from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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