1867. Latham, Dict., s.v. Kettledrum. Either recent or revived,
this word is about two years old.
1869. Mrs. H. Wood, Roland Yorke, ch. xiii. Mrs. Bede Greatorex had
cards out for that afternoon, bidding the great world to a
kettle-drum; and she was calculating what quantities of ices and
strawberries to order in.
1878. Hatton, Cruel London, 1. iii. Men are as frivolous and as
full of gossip and scandal as the tabbies at a West End
kettle-drum.
1888. Detroit Free Press, 8 Dec. ‘Won’t it be rather hard at first
to give up all the pink suppers and kettledrums and afternoon
what-do-you-call-’ems?’ with a suspicion of a grin on his face.
1890. Daily Telegraph, 28 Jan. The ladies’ kettledrum is not to be
shut against male sympathisers, and gentlemen duly provided with
tickets are to be suffered to join in the festivities.
Kew, subs. (back slang).—A week.
Key, subs. (venery).—1. The penis: i.e. The key that lets a man in and
the maid out. For synonyms see Creamstick and Prick.
1772. G. A. Stevens, Songs Comic & Satyrical [1788]. Here’s ... the
lock of all locks and unlocking the same.... That lock has the
casket of Cupid within it, So——here’s to the key, lads,—the
critical minute.