeler, bicause of his 

gesture. 1665 LIVINGSTONE Charac. in Set. Biog. (1845! I. 

344 They would not communicat with Kneelers. 1748 

RICHARDSON Clarissa II. 332 Down the ready kneeler 

dropped between me and the door. 1864 J. WALKEK in 

Faithful Ministry iv. 84 He then retired., waving his hand 

and blessing the kneelers. 

2. Ch. Hist. a. One belonging to the third class 

of penitents 

in the early Eastern church, so called 

because they knelt between the ambo and the 

church-door during the whole of divine service. 

b. In the Apostolic Constitutions, one of the 

second class of catechumens, who received the 

bishop's blessing on bended knee. 

1719 T. LEWIS Consecr. Churches 95 In this Part of the 

Church . . stood the Class of the Penitents, who were 

call'd Kneelers.

KNELLINQ. 

or crack as with the fingers. 

1580 HOLLYBAND Treas. Fr. . . Tong, Niquet, a knicke 

made with the thombes, nailes, and teeth. 1611 COTGR., 

Niquet, a knicke, klicke, snap with the teeth, or fingers. 

Knick (nik), v. [Goes with = prec. MDu. 

cnicken (Du. knikken), MLG. (whence mod.G.) 

knicken.'] trans, and intr. To snap, or crack 

lightly (the fingers, etc.) ; to ' 

knack ' 

lightly. 

1731 Gentl. Mag. I. 350 O Gout 1 thou puzzling knotty 

point Who knick'st man's frame in every joint 17.. Laird 

o Logic in Child Ballads vi. clxxxii E. (1889) 455 May 

Margaret sits in the queen's bouir, Knicking her lingers ane 

be ane. 1887 JAMIESON 2nd SuppL s. v., He can gar his 

fingers knick. 

Knick, variant of NICE v., to deny. 

730 

1897 Punch. 28 Aug. 85/1 Three human legs. . hygienically 

knickered. 

: Knickety-knock (ni-ketiinp'k). [Echoic cf. 

KNICK-A-KNOCK.] An echoic word imitating an 

alternation of knocking sounds; hence : 

adverbially 

striking from side to side with alternation of 

sound. 

1811 H. & J. SMITH Kef. Addr., Rebuilding, His head as 

he tumbled went knickety-knock Like a pebble in Carisbrook 

well. 1825 CHR. WORDSWORTH in Life (1888) 28 You know 

that the pebbles cry nickety-nock when they arrive at the 

bottom. 

KNICK-KNACKISH. 

knelling in my ears. 1880 G. MEREDITH Tragic Com. (1881) 

161 Her natural blankness of imagination read his absence 

: as an entire it knelled in a vacant chamber. 

relinquishment 

4. trans. To summon or call by or as by a 

knell to ; ring (into, etc.). 

1800 COLERIDGE Christabel \\. 2 Each matin bell, the 

Baron saith, Knells us back to a world of death. 1831 

LYTTON Godolphin 6s Ladies who become countesses are 

knelled into marriage. 

b. To proclaim by or as by a knell. 

1840 LADY C BURY Hist, ofFlirt iii, Mr. Flynn's requiem 

waTknelled in the hearts of the elders. 1847 EMERSON 

PoenuWsV -37 Let. .the bell of beetle and of bee Knell 

their melodious memory. 1859 G. MEREDITH R. Fcvtrcl x, 

Benson's tongue was knelling dinner. 

Hence Kne'lling vbl. sb. and ///. a. 

c 1440 Promp. Pars. 279/2 Knyllynge of a belle, tintillacio. 

1662 T. W. Thorny Abb. 14 Are these sounds the knelling 

obsequies You use to keep at a King's Funerall? 1863 

THORNBURY True as Steel III. 142 The knelling shots of 

the harquebusses. 1865 Pall MallG. 12 June 4The mournful 

knelling of the bells from the steeples of Cronstadt and 

St. Petersburg. 

Kneo, Kneol(i)en, obs. ff. KNEE, KNEEL. 

Kneot, obs. form of KNIT v. 

Knep, v. Also 7 kneppe. Dial. var. KNAP v.2 

1641 BEST Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 118 Horses, .. are on 

mendinge hand when they kneppe one with another, c 1746 

COLLIER (Tim Bobbin) View Lane. Dial. Wks. (1862) 67 Os 

greadly o Lad as needs t' knep oth 'Hem of a keke. 1828 

Craven Dial., Knep, knife, to crop with the teeth, to bite 

easily. 1855 ROBINSON Whitby Gloss. s.v., 'They [sick 

cattle] are nobbut just yabble to knep a bit ', only able to 

eat a little at a time. 

t Kne'ppel. Obs. In 5-6 knepill, knappell. 

[a. LG. kniipel, knepel, Du. knepel, kneppel, var. of 

kleppel (see Grimm).] The of a bell. 

clapper 

c 1500 Churchw. Ace. Hcytridge (Nichols 1797) 152 For 

the makynge of the cage of the great bell Knepill. c 1560 

Ibid. 154 For newe mendynge of the third bell Knappell 

agense Hallowmasse. 

Knet, knete, obs. forms of KNIT v. 

t Kuetch, v. Obs. Also 6 knatch. [app. a 

phonetic variant or deriv. of KNACK v.] trans. 

To knock (on the head), destroy, crush, suppress. 

a 1564 BECON Common-pi. Holy Script, in Prayers, etc. 

(18441 339 He that killeth a sheep for me knetcheth a dog. 

i579GossoN^fA./4*K29b,Withagreatclubbe[Commodus] 

knatched them all on the bed, as they had been Giauntes. 

1609 Bp. W. BARLOW Answ. Nameless Cath, 17 Now for vs 

to feret and knetch these Vermin. 1633 T. ADAMS Exp. 

a Peter iii. 3 That treason was knetched before it was fully 

hatched. 

Knottle : see KNITTLE. 

Knevel, erroneous form of KEVEL sb? 

1627 CAPT. SMITH Seaman's Gram. ii. 7 Kneuels are small 

pieces of wood nailed to the inside of the ship, to belay the 

sheats and tackes vnto. 1678 PHILLIPS (ed. 4), Knivels 

[1706 (ed. Kersey), Kneuels or Kevels}. 

Knevel, var. NEVEL v. Knew, Knewleche, 

Knewlen, obs. ff. KNEE, KNOWLEDGE, KNEEL. 

II Knez (knez). Also 6-9 knes, 9 knias. [A Slavonic 

word : Servian, Slov. knez, Boh. knez, Serbian 

knjez, Russ. KHH3B knjazb :-Old Slav. KXH3I> 

kiindizl, prehistoric a. OTeut. *kuning- KINO. 

From Slov., also Romanian knez, Alban. knez, 

Magyar kenez] A title among Slavonic nations = 

'prince'; sometimes implying sovereignty, as in 

Montenegro and formerly in the various Danubian 

Principalities ; sometimes merely rank, as now in 

Russia : often rendered in western langs. by 'duke': 

' 

cf. the title B6JHKiS KHH3I. velikie knjaz\> great 

' 

prince ', usually englished grand duke '. 

1586 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. I. (15941 596 The great 

Knes, or duke of Moscovia. 1642 HOWELL For. Trav. xi. 

(Arb.l 57 Mosco, the court of the great Knez. 1650 Lett. II. 

To Rdr., The Knez of them may know, what Prester John 

Doth with his Camells in the torrid Zone. 1698 A. BRAND 

ttifi. Muscovy to China 41 These three Women, .were the 

Wives of so many Knezes or Dukes of the Ostiacky. 1710 

WHITWORTH Ace. Russia (1758) 31 They are divided into 

three ranks, the Nobility, called Kneas ; the . . Gentry and 

the Peasants.* 1847 MRS. A. KERR Hist. Seryia 45 After 

consultation with the Kneses, the tax was imposed proportionably 

on the respective districts. Ibid. 409 It was of 

advantage to the enemies of the Knias, that neither Russia 

nor the Porte was satisfied with his political administration. 

Knib, obs. form of NIB sb. and v. 

Kiiick, sb. Obs. rare. [= MDu. cnic, Du. 

knik, MLG. (whence mod.G.) knick. Orig. echoic. 

Knick bears the same relation to knack, that click, 

snip, bear to Knick-a-knock. [Cf. prec. 

clack, snap."\ A light- sounding snap 

and KNOCK ; also 

KNICKETY-KNOCK.] An echoic word expressing a 

succession of knocks of alternating character. 

1600 Look About You xxiv. in Hazl. Dodsley VII. 457 Our 

gates are like an anvil ; from four to ten, nothing but knicka.knock 

upon't. 

Knicker 1 (ni-kai). [In sense I, understood to 

be a. Dn. knikker, local Ger. knicker, marble (used 

in school-boy play), app. agent-n. from knikken, 

knicken to crack, snap, KNICK; adopted in U.S. 

But NICKER (q. v.) in this or a similar sense is much 

earlier in Eng. The connexion of the other senses, 

and their spelling with kn- or n- is also uncertain.] 

' 

' 

1. A boys' marble of baked clay ; esp. one 

placed between the forefinger and thumb, and propelled 

by a jerk of the latter, so as to strike at 

another marble. 

1860 BARTLETT Diet. Americanisms, Knicker or Nicker, 

a boy's clay marble j a common term in New York. 

2. (Also nicker). A large flat button or disk of 

metal, used as a pitcher, in the boys' game 'on 

the line ', played with buttons. 

1899 N.tjQ. gth Ser. III. 185/2 The buttons of the coach, 

man type, with the shank battere> ' 

red down, made a good 

' 

' 

nicker , or knicker '. 

3. A game played in Suffolk with stones (of the 

same nature as duck or duck-stone}. Also the stone 

thrown by each player. 

1900 F. HALL in Eng. Dial. Diet. 

Knicker 2 (ni-kai). In pi. knickers : colloquial 

contraction of KNICKERBOCKERS. 

1881 JEFFERIES Wood Magic I. i. 15 It was not in that 

pocket, . . nor in his knickers. 1900 Times 29 Jan. 10/3 The 

. . Imperial Yeomanry In their well-made, loosely-fitting 

khaki tunics and riding knickers. 

b. attrib. (in form knicker} as knicker suit. 

1809 Daily News 13 July 6/6 A well-known North Country 

flockmaster, . .in a light check knicker suit. 

Knicker, variant of NICKEB v. 

Knickerbocker (ni-kaib^kaj). Also 9 nicker-. 

[The name of the pretended author of Washington 

Irving's History ofNew York.] 

I. (with capital initial). 1. A descendant of 

the original Dutch settlers of the New Netherlands 

in America, hence, a New Yorker. 

[1809 W. IRVING (title) History of New York. . . By Diedrich 

Knickerbocker.] 1848 Ibid. Author's Apol., When 1 find 

New Yorkers of Dutch descent priding themselves upon 

being 'genuine Knickerbockers ' 

[etc.]. 1876 S. OSGOOD in 

D. J. Hill Bryant (1879) '5 8 We czn all join, ..whether 

native or foreign-born, Knickerbockers, or New-Englanders. 

2. attrib. or as adj. Of or pertaining to the 

Knickerbockers of New York. 

1856 LONCF. in Life (1891) II. 303 The dreadful Knicker. 

bocker custom of calling on everybody. 1887 Pall Mall G. 

29 Jan. 10/1 A descendant of one of the Knickerbocker 

families. 

II. 3. (with small initial), pi. Loose-fitting 

breeches, gathered in at the knee, and worn by 

boys, sportsmen, and others who require a freer 

use of their limbs. The term has been loosely 

extended to the whole costume worn with these, = 

knickerbocker suit. (Rarely in sing.") 

The name is said to have been given to them because of 

their resemblance to the knee-breeches of the Dutchmen in 

Cruikshank's illustrations to W. Irving's History of New 

York. 

1859 LD. ELCHO in Times 23 May 12/3 The suggestion .. 

is that volunteers should not wear trowsers, but I would 

recommend as a substitute what are commonly known as 

tiickerbockers, i. e. long loose breeches generally worn without 

braces, and buckled or buttoned round the waist and 

knee. 1859 KINCSLEY in Life (1878) II. 90 The puffed trunk, 

hose.. in the country, where they were ill made, became 

slops, i. e. knickerbockers. 1860 THACKERAY Round. Pap., 

De jirventnte 71 Children in short frocks and knickerbockers. 

1862 MRS. FRESHFIELD Tour Orisons i. 3 Mountain 

solitudes . . undisturbed by visions of crinoline and knicker* 

bockers. 1883 E. PENNELL-ELMHIRST Cream Leicestersk. 

202 In cases not few the knickerbocker has of late been 

more familiar than the buckskin. 

attrib. 1861 Times 12 July, One knickerbocker company, 

wearing the same uniform as the London Scottish. 1864 

Miss YONGE Trial II. 236 A little knickerbocker boy, with 

floating rich dark ringlets 1894 Pall Mall G. 15 June 4/2 

The assumption that the knickerbocker ladies [cyclists] were 

doing something confessedly unseemly. 1807 Westm. Gaz. 

14 Jan. 2/1 A talent, .quite ignored in knickerbocker days. 

Hence Knickerbockered (-9-id), a., wearing 

knickerbockers. 

1869 Echo 28 Sept, The tall, knickerbockered Q.C. from 

Dublin. 1897 OutingfU. S.) XXX 462/2 A knickerbockered, 

travel-stained, dusty-shoed guest. 

Kiiickered (ni-kaad), a. 

[f. KNICKEH-! + -ED 2 Knick-knack, nick-nack (ni'k,nsek). Also 

7-9 knick-nack, knicknack ; 8-9 nicknack, p 

nio-nao, nicnac. [Redupl. 

.] 

Clothed in knickerbockers. 

of KNACK sb., with 

first element lightened as in crick-crack, etc.] 

f 1. A petty trick, sleight, artifice, subterfuge. 

z6i8 FLETCHER Loyal Subj. n. i, If you use these knick* 

knacks, This fast and loose, a 1625 FLETCHER Hum. 

Lieutenant i. 

i, These foolish mistresses do so hang about 

ye, So whimper and so hug. ..Soft vows and sighs, and 

fiddle-faddles. Spoils all our trade [of war] 1 You must 

forget these knick-knacks. -1673 MARVELL Reh. Transp. 

II. 312 You by the advantage of some knick-knacks have 

got the ascendant over them. 

2. A light, dainty article of furniture, dress, or 

food ; any curious or pleasing trifle more for ornament 

than use; a trinket, gimcrack, kickshaw. 

a. 1682 N. O. Boileaii'sLutrin i. Argt., Miss won't come in 

to Buy, before She spies the Knick-knacks at the Dore. 

1686 GOAD Celest. Bodies II. ii. 179 Two Knick.nacks of the 

fair. 1725 BAILEY Erasm. Colloq. (1877) 37^7 (D.) He found 

me supporting my outward tabernacle . . with some knick* 

knacks, .at the confectioner's. 1748 CHESTERF. Lett. (1792) 

II. clvii. 61 Knick-knacks, butterflies, shells, insects, &c. are 

the objects of their most serious researches. 1822 W. IRVING 

Braceb. Hall iii. 25 The many little valuables and knick. 

knacks treasured up in the housekeeper's room. 1866 MRS. 

STOWE Lit. Foxes 27 Knick-nacks. 

ft. 1714 MANDEVILLE Fab, Bees (1725) I. 349 Watchmakers 

and others that sell toys, superfluous nicknacks, and 

other curiosities. 1820 W. IRVING Sketch Bk. (1849) 386 He 

is a plain John Bull, and has no relish for frippery and 

nick-nacks. 1823 W. COBBETT Rural Rides (1885) I. 347 

Two or three nick-nacks to eat instead of a piece of bacon 

and a pudding. 1836-9 DICKENS S&. Boz ii. (1850) 6/1 The 

little front . . parlour, the little nicnacs are always arranged 

in precisely the same manner. 

attrib. 1860 SALA Lady Chesterf. v. 74 Not mere millinery 

and gloves and nicknack shopping. 

b. A feast or social meal to which each guest 

contributes in kind. 

177* FOOTE Nabob i. Wks. 1799 II. 298 Robins has a rout 

and supper on Sunday next. . . A nick-nack, . . we all con* 

tribute, as usual. 

3. An alternation of knacking sounds ; an instrument 

that produces such, as the bones. 

1650 H. MORE Observ. Aniwa Magica (1655) 144 Some 

idle boy playing on a of Knick-knacks. 

pair 1708 Brit. 

Apollo No. 56. 3/1 Death-Watches perplex, With repeated 

knick-knacks. 

Hence Kni ckknacked (-n;ckt) a. 

1891 Faith of Our Fathers Sept 201 Furnitured, and 

knick-knacked, as though its hospitable inmates had been 

in since Quarter-day. 

Knick-knackatory, nick-n. (nik,nse-katari). 

Also 8 niok-kn-. [f. KNICK-KNACK after 

conservatory, laboratory, etc.] A repository of 

knick-knacks. Also loosely, a knick-knack. 

a 1704 T. BROWN Wks. (1760) II. 15, 1 keep a nicknackatory, 

or toy-shop. 17*1 AMHERST Terrx Fil. No. 34. (1754) 178, 

I went . . to the [Ashmolean] musseum, vulgarly called the 

nicknackatory. a 1734 NORTH Lives (1826) 11. 180 He was 

single, and his house a sort of knick-knackatory. i8ia SCOTT 

Let. to Miss Baillie 4 Apr. in Lockhart, You see my nicknackatory 

is well supplied. 1819 W. TAYLOR in Monthly 

Rev. XC. 13 Collecting the . . nicknackatories of every virtuoso 

within reach. 

Hence Xniok-knackato rian, -a'rian sb. and a. 

(also nicknackitorian, -arian -aterian). a. sb. 

One who keeps a ' 

knick-knackatory' a ; dealer in 

knick-knacks; b. adj. Devoted to knick-knacks. 

1802 in Hone Every-day Bk. I. 1284 The plaintiff was a 

nicknackitarian, that is, a dealer in curiosities. 1802 Chron. 

in Ann. Reg. 445/1 A profession technically called a Nicknackitorian, 

that is a dealer in all manner of curiosities, such 

as Egyptian mummies, Indian implements,, .antique shields, 

helmets, &c. 1842 United Service Mag. n. 7 Those of a 

knicknackaterian tendency. 

I Kill ck-kna:cker. Obs. rare- 1 

, 

[f. KNICK- 

KNACK + -ER.] A trifler. 

1622 BRETON Strange Nerves (1879) 6/2 Other kind of 

knick-knackers. .which betwixt knaue and foole can make 

an ilfauourd passage through the world. 

Kiiick-kiia ckery, uick-nackery. [f. 

KNICK-KNACK + -EHY.J a. Knick-knacks collectively, 

b. A slight .or trifling ornament, c. A 

fanciful dish or confection, = KNICK-KNACK 2. 

a. 1812 G. COLMAN Poet. Vagaries, Lady of Wreck t Adyt., 

A short epic poem, stuffed with romantic knick-knackeries. 

1813 MOORE Horace, Odes \. xxxviii, Boy, tell the Cook that 

I hate all nick-nackeries. 1848 Fraser's Mag. XXXVIII. 

130 They eagerly collected all sorts of knick-knackery. 1876 

MRS. WHITNEY Sights f, Ins. II. xxxi. 588 She took the 

duster . . and went round whisking among knicknackery 

and books. 

/i. 1800 Ann. Reg. 2362 Too much drapery, ornament, and 

various nick-nackery. 1870 Miss BRIDGMAN R. Lynne II. 

iii. 58 Nicknackeries from China and 

Japan. 

Kiiick-kiia-cket. Sc. KNICK-KNACK [f. + 

-ET dim. suffix.] A little knick-knack. 

1789 BURNS Capt. Grose's Peregrin, vi, He has a fouth o' 

auld nick-nackets : Rusty aim-caps and jinglin jackets. 

1892 KEENE in Life ix. 212 

kmck-knackets. 

An omnivorous collector of 

Knick-kna'ckically, adv. nonce-wd. In a 

knick-knackish way, frivolously. 

1749 CHESTERF. Lett. (1792) II. cxcv. 234 Do not run 

through it, as too many of your young countrymen do, 

musically, and (to use a ridiculous word) knick-knackically. 

Knick-knackish a. 

(ni'kiMe-ldjQ. [f. KNICK- 

KNACK + -I8H.] Of the character of a knick-knack ; 

light, trifling, flimsy.

KNICK-KNACKY. 

1814 New Monthly Mag. X. 165 A fondness for all that is 

neat, effeminate, finical, and nick-knackish. 1844 Fraser's 

Mag. XXX. 55/1 The plan of this dinner., was., a trifle too 

knick-knackish \nnspr. -aslmh]. 

Kni ck-kna:cky, a. Also nick-nacky. [f. 

as prec. + -T 1.] Of, pertaining to, knick-knacks; 

addicted to knick-knacks ; affected, trifling. 

1797 MRS. A. M. BENNETT Beggar Girl (1813) I. 30 The 

parsonage, which the knick-knackey taste of the late incumbent 

had rendered like [etc.]. i8i Blackw. Mar. X. 

201 That any nick-knacky gentleman, like Hope, could . . 

inhale from Byron's works the spirit of his bold, satirical, 

and libertine genius. 18x4 Miss PERKIER Inker, viii, His 

dressing-room is.. so neat and nicknacky. 1828 Miss MIT- 

FORD Village Ser. in. (1863) 519 John Hallett .. was rather 

knick-knaclcy in his tastes ; a great patron of small inventions. 

Kni-cky-kna.-ckers. [f. KNACKER, with varied 

reduplication.] (Seequot.) Cf.KNlCK-KNACKj*. 3. 

1875 STAINER & BARRETT Diet. Mus. Terms, Knicky. 

knackers, the common instrument of percussion known as 

bones. 

Knie, obs. form of KNEE. 

Knife (naif), sb. PI. knives (nsivz). Forms : 

1-3 onif, 3-7 knif, (3 onife, oniue, kniue), 3-4 

knijf, 3-5 knyue, 4-5 knyf, knyff(e, 4-6 knyfe, 

4- knife. PI. 3 oniues, -tea, -fen, 3-6 kniues, 

(5 knyfes, -y8, 6-7 knifs), 7- knives. [Late 

OE. cnlf(i\\h c.) = Fris. knif, MDu. cnijf (Du. 

knijf), MLG. kntf (LG. knif, knief, knif}, Ger. 

/ (prob. from LG.), ON. knlf-r (Sw. knif, Da. 

kniv) : OTeut. *kmto-z, of uncertain etym. Forms 

with / are also found in Du. knijf, LG. knlp, 

kniep, G. kneip (also kneupe, gneip,gnippe) : 

as to 

the relation between these and the forms with /, 

cf. knape and knave. F. canif (1441 in Godef. 

Compl.) is from Teut.] 

1. A cutting-instrument, consisting of a blade 

with a sharpened longitudinal edge fixed in a 

handle, either rigidly as in a table-, carving-, or 

sheath-knife, or with a joint as in a pocket- or 

clasp-knife. The blade is generally of steel, but 

sometimes of other material, as in the silver fishand 

fruit-knives, the (blunt-edged) PAPERKNIFE of 

ivory, wood, etc., and the flint knives of early man. 

tziioo Ags. Voc. in Wr.-Wulcker 329/17 Artanus, cnif. 

c izoo ORMIN 4128 patt cnif wass . . Off stan, and nohht of 

irenn. 1:1305 Pilate 234 in E. E. P. (1862) iry Len me 

a knyf bis appel to parie. c 1386 CHAUCER ProL 369 Hir 

knyues \v.r. knyfes] were chaped noght with bras But at with 

siluer wroght ful clene and wel. c 1460 Stans Puer 58 in 

Babees Bk. 30 Brynge no knyves vnskoured to the table. 1552 

HULOET, Knife to cut vynes, or graffynge knyfe. 1573-80 

BARET Alv. K 100 A Shoemakers paring knife. 1663 PEPVS 

Diary 23 Oct., Bought a large kitchen knife, and half a dozen 

oyster knives. 1708 W. KING Cookery iii, Silver and cold 

knives brought in with the dessert for carving of jellies. 

1796 C. MARSHALL Garden, xii. (1813) 142 A slip of the knife 

may wound a neighbouring branch. 1846 BRITTAN tr. Mai. 

Man. Oper. Surg. 214 Lisfranc uses a double-edged 

faigne's nife, and passes it round the limb so as to it 

carry 

with its 

point downwards on the anterior surface of the tibia. 1874 

KNIGHT Dict.Mech., Doiitle-knife, a knife having a pair of 

b. A knife used as a weapon of offence or defence 

a knife-like ; weapon ; applied to a short 

sword, cutlass, or hanger. War to the knife: war 

to the last extremity, fierce or relentless war (lit. 

and fig.} 

c 1175 Lamb. Ham. 69 We ne maên t>e fond from us dnue 

Ne mid sworde ne mid kniue. 1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 2286 

He drou is knif, & slou be king. 1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. v. 165 

Hadde bei had knyues, bi cryst, her eyther had killed 

other, c 1475 Rauf Coilyar 864 Ilk ane a schort knyfe 

braidit out sone. 1:1507 DUNBAR 7 Deadly Sins 32 Than 

Yre come in with sturt and stryfe ; His hand wes ay vpoun 

his knyfe. 1590 SPENSER F. Q. i. iii. 36 The worthie meed 

Of him that slew Sansfoy with bloody knife. 1606 SHAKS. 

Tr * Cr I. i. 63 Thou lai'st in euery gash that loue hath 

giuen me, The Knife that made it 1704 F. FULLER Med. 

Gymn. (1711) 255 If I had been Stab'd, or had had my Flesh 

cut with Knives. 1812 BVRON Ch. Har. i. Ixxxvi, War, war 

is still the cry, ' ' 

War even to the knife ! 1876 GLADSTONE 

' 

i. Rclig Thought in Content. Rev. June 7 Catholicism 

has declared war to the knife against modern culture. 1894 

MRS.' H. WARD II. 

Marcella_ 5 If Westall bullies him any 

more he will put a knife into him. 

fc. Pair of knives, a set of two knives, esp. 

as carried in one sheath. Obs. 

Davies and others following him have explained the term 

as = 'a pair of scissors', but this is apparently erroneous. 

[1302-3 Durham Ace. Rolls (Surtees) 504 In uno pare de 

Cultell. empt. pro Priore, ss.] 1575 LANEHAM Lct.Wji) 38 

A payr of capped Sheffield kniuez hanging a to side. 1594 

BARNFIELD Aff. Sheph. n. xvii, A paire of . . 

Kniues, New 

Gloues to put vpon thy milk-white hand He glue tnee. 

1610 F. COCKS Diary i Oct. (rgoi) Paide for a paire of 

knyves for : my va[lentine] a 2.T., string for them iorf. 

c 1645 HOWELL Lett. I. l. xiv, Half a dozen pair of Knifs. 

a 1658 FORD, etc. Witch of Edmonton n. n, But see, the 

bridegroom and bride come, the new pair of Sheffield knives, 

fitted both to one sheath. 1893 N. $ Q. 8th Ser. IV. 17/2 At a 

meeting of the British Archaeological Association, in 1860, 

was exhibited a pair of wedding knives in their embossed 

sheath of courbouilli. . . 

d A sharpened cutting-blade forming part ot 

a machine, as of a straw-cutter, turnip-cutter, rag- 

'. HOLLAND Manu/. Metal II. 261 These knives are 

731 

placed obliquely to the axle.. so as to operate with a sort of 

draw cut upon the matter presented at the end of the box. 

1853 Cataf. R. Agric. Soc. Slumi Gloucester 31 The knives 

are as easily sharpened and set as in an ordinary chaff cutter. 

1873 J. RICHARDS Wood-working Factories 105 It would be 

impossible to change the cylinders when a machine has 

a variety of work to do, but by having some extra knives 

ground at different bevels it becomes an easy matter to 

change them. 

e. Phr. Before (one) can say knife : very quickly 

or suddenly, colloq. 

1880 MRS. PARR Adam f, Eve xxxii. 443 'Fore I could say 

knife he was out and clane off. 1893 R. KIPLING Many 

Invent. 334 We'll pull you off before you can say knife. 

2. Comb. a. attrib., as, knife-age (sestet, si. 11), 

-back, -basket, -blade, -box, -case, -cut, -feat, -girdle, 

-haft, -man, -shaft, -stab, -stroke, -thrust, -tray, 

-trick, etc. ; objective, obj. gen., and instrumental, 

s&knife-cleaning,-eater, -fancier, -hafter, -juggling, 

-maker, -sticking, -shallower; similative, etc., as 

knife-backed, -featured, -jawed, -like, -shaped, 

-stripped adjs. 

1889 R. B. ANDERSON tr. Rydberg's Teut. Mythol. 94 The 

' 

third patriarch begins the "knife-age and the axe-age with 

cloven shields '. 1844 J. T. HEWLETT Parsons if W. vi, A 

cook .. and "knife-and-shoe-boy. 1737 BRACKEN Farriery 

Impr. (1757) II. 124 Shoulders. .no thicker than a "knife 

ing table-knives. 1799 G. SMITH Laboratory I. 231 To etch 

loo or more "knife-blades at once. 1848 THACKERAY Van. 

Fair vii, An old-fashioned crabbed "knife-box on a dumb 

waiter. 1869 Daily News n Dec., "Knife-cleaning machine 

maker. 1883 STEVENSON Treas. Isl. iv. xvi, With a "knifecut 

on the side of the cheek. 1822-34 Good's Study Med. 

(ed. 4) I. 117 The medical . . journals are numerous in their 

descriptions of London "knife-eaters. 

1865 J. H. INGRAHAM 

Pillar of Fire (1872) 190 "Knife-girdle of lion's hide. 1720 

Hist. V. 349 The "Knife-Jawed Fishes. . .A small genus.. 

(Hoplognathus) . . characterised by the jawbones having a 

sharp cutting edge. 1874 LISLE CARR Jtid. Gwynne I. vii. 

202 Some terrible feats of "knife-juggling. 1856 KANE Arct. 

Expl. 1. xxlv. 315 

1860 Illustr. Lit 

I. xxiv. 315 Her great fault was her "knife-like bov 

ynd. News 14 Apr. 362/3 [The simoom's] 

' 

passage leaves a narrow knifelike ' 

track. 1632 SHERWOOD, 

A "knife maker. 1704 Land. Gaz. No. 4082/4 William 

Dickenson, . . Scizer or Knife-maker. 1643 R. WILLIAMS 

Key Lang. Amur. (1866) 126 They call English-men Chauquaquock, 

that is, "Knive-men, stone formerly being to them 

in stead of Knives. 1852 W. WILLISON in Midland Florist 

VI. 9 Serving as knife-man in the Gateshead nursery, a 1763 

SHENSTONE On Taste\Vks. 1764 II. 320 A "knife-shaft made 

1822-34 Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 117 Cummings, the 

"knife-swallower. 1894 Daily Tel. 27 June 6/7 That successful 

"knife-thrust, 

b. Special Combs. : knife-bar, a bar bearing the 

knives in a cutting machine ; knife-bayonet, a 

combined knife and bayonet, carried when not in use 

in a sheath, a small sword-bayonet; knife-boy, a 

boy employed to clean table-knives ; knife-cleaner, 

a machine for cleaning and polishing knives; knife- 

dagger, an ancient form of one-edged dagger, 

having a long and heavy blade ; knife-file, a thin 

knife- 

and tapering file, with a very sharp edge ; 

fish, a species of carp (Cyprinus cultratus}; 

knife-grass, a stout American sedge (Scleria 

latifolia} with sharp-edged leaves ; knife-guard, 

a small metal piece or arm hinged to the back of 

a carving-fork to protect the hand against the 

slipping of the knife ; knife-head, ' that piece in 

the cutting apparatus of a harvester to which the 

knife is fastened, and to which the pitman-head 

is connected' (Knight Diet. Mech. Suppl. 1884); 

t knife-hook, a sickle ; 

knife -lanyard, a lanyard 

to which a sailor's knife is fastened; knife-money, 

an ancient Chinese currency consisting of bronze 

shaped likeaknife; knife-polisher = knife-cleaner; 

knife-rest, a small pillow of metal or glass on 

which to rest a carving-knife or -fork at table; 

also, a support to keep a knife in position 

while it 

is being ground; knife-scales, the sides of the 

haft of a knife ; knife-sharpener, an instrument, 

usually of steel, for sharpening knives; knife- 

smith, a maker of knives, a cutler; f knife-stone, 

a hone ; knife-tool, (a) a knife-shaped graver, (6) 

a minute disk used to cut fine lines in seal-engrav- 

ing ; 

t knife-warper, a knife-thrower, a juggler ; 

knife-worm, a caterpillar 

that cuts leaves. See 

also KNIFE-BOARD, -EDGE, -GRINDER, -HANDLE, etc. 

1881 Span's Encycl. Indust. Arts 1603 *Knife-bar, with 

diagonal slots, to give the lateral movement as it descends. 

1848 THACKERAY Van. Fairvi, The "knife-boy was caught 

stealing a cold shoulder of mutton. 1891 Month LXXII. 

IQ The apple-parer and "knife-cleaner are American. 1683 

MOXON Mech. Exerc.,PrintinfT)\a., *Knife-file, a file with 

KNIFE-EDGED. 

horn, bone, ivory, or tortoiseshelL 1738 WESLEY Whs. (1872) 

I. 131 Augustine Neusser, a "knife-smith. 1886 J. PENDLE- 

TON Hist. Derbysh. 195 The knifesmith's homely forge. 

1571 Wills ^ Inv. N. C. (Surtees 1835) 352, ij dosen "knyff 

stones and iiij dosen rebstones. a 1225 Ancr. R. 212 He is 

his "knif-worpare, & pleieS mid sweordes. 1860 EMERSON 

Cond. Life, Fate Wks. (Bohn) II. 327 Such an one has curculios, 

borers, "knife-worms. 

Knife (naif), v. [f. KNIFED. (See also KNIVE.)] 

1. trans. To use a knife to; to cut, strike, or 

stab with a knife. 

18. . Greatheart III. 174, I should get you pistoled or 

' 

knifed ' 

as sure as eggs are eggs for this insolence. 1865 

Daily Tel. 18 Apr. 3 Pirate., who was only 'knifed' just 

prior to winning at Doncaster, secured the judge's fiat easily 

at the finish. 1883 ' ANNIE THOMAS ' 

Mod. Housewife 72, 

I knew better than to knife my oyster. 1890 DOYLE Sign 

of Four xi. (ed. 3) 209, I would have thought no more of 

knifinghim than of smoking this cigar. 

b. To lift (food) to the mouth with a knife. 

1897 Outing (U. S.) XXX. These 

460/1 knowledge-seekers 

..knife their food, feeding both brain and stomach simultaneously. 

What they lost in manners, they gained in time. 

c. U.S. slang. To strike at secretly; to endeavour 

to defeat in an underhand way. 

1888 

_Nation (N. Y.) 5 July 3/1 He speaks favourably of 

' 

them in a leading article, and knifes ' 

them slyly in 

paragraphs. 

1892 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 5 Nov. 12/7 The idea is 

to knife Moise for Congress. 1895 Times 19 Dec. 8 The 

liberal knifing of Senators Lodge and Chandler will confirm 

wavering Irish voters to support the 'Grand Old Party '. 

2. Techn. a. To spread or lay on (paint) with 

a knife, b. Boot-making. To trim (soles and 

heels) with a knife. 

1887 Ch. Times 24 June 516/3 The pigments, .are knifed 

on to the canvas. 1888 Times (weekly ed.) 18 May 17/3 

For boots, .is. a dozen [was paid to the finisher] for knifing. 

Knife and fork. 

1. lit. as used in eating at table. Hence in various 

phrases referring to eating, as to play a good knife 

and fork, to eat heartily. 

1727-38 GAY Fables i. Farmer's Wife ff J?/tvfH,Tben, to 

contribute to my loss, My knife and fork were laid across. 

1809 MALKIN Gil Bias i. vi. r 2 Domingo, after playing 

a good knife and fork. .took himself off. 1852 DICKENS 

Bleak Ho. xlv, My digestion is much impaired, and I am 

but a poor knife and fork at any time. 1888 ANNIE S. 

SWAN Doris Cheyne i. 21 I'll be glad to see you over to a 

knife and fork. 1889 BOLDREWOOD Robbery under Artsx\v, 

Moran . . played a good knife and fork. 

b. at/rib, (knife-and-fork). 

1812 Sporting Mag. XL. 25 These dextrous knife-and-fork 

men. 1841 GHESLEY C. Lever 183 With one class, it is what 

has been termed a knife-and-fork question; with the other, 

a moral or political affair. 1895 PERONNE Veil of Liberty 

ix. 182 A good knife-and-fork breakfast. 

2. A popular name of Herb Robert (Geranium 

Robertianum} and the common club-moss (Lycopodium 

clavatuni). 1879 in BRITTEN & HOLLAND. 

Hence Knife-and-forker, one who plays a good 

knife and fork, a hearty eater. 

a 1845 HOOD Literary^ ff Literal vi, Not a mere pic-nic.. 

But tempting to the solid knife-and-forker. 

Knife-board. 

1. A board on which knives are cleaned. 

1848 THACKERAY Vanity Fair xxxvii, Raggles rose from 

the knife-board = [ position of knife-boy] to the foot-board of 

the carriage. 1858 SIMMONDS Diet. Trade, Knife-board, a 

piece of wood, plain, or cased with leather for cleaning and 

polishing table-knives. 

2. A popular name for the original roof-seat on 

omnibuses consisting of a double bench placed 

lengthways on the top. 

1852 LEECH in Punch 15 May (Cartoon), You don't catch 

me coming out on the knife board again to make room for 

a party of swells. 1869 TROLLOPE He knew, etc. xxxiii, 

He sat smoking on the knife-board of the omnibus. 1894 

SALA London up to Date 135 There was added to the top 

of the 'bus two long rows of seats . . which soon acquired 

the popular designation of the ' 

knife-board '. 

Kiirfe-e:clge. 

1. The edge of a knife ; also trans/., anything 

keenly cutting. Also attrib. = knife-edged. 

1876 GEO. ELIOT Dan. Der. xxiii, Her pride had felt a 

terrible knife-edge. 1877 E. R. CONDER Bos. FaM li. 80 

To insert the knife-edge of a sharp discrimination. 1884 

TENNYSON Becket II. i. 140, I would creep, crawl over knife- 

flint Barefoot. 

edge 

2. A wedge of hard steel, on which a pendulum, 

scale-beam, or the like, is made to oscillate. 

1818 CAPT. KATER in Phil. Trans. 35 For the construction 

of the pendulum, it became of. . importance to select a mode 

. . of suspension free from objection. Diamond points, spheres, 

and the knife edge, were each considered. 1851 lllnstr. 

Catal. Gt. Exhib. 1266 The pendulum.. is suspended on 

a knife-edge of very hard bronze. 1854 I. SCOFFERN in Orr s 

Circ Sc., Chem. ^ Delicate balances have their points of 

oscillation composed of a steel knife-edge working on agate 

planes. 

b. transf. an&fig. 

1871 L. STEPHEN Playgr. Europe v. (1894) 120 Balancing 

ourselves on a knife-edge of ice between two crevasses. 1897 

Pall Mall Mag. Aug. 524 She had come to the party.. on 

the knife-edge of anticipation and alarm. 

Hence Knife- edged a., having a thin sharp edge 

like a knife. 

CURLING Z>z'j. Rectum (ed. 4)^46 _Aj)air of knife- 

craft with wide keel. 

157-2

KNIFEPUL. 

Knifefol (nsi-f,ful). [-FL-L.] As much as 

a knife will hold or carry. 

1850 B. TAYLOR Eldorado ix. (1862) 86 Every knifeful 

brought out a quantity of grains and scales. 1804 R. 

MANSKIF.LD Ckifi 187 He proceeded to shovel knlfefuls of 

fat into his throat. 

Knife-grinder. 

1. One whose trade it is to grind knives and 

cutting-tools, esp. in the process of making these ; 

also, an itinerant grinder or sharpener of knives 

and scissors. 

1611 FLORIO, Arruotatore, a sheare or knife grinder. 1797 

CANNING Knife-Grinder iii, Tell me, Knife-grinder, how 

you came to grind knives? 1813 Examiner 17 May 317/2 

Tricks that are called nervous, such as. .playing the knifegrinder 

with your leg. 1878 N. Amer. Rev. CXXVII. 265 

The case of the Sheffield knife-grinders. 

2. A grind-stone, emery-wheel, or other appliance 

for grinding 

steel cutting tools. 

1875 in KNIGHT Diet. Mech. 

3. a. A name for a species of cicada, b. The Night- 

jar or Goatsucker (Cent. Diet.}; see GRINDER 7. 

iSsgTENNENT Ceylon (1860) I. 267 The cicada.. makes the 

forest re-echo with a long sustained noise so curiously 

resembling that of a cutler's wheel that . . it has acquired the 

highly appropriate name of the knife-grinder. 

Kiii fe -lia:iidle. 

1. The handle or haft of a knife. 

1798 WILCOCKE tr. Stavorinns' Voy. E. Ind. i. vi. 377 note, 

The iron point . . together with the blade of a knife . . set in 

a knife-handle, common to them both. 

2. Popular name of species of Razor-shell, Solen 

siliqua or .S. easts. 

Chiefly U. S. 

"7SS Genii. Mag. XXV. 33 Knife-Handles, Solen s. Their 

. . figure resembles the handle of a knife. 

Kili'feless, a. rare. In 6 kniueles. Without 

a knife. 

1573 TUSSER ffusb. (1878) 188 Some kniueles their daggers 

for brauerie weare. 

t Kni'fely, a. 06s. rare- 1 nature of a knife. 

. [-LY i.] Of the 

1548-67 THOMAS Ita.1. Diet., Coltellate, strypes with a 

sword, or other knifely weapon. 

Kni'fe-playang. t a. Tossing and catching 

knives, as practised by jugglers. 06s. b. Wielding 

a knife as a weapon. 

13.. K. Alis. 1044 (Bodl. MS.) Knijf pleyeyng and syng- 

' 

yng. 1855 MOTLEY Dutch Re/>. vi. i. (1866) 784 We came 

nearly to knife-playing ', said the most distinguished priest 

in the assembly. 

Knifer (narfsi). Boot-making, KNIFE ff. v. + 

-EB !.] One who knifes or trims the soles and heels 

of boots. 

1888 Pall Mall G. 18 

Apr. 7/2 Charles Solomon, a Jew, 

described himself as a knifer or ' 

master ', taking boots to 

make at 4$. per dozen pairs, out of which he got zs. per 

dozen for knifing. 1890 EARL DUNRAVEN Draft Rep. 

Sweating Syst. 3 An inferior master in the boot trade, or 

what is called a ' 

knifer '. 

f Kniff-knaff. 06s. slang. 

A kind of jest. 

1683 E. HOOKER Pref. Pordage's Mystic Div. 15 What 

shal wee sai . . of . . Railleries and Drolleries, Quirks and 

Quillets, Tries and Trangams, Kniff.knaffs, Bimboms, &c. ? 

Knight (nait), sb. Forms: a. 1-3 cniht, (i 

cnrelit, cneoht, 3 Orm. cnihlit), 4 onijt, (3 onih, 

5 onect); 1-5 knyht, (2 knicht, sknijt, kuiet), 

3-4 kniht, 3-5 knijt, kny;jt, (5 knyjht), 4-6 

knyght, (5-6 knygt, Sc. knicht, knycht), 4knight. 

(B. 3 cnipt, knicth, 4 knitht, knytht, 

knigth, knijth, 5 knygth ; 3-4 knith, 4-5 

(6 Sc.) knyth. f. 3 knit, 4 knite, 4-5 knyte, 

6 knytt.) [A common WGer. word : OE. cniht, 

cneoht = OFris. knecht, kniucht, OS. (in)knecht 

(MDu. and Du. knecht), OHG., MHG. kneht(G. 

knecht). In the continental tongues the prevailing 

' 

senses are lad, servant, soldier '. The genitive 

pi. in ME. was occas. knightenê] 

I. fl. A boy, youth, lad. (Only in OE.) 06s. 

c 893 K. jELFRF.D Oros. in. vii. 2 Philippus, ba he cniht 

waM, wses Thebanum to gisle geseald. coas Laws of Ine 

c-7 2 Tyn-wintre cniht mas D'on biefoe sewita. 950 

Lindisf. Gasp. John vi. 9 Is cnacht an her. 971 Blickt. 

Horn. 175 He wearb faeringa geong cnilit & sona eft eald man. 

1 2. A boy or lad employed as an attendant or 

servant; hence, by extension, a male servant or 

attendant of any age. 06s. 

^95 Lindisf. Gosp. Luke xii. 45 OnginneS .. slaa Sa 

cnaehtas & Siuwas. aiooo Baeth. Metr. xxvi. 180 Cnihtas 

wurdon, ealde Re giunge, ealle forhwerfde to suinum diore. 

ciooo Ags. Gosp. Matt. ix. 15 Jtes brydguman cnihtas. 

Coll. Horn. 

App. 255 Swete leuedi, of me bu reowe & haue 

merci of bin knicht [cf. 22 ic am bi mon). 

3. With genitive, or poss. pron. : A military 

servant or follower (of a king or some other 

specified superior) ; later, one devoted to the 

service of a lady as her attendant, or her champion 

in war or the tournament ; hence also_/ijf., and even 

applied to a woman (quot. 1509). 

This is logically the direct predecessor of sense 4, the 

king s knight ' 

having become the ' 

knight ' 

par excellence, 

and a lady s knight being usually one of knightly rank. 

anoo O. E. CkroH. (Laud MS.) an. 1087 pa waron innan 

pam castele Oda bisceopcs cnihtas. Ibid. an. 1094 Rogger 

732 

seofen hundred bes cynges cnihta mid him. 

Peiteuin . . & 

c 1369 CHAUCER Dcthe Blaunche 1179 That she wolde holde 

me for hir knyght, My lady that is so faire. (11450 Lt 

Marie Artk. 328, I my self wille wyth you abyde, And be 

youre servante and youre knight. _ 1535 STEWART Cron. 

Scot. (1858) I. 14 Syne thus he said, in presence of his men, 

' 

My knichtis kene [etc.]'. 1591 SHAKS. Rom. $ Jul. in. ii. 

142 O find him. giue this Ring to my true Knight. 1599 

Much Ado v. iii. 13 Pardon goddesse of the night, Those 

that slew thy virgin knight. 1712-14 POPE Rape Lock in. 

129 So Ladies in Romance assist their Knight, Present the 

spear, and arm him for the fight. 1859 TENNYSON Elaine 

958 In all your quarrels will I be your knight. 

4. Name of an order or rank. a. In the Middle 

Ages : Originally (as in 3), A military servant of 

the king or other person of rank ; a feudal tenant 

holding land from a superior on condition of serving 

in the field as a mounted and well-armed man. 

In the fully-developed feudal : system One raised 

to honourable military rank by the king or other 

qualified person, the distinction being usually conferred 

only upon one of noble birth who had served 

a regular apprenticeship (as page and squire) to 

the profession of arms, and thus being a regular 

step in this even for those of the highest rank. b. In 

modern times (from the i6th c.) : One upon whom 

a certain rank, regarded as corresponding to that of 

the mediaeval knight, is conferred by the sovereign 

in recognition of personal merit, or as a reward for 

services rendered to the crown or country. 

The distinctive title of a knight (mediaeval or modern) 

is Sir prefixed to the name, as * 

Sir John Falstaff' : Knight 

(also abbrev. Knt. or Kt.) may be added, but this is now 

somewhat unusual. A knight who is not a member of any 

special order of knighthood (see 12 b below) is properly a 

Knight Bachelor (see BACHELOR i b). Various ceremonies 

have at different times been used in conferring the honour 

of knighthood, esp. that of the recipient kneeling while the 

sovereign touches his shoulder with the flat of a sword ; 

knights of the higher orders are now frequently created by 

letters-patent. In point of rank the mediieval knight was 

inferior to earl and baron ; modern knights rank below 

baronets, and the dignity is not hereditary. 

In early use the knight, as the type of the military profession, 

was freq. contrasted with clerk, merchant, etc., and, 

in point of rank, with king. The characteristic qualities 

expected in a knight, as bravery, courtesy, and chivalrous 

conduct, are frequently alluded to, and the name (esp. with 

adjs., as a good knight) often implied these qualities as well 

as the mere rank. 

a 1100 O. E. Chron, (Laud MS.) an. 1086 paenne waeron 

mid him ealle ba rice men .. abbodas & eorlas, begnas & 

cnihtas. a 1124 Ibid., pes kinges stiward of France. .& fela 

o5re godre cnihte. a 1250 Owl fy Night. 1573 Moni chapmon, 

and moni cniht, Luveth and halt his wif ariht. 1297 

R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 11608 po turnde grimbaud pauncefot to 

sir edward anon & wasimad kni^t. c 1315 A. DAVY Dreams 

4 A knisth of mychel mi^th, His name is ihote sir Edward be 

kyng. 1340 Ayenb. 36 Hi . . makeb beggeres be knyjtes and 

be heêmen bet uolêp be tornemens. c 1386 CHAUCER fro/. 

72 He was a verray parfit gentil knyght. 1411 Rolls ofParlt. 

III. 650/2 All the Knyhtes and Esquiers and Yomen that 

had ledynge of men on his partie. c 1425 Eng. Cong. Irel. 

Now we wyllen turne ayeyne 

?2 

to our knyghten gestes yn 

rlande. 1470-83 MALORY Arthur \. xv, He was a passyng 

good knyght of a kynge, and but a yong man. 1356 Chron. 

Gr. Friars (Camden) 22 There was slayne kynge Henrys 

sone and many other lordes and knyttes. 1577 HARRISON 

England \\. v. (1877) i. 114 Knights be not borne, neither is 

anie Man a Knight by succession. 1596 DALRVMPLE tr. 

Leslie's Hist. Scot. vni. 57 AIex r Leuingstoun knicht .. is 

elected gouernour of the Realme. 1648 Art. Peace c. 7 

The estates .. of the lords, knights, gentlemen, and freeholders, 

.of Connaught. 1771 SMOLLETT Humph. Cl. 3 Oct., 

We found the knight sitting on a couch, with his crutches 

by his side. 1800 COLERIDGE Love iv, She leaned against.. 

The statue of the armed knight. 

x8x8 Letters Patent in 

Nicholas Hist. Ord. Knighthood (1842) IV. 7_ The said 

Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, 

shall . . consist of Three Classes of Knights of the said Order. 

c. More fully Knight of the Shire : A 

gentleman 

representing a shire or county in parliament ; 

originally one of two of the rank of knight; with 

the abolition of almost all distinctive features of 

the county representation, the term has lost its 

distinctive meaning and is only used technically 

and Hist. : cf. BURGESS i b. Formerly sometimes 

Knight of the Commonty or of Parliament. 

1399 LANGL. Rich. Redeles rv. 41 Thei must . . mete togedir, 

pe kny^tis of be comunete and carpe of the maters, 

With Citiseyns of shiris. 1444 Rolls of Parlt. V. 110/2 

All other that will be atte the assessyng of the wages of the 

Knyghtes of the Shire. 1538 FITZHERB. Just. Peas (1554) 

132 b, Sherifes must returne such persons knights of the 

parliament which be chosen by be greater nombre of the 

freholders. [1544 Act 35 Hen. VIII, c. n The Knights of 

all and euery Shire .. chosen for their assembly in the 

Kings high Court of Parliament.] 1617 MINSHEU Ductor, 

Knights of the Shire, .. otherwise bee called Knights of 

the Parliament, and be two Knights, or other Gentlemen of 

worth, that are chosen in Plena Comitatu, by the Freeholders 

of euery County. 1648 PRVNNE Plea for Lords 

B iij b, The King .. might call two Knights, Citizens and 

Burgesses to Parliament. Ibid. C j b, There could be no 

Knights of Shires . . to serve in Parliament. 1679 EVELYN 

Mem. 4 Feb., My Brother, Evelyn, was now chosen Knight 

for the County of Surrey. 1711 STEELE Spect. No. 109 F 7 

He served his Country as Knight of this Shire to his dying 

Day. 1765 BLACKSTONE Comm. I. ii. 128 With regard to 

the elections of knights, citizens, and burgesses. 1844 LD. 

BROUGHAM Brit. Const, iii. (1862) 47 The knights are to 

represent the ' 

community of the counties ' 

( the citizens and 

burgesses the ' 

community of the towns '. 

KNIGHT. 

d. Name of an order or rank in the political 

association called the ' 

Primrose League '. 

1885 Primrose League 10 Obtain thirteen Signatures to 

the form of Declaration as Knights, or Dames. Ibid. 12 

After having been a Member of the League for twelve 

months, . . a Knight, as a special reward for meritorious 

service, may be elevated to the rank of Knight Companion. 

1885 Primrose Rec. 17 Sept. 109 It is needless to say that 

they will induce as many as possible to enrol themselves as 

Knights, Dames, or Associates of the League. 

f 6. Applied to personages of ancient history or 

mythology, viewed as holding a position or rank 

similar to that of the mediaeval knight. 06s. 

c 1105 LAY. 406 Assaracus wes god cniht ; Wig Grickcs he 

heold moni fiht. c 1150 Gen. ff Ex. 283 Do wurS he drake 

Sat ear was knijt. 

c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. Wacc (Rolls) 

4185 Hardy lullus, knyght war & wys. c 1400 Destr. Troy 

2740 Parys the pert knight, and his pure brother Comyn 

vnto courtte with company grete, Of thre thowsaund bro 

knightes. 1513 DOUGLAS s&neis IX. xi. 48 Equicolie A lusty 

knycht in armis rycht semly. 1535 COVERDALE 2 Kings ix. 

25 And lehu sayde vnto Bidekar the knyghte. 1606 SHAKS. 

Tr. f, Cr. iv. v. 86 This Aiax ..This blended Knight, halfc 

Troian, and halfe Greeke. 

b. freq. transl. L. miles, a common soldier. 

Miles was the regular med.L. equivalent of ' 

knight '. 

c 1200 ORMlN8i8s Hise cnihhtess alle imaen Forp êdenn . . 

Wibb heore wa^penn alle bun. c 1300 Cursor M. 19824 

Cornelius, .calde til him tua men and a knite. 1382 WVCLIF 

Matt, xxvii. 27 Thanne kni^tis 

of the president takynge 

Jhesu in the mote halle, gedriden to hym all the cumpanye 

of knijtia. 1483 CAXTON Gold. Leg. 14 b/2 He is delyverd 

to knyghtis for to be beten. 1563 WINJET Four Scoir Thre 

Quest. Wks. 1888 I. 77 That knycht quha peirsit our Lordis 

syde with the speir. 

fig. CI37S .S

KNIGHT. 

is generally accompany'd with that of the Knighthood ; but 

the latter was made a distinct Order by K. James I. These 

Baronets were to have Precedency .. before all ordinary 

Knights Banneret, Knights of the Bath, and Knights 

Batchelors. 1687 Land. Gaz. No. 2251/3 That Order [of the 

Inistlc), consisting of the Sovereign and Twelve "Knights 

Brethten. 1513 DOUGLAS JEneis it. i. [i. xii.] 12 Quhat 

Marmidon..Or 'knycht wageor to cruell Vlixes. 

11. With adj. (before or after the sb.). ) Knight 

adventurous = KNIGHT-ZRRANT. \ Knight caligate 

of arms : see CALIGATE. Military (\ naval, toor) 

knight of Windsor (see 12 b). 

1429 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 346/2 The said Chapelle [of 

St. George] was founded by the right noble and worthy 

Kyng Edward the Thridde syn the Conquest .. upon a 

Wardem, Chanons, poure Knyghtes, and other Ministres. 

CI440 Promf. Parv. 279/2 Knyghte awnterows (S. knyht 

a-ventowrs), tiro. 1470-85 MALORY Arthur iv. xviii, Here 

am I redy, an auentures knyghte that wille fulfylle ony 

aduenture that ye wylle desyre. 157? HARRISON England 

II. v. (1877) i. 124 The thirteene chanons and six and twentie 

poore knights haue mantels of the order [of the garter]. 

1724 Land. Gaz. No. 6290/3 First went the Poor Knights. 

12. Followed by a genitive phrase. 

a. Denoting a special set or class of knights 

(real or by courtesy). + Knight of adventurers = 

KNIGHT-ERBANT. f Knight of arms (see n). 

Knight of Grace, a knight of Malta, of a lower 

rank in the order. Knight ofJustice, a knight of 

Malta possessing full 

privileges. Knight of the 

carpet (see CARPET sb. a c). f Knight of the 

chamber = prec. f Knight of the community or 

parliament = Knight of the Shire ( see 4 c). Knight 

of the Round Table, one of King Arthur's knights 

(see TABLE). -\Knight of the Shire (see 4c). 

t Knight of the Spur, a knight bachelor. -^Knight 

of the square flag, a banneret. Also, Knight of the 

Rueful Countenance : see quot. 

153 PALSGR. 236/2 "Knyght of adventures, cheualier 

errant 1762-71 H. WALPOLE Vertue's Anccd. Paint. 

(1786) I. 206 Another person of some note.. was Sir John 

Godsalve. created *knight of the carpet at the king's corona, 

tion 1672 COWELL * 

luterfr., Knights of the Chamber,.. 

seem to be such Knights Batchelors as are made in time of 

Peace, because knighted commonly in the Kings Chamber. 

1788 Picturesque Tour thro' Europe 18 The "Knights of 

Justice are alone eligible to the posts of Bailiffs, Grand Priors, 

and Grand Masters : tne "Knights of Grace are competent 

to all excepting these, c 1400 Ywaine fy Caw. 5 Ywayne and 

Gawayne . . war *knightes of the tabyl rownde. 1774 

WARTON Hist. Eng. Poetry iii. (1840) I. 113 The achievements 

of king Arthur with his knights of the round table. 

1614 SELDEN Titles Han. 305 "Knights of the Spurre, or 

those which generally are known by the name of Knights. 

1718 MOTIEUX Quix. I. xvi, The champion that routed 

them is. .the famous Don Quixote de la Mancha, otherwise 

called the *Knight of the Rueful Countenance. 

b. Denoting a member of some order of knighthood, 

as Knight of the BATH, GARTER, THISTLE, 

etc. q. v. Knight of St. John, of Malta, of Rhodes 

= HOSPITALLER 3. Knight of the Temple = "\:wv- 

LAH. Knight of Windsor, one of a small number 

of military officers (tnilitary knights cf IV.) who 

have pensions and apartments in Windsor Castle. 

(From 1797 to 1892 there were also naval Anights 

of W. ; cf. II.) f Also, jocularly, Knight of the 

forked order : seeFoRKED4b; Knight of the order 

of the fork, one who digs with a fork (cf. 12 c). 

a 1500 [see GARTER sb 2]. 1530 PALSGR. 236/2 Knight of 

the order of saynt Michael!. 1608 MJDDLF.TON Mad World, 

my Musters n. v, Many of these nights will make me a 

knight of Windsor. 1630 J. TAYLOR (Water P.) Great Eater 

of Kent 4 Some get their living by their, .feet, as danceis, 

lackeyes, footmen, and weavcis. and knights of the publicke 

or common older of the forke. 1631 T. POWELL Tom All 

Trades (1876) 171 A poore Knights place of Windsor. 1632 

MASSINGER Maid of Hon. i. i, You are, sir, A Knight of 

Malta, and, as I have heard, Have served against the Turk. 

8 Persian Horses 

1704 Collect. Voy. (Churchill) III. 690/1, 

led by eight Knights of the Golden Sun. 1711 Loud. Gaz. 

No. 4799/1 The Marquis de Suza..was lately Install'd 

Knight of the Order of St. Maurice. 1783 Royal Warrant 

in Nicholas Hist. Ord. Knighthood (1842) IV. 6 Letters 

Patent, .for creating a Society or Brotherhood, to be called 

Knights of the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick. 1803 

Naval Chron. IX. 158 Seven Lieutenants of the Navy are 

to be installed Naval Knights of Windsor. 1856 EMERSON 

Eng. Traits, Manners Wks. (Bohn) II. 49 The Knights of 

the Bath take oath to defend injured ladies. 

c. Forming various jocular (formerly often 

slang) phrases denoting one who is a member of 

a certain trade or profession, has a certain occupation 

or character, etc. 

In the majority of these the distinctive word is name 

^the 

of some tool or article commonly used by or associated with 

the person designated, and the number of such phrases may 

be indefinitely increased. Examples are : 

t Knightoftheblade, 'a Hector or Bully' (B. E. Diet. Cant. 

Cre-Ji, a 1700). Knight of the brush, a painter, an artist. 

Knight ofthe cleaver, a butcher. t Knight of the collar, 

one who has been hanged. KnigU of the cue, a billiardplayer, 

t Knight of the elbow, a cheating gambler. 

T Kn : 

ght of Ike field, a tramp, t Knight of the grammar, 

a schoolmaster, t Knight of (the) industry, a sharper or 

swindler (F. chevalier d'Industrie), t Knight of the knife, 

a cutpurse. Knight of t lie needle, shears, thimble, a tailor. 

Knight of the pen, a clerk or author. Knight ofthe pestle, 

an apothecary. Knight of the quill, a writer, author. 

Knight of the road, a'highwayman. Knight of the spigot, 

a tapster or publican, t Knight of the -vapour, a smoker. 

Knight of t/ie whip, a coachman, Knig/tt ofthe wheel, a 

733 

-^ _....A .., VJ .,.b wrujffrmg.pu&i, a sharper or other 

disreputable person. See also KNIGHT op THE POST. 

the balls 

a-rollmg. 1693 Humours Town 93 Sharpers ai 

dmded into Bullies and "Knights of the Elbow. 1508 

KENNEDIE Flyting m. Dunbar 430 Because that Scotland ol 

thy begging irkis, Thow scapis in France to be a "knycht ol 

tl.e felde. 1691 WASHINGTON tr. Milton's Def. Pot. viii. 

M. s Wks. (1851) 185 A Stipend large enough for a *Knight 

i 'he_ Grammar or an Illustrious Critick on Horseback. 

he is a Knight of the Industry. 1751 SMOLLETT Per. Pic. 

(1779) III. Ixxxiv. 310 Our hero was a professed enemy to all 

another sort of people at our end of the town a 1775 

AI.BUTHNOT Ess. Apoth. Wks. 1751 II. ni There being no 

part of Mankind, that affords a greater variety of uncommon 

Appearances than the 'Knights of the Pestle. \6gi-tGenli. 

Jrnl. Mar. 2, 1 know some of your sturdy, tuff "Knights of 

one of the "Knights of the Road. 1821 ScoTr'A'HVrviii 1 

When an old song comes across us merry old "knights of the 

spigot, it runs away with our discretion. i8i> Sporting 

Mag. XXXIX. 139 A gallant "knight of the thimble. 1630 

J. 1 AYLOR (Water P.) Great Eater ofKent s Some (live] by 

smoakej as tobacconists, "knights of the vapour, gentlemen 

of the whiffe, esquires of the pipe. 1813 Examiner 8 Feb. 

84/2 We cannot too often caution the "Knights of the Whip 

against so dangerous. ,a practice. 1819 SCOTT Let. to Son 

Walter 4 Sept. in Lockhart, Blacklegs and sharpers, and 

all that numerous class whom . . we [call] "knights of the 

whipping-post. 

d. Knights of Labour, an extensive association 

in the United States, embracing many of the Trade 

Unions; Knights ofPythias, a secret order, founded 

at Washington in 1864 (Funk Stand. Diet.}. 

1886 Harfer's Weekly 3 Apr. 213/3 The order of the 

Knights of Labour was founded in 1869 by five workmen of 

Philadelphia. 1888 BRYCE Awcr. Conimw. II. in. Ivi. 370 

The enormous 01 ganization or league of trades unions known 

as the Knights of Labour. 

III. 13. attrib. and Comb. 

a. With knight-, as knight-martyr; f knightbairn, 

a male child; f knight-cross = knights 

cross ; f knight-money = knighthood-money ; 

f knight-weed, the dress of a knight; fknightwered, 

a band of warriors; f knight -wife, a 

female knight or warrior. 

c 1205 LAY. 15526 }if mon funde..aeuer aei "cniht baern, be 

nasuere fseder no ibasd. 1725 BRADLEY f'am. Diet., Jan. 

saiem-Cross, called by some the "Knight, or Scarlet Cross. 

1826 W. E. ANDREWS Exam. Fox's Cat. Prot. Saints 49 

The condemnation of this . . gentlewoman and ''knightmartyr. 

1643 PRYNNE Son. Power Parlt, n. 31 "Knightmony, 

Ship-mony, with sundry other unlawful! Taxes. 1340- 

70 Altsaunder 544 Hee cast of his "Knightweede, & clones 

hym neew. c 1205 LAY 26766 Al pa "cniht-weorede fluen an 

heore steden. 1483 Cath. Angl. 205/2 A "knyghte wyffe, 

militissa. 

b. With knighfs, chiefly in names of : plants 

knight's cross, Scarlet Lychnis, L. chalcedonica ; 

f knight's milfoil, a yellow species of Achillea ; 

f knight's pondwort, Water-soldier, Stratiotes 

aloides; knight's star, -star lily, the amaryllidaceous 

genus Hippeastntm ; f knight's watersengreeu, 

wort, wouudwort = 

knighfs pondwort. 

See also KNIGHT'S FEE, KNIOHT-SEEVICE. 

1760 J. LEE Introd. Bot. App. 316 "Knight's Cross, Lychnis. 

1578 LYTE Dodoens i. ci. 143 The second is called.. in English 

"Knights Milfoyle : souldiers Yerrow, and yellow 

knighten Yeriow. Ibid., The first is called .. in English 

Knights worte, Knights wounde worte, or Knightes water 

woundworte, "Knights Pondeworte, and of some Knights 

water Sengreene. 1855 Loudon's Encycl. Plants 1176 

"Knight's Star. 1866 Treas. Bot. 590/2 The Knight's Star 

Lily, a genus .. consisting of South American and West 

Indian bulbs, remarkable for their showy flowers. 

c. With knighten (ME. gen. pi.) : knighten 

court (also knights-court) : see quot. 1 701 ; 

knighten -gild, a gild of knights ; knightenmilfoil 

= knighfs milfoil; knightenspence, 

some local rate ; knightenway, a military road ; 

knighteu-yarrow = knighfs milfoil. 

c logo Charter Edw. Confessor in Calendar Letterbks., 

Guildhall London (1891) III. 218 Mine_ men on Ansioce 

cnihte xilde [read mine men on Englisce cnihte gilde.J 

1398 TREVISA Earth. De P. R. xix.cxxix. (Add. MS.) If. 332 

Agger is an huple of stones or a tokene in J>e hihe way and 

histories clepifc* such awey kny^tene wyz\viamtiiilitarem\ 

1467 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 390 That then he pay taske tallage, 

knyghtenspence, wacches, and other charges. 1578 LYTE 

Dodoens \. ci. 143 Yellow knighten Yerrow. Ibid., The 

other with the thousand leaues, called Knighten Mylfoile. 

1631 WF.EVER Anc. Fun. Mon. 426 King Edgar established 

here without Aldgate a Knightengield or Confrery, for 

thirteene knights or souldiers. 1701 Cornell's Interpr., 

Knighten-Court, Is a Court-Baron or Honor-Court, held 

twice a Year under the Bishop of Hereford at his Palace 

there ; wherein those who are Lords of Manours, and their 

Tenants, .are Suiters. 

Knight (nait), v. Also 3 knijti, 3-4 knijte, 

4 knyhte, kny}te. [ME., f. prec.] 

trans. To 

dub or create (one) a knight. 

cl- 

KNIGHTESS. 

i?' 3 ?? K- Hl ?" 492 Hit nere nojt forlorn For to kniate 

child Horn. Ibid. 644 Nu is pi wile i 3olde, King, bat bu r 

f 

. 

_ 

. . _ ^ .,...,.. 

knighted 6y the king. 1617 DHAYTON Âgincourt, etc. "92 

This Drone yet neuer braue attempt that dar'd, Yet dares be 

Knighted. 171* ADBISON Spect. No. 299 r 2, 1 was knighted 

in the thirty fifth Year of my Age. 1876 J. SAUNDEBS Lion 

in Path xn, Sir Richard Constable had been knighted bv 

King James. 

Hence Kni-ghted///. a. 

1656 S. HOLLAND Don Zara. n. iv. 101 That his Isabel and 

Mortimer was now complcated by a Knighted Poet 1896 

I. H. WYLIE Hist. Eng. Hen. If, III. 32I The floodTf 

knighted names in the lists of fighting men. 

Knightage (nsi-ted^). [f. KNIGHT si. + -AGE.] 

a. A body of knights ; the whole body of knights. 

b. A list and account of persons who are knights. 

1840 DOD (title) The Peerage, Baronetage, and Knightage, 

f Great Britain and Ireland. 1858 CARLYLE Fredk. Gt.\. 

wife, in conventional usage, has the title ' 

Lady ' 

or ' 

Dame '. 

Kni-ght-e'rrant. /'/.knights-errant. In 7 

erron. -errand. [See ERRANT a. i.] 

1. A knight of mediaeval romance who wandered 

in search of adventures and opportunities for deeds 

of bravery and chivalry. 

13.. Gavi. Sr Gr. Knt. 810 He calde, & sone ber com A 

porter .. & haylsed pe knyjt erraunt a 1440 Sir Degrev. 1311 

Jondur ys a knyjthe erraunt. 1612 SHELTON Quiz. i. (1652) 

2 The Knight-Errant that is lovelesse, resembles .. a body 

without a soul. 1641 BROME JaviaUCrew m. Wks. 1873 III. 

304 Never did Knight Errants . . merit more of their Ladies. 

1712 STEELED,:/. No. 540? 4 In Fairy-land, where knightserrant 

have a full scope to range. 1713 BERKELEY Guard. 

No. 83 F 5 From what giants and monsters would these 

knight-errant! undertake to free the world ? 1847 PRESCOTT 

Peru (1850) II. 224 A cavalier, in whose bosom burned the 

adventurous spirit of a knight-errant of romance. 

attrib. 1768-74 TUCKER Lt. Nat. (1834) 1. 668 This knighterrant 

humour of seeking adventures and perilous encounters. 

1868 W. CORY Lett, f, Jrnls. (1897) 223 The armies which 

resisted Bonaparte, and made us the knight-errant nation. 

2. transf. One compared to a knight-errant in 

respect of a chivalrous or adventurous spirit. 

Sometimes used in ridicule, with allusion to the 

character or actions of Don Quixote. 

[1507 SHAKS. 2 Hen. IV, v. iv. 24 Come, come, you sheeknight-arrant, 

come.] 1751 EARL ORRERY Remarks Swift 

(1752) 115 Descartes was a knight errant in philosophy, perpetually 

mistaking windmi.ls for giants, a 1857 R. A. 

VAUGHAN Essays

KNIGHTFULLY. 

adv. nonce-wd. [cf. manfully,] 

Kni-ghtfully, 

Like a knight, bravely. 

1845 NEALE Mirr. fait/iSi Gallantlyand knightfully They 

toil'd ihe live-long day. 

Knight-head (n3i-t,hed). Naut. a. One of 

two large timbers in a vessel that rise obliquely from 

the keel behind the stem, one on each side, and 

support the bowsprit, which is fixed between them; 

called also ballard timbers, fb. A windlass-bitt 

(ots.}. 

t- = KNIGHT 8 (ois.}. 

1711 W. SUTHERLAND Shipbuild. Assist. 115 They are 

reev'd through Knight heads, and so hal'd home. 1769 

FALCONER Diet. Marine (1789), Knight-Heads, two strong 

pieces of timber, fixed on the opposite sides of the main-deck, 

alittle behind the fore-mast. ..They are sometimes called the 

bits, and in this sense their upper parts only are denominated 

knight-heads,.. being formerly embellished with a figure designed 

to resemble a human head. . .Knight-heads, was also 

a name formerly given to the lower jear -blocks, which were 

then no other than bits. 1883 Cent, Mag. Oct. 946/2 Her., 

bows would be buried in a smother of foam clear to the 

Gram. ix. (Z. ) 56 rubis, cniht oooe cnihthad. 

II. (ME. and mod. Eng.) 

2. The rank or dignity of a knight. 

01300 K Horn 440 he me p_at 5ive dubbing panne is mi 

|>ralhod Iwent in to kni^thod 136* LANGL. P. PI. A. XI. 

222 Kinghod and . . kni^thod Helpib nou^t to heuene. 1503-4 

Act 19 Hen. VII, c. 31 Preamble, Divers of the Kinges 

Subgiettes . . ar commaunded .. to take uppon them the 

honour & degree of Knvghthode. 1597 SHAKS. 2 Hen. IY t 

v. iii. 132, I would not take a Knighthood for my Fortune. 

1617 MORYSON Itin. li. 377 A . gentleman .who 

had long 

been earnestly ambitious of the honour of Knighthood 

'733 POPE Hor. Sal. it. i. 22 You'll gain at least a Knighthood, 

or the Bays. 1885 Pali Mall G. 24 Feb. 9/1 It is 

expected that several knighthoods will be conferred. 

b. transf. Applied to one having this rank ; ; 

a knight. 

I59 8 SHAKS. Merry U'. v. y. 76 [The Garter] Buckled 

below faire Knight-hoods bending knee. 

c. With poss. pron. as a mode of address. 

1828 SCOTT F. M. Perth xxxii, I only desired to know if 

your knighthood proposed the chivalrous task. 

d. The ceremony of knighting a person. 

1711 MADOX Exch. i. 2 There Coronations, Marriages 

and Knighthoods of the King's Children, .were celebrated. 

3. The profession or vocation of a knight. 

0315 Song Mercy 155 in E. E. P. (1862) 123 Corteis 

kniluhod and clergye .. . Are now so roted in rybaudye. 

1481 CAXTON Myrr. i. vi. 31 Yf the studye [of science] wente 

out of rTraunce, knyghthode wold goo after. 1593 SHAKS. 

Rich. II, i. i. 75 By that, and all the rites of Knight-hood 

else, Will I make good against thee..What I haue spoken. 

1700 DRVDEN Pal. f, Arc in. 10 The champions. .Who 

knighthood loved, and deeds of chivalry. 1856 R. A. 

VAUCHAN Mystics (1860) I 145 The old virtues of knighthoodits 

truth and honour, its chastity and courage. 

fb. (tr. L. militia^ Military service; soldiery; 

warfare. Obs. 

1381 WVCLIF 2 Cor. x. 4 The armers of cure knylthod ben 

not flcuchly. - 2 Tim. ii. 4 No man holdinge knysthod to 

God [Vulg. militans Deo}, inwlappith him silf with worldli 

nedis. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione in. 1. 122 pis frayl lif, bat is 

all temptacion and kni ?thode 1535 COVERDALE Judith vi. 

4 Then shal the swerde of my knyghthode [mttttim mex] 

go thorow thysydes. 155* HULOET, Knighthode, militia. 

4. The character and qualities appropriate to 

a knight ; 

chivalrousness. 

1377 LANGL. P PI. R xvm. 96 Cursed caytyue 1 knhthod 

"? s ','. "-""' .To mysdo a ded body, c 1386 CHAUCER 

Monk i T. 652 He was of knyghthod and of frcdom flour. 

734 

c 1450 Merlin 56 Ther Pendragon dide merveloise knyghthode 

a-monge his enmyes. 15*3 Lu. BKKNEKS Froiss. I. 

ccxcviii. 441 The noble knighthode that was in them reconforted 

them. 1865 KINCSLEY Herew. iii, Would it grow and 

bear the noble fruit of ' 

gentle, very perfect knighthood ' 

? 

18^3 HAMERTON tntelt. Life vili. ii. (1876) 290 The perfect 

knighthood of Sydney. 

6. The collective body of knights; a company of 

knights. Knighthood-errant (cf. KNIGHT-ERRANT). 

1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. Prol. n6 The kyng and kny^thode 

and clergye bothe Casten bat ê comune shulde hem-self 

fynde. 1477 EARL RIVERS (Caxton) Dictes ii b, By whiche 

. .the people be susteyned the knyghtehode multiplied and 

the houses full of richesse. 1605 CHAPMAN, etc. Easttv, Hoe 

v, The knighthood now-a-days are nothing like the knight- 

hood of old time. 1859 TENNYSON Guinei'ere 457, I was 

first .. who drew The knighthood -errant of this realm .. 

together under me. 1874 GREEN Short Hist.ii. 4. 76 It was 

against the centre of this formidable position that William 

arrayed his Norman knighthood. 

t b. (tr. L. militia.} Military force, host. Obs. 

1382 WYCLIF Isa. xiii. 4 The Lord of ostes comaundide to 

the knyjthod of the bataile. Luke ii. 13 A multitude of 

heuenly knylthod, heriynge God, and seyinge, Glorie be in 

the hiêste thingis to God. Acts vii. 42 To serue to the 

knyjthod of heuene. 

6. attrib. f knighthood-money, a fine exacted 

from persons who refused to be knighted. (Abolished 

by Act 16 Chas. I, c. 20.) 

(71670 WOOD Life Jan. an. 1643 (O. H. S.) I. 79 He was 

fined in October 1630 for refusing the honour of knighthood, 

a matter then lately brought up to obtaine for his 

money 

knight-heads. 

t Kni ghthed, -hede. Obs. Also kniht-, 

kni}t-, etc. isee KNIGHT st.} 4 -ed(e, 5-6 St. 

-held. [f. KNIGHT si. + -HEAD. Cf. next.] 

1. The rank of a : knight = KNIGHTHOOD 2. 

c 1315 Mttr. Horn. 139 A kniht That thoru kind was bond 

and thralle Bot knihthed gat he wit catelle. 1475 Rauf 

Coifyar 960 Schir Rauf gat rewaird to keip his Knichtheid. 

isoo-ao DUNBAR Turnament 56 To comfort him, or 

he raid forder, The Devill offknychtheid gaif him order. 

2. The vocation of a : knight = KNIGHTHOOD 3. 

c 1375 Sc.Lrg. Saints xvi. (Magdalene) 70 To k[n]ychthed 

hyre bru|>ir lazare 

Haleljf hyme gafe, & ly til rocht Of landis. 

1490 CAXTON Entydos Ivi. 153 He hadde lefte his offyce and 

badde taken hym self to the fayttes of knygthed. 1500 

Lancelot 822 He goith ymong them in his hie curage, As he 

that had of knyghthed the wsage. 

3. Knightly character or : accomplishments = 

KNIGHTHOOD 4. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 8422 To be lered him-self to lede, Wit 

clerge bath and wit Knighthede. c 1400 Destr. Troy 5549 

Of knighthede to count here was the dene floure. 1450-70 

Golagros ,5. Gatu. 376 Thai war courtes and couth thair 

knyghthed to kyth. 1513 DOUGLAS ^neis vt. vi. 39 Eneas, 

ful of piete and knychtheid. 1535 STEWART Cron. Scot. I. 

575 Suppois he was of all knychtheid the floure. 

4. A body of knights, or = L. ( militia) of fighting 

men = : KNIGHTHOOD 5. 

c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxix. (Placidas) 68 A knycht callit 

placydas Prynce of his knychted was. 138* WVCLIF Jer, 

viii. i The sunne, and the moone. and al the knygthed [1388 

kny^thod, L militia] of heuene. 

Knighthood i'irt, liuil . Forms: icnihth&d; 

3- kniht-, etc. (see KNIGHT), 3-6 -hod, -hode, 5-6 

-hoode, 6- hood. [OE. cnihthad, f. cniht boy, 

lad + -had -HOOD. In ME. following the current 

sense of KNIGHT.] 

L (OE. cnihlhdd.) fl. Boyhood, youth. Obs. 

majestie's use. This money which was paid by all persons 

of 4o#. per 

893 K- ALFRED Boeth. xxxviii. 5 pa hwile be hit on 

cnihthade biS, & swa forS eallne 

fciojsqohad. 

c 1000 >LFRIC 

an. that refused to come in and be dub'd knights, 

was called knighthood -money. 

Kni'ghtify, v. nonce-wd. trans. = KNIGHT v. 

1682 MRS. BEHN Round-heads v. i, I wonder with what 

impudence Noll and Dick could Knightifie your husbands. 

Kni'ghting, vbl. sb. 

[f. KNIGHT v. + -ING*.] 

The action of making one a knight; the fact of 

being knighted. 

1550 CROWLEY Epigr. 491 Woulde God all our knightes 

dyd minde colinge no more, than this Colierdyd knyghtyng. 

1614 SELDEN Titles Hon. 308 The Honor of taking armes 

(which in our present idiom may be calld Knighting). 1705 

HEARNE Collect. 28 Sept. (O. H. S.) I. 50 Upon the Knighting 

of Dr. Hann's and.. Dr. Wm Read. 1876 FREEMAN 

Norm. Cottg. V. xxiii. 324 Randolf of Chester was at 

Henry's knighting, and did homage to David. 

b. attrib. , as -sword knighting \ fknightingmoney 

= knighthood-mo tuy. 

i6as in Crt. 4- Times Chas. I (1848) I. 

15 On Monday, 

Maurice Abbot . . had the maidenhead of the king's knighting 

sword. 1641 Jrnls. Ho. Comtn. XI. 145 For the Judges, 

unto which the Consideration of Knighting-money is referred. 

t Klii ghtless, a. Obs. rare. KNIGHT [f. j. 

+ -LESS.] Unbecoming a knight ; tmknightly. 

1590 SPENSER f. Q. i. vi. 41 Thou cursed miscreaunt.That 

hast with knightlesse guile . . Faire knighthood fowly shamed, 

? 17. . Ld. Ingram xxiii. in Child Ballads ill. Ixvi E. 134/2, 

I laugh at the knightless sport That I saw wi my ee. 

Knightlihood, -ness, etc. : see KNIGHTLY a. 

Kiiightlike (nai-tbik), a, and adv. [See 

-LIKE.] 

A. adj. Like or befitting a knight ; knightly. 

(-1425 WYNTOVN Cron. vn. viii. 20 In Tornementis, and 

Justyngis, And mony obir Knychtlyk Thyngis. 1574 HEL- 

LOWES Gueuara's Fain. Ep> (1577) 204 Agreeable to the last 

rule, which was the better and more Knight like. 1612 

DRAYTON Poly-olb. xn. 202 That great and puissant Knight 

(in whose victorious dayes Those knight-like deeds were 

done). 1847 TENNYSON Princ. iv. 

577 He knightlike in his cap 

instead of casque, .assumed the Prince. 

B. adv. = KNIGHTLY adv. 

375 BARBOUR Bruce xv. 53 Thai mantemyt that gret 

melle So knychilik apon athir syde. c 1470 HENRY Wallace 

ix. ^047 Rycht knychtlik he thaim kend, In that jornay 

othir to wyn or end. a 1649 DRUMM. OF HAWTH. Poems 

Wks. (1711) 22 If he die, he kni^ht-like dies in blood. 1808 

Scorr Martit. in. xviii, If, knight-like, he despises fear. 

Knightling (nartlin;. rare. [See -LING.] A 

petty knight 

1640 BROME Sparagus Garden ill. iv. Wks. 1873 III, 159 

Tis such a Knightling, He but give yee his Character, and 

he comes, I warrant thee. 1845 Lives Eng. Saints, Aelred 

iv. 57 It was found that every knightling possessed not only 

a castle, but a seal, like the king of England himself. 

Knightly (n3i-tli),a. [f. 

KNIGHT sb. + -LY ] 

.] 

I. (QE. cnttttic.) fl. Boyish. Obs. 

a looo Prose Life Gitthlac\\. (Good win) 12 Nehe cnihtlice 

galnysse naes begangende. 

II. (ME. and mod.Eng.) 

2. Having the rank or qualities of a knight ; 

noble, chivalrous. Now rare. 

kinges Chamberlem, A knyhtly man after his lawe. c 1430 

Pilgr. LyfMankode in. Ixiii. (1869) 173 He is michel the 

more corageows after, and the more kmghtlich. 1813 BYRON 

Ch, Har, Add. Pref., He was.. knightly in his attributes. 

3. Of things, actions, etc. : Of, belonging to, 

suitable, or appropriate to a knight, f Knightly 

fee =. KNIGHT'S PEE. 

^1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxin. (George} 386 His knychtly 

clething . . he gef away for godis sak. c 1480 HENKYSON Test. 

Cres. 519 For leniently pietie and memoriall Of fair Cresseid. 

'590 SPENSER F. Q. i. i. i As one for knightly giusts and 

fierce encounters fitt. c 1630 RISDON Sum. Devon 334 

(1810) 346 William Fitz-Morice held Hagington by one 

knightly fee. 1700 DRVDRN Theod. $ Honoria 389 Preferr'd 

above the rest, By him with knightly deeds. 1834 L. RITCHIE 

Waiid. by Seine 55 The use of the knightly sword or lance. 

KNIGHTSHIP. 

4. Consisting or composed of knights, rare.. 

1845 S. AUSTIN Range's Hist. Ref. I. 127 The knightly 

order had taken no part in the diet. 1877 Miss YoNGii 

Cameos IV. xii. 131 The romances of chivalry which were 

the delectation of the knightly world in those days 

Hence Kni-ghtlihood (f -hede), Xnl'g-htliness, 

knightly condition or qualities. 

1390 GOWER Conf. III. 212 Wherof his knyhtlihiede Is yit 

comended overaL 1596 SPENSER F. Q, iv, vii. 45 Some 

gentle swaine. .Traind vp in feates of armes and knightlinesse. 

1890 '^LIAN PRINCE* Of Joyous Card ii. 47 Sir 

Tristram yearned to largely breathe again Sharp air inspiriting 

of knightlihood, 1900 Longm. Mag. July 227 Scott 

has created for us a true type of Saracen Knightliness in 

the Talisman. 

Knightly (nai-tli), adv. [f. KNIGHT sb. + -LY 2 .] 

After the fashion of, or in a manner befitting, 

a knight ; gallantly, chivalrously. 

c 1385 CHAUCER L. G. W* 2085 Ariadne, God . . synde 5o\v 

gra ~*ace..3ow to defende & knyghtly slen ôure fa c 1477 

CA 

\XTON Jason 79 b, They dyde so knyghtly and cheuaulerously. 

1593 SHAKS. Rich. If, i. iii. 12 Say., why thou 

com st thus knightly clad in Armes? 1822 BYRON Werner 

iv. i, Whose plume nods knightlier? 1859 TENNYSON 

Guinevere 40 He.. Made such excuses as he might, and 

these Full knightly without scorn. 

Knight Marshal (a title of certain marshals 

who were knights) ; see MARSHAL. 

Knight ofthe post. [i. e. (?) of the whippingpost 

or pillory : see guots.] A notorious perjurer ; 

one who got his living by giving false evidence ; 

a false bail. 

1580 E. KNIGHT Trial Truth 39 b, Men, ..who will not 

let to sweare vpon a booke, . . beyng byred therevnto for 

money., called.. Knightes of the poste, more fitter for the 

Gallowes, then to Hue in a common wealth where Christ is 

professed. 1591 CHETTLE Kinde-harts Dr. (1841) n A 

knight of the post, whome in times past I haue seen as 

highly promoted as the pillory. 159* NASHE P. Penilesse, 

A Knight of the . . Post, a fellow that will sweare you any 

thing for twelve pence. 1597 E. S. Discov. Knights Post B, 

Knightes of the Poste, Lords of lobs pound, and heires 

apparant to the pillory: who are ready to baile men out of 

prison. 1641 BROME Joviall Crew Wks. 1873 III. 366 He 

was taken up a Knight o' the Post ; and so be continued, 

till he was degraded at the whipping-post, a 1716 BLACKALL 

Wks. (1723) I. 330 When once Men have by frequent use 

lost the reverence that is due to an Oath, they easily 

become Knights of the Post and may be hir'd to swear any- 

thing. 1772 WESLEY Wks. (1872) XI. 45 Does not the 

. . publisher deserve to lose his ears more than a common 

knight of the post? 1819 R. CHAPMAN Jos. V, 132 They 

hired knights of the post, who were evidences again.st him. 

Kni'ght-se:rvice. Also knight's service. 

1. Under the Feudal System ; The military service 

which a knight was bound to render as a condition 

of holding his lands ; hence, the tenure of land 

under the condition of performing military service. 

a. 1439 RollsofParlt. V. 31/2 Eny of youre said Comunes, 

holdyng of you by Knyghtes service, c 1500 Corte Barune 

in Book of Bronte 155 If they holde be skwage, that Is 

knytes serwyce. 1513 MORE in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 

774 He hath nothing by dissent holden by knightes service, 

but by socage. 1628 COKE On Litt. \. 74 Tenui e by homage, 

fealty & Escuage, is to hold by Knights Seruice. 

&. c 1500 Corte Barune in Book ofBrome 155 The . . chylde 

pat holdith be battenuer of knyte serwisse. 1523 FITZHERB. 

Surv. ub, What fees they holde . . and wheder it be 

by 

socage or by knight seruyce. 1767 BLACKSTONE Conim, II. 

v. 63 This tenure of knight-service had all the marks of 

a strict and regular feud. 1874 STUBBS Const. Hist. I. x. 

305 As a special boon to tenants by knight-service, their 

demesne lands are freed from all demands except service in 

the field. 1876 DIGBY Real Prof-, i. 39 Tenure #er militiam, 

in chivalry or by knight-service. 

2. Jig. Such service as is rendered by a knight ; 

hence, good service. 

0. #1716 SOUTH Serm. VI. vi. (R.), He [the devil] never 

knights any one, but he expects more than knights-service 

from him in return. 

&. 1675 tr. Machiaveltts Prince (1883) 263, I have done 

knight-service. 1874 T. HARDY Farfr. Mad. Crowd 

J'ou 

. xxv. 283 Doing the mistress of the farm real knightservice 

by this voluntary contribution of his labour. 

Knight's fee. Under the Feudal System : The 

amount of land for which the services of an armed 

knight were due to the sovereign. 

Historical writers now agree that the different knight's 

fees were not equal in extent (see quots. 1876, 1895); whether 

they were approximately equal in value is still doubtful. 

1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) VII. 309 How meny knygtene 

fees, how meny teme lond [etc.]. 1427 Rolls ofParIt. IV. 

318/2 Ye subsidees of ye saide Knyghtes Fees with ye 

rate yrof. 1494 FABYAN Chron. vn. ccxxii. 246 marg. t viij. 

hydes make a knyghtes fee, by the whiche reason, a knyghts 

fee shuld welde. c.lx. acres. i6oa CAREW Corn-wall 36 Commonly 

thirtie Acres make a farthing land, nine farthings 

a Cornish Acre, and foure Cornish Acres a Knight's fee. 

1761 HUME Hist. Eng. I. App. ii. 251 note, The relief of a 

barony was twelve times greater than that of a knight's-fee. 

1876 DIGBY Real Prop. \. 36 Where land is held by military 

service 

every portion amounting to twenty pounds in annual 

value constitutes a * 

knight's fee *, for which the service of 

a knight fully armed and equipped must be rendered. 1895 

POLLOCK & MAITLAND Hist. Eng. Law I. 235 The term 

' 

' 

fee 

knight's does not imply any particular acreage of 

land. The knight's fee is no unvarying areal unit ; some 

fees are much larger than others. 

Knightship (nartjip). [See -SHIP.] 

1. ta. The performance of a knight or soldier; 

military service, Obs. t b. Knightly character; 

valour. Obs. C. The rank or position of a knight ; 

knighthood, d. The territory of a knight.

KNIGHTTE. 

a 1175 Cott. Horn. 243 Cnihtscipe [L. militia] is mannes 

lif upen eorSe. c 1205 LAY. 26747 CuSeS eouwer cniht-scipe. 

c 1325 Poem Times Edit), II 265 in Pol. 

Songs (Camden) 

335 Knihtshipe is acloied and deolfulliche i-diht; Kunne 

a boy nu breke a spere, he shal be mad a kniht. c 1330 R. 

BRUNNE Chron. Wace (Rolls) 14405 Of knyght-schipe nobely 

he proued. 1620 in Crt. fy Times Jos. I (1849) II. 214 Sir 

James Whitelocke is gone to be judge of Wales and Chester, 

which place came not to him gratis, though perhaps his 

knightsnip was cast into the bargain. 1845 S. AUSTIN 

Ranke's Hist. Ref. II. 123 A.. government, .formed out of 

the several knightships which were now become absolute 

and independent sovereignties. 

2. With poss. pron. as a title or form of address. 

1694 MOTTEUX Rabelais v. v. (1737) 17 We have not the 

Honour to be acquainted with their Knightships. 1831 

Keepsake 307 Gout and sixty well-spent years Had made 

his knightship tame. 

fKnightte. 06s. rare. In 4 knyjtte. [f. 

KNIGHT si>. + ? -te, -TY : but perh. some error.] 

A knight's estate or property. 

1380 WYCLIF Wks. (1880) 384 In be same wise as )>e 

baron or thekny^te occupieb & gouerneb his baronrye or his 

knystte, so after be amortesynge occupied be clerke..be 

same lordeschip. 

Knill, obs. form of KNELL. 

tXnip, v. Sc. Obs. rare. [Parallel to GNIP, 

NIP ; cf. LG. and Du. knippen to clip, snip ; also 

north, dial. KNEP, knipe to nibble.] trans. Of 

cattle : To bite or crop (grass). Also absol. 

1500-20 DUNBAR Poems Ixi. 

15 With gentill horss quhen 

I wald knyp, Than is thair laid on me ane quhip. 1513 

DOUGLAS /Eneis xn. Prol. 94 As far as catal . . Had in thar 

pastur eyt and knyp away. 

t Knip-knap. Obs. rare-*. [Redupl., app. 

based on KNAP sb. cf. ; snip-snap."] (?) 

I told him.. that if he 

1599 HARSNET Agst. Darell 179, 

would not leave I would set such a paire of knip-knaps 

upon him as should make him rue it. [1600 DARRELL Detect. 

Harsnet 128 Wee are to observe heere that Shepheard 

threatened Somers with a Payre of Knip-Knaps if he were 

in a Fit again.] 

Knipper, variant of NIPPER. 

Knipperdolling(ni-p3rdplirj). 

Ch.Hist. Also 

6 cnipper-, kniper-, 6-7 -dolin(g, -dollin. An 

adherent of Bernhard Knipperdolling, a leader 

of the Miinster Anabaptists in 1533-35; an Anabaptist 

; hence, a religious fanatic. 

dor! 

S 14 Some Knipen , _ - 

work of the Lord in hand. 1653 J. LILBURN Tryed ft Cast 

107 Tyrants, Traytors, Murderers, Knipperdolings. 1690 

D'URFEY Collin's Walk \. 38 Hold, quoth Collin, I am not 

such a Knipperdollin ; Not to allow . . That you are stronger 

of your hands. [18*3 SCOTT Peveril xliv, Four Germans., 

right Knipperdolings and Anabaptists.] 

variant of NIPPERKIN. 

Knipperkin, 

fKnipae, 

1 

v. Sc. Obs. rare . In 6 knypae. 

[prob. a. G. knipsen in same sense.] trans. To 

strike sharply, to rap. 

a 1572 KNOX Hist. Ref. I. Wks. 1846 I. 147 Rockettis war 

rent, typpetis war torne, crounis war knapped [MS. G. 

knypsed]. 

Knit (nit), 

v. Forms : i onyttan, 3-4 knutte(n 

(it), 4 kneotte(n, 4-5 knette(n, 4-6 knytte, 

knyt(e, knitte, 6- knit (dial. knet). Pa.t. 

I onytte, 3-4 knutte(), 4 knette, 4-5 knyt(te, 

4- knit (dial, knet), 5-6 knytted, 5- knitted. 

Pa. I 

pple. (se)onyted, 3 i-knut, 4 i-, y-knyt, 

(y-knitte), 4-6 (-9 dial.} knet, (5 -tie, -te), 

cnyt, knyt, (-ytte, -y^t, -ut(t), 4-5 knytted, 4knitted, 

knit, (4-7 knitt(e, 6 nit, 7 knite). 0. 

Pa. t. 6- (north, dial.) knat. Pa. pple. 3 i-cnutten, 

i-cnute, 5-6 (9 dial, and arch.) knitten. 

[OE. cnyttan, weak vb. = MDu. and MLG. knutten, 

G. knutten : OTeut. 

*knuttjan, f. stem knutt-, of 

OE. cnotta, KNOT sb. The pa. pple. 

is regularly 

but knitten, after the analogy 

knitted, contr. knit ; 

of strong vbs., has also been used, and (in the north) 

a strong pa. t. knat ; cf. sit, sat, sitten.~\ 

f 1. trans. To tie in or with a knot ; to tie, fasten, 

bind, attach, join, by or as by knotting. With 

cogn. obj. to knit a knot. arch, and dial. 

c looo.rELFRlc Gram, xxxvi. (Z.) 214 Iccnytte, necto. c 1000 

Sax. Leechd. I. 218 Cnyte mid anum oraede on anum 

clznan linenan clabe. a 1225 Ancr.R. 396 Mori knot his 

kurtel uorte habben bouht of one binge, c 1230 Hah Meid. 

V> Beo be cnot icnute anes of wedlac. 1377 LANGL. P. PI. 

B. Prol. 169 To bugge a belle of brasse..And knitten on 

a colere . . And hangen it vp-on be cattes hals. c 1386 

CHAUCER Man ofLaw's T. 209 Thou knyttest \v. r. knettest] 

thee ther thou art nat receyued. 14. . in Pol. Kel. ff L. 

Poems (1866) 249 Cryst for vs on croys was knet. c 1450 

St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 1356 For him behoued be knott 

knyt 

[of monkhood). 1523 FITZHERB. Husb. 122 Thre or four 

splentes that the bees may knitte theyr combes ynto. 1526 

TINDALE Acts x. ii A greate shete knytt at the inj. corners. 

1505 SHAKS. "John w. i. 42, I knit my hand-kercher about 

' 

. _ TT__I-'_. ii^t. T .. Look to the first 

your browes. .607 HIERON Wks. I. 404 Look to the first 

marriage that euer was; the Lorde Himselfe knit the knot. 

Knitting fore and mizen rigging, and securing 'he masts, 

Cf. 10 a and b. Obs. 

t b To fasten up, shut up. 

1398 TREVISA Bart/,. De P, R. xvn. clxxxv. (1495) 7*5 

735 

His tonge is bounden and knytted. c 1400 Rom. Rose 2092 

Alle my jowelle loke and knette, I bynde undir this litel 

keye. c 1425 Seven Sag. (P.) 677 Ye have hys tonge cnyt. 

c 1460 Towneley Myst. lii. 451 Now ar the weders cest and 

cateractes knyt. 1509 Purl. Devytles xxiii, Thy conclusyon 

knytteth me so feruently. 

t c. To geld (a ram) by tying the scrotum. Obs. 

1607 TOPSEI.L Four-f. Beasts (1658) 482 Then do they use 

to knit them [rams], and so, in time, their stones, deprived 

of nourishment . .by reason of knitting, do dry and consume 

away. 1744-50 W. ELLIS Mod. Husbandm. IV. I. 129 

When he is five years old, he is to be knit and fatted off. 

t d. intr. To attach itself, adhere. Obs. 

1571 GOLDING Calvin on Ps. xxxvi. n Heereunto knitteth 

rightuousnesse, as the effect of the cause. 

2. trans, f a. To knot string in open meshes so 

as to form (a net) ; to net. Obs. 

c 1290 .J. Eng. Leg. I. 436/168 Ase man knut a net : i-knut 

swibe harde and stronge. a 1687 WALLER Mrs. Banghton 

Wks. (1730)41 Those curious nets.. thy slender fingers knit. 

b. To form (a close texture) by the interlooping 

of successive series of loops of yarn or thread. 

Now the chief specific sense. App. so called from a general 

resemblance to the formation of network. 

1530 PALSGR. 599/2, I knyt bonettes or hosen. 1591 SHAKS. 

Two Gent. in. l. 312 She can knit him a stocke. 1660 Seas. 

Exhort, ii In Knitting, and Sewing of garments. 1776 

ADAM SMITH W. N. I. xi. HI. (1869) I. 259 

In the time of 

Edward IV* the art of knitting stockings was probably not 

known in . . Europe. 1834-7 SOUTHEY T" terrible Knitters, 

We knat quorse wosset stockings. 1865 MRS. CARLYLE 

Lett. III. 288, I have knitted myself a pair of garters. 

1889 N. W. Line. Gloss, s.v., Oor Sarah's knitten yards 

an' yards on it. 

c. absol. or intr. To do knitting (as 

in b). 

1530 PALSGR. 599/2, I knyt, as a matte maker knytteth. 

1591 SHAKS. Two Gent. in. i. 310 Item she can knit. 1859 

DICKENS T. Two Cities ill. xv, A number of women, busily 

knitting. 

3. trans. To interlock, interlace, intertwine ; to 

twine, weave, or plait together, arch, or Obs. 

1470-85 MALORY Arthur vm. xxii, Kynge Mark and sire 

Tristram toke eyther other by the handes hard knyt to 

gyders. 1526 Pilgr. Per/. (W. de W. 1531) 139 The aungell 

sate downe & knyt roddes. & wrought on y basket. 1634 

MILTON Camus 143 Com, knit hands. Ibid. 862 In twisted 

braids of lilies knitting The loose train of thy amber-dropping 

hair. 

4. To draw closely together ; to contract in 

folds or wrinkles ; f to clench (the fist). 

c 1386 CHAUCER Knt.'s T. 270 This Palamon gan knytte 

his browes tweye. c 1489 CAXTON Sonnes of Aymon i. 48 

He frompeled his forhede and knytted his browes. 1593 

SHAKS. 2 Hen. VI, in. i. 15 He knits his Brow, and shewes 

an angry Eye. 1602 MARSTON Antonio's Rev. v. i. Wks. 

1856 I. 132 They all. .knit their fists at him. 1611 COTGR., 

s'Acroufir, a Horse to knit, or draw vp, or gather togither, 

his hinder parts. 1710 Taller No. 253 T 8 May a Man knit 

hi* Forehead into a Frown? 1817-18 COBBETT R esid. U. S. 

(1822) 41, April 18. Cold and raw. . . The lambs don't play, 

but stand knit up. 1874 BURNAND My Time iv. 34 Knitting 

his eyebrows. 

b. intr. said of the brows. 

1815 [see KNITTING ppl. a.]. 1862 J. GRANT Capt. ofGuard 

xx, His brows knit and his eyes loured. 

5. trans. To make compact or firm by close contraction 

or consolidation of parts ; to make close, 

dense, or hard ; to compact ; to concentrate. 

1423 JAS. I Kingis Q. cxciv, Go litill tretise . . And pray 

the reder. . Of his gudnese thy brukilnese to knytt. c 1560 

A. SCOTT Poems (S. T. S.) ii. 31 William wichttar wes of 

corss Nor Sym, and bettir knittin. 1590 SPENSER F. Q. i. i. 19 

Knitting all his force, [he] got one hand free. 1607 MARKHAM 

Ctaial. I. (1617) 4 The . . sharpenesse . . [of] winter . . will 

. .harden and knitte him [a foal], a 1848 R. W. HAMILTON 

b. intr. (for re/I.) To become compact, firm, or 

to become 

strong by close consolidation of parts ; 

consolidated. 

1605 BACON Adv. Learn. I. v. 4 Young men, when they 

knit and shape perfectly, do seldom grow to a further 

stature. 1614 MARKHAM Cheap Husb. (1623) 45 After your 

shall let them rest three 

mares have beene covered, ..you 

weeks, or a moneth, that the substance may knit. 1662 

R. MATHEW Unl. Alch. in. 182 Warm water, ..sprinkle 

this powder thereon, and keep it stirring with a stick, 

otherwise it wil knit to a stone in the bottom. 1727-46 

THOMSON Summer 1264 Hence the limbs Knit into force. 

1821 CLARE Vill. Minstr. I. 67 Weakness knits stubborn 

while it's bearing thee. 

c. intr. Of fruit : To spec. form, ' set . Also of 

the tree, or of the blossom : To form fruit. (Said 

also of corn and potatoes.) 

ci4oo Destr. Trey 2737 In the moneth of May..frutes 

were knyt [ed. 1874 mispr. kuyt]. Ibid. 4973. 157- 

'. ',,. . _ 

immeuia 

Continued good 

. 

Weather.. gave the Corn .. time to knit 

and kearn, as they call it. .719 LONDON & WISE Compl. 

but little of 

Card. 33 The new Shoots, .blossom extremely, 

the Frmt knits. 1884 Cheshire Gloss, s. v., Potatoes also 

are said to knit when the tubers begin to form. 1894.Lath. 

News i Dec. 8/1 A friend., remarked., that the gooseberries 

' 

he had planted in his garden were knitting ' 

well. 

conceive, form 

t d. Of a female animal : To 

fruit : cf. quot. 1614 in b, and KNIT///, a. 3. Obs. 

1732 W. ELLIS Pract. Farmer 139 At five weeks end let 

her take buck, that the former brood may go off before she 

knits, about a week. 

6. trans. To conjoin or unite closely and firmly 

\~ 

KNIT. 

(contiguous members, broken parts). Cf. KNITTED, 

quot. 1855. 

1578 BANISTER Hist. Matt I. 3 The vpper head of the 

thighe, where it is knit with the Bone of the hippe. 1676 

WISEMAN Surg. (J.), Nature cannot knit the bones while 

the parts are under a discharge. 1715-20 POPE [liadvin. 393 

There, where the juncture knits the channel bone. 1811 

PINKERTON Petral. II. 624 A piece .. which had at some 

former time been separated from it . . was again knitted to 

the stock in such a perfect manner that the 

joint was scarcely 

perceptible. 1849 MURCHISON Siluria iii. 41 The whole of 

the beds are so knit together. 1862 STANLEY Jewish Ch. 

(1877) I. xviii. 346 The good physicians who knit together 

the dislocated bones of a disjointed time. 1887 BOWEN 

Virg. Êneid n. 786 Huge timbers of oak knitted to timbers, 

a fabric that reaches to heaven. 

b. intr. To become closely united; to grow 

together. 

1612 WOODALL Surf. Mate Wks. (1653) 91 Leaving of the 

grief undressed for two daies, that the veins may knit. 1621 

DONNE Serm. xv. 150 And invites the severall loynts to 

knit again. Mod. In young people fractured bones soon knit. 

c. intr. Of bees : To cluster together in a mass. 

Now dial. 

[1523 FITZHERB. Husb. 122 Whan the swarme is knytte, 

take a hyue and splent it within.] 1577 B. GOOCE Heresbach's 

Husb. (1586) 181 Bowes and branches, . whereupon 

they may knit and settle themselves. 1648 MARKHAM 

Housew. Card. in. x. (1668) 77 If your swarm knit in the 

top of a tree. 1831 W. HOWITT Seasons 144 The ueen-bee 

qi 

alights . . and the rest of the bees clustering, or as it is tei med 

knitting, about her, form a living, brown, dependent cone. 

1879 Miss JACKSON Shropsh. Word-bk. s.v., I never like to 

see the bees knit on the ground it's a sure sign of a 

berrin' [= burial]. 

d. trans. To form out of parts compacted, rare. 

1896 A. E. HOUSMAN Shropsh. Lad xxxii, From far, from 

eve and morning And yon twelve-winded sky, The stuff of 

life to knit me Blew hither : here am I. 

7. fig. To conjoin as by knotting or binding 

together; to bind, join, or connect firmly; to unite 

or combine intimately. 

and saul 

1340 HAMPOLE Pr. Cause. 1855 God, . .First body 

togyder knyt. c 1386 CHAUCER Frankl. T. 258 Ne shal 

I neuere been vntrewe . . wyf I wol been his to whom bat 

I am knyt. 1450-1530 Myrr. our Ladye 295 Manhode was 

may . .knit some things together in fictitious Ideas. 1711 

ADDISON Sped. No. 69 P 6 They [merchants] knit Mankind 

together in a mutual Intercourse of good Offices. 1871 R. 

ELLIS Calullns Ixiv. 335 Never [hath] love so well his 

children in harmony knitten. 1879 DIXON Windsor II. vii. 

69 These lords were closely knit by marriage. 

b. intr. (for re/I.) To join to ; grow together, 

unite closely. 

a 1548 HALL Chron., Edw. 7K2o6b, To. .allure the hartes 

of other men, to ioyne and knit with hym, against all 

hostilitie. 1627 E. F. Hist. Edw. II (1680) 69 And then retreat 

to knit with their Confederates. 1770 LANGHORNH Plutarch 

(1879) I. 252/1 The city. .is broken into two parts which 

will never knit again. 1832-4 DE QUINCEY Cxsars Wks. 

1859 X. 10 Everywhere the members of this empire had 

begun to knit ; the cohesion was far closer. 

8. trans. To make or constitute by joining (a 

covenant, agreement, or the like) 

or firm, to establish (a relation of union); to 'tie', 

' 

cement '. 

; to make fast 

13. . E. E. Allit. P. B. 564 He knyt a couenaunde . . with 

monkynd bere. c 1400 Destr. Troy 11863 Soche acord was 

here knyt with kynges. 11541 WYATT Defence in Wks. 

(1861) p. xxxiii, Them that knit company with Chappins. 

1600 HOLLAND Livy xxv. xxix. 570 When peace was knit 

again. 1818 CRUISE Digest (ed. 2) V. 296 It was the very 

issue, knit by the express words of the plea. 

9. intr. To effervesce, form froth, as wine or beer. 

n pa. pple., effervescing, brisk; not still or dead. 

. 

. 

, 

, 

into a Glass. 1725 in New Cant. Diet. ] 

1743 Loud. r Country Brew. in. (ed. 2) 220 In Winter 

they commonly heat their Parcels to invigorate the new 

Drink.. and then, .the Malt-Liquor will knit and sparkle in 

a Glass, though drawn out of a Barrel. 1766 GOLDSM. Vic. W. 

xvi, If the gooseberry wine was well knit, the gooseberries 

were of her gathering. 

10. Knit up. a. trans. To tie up; to fasten up; 

to string up, to hang ; to compose or repair by 

knitting, lit. va&fig. 

1400 Destr. Troy 2014 pai.. knitten vp be saile, Atynt 

the tacle. Ibid. 11460 All.. knit vp bere couenaunte. 1509 

BARCLAY Shyp ofFolys (1570) 241 AH my vesture is of golde 

pure, . . I n siluer net my heare up knet 1530 PALSGH. sea/ 2, 

I knytte up a man, I holde hym shorte or kepe hym from 

his lybertye. 1605 SHAKS. Mace. IL ii. 37 Sleepe that knits 

vp the rauel'd Sleeue of Care. 1610 Temp. in. 111. 89 

These (mine enemies) are all knit vp In their distractions. 

1725 RAMSAY Gent. Sheph. I. ii, They're fools that slav ry 

like, and may be free ; The chiels may a' knit up themselves 

for me. 1846 TRENCH Mirac. xxvii. (1862) 371 We see how 

entirely his own life is knit up with his child's. 

f b. To ' 

shut take 

up', up ; to snub. Obs. Cf. i b. 

1530 PALSGR. 509/2, 1 knyt one up, I take hym up, I reprove 

hym. 1571 EDWARDS Damon $ Pithias in Hazl. Dodsley 

IV. 46 So sternly he frowned on me, and knit me up so 

short. . 

c. To close np ; to conclude, finish, or end. 

a mater, I make an ende 

1530 PALSGR. 5og/% I knytte up 

or conclusyon of a matter. 1566 ADLINGTON Apuleius vni. 

xxxii. (1803) 163 To end and knit up all sorrow. 1587 

THYNNE in Holinsheds Scot. Chron. (1805) II. 377 Before 

I knit up this exordium. 1622 F. MARKHAM Bk. War v. ix.

KNIT. 

196, I will heere knit vp this Epistle. 1879 FnofDK Catsar 

xxv. 434 The tragedy 

was being knitted up m the deaths 

of the last actors in it. 

f d. To sum tip ; to express concisely. Obs. 

'S53 Short Catech. in Lit, * Doctr. Edvt. yi (Parker Soc.) 

499 Will you that I knit up in a brief abridgment all that 

befongcth both to God and men ? 1560 DAUS tr. Sleidane's 

Ctnw. 84 b, To knit up the matter in fewe wordes. 1610 

HOLLAND Camden's Brit. (1637) 280 Briefly to knit up their 

succession. 

11. Comb. Knit-back, knit-wort, the herb Com- 

frey ; knit-beggar = COUPLE-BEGGAR. 

'597 GERARDE Herbal \\. cclxxiv, It is called.. in English, 

Comfrey..ofsomeKmtbacke. 16x1 COTGR. s.v. Asne,Oreille 

d 'asne, th' hearbe Comfrey, knit-backe, knit-wort, blackewort. 

1700 Wilntsl&iv Parish Register Aug. 25, in Earwaker 

h. Cheshire (1877) I. 99 Were married by [a] knitbegger, 

Daniel Hulme and Esther Hunt. 

Knit (nit), sb. 

[f. KNIT v.] 

tl. The style or stitch in which anything is 

knitted ; knitted work ; texture. Obs. 

1596 SHAKS. Tarn. Shr. iv. i. 95 Let . . their garters [be] of 

an indifferent knit. 1603 Q. Eliz. Wardr. in Leisure H, 

(1884) 739/2 A paire of sleeves of gold and silver knytt. 

2. Knitting, uniting of parts, rare. 

1892 Pall Mall G. 4 Oct. 7/1 A palmist on Mr. G. G. . . He 

has the knits of order but no science. 

3. Contraction or wrinkle (of the brow). 

1895 Daily News 29 Jan. 5/4 He. .has.. a permanent knit 

of the brow. 

4. Mining: see qnot. (Perh. properly nit.) 

iSSx RAYMOND Mining Gloss., Knits or Knots, small 

particles of ore. 

Knit (nit), ppl. a. [Pa. pple. of KNIT z>.] 

1. Knotted, tied, fastened together; contracted 

: together see the verb. 

c 1440 Promp. Parv. 279/2 Knytte, nodatus, nexus, COM. 

nexus. 1605 VERSTEGAN Dec. Intel!, iii. (1628) 79 The knit 

vnitie and conioyned concord of the Saxons. 1715-20 POPE 

Iliad xx. 554 Where the knit nerves the pliant elbow 

strung. 1851 D. IERROLD St. Giles xiv. 139 He turned with 

knit eyebrows to his wife. 

b. With qualifying adv., as well-knit. 

1715 POPE Odyss. jcvm. 259 Thy well-knit frame .. Speaks 

thee an hero, from an hero sprung. 1871 TVLOR Print. 

Cult. II. xiv. 122 Well-knit harangues full of the poetic 

figure and metaphor of the professional orator. 

2. Formed as a texture by knitting: see KNITZI. 2 b. 

Formerly sometimes hyphened, as knit-stockings. 

[1488 Will in Ripon Ch. Acts (Surtees) 286, j knyt gyrdyll.] 

1587 HARRISON England n. xxii. (1877) i. 342 In colouting 

their knit hosen 1612 STURTEVANT Metallica 71 Knit stockings 

with loome, which is a late Inuention of one Maister 

Lee. 1720 DE FOE Caft. Singleton xviii. (1840) 302 He. . 

obtained it for a knit cap. 1818 LADY MORGAN Antobiog. 

(1859) 86 A knit silk scarf. Mod. Trade Rep., The knit 

goods market is in a flourishing condition. 

f 3. Having conceived, pregnant. Obs. 

1603 HOLLAND Plutarch's Mar. 218 No sooner doth she 

perceive herselfe to be knit with egge, but she falleth 

presently to build her nest 1781 W. BLANE Ess. Hunting 

(1788) 118 The Doe .. seldom holds an end, unless knit ; or 

at the end of the season has kindled. 

Knit, variant of NIT sb. and v. 

Knitch (nitj). Nowofoz/. Forms: 0.4 knucche, 

knohche, knyoohe, 4-6 knytche, 5 knyche, 

6 knoohe, 6- knitoh. /3. 6 nytche, 8- nitoh. 

[ME. knucche, knycche:QTL. gecnycc(e (occurring 

in the sense 'bond') ; from same root as i,G.knuck(e, 

Ger. knocke, a bundle of heckled flax. Ultimate 

etym. obscure : cf. tocnuicte and gectiyAt from a vb. 

enycc,e]an in Lindisf. Gl.] A bundle (of wood, 

hay, com, etc.) tied together ; a sheaf or faggot. 

a. [C950 Durham Ri/ual (Surtees) 59 From synna usra 

Xicnyccum [L, apeccatorum nostrorum nexibus]. Ibid. 66 

Deaoesx;cnyccum[L. mortis nexibus\\ 13.. XI Pains of \ 

Hell 77 in Minor Poems Jr. Vernon MS. 253 Ligate fer ! 

fascicules .. Byndeb hem in knucchen [MS. knucchenus). 

7 13. . Coer de L. 2985 The ffbotmen kast in knohches 

of hay,.. And ffylde the dyke fful upryghte. 1381 WYCLIF 

Matt. xiii. 30 Gedre ?ee to gedre dernels...and byndeth 

hem to gidre in knytchis [gloss or smale bundelis]. 1398 

TKEVISA Barth. De P. R. xvn. xcvii. (Tollcm. MS.), [Flax] 

bounde in knytches [1535 nytches) and bondeles. 1481 : 

Nottingham Rec. II. 320, xvj. knitche de strey lates. 1519 

Churchw. Ace. Stratton in Archxologta XLVI. 207 Paid 

for strow v knochys jd. 1552 HULOET, Knytche or bownche j 

of voodf,/ascis. 1603 HOLLAND Plutarch's Mor. 203 Himselfe 

tooke out of the sheafe or knitch the darts one by 

one. 1850 KINCSLEY Alt. Locke xxviii, If I dared break a 

hedge for a knitch o' wood, they'd put me in prison. 

0- .'535 (sec 1398 in a). 1725 Land. Gaz. No. 6447/4 

Taking Straws out of a Nitch of Straw. 1823 Examiner 

574/1 He was seen to go towards the thicket, for the 

j-.j .29 Nitch is a faggot ~ 

wood which a hedger has.. a right to carry away at night. 

Kni'tchel. [f. prec. + -EL.] A small bundle. 

1500-20 DUNBAR Poems xxii. 72 Twa curis or thre hes 

vpolandis Michell, With dispensationis bund in knitchell. 

1901 Eng. Dial. Diet., Knitchell, a . bundle, .a cluster. 

t Knitchet. Obs. rare- 1 , 

[f. KNITCH + -ET.] 

A small knitch ; a handful (of reeds, etc.). 

But in quot perh. misprint for knitches, usual in Holland. 

1601 HOLLAND Pliny \\. xx. xvii. 100 The said stems are 

slit and clouen . . when they be dried, they ought to be made 

up into knitcheu or handfuls. 

Kni t-knot. rare. 

[f. KNIT ppl. a. + KNOT, 

with effect of alternative 

reduplication, as in knick- 

A knitted or knotted piece of work. 

736 

1703 Country Farmers Catech. (N.), Not to spend their 

time tn . . knit-knots, patchwork, and such like fooleries. 

f Kni'tster. Obs. rare- 1 , 

[f. KNIT v. + 

-STEB.l = KNITTEB i. (In form, feminine.) 

1648 MAYNE Amorous War v. viii, My two Troilus's 

transform'd to Knitsters. 

Knitted (ni-ted), ppl. a. [f. KNIT v. + -BD i.] 

= KNIT ppl. a. 

1855 MAYNE Expos. Lex., Knitted, applied to that stage 

in the union of fractured bones in which ossification has so 

far advanced as to give a certain degree of firmness to a 

broken limb. 1858 SIMMONDS Diet. Trade, Knittingmachine, 

a machine for weaving and making knitted work. 

1866 J. B. ROSE tr. Ovid"s Met. 263 She sate, Cross-legged 

and knitted-fingered in the gate. 1870 MORRIS Earthly Par. 

II. in. 20 She Set her slim hand upon her knitted brow. 

Knitter (ni-taj). [f. KNIT v. + -EK i.] 

1. One who or that which ties, knots, unites, or 

closely joins together, lit. and^%". 

c 1440 CAPGRAVE Life St. Kath. iv. 2311 On oo god I 

beleue..! beleue on Ihesu..! leue in the goost, knettere of 

hem too. 1587 GOLDINO De Mornay xiv. 225 Wee see in 

mansbody..agreate nomber of sinewes, Fleshstrings, and 

knitters. 1604 DEKKER Honest Wh. Wks. 1873 II. 74 He 

means this day to be married . . Frier Anselmo is the Knitter. 

2. One who knits or works up yarn or thread 

into a looped texture, for hosiery, etc. 

c 1515 Coclte Lorelfs B. 10 Spynsters, carders, and cappe 

knytters. 1601 SHAKS. Twel. N. II. iv. 45 The Spinsters 

and the Knitters in the Sun. 1723 Loud. Gaz. No. 6224/9 

ing, etc. lit. and _/?. 

a 1420 HOCCLEVE De Reg. Princ. 4542 Opne hem [bags] ; 

hir knyttynge al to sore annoyeth. 1:1430 Life St. Kath. 

(1884) 42 pe lawful! knyttyng of matrimony. 1550 BALE 

Image Both Ch. (1560) A iij, The very complete summe and 

whole knyttyng up. 1617 Bp, HALL Quo Yadis ? 4 Wks. 

(2628) 691 Blossomes . . nipped.. with an Aprill frost when 

they should come to the knitting. 1874 GREEN Short Hist. 

iii. 4. 131 The knitting of Christian nations together into 

a vast commonwealth. 

tb. concr. A tie, fastening, knot (lit.ya&fig?}. Obs. 

13.. Sir Beues (MSS. S. and N.) 149/3220 On hur gurdul 

3he made a knyttyng riding [other MSS. knotte riding], 

Aboute his necke she hit brew Him to honge hard and fast. 

1495 Trevisa's Barth. De P. R. xvn. clxxiv. (W. de W.) 

V iv b/i Bendes and knyttynges [Bodley MS. knyttels] made 

to bynde vp vynes. a 1548 HALL Chron., Hen. l^/fl, 96 

Betwene the knittynges Flowers of Golde. 1610 BARROUGH 

Meth. Physick I. xxv. (1639) 43 Apply it to the Handles, 

and to the . . Knittings of the joynts. 

2. spec. The formation of a fabric by looping 

(see quot. 1883). b. concr. Work so done or made, 

knitted work. 

1711 ADDISON Sped. No. 108 F 3 A Pair of Garters of his 

own knitting. 1880 Miss BRADDON fust as I am vii, Aunt 

Dora was occupied with her knitting. 1882 CAULFEILD & 

SAWARD Diet. Needlework s. v., The art of Knitting was 

unknown in England until the sixteenth century. 1883 

Chamber? Encycl.V. 8 IQ Knitting consists in using a single 

thread, and with it forming a continual series of loops across 

the whole fabric ; the next row [of loops] passes through 

these ; and they in their turn receive another set, until the 

whole is 

completed. 1892 MRS. ALEXANDER ForhisSake L 

220 Please bring me my knitting. 

3. attrib. and Comb., as knitting-cotton (cotton 

thread for knitting), knittitig-machine, -mill, -silk, 

-work; knitting-case, (a) = knitting-sheath; (b) a 

case for keeping knitting-needles in ; f knittingcup, 

a cup of wine handed round at a marriage 

feast; knitting-pin, f knitting-prick, knittingwire 

= KNITTING-NEEDLE ; knitting-sheath, a 

cylindrical sheath for holding a knitting-needle 

steady in the act of knitting; knitting-stick, an 

elongated form of the knitting-sheath. Also KNIT- 

TING-NEEDLE. 

1851 llluslr. Catal. Gt. Exhib. 786 Complete fancy *knit. 

ting-basket. Ibid. 785 *Knitting cases. 1888 E, EGGLESTOM 

Graysans xxx. 333 She paused to take the end of one needle 

i*. JW.^JVrt .lll.f^ll. 4MWF IV. 11, iûc, UUC, .UIU III1I1U i llC 

Parsons pint .. A *knitting Cup there must be. 1858 

"Knitting-machine [see KNITTED). 1875 KNIGHT Diet. 

Mech. 1236/2 The Bickford knitting-machine .. is a specimen 

of the circular system. 1898 Folk-lore Sept. 219 

The old *knitting-parties which once formed centres of 

social life in winter evenings. 1870 Miss BRIDGMAN 

R. Lynne I. XL 178 The.. click of the 'knitting-pins ceased. 

- 

. __iss 

Ophelia.. pulle_ _ 

her "knitting-work, and sat there, grim with indignation. 

Knitting (ni-tin), ///. a. [f. as prec. + -ING2.] 

That knits, in various senses : see the verb. 

KNOB. 

1387-8 T. USK Test. Love Pro). (Skeat) 1. 3 The deliciousnesse 

of icstes and of ryme, by queynt kmttinge coloures. 

1587 GOLDING De Mornay x. (1617) 152 The knitting parts, 

that is to wit, the bones, the skin, the sinewes and such like. 

1599 A. M. tr. Gabelhouer's Bk. Physicke 342/2 Knitting 

knitting mother. 

Knitting-needle. A long straight blunt 

'needle' or slender rod used, two or more at 

a time, in knitting ; either of steel for fine work, 

or of wood, ivory, etc., with a knob at one end, for 

larger work. 

These are sometimes distinguished as kn.-needles and in.pins. 

In Scotland steel kn.-needles are called wins. 

1598 FLORIO, Agufchiare, to knit with knitting needles. 

1712 ARBUTHNOT John Bull HI. ii. She would prick him with 

her knitting needle. 1889 ' 

J. S. WINTER' Mrs. Bob (1891) 48 

She plied her knitting-needles. 

Knittle (ni-t'l). Also 7 knettel, 7-8 -le, (8 

derivative of KNIT v. : see 

nittle, 9 nettle). [A 

-LE, -EL !. OE. cnyttels is found once as a gloss 

to L. nervus,] 

fl. A string or cord for tying or 

fastening. 

Obs. in gen. sense. 

Thomas Pratchitt, late of Nottingham, Frame Wort 

Knitter. 1778 JOHNSON in Boswell 7 Apr., A knitter of 

tings. 1834-7 SOUTHEY Doctor, (title) T ' 

stockii 

terrible Knitters 

e' Dent. 1844 G. DODD Textile Manu/. vii. 209 A frame. 

work knitter (the technical name for a stocking maker). 

b. A knitting-machine. 

1890 Chicago Advance 12 June, Some sort of an invention 

. . a knitter. 

f 3. (app.) Some knitted article of dress. Obs. 

1530 in Weaver Wells Wills (1890) 145 My wyfes best cap, 

herbest gowne, her best knytter. 1532 Ibid. 105 His eldest 

dowter a cape and a knytter to the nd dowter a ij 

aprone 

and a knytter. 1534 Ibid. 107 A cap with a knytter. 

Knitting (ni'tin), vbl. sb. [f. as prec. + -ING 1 

'Ibid', xvn. clxxv. (Bodl. MS.), Of persche be|> nedefulle 

bondes and knyttels [ed. 1495 knyttynges] made to binde up 

vines. 

2. spec. a. Naut. A small line made of yarn, 

used on board ship. Also attrib. 

1627 CAPT. SMITH Seaman's Gram. v. 25 Knettels are two 

rope yai nes twisted together, and a knot at each end, whereunto 

to sease a blocke, a rope, or the like. 1762 FALCONER 

Shifwr. 

.] 

L The action of the verb KNIT. Fastening in or 

with a knot, tying, binding, conjunction, compact- 

n. 194 The reef enwrapp'd, th' inserted niltles [ed. 

1769 inserting knittles]

KNOB. 

c. The bud or rudiment of a horn ; in quot fig 

1664 BUTLER Hud. n. i. 658 Those knobs that grow Much 

harder on the marry d brow. 

d. Arch. A rounded prominence orboss of carved 

work, esp. at the end of a raised moulding or at 

the intersection of ribs. 

1730 W. WARREN Collectanea, in Willis & Clark Cam. 

''fiBAt I n-,^ bridge Tko r^.'ni: 1 : rr**...l i . 

and 

boss : 

of a similar kind. 

2. A prominent isolated rounded mound or hill ; 

a knoll ; a hill in general ; esp. in U. S. 

,1630 T. B. Worcester's Apoph. 30 The ground.. is said to 

rise up, m a round Knob ; whereupon St. David pitched his 

Crosse. 1791 W. BARTRAM Carolina 338 The surface of the 

land. .is. .uneven, occasioned by natural mounds or rocky 

knobs. 1812 BRACKENRIDGE Views Louisiana (1814) 108 

I hose dividing ridges of streams, which in Kentucky are 

called knobs. 1863 E. HITCHCOCK Remin. Amherst Coll 

241 Hilliard's Knob, the highest point of the Holyoke range 

1872 JENKINSON Guide Eng. Lakes (1879) 81 The rocky knob 

called Whitemoss Howe. 

3. A small lump (of sugar, coal, etc.). Also 

KNUB, NUB. 

1676 WORLIDGF. Cyder (1691) 150 Bottling it with a knob 

of sugar. 1768-74 TUCKER LI. Nat. (1834) I. 70 Is your tea 

bitter ? You may sweeten it by putting in a knob of sugar. 

1801 WOLCOTT (P. Pindar) Ep. to Ct. /iiim/ardVfks. !8i2 

V. 144 Rummage the dark Coal-hole of his brain But not 

one Knob is in it. 1863 Gd. Words Feb. 125/1 These 

children .. when they are 'very good', and work hard, .. 

sometimes get a 'knob o' suck '. .on Saturday. 

4. slang. The head. Usually NOB, q. v. 

1723 New Cant. Diet., Knob, the Head or Skull. 1888 

M. ROBERTSON Lombard St. Myst. xvi, It were s'posed 

the guilty deed were one too much for 'is knob. 1899 R. 

' 

WHITEING No. 5 John Street xxvii, They . 

invariably. ketch 

it in the knob ' 

in the form of bilious headache. 

5. A small collection of widgeons, dunbirds, 

teals, or the like. 

1875 ' STONEHENGE ' 

' 

Brit. Sports I. I. ix. i A knob ' 

is a 

still smaller number [than 30] of the above birds [wildfowl]. 

6. = KNOBSTICK 2. 

1838 Ann. Reg. 204/1 note, The chastisement of knobs ', the 

assassination of oppressive and tyrannical masters. 

t7. Phr. To make no knobs: to make no 

defalked by the Jews, they make no Knobs in cutting off 9 i 

them together. 

8. attrib. and Comb., as knob-end, tail; knobbilled, 

-like, -nosed adjs. ; knob-fly, a kind of 

fly used in angling; knob-hole, a hole for the 

insertion of a knob ; knob-look, a lock which is 

opened with a knob. Also KNOBSTICK, -WEED, etc. 

1878 GOULD Birds N. Guinea V. pi. 5o*Knob-billed Fruit- 

Pigeon. 1894 ' 

' 

J. S. WINTER Red Coats 65 He came to a 

door on which he rapped with the *knob-end of his stick. 

1829 Glover's Hist. Derby I. 177 The following , . are well 

known to the expert angler ; viz. barm fly, black fly,. ."knob 

fly. 1831 Illustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib. 1458 The "knob holes 

of the curtains form, in stitching, the grape leaf. 1861 

BENTLEY Man. Bat. 51 In touching a nettle lightly, the 

"knob-like head is broken off, and the sharp point of the 

sting enters the skin. 1813 Examiner 10 May 294/2 J. 

Charlesworth,. . "knob-lock-maker. 1887 RUSKIN Prxterita 

II. ix. 331 A .. snub- or rather *knob-nosed .. simpleton. 

1836 T. HOOK G. Gurney I. 212 An old buck-rabbit with 

a "nob tail. 

Knob (npb), v. [f. prec. sb.] 

1. trans. To furnish with a knob or knobs to 

; 

form knobs upon. 

1879 Span's Encycl. Indust. Arts\. 701 A thin sheet of 

' 

copper, whose surface has been knobbed ', or raised into 

rows of oval knobs, by the application of a blind punch. 

2. intr. To form a knob or knobs, to bunch ; to 

bulge out, 

1566 [see KNOBBING below]. 1631 MARKHAM Way to 

Wealth, To make Hasty Pudding, .when it boils put in 

a spoonful of Flower, but not let it knob. 1876 BLACKMORE 

Cripps xxiv, Tapering straight as a fishing-rod, and knobbing 

out on either side with scarcely controllable bulges. 

3. trans. To free from knobs, to rough-dress 

(stone in the quarry). 

4. trans. To hit. slang. 

1818 Sporting Mag. 

"890 in Cent. Diet. 

II. 211 He knobbed his well. 

adversary 

Hence Kno'bbing ppl. a. 

1366 DRANT Horace i. ix. (1567) N ij b, Stitche, or coughe, 

or knobbing gowt. 

Knobbed (npbd, -ed), a. Also 9 nobbed, [f. 

KNOB sb. or v. + -ED.] Furnished with or having 

a knob or knobs; formed into or ending in a knob. 

CI440 Promp. Parv. 280/1 Knobbyd, as hondys or other 

lymmys, callosus. Knobbyd, or as 

knpttyd trees, vertiginosiis, 

verticosus. 1363 SACKVILLE in Mirr. Mag., Induct. 

xxxix, His knuckles knobd. 1673 GREW A not. Roots i. 6 

Round [roots] are Tuberous, or Simply Knobbed, as Rape- 

Crowfoot. 1776-96 WITHERING Brit. Plants (ed. 3) I. 230 

Pist[il]. ..Summit knobbed. 1794 G. ADAMS Nat. $ Exp. 

Philos. IV. xlix. 333 Experiments on the preferable utility 

of pointed or knobbed conductors, for preserving buildings 

from lightning. 1839 URE Diet. Arts 583 The workman 

[glass-blower] having, .taken possession of the globe by its 

bottom or knobbed [ed. 1875 II. 657 knobbled] pole attached 

to his punty rod. 1850 H. MILLER Footpr. Great, x. (1874) 

188 The knobbed surface of the thong. 

Knobber (np-bai). Venery. lObs. [f. KNOB 

sb. i c + -EB 1.] A male deer in its second year : 

cf. KNOBBLER i ; a brocket. 

VOL. V. 

737 

a 1700 B. E. Diet. Cant. Crew, A Knobber, the second 

(yearl 1891 C. WISE Rockingham Cast. * Watsons 

I he Hart 

152 

of the second year was a ' 

Knobber '. 

Knobbiness (np-bines). [f. KNOBBY a. + 

-NESS.] 

The quality of being knobby. 

i6n COTGR., Nodositt, knottinesse, knobbinesse. 1753 in 

JOHNSON. 1885 Harper's Mag. Mar. 614/1 The knobbhess 

of her spine. 1893 W. H. HUDSON Patagonia v. 6: The 

surface carved to almost symmetrical knobbiness 

Knobble (npb'I), sb. [dim. of KNOB sb. = 

Du. and LG. knobbel knob, knot : cf. G. knobel 

(kiiobel, kniibct) knuckle, knot.] A small knob. 

-11483 [see KNOB sb. ib quot. 1490]. 1377 Lane. Wills 

(1857) II. 92 One standemge cup .. w"> .. roses upon the 

nobble off the cover. 1849 ALB. SMITH Pottleton Leg. 

(repr.) 46, I always endeavour to act right by gentlemen's 

coals, and wouldn t rob them of a knobble. 

Hence Kno-bbleda., knobbed. 

1875 [see KNOBBED, quot. 1839], 

Kno'bble, v. dial, and techn. [f. KNOB sb.] 

a. To knock, etc. ; spec. = KNAP z.l 2, KNOB v. 

3. b. Metallurgy. To shingle; also NOBBLE, q.v. 

1842-76 GWILT Archil, (ed. 7) Gloss., Knobbling, knocking 

off the rough protuberances of hard rock stone at the quarry. 

1863^9 Diet. Archil., Knobbling, the term used near London 

and in the west of England for . . reducing a mass of stone 

in the quarry to a somewhat square block. .. In flint work 

it is called ' 

knapping'. 1876 Whitby Gloss., Knobble, v. to 

strike with a club. 1879 Miss JACKSON Shropsh. Word-bk., 

Knobble, to hammer ; to knock, but not forcibly. 1881 RAY- 

MOND Mining Gloss. , Knobbling-fire, a bloomary for refining 

cast-iron. 

Knobbler 

1. = KNOBBER. 

[f. KNOBBLE sb. + -EB.I.] 

1686 BLOME Gent. Recreat. H. 75 The Hart is called the 

first year a Calf, . . the second year a Knobler. a 1832 SCOTT 

(Webster 1864), He has hallooed the hounds upon a velvetheaded 

knobbler. 

2. Metallurgy. A shingler ; also NOBBLEB, q. v. 

Knobbly (npbli), a. Also nobbly. [f. 

KNOBBLE sb. + -Y 1 .] Full of or covered with 

knobbles ; of the nature of a knobble ; knobby. 

1839 SALA Gaslight $ D. xxv. 284 To clink his boot-heels 

upon the nobbly stones. 1862 TYNDALL Mountaineer, xii. 98 

The snow was steep but knobbly. 1894 IOTA yellow Aster 

I. xv. 184 He. .returned shortly with a big knobbly parcel in 

one hand. 

Knobby (np'bi), a. Also 6-7 knobbie, 9 nobby. 

[f. KNOB sb. + -Y 1.] 

1. Full of, abounding in, bearing, or covered with 

knobs or protuberances ; knotty. 

1343 TRAHERON l-'igo's Chirtirg. 166 Ovide sayth . . no 

medicine can heale the knobbie gout. 1607 HIERON Wks. 

I. 235 A crooked and knobby tree must first be hewed and 

squared. 1647 H. MORE Song of Soul in. App. xxxiii, 

Humours did arrive His knobby head, and a fair pair of 

horns contrive, a 1722 LISLE Hitsb. (1752) 140 The smooth 

loose land should be first rolled, and the rough knobby land 

be deferred. 1844 DICKENS Mart. Chuz. xxxiii, His face 

was almost as hard and knobby as his stick. 

fig . 1640 HOWELI. Dodonas Gr. (1645) 124 The Informers 

continued in a knobby kind of obstinacy. 

2. Of the nature of a knob, knob-shaped. 

1764 GRAINGER Sugar Cane iv. 274 When no more Round 

knobby spots deform, but the disease Seems at a pause. 

1848 DICKENS Dambeyx. (C. D. ed.) 82 The captain . .brought 

out his wide suit of blue . . and his knobby nose in full relief, 

Knobkerrie (n'b|Stik). 

1. A stick, cane, or club, having a rounded knob 

for its head a knobbed stick. 

; 

1824 [see b]. 1867 Crim. Chronol. York Castle 190 Beating 

him over the head with knobsticks. 1887 JESSOPP 

A ready vii. 192 With the knob sticks of the mob. 

b. Such a stick used as a weapon; a knobkerrie. 

1824 BURCHELL Trav. S. Afr. I. 354 A keeri..(a short 

knobstick) in his hand. 1839 BURTON Centr. in 

A/r. Jrnl. 

Geog. Sac. XXIX. 266 Terrifying the enemy with maniacal 

gestures, while stones and knobsticks fly through the air. 

1894 B. MITFORD Curse Clement Waynjlete vii. 24^1 The 

warrior's heavy knobstick, hurled with deadly precision. 

2. A name given, by workmen, to one who 

during a strike or lock-out continues to work on 

the master's terms ; a black-leg. (See also quot. 

1892.) Also attrib. 

spinner'. 1848 MRS. GASKELL Mary Barton xvi, Taken 

up last week for throwing vitriol in a knob-stick's face. 1892 

Labour Commission Gloss., A knobstick is one who takes 

the work of an operative on strike, or refuses to go out on 

strike along with his fellow-workmen. ..Workmen, .who are 

not members of a trade union are frequently called knob* 

sticks by the unionist workmen. The term is also applied 

KNOCK. 

to men who work at a trade to which they served no 

apprenticeship. 

D. A master who employs men on terms not 

recognized by a trade-union. 

1831-61 MAYHEW Land. Labour III. 220 (Hoppe) I next 

stick's'" 

" at S under ' 

'P"ced ha"er's, termed a knob. 

Knobweed (iy b ( wfd). [f. KNOB sb. + WEED rf.l 

a. = KNAPWEED ; also applied to other British 

species of Centaurea. b. Name for Collinsonia 

Black Knapweed, perhaps more properly Knobweed. 1879 

BRITTEN & HOLLAND Plant-,,., Knobweed (in allusion t' 

the hard, round flower-heads), Centaurea nigra, C.Cyanus 

and C. Scabiosa. 1888 Syd. Soc. Lex., Knobweed, the 

Collinsonia canadensis. 

Knobwood (np-b,wnd). A local name of the 

Wild Cardamom of S.Africa, Xanthoxylon capense, 

the hard close-grained wood of which is used for 

implements. 

1887 in Kevi Bulletin Kaffrnria 27. 

Sept. n. 1894 SIM Flora of 

Knoccle, obs. form of KNUCKLE. 

Knock (npk), v. Forms: i onuoian, cnocian, 2 

enokien, 4 onoke, 4-5 knoke, knokke, 4-6 

knok, 4-7 knooke, 4, 6- knock. [Late OE. 

cnocian, beside usual WS. cnucian; cf. ON. 

knoka ; prob. of echoic origin. The relations 

between the u and o forms are 

obscure.] 

I. 1. intr. To strike with a sounding blow, as 

with the fist or something hard; esp. to rap upon a 

door or gate in order to call attention or gain 

admittance (const, at, f on, f upon}. 

ciooo ÊLFRIC Horn. II. 382 He..cnucode a:re cytan 

duru cnocode. c 1160 Hatton Gosp. Matt. vii. 7 CnokieS 

and eow beo3 untynd. Luke xii. 36 panne he cymS and 

cnokeO. c 1320 Orfeo 363 Orpheo knocked at the gate. 13.. 

E. E. A Hit. P. B. 726 Quen such ber cnoken on |>e bylde, 

Tyt schal hem men be 

jate vnpynne. 1382 WYCLIF Matt. 

vii. 7 Knocke 5e, and it shal be opnyd to jou. c 1386 

CHAUCER Miller's T. 246 Clepe at his dore, or knokke 

with a stoon. c 1423 WYNTOUN Cron. vm. xxxv. 72 pare 

knokide he \Vyth-owte ye Dnre. 1396 SHAKS. Tarn. Slir. 

v. i. 16 What's he that knockes as he would beat downe 

the gate? 1608 ARMIN Nest Ninn. (1842) 13 They knockt 

to the dresser, and the dinner went up. 1703 MOXON Mecfi. 

Exerc. 195 To knock upon the back of the Cleaving Knife. 

1828 SCOTT F. M. Perth xix, She stood before her lover's 

door and knocked for admittance. 1891 E. PEACOCK N. 

Brendan I. 115 He knocked at the door. 

fiS- c 1374 CHAUCER Compl. Mars 84 With torch in honde 

of whiche the stremes brijt On venus Chaumbre knokkide 

ful lyjt. 1363 WiN3ET Four Scoir Thre Quest. To Rdr., 

Wks. 1888 I. 61 Sa grete is the guidnes of God to knok at 

the breist of man. 1610 SHAKS. Temp. \. ii. 8 The cry did 

knocke Against my very heart. 1858 HAWTHORNE/"?-. $ It. 

Jrnls. II. 2 A sense of his agony . . came knocking at my 

heart. 

b. Without reference to the sound produced : 

To give a hard blow, to beat; to give blows; 

f ellipt. To strike upon the breast (obs.). 

a 1300 Cursor M. 29092 Knock on brest wit hand. 13. . 

Gaw. ft Gr. Knt. 414 Ta now by grymme tole to be, & let 

see how bou cnokez. 1362 in Slrype Ann. Ref. 11824) ! L 

xxix. 503 Divers communicants.. superstitiously both kneel 

and knock. 1583 BABINGTON Cotnmandm, ii. (1590) 87 To 

fall downe before a stocke and a stone, and to doo it reuerence, 

canping, kneeling, knocking, ..and such like. 

c. trans, with indefinite obj. it, To give knocks ; 

also, with cognate obj. 

1613 SHAKS. Hen. VIU, 

I. iv. 108 Let the Musicke knocke 

it. 1682 N. O. Boilean's Lntrin IL 183 He resolv'd at a 

Dead pinch to knock it. 1840 DICKENS Old C. Shop xxxv, 

We have knocked double-knocks at the street-door. 1865 

J. H. NEWMAN Gerontius i A visitant Is knocking his 

dire summons at my door. 

2. trans. To give a hard blow or blows to ; to 

hit, strike, beat, hammer; fto beat into small 

pieces, pound (0Ar.). Also with extension expressing 

result, as to knock to (or in) pieces, etc. 

c 1000 Sax. Lcechd. I. 142 genim bonne ba leaf, cnuca on 

anum mortere. Ibid. 168 genim ba wyrte jecnucude 

[MS. B. jecnocode]. Ibid. 382Cnuci3e ea!]e5a wyrta. 1:1075 

Indicia Monasterialia in Techjrier's Zeitschrift II. 125 

ponne weje bu Jine fyst, swilce bu wyrta cnocian wille. 1377 

LANGL. P. PI. B. v. 397 He bygan benedicite with a bolke, 

and his brest knocked. 1398 TREVISA Earth. De P. R. 

xvil. xcvii. (Tollem. MS.), It [flax] is., knokked and bete, 

breyed and carried, c 1400 Destr. Troy 2601 Kylle of hor 

knightes, knocke horn to dethe. a 1400-50 Alexander 639 

Him wald he kenely on be croune knok with his tablis. 

a 1548 HALL Chron., Hen. VIII 172 b, Some knocked 

other on the elbow, and said softly he lieth. 1399 SHAKS. 

Hen. V, n. i. 58, I haue an humor to knocke you indifferently 

well. 1602 Ham. II. i. 81 His knees knocking 

each other. 1698 FRYER Ace. E. India $ P. 37 The Bar 

knocking in pieces all that are inflexible. 1822-34 Good's 

Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 424 [He] runs to open the door when 

it is knocked. 

fb. Jig. To strike with astonishment, alarm, or 

' 

confusion ; to confound ; to floor '. Obs. colloq. 

1715 S. SEWALL Diary i Feb. (1882) III. 37 Mr. Winthrop 

was so knockt that he said it could not be done. 

C. To 'strike' forcibly, make a strong impression 

on to move to ; 

admiration, ' 

fetch '. slang. 

1883 Referee 6 May 3/3 (Farmer) ' 

It's Never too Late to 

158

KNOCK. 

Mend', with J. H. Clynds as Tom Robinson, is knocking 

'cm at the Pavilion. 1885 J. K. JEROME On the Stage 97 

There is nothing knocks a country audience like a hornpipe. 

1802 CKIVAUU &HVi Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road. 

3. To knock on (t) the head (also rarely at 

a blow on 

heat) : a. lit. ; esp. to stun or kill by 

the head often ; loosely, to kill in any summary 

way, dispatch, put to death. 

c 1537 Thersites in Hazl. Dodslty I. 427, I care not if the 

old witch were dead : It were an alrasdeed to knock her ill the 

head. 1641 J. JACKSON TrueEvang. T. n. 117 S. James, .was 

knockt in the nead like an Oxe, or Calfe, after lie had been 

thrown down from a Pinacle of the Temple. 1711 ADDISON 

Stect. No. 99 P 5 The Knight goes off, . . seeks all Opportuni- 

nesof being knock'd' on the Head. 1737 BRACKEN Farriery 

I had better knock the Horse o' th' 

Impr. (1756) I. 316, 

Head, and dispatch him at once. 1840 BARHAM Ingol. Leg., 

Crty Dolphin, To lie snoring there when your brethren are 

being knocked at head. 

b. Jig. To put an end to, bring to nothing. 

1579 W. FULKE Heskitts* Parl. 327 To knocke his . . mallice 

in the head. 1584 R. SCOT Discirv. H'itchcr. vm. iii. (1886) 

129 Witchcraft, ..is knocked on the head. 1677 YARRANTON 

ng. ImfrtrJ'. 63 Endeavour to knock all on the head, 

urging that it will be of great prejudice to the King. 1724 

DK FOE Mem. Cavalier (1840) 186 One unlucky action 

knocked it all on the head. 1853 MRS. CARI.YLE Lett. II. 

158 We were to have gone to Germany, but that is all 

knocked on the head. 

4. trans. To drive or bring (a thing) violently 

against something else ; to strike against or upon 

something else ; 

into collision. 

to bring 

a 1340 HAMPOLE Psalter cxxxvi. 12 Blisful he J>at shal 

holde, and knok his smale [ptiruulos sitos} til be stone. 1599 

lie knock his Leeke about his 

SHAKS. Hen. V, iv. i. 54 

Pate. 1698 FRYER Ace. E. IndiafyP. in Buffola's.. knock 

Foreheads with a Force adequate to such great Engines. 

b. \Toknockhcadsivith: to congregate thickly 

or associate closely with (ol>s.). To knock one's 

head : against to strike with one's head ; Jig. 

to hurt 

oneself by coming into collision with resisting facts 

or conditions To knock head = ; 

to KOTOW. 

1530 PALSGR. 599/2, I knocked my heed agaynst the poste. 

1615 CHAPMAN Oayss. Ep. Ded., Our patrician loves, That 

knock heads with the herd. 1662 STILLINGFL. 

Orig. Soft: 

in. i. 17 In danger of knocking their heads against the 

Stars. 1824 BYRON Juan xv. xci, I always knock my head 

against some angle About the present, past, or future state. 

1837 

DICKENS Pickw. xxxiii, I hear him a-knockin' his head 

again the lath and plaster now. 1876 GRANT Hist. India 

I. xcii. 497/1 The ambassador who refused to ' 

knock-head '. 

Mod. An angular man always knocking his head against 

stone walls. 

5. intr. To come into violent collision with 

something ; to strike, collide, bump, clash. 

1530 PALSGR. 599/2, I knocke, or hyt agaynst a thing. 

1633 T. JAMES Voy. 18 Our Ship beating and knocking .. 

fearefully. 1724 BENTLEY Serin. (T.), The atoms . . must 

needs knock and interfere. 1881 Standard 19 Dec. 6/3 

Olive Branch has been assisted into Harwich very leaky, 

having knocked over the Knock Sand. 

b. Of mechanism : To rattle on account of parts 

being loose and striking each other. 

1869 Eng. Mech. 19 Mar. 579/3 There was less 'knocking' 

where a little .had. 

play. .begun. 1896 R. K.ivuHGSevenStas 

32 They [engines] knock a wee the crossliead-gibs are loose. 

f C. To knock under board, under (the) table : 

to succumb in a drinking-bout ; 

to give in, submit, 

yield ; = knock under (15). Obs. 

1691-1 Centl. Jrnl. Mar. jp He that flinches his Glass, 

and to Drink is not able, Let him quarrel no more, but knock 

under the Table. 1692 SOUTH Sernt. (1724) VI. 17 For the 

Government to knock under-board to the Faction. 1700 

ASGILL Argument 105, I.. knock under table That Satan 

hath beguiled me to play the Fool with my self. 1703 Levellers 

in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park) V. 447 We will not knock 

under-board to the men. 

d. with adv. or advb. phi: : To 

stir or move 

energetically, clumsily, and noisily, or in random 

fashion, about a place. (See also knock about, 7 b). 

colloq. 

a 1825 FORBY Voc, E. Anglia, Knock, to stir or to work 

briskly. Ex. ' He came knocking along the road in a great 

hurry '. 1839 W. E. FORSTER 20 Dec. in T. W. Reid Life 

v. (1888) 134 A true hearty old Navy Captain, ..who has 

knocked about Africa half his life. 1884 Marcus Clarke 

Memor. Vol. 88, I ' 

thought it advisable to knock round ' 

in 

search of him. 1886 G. ALLEN Maimie's Sake ii, Knocking 

up and down all over . . the country. 

6. trans. With extension : To drive by striking ; 

to force or send by means of a blow (away ; into, 

out of, off, etc. something, or into or out of some 

state or condition). See also 7-14. Alsoyf^. 

1610 SHAKS. Temp. in. ii. 69 He yeeld him thee asleepe, 

Where thou maist knocke a naife into his head. 1869 STURMY 

Mariner's Mag. v. 85 Knock the Fuse up to the head 

within one quarter of an Inch. 1719 DE FOE Crusoe i. iv, 

I knocked pieces into the wall of the rock, to hang my 

guns.. up. 1880 TROLLOPE Duke's Childr. xlvii. 272 He 

was ' 

completely 'bowled over '.'knocked off his pins I 

b. Phr. To knock the bottom out of: (Jig.) to 

render invalid, make of no effect, bring to nought. 

(Cf. ' 

It won't hold water '.) colloq. 

W. M!LWRAITH Guide to Wigtownshire 93 This 

lation knocks the bottom out of agreat many theories. 

1887 LD. R. CHUKCHILL in Times (weekly ed.) 24 June 9/3 

We shall have knocked the bottom out of Home Rule. 

' 

t C. To knock down ' 

at an auction : see 8 c 

'6'3c.FL I TCHE It & Rowi Ev MaidinMillv. , i 

, 

i. Thy maiden, 

head Shall not be worth a chequin, if it were Knock'd at an 

out-cry> 

738 

d. To rouse or summon (a person, esp. from 

sleep) by knocking at his door. (Usually with 

extension : see also knock /, 16 f.) colloq. 

1706 BAVNARD in Sir J. Floyer Hot 16 f.) rare. 

1881 Athenaeum 3 Sept. 303/2 At an early hour .. the 

* 

farmer's wife said to her son, Ihomas, go and knock your 

father down '. 

f. To disconnect the parts of (a structure that is 

1 ' 

knocked : together see 14 c) by blows ; to take 

to pieces. (The opposite vi knock ttp, 16 d.) 

1776 [see KNOCKED]. 1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mech. 1239/2 A 

chair complete and box to hold a dozen knocked down. 

g. Tolowereffectivelyinamountordegree. colloq. 

1867 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. Ser. n. III. H. 533 A very 

plentiful season has knocked down prices. 1895 Times 27 j 

Apr. 12/2 When the picture leaves the exhibition, whether 

it would not be well to * 

knock down ', as they say, those 

somewhat too brilliant tones. 

h. Australian slang. To spend in drink or riot. 

1869 MARCUS CLARKE Peripat. Philos. (reprint) 80 (Morris) 

Knocked down thirteen notes, and went to bed as tight as 

a fly. 1884 BOLDREWOOD Mela. Memories xili. 99 They 

could earn money, and . . proceeded to ' 

the 

knock down ' 

same by means of . . alcoholic indulgence. 1884 Marcus 

Clarke Memor. I'ol. 135 At shearing time, when the ' 

hands ' 

knocked down their cheques. 

i. U. S. slang. To appropriate or embezzle 

(passengers* 

fares i. 

' 

1881 McCABE New York 158 The driver of a stage was 

furnished with a cash-box, .. he had frequent opportunities 

of ' 

knocking down ', or appropriating a modest sum to his 

own use. 1888 Boston Jrnl. 31 Oct. 2/4 The street car 

conductors .. have been * 

knocking down* from $100 to 

$200 a day, and several have been arrested. 1893 BALESTIER 

Average Woman, He's knocking down fares every day. 

j. intr. To deal a knock or blow downwards 

(e. g. on the floor, to arouse a person below). 

1734 R. WODROW Life Prof. Wodrow (1828) 166 He had 

given a groan, and the person in waiting knocked down. 

When I came up, I observed his lips quivering. 

9. Knock in. a. trans. To drive or force in 

by blows or as by blows. 

1669 STURMY Mariner's Mag. v. 87 Put down a piece of 

Paste-board, and knock it in hard. 1891 T. HARDY in 

Harper's Mag. Apr. 704 They knocked in the victuals and 

drink till they could hold no more. 

b. intr. ( Univ. slang.) To knock so as to gain 

admission to college after the gate is closed. 

1815 C. M. WESTMACOTT Eng. Spy^ I. 155 Close the oak, 

Jem, and take care no one knocks in before [etc.]. 1829 ; 

J. R. BEST rers, /( Lit. Mem. 103 Mr. Iângton, you knock 

\ 

KNOCK. 

in very often: why do you visit so much out of college? 

1861 HUGHES Tom Brown at Oxf. xli, There's twelve striking, 

I must knock in. 

1O. Knock off. a. trans. To strike off by or 

as by a blow ; also Jig. To knock off a persons 

head, to ' 

beat * 

or surpass him. 

1611 SHAKS. Cymb. v. iv. 199 Knocke off his Manacles. 

1666 BOVLE Orig. Formes # Qualities, If a parcel of Matter 

be knockt off from another. 1719 YOUNG Busiris n. i. (1757) 

35 'Till death shall knock them [chains] off. 1862 Corn*. 

Mag. June 655, I could knock his bead off in Greek Iambics. 

b. To cause to desist or leave off from work. 

1651 GATAKER in Fullers Abel Rediv., Ridley (i%6j) I. 230 

He returned . . to his study, where he sat, unless suitors or 

some other affairs knocked him off. 1889 Times (weekly ed.) 

13 Dec. 3/2 The men were knocked off earlier. 

C. intr. To desist, leave off ; to cease from 

one's work or occupation ; slang to die. 

1649 G. DANIEL Trinarek., Hen. V, ccxliii, The Sun (who 

quant French blood, to Harriets health) knock's of And can 

noe more. 1688 BUNYAN Heavenly Footman (1886) 159 If 

thou do not., knock off from following any farther, a 1704 

Let. in T. Browns ll'ks. 11760) IV. 183 Perverse people .. 

that would not knock off in any reasonable time, but liv'd 

long, on purpose to spit* their relations. 1890 CLARK 

RUSSELL Ocean Trag, III. xxix, no We were forced to 

knock off through sheer fatigue. 

d. trans. To stop, discontinue, give up (work). 

1840 R. H. DANA Bef.Mast xxiii. 71 After we had knocked 

off work and cleared up decks for the night. 1884 CLARK 

RUSSELL Jack's Courtship xvii, I heard that you had 

knocked off the sea some 

years ago. 1885 R. BUCHANAN 

Matt, viii, He at once knocked off painting for the day. 

e. To dispatch, dispose of, put out of hand, 

accomplish ; to complete or do hastily, colloq. 

18x7 PEACOCK Melinconrt III. 68 He had .. to dispose of 

. . a christening, a marriage, and a funeral ; but he would 

knock them off as fast as he could. 1820 J. W. CROKER Let. 

in Smiles Mem. J. Murray (:8oi) II. xxiii. 87, 1 am anxious 

to knock off this task whilst .. it is fresh in my recollection. 

1879 F. W. ROBINSON Coward Conscience i. xiii, If you have 

any business . . with me, the sooner we knock it off the better. 

To strike off, deduct from an amount or sum. 

1858 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. XIX. u. 305 The saltpetre 

diminished the yield 5 bushels, .and the salt, .also knocked 

off 3 bushels. 1889 JKSSOPP Coming ofFriars\. 244 The 

steward graciously knocked off seventy-five per cent. 1892 

SIR W. GRANTHAM in Law Times XCIV. 63/2 Most of the 

plaintiffs bill was passed by the Taxing Master, and only 

^63 knocked off. 

11. Knock on. trans. To drive on or forward 

by a blow (also _/?".); spec, in Rugby Football: 

To propel (the ball) with hand or arm in the 

direction of the adversary's goal ; also absol. 

1642 FULLER Holy fy Prof. St. iv. xxi. 353 Loving Subjects 

.. being more kindly united to their Sovereigne then those 

which are onely knock'd on with fear and forcing. 1660 

MILTON Free Cornww. Wks. (1851) 442 Shackles lock'd on 

by pretended Law of Subjection, more intolerable .. than 

those which are knock'd on by illegal Injury and Violence. 

' 

1894 Daily News 7 Sept. 5/1 If a full back 'knocked on 

when a try was otherwise inevitable. 1900 Westm. Gaz. 

12 Dec. 7/3 Hind spoiled a chance of scoring by knocking-on 

a pass from Jones. 

12. Knock out. a. trans. To strike or dash 

out by a blow. 

1591 SHAKS. i Hen. VI, m. i. 83 Many haue their giddy 

bniynes knockt out. 17*7 GAY Beggar's OP- 1. x. (1729) 14, I 

shall knock your brains out if you have any. 1887 I, R. 

Latfy's Ranche Life Montana 102 Knocking the ashes out 

of his pipe. 

f b. To stop or drown the voice of (a speaker) 

by making a knocking noise. Obs. 

1574 in Peacock Obs. Stat. Camb. App. p. vi, If the Father 

shall upon his Chyldrens Aunswer replie and make an 

Argument, then the Bedel shall knocke hym out. 

c. (See quots., and KNOCK-OUT a. and s&.) 

1876 W. GREEN Life Cheap Jack 203 The concern would 

. .be * 

knocked out ' 

at once, that is resold by auction among 

themselves and the profit divided. 1896 FARMER Slang, 

Knock-out, a man frequenting auction rooms and joining 

with others to buy at a nominal price. One of the gang is 

told off to buy for the rest. . . At the end of tbe sale the goods 

are taken to a near hand public-house, where they are resold 

or knocked-out among the confederates. 

d. fig. To drive out of the contest ; to vanquish, 

exhaust. To knock out of time (Pugilistic), to 

disable an opponent so that he is unable to respond 

to the call of * Time '. 

1883 Pall Mall G. 16 Apr. 4/1 (Farmer) Foxhall .. was 

second favourite for some time, but he has now been knocked 

out to comparatively long odds. 1884 Sat. Rev. 16 Jan. 

108/1 A man of weak . . physique knocked out of time by a 

more robust, .adversary. 1888 Pall Mall G. 20 Apr. 11/2 

The light-weight champion 'knocked out' his two first 

opponents. 1890 W. A. WALLACE Only a Sister ? 95 They 

call it. .' knocked out of tune when a fellow doesn't come 

', 

to at once. 1894 Daily News 26 Feb. 5/1 Two years ago 

Aston Villa [football club] knocked out Sunderland. 1900 

Ibid. 21 Apr. 7/3 You have to have your horses fit, otherwise 

you knock them out. 

e. To make roughly or hastily. (Cf. ice.) colloq. 

1856 DICKENS Lett. (1880) I. 422 We may knock out 

a series of descriptions .. without much trouble. 1881 T. 

HARDY Laodicean in. v. (1882) 185, 1 wish, .you could knock 

out something for her before you leave town. 

f. intr. (Univ. slang.) Togain exit fromacollege 

by knocking at the gate after it has been shut. 

1861 HUGHES Tom Brown, at Oxf. xlv. (1864) 503 

* ' 

Hullo ! he said, getting up; 'time for me to knock out '. 

1862 H. KINGSLEV Ravenshoe\\\. I. 82 Five outcollege men 

had knocked out at a quarter to three.

KNOCK. 

g. 'To lose the scent : said of hounds in foxhunting 

' 

(Cent. Diet.}. 

13. Knock over. a. trans. To overthrow by, 

or as if by, a blow ; to prostrate. Alsoy%-. 

1814 S. PEGGE Anted. Eng. Lang., Suppl. Grose's Prm>. 

Gloss. 384 To Knock a man over, to knock him down. 

North. i8jls RUSSELL War in Crimea xxiv. 167 The 

' 

Sampson ' 

pitched shell after shell right in among the tents, 

knocking them over right and left. 1857 LADY CANNING in 

Hare 2 Noble Lives (1893) II. 343 Sunstroke. .knocks them 

over quite suddenly. 1893 SELOUS ^. E. Africa 69 That 

evening two of my Kafirs . . were knocked over with fever. 

b. intr. To succumb to ; die. 

colloq. or slang. 

1892 STEVENSON in lllustr. Lond. News 9 July 42/1 Cap. 

tain Randall knocked over with some kind of a fit or stroke. 

14. Knock together, a. trans. To drive or 

into collision or contact. 

3?8 [see KNOCKING vbl. sb. \ b]. 1598 SHAKS. Merry W. 

bring 

in. i. 122 Let us knog our praines together to be reuenge on 

. . the Host of the Garter. 1609 BIBLE (Douay) Jer. li. 20 

Thou doest knocke together the vessels of warre. 

b. intr. To come into collision. 

1641 J. JACKSON True Evang. T. in. 209 Two pots rioting 

upon a pond, .. with this word, If we knock together, we sink 

together, a 1699 LADY A. HALKETT A utobiog. (i 875) 44 Our 

heads knockt together. 

c. trans. To put together, or construct, hastily, 

rudely, as for a temporary purpose. 

1874 FARRAR Christ (1894) 612 It [the Crossl would . . be . . 

knocked together in the rudest fashion. 1893 KATH. L. BATES 

Eng. Rclig. Drama 226 A temporary stage has been roughly 

knocked together. 

15. Knock under, intr. Short for knock under 

board, 5 c. To acknowledge oneself beaten; to 

knuckle under". 

give in, yield, submit, ' 

1670 Merry Drollery n. Capt. Hick 288 He . . Made the 

wits at the board to knock under. 1684-94 tr. PlutarcKs 

Mor. III. 219 (L.) He knocked under presently, and a single 

glass dozed him. 1783 MAD. D'ARBLAY Diary 10 Nov., Is 

not this a triumph for me. . ? Pray let my daddy Crisp hear 

it, and knock under. 1853 THACKERAY Esmond ill. i, When 

he heard this news . . Colonel Esmond knocked under to 

his fate, and resolved to surrender his sword. 1887 RIDER 

HAGGARD Jess xxvii, Our government is not going to knock 

under because it has suffered a few reverses. 

16. Knock up. a. trans. To drive npwards, or 

fasten up, by knocking ; spec, in Bookbinding, etc. 

to make even the edges of (a pile of loose sheets) 

by striking them on a table. 

1660 PEPYS Diary 30 Jan., Knocking up nails for my hat 

and cloakes. 1683 MOXON Mech. Exerc., Printing xxv. 1*3 

Having thus Gathered one Book, he Knocks it up. Ibid. 

p. 382 Knock up a Letter . . a Letter may be worn so low 

that it will not Print well . . The Workman then . . beats 

the Foot of the Shank, till he have battered 

lightly upon 

Mettle enough out of the Shank, to raise it higher against 

Paper. 1888 JACOBI Printers' Vocab. 71 Knock up, to make 

the edges of a heap of paper straight and square by knocking 

up to one edge. 

b. intr. To be driven up so as to strike something. 

To knock up against, to come into collision 

with ; fig. to meet with, come across, encounter. 

1887 A. BIRRELL Obiter Dicta Ser. 11.264 When Montaigne 

was in Rome . . he complained bitterly that he was always 

knocking up against his own countrymen. 1895 Times 

u 

1 up 

high on the shore under the cliffs. 

c. traits. To make up (hastily or off-hand), to 

arrange summarily. 

c 1580 JEFFERIK Bugbears i. iii. 30 We wile knocke vp this 

maryage. 1812 Sporting Mag. XXXIX. 138 A match was 

. . knocked up betwixt Dogherty and a man named Burn. 

1852 H. ROGERS Ed. Faith (1853) 167 This gentleman, 

with whom Harrington . . has knocked up an acquaintance. 

F. W. ROBINSON Coward Conscience i. viii, Why didn't 

1872 

they knock up a match between you and Ursula? 

d. To put together hastily; 140. 

1683 MOXON Mech. Exerc., Printing xxiv. F 10 The Balls 

are well Knockt up, when the Wooll is equally dispersed 

about all the Sides. 1812 L. HUNT in Examiner 12 Oct. 

642/2 The carpenters that knock up our hustings. 1850 

Jrnl. R. Agric. See. XL i. 271 A range of farm buildings 

can be roughly knocked up. 

e. To get or accumulate by labour or exertion ; 

spec, in Cricket, to run up (a score), make (so 

many runs) by striking the ball, colloq. 

only 29 to win, White at his next attempt knocked _up the 

necessary item. 1891 Times 12 Oct. 11/5 The Englishmen 

. . knocked up 305 runs before their innings closed. 

f. To arouse by knocking at the door. 

1663 PEPYS Diary n This 

Sept., morning, about two or 

three o'clock, knocked up in our back yard; ..I found it 

was the constable and his watch. 1737 POPE Hor. Epist. 

n. i. 161 Time was, a sober Englishman would knock His 

servants up, and rise by five o'clock. 1851 THACKERAY Eng. 

Hum., Steele (1858) 121 They knock up the surgeon. 

g. To overcome or make ill with fatigue; to^ 

exhaust, tire out. (esp. in pass.} 

1737 BRACKEN Farriery Impr. (1757) II. 167 Where the 

Horse is young, . 

.it would splint him, or knock him up (as 

we say) if the Rider were to make his Flourishes upon his 

Back like a Rope-dancer. 1770 MAD. D'ARBLAY Early 

Diary 7 Feb., Here is a lady who is not at all . . tired, and 

here am I knocked up. 1856 

T. A. TROLLOPS Girlhood 

Cath. de Medici xvi. 253 He is completely knocked up from 

over-work. 1883 LD. R. GOWER My Renlin. II. 244 Walter 

was too knocked up to join those who rode to the grove. 

739 

h. intr. To become exhausted or tired out; lo 

become unserviceable ; to break down. 

1771 SMOLLETT Humph. Cl. 12 Sept., In passing the sands 

without a guide, his horse had knocked up. 1849 ALB. 

SMITH Pott/eton Leg. (repr.) 255 Every literary man, how. 

ever great his success, knocks up at last. 

i. trans. To break up, destroy, put an end to. 

1764 FOOTE Mayor of G. I. Wks. 1799 I. 173 This plaguy 

peace . . has knock d up all the trade of the Alley. 1776 in 

New York during Amer. Rev. (1861) 99 The arrival of the 

fleet, since which almost all business in town is knocked up. 

1857 DE QUINCEY Whiggism in Relat. to Literature Wks. 

VI. 67 The establishment was knocked up, and clearly from 

gross defects of management 

Knock, sbl Forms : 4-5 knokk(e, 4-6 knok, 

6 knoke, 6-7 knooke, 7- knock, [f. KNOCK v.] 

1. An act of knocking; a sounding blow; a hard 

stroke or thump; spec, a rap at a door to call 

attention or gain admittance. 

1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. x. 327 panne shal be abbot of Abyndoun 

and alle his issu . . Haue a knokke of a kynge. 

1460 CAPGRAVE Chron. (Rolls) 284 He schal for his spoilyng 

have as good knokkis as evyr had Englischman. 1526 Pilgr. 

Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 223 b, As a nayle, the moo knockes it 

hath, the more sure it is fixed. 1 a 1550 Freiris of Berwik 

154 in Dunbar's Poems (1893) 290 His knok scho kend, and 

did so him in lett. 1663 BUTLER Hud. I. i. 200 And prove 

their Doctrine Orthodox By Blows 

Apostolick 

and Knocks. 

1742 POPE Dune. iv. 443 A drowsy Watchman, that just 

gives a knock, And breaks our rest, to tell us what's a-clock. 

a 1844 L. HUNT Our Cottage 10 No news comes here, . . not 

a postman's knock. 1866 MRS. CARLYLE Lett. III. 317 The 

telegraph boy gave his double-knock. 

fig. 1649 T. FORD Lvdus Fort. 92 Our bodies are but 

fraile, earthen vessels, subject to every knock of sicknesse. 

1898 DOYLE Trng. Korosko ii. 37 We get hard knocks and 

no thanks, and why should we do it ? 

2. A clock. Sc. 

1502 Ld. Treas. Ace. Scot. II. 159 To Schir James Petegrew, 

to bis expens cumand to Strivelin to divis ane knok 

lijtf. xj. 1559 KENNEDY Lett, to Willock in Wodrow Misc. 

(1844) 270 Alt ten houris of the knoke. 1826 J. WILSON 

Noct. Ambr. Wks. 1855 I. 272 Do you put back . . the lang 

hand o' the knock. 

Comb. 1540 Ld. Treas. Acc.~Scot. in Pitcairn Critn. 

Trials I. 305* William Purves, Knok-makar and smyth. 

1663 Inv. Ld. J. Gordon's Fitrnit., A going knock and 

knockcaice. 1883 EDGAR Old Ch. Life Scot. I. 29 The 

Knock house stood in a little gallery called the Knock loft. 

Knock (n?k), sb? Sc. [In sense I, a. Gael, (also 

Jr.) cnoc knoll, rounded hill. With 2 cf. Danish 

dial, knok little hillock (Molbech).] 

1. A hill ; a hillock, a knoll. 

?i7.. Jacobite Relics II. 148 (Jam.) Round the rock. 

Down by the knock. 1820 Glt-nfergus I. 108 The knock, 

an insulated hill behind the church. 

2. A name given on the coast of Lincolnshire, 

etc., to sand-banks. Cf. Kentish Knock, a sandbank 

near the mouth of the Thames ; also Knock 

Sand. 

1387 FLEMING Contn. Holinshed\\\. 1538/2 To make [at 

Dover] certeine groins or knocks, which at the havens 

mouth should cause such a depth, as thereby the whole 

harborough should lie drie at a low water. 1881 Knock 

Sand [see KNOCK v. 5). 1898 Westm. Gaz. i Dec. 7/2 The 

surf boat.. when near Kentish Knock was taken in tow by 

a . . tug no vessel can be found on the Knock. 

f Knock, knok, s6."> Obs.rare~ l . [app. a. LG. 

knocke in same sense : see KNITCH sb.] A bundle 

of heckled flax. 

1573 Lane. Wills III. 62, xx knokes of hatchelled lyne. 

Knock, variant of NOCK. 

Knock-, the vb.-stem or noun of action in 

Comb. Knock-bark (Mining), ore that has been 

crushed; knock-stone, a stone (or cast-iron plate) 

on which ore is broken. Also with adverbs, as 

knock-on (Football), an act of ' 

' 

knocking on (see 

KNOCK v. 1 1 

) ; knock -under, an act of ' 

knocking 

under ' 

(see KNOCK v. 15). See also KNOCK-ABOUT, 

KNOCK-DOWN, KNOCK-KNEE, etc. 

1653 MANLOVE Lead Alines 266 Fell, Bous, and *Knockbarke. 

1747 [see knock-stone}. 1828 Craven Dial., Knock, 

bark, ore after it is reduced by the hand or machine. 1888 

Daily News 5 Oct. 5/2 A *knock-on gives a free kick. 1747 

HOOSON 'Miner's Diet. Lj, Knockbark [is] all that is carried 

to the *Knock-Stone and there knocked down with the 

Kucker. 1839 URE Diet. Arts 749 A very hard stone slab, 

or cast-iron plate, . .called a knock-stone. 1894 BLACKMORE 

Perlycross 51 They seem to have brought him down to 

a flat 'knock-under. 

Kno'ck-abont, knockabout, a. (si.) [The 

phrase knock about (see KNOCK v. 7), used attrib., 

and hence by ellipsis as sb.] 

A. adj. 

1. Characterized by knocking about, or 

dealing blows ; rough, violent, boisterous. 

1883 Pall MallG. 4 Apr. 4/1 The rage for this knockabout 

Ibid. 4 Aug. 7/1 Prize fights, and 

sport [football]. 1891 

street-fights, and knockabout performances. 

Cyclist vi. 156 The intelligent foreigner, .imagines that the 

typa of English humour is a knockabout entertainment. 

2. Characterized by being driven to and fro, or 

wandering irregularly about. 

1886 MORRIS in Mackail Life (1899) II. 158 Such a knockabout 

day as I had on Monday ! 1890 BLACKMORE Kit 

III. xvi, A knockabout fellow swore to find out all about you. 

j hands, 

i former 

1 men 

| abouts 

KNOCKER. 

b. Of a garment, etc. : Suitable for travelling 

or ' 

knocking about '. 

1880 Echo 23 Nov. 4/4 Knockabout Corduroy Cloth. 1895 

M. E. FRANCIS Daughter of Soil 130 Any make, ..from 

knock-about suits to dress-clothes. 1900 Daily Tel. 25 Aug. 

3/2 Concocting with their own nimble fingers tasteful 

blouses, useful knockabout skirts, and dainty trifles of lace 

and muslin. 

C. Australia. Applied to a labourer on a 

station who is ready to turn his hand to any kind 

of work. Cf. ROUSEABOUT. 

1876 W. HARCUS S. Australia 275 (Morris) Knockabout 

ijs. to 20^. per week. 1890 BOLDREWOOD Col. lie- 

xix, We're getting rather too many knockabout 

for a small station like this. 

' 

B. sb. 1. Theatr. slang. A knockabout ' 

performer 

or : performance see A. I b. 

1887 Pall Malt C. 17 Sept. 3/2 Bounding brothers, knockabouts, 

step-dancers. 1892 Daily News 7 June 6/3 Singers, 

dancers, knockabouts, and quick-change artistes. 

2. Australia. A ' 

knock-about ' 

man : see A. 2 c. 

1889 BOLDKEWOOD Robbery under Arms xvi, The knockand 

those other three chaps won't come it on us. 

Knock-down, a. and sb. [The phr. knock 

down (see KNOCK v. 8) used attrib. and as sb.] 

A. adj. \. Such as to knock down or fell to the 

ground ; fig. irresistible, overwhelming. 

1690 DRYDEN Amphitryon i. i, This same Arbitrary Power 

is a knock-down Argument. 1802 WOLCOTT (P. Pindar) Ld. 

Helgrave $ his Motions Wks. 1812 IV. 514 You've learnt 

to face a knock-down laugh. 1840-1 DE QUINCEY Style Wks. 

1859 XI. 220 These . . are knock-down blows to the Socratic 

. . philosophy. 1885 COURTHOPE Liberal Movement Eng. 

Lit. iv. 114 The view that Johnson propounded in his direct 

' 

knock-down ' 

style. 

b. Adapted to be, fastened by being knocked 

flat at the end : see KNOCK v. 8 b. 

1869 SIR E. REED Shipbnild. xvii. 383 It is advantageous 

to have plain knockdown or conical points to steel rivets. 

2. Knock-down price, the price below which an 

article will not be ' 

knocked down ' 

at an auction ; 

the reserve price. 

1895 Daily News 6 May 6/5 Fairy, favourite of 

spaniel 

Lady Bulwer's, . ,4ogs. ; .. the knock-down price last year 

was 54 gs. 

3. Constructed so as to be easily 'knocked down' 

or taken in pieces for removal : see KNOCK v. 8 f. 

1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mech. 1239/2 The shook may be said 

to be a knock-down barrel. 1888 Set. Amer. LIX. 187 To 

make a knockdown wigwam, the framing should be lashed 

together with ropes or twine, and the bark tied to the 

rafters with twine. 

B. sb. 1. Something that knocks one down ; 

something overpowering ; e.g. strong liquor, slang. 

1698 W. KING tr. Sorbiere's Jrnl. Lond. 35 He answei'd 

me that he had a thousand such .sort of . . liquors, Old 

Pharaoh, Knockdown, Hugmatee [etc.], a 1700 B. E. Diet, 

Cant. Crew, Knockdown, very strong Ale or Beer. 

2. All act of knocking down; a blow that knocks 

down or fells to the ground ; fig. An overwhelming 

blow. Also, A stand-up or free fight. 

1809 Sporting Mag. XXXIII. 6 This round produced the 

first blood, and first knock-down. 1818 LADY MORGAN 

Autobiog. (1859) 85 It is a knockdown to all Morgan's arguments 

and mine. 1837 DICKENS Pifkw. ' 

I'll 

xxxvii^ try 

and bear up agin such a reg'lar knock-down o' talent 

replied Sam. 1843 E. MI.M.L Nonconf. V. 437 Let us turn 

to and have a real Irish knockdown. 

3. A ' knock-down ' 

piece of furniture : see A. 3. 

1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mech. 1239/2 Knockdmyti, 

a piece of 

furniture or other structure adapted to be disconnected at 

the joints so as to pack compactly. 

Knocked (nfkt), ppl. a. [f. KNOCK v. + -ED i.] 

Struck, hit, beaten, etc. : see KNOCK v. 

t Knocked bear, barley beaten in a stone mortar in order 

to remove the hulls (Sc. Oos.). Knocked knees, knees turning 

inwards : cf KNOCK-KNEED. Also with adverbs as 

knocked^dovjn, -up, 

etc. : see KNOCK v. II. 

1:1537 Thersites in Hazl. Dodsliy I. 405 Thou shalt have 

knocked bread and ill-fare. 1583 Leg. Bp. St. Androis 467 

Knocked heir, Herbis to the pot, and all sic geir. 1776 

Rhode 1st. Col. Rec. (r86;s) VII. 571 Shaken or knocked 

down tasks. 1784 J. BARRY in Led. Paint, ii. (1848) 94 

Knocked or baker knees. 1890 BOLDREWOOD Col. Reformer 

His . . knocked-up horses showed .. the effects of 

(1891) 257 

a long journey. 

Knockel, obs. form of KNUCKLK. 

Knoxk-'em-dow 11, kiio'ckemdow:ii. [A 

phrase used as a name.] A stick with a cocoanut 

or the like stuck on it to be aimed at. 

1828 J. BEE Pict. Lond. 263 The charms of nine pins 

whether they be skittles, knock-em-down, bowl-and-tip, 

dutch-pins, or the more sturdy four-corners. 1847 R. BROWN 

in Mem. vii. (1866) 126 The fair and whirligigs and knockemdowns. 

1870 Daily News $ June, At the deserted 

knock-'em-down grounds the sticks stood in melancholy 

rows, protesting against the public contempt for cocoa nuts. 

Knocker (np-kai). [f. KNOCK -a. + -EB !.] 

1. One who or that which knocks ; esp. one who 

knocks at a door in order to gain admittance also 

; 

= knocker down (see 5). 

1388 WYCLIF Pref. Ep. Jerome viii, To the askere me 

ayueth, and to the knockere me openeth. 1-1425 Found. 

St. Bartholomew's 5 The asker . . schall resceyue, the seker 

shall fynde, and the rynger or knokker shall entre. 1552 

HULOET, Knocker, percnssor, fulsator. 1652 SPARKE Scintilla 

Altaris (1663) 103 Lest with those untimely knockers 

at the bride-chamber door, we.. be repulsed. 1821 BYRON 

Juan HI. xxxiv, Rocks bewitch'd that open to the knockers. 

two boxers. 

1888 Pall Mall G. 20 Apr. 1 1 /2 Cardiff sent up 

158-2

KNOCKING. 

. . The more terrible . . eventually succumbed to a talented 

Irishman, who knocked out the would be knocker. 

b. A spirit or goblin imagined to dwell in 

mines, and to indicate the presence of ore by 

knocking. 

1747'HoosoN Miners Diet, Ljjb, 

Miners say that the 

Knocker is some Being that Inhabits in the .. Hollows of the 

Earth. ittiChamt. jfml. II. 371/2 In the Cardigan mines, 

the knockers are still heard, indicating where a rich lode 

2. An appendage, usually of iron or brass, fastened 

to a door, and hinged so that it may be made to 

strike against, a metal plate, to attract the attention 

of those within. (The most usual sense cf. 

; 

KNOCK ..i.) 

1598 FLORIO, Picchiatoio, a hammer to knocke at a doore 

with, a striker, a knocker. 1709 STEELE Tatlcr No. 77 f 2 

One could hardly find a Knocker at a Door in a whole 

Street aftêr a Midnight Expedition of these Beaux Esprits. 

1791 MRS. R\DCU?FB Rtrm. Forest ii. La . Motte, .advanced 

to the gate and lifted a massy knqcker. 1863 GEO. ELIOT 

Rotnola xviii, Tito found the heavy iron knocker on the 

door thickly hound round with wool. 1898 J. T. FOWLER 

Durham Cath. 63 The famous bronze knocker on the great 

north door. 

Comb. 1844 J. T. HEWLETT Parsons # W. vi, Knockerwrenching 

and sign-removing were in vogue in my day. 

f b. colloq. or slang. A kind of bob or pendant 

to a wig. 06s. 

1818 La Belle Assemble XV\I. No. 106. 27 The physicians 

with their great wigs had disappeared, and had given place 

to those who wore a wig with a knocker. 1837 New Monthly 

Mag. XL1X.* 550 Pig-tails and ' 

knockers superseded the 

ponderous ' 

clubs '. 

c. Phr. Up to the knocker : in good condition ; 

in the height of fashion; 'up to the mark", slang. 

1844 SELBV London by Night i. ii, Jack. How do you feel ? 

Ned. Not quite up to the knocker. 1896 Westm. Gaz. 24 Dec. 

1/3 We was dressed up to the knocker. 

t3. A castanet: cf. KNACKER! 2. Ol>s. 

1648 GAGE IVest Ind. xi. (1655) 37 Capering and dancing 

with their castannettas, or knockers on their fingers. 

4. ' An attachment in a flour-bolt to jar the 

frame and shake the flour from the meshes of the 

bolting-cloth' (Knight Diet. Meek. 1875). 

6. With adverbs, as knocker-down, also = KNOCK- 

DOWN B. I ; knocker-off KNOCK-OFF A. ; knocker- 

up, a person who goes round the streets in the 

early morning to awaken people. 

1611 COTGR., Assommeur, a knocker, feller, or beater, 

downe. 1638 FORD Lady's Trial i. i, A taker-up, Rather 

indeed a knocker-down. 1688 R. HOLME Amtouryiu. 315/1 

The Axe, which is the right form of the Butchers Knocker 

Down. 1697 Praise Yorksh. Ale (Craven Gloss.), We've 

ale also that is called knocker-down. 1861 E. WAUGH Lake 

Country 223 (E. D. D.) That curious Lancashire character 

the 'knocker-up'. 1875 KNIGHT Diet. Afeck., Knocker^tff. 

: 

(Knitting.) A wheel with projections to raise the loop over 

the top of the needle and discharge it therefrom. 1884 Pall 

Mall G. 14 Oct. 3/2 The stock in trade of the ' 

knocker. 

consists of a long pole . . with pieces of wire at the end. 

up ' 

This pole is raised to the bedroom, and the wires are rattled 

against the window pane. Knockers-up charge zd. a week 

for this service . 

Knocking (njrkirj), 

vbl. sb. 

1. The action of the verb KNOCK, q. v. 

11340 HAMPOLE Psalter Ixi. 8 In knokynge of brest. cijoo 

in., r,. i. a.) 03 Ligntyng ot canaels to images, knockyng 

and knelyng to them. 1605 SHAKS. Macb. u. ii. 74 Wake 

Duncan with thy knocking : I would thou could'st. 1662 

STII.LINGFL. Orig. Sacr. in. ii. 17 There is no such knocking 

of particles. 1762 FOOTE Orator \\. Wks. 1799 I. 210 

Certain thumpings, knockings, scratchings. 1845 M. PATTI- 

SON Eu. (1889) I. 22 Roused by a loud and continued knocking 

at the door of the house. 

1398 TREVISA Barth. De P. R. vii. v. (MS. Bodl.) If. 49/2 

Grysbating and knokking togedres of teeb. 17*8-74 TUCKER 

Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 472 It seems. .probable. .that bowing 

the knee answers to the very vulgar expression of knocking 

under. 1868 in Hughes Tom Brown (ed. 6) Pref., The old 

delusion . . that knocking about will turn a timid boy into a 

bold one. 

2. pi. a. (See quot. 1678.) b. Mining. Ore 

that has been broken with a hammer before being 

crushed, c. Small pieces broken off from stone 

by hammering or chiseling. 

1676 PkiL Trans. XII. 1063 A third sort of Salt we have 

which we call Knockings, which doth candy on the Stailesof 

the Barrow. 1747 HOOSON Miner's Diet. P ij, To break the 

Knockings, and crush them to Knockbark, to make the Ore 

merchantable. 1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mech. 1240/1 The sorting 

of lead ore by the sieve develops three qualities, knockings, 

riddlings, and/ell. The former are large scraps, which are 

picked out. 

740 

3. Comb., as knocking-bucker (see BucKEB 2 ), 

mell, -mill, -room, -stone, -trough : see quots. 

1686 PLOT Staffordsh. 166 Three sorts, viz. round Ore, small 

Ore, and Smithum ; the two last whereof are first beaten to 

si.] pi. Knees that knock together in walking 

from inward curvature of the legs. sing. The condition 

of being knock-kneed. 

1827 HONE Everyday Bk. II. 857 With knock-knees, and 

a. .large head. 1879 St. George's Hasp. Rep. IX. 614 Knockknee., 

treated by the long-continued application of splints. 

KllO'ck-kneed, a. 

[f. prec. + -ED2.] Having 

the legs bent inwards so that the knees knock to- 

gether in walking. (The opposite of bandy-legged.) 

1806 W. TAYLOR in Ann. Rev, IV. 720 Parents, whose 

children from bad nursing are become knock-kneed. 1838 

DICKENS O. Twist xlii, Those long-limbed, knock-kneed, 

shambling, bony people. 1862 SALA Seven Sons I. vit. 142 

The knock-kneed horse. 

b. fig. Halting; feeble. 

1865 DICKENS Mut. Fr. in. iv, It was constitutionally a 

knock-knec'd mind. 1887 SAINTSBURY Hist. Elizab. Lit. 

i. 5 So stumbling and knock-kneed is his [Wyatt's] verse. 

1898 M'estm. Gaz. 7 Dec. 4/1 There are no shambling, knockkneed 

verses. 

Knockle, obs. variant of KNUCKLE. 

Kno-ck-me-down, a. and sb. colloq. 

A. adj. Such as to knock one down (lit. or 

' 

fg.~) ; violent, riotous; overbearing, defiant; prostrating, 

overpowering. 

1760 FOOTE Minor I. Wks. 1830 I. 35 No knock-me-down 

doings in my house. 1848 J. H. NEWMAN Loss fy Gain n. 

xviii. (1858) 250 He's so positive, so knock-me-down. 1863 

OUIDA Held in Bondage (1870) 104 The overbearing, knockme-down 

Marchioness . . who gave the law to everybody. 

1896 A llbutCs Syst. Med. I. 691 The term 'knock-me-down 

fever ' 

(applied sometimes to dengue). 

B. sb. = KNOCK-DOWN B. i. 

1756 W. TOLDERVY Hist. Two Orphans II. 112. 1828 

Craven Dial., Knock-me-doivn, strong ale. 1892 Daily 

News 3 Aug. 6/1 A savant who muddled my poor brains 

with geological knock-me-downs which he declares will be 

heard in Section C. 

Kno'Ck-o'ff, 

sb. and a. 

A. sb. A contrivance for knocking something 

off, or point at which something is knocked off. 

1875 KNIGHT Diet. Meek. 1240/1 Knock off (Knittingmachine), 

the piece which, at the proper moment, removes 

the loops from the tier of needles. 1883 GRESLEY Gloss. Coal 

Mining Terms, Knock of. (i) The point upon an engine 

plane at which the set is disconnected from the rope, or where 

a jockey comes into play. (2) A joint for disconnecting the 

bucket sword from the pump rods. 

B. adj. as in ktiock-ojf 'time -, time to 'knock off 

or leave off work. 

1899 F. T. BULLEN Log ofSea-vjarfioS 

time. 

KnO'ck-on-t, 

' 

It was knock-off ' 

a. and sb. 

A. adj. Characterized by 'knocking out' (see 

KNOCK v. 12) ; spec. a. of, or in connexion with, 

an auction sale (see quots.) ; b. of a blow, etc. : 

Such as to disable or knock out of the contest 

a. 1818 Chron. in Ann. Reg. 373/1 Combinations, by a set 

of men who attend real sales, and drive, by various means, 

respectable purchasers away, purchase at their own price, 

and afterwards privately sell the same, under a form of 

public auction, termed 

b. With adverbs: see KNOCK v. II. | 

(Also a/trio.) ' 

Knock-out Sales '. 1895 W. ROBERTS 

Bk.-Hunterin Londonui. 121 This auction [1726] is interesting 

. . as being the genesis of the knock-out system. 1806 

FARMER Slang s.v., The lot is knocked down to the knock- 

out bidders. 

b. 1898 Times 24 Dec. 8/5 The effect of the ' 

knock-out ' 

blow, ..delivered, not straight fromthe shoulder, but sideways 

and on the tip of the chin, was to produce unconsciousness. 

B. sb. L The practice of ' 

' 

knocking out at auc- 

tion sales or in similar transactions ; a knock-out 

sale; also, one of the confederates who 'knock 

out ' 

: see A. a, KNOCK . 1 2 c. 

1854 Illuslr. Land. News 7 Oct 342/2 A knock-out is 

a combination of bidders at a sale, who, deputing one to bid, 

save the increase of price which further competition causes, 

and subsequently have a private sale among themselves. 

1864 East London Observer 25 June, Witness said a knockout 

was where a sum of money was divided among the con- 

tractors, and the officials generally, . . out of the contract 

for the work. . . 

price over and above what ought to be paid 

Those who did not get the work had money for putting in 

I 

KNOLL. 

tenders so that the favored one got it, and the officials also. 

1883 A. LANG in Longin. Mag. II. 522 The auctioneer put 

up lot after lot, and Blinton plainly saw that the whole 

affair was a knock-out. 

2. A knock-out blow : see A. b. 

may be expected. 1898 WATrs-DUNTON Aylwin iii. (1899) 

24 She had not only heard but seen these knockers. They 

were thick-set dwarfs. 

C. slang. A person of ' 

striking ' 

appearance, or 

who moves others to admiration. (Cf. KNOCK v. 

2 c, and STDNNBB.) 

1612 FIELD Woman a Wtatker-cocke 1. C ij, You should 

be a Knocker then by the Mothers side. 1620 MIDDLETON 

Chaste Maid n. ii, They're pretty children both, but here's 

a wench Will be a knocker.- 1664 COTTON Scarron. 88 That 

old Knocker good Anchises. 

d. A knock-down blow. rare. 

1674 N. FAIRFAX Bulk $ Sclv. pieces with an instrument called a "Knocking-bucker. 1847- 

78 HALLIWELL, 

96 The backstroke will be 

sure to give him a knocker. 1841 Newcastle Song Bk. 148 

(E. D. D.) He lifted up his great long airm, Me soul he 

gave him sec a knocker. 

* 

Knocking-jnell, a large wooden hammer 

used for bruising barley. 1858 N. >t Q. 2nd Ser. VI. 8 A 

strong knockin-mell or wooden pestle. 1727-41 CHAMBERS 

Cycl.^ Stamping-mill^ or *knocking-mill, an engine used in 

the tin-works, to bruise the ore small. 1887 N. D. DAVIS 

Cavaliers ff Roundheads Barbados 9 The pots were removed 

to the "Knocking Room. Here they were knocked 

with force against the ground, causing the sugar to come 

out in a loaf. 1805 RAMSAY Scot, in i8/A C. (1888) II. ii. 70 

Its place was supplied by knocked bear. Every family had 

therefore its "knocking-stone. 1825 BROCKETT,*Knocking, 

trongh, a conical trough in which the rind is beat off barley 

with a mallet. 

KiiO'cking, ///. a. 

[f. as prec. + -ING 2.] That 

knocks (see the verb) ; *(fig. violent, forcible, 

'thumping'; 'knock-down , clinching, decisive. 

1597 A. M.tr.Guiltemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 17 b/i Prickinge, 

knockinge, or beatinge payne. 1624 GEE Foe-tout ofSnare 

v. 33 Heere is a knocking and long-lasting lie, worthy to be 

nailed vpon a post or pillory. 1711 SWIFT jrnl. to Stella 

Lett. 1767 III. 269 The lords, .they say, are preparing some 

knocking addresses. 1732 POPE Ep. Cobhatn 236 Still to his 

wench be crawls on knocking knees. 

1894 MORRISON Tales Mean Streets, Three Rounds 138 It 

was a hard fight, and both the lads were swinging the right 

again and again for a knock-out. 

3. Polo. (See quot.) U. S. 

1894 Rules of Amer. Polo Assoc. in M. H. Hayes Mod. 

Polo (1896) 314 When the ball goes out ends, the side defend, 

ing 

Knock-knee (np-kim). [f. KNOCK v. + KNEE 

that goal is entitled to a knock out from the point at 

which it crossed the line. When the player having the 

knock out causes unnecessary delay, the Referee may throw 

a ball on the field and call play. 

Knocle, knokel, etc., obs. ff. KNUCKLE. 

Knod, knodden, obs. or dial. pa. pple. of 

KNEAD v. Knok(e, knokkfe. obs. ff. KNOCK. 

Knoledge, -lege, obs. forms of KNOWLEDGE. 

Knoll (n

KNOLLED. 

world. 1815 BYRON Parisina xv, For a departing being's 

soul The death-hymn peals and the hollow bells knolL 1876 

Whitby Gloss., Knoll, to toll as a bell. 1886 S. W. Line. 

Gloss, s.v., 1 heard the bell knoll a piece sin = [ a bit since], 

b. trans. To ring a knell for. c. To ring or 

toll out. 

1597 SHAKS. 2 Hen. IV, i. i. 103 His Tongue Sounds euer 

after as a sullen Bell Remembred, knolling a departing 

Friend. 1842 TENNYSON Gardeners D. 180 All that night 

I heard The heavy clocks knolling the drowsy hours. 

3. trans. To summon by the sound of a bell. 

1600 SHAKS. A. Y. L. it vii. 121 We haue scene better 

dayes, And haue with holy bell bin knowld to Church. 1820 

BYRON Juan v. 1, They heard No Christian knoll to table. 

1844 LYTTON tr. Schiller's Fridolin oo From the churchtower 

clangs the bell Knolling souls that would repent To 

the Holy Sacrament. 1894 Times 17 July 9/3 Every woman 

who ever has been knolled to church. 

Hence Kno'lling 'M. sb. also Kno ; Her, one 

who knolls. 

1480 Water/. Arch, in loth Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. 

y. 315 The knollyng of the bell in the 

chappell. 1538 Injunctions 

in Strype Eccl. Mem. (1721) I. xhi. 322 The Knoting 

ofAves after service, .henceforth to be left. 1611 COTGR., 

Carillonneur, achymer, or knowler, of bels. 1837-9 HALLAM 

Hist. Lit. (1847) III. 122 The knolling of Church bells. 

1877 LEE Gloss. Liturg., Knoller, 2. a sexton or sacristan. 

Knolled (n^ld), a. Also 7 nol'd. [f. KNOLL 

ji.l + -ED 2 .] Having a knoll or knolls : in parasynthetic 

combs., as high-knolled. 

1602 MARSTON Antonio"s Rev. iv. iii, I have a mount of 

mischiefe clogs my soule, As waightie as the high-nol'd 

Appenine. 

Knolly (nou-li), a. [f. KNOLL sb.^ + -Y.] Full 

of or abounding in knolls or hillocks. 

1821 CLARE Vill. Minstr. II. 68 While Dobbin .. patient 

goes to gate or knowly brake. 1870 Miss BROUGHTON Red 

as Rose I. 151 A grassy, knolly park. 

Knop (n?p)> lW Forms: a. 4-6 knoppe, 5-6 

kuopp, knope, (6 noppe), 5- kuop. /3. 4-6 

knappe, (5 onap), 6 knapp, (knepp), 5- knap, 

(7-8 nap). [ME. knop = Qf\$. knop, TATra. cnoppe, 

cnop (Du. knop), MLG. knoppe (hence Da. knop, 

Svt.&nafp), OHG. chnoph, chnopf (G. knopf knob, 

head, knot, button, etc.) The form knap may 

repr. ON. knapp-r knob, stud, button (Sw. knapp, 

Da. knap], perh. cognate with OE. cnsp, KNAP 

sbl The ulterior etymology is obscure.] 

1. A small rounded protuberance, a knob (esp. 

one of an ornamental character, e.g. upon the 

stem of a chalice, a candlestick, etc.) a ; boss, 

in Arch. = KNOB 

stud, button, tassel, or the like ; 

sb. I d. (Sometimes prob. a carved representation 

of a flower-bud ; cf. 2 below.) Obs. or arch. exc. in 

specific applications. 

o. 1 a 1366 CHAUCER Rom. Rose 1080 With a bend of gold 

tasseled, And knoppis fyneofgold enameled. 1455 in Rymer 

Foedera (1710) XI. 369 With Knopps and Tassells. 1483 

Cath. Angl. 205/2 A knoppe of a scho, bulla. 1527 Test. 

Ebor. (Surtees) V. 225 Sex silver spones with knopis of cure 

Ladie. 1535 COVERDALE Jer. Hi. 22 Vpon the rope were 

brasen knoppes. 1676 WORLIDGK Cyder (1691) 182 A knop 

at the end of a slender handle or stick. 1861 Times 12 July, 

The crown and the knops which adorn the turret were gilt 

by him. 1865 S. EVANS Bra. Fabian 105 Oman. .Unlooped 

the ruby knops Loosing her kirtle. 

/3. \a looo in Wr.-Wi'ilcker 238/33 Fibula, cnaep, sigl, spennels.] 

1362 LANGL. P. PI. A. vn. 257 His cloke of Calabre, 

with . .knappes of Gold. 1420 E. E. Wills (1882) 45 A becure 

of seluer y-keueryd, . . be cnap of be couercle ys an-amylyd 

with blewe. 1563-87 FOXE A. .l 

Knopped (n?pt, poet, n^-ped), a. 1 Obs. [(. 

KNOP sbJ- or v. + -ED.] Having knops; knobbed; 

bearing buds, or compact rounded flower-heads. 

c 1394 P. PI. Crede 424 Wib his- knopped schon clouted full 

bykice. 1434 E. E. Wills (1882) 101 A litell basyn knopped. 

1501 DOUGLAS Pal. Hon. Prol. 76 The knoppit syonis with 

leuis aggreabill. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. 447 With knopped 

Majoram or Sauorie. 1655 MOUFET & BENNET Health's 

Improv. (1746) 320 The unset Leek, or Maiden-leek, is not 

so hot as the knopped ones. 

b. Formed into a knop or knob; knob-shaped. 

1578 LVTE Dodoens M. xii. 161 Lyke to..Cyanus floures .. 

in his Scaly knopped buttons. 

Kno'ppy, a. 1 Obs. bowling Knot on the End of another Rope*, I cast it over. 

1769 

[f. KNOP sb.l + -Y. Cf. 

G. knapfigf\ Full of knops; knop-like; knobby. 

FALCONER Diet. Marine (1789), Knot, a. .knob formed 

on the extremity of a rope, by untwisting the ends . . and 

interweaving them . . amongst each other. There ar.e several 

sorts, which differ in . . form and size : the principal of these 

are the diamond-knot, the rose-knot, the wall-knot, orwalnut. 

1795 HUTTON Math. Diet, s, v., Fig. n, a Barber s knot, or 

a knot for cawls of wigs. 1813 J. THOMSON Lect. In/lam. 

267 We . passed, .a crooked needle under the artery, threaded 

with a double waxed thread, part whereof we passed above 

the aperture in the vessel, and the other below, which were 

afterwards tied with a double knot callell the surgeon's 

knot. 1860 All Year Round No. 66. 382 'Which knot?' 

' 

asked Toby. Single or double wall, single or double 

diamond, Matthew Walker, spritsail-sheet, stopper, or 

shroud ? ' 

1881 HAMERSLY Naval Encycl. 421 They [knots] 

..are named either from the manner which _in they are 

made, or the use to which they are applied, as stopper knot, 

diamond knot, double-diamond knot, single and double wall 

knots, etc. c 1885 Weldon's Pract. Needlework HI. 3/1 

Flowers are mostly worked in satin stitch highly raised, 

embellished with French knots. 1899 W. O. P. TOWNSEND 

Embroidery vi. 90 French Knots. A very ancient stitch, 

much used by the Chinese for all kinds of elaborate 

embroidery. 

fc. Astron. The star a Piscium, situated in 

the 'tie' of the lines or ribbons imagined to connect 

the two fishes in the constellation Pisces. Obs. 

1551 RECORDE Cast. Knowl. (1556) 267 The Fyshes, tyed 

where those two 

by the with a common : . 

tayles Lyne .and 

lines are knitte togyther, there is one starre more, whiche is 

called the Knotte. 1727-41 CHAMBERS s. Cycl. v. Pisces, 

That [star] next the knot in the north, line. . . ist before the 

knot in the south, line. 

2. Such a tie used or worn as an ornament or 

adjunct to a dress; a bow of ribbon; a cockade or 

epaulette ; esp. in obs. phrase a suit of knots. 

Often with distinctive word : 

prefixed as breast, shoulder, 

sword, top, tnte-love knot, q. v. 

a 1400-50 Alexander 4917 With cumly knottis & with 

koyntis & knopis of perk. 1552 HULOET, Knotte of a capbande, 

or hatbande, or lace. 1668 ETHEREDGE She would 

ifshe could in. i, We will only fancy a suit of Knots or two 

at this shop. 1708 Brit. Apollo No. 75. 4/2 The Officers 

to wear.. a mourning Knot on their left Arm. 1713 GAY 

Guard. No. 149 T 18 A lady of genius will give a genteel 

air to her whole dress by a well-fancied suit of knots. 1891 

MRS. NEWMAN Begun in Jest I. 209 Her grey morning 

gown, with its soft trillings of lace and knots of pale, coralcoloured 

ribbon. 

b. Her. (Seequot. 1892.) 

1828-40 BERRY Encycl. Her. 1865 Kmcsift fferew. Prel., 

The badge in the 'Wake Knot in which.. two monks' 

, 

girdles are worked into the form of the letter W. 1892 

WOODWARD & BURNE Heraldry II. 585 Knots of particular 

form were not infrequently used as badges; e.g. the 

Stafford knot, the Bourchier knot, Wake and Ormond 

the_ 

knot ; in all these the silk is twined having some resemblance 

to the initial letter of the family name. In the Bowen knot 

the allusion is double, it is formed of four bows, or loops, 

and each bears a resemblance to one form of the Greek 

letter B. Knots were also used to unite the badges of two 

families which had merged into one ; or the badge of an 

office to a personal one. 

3. Naut. A piece of knotted string fastened to 

the log-line, one of a series fixed at such intervals 

that the number of them that run the 

ou^while 

sand-glass is running indicates the ship's speed in 

nautical miles per hour ; hence, each of the divisions 

so marked on the log-line, as a measure of 

the rate of motion of the ship (or of a current, etc.). 

Also attrib. with prefixed numeral = ' 

running (so 

many) knots'. 

1633 T. JAMES Voy. 24 It did runne two knots. 1069 

STURMY Mariners Mag. iv. 146 The distance between 

every one of the Knots must be 50 Foot ; as many of these 

as run out in half a Minute, so many Miles or Minutes the 

Ship saileth in an Hour. 1760-72 tr. Juan r Ulloa. s Voy. 

(ed. 3) I. 9 The distance between the knots on the log-line 

A light wind .. carrying l 

1860 Merc. Marine Mag. VII. 169 A ten-knot breeze was 

blowing. 1900 Daily News 10 Jan. 5/1 A torpedo-boat de. 

stroyer . . had made a record speed of 35^ knots, which was 

almost exactly equal to 41 miles an hour.

KNOT. 

b. Hence looselyused as if ' 

equivalent 

to nautical 

as 20 knots an hcnr. 

1748 Anson's Voy. i. iii. 24 The ship went ten knots an 

mile ', in such phrases 

hour. 1771-84 COOK I'm. (1799) V. 1828 The strong lidc, 

though even here it ran five knots an hour. 1833 MARRYAT 

P. Simple xxxviii, We were going twelve knots an hour, and 

running away from them as fast as we could. 

4. A definite quantity of thread, yarn, etc., varying 

with the commodity, being a certain number of 

coils tied by a knot. 

1540 Churchw. Ace. St. Dunstans, Canterbury (MS.) 

For a knott of sylke ij< 1641 BEST Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 

16 A loose kinde of two plettes, which is usually sold for 

3 half-pence and sometimes for 2 J . a knotte ; there should 

bee in event knotte 18 fathames. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury 

ill. vi 288/2 A knot is a Hundred Threds round the Reel, 

at which place Housewives make a Katch, as some call it, 

or a Knot, or an Hank. 1875 TEMPLE & SHELDON Hist. 

Northfield, Mass. 161 A run of yarn consisted of twenty 

knots, a knot was composed of forty threads, and a thread 

was seventy-four inches in length, or once round the reel. 

' 

5. More fully Porter s knot : A kind of double 

shoulder-pad, with a loop passing round the forehead, 

the whole roughly resembling a horse-collar, 

used by London market-porters for carrying their 

burdens' (CasselVs Encycl. Diet.}. 

(Perh. originally a rope tied or knotted into a loop.) 

1719 D'URFEY Pills (1872) V. 75 Tom the Porter, Companion 

of the Pot, Who stands in the Street with his Rope 

and Knot. "1737 in Boswell Johnson an. 1737 M r Wilcox 

. . eyed his robust frame attentively, and with a significant 

look, said, 'You had better buy a porter's knot'. 1840 

DICKENS Barn. Rudge xlix, Preceded by a man who carried 

the immense petition on a porter's knot through the lobby 

to the door of the House of Commons. 1866 Daily Tel. 

12 Jan. 5/5 Fathers of families who should have carried 

porters' knots, so heavy was their fardel of toys. 

6. A design or figure formed of crossing lines ; 

an intricate flourish of the pen. f Endless knot, 

the five-pointed figure consisting of a continuous 

self-crossing line, otherwise called pcntacle, pentagram, 

or fentangle. 

13.. Gaw. Iff Gr. Knt. 630 Fyue poyntez, & vche lyne 

vmbe-lapoez & loukez in ober, & ay quere hit is endelez, & 

englych hit callen Ouer-al, as I here,}>e endeles knot. 1638 

SIR T. HERBERT Trav. (ed. 2) 197 In blew, red, and yellow 

tinctures, commixt with Arabia knots and letters, a 1680 

BUTLER Rem. (1759) I, 210 As Scriveners take more Pains 

to learn the Slight Of making Knots, than all the Hands 

they write. 

7. A flower-bed laid out in a fanciful or intricate 

design ; also, more generally, Any laid-out garden 

plot ; a flower-knot. Now chiefly dial. 

1494 FABYAN Chron. vn. ccxxxviii, 277 An howse wrought 

lyke vnto a knot in a garden, called a mase. 1502 Ace. in 

A. Amherst Gardening (1895) 84 For diligence in making 

knottes in the Duke's garden. Clypping of knottes, and 

sweeping the said garden. 1577 B. GOOGE Heresbach's 

Huso. (1586) 66 Basyell. .is an hearbe that is used to be set 

in the middest of knottes, . 

. for the excellent savour that it 

hath. 1622 PEACHAM Compl. Gentl. xix. (1634) 235 Here are 

the goodliest walkes in Europe, for the trees themselves are 

placed in curious knots as we use to set our herbes in 

gardens. 1667 H. MORK Div. Dial. n. v. (1713) 97 They do 

not water the Walks of the Garden, but only the Beds or 

Knots wherein the Flowers grow. 1737 G. SMITH Cur. 

Relat. I. i. 49 The Borders of the Beds were lin'd with Box, 

and beautifully garnish 'd with choice Flowers, as were the 

Knots, in each of which stood a handsome Pot of a choice 

foreign Plant. 1738 L. TEMPLE Sketches 14 More pleasing 

and beautiful than that insipid, childish, uncomfortable 

Bauble called a Flower-knot. 1824 Miss FERRIER Inker. 

Ixviii, I must see if my flower knots are arranged according 

to rule. 

8. A central thickened meeting-point of lines, 

nerves, etc. ; esp. in Phys. Geog., an elevated point 

or region in which several mountain-chains meet. 

1861 HERSCHEL Phys. Geog. 5 144 The knot of Pasco, 

a great ganglion, as it were, of the system [of the Andes]. 

1865 Chambers' EnqrtlVU. 436/1 The Knot [of Cuzco in 

Peru] comprises six minor mountain-chains, and has an 

area thrice larger than that of Switzerland. 

fig. 18.. STEVENSON Manse Wks. 1894 Misc. I. 160 He 

[grandfather] moves in my blood.. and sits efficient in the 

very knot and centre of my being. 

9. Geom. A unicursal curve in three-dimensional 

space, which, on being distorted in any way so as 

to bring it into a plane without passing one part 

through another, will always have nodes. 

1877 TAIT '" Trans. R. Sac. Edin. XXVIII. 145, I was 

led to the consideration of the forms of knots by Sir W. 

Thomson's Theory of Vortex Atoms. Ibid. 164 Thus this 

4-fold knot, in each of its forms, can be deformed into its 

own perversion. In what follows all knots possessing this 

property will be cajled Amphicheiral. 1884 KIRKMAN ibid. 

XXXII. 281 Nothing general seems to have been written 

on knots of more than seven crossings. 

II. Figurative applications of I. 

10. fig. Something intricate, involved, or difficult 

to trace out or explain; a tangle or difficulty; 

a knotty point or problem. Gordian knot: see 

GOBDIAN I c. 

C LPRIC H"*". II- JS ^ 386 Set her is ooer cnotta ealswa 

742 

A Deity could solve. 1876 FRKI:MAN Nortn. Cony. V. xxvii. 

9 The death of John cut the knot. 1876 T. HARDY Ethelocrta 

(1890) 129 'Tis one of the greatest knots in service the 

smoke question. 

b. The central or main point of something intricate, 

involved, or difficult the ; main point in a 

problem ; the complication in the plot of a tale or 

drama ; that in which the difficulty of anything 

centres. 

^1386 CHAUCER Sgr.'s T. 303 The knotte why bat euery 

tale is tooldlf it be taried til that lust be coold . . The sauour 

passeth euer lenger the moore. 1418 Pol. Poems (Rolls) 

II. 243 He that can be Cristes clerc. And knowe the knottes 

of his crede. 1573-80 BARET Atv. K 122 The knot and 

principal! point of the matter. 1653 URQUHART Ratelais I. 

xiii, By and by shall you .. know the whole mysterie and 

knot of the matter. 1881 GLADSTONE Sp. 7 Apr., The small 

holdings . . the very knot of the difficulty not yet overcome. 

II. Something that forms or maintains a union 

of any kind ; a tie, bond, link. 

1393 LANGL. P. PI. C xvm. 127 [Holy Church is] Charite, 

. . Lyf, and loue, and leaute, in o by-leyue and lawe, And loue 

a knotte of leaute, and of leel by-leyue. c 1460 G. ASHBY 

Dicta Philos. 1142 Thre thinges be in a right sinipul knot, 

First goode counseil in hym that is not herde [etc.]. 1526 

Pilgr. Per/. (W. de W. 1531) 285 b, And therfore it is called 

of Saynt Paule the knot of perfeccyon. 1538 STARKEYjEw^land 

u. ii. 178, 1 remembyr the knot betwyx the body and 

the soule. 1587 FLEMING Contn. Holinshed III. 1576/2 

Ingratitude.. and treason, .linked togither with manie knots 

of other shamefull sinnes. 1692 DRYDEN St. Euremont's 

Ess. 362 Policy had not as yet united Men by the Knots of 

a reasonable Society. 1701 ROWE Amb. Step-moth. I. i, To 

draw The Knot, which holds our common Interest, closer. 

b. spec. The tie or bond of wedlock; the 

marriage or wedding knot. 

a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1525 Swa wit beoS ifestnet & iteiet in 

an, & swa pe cnotte is icnut bituhhen unc tweien. c 1230 

Hali Meid. 33 Beo be cnot icnute anes of wedlac. 1592 

SHAKS. Rom. q Jul. iv. ii. 24 Send for the Countie, . . lie haue 

this knot knit vp to morrow morning. 1698 FRYER Ace. E. 

India % P. 94 But the Cazy..can loose the Knot when they 

plead a Divorce. 1828 Craven Dial. s.v., ' To tie a knot wi the 

tongue,at yan cannot louze wi yan's teeth ', i. e. to get married. 

tl2. A bond or obligation; a binding condition ; 

a spell that binds. 06s. 

c 1460 Towneley Myst. vii. 107 Shall I nowsyng you a fytt, 

With my mynstrelsy! loke ye do it well in wrytt, And 

theron a knot knytt, (for it is prophecy. 1534 MORE Treat, 

on Passion Wks. 1286/1 All these supernaturall giftes he 

gaue him with the knot of thys condicion, that yf hee brake 

hys commaundement, then shuld he leese them al. a 1627 

MIDDLETON Witch i. 

ii, Knit with these charms and reten. 

live knots, Neither the man begets nor woman breeds. 1651 

HOBBES Leviath. iv. xlvii. 384 This was the first Knot upon 

their Liberty. 1813 SCOTT Trierm. Introd. Of the 

yiii, 

dread knot a wizard tied, In punishment of maiden's pride. 

III. transf. A hard or firm mass such as is 

formed by a knot tied in a string, etc. 

13. A hard lump in an animal body, either in 

a softer tissue, or on a smooth surface ; a swelling 

or protuberance in a muscle, nerve, gland, etc. ; 

a knob or enlargement in a bone ; a tumour, 

ganglion, wart, pimple, or the like; the lump that 

seems to gather in the throat in strong emotion. 

a 1225 A ncr. R. 2 pe on riwleS be heorte, be makeS hire 

efne & sme5e, wioute knotte & dolke of woh inwiL 13.. 

Gaw. ff Gr. Knt. 1334 pen brek bay be bale, be balez out 

token 

Lystily forlancyng & bere of pe knot, c 1400 Beryn 

2513 Strecching forth his fyngirs, in si^t, . . Without[en] knot 

or knor, or eny signe of goute. c 1440 Pronip. Parv. 280/2 

Knotte yn the fleshe, vndyr the skynne, glandula. a 1533 

LD. BERNERS Gold. Bk. M. A itreL (1546) L vj, The! found his 

handes hard and ful of hard knottes. 1606 SHAKS. Tr. r Cr. 

v. iii. 33 Let grow thy Sinews till their knots be strong. 

1688 Land. Gaz. No. 2351/4 A Sorrel Horse,, .a dry knot on 

the near Leg behind. 1718 ROWE tr. Lucan Notes 32 The 

Knots of Love. These are little Excrescences of Flesh 

upon the Forehead of Foals. 1774 GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. 

(1776) III. 62 They [the horns of the ibex] are bent backward, 

full of knots ; and it is generally asserted that there 

is a knot added every year. 1859 TENNYSON Elaine 736 

The Queen, who sat With lips severely placid, felt the knot 

Climb in her throat. 

14. A thickened part or protuberance in the 

tissue of a plant an ; excrescence on a stem, branch, 

or root a ; node on a stem, esp. when of swollen 

form, as the joints in grasses; the hard mass formed 

in a trunk at the insertion of a branch or round the 

place of insertion of an abortive or dead branch, 

causing a rounded cross-grained piece in a board, 

which is apt to fall out, and leave a knot-hole. 

Also, a bud; in (the} knot, in bud, budding. Also 

(//.) a disease which attacks plum and cherry 

trees (see quot. 1845). 

1398 TREVISA Earth. DeP. R. xvn. i. (MS. BodDlf. 105 b/i 

Euerich tree herbe and gras hab a rote : and in euerich rote 

manye maner knottes and stringes. Ibid. Ixxiii. If. 207/2. 

c 14019 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 118 He may not breke a knotte 

of a straw wip hise .teeb. 1523 FITZHERB. Husb. 25 

.hath many knottes towarde the roote. Ibid. 130 

2uyche. pple trees that haue knottes in the bowes. 1601 HOLLAND 

Pliny (1634) II. 165 If any person .. gather one of these 

tender knots or buds [of the pomegranate] with 2 fingers 

only. 1606 SHAKS. Tr. ty Cr. i. Hi. 316 Blunt wedges riue 

hard knots. 41670 HACKET Abp. Williams IL 88 The 

Citron Tree. .It bore some ripe ones [fruits], and some sour 

' 

earfoSe, fret is, Nan man ne astihS to heofenum, buton se 

9e of heofenum astah '. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1157 Ich habbe 

"S5S summe of l*os cnot" cnotten. c 1400 Rom. Rose 

4698 Unto hym that love wole flee, The knotte may unclosed i 

35 u 1*38 8 G' DANIEL > 

:* Eclog. 185 All the Subtle Knotts, 

which crabbed 

ones, some in the 

Heads Have Knot, and some in the Blossom altogether. 

twist. 1676 TEMPLE Lett to 

Sir y. Williamson Wks. 

1703 MOXON Mech. Exerc. in In Deal-boards, those 

1731 II. 397 This Knot 

Boughs 

is of those , or Branches are Knots. 

that must be cut through, and cannot be 

1787 WINTER Syst. Husb. 51 Couch 

untied. 1784 and some other 

Talk 

weeds 

u. 520 Knots worthy of solution, which alone 

vegetate 

at every joint or knot. 1796 

C. MARSHALL Garden, ii. (1813) 21 The flowers of many 

KNOT. 

proceed from a bud or knot. 1843 DOWNING Fruits Amer. 

270 The knots is a disease attacking bark and wood, .[with] 

the appearance of large, irregular black lumps, with a hard, 

cracked, uneven surface, quite dry within. Mod. dial. 

The may is in knot. 

t b. Phr. To seek (search for, look for, find} 

a knot or knots in a rush or bulrush (Lat. nodum 

in scirpo quxrere}, to seek or make difficulties 

where there are none; also, to seek a knot in 

a ring. Obs. 

1340 Ayenb. 253 pet zekb bet uel ine be aye ober bane 

knotte me be resse. 1363-87 FOXE A. t, M. (1684) II. 387 

To strain at gnats, to stumble at straws, to seek knots in 

rushes, a 1592 GREENE Jas. IV, IIL ii, They seek a knot 

in a nng that would wrong my master or his servants in 

this court. 1625 HART Anat. Ur. i. iii. 36 To enquire after 

[this], were to search for a knot in a rush. 1712 OLDISWORTH 

Odes Horace u. 7/2 The Grammarians therefore do in this 

place^look for a Knot in a Bull.rush. a 1734 NORTH Exan:. 

in. vii. 43 (1740) 533 Those, that sought Knots in Bulrushes 

to obstruct the King's Affairs in Parliament. 

15. A knob or embossed ornamentation in carved 

or hammered work ; a stud employed as an ornament 

or for fastening a ; boss ; also, the carved 

foliage on the capital of a column (Parker Gloss. 

Archil. 1875). Friar's knots: see FBIAK 9. 

13. . Gaw. ff Gr. Knt, 577 Greuez, With polaynez piched 

ber-to, policed ful clene, Aboute his knez knaged wyth 

knotez of golde. c 1394^ P. PI. Crede 161 pe pileres weren 

. . queynteli i-coruen wi^ curiouse knottes. 1412-20 LYDG. 

Chron. Troy IL xi, Eche caruer and curious ioyner To 

make knottes w' many a queynt floure. 1534 in Peacock 

Eng. Ch. Furniture (1866) tor Item a shaft of siluer for the 

same crosse with a roll gilte & iij knottes gilte of the whiche 

knottes euery one hath vj roses enamelid with asure. 1664 

in Bradshaw & Wordsworth Lincoln Stat. (1897) 645 

Vehemently suspected to haue secretly purloyned . . much 

of the lead and soulder..and many of the ould window 

knotts ; and to haue sould them to diuerse pewterers. 1683 

MOXON Mech. Exerc., Printing xx. p 3 These Knots are 

small square pieces of Box-wood. 1812-16 J. SMITH 

Panorama Sc. fr Art I. 163 A boss or knot at the centre 

intersections. 1849-50 WEALE Diet. Terms, Knot or Knot, 

a boss ; 

a round bunch of leaves or flowers, or other orna- 

ment of a similar kind. 

16. A hill or eminence of moderate height ; esp. 

a rocky hill or summit. Frequent in proper names 

of hills in the north-west of England. Cf. KNOB 2. 

13.. Gaw. if Gr. Knt. 1431 In a knot, bi a clyffe, at be 

kerre syde, per as be rogh rocher vn-rydely watz fallen. 

1594 NORDEN Spec. Brit., Essex u Sundrie valleis ther are, 

which of necessitie require hills; but they are but small 

Craven Dial., Knot, a rocky summit, as Bolland knot, 

Nursaw knot. 1887 Pall Mall G. 25 June 6/1 The loyal 

bonfires were descried by the watchers on Arnside Knott. . . 

Some mischievous boys had set light to the gorse and 

undergrowth at the foot of the knott. 

17. A mass formed by the aggregation and 

cohesion of particles ; esp. one that has formed as 

a hard kernel in the surrounding softer material ; 

a lump, clot, concretion. 

Glass-making. In crown gjass, = KNOB sb. i, BULL'S EYE i 

(Diet. Archil. 1863-9): in flint glass, a defect caused by the 

presence of foreign matter. Geol. A concretion of foreign 

matter in some schistose rocks. 

(Quot. 1625 is doubtful.) 

1625 B. JONSON Staple of N. u. iii, I haue lost two stone 

Of suet . . posting hither, You might haue followed me like 

a watering pot, And scene the knots I made along the street. 

1703 MOXON Mech. Exerc. 250 It must be extreamly beaten, 

which will break all the knots of Lime, a 1728 WOODWARD 

Nat. Hist. Fossils (1720) i. I. 186 A Knot of Black-Lead, 

that, happening to be form'd within the Verge of another, 

has a Sinus. 1821 CLARE Vill. Minstr. I. 135 Insects of 

mysterious birth . . Doubtless brought by moisture forth, 

Hid in knots of spittle white. 1838 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 7) 

XVI 1. 7 The straining of the stuff [pulp], and thereby keeping 

out of the paper all the knots and hard substances. 

18. A small group, cluster, band or company of 

persons or things (gathered together in one place, 

or associated in any way). Of a knot, in union or 

combination, associated together, a. Of persons. 

13.. E. E. Allit. P. B. 787 Sant lohan hem syj al in 

u knot, On be hyl hyl of Syon. a 1548 HALL Citron., Citro Edw. IV, 

216 16 All they came together in one one knot to the citie. 1601 

SHAKS. Jul. C. in. i. 117 So often shall the knot of vs be 

call'd, The Men that gaue their Country liberty. 1639 W. 

MOUNTAGU in Bncdeuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Coinm.) L 278 

My Lord Sey and my Lord Brooke, and some of that knott. 

1662 PEPYS Diary 16 Dec., All do conclude M r . Coventry, 

and Pelt, and me, to be of a knot. 1704 SWIFT Mech. 

Operat. Spir. Misc. (1711) 287 A Knot of Irish Men and 

Women. 1849 MACAULAY Hist. Eng. vii. II. 225 There was 

scarcely a market town in England without at least a knot 

of separatists. 1874 GREEN Short Hist. viii. 9. 557 Within 

the House . . a vigorous knot of politicians was resolved to 

prolong its existence. 

b. Of things. 

1607-12 BACON Ess., Fortune (Arb.) 376 The Milken Way 

in the Sky . . is a meeting or knot of a number of smalle 

Starres. 1698 FRYER Ace. E. India ft P. b We were close 

under St. lago, another Island of the same Knot. 1825 

SCOTT Talism. ii, They had now arrived at the knot of palmtrees. 

a 1853 ROBERTSON Lect. ii. (1858) 84 You will have.. 

not an institution, but a knot of clubs. 1875 WHITNEY Life 

Lang.ji\\. 263 A host of lesser knots of idioms. 

IV. 19. attrib. and Comb.,zsknot-bed, -garden 

(see sense 7); knot-maker, -tier, -tightener; knotfree, 

-green, -haired, -like adjs. ; knot-hole, (a) a 

hole in a board, etc., caused by the falling out ot 

a knot ; (6) the hollow formed in the trunk of a

KNOT. 

tree, by the decay of a branch ; knot-horn moth, 

a moth of the genus Phycita ; knot-ribbon, ribbon 

used in making bows or knots; knot-stiteh, a stitch 

knot-wood, 

by which ornamental knots are made ; 

wood that is full of knots ; esp. pine. 

1663-76 REA Flora (ed. 2) 232 Directions for the. .making 

of a 'Knot-bed. 1648 HERRICK Hesper., Charmfor Stables. 

The Manes shall be, Of your horses, all "knot-free. 1519 

HORMAN Vulg. 172 The *knot-garden serueth for : 

pleasure 

the potte -garden for profitte. a 1721 LISLE Husb. (1757) 208 

(E. D. S.) Red-straw wheat must be gathered 'knot-green, 

that is, whilst the knots in the straw are green. 1639 T. 

PECKE Panutsi Piicrp. 125 Knot-bair'd Sicambrians And 

Natures frisled Êthiopians. 1726 G. ROBERTS 4 Years Voy. 

284, I found one great Leak, which was a *Knot Hole. 1889 

BARING-GOULD Arminell (1890) I. i. 12 Fanny, .detected an 

eye inspecting her through a knot-hole, laughed, and then 

turned crimson. 1894 Spectator 18 Aug. 216/1 The various 

species of "knot-horn moths (Phycidx). 1776-96 WITHERING 

Brit. Plants (ed. 3! II. 347 Leaves with "knot-like joints. 

1888 Pall MallG. 26 Jan. 10/1 The trade of ' 

"knot-maker ', 

or ' 

tier of cravats ', is not one of the least lucrative callings 

in Paris just now. 1851 lllustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib. 1145 

Ribbon for military decorations. *Knot ribbon. 1645 

MILTON Tetrach. Wks. (1851) 163 (Gen. ii. 24) This vers..is 

the great "knot tier, which hath undon by tying, and by 

tangling, millions of guiltles consciences. 

Knot (npt), sb2 Also knott. [Found from 

1 5th c. ; varying from 1 7th c. with knat, GNAT * 

origin unknown. 

The conjecture of Camden, adopted by Drayton, and com- 

memorated by Linnaeus in the specific name Canutus, that 

' 

the bird was named after King Cnut or Canute, because 

believed to be a visitant from Denmark ', is without historical 

or even traditional basis.] 

A bird of the Snipe family (Tringa Canutus), 

also called Red-breasted Sandpiper; it breeds 

within the Arctic Circle, but is common on the 

British coasts during the late summer and autumn. 

[1422 in Rogers Agric. ty Prices III. 136/2.] 1452 Bill of 

fare in A. Wood Hist. Univ. Oxf. 26, 3" Table. Plover, 

Knottys. Styntis, Quayles. 1572 J. JONES Bathes Backbone 

10 Rayle, Curlyew, Cnotwyppe [ = Cnot, Wyppe], Wodcocke, 

Snype, or any other clouen footed fowles. 1586 CAMDEN 

Brit. (1607) 408 Knotts, \. Canitti aves vt opinor, e Dania 

enim aduolare creduntur. 1622 DRAYTON Poly-olb. xxv. 

(1748) 368 The Knot, that called was Canutus Bird of old, 

Of that great King of Danes, his name that still doth 

hold. 1774 GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. VI. 28 The long legged 

plover, the knot and the turnstone, are rather the guests 

than the natives of this island. 1863 C. A. JOHNS Home 

Walks 21 Mixed with them in the same flock we repeatedly 

saw Sanderlings, purple Sandpipers and Knots. 1881 Spectator 

27 Aug. 1108 In the Nares Arctic Expedition Capt. 

Fielden discovered the breeding ground of the sanderling 

and the knot. 

Knot (npt), v. KNOT [f. sb.i] 

1. trans. To tie in a knot ; to form a knot or 

knots in ; to do up, fasten, or secure with a knot. 

a 1547 SURREY /Eneid iv. (1557) Ej, Her quyuer hung behinde 

her back, her tresse Knotted in gold. 1649 G. DANIEL 

Trinarch., Hen. IV, clxiy, Perhaps those Elves Abuse them 

rather, ..And Knot their Hearts in their owne Handkercheife. 

1702 ADDISON Dial. Medals ii. Wks. 1721 I. 515 No 

costly fillets knot her hair behind. 1832 MARRYAT TV. Forster 

xlvii, The seamen were employed in knotting the rigging. 

1833 RENNIE Alph. Angling 65 Begin with three hairs, put 

them level at top and knot them. 1842 TENNYSON St. Sim. 

Styl. 64, I wore The rope. .Twisted as tight as I could knot 

the noose. 1894 HALL CAINE Manxman v. v. 295 A cardboard 

box, tied about with a string, which was knotted in a 

peculiar way. 

b. intr. To form a knot or knots; to be or 

become tied or twisted into a knot. 

1611 HEYWOOD Gold. Age i. i. 15 Henceforth my vnkem'd 

lockes shall knot in curies. 

2. intr. To make or knit knots for fringes ; to 

do the fancy work called KNOTTING. 

a 1701 SEDLEY Song, Hears not my Phillis \, Phillis. . Sat 

Lady Chi 

during di' . 

P. gabbled and knotted. 18159 ROGERS Hist. Gleanings I. 58 

Caroline sat during these recitals, sometimes yawning, sometimes 

smiling, but always knotting. 

b. trans. To make or form by this art. 

1750 MRS. DELANY Life ft Corr. (1861) II. 606 Till I have 

finished a plain fringe I am knotting. 1781 MRS. BOSCAWEN 

ibid. Ser. n. III. 64 You would contrive to knot them some 

quipos of remembrance ! 

3. trans. To form protuberances, bosses, or knobs 

on or in to make ; knotty; to emboss; to knit (the 

Exile Poems 1864 1. 28 This Eve . . Knots her fair eyebrows 

in so hard a knot. 1865 DICKENS Mut. Fr. n. xiv, Bradley 

Headstone knotted his brows. 

fig. a 1341 WYATT Poems (1557) 46 Make plame thine hart, 

that it be not knotted With hope or dreade. 

t b. intr. Of : plants To form knots or nodes ; 

to bud; to form a close head, as clover; to begin 

to develop fruit; to 'set' = ( KNIT v. 5 c). 06s. 

. . 1611 COTGR., Nouer, also, to knot (as a tree thats in 

growing). 1651-3 JF.S. TAYLOR Serm.for Year i. vi. 78 You 

must .. let it blossom and knot, and grow and ripen. 1658 

EVELYN Fr. Card. 1:675) '53 The false flowers which will 

never knot into fr.nt, are to be nipped off. 1660 SHARROCK 

Vegetables 20 The time of cutting [clover] will be knowne, by 

observing when it begins to knot. 

4. trans. To combine or unite firmly or intri- 

743 

cately ; to associate intimately ; to entangle, com- 

plicate. 

1611 SPEED Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xvi. 657 There were three score 

thousand of them rebelliously knotted together. 1624 BACON 

War with Spain Wks. 1879 I. 536/1 The party of the papists 

in England are become more knotted, both in dependence 

towardsSpain.andamongstthemselves. 1670 MARVELL Corr. 

Wks. 1872-5 II. 339 The House also thought fit to adjourn 

itselfe. . . Thus we are not yet knotted. 1839 HAWTHORNE 

Mart. Fanti xix, The deed knots us together for time and 

eternity, like the coil of a serpent. 1898 G. MEREDITH Odes 

Fr. Hist. 29 Thy [armies] clash, they are knotted ; 

and now 

tis the deed of the axe on the log. 

fb. intr. To unite or gather together in a knot; 

to assemble, congregate ; to form a compact mass, 

to concrete. Obs. 

1604 SHAKS. Oth. w. ii. 62 A Cesterne, for foule Toades To 

knot and gender in. 1639 SALTMARSH Policy 289 A little 

Physicke will disperse a gathering Disease, which if it knot, 

hath more danger and difficulty. 1662 PEPYS Diary 24 Aug., 

A great many young people knotting together, and crying 

out ' 

Porridge I 

' 

5. techn. a. To cover the knots in (wood) before 

painting (see KNOTTING vbl. sb. 4). b. To cover 

(metal, etc.) with knotting (sense 4 b). c. To 

remove knots from (cloth, : etc.) cf. KNOTTER 2, 

KNOTTING vbl. sb. 

5. 

Knot, obs. form of NOT a., shorn, round-headed. 

Kiiotberry. Also kiioutberry. [?f. KNOT 

s&.l + BERRY.] A local name of the Cloudberry, 

Ritbus Chamsemorus. 

l6 

33 JOHNSON Gerardfs Herbal App. 1630 Knot, or Knoutberne, 

or Cloud-berrie. 1671 SKINNER Etymol. Ling.Angl., 

Knot-berry-bush, Chatnxmorus. 1778 LIGHTFOOT Flora 

Scot. (1789) I. 266 Cloud-berries, Knot-berries, or Knoutberries. 

-A&Craven Dial., Knout-berry. 1839 W. S. COLE- 

MAN Woodlands (1862) 103 The Cloudberry. . .Called also the 

Mountain Bramble and Knotberry. 

Knotch, variant of NOTCH. 

Kuote (n

KNOTTINESS. 

Knottiness (njrtines). [f. KNOTTY + -NESS.] 

1. The quality or condition of being knotty (lit. 

1607 HIERON IVks. I. 409 Such children, the knottines 

of whose nature is refined and reformed and made 

smooth by grace, 1616 DONNE Serin, (ed. Alford) V. cxxxvii. 

463 The wryness, the knottiness, the entangling of the 

serpent. 1662 HERNE in Collect. (O. H. S.) I. 246 The bark 

of such pollards cannot be gotten off because of its knotty. 

ness. 1868 BROWNING Ring $ Bk. n. 1167 Never was such a 

tangled knottiness, But thus authority cuts the Gordian thro'. 

2. Geont. The minimum number of nodes in the 

projection of a knot (sense 9) on a plane or similar 

surface. 

1877 TAIT in Trans. K. Soc. Edin. XXVIII. 148 There 

arc, therefore, projections of every knot which give a 

minimum number of intersections, . . this minimum number 

. . we will call Knottiness. 

(no- tin), -obi. sb. 

[f. KNOT v. + -ING V 

Knotting 

1. The action of tying a knot, or of tying 01 

entangling in a knot. 

"758 J\ BLAKE Plan Mar. Syst. 7 Exercising those who 

are received into the service, in knotting and splicing, in 

handing and reefing of sails. 1884 SIR S. ST. JOHN Hayti 

v. 196 The peculiar knotting of their curly wool. 1898 P. 

MANSON Trap. Diseases xxxvii. 587 The affected hairs are 

bent and twisted and tend to produce matting and knotting. 

2. The knitting of knots for fancy-work, similar 

to TATTiNa ; concr., fancy work done by knitting 

threads into knots. 

1697 [see 6 below]. 1712 ADDISON Sped. No. 536 F 2 

Knotting is again in fashion. 1750 MRS. DELANY Life Sf 

Corr. (1861) II. 616, I have sent you by Mr. Dubourg, . . all 

the knotting and knotting thread I have. 1784 JOHNSON in 

Boswell 3 June, Next to mere idleness, I think knotting is to 

be reckoned in the scale of insignificance ; though 1 once 

attempted to learn knotting. 1801 Monthly Rev. XXXV. 

342 The young females of the Cape . . are expert at . . all 

kinds of lace, knotting, and tambour work. 1826 Miss 

MITFORD Village Ser. n. (1863) 317 The whole fringe of the 

bed and window curtains being composed of her knotting. 

1879 MRS. MACQUOID Berksh. Lady 123 Taking her knotting 

out of a black velvet reticule. 

8. The formation of knots or protuberances; the 

production of buds, etc., budding. 

1611 COTGR., Nouement de jeunes arbres, the knotting of 

young trees ; their springing, or shooting out from knot to 

knot 1620 BRINSLEY Virg. Eel. 119/2 In the new flower 

(viz. at the first knotting). 1848 B. WEBB Continent. Ecclesiol. 

116 It is like a finger deformed by the knotting of the 

knuckles. 

4. The process of 

covering the knots in wood 

with a special preparation, previously to painting ; 

concr., the preparation used for this. 

1823 P. NICHOLSON Pract. Build. 587 Knotting; in paint. 

m, the process for preventing knots from appearing m the 

finish. 1852 Nicholson's Diet. Archil, s. 

v., Knotting is 

a composition of strong size, mixed with red lead. 1881 

YOUNG Every Man his own Mechanic 1578 All the knots 

m the wood must be killed with knotting. . . Knotting is a 

preparation of red lead, litharge, boiled oil, and a little 

turpentine. 

b. A preparation used as a cement or covering 

for metals. 

5. The process of removing knots from cloth, 

pulp, etc. : see quots. 

1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mech. 1240/2 . . Knotting. 2. (Clothmaking.) 

Removing weft knots and others from cloth 

means 

by 

of tweezers. 1880 SIR E. REED Japan II. 44 The 

processes of straining, knotting (the separation of knots, 

impurities, or of matted fibre which has formed into strings, 

or is insufficiently ground,) making [pulp into paper]. 

6. attnb. and Comb, (chiefly in sense 2). 

1697 'n Doran Ann. Eng. Stage (1864) I. xii. 250 A black 

taffeiy cap, together with . .a knotting needle, and a ball of 

sky-colour and white knotting. 1763 MRS. HARRIS in Priv. 

Lett. Ld. Malmesbury I. 94 Lady Weymouth..and the 

Duchess of Ancaster sat knotting, with a knotting-bag 

hanging on their left arm. a. 1847 MRS. SHERWOOD Lady of 

Manor II. x. 26, I then ..seated myself at the table, with 

my knotting-shuttle in my hand. 

t Kno-ttish, a. Obs. rare 1 , 

[f. KNOT si.l + 

-ISH '.] Knotty. 

1330 PALSGR. 317/1 Knottysshe, knorisshe, or full of 

knottes, neueux. 

t Kno'ttle. Ol>s. [dim. of KNOT s&l : see -LE.] 

A small knot ; 

a knob; a tangle (of rope). 

J a I 

ii* 

00 Ale*a"

KNOW. 

KNOW. 

RICHARDSON Clarissa Wks. 1883 VI. 336, I know you will 

expedite an answer. 1849 MACAULAY Hist. hng. VL II. 158 

Tyrconnel threatened to let the king know that the lord 

president had .. described his majesty as a fool. i8 78J.Cooic 

[.ect.Orthod.*, You know that X.O" know 'hat nothing can 

is the result of an increase in the convexity ot tne lens. 

1889 I. K. JEROME Three Men in a Boat 275, 1 know for a 

fact that they are there. 

b. with dependent question, 

introduced by who, 

as / know 

what, when, where, how, and the like ; 

who did it, I know where he lives. Often ellipt., 

giving rise to subst, adj., and advb. phrases, as 

/ know not who, I know not how, dear knows 

where, etc. 

The fact known is the answer to the question directly or 

indirectly expressed. 

c 1200 Trin. Coll. Horn. 81 Warbi we mihten cnowen gif 

hit soS were bat bu seist. c 1175 LAY. 4621 Ne cnowe non 

(i 874) 397 Criminals have been known . . to jest even upon trie 

scaffold. 1884 MRS. H. WARD Miss Bretherton vii. 86, 

I never knew anyone do so much in so short a time. 

e. absol. Often parenthetically, esp. in colloquial 

use , in/0 know (cf.' you see ') , we know, do you know. 

Grammatically the parenthetic clause is often the chief 

sentence, and the fact stated its object ; but it can often be 

taken as = as you know to be the 

fact, 

(71350 Will. Palerne 1174 He is my lege man lelly bou 

knowes. c 1386 CHAUCER Man ofLaw's Prol. 50 Chaucer 

. . Hath seydliem in swich englissh as he kan Of olde tyme 

as knoweth many a man. 1599 H. BUTTES Dyets drie 

Dinner A a iv b, Yet Time (you know) is Edax rerum. 171* 

ADUISON Sped. No. 475 PS How can he help that, you know? 

1798 JANE AUSTEN Northang. Abb. vi. (1833) 24 Do you know, 

1 saw the prettiest hat you can imagine. 1885 ANSTEY 

Tinted Venus\. 7 Ought I to have cried both my eyes out? 

You haven't cried out either of yours, you know. 

f. with a word or phrase standing in place of 

a fact referred to. 

e. g. to know it, that, what has been said, thefact,all about 

it, the existence of the book, the goodness of his heart (= that 

his heart is good). (This last 

passes 

into 8). Not ifI know 

it, a colloquial phrase intimating that one will take care not 

to do the thing referred to. 

[c 1000 Juliana 443 Ic fiat sylf gecneow to late micles.] 

1386 Rolls of Parlt. III. 225/1 Nichol Brembre .. with 

stronge honde, as it is ful knowen . . was chosen Mair. c 1386 

CHAUCER Man of Law's T. 857 The Romayn Emperour 

. . hath lettres 

by 

knowe The slaughtre of cristen folk, c 1400 

Destr. Troy 11721, 1 haue comynt in this case, knowith hit 

ypur-selfe. 111425 Cursor M. 14949 (Trin.) |?ese iewes ben, je 

hit knowen [Colt. Yon lues ar, wel wat jee it J. c 1489 CAXTOH 

Sonnes of Aymon xxvi. 549 Whan the kyng charlemagn 

knewe the comyng of 

reynawd. 1560 DAUS tr. Sleidane's 

Comm. 177 b, But that time knew I none of all this gere. 

1610 HEALEYS/. Aug. Citie o/God, Vriies Comm. (1620) 103 

This 1 think is knowne to all. 1697 DRYDEN Virg. Georg. 

n. 639 O happy, if he knew his happy State I 1715 DE FOE 

Fam. Instruct. I. i. (1841) I. 6 How do we know that he 

dwells there?.. we know it in two ways. 1874 T. HARDY 

Far fr. Madding Crowd 1 

( 880) 32 After that do you think 

I could marry you ? Not if I know it. 1891 MRS. Nxw- 

746 

MAN Begun in flit I. 47 As soon as Dorothy wished it to be 

known. 1892 W. S. GILBERT Mountebanks L 24 Ni. I saydon 

't lose that. Pie. Not if I know it 1897 HINDE Congo 

A robs 147 Oh, we know all about Mohara. 

IV. 12. To know how (formerly also simply 

to know) : to understand the way, or be able (to do 

something) : cf. CAN z>.l 3. 

a 1548 HALL Chron., Hen. VIII 174 We have so many 

clothes in our handes, that we knowe not how to utter them. 

1566 W. ADLINGTON tr. Apuleius' Golden Ass ix. xl. (1893) 

188 By and by the old woman which knew well to babble, 

began to tell as followeth. 1594 MARLOWE & NASHE Dido 

i. ii, Abandon fruitless fears, Since Carthage knows to enter- 

tain distress. 1610 SHAKS. i. Temp. ii. 364, 1 know how to 

curse. 1634 SIR T. HERBERT Trav. 147 Not one ..of a 

thousand among them, knowing bow to write, a 1763 SHEN- 

STONE Elegies iii. 13 He little knew to ward the secret 

wound. 1808 J. BARLOW Columb. in. 107 Tell them we 

know to tread the crimson plain. 1885 Manch. Exam. 

ii Nov. 3/2 Told by a lady who knows exactly how to write 

for children. 1893 Bookman June 82/2 writes moral- 

Nobody 

(Arb.) 17 Mary, nowe I see you know what is what. 1562 

J. HEYWOOD Prov.

KNOWABLENESS. 

B. absol. or sb. A knowable thing ; usually in 

pi. knowable things. 

1661 GLANVILL Van. Dogm. Pref. B j, I doubt not but the 

opinionative resolver, thinks all these easie Knowables. 

17*5 WATTS Logic I. vi. i To distinguish well between 

knowables and unknowables. 

Hence Knowabi'lity, Know ableness, the 

quality of being knowable. 

1660 N. INGELO Bentivolio $ Urania \. (1682) 162 God 

is the most Knowable and most LoveTy Thing in the world ; 

excess of Knowableness following the Greatness of his 

Essence. 1679 J. GOODMAN Penitent Pardoned L iii. (1713) 

58 Respect is had to the knowledge or knowableness of that 

rule. 1865 MILL Exam. Hamilton 48 The argument is 

only tenable as against the knowabihty and the possible 

existence of.. 'The Infinite' and 'The Absolute . 187* 

Contemp. Rev. XX. 828 Not the unknowability, but tie 

knowability of his ' 

ultimate scientific ideas '. 

1883 A. 

BARRATT Phys. Metempiric 172 Without ideas there is no 

perception, no knowableness. 

Knowe, know (nau, Sc. dial, nou, nrm), Sc.and 

North. Eng. form of KNOLL, hillock, rising ground. 

1513 DOUGLAS &neis vin. iii. 37 From a hyll or a know 

To tham he callis. a 1585 MONTGOMERIE Flyting 73 Many 

jeald sow hast thou cald ouer a know. 1719 D'URFEY Pills 

(1872) II. 167 Riding over a Knough, I met with a Farmer's 

Daughter. 1804 J. GRAHAME Sabbath. 295 He roarn'd O'er 

hill and dale, o'er broomy knowe. 1879 E. WAUGH Chimney 

Corner 252 (Lancash. dial.) Till I geet at th' top of a bit of 

a knowe. 1893 STEVENSON Catriona xxx. 352 The path rose 

and came at last to the head of a knowe. [In E. D. D. from 

the six northern counties of England.] 

b. Comb., as knoive-head, -top. 

15.. Wife of Auchtermuchty xiii, Then up he gat on a 

know held, On hir to cry, on hir to schout. 18x8 SCOTT 

Hrt. Midi, xlv, I will just show mysell on the knowe-head. 

Knowe, -en, pa. pple. of KNOW v. 

Knower (nou-ai). [f. KNOW v. + -ER 1.] One 

who knows (in senses of the vb.). 

1382 WYCLIF Job xvi. 20 Forsothe in heuene is my witness ; 

am I knowere of myself in hei^tis? a 1533 LD. BERNERS 

Htton 449 Y beste lapidary and knower ofstones that was 

in all the world. 1575-85 ABP. SANDYS Serin. (Parker Soc.) 

122, I will not be a knower, but a doer of thy law. 1681 

TEMPLE Mem. in. Wks. 1731 I. 334 The pretending Knowers 

among them, . . pretended now to know nothing of it c 1728 

EARL OF AILESBURY Mem. (1890) 277 An honest man, but 

no knower of men. 1881 P. BROOKS Serm. 88 Like the 

knowledge of the rocks or the stars, something quite independent 

of moral conditions in the knower. 

f b. One who has or takes cognizance, a judge 

(L. cognitor). 06s. 

c 1374 CHAUCER Boeth. iv. pr. iv. 100 (Camb. MS.) Yif thow 

weere. .yset a luge or a knowere of thinges, trowestow bat 

men sholden tormenten hym bat hath don the wrong or elles 

hym bat hath suffred the wrong? 1581 STYWARD Mart. 

Discipl. i. 65 God is the knower and determiner. 

Knowful, a. dial. [See -FUL.] Endowed with 

knowledge, well-informed. Hence Know-fulness. 

1855 ROBINSON Whitby Gloss, s. v., ' He was skilful and 

knowful.' 'A knowful kind of a body.' 1891 ATKINSON 

Last ofGiant-Killers no His canny and knowful counsellor. 

Hid. 196 If one had knowfulness and experience enough. 

- 

Knowing (n" 

in), vbl.sb. [f. KNOWZ;. + -ING!.] 

The action or fact denoted by the verb KNOW. 

(1. Acknowledgement; recognition. Obs. 

41225 Ancr. R. 280 Edmod cnowunge of bin owune woe- 

nesse & of bine owune unstrencoe. 1362 LANGL. P. PI. A. 

n. 206 Freres . . fetten him bennes ; For knowynge of Comers 

kepten {B. coped] him as a Frere. 

f 2. Personal acquaintance. Obs. 

Fleshly knowing, carnal knowledge. 

a 1300 Cursor M, 11749 P31 )?" fand nan Palr 

inge. c 1430 Hymns Virg. 105 Lete tteischeli knowfrom 

bee be lent Saue oonli bi-twene man & wijf : 

3. The action of getting to understand, or fact of 

understanding ; mental comprehension of truths or 

principles; knowledge; f understanding of or skill 

in something (obs.}. 

c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. Wace (Rolls) 166 Geffrey.. made 

it alle in Latin pat clerkes haf now knawyng in. 13 .. E. E. 

Aliit. P. A. 858 Al-thagh oure corses in clottezclynge, ..We 

thurgh-outly haven cnawyng. 1450-153 Myrr. our Ladye 

147 The spyryte of knowmge and of pytye. 1480 CAXTON 

Chron. i. Eng. (1520)6/1 Athlas. .islykenedto bere up heven 

on his sholders bycause of his in sterres. 

knowynge 1658 

A. Fox Wurtz Surf. i. ix. 35 The Knowing of the Medicine 

and of the Disease must go hand in hand. 1874 BLACKIE 

ledge and not forgetting. 

4. The fact of being aware or informed ot 

any thing ; acquaintance with a thing or fact ; 

cognizance, knowledge; f notice, intimation (ods.}. 

Now chiefly in the phrase, 

there is no knowing, 

one cannot know, no one can tell. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 5495 (GOtt.) A neu king, pat of loseph 

had na knouyng. c 1386 CHAUCER Sor.'s T. 293 Deyntees 

mo than been in my knowyng. cilfx Destr. Troy 13199 

When hit come to the knowyng of hir kid brother, Poll- 

phemus prudly preset hir after. ^1485 Digby Myst. HI. 

of crystes deth. 1611 SPEED 

1273, I send hym knowyng 

Hist. Ct. Brit. ix. xix. (1623) 929 Without the knowing and 

assent of the Lords. 1794 MRS. RADCLIFFE Myst. Udolflto 

xii, There is no knowing how young women will act. 1800 

Asiat. Ann. Reg., Proc. E. Ind. Ho. 60/2 There was no 

knowing what it might lead to. 1860 GEO. ELIOT MM on 

Ft. H. ii, There's never any knowing where that 11 ena. 

747 

fb. A means whereby to know something; 

a sign, an indication. Obs. 

c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 271 Whanne J?e bowels fallib 

boru} dindimum, he makib pe ballok lebir neuere be lengere, 

& bis is a good knowinge. 

( c. Something known, an experience. Obs. 

1605 SHAKS. Macb. n. iv. 4 This sore Night Hath trifled 

former knowings. 

Knowing (n

KNOWLEDGE. 

Wherefore haue wee afflicted our soule, and thou takest no 

knowledge ? 1611 B. JONSON Catiline iv. vi, A state s anger 

Should not take knowledge either of fools or women. 1633 

I. ROBINSON Let. 19 Dec. in W. Bradford Plymouth Plantation 

(1856) 163 So are we glad to take knowledg of it in that 

fullnes we doe. 

II. Senses derived from the verb KNOW, in its 

later uses. 

* Thefact or condition of knowing. 

6. The fact of knowing a thing, state, etc., or (in 

general sense) a person; acquaintance; familiarity 

gained by experience. 

41300 Cursor M. 15931 Coth petre, 'knaulage \Gfftt. 

cnaulage, fairf. knawlage] of himjiad i neuer nan '. a 1350 

Ibid. 5061 (G5tt.) Mi fadir faris wele, sir, I wat. Knaulage 

\Cott. knauing] of ôures haue I nan. 1375 BARBOUR 

Bruce i. 337 Knawlage off mony statis, May quhile awailê 

full mony gatis. 1484 CAXTON Fables ofA Ifonce i, I herd 

of two marchaunts whiche neuer had sene eche other., but 

they had knowleche eche of the other by theyr lettres. 1535 

COVERDALE 2 ChroH. viii. 18 Hiram sent him shippes by his 

seruauntes which had knowlege of the See. 1663 J. DAVIES 

tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 169 The Antient Geographers 

. . had no knowledge of these Tartars. 1771 Junius^ Lett. 

liv. 281 His knowledge of human nature must be limited 

indeed. 1860 TYNDALL Glac. I. x. 67 Thus expanding my 

knowledge of the glaciers. 

t b. absol. in phr. to grow out of (one's] knowledge 

: to cease to be known, to become unknown 

or unfamiliar. 06s. 

1578 LYTE Dodoens v. xliii. 167 Albeit it be nowe growen 

out of knowledge, yet we haue thought it good to describe 

the same. 1633 LISLE JEl/ric onO.t,N. Test. Pref. 6 The 

Hebrew it selfe . . grew so out of knowledge among the 

people that they understood not our Saviours Eli, Eli, 

lammasabactant. 1711 DE FOE Col. Jack (1840) 1 

199, was 

grown out of everybody's knowledge. 1754 FoorE Knights 

i. (1778) 3/1 Master Timothy is almost grown out of knowledge, 

Sir Gregory. 1864 D. G. MITCHELL Sev. Star. 33 

Now, he must have grown out of my knowledge. 

t6. a. Personal acquaintance, friendship, intimacy. 

b. Those with whom one is acquainted, 

one's acquaintances = ; ACQUAINTANCE 3. 06s. 

1388 WYCLIP Lukf ii. 44 Thei . . sou^ten hym among hise 

cosyns and his knouleche[i382knowen], 1389 in Eng . Gilds 

(1870) 4 pe brethren and sustren of be bretherhede .. shul 

euery 5er..hold to-geder,forto norishe more knowelechand 

loue, a fest. c 1483 CAXTON Dialogues 4/13 And ye mete ony 

That ye know Or that they be of your knowelech [de vostre 

cognoissance\ 1509 Bp. FISHER Fun. Serm. C'tess Rich* 

rttond Wks. (1876) 290 She was bounteous and lyberall to 

euery persone of her knowlege or aquayntaunce. 1600 

SHAKS. A. Y. L. I. ii. 297, I shall desire more loue and 

knowledge of you. 

7. Sexual intimacy. Const, of (^witK). Now 

only in carnal knowledge, (archaic and legal.) 

a 1425 Cursor M. 11056 (Trin.) pe ton was ?onge mayden 

bon, pe to(>er had knowleche wip men. 1450 Merlin 17 

Neuer erthely man hadde I of knowleche, , wherethrough 

I 

shplde haue childe. 1540 Act 32 Hen. VI[I,

KNOWLEDGE. 

-leohe(n, (4-5 -lech, -lich(e, -lyoh(e, -laoh(e), 

5-6 -lege, (5 -legh, 6 -lage), 6-7 -ledge, (6 -ledg). 

[Early ME. cna-wlechien, in I4th c. knowleche(n, 

prob. f. cnaiv, KNOW rf.l, and ultimately from 

cndw-an, know-en, to KNOW, with a second element 

of obscure origin : see note to prec. A single ex- 

ample of i-cnoulechien in same sense, homgecndw-, 

i-know-, is known in the I jth c. Northern instances 

of the vb. are unknown before the I5th c., and are 

rare at all times. The unstressed ending -leche, became 

by 1400 -lege, whence the later -ledge. (Cf. 

Grinnidge = Greenwich, Swanage from Swanewic, 

Swanwich.) See also the 

sb.] 

1. trans. To own the knowledge of; to confess ; 

to 

recognize or admit as true: = ACKNOWLEDGE v. I. 

1130 Mali Mild. 9 ?if ha . . cnawlecheS soS; Ich habbe 

ham to witnesse ha hckecS huni of bornes. a 1240 La/song 

in Celt. Htm, 205 Al bis ich i-cnoulechie be. a 1380 SI. 

Ambrose 672 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1878) 18 pus bis gode 

mon . . Knouleched bat al bat was his Was pore mennes at 

heore nede. 1418 Surtees Misc. (1888) 5 He knawleged and 

graunted his trespas. 1438 Water/. Arch, in \otk Rep. 

Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 330 John Franches . . didd knolech 

hym to ow to William LyncolL.x. li. of money currant. 

dlde it of gude zele and motife. c 1440 Partonope 3522, 

I knowlech a traytoure am I. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour(iS6S) 

37 Thanne she knowleged her misdede. 1483 Cath. Artgl. 

205/1 To knawlege, fattri, confiteri [etc.]. 1537 Act 28 

Hen. VIII in Bolton Stat. Irel. (1621) 129 Them that, .doe 

professe and knowledge Christs religion. 1551 ROBINSON 

tr. More's Utop. Transl. Ep. (1895) 18 Knowing, and know, 

ledging the barbarous rudenes of my translation. 1582 

STANYHURST jEneis n. (Arb.) 48 My flight from prison 

I knowledge. [1660 STILLINGFL. Iren. lu viii. 2 The 

Cleregie . . did knowledge and confesse according to the 

truth, that the Convocations of the same Cleregie hath ben 

and ought to be assembled by the Kings writt] 

b. absol. or intr. To make confession or acknow- 

ledgement ; to confess. Const, to (a fault, etc.). 

1381 WYCLIF John i. 20 And he knowelechide, and denyede 

not, and he knowlechide, For I am not Crist. 1393 LANGL. 

P. PI. C. viii. 148 For dedes bat we ban don ille, dampned 

sholde we be neuere Yff we knewelechid and cryde crist 

ber of mercy, a 1450 MYRC 916 When thow herest what thow 

hast do, Knowlache wel a-non ther to. 1526 TINDALE Rom. 

x. 10 To knowledge with the mougth maketh a man safe. 

f c. intr. with to (in biblical : versions) To give 

thanks to, to praise. Obs. 

A literal rendering of L. confiteri of Vulg., repr. Heb. 

mvySdak, Gr. fJonoAoveiirSai. 

1383 WYCLIF Gen. xxix. 35 She conseuyde, and bare a sone, 

and seith, Now I shal knowlech [Cov. geue thankes] to the 

Lord. Ps. xli[i]. 12 Hope I in god, for 311 shal knou- 

lechen to hym. Matt. xi. 25, I knowleche to thee, fadir 

..for thou hast hid these thingis fro wijse [men] and ware 

and hast shewid hem to litil men. 1535 COVERDALE Rout. 

xiv. n All tunges shal knowlege vnto God [WYCLIF Ech 

tunge schal knowleche to God]. 

2. trans. To recognize or confess (a person or 

thing to be something) ; a. with complement, b. 

simply : To recognize (one) to be what he claims to ; 

own the claims or authority of: = ACKNOWLEDGE 2. 

a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1352 Her we cnawlecheS him soS godd, 

and godes sune. a 1300 Body fy Soul in Map's Poems 

(Camden) 335 That thou} woldest God knouleche. 1377 

LANGL. P. PI. B. xn. 193 He. .knewleched hym gulty. 1382 

WYCLIF Luke xii. 8 Ech man which euer schal knowleche 

me . byfore men, .mannis sone schal knowleche him bifore be 

aungelia of God. c 1450 Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 138 Knowlyche 

thiself ffor a cockewold. 1535 Goodly Printer 

(\Z^} 

82 

They knowledge thee to be the Father of an infinite majesty. 

1582 STANYHURST Êneis in. (Arb.) 89 A Greeke my self I doe 

knowledge 1631 WEEVER Anc. Fun. Mott. ri3 Knowledging, 

and affirming, .the same Bishop to be supreme. 1643 

PKVNNE Son. Power Parlt. App. 28 Charles dying, his sonne 

Charles the eight, was . . reputed and knowledged King. 

3. To own as genuine, or of legal force or validity ; 

to own, avow, or assent in legal form to (an act, 

document, etc.), so as to give it = validity: AC- 

KNOWLEDGE v. 3. 

1531-2 Act 23 Hen. VIII, c. 6 i The cognisor ne the 

cognisee, that did knowledge and take the same reconisances, 

1581 LAMBARDE Eiren. 11. iii. (1588) 136 Assaults .. 

do draw after them the forfaiture of a Recognusance, knowledged 

for the keeping of the Peace. 1594 WEST 2nd Pt. 

Symbol., The said L. M. his heires and assignes shall . . do, 

make, knowledge, and suffer, or cause to be made, knowledged 

and suffered al and everie act and acts [etc.]. 1797 Burns 

Keel. Law (ed. 6) III. 204 If any ecclesiastical person knowjedge 

a statute merchant or statute staple, or a recognizance 

in the nature of a statute staple. 

4. refl. To make oneself known to, or bring 

oneself into acquaintance with a person, b. intr. 

To have carnal knowledge with. 

c 1375 Cursor M. 11056 (Fairf.) The tone was yong maidyn 

ban The tothir had knowlechid with man [Tritt. had knowleche 

wi}> mon]. a 1425 Ibid. 3838 (Trin.) lacob . . knowleched 

him {Cott. kythed him, Gott. kneu him] bere wib racheL 

6. trans. To recognize; in Med. to recognize and 

identify (a disease), to diagnose. 

1541 R. COPLAND Galyen's Terap. 2 Ciij, It is leful v" 

moste often to knowlege the dysease at the begynnynge, 

and it is necessary that the indication be taken of the sayd 

dysease. a 1618 SYLVESTER Mayden's Blush 442 Vouchsafe 

mee, . .As in a glasse to see and knowledge Him. 

6. To take legal cognizance of (a cause, etc.). 

1609 SKENE Reg. Maj. 105 (Form Baron Courts c. 15) Gif 

it [the judgement] be againe said in the Schiref Court, it 

sould be knawledged in the justice Court. 

749 

Hence f Knowledged///. a., known, acknow 

ledged. 

CI4SO Bp. Grossetest's Househ. Stat. in Baoees Bk. 

lhat 

330 

they admitte youre knowlechyd men, familiers frendys 

and strangers. 

Knowledgeable (np-ledjab'l), a. 

[f. KNOW 

LEDGE sb. andz>. + -ABLE.] 

f 1. [from the verb] Capable of being perceivec 

or recognized ; recognizable ; noticeable. Obs. 

1607 TOPSELL Four./. Beasts (1658) 575 Let him but set up 

a stick or staffe, or some such other knowledgable mark, in 

the middle space betwixt him and the Wolf, and it will scare 

him away. 1619 T. MILLES tr. Mexia's, etc. Trias. Anc 

fr Mod. T. 49 They took a branch cut off from a fruite tree 

which they would cut into diuers peeces, with certaine very 

knowledgable markes made vpon them. 

2. [from the sb.] Possessing or showing know- 

ledge or mental capacity; well-informed; intelligent, 

colloq. (orig. dial.). 

1831 S. LOVER Leg. Irel. 45 'A gintleman like you, that 

ought to be knowledgable '. 1854 MRS. GASKELL North ff 

6. xxvin, If yo, sir, or any other knowledgable patient 

man. .says he'll larn me what the words mean.. why, in 

- 

time I may get to see the truth of it . 1859 W. H. GREGORY 

Egypt II. 17 A very intelligent, knowledgeable man 

thoroughly understanding the business and the machinery. 

1897 Spectator 18 Sept. 367 Inquiries . . conducted in a careful, 

a reasonable, and a knowledgeable spirit. 

Hence Knowledgeableness ; Knowledgeably 

adv. 

1865 Pall Mall G. 21 Aug. 3/1 Many's the lady they've 

beguiled there is fifty-six sorts of Patience as can be played 

with em [cards] on a tea-tray placed knowledgeably on the 

bed. 1886 Illuslr. Lond. News 6 Mar. 232/3 Feelings of 

sympathy and good-fellowship, which almost took the place 

of ' 

in art matters. 

knowledgeableness ' 

Knowledged a. rare. 

(np-led.^d), {f. KNOW- 

LEDOlfsb. + -ED 2 .] Furnished with knowledge. 

_ 1548 GESTE Pr. Masse in H. G. Dugdale Life (1840) App. 

i. 71, 1 am slenderlyknowledged in Scripture matters. 1595 

tr. Saviolo's Practise Nja, Is it possible that he which 

neuer saw the warres can be better knowledged than he 

which hath spent his life wholye therein? 1864 Times 

10 Oct. 7/4 He is turned out . . a schoolboy knowledged 

to the 

up 

highest mark the material and the system of mentalfacture 

would admit. 

Kiiowledgeless, a. [f. as prec. + -LESS.] 

Devoid of knowledge, ignorant. 

1856 R. A. VAUGHAN Mystics (1860) I. vi. v. 196 He will., 

bid you be knowledgeless, desireless, motionless. 1900 F.W. 

BULLEN With Christ at Sea iv. 101 So helpless, so utterly 

knowledgeless. .is the new born Christian. 

Kiiowledgemeut. [f. KNOWLEDGE v. + 

-MEN!.] 

fl. Formal acknowledgement; legal cognizance. 

a 1625 Sin H. FINCH Law (1636) 260 No writ shall be abated 

by knowledgement of villenage. 1628 COKE On Litt. 158 b, 

Cogtiilio^ is knowledge, or knowledgement, or opinion, and 

recognition is a serious acknowledgement or opinion vpon 

such matters of fact as they shall haue in charge, and thereupon 

the lurors are called Recognitores assisx. 1641 Cases 

of Treason in Harl. Misc. (Malham) V. 27 [These justices] 

do take knowledgement of all fines. 

2. Knowledge, cognizance, arch. 

1650 HUBBERT Pill Formality 153 They can look no 

further then after the things of this world ; their knowledgment 

is bounded here. 1889 R. S. FERGUSON Carlisle ix. 158 

No record has come to our knowledgment of the reception 

this letter met with. 

) Know-ledger. Obs. In4-lechour,-lechere. 

[f. KNOWLEDGE v. +-ER! (earlier -OUK: see-ERl 2).] 

One who acknowledges or confesses. 

13.. Propr. Sanct. (Vernon MS.) in Herrig's Archiv 

LXXXI. 106/126 pat is bat God, vr saueour,bat 5af so to his 

knowelechour. 1382 WYCLIF Ecclus. xx. i Hou good.. to 

not forbeden the knoulechere in orisoun. 

t Knowledging, vbl. sb. Obs. [f. KNOW- 

LEDGE V. + -ING !.] 

1. The action of the vb. KNOWLEDGE ; acknowledgement, 

confession ; formal acknowledgement ; 

also (rendering L. confessio of Vulg.), Thanks- 

giving, praise. 

a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1388 Ibe cnawlechinge of hiskinewurSe 

nome. c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. Wace (Rolls) 10778 Knowlechyng 

til hym bed. 

bey_ 1380 WYCLIF Wks. (1880) 327 

Confession generaly is knowlechynge made wi|) wille. 1382 

Ps. cxlviii. 14 The knouleching of hym vpon heuene and 

erthe. 1523 LD. BERNERS Froiss. I. ccxii. 259 The kynges 

of Englande .. shall . . holde all the forenamed countreys . . 

without any knowledgynge of any souerayntie, obeysaunce 

. . or subiection . . to the crowne of Fraunce. 1539 TONSTALL 

Sertn. Palm Sund. (1823) 48 Peter,, .the fyrst that with his 

mouthe vttered that confessyon and knowlegynge by which 

all Christen men must be saued. 1594 WEST 2nd Pt. Symbol. 

\ 59 At the knowledging of every fine, if the Justice., do not 

know the cognisors, it is requisite that some other credible 

person, .be present. 

2. The action, condition, or faculty of knowing ; 

= KNOWLEDGE sb. ; understanding, cognition, 

cognizance, notice, recognition, acquaintance, etc. 

a 1225 Ancr. R. 92 God wule . . jiuen ou Hht . . him uorto 

seonne & icnowen ; & burnh be cnoulechunge, ouerallebing 

lim luuien. c 1330 Spec. Gy Wanu. 725 What marines soule 

.. purw dedli smne ifiled is, His knowelaching is al gon. 

a 1425 Cursor M. 15931 (Trin.) Petur seide knowlechyng of 

lim had I neuer none, c 1430 Syr Gener, (Roxb.) 6896 On 

lis finger she knew the ring, Of him had shee noo knoweching. 

c 1430 LONELICH Grail xliii. 155 Was neuere Child 

n wommannes body with-Owten mannes knowlechinge. 

1470-85 MALORY Arthur xix. i, They bare . . no maner of 

cnoulechynge of their owne armes but playne whyte sheldes. 

ttiti. xx. xiv, Ye shall, .lete hym haue knowlechynge that. . 

KNOW-NOTHING. 

I my self shall brynge my lady Quene Gueneuer vnto hym 

1500-20 DUNBAR Poems Ixv. 18 5e clarkis. . Fullest of science 

and of knawlegeing. 1509 HAWES Com>. Swearers 3 How 

sholde we nowe haue ony knowledgynge Of thynges past 

but by theyr endytynge. 1560 HOLLAND Crt. Venus iv. 154 

Iraistant nchtweill be perfite knawleging, Je will notthoill. 

o. Meaning, signification, rare 1 . 

.I,. . 

~ Lm" 

ProL J>irj), sb. and a. [f. 

KNOW . + NOTHING ; cf. DO-NOTHING.] 

A. sb. 1. a. One who knows nothing, a very 

ignorant person, an ignoramus, b. One who holds 

that nothing can be known, an agnostic. 

I8 i39 J. ROGERS Antipopopr, 140 Knownothing appears a 

desirable word to signify one very ignorant. 1871 R. H. 

HUTTON Ess. (1877) I. 24 The know-nothings really feel towards 

God as if they knew something of Him. 1875 JOWETT 

Plato (ed. 2) II. 443 Socrates is represented in the character 

of a know-nothing. 

2. A member of a political party in the United 

States, called also the American party, prominent 

during the years 1853-56; so named because, 

having been originally organized as a secret society, 

its members, to preserve this character, professed to 

outsiders it. 

complete ignorance regarding 

The chief principle of the party was that none but native 

citizens should be permitted to share in the government. It 

disappeared about 1859. 

1856 OLMSTED Slave States r Washington is, at this time, 

governed by the Know Nothings. 1878 N. Anter. Rev. 

^XXVI. 22 In the campaign of 1855 .. the Know-nothings 

:arried the state again by a large majority. 1884 T. W. 

BARNES Mem. Thurloiti Weedvn (Cent.) If a member of the 

order was asked about its practices or purposes, he answered 

that he knew nothing about them, and ' 

Americans 'i for that 

reason, soon came to be called Know Nothings. 

B. attrib. or adj. 

1. a. That knows nothing; grossly ignorant. 

3. That holds that nothing can be known ; agnostic. 

a 1825 FORBY Voc. E. Anfflia s.v., A poor know-nothing 

reature ! 1837 MARRYAT Dog-Fiend xx, I'm . . a knowothing 

ninny. 1858 GEN. P. THOMPSON Audi Alt. I. xxx. 

16 The know-nothing or deceptive government at home. 

vi. (1861) 121 Here are know. 

860 EMERSON Cond. Life 

othing religions, or churches that proscribe intellect. 1897 

Dublin Rev. Apr. 334 A rationalistic and know.nothin^ 

ihilosopby.

KNOW-NOTHINQISM. 

2. Of or pertaining to the American Know- 

: nothings see A. 2. 

1856 OLMSTED Slave States 172 The Richmond Whig 

the leading Know-nothing newspaper in the Southern States. 

1875 N. Amir. Rat. CXX. 304 The great Know-Nothing 

movement. 1885 LALOR & NIASON tr. Von Heist's Const. 

Hist. U. S. 116 One-half of the Know Nothing programme 

was unacceptable to the South. 

Know-no'thingrisrn. [f. prec. + -ISM.] 

1. The profession 

of knowing nothing, the practice 

of wilful ignorance; the doctrine of agnostics, 

agnosticism. 

1866 Rca4tr 15 Dec. 1007 He must have long felt that the 

ignorance which is sedulously kept up of 

practical physi- 

' 

ology adequately reflects the knownothingism of middleclass 

Englishmen. 1871 R. H. HUTTON Ess. I. 27 A sort of 

know-nothingism, or Agnosticism, or belief in an unknown 

and unknowable God. 1881 Standard 7 Feb., The age is 

..face to face, .with Agnosticism or Know-nothingism. 

2. The political doctrine of the American Know- 

: nothings see KNOW-NOTHING A. 2 . 

a 1860 New York Times (Bartlett Amer.\ The Know- 

Nothings have had their . . day. The earth hath bubbles, 

and Know-Nothingism was one of them. 1885 LALOR & 

MASON tr. Yon Hoist's Const. Hist. U. S. 112 Know- 

Nothingism had very ardent partisans in the southern states. 

Kiiow-no:tbingness. [f. as prec. + -NESS.] 

The state or quality of knowing nothing; complete 

ignorance. 

1884 AT. $ Q. 21 June 493/1 Jo.. scandalized by his distressing 

know-nothingness the coroner and jury at the in- 

quest . . in Bleak House. 1899 Chamb. frnl. II. 92/1 One 

meets with more of this curious, half-reticent know-nothingness, 

real or assumed. 

Knowperts. Sc. A local name of the Crowberry, 

Empctrum nigrum. 

cranberries. 

Knoxvillite (njvksvilsit). Min. [Named 

from Knoxville in California, where found : see 

-HE 1 

.] Hydrous sulphate of chromium, iron, 

and aluminium, of a greenish-yellow colour. 

ing out in their front like horns. Ibid. 106 The same . juice . 

healeth the clifts and swelling knubs in tne fundament. 1662 

R. MATHEW Unl. Alch. 137 A Woman far gone in a Scurvie, 

. .ful of spots and knubs as big as French Nuts about her 

body, a 1825 FORBY Voc. E. Anglici, Knub, a knob. 1897 

F. T. BI.-I.LEN Cruise ' 

Cachalot '178, I came butt up against 

something solid, the feel of which gathered all my scattered 

wits into a compact knub of dread. 

1 2. A stag of the second year, a knobber. Obs. 

1617 ASSHETON Jrnl. (Chetham Soc.) 61 A knubb was killed 

and a calf. 

3. The innermost wrapping of the chrysalis in 

a silk cocoon : usually NUB. 

i8u J. SMYTH Pract. of Customs (1821) 214 Husks and 

Knubs are the refuse, which is thrown aside by the windster, 

during the process of winding the Silk from the cocoons. 

1858 SIMMONDS Diet. Trade s.v., A large quantity is imported 

under the names of ' 

' 

knubs and husks which is 

carded and spun up into various common silk stuffs. 

I Knub, v. dial. Obs. [Kindred in origin to 

KNAB z/.l] 

1. trans. To bite gently, nibble. 

a 1652 BROMB City Wit ;v. i. Wks. 1873 1. 344 As you have 

beheld two Horses knubbing one another ; Ka me, Ka thee. 

2. To beat ; to strike with the knuckle. Also NUB. 

1721, 1828 [see KNUBBLE v.}. 

Knu'bbed, a. rare- 1 , 

[f. KNUB sb. + -ED 2.] 

Having 'knubs', or of the nature of a 'knub'; 

knobbed. 

1565 GOLDING Ovid's Met. vn. (1593) 173 If of Cornell tree, 

It would be full of knubbed knots. 

t Knubble, sb. dial. Obs. [dim. of KNUB sb. = 

LG. knubbel, dim. of knubbe : see also NUBBLE.] 

= KNOBBLE sb. ; in quot., a knuckle. 

1671 SKINNER Etym. Ling. Angl, Knubble, knub, Nodus 

seu Condylus digiti. 

Knubble (nwb'1), v. dial. [dim. and freq. of 

KNUB v. : see also NUBBLE.] = KNOBBLE v. a : 

see quots. 

1711 BAILEY, To Knub, Knutle, to beat with the Fist or 

Knuckles. 1783 MORELL Ainsworth's Lot. Diet, i, To 

knubble, Pugnis contundere. a 1815 FORBY Voc. E.Anglia, 

Knubble, to handle clumsily ; using thumbs and knuckles, 

as in kneading dough. 1818 WEBSTER, Knub, knubble, to 

beat ; to strike with the knuckle. (Not used.] 

Knubbly (no-bli), a. dial. KNOBBLE sb. + 

[f. 

-T.] Full of or covered with ' 

knubbles ' 

or small 

knobs : more usually NUBBLY. 

1858 MAYHEW Uff. Rhine i. 8 2 086o) 35 A queer-looking 

knubbly little angel. 1860 All Year Round No. 42. 363 

Up and down the knubbly street. 1883 Gd. Words Nov. 

7i/a The grand old gnarled knubbly beech. 

750 

Knubby (nzrbi), a. [f. KNUB sb. + -Y.] Full 

of ' knubs , or of the form of a ' knub '. 

1882 Standard^ Dec. 5/3 [Jamaica], On the other side of 

' 

the .. bamboo fence rise . . knubby cabbages', with their 

bullet heads. 

Knublet (nzrblet). [dim. of KNUB sb. : see 

-LET.] 

A small knub or lump. 

1884 Pall Mall G. 27 Aug. 1/2 Putting knublets of ice 

into my coffee. 

Knucche, ME. form of KNITCH, bundle. 

Knuckle (nzrk'l), sb. Forms : 4 knokel, 5 -11, 

-yl(le, 6 -ulle, knoo(c)le, knockel, nuckul, 

6-7 (9 dial.) knockle, 7 knucle, 8 nuckle ; 6knuckle. 

[ME. knokel = OFris. knok(e)le, MDu. 

knokel (Du. kneukel), MLG. knokel (LG. knukkel), 

MHG. knuchel, kniichel (G. knockel) ; app. dim. of 

bone ' 

which appears as MLG. knoke 

a word for * 

(Du. knook, knok], MHG. knocks (G. knochen).] 

fl. The end of a bone at a joint, which forms 

a more or less rounded protuberance when the 

joint is bent, as in the knee, elbow, and vertebral 

joints. Obs. 

c 1375 Rel. Ant, I. 190 Bynethe the knokelys of the fete 

Wytn two weynis thow mete, c 

my3t 1425 Voc. in Wr.- 

Wulcker 636/10 Hie nodus^ knokylle. 1565 GOLDING Ovid's 

Met. i. (1593) 24 With wearie knockles on thy brim she 

kneeled sadly downe. 1594 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. 

n. 42 The backebone .. consisteth of manie . . bones, which 

are called the knuckles or turning ioyntes of the backebone. 

1607 TOPSELL Fonr^f. Beasts (1658) 359 His [a neck 

lion's} 

very stiffe, because it consisteth but of one bone without 

joynts, . . There are no knuckles or turning joynts in it 

called Spondyli) and therefore he cannot look backward. 

1658 A. Fox IVurtti Surg. n. xxv, 152 Sometimes the 

is broken. 

Elbows-Kn

KNUCKLED. 

751 

KOBANQ. 

played with these, by tossing them up and catching 

them in various ways; also called huckle-bones 

or dibs. 

1759 tr. Adanson's Voy. Senegal 52 The girls had for 

ornament round their waist a girdle of glass toys, . . or, of 

a reyuien's knuckle-bones, or of cockle-shells. 1880 'c. R. 

MARKHAM Peruv.Barkxii. 106 Courtyards very neatlypaved 

with round pebbles and llama's knuckle-bones in patterns 

1884 J. SHARMAN Hist. Swearing iv. 63 School-boys still 

play at the game of knuckle-bones. 1883 New Bk. Sports 

316 Knucklebones.. is pre-eminently a game for man-byhimself-man. 

Knuckled (nr>-kld), a. 

[f. KNUCKLE sb. + 

-ED 2.] 

fl. Having projections or protuberances, knobbed, 

rugged; thick-jointed, as the stem of a plant. 

Obs. in gen. sense. 

13.. Gaw. t, Gr. Knt. 2166 Hy?e bonkkez & brent, ..& 

ru?e knokled knarrez, with knorned stonez. 1616 BACON 

Sylva I 656 The Reed or Cane is a Watry Plant, .. 

Knuckled, both Stalke, and Root. 

2. Having (prominent) knuckles; protuberant 

like a knuckle. Also with denning word, Having 

knuckles of a specified kind. 

1841 Taii's Mag. IX. 289 His forehead high, broad, bony, 

knuckled, and shiny. 1851 R. S. SURTEES Sponge's Sp. 

Tour Ixvi. 

365 His red knuckled hands thrust a long way 

through his tight coat. 1854 Fraser's Mag. XLVIII. 158 

His knees slightly knuckled over through the wear and tear 

of time and excessive exercise. 1897 Outing (U. S.) XXX. 

125/1 The feet should be round, . .toes well-knuckled, close 

and compact. 

Knu'ckle-dee:p, adv. Up to the knuckles ; 

with the whole hand in; hence fig,, deeply, 'up 

to the hilt '. 

1589 Pappe w. Hatchet (1844) 4> Haue with thee knuckle 

deepe, it shall neuer bee said that I dare not venter mine 

eares where Martin hazards his necke. 1619 MASSINGER 

Picture in. i, Methinks I am already Knuckle-deep in the 

flesh-pots. 1765 COWPER Lett. Wks. 1837 XV. 4, I dare 

say you were knuckle-deep in contrabands. 1829 SCOTT 

Anne o/G. xiii, Shall we ..be knuckle-deep in the English 

budgets. 

Kmrckle-du-'Ster. [f. KNUCKLED. + DUSTER. 

(orig. criminals' slang, U. S.)] 

A metal instrument made to cover the knuckles, 

so as to protect them from injury in 

striking, and 

at the same time to add force to a blow given 

with the fist thus covered. 

1858 Times 15 

Feb. (Farmer), Knuckle-duster.. a formidable 

American instrument, made of brass, which slips easily 

on to the four fingers of the hand, and having a projecting 

surface, across the knuckles, is calculated, .to inflict serious 

injury on the person against whom it is directed. 1861 All 

Year Round 13 July 372 But what the crew most feared, 

was the free useof the 'brass knuckles 'or 'knuckledusters'.. . 

These are brass finger-guards, not unlike what the Roman 

gladiators called the cestus ; they constitute a regular 

portion of the equipment of an officer of the American 

mercantile marine. 1861 Illustr. Land. News n Jan. 51/2 

The Ame nerican 'shoulder-hitters', 'knuckle-dusters', and 

'gum-ticklers'. 1862 Ann. Reg. 103 One of them struck 

him a fearful blow with a ' 

knuckle-duster '. 1873 Slang 

Diet. s. v.. Sometimes a knuckle-duster has knobs or points 

projecting, so as to mutilate and disfigure the person struck. 

attrib. 1870 Standard 15 Dec., I have been in many 

mobs, and have been charged both by cavalry and the 

knuckleduster brigade in Paris. 

Kinrckle-joint. 

1. lit. Each joint of the knuckles (of the hands), or 

the joint of the leg of an animal called a knuckle. 

2. Mech. A joint or coupling forming a connexion 

between two parts of a mechanism, in which 

a projection in one is inserted into a corresponding 

recess in the other (like the knuckles of the two 

hands when clasped or placed together) ; also extended 

to other joints, such as universal joints. 

1863-9 /to* Archit., Knuckle yoint,a.n old nameforaRule 

Joint. 1873 Spon's Diet. Engineering 2663 The knucklejoint, 

at the back of the vibrating form-frame. 1881 YOUNG 

Every Man his own Mechanic 819 Some of these racks 

are fitted in the centre with a grooved joint technically 

called a ' knuckle joint '. 1887 D. A. Low Machine Draw. 

(1892) 100 Form of ordinary knuckle joint 

Hence Xnuckle-joi-nt v. 

1900 Westm. Gaz, 27 Dec. 5/3 The plates will be placed 

on in dovetail fashion, . . the Herreshoffs having decided 

that the plan of 'knuckle-jointing them was not feasible. 

Knu-ekler. f. [agent-n. KNUCKLE .] 

1. Thieves' slang. A pick-pocket. 

1834 H. AINSWORTH Rookvjoodm. v, No knuckler so deftly 

could fake a cly. 

2. A schoolboy's marble used in knuckling. 

1896 CROCKETT Cleg Kelly ii. 7 One noble knuckler of 

alabaster. 

Kntvckly, a. [f. KNUCKLE sb. + -r.] Having 

large or prominent knuckles. 

1870 Daily News 3 June 5 Such hands I ..The sturdy, the 

knuckly, the wrinkled, and the scarred all handing in 

their written bits of paper. 1886 STEVENSON Dr. Jckyll*. 

121 The hand which I now saw, . .was lean, corded, knuckly. 

f Knuckylbo-nyard. Obs. Knulling, variant of NULLING : cf. KNURLING. 

1841-76 GWILT Archit. (ed. 7) Gloss., Knulling, a moulding 

nearly flat, and similar in character to a bead and reel 

ornament. It is chiefly used in cabinet work. 

Knur, knurr (ni). Also 5- knor, 5-6 

knorre, 

f. [app. KNUCKLE- 

BONE f. (or *knuckle-bony) + -ABD.] A clumsy fellow. 

1526 SKELTON Magnyf. 485 A knokylbonyarde wyll 

nya 

sweete. 

Knuffe, variant of GNOPP Obs., churl. 

6 knour, 6-7 knurre, 7-9 (dial.} knorr, 

9 nurp. [ME. knorre, knurre, corresp. to MDu., 

MLG., MHG. knorre (Dn. knor, G. knorre(n), 

Sw. dial, knurr, knurra hard swelling, knot, knob; 

ulterior etym. uncertain. The ME. word may be 

older than the quotations show: cf. the related 

KNUBNED.] 

1 1. A hard excrescence, swelling, or concretion 

in the flesh. Obs. Cf. KNOB sb. \ b. 

CI400 Beryn 2513 Strecching forth his fyngirs, ..Withouten 

knot or knor or eny signe of goute. 1547 BOORDK 

Brev. Health (1575) cix, Knottes, knobbes, knorres, or 

burres, the which is in man's flesh or fatnesse. 1621 MOLLE 

Camerar. Liv. Libr. I. v. n Hard knurs or knobs in his 

hands with working in the fields. 

2. A knot or hardened excrescence on the trunk 

of a tree, a KNAB a ; hard concretion or kernel in 

stone ; any swollen formation, a bur. 

fS4S ELYOT Diet., Bruscum, a bunche or knur in a tree. 

1548 COOPER, . . Centrum, an hard knotte or knurre in 

tymbre [1565-73 adds or stone]. 1563-87 FOXE A. __. 

spell. 

Gnar, a small ball of 

or a similar game wh 

Morning Star 10 Feb., A well-known Yorkshire game 

known as ' 

knurr and spell in which ', an ordinary stick 

some two feet in length has a solid piece of wood 3 in. long 

and 2 in. in depth screwed on for the purpose of striking 

a marble. 1872 PRIOR Croquet 15 Bandy is the same game 

as hockey, and is played, .with a wooden ball that . . is cut 

from a blackthorn bush and called a ' 

knurr '. 1877 N. W. 

Lin .inc. Gloss., Knur, a hard wooden ball with which children 

play. Ibid., Nnr, a small ball, such as that used in the 

game of hockey. 

4. north. aTza/. = KNDRL 2. (See quots.) 

1691 RAY N. C. Words 135 A Knor or Knurre, a short 

stubbed dwarfish Man. 1869 Lonsdale Gloss., Knorr, a 

dwarfish fellow, a hard fellow. 

Knurl, nurl (niul), sb. Also 7-9 knurle. 

[app. a derivative (?dim.) of KNUB; but cf. also 

KNARL, GNARL sb.] 

L A small projection, protuberance, or excrescence 

; a knot, knob, boss, nodule, etc. ; a small 

bead or ridge, esp. one of a series worked upon a 

metal surface for ornamentation or other purpose. 

1608 2nd Pt. Def. Ministers' Refits. Subscript. 131 [It] 

grew up naturally from the . roote, .without knot or knurle, 

right and streight. 1611 COTGR., Goderonner, .. to worke, 

or set with knurles. Ibid., Neud, a knot . . a knurre, or 

knurle in trees. 1651 J. F[REAKE] Agrippa's Occ. Philos. 

272 From the crown of the head to the knurles of the gullet 

is the thirteenth part of the whole altitude. 1658 R. WHITE 

tr. Digby's Powd. Syrnp. (1660) 117 A knurle either of waxe, 

gumme, or glue. 1773 Phil. Trans. LXIII. 374 Those 

small fine blue knobs, that are to be seen round the rim or 

upper knurl of the coat [of a sea-anemone]. 1806 J. GRAHAME 

Birds Scot. 48 The nest deep-hollowed, well-disguised as if 

it were a knurll in the bough. 

2. A thick-set, stumpy person; a deformed 

dwarf, dial. 

1674-91 RAY S. ; E. C. Words, Knurl, a little dwarfish 

person. 1793 BURNS Meg o' the Mill ii, The laird was a 

widdiefu 1 

, bleerit knurl. 1811 WILLAN W. Riding Gloss., 

Knurl, a hunch-backed dwarf. 

3. A knurling-tool. 

1879 Set. Atner. XL. 224 Knurls of various . patterns . are 

' 

' 

employed in beading ', milling or ', knurling the heads of 

screws, the handles of small tools, &c. Ibid., Examples of 

knurling done with the different knurls. 

Knurl, nurl, v. [f. prec. sb. The vbl. sb. 

knurling is recorded long before the simple vb.] 

trans. To make knurls, headings, or ridges (on 

the edge of a coin, a screw-head, etc.) to ; mill, to 

crenate^ 

1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mech. 1536/2 A sunken groove, indented 

so as to form the counter-part of the bead which is 

to be nurled on the head of the temper-screw. 1879 [see 

KNURL sb. 3]. 

Knurled, nurled (nwld), a. 

[f. as prec, + 

-ED 2.] Having knurls wrought on the edge or 

surface ; crenated, milled. 

x6xx . COTGR., Godcronne, . knurled, wrought or set with 

knurles. 1696 Lond. Gaz. No. 3224/4 Lost, . . a Knurling, nurling (nivjlin), 

large 

Knurl'd Cup and Cover of French work. 1705 Ibid. No. 

4162/4 Two small Silver Salts nurl'd. 1884 F. J. BRITTEN 

watch 4* Clockw. 118 There is a knurled lock-nut to ensure 

the hand being held fast. 

vbl. sb. [See 

KNUBL z/.] The action of the verb KNURL ; also 

concr. knurled work. 

iii COTGR., Goderon,. .a fashion of imbossement vsed by 

Goldsmithes, &c.. and tearmed knurling. 1861 MAYHEW 

Land. Labour IV. 

377 Then you file the edges of the coin 

,. nutriu niiu ab OU1CW3, ailU MIIllUU ODJeClS 

KOBELLITE. 

division: cf. OBANO.] An oblong gold coin, 

rounded at the corners, formerly current in Japan. 

The original weight was 222 grains troy, but it 

was afterwards reduced to about a quarter of this 

owing to the unfavourable rate of exchange. Also 

attrib. in f

KOLPO-. 

Nitrocellulose (kolloxyline ..). This substance is not lobe 

confounded with gun-cotton, which is not soluble in alcoholic 

ether._ 

Kollyrite, variant of COLLYRITE. 

Kolpo-, var. of COLPO-, from Gr. K6\m, bosom 

womb, used to form 

pathological and surgical 

terms relating to the vagina, as 

kolpocele, COLPO- 

CELE, etc. 

t Kolte, Kolys, obs. ff. COLT sb., CULLIS j.i 

Komande, Komli, Kommende, obs. ff 

COMMAND, COMELY, COMMEND. 

Kompo-logy. rare- 1 , 

[ad. late Gr. Ko^no- 

A.o7m, f. KO>TTOS boast + -Ao-yia speaking.] Boasting 

or vaunting speech. 

1854 W. OSBORN Monum. Hist. Egypt I. 409 They are 

mere kompologies; mythic fables, invented by the Alex, 

andnan apologists of Egypt. 

Kon, kon(n)e, obs. ff. CAN v., CON v. 

KongsbergiteCkfvrjzbaigait). Min. [Named, 

1872, from Kongsberg in Norway, where found : 

see -ITE.] An amalgam of silver and mercury 

occurring with arquerite. 1880 DANA Min. App. ii. 32. 

Kongyr, obs. form of CONGER 1. 

Ko'nilite. Min. [f. Gr. MUVK dust + -LITE. 

So named in 1821 by MacCulloch, who had previously 

(1819) called it CONITE, unaware that this had previously 

(1795) been applied by Retzius to a variety of dolomite ] 

A powdered form of silica found in the cavities 

of trap. 1821 MAcCuLLocH in Q. yl. Sc. XI. 219. 

Kouiuckite (kJu-ninkait). Min. [Named, 1884, 

after Prof. L. G. de Koninck, of Liege : see -ITE.] 

Hydrous phosphate of iron, found, at Vise in 

Belgium, in small globular forms with a radiated 

structure. 

1885 Amer. Jrnl. Sc. Ser. in. XXIX. 342 Kminckite.a 

new hydrated phosphate of iron. 

Konite, variant of CONITE. 

Konne, obs. form of CAN zi.l, CON w.l 

Konning, -yng, konyng, obs. ff. CONNING. 

Konyne, -yng, obs. forms of CONY sb. 

Koo, variant of Col Obs., jackdaw. 

II Koocliahbee (k|tja-bf). [American Incl.] 

The larva of a fly, Ephydra califomica, found in 

enormous quantities in Lake Mono in California. 

When dried in the sun and the shell rubbed off these 

worms form a very important article of food among the 

Indians. 

1885 BREWER in Stand. Nat. Hist. 11. 432 My guide, an 

old hunter there, told me that everything fattens in the 

season of the koo-chah-bee ; 

that ducks get very fat. 

Koodoo, kudu (k-d). Also 8 koedoe, 8-9 

ooodoo, 9 koudou. [Xosa-Kaffir, given as iqudit 

in Davis' Kaffir Diet. (1872).] A large and handsome 

antelope (Strcpsiceros Kudu} widely distributed 

over the southern half of the African 

continent, having a brown coat marked with 

vertical white stripes; the male has spirally-twisted 

horns, attaining in full-grown specimens a of 3 feet or more. 

length 

1777 G. FORSTER Voy. round World I. 84 The Coodoo, or 

Kolben's bock ohne namcn (goat without a name). 1785 

> 

tr. Sparrman's Voy. Cape G.H. II. 213 Koedoe is the name 

givon by the colonists to a beautiful tall gazel with long 

and slender shanks. 1802 Sporting Mae: XX. 141 The 

n'gou and koudou are also inhabitants of Caffraria. 1866 

LIVINGSTONE Last Jrnls. (1873) I. vii. 161, I got a fine male 

Kudu. 1879 ATCHERLEY Trip Boerland 155 Advancing., 

with their beautiful spiral horns towering high above them, 

were two magnificent koodoos. 

(kz/:kabu-ra). [Native Austra- 

II Kookaburra 

lian : given as kukiiburra by Ridley Kamilardi, 

p. 2i.] The Laughing Jackass of Australia {Dacelo 

gigas) ; the GOBUHRA. 

1890 Argvs (Melbourne) 25 Oct. 4/5 You might hear the 

last hoot of the kookaburra then. 1899 IVestnt. Gas. 10 

Apr. 8/1 Offers of Australian animals and birds from emus 

to kookaburras. 

Koolah., koala (kw-la). Australia. Also 

9 ooolafh, kool-la. [Native name : given as 

kulla in Dippil, kula on George's River (Ridley 

Kdmilaroi, pp. 64, 104); koala was perhaps orig. 

a misreading of koola. Hence the name of the 

town Coolah in New South Wales.] An arboreal 

marsupial mammal of Australia (Phascolarctos 

cinereus), of an ashen-grey colour, small, clumsy, 

and somewhat resembling a sloth in form, and 

feeding on the leaves of eucalyptus. Also called 

the Australian or Amative Bear. 

1808 HOME in Phil. Trans. XCVIII. 305 The koala is 

another species of the wombat. The natives call it the 

koala wombat; it .. was first brought to Port Jackson in 

August, 1803. 1813 Hist. N. S. Wales_ (1818) 432 (Morris) 

The koolah or sloth is likewise an animal of the opossum 

species, with a false belly. 1827 CUNNINGHAM N. S. Wales 

I. 317 (Morris s. v. Bear} Our coola (sloth or native bear) is 

ubout the size of an ordinary poodle dog, with shaggy, dirtycoloured 

fur, no tail, and claws and feet like a bear. 1859 

DARWIN Orig. Spec. xiv. (1878) 382 The climbing, leaf-eating 

koala. 

Koolestocke, obs. f. cole-stock: COLE sb^ 3. 

Koomiss, variant of KOUMISS. 

Koorbash, variant of KOURBASH. 

Vor.. V. 

| 

753 

Kooskoosoo, variant of Couscoussou. 

Koot, -e, obs. forms of COAT. 

Kootbah, Kootoo, var. KHUTBAH, KOTOW. 

Kope, obs. form of COPE ji.l 

Kopec(k, -peek, -pek, variants of COPECK. 

Koper, obs. form of COPPER rf.i 

r jl Kopje (V pi). Also koppie, kopjie, koppje. 

LL)u. kopje, dim. of kop head, COP sb* (The dim. 

ending -je has usually sunk in colloquial Du. to -.)! 

In South Africa : A small hill. 

1881 Contemp Rev. Feb. 226 The insurgents strongly 

' 

posted in a rocky koppie '. 1883 OLIVE SCHREINER Afr. 

J-arvivm. (1890) 216 There at ' 

the foot of the 

a kopje goes 

Kaffir. 1899 Athenzum 30 Sept. 450/1 The gallant dleds 

of the kopje and the karroo. 

Comb. 1900 Daily Tel. 25 Jan. 5/2 A stretch of kopjestrewn, 

river-cut country. 

Kpppite (Vpsit). Min. [Named, 1875, after 

["rof. Kopp of * : Heidelberg see 

-ITE.] Columbate 

< -to -.jij ^viwiiiuttic 

ot 

calcium, sodium, and the cerium metals, found 

in transparent brown crystals. 

1880 DANA Min. App. ii. 32 Koppite . . occurs with apatite 

and magnoferrite in a granular limestone near Schelingen, 

Kaiserstuhlgebirge, Baden. 

Koprolith, variant of COPROLITH. 

Kopy, obs. form of Copy, 

t Korahl, obs. form of CORBAL sb. 

1785 Europ Mag. VIII. 360 A certain korahl, . .in which 

most of the elephants in Ceylon are caught. 

Korait, variant of KKAIT. 

Koran 1 (kora-n, koo-rjen). Also 7 core, eur- 

rawn, 9 coran, kuran. [a. Arab. J\j> qitran, qoran 

recitation, f. qarat-a to read : cf. ALCORAN.] The 

sacred book of the Mohammedans, consisting of 

revelations orally delivered at intervals by Mohammed, 

and collected in writing after his death : it 

is in Arabic, and consists of 1 14 surahs or chapters. 

1625 PURCHAS Pilgrims II. in. v. 264 [Nicetas] Anathematiseth 

the Core, that is, Mahomets Scripture, and all his 

learning. 1665 SIR T. HERBERT Trazi. (^77) 271 Gunnet. . 

imposed that new Currawn as they term it upon the Persian 

1735 BOLINGBROKE Lett. Study Hist. iv. (1777) 97 Maraccio's 

refutation of the Koran. 1781 GIBBON Decl. !, F. xxviii. 1 1 1. 93 

0/f,The Moors of Spain, who secretly preserved the Mahometan 

religion, above a century, . . possessed the Koran, with 

the peculiar use of the Arabic tongue. 1813 BYRON Corsair 

i. 

ii, And less to conquest than to Korans trust. 1841 

ELPHINSIONE Hist. Ind. II. 316 To dispose him to question 

the infallible authority of the Koran. 1867 LADY HERBERT 

Cradle L. vii. I? 3 We reached a wall and gateway with inscriptions 

from the Kuran. 

Koran 2 (kora-n). [ad. S. African Du. kor- or 

knorhaan, f. kor-, knor-, an imitation of the bird's 

cry (cf. Du. korren to coo, knorren to grumble, 

snarl) + haan cock. (In Holland korhaan is the 

woodcock ; cf. Ger. kurrhahn heathcock.)] The 

name given to certain species of South African 

bustards, of genus Eupodotes, esp. E. afra. 

1775 MASSON in Phil. Trans. LXVI. 317 The fields 

abounded also with korhaans (a kind of bustard). 1819 

STEPHENS Gen. Zool. XI. 451 [Otis afra} Native of the 

country north of the Cape of Good Hope, where it is called 

Korhane, or Knorhaan, from its cry. 1850 R. G. CUMMING 

Hunter's Life S. Afr. (ed. 2) I. 49, I saw and shot the black 

koran, an excellent game-bird, allied to the bustards, so 

abundant throughout South Africa. 1880 P. GILLMORE On. 

Duty 106, I observed a new variety of ' 

koran ' 

on these flats 

..a brown-coloured species. 

Koranic (korae-nik, -a-nik), a. Also CO-, [f. 

KORAN 1 + -ic.] Of or pertaining to the Koran. 

iSn H. MARTYN Diary in Mem. (1825)111. 368, 1 produced 

another sentence, and begged to know why it was inferior to 

the Koranic one. 1858 W. MUIR Life Mahomet (1861) I. 

p. Ixxxi, Romantic legends ..reared upon the authority of 

a Coranic basis. 1884 J. PAYNE Tales fr. Arabic II. 229 

note, This belief is summed up in the Koranic ' 

saying, 

Verily, the commandment of God is a prevenient decree . 

Korck, korke, Korn, var. CORK v2, CORN. 

Koren, korn, obs. pa. pple. of CHOOSE v. 

f Kornack, obs. var. CARNAC, elephant-driver. 

1785 Europ. Mag. VIII. 362 The kornack sits on the tame 

animal with his sharp-pointed hook. 1785 Eng. Rev. VI. too 

These kornacks or huntsmen have a trifling pension. 

Korner, obs. form of CORNER. 

Kornenrpine. Min. [Named, 1884, after 

A. N. Kornerup, a Danish geologist: see 

-INE.] 

A silicate of aluminium and magnesium, somewhat 

like sillimanite, found in prismatic aggregates. 

1892 in DANA Min. (ed. 6). 

(kf>r

KOTWALEE. 

oot-, kutwal, kotwal v l- [Hindi kotioal, Urdu 

and Pers. Jl^/, Jl^ kttwal, katwal, porter or 

keeper of a castle or fort, magistrate.] 

A chief officer of police 

for a city or town in 

a native town magistrate. 

India ; 

The office in Western and Southern India, technically 

speaking, ceased about 1862. In Bengal the term has been 

' 

long obsolete (Yule). 

1582 N. LICHEFIELD tr. Castanheda's Cong. E. Ind. soThe 

Catuall sent to the Captaine generall a Horse. 1616 SIR!. 

KOE in Pmkerton's toy. (18111 VIII. 5, Iwas conducted by 

the Cutwall to visit the Prince. 1680 tr. Trav. 1 avernier, 

etc. II. ..9 The Cotoval, who is, as 'twer, the great Prevost 

under him. 184$ STOCQUELER Handbk. Brit. India (1854) 

410 The Katwal, or chief officer of justice. 1859 LANG 

Wand. India 42, I was enticed away from my home by the 

Kotwall (native police officer). 

Hence HKotwa'lee, police station. 

1845 STOCQUELEH Handbk. Brit. India (1854) 227 In the 

centre of the city is the cutmallee, police-office. 1884 MARK 

THORNHILL Advent. Ind. Mut. xvii. 158 We should have to 

pass the kotwallee to reach the fort. 

Kotyn, obs. form of COTTON s6.1 

Kou, Kouard, Kouch, Kouckery, obs. ff. 

Cow, COWARD, COUCH, COOKERY. 

Koude.koujde, Kouel, Kouenand, Kouer, 

obs. ff. COULD, COWL^.I, COVENANT, COVEB. 

Kouae, koushe, koujwhe, obs. ff. COUGH. 

Koukri, variant of KUKRI. 

II Koulan, kulan (k-lan). [Tartar kulan] 

A species 

or sub-species of equine quadruped 

(Eguus onager), closely allied to the Dziggetai 

(with which it is united by some), found in Central 

and Southern Asia : the wild ass of Mesopotamia, 

Persia, and the banks of the Indus. 

1793 PENNANT Hist. Quad. (ed. 3) 

I. n The manners of 

the Koulan or wild ass, are very much the same with those 

of the wild horse and the Dshikketaei. 1836 Encycl. Brit. 

(ed. 7) XIV. 153/1 The Onager, or wild ass, called koulan 

by many of the tribes of Asia, differs from the domestic 

breed in its shorter ears, the greater length and finer form 

of its limbs [etc.]. 1856 KNIGHT Cycl. Nat. Hist. I. 

327 The 

Persians and Tartars hold the flesh of the Koulan in high 

esteem. 1885 Stand. Nat. Hist, V. 252 The specific name 

hemionvs ' 

half ass ' 

was given to the kulan by the Greeks, 

on account of its stature, which is between that of the horse 

and the ass. Ibid. 253 The kulans. .migrate in the spring 

and fall to more suitable pasture grounds. 

Koule, obs. form of COLE sbl 

II Koumiss (kS'mis). Forms: (6 cosmos, 7 

cosmus, cossmos : see COSMOS 2 ), 7 chumis, 

8 kumisse, (kumish), 8- koumiss, kumiss, 

kumis, ykoumis, koomiss, kumys(s, (kimmiz, 

khoumese). [ = F. koumis, G. kumiss, Pol. 

komis, kumys, Rnss. KyMHCt kumys, a. Tartar 

kumiz,] A fermented liquor prepared from mare's 

milk, commonly used as a beverage by the Tartars 

and other Asiatic nomadic tribes; also applied to 

a spirituous liquor distilled from this. 

The fermented beverage is used dietetically and medicinally 

in various diseases, as phthisis, catarrhal affections, 

anxmia, chlorosis, etc., and for these imitations 

purpose_s 

are also prepared from asses' milk and cows milk. 

1598-1630 [see Cosmos 2 ]. 1607 TOPSELL Four-f. Beasts 

332 The Tartarians drinke Mares Milke, which they dress 

like white wine, and call it Chumis. 1723 Pres. St, Russia 

i. 276 [The Kalmucks] drink Kumis, a sort of Brandy drawn 

off from Mares-milk. 1771 Gentl. Mag. XLI. 594 The 

sour milk which they [the Tartars] drink they call Kumisse. 

1839 E. D. CLARKE Trav. Russia 52/1 A subsequent process 

of distillation afterwards obtains an ardent spirit from the 

koumiss. 1876 BARTHOLOW Mat. Med. (1879) 22 By trie ( ermentation 

of mare's milk an alcoholic liquor, named koumiss, 

is prepared in Tartary,and has been introduced into medical 

practice as a remedy for phthisis. 1892 Daily NCTVS 28 

Dec. 5/4 Mrs. Isabel Hapgood . . gives some interesting 

' 

particulars of koumiss (or kumys ', as she prefers to spell it). 

attrib. 1884 Pall Mall G. 15 Sept. 11/2 The koumiss cure 

is growing greatly in popularity. . . Sometimes patients spend 

six or seven summers at the koumiss establishments. 

t Koundee, var. CONDUE v. Obs., to conduct. 

c 1450 LONELICH Grail xiii. 434 That In theke tyme so wel 

koundeed & ladde. 

: Koupholite see COUPHOLITE. 

koorbash (ku-rbaj), sb. Also 

II Kourbash, 

corbage, courbash, -bache, coorbatch, kurbasch, 

cur-, kur-, korbash. [a. Arabic qurbash, 

ad. Turk. 

jb^> qirbach whip : cf. F. courbac/ie.'} 

A whip made of hide, esp. that of the hippopotamus ; 

an instrument of punishment in Turkey, Egypt, and 

the Soudan. 

1814 W. BROWN Hist. Profag. Chr. II. 40 A Corbage, 

which consists of a strap of the skin of the hippopotamus, 

about a yard in length. 1842 R. R. MADDEN unittd Irish- 

754 

the koorbash. 1892 Nation (N. Y.) n Aug. 107/3 To plead 

ur -ently for the abolition of the kurbash. 

Kou-rbasb,, koo-rbash, v. [f. prec. sb.] 

trans. To flog with the kourbash. 

1850 Punch's A Im.for 1851. 7 He [the Persian Prince] had 

one of his attendants courbashed or flogged yesterday. 

1884 CLIFFORD LLOYD in Times 30 June 8/2 The Mudir had 

seized 77 sheikhs and other . . respectable men, and had 

kourbashed and tortured them all. 

f Kours, obs. form of CURSE sb. and v. 

1320 Sir Beues (MS. A) 2619 pai 

hadden man! marines 

kours, Whar bourj hii ferden wel ]K wors. Ibid. 37'9 Ter" 

.. koursede biter bat while. 

Kourtepy, Kourtt : see COURTEPT, COURT. 

Kouskous, -koussou, var. Couscous, -sou. 

II KoilSSO (ku'sc). Also kuosso, cusso, kosso, 

koso. [Abyssinian.] The dried flowers of an 

Abyssinian plant, Hagenia (Brayera] abyssinica 

(N.O. Rosaces?), used as an anthelmintic. 

1851 Illustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib. 197 Kuosso, from Abys- 

sinia (Brayera 

antftelmintica). The blossom of a tree . . 

the native remedy . . for the removal of tapeworm. 1876 

HARLEY Mat. Med. (ed. 6) 620 Kousso is an irritant. 1889 

WATT Diet. Econ. Prod. India I. 534 Cusso or Kousso . . 

a bazaar commercial article in Bombay ; it comes direct 

from Africa. 

Kouth(e, Koup, obs. pa. t. of CAN z/.i obs. f. 

; 

COUTH a. Kouuele, obs. form of COWL sb* 

t Kove. Obs. rare. [a. AF. couve for F. cnve.~\ 

A variant of CUVE, cask, vat. 

c 1320 Sir Beues (MS. A) 2591 pe beschop cristnede losian. 

For Ascopard was mad a koue [MS. M. a toune ; A Fr, text, 

un grant couve funt aparailer]. 

Kow, obs. form of Cow sb. and v. 

Koward, -yse, Kowartnes, obs. ff. COWARD, 

COWARDICE, COWARDNESS. 

Kowch, obs. form of COUCH sl>. 1 and v\ 

Kowd, obs. pa. t. of CAN v. 1 obs. f. COUTH a. 

; 

t Kowe. Obs. [a. OF. cowe, coue, etc., var. of 

queue tail, QUEUE; cf. CUE sb.$\ A 'tail', tag, 

or additional short line after a couplet or at the 

end of a stanza of verse. (Cf. COUWEE.) 

c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron, Wace (Rolls) 88 If it were made 

in ryme couwee, . . pat rede Inglis it ere inowe pat couthe 

not haf coppled a kowe. 

Kowe, obs. form of Cow st>. 1 and 2 COUGH v. 

, 

IlKowhai (kou-hai). New Zealand. Also 

kowai, kohai, goai. [Maori.] A leguminous 

plant of New Zealand (Sophora tetraplera) bearing 

golden-yellow flowers. 

1845 E. J. WAKEFIELD Adv. N, Zeal. I. 58 (Morris) The 

kohai . . with bright yellow blossoms. 1860 J. BLAIR N. Zeal. 

(ibid.), The land of the goai tree. 1872 DOMETT Ranolfvl. 

L 107 Arnohia, . . scarlet-crowned with Kowhai-flowers. 1883 

RENWICK Betrayed 42 Gather the kowhai, wet with showers. 

1896 R. KIPLING Seven Seas 113 Buy the kowhai's gold 

Flung for gift on Taupo's face. 

Kowhe, Kowke, obs. ff. COUGH, COOK. 

|| Kowl, variant of COWLE (Anglo-Ind.}, written 

engagement. 

1897 R. KIPLING in Pearson's Mag. Dec. 622/1 Things for 

which we need a kowl. 

Kowle, Kowlt, obs. forms of COWL, COLT. 

Kownnage, Kownsayle, etc., Kownt, obs. 

forms of COINAGE, COUNSEL, COUNT. 

Kowrs, Kowschot, obs. ff. COURSE, CUSHAT. 

Kowse : see COUSE. 

Kowter, Kowth, obs. ff. COULTER, COUTH a. 

Kowuele, obs. form of COWL sb. z 

transf. the community of such a village. 

1731 MEDLEY Kolben's Cafe G. ff. I. 75 The Kraals, as 

they call them, or villages, of the Hassaquas are larger. 

1771 SIR J. BANKS Jrnl. (1896- 441 They [the Cape Hottentots] 

train up bulls, which they place round their crawls 

or towns in the night. 1785 G. FoRSTn: tr. Sparrmans 

Voy. CapeG. H. I. 179 A craal or community of Hottentots, 

to the amount of about thirty persons. 1836 Penny Cycl. 

V. 229 Kraals of Bosjesmans north of the Orange river who 

seemed to live in peace under a chief. 1849 E. E. NAPIER 

Excurs. S. Afr. I. 316 The huts which compose their kraals 

are of a circular form. 1801 R. W. MURRAY S. Africa 104 

A kraal is . . a collection of huts surrounded by mud walls 

or . 

palisading. 

b. Used loosely for a poor hut or hovel. 

1832 G. DOWNES Lett. Cont. Countries I. 70 That solitary 

attraction which the poorest kraals of Ireland possess 

hospitality. 

2. An enclosure for cattle or sheep (esp. in South 

or Central Africa) a ; stockade, pen, fold. (Cf. 

CBAWL sb? i.) In qnot. 1861 applied to an 

enclosure formed by wagons. 

1706 tr. Thunberg's Cape G. H. in Pinterlon's Voy. (1814) 

____ __ _____ _____ XVI. of the courbache. 1884 J. COI.BORNK Hicks Paslia 180 It 

is the peculiar mission of the 

hippopotamus to supply Kurhashes 

for the backs of the natives. 1885 MRS. K. SAR- 

23 A place 

or fold, where sheep as well as horned 

Toitiua In tlif Soudan viii. 129 An unlimited application of cattle were inclosed in the open air, was called a Kraal. 

KBANTZ. 

1843 PRINGLE Afr. Sk. iv. 180 He led us out towards the 

kraals or cattle-Folds. 1849 E. E. NAPIER Excurs. S. Afr. 

I. 313 At the door of the Calf kraal. 1861 G. F. BEKKELEY 

Sfortsm. W. Prairies xi. 179 My three waggons could not 

make a crall or fence around my mules and horses. 1878 

H. M. STANLEY Dark Cont. II. vii. 202 The traveler's first 

duty in lands infested with lions is to build 

kraal, or boma, for himself and oxen. 


a safe corral, 

1817 COLERIDGK Ess, Oiwi Times (1850) III. 957 The Kraulmen 

from whose errors they absterged themselves. 1858 

O. W. HOLMES Ant. Breakf.-t. (1883) 209 The selectmen of 

an African kraal-village. IQOO Daily Tel. 5 June 7/5 The 

English Yeomanry horses had been kraaled, and, taking 

fright at the firing, burst through the kraal walls and 

stampeded. 

Kraal, v. 

[f. prec. sb.] 

a kraal or stockade. 

trans. To enclose in 

1865 Pall Mall G. 16 Oct. 6, 25,000 cattle and 8,000 horses 

were thus kraaled on the top of a mountain. 1877 T. BAINES 

Goldfields 8 The necessity of kraaling the cattle at night 

within the village. 1899 RIDER HAGGARD Swallow vi, Now 

1 go out tosee tothe kraaling of the cattle. 

Krablite (krse-blait). Mitt. [Named from 

Krabla in Iceland (properly Krafta), where found : 

see -ITE.] An impure orthoclase, the crystals 

enclosing quartz and other minerals. 

1844 DANA Milt. 618 Krablite [printed Krahlite] is a kind 

of pearlstone. 1861 BRISTOW Gloss. 204 Krablite,. .a mineral 

allied to Spheralite. 

Kragg, obs. form of CRAG. 

|| Krait (krait). East Ind. Also karait.korait. 

[Hindi Jtarait.'] A venomous snake of the genus 

Bungarus, esp. B. cserttleus, common in Bengal. 

1874 FAYRER Venom. Snakes Ind. Penins. (ed. 2) 14 After 

a night's dak in a palanquin, a . . lady found a Krait coiled 

up under her pillow. 1880 Daily Tel. 18 Nov. 5/3 His 

charm against ' 

the black snake ' 

and the ' 

korait '. 1887 

Encycl. Brit. XXII. 196/2 The krait is probably, next to 

the cobra, the most destructive snake to human life in 

India. 1898 Pall Mall Mag. Christm. No. 583 The snake 

. . was a fine specimen of the karait. 

Krak, Krake, obs. forms of CRACK, CRAKE. 

II Kraken (kra'ken, kre'-ken). Also 8 craken, 

craeken, kraaken. [Norw. kraken,krakjen (the 

-n being the suffixed definite article), also called 

sykraken, sjiikrakjen sea-kraken. The name was 

first brought into general notice by Pontoppidan 

in his forste t'orsogpaa Norges naturltge JJistorie 

( 1 75 2 )-] A mythical sea-monster of enormous 

size, said to have been seen at times off the coast 

of Norway. 

1755 tr. Pontoppidaris Hist, Norway n. vii. n. 211 

Amongst the many great things which are in the ocean, 

. . is the Kraken. This creature is the largest and most surprizing 

of all the animal creation. 1770 DOUGLAS in Phil. 

Traits. LX. 41 Enquiry, .as to the existence of the aquatic 

animals, called Kraakens. 1830 TENNYSON Kraken 4 Far, far 

beneath in the abysmal sea, . . The Kraken sleepeth. 1848 

LOWELL Ode to France 30 Ye are mad, ye have taken A 

slumbering Kraken For firm land of the Past. 1862 LONGK. 

The Cumberland vi, Like a kraken huge and black, She 

crushed our ribs in her iron grasp 1 

Kra-kra, kraw-kraw, var. CBAW-CRAW. 

1803 WINTERBOTTOM Pres. State Med. Sierra Leone II. 

164 Kra-kra is an Ebo word, corrupted from kra-thra which 

signifies the itch. 1897 MARY KINGSLEY IV. Africa 438 

The kraw-kraw is a frightfully prevalent disease. 

II Krameria (krami

KEANTZITE. 

mountain sides, and in steep krantzes. 1892 Midi. News 

ft Karroo Farmery Mar. 6 The krantz that overhangs the 

Maraisburg road, .is in a very dangerous state, and yesterday 

a large stone .. fell into the road. 

Krailtzite (krarntsait). Min. [Named after 

Dr. Krantz : see -ITE.] A fossil resin allied to 

amber, occurring near Nienburg in Hanover. 

1868 DANA Min. (ed. 5) 741. 

t Krany, obs. form of CRANNY v. 

c 1435 LYDG. A ssembly ofGods 536 A drowthe . .That causyd 

hit [the earth] to chyne & krany more & lesse. 

t Kravers, var. cravas, craves, obs. f. CREVICE. 

1:1425 LYDG. Assembly ofGods 534 In a krauers forthe he 

gan hym dresse. 

Kreas, obs. var. kreese, CREESE. Kreasote, 

obs. f. CREOSOTE. Kreat: seeCREAGHT. Krea- 

tic, Kreatine, etc., var. CREATIC, CREATINE, etc. 

II Krede-mnon. Gr. Antiq. [Gr. x/^Se^vov.] 

Part of a woman's head-dress ; a sort of veil of 

which the ends hung down on each side. 

1850 LEITCH tr. C. O. Mailer's Anc. Art (ed. 2) 538 Ino- 

Leucothea has the kredemnon (her regular distinguishing 

sign..) wound three times round her body. 

Kredill, obs. form of CRADLE. 

t Kreeker, kreker. Obs. Also kreekar. 

[Origin obscure: perh., as stated in quots., for 

craker, f. CRAKE, CRACK v., to boast.] (See quots.) 

a 1548 HALL Citron., Hen. VIII 119 b, Sir Ihon . . Walop 

had. .a M. proper men and hardy, .whiche lived alonelyon 

their aventure, wherfore of some they were called adventurers, 

of some they were called kreekars. Ibid, 127 The 

Frenchmen knewe well their hardines, but yet thei called 

theim Crakers, whiche by missoundyng, was commonlycalled 

Krekers. Ibid. 145 All the men of warre. .wer called home, 

and the shippes brought into the havens, and many a kreker 

wist not how to lyve. 1674 BLOUNT Glossogr. (ed. 4), 

Crakers were a certain choice number of daring English 

Souldiers, we had in France in the time of H. 8. by some 

called Kreekers. 

Kreese, var. CREESE, Malay dagger. 

Kreil, krele, obs. forms of CREEL. 

Kreittonite (krsi-Whait). Min. [Named, 

1848, f. Gr. Kfwrnm stronger, superior, as being 

of higher specific gravity than other spinels: see 

-ITE.] A variety of gahnite or zinc 

spinel, from 

Bodenmais in Bavaria, containing a considerable 

amount of iron. 

1850 DANA Mia. (ed. 3) 371 Kreittonite, a black spinel. 

1893 CHAPMAN Blwpipe Pract. 211 Kreittonite [is] a 

ferruginous variety. 

Kreke, obs. f. CREAK. Kreme, obs. f. CREAM; 

var. CRIM v. Ol>s. Kremele : see CRUMBLE v. 

Kremersite (kre'mojsoit';. Min. [Named, 

1853, after Dr. Kremers, who first described it: 

see -ITE.] Chloride of iron, potassium, and ammonium, 

occurring as a sublimation product in the 

fumaroles of Vesuvius. 

1854 DANA Min. (ed. 4)90 Kremersite. 1883 Encycl. Brit. 

XVI. 384 Kremersite . .Cubic. In octahedra. 

Kremlin (kre-mlin). Also 7 creraelina, 8 

kremelin, 9 kremle. [a. F. kremlin, f. Russ. 

KpCJLTB kreml citadel, of Tartar origin.] The 

citadel or fortified enclosure within a Russian town 

or city ; esp. that of Moscow, which contains the 

imperial palace and various public buildings. 

i66z J. DAVIES tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 57 The Great 

Duke's Palace, called Cremelena, and which is of greater 

extent than many other ordinary Cities. 1698 A. BRAND 

Emb. Muscovy to China 5 The Castle, called Cremelina, 

where the Czars of Muscovy keep their ordinary Residence. 

1796 MORSE Amur. Geog. II. 91 It stands in the Kremelin, 

one of the interior circles of the city. 1833 R. PINKERTON 

Russia 227 The inhabitants of Moscow being assembled in 

the Kremlin. 1839 E. D. CLARKE Trav. Russia. 38/1 The 

Kremle is derived from the Tartar word hrim, or kreni, 

which signifies a fortress. 1888 Century Mag. May 10 note, 

A Kremlin, or to use the Russian form of the word, a 

1 

Kremle ', is merely a walled inclosure with towers at the 

corners, situated in a commanding position near the center 

Kreng (kren). Also krang, CHANG, [a. Du. 

kreng, MDu. crenge carrion, carcass; of uncertain 

origin. (See Franck.)] The carcass of a whale 

from which the blubber has been removed. 

[1821 : see CRANG.] i1835 

SIR I. Ross Narr. znd Voy. vi. 

88 Some of _. the .- kranf krang of a whale had been seen in the 

morning. 1850 W. B. CLARKE Wreck ofFa-vorite 39 After 

the., blubber, whalebone, and jaw-bones are removed,., the 

remaining part, called 'the kreng', is left to become the 

food of sharks and birds. 1851 Zoologist IX. 3021 An ivory 

gull, .stooping down to a ' 

piece of krang '. 

Hence Xre-nger, ?one who strips the blubber 

from a dead whale ; Xre-nging-liook, an instrument 

for doing this. 

1886 Gd. Words 83 The krenging hook is used in preparing 

the kreng for the oil copper. Ibid,, note, The Closb 

is a pronged instrument, also used by the Kreijgers. 

Krennerite (kre-narait). Min. [Named, 1877, 

after Dr. J. A. Krenner, who first described it : see 

-ITE A telluride of 

1.] gold and silver, found in 

prismatic crystals. 

1878 Amer. 7ml. Sc. Ser. HI. XVIII. 482 Vom Rath., 

proposes the name Krennerite after the discoverer. 

Kreope(n, early form of CREEP. 

Kreophagism, -1st, Kreosote: see CREO-. 

755 

Krepe, Kreppet, obs. inf. and pa. t. of CREEPS. 

Kresol, Kresoline, etc., var. CBESOL, etc. 

Kressibulle, Kreste, obs.fi. CRUCIBLE, CHEST. 

Kreton, variant of CHITON 06s. 

II Krentzer (kroi-tsar). Also (6 crocherd(e), 

7 oreitzer, 8 ereutzer, crutzer, 9 krauzer. [Ger. 

kreuzer, f. kreuz cross; the coin having been 

originally stamped with a cross.] A small coin 

(originally silver, afterwards 

copper) formerly 

current in parts of Germany and in Austria. 

The value has varied, the most recent 

being the Bavarian 

kreutzer = about 4 of a penny, and the Austrian = about \d. 

1547 BOORDE Introd. Knowl. xiii. (1870) 157 They [the 

Dutch] haue crocherdes; iii crocherds is les worth than a 

styuer. 1617 MORYSON Ilia. I. 67, I paid for my supper 

twenty creitzers. 1703 Land. Can. No. 3914/5 Worth.. 16 

Creutzers, which is about 8 Pence English. 1756-7 tr. 

Keysler's Trav.(i?6o) I. 121 This castle was built. .in times 

when artificers worked for a crutzer a day. 1822 W. I RVING in 

Life $ Lett. (1864) II. 103 The gentlemen, .pay each a piece 

of six kreutzers. 1874 RUSKIN Fan Clav. IV. 69 By this time 

I shouldn't have had a bit of skin left as big as a kreutzer. 

Krevise, -ys, obs. forms of CRAYFISH. 

Krewelle, obs. form of CRUEL. 

t Kreyscloth. Obs. A kind of linen fabric. 

1507 Yatton Church^w. Ace. (Som. Rec. Soc.) 129 Kreyscloth 

and holland bought for bordctothes and surplices. 

Kricket(t, obs. forms of CRICKET. 

II Kriegspiel (kr< gjsp*!). [Ger., = war-game.] 

A game in which blocks representing parts of 

armies, guns, etc., are moved about on : maps see 

quot. 1811. Introduced into the English army 

after the Franco-German War of 1870. 

[1811 Q. Rev. May 403 In Switzerland a game has lately 

been made of war (Das Kriegspiel}, which is played with 

figures upon a map, and recommended as exceedingly 

instructive to military students, because the principles upon 

which it is constructed are applicable to real operations in 

the field.] 1878 BESANT & RICE By Celia's Arbour xxxiii. 

(1887) 248 They tell me that the officer of to-day is scientific 

and plays Kriegspiel. 1887 Athenxum^ 12 Mar. 344/3 As in 

a game of ' 

kriegspiel ', the onlooker will often find himself 

wondering what on earth was the object of this or that move. 

Krieker (kr/"-kai). U. S. [ad. Ger. kriecher 

creeper.] A name in N. Jersey and Rhode Island 

of the Pectoral Sandpiper, Tringa pectoralis. 


Kries, variant of CREESE. 

Krik, krike, obs. forms of CHEEK ji.i 

tKrime. Obs. rare. [?ad. Gr. pO/os frost.] 

(See quot.) 

1599 T. M[OUFET] Silkwormes 56 While Scythian krime 

doth fleete \tnarg. ' 

Boreas, the north-west wind ']. 

Krioboly (krai^-wai). Gr. Antiq. late [f. Gr. 

Kpioftokwv, in 4th c. L. criobolium, f. KpTofl6\-os 

ram-slaying.] A sacrifice in which many rams 

were slaughtered a bath in the blood of ; rams. 

[1850 LEITCH tr. C. O. Mullcr's_ Anc. Art (ed. 2) 422 A 

kriobolion of the Phrygian worship.] 1879 FARRAR St. Paul 

(1884) I. xviii. 187 notc.^ 1882 Early Chr. 3 note, The 

taurobolies and kriobolies (baths in the blood of bulls and 

rams) mark the extreme sensuality of superstition. 

Krippin, variant of CKEPINE Obs. 

Kris, kriss, krist, var. CHEESE, Malay dagger. 

Krishnaism (kri'Jhaiiz'm). [f. Krishna, name 

of a great deity or deified hero of later Hinduism, 

worshipped as an incarnation of Vishnu.] The 

worship of or belief in Krishna. So Kri'shnaist, 

Kri-shnaite, a worshipper of Krishna ; also allrib. 

1885 C. J. STONE Chr. bef. Christ 180 The system of 

philosophy, 

afterwards adopted in both Krishnaism and 

Buddhism. 1892 WESTCOTT Gospel of Life 156 Krishnaism 

has been the strength of Hinduism. 1880 J. M. ROBERTSON 

Christ fy Krishna x. 47 The other Krishnaist festivals. 

Ibid. xi. 51 The modern discussion of Krishnaite origins. 

Krisu-vigite. Min. [Named, 1842, from Krisuvig 

in Iceland, where found: see -HE 1 .] A 

synonym of BROCHANTITE. 

1844 DANA Min. (ed. 2) 617 Krisuvigite is an emerald 

green salt of copper, from Krisuvig. 

Kritarehy (kri'taiki). nonce-wd. [f. Gr. K/HTJJS 

judge + -apx'a ra le > after monarchy, etc.] The rule, 

or period of rule, of the Judges in ancient Israel. 

1834 SOUTHEY Doctor (i 838) V. Interch. xvii. 337 The 

Lays of Samson, Jephthah, Gideon, and other heroes of the 

Kritarehy. 

IlKrobylos (krp'bilps). Gr. Antiq. [a. Gr. 

Kpai/3uA.os.] A roll or knot of hair on the crown 

of the head. 

1830 LEITCH tr. C. O. Mailer's Anc. Art (ed. 2) 473 The 

hair is.. knotted together into a krobylos in the undraped 

statues of Venus produced by later art. 

Kroci-, krokydolite, Min., var. CROCIDOLITE. 

1837 PHILLIPS Min. 151 Krokydolite. 

Krocket (krfket). Sc. A name in Aberdeenshire 

of the Oyster-catcher (ffsematopus ostrilegus). 

(Swainson Prov. Names Birds, 1885.) 

Kroehnkite (kro-rjkait). Min. [Named, 1876, 

after B. Kroehnke : see -ITE!.] A hydrous sulphate 

of copper and sodium, found in blue crystalline 

masses in Chili. 

fKroket. rare- 1 , 

[var. CROCKET *.] 

? A hook. 

1426 LYDC. De Guil. Pilgr. (E. E.T. S.) 461 A large dyssh 

. . In hyr hand . . she held i And in hyr ffyffihe hand a kroket. 

KRYPTON. 

II Krone (kro-ne). [Ger. krone (pi. kronen}, 

Da. krone (pi. kroner), Sw. krona (pi. kronor) 

crown : cf. CROWN sl>. 8.] 

1. A silver coin of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, 

of the value of is. 

i\d., containing 100 ore. 

"875 JEVONS Money viii. 72 Some merchants [of Sweden] 

are said already to keep their accounts in kroner and 6re. 

1884 Pall Mall G. 26 Sept. 5/1 For the past business year 

the Norwegian National Bank shows accounts which leave 

a balance of 2,232,919 kroner (say ; 125,000). 

2. The 10 mark gold piece of the modem German 

Empire. 

' 

1898 Whitaker"s Almanac 695 [Earlier edd. crown ']. 

3. A silver coin of the new monetary system of 

Austria, = 100 heller, or icW. sterling. 

[189$: see HELLER.) 1898 WhitakeSs Almanac 695 

[Earlier edd. ' 

crown *]. 

IlKronia (krp-nia). Gr. Antiq. [Gr. Kpono, 

neuter pi. of KpoVio? of or pertaining to Kronos or 

Saturn.] An ancient Greek festival in honour of 

Kronos, resembling in its features the Roman 

Saturnalia. It was held at Athens in the month 

Hecatombaeon (corresponding to parts of July and 

August). 

Kronk, var. CKONK, cry of wild goose. 

Kronykele, obs. form of CHRONICLE. 

Kroo, Kroii, Xru (kr/7). [W. African.] attrib. 

or as adj. Of or pertaining to a negro race so named 

on the coast of Liberia, very skilful as seamen. 

1835 MARRYAT Pirate vii, These were Kroumen, a race of 

blacks.. who inhabit the coast near Cape Palmas, and are 

often employed by pur men-of-war. 1883 Daily News 

12 July 3/1 The Englishmen, ..assisted by Krooboys, sallied 

out and put their assailants to flight. 1894 AMANDA SMITH 

Autobiog. xxv. 108 The kroomen .. let a great wave break 

over us. 1897 MARY KINOSLEY W.Africa App. 1.646 The 

Kruboys, as the natives of the Grain Coast are called, irrespective 

of the age of the individual, by the white men. Ibid. 

649 They speak their version of our own Kru-English, or 

' 

trade English as it ', is called. 

b. (See quot.) 

1884 H. H. JOHNSTON River Congo i. 26 There is a subtle 

distinction between Kru-boy and Kru-man, or, to use its 

Portuguese form, Krumano.. .The Kru-man is an artificial 

name given to the indigenous slaves of the country .. men, for 

instance, of the lower Congo tribes, that are sold by their 

chiefs to European merchants. 

Kross, obs. form of KAROSS. 

f Krotte, ? variant of CHOI Obs. 

' 1466 SIR J. PASTON in P. Lett. II. 294, I sende yow. .iij 

trade pottes.,1 mystruste moost the potte that hathe a 

ki-otte abovyn in the toppe, lesse that he hathe ben ondoone. 

Kroude, Kroun, obs. ff. CROWD s&. 1 , CROWN. 

Krout : see SOUR-CROCT. 

Krugite (kr'gsit). Min. [Named, 1881, after 

D. Krug von Nidda : see -ITE !.] A sulphide of 

potassium, calcium, and magnesium, akin to Polyhalite. 

(A. H. Chester Names of Minerals, 1896). 

II Xru.mmh.orn (knrmhpjn). Mus. f. [Ger., 

krumm crooked, curved + horn HORN.] a. An obsolete 

wind-instrument of a curved form. b. An organ 

reed-stop of 8 ft. pitch , resembling the clarinet in tone ; 

called also CROMORNE, and corruptly CREMONA 2 . 

1694-4, 1880 [see CROMORNE]. 1864 WEBSTER, Krmnm- 

horn, Krninhorn, an instrument of music of the cornet 

kind, formerly in use. 

Kryme, variant of CRIM v. Obs., to crumble. 

KryO- (krsiio), another spelling of CRTO- combining 

form of Gr. upvos frost, in various scientific 

terms : see CRYOGEN, CRYOHYDRATE, CRYOLITE, 

etc. Also Kryo-konite [Gr. KOI/IS dust], a name 

for meteoric dust found in the Arctic regions; 

Kryo'meter [Gr. nerpor measure], a thermometer 

for measuring very low temperatures ; 

[Gr. -CTKoirio observation] (see quot.) ; 

Kryoscopy 

hence Kryo- 

sco'pic a., of or relating to kryoscopy. 

1889 G. J. WRIGHT Ice Age N. Amer. 9 Nordenskiold 

attributed the initial melting of ice-surface to accumulations 

of meteoric dust which he named *kryokonite. 1891 Standard 

Q Feb., The mysterious 'kryokonite' of the vast 

icefields of Greenland is now believed to be ..simply dust 

blown from America or 

Europe. 1877 RAYMOND Statist. 

iron. 1881 

Mines

KSHATBIYA. 

military forces. Also attrib. 

1871 Illustr. Land. News 15 Apr. 359/1 The House of 

Representatives has passed a bill making Ku-Klux crimes 

in the south punishable in the Federal Courts. Ibid. 2gApr. 

414/3 The Ku-Klux Bill lias passed both Houses at Washington 

with considerable modifications. 1872 WHITTIER 

Presid. Eleit. Pr. Wks. 1889 IM. 164 Let us not despair of 

seeing even the Ku-Klux tamed into decency. 1880 E. KIRKE 

Garfield 54 That the horrors of the Ku-klux and the White- 

Lives should not run riot at the poles. 1884 Century Mag. 

July 398/1 No chapter in American history is more strange 

than the ' one which bears for its title : Ku Klux Klan '. 

2. A member of the Ku-Klux. 

1884 Century Mag. XXVIII. 402 The ' 

proceedure ' 

was 

to place the would be Ku Klux in an empty barrel . . and to 

send him whirling down the hill. 

Hence Ku klux v., to outrage or maltreat in 

accordance with the methods of the Ku-Klux- 

Klan. Xn klnxism, the system or methods of 

the Ku-Klux ; outrage or murder. 

1879 Philaiiclphia. Inquirer 28 Nov. 1/5 Ten men . . were 

tu-cl.i )-day taken ' 

.. on a charge of kukluxmg a man named 

IcAlpme, his son and daughter. 1881 Philadelphia Rec. 

"0.3452. i Aword. M, 

No. 

.suggestive ofkukluxism. iSÂmerican 

VIII. 72 Not only a Confederate but was sent to the Albany 

Penitentiary for Ku-Kluxism. 

Kukow, obs. form of CUCKOO. 

HKukri (ku-kri). Alsogkhookheri.kookaree, 

-eree, -i(e, -y, kookree, -i(e, kukrie, kukeri, 

Kunynjare, 

756 

variant of CONYGER Obs. 

HXupfernickel (ku-pfariniM). Min. [Ger., 

f. kupfer COPPER + nickel NICKEL.] = NICCOLITE. 

(Cf. copper-nickel s.v. COPPER sb. 1 12.) 

1796 KIRWAN Elem. Min. (ed. 2! II. 271 Found with 

Native Bismuth, Kupfernickel and Cobaltic efflorescences. 

iSiz SIR H. DAVY Cnetn. Philas. 421 Nickel exists in an ore 

called kupfer-nickel, combined chiefly with sulphur. 1870 

CasseUs Techn. Educ. IV. 226/2 Kupfernickel, which is a 

compound of this metal [nickel] with arsenic. 

Kupfferite (ku-pferait). Min. [Named, 1862, 

after Prof. A. T. Kupffer: see -ITE!.] An emerald- 

green form of magnesium silicate coloured by 

chromium. 

1868 DANA Min. (ed. 5) 231 The original kupflerite, from 

a 

graphite mine in the Tunkinsk Mts., is a chromiferous 

amphibole. 

l!Kuphar(ku-fii). Alsokufa; properly kuflah. 

[ad. Arab. ti quffah, circular basket or pannier, 

circular wicker boat.] A circular coracle of wicker- 

KUSIMANSE. 

Chan. xvi. 347 In the case of cryplon, 

the ratio of the specific 

heats has been ascertained to be 1-66, so that this gas is 

also a monatoinic element. 

Ksar, obs. form of CZAR. 

llXshatriya, Kshatri (k/a-tri,ya, -tr). E. 

Ind. Also 8 Chjttery, 8-9 Cshatriya. [Skr. 

kshatriya a member of the military or reigning 

order in (which later times constituted the second 

caste), f. kshatra rule, authority.] A member of 

the military caste, the second of the four great 

castes or classes among the Hindus (cf. KHATKI). 

1781 G. FORSTER Journ. Bengal (1798) I. 54 note. The 

Chittery occasionally takes himself to traffic, and the 

Sooder has become the inheritor of principalities. 1794 

Si W. JONES Inst. of Menu \. f 31 Wks. 1799 III. 69 He 

[Brahma] caused the Brahmen, the Cshatriya, the Vaisya, 

and the Sudra..to proceed from his mouth, his arm, his 

thigh, and his foot. 1834 GAUNTER Orient. Ann, ix. 120 She 

was the daughter of a wealthy Cshatrya, in the neighbourhood 

of Delhi. 1849 E. B. EASTWICK Dry Leaves 7 Here 

Indra, Rudra, Brimna, and Vishnu are said to have re-produced 

the warrior caste or Kshatris, who had been extirpated 

by Parsuram on account of their impiety. 

Ku, Kuafe, obs. ff. Cow sl>.\ CUE sbt, COIF. 

Kua-nthropy, bad form of KYNANTHROPY. 

1865 BARING-GOULD Werewolves vii. 97 The president 

'ent on to 

say 

that Lycanthropy and Kuanthropy were 

mere hallucinations. 1866 A thenzum 24 Mar. 393/2 [Review 

ofprec. ] Traditions of kuanthropy, and boanthropy. 

Kub, obs. form of CUB sb.*, sheep-pen, crib. 

f Kuchies kote. 06s. f. [app. F. couchee sleeping 

+ COTE.] Bedchamber, bedroom. 

13 .. E . E, A Hit. P. B. 801 Gomez to your kuchiez-kote . . ; 

I schal fette yow a fatte your fette for to wasche. 

Kuchyn, Kuckold, Kuckstole, obs. ff. 

CUSHION, CUCKOLD, CUCKSTOOL. 

Kud, kuclde, pa. t. and pple. of KITHE. 

II Kudos (ki'dps). University slang and colloq. 

[a. Gr. xvSos praise, renown.] Glory, fame, renown. 

1831 Fraser's III. 

Mag. 391 He obtained kudos immense. 

1841 DISRAELI 23 Feb. in Corr. iv. Sister (1886) 171, 1 am 

spoken of with great kudos in ' 

Gecil '. 1859 DARWIN in 

Life t, Lett. (1887) II. 168 Lyell has read about half of the 

volume in clean sheets, and gives me very great kudos. 1889 

Boy s Own Paper 17 Aug. 729/1 Our champion was held to 

have lost no kudos in the encounter. 

Hence Ku-dize v., Ku'dos v. 

(nonce-tads.}, to 

praise, laud, glorify. 

1799 SOUTHEV Eng. Eel., etc;., Poet. Wks. III. 57 Lauded 

in pious Latin to the skies; Kudos'd egregiously in heathen 

Greek. 

1873 M. COLLINS Squire Silchester I. xix. 234 He 

kudized Louisa, who blushed when he compared her to Penthesilea. 

Kue, obs. f. CUE. Kuead, Kuel, var. QUED(E 

Obs., QUELL v. Kuen, Kuff, obs. ff. kukkri. koukri. [Hindi kukri.} A curved knife, 

broader at the point than at the handle, and usually 

having 

QUEEN, 

CUFF. Kufic, var. CUPIO. 

Kuik, Kuith, Kuipo, Kuitle, obs. forms of 

COOK, KITH, KITHE, CUITTLB v, 

II Kukaug (ktt-kserj). [Malay kukang.'] The 

slow-paced lemur or loris {Slenops javanicus or 

Nycticebus tardigradus} found in the East Indies 

from Hindustan to Java and China. 

Loris or Kukang. 

Kuke, Kukkowe, obs. ff. COOK, CUCKOO. 

Kukeri, variant of KUKBI. 

Ku-Klux (ki-klks). More fully Ku-Klux- 

Klan. [A fantastic name said to be made out of 

Gr. nvn\oi circle + CLAN.] 

1. A widespread secret society, which arose in 

the Southern States of North America after the 

civil war of 1861-65, beginning with the effort 

to overawe the negro population by whipping and 

arson, and developing a system of political outrage 

and murder ; it was finally put down by the U. S. 

the keen edge on the concave side, used by 

the Gorkhas of India. 

1811 KIRKPATRICK Nepaul v. 118 The dagger, or knife, 

worn by every Nepaulian, and called Khookheri. 1833 

MUNDY Pen ff Pencil Sk. I. 197 Arming himself with a 

kookaree or mountain dagger. 1859 LANG Wand. India 

312 By the side of him knelt the little Goorkha, armed.with 

the kookeree. 1884 A. FORBES in Pall Mall G. 19 Mar. 1/2 

The Ghoorka kukrie, the American bowie knife, or any other 

kindred instrument. 1897 LD. ROBERTS 41 Yrs. India Ixviii. 

(1898) 538 The Maharaja gave me a gold-mounted kookri. 

Ktikstole, Kukwald, -wold(e, obs. forms of 

CUCKSTOOL, CUCKOLD. 

Kulan, var. form of KOULAN. 

Kull, obs. form of CULL z>.2, KILL v. Kuliio, 

Kulter, Kum, obs. ff. KILN, COULTER, COME. 

Kuiubecephalic, kumbo-kephalic, bad 

forms of CTMBOCEPHALIC. 

1863 D. WILSON Preh. Ann. I. 236, I suggested the term 

kumfeapkalic, or boat-shaped, . . for this form of skull. 1866 

LAING Preliist. Rein. Caithn. 64 The kumbo-kephalic, which 

so many of the best authorities believe to be the primitive 

British type. 

Kumeling, obs. form of COMELING. 

II Ku-mera, -ara. N. Zeal. [Maori name.] 

The sweet potato, Ifomsea edulis. 

s - 

177.3 PARKINSON Jrnl. S. Seas in Trans. N. Zeal. Inst. 

X. ix. 124 (Morris) Several canoes came alongside .. of 

whom we got some fish, kumeras or sweet potatoes, and 

several other things. 1884 BRACKEN Lays of Maori 18 

Some more dainty toothsome dish' Than the kumera and fish. 

1900 Blackw. Mag, Feb. 231 A great pie-dish full of kumaras. 

Kumis, -iss, -ys, variants of KOUMISS. 

Kum-kat, Kumlee, var. CUMQUAT, CUMBLY. 

|| Kummel (kii-mel). [G. kiimmel, repr. MHG. 

kiiniel, OHG. kumil, var. kumtn CUMIN.] A 

liqueur, flavoured with cumin, manufactured in 

North Germany. 

1882 Encycl. Brit. XIV. 687/1 In the preparation ofA llasch 

which is a rich Kummel. 1897 Pa^ Mall G. 19 May 3/2 

Coffee, dry. .kummel and good cigars. 

Kummer, Kummerbund : see CUM-. 

Kurnmul, Kumquat, var. CUMBLY, CUMQUAT. 

Kurnraid, obs. Sc. pa. t. of CUHBEB v. 

Kumshaw, variant of CUMSHAW. 

Kun: see CAN v., CON z/.i Kund-: see KIND-. 

Kundah : see COONDA. 

Kundit, -ute, obs. forms of CONDUIT sb. 

Kune, obs. Sc. form of CUN v. 

Kunfort, Kunger, obs. ff. COMFORT, CONGER. 

II Kunkur (kzrrjk&i). E. Ind. Forms : 8 konker, 

concha, 9 conca, coneher, conker, kankur, 

-ar, kunkar, -er, -ur. [Hindi kankar= Prakrit 

kakkaram, Skr. karkarai/t.'] A coarse kind of 

limestone found in many parts of India, in large 

tabular strata, or interspersed throughout the surface 

soil, in nodules of various sizes ; it is burned 

to lime, and also used for 

constructing roads, 

binding to a compact, hard, and even surface. 

_i793 W. HODGBS Trav. India no The river Jumna, the 

sides of which consist of what in India is called concha. 

1810 WILLIAMSON Vade M. II. 13 A weaker kind of 

lime is obtained by burning a substance called kunkur. 

1834 MEDWIN Angler in Wales I. 195 A round mass of 

* 

coneher ' 

. . which he rolled before him. 1859 R- F- BURTON 

Centr. Afr. in Jrnl. Geog. Sac. XXIX. 102 Small calcareous 

nodules of weatherworn ' 

kunker '. 1879 MEDLICOTT & 

BLANFORD Geol. India I. 397 In places the kankar forms 

compact beds of earthy limestone. 

attrib. 184. MRS. SHERWOOD Lady ofManor III. xxi. 

239 

The his 

site_of 

habitation was on a conca rock. 18 . . in 

Life xxiii. 381 Our long, long voyage terminated under 

a high conker bank. 1895 MRS. CROKER Village Tales (1896) 

169 There he sat, on the kunker heap. 

Kunne(ii, obs. inf. of CAN z/.i, CON v. 1 

work covered with skins, used on the Euphrates. 

See Herodotus i. 194. 

1800 J. RENNEI.L Geogr. of Herodotus 264 These [boats] 

were of a circular form, and composed of willows covered 

with skins... The same kind of embarkation is now in use 

in the lower parts of the same river, under the name of kufa 

that is, a round vessel. 1827 TENNYSON Poems by Two 

Brothers 65 Where down Euphrates, swift and strong, The 

shield-like kuphars bound along. 

Kuple, obs. form of COUPLE v. 

Kurbasch, -bash, variants of KOURBASH. 

t Kurch(e, -ie, obs. ff. KERCH, KERCHIEF. 

1609 SKENE Reg. Maj. 155 ( Treat. Crimes iv. c. 30) Women 

suld not come to the kirk.. with her face covered, vnder 

the paine of escheit of the kurche. a 1700 Cock Laird ii 

in Ramsay's Wks. (1877) II. 222 Kurchis and kirtles Are 

fitter for thee. a 1724 in Ramsay Tea-t. Misc. (1733) II 

Kure, var. CUBE v? Obs., to cover. 

Kurgan (kurga-n). [Russ. KypraKb kurga-n 

barrow, tumnlus ; of Tartar origin.] A prehistoric 

sepulchral tumulus or barrow in Russia and 

Tartary. 

1889 J. ABERCROMBY E. Caucasus 218, I remarked two 

green basins. . . They had been found in a kurgan. 1890 

HUXLEY in igtA Cent. 769 These Tschudish kurgans abound 

in copper and gold articles . . but contain neither bronze 

nor iron. 

Kuriologic, -al, variant of CURIOLOOIC, -AL. 

1826 Edin. Rev. XLV. 101 The method of Egyptian writing 

called . . the Hieroglyphic, of which one sort is kuriologic 

(or expressive of objects in a proper, not figurative or metaphorical, 

manner). 1862 H. SPENCER First Princ. (1875) 349 

The picture-writing of the Mexicans . . had been partially 

differentiated into the kuriological or imitative, and the 

tropical or symbolic. 

Kurisee, 

Kunning(e, kunyng, obs. ff. CUNNING. 

Kunscence, -sence, Kunsent, Kuntenaunce, 

Kunteyne, obs. ff. CONSCIENCE, CON- 

SENT, COUNTENANCE, CONTAIN. 

t Kuny, obs. form of COIN sb. Cf. CUNYE. 

c 1440 Promf. Pan. 282/1 Kuny, or conye of mone. 

? corrupt form of CUIRASSIER. 

1649 CROMWELL Lett. 19 Dec. in Carlyle, The horse, .took 

Three-hundred-and-fifty prisoners amongst whom .. the 

renegado Wogan, with twenty-four of Ormond's kurisees. 

Kurl, Kurlu, obs. forms of CUBL, CURLEW. 

Kurne, Kurnel, etc., obs. ff. KERN .i, KEBNEL 

sb.\ etc. Kurnock, obs. f. CUBNOCK, a measure. 

II Kuroshiwo f. (kttrojrwo). [Japanese, kuro 

black + shi-wo 

tide.] The Black Current or Gulf 

Stream of Japan. 

1885 SIR J. MURRAY in Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 118/2 The 

Kuro-Siwo or Japan current wholly a warm oceanic river 

during the S. E. monsoon similar to the Gulf Stream of the 

Atlantic. 

'. u__ Atislral. Alsocurra-,curre-, 

curri-, -gong. A native Australian name for any 

plant or tree having a tough bark yielding a fibre ; 

hence applied with qualifications to various trees, 

some called also Cordage-trees. 

Black K., Sterculia diversifolia, and S. quadrifida ; 

Brown K., CommersoHia echinnla, and Bracliyckiton 

tgfrii; Green K., Hibiscus heteropliyllus; Tasmanian 

, Plagiantlws sidmdcs. 

1823 UNIACKEC'J-/O''J Exp. (Morris), Thenets. .are made. . 

from the bark of the kurrajong (Hibiscus heten'pliyllus). 1847 

L. LEICHHARDT Overland Exp. III. 91 (ibid.) Dillis neatly 

worked ofkoorajong bark. iW&Cassclfs Picturesque Australasia 

III. 138 (ibid.) Quaint currajongs. like in 

.very form to 

the stiffwooden trees we have all played with in childish days. 

1890 LYTH Golden South ix. 78 Forests of native apple, 

eucalypti, she oaks, kurragong, cedar, and wattle trees. 

Kurre, obs. form of CUB. 

I Kursaal (k-r,zal). f. [G., kur, cur, CUBE 

si. 1 + saal hall, room.] A public building at 

a German health resort, provided for the use and 

entertainment of visitors; hence, sometimes, a 

similar building at an English watering-place. 

1849 THACKKRAY Pcndennis Ivi, The resolute old gentleman 

. . made his appearance in the halls of the Kursaal. 

Ibid., The Kursaal band at the bath. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 

i4Sept. 10/2 The Margate and Southend Kursaals, Limited. 

Kurs(e, Kurt, obs. ff. CURSE, COUBT ji.i 

II Kurung (kuru-rj), kurunj (kuru-nd^). E. 

Ind. [Hindi kurung, Marhatt : kurunj Skr. 

kurttnja.] A tree, Pongamia glabra, N.O. Leguminosse, 

widely diffused from India to China and 

N. Australia ; its seeds yield Kurung oil, much 

used in India for illuminating purposes. 

1866 Treas. Bat. 919/1 In India, an oil, called Kurunj, or 

Poonga oil, is expressed from the seeds. 1883-4 Med. A initial 

48/1 Kurung Oil is obtained from the seeds of a leguminous 

tree common in most parts of India. 

llKurveyor(kyjv^-3j). S.Africa. [Anglicized 

spelling of Du. karweier, f. karwei job: MDu. 

corweie, ad. F. corvee, CORVEE.] A travelling 

trader in S. Africa. 

1885 W. GRESWELL in Macm. Mag. Feb. 285/2 The kurveyor 

or carrier who drags the trade of the country about 

in his ponderous ox waggon with spans of 16 or 20 oxen. 

1896 Blackw. Mag. 645 It was a very paying thing for the 

individual ' 

transport-rider ' 

or ' 

Kurveyor ' 

to convey goods 

to and from Kimberley. 

Kus, Kushen, obs. forms of Kiss, CUSHION. 

II Kusima'lise. [Native name.] A small 

burrowing carnivorous mammal, Crossarc&us obscttrus, 

of West Africa. 

1861 WOOD Nat. Hist. I. 242 The food of the Kusimanse 

consists of the smaller mammalia, of various insects, and 

some kinds of fruits. 1883 Casselfs Nat. Hist. II. 207 The

KUSTI. 

Crossarchus, Mangue, or Kusimansc, presents a good deal 

of resemblance to the Cynogale. 

Kuskos, -kus, var. KHUS-KHUS (= Cuscus^). 

Kusshew, obs. form of cusshewe, CUISSE 

Kusshowne, Kussin, obs. ff. CUSHION, COUSIN. 

II Kusti (kustr). E. Ind. [Pers. ^ kusti, 

~ 

girdle, cincture ; Gujarat! kusti, kasti.] 

A woollen 

cord worn round the waist by Parsees, consisting 

of seventy-two threads to represent the chapters 

of the Yasna, a portion of the Zend-Avesta. 

1860 J. GARDNER Faiths World II. 620/1 The kusti is a 

thin woollen cord. 1885 Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 325/1 A long 

coat or gown is worn over the sadara . . fastened round the 

waist with the kustt or sacred cord, which is carried round 

three times, and fastened in front with a double knot. Ibid 

\ his cincture is a cord woven by women of the priestly class 

only. . . I he ceremony of the kustt or encircling of the girdle. 

Kustume, Kut, obs. forms of CUSTOM, CUT. 

Kutch, Kutcha, var. CUTCH 2, CUTCHA. 

Kutchenel, obs. form of COCHINEAL. 

Kutcheri,-erry: see CUTCHERRY. 

IlKllteera (k#tl-ra). Also kutera, katira. 

[Hindi katira (name of the gum).] In Kuteera 

gum, a kind of gum obtained from an Indian shrub, 

also 

Cochlospermum Gossypium (N. O. Bimntm) ; 

a gum obtained from several species of Sterculia. 

1838 T. THOMSON Chem. Org. Bodies 676 Gum kuteera.. 

I his gum, according to Dr. Roxburgh, is the produce of the 

bterculia areas, a tree which grows in Hindostan i885 

Guide Museums Kcw No. i. 15 Specimens of KuteeraGum 

of the Indian bazaars furnished by Cochlosfermiim Gossypium, 

DC, used in the North Western Provinces as a substitute 

for Tragacanth. 

Kuth, Kuthe, obs. ff. COUTH, KITH, KITHE. 

Kuth, kuyth, var. cttth, COOTH, coal-fish. 

1884 DAY Brit. Fishes I. 295. 

iiKuttar (ktrta-i). E. Ind. Also 7 catarre, 

-arry, 8 cuttary. [Hindi kattdr :-Skr. kattara.] 

A short dagger used in 

India, having a handle of 

two parallel bars, joined by a cross-piece which 

forms the part grasped by the hand. 

_ 1696 OVINGTON K G.ieil 

' 

(MHG. kit). Da. kile, Sw. kil wedge' : the pre- 

cise source is not clear.] A small iron wedge 

used to fasten the head of a pick, hammer, etc., 

on the shaft. 

174; r HOOSON Miner's Did. E j b, When the Miner haums 

a Fick . and when he has put in his hard Wood-Wedges and 

Iron Kyles [etc.]. 1893 Northumbld. Gloss., Kyle, atvedge. 

1 

Is thor a kyle i this mell, Bob?' 

Kyler, obs. f. KEELEB*. Kyles, var. KAYLBS, 

the game. Kylevine, var. of KEELIVINE. 

IlKylie (kai-li). West Austral. Also koilee, 

kiley. [Native name.] A boomerang. 

1839 N.OoLECW. W.Australia 57(Morris) Ineverypart 

of this great continent they have the koilee, or boomerang. 

1846 J. L. STOKES Discov. Australia I. iv. 72 One of them 

had a kiley or bomerang. 1885 LADY BARKER Lett, to Guy 

177 (Morris) The kyhe (what is called the boomerang m 

other parts of Australia), a curiously curved and flat stick 

about a foot long and two or three inches wide. 

II Kylitt (krlfcn). Also kilin. 

[ad. Chinese 

ch'i-lm f. (Wade), cKi male + lin female.] A fabulous 

animal of composite form, commonly figured 

on Chinese and Japanese pottery. 

'According to the Erh Ya, it has the body of a deer, the 

tail of an ox, and a single horn, from which it is often 

called the Chinese Unicorn* (Mayers' Chinese Reader's 

Man., Shanghai, 1874, 127). 

1857 MARRYATT Pottery $ Parcel, (ed. 2) 217 Dragons, 

kylms, and all manner of hideous and strange monsters. 

1894 Times 26 Jan. 11/3 Sale of General Gordon's Chinese 

objects of art. .. A vase and cover, of rock crystal, with 

pierced dragon handles, kylin on the cover . . A small cup, 

the handle carved as a kylin. 1898 Daily News 14 Dec. 8/4 

A piece of old Satsuma, representing a kylin playing with 

a ball and cord. 

Kylix, variant of CYLIX. 

Kyll(e, Kylne, obs. ff. KILL v., KILN sb. 

Kyloe (kai-l

KYR. 

FHOSIS, -OTIC. Also Xyphosoolio'sis (oy-), a 

combination of kyphosis and scoliosis backward 

; 

and lateral curvature of the spine. Hence 

; Ky phoscollo'tic a. 

188. Syd. Soc. Lex., Cyphoscoliosis. 1898 A Mutt's Syst. 

Med V 164 Deformity of the chest as the result of kyphoscoliosis. 

1900 Brit. Mcd. Jrnl. No. 2040. 278 The pelvis 

was extremely kyphoscoliotic. 

tKyr, v . Obs. rare. [Cf. Ger. kehren, Du. 

trans. To turn. 

1448 Paston Lett. (1901) IV. 19 As Davy shuld a kyrt the 

keeren to turn (used in same way).] 

horse, he slenkyd behynd and toke his master on the hepe 

suyche a stroke that, .brake his hepe. 

Kyrchef(.e, -cheffe, obs. forms of KERCHIEF. 

fKyre, vat.kaire, CAIRZ*. 06s., to go, proceed. 

1515 Scat. Field 240 in Chetham Misc. ( 1 856) 1 1 , Then the 

mightie lord, .kyred to his king with carefull tithmdes. 

Kyrf!,e, obs. form of KERF, cut. 

li Eyrie (karri, kai-ri|Z, klo-ri*). Also 6 kirie. 

[Short for Kyrie eleison : see next.] 

1. = next, i. To.esp. A musical setting of the Kyrie 

eleison in the Ordinary of the Mass, or of the 

Response to each of the Commandments in the 

Anglican Communion Service. 

1519 Churckw. Ace. St. Giles Reading 6 A Pryk-song 

boke . . wherin is conteyned iiii masses, iij kyries, iij allohuies 

and ij exultands. 1597 MORLEY Introd. Mus. 153, I remember 

a peece of composition of foure parts of maister 

Tauernor in one of his kiries. 16.. MS. Music Bk. at 

Durh. Cath., Mr. Brimley his kerrie to Mr. Sheperd's 

Creede. 1657 SPARROW Bk. Com. Prayer (1664) 241 Then 

follow the Commandments, with a Kyrie, or Lord have 

mercy upon us, after every one of them. 1845 E. HOLMES 

Mozart 41 His first essay in Church Music, tne Kyrie of a 

mass for four voices and four stringed instruments. 1866 

J. H. BLUNT Annot. Bk. Com. Prayer 167 The Kyrie thus 

said appears to represent the ancient Litany element of the 

Eucharistic Office. 

f 2. = next, 2. Obs. 

ij.. jfacA Jugler in Grosart Two Enterludes (1873) 63 

He shoulde haue suche a kyrie, ere he went 

top bed, As he 

neuer had before in all his lyfe. 1582 STANYHURST ^Bneid 

i. (Arb.) 21 This kyrye sad soiling, thee northern bluster 

aproching Thee sayls tears tag rag, to the sky thee waues 

vphoysing. 

II Kyrie eleison, eleeson (]s.\-ne elHs^n). 

Also 4-6 kyrieleyson, 6 Kyrie-eleyson, Kirieeleeson, 

7 (Kerry-Elison). [The Greek words 

Kvpie l\ii)0ov ' 

Lord, have mercy ', occurring in the 

Gr. text of Ps. cxxii. 3, Matt. xv. 22, xvii. 15, etc. 

The Gr. words were written in L. kyrie (med.L. 

also kirie), and (by itacism of ?;) eleison. As in 

other Christian words (e.g. Maria, Sophia, Helena, 

Jacobus, etc.), the Gr. accent was retained, giving 

ele'ison, later ele'ison, or elei'son. Since the Renascence, 

some have represented the Gr. more 

literally and quantitatively by eleison. Hence 

many varieties of pronunciation in Eng., some 

retaining the med.L. (which is also mod.Gr.) given 

758 

above, some following the school pronunciation 

of ancient Gr. or L., or with various Eng. modifications 

of the vowels, as Id-rig, karri/, karri, 

elris^n, eli^-s^n, eli|3i'spn, elsrsym.] 

1. Eccl. The words of a short petition used in 

various offices of the Eastern and Roman Churches, 

esp. at the beginning of the Mass ; represented in 

the Anglican service by the words, ' 

Lord, have 

mercy upon us', etc., in the Response to each 

Commandment in the Communion Service, b. A 

musical setting of these words, esp. as the first 

movement of a Mass. 

[a 1225 Ancr. R. 30 Hwose wule, mei siggen besne psalm, 

' Ad te levavi ' 

biuoren be Paternostres, & seoben ' 

Kirieleison, 

Christeleison, Kirieleison'. Ibid. 22.] 

13.. St. Alexius 422 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 183 

pe folk on knees fell . . And kyrieleyson thries bai sange. 

? . 14. in Q. Eliz. Acad. (1879) 34 Alt every Kyrie lyson, one 

to say with an high voice for y 6 sowle A Pater noster. 1551 

BP. HOOPER Later Writ. Soc. 

(Parker 1852) 145 They were 

wont to sit when they said or sang the psalms, kneel at 

Kyrie-eleyson, and stand up at Magnificat. 1563 PILKING- 

TON Confut. C iv b, Platina . . affirmes, that Pope Sixtus 

appoynted the Sanctus to be songe, Gregory the Kirieeleeson. 

1678 CUDWORTH Intell. Syst. H. iv. 27. 454 That 

very Form of Prayer.. Kyrie Eleeson, Lord have mercy 

upon us, was anciently part of the Pagans Litany to the 

Supreme God. 1834 BECKFORD Italy II, xiv. 1 

71, have 

had pretty nearly my fill of motets, and Kyrie eleisons. 

1885 Catholic Diet. (ed. 3) S.V., The Second Council of 

. . Vaison, which met in 529, ordered the Kyrie Eleison to 

be said at Mass and other services. 

1 2. transf. A complaint a ; scolding. 06s. 

1528 TINDALE Obed. Cfir. Man 130 b, He gave me a Kyrieleyson. 

1630 J. TAYLOR (Water P.) Navy Land Ships 

Wks. I vh/i, I would.. haue sung him a Kerry-Elison, that 

should haue made him beene glad to haue promist me a 

brace of Bucks more, to haue stop'd my mouth withall. 

II Kyrielle (kiii,e-l). Also 3 kyriel, 7 kiriele. 

fa. F. kyrielle, OF. (ijth c.) kyriele ; in med.L. 

kiriel, pi. kyrieles (Du Cange) ; so MHG. kiriel; 

shortened from kyrie eleison : see prec.] 

tl. = prec. i. 06s. 

[a 1225 Ancr. R, 30 Her also sigge5 ' De profundis ' 

biuore 

be Paternoster. Kiriel. Christel. Kiriel. Ibid, 36 BeateS on 

ower breoste . . & 

. . siggeS Kiriel. Christel. Kiriel.] 

2. A long rigmarole. 

1653 URQUHART Rabelais i. xxi, With him he mumbled 

all his Kiriele and dunsical breborions. 

3. A kind of French poetry divided into little 

equal couplets and ending with the same word 

which serves for the refrain. 

1887 Sat. Rev. 3 Dec. 770/1 Among the verse-forms. . . The 

kyrielle, of which we have three specimens, is not a form at 

all, and ought to have been discarded. 

Kyriolexy (kai-riole^ksi). rare~". [ad. Gr. 

Kvpio\tia, f. itvpios authoritative, authorized, proper 

+ -Aia speaking (cf. Aefis speech, word).] The 

use of literal expressions. 

i88 in Casselfs Encycl, Diet. 

END or VOL. V. 

KYX. 

Kyriologic, variant of CYEIOLOGIC. 

Kyrlewe, obs. form of CURLEW. 

Kyrnaill, -ale, -el, etc., obs. forms of KERNEL. 

Kyrne, obs. form of CHUBN. 

Kyrosite (kai-nJsait). Min. [ad. Ger. kyrosit 

(Breithanpt, 1843), f. Gr. Kv/xaais confirmation, 

because its specific character was thought to be 

confirmed: see -ITE.] A variety of marcasite, containing 

a small amount of arsenic. (Chester Names 

of Minerals, 1896.) 

Kyrre, obs. f. QuARRY.beast killed in hunting, etc. 

Kyrsede, kyrsett(e, obs. ff. CRESSET : see 

KIUSET 2 . Kyrspe, obs. f. CRISP. Kyrvour, 

Kyrymyry: see KIBVE v., KEBIMERY. 

Kys, kyse, kysse, obs. forms of Kiss. 

Kyst, kyste, obs. pa. t. of CAST v., Kiss v. ; 

obs. forms of KIST. 

Kyt, obs. inflexion of CUT v. ; obs. f. KITE. 

Kyte (kait). Sc. and north, dial. Also 7 kyt, 

7-9 kite. [Etymology uncertain. Cf. early 

mod.Du. (Kilian) kijte, kiete (mod.W. Flemish 

kijte, kief), var. of MDu. cuyte, kuile a fleshy part 

of the body, esp. the thigh (Du. kuit calf of the 

leg) , = MLG. ktit, fleshy part, entrails (Liibben). 

The suggestion of Jamieson, repeated by later diets., that 

kyte represents OE. civiff, ON. kvit belly, is inadmissible.] 

The belly, stomach, paunch. 

11540 LYNDESAY Kitteis Confessioun 140 Thocht Codrus 

kyte suld cleue and birst. a 1585 POLWART Flyting w. 

Montfiotnerie 754 Misly kyt ! 1674 RAY N. C. Words 27 

A Kite ; A 

Belly, Cumb. 1787 BURNS To a Haggis iv, Till 

a' their weel-swall'd kytes bely ve Are bent like drums. 1820 

SCOTT Monast. xxxiii, To dress dainties at dinner-time for 

his ain kyte. 1855 ROBINSON Whitby Gloss., Kite, stomach. 

1895 CROCKETT Men of Moss Hags xxxvi. 259 His horse., 

is now filling his kyte in my stable, as his master is eke 

doing in hall. 

Kyte, obs. form of KITE, the bird, etc. 

Kyth, kyj>, etc., obs. forms of KITH, KITHE. 

Kythe, another spelling of KITHE v., often used. 

Kytill, Kytlyn, obs. ff. KITTLE, KITMNG. 

Kyton, kytton, obs. forms of KITTEN. 

Kytt(e, obs. inf., pa. t., and pa. pple. of CUT v. 

Kyttyl, kytylle, etc., obs. forms of KITTLE. 

Kytylyng, obs. form of KITLING. 

Kyuer(e, kyver, obs. ff. COVER v. 1 and st. 1 

Kyul, -e, var. CYULE : cf. CHIULE, KEEL s6.* 2. 

1670 MILTON Hist. Eng. Wks. (1847) 507/1 Three long 

gallics, or kyules. 

Kyuse, variant of CAYUSB. 

f Kyvar-knaue a., nonce-wet. = Cover-knave, 

that covers a knave. 

1563 STOWE in Pol., Rel., fy L. Poems Pref. 15 note, His 

[a cnminous parson's] gown, and his (kyvar-knaue) halt, 

borne after him. 

Kyx, obs. form of KEX, a dry hollow stalk.

here - Norm's Book Club

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?