Kedger, subs. (nautical).—A mean fellow; cadger (q.v.): ‘one in
everybody’s mess but in no one’s watch—an old term for a
fisherman.’—Ad. Smyth.
Keek-cloy.—See Kicks.
Keeker, subs. (Scots’).—In pl. = the eyes. For synonyms see Peepers.
From keek = to look; to peer. Cf. Pintle-keek.
Keel, subs. (Scots’).—The posteriors. For synonyms see Bum.
To keel over, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To come to grief.
Keelbully, subs. (Old Cant).—See quot.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Keelbullies, Lightermen that
carry Coals to and from the Ships, so called in Derision.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Keelhaul (or Keelrake), verb. (Old nautical: now recognised or
colloquial).—To punish offenders by dragging them under water on one
side of the ship, and up again on the other, by ropes attached to the
yard-arms on either side; or in small vessels, under the craft from
stem to stern. Hence, figuratively, to treat roughly; to chastise.
1626. Capt. J. Smith, Accidence, in Wks. (Arber) p. 790. The
Marshall is to punish offendors, and to see Justice executed
according to directions, as ducking at yards arme, hawling vnder
the keele.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Keel-hale, to draw by a Rope
tied to the Neck, and fastned to a Tackle (with a jerk) quite under
the Keel or bottom of the Ship.
1710. C. Shadwell, Fair Quaker of Deal, i. May I be keel-hawled, if
any man in the universe has more reformed the navy than myself.
1734. C. Johnson, History of Highwaymen etc., 349. He was often
whipp’d at the cap stern, put in the Bilboes, and once keelhauled.
1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, iii. Whoever told him so was a lying,
lubberly rascal, and deserved to be keel-hauled.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v., keel-hawling.
1836. M. Scott, Cringle’s Log, xii. While the old woman keelhauled
me with a poker on one side, he jerked at me on the other, until at
length he gave me a regular cross-buttock.
1837. Marryat, Snarley Yow, x. The unfortunate Smallbones was to be
keel-hauled.
Keelhauling, subs. (old: now recognised).—See Keelhaul: hence a good
rating; rough treatment.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1838. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 2. S. xxiii. ‘There’s a keel-hauling
in store for some of you that shall be nameless, as sure as you are
born.’
Keen, subs. (American cadets’).—A funny story; a joke: to get off a
keen = to make a witty remark.
Keep, subs. (colloquial).—1. Board and lodging.
1861. T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, 1. viii. I performed some
services to the College in return for my keep.
1869. Blackmore, Lorna Doone, xlvi. Moreover, we could not bear the
idea that she should labor for her keep.