From Middle English killen, kyllen, cüllen (“to strike, beat, cut”), of obscure origin. Cognate with Scots kele, keil (“to kill”).
* Perhaps from unattested Old English *cyllan, from Proto-West Germanic *kwulljan, from Proto-Germanic *kwuljaną, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH- (“to throw, hit, hurt by throwing”).
* Or, possibly a variant of Old English cwellan (“to kill, murder, execute”) (see quell).
* Or, from Old Norse kolla (“to hit on the head, harm”), related to Norwegian kylla (“to poll”), Middle Dutch kollen (“to knock down”), Icelandic kollur (“top, head”); see also coll, cole).
Compare also Saterland Frisian källe (“to hurt”), Middle Dutch kellen (“to kill, hurt”), Middle Low German kellen, killen (“to ache strongly, cause one great pain”) (whence German Low German kellen, killen (“to hurt, injure, torment, vex”)), Middle High German kellen (“to torment; torture”).
Meanings
The act of killing.
The assassin liked to make a clean kill, and thus favored small arms over explosives.
The blonde women were in a frenzy of excitement, their faces transformed from dull moronity to living evil; they shouted like wild animals at the kill. 1957, Sydney J. Bounds, The Robot Brains, London: Digit Books, page 100:
Specifically, the death blow.
The hunter delivered the kill with a pistol shot to the head.
The result of killing; that which has been killed.
The fox dragged its kill back to its den.
If ye plunder his kill from a weaker, devour not all in thy pride. 1895 November, Rudyard Kipling, The Second Jungle Book, London; New York, N.Y.: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC:
(countable) An instance of killing; a score on the tally of enemy personnel or vehicles killed or destroyed.
confirmed kills
A flying ace is usually one with five or more confirmed kills.
The grounding of the ball on the opponent's court, winning the rally.
As a senior in 1993, Turner had a kill percentage of 40.8, which was a school record at the time and the best in the SAC. Turner concluded her volleyball career with 1,349 kills, ranking fifth all-time at Catawba. 2011, the 34th Catawba College Sports Hall of Fame, in Catawba College's Campus Magazine, Spring/Summer 2011, page 21
it preda uccisa (result of killing) · fy moardzje (act of killing) · fr assassinat (act of killing) · es matanza (result of killing) · ru смерте́льный уда́р (death blow) · sk zabitie (act of killing) · he הריגה (act of killing) · arc ܩܛܠ (act of killing) · ca mort (result of killing) · ru убо́й (act of killing) · ar قَتْلَة (act of killing) · ja 死体 (result of killing) · da mord (act of killing) · zh 屍體 /尸体 (result of killing) · da dødeligt slag (death blow) · el θύμα (result of killing) · is dráp (act of killing) · de Opfer (result of killing) · da offer (result of killing) · el θανατηφόρο πλήγμα (death blow) · pt presa (result of killing) · bg убийство (act of killing) · ru же́ртва (result of killing) · el φόνος (act of killing) · ca assassinat (result of killing) · sh ulov (result of killing) · fi kuolinisku (death blow) · de Ermordung (act of killing) · zza kıştena (result of killing) · ru убие́ние (act of killing) · pl zabójstwo (act of killing) · vi giết (act of killing) · pt morte (act of killing) · ru ту́шка (result of killing) · pl zdobycz (result of killing) · ms pembunuhan (act of killing) · sv dödsslag (death blow) · pl ofiara (result of killing) · it preda (result of killing) · nl moord (result of killing) · ja 殺す (act of killing) · sk úlovok (result of killing) · de Tötung (act of killing) · sk korisť (result of killing) · ru добы́ча (result of killing) · af moord (act of killing) · fy fermoardzje (act of killing) · ru уби́йство (act of killing) · ja 屍 (result of killing) · fr meurtre (act of killing) · gl morte (act of killing) · it uccisione (act of killing) · fr mise à mort (death blow) · bo གསོད་པ (act of killing) · el δολοφονία (act of killing) · cs zabití (act of killing) · af doodslag (death blow) · af moord (result of killing) · tr öldürme (act of killing) · fy dea (result of killing) · fi saalis (result of killing) · sv dödande (act of killing) · da aflivning (act of killing) · ca assassinat (act of killing) · de Gnadenschuss (death blow) · de Beute (result of killing) · fr homicide (act of killing) · fy moard (result of killing) · ru убо́й (result of killing) · tg куштор (act of killing) · nl prooi (result of killing) · fr mort (death blow) · is morð (act of killing) · zh 死屍 /死尸 (result of killing) · ja 殺害 (act of killing) · el θήραμα (result of killing) · da bytte (result of killing) · fr cadavre (result of killing) · sv dräpande (act of killing) · nb bytte (result of killing) · gl mata (act of killing) · fy deadzje (act of killing) · ko 죽이다 (act of killing) · fr victime (result of killing) · zza kıştış (act of killing) · it spoglia (result of killing) · nl vermoorden (act of killing) · da drab (act of killing) · gl matanza (act of killing) · it colpo fatale (death blow) · no drap (act of killing) · el θανάτωση (act of killing) · hy սպանություն (act of killing) · fi surma (act of killing) · he הרג (act of killing) · zh 殺害 /杀害 (act of killing) · no drap (result of killing) · fi tappo (act of killing) · ang ofsléan (act of killing) · nl moorden (act of killing) · ur قتل (act of killing) · de Mord (act of killing) · ru ту́ша (result of killing) · ast matanza (act of killing)
From Middle English killen, kyllen, cüllen (“to strike, beat, cut”), of obscure origin. Cognate with Scots kele, keil (“to kill”).
* Perhaps from unattested Old English *cyllan, from Proto-West Germanic *kwulljan, from Proto-Germanic *kwuljaną, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH- (“to throw, hit, hurt by throwing”).
* Or, possibly a variant of Old English cwellan (“to kill, murder, execute”) (see quell).
* Or, from Old Norse kolla (“to hit on the head, harm”), related to Norwegian kylla (“to poll”), Middle Dutch kollen (“to knock down”), Icelandic kollur (“top, head”); see also coll, cole).
Compare also Saterland Frisian källe (“to hurt”), Middle Dutch kellen (“to kill, hurt”), Middle Low German kellen, killen (“to ache strongly, cause one great pain”) (whence German Low German kellen, killen (“to hurt, injure, torment, vex”)), Middle High German kellen (“to torment; torture”).
Meanings
(transitive) To put to death; to extinguish the life of.
Fire ants circumvented the problem of an ineffective sting by having an unusual and highly effective venom that when daubed or sprayed on other ants penetrates their waxy protective integumental barrier and kills or disables them. 2016, Justin O. Schmidt, The Sting of the Wild, Johns Hopkins University Press, →ISBN, page 102:
Stephano: Monſter, I will kill this man : his daughter and I will be King and Queene, ſave our Graces : and Trinculo and thy ſelfe ſhall be Vice-royes : […] 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 12:
Indeed, referring to his drone murder extermination campaign Obama bragged: "I'm really good at killing people!" Those are Obama's own words! 2021, Francis A. Boyle, World Politics, Human Rights, and International Law, page 9:
Smoking kills more people each year than alcohol and hard drugs combined.
After all, improving road safety has become a widely endorsed cause because nobody wants to kill, or be killed, in a road accident. 2024 September 16, Stéphane Foucart, 'To reduce their environmental impact, why not simply regulate the weight of cars?', Le Monde:
As the country reckons with how to prevent more children from being killed at school, the legacies of the Parkland victims live on. 2023 February 14, Holly Yan, “5 years after the Parkland school massacre claimed 17 lives, here’s what has changed (and what hasn’t)”, in CNN:
A Troope of Horſe with Felt: Ile put't in proofe, / And when I haue ſtolne vpon theſe Son in Lawes, / Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill. c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi], page 304:
In announcing the review, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new health secretary, said in a statement that “antisemitism — like racism — is a spiritual and moral malady that sickens societies and kills people with lethalities comparable to history’s most deadly plagues.” 2025 March 4, Sharon Otterman, “Trump Threatens Columbia With Millions in Cuts Over Antisemitism Claims”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 12 Mar 2025:
(transitive) To render inoperative.
He killed the motor. 1965 February 14, Worlds of If, page 33, column 1:
Peter: Ask Childers if it was worth his arm.
Policeman: What did you do to his arm, Peter?
Peter: I killed it, with a machine gun. 1978, John Farris, The Fury:
He killed the engine and turned off the headlights, but remained in the car, waiting.
(figuratively, transitive) To stop, cease, or render void; to terminate.
The news that a hurricane had destroyed our beach house killed our plans to sell it.
The editor decided to kill the story.
He closed the boot, walked round to the kerbside and bent to peer into the car's interior, his face pressed to the passenger window, his hands shading his eyes to kill the reflection. 2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 244:
My computer wouldn't respond until I killed some of the running processes.
(excessive, figuratively, transitive) To amaze, exceed, stun, or otherwise incapacitate.
That joke always kills me.
He told us we ought to think of Jesus as our buddy and all. He said he talked to Jesus all the time. Even when he was driving his car. That killed me. 1951 July 16, J[erome] D[avid] Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, →OCLC, page 23:
That night, she was dressed to kill.
(excessive, figuratively, intransitive, transitive) To cause great pain, discomfort, or distress to; to hurt.
These tight shoes are killing my feet.
two laps into our first walk, my dad needed to sit down. His back and legs were killing him. "You'll be okay," I assured him. "You just need to shake off the rust."
I gave him a couple of Advil and, after a few minutes, urged him back onto the track. 2008 October, Davy Rothbart, “How I caught up with dad”, in Men's Health, volume 23, number 8, →ISSN, page 110:
You don't ever want to get rabies. The doctor will have to give you multiple shots and they really kill.
(figuratively, transitive) To produce feelings of dissatisfaction or revulsion in.
It kills me to throw out three whole turkeys, but I can't get anyone to take them and they've already started to go bad.
And I really don't think you get it now
No, I really don't think you get it now
It's killing me, I admit it now
Congratulations, you tore my heart out
Congratulations 2015 May 12, Rachel Platten, Jon Levine, Scott Jacoby, “Congratulations”, in Fight Song, performed by Rachel Platten:
It kills me to learn how many poor people are practically starving in this country while rich moguls spend such outrageous amounts on useless luxuries.
(transitive) To use up or to waste.
I'm just doing this to kill time.
Except for the shirt, which he’d worn, and the check, which he’d cashed, and the bottle of port, which he’d killed in bed on Christmas night, the gifts from his family were still on the floor of his bedroom. 2001, Jonathan Franzen, The Corrections:
(figuratively, informal, transitive) To overpower, overwhelm, or defeat.
Look at the amount of destruction to the enemy base. We pretty much killed their ability to retaliate.
The team had absolutely killed their traditional rivals, and the local sports bars were raucous with celebrations.
(transitive) To force a company out of business.
(excessive, figuratively, informal, transitive) To punish severely.
"Father will kill us for this." 1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:
My parents are going to kill me!
(transitive) To strike (a ball, etc.) with such force and placement as to make a shot that is impossible to defend against, usually winning a point.
That close call encouraged Wales to launch another series of attacks that ended when lock Louis Deacon killed the ball illegally in the shadow of England's posts. 2011 February 4, Gareth Roberts, “Wales 19-26 England”, in BBC:
(transitive) To cause (a ball, etc.) to be out of play, resulting in a stoppage of gameplay.
As the ball was delivered deep into St Kilda's forward line by Billings, Bontempelli had position on the goal line, with a pack forming in front of him. He decided to fly but didn't kill the ball, leaving it to spill where he had been positioned moments earlier. Jack Sinclair gratefully swooped and kicked a goal that cut the margin to five points. 2015 May 10, Nathan Schmook, “Billings vs Bont”, in St Kilda Football Club:
To succeed with an audience, especially in comedy.
When comics fail, they "die"; when they succeed, they "kill." 2012, Yael Kohen, We Killed: The Rise of Women in American Comedy:
You really killed it at the Comedy Store last night. 2016 February 23, Tim Gray, “Chris Rock Tests Jokes at Comedy Clubs Ahead of Oscars”, in Variety:
(informal, transitive) To cause to assume the value zero.
(Internet, transitive) To disconnect (a user) involuntarily from the network.
To deadmelt.
(slang) To sexually penetrate in a skillful way.
I felt on her big fat fanny
Pulled out the jammy and killed the punanni 1992, Ice Cube, “It Was A Good Day”, in The Predator:
(informal, reflexive) To exert oneself to an excessive degree.
Don't kill yourself raking the leaves now; we're due for a windstorm tonight.
mba hunatayan (to put to death) · la caedō (to put to death) · lv nogalināt (to put to death) · ar قتل (to put to death) · scn astutari (to render inoperative) · vo deidön (to put to death) · ka ხარჯვა (to waste) · af doodmaak (to put to death) · fr arrêter (to render inoperative) · sa हन्ति (to put to death) · he הֵמִית (to put to death) · pl zgasić (to render inoperative) · hi मारना (to put to death) · sh у̀смртити (to put to death) · duu svt (to put to death) · sh поби́јати (to put to death) · da eliminere (to waste) · iso kpe (to put to death) · cdo 刣 (to put to death) · ru растра́чивать (to waste) · ru тра́тить (to waste) · kjh ӧдір саларға (to put to death) · zh 浪费 (to waste) · fi tappaa (to put to death) · uk убива́ти (to put to death) · uk вбива́ти (to put to death) · krc ёлтюрюрге (to put to death) · sc ochídere (to put to death) · mnw ဂစိုတ် (to put to death) · cs zabít (to put to death) · nb eliminere (to waste) · chr ᎠᎯᎭ (to put to death) · xbr pameti (to put to death) · grc φονεύω (to put to death) · sk zabiť (to waste) · sk zabíjať (to waste) · de töten (to put to death) · zh 搞死 (to put to death) · lmo mazzà (to put to death) · rcf kaoukoun (to put to death) · sq vras (to put to death) · fr zigouiller (to put to death) · izh leikata (to put to death) · el σκοτώνω (to render void) · gd marbh (to put to death) · pi ghāteti (to put to death) · zh 刣死 (to put to death) · pl zabić (to put to death) · or ମରେଇବା (to put to death) · zh дасы (to put to death) · sv förstöra (to render void) · rm mazzar (to put to death) · pl zgaszać (to render inoperative) · swb uula (to put to death) · rm mazar (to put to death) · grc ἀνύω (to put to death) · mt qatel (to put to death) · el σβήνω (to render inoperative) · fy deadzje (to put to death) · xsr བསད (to put to death) · arq قتل (to put to death) · wuu 殺 /杀 (to put to death) · ro anula (to render inoperative) · oc tuar (to put to death) · grc αἱρέω (to put to death) · lmo massà (to put to death) · hu gyilkol (to put to death) · mi whakamate (to put to death) · ru останови́ть (to render inoperative) · scn astutari (to render void) · dsb skóńcowaś (to put to death) · hu öl (to put to death) · it distruggere (to render inoperative) · sro bocciri (to put to death) · da slå ihjel (to put to death) · la interficiō (to put to death) · fa کشتن (to put to death) · sq myt (to put to death) · gd cuir gu bàs (to put to death) · sv förinta (to render void) · txg 𗜍 (to put to death) · sl ubijati (to put to death) · sv döda (to put to death) · nl vermoorden (to put to death) · as মাৰ (to put to death) · yi אַוועקהרגענען (to put to death) · hi वध करना (to put to death) · tyv өлүрер (to put to death) · ru заглуша́ть (to render inoperative) · fr buter (to put to death) · sdc bocchire (to put to death) · zza kışten (to put to death) · fr dézinguer (to put to death) · mn алах (to put to death) · lo ຂ້າ (to put to death) · ar قَتَلَ (to put to death) · fr fumer (to put to death) · pdt aufschaufen (to put to death) · qu wañuchiy (to put to death) · la necō (to put to death) · mnp 刣 (to put to death) · fi lopettaa (to waste) · ltg nūsist (to put to death) · bua алаха (to put to death) · bg спирам (to render void) · kab enɣ (to put to death) · de abtöten (to render inoperative) · ru остана́вливать (to render inoperative) · it annullare (to render void) · hu életét követeli (to put to death) · zh 殺 /杀 (to put to death) · zh 殺死 /杀死 (to put to death) · sq mait (gheg) (to put to death) · zh 宰 (to put to death) · grc ἀποκτείνω (to put to death) · rcf tié (to put to death) · nds doot maken (to put to death) · es piliar (to put to death) · egy s-mA-A-T30 (to put to death) · nrf tuer (to put to death) · tr öldürmek (to put to death) · bor bito (to put to death) · my သတ် (to put to death) · kpv вины (to put to death) · pa ਮਾਰ ਸੁੱਟਣਾ (to put to death) · es afrijolar (to put to death) · ur قتل کرنا (to put to death) · mnc ᠸᠠᠮᠪᡳ (to put to death) · fr liquider (to put to death) · tpi kilim (to put to death) · la faciō morīre (to put to death) · pl zabijać (to put to death) · sk zastaviť (to render inoperative) · ka დახარჯვა (to waste) · hu kioltja az életét (to put to death) · izh surmata (to put to death) · is drepa (to put to death) · grc ἀπόλλυμι (to put to death) · ar ذبح (to put to death) · fur copâ (to put to death) · bg уби́вам (to put to death) · syl ꠝꠣꠞ (to put to death) · izh veruttaa (to put to death) · fi tuhota (to render void) · sk zabiť (to put to death) · ru отменя́ть (to render void) · be забі́ць (to put to death) · ga maraigh (to put to death) · yi אומברענגען (to put to death) · ru ликвиди́ровать (to render void) · sk zlikvidovať (to waste) · zh 打死 (to put to death) · grc ἀναιρέω (to put to death) · ur مارنا (to put to death) · fr faire la peau (to put to death) · tet oho (to put to death) · el θανατώνω (to put to death) · av чӏвазе (to put to death) · ro lua viața (to put to death) · it uccidere (to put to death) · lic haus (to put to death) · af vermoor (to put to death) · kl toquppaa (to put to death) · blt ꪄ꫁ꪱ (to put to death) · ikz -ita (to put to death) · sah өлөр (to put to death) · hi व्यर्थ खोना (to waste) · hsb skóncować (to put to death) · fr tuer (to put to death) · nb tilintetgjøre (to render void) · kjh ӧдірерге (to put to death) · crh gebertmek (to put to death) · min bunuah (to put to death) · ceb patay (to put to death) · sh ликвиди́рати (to put to death) · cy lladd (to put to death) · sk likvidovať (to waste) · njo-jgl tepset (to put to death) · ug ئۆلتۈرمەك (to put to death) · rm mazzer (to put to death) · sh pobíjati (to put to death) · ny kulódza (to put to death) · kn ಕೊಲ್ಲು (to put to death) · es matar (to put to death) · de tööde (to put to death) · zh 整死 (to put to death) · scn sfardari (to waste) · ro opri (to render inoperative) · mba minatay (to put to death) · sv mörda (to put to death) · zdj hura hitswa (to put to death) · zh 弄死 (to put to death) · la mortificō (to put to death) · ar قَتَل (to put to death) · lo ຂ້າ (to render void) · la mactō (to put to death) · et tapma (to put to death) · eve мадай (to put to death) · inh ве (to put to death) · fi tappaa (to waste) · zh 刣 (to put to death) · msk bono (to put to death) · ka მოკვლა (to put to death) · ru прекрати́ть (to render void) · he הרג (to put to death) · la dēiciō (to put to death) · ltg nuoveit (to put to death) · fr neutraliser (to put to death) · zea doôddoeë (to put to death) · atv ӧтӱрерге (to put to death) · ru растра́тить (to waste) · it eliminare (to put to death) · mr मारणे (to put to death) · bg спирам (to render inoperative) · fi sammuttaa (to render inoperative) · lmy haʼmate (to put to death) · tsg bunu (to put to death) · da tilintetgøre (to render void) · la cōnsūmō (to put to death) · fr exterminer (to put to death) · ky өлтүрүү (to put to death) · it sopprimere (to render void) · nrf occi (to put to death) · fi tappaa (to render void) · ckb کوشتن (to put to death) · se sorbmet (to put to death) · mr हत्या करणे (to put to death) · ru отмени́ть (to render void) · yi טייטן (to put to death) · ckt тэгинӈэтык (to put to death) · bn হত্যা করা (to put to death) · alt ӧлтӱрер (to put to death) · atv ӧлтирерге (to put to death) · sdn iscatteddare (to put to death) · as হত্যা কৰ (to put to death) · st bolaya (to put to death) · km ឃាត (to put to death) · udm виыны (to put to death) · ce де (to put to death) · tt үтерергә (to put to death) · scn vastari (to waste) · ms membunuh (to put to death) · ga meil (to waste) · es ñampiar (to put to death) · ru прекраща́ть (to render void) · de zunichte machen (to render void) · la occīdō (to put to death) · sc bochire (to put to death) · scn abbirsari (to render void) · pt acabar com (to render void) · izh tappaa (to put to death) · bg уби́я (to put to death) · de totschlagen (to waste) · ru уби́ть (to put to death) · zh са (to put to death) · fr occire (to put to death) · xal алх (to put to death) · no drepe (to put to death) · yue 殺 /杀 (to put to death) · yue 殺死 /杀死 (to put to death) · ca occir (to put to death) · it sopprimere (to render inoperative) · la exanimō (to put to death) · ang ofslēan (to put to death) · khb ᦃᦱᧉ (to put to death) · grc ἀποπνίγω (to put to death) · fi raakata (to render void) · fr trucider (to put to death) · egy X:d-b-A24 (to put to death) · ro ucide (to put to death) · crh öldürmek (to put to death) · hu megöl (to put to death) · sv förstöra (to render inoperative) · nb drepe (to render inoperative) · lt žudyti (to put to death) · ro omorî (to put to death) · hi कतल करना (to put to death) · fr envoyer chez saint Pierre (to put to death) · izh mukistaa (to put to death) · tum kukoma (to put to death) · msk patay (to put to death) · mfe touye (to put to death) · fr dévitaliser (to put to death) · fr stopper (to render inoperative) · el σκοτώνω (to put to death) · grc κατακτείνω (to put to death) · fro morir (to put to death) · ka კვლა (to put to death) · zh 戕殺 /戕杀 (to put to death) · tk öldürmek (to put to death) · scn abbirsari (to render inoperative) · uk вби́ти (to put to death) · ru заглуши́ть (to render inoperative) · cdo 刣死 (to put to death) · th ฆ่า (to put to death) · bn বধ করা (to put to death) · nod ᨡ᩶ᩣ (to put to death) · mww tua (to put to death) · id membunuh (to put to death) · ps مړه کول (to put to death) · sh ùbiti (to put to death) · as মাৰি পেলা (to put to death) · ms bunuh (to put to death) · os марын (to put to death) · ru убива́ть (to put to death) · ar قتل (to put to death) · shu كتل (to put to death) · fr couiquer (to put to death) · fi surmata (to put to death) · scn distrùjiri (to render inoperative) · grc ἀναλίσκω (to put to death) · fur maçâ (to put to death) · hi हत्या करना (to put to death) · ami mipatay (to put to death) · uga 𐎅𐎗𐎂 (to put to death) · uz oʻldirmoq (to put to death) · sux 𒄮 (to put to death) · ar قتل (to put to death) · eo mortigi (to put to death) · lv nāvēt (to put to death) · sc bochíere (to put to death) · dsb kóńcowaś (to put to death) · el φονεύω (to put to death) · sh по̀бити (to put to death) · fr ôter la vie (to put to death) · la concidō (to put to death) · to tāmate'i (to put to death) · sk zabíjať (to put to death) · be забіва́ць (to put to death) · tdd ᥑᥣᥲ (to put to death) · sv inaktivera (to render inoperative) · bal کشگ (to put to death) · cwa -ita (to put to death) · sh уби́јати (to put to death) · gu મારવું (to put to death) · grc ἐπέφνον (to put to death) · got 𐌲𐌰𐌳𐌰𐌿𐌸𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to put to death) · ce ден (to put to death) · da ihjelslå (to put to death) · fi lopettaa (to put to death) · mr वाया जाने (to waste) · got 𐌳𐌰𐌿𐌸𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to put to death) · ast matar (to put to death) · sk zastaviť (to render void) · hi प्राण ले लेना (to put to death) · sit-jap sat (to put to death) · ka ბოლოს მოღება (to put to death) · akl patay (to put to death) · sh ùbiti (to render void) · evn вами (to put to death) · se goddalit (to put to death) · frm occire (to put to death) · mk убие (to put to death) · de streichen (to render void) · sk zabiť (to render void) · scn guastari (to waste) · ml കൊല്ലുക (to put to death) · fr faire disparaître (to put to death) · sv eliminera (to render void) · de umbringen (to put to death) · lus that (to put to death) · shn ၶႃႈ (to put to death) · sh ùbiti (to waste) · yur sermertek' (to put to death) · it ammazzare (to put to death) · ja 殺害する (to put to death) · sc occhíere (to put to death) · cop ϧⲱⲧⲉⲃ (to put to death) · ur ہلاک کرنا (to put to death) · pcc gac (to put to death) · km សម្លាប់ (to put to death) · vi giết (to put to death) · oc aucir (to put to death) · cic abi (to put to death) · sh likvidírati (to put to death) · scn accuppari (to render void) · tg куштан (to put to death) · ovd ela (to put to death) · hy սպանել (to put to death) · he קטל (to put to death) · mk убива (to put to death) · sm fasioti (to put to death) · syl ꠎꠛꠧ ꠇꠞ (to put to death) · scn accapari (to render void) · it terminare (to put to death) · hu életét veszti (to put to death) · su telas (to put to death) · ovd ev ijel (to put to death) · fo drepa (to put to death) · ru убива́ть (to waste) · ro stopa (to render inoperative) · srn kiri (to put to death) · cst meme (to put to death) · scn astutari (to put to death) · it assassinare (to put to death) · sh pòbiti (to put to death) · az öldürmək (to put to death) · ca matar (to waste) · grc καίνω (to put to death) · da dræbe (to put to death) · ca matar (to put to death) · tl patayin (to put to death) · dsb wusmjerśiś (to put to death) · sh ubíjati (to put to death) · ba үлтереү (to put to death) · de alcohol) (to waste) · fr refroidir (to put to death) · te చంపు (to put to death) · sv dräpa (to put to death) · scn accuppari (to render inoperative) · mnp 殺 /杀 (to put to death) · sk odstaviť (to render inoperative) · uk уби́ти (to put to death) · se goddit (to put to death) · nl doden (to put to death) · gld ва- (to put to death) · ru потра́тить (to waste) · scn ammazzari (to put to death) · grc ἀείρω (to put to death) · de ermorden (to put to death) · fro ocire (to put to death) · sv avliva (to put to death) · sw kuua (to put to death) · ja 殺す (to put to death) · fr mettre fin (to render void) · es dar matarile (to put to death) · th ฆ่า (to render void) · haw hoʻomake (to put to death) · kk өлтіру (to put to death) · pdt dootmoaken (to put to death) · ne मार्नु (to put to death) · ar موت (to put to death) · cjy 殺 /杀 (to put to death) · bcl gadan (to put to death) · ar مَوَّت (to put to death) · pt matar (to put to death) · ps قتلول (to put to death) · fr éteindre (to render inoperative) · oc matar (to put to death) · hi मार डालना (to put to death) · grc ὄλλυμι (to put to death) · mrw bono' (to put to death) · hak 殺 /杀 (to put to death) · hu halálát okozza (to put to death) · sh ùsmrtiti (to put to death) · hsb kóncować (to put to death) · eu hil (to put to death) · txb kau- (to put to death) · sh у̀бити (to put to death) · my သတ်ဖြတ် (to put to death) · dsb wusmjerśowaś (to put to death) · yi אַוועקלייגן (to put to death) · si මරනවා (to put to death) · io mortigar (to put to death) · grc καταχράομαι (to put to death) · sc buchíere (to put to death) · tl patay (to put to death) · ko 죽이다 (to put to death) · ur مار ڈالنا (to put to death) · hsn 殺 /杀 (to put to death) · la lētō (to put to death) · gl matar (to put to death) · vec masar (to put to death) · sga marbaid (to put to death) · za gaj (to put to death) · ksw မၤသံ (to put to death) · ta கொல் (to put to death) · wa touwer (to put to death) · kmr kuştin (to put to death) · mi patu (to put to death) · sc bocchire (to put to death) · grc κτείνω (to put to death) · yao kuwulaga (to put to death) · aho 𑜁𑜠 (to put to death) · ny kuphá (to put to death) · fr descendre (to put to death) · bo གསོད (to put to death) · vec maẑar (to put to death) · it annullare (to render inoperative) · sl ubíti (to put to death) · sux 𒄤 (to put to death) · kmr -kuj- (to put to death) · hit 𒆪𒂗𒍣 (to put to death) · jv matèni (to put to death) · gan 殺 /杀 (to put to death) · vec copar (to put to death) · nap accidere (to put to death) · grc κατέπεφνον (to put to death)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ǵeyH-der.
Proto-Indo-European *ǵi(H)-l-der.
Proto-Germanic *kiljǭ
Proto-West Germanic *killjā
Old Dutch *killa
Middle Dutch kille
Dutch kilbor.
English kill
Borrowing from Dutch kil (formerly spelled kill), from Middle Dutch kille, from Old Dutch *killa, from Proto-West Germanic *killjā, from Proto-Germanic *kiljǭ (“fissure, slit; a type of stream, creek, channel”). Doublet of Kiel.
Most place names with kill were derived entirely in Dutch, but many have been subsequently calqued into English or anglicized by folk etymology; for example, Motherkill and Murderkill both likely derive from Dutch *Modderkil (“Mud Creek”) (better preserved in Mudder Kill and Muddy Kill), originally having nothing to do with mothership or murder.
Meanings
(New-York, Northeastern, US, archaic, dialectal, qualifier:largely fossilized in place names) A creek or stream; (more loosely) any watercourse, such as a channel or arm of the sea.
The channel beyond Staten Island, which connects Newark Bay with Bergen Neck is the Kill van Kull, or the Kills.
(New-York, Northeastern, US, archaic, dialectal, qualifier:largely fossilized in place names; preceded by the; preceded by the) A creek or stream; (more loosely) any watercourse, such as a channel or arm of the sea. ▸ In particular, a waterway with a name ending in kill, such as the Beaverkill or the East Kill.
We're gonna go flyfishing over in the kill.
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kills
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Kills
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'kill
alternative, of some compound names, short-form
lexicographic
Kill
alternative, of compound names, proper-noun, short-form
Admonished that she should “keep the woman's virtue and be more silent,” she countered “that she was 'born in a mill, begot in a kill, she must have her will,' she could speak no softlier.” 2015, Kirilka Stavreva, Words Like Daggers, page 77:
This very curious and valuable record is as follows, in the handwriting of Conyers and the accompanying engraving is carefully reduced (see Fig. 138 ) from Conyers' own drawing:—“This kill was full of the coarser sorts of potts or cullings, so that few were saved whole, viz., lamps, bottles, urnes, dishes. 1878, Llewellynn Frederick William Jewitt, The Ceramic Art of Great Britain from Pre-historic Times Down to the Present Day, page 39:
A funerary ceremony comparable to that reported from Kolomoki site is indicated, though no "pottery kill” was located. 1951, Bulletin - Eastern States Archeological Federation, page 11:
We may indeed assume that cracked and broken ware was discarded in the immediate vicinity of the pottery kills, that is, if it was not thrown in to the Krka. 2000, Argo - Volume 43, Issue 1, page 59:
The stack of one of the pottery kills is still a visible land mark of this once thriving industry. 1945, Arthur Edwin James, The Potters and Potteries of Chester County, Pennsylvania, page 34:
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Deriveds
stack-upo'-the-kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · one turn kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill the goose that lays the golden eggs (terms derived from the noun or verb) · would it kill someone (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill trees (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill bit (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killing field (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill-buck (terms derived from the noun or verb) · bottom kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill line (terms derived from the noun or verb) · double kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · fill or kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill off (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill-devil (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill the messenger (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill one's darlings (terms derived from the noun or verb) · fish kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killcow (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill stealer (terms derived from the noun or verb) · winter kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill-death ratio (terms derived from the noun or verb) · giant-killing (terms derived from the noun or verb) · soft kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · if looks could kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killographic (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill-off (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill the rabbit (terms derived from the noun or verb) · in for the kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill-cow (terms derived from the noun or verb) · dressed to kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killing (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill devil (terms derived from the noun or verb) · twin killing (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill-worthy (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill two birds with one shot (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill someone dead (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill box (terms derived from the noun or verb) · no-kill shelter (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill-to-death ratio (terms derived from the noun or verb) · vokills (terms derived from the noun or verb) · window-kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill steal (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killboard (terms derived from the noun or verb) · relativistic kill vehicle (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill the fatted calf (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill zone (terms derived from the noun or verb) · autokill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · penalty kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill-priest (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killee (terms derived from the noun or verb) · that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killed in action (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill team (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killbox (terms derived from the noun or verb) · fishkill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill-time (terms derived from the noun or verb) · self-killing (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killer (terms derived from the noun or verb) · curiosity killed the cat (terms derived from the noun or verb) · teamkill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killology (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kinetic kill vehicle (terms derived from the noun or verb) · I kill you later (terms derived from the noun or verb) · hit-to-kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill0r (terms derived from the noun or verb) · homekill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · lambkill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · spawn kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killable (terms derived from the noun or verb) · dress to kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · winter-killed (terms derived from the noun or verb) · care killed a cat (terms derived from the noun or verb) · marry fuck kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · non-killing (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killjoy (terms derived from the noun or verb) · hard kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killshot (terms derived from the noun or verb) · mercy killing (terms derived from the noun or verb) · surplus killing (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kilt (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill time (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill leader (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill shelter (terms derived from the noun or verb) · winterkill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · care killed the cat (terms derived from the noun or verb) · fit to kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · eat what you kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill chain (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill or be killed (terms derived from the noun or verb) · all-kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill-courtesy (terms derived from the noun or verb) · time to kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill your heroes (terms derived from the noun or verb) · stack-upon-the-kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill your idols (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill-the-beggar (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killstreak (terms derived from the noun or verb) · Kill Devil Hills (terms derived from the noun or verb) · roadkill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill-me-quick (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill fee (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill cord (terms derived from the noun or verb) · spawn-kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill it (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill shot (terms derived from the noun or verb) · overkill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill-deer (terms derived from the noun or verb) · self-killed (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill-joy (terms derived from the noun or verb) · spawnkill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · mercy-killing (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killbit (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill-calf (terms derived from the noun or verb) · you're killing me, Smalls (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killworthy (terms derived from the noun or verb) · buzzkill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killbuck (terms derived from the noun or verb) · crack kills (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill sat (terms derived from the noun or verb) · Killadelphia (terms derived from the noun or verb) · unkill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killing floor (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill two birds with one stone (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill kit (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill house (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killsat (terms derived from the noun or verb) · drill and kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill me (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill with kindness (terms derived from the noun or verb) · crowd-kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · catch and kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · seckill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · static kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill screen (terms derived from the noun or verb) · outkill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killcrop (terms derived from the noun or verb) · photo kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killcalf (terms derived from the noun or verb) · underkill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killbot (terms derived from the noun or verb) · Killary (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killing time (terms derived from the noun or verb) · what doesn't kill you makes you stronger (terms derived from the noun or verb) · permakill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killing spree (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill it with fire (terms derived from the noun or verb) · serial kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killsprite (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killability (terms derived from the noun or verb) · top kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · rekill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killfilter (terms derived from the noun or verb) · killfie (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill file (terms derived from the noun or verb) · winter-kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill oneself (terms derived from the noun or verb) · self-kill (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill for (terms derived from the noun or verb) · kill switch (terms derived from the noun or verb) · go for the kill (terms derived from the noun or verb)