1
general::
Also, sort of. Rather, somewhat, as in I'm kind of hungry, or The bird looked sort of like a sparrow. [Colloquial; c. 1800] This usage should not be confused with a kind of or a sort of, which are much older and refer to a borderline member of a given category (as in a kind of a shelter or a sort of a bluish color). Shakespeare had this usage in Two Gentlemen of Verona (3:1): "My master is a kind of a knave." Also see OF A KIND.
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
Phrase(s): Kind of.
Go to Sort of., Phrase(s): kind of something
Go to sort of something., Phrase(s): a kind of something
a variety of something that is fairly close to the real thing, even though it is not exactly the real thing. (See also kind of something.) • I used a folded newspaper as a kind of hat to keep the rain off. • Bill is serving as a kind of helper or assistant on this project.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs