ker-

ker-

an unstressed syllable prefixed to onomatopoeic and other expressive words, usu. forming adverbs or interjections: kerflop; kerplunk; ker-splosh.

Compare ca-

[perhaps < Scots dial. car-, cur-, currie- (as in carfuffle, carwhuffle to disarrange), based on car, earlier ker left (hand or side) < Scottish Gaelic cearr wrong, awkward, left-handed]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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