US Lexicon

Last update:
21-Jan-2004
©1996-2004
Mike Todd

Where it's not obvious: BE = British English, AE=American English and

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Kerosene
	Paraffin
Key Lime
	Most commonly encountered in the Florida speciality key lime pie. Key limes are a particular variety of lime, grown on the Florida Keys, and are quite different to the normal limes that one encounters elsewhere. They are smaller, rounder, much yellower, and have a distinctive taste. As a result, a key lime pie is a creamy (possible very pale green) colour (a proper key lime pie is never noticeably green!), and has a taste very different to ordinary limes.
Kitty Cornered
	Diagonally opposite Actually a corruption of cater-cornered.
Kleenex
	These were originally sold as make-up removers under the name Celluwipes. They were remarketed in the 1930s as disposable handkerchiefs.
Knickers
	Short pants Although not used very often, to an American knickers are loose-fitting short trousers. In the UK they are underpants of one sort or another, usually worn by girls..
Knock up
	To make pregnant The BE meaning is to wake up. So, be careful if you ask someone to "knock you up in the morning", although it is no longer very common use in Britain.
Kodak
	An American legend in its own way, the Kodak company was formed in 1892 by George Eastman. The name itself was simply made up because it was easy to pronounce and spell in any language.