Jewel. "Wear this jewel for me; 'tis my picture" (Tw. N. iii. 4). We may hence see that jewel was any ornament in gold, enamel, etc.
Jig (Ham. ii. 2), a lively poem or ballad, as well as a dance, its only meaning at present.
John-a'-dreams (Ham. ii. 2). This means evidently a stupid dreamy person; but the origin of the phrase is unknown.
Judas' hair (As Y. L. iii. 4). It was the popular belief that Judas Iscariot's hair was red. It owed its origin probably to the dislike of red hair, which still prevails.
Kam (Cor. iii. 1), crooked, awry. This is one of the very few English words borrowed from the Welsh or Irish language.
Keech (1 H. IV. ii. 4, 2 H. IV. ii. 1, H. VIII. i. 1), the inside fat of an ox rolled up in a lump.
Keel the pot (L. L. L. v. 2), cool the pot, probably by adding cold water to keep it from boiling over.
Keep (M. for M. iii. 1, 1 H. IV. i. 3), dwell, reside. Hence the provincial and American keeping-(i.e. sitting-) room.
Kerne (R. II. ii. 1, 2 H. VI. iii. 1, Macb. i. 2), sometimes joined with Gallowglas—the former denoting the light-, the latter the heavy-armed soldier of the native Irish. Barnabie Riche terms the kernes "the very dross and scum of the country, a generation of villains not worthy to live." "The Gallowglas," says Stanyhurst, "useth a kind of pollax for his weapon. These men are grim of countenance, tall of stature, big of limb, lusty of body, and strongly timbered. The kerne is an ordinary foot-soldier, using for weapon his sword and target, and sometimes his piece, being commonly good marksmen."
Kiln-hole (M. W. iv. 2, W. T. iv. 4). This is apparently the lower part of the malt-kiln, where the fire was. It would seem from these places that it was usual in those times to have private malt-kilns.