K-Word Definitions
Kabuki. | formal, stylized Japanese drama; |
Kabyle. | North African Berber/ language |
kachina. | doll representing rain-bringing Hopi ancestors |
Kaddish. | Jewish prayer recited daily and by mourners |
Kaffir. | black South African; Bantu Xhosa; sorghum |
kaffiyeh. | Arab headband |
Kafir. | Iranians |
Kafkaesque. | surreal distortion, sense of impending danger |
kain. | tax or rent payments in kind |
kainite. | fertilizer |
kaka. | brownish-green New Zealand parrot |
kakapo. | ground-dwelling New Zealand parrot |
kalaazar. | fatal parasitic Asiatic disease |
kaon | unstable meson |
kama. | Hindu god of love |
kamala. | Asian tree with vermifugal powder |
Kamasutra | Sanscrit treatise setting forth rules for Hindu love and marriage |
kana | hiragana, katakana |
kapellmeister | choir or orchestra leader |
karabiner | piton ring |
karyogamy | the coming together and fusing of gamete nuclei |
karyokinesis | mitosis |
karyolymph | liquid portion of nuclear protoplasm |
karyoplasm | nucleoplasm |
karyosome | spherical aggregation of chromatin in a resting nucleus during mitosis |
karyotype | the chromosomal complement of an individual, species-peculiar |
kasha | buckwheat groats |
katharevusa | modern (demotic) Greek |
kauri | coniferous trees of New Zealand; resins used in enamels |
kava. | Australasian shrub, intoxicating brew |
kea. | New Zealand parrot that sometimes eats sheep |
kedge. | light anchor used to warp a vessel |
kedgeree. | baked fish, boiled rice, and eggs |
keeshound. | Netherlands dog, grayish-black coat |
keelson. | timber above and parallel to the keel |
kefir. | fermented cow's milk |
kegler. | bowler |
keister. | bottom |
keloid | surgical scars |
kelpie. | malevolent Scottish water spirit |
kelpie. | Australian sheep dog |
kenning. | a metaphorical, usually-compound expression used in a name |
keno. | game of chance, like lotto |
kenosis. | Christ's relinquishment of Godhood |
kent. | past tense of ken |
kentledge. | pig-iron used as permanent ballast |
kepi. | French military cap |
keratectomy. | surgical removal of the cornea |
kerf. | groove or notch made by a cutting tool |
kermes. | dried bugs used as red dye |
kermis. | fund-raising fair or carnival |
kernite. | source of borax and boron compounds |
kerogen. | in shale. Yields oil |
khamsin. | simoom |
khedive. | Turkish viceroy ruling Egypt |
kiang. | wild ass |
klaugh. | trouble, anxiety |
kidderminster. | an ingrain carpet |
kiddush. | traditional Jewish blessing recited over bread or a cup of wine |
kieselguhr. | zeolite |
kieserite. | MgSO4 mineral |
kif. | smoking material from hemp used in the Maghreb |
kikuyu. | Bantu people of Kenya |
kilderkin. | 18-gallon cask |
kilim. | Oriental-tapestry woven rug |
killdeer. | bird |
killick. | small stone anchor in wooden frame |
killifish. | cyprinodontidae |
kinnikinnick. | Amerind smoking material |
kino. | reddish resin |
kip. | untanned hide of young animal |
kip. | rooming house, bed, sleep |
kip. | 1,000-lb. Weight |
kirigami. | cutting and folding paper |
kirach. | cherry brandy |
kirtle. | knee-length tunic; woman's long dress or skirt |
kishke. | derma (beef casing filled with matzo, onion & suet) |
kit | small 3-stringed violin |
kitsch | pretentious bad taste |
kiva. | underground Navaho council room |
klavern. | Ku Klux Klan |
klipspringer. | small, hoofed African mammal |
kloof. | deep ravine in South Africa |
knawel. | low-growing Eurasian weedy plant |
knesset. | Israeli Parliament |
knish. | piece of dough stuffed with potato, meat or cheese and then baked or fried |
knobkerrie. | short South African knobbed-head club |
knop. | decorative knob |
knout. | a leather scourge for flogging criminals |
knur. | gnarl |
koala. | Australian marsupial |
koan. | a paradoxical riddle for gaining intuitive knowledge |
kobold. | mischievous household elf in German folklore |
koksaghyz. | rubber-bearing Asian dandelion |
kola. | African trees with nuts used for beverages |
kola nuts. | caffeine, theobromine |
kolacky. | pastry: rich, sweet bun with fruit or poppyseed filling |
kolinsky. | northern Eurasian minks |
kolkhaz. | Soviet collective farm |
Kol Nidre. | opening prayer on eve of Yom Kippur |
kookaburra. | large Australian kingfisher. Call sounds like raucous laugh |
koto. | Japanese musical instrument: 13 strings over rectangular box |
kreutzer. | low-value German coins |
krimmer. | Gray, curly fur from Crimean lambs |
Kshatriya. | Hindu Professional, governing, and military caste |
kuchen. | yeast-raised coffee cake |
kümmel. | caraway-flavored liqueur |
kundalini. | spiritual energy that lies dormant at base of spine until brain is enlightened |
kurrajong. | Australian evergreen |
kuru. | fatal New Guinea viral disease |
kvass. | made from rye or barley |
kvetch. | chronic complaint |
kyphosis. | rearward spinal curvature |
kyrie. | "Lord, have mercy." |