Chapter Kent to Kildare of K by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Kent to Kildare

Kent. According to fable, Kent is so called from Ca nute, one of the companions of Brute the Trojan wanderer, who, according to Geoffrey’s British History, settled in England, and founded a dynasty of kings. Canute had that part of the island assigned to him which was called Canutium, contracted into Cantium, and again into Cant or Kent.

But Canute had his portion from the rest,
The which he called Canutium, for his hire,
Now Cantium, which Kent we commonly inquire.
   —Spenser: Faërie Queen, II. x. 12 (1590).

Kent (Earl of), under the assumed name of Caius, attended upon the old king Lear, when his two elder daughters refused to entertain him with his suite. He afterwards took him to Dover Castle. When the old king was dying, he could not be made to understand how Caius and Kent could be the same person.—Shakespeare: King Lear (1605).

Kent (The Fair Maid of), Joan, only daughter of Edmund Plantagenet earl of Kent. She married thrice: (1) William de Montacute earl of Salisbury, from whom she was divorced; (2) sir Thomas Holland; and (3) her second cousin, Edward the Black Prince, by whom she became the mother of Richard II.

Kentish man (A), those of West Kent; the natives of East Kent call themselves “Men of Kent.” This is the distinction given by my father, who was a “man of Kent,” many generations in descent.

Kenwigs (Mr.), a turner in ivory, and “a monstrous genteel man.” He toadies Mr. Lillyvick, his wife’s uncle, from whom he has “expectations.”

Mr. Kenwigs, wife of the above, considered “quite a lady,” as she has an uncle who collects the water- rates and sends her daughter Moleena to a day school.

The Misses Kenwigs, pupils of Nicholas Nickleby, remarkable for wearing their hair in long braided tails down their backs, the ends being tied with bright ribbons.—Dickens: Nicholas Nickleby (1838).

Kera Khan, a gallant and generous Tartar chief in a war between the Poles and the Tartars.—J.P.Kemble: Lodoiska (a melodrame).

Kerns, light-armed Irish foot-soldiers. The word (Kigheyren) means “a hell shower;” so called because they were hellrakes or the “devil’s black-guard.” (See Gallowglasses, p. 402.)—Stanihurst: Description of Ireland, viii. 28.

Keschetiouch, the shepherd who joined the six Greek slaves of Ephesus, and was one of the “seven sleepers.”

Keschetiouch’s Dog, Catnier, called by Sale, in his notes to the Korân, “Katmîr.”—Comte de Caylus: Oriental Tales (“History of Dakianos,” 1743).

Kesteven. Lincolnshire is divided into Lindsey, the highest lands; Kesteven, the heaths (west); and Holland, the fens.

Quoth Kesteven…how I hate
Thus of her foggy fens to hear rude Holland prate!
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, xxv. (1622).

Kettle of Fish (A Pretty), a pretty muddle, a bad job. A corruption of Kiddle of fish. A kiddle is a basket set in the opening of a weir for catching fish. (French, quideau.)

Kettle-drum, a corruption of Kiddle drum a drum in the shape of a kiddle or basket employed for catching fish (v.s.).

Kettledrummle (Gabriel), a covenanter preacher.—Sir W. Scott: Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).