1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar TongueGrose, Francis
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1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue
Grose, Francis
English language -- Slang -- Dictionaries
KIT. A dancing-master, so called from his kit or cittern, a
small fiddle, which dancing-masters always carry about
with them, to play to their scholars. The kit is likewise
the whole of a soldier's necessaries, the contents of his
knapsack: and is used also to express the whole of different
commodities: as, Here, take the whole kit; i.e. take
all.
KIT-CAT CLUB. A society of gentlemen, eminent for wit
and learning, who in the reign of queen Anne and George
I. met at a house kept by one Christopher Cat. The
portraits of most of the members of this society were painted
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, of one size; thence still called the
kit-cat size.
KITCHEN PHYSIC. Food, good meat roasted or boiled. A
little kitchen physic will set him up; he has more need of
a cook than a doctor.
KITTLE PITCHERING. A jocular method of hobbling or
bothering a troublesome teller of long stories: this is done
by contradicting some very immaterial circumstance at
the beginning of the narration, the objections to which
being settled, others are immediately started to some new
particular of like consequence; thus impeding, or rather
not suffering him to enter into, the main story. Kittle
pitchering is often practised in confederacy, one relieving
the other, by which the design is rendered less obvious.
KITTYS. Effects, furniture; stock in trade. To seize one's
kittys; to take his sticks.
KNACK SHOP. A toy-shop, a nick-nack-atory.
KNAPPERS POLL. A sheep's head. CANT.
KNAVE IN GRAIN. A knave of the first rate: a phrase
borrowed from the dyehouse, where certain colours are said to
be in grain, to denote their superiority, as being dyed with
cochineal, called grain. Knave in grain is likewise a pun
applied to a cornfactor or miller.
KNIGHT OF THE BLADE. A bully.
KNIGHT OF THE POST. A false evidence, one that is ready
to swear any thing for hire.
KNIGHT OF THE RAINBOW. A footman: from the variety
of colours in the liveries and trimming of gentlemen of
that cloth.
KNIGHT OF THE ROAD. A highwayman.
KNIGHT OF THE SHEERS. A taylor.
KNIGHT OF THE THIMBLE, or NEEDLE. A taylor or stay-maker.
KNIGHT OF THE WHIP. A coachman.
KNIGHT OF THE TRENCHER. A great eater.
KNIGHT AND BARROW PIG, more hog than gentleman. A
saying of any low pretender to precedency.
KNOB. The head. See NOB.
KNOCK. To knock a woman; to have carnal knowledge of
her. To knock off; to conclude: phrase borrowed from
the blacksmith. To knock under; to submit.
KNOCK ME DOWN. Strong ale or beer, stingo.
KNOT. A crew, gang, or fraternity. He has tied a knot
with his tongue, that he cannot untie with his teeth: i.e.
he is married.
KNOWING ONES. Sportsmen on the turf, who from
experience and an acquaintance with the jockies, are supposed
to be in the secret, that is, to know the true merits or
powers of each horse; notwithstanding which it often happens
that the knowing ones are taken in.
KNOWLEDGE BOX. The head.
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