pearance anything has after being pressed. It is also a cant word for money, in some parts of the North of England. But I am inclined to derive it from culter, the coulter of a plow; anything out of kelter, would then be something which had lost that which made it useful, or be "without a kelter," which may be the proper phrase.

KIDNEY, for disposition, principles, humor. (Brockett.) We often hear, "a man of his kidney," though it generally implies something bad of a man; that he is of a bad disposition, or bad principles. KETTLE OF FISH. This is a Sussex and Hampshire expression, for a confused and perplexed condition of one's affairs. "This is a pretty kettle of fish!" means it is a bad business, from which one does not see how to extricate himself readily. It is common in New England. KIDNEY-TATIE.

A long kind of potato, much cultivated in the neighborhood of Newcastle. (Brockett.) The kidney potato is well known here, only we do not say tatie.

KIND O', after a kind, or manner. A Norfolk and Suf

folk word, according to Holloway. The people of New England make great use of it, though by those who are unacquainted with its source it is spelt kinder; as, he's got a kind o' unsettled; he seemed a kind o' unhappy. KISSES. Small confections or sugar-plums. (Brockett.) Shakspeare has kissing comfits, in his "Merry Wives of Windsor." Falstaff cries out, "Hail kissing com

fits and mowlringoes." Kisses may be had at our own confectioners.

KIST, for chest. (Brockett.) This appears a common word in several Northern languages; it may be heard here, but not frequently. Cista is the Latin word, and is as likely to be the root, as Dutch, Welsh, German, or Saxon.

KIT. A set, or company; generally in a contemptuous light. (Brockett.) "The whole kit of them," is a frequent expression, and partaking somewhat of the contemptuous.

KIVVER. Holloway gives this as a Lincolnshire word. It is almost invariably pronounced among a large portion of New England for cover. Forby has it. Chaucer uses kevere.

KNOCK, to stir or to work briskly. (Forby.) "I have been knocking round, or about, all day;" and, "I am quite knocked up." The first of these phrases is near Forby's meaning. I have known a kindred phrase to this, used by a Yankee in London: "I have been smashing round considerable to-day." Both imply activity.

KNOWED, for knew. This Essex corruption we preserve.

"I never knowed nothing on it," may be heard in New England, and not very far from Philadelphia.

6*

L.

LACE, to beat or flog. "I'll lace your jacket;" also, lacing, a beating. (Brockett.) A common expression here.

LADY-BUG, or BIRD. For some reason, perhaps its

beauty, this little insect has attracted the affectionate interest of several Northern nations. We inherit ours from our English ancestors; they derived theirs, probably, from some of their Northern invaders. Joseph Hunter, in the Hallamshire Glossary, says that he found the word in a small volume, entitled "German Popular Stories;" that the little song

"Lady-cow, lady-cow, fly thy way home,

Thy house is on fire, thy children all gone!"

was as well known to the children of Suabia as to those of England; and it is as familiar to us as to either. It is held extremely unlucky to kill a cricket, a lady-bug, a swallow, martin, robin red-breast, or wren-perhaps from its being a breach of hospitality, all those birds and insects taking refuge in houses. (Grove's Popular Superstitions.) LANG-SADDLE, or SETTLE. A long wooden seat, with a back and arms, usually placed in the chimney-corner in country houses. (Brockett.) Under the name of settle, this is an article of furniture in very common use in New England. It is generally very high in the back and narrow in the seat, and long enough for six

or eight people to sit upon; but economical and sociable as it may be, it is far from comfortable, being in no way calculated for an easy lounge. It has, however, its pleasant associations. To come into an inn, late at night, in the depth of winter, and to find the settle drawn before a blazing fire, and a mug of flip brewing, will always fix it in the memory agreeably, notwithstanding its high, perpendicular back, and narrow, hard seat. We only say settle, not lang-settle. LAPSIDED, deformed on one side; as though one part lapped over another. (Holloway.) This word belongs to Norfolk, Sussex, and Hampshire. It is not uncommon here. Holloway thinks it is from a Teutonic word, lopped, to move awkwardly; but we prefer lap, in its usual acceptation, to fold over, to lie over. LARRUP, to beat. A Norfolk, Sussex, and Hampshire word, in common use here. Its original is disputed. LAT, a lath; as thin as a lat. Brockett gives this as a cant phrase of the North of England. We have the same, but never say lat, but lathe. LEARN, to teach. Brockett says that this way of using it

is not obsolete in the North of England. It is universal in New England, among a certain portion of the population. It is an old word, and used by Shakspeare, in "Othello."

LEATHER, to beat. (Grose.) A North of England word. We say, to lather: "I'll lather him;" no doubt the same word, though most persons would suppose it to be derived from the lather of soap; as if an applica

tion to the man's skin would produce something analagous to the bubble and foam of that material. LEATHERHEAD, a blockhead; a thick-skull. (Brockett.) We use the adjective, leatherheaded, but not often the substantive. Lanthorn Leatherhead is a luminous numskull in Ben Jonson's "Bartholomew Fair," and played the part of a seller of hobby-horses, in that drama. Whether Jonson was the first to put forth the term, I know not. He appears, however, a distinguished character, and probably from the long endurance of his fame, a very popular person in his day. Gifford, in a note on this name, says that tradition gives it as a satire on Inigo Jones, the architect. We extract a portion of a scene, that bears out this idea:

SCENE The Fair; Booths and Stalls set out; Lanthorn Leatherhead, Joan Trash, and others, sitting by their wares.

Leath. The fair's pestilence dead, methinks; people come not abroad to-day, whatever the matter is. Do you hear, Sister Trash, lady of the basket? Sit farther with your gingerbread progeny, and hinder not the prospect of my shop; or I'll have it proclaimed in the fair, what stuff they are made on.

Trash. Why, what stuff are they made on, Brother Leatherhead? Nothing but what's wholesome, I assure you. Leath. Yes; stale bread, rotten eggs, musty ginger, and dead honey, you know.

Over. Ay, have I met with enormity so soon! [Aside.
Leath. I shall mar your market, old Joan.

Trash. Mar my market, thou too proud pedlar! Do thy worst; I defy thee, I, and thy stable of hobby-horses. I pay for my ground, as well as thou dost: an thou wrong'st me, for all thou art parcel-poet, and an ingineer, I'll find a