KEEPER. — (See Inspector.)

KEEL. — A vessel used to carry coals from the Staiths above the old bridge on the Tyne, and above the shipping berths on the Wear, to the ships. A keel is a broad flat vessel (on the Tyne sharp at both ends) carrying 8 Newcastle chaldrons or 21 tons 4 cwt.

KEEPS OR KEPS. — Movable franies or supports of iron, which if left free project about 1½ inches into the shaft top at each side, beneath the level of the settle-boards or fiatsheets by the thickness of the bottom of the cage. Their use is to support the cage containing the tubs of coals when drawn to the surface, the cage rising between the keeps and forcing them backwards; but when the cage is drawn above the keeps they fall forward to their places, forming a rest for the cage, until the full tubs are replaced by empty ones. The keeps are then drawn back by the banksman after the cage has been raised, and so held until the empty cage has passed through.

When there is a hanging-on in the shaft, the keeps are weighted so as always to keep back, except when moved forward by the onsetter.

KENNER. — An expression signifying that it is time to give up work, shouted or signalled down the shaft by the banksman where practicable, and conveyed into the workings from mouth to mouth or by other signal.

KEY. — (See Bore.)

KIBBLE. — A wooden tub, usually square, and of the capacity of about 20 gallons, used in conveying rubbish from one place to another. It is placed upon a tram. It is frequently made with a bow, similar to a corf-bow in shape. The bow is sometimes hinged. Used in sinking wells, carrying mortar, &c.

KICKUP. — A cradle made of iron placed at the head of each skreen, and supported by a short journal at each side, each bearing being supported by a metal stanchion. It is so balanced that when a full tub of coals is run into it, the cradle with the tub turns over, and the coals are discharged upon the skreen, this position being maintained by a brake until the tub is emptied; on easing the brake, the empty tub is returned on the cradle to its horizontal position, and taken back to the shaft.

KINK. — To curl into a kind of knot, as highly-twisted rope, especially wire rope, does.

KIRVING. — A wedge-shaped excavation, made by the hewer with his pick, at the lower part of the seam preparatory to blasting. A kirving should seldom be less than 36 inches from the front to the back side, nor exceed 16 inches in height at the fore side, in a hard coal; in a soft coal, with a good parting at the bottom, the kirving may be deeper, and the height at the front less. The coals obtained from the kirving are to a large extent small, and as the size of the kirving is pretty constant, and irrespective of the thickness of the seam, it follows that a greater percentage of small is made in working a thin than a thick seam, the hardness of the two seams being similar. It is of great advantage to have at the bottom of the seam a swad, soft enough to prick in, as it enables a considerable quantity of chinley coal to be got out of the kirvings by careful work.

KIST. — A chest. The deputies' kist is used to keep their tools, plate and brattice nails, &c., in.

KITTY. — A piece of straw, about 4 inches long, filled with gunpowder. It is placed in the pricker hole, which is open to the cartridge or shot in the drill-hole, and the end of the kitty nearest to the cartridge being closed and the outer end open, it follows that when a light is applied to the latter, the kitty, after the manner of a miniature rocket, flies along the pricker-hole and ignites the powder.

KNOCK-OFF-HOOK. — A hook at the end of a set of waggons to which the rope is attached, from which, by the withdrawal of a cottrel or the knocking off of a catch, the set can be detached when in motion.

Also a hook by means of which the rope is detached from the cage when it is drawn too high by the winding engine. This hook is so contrived as when the rope is detached to support the cage upon a ring, fixed under the pulleys, through which the hook has passed.

KNOCK-OFF-JOINT. — (See Off-take joint.)