jungle gym an apparatus for playgrounds, consisting of bars, ladders, etc. for children to climb on

junior (ju:n´yэr) •adj. 1 the younger: written Jr. after the name of a son who bears exactly the same name as his father: opposed to SENIOR 2 of more recent position or lower status {a junior partner, a junior lien} 3 of later date 4 made up of younger members Æ 5 of or for juniors in a high school or college •n. 1 a younger person 2 a person of lower standing or rank Æ 3 a student in the next-to-last year of college or the eleventh grade in high school Æ 4 a size of clothing for slight women and girls with high waistlines one's junior a person younger than oneself [L, contr. of juvenior, compar. of juvenis, YOUNG]

junior college a school offering courses for two years beyond high school, either as the first two years of a standard four-year college program or as a complete career-training program resulting in a certificate or an associate degree

junior featherweight a boxer between a bantamweight and a featherweight, with a maximum weight of 122 pounds (55.34 kg)

junior flyweight a boxer with the maximum weight of 108 pounds (48.99 kg)

junior high school a school intermediate between elementary school and senior high school: it usually includes grades 7, 8, and 9: see MIDDLE SCHOOL

Junior League any of the local branches of the Association of Junior Leagues, Inc., whose members are women, often typically of leisure and the upper social class, trained for volunteer work in community-service projects

junior lightweight a boxer between a featherweight and a lightweight, with a maximum weight of 130 pounds (58.99 kg)

junior middleweight a boxer between a welterweight and a middleweight, with a maximum weight of 154 pounds (69.85 kg)

junior miss 1 a girl in her early teens 2 JUNIOR (n. 4)

junior varsity a team that represents a school, college, etc. on a level just below the varsity team in games or contests

junior welterweight a boxer between a lightweight and a welterweight, with a maximum weight of 140 pounds (63.50 kg)

juniority (ju:n yör´э ti:) •n. the quality or state of being junior, as in age or rank

juniper (ju:´ni pэr) •n. 1 any of a genus (Juniperus) of evergreen shrubs or trees of the cypress family, with needlelike or scalelike foliage, aromatic wood, and berrylike cones that yield an oil used for flavoring gin and formerly in medicine Æ 2 any of several similar trees grown for ornament 3 RETEM [ME junipur < L juniperus < IE base *yoini-, reed (> JONQUIL) + unexplained second element]

junk bond [Colloq.] a high-yield, speculative BOND¹ (n. 10), often issued to finance the takeover of a corporation

junk food any of various snack foods processed as with chemical additives and of low nutritional value

junk jewelry [Colloq.] inexpensive costume jewelry

junk mail advertisements, solicitations, etc. mailed in large quantities, often by third-class mail and addressed only to occupant

junk¹ (jûŋk) •n. 1 orig., old cable or rope used for making oakum, mats, etc. 2 old metal, glass, paper, rags, etc., parts of which may be salvageable for re-use 3 [Colloq.] useless or worthless stuff; trash; rubbish Æ 4 [Slang] a narcotic drug; esp., heroin •vt. Æ [Colloq.] to throw away as worthless or get rid of by selling as junk; discard; scrap junk´y, junk´i·er, junk´i·est, •adj. [ME jonk < ? jonk, reed < OFr jonc < L juncus, a rush: see JONQUIL]

junk² (jûŋk) •n. a Chinese or Japanese flat-bottomed ship with a high stern and lugsails or lateen sails [Fr jonque < Port junco < Jav jong < Malay adjong]

Junker (yuŋ´kэr) •n. [Historical] 1 a member of the privileged, militaristic landowning class in Germany; Prussian aristocrat 2 a German military officer, esp. one who is autocratic, illiberal, etc. [Ger < MHG junc herre, young nobleman < OHG jung, YOUNG + herro, lord: see HOAR] junker (jûŋ´kэr) •n. [Slang] an old, dilapidated car or truck [< JUNK¹, vt.]

junket (jûŋk´it) •n. 1 milk sweetened, flavored, and thickened into curd with rennet 2 a feast or picnic 3 a pleasure trip Æ 4 an excursion, as by a public official, paid for out of public funds •vi. to go on a junket or excursion, esp. one paid for out of public funds •vt. to entertain at a feast Æ jun·ket·eer (jûŋk'i tir´) or jun·ket·er (jûŋk´it эr) •n. [ME joncate < ML *juncata, a sweetmeat, cream cheese < L juncus, a rush (see JONQUIL): because orig. brought to market in rush baskets]

junkie or junky (jûŋk´i:) pl. junk´ies •n. [Slang] 1 a narcotics addict, esp. one addicted to heroin 2 a person who is addicted to a specified interest, activity, food, etc. {a TV junkie} [< JUNK¹, n. 4]

junkman (jûŋk´mæn') pl. -men' (-men') a dealer in old metal, glass, paper, rags, etc. Also junk dealer •n.

junkyard (-yärd') •n. a place where old metal, paper, etc. is kept, sorted, and sold or old cars are junked

Juno (ju:´nou) Rom. Myth. the sister and wife of Jupiter, queen of the gods, and goddess of marriage: identified with the Greek Hera [L]

Junoesque (ju:'nou esk´) •adj. stately and regal like Juno: usually used of a large-proportioned woman

junta (hun´tэ; jûn´-, jun´-) •n. 1 an assembly or council; esp., a Spanish or Latin-American legislative or administrative body 2 a group of political intriguers; esp., such a group, of military men in power after a coup d'état: also jun·to (jûn´tou), pl. -tos [Sp < L juncta, fem. of junctus, pp. of jungere, to JOIN]

Jupiter (ju:´pit эr) 1 Rom. Myth. the chief deity, god of thunder and the skies: identified with the Greek Zeus 2 the largest planet of the solar system and the fifth in distance from the sun: it has a ring composed of microscopic dustlike particles: diameter, c. 142,800 km (c. 88,740 mi.); period of revolution, 11.86 earth years; period of rotation, 9.92 hours; 16 satellites; symbol, ч [L Juppiter, orig. a voc. < bases of Jovis, JOVE & pater, FATHER]

Jupiter Pluvius (-plu:´vi: эs) Jupiter regarded as the giver of rain [L, lit., Jupiter who brings rain: pluvius, rainy < pluere, to rain: see PLUVIAL]

jupon (ju:´pän', ju: pän´; Fr zhü pouñ´) •n. a medieval jacket or tunic worn over or under armor [ME jopon < OFr jupon < jupe: see JUMPER²]

jura (jur´э, yur´э; yu:´rä') •n. pl. of JUS [L] Jura (jur´э) 1 canton in W Switzerland: 323 sq. mi. (837 sq. km); pop. 70,000 2 mountain range along the border of Switzerland & France: highest peak, 5,652 ft.: also called Jura Mountains Jura (jur´э) •n. the Jurassic period or its rocks

jural (jur´эl) •adj. 1 of law; legal 2 relating to natural rights and duties ju´ral·ly •adv. [< L jus (gen. juris), right, law (see JURY¹) + -AL]

Jurassic (ju: ræs´ik, ju-) •adj. designating or of the second period of the Mesozoic Era, immediately following the Triassic and preceding the Cretaceous, characterized by the dominance of dinosaurs and the appearance of flying reptiles and birds the Jurassic the Jurassic Period or its rocks: see GEOLOGY, chart [Fr jurassique, after JURA MOUNTAINS]

jurat (jur´æt') •n. 1 a municipal officer or magistrate in certain French towns and the Channel Islands 2 Law a statement or certification added to an affidavit, telling when, before whom, and, sometimes, where the affidavit was made [< L juratum, neut. pp. of jurare] [Fr < ML juratus, lit., one sworn < L juratus, pp. of jurare: see JURY¹]

juratory (jur´э tör'i:) •adj. of or expressed in an oath [LL juratorius < L jurator, sworn witness < jurare: see JURY¹]

jurel (hu: rel´) •n. any of various edible jack fishes (esp. genus Caranx) having narrow bodies [Sp, ult. < Gr sauros, horse mackerel: see SAURY]

juridical (ju: rid´i kэl, ju-) •adj. of judicial proceedings, jurisprudence, or law Also ju·rid´ic ju·rid´i·cal·ly •adv. [L juridicus < jus (gen. juris), law (see JURY¹) + dicere, to point out, declare (see DICTION) + -AL]

juridical days the days on which courts are in session

juried (jur´i:d) •adj. designating or of an exhibition, competition, etc. in which the winners have been selected by a JURY¹ (sense 2)

jurisconsult (jur´is kэn sûlt'; jur'is kän´-) •n. JURIST [L jurisconsultus, lawyer < jus (gen. juris), law + consultus: see CONSULT]

jurisdiction (jur'is dik´shэn) •n. 1 the administering of justice; authority or legal power to hear and decide cases 2 authority or power in general 3 a sphere of authority 4 the territorial range of authority 5 a law court or system of law courts SYN. POWER ju'ris·dic´tion·al •adj. ju'ris·dic´tion·al·ly •adv. [ME jurisdiccioun, altered (infl. by L) < OFr juridiction < L jurisdictio, administration of the law < jus (gen. juris,), law + dictio: see JURY¹ & DICTION]

jurisprudence (jur'is pru:d´ªns) •n. 1 the science or philosophy of law 2 a part or division of law {medical jurisprudence} ju'ris·pru·den´tial (-pru: den´shэl) •adj. ju'ris·pru·den´tial·ly •adv. [L jurisprudentia < jus, law (see JURY¹) + prudentia, a foreseeing, knowledge, skill: see PRUDENT]

jurisprudent (-pru:d´ªnt) •n. a student of jurisprudence; jurist •adj. skilled in the law [Fr, back-form. < jurisprudence: see JURISPRUDENCE]

jurist (jur´ist) •n. 1 an expert in law; scholar or writer in the field of law 2 JUDGE (n. 1) [ME juriste < MFr < ML jurista < L jus, law: see JURY¹]

juristic (ju: ris´tik, ju-) •adj. of jurists or jurisprudence; having to do with law; legal ju·ris´ti·cal·ly •adv.

juror (jur´эr, -our') •n. 1 a member of a jury or jury panel 2 a person taking an oath, as of allegiance [ME jurour < Anglo-Fr < OFr jureor < L jurator, taker of an oath < jurare, to swear: see JURY¹]

Juruá (zhur wä´) river flowing from the Andes in Peru northeast across NW Brazil into the Amazon: c. 1,200 mi. (1,931 km)

jury¹ (jur´i:) pl. -ries •n. 1 a group of people sworn to hear the evidence and inquire into the facts in a law case, and to give a decision in accordance with their findings 2 a group of people, often experts, selected to decide the winners and award the prizes in a competition or contest [ME jure < Anglo-Fr juree < OFr, oath, judicial inquest < ML jurata, a jury, properly fem. pp. of L jurare, to take an oath, swear < jus (gen. juris), law < IE *yewos, fixed rule > OIr huisse, just]

jury² (jur´i:) •adj. Naut. for temporary or emergency use; makeshift {a jury mast, jury rig} [< ?]

jury-rigged (-rigd') •adj. rigged for temporary or emergency use [see JURY2]

jus (jûs, yus, yu:s) pl. ju·ra (jur´э, yur´э; yu:´rä') •n. 1 a) law; the whole body of law b) a particular system of law 2 a legal principle, right, or power [L: see JURY¹]

jus civile (si vai´li:) CIVIL LAW [L]

jus gentium (jen´shi: эm) 1 Rom. Law the laws common to all people as distinguished from those applying only to Roman citizens 2 INTERNATIONAL LAW [L, law of nations]

jus naturae (nэ tur´i:) law of nature; natural law Also jus na·tu·ra·le (næ'tu: rei´li:) [L, law of nature]

Jus or Just abbrev. Justice

jus sanguinis (-sæŋ´gwi nis) a right which entitles one to citizenship of a nation of which one's natural parents are citizens [L, lit., right of blood]

jus soli (jûs´ sou´lai') a right which entitles one to citizenship of a nation in which one was born [L, right of land]

jussive (jûs´iv) •adj. Gram. expressing a command •n. a jussive word, form, case, or mood [< L jussus, a command (< jubere, to command < IE *yeu-dh-, to be in violent movement, fight > Sans yúdh-, fighter) + -IVE]

just¹ (for adj. jûst; for adv. jûst, jэst often jest, jist) •adj. 1 right or fair; equitable; impartial {a just decision} 2 righteous; upright {a just man} 3 deserved; merited {just praise} 4 legally right; lawful; rightful 5 proper, fitting, etc. {a just balance of colors} 6 well-founded; reasonable {a just suspicion} 7 correct or true {a just report} 8 accurate; exact {a just measure} •adv. 1 neither more nor less than; precisely; exactly {just one o'clock} 2 almost at the point of; nearly {just preparing to leave} 3 no more than; only {just a taste, just teasing you} 4 by a very small amount; barely {to just miss a train} 5 a very short time ago {she has just left} 6 immediately {just east of the church} 7 [Colloq.] quite; really {to feel just fine} SYN. FAIR¹ just about [Colloq.] almost; nearly just now a moment ago Æ just the same [Colloq.] nevertheless just´ness •n. [ME < OFr juste < L justus, lawful, rightful, proper < jus, right, law: see JURY¹]

just² (jûst) •n., vi. JOUST

justice (jûs´tis) •n. 1 the quality of being righteous; rectitude 2 impartiality; fairness 3 the quality of being right or correct 4 sound reason; rightfulness; validity 5 reward or penalty as deserved; just deserts 6 a) the use of authority and power to uphold what is right, just, or lawful b) [J-] the personification of this, usually a blindfolded goddess holding scales and a sword 7 the administration of law; procedure of a law court 8 a) JUDGE (n. 1) b) JUSTICE OF THE PEACE bring to justice to cause (a wrongdoer) to be tried in court and duly punished do justice to 1 to treat fitly or fairly 2 to treat with due appreciation; enjoy properly do oneself justice 1 to do something in a manner worthy of one's ability 2 to be fair to oneself [OFr < L justitia < justus: see JUST¹]

justice of the peace in some States, a magistrate with jurisdiction over a small district, authorized to decide minor cases, commit persons to trial in a higher court, perform marriages, etc.

justiceship (-ship') •n. the position, functions, or term of office of a justice

justiciable (jûs tish´i: э bэl) •adj. 1 liable for trial in court 2 subject to court jurisdiction [Anglo-Fr < OFr < justice: see JUSTICE]

justiciar (-эr) •n. JUSTICIARY (n. 1 & 2)

justiciary (-er'i:) pl. -ar'ies •n. 1 the chief political and judicial officer under the Norman and early Plantagenet kings 2 [Archaic] one who administers justice, as a judge 3 the jurisdiction of a justiciary •adj. relating to the administration of justice or the office of a judge [ME < ML justitiarius < L justitia: see JUSTICE]

justifiable (jûs´tэ fai'э bэl, jûs'tэ fai´э bэl) •adj. that can be justified or defended as correct jus'ti·fi'a·bil´i·ty •n. jus´ti·fi'a·bly •adv. [Fr < justifier: see JUSTIFY]

justification (jûs'tэ fi kei´shэn) •n. 1 a justifying or being justified 2 a fact that justifies or vindicates 3 Printing the adjustment of printed lines by proper spacing [ME justificacioun < OFr justification < LL justificatio < justificare: see JUSTIFY]

justificatory (jэs tif´i kэ tör'i:; jûs´tэ fэ keit'э ri:) •adj. justifying; serving to uphold or vindicate Also jus·ti·fi·ca·tive (jûs´tэ fi keit'iv) [< LL justificatus, justified, pp. of justificare (see JUSTIFY) + -ORY]

justify (jûs´tэ fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. 1 to show to be just, right, or in accord with reason; vindicate 2 to free from blame; declare guiltless; absolve 3 to supply good or lawful grounds for; warrant 4 Printing to adjust (printed lines) by spacing so that the lines will be of the correct length •vi. 1 Law a) to show an adequate reason for something done b) to prove qualified as surety 2 Printing to fit; be in line or flush, as printed lines jus´ti·fi'er •n. [ME justifien < OFr justifier < LL (chiefly Ec.) justificare, to act justly toward, justify < L justus, JUST¹ + -ficare < facere, to DO¹]

Justin (jûs´tin) 1 a masculine name: var. Justus; fem. Justina 2 Saint (c. A.D. 100-c. 165); Christian apologist & martyr, born in Samaria: his day is June 1: called Justin Martyr [L Justinus < justus: see JUST¹]

Justina (jûs ti:´nэ, -tai´-) a feminine name: dim. Tina; var. Justine [L, fem. of Justinus: see JUSTIN]

Justinian I (jûs tin´i: эn) (L. name Flavius Ancius Justinianus) A.D. 483-565; Byzantine emperor (527-565): known for the codification of Roman law (Justinian code): called the Great

justle (jûs´эl) •vt., vi., n. JOSTLE

justly (jûst´li:) •adv. 1 in a just manner 2 rightly 3 deservedly

jut (jût) jut´ted, jut´ting •vi., vt. to stick out; project •n. a part that juts [prob. var. of JET¹]

Jute (ju:t) •n. a member of any of several ancient Germanic tribes that lived in Jutland: Jutes invaded SE England in the 5th cent. A.D., settling in what became Kent Jut´ish •adj. [< ME Jutes, pl. < ML Jutae or OE Iotas < ON Iōtar] jute (ju:t) •n. 1 a strong, glossy fiber used for making burlap, sacks, mats, rope, etc. 2 either of two S Asian plants (Corchorus capsularis and C. olitorius) of the linden family, which yield this fiber [Hindi jhuto < Sans jūta, matted hair, jata, braid of hair, fibrous roots]

Jutland (jût´lэnd) peninsula of N Europe, that forms the mainland of Denmark & the N part of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein

Juvenal (ju:´vэ nªl) (L. name Decimus Junius Juvenalis) c. A.D. 60-c. 140; Rom. satirical poet

juvenescent (ju:'vэ nes´ªnt) •adj. becoming young; growing youthful ju've·nes´cence •n. [L juvenescens, prp. of juvenescere, to become young < juvenis, YOUNG]

juvenile (ju:´vэ nail', -nэl) •adj. 1 a) young or youthful b) immature or childish 2 of, characteristic of, or suitable for children or young persons 3 Geol. emanating from the interior of the earth for the first time: said of gas, water, etc. •n. 1 a young person; child or youth 2 an actor who plays youthful roles Æ 3 a book for young people 4 a two-year-old race horse 5 Biol. a young plant or animal differing variously in form, features, etc. from the adult SYN. YOUNG [L juvenilis < juvenis, YOUNG]

juvenile court a law court for cases involving young persons under a specified age, usually 18 years

juvenile delinquency behavior by young persons of not more than a specified age, usually 18 years, that is antisocial or in violation of the law juvenile delinquent

juvenile hormone a hormone secreted by insects that regulates growth and metamorphosis and which must be absent for the emergence of an adult: used to inhibit insect growth, as for preventing insect reproduction

juvenilia (ju:'vэ nil´i: э) •n.pl. 1 writings, paintings, etc. done in childhood or youth 2 books for children [L, neut. pl. of juvenilis, JUVENILE]

juvenility (ju:'vэ nil´i ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the quality or state of being juvenile 2 a childish action, manner, etc. [L juvenilitas]

juxta- (jûks´tэ) combining form near, beside, close by {juxtapose} [Fr < L juxta, near, beside < IE *yugistos, superl. of base *yug-, closely connected, var. of *yeug- > YOKE]

juxtapose (jûks´tэ pouz', jûks'tэ pouz´) -posed´, -pos´ing •vt. to put side by side or close together jux'ta·po·si´tion •n. [Fr juxtaposer: see JUXTA- & POSE¹]

JV junior varsity

JWB Jewish Welfare Board

JWV Jewish War Veterans

Jy July

Jylland (yül´län) Dan. name of JUTLAND

K (kei) •n. 1 Comput. the number 1,024, or 2¹0 2 [Colloq.] a thousand dollars {she earns 40K now} [K(ILO-)] K abbrev. 1 Elec. capacity 2 karat (carat) 3 kathode (cathode) 4 Physics Kelvin 5 Electronics kilobyte 6 kilometer 7 kindergarten 8 Chess king 9 knit 10 Chem. symbol for potassium Æ [ModL kalium < Ar (al-)gili: see ALKALI] 11 Baseball strikeout [< struck out] k abbrev. 1 karat (carat) 2 kilo- 3 kilogram 4 kilometer 5 kopeck(s)

K of C Knight (or Knights) of Columbus

K of P Knight (or Knights) of Pythias

k or K (kei) pl. k's, K's •n. 1 the eleventh letter of the English alphabet: from the Greek kappa, a borrowing from the Phoenician 2 any of the speech sounds that this letter represents, as, in English, the (k) in kept 3 a type or impression for K or k 4 the eleventh in a sequence or group 5 an object shaped like K •adj. 1 of K or k 2 eleventh in a sequence or group 3 shaped like K

K ration a compactly packaged meal for emergency use in the field by military personnel in World War II

K2 (kei´tu:´) GODWIN AUSTEN

ka (kä) •n. in ancient Egyptian religion, the soul, regarded as dwelling in a person's body or in an image [Egypt kر]

Ka or ka abbrev. kathode (cathode)

ka·ma·la (kэ mei´lэ, kæm´э lэ) •n. 1 an East Indian tree (Mallotus philippinensis) of the spurge family 2 a powder obtained from the coating of the seed pods of this tree, used as the base of an orange-red dye for silk and wool and, formerly, as a vermifuge [Sans]

Kaaba (kä´bэ, kä´э bэ) the sacred Muslim shrine at Mecca, toward which believers turn when praying: it contains a black stone venerated as holy [Ar ka؟ba, lit., square building < ka؟b, a cube]

kab (kæb) •n. CAB²

kabala or kabbala (kæb´э lэ, kэ bä´lэ) •n. CABALA

kabob (kэ bäb´) •n. KEBAB

Kabuki (kä bu:´ki:, kэ-) •n. [also k-] a form of Japanese drama dating from the 17th cent.: it is based on popular themes, with male and female roles performed by men only, chiefly in formalized pantomime, dance, and song [Jpn, nominal form of kabuku, to be divergent, to deviate: in ref. to the early evaluation of this drama form]

Kabul (kä´bul') capital of Afghanistan, in NE part: pop. 913,000

Kabyle (kэ bail´, -bi:l´) •n. 1 a member of a group of Berber tribes in Algeria and Tunisia 2 the Berber language of the Kabyles [Fr < Ar qabā'il, pl. of qabīla, tribe]

kachina (kэ chi:´nэ) pl. -nas or -na •n. 1 Pueblo Folklore a beneficent spirit, either a minor deity or the spirit of an ancestor 2 a) a male dancer impersonating such a spirit b) the mask worn by the dancer 3 a small wooden doll representing the spirit [Hopi acína < Keresan: cf. Santa Ana Keresan kâ·cina]

kaddish (käd´ish) •n. Judaism a hymn in praise of God, recited as part of the daily service or, in one form, a mourner's prayer [Aram kadish, lit., holy, akin to Heb kadosh, holy < root kdš, sanctify]

Kadesh (kei´desh') oasis in the desert, south of Palestine: Gen. 14:7, 16:14; Num. 32:8; Deut. 1:46, 2:14

kadi (kä´di:, kei´-) •n. CADI

kaf (käf, köf) •n. name of the eleventh letter of the Hebrew alphabet (כ, ך), corresponding to English K, k [Heb]

kaffeeklatsch (kä´fei kläch', kö´fi: klæch') •n. [also K-] an informal gathering for drinking coffee and talking Also kaffee klatsch [Ger < kaffee, COFFEE + klatsch, gossip, of echoic orig.]

Kaffir (kæf´эr) •n. 1 a) a member of any of several Bantu-speaking peoples of SE Africa b) XHOSA: in these senses often regarded as contemptuous 2 [k-] alt. sp. of KAFIR 3 [usually k-] in South Africa, a black African: a contemptuous term [Ar kāfir, infidel < prp. of kafara, to be irreligious]

kaffiyeh (kэ fi:´ ye) •n. a headdress worn by Arabs as a protection against dust and heat: it is a large square of cotton cloth, draped and folded, and held in place by a cord wound about the head [Ar kaffīya, var. of kūfīya, prob. < LL cofea, COIF]

kafir (kæf´эr) •n. 1 a sorghum (Sorghum bicolor var. caffrorum) with juicy stalks and slender, cylindrical seed heads, grown in dry regions for grain and fodder: also kafir corn 2 [K-] alt sp. of KAFFIR [Ar kāfir: see KAFFIR]

Kafka (käf´kэ), Franz (fřänts) 1883-1924; Austrian-Czech writer

Kafkaesque (käf'kэ esk´) •adj. of, characteristic of, or like the writings of Kafka; specif., surreal, nightmarish, confusingly complex, etc.

kaftan (kæf´tэn, -tæn'; käf tän´) •n. CAFTAN

Kagawa (kä´gä wä'), To·yo·hi·ko (tou'you hi:´kou) 1888-1960; Jpn. social reformer & writer

Kâğithane (kä'yi tä´nei) city in NW Turkey: a suburb of Istanbul: pop. 175,000

Kagoshima (kä´gou shi:´mä) seaport on the S coast of Kyushu, Japan: pop. 517,000

Kahn test (kän) a modified form of the Wassermann test for the diagnosis of syphilis [after R. L. Kahn (1887- ), U.S. immunologist]

Kahoolawe (kä hou'ou lä´wei, -vei) island of Hawaii, southwest of Maui: 45 sq. mi. (117 sq. km) [Haw Ka-ho'olawe, lit., the carrying away (by currents)]

Kaieteur Falls (kai'э tur´) waterfall in WC Guyana: 741 ft. (226 m) high

kail (keil) •n. KALE

kainite (kai´nait', kei´-) •n. a naturally occurring mineral, MgSO4·KCl·3H2O, used in fertilizers and as a source of potassium [Ger kainit < Gr kainos, new < IE base *ken-, to sprout forth > L (re)cens, RECENT]

Kairouan (keř wäñ´) city in NE Tunisia: holy city of the Muslims: pop. 72,000

kaiser (kai´zэr) •n. 1 emperor 2 [K-] the title of: a) the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire, 962-1806 b) the rulers of Austria, 1804-1918 c) the rulers of Germany, 1871-1918 [ME caiser, prob. via ON keisari, akin to OFris keisar, OHG keisar < Goth kaisar, ult. < L Caesar, family name of first Roman emperors; reinforced, esp. in senses 2b & c, by Ger kaiser] Kaiser (kai´zэr), Henry J(ohn) 1882-1967; U.S. industrialist

kaiser roll a large, round roll with a hard crust, used for sandwiches [partial transl. of Ger kaisersemmel, kaiser bun: prob. named for its large size & crownlike shape]

kaka (kä´kэ) •n. a brownish New Zealand parrot (Nestor meridionalis) often kept as a pet [Maori kākā < kā, to screech]

kakapo (kä'kä pou´) pl. -pos´ •n. a rare, owl-like, burrowing parrot (Strigops habroptilus) of New Zealand having a green body with brown and yellow markings [Maori < kākā, parrot + pō, night]

kakemono (kä'kэ mou´nou) pl. -nos •n. a Japanese hanging or scroll made of silk or paper with an inscription or picture on it and rollers at the top and bottom [Jpn < kake, to hang + mono, thing]

kaki (kä´ki:) pl. -kis •n. JAPANESE PERSIMMON [Jpn]

kal kalends (calends)

kala azar (kä'lä ä zär´) an infectious disease of S Asia and Mediterranean countries caused by a protozoan parasite (Leishmania donovani) transmitted by sand flies (esp. genus Phlebotomus), and characterized by an enlarged spleen and liver, irregular fever, anemia, etc. Also called visceral leishmaniasis [Hindi kālā-āzār, lit., black disease]

Kalahari (kä'lä hä´ri:) desert plateau in S Africa, mostly in Botswana: c. 350,000 sq. mi. (906,490 sq. km)

Kalamazoo (kæl'э mэ zu:´) city in SW Mich.: pop. 80,000 [< Fr < Ojibwa < ?]

kalanchoe (kæl'æn kou´i:) •n. any of a genus (Kalanchoe) of succulent perennial plants of the orpine family; esp., a species (K. blossfeldiana) with small red flowers that can be induced to bloom in December for Christmas

Kalat (kэ lät´) division of Baluchistan, Pakistan, former state of W British India: 99,000 sq. mi. (256,400 sq. km)

Kalb , Johann see DE KALB, Johann

kale (keil) •n. 1 a hardy vegetable (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) of the crucifer family, with loose, spreading, curled leaves that do not form a head 2 [Scot.] a) any cabbage or greens b) a broth made of cabbage or other greens Æ 3 [Slang] money; esp., paper money [Scot kale, kail, var. of COLE]

kaleidoscope (kэ lai´dэ skoup') •n. 1 a tubular instrument containing loose bits of colored glass, plastic, etc. reflected by mirrors so that various symmetrical patterns appear when the tube is held to the eye and rotated 2 anything that constantly changes, as in color and pattern ka·lei'do·scop´ic (-skäp´ik) •adj. ka·lei'do·scop´i·cal·ly •adv. [< Gr kalos, beautiful + eidos, form (see -OID) + -SCOPE]

kalends (kæl´эndz) •n.pl. [sometimes K-] CALENDS

Kalevala (kä´lэ vä'lä) a Finnish epic poem in trochaic alliterative verse, compiled in the early 19th cent. from orally transmitted folklore and poetry [Finn < kaleva, personal name + -la, abode, hence, lit., land of Kaleva]

kaleyard (keil´yärd') •n. [Scot.] a vegetable garden; esp., a cabbage garden

Kalgan (käl'gän´) old name of ZHANGJIAKOU

Kali (kä´li:) a Hindu goddess viewed both as destroying life and as giving it

Kalidasa (kä'li: dä´sä) fl. 5th cent. A.D.; Hindu poet & dramatist

kalif or kaliph (kei´lif, kæl´if) •n. CALIPH

Kalimantan (kä'li: män´tän') S part of the island of Borneo, belonging to Indonesia: 208,286 sq. mi. (539,460 sq. km); pop. 6,723,000; chief city, Banjermasin

kalimba (kэ lim´bэ) •n. a musical instrument similar to the mbira, but usually smaller and with fewer keys [of Afr. origin, prob. from a word in Shona (a Bantu language)]

Kalinin (kä li:´nin) old name of TVER

Kaliningrad (-grät') seaport in W European Russia, on the Baltic: pop. 385,000

Kalisz (kä´lish) city in central Poland: one of the oldest Polish towns: pop. 81,000

kallikrein (kæl'i kri:´in) •n. any of a group of proteolytic enzymes in the blood, urine, etc. that release a kinin from various globulins

Kalmar (käl´mär') seaport in SE Sweden: pop. 53,000

kalmia (kæl´mi: э) •n. any of a genus (Kalmia) of North American evergreen shrubs of the heath family, as the mountain laurel, with flowers of white or rose [ModL, after P. Kalm (1715-1779), Swed botanist]

Kalmuck or Kalmuk (kæl´mûk') •n. 1 a member of a group of Mongol peoples living chiefly in the lower Volga region and N Xinjiang 2 the Mongolic language of the Kalmucks Also sp. Kal´myk (-mik) [prob. of Mongolian orig.]

kalong (kä´löŋ') •n. FLYING FOX [prob. via Malay < Javanese kalong]

kalpak (kæl´pæk') •n. alt. sp. of CALPAC

kalsomine (kæl´sэ main', -min) -mined', -min'ing •n., vt. alt. sp. of CALCIMINE

Kaluga (kэ lu:´gэ) city in WC European Russia, on the Oka: pop. 297,000

Kama (kä´mэ) Hindu Myth. the god of love [Sans kāma, desire, love, god of love < IE *kang- < base *ka-, to desire > WHORE, L carus, dear] Kama (kä´mэ) river in European Russia, flowing from the Urals southwest into the Volga: 1,262 mi. (2,030 km)

Kamakura (käm'э kur´э) city in SE Honshu, Japan, southeast of Yokohama: site of Daibutsu, the great bronze figure of Buddha (cast 1252): pop. 174,000

Kamasutra (kä'mэ su:´trэ) a Hindu manual of erotic love written c. A.D. 300 Also Kama Sutra [Sans < kāma, love (see KAMA, the god) + sūtra, thread, guide line, manual]

Kamchatka (käm chät´kэ) peninsula in NE Siberia, between the Sea of Okhotsk & the Bering Sea: c. 750 mi. (1,206 km) long; 104,200 sq. mi. (269,876 sq. km)

kame (keim) •n. a hill or short, steep ridge of stratified sand or gravel deposited in contact with glacial ice [north Brit dial. var. of COOMB]

Kamehameha I (kä mei'hä mei´hä) c. 1758-1819; 1st king of the Hawaiian Islands (1810-19): called the Great

Kamensk-Uralski (kä'mensk' u: räl´ski:) city in W Asian Russia, in the Urals: pop. 200,000

kami (kä´mi:) pl. -mi •n. Shintoism a divine power or aura, often identified with one or more deities or ancestors [Jpn, deity, god]

kamikaze (kä'mэ kä´zi:) •adj. 1 of or pertaining to a suicidal attack by a Japanese airplane pilot in World War II 2 [Colloq.] very reckless, suicidal, etc. •n. 1 the pilot or airplane in a kamikaze attack 2 [Colloq.] a person who acts recklessly [Jpn, lit., divine wind < kami, god + kaze, the wind]

Kamloops (kæm´lu:ps') city in S British Columbia, Canada; pop. 62,000 [< ? AmInd]

Kampala (käm pä´lэ) capital of Uganda, in the S part near Lake Victoria: pop. 330,000

kampong (käm´pöŋ') •n. a small Malay village or cluster of native huts [Malay: see COMPOUND²]

Kampuchea (kæm'pu: chi:´э) see CAMBODIA Kam'pu·che´an •adj., n.

kamseen (kæm si:n´) var. of KHAMSIN Also kam·sin (kæm´sin) •n.

kana (kä´nэ, -nä) pl. -na or -nas •n. 1 the portion of the Japanese writing system that is a syllabary 2 any of the characters in this syllabary

Kanaka (kæn´э kэ, kэ næk´э) •n. 1 a Hawaiian 2 a native of the South Sea Islands This is a neutral term in Hawaiian, but derogatory as used in English [Haw, man < Proto-Polynesian *tangata, man, person]

Kanarese (kä'nэ ri:z´, -ri:s´) •adj. of Kanara, a region in SW India, its people, or their language •n. 1 pl. -rese´ any of a group of Kannada-speaking peoples living chiefly in Kanara 2 KANNADA

Kanazawa (kä´nэ zä´wэ) city in WC Honshu, Japan, on the Sea of Japan: pop. 414,000

Kanchenjunga (kän´chэn juŋ´gэ) mountain in the E Himalayas, on the Nepal-Sikkim border: 3d highest in the world: 28,168 ft. (8,586 m)

Kandahar (kän'dэ här´) city in S Afghanistan: pop. 115,000

Kandinsky (kæn din´ski:), Was·si·li (or Va·si·li) (væs´э li:') 1866-1944; Russ. painter in Germany & France

Kandy (kæn´di:, kän´-) city in central Sri Lanka: pop. 98,000

kangaroo (kæŋ'gэ ru:´) pl. -roos´ •n.or -roo´ any of various leaping, plant-eating marsupials (family Macropodidae) native to Australia and neighboring islands, with short forelegs, strong, large hind legs, and a long, thick tail: the female has a pouch, or marsupium, in front, for her young [said (by James COOK) to be native Australian name in Queensland]

kangaroo court [Colloq.] an unauthorized, irregular court, usually disregarding normal legal procedure, as an irregular court in a frontier region or a mock court set up by prison inmates [said to be so named because its justice progresses by leaps and bounds]

kangaroo rat Æ 1 any of a genus (Dipodomys, family Heteromyidae) of small, long-legged, jumping, mouselike rodents living in desert regions of the SW U.S. and Mexico 2 RAT KANGAROO

kanji (kän´ji:) pl. -ji or -jis •n. 1 the portion of the Japanese writing system whose characters are based on Chinese ideographs 2 any of these characters

Kannada (kä´nэ dэ) •n. a major Dravidian language of Mysore and adjacent districts of S India

Kano (kä´nou) city in N Nigeria: pop. 399,000

Kanpur (kän´pur') city in N India, on the Ganges, in Uttar Pradesh: pop. 1,688,000

Kans Kansas

Kansas (kæn´zэs) 1 Middle Western State of the NC U.S.: admitted, 1861; 82,264 sq. mi. (213,064 sq. km); pop. 2,478,000; cap. Topeka: abbrev. KS or Kans 2 river in NE Kans., flowing east into the Missouri at Kansas City: c. 170 mi. (273 km) Kan´san •adj., n. [Fr kansa (prob. via Illinois) < a Siouan name]

Kansas City 1 city in W Mo., on the Missouri River: pop. 435,000 2 city in NE Kans., on the Missouri & Kansas rivers, opposite Kansas City, Mo.: pop. 150,000 (both cities are in a single met. area, pop. 1,566,000) [after prec.]

Kansu (gän´su:´) old form of GANSU

Kant (känt, kænt), Immanuel 1724-1804; Ger. philosopher

Kantian (kæn´ti: эn, kän´-) •adj. of or having to do with Kant or Kantianism •n. a follower of Kant or Kantianism

Kantianism (-iz'эm) •n. the philosophy of Kant, who held that the content of knowledge comes a posteriori from sense perception, but that its form is determined by a priori categories of the mind: he also declared that God, freedom, and immortality, although they cannot be proved or disproved, are necessary postulates of a rational morality

Kanuri (kä nur´i:) •n. 1 pl. -ris or -ri a member of a Muslim people of N Nigeria and adjacent regions 2 their Nilo-Saharan language

Kaohsiung (kau´shuŋ´) seaport on the SW coast of Taiwan: pop. 1,290,000

kaolin (kei´э lin) •n. a fine white clay used in making porcelain, as a filler in textiles, paper, rubber, etc., and in medicine in the treatment of diarrhea [Fr < Chin kao-ling (lit., high mountain), name of the hill in Jiangxi Province, where it was found]

kaolinite (-lэ nait') •n. a mineral, Al2O3·2SiO2·2H2O, a hydrous aluminum silicate that is the main constituent of kaolin

kaon (kei´än') •n. any of four mesons that are positive, negative, or neutral and have a mass approximately 970 times that of an electron [Ka (the letter K) + (MES)ON]

Kapellmeister (kä pel´mais'tэř) pl. -ter •n. the conductor of a choir or orchestra [Ger, lit., choir master < kapelle, choir < It capella, a company of musicians (orig. CHAPEL, hence the choir or orchestra in a court chapel) + Ger meister, a master]

kaph (käf, köf) •n. KAF

Kapitza (kä´pi tsä'), Pë·tr L(eonidovich) (pyô´tэř) 1894-1984; Soviet nuclear physicist

kapok (kei´päk') •n. the silky fibers around the seeds of any of several silk-cotton trees, esp. a ceiba (Ceiba pentandra): used for stuffing mattresses, life preservers, sleeping bags, etc. [Malay]

Kaposi's sarcoma (kэ pou´zi:z', -si:z'; kæp´э zi:z', -si:z') a malignant tumor, usually of the skin, appearing primarily in persons with an immunological deficiency [after M. K. Kaposi (1837-1902), Hung dermatologist]

kappa (kæp´э) •n. name of the tenth letter of the Greek alphabet (Κ, κ), corresponding to the English K, k: it often appears as c in English words derived from Greek, as in center, cosmetic [Gr < Sem, as in Heb kaph]

Kapton (kæp´tän') trademark for a strong, lightweight plastic resistant to high temperatures, used primarily by the aerospace industry to make thin sheets of insulation

kaput (kэ put´, -pu:t´) •adj. [Slang] ruined, destroyed, defeated, etc. [Ger kaputt, lost, ruined, broken < Fr (faire) capot, to lose all tricks (as in piquet) < capster, to capsize]

Kara Kum (kä řä´ ku:m´; E kær´э) desert in Turkmenistan, east of the Caspian Sea: c. 110,000 sq. mi. (284,900 sq. km)

Kara Sea (kä´rэ) arm of the Arctic Ocean, between Novaya Zemlya & NW Siberia

Karachi (kэ rä´chi:) seaport in S Pakistan, on the Arabian Sea: former capital: pop. 5,103,000

Karadeniz Bogazi (kä'řä deŋ i:z´ bou'gä zi:´) Turk. name of BOSPORUS

Karafuto (kä'rä fu:´tou) Jpn. name of SAKHALIN

Karaganda (kä'rэ gän´dэ) city in EC Kazakhstan: pop. 617,000

Karaite (kei´rэ ait') •n. a member of a Jewish sect, established in the Middle East in the 8th cent., rejecting the Talmud and acknowledging only the Bible as the authority in religion Ka´ra·ism' •n. [< Heb karaim, readers of the Scriptures (< kara, to read + -im, pl. suffix) + -ITE¹]

Karajan (kär´э yän'), Herbert von 1908-89; Austrian conductor

Kara-Kalpak (kä rä' käl päk´) •n. 1 a member of a people living mainly in Uzbekistan 2 the Turkic language of this people [Turkic < kara, black + kalpak, hat: reason for name unknown]

Karakoram (kä'rä kör´эm, kær'э-) mountain range in SC Asia between Xinjiang-Uygur, China and N Kashmir, India, extending c. 300 mi. (480 km) to the Pamir: NW extension of the Himalayas: highest peak, GODWIN AUSTEN

karakul (kær´э kûl', -kэl) •n. 1 any of a breed of medium-sized sheep native to central Asia, having long, drooping ears, long legs, and a broad, fat tail 2 the loosely curled, lustrous, usually black fur made from the fleece of its newborn lambs: in this sense commonly sp. CARACUL [Russ, astrakhan < Turkic qara köl, lit., dark lake: common place name in central Asia]

karat (kær´эt) •n. one 24th part (of pure gold) {14-karat gold is 14 parts pure gold and 10 parts alloy} [var. of CARAT]

karate (kэ rät´i:) •n. a Japanese system of self-defense characterized chiefly by sharp, quick blows delivered with the hands and feet [Jpn, lit., prob. < kara, empty + te, hand]

Karelia (kэ ri:l´yэ; Russ kä ři:´li: ä) region in N Europe between the Gulf of Finland and the White Sea, constituting an autonomous republic (Karelian A.S.S.R.) of Russia: 66,500 sq. mi. (172,240 sq. km); pop. 769,000

Karelian (kэ ri:l´yэn, -ri:´li: эn) •adj. of Karelia, its people, etc. •n. 1 a member of a people living in Karelia and E Finland 2 the Finnic language of this people [< prec. < Finn karja, livestock + -la, suffix of place]

Karelian Isthmus isthmus in Karelia, NW Russia, between the Gulf of Finland & Lake Ladoga: 90 mi. (145 km) long

Karen (kэ ren´) •n. 1 pl. -rens´ or -ren´ a member of a group of peoples of S and SE Myanmar and of Thailand 2 their Sino-Tibetan language [Burmese kayin, name of one of the peoples] Karen (kær´эn) a feminine name: see CATHERINE

Kariba Dam (kэ ri:´bэ) dam on the Zambezi River, on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border: 420 ft. (128 m) high: it has created a lake (Kariba Lake): 2,000 sq. mi. (5,180 sq. km)

Karl-Marx-Stadt (käřl' mäřks´ shtät') old name of CHEMNITZ

Karlovy Vary (käř´lô vi: vä´ři:) city in W Czech Republic, famous for its hot springs: pop. 60,000

Karlsbad (käřls´bät; E kärlz´bæd) Ger. name of KARLOVY VARY

Karlsruhe (-řu: э; E, -ru: э) city in SW Germany, on the Rhine, in the state of Baden-Württemberg: pop. 268,000

karma (kär´mэ, kør´-) •n. 1 Buddhism, Hinduism the totality of a person's actions in any one of the successive states of that person's existence, thought of as determining the fate of the next stage 2 loosely, fate; destiny kar´mic •adj. [Sans, a deed, act, fate < IE base *kwer-, to make, form > Welsh pryd, shape, time]

Karnak (kär´næk') village in S Egypt, on the Nile: site of ancient Thebes

Karnataka (kär nät´э kэ) state of SW India: 74,043 sq. mi. (191,773 sq. km); pop. 25,403,000; cap. Bangalore

Kärnten (keřn´tэn) Ger. name of CARINTHIA

kaross (kэ räs´) •n. in S Africa, a cape, blanket, or rug made of animal skins [Afrik karos]

Karrer (kär´эr), Paul 1889-1971; Swiss chemist

karroo or karoo (kэ ru:´, kæ-) pl. -roos´ •n. in South Africa, a dry tableland the Great Karroo karroo in SC Cape Province, South Africa: c. 350 mi. (563 km) long & 2,000 to 3,000 ft. (610 to 915 m) high [Hottentot karo]

karst (kärst) •n. a region made up of porous limestone containing deep fissures and sinkholes and characterized by underground caves and streams [Ger, after Karst, name of the hinterland of Trieste, altered < Slovenian Kras]

kart (kärt) •n. Æ 1 any of various small, wheeled vehicles with or without a motor: so used chiefly as part of certain trademarked names Æ 2 a small, flat, 4-wheeled, motorized vehicle seating one person: used for recreation and in special racing events (karting) [arbitrary alteration of CART]

karyo- (kær´i: ou', -э) combining form 1 nut, kernel 2 Biol. the nucleus of a cell {karyolymph} [ModL < Gr karyon, a nut, kernel < IE base *kar-, HARD]

karyokinesis (kær'i: ou'ki ni:´sis) •n. MITOSIS kar'y·o'ki·net´ic (-net´ik) •adj. [prec. + Gr kinēsis, motion]

karyolymph (kær´i: ou limf') •n. a colorless, watery liquid found inside the nucleus of a cell [KARYO- + LYMPH]

karyoplasm (-plæz'эm) •n. NUCLEOPLASM kar'y·o·plas´mic (-plæz´mik) •adj. [KARYO- + PLASM]

karyosome (-soum') •n. Biol. 1 an aggregation of chromatin in a resting nucleus 2 the nucleus of a cell [KARYO- + -SOME³]

karyotin (kær'i: ou´tin) •n. CHROMATIN [KARYO- + (CHROMA)TIN]

karyotype (kær´i: э taip') •n. the general appearance, including size, number, and shape, of the set of somatic chromosomes •vt. -typed', -typ'ing to analyze and determine (a karyotype) kar'y·o·typ´ic (-tip´ik) or kar'y·o·typ´i·cal •adj.

karyotyping (-taip'iŋ) •n. the procedure or technique used to karyotype a set of chromosomes

Kasai (kä sai´) river in SC Africa, flowing from Angola northwest into the Congo River: c. 1,100 mi. (1,770 km)

kasbah or Kasbah (käz´bä') •n. alt. sp. of CASBAH

kasha (kä´shэ) •n. cracked buckwheat, wheat, etc. cooked into a mushlike consistency and served with meat, in soup, etc. [Russ, partly via Yidd]

kasher (kä´shэr) •adj., n., vt. var. of KOSHER

Kashmir (kæsh´mir, kæsh mir´) 1 region in S Asia, between Afghanistan & Tibet: since 1846, part of Jammu & Kashmir 2 JAMMU AND KASHMIR 3 Vale of valley of the Jhelum River, in W Kashmir Kash·mir´i·an •adj., n.

Kashmiri (kæsh mir´i:) •n. 1 the Indo-Aryan language of the Kashmirians 2 pl. -mir´is or -mir´i a Kashmirian

kashrut or kashruth (käsh ru:t´, käsh´ru:t') •n. the dietary regulations of Judaism: see KOSHER

Kashubian (kæ shu:´bi: эn) •n. a dialect of Polish, spoken in northern Poland

Kassel (käs´эl) city in central Germany, in the state of Hesse: pop. 186,000

Kastler (kåst ler´), Al·fred (ål fred´) 1902-84; Fr. physicist

kat (kät) •n. alt. sp. of KHAT

kata- (kæt´э) CATA- Also, before a vowel, kat-

katabatic (kæt'э bæt´ik) •adj. moving downward: said of air currents or winds

Kate (keit) a feminine name: dim. Katie: see CATHERINE

katharevousa (kä'θä řev´u: sä') •n. the form of Modern Greek that conforms to classical Greek usage [ModGr, lit., being pure]

katharsis (kэ θär´sis) •n. alt. sp. of CATHARSIS

Katherine or Katharine (kæθ´э rin, -эr in; kæθ´rin) a feminine name: dim. Kate, Kathy, Kay, Kit, Kitty: see CATHERINE Also Kath·ryn (kæθ´rin)

Kathleen (kæθ´li:n, kæθ li:n´) a feminine name: see CATHERINE [Ir]

kathode (kæθ´oud') •n. alt. sp. of CATHODE

Kathy (kæθ´i:) a feminine name See CATHERINE, KATHERINE

kation (kæt´ai'эn) •n. alt. sp. of CATION

Katmai (kæt´mai') volcano in SW Alas.: c. 7,000 ft. (2,133 m): included in a volcanic region (Katmai National Monument) of the S Alaska Range, 4,215 sq. mi. (10,920 sq. km) [Russ < ?]

Katmandu (kät'män du:´) capital of Nepal, in the central part: pop. 235,000: also sp. Kath'man·du´

Katowice (kä'tô vi:´tse) city in S Poland: pop. 361,000

Katrine (kæ´trin, kä´-), Loch lake in central Scotland: scene of Scott's Lady of the Lake: 8 mi. (12.9 km) long

Kattegat (kæt´i gæt') strait between SW Sweden & E Jutland, Denmark: c. 150 mi. (241 km) long

katydid (keit´i: did') •n. any of several large, green orthopteran insects (esp. family Tettigoniidae) having long, slender antennae and long hind legs: the male has highly developed stridulating organs on the forewings, that produce a shrill sound [echoic of the sound made by the males]

katzenjammer (kæts´эn jæm'эr) •n. 1 a farcical quality; travesty 2 a bewildering hodgepodge or distressing confusion 3 a severe headache, esp. as part of a hangover [Ger < katze, CAT + jammer, woe < OHG jamar, orig. adj., sad, akin to OE geomor, miserable: sense 1 infl. by U.S. cartoon strip (The Katzenjammer Kids), originated (1897) by R. Dirks]

Kauai (kä'u: ä´i:, kau´ai') an island of Hawaii, northwest of Oahu: 551 sq. mi. (1,443 sq. km): pop. 51,000 [< Haw, prob. desert]

Kaufman (köf´mэn), George S(imon) 1889-1961; U.S. playwright

Kaunas (kau´näs') city in SC Lithuania, on the Neman River: pop. 405,000

kauri (kau´ri:) •n. 1 a tall evergreen tree (Agathis australis) of the pine family, growing in New Zealand 2 its wood 3 a resin (kauri resin, kauri gum) from this tree, often found as a fossil, used in varnishes, adhesives, and linoleum [Maori]

kava (kä´vэ, -vä') •n. 1 a plant (Piper methysticum) of the pepper family, with an aromatic odor: its roots and rhizomes have narcotic properties 2 an intoxicating drink made from the roots, for use in certain rituals Also ka'va·ka´va [< Polynesian, prob. Tongan < Proto-Polynesian *kawa]

Kavir Desert DASHT-E-KAVIR

Kawabata (kä'wä bä´tä), Ya·su·na·ri (yä'su: nä´ri:) 1899-1972; Jpn. writer

Kawaguchi (kä'wä gu:´chi:) city in E Honshu, Japan, north of Tokyo: pop. 396,000

Kawasaki (kä´wä sä´ki:) city in central Honshu, Japan, on Tokyo Bay: pop. 1,050,000

Kawasaki syndrome a syndrome, usually afflicting children, characterized by high fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, rashes, irritated eyes and mucous membranes, etc. with possible damage to the cardiovascular system: also called Kawasaki disease

Kay (kei) 1 a feminine name: see KATHERINE 2 a masculine name Kay (kei), Sir Arthurian Legend a knight of the Round Table, the boastful and rude seneschal and foster brother of King Arthur

kayak (kai´æk') •n. 1 an Eskimo canoe made of skins completely covering a wooden frame except for an opening in the middle for the paddler 2 any similarly designed canoe for one or two paddlers, made of canvas, plastic, etc. •vi. to paddle, or go in, a kayak kay´ak'er •n. [Esk]

kayo (kei´ou´) -oed´, -o´ing •vt. [Slang] Boxing to knock out •n. pl. kay´os´ [Slang] Boxing a knockout [< KO]

Kayseri (kai'se ri:´) city in central Turkey: pop. 281,000

kazachok (kä'zä chök´) pl. -zach·ki´ (-zäch ki:´) •n. a vigorous Russian folk dance in which a man alternately kicks out each leg from a squatting position [Russ < Kazak, Cossack]

Kazakh or Kazak (kä zäk´) •n. a member of a Kirghiz people living chiefly in the Kazakhstan

Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic a republic of the U.S.S.R.: now KAZAKHSTAN

Kazakhstan (kä'zäk stän´) 1 KAZAKH SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC 2 country in W Asia: became independent upon the breakup of the U.S.S.R. (1991): 1,048,000 sq. mi. (2,715,000 sq. km); pop. 15,000,000; cap. Alma-Ata: formerly, Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

Kazan (kä zän´; Russ kå zän´yª) city in W Russia, on the Volga: pop. 1,048,000

Kazantzakis (kä'zän dzä´ki:s'), Ni·kos (ni:´kôs) 1885-1957; Gr. novelist

kazatsky or kazatski (kэ zät´ski:) pl. -skies •n. var. of KAZACHOK

Kazbek (käz bek´) volcanic mountain in the central Caucasus, N Georgia: 16,558 ft. (5,047 m)

Kazdaği (käz'dä gi:´) Turk. name of Mount IDA

kazoo (kэ zu:´) pl. -zoos´ •n. a toy musical instrument consisting of a small, open tube with a top hole covered by a membrane, as of paper, that vibrates to give a buzzing quality to tones hummed through the tube [echoic]

KB 1 kilobyte(s) 2 King's Bench 3 Chess king's bishop 4 Knight Bachelor kb kilobar

kbar (kei´bär') •n. short for KILOBAR

KBE Knight Commander of (the Order of) the British Empire

KC 1 King's Counsel 2 Knight Commander 3 Knight (or Knights) of Columbus kc kilocycle(s)

kcal kilocalorie(s)

KCB Knight Commander of (the Order of) the Bath

Kčs koruna(s)

KCVO Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

KD or kd Commerce knocked down (not assembled)

kea (kei´э, ki:´э) •n. a large, brownish-green mountain parrot (Nestor notabilis) of New Zealand [Maori] Kea (kei´ä) island of the NW Cyclades, Greece, in the Aegean Sea: 60 sq. mi. (156 sq. km)

Kean (ki:n), Edmund 1787-1833; Eng. actor

Keaton (ki:t´ªn), Buster (born Joseph Francis Keaton) 1895-1966; U.S. comic film actor

Keats (ki:ts), John 1795-1821; Eng. poet

kebab or kebob (kэ bäb´) •n. 1 a small piece of marinated meat used as for shish kebab 2 [often pl.] SHISH KEBAB [Ar kabāb]

kebbuck or kebbock (keb´эk) •n. [Scot.] a cheese [ME cabok < Gael ceapag, a cheese, wheel]

Keble (ki:´bэl), John 1792-1866; Eng. Anglican clergyman & poet: a founder of the Oxford movement

keck (kek) •vi. 1 to retch or heave, as if about to vomit 2 to feel or show great disgust [echoic]

Kecskemét (kech´ke meit') city in central Hungary: pop. 102,000

Kedah (kei´dä) state of Malaysia, in NW Peninsular Malaysia, bordering on Thailand: 3,660 sq. mi. (9,480 sq. km); pop. 1,102,000

kedge (kej) kedged, kedg´ing •vt. to move (a ship) by hauling on a rope fastened to an anchor that has been dropped some distance from it •vi. 1 to move a ship by kedging it 2 to move by being kedged •n. a light anchor, used esp. in kedging a ship: also kedge anchor [ME caggen, to fasten < ?]

kedgeree (kej´эr i:) •n. 1 an Indian dish of lentils, rice, and, sometimes, fish 2 a traditional British breakfast dish, a mixture of fish, rice, hard-boiled eggs, etc. [Hindi khichri < Sans khiccā, mixture]

Kedron (ki:´drэn) alt. sp. of KIDRON

keef (ki: ef´) •n. var. of KEF

keek (ki:k) •vi. [Scot. or North Eng.] to peep; spy [ME kiken, prob. < MDu or MLowG kīken]

keel¹ (ki:l) •n. 1 the chief timber or steel piece extending along the entire length of the bottom of a boat or ship and supporting the frame: it sometimes protrudes beneath the hull 2 [Old Poet.] a ship 3 anything resembling a ship's keel 4 the assembly of beams, girders, etc. at the bottom of a rigid or semirigid airship to prevent sagging or buckling 5 Biol. a ridgelike part •vt., vi. to turn over on its side so as to turn up the keel or bottom Æ keel over 1 to turn over or upside down; upset; capsize 2 to fall over suddenly, as in a faint on an even keel 1 in or keeping an upright, level position 2 steady, stable, etc. [ME kele < ON kjolr < Gmc *kelu- < IE base *gel-, to swallow > L gula, throat]

keel² (ki:l) •n. 1 a flat-bottomed ship; esp., a low, flat-bottomed coal barge or lighter, used on the Tyne 2 a) a barge load of coal b) a British unit of weight for coal, equal to 21.1 long tons [ME kele < MDu kiel, boat < Gmc *keula < IE *geul-, rounded vessel > Sans gōlā, ball, round jug]

keel³ (ki:l) •vt. [Now Dial.] to cool (a hot liquid) by stirring, skimming, etc. [ME kelen < OE celan (akin to Ger kühlen) < base of col, COOL]

keel4 (ki:l) •n. a red stain used for marking lumber, etc.; ruddle [prob. < Ir or Gael cīl, ruddle]

keelboat (-bout') •n. a large, shallow freight boat with a keel, formerly used on the Mississippi, Missouri, etc.

keelhaul (-höl') •vt. 1 to haul (a person) down through the water on one side of a ship, under the keel, and up on the other side as a punishment or torture 2 to scold or rebuke harshly [Du kielhalen < kiel < MDu, boat (see KEEL²) + ODu halen, to HAUL]

Keeling Islands (ki:´liŋ) COCOS ISLANDS

keelson (kel´sэn, ki:l´-) •n. a longitudinal beam or set of timbers or metal plates fastened inside the hull of a ship along the keel to add structural strength [prob. via Du kolsem < Dan kjølsvin, altered (infl. by svin, swine) < kjølsvill < kjøl, KEEL¹ + sville, SILL]

Keelung (ki:´luŋ´) var. of CHILUNG

keen¹ (ki:n) •adj. 1 having a sharp edge or point; that can cut well {a keen knife, a keen edge} 2 sharp or cutting in force; piercing {a keen appetite, a keen wind} 3 sharp and quick in seeing, hearing, thinking, etc.; acute {keen eyes, a keen intelligence} 4 sharp-witted; mentally acute; shrewd 5 eager; enthusiastic; much interested 6 strongly felt or perceived; intense; strong {keen desire, a keen scent} Æ 7 [Slang] good, fine, etc.: a generalized term of approval SYN. EAGER¹, SHARP keen´ly •adv. keen´ness •n. [ME kene < OE cene, wise, learned, akin to Ger kühn, bold < IE base *Gen-, to KNOW: the principal senses spring from the basic notion capable]

keen² (ki:n) •n. [Irish] a wailing for the dead; dirge •vi. [Irish] to lament or wail for the dead •vt. to utter in a wailing tone SYN. CRY [Ir caoine < caoinim, I wail]

keep (ki:p) kept, keep´ing •vt. 1 to observe or pay regard to; specif., a) to observe with due or prescribed acts, ceremonies, etc.; celebrate or solemnize {to keep the Sabbath} b) to fulfill (a promise, etc.) c) to follow or adhere to (a routine, diet, etc.) d) to go on maintaining {to keep pace} e) [Archaic] to attend (church, etc.) regularly 2 to take care of, or have and take care or charge of; specif., a) to protect; guard; defend b) to look after; watch over; tend c) to raise (livestock) d) to maintain in good order or condition; preserve e) to supply with food, shelter, etc.; provide for; support f) to supply with food or lodging for pay {to keep boarders} g) to have or maintain in one's service or for one's use {to keep servants} h) to set down regularly in writing; maintain (a continuous written record) {to keep an account of sales} i) to make regular entries in; maintain a continuous record of transactions, accounts, or happenings in {to keep books of account, to keep a diary} a) to carry on; conduct; manage 3 to maintain, or cause to stay or continue, in a specified condition, position, etc. {to keep an engine running} 4 to have or hold; specif., a) to have or hold for future use or for a long time b) to have regularly in stock for sale 5 to have or hold and not let go; specif., a) to hold in custody; prevent from escaping b) to prevent from leaving; detain c) to hold back; restrain {to keep someone from talking} d) to withhold e) to conceal; not tell (a secret, etc.) f) to continue to have or hold; not lose or give up g) to stay in or at; not leave (a path, course, or place) •vi. 1 to stay or continue in a specified condition, position, etc. 2 to continue; go on; persevere or persist: often with on {to keep on talking} 3 to hold oneself back; refrain {to keep from telling someone} 4 to stay in good condition; not become spoiled, sour, stale, etc.; last 5 to require no immediate attention {a task that will keep until tomorrow} Æ 6 [Colloq.] to continue in session {will school keep all day?} 7 [Now Rare] to reside; live; stay •n. 1 orig., care, charge, or custody 2 a) the strongest, innermost part or central tower of a medieval castle; donjon b) a stronghold; fort; castle 3 [Rare] a keeping or being kept 4 what is needed to maintain a person or animal; food and shelter; support; livelihood SYN. CELEBRATE Æ for keeps [Colloq.] 1 with the agreement that the winner will keep what he wins 2 forever; permanently keep at to continue doing, practicing, etc.; persist in (an activity) keep in with [Colloq.] to remain on good terms with keep time 1 to maintain a set rhythm, beat, tempo, etc. {the drummers kept time for the marching band} 2 to mark the elapsing of time {this watch keeps good time} keep to 1 to persevere in 2 to avoid swerving from; adhere to 3 to remain in keep to oneself 1 to avoid the company of others 2 to treat (information, etc.) as confidential; not tell keep up 1 to maintain in good order or condition 2 to continue; not stop or end 3 to maintain the pace; not lag behind 4 to remain informed about: with on or with keep up with the Joneses to strive to get all the material things one's neighbors or associates have [ME kepen < OE cœpan, to behold, watch out for, lay hold of, akin to MLowG kapen, ON kopa, to stare at < ? IE base *Gab-, to look at or for]

keeper (-эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that keeps; specif., a) a guard, as of prisoners, animals, etc. b) a guardian or protector c) [Chiefly Brit.] a curator d) a custodian; caretaker e) [Brit.] a gamekeeper f) any of several devices for keeping something in place, as a clasp g) something that keeps or lasts (well or poorly) Æ h) Football a play in which the quarterback takes the ball from the center and runs with it 2 something worth keeping

keeping (-iŋ) •n. 1 observance (of a rule, holiday, promise, etc.) 2 care; custody; charge 3 maintenance or means of maintenance; keep 4 the condition in which something is kept 5 reservation for future use; preservation in keeping with in conformity or accord with

keepsake (-seik') •n. something kept, or to be kept, for the sake of, or in memory of, the giver, an event, etc.; memento

keeshond (keis´hönt', ki:s´-; -hûnd') pl. -hond'en (-hönt'ªn, -hûn'dэn) •n. any of a breed of medium-sized dog with a thick, gray-and-black coat of long, straight hair, a foxlike head with small, pointed ears, and a tail that curls over the back [Du < Kees, nickname for Cornelis, CORNELIUS + hond, dog]

keet (ki:t) •n. a young guinea fowl [echoic]

Keewatin (ki: wät´ªn) Region of E Northwest Territories, Canada: 228,702 sq. mi. (592,335 sq. km): formerly the Keewatin District •adj. Geol. designating or of a species of rocks of the Precambrian system in the Lake Superior region [coined < Cree kiiweetin, the north, north wind, lit., the wind that comes back < kiiwee-, come back + -tin, wind]

kef (keif) •n. 1 a dreamy condition 2 a substance, as Indian hemp, smoked to produce this condition [Ar kaif, well-being]

Kefallinia (kei'fä li: ni:´ä) Gr. name of CEPHALONIA

kefir (kef´эr, ke fir´, ki:´fэr) •n. a sour, slightly alcoholic drink fermented from cow's milk [Russ < Caucasian]

keg (keg) •n. 1 a small barrel, usually one holding less than ten gallons 2 a unit of weight for nails, equal to 100 pounds [ME cagge < or akin to ON kaggi, keg < IE base *Gegh-, a branch, stake > E dial cag, stump]

kegler (keg´lэr) •n. [Colloq.] a person who bowls; bowler [Ger < kegel, (nine)pin, (ten)pin < OHG kegil, a post, stake, dim. of base akin to prec.]

keister or keester (ki:s´tэr) •n. [Slang] 1 a satchel, suitcase, etc. 2 the buttocks; rump [prob. < Ger kiste, chest, case, (slang) rump < OHG < L cista, CHEST]

Keith (ki:θ) a masculine name [Scot < Gael base meaning the wind]

Kelantan (kэ län'tän´) state of Malaysia, in NE Peninsular Malaysia, bordering on Thailand: 5,750 sq. mi. (14,892 sq. km); pop. 878,000

kelep (kel´эp) •n. a Central American stinging ant (Ectatomma tuberculatum) [native name in Guatemala]

Keller (kel´эr), Helen Adams 1880-1968; U.S. writer & lecturer: blind & deaf from infancy, she was taught to speak & read

Kelly (kel´i:) a feminine name

Kelly (green) [also k- g-] a bright, yellowish green

keloid (ki:´loid') •n. an excessive growth of scar tissue on the skin ke·loi´dal •adj. [Fr kéloïde, chéloïde < Gr chēlē, crab's claw (see CHELA) + -oeidēs, -OID]

Kelowna (kэ lou´nэ) city in S British Columbia, Canada: pop. 70,000 [< ? AmInd]

kelp (kelp) •n. 1 any of an order (Laminariales) of large, coarse, brown algae 2 ashes of seaweed, from which iodine is obtained [ME culp]

kelpie or kelpy (kel´pi:) pl. -pies •n. Celt. Folklore a water spirit, supposed to take the form of a horse and drown people [Scot < ? Gael calpa, colt]

kelson (kel´sэn) •n. var. of KEELSON

Kelt (kelt) •n. alt. sp. of CELT Kelt´ic •adj., n.

Kelthane (kel´θein') trademark for a pesticide sprayed on agricultural and ornamental plants to eliminate mites

Kelvin (kel´vin) 1 a masculine name 2 1st Baron (William Thomson) 1824-1907; Brit. physicist & mathematician [< Eng surname] Kelvin (kel´vin) •adj. designating a scale of thermodynamic temperature measured from absolute zero (-273.15°C) •n. [k-] a unit of temperature on this scale: one kelvin equals one degree Celsius [after 1st Baron KELVIN]

Kemal Atatürk (ke mäl´ ät ä tørk´) 1881-1938; Turk. general: 1st president of Turkey (1923-38): also called Mustafa Kemal or Kemal Pasha

Kemerovo (kem´э rou vou', -vэ) city in SC Russia, in the Kuznetsk Basin: pop. 507,000

Kempis (kem´pis), Thomas à (born Thomas Hamerken or Hammerlein) c. 1380-1471; Ger. monk & scholar

kempt (kempt) •adj. neat; tidy; well-groomed [ME, combed: in mod. use, back-form. < UNKEMPT]

ken (ken) kenned, ken´ning •vt. 1 [Scot.] to know 2 [Archaic] to see; look at; descry 3 [Now Chiefly Dial.] to recognize •vi. [Scot.] to know (of or about) •n. [contr. < KENNING] 1 [Rare] range of vision 2 mental perception; range of knowledge; understanding {beyond one's ken} [ME kennen < OE cennan, lit., to cause to know < *kannjan < base of CAN¹, akin to Ger kennen, ON kenna, to know]

kenaf (kэ næf´) •n. 1 a tropical Asiatic plant (Hibiscus cannabinus) of the mallow family, grown for its fiber, which is similar to jute 2 this fiber [Pers, akin to kanab, HEMP]

Kenai Peninsula (ki:´nai') peninsula in S Alas. between Cook Inlet & the main body of the Gulf of Alaska: c. 150 mi. (240 km) long: site of the Kenai Fjords National Park, containing numerous fjords, jagged cliffs, & one of the world's largest ice fields: 9,172 sq. mi. (26,232 sq. km)

kench (kench) •n. a box or bin in which fish or skins are salted [? var. of Brit dial. canch]

Kendal (green) (ken´dэl) 1 a coarse, green woolen cloth 2 its color [after Kendal, city in England, where orig. made]

Kendall (ken´dэl) city on the SE coast of Fla.: suburb of Miami: pop. 87,000 [< ?]

kendo (ken´dou) •n. stylized swordplay in which bamboo swords are used: a Japanese sport [Jpn < SinoJpn ken, sword + dō, way]

Kendrew (ken´dru'), Sir John Cow·der·y (kau´dэr i:) 1917- ; Brit. biochemist

Kenilworth (ken´эl wørθ') urban district in Warwickshire, England, near Coventry: site of the ruins of a major castle celebrated by Sir Walter Scott in his novel Kenilworth: pop. 19,000

Kennan (ken´эn), George F(rost) 1904- ; U.S. diplomat & historian

Kennebec (ken'э bek´) river in W Me., flowing into the Atlantic: c. 150 mi. (242 km) [E Abenaki kìnðpekw < kin-, large + ðpekw, body of water]

Kennedy (ken´э di:), Cape old name (1963-73) of Cape CANAVERAL [after Pres. Kennedy] Kennedy (ken´э di:) 1 John Fitzgerald 1917-63; 35th president of the U.S. (1961-63): assassinated 2 Joseph Patrick 1888-1969; U.S. businessman & diplomat: father of John & Robert 3 Robert Francis 1925-68; U.S. lawyer & political leader: assassinated

kennel¹ (ken´эl) •n. 1 a doghouse 2 [often pl.] a place where dogs are bred or kept 3 a pack of dogs •vt. -neled or -nelled, -nel·ing or -nel·ling to place or keep in a kennel •vi. to live or take shelter in a kennel [ME kenel, prob. via NormFr < OFr chenil < VL *canile < L canis, a dog: see CANINE]

kennel² (ken´эl) •n. [Archaic] an open drain or sewer; gutter [ME canel < OFr canel, chanel, CHANNEL¹]

Kennelly-Heaviside layer (ken´эl i: hev´i: said') E LAYER [after A. Kennelly (1861-1939), U.S. electrical engineer & O. Heaviside (1850-1925), Eng physicist]

Kenner (ken´эr) city in SE La., on the Mississippi: suburb of New Orleans: pop. 72,000 [after the Kenner family, sugar planters who founded it, 1853]

Kennesaw Mountain (ken´э sö') mountain in NW Ga.: scene of an unsuccessful attack by Sherman on Confederate forces (1864): 1,800 ft. (550 m) [prob. < Cherokee; meaning unknown]

Kenneth (ken´эθ) a masculine name: dim. Ken, Kenny [Scot < Gael Caioneach, lit., handsome]

kenning (ken´iŋ) •n. 1 [Scot.] a) knowledge or recognition b) a tiny quantity; trace 2 in early Germanic, as Old English, poetry, a metaphorical name, usually a compound, for something (Ex.: whale-path for sea) [ON, symbol < kenna: see KEN] [ME: see KEN]

Kenny method (or treatment) (ken´i:-) an earlier method of treating poliomyelitis by the use of hot packs and exercises [after E. Kenny (1880-1952), Austral nurse]

keno (ki:´nou) •n. a gambling game resembling bingo [< Fr quine, five winning numbers < L quini, five each < quinque, FIVE]

Kenosha (kэ nou´shэ) city in SE Wis., on Lake Michigan: pop. 80,000 [prob. ult. < Ojibwa ginoozhe, northern pike]

kenosis (kэ nou´sis) •n. Christian Theol. the voluntary abasement of the second person of the Trinity in becoming man ke·not´ic (-nät´ik) •adj. [Gr kenōsis, an emptying < kenos, empty]

Kensington and Chelsea (ken´ziŋ tэn эnd chel´si:) borough of W Greater London: pop. 136,000

Kent (kent) county of SE England: formerly, an Anglo-Saxon kingdom (6th-9th cent. A.D.): 1,441 sq. mi. (3,732 sq. km); pop. 1,491,000; county seat, Maidstone Kent (kent) 1 James 1763-1847; U.S. jurist 2 Rock·well (räk´wel') 1882-1971; U.S. artist

Kentish (-ish) •adj. of Kent or its people •n. the dialect of Kent, esp. in its Old English and Middle English stages

kentledge (kent´lij) •n. pig iron used as permanent ballast in a ship [Fr quintelage < quintal, QUINTAL + -age: see -AGE]

Kentucky (kэn tûk´i:) 1 EC State of the U.S.: admitted, 1792; 40,395 sq. mi. (104,623 sq. km); pop. 3,685,000; cap. Frankfort: abbrev. KY or Ky 2 river in E Ky., flowing northwest into the Ohio: 259 mi. (415 km) Ken·tuck´i·an •adj., n. [earlier (18th c.) Kentucke (River), of Iroquois or Shawnee orig.]

Kentucky coffee tree a large tree (Gymnocladus dioica) of the caesalpinia family, with brown, curved pods containing seeds sometimes used as a substitute for coffee: it is native to the E U.S.

Kentucky Derby an annual horse race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky

Kentucky Lake reservoir in SW Ky. & W Tenn., on the Tennessee River: 247 sq. mi. (639 sq. km); 184 mi. (296 km) long [after the state]

Kenya (ken´yэ, ki:n´-) 1 country in EC Africa, on the Indian Ocean: formerly a British crown colony & protectorate, it became independent & member of the Commonwealth (1963): 224,960 sq. mi. (582,649 sq. km); pop. 21,044,000; cap. Nairobi 2 Mount volcanic mountain in central Kenya: 17,040 ft. (5,198 m) Ken´yan •adj., n.

Keogh plan (ki:´ou) a retirement plan for self-employed persons and for the owners and employees of unincorporated businesses, similar to an IRA: see IRA (Individual Retirement Account) [after E. J. Keogh (1907-89), U.S. congressman]

Keos (kei´äs') var. of KEA

kepi (kep´i:, kei´pi:) pl. kep´is •n. a cap with a flat, round top and stiff visor, worn by French soldiers [Fr képi < Ger dial. käppi, dim. of kappe, a cap < OHG kappa < LL cappa: see CAP]

Kepler (kep´lэr), Jo·han·nes (yô hän´эs) 1571-1630; Ger. astronomer & mathematician Kep·ler·i·an (kep lir´i: эn, -ler´-) •adj.

Kepone (ki:´poun') trademark for a highly toxic insecticide, C10Cl10O, that persists in the environment and accumulates in the food chain: its use is now restricted

kept (kept) •vt., vi. pt. & pp. of KEEP •adj. maintained as a mistress {a kept woman}

ker- (kэr) prefix forming words suggesting a thump, thud, explosion, etc.: used as a humorous intensifier {kerplunk, kerflooey} [echoic]

Kerala (ker´э lэ) state of SW India, on the Malabar Coast: 15,002 sq. mi. (38,855 sq. km); pop. 25,403,000; cap. Trivandrum

keramic (kэ ræm´ik) •adj. var. of CERAMIC

keratectomy (ker'э tek´tэ mi:) pl. -mies •n. the surgical removal of part or all of the cornea [KERAT(O)- + -ECTOMY]

keratin (ker´э tin) •n. a tough, fibrous, insoluble protein forming the principal matter of hair, nails, horn, etc. ke·rat·i·nous (kэ ræt´ªn эs) or ke·rat´i·noid' (-oid') •adj. [KERAT(O)- + -IN¹]

keratinize (ker´э tin aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to form or develop keratin ker'a·tin'i·za´tion •n.

keratitis (ker'э tait´is) •n. inflammation of the cornea [KERAT(O)- + -ITIS]

kerato- (ker´э tou', -tэ) combining form 1 horn, hornlike, horny tissue {keratogenous} 2 the cornea {keratotomy} Also, before a vowel, kerat- [< Gr keras (gen. keratos), HORN]

keratoconus (ker'э tou'kou´nэs) •n. an abnormal conical bulging of a cornea causing impaired vision or blindness: thought to be an inherited disorder

keratogenous (ker'э täj´э nэs) •adj. causing the growth of horny tissue [KERATO- + -GENOUS]

keratoid (ker´э toid') •adj. hornlike; horny [Gr keratoeidēs: see KERATO- & -OID]

keratoplasty (ker´э tou plæs'ti:) pl. -ties •n. the surgical operation of grafting new corneal tissue onto an eye [KERATO- + -PLASTY]

keratose (ker´э tous') •adj. 1 horny 2 having horny material in the skeleton, as certain sponges and some other invertebrates [KERAT(O)- + -OSE²]

keratosis (ker'э tou´sis) pl. -ses' (-si:z') •n. 1 a horny growth of the skin, as a wart 2 any disease characterized by horny growths [ModL < KERAT(O)- + -OSIS]

keratotomy (ker'э tät´э mi:) pl. -mies •n. surgical incision of the cornea [KERATO- + -TOMY]

kerb (kørb) Brit. sp. of CURB (n. 5, 6, & vt. 3) •n.

Kerch (keřch) seaport in W Crimea, on a strait (Kerch Strait) connecting the Black Sea & the Sea of Azov: pop. 168,000

kerchief (kør´chif) •n. 1 a piece of cloth, usually square, worn over the head or around the neck 2 a handkerchief ker´chiefed (-chift) •adj. [ME kerchef, coverchef < OFr covrechef < covrir, to COVER + chef, the head: see CHIEF]

Kerensky (kэ ren´ski:´; Russ kye´řyen ski:), A·lek·san·dr Fe·o·do·ro·vich (ä'lyek sän´dэř fyô'dô rô´vich) 1881-1970; Russ. revolutionary leader: prime minister of Russia (July-Nov., 1917), overthrown by the Bolshevik Revolution: in the U.S. after 1940

Keres (kei´res') •n. 1 pl. Ke´res a member of any of seven Indian pueblos in New Mexico, mostly on the Rio Grande 2 a family of languages, comprising the seven dialects or languages spoken by the Keres: also Ker·e·san (ker´э sэn) [Sp Queres < a Tanoan language]

kerf (kørf) •n. the cut or channel made by a saw •vt. to make a kerf or kerfs in [ME < OE cyrf (akin to ON kurfr, a cutting, chip) < pp. base of ceorfan, to CARVE]

kerfuffle (kэr fûf´эl) •n. disorder; uproar; confusion

Kerguelen Islands (kør´gэ lэn) group of French islands in the S Indian Ocean, consisting of one large island & over 300 small ones: 2,700 sq. mi. (6,992 sq. km)

Kerkrade (kerk´rä'dэ) city in SE Netherlands, on the German border: pop. 53,000

Kérkyra (keř´ki: řä') Gr. name of CORFU

Kerman (ker män´) city in SE Iran: pop. 239,000

Kermanshah (ker'män shä´) old name of BAKHTARAN

kermes (kør´mi:z') •n. 1 the dried bodies of the females of certain soft scale insects (genus Kermes), used for making a purple-red dye 2 this dye 3 a small, evergreen Mediterranean oak (Quercus coccifera) on which the kermes insects are found: also kermes oak [Fr kermès < Ar & Pers qirmiz: see CARMINE]

kermis or kermess (kør´mis) •n. 1 in the Netherlands, Belgium, etc., an outdoor fair or carnival Æ 2 any somewhat similar fair or entertainment, held usually for charity [Du kermis, orig. kerkmis < kerk, CHURCH + mis, MASS: orig. the feast day of the local patron saint, hence, a fair or carnival held on that day]

Kern (kørn), Jerome (David) 1885-1945; U.S. composer

kern¹ (kørn) •n. that part of the face of a printed character which projects beyond the body •vt. to put a kern on (a printed character) [Fr carne, projecting angle, hinge < dial. form of OFr charne, a hinge, corner, edge < L cardo (gen. cardinis), a hinge: see CARDINAL]

kern² or kerne (kørn) •n. 1 [Archaic] a medieval Irish or Scottish foot soldier armed with light weapons 2 an Irish peasant [ME kerne < OIr ceitern, band of soldiers, soldier; akin to Gael ceathairne, common people]

kernel (kør´nэl) •n. 1 a grain or seed, as of corn, wheat, etc. 2 the inner, softer part of a nut, fruit pit, etc. 3 the central, most important part of something; core; essence •vt. -neled or -nelled, -neling or -nel·ling to enclose as a kernel [ME < OE cyrnel < base of corn, seed (see CORN¹) + -el, dim. suffix]

kernite (kørn´ait') •n. a monoclinic mineral, Na2B4O7·4H2O, an important ore of boron [after Kern County, California, where mined + -ITE¹]

kerogen (ker´э jэn) •n. solid bituminous material in some shales, which yields petroleum when heated [< Gr kēros, wax + -GEN]

kerosene (ker´э si:n', ker'э si:n´) •n. a thin oil distilled from petroleum or shale oil, used as a fuel, solvent, illuminant, etc.; coal oil Also, esp. in scientific and industrial usage, sp. ker´o·sine' [Gr kēros, wax + -ENE]

Kerouac (ker´u: æk'), Jack (born Jean Louis Kerouac) 1922-69; U.S. writer

kerplunk (kэr plûŋk´) •adv., interj. with a thud or heavily •vi., vt. to fall or drop with a thud or heavily

kerria (ker´i: э) •n. any of a genus (Kerria) of Chinese plants of the rose family, esp. an ornamental species (K. japonica) with slender, green twigs and bright yellow, often double flowers [ModL, after Wm. Kerr, Brit botanist (died 1814)]

Kerry (ker´i:) county in Munster province, SW Ireland: 1,815 sq. mi. (4,700 sq. km); pop. 120,000

Kerry blue terrier any of a breed of terrier with a long, narrow head, a dense, wavy, grayish-blue coat, and an erect, docked tail

kersey (kør´zi:) pl. -seys •n. a coarse, lightweight woolen cloth, usually ribbed and with a cotton warp [ME, after Kersey, village in Suffolk, England]

kerseymere (-mir') •n. a fine woolen cloth in a twill weave [altered (infl. by prec.) < CASSIMERE]

kerygma (kэ rig´mэ) •n. Christian Theol. 1 preaching of the Gospel 2 emphasis on the essence and spirit of the Gospel, as in preaching, catechesis, etc. ker·yg·mat·ic (ker'ig mæt´ik) •adj. [Gr(Ec) kērygma, preaching < Gr, a proclamation < kēryssein, to proclaim < kēryx, a herald < IE base *kar-, to praise loudly > OE hrothor, joy]

kestrel (kes´trэl) •n. 1 either of two small, reddish-gray European falcons (Falco tinnunculus or F. naumanni) that can hover in the air 2 AMERICAN KESTREL [ME castrel < OFr cresserelle, quercerelle: orig. echoic]

ketamine hydrochloride (ki:t´э mi:n', ki:t'э mi:n´) a powerful anesthetic, C13H16ClNO·HCl, used in surgery because it does not greatly affect body systems

ketch (kech) •n. a small, two-masted sailing vessel rigged fore-and-aft, with the mizzenmast somewhat shorter than the mainmast and located forward of the rudderpost: distinguished from YAWL¹ [ME cache < cacchen, to CATCH: orig. used of fishing vessels]

ketchup (kech´эp) •n. a sauce for meat, fish, etc.; esp., a thick sauce (tomato ketchup) made of tomatoes flavored with onion, salt, sugar, and spices [? via Malay kēchap, a fish sauce < Chin ke-tsiap]

ketene (ki:´ti:n') •n. 1 a colorless, toxic gas, H2C:CO, with a penetrating odor, made by passing acetone or acetic acid through hot metal tubes: used esp. as an acetylating agent 2 any of a series of related organic compounds containing the C:CO group [KET(O)- + -ENE]

keto- (ki:t´ou, -э) combining form ketone, of ketones {ketogenesis} Also, before a vowel, ket-

ketogenesis (ki:t'ou jen´э sis) •n. the formation of ketones, such as acetone, in the body as a result of the incomplete oxidation of organic compounds such as fatty acids or carbohydrates ke'to·gen´ic •adj. [prec. + -GENESIS]

ketol (ki:´töl', -toul') •n. any of a group of organic compounds containing a ketone group and an alcohol group in the molecule [KET(O)- + -OL¹]

ketone (-toun') •n. an organic chemical compound containing the divalent carbonyl group, CO, in combination with two hydrocarbon radicals [Ger keton, arbitrary var. of Fr acétone: see ACETONE]

ketone body any of three related compounds, including acetone, found in the blood and urine when there is excessive oxidation of fatty acids by the liver, as during starvation or pregnancy, or in diabetes

ketonemia (ki:t'ou ni:´mi: э) •n. an excess of ketone bodies in the blood [KETON(E) + -EMIA]

ketonuria (-nur´i: э, -nyur´-) •n. an excess of ketone bodies in the urine [KETON(E) + -URIA]

ketose (ki:´tous') •n. a sugar that contains a ketone group in the molecule [KET(O)- + -OSE¹]

ketosis (ki: tou´sis) •n. a condition in which there is excessive formation of ketones in the body [ModL < KET(O)- + -OSIS]

ketosteroid (ki:t'ou stir´oid', -ster´-) •n. a steroid containing a ketone group in the molecule

Kettering (ket´эr iŋ) city in SW Ohio: suburb of Dayton: pop. 61,000 [after prec.] Kettering (ket´эr iŋ), Charles Franklin 1876-1958; U.S. electrical engineer & inventor

kettle (ket´ªl) •n. 1 a metal container for boiling or cooking things; pot 2 a teakettle 3 a kettledrum 4 Geol. a) a depression in glacial drift remaining after the melting of an isolated mass of buried ice b) a kettle-shaped hole in rock, gravel, etc.: also kettle hole [ME ketel < ON ketill, akin to OE cetel, Ger kessel, Goth katils, early Gmc loanword < L catillus, dim. of catinus, container for food]

kettle of fish 1 a difficult or embarrassing situation 2 a matter to be dealt with

kettledrum (-drûm') •n. a percussion instrument consisting of a hollow hemisphere of copper or brass and a parchment top that can be tightened or loosened to change the pitch; timpano

KeV or Kev (kev) pl. KeV •n.or Kev a unit of energy equal to one thousand (10³) electron-volts [k(ilo-)e(lectron-)v(olts)]

kevel (kev´эl) •n. Naut. a bitt or large cleat for securing heavy lines [ME keuil < NormFr keville (Fr cheville) < L clavicula, small key (in LL, a bar, bolt for a door), dim. of clavis, key: see CLOSE²]

Kevin (kev´in) a masculine name [Ir Caomghin < OIr Coemgen, lit., comely birth]

Kevlar (kev´lär') trademark for a tough, light, aramid synthetic fiber used in making bulletproof vests, boat hulls, airplane parts, etc. [arbitrary coinage]

Kew (kyu:) parish in NE Surrey, England: now part of the Greater London borough of Richmond-on-Thames: site of the Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew Gardens)

Kewpie (kyu:´pi:) trademark for a chubby, rosy-faced doll with its hair in a topknot •n. [k-] such a doll: usually kew´pie doll [altered < CUPID]

Key (ki:), Francis Scott 1779-1843; U.S. lawyer: wrote The Star-Spangled Banner

key club a private nightclub, restaurant, or cafe, to which each member has a key

key fruit a dry, winged fruit, as of the maple, ash, or elm, containing the seed or seeds; samara

Key Largo (lär´gou) largest island of the Florida Keys: c. 40 sq. mi. (104 sq. km) [Sp Cayo Largo, lit., long islet]

Key lime pie [also k-] a custardlike pie with a light, tart filling made traditionally with condensed milk and lime juice

key money money paid covertly, and usually illegally, by a prospective tenant, as to a landlord, to increase the likelihood of being able to lease an apartment in an area where housing is scarce

key punch a machine, operated from a keyboard, used to record data by punching holes in cards that can then be fed into machines for sorting, accounting, etc.

key ring a metal ring for holding keys

key signature Music one or more sharps or flats placed after the clef on the staff to indicate the key

Key West 1 westernmost island of the Florida Keys: c. 4 mi. (6.4 km) long 2 seaport on this island: southernmost city in the U.S.: pop. 24,000 [Sp Cayo Hueso, lit., island of bones, for human bones found there]

key¹ (ki:) pl. keys •n. 1 an instrument, usually of metal, for moving the bolt of a lock and thus locking or unlocking something 2 any of several instruments or mechanical devices resembling or suggesting this in form or use; specif., a) a device to turn a bolt, etc. {a skate key, a watch key} b) a pin, bolt, wedge, cotter, or similar device put into a hole or space to lock or hold parts together c) something that completes or holds together the parts of another thing, as the keystone of an arch or a roughened surface forming a secure base for plaster d) any of a set of levers, or the disks, buttons, etc. connected to them, pressed down in operating a piano, accordion, clarinet, typewriter, linotype, word processor, etc. e) a device for opening or closing an electric circuit f) a small metal piece for fastening a wheel, pulley, etc. to a shaft g) a key-shaped emblem presented as an honor {the key to the city} 3 something regarded as like a key in opening or closing a way, revealing or concealing, etc.; specif., a) a place so located as to give access to or control of a region {Vicksburg was the key to the lower Mississippi} b) a thing that explains or solves something else, as a book of answers, the explanations on a map, the code to a system of pronunciation, etc. c) a controlling or essential person or thing 4 tone of voice; pitch 5 a) tone or style of thought or expression {in a cheerful key} b) relative intensity of feeling {low-key remarks on a volatile subject} 6 the tone of a picture with regard to lightness or darkness or intensity of color 7 Biol. an arrangement or listing of the significant characteristics of a group of organisms, used as a guide for taxonomic identification 8 Bot. KEY FRUIT 9 Comput. a field in a record, used to uniquely identify that record 10 Music a) [Obs.] the keynote of a scale b) a system of related notes or tones based on and named after a certain note (keynote, tonic) and forming a given scale; tonality c) the main tonality of a composition Æ 11 Basketball the keyhole-shaped free-throw lane and restraining circle on the court •adj. controlling; essential; important {a key position} •vt. keyed, key´ing 1 to fasten or lock with a key or wedge 2 to furnish with a key; specif., a) to put the keystone in (an arch) b) to provide with an explanatory key 3 to regulate the tone or pitch of 4 to bring into harmony or accord 5 KEYBOARD key in to input (data) by means of a keyboard key up to make tense or excited, as in anticipation [ME keye < OE cæge, akin to OFris kei, kēia, to secure, guard]

key² (ki:) pl. keys •n. a reef or low island [Sp cayo: sp. infl. by prec. & earlier key (quay)]

key³ (ki:) •n. [Slang] a kilogram (of marijuana or a narcotic drug) [< pronun. of 1st syllable of Sp kilogramo, kilogram]

keyboard (ki:´börd') •n. 1 the row or rows of keys of a piano, typewriter, linotype, computer terminal, etc. 2 a musical instrument with a keyboard; esp., an electronic piano, synthesizer, etc. as employed in a rock or jazz group Æ vt., vi. 1 to set (type) using a keyboard typesetting machine 2 to write (text) or input (data) by means of a keyboard key´board'er •n.

keyboardist (-ist) •n. a performer on a keyboard instrument

keyed (ki:d) •adj. 1 having keys, as some musical instruments 2 reinforced with a key or keystone 3 pitched in a specific key 4 adjusted so as to conform {a speech keyed to the mood of the voters}

keyhole (ki:´houl') •n. 1 an opening (in a lock) into which a key is inserted Æ 2 old term for KEY¹ (n. 11)

keyhole saw COMPASS SAW: see SAW¹, illus.

Keynes (keinz), John Maynard 1st Baron Keynes 1883-1946; Eng. economist & writer

Keynesian (kein´zi: эn) •adj. designating, of, or in accord with the economic theories of Keynes and his followers, which hold that full employment and a stable economy depend on the continued governmental stimulation of spending and investment through adjustment of interest rates and tax rates, deficit financing, etc. •n. an adherent of these theories Keynes´i·an·ism' •n.

keynote (ki:´nout') •n. 1 the lowest, basic note or tone of a musical scale, or key; tonic 2 the basic idea or ruling principle, as of a speech, policy, etc. Æ -not'ed, -not'ing •vt. 1 to give the keynote of 2 to deliver the keynote address at Æ key´not'er •n.