Forms: 1 cyning, (-incg), kyning, cining, cyniʓ, 1–2 cyng, cing, (1 cyncg, ching), 1–6 kyng, 4–6 kynge, (4 kinge, kin, 5 kynnge, kink, keng), 2– king. [A Com. Teut. word: OE. cyning = OFris. kin-, ken-, koning, OS. kuning (MDu. coninc, Du. koning, MLG. kon(n)ink), OHG. chun-, kuning:—OTeut. *kuningo-z, a derivative of *kunjo-, Goth. kuni, OE. cynn, KIN, race, etc. The ON. equivalent was konong-r, -ungr (Sw. konung). Finnish kuningas king, and Lith. kuningas lord, priest, were early adoptions from Teut. In most of the Teut. languages two reduced forms appear: 1) OE. cyniʓ = OFris. kinig, etc., OS. kunig (MDu. conich), OHG. chun-, kunig (MHG. künic, künec, G. könig, † künig); 2) OE. cyng, cing = MHG. künc (obs. G. küng, kung), ON. kóngr (Sw. kung, Da. konge). Compare OE. peniʓ (G. pfennig) PENNY, for pening; ON. pengar pl. (Da. penge) for peningar.
As to the exact relation, in form and sense, of king to kin, views differ. Some take it as a direct derivative, in the sense either of ‘scion of the kin, race or tribe,’ or ‘scion of a (or the) noble kin,’ comparing dryhten (:—*truhtino-z) ‘lord’ from dryht (:—*truhti-z) ‘army, folk, people,’ dryht-bearn ‘lordly or princely child, prince,’ lit. ‘child of the nation,’ ON. fylkir ‘king’ from folk, Goth. þiudans ‘king,’ from þiuda people, nation. Others refer *kuningo-z immediately to the supposed masc. *kuni-z, preserved in comb. in OHG. chuni-, OE. cyne- (see KINE-), taking it as = ‘son or descendant of one of (noble) birth.’ See Hildebrand in Grimm, and Kluge, s.v. König; Franck s.v. Koning, etc.]
(The genitive plural in southern ME. was kingene, -en, -yn.)
I. 1. The usual title of the male sovereign ruler of an independent state, whose position is either purely hereditary, or hereditary under certain legal conditions, or, if elective, is considered to give to the elected the same attributes and rank as those of a (purely or partly) hereditary ruler.
In OE. the title appears first as the name of the chiefs of the various Anglian and Saxon ‘kins,’ tribes, or clans, who invaded Britain, and of the petty states founded by them, as well as of the native British chiefs or princes with whom they fought, and of the Danish chiefs who at a later time invaded and occupied parts of the country. Among the Angles and Saxons the kingship was not strictly hereditary, according to later notions; but the cyning was chosen or accepted in each case from a recognized kingly or royal cynn or family (usually tracing its genealogy up to Woden). With the gradual ascendancy and conquests of Wessex in the 9th and 10th c., the king of the West Saxons became the king of the Angelcynn, Angelþéode, or English (Angligenarum, gentis Angligenæ, Anglorum), and the tribal kings came to an end. But there still remained a King of Scotland, and several petty kings in Ireland. In European and other more or less civilized countries, king is now the title of the ruler of an independent organized state called a kingdom; but in mediæval times, as still in the German Empire, some kings were really or nominally subordinate to the Emperor (as ostensibly representing the Roman Cæsar or Imperator), and a King is still held to rank below an Emperor. In reference to ancient times the name is applied, like L. rex, Gr. βασιλεύς, Heb. melek, to the more or less despotic rulers not only of great dominions like Assyria, Persia, Egypt, but of petty states or towns such as Jericho, Ai, Mycenæ, Ithaca, Syracuse and Rome. It is still applied to the native rulers of petty African states, towns, or tribes, Polynesian islands, and the like.
King designate, possessive: see the adjs. Uncrowned king, one who has the power, though not the rank, of a king.
a. 855. O. E. Chron., an. 577. Her Cuþwine and Ceawlin fuhton wiþ Brettas, and hie .iii. kyningas ofsloʓon, Coinmail, and Condidan, and Farinmail.
858. Charter, in O. E. Texts, 438. Se cyning sealde … wullafe fif sulung landes.
875. O. E. Chron. And for Godrum and Oscytel and Anwynd, þa .iii. cyningas, of Hreopedune to Grantebrycge mid micle here, and sæton þær an ʓear.
971. Blickl. Hom., 69. Hi … hine weorþodon swa ciniʓe ʓeriseþ. Ibid., 71. He wæs to cinge onʓyten & ʓehered.
c. 1001. O. E. Chron. (Parker MS.), an. 1001. Þæs cynincges ʓerefa.
a. 1131. O. E. Chron., an. 1123. Se kyng alihte dune of his hors. Ibid., an. 1124. Se king let don þone eorl … on heftnunge.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 115. Ðes kingges rihtwisnesse areteð his kine setle.
c. 1205. Lay., 24609. Þider weoren icumen seouen kingene sunen.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 834. Neȝ ilc burȝe hadde ise louereding, Sum was king, and sum kumeling.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8179. He smot þoru out wiþ a launce on of hor hexte kinge.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3382. Ysmael had wijfs thrin Þat kinges twelue þar come of him. Ibid., 4243. To putifer, þe king stiward.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 263. Wel nygh al þe kyngyn lynage of straunge naciouns come of þis Woden. Ibid., VI. 151. Cedwalla, a stalworþe ȝongelyng of kyngene kynde.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6851. These emperours … Or kyngis, dukis, & lordis grete.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 888. Of the Rodes he was a king son.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., v. (1885), 119. What dishonour is this, and abatynge of the glorie of a kynge.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Pet. ii. 17. Feare God. Honoure the kynge [1382 Wyclif Make ȝe the kyng honourable; 1388 onoure ȝe the king].
1602. Shaks., Ham., IV. v. 123. There’s such Diuinity doth hedge a King. Ibid. (1605), Lear, IV. vi. 109. I, euery inch a King, When I do stare, see how the Subiect quakes.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 836. Their Kings were no other then the chiefe in every Cottage, which consisted of one kindred.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, II. 37. The forme of their [Indians’] Common-wealth is a Monarchicall government, one as Emperour ruleth ouer many Kings or Governours.
1718. Prior, Power, 275. What is a king?—a man condemn’d to bear The public burden of the nation’s care.
1784. Cowper, Task, V. 188. War’s a game, which were their subjects wise, Kings would not play at.
1794. Coleridge, Relig. Musings. The great, the rich, the mighty men, The Kings and the chief captains of the world.
1847. Prescott, Peru (1850), II. 20. The title of King, by which the earlier Aztec princes are distinguished by Spanish writers, is supplanted by that of Emperor in the later reigns.
1872. E. W. Robertson, Hist. Ess., 206. Thus he [Henry I. of Germany] was a king, but not an anointed sovereign.
b. In phrases and proverbs.
1539. Taverner, Erasm. Prov. (1552), 4. Kynges haue manye eares and manye eyes.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 39. Where as nothing is, the kynge must lose his right.
1591. 2nd Pt. Troub. Raigne K. John (1611), 106. A king is a king though fortune do her worst.
1659. Howell, Lex., Prov., 1 (1660) (N.). The Kings cheese goes half away in paring; viz., among so many Officers.
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, IV. xvi. (1737), 65. Which made the Dog get on his Legs, pleas’d like a little King.
a. 1732. [see HAPPY 4].
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. vii. 246. The king can do no wrong…. The prerogative of the crown extends not to do any injury: it is created for the benefit of the people, and therefore cannot be exerted to their prejudice.
1788. Burns, Lett. to Mrs. Dunlop, 16 Aug. The old Scottish proverb says well, ‘Kings’ caff is better than ither folks’ corn.’
c. The three Kings, the Wise Men who came from the East to worship the new-born Christ.
Frequently called the (three) Kings of Cologne, from a prevalent belief that their bodies were preserved at that city, having been removed thither in 1164 from Milan, where they were alleged to have been discovered in 1158.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 45. Þe þre kinges þe comen of estriche.
c. 1350. Winner & Waster, 503. To þe kirke of Colayne þer þe kynges ligges.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 283. Þe þre kynges [L. magi] come to Ierusalem. Ibid., VIII. 43. Rauph bisshop of Coloyne brouȝt þe bodies of þe (þre) kynges of Coloyne out of Melan.
c. 1400. Three Kings Cologne, 2. [Þe] þree holy and worshipfull kyngis of Coleyn: Iaspar, Melchyor, and Balthaser.
1583. Leg. Bp. St. Androis, 669. As Culen Kyngis that Christ adorned, Per aliam viam he returned.
d. The Books of Kings: certain books of the Old Testament which contain the history of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Also ellipt. Kings.
In the original Hebrew text there was only one book so called, corresponding to 1st and 2nd Kings in the present English Bible. In the Septuagint, followed by the Vulgate, and so by the older English versions, these two are reckoned as the 3rd and 4th, the two books of Samuel being called 1st and 2nd Kings.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Kings [i.e., 1 Samuel], Prol. In this book of Kingis the first is contened, how Anna … axide of God to haue a sone.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., i. (1885), 110. The viijth chapiter of the first boke of kynges [1 Sam. viii.].
1535. Coverdale, The first boke of the kynges, otherwyse called the first boke of Samuel.
1611. Bible, The first Booke of Samuel, otherwise called, The first Booke of the Kings. Ibid., Contents … 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1. Kings, 2. Kings 1 Chronicles [etc.].
2. With additions: a. As a title, now placed immediately before a personal name, as King Edward, † in OE. (rarely in later use) immediately after it, as Ælfred cyning, Harold cyng; formerly also the King, before or after the name.
In OE. Chron. (Laud MS.) the annal of 1066 has se cyng Eadweard, Harold eorl, Harold cyng, Willelm eorl, þe cyng Willelm.
O. E. Chron., an. 588. Her Ælle cyning forþ ferde. Ibid., 604. East Seaxe … under Sæbrihte cinge and Mellite bisceope.
836. Charter, in O. E. Texts, 453. Ecʓhard … ðes friodom waes biʓeten aet Wiʓlafe cyninge.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., i. Þa … yfel þe se cyning Ðeodric … dyde.
971. Blickl. Hom., 161. On Herodes daʓum þæs cyninges.
a. 1020. in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., IV. 9. Cnut cing gret Lyfing arcebisceop.
a. 1100. O. E. Chron., an. 1066. Þe cyng Willelm ʓeherde þæt secgen. Ibid. (a. 1150), an. 1132. Ðis ʓear com Henri king to þis land.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7574. King Macolom spousede Margarete so; Ac king Willam … Wende aȝen to normandie.
c. 1400. Three Kings Cologne, 12. Kyng Ezechias was syke to þe dethe. Ibid., 14. Þerfore god sent to Ezechias þe kyng.
1535. Coverdale, Matt. i. 6. Dauid the kynge begat Salomon.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., II. v. 66. The lawfull Heire of Edward King, the Third of that Descent. Ibid., 76. Third Sonne To King Edward the Third.
a. 1635. Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 28. The people hath it to this day in proverb, King Harry loved a man.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 129, ¶ 10. We fancied ourselves in King Charles the Second’s reign.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 663. Two staves, Sung to the praise and glory of King George.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. T., s.v., He is one of king John’s men, eight score to the hundred: a saying of a little undersized man.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., V. xxii. 16. The two great notes of time [in Domesday] are ‘the time of King Eadward,’ and ‘the time when King William came into England.’
1895. Newspr. King Khama’s visit to England.
b. With specification of the people or country over which a king’s rule extends, as King of the Romans, of Italy. Also King of Kings, a king who has other kings under him, an emperor: often assumed as a title by Eastern monarchs. King of men, translating Gr. ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν.
a. 855. O. E. Chron., an. 488. Her Æsc feng to rice, and was .xxiiii. wintra Cantwara cyning. Ibid., an. 508. Her Cerdic and Cynric ofsloʓon ænne Brettisc cyning, þam was nama Natanleod.
c. 975. O. E. Chron. (Parker MS.), an. 975. Eadgar Engla cyning ceas him oðer leoht.
a. 1100. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1079. Melcolm cyng of Scotlande. Ibid. (c. 1154), an. 1129. Se kyng of France.
c. 1205. Lay., 13320. Þe king of Norewæiȝe … & þere Densemonne king.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 11945. First com Epistrot þe kyng of Grece … Pandras þe kyng of Egipte.
1382. Wyclif, Ezra vii. 12. Artaxerses, king of kingus, to Esdre the prest. Ibid., Dan. ii. 37. Thou art kyng of kyngus, and God of heuen ȝaue to thee kingdam.
1405. Rolls Parlt., III. 605/1. The Wyrshipful Prince Robert the King of Scotland.
a. 1552. Leland, Collect. (1774), II. 547. Edwarde de Bruse,… proclayming hym self King of Kinges yn Ireland.
1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler, 51. There is a quadrobulary saying, which passes current in the Westerne World, That the Emperour is King of Kings, the Spaniard, King of Men, the French King of Asses, the King of England, King of Devils.
1715–20. Pope, Iliad, XIX. 54. The king of men, Atrides, came the last.
1835. Thirlwall, Greece, I. v. 129. He leads an army against Augeas, king of Elis.
1876. A. Arnold, in Contemp. Rev., June, 32. The King-of-Kings … signified his willingness.
c. King Charles, short for King Charles’s Spaniel (see SPANIEL); King Harry, the goldfinch.
[a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, s.v., King Harry Redcap, is the gold-finch … King Harry Blackcap, is the bird which is commonly called simply the blackcap.]
1848. Zoologist, VI. 2186. The goldfinch … is the King Harry from its beautiful crown.
1883. Cassell’s Nat. Hist., II. 132. The King Charles of the present day is an interesting example of deterioration.
3. Applied to a woman, esp. one who rules or bears herself like a king. rare.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 869. Hennin & Morgan … adde despit þat womman king ssolde alonde beo.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, iv. Wks. IX. 53. The Hungarian Subjects of Maria Theresa … called her … a King…. She lived and died a King.
1898. Daily News, 30 Aug., 4/5. After the King died his consort determined that her daughter should be a King, not a Queen.
4. Applied to God or Christ. Freq. in phr. King of heaven, of bliss, of glory, King of kings, etc.
871–89. Charter, in O. E. Texts, 452. ʓehalde hine heofones cyning in þissum life.
971. Blickl. Hom., 203. To þæm cyninga cyninge, to Criste sylfum.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8100. Þine on þat tre thole he sal, Þe king o blis.
a. 1325. Te Deum, in Prose Psalter, 192. Þou, Christ, art kynge of glorie [1535 in Goodly Prymer, Thou art the kyng of glory o Christe].
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, ii. (Paul), 966. He … [at the] last Iugment sall bryng nere hand all men befor þe kyng.
1382. Wyclif, Rev. xvii. 14. For he is Lord of lordes and kyng of kyngis [1611 For he is Lord of Lords, and King of kings].
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VIII. 189. Kyngene Kyng schal destroye þis rewme wiþ double meschef.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), Pref. 1. He þat was King of heuen and of erthe.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, x. 28. To him that is of kingis King.
1548–58. Bk. Com. Prayer (Prayer Queen’s Majesty), O Lord our heuenly father, high and mighty king of kynges, Lorde of lordes, the onely ruler of princes.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 640. Th’ all-bounteous King, who showrd With copious hand.
1781. Cowper, Truth, 179. What purpose has the King of Saints in view?
1871. E. F. Burr, Ad Fidem, iv. 68. The King whose twin names are Light, and Love.
5. A title given to certain persons holding a real or pretended supreme authority or rank, or to one who plays the king.
e.g., King of Heralds, the King Herald or King-of-Arms; King of Ribalds: see RIBALD; King of the Sacrifices, one of the Roman priests (rex sacrorum); esp. the leading person in some game or sport, as King of the Bean, of the Cockneys, of May, of Misrule: see BEAN, etc.; King Arthur, King I am, King of Cantland, King of the Castle, certain games (see quots.) so called from the chief player.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., King of Heralds … is an Officer at Arms, that hath the preheminence of this Society.
1709. Grecian Plays, 43. [The Greeks] had likewise their Basilinda, representing our Questions and Commands, or King I am.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xxviii. III. 71. The King of the Sacrifices represented the person of Numa, and of his successors, in the religious functions, which could be performed only by royal hands.
1808–25. Jamieson, King of Cantland, a game of children in which one of a company being chosen King o’ Cantland, and two goals appointed [etc.].
1847–52. Halliwell, King-Arthur, a game used at sea, when near the line, or in a hot latitude. It is performed thus [description follows].
1890. J. G. Wood’s Boy’s Mod. Playmate, 147. King of the Castle.… One player stands upon a mound, crying, ‘I am king of the castle,’ and the others try to pull him down.
6. One who in a certain sphere or class has supremacy or pre-eminence compared to that of a king. In recent use often applied to great merchants, manufacturers, etc., with defining word prefixed, as alkali-, fur-, railway-king.
1382. Wyclif, Job xli. 25 [34]. He [Leviathan] ys king vpon alle the sones of pride.
1508. Kennedie, Flyting w. Dunbar, 326. Confess thy crime, hald Kenydy the king.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 12. Distroy the Deuill … Quhilk of this warld is Prince and King.
1592. Davies, Immort. Soul, XXXII. lx. Why made he Man, of other Creatures, King?
1623. H. Holland, Lines Shaks. Those bayes, Which crown’d him Poet first, then Poets King.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Poems, 46. What those kings of numbers did conceive By muses nine.
1789. Burns, Willie brew’d, iv. Wha first beside his chair shall fa’ He is the King among us three. Ibid. (1792), Auld Rob Morris, i. He’s the king o’ gude fellows and wale of auld men.
1806. Guide to Watering Places, 14. Richard Nash, the first King of Bath, was a native of Swansea.
1821. Shelley, Adonais, xlviii. The kings of thought Who waged contention with their time’s decay.
1884. S. E. Dawson, Hand-bk. Canada, 154. Here the fur-kings of the North-West lived and spent their profits in generous hospitality.
1894. Outing (U.S.), XXIII. 380/2. Relics of the palmy days of the old sugar kings of Jamaica.
1898. Daily News, 23 March, 6/3. Mr. Audubon, you are the king of ornithological painters.
b. Applied to things personified as King Caucus, King Cotton. King of day, the sun. King of terrors, death (see TERROR).
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., II. iii. 27. Two such opposed Kings encampe them still, In man as well as Hearbes, grace and rude will.
c. 1820. Campbell, Last Man, 36. Yet mourn I not thy parted ray, Thou dim discrowned king of day.
1868. Brewer, Dict. Phrase & Fable (ed. 3), King Cotton.… The expression was first used by James H. Hammond in the senate of the United States 1858.
1881. trans. von Holst’s Const. Hist. U. S., 1. The undemocratic ‘King Caucus’ was already so thoroughly hated that … his days were numbered.
7. fig. Something to which there is attributed supremacy or chief excellency in its class.
a. Of animals. King of beasts, the lion; King of birds, the eagle. Sometimes forming part of an ordinary or popular name; e.g.
King of the Ant-eaters, a South American bird (Grallaria rex). King of the Breams, the Spanish Bream (Pagellus erythrinus). King of the Herrings, (a) the Northern Chimæra (C. monstrosa); (b) the opah (Lampris guttata); (c) the oarfish (Regalecus glesne); (d) the allice shad. King of the Mullets, (a) a Mediterranean fish (Mullus imberbis); (b) the common bass. King of the Salmon, a deep-sea fish of the Pacific coast of America, Trachypterus altivelis. King of the Sea-breams, the becker or braize.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 74. As leon is the king of bestes.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. lxiv. (MS. Bodl.). Hatte leo kinge for he is kinge and prince of al oþer bestes.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, Table, Hoow the kynge of alle bestes the lyon helde his court.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, E iij. Now for to speke of the hare … That beest kyng shall be calde of all venery.
1508. Dunbar, Thistle & Rose, 103. The King of Beistis mak I the [the lion]. Ibid., 120. Syne crownit scho the Egle King of Fowlis.
1602. Carew, Cornwall (1811), 94. Lastly the salmon king of fish, Fills with good cheer the Christmas dish.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., King of the mullets, see Mullus imberbis.
1836. King of the Herrings [see HERRING 1 c].
1880. Günther, Fishes, 522. Regalecus … the largest of all Ribbon-fishes … frequently called ‘Kings of the herrings,’ from the erroneous notion that they accompany the shoals of herrings.
1885. Stand. Nat. Hist., III. 207. The popular name of opah, and king of the herrings.
b. Of trees, plants or fruits.
1697. Dampier, Voy., I. 311. The Plantain I take to be the King of all Fruit, not except the Coco it self.
1786. Burns, Scotch Drink, iii. John Barleycorn, Thou King o’ grain.
1791. Cowper, Yardley Oak, 50. Time made thee what thou wast, king of the woods.
1842. Twamley, in Visitor, 131/1. The pine is king of Scottish woods.
1846. J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric., I. 59. Winter Sauce Apples … King of the pippins.
c. Of things, places, etc.
1608. Shaks., Per., I. i. 13. Her thoughts the king Of every virtue gives renown to men!
1728. Pope, Dunc., II. 273. Thames, The king of dykes.
1796. Eliza Hamilton, Lett. Hindoo Rajah, I. 185. The King of worshipped places, the renowned Allahabad.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xiv. He taught me a fisherman’s bend, which he pronounced to be the king of all knots.
1881. C. A. Edwards, Organs, 3. The organ … has … earned the title of the ‘King of Instruments.’
8. † a. Applied by earlier writers, after Latin, to the queen bee. Obs. b. A fully developed male termite or white ant.
a. c. 1386. Chaucer, Pers. T., ¶ 394. Thise flyes, that men clepeth bees, whan they maken hir kyng they chesen oon that hath no prikke, wherwith he may stynge.
1600. Surflet, Countrie Farme, I. x. 48. He shall make cleane their hiues verie carefully and kill their kings.
1642. Prynne, Sov. Antid., i. 4. Though all other Bees have stings,… yet the King among the bees hath no sting at all, for nature would not have him to be cruell.
1710. Brit. Apollo, III. No. 87. 2/1. The Kings are bred of the Brains.
b. 1895. Sharp, Insects, I. in Cambridge Nat. Hist., V. 361. Termites live in communities…. The king and queen may be recognised by the stumps of their cast wings.
9. In games.
a. In chess: The piece that each player must protect against the moves made by the other, so as to prevent it from being finally checkmated.
King’s Gambit: see GAMBIT. King’s Bishop, Knight, Rook, the pieces placed on the King’s side of the board at the commencement of the game. King’s Pawn, the pawn immediately before the King at the commencement of the game. King’s side, the half of the board on which both Kings stand at the commencement of the game.
1411–2. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 2120. Somwhat I knowe a kynges draught.
1413. Pilgr. Sowle, I. xxii. (Caxton, 1483). Whan that a pown seyith to the kyng, chekmate.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, IV. ii. K ij. Al these yssues hath the kyng out of his propre place whan he begynneth to meue.
1562. Rowbothum, Cheasts, A viij. Yf checke be geuen to the Kyng, the Paune can not marche asyde … for to couer his Kynge.
1645. Z. Boyd, Holy Songs, in Zion’s Flowers (1855), App. 13/1. Kings, Pawnes, Knights, Aphens, heere and there stand, yet there wood is one.
1735. J. Bertin, Chess, The King’s Pawn … must move before the Knights.
1841. G. Walker, New Treat. Chess, 2. The pieces on the King’s side of the line are called … King’s Bishop, King’s Knight, and King’s Rook.
1882. Meyer, Guide to Chess, 21. The King is never taken; all the other pieces can be.
b. In ordinary playing-cards: One card in each suit, bearing the representation of a king, and usually ranking next to the ace. † Hence (with humorous allusion to 1 d) the books (or history) of the four kings, a pack of playing cards (obs.).
1563. Foxe, A. & M., 1298. Thoughe it were the Kyng of Clubbes.
c. 1592. Marlowe, Massacre Paris, I. ii. Since thou hast all the cards within thy hands … thou deal thyself a king.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., V. i. 44. Whiles he [Warwick] thought to steale the single Ten, The King was slyly finger’d from the Deck.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, I. xxii. After supper were brought in … the books of the foure Kings.
1760. Foote, Minor, I. (1781), 31. Come, shall we have a dip in the history of the Four Kings this morning?
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, lxiv. Caned … for carrying four kings in his hat besides those which he used in playing.
1879. ‘Cavendish,’ Card Ess., etc. 231. He can hardly think that ace and king are held up against you.
c. In draughts: A ‘crowned’ piece (see quot.).
1820. Hoyle’s Games, 313. When any man gets onwards to the last row on the end of the board opposite to that from whence his colour started, then he becomes a king and is crowned by placing one of the captives upon him, and he thereby obtains the privilege of moving and taking either backwards or forwards in any angular direction.
1899. N. & Q., 11 Feb., 115/1.
† d. In billiards. (See quots.) Obs.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 262/2. The King is the little Pin or Peg standing at one end of the Table, which is to be of Ivory.
1873. Bennett & ‘Cavendish,’ Billiards, 4. The peculiarity of the game at this time consisted in the use of a small arch of ivory called the ‘port,’ which was placed where the pyramid spot now stands, and of an ivory peg or king, placed on a corresponding spot at the other end of the table.
10. Technical uses.
a. pl. A trade-name for one of the classes into which fullers’ teasels are sorted (see quot. 1830). b. A kind of salmon-fly for angling.
1798. J. Billingsley, Somerset, 111. Teasels are sorted into kings, middlings, and scrubs.
1829. [J. L. Knapp], Jrnl. Naturalist, 43–4. The terminating heads are ready first, and called ‘kings’: they are larger and coarser than the others and fitted only for the strongest kinds of cloth.
1867. F. Francis, Angling, x. (1880), 396. I would prefer Purple and Green Kings.
11. ellipt. a. A toast in which the king’s health is drunk. b. A king-post.
1763. Churchill, Conference. The King gone round.
1858. Skyring’s Builders’ Prices (ed. 48), 18. Truss, framed with king post … Ditto with king and queens.
II. attrib. and Comb.
12. a. appositive, ‘that is a king’: as king-bishop, -brother, -cardinal, -dauphin, -devil, -folk, -god, -industry, -parliament, -pedagogue, -poet, -pope, etc.
1890. J. Healy, Insula Sanctorum, 608. Cormac Mac Carthy, himself a *king-bishop.
1862. H. Marryat, Year in Sweden, I. 446. Horrified at the domestic misery of her *king-brother.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., II. ii. 20. This is the Cardinals doing: The *King-Cardinall.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1184/1. The *king Dolphin and queene of Scots his wife.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 9. Þe *kyng deuyl seyde to hym [etc.].
1876. Morris, Sigurd, III. 175. He is born of the Volsung *king-folk.
1614. Sylvester, Bethulia’s Rescue, V. 437. My *King-God, weary of War’s tedious toile, In Ninive … Made Publique Feasts.
1875–7. Tennyson, Q. Mary, I. v. So your *King-parliament suffer him to land.
1850. H. Rogers, Ess. (1874), II. iv. 199. The first James … was fit for nothing except to be *king-pedagogue of a nation of pedants.
1890. J. Healy, Insula Sanctorum, 618. This *King-poet … met with an untimely end.
1826. W. E. Andrews, Rev. Fox’s Bk. Martyrs, II. 198. On the second day the *king-pope [Henry VIII.] came down to the house.
b. simple attributive, ‘of the king, royal’: as king-gear, -house.
1840. Carlyle, Heroes, v. (1858), 322. Strip your Louis Quatorze of his *king-gear, and there is left nothing but a forked radish with a head fantastically carved.
1483. Cath. Angl., 203/2. A *kynghouse, basilica, regia.
c. objective and obj. genitive, as king-bane, -deposer, -murderer, -worship; king-becoming, -deposing, -dethroning, -ennobling, -murdering, -upholding, etc., adjs. See also KING-KILLER, -KILLING, -MAKER, -MAKING.
1643. Prynne, Sov. Power Parl., I. (ed. 2), 21. Perswaded, while that *King-bane breathed, pence could never be maintained in the Realme.
1605. Shaks., Macb., IV. iii. 91. The *King-becoming Graces,… I haue no rellish of them.
1780. Cowper, Table-t., 57. That were indeed a *king-ennobling thought.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. III. iv. Captains, 1262. The *King-maiming Kinglings of Bezec.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymns Festiv., Poet. Wks. 1721, I. 311. A Persecution … From the traduc’d, *King-murd’ring Sect.
1844. Macaulay, Ess., Chatham (1887), 821. The Tories … who had always been inclined to *King-worship.
16[?]. Sir R. Berkeley, in Hurd, Dial., Const. Eng. Govt. (1759), 300, note. [Sir Robert Berkeley … affirmed that] the law knows no such *king-yoking policy.
d. instrumental and locative, as king-born, -descended, favo(u)red adjs.; † to the kingward, towards the king.
1670. Milton, Hist. Eng., IV. Wks. (1847), 528/2. Under a thorn … lieth poor Kenelm *kingborn.
1832. Tennyson, Œnone, 125. A shepherd all thy life but yet kingborn.
18[?]. Chr. Rossetti, Royal Princess. I, a Princess, *king-descended.
1614–5. Sylvester, Panaretus, 543. That *King-favour’d Place.
1461. Clement Paston, in P. Lett., II. 53. Come to the *Kinge wards or ye meet with him.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., cxlix. Whan the tydyng came to the pope … tho was he to the kyngward ful wrothe.
13. Special combs.: † king-ale, a feasting or ale-drinking on some royal anniversary; king-ball, a ball at which others are aimed in bagatelle; † king-bee, the queen-bee: see 8 a above; king-card (see quot.); king-closer (see quot. and CLOSER2 3); king-cobra = HAMADRYAD 2; king-conch, -conk, a collector’s name for a variety of conch (see quots.); king-fluke, Sc. the turbot; † king-game, ? = king-play; † king-geld, scutage; king-herald (see HERALD 1 e); king-hood = king’s-hood; † king-key, the main keystone or point of support; † king-land, a kingdom; king-mullet, the goat-fish (Upeneus maculatus) of the West Indies: † king-play, a performance of the old drama of the Three Kings; king-pot, the largest crucible in a brass-smelting furnace; king-rod, an iron rod used in place of a king-post (= KING-BOLT a); king-roller, the middle roller in a sugar-press; king-row, the row of pieces next to the end of the draught-board; † king-sacrificer, the Roman king of the sacrifices (see 5 above); king-salmon, the Californian Salmon (Oncorhynchus quinnat); king-snake, a large North American snake (esp. Ophibolus getulus) that attacks other snakes; king-truss, a roofing-truss that has a king-post; † king-wand, a scepter; † king-wasp, a queen wasp; king-wood, a Brazilian wood, prob. from a species of Dalbergia. See also KING-BOLT, KING-CRAB, KING-CRAFT, etc.
1470–3. in Rec. Andover, 18. Recd of William plomer and Alice ffewar for a *Kyngale xxiijs.
1600. Wottone (Hants.) Acc., Receipts for the Kingale as followeth, for the Sunday after Midsomer Day, Junij xxix0. [Also for July 6.]
1679. M. Rusden, Further Discov. Bees, 2. The Royal Race of *King-Bees, being natural Kings.
1876. A. Campbell-Walker, Correct Card (1880), Gloss., *King-card, the best card left in each suit. Thus if the ace and King were out, the King-card would be the queen.
1888. Mitchell, Building Construction, I. ii. (1889), 18. *King Closers are bricks cut so that one end is half the width of a brick.
1894. E. H. A[itken], Naturalist on Prowl, 39. A Hamadryad, or *King Cobra,… the most terrible of the whole serpent tribe.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour (1861), II. 22 (E. D. D.). The shells of this man’s stock-in-trade he called ‘conks’ and *‘king-conks.’
1885. Lady Brassey, The Trades, 303–4. This particular shell [the queen-conch] has gone quite out of favour, and nothing but the king-conch—which, though smaller, is far richer in its colouring of dark chocolate and reddish brown—is looked upon with favour as an article of commerce.
1895. ‘J. Bickerdyke,’ Sea Fishing (Badm. Libr.), 367. They [turbot] are called on the east coast of Scotland *king-fleuk [etc.].
1504. Churchw. Acc., in Lysons, Environs Lond. (1810), I. 165. At the geveng out of the *Kynggam by … [the] cherchewardens amounted clerely 4l. 2s. 6d. of that same game.
1706. Phillips, *Kingeld, Escuage, or Royal Aid.
1654. Vilvain, Theol. Treat., vii. 194. This is the *King-key of al the Fabric.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1262. His .ix. [son] was tema, for-ðan Is ðor a *ku[n]glond teman.
1519. Churchw. Acc. St. Giles, Reading, 4. Recd in gatheryng wt the *kyngplay at Witsontide.
1791. Lysons, Environs Lond. (1810), 165, note. It appears by the churchwardens’ accounts in the parish of St. Lawrence at Reading, that the ancient drama of the three Kings of Cologne was … performed at that place;… and that it was called the King-game, or King-play.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 262. Nine great pots of fire-clay, the largest, or *king-pot, being in the centre.
1847. Longf., Ev., I. iii. 80. Laughed when a man was crowned, or a breach was made in the *king-row.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 340. What time as L. Posthumius Albinus was *king sacrificer at Rome.
1893. J. H. Keatley, in Arena, March, 490. Great numbers of *king salmon ascend the streams to spawn.
1883. Coues, in Cassell’s Nat. Hist., IV. 319. Both Rattlesnakes and Mocassins will endeavour to get away from the *‘King Snake.’
a. 1300. Cursor M., 22266. His corun and his *king wand.
1724. Derham, in Phil. Trans., XXXIII. 54. The Queen, or Female-Wasp (by many called the *King-Wasp).
1851. Dict. Archit., *King Wood … is beautifully streaked in violet tints … and is principally used for turning and for small cabinet work.
1885. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., II. 26. Violet-wood and king-wood, which come to this country … from the Brazilian forests.
b. in names of birds, as king-auk [trans. Norw. alkekonge], the little auk or rotche; king-crow, the leader of a flock of crows; also the name of several species of drongo, esp. Dicrurus ater; king-duck, king-eider, Somateria spectabilis, allied to the eider-duck; king-hunter, several species of African and Australian birds related to the kingfisher, but which do not feed on fish; king-lory = king-parrakeet (Newton, Dict. Birds, 1893); king-ortolan (see quot.); king-parrakeet, king-parrot, the name of several species of small parrots of the genus Aprosmictus, kept as cage-birds; king-penguin, Aptenodytes longirostris; king-rail (see quot.); king-tyrant = KING-BIRD 3; king-vulture, Gypagus (Cathartes) papa, of tropical America, having a gaudy-colored head.
1885. Stand. Nat. Hist., IV. 69. The little sea-dove … or *king-auk, as it is styled by the Norsemen.
1866. Intell. Observ., No. 50. 106. The *King crows, or drongo shrikes.
1883. ‘Eha’ (E. H. Aitken), Tribes on my Frontier, 143 (Y.). The King-crow … leaves the whole bird and beast tribe far behind in originality and force of character.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xxi. 270. A noble specimen of the *king duck.
1876. Davis, Polaris Exp., xvi. 378. The Esquimaux shot three king-ducks.
1893. Dixon, Game Birds, 447. The *King Eider … is occasionally found in fresh water.
1837. Swainson, Nat. Hist. Birds, II. 154. These are the habits of the European kingfisher … and travellers affirm that the *kinghunters … pursue the same method.
1885. Stand. Nat. Hist., IV. 401. The giant kinghunter of Australia.
1893. Selous, Trav. S. E. Africa, 64. I saw a pair of the great African kingfishers, and a handsome kinghunter.
1888. G. Trumbull, Bird Names, 122. Gallinula galeata … At Washington *King-Ortolan … The name King-ortolan is given by Coues and Prentiss … as an alias of Rallus elegans.
1883. Cassell’s Nat. Hist., III. 315. Several … well known as cage-birds, such as the *King Parrakeet.
1879. Gould, Birds N. Guinea, V. pl. 9. Yellow-winged *King Parrot.
1890. ‘Lyth,’ Golden South, 127. The brilliant scarlet and green king parrot.
1885. Stand. Nat. Hist., IV. 59. The *king penguin of the Falkland Islands … and some other rocks and islands of the Antarctic Ocean.
1888. G. Trumbull, Bird Names, 125. The present species [Rallus elegans] … being the *King Rail of ‘the books.’
1837. Swainson, Nat. Hist. Birds, II. 7. Bees appear to be a favourite food with … the *king tyrant of North America (Tyrannus intrepidus).
1883. Cassell’s Nat. Hist., III. 263. The tree on which the *King Vulture roosts.
1885. Stand. Nat. Hist., IV. 268. The bird of this group whose appearance is most striking is the king-vulture.
c. in names of plants, as † king-apple, an old variety of apple, of red color and large size; king-cob = KING-CUP; king-cure, name for American species of Pyrola and Chimaphila; king-devil, Hieracium præaltum, a troublesome weed, common in some parts of America, but originally introduced from Europe; king-fern, the royal fern (Osmunda regalis); king-nut, the name of a species of hickory; † king-pear, an old variety of pear; king-pine, † (a) the pine-apple; (b) a large and stately Himalayan fir, Picea Webbiana; king-plant, a Javan Orchid, Anæctochilus setaceus, having purple-brown leaves marked with yellow lines (Miller, Plant-n.); king-tree (see quot.).
1707. Mortimer, Husb., I. (1708), 519. The *King Apple, tho’ not common, yet is by some esteemed an excellent Apple.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. cccli. 805. Crowfoote is called … in English *King kob.
1874. Dunglison, Med. Dict., *King cure, Pyrola maculata.
1898. Britton & Brown, Flora North. U. S., III. Index, King-cure. A name of Chimaphila umbellata. Ibid., 284. *King-devil … in north-central New York … a troublesome weed. Naturalized from Europe. Ibid., I. 486. Hicoria laciniosa. Big Shag-bark, *King-nut.
1585. Higins, trans. Junius’ Nomenclator, 99 b. Pirum regium … A *king peare with a very little stalke.
1668. Evelyn, Diary, 19 Aug. That rare fruit call’d the *King-pine, growing in Barbados.
1863. Bates, Nat. Amazons, ii. (1864), 38. The Moira-tinga (the White or *King tree) probably the same as, or allied to, the Moira Excelsa which Sir Robert Schomburgk discovered in British Guiana.
14. Combinations with king’s. a. Used in numerous titles or appellations, in the sense Of, belonging to, in the service of the king, as head of the State (in which use it interchanges, during the reign of a female sovereign, with queen’s), royal; as king’s coin, commission, court(s, customs, soldiers, taxes, tower, etc.; also King’s ADVOCATE, BEADSMAN, COUNSEL, ENGLISH, EVIDENCE, HIGHWAY, KEYS, PEACE, PRINTER, REMEMBRANCER, SCHOLAR, SCHOOL, SHIP, THANE, WIDOW, WRIT, for which see these words. b. † king’s ale, the strongest ale brewed; king’s (bad) bargain (see quots.); † king’s bird: see KINGBIRD 1; † king’s books, the taxation lists; king’s chair = king’s cushion; king’s cup, lemonade; king’s cushion, a seat made by the crossed hands of two persons; † king’s day, the King’s birthday, coronation-day, and similar anniversaries; † king’s fish (see quots.); † king’s freeman, Sc., one who, in return for services rendered to the king, had the right to trade as a freeman without being member of a gild; † king’s friends, Hist., a political party that supported George III. in his attempts to increase the power of the crown; king’s-hood, Sc. [cf. Da. kongehætte], the second stomach of ruminants; † king’s language = King’s ENGLISH; king’s letter men, a former class of officers of similar rank with midshipmen (Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 1867); † king’s piece: see KING-PIECE; † king’s silver, (a) silver blessed by the king, and intended for cramp-rings; (b) money paid in the Court of Common Pleas for licence to levy a fine; † king’s stroke, the touch of the royal hand for king’s evil; † king’s wand, a scepter; king’s yellow, orpiment or yellow arsenic used as a pigment. See also KING’S BENCH, KING’S EVIL, KING’S MAN.
1574. Burgh Rec. Glasgow (1876), I. 25. That thair be na derare aill sauld nor sax penneis the pynt, and that the samyn be *kingis aill and werraye guid.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. T., s.v., One of the *king’s bad bargains: a malingeror, or soldier who shirks his duty.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., King’s bargain, Good or Bad; said of a seaman according to his activity and merit, or sloth and demerit.
c. 1600. Day, Begg. Bednall Gr., II. ii. (1881), 39. You are more in the *Kings Books than he, and pay more Scot and lot a fair deal, so ye do.
1892. Cooley’s Pract. Receipts, 948. Lemonade. Syn. Lemon-sherbet, *King’s cup.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., vii. He was now mounted on the hands of two of the rioters, clasped together, so as to form what is called in Scotland, ‘The *King’s Cushion.’
1622. Direct. Conc. Preachers, in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1659), I. 64. Upon the *Kings days, and set Festivals.
1705. trans. Bosman’s Guinea, 278. Vast Shoals are taken of the Saffer, or *Kings-fish.
1712. W. Rogers, Voy., 77. La Plata … and Uraguay abound so with Fish,… one of the choicest, call’d the Kings-Fish, is small without Bones, and taken only in Winter.
1770. Burke, Pres. Discont., Wks. 1815, II. 258. The name by which they chuse to distinguish themselves, is that of king’s men or the *king’s friends.
1844. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., viii. (1862), 103. ‘King’s friends’—men for the most part attached to his service, by holding military or household places.
1685. Lintoun Green (1817), 92 (E. D. D.). Pow’s-sowdy, *king’s-hoods, mony-plies, Sheep’s trotters.
1782. A. Monro, Compar. Anat. (ed. 3), 39. The second stomach, which is the anterior and smallest, is called … the bonnet, or king’s-hood.
c. 1620. A. Hume, Brit. Tongue, Ded. 2. Your courteoures, quha … sum tymes spilt (as they cal it) the *king’s language.
1463. Bury Wills (Camden), 35. A rowund ryng of the *kyngis silvir.
1617. Minsheu, Dict. Ling., Kings siluer, is properly that money, which is due to the King in the Court of common plees, in respect of a licence there granted to any man for passing a fine.
1888. W. Rye, Records and Rec.-search, 39, note. The King’s Silver (or the Post Fine) was the fine paid to the King for liberty to compromise the imaginary suit.
1613. Zouch, Dove, 30. O! may some Royall Heau’n grac’d hand asswage This swelling Euils *Kings-stroke-asking rage!
a. 1300. Cursor M., 7864. Þai sett a ceptre in his hand Þat man clepes *kyngs wand.
c. 1790. Imison, Sch. Arts, II. 72. *King’s Yellow is the most useful and most brilliant.
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 414. King’s Yellow is a pure orpiment, or arsenic, coloured with sulphur.
c. in names of plants, as king’s bloom, the peony; king’s crown, (a) Melilot or King’s Clover: (b) Viburnum Opulus; king’s ellwand, the foxglove (Britt. & Holl.); king’s feather, London Pride (Miller, Dict. Plant-n., 1884); king’s flower, a S. African liliaceous plant, Eucomis regia; king’s knob = KING-CUP (Britt & Holl.); king’s spear, kingspear, Asphodelus luteus and A. ramosus; king’s taper, the Great Mullein. Also King’s CLOVER, CONSOUND, etc. q.v.
1611. Cotgr., Peone, Peonie, *Kings-bloome, Rose of the Mount.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, App., *King’s crowne is Melilotus.
1879. Britten & Holland, Plant-n., King’s Crown,… Viburnum Opulus.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, I. lxiv. § 1. 88. The leaues of the *Kings speare are long, narrow, and chamfered or furrowed.
1625. B. Jonson, Pan’s Anniv. Bright crown imperial, kingspear, hollyhocks.
1892. Agnes M. Clerke, Fam. Stud. Homer, viii. 213. The tall white flowers of the king’s spear.
1861. Mrs. Lankester, Wild Fl., 102. Great Mullein … The common name, ‘Torch-blade,’ or *‘King’s taper,’ may have arisen from its candle-like appearance.
15. Phraseological combinations, as King Charles’s Spaniel (see SPANIEL); † King Harry cut (see quot. 1611); King Henry’s shoestrings, a dish in cookery; King William’s cravat, a cravat of the kind worn by King William III. (1689–1702).
1611. Cotgr., Balafre, a slash ouer the face; a king Harry cut.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, II. i. 7. A King-William’s-Cravat, or some such antique chin-cushion as by the pictures of that prince one sees was then the fashion.
1887. Spon’s Househ. Man., 413. King Henry’s Shoestrings. Make a batter with 1/4 lb. flour [etc.].
