Chapter I: W. W (6)

16. To observe duty, as a festival, etc. ; to celebrate; to solemnize; as, to keep a feast. I went with them to the house of God . . . with a multitude that kept holyday. Ps. xlii. 4. To keep at arm's length. See under Arm, n. -- To keep back. (a) To reserve; to withhold. "I will keep nothing back from you." Jer. xlii. 4. (b) To restrain; to hold back. "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins." Ps. xix. 13. -- To keep company with. (a) To frequent the society of; to associate with; as, let youth keep company with the wise and good. (b) To accompany; to go with; as, to keep company with one on a voyage; also, to pay court to, or accept attentions from, with a view to marriage. [Colloq.] -- To keep counsel. See under Counsel, n. -- To keep down. (a) To hold in subjection; to restrain; to hinder. (b) (Fine Arts) To subdue in tint or tone, as a portion of a picture, so that the spectator's attention may not be diverted from the more important parts of the work. -- To keep good (or bad) hours, to be customarily early (or late) in returning home or in retiring to rest. -- To keep house. (a) To occupy a separate house or establishment, as with one's family, as distinguished from boarding; to manage domestic affairs. (b) (Eng. Bankrupt Law) To seclude one's self in one's house in order to evade the demands of creditors. -- To keep one's hand in, to keep in practice. -- To keep open house, to be hospitable. -- To keep the peace (Law), to avoid or to prevent a breach of the peace. -- To keep school, to govern, manage and instruct or teach a school, as a preceptor. -- To keep a stiff upper lip, to keep up one's courage. [Slang] -- To keep term. (a) (Eng. Universities) To reside during a term. (b) (Inns of Court) To eat a sufficient number of dinners in hall to make the term count for the purpose of being called to the bar. [Eng.] Mozley & W. -- To keep touch. See under Touch, n. -- To keep under, to hold in subjection; hence, to oppress. -- To keep up. (a) To maintain; to prevent from falling or diminution; as, to keep up the price of goods; to keep up one's credit. (b) To maintain; to continue; to prevent from ceasing. "In joy, that which keeps up the action is the desire to continue it." Locke.

Syn. -- To retain; detain; reserve; preserve; hold; restrain; maintain; sustain; support; withhold. -- To Keep. Retain, Preserve. Keep is the generic term, and is often used where retain or preserve would too much restrict the meaning; as, to keep silence, etc. Retain denotes that we keep or hold things, as against influences which might deprive us of them, or reasons which might lead us to give them up; as, to retain vivacity in old age; to retain counsel in a lawsuit; to retain one's servant after a reverse of fortune. Preserve denotes that we keep a thing against agencies which might lead to its being destroyed or broken in upon; as, to preserve one's health; to preserve appearances.

KEEP Keep, v. i.

1. To remain in any position or state; to continue; to abide; to stay; as, to keep at a distance; to keep aloft; to keep near; to keep in the house; to keep before or behind; to keep in favor; to keep out of company, or out reach.

2. To last; to endure; to remain unimpaired. If the malt be not thoroughly dried, the ale it makes will not keep. Mortimer.

3. To reside for a time; to lodge; to dwell. [Now disused except locally or colloquially.] Knock at his study, where, they say, he keeps. Shak.

4. To take care; to be solicitous; to watch. [Obs.] Keep that the lusts choke not the word of God that is in us. Tyndale.

5. To be in session; as, school keeps to-day. [Colloq.] To keep from, to abstain or refrain from. -- To keep in with, to keep on good terms with; as, to keep in with an opponent. -- To keep on, to go forward; to proceed; to continue to advance. -- To keep to, to adhere strictly to; not to neglect or deviate from; as, to keep to old customs; to keep to a rule; to keep to one's word or promise. -- To keep up, to remain unsubdued; also, not to be confined to one's bed.

KEEP Keep, n.

1. The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge. Chaucer. Pan, thou god of shepherds all, Which of our tender lambkins takest keep. Spenser.

2. The state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case; as, to be in good keep.

3. The means or provisions by which one is kept; maintenance; support; as, the keep of a horse. Grass equal to the keep of seven cows. Carlyle. I performed some services to the college in return for my keep. T. Hughes.

4. That which keeps or protects; a stronghold; a fortress; a castle; specifically, the strongest and securest part of a castle, often used as a place of residence by the lord of the castle, especially during a siege; the donjon. See Illust. of Castle. The prison strong, Within whose keep the captive knights were laid. Dryden. The lower chambers of those gloomy keeps. Hallam. I think . . . the keep, or principal part of a castle, was so called because the lord and his domestic circle kept, abode, or lived there. M. A. Lower.

5. That which is kept in charge; a charge. [Obs.] Often he used of his keep A sacrifice to bring. Spenser.

6. (Mach.)

Defn: A cap for retaining anything, as a journal box, in place. To take keep, to take care; to heed. [Obs.] Chaucer.

KEEPER Keep"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, keeps; one who, or that which, holds or has possession of anything.

2. One who retains in custody; one who has the care of a prison and the charge of prisoners.

3. One who has the care, custody, or superintendence of anything; as, the keeper of a park, a pound, of sheep, of a gate, etc. ; the keeper of attached property; hence, one who saves from harm; a defender; a preserver. The Lord is thy keeper. Ps. cxxi. 6.

4. One who remains or keeps in a place or position. Discreet; chaste; keepers at home. Titus ii. 5.

5. A ring, strap, clamp, or any device for holding an object in place; as: (a) The box on a door jamb into which the bolt of a lock protrudes, when shot. (b) A ring serving to keep another ring on the finger. (c) A loop near the buckle of a strap to receive the end of the strap.

6. A fruit that keeps well; as, the Roxbury Russet is a good keeper. Downing. Keeper of the forest (O. Eng. Law), an officer who had the principal government of all things relating to the forest. -- Keeper of the great seal, a high officer of state, who has custody of the great seal. The office is now united with that of lord chancellor. [Eng.] -- Keeper of the King's conscience, the lord chancellor; -- a name given when the chancellor was an ecclesiastic. [Eng.] -- Keeper of the privy seal (styled also lord privy seal), a high officer of state, through whose hands pass all charters, pardons, etc., before they come to the great seal. He is a privy councillor, and was formerly called clerk of the privy seal. [Eng.] - - Keeper of a magnet, a piece of iron which connects the two poles, for the purpose of keeping the magnetic power undiminished; an armature.

KEEPERSHIP Keep"er*ship, n.

Defn: The office or position of a keeper. Carew.

KEEPING Keep"ing, n.

1. A holding; restraint; custody; guard; charge; care; preservation. His happiness is in his own keeping. South.

2. Maintenance; support; provision; feed; as, the cattle have good keeping. The work of many hands, which earns my keeping. Milton.

3. Conformity; congruity; harmony; consistency; as, these subjects are in keeping with each other.

4. (Paint.)

Defn: Harmony or correspondence between the different parts of a work of art; as, the foreground of this painting is not in keeping. Keeping room, a family sitting room. [New Eng. & Prov. Eng.]

Syn. -- Care; guardianship; custody; possession.

KEEPSAKE Keep"sake`, n.

Defn: Anything kept, or given to be kept, for the sake of the giver; a token of friendship.

KEESH Keesh, n.

Defn: See Kish.

KEEVE Keeve, n. Etym: [AS. c, fr. L. cupa a tub, cask; also, F. cuve. Cf. Kive, Coop.]

1. (Brewing)

Defn: A vat or tub in which the mash is made; a mash tub. Ure.

2. (Bleaching)

Defn: A bleaching vat; a kier.

3. (Mining)

Defn: A large vat used in dressing ores.

KEEVE Keeve, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Keeved; p. pr. & vb. n. Keeving.]

1. To set in a keeve, or tub, for fermentation.

2. To heave; to tilt, as a cart. [Prov. Eng.]

KEEVER Keev"er, n.

Defn: See Keeve, n.

KEFFE-KIL Kef"fe-kil, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Kiefekil.

KEFIR Kef"ir, n.

Defn: An effervescent liquor like kumiss, made from fermented milk, used as a food and as a medicine in the northern Caucasus. -- Ke*fir"ic (#), a.

KEFIR GRAINS Kefir grains.

Defn: Small hard yellowish aggregations found in the Caucasus region, and containing various yeasts and bacteria. They are used as a ferment in preparing kefir.

KEG Keg, n. Etym: [Earlier cag, Icel. kaggi; akin to Sw. kagge.]

Defn: A small cask or barrel.

KEILHAUITE Keil"hauite, n. (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of a brownish black color, related to titanite in form. It consists chiefly of silica, titanium dioxide, lime, and yttria.

KEIR Keir, n.

Defn: See Kier.

KEITLOA Keit*lo"a, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A black, two-horned, African rhinoceros (Atelodus keitloa). It has the posterior horn about as long as the anterior one, or even longer.

KELD Keld, a. Etym: [Cf. Cavl.]

Defn: Having a kell or covering; webbed. [Obs.] Drayton.

KELE Kele, v. t. Etym: [See Keel to cool.]

Defn: To cool. [Obs.] Chaucer.

KELL Kell, n.

Defn: A kiln. [Obs.]

KELL Kell, n. Etym: [A modification of kale.]

Defn: A sort of pottage; kale. See Kale, 2. Ainsworth.

KELL Kell, n. Etym: [Cf. Caul.]

1. The caul; that which covers or envelops as a caul; a net; a fold; a film. [Obs.] I'll have him cut to the kell. Beau. & Fl.

2. The cocoon or chrysalis of an insect. B. Jonson.

KELOID Ke"loid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Med.)

Defn: Applied to a variety of tumor forming hard, flat, irregular excrescences upon the skin. -- n.

Defn: A keloid tumor.

KELOTOMY Ke*lot"o*my, n. (Med.)

Defn: See Celotomy.

KELP Kelp, n. Etym: [Formerly kilpe; of unknown origin.]

1. The calcined ashes of seaweed, -- formerly much used in the manufacture of glass, now used in the manufacture of iodine.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Any large blackish seaweed.

Note: Laminaria is the common kelp of Great Britain; Macrocystis pyrifera and Nereocystis Lutkeana are the great kelps of the Pacific Ocean. Kelp crab (Zoöl.), a California spider crab (Epialtus productus), found among seaweeds, which it resembles in color. -- Kelp salmon (Zoöl.), a serranoid food fish (Serranus clathratus) of California. See Cabrilla.

KELPFISH Kelp"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small California food fish (Heterostichus rostratus), living among kelp. The name is also applied to species of the genus Platyglossus.

KELPIE; KELPY Kel"pie, Kel"py, n.; pl. Kelpies. Etym: [Cf. Gael. cailpeach, calpach, colpach, a heifer, steer, colt, colpa a cow or horse.] (Scotch Myth.)

Defn: An imaginary spirit of the waters, horselike in form, vulgarly believed to warn, by preternatural noises and lights, those who are to be drowned. Jamieson.

KELPWARE Kelp"ware`, n.

Defn: Same as Kelp, 2.

KELSON Kel"son, n.

Defn: See Keelson. Sir W. Raleigh.

KELT Kelt, n.

Defn: See Kilt, n. Jamieson.

KELT Kelt, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. kult quilt.]

Defn: Cloth with the nap, generally of native black wool. [Scot.] Jamieson.

KELT Kelt, n.

Defn: A salmon after spawning. [Scot.]

KELT Kelt, n.

Defn: Same as Celt, one of Celtic race.

KELTER Kel"ter, n. Etym: [Cf. Gael. & Ir. cealt clothes, Gael. cealltair spear, castle, cause, Prov. E. kilter tool, instrument. Cf. Kilt.]

Defn: Regular order or proper condition. [Written also kilter.] [Colloq.] If the organs of prayer be out of kelter or out of tune, how can we pray Barrow.

KELTIC Kelt"ic, a. & n.

Defn: Same as Celtic, a. & n.

KEMB Kemb, n. t. [imp. & p. p. Kembed or Kempt (p. pr. & vb. n. Kembing.] Etym: [OE.kemben, AS. cemban, fr. camb comb.]

Defn: To comb. [Obs.] His longe hair was kembed behind his back. Chaucer.

KEMELIN Kem"e*lin, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E.kemlin, kimlin, kimmel, a salting tub, any tub, kembing a brewing tub, G. kumme bowl, basin, W. cwmman a tub, brewing tub.]

Defn: A tub; a brewer's vessel. [Obs.] Chaucer.

KEMP; KEMPTY Kemp, Kemp"ty, n.

Defn: Coarse, rough hair wool or fur, injuring its quality.

KEMPE Kem"pe, a.

Defn: Rough; shaggy. [Obs.] "Kempe hairs." Chaucer.

KEMPS Kemps, n. pl. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Bot.)

Defn: The long flower stems of the ribwort plantain (Plantago Lanceolata). Dr. Prior.

KEMPT Kempt,

Defn: p. p. of Kemb. B. Jonson.

KEN Ken, n. Etym: [Perh. from kennel.]

Defn: A house; esp., one which is a resort for thieves. [Slang, Eng.]

KEN Ken, n. t. [imp. & p. p. Kenned; p. pr. & vb. n. Kenning.] Etym: [OE.kennen to teach, make known, know, AS. cennan to make known, proclaim, or rather from the related Icel. kenna to know; akin to D. & G. kennen to know, Goth. kannjan to make known; orig., a causative corresponding to AS. cunnan to know, Goth. kunnan. sq. root45. See Can to be able, Know.]

1. To know; to understand; to take cognizance of. [Archaic or Scot.]

2. To recognize; to descry; to discern. [Archaic or Scot.] "We ken them from afar." Addison 'T is he. I ken the manner of his gait. Shak.

KEN Ken, v. i.

Defn: To look around. [Obs.] Burton.

KEN Ken, n.

Defn: Cognizance; view; especially, reach of sight or knowledge. "Beyond his ken." Longfellow. Above the reach and ken of a mortal apprehension. South. It was relief to quit the ken And the inquiring looks of men. Trench.

KENDAL GREEN; KENDAL Ken"dal green`, or; Ken"dal.

Defn: A cloth colored green by dye obtained from the woad-waxen, formerly used by Flemish weavers at Kendal, in Westmoreland, England. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants). How couldst thou know these men in Kendal green Shak.

KENNEL Ken"nel, n. Etym: [See Channel, Canal.]

Defn: The water course of a street; a little canal or channel; a gutter; also, a puddle. Bp. Hall.

KENNEL Ken"nel, n. Etym: [OE.kenel, (assumed) OF. kenil, F. chenil, LL. canile, fr. L. canis a dog. Cf. Canine.]

1. A house for a dog or for dogs, or for a pack of hounds. A dog sure, if he could speak, had wit enough to describe his kennel. Sir P. Sidney.

2. A pack of hounds, or a collection of dogs. Shak.

3. The hole of a fox or other beast; a haunt.

KENNEL Ken"nel, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Kenneled or Kennelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Kennelling.]

Defn: To lie or lodge; to dwell, as a dog or a fox. The dog kenneled in a hollow tree. L'Estrange.

KENNEL Ken"nel, v. t.

Defn: To put or keep in a kennel. Thomson.

KENNEL COAL Ken"nel coal`

Defn: . See Cannel coal.

KENNING Ken"ning, n. Etym: [See Ken, v. t.]

1. Range of sight. [Obs.] Bacon.

2. The limit of vision at sea, being a distance of about twenty miles.

KENO Ke"no, n. Etym: [F. quine five winning numbers, fr. L. quini five each, quinque five. See Five.]

Defn: A gambling game, a variety of the game of lotto, played with balls or knobs, numbered, and cards also numbered. [U. S.]

KENOGENESIS Ken`o*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. genesis.] (Biol.)

Defn: Modified evolution, in which nonprimitive characters make their appearance in consequence of a secondary adaptation of the embryo to the peculiar conditions of its environment; -- distinguished from palingenesis. [Written also cænogenesis.]

KENOGENETIC Ken`o*ge*net"ic, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to kenogenesis; as, kenogenetic processes. -- Ken`o*ge*net"ic*al*ly, adv.

KENSPECKLE Ken"spec`kle, a.

Defn: Having so marked an appearance as easily to be recognized. [Scot.]

KENT BUGLE Kent" bu"gle. Etym: [Probably named after a Duke of Kent.] (Mus.)

Defn: A curved bugle, having six finger keys or stops, by means of which the performer can play upon every key in the musical scale; -- called also keyed bugle, and key bugle. Moore.

KENTLE Ken"tle, n. Etym: [From Quintal.] (Com.)

Defn: A hundred weight; a quintal.

KENTLEDGE Kent"ledge, n. Etym: [OF. cant edge, corner, D.kant. See Cant edge, angle.] (Naut.)

Defn: Pigs of iron used for ballast. [Written also kintlidge.]

KENTUCKY Ken*tuck"y, n.

Defn: One of the United States. Kentucky blue grass (Bot.), a valuable pasture and meadow grass (Poa pratensis), found in both Europe and America. See under Blue grass. -- Kentucky coffee tree (Bot.), a tall North American tree (Gymnocladus Canadensis) with bipinnate leaves. It produces large woody pods containing a few seeds which have been used as a substitute for coffee. The timber is a very valuable.

KEPHALIN Keph"a*lin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: One of a group of nitrogenous phosphorized principles, supposed by Thudichum to exist in brain tissue.

KEPI Kep"i, n. [F. képi, of G. origin.]

Defn: A military cap having a close-fitting band, a round flat top sloping toward the front, and a visor. As originally worn by the French in Algeria about 1830 it was tall and stiff with a straight visor. It is now lower, has a curved visor, and is frequently soft.

KEPT Kept, imp. & p. p.

Defn: of Keep. Kept mistress, a concubine; a woman supported by a man as his paramour.

KEPVISELOHAZ Kép"vi*se*lö*ház`, n. [Hung., fr. képviselö representative + ház house.] (Hungary)

Defn: See Legislature.

KERAMIC Ke*ram"ic, a.

Defn: Same as Ceramic.

KERAMICS Ke*ram"ics, n.

Defn: Same as Ceramics.

KERAMOGRAPHIC Ker`a*mo*graph"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. graph + ic.]

Defn: Suitable to be written upon; capable of being written upon, as a slate; -- said especially of a certain kind of globe. Scudamore.

KERANA Ke*ra"na, n. (Mus.)

Defn: A kind of long trumpet, used among the Persians. Moore (Encyc. of Music).

KERARGYRITE Ke*rar"gy*rite, n.

Defn: See Cerargyrite.

KERASIN Ker"a*sin, n. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A nitrogenous substance free from phosphorus, supposed to be present in the brain; a body closely related to cerebrin.

KERASINE Ker"a*sine, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Resembling horn; horny; corneous.

KERATIN Ker"a*tin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A nitrogenous substance, or mixture of substances, containing sulphur in a loose state of combination, and forming the chemical basis of epidermal tissues, such as horn, hair, feathers, and the like. It is an insoluble substance, and, unlike elastin, is not dissolved even by gastric or pancreatic juice. By decomposition with sulphuric acid it yields leucin and tyrosin, as does albumin. Called also epidermose.

KERATITIS Ker`a*ti"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the cornea.

KERATODE Ker"a*tode, n.

Defn: See Keratose.

KERATOGENOUS Ker`a*tog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. -genous.]

Defn: Producing horn; as, the keratogenous membrane within the horny hoof of the horse.

KERATOIDEA Ker`a*toi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Keratosa.

KERATOME Ker"a*tome, n. Etym: [Gr. (Surg.)

Defn: An instrument for dividing the cornea in operations for cataract.

KERATONYXIS Ker`a*to*nyx"is, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The operation of removing a cataract by thrusting a needle through the cornea of the eye, and breaking up the opaque mass.

KERATOPHYTE Ker"a*to*phyte, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A gorgonian coral having a horny axis.

KERATOSA Ker`a*to"sa, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of sponges having a skeleton composed of hornlike fibers. It includes the commercial sponges.

KERATOSE Ker"a*tose`, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A tough, horny animal substance entering into the composition of the skeleton of sponges, and other invertebrates; -- called also keratode.

KERATOSE Ker"a*tose`, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Containing hornlike fibers or fibers of keratose; belonging to the Keratosa.

KERAUNOGRAPH Ke*rau"no*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. graph.]

Defn: A figure or picture impressed by lightning upon the human body or elsewhere. -- Ker`au-nog"ra-phy, n.

KERB Kerb, n.

Defn: See Curb.

KERBSTONE Kerb"stone`, n.

Defn: See Curbstone.

KERCHER Ker"cher, n.

Defn: A kerchief. [Obs.] He became . . . white as a kercher. Sir T. North.

KERCHERED Ker"chered, a.

Defn: Covered, or bound round, with a kercher. [Obs.] G. Fletcher.

KERCHIEF Ker"chief, n.; pl. Kerchiefs. Etym: [OE. coverchef, OF. cuevrechief, couvrechef, F. couvrechef, a head covering, fr. couvrir to cover + OF. chief head, F. chef. See Cover, Chief, and cf. Curfew.]

1. A square of fine linen worn by women as a covering for the head; hence, anything similar in form or material, worn for ornament on other parts of the person; -- mostly used in compounds; as, neckerchief; breastkerchief; and later, handkerchief. He might put on a hat, a muffler, and a kerchief, and so escape. Shak. Her black hair strained away To a scarlet kerchief caught beneath her chin. Mrs. Browning.

2. A lady who wears a kerchief. Dryden.

KERCHIEFED; KERCHIEFT Ker"chiefed, Ker"chieft, a.

Defn: Dressed; hooded; covered; wearing a kerchief. Milton.

KERF Kerf, n. Etym: [AS. cyrf a cutting off, fr. ceorfan to cut, carve. See Carve.]

Defn: A notch, channel, or slit made in any material by cutting or sawing.

KERITE Ke"rite, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A compound in which tar or asphaltum combined with animal or vegetable oils is vulcanized by sulphur, the product closely resembling rubber; -- used principally as an insulating material in telegraphy. Knight.

KERL Kerl, n.

Defn: See Carl.

KERMES Ker"mes, n. Etym: [Ar. & Per. girmiz. See Crimson, and cf. Alkermes.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The dried bodies of the females of a scale insect (Coccus ilicis), allied to the cochineal insect, and found on several species of oak near the Mediterranean. They are round, about the size of a pea, contain coloring matter analogous to carmine, and are used in dyeing. They were anciently thought to be of a vegetable nature, and were used in medicine. [Written also chermes.]

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A small European evergreen oak (Quercus coccifera) on which the kermes insect (Coccus ilicis) feeds. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants). Kermes mineral. (a) (Old Chem.) An artificial amorphous trisulphide of antimony; -- so called on account of its red color. (b) (Med. Chem.) A compound of the trioxide and trisulphide of antimony, used in medicine. This substance occurs in nature as the mineral kermesite.

KERMESSE Ker"messe, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: See Kirmess.

KERN Kern, n. Etym: [Ir.ceatharnach.Cf. Cateran. ]

1. A light-armed foot soldier of the ancient militia of Ireland and Scotland; -- distinguished from gallowglass, and often used as a term of contempt. Macaulay. Now for our Irish wars; We must supplant those rough, rug-headed kerns. Shak.

2. Any kind of boor or low-lived person. [Obs.] Blount.

3. (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: An idler; a vagabond. Wharton.

KERN Kern, n. (Type Founding)

Defn: A part of the face of a type which projects beyond the body, or shank.

KERN Kern, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kerned; p. pr. & vb. n. Kerning. ] (Type Founding)

Defn: To form with a kern. See 2d Kern.

KERN Kern, n. Etym: [See Churn. ]

Defn: A churn. [Prov. Eng.]

KERN Kern, n. Etym: [AS. cweorn, cwyrn. See Quern. ]

Defn: A hand mill. See Quern. Johnson.

KERN Kern, v. i. Etym: [Cf. G. kern kernel, grain; akin to E. corn. See Corn, Kernel. ]

1. To harden, as corn in ripening. [Obs.] Carew.

2. To take the form of kernels; to granulate. [Obs.] It is observed that rain makes the salt kern. Dampier.

KERN BABY Kern baby.

Defn: A doll or image decorated with corn (grain) flowers, etc., carried in the festivals of a kern, or harvest-home. Called also harvest queen.

KERNED Kerned, a. (Print.)

Defn: Having part of the face projecting beyond the body or shank; -- said of type. "In Roman, f and j are the only kerned letters." MacKellar.

KERNEL Ker"nel, n. Etym: [OE. kernel, kirnel, curnel, AS.cyrnel, fr. corn grain. See Corn, and cf. Kern to harden.]

1. The essential part of a seed; all that is within the seed walls; the edible substance contained in the shell of a nut; hence, anything included in a shell, husk, or integument; as, the kernel of a nut. See Illust. of Endocarp. ' A were as good crack a fusty nut with no kernel Shak.

2. A single seed or grain; as, a kernel of corn.

3. A small mass around which other matter is concreted; a nucleus; a concretion or hard lump in the flesh.

4. The central, substantial or essential part of anything; the gist; the core; as, the kernel of an argument.

KERNEL Ker"nel, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Kerneled or Kernelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Kerneling or Kernelling.]

Defn: To harden or ripen into kernels; to produce kernels.

KERNELED; KERNELLED Ker"neled, Ker"nelled, a.

Defn: Having a kernel.

KERNELLY Ker"nel*ly, a.

Defn: Full of kernels; resembling kernels; of the nature of kernels. Holland.

KERNISH Kern"ish, a. Etym: [From Kern a boor.]

Defn: Clownish; booorish. [Obs.] "A petty kernish prince." Milton.

KEROLITE Ker"o*lite, n. (Min.)

Defn: Same as Cerolite.

KEROSENE Ker"o*sene`, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: An oil used for illuminating purposes, formerly obtained from the distillation of mineral wax, bituminous shale, etc., and hence called also coal oil. It is now produced in immense quantities, chiefly by the distillation and purification of petroleum. It consists chiefly of several hydrocarbons of the methane series.

KERS; KERSE Kers, Kerse, n.

Defn: A cress. [Obs.] Chaucer. Not worth a kers. See under Cress.

KERSEY Ker"sey, n.; pl. Kerseys. Etym: [Prob. from the town of Kersey in Suffolk, Eng.]

Defn: A kind of coarse, woolen cloth, usually ribbed, woven from wool of long staple.

KERSEYMERE Ker"sey*mere, n. Etym: [For cassimere, confounded with kersey.]

Defn: See Cassimere.

KERSEYNETTE Ker`sey*nette", n.

Defn: See Cassinette.

KERSEYS Ker"seys, n. pl.

Defn: Varieties of kersey; also, trousers made of kersey.

KERVE Kerve, v. t.

Defn: To carve. [Obs.] Chaucer.

KERVER Kerv"er, n.

Defn: A carver. [Obs.] Chaucer.

KESAR Ke"sar, n.

Defn: See Kaiser [Obs.] Spenser.

KESLOP Kes"lop, n. Etym: [AS.c, or c, milk curdled; cf. G. käselab, käselippe. See Cheese, and cf.Cheeselep.]

Defn: The stomach of a calf, prepared for rennet. Halliwell.

KESS Kess, v. t.

Defn: To kiss. [Obs.] Chaucer

KEST Kest, imp.

Defn: of Cast. [Obs.]

KESTREL Kes"trel, n. Etym: [See Castrel.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small, slender European hawk (Falco alaudarius), allied to the sparrow hawk. Its color is reddish fawn, streaked and spotted with white and black. Also called windhover and stannel. The name is also applied to other allied species.

Note: This word is often used in contempt, as of a mean kind of hawk. "Kites and kestrels have a resemblance with hawks." Bacon.

KET Ket, n. Etym: [Icel. kjöt flesh; akin to Sw. kött, Dan. kjöd.]

Defn: Carrion; any filth. [Prob. Eng.] Halliwell.

KETA Ke"ta, n. [Perh. of Amer. Indian origin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) of inferior value, which in the autumn runs up all the larger rivers between San Francisco and Kamchatka.

KETCH Ketch, n. Etym: [Prob. corrupted fr. Turk. qaiq : cf. F. caiche. Cf. Caïque.] (Naut.)

Defn: An almost obsolete form of vessel, with a mainmast and a mizzenmast, -- usually from one hundred to two hundred and fifty tons burden. Bomb ketch. See under Bomb.

KETCH Ketch, n.

Defn: A hangman. See Jack Ketch.

KETCH Ketch, v. t. Etym: [See Catch.]

Defn: To catch. [Now obs. in spelling, and colloq. in pronunciation.] To ketch him at a vantage in his snares. Spenser.

KETCHUP Ketch"up, n.

Defn: A sauce. See Catchup.

KETINE Ke"tine, n. Etym: [See Ketone.] (Chem.)

Defn: One of a series of organic bases obtained by the reduction of certain isonitroso compounds of the ketones. In general they are unstable oily substances having a pungent aromatic odor.

KETMIE Ket`mie", n. (Bot.)

Defn: The name of certain African species of Hibiscus, cultivated for the acid of their mucilage. [Written also ketmia.]

KETOL Ke"tol, n. Etym: [Ketone + indol.] (Chem.)

Defn: One of a series of series of complex nitrogenous substances, represented by methyl ketol and related to indol. Methyl ketol, a weak organic base, obtained as a white crystalline substance having the odor of fæces.

KETONE Ke"tone, n. Etym: [Cf. Acetone.] (Chem.)

Defn: One of a large class of organic substances resembling the aldehydes, obtained by the distillation of certain salts of organic acids and consisting of carbonyl (CO) united with two hydrocarbon radicals. In general the ketones are colorless volatile liquids having a pungent ethereal odor.

Note: The ketones are named by adding the suffix-one to the stems of the organic acids from which they are respectively derived; thus, acetic acid gives acetone; butyric acid, butyrone, etc.

KETONIC Ke*ton"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, a ketone; as, a ketonic acid.

KETTLE Ket"tle, n. Etym: [OE. ketel; cf. AS. cetel, cetil, cytel; akin to D. kjedel, G. kessel, OHG. chezzil, Icel. ketill, SW. kittel, Dan. kjedel, Goth. katils; all perh. fr. L. catillus, dim. of catinus a deep vessel, bowl; but cf. also OHG. chezzi kettle, Icel. kati small ship.]

Defn: A metallic vessel, with a wide mouth, often without a cover, used for heating and boiling water or other liguids. Kettle pins, ninepins; skittles. [Obs.] Shelton. -- Kettle stitch (Bookbinding), the stitch made in sewing at the head and tail of a book. Knight.

KETTLEDRUM Ket"tle*drum`, n.

1. (Mus.)

Defn: A drum made of thin copper in the form of a hemispherical kettle, with parchment stretched over the mouth of it.

Note: Kettledrums, in pairs, were formerly used in martial music for cavalry, but are now chiefly confined to orchestras, where they are called tympani.

2. An informal social party at which a light collation is offered, held in the afternoon or early evening. Cf. Drum, n., 4 and 5.

KETTLEDRUMMER Ket"tle*drum`mer, n.

Defn: One who plays on a kettledrum.

KEUPER Keu"per, n. Etym: [G.] (Geol.)

Defn: The upper division of the European Triassic. See Chart of Geology.

KEVEL Kev"el, n. Etym: [Prov. E. kevil, cavel, rod, pole, a large hammer, horse's bit; cf. Icel. kefli cylinder, a stick, mangle, and Dan. kievle a roller.]

1. (Naut.)

Defn: A strong cleat to which large ropes are belayed.

2. A stone mason's hammer. [Written also cavil.] Kevel head (Naut.), a projecting end of a timber, used as a kevel.

KEVEL; KEVIN Kev"el, Kev"in, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The gazelle.

KEVER Kev"er, v. t. &

Defn: i. To cover. [Obs.] Chaucer.

KEVERCHIEF Kev"er*chief, n.

Defn: A kerchief. [Obs.] Chaucer.

KEX Kex, n. Etym: [W. cecys, pl., hollow stalks.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A weed; a kecksy. Bp. Gauden. Though the rough kex break The starred mosaic. Tennyson.

2. A dry husk or covering. When the kex, or husk, is broken, he proveth a fair flying butterfly. Holland.

KEY Key, n. Etym: [OE. keye, key, kay, AS. c

1. An instrument by means of which the bolt of a lock is shot or drawn; usually, a removable metal instrument fitted to the mechanism of a particular lock and operated by turning in its place.

2. An instrument which is turned like a key in fastening or adjusting any mechanism; as, a watch key; a bed key, etc.

3. That part of an instrument or machine which serves as the means of operating it; as, a telegraph key; the keys of a pianoforte, or of a typewriter.

4. A position or condition which affords entrance, control, pr possession, etc.; as, the key of a line of defense; the key of a country; the key of a political situation. Hence, that which serves to unlock, open, discover, or solve something unknown or difficult; as, the key to a riddle; the key to a problem. Those who are accustomed to reason have got the true key of books. Locke. Who keeps the keys of all the creeds. Tennyson.

5. That part of a mechanism which serves to lock up, make fast, or adjust to position.

6. (Arch.) (a) A piece of wood used as a wedge. (b) The last board of a floor when laid down.

7. (Masonry) (a) A keystone. (b) That part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place.

8. (Mach.) (a) A wedge to unite two or more pieces, or adjust their relative position; a cotter; a forelock. See Illusts. of Cotter, and Gib. (b) A bar, pin or wedge, to secure a crank, pulley, coupling, etc., upon a shaft, and prevent relative turning; sometimes holding by friction alone, but more frequently by its resistance to shearing, being usually embedded partly in the shaft and partly in the crank, pulley, etc.

9. (Bot.)

Defn: An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara; -- called also key fruit.

10. (Mus.) (a) A family of tones whose regular members are called diatonic tones, and named key tone (or tonic) or one (or eight), mediant or three, dominant or five, subdominant or four, submediant or six, supertonic or two, and subtonic or seven. Chromatic tones are temporary members of a key, under such names as " sharp four," "flat seven," etc. Scales and tunes of every variety are made from the tones of a key. (b) The fundamental tone of a movement to which its modulations are referred, and with which it generally begins and ends; keynote. Both warbling of one song, both in one key. Shak.

11. Fig: The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance. You fall at once into a lower key. Cowper. Key bed. Same as Key seat. -- Key bolt, a bolt which has a mortise near the end, and is secured by a cotter or wedge instead of a nut. Key bugle. See Kent bugle. -- Key of a position or country. (Mil.) See Key, 4. -- Key seat (Mach.), a bed or groove to receive a key which prevents one part from turning on the other. -- Key way, a channel for a key, in the hole of a piece which is keyed to a shaft; an internal key seat; -- called also key seat. -- Key wrench (Mach.), an adjustable wrench in which the movable jaw is made fast by a key. -- Power of the keys (Eccl.), the authority claimed by the ministry in some Christian churches to administer the discipline of the church, and to grant or withhold its privileges; -- so called from the declaration of Christ, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven." Matt. xvi. 19.

KEY Key, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Keved; p. pr. & vb. n. Keying.]

Defn: To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges. Francis. To key up. (a) (Arch.) To raise (the whole ring of an arch) off its centering, by driving in the keystone forcibly. (b) (Mus.) To raise the pitch of. (c) Hence, fig., to produce nervous tension in.

KEYAGE Key"age, n. Etym: [OF.caiage, F. guayage. See lst Key, Quay.]

Defn: Wharfage; quayage.

KEYBOARD Key"board`, n.

Defn: The whole arrangement, or one range, of the keys of an organ, typewriter, etc.

KEY-COLD Key"-cold`, a.

Defn: Cold as a metallic key; lifeless. [Formerly, a proverbial expression.] Shak. Milton.

KEYED Keyed (ked), a.

Defn: Furnished with keys; as, a keyed instrument; also, set to a key, as a tune. Keyed bugle. See Kent bugle.

KEY FRUIT Key fruit. (Bot.)

Defn: A samara.

KEYHOLE Key"hole`, n.

1. A hole or apertupe in a door or lock, for receiving a key.

2. (a) (Carp.) A hole or excavation in beams intended to be joined together, to receive the key which fastens them. (b) (Mach.) a mortise for a key or cotter. Keyhole limpet (Zoöl.), a marine gastropod of the genus Fissurella and allied genera. See Fissurella. -- Keyhole saw, a narrow, slender saw, used in cutting keyholes, etc., as in doors; a kind of compass saw or fret saw. -- Keyhole urchin (Zoöl.), any one of numerous clypeastroid sea urchins, of the genera Melitta, Rotula, and Encope; -- so called because they have one or more perforations resembling keyholes.

KEYNOTE Key"note`, n.

1. (Mus.)

Defn: The tonic or first tone of the scale in which a piece or passage is written; the fundamental tone of the chord, to which all the modulations of the piece are referred; -- called also key tone.

2. The fundamental fact or idea; that which gives the key; as, the keynote of a policy or a sermon.

KEYSEAT Key"seat`, v. t.

Defn: To form a key seat, as by cutting. See Key seat, under Key.

KEYSTONE Key"stone`, n. (Arch.)

Defn: The central or topmost stone of an arch. This in some styles is made different in size from the other voussoirs, or projects, or is decorated with carving. See Illust. of Arch. Keystone State, the State of Pennsylvania; -- so called from its having been the central State of the Union at the formation of the Constitution.

KEYSTONE STATE Key"stone` State.

Defn: Pennsylvania; -- a nickname alluding to its having been the central one of the 13 original United States.

KEY TONE Key" tone`. (Mus.)

Defn: See Keynote.

KEYWAY Key"way`, n.

Defn: See Key way, under Key.

KHAKI Kha"ki (kä"ke), a. [Hind. khaki, lit., dusty, dust-colored, fr. Per. khak dust.]

Defn: Of a dull brownish yellow, or drab color; -- applied to cloth, originally to a stout brownish cotton cloth, used in making uniforms in the Anglo-Indian army. In the United States service the summer uniform of cotton is officially designated khaki; the winter uniform of wool, olive drab.

KHAKI Kha"ki, n.

Defn: Any kind of khaki cloth; hence, a uniform of khaki or, rarely, a soldier clad in khaki. In the United States and British armies khaki or cloth of a very similar color is almost exclusively used for service in the field.

KHALIFF Kha"liff, n.

Defn: See Caliph.

KHAMSIN Kham*sin`, n.

Defn: Same as Kamsin.

KHAN Khan, n. Etym: [Pers. & Tart. khan.] [Also kan, kaun.]

Defn: A king; a prince; a chief; a governor; -- so called among the Tartars, Turks, and Persians, and in countries now or formerly governed by them.

KHAN Khan, n. Etym: [Per. khan, khanah, house, tent, inn.]

Defn: An Eastern inn or caravansary. [Written also kawn.]

KHANATE Khan*ate (, n.

Defn: Dominion or jurisdiction of a khan.

KHAYA Kha"ya, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A lofty West African tree (Khaya Senegalensis), related to the mahogany, which it resembles in the quality of the wood. The bark is used as a febrifuge.

KHEDIVE Khe`dive", n. Etym: [F. khédive, Pers. khediw a prince.]

Defn: A governor or viceroy; -- a title granted in 1867 by the sultan of Turkey to the ruler of Egypt.

KHENNA Khen"na, n.

Defn: See Henna.

KHOLAH Kho"lah, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Indian jackal.

KHOLSUN Khol"sun (, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The dhole.

KHOND Khond, n.

Defn: A Dravidian of a group of tribes of Orissa, India, a section of whom were formerly noted for their cruel human sacrifices to the earth goddess, murder of female infants, and marriage by capture.

KHUTBAH Khut"bah, n. Etym: [Ar.]

Defn: An address or public prayer read from the steps of the pulpit in Mohammedan mosques, offering glory to God, praising Mohammed and his descendants, and the ruling princes.

KIABOOCA WOOD Ki`a*boo"ca wood`

Defn: . See Kyaboca wood.

KIANG Ki*ang", n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The dziggetai.

KIBBLE Kib"ble, v. t.

Defn: To bruise; to grind coarsely; as, kibbled oats. [Prov.Eng.] Halliwell.

KIBBLE Kib"ble, n.

Defn: A large iron bucket used in Cornwall and Wales for raising ore out of mines. [Prov. Eng.] [Written also kibbal.]

KIBBLINGS Kib"blings, n. pl.

Defn: Portions of small fish used for bait on the banks of Newfoundland.

KIBE Kibe, n. Etym: [W. cib + gwst pain, sickness.]

Defn: A chap or crack in the flesh occasioned by cold; an ulcerated chilblain. "He galls his kibe." Shak.

KIBED Kibed, a.

Defn: Chapped; cracked with cold; affected with chilblains; as kibed heels. Beau. & Fl.

KIBITKA Ki*bit"ka, n.; pl. Kibitkas (. Etym: [Russ.]

1. A tent used by the Kirghiz Tartars.

2. A rude kind of Russian vehicle, on wheels or on runners, sometimes covered with cloth or leather, and often used as a movable habitation.

KIBLAH Kib"lah (, n.

Defn: See Keblah.

KIBOSH Ki"bosh, n.

1. Nonsense; stuff; also, fashion; style. [Slang]

2. Portland cement when thrown or blown into the recesses of carved stonework to intensify the shadows.

To put the kibosh on, to do for; to dispose of. [Slang]

KIBY Kib"y, a.

Defn: Affected with kibes. Skelton.

KICHIL Kich"il

Defn: ,. [Obs.] See Kechil. Chaucer.

KICK Kick, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kicred; p. pr. & vb. n. Kicking.] Etym: [W. cicio, fr. cic foot.]

Defn: To strike, thrust, or hit violently with the foot; as, a horse kicks a groom; a man kicks a dog. He [Frederick the Great] kicked the shins of his judges. Macaulay. To kick the beam, to fit up and strike the beam; -- said of the lighter arm of a loaded balance; hence, to be found wanting in weight. Milton. -- To kick the bucket, to lose one's life; to die. [Colloq. & Low]

KICK Kick, v. i.

1. To thrust out the foot or feet with violence; to strike out with the foot or feet, as in defense or in bad temper; esp., to strike backward, as a horse does, or to have a habit of doing so. Hence, figuratively: To show ugly resistance, opposition, or hostility; to spurn. I should kick, being kicked. Shak.

2. To recoil; -- said of a musket, cannon, etc.

KICK Kick, n.

1. A blow with the foot or feet; a striking or thrust with the foot. A kick, that scarce would more a horse, May kill a sound divine. Cowper.

2. The projection on the tang of the blade of a pocket knife, which prevents the edge of the blade from striking the spring. See Illust. of Pocketknife.

3. (Brickmaking)

Defn: A projection in a mold, to form a depression in the surface of the brick.

4. The recoil of a musket or other firearm, when discharged.

KICKABLE Kick"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable or deserving of being kicked. "A kickable boy." G. Eliot.

KICKAPOOS Kick`a*poos", n. pl.; sing. Kickapoo (. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A tribe of Indians which formerly occupied the region of Northern Illinois, allied in language to the Sacs and Foxes.

KICKER Kick"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, kicks.

KICKSHAW Kick"shaw`, n.

Defn: See Kickshaws, the correct singular.

KICKSHAWS Kick"shaws`, n.; pl. Kickshawses Etym: [Corrupt. fr. F. guelgue chose something, fr. L. gualis of what kind (akin to E. which) + suffix - guam + causa cause, in LL., a thing. See Which, and Cause.]

1. Something fantastical; any trifling, trumpery thing; a toy. Art thou good at these kickshawses! Shak.

2. A fancy dish; a titbit; a delicacy. Some pigeons, . . . a joint of mutton, and any pretty little tiny kickshaws. Shak. Cressy was lost by kickshaws and soup-maigre. Fenton.

KICKSHOE Kick"shoe`, n.

Defn: A kickshaws. Milton.

KICKSY-WICKSY; KICKY-WISKY Kick"sy-wick`sy, Kick"y-wisk`y, n.

Defn: That which is restless and uneasy.

Note: Kicky-wicky, or, in some editions, Kicksy-wicksy, is applied contemptuously to a wife by Shakespeare, in "All's Well that Ends Well," ii. 3, 297.

KICKSY-WICKSY Kick"sy-wick`sy, a.

Defn: Fantastic; restless; as, kicksy-wicksy flames. Nares.

KICKUP Kick"up, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The water thrush or accentor. [Local, West Indies]

KID Kid, n. Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. ki, Dan. & Sw. kid; akin to OHG. kizzi, G. kitz, kitzchen, kitzlein.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A young goat. The . . . leopard shall lie down with the kid. Is. xi. 6 .

2. A young child or infant; hence, a simple person, easily imposed on. [Slang] Charles Reade.

3. A kind of leather made of the skin of the young goat, or of the skin of rats, etc.

4. pl.

Defn: Gloves made of kid. [Colloq. & Low]

5. A small wooden mess tub; -- a name given by sailors to one in which they receive their food. Cooper.

KID Kid, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Kidded; p. pr. & vb. n. Kidding.]

Defn: To bring forth a young goat.

KID Kid, n. Etym: [Cf. W. cidysen.]

Defn: A fagot; a bundle of heath and furze. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

KID Kid, p. p.

Defn: of Kythe. [Obs.] Gower. Chaucer.

KID Kid, v. t.

Defn: See Kiddy, v. t. [Slang]

KIDDE Kid"de, imp.

Defn: of Kythe. [Obs.] Chaucer.

KIDDERMINSTER Kid"der*min`ster, n.

Defn: A kind of ingrain carpeting, named from the English town where formerly most of it was manufactured.

KIDDIER Kid"di*er, n. Etym: [Cf. OSw. kyta to truck.]

Defn: A huckster; a cadger. [Obs.] Halliwell.

KIDDLE Kid"dle, n. Etym: [Cf. LL.kidellus, Armor. kiael]

Defn: A kind of basketwork wear in a river, for catching fish. [Improperly spelled kittle.]

KIDDOW Kid"dow, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The guillemot. [Written also kiddaw.] [Prov. Eng.]

KIDDY Kid"dy, v. t.

Defn: To deceive; to outwit; to hoax. [Slang] Dickens.

KIDDY Kid"dy, n.

Defn: A young fellow; formerly, a low thief. [Slang, Eng.]

KIDDYISH Kid"dy*ish, a.

Defn: Frolicsome; sportive. [Slang]

KIDFOX; KID-FOX Kid"fox`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A young fox Shak.

KIDLING Kid"ling, n. Etym: [Kid +-ling: cf. Sw. kidling.]

Defn: A young kid.

KIDNAP Kid"nap`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kidnaped or Kidnapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Kidnaping or Kidnapping.] Etym: [Kid a child + Prov. E. nap to seize, to grasp. Cf. Knab, Knap, Nab.]

Defn: To take (any one) by force or fear, and against one's will, with intent to carry to another place. Abbott. You may reason or expostulate with the parents, but never attempt to kidnap their children, and to make proselytes of them. Whately.

Note: Originally used only of stealing children, but now extended in application to any human being, involuntarily abducted.

KIDNAPER; KIDNAPPER Kid"nap`er, or; Kid"nap`per, n.

Defn: One who steals or forcibly carries away a human being; a manstealer.

KIDNEY Kid"ney, n.; pl. Kidneys. Etym: [OE. kidnei, kidnere, from Icel. koi belly, womb (akin to Goth. gipus, AS. cwip womb) + OE. nere kidney; akin to D. nier, G. niere, OHG. nioro, Icel. n, Dan. nyre, Sw. njure, and probably to Gr. (Kite belly.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: A glandular organ which excretes urea and other waste products from the animal body; a urinary gland.

Note: In man and in other mammals there are two kidneys, one each side of vertebral column in the back part of the abdomen, each kidney being connected with the bladder by a long tube, the ureter, through which the urine is constantly excreted into the bladder to be periodically discharged.

2. Habit; disposition; sort; kind. Shak. There are in later other decrees, made by popes of another kidney. Barrow. Millions in the world of this man's kidney. L'Estrange. Your poets, spendthrifts, and other fools of that kidney, pretend, forsooth, to crack their jokes on prudence. Burns.

Note: This use of the word perhaps arose from the fact that the kidneys and the fat about them are an easy test of the condition of an animal as to fatness. "Think of that, -- a man of my kidney; -- . . . as subject to heat as butter." Shak.

3. A waiter. [Old Cant] Tatler. Floating kidney. See Wandering kidney, under Wandering. -- Kidney bean (Bot.), a sort of bean; -- so named from its shape. It is of the genus Phaseolus (P. vulgaris). See under Bean. -- Kidney ore (Min.), a variety of hematite or iron sesquioxide, occurring in compact kidney-shaped masses. -- Kidney stone. (Min.) See Nephrite, and Jade. -- Kidney vetch (Bot.), a leguminous herb of Europe and Asia (Anthyllis vulneraria), with cloverlike heads of red or yellow flowers, once used as a remedy for renal disorders, and also to stop the flow of blood from wounds; lady's-fingers.

KIDNEY-FORM; KIDNEY-SHAPED Kid"ney-form`, Kid"ney-shaped`, a.

Defn: Having the form or shape of a kidney; reniform; as, a kidney- shaped leaf. Gray.

KIDNEYWORT Kid"ney*wort`, n. (Bot.) (a) A kind of saxifrage (Saxifrage stellaris). (b) The navelwort.

KIE Kie, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. Kee.]

Defn: Kine; cows. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

KIEFEKIL Kie"fe*kil, n. Etym: [Per. keff foam, scum + gil clay, mud.] (Min.)

Defn: A species of clay; meerschaum. [Also written keffekil.]

KIER Kier, n. Etym: [Icel. ker a tub.] (Bleaching)

Defn: A large tub or vat in which goods are subjected to the action of hot lye or bleaching liquor; -- also called keeve.

KIESELGUHR Kie"sel*guhr`, n. Etym: [G., fr. kiesel flint + guhr an earthy deposit or sediment in water.]

Defn: Siliceous earth; specifically, porous infusorial earth, used as an absorbent of nitroglycerin in the manufacture of dynamite.

KIESERITE Kie"ser*ite. n. Etym: [Named after Prof. Kieser, of Jena.] (Min.)

Defn: Hydrous sulphate of magnesia found at the salt mines of Stassfurt, Prussian Saxony.

KIEVE Kieve, n.

Defn: See Keeve, n.

KIKE Kike, v. i. Etym: [Cf. D. kijken, Sw. kika.]

Defn: To gaze; to stare. [Obs.] Chaucer.

KIKE Kike, v. t. & i.

Defn: To kick [Obs.] Chaucer.

KILDERKIN Kil"der*kin, n. Etym: [OD. kindeken, kinneken, a small barrel, orig., a little child, fr. kind child; akin to G.kind, and to E. kin.]

Defn: A small barrel; an old liquid measure containing eighteen English beer gallons, or nearly twenty-two gallons, United States measure. [Written also kinderkin.]

KILERG Kil"erg`, n. [Kilo- + erg.] (Physics)

Defn: A unit of work equal to one thousand ergs.

KILKENNY CATS Kil*ken"ny cats.

Defn: Two cats fabled, in an Irish story, to have fought till nothing was left but their tails. It is probably a parable of a local contest between Kilkenny and Irishtown, which impoverished both towns.

KILL Kill, n.

Defn: A kiln. [Obs.] Fuller.

KILL Kill, n. Etym: [D. kil.]

Defn: A channel or arm of the sea; a river; a stream; as, the channel between Staten Island and Bergen Neck is the Kill van Kull, or the Kills; -- used also in composition; as, Schuylkill, Catskill, etc.

KILL Kill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Killed; p. pr. & vb. n. Killing.] Etym: [OE. killen, kellen, cullen, to kill, strike; perh. the same word as cwellen, quellen, to kill (cf. Quell), or perh. rather akin to Icel. kolla to hit in the head, harm, kollr top, summit, head, Sw. kulle, D. kollen to kill with the ax.]

1. To deprive of life, animal or vegetable, in any manner or by any means; to render inanimate; to put to death; to slay. Ah, kill me with thy weapon, not with words ! Shak.

2. To destroy; to ruin; as, to kill one's chances; to kill the sale of a book. "To kill thine honor." Shak. Her lively color kill'd with deadly cares. Shak.

3. To cause to cease; to quell; to calm; to still; as, in seamen's language, a shower of rain kills the wind. Be comforted, good madam; the great rage, You see, is killed in him. Shak.

4. To destroy the effect of; to counteract; to neutralize; as, alkali kills acid. To kill time, to busy one's self with something which occupies the attention, or makes the time pass without tediousness.

Syn. -- To murder; assassinate; slay; butcher; destroy. -- To Kill, Murder, Assassinate. To kill does not necessarily mean any more than to deprive of life. A man may kill another by accident or in self-defense, without the imputation of guilt. To murder is to kill with malicious forethought and intention. To assassinate is tomurder suddenly and by stealth. The sheriff may kill without murdering; the duelist murders, but does not assassinate his antagonist; the assassin kills and murders.

KILLDEE; KILLDEER Kill"dee`, Kill"deer`, n. Etym: [So named from its notes.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small American plover (Ægialitis vocifera).

Note: It is dark grayish brown above; the rump and upper tail coverts are yellowish rufous; the belly, throat, and a line over the eyes, white; a ring round the neck and band across the breast, black.

KILLER Kill"er, n.

1. One who deprives of life; one who, or that which, kills.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A voracious, toothed whale of the genus Orca, of which several species are known.

Note: The killers have a high dorsal fin, and powerful jaws armed with large, sharp teeth. They capture, and swallow entire, large numbers of seals, porpoises, and dolphins, and are celebrated for their savage, combined attacks upon the right whales, which they are said to mutilate and kill. The common Atlantic species (Orca gladiator), is found both on the European and the American coast. Two species (Orca ater and O. rectipinna) occur on the Pacific coast.

KILLESSE Kil*lesse", n. Etym: [Cf. Coulisse.] (Arch.) (a) A gutter, groove, or channel. (b) A hipped roof. [Prov. Eng.] Parker.

KILLIFISH Kil"li*fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several small American cyprinodont fishes of the genus Fundulus and allied genera. They live equally well in fresh and brackish water, or even in the sea. They are usually striped or barred with black. Called also minnow, and brook fish. See Minnow.

KILLIGREW Kil"li*grew, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Cornish chough. See under Chough. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

KILLIKINICK Kil`li*ki*nick", n.

Defn: See Kinnikinic.

KILLING Kill"ing, a.