A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
KEEL
Centerline strength member running fore and aft along the bottom of a vessel;
the vessel's backbone.
KING PIN
A coupling pin centered on the front underside of a truck chassis; couples to
the tractor.
KNOCKED DOWN (K D)
Articles which are disassembled either to reduce the cubic footage displaced or
to make a better shipping unit, to be reassembled at destination; e.g.
knocked down furniture.
KNOT
Unit of speed equal to one nautical mile (6,080.20 ft.) per hour. One statute
mile equals .868 nautical mile, or one nautical mile equals 1.15 statute miles.
In the days of sail, speed was measured by tossing a log overboard which was
secured by a line to the vessel. Knots were tied into the line at approximately
six feet intervals (the breadth of a man’s arm span). As the vessel sailed on,
the number of knots passing over the side in a measured period of time were
counted and thus became the measure of ship’s speed.
KNOWN LOSS
A loss that has already occurred and is known to exist by one or both parties
prior to the placement of insurance coverage. As a condition of the placement of
the insurance, a warranty "no known or reported losses" is frequently
used by the insurance company to exclude such losses.