vbl. sb. Obs. rare–1.
[Origin and meaning obscure: see Nares, and quot. 1899.]
1598. Bp. Hall, in Marston’s Sco. Villanie, III. x. (1599), 223. I ask’t Phisitions what their counsell was For a mad dogge, or for a mankind Asse? They told me … The dogge was best cured by cutting and kinsing.
[1899. E. Gosse, Life of John Donne, I. 33. Marston … liked to be known by the nickname of Kinsayer, as one who ‘kinsed’ or docked the tails of wandering dogs and stray social abuses.]
