Also 6 cade, 7 (? kidde), kaid, 8–9 kead. [Of unknown derivation; the phonology points to cāde as the etymological form; this would give north.Eng. and south.Sc. keäd, keäde, which, on the analogy of heäd head, would be anglicized as kead, ked.] A sheep-tick or sheep-louse (Melophagus ovinus).
1570. Levins, Manip., 8. A cade, sheepe louse.
a. 1605. Montgomerie, Flyting w. Polwart, 492. Some, luikand lyce, in the crowne of it keeks; Some choppes the kiddes into their cheeks.
1653. W. Lauson, Comm. Secr. Angling, in Arb., Garner, I. 196. I rather think the kades and other filth that fall from sheep do so glut the fish; that they will not take any artificial bait.
1697. W. Cleland, Poems, 34 (Jam.). Their swarms of vermine, and sheep kaids Delights to lodge, beneath the plaids.
1781. J. Hutton, Tour to Caves, Gloss. (E. D. S.), Kead, a sheep’s louse.
1811. Mann. & Cust., in Ann. Reg., 443/2. The sheep are very much infested by vermin known in England by the name of ticks or keds.
1842–51. H. Stephens, Bk. of Farm (1891), III. 140. Keds become most numerous when sheep get from a lean to a better condition.
