Etimology
From Middle English kide, from Old Norse kið (“young goat”), from Proto-Germanic *kidją, *kittīną (“goatling, kid”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *gʰaydn-, *ǵʰaydn- (“goat”) or Proto-Indo-European *gidʰ- (“kid, goatling, little goat”). Compare Swedish and Danish kid, German Kitz and Kitze, Albanian kedh and kec. Sense of child since 1590s as cant, since 1840s in informal use.
noun
kid (plural kids)
A young goat.
Kidskin.
(uncountable) The meat of a young goat.
A young antelope.
(informal) A child (usually), teenager, or young adult; a juvenile.
(informal) A person whose childhood took place in a particular time period or area.
(informal) One's son or daughter, regardless of age.
(in the vocative) Used as a form of address for a child, teenager or young adult.
(colloquial) An inexperienced person or one in a junior position.
(dated) A deception; an act of kidding somebody.
(nautical) A small wooden mess tub in which sailors received their food.
Examples
I went, indeed, intending to kill a kid out of my own flock; and bring it home and dress it; but as I was going I saw a she-goat lying down in the shade, and two young kids sitting by her.
He treated the oxen like they didn't exist, but he treated the goat kid like a puppy.
Synonym: kid leather
I have three pairs of kid gloves. I've had kid mittens before from the Christmas tree, but never real kid gloves with five fingers.
Synonym: cabrito
So saying, he gathered together, and brought to a flame, the decaying brands which lay scattered on the ample hearth; took from the larger board a mess of pottage and seethed kid, placed it upon the small table at which he had himself supped, and, without waiting the Jew's thanks, went to the other side of the hall; […].
Synonyms: see Thesaurus:child
She's a kid. It's normal for her to have imaginary friends.
“So you've got the kid,” said Sikes, when they had all reached the room: closing the door as he spoke.¶ “Yes, here he is,” replied Nancy.¶ “Did he come quiet?” inquired Sikes.¶ “Like a lamb,” rejoined Nancy.
I said, “I’ll send the first sane soul I meet to keep you company.” As luck would have it, I never met one, — only kids, and a baker, who wouldn’t leave his cart, or take it with him either.
‘No,’ said Luke, grinning at her. ‘You're not dull enough! […] What about the kid's clothes? I don't suppose they were anything to write home about, but didn't you keep anything? A bootee or a bit of embroidery or anything at all?’
"I should never dream of calling a kid like you a woman," said Digory loftily.
Our kids are why all of you are in this room today. Our kids are why you wake up wondering how you'll make a difference and go to bed thinking about tomorrow's lesson plan. Our kids are why you walk into that classroom every day even when you're not getting the support, or the pay, or the respect that you deserve - because you believe that every child should have a chance to succeed; that every child can be taught.
She not my lover like "Billie Jean", but the kid is mine
Network Rail is now the biggest kid in the playground, so if it doesn't want to play it doesn't have to, and the trees still fall down every time someone gives a low pressure system a name.
Only '90s kids will remember this toy.
He's been living in Los Angeles for years now, but he's a Florida kid.
He was their youngest kid.
No, kid, you didn't do anything wrong; they did!
Here's looking at you, kid.
I remember as a kid lawyer working at IBM in the summer of 1983, when a large insurance company in Hartford, Connecticut, for the first time asked to buy 12000 IBM PCs in a single order.
peaceable, well-disposed chaps as ever eat duff out of a kid
We fasted till night, when one of the boys came along with a couple of "kids" containing a thin, saffron-coloured fluid, with oily particles floating on top. The young wag told us this was soup: it turned out to be nothing more than oleaginous warm water.
verb
kid (third-person singular simple present kids, present participle kidding, simple past and past participle kidded)
(transitive, colloquial) To make a fool of (someone).
(transitive, colloquial) To dupe or deceive (someone).
(transitive, colloquial) To make a joke with (someone).
(intransitive) Of a goat, to give birth.
(intransitive, colloquial) To joke.
Examples
"They are all very suspicious about the wording. I am always thinking up new ways of kidding them."
"They can kid twice a year if things are right, and they often throw twins and triplets."
You're kidding!
Only kidding
Etimology
Compare Welsh cidysen.
noun
kid (plural kids)
A fagot; a bundle of heath and furze.
Examples
Shake down into the bottom of your Ponds good long Kids or Faggots of brush-wood.