KEPHALIC. Same as CEPHALIC.
KEPI, kep'i, _n._ a flat-topped forage-cap with a straight peak. [Fr.
_képi_.]
KEPLERIAN, kep-l[=e]'ri-an, _adj._ pertaining to the great German
astronomer, Johann _Kepler_ (1571-1630).--For KEPLER'S LAWS, see LAW.
KEPT, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of _keep_.
KERAMIC. Same as CERAMIC.
KERASINE, ker'a-sin, _adj._ like or made of horn.--_ns._ KERAT[=I]'ASIS, a
morbid condition characterised by warty or horny growths; KER'ATIN, a
nitrogenous compound, the essential ingredient of horny tissue, as of
horns, nails, &c. [Gr. _keras_, a horn.]
KERATITIS, ker-a-t[=i]'tis, _n._ inflammation of the cornea, either acute
or chronic.--_n._ KERATAL'GIA, pain in the cornea.
KERBSTONE, k[.e]rb'st[=o]n, _n._ a form of curbstone.
KERCHIEF, k[.e]r'chif, _n._ any loose cloth used in dress: (_orig._) a
square piece of cloth worn by women to cover the head.--_v.t._ to cover or
dress with a kerchief.--_adjs._ KER'CHIEFED, KER'CHIEFT. [M. E.
_couerchef_--O. Fr. _covrechef_ (Fr. _couvrechef_)--_covrir_, to cover,
_chef_, the head.]
KERF, kerf, _n._ the groove made by a saw: wool cut off at once by a
wool-shearing machine: a single layer of hay, turf, &c., cut.
KERION, k[=e]'ri-on, _n._ a suppurative inflammation of the hair-follicles
of the scalp. [Gr.]
KERITE, k[=e]'r[=i]t, _n._ a kind of artificial vulcanite of india-rubber
and animal or vegetable oil. [Gr. _k[=e]ros_, wax.]
KERMES, k[.e]r'm[=e]z, _n._ a dye-stuff which consists of the bodies of the
females of a species of coccus. [Pers.]
KERMESS, k[.e]r'mes, _n._ a wake or fair in the Low Countries. [Dut.
_kermis_--_kerk_, church, _mis_, mass.]
KERN. See QUERN.
KERN, k[.e]rn _n._ (_Scot._) the last sheaf of the harvest: a
harvest-home--also KIRN.--_n._ KERN'-B[=A]'BY, an image decorated with
blades of corn, &c., carried before reapers at their harvest-home. [A
variant of _corn_.]
KERN, KERNE, k[.e]rn, _n._ an Irish foot-soldier: a boor.--_adj._ KERN'ISH,
clownish. [Ir. _ceatharnach_.]
KERN, k[.e]rn, _v.i._ to granulate.
KERN, k[.e]rn, _n._ (_print._) that part of a type which overhangs the stem
or shank.
KERNEL, k[.e]r'nel, _n._ anything in a husk or shell: the substance in the
shell of a nut: the seed of a pulpy fruit: the important part of
anything.--_adj._ KER'NELLY, full of, or resembling, kernels. [A.S.
_cyrnel_--_corn_, grain, and dim. suffix _-el_; Ger. _kern_, a grain.]
KEROSENE, ker'o-s[=e]n, _n._ an oil obtained from bituminous coal, used for
lamps, &c. [Gr. _k[=e]ros_, wax.]
KERSEY, k[.e]r'zi, _n._ a coarse woollen cloth. [Perh. from _Kersey_ in
Suffolk.]
KERSEYMERE, k[.e]r'zi-m[=e]r or k[.e]r-zi-m[.e]r', _n._ twilled cloth of
the finest wools. [A corr. of _cassimere_, _cashmere_.]
KERVE, k[.e]rv, _v.t._ (_Spens._) a form of carve.
KESAR, k[=e]'zar, _n._ Same as KAISER.
KESTREL, kes'trel, _n._ a small species of falcon. [O. Fr.
_quercerelle_--L. _querquedula_.]