KETCH, kech, _n._ a small two-masted vessel, generally used as a yacht or a
bomb-vessel. [Corr. from Turk. _qaíq_, a boat, whence Fr. _caïque_.]
KETCHUP, kech'up, _n._ a sauce for flavouring soups, meats, &c., flavoured
with mushrooms, tomatoes, &c.--Also CATCH'UP, CAT'SUP. [East Ind.
_kitjap_.]
KETTLE, ket'l, _n._ a vessel of metal, for heating or boiling liquids: a
cavity like a kettle in rock, sand, &c.: (_Shak._) kettle-drum.--_ns._
KETT'LE-DRUM, a musical instrument now used chiefly in orchestras and in
cavalry bands, consisting of a hollow brass hemisphere with a parchment
head, sounded by soft-headed elastic drumsticks: a tea-party;
KETT'LE-DRUM'MER; KETT'LE-HOLD'ER, a little mat, &c., for holding a kettle
when hot.--_n.pl._ KETT'LE-PINS, skittle-pins.--A KETTLE OF FISH, or A
PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH, a task of great difficulty, an awkward mess--most
probably in this sense connected with _kiddle_. [A.S. _cetel_; Ger.
_kessel_, Goth. _katils_; all perh. from L. _catillus_, dim. of _catinus_,
a deep cooking-vessel.]
KEX, keks, _n._ the dry stalk of the hemlock or other umbelliferous
plants.--Also KECKS, KECK'SY (prop. _adj._), and KECK.
KEY, k[=e], _n._ an instrument for shutting or opening a lock: that by
which something is screwed or turned: the middle stone of an arch: a piece
of wood let into another piece crosswise to prevent warping: (_mus._) one
of the small levers in musical instruments for producing notes: the
fundamental note of a piece of music: that which explains a mystery: a book
containing answers to exercises, &c.--_ns._ KEY'BOARD, the keys or levers
in a piano or organ arranged along a flat board; KEY'-B[=U]'GLE, a bugle
with keys, having a compass of two octaves including semitones.--_adjs._
KEY'-COLD (_Shak._), cold as a key, lifeless; KEYED, furnished with keys,
as a musical instrument: set to a particular key, as a tune.--_ns._
KEY'HOLE, the hole in which a key of a door, &c., is inserted; KEY'NOTE,
the key or fundamental note of a piece of music; any central principle or
controlling thought; KEY'-PIN, the pivot on which a pipe-key turns: a pin
serving as fulcrum for a key of an organ, &c.; KEY'-PLATE, the escutcheon
around a keyhole; KEY'RING, a ring for holding a bunch of keys; KEY'-SEAT,
a groove for receiving a key, to prevent one piece of machinery from
turning on another; KEY'STONE, the stone at the apex of an arch: the chief
element in any system.--HAVE THE KEY OF THE STREET (_coll._), to be locked
out: to be homeless; POWER OF THE KEYS, the power to loose and bind, to
administer ecclesiastical discipline--a special authority conferred by
Christ on Peter (Matt. xvi. 19), or Peter in conjunction with the other
apostles, and claimed by the popes as the alleged successors to St Peter.
Others explain it as belonging only to the apostles themselves, as
descending to the bishops and clergy of the Christian Church, or as
belonging to all Christ's disciples alike. [A.S. _cæg_, a key.]
KEY, k[=e], _n._ (_Dryden_). Same as QUAY.
KEY, k[=e], _n._ a low island near the coast.--Also CAY.
KEYS, k[=e]z, _n.pl._ a contraction of HOUSE OF KEYS, a house of 24
representatives constituting the lower branch of the Legislature (Court of
Tynwald) of the Isle of Man, self-elective down to 1866. [Manx
_kiare-as-feed_, four-and-twenty.]
KHAKI, kä'ki, _adj._ dust-coloured.--_n._ a light drab cloth used for some
East Indian and other uniforms.
KHALIF. See CALIF.
KHAMSIN, kam'sin, _n._ a hot south-west wind in Egypt, blowing for about
fifty days from about the middle of March. [Ar.]
KHAN, kan, _n._ an Eastern inn, a caravansary. [Turk.,--Pers. _kh[=a]na_, a
house, a tent.]
KHAN, kan, _n._ in North Asia, a prince or chief: in Persia, a
governor.--_n._ KHAN'ATE, the dominion or jurisdiction of a khan. [Pers.
_kh[=a]n_, lord or prince, a Tartar word.]
KHEDIVE, ked-[=e]v', _n._ the title since 1867 of the viceroy or ruler of
Egypt.--_n._ KHEDI'VIATE, the office of the khedive, or his territory.
[Fr.,--Pers. _khad[=i]w_, prince.]
KHEL, kel, _n._ in Afghanistan, a clan or family connection--a sociological
group between the tribe and the family.