intj. (American).—Onomatopœic: in imitation of the sound of a body falling fiat or into water.

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  VARIANTS: CACHUNK (q.v.); kerslap; kesouse; keslosh; keswosh; kewosh; keswollop; kerchunk; kerplunk; kerthump; kershaw; kerslash; kerslosh; kerswosh, etc.

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  1843.  W. T. THOMPSON, Major Jones’s Courtship, i. KERSLASH I went, rite over Miss Stallinses spinnin-wheel, onto the floor. Ibid. (1848), Major Jones’s Sketches of Travel, p. 64. KERSLOSH went the water all over my feet.

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  1851.  How Mike Hooter Came Very Near ‘Wolloping’ Arch Coony, in Polly Peablossom’s Wedding and Other Tales, p. 152. The fust thing I know’d I went KERSWASH into the drink!

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  d. 1867.  C. F. BROWNE (‘Artemus Ward’), The Shakers. Shakers were all goin’ KERSLAP to the Promist Land.

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  1887.  F. FRANCIS, Jun., Saddle and Moccasin, xiv. 262. At last he brought the whole tautological string down “KERFLOP” full and fairly upon the devoted crown of his auditor.

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  1888.  Fostorio Democrat, 8 March. The fence broke down, and KERCHUNK! I went right through the ice all over.

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  1888.  EGGLESTON, The Graysons, ix. KERTHUMP head over heels.

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