Ken, a house.—Ancient cant. KHAN, Gipsy and Oriental.
⁂ All slang and cant words which end in KEN, such as [SPIELKEN], [SPINIKEN], or [BOOZINGKEN], refer to houses, and are mainly of Gipsy origin.
Kennedy, a poker; to “give Kennedy” is to strike or kill with a poker. A St. Giles’s term, so given from a man of that name being killed by a poker.
Kent rag, or CLOUT, a cotton handkerchief.
Kervorten, a Cockneyism for QUARTERN or quarter-pint measure. “Kervorten and three houts,” a quartern of liquor and glasses, each holding a third of the quantity.
Ketch, or Jack Ketch, the popular name for a public hangman; derived from a person of that name who officiated in the reign of Charles II.—See Macaulay’s History of England.
Kettle of fish, a mess or muddle of any kind. As, “Here’s a pretty KETTLE OF FISH!”
Key of the street, an imaginary instrument said to be possessed by any one locked out of doors.
Kibosh, nonsense, stuff, humbug; “it’s all KIBOSH,” i.e., palaver or nonsense; to “put on the KIBOSH,” to run down, slander, degrade, &c. To put the KIBOSH on anything is, latterly, to put an effectual end or stop to it.
Kick, a moment; “I’ll be there in a KICK,” i.e., in a moment.