# Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/K Kythe

fāte, fär; mē, hėr; mīne; mōte; mūte; mōōn; then.
the eleventh letter in our alphabet, its sound that of the sharp guttural mute, formed by raising the tongue to the back of the palate: (chem.) the symbol for potassium: (math.) generally a constant coefficient: also a unit vector perpendicular to i and j: as a medieval numeral, 250.
Kaaba, kä′bä, or kā′a-bä, n. Same as Caaba (q.v.).
Kabala, kab′a-la, n. Same as Cabala.
Kabyle, ka-bīl′, n. one of a branch of the great Berber race of North Africa: a dialect of Berber spoken by many of the Kabyles. [Fr.,—Ar. Qabāil, pl. of qabīla, a tribe.]
Kaddish, kad′ish, n. a Jewish form of thanksgiving and prayer, used at funerals, &c. [Heb.]
Kadi, kā′di, n. Same as Cadi.
Kae, kā, n. (Scot.) a jackdaw.—Also Ka.
Kaffiyeh, kaf′i-ye, n. a small shawl worn about the head in Syria.
Kafila, kaf′i-la, n. a camel train, caravan.
Kafir, kaf′ir, n. one of a native race of SE. Africa.—Kafir bread, the pith of a South African plant; Kafir corn, Indian millet. [Ar., unbeliever.]
Kaftan. Same as Caftan.
Kago, kag′ō, n. a Japanese basket with palanquin slung from a pole and carried by men.
Kaiak. Same as Kayak.
Kaif, kīf, n. undisturbed quiescence. [Ar.]
Kail, kāl, n. a ninepin. [Cf. Dut. and Ger. kegel.]
Kail. See Kale.
Kaimakam, kī-ma-kam′, n. a lieutenant-colonel in the Turkish army: the administrator of a subdivision of a vilayet.
Kain, kān, n. in old Scots law, rent paid in kind, e.g. in poultry, to a landlord.
Kainite, kī′nīt, n. a hydrated compound of the chlorides and sulphates of magnesium and potassium, used as a fertiliser. [Gr. kainos, new.]
Kainozoic. Same as Cainozoic.
Kaiser, kī′zėr, n. an emperor, esp. of Germany and Austria.—n. Kai′sership. [Ger.,—L. Cæsar.]
Kaka, kä′ka, n. a New Zealand parrot.—n. Ka′kapo, a nocturnal flightless New Zealand parrot.
Kakemono, kak-e-mō′nō, n. a Japanese wall-picture or decoration, painted on silk, gauze, or paper, and mounted on cylindrical rods.
Kaki, kä′kē, n. the persimmon of Japan, or Chinese date.
Kakistocracy, kak-is-tok′rā-si, n. government by the worst men in the state. [Gr. kakistos, superl. of kakos, bad, kratia, rule.]
Kakodyl. See Cacodyl.
Kala, kä′la, n. time: destiny.—Kâla chakra, the wheel of time. [Sans.]
Kalamdan, kal′am-dan, n. a Persian writing-case, with compartments for ink, reed-pens, knife, &c.
Kalamkari, kal-am-kar′i, n. a method of colouring and decorating by several dyeings or printings, also a chintz so treated. [Pers.]
Kale, Kail, kāl, n. a cabbage with open curled leaves, cabbage generally: broth of which kale is a chief ingredient.—ns. Kail′yard, a kitchen-garden; Kale′-runt, a cabbage-stem.—Kailyard-school, a group of writers of stories of humble Scotch country life—S. R. Crockett, Ian Maclaren, &c. [Cole.]
Kaleidophone, ka-lī′do-fōn, n. an instrument consisting of a rod or thin plate with a knob at the end, for showing the curves corresponding with the musical notes produced by the vibrations. [Gr. kalos, beautiful, eidos, form, phōnē, sound.]
Kaleidoscope, ka-lī′do-skōp, n. an optical toy in which we see an endless variety of beautiful colours and forms.—adj. Kaleidoscop′ic. [Gr. kalos, beautiful, eidos, form, skopein, to see.]
Kalendar, Kalends=Calendar, Calends.
Kalevala, kal-e-vä′lä, n. the great Finnish epic, written in eight-syllabled trochaic verse (from which Longfellow's Hiawatha is imitated), taken down from the lips of the peasantry and pieced together by Dr. Lönnrot of Helsingfors in 1835, in extended form (22,793 verses) in 1849. [Finnish, kaleva, a hero, -la, denoting place.]
Kali, kal′i, or kā′lī, n. the prickly saltwort or glasswort.—adj. Kalig′enous, producing alkalies.—n. Kā′lium, potassium.
Kali, kä′lē, n. a carpet with long nap, also the large carpet covering the centre of a Persian room.
Kali, kä′lē, n. a Hindu goddess, wife of Siva, the dark goddess of destruction—called also Durga.
Kalif, kā′lif, n. Same as Calif.
Kaliyuga, kal-i-yōō′ga, n. in Hindu mythology, the present age of the world, the fourth, characterised by universal degeneracy.
Kalmia, kal′mi-ä, n. a genus of North American evergreen shrubs, including the American mountain laurel. [From Peter Kalm, pupil of Linnæus.]
Kalmuck, kal′muk, n. a member of a Mongolian race.—Also Cal′muck. [Russ.]
Kalology, kal-ol′o-ji, n. the science of beauty in itself considered. [Gr. kalos, beautiful, logia, discourse.]
Kalong, ka-long′, n. a general name of the large fruit-bats, flying foxes, &c.
Kalotype. Same as Calotype.
Kalpa, kal′pa, n. a day of Brahma, a period of 4320 million years.—Also Cal′pa. [Sans., 'formation.']
Kalpis, kal′pis, n. a three-handled water-vase. [Gr.]
Kalsomine, an incorrect form of calcimine, which see under Calcium.
Kalyptra, ka-lip′tra, n. a thin veil worn by Greek women over the hair.
Kam, käm, adj. (Shak.) crooked.
Kama, kä′ma, n. the god of love in the Purânas: impure desire.—Also Cama, Ka′madeva.
Kamera, kam′ė-ra, n. a room. See Camera.
Kames, kāmz, n.pl. (geol.) banks and ridges of gravel, sand, &c., associated with the glacial deposits of Scotland—the same as åsar (q.v.) and eskar.
Kami, kä′mi, n. a Japanese term for a lord, for any of the national gods, demi-gods, or deified heroes, or any of their supposed descendants, as the mikados and the imperial family. [Japanese, 'superior.']
Kamichi, kam′i-chi, n. the horned screamer.
Kamila, Kamela, ka-mē′la, n. an East Indian orange dye-stuff yielded by a common Madras tree of the spurge family.
Kamis, Kamees, ka-mēs′, n. the long loose sleeved shirt worn by men in Mohammedan countries.
Kampong, kam-pong′, n. an enclosed space. [Malay.]
Kamptulicon, kamp-tū′li-kon, n. a ground cork and caoutchouc floorcloth. [Gr. kamptein, to bend.]
Kamsin. See Khamsin.
Kana, kä′na, n. Japanese writing, as distinguished from Japanese written in Chinese characters.
Kanaka, ka-nak′a, n. a Hawaiian or Sandwich Islander: one of the native labourers brought from the Pacific islands, on engagement for a certain fixed number of years, to Australia, &c. [Hawaiian, 'a man.']
Kaneh, kä′ne, n. a Hebrew measure of 6 cubits length.—Also Cā′neh.
Kang, kang, n. a large Chinese water-jar: an oven-like brick structure in northern China, for sleeping on at night, a fire being lighted underneath.
Kangaroo, kang-gar-ōō′, n. a large marsupial mammal of Australia, with very long hind-legs and great power of leaping.—n. Kangaroo′-grass, a valuable Australian fodder grass.
Kans, kanz, n. a common Indian grass, allied to the sugar-cane.
Kanten, kan′ten, n. a gelatinous substance extracted from seaweeds, used for soups and for sizing. [Jap.]
Kantian, kan′shi-an, adj. pertaining to the doctrines of, or belonging to, the great German philosopher, Immanuel Kant (1724-1804).—ns. Kan′tianism, Kant′ism, the doctrines or philosophy of Kant; Kant′ist, a disciple or follower of Kant.
Kantikoy, Canticoy, kan′ti-koi, n. a religious dance among American Indians, a dancing-match.—v.i. to dance as an act of worship.
Kanuck, ka-nuk′, n. (U.S.) a Canadian.—Also Canuck′. [Ind.]
Kaolin, kä′o-lin, n. same as China clay. [From the mountain Kao-ling ('high ridge') in China.]
Kapellmeister, kä-pel′mīs-ter, n. the director of an orchestra or choir, esp. the band of a ruling prince in Germany. [Ger. kapelle, chapel, orchestra, meister, master.]
Kapnography, kap-nog′ra-fi, n. the art of producing decorative designs on a smoked surface with a fine point, shading by successive deposits of carbon from a flame, fixed by varnish.—adj. Kapnograph′ic. [Gr. kapnos, smoke, graphia—graphein, to write.]
Kapok, ka-pok′, n. a cottony or silky fibre covering the seeds of a species of silk-cotton tree, used for stuffing pillows, &c.
Karaite, kā′rä-īt, n. one of a stricter sect of Jews who cling to the literal interpretation of Scripture as against oral tradition. [Heb. karaīm, readers.]
Karma, kär′mä, n. the Buddhist conception of the quality of actions, including both merit and demerit, determining the future condition of all sentient beings by a sort of virtue inherent in the nature of things—by the blind and unconscious but inevitable concatenation of cause and effect: the theory of inevitable consequence generally: the result of the actions of a life.—adj. Kar′mic. [Sans. karma, work.]
Karmathian, kär-mā′thi-an, n. a member of a pantheistic socialistic Mohammedan sect which arose in Turkey about the close of the 9th century. [Karmat, its founder.]
Karob, kar′ob, n. among goldsmiths, the twenty-fourth part of a grain.
Karroo, ka-rōō′, n. a generic name given to the high barren plains of Cape Colony.—Also Karoo′. [Hottentot, karusa, hard.]
Kassu, kas′ōō, n. a kind of catechu made from the fruit of the betel-nut palm.
Kat, kat, n. the chief ancient Egyptian unit of weight, 1⁄50 lb. avoirdupois.
Katabolism, kat-ab′ol-izm, n. (biol.) the discharging or disruptive process to which protoplasm is constantly subject—the opposite of Anabolism, the up-building, constructive process.—Also Catab′olism. [Gr. katabolē, kataballein, to throw down.]
Katakana, kat-a-kä′na, n. one of the two styles of writing the syllabary of 48 letters in use among the Japanese (the other being Hiragana), used chiefly for proper names and foreign words.
Katydid, kā-ti-did′, n. an American insect akin to the grasshopper. [Imit. of its note.]
Kauri-pine, kow′ri-pīn, n. a splendid forest-tree of New Zealand, yielding the well-known Kau′ri-gum, a resin used in making varnish.
Kava, kä′va, n. Piper methysticum, also the narcotic drink prepared from it.—Also A′va.
Kavass, ka-vas′, n. an armed man attendant on a person of distinction in Turkey.—Also Cavass′. [Turk. qawas.]
Kaw. Same as Caw.
Kay. Same as Cay.
Kayak, ka′yak, n. a canoe used in Greenland, made of seal-skins stretched on a frame.
Kea, kē′ä, n. a New Zealand parrot that kills sheep.
Keb, keb, v.i. (Scot.) to cast a lamb prematurely.—n. a ewe which has cast its lamb: a sheep louse or tick.
Kebbie, keb′i, n. (Scot.) a cudgel.
Kebbock, keb′uk. n. (Scot.) a cheese.—Also Kebb′uck. [Gael. cabag, a cheese.]
Keblah. See Kiblah.
Keck, kek, v.i. to retch, feel loathing.—n. a retching.
Keck, Kecksy. See Kex.
Keckle, kek′l, v.t. to preserve or protect by binding with old rope or chains, as a cable:—pr.p. keck′ling; pa.p. keck′led.—n. Keck′ling, rope, chains, &c. used to keckle cables or hawsers.
Kedge, kej, n. a small anchor for keeping a ship steady, and for warping the ship.—v.t. to move by means of a kedge, to warp.—n. Kedg′er, a kedge. [Scand.; cf. Sw. prov. keka, to drive slowly.]
Kedge, kej, adj. (prov.) brisk, lively: pot-bellied.—Also Kedg′y, Kidge.
Kedjeree, kej′e-rē, n. a mess of rice, cooked with butter and the dholl pea, flavoured with spice, shred onion, &c., common all over India, and often served at Anglo-Indian breakfast-tables. [Hind. khichrī.]
Keech, kēch, n. (Shak.) a lump of fat. [Cake.]
Keek, kēk, v.i. (Scot.) to peep.—n. a peep.—ns. Keek′er, an inspector of mining; Keek′ing-glass, a mirror. [M. E. kyken; cf. Dut. kijken, Ger. kucken.]
Keel, kēl, n. the part of a ship extending along the bottom from stem to stern, and supporting the whole frame: a low flat-bottomed boat: a Tyne coal-barge: a ship generally: (bot.) the lowest petals of the corolla of a papilionaceous flower.—v.t. or v.i. to plough with a keel, to navigate: to turn keel upwards.—n. Keel′age, dues for a keel or ship in port.—adj. Keeled (bot.) keel-shaped: having a prominence on the back.—ns. Keel′er, Keel′man, one who works on a barge.—v.t. Keel′haul, to punish by hauling under the keel of a ship by ropes from the one side to the other: to treat a subordinate in a galling manner. [A.S. ceól, a ship; Ger. and Dut. kiel; prob. confused with Ice. kiölr, a keel.]
Keel, kēl, v.t. (Shak.) to cool. [A.S. célan, to chill.]
Keel, kēl, n. (Scot.) red chalk, ruddle.—v.t. to mark with ruddle. [Prob. Gael. cil, ruddle.]
Keelie, kē′li, n. (Scot.) the kestrel: a street Arab or young rough. [Imit.]
Keeling, kē′ling, n. (Scot.) a codfish.
Keelivine, kē′li-vīn, n. (Scot.) a lead pencil.—Also Kee′lyvine. [See keel, ruddle; ety. dub.]
Keelson, Kelson, kel′sun, n. an inner keel placed right over the outer keel of a ship, and securely fastened thereto. [Sw. kölsvin, Norw. kjölsvill, the latter syllable=Ger. schwelle, Eng. sill.]
Keen, kēn, adj. eager: sharp, having a fine edge: piercing: acute of mind: penetrating: intense.—adv. Keen′ly.—n. Keen′ness. [A.S. céne; Ger. kühn, bold; Ice. kænn, wise. Cog. with ken and can.]
Keen, kēn, n. a lamentation over the dead.—v.i. to wail over the dead.—n. Keen′er, a professional mourner. [Ir. caoine.]
Keep, kēp, v.t. to have the care of: to guard: to maintain: to manage: to have in one's service: to hold for one's own use or enjoyment: to remain in: to adhere to: to practise: not to lose: to maintain hold upon: to restrain from departure: to preserve in a certain state: to maintain: to fulfill.—v.i. to remain in any position or state: to remain fresh: to last or endure: to continue: to adhere: to have rooms at college (Cambridge):—-pr.p. keep′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. kept.—n. that which keeps or protects: subsistence: food: the innermost and strongest part of a castle, the donjon: a stronghold.—ns. Keep′er, an attendant, manager, owner: a gamekeeper: socket, guard-ring; Keep′ership, office of a keeper; Keep′ing, care: custody: charge: (Shak.) maintenance, support: just proportion, harmony: (paint.) due proportion of light and shade; Keep′ing-room, a sitting-room, parlour; Keep′sake, something given to be kept for the sake of the giver—the name used often to be applied to the annuals or sumptuous gift-books so much in vogue about 1830.—Keep an act, to hold an academical disputation; Keep an eye on, Keep company, chapel, counsel, distance, hours, house, the peace, &c. (see the nouns); Keep a term (see Term); Keep at it, to persist in anything; Keep back, to withhold: keep down, to repress (see also Dark); Keep body and soul together, to maintain life; Keep down, to restrain; Keep from, to abstain from: to remain away from; Keep going in a thing, to keep one supplied with it; Keep in, to prevent from escaping: to confine a pupil in the schoolroom after school hours: to conceal: to restrain; Keep in with, to maintain the confidence or friendship of some one; Keep off, to hinder from approaching or making an attack; Keep one's countenance, to preserve a calm appearance, hiding one's emotions; Keep one's hand in, to retain one's skill by means of constant practice; Keep the breath to cool one's porridge, to confine attention to one's own affairs; Keep the powder dry, to keep one's energies ready for action; Keep to, to stick closely to: to confine one's self to; Keep under, to hold down in restraint; Keep up, to retain one's strength or spirit: to support, prevent from falling: to continue, to prevent from ceasing: to maintain in good condition. [A.S. cépan, orig. to traffic, hence to store up, keep—ceáp, price.]
Keeve, kēv, n. a large tub. [A.S. cýfe, vat.]
Keg, keg, n. a small cask or barrel. [Ice. kaggi.]
Keir, kēr, n. a bleaching-vat.
Kelk, kelk, v.t. (prov.) to beat.—n. a blow.
Kell, kel, n. (prov.) a film, network.
Kelp, kelp, n. the calcined ashes of seaweed, once used in making glass.—Also Kilp. [Ety. unknown.]
Kelpie, Kelpy, kel′pi, n. (Scot.) a malignant water-sprite haunting fords in the form of a horse.
Kelson. Same as Keelson.
Kelt, kelt, n. a salmon that has just spawned.
Kelt, kelt, n. (Scot.) cloth made of black and white wool mixed and not dyed.—adj. Kel′ter, made of such.
Kelt, Keltic. Same as Celt, Celtic.
Keltie, Kelty, kel′ti, n. (Scot.) a bumper imposed as a penalty on one who does not drink fair.
Kemb, kem, v.t. to comb. [A.S. cemban, to comb.]
Kemp, kemp, n. the coarse rough hairs of wool: (pl.) knotty hair which will not felt.
Kemp, kemp, n. (arch.) a champion: (Scot.) a contest in work, &c.—v.i. to strive for mastery.—ns. Kem′per, Kem′pery-man, a champion, a knight-errant. [A.S. cempa, a warrior. Cf. champion.]
Ken, ken, v.t. to know: (arch.) to see and recognise at a distance.—n. range of knowledge or sight.—n. Ken′ning (Bacon), range of vision: (Scot.) a small portion.—adj. Ken′speckle (Scot.), conspicuous—also Ken′speck. [Ice. kenna, orig. to cause to know. Cf. can and know.]
Ken, ken, n. (slang) a house. [Perh. Pers. khān, a caravansary; not conn. with kennel.]
Kendal-green, ken′dal-grēn, n. green cloth for foresters made at Kendal in Westmorland.
Kennel, ken′el, n. a house for dogs: a pack of hounds: the hole of a fox, &c.: a haunt.—v.t. to keep in a kennel.—v.i. to live in a kennel:—pr.p. kenn′elling; pa.p. kenn′elled. [Norm. Fr. kenil (Fr. chenil)—L. canīle—canis, a dog.]
Kennel, ken′el, n. the water-course of a street: a gutter. [A form of canal.]
Kennel-coal. Same as Cannel-coal.
Kennick, ken′ik, n. the jargon of tramping tinkers.
Kenosis, ken-ō′sis, n. the self-limitation on the part of the Logos in the act of incarnation, his emptying of himself, or his laying aside not only his divine attributes, but even his divine self-consciousness, only to be fully recovered at the ascension.—adj. Kenot′ic.—n. Kenot′icist. [Gr., from the phrase in Phil. ii. 6, 7, 'who, being in the form of God ... emptied himself (ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσε), taking the form of a servant.']
Kent, kent, n. (Scot.) a pole, pike.—v.i. to propel a boat by a pole. [Prob. a variant of the verb cant.]
Kentish, kent′ish, adj. pertaining to Kent.—ns. Kent′ish-fire, rounds of noisy applause at political meetings—from the anti-Catholic demonstrations in Kent, 1828-29; Kent′ish-rag, a rough fossiliferous limestone found in Kent.
Kentledge, kent′lej, n. pig-iron laid in a ship's hold for ballast.—Also Kint′ledge.
Kep, kep, v.t. (Scot.) to catch. [Keep.]
Kephalic. Same as Cephalic.
Kepi, kep′i, n. a flat-topped forage-cap with a straight peak. [Fr. képi.]
Keplerian, kep-lē′ri-an, adj. pertaining to the great German astronomer, Johann Kepler (1571-1630).—For Kepler's laws, see Law.
Kept, pa.t. and pa.p. of keep.
Keramic. Same as Ceramic.
Kerasine, ker′a-sin, adj. like or made of horn.—ns. Keratī′asis, a morbid condition characterised by warty or horny growths; Ker′atin, a nitrogenous compound, the essential ingredient of horny tissue, as of horns, nails, &c. [Gr. keras, a horn.]
Keratitis, ker-a-tī′tis, n. inflammation of the cornea, either acute or chronic.—n. Keratal′gia, pain in the cornea.
Kerbstone, kėrb′stōn, n. a form of curbstone.
Kerchief, kėr′chif, n. any loose cloth used in dress: (orig.) a square piece of cloth worn by women to cover the head.—v.t. to cover or dress with a kerchief.—adjs. Ker′chiefed, Ker′chieft. [M. E. couerchef—O. Fr. covrechef (Fr. couvrechef)—covrir, to cover, chef, the head.]
Kerf, kerf, n. the groove made by a saw: wool cut off at once by a wool-shearing machine: a single layer of hay, turf, &c., cut.
Kerion, kē′ri-on, n. a suppurative inflammation of the hair-follicles of the scalp. [Gr.]
Kerite, kē′rīt, n. a kind of artificial vulcanite of india-rubber and animal or vegetable oil. [Gr. kēros, wax.]
Kermes, kėr′mēz, n. a dye-stuff which consists of the bodies of the females of a species of coccus. [Pers.]
Kermess, kėr′mes, n. a wake or fair in the Low Countries. [Dut. kermis—kerk, church, mis, mass.]
Kern. See Quern.
Kern, kėrn n. (Scot.) the last sheaf of the harvest: a harvest-home—also Kirn.—n. Kern′-bā′by, an image decorated with blades of corn, &c., carried before reapers at their harvest-home. [A variant of corn.]
Kern, Kerne, kėrn, n. an Irish foot-soldier: a boor.—adj. Kern′ish, clownish. [Ir. ceatharnach.]
Kern, kėrn, v.i. to granulate.
Kern, kėrn, n. (print.) that part of a type which overhangs the stem or shank.
Kernel, kėr′nel, n. anything in a husk or shell: the substance in the shell of a nut: the seed of a pulpy fruit: the important part of anything.—adj. Ker′nelly, full of, or resembling, kernels. [A.S. cyrnel—corn, grain, and dim. suffix -el; Ger. kern, a grain.]
Kerosene, ker′o-sēn, n. an oil obtained from bituminous coal, used for lamps, &c. [Gr. kēros, wax.]
Kersey, kėr′zi, n. a coarse woollen cloth. [Perh. from Kersey in Suffolk.]
Kerseymere, kėr′zi-mēr or kėr-zi-mėr′, n. twilled cloth of the finest wools. [A corr. of cassimere, cashmere.]
Kerve, kėrv, v.t. (Spens.) a form of carve.
Kesar, kē′zar, n. Same as Kaiser.
Kestrel, kes′trel, n. a small species of falcon. [O. Fr. quercerelle—L. querquedula.]
Ket, ket, n. (Scot.) carrion. [Ice. kjöt.]
Ket, ket, n. matted wool. [Scot.]
Ketch, kech, n. a small two-masted vessel, generally used as a yacht or a bomb-vessel. [Corr. from Turk. qaíq, a boat, whence Fr. caïque.]
Ketchup, kech′up, n. a sauce for flavouring soups, meats, &c., flavoured with mushrooms, tomatoes, &c.—Also Catch′up, Cat′sup. [East Ind. kitjap.]
Kettle, ket′l, n. a vessel of metal, for heating or boiling liquids: a cavity like a kettle in rock, sand, &c.: (Shak.) kettle-drum.—ns. Kett′le-drum, a musical instrument now used chiefly in orchestras and in cavalry bands, consisting of a hollow brass hemisphere with a parchment head, sounded by soft-headed elastic drumsticks: a tea-party; Kett′le-drum′mer; Kett′le-hold′er, a little mat, &c., for holding a kettle when hot.—n.pl. Kett′le-pins, skittle-pins.—A kettle of fish, or A pretty kettle of fish, a task of great difficulty, an awkward mess—most probably in this sense connected with kiddle. [A.S. cetel; Ger. kessel, Goth. katils; all perh. from L. catillus, dim. of catinus, a deep cooking-vessel.]
Kex, keks, n. the dry stalk of the hemlock or other umbelliferous plants.—Also Kecks, Keck′sy (prop. adj.), and Keck.
Key, kē, n. an instrument for shutting or opening a lock: that by which something is screwed or turned: the middle stone of an arch: a piece of wood let into another piece crosswise to prevent warping: (mus.) one of the small levers in musical instruments for producing notes: the fundamental note of a piece of music: that which explains a mystery: a book containing answers to exercises, &c.—ns. Key′board, the keys or levers in a piano or organ arranged along a flat board; Key′-bū′gle, a bugle with keys, having a compass of two octaves including semitones.—adjs. Key′-cold (Shak.), cold as a key, lifeless; Keyed, furnished with keys, as a musical instrument: set to a particular key, as a tune.—ns. Key′hole, the hole in which a key of a door, &c., is inserted; Key′note, the key or fundamental note of a piece of music; any central principle or controlling thought; Key′-pin, the pivot on which a pipe-key turns: a pin serving as fulcrum for a key of an organ, &c.; Key′-plate, the escutcheon around a keyhole; Key′ring, a ring for holding a bunch of keys; Key′-seat, a groove for receiving a key, to prevent one piece of machinery from turning on another; Key′stone, the stone at the apex of an arch: the chief element in any system.—Have the key of the street (coll.), to be locked out: to be homeless; Power of the keys, the power to loose and bind, to administer ecclesiastical discipline—a special authority conferred by Christ on Peter (Matt. xvi. 19), or Peter in conjunction with the other apostles, and claimed by the popes as the alleged successors to St Peter. Others explain it as belonging only to the apostles themselves, as descending to the bishops and clergy of the Christian Church, or as belonging to all Christ's disciples alike. [A.S. cæg, a key.]
Key, kē, n. (Dryden). Same as Quay.
Key, kē, n. a low island near the coast.—Also Cay.
Keys, kēz, n.pl. a contraction of House of Keys, a house of 24 representatives constituting the lower branch of the Legislature (Court of Tynwald) of the Isle of Man, self-elective down to 1866. [Manx kiare-as-feed, four-and-twenty.]
Khaki, kä′ki, adj. dust-coloured.—n. a light drab cloth used for some East Indian and other uniforms.
Khalif. See Calif.
Khamsin, kam′sin, n. a hot south-west wind in Egypt, blowing for about fifty days from about the middle of March. [Ar.]
Khan, kan, n. an Eastern inn, a caravansary. [Turk.,—Pers. khāna, a house, a tent.]
Khan, kan, n. in North Asia, a prince or chief: in Persia, a governor.—n. Khan′ate, the dominion or jurisdiction of a khan. [Pers. khān, lord or prince, a Tartar word.]
Khedive, ked-ēv′, n. the title since 1867 of the viceroy or ruler of Egypt.—n. Khedi′viate, the office of the khedive, or his territory. [Fr.,—Pers. khadīw, prince.]
Khel, kel, n. in Afghanistan, a clan or family connection—a sociological group between the tribe and the family.
Khitmutgar, kit′mut-gar, n. a table-servant, under-butler. [Hind.]
Khutbah, kut′ba, n. a Mohammedan prayer and sermon delivered in the mosques on Fridays.—Also Khot′bah.
Kiaugh, kyōh, n. (Scot.) care, trouble.
Kibble, kib′l, n. the bucket of a draw-well.—n. Kibb′le-chain, the chain for drawing up a bucket.
Kibe, kīb, n. a chilblain. [W. cibwst, from cib, a cup, gwst, a disease.]
Kibitka, ki-bit′ka, n. a Russian wagon. [Russ.]
Kiblah, kib′la, n. the point toward which Mohammedans turn in prayer.—Also Keb′lah.
Kick, kik, v.t. to hit with the foot.—v.i. to thrust out the foot with violence: to show opposition or resistance: (of a gun) to recoil violently (see also Bullet): (print.) to work a press by impact of the foot on a treadle.—n. a blow with the foot: the turn of kicking the ball at football, the person who kicks or kicks off: the recoil of a gun: (slang) fashion.—adj. Kick′able.—ns. Kick′er, one who kicks, esp. a horse; Kick′-off, the first kick in a game of football; Kick′-up, a disturbance.—Kick over the traces, to throw off control; Kick, or Strike, the beam, to rise, as the lighter scale of a balance, so as to strike against the beam—hence to be of little weight or importance; Kick the bucket (see Bucket); Kick up a dust or row, to create a disturbance.—Drop kick, a kick made as the ball, dropped from the hand, rebounds from the ground; Place kick, a kick made when the ball is lying on the ground. [M. E. kiken—W. cicio, to kick, Gael. ceig.]
Kickshaws, kik′shawz, n. something uncommon or fantastical that has no name: (cook.) a fantastical dish. [Corr. of Fr. quelque chose, something.]
Kicksy-wicksy, kik′si-wik′si, adj. flickering, uncertain.—n. (Shak.) a wife.
Kid, kid, n. a young goat: (slang) a child, esp. a boy: (pl.) gloves of kid leather.—adj. made of kid leather or imitation kid leather.—v.t. and v.i. to bring forth a goat:—pr.p. kid′ding; pa.p. kid′ded.—ns. Kid′-fox (Shak.), a young fox; Kid′ling, a young kid. [Dan. kid; cf. Ice. kidh; Ger. kitze, a young goat.]
Kid, kid, n. a small tub.—Also Kit.
Kid, kid, n. a fagot, a bundle of sticks. [Prob. W. cidys, fagots.]
Kid, kid, v.t. and v.i. (slang) to hoax—also Kid′dy.—n. a deception. [Perh. conn. with kid, a child.]
Kidder, kid′er, n. a forestaller, huckster.
Kidderminster, kid′ėr-min-stėr, n. a kind of carpet (two-ply or ingrain carpet), from the town.
Kiddle, kid′l, n. a stake-fence set in a stream for catching fish.—Also Kid′el, Kett′le. [O. Fr. quidel; prob. Bret. kidel.]
Kidnap, kid′nap, v.t. to steal, as a human being:—pr.p. kid′napping; pa.t. and pa.p. kid′napped.—n. Kid′napper. [Vulgar kid (old thieves' cant, kinchin—Ger. kindchen), a child, and vulgar nab, to steal.]
Kidney, kid′ni, n. one of two flattened glands, on each side of the loins, which secrete the urine: temperament, humour, disposition—hence, sort or kind, as in 'of the same kidney,' &c.—ns. Kid′ney-bean, a kind of bean shaped like a kidney; Kid′ney-potā′to, one of various kidney-shaped varieties of the common potato; Kid′ney-vetch, a genus of leguminous plants, the only British species being called Lady's Fingers; Kid′ney-wort, a plant of the genus Saxifrage. [M. E. kidnere—Ice. kviðr, the womb, the belly, Ice. nýra (Ger. niere, a kidney).]
Kie-kie, kī′kī, n. a New Zealand high-climbing shrub.
Kieselguhr, kē′zl-gūr, n. the mineral remains of a species of algæ, used in the manufacture of dynamite. [Ger.,—kiesel, flint, guhr, fermentation.]
Kikumon, kik′ōō-mon, n. a badge or crest of the imperial family of Japan, consisting of an open chrysanthemum flower.
Kilderkin, kil′dėr-kin, n. a small barrel: a liquid measure of 18 gallons. [Old Dut. kindeken, kinneken (Scot. kinken), dim. of Dut. kind, a child.]
Kilerg, kil′erg, n. a thousand ergs.
Kiley, kī′le, n. a boomerang.—Also Ky′ley.
Kill, kil, v.t. to put to death, to slay: to nullify or neutralise, to weaken or dilute, to render inactive: to reject, discard: to fascinate, overcome.—n. the act of killing, as game.—ns. Kill′-court′esy (Shak.), a discourteous, boorish person; Kill′-crop, a changeling; Kill′er, one who kills, a slaughterer or butcher: a club for killing fish: a ferocious delphinid which sometimes attacks the whale.—p.adj. Kill′ing, depriving of life: destructive: deadly, irresistible: completely fascinating.—n. and adj. Kill′joy, a mar-sport, austere.—Kill by inches, by gradual means, as by torture; Kill off, to exterminate; Kill time, to consume spare time, as with amusements, &c.; Kill two birds with one stone, to effect one thing by the way, or by the same means with which another thing is done; Kill up (Shak.), to exterminate.—Killing times, the days of the persecution of the Covenanters.—Do a thing to kill, in an irresistible manner. [M. E. killen or cullen—Ice. kolla, to hit on the head—kollr, the head; not a doublet of quell.]
Killadar, kil′a-dar, n. the commandant of a fort or garrison. [Hind.]
Killas, kil′as, n. clay slate, in Cornwall.
Killdee, kil′dē, n. the largest variety of North American ring-plover. [Imit.]
Killock, kil′ok, n. a small anchor, the fluke of such.
Killogie, ki-lō′gi, n. (Scot.) the furnace of a kiln.
Killut, kil′ut, n. in India, a robe of honour given: any ceremonial present.—Also Kell′aut.
Kilmarnock, kil-mar′nok, n. a kind of closely woven broad bonnet, having a peak of the same material at the top, originally made at Kilmarnock.—Kilmarnock cowl, a kind of nightcap.
Kiln, kil, n. a large oven in which corn, bricks, hops, &c. are dried: bricks placed for burning.—v.t. Kiln′-dry, to dry in a kiln.—n. Kiln′-hole, the mouth of a kiln. [A.S. cyln (Ice. kylna, a drying-house for corn)—L. culina, a kitchen.]
Kilogramme, kil′o-gram, n. a French measure of weight, equal to 1000 grammes, or 21⁄5 lb. avoirdupois. [Gr. chilioi, 1000, gramma, a weight.]
Kilolitre, kil′o-lē-tr, n. 1000 litres.
Kilometre, kil′o-mē-tr, n. a French measure, being 1000 metres, or nearly ⅝ of a mile. [Fr.,—Gr. chilioi, 1000, metron, a measure.]
Kilt, kilt, n. a kind of short petticoat or plaited skirt, forming part of the Highland dress.—v.t. (Scot.) to truss up.—adj. Kilt′ed, dressed in a kilt.—n. Kilt′ie, one wearing a kilt, a soldier in a Highland regiment. [Northern Eng. kilt, to tuck up, from Dan. kilte, to tuck up: cf. Ice. kilting, a skirt.]
Kilt, kilt, (Spens.) pa.p. of kill.
Kilter, kil′tėr, n. order, proper condition—in phrase, 'out of kilter.'—Also Kel′ter.
Kimbo, kim′bo, n. Same as Akimbo.
Kimono, ki-mō′nō, n. a loose robe, fastening with a sash, the principal outer garment in Japan.
Kin, kin, n. persons of the same family: relatives: relationship: affinity.—adj. related.—adj. Kin′less, without relations.—Next of kin, the relatives (lineal or collateral) of a deceased person, among whom his personal property is distributed if he dies intestate; Of kin, of the same kin. [A.S. cynn; Ice. kyn, Goth. kuni, family, race; cog. with L. genus, Gr. genos.]
Kinchin, kin′chin, n. a child in thieves' slang.—n. Kin′chin-mort, a child, generally a girl.—Kinchin lay, the robbing of children. [Cf. kidnap.]
Kincob, kin′kob, n. a rich silk-stuff made in India.
Kind, kīnd, n. those of kin, a race: sort or species, a particular variety: nature: style, method of action, character: produce, as distinguished from money.—adj. having the feelings natural for those of the same family: disposed to do good to others: benevolent.—adj. Kind′-heart′ed.—n. Kind′-heart′edness.—adj. Kind′less (Shak.), destitute of kindness, unnatural.—n. Kind′ness.—adj. Kind′-spok′en, spoken kindly: given to speaking kindly.—Kind of (coll.), somewhat, to some extent—used adverbially with adjectives and even verbs.—Do one's kind (Shak.), to act according to one's nature; In a kind, in a way, to some extent; In kind, payment in goods instead of money. [A.S. cynde—cynn, kin.]
Kind, kind, v.t. (Spens.) to beget. [From kin.]
Kindergarten, kin′dėr-gär′tn, n. an infant school on Froebel's principle (1826), in which object-lessons and games figure largely.—n. Kindergart′ner, a teacher in a kindergarten. [Ger. kinder, children, garten, garden.]
Kindle, kin′dl, v.t. to set fire to: to light: to inflame, as the passions: to provoke: to excite to action.—v.i. to take fire: to begin to be excited: to be roused.—ns. Kin′dler; Kin′dling, the act of causing to burn: the materials for commencing a fire. [Ice. kyndyll, a torch—L. candela, candle.]
Kindle, kin′dl, v.t. (Shak.) to bring forth (young). [M. E. kindlen—kinde, kind.]
Kindly, kīnd′li, adj. natural: benevolent: (orig.) belonging to the kind or race.—n. Kind′liness.—adv. Kind′ly.—adj. Kind′ly-nā′tured.—Kindly tenant (Scot.), a tenant of the same stock as his landlord, or who held his lands in succession, from father to son, for several generations.
Kindred, kin′dred, n. relationship by blood, less properly, by marriage: relatives: (pl., B.) families.—adj. related: congenial. [M. E. kinrede—A.S. cynn, kin, and the suffix -ræden, expressing mode or state.]
Kine, kīn, n.pl. (B.) cows. [M. E. ky-en, a doubled plural of A.S. cú, a cow, the plural of which is cý; cf. Scotch kye.]
Kinematics, kin-e-mat′iks, n. the science which treats of motion without reference to force.—adjs. Kinemat′ic, -al. [Gr. kinēma, -atos, motion—kinein, to move.]
Kinematograph, kin-e-mat′o-graf, n. an arrangement by which a numerous series of photographs, taken at rapid intervals, and representing some moving scene, is shown on a screen at the same rapid rate at which they were taken, giving a moving representation of the original scene—less correct but more common form, Cinemat′ograph (sin-). [Gr. kinēma, kinēmatos, motion, graphein, to write.]
Kinesipathy, kin-ē-sip′a-thi, n. a mode of treating disease by muscular movements, movement-cure—-also Kinesither′apy.—adjs. Kinesiat′ric, Kinesipath′ic.—n. Kinesip′athist.
Kinetics, ki-net′iks, n. the science which treats of the action of force in producing or changing motion.—adjs. Kinet′ic, -al.—ns. Kinet′ograph, a device by which a series of photographs of a moving object can be thrown on a screen so as to imitate the motion of the original; Kinet′oscope, an instrument for illustrating the production of kinematic curves by the combination of circular movements of different radii. [Gr. kinētikos—kinein, to move.]
King, king, n. the chief ruler of a nation: a monarch: a playing-card having the picture of a king: the most important piece in chess: a crowned man in draughts: one who is pre-eminent among his fellows:—fem. Queen.—v.t. to play king.—ns. King′-at-arms, or King′-of-arms, a chief officer of the Heralds' Colleges, whose designations are, for England, Norroy, Clarencieux, and Garter; for Scotland, Lyon; and for Ireland, Ulster; King′-bird, an American tyrant fly-catcher; King′crab, the chief or largest of the crab genus, most common in the Molucca Islands; King′craft, the art of governing, mostly in a bad sense; King′cup, the buttercup or upright meadow crowfoot; King′dom, the state or attributes of a king: the territory of a king: government: a region: one of the three grand divisions of Natural History, as the animal, vegetable, or mineral.—adj. King′domed (Shak.), endowed with kingly power, proud.—ns. King′fisher, a bird with very brilliant plumage, feeding on fish, the halcyon; King′hood, kingship: kingliness.—adj. King′less.—ns. King′let, King′ling, a little or petty king: the golden-crested wren.—ns. King′lihood, King′liness.—adj. King′-like.—adj. King′ly, belonging or suitable to a king: royal: noble—also adv.—ns. King′-mak′er, one who has the creating of kings in his power; King′post, a perpendicular beam in the frame of a roof rising from the tie-beam to the ridge; King's′-cush′ion, a seat formed by two people's hands; King's′-ē′vil, a scrofulous disease or evil formerly supposed to be healed by the touch of the king; King′ship, the state, office, or dignity of a king; King's′-hood, the second stomach of a ruminant, sometimes humorously for the human stomach; King's′-spear, a plant of the genus Asphodel; King's′-yell′ow, arsenic trisulphide or orpiment; King′-vul′ture, a large tropical brilliantly-coloured American vulture; King′wood, a beautiful Brazilian wood—also Violet-wood.—King Charles spaniel (see Spaniel); King Log, a do-nothing king, as opp. to King Stork, one who devours his frog-subjects—from Æsop's fable; King Mob, the vulgar multitude; King of beasts, the lion; King of metals, gold; King of terrors, death; King of the forest, the oak; King's Bench, the bench or seat of the king: one of the high courts of law, so called because the king used to sit there, called Queen's Bench during a queen's reign; King's counsel an honorary rank of barristers; King's evidence, a criminal allowed to become a witness against an accomplice.—Kingdom come (slang), the state after death.—Three kings of Cologne, the three Wise Men of the East, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. [A.S. cyning—cyn, a tribe, with suffix -kin; cog. with kin.]
Kinic, kin′ik, adj. pertaining to cinchona, cinchonic.
Kink, kingk, n. a twist in a string, rope, &c.—also Kink′le.—v.i. and v.t. to twist.—adj. Kink′y, full of kinks: woolly: crotchety. [Scand.; Sw. and Norw. kink.]
Kink, kingk, v.i. to cough loudly, gasp for breath.—n. a convulsive cough or gasp.—n. Kink′cough, whooping-cough, chincough (q.v.).
Kinkajou, kin′ka-jōō, n. a South American quadruped allied to the raccoon.
Kino, kē′no, n. an astringent vegetable exudation resembling catechu. [East Indian.]
Kinsfolk, kinz′fōk, n. folk or people kindred or related to one another.—ns. Kin′ship, relationship; Kins′man, a man of the same kin or race with another:—fem. Kins′woman.
Kiosk, ki-osk′, n. an Eastern garden pavilion: a small shop like a sentry-box for the sale of papers, &c. [Turk.,—Pers. kushk.]
Kip, kip, v.i. (Scot.) to play truant.
Kip, kip, n. the skin of a young animal.—n. Kip′skin, leather made from the skin of young cattle, intermediate between calf-skin and cow-hide.
Kip, kip, n. a level or slight incline at the end of an underground way, on which the tubs of coal stand till hoisted up the shaft.
Kip, kip, n. a house of ill-fame.—Also Kip′shop.
Kipe, kīp, n. (prov.) an osier basket for catching pike.
Kippage, kip′āj, n. (Scot.) a fit of temper, a rage.
Kipper, kip′ėr, n. a male salmon after the spawning season: a salmon split open, seasoned, and dried.—v.t. to cure or preserve, as a salmon or haddock. [Dut. kippen, to seize; Norw. kippa.]
Kirbeh, kir′be, n. a skin for holding water. [Ar.]
Kirimon, kē′ri-mon, n. one of the two imperial crests of Japan, bearing three leaves and three flowers of paulownia.
Kirk, kėrk, n. in Scotland, a church—sometimes 'the Kirk' means the Established Church specially.—ns. Kirk′in, the first attendance of a pair after marriage, of a magistrate after election; Kirk′-sess′ion, the lowest court in Presbyterian churches, being the governing body of a particular congregation; Kirk′ton (Scot.), the village in which the parish church stands; Kirk′yard, a graveyard.—Auld Kirk, the Established Church in Scotland—by association of ideas, (coll.) the whisky bottle, whisky. [A Northern Eng. form of church.]
Kirschwasser, kērsh′väs-ser, n. a liqueur made from the wild cherry. [Ger., 'cherry water.']
Kirtle, kėr′tl, n. a sort of gown or outer petticoat: a mantle.—adj. Kir′tled. [A.S. cyrtel; Dan. kiortel; Ice. kyrtill: perh. conn. with skirt and shirt.]
Kismet, kis′met, n. fate, destiny. [Turk. qismet.]
Kiss, kis, v.t. to press one's lips to in affection or reverence: to treat with fondness: to touch gently: to collide (of two billiard-balls).—v.i. to salute with the lips.—n. a salute with the lips.—ns. Kiss′-curl, a small curl at the side of the forehead; Kiss′er; Kiss′ing-com′fit, a perfumed comfit for sweetening the breath; Kiss′ing-crust, that part of the upper crust of the loaf which, while baking, overhangs the edge and touches another.—n.pl. Kiss′ing-strings, cap or bonnet strings tied under the chin.—n. Kiss′-me, the wild form of Viola tricolor, the pansy: a short veil: a small bonnet—also Kiss′-me-quick.—Kiss hands, to kiss the sovereign's hands on a minister's acceptance of office; Kiss of peace, a kiss of greeting exchanged between the members of the early Church, a shadow of which survives in the kissing of the pax at high mass; Kiss the book, to kiss a copy of the New Testament, in England, after taking a legal oath; Kiss the dust, to be felled to the ground, to be slain or vanquished; Kiss the gunner's daughter, to get a flogging, tied to the breech of a cannon; Kiss the rod, to submit to punishment. [A.S. cyssan, to kiss—coss, a kiss; Ger. küssen, Dan. kys; allied to choose and gust.]
Kist, kist, n. (Scot.) a chest.—Kist o' whistles, an organ. [A.S. cist.]
Kistvaen, kist′vā-en, n. a burial-chamber made of flat stones, and shaped like a chest. [W. cist, chest, maen, stone.]
Kit, kit, n. a small wooden tub: the outfit of necessaries of a soldier, sailor, or mechanic. [Old Dut. kitte, a hooped beer-can.]
Kit, kit, a small pocket violin. [Contracted from A.S. cytere—L. cythara, a guitar.]
Kit, kit, n. a contraction of kitten.—n. Kit′-cat, a game played with sticks and a small piece of wood called a cat.
Kit, kit, n. a family, in phrase 'the whole kit.' [Kith.]
Kitcat, kit′kat, n. the name of a Whig London literary club, which existed from 1700 to about 1720, meeting for some time in the house of a pastry-cook named Christopher Katt: a portrait 36 by 28 inches in size, so called from the portraits of the Kitcat Club painted by Sir G. Kneller.
Kitchen, kich′en, n. a room where food is cooked: a utensil with a stove for dressing food, &c.: anything eaten as a relish with bread, potatoes, &c.—v.t. (Shak.) to regale in the cook-room: to serve as relish to food, to make palatable, to use sparingly, as one would a relish—to make it last.—ns. Kitch′endom, the domain of the kitchen; Kitch′ener, a person employed in the kitchen: a cooking-stove; Kitch′en-fee, the fat which falls from meat in roasting; Kitch′en-gar′den, a garden where vegetables are cultivated for the kitchen; Kitch′en-knave, a scullion; Kitch′en-maid, a maid or servant whose work is in the kitchen; Kitch′en-mid′den (Dan. kjökkenmödding), a prehistoric rubbish-heap in Denmark, the north of Scotland, &c.; Kitch′en-phys′ic, substantial fare (Milt.); Kitch′en-range, a kitchen grate with oven, boiler, &c. attached, for cooking; Kitch′en-stuff, material used in kitchens: kitchen refuse, esp. fat from pots, &c.; Kitch′en-wench, a kitchen-maid. [A.S. cicen; Ger. küche, Fr. cuisine, all from L. coquina—coquĕre, to cook.]
Kite, kīt, n. a rapacious bird of the hawk kind: a rapacious person: a light frame covered with paper for flying in the air, attached to a long cord, by means of which it is steered: a light and lofty sail: an accommodation bill, esp. a mere paper credit.—n. Kite′-fly′ing, the dealing in fictitious accommodation paper to raise money. [A.S. cýta; cf. W. cud, Bret. kidel, a hawk.]
Kite, kīt, n. (Scot.) the belly.—Also Kyte. [A.S. cwith, the womb.]
Kith, kith, n. kindred, acquaintance, obsolete except in the phrase Kith and kin, acquaintances and relatives. [A.S. cúð—cunnan, to know.]
Kitten, kit′n, n. a young cat.—v.i. to bring forth young cats.—n. (Scot.) Kit′ling.—adj. Kitt′enish, frolicsome.—v.i. Kitt′le (Scot.), to bring forth kittens. [M. E. kitoun, dim. of cat.]
Kittiwake, kit′i-wāk, n. a species of gull with long wings and rudimentary hind-toe. [Imit.]
Kittle, kit′l, adj. (Scot.) ticklish, intractable.—v.t. (Scot.) to tickle.—adj. Kitt′ly, easily tickled, sensitive.—n. Kitt′ly-bend′ers (Amer.), running on thin bending ice.
Kiwi, kē′wi, n. a bird of the genus Apteryx found in New Zealand.
Klang, klang, n. (mus.) a complex tone, composed of fundamental and harmonics, as opposed to a simple tone. [Ger.]
Klepht, kleft, n. a Greek or Albanian brigand. [Gr., from kleptein, to steal.]
Kleptomania, klep-to-mā′ni-a, n. a mania for stealing: a morbid impulse to secrete things.—n. Kleptomā′niac. [Gr. kleptein to steal, mania, madness.]
Klick. Same as Click.
Klipdas, klip′das, n. the rock badger.
Klipspringer, klip′spring-ėr, n. a small South African antelope.
Kloof, klōōf, n. a mountain cleft. [S. African Dutch.]
Knack, nak, n. a petty contrivance: a toy: a nice trick: dexterity, adroitness.—n. Knack′iness.—adjs. Knack′ish, Knack′y, cunning, crafty. [Orig. imit.; cf. Gael. cnac, Dut. knak, a crack, Ger. knacken, to crack.]
Knacker, nak′ėr, n. anything that knocks: (pl.) castanets or clappers, bones.
Knacker, nak′ėr, n. a dealer in old horses and dog's-meat: (prov.) a collier's horse. [From Ice. knakkr, a saddle.]
Knag, nag, n. a knot in wood: a peg.—n. Knag′giness, state of being knaggy.—adj. Knag′gy, knotty: rugged. [From a root found in Ir. and Gael. cnag, a knob; cf. Dan. knag, Ger. knagge.]
Knap, nap, v.t. to snap or break with a snapping noise: to break in pieces with blows, as stones: to bite off, nibble:—pr.p. knap′ping; pa.p. knapped.—ns. Knap′bottle, the bladder-campion; Knap′per, one who breaks stones, esp. one who breaks up flint-flakes for gun-flints; Knap′ping-hamm′er (Scot.), a hammer for breaking stones.—v.i. Knap′ple, to nibble. [Dut. knappen, to crack or crush.]
Knap, nap, n. (Bacon) a protuberance, a hillock.—n. Knap′weed, a general name for plants of the genus Centaurea of the composite family—star-thistle, bachelor's buttons. [Conn. with knob, knop.]
Knapsack, nap′sak, n. a provision-sack: a case for necessaries borne by soldiers and travellers. [Dut. knappen, to crack, eat, zak, a sack.]
Knapskull, nap′skul, n. a helmet. [From knap (n.) and skull.]
Knar, när, n. a knot on a tree.—n. Knarl=Gnarl.—adj. Knarred, gnarled, knotty.
Knave, nāv, n. a false, deceitful fellow: a villain: a card bearing the picture of a servant or soldier: (Shak.) a boy.—ns. Knave′-bairn, a male child; Knav′ery, dishonesty; Knave′ship (Scot.), a certain quantity of grain, the due of the miller.—adj. Knav′ish, fraudulent: villainous.—adv. Knav′ishly.—n. Knav′ishness. [A.S. cnafa, cnapa, a boy, a youth; Ger. knabe, knappe.]
Knead, nēd, v.t. to work and press together into a mass, as flour into dough: to operate upon in massage: to mix.—ns. Knead′er; Knead′ing-trough, a trough for kneading. [A.S. cnedan; Ice. knoða, Ger. kneten, to knead.]
Knee, nē, n. the joint between the thigh and shin bones: a piece of timber or metal like a bent knee: (Shak.) a genuflection.—v.t. (Shak.) to kneel to, to go over on one's knees.—n.pl. Knee′-breech′es, breeches extending to just below the knee, as in court-dress.—n. Knee′-cap, the bone above the protuberance of the knee: a cap or strong covering for the knees, used chiefly for horses, to save their knees in case of a fall.—n.pl. Knee′-cords, knee-breeches of corduroy.—adjs. Knee′-crook′ing, obsequious: fawning; Kneed, having knees: (bot.) having angular joints like the knee; Knee′-deep, rising to the knees: sunk to the knees; Knee′-high, rising or reaching to the knees.—ns. Knee′-holl′y, butcher's broom: Knee′-joint, a joint with two pieces at an angle, so as to be very tight when pressed into a straight line; Knee′-pan, a flat, round bone on the front of the knee-joint; Knee′-piece, or -raft′er, an angular piece of timber strengthening a joint where two roof-timbers meet: any defensive appliance covering the knee; Knee′-stop, -swell, a lever worked by the performer's knee, for regulating the wind-supply of a reed-organ, &c.; Knee′-tim′ber, timber bent into a shape suitable for a knee in shipbuilding, &c.; Knee′-trib′ute (Milt.), the homage of kneeling.—Give, or Offer, a knee, to act as second or bottle-holder in a fight, the principal resting on the second's knee during the pauses between the rounds. [A.S. cneów, cneó; Ger. knie, L. genu, Gr. gonu.]
Kneel, nēl, v.i. to bend the knee: to rest or fall on the knee:—pa.t. and pa.p. kneeled, knelt.—n. Kneel′er, one who kneels. [Knee.]
Knell, nel, n. the stroke of a bell: the sound of a bell at a death or funeral.—v.i. to sound as a bell: toll.—v.t. to summon as by a tolling bell. [A.S. cnyllan, to beat noisily; Dut. and Ger. knallen.]
Knelt, nelt, pa.t. and pa.p. of kneel.
Knew, nū, pa.t. of know.
Knickerbockers, nik-ėr-bok′ėrz, n.pl. loose breeches gathered in at the knee.—Also Knick′ers. [From the wide-breeched Dutchmen in 'Knickerbocker's' (Washington Irving's) humorous History of New York, whence Knickerbocker has come to mean the descendant of one of the original Dutch settlers of New York.]
Knick-knack, nik′-nak, n. a trifle or toy.—n. Knick′-knack′ery, knick-knacks collectively. [A doubling of knack.]
Knife, nīf, n. an instrument for cutting: a sword or dagger:—pl. Knives (nīvz).—v.t. to stab with a knife: (Amer.) to try to destroy a political candidate's chances by a treacherous attack.—ns. Knife′-and-fork′, a trencherman; Knife′-board, a board on which knives are cleaned: (coll.) the seat running along the top of an omnibus; Knife′-boy, a boy employed in cleaning knives; Knife′-edge (mech.), a sharp piece of steel like a knife's edge serving as the axis of a balance, &c.; Knife′-grind′er, one who grinds or sharpens knives; Knife′-mon′ey, a knife-shaped bronze currency formerly used in China; Knife′-rest, a glass or metal utensil on which to rest a carving-knife or fork; Knife′-tray, a tray for holding knives.—War to the knife, mortal combat. [A.S. cníf: Ger. kneif, knife, kneifen, to nip.]
Knight, nīt, n. one of gentle birth and bred to arms, admitted in feudal times to a certain honourable military rank: (Shak.) an attendant: a champion: the rank, with the title 'Sir,' next below baronets: a piece used in the game of chess.—v.t. to create a knight.—ns. Knight′age, the collective body of knights; Knight′-bach′elor, one who has been knighted merely, not made a member of any titular order; Knight′-bann′eret, a knight who carried a banner, and who was superior in rank to the knight-bachelor; Knight′-err′ant, a knight who travelled in search of adventures; Knight′-err′antry; Knight′hood, the character or privilege of a knight: the order or fraternity of knights; Knight′hood-err′ant (Tenn.), the body of knights-errant.—adj. Knight′less (Spens.), unbecoming a knight.—n. Knight′liness, the bearing or duties of a knight.—adj. and adv. Knight′ly.—ns. Knight′-mar′shal, formerly an officer of the royal household; Knight′-serv′ice, tenure by a knight on condition of military service.—Knight of industry, a footpad, thief, or sharper; Knight of the carpet, a civil knight, as opposed to a military, so called because created kneeling on a carpet, not the field; Knight of the pestle, an apothecary; Knight of the post, one familiar with the whipping-post or pillory; Knight of the road, a highwayman; Knight of the shire, a member of parliament for a county; Knight's fee, the amount of land with which a knight was invested on his creation; Knights of Labour, in the United States, a national labour organisation; Knights of Malta (see Hospitaller); Knights of St Crispin, shoemakers; Knights of the rainbow, flunkeys from their liveries; Knights of the shears, tailors; Knights of the spigot, tapsters, publicans; Knights of the stick, compositors; Knights of the whip, coachmen; Knights Templars (see Templar). [A.S. cniht Ger. and Dut. knecht, Dan. knegt.]
Knit, nit, v.t. to form into a knot: to tie together: to unite into network by needles: to unite closely, to draw together: to contract.—v.i. to interweave with needles: to grow together:—pr.p. knit′ting; pa.t. and pa.p. knit′ted or knit.—n. (Shak.) a style of knitting.—ns. Knit′ter; Knit′ting, the work of a knitter: union, junction: the network formed by knitting; Knit′ting-machine′, a machine for knitting; Knit′ting-need′le, a long needle or wire used for knitting thread into stockings, &c. [A.S. cnyttan—cnotta, a knot.]
Knitch, nich, n. (prov.) a faggot.
Knittle, nit′l, n. (naut.) a small line made of two or three yarns twisted with the fingers: (pl.) the halves of two yarns in a rope, twisted for pointing.
Knives, pl. of knife.
Knob, nob, n. a hard protuberance: a hard swelling: a round ball.—adj. Knobbed, containing or set with knobs.—n. Knob′biness.—adj. Knob′by, full of knobs: knotty.—n. Knob′stick (slang), a synonym for a blackleg or scab in trades-union slang. [Knop.]
Knobkerrie, nob′ker-i, n. a round-headed stick used as a club and a missile by the Kafirs.
Knock, nok, v.i. to strike with something hard or heavy: to drive or be driven against: to strike for admittance: to rap.—v.t. to strike: to drive against.—n. a sudden stroke: a rap.—adj. Knock′-down, such as to overthrow.—ns. Knock′er, the hammer suspended to a door for making a knock: a goblin inhabiting a mine who points out the presence of ore by knocks; Knock′ing, a beating on a door: a rap.—adj. Knock′-kneed, having knees that knock or touch in walking.—Knock about (slang), to saunter, loaf about; Knock down, to fell with a blow: assign to a bidder with a tap of the auctioneer's hammer; Knock into a cocked hat (see Cock); Knock off, to desist, cease: to accomplish hastily; Knock on the head, to bring to a sudden stop; Knock out, to beat in a boxing match, to overcome generally: to lose the scent—of hounds in fox-hunting; Knock-out auction, an auction where the bidders are largely swindling confederates; Knock together, to get together or construct hastily; Knock under, to give in, yield; Knock up, to rouse by knocking: weary out, or be worn out: to construct hastily: (U.S.) to get with child. [A.S. cnucian, cnocian; imit. like knack; cf. Gael. cnac, cnag, &c.]
Knoll, nōl, n. a round hillock: the top of a hill. [A.S. cnol; Ger. knollen, a knob, lump.]
Knoll, nōl. Same as Knell.
Knop, nop, n. (B.) a knob, a bud. [A.S. cnœp; Dut. knop, Ger. knopf.]
Knosp, nosp, n. the unopened bud of a flower: an architectural ornament resembling such. [Ger. knospe.]
Knot, not, n. a wading-bird much resembling a snipe, sometimes said, but without evidence, to be named from King Cnut or Canute.
Knot, not, n. a bunch of threads or the like entangled or twisted: an interlacement of parts of a cord, &c., by twisting the ends about each other, and then drawing tight the loops thus formed: a piece of ribbon, lace, &c., folded or tied upon itself in some particular form, as shoulder-knot, breast-knot, &c.: anything like a knot in form: a bond of union: a difficulty: the gist of a matter: a cluster: the part of a tree where a branch shoots out: an epaulet: (naut.) a division of the knot-marked log-line: a nautical mile.—v.t. to tie in a knot: to unite closely.—v.i. to form knots or joints: to knit knots for a fringe:—pr.p. knot′ting; pa.t. and pa.p. knot′ted.—n. Knot′-grass, a common weed or grass, so called from the numerous joints or knots of its stem.—adjs. Knot′less, without knots; Knot′ted, full of, or having, knots: having intersecting lines or figures.—n. Knot′tiness.—adj. Knot′ty, containing knots: hard, rugged: difficult: intricate.—n. Knot′work, ornamental work made with knots.—Bowline knot (see Bow); Granny knot (see Granny); Porters' knot, a pad for supporting burdens on the head; Square knot, a knot used in tying reef-points so that the ends come out alongside the standing parts; Surgeons' knot, a square or reef knot used in tying a ligature round a cut artery; True lovers' knot, a kind of double knot with two bows and two ends, an emblem of interwoven affections.—Cut the knot, to solve a problem slap-dash (cf. Gordian). [A.S. cnotta; Ger. knoten, Dan. knude, L. nodus.]
Knout, nowt, n. a whip formerly used as an instrument of punishment in Russia: punishment inflicted by the knout. [Russ. knute.]
Know, nō, v.t. to be informed of: to be assured of: to be acquainted with: to recognise: (B.) to approve: to have sexual commerce with.—v.i. to possess knowledge:—pr.p. knōw′ing; pa.t. knew (nū); pa.p. known (nōn).—n. (Shak.) knowledge.—adj. Know′able, capable of being known, discovered, or understood.—ns. Know′ableness; Know′-all, one who thinks he knows everything; Know′er.—adj. Know′ing, intelligent: skilful: cunning.—adv. Know′ingly.—ns. Know′ingness, the quality of being knowing or intelligent: shrewdness; Know′-noth′ing, one who is quite ignorant: a member of the native American party (1854-56).—adj. completely ignorant.—Know a move or two, to be forearmed against trickery by a knowledge of the tricks; Know on which side one's bread is buttered, to be fully alive to one's own interest; Know the ropes, to understand the detail of any matter, as a sailor does his rigging; Know what's o′clock, Know what's what, to be thoroughly acquainted with something: to be wide awake. [A.S. cnáwan; Ice. kná, L. noscĕre for gnoscere, Gr. gignōskein.]
Knowledge, nol′ej, n. assured belief: that which is known: information, instruction: enlightenment, learning: practical skill.—adj. Knowl′edgeable (coll.), possessing knowledge: intelligent.—n. Knowl′edge-box (slang), the head.—To one's knowledge, so far as one knows. [M. E. knowleche, where -leche is the Northern form of the suffix in wed-lock, being A.S. lác, gift, sport.]
Knub, nub, n. a knob, a small lump: the waste or refuse of silk-cocoons.—Also Knubs.
Knuckle, nuk′l, n. projecting joint of the fingers; (cook.) the knee-joint of a calf or pig.—v.i. to bend the fingers: to touch the forehead as a mark of respect: to yield.—v.t. (rare) to touch with the knuckle.—ns. Knuck′le-bones, a game (called also Dibs); Knuck′le-bow, the curved part of a sword-guard that covers the fingers; Knuck′le-dust′er, a kind of modern cestus, devised as a protection against garrotters; Knuck′le-joint, a joint where the forked end of a connecting-rod is joined by a bolt to another piece of the machinery.—Knuckle down, to apply one's self with vigour to a task: to submit—in this sense, also Knuckle under. [M. E. knokil; cf. Dut. knokkel; prob. Celt., W. cnwc.]
Knurl, nėrl, n. (Burns) a humpback.
Knurl. Same as Gnarl, Knarl.
Knurr, Knur, nur, n. a knot in wood: a wooden ball.—Knur and spell, a game played with a ball (knur), trap (spell), and tripstick, in vogue chiefly in the north of England. [Old Dut. knorre.]
Koa, kō′a, n. a forest-tree of the Sandwich Islands.
Koala, kō-ä′lä, n. an Australian marsupial, called also 'Native Bear.'
Kob, kob, n. an African water-antelope.
Kobalt, n. Same as Cobalt.
Kobang, kō′bang, n. an oblong gold coin, rounded at the corners, once current in Japan.—Also Kō′ban.
Kobold, kō′bold, n. in German folklore, a spirit of the mines. [Akin to goblin.]
Kodak, kō′dak, n. a small portable photographic camera with a continuous roll of sensitised film, on which successive instantaneous negatives are made.—v.t. to take an instantaneous picture of. [The trademark name of the Eastman Kodak Company.]
Koff, kof, n. a small Dutch sailing-vessel.
Koftgar, koft′gär, n. one who inlays steel with gold.—n. Koft′gari, such work—sometimes Koft′work. [Hind.]
Koheleth, kō-hel′eth, n. the Preacher, supposed to be applied to Solomon in Eccles. i. 12.
Kohl, kōl, n. a fine powder of antimony used in the East for staining the eyes. [Ar.]
Kohlrabi, kōl′rā-bi, n. the turnip-cabbage. [Ger.,—It. cavolo rapa, cole-turnip.]
Kokra, kok′ra, n. an Indian wood used for making flutes, &c.—Also Cocus-wood.
Kola, kō′lä, n. an African tree whose nuts or seeds have stimulant properties: a name given to an aerated non-alcoholic beverage.
Kolinsky, ko-lin′ski, n. the Siberian polecat or mink.
Koniscope, kon′i-skōp, n. an instrument for indicating the quantity of dust in the atmosphere. [Gr. konis, dust, skopein, to look.]
Konistra, kō-nis′tra, n. the orchestra or dancing-place in the ancient Greek theatre, a circular area between the stage and the auditorium.
Koodoo, kōō′dōō, n. an African antelope with long spiral horns.
Koorbash, kōōr′bash, n. a whip of hippopotamus or rhinoceros hide, used in Egypt and elsewhere.—Also Kourbash. [Ar. kurbāj.]
Koord, kōōrd, n. Same as Kurd.
Kopeck, kō′pek, n. Same as Copeck.
Kopje, kop′ye, n. a flat-topped hill. [Dut. kop, a top.]
Koran, kō′rän, n. the Mohammedan Scriptures: Alcoran.—adj. Koran′ic. [Ar. qurān, reading.]
Kosher, kō′shėr, adj. pure, clean, according to the Jewish ordinances—as of meat killed and prepared by Jews. [Heb., from yāshar, to be right.]
Kosmos. Same as Cosmos.
Koto, kō′tō, n. a Japanese musical instrument consisting of an oblong box over which thirteen silk strings are stretched.
Kotow, kō-tow′, n. the Chinese ceremony of prostration.—v.i. to perform that ceremony, to abase one's self.—Also Kowtow′. [Chin.]
Kotyliskos, kot-i-lis′kos, n. a small Greek toilet-vase with a small foot.
Koumiss, kōō′mis, n. a Kalmuck intoxicating beverage made from the soured and fermented milk of mares—supposed to be good for pulmonary phthisis. [Russ.,—Tartar.]
Kraal, kräl, n. a Hottentot village or hut [Dut. kraal—Port. curral—L. currĕre.]
Kraken, krä′ken, n. a fabled sea-animal of enormous size. [Scand.]
Krang, krang, n. the carcass of a whale after the blubber has been removed.—Also Kreng. [Dut.]
Krasis, krā′sis, n. the act of adding a little water to the wine used for the Eucharist.—Also called Mixture. [Gr.]
Kreatin. Same as Creatin.
Kreese. Same as Creese.
Kremlin, krem′lin, n. a citadel, specially that of Moscow. [Russ. kremli.]
Kreosote, krē′o-sōt, n. Same as Creosote.
Kreutzer, kroit′zėr, n. a small copper coin of Austria, 100 to the florin or gulden—formerly also in South Germany. [Ger. kreuzer—kreuz, a cross, because formerly stamped with a cross.]
K'ri, krē, n. a marginal reading in the Hebrew Bible, proposed in substitution for a k'thibh, or reading in the text. The word signifies read, and was originally a marginal direction. [Heb.]
Kriegspiel, krēg′spēl, n. the 'war-game' played with metal blocks on a map, to train officers in military manœuvres. [Ger. krieg, war, spiel, game.]
Kris. Same as Creese.
Krishna, krish′na, n. a deity in later Hindu mythology.
Krummhorn, krum′horn, n. a medieval clarinet-like instrument: a reed-stop in the organ. [Ger. krumm.]
Krupsis, krōōp′sis, n. (theol.) the doctrine that Christ, during His state of humiliation, continued to possess in a veiled way the divine attributes of omnipotence, omniscience, &c. [Gr., kryptein, to conceal.]
Kryometer, krī-om′e-tėr, n. a thermometer for measuring very low temperatures. [Gr. kryos, cold, metron, a measure.]
Ksar (Milt.), a former spelling of Czar.
Kshatriya, kshat′ri-ya, n. the second or military caste among the Brahmanic Hindus.
K'thibh, kthēv, n. a textual reading in the Hebrew Scriptures:—opp. to K'ri. The word signifies written, and was originally a marginal note calling attention to the textual form in distinction from the k'ri. [Heb.]
Kudos, kū′dos, n. credit, fame, generally used jocularly. [Gr.]
Kudu. Same as Koodoo.
Kufic. Same as Cufic.
Kuklux, kū′kluks, or Kuklux Klan, a secret organisation in several Southern states after the Civil War of 1861-65, to oppose Northern influence in the South, and to prevent the negroes from enjoying their rights as freemen—crushed by United States forces in 1869. [Gr. kuklos, a circle.]
Kumiss. Same as Koumiss.
Kümmel, küm′el, n. a liqueur flavoured with cumin and caraway seeds. [Ger.]
Kurd, kōōrd, n. an inhabitant of Kurdistan, a region on the east of the upper course of the Tigris.
Kursaal, kōōr′säl, n. the reception-room of a German spa. [Ger., lit. 'cure-saloon.']
Kvass, kvas, n. rye-beer. [Russ. kvasŭ.]
Kyanise, kī′an-īz, v.t. to preserve from dry-rot by injecting corrosive sublimate into the pores of the wood. [From John H. Kyan (1774-1830).]
Kyanite, kī′a-nīt, n. Same as Cyanite.
Kye, Ky, kī, n.pl. Scotch form of the plural of cow. [See Kine.]
Kylix, kī′liks, n. a broad and shallow Greek drinking-vase.
Kyllosis, kil-lō′sis, n. club-foot.
Kyloe, kī′lō, n. one of the cattle of the Hebrides.
Kymograph, kī′mō-graf, n. an instrument for measuring the pressure of fluids, esp. of blood in a blood-vessel.—adj. Kymograph′ic. [Gr. kyma, a wave, graphein, to write.]
Kyrie, kir′i-ē, n. the Kyrie eleïson='Lord have mercy,' including both the words and the music to which they are sung: one of the responses to the commandments in the Anglican ante-communion service.—Kyrie eleïson, a form of prayer which occurs in all the ancient Greek liturgies, and retained in the R.C. mass, following immediately after the introit. [Voc. case of Gr. kyrios, lord.]
Kyriologic, -al, kir-i-o-loj′ik, -al, adj. denoting objects by alphabetical characters or conventional signs. [Gr. kyrios, literal, proper, logos, discourse.]
Kythe, kīth, v.t. (Scot.) to make known.—v.i. to show one's self, to appear. [A.S. cyðan, to make known. See Uncouth.]