The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 861
Ker"a*to*phyte (?) , n. [Gr. <?/, <?/, a horn + <?/ a plant.] (Zo\'94l.) A gorgonian coral having a horny axis.
Keratosa <Xpage=810>
Ker`a*to"sa (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/, <?/, a horn.] (Zo\'94l.) An order of sponges having a skeleton composed of hornlike fibers. It includes the commercial sponges.
Keratose <Xpage=810>
Ker"a*tose` (?) , n. [Gr. <?/, <?/, horn.] (Physiol. Chem.) A tough, horny animal substance entering into the composition of the skeleton of sponges, and other invertebrates; -- called also keratode .
Keratose <Xpage=810>
Ker"a*tose` , a. (Zo\'94l.) Containing hornlike fibers or fibers of keratose; belonging to the Keratosa.
Keraunograph <Xpage=810>
Ke*rau"no*graph (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ thunderbolt + graph .] A figure or picture impressed by lightning upon the human body or elsewhere. -- Ker`au-nog"ra-phy (#) , n.
Kerb <Xpage=810>
Kerb (?) , n. See Curb .
Kerbstone <Xpage=810>
Kerb"stone` (?) , n. See Curbstone .
Kercher <Xpage=810>
Ker"cher (?) , n. A kerchief. [Obs.]
He became . . . white as a kercher . Sir T. North.
Kerchered <Xpage=810>
Ker"chered (?) , a. Covered, or bound round, with a kercher. [Obs.]
G. Fletcher.
Kerchief <Xpage=810>
Ker"chief (?) , n. ; pl. Kerchiefs (#) . [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, nec kerchief ; breast kerchief ; and later, hand kerchief .
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 <Xpage=810>
Ker"chiefed , Ker"chieft (?) , a. Dressed; hooded; covered; wearing a kerchief.
Milton.
Kerf <Xpage=810>
Kerf (?) , n. [AS. cyrf a cutting off, fr. ceorfan to cut, carve. See Carve .] A notch, channel, or slit made in any material by cutting or sawing.
Kerite <Xpage=810>
Ke"rite (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ horn.] 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 <Xpage=810>
Kerl (?) , n. See Carl .
Kermes <Xpage=810>
Ker"mes (?) , n. [Ar. & Per. girmiz . See Crimson , and cf. Alkermes .] 1. (Zo\'94l.) 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.) 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 <Xpage=810>
Ker"messe (?) , n. [F.] See Kirmess .
Kern <Xpage=810>
Kern (?) , n. [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) An idler; a vagabond.
Wharton.
Kern <Xpage=810>
Kern , n. (Type Founding) A part of the face of a type which projects beyond the body, or shank.
Kern <Xpage=810>
Kern , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Kerned (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Kerning . ] (Type Founding) To form with a kern. See 2d Kern .
Kern <Xpage=810>
Kern , n. [See Churn . ] A churn. [Prov. Eng.]
Kern <Xpage=810>
Kern , n. [AS. cweorn , cwyrn . See Quern . ] A hand mill. See Quern .
Johnson.
Kern <Xpage=810>
Kern , v. i. [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.
Kerned <Xpage=810>
Kerned (?) , a. (Print.) 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 <Xpage=810>
Ker"nel (?) , n. [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 <Xpage=810>
Ker"nel , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Kerneled (?) ∨ Kernelled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Kerneling ∨ Kernelling .] To harden or ripen into kernels; to produce kernels.
Kerneled, Kernelled <Xpage=810>
Ker"neled , Ker"nelled (?) , a. Having a kernel.
Kernelly <Xpage=810>
Ker"nel*ly (?) , a. Full of kernels; resembling kernels; of the nature of kernels.
Holland.
Kerish <Xpage=810>
Ker"ish (?) , a. [From Kern a boor.] Clownish; booorish. [Obs.] "A petty kernish prince."
Milton.
Kerolite <Xpage=810>
Ker"o*lite (?) , n. (Min.) Same as Cerolite .
Kerosene <Xpage=810>
Ker"o*sene` (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ wax.] 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 <Xpage=810>
Kers , Kerse (?) , n. A cress. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Not worth a kers . See under Cress .
Kersey <Xpage=810>
Ker"sey (?) , n. ; pl. Kerseys (#) . [Prob. from the town of Kersey in Suffolk, Eng.] A kind of coarse, woolen cloth, usually ribbed, woven from wool of long staple.
Kerseymere <Xpage=810>
Ker"sey*mere (?) , n. [For cassimere , confounded with kersey .] See Cassimere .
Kerseynette <Xpage=810>
Ker`sey*nette" (?) , n. See Cassinette .
Kerve <Xpage=810>
Kerve (?) , v. t. To carve. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Kerver <Xpage=810>
Kerv"er (?) , n. A carver. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Kesar <Xpage=810>
Ke"sar (?) , n. See Kaiser [Obs.]
Spenser.
Keslop <Xpage=810>
Kes"lop (?) , n. [AS. c<?/selib , or c<?/slyb , milk curdled; cf. G. k\'84selab , k\'84selippe . See Cheese , and cf. Cheeselep .] The stomach of a calf, prepared for rennet.
Halliwell.
Kess <Xpage=810>
Kess (?) , v. t. To kiss. [Obs.]
Chaucer
Kest <Xpage=810>
Kest (?) , imp. of Cast . [Obs.]
Kestrel <Xpage=810>
Kes"trel (?) , n. [See Castrel .] (Zo\'94l.) 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.
&hand; This word is often used in contempt, as of a mean kind of hawk. "Kites and kestrels have a resemblance with hawks."
Bacon.
Ket <Xpage=810>
Ket (?) , n. [Icel. kj\'94t flesh; akin to Sw. k\'94tt , Dan. kj\'94d .] Carrion; any filth. [Prob. Eng.]
Halliwell.
Ketch <Xpage=810>
Ketch (?) , n. [Prob. corrupted fr. Turk. q\'beiq : cf. F. caiche . Cf. Ca\'8bque .] (Naut.) 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 <Xpage=810>
Ketch , n. A hangman. See Jack Ketch .
Ketch <Xpage=810>
Ketch , v. t. [See Catch .] To catch. [Now obs. in spelling, and colloq. in pronunciation.]
To ketch him at a vantage in his snares. Spenser.
Ketchup <Xpage=810>
Ketch"up (?) , n. A sauce. See Catchup .
Ketine <Xpage=810>
Ke"tine (?) , n. [See Ketone .] (Chem.) 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 <Xpage=810>
Ket`mie" (?) , n. (Bot.) The name of certain African species of Hibiscus , cultivated for the acid of their mucilage. [Written also ketmia .]
Ketol <Xpage=810>
Ke"tol (?) , n. [ Ket one + ind ol .] (Chem.) 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 f\'91ces.
Ketone <Xpage=810>
Ke"tone (?) , n. [Cf. Acetone .] (Chem.) 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.
&hand; 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 <Xpage=810>
Ke*ton"ic (?) , a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, a ketone; as, a ketonic acid .
Kettle <Xpage=810>
Ket"tle (?) , n. [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. chezz\'c6 kettle, Icel. kati small ship.] 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 <Xpage=810>
Ket"tle*drum` (?) , n. 1. (Mus.) A drum made of thin copper in the form of a hemispherical kettle, with parchment stretched over the mouth of it.
&hand; 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 <Xpage=810>
Ket"tle*drum`mer (?) , n. One who plays on a kettledrum.
Keuper <Xpage=810>
Keu"per (?) , n. [G.] (Geol.) The upper division of the European Triassic. See Chart of Geology .
Kevel <Xpage=810>
Kev"el (?) , n. [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.) 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 <Xpage=810>
Kev"el , Kev"in (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The gazelle.
Kever <Xpage=810>
Kev"er (?) , v. t. & i. To cover. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Keverchief <Xpage=810>
Kev"er*chief (?) , n. A kerchief. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Kex <Xpage=810>
Kex (?) , n. [W. cecys , pl., hollow stalks.]
1. (Bot.) 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 <Xpage=810>
Key (?) , n. [OE. keye , key , kay , AS. c <?/g.] 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.) 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 ∨ 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 <Xpage=810>
Key (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Keved (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Keying .] 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 <Xpage=810>
Key"age (?) , n. [OF. caiage , F. guayage . See lst Key , Quay .] Wharfage; quayage.
Keyboard <Xpage=810>
Key"board` (?) , n. The whole arrangement, or one range, of the keys of an organ, typewriter, etc.
Key-cold <Xpage=810>
Key"-cold` (?) , a. Cold as a metallic key; lifeless. [Formerly, a proverbial expression.]
Shak. Milton.
Keyed <Xpage=810>
Keyed (k&emac;d) , a. Furnished with keys; as, a keyed instrument ; also, set to a key, as a tune.