1823. Bee, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. Kite-flying—said of a truant
husband.
Kitten, subs. (thieves’).—A pint or half-pint pewter pot. See Cat subs.
sense 5.
Verb. (colloquial).—To be brought to bed; to bust up; to explode.
Kittie (also Kittock), subs. (Old Scots’). 1. Generic for a girl; (2) a
romping wench; (3) a harlot.
d. 1513. Dunbar, Devorit with Dreme, in Poems (ut supra), I, 83. So
many ane kitty dressed up with golden chenye.
c. 1538. Lyndsay, Against Syde Taillis, Wks. (1879), i. 131. I ken
ane man, quchilk sevoir greit aithir. How he did lift ane kittokis
claithis. Idem, i. 135. Kittei’s Confessioun. The Curate kittie
wold have kissed.
d. 1542. James V, Christ’s Kirk on the Green. There cam our kiteies
weschin clene In thair now kirtillis of gray.
Kittle-breeks, subs. (Scots’).—An irritable person.
Kittle-pitchering, subs. (old).—See quot.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. A jocular method of hobbling or
bothering a troublesome teller of long stories; this is done by
contradicting some very immaterial circumstance at the beginning of
the narration, the objections to which being settled, others are
immediately started to some new particular of like consequence,
thus impeding, or rather not suffering him to enter into the main
story. Kittle-pitchering is often practised in confederacy.
Kittler, subs. (American thieves’).—One who tickles or pleases.
Kitty, subs. (old).—The Bridewell or prison at Durham: hence a prison
or gaol generally. [From Kidcote (q.v.)].
1827–8. Hone, Table Book. He would put him in the kitty for an
impostor.
2. in pl. (old).—Effects; furniture; stock-in-trade; marbles (q.v.). To
seize one’s kittys = to take one’s effects.—Lex. Bal. (1811).