north. dial. Forms: 4 kyn(n)e, 8 kinn, 8–9 kin, 9 keen. [var. of chin, chene, CHINE sb.1, repr. OE. cine, cinu. For the k-, cf. kedlock, keslop, kirk, kirn, etc.] A crack, chink or slit; esp. (a) a chasm or fissure in the earth; (b) a chap or crack in the skin.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 1720. Þey leye in dykes & in kynes [rhyme Peyteuyns]. Ibid., 13976. In chynes [v.r. kynnes], in creuesses, & in semes.
1737. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1740), II. 244. We find many People subject to what’s called a Kin, or Crack in the lower Lip, during the cold Months in Winter.
1781. J. Hutton, Tour to Caves, Gloss. (E. D. S.), Kinns, chinks and crevices in rocks, or breaks in the skin of the human body.
1878. Cumbld. Gloss., Kins, Keens, cracks in the hands caused by frost.
Hence Kin v., to chap or crack; Kinned a. or pa. pple., cracked, chapped; chilblained.
1825. Brockett, s.v. Keen, The hands are said to be keened with the frost, when the skin is broken or cracked, and a sore induced.
1855. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., ‘Kinn’d hands,’ chopped hands. ‘Kinn’d feet,’ chilblained feet.
