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K
the eleventh letter of the English alphabet, is nonvocal consonant. The form and sound of the letter are from the Latin, which used the letter but little except in the early period of the language. It came into the Latin from the Greek, which received it from a Phnician source, the ultimate origin probably being Egyptian. Etymologically is most nearly related to , , (which see).
Kadder
The jackdaw.
Kaffle
See .
kalantas
A Philippine timber tree ( or ) having hard red fragrant wood.
kangaroo rat
A jumping rodent of the genus of the family , which lives in arid regions of Mexico and the western U. S.
Kansas
A state of the central United States, bordering the Mississippi River to the west.
Kantian
A follower of Kant; a Kantist.
Karroo
One of the dry table-lands of South Africa, which often rise terracelike to considerable elevations.
Karyomiton
The reticular network of fine fibers, of which the of a cell is in part composed; -- in opposition to , or the network in the of the cell.
kaury
Same as .
Kaynard
A lazy or cowardly person; a rascal.
Keel
A longitudinal timber, or series of timbers scarfed together, extending from stem to stern along the bottom of a vessel. It is the principal timber of the vessel, and, by means of the ribs attached on each side, supports the vessel's frame. In an iron vessel, a combination of plates supplies the place of the keel of a wooden ship. See of .
Keelhaul
To haul under the keel of a ship, by ropes attached to the yardarms on each side. It was formerly practiced as a punishment in the Dutch and English navies.
Keels
Ninepins. See .
Keitloa
A black, two-horned, African rhinoceros (). It has the posterior horn about as long as the anterior one, or even longer.
Keltic
Same as ,
Kelvin
The SI unit of temperature, defined as being 1/273.16 of the triple point of water; abbreviated . The melting point of water at 760 mm pressure is 273.15 Kelvins, and the boiling point 373.15 Kelvins. One degree Kelvin is equal to one degree Centigrade, and degrees Fahrenheit.
Kemb
To comb.
keramic
Same as .
Kerargyrite
See .
Kerite
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.
Kern
To form with a kern. See 2d .
Kernelly
Full of kernels; resembling kernels; of the nature of kernels.
Kersey
A kind of coarse, woolen cloth, usually ribbed, woven from wool of long staple.
Keyboard
The whole arrangement, or one range, of the {3} of an organ, piano, typewriter, etc.; that part of a device containing the {3} used to operate it.
Keyhole
A hole or apertupe in a door or lock, for receiving a key.
Keyseat
To form a key seat, as by cutting. See , under .
Keystone State
Pennsylvania; -- a nickname alluding to its having been the central one of the 13 original United States, at the time of formation of the Constitution.
Khaki
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.
Kharkov
A city in Ukraine; -- its former capital.
kickback
recoil, of a gun or machine, as in older automobile engines when started by turning a crank.
kidnapping
the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonment.
Kike
To gaze; to stare.
Kike
To kick.
Kilerg
A unit of work equal to one thousand ergs.
Kill
A kiln.
Killifish
Any one of several small American cyprinodont fishes of the genus 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 , and . See .
Kilo
An abbreviation of .
Kilo-
A combining form used to signify in forming the names of units of measurement;
Kilt
A kind of short petticoat, reaching from the waist to the knees, worn in the Highlands of Scotland by men, and in the Lowlands by young boys; a filibeg.
Kindle
To take fire; to begin to burn with flame; to start as a flame.
kinetogenesis
The doctrine or hypothesis that animal structures have been produced, directly or indirectly, by animal movements.
King Charles spaniel
A variety of small pet dogs, having, drooping ears, a high, dome-shaped forehead, pug nose, large, prominent eyes, and long, wavy hair. The color is usually black and tan.
Kinglihood
King-liness.
Kip
The hide of a young or small beef creature, or leather made from it; kipskin.
Kirsome
Christian; christened.
Kirtled
Wearing a kirtle.
Kist
A stated payment, especially a payment of rent for land; hence, the time for such payment.
Kistvaen
A Celtic monument, commonly known as a .
Kitcat
A game played by striking with a stick small piece of wood, called a , shaped like two cones united at their bases; tipcat.
Kitten
A young cat.
Klicket
A small postern or gate in a palisade, for the passage of sallying parties.
Klopemania
See .
Knagged
Full of knots; knaggy.
Knavish
Like or characteristic of a knave{3}; given to knavery; trickish; fraudulent; dishonest; villainous; .
Knell
The stroke of a bell tolled at a funeral or at the death of a person; a death signal; a passing bell;
Knelt
of .
Knickerbockers
The name for a style of short breeches; smallclothes; called also .
knickers
The name for a style of loose-fitting short trousers, gathered in and ending at the knees; smallclothes; called also .
Knife-edge
A piece of steel sharpened to an acute edge or angle, and resting on a smooth surface, serving as the axis of motion of a pendulum, scale beam, or other piece required to oscillate with the least possible friction.
Knight banneret
A knight who carried a banner, who possessed fiefs to a greater amount than the knight bachelor, and who was obliged to serve in war with a greater number of attendants. The dignity was sometimes conferred by the sovereign in person on the field of battle.
Knight-errantry
The character or actions of wandering knights; the practice of wandering in quest of adventures; chivalry; a quixotic or romantic adventure or scheme.
Knit
Union knitting; texture.
knitwear
knitted clothing.
Knobber
See .
Knock
To drive or be driven against something; to strike against something; to clash; .
Knockabout
A small yacht, generally from fifteen to twenty-five feet in length, having a mainsail and a jib; a sloop with a simplified rig and no bowsprit. All knockabouts have ballast and either a keel or centerboard. The original type was twenty-one feet in length. The next larger type is called a .
Knockdown
That which knocks one down; something that overpowers or overwhelms, as strong liquor; specif., a kind of ale or beer that is very strong.
Knosp
Same as , 2.
Knowledge
To acknowledge.
Knubs
Waste silk formed in winding off the threads from a cocoon.
Knuckle
The joint of a finger, particularly when made prominent by the closing of the fingers.
Knurled
Full of knots; gnarled.
Koaita
Same as .
Kobellite
A blackish gray mineral, a sulphide of antimony, bismuth, and lead.
Kodiak
Same as .
Kogia
The genus comprising the pygmy sperm whales.
Kon
To know. See , and .
Koran
The Scriptures of the Muslims, containing the professed revelations to Mohammed; -- called also .
Kosher
To prepare in conformity with the requirements of the Jewish law, as meat.
Kraal
A collection of huts within a stockade; a village; sometimes, a single hut.
Krishna
The most popular of the Hindu divinities, usually held to be the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu.
Kulan
See .
Kummel
A Russian and German liqueur, consisting of a sweetened spirit flavored with caraway seeds.
Kutch
See .
Kyanite
See .
Kyaw
A daw.
Kymograph
An instrument for measuring, and recording graphically, the pressure of the blood in any of the blood vessels of a living animal; -- called also .
Kymographic
Of or pertaining to a kymograph; .
Kymry
See .