dial. and obs. slang. Also 7–8 keffal, 8 kefield, 9 kephel. [a. Welsh ceffyl horse: see CAPLE.] A horse, esp. a sorry horse.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Keffal, a Horse.
1706. E. Ward, Hud. Rediv., I. XII. 26. At last a Negro Devil came On a dun Kefield, blind and lame.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, II. xx. 130. Old Robin at a distance, on his roan Keffel.
c. 1825. Houlston Tracts, II. xlviii. 3. Thomas Shelton’s kephels are so thin and weak, they can hardly lift one leg after the other.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., Keffel, a sorry, worthless horse.
