Part 504

Ke"tone (k"tn), n. [Cf. Acetone.] (Chem.) One of a large class of organic substances resembling the aldehydes, obtained by the distillation of certain salts of organic acids and consisting of carbonyl (CO) united with two hydrocarbon radicals. In general the ketones are colorless volatile liquids having a pungent ethereal odor.

The ketones are named by adding the suffix-one to the stems of the organic acids from which they are respectively derived; thus, acetic acid gives acetone; butyric acid, butyrone, etc.

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Ke*ton"ic (k*tn"k), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, a ketone; as, a ketonic acid.

Ket"tle (kt"t'l), n. [OE. ketel; cf. AS. cetel, cetil, cytel; akin to D. kjedel, G. kessel, OHG. chezzil, Icel. ketill, SW. kittel, Dan. kjedel, Goth. katils; all perh. fr. L. catillus, dim. of catinus a deep vessel, bowl; but cf. also OHG. chezz kettle, Icel. kati small ship.] A metallic vessel, with a wide mouth, often without a cover, used for heating and boiling water or other liguids.

Kettle pins, ninepins; skittles. [Obs.] Shelton. -- Kettle stitch (Bookbinding), the stitch made in sewing at the head and tail of a book. Knight.

Ket"tle*drum` (-drm`), n. 1. (Mus.) A drum made of thin copper in the form of a hemispherical kettle, with parchment stretched over the mouth of it.

Kettledrums, in pairs, were formerly used in martial music for cavalry, but are now chiefly confined to orchestras, where they are called tympani.

2. An informal social party at which a light collation is offered, held in the afternoon or early evening. Cf. Drum, n., 4 and 5.

Ket"tle*drum`mer (?), n. One who plays on a kettledrum.

||Keu"per (koi"pr), n. [G.] (Geol.) The upper division of the European ||Triassic. See Chart of Geology. || Kev"el (?), n. [Prov. E. kevil, cavel, rod, pole, a large hammer, horse's bit; cf. Icel. kefli cylinder, a stick, mangle, and Dan. kievle a roller.] 1. (Naut.) A strong cleat to which large ropes are belayed.

2. A stone mason's hammer. [Written also cavil.]

Kevel head (Naut.), a projecting end of a timber, used as a kevel.

{ Kev"el, Kev"in (?) }, n. (Zoöl.) The gazelle.

Kev"er (?), v. t. & i. To cover. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Kev"er*chief (?), n. A kerchief. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Kex (?), n. [W. cecys, pl., hollow stalks.]

1. (Bot.) A weed; a kecksy. Bp. Gauden.

Though the rough kex break The starred mosaic.

Tennyson.

2. A dry husk or covering.

When the kex, or husk, is broken, he proveth a fair flying butterfly.

Holland.

Key (k), n. [OE. keye, key, kay, AS. cæg.] 1. An instrument by means of which the bolt of a lock is shot or drawn; usually, a removable metal instrument fitted to the mechanism of a particular lock and operated by turning in its place.

2. An instrument which is turned like a key in fastening or adjusting any mechanism; as, a watch key; a bed key, etc.

3. That part of an instrument or machine which serves as the means of operating it; as, a telegraph key; the keys of a pianoforte, or of a typewriter.

4. A position or condition which affords entrance, control, pr possession, etc.; as, the key of a line of defense; the key of a country; the key of a political situation. Hence, that which serves to unlock, open, discover, or solve something unknown or difficult; as, the key to a riddle; the key to a problem.

Those who are accustomed to reason have got the true key of books.