ker-
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Now stands in for a thud, but continuation[1] of Scottish Gaelic cur-, variant of Scottish Gaelic car (“char”), cognate with Irish cor, English char, Dutch keer (“time, turn, occasion”), German Kehre (“turn, bight, bend”), Greek γύρος (gýros, “bout, whirl”), gyre. Early uses were often collocated with went.[2]
Prefix
ker-
- (often humorous) Used to form various onomatopoeiae.
- [The book] has suspense, pathos, bravery, and the bad guys get it in the end with a big KERWHAM! [1]
Derived terms
- kerboom (UK), kaboom (US)
- kerchunk
- kerflop
- kerfluffle
- kerplunk
- kerpow
- kerslap
- kerslop
- kersplat
- kersplode
- kersplosh
- kerthump
- kerwallop
- kerwham
References
- ^ cur-, Dictionary of the Scots Language, www.dsl.ac.uk.
- ^ ker-, prefix, Oxford English Dictionary Online, oed.com.