Kes"trel (ks"trl), n. [See Castrel.] (Zoöl.) 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.
This word is often used in contempt, as of a mean kind of hawk. "Kites
and kestrels have a resemblance with hawks." Bacon.
Ket (kt), n. [Icel. kjöt flesh; akin to Sw. kött, Dan. kjöd.] Carrion;
any filth. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Ketch (kch), n. [Prob. corrupted fr. Turk. qq : cf. F. caiche. Cf.
Caïque.] (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, n. A hangman. See Jack Ketch.
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.
Ketch"up (-p), n. A sauce. See Catchup.
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.
||Ket`mie" (?), n. (Bot.) The name of certain African species of
||Hibiscus, cultivated for the acid of their mucilage. [Written also
||ketmia.]
||
Ke"tol (k"tl), n. [Ketone + indol.] (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 fæces.
Ke"tone (k"tn), 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.
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.
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Ke*ton"ic (k*tn"k), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, a
ketone; as, a ketonic acid.
Ket"tle (kt"t'l), 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 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.
Ket"tle*drum` (-drm`), n. 1. (Mus.) A drum made of thin copper in the
form of a hemispherical kettle, with parchment stretched over the mouth
of it.
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.
Ket"tle*drum`mer (?), n. One who plays on a kettledrum.
||Keu"per (koi"pr), n. [G.] (Geol.) The upper division of the European
||Triassic. See Chart of Geology.
||
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.