Obs. Also 7 kellow, 8 cullow. [Of unknown origin.
Mod dicts., into which the word has passed from Johnson, Todd, etc., repeat the suggestion of Woodward (cited by J.) that killow may be connected with COLLOW, soot, grime; but the form is against this.]
A name formerly given (orig. in Cumberland) to black-lead, plumbago or graphite.
1666. Merrett, Pinax Brit., 218. Lapis cæruleus Killow dictus ducendis lineis idoneus.
1698. Plot, in Phil. Trans., XX. 183. The Mineral Substance, called, Black Lead … found only at Keswick in Cumberland, and there called, Wadt, or Kellow.
1706. Phillips, Killow, a sort of Mineral Stone.
1763. W. Lewis, Comm. Phil. Techn., 324. The black earthy substance called Killow…. The killow has somewhat of a bluish or purplish cast mixed with its blackness.
