Dictionary: KEF – KEZ

► KEF n. 1. hashish and mixtures of marijuana and tobacco → E19 drug culture sl.
n. 2. marijuana or the pleasure derived from smoking it → 20C sl.
► KEFFAL n. a horse → L17 criminals’ sl.
► KEFFEL n. a horse, esp. a sorry, worthless horse → 1700 Eng. dial. & sl.
► KEFIELD n. a horse, esp. a sorry, worthless horse → 1700 Eng. dial. & sl.
► KEFT adj. bought, paid for → 1300 obs.
► KEFTY adj. awkward, clumsy → 1875 Eng. dial.
► KEFTY-HANDED adj. left-handed → 1875 Eng. dial.
► KEG int. an exclamation of approval → 1990 US students’ sl.
n. 1. the stomach → 1877 Amer. dial.
n. 2. bad or inferior meat; carrion → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 3. beer; a barrel of beer → 1940 Aust. & NZ sl.
vb. 1. to abstain from drinking alcohol → L18 US sl.
vb. 2. to annoy, to vex, to insult, to give sharp offense; to grieve → 1801 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► KEG FLY n. a person who hovers around the beer keg at parties → 1980 US students’ sl.
► KEGGER n. a party featuring a large supply of beer → 1960 US students’ sl.
► KEGGING adj. excellent; worthy of admiration → 1990 US students’ sl.
n. 1. buying alcohol legally, and then taking it to a teetotal or ‘dry’ area of the country for consumption → 1910 NZ sl.
n. 2. indulging in a party where kegs of beer are consumed → 1970 US sl.
► KEGGY n. decaying vegetables or food → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► KEG IT UP vb. to drink, usually in a party or public house → 1990 NZ sl.
► KEG-MEG n. 1. tripe → M19 sl.
n. 2. bad, unwholesome food; refuse of any kind, anything valueless or worthless → 1875 Eng. dial.
n. 3. a gossip, a newsmonger; a pert, meddling woman or girl → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 4. chatter, idle talk; an unsettled argument → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 5. an intimate conversation → L19 sl.
► KEGMEG SHOP n. a tripe shop → M19 sl.
► KEG UP vb. to hide stuff away for a rainy day; to stay put in one place, as in a hunting shack in rough weather → 1958 Amer. dial.
► KEIFER n. 1. the female genitals → 19C Brit. sl.
n. 2. a crooked lawyer → L19 US sl.
n. 3. women regarded as sex objects → L19 sl.
► KEIKI n. a young child → 1938 Hawaii
► KEIR vb. to drive off → 1562 Sc. obs.
► KEISTER n. 1. a suitcase or satchel; a handbag; a burglar’s tool case, a salesman’s sample case, etc.; a valise, a chest or box → 1882 US sl.
n. 2. the female genitals → E20 US criminals’ sl.
n. 3. a safe → 1913 US sl.
n. 4. the buttocks → 1931 US sl.
► KEKE vb. to cackle → 1545 obs.
► KEKS n. 1. trousers → L19 sl.
n. 2. knickers, underpants → 1960 sl.
► KELCH n. a White person; used contemptuously or dismissively → 1912 sl.
► KELD adj. cold → 1310 obs.
n. a well, a fountain, a spring; a deep, still, smooth part of a river → 1697 N. Eng. dial.
vb. to become cold → 1300 obs.
► KELDER n. the womb → 1647 obs.
► KELEUSMATICALLY adv. imperatively, by way of a command → 1885
► KELF n. a lubber, a blockhead, a lout, an oaf → 1664 obs.
► KELK n. the roe of a fish → 1420 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► KELKS n. the testicles → 19C Eng. dial.
► KELL n. 1. a woman’s hair-net, cap, or head-dress → 1400 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 2. a long cloak or garment; a shroud → 1425 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 3. a well, a fountain, a spring; a deep, still, smooth part of a river → 1697 N. Eng. dial.
► KELLY n. a man’s hat → 1908 Amer. dial.
► KELP n. a hat → 1891 sl. (Bk.)
► KELPIE ► KELPY n. the Lowland Scottish name of a fabled water-spirit or demon assuming various shapes, but usually appearing in that of a horse; it is reputed to haunt lakes and rivers, and to take delight in, or even to bring about, the drowning of travellers and others → 1747 Sc.
► KELP RAFT n. a mass of kelp floating on the sea → 1897
► KELSOUNS n. drawers, linen trousers → 1568 Sc. obs.
► KELT n. 1. a sheep’s fleece → 1722 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
n. 2. a White person; used contemptuously or dismissively → 1912 sl.
n. 3. a very light mulatto → M20 US sl., derogatory
► KELTCH n. 1. a White person; used contemptuously or dismissively → 1912 sl.
n. 2. a very light mulatto → M20 US sl., derogatory
► KELTER n. 1. good condition; good health or spirits → 1643
n. 2. money, cash → 1807 N. Eng. dial.; also used in plural
n. 3. rubbish; nonsense → 1847 Eng. dial.
► KELTIES n. children → 1808 Sc.
► KELTIE’S MENDS n. a glass or bumper imposed as a fine on one who does not drink fair → 1692 Sc. obs. 
► KELTY n. 1. a term denoting the complete draining of a glass of liquor (indicated by turning it upside down) → 1664 Sc. obs.
n. 2. a glass or bumper imposed as a fine on one who does not drink fair → 1692 Sc. obs.
► KELTZ n. a White person; used contemptuously or dismissively → 1912 sl.
► KELUMPUS! int. intended to convey an imitation of the sound of a falling body → 1891 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► KEMB vb. 1. to trim; to make smooth or elegant → 1386 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to disentangle and smooth hair by drawing a comb through it; to curry a horse → 1400 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► KEMESA n. a shirt → M17 sl.
► KEMP n. 1. a big, strong, and brave warrior or athlete; a professional fighter, wrestler, etc.; a champion → 700
n. 2. a coarse or stout hair, as those of the eyebrows → 1386 obs.
vb. to fight or contend in battle with another → 1400 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
► KEMPER n. a prize-fighter, a professional fighter → 1891 Sc.
► KEMPERY-MAN n. a prize-fighter, a professional fighter → 1765 obs.
► KEMPKIN n. a small barrel, a keg → 1580 Sc. obs.
► KEN vb. 1. to make known, to declare, to confess, to acknowledge → 975 obs.
vb. 2. to engender, to beget; to conceive; to give birth to → 1000 obs.
vb. 3. to direct, to guide, to show the way to → 1200 obs.
vb. 4. to recognize; to identify → 1205 obs. exc. Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
vb. 5. to descry, to see; to catch sight of, to discover by sight; to look at, to scan → 1205 arch.
vb. 6. to impart the knowledge of a thing; to teach one something → 1225 obs.
vb. 7. of eggs: to hatch out → 1300 obs.
vb. 8. to get to know, to ascertain, to find out → 1330 obs.
vb. 9. to give instruction or directions → 1330 obs.
vb. 10. to know a thing; to have knowledge of or about; to be acquainted with → 1300 now chiefly Sc.
vb. 11. to know, to understand, to perceive a fact, etc.; to be aware of → 1300 now chiefly Sc.
vb. 12. to have skill; to be accomplished in → 1362 obs.
► KENCH vb. to laugh loudly → 1225 obs.
► KEND adj. known → 1450 Sc.
► KENE vb. to be born → 1275 obs.
► KENELL n. the surface drain of a street; the gutter → 1582
► KENIRD adj. drunk → M19 back-slang
► KEN-MARK n. a mark by which a thing may be recognized → 1885 Sc.
► KENNEBEC TURKEY n. a smoked herring; sometimes a mackerel → 1975 Amer. dial.
► KENNED adj. known → 1450 Sc.
► KENNEDY n. a Canada goose → 1929 Amer. dial.
► KENNEL n. 1. the neck → 1532 obs.
n. 2. a pack, crew, gang, or persons → 1581 obs.
n. 3. the surface drain of a street; the gutter → 1582
n. 4. a pack or troop of animals, as wolves, leopards, and lions → 1641
n. 5. a the hole or lair of the fox → 1735
n. 6. a small or mean dwelling or hut → 1837
n. 7. a house or room → 1837 US sl.
vb. 1. of a fox or other wild beast: to retreat into a lair → 1552
vb. 2. to put in a place of retreat or confinement → 1582
vb. 3. of a person: to lodge or lurk; to inhabit, to dwell; used contemptuously → 1599
► KENNELAGE n. gutters collectively → 1612 obs.
► KENNELLED adj. lying in the gutter → 1794
► KENNELLY adj. such as is found in a gutter → 1803
► KENNEL-NYMPH n. a girl of the streets; a prostitute → 1771
► KENNEL-RAKER n. a raker of the gutter; a scavenger; also, a term of abuse → 1589 obs.
► KENNEL WITS n. muddy brains, confusion, muddle-headedness → 1598 obs.
► KENNER n. one who knows → 1686
► KENNET n. a small dog, used in hunting → 1300 obs.
► KENNET-COLOUR adj. grey-coloured → 1530 obs.
► KENNICK n. a mixture of ‘flash-patter’ (cant) and ‘padding-ken’ (low lodging-house) talk → 1860 sl.
► KENNING n. 1. a sign, token → 1300 obs.
n. 2. appearance → 1300 obs.
n. 3. teaching, instruction → 1320 obs.
n. 4. visual cognition; sight or view → 1400 obs.
n. 5. mental cognition; knowledge, cognizance; recognition → 1440 obs. Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
n. 6. a recognizable portion; just enough to be perceived; a little; a small amount or quantity → 1786 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
► KENNING BY KENNING phr. increasing a seaman’s wages by the work he does → 1860 nautical colloq., chiefly used by the old whalers’
► KENNING-GLASS n. a spy-glass, a small telescope → 1603 obs.
► KENNING-PLACE n. a place prominently in sight → 1610 obs.
► KENNINGTON LANE n. pain → 1610 obs.
► KENNIT adj. known → 1513 Sc.
► KENNURD adj. tipsy → 1859 back-slang
► KENO! int. 1. used to signify that something is successfully completed → 1890 Amer. dial.
int. 2. everything is all right → 1945 US Western usage (Bk.)
► KENODOXY n. the love, study, or desire of vainglory → 1656 obs.
► KENOOZER n. a connoisseur → 1915 World War I Amer. sl.
► KENOPHOBIA n. an abnormal fear of a void or open spaces → 1991 (Bk.)
► KENSINGTON n. a social gathering → 1931 Amer. dial.
► KENSINGTON GORE n. artificial blood, e.g. tomato juice, as used on the stage → 1920 theatrical sl.
► KENSO n. Kensington racecourse, Sydney → 20C Aust. sporting usage
► KENSON n. a social gathering → 1948 Amer. dial.
► KENSPECK adj. easily recognizable, clearly visible, conspicuous → 1590 Eng. dial.
► KENSPECKLE adj. easily recognizable, clearly visible, conspicuous → 1714 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
► KENSY n. a rough or rude fellow; an unmannerly person; a rustic → 1500 Sc. obs.
► KENT adj. known → 1513 Sc.
n. 1. a long staff, properly such a one as shepherds use for leaping over ditches or brooks; a long pole used in leaping ditches, climbing mountains, etc. → 1606 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
n. 2. a coloured cotton handkerchief → 1810 sl.
► KENT CLOUT n. a coloured cotton handkerchief → 1859 sl.
► KENTISH COUSINS n. distant relatives → 1796
► KENTISH FIRE n. a prolonged and ordered salvo or volley of applause, or demonstration of impatience or dissent → 1834
► KENTISH KNOCKER n. a Kentish smuggler → 1891 obs.
► KENT RAG n. a coloured cotton handkerchief → 1859 sl.
► KENTUCK n. 1. Kentucky → 1826 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a Kentuckian; one who is or is assumed to be of Kentucky origin → 1826 Amer. dial., often derogatory
n. 3. an insignificant or low-grade person → 1968 Amer. dial., often derogatory
► KENTUCKY BREAKFAST n. a ‘meal’ which includes or consists of liquor, usually bourbon; ‘a three-pound steak, a bottle of whisky, and a dog – the dog is to eat the beefsteak’ → 1882 Amer. dial.
► KENTUCKY OYSTERS n. intestines, usually of hogs, prepared as food → 1898 Amer. dial.
► KENTUCKY PILL n. a bullet → 1861 Amer. dial.
► KENURD adj. tipsy → 1859 back-slang
► KEP vb. 1. to catch hold of → 1400 obs.
vb. 2. to meet, to intercept, to throw oneself in the way of a person or thing; to stop the course of; to receive the force of a blow → 1420 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
vb. 3. to catch in the hands or otherwise, so as to prevent from falling → 1500 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. 
► KEPHEL n. a horse, esp. a sorry, worthless horse → 1700 Eng. dial. & sl.
► KEPPER n. a slice of bread with butter → 1910 Ireland (Bk.)
► KEPTIE n. a woman kept as a mistress → 1940 US sl.
► KERAUNOMANCY n. divination involving the interpretation of an omen communicated by thunder → 1991 (Bk.)
► KERAUNOPHOBIA n. an abnormal fear of thunder and lightning → 1991 (Bk.)
► KERBASE n. the head → 1914 Amer. dial.
► KERBLAM! int. intended to convey an imitation of the sound of a falling body → 1891 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► KERBLINKITYBLUNK! int. intended to convey an imitation of the sound of a falling body → 1891 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► KERB-STONE BROKER n. a broker, not a member of the stock exchange, who transacts business in the streets → 1860 US
► KERB-STONE MERCHANT n. a street-dealer → 1899
► KERCH n. a kerchief → 1430 obs.
► KERCHER n. a kerchief → 1380 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► KERCHIEF n. 1. a cloth used to cover the head, formerly a woman’s head-dress → 1300
n. 2. a woman who wears a kerchief → 1700 obs.
n. 3. a handkerchief → 1815
► KERCHUNK! int. intended to convey an imitation of the sound of a falling body → 1891 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► KERE n. choir → 1400 obs.
vb. 1. to recover → 1475 obs.
vb. 2. to go → 1515 obs.
► KERF n. 1. the act of cutting or carving; a cut, a stroke → 1000 obs.
n. 2. the furrow made by a ship’s keel → 1422 obs.
n. 3. a humorous term for a company of pantrymen → 1486 obs.
n. 4. the result of cutting; the incision, notch, slit, etc., made by cutting, esp. by a saw → 1523
n. 5. a piece or quantity cut off; a cutting of anything → 1678
► KERFLUMMOX n. high-flown speech → 1870 US sl.
► KERFUFFLE n. a fuss → 1946 sl.
► KE-RIST! int. an intensified oath and an exclamation. “Christ!” → 20C US sl.
► KERKY-JERKIES n. nervousness, the butterflies, or mistakes that result from nervousness → 1971 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► KERLUMPUS! int. an onomatopoeic term indicating the sound of solid body hitting a soft surface → M19 sl.
► KERNEL n. 1. the ‘meat’ of a nut; the soft, often edible, part within the hard seed of a fruit → 1689 Amer. dial.
n. 2. the core of an apple → 1986 Amer. dial., esp. African-American
n. 3. the hard shell of a walnut → 1986 Amer. dial.
► KERNELS n. hog testicles → 1986 Amer. dial.
► KERPLOOEY! int. onomatopoeic term indicating the noise made by the explosion of something soft and messy, as a large fruit or a living body → 1930 sl.
► KERPLOP! int. an onomatopoeic term indicating the sound of a solid body falling, usually into liquid, or of a bubble bursting in liquid → L19 sl.
► KERPLUMP adv. suddenly → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
int. an onomatopoeic term indicating the sound of a solid body hitting a soft surface → 1930 sl.
► KERPLUMPUS! int. an onomatopoeic term indicating the sound of solid body hitting a soft surface → M19 sl.
► KERPLUNK! int. intended to convey an imitation of the sound of a falling body → 1891 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► KERRYPATCH n. in the US: the part of a town where the poor Irish lived → 1965 Amer. dial.
► KERSLOSH! int. intended to convey an imitation of the sound of a falling body → 1891 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► KERSMACK adv. suddenly → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► KERSWOLLOP! int. intended to convey an imitation of the sound of a falling body → 1891 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► KERSWOSH! int. intended to convey an imitation of the sound of a falling body → 1891 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► KERTERVER-CARTZO n. venereal disease, esp. syphilis → M19 sl.
► KER-THUNDER MUG n. a chamber pot → 1965 Amer. dial.
► KERVORK vb. to terminate; to kill → 1990 US sl.
► KERZIP n. the head → 1900 sl.
► KESKYDEE n.  a French person (“Qu’est-ce qu’il dit?”) → 1971 Amer. dial.
► KETCH vb. to be pregnant → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► KETCHED adj. pregnant → 19C Amer. dial.
► KETCH-O’-FROST n. a slight hoar frost → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► KETCHY adj. of the weather: showery, uncertain, changeable → 1872 Eng. dial.
► KETTLE n. 1. the female genitals → E18 Brit. sl.
n. 2. a watch → 1889 sl., chiefly criminals’ usage
n. 3. a locomotive, esp. a steam locomotive → 1926 Amer. dial.
► KETTLE-BELLIED adj. big-bellied → 19C Ireland
► KETTLEBELLY n. a fat-bellied person → 1878 Amer. sl.
► KETTLE COUSIN n. a poor relative, who ‘licks the kettle for his supper’ → 1960 Amer. dial.
► KETTLEDRUMS n. the breasts → L18 Brit. sl.
► KETTLE HALYARDS n. domestic duties, esp. of a culinary nature or work in the kitchen → 1916 Amer. dial.
► KETTLE MEAL n. a dish made of meat and vegetables boiled or simmered together → 1967 Amer. dial.
► KETTLE MEAT n. foods made from parts of the head and inner organs of an animal, as heart, liver, etc. → 1968 Amer. dial.
► KETTLE TEA n. a drink make of hot water, usually with milk and sugar → 1906 Amer. dial.
► KEVEL n. a low, mean fellow → 1706 Sc.
► KEVORK vb. to terminate; to kill → 1990 US sl.
► KEWL adj. good, sophisticated, self-possessed, ‘cool’ → 1998 US sl.
► KEWSTER n. a small, rough, misbehaving child → 1967 Amer. dial.
► KEX n. 1. trousers → L19 sl.
n. 2. knickers, underpants → 1960 sl.
► KEY adj. 1. of the hand or foot: left → 1300 Eng. dial.
adj. 2. excellent, great → 1980 US sl.
n. 1. the winged fruit of a maple or similar tree → 1714 Amer. dial.
n. 2. the penis → L18 Brit. sl.
n. 3. a prison officer → 1934 US sl.
n. 4. the declaration, under the Habitual Criminals Act, that one is an habitual criminal; an indefinite sentence under this act → 1944 Aust. sl.
n. 5. a kilogram → 1966 US sl.
n. 6. a kilogram of marijuana → 1968 US drug culture sl.
vb. to get ready, to prepare and become nervous; to get uptight → 1970 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► KEYED adj. 1. intoxicated with alcohol → 20C US sl.
adj. 2. excited → 1968 Amer. students’ sl. (Bk.)
adj. 3. drug-intoxicated → 1972 US sl.
► KEYED TO THE ROOF adj. heavily intoxicated with alcohol → 20C US sl.
► KEYED-UP adj. 1. extremely nervous and distraught → 20C US sl.
adj. 2. intoxicated with alcohol → 20C US sl.
► KEY-FISTED adj. left-handed → 1611 Eng. dial.
► KEY FOR A KEELSON n. a nonexistent item used as the basis of a practical joke → 1965 Amer. dial.
► KEY HAPPY adj. used of a prison officer who is keen to keep inmates locked in their cells → 1996 UK sl.
► KEYHOLE n. the female genitals, esp. the vagina → 19C Brit. sl.
vb. of a bullet: to enter a target sideways → 1957 US sl.
► KEYHOLE WHISTLER n. 1. a person who sleeps in a barn or outhouse; a tramp, a vagrant → 1830 UK sl., obs.
n. 2. a criminal in hiding → 1935 UK criminals’ sl.
► KEYHOLING n. eavesdropping → 2001 UK sl.
► KEY MAN n. a person declared a habitual criminal → 1944 Aust. sl.
► KEY-NIEVED adj. left-handed → 1865 Eng. dial.
► KEYNOTE n. the prevailing tone or main idea of a speech → 1763 
► KEY-PAW n. the left hand → 1887 Eng. dial.
► KEY-PAWED adj. left-handed → 1887 Eng. dial.
► KEY PICKER n. a thief who operates in hotels, stealing keys left at the front desk for safekeeping by guests before they are retrieved by a hotel clerk → 1954 US sl.
► KEYS n. a prison officer → 1934 US sl.
► KEYS TO ST. E’S n. phencyclidine, PCP → 1984 US drug culture sl.
► KEYSTER n. 1. a suitcase or satchel; a handbag; a burglar’s tool case, a salesman’s sample case, etc. → 1882 US sl.
n. 2. the female genitals → E20 US criminals’ sl.
n. 3. a safe → 1913 US sl.
n. 4. the buttocks → 1931 US sl.
► KEYSTONE n. 1. a police officer → 1935 sl.
n. 2. a local prosecutor → 1981 US circus and carnival usage
► KEYSTONE OF LOVE n. the female genitals → 19C Brit. sl.
► KEY TO THE CLEARINGHOUSE n. a nonexistent item used as the basis of a practical joke → 1965 Amer. banking usage
► KEY TO THE COMPASS n. a nonexistent item used as the basis of a practical joke → 1942 Amer. sl.
► KEY TO THE CURTAINS n. a nonexistent item used as the basis of a practical joke → 1965 Amer. dial.
► KEY TO THE DRILL GROUND n. a nonexistent item used as the basis of a practical joke → 1965 Amer. navy usage
► KEY TO THE FLAGPOLE n. a nonexistent item used as the basis of a practical joke → 1965 Amer. navy usage
► KEY TO THE JOHNNY BOX n. a nonexistent item used as the basis of a practical joke → 1965 Amer. dial.
► KEY TO THE OARLOCKS n. a nonexistent item used as the basis of a practical joke → 1965 Amer. dial.
► KEY TO THE PITCHER’S BOX n. a nonexistent item used as the basis of a practical joke → 1965 Amer. dial.
► KEY TO THE SUNDIAL n. a nonexistent item used as the basis of a practical joke → 1965 Amer. dial.
► KEY UP vb. 1. to become drug-intoxicated → 1964 US sl.
vb. 2. to unlock a door → 1991 US sl.
► KEY WESTERN CROOKED adj. askew, cockeyed, completely out of shape, position, business, etc. → 1908 Amer. dial.