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 1760. Foote, The Minor (ed. x, 1789), 31. Come, shall we have a dip in the history of the four kings this morning?

King's Cushion, subs. phr. (common).—A seat formed by two persons holding each other's hands crossed. Also Queen's cushion (or chair), Cats-carriage (or cradle) etc.

1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, i. 168. He was now mounted on the hands of two of the rioters clasped together so as to form what, in Scotland is called the King's cushion.

King's (or Queen's) Head Inn, subs. phr. (old).—Newgate. For synonyms see Cage.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. s.v. King's Head Inn, or the Chequer Inn in Newgate street, the prison, or Newgate.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue., s.v.

1836. W. H. Smith, The Individual. 'The Thieves' Chaunt'. Because she lately nimmed some tin, They have sent her to lodge at the King's Head Inn.

King's Keys, subs. phr. (old legal).—The crow-bars and hammers used by sheriffs' officers to force doors and locks. [Roquefort: faire la clef du Roy, ouvrir les clefs et les coffres avec des instruments de serrurier].

1816. Scott, Black Dwarf, 173, 4. 'And what will ye do, if I carena to thraw the keys?''Force our way wi' the Kings keys, and break the neck of every soul we find in the house.

Kingsman, subs. (Coster).—A handkerchief with yellow patterns upon a green ground; the favourite coloured neckerchief of the costermongers. Sometimes worn by women thrown over their shoulders: cf. Billy.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. etc., i. 53. The man who does not wear his silk neckerchief—his 'King's-man' as it is called—is known to be in desperate circumstances; the inference being that it has gone to supply the morning's stock-money. A yellow flower on a green ground, or a red and blue pattern, is at present greatly in vogue.

2. (Cambridge university).—A member of King's College.

1852. Bristed, Five Years, 127. He came out the winner, with the kingsman, and one of our three.

3. in pl. (military).—The Seventy-eighth Foot. [Their motto is Cuidich'r Rhi = Help the King].

King's (or Queen's) Pictures, subs. phr. (common).—Money. For synonyms see Actual and Gilt.—B.E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725); Grose (1785). To draw the King's (or Queen's) picture = to counterfeit money.

1632. Brome, The Court Beggar, in Wks. (1873), Vol. I, (v. 2) p. 258. This picture drawer drew it, and has drawn more of the King's Pictures than all the limners in the town.

King's Plate, subs. phr. (old).—Fetters.—Lex. Bal. (1811). For synonyms see Darbies.

Kingswood Lion, subs. phr. (old).—An ass; a Jerusalem-pony (q.v.). For synonyms see Moke.

Kink, subs. (colloquial).—A crotchet; a whim.

1846. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. xx. Look at your shoulders above your ears, and your back with a bow like the kinking of a cable.

1850. H. B. Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin, ch. xii. 'Buy me too, Mas'r, for de dear Lord's sake!—buy me—I shall die if you don't!' 'You'll die if I do, that's the kink of it, said Haley,—'no!' And he turned on his heel.