1889. The Rialto, 23 March. Tintos climbed to 12¼, and even Kaffirs
raised their sickly heads.
1895. Daily Telegraph, 1 April, p. 1, col. 6. Advt. Kaffirs, as
South African Mining shares are euphemistically called by dealers
in the London Stock Exchange have been the leading market for the
past few months.
Kail. Kail through the reek, phr. (Scots’).—Bitter language or hard
usage. [In allusion to the unpalatableness of smoky broth. To give one
his kail through the reek = to reprove violently; to punish with
severity.]
1817. Scott, Rob Roy, iii. 75. If he brings in the Glengyle folk,
and the Glenfinlas and Balquhidder lads, he may come to gie you
your kail through the reek.
1827–30. Scott, Tales of my Landlord, iii. 12. They set till the
sodgers, and I think they gae them their kail through the reek.
Ka me, Ka thee, phr. (old Scots’: now general).—‘One good turn deserves
another’; ‘scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.’ Also Ka and Kob.
1547. Heywood, Poems on Proverbs, E. 1 b. Ka me, ka thee, one good
tourne asketh another.
1605. Jonson, etc., Eastward Hoe [Dodsley, Old Plays, iv. 221].
Thou art pandar to me for my wench, and I to thee for thy
cousenage. K me, k thee, runs through court and country.
1608. Armyn, Nest of Ninnies. But kay me, Ile kay thee; give me an
inch to day, Ile give thee an ell to morrow.
1611. Barry, Ram Alley [Dodsley, Old Plays, v. 494]. You know the
law has tricks; Ka me, ka thee.
d. 1625. Lodge, Satire, i. To keepe this rule—kawe me, and I kawe
thee; To play the saints whereas we divels be.
1630. Taylor, Works, Ep. 6. Ka mee, ka thee. My muse hath vow’d,
revenge shall have her swindge To catch a parret in the woodcocks
sprindge, etc.
1634. Withal, Dict., p. 565. Manus manum fricat; ka me, ka thee,
one good turne requireth another.
1653. Brome, The City Wit, in Wks. (1873), i. 444. Ka me, ka thee:
an old kind of court service.
1658. Rowley, Witch of Edmonton, ii. 1. If you’ll be so kind as to
ka me one good turn, I’ll be so courteous to kob you another.
1659. Massinger, City Madam, ii. 1. We cash-keepers Hold
correspondence, supply one another On all occasions. I can borrow
for a week Two hundred pounds of one, as much of a second, A third
lays down the rest; and when they want, As my master’s money comes
in, I do repay it. Ka me, ka thee.
1672. Ray, Proverbs, p. 126, s.v. Lend me an oath or testimony;
swear for me, and I’ll do as much for you; or claw me, and i’ll
claw you; commend me, and I’ll commend you.
1721. Kelly, Scottish Proverbs, Lett. K. 21, s.v.
Kangaroo. Kangaroo droop, subs. phr. (common).—A feminine affectation
(cf. Grecian Bend and Roman fall): the hands are brought close to the
breast and set to droop palm downward, as if muscular action were lost.
Kangaroo voting, subs. phr. (American political).—The Australian ballot
system adopted, with sundry modifications, in many of the
States.—Norton.
Kanits, subs. (back slang).—A stink. Kanitseno = a stinking one.
Kant, subs. (common).—See Cant, subs., sense 3.
Kanuck.—See Canack.
Karimption, subs. (American).—A gang; a mob; a party.
Karplunk, intj. (American).—See Cachunk.
Kate (or Katey), subs. (Old Cant).—1. A picklock: cf. Betty and Jenny.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Kate. ’Tis a Rum Kate, that is
a Clever Picklock.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Kate.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Katey.