Chiefly dial. Also 7 keksy, 9 kicksey, kexy, gicksy. [f. kecks, KEX, prob. by taking the pl. kexes as = kexies.] = KEX, a hollow plant-stem.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., V. ii. 52. Hatefull Docks, rough Thistles, Keksyes, Burres.
1800. Hurdis, Fav. Village, 109. Thou … frost, that in a night … covers the lake, E’en to the kicksey vulnerable.
1816. Coleridge, Lay Serm., in Biog. Lit. (1882), 326. Among other odd burrs and kecksies.
1825. Britton, Beauties Wilts., III. (E. D. S.), Kecks, Kecksy.
1886. S. W. Linc. Gloss., s.v. Kex, As dry as an dd kecksy.
