Kidney, kid′ni, n. one of two flattened glands, on each side of the loins, which secrete the urine: temperament, humour, disposition—hence, sort or kind, as in 'of the same kidney,' &c.—ns. Kid′ney-bean, a kind of bean shaped like a kidney; Kid′ney-potā′to, one of various kidney-shaped varieties of the common potato; Kid′ney-vetch, a genus of leguminous plants, the only British species being called Lady's Fingers; Kid′ney-wort, a plant of the genus Saxifrage. [M. E. kidnere—Ice. kviðr, the womb, the belly, Ice. nýra (Ger. niere, a kidney).]
Kie-kie, kī′kī, n. a New Zealand high-climbing shrub.
Kieselguhr, kē′zl-gūr, n. the mineral remains of a species of algæ, used in the manufacture of dynamite. [Ger.,—kiesel, flint, guhr, fermentation.]
Kikumon, kik′ōō-mon, n. a badge or crest of the imperial family of Japan, consisting of an open chrysanthemum flower.
Kilderkin, kil′dėr-kin, n. a small barrel: a liquid measure of 18 gallons. [Old Dut. kindeken, kinneken (Scot. kinken), dim. of Dut. kind, a child.]
Kilerg, kil′erg, n. a thousand ergs.
Kiley, kī′le, n. a boomerang.—Also Ky′ley.
Kill, kil, v.t. to put to death, to slay: to nullify or neutralise, to weaken or dilute, to render inactive: to reject, discard: to fascinate, overcome.—n. the act of killing, as game.—ns. Kill′-court′esy (Shak.), a discourteous, boorish person; Kill′-crop, a changeling; Kill′er, one who kills, a slaughterer or butcher: a club for killing fish: a ferocious delphinid which sometimes attacks the whale.—p.adj. Kill′ing, depriving of life: destructive: deadly, irresistible: completely fascinating.—n. and adj. Kill′joy, a mar-sport, austere.—Kill by inches, by gradual means, as by torture; Kill off, to exterminate; Kill time, to consume spare time, as with amusements, &c.; Kill two birds with one stone, to effect one thing by the way, or by the same means with which another thing is done; Kill up (Shak.), to exterminate.—Killing times, the days of the persecution of the Covenanters.—Do a thing to kill, in an irresistible manner. [M. E. killen or cullen—Ice. kolla, to hit on the head—kollr, the head; not a doublet of quell.]
Killadar, kil′a-dar, n. the commandant of a fort or garrison. [Hind.]
Killas, kil′as, n. clay slate, in Cornwall.