phr. (old Scots’: now general).—‘One good turn deserves another’; ‘scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.’ Also KA and KOB.

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  1547.  HEYWOOD, Poems on Proverbs, E. 1 b. KA MEE, KA THEE, one good tourne asketh another.

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  1605.  JONSON, etc., Eastward Hoe, ii. 1 [DODSLEY, Old Plays, iv. 221]. Thou art pander to me, for my wench: and I to thee, for thy cousenage. K. ME, K. THEE, runs through court and country.

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  1608.  ARMIN, A Nest of Ninnies (1842), 34. But KAY ME, Ile KAY THEE: giue me an inch to day, Ile giue thee an ell to-morrow, and weele to hell together.

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  1611.  L. BARRY, Ram Alley [DODSLEY, Old Plays, v. 494]. You know the law has tricks; KA ME, KA THEE.

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  d. 1625.  LODGE, Satire, i.

        To keepe this rule—KAWE ME, and I KAWE THEE;
To play the saints whereas we divels be.

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  1630.  TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Workes, Ep. 6.

                        KA MEE, KA THEE.
My muse hath vow’d, revenge shall have her swindge
To catch a parret in the woodcocks sprindge, etc.

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  1634.  WITHALS, Dictionary, p. 565. Manus manum fricat; KA ME, KA THEE, one good turne requireth another.

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  1653.  R. BROME, The City Wit, in Wks. (1873), i. 444. KA ME, KA THEE: an old kind of court service.

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  1658.  ROWLEY, The Witch of Edmonton, ii. 1. Il you’ll be so kind as to KA ME one good turn, I’ll be so courteous to KOB you another.

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  1659.  MASSINGER, The City Madam, ii. 1.

                    We cash-keepers
Hold correspondence, supply one another
On all occasions: I can borrow for a week
Two hundred pounds of one, as much of a second,
A third lays down the rest; and when they want,
As my master’s money comes in, I do repay it:
KA ME, KA THEE!

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  1672.  RAY, Proverbs, p. 126, s.v. Lend me an oath or testimony; swear for me, and I’ll do as much for you; or CLAW ME, and I’LL CLAW YOU; commend me, and I’ll commend you.

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  1721.  J. KELLY, Scottish Proverbs, Letter K. 21. KAE ME, and I’ll KAE THEE. Spoken when great people invite and feast one another, and neglect the poor.

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