Etymology From Middle English kyken (“to strike out with the foot”), from Old Norse kikna (“to sink at the knees”) and keikja (“to bend backwards”) (compare Old Norse keikr (“bent backwards, the belly jutting forward”)), from Proto-Germanic *kaikaz (“bent backwards”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *kī-, *kij- (“to split, dodge, swerve sidewards”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵeyH- (“to sprout, shoot”). Compare also Dutch kijken (“to look”), Middle Low German kīken (“to look, watch”). See keek.
To strike or hit with the foot or other extremity of the leg.
Did you kick your brother?
1895, George MacDonald, Lilith, Chapter XII: Friends and Foes, I was cuffed by the women and kicked by the men because I would not swallow it.
3 more examples
A punt is made by letting the ball drop from the hands and kicking it just before it touches the ground.1905, Fielding H. Yost, chapter 6, in Football for Player and Spectator:
Will Henderson, who had on a light overcoat and no overshoes, kicked the heel of his left foot with the toe of the right.1919, Sherwood Anderson, “The Teacher: concerning Kate Swift”, in Winesburg, Ohio:
Or to put it in the more colourful language of our Prime Minister: "The secret to improving rail transport, in my view, is you need to find the right arse to kick." Unfortunately, since the abolition of the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) in 2005, the DfT has ostensibly been in direct control of railway policy setting, and this has meant that the only arse the government has been able to kick is its own.2020 September 9, Jason Chamberlain, “The growing likelihood of a 'different type of railway'”, in Rail, page 45:
2
To make a sharp jerking movement of the leg, as to strike something.
He enjoyed the simple pleasure of watching the kickline kick.
Sometimes we had rather rough play, for they would frequently bite and kick as well as gallop.[1877], Anna Sewell, “My Early Home”, in Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […], →OCLC, part I, page 10:
1 more example
1904, Stratemeyer Syndicate, The Bobbsey Twins, Chapter II: Rope Jumping, and What Followed, "If you did that, I'd kick," answered Freddie, and began to kick real hard into the air.
3
To direct to a particular place by a blow with the foot or leg.
Kick the ball into the goal.
Sometimes he can kick the ball forward along the ground until it is kicked in goal, where he can fall on it for a touchdown.1905, Fielding H. Yost, chapter 7, in Football for Player and Spectator:
4
With "off" or "out" To eject summarily.
"He's been mad at me ever since I fired him off'n my payroll. After I kicked him off'n my ranch he run for sheriff, and the night of the election everybody was so drunk they voted for him by mistake, or for a joke, or somethin', and since he's been in office he's been lettin' the sheepmen steal me right out of house and home."1936 October, Robert E. Howard, “The Conquerin' Hero of the Humbolts”, in Action Stories:
They are the ones who give hobbyists a bad name, and should be kicked out of any club meeting they show up at.1976 February 3, Bill Gates, An Open Letter to Hobbyists:
1 more example
Dial 1-900-Mix-a-Lot and kick them nasty thoughts.1992, “Baby Got Back”, in Sir Mix-a-Lot (lyrics), Rick Rubin and Sir Mix-a-Lot (music), Mack Daddy, Def American Recordings:
5
Internet To forcibly remove a participant from an online activity.
She was kicked from the IRC server for flooding.
6
Slang To overcome (a bothersome or difficult issue or obstacle); to free oneself of (a problem).
I still smoke, but they keep telling me to kick the habit.
7
To move or push suddenly and violently.
He was kicked sideways by the force of the blast.
The back of the car kicked out violently, forcing me to steer into the slide and accelerate in order to maintain control.2011, Tom Andry, Bob Moore: No Hero:
8
Of a firearm To recoil; to push by recoiling.
Lying on the ground, when fired, it kicked me back a foot. There was no way a person my size was going to be able to do an effective job with this gun.2003, Jennifer C. D. Groomes, The Falcon Project, page 174:
I asked my sister Jeanette if she wanted to shoot the 12 ga. shotgun. She replied, "does it kick"?2006, Daniel D. Scherschel, Maple Grove, page 81:
Cycling, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports To accelerate quickly with a few pedal strokes in an effort to break away from other riders.
Contador kicks again to try to rid himself of Rasmussen.
11
To show opposition or resistance.
"My expenses always are reasonable—I mean there is always a reason for them. But I notice that you don't kick at the other item. That doesn't look as if you were exactly optimistic of striking a gold mine, Joolby."1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:
12
Of an engine, to engage; to start.
The grey Bentley convertible, the 1933 4½-litre with the Amherst-Villiers supercharger, had been brought round a few minutes earlier from the garage where he kept it and the engine had kicked directly he pressed the self-starter.1954, Ian Fleming, “Interview with M”, in Live and Let Die, London: Pan Books, published 1957, page 11:
In the meantime, it is possible for the embedded software to “kick” the watchdog timer, to reset its counter to the original large number.1999, Michael Barr, Programming Embedded Systems in C and C++, page 98:
From now on the process has to periodically kick the watchdog timer in intervals shorter than the initialization interval.2012, Tarek Sobh, Khaled Elleithy, Emerging Trends in Computing, Informatics, Systems Sciences, and Engineering, page 763:
15
Informal To reproach oneself for making a mistake or missing an opportunity.
He's still kicking himself for not investing three years ago.
kick
noun
Etymology From Middle English kyken (“to strike out with the foot”), from Old Norse kikna (“to sink at the knees”) and keikja (“to bend backwards”) (compare Old Norse keikr (“bent backwards, the belly jutting forward”)), from Proto-Germanic *kaikaz (“bent backwards”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *kī-, *kij- (“to split, dodge, swerve sidewards”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵeyH- (“to sprout, shoot”). Compare also Dutch kijken (“to look”), Middle Low German kīken (“to look, watch”). See keek.
A kick of his boot-heel sent the door flying into the room.1890, Jacob A[ugust] Riis, “A Raid on the Stale-beer Dives”, in How the Other Half Lives: Studies among the Tenements of New York, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, page 72:
1 more example
Elsad Zverotic gave Montenegro hope with a goal with the last kick of the first half - and when Rooney was deservedly shown red by referee Wolfgang Stark, England were placed under pressure they could not survive.2011, Phil McNulty, Euro 2012: Montenegro 2-2 England:
2
The action of swinging a foot or leg.
The ballerina did a high kick and a leap.
3
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports, Swimming A kicking motion used in a swim stroke.
These boys all use a kick similar to the kick presented here however, in some cases it is less modified than in others.1935, Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, volume 6, number April 1935, page 26:
4
Colloquial Something that tickles the fancy; something fun or amusing; a pleasure; a thrill.
I finally saw the show. What a kick!
I think I sprained something on my latest exercise kick.
4 more examples
get a kick out of
get one's kicks
Won't you get hip to this kindly tip / When you ride that California trip / Get your kicks on Route 661946, Bobby Troup, “Route 66”, performed by Nat King Cole:
I get no kick from champagne. Mere alcohol doesn't thrill me at all. So tell me why should it be true that I get a kick out of you. Some hey may go for cocaine. I'm sure that if I took even one sniff it would bore me terrifically, too. Yet, I get a kick out of you.[…]I get no kick in a plane. Flying too high with some gal in the sky is my idea of nothing to do. Yet I get a kick. You give me a boot. I get a kick out of you.1954 January 4, “I Get a Kick Out of You”, in Songs for Young Lovers, performed by Frank Sinatra:
5
Internet The removal of a person from an online activity.
Figuratively Any bucking motion of an object that lacks legs or feet.
The car had a nasty kick the whole way.
The pool ball took a wild kick, up off the table.
8
A pungent or spicy flavour; piquancy.
Add a little cascabel pepper to ordinary tomato sauce to give it a kick.2002, Ellen and Michael Albertson, Temptations, Fireside, page 124 http://books.google.com/books?id=cITFVpz2ri8C&pg=PA124&dq=kick
For extra kick, hollow out a lime, float it on top of the drink, and fill it with tequila.2003, Sheree Bykofsky, Megan Buckley, Sexy City Cocktails, Adams Media, →ISBN, page 129:
2 more examples
The first time I saw "Deep Water," the trace of mystery in the Crowhurst affair gave the movie a kick of excitement.2007 August 27, Anthony Lane, “Lone Sailors”, in The New Yorker, volume 83, numbers 22-28:
Then again this is Mayfair. A big, rustling bowl of deep-fried squid with a salty chilli kick cost £7.50; a generous pile of jamon croquetas, the shells giving way to something creamy and intensely hammy within, was 50p less.2011 December 18, Jay Rayner, “Restaurant review: Aurelia”, in The Observer, →ISSN:
9
A stimulation provided by an intoxicating substance.
Some nights I’d try my luck in the crap game and wind up with a grand or more in my kick.1946, Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, Bernard Wolfe, “Quit Foolin’ with That Comb”, in Really the Blues, New York, N.Y.: Random House, book 1 (1899–1923: A Nothin’ but a Child), page 44:
Her mind couldn’t lose sight of […]the bloodied nickel plated pistol Angie had in his kick.1952, George Mandel, Flee the Angry Strangers, Bobs-Merrill, page 383:
3 more examples
Swell shows all of ‘em, except this last one. […] Set me back two-seventy-five, including tax, and I wish I’d got it in my kick right now.2008, P.G.Wodehouse, The Adventures of Sally (Volume 2 of 2)^(https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Adventures_of_Sally_Volume_2_of_2_Ea/xgDo0M2Q3FQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22it+in+(his%7Cher%7Cmy%7Cyour)+kick%22&pg=PA277&printsec=frontcover), ReadHowYouWant.com, page 277:
If you keep Nan’s advice you’ll keep it in your kick.2008, Loren D. Estleman, Port Hazard:A Page Murdock Novel^(https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Port_Hazard/_xrwWAAVU40C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22it+in+(his%7Cher%7Cmy%7Cyour)+kick%22&pg=PT88&printsec=frontcover), Tom Doherty Associates:
You take that and put it in your kick. I’ve had plenty of cash out of you already.2012, Max Brand (Frederick Schiller Faust), Silvertip’s Trap, Adams Media:
14
An increase in speed in the final part of a running race.
Two and a kick—two shillings and a kick.1912, French's Acting Edition of Plays, Dramas, Extravaganzas, Farces etc., page 12:
That's the stuff that will do the trick / Sold at every chemist for one and a kick1941, Eddie Latta, George Formby, “Auntie Maggie's Remedy”, performed by George Formby:
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks / You better run, better run, outrun my gun2010, Mark Foster, “Pumped Up Kicks”, performed by Foster the People:
Who knows what will happen to his billions when the eighty-five-year-old kicks, but before he leaves the planet, Moon reportedly is hell-bent on creating a holy land in North Korea, dedicated to him.2005, Melissa L. Rossi, What every American should know about who's really running the world, page 211: