Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

kit

 - 12 dictionary results

kit

1[kit] noun, verb, kit⋅ted, kit⋅ting.
–noun
1. a set or collection of tools, supplies, instructional matter, etc., for a specific purpose: a first-aid kit; a sales kit.
2. the case for containing these.
3. such a case and its contents.
4. a set of materials or parts from which something can be assembled: a model car made from a kit.
5. Informal. a set, lot, or collection of things or persons.
6. a wooden tub, pail, etc., usually circular.
7. Chiefly British. a costume or outfit of clothing, esp. for a specific purpose: ski kit; dancing kit; battle kit.
–verb (used with object)
8. to package or make available in a kit: a new model airplane that has just been kitted for the hobbyist.
9. Chiefly British. to outfit or equip (often fol. by out or up).
10. kit and caboodle or boodle, Informal. the whole lot of persons or things; all of something (often prec. by whole): We took along the whole kit and caboodle in the station wagon.

Origin:
1325–75; ME kyt, kitt < MD kitte jug, tankard

kit

2[kit]
–noun
a violin or rebec small enough to be carried in the pocket, used by dancing masters in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Also called pochette, sourdine.


Origin:
1510–20; orig. uncert.

kit

3[kit]
–noun
1. kitten.
2. a young fox, beaver, or other small furbearing animal.

Origin:
1555–65; shortened form

Kit

[kit]
–noun
1. a male given name, form of Christopher.
2. a female given name, form of Catherine or Katherine.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To kit
kit 1   (kĭt)   
n.  
    1. A set of articles or implements used for a specific purpose: a survival kit; a shaving kit.

    2. A container for such a set.

    3. A collection of clothing and other personal effects used for travel.

    4. A container, such as a bag, valise, or knapsack, for storing or holding such a collection.

  1. A set of parts or materials to be assembled: a model airplane kit.

  2. A packaged set of related materials: a sales kit.

    1. A collection of clothing and other personal effects used for travel.

    2. A container, such as a bag, valise, or knapsack, for storing or holding such a collection.


[Middle English kitte, wooden tub, probably from Middle Dutch.]
kit 2   (kĭt)   
n.  
  1. A kitten.

  2. A young, often undersized fur-bearing animal.


[Short for kitten.]
kit 3   (kĭt)   
n.  A tiny, narrow violin used by dancing masters in the 17th and 18th centuries.

[Origin unknown.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

kit  (1)
"round wooden tub," 1275, probably from M.Du. kitte "jug, tankard, wooden container," of unknown origin. Meaning "collection of personal effects," especially for traveling (originally in ref. to a soldier), is from 1785; that of "outfit of tools for a workman" is from 1851. Kit and caboodle is 1861, from boodle "lot, collection," perhaps from Du. boedel "property."

kit  (2)
"small fiddle used by dancing teachers," 1519, probably a shortening of O.E. cythere, from L. cithara, from Gk. kithara (see guitar).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Computing Dictionary

kit jargon
(Usenet, possibly from DEC) Slang for a full software distribution, as opposed to a patch or upgrade. A source software distribution that has been packaged in such a way that it can (theoretically) be unpacked and installed according to a series of steps using only standard Unix tools, and entirely documented by some reasonable chain of references from the top-level README file. The more general term distribution may imply that special tools or more stringent conditions on the host environment are required.
[The Jargon File]
(1994-11-18)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
Cite This Source
Abbreviations & Acronyms
kit
kitchen
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Encyclopedia

kit

small fiddle with a muted tone, carried by dancing masters in their pockets in the 16th-18th century. A last descendant of the medieval rebec, the kit evolved as a narrow, boat-shaped instrument with usually three or four strings. Later, narrow, violin-shaped kits were also built. Dancing masters used it to play the dance melody and rhythm while teaching the steps.

Learn more about kit with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see kit on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: