Kitty Kit"ty noun 1. A kitten; also, a pet name or calling name for the cat. 2. [ Etym. uncertain.] (Gaming) The percentage taken out of a pool to pay for refreshments, or for the expenses of the table. R. F. Foster.

Kittysol Kit·ty·sol" noun [ Spanish quitasol .] The Chinese paper parasol.

Kiva Ki"va noun [ Hopi name, sacred chamber.] A large chamber built under, or in, the houses of a Pueblo village, used as an assembly room in religious rites or as a men's dormitory. It is commonly lighted and entered from an opening in the roof.

Kive Kive noun A mash vat. See Keeve . [ Obsolete]

Kiver Kiv"er transitive verb To cover. -- noun A cover. [ Disused except in illiterate speech.]

Kivikivi, Kiwikiwi Ki`vi·ki"vi, Ki`wi·ki"wi noun ; plural Kivikivies Kiwikiwies (Zoology) Any species of Apteryx, esp. A. australis ; -- so called in imitation of its notes. Called also kiwi . See Apteryx .

Kjoekken moeddings Kjoek"ken moed`dings [ Dan.] See Kitchen middens .

Klamaths Kla"maths noun plural ; sing. Klamath (Ethnol.) A collective name for the Indians of several tribes formerly living along the Klamath river, in California and Oregon, but now restricted to a reservation at Klamath Lake; -- called also Clamets and Hamati .

Kleeneboc Kleene"boc` (klēn"bŏk`) noun [ Dutch kleen little, small + bok buck.] (Zoology) An antelope ( Cerphalopus pygmæus ), found in South Africa. It is of very small size, being but one foot high at the shoulder. It is remarkable for its activity, and for its mild and timid disposition. Called also guevi , and pygmy antelope .

kleptomania klep`to·ma"ni·a (klĕp`to*mā"nĭ*ȧ) noun [ Greek kle`pths thief + English mania .] A propensity to steal, claimed to be irresistible. This does not constitute legal irresponsibility. Wharton.

kleptomaniac klep`to·ma"ni·ac noun A person affected with kleptomania.

Klick Klick noun & v. See Click .

Klicket Klick"et noun [ Confer Clicket .] (Mil.) A small postern or gate in a palisade, for the passage of sallying parties. [ Written also klinket .]

Klinkstone Klink"stone` noun See Clinkstone .

Klinometer Kli·nom"e·ter noun See Clinometer .

Klipdas, Klipdachs Klip"das, Klip"dachs` noun [ Dutch klip cliff + das badger, akin to German dachs .] (Zoology) A small mammal ( Hyrax Capensis ), found in South Africa. It is of about the size of a rabbit, and closely resembles the daman. Called also rock rabbit .

Klipfish Klip"fish` noun Dried cod, exported from Norway. [ Written also clipfish .]

Klipspringer Klip"spring`er noun [ Dutch, lit., cliff springer.] (Zoology) A small, graceful South African antelope ( Nanotragus oreotragus ), which, like the chamois, springs from one crag to another with great agility; -- called also kainsi . [ Written also klippspringer .]

Kloof Kloof noun [ Dutch See Clove a cleft.] A glen; a ravine closed at its upper end. [ South Africa]

Klopemania Klo`pe·ma"ni·a noun [ Greek kloph` theft + English mania .] See Kleptomania .

Knab Knab (năb) transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Knabbed (năbd); present participle & verbal noun Knabbing .] [ See Nab , transitive verb , and confer Knap , transitive verb ] 1. To seize with the teeth; to gnaw. " Knabbing crusts." [ Obsolete] L'Estrange. 2. To nab. See Nab , transitive verb [ Colloq.]

Knabble Knab"ble intransitive verb [ Freq. of knab .] To bite or nibble. [ Obsolete]

Horses will knabble at walls, and rats gnaw iron.

Sir T. Browne.

Knack Knack (năk) intransitive verb [ Prob. of imitative origin; confer German knacken to break, Danish knage to crack, and English knock .] 1. To crack; to make a sharp, abrupt noise to chink. [ Obsolete or Prov. Eng.] Bp. Hall. 2. To speak affectedly. [ Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Knack Knack noun 1. A petty contrivance; a toy; a plaything; a knickknack.

A knack , a toy, a trick, a baby's cap.

Shak. 2. A readiness in performance; aptness at doing something; skill; facility; dexterity.

The fellow . . . has not the knack with his shears.

B. Jonson.

The dean was famous in his time,
And had a kind of knack at rhyme.

Swift. 3. Something performed, or to be done, requiring aptness and dexterity; a trick; a device. "The knacks of japers." Chaucer.

For how should equal colors do the knack !

Pope.

Knack-kneed Knack"-kneed` adjective See Knock-kneed .

Knacker Knack"er noun 1. One who makes knickknacks, toys, etc. Mortimer. 2. One of two or more pieces of bone or wood held loosely between the fingers, and struck together by moving the hand; -- called also clapper . Halliwell.

Knacker Knack"er noun [ Confer Icelandic hnakkr a saddle.] 1. a harness maker. [ Obsolete or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. 2. One who slaughters worn-out horses and sells their flesh for dog's meat. [ Eng.]

Knackish Knack"ish adjective Trickish; artful. [ Obsolete] -- Knack"ish*ness , noun [ Obsolete] Dr. H. More.

Knacky Knack"y adjective Having a knack; cunning; crafty; trickish. [ Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Halliwell.

Knag Knag noun [ Confer Prov. German knagge a knot in wood, Swedish knagg , Danish knag a hook to hand clothes on, a bracket; Gael. & Ir. cnag peg, knob.] 1. A knot in wood; a protuberance. Wright. 2. A wooden peg for hanging things on. Wright. 3. The prong of an antler. Holland. 4. The rugged top of a hill. [ Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Knagged Knag"ged adjective Full of knots; knaggy.

Knaggy Knag"gy adjective Knotty; rough; figuratively, rough in temper. Fuller. -- Knag"gi*ness noun

Knap Knap noun [ Anglo-Saxon cnæp , cnæpp , top, knob, button; confer Icelandic knappr knob, Swedish knapp , Danish knap button, W., Gael., & Ir. cnap knob, button, and English knop .] A protuberance; a swelling; a knob; a button; hence, rising ground; a summit. See Knob , and Knop .

The highest part and knap of the same island.

Holland.

Knap Knap transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Knapped ; present participle & verbal noun Knapping .] [ Dutch knappen to chew, bite, crack, take hold of; probably of imitative origin.] 1. To bite; to bite off; to break short. [ Obsolete or Prov. Eng. ]

He will knap the spears apieces with his teeth.

Dr. H. More.

He breaketh the bow, and knappeth the spear in sunder.

Ps. xlvi. 9 (Book of Common Prayer.) 2. To strike smartly; to rap; to snap. Bacon.

Knap Knap intransitive verb To make a sound of snapping. Wiseman.

Knap Knap noun A sharp blow or slap. Halliwell.

Knapbottle Knap"bot`tle noun (Botany) The bladder campion ( Silene inflata ).

Knappish Knap"pish adjective [ See Knap to strike.] Snappish; peevish. [ Obsolete] Grafton.

Knapple Knap"ple intransitive verb [ Freq. of knap , v. , confer Dutch knabbelen to gnaw.] To break off with an abrupt, sharp noise; to bite; to nibble. [ Obsolete or Prov. Eng.]

Knappy Knap"py adjective Having knaps; full of protuberances or humps; knobby. [ Obsolete] Huloet.

Knapsack Knap"sack` noun [ Dutch knapzak ; knappen to eat + zak a bag. See Knap , transitive verb , and Sack .] A case of canvas or leather, for carrying on the back a soldier's necessaries, or the clothing, etc., of a traveler.

And each one fills his knapsack or his scrip
With some rare thing that on the field is found.

Drayton.

Knapweed Knap"weed` noun (Botany) The black centaury ( Centaurea nigra ); -- so called from the knoblike heads of flowers. Called also bullweed .

Knar Knar (när) noun See Gnar . [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Knarl Knarl (närl) noun A knot in wood. See Gnarl .

Knarled Knarled (närld) adjective Knotted. See Gnarled .

Knarred Knarred (närd) adjective Knotty; gnarled.

The knarred and crooked cedar knees.

Longfellow.

Knarry Knar"ry (när"rȳ) adjective Knotty; gnarled. Chaucer.

Knave Knave (nāv) noun [ Middle English , boy, servant, knave, Anglo-Saxon cnafa boy, youth; confer Anglo-Saxon cnapa boy, youth, Dutch knaap , German knabe boy, knappe esquire, Icelandic knapi , Swedish knape esquire, knäfvel knave.] 1. A boy; especially, a boy servant. [ Obsolete] Wyclif. Chaucer.

O murderous slumber,
Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy
That plays thee music ? Gentle knave , good night.

Shak. 2. Any male servant; a menial. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

He's but Fortune's knave ,
A minister of her will.

Shak. 3. A tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person; a rogue; a villain. "A pair of crafty knaves ." Shak.

In defiance of demonstration, knaves will continue to proselyte fools.

Ames. » "How many serving lads must have been unfaithful and dishonest before knave -which meant at first no more than boy -- acquired the meaning which it has now !" Trench. 4. A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or soldier; a jack. Knave child , a male child. [ Obsolete] Chaucer. Syn. -- Villain; cheat; rascal; rogue; scoundrel; miscreant.

Knavery Knav"er·y noun ; plural Knaveries 1. The practices of a knave; petty villainy; fraud; trickery; a knavish action.

This is flat knavery , to take upon you another man's name.

Shak. 2. plural Roguish or mischievous tricks. Shak.

Knaveship Knave"ship noun A small due, in meal, established by usage, which is paid to the under miller. [ Scot.]