kid

¹

[ kid ]

noun

1. Informal. a child or young person.
2. (used as a familiar form of address.)
3. a young goat.
4. leather made from the skin of a kid or goat, used in making shoes and gloves.
5. a glove made from this leather.

verb (used with or without object)

, kid·ded, kid·ding.

1. (of a goat) to give birth to (young).

adjective

1. made of kidskin.
2. Informal. younger:

   his kid sister.

kid

²

[ kid ]

verb (used with object)

, kid·ded, kid·ding.

1. to talk or deal jokingly with; banter; jest with:

   She is always kidded about her accent.

   Synonyms: rib, josh, tease

2. to humbug or fool.

verb (used without object)

, kid·ded, kid·ding.

1. to speak or act deceptively in jest; jest.

Kid

³

[ kid ]

noun

1. Thomas. Kyd, Thomas.

kid

¹

/ kɪd /

noun

1. a small wooden tub

Kid

²

/ kɪd /

noun

1. KidThomas a variant spelling of (Thomas) Kyd

kid

³

/ kɪd /

verb

1. tr to tease or deceive for fun
2. intr to behave or speak deceptively for fun
3. tr to delude or fool (oneself) into believing (something)

   don't kid yourself that no-one else knows

kid

⁴

/ kɪd /

noun

1. the young of a goat or of a related animal, such as an antelope
2. soft smooth leather made from the hide of a kid
3. informal.
   1. a young person; child
   2. modifier younger or being still a child

      kid sister

      kid brother

4. our kid dialect.
   my younger brother or sister

verb

1. (of a goat) to give birth to (young)

Derived Forms

• ˈkiddingly, adverb
• ˈkidˌlike, adjective
• ˈkiddishness, noun

Other Words From

• kiddish adjective
• kiddish·ness noun
• kidlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kid¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English kide, from Old Norse kith

Origin of kid²

First recorded in 1805–15; perhaps special use of kid ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of kid¹

C18: probably variant of kit ¹(in the sense: barrel)

Origin of kid²

C19: probably from kid ¹

Origin of kid³

C12: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse kith, Shetland Islands kidi lamb

Idioms and Phrases

• handle with (kid) gloves
• kidding

Example Sentences

Sara DeWitt, senior vice president and general manager of PBS Kids, says that the public broadcaster endeavors for its shows to be both mirrors and windows.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of Chaplin’s best-known films were shot there, including “The Kid,” “The Gold Rush” and “The Great Dictator.”

From Los Angeles Times

The most important thing Layla wanted to draw attention to though, was the operation of Jamie’s agency for child actors, Luna Kids Casting.

From BBC

The children’s programming channel is bringing back its “Kids Pick the President” special, which premiered Monday and is streaming on Nick.com, YouTube, Pluto TV and Paramount+.

From Los Angeles Times

The former president’s supporters parked their souped-up pickup trucks covered in tacky decals and flags outside Carnegie Hall, blasting Kid Rock music and holding styrofoam busts poorly made up to look like Griffin.

From Salon

Related Words

• baby
• boy
• child
• daughter
• girl
• infant
• son
• teenager
• youngster
• youth