Kurdish 
Kurdish, Koordish (kor'dish), a. [< Kurd + 
-is/i 1 .] Of or pertaining to Kurdistan or the 
Kurds. 
kuril (ku'ril), . [Named from the Kurile Is- 
lands.] The black hagdeu of the Kuriles, Puf- 
ftnus curilicus. It is a kind of petrel, of the 
family Procellariidce. 
Kurilian (ku-ril'i-an), a. and n. [< Kurile (Buss. 
Kiiriletsii, a' Kurilian) + -iati.] I. a. Pertain- 
ing to the Kurile Islands in the North Pacific, 
lying between the southern extremity of Kam- 
chatka and Yezo in Japan. The Kuriles (twenty-two 
in number) now belong entirely to Japan, the northern 
part (the Little Kuriles) having been ceded to it by Kussia 
in 1875 in exchange for the southern half of Saghalin. 
II. n. A native of the Kurile Islands. The 
Kurilians of the northern islands resemble the Kamcha- 
dales, and those of the southern are Ainos. See Aino. 
kuriseet, n. See the second extract. 
The renegado Wogan, with twenty-four of Ormond's ku- 
risees. Letter of Cromwell, Dec. 19, 1649. 
What kurisees are, I do not know ; may be cuirassiers, 
in popular locution : some nickname for Ormond's men, 
whom few loved. 
Carlyle, Cromwell's Letters (ed. 1871), II. 198. 
Kuroshiwo (ko-ro-she'wo), . [Jap., < kuro, 
black, + shiwo, tide.] The Black Current or 
Gulf Stream of Japan. Beginning about 20 N. lati- 
tude, near the Basheelslands, between Luzon and Formosa, 
itflows northward along the eastern shores of Formosa and 
the south of Loochoo, till it reaches the 26th parallel of 
latitude, where it divides, the main current flowing north- 
east to the eastern shores of Kiushiu, Shikoku, and the 
main island of Japan. About latitude 38 it bends more 
to the east, and continues to the Aleutian Islands and the 
North American coast, where it is known as the Pacific 
drift On the coasts of Japan its temperature is always 
4 or 5 higher than that of the neighboring waters, but it 
decreases in temperature and depth as it runs northward 
and eastward. Its breadth, which is 40 miles near Japan, 
increases as it approaches the American coast. 
kursaal (kor'sal), n. [G., < kur, = E. ewe (< L. 
euro), + saal (= AS. seel), a hall, > F. salle, sa- 
lon: see salon, saloon.] A public hall or room 
for the use of visitors at many German water- 
ing-places or health resorts. Beading-rooms 
and rooms for recreation are usually associated 
with the kursaal. 
kursi, kursy (ker'si), n. ; pi. kursics (-siz). 
[Ar. kursi, korsi (< Hind, kursi), a chair.] A 
small low table, usually octagonal, upon which 
an eating-tray is put at meal-time : a common 
arrangement in the Moslem East. The kursi it- 
self is often very richly ornamented, especially with inlaid 
work of ivory, ebony, and metals ; but sometimes it is of 
carved wood, or of metal filigree. 
Kurtidas (ker'ti-de), n. pi. [NL., < Kurtus + 
-idte.] A family of acanthopterygian fishes 
represented by the genus Kurtus, to which dif- 
ferent limits have been assigned, (a) In Gunther's 
ichthyological system, the only family of the third di- 
vision of Acanthopterygii (Kurtiformes), embracing both 
true Kurtidce and Pempherididce. (&) In late systems, 
lishes of a compressed oblong form, with a short subme- 
dian dorsal fin, a long anal, and an air-bladder lodged 
within dilated convex ribs forming rings. 
Kurtiformes (ker-ti-f6r'mez), n. pi. [< Gr. 
Kvpr6c, curved, + L. forma, form.] In Gun- 
ther's ichthyological system, the third division 
of the order Acanthopterygii, having only one 
dorsal fin, which is much shorter than the long 
anal, and no superbranchial organ. 
KurtUS (ker'tus), n. [NL. (Bloch, 1787), < Gr. 
Kvprof, curved, arched.] A genus of acanthop- 
terygian fishes, in which the back is gibbous in 
front of the dorsal fin, representing the family 
Kurtidce. K. indicus is an example. Also Kyr- 
tUfi. 
Kushitic (ku-shit'ik), a. Same as Cushiie. 
kuskus, kusskuss, n. Same as cusctis 2 . 
kusst, n. and v. An obsolete form of kiss. 
kussier. kussir (ks'si-er, ko'ser), n. [Cf. 
Turk, kuss (kyuss), a drum, kettledrum.] A 
Turkish musical instrument with five strings 
stretched over a skin covering a kind of basin. 
kussynt, n. An obsolete form of cushion. 
kustl (kus'ti), n. [Pers. kusti.] A woolen cord 
worn by Parsees of both sexes, consisting of 
seventy-two threads, that being the number of 
the chapters of the Izashne, with two branches 
having twelve knots for the months of the 
year. 
A long coat or gown is worn over the sadara, extending 
to the knees, and fastened round the waist with the kustl, 
or sacred cord, which is carried round three times and fas- 
tened in front with a double knot. 
Encyc. Brit., XVIII. 325. 
kuteh . See cutelfi. 
3314 
kutcha, . and n. See cutcha. 
kutcherry, . See cutchcnj. 
kuteera gum. See gum 2 . 
kutht, An obsolete form of kith. 
kuthet, A variant of kithe. 
kutia (kot-ya'), n. [Buss, kuti/a, kutiya."] A 
dish made of boiled rice or other grain with 
honey or hydromel and raisins. Nearly every- 
where in the Greek Church this dish is eaten after a fu- 
neral or a service for the dead, having been taken to the 
church or cemetery and placed on the reading-desk dur- 
ing the service. The ingredients are thought to be sym- 
bolical, the rice meaning the resurrection, the honey the 
joy of eternal life, etc. The custom is probably derived 
from funeral ceremonies of the ancient Greeks. 
kuttar (kut ' iir), u. [Hind.] A sort of short 
dagger, peculiar to India, having a handle con- 
sisting of two parallel bars with a crosspiece 
connecting them. The hand is inserted to grip 
the crosspiece, and the bars serve as a guard 
to the wrist. 
kuwazoku, kuazoku (kwa-zo'ku), n. [Jap., < 
kuwa (= Chin, hwa), a flower, flowery, + zoku 
(= Chin, tsuh), class.] 1. The noble class: a 
collective name in Japan for both the kuges 
or court nobles and the daimios or territorial 
nobles, since the surrender to the mikado, in 
1872, of the lands and retainers of the latter. 
2. One of this class. 
kvass (kvas), n. [= F. kvas = G. kevass, < Buss. 
kvasu, a drink so called.] A fermented drink 
in general use in Bussia, taking the place of the 
beer of other countries. Common kvass is made from 
an infusion of raised rye flour or dough, or of other flour 
or baked bread, with malt. Finer kinds are made from 
apples, raspberries, or other fruit, without malt. 
ky, kye (kl), n. An obsolete or dialectal plural 
of coic 1 . 
In places ther is fodder abondannce, 
The ky may otherwhiles be withdrawe. 
Palladius, Husbondrie (E. E. T. S.), p. 166. 
'Tweeu the gloamin' and the mirk, 
When the kye comes hame. 
Hogg, When the Kye Comes Hame. 
kyabooca-wood, kyabuca-wood, . See kia- 
booca-wood. 
kyack 1 (kyak), n. [Origin obscure.] A her- 
ring. [Maine.] 
kyack 2 (ki'ak), n. See kayak. 
kyanise, kyanising. See kyanize, kyanizing. 
kyanite (kl'a-nit), n. . See cyanite. 
kyanize (kl'a-mz), v. t.; pret. and pp. kyanised, 
ppr. kyanizing. [< Kyan, a proper name: see 
def. of kyanizing.] To treat (wood) by the pro- 
cess of kyanizing. Also spelled kyanise. 
kyanizing (kl'a-ni-zing), n. [Verbal n. of 
kyanize, v.] A process for preventing the de- 
cay of wood, patented by J. H. Kyan in 1832. 
It consists in filling the pores of the wood 'with a solution 
of corrosive sublimate, which coagulates the vegetable 
albumen, and renders the wood impervious to air or moist- 
ure. Also spelled kyanising. 
kyanol, kyanole (ki'a-nol, -nol), n. [< Gr. xva- 
v6c, blue, + -ol, -ole.] In chem., aniline. 
kyanophyl, n. Same as cyanopliyl. 
kyathos (ki'a-thos), n. See cyathus. 
kydt. Another form of kid 2 . 
kye, n. pi. See ky. 
kyesthein (kl-es'the-in), n. [Also variously 
kyestein, kiestein, etc. ; a word of indeterminate 
form and etymology, but taken, in the form 
kyesthein, as irreg. < Gr. KVCIV, be pregnant, + 
iaSt/c, a garment, taken for ' pellicle.'] A cloud 
appearing in the middle of certain urines. After 
they have stood a day or two it rises to the top to form a 
pellicle, which subsequently breaks and falls. It was at 
one time thought to be diagnostic of pregnancy, but it oc- 
curs under other conditions. 
kyketi An obsolete variant of keek. 
kyle 1 (kil), n. [< Gael, caol, caoil, a frith, a 
channel.] A sound; a strait: often used in 
the plural: as, the Kyles of Bute. [Scotch.] 
kyle 2 (kil), n. [Origin unknown.] A lamp of 
primitive pattern, designed to be suspended in 
an open fireplace. [Cape Cod, Massachusetts.] 
kylix (ki'liks), n. [< Gr. K.vki% , a cup, vase (see 
kyx 
def.).] In Gr. antiq., a vase or cup of elegant 
form, used for drinking. The kylix was usually broad 
and shallow, with or without a slender foot, and provided 
with two handles not extending above the rim. Also 
written cylix. 
kyloe (ki'16), n, [Origin obscure.] One of the 
cattle of the Hebrides. 
Our Highlandmen brought in a dainty drove of kyloes. 
Scott, Pirate, xv. 
kymelynt, kymnelt, ". See kinmel. 
kymograph (ki'ino-graf), n. [< Gr. niifia, a wave, 
+ ipatyuv, write.] An instrument by means 
of which variations of fluid pressure, as of the 
blood in some one of the vessels of a living ani- 
mal, can be measured and graphically recorded. 
The most common form consists of a cylinder made to re- 
Kylix. iFroui .ui example ill the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.) 
volve at a uniform rate, and carrying a smoked paper on 
which a style writes, or unsmoked paper on which a light 
pen is made to write. Also kymographion. 
kymographic (ki-ino-graf ik), a. [< kymograph 
+ -ic.] Of or pertaining to a kymograph : as, 
kymographic clockwork. 
Mercurial kymographic tracing from carotid of dog, show- 
ing form of curve on a large scale. 
Encyc. Brit., XXIV. 108. 
Kymric, Kymry. See Cymric, Cymry. 
kynt, " An obsolete form of kin 1 . 
kyndt, kyndet. Obsolete forms of kind 1 , kind 2 . 
kyndelicht, a. An obsolete variant of kindly. 
kyngt, '* An obsolete form. of king 1 . 
kyphoscoliqtic (ki-fo-sko-li-ot'ik), a. [< kypho- 
(sis) + scoliosis (-ot-) + -ic.] Pertaining to or 
exhibiting kyphosis and scoliosis. 
kyphosis (ki-fo'sis), n. [NL., < Gr. /ct^uoif, a 
being humpbacked, < KvifxtvaBai, be humpbacked, 
< iai$6f, humpbacked, bent forward, < Kvirreiv, 
bend.] In pathol., a curvature of the spme, 
convex backward. Also written cyphosis. 
kyrbasia (ker-ba'si-a), n. [< Gr. nvpflaoia, a 
Persian bonnet or Hat.] In anc. Gr. costume, 
same as cidaris, 1. 
The kyrbasia, or kidaris, was a high pointed hat of Per- 
sian origin. Encyc. Brit., VI. 454. 
Kyrie (kir'i-e), 11.; pi. Kyries (-ez). [Short for 
Kyrie eleison.'] 1. The Kyrie eleison, espe- 
cially in its western form (with Christe eleison), 
and the repetitions collectively, as used at the 
beginning of the Boman mass or as at the be- 
ginning of the Anglican communion office. 
2. The musical setting of these words. 
Kyrie eleison (kir'i-e e-la'i-son). [Gr. Kt'/we 
e/Jr/aov, Lord, have mercy: Ki-pie, Lord; e/.r/aov, 
aor. impv. of efaelv, have mercy or pity: see 
Christe eleison.] 1. Literally, Lord, have mercy! 
a brief petition, founded on nearly identical 
Scripturat phrases (for example, Ps. cxxiii. 3, 
Mat. xx. 30), used as a response in the primi- 
tive liturgies and in the eucharistic and other 
offices of Oriental churches to the present day. 
In the Latin Church Kyrie eleison (thrice) is followed by 
Christe eleison (thrice), and this again by Kyrie eleison 
(thrice) . The formulary is always said in this Greek word- 
ing, but the intermediate Christe eleison is unknown to 
the Eastern Church. The Oriental Kyrie is used in the 
irenica at the beginning of the liturgy and in other lita- 
nies. The Western Kyrie (a remnant of the irenica) is 
used by the Boman Church at mass just after the iutroit, 
and also in the breviary offices and in litanies. In the 
Sarum missal it also occurred near the beginning of the 
service, and this use of it is represented in the commu- 
nion office of the Book of Common Prayer by the responses 
after the commandments, " Lord, have mercy upon us, and 
incline our hearts to keep this law." In the same book it 
occurs in the form "Lord, . . . Christ, . . . Lord, have 
mercy upon us," in the litany, and before the collect for 
the day at morning and evening prayer. This is also called 
the lesser litany. 
2. The first movement or division in a musical 
setting of a Koinan Catholic mass or the An- 
glican communion office, the text being the pe- 
titions above mentioned. 
kyriolexy (kir'i-6-lek-si), n. [< Gr. nvpiofagia, 
the use of literal expression, < Kvptof, having 
authority, authorized, regular, + Mfit, speak- 
ing: see lexicon. Cf. cyriologic.] The use of 
literal as opposed to figurative expressions, or 
of words in clear and definite senses. [Bare.] 
kyriologict, kyriologicalt, a. See cyriologic. 
kyrret, A Middle English forin of quarry 2 . 
kyrsint, v, and a. A corrupt form of christen, 
Christian. 
kyte 1 !, n. An obsolete form of kite 1 . 
kyte 2 , n. See kite 2 . 
kytht, '< A Middle English form of kith. 
kythet, . See kithc. 
kyxt, -A Middle English form of kex. 
