▪ I. kay, key, a. dial. rare.
[= Da. (obs. or dial.) kei (in den kei haand the left hand); cf. Sw. dial. kaja left hand, kajhandt left-handed (Rietz).
App. limited to Cheshire and Lancashire; keck-handed is current in Shropshire and other midland counties.]
Left (hand or foot). Also kay-fisted, kay-nieved, kay-pawed, left-handed.
| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 422 Þe kay fote on þe folde he before sette. 1611 Cotgr., Gauchier, left-handed, key-fisted. 1865 Waugh Besom Ben vii. 90 He wur keigh-neighvt. 1886 Chester Gloss., Kay-fisted, left-handed. 1887 S. Chesh. Gloss., Key-paw, the left hand. Key-pawed, left-handed. 1895 in N. & Q. 23 Mar. 235/2 In Lancashire it is said of a man who uses his left hand..that he is ‘K-pawed’. |
▪ II. kay, int.
(keɪ)
[Representation of the sound of the letter K.]
= O.K. used as int.
| 1959 I. Jefferies Thirteen Days v. 66 ‘How about a quick half-hour now?’ I said. ‘Kay.’ 1968 S. Challis Death on Quiet Beach v. 72 Kay. We'll check her out. 1972 J. Wainwright Night is Time to Die 189 ‘And sling him in the cells,’ added the D.D.I... ‘Kay.’ |
▪ III. kay
var. ka v.1; var. or obs. f. key.