Chiefly dial. Also 7 keksy, 9 kicksey, kexy, gicksy. [f. kecks, KEX, prob. by taking the pl. kexes as = kexies.] = KEX, a hollow plant-stem.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., V. ii. 52. Hatefull Docks, rough Thistles, Keksyes, Burres.
1800. Hurdis, Fav. Village, 109. Thou wonder-working Frost, that in a night … covers the lake, E’en to the kicksey vulnerable erst.
1816. Coleridge, Lay Serm., in Biog. Lit. (1882), 326. Among other odd burrs and kecksies.
1825. Britton, Beauties Wilts., III. (E. D. S.), Kecks, Kecksy.
1886. S. W. Linc. Gloss., s.v. Kex, As dry as an dd kecksy.
