Also kittar-, kitur-. [Origin unascertained.
The statement in Gardener’s Hist. Jamaica (1873), 163, that it was named from being made at Kettering, proves to be unfounded; that in quot. 1880 is prob. not more reliable.]
A kind of covered vehicle. † a. In West of Eng., A kind of omnibus (obs.). b. In West Indies, A kind of one-horse chaise or buggy.
1792. Descr. Kentucky, 42. In 1787 were exported Chaises 40, Kittareens 10, Sulkeys 7.
1831. Jane Porter, Sir E. Seaward’s Narr., II. 336. I desired Drake to … hire a kittereen—a sort of one-horse chaise.
1865. R. Hunt, Pop. Romances W. Eng., Introd. 14. Within my own memory [born 1807] the ordinary means of travelling from Penzance to Plymouth was a van called a ‘kitterine,’ and three days were occupied in the journey.
1880. J. W., in W. Cornw. Gloss., s.v., The Kit-Tereen was an open car that ran between Penzance and Truro, set up by Christopher Treen. [Jago adds Kit Treen.]
1885. Lady Brassey, The Trades, 224. We … packed ourselves into buggies…. The body being in some cases sheltered by a movable hood, when they are called ‘kittereens.’
