From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
kit
n 1: a case for containing a set of articles
2: gear consisting of a set of articles or tools for a specified
purpose [syn: kit, outfit]
3: young of any of various fur-bearing animals; "a fox kit"
v 1: supply with a set of articles or tools [syn: kit out,
kit up, kit]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Kit \Kit\, n. [Cf. D. kit a large bottle, OD. kitte beaker,
decanter.]
1. A large bottle.
[1913 Webster]
2. A wooden tub or pail, smaller at the top than at the
bottom; as, a kit of butter, or of mackerel. --Wright.
[1913 Webster]
3. A straw or rush basket for fish; also, any kind of basket.
[Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.
[1913 Webster]
4. A box for working implements.
[1913 Webster]
5. Hence: A collection of tools or other objects to be used
for a specific purpose, often contained in a box which may
be carried conveniently; a working outfit, as of a
workman, a soldier, and the like; as, a plumber's kit; a
doctor's kit; a cosmetic kit; a first-aid kit.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
6. A group of separate parts, things, or individuals; -- used
with whole, and generally contemptuously; as, the whole
kit of them; the whole kit and kaboodle.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
kit \kit\, (k[i^]t), v. t. [imp. kitte.]
To cut. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
kit \kit\, n. [See Kitten.]
A kitten.
[1913 Webster]
Kit fox (Zool.), a small burrowing fox (Vulpes velox),
inhabiting the region of the Rocky Mountains. It is
brownish gray, reddish on the breast and flanks, and white
below. Called also swift fox.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Kit \Kit\, n. [Gf. AS. cytere harp, L. cithara. Cf. Guitar.]
A small violin. "A dancing master's kit." --Grew.
[1913 Webster]
Prince Turveydrop then tinkled the strings of his kit
with his fingers, and the young ladies stood up to
dance. --Dickens.
[1913 Webster]
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008) [foldoc]:
kit
<jargon> (Usenet, possibly from DEC) Slang for a full
software distribution, as opposed to a patch or upgrade. A
source software distribution that has been packaged in such a
way that it can (theoretically) be unpacked and installed
according to a series of steps using only standard Unix
tools, and entirely documented by some reasonable chain of
references from the top-level README file. The more general
term distribution may imply that special tools or more
stringent conditions on the host environment are required.
[Jargon File]
(1994-11-18)
From Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) [jargon]:
kit
n.
[Usenet; poss.: fr.: DEC slang for a full software distribution, as
opposed to a patch or upgrade] A source software distribution that has
been packaged in such a way that it can (theoretically) be unpacked
and installed according to a series of steps using only standard Unix
tools, and entirely documented by some reasonable chain of references
from the top-level README file. The more general term distribution
may imply that special tools or more stringent conditions on the host
environment are required.