Chapter Kickshaws to King Estmere of K by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

he raised his lips to give the kiss, down he fell through a trap-door on a wheel with spikes, which was set in motion by the fall. (3) The “iron cages of Louis XI.” were so contrived that the victims might linger out for years; but whether they sat, stood, or lay down, the position was equally uncomfortable. (4) The “chambre à crucer” was a heavy chest, short, shallow, and lined with sharp stones, in which the sufferer was packed and buried alive. (5) The “bernicles” consisted of a mattress on which the victim was fastened by the neck, while his legs were crushed between two logs of wood, on the uppermost of which the torturer took his seat. This process continued for several days, till the sufferer died with the lingering torment. Many other modes of stretching out the torment of death might easily be added. (See Iron Maiden .)

Killed by Kindness It is said that Draco, the Athenian legislator, met with his death from his popularity, being smothered in the theatre of Ægina; by the number of caps and cloaks showered on him by the spectators (B.C. 590).

Killing Irresistible, overpowering, fascinating, or bewitching, so as to compel admiration and notice.

“Those eyes were made so killing.”
Pope: Rape of the Lock, v. 64.

   A killing pace. Too hot or strong to last; exceptionally great; exhausting.

Killing-stone in Louth. A stone probably used for human sacrifice.

Killing no Murder A tract written by Sexby, who was living in Holland at the time of its publication. Probably Sexby was paid for fathering it, and the real author was William Allan.

Kilmansegg (Miss). An heiress of great expectations with an artificial leg of solid gold. (Thomas Hood A Golden Legend.)

Kilmarnock Cowls Nightcaps. The Kilmarnock nightcaps were once celebrated all over Scotland.

Kilmarth Rocks (Scotland). A pile of stones towering 28 feet in height, and overhanging more than 12 feet, like the tower of Pisa (Italy). (See Cheesewring .)

Kilwinning in the county of Ayr, Scotland, the scene of the renowned tournament held in 1839 by the Earl of Eglinton. It was also the cradle of Freemasonry in Scotland.

Kin, Kind

“King. But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son-
Ham. A little more than kin, and less than kind.”
Shakespeare: Hamlet, i. 2.

   Kin or kinsman is a relative by marriage or blood more distant than father and son.
   Kind means of the same sort of genus, as man-kind or man-genus.
   Hamlet says he is more than kin to Claudius (as he was step-son), but still he is not of the same kind, the same class. He is not a bird of the same feather as the king.

Kindhart A jocular name for a tooth-drawer; so called from a dentist of the name in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Kindhart, the dentist, is mentioned by Rowland in his Letting of Humours - Blood in the Head- vaine. (1600); and in Rowley's New Wonder.

“Mistake me not, Kindhart
He calls you tooth-drawer.” Act. 1.1

King The Anglo-Saxon cyng, cyning, from cyn a nation or people, and the termination- ing, meaning “of,” as “son of,” “chief of,” etc. In Anglo- Saxon times the king was elected on the Witena-gemòt, and was therefore the choice of the nation.
    The factory king. Richard Oastler, of Bradford, the successful advocate of the “Ten Hours' Bill” (1789- 1861).
   Ré Galantuomo (the gallant king), Victor Emmanuel of Italy (1820-1878)

King
   A king should die standing. So said Louis XVIII. of France, in imitation of Vespasian, Emperor of Rome. (See Dying Sayings Louis XVIII.)
   Like a king. When Porus, the Indian prince, was taken prisoner, Alexander asked him how he expected to be treated. “Like a king,” he replied; and Alexander made him