| Words | Parts of Speech | Meaning/Definition/Similar Words |
|---|---|---|
| kabala | noun | See Cabala. |
| kabook | noun | A clay ironstone found in Ceylon. |
| kabyle | noun | A Berber, as in Algiers or Tunis. See Berber. |
| kadder | noun | The jackdaw. |
| kaffir | noun | Alt. of Kafir |
| kaffle | noun | See Coffle. |
| kaftan | n & verb | See Caftan. |
| kaguan | noun | The colugo. |
| kahani | noun | A kind of notary public, or attorney, in the Levant. |
| kainit | noun | Salts of potassium used in the manufacture of fertilizers. |
| kaique | noun | See Caique. |
| kaiser | noun | The ancient title of emperors of Germany assumed by King William of Prussia when crowned sovereign of the new German empire in 1871. |
| kakapo | noun | A singular nocturnal parrot (Strigops habroptilus), native of New Zealand. It lives in holes during the day, but is active at night. It resembles an owl in its colors and general appearance. It has large wings, but can fly only a short distance. Called also owl parrot, night parrot, and night kaka. |
| kalium | noun | Potassium; — so called by the German chemists. |
| kalmia | noun | A genus of North American shrubs with poisonous evergreen foliage and corymbs of showy flowers. Called also mountain laurel, ivy bush, lamb kill, calico bush, etc. |
| kalong | noun | A fruit bat, esp. the Indian edible fruit bat (Pteropus edulis). |
| kamala | noun | The red dusty hairs of the capsules of an East Indian tree (Mallotus Philippinensis) used for dyeing silk. It is violently emetic, and is used in the treatment of tapeworm. |
| kamsin | noun | Alt. of Khamsin |
| kanaka | noun | A native of the Sandwich Islands. |
| kansas | noun pl. | A tribe of Indians allied to the Winnebagoes and Osages. They formerly inhabited the region which is now the State of Kansas, but were removed to the Indian Territory. |
| kaolin | noun | Alt. of Kaoline |
| karreo | noun | One of the dry table-lands of South Africa, which often rise terracelike to considerable elevations. |
| karvel | noun | See Carvel, and Caravel. |
| kasack | noun | Same as Cossack. |
| kavass | noun | An armed constable; also, a government servant or courier. |
| kawaka | noun | a New Zealand tree, the Cypress cedar (Libocedrus Doniana), having a valuable, fine-grained, reddish wood. |
| kayles | noun pl. | A game; ninepins. |
| kecked | imp. & past participle | of Keck |
| keckle | verb i. & noun | See Keck, v. i. & n., To wind old rope around, as a cable, to preserve its surface from being fretted, or to wind iron chains around, to defend from the friction of a rocky bottom, or from the ice. |
| kecksy | noun | The hollow stalk of an umbelliferous plant, such as the cow parsnip or the hemlock. |
| kedged | imp. & past participle | of Kedge |
| kedger | noun | A small anchor; a kedge. |
| keeled | imp. & past participle | of Keel, Keel-shaped; having a longitudinal prominence on the back; as, a keeled leaf., Having a median ridge; carinate; as, a keeled scale. |
| keeler | noun | One employed in managing a Newcastle keel; — called also keelman., A small or shallow tub; esp., one used for holding materials for calking ships, or one used for washing dishes, etc. |
| keener | noun | A professional mourner who wails at a funeral. |
| keenly | adverb | In a keen manner. |
| keeper | noun | One who, or that which, keeps; one who, or that which, holds or has possession of anything., One who retains in custody; one who has the care of a prison and the charge of prisoners., 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., One who remains or keeps in a place or position., 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., A fruit that keeps well; as, the Roxbury Russet is a good keeper. |
| keeved | imp. & past participle | of Keeve |
| keever | noun | See Keeve, n. |
| keloid | adjective | Applied to a variety of tumor forming hard, flat, irregular excrescences upon the skin., A keloid tumor. |
| kelpie | noun | Alt. of Kelpy |
| kelson | noun | See Keelson. |
| kelter | noun | Regular order or proper condition. |
| keltic | adjective & noun | Same as Celtic, a. & n. |
| kembed | imp. & past participle | of Kemb |
| kempty | noun | Coarse, rough hair wool or fur, injuring its quality. |
| kenned | imp. & past participle | of Ken |
| kendal | A cloth colored green by dye obtained from the woad-waxen, formerly used by Flemish weavers at Kendal, in Westmoreland, England. | |
| kennel | noun | The water course of a street; a little canal or channel; a gutter; also, a puddle., A house for a dog or for dogs, or for a pack of hounds., A pack of hounds, or a collection of dogs., The hole of a fox or other beast; a haunt., To lie or lodge; to dwell, as a dog or a fox., To put or keep in a kennel. |
| kentle | noun | A hundred weight; a quintal. |
| kerana | noun | A kind of long trumpet, used among the Persians. |
| kerite | noun | 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. |
| kermes | noun | 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., A small European evergreen oak (Quercus coccifera) on which the kermes insect (Coccus ilicis) feeds. |
| kerned | imp. & past participle | of Kern, Having part of the face projecting beyond the body or shank; — said of type. |
| kernel | noun | 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 single seed or grain; as, a kernel of corn., A small mass around which other matter is concreted; a nucleus; a concretion or hard lump in the flesh., The central, substantial or essential part of anything; the gist; the core; as, the kernel of an argument., To harden or ripen into kernels; to produce kernels. |
| kerish | adjective | Clownish; boorish. |
| kersey | noun | A kind of coarse, woolen cloth, usually ribbed, woven from wool of long staple. |
| kerver | noun | A carver. |
| keslop | noun | The stomach of a calf, prepared for rennet. |
| ketine | noun | 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 | noun | The name of certain African species of Hibiscus, cultivated for the acid of their mucilage. |
| ketone | noun | 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. |
| kettle | noun | A metallic vessel, with a wide mouth, often without a cover, used for heating and boiling water or other liguids. |
| keuper | noun | The upper division of the European Triassic. See Chart of Geology. |
| keying | present participle & vb. noun | of Key |
| keyage | noun | Wharfage; quayage. |
| keyway | noun | See Key way, under Key. |
| khenna | noun | See Henna. |
| kholah | noun | The Indian jackal. |
| kibble | verb t. | To bruise; to grind coarsely; as, kibbled oats., A large iron bucket used in Cornwall and Wales for raising ore out of mines. |
| kiblah | noun | See Keblah. |
| kichil | noun | See Kechil. |
| kicred | imp. & past participle | of Kick |
| kicker | noun | One who, or that which, kicks. |
| kickup | noun | The water thrush or accentor. |
| kidded | imp. & past participle | of Kid |
| kiddle | noun | A kind of basketwork wear in a river, for catching fish. |
| kiddow | noun | The guillemot. |
| kidfox | A young fox. | |
| kidnap | verb t. | To take (any one) by force or fear, and against one’s will, with intent to carry to another place. |
| kidney | noun | A glandular organ which excretes urea and other waste products from the animal body; a urinary gland., Habit; disposition; sort; kind., A waiter. |
| killed | imp. & past participle | of Kill |
| killer | noun | One who deprives of life; one who, or that which, kills., A voracious, toothed whale of the genus Orca, of which several species are known. |
| killow | noun | An earth of a blackish or deep blue color. |
| kilted | imp. & past participle | of Kilt, Having on a kilt., Plaited after the manner of kilting., Tucked or fastened up; — said of petticoats, etc. |
| kilter | noun | See Kelter. |
| kimnel | noun | A tub. See Kemelin. |
| kinate | noun | See Quinate. |
| kincob | noun | India silk brocaded with flowers in silver or gold., Of the nature of kincob; brocaded. |
| kindle | verb t. & i. | To bring forth young., To set on fire; to cause to burn with flame; to ignite; to cause to begin burning; to start; to light; as, to kindle a match, or shavings., Fig.: To inflame, as the passions; to rouse; to provoke; to excite to action; to heat; to fire; to animate; to incite; as, to kindle anger or wrath; to kindle the flame of love, or love into a flame., To take fire; to begin to burn with flame; to start as a flame., Fig.: To begin to be excited; to grow warm or animated; to be roused or exasperated. |
| kindly | noun | According to the kind or nature; natural., Humane; congenial; sympathetic; hence, disposed to do good to; benevolent; gracious; kind; helpful; as, kindly affections, words, acts, etc., Favorable; mild; gentle; auspicious; beneficent., Naturally; fitly., In a kind manner; congenially; with good will; with a disposition to make others happy, or to oblige. |
| kinged | imp. & past participle | of King |
| kingly | superl. | Belonging to, suitable to, or becoming, a king; characteristic of, resembling, a king; directed or administered by a king; monarchical; royal; sovereign; regal; august; noble; grand., In a kingly or kinglike manner. |
| kinked | imp. & past participle | of Kink |
| kinkle | noun | Same as 3d Kink. |
| kinone | noun | See Quinone. |
| kinoyl | noun | See Quinoyl. |
| kipper | noun | A salmon after spawning., A salmon split open, salted, and dried or smoked; — so called because salmon after spawning were usually so cured, not being good when fresh., To cure, by splitting, salting, and smoking., Amorous; also, lively; light-footed; nimble; gay; sprightly. |
| kirked | adjective | Turned upward; bent. |
| kirtle | noun | A garment varying in form and use at different times, and worn doth by men and women. |
| kismet | noun | Destiny; fate. |
| kissed | imp. & past participle | of Kiss |
| kisser | noun | One who kisses. |
| kitcat | adjective | Designating a club in London, to which Addison and Steele belonged; — so called from Christopher Cat, a pastry cook, who served the club with mutton pies., Designating a canvas used for portraits of a peculiar size, viz., twenty-right or twenty-nine inches by thirty-six; — so called because that size was adopted by Sir Godfrey Kneller for the portraits he painted of the members of the Kitcat Club., A game played by striking with a stick small piece of wood, called a cat, shaped like two cones united at their bases; tipcat. |
| kitish | adjective | Like or relating to a kite. |
| kittel | verb t. | See Kittle, v. t. |
| kitten | noun | A young cat., To bring forth young, as a cat; to bring forth, as kittens. |
| kittle | verb i. | To bring forth young, as a cat; to kitten; to litter., To tickle., Ticklish; not easily managed; troublesome; difficult; variable. |
| knacky | adjective | Having a knack; cunning; crafty; trickish. |
| knaggy | adjective | Knotty; rough; figuratively, rough in temper. |
| knappy | adjective | Having knaps; full of protuberances or humps; knobby. |
| knarry | adjective | Knotty; gnarled. |
| knawel | noun | A low, spreading weed (Scleranthus annuus), common in sandy soil. |
| knives | plural | of Knife, of Knife. See Knife. |
| knifed | imp. & past participle | of Knife |
| knight | noun | A young servant or follower; a military attendant., In feudal times, a man-at-arms serving on horseback and admitted to a certain military rank with special ceremonies, including an oath to protect the distressed, maintain the right, and live a stainless life., One on whom knighthood, a dignity next below that of baronet, is conferred by the sovereign, entitling him to be addressed as Sir; as, Sir John., A champion; a partisan; a lover., A piece used in the game of chess, usually bearing a horse’s head., A playing card bearing the figure of a knight; the knave or jack., To dub or create (one) a knight; — done in England by the sovereign only, who taps the kneeling candidate with a sword, saying: Rise, Sir —. |
| knitch | noun | Alt. of Knitchet |
| knobby | adjective | Full of, or covered with, knobs or hard protuberances., Irregular; stubborn in particulars., Abounding in rounded hills or mountains; hilly. |
| knotty | superl. | Full of knots; knotted; having many knots; as, knotty timber; a knotty rope., Hard; rugged; as, a knotty head., Difficult; intricate; perplexed. |
| knower | noun | One who knows. |
| knurly | superl. | Full of knots; hard; tough; hence, capable of enduring or resisting much. |
| knurry | adjective | Full of knots. |
| koaita | noun | Same as Coaita. |
| kobalt | noun | See Cobalt. |
| kobold | noun | A kind of domestic spirit in German mythology, corresponding to the Scottish brownie and the English Robin Goodfellow. |
| kohnur | noun | A famous diamond, surrendered to the British crown on the annexation of the Punjab. According to Hindoo legends, it was found in a Golconda mine, and has been the property of various Hindoo and Persian rulers. |
| kokama | noun | The gemsbok. |
| kokoon | noun | The gnu. |
| komtok | noun | An African freshwater fish (Protopterus annectens), belonging to the Dipnoi. It can breathe air by means of its lungs, and when waters dry up, it encases itself in a nest of hard mud, where it remains till the rainy season. It is used as food. |
| konite | noun | See Conite. |
| koodoo | noun | A large South African antelope (Strepsiceros kudu). The males have graceful spiral horns, sometimes four feet long. The general color is reddish or grayish brown, with eight or nine white bands on each side, and a pale dorsal stripe. The old males become dark bluish gray, due to the skin showing through the hair. The females are hornless. Called also nellut. |
| kopeck | noun | A small Russian coin. One hundred kopecks make a rouble, worth about sixty cents. |
| kosmos | noun | See Cosmos. |
| koulan | noun | A wild horse (Equus, / Asinus, onager) inhabiting the plants of Central Asia; — called also gour, khur, and onager. |
| kousso | noun | An Abyssinian rosaceous tree (Brayera anthelmintica), the flowers of which are used as a vermifuge. |
| kowtow | noun & verb i. | The same as Kotow. |
| kraken | noun | A fabulous Scandinavian sea monster, often represented as resembling an island, but sometimes as resembling an immense octopus. |
| kukang | noun | The slow lemur. See Lemur. |
| kuklux | noun | The name adopted in the southern part of the United States by a secret political organization, active for several years after the close of the Civil War, and having for its aim the repression of the political power of the freedmen; — called also Kuklux Klan. |
| kumish | noun | Alt. of Kumiss |
| kumiss | noun | See Koumiss. |
| kummel | noun | A Russian and German liqueur, consisting of a sweetened spirit flavored with caraway seeds. |
| kuskus | See Vetiver. | |
| kyanol | noun | Aniline., A base obtained from coal tar. |
| kyloes | noun pl. | The cattle of the Hebrides, or of the Highlands. |
| kymnel | noun | See Kimnel. |
| kymric | a & noun | See Cymric, a. & n. |
| kythed | past participle | of Kithe |