kit

¹ American  

[kit] / kɪt /

noun

1. a set or collection of tools, supplies, instructional matter, etc., for a specific purpose.

   a first-aid kit; a sales kit.

2. the case for containing these.

3. such a case and its contents.

4. a set of materials or parts from which something can be assembled.

   a model car made from a kit.

5. Informal. a set, lot, or collection of things or persons.

6. a wooden tub, pail, etc., usually circular.

7. Chiefly British. a costume or outfit of clothing, especially for a specific purpose.

   ski kit; dancing kit; battle kit.

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verb (used with object)

kitted, kitting

1. to package or make available in a kit.

   a new model airplane that has just been kitted for the hobbyist.

2. Chiefly British. to outfit or equip (often followed by out orup ).

idioms

1. kit and caboodle / boodle, the whole lot of persons or things; all of something (often preceded bywhole ).

   We took along the whole kit and caboodle in the station wagon.

kit ² American  

[kit] / kɪt /

noun

1. a violin or rebec small enough to be carried in the pocket, used by dancing masters in the 17th and 18th centuries.

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kit ³ American  

[kit] / kɪt /

noun

1. kitten.

2. a young fox, beaver, or other small furbearing animal.

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Kit ⁴ American  

[kit] / kɪt /

noun

1. a male given name, form of Christopher.

2. a female given name, form of Catherine or Katherine.

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kit ¹ British  

/ kɪt /

noun

1. a set of tools, supplies, construction materials, etc, for use together or for a purpose

   a first-aid kit

   a model aircraft kit

2. the case or container for such a set

3. 1. a set of pieces of equipment ready to be assembled

   2. ( as modifier )

      kit furniture

4. 1. clothing and other personal effects, esp those of a traveller or soldier

      safari kit

      battle kit

   2. informal clothing in general (esp in the phrase get one's kit off )

5. a flax basket

6. informal everything or everybody

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kit ² British  

/ kɪt /

noun

1. an informal or diminutive name for kitten

2. a cub of various small mammals, such as the ferret or fox

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KIT ³ British  

abbreviation

1. keep in touch

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kit ⁴ British  

/ kɪt /

noun

1. a kind of small violin, now obsolete, used esp by dancing masters in the 17th–18th centuries

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kit ⁵ British  

/ kɪt /

noun

1. a plaited flax basket

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Etymology

Origin of kit¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English kit(te), kyt(t) “wooden bucket or tub,” from Middle Dutch kitte “jug, tankard”

Origin of kit²

First recorded in 1510–20; origin uncertain

Origin of kit³

First recorded in 1555–65; shortening of kitten ( def. )

Example Sentences

Waiting in my seat: Saks Fifth Avenue bedding, including two pillows, a comforter and a blanket, headphones, bottled water and an amenity kit with designer skin care from Perricone MD.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Each side is effectively building a survival kit for a future where they don’t need the other as much.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Donna, who used to work in the military but now works in education, stores water, tinned food, freeze-dried food, tea, coffee, powdered milk and a first aid kit.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

I immediately fell into this trap, assuming I could simply grab my first aid kit and tent and run to the hills, only for Leigh to tell me this was the biggest mistake people make.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

“Come on, I’ve got a first aid kit in the theater,” she said, doing her best to ignore her roaring hunger.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Related Words

• apparatus
• bag
• container
• gear
• material