kex

American  

[keks] / kɛks /

noun

British Dialect.

1. the dry, usually hollow stem or stalk of various plants, especially of large plants belonging to the parsley family, as cow parsnip or wild chervil.

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kex British  

/ kɛks /

noun

1. any of several large hollow-stemmed umbelliferous plants, such as cow parsnip and chervil

2. the dried stalks of any of these plants

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Etymology

Origin of kex

1350–1400; Middle English; of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

The fox raced on, up the Barton Balks, With a crackle of kex in the nettle stalks, Over Hammond's grass to the dark green line Of the larch-wood smelling of turpentine.

From Reynard the Fox by Masefield, John

I’m hollow as a kex in a ditch-bottom: And just as dry as Molly Miller’s milkpail She bought, on the chance of borrowing a cow.

From Krindlesyke by Gibson, Wilfrid Wilson

None; nor ever shall With that sear, suckless kex.

From A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume 14 of 15 by Dodsley, Robert