1836. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, 153. It was his ambition to do
something in the celebrated kiddy or stage-coach way.
Adj. (common).—Fashionable; smart (q.v.). See Kiddily.
1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, p. 5. I’ll tell you; before we
start on our sprees and rambles, I’ll send for that kiddy artist,
Dicky Primefit, the dandy habit-maker, of Regent Street.
1848. Punch, x. 19. A youth there was of changefulle lotte, Now
bryght, now seedie broune. Hee called hymselfe a kiddie swelle And
lived upon ye toune.
b. 1876. C. Hindley, Life and Times of James Catnach. So kiddy is
my famble.
Kiddyish, adj. (old).—Stylish; up to date (q.v.).
1820. Jack Randall’s Diary. Think of the kiddyish spree we had on
such a day.
Kiddy Nipper, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Kiddy nippers, thieves who cut off
the waistcoat pockets of taylors, when cross legged on the board,
thereby grabbling their bit.
Kid-leather, subs. (venery).—Generic for harlotry of tender years.
Kidlet. See kiddy, sense 1.
Kidleybenders, subs. (American).—Ice which undulates under the feet of
a skater.
Kidment, subs. (common).—1. Humbug; gammon (q.v.). Also (cheap Jack’s)
= professional patter.
1836. Brandon, Poverty, Mendacity, and Crime, p. 106.
1884. Daily Telegraph, 8 August, p. 3, col. 2. That depended on
what a man’s talents were, and how he purposed employing them.
‘Employing them for kidment, of course,’ returned the elderly
mumper. ‘That’s what talents is give a man for, hain’t it?’