vb. stem, prefixed to sbs., forming sbs. (chiefly 17th c. nonce-wds.) with sense ‘one who or that which kills…,’ and adjs. = ‘that kills…, -killing.’ a. sbs., as kill-bishop; kill-Christ, one who took part in putting Christ to death; kill-courtesy, a boorish person; kill-crow, (a) ? a good shot, one who can hit the mark well; (b) dial. = KILL-COW 3; kill-herb, a parasitic plant, Broomrape; kill-lamb, an American species of Andromeda (A. mariana) poisonous to sheep; kill-man, a man-slayer; also adj. man-slaying; kill-pot, a hard drinker. b. adjs. as kill-calf; kill-duck, suited for killing ducks; kill-me-quite, irresistibly bewitching or fascinating. Also kill-curing, that cures by killing. See also KILL-BUCK, -COW, -DEVIL, etc.
1672. Wood, Life, 19 Nov. (O. H. S.), II. 253. Chester is a *kill-bishop.
1620. J. Taylor (Water P.), Jacke-a-Lent, Wks. (1630), 116/1 (N.). There they make priuate Shambles with *kil-calfe cruelty, and Sheepe-slaughtering murther.
1628. J. Clavell, Recant. ill-led Life, 35. Then take heed of those Base Padding Rascalls, for their kill-calfe law I am not priuy to.
1647. Trapp, Comm. Acts, v. 28. They should be counted *kill-Christs.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., II. ii. 77. This lacke-loue, this *kill-curtesie.
1593. Pass. Morrice (1876), 83. I will tell you my reason, and if it iumpes with your conceite, say you mette with a *kill Crowe.
1616. J. Lane, Contn. Sqr.’s T., VIII. 56. That suche feirce surgeons tooles shoold exercise On mans soft fleshe, *kill-curinge buttcheries.
1675. Cotton, Scoffer Scoft, 31. Yonder is the Bird of prey, I see him in a *Kill-duck place.
1671. Skinner, Etymol. Ling. Angl., Bot., *Kill-herb.
1874. Dunglison, Med. Dict., *Kill Lamb.
1611. Chapman, Iliad, II. 29/573. Warre-like Idomen … copartner in the fleete, With *kil-man Merion.
1638. Brathwait, Psalmes Paraphr. cli. 294. Gath flesh’t in battels, broiles, and blood, A kill-man from his youth.
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, v. 46. He sang, too, with a *kill-me-quite air, as if no lady could resist his strains.
1616. B. Jonson, Masque Christmas. This Carol plays, and has been in his days A chirping boy, and a *kill-pot.
