K-Word Definitions
| Kabuki. | formal, stylized Japanese drama; |
| Kabyle. | North African Berber/ language |
| kachina. | doll representing rain-bringing Hopi ancestors |
| Kaddish. | Jewish prayer recited daily and by mourners |
| Kaffir. | black South African; Bantu Xhosa; sorghum |
| kaffiyeh. | Arab headband |
| Kafir. | Iranians |
| Kafkaesque. | surreal distortion, sense of impending danger |
| kain. | tax or rent payments in kind |
| kainite. | fertilizer |
| kaka. | brownish-green New Zealand parrot |
| kakapo. | ground-dwelling New Zealand parrot |
| kalaazar. | fatal parasitic Asiatic disease |
| kaon | unstable meson |
| kama. | Hindu god of love |
| kamala. | Asian tree with vermifugal powder |
| Kamasutra | Sanscrit treatise setting forth rules for Hindu love and marriage |
| kana | hiragana, katakana |
| kapellmeister | choir or orchestra leader |
| karabiner | piton ring |
| karyogamy | the coming together and fusing of gamete nuclei |
| karyokinesis | mitosis |
| karyolymph | liquid portion of nuclear protoplasm |
| karyoplasm | nucleoplasm |
| karyosome | spherical aggregation of chromatin in a resting nucleus during mitosis |
| karyotype | the chromosomal complement of an individual, species-peculiar |
| kasha | buckwheat groats |
| katharevusa | modern (demotic) Greek |
| kauri | coniferous trees of New Zealand; resins used in enamels |
| kava. | Australasian shrub, intoxicating brew |
| kea. | New Zealand parrot that sometimes eats sheep |
| kedge. | light anchor used to warp a vessel |
| kedgeree. | baked fish, boiled rice, and eggs |
| keeshound. | Netherlands dog, grayish-black coat |
| keelson. | timber above and parallel to the keel |
| kefir. | fermented cow's milk |
| kegler. | bowler |
| keister. | bottom |
| keloid | surgical scars |
| kelpie. | malevolent Scottish water spirit |
| kelpie. | Australian sheep dog |
| kenning. | a metaphorical, usually-compound expression used in a name |
| keno. | game of chance, like lotto |
| kenosis. | Christ's relinquishment of Godhood |
| kent. | past tense of ken |
| kentledge. | pig-iron used as permanent ballast |
| kepi. | French military cap |
| keratectomy. | surgical removal of the cornea |
| kerf. | groove or notch made by a cutting tool |
| kermes. | dried bugs used as red dye |
| kermis. | fund-raising fair or carnival |
| kernite. | source of borax and boron compounds |
| kerogen. | in shale. Yields oil |
| khamsin. | simoom |
| khedive. | Turkish viceroy ruling Egypt |
| kiang. | wild ass |
| klaugh. | trouble, anxiety |
| kidderminster. | an ingrain carpet |
| kiddush. | traditional Jewish blessing recited over bread or a cup of wine |
| kieselguhr. | zeolite |
| kieserite. | MgSO4 mineral |
| kif. | smoking material from hemp used in the Maghreb |
| kikuyu. | Bantu people of Kenya |
| kilderkin. | 18-gallon cask |
| kilim. | Oriental-tapestry woven rug |
| killdeer. | bird |
| killick. | small stone anchor in wooden frame |
| killifish. | cyprinodontidae |
| kinnikinnick. | Amerind smoking material |
| kino. | reddish resin |
| kip. | untanned hide of young animal |
| kip. | rooming house, bed, sleep |
| kip. | 1,000-lb. Weight |
| kirigami. | cutting and folding paper |
| kirach. | cherry brandy |
| kirtle. | knee-length tunic; woman's long dress or skirt |
| kishke. | derma (beef casing filled with matzo, onion & suet) |
| kit | small 3-stringed violin |
| kitsch | pretentious bad taste |
| kiva. | underground Navaho council room |
| klavern. | Ku Klux Klan |
| klipspringer. | small, hoofed African mammal |
| kloof. | deep ravine in South Africa |
| knawel. | low-growing Eurasian weedy plant |
| knesset. | Israeli Parliament |
| knish. | piece of dough stuffed with potato, meat or cheese and then baked or fried |
| knobkerrie. | short South African knobbed-head club |
| knop. | decorative knob |
| knout. | a leather scourge for flogging criminals |
| knur. | gnarl |
| koala. | Australian marsupial |
| koan. | a paradoxical riddle for gaining intuitive knowledge |
| kobold. | mischievous household elf in German folklore |
| koksaghyz. | rubber-bearing Asian dandelion |
| kola. | African trees with nuts used for beverages |
| kola nuts. | caffeine, theobromine |
| kolacky. | pastry: rich, sweet bun with fruit or poppyseed filling |
| kolinsky. | northern Eurasian minks |
| kolkhaz. | Soviet collective farm |
| Kol Nidre. | opening prayer on eve of Yom Kippur |
| kookaburra. | large Australian kingfisher. Call sounds like raucous laugh |
| koto. | Japanese musical instrument: 13 strings over rectangular box |
| kreutzer. | low-value German coins |
| krimmer. | Gray, curly fur from Crimean lambs |
| Kshatriya. | Hindu Professional, governing, and military caste |
| kuchen. | yeast-raised coffee cake |
| kümmel. | caraway-flavored liqueur |
| kundalini. | spiritual energy that lies dormant at base of spine until brain is enlightened |
| kurrajong. | Australian evergreen |
| kuru. | fatal New Guinea viral disease |
| kvass. | made from rye or barley |
| kvetch. | chronic complaint |
| kyphosis. | rearward spinal curvature |
| kyrie. | "Lord, have mercy." |