K to Karroo
K
(K), the eleventh letter of the English alphabet, is nonvocal consonant. The form and sound of the
letter K are from the Latin, which used the letter but little except in the early period of the language. It
came into the Latin from the Greek, which received it from a Phœnician source, the ultimate origin probably
being Egyptian. Etymologically K is most nearly related to c, g, h
In many words of one syllable k is used after c, as in crack, check, deck, being necessary to exhibit
a correct pronunciation in the derivatives, cracked, checked, decked, cracking; since without it, c,
before the vowels e and i, would be sounded like s. Formerly, k was added to c in certain words of
Latin origin, as in musick, publick, republick; but now it is omitted.
See Guide to Pronunciation , §§ 240, 178, 179, 185.
Kaama
(Kaa"ma) n. (Zoöl.) The hartbeest.
Kabala
(Kab"a*la) n. See Cabala.
Kabassou
(Ka*bas"sou) n. (Zoöl.) See Cabassou.
Kabob
(Ka*bob") n. & v. t. See Cabob, n. & v. t.
Kabook
(Ka*book") n. (min.) A clay ironstone found in Ceylon.
Kabyle
(Ka*byle") n. [Ar. qabila.] (Ethnol.) A Berber, as in Algiers or Tunis. See Berber.
Kadder
(Kad"der) n. [Cf. Caddow.] (Zoöl.) The jackdaw.
Kadi
(Ka"di Ka`di*as"ter) n. A Turkish judge. See Cadi.
Kafal
(Ka*fal") n. (Bot.) The Arabian name of two trees of the genus Balsamodendron, which yield a
gum resin and a red aromatic wood.
Kaffir
(Kaf"fir Ka"fir) n. [Ar. kafir infidel, pagan, fr. kafara to be skeptical in religious matters; — a name
given to certain infidel races by the Mohammedans. Cf. Giaour.] (Ethnol.) (a) One of a race which,
with the Hottentots and Bushmen, inhabit South Africa. They inhabit the country north of Cape Colony,
the name being now specifically applied to the tribes living between Cape Colony and Natal; but the
Zulus of Natal are true Kaffirs. (b) One of a race inhabiting Kafiristan in Central Asia. [Spelt also Caffre.]
Kaffir corn (Bot.), a Cape Colony name for Indian millet.
Kaffle
(Kaf"fle) n. See Coffle.
Kafilah
(||Ka"fi*lah) n. See Cafila.
Kaftan
(Kaf"tan) n & v. See Caftan.
Kage
(Kage) n. A chantry chapel inclosed with lattice or screen work.
Kagu
(||Ka"gu) n. (Zoöl.) A singular, crested, grallatorial bird (Rhinochetos jubatus), native of New
Caledonia. It is gray above, paler beneath, and the feathers of the wings and tail are handsomely barred
with brown, black, and gray. It is allied to the sun bittern.
Kaguan
(Ka`gu*an") n. (Zoöl.) The colugo.
Kahani
(||Ka"ha"ni) n. A kind of notary public, or attorney, in the Levant.
Kahau
(Ka*hau") n. [Native name, from its cry.] (Zoöl.) A long-nosed monkey (Semnopithecus nasalis),
native of Borneo. The general color of the body is bright chestnut, with the under parts, shoulders, and
