Kilmarnock , city (1991 pop. 51,799), East Ayrshire, SW Scotland. An industrial town in a mining area, it has industries that manufacture carpets, hosiery, farm and hydraulic machinery, whiskey, and shoes. Its textile industry (bonnets) dates from 1603; its dairy industry is also well known. Robert Burns's first poems were published there in 1786; the Burns Monument has a museum.