Word origins

• kettle logicA rhetorical device involving the use of multiple arguments that are inconsistent with each other.
• KharunA surname from Arabic via French.
• Khmer RougeA Cambodian communist guerrilla force active from the 1970s to the 1990s under the leadership of Pol Pot.
• kilo-In the International System of Units and other metric systems of units, multiplying the unit to which it is attached by a thousand (1000).
• kilometrageThe total distance travelled, in kilometres.
• king cakeA decorative cake distributed among friends or visitors on Epiphany. In many traditions it contains a pea, a trinket or some other small object which entitles its finder to be the "king" for one day.
• King's DaughtersSynonym of Filles du Roy.
• kinkajouPotos flavus, a carnivorous mammal of Central America and South America with a long, prehensile tail, related to the raccoon.
• KinoisKinshasan
• kippageThose sailing together on a ship, both crew and passengers.
• kitchen brigadeA kitchen staff that operates under the brigade system.
• knight of industryA footpad, thief, or sharper.
• knoutA leather scourge (multi-tail whip), in the severe version known as 'great knout' with metal weights on each tongue, notoriously used in imperial Russia.
• KoroaOne of the groups of indigenous nations who lived in the Mississippi Valley prior to the European settlement of the region.
• koumissA fermented drink made from mare's milk, common among peoples of the Central Asian steppes.
• Ksar el-KebirA city in Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, Morocco.
• Ksar es-SeghirA town in Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, Morocco.
• kwassa kwassaA dance rhythm from the Congo (DRC), where the hips move back and forth while the hands move to follow the hips.
• kyrielleA long rigmarole.
• La-Used in African-American female given names.
• La Bastide-ClairenceA commune of Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
• LabayA surname from French.
• la belle indifferenceA paradoxical lack of emotional distress or concern despite the presence of an illness or serious physical symptoms.
• LabouchereA surname.
• LabourdA historical province of Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
• LabrakeA surname from French.
• LabreeA surname from French.
• laccicCharacteristic of lac, such as in laccic acid.
• laccinA yellow amorphous substance obtained from lac.
• Lac La BicheA lake (Lac la Biche) in northern Alberta, Canada.
• Lac la HacheA community and lake in the Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia, Canada.
• Lac-MéganticA town, the seat of Le Granit Regional County Municipality, Estrie, Quebec, Canada
• La CouronneA commune in Charente department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
• Lac qui Parle CountyOne of 87 counties in Minnesota, United States. County seat: Madison.
• lacuneA lacunar stroke or infarct.
• LafailleA surname from French.
• LafavorA surname from French.
• LafayeA surname from French.
• LaffayeA surname from French.
• LafosseA surname from French.
• La FranceAn unincorporated community in Anderson County, South Carolina.
• lagoniteAn earthy, hydrous iron borate, H¹⁴Fe⁴Bo¹²O³¹ + 2[Fe²]ᵛⁱBo⁶O¹² + 7Aq
• La GrangeA surname from French, variant of Lagrange.
• LagueA surname from French.
• laicA layperson as opposed to a cleric, i.e. not a member of the clergy.
• laicityThe control or influence of the laity or the fact of being lay.
• laissez faireA policy of governmental non-interference in economic affairs.
• laissez-passerA pass or permit; a document permitting the bearer to travel, sometimes issued as an emergency passport.
• laitanceA weak, milky layer of cement and aggregate fines on a concrete surface that is usually caused by an overwet mixture, overworking the mixture, improper or excessive finishing or combination thereof. Also, could be caused when a slurry mix is used on a deep foundation, where the slurry mix is not completely removed before placing concrete on top.
• Lake BorgneA lagoon of the Gulf of Mexico, and formerly a true lake, in southeastern Louisiana.
• Lake ChamplainA north–south running lake surrounded by the Champlain Valley, in upstate New York, Vermont and southern Quebec, spanning the United States and Canada, mostly lying within the U.S.; separating the Adirondacks from the Green Mountains and Appalachians.
• Lake HuronOne of the Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, a bay of Lake Michigan–Huron.
• Lake NeuchâtelA lake in north-west Switzerland, on which the city of Neuchâtel is situated; it is the largest lake entirely within Switzerland.
• Lake SuperiorA lake in Canada and the United States: the largest of the Great Lakes, the largest freshwater lake in the world by area, and the third largest freshwater lake in the world by volume.
• LakurawaA radical Islamic armed group operating in parts of Africa.
• lamantinSynonym of manatee.
• LamartinianOf or pertaining to Alphonse de Lamartine.
• lamaseryA monastery for lamas.
• lambdoidShaped like the Greek letter lambda
• lambelA label (charge from which pendants are hung).
• lambrequinA scarf or other piece of material used as a covering for a helmet.
• laméA fabric made from gold or silver threads and silk, wool or cotton.
• lamellicornHaving a group of flat lamellae on the end.
• LamountainA surname from French.
• lampasA type of luxury fabric with a background weft.
• lampasséLangued.
• lampic acidA supposed acid formed by heating ether with a limited supply of air.
• lampionA small oil lamp.
• lampronA lamprey.
• LanaudièreAn administrative region of Quebec, Canada.
• LanconA surname.
• langdebeefbristly oxtongue, a type of daisy.
• langousteThe spiny lobster
• langoustineA small edible European orange-pink lobster, Nephrops norvegicus
• languedHaving the tongue visible (and typically of a specified tincture).
• langue de chatSynonym of cat's tongue; small chocolate biscuit shaped like a the tongue of a cat.
• LanguedocianOf or relating to Languedoc, an area and historical region of France.
• langue d'oïlThe language of medieval France, north of the Loire, in which the word oïl was used for “yes”.
• LannemezanA town in Hautes-Pyrénées department, France.
• la nouvelle mangaAn artistic movement centred on comics created in France and Belgium (bande dessinée), or by extension Europe, in the style of Japanese comics (manga).
• L'AnseA village on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States, which is the county seat of Baraga County.
• L'Anse AmourA community in Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• L'Anse-au-ClairA town in Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• L'Anse-au-DiableA ghost town in Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• L'Anse-au-LoupA town in Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• lansquenetAny of a class of German mercenaries of the 15th and 16th centuries, most of whom were pikemen and foot soldiers.
• lanterlooA meaningless chant or refrain.
• lanterne rougeThe competitor in last place in a competition; the person or entity at the bottom of a ranking
• LanuéjolsA village and commune of Gard department, Occitania, France.
• lapalissadeAn obvious, self-evident truth, especially humorously so; a tautology or truism.
• lapalissianVery obvious, completely apparent.
• Lapeer CountyOne of 83 counties in Michigan, United States. County seat: Lapeer.
• LaperleA surname from French.
• LapierA surname from French.
• lapinizeTo attenuate a virus, such that it can be used to make a vaccine, by passage through rabbits.
• La PointeA town and unincorporated community therein, in Ashland County, Wisconsin, United States.
• La PorteA census-designated place in Plumas County, California, United States.
• LaPorte CountyOne of 92 counties in Indiana, United States. County seat: La Porte.
• LaPriseA surname from French.
• La RéunionA utopian socialist community formed in 1855 by primarily French, Belgian, and Swiss colonists on the south bank of the Trinity River in central Dallas County, Texas, United States.