keck
nounEtymology From earlier dialectal kex, of Celtic origin, probably from the same ultimate source as Latin cicuta (“hemlock”).
1
Dialectal The cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris).
keck
verb/kɛk/
Etymology Imitative. Compare German köken (“to vomit”).
1
To heave or retch as if to vomit.
- The faction (is it not notorious?) / Keck at the memory of Glorious [William III of England]: […]1728, Jonathan Swift, “A Dialogue between Mad Mullinix and Timothy”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume VII, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 404:
- Indeed Erskine never opened his mouth, in Watt's presence, except to eat, or belch, or cough, or keck, or muse, or sigh, or sing, or sneeze.1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC:
- Derived terms
- keckish