Part 23

~Kettle of fish~, a mess or muddle of any kind. As, “Here’s a pretty KETTLE OF FISH!”

~Key of the street~, an imaginary instrument said to be possessed by any one locked out of doors.

~Kibosh~, nonsense, stuff, humbug; “it’s all KIBOSH,” _i.e._, palaver or nonsense; to “put on the KIBOSH,” to run down, slander, degrade, &c. To put the KIBOSH on anything is, latterly, to put an effectual end or stop to it.

~Kick~, a moment; “I’ll be there in a KICK,” _i.e._, in a moment.

~Kick~, a pocket; _Gaelic_, CUACH, a bowl, a nest; _Scotch_, QUAIGH.

~Kick~, a sixpence; “two and a KICK,” two shillings and sixpence.

~Kick the bucket~, to die.—_Norfolk._ According to Forby, a metaphor taken from the descent of a well or mine, which is of course absurd. The Rev. E. S. Taylor supplies the following note from his MS. additions to the work of the East-Anglian lexicographer:—

“The allusion is to the way in which a slaughtered pig is hung up—viz., by passing the ends of a bent piece of wood behind the tendons of the hind legs, and so suspending it to a hook in a beam above. This piece of wood is locally termed a BUCKET, and so by a coarse metaphor the phrase came to signify to die.”

Another correspondent says the real signification of this phrase is to commit suicide by hanging, from a method planned and carried out by an ostler at an inn on the Great North Road. Standing on a bucket, he tied himself up to a beam in the stable; he then KICKED THE BUCKET away from under his feet, and in a few seconds was dead. The natives of the West Indies have converted the expression into “kickeraboo.”

~Kick over the traces~, to be over-extravagant. Any one who has come to grief by fast living is said to have KICKED OVER THE TRACES.

~Kick up~, a noise or disturbance.

~Kick up~, “to KICK UP a row,” to create a tumult.

~Kickeraboo~, dead. A West Indian negro’s phrase. _See_ KICK THE BUCKET, of which phrase it is a corruption.

~Kickseys~, or KICKSIES, trousers.

~Kickshaws~, trifles; made, or French dishes—not English or substantial. Anything of a fancy description now. Corruption of the _French_ QUELQUES CHOSES.

~Kicksy~, troublesome, disagreeable. _German_, KECK, bold.

~Kid~, an infant, or child. From the German _kind_; or possibly from the name for the young of a goat. Also, a shallow dish in which sailors receive their portions of food.

~Kid~, to joke, to quiz, to hoax anybody. “No KID, now?” is a question often asked by a man who thinks he is being hoaxed.

~Kidden~, or KIDKEN, a low lodging-house for boys.

~Kiddier~, a pork-butcher.

~Kiddily~, fashionably or showily; “KIDDILY togg’d,” showily dressed.

~Kiddleywink~, a small shop where are retailed the commodities of a village store. Originally KIDDLE-A-WINK, from the offer made, with a wink, to give you something out of the kettle or kiddle. In the west country an alehouse. Also, a woman of unsteady habits.

~Kiddy~, a man, or boy. Formerly a low thief.

~Kiddyish~, frolicsome, jovial.

“Think, on the KIDDYISH spree we had on such a day.”

_Randall’s Diary, 1820._

~Kidment~, humbug, coarse chaff or jocularity.

~Kidnapper~, originally one who stole children. Now applied without reference to the age or sex of those stolen. From “kid,” a child, and “nab” (corrupted to “nap”), to steal, or seize.

~Kidney~, “of that KIDNEY,” of such a stamp; “strange KIDNEY,” odd humour; “two of a KIDNEY,” two persons of a sort, or as like as two peas, _i.e._, resembling each other like two kidneys in a bunch.—_Old._ “Attempt to put their hair out of KIDNEY.”—_Terræ Filius_, 1763.

~Kid-on~, to entice or incite a person to the perpetration of an act.

~Kidsman~, one who trains boys to thieve and pick pockets successfully.

~Kilkenny cat~, a popular simile for a voracious or desperate animal or person, from the story of the two cats in that county, who are said to have fought and bitten each other until a small portion of the tail of one of them alone remained.

~Killing~, bewitching, fascinating. The term is akin to the phrase “dressing to death.”

~Kilt~, an Irishism for badly beaten, but by no means equivalent with killed.

~Kimbo~, or A-KIMBO, holding the arms in a bent position from the body, and resting the hands upon the hips, in a bullying attitude. Said to be from A SCHIMBO, bandy-legged, crooked, _Italian_; but more probably from KIMBAW, the old cant for beating or bullying. _See Grose._ _Celtic_, CAM, crooked.

~Kimmer~, a gossip, an acquaintance, same as CUMMER.—_Scotch._

“What’s a’ the steer, KIMMER?”

~Kinchin~, a child.—_Old Cant._ From the _German_ diminutive, KINDCHEN, a baby.

~Kinchin cove~, a man who robs children; a little man.—Ancient Cant.

~Kincob~, uniform, fine clothes, richly embroidered dresses. Really, cloth of gold or silver.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Kingsman~, a handkerchief with yellow patterns upon a green ground, the favourite coloured neckerchief of the costermongers. The women sometimes wear KINGSMAN kerchiefs thrown over their shoulders. A coster will often imagine his caste, or position, is at stake, if his KINGSMAN is not of the most approved pattern. When he fights, his KINGSMAN is tied around his waist as a belt. This partiality for a peculiar-coloured neckcloth is part of the fondness for gaudy colours which at all times and in all countries has been shown by the uncultivated. A strange similarity of taste for certain colours exists amongst the Hindoos, Gipsies, and London lower classes. Red and yellow (or orange) are the great favourites, and in these hues the Hindoo selects his turban and his robe; the gipsy his breeches, and his wife her shawl or gown; and the costermonger, his plush waistcoat and favourite KINGSMAN. Among either class, when a fight takes place, the greatest regard is paid to the favourite coloured article of dress. The Hindoo lays aside his turban, the gipsy folds up his fancy breeches or coat, whilst the pugilistic costermonger of Covent Garden or Billingsgate removes his favourite neckerchief to a part of his body, by the rules of the “ring,” comparatively out of danger.

~King’s pictures~ (now, of course, QUEEN’S PICTURES), money.

~Kisky~, drunk, fuddled.

~Kiss-curl~, a small curl twisted on the temple. _See_ BOWCATCHER.

~Kisser~, the mouth.—_Pugilistic term._

~Kissing-crust~, the soft crust which marks where one loaf has been broken from another.

~Kiss-me-quick~, the name given to the very small bonnets which have of late years become fashionable.

~Kit~, a person’s baggage. Also, a collection of anything, “the whole KIT of ’em,” the entire lot. _Anglo-Saxon_, KYTH.—_North._

~Kite~,—_see_ FLY THE KITE.

~Kitmegur~, an under-butler, a footman.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Kitna~, how much?—_Anglo-Indian._

~Knacker~, an old horse; a horse-slaughterer. Originally _Gloucestershire_, but now general.

~Knap~, _i.q._, NAP, to break.—_Old English_, but nearly obsolete. _See Ps_. xlvi. 9 (Prayer-book version), “He breaketh the bow, and KNAPPETH the spear in sunder;” probably sibilated into “snap.”

~Knap~, to receive, to take. Generally applied to the receipt of punishments; “oh, my! wont he just KNAP it when he gets home!”

~Knap~, to steal.—_Prison Cant._

~Knapping-jigger~, a turnpike gate; “to dub at the KNAPPING-JIGGER,” to pay money at the turnpike.

~Knark~, a hard-hearted or savage person. The word is now usually spelt NARK, and is applied to the lowest class of informers.

~Knife~, “to KNIFE a person,” to stab; an un-English custom, but a very common expression.

~Knife-board~, the seat running along the roof of an omnibus.

“On ’busses’ KNIFEBOARDS stretch’d, The City clerks all tongue-protruded lay.”

_A Summer Idyll, by Arthur Smith._

~Knife it~, “cut it,” cease, stop, don’t proceed.

~Knight~, a common and ironical prefix to a man’s calling—thus, “KNIGHT of the whip,” a coachman; “KNIGHT of the thimble,” a tailor.

~Knobstick~, a non-society workman. One who takes work under price.

~Knock about the bub~, to hand or pass about the drink. BUB is a very old cant term for drink.

~Knock-down~, or KNOCK-ME-DOWN, strong ale.

~Knocked-up~, tired, jaded, used up, done for. In the United States, amongst females, the phrase is equivalent to being _enceinte_, so that Englishmen often unconsciously commit themselves when amongst our Yankee cousins.

~Knock-’em-downs~, the game of skittles.

~Knocker~, “up to the KNOCKER,” means finely or showily dressed, in the height of fashion; proficient, equal to the task.

~Knocker-face~, an ugly face, _i.e._, like an old-fashioned door-knocker.

~Knock-in~, the game of loo.

~Knocking-in~, coming into college after time. A habit of KNOCKING-IN late generally leads to some unpleasantness.—_Oxford University._

~Knocking-out.~ All visitors, on leaving a college after time, have to state in whose rooms they have been, that his gate-bill may be scored up for them. When a rackety party takes place, the visitors, or “out college men,” are generally supplied with a list of the names of the quietest men in college, so that the whereabouts of the party may not be betrayed.—_Oxford University._

~Knock-it-down~, to show, in the “free and easy” style, approval of a song or toast, by hammering with pot or glass on the table.

~Knock off~, to give over, or abandon. A saying used by workmen in reference to dinner or other meal times, for upwards of two centuries.

~Knock out~, in racing parlance, to drive out of the quotations; as a KNOCKED-OUT favourite. Also to make bankrupt; as a KNOCKED-OUT backer or bookmaker. When a man cannot meet his engagements on the turf, he is said to be KNOCKED OUT.

~Knock-outs~, or KNOCK-INS, disreputable persons who visit auction rooms and unite to purchase the articles at their own prices. One of their number is instructed to buy for the rest, and after a few small bids as blinds to the auctioneer and bystanders, the lot is knocked down to the KNOCK-OUT bidders, at a nominal price—the competition to result from an auction being thus frustrated and set aside. At the conclusion of the sale the goods are paid for, and carried to a neighbouring public-house, where they are re-sold or KNOCKED-OUT among the confederates, and the difference between the first purchase and the second—or tap-room KNOCK-OUT—is divided amongst the gang. As generally happens with ill-gotten gains, the money soon finds its way to the landlord’s pocket, and the KNOCK-OUT is rewarded with a red nose and a bloated face. Cunning tradesmen join the KNOCK-OUTS when an opportunity for money-making presents itself. The lowest description of KNOCK-OUTS, fellows with more tongue than capital, are termed BABES. Within the past few years a few respectable auctioneers, assisted much by one or two just and admirable magisterial decisions, have succeeded in considerably limiting the efforts of the KNOCK-OUT fraternity.

~Knock-under~, to submit.

~Knowing~, sharp, shrewd, artful; “a KNOWING codger,” or “a KNOWING blade,” one who can take you in, or cheat you, in any transaction you may have with him. It implies also deep cunning and foresight, and generally signifies dishonesty.

“Who, on a spree with black-eyed Sal, his blowen, So swell, so prime, so nutty, and so KNOWING?”—_Don Juan._

KNOW, in this sense, enters into several slang phrases. “I KNOW something,” expresses that I am not to be taken in by any shallow device. “He KNOWS a thing or two,” _i.e._, he is a cunning fellow.

~Knowledge-box~, the head.—_Pugilistic._

~Knuckle~, to fight with fists, to pommel.

~Knuckle-duster~, a large, heavy, or over-gaudy ring; a ring which attracts attention from its size.

~Knuckle-duster~, an iron or brass instrument which covers the knuckles so as to protect them from injury when striking a blow, adding force to it at the same time. Sometimes a KNUCKLE-DUSTER has knobs or points projecting, so as to mutilate and disfigure the person struck. This brutal invention is American, but has been made familiar here.

~Knuckle to~, or KNUCKLE UNDER, to yield or submit.

~Knuller~, old term for a chimney-sweep, who solicited jobs by ringing a bell. From the _Saxon_, CNYLLAN, to knell, or sound a bell. _See_ QUERIER.

~Kootee~, a house.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Kotoo~, to bow down before, to cringe, to flatter. From a Chinese ceremony.

~Kubber~, news.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Kudos~, praise; KUDIZED, praised. _Greek_, κύδος.—_University._

~Kye~, eighteenpence.

~Kypsey~, a basket. A term generally used by gipsies.

~La!~ a euphuistic rendering of LORD! common amongst females and very precise persons; imagined by many to be a corruption of LOOK! but this is a mistake. Sometimes pronounced LAW, or LAWKS.

~Lac~, one hundred thousand.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Laced~, strengthened with ardent spirits. Tea or coffee in which brandy is poured is said to be LACED.

~Lacing~, a beating. From the phrase, “I’ll lace your jacket.”—_L’Estrange._ Perhaps to give a beating with a lace or lash. Perhaps, also, a figurative phrase for ornamenting the article in question with stripes.

~Ladder~, “can’t see a hole in a LADDER,” said of any one who is intoxicated. It was once said that a man was never properly drunk until he could not lie down without holding, could not see a hole through a LADDER, or went to the pump to light his pipe.

~Ladies’ mile~, that part of Hyde Park where the feminine beauty, rank, and fashion most do congregate during the airing hours of the London season.

~Lag~, a returned transport, or ticket-of-leave convict.

~Lag~, to void urine.—_Ancient Cant._ In modern slang to transport, as regards bearing witness, and not in reference to the action of judge or jury.

~Lagged~, imprisoned, apprehended, or transported for a crime. From the Old Norse, LAGDA, “laid,”—laid by the leg.

~Lagger~, a sailor. Also, one who gives evidence; an informer.

~Lagging gage~, a chamber-pot.—_Ancient Cant._

~Lambasting~, a beating. Perhaps LUMB-BASTING, from the lumbar-regions.

~Lamb’s wool~, spiced ale, of which the butler at Brasenose every Shrove Tuesday supplies as much as is required at Hall, with a copy of verses on the subject, generally written by a Brasenose man. One of these poems began:—

Antiquum et vetus est {Ale Æn Nas} dicere laudes. {alienas }

_Oxford University._

LAMB’S WOOL is also a hot drink, well known to the community for centuries. Supposed by some to be derived from Lammas, at which time it was drunk, and by others to be derived from the similarity between the foam of the drink and the white wool obtained from lambs.

~Lame duck~, a stockjobber who speculates beyond his capital, and cannot pay his losses. Upon retiring from the Exchange he is said to “waddle out of the Alley.”

~Lamming~, a beating.—_Old English_, LAM; used by Beaumont and Fletcher. Not as Sir Walter Scott supposed, from one Dr. Lamb, but from the _Old Norse_, LAM, the hand; also, _Gaelic_.

~Lammy~, a blanket.

~Land-lubber~, sea term for “a landsman.” _See_ LOAFER.

~Land-shark~, a sailor’s definition of a lawyer.

~Lane~, a familiar term for Drury Lane Theatre, just as Covent Garden Theatre is constantly spoken of as “the Garden.”

~Lap~, liquor, drink. LAP is the term invariably used in the ballet girls’ dressing-room for gin.

~Lap~, one circuit of a pedestrian enclosure. In running a race of any distance one man is said to LAP another when he is one entire circuit in front.

~Lap.~ LAP THE GUTTER, to get beastly and helplessly drunk. LAP means to drink. LAP THE GATTER, to drink up the beer; a “rare LAPPER,” a hard drinker.

~Lark~, a frolic, a joke; “let’s have a jolly good LARK,” let us have a piece of fun.—_Anglo-Saxon_, LAC, sport; but more probably from the nautical term SKYLARKING, _i.e._, mounting to the highest yards and sliding down the ropes for amusement, which is allowed on certain occasions.

~Lark~, to sport boisterously, to show a disposition for “going on the spree.”

~Larrence~, an imaginary being, supposed by the Scottish peasantry to have power over indolent persons. Hence laziness is often called LARRENCE.

~Larrup~, to beat or thrash.

~Larruping~, a good beating or hiding.—_Irish._

~Lashins~, large quantities; as, “LASHINS of whisky.” An Irishism in common use.

~Latchpan~, the lower lip—properly a dripping-pan; “to hang one’s LATCHPAN,” to pout, be sulky.—_Norfolk._

~Lavender~, “to be laid up in LAVENDER;” to be in pawn; to be out of the way for an especial purpose. From the practice among housewives of placing LAVENDER in drawers in which linen and clothes are to be kept for any period.

~Law~, “to give LAW to an animal” is a sporting term signifying to give the hare or stag a chance of escaping, by not setting on the hounds till the quarry has run some distance. Also, used for giving any one a chance of succeeding in a difficult undertaking by allowing him so much grace or preliminary notice.

~Lay~, a pursuit or practice, a dodge. Term in this sense much used by thieves.

~Lay~, in wagering, to bet against a man or animal. Betters are divided in racing slang into layers and takers; they are otherwise known as bookmakers and backers.

~Lay~, some, a piece. “Tip me a LAY of pannum,” _i.e._, give me a slice of bread.—_North._

~Lay~, to watch; “on the LAY,” on the look-out.—_Shakspeare._

~Lay down the knife and fork~, to die. Compare PEGGING-OUT, HOPPING THE TWIG, and similar flippancies.

~Lead~, or FRIENDLY LEAD, a gathering at a low public-house, for the purpose of assisting some one who is “in trouble” (in these cases trouble always means imprisonment), who has just “come out of trouble,” or who is in want of a “mouthpiece.” A LEAD is different from a raffle, inasmuch as no article is put up or thrown for, but in the course of the evening some friend of the troubled one LEADS OFF by putting a certain sum in a plate, and the remainder of the party follow the LEAD with whatever they can spare. Sometimes people pay as they enter the room, but this does not alter the title or character of the meeting. In every other respect a LEAD is similar to a raffle; songs, dances, drinking, and a general desire to increase the bastardy averages being the most conspicuous features of the entertainment. Irish LEADS and raffles are characterized by less vice and more quarrelling than those of the lower orders of English people.

~Leary~, flash, knowing, artful, sly.

~Leary bloke~, a clever or artful person.

~Leather~, to beat or thrash. Probably from allusion to the skin, which is often called LEATHER. Some think the term is from the LEATHER belts worn by soldiers, which are often used as weapons in street rows. Most likely from there being “nothing like LEATHER” with which to administer a thrashing.

~Leathern conveniency~, a carriage. A Quaker being reprimanded by the Society of Friends for keeping a carriage, “contrary to the ancient testimonies,” said, “it is not a carriage I keep, but merely a LEATHERN-CONVENIENCY.” _See_ under SIMON PURE, in the Introduction.

~Leaving shop~, or DOLLY SHOP, an unlicensed house where goods are taken into pawn at exorbitant rates of interest.

~Led captain~, a fashionable spunger, a “swell” who by artifice ingratiates himself into the favours of the master of the house, and lives at his table. Probably from the fact that a real captain leads, but that a sham one is led—to the dinner-table.

~Leer~, empty.—_Oxfordshire._ Pure _German_, as is nearly so the next word.

~Leer~, print, newspaper. _German_, LEHREN, to instruct; hence _Old English_, LERE, “spelt in the LEER.” _See_ SPELL.—_Old Cant._

~Leg~, a part of a game. In some old games there are so many LEGS to the chalk, and so many chalks to the game. Sometimes the LEGS are called chalks, and the chalks LEGS—one word is as good as another, provided an agreement is made beforehand.

~Leg~, or BLACKLEG, a disreputable sporting character and racecourse _habitué_; that is, one who is disreputable among sporting men.

~Leg-and-leg~, the state of a game when each player has won a LEG. In Ireland a LEG is termed a horse, LEG-AND-LEG being there termed “horse-and-horse.”

~Leg bail~, the bail or security given by absence. To give LEG BAIL is to run away.

~Leg it~, to run; “to give a LEG,” to assist, as when one mounts a horse; “making a LEG,” a countryman’s bow,—projecting the LEG from behind as a balance to the head bent forward.—_Shakspeare._

~Leg-of-mutton~, humorous street term for a sheep’s trotter, or foot.

~Leg of mutton fist~, a large, muscular or bony hand.

~Length~, forty-two lines of a dramatic composition.—_Theatrical._

~Length~, six months’ imprisonment. _See_ STRETCH.

~Let alone~, an expression which signifies “much less” as used in comparative statement or argument. “I cannot afford five shillings, LET ALONE five pounds.” Barham, in one of the Ingoldsby Legends, says:—

“I have not had, this livelong day, one drop to cheer my heart, Nor brown to buy a bit of bread with—LET ALONE a tart.”

~Let drive~, to strike at, or attack with vigour.

~Let in~, to cheat or victimize. “He let me in heavily.”

~Let on~, to give an intimation of having some knowledge of a subject. Ramsay employs the phrase in the _Gentle Shepherd_. Common in Scotland.

~Let the cat out~, or LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, a common phrase, which implies that a secret is to be or has been let out.

~Letty~, a bed. _Italian_, LETTO.—_Lingua Franca._

~Levanter~, a card-sharper, or defaulting gambler. It was formerly the custom to give out to the creditors, when a person was in pecuniary difficulties, and it was convenient for him to keep away, that he was gone to the East, or the LEVANT; hence, when one loses a bet, and decamps without settling, he is said to LEVANT. The LEVANT was also a notorious place for queer customers, who would do anything rather than pay. Its reputation is not particularly odorous even now.

~Levy~, a shilling.—_Liverpool._ Among labourers a LEVY is a sum obtained before it is due, something to keep a man going till Saturday-night comes, or his task is finished.

~Liberty~, ground let in parts of Yorkshire for shooting purposes.

~Lick~, a blow; LICKING, a beating; “to put in big LICKS,” a curious and common phrase, meaning that great exertions are being made.—_Dryden_; _North_.

~Lick~, to excel, or overcome; “if you ain’t sharp, he’ll LICK you,” _i.e._, be finished first. Signifies, also, to whip, chastise, or conquer. _Ancient cant_, LYCKE. _Welsh_, LLACHIO, to strike.

~Lickspittle~, a coarse but singularly expressive term for a parasite, who puts up with indignities for the sake of advantages.

~Lifer~, a convict who is sentenced to imprisonment for life.

~Lift~, to steal, pick pockets; “there’s a clock been LIFTED,” said when a watch has been stolen. The word is as old as the Border forays, and is used by Shakspeare. SHOPLIFTER is a recognised term. _Old Gothic_, LLIFAN, to steal; _Lower Rhenish_, LÖFTEN.

~Lig~, a lie, a falsehood.—_Lancashire._ In old ballads the word “lie” is often spelt “LIG.” In old Saxon, LIG is to lie, but to lie as in a bed.

~Light~, credit, trust; “to get a LIGHT at a house” is to get credit. When a man’s credit is stopped, his LIGHT is said to be put out. LIGHT also means life. “I’ll put your LIGHT out” is a murderous threat.

~Light Bob~, a light infantry soldier.—_Military._

~Light Feeder~, a silver spoon.

~Lightning~, gin; “flash o’ LIGHTNING,” a glass of gin.

~Lights~, a worthless piece of meat; applied metaphorically to a fool, a soft or stupid person.

~Lights~, the eyes. Also, the lungs; animals’ lungs are always so called.

~Lil~, a book, generally a pocket-book.—_Gipsy._

~Lily Benjamin~, a great white coat. _See_ BENJAMIN.

~Limb~, a troublesome or precocious child.

~Limb of the law~, a lawyer, or clerk articled to that profession.

~Limbo~, a prison, from LIMBUS or LIMBUS PATRUM, a mediæval theological term for purgatory. The Catholic Church teaches that LIMBO was that part of hell where holy people who died before the Redemption were kept.