Chapter KUZZANNA to KYTHEE of K by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

KYFE, n. One often meets with this word (Ar. kaif) in books about the Levant, to indicate the absolute enjoyment of the dolce far niente. Though it is in the Hindustani dictionaries, we never remember to have heard it used in India; but the first quotation below shows that it is, or has been, in use in Western India, in something like the Turkish sense. The proper meaning of the Ar. word is ‘how?’ ‘in what manner?’ the secondary is ‘partial intoxication.’ This looks almost like a parallel to the English vulgar slang of ‘how comed you so?’ But in fact a man’s kaif is his ‘howness,’ i.e. what pleases him, his humour; and this passes into the sense of gaiety caused by hashish, &c.

1808.—“… a kind of confectío Japonica loaded with opium, Ganja or Bang, and causing keif, or the first degree of intoxication, lulling the senses and disposing to sleep.”—R. Drummond.

KYOUNG, s. Burm. kyaung. A Buddhist monastery. The term is not employed by Padre Sangermano, who uses bao, a word, he says, used by the Portuguese in India (p. 88). I cannot explain it. [See BAO.] 1799.—“The kioums or convents of the Rhahaans are different in their structure from common houses, and much resemble the architecture of the Chinese; they are made entirely of wood; the roof is composed of different stages, supported by strong pillars,” &c.—Symes, p. 210.

KYTHEE, s. Hind. Kaithi. A form of cursive Nagari character, used by Bunyas, &c., in Gangetic India. It is from Kayath (Skt. Kayastha), a member of the writer-caste.