Definitions for: Kidney


[n] either of two bean-shaped excretory organs that filter wastes (especially urea) from the blood and excrete them and water in urine; urine passes out of the kidney through ureters to the bladder



Webster (1913) Definition: Kid"ney, n.; pl. Kidneys. [OE. kidnei, kidnere, from
Icel. koi?r belly, womb (akin to Goth. gipus, AS. cwip womb)
+ OE. nere kidney; akin to D. nier, G. niere, OHG. nioro,
Icel. n?ra, Dan. nyre, Sw. njure, and probably to Gr. (?) Cf.
Kite belly.]


1. (Anat.) A glandular organ which excretes urea and other
waste products from the animal body; a urinary gland.

Note: In man and in other mammals there are two kidneys, one
each side of vertebral column in the back part of the
abdomen, each kidney being connected with the bladder
by a long tube, the ureter, through which the urine is
constantly excreted into the bladder to be periodically
discharged.

2. Habit; disposition; sort; kind. --Shak.

There are in later other decrees, made by popes of
another kidney. --Barrow.

Millions in the world of this man's kidney.
--L'Estrange.

Your poets, spendthrifts, and other fools of that
kidney, pretend, forsooth, to crack their jokes on
prudence. --Burns.

Note: This use of the word perhaps arose from the fact that
the kidneys and the fat about them are an easy test of
the condition of an animal as to fatness. ``Think of
that, -- a man of my kidney; -- . . . as subject to
heat as butter.'' --Shak.

3. A waiter. [Old Cant] --Tatler.

Floating kidney. See Wandering kidney, under Wandering.


Kidney bean (Bot.), a sort of bean; -- so named from its
shape. It is of the genus Phaseolus (P. vulgaris). See
under Bean.

Kidney ore (Min.), a variety of hematite or iron
sesquioxide, occurring in compact kidney-shaped masses.

Kidney stone. (Min.) See Nephrite, and Jade.

Kidney vetch (Bot.), a leguminous herb of Europe and Asia
(Anthyllis vulneraria), with cloverlike heads of red or
yellow flowers, once used as a remedy for renal disorders,
and also to stop the flow of blood from wounds;
lady's-fingers.

See Also: adrenal, adrenal gland, arcuate artery of the kidney, arcuate vein of the kidney, arteria renalis, excretory organ, nephron, pelvis, renal artery, renal cortex, renal pelvis, renal vein, suprarenal gland, urinary organ, urinary tract, uriniferous tubule, vena arcuata renis, vena renalis, venae interlobulares renis, venae renis

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