Kidneys

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Kidney \Kid"ney\ (k[i^]d"n[y^]), n.; pl. {Kidneys}
     (k[i^]d"n[i^]z). [OE. kidnei, kidnere, from Icel. koi[eth]r
     belly, womb (akin to Goth. gipus, AS. cwi[thorn] womb) + OE.
     nere kidney; akin to D. nier, G. niere, OHG. nioro, Icel.
     n[=y]ra, Dan. nyre, Sw. njure, and probably to Gr. nefro`s
     Cf. {Kite} belly.]


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     1. (Anat.) A glandular organ which excretes urea and other
        waste products from the animal body; a urinary gland.
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     Note: In man and in other mammals there are two kidneys, one
           on each side of vertebral column in the back part of
           the abdomen, each kidney being connected with the
           bladder by a long tube, the ureter, through which the
           urine is constantly excreted into the bladder to be
           periodically discharged.
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     2. Habit; disposition; sort; kind; as, a man of a different
        kidney. --Shak.
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              There are in later times other decrees, made by
              popes of another kidney.              --Barrow.
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              Millions in the world of this man's kidney.
                                                    --L'Estrange.
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              Your poets, spendthrifts, and other fools of that
              kidney, pretend, forsooth, to crack their jokes on
              prudence.                             --Burns.
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     Note: This use of the word perhaps arose from the fact that
           the kidneys and the fat about them are an easy test of
           the condition of an animal as to fatness. "Think of
           that, -- a man of my kidney; -- . . . as subject to
           heat as butter." --Shak.
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     3. A waiter. [Old Cant] --Tatler.
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     {Floating kidney}. See {Wandering kidney}, under {Wandering}.
        
  
     {Kidney bean} (Bot.), a sort of bean; -- so named from its
        shape. It is of the genus {Phaseolus} ({Phaseolus
        vulgaris}). See under {Bean}.
  
     {Kidney ore} (Min.), a variety of hematite or iron
        sesquioxide, occurring in compact kidney-shaped masses.
  
     {Kidney stone}. (Min.) See {Nephrite}, and {Jade}.
  
     {Kidney vetch} (Bot.), a leguminous herb of Europe and Asia
        ({Anthyllis vulneraria}), with cloverlike heads of red or
        yellow flowers, once used as a remedy for renal disorders,
        and also to stop the flow of blood from wounds;
        lady's-fingers. Kidney-form