King is often used adjectively, or in combination, to denote
preëminence or superiority in some particular; as, kingbird; king crow;
king vulture.
Apostolic king. See Apostolic. - - King-at-arms, or King-of- arms, the
chief heraldic officer of a country. In England the king-at-arms was
formerly of great authority. His business is to direct the heralds,
preside at their chapters, and have the jurisdiction of armory. There
are three principal kings-at- arms, viz., Garter, Clarencieux, and
Norroy. The latter (literally north roy or north king) officiates north
of the Trent. -- King auk (Zoöl.), the little auk or sea dove. -- King
bird of paradise. (Zoöl.), See Bird of paradise. -- King card, in
whist, the best unplayed card of each suit; thus, if the ace and king
of a suit have been played, the queen is the king card of the suit. --
King Cole , a legendary king of Britain, who is said to have reigned in
the third century. -- King conch (Zoöl.), a large and handsome univalve
shell (Cassis cameo), found in the West Indies. It is used for making
cameos. See Helmet shell, under Helmet. -- King Cotton, a popular
personification of the great staple production of the southern United
States. -- King crab. (Zoöl.) (a) The limulus or horseshoe crab. See
Limulus. (b) The large European spider crab or thornback (Maia
squinado). -- King crow. (Zoöl.) (a) A black drongo shrike (Buchanga
atra) of India; -- so called because, while breeding, they attack and
drive away hawks, crows, and other large birds. (b) The Dicrurus
macrocercus of India, a crested bird with a long, forked tail. Its
color is black, with green and blue reflections. Called also devil
bird. -- King duck (Zoöl.), a large and handsome eider duck (Somateria
spectabilis), inhabiting the arctic regions of both continents. -- King
eagle (Zoöl.), an eagle (Aquila heliaca) found in Asia and Southeastern
Europe. It is about as large as the golden eagle. Some writers believe
it to be the imperial eagle of Rome. -- King hake (Zoöl.), an American
hake (Phycis regius), found in deep water along the Atlantic coast. --
King monkey (Zoöl.), an African monkey (Colobus polycomus), inhabiting
Sierra Leone. -- King mullet (Zoöl.), a West Indian red mullet (Upeneus
maculatus); -- so called on account of its great beauty. Called also
goldfish. -- King of terrors, death. -- King parrakeet (Zoöl.), a
handsome Australian parrakeet (Platycercys scapulatus), often kept in a
cage. Its prevailing color is bright red, with the back and wings
bright green, the rump blue, and tail black. -- King penguin (Zoöl.),
any large species of penguin of the genus Aptenodytes; esp., A.
longirostris, of the Falkland Islands and Kerguelen Land, and A.
Patagonica, of Patagonia. -- King rail (Zoöl.), a small American rail
(Rallus elegans), living in fresh- water marshes. The upper parts are
fulvous brown, striped with black; the breast is deep cinnamon color.
-- King salmon (Zoöl.), the quinnat. See Quinnat. -- King's, or
Queen's, counsel (Eng. Law), barristers learned in the law, who have
been called within the bar, and selected to be the king's or queen's
counsel. They answer in some measure to the advocates of the revenue
(advocati fisci) among the Romans. They can not be employed against the
crown without special license. Wharton's Law Dict. -- King's cushion, a
temporary seat made by two persons crossing their hands. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell. -- The king's English, correct or current language of good
speakers; pure English. Shak. -- King's or Queen's, evidence, testimony
in favor of the Crown by a witness who confesses his guilt as an
accomplice. See under Evidence. [Eng.] -- King's evil, scrofula; -- so
called because formerly supposed to be healed by the touch of a king.
-- King snake (Zoöl.), a large, nearly black, harmless snake
(Ophiobolus getulus) of the Southern United States; -- so called
because it kills and eats other kinds of snakes, including even the
rattlesnake. -- King's spear (Bot.), the white asphodel (Asphodelus
albus). -- King's yellow, a yellow pigment, consisting essentially of
sulphide and oxide of arsenic; -- called also yellow orpiment. -- King
tody (Zoöl.), a small fly-catching bird (Eurylaimus serilophus) of
tropical America. The head is adorned with a large, spreading,
fan-shaped crest, which is bright red, edged with black. -- King
vulture (Zoöl.), a large species of vulture (Sarcorhamphus papa),
ranging from Mexico to Paraguay, The general color is white. The wings
and tail are black, and the naked carunculated head and the neck are
briliantly colored with scarlet, yellow, orange, and blue. So called
because it drives away other vultures while feeding. -- King wood, a
wood from Brazil, called also violet wood, beautifully streaked in
violet tints, used in turning and small cabinetwork. The tree is
probably a species of Dalbergia. See Jacaranda.
King (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Kinged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Kinging). ]
To supply with a king; to make a king of; to raise to royalty. [R.]
Shak.
Those traitorous captains of Israel who kinged themselves by
slaying their masters and reigning in their stead.
South.
King"bird (-brd), n. (Zoöl.) 1. A small American bird (Tyrannus
tyrannus, or T. Carolinensis), noted for its courage in attacking
larger birds, even hawks and eagles, especially when they approach its
nest in the breeding season. It is a typical tyrant flycatcher, taking
various insects upon the wing. It is dark ash above, and blackish on
the head and tail. The quills and wing coverts are whitish at the
edges. It is white beneath, with a white terminal band on the tail. The
feathers on the head of the adults show a bright orange basal spot when
erected. Called also bee bird, and bee martin. Several Southern and
Western species of Tyrannus are also called king birds.