英语单词词源词典k

英语单词词源词典k -kin dim. suffix, first attested c.1250 in proper names adopted from Flanders and Holland, probably from M.Du. -kin, properly a double-dim., from -k + -in. Equivalent to Ger. -chen. K "one thousand dollars," 1970s, from kilo-. As an indication of "strikeout" in baseball scorekeeping, first recorded c.1880, said to be from last letter of struck, since first letter was already being used as abbreviation for sacrifice. The invention of the scorecard symbols is attributed to newspaperman Henry Chadwick. K as a measure of capacity (esp. in computer memory) or number (esp. of salary), meaning "one thousand" is an abbrev. of kilo (q.v.). Kaaba 1734 (Caaba), cube-shaped building in the Great Mosque of Mecca, containing the Black Stone, from Arabic ka'bah "square house," from ka'b "cube." kabuki 1899, from Japanese, popular theater (as opposed to shadow puppet-plays or lyrical Noh dramas), lit. "art of song and dance," from ka "song" + bu "dance" + ki "art." Alternate etymology (in Webster's) is from nominal form of kabuku "to be divergent, to deviate," from early opinion of this form of drama. Since c.1650, all parts are played by males. Kaddish "doxology of the Jewish ritual," 1613, from Aramaic qaddish "holy, holy one," from stem of q'dhash "was holy," ithqaddash "was sanctified," related to Heb. qadhash "was holy," qadhosh "holy." According to Kline, the name probably is from the second word of the text veyithqaddash "and sanctified be." kaffeeklatsch "gossip over cups of coffee," 1888, from Ger., from kaffee "coffee" + klatsch "gossip" (see klatsch). kaffir 1790, from Arabic qafir "unbeliever, infidel, impious wretch," with a lit. sense of "one who does not admit the blessings of God," from kafara "to cover up, conceal, deny." Technically, "non-Muslim," but in Ottoman times it came to be used almost exclusively for "Christian." Early Eng. missionaries used it as an equivalent of "heathen" to refer to Bantus in South Africa (1792), from which use it came generally to mean "South African black" regardless of ethnicity, and to be a term of abuse since at least 1934. Kafkaesque 1947, resembling situations from the writings of Franz Kafka (1883-1924), German-speaking Jewish novelist born in Prague, Austria-Hungary. kahuna 1886, "Hawaiian priest or minister, expert or wise man," from Hawaiian, where it was applied to priests, doctors, sorcerers, and navigators. In surfer slang, for "a god of surfing," it is attested from 1962 (but big kahuna in same sense is said to date from 1950s). kaiser "an emperor," O.E. casere, obscure after M.E., but revived 1858 in ref. to the Ger. emperors of Austria and, after 1870, Germany, from Ger. Kaiser, from Bavarian and Austrian spelling of M.H.G. keisar, from O.H.G. keisar "emperor," an early borrowing of L. cognomen Cæsar (q.v.). The Gmc. and Slavic peoples seem to have called all Roman emperors "caesar" (cf. O.E. casere, O.N. keisari). Said to be the earliest L. loan word in Gmc. kakistocracy 1829, "government by the worst element of a society," coined on analogy of aristocracy from Gk. kakistos "worst," superl. of kakos "bad" (which is perhaps related to the general IE word for "defecate") + -kratia "rule of," from kratos "strength, power, rule" (see -cracy). Kalashnikov "type of rifle or submachine gun made in the U.S.S.R.," 1970, from Rus. Kalashnikov, weapon developed in Soviet Union c.1946 and named for Mikhail Kalashnikov, gun designer and part of the team that built it. In AK-47, the AK stands for Avtomat Kalashnikov. kale c.1300, M.E. cawul, surviving as a Scottish variant of cole "cabbage" (see cole-slaw). Slang meaning "money" is from 1902. kaleidoscope 1817, lit. "observer of beautiful forms," coined by its inventor, Sir David Brewster (1781-1868), from Gk. kalos "beautiful" + eidos "shape" (see -oid) + -scope, on model of telescope, etc. Figurative meaning "constantly changing pattern" is first attested 1819 in Lord Byron, whose publisher had sent him one. Kali a name of Devi, the Hindu mother-goddess, in her death-goddess aspect, 1798, from Skt. kali, lit. "the black one," fem. of kalah "blue-black, black," from a Dravidian language. Also taken as the fem. of kala "time" (as destroyer). She is portrayed as black-skinned, blood-smeared, and wearing a necklace of skulls and a girdle of snakes. Kama Sutra 1883, from Skt. Kama Sutra, ancient treatise on love and sexual performance, from kama "love" (see whore) + sutra (see sutra). kamikaze "suicide corps," 1945, Japanese, lit. "divine wind," from kami "god, providence, divine" + kaze "wind." Originally the name given in folklore to a typhoon which saved Japan from Mongol invasion by wrecking Kublai Khan's fleet (August 1281). kanaka U.S. nautical and Australian name for "native of South Sea islands," 1840, from Hawaiian kanaka "man" (Samoan tangata). kangaroo 1770, used by Capt. Cook and botanist Joseph Banks, supposedly an aborigine word from northeast Queensland, Australia, usually said to be unknown now in any native language. However, according to Australian linguist R.M.W. Dixon ("The Languages of Australia," Cambridge, 1980), the word probably is from Guugu Yimidhirr (Endeavour River-area Aborigine language) /gaNurru/ "large black kangaroo." "In 1898 the pioneer ethnologist W.E. Roth wrote a letter to the Australasian pointing out that gang-oo-roo did mean 'kangaroo' in Guugu Yimidhirr, but this newspaper correspondence went unnoticed by lexicographers. Finally the observations of Cook and Roth were confirmed when in 1972 the anthropologist John Haviland began intensive study of Guugu Yimidhirr and again recorded /gaNurru/." [Dixon] Kangaroo court is Amer.Eng., first recorded 1853 in a Texas context (also mustang court), from notion of proceeding by leaps. kanji "Chinese ideographs that make up the bulk of Japanese writing," 1920, from Jap. kan "Chinese" + ji "letter, character." Kansas 1722, from Fr., variant of Kansa, native name of a Siouan people. It is a plural (see Arkansas). Kantian 1796, of or pertaining to Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) or his philosophy. kaolin "china clay," 1727, from Fr. kaolin (1712), from Chinese Kao-ling, transliteration of the name of a mountain in Jiangxi, China (near which it was originally dug up), from Chinese gao "high" + ling "mountain, hill." kapellmeister "conductor," 1838, from Ger., lit. "chapel master," from Kapelle "chapel" (also the name given to a band or orchestra) + Meister "master." kapok 1735, from Malay kapoq, name of the large tropical tree which produces the fibers. kaput 1895, "finished, worn out, dead," from Ger. kaputt, probably a misunderstanding of the phrase capot machen, a partial translation of Fr. faire capot, a phrase meaning "lose all the tricks in piquet," an obsolete card game, from Fr. capot, lit. "cover, bonnet." karaoke 1979, from Japanese, from kara "empty" + oke "orchestra," shortened form of okesutora, a Japanization of Eng. orchestra. karat variant of carat (q.v.). In U.S., karat is used for "proportion of fine gold in an alloy" and carat for "weight of a precious stone." karate 1955, from Japanese, lit. "empty hand, bare hand," from kara "empty" + te "hand." karma 1827, in Buddhism, the sum of a person's actions in one life, which determine his form in the next; from Skt. karman- "action, fate," related to krnoti, Avestan kerenaoiti "makes," O.Pers. kunautiy "he makes;" from PIE base *kwer- "to make, form," related to the second element in Sanskrit. karoo "barren table land in S. Africa," 1789, said to be from a Hottentot word meaning "dry." karyo- comb. form of Gk. karyon "nut, kernel," used since c.1874 in biological terms refering to cell nuclei. katydid insect of the locust family (Microsentrum rhombifolium), 1784, Amer.Eng. (perhaps first used by John Bartram), imitative of the stridulous sound the male makes when it rubs its front wings together. katzenjammer 1849, "a hangover," Amer.Eng. colloquial, from Ger. katzen, comb. form of katze "cat" + jammer "distress, wailing." Hence, "any unpleasant reaction" (1897). Katzenjammer Kids "naughty children" is from title of comic strip first drawn by Rudolph Dirks in 1897 for the "New York Journal." kayak 1757, from Dan. kajak, from Greenland Eskimo qayaq, lit. "small boat of skins." kazoo 1884, Amer.Eng., probably altered from earlier bazoo "trumpet" (1877); probably ultimately onomatopoeic (cf. bazooka). In England, formerly called a Timmy Talker, in France, a mirliton. "Kazoos, the great musical wonder, ... anyone can play it; imitates fowls, animals, bagpipes, etc." [1895 Montgomery Ward catalogue, p.245] kebab "pieces of meat roasted on a skewer," 1813 (see shish kebab). keck "to make a sound as if to vomit," 1537, echoic. Ked proprietary name of a brand of canvas sneakers, 1917, registered by United States Rubber Co., N.Y. "We wanted to call it Peds, but ... it came too close to ... other brand names. So we batted it around for awhile and decided on the hardest-sounding letter in the alphabet, K, and called it Keds, that was in 1916." [J.Healey, in R.L. Cohen, "Footwear Industry," x.93] keel "lowest timber of a ship or boat," 1338, from O.N. kjölr "keel," from P.Gmc. *keluz, of uncertain origin. Etymologists say this is unconnected with the root of M.Du. kiel "ship," O.E. ceol "ship's prow," O.H.G. kiel, Ger. Kiel "ship," but the two words have influenced each other. This other word is said to be from P.Gmc. *keula, from PIE *geul- "rounded vessel." Keel still is used locally in England and U.S. for "flat-bottomed boat," especially on the Tyne. To keel over (1876) is from the nautical image of a ship turning keep-up. Keelhaul is 17c. from Du. kielhalen "to haul under the keel," an old punishment. The verb is 1838, Amer.Eng., from the noun. keen (adj.) O.E. cene "bold brave," later "clever, wise," from P.Gmc. *kan- "be able to" (see can). Original prehistoric senses seem to have been both "brave" and "Skilled;" cf. O.N. kænn "skillful, wise," M.Du. coene "bold," O.H.G. kuon "pugnacious, strong," Ger. Kühn "bold, daring." Sense of "eager" is from c.1350. The meaning "sharp" is peculiar to Eng.: of blades and edges c.1225, of sounds c.1400, of eyesight c.1720. A popular word of approval in teenager and student slang from c.1900. keen (v.) "lament," 1811, from Ir. caoinim "I weep, wail, lament," from O.Ir. coinim. keep (v.) late O.E. cepan "to seize, hold," also "to observe," from P.Gmc. *kopijanan, but with no certain connection to other languages. It possibly is related to O.E. capian "to look," from P.Gmc. *kap- (cepan was used c.1000 to render L. observare), which would make the basic sense "to keep an eye on." "The word prob. belongs primarily to the vulgar and non-literary stratum of the language; but it comes up suddenly into literary use c.1000, and that in many senses, indicating considerable previous development." [OED] Meaning "financially support and privately control" (usually in ref. to mistresses) is from 1560. The noun meaning "innermost stronghold of a tower" is from 1586, perhaps a translation of It. tenazza, with a notion of "that which keeps" (someone or something); the sense of "food required to keep a person or animal" is attested from 1801. Keepsake is first recorded 1790, on model of namesake; thus an object kept for the sake of the giver. For keeps "completely, for good" is Amer.Eng. colloquial, from 1861. Keeper "one who has charge of some person or thing, warden" is from c.1300; sense of "one who carries on some business" is from c.1440. kef 1808, from Arabic kaif "well-being, good-humor." Specifically, state of dreaming intoxication produced by smoking cannabis; dolce far niente. In Morocco and Algeria, it was the name for Indian hemp. keg 1452, from O.N. kaggi "keg, cask," of unknown origin. Specific sense of "barrel of beer" is from 1945. keister "buttocks," 1931, perhaps transferred from underworld meaning "safe, strongbox" (1914), earlier "a burglar's toolkit that can be locked" (1881); probably from British dialect kist (c.1300, northern form of chest, from O.N. kista) or its Ger. cognate Kiste "chest, box." The connection may be via pickpocket slang sense of "rear trouser pocket" (1930s). keld 1697 in northern dialect, but frequent in place names, from O.N. kelda "a well, fountain, spring," also "a deep, still, smooth part of a river." Kelly common Irish surname, from O.Ir. ceallach "war." As a type of pool played with 15 balls, it is attested from 1898. Kelly green first recorded 1936. kelp 1663, from M.E. culpe (1387), of unknown origin. Kelper "native or inhabitant of the Falkland Islands" is attested from 1960. kelpie 1747, Scottish, of unknown origin, perhaps related to Gael. colpach "heifer, steer, colt;" colpa "cow, horse." The Lowland name of a demon in the shape of a horse that was reputed to haunt lakes and rivers and to delight in causing drownings. But unlike its equivalents in Dan. (nøkken) and Icel. (nykur), it was occasionally benevolent, especially to millers by keeping their streams running. Kelvin unit of absolute temperature scale, 1911, in honor of British physicist Sir William Thompson, Lord Kelvin (1824-1907). ken (v.) "to know," Scot. dial., from O.E. cennan "make known, declare, acknowledge," originally "make to know," causative of cunnan "to become acquainted with, to know" (see can (v.)). The noun meaning "range of sight" (1590) is a nautical abbreviation of kenning. ken (n.) "house where thieves meet," 1567, vagabonds' slang, probably a shortening of kennel. Kennedy Irish surname, said to be from O.Ir. cinneide "ugly head." kennel 1301, from O.Fr. chenil, from V.L. canile, from L. canem (nom. canis) "dog" (see canine). Kenneth masc. proper name, Scottish, from Gael. Caioneach, lit. "handsome, comely." keno "game of chance" (akin to bingo), 1814, Amer.Eng., probably from Fr. quine "five winning numbers in a lottery," from L. quini "five each," distributive of quinque "five." Kent L. Canticum (51 B.C.E.), an ancient Celtic name often explained as "coastal district," but possibly "land of the hosts or armies." Kentucky U.S. state, earlier a county of Virginia, organized 1776; the name is of Iroquois or Shawnee origin, perhaps a Wyandot (Iroquoian) word meaning "meadow" (cf. Seneca geda'geh "at the field"); the river name seems to have been the original use in Eng.; the native use perhaps was first in ref. to a village in Clark County known in Shawnee as Eskippakithiki. kepi 1861, from Fr. képi, from Ger. Swiss käppi, dim. of Ger. Kappe "a cap," from L.L. cappa "hood, cap" (see cap). ker- 1836, U.S. slang prefix, possibly from infl. of Ger. or Du. ge-, pp. prefix; or ultimately echoic of the sound of the fall of some heavy body. keratin "basic substance of horns, nails, feathers, etc.," 1847, from Gk. keras (gen. keratos) "horn" + chemical suffix -in. kerb 1664, a variant of curb (q.v.), preferred British spelling in certain specialized senses, especially "edging of stone on a sidewalk" (1805). kerchief 1223, from Anglo-Fr. courchief, from O.Fr. couvrechief, lit. "cover head," from couvrir "to cover" + chief "head." kerfluffle "row, disturbance, c.1930, first in Canadian English, ult. from Scot. curfuffle, based on fuffle "to throw into disorder;" first element probably as in kersplash, etc. (see ker-). kern 1683, "part of a metal type projecting beyond the body," as the head of an -f- or the tail of a -j-, from Fr. carne "projecting angle, quill of a pen," from L. cardinem "hinge." kernel O.E. cyrnel, from P.Gmc. *kurnilo- (cf. M.H.G. kornel, M.Du. cornel), from the root of corn "seed, grain" (see corn) + -el, dim. suffix. Fig. sense of "core or central part of anything" is from 1556. kerosene 1852, coined in Canada by Abraham Gesner, who discovered how to distill it c.1846, from Gk. keros "wax" + chemical suffix -ene. So called because it contains paraffin. kestrel 15c., from M.Fr. cresserelle, from L. crepitacillium "small rattle," dim. of crepitaculum "noisy bell, rattle," from crepitare "to crackle, rattle;" possibly from the old belief that their noise frightened away other hawks. ketch "kind of small sailing vessel," 1655, probably from M.E. cacchen "to capture, ensnare, chase" (see catch). ketchup 1711, from Malay kichap, from Chinese (Amoy dial.) koechiap "brine of fish." Catsup (earlier catchup) is a failed attempt at Anglicization, still in use in U.S. Originally a fish sauce, early English recipes included among their ingredients mushrooms, walnuts, cucumbers, and oysters. Modern form of the sauce began to emerge when U.S. seamen added tomatoes. ketone 1851, "group of chemicals containing CH," from Ger. keton, coined in 1848 by Ger. chemist Leopold Gmelin (1788-1853) from Ger. Aketon, from Fr. acétone (see acetone). kettle O.E. cetil (Mercian), from L. catillus "deep pan or dish for cooking," dim. of catinus "bowl, dish, pot." A general Gmc. borrowing (cf. O.S. ketel, O.Fris. zetel, M.Du. ketel, O.H.G. kezzil, Ger. Kessel). Spelling with a -k- (c.1300) probably is from infl. of O.N. cognate ketill. The smaller sense of "tea-kettle" is 20c. Kettledrum is from 1542. kewpie 1909, Amer.Eng., coined by their illustrator, Rose C. O'Neill (1874-1944), as an altered form of Cupid. key (1) "metal piece that works a lock," from O.E. cæg, of unknown origin, with no certain cognates other than O.Fris. kei. Perhaps related to M.L.G. keie "lance, spear" on notion of "tool to cleave with," from P.Gmc. *ki- "to cleaver, split" (cf. Ger. Keil "wedge," Goth. us-kijans "come forth," said of seed sprouts, keinan "to germinate"). Figurative sense of "that which serves to open or explain" was in O.E.; meaning "that which holds together other parts" is from 1523. Musical sense of "tone, note" is 15c., but modern sense of "scale" is 1590, probably from L. clavis or Fr. clef, from use in the Guidonian system for lowest note of a scale, which is its basis (cf. keynote). Also extended to "mechanism on a musical instrument" (c.1500). key (2) "low island," 1697, from Sp. cayo "shoal, reef," from Taino cayo "small island;" spelling infl. by M.E. key "wharf" (1306), from O.Fr. kai "sand bank" (see quay). keyboard 1819, from key (1) in sense of "mechanism of a musical instrument" + board. Originally of pianos, organs, etc., extended to other machines 1846. The verb is first recorded 1961. Keypad is from 1975; keypunch is from 1933. Keystroke first attested c.1910. keynote "lowest note of a musical scale, basis of a scale," 1776, from key (1) in sense of "musical scale" + note. Fig. sense of "leading idea" is from 1783; keynote address is 1905, Amer.Eng. keystone "stone in the middle of an arch, which holds up the others," 1637, from key (1) in fig. sense of "that which holds together other parts." Fig. sense is from 1641. Pennsylvania was called the Keystone State because of its position (geographical and political) in the original American confederation, between northern states and southern ones. Keystone cops were the bumbling crew of officers in the slapstick films produced by Keystone Company, formed by Canadian-born U.S. film director Mack Sennett (1884-1960) in 1912. Keziah fem. proper name, biblical daughter of Job, from Heb. Qetzi'ah, lit. "cassia," the aromatic tree that produces cinnamon. khaki 1857, from Urdu khaki, lit. "dusty," from khak "dust," from Pers. First introduced in uniforms of British cavalry in India (the Guide Corps, 1846); widely adopted for camouflage purposes in the Boer Wars (1899-1902). khan c.1400, from Turk., lit. "lord, prince," contraction of khaqan "ruler, sovereign." Known in Europe since 13c., cf. L. chanis, Gk. kanes, O.Fr. chan. khedive Turkish viceroy of Egypt, 1867, from Fr. khédive, from Turk. khidiv, from Pers. khidiw "prince," derivative of khuda "master, prince," from O.Pers. khvadata- "lord," from compound *khvat-data-, lit. "created from oneself," from khvat- (from PIE *swe-tos "from oneself," ablative of base *s(w)e-; see idiom) + data- "created." kibbutz "Israeli collective settlement," 1931, from mod. Heb. qibbus "gathering," from Heb. "a gathering together," from root of qibbes "he gathered together." Plural is kibbutzim. kibitz 1927, from Yiddish kibitsen "to offer gratuitous advice as an outsider," from Ger. kiebitzen "to look on at cards, to kibitz," originally in thieves' cant "to visit," from Kiebitz, name of a shore bird (European pewit, lapwing) with a folk reputation as a meddler, from M.H.G. gibitz "pewit," imitative of its cry. Young lapwings are proverbially precocious and active, and were said to run around with half-shells still on their heads soon after hatching. kibosh 1836, kye-bosk, in slang phrase put the kibosh on, of unknown origin, despite intense speculation. Looks Yiddish, but origin in early 19c. English slang seems to argue against this. One candidate is Ir. caip bháis, caipín báis "cap of death," sometimes said to be the black cap a judge would don when pronouncing a death sentence, but in other sources identified as a gruesome method of execution "employed by Brit. forces against 1798 insurgents" [Bernard Share, "Slanguage, A Dictionary of Irish Slang"]. Or it may somehow be connected with Turkish bosh (see bosh). kick (v.) c.1380, "to strike out with the foot" (earliest in biblical phrase now usually rendered as kick against the pricks), of uncertain origin, perhaps from O.N. kikna "bend backwards, sink at the knees." Fig. sense of "complain, protest, rebel against" (1388) probably is from the Bible verse. Slang sense of "die" is attested from 1725 (kick the wind was slang for "be hanged," 1598; see also bucket). Meaning "to end one's drug habit" is from 1936. To kick oneself in self-reproach is from 1891. The noun is first recorded 1530. Meaning "recoil (of a gun) when fired" is from 1826. Meaning "surge or fit of pleasure" (often as kicks) is from 1941; originally lit., "stimulation from liquor or drugs" (1844). The kick "the fashion" is c.1700. Kick-off is from 1857 as the first kick in a football match; fig. sense of "start, beginning event" is from 1875. Kickback "illegal or improper payment" is from 1934. Kickboxing first recorded 1971. kicksie-wicksie a fanciful word for "wife" in Shakespeare ("All's Well," II iii.297), 1601, apparently a perversion of kickshaw, late 16c. for "a fancy dish in cookery" (especially a non-native one), from pronunciation of Fr. quelque chose "something." kid (n.) c.1200, "the young of a goat," from O.N. kið "young goat," from P.Gmc. *kiðjom (cf. Ger. kitz). Extended meaning of "child" first recorded as slang 1599, established in informal usage by 1840s. Kiddo first recorded 1896. Applied to skillful young thieves and pugilists since at least 1812. Kid stuff "something easy" is from 1923. Kid glove "a glove made of kidskin leather" is from 1687; sense of "characterized by wearing kid gloves," therefore "dainty, delicate" is from 1856. kid (v.) "tease playfully" (1839), earlier, in thieves' cant, "to coax, wheedle, hoax" (1811), from kid (n.), via notion of "treat as a child, make a kid of." kidnap 1673, compound of kid (n.) "child" and nap "snatch away," variant of nab; originally "stealing children to provide servants and laborers in the American colonies." kidney c.1325, of unknown origin, originally kidenere, perhaps a compound of O.E. cwið "womb" + ey "egg," in reference to the shape of the organ. Fig. sense of "temperament" is from 1555. Kidney bean is from 1548. kielbasa 1953, from Pol. kielbasa "sausage" (Rus. kolbasa), perhaps from Turk. kulbasti, "grilled cutlet," lit. "pressed on the ashes." kike derogatory slang for "Jew," 1904, perhaps originating among Ger.-American Jews in reference to newcomers from Eastern Europe, whose names ended in -ki or -ky. Philip Cowen, first editor of "The American Hebrew," suggests a source in Yiddish kikel "circle." According to him, Jewish immigrants, ignorant of writing with the Latin alphabet, signed their entry forms with a circle, eschewing the "X" as a sign of Christianity. Ellis Island immigration inspectors began calling such people kikels, and the term shortened as it passed into general use. kil first element in many Celtic place names, lit. "cell (of a hermit), church, burial place," from Gael. and Ir. -cil, from cill, gradational variant of ceall "cell, church, burial place," from L. cella (see cell). Kilkenny county in Leinster, Ireland. The story of the Kilkenny cats, a pair of which fought until only their tails were left, is attested from 1822. kill (v.) c.1205, "to strike, hit, beat, knock." Sense of "to deprive of life" first recorded c.1330. Perhaps from an unrecorded variant of O.E. cwellan "to kill" (see quell), but the earliest sense suggests otherwise. The noun meaning "an act of killing (an animal)" is from 1852. Lawn tennis serve sense is from 1903. The kill "the knockout" is boxing jargon, 1950. Killer in slang sense of "impressive person or thing" first recorded 1937; as an adj., 1979. Killjoy is first recorded 1776; formerly used with other stems (cf. kill-courtesy "boorish person," kill-cow "bully, big man," etc.). Sense in to kill time is from 1728. Killer whale is from 1725. Killing "large profit" is 1888, Amer.Eng. slang. Kill-devil, colloquial for "rum," especially if new or of bad quality, is from 1639. kill (n.) "stream," 1639, Amer.Eng., from Du. kil, from M.Du. kille "riverbed," especially in place names. killdeer 1731, Amer.Eng., species of North American ring-plover, the name imitative of its cry. kiln O.E. cyln, from L. culina "kitchen, cooking stove," unexplained variant of coquere "to cook" (see cook (n.)). O.N. kylna, Welsh cilin probably are from Eng. kilo 1870, shortening of kilogram. The prefix meaning "one thousand" was introduced in Fr. 1795, when the metric system was officially adopted there, from Gk. khilioi "thousand," of unknown origin. Slang shortening key (in drug trafficking) is attested from 1968. Kilroy U.S. military graffito character dates to 1945 and is said to be either Sgt. Francis J. Kilroy Jr., U.S. Army Air Transport, whose friend or friends began writing his name everywhere as a prank; or war materiéls inspector James J. Kilroy of Quincy, Mass., who wrote "Kilroy was here" on everything he checked. kilt "plaited tartan skirt," c.1730, from M.E. verb kilten "to tuck up" (c.1340), from a Scand. source (cf. Dan. kilte op "to tuck up;" O.N. kilting "shirt," kjalta "fold made by gathering up to the knees"). kilter in out of kilter (1628) variant of Eng. dial. kelter (1606) "good condition, order," of unknown origin. kimono 1637, from Japanese kimono, lit. "a thing put on," from ki "wear" + mono "thing." kin O.E. cyn "family, race, kind, nature," from P.Gmc. *kunjan (cf. O.N. kyn, O.H.G. chunni, Goth. kuni "family, race," O.N. kundr "son," Ger. kind "child"), from PIE *gen- "to produce" (see genus). Kinship is a modern word, first attested 1833 in writing of Mrs. Browning. kind (n.) "class, sort, variety," from O.E. gecynd "kind, nature, race," related to cynn "family" (see kin), from P.Gmc. *gakundiz (see kind (adj.)). Ælfric's rendition of "the Book of Genesis" into O.E. came out gecyndboc. The prefix disappeared 1150-1250. No exact cognates beyond Eng., but it corresponds to adj. endings such as Goth -kunds, O.H.G. -kund. Also as a suffix (mankind, etc.). Other earlier, now obs., senses in Eng. included "character, quality derived from birth" and "manner or way natural or proper to anyone." Use in phrase a kind of (1591) led to colloquial extension as adv. (1804) in phrases such as kind of stupid ("a kind of stupid (person)"). kind (adj.) "friendly," from O.E. gecynde "natural, native, innate," originally "with the feeling of relatives for each other," from P.Gmc. *gakundiz, from *kunjan (see kin), with collective prefix *ga- and abstract suffix *-iz. Sense development from "with natural feelings," to "well-disposed" (c.1300), "benign, compassionate" (1297). Kindly (adj.) is O.E. gecyndelic. Kind-hearted is from 1535; kindness is from c.1290. kindergarten 1852, from Ger., lit. "children's garden," from Kinder "children" (pl. of Kind "child") + Garten "garden" (see yard (1)). Coined 1840 by Friedrich Fröbel (1782-1852) in ref. to his method of developing intelligence in young children, the first one in Eng. established 1850 by Johannes Ronge, Ger. Catholic priest. Taken into Eng. untranslated, where other nations that borrowed the institution nativized the name (cf. Dan. börnehave, Modern Heb. gan yeladim, lit. "garden of children"). kindle c.1200, from O.N. kynda "to kindle," of uncertain origin, + freq. suffix -le. Kindling "material for lighting fire" is from 1513. kindred c.1200, kinraden, compound of kin (q.v.) + -rede, from O.E. ræden "condition, rule," related to rædan "to advise, rule" (see read). With intrusive -d- (17c.) probably for phonetic reasons (cf. thunder) but perhaps encouraged by kind (n.). kine archaic plural of "cow," actually a double plural (cf. children) or a gen. pl. of M.E. kye "cows," from O.E. cy, pl. of cu "cow." kinesthetic 1880, coined by British neurologist Henry Charlton Bastian (1837-1915) from Gk. kinein "to move" + aisthesis "sensation." kinetic 1864, from Gk. kinetikos "moving, putting in motion," from kinetos "moved," verbal adj. of kinein "to move." king O.E. cyning, from P.Gmc. *kuninggaz (cf. Du. koning, O.H.G. kuning, O.N. konungr, Dan. konge, Ger. könig). Possibly related to O.E. cynn "family, race" (see kin), making a king originally a "leader of the people;" or from a related root suggesting "noble birth," making a king originally "one who descended from noble birth." The sociological and ideological implications make this a topic of much debate. Finnish kuningas "king," O.C.S. kunegu "prince" (Rus. knyaz, Boh. knez), Lith. kunigas "clergyman" are loans from Gmc. In O.E., used for names of chiefs of Anglian and Saxon tribes or clans, then of the states they founded. Also extended to British and Danish chiefs they fought. The chess piece so called from 1411; the playing card from 1563; use in checkers/draughts first recorded 1820. Applied in nature to species deemed remarkably big or dominant (e.g. king crab, 1698), "As leon is the king of bestes." [John Gower, "Confessio Amantis," 1390] Kingfisher (1440) was originally king's fisher, for obscure reasons. Kingdom-come "the next world" (1785) is from the Lord's Prayer. The film "King Kong" was released 1933. king's evil "scrofula," 1387, translates M.L. regius morbus; so called because the kings of England and France claimed to heal it by their touch. In England, the custom dates from Edward the Confessor and was continued through the Stuarts (Charles II touched 90,798 sufferers) but was ended by the Hanoverians (1714). kink 1678, nautical term, from Du. kink "twist in a rope" (also found in Fr. and Swed.), probably related to O.N. kika "to bend at the knee" (see kick). Figurative sense of "odd notion, mental twist" first recorded in Amer.Eng., 1803, in writings of Thomas Jefferson; kinky "sexually perverted" first recorded 1959, earlier it was used in the sense of "eccentric" (1889). kiosk 1625, "open pavilion," from Fr. kiosque, from Turk. koshk "pavilion, palace," from Pers. kushk "palace, portico." Modern sense influenced by Brit. telephone kiosk (1928). kipper O.E. cypera "male salmon," perhaps related to coper "reddish-brown metal" (see copper), on resemblance of color. Another theory connects it to kip, name for the sharp, hooked lower jaw of the male salmon in breeding season, from M.E. kippen "to snatch, tug, pull." The modern word usually refers to kippered herring, from a verb meaning "to cure a fish by cleaning, salting, and spicing it" (1326). The theory is that this was originally done to salmon, hence the name. kir "white wine and crème de cassis," 1966 (popular in U.S. 1980s), from Canon Felix Kir (1876-1968), mayor of Dijon, who is said to have invented the recipe. kirk c.1200, northern England and Scot. dial. form of church, from O.N. kirkja "church," from O.E. cirice (see church). kirschwasser "liquor distilled from fermented cherry juice," 1819, from Ger., lit. "cherry-water;" first element from M.H.G. kirse, from O.H.G. kirsa, from V.L. *ceresia, from L.L. cerasium "cherry" (see cherry). kirtle "a man's tunic; a woman's skirt," O.E. cyrtel, related to O.N. kyrtill "tunic," probably both from L. curtus "short" + dim. suffix -el. kismet 1834, from Turk. qismet, from Ar. qismah, qismat "portion, lot, fate," from root of qasama "he divided." kiss (v.) O.E. cyssan "to kiss," from P.Gmc. *kussijanan (cf. O.S. kussian, O.N. kyssa, O.Fris. kessa, Ger. küssen), from *kuss-, probably ultimately imitative of the sound. The O.E. noun was coss, which became M.E. cuss, but this yielded to kiss, from the verb. For vowel evolution, see bury. There appears to be no common I.E. root word for "kiss," though suggestions of a common ku- sound may be found in the Gmc. root and Gk. kynein "to kiss," Hittite kuwash-anzi "they kiss," Skt. cumbati "he kisses." "Kissing, as an expression of affection or love, is unknown among many races, and in the history of mankind seems to be a late substitute for the more primitive rubbing of noses, sniffing, and licking." [Buck, p.1113] Some languages make a distinction between the kiss of affection and that of erotic love (cf. L. saviari "erotic kiss," vs. osculum, lit. "little mouth"). Fr. embrasser "kiss," but lit. "embrace," came about in 17c. when the older word baiser (from L. basiare) acquired an obscene connotation. Kiss of death (1948) is in ref. to Judas' kiss in Gethsemane (Matt. xxvi.48-50). Slang kisser "mouth" is from 1860. Insulting invitation kiss my ass is at least from 1705, but probably much older (cf. "The Miller's Tale"). kit (1) "round wooden tub," 1275, probably from M.Du. kitte "jug, tankard, wooden container," of unknown origin. Meaning "collection of personal effects," especially for traveling (originally in ref. to a soldier), is from 1785; that of "outfit of tools for a workman" is from 1851. Kit and caboodle is 1861, from boodle "lot, collection," perhaps from Du. boedel "property." kit (2) "small fiddle used by dancing teachers," 1519, probably a shortening of O.E. cythere, from L. cithara, from Gk. kithara (see guitar). kit-cat club founded by Whig politicians in London, 1703; so called from Christopher ("Kit") Catling, keeper of the tavern on Shire Lane, near Temple Bar, in which the club first met. As a designation for "a size of portrait less than half length" (1754), supposedly because the dining room in which portraits of club members hung was too low for half-length portraits. kitchen O.E. cycene, from W.Gmc. *kocina (cf. M.Du. cökene, O.H.G. chuhhina, Ger. Küche, Dan. kjøkken), probably borrowed from V.L. *cocina (cf. Fr. cuisine, Sp. cocina), variant of L. coquina "kitchen," from fem. of coquinus "of cooks," from coquus "cook," from coquere "to cook" (see cook (n.)). Kitchen cabinet "informal but powerful set of advisors" is Amer.Eng. slang, 1832, originally in ref. to administration of President Andrew Jackson. Kitchen midden (1863) in archaeology translates Dan. kjøkken mødding. The New York City neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen is first attested 1894. Kitchenette is from 1910, Amer.Eng. Phrase everything but the kitchen sink is from World War II armed forces slang, in ref. to intense bombardment. kite bird of prey (Milvus ictinus), O.E. cyta "kind of hawk," probably imitative of its cries (cf. ciegan "to call," Ger. Kauz "screech owl"). The toy kite first so-called 1664, from its way of hovering in the air like a bird. Meaning "write a fictitious check" (1839, Amer.Eng.) is from 1805 phrase fly a kite "raise money by issuing commercial paper on nonexistent funds." However, the dismissive invitation to go fly a kite is said to be a ref. to the bird, reflecting the contempt of it as a scavenger and eater of garbage. kith O.E. cyðð "native country, home," from cuð "known," pp. of cunnan "to know" (see can (v.)). The alliterative phrase kith and kin (1377) originally meant "country and kinsmen." kitsch 1926, from Ger., lit. "gaudy, trash," from dial. kitschen "to smear." kitten 1377, probably from an Anglo-Fr. variant of O.Fr. chitoun (O.N.Fr. caton) "little cat," from chat "cat," from L.L. cattus (see cat). Applied playfully to a young girl, a sweetheart, from 1870. kitty 1719, variant of kitten, perhaps infl. by kitty "girl, young woman" (c.1500), originally a pet form of Catherine. The sense of "pool of money in a card game" first recorded 1887, probably from kit, in a sense of "collection of necessary supplies" (1833; see kit (1)); but perhaps rather from northern slang kitty "prison, jail, lock-up" (1825), of uncertain origin. Kitty Hawk, N.C., is apparently a mangling of a native Algonquian name; it also has been written as Chicahauk. Kiwanis businessmen's and professionals' society, formed in Detroit, 1915, the name is of obscure meaning. kiwi "type of flightless bird," 1835, from Maori kiwi, of imitative origin. As slang for "a New Zealander," it is attested from 1918. The kiwi fruit (Actinia chinesis), was originally imported to the U.S. from China (c.1966) and is known in New Zealand as Chinese gooseberry (1925). klatsch 1953, from Ger., "gossip," which is said in Ger. sources to be onomatopoeic (cf. klatschen "clap hands," klatsch "a single clap of the hands"). klaxon "loud warning horn," 1910, originally of cars, said to have been named for the company that made them, probably based on Gk. klazein "to roar," cognate with L. clangere "to resound." Kleagle title of an officer in the KKK, 1924, from Klan + eagle. Kleenex 1925, proprietary name, reg. by Cellucotton Products Company, Neenah, Wisconsin, U.S.; later Kimberly-Clark Corp. An arbitrary alteration of clean + brand-name suffix -ex. kleptomania 1830, formed from Gk. kleptes "thief" (from kleptein "to steal, act secretly" from PIE base *klep- "to steal," extention of base *kel- "to cover, conceal;" cf. L. clepere "to steal, listen secretly to," O.Pruss. au-klipts "hidden," O.C.S. poklopu "cover, wrapping," Goth. hlifan "to steal," hliftus "thief") + mania "madness." Shortened form klepto for kleptomaniac is attested from 1958. Kleptocracy "rule by a class of thieves" is first attested 1819, in ref. to Spain. klezmer late 19c. (plural klezmorim); originally, "an itinerant East European Jewish professional musician," from Heb. kley zemer, lit. "vessels of song," thus "musical instruments." klieg kind of arc lamp used as a studio light, 1925, from U.S. engineers, brothers Anton and John Kliegl, who invented it. Klondike tributary of the Yukon River in northwestern Canada, from Kutchin tron-duik "hammer river." Scene of a gold rush after 1896. klutz 1965 (implied in klutzy), Amer.Eng., from Yiddish klots "clumsy person, blockhead," lit. "block, lump," from M.H.G. klotz "lump, ball." kn- Gmc. consonant cluster, still evident in most sister languages but in Eng. it has been reduced to n- in standard pronunciation since before 1750, and for about a century before that it had been pronounced hn-, dn-, tn-. It was fully voiced in O.E. and M.E. knack 1369, "deception, trick, device," of uncertain origin, probably from a Low Ger. word meaning "a sharp sounding blow" (cf. M.E. knak, c.1380; Ger. knacken "to crack"), of imitative origin. Sense of "special skill" is first recorded 1581, if this is in fact the same word. knapsack 1603, from Low Ger. Knapsack (Du. knapzak), probably from knappen "to eat" lit. "to crack, snap" + Sack "bag." knave O.E. cnafa "boy, male servant," common Gmc. (cf. O.H.G. knabo "boy, youth, servant," Ger. knabe "boy, lad," also probably related to O.E. cnapa "boy, youth, servant," O.N. knapi "servant boy," Du. knaap "a youth, servant," M.H.G. knappe "a young squire," Ger. Knappe "squire, shield-bearer"). The original meaning may have been "stick, piece of wood." Sense of "rogue, rascal" first recorded c.1205. In playing cards, "the jack," 1568. knead O.E. cnedan "to knead," from P.Gmc. *knedanan (cf. O.S. knedan, M.Du. cneden, Ger. kneten, O.N. knoða "to knead"). Originally a strong verb (past tense cnæd, pp. cneden). knee O.E. cneo, cneow "knee," from P.Gmc. *knewan (cf. O.N. kne, O.Fris. kni, M.Du. cnie, O.H.G. kniu), from PIE base *g(e)neu- (cf. Skt. janu, Avestan znum, Hittite genu "knee;" Gk. gony "knee," gonia "corner, angle;" L. genu "knee"). The verb meaning "to strike with the knee" is first recorded 1896. Phrase knee-high to a grasshopper first recorded 1851 (earliest form was knee-high to a toad, 1814). Knee-deep is from 1535. Knee-jerk (the patellar reflex) is a neurological phenomenon discovered and named 1876; the figurative use appeared soon after the phrase was coined. Knee-slapper "funny joke" is from 1966. kneel O.E. cneowlian, from cneow (see knee); cf. Goth. knussjan, Gk. gnyx "with bent knee." Past tense knelt is a modern formation (19c.) on analogy of feel/felt, etc. knell (n.) O.E. cnyll "sound made by a bell when struck or rung slowly," of imitative origin. Cf. M.H.G. erknellen "to resound," O.E. cnyllan. The Welsh cnull "death-bell" appears to be a borrowing from Eng. For vowel evolution, see bury. Knesset Israeli parliament, 1949, from Mishnaic Heb. keneseth "gathering, assembly," from stem of Heb. kanas "he gathered, assembled, collected." knick-knack 1580, reduplication of knack "stratagem, trick" (q.v.). knickerbocker "descendant of Du. settler of New York," 1831, from Diedrich Knickerbocker, the name under which Washington Irving published his popular "History of New York" (1809). The pen-name was borrowed from Irving's friend Herman Knickerbocker, and lit. means "toy marble-baker." knickers "short, loose-fitting undergarment," now usually for women, 1881, shortening of knickerbockers (1859), said to be so called for their resemblance to those of Dutchmen in Cruikshank's illustrations from Washington Irving's "History of New York" (see knickerbocker). knife late O.E. cnif, from O.N. knifr, from P.Gmc. *knibaz (cf. M.L.G. knif, M.Du. cnijf, Ger. kneip), of uncertain origin. The verb is first attested 1865, from the noun. Fr. canif "penknife" (1441) is borrowed from M.E. or O.N. knight O.E. cniht "boy, youth, servant," common W.Gmc. (cf. O.Fris. kniucht, Du. knecht, M.H.G. kneht "boy, youth, lad," Ger. Knecht "servant, bondsman, vassal"), of unknown origin. Meaning "military follower of a king or other superior" is from c.1100. Began to be used in a specific military sense in Hundred Years War, and gradually rose in importance through M.E. period until it became a rank in the nobility 16c. The verb meaning "to make a knight of (someone)" is from c.1300. Knighthood is O.E. cnihthad "the period between childhood and manhood;" sense of "rank or dignity of a knight" is from c.1300. The chess piece so called from c.1440. Knight in shining armor is from 1965. Knights of Columbus, society of Catholic men, founded 1882 in New Haven; Knights of Labor, trade union association, founded in Philadelphia, 1869; Knights of Pythias, secret order, founded in Washington, 1864. knit O.E. cnyttan "to tie with a knot, bind, fasten," related to O.N. knytja, M.L.G. knütten "to tie, knot," O.E. cnotta "a knot," from P.Gmc. *knuttjan, from stem *knutt-. Of brows, c.1386. Meaning "to do knitting" (especially plain stitch) is from 1530. Knitting "knitted work" attested from 1880. knob 1373, knobe, probably from a Scand. or Ger. source (cf. M.L.G. knobbe "knob," O.N. knyfill "short horn"). Meaning "knoll, isolated round hill" is first recorded 1650, especially in U.S. knock (v.) O.E. cnocian (W.Saxon cnucian), likely of imitative origin. Meaning "deprecate, put down" is from 1892. Knockoff "cheap imitation" is from 1966. Knock out "to stun by a blow for a 10-count" in boxing is short for to knock out of time; slang knockout "attractive person" is from 1892. To knock oneself out "make a great effort" is from 1936. Knock-kneed first attested 1774. Command knock it off "stop it" is first recorded 1902. Knocker "door banger" is from 1598; knockers "a woman's breasts" is from 1941. Knock up is 1663 in sense of "arouse by knocking at the door;" however it is little used in this sense in Amer.Eng., where the phrase means "get a woman pregnant" (1813), possibly ult. from knock "to copulate with" (1598; cf. slang knocking-shop "brothel," 1860). "Knocked up in the United States, amongst females, the phrase is equivalent to being enciente, so that Englishmen often unconsciously commit themselves when amongst our Yankee cousins." [John Camden Hotten, "The Slang Dictionary," London, 1860] knoll O.E. cnoll "hilltop, small hill," related to O.N. knollr "hilltop;" Ger. knolle "clod, lump;" Du. knol "turnip," nol "a hill." knot O.E. cnotta "intertwining of ropes, cords, etc.," from P.Gmc. *knuttan- (cf. Low Ger. knütte, Du. knot, O.H.G. knoto, Ger. Knoten, perhaps also O.N. knutr "knot, knob"). Fig. sense of "difficult problem" was in O.E. (cf. Gordian knot). Symbolic of the bond of wedlock, c.1225. As an ornament of dress, first attested 1400. Meaning "thickened part or protuberance on tissue of a plant" is from 1398. The nautical unit of measure (1633) is from the practice of attaching knotted string to the log line. The ship's speed can be measured by the number of knots that play out while the sand glass is running. "The distance between the knots on the log-line should contain 1/120 of a mile, supposing the glass to run exactly half a minute." [Jorge Juan and Antonio de Ulloa, "A Voyage to South America" 1760] The verb meaning "to tie in a knot" is from 1547. Knot-hole is from 1726. Knothead "stupid person" is from 1940. know O.E. cnawan (class VII strong verb; past tense cneow, pp. cnawen), from P.Gmc. *knoeanan (cf. O.H.G. bi-chnaan, ir-chnaan "to know"), from PIE base *gno- "to know" (cf. O.Pers. xšnasatiy "he shall know;" O.C.S. znati, Rus. znat "to know;" L. gnoscere; Gk. *gno-, as in gignoskein; Skt. jna- "know"). Once widespread in Gmc., this form is now retained only in Eng., where however it has widespread application, covering meanings that require two or more verbs in other languages (e.g. Ger. wissen, kennen, erkennen and in part können; Fr. connaître, savoir; L. novisse, cognoscire, scire; O.C.S. znaja, vemi). The Anglo-Saxons used two distinct words for this, witan (see wit) and cnawan. Meaning "to have sexual intercourse with" is attested from c.1200, from the O.T. To not know one's ass from one's elbow is from 1930. To know better "to have learned from experience" is from 1704. You know as a parenthetical filler is from 1712, but it has roots in 14c. M.E. Know-how "technical expertise" first recorded 1838 in Amer.Eng. Know-nothing "ignoramus" is from 1827; as a U.S. nativist political party, active 1853-56, the name refers to the secret society at the core of the party, about which members were instructed to answer, if asked about it, that they "know nothing." The party merged into the Republican Party. knowledge M.E. cnawlece. For first element see know. Second element obscure, perhaps cognate with the -lock "action, process," found in wedlock. knuckle c.1375, knokel "finger joint," common Gmc. (cf. M.L.G. knökel, M.Du. cnockel, Ger. knöchel), lit. "little bone," a dim. of P.Gmc. root *knuck- "bone" (cf. Ger. Knochen "bone). To knuckle down "apply oneself earnestly" is 1864 in Amer.Eng., extended from game of marbles; to knuckle under is first recorded 1740. Knuckle-duster is from 1858; knucklehead "stupid person" first recorded 1944. Knuckleball, type of baseball pitch, is from 1927. knurl 1608, probably a dim. of M.E. knor "knot" (c.1400), related to gnarl, from P.Gmc. *knur- (cf. Ger. knorren "a knotty excrescence"). koala 1808, from the Aboriginal name of the animal, variously given as koola, kulla, kula. koan Zen paradox, 1946, from Jap. ko "public" + an "matter for thought." Kodak brand of camera, arbitrary coinage by U.S. inventor George Eastman (1854-1932), U.S. trademark reg. Sept. 4, 1888. In 1890s, practically synonymous with camera. Kodachrome, reg. trademark for a method of color photography, 1915. koh-i-noor famous diamond, one of the British crown jewels after the annexation of Punjab in 1849, from Pers. koh-i-nur, lit. "mountain of light," from Pers. koh "mountain" + Arabic nur "light." kohl "powder used to darken eyelids," 1799, from Arabic kuhl (see alcohol). kohl rabi kind of cabbage, 1807, from Ger. kohlrabi, from It. cavoli rape, pl. of cavolo rapa, lit. "cole rape" (see rape (n.)). Form influenced by Ger. kohl "cabbage." koine 1913, common literary dialect of Gk. in Roman and early medieval period, from Gk. fem. sing. of koinos "common, ordinary." kola "the cola nut," 1830, variant of cola (q.v.). kolkhoz U.S.S.R. collective farm, 1921, from Rus., contraction of kollektivnoe khozyaistvo "collective farm." Komodo dragon 1927, named for Indonesian island of Komodo, where it lives. Komsomol Rus. communist youth organization, 1934, from Rus., contraction of Kommunisticheskii Soyuz Molodezhi "Communist Union of Youth." kooky 1959, Amer.Eng., originally teenager or beatnik slang, possibly a shortening of cuckoo. Noun form kook is attested from 1960. kopeck 1/100 of a ruble, from Rus. kopeika, from kop'e "lance" (cognate with Gk. kopis "chopper, cleaver"); so called because the coin showed the czar with lance in hand. Koran 1615, from Arabic qur'an "a reading, recitation, book," from root of quara-a "he read, recited." kos measure of distance in India (about 2 miles), from Hindi kos, from Skt. krosah, lit. "a call, a shout;" thus, "distance within which a man's shout can be heard." kosher "ritually fit or pure" (especially of food), 1851, from Yiddish kosher, from Heb. kasher "fit, proper, lawful," from base of kasher "was suitable, proper." General sense of "correct, legitimate" is from 1896. kowtow 1804 (n.), from Chinese k'o-t'ou custom of touching the ground with the forehead to show respect or submission, lit. "knock the head," from k'o "knock, bump" + t'ou "head." The verb in the fig. sense of "act in an obsequious manner" is from 1826. kraken "monster of the North Sea," 1755, from Norw. dial. krake. Kraut "a German" (esp. a German soldier), 1841, but popularized during World War I, from Ger. kraut "cabbage," considered a characteristic national dish. Kremlin 1662, from Fr. kremlin, from Rus. krem'l "citadel, fortress," of Tartar origin. Originally the citadel of any Rus. city, now esp. the one in Moscow. Used metonymically for "government of the U.S.S.R." from 1933. kriegspiel war games played with pieces on maps, 1811, from Ger. Kriegsspiel, lit. "war game," from Krieg "war," from M.H.G. kriec, mostly "exertion, opposition, enmity," from O.H.G. krig "stubbornness, defiance," probably cognate with Gk. hybris "violence" (see hubris; cf. also war). For second element, see spiel (n.). Introduced 1870s as officer training in British army. krill 1907, from Norw. kril "small fry of fish." kris "short Malay dagger with a wavy blade," 1577, said to be a Javanese word. Krishna eighth avatar of Vishnu, 1875, from Skt. krshnah, lit. "the Black One," cognate with O.C.S. crunu, Rus. coron, Serbo-Cr. crn, Czech cerny, O.Prus. krisnas "black," Lith. kersas "black and white, variegated;" ult. "burnt," from PIE base *ker- "heat, fire" (see carbon). Kriss Kringle 1830, Christ-kinkle (in a Pennsylvania German context), from Ger. Christkindlein, Christkind'l "Christ child." Properly Baby Jesus, not Santa Claus. Krugerrand 1967, South African gold coin (issued for investment purposes) bearing a portrait of Transvaal President Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger (1825-1904); second element is rand, unit of decimal currency introduced in Republic of South Africa 1961, named for The Rand, gold-mining area in Transvaal, short for Witwatersrand. krummhorn "curved wind instrument," 1864, from Ger., lit. "crooked horn," from krumm "curved, crooked." Krupp 1883, "gun made at the armaments works in Essen, Germany," founded by Ger. metallurgist Alfred Krupp (1812-87). krypton "inert gaseous element," 1898, coined by its discoverers (Sir William Ramsay and Morris W. Travers) from Gk. krypton, neut. of kryptos "hidden;" so called because it was a rare gas. Ku Klux Klan 1867, Amer.Eng., Kuklux Klan, a made-up name, supposedly from Gk. kyklos "circle" (see cycle) + Eng. clan. Originally an organization of former Confederate officers and soldiers, it was put down by the U.S. military, 1870s. Revived 1915 as a national racist Protestant fraternal organization, it grew to prominence but fractured in the 1930s. It had a smaller national revival 1950s as an anti-civil rights group, later with anti-government leanings. kudos "fame, renown," 1799, from Gk. kyddos "glory, fame, renown," from kydos "glory, fame," lit. "that which is heard of" (see caveat). A singular noun in Gk., but the final -s is usually mistaken as a plural suffix in Eng., leading to the barbarous back-formation kudo (first attested 1941). kudzu 1893, from Jap. kuzu. Perennial climbing plant native to Japan and China, introduced in U.S. southeast as forage (1920s) and to stop soil erosion (1930s) and quickly got out of hand. kulturkampf 1879, "struggle between Ger. government and Catholic Church over control of educational and ecclesiastical appointments, 1872-86," from Ger., lit. "struggle for culture," from Kultur + Kampf "combat, fight, struggle," from L. campus "field, battlefield." kumquat 1699, from Chinese (Cantonese) kamkwat, from kam "golden" + kwat "orange." Cantonese pronunciation of Chinese kin-ku. kung fu 1966, from dial. Chinese kung fu, literally "merit master." Kuomintang 1912, Chinese nationalist party founded by Sun Yat-Sen, led after 1925 by Chiang Kai-Shek; from kuo "nation, nationalist" + min "people" + tang "party." Kurd 1616, the people's self-designation. kvass Rus. fermented drink made from rye or barley, c.1553, from Rus. kvas "leaven," from O.C.S. kvasu "yeast," cognate with L. caseus "cheese." kvetch "to complain, whine," 1965, from Yiddish kvetshn, lit. "squeeze, press," from Ger. quetsche "crusher, presser." kyrie eleison c.1225, Gk. liturgical formula, adopted untranslated into Latin Mass, lit. "lord have mercy" (Ps. cxxii.3, Matt. xv.22, xvii.15, etc.). From kyrie, voc. of kyrios "lord, master" (see church) + eleeson, aorist imper. of eleo "I have pity on, show mercy to," from eleos "pity, mercy" (see alms).