The Letter K

KATE

a Pick-lock. 'Tis a Rum kate; She is a clever Pick-lock.

KEEL-Bullies

Lightermen that carry coals to and from the Ships, so called in Derision.

KEEPING Cully

one that maintains a Mistress, and parts with his Money very generously to her.

KEFFAL

a Horse.

KELTER

as, Out of Kelter, Out of sorts.

KEN

a House. A bob-Ken, or a Bowman-ken, a good or well furnished House; also a House that harbours Rogues and Thieves. Biting the Ken, robbing the House, 'tis a bob Ken, Brush upon the Sneak, i.e., 'Tis a good House, go in and tread softly. We have bit the Ken, The House is robb'd, or the Business is done.

KEN-Miller

a House-breaker, who usually, by getting into an empty House, finds Means to enter into the Gutters of Houses inhabited, and so in at the Windows, &c.

KICK

Six-pence: Two, Three, Four, &c. and a Kick; Two, Three, Four, &c. Shillings and Six-pence.

KICK'D

gone, fled, departed; as, The Rum Cull kick'd away, i.e. The Rogue made his Escape.

KICKS

Breeches. Tip us your Kicks, we'll have them as well as your Lour; Pull off your Breeches, for we must have them as well as your Money.

KID

a Child.

KIDLAYS

an Order of Rogues, who meeting a Youth with a Bundle or Parcel of Goods, wheedle him by fair Words, and whipping Six-pence into his Hand, to step on a short and sham Errand, in the mean Time run away with the Goods.

KIDNAPPER

one that decoys or spirits (as it is commonly called) Children away, and sells them for the Plantations.

KILKENNY

an old sorry Frize Coat.

KILL-Devil

Rum.

To KIMBAW

to Trick, Sharp, or Cheat; also to Beat severely, or to Bully. Let's Kimbaw the Cull, Let's beat that Fellow, and get his Money (by huffing and bullying) from him.

KIN

a Thief: He's one of the Kin, let him pike; said of a Brother Rogue whom one of the Gang knows to be a Villain, tho' not one of their own Crew.

KINCHIN

a little Child.

KINCHIN-Coves

little Children whose Parents are dead, having been Beggars; as also young Lads running from their Masters, who are first taught Canting, then Thieving.

KINCHIN Cove

a little Man.

KINCHIN-Morts

Girls of a Year or two old, whom the Morts (their Mothers) carry at their Backs in Slates (Sheets) and if they have no Children of thir own, they borrow or steal them from others.

KING of the Gypsies

the Captain, Chief, or Ringleader of the Gang, the Master of Misrule, otherwise called Uprightman. Vide Gypsies.

KING's Head Inn

or the Chequer Inn in Newgate-street

the Prison of Newgate.

KING's Pictures

Money.

KIT

a Dancing Master.

A KNACK Shop

a Toy-shop, freighted with pretty Devices to pick Pockets.

KNAVE in Grain

one of the First Rate.

KNIGHT of the Blade

a Hector or Bully.

KNIGHT of the Post

a mercenary common Swearer, a Prostitute to every Cause, an Irish Evidence.

KNIGHT of the Road

the chief Highwayman, best mounted and armed, the stoutest Fellow among them.

KNOB

the Head or Skull.

KNOCK Down

very strong Ale or Beer.

To KNOCK off

to give over Thieving.

KNOT

a Crew of Gang of Villains.