kit

1
[ kit ]
See synonyms for kit on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. such a case and its contents.

  2. a set of materials or parts from which something can be assembled: a model car made from a kit.

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

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

  5. Chiefly British. a costume or outfit of clothing, especially for a specific purpose: ski kit; dancing kit; battle kit.

verb (used with object),kit·ted, kit·ting.
  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 or up).

Idioms about kit

  1. kit and caboodle / boodle, Informal. the whole lot of persons or things; all of something (often preceded by whole): We took along the whole kit and caboodle in the station wagon.

Origin of kit

1
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English kit(te), kyt(t) “wooden bucket or tub,” from Middle Dutch kitte “jug, tankard”

Other definitions for kit (2 of 4)

kit2
[ kit ]

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

Origin of kit

2
First recorded in 1510–20; origin uncertain

Other definitions for kit (3 of 4)

kit3
[ kit ]

noun
  1. a young fox, beaver, or other small furbearing animal.

Origin of kit

3
First recorded in 1555–65; shortening of kitten

Other definitions for Kit (4 of 4)

Kit
[ kit ]

noun
  1. a male given name, form of Christopher.

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use kit in a sentence

  • The quartermaster, not without pardonable pride, took me over the stores in which the men's kits are prepared.

    The Relief of Mafeking | Filson Young
  • They collected the kits of the four who had left Amsterdam on the Lena Knobloch.

    Boy Scouts in the North Sea | G. Harvey Ralphson
  • While he was being carried into the shade the officers obtained permission to relieve the weakest Tommies of their kits.

  • However, about three we found ourselves in a covered cart with five others and our kits, bound for the Convalescent camp.

    In the Ranks of the C.I.V. | Erskine Childers
  • The Pony Rider Boys had packed their kits and loaded their belongings on their ponies.

    The Pony Rider Boys in Texas | Frank Gee Patchin

British Dictionary definitions for kit (1 of 5)

kit1

/ (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

    • a set of pieces of equipment ready to be assembled

    • (as modifier): kit furniture

    • clothing and other personal effects, esp those of a traveller or soldier: safari kit; battle kit

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

  1. NZ a flax basket

  2. the whole kit or the whole kit and caboodle informal everything or everybody

Origin of kit

1
C14: from Middle Dutch kitte tankard

British Dictionary definitions for kit (2 of 5)

kit2

/ (kɪt) /


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

Origin of kit

2
C16: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for kit (3 of 5)

kit3

/ (kɪt) /


noun
  1. an informal or diminutive name for kitten

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

Origin of kit

3
C16: by shortening

British Dictionary definitions for kit (4 of 5)

kit4

/ (kɪt) /


noun
  1. NZ a plaited flax basket

Origin of kit

4
from Māori kete

British Dictionary definitions for KIT (5 of 5)

KIT

/ text messaging /


abbreviation for
  1. keep in touch

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012