K
Kate, c. a Pick-lock. ’Tis a Rum Kate, c. that is a Cleaver Pick-lock.
Keel-bullies, Lighter-men that carry Coals to and from the Ships, so called in Derision.
Keel-hale, to draw by a Rope tied to the Neck and fastned to a Tackle (with a jerk) quite under the Keel or bottom of the Ship.
Keffal, a Horse.
Kelter, out of Kelter, out of sorts.
Ken, c. a House. A bob Ken, or a Bowman-ken, c. a good or well Furnished House, full of Booty, worth Robbing; also a House that Harbours Rogues and Thievs. Biting the Ken, c. Robbing the House.
Ken-miller, c. a House-breaker. Friend John, or sweet Tom, ’tis a bob Ken, Brush upon the Sneak, c. ’tis a good House, go in if you will but Tread softly, and mind your Business. Now we have Bit, c. the House is Robb’d, or the Business is done. There’s a Cull knows us, if we don’t pike he’ll Bone us, c. that Fellow sees us, if we don’t scour off, he will Apprehend us. Ding him, c. Knock him Down. Then we’ll pike, tis all Bowman, c. we will be gone, all is well, the Coast is clear.
Keaping Cully, one that Maintains a Mistress, and parts with his Money very generously to her.
Kicks, c. Breeches. A high Kick, the top of the Fashion; also singularity therein. Tip us your Kicks, we’ll have them as well as your Loure, c. pull off your Breeches, for we must have them as well as your Money.
Kid, c. a Child; also the first Year of a Roe, and a young Goat.
Kidnapper, c. one that Decoys or Spirits (as it is commonly called) Children away, and Sells them for the Plantations.
Kidder, c. see Crocker.
Kidlay, c. one who meeting a Prentice with a Bundle or Parcel of Goods, wheedles him by fair Words, and whipping Sixpence into his Hand, to step on a short and sham Errand for him, in the mean time Runs away with the Goods.
Kidney, (Beans) French. Of that Kidney, of such a Stamp. Of a strange Kidney, of an odd or unaccountable Humor.
Kilkenny, c. an old sorry Frize-Coat.
Kill-Devil, Rum. Kill two Birds with one Stone, Dispatch two Businesses at one Stroak.
Kimbaw, c. to Trick, Sharp, or Cheat; also to Beat severely or to Bully. Lets Kimbaw the Cull, c. Let’s Beat that Fellow, and get his Money (by Huffing and Bullying) from him.
Kinchin, c. a little Child.
Kinchin-coes, c. the Sixteenth Rank of the Canting Tribe, being little Children whose Parents are Dead, having been Beggers; as also young Ladds running from their Masters, who are first taught Canting, then thieving.
Kinchin-cove, c. a little Man.
King’s Head Inn, or the Chequer Inn in Newgate-street, c. the Prison or Newgate.
King’s Pictures, c. Money.
King of all Beasts of Venery, a Hare.
King of the Gypsies, the Captain, Chief, or Ring-leader of the Gang, the Master of Misrule.
Kindly, Fruit, or Season, towardly. Kindness will creep where it cannot go.
Kinchin-morts, c. the Twenty seventh and last Order of the Canting Crew, being Girls of a Year or two old, whom the Morts (their Mothers) carry at their Backs in Slates (Sheets) and if they have no Children of their own, they borrow or Steal them from others.
Kissing the Maid, an Engine in Scotland, and at Halifax in England, in which the Head of the Malefactor is Laid to be Cut off, and which this way is done to a Hair, said to be invented by Earl Morton who had the ill Fate to Handsel it. Kissing goes by Favour, I suppose another sort is meant by this Proverb than the foremention’d.
Knack, or Slight in any Art, the Craft or Mystery in any Trade, a petty Artifice, or Trick like those upon the Cards. Knacks or Toies, a Knack-shop, or Toy-shop, freight with pretty Devices to pick Pockets.
Knave in Grain, one of the First Rate. Knaves and Fools are the Composition of the whole World.
Knight Errant, the Knight or Hero in Romances, that alwaies is to Beat the Giant, and Rescue the destressed Damsel.
Knight-Errantry, Romantick and Fabulous Exploits, out of the common Road, and above the ordinary Size, such as the wild Adventures of wandering Knights.
Knight of the Blade, c. a Hector or Bully.
Knight of the Post, c. a Mercenary common Swearer, a Prostitute to every Cause, an Irish Evidence.
Knight of the Road, c. the chief High-wayman best Mounted and Armed, the Stoutest Fellow among them.
Knobber, see Hart.
Knock in the Cradle, a Fool.
Knock-down, very strong Ale or Beer.
Knock off, to give over Trading; also to Abandon or Quit one’s Post or Pretensions.
Knowledge is no Burden. Knowledge makes one laugh, but wealth makes one dance.
Knot, a choice Bird, something less than a Ruff.
Knotting, making Fringe.