Part 6245

<cs><col>Kevel head</col> <fld>(Naut.)</fld>, <cd>a projecting end of a timber, used as a kevel.</cd></cs>

<h1>Kevel, Kevin</h1> <Xpage=810>

<hw><hw>Kev"el</hw>, <hw>Kev"in</hw> <tt>(?)</tt><hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>The gazelle.</def>

<h1>Kever</h1> <Xpage=810>

<hw>Kev"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t. &</tt> <def>i. To cover.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<h1>Keverchief</h1> <Xpage=810>

<hw>Kev"er*chief</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A kerchief.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<h1>Kex</h1> <Xpage=810>

<hw>Kex</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[W. <ets>cecys</ets>, pl., hollow stalks.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>A weed; a kecksy.</def>

<i>Bp. Gauden.</i>

<blockquote>Though the rough <b>kex</b> break The starred mosaic. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A dry husk or covering.</def>

<blockquote>When the <b>kex</b>, or husk, is broken, he proveth a fair flying butterfly. <i>Holland.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Key</h1> <Xpage=810>

<hw>Key</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>keye</ets>, <ets>key</ets>, <ets>kay</ets>, AS. <ets>c</ets><?/g.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>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.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>An instrument which is turned like a key in fastening or adjusting any mechanism; <as>as, a watch <ex>key</ex>; a bed <ex>key</ex>, etc.</as></def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>That part of an instrument or machine which serves as the means of operating it; <as>as, a telegraph <ex>key</ex>; the <ex>keys</ex> of a pianoforte, or of a typewriter.</as></def>

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

<blockquote>Those who are accustomed to reason have got the true <b>key</b> of books. <i>Locke.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Who keeps the <b>keys</b> of all the creeds. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>That part of a mechanism which serves to lock up, make fast, or adjust to position.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A piece of wood used as a wedge.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>The last board of a floor when laid down.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <fld>(Masonry)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A keystone.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>That part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place.</def>

<p><b>8.</b> <fld>(Mach.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A wedge to unite two or more pieces, or adjust their relative position; a cotter; a forelock.</def> See <i>Illusts</i>. of <er>Cotter</er>, and <er>Gib</er>. <sd>(b)</sd> <def>A bar, pin or wedge, to secure a crank, pulley, coupling, etc., upon a shaft, and prevent relative turning; sometimes holding by friction alone, but more frequently by its resistance to shearing, being usually embedded partly in the shaft and partly in the crank, pulley, etc.</def>

<p><b>9.</b> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara; -- called also <altname>key fruit</altname>.</def>