Part 6240

<hw>Ker"chered</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Covered, or bound round, with a kercher.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>G. Fletcher.</i>

<h1>Kerchief</h1> <Xpage=810>

<hw>Ker"chief</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Kerchiefs</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[OE. <ets>coverchef</ets>, OF. <ets>cuevrechief</ets>, <ets>couvrechef</ets>, F. <ets>couvrechef</ets>, a head covering, fr. <ets>couvrir</ets> to cover + OF. <ets>chief</ets> head, F. <ets>chef</ets>. See <er>Cover</er>, <er>Chief</er>, and cf. <er>Curfew</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A square of fine linen worn by women as a covering for the head; hence, anything similar in form or material, worn for ornament on other parts of the person; -- mostly used in compounds; <as>as, nec<ex>kerchief</ex>; breast<ex>kerchief</ex>; and later, hand<ex>kerchief</ex>.</as></def>

<blockquote>He might put on a hat, a muffler, and a <b>kerchief</b>, and so escape. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Her black hair strained away To a scarlet <b>kerchief</b> caught beneath her chin. <i>Mrs. Browning.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A lady who wears a kerchief.</def>

<i>Dryden.</i>

<h1>Kerchiefed, Kerchieft</h1> <Xpage=810>

<hw><hw>Ker"chiefed</hw>, <hw>Ker"chieft</hw><hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Dressed; hooded; covered; wearing a kerchief.</def>

<i>Milton.</i>

<h1>Kerf</h1> <Xpage=810>

<hw>Kerf</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>cyrf</ets> a cutting off, fr. <ets>ceorfan</ets> to cut, carve. See <er>Carve</er>.]</ety> <def>A notch, channel, or slit made in any material by cutting or sawing.</def>

<h1>Kerite</h1> <Xpage=810>

<hw>Ke"rite</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Gr. <?/ horn.]</ety> <def>A compound in which tar or asphaltum combined with animal or vegetable oils is vulcanized by sulphur, the product closely resembling rubber; -- used principally as an insulating material in telegraphy.</def>

<i>Knight.</i>

<h1>Kerl</h1> <Xpage=810>

<hw>Kerl</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>See <er>Carl</er>.</def>

<h1>Kermes</h1> <Xpage=810>

<hw>Ker"mes</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Ar. & Per. <ets>girmiz</ets>. See <er>Crimson</er>, and cf. <er>Alkermes</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>The dried bodies of the females of a scale insect (<spn>Coccus ilicis</spn>), allied to the cochineal insect, and found on several species of oak near the Mediterranean. They are round, about the size of a pea, contain coloring matter analogous to carmine, and are used in dyeing. They were anciently thought to be of a vegetable nature, and were used in medicine.</def> <altsp>[Written also <asp>chermes</asp>.]</altsp>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>A small European evergreen oak (<spn>Quercus coccifera</spn>) on which the kermes insect (<spn>Coccus ilicis</spn>) feeds.</def>

<i>J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).</i>

<cs><col>Kermes mineral</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <fld>(Old Chem.)</fld> <cd>An artificial amorphous trisulphide of antimony; -- so called on account of its red color</cd>. <sd>(b)</sd> <fld>(Med. Chem.)</fld> <cd>A compound of the trioxide and trisulphide of antimony, used in medicine. This substance occurs in nature as the mineral <i>kermesite<i>.</cd></cs>

<h1>Kermesse</h1> <Xpage=810>

<hw>Ker"messe</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F.]</ety> <def>See <er>Kirmess</er>.</def>

<h1>Kern</h1> <Xpage=810>

<hw>Kern</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Ir.<ets>ceatharnach</ets>.Cf. <er>Cateran</er>. ]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A light-armed foot soldier of the ancient militia of Ireland and Scotland; -- distinguished from <i>gallowglass</i>, and often used as a term of contempt.</def>

<i>Macaulay.</i>