Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Kĕck, v. i. p. 735To heave the stomach; to retch, as in an effort to vomit. The faction (is it not notorious?) Keck at the memory of the glorious. Swift.Kĕck, n. p. 735A reaching or heaving of the stomach; an effort to vomit; queasiness. [Written also keckle.] Cheyne.Kĕck'le, n. p. 735The same as KECK, q. v.Kĕck'le, v. t. p. 735To wind old rope round, as a cable, to preserve its surface from being fretted, or to wind iron chains round to defend from the friction of a rocky bottom, or from the ice. Totten.Kĕck'ling, n. p. 735Old rope or iron chains wound around a cable. See KECKLE, v.Kēck'ling-pin, n. p. 735A wire or needle used in knitting stockings. [Scot.] Simmonds.Kĕck'lish, a. p. 735Inclined to vomit; queasy. “A kecklish stomach.” Holland.Kĕck'sy, n. p. 735The dry stalk of the hemlock, and other umbelliferous plants; a kex. Nothing teems But hateful docks, rough thistles, kecksies, burs, Losing both beauty and utility. Shak.Kĕck'y, a. p. 735Resembling a kex. “A soft, kecky body.” Grew.Kĕd'ge, n. p. 735(Naut.) A small anchor used to keep a ship steady when riding in a harbor or river, and particularly at the turn of the tide, to keep her clear of her bower anchor, also to remove her from one part…Kēdge, v. t. p. 735(Naut.) To warp, as a ship; to move by means of a kedge, as in a river.Kēdge or Kēd'gy, a. p. 735Brisk; lively. [Prov. Eng.] Forby.Kĕd'ger, n. p. 735(Naut.) A small anchor used in a river; a kedge. 2. A fish-man. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.Kēd'lack, n. p. 735(Bot.) A weed that grows among wheat and rye; charlock. See CHARLOCK.Kee, n. p. 735pl. of cow. [A-S. cy, gen. cûna, pl. of cu, cow.] See KEI, KY, and KINE. [Prov. Eng.] A lass, that Cicely hight, had won his heart— Cicely, the western lass, that tends the kee. Gay.Keech, n. p. 735A mass or lump of fat rolled up by the butcher. [Obs.] Shak.Keek, v. i. p. 735To peep; to look pryingly. [Scot.]Keel, v. t. p. 735To cool. [Obs.] “While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.” Shak. “To lessen and keel the affections of the subject.” Milton.Keel, n. p. 735(Ship-building.) The principal timber in a ship, extending from stem to stern at the bottom, and supporting the whole frame; hence, a ship. [See Illustr. of Keelson.] 2. (Iron Ship-building.) A…Keel, v. i. p. 735To plow with a keel; to navigate. J. Barlow. 2. To turn up the keel; to show the bottom. Shak.Keel′age, n. p. 735The right of demanding a duty or toll for the bottom of ships resting in a port or harbor; the duty so paid. Bouvier. Wharton.Keel'-bōat, n. p. 735A large, covered boat, with a keel, but no sails, used on American rivers for the transportation of freight. 2. A low, flat-bottomed freight-boat. See KEEL.Keeled, a. p. 735(Bot.) Keel-shaped; having a prominence on the back; as, a keeled leaf, calyx, or nectary. Martyn.Keel'er, n. p. 735One who manages barges and vessels, particularly in the coal trade;—called also keel-man. [Prov. Eng.]Keel'er, n. p. 735A shallow tub for holding materials for calking ships, or for other uses.Keel'-făt, n. p. 735A cooler; a vessel in which liquor is set for cooling. [Obs.] [Written also keel-vat.]Keel'haul, v. t. p. 735(Naut.) To haul under the keel of a ship, as a punishment, by ropes attached to the yard-arms on each side. It was formerly practiced in the Dutch and English navies. Totten.Keel'ing, n. p. 735(Ichth.) A kind of small cod, of which stock-fish is made.Keel'i-vīne, n. p. 735A pencil of black or red lead;—called also keelyvine-pen. [Scot.] W. Scott.Keel’man, n. p. 735One who manages a barge; a bargeman. [Prov. Eng.]Keel'rāke, v. t. p. 735To keel-haul.Kēel'son, n. p. 735(Ship-building.) A piece of timber in a ship laid on the middle of the floor timbers over the keel, and binding the floor timbers to the keel. Totten. 2. (Iron Ship-building.) A structure of plates…Keel'-vāt, n. p. 735See KEEL-FAT.Keel'y-vine-pĕn, n. p. 735See KEELIVINE.Keen, a. p. 735Eager; vehement; sharp. “The sheep were so keen on the acorns.” L’Estrange. “Keen contest and destruction close allied.” Byron. 2. Sharp; having a fine, cutting edge; as, a keen razor, or a razor…Keen, v. t. p. 735To sharpen. [Rare.] Cold winter keens the brightening flood. Thomson.Keen'ly, adv. p. 735In a keen manner; sharply; eagerly; vehemently; severely; bitterly.Keen'ness, n. p. 735The quality of being keen; eagerness, vehemence; sharpness; asperity; acrimony; acuteness; as, the keenness of hunger, of a razor, of the air, of satire, of wit, and the like.Keep, v. t. p. 735To cause to remain in a given position, as within one’s grasp or control; to maintain hold upon; to restrain from departure or removal; not to let go of; not to lose; to retain; to detain. “That I…Keep, v. i. p. 735To remain in any position or state; to continue; to abide; to stay; as, to keep at a distance; to keep aloft; to keep near; to keep in the house; to keep before or behind; to keep in favor; to keep…Keep, n. p. 735The act of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed. [Obs.] Pan, thou god of shepherds all, Which of our tender lambkins takest keep. Spenser. In Baptista's keep my treasure is. Shak. 2. The state of…Keep'er, n. p. 736One who keeps; one who holds or has possession of any thing. 2. One who retains in custody; one who has the care of a prison and the custody of prisoners. 3. One who has the care, custody, or…Keep'er-ship, n. p. 736The office of a keeper. Carew.Keep'ing, n. p. 736A holding; restraint; custody; guard: preservation. 2. Maintenance; support; feed; as, the cattle have good keeping. 3. Just proportion; conformity; congruity; consistency; as, these subjects are in…Keep'ing-room, n. p. 736A common parlor or sitting-room, in which a family generally live. [New Eng. and Prov. Eng.]Keep'sāke, n. p. 736Any thing kept, or given to be kept, for the sake of the giver; a token of friendship.Keesh, n. p. 736(Metallurgy.) Flakes of carburet of iron on the surface of pig-iron.Keeve, n. p. 736A large vessel for fermenting liquors; a beer-tub; a mashing-tub. 2. (Mining.) A large vat used in dressing ores.Keeve, v. t. p. 736To set in a keeve, or tub, for fermentation. 2. To tip up or overturn, as a cart. [Prov. Eng.]Keev'er, n. p. 736The same as KEEVE, q. v.Kei'ser, n. p. 736See KAISER.Kĕf'fe-kil, n. p. 736See KIEFEKIL.Kĕf'fĕl, n. p. 736The head. [Obs.] Somerville.Kĕg, n. p. 736A small cask or barrel; a cag.Keil, n. p. 736The same as KAYLE, q. v.Kēil'hau-ite, n. p. 736(Min.) A mineral consisting chiefly of silica, oxide of titanium, lime, and yttria.Kēir, n. p. 736A large boiler used in bleaching establishments; —called also kieve. Ure.Kēld, a. p. 736Having a kell or covering; also, covered with scales, like net-work. [Obs.] Nares. The otter then that keeps In their wild rivers, in their banks, and sleeps, And feeds on fish, which under water…Kĕlk, v. t. p. 736To beat soundly. [Prov. Eng.]Kĕlk, n. p. 736A blow; large stones; the roe of fish. [Prov. Eng.]