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Argot and slang

Chapter 15: K
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About This Book

A bilingual dictionary compiling cant, slang, and colorful colloquialisms from modern French speech, presented alphabetically with English equivalents and illustrative quotations; it includes a preface on the compiler’s method and sources, notes on variant spellings and editorial choices, and selective etymological comments. Entries record usages from literature, journalism, and oral informants, with occasional archaic or eccentric terms retained for completeness. The work aims to help English readers interpret vernacular language found in contemporary fiction and social reportage, and it cites authorities and examples to clarify meanings while limiting extensive historical derivations.

K

Kébir, m. (military), commander of a corps. From the Arab. Also colonel.

Kif-kif (popular), all the same.

Expression qui vient des Arabes, importée assurément dans l’atelier par quelque Zéphir ou quelque Zouave typographe. Dans le patois algérien, kif-kif signifie, semblable à.—Boutmy.

C’est —— bourico or bourriquo, it is all the same; it comes to the same thing.

Que tu dises comme moi ou qu’ tu dises pas comme moi ça fait jus’ kif-kif bourrique.—G. Courteline.

Kil, m. (roughs’), litre of wine. Je me suis traversé d’un ——, I have drunk a litre of wine.

Kilo, m. (popular), litre of wine; false chignon. Déposer un ——, to ease oneself.

Klebjer (popular), to eat.

Kolback, m. (popular), small glass of brandy; a large glass of wine.

Koxnoff, adj. (popular), excellent.

Krak, m. (familiar), general collapse of financial firms in Austria some years ago.

Kroumir, m. (popular), rough fellow; dirty or “chatty” fellow.