Full text of "A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles: Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by the Philological Society"



COLLEGLge of tWJ 

OF THE PACIFIC 



&lt;VN 

rary 





N 

I 



A NEW 







ENGLISH DICTIONARY 

#Q * 



ON HISTORICAL PRINCIPLES ; 



FOUNDED MAINLY ON THE MATERIALS COLLECTED BY 



*. 

A., , ! ,. 

^V 



EDITED BY 



SIR JAMES, A H. MURRAY, 

B.A. LONDON, JI.A. OXFORD, LL.D. EUIN. ANDGLASG., I.ITT D. DUBLIN ANDCAMB., D.C.L. DURHAM, D.LITT. WALES AND CAPE TOWS, 

PH.D. FREIBURG i.B. ; FELLOW OF BRITISH ACADEMY AND ROYAL SOCIETY EUIS. ; FOREIGN CORRESP. MEMBER OF THE 

INSTITUTE OF FRANCE (ACAD. INSCR.), THE IMPERIAL AND ROYAL ACADEMIES OF VIENNA, BERLIN, AND FLANDERS, 

THE UAATSCH. NEDERL. LETTERKUNDE, LEIDEN, AND THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 



WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MANY SCHOLARS AND MEN OF SCIENCE. 



VOLUME VIII. 

Q, B. 
BY W.^A. CRAIGIE, 

H.A. OXON.JvM.A., LL.D.yST, ANDREWS. 



BY HENRY 7 fiRADLEY, 

HON. M.A. OXON. J PH.D. HEIDELBERG ; P.LH i.-nfRHAM ; LITT.D. SHEFFIELD; 
VELLOW OF THIC r.KITIM! ACADLMY. 




OXFORD: 

AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. 

1914. 

[All rig Ills reserved.] 



Cv -- " "S 

P REPACK TO V O L U M E 



volume contains the words beginning with O R edited by W. A. Craigie, and S clown to the end 
of SH edited by Henry Bradley. For observations on the etymological and other characteristics of the 
words Deluded, and for detailed statistics of the numbers of words of various classes, and of the numbers of 
quotations, the reader is referred to the separate prefaces to O R and S-SH. The following summary of the 
figures there given may be found convenient : 







Main 


Subordinate 


Special 


Obvious 


Total No. 


No of 






words. 


words. 


Combinations. 


Combinations. 


of Words. 




Q 

R 
S-Sh 


( 80 pages) 
(936 ) 

(800 ) 


1633 
I ,434 
9431 


4 2 3 

3579 

4192 


265 
3470 


408 
2546 

355 


2729 

17,832 
20,644 


9480 
110,269 
94,497 



Total 21,498 8194 5008 6505 41,205 214,246 

The 21,498 Main words are distinguished approximately as follows: 

Current. Obsolete. Alien. Total 

Q 1188 3 Sy 56 ,633 

77 r 2475 2,8 IOH34 

S-Sh 7283 1671 477 943 , 



I( V7 2 4535 79 1 21,498 

For the letters Q-SH the comparative scale of this work and of certain other Dictionaries is shown as 
follows : 

Johnson. Encydotsdic . Century Diet. Funk s, Standard . Here. 

Words recorded 37^ l8j30 8 ,,,044 , 9; 8So 41,20, 

Words illustrated by quotations 2959 6427 7476 1899 35,726 

Number of illustrative quotations 10,523 10,123 ?i,92i 2646 214,246 

The quotations in Richardson s Dictionary in Q-SH are 10,228. 

The aggregate numbers for the first eight volumes of the Dictionary (A-SH) are : 

Mai ." Subordinate Special Obvious Total Illustrative 

orc!t " words. Combinations, Combinations. \vords. quotations. 

l82 &gt;o&gt;7 48,634 35, 47 43,324 306,122 1,298,13.6 

Of the 182,017 Main words 162,306 are current, 15,732 obsolete, 3,979 alien. 






PREFACE TO THE LETTERS Q AND R. 

THIS half-volume contains the words which begin with O and R, the former being few in number in 
comparison with the latter. When reckoned up according to the system adopted for previous letters, O is 
found to include 1633 Main words, 265 Combinations explained under these, and 423 Subordinate entrie 
of obsolete or variant forms; in all 2321. The obvious Combinations, recorded and illustrated by 
quotations, but not requiring to be explained, number 408 more. Of the Main words, 389 are marked f as 
obsolete, and 56 are marked || as alien or not fully naturalized. 

On the other hand, R includes 10,434 Main words, 1273 special Combinations, 3.579 Subordinate 
entries, or in all 15,286; there are further 2546 obvious Combinations, making a total of 17,832. Of 
the Main words 2475 are marked as obsolete, and 258 as alien.* 

The words beginning with Q (which in ordinary use is always followed by it) may as a whole be 
divided into three main classes, the native English, the Romanic (chiefly Latin and French), and those 
adopted from more remote (especially African, Asiatic, and American) languages. Of these classes the 
second is by far the greatest, and covers rather more than ,50 pages out of the total of 80 required by 
this letter, which from the dictionaiy point of view is one of the smallest in the alphabet. A considerable 
number of words have been taken over from Latin without any change of form, as quxre, quantum, quarto, 
quondam, quorum, etc., while many more have been assimilated to the usual English types. Some of these 
had their immediate source in Old French, which has also contributed very largely, e.g. quaint, quarrel, 
quarry, quarter (with a remarkable development of special senses, combinations, etc., extending to 19 
columns), quest, quit, quite. Under the influence of the French and Latin spelling, qn- was substituted for 
the Old English cw-, and this accounts for the appearance here of a certain number of native words, covering, 
however, no more than 16 pages. The most important of these are quake, quean, queen, auell, quench, 
quick (which with its derivatives and combinations takes up 18 columns), and quotl There are also 
some later words not demonstrably of foreign origin, a number of which appear to be Imitative ?.nd intended 
to express the idea of shaking or trembling, as quab, quag, quap, quave, quaver, quiver, quop. 1 hf; more alien 
words are of slight importance in comparison with the rest, but include quagga, quassia, and quina (whence 
quinine, etc.). 

The sources of R are more varied than those of Q, the letter being a common initial in many languages, 
but by far the greater number of the words beginning with it are naturally either Teutonic or Romanic. 
Greek, however, is the main source of the combination RH-, which extends over 15 pages. Apart from 
this small portion, the letter falls into two clearly marked divisions. The first of these includes RA- and from 
Rl- to the end, and is marked by a fairly even balance of the Teutonic and Romanic elements, each of which 
contributes a large number of the commonest and most essential words - n the language. As usual, the 
native English words form the largest body within the Teutonic group, next come the Scandinavian, and 
last of all the Dutch, Flemish, and Low or High German. The second division is that of words beginning 
with RE-, which occupy no less than 436 pages, or more than half of the entire letter. By far the greater part 
of these are formed by means of the Latin prefix RE-, the remark-able duvelopment of which in English is 
traced in the special article on pp. 186-7. The vast stretch of sur-h forms, however, is broken here and there 
by important Romanic words of different formation, as real, realm, reason, regal, regular, etc., and by native 
or Scandinavian words, as read, ready, reap, reck, reckon, reed, reef, etc, 

Some other features of R may be briefly noted. It inc- u des a remarkable number of groups of mono 
syllabic words, written and (usually) pronounced alike, bi* of widely divergent origin and meaning. Ex 
amples of these are race, rack, rag, rail, rake, rap, raf~ &gt; rash, rat, rate, rave, ray, and in the later portion, 

* For these letters the comparative scale of this work and some ot - er Dictionaries is shown by the following figures : 

Cassell s 
Johnson. Encyclopedic . Century - Funk s Standard . Here. 

Q. Words recorded 245 874 1058 971 2729 

Words illustrated by quotations i8" 349 461 108 2253 

Number of quotations I 561 - 1316 156 9480 

R. Words recorded 1881 8400 9486 8480 17832 

Words illustrated by quotati "549 337 3755 977 7713 

Number of quotations " "1 5451 11670 1310 110169 

In the corresponding portion of Ri -ardse quotations number 531 for Q and 5765 for R. 



VIH 



PREFACE TO THE LETTERS Q AND R. 



ront, rove, row, rnck, ruff. Very long articles are not numerous, but the verb RUN covers 37 columns, 
and the words derived from it occupy a good many more. The groups RIGHT and ROUND arc also 
extensive, and the adjective RED has developed a surprising number of special collocations. Many 
wordi in R have considerable historical interest, such as ragman *, railroad and railway, reader, receiver, 
recorder, rector, reformation, register, regratcr, reredos, etc., and the treatment of these has frequently required 
special investigation and outside advice. 

The material originally collected for Q was subedited for the Philological Society by Mr. H. Hucks 
Gibbs, afterwards Lord Aldenham, whose work on it was of important service, although much new material 
had accumulated before the final editing began. Part of the original material for R (down to Reb-} was 
very carefully subedited about the same time by the Rev. Prof. Skeat, while at a later date (1885-6) Rec 
to Rig- was done by Mr. P. W. Jacob, and from 1893 to 1895 the remaining portion was worked over by 
Mr. J. Rartlctt. Further work on the earlier part of the letter (down to Rashness) was also done from 1894 
to 1897 by the Rev. G. B. R. Bousfield. Here also much additional material had been collected during the 

intervening years. 

The whole of the proofs of O and R were read by Mr. A. Caland of Wageningcn, whose death on 
Feb. 18 of this year has deprived the Dictionary of one of its most devoted and helpful voluntary workers. 
For the earlier sections they were also read by the late Lord Aldenham (as far as Reserve) and the Rev. 
J. A. Milne (latterly of Cramond, Midlothian). Mr. H. Chichestcr Hart read those of R down to the time 
of his death in 1908, and the Rev. Canon Fowler of Durham has helped with the later sections of the letter. 

In the etymologies of all words adopted from languages not generally studied constant help was received 
from the late Mr. James Platt, Jun., who had made this branch of study particularly his own, and continually 
anticipated the needs of the Dictionary in respect of such words. For help readily given on other points 
acknowledgements arc due to many persons, of whom the following require to be specially mentioned : 
Dr. Bywatcr, Prof. Cook Wilson, the Provost of Oriel, Mr. H. T. Gerrans, the Controller of the University 
Press, and the Librarian of the Indian Institute ; the Rev. Prof. Skeat, Dr. Furnivall, Prof. Toller, the 
Rev. Prof. Hogg, Manchester, and Prof. Latta, Glasgow; the former and the present Keeper of the Advocates 
Library, Edinburgh, the late Dr. T. G. Law of the Signet Library, Dr. D. Hay Fleming, and Mr. Maitland 
Anderson of the University Library, St. Andrews. Dr. A. M c Kenzie of the Birkbeck Institute has assisted 
with chemical terms, and Mr. C. Davics Sherbornc supplied a number of references for words belonging to 
the physical sciences. The numerous contributions of Mr. R. J. Whitwell have, as always, been of the 
greatest service for the treatment of legal and historical terms. In addition to these, many persons, in some 
cases on behalf of business firms, have readily given useful information relating to the origin, history, or some 
particular application of a single word. 

The important work of verification at the British Museum Library, without which many matters would 
remain doubtful, was voluntarily performed by Mr. E. L. Brandreth until his death in Dec. 1907, and since 
then has been generously undertaken by Mr. W. W. Jenkinson. 

The assistants who have taken a leading share in the preparation of Q and R, either during the whole 
or a considerable part of the time, have been Messrs. E. J. Thomas, J. M. Ramsay, L. F. Powell, F. R. Ray, 
R. Girvan, J. H. Smithwhite, G. Watson, H. E. G. Rope, and Mrs. L. F. Powell. The words beginning with 
Rll- were separately prepared by^Mr. C. T. Onions. 

J.IL- W. A. CRAIGIE. 

OXFORD, March, 1910. 



KEY TO THE PRONUNCIATION 



I. CONSONANTS. 



g as in 

h ... Ao\ (hon). 

r ... ran (rzm), terrier (te riaj). 

i ... her (hai), farther ( 

s ... see (si), cess (ses). 

w ... wen (wen). 

hw ... when (hwen). 

y ... .yes (yes). 



ORDINARY. 

a as in Fr. &lt;J la mode (a la mod ). 
ai ... aye=^w (ai), Isazah (aizai-a). 
se ... man (msen). 

pass (pas), chant (tjant). 

loud (laud), now (nau). 

cut (kot), son (sen). 

y&lt;rt (yet), ten (ten). 

survey sb. (sS ive), Fr. attach/ (atajc). 

Fr. chrf(Jjf). 

evr (evsj), nation (n^-Jan). 

/, eye, (ai), bz nd (baind). 

Fr. eau &e vie (p d? vi" ). 

sz t (sit), nystz c (mistik). 

Psych* (sai-kz), rract (rz ,se kt). 

achOT (? -koj), morality (morse llti). 

oft (oil), b&lt;y (boi). 

hero (hl ro), zoology (zoi^lodji). 

what (hwgt), watch (wgtf). 

got (g p t), soft (s^ft). 

Ger. Koln (koln). 

Fr. feu (po). 

fll (ful), book (buk). 

dwration (diur^i-Jan). 

unto (vntu), fragality (fr-). 

Matthew (mx-]&gt;iu), \\ttue (vautia). 

Ger. Miller (mii ler). 

Fr. dwne (dn). 

I, e, 6 , u) ) 

e?,*.) {seep.x.v-.notes. 

as in able (^b l), eaten (zt n) = voice-glide. 



a 
au 
t&gt; 
e 

e 
II { 

a 

ai 
|| a 

i 

i 

o 

oi 

o 

9 

P, f 
II o 
l|o 

u 

iu 



iu 
|| u 
|| 



* . 



(see 



b, d, f, k, 1, m, n, p, t, v, z have their usual values. 

\ as in thin (pin), ba//z (ba]&gt;). 

8 ... then (Sen), ba//ze (b?3). 

J ... shop (Jop), duA (dij). 

tj ... cAop (tjfp), &\tch (ditj). 

3 ... vision (vi gan), de; euner (depone). 



singing (si-rjirj), thik ({ ink). 
fi?er (firjgaj). 



II. VOWELS. 

LONG, 
a as in alms (amz), bar (bai). 



v ... cm\ (kjl), fr (fj). 

e (e)... th^re (^Sej), p^ar, pare (pea). 

e(el}.,. rein, lain (r?n), thy/ (to). 

I ... Fr. faz re (f|r ). 

5 ... fz r (fsj), fern (fain), earth (ajj&gt;). 



I (!)... bzVr (blj), clzr (kllaj). 

* ... thzVf (Jizf), see (sf). 

0(09)... boar, bore (boej), glory (glos ri). 

o (on)... so, sow (s&lt;?u), sol (soil). 

g ... wa/k (wgk), wart (wgjt). 

f ... short (JpJt), thorn ()&gt;m). 

|| 6 ... Fr. co^ar (kor). 

11 o ... Ger. Gothe (gote), Fr. j^ne (JOT). 

u (u) . . poor (pu-u), moorish (mu rij). 

iu, iu . . . pare (piua), Izzre (liuj). 

u ... two moons (tu mz7nz). 

i,la... few (nii), lte (1 at). 



H w ... Ger. gra n 



^ Fr, js (g). 



-- 



(FOREIGN.) 

n as in French nasal, eviro;z f zron). 
1 ... It. sera^/zo (sera lV). 
n j ... It. si^ore (sz n o re). 
X ... Ger. a&lt;r/z (ax), Sc. \fch (\ox.&gt; lox*) 
X y ... Ger. \ch (ix*), S&lt;x^//t (nex r t). 
7 ... Ger. 

Ger. le^en, re^Ku (Ir^ eu, 




OBSCURE. 
a as in amceba (amz~ba). 



... accept (sekse pt), maniac (nv 1- ni:k). 



v ... datum (d^ tym). 

e ... moment (mo"-ment;, several 

e ... sepuraie (adj.) (se pari t). 

... added (x ded), entail (in^) 



... vanz ty (vsc mtl). 

... remain (r/in* 1 ^, Mievc 

... theory (Ji/ oriN 

.-.. vHet (v*tflet), parody ( 



e kt), amaz&lt;m 



^ ver( ^ - e (.vaudiiu), measure (me g ill,. 
... altoge ther 
iii ... drcalar 



iii. 



the o in soft, of medial or doubtful length. 



Only in foreign (or earlier English) words. 






In the^ 

OE. e, o, representing an earlier a, are distinguished as {, o (h;. ac ^etic value of and f, or 9, ..bove ; as in encte from andi (OHG. anli, 

Goth, andei-s" P" n frjm &lt;", pn from a. 



LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS, SIGNS, &c. 



a. fin Etymol.] .. 

a (M a 1300) 

a., adj., adj 

absol, absol 

abst. = abstract. 

ace 

i ad. [in Etymol.].. 



= adoption of, adopted from. 
= ante, before. 
= adjective. 
= absolutely. 



= accusative. 

= adaptation of. 

= adverb. 

advb. = adverbial, -ly. 

AF., AFr. = Anglo-French. 

Anal = in Anatomy. 

Antiq = in Antiquities. 

aphet = aphetic, aphetized. 

app = apparently. 

Arab = Arabic. 

Arch = in Architecture. 

arch = archaic. 

ArchKol. -- in Archaeology. 

assoc = association. 

IAstr. = n Astronomy. 
Astral. = i; Astrology. 
a .trib = acributive, -ly. 

bef. , = be ore. 

Bial. = in Oology. 

Boh = Bohcniaa. 

Bot = in Bonny. 

Build. = in BuMing. 

c (as ^1300) = circa, alout. 

^. (as 1 3th c.) = century. 

Cat = Catalan. 

= catachrestically. 

Cf., cf. = confer, compare. 

Chun = in Chemistry. 

cl. L = classical Latin. 

:o~n. w = cognate with. 

&lt;V:Vcf = collective, -ly. 

Cfffhf( = colloquially. 

comb = combined, -ing. 

. Comb. = Combinations. 

Comm. = in commercial usage. 

comp = compound, composition. 

"ompl = complement. 

Conen = ; n Conchology. 

ancr concretely. 

&lt;""*/ = conjunction. 

cons *-.. consonant. 

j Const., Const. ... = Construction, construed 
. with. 

Cryst = in Crystallography. 

IX) = in E-Mies (Supp. 

Gloss*) 

Da = Danish. 

dat = dative. 

def. = definite. f, 

dc. : v = derivntive, -r 

dial., dial. = dialect. - . 

Diet = Dictionary. 

dim = diminutive. 

&gt;Du = Dutch. 

Etc! = in ecclesiastical usage. 

ellipt = elliptical, -ly. 

e. midl = east midland (dialect). 

Eng = English. 

Ent in Entomology. 

erron = erroneous, -ly. 

esp., esp = especially. 

etyra = etymology. 

euphem = euphemistically. 

exc = except. 

f. [in Etymo .] ... = formed on. 
f. (in subordinate 

entries) = form of. 

fern, (rarely f.) ... = feminine. 

fir. = figurative, -ly. 

F., Fr = French. 

freq = frequently. 

-"Fris = Frisian. 

5., Ger = German. 

Gael = Gaelic. 



Eng. 



gen 

gen 

gen. sign 

Geol 

Geom 

Goth 

Gr 

Gram 

Heb 

Her. 

Herb 

Hort 

imp 

impers 

impf. 

ind. 

indef. 

iff- 

infl 

int 

intr. 

It 

J, (J.) 
(Jam.) 






(L.) (in quotations) 
lang ................ 

LG ................... 

lit ................... 

Lith ................ 

LXX ................ 

Mai ................ 

masc. (rarely m.) 
Math ................ 

ME ................... 

Mid. ............... 

med.L ............. 

Mich ................ 

Melaph ............. 

MHG ................ 

midl ................ 

Mil. .................. 

Min ................ 

mod ................ 

Mas ................ 



n. of action 

n. of agent 

Nat. Hist 

Navt 

neut. (rarely n.) 

NF., NFr 

N.O 

nom 

north 

N.T 

Numism 

obj 

Obs., obs., obs 

I occas 

OE.... 



OFr. 



Olr. 

ON.... . 
ONF. .. 

Oft 

Ornith. 

OS 

OS1 

O.T _. 

OTeu* 
orip 



-... 



pa. pple. . 
pass 



= genitive. 

= general, -ly. 

-. general signification. 

= in Geology. 

= in Geometry. 

= Gothic (=Mceso-Gothic). 

= Greek. 

= in Grammar. 

= Hebrew. 

= in Heraldry. 

= with herbalists. 

= in Horticulture. 

= Imperative. 

= impersonal. 

= imperfect. 

= Indicative. 

= indefinite. 

= Infinitive. 

= influenced. 

= interjection. 

= intransitive. 

= Italian. 

= Johnson (quotation from). 

= in Jamieson, Scottish Diet. 

= Jodrell (quoted from). 

= Latin. 

= Latham s edn. of Todd s 

= language. [Johnson. 

= Low German. 

= literal, -ly. 

= Lithuanian. 

= Septuagint. 

= Malay. 

= masculine. 

= in Mathematics. 

= Middle English. 

= in Medicine. 

= mediaeval Latin. 

= in Mechanics. 

= in Metaphysics. 

= Middle High German. 

= midland (dialect). 

= in military usage. 

= in Mineralogy. 

= modern. 

= in Music. 

= Nares (quoted from). 

= noun of action. 

= noun of agent. 

= in Natural History. 

= in nautical language. 

= neuter. 

= Northern French. 

= Natural Order. 

= nominative. 

= northern (dialect). 
, = New Testament. 
. = in Numismatics. 
. = object. 
. = obsolete. 
. = occasional, -ly. 
. = Old English ( = Anglo- 
Saxon). 

. = Old French. 
. = Old Frisian. 
, = Old High German. 
. = Old Irish. 

..= Old Norse (Old Icelandic) 
. = Old Northern French. 
.. = in Optics. 
,. = in Ornithology. 
.. = Old Saxon. 
.. = Old Slavonic. 
.. = Old Testament. 
.. = Original Teutonic. 
-= original, -ly. 

" Paleontology. 
.. pav_j ve or past participle. 
= 



pa. t = past tense. 

Path = in Pathology. 

perh = perhaps. 

Pers - Persian. 

pert = person, -al. 

pf. . = perfect. 

f&gt;g = Portuguese. 

Phii ol . "". . .. = in Philology. 

phonet = phonetic, -ally. 

phr. = phrase. 

Phren = in Phrenology. 

Phys = in Physiology. 

pi.,//. = plural. 

poet = poetic. 

pop = popular, -ly. 

///. a., ppl. adj. ... = participial adjective. 

pple = participle. 

p r = Proven9al. 

prec. ... . .. ... = preceding (word or article). 

pref. = prefix. 

prep = preposition. 

pres = present. 

Prim, sign = Primary signification. 

priv = privative. 

prob = probably. 

pron = pronoun. 

pronunc = pronunciation. 

prop = properly. 

p ros = in Prosody. 

pr. pple = present participle. 

Psych = in Psychology. 

q v = quod vide, which see. 

n^ ) = in Richardson s Diet. 

k.C.cH...... . ...... = Roman Catholic Church. 

refash = refashioned, -ing. 

re/., red = reflexive. 

reg = regular. 

repr = representative, representing. 

Rhet. ... . . = in Rhetoric. 

R orn . = Romanic, Romance. 

sb., sb = substantive. 

Sc = Scotch. 

sc = scilicet, understand or?upply. 

sing. = singular. 

Skr = Sanskrit. 

Slav! = Slavonic. 

Sp = Spanish. 

sp = spelling. 

spec = specifically. 

S ubj = subject, subjunctive. 

subord.cl. = subordinate clause. 

subseq = subsequently. 

su bst = substantively. 

suff. = suffix. 

superl = superlative. 

Surg. = in Surgery. 

g w ^ = Swedish. 

s.w. . . = south western (dialect). 

T pp.) = in Todd s Johnson. 

techn = technical, -ly. 

Thtol. = in Theology. 

t r = translation of. 

trans = transitive&gt;^ _. 

trans f. = transferred sense. 

Trig. = in Trigonometry. 

Typog. = in Typography. 

u ]t = ultimate, -ly. 

unkn = unknown. 

U.S = United States. 

v., vb = verb. 

v. str., or w = verb strong, or weak. 

vbl. sb = verbal substantive. 

va r = variant of. 

wd = word. 

\yQ er = West Germanic. 

w . m idl = west midland (dialect). 

\VS.... = West Saxon. 

(Y.)i = i n Col. Yule s Glossary. 

Zool . = in Zoology. 



Before a word or sense. 
~ obsolete. 
= not naturalized. 

In the quo ntions. 
sometimes points out the A ord illustrated. 



In the list of Forms. 
M = before Iioo. 
/2 = I2th c. (iioo to 1200). 
I 3 = i3th c. (1200 to 1300). , 
/5-7 = 1 5th to 1 7th century. (See Generat Explan 
ations, p. ix.) 



In the Etymol. 
* indicates a word or form not actually found, but 

of which the existence is inferred. 
: = extant representative, or regular phonetic 

descendant of. 



The printing of a word in SMALL CAPITALS indicates that further information will be found under uhe word so referred to. 



Q. 






Q(ki),the seventeenth lettcrof the modern and 
the sixteenth of the ancient Roman alphabet, 
was in the latter an adoption of the O (noirira, 
koppd] of some of the early Greek alphabets. The 
Phoenician letter from which this was derived had 
the forms &lt;p, &lt;p,$, and was used as the sign for 
the deeper or more guttural of the two /^-sounds 
which exist in the Semitic tongues (Hebrew p, 
Arabic (J). Though this sound had no real equi 
valent in Greek, &lt;p is found in early inscriptions, 
e. g. as the initial of KopivBos Corinth, but was not 
accepted as a letter of the Athenian alphabet, being 
retained only as a numerical symbol = go. In Latin, 
however, Q was regularly employed, in combina 
tion with V, in representing the double sound (kw) 
which arose partly from the labialized velar guttural, 
as in jm s, quattuor, and partly from a palatal k 
followed by the labial semi-vowel, as in eqmis. In 
the Romanic tongues this Latin combination was 
either retained with its original value, or in certain 
cases (esp. in Fr.) was modified to a simple -sound. 
In the former case the spelling with qu- has com 
monly been retained, even where the sound has at 
a later period been reduced to (k). 

The Latin qu- might naturally have been adopted 
in OE. orthography to represent the Common Teu 
tonic initial combination km- (for which Wulfila 
employed the special sign u) ; but though qu- is 
found in the earliest glosses and occas. in the Rush- 
worth gospels, the ordinary OE. symbol for the 
sound was cw- (in early use also en-}. After the 
Conquest qu- was again introduced, though at first 
sparingly employed ; quart erne appears in the Laud 
MS. of the OE. Chron., an. 1 137, the Lambeth Horn, 
have quic, quiken (but cweS, ciuitSe], and Ormin has 
quctrrtcrrne once, though regularly using cu&gt;- except 
in quapprigan. In the ijth c. the usage varies in 
different MSS., and sometimes even in the same 
text. The earlier version of Layamon has regularly 
qu-, the later civ- ; the Leg. St. Kath. and Jul. have 
cw-, but qu- in quo ; and the A ncren Kiwle usually 
cw-, even in French words, but also qu-, esp. in 
French words. In Gen. & Exod. there is no cw-, 
only qu- or quu- being used. By_the end. of the 
1 3th c. cw- was entirely discontinuerTTand yu- (or 
its variants qv-, qw-~) was the established spelling 
for all cases of the sound (kw), whether of English, 
French, or Latin origin. The author of the Ayen- 
Hte, however, also writes hi-, and this, as well as 
zw-,is occas. found in other MSS. of the 14-15111 c. 
In certain dialects of ME., however, the combina 
tion^- (qmt-,qv-,qw-} was not confined towordsin 
which it represented OE. cw- or Romanic qu-, but 
also took the place of ordinary ME. ivh- (OE. hiv-}, 
as in quan, quat, qvele, qwelpe = when, what, wheel, 
whelp. The earliest occurrence of these spellings 
is in Gen. & Exod., where they are exclusively 
employed ; in later use they are characteristically 
northern, and are found as .late as 1570, Levins 
having quilome, quip = whilome, whip. In the 
14-1 5th c. the combinations qh- and qhw- are simi 
larly employed in MSS. written in the NE. mid 
lands. Scottish scribes preferred quh- (qvh-, qwh-), 
which is also, though more rarely, used in northern 
English MSS. ; this orthography survived till the 
ijth c., and is defended "by A. Hume (Orthogr. 
Brit. Tongue 18) as a more correct method of 

* ?ITTT 



representing the sound than wh-. On the other 
hand wh- was freq. written by northern scribes 
in the 14-151!] c. in place oiqu-, as nuhik, whetne, 
white = quick, queme, quite ; and alliteration of 
original qu- with ih- is not infrequent in some 
poems, as the Wars of Alexander, Destr. Troy, 
and Morte Arthure. The pron. implied by this is 
still current in the northern and north-midland 
counties (not in Scotland) : see esp. the words 
QUAINT, QUEME, QUEY, QUICK. 

In certain words of French origin, qu- varies 
with c- in ME. and early mod.E. As in OF., this 
is most common when oi or ui follows : see the 
forms given under coif, coil, coin (quoiii), coyn, 
quoit, cuirass, cuir-bouilli, cuisse, cushion, custron, 
and quaint. More rarely que- replaces original co 
ot cu-, as in quengeoun congeoun, queriger conjure, 
quenquest conquest, queral coral, querch curch, 
quesing cousin, questrel custrel ; with these cf. the 
Norman quemander, quemencher , quemodittS, que- 
nntn, etc. (Godef. and Moisy). In a few cases the 
qu- forms survive in western dial., as querd cord, 
quite coil, quine coin, quirt court. A similar varia 
tion of c and q in native words is rare, but quo- is 
sometimes found for co-, as in quod cpd, quodgel 
cudgel, quore core, quorn corn : see also QUEEST, 
QUITCH s/&gt;. 1 and COUCH si/. 2 , QUID si&gt;. s 

In ordinary mod.Engl. words Q is employed only 
in the combination qu, whether this is initial as 
in quake, quality, medial as in equal, sequence, 
or forming u final consonant (k) as in cheque, ftque, 
grotesque. There is, however, a growing tendency 
among scholars to use Q by itself to Iran, literate 
the Semite kiiph, writing, e. g., Qabbala, QaraHe, 
Quran. l"f Cm .io o , Karaite, Ksran. 

I. 1. Illustrations ot the c.ic of tit letter. 

c 1000 ALLVKIC Grain, iii. (Z.) 6, n ai d k eendia* on t. 
aefter rihte. q ^eendaS on it. 1530 PALSGR. 9 Whan 1&gt; 
followeth q in a frenche wordc..thln shall it left un 
sounded, a 1637 B. JONSON /&gt;. Cram, iv, 1 e English 
Saxons knew nut this halting Q, vith her wai ig-woman 
it after her. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s. v., Vany gr?m- 
marians, in imitation of the Greeks, banish tlu v*. as a 
superfluous letter. 1797 l.ltcycl. Brit. ted. 31 724/2 The q ir 
never sounded alone, but in conjunction with u. .and nev. 
ends any English word. 1872 MORRIS Enff. Accid 61 
From this table of consonants we huve onvtted. v t because 
this is equivalent to lew. 

2. Used to denote serial order, as O Battery , 
Section Q , etc., or as a symbol of sci n -hing or 
person, a point in a diagram, etc. 

f 3. Q in the corner, ? puss in the rjrner. Olis. 

1782 Miss BURNEY Cecilia I. 41, I will eitUir hide or seek 
with any boy in the parish ; and for a Q in the corner, 
there is none more celebrated. 

II. Abbreviations. 

1. Of Latin words or phraS. f a. Q (in 
medireval notation) = 500; q, qu. = QUASI, as 
if ; q. = quadrans farthing, fftt, b. f 1- d. = 
quasi dictum as if said , ftasi dirat as if one 
should say , etc.; fq. e. ? u &lt;&gt;d est which is ; 
q. v. = quod vide whicl see , fc. From the 
language of medical pretriptions : q. 1. = quantum 
libet, q. pi. = quan u&gt;." placet as much as one 
pleases ; q. s. = QUANTUM SUFFICIT ; q. v. = quan 
tum vis as much as you wish . d. Formula; 
placed at the eni .^f mathematical problems, etc. : 
Q.E.D., Q.E.F., QE-I., = quod erat demonstran 
dum, facinidum. inveniendum, which was to be 
demonstrrted^i Jne, found . 



1542 RECORDS Gr. Aries (rs? .) 29, q a farthing the iiijpart 
of a penny. 1631 WEEVER /\M. Fun. Man. 240 Worth 1412 /. 
4*. 7^. ob. q. 1658 PHILMPS, Aifrcton q. Alfred s Town. 
1678 Ibid. (ed. 4), Bangle-lured (in. Bendle-earedl. 1710 
Land. Gaz. No, 4706, 2 The Ballance . . amounting to 
7ioi9/. is. 5^. 2&lt;?. has been.. credited to the Publick. 1721 
BAILEY, Gossip, of Ca^nr/J Syb,. .a Kinsman,,?, d. Kindred 
in God. 1722 QUINCY J hys. Viet. 69/2, q. s. A sufficient 
Quantity. 1818 MooKfc Fudge Fam. Paris ii. 127 The 
argument s quite Mew, you see, And proves exactly Q. E. D. 
1848 MRS. GASKELI M. Uarton (1882) 86/2 [My thoughts 
don t follow each other like the Q. E. D. of a Proposition 

2. Of English words or phrases, a. Q. = Que-n; 
Q., q. = query, question ; q. (in a ship s lo^) = 
squalls; t q- = quod, QUOTH. Sc. Obs. b. Q.B. = 
Queen ? Bench; Q.C. = Queen s CounseA (! J ice 
Q.C.-dom); Q.M. = Quartermaster ; CM.G. = 
Quartermaster-General; Q. T., q. t. =&lt;r,iet. slang. 
c. | qd. = quod, QUOTH. Obi :,r. = ouarter, quire ; 
qt. = quart, quantity ; qu. - 

1525 Qmiglas ^neis (Small) 
Douglas. 1568 Sawn. MS. in Poeif,* ^ 
18 ffinis .i. Alex . Scott. Ibid, xviii tg. q. Scott oil &gt;&lt;; Mr. 
of Erskyn. 1625 BACON Ess., Prophecies (Arb.) ?6 Ihe 
Q. Mother, .caused the King her H, j5 b?nds Natiiv..e to be 



calculated. 1711 Land.. Gaz. IJ\ 4845/4, 4 
~ 



each 



3 c. of Coffee." 1734 \VARD You,* Math. Guiat fer , 1 , 9 ? 
A Groce- bought 3 c. I qr. 14 Ib. Weight of Cloves. ,^5 
C&gt;?;;/ .\j&gt;. Aug. i44The harl struggle was over, the com- 
parr ,e table-land of Q. C.-Jjm gained. 1884 G. MOORE 
Mwmr rs Wife (1887) 99 ft will be"possible to !.ave one 
spree n the strict q. t. 1893 MRS. CLIFFORD Au it Anne II. 
293 Shp , mister of an eminent Q. C 

Q, ,bs. form of CUE sb2 ; see also Qu. 
,hat, Qheche, Qhom, qhwom, Qhythson- 

yd, obs. ff. WHA?, WHICH, WHOM, WHITSUNTIDE. 

fQu, Q, var of CUE sl&gt;.\ half-a-farthing. Obs. 

CTJ4O, 1617 [.see CUE]. 1554 LYLY Moth. Bomb, in Old 
r . (1814) I. 264 [To Half ^nny] Rather pray there be no 
il of money for then wilt thou go for a q. 1597 ist Pt. 
sltiurn fr. 1 J irnass, i- i. 434 Adew single beare and three 
-jus of brt:?.de. 1674 JEAKE Arith. (i6y6) 77 Some, .divide 
the Farthing int^- 2 Ques, the Q into -2 Gees. 

" O aa (kvvvi), adv. Also qua, qua&gt; [L., the 
abK^iug. fern, of qui who.] In so far as; in the 

1647 ^ARD Simf. Coblt-r 56 Eveiy man was as good a 
man as yb^r Selfe, gun man. 1649 Bounds Publ. Obed. 
(1650) 90 1h * Apostle commands Wives to ^u unut to their 
Husbands, :u*&gt;|y qua Husbands, not qua men. 1776 
Claim Roy Rati^ Churn 17/1 (Stanf.l A body corporate, 
qua corporate, canvn t make an affidavit. 1885 Mnnch. 
Exam. 4 Apr. 4/6 1n\^ r censures are not directed against 
the Church qua Churbb but against the Church gna 
Establishment, 

f Qu abbrev. of l^mtadrans farthing ; cf. 
QUADRANT st*. 1 2 b. 0&&,t!\~ 

1631 WEEVER A nc. Fun. In* 7\6lt was valued at . . three 
pounds fjure shillings, pennie/-.it.e penny qua. 

Qua, obs. northern form qf WHO. 

Quaa, variant of QUAW, bog. St. 

Quaake, obs. var. of QUACK v2 

t Quab, sbl Obs. rare. Also 7 quabbe, 8 
quobb(e. [a. MDu. (and MLG.) quabbe (Du. 
kivab y kwabbc, (L)G. quabbe, Da. kvabbe, Sw. 
qvabba}, burbot or eelpout, gol&gt;y, tadpole; var. of 
quappe y OLG. qucpfa^ 

1. a. A sea-slu^ (see HOLOTHLBIAN sl&gt;.). b. An 
eelpout or burbot. C. (See QUABLTNG.) 

1617 MINSHEU Ductor^ A Quabbe, a kinde of fish. .Hole- 
thuria. Ibid.^ A Quabbe, or Eele-powt. .Mustela jluvia- 
tiiis. 1748 Phil. Trans. XLV. 174 An extraordinar 1 - 
Fish in that Country [Russia], called the Quab, whir 
reported to be first a Tadpole, then a Frog, and 
a Fish. 1799 W. TOOKE View Russian Emt 
Quobbs are likewise In the Irtysh in surprising 

2. Jig. A crude or shapeless thing. 
1628 FORD L&ver s Mel, in. iii, I will she 



A trifle of mine own brain . . a scholar s fancy, A quab ; tis 
nothing else, a very quab. 

Qnab, rf. 2 06s. exc. dial. (quob). Also 7 
quabbe. [ = Du. kivabbe a boggy place ; cf. MLG. 
quabbel slime, and see QOAG.] A marshy spot, 
a bog. Cf. QUABMIRE. 

1617 MINSHEU Dnctor, A Quabbe, or quagmire, a 1656 
USSHER Ann. VI. (1658) 596 Defended by the Maeotis and 
those quabs. 1847 HAI.LIWELL, Quob, a quicksand or bog. 
West. 1879 Miss JACKSON Shrofsh. H ord-bk., Quob, a 
marshy spot in a field ; a quagmire. 

Qnab, v. Obs. exc. dial. (quob). [var. of 
QUAP v. ; cf. G. quabbeln in same sense.] intr. 
To beat, throb, quiver. Hence Quabbing ppl. a. 

1663 Flagtlluin, or O. Cromwell (1672) 123 A dangerous 
impostume [printed -ure] of ambition, whose quabbing, 
beating pains gaue them no rest. 1863 BARNES Dorset 
Gloss., Quob, to quiver, like jelly. 1881 Leicester Gloss., 
Quob, to throb. 

Qua-bird (kwa-baid). U.S. Also 8 quaw-. 
[f. qua, imitative of its note + BIRD.] The Night 
Heron of Norfti America, Nycticorax nxvius or 
Gardeni. 

1789-96 MORSE Amtr. Geos:. 212 Quaw-bird or Frog 
Catcher. 1835 PcnnyCycI. IV. 471 The Night Heron or 

ua Bird . . is found in itolh the old and new world. 1890 
. GOSSE Life P. H. Gosse 115 Thompson s Point, the former 
residence of the night-heron or qua-bird. 

t Qua bling. Obs. rare 1 , [f. QUAB sb.^ + 
-LING.J A goby or gudgeon. 

1617 MINSHEU Dnctor, A Quabling, or little Quabbe,.. 
tC ibio. 

Quabmire. Obs. exc. dial. (quob-). [f. QUAB 
sl&gt;. t or v. , but found earlier.] A quagmire. 

1597 BROUGHTON Ep, Nobit. Eng. Wks. 570 Oversights, 
which for a dry causie bring us to quabmyres. 1841 HARTS- 
HORNE Salop. Antiq. Gloss. 539 Quvhnire, a quagmire. 

Quacha, obs. form of QUAGGA. 

t Qua-cham. Obs. rare 1 . (?) 

1515 BARCLAY Egloges iv. (1570) C. iv. b/2 We other 
Shtnherdes . . Of common sortes, leane, ragged and rent, 
Feu with rude f - r - &lt;;&gt;*-, mini-ham, or with crudd. 

Quacia, ob. form c.l OUASSIA. 
Quaxjk (kwsek),.(i.l Also7quacke. [Abbrev. 
OfQUACKS \t-VER.] 

1. An ignorant pretender to medical or surgical 
skill; oic &gt;"lio boasts to have a knowledge of 
wonderful remedies ; an empiric or impostor in 
medicr.. CHARLATAN 2. 

T. PECKE fa -nassi Puerf. 145 Sir Quac &gt;t Patient 
nothing could cur.- Th&lt;? sn. : ; r. j68&gt; 

*&gt; V OH Folly 47 All these hanl named 

ell. t ... :!0 t make*&gt;o great a tigure : .ick i. 

? " . ^ (1*54)36 Running after QuaiA 

iof Mediohns and Remedies. 1783 CRABLI- 
ftJfA p jlenl quack, long verged h human ills, Whu 
nsults the victim whom he kills. ioo W. IRVW 
^tttckt-rb. (1861) 127 He who Has -jncc ,een vr-dei /he *&gt;- 
jf a quack, is for ever after prone to dabble in drug.. JBJo 
REAL,-. Slight Ailin. 11 Persons would he easily inflin 
by what the quack says. 

2. trans/. One who professes a knowledge 
skill concerning subjects of which he is ignura. 
= CHARLATAN 3. 

1638 FORD Fancies :n. i, There ho sits. .The very qu. 
eds. quaik, quake] of fashK-n- i7io3TEELF. ratler^\- 
2 Rules for knowing the Quacks m both Professions [1 

id Physic]. 1781 COWPER Progr. :~&gt;r 474 Ciu.rch qu:. 
with passions imder no command, Who nil the world A : th 
Joctrines contraband. 1864 BURTOW Scft Abr. I. v 
1 her. . . :ice of a lord rector havfcBK 

I clamorous quack or a canting fanatic. 

3. attrjb. and Comb., as quack-cuivertiscment , -bill, 
bookseller, -doctor, -medicine, etc.; also qu- 
tdoring, -ridden adjs. 

1653 H. MORE Antid. Ath. in. ix. 2 (Schol.) Principle 

:hat no . . pert Saucy Quar Theologist can am way e:icr 

Yale. 1693 tr. Colbakh s Ne-aiLt. Chiritrg. Pu- "" 1 nle-p., 

The Base Imposture of his Quack Medicines, a. 1704 T. 

BROWN Table Talk in Coll. Poems (1705) -3 A Chymist . . 

put out a Quack-Bill. 1707 HEARNE C ttect. (O. H. i.; II. 

5 5 Mr. Bollon..now a quack-Physi an in London. 1751 

WARBURTON Pope s Wks. IV. iST" bills of Quack-Doctors 

and Quack-Booksellers being i.sually pasted tOgMher on 

the same posts. 1785 Eurof M&lt;*g- VIII. 469 A dialogue 

between the doctor and hisx-lerk satirizes quack advertise- 

(ments. 1839 CARLYLE dtf!" v. 138 Europe lay pining,. . 

Iquack-ridden, hag-ridden.|ui855 BROWNING Bp. Bio 

I - j Quark-nonsense aboul crowns, And.. The vague idea 

jaf setting things to righB. 1874 HELPS Sac. Press ii. 26 

/ A puffing-, advertising, gsack-adoring world. 

I Quack (Jku-KKj; sb." [Imitative : cf. Du. i-wak, 

G. quack, Sw. qvack (of clucks or frogs), Icel. kvak 

wittering of birds. See also QUAKE int.] The 

larsh cry characteristic of a duck ; a sound resem- 

&gt;ling, or imitating this. b. humorously. A duck. 

1839 Lett. fr. Madras (1843) 290 Showing his tectrt, and 

ttenng a loud quack ! 1869 BLACKMORE l.orna / . x. He 

;ave me a look from his one little eye . . and then a loud 

|uack lo second it. a 1897 Bird o Freedom (Barrere & 

-eland), I send her herewith a couple of quacks. 1901 

R CONDER Seal Silence 211 The voice of the footman 

&gt;h above the general quack of conversation 

"k, sb.z Obs. rare. In 5 qu&kke, 6 
r lmitative : cf. QUACKLE c. 1 - and LG. 
noan, groan.] A state of he 
the throat. 

Reeve s T. 232 He yexeth, andl..:. speketh 
he were on the quakke, or (in v.. . 



1577 HARRISON England H. xxii. (1877) I. 338 The smoke 
. . was reputed a far better medicine to keepe the goodman 
and his familie from the quacke or pose. 
Quack (kwoek), z&gt;.i [f. QUACK rf. 1 ] 

1. intr. To play the quack, a. To pretend to 
have medical knowledge ; to dabble ignorantly in 
medicine, b. To talk pretentiously and ignorantly, 
like a quack, t Also with of. 

i6z8 VF.NNER Baths of Bathe (1650) 362 In quacking for 
Patients he is so kind and free of his service. 1678 BUTLER 
Hud. in. i. 330 To quack of universal cures. Ibid. 364 
A Virtuoso, able To smaller, quack, and cant, and dabble, 
I7JJ DE FoEffague (Rtldg.) 45 Ignorant Fellows; quacking 
and tampering in Physick. 1756 C. LUCAS Ess. Waters 1. 
Pref., Enlighlen then their understandings .. and who 
then will venture to quack, or be quacked ? 1876 G. 
MEREDITH Beauch. Career III. ii. 29 A wiseacre who went 
quacking about the country, expecling to upset the order 
of things. 

2. trans. To advertise, puff, or palm off with 
fraudulent and boastful pretensions, as a quack- 
medicine or means of cure. fAlso with forth. 
t To quack titles : to invent new titles for old books 
in order to make them sell. 

1651 BIGGS New Disp. Pref. 9 To be Quacked forth in 
Bartholmew-Fayr. 1651 CLEVELAND Poems 33 Could 1 (in 
Sir Emp ricks lone) Speak pills in phrase, and quack destruc 
tion. 1715 MRS. CENTLIVRE Gotham Elect, i, My third 
Son is a bookseller, .he has an admirable knack at quacking 
Titles. 1727 BRADLEY Fain. Diet. s. v. Gill ale, A notorious 
Imposition, which is quack d upon the World . . to be a 
great Restorative and Curer of Consumptions. 1830 Ex- 
awinerbio/2 The Politician must be quacked, paragraphed, 
. .and coteried into notoriety. 

3. To treat after the fashion of a quack; to 
administer quack medicines to ; to seek to remedy 
or put right by empirical or ignorant treatment. 
Also with up. 

1746 H. WALPOLE Lett, to Mann (1833) II. 124 If he has 
any skill in quacking madmen, his art may perhaps be of 
service now. 1757 KI.IZ. GRIFFITH Lett. Henry $ Frances 
(1767) I. 84, I am.. as * hoarse as bondage . 1 .shall there 
fore stay here lo-night, and quack myself. 1778 Sketches 
Jar Tabernacle Frames 17 For quacking Souls you cannot 
he atlack d. i8o BENTHAM Packing (1821) 144 Epitaph on 
a Valetudinarian, who quacked himself to death. 1820 
COL. HAWKER Diary (1893) I. 195, I tried with bricks, 
baskets and everything.. lo quack up one of ihem [defective 
chimneys], a 1876 HT. MARTINEAU Atitobiog. (1877) I. 147 
The le.is its condilion is quacked. .Ihe beller for Ihe mind s 
health. 

Hence Quacked ///. a. 

-i 1876 Hi. MARTINEAU Autobiog. (1877) II. 461 Such ex 
hortations are too low for even the . . quacked morality of 
a time of theological suspense. 

Quack (kwaak) , -j* Also 8 quaake. [Imita 
tive : cf. Du. kwakken, G. qaacken to croak, quack. 
Older variants are QUACKLE, QUAKE, Q. I..IK, q.v.] 

1. intr. Of a duck: To utter its characteristic 
note. Also with cognate obj. 



in. 17*7 BAILEY vol. l\,Qiiackin.t, r \ea. 1731 Quaaking , 

.j a Noise, as ducks do. 1755 JOHNSON, Quack. .. This 

. . is often writlen quaake, lo represent the sound better. 

QUACKING vbl. sb?}. 1862 G. KEARLEY Links in 

"*; ix. (1863) 2K2 [The duck] no sooner recognized the 

than he quackei! vehemenlly. 1869 BLACKMORE 

LortKt D. x, There were thirteen ducks .. and . . they all 

.-. 1893 EARL DUNMORE Pamirs I. 

i [some ducks] . . quacked the quack of derision 

at us. 

b. Of a rayen or frog: TV&gt; -.^-x. rare. 
1^27 IJOVHR . l^g a^i. uict.. To Quack (or to croak, as 
Ravens do), croasse . 1892 TENNYSON Foresters n. ii. 97 
ATy frog that used tcquack When I vaulted on his back. 
2. trans/. To make a harsh sound like the note of 
a duck ; to make a noisy outcry. 

a 1614 Bp. M SMIT.: Semi. (1632) r36 An example to all 
busie-bodyes, that will Jare . . to quacke against their betlers. 
1894 HALL CAINK ,vau.riiian 265 He puffed lill his lips 
. , though tlv: pipe gave oul no smoke. 

O,uack, Quick-belly, -breech, -myre, 
Quicker : se QUAKE .i, QUAKER. 

Quackery 1 (kwae-kari). [f. QUACK j/;.l + -BUY.] 
The characteristic practices or methods of.a r ,.ack ; 
chatlataa*. 

1700-11 J SPWKE (title) Quackery Unmask d. 1717 LADY 
M. W. UoMtcu Let. to AbM Conti i Apr., I know you 
Condemn the . uackery. .as much as you revere the. .Irulhs, 
m which we Ifi agree. 1798 Trans. Sac. Arts XVI. i^o 
All ihe nostrum)ffered . . are mere quackery. duCAILVLE 
Heroes fiB^S) \f&gt; Ouackery and dupery do abound; in 
religions .. ihev h., f fearfully abounded. 1874 MAMAFFY 
Soc. Lij .e ix. .-3 The old quackery of charms and 

m.-antaf 1885 L.,.; m p_ ^n,.^ U ne 908 Theosophy [is] 
. .one of ,ie intci t ing of spiritual quackeries. 

Quackfc , -(,K-w;s ;ar i). nonce-wd. [f.QuACK?-. ^ 
+ -ERT.] . he quackkg o f a number of ducks. 

.8i3 i J WILSON in KUfK. Mag. XXIV. 293 A sort of 
!* &gt;h B!! rh; = ; nor "Musical quackery. 1831 Ibid. 
XX... , .(, I he quackery of a tartled slorm of wild ducks. 

Quackhood (kw^Jhop, [f. QUACK sb i 4- 

-HOOD.] =QUA EF \ 



Verses. Leave Quacking ; and Enucleate The yertues of 
Chocolate. 1664 EVF.LYN Sylva 34 Quacking is not my 
trade : I speak only here as a plain Husband-man. 1702 
DE FOE Afock AFoiirners in Misc. (1703) ^46 All other 
Remedies. .Are Tampering and Quacking with the Slale. 
1733 CHEYNE Eng. Malady in. Inlrod. (1734) 265 The 
Medicines I have only hinled at to prevent the Quacking 
of Patienls Ihemselves. 1827 J. W. CROKFR in C. Papers 
7 Aug. (1884), They found .. the patient so reduced by .. 
alternale quacking and indulgence. 

attrib. 1682 S. PORDAGF. Medal Rev. 210 Some State- 
Physicians., on thee. .would try some quacking trick. 

Quacking (kwae-kirj), vbl. sb.l [f. QUACK v. z 
+ -INQ!.] The uttering of the harsh sound denoted 
by the vb. 

1815 W. H. IRELAND ScrioMeowanta i The sage waddling 
goose, Whose quacking you ll own is the very repealer Of 
my famous Muse. 1880 MACKENZIE Dis. Throat $ Xose I, 
491 The barking of a dog or ihe quacking of a duck. 1892 
BARING-GOULD Trag, C&sars I. 218 Being incommoded by 
ihe quacking of frogs he ordered them to be silent. 

Quacking (kwoe-kin), ///. a.l [f. QUACK vl 
+ -INO-.] That acts or practises as a quack. 
1628 VENNER Baths of Bathe (1650) 357 To . . reject the 



1843 CARLYLE /W * Pr ... xii, To worship new and ! 
ver-!:e.v forms of Quac*.,ood. 

(kwa-l ^;, vbl. &gt;.i [f. QDACK v .1 
e action or u.-ct^e of playing the 



quack ; ignorant da 1 .mij m mef. -- me . 
1652 WADSWDTH tr. &lt; afii .IUT " Tr. ,il.-j!ocolate Intnl. 



Ph} S. II. I. xiv. 31 A more quacking race . . does not exist, 
and they are always swallowing some kind of medicine. 
Quacking (kwarkirj), ppl. a. * [f. QUACK v.u 
+ -ING 12 .] That quacks or makes a sound as a duck. 
1620 DEKKER I illanies Disc, xvii, A Quacking cheate, 
a Ducke. 1898 R. HICHENS The Londoners 82 The quacking 
voice hurled out these last three words with impressive 
emphasis. 

Quackish (kwas-kij), a. [f. QUACK rf.l + -ISH.] 
Ot the nature of a quack or quackery. 

1732 Hist. LitteraHa III. 558 To complele his quackish 
Farce [he] spread prinled Bills all over Paris. 1790 BURKE 
Fr. Rev. 198 All Ihe arts of quackish parade. 1800 Monthly 
Mag. XIII. 131 Regular, nol quackish innovating prac 
titioners. 1865 Sat. Rev. Nov. 570 Anolher . . confounds 
preaching the Gospel wilh a quackish inlerprelalion of 
prophecies. 

Hence Qna ckishly adv. 

1816 J. GILCHRLST } hilos. Etyin. 119 Do not let them 
. .quackishly boas-t of new light and great discovery. 

Quackism (kwrc-kiz m). [f. QUACK sbl + -ISM.] 
Quackery, charlatanism. 

1720-21 Lett. Mist s Jrnl. (1722) II. 22, 1 understand that 
is exploded as Quackism by ihe Judicious. 1762 LLOYD 
St. jajttes*s Mag. I. iv, Olhers, in Ihe Irue spirit of 
Quackism, circulale iheir inlenlions by handbills. 1831 
CARLYLE Misc. Ess., Cagliostro( 1899) 2 74 What unmeasured 
masses of Quackism were set fire to. 

Quackle (kwark l), v. 1 Obs. exc. dial. [Imita 
tive : cf. QUACK st&gt;.3] trans, and intr. To choke. 

1622 S. WARD Woe to Drunkards (1627) 22 The drinke or 
something in the cup quackled him, stucke so in his throat, 
that . . [ilj strangled him presently. 1655 GURNALL Chr. in 
Arm. i. (1665) 72 God knowes, ihou arl almost quackled 
with thy teares. 1806 BLOOMFIELD Wild Floivers Poems 
(1845) 221 Some quack ling cried, Mel go your hold ; The 
farmers held the faster. 1865 Standard 19 Sepl., The verb 
lo quackle is used in Suffolk in reference lo suffocalion, 
when caused by drink going Ihe wrong way \ or by smoke. 
1895 RYE Gloss. E, Anglia, s. v. My cough quackles me . 
He fanged her by ihe Ihroat and nearly quackled her . 

Quackle (kwje-k l), v. 2 [In form a deriv. of 
QUACK v. 2 , but found earlier.] intr. To quack, as 
a duck. Hence Qua okling vbl. sb. and///, a. 

1564-78 BULLEYN Dial. agst. Pest. (1888) 64 Vpon a tyme 
when quacklyng Duckes did speake and caklyng hennes 
could talke. 1825 HONE Every-day Bk. \. 534 The loud., 
quackling of ducks.. is a sign of rain. 1837 CARLYLE Fr. 
Rev. II. i. i, Simple ducks, .quackle for crumbs from young 
royal fingers. 1865 MRS. WHITNEY Gayivorthys I. it 
Undernealh. -splashed and quackled the ducks. 

Quackmire, variant of QUAKEMIRE. 

Quack-quack (kwaek|kwrek). [Imitative: see 
QUACK sb. *} An imitation of the note of a duck ; 
a nursery name for a dock. 

1865 DICKENS Mitt. Fr. nl. xv, Mew says ihe cat, Quack- 
quack says the duck. 1869 OUIDA Puck xxxviii. (1873) 491 
[They] could not themselves tell for their lives . . a canvas- 
back duck from a quack-quack of the gutler. 1889 MIVART 
Truth 226 Quack. quack and gee-gee are just as good 
abslract universal lerms as duck and horse . 

Hence Quack-quacking vbl. sb. 

1824 CARLYLE tr. Wilhelm Meister (1864) II. 257 As the 
duck on the pond . . to the fulure quack-quacking and gibble- 
gabbling of his life. 

Quacksalver (kwre-ksa;lv3j). Also 6-7 
quaok(e)-, 7 quaksaluer. [a. early mod.Dn. 
(i6th c.) quacksalver (Kilian ; mod.Du. kivak- 
zalver), whence also G. quacksalber, Sw. qvack- 
salfvare : the second element is f. salf, zalf salve, 
ointment, and the first is commonly regarded as 
the stem of quacken (mod.Dn. kwakken) to quack. 

On this view a quacksalver is one who quacks or boasts 
about the virtues of his salves ; it has however been sug 
gested thai quack- or kwak- may mean to work in a feeble 
bungling fashion (Franck).] 

1. An ignorant person who pretends to a know 
ledge of medicine or of wonderful remedies : = 
QUACK rf.i i. 

Very common in i7lh c. ; in laler limes largely superseded 
by ihe abbrevialion QUACK sb. 1 

1579 GOSSON Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 53 A quacke-saluers Budget 
of filthy receiles. 1605 B. JONSON Volpone n. ii, They are 
quack-saluers, Fellowes, lhat Hue by senting oyles, and 



QUACKSALVING. 

drugs. 1658 ROWLAND tr. Monfefs Thcatr. Ins. 1074 One 
accidental rash cure of a disease . . makes a Quacksalver a 
great Physician. 1719 D UitFEV Pills (1872) IV. 87 Come 
you Quack-salvers that do kill Sometimes a Patient by your 
skill. 1856 VAUGHAN Mystics (1860) II. vin. ix. 98 What 
a gulf between the high personage our romance imagines 
and ..that shuffling quacksalver which our matter-of-fact 
research discovers. 

attrib. a 1670 HACKET Cent. Serm. (1675) 544 St. Peter 
had no such Quacksalver tricks in Divinity. 

2. transf. = QUACK 2. 

1611 W. BAKER Panegyr. Verses in Coryafs Crudities^ 
The Anatomic dissection or cutting up of that great Quack 
salver of words Mr. Thomas Coryate our British Mercuric. 
1889 SWINBURNE Stud. B. Jonson 43 Brother Zeal-of-the- 
land is no vulgar Impostor, no mere religious quacksalver. 

Hence Quack salverism, f -salvery, quackery. 

16x7 MINSHEU Ditctor, Quacksaluerie. 1864 CARLVLK 
Freak. Gt, IV. 302 Sublime quacksalverism. 

t Quacksalving (kwrc-kscelvirj), ppl.a. Obs. 
[f. *quacksalve vb. (^inferred from QUACKSALVER) + 
-ING 2.] Quackish. 

1. Of things : Belonging to, or characteristic of, 
a quacksalver. 

1608 MIODLETON Ma*i World ii. vi, Any quacksalving 
terms will serve for this purpose. 1691 Bi&gt;. CHOI-T in 
Sowers Tracts (ed. Scott) VII. 290 Generals and particulars, 
the quid) the gnate, the quantum^ and such-likc quack 
salving forms. 

2. Of persons : Resembling, acting like, a quack. 
1608 DEKKER Lanth. $ Cand. k. Quack-saluing Empericks. 

1620 MELTON Astrolog.\% If you should kill three hundred, 
you would still remain hut a Quack-salving Physician. 1622 
MASSINGER DEKKER Virg. Mart. iv. i, Quacksalving, 
cheating mountebanks ! 1649 C. WALKER Hist, Indefiend. 
n. 207 A Quack-salving Doctor of Phisick. 

Hence f Quacksalvingly adv., in the manner of 
a quack. Obs. 

1652 GAULE Magastrom. 105 An experiment in physick or 
medicine, sc., brought to effect, many times, empirically, 
quacksalvingly, iguorantly. 

t Qua ckster. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. QUACK ZJ.I + 
-STEK.J A quack, quacksalver. 

1709 Brit. Apollo II. No. 44. 3/1 The Quackster .. with 
Death signs our Quietus. 

Quacky (kwarki;, a.i [f. QUACK st&gt;*+ -Y*.] 

Inclined to quackery. 

1846 POE Criticism Wks. 1864 III. 23 Who although a 
little quacky per se has. .a whole legion of active quacks at 
his control. 

Quacky (kwx-ki), a? [f. QUACK sb$ + -yl.] 
Of voices : Having the harsh quality characteristic 
of the cry of a duck. Hence Qua ckiuess. 

1895 Forum (N.Y.) June 502 Our women s voices are., 
hardened . . into an habitual quacky or metallic quality. . . 
Quackiness and shrillness prevail less in the Southern 
States than in the Northern and Western. 

Quad (kwgd), j.l, abbrev. (orig. in Oxford slang) 

ofQUADRANGLE sb. 2. 

1820 in Brasenose Ale 8 When first thy Quad, O Erase- 
nose, sprung from earth. 1827" Sporting Mag. XXI. 70 
Mr. Protheroe once met me in Quad during the frost. 
1861 HUGHES Tom Brown at Oxf. i, The rooms ain t half so 
large or good in the inner quad. 1884 Pall Mall G. 24 Jan. 
3/2 Pump Court the dreariest of all the Temple quads. 

Quad (kwgd), sb.-, abbrev. of QUADRAT sb. 2. 

1880 in WEBSTER Suppl. 1884 Western Morn. Neivsij July 
4/6 A quad is a compositor s instrument for the filling 
up of blanks. 1884 TUER (title) Quads within Quads, for 
Authors, Editors, and Devils. 1884 Pall MallG. i Aug. 
4/2 Quads * in the present case are a trade term applicable 
to printers jokes. 

Quad (kwgd), ji.3, abbrev. of QUADRUPLET 3. 

1896 Daily News 2 June 9/2 Stocks was paced by five 
triplets and a quad. 1897 Whitakers Aim. 641/2 A quad 
team did a flying quarter in 24-6 sees. 

Quad (kwgd), sb.*, abbrev. of QUADRUPED i b. 

1894 ASTLBV Fifty Years Life I. 97 He was mounted on 
a sorry old quad. Ibid. II. 88, I stuck to my quad and rode 
into the paddock. 

Quad (kwgd), a., abbrev. of QUADRUPLE a. d. 

1888 in JACOBI Printers I ocab. 1891 Star 12 Nov. j/i 
Printing Plant, including, .quad crown perfecting machine, 
quad demy and double demy machines. 

Quad (kwgd), v.i, abbrev. of QUADRUPLEX v. 

1886 Pall Mall G. 26 Aug. n/i Some lines are quadded 
or quadruplexed. 

Quad ,kwgd), z/.2 Printing, [f. QUAD j.2J To 
insert quadrats in (a line of type) ; to fill with 
quadrats. Also to quad out. 

1888 in JACOBI Printers Vocab. 

Quad, var. QUOD sb., prison; QUED(E a., bad. 

Quad, obs. form of QUOTH v. 

t Quade, v. Obs. rare* 1 . [? f. quade, var. of 
QUKD(E a., bad.] ?To destroy, deface. 

5^5 ) HALLE Hist. Expost. 34 If thou in chirurgerye, 
Alone wylte walke and wade ; Thine erroreswill thy worke 
confounde, And all thine honoure quade. 

tQua der, v. Obs. rare. Also 5-6 quadr-. 
[ad. L. quadrare-. see QUADRATE ^., and cf. F. 
cadrer, quadrer (i6th c.).] a. trans. To square 
(a number), b. trans, and intr. = QUADRATE v. 3. 

c 1430 Art ofNombryttge (E.E.T.S.l 16 [A given number] 
to be quadrede. 1588 KYD Honseh. Philos. Wks. (1901) 269 
In the quadering and making euen of the enterics with 
the expences. 1593 in Fort a. Rev. (1809! LXV. 220 
Nor wold indeed the forme of devyne praiets vsed duelie 
in his Lordship s house have quadred with such reprobates. 
1620 SHELTON Quix. II. iv. vii. 91 The X doth not quader 
well with him because it sounds harshly. 



Quadern, a square : see QUADRAN j/ .l 

Quadle, obs. variant of CODDLE zi.i, to boil. 

1633 HAHT Did of Diseased \. xvii. 66 Raw Apples before 
they be ripe, if used, are best quadled. 1649 G. DANIEL 
Trinarch. To Rdr. 105 Thus wee sett you out Perboyled 
Kinges and Quadled Crownes. 

Quadling, obs. variant of CODLING 2 . 

1584 COGAN Haven Health c. (1612) 87 Rawe Apples and 
Quadlings. 1609 C. BUTLER Fern. Men. (1634) 173 Let 
them boil till they be as tender as Quadlings. 

t Quadmire. Obs. rare- 1 . = QUAGMIRE, q.v. 

1609 BIBLE (Douay) Ps. Ixviii. cowin., I am as one in- 
tangled with quickesand or quadmyre in the bottom of a 
great water. 

II Quadra (kwg dra). Arch. [L. quadra a square, 
used by Vitruvius in sense I.] 

1. a. The plinth or socle of a podium, b. A 
platband or fillet, esp. that above or below the 
scotia in the Ionic base. 

1664 EVELYN tr. Freart s Archit. 131 Pilaij and their 
Quadra s or Tables, .were employ d for Inscriptions. 1842 - 
76 in GWILT Archit. (Hence in recent diets.) 

2. A square border or frame round a bas-relief, 
panel, etc. ; also, loosely, a border or frame of any 
form. 

1727-41 in CHAMBERS Cycl. 1842-76 in OWILT Archit. 
(Hence in recent Diets.) 

Quadra-, occas. erron. form of QUADRI-. 

Quadrable (kwo-drab l), a. Math. Also 8 
-ible. [ad. L. type *qiiadralilis, f. quads-are to 
square : see QUADIIATE v . and -ABLE.] Capable of 
being represented by an equivalent square, or of 
being expressed in a finite number of algebraic 
terms. 

1695 WALLIS in Phil. Trans. XIX. in The Spaces in the 
Cycloid, which are perfectly Quadrable. 1743 EMERSON 



bo: 

Calculus vi. 253 When the area limited by a curve can be 
expressed in a finite number of algebraic terms, the surface 
is said to be quadrable. 

Hence QuadrabMity, the quality or condition of 
being quadrable. 

1743 EMKRSON Fluxions 194 In Curves of more Terms, 
there are several Conditions requisite to their exact Quadra- 
bility. 

Quadragenarian (kwgsdradg&eVrian), a. 
and sb. Also erron. quadri-. [f. L. quadragi- 
nari-us (f. quadragem distrib. of quaiiragiuta 
forty) + -AN.] a. adj. Forty years old. b. sb. 
A person forty years of age. 

1839 Frnscrs Mag, XX. 752 The quadrigenarians may 
reasonably object, that as Lord Byron only lived to seven- 
and-thirty, he could not be a competent judge on this 
matter. 1892 STEVENSON Vailima Lett. xix. (1895) 184 A 
stalwart well-oiled quadragenarian. 1897 Sat. Rev. 20 Feb. 
J 95/2 Quadrigenarian critics. 

So Qua drag-ena rious a. 

1656 BLOUNT Glossogr., Quadragenarians , of or belonging 
to forty years. 1719 BOYER Fr.-Eng. Diet., Qita^rage- 
naire, quadragenarious, forty years old. 1895 Harpers 
Weekly Mag, Feb. 337/2 One of these plumply mellow 
quadrigenarious bodies. 

t Quadragene. Obs. rare. [ad. med.L. 
quadragena^ neut. of quadragem forty each, forty.] 
An indulgence for forty days. 

1664 JER. TAYLOR Dissnas. Popery ii. 4 You have .. 
purchased your self so many Quadragenes or Lents of 
pardon ; that is, you have bought ofF the penances of so 
many- times forty days. 



Quadragesima (kw^drad^e sima). EccL 
[med.L., fern. (sc. dies day) of L. qitad,ragt simtts 
fortieth, f. quaiiraginta forty; hence also It., Pg. 
quadragesima (Sp. cnad-}, F. qnadragtsime (1487). 

The popular Romanic formsare It, qnaresiina^ Pg. guares- 
ma, Sp. cuaresma, OF. qnarfsine^ caresme^ F. entente; cf. 
also Ir. corghas, catrghios, Gael, carghns^ W. garaiuys from 
pop. Lat. *quarages-irtta,] 

ta. The forty days of Lent. Obs. b. (Also 
Quadragesima Sunday.} The first Sunday in Lent. 

{1398 THEVISA Barth. DC P, R. ix. xxx. (1495) 364 Lenle 
highte Quadragesima.] 1604 Bk. Com. Prayer Tables, 
Quadragesima, before Easter, vi weekes. 1617 MINSHEU 
Ductor, Quadragesima Sunday, or the first Sunday in Lent. 
fm. t Quadragesima is the first Sunday in Lent. 1662 A X:. 
Com. Prayer Tables, Quadragesima, six weeks before 
Easter. 1662 GUNNING Lent Fast 167 A Quadragesima all 
call d it. 1665 EVELYN Corr. 9 Feb. (1872) III. 151, I have 
always esteemed abstinence a tanto beyonu the fulfilling 
of periods and quadragesimas. 1794 W. TINUAL Eveskam 
34 He was on Quadragesima Sunday confirmed Abbot. 

Quadragesimal (kwodrad.^e ? ^- 1), a, and sb. 
Also 7 quadrigess-. [ad. late I. quadragesi- 
mdl-is: see prec. and -AL. Cf. F. quatf r arts i mat 
(i5-i6th c.).5 

A. adj. 1. Of a fast (esp. tliat of Lent) : Lasting 
for forty days. 

1654 HAMMOND Amwt. Animadv. I gnat. ii. 2. 38 The Quad- 
rigessimal Fast was observed in the Church to commemorate 
hpth these. 1715 tr. Dufia i Eccl. Hist. i-flA C. I. v. 171 
The Quadragesimal Fast was also regarded as Penance. 
1844 W. H. MILL .Sena. l -mpt. Christ i. 12 That quadra- 
sesimal Fast and retirement of our Lord. 1855 Apf&gt;lic. 
J anth. Print. (1861) in The retirement and quadragesimal 
fast of Elijah. 

2. Belonging or appropriate to the period of 
Lent ; Lenten. 



QUADRANGLE. 

1629 MAUDE tr. Fonseca s Dev. Contempl. title-p., Two 
and Fortie Sermons upon all y Quadragesimal! Gospells. 
1691 WOOD Ath. Oxon. II. 359 Quadragesimal Disputations 
were publickly performed in the Schools. 1717-41 CHAMBERS 
CycL s. v. Quadragesima, Hence some monks are said to 
lead a quadragesimal life ; or to live on quadragesimal food 
all the year. 1882 J. W. LEGO Hist. Lilnrg. Colours in. 
40 The colour of the Quadragesimal ornaments. 
fig. a 1643 W. CARTWRIGHT Ordinary in. v. in Hazl. 
Dodsley XII. 268 But quadragesimal wits, and fancies lean 
As ember weeks. 

3. Consisting of forty. 

1661 GUNNING Lent Fast 50 The Quadragesimal number 
not constituted of men, but consecrated from God. 

t B. sb. a. A fast, properly one of forty clays. 
b. A set of forty, c. A Lent sermon, d. //. 
Lent offerings (see quot. 1721). Obs. 

1660 JEK. TAYLOR Duct. Dutit. in. iv. Rule xiii. 17 
H is no wonder, .that all the set and stationary fasls of the 
Primitive Christians were called Quadragesimals. Ibid. 18 
A quadragesimal of hours is as proper as a quadragesimal 
of days. 1691 tr. Einiliant,e s Frauds Romish Monks 
284 They who print their Quadragesimals and their Advent 
Sermons, .. never print the Second part of them. 1721 
BAILEY, Qltadragesimals, Mid-Lent contributions, Offerings 
made by People to their Mother Church on Mid-Lent 
Sunday. 

Quadragesima-lia. rare. [neut. pi. of late 
L. qiiadragesimalis: see prec.] prec. Ii. d. 

1717-41 in CHAMBERS Cycl. 1876 I rayer-tiook Interleaved 
103 laking Quadragcsimalia or Lent-ofTerings. 

tQuadragesimarian. Obs. rare- 1 . [f. 
QUADRAGESIMA.] An observer of Lent. 

1655 FULLER Ch. Hist. 11. vii. 74 Otherwise it is suspi 
cious that the Quartadecimans were no good Quadragesi- 
maiians. 

t Quadragesima, -gesme. Obs. rare. [ad. 
L. quadragesim-a : see above.] = QUADRAGESIMA. 

(1440 Gcsta Rom. i. Ixii. 266 (Harl. MS.) A goode cristyn 
man that wele blessidly hath fast all the quadragesme. 
1612 R. SHELDON Serin. St. Martin s 5 To proportion my 
discourse to the season, when we all are. .making a Quad- 
ragesime, or fortieth, as a parasceue of Christ his death 
and passion. 1612 SELDEN illustr. Drayton s Poly-olb. XI. 
207 Wks. 1876 II. 91 You will lose therein forty days, and 
the common name of Quadragesime. 

Quadraginte-simal,o. rarc~\ [ForQiUDRA- 
GESIMAL, after ~L.quadraginta] Forty-fold ; having 
forty parts. 

1789 BURNEY Hist. Mns. III. i. 75 Twelve bars of universal 
chorus in quadragintesimal harmony. 

Quadragi-ntireme. rare 1 , [f. L. quadra- 
ginta forty: cf. quadriretne, etc.] (See quot^ 

1799 CHARNOCK in Naval Chron. I. 132 Quadraginti- 
remes, or vessels .. described as having forty ranks., of 
oars. 

Quadrain, a square: see QUADKAN j.i 

Quadrain, obs. variant of QUATRAIN. 

Quadral fkwg dral), a. rare- 1 , [f. QUADR;I)- 
+ -AL.] By four, into four parts. 

1891 W. TUCKWELL Tongues in Trees 146 They held to 
the quadral division of time, distributing the day-night into 
four, eight or sixteen parts. 

tQua dran, sb. (and a.). Obs. Forms: 6quad- 
ron, 6-7 quadrain, 7 quadran, -ren, quadern. 
[Alteration of QUADRANT sb. *, with dropping of 
the -/ and assimilation to other endings.] 

1. A square. 

1591 HARI_NGTON Orl. Fur. vi. Ixxi, These ornaments . . 
All are enrich t with stones of great estate, . . In parted 
quadrons. 1595 B. BAKNES Sp^ir. Somi. Ixxxiii, Bright 
soldiolirs muster up .. Raungde into quadraines and trium 
phant rings. 1648 GAGE H est Ind. xii. (1655) 51 In the 
midst of this Quadern stood a mount of earth and stone 
square likewise. 1653 R. SANDERS Pkysivgn. 153, I erected 
this Figure, and thereupon made certain Quadrains and 
Resolutions, that my Friends might understand the signifi 
cations of the said Figure. 

2. attrib. or adj. Square. 

1598 SYLVESTER Du Bartas n. i. iv. Handie-Crafts 206 
Sixteen fair Trees.. Whose equall front in quadran form 
prospected. 1611 SPEED Thfal. Gt. Brit, xxxvii. (1614)73/1 
In a long Quadren-wise the wals doe incompasse the citle. 

Quadran, obs. var. QUADBANT sb. 1 (sense 3), 
QUATRAIN. 

Quadrangle (kwg-dra rjg l), sli. [a. F. quad 
rangle (I3th c.), ad. late L. quadrangulum, neut. 
of qiiadranguhts (see next), f. quadr- QUADRI- + 
angulus ANGLE. The stressing quatira ngle, which 
appears in some of the quots., is given by Bailey, 
Ash, and Sheridan, and is still the constant Sc. use.] 

1. Geom. A figure having four angles and there 
fore four sides. 

In mod. Gtom. a quadrangle is regarded as a figure 
formed by four points (vertices), three of which are not in 
the same straight line, and by the six straight lines which 
join the four points two by two. (Cf. QUADRILATERAL.) In 
ordinary use the term commonly denotes a square or other 



Quadrangle make ye a f igure round. 1551 KECORDE Pat/m*. 
Knowl. I. Defitt., Thus haue I done with trianguled figures, 
and nowe foloweth quadrangles. 1653 R. SANDERS Physiogn. 
58 The Quadrangle is between the Table-line, the middle 
natural, that of the Sun, and that of Saturn, when there 
are four angles. 1869 DUNKIN Midn. Sky 141 Eight stars 
forming two similar quadrangles. 1884 tr, Lotzc s Logic 130 
Nothing is commoner than for a person who speaks of a 

1-2 



A trifle of mine own brain . . a scholar s fancy, A quab ; tis 
nothing else, a very quab. 

Quab, sb.l 06s. exc. dial. (quob). Also 7 
quabbe. [ = Du. kwabbe a boggy place ; cf. MLG. 
quabbtl slime, and see QUAG.] A marshy spot, 
a bog. Cf. QUABMIRE. 

1617 MINSHEU Ductor, A Quabbe, or quagmire, a 1656 
USSHER Ann. vi. (1658) 596 Defended by the Maeotis and 
those quabs. 1847 HALI.IWELL, Qvob,R. quicksand or bog. 
Wtft. 1879 Miss JACKSON Shrofsh. Word-Ik., Quob, a 
marshy spot in a field ; a quagmire. 

Quab, v. Obs. exc. dial, (quob). [var. of 
QOAP v. cf. G. quabbeln in same sense.] ititr. 
To beat, throb, quiver. Hence Quabbing ///. a. 

1663 Flagtllitm, or O. Crotnivell (1672) 123 A dangerous 
impostume [printed -ure] of ambition, whose quabbing, 
beating pains gaue them no rest. 1863 BARNES Dorset 
Gloss., Qvob, to quiver, like jelly. 1881 Leicester Gloss., 
Quob, to throb. 

Qua-bird (kwa-baid). U.S. Also 8 quaw-. 
[f. qua, imitative of its note + BIRD.] The Night 
Heron of Norfti America, Nycticorax nstvius or 
Gardeni. 

1780-96 MORSE Aitier. Geog. I. 212 Quaw-bird or Frog 
Catcher. 1833 Penny Cycl. IV. 471 The Night Heron or 

gua Bird.. is found in itolh the old and new world. 1890 
. GOSSE Life P. H.Gosse 115 Thompson s Point, the former 
residence of the night-heron or qua-bird. 

t Qua bling. Obs. rare 1 , [f. QUAB jA. 1 + 
-LING.] A goby or gudgeon. 

1617 MINSHEU Ditctor, A Quabling, or little Quabbe,. . 
got/a. 

Quabmire. Obs. exc. dial. (quob-\ [f. QUAB 
sb. l or v., but found earlier.] A quagmire. 

1597 BROUGHTON Ep. Mobil. Eng. Wks. 570 Oversights, 
which for a dry causic bring us to quabmyres. 1841 HARTS- 
HORNE &aloj&gt;. Antiq. Gloss. 539 Quvbmire, a quagmire. 

Quacha, obs. form of QUAGGA. 

t Qua-cham. Obs. rare~ l . (?) 

tjig BARCLAY Egloges iv. (1570) C. iv. b/2 We other 
Shaoherdes . . Of common sortes, leane, ragged and rent, 
Fea with rude frowise, wuh rjtia^ham, or witb crudd. 

Quacia, oi;... form el 



. 

Quarjk (Icwsek), sbl Also 7 quacke. [Abbrev. 
OtQUACKSAI.VEB.] 

1. An ignorant pretender to medical or surgical 
skill ; one who boasts to have a knowledge of 
wonderful remedies ; an empiric or impostor ii 
medicn. . CHARLATAN 2. 

1659 PECKE Pa -nassi Puerf. 145 Sir Quart si Palid,. 
told, nothing could cure The stubborn Feaver. 1683 
K.K .r i. Eras\ an Folly 47 All these harri ;,, 
e " l -v L na . eal ... -ick&lt;;. 

17: &gt;\-. i ,, -"- :i - f ii"*54&gt;3 Running after Quai.1 

* ^&lt; lor Medi.::"ES and Seme-dies. 1783 CR.MSU: 
K, long versed h human tils. Who 
insults the victim whom he kills. r$oo W. IRVIK^ 
rCiTtJki 6, (18611 127 He who has once been u-idet he *- 
)f a quack, is for ever after prone to dabble in_drug.. J)8o 
BeALf. Slight Aitni. 22 Persons would l&gt;e easily influ 
by what tlic quack says. 

Z. trans/. One who professes a knowledge 
skill concerning subjects of which he is ignora. 
= CHARLATAN 3. 

1638 F JRII Faruifi : . . i, There he sits. .The very qu 
&gt;&lt;&.quaik, quake] of fashions i7ioSTEKLK TatUrt o. 
r 2 Rules for kno\\ MIL; tlie ^ :*^ ;s id both P fessions [I 

id Physic). 178* COWPER Progr. 174 L.,i..rch m 
1 ith no command, Who fill the world 

doctrines contraband. 1864 BURTON Scot Abr. I. \ 
Ther. :;n instance of a lord rector havhi^ 

i clamorous quack or a canting fanatic. 
3. attr.ib. and Comb., as quack-ottvertisement , -bill. 
bookseller, -doctor, -medicine, etc. ; also qiit- - 
idorim;, -ridden adjs. 

1653 H. MORE Autia. Ath. in. ix. 2 (ScM.) I- - 
:hat no . . pert Saucy Quar 1 Theologist can an&gt; wa V 
rate. 1695 tr. Coltatch s NtwLt. Chirurg. Pu ""t Tltle-p., 
The Base Imposture of his Quack Medici""- 74 ! 
BROWN Table Talk in Coll. Poems (1705) 3 A Chyn 
put out a Quack-Bill. 1707 HKASNE C-llect. (O. H. Sj II. 
55 Mr. BoTlon..now a quack-Physi" an in London. 1751 
WARBURTON Pope s ins. IV. iST" bills of Quack-Doctors 
and Quack-Booksellers being ...Dually pasted togeth-r on 
-.he same posts. 1783 Europ Mag- VIII. 469 A dialogue 
between the doctor and his Jerk satirizes quack ad\ 
ments. 1839 CARLYLE CAfBkOT v. 138 Europe lay pii 
quack-ridden, hag-ridden.[i i8ss BROWNING Bp. Bio .ram 
I - j Quark-nonsense aboul crowns, And.. The vague idea 
I ut setting things to right. 1874 HELPS Six. Press ii. 26 
I A puffing, advertising, Quack-adoring world. 
I Quack (JkvcA.). it.- [Imitative: cf. Du. !-:vak, 
G. quack, Sw. qvack (of clucks or frogs), Ice!, /rvak 
*wittering of birds. See aho QUAKE /.] The 
larsh cry characteristic of a duck ; a sound rescin 
ding, or imitating this. b. humorously. A duck. 
1839 Lett. fr. Madras (1843) 290 Showing his tt"! ", and 
ttenng a loud quack ! 1869 BLACKMORE I.orna . \, He 
;ave me a look from his one liifle eye . . and then a loud 
pack lo second it. 11897 Bird o Freedom (Barrere & 
-eland), I send her herewith a couple of quacks. 1901 
R COSDER Seal Silence 211 The voice of the footman 
-h above the general quack of conversation 

ik, sb. * Obs. rare. In 5 quakke. 6 
r lmitative : cf. QUACKLE .V ai 
noan, groan.] A state of hoarseness 
the throat. 

teevc s T. 232 He yexeth, and! f speketh 
he were on the quakke, or on the pose. 



1577 HARRISON England n. xxii. (1877) I. 338 The smoke 
. . was reputed a far better medicine to keepe the goodman 
and his familie from the quacke or pose. 

Quack (kwsck), f. 1 [ f - QUACK rf.i] 

1. intr. To play the quack, a. To pretend to 
have medical knowledge ; to dabble ignorantly in 
medicine, b. To talk pretentiously and ignorantly, 
like a quack, t Also with of. 

1618 VENNER Baths of Bathe (1650) 362 In quacking for 
Patients he is so kind and free of his service. 1678 BUTLER 
Hud. in. i. 330 To quack of universal cures. Ibid. 364 
A Virtuoso, able To smaller, quack, and cant, and dabble. 
1711 DE fosPlague (Rtldg.) 45 Ignoranl Fellows ; quacking 
and tampering in Physick. 1756 C. LUCAS Ess. Waters 1. 
Pref., Enlighten then their understandings .. and who 
then will venture to quack, or be quacked ? 1876 G. 
MEREDITH Beauctt. Career III. ii. 29 A wiseacre who went 
quacking about the country, expecting to upset the order 
of things. 

2. trans. To advertise, puff, or palm off with 
fraudulent and boastful pretensions, as a quack- 
medicine or means of cure. fAlso with_/5-M. 
t To quack titles : to invent new titles for old books 
in order to make them sell. 

1651 BIGGS New Disp. Pref. g To be Quacked forth in 
Bartholmew-Fayr. 1651 CLEVELAND Poems 33 Could I (in 
Sir Emp ricks tone) Speak pills in phrase, and quack destruc 
tion. 1715 MRS. CENTLIVRE Gotham Elect. I, My third 
Son is a bookseller, .he has an admirable knack at quacking 
Titles. 1727 BRADLEV Fain. Diet. s. v. Gill ale, A notorious 
Imposition, which is quack d upon the World . . to be a 
great Restorative and Curer of Consumptions. 1830 Ex- 
aminer 610/2 The Politician must be quacked, paragraphed, 
. .and coteried into notoriety. 

3. To treat after the fashion of a quack ; to 
administer quack medicines to ; to seek to remedy 
or put right by empirical or ignorant treatment. 
Also with up. 

1746 H. WALPOLE Lett, to Mann (1853) II. 124 If he has 
any skill in quacking madmen, his art may perhaps be of 
service now. 1757 ELIZ. GRIFFITH Lett. Henry * Frances 
(1767) I. 84, I am.. as hoarse as bondage . 1 shall there- 
fore stay here to-night, and quack myself. 1778 Sketches 
for Tabernacle Frames 17 For quacking Souls you cannot 
be attack d. 1810 BENTHA.M Packing (ifai) 144 Epitaph on 
a Valetudinarian, who quacked himself to death. 1820 
COL. HAWKER Diary (1893) I. 195, I tried with bricks, 
baskets and every thing., to quack up one of them [defective 
chimneys], a 1876 HT. MARTINEAU Antobiog. (1877) I- M7 
The le.-s its condition is quacked, .the better for the mind s 
health. 

Hence Quacked fpl. a. 

11876 Hi* MARTINEAU Autobiog. (1877) II. 461 Such ex- 
hortations are too low for even ihe . . quacked moralily of 
a time of theological suspense. 

Quack (kwaek), v.% Also 8 quaake. [Imita 
tive : cf. Du. kwakken, G. quacken to croak, quack. 
Older variants are QUACKLE, QUAKE, Q &gt;.OK, q.v.] 

1. intr. Of a dock: To utter its charade! istic 
note. Also with cognate obj. 

1617 MINSHEU Ditctor, To Quacke as a ducke, . .coajcare. 
*X7ii W. KiNG(J.), Wild ducks quack where grasshoppers 
die ing. 1727 BAILEV vol. l\,Quacking{ed. i 



. ,. kinr , 

. s a Noise, as ducks do. 1755 JOHN-SON, Quack. . . This 
S often written qttaatie, to represent the sound betler. 
1815 J&gt;ee QUACKING vbl. so.-]. 1861 C,. KEARLEY Links in 
Ctia. ix. (1363) 232 [The duck] no sooner recognized the 
. tl.an he quacke-! vehemently. 1869 BLACKMORE 
Lorna D. x, There were thirteen ducks .. and .. they all 
quai v(ry movingly. 1893 EARL DUNMORE Pamirs I. 
i [some ducks] . . quacked the quack of derision 
at us. 

b. Of a raven or frog- : T/- -... rare. 
i&gt;7 IJOYiiR .-lAgii^f. uict., To Quack (or to croak, as 
Ra\ens do), croasse . i8oa TENNYSON Foresters n. ii. 97 
Afy frog that used tcquack When I vaulted on his back. 

2. trans/. To make a harsh sound like the note of 
a duck ; to make a noisy outcry. 
a 1 6*4 Bp. M SMiTi: Jerni. (1632) 136 An example to all 
1 odyes, that will Jare. . to quacke against their betters. 
1894 HALL CAINE Vanjcwan 265 He puffed till his lips 
i (!, though tlis pipe gave out no smoke. 

^.iiaek, Quick-belly, -breech, -myre, 
Quicker : see QUAKE ., QUAKEK. 

Quackery 1 (kwje-kori). [f. QUACK j/;.i + -Env.] 
The characteristic practices or methods ofa quack : 
chathtaatf. 

1709-11 J SPINKE (title) Quackery Unmask d. 1717 LADY 
M. W. MO.NTAGU Let. to AM Conti i Apr., I know you 
Condemn the uackery. .as much as you revere the. .truths, 
in which we t.h agree. 1798 Trims. Sac. Arts XVI. i,;o 
All the nostrum&gt;ffered . .are mere quackery. 1840 CARLYLE 
Heroes (18^8) 18 Ouackery and dupery do abound; in 
rehgioi.s .. thev h., f fearfully abounded. 1874 MAHAFFY 
.vv. Ltj . e ix. .-3 The old quackery of charms and 

18815 L.,.; m f. Kcv.Jimt 908 Theosophy [is] 
initiating of spiritual quackeries. 
-WK nonce-ivd. [f.QUACK * 



mcantat- ._ 

. .one of ..ie 

Quackb 

-EBY.] 



. . 
he quackig of a number of ducks. 



g of a n 
&gt;B8J. WILSON i,, NfA Mag. XXIV. 293 A sort of 



, 

low, thick, (rurlii , . . nor ui 

XXX. 966 I he quackery of a 



. 

ical quackery. 1831 Ibid. 
rtled storm of wild ducks. 

Quackhood (kwo^khnS}. [f. QUACK rf.i + 

-HOOD.] = Qt A EI" \ 

1843 CARLVLE W * /V .. xii.To worship new and 
ever- 

Quacking (kwa-H.r;;, vbl. f .l [f. QUACK z&lt;.l 
-f -i.\r,l.] The action or i.._cf ce o f playing the 
quack; ignorant da* .ing in mef. ..;,i e , 
1651 WADSVOKTH tr. ( oiii .xff - Tr.-.it.fytocffatc IIIIKH!. 



Verses. Leave Quacking ; and Enucleate The yertues of 
Chocolate. 1664 EVELYN Sylva 34 Quacking is not my 
trade : I speak only here as a plain Husband-man. 1702 
DE FOE Mock Mourners in Misc. (1703) $6 All other 
Remedies. .Are Tampering and Quacking with the State. 
1733 CHEYNE Eng. Malady in. Introd. (1734) 265 The 
Medicines I have only hinted at to prevent the Quacking 
of Patients themselves. 1827 J. W. CROKER in C. racers 
7 Aug. (1884). They found .. the patient so reduced by .. 
alternate quacking and indulgence. 

attrib. 1682 S. PORDAGF, Medal Rev. 210 Some State- 
Physicians, .on thee. .would try some quacking trick. 

Quacking (kwarkin), vbl. sb.% [f. QUACK v2 
+ -ING!.] The uttering of the harsh sound denoted 
by the vb. 

1815 W. H. IRELAND Scribbleomama i The sage waddling 
goose, Whose quacking you ll own is the very repeater Of 
my famous Muse. 1880 MACKENZIE Dis. Throat &lt;$ Nose I. 
491 The barking ofa dog or the quacking ofa duck. 1892 
BARING-GOULD Trag, Cxsars I. 218 Being incommoded by 
the quacking of frogs he ordered them to be silent. 

Quacking (kwre-kin), ///. al [f. QUACK v* 

+ -INO-.] That acts or practises as a quack. 
1628 VENNER Baths of Bathe (1650) 357 To . . reject the 
counsell of any quacking Physician. 1722 DE FOE Plague 
(1754) 39 These quacking sort of Fellows rais d great Gains 
out of the miserable People. 1843 LE FEVRE Life Trait. 
Phys, II. i. xiv. 31 A more quacking race . . does not exist, 
and they are always swallowing some kind of medicine. 

Quacking (kwre^kirj), ///. #. 2 [f. QUACK v.^ 
+ -ING^.] That quacks or makes a sound as a duck. 

1620 DEKKER I illanies Disc, xvii, A Quacking chcate, 
a Ducke. 1898 R. HICHENS The Londoners 82 The quacking 
voice hurled out these last three words with impressive 
emphasis. 

Quackish (kwse-kij), a. [f. QUACK sbl + -ISH.] 
Ot the nature of a quack or quackery. 

1732 Hist, Litteraria III. 558 To complete his quackish 
Farce [he] spread printed Bills all over Paris. 1790 BURKE 
Fr. Rev. 198 All the arts of quackish parade. 1800 Monthly 
Mag. XIII. 131 Regular, not quackish innovating prac 
titioners. 1865 Sat. Rev. Nov. 570 Another .. confounds 
preaching the Gospel with a quackish interpretation of 
prophecies. 

Hence Qua ckishly adv. 

1816 J. GILCHRIST Philos. Etym. 119 Do not let them 
. . quackishly boa^-t of new light and great discovery. 

Quackism (kwarkiz m). [f. QUACK sbl 4- -ISM.] 
Quackery, charlatanism. 

1720-21 Lett. Mist s Jrnl. (1722) II. 22, 1 understand that 
is exploded as Quackism by the Judicious. 1762 LLOYD 
St. Jameses Mag. I. iv, Others, in the true spirit of 
Quackism, circulate their intentions by handbills. 1833 
CARLVLE Misc. Ess., Ca#0.r/n7{ 1899) 274 What unmeasured 
masses of Quackism were set fire to. 

Quackle (kwark I), v. 1 O&s. exc. dt ai. [Imita 
tive: cf. QUACK j.3] trans, and intr. To choke. 

1622 S. WARD Woe to Drunkards (1627) 22 The drinke or 
something in the cup quackled him, stucke so in his throat, 
that . . [it] strangled him presently. 1655 GURNALL Chr. in 
Ami. I. (1665) 72 God knowes, thou art almost quackled 
with thy teares. 1806 BLOOMFIELD Wild Flowers Poems 
(1845) 221 Some quack ling cried, let go your hold ; The 
farmers held the faster. 1865 Standard 19 Sept., The verb 
* to quackle is used in Suffolk in reference to suffocation, 
when caused by drink going the wrong way , or by smoke. 
1895 RYE Gloss. E, Anglia^ s. v. My cough quackles me . 
He fanged her by the throat and nearly quackled her , 

Quackle (kwas k l), v. 2 [In form a deriv. of 
QUACK z;. 2 , but found earlier.] intr. To quack, as 
a duck. Hence Qua ckling vbl. sb. and///, a. 

1564-78 BULLEVN Dial. agst. Pest. (1888) 64 Vpon a tyme 
when quacklyng Duckes did speake and caklyng henries 
could talke. 1825 HONE Eyery-day Bk. I. 534 The loud., 
quackling of ducks, .is a sign of rain. 1837 CARLVLE Fr. 
Rn&gt;. II. i. i, Simple ducks, .quackle for crumbs from young 
royal fingers. 1865 MRS. WHITNEY Gayivorthys I, ii 
Underneath, .splashed and quackled the ducks. 

Quackmire, variant of QUAKEMIRE. 

Quack-quack (kwaekikwrek). [Imitative: see 
QUACK f2] An imitation of the note of a duck ; 
a nursery name for a duck. 

1865 DICKENS Mitt. Fr. m. xv, Mew says the cat, Quack- 
quack says the duck. 1869 OUIDA Puck xxxviii. (1873) 491 
[They] could not themselves tell for their lives . . a canvas- 
back duck from a quack-quack of the gutter. 1889 MIVART 
Truth 226 Quack-quack and gee-gee are just as good 
abstract universal terms as duck and horse . 

Hence Quack-quacking vbl. sb. 

1824 CARLYLE tr. tt ilhelm Meister (1864) II. 257 As the 
duck on the pond . . to the future quack-quacking and gibble- 
gabbling of his life. 

Quacksalver (kwre-kszelvai). Also 6-7 
quack(e)-, 7 quaksaluer. [a. early mod.Du. 
(i6th c.) quacksalver (Kilian; mod.Du. kwak- 
zalver), whence also G. quacksalber , Sw. qvack- 
salfvare : the second element is f. sa/f, zalf salve, 
ointment, and the first is commonly regarded as 
the stem of qwxken (mod.Du. kwakken] to quack. 

On this view a quacksalver is one who quacks or boasts 
about the virtues of his salves ; it has however been sug- 

ested that quack- or kwak~ may mean to work in a feeble 
ungling fashion (Franck).] 

1. An ignorant person who pretends to a know 
ledge of medicine or of wonderful remedies: =* 
QUACK sb. 1 i. 

Very common in i?th c. ; in later times largely superseded 
by the abbreviation QUACK so. 1 

1579 GOSSON Sck. A buse ( Arb.) 53 A quacke-saluers Budget 
of filthy receites. 1605 B. JONSON Volpone n. ii, They are 
quack-saluers, Fellowes, that Hue by senting oyles, and 



QUACKSALVING. 

drugs. 1658 ROWLAND tr. Monfcfs Theatr. Ins. 1074 One 
accidental rash cure of a disease . . makes a Quacksalver a 
great Physician. 1719 D URFEV Pills (1872) IV. 87 Come 
you Quack-salvers that do kill Sometimes a Patient by your 
skill. 1856 VAUGHAN Mystics (1860) II. vm. ix. 08 What 
a gulf between the high personage our romance imagines 
and . . that shuffling quacksalver which our matter-of-fact 
research discovers. 

attrib. a 1670 HACKET Cent. Serin. (1675) 544 St. Peter 
had no such Quacksalver tricks in Divinity. 

2. transf. = QUACK 2. 

1611 W. BAKER Peattgyr* Verses in Coryat s Crudities, 
The Anatomie dissection or cutting up of that great Quack 
salver of words Mr. Thomas Coryate our British Mercuric. 
1889 SWINBURNE Stud. B. Jonson 43 Brother Zeal-of-the- 
land is no vulgar impostor, no mere religious quacksalver. 

Hence Quacksalverism, f -salvery, quackery. 

1617 MINSHEU Dnctor, Quacksaluerie. 1864 CARLYLK 
Fredk. Gt. IV. 302 Sublime quacksalverism. 

t Quacksalving (kwarksailvirj), ///. a. Olis. 
[f. *quacksalve vb. (inferred from QUACKSALVER) + 
-ING 2 .] Quackish. 

1. Of things : Belonging to, or characteristic of, 
a quacksalver. 

1608 MIDDLETON Mad World II. vi, Any quacksalving 
terms will serve for this purpose, a 1691 Bp. Cuoi T in 
Somers Tracts(ed. Scott) VII. 29oGenerals and particulars, 
the quid, the qttale, the guantum, and such-like quack 
salving forms. 

2. Of persons : Resembling, acting like, a quack. 
1608 DEKKER Lanth. fy Cand. k. Quack-saluing Empericks. 

1620 MELTON Astrolog. 18 If you should kill three hundred, 
you would still remain but a Quack-salving Physician. 1622 
MASSINGER & DEKKER Virg, Mart. iv. i, Quacksalving, 
cheating mountebanks ! 1649 C. WALKER Hist. Independ. 
li. 207 A Quack-salving Doctor of Phisick. 

Hence f Quacksalvingly adv., in the manner of 
a quack. Obs. 

1652 GAULE Magastrom. 105 An experiment in physick or 
medicine, sc.. brought to effect, many times, empirically, 
quacksalvingly, ignorantly. 

t Qua ckster. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. QUACK z.l + 
-STEK.J A quack, quacksalver. 

1709 Brit. A folio II. No. 44. 3/1 The Quackster . . with 
Death stalls our Quietus. 

Quacky (kwarki), a.l [f. QUACK rf.l + -yl.] 
Inclined to quackery. 

1846 POE Criticism Wks. 1864 III. 23 Who although a 
little quacky per se has. .a whole legion of active quacks at 
his control. 

Quacky (kwae-ki), a. 2 [f. QUACK rf.2 + -Y 1 .] 
Of voices : Having the harsh quality characteristic 
of the cry of a duck. Hence Qua ckiness. 

J 8g5 Forum (N.Y.) June 502 Our women s voices are.. 
hardened, .into an habitual quacky or metallic quality. . . 
Quackiness and shrillness prevail less in the Southern 
States than in the Northern and Western. 

Quad (kwgd), rf.l,abbrev.(orig. in Oxford slang) 
of 



_ . 

1820 in Brasenose Ale 8 When first thy Quad, O Brase- 
nose, sprung from earth. i8aj Sparling Afag. XXI. 70 
Mr. Protheroe once met me in Quad during the frost. 
1861 HUGHES Tom Brown at Oxf. i, The rooms ain t half so 
large or good in the inner quad. 1884 Pall Mall G. 24 Jan. 
3/2 Pump Court the dreariest of all the Temple quads. 

Quad (kwgd), sb.-, abbrev. of QUADRAT s/&gt;. 2. 

1880 in WEBSTER Suppl. 1884 Western Morn. News 17 July 
4/6 A quad is a compositor s instrument for the filling 
up of blanks. 1884 TUER (title) Quads within Quads, for 
Authors, Editors, and Devils. 1884 Pall Mall G. i Aug. 
4/2 Quads in the present case are a trade term applicable 
to printers jokes. 

Quad (kwgd), sb.*, abbrev. of QUADRUPLET 3. 

1896 Daily News 2 June 9/2 Stocks was paced by five 
triplets and a quad. 1897 IVhitaker s Aim. 641/2 A quad 
team did a flying quarter in 24-6 sees. 

Quad (kwgd), sb.*, abbrev. of QUADRUPED i b. 

1894 ASTLKY Fifty Years Life I. 97 He was mounted on 
a sorry old quad. Ibid. II. 88, I stuck to my quad and rode 
into the paddock. 

Quad (kwgd), a., abbrev. of QUADRUPLE a. d. 

1888 in JACOB; Printers I ocab. 1891 Star 12 Nov. i/i 
Printing Plant, including, .quad crown perfecting machine, 
quad demy and double demy machines. 

Quad (kwgd), v.i, abbrev. of QUADRUPLES v. 

1886 Pall Mall G. 26 Aug. n/i Some lines are quadded 
or quadrnplexed. 

Quad ^kwgd), v2 Printing, [f. QUAD sb.V\ To 
insert quadrats in (a line of type); to fill with 
quadrats. Also to quad out. 

1888 in JACOBI Printers Vocab. 

Quad, var. QUOD sb., prison; QUED(E a., bad. 

Quad, obs. form of QUOTH v. 

tQuade, v. Obs. rare- 1 . [? f. quade, var. of 
QUBD(E a., bad.] ? To destroy, deface. 

T 5*S J. HALLE Hist. Expost. 34 If thou in chirurgerye, 
Alone wylte walke and wade ; Thine errores will thy worke 
confounde, And all thine honoure quade. 

tQua der, v. Obs. rare. Also 5-6 quadr-. 
[ad. L. quadrare : see QUADRATE v., and cf. F. 
cadrer, quaiirer (i6th c.).] a. trans. To square 
(a number), b. trans, and intr. = QUADRATE v. 3. 

c 1430 Art ofNombrynge (E.E.T.S.l 16 [A given number) 
to be quadrede. 1588 Kvu Househ. Philos. Wks. (1901) 269 
In the quadering and making euen of the enterics with 
he expenses. 1593 in Fortn. Rev. (1899) LXV. 220 
Nor wold indeed the forme of devyne praieis vsed duelie 
in his Lordship s house have quadred with such reprobates. 
1620 SHKLTON Qui.r. II. iv. vii. 91 The X doth not quader 
well with him because it sounds harshly. 



Quadern, a square : see QUADBAN j/ .i 
Quadle, obs. variant of CODDLE t/.i, to boil. 

1633 HAKT Diet of Diseased I. xvii. 66 Raw Apples before 
they be ripe, if used, are best quadled. 1649 G- DANIEL 
Trinarch. To Rdr. 105 Thus wee sett you out Perboyled 
Kinges and Quadled Crownes. 

Quadling, obs. variant of CODLING 2 . 

1584 COGAN Haven Health c. (1612) 87 Rawe Apples and 
Quadlings. 1609 C. BUTLER Fern. Man. (1634) 173 Let 
them boil till they be as tender as Quadlings. 

tQuadmire. Obs. rare- 1 . = QUAGMIRE, q.v. 

1609 BIBLE (Douay) f s. Ixviii. comm., I am as one in- 
tangled with quickesand or quadmyre in the bottom of a 
great water. 

II Quadra (kwg-dra). Arch. [L. quadra a square, 
used by Vitruvius in sense I.] 

1. a. The plinth or socle of a podium, b. A 
platband or fillet, esp. that above or below the 
scotia in the Ionic base. 

1664 EVELYN tr. Frearfs Arckit. 131 Pike, and their 
Quadra s or Tables, .were employ d for Inscriptions. 1842- 
76 in GWILT Arc/tit. (Hence in recent diets.) 

2. A square border or frame round a bas-relief, 
panel, etc. ; also, loosely, a border or frame of any 
form. 

1727-41 in CHAMBERS Cycl. 1842-76 in GWILT Arc/tit. 
(Hence in recent Diets.) 

Quadra-, occas. erron. form of QUADRI-. 

Quadratic (kwg-drab l), a. Math. Also 8 
-ible. [ad. L. type *quadrdbilis, f. quadrare to 
square : see QUADHATE v. and -AULK.] Capable of 
being represented by an equivalent square, or of 
being expressed in a finite number of algebraic 
terms. 

1693 WALLIS in Phil. Trans, XIX. in The Spaces in the 
Cycloid, which are perfectly Quadrable. 1743 EMERSON 

Calculus vi. 253 When the area limited by a curve can be 
expressed in a finite number of algebraic terms, the surface 
is said to be quadrable. 

Hence QnadraW lity, the quality or condition of 
being quadrable. 

1743 EMERSON Fluxions 194 In Curves of more Terms, 
there are several Conditions requisite to their exact Quadra- 
bility. 

Quadragenarian (kwgdradgz-neVrian), a. 
and sb. Also erron. quadri-. [f. L. quadrage- 
nari-us (f. quadrageni distrib. of quadraginta 
forty) + -AN.] a. adj. Forty years old. b. sb. 
A person forty years of age. 

1839 Fraser s Mag. XX. 752 The quadrigenarians may 
reasonably object, that as Lord Byron only lived to seven, 
and-thirty, he could not be a competent judge on this 
matter. 1892 STEVENSON Vattima Lett. xix. (1895) 184 A 
stalwart well-oiled quadragenarian. 1897 Sat. Rev. 20 Feb. 
195/2 Quadrigenarian critics. 

So Qua clragena rioxis a. 

1656 BLOUNT Glossogr., Quadragenarians, of or belonging 
to forty years. 1719 BOYER Fr.-Eng. Diet., Qttaitragc- 
naire, quadragenarious, forty years old. 1895 Harpers 
Weekly Mag. Feb. 337/2 One of these plumply mellow 
quadrlgenarious bodies. 

tQuadrageue. Obs. rare. [ad. med.L. 
quadragena, neut. of quadrageni forty each, forty.] 
An indulgence for forty days. 

1664 JER. TAYLOR Dissiias. Popery ii. 4 You have . . 
purchased your self so many Quadragenes or Lents of 
pardonj that is, you have bought off the penances of so 
many times forty days. 

II Quadragesima (kwgdrad5e-sima). Eccl. 
[med.L., fern. (sc. dies day) of L. quadragt simus 
fortieth, f. quadraginta forty ; hence also It., Pg. 
quadragesima (Sp. ciiad-"), F. qitadrage sime (1487). 

The popular Romanic formsare It. (litaresima, Pg. quares- 
ma, Sp. cuaresma, OF. quarcsme, caresme, F. caieme; cf. 
also Ir. corglias, cairgkios, Gael, carghus, W. garaiuys from 
pop. Lat. *quarages-itna.} 

fa. The forty days of Lent. Obs. b. (Also 
Quadragesima Sunday.) The first Sunday in Lent. 

(1398 TKEVISA Earth. DC P. K. IX. XXX. (1495) 364 Lente 
highte Quadragesima.] 1604 Bk. Com. Prayer Tables, 
Quadragesima, before Easter, vi weekes. 1617 MINSHEU 
Ductor, Quadragesima Sunday, or the first Sunday in Lent. 
Ibid., Quadragesima is the first Sunday in Lent. 1662 Bk. 
Com. Prayer Tables, Quadragesima, six weeks before 
Easter. 1662 GUNNING Lent Fast 167 A Quadragesima all 
call d it. 1665 EVELYN Corr. 9 Feb. (1872) III. 151, I have 
always esteemed abstinence a lanfo beyonu the fulfilling 
of periods and quadragesimas. 1794 W. TINDAL Evesham 
34 He was on Quadragesima Sunday confirmed Abbot. 

Quadragesimal (kwgdridsew" !),. and sb. 
Also 7 quadrigess-. [ad. late I . nuadragesi- 
mal-is: see prec. and -AL. Cf. F. quadrag&lt;&lt;siinal 
(i5-i6th c.).] 

A. adj. \. Of a fast (esp. tli.it of Lent) : Lasting 
for forty days. 

1654 HAMMOND Answ, A nimadv. Ignat. ii. 2. 38 The Quad- 
rigessimal Fast was observed in the Church to commemorate 
both these. 1725 tr. Dupiiis Eccl. Hist, tith C. I. v. 171 
The Quadragesimal Fast was also regarded as Penance. 
1844 W. H. MILL Serin. T-mpt. Christ i. 12 That quadra 
gesimal Fast and retirement of our Lord. 1855 Applic. 
rantk. Princ. (1861) 111 The retirement and quadragesimal 
fast of Elijah. 

2. Belonging or appropriate to the period of 
Lent ; Lenten. 



QUADRANGLE. 

1629 MABBE tr. Fonseca s Dev. Contempt, title-p., Two 
and Fortie Sermons upon all y Quadragesimall Gospells. 
1691 WOOD Alh. Oxon. II. 359 Quadragesimal Disputations 
were publickly performed in the Schools. 1727-41 CHAMBERS 
Cycl, s. v. Quadragesima, Hence some monks are said to 
lead a quadragesimal life ; or to live on quadragesimal food 
all the year. 1882 J. W. LEGG Hist. Liturg. Colours in. 
40 The colour of the Quadragesimal ornaments. 

fig. a 1643 W. CARTWRIGHT Ordinary in. v. in Hazl. 
Dodsley XII. 268 But quadragesimal wits, and fancies lean 
As ember weeks. 

3. Consisting of forty. 

1662 GUNNING Lent Fast 50 The Quadragesimal number 
not constituted of men, but consecrated from God. 

t B. sb. a. A fast, properly one of forty days. 
b. A set of forty, c. A Lent sermon, d. //. 
Lent offerings (see quot. 1721). Obs. 

1660 JER. TAYLOR Duct. Dubit. ill. iv. Rule xiii. 17 
It is no wonder, .that all the set and stationary fasts of the 
Primitive Christians were called Quadragesimals. Ibid. 18 
A quadragesimal of hours is as proper as a quadragesimal 
of days. 1691 tr. Emiliantte s Frauds Romisk Monks 
284 They who print their Quadragesimals and their Advent 
Sermons, .. never print the Second part of them. 1721 
BAILEY, Quadragesimals, Mid-Lent contributions, Offerings 
made by People to their Mother Church on Mid-Lent 
Sunday. 

II Quadragesima-lia. rare. [neut. pi. of late 
L. quadragesimalis : see prec.] = prec. K d. 

1727-41 in CHAMBERS Cycl. 1876 Prayer-book Interleaved 
103 Taking Quadragesimalia or Lent-offerings. 

t Quadragesimarian. Obs. rare- 1 . [f. 
QUADRAGESIMA.] An observer of Lent. 

1635 FULLER Ch. Hist. \\. vii. J 74 Otherwise it is suspi 
cious that the Quartadecimans were no good Quadragesi- 
marians. 

t Quadragesime, -gesme. Obs. rare. [ad. 
L. quadragcsim-a : see above.] = QUADRAGESIMA. 

c 1440 Cesta Rom. i. Ixii. 266 (Harl. MS.) A goode cristyn 
man that wele blessidly hath fast all the quadragesme. 
1612 R. SHELDON Serin. St. Martins 5 To proportion my 
discourse to the season, when we all are. .making a Quad 
ragesime, or fortieth, as a parasceue of Christ his death 
and passion. 1612 SELDEN tllustr. Drayton s Poly-olb. XI. 
207 Wks. 1876 II. 91 You will lose therein forty days, and 
the common name of Quadragesime. 

Quadraginte-simal.s. rare- 1 . [For QUADRA 
GESIMAL, after L. quadraginta. ] Forty-fold ; having 
forty parts. 

1789 BURNEY If 1st. Mas. III. i. 75 Twelve bars of universal 
chorus in quadragintesimal harmony. 

Quadragi-ntireme. rare- 1 , [f. L. quadra 
ginta forty: cf. yuadrireme, etc.] (See quot.) 

1799 CHARNOCK in Naval Chron. I. 132 Quadraginti- 
remes, or vessels .. described as having forty ranks., of 
oars. 

Quadrain, a square : see QUADRAN si&gt;. 1 

Quadrain, obs. variant of QUATRAIN. 

Quadral (kwg driil), a. rare- 1 , [f. QUADH(I)- 
+ -AL.] By four, into four parts. 

1891 W. TUCKWELL Tongues in Trees 146 They held to 
the quadral division of time, distributing the day-night into 
four, eight or sixteen parts. 

tQua dran, sb. (and a.). Obs. Forms: 6quad- 
ron, 6-7 quadrain, 7 quadran, -ren, quadern. 
[Alteration of QUADRANT sb. z , with dropping of 
the -/ and assimilation to other endings.] 

L A square. 

1591 HARINGTON prl. Fur. vi. Ixxi, These ornaments . . 
All are enrich t with stones of great estate, . . In parted 
quadrons. 1595 B. BARNES Spir. Sonn. Ixxxiii, Bright 
soldiours muster up .. Raungde into quadraines and trium 
phant rings. 1648 GAGE ll est Ind. xii. (1655) 51 In the 
midst of this Quadern stood a mount of earth and stone 
square likewise. 1653 R. SANDERS Physiogn. 153, I erected 
this Figure, and thereupon made certain Quadrains and 
Resolutions, that my Friends might understand the signifi 
cations of the said Figure. 

2. attrib. or adj. Square. 

1598 SYLVESTER Du Barton n. i. iv. Handie-Crafts 206 
Sixteen fair Trees.. Whose equal I front in quadran form 
prospected. 1611 SPEED Tlttal. Gt. Brit, xxxvii. (1614)73/1 
In a long Quadren-wise the wals doe incompasse the citie. 

Quadran, obs. var. QUADRANT sb. 1 (sense 3), 
QUATRAIN. 

Quadrangle (kwg-dra-rjg l), sb. [a. F. quad 
rangle (i 3th c.), ad. late L. quadrangulum, neut. 
of quadrangulus (see next), f. quadr- QUADRI- + 
angulus ANGLE. The stressing quadra ngle, which 
appears in some of the quots., is given by Bailey, 
Ash, and Sheridan, and is still the constant Sc. use.] 

1. Geom. A figure having four angles and there 
fore four sides. 

In mod. Geom. a quadrangle is regarded as a figure 
formed by four points. (vertices), three of which are not in 
the same straight line, and by the six straight lines which 
join the four points two by two. (Cf. QUADRILATERAL.) In 
ordinary use the term commonly denotes a square or other 
rectangular figure: cf. quot. 1884 and senses 2 and 3. 
CI430 Art of Nombrynge (E.E.T.S.) 14 ffor dyvisioun 
write by vnytes, hathe .4. sides even as a quadrangille. 
1471 RIPLEY Camp. Alch. Ep. iv. in Ashm. (1652) 112 Of the 
Quadrangle make ye a Figure round. 1551 RECORDE Pathw. 
Ktunul. i. Defin., Thus haue I done with trianguled figures, 
and nowe foloweth quadrangles. 1653 R. SANDERS Physiogn. 
58 The Quadrangle is between the Table-line, the middle 
natural, that of the Sun, and that of Saturn, when there 
are four angles. 1869 DUNKIN Midn. Sky 141 Eight stars 
forming two similar quadrangles. 1884 tr. Lotze s Logic 130 
Nothing is commoner than for a person who speaks of a 

1-2 



QUADRANGLE. 

quadrangle to mean really a parallelogram or often even 
a square. 

2. A square or rectangular space or court, the 
sides of which are entirely or mainly occupied by 
parts of a large building, as a college, palace, etc. 
(See also QUAD sb. 1 , and cf. QUADUANT sb. 1 *) 

1593 SHAKS. 2 Hen. VI, i. iii. 156 My choiler being ouer- 
blowne, With walking once about the Quadrangle. 1642 
Caval. Adi . Majesty 7 Our men. .went in at the back Gate 
opposite to Oriall Colledge, and through Canterbury quad 
rangle. 1764 HARMER Observ. xr. iii. 103 These quad 
rangles or courts are paved . . with marble. 1828 SCOTT 
F. M. Perth x, A lofty vaulted entrance led through this 
eastern front into the quadrangle. 1877 W. THOMSON Voy, 
Challenger I. n. 112 We passed through an archway into 
a large quadrangle. 

3. A rectangular building or block of buildings ; 
a building containing a quadrangle. 

1620 T. PEYTON Paradise in Farr S. P. Jos. 7(1848) 179 
Like a quadrangle seated on a hill With twelue braue 
gates. 1645 EVELYN Mem. (1857) I. 217 They [the Schools] 
are fairly built in quadrangle, with cloisters beneath. 171* 
AMHERST Terrx Fil. No. 5 (1754) 24, I would not have 
them set their minds too much upon new quadrangles, and 
empty libraries, and spacious halls. 1846 McCuLLOCH Ace. 
Brit. Empire (1854) II. 383 The buildings of Trinity College 
[Dublin]. .consist of three quadrangles. 1870 F. R. WILSON 
Ch. Lindisf. 64 Beadwell [has] an additional quadrangle of 
houses. 

b. A square block ^in quot., an iceberg). 

1853 KANE Grinnelt Exp, xlix. (1856) 461 A second quad 
rangle stood out from the shore at the same rate. 

4. Comb., (? of the adj.) as quadrangle-wise adv. 
1582 N. T. (Rhem.) Rev. xxi. 16 The citie is situated 

quadrangle-wise, a 1604 HANMER Chron. Ireland(\b-$$ i8j 
The walles foure square, or quadrangle wise. 

t Quadrangle, # Obs. [ad. L. quadranguhis &gt; 
four-cornered : see prec. and cf. obs. F. quadrangle 
(Godef.).] a. = QUADRANGULAR, b. Astron. 
QUADRATE a. 2. 




39/2 i ne ureeKe leuer \ ratner oetoKenein me quaarangie 
figure. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny I. 13 In the quadrangle aspect 
of the Sun she [the Moon] appeareth diuided in halfe : in 
the triangle she is well neere inuironed. 

Quadrangled (kwg-dnci)g kl, kwgdrce-rjg ld), 
a. ("f. as prec. + -ED^.] 

1. = QUADRANGULAR. Now rare or Obs. 

1552 in HULOET. 1570 UILLINGSLEV Ettclitii. xxxii. 42 The 
angles of euery quadrangled figure are equall to 4 right 



are an Oblong .. and a Rhomboide. 1800 J. HUKDIS 
Favourite Village 155 The quadrangled tube Into a pipe 
monotonous converts. 

2. Furnished with a quadrangle. 

1880 SIR J. B. PHEAK Aryan Village 86 There will be 
the brick-built, quadrangled house. 

Quadrangular (kwgdra;-ngi/aaj\a. [ad. late 
L. quadrangularis (Boethius), f. c]iiadrangulum: 
see QUADRANGLE and -AH, and cf. F. quadrangit- 
laire (1543).] Shaped like a quadrangle; having 
four angles ; of four-cornered base or section. 

1592 G. HARVEY I ierce s Super. (1593) 20 The ^Egyptian 
Mercury .. his Image in Athens was quadrangular. 1607 
TOPSELL Foiir-f. Beasts (1658) 250 A company of Horses 
set like a Tower in a Quadrangular form in a field, 
was called Fergus. i6n CORYAT Crudities 169 It hath 
a prety quadrangular Court adjoyning to it. 1671 Phil. \ 
Trans. VI. 2216 It was a very dark Spot almost of a quad* &lt; 
rangular form. 1776 GIBBON Dtcl. # F. xiii. I. 396 The 
form was quadrangular, flanked with sixteen towers. 1784 
COWPER Task iv. 217 With spots quadrangular of diamond 
form. 1849 GROTE Greece n. Iviii. VII. 227 The lower part 
was left as a quadrangular pillar. 1882 Miss BRADDON Alt. 
Royal III. iii. 47 The little quadrangular garden. 

Comb. 1656 HEYLIN Sum. France 74 A house built 
quadrangular wise. 

Hence Quadra ngiilarly adv., in the manner of 
a quadrangle; with four corners. Quadra ngular- 
ness, the state or fact of being quadrangular 
(Bailey, vol. II, 1727). 

1708 OZELL tr. Boileau s Lutrin II. (1730) 125 An inverted 
Cone . . Sharp pointed, and quadrangularly long. 1875 H. C. 
WOOD Therap. (1879) 522 Quadrangularly prismatic crystals. 

t Quadra ngulate, a. Obs. rare. [ad. late 
L. quadrangulat-us (Tertull., Vulg.) ; see QUAD 
RANGLE sb. and -ATE a .] Made quadrangular ; 
squared. 

1592 R. D. Hypnerotomachia sb, The pointed quadran- 
gulate Corner stones. 1599 R. I.INCHE Fount. Anc. Fid. 
H iv, A certaine squared and quadrangulate circle. 

Hence f Quadra ng-ulateuess, the state or con 
dition of having four corners. Obs. rare. 

"597 A- M. tr. Guillemeau s Fr. Clnrurg. 53/2 Through 
the quadrangulatenes therof it cutteth . . al that wheron it 
glaunceth. 

t Quadranguled, a. Obs. rare- 1 , [cf. prec.] 
= QUADRANGLED. 

1392 R. D. Hy r ncntomackia 4 b, Hir charmes and quad- 
ranguled plaint* [A mistranslation] 

Quadrant (kwg-drant), s/i.1 Also 5-6 -ent, 7 
-an. [ad. L. quadrans, quadrant- fourth part, 
quarter (spec, of an as. an acre, a foot, a pound, 
a sextarius, a day ; cf. the senses below), f. quadr- 
four- : see QUADKI-.] 

t L A quarter of a day ; six hours. Obs. 



1398 TEEVISA Earth. DC P. R. ix. ix. (1495) 354 A day 
conteynyth foure quadrantes, and a quadrant conteynyth 
syxe houres. a 1628 SIR J. BEAUMONT End his Majesty s 
ist Yeare (R.), The sunne, who in his annuall circle takes 
A daye s full quadrant from th ensuing yeere. 1646 SIR T. 
BROWNE Pseud. Ep. 219 The intercalation of one day every 
fourth yeare, allowed for this quadrant, or 6 houres super 
numerary. 

t 2. The fourth part of a Roman as. Obs. 

533 BELLENDI:N Livy in. vii. (1901) 270 Ilk man went to 
Valerius hous, and left ane quadrent in it, to cans him be 
the more rkhely buryit. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. 518 A 
small piece of brasse coin, although it be no more than 
a Quadrant. 1655 MOUFET & BENNET Health s linprov. 
191 They were highly esteemed, being sold every Dishfull 
for fourscore Quadrants. 

fb. A farthing. (So med.L. quadrans, AF. 
quadrant,} Obs. 

1609 SKENE Reg. Maj. 123 b (Burgh La-wes c. 40), Hee 
..sail giue ane quadrant (farding). Ibid. zfi\t(Biirgk Laives 
c. 66), The maister. .sail haue ane pennie for his Ouen ; the 
twa servants ane pennie, and the boy ane quadrant, 
t c. at/rib, in contemptuous sense. Obs. 

1589 NASHE Dcd. to Greene s Menaphon (Arb.) 8 Our 
quadrant Crepundios, that spit ergo in the mouth of euerie 
one they meete. 

t 3. The fourth part of a sextarius or Roman 
pint. Obs. rare. 

1601 HOLLAND Pliny I. 267 One of their shels ordinarily 
would containe 80 measures called Quadrants. 1688 R. 
HOLME Armoury in. 339/1 Gill or Quadran, is 4 to a pint. 

4. A quarter of a circle or circular body, viz. (a) 
an arc of a circle, forming one fourth of the circum 
ference ; (6) one fourth of the area of a circle, con 
tained within two radii at right angles. 

1571 DIGGES Pantom. I. B iv, A Quadrant is the fourth 
part of a Circle, included with two Semidiameters. i6e$ 
N. CARPENTER Geog. Del. i. vi. (1635) 123 A circle is diuided 
into foure quadrants. 1660 BARROW Euclid vi. 33 cor. As 
the arch BC is to four quadrants, that is, the whole circum 
ference. 1694 HOLDER Disc. Trine (J.), In each quadrant 
of the circle of the ecliptick. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v. 
Quarter-round, Any projecting moulding, whose contour 
is a perfect quadrant, 1812 WOODHOUSE Astron. \. 6 PQ, 
Pq [are] quadrants containing 90 degrees. 1843 PORT- 
LOCK Gtol. 682 In each quadrant of the kiln, there is an 
opening. 1869 DUNKIN Midn. Sky 74 The north-western 
quadrant of the sky. 1900 Brit. Med. yrnl. (No. 2046) 622 
An insignificant nebula in the lower-inner quadrant of the 
left cornea. 

b. A thing having the form of a quarter-circle. 

Quadrant of Altitude, a graduated strip of brass on an 
artificial globe, fixed at one end to some point of the 
meridian, round which it revolves, and extending round one 
fourth of the circumference. 

1638 CHILMEAD tr. Hues Treat. Globes (1889) 33 Then 
fasten the quadrant of Altitude to the Vertical point. 1726 
tr. Gregory s^ Astron. I. 269 With the Quadrant of Altitude, 
find that Point of the Ecliptic which is elevated 12 Degrees 
above the Western Part of the Horizon. 1816 J. SMITH 
Panorama Sc. fy A rt II. 717 A sliding piece N, (much like 
the nut of the quadrant of altitude belonging to a common 
globe). 1825 J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 114 The 
inclined shaft, .working in the toothed quadrant Z, elevates 
or depresses the sluice. 1888 JACOBI Printers Vocab. 107 
Q fadrant t a small crescent-shaped piece of iron or steel used 
for the movement of the vibrating roller on a platen machine. 
C. A quarter of a sphere or spherical body. 

1882 VINES tr. Sachs Hot. 300 In each of the four quad 
rants [of a cell] a third division takes place. 

5. An instrument, properly having the form of a 
graduated quarter-circle, used for making angular 
measurements, esf. for taking altitudes in astronomy 
and navigation. 

Various kinds of quadrants (some being improperly so 
called) have been employed for different purposes, but are 
now to a great extent superseded by more perfect instru 
ments. The distinctive names are derived either from the 
inventors (as Adams s, Coles s, Collins s, Da-vis s, Godfrey s 
or Hadley s, Gunter s, Svtton s quadrant), from those by 
whom it is used (3&gunner s,suri&gt;eyor s quadrant}, or from 
some property, use, etc., of the instrument (as horodiclical, 
mural, sinical quadrant). 

a 1400 in Halhwell Kara Mathematica (1841) 58 Til . . [&gt;e 
threde whereon be plumbe henges falle vpon be mydel lyne 
of [&gt;e quadrant, |&gt;at es to say [&gt;e 45 degre. a 1400-50 
Alexander 129 Quadrentis [MS. In adrentis] corven all of 
quyte siluyre. 1555 EDEN Decades 245 With my quadrant 
and Astrolabie instrumentes of Astronomic. 1627 CATT. 
SMITH Seaman s Gram. xiv. 68 The Gunners quadrant is to 
leuell a Peece or mount her to any randon. 1638 CHII.MKAU 
tr. Hues Treat. Globes (1889) 102 Observe the Meridian 
Altitude of the Sunne with the crosse staffe, quadrant, or 
other like instrument. 1696 PHILLIPS (ed. 5), David s [1706 
Da-vis s\ Quadrant, an Instrument us d by Seamen, where 
with they observe the height of the Sun with their Backs 
toward it. 1774 M. MACKENZIE Maritime Sum. 10 With 
a Theodolite, or Hadley s Quadrant .. take the Angles 
YXA, YXB, VXC. 1848 DICKENS Dombey iv, The stock 
in trade of this old gentleman comprised . . sextants, and 
quadrants. 1897 F. T. BULLEN Cruise Cachalot 100 Any 
thing . . more out of date than his hog-yoke , or quadrant, 
I have never seen. 

6. alt rib. and Comb., as quadrant cell, lever; 
quadrant-like, -shaped adjs. ; quadrant-compass, 
a carpenter s compass with an arc to which one leg 
may be screwed (Knight Diet. Meek. 1 875) ; quad 
rant-electrometer, an electrometer in which the 
index moves through a quarter of a circle ; quad 
rant steam-engine, an engine in which the piston 
oscillates through a sector of a circle, instead of 
sliding along a cylinder (Knight Diet. Meek.}. 

1816 J. SMITH Panorama Sc. $ Art 11. 247 This conductor 



QUADRANTID. 

should be furnished with a quadrant electrometer. 1833 
T. HOLLAND Manuf. Metal\\. 278 The principle [of Strutt s 
lock] . . consists in a number of quadrant levers. 1874 
MICKLETHWAITE Mod. Par. Churches 163 The mediaeval 
quadrant-shaped cope-chests. 1884 BOWER & SCOTT De 
Bary s Phaner. 20 Each quadrant cell is again divided 
into two unequal parts. 1897 Outing (U.S.) XXIX. 525/1 
The quadrant-like part of the shutter. 

t Quadrant, st&gt;.* Obs, [App. an alteration of 
QUADRAT or QUADRATE sb.\ through assoc. with 
prec. See also QUADRAN sb.] 

1. ^ QUADRANGLE sb. 2, 3. 

1443 in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) I. 389 Werkemen 
and Tabor dryying the berne in to the quadrant of the 
College. 1537 in \V. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford 143 
The abbot send for me, . . he beyng under the ellme in the 
quadrant. 1582 STANYHURST sEneis iv. (Arb.) 118 Dido 
affrighted.. Too the inner quadrant runneth. 1631 WEEVER 
Anc. J" tin. Man. 412 A faire large Chappell on the East side 
of the Quadrant. 1655 FULLER Hist. Camb. v. 29 The 
present quadrant of the Schools. 

2. A square ; a square thing or piece (aIso^/5^.) : 
a square picture. 

1474 CAXTON Chesse 140 The kyng . . is sette in the iiij 
quadrante or poynt of theschequer. 1563-87 FOXE A. ^ M. 
&lt; T $96) 587 Since the time they did receiue the catholicke 
faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, as a most perfect quadrant. 
1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. 440 The quadrants or square 
cantons of the old Tuny fish, burnt to a cole. .are thought to 
be good for the tooth-ach. 1651 Life Father Sarpi (1676) 
22 A portable quadrant of Christ in the Garden. 

b. One side of a square. (Cf. QUADRATURE 2.) 

1577-87 HOLINSHKD Chron. III. 856/2 Apalace,the which 
I was quadrant, and euerie quadrant of the same palace was 
j three hundred and twentie eight foot long. 

Quadrant, sb3 : see QUADRATE sb% 

t Qua drant, a. Obs. [ad. L. quadrant-em, 

pres. pple. of quadrare to square : in sense i perh. 

an alteration of quadrat QUADRATE a. (cf. prec. and 

QUADRAN 2).] 

1. Square ; of a square form. 

1509 HAWES Past. Pleas, in. (Percy Soc.) 15 The craggy 
rocke, whiche quadrant did appeare. 1535 R. LAYTON Let, 
to Cromwell 12 Sept. in Wood Ann. 62 Wee found all the 

Seat Quadrant Court [of New College] full of the leaves of 
unce. 1577-87 [see prec. 2b]. 1591 GARRARD Art Warre 
161 Taking from the quotient y roote of the quadrant 
number. 1601 BP. W. BARLOW Defence 105 The quadrant 
stones of Salomons building. 1603 T. M. Progr. Jas. / in 
Arb. Garner VI H. 501 A goodly edifice of free stone, built 
in quadrant manner. 1618 Bamevelfs Afol. E b, The truth 
resembles, right, the right Cubes figure ; . . Whose quadrant 
flatness neuer doth disfigure. 

b. Astron. = QUADRATE a, 2. 

The form in this case may be due to association with 
QUADRANT j/ .l 4. 

1594 KLUNDEVII. Exerc. vn. x. (1636) 662 Characters.. 
Whereof the first signifieth a conjunction .. the fourth a 
quadrant aspect. 

2. Agreeing, consonant, or conformable (to or 
with}. Cf. QUADRATE a, 4, (So obs. F. quadrant.} 

1536 St. Papers Hen. T/?/, I. 521 Perceyving that your 
opinion and advise is quadrant with the same ; We haue 
sent.. a pardon to our Cousin. 1598 YONG Diana ; 241 To do 
the contrarie. .were., not quadrant to that, which is expected 
at your hands. 1720 WELTON Suffer. Son of God \ I. xx. 567 
Thou art content with the Sincerity and Uprightness of my 
Inclinations, tho they should not be so exactly Conformable 
and Quadrant to Thine Own. 

Quadrantal (kwgdne ntal), a. 1 [ad. L. quad- 
rantalis : see QUADRANT sb. 1 and -AL.] Having 
the shape of, consisting of, connected with, a 
quadrant or quarter-circle ; esp. quadrantal arc 
(t arch}. 

1678 HoBKEsDt Ctirti. ad. fin., Wks. 1845 VII. 180 A straight 
line equal to the quadrantal arc BLD. 1703 T. N. City $ 
C. Purchaser 14 A Quadrantal Casement, rising from its 
Plain. 1797 HELLINS in Phil. Trans. LXXXVIII. 529 
The length of a quadrantal arch of the circle. 1867 G. 
BARRY Sir C. Barry \\. 116 The central building with 
quadrantal corridors. 1871 B. STEWART Heat (ed. a) 71 
A quadrantal arc of a meridian on the earth s surface. 

b. Quadrantal deviation, error, triangle (see 
quots.). 

1706 PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey), Quadrantal Triangle t a 
Spnerick Triangle, that has at leabt a Quadrant for one of 
its Sides, and one Angle Right. 1788 HERSCHEL in Phil. 
Trans. LXXVIII. 374 We may resolve the quadrantal 



.1 puiar-nutj^ucL UVVHMIWII , HUU UUHUIBUMI uc&gt;miiun, 

which changes from positive to negative as the keel turns 
from quadrant to quadrant. 1865 Q. Rev. 358 The quad 
rantal error which depends only on the position of the 
horizontal soft iron of the ship. 

t Quadra iital, ^. 2 Obs. rare. [f. QUAD 
RANT st&gt;.~ + -AL.] a. Square; having a square base. 
b. Astron. = QUADUANT a. i b. 

1665 J. GADBURY Lond. Deliz&gt;. Predicted !. 4 The Con 
junctional, Opposite, or Quadrantal Rays of Jupiter. 1690 
LEYBOL-HN Curs. Math. 517 Let ABCDE be a Quadrantal 
Pyramis, {for a Pyramis is denominated from the number of 
the equal Sides of the Base thereof, as here four. .). 

t Quadra ntal, &lt;7.- f Obs. rare**, [ad. \^.quad- 
rantal-is of a quarter-foot, f. quadrant- QUADRANT 
*M] (See quot.) 

1656 BLOUNT Gloswgr.^ Quadranial. .used Adjectively. . 
four fingers thick, or three inches. 



tid ^kwgdne ntid). [f. L. quadrant- 
stem of quadrans + -ID.] One of a shower of 



QUADRANTILE. 

meteors falling on Jan. 2 and 3, and having its 

radiant point in the constellation Qnadrans mu- 

ralis* (Usu. in//.) 1876 G. F. CHAMBERS Astron. 799. 

Quadrantile, a. rare- 1 , [f. QUADRANT sb. 1 

+ -ILE.] = QUADKANTAL a. I. 

1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) II. 585/2 On this pin are two 
moveable collets, .to which are fixed the quadrantHe wires. 

t Qua drantly, adv. Obs. rare. [f. QUADRANT 
a. + -LY a .] Squarely; in a square form. To 
multiply quadrantly, to square. 

1538 LELAND It in. III. 33 In the midle of the Toun .. is 
a House buildid quadrant ly. 1581 STYWARD Mart. Discipl. 
ii. 108 An order to imbattell 12. C men quadrantlie at the 
sodaine. 1594 BLUNDEVIL Exerc. \. xxvi. (1636) 62 You 
must multiply the said 4 in it selfe Quadrantly, which makcth 
16. 

Quadrapertite, obs. form of QUADRIPARTITE. 

Quadrat (kwo drat). Also 8 quadrate, [var. 
of QUADRATE j.l, in special senses.] 

f 1. An instrument formerly used for measuring 
altitudes or distances, consisting of a square plate 
with two graduated sides, sights, etc. Obs. 

a 1400 in Halliwell Rara Mathematica (1841) 65 When., 
bou wolde mesure be heght. .make a quadrat.. bat es to sey 
a table even foure square ofwode or brasse. 1617 MINSHEU 
Ductor, A Quadrat, or Geometricall instrument, whereby 
the distance and height of a place is knowne afarre off by 
looking thorow a certaine little hole therein,.. dioptra. 

fb. Two graduated sides of a square, marked in 
the rectangular corner of a quadrant to facilitate 
its use. Obs. 

a 1400 in Halliwell Rara Mathematica (1841) 59 pe quad 
rat . . whilk es descryvede .. in be quadrant has tuo sides. 
1706 PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey), Quadrate and Line of Shadows 
(on a Quadrant) is a line of natural Tangents. 1727-41 
CHAMBERS Cycl., Quadrat . .called Z\SQ geometrical square, 
and line of shadows , is an additional member on the face of 
the common Gunter s and Sutton s quadrants. 

2. Printing. A small block of metal, lower than 
the face of the type, used by printers for spacing ; 
abbrev. QUAD sb* 

1683 MOXON Mech. E.rerc., Printing xxii. P 5 If his Title 
..make three or more Lines, he Indents the first with an m 
Quadrat, 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl.s.v., There are quadrats 
of divers sizes, as m quadrats, n quadrats, &c. which are 
respectively of the dimensions of such letters. 1824 J. JOHN 
SON Typogr. II. i!i. 65 An m-quadrat is the square of the 
letter to whatever fount it may belong ; an n-quaclrat is half 
that size. 1843 Penny Cycl. XXV. 455/1 Larger quadrats, 
equal in body to two, three, or four m s. 

attrib. and Comb. 1683 MOXON Mech. Exerc,, Printing 
viii, Head sticks .. are Quadrat high. 1894 Amer. Diet. 
Printing s.v., To throw all the pi and broken letter . . into 
the quadrat box. 

Quadrat, obs. form of QUADRATE. 

f Qua dratary, a. Obs. rare" 1 . [ad.L. qtiad- 
ratdri-zts: see QUADRATE sb^ and -ARY 1 .] Re 
lating to a square. 

1690 LEVBOURN Cnrs, Math. 328 The Proportions Cuba- 
tory and Quadratary, in relation to a Sphere s. .Periphery. 

Quadrate (kwo-dre l t), sb. 1 Also 6-8 quadrat, 
[ad. L. quadrat-um sb., neut. sing, of quadrdtus 
QUADRATE a. 1 : cf. QUADRANT sb.- and QUADRAT.] 

fl. A square; a square area or space; also, a 
rectangle or rectangular space. Obs. 

1471 SIR J. PASTON in P. Lett. III. 17 What brede eche 
towr takythe within iche corner off the quadrate ovyrthwert 
the dorys. 1483 [see QUADRATE a. i]. 1551 RECORDE 
Pathw. Knowl. i. xxi, When any two quadrates be set forth, 
howe to make a squire about the one quadrate, whiche shall 
be equall to the other quadrate. 1598 BARRET Theor. 
Warres in. ii. 46 A Quadrat of ground will bee of men two 
times and one third more broade then long. 1658 SIR T. 
BROWNE Card. Cyrus 4.5 The Labyrinth of Crete, built upon 
a long quadrate, containing five large squares. 1667 MILTON 
P. L. vi. 62 The Powers Militant, That stood for Heav n, 
in mighty Quadrate joyn d. 1680 T. LAWSON Mite Treas. 
33 Their . . Cone, Cylinder, Parallelogram, Quadrat [etc.]. 
t b. A square number, the square of a number. 

1590 RECORDE, etc, Gr. Aries (1640) 575 That number is 
called a Quadrate, which is made by the multiplication of 
two equal numbers. 1646 SIR T. BROWNED Pseud. Ep. 217 
The life of man, whose Period . . he placed in the Quadrate 
of 9. or 9. times 9. that is, 81. 

t c. A group of four things. = QUATERNION i. 

1637 SALTONSTALL Eusebius Life Constantine 139 By the 
number of twice two, hee invented the quadrate of the foure 
Elements. 

2. A square or rectangular plate or block, rare. 

1647 H. MORE Song of Soul i. it. cxliii, A leaden Quadrate 
swayes hard on that part That s fit for burdens. 1799 W. 
TOOKE View Russian Emp. I. 50 It was constructed of 
huge quadrats of ice hewn in the manner of free-stone. 1821 
LAMB Elia Ser. i. Old Benchers f. T., His person was a 
quadrate, his step massy and elephantine. 

f3. Astron. a. Quadrate aspect ; quadrature. Obs. 

1665-6 Phil. Trans. I. 5 This Comet . . Having been in 
Quadrat with the Sun it should still descend. 1686 GOAD 
Celest. Bodies i. vi. 22 The Moon, on the day of the Last 
Quadrate decreasing, makes as high a Water, sometimes 
higher than at the first in the Increase. 1695 CONCREVE 
Love for L. ii. v, Can judge . . of sextiles, quadrates, trines 
and oppositions. 

fb. A right angle. Obs. rare~ l . 

1686 GOAD Celesl. Bodies \. vi. 18 In the one the Moon is 
conjoin d with the Sun in diameter-line making no Angle, 
in the Other making a Quadrate, the utmost distance from 
the Conjunction and Opposition. 

4. Anat. a. The quadrate bone. b. A quadrate 
muscle. 



5 

187* MIVART Anat. 121 Other bones, the lowest of which 
is termed the. Quadrate. 1878 [see QUADRATO- a]. 1883 
MARTIN & MOALK Vertebr. Dissect, n. 103 The quadrates, 
projecting ventrally and forward and bearing the articular 
facets for the mandible. 

t Quadrate, sb Obs. Also quadrat. [App. 

an alteration of QUADRANT j.l, through assoc. with 
prec., or through misreading of quadrat = quad- 
ran tl\ 

1. A quarter; spec, of a circle. = QUADRANT sb^ 4. 
1551 RECORDE Pathw. Knowl. i. Defin., The quarter of a 

circle, named a quadrate. 1604 R. CAWDBEY Table Alph.^ 
Quadrate^ a quarter. 

2. = QUADRANT 5. 

1551 RECORDE Pathw* Knowl. n. Prcf., The arte of 
Measuryng by the quadrate geometricall, and the disorders 
committed in vsyng the same. Ibid.^ A newe quadrate 
newely inuented by the author hereof. 1559 W.CUNNINGHAM 
Cosmogr. Glasseib?, The use of the shipmans quadrat, whose 
inventor was worthy D. Gemma. Ibid. 164 The hier part 
of the Quadrate. 

t Quadrate, sb.% Her. Obs. Also 5 quadrant, 
5-6 quadrat. [Prob, identical with one or other of 
the prcc. sbs., but the precise origin is not clear.] 
(See quots. 1486.) 

1486 Bk. Sf. Albany Her. B iij, In blasyng of armys be 
ix. quadrattis that is to say v. quadrate fmiall and iilj. 
Royall. Ibid. R iv, Quadrat is calde in armys whan the 
felde is set with sum tokyn of armys. 1572 BosSKWBLL 
Armor ie n. 77 b, The Crosse thus charged, is called of olde 
Heraultes, the first quadrate royall. 1586 FERNE Blaz. 
Gentrie 206-209. 

Quadrate (kwydrA), a. Also 5-7 quadrat. 
[rut. L. quadrat-ns, pa. pple. viquadrare to square : 
see QUADRATE v.] 

1. Square, rectangular. Now rare. 

1398 TREVISA Barth. De P. R. xix. cxviii. (1495) 922 
Quadrate shape and square is moost stedfaste and stable. 
1483 CAXTON Gold. Leg. 332^/2 For whanne euery beest 
was quadrate as we may ymagyne In a quadrate ben foure 
corners and euery corner was a penne. 1538 L.KI.AND ftm. 
III. 44 A strong Castel quadrate having at eche corner 
a great Round Tower. 1560 ROLLAND Crf. Venus i. 139 



pears the quadrate pile. 1866 HUXLEY Preh. Rent. Caithn. 
137 The quadrate pelvis is that which is compressed .. so 
that the brim is almost quadrangular. 1880 BASTIAN Brain 
77 These two pairs of ganglia .. are combined into one 
quadrate mass in Hyalea. 

Comb, 1610 GUILLIM Heraldry n. vii. (1660) 85 This is 
termed Quarter pierced, quasi, Quadrate pierced, for that 
the piercing is square as a Trencher. 

fb. Math. Of numbers or roots. = SQUARE. Obs. 

ci43o Art Nombrynge (E. E. T. S.) 14, ,4- is the first 
nombre quadrat, and 2. is his rote. 1571 DIGGES Pantom. 
i. xxv. Hj, These two ioyned together make 43600, whose 
Quadrate roote being about 208 pace 3 foote is the Hypo- 
thenusall line AC. 1611 SI&gt;EF,D Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. viii. 
- 55 2 Ihe Rings Roundnesse must remember the King 
ternitie; the Quadrat number of Constancy. 1646 SIR 



of Et 



T. BROWNE Pseud. Ep. 215 Consisting of square and quad 
rate numbers [viz. 49 and 81]. 1655-60 STANLEY Hist. Phil. 
(1687) 527/2 The Tetrad.. being quadrate .. is divided into 
Equals. 

C. Anat. in the distinctive names of certain parts 
of the body having an approximately square shape. 

Quadrate bone, a special bone in the head of birds and 
reptiles, by which the lower jaw is articulated to the skull. 
Quadrate muscle, the name of several muscles, esp. the 
quadratiislumborum (of the loins), q.femoris (of the thigh), 
and q. pronator (in the forearm) : see QUADRATUS. 

1856-8 W. CLARK Van der Hoeveris Zool. II. 334 The 
quadrate bone of birds is. .divided above into two arms. 

f2. Astron. &lt;=QUARTILE a. Obs. 



C . 

trine ts A- Cf. QUADRATURE 4. 

1551 HULOET, Quadrate aspecte of the pianettes. 1594 
BLUNDEVIL E.rerc. iv. pr. 43 (1636) 501 And they [two 
Planets] are said .. to be in a quadrat aspect when they 
are distant one from another, by three signes. 1601 HOLLAND 
Pliny I. 12 The planet of Mars..maketh station but in 
quadrate aspect: as for lupiter, in triangle aspect. 1685 
BOYLE Enq. Notion Nat. v. 126 At some time She and the 
Sun should have a Trine, or a Quadrate Aspect. 

j3. _/%". Complete, perfect. Obs. 

1608 J. KING Serttr. St. Mary s 7 There yet remameth 
a fourth point to make vp a quadrate and perfitt honor of 
the King. ^1645 HOWKLL Lett. vi. (1650) 253 The Moralist 
tells us that a quadrat solid wise man should . . be still the 
same. 1679 HARRY Key Script, n. 45 That future quadrate 
Righteousness of Gospel-Promise. 

j* 4. Conformable, corresponding (to or ivit/i}. 
Cf. QUADRANT #. 2. Obs. 

a 1657 R. LOVEDAY Lett. (1663) 68 To construe me right, 
and believe my meaning quadrate to my words. 1674 S. 
VINCENT Yng. Gallant s Acad, 99 His word and his meaning 
are quadrate, and never shake hands and part. 1720 WELTON 
Suffer. Son ofGodl. vi, 112 Whose State of Life is Quadrate 
and Concentrkk with the Low and Humble Poverty of their 
Redeemer. 

5. Her. Cross quadrate^ a cross which expands 
into a square at the junction of the arms. 

1780 EU.MONDSON Compl. Body Heraldry I. [See of] Litch- 
fidd. Per pale gu. and ar. a cross potent quadrat. 1797 
Encycl. Brit. (cd. 3) VIII. 452/1. 

Quadrate (kwg dre t), v. Also 7-9 (6 Sc. 
pa. pple. } quadrat. [T- L. quadrat-, ppl. stem of 
quadrare to square.] 

1. trans. To make (a thing) square, rare. 



QUADRATIC. 

1560 HOLLAND Crt, Venus n. 586 With subtill wark it was 
sa roborat Properlic alswa with kirnalis weill quadrat. 1798 
in Spirit P^ubl. Jrnls. (17991 II. 151 The winding stream 
quadrated into fishponds. 1841 Penny Cycl. XIX. 197/2 The 
materials . . are there quadrated or formed into rectangular 
blocks. 

b. Math. To square (a circle, etc.). rare. 

c 1645 HOWELL Lett. (1650) I. 26 The harden tilings in 
the world were ; To quadrate a circle, to find out the philo 
sopher s stone. 1838-9 HALLAM Hist. Lit. III. III. viii. 9 
399 It had long been acknowledged by the best geometers 
impossible to quadrate by a direct process any curve surface. 

f 2. To square (a number or amount). Obs. rare . 

1613 JACKSON Creed n. in. iv. 388 Tbe Pharisees.. did as 
it were quadrate the measure of Proselytes sinnes ; multi 
plying Gentilisme by Pharisaisme. 

3. intr. To square, agree, correspond, conform 
with (rarely to). 

1610 GUILLIM Heraldry VI. v. (1611)265 This forme of 
Helmet.. doth best quadrate with the dignity of a Knight. 
1671 Trite NonconJ. 18 That it exactly quadrates to the 
case of our Controversie is apparent. 1720 WKLTON Snfler. 
Son of God 1. xi. 273 When their Lives Quadrate with 
their Doctrine, their Words Become of weight. 1794 PALKY 
Evid. II. i. (1817) 10 The description, .quadrates with no 
part of the Jewish history with which we are acquainted. 
1876 J. PAKKEK Paracl. II. xviii. 325 He had to make 
a creed which would quadrate with his immorality. 

b. Without const. : To be fitting, suitable, or 
consistent. Also of two things : To harmonize 
with each other. Now rare. 

1664 EVELYN Syh&gt;a (1776) 516 The same arguments do 
not Quadrate in trees. 1718 Freethinker No. 44 P 7 The 
Compliment, .of comparing a Beauty to a .Star, will now 
quadrate in every Respect. 1791 E. DAKWIS Hot. Card. 
Ii. Interl. 84 The similies of Homer.. do not quadrate, or 
go upon all fours. 1833 CHALMERS Const. Man (1835) I. vi. 
256 That the natural . . and the legal or political . . should 
quadrate as much as possible. 

c. trans. To make conformable (to), rare. 

1669 WORLIDGE Syst. Agric. (1681) 296 Therefore I desire 
all such that expect any success to their Observations, that 
they quadrate the Rules to the places where they live. 
1817 T. L. PEACOCK Melinconrt xxv, He quadrates his 
practice as nearly as he can to his theory. 

4. Artillery, a. trans. To adjust (a gun) on its 
carriage (see quots.). b. intr. Of a gun : To lie 
properly on the carriage. 

1706 PHILLIPS fed. Kersey) s.v., In Gunnery, to quadrate 
or square a Piece, is to see whether it be duly plac d, or 
well pois d on the Carriage and Wheels. 1800 Naval 
Citron. IV. 53 A gun quadrates, or hangs well in her carriage. 
1867 SMYTH Sailors Word-l k., Quadrate, to trim a gun on 
its carriage and its trucks, to adjust it for firing on a level 
range. 

5. In fa. pple.: Placed in quadrate aspect. 

1829 POE Poems, Al Aaraf (\y)) 192 What time the 
moon is quadrated in heaven. 

Qua drated,///. a. [f. prec. + -ED 1 .] a. Made 
square, squared, i Obs. b. Quartered, rare- 1 . 

a. 1578 BANISTER tlist. Man viii. 109 A nerue . . is at length 
implanted to the quadrated or foure squared Muscle. 1727- 
41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v. Printing, Little quadrated pieces of 
metal, called quotations. 

b. 1810 MOOR Hindu Pantheon 249 The quadrated lozenge, 
on the breast and in the palm of this image, is also un 
accounted for, and singular. 

f Quadrateness. Obs. rare~ l . Squareness. 

1599 A. M. tr. Galclhoucr s Bk. Pliysicke 112/1 Malleate 
. .with the broadest hammers, .till it be about thre quart, 
in the quadratnes therof. 

Quadratic (kwgdr^-tik), a. and sb. [ad. L. 
type *quadratic-us : see QTJADKATE sl&gt;. 1 and -ic, 
and cf. K. quadratique^\ 

A. adj. 1. Square, rare. 

1656 in BLOUNT Ghssogr. 1876 tr. Wagner s Gen. Pathol. 
115 They first assume the quadratic form at a distance of 
one metre behind the head. 1884 BOWER & SCOTT De 
Bary s Phaner. 107 One epidermal cell which appears m 
surface view rounded and quadratic. 

b. Ciyst. Of square section through the lateral 
or secondary axes ; characterized by this form. 

1871 ROSCOE Elem. Clutn. 215 On boiling this solution 
the salt is formed, and may be crystallized in quadratic 
prisms. 1875 BENNETT & DYER tr. Saclts But. 66 The 
calcium oxalate.. crystallises in the quadratic system. 

2. Math. Involving the second and no higher 
power of an unknown quantity or of a variable ; 
esp. in quatlratic equation : see EQUATION 6. 

1668 WILKINS Seal Char. n. vii. 181 Those Algebraical 
notions of Absolute, Lineary, Quadratic, Cubic. 1690 LEY- 
BOURN Cnrs. Math. 337 All Quadratick Aequations of this 
kind ..have two Roots. 1706 W. JONES Syn. Palmar. 
Matlieseos 128 All Quadratic Equations are reducible lo 
one of these Forms. 1806 HUTTON Course Math. I. 247 
A simple quadratic equation, is that which involves the 
square of the unknown quantity only. 1885 WATSON & 
BUHBURY Math. The. Electr. ^ Magn. I. 169 If we express 
every e in terms of the potentials by means of equations. . 
E will be a quadratic function of the potentials. 

B. sb. a. A quadratic equation, b. //. The 
branch of algebra dealing with quadratic equa 
tions. 

1684 BAKER Gcometr. Key Title-p.,Of linears, quadratics, 
cubics [etc.]. 1690 LEYBOURN Cnrs. Math. 337 The three 
sorts of Mixed Aequations above expressed, are all that can 
happen in Quadraticks. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v., There 
are several methods of extracting the roots of adfected 
quadratics. 1827 HUTTON Course Math. I. 256 note, Cubic 
equations, when occurring in pairs, may usually be reduced 
to quadratics, by extermination, a 1839 PRAED Poems (1864) 
II. 41 By turns, as Thought or Pleasure wills, Quadratics 
struggle with quadrilles. 1870 [see ADFECTED \ 



i! 



QUADRATICAL. 

Quadra tical, a. Now rare. [f. as prec. + 
-AL.] = QUADRATICS. 

1674 IEAKE Arith. (1696) 645 The Quotient shall be 
squaredly Quadratical. 1690 LEYBOUKN Curs. Math. 343 
To receive as many Cubical Points, as the Co-efficient doth 
Quadratical. 1880 GILBERT 1 iratcs Penzance, I understand 
equations, both the simple and quadratical. 

Hence Quadra tioally adv. (Cent. Diet.) 

Quadrate- (k\vgdrc T -t&lt;;), mod. comb, form of L. 
quadratus or qiiadratum, QUADRATE a. or sb?-; 
used in some scientific terms. 

fl. Math. Quadrato-cubic a., of the fifth power 
or degree. Quadrato-qnadrat^e, the fourth power, i 
Quadrate-quadratic, -quadratical adjs., of the 
fourth power ; biquadratic. Obs. 

1662 HOHUES Seven Proli. Wks. 1845 VII. 67 There be 
some numbers called plane . . others *quadrato-cubic. 1787 
WARING in Phil. Trans. LXXVII. 81 Biquadratic and 
quadrato-cubic equations. 1684 T. BAKER Geometr. Key d. 2 
The*quadrato-quadratof -r,a *. i728CLAKKEin/VHY.7&gt;&lt;ij. 



they consist must be *Quadrato-&lt;iuadratic. 1677 BAKER in 
Rigaud Corr. Sci. McndS+i) II. iSThe geometrical con 
structions of all cubic, and quadrato-quadratic equations. 
1668 BARROW ibid. 63 When ihe equations are *quadrato- 
quadratical. 

2. Zool. Connected with or pertaining to the 
quadrate together with some other bone, as Quad- 
ra-to-ju gal a. and sb. (see quot. 1878), -mandr- 
bular, -(meta pte rygoid, -squamo sal adjs. (see 
the second element). 

1870 ROLLESTOS Anim, Life 18 The qnadratojugal rod. 
1878 HELL Gcgcnbaur"s Comp. Anat. 462 In Birds the , 
quadrato-jugal is a slender piece of bone, which arises from 
the side of the mandibular joint of the quadrate. 1888 
ROLLESTON & JACKSON Anivt. Life 338 The quadrate or in 
Teleostei. . the quadrato-metapterygold. 

3. Cryst. Qua=dratoctalie .dron, an eight-sided | 
crystal of square section through the secondary 
axes. 

1884 BOWER & SCOTT Dt fiary s Phaner. 137 The funda 
mental form of the crystals belonging to the quadratic 
system is the quadratoctahedron. 

Quadratrix (kwdr^ l *triks). PI. quadra- 
trices. [mod.L., fem. agent-n. from quadrare to 
QUADRATE ; cf. F. quadra-trice (i7th c.).] A curve 
used in the process of squaring other curves. 

1656 tr. H abbes Elem. Pkilos. (1839) 316 The ancient 

eometricians .. who made use of the quadratrix for the 
inding out of a strait line equal to the arch of a circle. 1727- 
41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v.,The most eminent of these guadra- 
trices are, that of Dinostrates [etc.]. 1816 tr. Lacroix s 
Diff. ff Int. Calculus 662 The Quadratrix, a curve formerly 
celebrated for its apparent connection with the quadrature 
of the circle. 1898 tr. H. Schubert Math. Essays 124 The 
solution of the quadrature of the circle founded on the 
construction of the quadratrix. 

Quadrature (kwo dratuu). [ad. L. quadrd- 
tftra a square, the act of squaring : see QUADBATK 
v. and -URE. Cf. F. quadrature (1529).] 

1 1. Square shape, squareness. Obs. 

1563 FOXE A. 4- M. (1596) 1670 The maruellous quadrature 
of the same, I take to signifie the vniuersal agreement in 
the same, 1600 HOLLAND Livy xxv. xxiii. 565 One of the 
Romans . . counted the stones . . and made estimate to him- 
selfe of their quadrature and proportion. 1653 R. SANDERS 
Physiogn. 60 When the Quadrangle is broad, and well- 
proportioned in its quadrature. 1667 MILTON P. L, x. 380 
Parted by th Empyreal bounds, His Quadrature, from thy 
Orbicular World. 

t2. One side of a square. Obs. rarf~ l . 

1553 EDEN Treat. Ncwe Ind. (Arb.) 25 Euery quadrature 
or syde of the wall hath in it thre principal portes or gates. 

3. Math. The action or process of squaring ; spec. 
the expression of an area bounded by a curve, esp. 
a circle, by means of an equivalent square. 

1506 NASHE Saffron Walden 22 As much time, .as a man 
might haue found out the quadrature of the circle in. 1652 
BEXLOWES Theoph. xi. xxxvii, As hard to find thy cure As 
circles puzling Quadrature. 1664 Phil. Trans. I. 15 A 
method for the Quadrature of Parabola s of all degrees. 
1743 EMERSON Fluxions p. iii, Drawing Tangents to Curves, 
finding their Curvatures, their Lengths, and Quadratures. 
1829 MRQ. ANGLESEA Let. 28 Feb. in Lady Morgans Mem. 
(1862) II. 278, I am as incapable of making a rhyme as of 
effecting the quadrature of the circle. 1881 ROUTLEDGE 
Science ii. 36 The attention which the problem of the quad 
rature of the circle has attracted. 
t b. (See quot.) Obs. 

1737-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. t Quadrature-lines, or lines of 
Quadrature, are two lines frequently placed on Gunter b 
sector. [Description follows.] 

4. Astron. f a. One of the four cardinal points. 
Obs. rare~\ (See note on QUADRATE a. 2.) 

1601 HOLLAND Pliny I. 37 When this concurrence [of the 
planets with the sun] is about the quadratures of the heaven. 
[L. circa qitadrata mitndi.} 

b. One of the two points (in space or time) at 
which the moon is 90 distant from the sun, or 
midway between the points of conjunction and 
opposition. 

1685 BOYLE Eng. Notion Nat. vii. 256 When the Moon is 
in Opposition to the Sun.. that Part of Her Body which 
respects the Earth, is more Enlightned than at the Ne\ 



91 The tides are greatest in the syzigies, and least in the 



6 

quadratures. 1867-77 G. F. CHAMBERS As/ran, i. ii. (ed. 3) 
39 After starting from conjunction with the .Sun it succes 
sively reaches its Eastern quadrature [etc.]. 

c. The position of one heavenly body relative 
to another when they are 90 apart, esp. of the 
moon to the sun when at the quadratures (see prec.). 
t Also Quadrature aspect. 

1591 SPAREV tr. Cattail s Geomancic (1599! 185 The Quad 
rature Aspect is from the first to th&lt;; fourth, or from the first 
to the teinh. 1797 Encycl. Krit. (ed. 3) II. 508/2 Thus the 
sun and moon, . . or any two planets, may be in conjunction, 
opposition, or quadrature. 1812 WOODHOUSE Astron. vii. 44 
The Sun is said to be in quadrature with a star, or planet, 
when the difference of their longitudes is 90 or 270. 1854 
BREWSTER More Worlds xyi. 236 The rays reflected from 
them when the planets are in quadrature. 

t d. Her. In quadrature, at intervals of a 
quarter-circle. Obs. 

1766 PORNV Heraldry (1787) 188 A circular Wreath, Pearl 
and Diamond [= Argent and Sable] with four Hawk s Bells 
joined thereto in quadrature Topaz [=Or]. 

1 5. A division into four parts (? cf. QUADRATE 
si. *}. Obs. rare~ l . 

1578 LYTE Dodoens vi. Ixxix. 759 Foure straight lines 
running alongst the young shutes or branches, the which 
do make a quadrature, or a diuision of the said young 
brandies into foure square partes or cliftes. 

I Quadratus (kwjfdrJ tfci). Anat. [L. : see 
QUADRATE rf.landa.] A quadrate muscle. Quad- 
ratusfemorisjumborum, etc. (seeQuADBATE a. I c). 

1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl., Quadratus . . a name applied to 
several muscles, in respect of their square figure ; as the 
palmaris, and pronators. 1756 WINSLOW Anat. (ed.4) 1. 211 
A tendon . . inserted between the Gemelli and Quadratus. 
1843 ]. G. WILKINSON Swedtu&fftjg s Aniiti. Kingd. I. ii. 60 
Some of the before mentioned muscles : these are the 
triangulares and quadratus. 1870 ROLLKSTON A nim. Life 3 
The two psoas muscles and the quadratus lumborum. 

Quadreble, var. QUATREBLE, quadruple. 

Quadred, pa. pple. of QUADEK v. Obs. 

Quadrefoil, obs. form of QUATHEFOIL. 

Quadrein, obs. variant of QUATRAIN. 

t Quadrel. Ots. Also 7 -ell. [ad. It. quad- 
rello (jned.L. quadrellns, OF. quarrel, K. carreatt) 
square stone or brick, dim. of quadra a square : 
cf. QUAKKEL sby\ A square block, esp. of brick, 
and spec, of a kind of brick used in Italy (see quot. 
1703). Also at/rib. 

1686 PLOT Staffordsh. 358 Their Quadrells of peat, are 
made into that fashion by the spade that cults them. 1688 
R. HOLME Armoury lit. 457/1 A Quadrell Wall, that is 
a wall of Artificiall Stone, as Brick, Tyle, etc. 1703 T. N. 
Cityfy C. Purchaser 232 Quadrels, a sort of artificial Stones 
. . made of a chalky, whitish and pliable Earth, and dry d in 
the Shade. 1715 LEONI Palladia s Archit. (1742) I. 80 
A sort of Bricks larger than Quadrels, or common ones. 

Quadren, square : see QUADRAN. 

Quadrennial (kwgdre nial), a. and sb. Also 
(correctly) quadriennial, (7 -ennal). [ad. L. type 
*quadriennial-is,-ennal-is: seeQuADHENNIUMand \ 
-AL, and cf. F. quatriennal. ] 

A. adj. 1. Occurring every fourth year. 

1701 W. WOTTON Hist. Rome, Marcus iii. 46 1 Their 
Accounts of Time were reckoned by the Quadriennial 
Returns of the Grand Games. 1847 GROTE Greece ii. xxviii. 
IV. 92 Peisistratus . . first added the quadrennial or greater 
Panathenxa to the ancient annual or lesser Panathenaia. 

1880 Times 27 Sept. 8/1 The Archbishop of Canterbury., 
continuing his quadrennial visitation of his diocese. 1884 
Sat. Rev. 7 June 745/2 Its statutes only demanded quadren 
nial residence. 

2. Lasting for four years. 

1656 BLOUNT Glosso^r., Quadriennial, of four years. 1727 
BAILEY, vol. II, Qnaiirennial, of the Space of four Years. 

1881 Daily Neivs ii Mar. 6/2 Biennial Budgets and quad 
rennial Parliaments. 

B. sb. fa. A period of four years. Obs. rare 1 . 
b. An event happening every four years, c. A 
fourth anniversary, or its celebration (Cent. Diet.). 

a 1646 J. GREGORY Pvsthuma, De &ris et Epcchis (1650) 
163 The Egyptians called eveiie daie in the year by the 
Name of som God. .and everie year of their Lustrums or 

?uadriennals in like manner. 1836 Sat. Rev. 8 Nov. 625/2 
he great quadrennial the Presidential election is the 
1 Derby Day of America. 

tlence Quadre nnially adv., every fourth year. 
1796 MORSE Amer. Geog. I. 626 The senate [of Virginia] 
chosen quadrennially. 

II Quadremmim (kwgdre-nium). Also (cor 
rectly) quadrieunium. [a. L. quadrienniuin, 
f. quadrl- QUADRI- + aitinis year.] A period of 
four years; spec, in Se. Law (see quot. 1823). 

.1823 CRABB, Qitadricnniuin litilc, . . the term of four years 
allowed., to a minor after his majority, during which he may 
by suit, or action, endeavour to annul any deed granted to 
his prejudice during his minority. 1857 G. OLIVER Coll. 
Hist. Cath. Relig. Cornwall 482 Francis Watmough . . is 
known to have filled several quadrienniums before his death. 
1876 Fox BOURNE Locke I. ii. 52 In taking his bachelor s 
degree . . Locke abridged the old quadrennium . . by one term. 

Quadri- (kwo-dri), a first element used in combs, 
with the sense having, consisting of, connected with, 
etc. four (things specified) . The L. quadri- was 
so employed in a few words during the classical 
period, as in the sbs. quadridnum, quadrienniuin, 
quadririmis, quadrivium, the adjs. quacirifidus, 
quadrijugus, and the pple. quadripurtltus. In the 
post-classical and later language such compounds 



QUADRI- . 

are much more numerous, esp. adj. forms, as quad- 
riangultis, -emu s, -formis, -gatnus, -laterus, etc. 
(See also QUADHL--.) 

The earliest examples in Knglish are quadrangle, 
quadripartite, quadrivial, which are as old as the 
1 5th c. ; others, as quadrijid, quadriform, quatiri- 
lateral, qiiadrirerne were introduced later, esp. in 
the 1 7th c. By far the greater number of quadri- 
compounds, however, belong to the language of 
modern science, the employment of the prefix in 
popular words being much rarer than that of bi- 
aud tri-. A considerable number of those given 
in the following lists are self-explanatory, and in 
these cases the definition is omitted. 

I. Adjectives with the sense having or consist 
ing of four , characterized by the number four , 
as quadriba sio Client., applied to certain acids 
containing four atoms of displaceable hydrogen 
(Webster, 1864) ; qua : dricente - nnial, consisting 
of, connected with, a period of four centuries (Cent. 
Diet. 1891) ; quadrifa rious [L.-farius], fourfold, 
having four parts ; quadrifo cal, having four foci 
(Cent. Diet.} ; quadrifro ntal [L. -frails ], having 
four faces ; quadriga-bled ; quadrijirgal [L, 
-jugus], four-horsed, belonging to a four-horse 
chariot ; quadrili bral [L. -libris], containing 
four pounds ; quadrilrngual [late L. -lingtiis], 
using, written in, etc., four languages ; quadri - 
rnanous - QUADRUMANOUS ; f quadrimood (see 
quot.) ; quadrino mial, -no mioal, -no minal, 
consistingof four (algebraic) terms ; quadri-parous 
Ornith., laying only four eggs ; quadripla nar ; 
quadri plicate(d), having four folds or pleats 
(Craig, 1848); quadrisylla bic(al), t -syllable, 
-syllabous [late L. -syllabus ] ; quadrrvalent 
Chem., capable of combining with four univalent 
atoms. 

74S SWIFT To Gcorge-Nim-Dan-Dean Esq. Wks. 1841 
I. 762 Hail human compound *quadrifarious. .Invincible as 
wight Briareus. a 1859 DE QUINCEY Post/I. Wks. (1891) I. 
235 All the quadrifarious virtue of the scholastic ethics. 
1886 Academy 25 Apr. 288/1 The famous *QuadrifrontaI 
Roman Arch [at Tripoli). 1892 A. HEALES Arckit. Ch. 
Denmark 69 On the north is a staircase, the angles are 
of brick; quadrigabled. 1819 H. BUSK Vatriadiv. 636 



BIRCH Rfdc Lect. Egypt 41 A *quadnllngual stele at Suez, 
in Egyptian hieroglyphs, Persian, Median, and Babylonian 
cuneiform. 1609 DOULAND Ornith. Microl. 18 Diapente . . 
is the leaping of one Voyce to another by a fift, consisting 
of three Tones, and a semitone . . Therefore Pontifex cals it 
the Quadri-moode Interuall. 1727 BAILEY vol. H,*Ouadri- 
noutial, . . consisting of four Denominations or Names. 
1866-99 W. R. HAMILTON Elem. Quatern. (ed. 2) I. 245 The 
principal use which we shall here make of the standard 
quadrmomial form. 1882 SALMON Anal. Geom. 3 Diniens. 
(ed. 4) 23 We shall use these *quadriplanar coordinates, 



:rythmg p 



1678 



Glos scigr., ^Quadrisyllable,, .that hath four syllables. 
PHILLIPS (ed. 4), List Harbarous Words,*Quadrisyllabous, 
consisting of four syllables. 1869 Eng. Mecli. 12 Nov. 198/3 
The elements are classified as . . tetratomic or quadrivalent, 
having four attractions. 1880 CLEMINSHAW Wurtz Atom. 
The. 283 Carbon is quadrivalent and oxygen bivalent. 

b. Bot. and Zoo!., as quadria late, having four 
ake or wing-like processes (Syd. Soc. Lex. 1897) ; 
quadria nnulate, having or consisting of four 
rings ; quadriarti culate(d), having four joints ; 
quadrica psular, -ca psulate ; quadrica rinate, 
having four carina: or keel -shaped lines, spec, of an 
orthopterous insect (Cent. Diet. 1891); quadri- 
ce llular ; quadrici liate, having four cilia or 
hairs ; quadriei-pital, having four heads or points 
of origin, as the quadriceps muscle ; qua dricorn, 
having four horns (ibid.) ; so -oornous (Blonnt 
Glossogr. 1656) ; quadrico state, having four 
costs or ribs ; quadricotyle donous, having two 
deeply divided (and thus apparently four) cotyle 
dons ; qua drioresee-ntio, -toid, having four 
crescents ; of teeth : having four crescentic folds ; 
quadriou-spid, -cvrspidate, of teeth : having four 
cusps or points ; quadride ntate(d), having four 
serrations or indentations ; quadridrgitate,having 
four digits or similar divisions ; quadrifo liate, 
consisting of four leaves; also = quadrifo liolate, 
of a compound leaf : having four leaflets growing 
from the same point; quadrifuToate(d), having 
four forks or branches ; quadrige minal, -ous, 
belonging to the corpora quadrigemina at the base 
of the brain ; also =quadrige minate, formed of 
four similar parts, fourfold ; quadrigla ndular ; 
quadrihi late (see quot.) ; quadrijvrgate, -jir- 
gous, of a leaf: having four pairs of leaflets 
(Martyn, 1 793) ; quadrila minar, -ate ; quadrilo - 
bate, -lobed ; quadrilo oular, -ate, having four 
compartments; quadrime mbral ; quadrino dal; 



QUADRI-. 

quadrintrcleate ; quadripe nnate, having four 
wings (Worcester, 1846) ; f quadriphyllous (see 
quot.) ; quadripi-nnate, having four pinnre or 
side leaflets ; quadripo lar, having four poles or 
centres of division in a cell ; quadripirlmonary, 
of spiders : having two pairs of pulmonary sacs 
(Cent.Dict.}\ quadrira diate(seequot.); quadri- 
se ptate, having four septa or dissepiments ; quad- 
rise rial, arranged in four series or rows ; quadri- 
se tose, having four setae or bristles {Cent. Diet.} ; 
quadrisprral ; f quadriaulc [late L. -suit-its], 
quadrisirlcate(d), having four grooves or furrows, 
having a four-parted hoof; quadritube rcular, 
-tube rculate ; qua* dri valve, -va lvular. 

1856-8 W. CLARK Van der HoevetCs Zool. I. 321 Abdomen 
*quadriannulate, oval. 1826 KIRIJY & Si&gt;. EntomoL IV. 
325 Quadriarticulate. 1834 MMURTRIE Cuvier s Anitn. 
Kingd. 361 The Insects . . are remarkable . . for their short 
*quadriarticulated tarsi. 1731 BAILEY vol. II, *Qitadri* 
caj&gt;sitlar, . . having a seed pod divided into four partitions. 
1857 BERKELEY Cryptog. Bat. 163 The biciliate spores . . do 
not arise. .from the same tissue as the *quadriciliate. 1854 
OWEN Skel. $ Teeth in Circ. Sc.&gt; Organ. Nat. I. 299 The 
three true molars are *quadricuspid. 1839-47 TODD Cycl. 
A nat. III. 264/2 The three *quadricuspidate grinders of the 
upper jaw. 1760 J. LEE Introd. Dot. i. xv. (1765) 39 
*Quadridentate, split into four segments. 1828 STARK 
Elem. Nat. Hist. II. 159 Body covered with a reddish 
down, ..front quadridentate. 1858 MAYNE Expos. Le.v., 
Quadridigitatus, .. applied to a leaf, the petiole of which 
terminates in four folioles . . *quadridigitate. 1866 Treas. 
Bot. 947/1 *Quadrifoliate. 1884 BOWER & SCOTT DC Bary s 
Phaner. 341 The leaves, .are ranged in alternating, usually 
quad ri foliate whorls. 1777 PENNANT Zool. IV. 7 Cr. with 
a *quadri-furcated snout. 1839-47 TODD Cycl. Anat. III. 
686/1 The *quadrigeminal bodies rest upon two processes 
of fibrous matter. 1856 TODD & BOWMAN Phys. Anat. II. 
39 From the quadrigeminal tubercles to the chiasma. 1866 
Treas. Bot. 947/1 Quadrihilate, having four apertures, as 
Is the case in certain kinds of pollen. 1819 Pantologia X, 
*Qitadrilol ate leaf. 1839-47 TODD Cycl. Anat. III. 607/2 
These cords . . encircle the oesophagus above which they 
develope a quadrilobate ganglion. 1775 JENKINSON tr. Lin- 
nseus Brit. Plants 255 *Qnadrilocnlar. 1835 LINDLEY 
Introd. Bot. (1839) I. 176 The anther could not originally 
be quadrilocular, because it opens by two fissures only. 
1731 BAILEY vol. \\*Qnadriphyllous^, .Plants whose flowers 
have [four] leaves or petals. 1881 Card. Chron. XVI. 685 
The fronds are *quadripinnate in the lower and more com 
pound portions. 1867 J. HOGG Microsc. \\. ii. 400 Some 
Smyrna sponges, and species of Geodia, have four rays 
*quadriradiate. 1887 W. PHILLIPS Brit,. Discomycetes 149 
Pallid; cupsclavate,substipitate ; margin incurved; spori- 
dia . . long, *quadriseptate. 1839 JOHNSTON in Proc. Bcnv. 
Nat. Club I. No. 7. 199 Suckers of the..tentacula *quadri- 
serial. 1693 Phil. Trans. XVH. 934 Musk he takes to be., 
secreted in its proper Cyslis near the Navil of a *Quadrtsulc 
Animal like a Deer. 1775 JENKINSON tr. Linnaeus Brit. 
Plants 255 *Quadrisulcated. 1856-8 W. CLARK Van tier 
Hoevens Zool. II. 753 The two other true molars *quadri- 
tuberculate. 1785 MARTYN Roussea.it 1 s Bot. xvi. 199 The 
capsule is *quadrivalve [ed. 1794 quadrivalvular] or opens 
into four_parts. _ 1875 H. C. WOOD Theraf. (1879) 2 8 
Readily distinguished by its . . quadrivalve spmescent cap 
sules. 1763 RUSSKLL in Phil. Trans. LI I. 556 What 
appeared to be the mouth, was situated a little below the 
apex, and was *quadrivalvular. 

H. Sbs., vbs., and advs,, chiefly from adjs. in I: 
quadriceute nnial, a four hundredth anniversary ; 
quadriceps (extensor) [cf. BICEPS], a large muscle 
of the leg, having four heads; qua drichord 
[late L. -chorduni\ ~ TETBACHORD; qua dricorn, 
an animal with four horns or antennas (Brande 
Diet. Sci. 1 842) ; qua-dricy=cle, a four-wheeled 
cycle ; quadrifa riously adv., in a fourfold man 
ner ; qua drifoil = QOATREFOIL ; qua drifurca 1 - 
tion, a division into four branches ; quadrrgamist 
[L. -ffffftHt], one four times married; qua dri- 
logue, an account by four persons ; a dialogue 
between four; quadri logy, a tetralogy ; quadri- 
pe nnate, a four-winged insect (Brande, 1842) ; 
quadripo-rticus, a colonnade or peristyle round 
a quadrangular building or space ; qua-drisacra- 
me ntalist, -sacramenta rian, a name applied to 
some i6th c. German reformers who held Baptism, 
the Eucharist, Confession and Orders to be sacra 
ments (Blunt Diet. Sects 1874) ; qua-drisect v., 
to divide into four equal parts; hence quadri- 
se ction ; quadrisu lcate, a four-toed animal 
(Brande, 1842) ; quadrisyllable, a word of four 
syllables; quadri valence, the power of an atom 
or radical to combine with four xmivalent atoms ; 
quadrrvalent, a quadrivalent element ; qua dri 
valve, a plant with a quadrivalvular seed-pod ; an 
instrument, esp. a speculum, with four valves ; 
fquadri virate, a union of four men. 

1882 Standard 23 Aug. 5/1 To celebrate their *quadri- 
centennial with a banquet. 1840 G. V. ELLIS Anat. 636 
They separate the *quadriceps extensor muscle from the 
others. 1585 T. WASHINGTON tr. Nicholay s I oy. n. ix. 42 
Terpandre the famous Musition, which joined the seventh 
string to the *quadricord. 1728 R. NORTH Mem. Music 
(1846) 34 That these might augment the voice is certain, but 
then they must be tuned to the quadrichord. 1884 Cycl. 
Tour. Club Gaz. Mar. 86/1 A *quadricycle of the form of the 
Coventry. 1822 T. TAYLOR Apuleius, On God of Socrates 300 
There are four most known elements, nature being as it were 
quadrifariously separated into lajge parts. 1845 La CAMP- 



QUADRILITERAL. 



BELL Chancellors (1857) I- * " r 9^ The scholar . . stuffs his 
volume with firstling violets, roses, and *quadrifoils. 1884 
BLACKMOHF. Tommy Upnt. II. 316 A convenient *quadrifur- 
cation. 1656 I LQVtiT G/ossfgr., *Quadrigamist, i$6$Patl 
MallG. 10 Feb. 5/2 The swindler bigamist or quadrigamist, 
we forget the precise number of his marriages, a 1556 CRAN- 
MER Wks. (Parker Soc.) 1. 66 Your wise dialogue, or *qundri- 
logue, between the curious questioner, the foolish answerer, 
your wise catholic man standing by, and the mediator. 
1570-6 LAMBARDK Peramb. Kent (1826) 358 The Quadriloge 
of Beckets life, 11x656 USSHER in Gutch Coll. Cur. I. 46 
Thomas Becket (as we read in the Quadrilogue, or Quadri 
partite History of his Life). 1865 Athenxttm No. 1950. 
355/3 His *quadrilogy of Nibelungen operas. 1849 FREE 
MAN Arc/tit. 276 The form of Amru s mosque.. being a mere 
*quadriporticus round an open space. 1865 C. R. WELD 
Last Winter Rome 97 Among the most remarkable features 
of this building, .are the Atrium and quadriporticus, 1809 
CAVENDISH in Phil. Trans. XCIX. 227 In *quadrisecting, 
the error of the middle point = 2e. 1673 WALI.IS in Rigaud 
Corr.Sci. Men (1841) II. 571 We find, by the *quadrisection 
of an arch or angle, a biquadratic equation of four roots. 
1809 CAVENDISH in Phil. Trans. XCIX. 227 In the method 
of continued bisection, the two opposite points must be 
found byquadrisection. X7o6PHiLLiPs(ed. Kersey), ^Quadri 
syllable, a Word made up of four Syllables. 1827 HARI-: 
Guesses Ser. i. (1873) 109 Our dignity will not condescend 
to enter into any thing short of a quadrisyllable. 1884 
TRAILL. in Macm. Mag. Oct. 444/1, I will end the sentence 
with ignoramus, .a quadrisyllable. 1880 CLEMiHSHAwWWr/s 
Atom. The. 211 Carbon is therefore a quadrivalent. 1731 
BAILEY vol. II, ^Qitadrivalves, . . those Plants who&gt;e seed 
pods open in four valves or partitions. 1872 F. G. THOMAS 
Dis. Women .ed. 3) 76 Of valvular specula the bivalve of 
Ricord .. and the quadrivalve of Charricre have long been 
popular. 1654 GAYTON Pleas. Notes iv. xvii. 258 This blood* 
lesse victory, over a *Quadrivirate of Mummers. 

b. Math. Chiefly in sense quadric , *of the 
second degree or order , as qua dricone, -co- 
va riant, -derivative, quadrinva riant ; also 
quadrino mial, an expression consisting of four 
terms. 

1856 A. CAYLEY H 7 ks. (1889) II. 272 No. 9 is the *quadri- 
covariant, or Hessian. 1706 W. JONES Syn. Palmar. 
Matheseos 171 To raise any. . *Quadri-nomial. .to any given 
Power. 1827 HUTTON Course Math. I. 167 When the com 
pound quantity consists of two terms, it is called a Binomial, 
.. when of four terms a Quadrinomial. 1856 A. CAYLEY 
ll^ks. (1889) II. 271 No. i is the quadric itself; no. 2 is the 
*quadrinvariant. 1884 W. R. W. ROBERTS in Hermatliena 
X. 182 Functions, .expressed by the qu ad rin variants of the 
quantics [etc.], 

C. Chem. In the names of chemical compounds, 
denoting the presence of four atoms or equivalents 
of an element or radical in a compound, as qitadri- 
oxalate, -phosphate^ -stearate^ -sulphide. Now super- ; 
seded by TETRA-. 

1836-41 BRANDS Chem. (ed. 5) 1067 Then ether would be : 
a compound of i atom of *quadrihydrocarbon and i of 
water. 1826 HKSRY Elem. Chem. I. 591 *Quadriphosphate 
of lime. 1836-41 BRANDE Chem. (ed. 5) 685 The phosphoric 
glass . . is considered by Dr. Thomson as a definite compound, 
which he has termed quadriphosphate of lime. 1849 D. 
CAMPBELL Inorg. Chem. 299 *Quadrisulphide of molybde 
num, MoS4. ivyjAtlbutfsSyst. Aled. IV. 293 It [uric acid] . 
is present in the urine in the form of a *quadriurate. 

Quadri-, occas. erron. form of QUADRU-. 

Quadrible, obs. variant of QUADRABLE a. 

Quadrible, variant of QUATREBLE a. and v. 

Quadric (kw9*drik), a. and sb. Math. [ad. L. 
type *quadric-uS) f. quadra square : see -ic.J 

A. adj. Of the second degree. (Used in solid 
geometry, and where the variables are more than 
two.) 

1858 A. CAYLEY Wks. (1889) II. 497 The case of any 
quadric function of variables. 1865 Athenseum No. 1950. 
352/ 2 Quadric Inversion. 1884 A. S. HART in Hermathena \ 
X. 164 Such curves.. can be traced on a quadric surface. 
Ibid. 166 Two of the given equations will represent quadric 
cones. 

B. sb. A quantic or surface of the second degree. 
1856 A. CAYLEY Wks. (1889) II. 271 The tables Nos. i and 2 

are the covariants of a binary quadric. 1881 MAXWELL 
Electr. fy Magn. I. 215 A variable parameter, which we 
shall distinguish by a suffix for the species of quadric. 1884 
A. S. HART in Hermathena X. 164 There are many such 
[twisted algebraic] curves which do not lie on any quadric. 

Quadriennial, -ium : see QUADRENNIAL, -IDM. j 

Quadrifid (kwo-drifid), a. (sb.) Also 7 quadri- 
fide. [ad. L. quadrifid-us, f. QUADRI- -\-fid~ root | 
otjindfre to cleave. Cf. mod.F. quadrifide] Cleft } 
into four divisions or lobes. 

1661 LOVELL Hist. Anitn. $ Min. 109 Claws like a Cow; 
but quadrifide. 1766 PENNANT Zool. (1769) III. 320 The 
tail is naturally bifid, but in many is trifid, and in some even 
quadrifid. 1830 LINDLEY Nat. Syst. Bot. 52 Distinguished 
by. .the quadrifid calyx. 1875 DARWIN Insectir. PI. xiv. 326 
The quadrifid processes on the outer parts of the lobes. 
b. ahsol. as sb. A qnadrifid process. 

1875 DARWIN Insectiv. PL xiv. 326 On the broad outer 
surfaces of the lobes where the quadrifids are situated. 

Quadriforiu (kwo/driff7jm), a. 1 [ad. late L. 
quadriformis : see QUADRI- and -FORM. Cf. obs. j 



109 Quadriform His Acts, which writing They produce 
before our eyes, 1858 MAYNK Exf&gt;os.Le.\-,iQuadriforwis, \ 
. . applied to a crystal which presents the combination of j 
four distinct forms, .quadriform. 1874 Suf&gt;eruat. Reli*. II. 
HI. ii. 476 Quadriform is the Gospel, nnd quadriform the 
course uf the Lord. 



[f. L. *qitadri- comb. 




scabbard is a large quadriform mace head. 

II Quadriga (kwdrai ga). [L. ; later sing, form 
for pi. quadriga contr. of qiiadrijugx, f. quadri- 
QUADRI- +jugitm yoke. Cf. F. qitadrige (i7th c.), 
and see QUATHEIQAN.] 

1. A chariot drawn by four horses harnessed 
abreast; esp. as represented in sculpture or on coins. 

1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v., On the reverses of medals 
we frequently see Victory, or the emperor, in a quadriga. 
holding the reins of the horses. 1850 LEITCH tr. C. O. 
Miillers Anc. Art (ed. 2) 452 Apollo, .guides a quadriga, 
in which he is carrying oft a lofty and noble female form. 
1884 Chr. World 14 Aug. 612/5 A quadriga ia bronze 
carrying a figure of Victory. 

2. A form of surgical bandage for the sternum 
and ribs. ? Obs. 

1743 HKISTKK Surgery (1768) II. m. iv. 371 The Generality 
of Surgeons make use of a peculiar and stronger Bandage 
for this purpose, which they call the Quadriga or Cata- 
phracta. [Hence in CHAMBERS Cycl. Suppl. lApp.), and 
.some later diets.] 

Hence f Quadriga rious ., of or belonging to 
a Charriot-man (lilount Glossogr. 1656). 

t Quadrigate, a. (sb^} Obs. rare. [ad. L. quad- 
rigdt-us\ see prec.] Of a coin: Stamped with the 
figure of a quadriga, b. sb. A coin so stamped. 

1600 HOLLAND Liry xxn. Hi. 464 To pay 300 quadrigate 
pieces of sillier. Ibid. liv. 465 note, A Quadrigate . . is 
a piece of siluer coyne among the Romanes, the same that 
Denarius : called so of Quadriga. 

t Quadrilater, a. Obs. rare. [ad. late L. 
quattrilatcr-uS) f. quadri- QUADRI- + later- stem 
of /a/Hj side. Cf.F.auadritat2re(aiS4). ] =next. 

1570 UiLLiNGSLF.Y Euclid I. xxi. 31 Wherefore this present 
figure . . is a quadrilater triangle. 1571 DIGGKS Pantom. 
n. xvii. O ij b, The figure signified by the quadrilater super 
ficies Ali(iF. 

Quadrilateral (kwgdrilse teral), a. and sb. 
AUo 7 quadrilaterall. [ad. 1,. type *qitadri- 
lateralis, i. quadrilater-us + -AL. See prec. and 
cf. F. quadrilateral. ] 

A. adj. Four-sided; having a four-sided base or 
section. 

1656 STANLEY Hist. Philos. v. (17^01) 162/2 The Altar.. 
was no longer a Cube, but . . a quadrilateral Pillar. 1674 tr. 
Scheffer s Lapland xvi. 83 The whole form seems to be 
like a quadrilaterall house. 1718 QUINCY Compl. Disp. 33 
In common Salt we plainly discover Quadrilateral Pyramids, 
with square liases. 1836-41 BRANDE Chem. (ed. 5.1 1125 
Carbazotate of Potassa crystallizes in long yellow quad 
rilateral needles. 1876 DUHKING Dis. Skin 38 Nails are 
rounded or quadrilateral bodies. 

b. Bot. Of a stem: (see quot.). 

1875 BENNETT & DYER Sachs* Bot. 184 The principal 
sections of all the leaves.. may lie in two planes, crossing 
one another at right angles, when the shoot is quadri 
lateral. 

B. sb. A figure bounded by four straight lines; 
a space or area having four sides. 

In mod. Geom. A figure formed by four straight lines, no 
three of which pass through the same point, and by the six 
points (vertices) forming the intersections of these lines, 
taken two by two (Cf. QUADRANGLE). 

1650 T. RUDD Euclide 45 To forme a. .Quadrilaterall, 
about which a circle may be circumscribed. 1827 HUTTON 
Course Math. I. 282 A Diagonal is a line joining any two 
opposite angles of a quadrilateral. 1866 R. A. PROCTOR 
Handbk. Stars 16 The intermediate figures are quad 
rilaterals of varying form. 1893 E. H. BARKER Wanderings 
by Southern Waters 301 Four . . towers occupying the angles 
of a small quadrilateral. 

b. The space lying between, and defended by, 
four fortresses ; spec, that in North Italy formed by 
the fortresses of Mantua, Verona, Peschiera, and 
Legnano. 

1859 Times r July 8/5 Such fortresses as compose the 
famous Quadrilateral . 1866 Sat. Kev. 21 July 66/1 The 
Quadrilateral and Venice still remain in the hands of the 
Austrians. 1870 Pall Mall G. 2 Sept. 2 He has four 
fortresses around him ..but upon_ twelve square miles of 
territory.. he cannot play at quadrilaterals. 

fig. 1888 LD. ROSEBERY in Daily News 20 Feb. 5/5 
Am overjoyed .. that Edinburgh is once more the quad 
rilateral of Liberalism. 

Hence Quadrila teralness, the property of 
having four sides (Bailey, vol. II, 1727). 

Quadriliteral (kwgdrili-teral), a. anil sb. [f. 
QUADRI- + LITERAL.] 

A. adj. Consisting of four letters ; spec, of 
Semitic roots which have four consonants instead 
of the usxial three (see triliteral). 

1771 W. JONES Zool. Eth. 102 It must be deemed a quad- 
riliteral word, and as such compounded of a double radix. 
1793 T. BEDDOES Math. Evid.. 133 They assume triliteral 
and quadriliteral as well as biliteral roots. 1837 PHILLIPS 
Syriac Gramm. 96 Quadriliteral verbs. 1869 R. DAVIES tr. 
Gesenius Hebrew Gram. 86 Such lengthened forms . . are 
not regarded as quadriliteral. 

B. sb. A word of four letters : a ^Semitic) root 
containing four consonants. 

1787 Sot W. JONFS Disc. Arabs Wks. 1799 I. 4O_If we 
suppose ten thousand of them [Arabic roots] (without 



QUADRUPLE. 

..doth punish thieves with a quadruple restitution. 1628 
MEAD in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. III. 268 The quadruple 
strength which they have prepared against our fleet, a 1648 
LD. HERBERT Hen. Vlll (1683) 9 [A sum] quadruple to so 
much in this age. a 1745 SWIFT To Gcorgc-Nim-Dan- 
Dean, F.sq. (R.), How I joy to see thee wander. .In circling 
mazes, smooth and supple, And ending in a clink quadruple. 
1807 HUTTON Course Math. II. 269 To receive light and 
heat quadruple to that of the earth. 1820 KF.ATS Hyperion 
II. 146 A quadruple wrath Unhinges the poor world. 1825 
MACAULAV Ess., Machiavelli (1887) 34 When the value of 
silver was more than quadruple of what it now is. 1884 
BOWER & SCOTT De Bary s^ Phaner. &lt;y Ferns 576 Single, 
triple, or quadruple concentric series of narrow elements. 

b. In various special applications. 
Quadruple algebra, algebra in which four independent 



units are used. Quadruple counterpoint, four-part counter 
point in which the parts may be interchanged without 
breaking the rules of counterpoint. Quadruple pistole 



sb. ab. \Quadnipleproportion - quadruple ratio. Quad 
ruple giiaver, a hemidemisemiquaver. Quadruple ratio, the 
ratio of four to one. Quadruple rhythm, time, in Mus., 
rhythm or time having four beats in a measure. 




pistoles. i86cjCH SELE.YC0HHterp. xvii. 134 Triple and quad 
ruple counterpoints . . consist of three or four melodies so 
interwoven that any of them may become a correct bass to 
the others. 1898 J. HAMMOND Let. 22 Dec., Hamilton s 
Quaternions is a quadruple algebra, the 4 independent 
units being his i, j, k, and the unit of quantity. 

C. Hist. Quadruple alliance, an alliance of four 
powers, esp. that of Britain, France, Germany and i 
Holland in 1718, and of Britain, France, Spain 
and Portugal in 1834. 

735 H- WALPOLE Corr. (1820) I. 3, I believe you will 
guess there is no quadruple alliance. 1825 JEFFERSON 
Autobiog. Wks. 1859 I. 76 She [France] secretly engaged, 
also, in negotiations with Russia, Austria, and Spain, to 
form a quadruple alliance. 1872 FREEMAN Gen. Sketch xv. 
2 (1874) 304 France, England, and the United Provinces 
presently joined the Emperor in the Quadruple Alliance 
against Spain. 

fig. 1787 BURNS Let. to Miss Chalmers 12 Dec., MLsfor. 
tune, bodily constitution, hell, and myself, have formed 
a quadruple alliance to guarantee the other. 

d. Applied to printing-papers which are four i 
times the usual size, as quadruple crown, -demy, \ 
-foolscap, etc. Cf. QUAD a. 

B. sb. 1. Anything fourfold ; a sum or quantity 
four times as great as another. 

1609 DOULAND Ornith. Microl. 6r Now if we place these 
Triples . . in the vpper ranke we shall produce Quadruples. 
1640-1 Kirkcudbr. IVar-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855) *49 The 
quadruple of the pryce of the inch of the best sort of schoes. 
1822 J. FLINT Lett. Amer. 309, I believe, if he had laid 
them [the damages] at quadruple, the jury would have given 
him every cent. 

2. spec, f a. A tooth having a quadruple root. 
Obs. f b. A coin of the value of four pistoles j 
(so in French; cf. A. b, quot. 1727). Obs. fc. 
A fourfold fine. Obs. d. A printing machine 
which prints four copies at once. 

1541 R. COPLAND Guydon s Quest. Chirurg., Two donales 
two quadruples .viij. molares and two cassalles. 1655 tr. 
Com. Hist. Francion XII. 20 See here his Quadruples which 
I never touched before. 1673 DRVDEN A mboyna. II. i, No 
transitory Sum, three hundred Quadruples in your own 
Country Gold. 1682 Lond. Gaz. No. 1784/4 A considerable 
Sum of Money was stolen, among which were several Quad 
ruples, or Four-Pistol-Pieces. 1695 Sc. Acts II ill. Ill, c. 55 
(1822) IX. 453/1 Incurring the Quadruples appoynted by the 
said Act by way of penalty. 1890 W. J. GORDON Foundry 
203 It was Mr. Lloyd who had the first of these new Quad 
ruples at work on a London daily newspaper. 

C. adv. in Comb. In a fourfold manner. 

1840 DICKENS Barn. Rudge xli, Places of distrust and 
cruelty, and restraint, they would have left quadruple- 
locked for ever. 1884 Health Exhib. Catal. 62/1 Blunders 
Patent Duplex (quadruple acting) portable Fire Engines. 

Quadruple (.kwp-drwp l), v. Also 6 quad- 
riple, 7 -ruble. [ad. F. qttadntpler (1404) or 
L. quadrupl-are, i. quadrupl-us : see prec.] 

1. trans. To make four times as great or as 
many as before ; to multiply by four. 

1375 BARBOUR Bruce xvm. 30 He suld fecht that day, 
Thouch Tryplit or quadruplit war thai. 1557 RECORDE 
IVhetst. Fiij, Therfore I doe quadriple .195. and it maketh 
.780. c 1611 CHACMAN Iliad i. 129 Vet we all, all losse thou 
sufferst thus, Will treble ; quadruple in gaine. 1642 HOWELL , 
For. Trav. (Arb.) 87 Double the howers above twelve in 
the longest solstitiall day, and the product will shew the 
climat, quadruble them twill shew the parallell. 1792 A. 
YOCNG Trav. France 439, I am confident . .that the mass of ! 
human wretchedness is quadrupled by their influence. 1882 
PEBODV Eng. Journalism xxiii. 178 The Press, by reporting 
the speeches of these men, quadrupled their power in 
Parliament. 1883 Stubbs Mercantile Circular 8 Nov. 982/2 
The import of raw cotton, .has more than quadrupled itself 
in two years. 

2. To amount to four times as many as. 

1832 LEWIS Use t, Ab. Pol. Terms xi. 92 The number of 
females . . probably more than quadrupled that of the male 
governors. 

3. inlr. (for re/I.) To grow to four times the 
former number, amount, or size. 

1776 ADAM SMITH W. N. n. ii. (1869) I. 296 The trade of 
Scotland has more than quadrupled since the first erection 
of the two publick banks at Scotland. 1833 HT. MARTINEAU 
Cinnamon f, Pearls v. 97 The exports . . have quadrupled 
since the relaxation of the monopoly. 1882 PEBODY Eng 



10 

Journalism xix. 145 Mr. Levy reduced the price of the 
paper. . .The circulation doubled, trebled, quadrupled. 

Hence Qua drupled///. a. = QUADRUPLE a. 

1607 Toi SELL Four-/. Beasts (1658) 99 The Harts of 
liriletum and Ibarne, have their reins quadrupled or four 
fold. 1865 MANSFIELD Salts 465 A quadrupled salt with 
a single molecule of adjunct. 

Quadruplet (kwo-drplet). [f. QUADRUPLE 

+ -ET ; after triplet^ 

1. //. Four children born at a birth. 

1787 GARTHSHORE in Phil. Trans. LXXVII. 355 These 
are the only cases of quadruplets . . he had ever heard of as 
born in Scotland. 1836-9 TODD Cj/cl. Anat. II. 736/1 An 
instance of quadruplets consisting of three boys and a girl. 
1898 Daily Xnvs 15 Apr. 5/2 Huller ventured on the asser 
tion, .that quadruplets were born once in 20,000 cases. 

2. Any combination of four things or parts 
united or working together, esp. four combined 
springs (Knight Diet. Meet. Suppl.). 

1851 DE MORGAN- in Graves Life Hamilton (1889) III. 338 
We have then an harmonic quadruplet and sextuplet, and 
we might have octuplets, &c. 

3. A bicycle for four riders. Cf. QuADrf.3 Also 
attrib. 

1895 Daily News 27 July 5/3 Professional riders on tan 
dems, triplets, and quadruplets. 1897 Wkitaker s Aim. 
641/2 A quadruplet team covered a flying quarter in 25.2 sees. 

Quadruplex (kwo drpleks), a. and sl&gt;. [a. 
L. quadruplex fourfold, f. QUADRU- + flic-, to 
fold.] 

A. adj. 1. Electric Telegraphy. Applied to a 
system by which four messages can be sent over 
one wire at the same time. 

1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mich. 1842/1 Quadruples Telegraph. 
1879 G. PRESCOTT Sp. Telephone p. iii, In 1874 Edison 
invented a quadruplex system for trie simultaneous trans 
mission of four communications over the same conductor. 
1881 LUBBOCK Pres. Addr. Brit.Assoc. in Nature No. 618. 
411 Duplex and quadruplex telegraphy, one of the most 
striking achievements of modern telegraphy. 

2. Engineering. Applied to an engine in which 
the expansion of the steam is used four times in 
cylinders of increasing diameter. 

1896 Westm. Gaz. 8 May 10/2 A steamer, fitted with five- 
crank quadruplex engines. 

B. sb. A telegraphic instrument by means of 
which four simultaneous messages can be sent over 
the same wire. 

Hence Qua drnplex v. . to make (a telegraph 
circuit, etc.) quadruplex. Cf. QUAD v. 

1887 Brit. Merc. Gaz. 15 June 43/2 The multiplication of 
wires soon attracted attention to methods of duplexing and 
quadruplexing the circuits, 1889 Times (weekly ed.) 
29 Mar. 5/2 If the line is already duplexed, .the addition of 
the phonophore will quadruplex it. 

Quadruplicate (kwgdr plikA), a. and sb. 

[ad. L. qitaJruplicat-us, pa. pple. of quadrupli- 
care to quadruple, f. quadruplex : see prec.] 

A. adj. 1. Fourfold; four times repeated. 
Quadruplicate proportion, ratio, the proportion or 
ratio of fourth powers in relation to that of the 
radical quantities. 

1657 HOBBES AbsurdGeom. Wks. 1845 VII. 378 An infinite 
row of Arithmetically proportionals, in proportion quadru 
plicate. 1794 G. ADAMS Nat. ff Exp. Philos. III. xxxi. 
269 The efforts tending to destroy the adhesion of beams 
from their gravity only, increase in the quadruplicate ratio 
of their lengths. 1816 PLAYFAIR Nat. Phil. II. 169 The 
same [probability] is increased in a quadruplicate ratio, from 
considering the phenomena of all these four superior planets. 

2. Forming four exactly corresponding copies. 

1807 PIKE Sources Mississ. in. App. (1810) 72, I have 
directed the formula for you to sign of four corresponding 
quadruplicate receipts. 

B. sb. 1. In quadruplicate : In four exactly 
corresponding copies or transcripts. 

1790 \V. HASTINGS Let. to Boswell 2 Dec. in S. s Johnson 
an. 1781 Of these [letters], one which was written in quadru 
plicate . . has already been made publick. 1900 Rales 
(25 Oct.) under Money-Lenders Act vi, The order shall be 
signed in quadruplicate by the permanent Secretary. 
fig. 1886 KIPLING Departm. Ditties, etc. (1899) 47 Four 
times Cupid s debtor I Bankrupt in quadruplicate. 

2. pi. Four things exactly alike ; esp. four exactly 
corresponding copies of a document. 



1883 SIR C. S. C. BOWEN in Law Rep. u Q. Bench Div. 
342 The . . conveniences which merchants . . believed to be 
afforded by the system of triplicates or quadruplicates. 

Quadruplicate (kwgdrtt-plik^t), v. [f. ppl. 

stem of L. quadruplicdre : see prec.] 

1. trans. To multiply by four ; to make four times 
as many or as great ; to quadruple. 

1661 in BLOUNT Glossogr. (ed. 2). 1674 jEAKE/lr&lt;M. (1696) 
56 Or else duplicate, . . quadruplicate, &c. the Fraction 
according to the given Integer. 1694 SALMON Bate s Dis- 
pens. (1713) 327/2 Sometimes the Proportion is to be quad 
ruplicated. 1861 Under the Spell III. 220 Prices were 

quadruplicated ", the demand for places being great. 1888 
G. W. CABLE in Amer. Missionary Apr. 90 If you knew the 
national value of this work, . . you would quadruplicate it 
before the year is out. 

2. To make or provide in quadruplicate; to 
provide four (things) exactly alike. 

1879 G. MEREDITH Egoist III. iii. 64 We are in danger of 
duplicating and triplicating and quadruplicating [wedding 
presents]. 

Hence Quadruplicating vbt. sb. (Ash SuMl. 
1775). 



QUJERE. 

Quadruplication (kwjdr^plik^-Jan). [ad. 
L. qnadruplii ation-em, n. of action from qiiadni- 
plicare to make fourfold : see prec.] 

1. The action or process of making fourfold, of 
multiplying by four; also, the result of this; a 
thing folded four times. 

1578 BANISTER Hist. Man \. 78 It [the vein] is admitted 
into the quadruplication of Dura mater. 1611 COTGR., Quad 
ruplication, a quadruplication. 1616 in BULLOKAR Eng. 
Expos. [Hence in COCKERAM, BLOUNT, etc.] 1674 JEAKE 
Arith. (1696) 24 Quadruplication .. is to double the Dupli 
cation. 1839 ALISON Europe (1849-50) VII. xli. 15. 19 
Twenty-eight years ; the well-known period of the quadru 
plication of the Sum at compound interest of five per cent. 

2. Civil and Canon Law. A pleading on the 
part of the defendant, corresponding to the rebut 
ter at common law. Cf. QUADRUPLY sb. 

1651 W. G. tr. Cmvels Inst. 243 After a Triplication 
[follows] a Quadruplication. 1726 Avi.itFE Parergon 251 
Quad[r]uplications, which the Defendant propounds to the 
Plaintiffs Triplications. 

Quadru plicature. [f. QUADRUPLICATE v. 

+ -URE.] = prec., sense I. 1891 in Cent. Diet. 

Quadruplicity (.kwgdrapli-siti). [ad. L. 
quadruplicitas, n. of quality f. quadruplex: see 
QUADRUPLEX and -ITT.] Fourfold nature; the 
condition of being fourfold, or of forming a set 
of four. 

(1590 GREENE Fr. Bacon ix. 31 The quadruplicity Of 
elemental essence. 1593 NORDEN Spec. Brit., M sex i. 44 
King Canutus the Dane,, .in regard of his quadruplicitie of 
kingdomes, esteemed himselfe more then a man mortall. 
1664 POWER Exp. Philos. 37 Dr. Brown . . hath ranked this 
conceit of the eyes of a snail (and especially their quadru 
plicity) amongst the vulgar errors. 1821; S. T. COLERIDGE 
Aids Reflect. App. C. (1858) I. 395 The universal quadrupli 
city, or four elemental forms of power. 1890 J. H. STIRLING 
Gijford Lect.w. i^\ The origin of the term [final causes] lies 
in the Aristotelian quadruplicity of causes as such. 

t Quadruplify, v. Ol&gt;s. rare- 1 , [f. L. 
ruplus QUADRUPLE + -(I)FY.] = QUADRUPLK v. 

1578 BANISTER Hist. Man vin. 99 In the hynder part of 
the head these Membranes are Quadruplified. 

Quadrupling (kwg -drplirj) , nil. sb. [f. QUAD 
RUPLE v. + -INO i.] The action of the vb. 

1694 Phil. Trans. XVIII. 70 The doubling, trebling, 
quadrupling, &c, of Rations is performed by squaring, 
cubing, biquadrating, &c. of the terms. 1885 Pall Mall G. 
27 Mar. i/i Supplemented, say, by the quadrupling of our 
field artillery. 



t Qua 1 



, sb. Sc. Law. Obs. rare. [ad. 



obs. F. quadniplique (i6th c. in Littre Suppl.} ; cf. 
DUPLY.] = QUADRUPLICATION 2. 

1695 Sc. Acts Will. Ill, c. 6 (1822) IX. 365/2 The Clerks 
writing of the Defences, Duplyes, Triplyes, Quadruplyes, 
and so furth for the defender and pursuer. 1762 (title) Quad- 
ruplies for . . R. Graham . . J. Bakie [etc.] to the triplies for 
P. Honeymoon [etc.], Feb. 10. 1820 [see DUPLY b]. 

Quadruply (kwg-drapli), adv. [f. QUADRUPLE 
a. + -LY 2 .J Four times ; in a fourfold degree or 
manner. 

1726 SWIFT Gulliver i. vi, The innocent person is quadruply 
recompensed . . for the danger he underwent. 1793 T. 



oung s] father was quadruply clerical, be 
rector, prebendary, court chaplain, and dean. 

Quadruviall, obs. form of QUADHIVIAL. 

Quadrypedyd : see after QUADRUPED. 

Quadundrum, obs. variant of CONUNDRUM. 

II Quae dam. Obs. rare. [L., fem. sing, and pi. 
of quidam some one, QUIDAM.] A woman, female 
(in disparaging sense). Also as//. 

a 1670 HACKET Abp. Williams \. (1692) 35 Vain attire, 
wherein wanton Quaedams in those days came to . . excess. 
Ibid. n. 128 He. .settles in Bugden-House for three Summers 
with a Seraglia of Quaedam. 

Quaem, obs. form of QUALM sb. 

Quaer, obs. form of QUIRE sb., WHEIIE adv. 

II Quaere (kw!T), v. imper. and sb. Also 6-9 
quere, (7 queer, quire). [L., imper. of quyrtre 
(med.L. querere] to ask, inquire. Now usually 
in anglicized form, QUERY.] 

1. v. imper. Introducing a question or subject 
of inquiry : Ask, inquire ; hence, one may ask , 
it is a question (whether, etc.). 

535 r. Littleton s Nat. Brev. 18 b (Stanf.) Quere the 
dyuersite. 1548 STAUNFORD Kinges Prerog. (1567) 54 b, 
But quere whether his highnes may bee brought in posses 
sion in those cases by a clayme or not. 1602 CAREW Corn 
wall 135 Notwithstanding, quaire, whether a causlesse 
ambition . . turned not rather Golunt into Gallant. 1703 
HEARNE Collect. 17 Dec. (O. H. S.) I. 131 Quaere more 
about this. 1774 J.ADAMS in Fcun. Lett. (1876) 3 David 
Sewall . . has no ambition nor avarice, they say (however, 
quaere). 1823 J. BADCOCK Dom. Amusfm. 52 Quere, 
whether the natural influence of light and heat occasions 
this apparent coincidence. 1860 O DONOVAN Three Fragw. 
126 Quxre, is Conung an Hibernicized form of the Teutonic 
. . koenung, king? 

2. sb. A question, QUERT. 

1589 WARNER Alb. Eng. vi. xxx. (1612) 150 Thy bad doth 
passe by probate, but a Quere is for mee. 1619 H. HUTTON 
Follies Anat. (Percy Soc.) 54 It would be thought a quaere 
at the beste. 1646 SIR T. BROWNE Pseud. Ep. 282 The 
greater Quere is, when he will come again, and yet indeed 
it is no Quere at all. 1736 SWIFT Let. to Pope 25 Mar., 
I wondered a little at your quaere who Cheselden wast 



QUyERE. 

1856 LEVER Martins ofCro M. 254 The quere itself is its 
own reply said I. 1863 A. J. HORWOOD Yearbks. 30 # 31 
Ediv. I Pref. 26 *", This appears to answer Mr. Booth s 
quaere, .as to the reason for the tender of the demy-mark. 

Hence -j* Qusere, quere z ., to query. Obs. 

1627 W. SCLATER Exp. 2 Thess. (1629) 131 It might be 
queered. 1663 Aron-Cintn. 101 He quaeres what it is that 
renders a people blessed. 1681 T. FLAT.MAN Heraclitus 
Ridens No. 23 (1713) 1. 153 Nay, let em consider of it ; and 
let us Quere about the matter. 1756 H. WAU-OLE Corr. 
(1837) III. 137 Should not one quere whether he had not 
those proofs in his hands antecedent to the cabinet? 

Quaeree, -rie, Qufflrent, obs. ff. QUEKY, 
QUERENT. 

t Quse-ritate, v. Obs. rare- 1 , ff. ppl. stem 
of L. qit &ritare, frcq. of quxrere to ask, inquire.] 
trans. To inquire or search into. 

1657 TOMLISSON Renou s Disp. 387 Apothecaryes quteri- 
tate its Medicinall use, which Mithridates knew. 

Quaery, obs. form of QUERY. 

t Qusesite, anglicized f. QILESITUM. Obs. rare~ l . 

1655 OUGHTRED in Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men (1841) I. 83 
Your fourth quxsite is, why the equation whereby it is 
solved is the very same in both ? 

II Qusesitum (kwlSwit^m). PI. quscsita. [L., 
neut. sing. of^MBfUf-ttf, pa. pple. vlquserere to seek : 
see QUESITED.] That which is sought for ; an 
object of search ; the answer to a problem. 

1748 HARTLEY Observ. Man i. Introd., So as to proceed 
intirely from the Data to the Quaesita, from things known 
to such as are unknown. 1830 HERSCHKL Stud. Nat. Phil. 
n. vi. (1851) 176 A series of careful and exact measures in 
every different state of the datum and qua^situm. 1864 
BOWEN Logic viii. 229 In the Analytic order the Conclusion 
would be more properly called the Quaesitum. 

Quaestor (kwrst^i). Rom. Antiq* Also 4-7 
questor. [a. L. yuxst0r t agent-n. from quserere to 
seek, inquire.] a. One of a number of Roman 
officials who had charge of the public revenue and 
expenditure, acting as treasurers of state, pay 
masters of the troops, etc. b. In early times : A 
public prosecutor in certain criminal cases. 

1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) IV. 49 Caton be questor 
brou^te hym [Ennius] to Rome. Questor is he bat gadre}&gt; 
tribut to Rome, and be domesman was somtyme i-clep^ed 
questor. 1577 HEU.OWES Gueuara. s Chron. 80 Adrian 
was made Questor, that is to say, he had charge to prouide 
victuals and furniture for the campe. 1641 SMECTYMNUUS 
Ansiv. 12 (1653) 45 Tiberius granted a Questors dignitie 
unto a Bishop for his eloquence. 1781 GIBBON Decl. ff F. 
xvii. II. 53 In the course of nine centurie&gt;, the office of 
quEestor had experienced a very singular revolution. 1838 
ARNOLD Hist. Rome I. 339 The two quaestors who judged 
in cases of blood, were also chosen from the patricians. 

trans/, and fig. 1850 S. DOBELL The Roman v. Poet. 
Wks. (1875) 63, I, her [Pity s] qusestor, Claim tribute from 
you. A few tears will pay it. 1863 TREVELYAN Contact. 
Wallah (1866) 124 Our modern quaestors are every whit as 
grasping and venal as the satellites of Verres and Dolabella. 

Quaestor, variant of QUESTOR sb. 1 

Qusestorial (kwfstoe-rial), a. [f. L. quses- 
tdri-us + -AL.] Of or pertaining to a quaestor or 
his position in the state. 

1862 MERIVALE Rom. Emp. 1. (1865) VI. 197 Narcissus 
had received the quaestorial ornaments as the reward of his 
services. 1868 FARRAR Seekers i. v. (1875) 67 Men of con 
sular and quaestorial parentage. 

So f Quzesto rian a. Obs. rare~ l . 

a 1641 BP. MOUNTAGU Acts $ Mon. (1642) 335 Consular, 
Prsetorian, Questorian or Equestrian officers. 

Quses tor ship (kwrst^ifip). [f. QU-ESTOR + 
-SHIP.] The office of quaestor. 

1570 LEVINS Manip. 141/5 Y* Questorship, qnxstnra. 
1581 SAVILE Tacitus, Agricola (1622) 186 After his Questor 
ship till he [Agricola] was created Tribune of the people. 
ci6so DENHAM Of Old Age 94, I, five years after, at 
Tarentum wan The Queestorship. 1834 LYTTON Pompeii i. 
iv, Your petty thirst for fasces and qu zest or ships. 1871 
SEELEY Ln&gt;y i. Introd. qo Of all the great magistracies, 
the quaestorship was the lowest in dignity. 

So f Quae Story (in 6 questorie,. Obs. rare-*. 

1533 BELLKNDEN Livy iv. (1822) 382 The small pepill had 
sic victorje, that thay belevit the questorie nocht to be the 
end of this honoure. 

Quaestuary (kwrstiiari), a. and sb. Also 
7 quest-, [ad. L. qu&stuat i-us^ f. quxstus gain : 
see -ART. Cf. obs. F. questuaire (Godef.).] 

A. adj. Connected or concerned with gain ; 
money-making, 

1594 R, ASHLEY tr. Loysle Roy 125 If they be poore, they 
applie themselues to questuarie, or gainfull arts; whereby 
to haue meanes to Hue. 1646 SIR T. BROWNE Pseitd. Ep. 
137 Although lapidaries, and questuary enquirers afTirme 
it, yet the Writers of Mineralls. .are of another beliefe. 
1694 R. L EsTRANGE/v^/tf.s 454 The Lawyers, the Divines, 
and all quaestuary professions, a 1864 FKRKIKK Grk. P kilos. 
(1866) I. xii. 352 This.. may be termed the quaestuary 
class,.. this being the end which they aim at. 

fB. sb. One who seeks for gain; spec. QUES 
TOR sb. i. Obs. 

1614 Bp. HALL No Peace with Rome 12 Not giuen by 
the popes, but lewdly deuised by some of his base questu- 
aries for an aduantage. 1664 JER. TAYLOR Dissuas. Popery 
ii. 3 Gerson and Dominlcus a Soto are asham d of these 
prodigious indulgences, and suppose that the Pope s Quees- 
tuaries onely did procure them. 

t QuSBSture. Obs. rare 1 . In 7 questure. 
[ad. L. qitxstilra.] = Qu.ESTORSHir. 

1673 .C. Art of Complaisance c& A great many Noble 
persons who stood in competition for the Questure. 



11 

Quafer, v. Obs. rare 1 . [Onomatopoeic.] 
(See quot.). 

1693 CLAYTON- in Phil. Trans. XVII. 990 A Duck has 
larger Nerves that come into their Bills than Geese or any 
other Bird that I have seen and therefore quafer and grope 
out their Meat the most. [Copied as quaffer by Derham 
PhysicO Tkeol. iv. xi. 192, and Bell On the Hand 150.} 

Quaff i^kwcif), si), [f. QUAFF z/.] An act of 
quaffing, or the liquor quaffed ; a deep draught. 

1579 TOMSON Calvin? $ Semn. Tim. 512/2 They thinke that 
a sermon co.steth no more then a quaffe wd them. 1594 
GREENE & LODGE Looking Gl. G. s Wks. (Rtldg.) 141 Now 
Alvida begins her quaff, And drinks a full carouse unto her 
King. 1627-77 FELTHAM Resolves i. Ixxxiv. 129 Proteas 

faue him a quaff of two gallons. 1889 G. GISSING Nether 
Vorld I. v. 97 Each guest having taken a quaff of ale. 
Quaff (kwaf), v. Also 6 quaft, quaf, 6-7 
quaffe. [Of obscure origin; prob. onomatopoeic 
(cf. QUAKER and QUASS v.}. 

The date and history of the word are against any connec 
tion with ^rt^jvar. of QUAICH, which has been suggested as 
the source. (Vigfusson s ON. kvcyfa, to quaff is an error, 
the correct form being kneyfa^. The precise relationship 
of the earliest formanaft to Palsgrave s QUAUGHT and Sc. 
WAUCHT is obscure.] 

1. intr. To drink deeply; to take a long draught; 
also, to drink repeatedly in this manner. Const. 
of Win). 

1529 MORE Suppk Soulys Wks. 331/2 The dregges of olde 
poysoned heresies in whiche they fell a quaffing with the 
deuill. 1547 BOORDE Introd. Kn&lt;nvl. ix. (1870) 149 In 
Holand . . many of the men . . wyll quaf tyl they ben dronk. 
1577 RHODES Bk. Nurture in Bahees Bk. 77 Eate softly, 
and drinke manerly. take heede you doe not quaffe. 1628 
PiiYNNE Cetts. Cozens 47 Poyson must alwayes be ad- 
ministred in golden Chalhces, else none wille quaffe. 1645 
QUARLES Sol. Recant, in. 35 To day we feast, and quaffe in 
frolique Bowles; To morrow fast. 1757 SMOLLETT A eprisal 
II. xv, We laugh, and we quaff, and we banter. 1830 
LYTTON P. Clifford iv, She had that day quaffed more 
copiously of the bowl than usual. 1876 BROWNING Epilogue 
to PacchiarottO) Have faith, give thanks, but quaff. 

2. trans. To drink (liquor) copiously or in a 
large draught. 

*555~8 PHAER &neid in. G iv, Wyne in plenty great they 
quaff. 1648 HERRICK Hesper.^ Lyrick to Mirth, Let us sit 
and quaffe our wine. 1768 BEATTIE Minstr. i. xliv, Merry 
swains, who quaff the nut-brown ale, 1820 W. IRVING 
Sketch Bk. I. 74 They quaffed the liquor in profound 
silence. 1878 Masque Poets 31 Now with b?ck-flung head 
she quaffs The odorous white Mareotic wine. 
fig- 1613 HEYWOOD Braz. Age Wks. 1874 HI. 216 I le 
rather at some banquet poyson him, And quaffe to him his 
death. 1674 MILTON P. L. v. 638 (ed.2) They drink, and in 
communion sweet Quaffimmortalitie and joy. 1820 LANDOK 
Heroic Idylls^ Thrasymedes &lt;$ Eunoe 38 Let my lips quaff 
purity From thy fair open brow. 

b. With advbs. as down, off, out, round, up, 
(Cf. DRINK v.) 

1596 SHAKS, Tarn. Shr. in. ii. 174 Hee calls for wine., 
quaft off the Muscadell. 1633 P. FLETCHER Put-pie Isl. i. 
xxvii. Oh let them in their gold quaffe dropsies down. 
1635-56 Cow LEY Davideis 11. 593 In helmets they quaff 
round the welcome flood. 

3. To drain (a cup, etc.) in a copious draught 
or draughts. Also with off, out, up. 

1523 [CovERDALE] OldGod Of New (1534) O Hj, To quaft of 
two Cannes or tankardes of wine. i6o7DEKKER IV h. Babylon 
Wks. 1873 II. 198, I quaffe full bowles of strong enchanting 
wines. 1633 BP. HALL Occas. Medit, (1851) 152 Why do not 
I . . quaff up that bitter cup of affliction. 1748 THOMSON 
Cast, Indol. viii, As one who quaffs Some potent wine-cup. 
1831 SCOTT Cast. Dang, vii, Your cup, filled with right good 
wine, I have just now quaffed off. 1868 FITZGERALD tr. 
Omar xliii. (1899) 98 And proffering his Cup, invites your 
Soul Forth to your Lips to quaff it. 

4. To drive away, to bring down to or into (a 
certain state), by copious drinking, rare. 

1714 Love s Rtliefm Steele s Poet. Misc. 42 Be brisk and 
gay, And cjuaff this sneaking Form away. 1821 BYRON 
Sardan. i. u. 442 When..! have quaff d me down to their 
abasement. _ 1847 J. WILSON C/tr. North (1857) I. 147 The 
room in which he quaffs, guzzles, and smokes himself into 
stupidity. 

Quaff, obs. var. QUAICH ; see also QUAYF(E. 

Quaffer (kwa-fai), sb. [f. QUAFF v. + -ER*.] 
One that quaffs or drinks deeply. 

1520 WHITINTON Vulg. (1527) 13 b, He is a quaffer namely 
of swete wyne. 1579 G. HARVEY Letter-bk. (Camden) 82 
A company of honest good fellowes, and reasnable honeste 
quarters, a 1624 Bp. M. SMITH Strut. (1632) 278 What 
a grief it was to Novellus Torquatus .. that his sonne was 
such a quaffer. 1822 Blackw. Mag. XI. 346 Pouring it out 
and calling so lustily for quaffers. 

Quaffer, v. : see QUAFER. 

Quaffing (kwa firj), vbl. sb. [f, QUAFF v. + 
-ING!.] The action of the vb. ; copious drinking. 

1532 MORE Confitt. Tindale Wks. 687/2 By bibbing, & 
sipping, & quaffing. 1579 GOSSON SJi. Abuse (Arb.) 34 We 
haue robbed Greece of Gluttonie .. and Dutchland of 
quaffing. 1664 MRQ. WoRc. in Dircks Life xviii. (1865) 325 
Frivolous discourse tending to quarrels and quaffing. 1812 
COMBE Dr. Syntax, Picturesque Tour xii, The Doctor 
talk d nor ceased his quaffing. 1830 M. DONOVAN Dent. 
Econ. I. 39 The unremitted quaffing of wine. 

atirib. 1587 TURBKRV. Trag. T. (1837) 144 A quaffing 
cup, Wherein he tooke delight To bouse at boorde. a 1638 
MEDB Wks. (1672) 123 Causing the Vessels of God s House 
to be made his Quaffing-bowls. 1701 C. WOLLEY Jrnl. 
AVw York (1860) 35 Their quaffing liquors are Rum-Punch 
and Brandy-punch. 

Quaffing (kwcrfirj), ///. a. [f. as prec. + 
-ING -.] That quafTs. Hence Qua ffingly adv. 



QUAGGY. 

a 1693 MOTTEUX Rabelais in. xxxL 255 The Luhbardly 
quaffing Monks. 1843 Taifs Mag. X. 275 At evening 
empty a bottle or two, QuafTingly, quaffingly. 

t Q,uaff-tide. Obs. The season for drinking. 

1582 STANYHURST^ /^ iv. (Arb.) 105 Bacchus third yeers 
feasting, when quaftyde aproacheth. 

t Qua fly, a. Obs. Of the nature of quaffing. 

1582 STANVHURST sEneis i. (Arb.) 24 Theyre panch with 
venison they franck and quaffye carousing. 

Quaft, obs. variant of QUAFF v. 

Quag (kwseg), sb. Also 6, 8 quage, 7quagg(e. 
[Related to QUAG v. ; cf. QUAB, QUAW, and see 
QUAGMIRE.] A marshy or boggy spot, esp. one 
covered with a layer of turf which shakes or yields 
when walked on. 

1589 \\ Y.F0rtif. 16 Where you finde quicke sands, quages, 
and such like. 1657 HOWKLL Londinop. 342 Moorfields, 
which in former times, was but a fenny quagge, or moore. 
11677 BARROW Serin. Wks. 1716 III. 143 The latter walk 
upon a bottomless Quag into which unawares they may 
slump. i784CowpEit Tiroc. 253 We keep the road, Crooked 
or straight, through quags or thorny dells. 1883 BESANT 
AIL in a Garden fair i. ii. (1885) 19 There are pools in the 
forest, .there are marshy places and quags. 
fig. 1888 C/i. Times 27 Jan. 68/3 All who are trying to 
find a way out of the Vatican quag, without turning 
Protestants. 

b. attrib.^nA Comb.^s quag-brain,- kind, -water. 

1719 D URFEY Pills (1872) II. 244 Tho Law and Justice 
were of slender growth Within his quag Brain. 1772 WALKLR 
in Phil. Trans. LXII. 124 It was mostly of the quag kind, 
which is a sort of moss covered at top with a turf of heath 
and coarse aquatic grasses, a 1870 D. G. KOSSETTI Poems 
(1870) 252, I . . fouled my feet in quag-water. 

Quag (kwseg), fc 1 - 1 Obs. exc. dial. [Onomato 
poeic : cf. wag, swag. Some dialects have also 
qnaggle corresp. to ivaggle^\ intr. To shake ; 
said of something soft or llabby. 

1611 COTGR., Briwhaler, . . to shake, swag, or quag, as a 
great dug, or th vnsound flesh of a foggie person. 1616-61 
HOLYDAY Persius 337 That To him a strutting panch may 
quagge with fat. 1623 tr. Famine s Theat. Hon. v. i. 35 
The earth being uncertaine and quagging, 1881 BLACK- 
MORE Christowell xlviii, Many a poor head will ache, and 
many a poor belly quag, if it is so bad as they tell me. 

Quag, v$ rare~ l . [f. QUAG sb.~] f raits. To 
submerge or fix in a quag. 

1673 MARVELL Reh. Transp, n. Wks. 1776 II. 502 Unfortu 
nately . . you sink deeper and quag yourself in your Roman 
Empire. 

Quagga (kwse ga). Also 8-9 quacha, 9 -ccha, 
kwagga. [South African. The earliest authori 
ties give it as a Hottentot word, writing it qttacha 
(Tuncker, 1710), quaiha (Kolbe, 1/19, prob. a 
misprint), or quagga (Sparrman, 1783), but it is 
now current in Xosa-KafTir in the form iqzvara, 
with clicking q and guttural r. (J. Platt, in 
Atkenseumj 19 May, 1901).] a. A South African 
equine quadruped (Etjintsw Hippotigris Qitagga) t 
related to the ass and zebra, but less fully striped 
than the latter, b. Burch ell s zebra. 

The true quagga is believed to have been exterminated 
about 1873. 

1785 G. FORSTER tr. Sparrman s I oy. Cape G. H. I. 223 
One of the animals called quaggas by the Hottentots and 
colonists. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) VI. 713 The quacha, 
or quagga. 1815 SIR J. BARROW Travels 320 The Qua-cha, 
which was long thought to be the female Zebra, is now 
known to be of a species entirely different. 1834 PRINGLE 
Afr, Sk. vjii. 274 The poor quagga., is a timid animal with 
a gait and figure much resembling those of an ass. 1839 
DARWIN Jrnl. Beagle v. 100 Two zebras, and the quaccha, 
two gnus, and several antelopes. 1859 Orig. Spec. \. 
(1873) 128 The quag_ga, though so plainly barred like a 
zebra over the body, is without bars on the legs. 

attrib. 1899 Q. Rev. Oct. 412 The quagga hybrid was 
less striped than many dun-coloured horses. 

Quaggy (kwse gi), a. [f. QUAG sb. or v 
f -Y.] 

1. Of ground : That shakes under the foot ; full 
of quags; boggy, soft. Also of streams: Flow 
ing through boggy soil. 

1610 HOLLAND Canidett s Brit. T. 499 Certaine uneven and 
quaggie rniry plots, a 1756 COLLINS Ode Superst.Highl. 59 
O er the watery strath or quaggy moss. 1814 SCOTT Wav. 
.\vi, The path . . was rough, broken, and in many places 
quaggy and unsound. 1867 MORRIS Jason ,\i. iSSAplain.. 
with quaggy brooks cleft through. 

2. Of things, esp. of the body or flesh : Soft, 
yielding, flabby. Also of persons in respect of 
their flesh, andy%-. 

?i6.. Time s Storehouse 26 (L.) Heate and travaile are 
yrkesome to the Gaules quaggy bodies. 1611 COTGR., 
Mollasse, quaggie, swagging [etc.]. 1694 MOTTEUX Rabe 
lais iv. ix. (1737) 37 A female called Pear* .said to be 
quaggyand flabby. 1748 RICHARDSON C/arzssa(i8u) VIII. 
158 Behold her, then, spreading the whole troubled bed 
with her huge quaggy carcase. 1806-7 J- BERESFORD 
Miseries Hum. Life (1826) vr. 120 O the quaggy rascal ! . . 
I d have given him a little bone to his fat. 1823-34 
Good s Stud. Med. (ed. 4) II. 680 The cells [of dead bone] 
being filled with a corrupt sanies or spongy caruncles, so 
that the whole assumes a quaggy appearance. 1851 H. 
MF.LVTLLK Whale xxv. 125 A mature man who uses hair-oil 
. .has probably got a quaggy spot on him. 

Comb. 1721 RAMSAY Tar tana. 343 May she turn quaggy fat. 

Hence Qua gglness, quaggy condition. 

1653 GATAKER Vind. Annot. Jer. 85 Considering the un- 
soundnesse and qagginesse of their [Astrologers ] grounds. 

Quajte, obs. pa. t. of QCETCH v. 



QUAGMIRE. 

Quagmire ^kwa.-gm3ijj). [app. f. QDAG si. 
or v. 1 (but evidenced a little earlier) + MIRE. 
Numerous synonyms, with a first element of similar 
form, were in use in the i6th and 171)1 cents., as 
&lt;jua-, quab-, quad-, quake-, qual-, qitave-, qtiaw- 
mire, which will be found in their alphabetical 
places : cf. also bog-, gog- and wag-mire. The 
precise relationship of these to each other is not 
clear : all, or most, may be independent attempts to 
express the same idea (cf. elym. note to QUAKE .)] 

1. A piece of wet and boggy ground, too soft to 
sustain the weight of men or the larger animals; 
a quaking bog; a fen, marsh. 

1579 80 NORTH Plutarch (1676) 530 There was a certain 
quagmire before him, that ran with a swift running stream. 
1610 ROWLANDS Martin Mar k-all 26 They come to bogs 
and quagmyres, much like to them in Ireland. 1665 Srtrr. 
Aff. Nttherl. 120 [Holland is) the greatest Bogg of Europe, 
and Quagmire of Christendom. 1756 C. LUCAS Ess. Waters 
II. 131 The quagmire being pierced .. is found no where 
above two feet deep. 1838 PRKSCOTT Ftrtt. &lt;y Is. (1846) III. 
xiv. 121 The excessive rains. .had converted the whole 
country into a mere quagmire. 1881 OUIDA Klaremma I. 
j[7 To reach the mountain crest without sinking miserably 
in a quagmire. 

Comb. 1611 COTGR., Afollasst ,. . quagmire-like. 

2. trans/. and_/\ a. Anything soft, flabby, or 
yielding. 

1635 QUARLES Einbl. i. xii. (1718) 50 Thy flesh a trembling 
bog, a quagmire full of humours, a 1704 T. UKOWN Praise 
Pwerty Wks. 1750 I. 100 The rich are corpulent, drovvn d 



in foggy quagmires of fat and dropsy. 
Mfit. (ed. 4 



__,_. "1822-34 Goafs 
. 4) IV. 488 The indurated patches seem, in 
some cases, to le fixed upon a quagmire of offensive fluid. 

b. A position or situation from which cxirica- 
tion is difficult. 

1775 SHERIDAN Rivals in. iv, I have followed Cupid s 
Jack-a-lantern, and find myself in a quagmiie at last. 1851 
BRIGHT Sf., Eccl. Titles Bill 12 May, The noble Lord . . is 
in a quagmiie, and he knows it well. 1873 HAMERTON 
In/ell. Life v. ii. (1875) 178 Many a fine intellect has been 
driven into the deep quagmire. 

Hence Quagmire v., in pass, to be sunk or 
stuck in a quagmire ; also Jig. t Qua-gmirist, 
one who makes a quagmire of himself. Qua gniiry 
a., of the nature of a quagmire ; boggy. 

1637 Wisrmiop New Eng. (1825) I. 233 A most hideous 
swamp, so thick with bushes and so quagmiry [etc.]. 1655 
R. YOUNGI-: Agst. Drunkards 4 These drunken drones, these 
gut-mongers, these Quagmirists. 1701 Laconics 120 (L.) 
When a reader has been quagmired in a dull heavy book. 
1846 LANDOH fmaf. Conv, Wks. II. 42 A man is never 
quagmired till he stops. 

t Quagswag, v. Obs. rare - . [f. QUAG and 
SWAG, both used by Cotgr. in rendering F. brim- 
baler,] intr. To shake to and fro. 

i*S3 UUQUIIAUT Rabelais n. xi. 78 Advised her not to put 
her selfe into the hazard of quagbwagging in the Lee. 

Ouahaug, quahog (kwahjj-g, kwp-hpg). U.S. 
Also quau-, quohog. [Narmganset Indian, given 
by Roger Williams as poquatihock: -k or -g is 
the plural ending in Algonquian tongues.] The 
common round clam (Venus mercenarid) of the 
Atlantic coast of North America : = HEN sb. 6. 

[1643 R. WILLIAMS Key Lang. Amer. 107 Poquauhock, 
this the English call Hens, a little thick shel-fish, which the 
Indians wade deepe and dive for.] 1828 in WEBSTER. 1851 
MELVILLE Whale .xiv. 70 They first caught crabs and quo- 
hogs in the sand. 1881 Scribner s Mag. XXII. 656/1 So 
seemingly impregnable a victim [of the star-fish] as the 
quahaug. 1882 Sttouiardtt Sept. 2/1 In every hotel bill of 
fare the clam or quahog . . figures in a variety of shapes. 

Quahte, obs. pa. t. of QUETCH v. Quahis, 
obs. f. WHOSE. Quai, variant of QUAY. 

Quaich, quaigh (kw?x)- &. Forms : a. 7-8 
quech, 7, 9 queich, 8- quegh, 9 quaigh, quaich, 
(quoieh). P. S quaff, queff, coif. [a. Gael. 
citack cup, Olr. ciiach, prob. ad. L. caucus (Gr. 
raD/ra), whence also W. cawg. The /3-forms are 
peculiar, as there is no general tendency in Sc. to 
substitute/ for ch.~\ A kind of shallow drinking- 
cup formerly common in Scotland, usually made 
of small wooden staves hooped together and having 
two ears or handles, but sometimes fitted with 
a silver rim, or even made entirely of that metal. 

. 1673 ^Cf- Bit. Sir y. f oulis (1894) 14 A quech weighting 
IB unce and 10 drop. 1697 Iiiy. in Scott. N. f, Q. (1900) 
Dec. 90/2 Three round queichs without luggs. 1715 
PENNECUIK Descr. Tmeediiale, etc. n. 7 r A great Quech, 
which they were made to Drink out of. 1808 SCOTT Alarm. 
VI * X X quaighs were deep, the liquor strong. 1849 

MRS. CARLYLE Lett. II. 6r Passing a cooper s shop.. I slept 
in and bought two little quaighs. 1884 Q. VICTORIA More 

jrj a *"Vu 42 i A sll !" :r l l uaich out of which Prince Charles 
Edward had drunk. 

attrib. 1703 /.. in Scott, ff. S, Q. (1900) Dec. 90/2 A big 
quech cup with three lugs. 




Quaid, var. QUED a. see also QUAY v. Quaier 
obs. f. QUIKE. Quaife, -ff(e, obs. Sc. ff. COIF. 



f^ ., *- f ^\~* "uo. ui_. ii. \_,uir. 

Quaik, obs. Sc. f. QUAKE v. ; var. Sc. quhaik, 

\\ HAIK. 



12 

Quail (kwf l), sb. Forms: 4 quaille, 4-5 
quaylle, 4-6 quayle, 4-7 quaile, 5 qwayle, 
qwyle, 6 quale, St. qua(i)l5a, (7 -Jie), 6- quail, 
[a. OF. quaille (F. caille) = Prov. calha, It. 
quaglia, OSp. coalla, med.L. qualia, qualea and 
qiiaquila, qitacitla ; the source is prob. Teutonic, 
cf. MDu., MLG. qitackele (Du. kivakkel) and OHG. 
quatala, of imitative origin.] 

1. A migratory bird allied to the partridge 
(family rerdicidtx), found in the Old World and 
Australia; esp. the European species, Coturnix 
communis or daetylisanans, the flesh of which is 
much esteemed for the table. 

The Australian quails are chiefly hemipods (TV/rw/.t), esp. 
the Painted Quail, T. varius, or Henripedins ntelinatus. 
The single New Zealand species (Cotiirni.t Norz-Zelandix) 
is almost extinct. 

13.. E. E. Allil. P. B. 1084, I stod as stylle as dased 
quayle. 4:1386 CHAUCER Clerk s T. 1150 Thou shalt make 
him couche as doth a quaille. 1444 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 
219 Geyn Phebus uprlst syngen wyl the quaylle. 1535 
COVERDALE Exod. xvi. 13 At cueii the quayles came vp. 
Ps. civ. 40 At their desyre, there came quales. 1555 
W. WATREMAN bardie Ffuwns 1. v. 53 Quaiil, and mallard, 
are not but for the richer sorte. 1601 SIR W. CORNWALLIS 
Ess. u. (1631) 284 The fighting game at Quailes was 
Anthonies overthrowe. 1684 OTWAY Atheist i. i, Do you 
dispise your own Manna.. and long after Quails? 1727-46 
THOMSON Summer 1657 While the quail clamours for his 
running mate. 1774 GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. (1776) V. 212 The 
quail is by all known to be a bird of passage. 1846 STOKES 
Disc. Australia II. vii. 259 It is known to the colonists as 
the Painted Quail. 1870 MORRIS Earthly Par, III. IV. 296 
Close within the long grass lies the quail. 

2. dial. a. The corn-crake. (First quot. dub.) 

c 1470 HENRVSON Mor. Fab. vm. (Preach. Su alhw) xxiii, 
The quaille craikand in the come. 1881 Leicest. Gloss., 
Quail, the land-rail or corn-crake. 

b. The small spotted water-hen. 

1766 PENNANT Brit. Zool. (1768) II. 504 In Lincolnshire it 
is known by the name of quail. 

3. One of several American gallinaceous birds 
resembling the European quail, esp. the Virginian 
Quail or colin (Ortyx virginiatius), and the Cali- 
fornian or Crested Quail \Lophortyx californicus], 

1817-8 COBBETT Rcsid. U.S. (1822) 43, Chickens . . as big 
as American Partridges (misnamed quails*. 1840 Penny 
Cycl. XVII. 440 Orty.v I irgittianus, ..the Quail of the 
inhabitants of New England, the Partridge of the Pennsyl- 
vanians. 1861 G. F. BERKELEY Sportsm. W. Prairies xi. 
185 A brace of what the Americans call quail. 

t 4. fig. A courtesan. Obs. (So F. caille coijfle.} 

An allusion to the supposed amorous disposition of the 
bird : see the passages cited by Nares. 

1606 SHAKS. Tr. ff Cr. v. i. 57 Heere s Agamemnon,., one 
that loues Quails. 1694 MOTTEUX Rabelais iv. Prol. 
(1737) 83 Several coated Quails, and lac d Mutton. 

5. attrib. and Comb., as quail-basket, -feeding, 
-fight, -fighter, -fighting, -net, -pit, -potage, etc. ; 
quail-surfeited adj. ; quail-call = QUAIL-PIPE ; 
quail-dove, a dove of the West Indies and Florida 
(Slarnamas cyanocephalus} ; quail-hawk, a New 
Zealand species of falcon ; quail-pigeon, a pigeon 
of the genus Gcophaps; quail-snipe, a South 
American plover of the genus Thinocorys. Also 
QUAIL-PIPE. 

1598 FLORIO, Qiiagliere, . . a *quaile basket. 1822 D. 
BOOTH Analyt. Diet. i. 99 A Quailpipe or Quailcall. 1884 
E^ncycl. Brit. XX. 147/1 In old days they were taken in 
England in a net, attracted thereto by_ means of a Quail call. 
1820 T. MITCHELL Aristoph. I. p. Ixiii, When a mania took 
place in Athens . . for *cjuail-feeding or philosophy. 1581 
Mi LCAsTER Positions \\\\\, (1887) 78 Coknghts and *quaile- 
fightes. 1836-48 B. D. WALSH Aristoph., Ac/iarnians I. 
iv. note, The Athenians., were great cock-fighters and quail- 
fighters. 1776 GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. (1790) V. 214 *Quailfight- 
ing was a favourite amusement among the Athenians. 1873 
BULLER Birds N. Zeal. (1888) I. ?if The *Quail-Hawk 
exhibits great perseverance in pursuit of its prey. 1598 
FLORIO, Qaafliera, a *quaile-net. 1879 MRS. A. E. JAMKS 
Ind.Housch. Managem. 56 Quails, .kept in your own quail- 
pit and well fed. 1725 BRADLEY Fain. Diet. s.v. Quail, You 
may also have a *Quail-Potage in the Form of an Oil. 
1649 G. DANIEL Trinarch.,Hen. y, cxxv, And hang a Nose 
to Leekes, *Quaile-Surfetted. 

Quail (kw^ l), v.l Forms: 5-6 quayll, 5-7 
quayle, (5 whayle), quaile, 6-7 quale, 7 quaille, 
6- quail. See also QUEAL. [Of uncertain origin. 
The early spelling and rimes prove a ME. quailcn 
(with diphthongal ai), for which there is no obvious 
source. Phonology, sense, and date are against 
any connexion with early ME. qtwlen QUELE. 

Ill literary use the word is very common from about 1520 
to 1650, after w_hich it practically disappears until its revival, 
app. by Scott, in the early part of the igth c.] 

I. intr. 

1. Of material things, us persons, plants, etc. : 
To decline from a natural or flourishing condition ; 
to fail or give way ; to fade, wither, etc. Obs. 
exc. dial. 

c 1440 CAI-GRAVE Life St. Kath. iv. 1775 Ewery thyng.. 
that makelh resistens Ageyn nature, ful soone wil it quayle. 
^1460 G. loam Dicta Pliilos. 1071 Better were a thing 



QUAIL. 

should quaile, Before his word one iote shyuld faile. a 1796 
PEGGE Derbiclsms (E. D. S.\Quaif t togrow ill. 1825 BROCKEI T 
N. C. Gloss., Quail, to fail, to fall sick, to faint. 1879 Miss 




must quaile. 1602 J. RHODES AIIS-M. Rom. Rhyme, Nf. ~ 
taiic/i. Heretics, Christ s word . . that licauen and earth 



. . 

ACKSON Skn^s/i. Word-fak., Qnail t to languish ; to fail ; to 
fall sick. 1880 IV. Contiv. Gloss, s. v., Quail^ to wither ; 
. . These flowers soon quail . 

2. Of immaterial things. 

a. Of an action, undertaking, state of things, 
etc. : To fail, break down, come to nothing. Obs. 
In mod. use (transf. from 3) : To give way, yield 
to or before. 

c 1440 CAPGRAVE Life Sf. Kath. iv. 1019 Whan moost 
nede is, his resons will quayll [~ .r. whayle]. 1523 Si. 
Papers Hen. VtII&gt; VI. 197 Thei fynally concludyd . . ther 
shold lack 2 or 3 voyces, wherby the election shold quayle. 
1570 B. GOOGE Pop. Kingd. ir. 23 b, They toyle and moyle 
least that his state by talke of tongue should quaile. 
1600 HOLLAND Livy v. xxi. 194 After great massaker and 
execution committed, the fight began to quaile. 1611 SPEED 
Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. ix. 23. 585 The Kings Ambassadours 
relume out of France, without hauing effected that which 
they went about, so that the whole enterprize quailed. 

1810 SCOTT Lady of L. u. xxv, Roderick Dhu s renown.. 
[should] quail to that of Malcolm Grasme. 1857 MAURICE 
Mor. fy Met. Philos. III. iv. g. 117 The name of William 
himself quailed before that of Abelard. 

b. Of courage, f hope, f faith, etc. : To fail, 
give way, become faint or feeble. 

1557 POLE in Strype Ecct. Mem. ^1721) III. App. Ixviii. 
246 The fay the of the sacraments began to quayle in 
so many hartes. a 1577 GASCOIGNE Flowers Wks. 1869 I. 
43 Since courage quayles, and commes behind, Go sleepe. 
1606 IJRYSKETT Civ. Life 89 If. .the hope began to quaile, 
forthwith courage failed withall. 1642 ROGERS Naaman 
408, I perceiue your zeale quales shrewdly in this Laodicean 
a S e - J 835 THIRLWALL Greece I. vi. 212 Perils, which make 
the courage of the hardiest quail. 

3. Of persons : To lose heart, be cowed or dis 
couraged ; to give way through fear (to or before 
a formidable person or thing). 

1555 in Strype Eccl. Mem. (1721) III. App. .\liii. 122 
He made them this faithful promise to the intent that they 
should not quaile. 1577-87 HOLINSHED Chron. III. 1212/1 
The comming forward uf these forces caused the rebels, .to 
quaile in courage. 1604 T. WRIGHT Passions i. vi. 23 
Braggers.. vaunt much at the beginning, but quaile com 
monly in the middle of the fray. 1618 BOLTON f fonts (1636) 
222 All the Lords quailing, and Appuleius tyrannizing. 1813 
BYRON Giaour xxxv, I have not quail d to danger s brow. 
1874 GKEEN Short Hist. iii. | 5. 137 The Earl of Chester.. 
who had risen in armed rebellion, quailed before the march 
of Hubert. 

b. Of the heart or spirit ; also of the eyes. 

563 Homilies \\. Repentance i. (1859) 531 Mens hearts do 
quail and faint, if they once perceive that they travail in 
vaine. 1600 HOLLAND Livy xx.xvi. ix. 924 Seeing many of 
the defendants, .hurt and wounded, their hearts began to 
quaile. 1611 SHAKS. Cymb. v. v. 149 Thy daughter For 
whom my htart drops blood, and my false spirits Quaile to 
remember. 1837 W. IRVING Capt. Bonnes-Hie II. 225 [They] 
felt their hearts quailing under their multiplied hardships. 
1841 BORROW Zincali I. i. i. 26 Their sharp eyes quailed 
quickly before his savage glances. 1892 J. TAIT Mind in 
Matter ^ed. 3) 249 In Gethbemane, the brave spirit of Jtsus 
quailed. 
II. trans. 

t 4. To affect injuriously, to spoil, impair; to 
overpower, destroy, put an end to. Obs. a, a thing. 

1551 GARDINER Explic. Cath. Faith, Of the Presence 60 
The truthe of that place hindreth and qualeth in maner all 
the booke. 1604 T. WRIGHT Clintact. Years u Nature in 
the meane time is strengthened with good foods, and the 
humour either purged or quailed with phisicke. 1655 
H. VAUGHAN Sile.x Scint. u. Time s Book iv, As some meek 
night-piece which day quails To candle light unveils. 1669 
BOYLE Cont. New Exp. n. (1682) 66 The Apricocks were 
flaccid or quailed as if they had been dry or withered. 

absol. 1590 SHAKS. Mtds. N. D. v. i. 292 O Fates ! .. Cut 
thred and thrum, Quaile, crush, conclude, and quell. 
b. an action, state, quality, feeling, etc. 

1532 MORE Confnt. Barnes vni. Wks. 805/2 If he belieue 
saynt Austine. .than is his own fond ymaginacion quayled. 
1551 R. ROBINSON tr. Morels Utop. Ep. Cecil 11895) 20 Mine 
old good wil and hartye affection towardes you is not.. at 
all quayled and diminished. 1577 HANMEK Atii. Eccl. 
I/isf. (1619) 75 Quailing the chearefulnesse of uthers. 1628 
VENNER Baths of Bathe (1650) 350 The taking of cold 
drink doth suddenly quaile the heat. 1654^ tr. Martinis 
Cong. C/titui 5 Their antient . .warlike Spirit, which the 
pleasures., of that Country had quailed and tamed. 

5. To daunt or cow (a person), to bring into 
subjection by fear ; to cause to quail. 

1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W, 1531) 126 b, Some power of 
the soule .shall quayle & trouble them. 1569 GOLUING 
Jicininges Post. 22 Paul was not quayled with the huge- 
nesse of persecutions. 1642 BRIDGE Serin. Norfolk Volun 
teers p He is a stout man whom adversity doth not quaile. 
1719 D UKFEY Pills (1872) III. 23 You Roaring Boys, who 
everyone quails. 1816 ^J. WILSON City of Plague in. i. 49 
As thunder quails Th inferior creatures of the air and 
earth. 1833 M. SCOTT Tom Cringle ii. (1859) 55 Splinter did 
not like it, I saw, and that quailed me. 

b. To daunt, depress (the heart, courage) with 
fear or dejection. 

1567 TUBBERV. Ray ting Route 26 My courage is not 
quailde by cruell Fo. 1600 HOLLAND Livy xcv. 1253 
Uuerthrowes in warre and misfortunes, .at sea, wherewith 
his heart was quailed. 1663 BUTLER Hnd. i. iii. 204 Am 
not I hereto take thy part? Then what has quail d thy 
stubborn heart? 1706 in PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey*. 1844 Dis- 
RA&uC&ttHgsiy v. ii, It. .quailed (he heart of Taper, crushed 
all the rising hopes. 

Hence Quai ler, one who, or that which, quails. 

1599 SANDYS Eurofig S$ec, (1632) 193 Avarice, .the quailer 
of all manly executions. 



QUAIL. 



Quail, v. 2 - 06s. exc. dial. Forms: 5-6 quayle, 
7 quaile. [a. OF. qttaillcr (F. iailler It. qna- 
) Pg. coalhar y Sp. cuajar] : JL. coaguldre to 



) . 

COAGULATE.] 

1. intr. To curdle, coagulate. 

t 1430 Tu Cookery-bks. 27 Caste on whyte Wyne or 
Venegre, & make it quayle. c 1440 Proiup* Parv, 418/2 
Quaylyn, as mylke, and other lycowre, coagulo. 1530 
PAI.SGR. 676/2, I quayle, as mylke dothe, je tjunillcbotic. 
1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. 323 It is no better than poison, 
especially the first beestings, if it quaile and cruddle in the 
stomacke. 1706 in PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey). 1881 Ldcest. 
Gloss., Quail, to turn or curdle; go flat or suur. 
b. To be quailed, to be curdled. 

1530 PALSGR. 676/2 This mylke is quayled. 1809 BATCHELOR 
Ortlioep. Anal. 140 The cream is said to he quailed, when 
the butter begins to appear in the process of churning. 

2. trans. To cause to curdle. rare~~ l . 

1398 TRLVISA Earth. De P. R. iv. Iv. (1405) 83 The more 
boystous . . partyes of the grayne the erth takyth .. and 
quaylyth theym by heete. 

Hence Quailed///, a., curdled. Obs. 

..\i8/i Quaylyd,asmylke f ando(?erlyke, 




.. 
stomack. 

QuaHery. [f. QUAIL sb. + -ERY.] A place 
where quails are kept, esp. to be fattened for food. 

1894 Blackw. Mag, Sept. 387/2 The native caught the 
birds alive for the quaileries of Anglo-Indians, 

Quailing (kw^-lirj), vbl. sb [f. QUAIL z.l 
-f -iNa 1 .] The action of giving way, failing, 
losing heart, etc. 

1549 COVERDALE, etc. Erasnt. Par. Tint. Ded. i Seyng 
Paule was so afrayed of their quayling, whome he had in 
structed. 1596 SHAKS. r Hen. IV, iv. i. 39 There is no 
quailing now, Because the King is certainely possest Of all 
our purposes. 1627 G. HAKEWILL Power fy Pr&lt;n&lt;. God \\.\. 
r. 65 The quailing and withering of all things by the recesse 
of the Sunne. 1642 ROGERS Naaman 557 So farre from 
(mailing of judgement, a 1700 13, E. Diet. Cant. Crew 
Quailing of the Stomack, beginning to be qualmish or un 
easy. 1848 C. BRONTE y. Eyre (1857) 245, I bore with her 
feeble minded quailings. 

tQuai ling, vbL sb2 Obs. [f. QUAIL v*] 

Curdling, coagulation. 

c 1440 Promp, Parv. 418/2 Quaylynge, of lycoure, coagu- 
facia. 1600 SuRFLBT Count rie Far me \\. xlix. 310 To stay 
the quailing of the milkc in their stomacks. 

Quailing (kw^-lhj), ///. a. [f. QUAIL v.i + 
-ING 2.] Diminishing, becoming weak ; losing 
hope or courage, etc. 

1565 GOLDISG Ovid s Met. ix. (1593) 215 To quicken up 
the quailing love. 1586 WARNER Alb. Eng. iv. xxi[i]. 
(1612) 103 Did quicken England* quailing plowes. 1880 
G. MEREDITH Trag.Com, (1881) 158 Her father s unwonted 
harshness suggested the question to her quailing nature. 
1894 SIR E. SULLIVAN Woman 34 Shrinking, quailing, 
agonised victims. 

Quail-pipe, [f. QUAIL sb. + PIPE.] 

1. A pipe or whistle on which the note of the 
quail (usually the female) can be imitated, in 
order to lure the birds into a net ; a quail-call. 
Also used allusively, oryf^. 

For a full description of the calls used to imitate the notes 
of the cock and hen, see Encycl. Brit. (1797) XV. 733/2. 

?&lt;r 1400 LYDG. Chorle $ Byrtte (Roxb.) 9 The quayle pype 
can most falsely calle Tyl the quayle under the nette doth 
crepe, c 1400 Rom. Rose 7261 High shoos knopped with 



tne Quail-pipe. 1821 SCOTT Kenilw. vij, Master Varney, 
you can sound the quailpipe most daintily to wile wantons 
into his nets. 1884 St. James s Gaz. 28 Apr. 6/2 In France 
they are commonly captured on the ground ; a quail-pipe 
. .being employed. 

attrib. 1602 MIDDLETON Blurt i Master-Constable n. i. 17 
A gallant that hides his small- tun be red legs with a quail- 
pipe boot. 1603 DEKKER Wonderfitll Yeare Fiijb, He.. 
cryed out in that quaile-pipe voice. 

t 2. transf. The throat or vocal organs. Obs. 

1693 DRYDEN Juvenal vi. (1697) 120 The Rich to Buy him, 
will refuse no Price ; And stretch his Quail-pipe till they 
crack his Voice, a 1700 U. E. Diet. Cant. Crew, Quail-pipe^ 
a Woman s Tongue. 1748 RICHARDSON Clarissa (1811) VI. 
383 Squeaking inwardly, .from contracted quail-pipes. 

Hence Quai lpipin? vbl. sb. 

1661 R. L ESTRANGE State Divinity 14 To give over., 
their Quailpiping in a Pulpit to catch silly women. 

Quaime, obs. form of QUALM sb. 

t Quain, v. Obs. rare. [a. ON. koeina = OE. 

cwaniait, Goth, qainon \ an ablaut-var. appears in 
MDu. and MLG. quinen (Du. kwijnett) to com 
plain, be ill (cf. MHO. wtjitfnetiy OE. fawlnan to 
waste away).] intr. (also re/I.) and trans. To 
lament, bewail, bemoan. Hence Quaining vbl. sf&gt;. 

n 1300 Cursor J/. 10488 Sco quainid eft on J?is nianer, Oft 
sco said, alias ! alias ! Ibid. 10495 To quils sco qualnid 
bus hir care. Hid. 12495 Quen iesus herd bis quaining gret. 
Ibid. 21886 parof himquaines iesii crist. [A possible instance 
of attain sb. (cf. ON. foe in) occurs in line 11577.] 

Quain, obs. variant of QroiN sb, 

t Quaint, sb. Obs. rare. Also 4 queynt(e. 
[? f. the adj.] (See quot. 1598.) 

c 1320 Sir Tristr, 2254 Hir queynt abouen hir kne Naked 
be knijtcs knewe. (.-1386 CHAUCER Miller s T. 90 Pryvely 



13 

he caught hir by the queynte. 1598 FLORIO, Bccchina, 
a womans quaint or priuities. 

Quaint (kw&lt;? nt), a. (adv.) Forms : a. 3-4 
cointe, (3 kointe, 4 coint(t, coynte, koynt(e), 
quoynte, (3 cwointe, 4 quointe, quoynt), 4-5 
coynt, quynte, (4 quinte, 6 quyent). 0. 3-6 
queyute, (4 qweyut(e), 4-6 queynt, queinte, 
4-8 queint, 6 quent, qwent ; 4-5 quaynt, (4 
qwayut, qwaint), quante, (5 qwantte), 4-6 
quaynte, (5 qwaynte), quainte, 4- quaint. 7. 
4-5 wayut, 5 wheynte, quhaynte, whaynt(e ; 
dial. 7 wheint, 8-9 whaint, whent, y wheaut. 
[a. OF. cointe (quointe, cuinte, etc.), queinte : L. 
etenitum known, pa. pple. oicognosclre to ascertain. 
The development of the main senses took place iu 
OF., and is not free from obscurity (cf., however, 
COUTH and KNOWN). 

In its older senses the Eng. word seems to have been in 
I ordinary use down to the i7thc., though in many i6-i7th 
! c. examples the exact meaning is difficult to determine. 
After 1700 _it occurs more sparingly (chiefly in sense6\until 
its revival in sense 8, which is very frequent after 1800.] 
A. adj. 

I. 1 1. Of persons : Wise, knowing ; skilled, 
clever, ingenious. In later use chiefly with ref. to 
the employment of fine language (cf. sense 6). Obs. 
rt 1250 Leg. Katli. 580 (Cott. MS.) Ht-i ! hwuch wis read 
Of se cointe [f.f. icudd] keiser. t 1290 .V. Eng. Leg. I. 
381/165 pe beste Carpenter And be quoynteste bat ich euere 
l-knev. (i 1325 /Vtwtf rsitlter cxviii. o3 Thou madest me 
quainte [L. pruiteiitcin] vp myn enemis to bi comaunde- 
ment. L 1400 Dcstr. Troy 1531 Wise wrightis to wale., 
qwaint men of wit. 1501 DOUGLAS Pal. Hon. r. Ixv, }it clerkis 
bene in subtell wordis (Client, And in the deid als schairp as 
ony snaillis. 1593 SHAKS. 2 Hen. VI, HI. ii. 274 To shew 
how queint an Orator you are. 1596 Taut. Shr, in. 
ii. 149 Wee li ouerreach. .The quaint Musician, a 1628 
PRESTON .Wry Coz t. (1634) 273 If you would preach as other 
men do, and be curious and quaint of Oratory. i697DRVDEN 
sncid\\. 698 Talk on ye quaint Haranguers of the Crowd. 
1728 MORGAN Algiers I. vi. 176 The Arabs in general are 
quaint, bold, hospitable, and generous, excessive Lovers of 
Eloquence and Poesy. 

t b. In bad sense : Cunning, crafty, given to 
scheming or plotting. Obs. 

a 1225 Ancr. R. 328 feos kointe harloz bet scheaweS for8 
here gutefestre. c 1340 Cursor M. 739 (Fairf.) pe nedder 
bat ys so quaynt of gyle, c 1394 / . PI. Cmie 482 Dere 
brober quab Peres be develi is ful queynte . 1402 
HOCCLEVE Letter ofCiipid 152 Sly, queynt, and fals in al 
vnthrift coupable. 1513 DOUGLAS sEncis n. i. 59 Knaw 3e 
nocht bettir the quent Vlexes slycht ? 1674-91 RAY N.-C. 
Words (E.D.S.), A wheint lad , q. queint ; a fine lad : 
ironicc dictum. Also, cunning, subtle. i68opTWAY Orphan 
in. iv. 864 The quaint smooth Rogue, that sins against his 
Reason. 

t 2. Of actions, schemes, devices, etc. : Marked 
by ingenuity, cleverness, or cunning. Obs. 

(ZI225 Ancr. R. 204 Ure Louerd.-brouhte so to grunde 
his kointe kuluertschipe. c lypArtli. fy Merl. 4447(K01bing) 
Morgein..bat wi); hir queint gin Bigiled J&gt;e gode clerk- 
Merlin. 1387 TREVISA HigJen (Rolls) IV. 429 losephus .. 
fonde up a queynte craft, and heng wete clobes uppon be 
toun walles. c 1460 Towneley Myst. xiii. 593 This was a 
qwantte gawde, and a far cast, It was a hee frawde. 1522 
World ff Child in Hazl. Dodsley I. 245, I can many a 
quaint game. 1598 ROWLANDS Betray. Christ 10 When 
traitor meets, these quaint deceits he had. 1641 BROME 
Jovial Crew n. Wks. 1873 III. 378, I. .over-heard you in 
your queint designe, to new create your selves. 

1 3. Of things : Ingeniously or cunningly designed 
or contrived; made with skill or art ; elaborate. Obs. 
cizgo S, Eng. Leg. I. 88/62 He liet heom makien a 
quoynte schip. 1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 1555 Hii ?eue him 
an quointe [v.r. koynte] drench, mid childe vor to be. c 1384 
CHAUCER H. Fame in. 835 And evermo.. This queynte hous 
aboute wente, That never-mo hit stille stente. a 1400-50 
Alexander 4275 Have we no cures of courte ne na cointe 
sewes. 1627 DRAYTON Xyntphidia. Ixix, He told the 
arming of each joint, In every piece how neat and quaint. 
1631 SHIRLEY Traitor iv. ii, Who knows But he may marry 
her, and discharge his Duchess With a quaint salad? 

f4. Of things: Skilfully made, so as to have a 
good appearance ; hence, beautiful, pretty, fine, 
dainty. Obs. 

13. . E. E.Allit. P. B. 1382 With koynt carneles aboue, 
coruen ful dene. 13 .. Caw. fi Cr. Knt. 877 Whyssynes vpon 
queldepoyntes, bat koynt wer bobe. ? a 1366 CHAUCER 
Kom. Kase 98 A sylvre nedle forth I droughe, Out of an 
aguler queynt ynoug_he. c 1400 Destr. Troy 777 An ymage 
full nobill-.bat qwaint was & qwem, all of white siluer. 
1596 SPENSER F. Q. iv. x. 22 Nor hart could wish for any 
queint device, But there it present was, and did fraile sense 
entice. 1671 MILTON Samson 1303 In his hand A Scepter 
or quaint staff he bears. 

t b. Of dress : Fine, fashionable, elegant. Obs. 
la 1366 CHAUCER Rom. Rose 65 The ground .. maketh so 
queynt his robe and fayr That it hath hewes an hundred 
payr. 1380 Lay Folks Catech. (Lamb. MS.) 1221 Ne wor- 
schipe not men for here fayre clobes, ne for here qweynte 
schappis bat sum men usen. 1501 DOUGLAS Pal. Hon. \. 
xlvi, In vestures quent of mpny sindrie gyse. 1592 GREENE 
Iff st. Courtier in Hart. Misc. (Malh.)II. 223 Costly attirt-, 
curious and quaint apparell is the spur that prickes them 
forward. 1627 FLETCHER Locusts I. xiii, All lovely drest 
In beauties livery, and quaint devise. 
1 5. Of persons : Beautiful or handsome in ap 
pearance; finely or fashionably dressed; elegant, 
foppish. 06s. 

^1300 Cursor J/. 28015 Yee leuedis. ..studis. .hu to mak 
yow senile and quaint. 111310 in Wright Lyric 1\ -6 



q 
Q 



QUAINT. 

Coynte asc columbine, such hire cunde ys. 1362 LANGL. 
P. PI. A. II. 14 A wommon wonderliche clothed. Ther 
nis no qweene qweyntore. a 1450 Kn!. de la. Tour(iZ6S) 40 
Folke shulde not have thaire herte on the worlde, nor 
make hem queint, to plese it. 1590 GREENE Nfcer Too 
LateWs. 1882 VIII. 82 He made himselfe as neate and 

uaint as might be. 1598 SHAKS. Merry W. iv. vi. 41 

uaint in greene, she shall be loose en-roab d. 1610 
Teif. I. ii. 317 Fine apparision : my queint Ariel, Hiarke 
in thine eare. 1784 CowrEB Task II. 461 A body so fantastic, 
trim, And queint in its deportment and attire. 

f 6. Of speech, language, modes of expression, 
etc. : Carefully or ingeniously elaborated ; highly 
elegant or refined ; clever, smart ; full of fancies 
or conceits; affected. Obs. (now merged in 8). 

13.. Guy H anv. (A.) 346 To hir he spac .. Wib a wel 
queynt steuen. 1-1386 CHAUCER Can. Ycom.Prol. t T. 199 
We semen wonder wise, Oure termes been so cleigial and so 
queynte. 1513 DOUGLAS ^Encis I. Prol. 255 The quent and 
curious caslis poeticall. 1:1570 Pride ft Lou l. (1041) 807 
Plcasaunt songes . . To queynt and hard for me to under 
stand. 1655 E. TKRKY Voy. E. Ind. XII. 232 The Persian 
there is spoken as their more quaint and Court-tongue. 
1676 MARVELL Mr. Smirkc K iv, A good life is a Clergy 
man s best Syllogism, and the quaintest Oratory. 1712 
STEELE Spcct. No. 450 r i A new Thought or Conceit 
dressed up in smooth quaint Language. 1783 BUKKE Rep. 
Aff. India Wks. 1842 II. 76 A style,, .full of quaint terms 
and idiomatick phrases, which strongly bespeak English 
habits in the way cf thinking. 

t 7. Strange, unusual, unfamiliar, odd, curious 
(in character or appearance). Ol s. (now merged 
in 8). 

13.. Cow de L. 216 Thou schalt se a queynte brayd. 
(-1369 CHAUCER Dtthc Blaunche 1330 This is so queynt 
a sweuyn. 1400 Dcstr. Troy TJ 15 There come with this 
kyng a coynt mon of shappe. c 1440 Igotnydon 1637 Right 
vnseznely on queynte manere He hym dight. 1513 DOUGLAS 
sEneis m. Prol. 12 Now moist I write.. Wyld auentouris, 
monstreis and qwent afTr.iyis. 1579 Si ENsliR Slu pk. Cat. 



. . 

Oct. 114 With queint Bellonain her equipage. l62gMiLTON 
Nativity 194 A drear, and dying sound Affrights the 
Flamins at their service quaint. 1714 POPE Wife t f Batk 
259 How quaint an appetite in woman reigns ! Free gifts 
we scorn, and love what costs us pains. 1808 SCOTT Mitrm. 
in. xx, Came forth a quaint and fearful sight. 

8. Unusual or uncommon in character or nppear- 
ance, but at the same time having some attractive 
or agreeable feature, esp., having an old-fashioned 
prettiness or daintiness. 

795 SOUTHEY Joan of Arc vm. 234 He for the wintry 
hour Knew many a merry ballad and quaint tale. 1808 
SCOTT Mann. n. iii, For this, with carving rare and quaint, 
She decked the chapel of the saint. 1824 W. IRVING T. 
Trav. I. 91 The streaks of light and shadow thrown among 
the quaint articles of furniture. 1862 STANLEY JtU 1 . C/i. 
(1877) I. x. 202 The device is full of a quaint humour which 
marks its antiquity. 1884 J. T. BENT in Macm. Mag. Oct. 
434/ 2 Ihe herdsmen were much quainter and more enter 
taining than our city-born muleteers. 

II. t 9- Proud, haughty. Obs. rare. 

a 1225 Ancr. R. 140 pet fleshs is her et home . . ant for bui 
hit is cwointe & cwiuer. 1340 Ayenb. 89 po bet make[&gt; 
ham zuo quaynte of be ilke poure noblesse ^et hi habbeb of 
hare moder pe erjre. ^1430 Pilgr. Lvf Manlwde n. cvii. 
115, I hatte orgoill, the queynte [F. la Maiicicr,}, the feerce 
hornede beste. [1610 G. FLETCHER Christ s Viet. n. liv, 
Queint Pride Hath taught her sonnes to wound their 
mother s side.] 

flO. Dainty, fastidious, nice; prim. Obs. 

1483 CAXTON Gold. Leg. 128 b/i She chaslyssed them that 
were nyce and queynte. 1579 G. HARSEY Lettcr-bk. 
(Camden) 73 The rest in a manner ar . . overstate for so 
queynte and queasye a worlde. 1590 SPENSER / . Q. in. vii. 
10 She nothing quaint Nor sdeignfull of so homely fashion. 
1640 BROME Sparagus Card. in. vii. Wks. 1873 III. 167 
Your new infusion of pure blood, by your queint feeding on 
delicate meates and drinks. 1678 R. L ESTRANGE Seneca s 
Mor. To Rdr., Fabius. .taxes him. .for being too Queint 
and Finical in his Expressions. 

1 11. To make it quaint, to act quaintly, in 
various senses, esp. to behave proudly, disdainfully, 
or deceitfully. Obs. 

c 1369 CHAUCER Del he Blaunche 531 Lo ! how goodly spak 
this knight . . He made hyt nouther tough ne queynte. 
1390 GOWER Conf.v. 4623 (II. 282) O traiteresse..Thou hast 
gret peine wel deserved, That thou canst maken it so queinte. 
(1400 Kant. Rose 2038, L.kneled doun with hondis loynt, 
And made it in my port ful queynt. i: 1422 HOCCLEVE 
Jonathas 642 He thognte not to make it qweynte and tow. 
6*1430 Pilgr. Lyf Man/iode n. cvi. (1869) 115 With alle 
myne joyntes stiryinge and with alle my sinewes j make it 
queynte [V.je inarche sijiercment.] 

fB. adv. Skilfully, cunningly. Obs. rare. 

c 1340 Cursor M. 5511 (Fairf.) }ou be-houys to wirke ful 
quaynte and in baire dedis ham attaynt. c 1384 CHAUCER 
//. Fame i. 245 What shulde I speke more queynte, Or 
peyne me my wordes peynte ? 1552 LYNOKSAY Monarche 
180 Fresche flora spred furth hir tapestrie, Wrocht be dame 
Nature quent and curiouslie, 

C. Comb., as quaint-eyed, -felt, -shaped, -stom 
ached, -willy, -worded adjs. 

1575 G. HARVEV Letlcr-tk. (Camden) 91 Thou arte so 
queyntefelt In thy rondelett. 1598 MARSTON Py^inal. i. 
140 Like no quaint stomack t man [he] Eates vp his armes. 
1603 FLORIO tfattaifiu I. xxxvi. (1632)115 A quaint-wittie, 
and loftie conceit. 1744 AKENSIDE Pleas, hnag. in. 250 
Where er the pow r of lidicule displays Her quaint-ey d 
visage. 1853 JAMES Agnes Sorrel (1860) I. 2 This tall 
quaint-shaped window. 1863 GKOSARTo^wd//5ri(ed. 2) 17 
Their quaint-worded dispositions and distinctions. 

Quaint, v.l 06s. exc. dial. Also 4 coynt, 4-6 
quaynt. [See ACQUAINT v., and cf. OF. cointitr 
in Godef.] =To acquaint, in various uses. 



QUAINT. 

&lt;i 1300 Cursor M. 5707 (Gott.) Quenbai war quaintid. .pis 
moyses and sir Raguell [etc.]. 1330 [see ACQUAINT v. 3]. 
c 1350 Will. Palcrnc 4644 He ce-ynted him queyntli with po 
tvo ladies. ai4*x&gt;-y*Al?.\-iimter2i3 Now sal! }e here How 
he . . quayntid him with ladis. 1509 BAPCLAY Shyp of 
Folys (1570) 81 Spede your pace, To quaynt your selfe and 
company with grace. 1591 NASHE Progno&t. i To quaint 
my selfe with the art of Nauigation. 1606 WARNER Alb. 
Eng. xv. xciv. (1612) 378 God quaints not with Baal. 1886 
ELWORTHY W. Somerset Worii-bk., Quaint, to acquaint, 
inform. 

Hence t Q,uai nted///. o. 1 , familiar. Obs. 

1586 W. WEBBE Eng. Pot trie (Arb.) 75 Heere by the 
quainted rloodes and springs most holie remaining. 

t Quaint, v.* Obs. Also 5 coynt(e. [In 
sense I, a. OF. coinlier, cointer, f. cointe quaint ; 
in sense 2, f. QUAINT a. 10.] 

1. trans. To adorn, to make fine or beautiful. 
1483 CAXTON C. de la. Tour (1868) 167 Thus loste. .theldest 

dougnter her maryage bycause she coynted her self. Ibid. 
168 He thennehadde. . coynted hym self of a scarlatte gowne, 

2. To quaint it, to assume a prim air. 

1585 Fairs Em. in. 1281 Let Mistress nice go saint it 
where she list, And coyly quaint it with dissembling face. 

Hence f Quai nted///. a.- (in ; coynted). 

c 1500 fiftlusittt 315 In an euyl heure sawe I euer thy 
coynted body, thy facion, & thy fayre fygure. 

t Quai utance. Obs. In 4 quoynt-, 4-6 

queynt-, (5 qw-), 6 quaynta(u)noe ; 5-7 Sc. 
quentance, (5 quyntans). [Cf. QUAINT f. 1 ] 
= ACQUAINTANCE, q.v. 

c 1300 [see ACQUAINTANCE 2]. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxx. 
(Theodera) 85 He come to )&gt;is theodera & mad his quyntans 
..with hyr. c 1489 CAXTON Blanchardyn xx. 67 Sore 
harde was his queyntaunce to her. a 1533 LD. EERNERS 
Huon xxx. 92 One toke queyntance of an other. 1567 
Satir. Poems Reform, viii. 28 For all bi quentance with be 
quene. 1603 [see ACQUAINTANCE 2], 

i Quaiiltise, . Obs. Forms: a. 4 koint-, 
quointise, quoyntis(e, quint-, quynt-, qwynt- 
is(e, 4-5 coyntise, koyntis. ft. 4 qwayntyse, 
qwaintis, 4-5 quayntyse, quantyse, qwantis(e; 
queintise, queyntyse, qweyntise, 4-6 quentise 
( + variations of suffix, as -ice, -ese, -yze, etc.). 
[a. OF. cointise, cuint-, quentise, etc., f. cointe, 
queinte: see QUAINT a. and -ISE-.] 

1. Wisdom, cleverness, skill, ingenuity. 

1297 R. GI.OUC. (Rolls) 1872 He ladde is kinedom Rijtuol- 
liche & suibe wel wi(&gt; quoyntise & wisdom, c 1330 Spec. 
Gy Waru&gt;. 303 J&gt;ere is euere ioye inouh . . Wit and Running 
aiid kointise. a 1340 HAMPOLE Psalter, Cant. 519 Genge 
withouten counsayl it is and withouten quayntis. c 1425 
Seven Sag. (P.) 378 Fondys..For to holde my lyf a day 
With qweyntys of clergye. 

b. Cunning, craft, underhand dealing. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 740 (Gott.) pe nedder bat es of suilk a 
schaft, Mast of quantise es in [v.r. and ofj craft. 1390 GOWER 
Conf. I. 72 This ypocrite of his queintise Awaiteth evere til 
she slepte. c 1450 St. Cuthtert (Surtees) 1847 pe deuel with 
his quayntys Will be aboute ;ow to suppryse. 1480 CAXTON 
Ckrott. Eng. Mil 37 Vortiger . . thought priuely in his herte 
ihurgh queyntyse to bee kyng. 

2. An instance of cleverness, cunning, or craft; 
a device, stratagem, trick. 

1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 445 Brut & Corineus an quointise 
hpm bi-bou3te. c 1320 Seuyn Sag. (W.) 2769 Thai ne might 
hit no lenger defende, But ase thai dede a fair queintise. 
c 1440 Ifomyaon 359 She hyr bythought on a queyntyse, . . 
To wete, where of he were come. 1483 CAXTON G. de la 
7V)&gt;-Dviij,Suchecoyntyses..were to compare to the Cop. 
spin that made his nette to take the flyes. 

3. Cunning or skilful construction, rare. 

&lt;ri33&lt;&gt; Arth. ff Merl. 3566 (Kolbin?) pere bo men mi;t 
yhere be queintise of be spere, Of be sonne, of mone & 
ster. 

4. Fine or curious dress; fineness, elegance, or 
fancifulness in dress. 

13.. K. Alis.-iTs Ladies, and damoselis, Maken heom 
redy. . In faire atire, in divers coyntise. 13. . E. E. Allit.P. 
B - 54 Pay . . schulde . . in comly quoyntis to com to his feste. 
c 1400 Rom. Rose 2250 He that loveth trewely Shulde. .him 
disgysen in queyntyse. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 146 
The queintise, the plesaunt folyes, and the foule delytis 
that baue be used for. .worldely plesaunce. [1570 LEVINS 
Mamp. 148/10 A Quentise, modus, mos insolitus.] 

5. A device, cognizance, badge, armorial bearing ; 
a coat of arms, or any cloth bearing a heraldic 
device. Cf. COINTISE. 

13.. Coer de L. 5657 A queyntyse off the kynges owen, 
Ujjon hys hors was i-thro\ven. 1330 Arth. ff Merl. 8671 
iKolbing) pai [the helmets] hadde aboue riche queintise Of 
beten gold. 1375 BARBOUR Bruce xnt. 183 Armoris and 
quyntis that thai bare. 

t Quaiiltise, v. Ol&gt;s. Forms : 4 queintise, 
5 queyntise, coyntise. [? f. prec., or a. OF. 
cointiss-, lengthened stem of cointii-] trans. To 
beautify, adorn, dress finely. 

1390 GOWER Conf III. 35 8 Sondri thinges wel devised, I sib, 
wherof thei ben queintised. c 1430 Pilgr. Ly/Manhode n. 
in. (I8t&gt;9) 77 He weeneth he be now wel arayed and queyn- 
tlsed ! 1483 CAXTON G. de la Tonr C iij, They haue so 
many gownes wherof they coyntysc and araye their bodyes. 

Hence f Quaintising -M. sb., adornment, decora 
tion. Obs. 

c t 43 o Piler. LyfManlwde n. civ. (,869) 113 Garnementes 
tfsi n " * g d and silu " nd olh " e queyn- 

Quaintish (kwji-ntij), a . [f. QUAINT a + 
-ISH 1.] Somewhat quaint. 
1594 WILLOUIE Avisa (1880) 53 Your quaintUh quirk-s can 



14 

want no mate. 1796 LAMB Let. to Coleridge in Final Mem. 
i. 195 The concluding simile is far-fetched tempest- 
honoured is a quaintish phrase. 1862 SHIKI.EY Kugx Crit. 
xi. 449 The laureate has alluded to the present effect.. in 
some happy but quaintish lines. 

So Quai ntlike a. 

1844 BlacJhu. Mag. LVI. 159 Good and quaintlike old 
gentle rhymes they are. 

Quaintly i s kw^ l ntli),ff(/z . Forms: as QUAINT 
a. + 3-5 -lioh(e, -lych(e, -li, 4-6 -lye, 4- -ly. 
Comp. 4 queyntlyer, 7 quaintlier. Xi/f. 4 
queyntlokest, quoyntelucst. [f. QUAINT a. + 
-LY 2.] 

1 1. Skilfully, cleverly, ingeniously, so as to ac 
complish some act or attain some end. Obs. 

1297 R. Gl.ouc. (Rolls) 2324 po bibo^te vortiger . . hou he 
mi5te do quoyntelucst \v.r. queyntlokest] bat he him sulf 
were king, c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. Ware (Rolls) 1128 
pe kynges brother & y Ar skaped out fol queyntely. c 1400 
Destr. Trey 164 Thus coyntly it kept was all with clene art. 
1422 tr. Sccreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 167 A newe Payne he 
founde, by the whyche fals luges queyntly he chastid. 1513 
DOUGLAS sEncis x. xi. heading, Juno rycht quayntly causis 
Turnus to tlee. 1593 R. HARVEY Philad. 21 He and his 
surveyed it quantitatively and queintly to the purpose. 
1612 DEKKER Land. Triumph. Wks. 1873 III. 253 A song 
is heard ; the musicke being queintly conueyed in a priuate 
room, and not a person discouered. ? 1708 PRIOR Turtle A&gt; 
Sparrcnu 263 Those points, indeed, you quaintly prove, But 
logic is no friend to love. 1714 GAY Shcph. 11 cek I. 79, I 
queintly stole a kiss. 

t b. Cunningly, craftily. Obs. 

01300 Cursor M. 741 (Gott.) Quaintli taght he him be 
ginne, Hu he suld at be wijf bigine. 1387 TREVISA Higdcn 
(Rolls) VII. 137 Some men tolde bat pis Harold was a 
sowter sone, and queyntly [L. dolose] underput by be for- 
-seide Elgiue. c 1400 Dcstr. Troy 11228 Cast is hit cointly 
by thies kene traytours. .pryam to lose. 

t 2. \Vith ingenious art, so as to produce some 
thing artistic, curious, or elaborate. Obs. 

111300 Leg. Rood (1871) 30 (Ashm.) Salomon it let velle 
and newe as queinteliche as he mi^te. 13.. Coer de L. 1387 
He leet luak a tour ful strong, That queyntly engynours 
made, c 1384 CHAUCER H. Fame in. 833 Domus Dedali .. 
Nas maad so wonderliche, y-wis. Ne half so queynteliche 
y-wrought. 1440 Ipomydon 1641 He .. shove hym bothe 
byhynd & byfore, Queyntly endentyd oute and in. 1513 
UOUGI.AS slincis v. vi. 125 A riche schield, wrocht quentlie. 
1593 SHAKS. 3 Hen. y/, n. v. 24 To carue out Dialls 

?uemtly, point by point. 1653 URQUHART Rabelais I. Ivii. 
. 248 They could speak five or sixe several languages, and 
compose in them all very quaintly. 

1 3. Finely, elegantly ; in a pretty and attractive 
manner. Obs. 

1340 Aycnb. 47 Hy sseawep and di3te}&gt; bam be more 
quaynteliche . . uor to maki musi be foles to ham. 1 a 1366 
CHAUCER Rvm. Rose 783 Her-of lyth no remembraunce, 
How that they daunced queyntely. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf 
Manhode I. c.x.xxix. (1869) 72 She hadde now arayed me 
queyntliche and nobleche. 1490 CAXTON Eneydos x. 40 
Wyth the lad yes he byhaued him soo queyntli swete , . and 
curtoys. 1592 GREENE Upst. Courtier in Harl. Misc. 
(Main.) II. 247 A murrey cloth gowne . . which he quaintly 
bare vp, to sbew his white taffata hose, c 1610 ROWLANDS 
Terrible Battell ^31 The quaintly suted Courtier in attyre. 

4. In a curious, odd, or old-fashioned, but pleasing 
or attractive manner. 

1782 COWI.ER Lett. 18 Nov., A tale ridiculous in itself and 
quaintly told. 1816 J. WILSON City of Plague i. iii. 176 
One quaintly apparell d like a surpliced priest Led the 
procession. 1855 PRESCOTT Philip II, I. i. ix. 129 His 
anger, as his secretary quaintly remarks, was more than 
was good for his health. 1867 TROLI.OPE Chron. Barset II. 
xlv. n She had added the date in quaintly formed figures. 
1870 LUBBOCK Orig. Civiliz. iv. (1875) 178 A father s sister, 
quaintly enough, is called father. 

Quaintiiess (kw&lt;? -ntnes). Also 4 queynt- 
ness, 5 qwhayntnes, 6 queint-, queyntnesse. 
[f. QUAINT a. + -NESS.] The quality or condition 
of being quaint, in various senses of the adj. 

13 .. Coer de L. 1836 Al we should us venge fond, With 
queyntness and with strength of hond. 1483 Cath. Angl. 
296/1 A (jwhayntnes ; HiVwylynes. 1593 DRAYTON Eclogues 
ix. 133 The easie turnes and queyntnesse of the Song. 1603 
FLORIO Montaigne i. xxv. (1632) 80 All niceness and quaint- 
nesse in clothing. 1620 T. V. tr. Strut, du Moulin n 
A vulgar stile, destitute of quaintnesse and eloquence. 1702 
Engl. Theophrast. 234 Some make the quaintness of their 
wit, to consist in employing bad Instruments. 1765 BLACK- 
STONE Comm. I. 72 Coke; a man of infinite learning .. 
though not a little infected with the pedantry and quaintness 
of the times he lived in. 1866 GEO. ELIOT/- . Holt Il.xxiii. 
122 There s a simplicity and quaintntss about the lettei 
which rather pleases me. 

b. A particular instance of this. 

1642 MILTON Apol. Smcct. xi. Wks. (1851) j&gt;3 Which . . 
must needs be a strange quaintnesse in ordinary prayer. 
1830 H. N. COLERIDGE Grk. Poets (1834) 90 The indecorums 
and quamtnesses with which Homer may be reproached. 
1832 L. HUNT Poems Pref. 15 The occasional quaintnesses 
. . which formerly disfigured the story of Rimini. 

f Quaintrelle. Obs. rare- 1 . In 5 queynt-. 
[a. OF. (*qucint-*} cointcrelle fern, ofcointerel beau, 
fop, f. cointe QUAINT a.] A finely-dressed woman. 

cnyyPi/gr. Lyf Manhode III. xlvii. (1869) 160 It folweth 
nouht that thouh j be thus we) kembt, and a litel make the 
queyntrelle [F. me monstrc cointerelle] that for swich cause 
j am fair. 

t Quai-ntry. Obs. rare~ l . In 5 queynterye. 
[a. OP", queint-, cointerie {. as prec.] Finery. 

1483 CAXTON (, . dc la Tour C iv, The tenthe parte of your 
queynteryes and noblesses myght refresshe . . moo than xl 
persones ageynst the cold. 



QUAKE. 

Quair\e, obs. form of QUIRE sb., WHERE adv. 

Quaire, variant of QCJAKRY a. 

Quairn, dial, variant of QUEBN. 

Quaisie, quaisy, obs. forms of QUEASY. 

Quait, dial. var. QUIET a. ; obs. f. QUOIT sb. and v. 

f Quait, -v. Obs. rare. In 5 qwaite. [Of 
obscure origin : the qiu- may represent ivh-^\ ? To 
wait, await. 

a 1400-50 Alexander 1109 Quen ne in quattime sal qwaite 
[Dubl.MS. falle]t&gt;e^isaunter Enquire me 11051 \&gt;sA question. 
c 1400 Dfstr, Troy 13245 There the qwene with hir qwaintis 
qwaitid me to cacche. 

Quaives, pi. of quaif t obs. var. COIF. 

Quake (kw^ k), s&. [f. the vb.] 

L. The act of quaking or trembling ; spec, in mod. 
use, an earthquake. 

Rare as an independent sb., except in very recent use, but 
not infrequent as the second element in combs., as church-* 
Jwnse-t ice-, kingdom-, state-quake, EARTH-QUAKE. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 27362 J&gt;e dai o wreth, o quak, and soru. 
c 1340 Ibid. 927 (Trm.) 1 il b ou turne ageyn in quake To 
bat erbe bou were of take. 1627-77 FELTHAM Resolves i. ii. 
2 The quakes and shakes of Fortune, a 1643 SUCKLING 
Love s World in Fragm. A urea (1648) 1 1 As the Earth may 
sometimes shake, (For winds shut up will cause a quake). 
i8ia LADY GRANVILLE &gt;?//. (1804) ! 35, I have some quakes 
for the poor country. 1881 Mature XXIV. 362 The great 
shock consisted of two quakes and several smaller, but 
distinct, vibrations. 

2. A stretch of quake-ooze. 

1896 Blackw. Mag. May 770 They rose in a body and made 
for the quakes. 

Quake v kw^k), v.l Forms : Inf. i cwacian, 
(cwaec-j cuaec-), 2-3 quakie(n, (2 kwak-, 3 
cwak-, 4 quaki^en, 4 quaky), 4-5 quaken, (5 
qvakyn, whakyn), 4-6 qwake, 4- quake, (4 
quak, quack, 5 qvake, 5- north, whake, 5-6 St. 
quaik, 9 Sc. quack, quauk). Pa. t. i cwgcede, 
cwaecade, cwacode, 3 cwakede, 3-4 quakede, 
4- quaked, (4 -id, 6 Sc. -et) ; also north. 4-5 
quok, (4 qwok, quock), 4-6 quoke, quook, 
qwooke, 5 Sc. quouk, quowke, 6 quooke, 
Sc. qu(h}oik, quuik, 7 dial, whook t. [OE. 
cwacian, not found in the cognate langs. ; the stem 
fwac- is also the base of OE. cwgcan QUETCH, and 
the same initial combination occurs in other words 
implying agitation or instability, as quave, qnap, 
quag (cf. note to QUAGMIKE). The strong form of 
the pa. t. in northern dialects is on anal, of shake, 
shook.] 

1. intr. Of things : To shake, tremble, be agitated, 
as the result of external shock, internal convulsion, 
or natural instability. 

Most frequently used, from the earliest period, with ref. 
to the earth (cf. EARTHQUAKE), and now somewhat rare even 
in this connexion. 

(-825 I 7 esp. Psalter ciii. 32 Se ^elocao" In eorSan & doe3 
hie cwaecian. ^893 K. ALFRED Ores. n. vi. 3 Ofer call 
Romana rice seo eorbe waes cwaciende & berstende. ^1175 
Lamb. Horn. 143 Eorbe seal kwakien on his ecsene. c 1205 
LAY. 27111 pa wal of stanen [sculden] quakien and fallen. 
a 1300 Cursor M. 7260 He it scok, Sua fast bat al be hus 
quok. 1398 TREVISA Barth. DC P. R. XVH. clix. (1495) 708 
The Kyrche . . meuyth and quakith wyth a ryght softe blaste 
of wynde. 1412-20 LVDG. Chron. Trayii.x. (1513) Ev, I fele 
also My penne quake, and tremble in my honde. 1513 
DOUGLAS /Eneis \\\. x. 34 The land all haillof Itailetrurnbillit 
and quhoik. 1596 DALRYMPLE tr. Leslie s }fist. Scot. VHI. 
129 Erdquakes. .war hard,kirkes quaket and trimblet vehe- 
mentlie. 1810 SCOTT Lady of L. i. xii, With boughs that 
quaked at every breath, Grey birch and aspen wept beneath. 
1871 ROSSKTTI Lome s Xocturn vii, Quakes the pall, And 
the funeral goes by. 

2. Of persons or animals, or parts of the body : 
To shake, tremble, a. By reason of cold or other 
physical cause. Now rare. 

c 1000 ^ELFRIC Horn. I. 132 Da leS cwaciaS on swiSlicum 
cyle. Ibid. 1 1.312 Ic. .cwacode eal on fefore. a 1*1$ Juliana 
21 [He] inwio bearnde of brune. .& cwakede as of calde. 
(11300 Cursor M. 5196 Israel wit bis vplepp .. bat quak 
\v.r. quake] wit ilka lim was won. 1362 LANGL. r. PL A. 
xi. 46 Carful inon may crien .. Bothe of hungur and of 
thurst, and for chele quake, c 1460 Tcnvneley Myst. xxviii. 
70 When I for care and colde qwoke by a fyre burnyng full 
bright. 1501 DOUGLAS Pal. lion. i. Iviii, Skrymmorie fery 
gaue me mony a clowre For Chyppynutie ful oft my chaftis 
quuik. 1555 EDEN Decades 12 Suche as inhabyte the 
mountaynes, syt quakynge for coulde in the wynter season. 
z6n SHAKS. Cymb. n. iv. 5, [I] quake in the present winters 
state, and wish That warmer dayes would come. 1784 
COWFER Task iv. 385 [She] Retires, content to quake so 
they be warm d. 1853 KANE Gnnneli F.xJ&gt;. xxx vii. (1856) 
338 Came back again, dinnerless, with legs quaking. 

b. Through fear. Frcq. to quake for fear or 
dread \ also to quake at, -\for (the object of dread), 
andy^r (a thing or person in danger). 

a 900 CVNEWULF Crist 797 ponne cene cwacab, fcehyreft 
cyning mieSlan. ^950 Lindisf. Gosp. Luke viii. 47 pEet wif 
,.cuaccende[^?J/i7c. cwacende] cuom,&gefeall fore fotum 
his. 01225 /^A"- Kath, 1534 pe king..bigon to cwakien & 
nuste hwet seggen. a 1300 Cursor M. 12837 ^ or ckednes 
ilk lim him quok. c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. II ace (Rolls) 
10726 Tounes, castels, for hym bey quok. c. 1386 CHAUCER 
Frankl. T. 132 For verray feere sowolde hir herte quake 
That on hire feet she niyghte hire noght sustene. c 1460 
Tou tietey Hfyst. vii. 182 Euery man shall whake and gryse 
Agans that ilk dome. 1558 KNOX First Blast (Arb.) 32 
They reuerence them, and qwake at their presence. 1582 
tirANYHUKST sEntix n. lArb.) 68 Young children ..With 



QUAKE. 

cold hert moothers, for Greekish victorye quaking. 1603 
DRAYTON Ba&gt; . Wars vi. Ixxxvii, That ne er quayles me, at 
which your greatest quake. 1641 HINDE J. Kruen xlvii. 154 
At which time, .the Devill will quake, yea he doth quake for 
feare now. 1711 ADOISON Sped. No. 44 p t The sounding 
of the Clock in I enice Presented, makes the Hearts of the 
whole Audience quake. 1759 ROIIERTSON ///*/. Scot. VIII. 
Wks. 1813 II. 52 The fellow in the study stood quaking and 
trembling. 1800 WELLINGTON Let. to Lieut. Col. Close in 
Gurw. Dcsp. (1837) I. 103, I quake for the fort at Mun- 
serabad. 1847 J. WILSON Clir. North (1857) J. 22 Onr 
heart quaked too desperately to suffer us to shriek. 1882 
OUIDA Maremnia I. 18 His name was a terror that made 
the dead quake in their graves. 

rejl. a 1300 Cursor M. 19633 (Gutt.) Saul him quok, sua 
was he rad. 

fc. With anger. Obs. rare. 

1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. (i8io_) 292 pe kyng his wordes 
toke wrabefully tille herte, For ire nere he quoke. c 1374 
CHAUCER Boetft. iv. pr. iii. 94 (Camb. MS.) Yif he be dis- 
tempre and quakith for Ire, men shal weene bat he bereb 
the corage of a lyon. 

f 3. trans. To cause to quake. O/ s. 

1398 TREVISA Barth. De P. R, x. v. (1495) 377 A full lytyll 
puffynge of wynde quakyth and styryth flamme. 1607 
SHAKS. Cor. I. ix. 6 Where ladies shall be frighted, And 
gladly quak d, heare more. 1614 H. GREENWOOD Jayle. 
Delhi. 468 The property of the Law is to humble and quake 
us for our sins. 1639 HEYWOOD Loud, peaceable Est. Wks. 
1874 V. 372 Cannon. .Quaking the bellowing Ayre. 

4. Comb., as f quake-belly, a fat-bellied person ; 
f quake-breeeh,-buttock, one wanting in courage ; 
f quakeful a., causing fear or quaking ; ) quake- 
mire, a quagmire; also as vb., to quagmire; quake- 
ooze, soft trembling ooze ; quake-tail Omilh. (see 
quot. 1894). 

1622 MABBE tr. Aletnan s Guzman d Alf. 223 They will 
all forsooth be alike, the tall man as the short, the *Quack- 
belly as the Scranio. c 1590 in Drake Seer. Mem. Earl 
Leicester (1706) 118, I shall surely be *Quack-breech and 
think every Bush a Boggle. 1616 WITHALS Diet. 400 
Excors, . . a faint hearted fellow, a quake-breech, a 1616 
BEAUM. & FL. Wit at Sev. Weap. I. i, Stand putting in one 
foot, and shiver, .. like a "quake-buttock. 1609 HEYWOOD 
Brit. Troy xiii. xxxii, All tmbrude in light, His "Quakefull 
hand and sword so often rearing. 1577 STANYHURST Descr. 
Irel, in Holinshed (1807-8) VI. 21 He was forced to fasten 
the *quakemire with hurdels, and upon them to build the 
citie. 1583 STOCKER Civ. Warres Lmve C. n. 703, His 
horse was gotten into a quackmyre. 1599 CHAPMAN Hum. 
dayes Myrth Plays 1873 I. 73 Howe nowe my liege ! what, 
quackemyred in Philosophic. iSgSHaify Pfelvs 23 Nov. 6/2 
Over a lot of *quake-ooze flats, where a boat could not get. 
1853 OGILVIE Imp. Diet. Suppl. Qitake-tail. 1894 NEWTON 
Diet. Birds, Quake-tail, a book-name invented for the 
Yellow Wagtail and its allies, after they had been genetically 
separated from Motacilla as Budytes. 

t Quake, int. and v. 2 Obs. Also Sc. 6 quaik, 
8 -ek. [Imitative : see QUACK, and cf. Du. kwaken, 
G. quaken to croak, quack.] = QUACK int. and v. 



a drake or ducke. "1785 BURNS Addr. Deil viii, An eld 
ritch, stoor quaick, quaick. 

Quaker (kw^-kaj). [f. QUAKE .i + -KR!.] One 
who, or that which, quakes. 

1. pi. = QUAKING-GRASS. Midi. dial. 

597 GERARDE Herbal i. Ivii. 81 Phalaris pratensis is called 
in Cheshire about Namptwich, Quakers and Shakers. 1611 
COTGR., Amourettes, the grasse tearmed, Quakers, and 
Shakers, or quaking grasse. 1617 MINSHEU Ductor, Quackers, 
or quaking grasse. \WlW.Worc.Gloss. 1890 Clone. Gloss. 

2. With capital Q : A member of the religious 
society (the Society of Friends) founded by George 
Fox in 1648-50, distinguished by peaceful principles 
and plainness of dress and manners. 

Ace. to Fox Cjfrnl. I. 38) the name was first given to him 
self and his followers by Justice Bennet at Derby in 1650 
because I bid them, Tremble at the Word of the Lord ! 
It appears, however, from a letter of intelligence, written at 
London on Oct. 14, 1647, that the name had previously been 
applied to the members of some foreign religious sect : I 
heare of a Sect of woemen (they are at Southworke) come 
from beyond Sea, called Quakers, and these swell, shiver, 
and shake, and when they come to themselves (for in all 
this fitt Mahomett s holy-ghost hath bin conversing with 
them) they begin to preache what hath bin delivered to 
them by the Spiritt (Clarendon MSS. No. 2624). It thus 
seems probable that Bennet merely employed a term already 
familiar, and quite appropriate as descriptive of Fox s earlier 
adherents (cf. quots. 1654, 1694, and see QUAKING vbl. sl&gt;. 
and///, a. 2). The name has never been adopted by the 
Friends themselves, but is not now regarded as a term of 
reproach. 

1653 H. R. (title} A Brief Relation of the Irreligion of the 
Northern Quakers. 1654 E. TERRILL in R. Barclay s Inner 
Life (1876) 317 Thus, they coming as foretold, they were not 
known, but afterwards they were called by the name of 
Quakers , from people s shaking and quaking that received 
them and their doctrine. 1656 EVELYN Mem. (1857) I. 332, 
I had the curiosity to visit some Quakers here in prison : 
a new fanatic sect, of dangerous principles, who shew no 
respect to any man, magistrate, or other. 1679 Trial of 
Lang/iorn 53 He is no Quaker, for he hath got a Perriwig 
on. 1694 DE LA PRYME Diary (Surtees) 53 The Quakers . . 
do not now quake, and howl, and foam with their mouths, 
as they did formerly. 1731 Gentl. Hag. I. 60 The practice 
of the people called Quakers, who maintain none of their 
poor in idleness that are able to work. 1771 SMOLLETT 
Humph. Cl. 26 June, By his garb, one would have taken 
him for a quaker, but he had none of the stiffness of that 
sect. 1837 w - ! RVI&gt;iG Ca f- Bonneville 1. 183 In one respect, 
their religion partakes of the pacific doctrines of the Quakers. 
1876 BANCROFT Hist. U. S. I. x. 363 The early Quakers in 



15 

New England displayed little of the mild philosophy, .of 
Penn. 

b. traiisf. Applied to various plain-coloured 
birds and moths, with allusion to the colour of 
the dress usually worn by Quakers. 

(a) A small bird of the Falkland Islands, (b} The sooty 
albatross. (() The nankeen-bird, or Australian night-heron. 
(d) One of several noctuid moths, esp. A gratis castanea. 

1775 CLAYTON Falkland Islands in Phil. Trans. LXVI. 
105 Of small birds there are several sorts; the red breast, 
..the white throat; the quaker, from its plumage being of 
the colour those people wear. 1894 NEWTON Diet. Binh, 
Quaker, a sailor s name for the Dusky Albatross, Phccbeiria 
fuliginosa. 

c. eliift. for quaker-gun, -hat. 

CI7S4 GARRICK Epil. to Fielding s Fathers, The high- 
cocked, half-cocked quaker, and the slouch, Have at ye all ! 
1829 J. SHUT Mem. ix. (1890) 139 The man of authority in 
size not much larger than a quaker. 1840 R. H. DANA Kff. 
Mast xxvii. 88 A Russian government bark, . . mounting 
eight guns (four of which we found to be quaker.-.). 

3. at trili. and Comb, (from sense 2). a. simple 
nttrib. : Of or pertaining to the Society of Friends 
or its members ; as quaker (or Quaker) bonnet, 
doctrine, dress, meditation, pride, etc. b. simila- 
tive, as qttaker-like adj. and adv., -looking adj. c. 
special combs. : quaker-bird, the sooty albatross ; 
quaker-buttons (U.S.), the seeds of mix vomica; 
quaker-eolour, a drab or grey colour ; so quaker- 
co/oi&lt;redaA}.; quaker-grass, quaking-grass (Halli- 
well) ; quaker gun ( U. S.), a dummy gun in a ship 
or fort ; quaker-ladies ( c7.5.), the small pale-blue 
flowers of the American plant Houstonia. atrulea ; 
quaker-linen (see quot. 1788) ; quaker-meeting 
(also Quakers ), a religious meeting of the Society 
of Friends ; transf, a silent meeting (alluding to 
the Friends custom of remaining silent until moved 
by the spirit) ; quaker moth (see 2 b) ; quaker 
string, a form of string for a stair. 

1859 GEO. ELIOT A. Bede iii, Dinah had taken off her 
little *quaker bonnet again. 1818 Black. Mag. III. 406 
Solemn suits Of customary snuff or *quaker-colour. c 1770 
T. ERSKINE Barber in Part. Reg. (1810) 331 Simplicity .. 
Waves in the eye of Heav n her "Quaker-colour d wings. 
1856 R. A. VAL-GHAN Mystics (1860) II. xi. ii. 222 The 
4 Quaker doctrine concerning stillness and quiet. 1812 
CRABBE Tales ix. Wks. (1834) V. 13 Young Zelinda, in her 
*quaker-dress. 1809 W. IRVING Knickerb. iii. (1820) 240 
A formidable battery of *quaker guns. 1680 R. WARK 
Foxes Iff Firebrands n. (1682) 103 He..*Quaker-like, thou d 
and thee d Oliver. 1818 SCOTT Hrt. Midi, xxvii, Her love 
of and veneration for truth was almost quaker-like. 1838 
LYTTON A lice i. i, A stiff cap of quaker-like simplicity. 1788 
WESLEY Wks. (1872) VII. 24 Let there be no "Quaker-linen, 
proverbially so called, for their exquisite fineness. 1792 
WOLCOTT(P. Pindar) Ode to Irony Wks. 1812 III. 39 Who 
langhest not, thou "Quaker-looking wight. 1835 WILLIS 
Pencilling! II. 1. 95 After sitting awhile in *quaker medita 
tion. 1751 J. BROWN Shaftesb. Charac. 32 The finest 
speaker . . would in vain point the thunder of his eloquence 
on a quaker-meeting. 1821 [see QUAKERESS]. 1861 HUGHES 
Tom Brcnvn at Oxf. xxvi, Isn t it very ridiculous.. that we 
four should be standing here in a sort of Quakers meeting. 
1819 G. SAMOUEI.LE Entomol. Compend. 363 Quaker moth. 
176 . WILK-ES Corr. (1805) III. 77 That "qua ker pride, which 
is the most disgusting thing in the world. 1825 J. NICHOL 
SON Opcrat. Mechanic 598 Sometimes the risers are mitred 
to the brackets, and sometimes mitred with *quaker strings. 
Hence Qua kerdom, Quakers as a class, Quaker 
ism. Qnake rian, Quakeric, t Quakeri stical 
ndjs., Quakerly, Quakerish. Quakeriza tion, the 
action of Quakerizing. Qua kerize v., to convert 
into a Quaker ; to affect with qualities character 
istic of a Quaker. Qua kership, the condition of 
being a Quaker, f Qua kery, Quakerism. 

1839 CAROLINE Fox yrnls. (1882) 42 He spoke very civilly 
of modern "Quakerdom. 1853 Tail s Mag. XXII. 445 
Ellwood was a convert to Quakerdom. 1827 HARE Guesses 
(1867) 132 The Jacobinical metonoma:osis of the months.. 



QUAKY. 

I am your plain, Quakerish governess. 1876 GEO. ELIOT 
Dan, Der. I. 354 A motherly figure of quakerish neatness. 

Hence Qua kerishly adv. 

1886 G. ALLKN Maiiinc s Sake xxxiii, So quaintly and 
quakerishly pretty. 

Quakerism (kw^ ksrizm). [f. as prec. + -ISM.] 
The principles or practice of the Quakers or 
Society of Friends. 

1656 in Brand Hist. Newcastle (1789) II. 235 A great 
apostacy. . to popery, quakerisme and all manner of heresy. 
1751 CHESTERF. Lett, ccxxxi, Plainness, simplicity, and 
Quakerism, either in dress or manners. 1776-91 PAINE 
Com, Sense App. Addr. Quakers 81 The love and desire of 
peace is not confined to Quakerism. 1836 R. A. VAUGHAN 
Mystics (1860) II. xi. i. 214 The elements of Quakerism lie 
all complete in the personal history of Fox. 

Quakerly .kwt l-kaili), a. [f. as prec. -t- -i.v .] 
Like a Quaker; befitting a Quaker. 

1684 GOODMAN Old Kelig. (1848) 247 A malapert quakerly 
humour. 1797 LOUISA GURNKY Diary in A. J. C. Hare 
Gnrncys of Earlhain (1895! I. 66, I am quite sorry to see 
him grow so Quakerly. 1829 MACAI-I.AY Misc. Writ. (1860) 
I. 284 They therefore affect a quakerly plainness. 

Quakerly (kw^-kojli), adv. [f. as prec. + -I.v 2.] 
After the fashion of a Quaker. 

1696 C. LESLIE Snake in Crass (1697) 368 What Quaker, 
or Quakerly- Affected Council drew up this Answer for him ? 
1826 LAMB Let. ia B. Barton in Final Mem. viii. 259 Do I 
write quakerly and simply, tis my. .intention to do it. 1847 
MRS. CARLYLE Lett. II. 6 If you feel a stop (Quakerly 
speaking), best to let it have way. 

Quakery : see under QUAKER. 
Qua-kiness. [f. QUAKY a.] The condition of 
being quaky (Webster, 1864). 
Quaking (kwJ -kirj), vbl. sb. [f. QUAKE vl + 

-ING 1 .] 

1. The action of the vb. QUAKE in various senses. 

c 825 Vesp. Psalter liv. 6 E^e & cwaecung cwomun ofer 
mec. cioooyELKRlc lloin. I. 504 Wa:s se mum Garganus 
bifi^ende mid orma:tre cwacunge. 1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 
6894 pat heo. .steppe mid folle vot wiboute quakinge. ^1374 
CHAUCER And. A&gt; Arc. 214 Tumid is in quakynge all my 
daunce. r 1450 LYDG. & BURGH Secrces 1652 Rennyns 
atTtir mete and also rydyng, . . cause wyl a seknesse callyd 
quakyng. &lt;z 1548 HALL Chrott., Hen. I ll! (1550) 199 b, He 
and the Quene, and the Ladyes, fled out of their Palace . . 
and sodemly the quakyng seassed. 1656 RIDGI.EY f ract. 
Physick 136 The Symptoms, as quaking, nauseating, do shew 
. . new matter is recollected. 1855 BAIN Sens. $ Int. II. iv. 
18 (1864) 285 A tremulous quaking is the characteristic of 
Fear. 1875 LYELL Princ. Gcol. II. II. xxviii. 107 The in 
cessant quaking of the ground for several successive months. 

1 2. spec, with ref. to the behaviour of the early 
Quakers; hence, Quakerism. Obs. 

1653 H. R. Brief R el. Irrelig. North. Quakers 17 Their 
Quaking; are very like the Fits of that Child mentioned, 
Mark 9. 1669 (title} Truth Triumphant, in a Dialogue be 
tween a Papist and a Quaker.. Wherein (I suppose) is made 
Manifest that Quaking is the Off-Spring of Popery. 1671 
R. HEAD Eug. Rcguc H. xxxii. 307 Falling from Ranting 
to Quaking. 

Quaking (kw t Ti kin), ///. a. ff. as prec. + 

-INU 2 .] 

1. That quakes, in senses of the vb. 

c 1000 ^LFRIC Horn. II. 32 Seo cwacfcende swustor. c 1375 
Sc. Leg. Saints xxvii. (Macttor) 1018 }eit ban with quaquand 
voice said he [etc. ]. c 1440 LYDG. decrees 334 With quakyng 
penne my consceyt to expresse. 1508 DUNBAR Goldytt 
Targe 156 Schamefull Abaising, And quaking Drede. 1586 
WARNER Alb. Eng. i. v. (1612) 16 The queaking beards-man 
scarce had said thus much. 1728 POPE Dune. II. 292 Slow 
circles dimpled o er The quaking mud, that clos d, and op d 
no more. 1842 BRANDS Diet. Science 1008 Quaking bog, 
peat bog.. so saturated with water that a considerable extent 
of surface will quake or shake, when pressed on by the foot. 
1875 LVELL Princ. Geol. II. in. xliv. 510 Cattle venturing 
on a quaking moss are often mired. 

f 2. That is, or befits, a Quaker ; Quaker-. Obs. 

1634 BURROUGH & HOWGIL Ansit . Queries in Farmer 
Myst. Godl. A&gt; Ungodl. 37 A paper which was directed to 
Rich. Roper, and to his Quaking friend [etc. 1. 1673 HALLY- 
WELI. Ace. Familism v. 94 If the Quaking Generation shall 
object and say, that this was under the Law. 17x7 MRS. 
CENTLIVRE Bold Stroke for a Wife Dram. Pers., Simon 



ing passage into the Quaiceric dialect. 1685 Ansiv. Dk. \ Pure, a quaking preacher. 1720 DE FOE Capt. Singleton 

bnckhm. on Lib. Consc. 12, 1 should suspect the Pensilvanian xi. (1840) 191 He . . put it off with some quaking quibble, 

had lutord him with this Quakeristical Divinity. 1864 ! 1755 J. SHEBBEARE Lydia (1769) I. 310 Lydia s misfortunes 

bALA in Daily Tel. 5 Dec., No amount of *quakerisation i commence from the source of quaking probity. 



could render the car uncomfortable. 1823 Miss MITFORD 
in L Estrange/-j/fc (1870) II. 198 She is all over *Quakerized, 
as you of course know. 1826 B. BARTON Select., etc. (1849) 6 
Twould be cook-ship versus Quaker-ship. 1673 HALLV. 
WELL Ace. Familism iv. 75 Quakery, though it pretend 
high, is mere Sadducism at the Bottom. 1688 BUXYAN 
Heavenly l- ootman (18861 156 Thou may st stumble and fall, 
..both in ranting and quakery. 

Quakeress (kw^-kares). [f. QUAKER + -ESS.] 
A female Quaker. 

1784 STEWARDSON (title) Spiritual Courtship, or, The Rival 
Quakeresses. 1821 LAMB Ella Ser. i. Quakers Meeting, I 
Lvery Quakeress is a lily. 1827 HONE Every-day Bk. II. i 
no Ihree young Quakeresses had a sort of semi-bathing. 
1852 MRS. STOWE Uncle Tom s C. xiii. 116 A burst of joy 
from the little Quakeress interrupted the speech. 

Quakerish, (kw,? i-karij), a. [f. as prec. + -ISH.] 
a. Of persons : Resembling Quakers in character 
or manners. b. Of things: Characteristic of, 
appropriate to, Quakers. 

1787 M. CUTLER in Life, yrnls. * Corr. (1888) I. 210 We 
were very Quakerish, every man attending close to the 
business of eating, without uttering scarcely a word. 1822 
LAMB/,C//., to Bernard Barton xii. 113 Your plain Quakerish 
beauty has captivated me. 1847 C. BRONTE J. Eyre xxiv, 



commence from the source of quaking probity. 
Qua king-gra^SS. [f. prec.J A popular name 

media. 



growe o e eg o ae a ooe. 17 ARTYN 
Rousseau s Rot. xiii. (1794) 136 A loose panicle, the foot 
stalks of which are so slender as to be moved by every 
wind ; whence they have obtained the name of Quaking- 
grasses. 1848 C. A. JOHNS Week at Lizard 294 Briza 



. . . 

inor. Small Quaking-grass, is one of the most elegant of 
the British grasses. 1882 Garden 14 Jan. 28/3 Briza 
maxima and gracilis are two of the best of the Quaking 
grasses. 

Quakingly (kwfHdnlQ, adv. [f. as prec. + 
-Lv2.] Tremblingly; with quaking or fear. 

1566 DRANT Horace, Sat. i. i. Aiij, What vayles it the so 
qunkinglye to grubbe and grip the moulde. a 1586 SIDNEY 
Arcadia (1622) 232 Neuer pen did more quakingly performe 
his office. 1868 HOLME LEE B. Godfrey xii. 63 Joan went 
rather quakingly. .to prefer her petition. 

Quakke : see QUACK /*.:) 

Quaky (kw^i-ki), a. [f. QUAKE z&gt;.l +-Y!.] In 
clined to quake ; of the nature of quaking. 

1864 in WEBSTER. 1865 Morn. Star 5 July, King Pam. 
I feel quite quaky. Brand. Nay, my good lord, be not at 
shadows shaky. 1869 THACKEKAY Rmind. Papers xxix. 326 



. QUALE. 

So old and toothless and quaky that she can t sing a bit. 
1884 H. Coi-LiNCWoon Under Meteor Flag 88 A curious 
quaky sensation which had for a moment oppressed me. 

Qua), obs. form of WHALE s/&gt;. 

t Quale . Obs. [OE. cwalu = ON. kvfl (stem 
kval-} torment, torture, f. *ku&gt;al- ablaut-var. of 
*Itwe!- : see QUELE, QUELL. The vowel is long in 
OS. quala (MDu. qii&le, Du. kwaal, LG. qtiaal}, 
OHO. qtiala, cliwala, etc. (MUG. yua/t, qufil, etc., 
G. jwa/).] Death, destruction, mortality. 

c 900 tr. Bzda s Hist. It. xi. [xiv.) (1890) 138 Se cyning mid 
arleasre cwale of sicken wa=s. c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Th.) xxix. 8 
Drihten, hu nyt is f&gt;e min ste^e, o(&gt;be min cwalu. c 1175 
Lamb. Horn. 121 God ne sparede na his a5ene berne ; ac 3ef 
hine to cwale for us alle. c 1203 LAV. 31807 pat quale com 
on orue vnimete swiSe. 

b. Comb., as quale-house, house of torture; 
quale-sithe, death from pestilence. 

c IMS LAV. 727 Vt of (&gt;on quarterne, of (&gt;an quale-huM 
\c 1275 cwal-huse]. Il iJ. 3769. Itia. 31900 Heo . . cudden 
heore cunne of heore quale-sise. 

II Qnale 2 (kw^ -li). [L., neut. sing, of qtialis of 
what kind.] The quality of a thing; a thing having 
certain qualities. 

1675 fl!r. CROFT] Naked Truth 25 The quid, the qnalf, 
the quantum, and such-like quacksalving forms, a 1679 
T. GOODWIN Govt. Ch. Christ xi. Wks. 1697 IV. 94 The 
Quale, or what sort of r.odies. .Christ hath instituted, is to 
l&gt;e afterward discussed. 1768-74 TUCKER Lt. Nat. (1834) 
II. 462 Qualities, .cannot actually subsist, though they may 
be thought of, without a qnale to. possess them. 1875 
JOWETT Plato (ed. a) I. 270 When I do not know the quid 
of anything how can I know the quale ? 

Quale, obs. f. QUAIL sb. and -&lt;&gt;., WHALE sb. 

Qualifiable, a. rare. [f. QUALIFY T. + -ABLE.] 
Tnat may be qualified or modified. 

1611 COTGR., ItfodifiaHe, modifiable, qualifiable. a 1677 
MARROW Scrm. Wks. 1716 III. 296 As to that.. Excision 
of the Canaanites. .we may find it qualifiable, if we consider 
..the Trespasses which procured it. 

Qualification (kwgdifikv -Jan). [ad. med.L. 
qiialificatio, n. of action from qnalifictirc : see 
QUALIFY and -ATION, and cf. F. qualification (1573 
in Godef. Comf!.).] The action of qualifying; the 
condition or fact of being qualified ; that which 
qualifies. 

1. Modification, limitation, restriction ; a modify 
ing or limiting element or circumstance. 

1543-4 Act 35 Hen. / ///, c. 5 (Title) An acte concerning 
the qualification of the statute of the syxe articles. 1651 
BAXTER Inf. Rapt. 190 There can be no true closing with 
Christ in a promise that hath a qualification or condition 
expressed. 1756 Ik RKE S-ubl. fy B. I. iv, The removal or 
qualification of pleasure has no resemblance to positive 
pain. 1845 Encycl. Kletrop. X. 776 There is however some 
qualification to be admitted in this general statement. 1891 
Law Times Rep. LXIII. 765/1 The defendants were liable 
as principals, as they had contracted in their own names 
without any qualification. 

1 2. The determining or distinctive quality of a 
person or thing ; condition, character, nature. Obs. 

1604 SHAKS. Oth. n. i. 282 Out of that will I cause these 
of Cyprus to Mutiny. Whose qualification shall come into 
no true taste againe, but by the displanting of Cassio. 
a 1674 CLARENDON Hist. Rel&gt;. xn. ir The commissioners 
. .notwithstanding their qualification . . were imprisoned by 
the Parliament. 1745 De Foe s Eng. Tradesman Introd. 
(1841) I. 3 Having thus described .. the English Tradesman, 
it is needful to inquire into his qualification. 

1 3. A quality, attribute, or property (of). Obs. 
1669 GALE Crt. Gentiles I. in. x. 107 Plato laies down as 

qualifications of true Oratorie [etc.]. 1712 ADDISON Spect. 
No. 435 F 7 Liveliness and Assurance are . . the Qualifica 
tions of the French Nation. 1719 LONDON & WISE Compl. 
Gard. 118 The useless Branches, whether it be because they 
are worn or spent, or because they have no good Qualifica 
tions. 1795 1. MILNER in Life xi. 18 (1842) 194 Whatever 
may be their views of justifying faith, that is, whether they 
think it consists in qualifications or in appropriation, 
t b. An accomplishment. Obs. 
1715 SIR J. CI.F.RK Ment. (1895) 87, I thought it would l&gt;e 
an additional Qualification to him that he understood the 
English Language. 1785 PALEY Mor. Philos. (1818) I. 70 
The pleasures of grown persons . . founded like music, paint 
ing, &c. upon any qualification of their own acquiring. 
1796 JANE AUSTEN Sense &lt;y Sens. (1849) J 6i Every qualifica 
tion is raised at times, .to more than its real value; and she 
was sometimes worried down . . to rate good-breeding as 
more indispensable to comfort than good-nature. 

1 4. The action of qualifying, or process of being 
qualified (for a position, etc.) ; also, the result of 
this action or process. Obs. 

1589-92 in Wodrow Soc. Misc. (1844) 535 Being informit of 
the qualification, literature, and glide conversation of . . N. 
1659 PE\RSOX Creed (1839) 308 The death of Christ [was] 
necessary .. in reference to the Priest himself .- both in 
regard of the qualification of himself, and consummation 
of his office. 1665 BUNYAN Holy Citie 6, I must spe;sk a 
word or two concerning John s qualification, whereby he 
was enabled to behold, .this City. 

5. A quality, accomplishment, etc., which qualifies 
or fits a person for some office or function. 

1669 DK. YORK in Pepys Diary (1879) VI. in Besides his 
general qualifications for thit trust. 1765 FOOTE Commis 
sary i. Wks. 1799 II. 15 A qualification for a canon of Stras- 
Ixjurg. 1779 BL-RKE Corr. (1844) II. 276 Even a failure in 
It [law] stands almost as a son of qualification for other 
things. 1855 MACAULAY Hist. Eng. xii. III. 242 This 
vehement hatred of Popery was.. the first of all qualifica 
tions for command. 1873 HAMERION Intel!. Life \. vii. 
( 875) 37 Even to taste and smell properly, are most impor- 



16 

tant qualifications for the pursuit of literature, art, and 
science. 
b. absol. 

1818 CRUISE Digest (ed. ^ III. 27 The bishops are still in 
law the judges of the qualifications of those who are pre 
sented to them. 1861 M. PATTISON Ess. (1889) I. 37 The 
preceptor . . whatever his other qualifications may have been, 
had not earned his promotion by his Latin style. 1882 
Miss BRADDON HI. Ro.ral I. i. 79 A sturdy truthfulness 
was one of her best qualifications. 

6. A necessary condition, imposed by law or 
custom, which must be fulfilled or complied with 
before a certain right can lie acquired or exercised, 
nn office held, or the like. 

\mAci vf Pennsylvania, Every brewer.. shall be quali 
fied by oath, .which said qualification shall be taken by all 
persons who brew.. for sale. 1763 BLACKSTONE Coiiim. I. n. 
171 The true reason of requiring any qualification, with 
regard to property, in voters. 1819 MACKINTOSH Par!. 
.Suffrage Wks. 1846 III. 215 A representative assembly, 
elected by a low uniform qualification. 1875 JOWETT Plato 
(ed. 2) III. 440 A law which fixes a sum of money as the 
qualification of citizenship. 

b. A document attesting that a person is qualified. 

1748 SMOLLETT Rod. Rand, xviii, I carry my qualification 
to the Navy-office. [/// &lt;/., We must deliver our letters of 
qualification at the Navy-office before one a-clock.] 

7. The act of determining the quality or nature of 
a thing ; spec, a. The determining whether a book or 
proposition merits theological censure as heretical. 

Cf. QUALIFICATOR. 

1826 ISlacJmi. Mag. XX. 336 His Catechism and other 
works were submitted for qualification to Melchior Cano, 
his denouncer. 

b. Logic. The expression of quality, or the dis 
tinction of affirmative and negative, in a proposition. 
(Cent. Diet. 1891.) 

8. attrib. and Comb., as qualification - ticket ; 
qualification shares, shares which one must 
hold in order to be qualified for a directorship of 
a company. 

1797 Sporting Mag. IX. 100 A gentleman . . applied . . for 
a qualification-ticket. 1899 Daily Nevjs 28 Mar. 8/3 The 
money had been given on account of that gentleman s 
qualification shares. 

Hence Qua lifica tionless n., having no qualifica 
tion. 

1898 H eslm. Gaz. iC Dec. 8/3 The new Bill evidently 
contemplated the possibility of qualificationless directors. 

Qualificative (kwo-lifike tiv), a. and sb. rare. 
[f. QUALIFY v. : see prec. and -ATTVE. Cf.Tf.gualtfi- 
catif, -ive (iSthc.).] a. adj. Qualifying; denoting 
some quality, b. sb. A qualifying word or phrase. 

n 1661 FULLER Worthies i. (1662) 59 An Apology for 
Qualificatives used, and Blanks left in this History. 1860 
F. WINSLOW Obscure Dis. Brain 361 Adjectives or quali- 
ficatives disappear last. 1862 RAWLINSON Anc. Mon. I. 
vii. 148 His name., is usually followed by a qualificative 
adjunct. 

Qualificator (kwo-lifik^ tai). [a. med.L. 
agent-n. from qualificare to QUALIFY.] One of a 
board of theologiansattached to the Holy Office, who 
report on the character (heretical or otherwise) of 
propositions submitted to them. Cf. QUALIFIER 3. 

1688 HORNET Lett. St. Italy 20 One of the Qualificatprs 
of the Inquisition. 1736 CHANDLER Hist. Persec. 178 The 
decision in such affairs belongs to the Divines, who are 
thence called Qualificators. 1826 Rlackw. Mag. XX. 76 
The whole, .is then transferred by the Inquisitors to Theo 
logians, Qualificators of the Holy Office. 

Qualificatory (kwo-lifik^tari), a. [ad. L. 
type *qualificatdri-iis : cf. prec. and -OUT.] 

1. Having the character of qualifying, modifying, 
or limiting ; tending to qualify. 

1805 W. TAYLOR in Ann. Rev. III. 651 That evasive, 
Jesuitic, qualificatory extenuation. 1830 JAMES De L Or/nc 
xlvi, 319 The Count would hardly hear of any qualificatory 
measures. 1868 VISCT. STRANGFORD Selections, etc, (1869) 
II. 247 A qualificatory commonplace. 

2. Such as to confer a qualification : (sense 6) 
1889 Academy 12 Oct. 233/2 Some teachers urge .. that 

examinations should be solely qualificatory. 

Qualified (kwg-Iifsid), ///. a. [f. QUALIFY v. 
+ -F.D!.] 

I. f 1. In predicative use : Furnished with, 
possessed of (certain) qualities. Obs. 

1596 SHAKS. Tant.Shr. iv. v. 66 She is.. so qualified as may 
beseemeThe Spouse of any noble Gentleman. x6o3KNOLl.KS 
Hist. Turks (1638) 158 A certaine Gentlewoman . . more 
honourably borne, than honestly qualified. 1665 J. WEBB 
Stmu-Heiig (1725) 45 All Stones are not Qualified alike ; 
some are hard . . some soft. 1681 DRYDEN Abs. fy Achit, 75 
The moderate sort of men, thus qualified, Inclined the 
balance to the better side. 

fb. Attributively: Possessed of good qualities; 
accomplished, perfect Obs. 

1592 NASHF. P. Penilesse (ed. & 25 b, The fine qualified 
Gentleman . . should carie it clean away from the lazie 
clownish droane. 1598 R. BERNARD tr. Terence 286 Such 
a qualified yong gentleman. 1656 FINF.TT For. Ainbass. 
238 Reverenced amongst them for his.. descent from a race 
of qualified saints, a 1700 B. E. Diet. Cant. Crew, Quali 
fied, Accomplisht Statesman, Soldier, Scholar. 

2. Endowed with qualities, or possessed of accom 
plishments, which fit one for a certain end, office, 
or function ; fit, competent. 

a. In predicative vise: const, for (t )&gt; or to 
with inf. 



QUALIFY. 

1589-9* in Wodroiv. Soc. Misc. (1844) 535 Gif he beis 
fundin hable, meit, and sufficientlie qualifeit thaiifoir. 
1605 SHAKS. Lear \. iv. 37 That which ordinary men are 
fit for, I am qualified in. 1665 BOYLE Occtis. Rcjl, i. vii. 
(1848) 89 Him that is qualify d for such Employments. 
1719 DE FOE Crusoe II. xiii. (1840) 274 A government quali 
fied only to rule such a people. 1755 J. MILLS tr. Crwier s 
Rom. Emp. I. 107 That great man, equally qualified for 
war or peace. 1845 S. AUSTIN Ranke s Hist. Ref. III. 83 
A commune was not qualified to dispute concerning things 
of this kind. 1863 LVEI.L Antiq. Man 33 In every way 
highly qualified for the task. 

b. Used attributively. 

1558 Q. KENNEDY in Ji &inw See. Misc. (1844! 152 Than 
sulde be qualifeit men in all the eslaitis of the kirk. 
1693 CAPT. G. ST. Lo (title) England s Safety. .proposing a 
sure method for .. raising qualified Seamen, for manning 
their Majesties Fleet. 1849 COBDEN Speeches 86, I have 
heard qualified persons say, that the.. police there, are the 
finest armed and drilled men in Ireland. 1865 LIGHTFOOT 
Galntians (1874) 72, I am. .a qualified witness of his resur 
rection. 1880 C. K. MARKHAM Pernii.Rark^ The plan . . 
was to make a collection of plants and seeds . . through the 
instrumentality of qualified agents. 

3. Legally, properly, or by custom, capable of 
doing or being something specified or implied. 

1559 Q. KENNEDY in Wodrow Soc. Misc. (1844) 267 That 
I was nocht qualifiet to ressone with Willok, because . . 
I wes hot ane meyne man in our estait. 1656 in Gross 
Gild Merck. (1890) II. 267 Sundry Persons not being 
qualified according to the said Custome. 170* Land. 
Caz. No. 3839/4 The next winning Horse that is duly 
qualified to run for this Plate. 177^ SHERIDAN Sch. 
Scand. n, ii, No person should be permitted to kill char 
acters .. byt qualified old maids. 1849 MACAULAY Hist. 
Eng. viii. II. 202 The king, .had no right to force on them 
even a qualified candidate. 

b. Eccl. Entitled to hold two benefices at once 
(Minsheu Doctor 1617: cf. QUALIFY v. 4, quot. 
1667). 

4. Belonging to the upper classes of society ; of 
quality . Ol&lt;s. exc. dial. 

1604 E. G[RIMSTONE] D Acosta s Hist. Indies v. xix. 380 
If any Indian qualified, or of the common sorte were sicke. 
1608 WU.LKT Hexapla Exod. 481 These personall wrongs 
are .. of persons not qualified hut of common and ordinarie 
persons. 1703 Rules of Civility 116 If. .you be hehind, and 
must pass after the qualify d Person. 1886 Cheshire Gloss., 
Qualified, in good circumstances. A rich man would be said 
to he qualified. 

II. 5. Limited, modified, or restricted in some 
respect ; spec, in qualified acceptance, endorsement, 
estate, fee (see quot. 1818), negative, oath, property. 

1599 Life More in Wordsw. Eccl. Biog. (1853) II. 130 
Delivering this qualified answer to the Kinge. 1635 SWAN 
Spec. M. vi. 2 (1643) 196 If it be taken in a qualified sense, 
it is not much amisse. 1746 HERVEY Medit. (1818) 211 
Every object, a little while ago, glared with light, but now 
all appears under a more qualified lustre. 1769 BLACKSTONE 
Contm. IV. 235 Animals, in which there is no property 
either absolute or qualified. 1818 CRUISE Digest (ed. 2) I. 79 
Where an estate limited to a person and his heirs has a 
qualification annexed to it, by which it is provided that it 
must determine whenever that qualification is at an end ; it 
is then called a qualified or base fee. 1860 MILL Repr. 
Cart. (1865) 1/2 Unfit for more than a limited and qualified 
freedom. 1801 E. PEACOCK N. Brendan II. 432 Narcissa 
gave a qualified reply. 

Hence Qua lifiedly adv., in a qualified fashion ; 
Qua-lifledness, the state of being qualified. 

X 6?5 J. SMITH Chr. Relig. App. I. 23 Oesar had nothing 
to commend him to the Electors, but his qualifiedness for 
that function, by the worth of his parts. 1858 BunMKU, 
Scrm. Neiv Life 308 A force independent and qualifiedly 
sovereign. 1865 J. GROTE Treat. Mor. Ideas vii. (1876) 08 
We cannot be truthful as we may be benevolent, less or 
more, or qualifiedly. 

Qualifier (kwylifelai). [f. QUALIFY + -ER .] 

1. One who, or that which, qualifies, in various 
senses of the vb. 

1561 T. NORTON Calvin s last. iv. xix. (1634) 719 Away 
with these qualifiers, that cover one sacriledge with so many 
sacriledges. 1576 NEWTON Lemnie s Complex. (1633) 79 
Qualifiers and alayers of the heat of blood. 1638 R. YOUNGE 
Drunkard s Character 269 Tobacco, being hot and dry, 
must have a qualifier of cold and moist from the pot. 1754 
RICHARDSON Grandison (1781) I. xxvi. 183 Sir Charles is no 
qualifier, Sir, when he stakes his honour. 1796 LAMB Lett. 
(1837) I. 55, I was unwilling to let my last night s letter go o(I 
without this qualifier. 1887 Pall Hall G. 9 Mar. 5/1 Our 
qualifiers of beer have recently been [catching it]. 

2. Gram. A word, as an adjective or adverb, 
attached to another word to qualify 5t. 

1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. Poesit in. xvii. (Arb.) 193 Your 
Epitheton or qualifier, .must be apt and proper for the thing 
he is added vnto. 1875 WHITNEY Li_fe Lang. vi. 103 Formal 
correspondence between a substantive and its qualifier or 
representative. 

3. K. C. Ch. -= QUAI.IFICATOR. 

^1843 SOUTHEY.CW.-/&gt;/. Bk. (1851) IV. 670 Approved 



Qualify (kwg-lifai), v. Also 6 qualyfy, -fle, 
(6-7 qualle-, qualli-, quale-, -fye, -fie), 6-8 
qualifle. [a. F. qualiji-er (igth c.), or ad. med.L. 
qualificare to attribute a quality to, f. qua/is ol 
such a kind + -fuare : see -FT.] 

I. To invest with a quality or qualities. 

1. trans. To attribute a certain quality or qualities 
to. a. To describe or designate in a particular way ; 
to characterize, entitle, name, (f Const, with.) 



QUALIFY. 

1549 LATIMFR $th Scrm. bcf. Edw. I / (Arb.) 107 S. Paule 
in hys epistle qualifyeth a bishop, and saith that he must be 

. . apte to teache and to confute all maner of false doctryne. 
1633 H. COGAN tr. r inters Trai: xii. 37, I will favor thce 
as a Vassal, and not as a brother, as thou qualifies! thyself. 
1684 J. PETER Siege Vienna 21 Two of the Eldest Colonels 
were qualified with a Title between a Major General and a 
Colonel. 1823 BYRON Juan x. Ixxxi, The Devil s drawing- 
room , As some have qualified that wondrous place. 1826 
Blackw. Mag. XX. 77 The propositions referred to the 
theologians have been qualified as heretical. 1873 BROWN 
ING Red Cott. Nt.-cap 253 Madame Muhlhausen, whom 
good taste forbids We qualify as do these documents. 

b. Gram. Of an adj. : To express some quality 
belonging to (a noun). Of an adv. : To modify. 

[1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. Poesie in. xvii. (Arb.) 193 Some 
times wordes suffered to go single, do giue greater sence 
and grace then words quantified by attributions do.] 1837 
M. GREEN Engl. Gramin. 14 [Adjectives] are added to nouns 
to define, qualify, describe, or limit the signification of the 
noun. 1887 ROGET Introd. Old French 176 [The Adjec 
tive] qualifying two or more Substantives. 1888 H. A. 
STRONG tr. Paul s Princ. Hist. Lang. 424 [The adjective] 
bears the same relation to the substantive as an adverb to 
the adjective which it qualifies. 

f2. To impart a certain quality to (a thing); to 
make (a thing) what it is. Obs. 

1592 GREENE Upst. Courtier in Hart. Misc. i Malh.) 1 1. 221 
Is., not rather true nobility a mind excellently qualified with 
rare vertues? 1600 BIBLE (Douay) Gen. Comm., Then shal 
the bodies be qualified according to the state of the soules, 
happie or miserable for ever. 1645 QUARLES Sol. Recant. 
in. 71 But thou hast tainted that immortall breath, Which 
qualified thy life, and made thee free Of heav n and earth. 
a 1677 HALE Prim. Orig, Man. iv. vi. 344 The Divine Will, 
determined or qualified (if we may use that improper word) 
with the highest.. Wisdom and Power. 

f b. absol. To bring it about that. Obs. 

a 1670 HACKET Abp. Williams \. (1692) 60 It qualified 
also, that no detection could be made, .that he bought this 
greatness. 

3. To invest (a person) with proper or essential 
qualities or accomplishments (for being some 
thing). Also re/I. 

1581 MULCASTER Positions xxxvi. (1887) 134 Set to schoole, 
to qualifie themselues, to learne how to be religious. 1683 
MOXON Mec/i. Exerc., Printing i, A Typographer ought 
to be equally quallified with all the Sciences that becomes 
an Architect. 1711 W. SUTHERLAND Shiphuild. Assist. 22 
Those Properties . . will qualify a Man for a compleat 
Architect. ?i78z COWPER Parrot u To qualify him more 
at large, And make him quite a wit. 

b. To make fit or competent/)/- doing (or to do] 
something, vt for some sphere of action, existence, 
etc. Chiefly reft. 

1665 BOYLE Occas. Refl. vi. iv. (1848) 353 He whose parts 
are too mean to qualifie him to govern others. 1712 Sped. 
No. 524 1*5 To refresh and otherwise qualify themselves for 
their journey. 1749 FIELDING Tom Jones vi. iii, Moderation 
..can qualify us to taste many pleasures. 1817 SCOTT Rob 
Royx \\, Qualifying myself for my new calling. 1852 DICKENS 
Bleak Ho. xxxviii, I am qualifying myself to give lessons. 
1873 HAMERTON Intcll. Life in. i. (1875) 77 Men are qualified 
for their work by knowledge. 

absol. 1742 YOUNG Nt. Th. ix. 575 That strength, Which 
best may qualify for final joy, 

4. To make legally capable ; to endow with legal 
power or capacity ; to give a recognized status to 
(a person). 

1583 STUBBES Anat. Abns. n. (1882) 113 Would God all 
Ecclesiastical persons . . would nowe . . quallifie themselues, 
shewe obedience to Princes lawes. 1667 PEPVS Diary (1879) 
IV. 350 Is made one of the Duke s Chaplains, which qualifies 
him for two livings. 1767 BLACKSTONE Comm. II. 418 These 
game laws . , do indeed qualify nobody, except . . a game 
keeper, to kill game. 1862 MERIVALE Rom. Emp. (1865) IV. 
xxxvii. 291 He qualified others, by adding to their fortunes 
from his own bounty. 1889 Pall Mall G. 27 June 3/1 
A Royal Charter enabling it to qualify nurses as doctors 
are qualified . 

b. spec, by the administration of an oath. U.S. 

[1723 Act of Pennsylvania, Every brewer., shall bequalified 
by oath.. that he will not use any molasses, etc.] 1798 in 
Dallas Amer. Law Rep. II. 100 The court said they would 
order the jury to be qualified. 1800 M. CUTLER in Life, etc. 
(1888) II. 37 He [the Governor of Mass.] met the two Houses 
at 12, and was qualified. 

5. intr. (for refl.} To make oneself competent 
for something, or capable of holding some office, 

exercising some function, etc., by fulfilling some 
necessary condition ; spec, by taking an oath, and 
hence U.S. : To make oath, to swear to something 
(Bartlett, 1848). 

a 1588 TARLTON Jests (1844) p. xxv, Presently he can 
Qualifie for a mule or a mare, Or for an Alderman. 1790 
BURKE Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 384 All the ministers of state must 
qualify, and take this test. 1825 C. R. H. in Hone Every 
day Bk. 1. 1334 His lordship goes to church to qualify. 1849 
MACAULAY Hist. Eng. vi. II. 27 He could not legally con 
tinue to employ officers who refused to qualify. 1891 Law 
Reports, Weekly Notes u8/r It was his duty to qualify for 
the office of director by taking forty shares. 

f6. trans. Sc. Law. To establish by evidence. Obs. 

^1639 SPOTTISWOOD Hist. Ch. Scot. vi. (1677) 333 Hay 
compeired, and nothing being qualified against him, was 
upon suspicion confined, a 1670 SPALDING Tronb. (1850) I. 
358 The vther half [of the forfeited goods] to be givin to 
him who dilates the recepteris, and qualefeis the samen. 
1776 LD. THURLOW in Bos^velCs Johnson (1848) App. 817/2 
If the individual could qualify a wrong, and a damage 
arising from it. 

II. To modify in some respect. 

7. To modify (a statement, opinion, etc.) by any 
VOL. VIII. 



17 

limitation or reservation ; to make less strong or 
positive. 

1533 MORE /f/al. xxvii. Wks. 893/2 He hathe circumspectly 
. . qualyfyed and modered hys tale wyth thys woord (all). 
1551 PRINCESS MARY in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 177 The 
promise made, .by your Majesties counsell. .although they 
seeme now to quallefye and deny the thing, a 1661 FULLER 
Worthies (1840) III. 8 Whilst a prince he was undutiful to 
his father ; or to qualify the matter, over dutiful to his 
mother, whose domestic quarrels he always espoused, a 1731 
ATTERBURY (J.), My proposition I have qualified with the 
word, often ; thereby making allowance [etc.], 1790 BURKE 
Fr.Rw, Wks. V. 296 To observe whether. .1 might not find 
reasons to change or to qualify some of my first sentiments. 
iSssPRF.scoTT Philip II, i. viii. (1857) 146 Elizabeth received 
the offer of Philip s hand, qualified as it was, in the most 
gracious manner. 1883 Contemp. Rev. XL1II. 49 An 
avowal, which he qualifies by a subtle after-thought. 

absol. 1838 LYTTON Alice xi. v, The surgeon .. began to 
apologize to qualify. 

8. To moderate or mitigate, so as to reduce to 
a more satisfactory or normal condition ; esp. to 
render less violent, severe or unpleasant ; to lessen 
the force or effect of (something disagreeable). 

Extremely common in the i6-i7thc., with a great variety 
of objects ; now somewhat rare in comparison with 12 b. 

J 543-4 Act 35 Hen. / ///, c. 5 The greate peril and 
dangier of the kynges majesties subiectes, if the ^ame statute 
shulde not . . be tempered qualified or refourmcd. 1547 
BOORDK firev. Health 170 Qualyfie the heate of the Lyuer 
. . with the confection of Acetose. 1578 1 . N. tr. Con&lt;], II . 
India 229 Our men stoode in gr&lt; at perill . . if this war and 
mutenie had not soone bene qualified. 1608 WILI.KT Ih .vnpla 
Exod. 688 The incense was. .burned, .to qualifie the smell 
..from the sacrifices of (lesh. 1648 MAKKHAM Honscw. 
Card. in. viii. (1668) 68 Camomile., is sweet smelling, 
qualifying head-ach. 1664 H. POWKR Exp. Philos. in. 188 
Something . . that will abate and qualifie the rigour of this 
Conception. 1702 W. J. Bmyn s I oy. Levant xi. 51 This 
Civility of the Turks does in some measure qualify the 
Hardship of those who are confin d Prisoners in that Castle. 
1767 BLACKSTONE Comm. II. 147 Though they still are held 
at the will of the lord, ..yet that will is qualified, restrained, 
and limited. 1827 SCOTT Highl. Wido^vv, A voice in which 
the authority of the mother was qualified by her tenderness. 
1839 BAILEY Festns v, Qualifying every line which vice .. 
writes on the brow. 1856 R. A. VAUGHAN Mystics (1860) 
I. v. i. 116 His sincere piety, his large heart,, .always qualify, 
and seem sometimes to redeem, his errors. 

t b. To make less wrong or reprehensible. Obs. 
1749 FIELDING Tom Jones xui. xii. The frame of her mind 
was too delicate to bear the thought of having been guilty 
of a falsehood, however qualified by circumstances. 1776 
PAINE Com. Sense 76 It is.. the invasion of our country. . 
which conscientiously qualifies the use of arms. 

*t* c. To make proportionate to ; to reduce to. 
Obs. rare. 

1548 UDALL, etc. Erasm. Par. Lnke i. (R.), The Highest 
. .tempering and qualifying his infinite power and vertue to 
the measure and capacitie of mannes nature. 1604 Notting 
ham Kec. IV. 272, 20 H. fyne was ymposed. .which fyne was 
afterwardes . . qualefied to iiij li. 1641 MILTON Reform. ii. 
43 How to qualifie, and mould the sufferance and subjection 
of the people to the length of that foot that is to tread on 
their necks. 

t 9. To appease, calm, pacify (a person). Obs. 
(1540 tr. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden No. 29) 210 
Withowt much adoe they began to molly fy hir .. Whan the 
quene was thus qualyfyed [etc.]. 1579-80 NORTH Plutarch 
(1676) 488 Sertorius. .did qualifie him the best he could, and 
made him more mild and tractable. 1617 MIDDLETON & 
ROWLEY Fair Quarrel iv. i, When you have left him in 
a chafe, then I ll qualify the rascal. 1679 Trials Great, 
Berry, ftfc. 16 You being a Justice of the Peace may qualifie 
them [two men fighting]. 

flO. To bring into, or keep in, a proper condi 
tion ; to control, regulate, modulate. Obs. 

1579 LAN-GUAM Card. Health (1633) 624 The decoction of the 
roots.. doth qualifie the Liner. 1606 SHAKS. Tr. $ Cr. n. 
il. 118 Is your blood So madly hot, that no discourse of 
reason. .Can qualifie the same? 1647 N. BACON Disc. Gwt. 
Enjr. i. xvi. (1739) 30 This Election was qualified under 
a stipulation or covenant. 1688 PKNTON Guardian s Instruct. 
(1897) 15 The practice of these Rules will help qualifie a 
Life of Action such as yours must be. 

11. To modify the strength or flavour of (a liquid). 
1591 NASHE Prognostication Wks. 1883-4 U- 52 A Cuppe 

of Sack, . . so qualified with Suger, that they proue not 
rewmatick. 1633 T. ADAMS Exp. 2 Peter ii. 13 Poison may 
be qualified, and become medicinal. 1671 tr. Frejitf Voy. 
Mauritania 43 Having tasted the water,, .we mixed it with 
a little Aqua vita:, which we had brought with us instead 
of Wine, to qualifie it. 1748 SMOLLETT Rod. Rand. Ivi, 
The Squire .. called for his tea, which he drank .. qualified 
with brandy. 1821 BYRON Juan iv. liii, Tea and coffee 
leave us much more serious, Unless when qualified with 
thee, Cogniac! 1840 DICKENS Barn. Rndge xlv, [He] 
qualified his mug of water with a plentiful infusion of the 
liquor. 

fig&gt; 1697 DRVDEN Ess. Georgics in Virgil (1721) I. 199 
Greek, .rightly mixt and qualified with the Doric Dialect. 

12. f a. To affect (a person or thing) injuriously. 
Const, with. Obs. b. To abate or diminish (some 
thing good) ; to make less perfect or complete. 

1584 R. SCOT Disccrv, Witchcr, in. xv. (1886) 50 Foure old 
witches, who with their charms so qualified the Danes as 
they were thereby disabled. 1602 SHAKS. Ham. iv, vii. 114 
Loue is begun by Time : And . . Time qualifies the sparke 
and fire of it. 1639 FULLER Holy Warn. xvii. (1840) 72 To 
qualify the Christians joy for this good success, Jocelme . . 
was conquered and taken prisoner. 1644 BCLWER Chiron. 
52 The slanders by heartily wish their Hands qualified with 
some Chiragracall prohibition. - 1860 TYNDAI.L Glac. i. 
xxvii. 209 Thoughts which tended to qualify the pleasure. 
1870 DICKENS E. Drood viii, We had better not qualify our 
good understanding. 



QUALITY. 

t!3. intr. To qualify on, to submit quietly to. 

To qualify with, to come to terms \\ith. Obs. 

1754 RICHARDSON Grandison I. xxxiii. 230 What a slave 

had I been in spirit, could I have qualified on such villainous 

I treatment. 1797-1805 S. & HT. LEE Cantcrb. T. V. 494 

&lt; He. .qualifies With any passion which it is vicious to indulge. 



Qualifying (kwo-lifai,in), vhl. sb. [f. prec.+ 
-iMjl.] The action of tl 
senses. 



i of the vb. QUALIFY, in various 



iS74 R. SCOT Hop Card. (1578) Epistle, To deuise argu- 
I ment of priuate profit, to the qualifying of your diaries. 
1610 Gl JLLlM Heraldry in. vii. (1660) 135 The qualifying 
and allaying of the scorching heat of burning Agues. 1748 
i RICHARDSON CSarissa (1811) I. 124, I once thought a little 
i qualifying among such violent spirits was not amiss. 1794 
i J. HUTTON Phifos. Light, etc. 14 To suppose us knowing 
i heat by any other means, beside^ its effect in the qualifying 
. of bodies. 

Qualifying ^kv^ lifaijir^,///. a. [f, as prec. 
+ -1M1-.J That qualifies, in senses of the vb. 

1606 SIIAKS. Tr. .|j- t r. iv. iv. 9 My loue admits no quali 
fying crosse [nsre. emend, druss]. 1704 NOKKIS Ideal World 
u. iii. 192 Something, .so peculiarly qualifying and distin 
guishing. 1769 yisnins Lett . xxxv. 160 A qualifying measure 
would not be accepted. 1812 $&lt; GTT Fain. Lett. (1894) J. 
viii. 241 The good we meet with.. is always blended with 
qualifying bitterness. ifyoAthenxntn 26 Apr. 525 3 To pass 
a qualifying examination and to become a teacher. 

Hence Qua lifyingly adv. 

1831 BLAKE v Frcc-i&lt;&gt;iU 109 They qualifying!)- admit its 
force, by tailing it a difficulty. 

t Qua-litated, /&lt;*.//&. Obs.rare~\ [f. L. type 
*qndlitat-us + -KD 1 .] = QUALITIED. 

1662 J. CHAXDI.KU I an Hehuont s Oriat. 167 Moystness, 
and dryness are rather very Bodies themselves qualitated or 
endowed with qualities. 

Qualitative (kuylitrtiv), a. [ad. late I,. 
quaUtatTv-us (Cassiodorus ) : see QUALITY and -IVE. 
Cf. F. qualitatif, -ive (i5th c. .] Relating to, con 
nected or concerned with, quality or qualities. Now 
usually in implied or expressed opposition to 
QUANTITATIVE. 

1607 COLLINS Serin. (1608) 5 Fourthly, qualitative, from 
the dispositions of the persons them -Delves. 1652 GAULE 
Magastrom. 49 What have the qualitative influxes of the 
planets .. there to doe? #1703 ByRKlTT On N. T. Rom. 
xii. 2 This conversion and renovation is not a substantial, 
but a qualitative change. 1842 PAKNELL Client. Anal. 
(1845) 2 An examination .. which does not develop*; more 
than the nature or quality of the constituents, is termed 
a qualitative analysis. 1881 WKSTCOTT & HORT 6V. A . T. 
11-44 A numerical preponderance may have rightly to yield 
to a qualitative preponderance. 

Hence Qualitatively adv., in respect of quality. 

1681 FLAVKI, Mcth. Grace vi. 128 Faith may be considered 
qualitatively, as a saving grace. 1845 G. E. DAY tr. Sinn&gt;n 
Anint. Chetti. I. 321 The composition of the blood is here 
qualitatively changed. 1862 H. SPENCER First Princ. i. iv. 
S 26 (1875) 90 In consciousness the Unlimited and the Indi 
visible are qualitatively distinct. 

Qualitied (kwo-Htid), a. or///, a. Also 6-7 
qualited. ff. QUALITY fd. orz/. + -ED.] Furnished 
with a quality or qualities, in various senses of 
the sb. (Freq. in lyth c. ; chiefly as predicate, and 
with qualifying adv.). 

1600 HAKLUYT Voy. II. ii. 194 They were so well qualited 
in courage, experience, and discretion. 1616 T. SCOTT 
Christs Politician n Those men ..are conditioned and 
qualited like sheepe, innocent, harmelesse, simple. 1656 
STANLEY Hist. Philos. I. VIM. 112 In things properly qualited 
there is augmentation and diminution. 1728 MORGAN 
Algiers II. iv. 286 The mildest, the best qualitied . . Prince 
that ever existed. 1783 JOHNSON in Boswcll 23 Mar., Lord 
Southwell was the highest-bred man .. the most qualitied 
I ever saw. 1865 J. GROTE Moral Ideals (1876) 187 The 
mind is a qualitied unity. 1889 Harper s Mag. Jan. 184/2 
A dainty hand, and small,.. and qualitied Divinely. 

Hence Qua litiediiess rare~ l . 

1865 J. GROTE Explor. Philos. \. no Form of the higher 
description, .quality or qualitiedness. 

Qualitive, erron. f. QUALITATIVE, rare" 1 . 

1846 J. BAXTER Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4) I. 48 The one 
is called qualitive, . .The other is quantitive. 

Quality (kwo-liti), sb. Forms: 4-7 -He. 4-5 
-itee, 6 -yte, -itye, 6-7 -Hie, 7 quail-, 6- quality. 
[ME. qualite^ a. K. qualite (izth c.\ ad. L. qudli- 
tdt-em (formed by Cicero to render Gr. jrotoT?;?), f. 
qitalis of what kind : see -ITY.] 

I. Of persons (in i and 2 occas. of animals). 

1. Character, disposition, nature. Now rare. 

c 1290^. Eng. Leg. I. 312/433 pe planetes..3"men himal-so 
qualite to don so and so. Ibid. 435 Swuch qualite.. to beon 
lechor o^ur schrewe. 1390 GOWEH Con/. I. Prol. 35 Thus of 
his propre qualite The man . . Is as a world. 1535 LYNDESAY 
Satyre 247, I knaw, be Jour qualitie 5e want the gift of 
chastitie. 1553 BRENDE Q. Cnrtins 25 He vsed to euery 
nacion sondry exhortacions as he thought mete for their 
dispostcions and qualitie. a 1578 LiNDKSAY(Pitscottie) Chron. 
Scot. &lt;S. T. S.) I. io Knawin(g] of wemen . . That thay are 
not constant in tbair quallitie. 1632 I.ITHGOW Trai: vi. 298 
A Dromidore, and Camel differ much in quality. 1639 FORD 
Lady s Trial n\. iii, He deserves no wife Of worthy quality, 
who dares not trust Her virtue in. .any danger. 1847 EMER 
SON Poems (1857) 94 They her heralds be, Steeped in her 
quality. 1873 BROWNING Red Cott. Nt.-capif& Her quality 
was, caterpillar-like, To. .select a leaf And. .feed her fill. 
b. Capacity, ability, or skill, in some respect. 

In mod. use as an echo of Shaks., who prob. intended 
the word in sense 5. 

[1602 SHAKS. Ham. n, ii. 452 Come giue vs a tast of your 
quality: come, a passionate speech.] 1856 KANE Arct. 

3 



QUALITY. 

Expl. I. ii. 24 Hans had given me a touch of his quality by 
spearing a bird on ilie wing. 1863 DORAN Ann. Stage 369 
Thomas . . gave the stranger a hearty welcome, .. asked for 
a taste of his quality. 1871 BROWNING Pr. Hohenst. 1165 
Can t you contrive to operate at once, .. to shew Your 
quality i the world. 

C. Without article or poss. pron. : Excellence 
of disposition ; good natural gifts. (Cf. 9 c.) 

1606 SHAKS. Tr. $ Cr. iv. iv. 78 The Grecian youths are 
full of qualitie, Their louing well compos d, with guift of 
nature. 1607 HEYWOOD Wont. Killed \\. i, O, sir, disparage 
not your worth too much ; You are full of quality and faire 
desert. 1889 TYRWHITT in Universal Rev. 15 Feb. 251 One 
sharp temptation well resisted.. shows real moral quality. 
1894 SIR Ev. WOOD in Daily A eivs i Oct. 6/2 [Capt. Peel] 
had a singularly striking appearance, showing both in face 
and figure what is termed, in describing well-bred horses, 
as quality . 

2. A mental or moral attribute, trait, or charac 
teristic ; a feature of one s character ; t a habit. 

1533 FRITH AHSIU. More To Rdr., Wks. (1573) 4 A frende 
beholdeth all qualities and circumstaunces, his byith, 
bringyng vp, and what feates hee hath done all hys lyfe 
long. 1551 R. ROBINSON tr. Mart s Vtot&gt;. Ep. Cecil (Arb.) 
15 Youre godlye dysposytyon, and vertuous qualytyes. 
1602 MARSTON Ant. $ Mel. MI. Wks. 1856 I. 43, I hate 
not man, but man s lewd qualities. 1689-90 TEMPLE Ess. 
Heroic Virtue Wks. 1731 I. 208 Particular Qualities have 
been observed., in the same Families for several hundred 
Years, as Goodness, Clemency [etc.]. 1783 COWPER I alc- 
diction 31 In thee some virtuous qualities combine To fit 
thee for a nobler part. 1849 MACAULAY ///. Eng. vii. II. 
163 Nature had largely endowed William with the qualities 
of a great ruler. 1853 J. H. NEWMAN Hist. Sk. (1876) I. 
[II,] i. i. 30 The subtlety and perfidy, which .. were the 
qualities of his . . countrymen. 

b. An accomplishment or attainment. 

1584 LYLY Camj&gt;a$pe\. i, Diog. What can thy sons do? 
Syl. You shall see their qualities. Dance, sirrah ! 1607 
SHAKS. Tittion i. i. 125, I haue bred her at my deerest cost 
In Qualities of the best. .71674 CLARENDON (J.), He had 
those qualities of horsemanship, dancing and fencing which 
accompany a good breeding. 1780 COWI-ER Progr, Err, 
423 A just deportment, manners graced with ease, .. Are 
qualities that seem to comprehend [etc.]. 1882 Daily Tel. 
17 May, The fielding, .justified the high reputation for this 
quality which the. .colonial teams, .have enjoyed. 

c. Law. A special or characteristic feature. 
1818 CRUISE Digest (ed. 2) I. 155 A tenant in tail .. has 

eight qualities or privileges. 

o. Hank or position in (a) society. Now rare. 

a 1400-50 Alexander $&&amp;gt;$ Lo ! so J&gt;e quele of qwistsumnes 
my qualite has changid. 1456 SIR G. HAVE Law Arms 
(S. T. S.) 162 To consider, .the state and the qualitee of the 
persouns. 1571 G. BUCHANAN Admonition (S. T. S.) 21 It 
may seame .. that I . . pas myne estait, being of sa meane 
qualitie. 1604 E. G[RIMSTONE] D^Acosta s Hist. Indies v. 
viii. 350 Sometimes this minister had other different liabites, 
according to the quallitie of the dead. 1676 HOBBES Iliad 
Pref. (1686) 2, Readers of Poesie (which are commonly Per 
sons of the best Quality). 1726 DE FOE Hist. Devil n. v. 
(1840) 235 The priests of Apollo were .sometimes of no mean 
quality. 1823 SCOTT Peveril i, A gentleman of middling 
quality. 1873 BROWNING Red Cott. Nt.-cap 1528 What 
quality, what style and title, eh ? 

fig 79 1 WOLCOTT (P. Pindar) Remonstrance Wks. 1812 
II. 453 Hunger. . Is reckon d now a fellow of bad quality : 
Not deem d a gentleman. 

fb. concr. A body of persons of a certain rank. 
Obs. rare *, 

1636 E. DACRES tr. Machiawets Disc. Livy 1. 16 It was com 
pos d only of two of these forenamed qualities, that is to say, 
of the Principality and Nobility. 

4. Nobility, high birth or rank, good social 
position ; chiefly in phr. man, woman, gentleman^ 
lady ) per son, people of quality. Now arch. 

*57&lt;H8o NORTH Plutarch (1595) 875 He had all the men 
of qualitie his sworne enemies. 1625 BACON ss. t Trav. 
(Arb.) 523 Let him .. procure Recommendation, to some 
person of Quality. 1671 LADY MARY BERTIE in ut/t Rep. 
Hist. MSS. Conim. App. v. 22 There are no men of quality 
but the Duke of Monmouth ; all the rest are gentlemen. 
17*2 DE FOE Col. Jack (1840 18 My new friend was a thief 
of quality, and a pickpocket above the ordinary rank. 1771 
MACKENZIE Man. Feet. xl. (1803) 85 The count, for he was 
of quality, was solicitous to return the obligation. 1849 
MACAULAY Hist. Eng. viii. II. 273 Many persons of quality 
sate the whole day in their carriages. 1871 MORLKY 
Vaxwenargites in Crit. Misc. Ser. i. (1878) 9 High enough 
to command the admiration of people of quality. 

b. concr. People of good social position. Now 
arch, or vulgar and dial. 

1693 Humours Town 114 Walk Bare-headed to his 
Master s Daughter, in imitation of Quality. 1706 ESTCOURT 
Fair Exanip. v. i, Did not you tell me . . that you was 
acquainted with all the Quality. 1753 RICHARDSON Sir C. 
Grandison III. ii. (1781) 15, I have looked out among the 
quality for a future husband for her. 1769 WFSLEY in Wks. 
1872 III. 370 A large company of Quality {as they called 
them) came. 1824 BYRON Juan xvr. Ixiv, She was country 
]? or " and bred And knew no better. .Than to wax white- 
blushes are for quality. 1843 LEVER J. Ilinton xl, I was 
standing .. among all the grand generals and the quality. 
1889 John Bull 2 Mar. 142/2 He was fond of quality, and 
quality was very fond o him. 

fo. Profession, occupation, business, esp. that of 
an actor, b. Fraternity ; those of the same pro 
fession ; esp. actors as a body. Obs. 



. ^it. 6 ui3L, rfuu a uiiiii 01 sucn periection, 
we doe in our quality much want. 1603 J. DA VIES J/VV 



18 

profession, I do accuse the quality of treason. 1633 in A. 
W. Ward Hist. Dram. Lit. II. 324 It may herve .. for the 
improvement of the quality, which hath received some 
brushings of late. 

f C. Party, side. Obs. rare*- 1 . 

1596 SHAKS. i Hen. IV, iv. iii. 36 Because you are not of 
our qualitie, But stand against vs like an Enemie. 

6. Title, description, character, capacity. Freq. 
in phr. in (the] quality of. Now rare. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 26682 Man agh to telle hir qualite, sib 
or freind or quat sco be. a 1626 BACON Advice to Villiers 
(J.\ The attorney of the dutchy of Lancaster partakes of 
both qualities, partly of a judge, .and partly of an attorney 
general, a 1648 LD. HERBERT Hen. VIII (1683) 38 Maxi 
milian ..came to the King, in the quality of his Soldier. 
1664 BUTI.ER Hud. n. iii. 338 He serv d his Master In 
quality of Poetaster. 1711 &DDISOH5/K*. No. 127 r i Such 
Packets as I receive under the Quality of Spectator. 1734 
tr. Rollins Anc. Hist. (1827) IX. 66 They paid respect to 
his quality of deputy. 1821 SCOTT Keniliv. xxx, Leicester 
..rode on her Majesty s right hand.. in quality of her host. 
1864 D. G. MITCHELL Sev. Star. 82 To understand that 
I had come in the professed quality of Consul, 
f b. A part or character (acted). Obs. rare~ l . 

1566 ADLINGTON Apnleins 109 When the people was de 
sirous to see me play qualities, they caused the gates to be 
shutte, and such as entred in shoulde pay. 
H. Of things. 

7. An attribute, property, special feature or charac 
teristic. Primary, secondary^ etc. qualities : see 
the adjs. Of a ship : (see quot. 1867). 

1340 Ayenl. 153 To be bod ye of man comep alle eueles uor 
be destempringe of bise uour qualites ober of hise uour 
humours. 1533 EI.YOT Cast. Hctthe (1539) 33a, But no we 
to the qualities of water. 1551 TURNER Herbal \. Aivb, 
The qualites of it answer nothing unto the qualyties of 
wormwode pontyke in Galene. 1604 E. G[RIMSTONE] 
D Acosta s Hist. Indies vi. xiii. 459 According to the 
qualities and wealth uf the Countrie. 1671 R. BOHUN Wind 
165 The judgment to be made concerning the Qualitys of 
Winds.. is very various and fallible. 1725 WATTS Logic \. 
iii. 4 Ideas, with Regard to their Qualities, . . are either 
clear and distinct, or obscure and confused [etc.]. 1854 L. 
LLOYD Scandinavian Aifc. I. 231 The eatable qualities of 
the Bothnian salmon. 1867 SMYTH Sailor s \\ T ord-bk. t 




in some expression of what is decent . . or of what is bright. 
tb. A manner, style. (Cf. 9 b.) Obs. rare. 
1596 SHAKS. Merch. f. in. ii. 6 Hate counsailes not in such 
a qualitie. 1651 Fuller s Abel Rediv.,C(nvper(i$6j) 11.307 
| The parishioners, .built and adorned the church in as good 
a quality as any round about it. 

t c. A habit ; a power or faculty. Obs. rare. 

1647 FULLER Good Th. in Worse T. (1841) 98 Jordan had 

a quality in the first month to overflow all his banks. 1663 

GERBIER Counsel b iij a, If it had a speaking quality, your 

Grace would hear its. .Alembick sing the Gold its joy. 

fd. Concretely: A substance of a certain nature; 
an essence. Obs. rare. 

1704 SWIFT Batt. Bk. Misc. (1711) 257 An atramentous 
Quality, of most malignant Nature, was seen to distil from 
his Lips. 1823 J. BADCOCK Dom. A mus-em. 21 The wood . . 
throws out its volatile qualities, aquaeous and acidulous, 
into the respective tubes. 

8. The nature, kind, or character (&lt;3/" something). 
Now restricted to cases in which there is comparison 

j (expressed or implied) with other things of the same 
kind ; hence, the degree or grade of excellence, etc. 
possessed by a thing. f/ the quality of-, (cf. 6). 
c 1374 CHAUCER Troylns in. Prol. 31 Ye knowe al f&gt;ilke 
couered qualite Of (nng which bat folk on wondren so. 
c 1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) xiii. 59 A man may gyffe no 
couenable penaunce bot if he knawe be qualitee and be 
quantitee of J&gt;e synne. 1509 HAWES Past. Pleas, xxm. 
(Percy Soc.) 106 After the qualyte it doth take effecte. 1570 
DEE Math. Pref. 8 An other liquid Medicine I haue : whose 
Qualitie is heate, in the first degree. 1650 BAXTER Saints 
R. i. iv. (1662) 22 It is so little I know of mine own soul, 
either its cjuiddity or quality. 1697 DRYDEN Virg. Gcorg. 
in. 237 This flying Plague (to mark its quality;) Oestros 
the Grecians call. 1794 J. HUTTON Philos. Light, etc. 272 
This principle of fire moves, in the quality of light, with the 
most amazing velocity. 1841-4 EMERSON Ess., Prudence 
Wks. (Bohn) I. 95 There is more difference in the quality 
of our pleasures than in the amount. 1842 Miss MITFORD 
in L Estrange Life (1870) III. ix. 142 The perfection of 
cunning^ is to conceal its own quality. 1879 HARLAN Eye* 
sight viii. 1 1^ It is on account of the quality, rather than the 
size, of English print, that it is usually so much pleasanter 
to read than American. 

tb. Nature, wiih reference to origin; hence, 
cause, occasion. Obs. rare. 

1606 SHAKS. Tr. $ Cr. iv. i. 44 Giue him note of our 
approach, With the whole quality whereof, I feare We shall 
be much vnwelcome. 1607 Tinion in. vi. 117 Know you 
the quality of Lord Timons fury? 

9. Without article : a. That aspect of things 
under which they are considered in thinking or 
speaking of their nature, condition, or properties. 

The notion of quality includes all the attributes of a thing, 
except those of relation and quantity. Quality is the 
third of the Aristotelian categories. 

"533 ELYOrCVw*. Helthe (1539) i6b, Qualitie. .is the state 
thereof, as Hotteor cold, moist or dry. 1656 STANLEY Hist. 
Philos. I. v. 70 If quality be void of matter, it must likewise be 
void of corporeity. 1727 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v., The antient 
school-philosophers distinguish quality in the general, .into 
essential and accidental. 1829 JAS. MILL Hum. Mind ( 1 869) 
II. xiv. ii. 60 Quality is used as the generical name of every 
thing in objects, for which a separate notation is required. 
1884 tr. Lotze*s Metaph. 45 The question is renewed as to the 
actual essence which, .lies behind this surface of Quality. 



QUALM. 

b. Gram. Manner of action (cf. 7 b), as denoted 
by an adverb ; chiefly in phr. ad-verb of quality. 

1530 PALSGR. Introd. 38 The frenche men .. forme the.yr 
adverbes of qualite by addynge to of went. Ibid. 144 Some 
[adverbs] betoken qualite, and serve to declare .. howe a 
dede is done, a 1637 B. JONSON Eng. Gram. \. xxi, All 
adverbs of quality, .being formed from nouns, for the most 
part, by adding ly. 1845 STODDART in Encycl. Metrop. 
(1847) 1. 122/1 There is no difference in grammatical use 
between . . an adverb of quantity, and an adverb of quality. 
1872 MORRIS Engl. Accid. xiv. 193. 

C. Peculiar excellence or superiority. (Cf. I c.) 

1874 TYRWHITT Sketch, Club 255 Quality of colour means 
purity or truth of hue. 1891 Speaker 2 May 533/1 The 
book. .has. .more quality and distinction than four-fifths of 
the novels which come under our notice. 



10. In special uses (of senses 8 and 9). 

a. Logic. Of propositions : The condition of 
being affirmative or negative. Of concepts : Com 
parative clearness or distinctness. 

J S94 BLUN DEVIL Arie Loeicke in. \, (Cent.), How is a simple 
proposition divided according to qualitie ? Into an affirma 
tive and negative proposition. 1697 tr. Bitrgersdiciits his 
Logic i. xxx. 117 In Regard of Quality, it is that an Enuncia 
tion is divided .. into Affirming and Denying. 1725 WATTS 
Logic (1726) 156 If two Universals differ in Quality they are 
Contraries. 1837-8 SIR W. HAMILTON Lect. Logic ix. (1860) 
I. 158 It is this perfection or imperfection which constitutes 
the logical Quality of a concept. 1843 MILL Logic 11. ii. 
i (1856) 189 What are called the quantity and quality 
of the propositions. 1864 Bow EN Logic v. 120 We thus 
ascertain the Quality of the Judgment, or whether it is 
affirmative or negative. 

b. Law. Of an estate : The manner in which it 
is to be held or enjoyed. 

1818 CRUISE Digest (ed. 2) II. 354 The alteration in the 
particular estate, which would destroy a contingent re 
mainder, must amount to an alteration in its quantity, and 
not in its quality. 1841 Penny Cycl. XIX. 46/1. 

C. Physics. That which distinguishes sounds 
quantitatively the same ; timbre. 

1865 Q. Jrnl. Sc. 592 Though [certain sounds are] the same 
for musical purposes, in all other respects the quality is 
different. 1872 HUXLEY Phys. vii. 183 The quality of a 
voice treble, bass, tenor, c. 1881 BROADHOUSE Mus, 
Acoustics 77 The most uncultivated ear would perceive a 
difference of quality. 

11. A particular class, kind, or grade of anything, 
as determined by its quality. 

1835 URE Philos. Mamtf. 324, 2$. $d. for spinning the 
same quality. 1866 G. MACDOSALD Ann. Q. Neighb. xiii. 
(1878) 253 A quality of dialogue which indicated thought. 

III. f!2. ~ QUALIFICATION i. Sf. Obs. rare. 

1622 Bitrgk Rec. Aberdeen iSpald. Cl.) II. 375 The said 
Mr. James Ross .. acceptit of the said stipend with the 
qualitie and conditioun aboue mentioned. 1714 W. FORBES 
Jrnl. Sess. Pref. 7 Advocates admitted with a quality 
that they should not take in hand to plead in any.. difficult 
cause without, .assistance. 

IV. 13. attrib. and Comb, (chiefly sense 4), as 
quality-acquaintance, -air, -blood, -end, -friend, 
horse, lady, living, -pride, etc. ; quality-like, -mad, 
adjs. ; quality-binding, a kind of worsted tape 
for binding carpets (Jam. 1808). 

1594 CAREW Huartes Exam. Wits vi. (1596) 77 Neither 
the vnderstanding, nor any other accident, can be qualiti- 
like. 1701 FARQUHAR Sir H. Wildair \\. i. Wks. (Rtldg.) 
545, I thought something was the matter; I wanted of 
quality-air. 1706 ESTCOURT Fair Examp. \. \. 10 Your 
Quality Lady, when she speaks, tis thus. 1751 SMOLLETT 
Per. Pic. (1779) II. Ixviii. 238 The influence of Peregrine s 
new quality-friends. Ibid. III. Ixxxii. 274 Peregrine found 
some ladies of his quality-acquaintance. 1768 Woman of 
Honor I. 134 She is so stark quality-mad. 1784 R, BACK 
Bar/tarn Downs I. 233 My Lady s passion for quality 
living. 18x9 Metropolis I If. 149 The Cjuality-end of the 
town. 1837 CARLYLE Fr. Rev. II. 11. ii, Young .. men, 
with quality-blood in them, poisoned with quality-pride. 
1891 Field 7 Mar. 334/2 Quite a quality horse is Gratian. 

Hence Qua lityless a., having no quality or 
qualities ; Quality ship, social position (nonce-tvd.). 

1859 MOZLEV Ess., Indian Corners. (1878) II. 313 Brahm 
is a motionless, characterless, qualityless, colourless essence. 
1865 Dublin University Mag. 1.6 He dressed with regard 
to his qualityship. 1893 J. ORR Chr. Virw God $ W. iv. 
146 An absolutely qualityless matter. .is unthinkable. 

Quality, v. rare. Also 6 qualit-. [f. prec.] 
trans, fa. To furnish with a quality or qualities. 
Obs. b. To rate at a certain quality or value. 

X 579 J JONES Present. Bodie fy Soule Ep. Ded. 2 By these 
three they be all qualited. Motion ingendreth, Light 
shapeth and sheweth, Influencedisposeth orqualiteth. 1813 
BATCHELOR Agric.Surv. Bedfordsh. 236 The warren con 
tained 878 acres, much of which was qualified at gs. to los. 
per acre. 

Qualiver, -vre, qualliver, obs. ff. CALIVEB. 

Quall(e, obs. forms of WHALE. 

Quallefy, -ify, obs. forms of QUALIFY. 

f Quallmire = QUAGMIRE (q. v.). Obs. rare - . 

1553 BALE Gardiner s De Vera Obed. B viij b, Who so 
euer..goeth about to fette it [truth] out of mennes puddles 
and quail myres [v.r. qualmires}. 

t Qua*Uy, a&gt; Obs. rare. [Of obscure origin.] 
Of wine : Turbid, cloudy. 

a 1700 B. E. Diet. Cant. Crew, Qually-Wines l Turbulent 
and Foul. 1703 Art $ Myst. Vintners 22 Without good 
Fermentation, they become Qually, (i. e. Cloudy). 

t Qualm, sb^- Obs. Forms: 1-2 cwealm, 
2-3 cwalm, (3 cu-), 2-4 qualm, 3 quelme, 4 
qw, qualme,6 6V.quhalm,qualim. [OE. avta/r/t 
death, slaughter, pestilence, = OS. qualm, OHG. 



QUALM. 

qu-, chiialm (MHG. qualm anguish) ; f. *kwal-, 
ablaut-var. of *kwel- to die : see QUELE, QUELL.] 

1. General or widespread mortality of men or 
animals; plague, pestilence. 

In OE. also used of the (violent) death of a single person. 

r 1000 /Ki.FRic Horn. II. 122 Micel cwealni wear5 ba;.s 
folces. fl id, 192 Cwealni on heora orfe. c 1125 (9. E. Chron. 
(Laud MS.) an. 1125 Hunger & cwealm on men & on erue. 
CI205 LAY. 31877 pe qualm muchele |&gt;e wes on moncunne. 
a 1250 Owl &lt;$ Night. 1 155 Thu bodest cualm of orwe. a 1340 
HAMPOLE Psalter cv. 29 And finees .stode & quemyd & }?e 
qualm left, c 1386 CHAUCER Knt. s T. 1156 A thousand 
slayn and nat oon of qualm ystorue. 
b. Loss or damage. 

? 1*1366 CHAUCER Raui. Rose 357 Ywys, great qualme [F. 
grant morie] ne were it noon, Ne synne, although her lyf 
were gon. 1513 DOUGLAS sEneis x. i. 31 Quhen the fers 
burgh of Cartage To Romys bpumlis . . Ane huge myscheif 
and gret quhalm [rd. 1553 qualim] send sail. 

2. altrib., as qualm-house, -stow. 

c 725 Corpus Gloss. 2 Calvariac locus, cualmstou. c 1000 
J^LFRIC Horn. II. 254 Da cempan hine 5el;eddon to Sasre 
cwealm-stowe. a 1225 Aticr. K. 106 pe munt of Caluarie . . 
was J)e cwalmsteou. Ibid, 140 Iput in one pristine, & bitund 
ase in one cwalm huse. 

t Qualm, sb.- Obs. rare \ [App. imitative ; 
cf. &lt;j. galtn sound, noise.] Croak. 

c 1374 CHAUCER Troylus v. 382 Augurye of thise foweles. . 
As ravenes qualm, or schrychynge of thise owles. 

Qualm (kwam, kwgm), sb? Forms : 6 quam- 
me (?calme), 6-7 qualme, quaurae, qua(i)me, 
7quawme,quaem,6-qualm. [Of obscure origin : 
in form and sense identical with Da. kvalme, 
f kvalm, Sw. qualm, but these are app. not native 
words. Cf. G. (now dial.) qualm (kalni) swoon, 
faint, unconscious state (: MHG. twalm: see 
DWALM sb.), and G. qualm (whence Da. kvalm, 
Sw. qvalni*) vapour, steam, close air. 

OE. cwealm QUALM j/ .l had the sense pain , torment , 
(see quots. in Bosw.-Toller), and some instances of qualm in 
i6-i;th c. use might conceivably mean pain , pang ; but 
historical evidence of connexion is wanting, and the sense 
of sick fit , sickness is possible in all the cases.] 

1. A (sudden) feeling or fit of faintness, illness, 
or sickness. (Now restricted to cases in which 
the seat of the disorder is in the stomach, but 
formerly in somewhat wider use.) 

c 1530 R. COPLAND Jyl of Brentfords Test. 233 With 
qualmes & stytches it doth me torment, That all my body 
is tome and rent. 1563 JEWEL Rcfl. Harding (1611) 52 
If any quanie or sicknesse happen to fall vpon him. 1594 
T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acaii. \\. 139 Such as haue some 

Tiaume about their heart, so that they faint and sowne. 1683 
RYON Way to Health 27 It makes the Stomach sick. .and 
sickish Qualms to arise. 1740 SOMERVILLE Hobbinol HI. 219 
The sickly Qualms That grieve her Soul. 1829 LYTTON 
Devereux n. v, Has the bottle bequeathed thee a qualm or 
a head-ache. 1874 BUKNAND My time xxxii. 326 Breeze 
enough for sailing, . . no qualms to interfere with appetite. 

2. transf. a. A fit of sickening fear, misgiving, 
or depression ; a sudden sinking or faintness of 
heart. Now rare. 

" 1555 RIDLEY in Foxe A. $ M. in. (1596) 446 The weake 
manne of God., will have now and then such thoughtes and 
quaumes (as they call them) to runne ouer his hart. 1624 
La KEEPER WILLIAMS in Fortesc. Papers (Camden) 203 
Acertayne qualme came over his stomacke to be ofajudge 
noe Judge. 17x2 ARBUTHNOT John Bull in. iii, Many a 
doubt, many a qualm, overspread his clouded imagination. 
1792 MARY WOLLSTONECR. Rig/its Worn. v. 236, [IJ soon 
heard, with the sickly qualm of disappointed hope. .that she 
was no more. 1861 Sat. Re- . 21 Dec. 636 Apt to leave 
qualms and misgivings on the sensitive . . temperament. 

b. A strong scruple of conscience ; a painful 
doubt or consciousness of acting wrongly. 

1649 MILTON Eikon. xxviii. 240 Unedified consciences apt 
to engage their Leaders in great affaires and then, upon 
a sudden qualm and swimming of their conscience, betray 
them. 1687 T. BROWN Saints in Uproar Wks. 1730 I. 77 
So strangely troubled with qualms of conscience. 1749 
FIELDING Tout Jones vi. xiii, It was absurd . . to affect any 
qualms about this trifle. 1806 JEFFERSON Writ. (1830) IV. 
55 One qualm of principle . . I do feel. 1863 KINGLAKE 
Crimea (1877) II. xiv. 241 It was natural that some of the 
members of the Government should have qualms. 

C. A fit or sudden access of some quality, prin 
ciple, etc. (Now only with suggestion of prec.) 

a 1626 BP. ANDRF.WES Serin., Repent, ff Fasting (1661) 170, 
I doubt ours hath been rather a flash, a qualme, a brunt 
than otherwise. 1655 FULLER C/i. Hist. in. v. 55 Although 
this qualm of Loyalty took this Church for the present. 
1655 JER. TAYLOR Guide Depot. (1719) 125 If the Fit or 
Qualm of my Devotion holds out longer. 1820 W. IRVING 
Sketch Bk. II. 282 Immediately after one of these fits of 
extravagance, he will be taken with violent qualms of 
economy. 1873 BROWNING Red Cott. Nt.-cap 269 Had he 
a devotion-fit? Clara grew serious with like qualm. 

3. Comb., as qualm-sick adj. 

1718 Entertainer No. 30. 202 [They] grew qualm-sick at 
the Common Prayer. 1758 Mickmakis Q- Marichects 55 She 
. ; blows the smoak towards his nostrils, even sometimes so 
violently, as to make him qualm-sick. 1880 BURTON Queen 
Anne II. xi. 189 Qualm-sick stomachs of., self-conceited 
hypocrites. 

t Qualm, sb* Obs. rare- 1 , [var. of W AIM, 
perh. after G. qualm steam.] The act of boiling. 

599 A. M. tr. Gabelhouers Bk. Physickc 4/1 Let it seeth 
on the fyer one qualme or two. 

Qualm, v.l [Connected with QUALM sb. A Cf. 
Da. kvalme to have a qualm, and G. (now dial.) 
qualnien (kalmeii) to swoon, be unconscious.] 



19 

f 1. inlr. To have a qualm or qualms. (Cf. 
QUALM ING vbl. sb. and///, a.) Obs. 

1565 COOPER Thesaurus, Dcficere, I faynte, sounde, or 
qualme for heate. 1603 FLORIO tr. Sfoitttugnt III. xiii. 
(1897) VI. 253 My stomacke begins to qualme, my head 
feeleth a violent aking. 

2. a. trans. To make sick. b. absol. To induce 
qualms, rare. 

1611 BEAUM. & FL, Scorrtful Lady iv. i, How I grew 
qualm d in love. 1713 Gentleman Instructed in. viii. 434 
Envy qualms on his Bowels, Prodigality on his Purse. 1884 
G. H. BOUGHTON in Harper s Mag. Oct. 701/1 If one is . . 
qualmed by the show of. . confectionery. 

t Qualm, v:* Obs. rare- 1 , [var. of WALM, 

pcrh. after G. qualmen to steam.] To boil. 

1599 A. M. tr. Gal dlwuer s Bk. Physicke 8/2 Take thre 
quartes of Lye. .and let it qualme a little on the fyer. 

Qua lniiness. [f. QUALMY + -NESS.] The 
condition of being qualmy ; nausea. 

1778 J. ADAMS Diary 19 Feb., Wks. 1851 III. 98 The 
smell of the ship, .or any other offensive smell will increase 
the qualminess. 1884 Miss DILLWYN Jill II. xi. 181 The 
swell made my qualminess increase. 

t Qua lming, rhl. sb. Obs. rare. [f. QUALM 
f. 1 ] The fact of having a qualm or qualms. 

1565 COOPER Th -saitnis, Dcfectio, .. the quaulmyng or 
sownyng of women after conception. 1596 BAHKOUGH Meth. 
Physick 450 It taketh away qwalining and ouercasting of 
the hart. 

t Qua-lining, ///. a. Obs. [f. as prec.] a. 
That has a qualm or qualms, b. Of the nature of 
a fit or sudden access (cf. QUALM sb. l 2 cX 

1576 FLEMING tr. Cains Dogs in Arb. Garner III. 267 To 
succour and strengthen quailing and qualming stomachs. 
*35 QUAKLES Kmbl. v. ii. 36 Let lesses sov raigne Flow r 
perfume my qualming brcst. 1643 MILTON Divorce Introd. 
(1851) 6 Till they get a little cordial sobriety to settle their 
qualming zeal. 

Qualmire : see QUALLJIIRE. 
Qualmish (kwa-mij, kwg-mij), a. [f. QUALM 
sb.* + -ISH .] 

1. Of persons : Affected with a qualm or qualms ; 
tending, or liable, to be so affected. 

1548 UDALI. F.rastn. Par. Luke Pref. 3 Our soule is 
qualmishe ouer this meate. 1599 SHAKS. Hen. V, v. i. 22, 
I am qualmish at the smell of Leeke. 1670 DKYDKN Tyrnn. 
Love iv. i. Qualmish and loathing all you had before : VL-I 
with a sickly Appetite to more. 1748 SMOLLETT Rod. 
Ram/. Ixix, My dear angel has been qualmish of late. 1816 
SCOTT Fanl. Lett. 25 Dec. (1894) I. xii. 388 The. .dog arrived 
.. a little lean and qualmish however after his sea voyage. 
1860 MOTLEY Nctlurl. (1868) I. viii. 521 Elizabeth was not 
desirous of peace., she was qualmish at the very suggestion. 

2. Of feelings, etc. : Of the nature of a qualm. 
1798 Sporting Mag. XII. 195, I began to feel some very 

qualmish symptoms, 1860 T. MARTIN Horace 217 Our 
qualmish sickness drown In Caecuban divine ! 

3. Of things : Apt to produce qualms, rare. 
1826 DISRAELI l~h&gt;. Grey\\. i, It is like a qualmish liqueur 

in the midst of a bottle of wine. 

Hence Qua lmislily aJv. ; Qualmishness. 

a 1650 MAY Satir. Puppy (1657) 105 She would be as 
leacherous as the Mountaine-Goate, had not Natures 
qualmishnesse proved a strong contradiction to her desire. 
1844 ALII. SMITH Adv. Mr. Ledbury ii. (1886) 8 On approach 
ing the Foreland the first sensations of qualmishness became 
apparent. 1845 W. CORY Lett, ff Jrnls. (1897) 32 Think 
ing about it keenly and qualmishly. 

Qualmy (kwa-mi, kw9 mi), a. Also 6 quamie. 
[f. QUALM s6.s + -Y.] = QUALMISH. 

1562 LEIGH Armorie (1597) 129 Neyther abounding in hole 
desire, neither oppressed with quamie colde. 1600 S. 
NICHOLSON Acolastus (1876) 38 Astonish! in a qualmy 
traunce. 1846 LANDOR Exam. Shaks. Wks. II. 274, I my 
self did feel queerish and qualmy. 1884 Miss DILLWYN Jill 
II. xi. 178 The mere smell of it makes one feel qualmy. 

Hence Qua Imyish c;.. somewhat qualmy. 

1831 Blaclni . Mag. XXX. 975 With a queerish and 
qualmyish feeling. 

II Qnaltagh. (kwa-ltax). [Manx, also written 
quaaltagh, f. qttaail (= Ir. and Gael, comhdhail) 
meeting.] The first person one meets after leav 
ing home on some special occasion ; also, the 
first person entering a house on New Year s Day, 
the first-foot. 

1891 MOORE Folk-lore Isle of Man 103 It was considered 
fortunate if the tjjtaltagh were a person .. of dark com 
plexion. 1894 HALL CAINE Manxman 59, 1 should be first 
foot here, only I m no use as a qualtagh. 

Quam, obs. form of WHOM. 

Quamash (kwamse J, kwo mseJX See also 
CAMAS. [N. American Indian.] A North Ameri 
can liliaceous plant (Camassia esculent^), the bulbs 
of which are used for food by the American 
Indians. Eastern quamash (see quot. 1868). 

1814 Lewis ft Clarke s Exp. (1893) 958 The Chopunnish 
are now dispersed in villages, .for the purpose of collecting 
quamash. 1868 Rep. U. .V. Commissioner Agric. (1869) 452 
The plant [Camus] is otherwise known as the eastern 
quamash, or wild hyacinth, and in botanical nomenclature is 
Scilla Fraseri. 1882 Gardtn 13 May 323/3 The white 
Camassia.. [is] not nearly so showy as the blue Quamash. 

Quame, var. of QUEME, v. ; obs. f. QUALM sb. 

tQuamire. Obs. Also 6 -myre, -rnier, 8 
dia whamire. [?var. of quail- or quavemit i". 
see QUAGMIRE, and cf. Sc. quaia-mlre s.v. QUAW.] 
A quagmire, bog. Alsoy?^. 

I55S EUEN Decades 99 Muddy marysshes full of suche 
quamyres that men are oftentymes swalowed vp in them. 



QUANT. 

573 Tt-ssER Hush (1878) 75 For qu.tmicr pet bootes. 1587 
GOLDING DC Mornay in. 32 If we wil get out of the Quamyre 
of our sinnes. Ibid. xix. 302 Orpheus . . as for the wicked 
..burieth them in a quamire. 1703 THORI:SHV Let. to Ray 
27 Apr. (E. D. SJ, Wkamire, a quagmire. 

Quamoclit (kw;e-rm&gt;klit). [Corruption of 
Mexican qnamo chitl {//i = t|\ f. qua-, comb, form 
of qziaiutl tree. + -mochitl, of unknown meaning. 

The erroneous form quamoclit, found as early as 1689 in 
Tournefort s Sc/tola Botanica^ is the basis of imaginary 
etymologies from Greek and Sanskrit.] 

A sub-genus of climbing plants with brilliant 
flowers found in the tropical parts of America 
and Asia, belonging to the genus Ipoincca. (For 
merly regarded as a distinct genus.) 

1731 MILLKR Card. Diet, s.v., Quamoclit with very fine, 
cut, winged Leaves, .. called in Harbudoes S\veet-\Villiam. 
1753 CHAMBHRS Cycl. .V////., The species of quamoclit, 
enumerated by Mr. Tournefurt, are these [etc.]. Ihiii., 
Quamoclit differs from bindweed, or convolvulus, in the 
shape of the flower. 1755 Gcntl. Mag. XXV. 408 As to 
specimens I sent you of the bastard quamoclil [printed 
quarnoclifj. 1841 Penny Cycl. XIX. 193/1 Quamoclit .. 
vul^aris is common in every part of India. 1892 BENTHAM 
^ HOOKER Brit. Flora (ed. 6) 305 The exotic genus Ipomo:a, 
including Pharbitis and Quamoclit. .supplies some of our 
most beautiful greenhouse and hothouse climbers. 

Quan, obs. form of GUAX, WHKN. 

Quandary (kwymle&gt;ri, kwo-mlari), sb. Also 
6 quandare, -arye, 6-7 -arie, 8-9 quondary. 
[Of unknown origin ; in common use from c 1580. 

Possibly a corruption of some term of scholastic Latin. 
The suggestions that it is ad.F. &lt;///&lt; dirai-je what shall 
I say of it? that it represents MR ii&lt;and&gt;-cth, or is an 
abbrev. of hypodwiidry, are (apart from other considera 
tions) condemned by the fact that the original stressing is 
quandary. Recent diets, favour qiia niiary, given by John 
son (who calls it a low word ) and Webster, but not accepted 
by Sheridan, Walker, or Smart.] 

A state of extreme perplexity or uncertainty ; 
a dilemma causing (great) mental agitation or dis 
tress ; fa ticklish plight. Freq. in phr. in a 
(ffreat, sad, etc.) quandary. 

1579 LYLY EvpJnies (Arb.) 45 Kuphues.. departed, leaving 
this olde gentleman in a great quandarie. 1582 STANV- 
iit-Rsr Mncis iv. (Arb.* 94 The Queene in meane while 
with carks quandare deepe angujsht [etc.]. 1611 UKAUM. & 
FL. Knt. Burn. Pestle i. i, Much I fear, forsaking of my 
diet, Will bring me presently to that quandary, I shall bid 
all adieu. 1652 C. B. STAPVI.TON Ifcrodian xvi. 135 The 
Nobles, Gentry, Souldiers in quandaries ., To Turret tops 
he fetches more Vagaries, a 1720 Sui-jrKiKLD (Dk. l!uckhm.) 
U ks. (1729) 201 Apollo now driv n to a cursed Quandary 
was wishing for Swift, or for fam d Lady Mary. 1751 
SMOLI.KTT Per. Pic. (1779) I. ii. 9 Thof he be sometimes 
thrown into perilous passions and quandaries. 1847 Dis- 
RAKI.I Tailored IT. iv, All his quandaries terminated in the 
same catastrophe ; acompromise. 1875 JOWKTI /Va//;{ed. 2) 
I. 229 Now I was in a great quandary at having to answer 
this question. 

t Quandary, v, Ohs. rare. [f. prec.] a. trans. 
To perplex, put in a quandary, b. ; /;-. To be 
in a quandary. 

1616 T. ADAMS Saul s Sic&rtcss Wks. i86r I. 505 He quan 
daries, whether to goe forward to God, or, with Demas, to 
turne backe to the world. 1681 OTWAV .Vo/^/cr i Fort. in. i, 
Methinks I am quandary d like one coing with a Party to 
discover the Enemy s Camp, but had lost his Guide upon 
the Mountains, 

Quandong (kwae-ndc ij, kw9 - n-). Also quan- 
dang, -dung, quon(g)dong, quantong. [Ab 
original Australian.] a. An Australian tree of 
the sandal-wood order (Fitsattus acuminatits or 
Santalum acuminattint], or its edible drupaceous 
fruit, which is of a blue colour and about the size 
of a cherry; also called native peach-tree], b. 
A large Australian scrub-tree (Elcotarfiis grandis), 
or its fruit. Also attrib., as qiiandong-nut , -tree. 

1839 T. L, MITCHELL 3 F..\-pcd. 135 (Morris) In all these 
scrubs on the Murray the Fusamts acuminatits is common, 
and produces the quandang nut. 1850 CLCTTKRBUCK Port 
Phillip II. 30 The indigenous Quandang. . is the only really 
palatable fruit that grows in the wilds of Port Phillip. 1857 
W. HOWITT Tallangetta I. 41 (Morris) Abundance of fig ,. 
trees, cherries, loquots, quondongs. 1859 H. KINGSLEY G. 
Hamlyn xxx. (1894) 279 Such quantongs, such raspberries, 
surpassing imagination. 1887 FARRELL Ho-v he Died 20 
Where barren fig-tree and. .quandong Bloom on lone roads. 

Quann(e, obs. forms of \\ HEN. 

Quannet (kwo-net). Also quonet. [Of ob 
scure origin.] A flat file set in a frame, and used 
as a plane in filing flat surfaces, as in comb-making. 

1842 WHITTOCK Complete Book of Trades 225 The comb- 
makers use a tool.. called a quonet, having coarse single 
teeth, to the number of about seven or eight to an inch. 
1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mech. 1842/1 Qnannct. 

Quanon, variant of KANOON. 

Quant (kwaent, kwont), sb. Also 5 quanta, 
(qv-), whaute, 9 quont. [? ad. L. contus (Gr. 
KOVTOS} boat-pole. Current in E. Anglia and Kent 
(in the latter also a young oak -sapling, a walk 
ing-stick ) : the northern equivalent is KENT j.i] 
A pole for propelling a boat, esp. one with a flat 
cap to prevent it sinking in the mud, used by barge 
men on the east coast. 

11440 Promp. Parv. 418/2 Quante, or sprete, rodde.., 
contus. Ibid. 523/2 Whante, or qvante. 1687 SHADWELL 
ywcnat 38 Contus signifies a Quant or Sprett, with which 
they shove Boats. 1847-78 in HALLIWELL. 1883 G. C. 



QUANT. 

DAVIES Norfolk Broads iv. 25 When the wind fails, the 
men betake themselves to the quant , which is a long 
slender pole with a knob at one end and a spike and 
shoulder at the other. 1893 DOUGHTY Wherry in Wenti. 
LanJs 167 To get all sail off her, and undertake a tough 
job with the quants. 

Quant ^kwsent, kwgnt), v. [f. prec.] a. trans. 
To propel (a boat} with a quant. Also absol. 
b. intr. Of a boat : To be propelled with a quant. 

1865 [implied in QUANTING vbl. sb.\ 1883 G. C. DAVIES 
Norfolk Broads v. 37 The water was too deep for us to 
quant our punt. 1887 W. RYE Norfolk Broads p. ii, Great 
disinclinations to quant or scull. 1893 Toynbec Kec. 90 
Now her stern, now a broadside, is toward us. .as she quants 
against the breeze. 

Hence Qua nting- vbl. st&gt;. (also attrib.} 

1865 W. WHITE East. Eng, I. 84 Wherry men, to whom 
the operation of quanting is very familiar. 1883 G. C. 
DAVIES Norfolk Broads x. 77 There may be a quanting- 
match. 1887 W. RYE Norfolk Broads 39 We and the 
wherry, by dint of very hard quanting, managed . . to get as 
far as the ruins. 

i Qua utal, a. Obs. rare 1 , [f. as next + 
-AL.T = ALIQUANT. 

111696 SCARBURGH Euclid (1705) 177 A Quantal part 
measures not the whole: but repeated is either less or 
greater than it. 

t Qualitative, a. Obs. rare. [For quantita 
tive, as if f. L. quant-its + -ATIVE : cf. QUANTI 
TIVE. (But perh. a misprint in both quots.)] 
= QUANTITATIVE. 

1644 DIGBY Nat. Bodies iii. 30 In compounding and 
diuidmg of bodies according to quantatiue [1669 quantl- 
tivej paries. 1661 GLANVILL Van.Dogin. 29 Motion cannot 
be received but by qualitative dimension. 

Quautic (kwo ntik). Math. [f. L. quant-its 
how much + -ic.J A rational, integral, homo 
geneous function of two or more variables. 

A quantic according to its dimensions is a quadric, cubic, 
t|uartic, etc. according as it is of the and, 3rd, 4th, etc. degree ; 
and is binary, ternary, quaternary, etc. according as it has 
two, three, four, etc. variables. 

1854 A. CAYLEY Wks. (1887) II. 224 We may instead of a 
single quantic consider two or more quantics. 1881 BURN- 
SIDE & PANTON Th. Eqttat. Introd. p. 4 A polynomial is 
sometimes called a quantic. 1896 E. B. ELLIOTT (title) An 
Introduction to the Algebra of Quantics. 

Hence Qua utical a., relating to quantics. 

Quantifiable (kwo-ntifalab n, a. [f. QUAN 
TIFY v. + -ABLE.] That may be conceived or 
treated as a quantity ; that may be measured with 
regard to quantity. 

1883 A. BARRATT Phys. Mctcmpiric p. xxv, Those mutual 
relations of conscious centres which are measurable and 
quantifiable. 1893 Atkenxuin 11 Nov. 667/2 It is the latter 
kind only [of feeling] which is immediately and necessarily 
quantifiable 

Quantification (lewo-ntifik^-Jaii). [f. QUAN 
TIFY -v. : see -FICATION.] The action of quantifying. 

Quantification of the predicate: the expression of the 
logical quantity of the predicate of a proposition, by apply 
ing to the predicate the sign all, or some, or an equivalent ; 
a device introduced chiefly by Sir W. Hamilton, and in 
tended to simplify logical processes. 

-1840 SIR W. HAMILTON Logic (1866) II. 297 Because the 
universal quantification of the predicate is, in this instance, 
materially false, is such quantification, therefore, always 
formally illegal? 1864 BOWKS Logic vii. 181 It is enough 
that the quantifications of the Middle Term in both Premises, 
added together, should exceed unity. 1882 PIAZZI SMITH 
in Mature XXVI. 552 All that we require for the. .quanti 
fication of watery vapour. 

Quantified, ppl. a. ff. next + -ED l.J Pos 
sessing or endowed with quantity; measured or 
determined with respect to quantity. 

1589 R. BRUCE Strut. (1843) 87 To make it, at ane time.. . 
a bodie and not a bodie, quantified and not quantified 
c 1840 SIR W. HAMILTON Logic App. (1866) II. 259 The real 
terms compared in the Convertend. .are not the naked but 
the quantified. 1847 LEWES Hist. Philos. (1867) II. 481 
The discovery of precise quantities proves the objectivity of 
something quantified. 1870 JEVONS Logic 186 Immediate 
inference by added determinant.. can also be applied.. to 
quantified propositions. 

Quantify (kwg-nti&i), v. [ad. med.L. quanti- 
ficare (Du Cange), f. yuant-us how great: see 
QUANTITY and -FT.] 

1. Logic. To make explicit the extent to which a 
term is referred to in a proposition, by prefixing 
all or some or an equivalent word to the term. 

1:1840 SIR W. HAMILTON Logic App. (1866) II. 261 Ordinary 
language quantifies the Predicate so often as this determina 
tion becomes of the smallest import. Ibid. 272 Let us 
overtly quantify the subject . . and say, A II men are animals. 
1864 liowEN Logic v. 127 They further maintain, that the 
t-redicate is never quantified particularly in a Negative 
Judgment. 1887 [see INDEFINITE a. 4]. 

2. To determine the quantity of, to measure. 
1878 LOCKYER Stargazing 152 The magnification .. of 

space, which enables minute portions of it to be most 
accurately quantified. 1881 PIAZZI SMITH in Nature XXVI. 
5 ,?, A. raete rol g cal spectroscope . . may also . . be able to 
quantity, .the proportions of such aerial supply of water-gas 
Hence Quantifying^)/, a 

ci*ar?7 h kW f HAM "- TON Let - !". A - d* Morgan 43 Logi- 
~,-^; ^ ^\ C v r ^., rret * t" 6 quantifying predesignations pin- 
ruin, an I the like, to the most opposite heads 

Quantitative kwo-mit.tiv), . and A fad 
rned.L. quantitiitivus : see QUANTITY and -IVK 
U. K jitanMatif(i 5 S6 in Godef. Compl.) ] 



20 

A. 1. Possessing quantity, magnitude, or spatial 
extent. Now rare. 

1581 MARBECK Bk. of Notes 4 (Angels occupy] no 
bodilie place, no several! nor quantitative place. 1634 
JACKSON Creed vn. xxvi. j 5 The world in the original doth 
not signify this visible or quantitative world. 1697 J. SER 
GEANT Solid Phihs. 22 The Body, only which (and not the 
Soul) is Quantitative. 1847 LEWES Hist. Philos. (1867) II. 
481 The fact that we discover quantitative space and time. 

2. That is, or may be, considered with respect to 
the quantity or quantities involved ; estimated or 
estimable by quantity. 

1656 Artif. Handsom. 44 This Quantitative Adultery, 
which . . makes far more grosse alterations, & substantial] 
changes of nature. 1661 GLANVILL Van. Dogm. 221 The 
colour of mens eyes is various, nor is there less diversity in 
their quantitative proportions. 1841 GROVE Corr. P/iys. 
For. (ed. 6) 142 An invariable quantitative relation to each 
other. 1858 J. MARTINEAU Stud. Chr. 160 Not as its 
quantitative equal .. but as a moral equivalent. 1879 
FARRAR St. Paul (1883) 43 The enormous error that man . . 
can win by quantitative goodness his entrance into the 
Kingdom of God. 

3. Relating to, concerned with, quantity or its 
measurement ; ascertaining or expressing quantity. 

1668 WILKINS KcalCtiar. in. vii. 325 Relative and Quanti 
tative Pronouns. 1830 HERSCHEL Stud. Xat. rhil. 123 It 
is a character of all the higher laws of nature to assume the 
form of precise quantitative statement. 1849 D. CAMPBELL 
Iiiorg. Client. Pref. 4 Tables for assisting in the calculations 
of quantitative analysis. 1882 FARRAR Early Chr. I. 125 
The quantitative conceptions of Jewish formalism. 

4. Pertaining to, based on, vowel-quantity. 

1799 Monthly Rci . XXIX. 49 The quantitative accent, 
as it may be called, follows the analogy of the Latin. 1871 
LOWI-:LL Study It ind. (1886) 241 The best quantitative 
verses in our language are to be found in Mother Goose. 

B. s/i. f a. A sign that indicates quantity. Obs. 
b. That which possesses or involves quantity. 

1668 WILKINS Real Char. in. ii. 305 Of all which [pro- 
nouns] it is to be observed, that they are in some kind or 
other, Quantitatives. 1846 SABINK tr. Huinboldt s Cosmos 
(1847) I. 179 An effort .. to investigate the quantitative in 
the laws of one of the great phenomena of nature. 

Quantitatively, adv. ff. prec. + -LY-.] 
In a quantitative manner ; in respect of quantity. 

1593 R. HARVEY Philad. 21 He and his surveyed it quan 
titatively. 1624 GATAKER Transul St. 115 With quantitie, 
but not quantitatively. 1644 DIGUV Of Man s Soul x. 423 
One pure simple substance, peraduenture Metaphysically, 
or formally diuisible ; . . but not quantitatiuely, 1845 G. E. 
DAY tr. Sit/ion s Anitn. Chein. I. 347 The magnesia and 
silica were not determined quantitatively. 1870 ROLLESTON 
Aniin. Life Introd. 49 The brain holds a more favorable 
relation quantitatively to the body and to the spinal cord. 

So Qua ntitativeuess, the quality or condition 
of being quantitative. 

1858 H. STKNCER Ess. I. 225 The more specific character 
istic of scientific previsions .. their quantitativeness. 1873 
Stud. Social. (1882) 45 Where they are quantitative, their 
quantitativeness. -is mostly very indefinite. 

t Qua iititiecl, a. Obs. [f. QUANTITY + -ED 2 .] 
Endowed with quantity or spatial magnitude. 

1605 SYLVESTER Du Bartas it. iii. i. Abraliam 1115 
Alwaies in some place are Angels .. selfly limited, And 
joyn d to place, yet not as quantiti d. 

Quantitive tkwg-ntitiv), a. ff. QUANTITY + 
-IVK : cf. qua/Hive.] = QUANTITATIVE. 

1656 STANLEY Hist. Philos. v. (1701) 159/2 Neither equal, 
nor certain, nor quantitive, nor qualitative. 1669 [see 
QUANTATIVE]. 1827 G. S. FABER E.tfiat. Sacrif. 148 By 
what intelligible process can we estimate the quantitive 
proportions of two dissimilar oblations? 1882-3 SCHAFF 
Encycl. Relig. Kmnvl. II. 1553 He can make no other dis 
tinction between them . . than a quantitive one. 

Hence Qua-ntitively ailv. = QUANTITATIVELY. 

1827 G.^S. FABER Expiat. Sacrif. 149 The only mode, .in 
which things dissimilar can be quantitively compared. 1871 
B. STEWART Heat^ 402 To estimate either temperature 
or hardness quantitively. 

Quantity (kwg-ntiti). Forms : 4-6 quan- 
tite, -yte, (4 -itee, -ytee, 5 whantite), 6 quaun- 
tit, 6-7 quantitie, (6 -etie), 6- quantity, [a. 
OF. quantitl, ad. L. quantitas, -atem, f. quant-us 
how much, how great : see -ITY.] 

I. 1. Size, magnitude, dimensions. In widest 
sense implying magnitude in three dimensions, but 
sometimes contextually limited to (a) thickness or 
stoutness, (6) extent of surface, area, (c) linear 
extension, length, height. Obs. exc. Math. 

1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) I. 49 Asia is most in quantite, 
Europa is lasse. c 1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) xxi. 96 pare er 
o)&gt;er also of less quantitee, as it ware of be mykill of a 
mannes thee. 1426 LYDG. DC Guil. Pilgr. 5845 Sawh thow 
euere . . Off manhys herte the quantyte ! 1470-85 MALORY 
Arthur v. viii, A grete gyaunt . . whiche was a man of an 
huge quantyte and heyghte. 1378 LVTE Dodoens I. Ixix. 
102 The roote is long, of the quantite of one s fingar. Ibid. 
Ii. v. 153 White huskes . . of the quantitie of a sroote, or 



the just Quantity or Content of any Piece of Ground. 1682 
R. BURTON Admir. Curios. (1684) 30 Diamonds are found 
in many places,, .their quantity is from a Pease to a Walnut. 
1830 KATER & LARDNER Mcch. i. 4 The quantity of a surface 
is called its area ; and the quantity of a line .. its length. 

tb. A dimension. Obs. rare- 1 . 
1590 STOCKWOOD Rules Constr. 48 Whether the word of 
measure do signifie the depth, height, length, thicknes, or 
any such quantitie of a thing. 

t c. An amount equal to the volume of. Obs. 



QUANTITY. 

1610 U. JONSON Alch. ii. i, Taking. .on a knife s point, 
The quantity of a grain of mustard. 1694 SALMON Bales 
Dispens. (1713) 151/1 Of this Balsam .. the Patient may 
take the Quantity of a pretty large Chestnut. 

2. Amount, sum. a. Of material things not subject 
to,ornot usuallyestimated by, spatial measurement. 

&lt; 1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) xxxi. 142 Of f&gt;aim ^ai gader 
boumbe in grete quantitee. 1533 ELYOT Cast. Ifelthe (1539) 
363, Ale and here . . do ingender more grosse vapours, and 
corrupt humors, than wine doth, beinge drunke in lyke 
excesse of quantitie. 1683 TRYON Way to Health (1697) 
205 Of the Quantity of Children s Food. 1769 De Foe s 
TottrGt. Brit, (ed. 7) II. 64 Fern, which formerly grew in 
great Quantity there. 1849 NOAD Electricity 188 The 
quantity of the Electric current bears a relation to the size 
of the plates. 

b. Of immaterial things. 

CI37S Sc. Leg. Saints x. (Matthew} 576 Nothire for J&gt;e 
ennormyte of pe syne, na fe quantyte. c 1400 tr. Secreta 
Secret,, Gov. Lordsh. 106 Chese a sotell man . . to shewe J&gt;e 
quantyte of by hynes. 1432 Rolls of Partt. IV. 403/1 
There should no man ben amerced bote after the quantite 
of his trespas. c 1485 Digly Myst. iv. 621 After the whautite 
of sorofull remembrance. 1611 SHAKS. Cymb. iv. ii. 17, 
I lone thee. . How much the quantity, the waight as much, As 
I do loue my Father. 1647 N. BACON Disc. Gm t. Eng. \. liii. 
( J 73g)94 Fine and Pledges shall be according to the quantity 
of the offence. 1780 BENTHAM Princ. Legist, xvij. 15 
Any punishment is subservient to reformation in proportion 
to its quantity. 1827 POLLOK Course T. vm, He prayed by 
quantity. 

t c. Of money, payment, etc. Obs. 

1460 FORTESCUE Abs. $ Lim. Mon, vi. (1885) 121 The 
iiij th or the v th parte of the quantite of his expenses. 1528 
Gahvay Arch, in iof/1 Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm, App. v. 403 
That some or quauntit of such monye as they playe for. 
a 1548 HALL Chron,, Edw. IV 223 b. The fees of canonizyng 
of a kyng, wer of so great a quantitie at Rome [etc.]. 1600 
HAMILTON in Cath. Tract. (S. T. S.) 219 The qualitie and 
quantitie of the oblation. 1714 FOKTESCUE-ALAND Pref. 
Fortfscne s Abs. &lt;$ Lim. Mon. 48 The Lord was to forfeit 
3aj. which was then near as much in Quantity as 5/. now. 
1775 JOHNSON Tax. no Tyr. 15 The quantity of this payment 
t d. Number, numbers. ^Cf. 9.) Obs. rare. 

1456 SIR G. HAVE Law Anns (S. T. S.) 10 The cristin 
men., war all persewit and put to dede in grete quantitee. 
1581 N. BURNE in Cath. Tract. (S. T. S.) 135 To mak 
Chalices of gold and siluer in mair quantitie and abound* 
ance nor befoir. 

3. Length or duration in time. Now only in the 
legal phrase Quantity of estate, the length of time 
during which the right of enjoyment of an estate 
is to continue. 

f 1391 CHAUCER AstroL \\. 7 Reknc thanne the quantite 
of tyme in the bordure by-twixe bothe prikkes. I bid. 9 
To knowe the quantite of the day vulgare. 1588 A. KING 
tr. Canisius G vij, According to the quantitie of the yere, 
obserueit in that age to contene 304 dayes. 1818 CRUISE 
Digest (ed. 2) II. 354 The alteration in the particular estate 
. .must amount to an alteration in its quantity. 1841 Penny 
Cycl. XIX. 46/1 Where the word Estate is used in its 
technical sen?&gt;e, it . . [means] the quantity and quality of 
enjoyment of the thing. 

b. Pros, Length or shortness of sounds or syl 
lables, determined by the time required to pro 
nounce them. Chiefly used with reference to* 
Greek and Latin verse, in which the metres are 
based on quantity. False quantity : see FALSE a. 2. 

1563-7 BUCHANAN Reform. St. Andros Wks. (1892) 9 Thys 
classe sal reid. .sum buik of Guide, and the quantiteis of 
syllabes. 1586 W. WEBBE Eng. Poetrie (Arb.) 69 As for the 
quantity of our wordes, therein lyeth great difficultye. 
a 1637 B. JONSON Eng. Gram, iii, All our vowels are . . In 
quantity (which is time) long or short. 1727-41 CHAMBERS 
Cycl. s.v., The quantity of the syllables is but little fixed in 
the modern tongues. 1774 \YARTON Hist. Eng. Poetry 
(1840) I. Diss. ii. 108 King Chilperic.. wrote two books of 
Latin verses . . without any idea of the common quantities. 
1859 THACKERAY Virgin, v, George knew much more Latin 
..than his master, and caught him in perpetual .. false 
quantities. 1887 RUSKIN Prseterita II. 275 A rightly bred 
scholar who knew his grammar and his quantities. 
C. Alus. Length or duration of notes. 

1597 MORLLV Introd. Mus. 9 The quantitie of euery note 
and rest in the song. 1674 PLAYFORD Skill MKS. i. vii. 24 
Measure in this Science is a Quantity of the length and 
shortness of Time. 1811 BUSBY Diet. Mns. s.v., Quantity, 
in music, .does not signify the number of notes, or syllables, 
but their relative duration. 

4. In the most abstract sense, esp. as the subject 
of mathematics : That property of things which is 
involved in the questions how great ? or * how 
much ? and is determinable, or regarded as being 
so, by measurement of some kind. 

In this sense continuous and discrete quantity are dis 
tinguished: see DISCRETE 2. Quantity 1 is the second of 
the ten Aristotelian categories. 

1530 PALSGR. Introd. 144 Some [adverbs] betoken quantite. 
1570, 1687, etc. [see DISCRETE]. 1690 LOCKK Hum. Und. 
iv. iii. (1695) 314 The Ideas of Quantity are not those alone 
that are capable of Demonstration and Knowledge. 1756 
BURKE^";^/. 3- B. ni.ii, All proportions, every arrangement of 
quantity, is alike to the understanding. 1797 Encycl. Brit. 
(ed. 3) XV. 741/1 Mathematics is.. employed in discovering 
and stating many relations of quantity. 1864 Bow EN Logic 
vii. 185 Mathematics is the science of pure quantity. 

5. Logic, a. The extension or intension of a term, 
distinguished as extensive and intensive quantity 
(see the adjs.). b. The degree of extension which 
a proposition gives to the term forming its subject, 
and according to which it is said to be universal^ 
particular, singular, and indefinite or indetermi 
nate (see these words). 



QUANTITY. 

1668 WILKINS Real Char. MI. i. 306 Another, A certain 
one, Some one, are for their Quantities, Singulars or Par 
ticulars indeterminate. 1697 tr. Burgersdicins Logic i. 
xxix. 115 In Respect to Quantity, an Enunciation i?, divided 
into Universal, Particular, Indefinite, and Singular. 1725 
WATTS Logic (17261 160 Both particular and universal Pro 
positions which agree in Quality but not in Quantity arc 
call d Subaltern. 1836-8 [see INTENSION 5, EXTENSIVE 5]. 
1843 MILL Logic I. n. ii. i According to what are called the 
quantity and quality of propositions. 1864 BOWEN Logic 
v. 120 We may inquire concerning the number of objects 
about which we judge, and thus determine the Quantity, 
or Extension, of the Judgment. [See also EXTENSION 8 b.) 

f 6. Relative or proportional size or amount, 
proportion. Ohs. rare. 

1551 RECORDE Cast. Know!. (1556) 146 Euery darke body 
giueth shadowe accordinge to the quantitie that it beareth 
to that shyning body, which giueth the light. 1602 SHAKS. 
Hani. in. ii. 177 For womens Feare and Loue, holds 
quantitie. In neither ought, or in extremity : .. And as my 
Loue is siz d, my Feare is so. 

7. Great or considerable amount or bulk. 

1753 HOGARTH Anal. Beauty vi. 29 Windsor castle is 
a noble instance of the effect of quantity. 1877 RAYMOND 
Statist. Mines fy Mining 175 Only the smelting-ores have 
been extracted in quantity. 

II. 8. A (specified) portion or amount of 
an article or commodity. Also transf. of imma 
terial things. (Cf. 2 above.) 

c 1325 Poem times Ediv. //(Percy) xlii, Give the goodman 
to drink A gode quantite. c 1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) viii. 31 
Of J&gt;is liquour J&gt;ai giffe a lytill quantitee til pilgrimes. 1484 
CAXTON Fables of A If once xi, A grete dele or quantite of 
mostard. 1526 Pilgr. Per/. (W. de W. 1531) 64 A lytell 
quantite of sande in an other lytell bagge. 1602 SHAKS. 
Hetnt. v. i. 293 Fortie thousand Brothers Could not (with all 
there quantitie of Loue) Make up my summe. 1696 LUT- 
TRELL Brief Rel. (1857) IV. 4 Having received great quantities 
of broad money from Exeter in order to clip it. 1752 JOHN 
SON Rambler No. 203 i* 10 A certain quantity or measure of 
renown. 793 BEDDOES Calculus 223 A small quantity of 
azotic air. 1825 LAMB Elia Ser. n. Stage Illusion, A suffi 
cient quantity of illusion for the purposes of dramatic 
interest. 1863 Q. Rev. July 78 A certain quantity of snow. 
b. An indefinite (usually a fair or considerable) 
portion or amount; fa small piece, fragment. 

1:1325 Song of Yesterday in E. E. P. (1862) 134 Of his 
strengbe heleost a quantite. c 1400 Song Roland 585 Offred 
them every chon a quantite of gold. 1486 fik. St. Albans 
Cvij, Take a quantyte of poorke.,and butter. 1535 COVER- 
DALE i Sam. xxx. 12 They..gaue him a quantite of fygges, 
two quantities of rasyns. 1596 SHAKS. 7 atrt. S/tr. iv. 
iii. 112 Away thou Ragge, thou quantitie, thou remnant. 
1597 2 Hen. IV) v. i, 77 If I were saw de into Quantities 
I should make foure dozen of such bearded Hermit es staues. 
1731 ARBUTHNOT Aliments vi. vii. g 2 (1735) 182 Warm anti- 
scorbutical Plants taken in Quantities will occasion stinking 
Breath. 1852 MRS. STOWE Uncle Toms C. xxxiii. 299 
Taking a quantity of cotton from her basket, she placed it 
in his. 1883 Manch. Guard. 18 Oct. 4/7 Yesterday., a 
quantity of wreckage was cast up at Southport. 

C. With def. article : The portion or amount 
(of something) present in a particular thing or 
instance. 

1611 BIBLE 2 Esdras iv. 50 As the fire is greater then the 
smoke .. so the quantity which is past, did more exceede. 
1719 DE FOE Crusoe i. ix, I resolv d to sow just the same 
Quantity every Year. 1780 BENTHAM Princ. Legisl. xviii. 
44 The quantity of sensible heat in a human body. 1837 
Penny Cycl. IX. 345 The total quantity of electricity in the 
charge of an electrised body. 1876 PREECE & SIVEWRIGHT 
Telegraphy 2 We can speak of the quantity of sound caused 
by the explosion of a cannon. Ibid. , The force of attraction 
is found to increase with the quantity of electricity present. 

0. A specified, or indefinite (= fair, considerable), 
number of persons or things. 

1375 B ARBOUR Bruce vi. 235 [He] slew of thame a quantite. 
14.. Pol. Rel. ff L. Poems 36 Gadyr a good quantyte of 
snayles. 1456 SiRG. HAVE Laiu Arms(S. T. 8.157 Almaist 
mycht nane persave that ony quantitee of peple eschapit fra 
the bataill. 1485 CAXTON Chas. Gt. 3 The moost quantyte of 
the people vnderstonde not latyn. 1611 COHYAT Crudities 
169 There is a farre greater quantity of buildings in this [the 
Rialto] then in ours. 1750 BEAWES Lex Mcrcat. (1752) 8 
A quantity of small marshy isles. 1852 MRS. CARLYLE Lett. 
II. 198 Four chairs and a quantity of pillows. 1897 MARY 
KINGSLEY W. Africa 241, I., find in it a quantity of pools. 

10. A certain space or surface ; a portion of 
something having superficial extent. Now rare. 

c 1391 CHAUCER Astrol. \\. 30 Swych a quantite of lati 
tude as [sheweth] by thyn Almykanteras. 1464 Rolls Parlt. 
V. 519/2 AGraunte..of a pece or a quantite of Lande. 1611 
COTGR., Quartellei ) a certame quantitie of, or measure for, 
ground. 1758 S. H AYWAXD 5tfTM. xi v. 408 In a race there is 
a quantity of ground laid out. 1792 BURKE Let. to R. Burke 
Corn IV. 26 You would make them a grant of a sufficient 
quantity of your land. 1812-6 PLAYFAIR Nat. Phil, (1819) 
II. 214 A fixed star, .occupies exactly the same place., within 
a quantity so small as to be hardly measurable. 

til. In adverbial phrases : Great quantity , by or 
to a large amount or extent ; to a great distance. 
A quantity, to some extent, considerably. A little 
quantity, a little way. Obs. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 8816 Vp J?ai lifted oft-sith \* tre^ It was 
to scort gret quantite. 1375 BARBOUR Bruce vi. 76 Endlang 
the vattir than }eid he On aithir syde gret quantite. 1377 
LANGL. P. PI. B. xix. 372 pere nas no crystene creature J&gt;at 
kynde wine hadde,.,That he ne halpe a quantite holynesse 
to wexe. c 1400 MAUNDEV. (1839) xxiii. 253 Thei leyn upon 
the hors gold and silver gret quantytee. c 1420 Pallad* on 
Husb. xi. 157 Ek lyfte her plaunte a litel quantite. 

12. Math. A thing having quantity (see 4 
above) ; a figure or symbol standing for such a 
thing. Imaginary quantity : see the adj. i c. 



21 

1570 Biu.iNGSLEY F.uclid xi. def. i. 312 A superficies is a 
quantitie of greater perfection then is a line. 1581 SIDM.Y 
Apol. Poetrie (Arb.) 24 So doe the Geometrician, and Arith- 
metician, in their diverse sorts of quantities. 1700 MOXON 
Matfi. Diet. 133 Those Quantities are said to be commen 
surable, which have one Aliquot part.. but Incommensurable 
Quantities have no Aliquot parts. 1806 HUTTON Course 
Math. I. 201 Range the quantities according to the dimen 
sions of some letter. 1831 BREWSTER Newton (1855) II. xiv. 
1 1 He considered quantities not as composed of indivisibles, 
but as generated by motion, 1881 MAXWELL Klectr. &lt;y 
Magn. I. n There are certain cases in which a quantity 
may be measured with reference to a line as well as with 
reference to an area. 

transf. 1864 CARLYLE Fredk. Gt. xn. xi. (1872) IV. 245 
This Holy Romish Reich ,. has been more and ever more 
becoming an imaginary quantity. 1870 ROGERS Hist. Glean* 
ings Ser. n. 9 Such a monarchy was a mere geographical 
quantity. 1883 STEVENSON Silverado Squatters 134 Her 
husband was an unknown Quantity. 

III. 13. at t rib. and Comb., chiefly in terms 
relating to quantity of electricity, as quantity 
armature, battery, effect, fuse, galvanometer, in 
ductor; also quantity-mark, a mark indicating 
the quantity of a vowel or syllable ; quantity- 
surveyor, a surveyor who estimates the quantities 
of the materials required for any work. 

1838 A lorn, Chron. in Noad\s Electricity (1849^ 401 The 
decomposing power of the quantity inductor. 1849 NOAD 
Electricity 397 One . . is used for quantity effects, such ;is 
igniting platinum wire. Ibid, 399 The quantity armature is 
constructed of stout iron. 1883 JKNKIN* Elcttr. &lt;V Alagn. 
(ed. 7) 190 The term . . quantity galvanometer [is used to 
signify] an instrument with few turns of thick wire [in its 
coil]. 1884 H. SWEET itf/i Prcs. Addr. Philol. Soc. 93 
When .. quantity and accent-marks are neglected. 1896 
Daily News 5 Aug. 9/5 The plans of the buildings, .will be 
now submitted to the quantity surveyor, with a view to the 
quantities being taken out. 

Quautivalence (kwgntrvalens), [f. L. quanti- 
comb. form of quantum how much + -valence 
after equi-valence.] 

1. Of a chemical element : The extent to which 
one of its aloms can hold other atoms in com 
bination ; valence ; atomicity. 

1871 ROSCOE Elan. Chew. 172 This difference of combining 
power is termed Quantivalence of the elements. i88z STALLO 
Concepts Mod. Phys. 36 Dyads, .and other elements of still 
higher quantivalence. 

2. Mechanical equivalence. 

1890 Brit. Mcd. Jrnl. 9 Aug. 319/2 It shows that the 
quantivalence of nerve force is exceedingly small. 

So Quanti valency = prec. ; Quanti valent a. 
pertaining or relating to quantivalence. 

Quantong, variant of QUANDONG. 

Quant, suff., abbrev. of QUANTUM SUFFICIT. 

t Qua ntulate, ^. Obs. rare~ l . [f, L. quantity 
how great (? after calculate}. ] trans. To calculate 
the magnitude of. 

1610 W. FOLKINGHAM Art of Sitii cy ii. iv. 53 Quantulate 
the angle betwixt the marke and second station. 

I! Quaiitulum (kw$*ntu!?l#m). [L., neut. of 
qitantuhts how small.] A small quantum, 

1824 SOUTHEY Sir T. More (1831) II. 260 The quantulum 
at which Oxenstern admired would be a large allowance 
now. 

ii Quantum (kwo nt/nn). PI. quanta (rare"). 
[L., neut. of quantus how much, how great.] 

1. Sum, amount. = QUANTITY 2. 

1619 PURCHAS Rlicrocosnius xxxii. 302 To set The true 
Quantum, the true poize and price vpon himselfe. 1738 
Hist. Crt, Excheq. iii. 43 To vote in the first Place, that the 
King should be supplied; in the next Place, the Quantum 
of the Supply. 1791 NEWTE Tour Eng. fy Scot. 179 The 
momentum of bodies depends on the quantum of their 
velocity multiplied into that of their matter. 1818 CRUISI-; 
Digest (ed. 2) I. 427 If the union and accession of the two 
estates were the cause uf the merger, the quantum of the 
thing granted would be the measure of that merger. 

b. = QUANTITY 7. 

1815 W. H. lfXuuxD$cri&tt0Mam& 33 His study has not 
been for quantum to strive, But with beauties to keep the 
attention alive. 

2. = QUANTITY 12. 

1647 H. MORE Song- of Soul n. i. n. Iv, Each quantum s 
infinite, straight will be said. 1678 CUDWORTH Intcll. Syst. 
i. v. 783 Though it be an Absolute Contradiction, for a Body, 
or Quantum, to be.. All of it in every Part of that Space, 
which the Whole is in. 1877 E. CAIRO P kilos. Kant n. xi. 
442 All phenomena, as perceived, are extensive quanta. 

3. One s share or portion. 

1649 JER. TAYLOR Gt, Exemp. n. xiL 94 Poverty is her 
portion, and her quantum is but food and raiment. 1724 
SWIFT Drapier s Lett. Wks. 1755 V. n. 60 He will double 
his present quantum by stealth as soon as he can. 1818 
BKXTHAM Ck. Eng. 421 A Parish, in which the quantum of 
this soul-saving Mammon rises as high as iz,ooo/. a year. 
1897 F. T. BULLEN Critise Cachalot 167 Having com 
pleted our quantum of wood, water, and fresh provisions. 

4. A (specified) amount. = QUANTITY 8. 

1789 BELSHAM Ess. I. ii. 19 Is there not a sufficient quantum 
of distress and misfortune? 1829 CARLYLE Misc. (1857) II. 
113 Some smaller quantum of earthly enjoyment. 1852 
JERDAN Autobiog. \\. xii. 137 Imbued with a moderate 
quantum of worldly wisdom. 

b. = QUANTITY 8c. 

1735 BERKELEY Querist \. 215 Such a bank .. was faulty 
in not limiting the quantum of bills. 1828 J. BALLANTYNE 
Exam, Hum. Mindll. 69 The mind., has always a tendency 
to possess the same quantum of ideas. 1879 E. K. LANKESTKR 
Advancetn. Sc, (1890) 14 A struggle among all those born 
for the possession of the small quantum of food. 



QUAR. 
II Quantum sufficit (k wo-nt^m so- fisit ; . 

Also abbrev. quantum suff., quant, suff. (suf.). 
[L., a formula used in medical prescriptions.] * As 
much as suffices ; hence, a sufficient quantity, 
a sufficiency ; to a sufficient extent, etc. 

1699 Honour of Gout in Hurl. Misc. (1809) II. 45 We lead 
sedentary lives, feed heartily, drink quantum sufficit^ but 
sleep immoderately. 1775 J. ADAMS in I ani. Lett. (1876) 58 
Scolding at me quantum sufficit for not taking his advice. 
1806-7 J- HKRESKOKD Miseries Hum. Lift- (ed. 5) II. 238 
With numbers though rough. Yet with rage quantum suff. 
1837 LOCKHART .Scott. (1839) VII. 45 Cabinets china ami 
mirrors quantum suff., and some portraits. 1881 AHNEV 
Photogr. 69 The amount of alcohol required is invariably 
^hown as quant, .suf. 

b. \Vith article or possessive pron. 

1747 Scheme Eyuifi. Men of War 23 To provide them a 
Quantum siifficit before they enter into that Service. 1795 
BURKE Regie. Peace iv. Wks. IX. 20 What dose is to be the 
quantum suf/u it i ti 1817 T. I (WIGHT Trav. Nfiv A"f.,etc. 
(1821) I. 515 They have always a quantum suffiuit of money. 
1843 DARWIN Let. to llemlow 25 Jan., My Cored Volume. . 
has received its quant: sufT: of praise. 

Quantuplicity (k\voiiliwpli sTti\ [f. L. yuan- 
tus how much, on anal, of quadniplicily^ etc.] 
The relative magnitude of a quantity. 

1836 DE MURGAN Diff. &lt;V Int. Calc. Introd. 17 The pro 
portions of figures . . depend . . upon what Euclid terms the 
ratio, .which he says ihdf we may coin such an Kn^U-h wurd) 
the numberof "times-ness or quantuplicity of one quantity, 
considered with respect to another. 

t Quap, sit. Obs. rare- 1 . ? variant of QUAB j//.l 

1598 FLORID, C&lt;1,gai, a fish called a quap [1611 aqiiap-fishl, 
which is poison to man, and man to liim. 

t Quap, v. Obs. Forms : 4-6 quappe, 5 
qwappe, (7 quapp). See also Qi or. [Imitative ; 
cf. G. quappen to flop, quappeln to quiver. A 
later form is QUAB v.~\ intr. To beat, throb, 
palpitate, quiver. 

c*374 CHAUCER Troylus m. 8 (571 And lord hnw bat his 
herte gan to quappe, Heryng her come. 1382 WYCLIF 
Tobit vi. 4 He dro} it [the fish] in to the drie, and it began to 
quappe befor bis feet, c 1440 Partonope 5938 His hert gan 
qwappe, his culoure gan change. 1567 TURBKRV. tr. Ovid s 
Ep. 67 Even as the sea doth shake and trembling quappe, 
When with a gentle gale it is enforst. [a 1643 \V. CART- 
WRIGHT Ordinary n. ii, My heart gan quapp full oft.] 

Hence fQua pping vhl. sb. and///, a. 

1398 TREVISA Barth. DC P. R. vn. lix. (1495) 273 The 
tokens of a Flegmon or postume . . ben .. quappynge and 
lepynge of ventosytte. 1572 J. JONES Bathes of Bath I. 7 
Beating, or quapping fpaine] comet h of a hot Aposterne. 

Quap, obs. form of WHAP v. 

t Quaquadrate. Math. Obs. rare - 1 . [f. 
QUA(DRI-) + QUADRATE.] A sixteenth power. 

1674 JEAKE Arith. (1696) 273 Some to shorten.. the long 
Names of . . Higher Powers, . . call 53 a Biquadrate, . . 3^3 
a Quaquadrate, 33333 a Quinquadrate [etc.]. 

Quaquaversal (kw^kwa vassal), a. Also 

quaqu-, qua-qua-versal. [f. late L. quaqua- 
versits, -versiwi) f. quaqtta where-, whithersoever 

+ versus towards.] Turned or pointing in every 
direction ; chiefly Geol. in phr. quaquaversal dip 
(see quot. 1877). 

1728 NICHOLLS in Phil. Trans. XXXV. 442 The quaqua- 
versal Pressure of the Blood will be controll VI by the Pres 
sure on the Artery. 1830 LYELL Princ. Geol. I. 394 The 
slope and quaqua-versal dip of the beds. 1862 LATHAM 
Elem. Cotup. Philol. 126 The affinities of tbe Lap are one 
sided, those of the Turk ito borrow an expresMon from the 
geologists quaquaversal. 1877 A. H. GREEN Phys. Geol. 
ix. 3. 347 If the beds dip away in all directions from a 
centre they are said to have a quaquaversal dip. 

Hence Quaquave r sally adv. 

1875 R. F. BURTON Ultima Thule I. 38 The strata all 
incline gradually and quaquaversally , .towards the centre 
of the island. 1883 BURTON & CAMERON Cold Coast I. iii. 
76 A central boss . . with lines radiating quaquaversally. 

Quaquiner, erron. form of QUAVIVEB. 
t Quar, s6.i, abbrev. of QUARRY sl&gt;. 1 Obs. 

1562 PHAER sKneiffix. Eeij, What murthring quarres of 
men, what heapes downe throwne,.. king Turnus then did 
giue. 1605 SYLVESTER Du Bartas \\. iii. in, (Lawe] 643 
The Falcon . . shall strike ; And with the stroke make on the 
sense-less ground The gut-less Quar.. re-bound. 

Quar, sb Obs. exc. dial. Also 6-7 quarre, 
7 quarr. 8 quaar. [Abbrev. of QUARRY sb.~ ; 
still current in W. Midland and S. W. dialects.] 
A stone-quarry. 

ft 1485 Prowp. Ptirv. 419/1 Quarere (S. quar), lapidicina. 
1529 RASTBLL Pastymt\ Hist. Brit. (1811) 105 Stonys owte 
of anny quarre, or rokk. 1566 STAI LETON Ret. Untr. Jwvel 
iv. 61 Stedfaster than any Rocke or Quarre of what euer 
stone it be. 1622 DRAVTON Poly-olb. xxvi. (1748) 372 She 
mill-stones from the quarr with sharpen d picks could get. 
1672 W. S. Poems B. Johnson Jr., To Ld. Astom Aston, a 
Stone cut from the marble Quar. a 1800 Sotig in Clone. 
Gloss. (1890) 203 The stwons that built George Ridler s 
Oven, .keum from the Bleakeney s Quaar. 

b. attrib. and Comb., as quarman, -pit; quar- 
martin, the sand-martin, dial. 

1606 SYLVESTER Du Bartas n. iv. n. (Magnificence) mo 
The sturdy Quar-man with steel-headed Cones And massie 
Sledges slenteth out the stones. 1870 JEFFERIES Wild Life 
in S. C. 169 These birds are called by the labourers quar- 
martins , because they breed in holes drilled in the face 
of the sandy precipices of quarries. 1886 ELWORTHY W. 
Somerset Word-bk.^ Quar-man, labourer in a quarry; also 
the proprietor or lessee of a quarry. Quar-pit t a quarry,, 
usually a small one. 



QUAR. 

f-Quar, J/ .^, abbrev. of QUABBY rf.3 06s. rare. 

1606 SYLVKSTER Dit Btirtas ii. iv. n. (flfagni/iceiict) 1149 
What mightie "Rowlers, and what massie Cars Could bring 
so far so many monstrous Quars? [F. qnarreaux\. lf&gt;i&lt;f. 
1158 The whole, a whole Quar [F. qiitirreau\ one might 
rightly tearm. 1617 Vestry Bks. (Surtees) 73 Item xix 
quarres mendid in the other windowes. 

Quar, i . 1 Obs. exc. dial. Also 6 querre, 7 
quarre. [Of obscure origin : ? cf. OE. d-cweorran 
to glut.] a. trans. To choke or block up (a channel 
or passage), b. intr. Of a channel : To silt or 
fill up. Hence Qua rring vbl. sb. 

1541-3 Act 34 t, 35 lien. I ll!, c. 9 I The mouth and 
hole channell of the saide hauen is so heaped and quarred 
with stones and robul! of balastes of the shippes. 1584-3 
Act 27 Eliz. c. 20 i Where also the said hauen of Plym- 
mouth . . doth dayly querre and fill with the sand of the 
Tinne-workes and Mynes. 1628 SIR R. BOYLE Diary in 
Lisinorc f apers (1886) II. 257 Provided.. he do nothing to 
the preiudice of my yron worcks, or stopping or quarreing 
vp of the River. 

Quar, ? .- Obs. exc. dial. [Of unknown origin : 
cf. QUABL v.~\ intr. To curdle, coagulate. 

1578 LVTE Dodoens II. Ixxiv. 246 It . . keepeth the mylke 
from quarring and crudding in the brest. 1591 PERCIVALL 
Sp. Diet., Engritmecer, to clot, to quar like cold blood. 

Quar, obs. north, f. WHEKE and were (see BE v.). 

Quarancy : see QUARANTY. 

t Quarantain. 06s. Also 7 -aine, 8 -ane. 
[ad. F. quarantaine ( It. qtiarantand), f. qna- 
rante forty : see next.] 

1. A set of forty (nights). rare~ 1 . 

1653 URQUHART Kabrlais n. i. i It is above fourty quaran* 
taines, or fourty times fourty nights, according to the sup. 
putation of the ancient Druids. 

2. = QUARANTINE 2. 

1669 R. .MONTAGU in Baahuck AfSS, (Hist. MSS. Comm.) 
I. 452 After having made their quarantaine and aired their 
goods. 1687 Lontf. Gaz. No. 2211/1 The Prince of Bruns- 
wicke keeps his Quarantain in the Island Lazaro. 1702 
W. J. Bntyns Voy. Levant xi. 47 Those who come from 
infected Places, there to pass their Quarantain. 

attrib. 1755 MAGENS Insurances II. 236 Anchorage, 
ordinary Quarantain Charges, and such like. 
b. fig. - QUARANTINE 2 b. 

166^7 DENHAM Direct. Paint. I. xvii, There let him 
languish a long Quarantain. 1714 Let.fr. Layman led. 2) 
23 This Crime . . is never to be purged away ; no not by 
performing a Quarantain for a Twelve-month in the Church. 
1741 WARBUHTON Dm. Legal. II. Pref. p. xiv, The Calumnies 
of his Enemies obliged him to a kind of Quarantane. 

3. King s quarantain (tr. F. quarantaine du 
roi^ . see quots. 

1717-41 CHAMBERS Cycl., Quarantain of the King, m France, 
denotes a truce of forty days appointed by St. Louis, during 
which it was expresly forbid to take any revenge (etc.). 
1818 A. RANKEN Hist. France IV. in. i. 233 Forty days, 
called the King s quarantain, were allowed the friends or 
relations of a principal in a private war to grant or find 
security. 

t Quarante, var. COURANTE, akind ofdance. Obs. 

1598 R. DALUNOTOS Jlfft/t. Trav. Vij, Euery poore 
draggletayle can Dance all your Quarantes, Leualties, 
Bransles, and other Dances. 

Quarantinable, a. rare. [f. QUARANTINE v. 
+ -ABLE.] Subject or liable to quarantine. 

1894 Harper s Weekly 7 Apr. 315 The protection against 
cholera and other quarantinable diseases.. is secured. 

Quarantine (kwg-rant/n), sb. Also 7 quaran- 
tene, 8 -in, 7-8 quarantine. [In sense I ad. 
med.L. qiiarentlna ; in sense 2 prob. ad. It. qua- 
rattt-, juarenlina, f. quaranta forty. 

The source of the -itie spelling in sense" i is not clear : in 
the Stasyons of Jerusalem (HaKlm.Altengl. Leg. Neue F., 
365) the form Quaryntyne (riming with wyne] is used to 
render med.L. Quarentena, the name given to the desert 
where Christ fasted for forty days. In sense i the prevailing 
form in i;-i8th c. was quarentine, while quarantine has 
always been the usual form in sense 2.] 

1. Law. A period of forty days during which 
a widow, entitled to dower, had the right to 
remain in the chief mansion-house of her deceased 
husband ; hence, the right of a widow to remain 
in the house during this period. 

1609 SKF.NE Keg. Afaj. 56 (Acts Robt. Ill, c. 20) Anent 
widowes, quha . . can not haue their quarantine without 
pley. 1628 COKE On Lift. 32 b, If she marry within the 
forty days she loseth her quarentine. 1767 KLACKSTONE 
Comm. II. 135 These forty days are called the widow s 
quarentine. 1865 NICHOLS liritttm II. 247 Some other 
decent house shall be provided for their dwelling, where 
they may keep their quarantine. 

2. A period (orig. of forty days) during which 
persons who might serve to spread a contagious 
disease are kept isolated from the rest of the 
community ; esp. a period of detention imposed on 
travellers or voyagers before they arc allowed to 
enter a country or town, and mix with the inhabi 




. , ac or pracce 

of isolating such persons or ships, or of beine 
isolated in this way. 

frnm 3 ,H PKPVS ^"^ , ^ ^" Mn S of =&gt; hips coming 
from thence, to perform their -quarantine for thirty days V , 
Richard Browne expressed it . .contrary to the import 
of the word (though in the general acceptation, it signifies 
now the thing, not the time spent in doing it). ,69, Lu" 



22 

TFELL Brief Rcl. (1857) II. 185 Those that come from 
Naples. .are obliged to perform a quarantine before they 
come to Rome, because of the plague in that Kingdom. 
1712 DE FOE Plague (1884) 204 The Family were oblig d to 
begin their Quarantine anew. 1799 E. STANLEY in A. Duncan 
Nelson (1806) 112 Having finished their quarantine of thir 
teen days. 1836 MARRYAT Midsh. Easy xlii, As soon as 
their quarantine at the Mother-bank was over, they dis 
embarked. 1859 JEPHSON Brittany vi. 77 The lepers often 
sought a voluntary death as the only escape from their 
perpetual quarantine. 1867 F.ren. Standard 6 Aug. 6 
A Royal order has been issued imposing forty days quaran 
tine upon all arrivals in Spanish ports from Algeria, Morocco, 
and the Roman States. 

b. Jig. Any period, instance, etc., of detention 
or seclusion compared to the above. f Free 
quarantine, exemption from quarantine. 

a 1680 BUTLER Rem. (1759) I. 209 Where she denies 
Admission, to intrude . . Unless they have free Quarentine 
from her. 174* YOUNG Nt. Th.\\\. 1046 Deists! perform 
your quarentine ; and then Fall prostrate, ere you touch it, 
lest you die. 1855 MOTLEY Dutch Rep. ll. i. (1866) 132 Nor 
could bigotry devise an effective quarantine to exclude the 
religious pest which lurked in every bale of merchandise. 

c. A place where quarantine is kept or enforced. 
1847 EMERSON Poettts, Monodnoc Wks. (Bohn) I. 435 His 

quarantines and grottos, where He slowly cures decrepit 
flesh. 1892 STEVENSON Across the Plains 171 Somnolent 
Inverkeithing, once the quarantine of Leith. 

3. A period of forty days, in other connexions 
than the above ; a set of forty (days). 

1639 FULLER /jWy }Var\\\. xxii. i47\Vhen their quarantine, 
or fourty dayes service, was expired. 172* DK FOE Plague 
(1756) 235 Not a Quarentine of Days only, but Soixantlne, 
not only 40 Days but 60 Days or longer. 1883-97 Catholic 
Diet. 772/1 Indulgences of seven years and seven quaran 
tines are often granted for certain devotions. 

4. aitrib. (sense 2), as quarantine camp, Jlag, 
hospital, law, officer, regulation, station, etc. 

1805 Mcd. Jrnl. XVII. 507 The recent extension of the 
quarantine laws. 1841 Penny Cycl. XIX. 193/2 The most 
important disease, with reference to quarantine regulations, 
is the plague of the Levant. Ibid. 195/1 A quarantine 
station on a land-frontier. 1861-2 G. A. SPOTTISWOODIC in 
Vac. Tour. 87 Accommodation, .for the director or quaran 
tine-officer. 1871 TYNDALL Fragm. Sc. (1879) I. vi. 200 The 
yellow quarantine flag was hoisted. 

Quarantine (kwo-rantJh), v. Also 9 quaran- 
teen. [f. the sb.] 

1. trans. To put in quarantine. 

1804 W. IRVING in Life f, Lett. (1864) I. v. 8/5 Where 
I should be detained, quarantined, smoked, and vinegared. 
1860 TROLLOPE W, Ind. xxiii. 365 In going to Cuba I had 
been becalmed . . and very nearly quaranteened. 1891 
Cat/i. Neil s 2 May 5/3 The Comte de Paris was quarantined 
for a short time at Southampton. 
b. To prevent by quarantine. In quot.,/^. 

1850 Chamb. Jrnl. XIV. 49 Did any moral taint hang 
about me that quarantined my entrance into its circle? 

2. intr. To institute quarantine. 

1888 Harper s Mag. Oct. 738/1 Only two cases had been 
reported when every neighboring British colony quarantined 
against Martinique. 

Hence Qua rantined, Qua rantining fpl. adjs. ; 
also Qua rautiner, one who puts, or is put, into 
quarantine. 

1831 SCOTT Jrnl. II. 444 The guardians, who attend to 
take care that we quarantines do not kill the people whom 
we meet. 1884 Manch. Exam. 21 Nov. 5/4 The.. block in 
which the quarantined person is located. 1891 Lancet 3 Oct. 
777 Egypt .. always has been . . a quarantining country. 

Quarantine (apple), variant of QUARENDEN. 

tQuaranty. Obs. Also -ancy. [ad. It. 
quarantia, f. quaranta forty : cf. F. quarantie.} 
A former court of judicature at Venice, consisting 
of forty members. 

1636 E. DACRES tr. MachiavcFs Disc. Livy I. 198 They 
have ordained the Quarantiej or counsell of forty. 1659 
J. HARRINGTON Loaagming in. i. (1700) 439 After the manner 
of the Venetian Quarancys. 1707 J. STEVENS tr. Ouevedo s 
Com. Wks. (1709) 446 On his Right was one Chief of the 
Quarantie. 

t Quardecu(e, variants of CABDECU. Obs. 

1611 COTGR., Quart tfescu, a Teston or Quardecue ; a siluer 
peece of coyne worth iStf. sterl. 1657 HOWELL Londintip. 
372 1 here comes not a Quardecu in every Crown clearly to 
the Kings Coffers, which is but the fourth part. 

Quardeel : see CARDEL. 

Quare, obs. form of QUIRE, WHERE. 

t Quare, v. Obs. rare. [a. OF. quarer (F. 
carrer) : L. quadrare QUADRATE .] To square. 
Hence Quared///. a., Qua Ting vbl. sb. 

a 1300 Cursor J/. 1664 (Gntt) A vessel . . sal be mad of quarid 
tre. 1611 MS. Ace. St. John s Hasp., Cantert., Payd for 
hewing and quaring of the tymber. 

Quarefour, variant of CARFOUR. 

Quare impedit (kweVrz rmpfdit). Law. 
[L., ; why he impedes or hinders .] A form of writ 
issued in cases of disputed presentation to a benefice, 
requiring the defendant to state why he hinders the 
plaintiff from making the presentation. 

[1292 BRITTON iv. vi. 2 Si acun, qi ad drett de presenter. . 
voille presenter, et autre i mette destourbaunce . . adounc 
tient proprement lu ccst bref Quare impedit.] 1498-9 
Plmnpton Corr. (Camden) 133 The best remedy for your 
Incumbent was. .to suy a quare Impedit at the comon law. 
1548 STAUNI-ORD Kinges Prcrtg. (1567) 54 b, If his highnes 
bnnge his Quare impedit or accion of trespas. n 1670 
HACKET Life Al p. Williams 11. (1693) 79 In matters eccle- 
slastical, as Advousons, Presentations, Quare-impedits, etc 
1703 DURNET Own Time v. (1734) II, 27 The actions of 



QUARRED. 

Quare Impedit, that they would be liable to, if they did not 
admit the Clerks presented to them. 1804 Bp. OF LINCOLN 
in G. Rose Diaries (1860) II. 88 A caveat or a quare im- 
pedit may be advised. 1875 POSTF. Gains iv. (ed. 2) 636 
Jioth parties are said to be equally plaintiffs and equally 
defendants in the actions .. Quare impedit and Replevin. 

Quarel^e, -ell(e, obs. forms of QUAKKEL sb. 
Quarelet : see QUARRELET. 
Quareuden, quarender (kwoTenrTn, -daa). 
Also 5 quaryndo^u)n, 7, 9 quarrington, 9 qua 
rantine, quarren(d)er, quarendel, -don, -ten. 
[Of obscure origin : the L. equivalents given in first 
quot. seem to be otherwise unknown.] A variety 
, of apple (see quot. 1886) common in Somerset 
I and Devon. Also attrib. 

14.. Voc,\i\ Wr.-Wiilcker 574/34 Cotiduniii, a Quaryndoun. 

I Conduits^ a Quaryndon tre. 1676 WORLIUGK Cyder (1691) 

: 206 The Devonshire Quarrington is also a very fine early 

Apple. 1855 KINGSLEY Westw. Ho i, Red quarrenders 

and maxard cherries. 1869 KLACKMORE Lorna D. (1891) 

125 As he took the large oxhorn of our quarantine apple 

cider. 1874 T. HARDY Far fr. Mad, Crowd I. xxvii. 299 

Some tall, gaunt costard, or quarrington. 1886 ELWORTHV 

/K Sow. ll ord-bk., Quarrentr,.. an oblate shaped, deep 

red, early apple ; also known as suck -apple, 

t Quarental. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. It. qnaranta 
(F. quarante] forty, after TRENTAL.] A set of forty 
requiem masses. 

1566 rasquineina TraunceSg These false Prophets, .that 
deceyue thy people with Trentals and Quarentals. 

Q,ua-renten(e. Hist. rare, [ad, med.L. qtta- 
; rentcna (AF. qnarenteyne) : see QUARANTINE.] 
i A lineal or square measure containing forty poles ; 
a furlong or rood. 

1809 BAWDWEN Domesday Bk. 14 Wood pasture four 
i quarentens long and the same broad. 1869 PEARSON Hist. 
j Maps Eng. (1870) 51 A wood ten leagues long by six and 
I two quarentenes broad. 

Quarentine, obs. variant of QUARANTINE. 
Quarer(e, variants of QUARRER, quarry, 
t Quarester, obs. form of CHORISTER. 

1436 E. E. Wills 105 To euery secundary & clerc of the 
chirch iiijd, and to euery quarester ij 1 . 1450 Rolls Parlt. 
V. 188/1, xii Quaresters, and a maister to teche hem. 

Quarfe, Quarfour, obs. ff. WHARF, CARFOUR. 
f Quarfoxe, obs. form of CARFAX, cross-roads. 

1483 CAXTON Gold. Leg. 89/2 Whan he cam to the quar- 
foxe the deuyl caught the chylde. 

QuarfuILe, var. QUARTFUL a, Quarie, var. 
QUARRY a., coagulated. Quarier(e, obs. ff. 
QUARRIER. Quarilous, var. QUARRELLODS. 

t Quarion, var. QUARRIER 2 , candle. Obs. 

1512 Hoitseh. Bk. Dk, Northnmbld. 3 Wax wrought in 
Quarion.s j Ib. [1860 Our Eng. Hotne 91 Quarions and 
morters..for burning in the chambers at night ; the former 
were square lumps of wax with a wick in the centre.] 

Quark (.kw^uk), v. [Imitative, or a. G. quark- 
en.} To croak. Hence QuaTking vbl. sb. 

1860 J. F. CAMPBELL Pop, T. It . High!. II. 145 The 
gurgling and quarking of spring frogs in a pond. 1893 
[D. JORDAN] Forest TitJies, etc. 186 Rooks . . cawing anu 
quarking. Ibid. 190 The herons quarked harshly. 

Quarken, variant of QUERKEN, to choke. 

Quarl, quarle (kw^ul), sb.^- [var. of QUARREL 
jvU] A large brick or tile; esp. a fire-brick, 
curved like part of a cylinder used to form sup 
ports for melting-pots, retort -covers, etc. 

1875 Ure s Diet. Arts III. 67 (s.v. Lead} The erection of 
nine six-ton pots requires. . 160 feet of quarles. 1883 Daily 
News 10 Sept. 3/2 Making passages below the oven floor, 
and laying upon these passages perforated quarles or re 
cessed bricks. 1894 Northumbld. Gloss, s.v., Under the 
term brick are included sizes up to twelve inches long by 
six inches wide. Above this area it is called a quarl or tile. 

Quarl, sl&gt;.~ rare. [?ad. G. qnalle, Du. kwaL] 
The jelly-fish, medusa, 

1884 Harper s Mag. Dec. 156/1 And momently athwart 
her track The quarl upreared his island back. 

t Quarl, v. Obs. rare. Also 8 quarrel. [Cf. 
QUAKZJ.^] Tocurdle, ?turnsour. Hence tQuarled 
fpl. a. (Cf. QuARHEi)///. a.} 

1607 Toi RNRUR Rev. Trag. v. Hij, Moth. Are you so 
barbarous to set Iron nipples Vpon the brest that gaue you 
suck. Vind. That brest Is turnd to Quarled poyson. 1703 
Art % My st. Vintners 68 Take 2 pennyworth of Rice.. and 
2 pennyworth of Alum ; this will keep your Wine from 
quarrelling, and make it fine. 

Quarl v e, Quar le, Quarled : see QUARL j^. 1 , 
QUARREL j.i, QUARRELLED a. Quar-man, 
-martin : see QUAR sb.^ Quarn, obs. f. QUERN, 

f Quarnell, a. Sc. Obs. rare. Also quernell. 
[App. var. of QUARREL j/;.l or sb.- (used attrib?), 
perh. after CARNEL or CORNEL.] Square, squared. 
So also Qua rnelled (in 6 quernallit). 

1533 BELLENDEN Livy i. x. (1901) 62 This virgine horacia 
was buryit. .in ane sepulture of quernell [i .r. quarnell] stanis. 
1542 /fiz . /\. Wardr. (1815)64 Item, ane small chene with 
thrawin and quernallit linkis. [1808-25 jAMiKsoN.^warw^//, 
cornered, having angles. Fife.\ 

Quarner(e, Quarof, Quarquenet, Quarre, 
obs. ff. CORNER s6.\ WHEREOF, CARCANET, QUARRY. 

Quarreaus, obs. pi. of QUARREL sb.i 

Qua rred, ppl. & Obs. exc. dial. [f. QUAR v. 2 
+ -ED 1 .] Clotted, curdled; soured. 

1599 A. M. tr. Gabelhoncr s Bk. Phystcke 341/1 When we 
haue fallen, and we fcare we haue quarred bloode in our 



QUARREL. 

bod ye. 1871 WISE New Forest in Hampsh. Gloss., Beer is 
said to be quarred, when it drinks hard or rough. 

Quarrefour, var. CARFOUK. 

Quarrel (kwp rel), sbJ- Forms: 3 //. quar- 

reaus, 4-5 quarelle, 4-6 quarel, (4 qwarel, 5 

quarele, -eyll, wharle, 6 quar le), 5-6 quarell, 

(6 quer-), 6-7 quarrell, (6 -elle), f&gt;- quarrel. 

[a. OF. quarel, quarrel (quaral^ carat, etc., pi. 

quarriaitS) qitarcus}, later qitarrian, -can., mod.F. 

carreau, = Prov. cairel, It. qnadrcllo, Sp. cuadrilh, 

med.L. qitadrellus, dim. of Prov. catre, It. qttadro, 

(Sp. at-}, med.L. quadras a square : cf. QuADREL.] 

1. A short, heavy, square-headed arrow or bolt, 
formerly used in shooting with the cross-bow or 
arbalest, 

a 1*25 Ancr. R, 62 peo hwile Jjet me mit quarreaus . . 
asaileo bene cast el. 1340 Ayenb. 71 Al hit ys ywent wel 
ra^re ^&gt;an.. quarel of arolaste. (-1400 Destr. Troy 4743 The 
Grekes ,. Whappet in wharles, whellit the pepull. 1483 
CAXTON Gold. Leg. 314 b/2 A sowne lyke as a quarel had be 
shotte out, of Arbalaste or a crosse bowe. 1540 Act 33 
Hen, / ///, c. 6 Crossebowes ..ready furnished with quarelles. 
1590 SPENSER F. Q. n. xi. 33 Now had the Carle, .his hands 
Discharged of his bow and deadly quar le. 1750 CARTK 
Hist, Eng. 11.463 The Genoese, .let fly their quarrels when 
they imagined themselves to be within a proper distance. 
1846 GREENER Sc. Gunnery 4 It is said of the cross-bow, 
that a quarrel could be projected from them 200 yards. 

attrib. 1412-20 LYDG. Citron. Troy it. xi, Dartes daggers 
..And quarrelheades sharpe & square yground. 1600 
HOLLAND Livy xxi. xi. 400 Ordinance of quarell shot, brakes, 
and other artillerie. 
b. dial. (See quot.) 

1840 SPURDENS East- Anglian Words {E. D. S.), Quarrel, 
a kind of bird-bolt, with a lozenge-shaped head ; now only 
used by rook-bolters for beating down rooks nests. 

t 2. A square needle. Also attrib. Obs. rare. 

1496 Bk. St. Allans, Fishing H iij, For smalle fysshe ye 
shall make your hokes of the smalest quarell nedlys that ye 
can fynde of stele, & in this wyse. Ye shall put the quarell 
in a redde charkcole fyre [etc.]. 

3. A square or (more usually) diamond-shaped 
pane of glass, of the kind used in making lattice- 
windows. Now rare exc. dial. (Cf. QUARRY sb.% 2.) 

1447 in Parker Gfoss. Archit. (1850) 290 Every windowe 
conteineth vi lights .. Item all the katurs, quarrells, and 
oylements. 1507 in Gage Suffolk 143 Setting vp of white 
Normandy glas, oon rowe of quarrells white. 1542 BOORDE 
Dyetary viii. (1870) 249 Let your skynner cut both .. the 
skynnes in smale peces tryangle wyse, lyke halfe a quarel of a 
glase wyndow. 1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. Poesie (Arb.) 106 The 
Lozange is, .a quadrangle reuerst,.with his point vpward like 
to a quarrell of glasse. 1669 BOYLE Contn. New Exj&gt;. i. (1682) 
25 Some plates of glass such as are used for making the (Quar 
rels of Windows. 1711 C. LOCKYER Trade in India vi. 164 
Oyster-shells fixt Diamond-wise in wooden Frames, instead 
of Glass, which look something like our small, old fashion d 
Quarrels. 1828 Craven Gloss., Quarrel, a square of glass. 
1879 Casselfs Tec/in. F.duc. ix. 145/2 The colour . . of the 
quarrels in the original window is a light bluish-green. 

attrib. 1820 SCOTT Abbot xxxiv, A quarrel pane of glass 
in the turret window. 

t4. A square tile. Obs. rare. (Cf. QUARRY 5^.3 3.) 

1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. 596 The manner of pauing with 
smal tiles or quarrels ingrauen. 1610 Camden 1 s Brit. 
i. 511 The pauements wrought Checker wise with small 
square quarels. 

5. techn. a. A glazier s diamond (1807 Douce 
Illustr. Shaksp. I. 181). b. A four-sided graver 
(Ogilvie, 1882). c. A stonemason s chisel (ibid.}. 

Quarrel, sl&gt;2 Obs. exc. north, dial. Forms : 
5 qwaryle, qvar-, qverelle, qwharrell, 5-6 
quarel, (5 -ell), 6 qwarrel,.Sc. querill.querrell, 
7, 9 quarrel, 9 wharrel, wharl. [Alteration of 
quarer, QL ARRER, perh. after prec.] 

1. A place from which stone, ttc., is obtained, 
= QUARRY st&gt;. 2 

14.. Now. in Wr.-Wulcker 737/3 Hoc saxifragium, a 
qwaryle. 1483 Cath. Angl. 296/1 A Qvarefle of stone 
(A. Querelle of stane), lapidicina. 1500-18 Ace. Loath 
Steeple in Arch&ologia X. 71 Riding to the quarrel for 
stone. 1513 DOUGLAS sEneis i. vii. 22 Wtheris .. the huge 
pillaris grett Out of the querillls can to hew and beit. 1802 
Lout/i Corpor. Ace. (1891) 55 That the Market for Sheep 



a stone quarry ; a disused quarry. Seldom heard. 

t b. Sc. The stone or other material obtained 
by quarrying. Also pi. Obs. 

1536 BELLENDEN Cron. Scot. (1821) I. 251 He thirllit thahn 
..to win mettelHs, querrellis, and to mak tild. 1661-73 
LD. FOUNTAINHALL in M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. (1826) II. 
535 (Jam.) To dig, win, work, and carry away coals, lime- 
stone, clay, quarrell. 

2. attrib. as quarrel head, hole, man, well, stone, 

c 1460 Twvncley Myst. ii. 367 When I am dede, bery me 
in gudeboure at the quarell hede, 1472 Durham Ace. 
Rolls (Surtees) 245, j q wharrel Imell. 1513 DOUGLAS SEneis 
viii. iv. 149 AH kynd of wapynnis . . Wyth branchis rent of 
treis, and quarrell stanis Of huge wecht. 1535 LYNDESAY 
Satyre 3061, 1 lent my gossop my mear . . And he hir drounit 
into the querrell hollis. a 1572 KNOX Hist. Rcf. Wks. 1846 
I. 379 At the Querrell Hollis, betuix Leyth and Edin- 
burght. 1571 Wills &lt;V Im&gt;. N. C. (Surtees 1860) 351 John 
Heworthe of gatisheid . . Quarelman. 

Quarrel (kwg-rel), j&3 Forms: 4 querele, 
4~5 (6) querel, 5 qwerell(e, 6 querel (1, 6-7 Sc. 
quer(r)ell; 4-5 quarele, 5 qv-, quarelle, 5-6 
quarell, (5&lt;I1F-}g-7 quarel, 6 quarrel, (6-7 -ell). 



23 

[a. OF. querele, -etle;L. querela, -ella complaint, 
f. quert to complain. The spelling qitar(r]- was 
the prevailing one by Caxton s time ; later exam 
ples of querii- } are chiefly Sc. : see also QUERELK.] 

f 1. A complaint ; esp. a complaint against 
a person ; hence in Law : an accusation or charge ; 
an action or suit. Obs. 

ci374 CHAUCER Boeth. in. pr. iii. 55 (Camb, MS.) For 
whenues corny n elles alle thyse foreyne compleyntes or 
quereles of pletynges [L. forcnses qutrimomgg}. 11400 
Destr. Troy v. heaaing l Of the Qwerell of Kyng Priam for 
his Fader dethe. 1454 Rolls Parlt. V. 258/2 In all maner 
Actions . . suytes, quereles and demandes. 1483 CAXTON 
Gold. Leg. 219 2 They sayd wyth swete and dcuout quarelles 
why she suffred her deuoute seruaunte to dye wythout con- 
fessyon. 1535 COVER DALE Acts xxv. 7 Y I ewes .. broughte 
vp many andgreuous quarels agaynst Paul. iefi$E.i-ec./ar 
Treason (1675) 13 None of them have been sought hitherto 
to be impeached in any point or quarrel of Treason. 1641 
TITIIICS de la Ley 230 b, Qvarels .. extendeth not onely to 
actions., but also to the causes of actions & suits. 

2. A ground or occasion of complaint against 
a person, leading to hostile feeling or action ; 
a cause for which one person has unfriendly or 
unfavourable feelings towards another ; also, the 
state or course of hostility resulting from such 
ground of complaint. Const, against t -\to, later 
with. Now rare. To pick a quarrel , see PICK v. 

1340 Ayenb. 83 Ine ofre quereles huanne me mysnymj) [it 
may be amended J .. ac errour ine batayle ne may na;t by- 
amended. 135*0 GOWER Conf. III. 303 Love hath mad him 
a querele Ayem hire youthe friissh and frele. c 1400 Destr. 
Troy 1763 To qwit claym all querels, & be qweme fryndes. 
1489 CAXTON Faytes of A. i. xviii. 52 What theyre herte 
sayth of the quarell and what wylle they haue for to fyglit. 
1526 TINDALE Col. iii. 13 Forgevynge one another (if e;iy 
man have a quarrell to a nother). 1603 KNOLLES Hist. 
Turks (1621) 306 Although they be in number moe than 
you, yet are they in hope, quarfell and strength, farre infe- 
riour. a 1633 AUSTIN Medit. (1635) 249 The Devill hath the 
same Quarrell to us Men, that hee had to Christ. 1655 
FULLER Ch. Hist. it. v. 43 Ethelred. .with whom DunsUm 
bad a quarrel from his cradle. 1749 FIELDING 7Vw Jones 
xv. vii, All the quarrel the squire hath to me is for taking 
your part. 1760-72 H. BROOKE Fool of Qnal, (1809) I. 32, 
I have no quarrel, I cried, to the high and mighty. 

b. With possessive pron., or genitive : One s 
cause, side, or party in a complaint or contest ; 
f one s claim to a thing. 

1380 Lay Folks Catech. 1287 Hertely in godes querel to 
withstonde .. in al ^at we may. 1390 COWER Conf. I. 29 
That he wol take the querele Of holy cherche in his defence. 
c 1440 Generydes 3536 Off all this land I geve vppe my 
quarell. ,1489 CAXTON Blanchardyn xxxiv. 126 He was 
aduertysed. .of the cause & quarelle of Blanchardyn. 1593 
SHAKS. 2 Hen. I l, in. ii. 233 Thrice is he arm d, that hath 
his Quarrell iust. 1697 DRYDEN I irg. Gcorg. iv. 318 When 
their Sov reign s Quarrel calls em out, His Foes to mortal 
Combat they defie. 1755 YOUNG Centaur\. Wks. 1757 IV. 124 
The. .heart commands the. .head, to figbt its unjust quarrel, 
and say it is its own. 1808 SCOTT Life Dryden in DCs 
Wks. (1882) I. 172 Were a nobleman to have recourse to 
hired bravoes to avenge bis personal quarrel against any 
one. 1892 STEVENSON Across the Plains xii. 313 In our 
own quarrel we can see nothing truly. 

c. With adjs., specifying the justice or other 
aspect of the cause or ground of contention, f Of 
great quarrel \ of importance. 



.... 

a fals quarele agenst God and bis seyntis. 1456 SmG. HAM-: 
Law Arms (S.T. S.) 73 Oft tymes..he that has gude rycht 
tynis the felde, and the wrang querele wynnis. a 1533 Lo. 
BERNERS Hiton xlix. 164 By a iust quarell ye may go and 
make warre vpon hym. 1590 T. HKNEAGE in Lett. Lit. Men 
(Camden) 48 Her Highness dowteth that yt may breed 
discredyt todyvers of great quarrell. 1651 Ho BBES /.*///*. 
n. xix. 97 Sufficient provision being taken, against all just 
quarrell. 1715-20 POPE Iliad in. 309 Perhaps their swords 
some nobler quarrel draw.-;, a 1806 K. WHITE Christmas- 
Day 10 Me higher quarrel calls, with loudest song. 1863 
RUSKIN Arrows of Choc e (1880) II. 25, I would have the 
country go to war, with haste, in a good quarrel. 

td. transf. Cause, reason, ground, plea. Obs. 

1456 SIR G. HAVE Law Anns (S. T. S.) 184 The King of 
France has querele to mak were apon the King of Ungary. 
1476 J. PASTON in P. Lett. III. 164 Then he shold be 
swer that I shold not be flyttyng, and I had syche a qwarell 
to kepe me at home, 1545 ASCEIAM Toxoph. To Gentlem. 
Eng. (Arb.) 20 A fletcher hath euen as good a quarell to be 
angry with an archer. 1607-12 BACON ss. t Marriage 
(Arb.) 270 So as a Man may have a quarrell to marrye 
when he will. 1633 Bp. HALL Hard Texts, TV. T. 142 
Judas of Galilee, . . upon the quarrell of the Taxes laid by 
Caesar. .made an insurrection. 

1 3. An objection, opposition, dislike or aversion 
to a thing. Obs. 

1581 W. STAFFORD Exam. Comfl. Pref., I haue indeuoured 
in fewe wordes to answere certayne quarelU and objections 
dayly and ordinarily occurrent in the talke of sundry men. 
1601 HOLLAND Pliny 1 1. 249 In the disease Tinesmus (which 
is an inordinat quarrell to the stool). 1654-66 EARL ORRERY 
Parthen. (1676) 567 It created a general quarrel to Fortune. 
1720 LADY LANDSDOWN in Lett. C tess Suffolk (1824) I. 70, 
I . .shall be tempted to have a quarrel to matrimony. 
b. Const, with (as in 2 and 4). 

1726 SWIFT Gulliver in. iv, What quarrel I had with the 
dress or looks of his domestics? 

4. A violent contention or altercation between 
persons, or of one person with another ; a rupture 
of friendly relations. 

1572 HULOET, Quarell, controncrsia&gt; contentio, jurgium 
[etc.], 1596 SHAKS. Merch. V. v. i. 238, I am th vnhappy 
subject of these quarrels, Tarn. S/ir. i. ii. 27 Rise Grumio 



QUARREL. 

rise, we will compound this quarrell. 1639 T. BRUGIS tr. 
Camus Afar. Rclat.-2\\ A man very valiant of his hands, but 
hot brained, he had had many quarrels. 1717 LADY M. W. 
MONTAGU Let. to rope 12 Feb., I was very uneasy till they 
were parted, fearing some quarrel might arise. 1769 BLACK- 
STONK Coinnt. iv. xiv. IQI If upon a sudden quarrel two 
persons light, and one of them kills the other, this is man 
slaughter. 1818 SCOTT Rob Roy x, He will take care to 
avoid a quarrel, .with any of the natives. 1838 TIMKLWAI.L 
Greece V. 265 Tbe quarrels between the Phocians and their 
Locrian neighbours. 1876 MOZLEY Univ. Semi. x. (1877) 
204 People rush into quarrels from simple violence and 
impetuosity of temper. 

fb. Quarrelling; quarrelsomeness. Obs. rare. 
1604 SHAKS. Oth. n. iii. 52 He l be as full of Quarrell, and 

offence As my yong Mistris dogge. 1605 HA CON Adv. 
Learn. I. vii. 2 All beasts . . forgetting their several! appe 
tites; some of pray, some of game, some of quarrell. 

5. Comb, as quarrel-breeder. 

1611 COTGR., Sufserttfur de noises, a make-bate, firebrand 
of contention, quarrel l-breeder. 

Quarrel (two -rel),? . Forms: 4querele,6-el^l, 
quarel, 6-7 quar(r)ell, (7 Sc. querrell\ 7- quar 
rel. [In Gower, a. OF. qttereler (F. querel/er}, f. 
querele (see prec.) : in later use prob. f. the sb.] 

1. intr. To raise a complaint, protest, or objec 
tion ; to find fault ; to take exception. 

a. Const. ivitJi. Phr. To quarrel with one s 
j bread and butter : to give up a means of livelihood 
for insufficient reasons. 

1390 ( tou KR Conf. III. 192 With that word the king 
quereleth And seith : Non is above me. 1605 BACON Aih&gt;. 
Learn, i. iv. 6 If you take out every axiom .. one by one, 
you may quarrel with them . . at your pleasure. 1671 MIL 
TON Samson 60, I must nut quarrel with the will Of highest 
: dispensation. 1752 J. GILL Trinity iv. 81, I cannot see 
i why any should quarrel with our translation. 1780 CRAIG 
Mirror No. 69 ? i How did she show superior sense by 
thus quarrelling with her bread and butter? 1894 H. 
DRUM MONO Ascent Man 265 We cannot quarrel with the 
principle in.. Nature which condemns to death the worst. 

transf. 1830 J. G. STRUTT Sylva Brit. 82 It [the Chesnut] 
quarrels with no soil assigned to it. 
t b. Const, at. Obs. 

1585 W. LAMBARD in Camdafs Lett, (1601) 29 This is 
: all that I can quarrel at ; and yet have I pried so far as I 
could. ai66z HFVI.IN Land (1668) 142 Which Clause ..was 
now quarrel d at by the Puritan Faction. 1725 DE FOK 
Voy. round World (1840) 26 The whole weight of their 
resentment seemed to tend to quarrelling at my command. 

fc. absol. or with that. Obs. rare. 

JSSS EDEN Decades 125 For all this were not the enemies 
I satisfyed : querelinge that this thynge was doone by sum 
; slyght. 1563 FOXE A. &lt;y M. (1684) 865 To thintent to 
I appcale, and. .to querell vnder the. . moste effectual! way. 

2. intr. To contend violently, fall out, break off 
friendly relations, become inimical or hostile. 

. Const, with (a person), for or about a thing). 

1530 PALSGR. 676/2, I quarell with one, I pycke a mater to 
hym to fall out with hym. 1597 HOOKER ficcl. Pol. v. 
lx,\iv. i Those [heretiques] which doe nothing else but 
quarrell. 1697 DKYUEN Virg. Georg. \\. 638 Wine urg d to 
lawless Lust the Centaurs Train, Thro Wine theyquarrell d. 
1728 T. SHERIDAN Pcrsiits iii. (1739) 41 Quarrel for your 
Mince-meat, and refuse the Lullaby. 1829 LYTTON Devercux 
n. v, She quarrelled with me for supping with St. John. 
1875 JOWETT Plato (ed. 2) V. 48 Having abundance of 
pasture. . they would have nothing to quarrel about. 

fig. 1610 SHAKS. Temp. m. i. 45 Some defect in her Did 
quarrell with the noblest grace she ow d. 

1 3. trans. To claim contentiously. Obs. rare. 

1579 FENTON Guicciard. 252 Ferdinand . . had alwayes 
secretly quarrelled that title as lawfully apperteining to the 
crowne of Aragon. 1596 DANETT tr. Comtnes (1614) 241 The 
Emperors daughter was restored vnto him, and the countie 
of Artois together with all the townes he quarrelled. 

f4. To dispute, call in question, object to (an 
act, word, etc.) ; to challenge the validity or 
correctness of. Obs. (Freq. in i;th c.) 

1609 TOURNEUR Fun. Poeme Sir F. l- ere 491 If malignant 
censure quarrels it. 1644 PRYNNE & WALKER Plenties $ 
Trial 4 The Lords Orders being not only quarrelled, but 
contemned by those who were to bail him. 1699 COLLIER 
znd Def. (1730) 326 This fine Phrase puts me in mind of his 
quarrelling a Sentence of mine for want . . of Syntax. 1745 
RUDDIMAN I ind. Buchanan 310 (Jam.), I hope you will not 
quarrel the words, for they are all Virgil s. 1786 BURNS On 
Naethingv, Some quarrel the Presbyter gown, Some quarrel 
Episcopal graithing. 

5. To find fault with (a person) ; to reprove 
angrily. Obs. exc. Sc. (Freq. in iyth c.) 

1598 B. JONSON Ev. Man in Hum. n. i, I had quarrell d 
My brother purposely. 1621 J. REYNOLDS God s Rtz 1 . agst. 
Murder i. i. 5 Quarrelling his taylor for the fashion of his 
clothes. 1688 PENTON Guard. Instruct. (1897) 47 Quarrelling 
the poor man for not coming sooner. 1728 \Vedrffiv Corr. 
(1843) III. 363 He ought not to be quarrelled for his 
opinions. 18x7 HOGG Tales ft Sk. (1837) III. 344 They 
might kill a good many without being quarrelled for it. 
1897 CROCKETT Lads Love xiii. 140 It was my fault . . 
1 quarrelled her, I angered her. 

f 6. With complement : To force or bring by 
quarrelling. Obs. 

1610 B. JONSON Alch. iv. iv, You must quarrel him out o* 
the house. 1655 FULLER Ch. Hist. in. xi. 2 Many English 
Bishops, .fearing by degrees they should all be quarrelled 
out of their places. . fled into Scotland. 1655 Hist. Camb. 
(1840) 159 How easy was it for covetousness, in those ticklish 
times, to quarrel the College lands into superstition? 1678 
] ~ng, , Mans Call. 167 There are many.. that quarrel them 
selves carnally to hell. 

Hence Qua-rrelled///. a. Also fQua rrellable 
a., capable of being called in question. 



QUARRELET. 

16.. in Peterkin RentahQrkney\\\. (:8co) 14 (Jam. SuppU 
Quhtlk gift fs not confirmed .. and so his right is most 
quarrallable. 1673 Ln. FOUNTAISHALL in M. P. Brown 
SuppL Decis. (1826) III. 14 The said act of Parliament 
appoints these deeds to be quarrellable. 1820 J. BROWN 
Hist. Brit. Ch. II. App. 7 The Antiburghers still continue 
upon their quarrelled constitution of Synod. 

I Oua rrelet. Obs. rare 1 . In 7 quarelet. 

rr ^T_. . . . .f i _ 11 11 




of pearl. 

Quarrelled (kwg-reld), a. Also quarled. 
[f. QUAKKEL st&gt;. 1 3 + -El) i.] a. Of windows : Made 
of quarrels, b. Of glass : Formed into quarrels. 

1868 J. G. MIALL Coitgreg. Yorksh. 103 The shutters which 
protected the quarreled windows from injury- 889 HISSEY 
Tour in Phaeton 26 Mullioned windows, so pleasantly 
varied by transom and quarrelled glass. 1894 RLACKMORE 
Perlyctvss 142 The light from a long quarled window. 

Quarreller (kwg-relaa . Also 5 querelour, 
6-7 quareller, (7 -or, -our), [f. QUARREL v. + 
-EH .] One who quarrels, in senses of the vh. 

c 1450 Aristotle s ARC in Q. Elh. Acad., etc. 66 Quenche 



be. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny I. 58 No riuer hath lesse liberty 
.. yet he is no quarreller, nor much harm doeth he. a 1642 
SIR W. MONSON Wars with Spain (16821 3 It were better 
to keep company with a Coward than a Quarreller. 176 . 
WESLEV Husli. ff ll hvs iii. 6 Wks. 1811 IX. 66 Away then 
with .. this quarreller, suspicion. 1824 SCOTT St. Ronan s 
viii, Quarrellers do not usually live long. 1892 E. RKKVKS 
Homeward Bound 103 The big albatross.. scattering the 
quarrellers, seizes the tempting morsel for himself. 

fb. With pun on QUARKEL sb. 1 3. Obs. 

1630 Conceits, Clinches etc. (Halliw. 1860) 5 One said it was 
unfit a glasier should be a constable, because he was 
a common quareller. 1673 R. HEAD Canting Acad. 163 
Glasiers. .are constant Quarrellers. 

Quarrelling (kwgTt-lin), vbl. sb. [f. QUARHKL 
v. + -ING 1.] The action of the vb. QUARREL. 

1546 BALE Eng. Votaries I. 72 They wolde . . styll vexe 
hym with olde quarellynges. 1611 RICH Honest. ^^(Percy 
Soc.) 54 The mind is oppressed with idle thoughts which 
spurreth on the tongue to contentious quarrelling, a 1715 
BURNBT O-.UH Time III. (1724) I. 452 Seimour and he had 
fallen into some quarrellings. 1734 T. WATT I ocab. Eng. 
Lat. 38 You are always making a Quarrelling about nothing. 
1866 GEO. ELIOT F. Holt_ (1868) 30 There was no fear of 
family coolness or quarrelling on this side. 

atlrili. 1625 MASSINGER AVzy U ay v. i, Make not My 
house your quarrelling scene. 

Qua-rrelling, ///. a. [f. as prec. + -ING ^.] 
That quarrels ; quarrelsome. 

1589 NASHE Pnf. Greene s Menaphon (Arb.) 13 That 
quarrelling kinde of verse. 1593 Tell-Trotli s N. Y. Gift 
30 The quarreling mate shall not complaine. 1670 CLARKN- 
DON Ess. Tracts (1727) 166 A froward, proud and quarreling 
conscience. 1822 II. CORNWALL Tivo Dreams ii The loud 
quarrelling elements cast out Their sheeted fires. 

Hence t Qua rrelliuffly adv. Obs. 

1571 GpUDlNG Cah in on Ps. Ixix. i r They stryve with them 
quarrellingly, and wythout meeldnesse. 1386 HOLINSHEU 
Citron. F.ng-. III. 20/2 He caused the bishop to be sued, 
quarelinglie charging him that [etc.]. 

t Quarrellous, a. Obs. Forms: 5 quere- 
lous(e, quarelouse, 6 quaril-, quarel(l)-, 6-7 
quarrel-, 6-7 quarrellous. [a. OF. querelous 
(F. querelleux] : see QUARREL rf. 3 an d -ous. In 
later use perh. a new formation.] a. Given to 
complaining ; querulous, b. Quarrelsome, con 
tentious ; fault-finding. (In common use from 
about 1560 to 1650.) 

_ c 1400 Betyn 2070 They were so querelouse of al myjt com 
in mynde Thouje it were nevir indede I-do. -1475 Lertm 
or be Lewde in Bailees Bit. 10 [Be not] To Queynt, to 
Querelous, and Queme welle thy maistre. 1490 CAXTON 
Kneydos xxii. 80 Crete wepynges and quarellouse plaintes. 
1556 AHP. PAKKER Ps. xxxiv. 84 To scape theyr foes so 
quarilous. 1610 Bp. HALL A fa!. Brmvmsts 83 His Maiesties 
speech . . might haue staied the course of your quarrelous 
pen. a 1639 SPOTTISWOOD Hist. Ch. Scot. n. (1677) 66 This 
Gentleman had been in former times very quarrellous and 
turbulent, a 1656 HALES Calif. Rein. (1688) 113 This quar 
rellous and fighting humour. 

Hence f Qua rrellonsly adv. 

1580 A. ML-NDAY in John a Kent, etc. (Shaks. Soc.) 78 
Evene desperate Dick that can .. behave him selfe so 
quarrelously. 

t Quarrel-picker, -piker. Obs. [f. the phr. 

to pick a quarrel: cf. QUARREL s/&gt;.3 2 and PICK v.] 

1. One who picks quarrels ; a quarrelsome person. 

1547 COVERDALE Old Faith To Rdr. Avij, Then shall we 
be no Quarrellpykerrs. 1551 T. WILSON Logike 46 These 
quarelpickers, these roysters, and fighters. 1608 TOPSELL 
Serpents (1658) 780 A company of corner-creepers, spider- 
catchers, fault-finders, and quarrell-pickers. 

2. Slang. (With pun on QUARREL sbl 3 ; cf. 
QUARRELLEK b.) A glazier. 

a 1700 B. E. Diet. Cant. Crew. 

So Quarrel-picking, -piking vbl. sb. and///, a. 
v. 557 J P 6 "^-) Actt xvii. 7 (,., Like quarelpikin" 
they vsed against Chnste 1591 R. TURNBULL Exf. fame s 
tp Bed. Aivb, Reprochfull censure, .. without quarrell- 
plckmg. ,894 Wgtm. Cat. 25 Sept. 3/2 A .. dining^quarre - 
picking, and duelling club. 

Quarrelsome (kwg-ielsm), a. [f. QUARREL 

rf.3 + -SOME.] 



24 

1. Inclined to quarrel ; given to, or characterized 
by, quarrelling, t Const, at. 

1596 SHAKS. Tarn. Shr. i. ii. 13 My M r is growne quarrel- 
some. 1616 W. SCLATER Serin. 10 Weigh well how.. quar 
relsome at the Hues of magistrates the people are. a 1639 
W. WHATEI.EY Prototypes i. xvi. (1640) 161 A quarrelsome 
fellow, still brawling and falling out. 1681 ANNE WYNDHAM 
Kings Concealni, 78 This quarrelsom Gossipping was a most 
seasonable diversion. 1749 FIELDING Tow Jones v. ix, Men 
who are ill-natured and quarrelsome when they are drunk. 
1818 SCOTT Rob Roy xii, The wine rendered me loquacious, 
disputatious and quarrelsome. 1879 MRS. SEGUIN Blk. 
Forest viii. 115 The lords of Windeck .. were of a specially 
quarrelsome temper. 

2. Offensive, disagreeable, nonce-use. 

1835 COLERIDGE Aids Re_fl. App. i. (1836) 35 Technical 
terms, hard to be remembered, and alike quarrelsome to 
the ear and the tongue. 

Hence Qua rrelsomely adv. 

*755 in JOHNSON. 1873 Miss BROUCHTON Nancy III. 132 
In an aggressively loud voice, as if he were quarrelsomely 
anxious to be overheard. 1880 MRS. PARR Adam $ Eve II. 
vii. 147 The crowd grew. .quarrelsomely drunk. 

Quarrelsomeness, [f. prec. + -NESS.] The 

condition or character of being quarrelsome ; con 
tentious disposition. 

1611 DONNE Scrm. (ed. Alford) V. 32 God giveth not his 
Children .. valour, and then leaveth them to a spirit of 
Quarrelsomeness, a 1656 Bi*. HALL Ron. 77 (T.i The 
giddiness of some, others quarrelsomeness. 1780 BF.NTHAM 
Princ, LegisL Wks. 1843 I. 76 note. Although a man, l&gt;y 
his quarrelsomeness, should for once have been engaged in 
a bad action [etc.J. 1879 R. K. DOUGLAS Confucianism in. 
88 In manhood . . lie avoided quarrelsomeness. 

Quarrender, variant of QUAUENDEX. 

tQuarrer. Obs. Forms: 4-5 quarer(e, 4 
quarrer(e, quariere. [a. OF. quarriere f. (i2th 
c. ; mod.F. earrire} t quarrier m. = med.L. quar- 
(r)er(i}a, qitarraria, guadrdria, f. quadrdre to 
square (stones).] =* QUARBT sb* 

13.. Aletr. Horn. (Vernon MS.) in Herrig Archiv LVII. 
259 Ffer fro be Abbey was a quarere. c 1350 /F///. Palerne 
2232 pei saie . . a semliche quarrere under an hei^ hel al 
hohve newe diked. 1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) I. 271 In 
GalHa bej&gt; many good quarers and noble for to digge stoon. 
c 1440 Promp. Parv. 419/1 Quarere, or quarere of stone, 
(A , quarer) . . lapidicina. 

t Quarreure. Obs. rare. [a. OF. quarreure 
(guarntre, mod.F. carmre) L. quadrature* 
QUADRATURE.] Quadrature. 

( 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 112 Loke J?at be 
mone be noght in |&gt;e entree of be way, in be quarreure of pe 
sonne, or els yn his contrary. 

tQuarreyor. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. QUARRY z/.i] 
? A bird proper to be the quarry of a hawk. 

J 575 TURBERV. Faulconrie 130 This you shall doe. .vntill 
your Hawke be well entred and quarreyed and that she 
knowe a quarreyor sufficiently. 

Qua rrial&gt;le, . rare. [f. QUARRY v. 2 + -ABLE.] 
Capable of being quarried. 

1856 EMERSON Eng. Traits iii. 40 The arable soil, the 
quarriable rock. 1880 RI SKIM Fathers Have Told Us i. i. 
16 Quarriable banks above well-watered meadow. 

t Qna rried, /// a- 1 Obs. [f. QUARRY v. 1 } 

Well-quarried, properly trained to fly at quarry. 

X 57S TuRBBRV. Faulconrie 154 Then shall you first cast off 
a well quarried or make Hawke, and let hir stoupe a fowle. 

Qua-rried, ///. a.- [f. QUARRY .* + -ED*.] 
Dug out of, or as out of, a quarry. 

1747 H. BROOKK Fables^ Female Seducers Wks. (1810) 414 
He . . Of pearl and quarry d diamond dreams. 1855 O. \V. 
HOLMES Poems 35 One leap of Ocean scatters on the sand 
The quarried bulwarks of the loosening land. 

Quarrier 1 (kwo/riai). Forms: a. 5 quarre-, 
qwari-, qvary-, querrour, Sc. quereour, 5-6 
quarriour. . quaryere, 6 quarryer, 7- quar- 
rier. [a. OF. gttarreonr, ~ieur t quarrier (mod.F. 
carrier), agent-n. to quarrer (mod.F. carrer}: L. 
qtiadrdre to square (stones) : cf. late L, quadrator, 
qitadratarius, in same sense, and see QUARRY st&gt;.~] 
One who quarries stone ; a quarryman. 

a. 1375 .SV. Leg. Saints xxiii. {Seven Sleepers) 212 
Quereouris gadryt sone stains to wyne. c 1400 Destr. Troy 
1531 Masons full mony ; . . qwariours qweme. 1424 E. K, 
Wills 59 Paied to Fairchild, quarriour, xiijj. and iiijrf, for 
freestone. 1483 Cnth. AngL 296/2 A Qvaryour, lapidicius. 
1590 Serpent of Devis. Ciij, There was found by quarriours 
. .a rich tonibe of stone. 

ft. ci44o Promp. Pan: 419/1 Quaryere, lapidicidius. 
1500-18 Ace. Loitth Steeple in Arcteokgia X. 71 William 



-.57 Pillars and Galleries made by 
Quamers. 1811 PlNKBRTON Petral. 1. 498 Where the gypsum 
once bore a prismatic form, now destroyed by the progress 
of the quarriers. 1876 T. HARDY Ethelbcrta xxxi, Every 
body in the parish who was not a boatman was a quarrier. 

fig. 1825 HONE Every-day Bk. I. 274 He was the quarrier, 
and architect, ^and builder-up of his own greatness. 

t Qua rrier 2 . Obs. Forms: 6 quarier(e,6-7 
quarrier, (6 -iere, -iour). [App. an alteration 
of QUARRY sb.; see also QUARIOK] A large 
square candle. 

&lt; 1550 Document C^.\ To cause the groomes to delyver to 
the groom porter all the remaynes of torches and quarriers. 
1581 STYWARD Mart. Discipl. \. 24 Their quariers and their 
cressets being light euerie one by it selfe. 1604 Honseh. Ord. 
(1790)305 Mortores, Torchetts, Torches, Quarrioures. 1659 
TORRIANO, Doppwne^ a great torch of wax, which in Court 
is called a Standard, or a quarrier. 



QUARRY. 

Quarring, vbl. sb. : see QUAR j .i 

Quarrington, variant of QUARENDEN. 

t Quarromes, quarron. Obs. Cant. The body. 

1567 HARMAN Caveat (1869) 84 Bene Lightmans to thy 
quarromes. .God morrowe to thy body. 1641 BROME Jovial 
Creui u. Wks. 1873 HI- 3^8 Here s Pannum and Lap, and 
good Poplars of Yarrum To fill up the Crib and to comfort 
the Qunrron. 

Quarry (kwo ri), sb* Forms: 4-5 quirre, 
quyrre, 5 kirre, kyrre, whirry, 6 quyrry ; 4-5 
querrye, querre (also 7), 7 querry ; 5 quarre, 
6 quarie, 6-7 quarrie, (6-7 -ey), 6- quarry. 
[a. OF. cuirte, curee, f. ntir (: L. corinni) skin : 
see sense i.] 

f 1. Certain parts of a deer placed on the hide 
and given to the hounds as a reward ; also, the 
reward given to a hawk which has killed a bird 
(see quot. c 1350). Obs. 

c 1320 Sir Tristr. 499 Hert, liuer and li^tes, And blod tille 
his quirre, Houndes on hyde he di^tes. c 1350 Par/. Three 
Ages 233 [The falconer] puttis owte..he maryo [v.r, marowj 
one his gloue And quotes thaym [the hawks] to the querrye 
O.r. whirry] that quelled hym to be dethe. c 1400 Master of 
GaweProl. (MS. Digby 182), And after whann the hert is 
spaled and dede.he vndothe hym, and maketh his kirre and 
enquirreth or rewardeb his houndes. c 1420 / enery de Ttuety 
in Rel. Ant. I. 153 The houndes shal be rewardid with the 
nekke and with the bewellis .. and thei shal be etyn under 
the skyn, and therfore it is clepid the quarre. 1486 Bk. St. 
Albiins F iv, That callid is Iwis The quyrre, a boue the 
skyn for it etyn is. 1576 TURBERV. / enerie 34 How a man 
should enter his yong houndes to hunte the Harte, and of 
the quaries and rewardes that he shall giue them. [1688 R. 
HOLME Armoury \\. 188/1 Quarry., is a gift or reward 
given the Hounds, being some part of the thing hunted.] 

t b. To blow the quarry ; To sound a horn to 
call the hounds to the quarry. Obs. rare- 1 . 

c 1500 H 7 yl Buckes Test. (Copland) 70, I ma no lenger 
tarry, I must nedis hense go, I here them blowe the quarry. 

1 2. A collection or heap made of the deer killed 
at a hunting. Obs. 

13. . Gaiv. &lt;(- Gr. Knt. 1324, & quykly of be quelled dere a 
querre bay naked, (-1400 Master of Game xxxv. (MS. 
Digby 182), Alle ^&gt;e while that be huntynge lasteth shulde 
be cartes go aboute fro place to place, to brynge deer to be 
quirre. lbid. t pen shulde be maistre of be game leede }&gt;e 
kynge to be querre, and shewe it hym. &lt; 1500 Wyl Bucke s 
Test. (Copland) 31 He that me helpeth to the quarry bringe 
I wyll that he haue mi necke, for a shorte repaste. (21550 
Hunting of Cheviot 8 in Child Ballads III. 307 To the 
quyrry then the Perse went, To se the bryttlynge off the 
deare. 1590 NASHE Pasguil s Apol. \. E, The carkases of 
the deade, like a quarrie of Deare at a general hunting, 
[shall be] hurled vppon a heape. 1605 SHAKS. Macb. iv. iiL 
206 To relate the manner Were on the Quarry of these 
murther d Deere To adde the death of you. 

fb. transf. A heap of dead men ; a pile of dead 
bodies. Obs, 

1589 R. ROBINSON Gold. Mirr. (Chetham Soc.) p. xxiii, 
Till to the quirry, a number out of count, Were brought to 
reape the iust reward at last. 1603 KNOLLES Hist. Turks 
(1621) 308 All fowly foiled with bloud, and the quarrey of 
the dead. 1611 SPEED Hist. Gt. Brit. VIM. vii. 50, 410 
Then went they in haste to the quarry of the dead, but by 
no meanes could finde the body of the King. 
fig- I ^33 HERBERT Temple^ Sinner 30, I finde there 
quarries ofpil d vanities. 

3. a. The bird flown at or killed by a hawk or 
other bird of prey. 

1486 Bk. St. Albans Dij, Yowre hawke fleeth to the 
querre. 1590 SPENSER F. Q. H. xl. 43 As when Joue s. .bird 
from hye Stoupes at a flying heron . . The stone dead quarrey 
falls. 1695 CONGREVE Love for L* v. ii, Hooded like a hawk, 



to sieze at first sight upon the quarry. 1748 RICHARDSON 
Clarissa (1811) II. xxv. 166 Wrens and sparrows are not 
too ignoble a quarry for this villanous gos-hawk. 1855 H. 
SPENCER Princ. Psychol. (1872) I. in. viii. 352 A falcon 
swooping on its quarry. 1878 B. TAYLOR Deukalion n. v. 84 
There wheels a vulture seeking other quarry. 

b. The animal pursued or taken by hounds or 
hunters (see also quot. 1867). 

1612 DKAYTON Poly-olb. xin. 215 No beast shal! prove thy 
Quarries hecre, Save those the best of chase. 1665 BOYLE 
Occas. Reft,, Disc. Occas. Med. (1848) 22 One [Rabbit] sets 
him a running, and another proves his Quarry. 1695 
TEMPLE Hist, Eng. (1699)180 The Game, which it was their 
Interest to preserve, both for their Sport and the Quarry. 
1808 SCOTT Mann. n. Introd., The startled quarry bounds 
amain, As fast the gallant greyhounds strain. 1867 SMYTH 
Sailors Word-bk.)Qnarry^\.\\z. prey taken by whaler^. 1883 
E. PENNELL- ELM HIRST Cream Leuestersh. 206 The pack 
pressed their sinking quarry into and through the coverts. 

c. fig. Any object of chase, aim, or attack ; an 
intended prey or victim. 

1615 TOMKINS Albumazar v. \. m Hazl. Dodsley XI. 404 
When they counter Upon one quarry, break that league, as 
we do. 1693 DRYDEN Juvenal Pi ef. (1697)61 Folly was the 
proper Quarry of Horace, and not Vice. 1740 SOMERVILI.E 
i I obbinol m, 362 If from some small Creek, A lurking Cor 
sair the rich Quarry Spies. 1837 CARLYLE Fr. Rev. I. in. 
iii, Count Mirabeau . . scents or descries richer quarry from 
afar. 1883 KROUDE Short Stud. IV. i. iii. 29 The arch 
bishop dared not at once strike so large a quarry. 

1 4. The attack or swoop made by a hawk upon 
a bird ; the act of seizing or tearing the quarry. Obs. 

1607 HEYWOOD Worn, Killed "w. Kindn. Wks. 1874 II. 99 
My Hawke kill d too. Char. I, but twas at the querre, 
Not at the mount, like mine. 1615 LATHAM Falconry (163$ 
27 These kindes of Hawkes . . will be presently wonne with 
two or three quarries. 1667 Decay Chr. Piety v. 16 
Prometheus s vultur begins her quarry in this life. 

5. Cotft&.f as quarry-overtaking, -scorning adjs. 



QUARRY. 

1647 FANSHAWR tr. Pastor Fido (1676) 7 Within whose 
Quarry-scorning mind had place The pleasure or the glory 
of the Chase. 1873 HROWNINC Red Colt. Nt.-caf&gt; 400 For 
ward, the firm foot ! Onward the quarry-overtaking eye ! 
Quarry (kwg-ri), j/;.2 Forms: 5 quar(r)ey, 
querry, 6 quarye, 6-7 quarrie, (7 -ey&gt; quarie), 
6- quarry, (9 dial, wharry). [a. med.L. quareia 
(1266 in Du Cange), var. of quareria, etc. QUAR- 
KEB, q.v. See also QUAR s/&gt;.^, QUARREL jiM] 
1. An open-air excavation from which stone for 
building or other purposes is obtained by cutting, 
blasting, or the like ; a place where the rock has 
been, or is being, cnt away in order to be utilized, 
c 1420 Chron. I Hod, 3657 W* an hors..He ladde stones 
from J&gt;e quarey to }&gt;e chirche. 1458 R. FANNANDK /user, St. 
Helenas, Abingdon in Leland /tin. (1769) VII. 80 Than 
ciafti men for the querry made crowes of yre. 1480 CAXTOM 
Descr. Brit, 5 Quareyes of marble of cUuerse maner stones. 
1562 Act 5 KHz. c. 13 3 The Rubbish or smallest broken 
Stones of any Quarry, 1577 NoRTiniRooKEZJ/zv/fg- (1843) 135 
Let him be punished and cast . . in the quarries to digge stones. 
1664 DRVDKN Rival Ladies n. i, If thou wouldst offer botli 
the Indies to me, The Eastern Quarries, and the Western 
Mines. 1728 YOUNG Love of Fame i. 168 Belus ,. builds 
himself a name; and, to be great, Sinks in a quarry an 
immense estate ! 1759 JOHNSON Kassetas xxxvii, Walls 
supply stones more easily than quarries. 1838 THIRLWALL 
Greece xv. II. 320 The quarries were filled with these un 
fortunate captives. 1877 A. B. EDWARDS Up Nile viL 165 
An ancient quarry from which the stone has been cut out in 
smooth masses. 

fig. 1647 COWLEY Mistr,, Thraldom v, Others with sad 
and tedious art, Labour i the Quarries of a stony Heart. 
1663 SIR G. MACKENZIE Relig. Stoic xvii. (1685) 152 Each 
sentence seems a quarry of rich meditations. 1847 Lu. 
LINDSAY Chr. Art I. 60 The whole quarry of legends, cere 
monies and superstitions which Rome., employed in the 
structure of. . the church of the middle ages. 

b. transf. Any place from which stones may be 
obtained as from a quarry. 

1838 THIRLWALL Greece II. 364 Houses, temples, the 
monuments of the dead, were the quarries from which they 
drew. 1858 HAWTHORNE Fr. fy It. Jrnls. (1872) I. 48 Its 
walls were a quarry of precious stones. 1871 FKI-KMAN 
Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. xviii. 220 The ruins of the Roman 
town still remained as a quarry ; where all who would might 
seek materials for their own buildings. 

t 2. A large mass of stone or rock in its natural 
state, capable of being quarried. Obs. 

1630 MILTON Passion 46 On the softned Quarry would 
I score My plaining vers. 1670 DRYDEN -znd Pt. Conq. 
Granada v. i, As some huge rock, Rent from its quarry, 
does the waves divide. 1711 J. JAMES tr. Le Blond s 
Gardening 107 When they meet with Rocks or Quarries, 
they make use of Gun-powder to blow them up. 1764 
Museum Rust, II. Ixxviii. 272 Where lucern is planted upon 
a quarry, if the stone hath not many interstices., the length 
of the roots will be impeded. 

fig. rti6s FLETCHER Love s Pilgr. v. iv, Though I am 
none of those Flinty fathers, yet.. All are not of my quarry, 
t 3. The hard granular part of a pear. Obs. 
rare 1 . (So F. carriere.) 

1707 Curiosities in Hnsb. $ Gard. 47 Besides these Parts, 
a Pear has one called the Quarry, which is a little heap of 
stony Knobs. 

4. attrib. and Comb.^ as quarry-cart ^ -district, 
-ground, -hole, -land, -mason, -master, -owner, 
-pit, -rid (refuse), -slave, -stone, etc.; quarrylike 
adj. ; quarry-faced a., rough-faced, as taken from 
the quarry ; quarry-stone bond, rubble masonry ; 
quarry-sap, -water, the moisture contained in 
newly quarried stone. 

1805 R. W. DICKSON Pract. Agrlc. (1807) 1. 62 The "quarry. 
cart, a strong low cart for the loading and carrying of heavy 
stones. 1577 HARRISON England n. xxii. (1877) i- 337 Where 
the rocks and *quarrie grounds are. 1891 G. NEILSOM Per 
Lineam Valli 32 Hundreds of *quarry-holes, mere surface 
pitmarks on the hill sides. 17^2 A. YOUNG Trav. France 
289 Rock and "quarry-land, with sandy gravels, abound 
there. 1856 MKS. H. B. STOWE Dred II. vi. 76 They are 
*quarry-masters, that quarry out marble enough for a genera 
tion to work up. 1579-80 NORTH Plutarch (1676) 955 
Dionysius . . sent him forthwith to dig in the *Quarry-pit. 
1862 Mm. Proc. Inst. C. . XXI. 482 Covered with a layer 
of puddled clay . . *quarry rid and broken stone. 1883 
Stonemason Jan., So that .. the *quarry sap might be 
thoroughly diied out of them, and the stone.. fit for use. 
*8i3 J. FORSYTH Rent. Ex curs, Italy 271 An iron crow.. 
appears to have been left there by some ancient *quarry- 
slave. 1856 BRYANT Thanatopsis 77 Like the quarry-slave 
at night, Scourged to his dungeon. 1878 HUXLEY Physiogr. 
22 Stone when freshly taken from the quarry usually holds 
moisture, known to the workman as *quarry water . 

Quarry (kwoTi),^.3 Also 6 -ey, 7 -is. [Later 
form of QUARREL sb^, perh. after QUARRY a. or F. 
quarrt sb. (see next).] 

fl. A square-headed arrow. = QUARREL i. Obs. 
1600 FAIRFAX Tasso in. xlix, The shafts and quarries from 
their engins flie. 1627 DRAYTON Agincourt 20 Out of the 
Towne come quarries thick as haile. 
2. A pane of glass. *= QUARREL 3. 
1611 COTCR., Rhoml&gt;e,..3. figure that hath equall sides, and 
vnequall angles ; as a quarrie of glasse, etc. 1652-62 
HEYLIN Cosmogr. i. (1682) 145 They only open a little 
quarry of Glass, and presently shut it close again. 1727-41 
CHAMBERS Cycl. s, v. Quarry, Quarries, or quarrels, of glass, 
are of two kinds : viz. square and long ; . . the acute angle 
being 77 19 in the square quarries, and 67 22 in the long 
ones. 1733 NEAL Hist. Purit. II. 234 He took down a 
quarry or two in a quiet and peaceable manner. 1879 
MRS, OLIPHANT Within Precincts (TauchiO I. iv. 62 This 
window was filled with old painted glass in. .quarries. 
attrib. 1703 T. N. City $ C. Purchaser 158 For taking 
VOL. VIII. 



25 

down Quarry-glass, Scouring it .. and setting up again, the 
usual Price is i^d, per Foot. 

3. A square storie, tile, or brick. =QUARHEL 4. 

1555 EDKN Decades 329 Al matters of hard compositions 
as quarreys and stones. 1664 H. MORE Myst, I nig. 379 Lying 
not.. as the quarries of a Pavement, but as the scales of 
Fishes. 1709 STEELE Tatler No. 179 f 8 What Ground 
remains . . is flagged with large Quarries of white Marble. 
1876 GEO. ELIOT Dan. Der. n. xvi, Scoured deal, red 
quarries, and white-wash, 

.//&gt;. 1593 NASHE 4 Lett. Confut, 68 In a verse, when 
a worde of three syllables cannot thrust in but sidelings, to 
ioynt him euen, we are oftentimes faine to borrowe some 
lesser quarry of elocution from the Latine. 

Comb. 1885 Census Instruct. 87 Brick-, Tile-maker.. 
Quarry Layer, Presser, Maker. 

t Quarry, sb. 4 Obs. rare- 1 . pa.F.#tfrr/(now 
carrt) a square piece, sb. use of quarrt QUARRY a. 
See also QUARION, QUARRIER.] A square candle. 

1526 J/t&gt;nse?t, Ord. (1790) 157 One of the groomes..to carry 
to the chaundrie all the remaine of morters, torches, quarries, 
pricketts. 

t Qua rry, a. 1 Obs. Also 4-5 quarre, (4 -ee, 

-ey, quare, ?quaire), 6 quarye, 7 quarrie. [a. 
OF. quarre (mod.F. carrt) : L. quadrat-us square, 
QUADRATE #.] Square ; squarely built, stout. 

1*97 R. GLOI.-C. (Rolls) 8527 Quarre [r.r. quarry, quare] he 
was & wel ymad vor to be strong, c 1330 R. BRUNNE 
Chron. U ace (Rolls 1 ) 10310 pat lough ys here yn bys centre, 
Cornerd as a cheker quarre. c 1380 Sir Fernmb. 1072 
Erode scholdres had he with-alle; & brustes ful quarree. 
c 1400 tr. Sir r,- fa Secret. &gt; Gin . Lordsk. 92 Anober [plant]:, 
whos braunche is quarre, whos leuys er round, c 1440 
Prontp. Pan. . 419/1 Quarry, tbykk mann, or womann,.. 
corpulcnttis,gyossus, 157^ G. HARVEY Lctter-bk. (Camden) 
93 They are so quarry bigge and righte Babylonian like. 
1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. 499 To make his images of a quarry 
and_ square stature. 1611 COTGR., Corpulent, grosse, big- 
bodied, quarrie, fat. 

t Qua rry, a. 2 Obs. rare. In 6-7 quar(V)ie. 
[f. QUAR z/.Z + .y].] Clotted, coagulated. 

1587 MASCALL Govt. Cattle, Sheepe (1627) 24: Put the 
fine powder of rozen into the cod, and that will dry vp the 
quarie blond. 1638 FEATLEY Tramubst. 76 You touch no 
soft flesh with your hand, nor quarrie blood with your lips. 

Quarry (kwrrri\ r-.l [f. QUARRY sfi.i] 

1 1. trans, a. To teach (a hawk) to seize its 
quarry, b. To supply with a quarry (in quot. _/%.) 

, X S7S TURBERV. Faulconrie 121 At the beginning rewarde 
hir and feede hir well vpon the quarrey. . . When she is well 
in bloude, and well quarried, then let hir flee with other 
hawkes. 1613 BRAUM. & FL, Captain in. iii, Tis pity Thou 
shouldst not be wellquarredat thy entr ing Thou art so high 
flown for him. 1618 LATHAM znd Bk, Falconry (1633) 1J 7 
Hauing a good make Hawke, you shall wel quarrie her, 
and then she will bee worthy the accounting of. 

f 2. intr. To pounce or seize on y as a hawk on 
its quarry ; to prey or feed on. Obs. 

1627-77 FKLTMAM Resolves \. xxi. 38 She quarries on the 
prey she meets withal, a 1658 CLF.VF.LAND Poems, To Pro- 
tector^ (1677) 144 Can your Towring Spirit, which hath 
quarried upon Kingdoms, make a stoop at us? 1681 T. 
FLATMAN Hemclitus Ridens No. 9 (1713) I. 58 Though 
Eagles do not quarry upon Flies. 1709 JER. COLLIER Ess. 
Mor. Suly. iv. 39 He has quarryed upon the whole, and 
master d the Men, as well as the Money. 

3. trans. To hunt down or kill (a beast of chase). 

1820 BYHON Mar. Fal. in. n. 402 Nor turn aside to strike 
at such a prey, Till nobler game is quarried. 

Quarry (kwo-ri), v? [f. QUARRY sb?\ 

1. trans. To obtain (stone, etc.) by the processes 
employed in a quarry. Also with out. 

1774 GOLDSMITH Hist. Earth v, In the mountains of Cas- 
travan..they quarry out a white stone. 1811 PINKERTON 
Petral. II. 57 It is quarried at Vulpino, 15 leagues from 
Milan. 1853 KANE Grmnell Exfi. xxx. (1856) 258 Now we 
had to quarry out the blocks [of ice] in flinty, glassy lumps. 
1872; YEATS Growth Comm. 39 Higher up the river valley 
were quarried the massive syenite slabs used in the erection 
of their temples. 

b. fig. To obtain or extract by laborious methods. 

1860 MAURY Phys. Geog. Sea x. (Low) 465 Materials 
which a certain kind of insect quarried from the sea water. 
1868 J. H. BLUNT Ref. Ch. Rug. I. 361 His only object was 
to quarry gold and silver out of the monastic treasuries. 

2. To form a quarry in, to cut into (rock, etc.). 

1847 EMERSON Poems, The House, She ransacks mines 
and ledges. And quarries every rock. 1866 LIDDON Bampt. 
Lect. \. (1875) 34 The rocky hillside is no longer beautiful 
when it has been quarried. 1877 A. E. EDWAKDS Up Nile 
v. 120 The rocky barrier .. quarried here and there in 
dazzling gaps of snow-white cuttings. 

3. intr. To cut or dig jn ( or as in, a quarry. 

1848 KINCSLKY Sainfs Trag, n. x, Something did strike 
my heart.. Which quarries daily there with dead dull pain. 
1874 L, STEPHEN Hours in Library (1892) I. x. 345 The 
industrious will find, .waste paper in which they may quarry 
to their heart s content. 

Hence Qua-rrying vbl, sb. Also//, and atlrib. 

1825 CRABB, Quarryings, pieces that are broken off from 
the different materials that are wrought in quarries. 1854 
H. MILLER Sch. $ Schm. xlii. (1860) 138 On first commencing 
our quarrying operations. 1865 SWINBURNE Poems % Ball., 
Orchard 33 No quarrying now the corner-stone is hewn. 

Qua rry, z. 3 rat-g- 1 . [f. QUARRY j.3 2 or 3.] 
trans. To glaze or lay with quarries. 

1851 Tf RNER Dom. Archil. I. v. 246 To whitewash and 
quarry the King s chamber. 

Qua-rryman (kw9-rimn). [f. QUARRY sb.?] 
One employed in quarrying ; one who works in 
a quarry. 

1611 COTGR., Qttarrifur, a Quarrier, or Quarrey-man. 



QUART. 

a 1718 WOODWARD (J.), The quarryman assured me [it] was 
Mat. 1806 A. DUNCAN Nelson 284 His father, a quarryman 
lived at Rusty Anchor. 1862 ANSTKD Channel Id. iv. 
App. B (ed. 21 570 In Guernsey, six hundred and fifty-three 
were quarry men. 1885 Munch. Exam. 28 May 5/2 The 
whole Welsh people, from the aristocracy down to the 
collier and quarryman, are agreed. 

t Quart, quert, a. and rf.l Obs. Forms : 4-5 
quarte, quertfe, qwert(e, 5 qwarte, -tt, whert, 
whart(e, 4-6 quart, [app. a. ON. *kwert, neut. 
of *kiuer-r (of which the recorded forms are I eel. 
kyrr, ONorw. kvirr, Da. qvyr, Sw. ijvar) quiet, 
BtillMHG.&i m; (G.&irre),Golh. qairrus gentle, 
mild. For the retention of the neuter ending cf. 
thwart. In Kngl. the word is chiefly poetic.] 

A. adj. Healthy ; in good condition ; whole and 
sound. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 261 19 (Colt.) Opins to your lauerd your 
liert, And riues it, to mak it quert. 13.. SeufH Sat,: (W.) 
771 The cradel turnd up so doun . . The stapdes hit uphe d 
al quert. a 1400 Stock/i. MeJ. MS. i. 146 in Anglia XVIII. 
298 pis drinke xal . . makyn hym hwngry for to etc As a 
qwert man al mancr mete, a 1420 HOCCLEVE De AVv 
J rinc. 1061 Be thou riclic or poor, or sike or quert. 1450 
Life St. Cnllib. 4215 On one his eye was hale and \\hait. 
1556 ABI&gt;. PARKER j s. Ixxiii. 203 Their paunches ful : their 
helth so quart. 

B. sb. Health ; healthy or sound condition ; the 
state of being alive and well. Chiefly in phr. in 
ijnart (freq. in 14-151)1 c.). 

i3&lt;x&gt; Cursor M. 1803 pof bat noe was in quert, He was 
noght al at es in hert. 1:1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. Wacc 
(Rolls) 9990 Ouer al was wo, & no whar quert. 1:1400 
Destr. Troy 6941 [pai] fayn were. .bat bai had hym at hond 
& in holl qwert. f 1450 Life S!. Cutlikert 3958 Bischop 
Edbart Wex full seke and oute of whart. 1522 MORE DC 
gnat. Noniss. Wks. 80/1 Ve would recken your belly not in 
good quart. 1559 MORWVNG Eronym. 149 It preservelh it 
in good health and in good quart. 

b. That which gives health or soundness, rare. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 21354 P.e rode. .Gains al ur care it es ur 
quert. &lt;ri4oo Vwaiue f Caw. 1488 My leman swete,. .My 
joy, my comforth, and my quert. 

Quart (kw.tt), sb.- Forms : 5 qwh-, qvarte, 
5-7 quarte, J dial, whart), 4- quart. fa. F. 
quaite iem. (i3th c. in sense i) and quart masc. 
(= It. yi/arta, quarto, Sp. atarta,cuarto), repr. L. 
juar/a, -tuin, fern, and neut. of qiiartus fourth.] 

1. An English measure of capacity, one-fourth of 
a gallon, or two pints. 

&lt; 1325 Poem times Edu&gt;. //, xxix, He wil drawe at a 
draw3t A gode quart other more Of gode ale. c 1386 
CHAUCER Miller s T. 311 This Carpenter .. liroghte of 
niyghty Ale a large quart, c 1420 Lih-r Cocorum (1862) 26 
Of hony a qwharte thou take. 1500-20 DUNBAR Poems xl. 
27 They drank twa quartis, sowp and sowp. 1555 EDEN 
Decades 197 They take for euery man two or three quartes 
of water. 1579 n W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford 401 
An ale quarte for a penye. 1599 HAKU YT / "&lt;y. I. 506 Your 
wines shalbe sold by hogs heads, pipes or buttes. but not by 
quartes nor pintes. 1709 PRIOR Yng. Gentlni, in Love 58 
He.. drank a Quart of Milk and Tea. 1816 J. SMITH 
Panorama Sc. $ Art II. 782 Four ounces of Brazil-wood. . 
in a quart of water. 1896 SIR M. HicKS-BKACH in Daily 
Neius 23 July 4/3 What he might describe in homely phrase 
as putting a quart into a pint pot. 

Jig. 1797 COLMAN Heir at Law in. ii, He can ladle you 
out Latin by the quart. 

b. A vessel holding a quart ; a quart -pot or 
quart-bottle. 

ci45oMvRC/ &gt; rtr./ J r.7r2 False measures, busshelles,galones, 
..quartes. 1500-20 DUNBAR Poems xxvi. 95 Mony fowll 
drunckart, With can and collep, cop and quart. 1535 LYNDE- 
SAY Satyre 1373 To fill the Quart I sail rin to the toun. 
1596 SHAKS. Taut. Shr, Ind. ii. 89 Because she brought 
stone-lugs, and uo seal d quarts. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury 
HI. 294, 3 Quarts, their lids open, . . born by QuarTer. c 1800 
[see GILL s/ . 3 2]. 1885 H. FiNCH-HATTON^^ awtf Austral. 
in A tin quart of water is set down by the fire. 

c. attrib., as quart-ale, tattle, Jlagon, -measure, 
retort (see quot.). See also QUART-POT. 

1454 Paston Lett. No. sig I. 307 To sende horn wyn and 
ij. quart botelys. 161 1 FLORIO, Qitarta, . . a quart measure, 
r 1650 BRATHWAIT Barnabces Jrnl. iv. (1818) 167 Thence 
to Lonesdale, where were at it Boyes that scorned quart-ale 
by statute. 1764 COLMAN Prose Scv. Occas. (1787) II. 51 
1 o see a man get into a Quart Bottle. 1767 WOULFE in 
Phil. Trims. LVII. 521 note, What goes by the name of 
a quart retort holds better than two gallons of water. 1828 
SCOTT F. ]\I. Perth xvi, He filled a quart flagon. 

t 2. [F. quart mj A quarter (/something. Obs. 

1454 Paston Lett. No. 201 I. 278 Be the space of on 
qaurte [quarte] of an houre. 1561 HOLLVBUSH Horn. Apoth. 
9 Take a quarte of an unce. 

fb. A quarter of a pound. Obs. rare~ l . 

1496 Fysshynge w. angle (1883) 10 Take, .a lytyll iuce of 
walnot leuys and a quarte of alym. 

t c. Prob., the fourth part of the great tithes 
(Jam.). Obs. rare 1 . 

1630 GORDON Hist. Earls Sntherld. (1813) 32 Ther peculiar 
landward (or rurall) churches, together with the particular 
tithes, crofts, manses, gleibs, and quartes, ar severatlie 
appoynted to everie one of the dignites and channons. 

f 3. a. A quarter of the horizon, b. A quarter, 
region. Obs. rare. 

"559 W. CI-NINGHAM Cosmogr. Glasse 134 Betwixt either of 
these quartes, two other windes brost out. 1590 SPENSER 
F. Q. n. x. 14 Albanact had all the Northerne part .. And 
Camber did possesse the Westerne quart. 

f4. [ad. Sp. cuarto.] A Spanish copper coin, 
worth four maravedis. Obs. 



QUART. 

1631 Celeslina iv. 52, I never wanted . . a Quarte, that is 
the eighth part of sixepence to send for wine. 1777 \\ . 
DALRV.MPLE Trar. Sf. St Fort, xxviii, An officer of the 
customs, demanded a toll, each horse paying three quarts. 

5. Mas. The interval of a fourth, rare. 

1890 Academy 18 Jan. 51 A succession of parallel quarts, 
quints, and octaves,, .intolerable to modern ears. 

Quart (kiit), sb? [ad. F. quarte : see prec.] 

1. A position in fencing (see quot. 1 692) = QUARTE, 
CARTE 2 . Quart and lierce, practice between 
fencers who thrust and parry in quart and tierce 
alternately ; also _/?. 

1691 SIR W. HOPE Fencing-Master 4 When a Man holdeth 
the -Vails of his Sword-hand quite upwards, he is said to 
hold his hand in Quart. 1698 FARQUHAR Love Sf Battle n. 
ii A Frenchman is bounded on the North with Quart, on the 
South with Tierce. 1717 BOVER A ngl.-Fr. Diet., Quarte, 
a Quart, a Pass in Fencing. 1800 MALKIN tr. Gil Bias IV. 
vii. (1881) II. 13 The assassin stab of time was parried by 
the quart and tierce of art. 1889 TENNYSON Dimeter, etc. 
173 Subtle at tierce and quart of mind with mind, 

attrib. 1691 SIR W. HOPE Fencing-Master 22 The Quart 
Parade, or the Parade within the Sword. Ibid. 105 Keep 
ing this Quart Guard with a streight point. 1794 Hope s 
new Metk. Fencing 13 Supplying the defect of the Ordinary 
Quart Guard. 

2. A sequence of four cards, in piquet and other 
card-games. Quart major, the sequence of ace, 
king, queen, knave. 

1717 BOVER Angl.-Fr. Diet., Quarte, a Quart, or fourth, 
at Picket. 1746 HOYI.F. Whist (ed. 6) 26 Suppose you have 
. .a Quart from a King; . . your Partner has a Quart-major. 
1816 .Miss MITFORD Village Ser. n. (1863) 342 [She] never 
dealt the right number of cards, .did not know a quart from 
a quint, i860 Rohti s Hand-Ht. Games Pref. 12 Lead the 
highest of a sequence, but if you have a quart .. to a King, 
lead the lowest. Ibid. \\. 45 A suit of which your partner 
has a quart-major. 

t Quart, s/i.i, obs. variant of CARTE , chart. 

1529 RASTFLL/Vzjr&gt;w;&lt;? Prol. (1811) 5 As they .. may well 
perceyue by the syght of the quart or Mappa mundi. 

Quart, a. : see rf.l above. 

Quart (kaat), z/.l [ad. F. quarter (Moliere ., 
f. quarte, QUART rf. 3] a. intr. To use the posi 
tion quart in fencing, b. trans. To draw back 
(the head and shoulders) in doing so. Hence 
Qua rting vll. sb. 

1692 SIR W. HOPE Fencing-Master *4 You must give it 
with your Nails in Quart, and Quart your head uell. Ibid. 
31 The Quarting of your head preserveth you from being 
hit in the face. (11700 B. E. Diet. Cant. Crew, Quarting 
upon the streight line, keeping the Head and Shoulders very 
much back from the Adversary- s Sword, when one thrusts 
with his own. 1833 -V.ii .J/oxM/i .Va.f-.XXXVIII. 343 He 
quarts and tierces for twenty minutes. 

Quart, v.-, variant of QUARTER v. ii b. rare~ . 

1812 Sporting Mag. XXXIX. 136 The coachman.. on 
quarting out as usual, and finding himself thus borne down 
upon, poured forth a volley of abuse. 

Quartan (kwoMtfin), a. ami sb. Forms: 4-7 
quartaine, 4, 7 -ain, 5-6 -ayn(e; 4-6 quarteyn(e, 
(4 -en, 5 -ein) ; 5-7 quartane, (6 cart-), 6- quar 
tan. See also QUARTERN, a. [Orig. a. F. (fihire) 
quartaine, ad. L. (febris] quartan-a fem. of quar- 
tan-us, f. quartits fourth. The mod. form is directly 
based on the L.] 

A. adj. 1. Path. Of a fever or ague : Charac 
terized by the occurrence of a paroxysm every 
fourth (in mod. reckoning, every third) day. 

In early use placed after the sb., as in F. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 11828 He. .bar-wit had feuer quartain. 
a 1400 Stockh. Med. MS. ii. 954 in Anglia XVIII. 330 
Ageyn feuerys quarteyn It is medicyn souereyn. 1494 
FABYAN Ckron, vii. 520 The appellaunt . . was sore vexyd 
with a feuer quarteyne. 1347 BOORDE Brei*. Health cxxxix. 
51 A fever quartayne. .doth infeste a man every thyrd day, 
that is to say two dayes whole and one sycke. 1570 GOOGE 
Pop. Kingd. iv. 52 b, The quartan ague and such other sick- 
nesse greate. a 1612 HARINGTON Saternc s Reginl. (1634) 
25 Cow flesh, Harts flesh,. . doe engender fever Quartaines. 
1750 tr. Leonardos Mirr. Stones 73 Taken with wine, it 
drives away quartan agues. 1852 Miss YONGE Cameos 
(1877) II. xxxiii. 339 Quartan ague had seized on the en 
feebled frame of her father. 1875 JOWETT Plato (ed. 2) III. 
670 A quartan fever, which can with difficulty be shaken off. 

1 2. Belonging to the fourth place or degree. Obs. 

1794 E. DARWIN Zoon. (1801) IV. 185 The tertian or quartan 
links of associate motions are actuated by direct sympathy. 

B. sb, A (or the) quartan ague or fever. 
Double quartan, one in which there are two sets of 

paroxysms, each recurring every fourth (third* day. 

1387 TKEVISA Higden (Rolls) IV. 249 Porcius. .slow} hym 
self for noye and sorwe of a double quarteyn. 1450-80 tr. 
Secreta Secret. 32 He shalle haue no dowte of flewme . . and 
he shalle haue no quarteyne. c 1491 CAXTON Chast. Goddes 
Chyld. 23 Of this quarteyn some men falle in to another 
feuer that is cleped double quartein. 1597 GERARDE Herbal 
1. cm. 2. 170 A roote or two. .is a good remedie against 
old quartaines. .1633 P.p. HALL Occas. Medit. (1851) 147 
The quartan hath of old been justly styled the shame of 
physicians. 1725 BRADLEY Fam. Diet. s.v. Spider, The 
Spider it self will cure Quartans. 1822-34 Good s Study 
Med, (ed. 4) I. 607 The tertian [has] a longer paroxysm and 
a shorter interval than the quartan. 1898 P. MANSON Trap. 
Diseases i. 25 In quartans and tertians, but especially in 
the former, sporulating rosette forms are seen occasionally 

" I 59J^ S K nufuffl Afol. l. Biij, He that hath 
such a dubble quartane of curiositie . . will prooue passing 
treacherous. 

Quartan : see QUARTERN rf.2 5. 

t Quartana-rian = next s/&gt;. a. Obs. rare- 1 . 



26 

1680 SIR T. BROWNE U ks. (1852) III. 47 2 Formerly they 
gave not the cortex to quartanarians, before they had been 
ill a considerable time. 

t Qua rtanary, sb. and a. Oh. Also 5 quart- 
enare, 7 -ainary. [ad. late L. qitartanari-iis (in 
sense A. a) : see prec. and -ARY.] 

A. sb. a. One who has a quartan fever or ague. 
b. = QUARTANJ^. rare. 

&lt;ri440 Prontf. Pan. 419 ! Quartenare, or bat hathe be 
quarteyne. 1684 tr. Bond s Mure. Contpit. \ i. 223 Quart- 
anaries. .gather much crude humours. 

B. adj. Pertaining to, of the nature of, a quartan 
fever or ague ; characterized by quartans. 



viii. 451 The constitution of this autumn was intermittent 
and quartanary, though many of the fevers . . were continued 
and several made so by ill management. 

Quartar(e, obs. forms of QUARTER sb. 

Quartary (kwgutari), sb. and a. [ad. L. quart- 
ori-us, the lourth part of any measure, esp. of a 
sextarius, f. quartois : see QUART sft. 2 ] fa. s/&gt;. (See 
quot. 1656.) Obs. rare~. b. adj. Fourth. rare~ l . 

1656 BLOUNT Gfassogr., Quart ary&gt; the fourth part of a 
Scxtary; also a quarter of a pound. 1839 J. ROGERS Anti- 
popopr. x. ii. 255 Where to go to find the fourth or quartary 
set of mediators. 

Quartation (kw^-it^ fan). [f. L. qttart-tts 
fourth + -ATION.] The operation of combining 
silver with gold so that the latter metal forms one 
quarter of the whole ; the gold is then separated 
from the silver, and at the same time freed from 
its impurities, by means of nitric acid. 

1612 WOODALL Surg. Mate Wks. (1653) 273 Quartation is 
the separation of Gold and Silver mixt together, by four 
unequal parts. 1680 BOYLE Scf^f. Chew. \\. 144 That 
Operation that Refiners call Quartation, which they employ 
to purifie Gold. 1758 REID tr. Macq-ucrs Chym. \. 149 The 
gold .. is frequently alloyed with more or less silver, from 
which it is to be separated by quartation. 1868 SEYD Bul 
lion 219 Fine Gold may also be assayed without Quartation. 

II Quarte (kart, kait). [a. F. qitarte : see QUART 
sb$\ A position in fencing. = QUART sb.^ I. 

a 1700 B. E. Diet, Cant. Crew, Quarte, Nails of the 
Sword-Hand quite up, (1830 G. ROLAND In trod. Course 
Fencing 16 The parade of quarte is made by offering, with 
the nails turned upwards, the fort of your blade to the foible 
of your adversary s. 1885 E. CASTLE Sch. Fence 133 A 
heavy sweep in seconde from a high quarte at arm s length. 

f.g. 1872 BROWNING Fifine xvi, Words urged in vain.. 
You waste your quarte and tierce. 

f Quarteer, -ier. Obs. rare. [? for qnartereer : 
see -EER, -IER.] = QUARTERMASTER i. 

1719 D URFF.v Pills III. 305 The Quartler must Cun, 
Whilst the foremast-man steers. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. 
s.v. Quarter-master^ The quarter-master, or quarteer, is 
also to mind the ship s loading ; which is the business he is 
chiefly employed about. 

tQuartelet. Obs. rare. [a. OF. quartetette % 
dim. of quarte QUART sb. \ A small quart. 

1453 Test. Ebor. (Surtees) II. 1 191 Item ij pottis quarte- 
lettis of .siluer couered. M59 * n P&ston Lett. No. 336 I. 
488 Item, .j. quartelet for wine. 

Quartenare, variant of QUARTANARY. 

Quarter (kwgutai), sb. Also 4 quartare, 
qwatteer, 4-6 quartre, 5 quartere, -yer, 
wharter, qwarter, 5-6 quartar, 6 qwartter, (7 
coterX [a. OF. quarter, -ier ( 1 2th c. in Littre) : 
L. quartar-ius a fourth part (of a measure), f. 
quartus fourth : see QDART s/&gt;. 2 and -ER 2 2.] 

I. One of four equal or corresponding parts 
into which anything is or may be divided. 

1. Of things generally. 

13.. Guy Warw, (A.) 1497 Gwichard smot Gij . . Opon he 
helme . . pat a quarter out fieye, c 1375 Sc. Leg, Saints xl. 
(Niniari) 737 Nere be quartare of a myl. r 1400 Rom. Rose 
3184 Non herte may thenke . . A quarter of my wo and 
peyne. 0470 HKNRY Wallace ix, 079 Than off the day 
thre quartans was went. 1564 Child Marriages 124 About 
a quarter of a yere ago. 1599 SHAKS. Hen. F, L ii. 215 
Diuide your happy England into foure, Whereof, take you 
one quarter into France. 1650 B. DiscolUminiuin 49 And 
now I am 3 quarters Presbyterian, I keep one quarter still 
Independent. 1697 DRYDEN **&gt; * Georg. i. 349 The four 
quarters of the rolling year. 1796 MRS. GLASSE Cookery 79 
Garnish with a Seville orange cut in quarters. 1841 Q. Rev. 
LXVII. 358 Some quarter of a century ago. 1880 GEIKIK 
Phys, Geog. \, 29 Exactly a quarter of a circle, or 90. 

b. Phr. A bad (etc.) quarter of an hour [tr. F. 
un mauvais quart d heure\ a short but very un 
pleasant period of time. 

[1717 tr. Frezier s I oy. noRablais s Quarter of an Hour, 
that is, when the Reckoning is to be paid.] 1887 J. BALL 
Nat. in S. Atucr. 338 When I reached the station .. I had 
an unpleasant quarter of an hour. 1897 ^ v " ^" NORRIS 
Marietta s Marr. xxxi. 225, I hope he will have a rather 
nasty quarter of an hour. 

c. Qualifying an adv. or advb. phrase (cf. HALF 
adv. i d) ; t formerly also without a. 

i$*a SIR T. CHEYNE in State Papers (1849) VI. 88 He had 
raiher ryde into England . . then to ryde a quarter so farre to 
eny other Prince living. 1545 ASCHAM Toxoph. n. (Arb.) 157 
Sumtyme ful side wynde, sumtyme quarter with hym and 
more. 1818 BUSBY Gramm. Afus. 69 A quaver is only one 
quarter as long as a Minim. 

d. Const, with sbs. without of(cf. HALF a. i b). 

1866 MRS. OLIPHANT Madonna Mary (Tauchn.l I. xiv. 184 
She had nut , , a quarter the pleasures you have. 1897 MARY 



QUARTER. 

KINGSLEV JF, Africa 663 There is not one-quarter the amount 
of drunkenness. 

e. cUipt. in various contextual uses, as () f a 
quarter-barge; (b \ a * quarter-note* or crotchet in 
Music (7. .S .) ; (c) a quarter- mile race. 

1508 M atcrji Arch, in loM AV^. Jfist. AfSS. Connn. App. 
v. 325 Noo boote shal bring woode butt only half barges and 
quarters.. .And every quarter to have iiii. men. 1890 U hita- 
ker s Aim. 637/1 Harrison also won the Quarter by a foot. 

2. One of the four parts, each including a leg, 
into which the carcases of quadrupeds are com 
monly divided ; also of fowls, a part containing 
a leg or wing. Fifth quarter : the hide and fat 
of a slaughtered animal (Funk s Stand* Diet., 
1893). See also FORE 3, HIND a. 

c 1320 Sir Tristr. 453 Bestes bai brae and bare, In quarters 
bai hem wrou}t. 1:1420 Liber (. oconnn 11862) 8 Hew horn 
[chickens] in quarteres and lay bom inne. c 1430 Two 
Cookery-bks. \. 6 Take fayre beef of be rybbys of be fore 
quarterys. 1563-7 BUCHANAN Reform. St. Andros Wks. 
(1892) 6 Ane quartar of mouton. 1660 PEPVS Dinry 17 July, 
They bought a Quarter of Lamb. 1709 STF.EI.E Tailer No. 
21 F 13 A Butcher s Daughter, .sometimes brings a Quarter 
of Mutton. 1776 ADAM SMITH // . N. \. xi. i. (1869) I. 160 
The four quarters of an ox weighing six hundred pounds. 
1853 SOVER Pantroph. 147 Place a quarter of lamb in a 
saucepan. 

b. //. The four parts, each containing a limb, of 
a human body similarly divided, as was commonly 
done in the case of those executed for treason. 

1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 10875 A four half engelond is 
quarters isend were. ["1330 R. BRCNNE Chron. (1810) 244 
His hede J?ei of smyten .Tpe quarters wer sent to henge at 
four citez. ciqooDestr. Troy 1971 Brjttpnet [shuld be] ]&gt;\ 
body into bare qwarters. 1660 PEPYS Diary 15 Oct., This 
morning Mr. Carew was hanged and quartered, .but his 
quarters .. are not to be hanged up. 1773 BRYDONE Sicily 
xxi. (1809) 217 The quarters of a number of robbers were 
hung up upon hooks. 1855 A!ACAUI.AV Hist. ling. xii. III. 
207 Their heads and quarters were still rotting on poles. 

C. Of a live person or animal, esp. of a horse; 
also freq. = hind-quarter, haunch. 

a 1400 Mortc Arth. 3389 Abowte scho whirles the whele. . 
Tille alle my qwarters.. ware qwaste. 1590 SPKNSKR F. Q. 
11. iii. 16 Is not enough fowre quarters of a man, Withouten 
sword or shield, an hoste to quayle? 1665 BRATHWAIT 
Coimn. Chaucer (1901) 84 She had unnimbly rushed down 
upon her four Quarters, and .. done her Reverence. 1678 
BUTLFR Hud. in. i. 1 150 They put- him to the Cudgel . .They 
stoutly on his Quarters laid. 1806 A. DUNCAN Nelson s 
Fun. 35 Two of his .. servants walked at each side of the 
horse s quarter. 1853 LYTTON My Novel i. vi, Down came 
the staff on the quarters of the donkey. 

3. Her. One of the four parts into which a shield 
is divided by quartering (see QUARTER v. jb). 

The four quarters are : i dexter chief; 2 sinister chief; 
3 dexter base; 4 sinister base. When one of these is again 
divided, and the sub-divisions occupied by several coats, it 
is termed a grand quarter . 

1486 Bk. St. Albans, Her. Dij b, In the right side of the 
shelde in the first quarter she bare tharmys of fraunce. 1610 
GUILLIM Heraldry v. i. 238 Without any charge occupying 
the quarters of the Escocheon. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. t 
Quarter is also applied to the parts, or members, of the 
first division of a coat that is quartered, or divided into 
four quarters. 1797 Encycl, Brit. (ed. 3) VIII. 443/1 A per 
pendicular and horizontal line, which, crossing each other at 
the centre of the field, divide it into four equal parts called 
quarters. 1864 BOL-TELL Her, Hist, ff Pop. xv. (ed. 3) 205 
The third quarter of his shield. [See also QUARTERLY adv. 
2 b.l 1893 CUSSANS Her. (ed. 4) 165 The st-cond quarter of 
the Royal Arms of England. Ibid. 168 Second and Third 
grand Quarters, quarterly quartered. 

b. A charge occupying one fourth of the shield, 
placed in chief. 

1592 WYRLEY Arnioric, Ld. Chandos 41 In gold Lord 
Basset dight Three Rubie piles, a quarter ermins bright. 
1610 GUILLIM Heraldry n, vi. 61 The Quarter is an 
Ordinary of like composition with the Canton,.. the quarter 
comprehendeth the full fourth. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl, 
s. v., Franc-quarter is a quarter single or alone ; which is 
to possess one-fourth part of the field. This makes one of 
the honourable ordinaries of a coat. 1838 Penny Cycl. XII. 
141/2 The Quarter is, as its name imports, the fourth part 
of the shield, and is always placed in chief. 1893 CCSSANS 
Her. (ed. 4) 66 The Quarter .. is formed by two straight 
lines, drawn in the direction of the Fess and the Pale, and 
meeting at the Fess-point. Examples of this charge are 
very rarely to be met with. 

c. *= QUARTERING t bl. sb. * b. 

1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v., There are sixteen quarters 
required to prove nobility, in companies, or orders, where 
none but nobles are admitted. 1816 SCOTT Antiq. xxiv, 
A baron of sixteen quarters. 1831 CARLYLE Sart. Res. ( 1 858) 
61 A duke s son that only knew there were two-and-thirty 
quarters on the family-coach. 

II. The fourth part of some usual measure or 
standard. 

4. As a measure of capacity for grain, etc. a. 
The British imperial quarter = S bushels ; the 
fifth (? originally the fourth) part of a wey or load; 
also, local variations of this, containing more or 
less than 8 bushels, f Formerly sometimes const, 
without of. 

c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 244/130 Ane hondret quarters of f&gt;at 
corn, c 1320 SirBeues 1424 A ston gret, pat we} seue quarters 
of whet. 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. U8io) 174 pe hungre 
was so grete . . [&gt;at a quarter whete was at twenty mark. 
c 1386 CHAUCER Sompn. T. 255 A ! yif that covent half 
a quarter otes. 1494 FABYAN Chron. cxxxvi. 122 A quarter 
of whete was worth ,ii. marks and a halfe. 1523 FITZHERB. 
Husb. 12 Foure London busshelles [of beans] fullye, and 
that is half a quarter. 1623 Althorp MS. in Simpkinson 



QUARTER. 

IVas/iingtons (1860) App. 48 For 3 coters of rye bought at 
Harleston. _ 1663 COWLEY Ess., Avarice 129 In thy vast 
Barns Millions of Quarters store. 1763 Museum Rnsf. I. 74 
Wheat will one year sell for 5 1. a load (that is, five quarters). 
1845 McCuLLOCH Taxation i. i. (1852) 49 A farm which pro- 
duces loo quarters of wheat, i86z ANSIED Channel I si. iv. 
(ed. 2) App. A. 567 The Jersey quarter (thirty-four gallons 
and three quarts) [contains] a little more than half an imperial 
quarter. Jl&gt;id, t The English imperial quarter is equivalent 
to about two Guernsey quarters. 

b. In the Channel Islands (cf. quot. 1862 in 
prec.) used as a unit of value for land. 

1682 WARBURTON Hist. Guernsey (1822) 94 He that has 
occasion to take up money on his estate, sells so many 
quarters. 1694 FALLE Jersey ii. 85 1 he way of reckoning 
an Estate with us, is not by Pounds, but by Quarters of 
Wheat. 1862 ANSTED Channel I si. iv. xxiv. (ed. 2) 550 The 
Guernsey quarter of rent is estimated as worth, on an 
average, twenty pounds currency. 

c. The fourth part of a chaldron. 

1434 E. E. Wills 101, I bequethe to lohn Wodrof .. 
v quarteres of coles. 1706 PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey), Qitaricr 
.. In Measure .. the fourth part of a Chaldron. 1727-41 
CHAMBERS Cycl., Quarter is also a dry measure, containing 
.. of coals the fourth part of a chaldron. 1858 GREESLEAF 
Xational Arithm, (t/.S.\ cited by Worcester. 

fd. The fourth part of a peck. 06s. rare 1 . 

1475 Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 26 The ringis of golde..were.. 
mesurid to the quantite of mesure of ,xij. quarters or more. 

f5. The fourth part of a cask or barrel. Obs. ^ 

1579 in W. H.Turner Select Rec. Or/W(i88o) 400 Marline 
Colepeper. .setteth the pryce of a quarter of the beststronge 
ale at iij iiij d . 

6. As a weight, f a. The fourth part of a 
pound. Obs. 

a 1400 Stockh. Medical MS. i. 43 in Anglia. XVIII. 296 
A quarter of vergyn-wax pou take, a 1450 Fysshyiige ?c. 
Angle (1883) 9 Take small ale a potell and stamp it with 
iij handful of walnot levys and a quarter of aloni. 4:1450 
7 ziw Cookcry-bks. 106 Take a quarter of clarefied honey, iij 
vnces of pouder peper. 

b. The fourth part of a hundredweight = 28 Ibs. 
(U. S. commonly 25 Ibs.) 

Ordinarily used only where the hundredweight is also 
mentioned, and usually abbreviated qr. 

1542 RECOKUEGX Aries (1575) 203 The halfe hundred is 
56 : the quarter 28 [poundej. 1588 Bk. of Charges in Dom. 
St. Papers CCXV. 88, 4 quille of ropes wayeinge sixe 
hundred, a quarter, and one pound. 1727-41 CHAMBERS 
Cycl., Quarter^ in weights, is a fourth part of the quintal, or 
hundred weight. The quarter is 28 pounds avoirdupois. 
1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XVII. 4:0 Iron, 5 cwt. 2 qrs. 24 Ib. 
fc. The fourth part of a Dram (Phillips, 1706). 

7. As a measure of length or area. a. The 
fourth part of a yard : nine inches. Also_/%*-. 

433 Rolls t Parlt. IV. 451/2 Clothe of colour shold 
conteigne . . In brede vi quarters di. c 1450 Bk. Curtasye 
359 in Babees /&gt; &,, A stafe, a fyngur gret, two wharters long. 
1483 Act i Rich. Ill, c. 8 Preamble, Someof the same Clothes 
. . ben drawen out .. in Brede from .vii. Quarters unto the I 
Brede of .ii. Yerdys. 1596 SHAKS. Tarn. Shr. iv. in. 109 j 
Thou yard, three quarters, halfe yard, quarter, naile. 1624 
CAPT. SMITH Virginia 11. 25 His arrowes were fiue quarters 
long. _ 1708 J. C Compl. Collier (1845) 16 The 3 Quarter 
Coal [is] about 3 Quarters thick or more. 1778 En^. Gazetteer 
(ed. 2) s. v. Witney t Blankets, .from 10 to 12 quarters wide. 

b. Naut. The fourth part of a fathom. 

1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine (1789) Mm ivb, If he judges 
it to be a quarter . . more than any particular number, he 
calls, And a quarter five! Ibid., At four fathoms and 
3-quarters he calls A quarter less five ! 1855 English 
woman in Russia \ By the quarter seven sang out . . the 
sailor .. engaged in heaving the lead. 

c. An Irish land-measure (tr. Ir. ceathramhadh , 
sometimes anglicized as c arrow] : see quots. 

1607 DAVIES if/ Let. to Ld. Salisbury (1787) 245 Every 
ballibetagh is divided into four quarters of lands, and every 
quarter into four laths. 1683}. KEOGH Acct. Roscommott 
in O Donovan Hy Fiachraich (1844} 453 These countries 
were subdivided into townlands .. which were called Ballys 
. . and each townland was divided again into quarters. Ibid., 
I have been sometimes perplexed to know how many acres 
a quarter contains, but I have learned it is an uncertain 
measure. 1883 SEEBOHM Eng. \ T illage Comm. vii. 223 
Annexed is an example of an ancient bally divided into 
quarters. ..Two of the quarters, now townlands, still bear 
the names of Cartron and Carrow , or Quarter . 1892 
EMILY LAWLESS Crania II. 3 Mishmaan possesses but two 
townlands, containing six quarters each. 

8. As a measure of time. 

a. The fourth part of a year, esp. as divided 
by the recognized QUARTER-DAYS. Also t^esp. in 
Scotland), the fourth part of the school-year, or 
of the period during which instruction is usually 
given, containing about eleven weeks. (See also 1 1 .) 

1389 in Eng. Gihis (1870) 7 What man is take in to be 
brother, schalpaie. .eueri quarter, .iij. d. c 1440 ipomydon 
762 My greyhondes ranne not )?is quartere. 1536 BOORDE 
Lett, in Introd. Knowl. (1870) 53 To come to yow ons in 
a qwartter. 1591 NASHE Prognost. Wks. 1883-4 .U. 164 
The predominant qualities of this quarter [summer] is heate 
and drynesse. a 1610 HEALEY Theophrastus (1636) 40 
A quarters rent of his house. 1623 Althorp MS. in Simp- 
kinson Washing tons ( 1 860) App. 41 To the hoggheard for 
a coter s_wages. 1731 SWIFT On kis Death, He must .. 
change his comrades once a quarter. 1819 SHELLEY Peter 
Bell vi. iii, Then seriatim, month and quarter, Appeared 
such mad tirades. 1836 Penny Cycl. V. 238 For a com. 
mercial education, a guinea a quarter is charged. 1865 
DICKENS Afttt. Fr. i, iv, The gentleman proposes to take 
your apartments by the quarter. 

b. A fourth part of the lunar period. Also, 
the moon s position when between the first and 
second or third and fourth quarters; quadrature. 



27 

c 1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) xx.xiii. 149 J&gt;e moone may 11051 
be sene bare, bot in &gt;e secund quartere. 1632 MASSINGER 
Maid of Hon. i. i, His sheepihearing . . Is in every quarter 
of the moon, and constant. 1694 W. HOLDER Time v. 82 
How near she is to her Quarters, Full, or next New-moon. 
1728 PEMBERTON Newton s Phitos. 201 But. .in the quarters 
the moon . . will be made to approach it [the earth]. 1853 
MAURICE Proph. $ Kings xi. 189 We sometimes see the 
moon in her first quarter with one bright luminous border. 
1867 SMYTH Sailors \Vord-hk. s. v., When the moon appears 
exactly as a half-moon, 90" from the sun towards the east, 
she is in the first quarter. 

fig. 1806 LAMB Let. to Hazlitt 15 Jan. Wks. 1852. 77/1 
Prudentia is in the last quarter of her tutelary shining 
over me, 

c. The fourth part of an hour ; the space of 
fifteen minutes. Also, the moment, as denoted by 
a mark on the dial, the sound of a bell, etc., at 
which one quarter of an hour (cf. Horn 3) ends 
and the next begins; chiefly used of the quarter 
after or before an hour, as a quarter past nine , 
a quarter to ten \ 

[i599 SHAKS. Much Ado v. ii. 85 An hower in clamour 
and a quarter in rhewnie.] 1617 MORYSUN Itin. \. 31 In 
the upper part of the clocke are..statuaes, which strike the 
quarters of the houre. 1659 MAYNE City Match n. iii. 27 
A fellow that turnes upon his toe In a steeple, and strikes 
quarters. 1727 BAILEY vol. II, Quarters [in a Clock or 
Movement} are little Bells which sound the Quarters or 
other Parts of an Hour. 1822 BYRON Vis. Jndgm. Ixxxvii, 
I ve scarcely been ten minutes . . At least a quarter it can 
hardly be. 1842 TENNYSON St. Sit. Styl. 218, I shall die 
to-night, A quarter before twelve. 1844 DICKENS Mart. 
C/iuz. xiv, The quarter s gone ! cried Mr. Tapley. 

In attrib. phrases. 1849 MRS. CARLYLE Lett. II. 77, 

I was up to leaving . . by the quarter-after-eight train. 1857 

HUGHES Tom Brown i.viii. 192 The quarter-to-ten bell. .rang. 

td. The fourth part of the night, or of the 

period between two canonical hours. Obs. rare. 

1x369 CHAUCER Dethe Blaunche 198 Ther-as she lay, 
Right even a quarter before day. 1412-20 LYDG. Chron. 
Troy i. vi, She . . founde a quarter passed after pryme. 

9. Of coins, fa. A farthing. Obs. 

1389 in Eng. Gilds 60 Euery broyer and syster shal offeryn 

ij. qire and j. q r to ye alines. 1641 KKST Farm. Bks. 

(Surtees) 140 Harrowershave usually 3^., or ^d. two quarters. 

b. c7. S. A silver coin = one fourth of a dollar. 

[1799 WASHINGTON Lett* Writ. 1893 XIV. 150 It ought not 
to be larger than would cover a quarter of a dollar.] 1856 
OLMSTED Slave States 4 Here s a quarter for you. 1883 
Harper s M ag. Nov. 950/2 Twenty, .oranges for a quarter. 

10. A r aut. f a. (See first quot.) Obs. 

1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v,, A quarter of a point, wind, 
or rhumb, is the fourth part of a cardinal point wind, or 
rhumb; or of the distance between two cardinal points, 
winds, etc. The quarter contains an arch of \\ degrees 15 
minutes. 1796 H. HUNTER tr. St,~rierre"s Stud. Nat. (1799) 
I. 156 The highest Tide.. set in from east-quarter-north. 

b. The fourth part of a point on the compass ; 
2 48 45". Also quarter -point (see 30). 

1795 HUTTON Math. Diet. II. 319. 

11. eUipt. (from 8 a). A quarterly instalment of 
an allowance or payment. 

1679-88 Stcr. Serv. Money Chas. $ Jos. (Camden). 63 
Interest and gratuity for advancing the Dutchess of Ports 
mouth s quarter when she went into France. 1849 THACKERAY 
I 3 endfnnis Iviii, Pay me down the first quarter now. 

III. Senses denoting locality, and transferred 
uses of these. 

12. The region lying about or under one of the 
four principal points of the compass or divisions of 
the horizon ; the point or division itself. Also spec. 
in Astrol. (see quot. 1696). 

t 1391 CHAUCER Astrol. i. 5 The 4 principals plages or 
quarters of the firmament. 1526 TINUALE Rev. xx. 8 The 
people which are in the foure quarters [Gr. youa ait] of the 
erth. 1535 COVERDALE Jer, xlix. 34 Vpon Elam I wil 
bringe the foure wyndes from y foure quarters of heauen, 
1611 BIBLE i Chron. ix. 24 In foure quarters were the 
Porters : toward the East, West, North, and South. 1696 
PHILLIPS, Quarters of Heaven .. in Astronomy, the [1706 
Among Astrologers, certain] Intersections of the Spheres as 
well in the World as in the Zodiack [1706 of which two 
are termed Oriental, and counted Masculine ; the other two 
being Occidental and Feminine]. ij^BAtisofis I oy, n. ii. 
136 We espied a sail in the northern quarter. 1826 SCOTT 
n oodst. ii, Joceline . . looked . . to the four quarters of the 
horizon. 1835 SIR J. Ross Narr. znd I oy. xv. 231 Venus 
was also seen in the southern quarter. 1860 DICKENS Un- 
cotnin. Trav. iv, The Four Quarters of the World came out 
of the globe. 

transf. 1542 RECOHUE Gr. A rtes (1575) 197 The rose . . is 
enuironed on the 4 quarters with 4 floure deluce, 

f b. Boundary or limit towards one of the car 
dinal points ; side. Obs. 

1551 ROBINSON tr. Mores Utoj&gt;. n. (Arb.) 78 A drie diclie 
. . goeth about thre sides or quarters of the city. To the 
fourth side the riuer it selfe serueth for a ditche. 1596 DAL- 
RYMTLE tr. Leslie s Hist. Scot. (1885) I. 2, I wil first .. 
descriue the quarteris and boundes of Scotland. 1611 BIBLE 
Josh, xviii. 14, 15 This was the West quarter. And the 
South quarter was from the end of Kiriath-iearim. 

c. A direction or point of the compass, when 
more than four are mentioned or may be implied. 

1604 E. G[RIMSTONE] D* A cos fa s Hist. Indies 111. v. 132 
They reckon but twoo and thirty quarters of the windes, for 



memorie. 



1664 EVELYN 

5y&w (16793 16 How speedily they [oaks] spread, and dilate 
themselves to all quarters. 1674 GREW Veget. Trunks vi. 
7 Setting down the respect it. -hath to any Quarter in the 
Heavens. 1784 Cow PER Task i. 373 Winds from all quarters 
agitate the air. 1806-7 J- BKRKSPORD Miseries Hum. Life 
(1826) n. xiii, From every quarter of the compass to which 



QUARTER. 

you turn for refuge. 1818 SCOTT Rob Roy viii, * Whew ! sits 
the wind in that quarter ? enquired the justice. 

13. Region, district, place, locality. 

The pi. is sometimes used in much the same sense as the 
sing. With the preps, from, in, to, this sense cannot always 
be clearly distinguished from 120. 

13. . A". A Us. 1902 Sixty citees, in that quarter, Heo for- 
brente. 1471 E. PASTON in P. Lett. III. 27, I trow -&gt;che be 
in sour quarters. 1534 MOKE COM/, a^st. Trib. in. Wks. 
i. M i In this quarter here about vs. 1555 W. WATRE.MAN 
Fardle Facions n. vii. 157 Suche commodities as the 
quartre beareth .. wher they dwelle. 1667 MILTON /*. L. v. 
686 Where we possess The Quarters of the North. 1734 
SALE Koran Prelim. Disc. i (Chandos ed.) i In which 
quarter they dwelt In respect to the Jews. 1765 Museum 
Rusticuin IV. 377 There were in that single quarter [of 
France] above one hundred acres of transplanted cole-seed. 
1855 PRESCOIT rhilipU, n. vi. (1857) 270 The marquis, .had 
left the place on a vi&gt;it to a distant quarter. 1867 FREEMAN 
Norm. Conq. (1876) I. v. 383 Troops Hocked to him from all 
quarters. 

b. Indicating a certain portion or member of 
a community, or some thing or things, without 
reference to actual locality. 

1777 SHERIIJAN Sch. Scaud. \. i, I was hurt, .to learn, from 
the same quarter, that. . Sir Peter and Lady Teazle have not 
agreed lately. 1818 JAS. MILL Brit. India II. v. viii. 668 The 
quarter from which this proposition proceeded .. was no 
secret to him. i8ai J. W. CROKKK in Diary (1884) June 6 
This is erroneous in fact, . . but T. insisted he had it from a 
good quarter. 1856 FROL-DE Hist. Eng. (1858) I. ii. 136 A 
suspicion that even in the highest quarters justice had ceased 
to be much considered. 1886 K. MILLER Textual C,nide 27 
This deference to B. . .leads the two learned Professors to 
follow it whenever it is supported by only slight testimony 
from other quarters. 

14. A particular division or district of a town or 
city, esp. that appropriated to a particular class or 
race of people, as the Jewish quarter, etc. 

1526 TINDALE Luke xiv. 21 Goo out quickly into the 
streles _and quarters [1611 lanes] of the citie. 1541 Act 33 
Hen. VIII, c. 15 The said sainctuarymen .. enter in euery 
parte and quarter of the same towne. 1602 Return fr. Par- 
nass. v.iv.What neweswith you in this quarter of the Citty? 
1711 ADDISON Sficct. No. 31 F i The several Shows that are 
exhibited in different Quarters of the Town. 1756-7 tr. 
A eysl-:r s Trar. (1760- II. 467 Rome is divided into fourteen 
tioni or quarter-;. 18*0 W. IRVING Sketch Bk. I. 121 In 
the most dark and dingy quarters of the city. 1864 D. G. 
MITCHELL Sev. Stor. 214 A narrow court ,. which leads 
into a moldering quarter of the city. 

fb. A particular place or point (in a building, 
etc. . Obs. 

1440 Jacob s J/W/69 pis wose of pride has viij. corneres, 
or viij. quarterys. 1449 Paston Lett. No. 67 I. 83 They 
have made wykets on every quarter of the hwse to scliote 
owte atte. t 1470 HENRY Wallace \\\\. 1051 At a quartar, 
quhar fyr had nocht ourtayn, Thai ink thann out fra that 
castell. 1526 nigr. Per/. (W. de W. 1531) 131 That y 
ennemy may fynde in vs no quarter to entre. 

f C. A part of a gathering or assembly, army, 
camp, etc. Obs. 

1591 SHAKS. i Hen. / /, n. i. 63 Had all your Quarters 
been as safely kept As that whereof I had the gouernement, 
We had not beene..surpriz &gt; d. 1596 Edward, I If, iv. iv. 

50 These quarters, .squadrons, and these regiments. 1599 
HAKLUYT I oy. II. n. 137 It is a thing almost impossible, 
at any your Faires or publique assemblies to finde any 
quarter thereof sober. 

t d. To keep good quarter: To keep good watch; 
to preserve good order. Obs. 

1595 SHAKS. JoJin \. v. 20 Well : keepe good quarter, & 
good care to night. 1653 H. MORE Ant id. Ath. \\. viii. 2 
(1712) 63 To have made Man that he might be a Lord over 
the rest of the Creation and keep good quarter among them, 
fe. To keep a . . . quarter : To maintain a (bad) 
state of things, to behave in a (bad) way; hence, 
even without adj., to make a noise or disturbance. 

1632 LITHGOW Trav. in. 88 The Souldiers kept a bloody 
quarter among themselues. a 1654 SELUEN Table-t. (Arb.) 

51 They keep a huge quarter when they carry it into the 
Cellar. 1659 Commw. Ball. (Percy Soc.) 150 For all you 
kept such a quarter, you are out of the councell of state. 
1668 PEPYS Diary 29 Jan., They had fiddlers, and danced, 
and kept a quarter, which pleased me though it disturbed 
me. 1736 AINSWORTH Lat. Did,, What a quarter they keep 
in the market. 1760 BARETTI Engl.-Ital, Diet., To keep a 
heavy quarter, fare un grande strepito. 

15. Place of stay or residence; dwelling-place, 
lodgings, esp. of soldiers. Now usu. in//. 

Free quarter^} : see FREE-QUARTER. Head-, home-^ out-, 
sittiimcr-^-wintcr-qitarters; see the first element. Quarters 
of refreshment (see quot. 1702-11). To beat ttp the quarters 
of: see BEAT v. 1 28. To take up one s quarters \ to estab 
lish oneself (in a place). 

sing. 1591 Carrara s Art Warrc 77 Let him remember. . 
to bring backe again into his Quarter those souldiers hee 
hath led foorth to any enterpri.se. 1649 G. DANIEL Trinarch.^ 
Hen. Il/ , Ixxxiv, The Lords who must in state Lodge at the 
Crowne .. Defray their Quarter at a Double Rate. 1679 
Estahl. Test. 25 In a place remote from his quarter, he ren- 
devouzes with his fellow adventurers. 17x9 DE FOE Crusoe 
n. vi, I went from their quarter. 1837 CARLYLE Fr. Rev. 
III. i. v, The grate which led to our quarter opened anew. 
1897 HUGHES Medit, Fever ii. 62 The staff-sergeant, .occu 
pied a two-room quarter a few yards away. 

//. 1598 B. JONSON Ev. Man in Hum. iv. v, Turnbull, 
Whitechapel, Shoreditch, which were then my quarters. 
1645 W. BROWNE Let. to Wood 9 Sept. in Wood*s Life 
(O. H.S.) I. 122 note, Our horse from Oxon. fell on the 
enemies quarters at Thame. 1660 SANCROKT Serm. 18 Nov. 
in D Oyly Life (1821) II. 320 God and his church pay their 
quarters wherever they come. 1702-11 M Hit. ^ Sea Diet. 
(ed. 4) i, Quarters oj Refreshment , the Place or Places, where 
Troops that haue been much hara^s d, are put in to recover 

4-2 



QUARTER. 

themselues, during some time of the Summer or Season for 
the Campaign. 17** DE FOE Moll Flanders (1840) 355. 
I found we must shift our quarters. 1758 JOHNSON Idler 
No. 21 f 3, I wandered with the regiment as the quarters 
were changed. 1807 DE QUINCEY in H. A. Page Life (1877) 
I. vii. 125 Mrs. Koster did me the honour to call at my 
quarters. 1856 KANE A ret. ExpL I. iii. 35 We had a 
rough time in working to our present quarters. 1881 BESANT 
& RICE ChapL of Fleet \. vi. 11883) 51 Where . . robbers of 
the road had their customary quarters. 

f b. The compulsory provision by private per 
sons of lodging for troops. Obs. 

1647 N. BACON Disc. G&lt;rvt. Eng. i. Ixvi. (1739) 142 The 
Clergy are charged with Quarter, Cart-Service, and Purvey 
ing. 1781 GIBBON Decl. ff F.y.\\\. 1 1. 45 The most flourishing 
cities were oppressed by the intolerable weight of quarters. 

C. U. S. (South). The cabins in which the 
negroes on a plantation live. 

1804 Europ. Mag. XLV. 19/1, I walked away to the 
Quarter. [Note. The place of abode for the negroes.] 1856 
GLUS-TED Stave Staff s m Several cabins are placed near 
together, and they are called the quarters . 1889 Harper s 
Mag. Jan. 253 Let us go out to the quarters, grandpa ; they 
will be dancing by now. 

d. A plnce of exercise for dogs. 

1844 Sporting Rev. XI. 209 If you have sufficient walks or 
quarters, as they are sometimes called, to enable you to 
bring your own [hounds], begin with a good stock at first. 

16. Assigned or appropriate position, *j" To keep 
quarter-, to keep one s own place, t To hold quar 
ter with : to remain beside. Quarter of assembly 
(see quot. 1802). See also CLOSE QUARTERS. 

i549*G?y*/. Scot. vi. 41 Gunnaris, cum heir and stand by 
5our artnil^ee, euyrie gunnar til his auen quartar. 1606 
SHAKS. Ant. % Cl. iv. iii. 22 Follow the noyse so farre as we 
haue quarter. 1611 BEAUM. & FL. Philaster ir. ii, Let me 
hold quarter with you ; we ll talk an hour Out quickly. 
1612 BACON JLSS., LfX e (Arb.) 446 They doe best that make 
this affection keepe quarter, and seuer it wholly from their 
serious affaires. 1667 MILTON /*. L. m. 714 Swift to thir 
several Quarters hasted then The cumbrous Elements, 
Earth, Flood, Aire, Fire. 1702-11 Milit. $ Sea Diet. (ed. 
4) i. s.v., A Quarter at a Sifge, An Incampment upon any 
of the principal Avenues of the Place. 1769 FALCONER Diet. 
Marine (1780), Quarters, a name given, at sea, to the 
several stations where the officers and crew of the ship of 
war are posted in action. 1802 JAMES Milit. Diet., Quar 
ter of Assembly, the place where the troops meet to march 
from in body, and is the same as the place of rendezvous. 
1836 MARRYAT Midsh. Easy xxvi, Call the drummer , said 
Captain Wilson, and let him beat to quarters . 

1 17. Relations with, or conduct towards, another; 
esp. in phr. to keep good (or fair} quarter(s} with. 

1590 SHAKS. Com. Err. it. i. 108 So he would keepe faire 

Iuarter with his bed. 1604 Oth. \\. iii. 180 Friends all, . 
n Quarter, and in terrnes like Bride, and Groome. 1625 
BACON Ess.) CM**/*^ (Arb.) 439 Two, that were Competitors, 
. .yet kept good Quarter betwcene themselues. 1637 RUTHER 
FORD Lett. (1862) I. 207, 1 find it to be hard wrestling to play 
fair with Christ and to keep good quarters with Him. 
(11674 CLARKNDON Sitn&lt;. Leviathan (1676) 153 The t\vo 
next Kings. .kept very fair quarter with Paschal. 

f b. (Good or fair) treatment or terms. Obs. 
exc. arch. 

1648 Eikon Bas. iv. 25, I never had any thoughts of going 
from my House at Whitehall, if I could have had but any 
reasonable fair Quarter. 1699 BENTLKY Phal, 319 Lucian 
should have no better Quarter from him. 1705 STANHOPE 
Paraphr. II. 268 No other Person must expect fair Quarter. 
735 BoLiN GBKOKE On. Parties Ded. (1738) 7 He would 
deserve certainly much better Quarter {etc.]. 1826 SCOTT 
Woodst, xxxiii, Neither I nor my fellows will deliver it up 
but upon good quarter and conditions. lbid. t They will 
give thee fair quarter. 

18. Exemption from being immediately put to 
death, granted to a vanquished opponent by the 
victor in a battle or fight ; clemency or mercy 
shown in sparing the life of one who surrenders, 
t Formerly also //. f To cry quarter : to call for 
quarter. 

The precise origin of this sense is obscure, but it may be 
derived from 17, or even from, 15 on the supposition that to 
give quarter originally meant to provide prisoners with 
quarters. The assertion of De Brieux (1672 Origines.. 
de plusieurs fa^ons de Parley 16) that it arose in an 
agreement between the Dutch and Spaniards, by which the 
ransom of an officer or private was to be a quarter of his 
pay, is at variance with the constant sense of the phrases 
give and receive quarter. 

1611 COTCR., Onartier .. Quarter, or faire war, wherein 
souldiers are taken prisoners and ransomed at a certaine 
rate, c 1645 Homu.f& (1655) I. 231 He suffered Tilly 
to take that great Town with so much effusion of blood, 
because they wood receuie no quarter. 1659 B. HARRIS 
Parivafs Iron Age 308 Many were cut down, the Swedes 
giving no quarter. 1693 Mem. Cf. Teckely n. 89 As this was 
not a War of Quarter, they defended themselves desperately. 
1720 DE FOE Capt. Singleton xi. (1840) 188 The Portuguese 
cry quarter. 1788 PRIESTLEY Led. Hist. v. Ixii. 494 Civil 
wars are also peculiarly bloody, because less quarter is 
expected in them. 1816 BYRON Siege Cor. xxiv, Cry For 
quarter, or for victory. 1841 JAMES Brigand iii, Several of 
them uttered a cry of Quarter quarter*. 1865 KINCSLEY 
Herew. vii, Hereward bid his men give quarter. 

pi. _ c 1644 MS. Hist. Somerville Fam. in Scott s Rokebv* 
Having refused quarters, every man fell in the same order 
and ranke wherin he had foughten. &USc**dert*f Rt&v. 
iv 91 There was no Quarters given during the heat of the 
fight. 1736 SHERLOCKE Voy. round World 129 They 
instantly came to, and call d for quarters. 1747 GentL A/ae; 
486 Near 7 at night she [the Terrible] called out for quarters. 

1769 FALCONER Diet. Af^HttfdyBo) s.v., Quarters is also an 
exclamation to implore mercy from a victorious enemy 
b. transf. and fig. 

1647 WARD Simp. Cobier 72 He shewes more true fortitude, 



28 

that prayes quarter of. . Truth. 1684 J. PETER Siege yi 




\ 



witticisms, which ought to have no quarter. 1817 SHELLEY 
Rev Islam Pref., There is no quarter given to Revenge, or 
Envy, or Prejudice. 1871 MORLEY Crit. Misc. Ser. i. Vau- 
venarguts (1878) 25 The Trappist theory of the conditions 
of virtue found no quarter with him. 

IV. Technical uses, in most of which the ori 
ginal sense is much obscured. 

19. Carpentry. A piece of wood, four inches wide 
by two or four inches thick (see quot. 1703), used 
as an upright stud or scantling in partitions and 
other framing. Chiefly in //. 

[1331 in J. T. Smith Antiq. Westminster (1807) 207 Two 
pieces of timber eight feet long called quarters.] 1497 Naval 
Ace. Hen. Wi (tBg6) 235 Sawyng of tymbre into plankes 
quarters Bourde and other necessaries. 1565-73 COOPFR 
Thesaurus^ C lost ruin ^ .. a rayle or other like thinge made 
of quarters. 1617 MINSHEU Ditctor, A quarter, a p_eece of 
timber commonly foure square, and foure inches thicke, as 
it were a quarter or fourth part of a beame. 1665 PEPYS 
Diary 21 Sept., 7 he posts and quarters in the walls. 1703 
MOXON Mech. Exerc. 163 Single Quarters are. .two Inches 
thick, and four Inches broad. The Double Quarters are 
sawen to Four Inches square. 1811 Self Instructor 141 
Plastering .. between the quarters in partitioning. 1825 
J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 627 If the workman find 
materials for rendering between quarters, one-fifth must be 
added for quarters. 1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mech. 1843/2 The 
English rule is to place the quarters at a distance not ex 
ceeding 14 inches. 

20. a. Farriery. One side of a horse s hoof; 
one half of the coffin, extending between heel and 
toe; sometimes, the part of this immediately in 
front of the heel. False quarter \ see FALSE a. 7. 
b. The corresponding part of a horse-shoe. 

1523 etc. [see FALSE a. 7], 1607 TOPSELL Four-f. Beasts 
(1658) 309 You shall easily perceive whether his grief be in 
the inward quarter or in the outward quarter ; the quarter 
is to be understood, from the mid hoof to the heel. 1685 
Loud. Gaz. No. 2054/4 A Brown Dun Mare . .with, .a false 
quarter in one of her fore Feet. 1727 BRADLEY Fan?. Diet. 
s. v. Cut, If . . the Horse Cuts himself, or interferes, thicken 
the inner Quarters or Spunges of his Shoes. 1829 Nat. 
Philos.) Prelim. Treat. (U.K.S.) 37 The frog coming down 
in the middle between the quarters, adds greatly to the 
elasticity. 1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mech. 1843/2 Quarter^ . . the 
rear or heel portion of a horseshoe. 

c. That part of a shoe or boot lying immedi 
ately in front of the back-line, on either side of 
the foot ; the piece of leather, or other stuff, forming 
this part of the shoe from the heel to the vamp. 

1753 HANWAY Trav. (1762) I. m. i. 228 They wear slippers 
like women s shoes, without quarters. 1817 MAR. EDGEWORTH 
Harrington vi, A slipper, with a heel so high, and a quarter so 
low. 1834 PLANCHE Brit. Costume 315 The shoes were worn 
with longer quarters and larger buckles. 1885 Harper s 
Mag. Jan. 280/2 The small quarter and button piece are 
4 closed on the large quarter. 

t 21. A bed or plot in a garden. Obs. 

Possibly due, in part at least, to confusion between quarter 
and square (as in the ca&gt;e of quadrant , quadrate) : cf. F. 
earn 1 , Sp. cnadro square, garden-plot. 

1565 COOPER Thesaurus, Area in hortis, .. a platte or 
quarter. 1572 MASCALL / //. # Graff. (1592) 8 Ye may 
plant or set all your Nuttes in one square or quarter to- 

f thcr. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury ii. 118/1 Statues or 
Sgures cut in Stone [are proper] to be in the quarters of the 
Garden. 1706 LONDON & WISE Rctir d Gard ner 12 Dig 
put of the Walks all the good Earth, and wheel or throw it 
into the Quarters. 1764 Museum Rusticum III. xvi. 73 
This year they began to attack a large quarter of new- 
grafted apples. 

22. Nattt. a. The upper part of a ship s side 
between the after part of the main chains and the 
stern. On the quarter^ in a direction about mid 
way between astern and on the beam. 

J 599 [see AFTER a. 4 b]. a 1618 RALEIGH Royal Nary 10 
Otherwise the bow and quarter will utterly spoile her say ling. 
1624 J. TAYLOR (Water P.) Brave Sea-fight Wks. (1630) m. 
39/2 To clap the Portugall aboord on the Larboord quarter. 
1719 DE FoE-Crrtsoe i.xui, All the stern and quarter of her was 
beaten to pieces with the sea. 1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine 
(1780) s. v., If we were to divide the ship s sides into five 
equal portions . . the first, from the stern, would be the quarter. 
Ibid.) s. v. Bearing. These bearings, .which may be called 
mechanical, are on the beam, .. on the quarter [etc.]. 
1805 Log of H. M.S. Tonnant 21 Oct. in Nicolas Disp. 
AW.w(i846) VII. 167 note, The French Admiral sShip under 
our quarter had lost her foremast. 1840 R. H. DANA Be/. 
Mast iv. 8 Leaving the land on our quarter. 1878 Masque 
Poets 120 The sea that came over her quarter. 

b. Of a yard : The part between the slings and 
the yard-arm (see also quot. 1769). 

1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine (1780) s. v. Yard, The 
distance between the slings and the yard-arms on each side 
is . . divided into quarters, which are distinguished into the 
first, second, third quarters, and yard-arms. &lt;ri86o H.STUART 
Seaman s Catech. 25 The quarter of the mainyard. 1882 
NARES Seamanship ^ed. 6) 41 The truss strop on the quarter 
of the yard. 

1 23. The skirt of a coat or other garment. Obs. 

535 COVERDALE Dent. xxii. 12 Thou shall make gardes 
vpon the foure quarters of thy garment. 1591 PERCIVALL 
Sp. Diet., Fa/da, the lap of a coate, the skirtes, the quarters 
of a coate. 1:1658 Wit Restored 167 Chill put on my 
zunday parrell That s lac t about the quarters. 
b. Of a saddle : (see quot.). 

1753 CHAMBERS CycL Sitpp. s. v. t Quarters of a saddle are 
the pieces of leather or stuff made fast to the lower part of 
the sides of a saddle, and hanging down btlow the saddle. 



QUARTER. 

24. One of the four parts into which a road is 
divided by the horse-track and the wheel-ruts. 

1767 A. YOUNG Lett, to People (1771) I : 445 A road. .upon 
which the tracks may vary, without having quarters a yard 
high to cross. 1789 Trans. Soc. Arts VII. 204 Gravelled 
roads,, .where quarters are formed by carriages following in 
one continued track. 1805 DICKSON Practical Agric. I. 
Plate x.xxvii, It is drawn by two horses abreast, the outside 
horse on the outer quarter, and the other in the path. . . Thus 
an inside and outside quarter are taken in going, and the 
others in returning. 1879 in Norfolk Arch. VIII. 172. 

25. dial. One of the four teats of a cow (cf. 
QUARTER-EVIL 2). False quarter (see quot. 1797). 

1797 J. BILLISGSLEY I iew Agric. Somerset 249 This dis 
order frequently affects the udder, and brings on a false 
quarter, that is, a deprivation of milk in one teat. 1886 
HOLLAND Cheshire Gloss, s.y., When a cow. .ceases to give 
milk from one teat, she is said to have lost a quarter. 

26. Miscellaneous uses. 

a. Fencing. Some kind of stroke or blow (cf. quarter-blow, 
-stroke in 30). fb. ?A square space. Obs. tp- ?A 
square block. Obs. t d. Typog. One of the divisions of 
a form (see quot.). Obs. t e. In the manege (see quot.). 
Obs. ff. //. In the old style of Rugby football (see quot.). 
Obs. g. Arch. A portion of a Gothic arch (Knight Diet. 
Mech. 1875). h. Carpentry. A section of a winding stair 
(ibid.), i. A section of a mill-stone dress (ibid.). j. 
That part of the side of a cask which lies between the 
chime and bulge (ibid.). k. An angular piece of cork, 
ready for rounding (itiff.). 

a. 1450 Fencing w, two handed Sword in Ret. Ant. I. 
^09 Thy rakys, thy rowndis, thy quarters abowte. b. 1454 
in Dugdale Antiq. IVar^vicksh. 356 Under every principal! 
housing a goodly quarter for a Scutcheon of copper and gilt 
to be set in. c. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. 602 In Portugall 
.. there be found great crystal quarters or masses of a won 
derful weight. d. 1683 MOXON Mech. E.\-erc. t Printing 
388 Quarto s, Octavo s and Twelves Forms are Imposed in 
Quarters. They are called Quarters, not from their equal 
divisions ; but because they are Imposed and Lockt up 
apart. Thus half the Short-Cross in a Twelves Form is 
called a Quarter, though it be indeed but one Sixth part of 
the Form. e. 17*7 BAILEY vol. II, To work from Quarter ; 
to Quarter, is to ride a Horse three Times an End upon 
the first of the four Lines of a Square, and then changing 
Hands to ride him three Times upon the second, and so to 
do upon the third and fourth. f. 1857 HUGHES Tom Brown. 
i. v. 114 The captain of quarters .. spread his men. .half 
way between their own goal and the body of their own 
players -up. 

V. attrib. and Comb. 

27. General combs, (sense i), as quarter-barrel \ 
-ebb t -face, -flood, -hogshead, -inch, -look, -mile, 
pay, -pint, -rations, -size, -yard, etc. ; quarter- 
faced adj. ; quarter-yearly adv. 

1882 OUIDA Maremma I. 245 There is a trifle of oil, a 
*quarter barrel. ^1391 CHAUCER Astrol. n. 46 Whebir it be 
..half or*quarter ebbe. 1626 CAPT. SMITH Accid.yng. Sea 
men 17 A spring tide, ebbe, a quarter ebbe, half ebbe. 1846 
McCi LLOCH Ace. Brit. Empire (1854) I. 251 Measured from 
the sea at quarter-ebb tide. 1616 B. JOSSON Forest xii, Let 
them still Turn upon scorned verse their *quarter-face. 1833 
Reg-iil. Instr. Cavalry i. 33 Remain *quarter-faced to the 
right, c 1391 CHAUCER Astrol. if. 46 Half flode or *quarter 
flode. 1626 C APT. SMITH Accid.yng. Sea-Mien 17 [The sea] 
flowes quarter floud, high water, or a stiil water. 1801 
NELSON 15 Aug. in Nicolas Disp. (1845) IV. 460 At last 
quarter-flood, at the Pier-head. 1891 T. HARDY Tess 
xxxviii, The washing-tub stood., on the same old *quarter- 
hogshead. 1890 W. J. GORDON Found) y 58 Nearly all of 
them are to a "quarter-inch scale. 1636 MASSINGER Bashf. 
Lover I. i, Observe his posture But with a *quarter-look. 
1895 \Vestni. Gaz. u Jan. 5/2 A "quarter-mile straight race 
for professionals. 1691 LUTTRELL Brief K el. (1857) II. 275 
The seamen shall be . . kept in *quarter pay till spring. 
1744 BERKELEY Let. to Hanmer 21 Aug. in Fraser Lije\\\\. 
(1871) 299 You may take this quantity either in half-pint or 
*quarter-pint glasses. 1856 LEVER Martins o/Cro 1 M. 201 
A shipwrecked crew reduced to *quarter-rations. 1889 
Anthony s Phot ogr. Bull. II. 3 A *quarter-size detective 1 
camera^ a 1400 Stockh, Med. MS. ii. 657 in /$Mg7/V*XVIII. 
323 His stalke is *quarter gerde longe. 1795 HAMILTON 
Wks, (1886) VII. 95 His allowance is at the rate of 25,000 
dollars per annum, 6,250 dollars *quarter-yearly. 

b. With names of coins, as quart er-angel, -dollar, 
-ducat, -eagle, -florin, -guinea^ -noble, -pound, -shekel, 
-shilling) -sovereign, etc. 

1866 CRUMP Banking x. 223 Quarter-angel. 1837 HT. 
MARTINEAU See. Ainer. II. 89 The lowest price .. was a 
*quarter-dollar per acre. 1639 FORD Lady s Trial v. i", 
Pistol a straggler for a *quarter-ducat. 1874 RAYMOND 6M 
Ref. Mines 524 Eagles .. Half-eagles .. *Quarter-eagIes. 
1707 FLEETWOOD Citron. Prec. 21 The *Quarter Floren he 
[Fabian] calls a Farthing, v.il \s. v\\\d. 1776 Ann. Reg. 140 
^Quarter guineas more deficient in weight than . . i dwt. 8 grs. 
1803 HATCHETT in Phil. Trans. XCIII. 137 George 1. a 
quarter-guinea. 1866 CRUMI- Banking x. 222 *Quarter- 
noble. Ibid. 223 *Quarter-pound. 1702 R. L ESTRANGE 
Josefi/iHS, Anti j. vi. v. (1733) 136 The Servants told him that 
he had a *Quarter-Sicle left yet. 1561 Prod. A bossing 
Coynt-s in Stafford Exam. Complaints (1876) 101 The 
*Quarter shilling That was curraunt for iij d shalbe curraunt 
for ij d. 

f C. Artillery, denoting small sizes of certain 
pieces, as quarter-cannon, -culver in t -slang, -sling. 
Obs. (Cf. HALF- II. d.) 

1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 41 Mak reddy^our . . slangis, & half 
slangis, quarter slangis. 1570 DROUT Gaulfr. $ Barn, (1844) 
C 2 Thy roaring cannons . . Yea bases, foulers, quarter-slings. 
1611 FLORIO, Quarto cannone, a quarter Cannon, which is 
but weakely fortifide or mettalled. 1684 J. PETEK Siege 
Vienna in Quarter Cannon, each 12 pound 306. Ibid. 109 
Quarter Culverin. .26. 

d. With names of persons, as quarter-carrier, 
-fairy, -ruler, -tyrant. Also QUARTERMASTER 3. 

1612 SHAKS. FL. Two h oble K. i. ii. 108 Were he a 



QUARTER. 

"quarter carrier of that honour which His enemy comes in. 
a 1634 RANDOLPH Amyntus v. 6 They do caper Like "quarter 
Fairies at the least. 1610 HEAI.EY St. Aug. Citic of God 
iv. xi. (1620) 160 A quarter ruler with his brethren and 
sisters, c 1640 J. SMYIII Lives Berkeley* (1883) I. 116 The 
lawes. .as some have written, were as *quarter-tirants. 
f 28. (Sense 8 a) = quarter s , quarterly , as 
qitarter-allowance, -almoner, -feast, -fee, -salary, 
-sermon, -set-vice, -supper. Also QUARTER-DAY, 

-SESSIONS, -WAITER. 

1727 DOVER Diet. Fr.-Angl., Qnartier, . . "Quarter-allow- 
ance. 1599 SANDYS Eurapz Spec, g With an eye perhaps 
that themselves would be his "quarter Almoners. 1609 B 
JONSON Silent Woman n. ii, It is his "quarter-feast, sir. 
1615 J. STEPHENS Satyr. F.ss.\\ Clearkes and other knaves 
. .Will take a pention or a "quarter-fec. 1583 STUBBES /?&lt;!/. 
Abus. n. (1882) 77 Preaching their "quarter sermons them- 
selues. a 1555 LATIMER Serin, ff Rem. (1845) 243 Any ser 
vices in your churches, either trentat, "quarter-service or 
other. 1593 in Acts Prtu. Comic. N. S. XXII. 564 Irysche 
customes as .. "Quartersupers called Quidraighe. 

29. Naut. (sense 22 a) as quarter- badge, -bitt, 
-boat, -check, -davits, -fast, -netting, -port, -rail, 
-railing, -stanchions (cf. quots.). See also quarter- 
board, -cloth, -ladder, -timbers in 30, and QUARTER- 
GALLERY, -LINE, -PIECE, -WIND. 

1807 ROBINSON Arcliseol. Grxca iv. xiv. 390 To the iutpo- 
proAia in the prow answered the a^Acta-, "quarter-badges, 
m the stern. 1867 SMYTH Sailor s Word-l&gt;k., Quarter- 



badge, artificial galleries; a carved ornament near the stern 
of those vessels which have no quarter-galleries. 1805 Sir 
E. BERRY 13 Oct. in Nicolas Disp. (1846) VII. 118 note, 
I ordered the weather "quarter-boat to be cut away. 1840 
R. H. DANA Bef. Mast vi. 13 The watch on deck were 
lowering away the quarter-boat 1833 MARRYAT P. Simple 
(1863) 41 Request that he will cast off the "quarter check. 
1898 J. CONRAD Nigger of Narch 




outer ends, projecting from a vessel s quarters, to hoist boats 
up to. 1846 A. YOUNG Naut. Diet. 117 Fast, a rope or 
chain by which a vessel is secured to a wharf or quay. They 
are called bow, head, "quarter, and stern fasts. 1769 FAL 
CONER Diet. Marine (1780), *Quartcr-Netting, a sort of 
net-work, extended along the rails on the upper part of a 
ship s quarter. 1867 SMYTH Sailor s Word-Ik., Quarter- 
Nettings, the place alloted on the quarters for the stowage 
of hammocks. Hid., Quarter-forts, those made in the 
after side-timbers and especially in round-stern vessels 
1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine (1780), Quarter-rails, are 
narrow-moulded planks, generally of fir, reaching from the 
top of the stern to the gangway. 1850 Kndiin. Navig. 
(Weale) 139 Quarter-rails, rails fixed into stanchions from 
the stern to the gangway, and serving as a fence. 1809 
W. IRVING Knickerb. (1861) 200 Anthony. .was leaning over 
the "quarter-railing of the galley. 1860 LONGK. Wayside 
Inn, Saga K. Ola/ xx, He sat concealed, .. behind the 
quarter-railing. 1846 A. YOUNG Naut. Diet. 243 Quarter- 
stanchions, strong stanchions in the quarters of a square- 
sterned vessel, one of which forms the outmost boundary of 
the stern on either side : it connects the main rail with the 
taffrail ; [etc.]. 

30. Special combs., as quarter-ail = QUAKTER- 
ILL ; f quarter-ale, an ale or festival held by 
the people of a certain quarter (? or quarterly) ; 
quarter-angled a., at a quarter of a right angle ; 
also Her. = QUADRATE a. 5 ; quarter-aspect, 
quartile-aspect (Worcester 1860, citing Brande) ; 
quarter-back, in American football, a player 
stationed between the forwards and half-backs; 
(see also quot. 1895); f quarter-basin, Sc. (?); 
quarter-bell, a bell in a clock which sounds the 
quarters ; quarter-bend, a section of pipe bent 
into a quarter-circle (Knight Diet. Mcc/t. Suppl. 
1884); quarter-bill, Naut. (see quot.) ; quarter- 
binding, a style of bookbinding with narrow 
leather back and no leather corners; quarter- 
blanket, a small blanket for a horse s back 
(Knight) ; quarter-block, Naut. a block fitted 
under the quarter of a yard ; ) quarter-blow (cf. 
QUARTER 26 a, and quarter-stroke) ; quarter- 
board, f some kind of board used in carpentry ; 
also Naut. in //. (see quot. 1846); f quarter- 
book, ? a book containing quarterly accounts ; 
quarter-boot, a leather boot used to protect the 
heels of a horse s fore-feet from being injured by the 
hind feet (Knight) ; quarter-bound a., in Book 
binding (see quarter-binding) ; quarter-boy, a 
quarter-jack in the form of a boy ; quarter-bred, 
of animals : having one fourth good blood (Ogilvie, 
1882) ; fquarter-bullet (see quot.) ; quarter-butt, 
in Billiards, a cue smaller than the HALF-BUTT; 
quarter-cask, (a) a quarter-hogshead; (i) aquarter- 
butt ; f quarter-cast, a. of a horse (see quot.) ; 
quarter-clock, a clock that strikes the quarters ; 
quarter-cloth, (a) Naut. (see quot.) ; (b) = 
quarter-blanket; quarter-coal, a periodical allow 
ance of coal made to miners (Gresley Gloss. Coal 
mining 1883); quarter-column, Mi 1. (see quots.); 
t quarter-cord, ./J// / f(seequot. 1747 ; quarter- 
course, C.S., a quarter-mile racing-course; quar 
ter-crack, a crack on the inner quarter of a horse s 
fore-hoof (Syd.Soc.Lex. 1897) ; t quarter-curtsey, 
a slight curtsey; quarter-cut, plank cut to a 
quarter of an inch in thickness ; quarter-distance, 



29 

Mil. a distance intermediate between half and close 
distance ; quarter-fishes [Fisii s6.-], Naut. stout 
pieces of wood hooped on to a mast to strengthen 
it (Cent. Diet.} ; f quarter-foot = quarter-hoof; 
t quarter-four, (?) ; quarter-galley, Naut. a 
Barbary cruiser (Smyth) ; quarter-grain, the 
grain of wood in the plane of the medullary fibres 
and radially from the centre, shown when a log is 
quartered ; f quarter-ground (Isle of Man) ^ 



ers ; quarter-timber, t (a) quarts 
timber in the form of quarters ( 
Naut. in //. (see quot. 1846) ; 
Mus. one half of a semitone ; qu 



1797 J- BILLINGSLEY Vino Agric., Somerse I 249 A disorder 
provmcially called the quarter-ail, which is a mortification 
beginning at the hock. 1574 Proviso in Lease in Worsley 
/fist. Isle Wight 210 If the Quarter shall need .. to make 
a "Quarter-Ale, or Church-AIe. 1775 ADAIR Amcr. Ind. 269 
Rushed off with impetuous violence, on a "quarter-angled 
course. 1895 \Vcstm. Caz. 8 Nov. 2/1 Your "quarter-backs , 



heel = QUARTER 20 c ; quarter- hollow, a concave 
moulding, having an arc which is approximately a 
quadrant ; also attrib., or adj., as in quarter-hollow 
tool (Cent. Diet. 1891) ; f quarter-hoof, ? a hoof 
with one of the quarters cut (cf. quarter-cast) 
quarter-hoop, a hoop on the quarter of a cask ; 
also attrib. ; quarter-hung a., of a gun : having 
trunnions with their axis below the line of bore 
(Knight) ; quarter-iron, a boom-iron on the 
quarter of a, yard ; quarter-ladder, Naut. (see 
quots.) ; quarter-left, Mil. one quarter of a right- 
angle towards the left; quarter-light, a side- 
window in the body of a close carriage, as distinct 
from the door-light ; quarter-miler, one who is 
good at running a quarter-mile race ; f quarter- 
moon, (a) a crescent moon ; (b) = QUADRATURE 
4 b i t quarter-night, the time when a quarter of 
the night has passed ; quarter-note, Mus. a 
crotchet; dsx&gt;attrib.a& quarter-note rest; quarter- 
pace, a resting-place or landing on a stair, con 
taining a quadrant or quarter-turn ; quarter- 
partition, a partition whose framework is made of 
quarters ; quarter-pierced a., Her. (see quots.) ; 
quarter-plate, a photographic plate measuring 
3l x 4.i inches ; also, a photograph" taken on a plate 
of this size ; also attrib. quarter-ply a. (?) ; 
quarter-point, Naut. = QUARTER iob; quarter- 
pointed a., Her. (see quot.) ; quarter-pole, a pole 
marking the quarter-mile on a race-course ; quar 
ter-quibble, ? a poor or weak quibble ; quarter- 
race, U.S., a quarter-mile race; quarter-rack, a 
rack which regulates the striking of the quarters in 
a clock ; ) quarter- ranger, ? the ranger or keeper 
of a certain quarter ; quarter-repeater, a repeater- 
watch which strikes the quarters; quarter-rest, 
Mus. a rest equal in time to a quarter-note, a 
crotchet-rest (Cent. Diet.*) ; quarter-right, Mil. 
one quarter of a right angle towards the right ; 
t quarter-road, an ordinary road with quarters 
separated by horse-track and ruts ; quarter-round, 
a convex moulding having an outline of a quarter- 
circle, an ovolo or echinus ; also attrib., or adj., 
as quarter-round tool; t quarter-sack, a sack 
capable of holding a quarter of grain ; quarter- 
sawed a., of wood: quartered; quarter-screw, 
one of the four screws in a compensation balance 
by which the watch is regulated ; quarter-seal, 
a seal pertaining to the Chancery of Scotland, 
having the shape and impression of a fourth part 
of the Great Seal ; quarter- section (U. S. and 
Canada), a quarter of a square mile of land, 
1 60 acres ; quarter-sights, sights engraved on the 
base-ring of a cannon in quarter degrees (Smyth) ; 
quarter-slings, Naut. (see quot.) ; quarter-snail 
(see quot.); quarter-space = quarter-pace (Nichol 
son, 1 8 23) ; f quarter-spells, some game ; quarter- 
square, the fourth part of the square of a number ; 
quarter-stroke, f () = quarter-blow ; (b) the 
stroke with which a clock marks the quarters; 
quarter-stuff, (a) =quarter-timber\&gt;; (b) = quar 
ter-cut (Knight); quarter-tackle, Naut. (see 
quot.) ; f quarter-tale, reckoning (grain) by quar 
ters ; quarter-timber, f (a) quartered timber ; (*) 

(sense 19) ; (c) 
quarter-tone, 
quarter-track = 

quarter-course ; quarter-turn, (a) a rifle in which 
the shot makes a quarter of a revolution in the 
length of the barrel ; (b*) a bend of a quarter of 
a circle ; also atlrib. ; quarter-twist = prec. a ; 
quarter-vine, an American vine (Bignonia capreo- 
latd), the stem of which readily divides into 
quarters (Cent. Diet.} ; f quarter-voided a., Her. 
= quarter-pierced; quarter-watch, Kaut. a. ship s 
watch composed of one-fourth of the crew ; quar 
ter-wheeling, turning through a quarter of a 
circle ; f quarter-wood = quarter-timber. 



QUARTER. 

a o ha f ; b i;ks * hen called, waited for the ball to roll out. 
1899 W. CAMP in Badminton Foothill x.vii. 286 Seven rushers 
or forwards, a quarter-back, who stands just behind this 

1 y, half backs [etc - - BuRNS Lan Eccleficlumi. 

A mickle "quarter basin. 1872 ELLACOMBE Bells o/Ch in 
Ch. Befit Devon viii. 393 The four "quarter bells were cast 
1769 r ALCONER Diet. Marine (1780), *Quarter-Bill, a roll, or 
list, containing the different stations, to which all the officers 
and crew of the ship are quartered, in the time of battle, 
and the names of all the persons appointed tothose stations 
1794 higging ff Seamanship I. 157 Thick-andthin, or 
Quarter * -- - - J - .... 



_ . - 

block, is a double block .. used to lead d 



down the 



through gins instead of quarter blocks. 1555 W. WATREMAN 



with such countrey glances as they coulde. 1638 HLYWOOU 
Wise n om. iv. Wks. 1874 V. 330, I had my wards, and 
foynes, and quarter-blowes. 1452 in Willis and Clark Cam 
bridge (18861 I. 282 The selyng boord .. shalbe quartere 
horde an niche thyk. 1497 Naval Ace. lien. K//(i896i 296 
Sawyng of certeyn tyinbre into plank.es [&] quarterbordes. 
1548 Privy Council Acts (1890) II. 174 Quarter boord, iijml. 
1846 A. YOUNG Naut. Diet. 242 Quarter-Hoards or Top 
gallant Quarter-Boards, a thin bulwark boarding, forming 
an additional height to the bulwarks at the after part of a 
vessel. They also get the name of Topgallant bulwarks. 
1679-88 Seer. Sen,. Money Chas. f, Jos. iCamden) 146 His 
allowance, .for returning the "quarter books to S r Edmund 
I urner. 1826 SOUTHEY I ind. Eccl. A ngl. 260 The machinery 
..by which his own "quarter-boys in Fleet-street perform 
their office. 1900 Acatlemy 28 Apr. 365/1 The grotesque 
quarter-boys corpulent cherubs on either side of the 
clock beat the quarters on the dial. 1627 CAPT. SMITH X, a- 
man s Gram. xiv. 6cj "Quarter Bullets is . . any bullet 
quartered in foure or eight parts. 1873 BENNETT & CAVFX- 
DISII Billiards 27 The cue-butt or "quarter-butt is larger in 
diameter than the cue, about 5 feet long, and leathered 
at the bottom. 1711-2 Ath t. in Spectator (1891) 904, 
22 Hogsheads and 3 "quarter Casks of new Bene-Carlos 
Barcelona Wine . .at . . 5/. per Hogshead and 251. per Quarter 
Cask. 1727 BAILEY vol. II, f Quarter-cast (wilh Horsemen), 
a Horse is said to cast his Quarter, where for any Disorder 
in the Coffin, there is a Necessity to cut one of the Quarters 
of the Hoof. 1626 DONNE Serin. Ixxiii. 748 There was 
never heard "Quarter-clock to strike. 1884 F. J. BRITTEN 
ll- atc/i f, Clockm. 217 [A] Quarter Clock, .[is] a clock that 
strikes or chimes at the quarter hours. 1769 FALCONER 
Diet. Marine (1780), Quarter-cloths, long pieces of painted 
canvas, extended on the outside of the quarter-netting 
from the upper part of the gallery to the gangway. 1894 
Field 9 June 828/3 The names of his two horses em 
broidered on the quarter cloths. 1879 Cassell s Techn. 
Ettuc.lV. 218/2 The "quarter-column is the formation., most 
employed when large bodies of troops are working together. 
1884 St. James s Gas. 21 Aug. 5/2 A battalion of eight 
companies in quarter-column, that is, in column of companies 
one behind the other. 1747 HOOSON Miner s Diet. Q ij b, 
*Quartercord [is] a Measure used in laying out of Flats, tis 
a superficial Measure, and one fourth part of a Mear ; it is a 
Square, each side being seven Yards and one Quarter long. 
1851 TAPPING Gloss. Mining Terms (E. D. S.), s.v. t So long 
as a mine is wrought ,. everything upon the quarter cord 
belongs to the miner. 1885 Century Mag. XXX. 397/2 
"Quarter-courses usually consisted of two paiallel paths, 
and were run by two horses at a time. 1753 SMOLLETT Ct. 
Fathom (1784) 147/1 A "quarter curtsey, or slight inclination 
of the head. _ iSgslr esli:!. Caz. 30 Mar. 3/1 The skin of . .all 
kinds of racing eights, is known as "quarter cut . 1796 
Inslr. ff Keg. Cm alty (1813) 164 The rear .. [divisions] 
quicken their march, and close up to quarter distance. 
1842 ALISON Hist. Europe (1849-50) XIV. xciv. 7. 7 They 
were drawn up in two lines, but the enemy chiefly in quarter- 
distance columns. 1711 Land. Gaz, No. 4888/4 A quarter 
Foot the near Foot behind. 1776 G. SEMPLE Building in 
Heater 66 A nine Foot Pantile-lath or a "Quarter-four. 1745 
P. THOMAS l- oy. S. Seas 58 We found here in the Road . . 
two "Quarter Galleys. 1867 [see HALF-GALLEY]. 1703 T.N. 
City ff C. Purchaser 187 The "Quarter-grain, .is that Grain 
which is seen to run in straight Lines towards the Pitch. 
1825 J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 612 Clear them [laths] 
into thicknesses by the quarter grain. 1593 Statutes Isle 
Man (1821) 76 To pay for every "Quarter Ground in 
respect of their . . Custom Turves. 1703 T. X. City ff C. 
Purchaser 35 "Quarter-heads, or Bill-brads for soft Wood- 
floors. 1727 A. HAMILTON Nnu Ace. E. Ind. I. vii. 67 
Their Shoes, .very low and stiff at the "Quarter-heels. 1713 
Land. Gaz. No. 5148/12 A "Quarter-hoof on one of his hind 
Feet. 1885 Census Instinct., "Quarter Hoop Maker, Bender, 
Shaver, c 1860 H. STUART Seaman s Cateeh. 75 On each 
quarter is a "quarter-iron that opens with a hinge to allow 
the topmast studding sail booms to be raised or lowered. 
1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine (1789), *Qnarter-Lattders, 
two ladders of rope, depending from the right and left side 
of a ship s stern. 1867 SMYTH Sailor s IVord-bk., Quarter- 
Ladder, from the quarter-deck to the poop. 1832 Regnl. 
fnstr. Cavalry ill. 93 The .. command will be given, 
Squadrons . "Quarter or Half Left. 1881 Daily Ncius 
15 Sept. 3/2 The engine.. struck the side of the three last 
carriages . . smashed a number of the "quarter lights . 1890 
W. J. GORDON Foundry 157 The thick glass in the quarter- 
lights, the thinner plate in the door-lights, are not bought 
for nothing. 1899 Daily News 19 July 6/5 The "quarter- 
miler was only just leading. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny I. 121 
With horned points like to a "quarter moone. 1665-6 Phil, 
Trans. I. 55 The Course of irregular Tides about the 
Quartermoons. c 1386 CHAUCER Miller s T. 330 A Monday 
next, at "quarter-night, Shall fall a reyn. 1763 J. BROWN 
Poetry ff Mus. v. 63 "Quarter-Notes ;. .an Interval which no 
human Ear can precisely distinguish. 1773 HARRINGTON 
Singing of Birds \nPhil. Trans. LXIII. 264 Such a minute 
interval . . when a quarter-note for example might be re- 
quired.^ 1825 J. NICHOLSON Opcrat. Mechanic 594 Where 
the height of a story is considerable, resting places are 
necessary, which go under the name of quarter-paces, and 
half-paces, according as the passenger .. has to describe a 
quadrant or semi-circle. 1858 S/tyring s Builders Prices 
(ed. 48) 13 The Plates and Braces in "Quarter Partitions must 
be added. 1842-59 Gwui Arc/lit, (ed. 4) 2024 The scant- 



QUARTER. 

lings of the timbers of a quarter partition should vary accord 
ing to the extent of hearing. 1678 PHILLIPS (ed. 4), *Qnarter 
Pierced^ in Heraldry is when there is a hole of a square form 
made in the middle of a Cross. iSgsCussANS Her. (ed. 4) 63 
The Cross.. If.. that part where the limbs are conjoined be 
removed, it is termed Quarterly-pierced. A Cross with a 
square aperture in its centre, smaller than the last example, 
is Quarter-pierced. 1890 Anthony s Photogr. Bull. 1 1 1. 273 
A half-plate or a * *quarter-plate lens. //&lt;, A beginner 
buying his first quarter-plate outfit. 1856 OLMSTED Slave 



Marine (1789), The quarter-points of the Compass., are 
distinguished, .by the word by. 1840 MARRYAT Olla Podr. 
111.26 How was it possible that a man could navigate a ship 
with only one quarter point of the compass in his head? 
1825-9 w. BI-:RHY Encycl. Her.,* Quarter-pointed,* .extend- 
ing from dexter chief towards the base, and terminated in 
the fesse point. It.. is just one-fourth part of a partition 
per saltier. 1894 Outing (M .S.) XXIV. 142/2 Held his place 
until the *quarter-pole was reached. 1663 DRYDEN Wild 
Gallant i. i. Wks. 1882 II. 35 A bare clinch will serve the 
turn ; a carwichet, a *quarter-quibb!e, or a pun. 1729 T. 
COOKE Tales, etc. 96 Quarter-quibbles made his Heart right 
glad. 1792 Descr. Kentucky 12 His time is employed in 
*quarter-races, cock-fights. 1885 Century Mag. XXX. 
397/2 In North Carolina. . quarter-races were much esteemed. 
1884 F. J. WRITTEN II ate ft &lt;y Clockin. 219 The ^quarter rack 
. .falls against the bent arm of the hour rack hook, a 1613 
OVERBUHY Characters., Sargeant Wks. (1856) 163 The gal- 
lowes are his purlues, in which the hangman and hee are the 
*Quarter-rangers. 1884 F. J. BRITTEN Watch &lt;y Clockin. 224 
In a quarter repeater the last hour is struck, and afterwards 
the number of quarters that have elapsed since. 1832 Regul. 
Instr.Cavalryii. 72 The Troops., wheel *quarter right. Ibid, 
go 1 he previous command is given, Squadrons quarter or half- 
right. 1767 A. YOUNG Lett, to People 282 A broad-wheel 
waggon will go in any ^quarter-road. 1706 PHILLIPS (ed. 
Kersey), Ech inns.. is termed. .Ovolo by the Italians; but 
the English Workmen commonly call it the * Quarter- round. 
1753 HOGARTH Anal, Beauty xiL 171 Let us observe the 
ovolo , or quarter-round, in a cornice. 1851 TURNER Dom. 
Archit. \\. vi. 272 Tht arches and purlins are well moulded, 
with the quarter round and fillet. 15. . Meric Tales of 
Skelton S. s Wks. 1843 I. p. l.\x, The miller hauying a great 
"quarter sacke. a 1661 FULLER ll orthies, Cambridge i. 
(1662) 156 Quarter-sacks were here first used, men commonly 
carrying .. eight bushels of Barly. 1884 F. J. BRITTEN 
IVatch ff Clockin. 25 Drawing out the *quarter screws of 
the balance nearest the fast position .. and setting in the 
ones nearest to slow position. 1706 Act 6 Anne c. ii Art. 
xxw, The privy seal. ,*quarter seal and seals of Courts now 
vised in Scotland. 1879 LD. BEACONSFIKLD Sp. 18 Sept. 2/3 
Every man of fair character who conies to Canada, has a 
right.. to obtain what is called a *quarter-section of land. 
1882 Contemp. Rev. Aug. 233 Each township, section, and 
quarter-section .. marked off by mounds and posts. 1876 
VOYLE & STEVENSON Milit. Diet. 385/2 In smooth-bore guns, 
quarter-sights are cut on the upper quarter of the base ring, 
and numbered up to 3. 1867 SMYTH Sailors H ord-bk., 
* Quarter-Slings, are supports attached to a yard or other 
spar at one or both sides of (but not in) its centre. 1884 F. J. 
BRITTEN Watch % Clockm, 219 [The] Quarter Snail., [is] the 
snail used in the quarter part of clocks and repeatingwatches. 
1448 in Bacon Ann. fpnvic/i 105 John Lackford accused for 
cheating at Games called Whistilds, Prelleds, and *Quarter 
spells. 1841 Penny Cycl. XIX. 199/2 A table which gives the 
squares of the halves of numbers will, by the addition of the 
squares of the halves or *quarter-squares, give the product, 
1559 AYLMEK Harborowe H, They must know their "quarter 
strookes, and the waye how to defende their head. 1589 
Marprel. Epit. Dij, Such a precher. .as this, would quickly 
with his quarter strokes, ouerturne al religion, 1780 COWPER 
Table Talk 531 The clock-work tintinnabulum of rhyme,., 
such mere quarter-strokes are not for me. 1712 J. JAMES 
tr. Le Blonds Gardening 71 They make use.. of *Quarter- 
StufTfor large Plinths and Facias. 1799 Naval Chron. II. 
389 Timber.., blocks, quarterstufif, candles. 1815 Falconer s 
Mar. Dittoed. Knruey)* Quarter-tackle, a strong tackle fixed 
occasionally upon the quarter of the main- or fore-yard, to 
hoist boats and heavy packages into and out of the ship. 
1641 BEST Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 132 For burying of Come by 
*Quarter-tayle . . to have 6rf. a quarter for barley, 4^. a 
quarter for oates. 1601 HOLLAND /Y/wj I. 488 The "quarter 
timber, or that which runneth with foure grains, is simply 
the best. ^ 1846 A. YOUNG Nant. Diet. 243 Quarter-timbers, 
the framing timbers in a vessel s quarter. 1776 BURNKY 
Hist. MHS. (1789) I. ii. 23 A Diesis or *Quarter-tone. 1811 
BUSBY Diet. Mns. s.v., The Quarter-tone is of two kinds, vi/. 
the major-enharmonic . . and the enharmonic minor. 1866 
ENGEL Nat. Mus. ii. 45 The seven intervals of the Hindu 
Scale.. are subdivided into twenty-two srooti, correspond 
ing to quarter-tones. 1888 J. C. HARRIS Free Joe, etc. 10 
There was a quarter-track, . . if he chose . . horse-racing. 1810 
Sporting^Mag. XXXVI. 272 A ^quarter turn, which is the 
kind of rifle the line uses. 1661 MORGAN Sph. Gentry n. iii. 



there is no Danger. 1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine ai 
Faire la petite Bordee, to set the quarter-watch. 1887 G. B. 




the front of a body of men is turned round to where the flank 
was. 1611 in Cheshire Gloss. 275 *Quarter wood att the 
wiche howses. 

Quarter (kwj-jtai), v. Also 4-6 quartre. [f. 
OUABZB sb. AF. quarter^ is found c 1350.] 

1. trans. To cut into quarters ; to divide into 
four equal or equivalent parts. Also with out 
(cf. 2 b). a. things in general. 

c 1430 Two Cookery.bks. 18 Take a Capoun . .quarter hym. 
1300 in Prymtrfe, . T. S.) 17, Tate a penyworthe of 
hyt, and quarter hyi in fowre. c 1590 MARLOWE Fanst. vii, 

.he streets . . Quarter the town in four Equivalents. 1646 
SIR T. BROWNE Pseud. Rp. 284 As for the divisions of the 
yeare, and the quartering out tM remarkable standard 



30 

of time [etc.]. 1735 POPE Donne Sat. iv. 136 He knows . . 
Whose place is quarter d out, three parts in four. 1796 
MRS. Gl^msC faff fry xiv. 260 Pare and quarter your apples 
and take out the cores. 1860 REAUF, Cloister $ H. lvi ( 
So [to] halve their land instead of quartering it. 

b. the body of a person, esp. of a traitor or 
criminal. (Cf. quots. for HANG v. 3, DBAW v. 4.) 

1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) VIII. 291 His body was 
i -quart red and i-sent into dyvers places of Engelonde. 
1440 J. SHIRLEY Dethc K. J&lt;une$ 23 The said hongman 
smot of thare hedes, and there quartard hem. 1508 KEN- 
NKUIE Fly ting iv. Dunl ar i\6 Hang Dunbar, Quarter and 
draw. 1601 SHAKS. Jnl. C. in. i. 268 Infants quartered 
with the hands of Warre. 17*3 DE FOE Col. Jack (1840) 
292 Being discovered, betrayed, .. hanged, quartered, &c. 
1849 MACAULAY Hist. Eng. v. I. 614 A few . . were set apart 
for the hideous office of quartering the captives. 

trans/, and fig, 1595 SHAKS. John \\. i. 506 Hang d in 
the frowning wrinkle of her brow ! And quarterM in her 
heart. 1631 LITHGOW Trav. i. 2 The very Cos pell it selfe, . . 
is quartered, mangled, and reiected. 1824-8 LANDOR/Mqf. 
Conv. Wks. 1846 I. 259 At present the one hangs property, 
the other quarters it. 

c. Mech. To fix cranks on (a shaft), to make 
wrist-pin holes in (a driving-wheel), a quarter of 
a circle apart (Knight Diet. Mech. 1875). 

2. To divide into parts fewer or more than four. 
Also with out. 

14. . Sir Beues (M.) 4239 Dede bodyes quarterrid in thre. 
1552 HULOKT, Quarter or trymme a garden, defer mare 
arcam. 1596 SPENSER F.Q. vi. 11.44 Clad all in gilden armes, 
with azure band Quartred athwart. 1599 T. M[OUFET] Silk- 
wormes 55 Send Witte the knife to quarter out their meate 
as need requires. 1627 CAPT. SMITH Seaman s Gram. xiv. 
69 Quarter Bullets is .. any bullet quartered in foure or 
eight parts. 1634 MILTON Conns 29 This lie.. He quarters 
to his blu-hair d deities, a 1800 A". Malcolm * Sir Colvin 
in Child Ballads II. 62/2 Here is a sword ..Will quarter 
you in three. 

f b. To quarter out : To mark out, outline. Obs. 

1600 SURFLET Countric Farmc in. xxvii. 484 The iuice [of 
the fig] doth constraine the skin to fall into wreathes and to 
quarter out a thousand shapes. 1616 SURFL, & MARKH. 
Country Far me 158 You shall quarter out a bed for Leekes. 

3. Ifcr. a. To place or bear (charges or coats 
of arms) quarterly upon a shield ; to add (another s 
coat) to one s hereditary arms ; to place in alter 
nate quarters with. 

\^..Tournam. Tottenham 153 in Hazl. F.. P. P. III. 89 
The chefe was of a ploo mell, .. Quartered with the mone 
H;t. 1571 GASCOIGNE Dcuise of Maske Wks. (Roxb.) I. 85 
Confessing that he . . bare the selfe same armes that I dyd 
quarter in my Scute. 1605 CAMDEN Rem. t Rythmes 25 
King Edward the third when he first quartered the Armes 
of France with England. 1628 COKE On Lift. Pref., This 
faire descended Family de Littleton, .. quartereth many 
faire Coates. 1762-71 H. WALPOI.E / ertite s Anecd. Paint. 
(1786) I. 152 [Henrys] sacrificing the gallant earl of Surrey 
for quartering the arms of England, as he undoubtedly had 
a right to quarter them. 1854 HAWTHORNE Eng. Note-bks. 
(1883) I. 493 The royal banner of England, quartering the 
lion, the leopard, and the harp. 1880 DIXON Windsor III. 
ix. 89 Norfolk, .had quartered his wife s arms. 

al sol. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v. Quartering, The King 
of Great Britain quarters with Great Britain, France, 
Ireland, Brunswick, &c. 1893 CUSSAXS Heraldry (ed. 4) 171 
Neither would their issue being unable to quarter be per 
mitted to bear their maternal coat. 

b. To divide (a shield) into quarters, or into 
any number of divisions formed by vertical and 
horizontal lines. 

1590 SPENSER F.Q. IL i. 18 In his silver shield He bore a 
bloodieCrosse that quartred all the field. 1727-41 CHAMBERS 
Cycl., Counter-auartcrcd . . denotes the escutcheon, after 
being quartered, to have each quarter divided again into 
two. 1868 BROWNING Ring fy Bk. vi. 237 Our arms are those 
of Fiesole itself, The shield quartered with white and red. 

4. To put (soldiers or others) into quarters; to 
station, place or lodge in a particular place. Also 
pass. = to have one s abode, lodging, etc. 

1594 SHAKS. Rich. Ill, v. iii. 34 Where is Lord Stanley 
quarter d, do you know? 1665 MANI.EY Grotius Low C. 
li arres 221 The Duke of Parma all this Winter, quarterM 
his men in the village of Brabant. 1723 DK FOE Col. Jack 
(1840^ 233 After this campaign I was quartered at Cremona. 
1795 WELLINGTON in Gurw. Desp. (1837) I. 2 The 33^ Regi 
ment was landed and quartered at Poole. 1822 W. IRVING 
nraccb. Hall \. 4, I am again quartered in the panelled 
chamber. 1882 B. D. W. RAMSAY Recoil. Mil. Scrv. I. i. 5 
He was then quartered in Edinburgh as a lieutenant. 

b. With on, upon-. To impose (soldiers) upon 
(a householder, town, etc.), to be lodged and fed. 

1683 Apol, Prot. France ii. 29 He quartered his Men upon 
those of the Protestant Religion. 1815 J. W. CKOKKK in C. 
Papers 14 July (1884), Blucher has quartered a guard of 
Prussians on him. 1874 GREEN Short Hist. viii. 3. 485 
Soldiers were quartered on recalcitrant boroughs. 

transf. and fig. 1663 BUTLER Hud. i. ii. 274 He d suck 
his Claws And quarter himself upon his Paws. 1714 Sfcft. 
No. 595 p 6 You have Quartered all the foul Language upon 
me, that could be raked out of the Air of Uillingsgate. 1812 
L. HUNT in Examiner 24 Aug. 531/1 Those upon whom the 
Attorney-General is pleased to quarter his attentions. 1874 
GREEN Short Hist. iii. 5. 139 Italian clergy were quartered 
on the best livings of the Church. 

5. intr. To take up (one s) quarters; to stay, 
reside, lodge. (Freq. in I7th c.) 

1581 SAVILE Tacitus, Hist. ir. Ixvi. (1591) 91 That they and 




for some time. 1723 DE For, Col. Jack (1840) 240 The man 
in whose house 1 quartered was exceedingly civil to me. 



QUARTER. 

1781 HAMILTON Wks. (1886) VIII. 44, I quarter, at present, 
by a . . warm invitation, with General Lincoln. 1863 COWDEN 
CLAHKE Shaks. Char. x. 262 An atmosphere of manner be 
longing to those who have quartered in various countries. 

transf. 1668 CULPEPPER & COLE Barthol. Anat. Manual 
i. v. 312 A remarkable Vein about the Heart .. quartering 
on the one side, without another on the other side. 
b. With on or upon. (Cf. 40.) ? Obs. 

1650 FULI.EK Pisgah \\. v. 122 The Canaanites quartered 
..hard on the men of Abher. 1681 Land. Gaz. No. 1583/4 
A body of men should be sent to quarter upon the Country. 

6. To give quarters to ; to furnish with quarters 
or lodgings. lObs. 

1681 W. ROBERTSON Phrased , Gen. (1693) 1040 To quarter, 
hospitio accipere. ^1682 BUNYAN Holy War (CassellJ 177 
I hey had called his soldiers into the town [and] coveted 
who should quarter the most of them. 

absol. 1667 Ormonde MSS. in ic/A Rep. Hist. MSS. 
Comm. App. v. 56 [Certain] inhabitants of ihe said towne, 
refuse to quarter or pay the allowances for quartering. 

7. Nant. To assign (men) to a particular quarter 
on board ship ; to place or station for action. 

1695 T. SMITH t oy. Constantinople in Misc. Cur. (1708) 

III. 6 The Captain quartered his Men, and the Decks were 
cleared. ty&Alum t Voy. in. viii. 378 He had not hands 
enough remaining to quarter a sufficient number to each great 
gun. 1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine (1780) G g ij, The marines 
are generally quartered on the poop and forecastle. 1809 
J. DALE in NaoalChro*, XXIV. 78 The Europeans .. had 
been quartered to the upper deck guns. 

8. Naut. a. intr. To sail with the wind on the 
quarter, i. e. between beam and stern. 

1637 CACT. SMITH Seaman s Gram. vii. 31 When you goe 
before the wind, or quartering. 1628 DIGBY Voy. Medit, 
(1868) 83 Quartering with one tacke abord till you gett your 
chace vpon your beame. 1725 DE SAUMAREZ in Phil. Trans. 
XXXIII. 424 Sometimes sailing right before the Wind, then 
quartering. 

b. intr. Of wind : To blow on a ship s quarter. 
1720 DE FOE Caj&gt;t. Singleton xi. (1840) 192 She came 

down upon us with the wind quartering. 

c. Of a sea : To strike (a ship) on the quarter. 
1890 CLARK RUSSELL Ocean Trag. I. v. 94 The sea had 

quartered her and swept, .along her lustrous bends. 

9. Build. To construct (a wall or partition) 
with quarters of wood. 

1703 T. N. City ff C. Purchaser 278 The Walls being 
quarter d and Lathed between the Timber. 1848 Jrnl. 
1\. Agric. Soc. IX. n. 570 The former [circle] above the 
brickwork being quartered and plastered. 

10. To range or traverse (groHnd, etc.) in every 
direction. Said esp. of dogs in search of game. 

1700 J. COLLIER vnd Def. Short View 118 He has rang d 
over a great deal of Ground, and Quarter d the Fields of 
Greece and Italy. 1760-72 H. BROOKE FoolofQual. (1809) 

IV. 139 They crossed and quartered the country at pleasure. 
1766 PENNANT Brit. Zoot. (1768) II. 235 Who pass over the 
fields and quarter the ground as a setting dog. 1788 WOLCOTT 
(P. PindarKSYr J. Banks $ Emp. of Morocco Wks.i8i2 II. 94 
Just like a Pointer quartering well his ground. 1873 TRIS 
TRAM Moab viii. 143 To traverse and quarter these rums is a 
good day s work. 1888 Antifod. Notes 6 Two boats are 
. . quartering the sea, as a . . pointer quarters a turnip-field. 

b. intr. To range to and fro; lo shift from 
point to point. 

1857 HUGHES Tom Brown \\. v, They quarter over the 
ground again and again, Tom always on the defensive. 
1873 G. C. DA VIES Monnt. f? Mere x. 76 The hounds 
quartered to and fro. 

C. intr. To drive from side to side of the road. 

In quot. 1834 app. a misinterpretation of sense ii. 

1834 Die QUINCEY Autob. Sk. Wks. 1862 XIV. 296 The 
postillion, .was employed, .eternally, in quartering, i.e., in 
crossing from side to side, according to the casualties of the 
ground. 1886 KLWOKTHY /( . Somerset Word-bk.^Quarter 
to drive uphill in such a way that the horse crosses the road 
backwards and forwards so as to diminish the gradient. 

d. intr. To move in a slanting direction. 

1894 Outing (U. S.) XXIV. 387/1 The bird quartered past 
the Judge who had only cut a bunch of feathers from it, 
1895 Ibid. XXVI. 401/1 We. .changed our direction so as to 
quarter by them. 

11. intr. To drive a cart or carriage so that the 
right and left wheels are on (two of) the quarters 
of a road, with a rut between. Also, of a horse: 
To walk with the feet thus placed ; hence, to walk 
in front of the wheel. 

This is also the sense of F. cartayer, Walloon quateler 
(Littre 1 , which are etymologically related to the Kngl. word. 

1800 TUKE Agric. 300 Two-horse carts should be drawn by 
the horses abreast, .by which means they would be enabled 
to quarter or stride the ruts. 1806-7 J. BERESFORO Miseries 
Hum. Life (1826) it. xxvii, A rugged narrow lane in which 
the ruts refuse to fit your wheels and yet there is no room 
to quarter. 1847 friil. R. Agric. Soc. VIII. n. 277 The 
carting off the cabbages .. is done with a quarter-cart, as it 
is termed in Suffolk, having the shafts so placed that the 
horse walks before the right hand wheel ; in other words, it 
quarters . 1859 MRS. GASKELL Round the Sofa 20 We had 
to quarter, as Randal called it, nearly all the way along 
the deep-rutted miry lanes. 1879- In dialect glossaries 
(Shropsh., Chesh., etc.). 

b. intr. To drive to the side in order to allow 
another vehicle to pass. (Cf. QUART z/.-) 

1849 DE QUINCEY Eng. Mail Coach Wks. 1862 IV. 334 Every 
creature that met us would rely upon us for quartering. 
1866 GEO. ELIOT F. Holt i Elderly gentlemen in pony- 
chaises, quartering nervously to make way [tc.]. 

c. To set ;the shafts of a cart) so that the horse 
walks in front of one of the wheels. 

1847 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. VIII. 11. 268 The shafts are 
quartered, so that the horses (usually two) walk m the 
furrow followed by one whucl. 



QUARTERAGE. 

12. intr. Of the moon : To begin a fresh quarter. 
Also with hi. 

1789 G. KEATE Pelew [si. 227 They would have bad 
weather until the moon quartered. 1833 MARRYAT / . 
Simple (1863) 157 The new moon s quartered in with foul 
weather. 

Quarterage (kwjMtartd^). Also 4 qwarter -. 

5 quater-, t&gt; quartrage, -errage, querterage, 6-S 
quartridge, (6 -redge), 7-8 -eridge, (7 -eridg, S 
-erridge). [f. QUARTER sb. + -AGE ; perh. a. 
OF. quarterage (Godef.).] 

1. A contribution, subscription, tax, or other 
charge paid by a person every quarter ; a quarterly 
payment made by one. 

1389 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 3 Which wardeins schul gadere 
l&gt;e qwarterage of bretheren & sustren. 1452 in Gross Gild 
Merch. 1 1. 69 All maner fynnys, amercyments & quarteragys. 
1529 in I icary s Anat. (1888) App. xiv. 25: So Alweys that 
the sayde quarterage he lawfullye demaunded. 1602 DEKKER 
Satirom. Wks. 1873 1. 262 You shall not brag that your Vize- 
royes or Tributorie kings have done homage to you, or paide 
quarterage. 1708 Brit. Apollo No. 42. i Most of our sub 
scribers having paid their Quarterages [etc.]. 1795 BURKE 
Tracts Popery Laws Wks. 1842 II. 434 They trade and 
work in their own native towns as aliens, paying, as such, 
quarterage, and other charges and impositions. 1887 Times 
20 Jan. 4/3 The plaintiff had not paid his quarterages. 

2. A sum paid to, or received by, a person every 
quarter ; a quarter s wages, allowance, pension, etc. 

1423 Leet Bk. in Sharp Cov. Myst. (1825) 207 Thei shrill 
have ij men of every ward, every quarter, to help them to 
gather ber Quarterage. 1:1515 Cache Lorelfs B. 4 Than 
came a pardoner with his boke, His quarterage of euery 
man he toke. 1590 TARLTON News Purgat. (1844) 82 He, 
being then bare of pence, because his quarterage was not 
come in. 1666 PEPYS Diary 8 Jan., My uncle Thomas 
with me to receive his quarterage. 1727 SWIFT Richmond 
Lodge ff Marble Hill, An idle Rogue, who spends his 

Suartridge In tippling at the Dog and Partridge. 1830 
ISRAELI Clias. I, III. xvii. 370 A half-starved Clerk, eked 
out his lean quarterage, by these merry perquisites. 1892 
Corah. Mag. July 27 He must wait till his new quarterage 
came before he could pay. 

3. Quarters, place of abode ; quartering of troops, 
or the expense of this. rare. 

1577 HOLINSHF.D Chron., Scot. I. 485 The Scots that lay 
in Kelso, and other places keeping their quarterrage on the 
bordures. 1647 in Pictpn L pool Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 143 
Agreed that a Ley.. be imposed upon the Towne for paye- 
ing of the Quarterage of the horse. Ibid., These burdens 
of quarterage. 1841 Tail s Mag. VIII. 562 Common sense 
is driven out of her native quarterage in the brain. 1873 
O CuRRY Led. Ancient Irish I. xvi. 336 Any noble residence 
at which they [great stewards] intended to claim the free 
quarterage due to their official dignity. 

4. attrib., as quarterage-bill, -book, -day, -fee. 
1533 in Sharp Cm. Myst. (1825) 214 Paid to the mynstrell 

at quarterage day . . viij&lt;/. 1692 Land, Gaz. No. 2799/4 
A large Folio Book, .called the Carmens Quarteridg-Book. 
1771-2 Ess. fr. Hatchelor (1773) II. 192 The Quarterage, 
bill, like all others, must pass through both houses of parlia 
ment. 1894 Times 19 Oct. 6/2 The quarterage fees of 4*. 
per annum per member. 

Quarter-cart : see QUARTER v. 1 1 (quot. 1 847). 
Quarter-Cleft, a. and sb. Chiefly dial. Also 
7 -cliff, 9 -clift. [See CLEFT sb. and///, a.] 
A. adj. (See quots.) rare". 



circumference. 

B. sb. 1. Wood cleft in four ; quartered wood ; 
also, one of the pieces produced by cleaving in four. 

1641 BEST Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 15 Wee gette the biggest 
of [the willows] riven with iron wedges into quarter-cliffe. 
Ibid., Shorte forke-shaftes, made of seasoned ashe, and 
quarter cliffe. 1887 Scott. Leader 21 Sept. 6 A large stick 
known in Tipperary as a quarter-cliff . 

2. A slightly-crazed or half-cracked person. 

1831 Fraser s Mag. I V. 327 A mere nincompoop, or quarter- 
cliftor what else you will that implies feebleness of intellect. 
1856 Chambers Jrnl. V. 139 (Ulster Prtn erbs, etc.) An 
eccentric person . . is said . . to want a square of being round . 
The next degree of aberration constitutes a quarter clift . 
1880 Antrim q Down Gloss., Quarter cleft, a crazy person. 

Quarter-co(u)sen, -cozin, corrupt varr. of 
CATER-COUSIN. 

1656 in BLOUNTC&j.r&lt;&gt;jr. 1681 in W. ROBERTSON Phraseol. 
General (1693) 1040. 

Quarter-day. [QUARTER sb. 8 a.] One of the 
four days fixed by custom as marking off the 
quarters of the year, on which tenancy of houses 
usually begins and ends, and the payment of rent 
and other quarterly charges falls due. 

In England and Ireland the quarter-days are Lady Day 
(March 25), Midsummer Day (June 24), Michaelmas (Sept. 
29), and Christmas (Dec. 25). The name is also sometimes 
applied to the Scottish terms of Candlemas (Feb. 2), Whit. 
Sunday (May 15), Lammas (Aug. i), and Martinmas (Nov. n). 

1480 in Eng. Gilds 315 Ther shall be iiij quarter dayys that 
euery Brother . . shall assemble at oure comen hall. 1566 
HARYNGTON in Leisure H. (1884) 630/2 All which sommes 
shal be duly paide each quarter-day. 1596 ifcv. [II, in. ii, 
What, is it quarter-day, that you remove, And carry bag 
and baggage too? 1660 FULLER Mixt Contempt (1841) 197 
A gentleman had two tenants, whereof one, , .repaired to his 
landlord on thequarter-day. (767 BuciUTWZCmiM.lt 124 
Rent,. for the occupation of the land since the last quarter 
day. 1805 SOUTHEY Ball, f, Metr. T. Poet. Wks. VI. So, I was 
idle, and quarter-day came on, And I had not the rent in 
store. 1840 DICKENS Barn. Rudge xiii, The twenty-fifth of 
March,, .one of those unpleasant epochs termed quarter-days. 



31 

Jig. 1641 RHOMB yoviall Crew n. Wks. 1873 III. 382 If 
ever any just or charitable Steward was commended, sure 
thou shall be at the last Quarter-day, 1851 THACKERAY 
l-.ng. Hum. ii. (1876) 174 [They] had.. a happy quarter-day 
coining round for them. 

Qirarter-deck. A anl. fa. Originally, a 
smaller deck situated above the HALF-DECK (q. v.), 
covering about a quarter of the vessel. Olis. b. 
In later use : That part of the upper or spar-deck 
which extends between the stern and after-mast, 
and is used as a promenade by the superior offlters 
or cabin-passengers. 

1627 CAPT. SMITH Seaman s Grain, ii. 6 The halfe Decke 
is from the maine mast to the steareage, and the quarter 
Decke from that to the Masters Cabin called the round 
house, w c!l is the ytmost of all. 1667 DENHAM Direct. Paint. 

1. 55 Each Captain from his Quarter-deck commands. 1748 
Alison s Voy. i. iii. 29 Many of the principal Officers were 
on the quarter-deck, indulging in the freshness of the night 
air. 1840 R. H. DANA fief. Mast xxiii. 67 The chief mate 
walking the quarter-deck, and keeping a general supervision. 
1884 PAE F.itstacc 67 I d have you to remember that you 
arc not on the quarter-deck just now. 

Jig. 1853 LVT TON My jVorr/ 1. x, Too old a sailor to think 
that the State, .should admit Jack upon quarterdeck. 

atlrib. 1712 E. COOKE I oy. .V. Sea 167 Each Ship is to 
answer the other with a Quarter-Deck Gun. 1797 NELSON 
in A. Duncan Life (1806) 42 A Spanish officer looked over 
the quarter-deck rail. 1828 P. CUNNINGHAM N. S. Wales 
(ed. 3) II. 299 When surgeon of a brig of war, my quarter 
deck promenade was confined to eight paces. 1840 R. H. 
DANA Bef. Mast ix. 19 The quarter-deck dignity and elo 
quence of the captain. 

Hence Qua-rter-decker, -deckish (see quots.). 

1867 SMYTH Sailor s \t ord-l&gt;k., Quarter-Deckers, those 
officers more remarkable for etiquette than for a knowledge 
of seamanship. Ibid., Quarter-Dechish, punctilious, severe. 
1889 A, CONAN DOYLE Micah Clarke 244 It s your blue- 
coated, gold-braided, .quarter-deckers that talk of canes. 

Quartere, obs. form of QUARTER sb. 

Quartered(k9-jt3id),///.a. [f. QUARTER^.] 

1. Cut into quarters ; divided in four ; spec, of 
quarter-cleft timber, which being afterwards cut 
into planks shows the grain to advantage. 

1501 Priv. Purse Exp. Eliz. of York (1830) 74 For twoo 
quartred bpurd_es with vysys. 1601 YARINGTON T-.uo Lament. 
Traj. iv. iii. in Hullen O. Pt. IV, Bull always snips all 
quartered traitors quite. 1626 CAIT. SMITH Accid. Yng. 
Sea-men 32 Musquet shot, Colyuer shot, quartred shot. 
1719 LONDON & WISE Compl. Gard. 187 The most con 
venient .. is a Lattice of quarter d Wood, or Heart of Oak. 
1805 WORDSWORTH Prelude II. 83 Through three divisions 
of the quartered year. 1854 P. Ii. ST. JOHN Any Moss 21 
These palisades were formed of quartered oak. 

b. Her. Of a shield or arms : Divided or 
arranged quarterly. Of a cross : Quarterly-pierced. 

1486 Bk. St.Altans, Her. D ij b, Certan armys ther be 
quarterit and irrasit as here apperis, the Wich..ar called 
quarterit armys irrasit. 1864 BOUTF.LL Her. Hist, ft Pop. 
xvi. 235 He assumed the quartered arms on his accession to 
the ducal dignity. 1893 CUSSANS Heraldry (ed. 4) 166 The 
earliest known example of a quartered shield occurs on the 
monument of Eleanor, .wife of Edward the First. 

t C. Of a building: Cruciform. Obs. rare l . 

1591 PERCIVALL Sf. Diet., Cruzcro en edeficio, a kinde of 
quartered building, Structura ([uadrivialis. 

2. Mil. Lodged in or belonging to quarters. 
1611 SHAKS. Cymb. iv. iv. 18 When they heare their Roman 

horses neigh, Behold their quarter d Fires. 1824 WIFFEN 
Tasso I. vi, To breme winter s wing The quartered hosts 
give place. 

3. Belonging to a quarter or part of the horizon. 
1671 MILTON P. R. iv. 202 And on the earth Nations 

besides from all the quarter d winds. 

4. Having quarters of a specified character. 

The sense in first quot. is not clear : the F. orig. has ! 
qHarrtz square . 

[1481 CAXTON Godefroy 286 His armes grete and wel 
quartred.] 1641 BKST Farm. Bits. (Surtees) 5 The lambes 
that forbeare grasse the longest prove, .the straightest, and 
best quartered. 1891 Cent. Diet. s.v., A short-quartered 
horse. Ibid., Low-quartered shoes. 

5. Carpentry. Made of quarters. 

1843-59 GWILT Arc/n t, (ed. 4) 2024 The framework of 
timber_used for dividing the internal parts of a house into 
rooms is called a partition or quartered partition. 

Quarterer (kwguterai). [f. QUARTER v. + 
-KR 1.] One who quarters, in various senses of the 
verb ; esp. one who takes up quarters, a lodger. 

1648 C. WALKER Hist. Independ. i. 66 If these quarterers 
offer violence . . they are protected. 1681 W. ROBERTSON 
Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 1040 A quarterer or hang-man. a 1802 
Jik. A thole s Nurse ix. in Child Ballads IV. 152 Had you 
a quarterer here last night, . . We are come to clear his 
lawing. 1881 GREGOR folk-lore 57 Now and again there 
was a quarterer [a class of beggar] in the family. 

t Qua rteret. Obs. rare. [f. QUARTER sb. 14 
or 15 + -ET.] A small quarter or allotted space. 

1598 BARRET Theor. Warres v. iv, The 3000 launciers are 
deuided and allodged into 6 quar erets. Hid. Gloss. 252 
Quarteret, is the diminutiue of quarter. 

Quarter-evil. 1. = QUARTER-ILL. 

_ a 1722 LISLE Observ. Husb. (1757) 290 The joint-murrain 
in calves . . by others is called the quarter-evil. 1800 TUKE 
Agric. 259 A complaint very prevalent amongst calves, when 
a year old, is called the . . quarter evil . .The calves are first 
seized in one quarter, and are lame. 1841 DICK Man. Vet. 
Science (1862) 148 In two or three hours the animal is dead, 
from the Quarter-evil. 1896 Alldutts Syst. Med. I. 548 
Rabbits, which are relatively refractory to quarter-evil. 

2. [QUARTER sb. 25.] An inflammation of part of 
the udder (Syd. Soc. J.ex. 1897). 



QUARTERING. 

Quarterfoil, t-foyle, erron. ff. QUATREFOIL. 
Quarter-gallery. Naut. [QUARTER sb. 22.] 

1. A kind of balcony with windows, projecting 
from the quarter of a large vessel ; cf. GALLEKV 2 d. 

1769 in FALCONER Diet. Marine (1789) D ij. 1796 NFI SON 
10 Mar. in Nicolas Visf. (1846) VII. xxxvii, The very heavy 
gales . . carried away the starboard quarter-gallery. 1830 
SCOTT Demonol. x. 363 He saw that the captain had thrown 
himself into the sea from the quarter-gallery. 1836 MARRYAT 
Midsh. Easy xiii, Pulled them out of the quarter gallery 
1867 [see Quarter-badge, in QUARTER sb. 29]. 

attrib. 1797 NELSON Feb. in Nicolas Disp. (1845) II. 342 
A soldier.. having broke the upper quarter-gallery window. 

2. A small projection on the quarter of a ship, 
containing lavatory accommodation ( Cent. Diet.}. 

Quarter-guard. Mil. [QUARTER sb. 14 c.] 
A small guard mounted in front of each battalion 
in a camp, at about eighty paces distant. 

1741 S. SPKKII in Rucclmch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.t 
I. 399 Col. Cockran s and Brigadier Lowthcr s Regiments .. 




against the Enemy. 1844 Kegul. f,- Ord. A rniy 32 On these 
occasions, the Tents of the Quarter Guards are to be struck. 
1892 R. KII-UM; Ball., Kast % II ,-ft 89 When they drew to 
the Quarter-Guard, full twenty swords new clear. 

Quarter-gunner. A aitl. An officer sub 
ordinate to the gunner, whom he assists in all 
departments of his work (cf. quots. 1769, 1846). 

1627 CATT. SMITH Sea-man s Gram. viii. 35 The Master 
Gunner hath charge of the ordnance . . the rest of the 
Gunners, or quarter Gunners to receive their charge from 
him. 1702 Kayal Declar. i June in Land. Gaz. No. 3815/2 
The Trumpeter, Quarter Gunners, Carpenters Crew [etc.). 
1769 FALCONER I)ict. Marine (1780) s.v., The number of 
quarter-gunners in any ship is always in proportion to the 
number of her artillery, one quarter-gunner being allowed 
to every four cannon. 1804 Med. jrnl. XII. 476 One of 
his Majesty s frigates, on board of which her husband served 
in the quality of a quarter-gunner. 1846 A. YOUNG Kant, 
Diet. 242 Quarter-Gunner, in a ship of war, an able seaman, 
generally one of the gunner s crew, appointed to act as his 
assistant under the gunner s mates. 

Quarter-ill. An inflammatory disease of 
cattle and sheep (symptomatic anthrax}, causing 
putrefaction in one or more of the quarters. Called 
also quarter-evil, black quarter, etc. 

1797 BAILEY & GULI.EY View Agric. Korthumli. 130 The 
loss of lambs is sometimes very considerable . . from . . the 
quarter-ill . 1834 YOUATT Cattle 362 Ihe first symptoms 
are those of quarter ill. 1855 STEPHENS Book Farm (ed. 2) 
II. 185 Another effect of the same febrile affection in calves 
in autumn is the quarter ill or evil. 1881 GRFGOR Folk-lore 
186 When the quarter-ill made its appearance [etc.], 

Quartering (kwg-jtarin), vbl. sb. [f. QUAH- 
TEK v. + -ING i.J The action of the verb. 

1. Division into four equal parts ; also, division 
in general. 

_ 16:0 W. FOLKINGHAM Art of Survey i. ix. 23 The quarter 
ing of the sweard of Ant-hils, casting their ballas t, and 
playning their Plots for pasture. 1694 Phil. Trans. XVIII. 
70 The halving, trisecting, quartering, Sic. is performed by 
extracting the Square Root, . . &c. of the Terms. 1727-41 
[see QUARTERIZATION], 1895 / all Mall Gaz. 18 Jan. 10/3 
Even in quartering the term for breaking up the great 
nodules of flint it is not muscle, but eye, that tells. 

2. Her. The dividing of a shield into quarters; 
the marshalling or bringing in of various coats 
upon one shield, to denote the alliances of one 
family with the heiresses of others. 

1592 WVRLEY Armorie 4 An other thing that is amisse..is 
the quartering of many marks in one shield, coate, or 
banner. 1595 Blanchardyn ii. (1890) 15 Then questioned 
he with his Master, of the blazonry of armes, and y fl 
quartering of these coates. 1605 CAMDEN Rein. (1636) 225 
Quartering of Coates, beganne, first .. in Spaine in the Armes 
of Castile and Leon. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s. v., Quarter 
ing, in heraldry, the act of dividing a coat into four or more 
quarters. . by parting, couping,&c. // /^..Colombiere reckons 
twelve sorts of quarterings. 1893 CUSSANS Her. (ed. 3) 166 
Quartering, .was not generally adopted until the end of the 
Fourteenth Century. The manner in which various coats 
are brought in, and marshalled by Quartering [etc.]. 

b. //. The various coats marshalled upon a 
shield ; rarely sing., one of these coats. 

1719 ASHMOLE Berkshire II. 214 A Surcoat ., of the 
Quarterings impaled with Fetiplace. 1763 C. JOHNSTON 
Reverie II. 55, I have nine quarterings more than he. 
1826 DISRAELI Viv. Grey VI. iv. He did nothing but ., 
think of the quarterings of his immaculate shield. 1879 
GEO. ELIOT Theo. Such ii. 42 Some of them.. belong to 
families with many quarterings. 

transf. 1833 MARRYAT P. Simple (1863) 229 The pride of 
colour is very great in the West Indies, and they have as 
many quarterings as a German prince in his coat of arms. 

3. The assigning of quarters to a person ; the 
action of taking up quarters ; f a place in which 
one is or may be quartered. 

1625 Bp. MOUNTAGU App. Caesar xviii. 236 Heaven . . is not 
. -so narrowed . . that there cannot bee divers Designations, 
Regions, Habitations, Mansions, or Quarterings there. 1747 
H. WALPOLE Lett. (18461 II. 177 A motion for inquiring into 
useless places and quarterings. 

b. spec. The billeting of soldiers ; the fact of 
having soldiers quartered upon one ; the provision 
of quarters for soldiers. 

1646 SIR E. NICHOLAS in N. Papers (Camden) 68 Your 
Honours frends at Winterborne are well, but much oppressed 
with quarteringe. 1667 Ortnonde J/.Y.V. in iot/1 Ref. Hist. 



QUARTERING. 

JlfSS. Comm. App. v. 58 Your petitioner was heretofore 
charged with the quartering of two private .souldiers. _ 1705 



dragoons on the family, his wife had gone into concealment. 

4. Build, a. The placing or using of quarters 
in construction, b. Work formed of quarters, c. 
Wood in the form, or of the size, of quarters. 

1703 T. N. City f&lt; C. Purchaser 232 Quartering.. signifies 
the putting in of Quarters. Sometimes tis us d to signifie 
the Quarters themselves. 1815 J. NICHOLSON Opera!. 
Mechanic 580 The braces should be rated . . at a superior 
price to that of the quartering*. 1854 Jrnl. R. Agnc. Soc. 
XV. 255 Farms, .built of quartering and weather boarding. 

5. Driving on the quarters of a road. 

1815 SCOTT farifs Lett. (1839) 207 The French postilions 
..contrived, by dint of quartering and tugging, to drag us 
safe through. 1825 C. M. WESTMACOTT Enf. Spy 1. 313 No 
ruts or quarterings now. 

6. The moon s passage from one quarter to 
another ; also = QUARTER 8 b. 

1854 L. TOMLISSON tr. Arago"s As/rim. 67 Changes of 
weather are not more frequent at the moon s quarterings 
than at any other period. 1880 I,. WALLACE Iten-Hur 234 
Before the new moon .. passes into its next quartering. 

7. at/rili. and Comb., as qnartering-block, -knife 
quartering-belt, a belt connecting pulleys which 
have their axles at right angles to each other 
(Knight Diet. Mech. 1875); quartering hammer, 
a steel-hammer with which the rough masses of 
flint are shaped for flaking (ibid?) ; quartering- 
maehine, a machine for boring the wrist-pin 
holes in driving-wheels a quarter of a circle apart 
(ibid."} ; t quartering-money, money paid in lieu 
of giving quarters to soldiers. 

1688 in Wodrow ///. Ch.Scot. (1721) 1.283 Exacting Cess 
or Quartering-money for more Soldiers than were actually 
present. 1818 COBUETT Pol. Reg- XXXIII. 425 Why do 
they . . resort to gags, dungeons, halters, axes, and quartering- 
knives? 1855 MACAULAY Hist.Eng. xii.lll.2i8 Those who 
were doomed to the gallows and the quartering block. 



Quartering (kwg-jtsrirj),///. a. [f. QUARTER 
v. + -ING 2 .] That quarters, in senses of the vb. 

1591 SHAKS. i Hen. / /,iv. ii. II You temp_t the fury of my 
three attendants, Leane Famine, quartering Steele, and 
climbing Fire. 1691 Capt. StnitKs Seaman s Grain. I. xvi. 
76 The Skip gws Lasting", Quartering, Veering, or Large \ 
are terms of the same signification, viz. that she neither goes 
by a Wind nor before the Wind, but betwixt both. 1702-11 
Milit. &lt;y Sea Diet. (ed. 4) II, Quartering, is when a Gun lies 
so, and may be so travers d, that it will shoot on the same 
Line, or Point of the Compass as the Quarter bears. 1765 
Museit .n Rusticum IV. 341 The track was just of a proper 
breadth for post-chaises and all quartering carriages to run 
in. 1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine (1789), Vent Largtie, a 
large, or quartering wind. 1860 MAURV Phys. Geog. Sea 
(Low) xx. 815 Through the former [ocean] the wind is afl ; 
through the latter quartering. 1893 Times 13 June 12/1 
Sheets trimmed for a quartering breeze. 

t Quarteriza-tion. Obs.rare^". (Seequot.) 

1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl., Quarterization, Quartering, 
part of the punishment of a traitor, by dividing his body 
into four quarters. 

Quarter-jack. 

1. [JACK sl&gt;. 1 6.] A jack of the clock which strikes 
the quarters. 

1604 MIDDLF.TON Father ffuUanfs T. Wks. (Bullen) 
VIII. 54 The quarter-jacks in Paul s, that are up with 
their elbows four times an hour. 1771 [see JACK sfl. 1 6], 
1874 T. HARDY far fr. Mad. Crowd I. xvi. 190 A little 
canopy with a quarter-jack and small bell beneath it. 

2. [JACK rf.T] A jack-boot cut down. 

1809 A. Sir Frantic the Reformer 75 His first born 
Long with these boots did s shanks adorn, Until . . He made 
them into quarter-jacks. 

Qua rterland. A certain division of land in 
the Isle of Man, originally the fourth part of a 
treen or balla also the class of lands included in 
such divisions. 

Called Quarter of Land in 1593 (Statutes 78) ; see also 
quarter-ground s.\. QUARTER j& 30. 

1645 Statutes Isle Man (1821) io7.Lands and Tenements 
in the said Island called Farme Lands or Quarter Lands. 
1798 J. FELTHAM Tour 1st. Mann iv. 46 Divisions of land 
prevail here, termed Quarterlands. It is uncertain how 
they obtained the name. 1845 TRAIN Isle Man I. 51 For 
each four quarterlands he made a chapel. 1865 Notes 3- 
Queries Ser. 3 VIII. 310/2 Treens . . usually contain from 
three to four quarterlands. Ibid., Quarterlands, which are 
estates of inheritance, vary in size, and contain from 120 to 
140 acres. 1890 A. W. MOORE Surnames Isle Man 211 The 
lowlands about the church are still intack, not quarterland. 
1900 Hist. Isle Man II. vii. 873. 

Quarter-line. Nattt. 

17 The position of ships in a column when each 
successive vessel has its bows abaft the beam of the 
one in front, and a little to one side. 

1875 BEDFORD Sailor s Pocket Bk. \. (ed. 2) 22 A Column 
is said to be in Quarter Line when the ships are ranged in 
one line abaft each others beam, but not right astern. 

2. a. A line from a vessel s quarter. 

1886 R. C. LESLIE Sea-painter s Log vii. 146 The quarter- 
line is cast overboard, 

b. An additional line fastened to the underside of 
a seine to assist in drawing it in (Cent. Diet.). 

Quarterly (kwg-atajli), a. and sb. Also 6 -lie. 
[f. QUARTER sb. + -LY!.] A. adj. 

1. That takes place, is done, etc., every quarter 



32 

of a year ; relating to, or covering, a quarter of 
a year, f Quarterly H)a/ te/-= QUARTER- WAITER. 
1563 in Maitl. Clb Misc. (1833) 32 Takand ilk quarter 
&gt;5o/. As the capitane of the said Gardis quarterhe ac- 




Meeting. 1802 Miss EDGEWORTH Moral T. (1816) I. xix. 
158 Quarterly and half-yearly payments. 1862 SALA Ship- 
chandler 37 Mine is a quarterly hiring, and my quarter is 
out to-morrow. 1885 Law Times LXXIX. 191/1 I he 
necessity of having a quarterly gaol delivery. 

trans/. 1694 W. HOLDER On Time\. 22 The Moon, .makes 
also four Quarterly Seasons within her little Year. 

2. Pertaining or relating to a quarter (in other 
senses). -^Quarterly book: (see quot. 1776). 
Quarterly wind, a wind on the quarter. 

1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine (1789), t ent tie quartier, 
a quarterly, or quartering wind. 1776 JOHNSON Let. to 
Wctherell 12 Mar. in Bos i cll II. 14 We must .. superadd 
what is called the quarterly-book, or for every hundred books 
so charged we must deliver an hundred and four. 1889 
Standard 16 Mar. 3/8 The wind. .was. .quarterly. 
B. sb. A quarterly review, magazine, etc. 

1855 in OGILVIE Siippl. 1871 BESANT& RICE Ready-money 
Mort. iv, He had written papers for what were vaguely 
called the Quarterlies. 1882 Miss BRADDON Mt. Royal III. 
i. 10 Oh, there are the new Quarterlies , seeing a package 
on the table. 

Quarterly (kwgutculi), adv. (a., sb.~) [-LY 2 .] 

1. Every quarter of a year; once in a quarter. 
1458 in Sharp Ccv. Myst. (1825) 208 To go with be wayts 

to gader their wages quarterly. 1529 Act 21 Hen. Vlll 
c. 13 28 Chaplains .. daily or quarterly attending. 1581 
MULCASTER Positions xli. 11887) 234 That there were no 
admission into schooles, but foure times in the yeare 
quarterly, a 1633 AUSTIN Medit, (1635) 254 They be Times 
that Quarterly bring us in Revenew for our temporall 
profit. 1712 ADDLSON Sped. No. 295 F i She should have 
4oo/. a Year for Pin-money, which I obliged my self to pay 
Quarterly. 1878 JEVONS Prim. Pol. Econ. 53 Managers, 
officers, secretaries, and others, are paid quarterly, or some 
times half-yearly. 

2. Her. In the four divisions of a shield formed 
by a vertical and a horizontal line drawn through 
the fess point ; usu. with reference to two tinctures, 
charges, or coats of arms, placed in the diagonally 
opposite quarters. 

c 1450 HOLLAND Hmvlat 591 He bare quarterly . . the armes 
of the Dowglass. 1525 LD. BERNERS Froiss. II. clxviii. 192 
He bare syluer and sables quarterly. 1592 WYRLEY A rinorie 
91 Sir Neal Loring, who fairly Arms put on Quarterly white 
and red. 1684 Lend. Gas. No. 1952/4 The Arms of the said 
Count, being in an Eschutcheon Four Coats quarterly. 
1765 H. WALPOLE Otranto iii. (1798) 51 A banner with the 
aims of Vicenza and Otranto quarterly. 1824 SCOTT St. 
Konan s xviii, A white lion for Mowbray, to be borne 
quarterly, with three stunted or scrog-bushes for Scrogie. 
1893 CUSSANS Her. (ed. 3) 168 Their daughter, .is entitled to 
bear both her Father s and her Mother s Arms quarterly. 

b. With ref. to the division of the shield into 
quarters, or to blazoning it by quarters. Quarterly- 
quartered, having one or more quarters divided 
in four ; so quarterly-quartering. 

1610 GL-ILLIM Heraldry v. i. (1611) 238 If they be charged, 
then I hold it best blazoned quarterly. 1705 HEARNE Col. 
lect. 21 Dec. (O. H. S.) 1. 136 His Arms, quarte[r]ly parted per 
Cross. 1709 STRYPE Ann. Ref. Introd. i. 8 This [shield] im 
paled quarterly, j. The arms of Scotland. 2. The arms of 
England. The third as the second. The fourth as the first. 
1864 BOUTELL Her. Hist. $ Pop. iii. (ed. 3) 16 The Grand 
Quarters of which the first and the fourth . . are Quarterly, 
quartered. Ibid. xiv. 142 The Marshalling now proceeds by 
Quarterly Quartering. 

c. ellipt. as adj. = divided quarterly, or (by 
extension) into any number of parts by lines at 
right angles to each other, as quarterly of eight ; 
also as sb, = a shield divided or charged quarterly. 

1869 W. S. ELLIS Antiq. Her. x. 228 Aubrey de Vere . . 
transmitted his . . coat of Quarterly to his descendants. 

d. Quarterly-pierced: (see quots.). 

_ 1780 EDMONDSON Body Her.,Gloss. II, Quarterly Pierced, 
is used to express a square hole in a saltire, a cross millrine, 
&c. through which aperture the field is seen. iSgsCussANS 
Her. (ed. 31 63 If. . that part where the limbs [of the cross] are 
conjoined be removed, it is termed Quarterly-pierced. 

f 3. a. Into four parts, b. At four equidistant 
points on a circle, c. Through each quarter of 
a town. Obs. rare. 

a. 1576 GASCOICNE Philomcne (Arb.) 107 They tore in peces 
quarterly The corps, b. 1605 CAMDEN Kern. (1637) 167 A 
Wing with these foure Letters, F. E. L. D. quarterly about it. 
0. a 1670 SPALDING Trout. (1828) I. 199 The baillies went 
quarterly about, to cause ilk inhabitant subscrive. 

Qua-rterman. 

T" 1. ? One of the quarter-guard. Obs. rare~ l . 

1599 in Harington s Ntigy Anti?uar(ed. Park 1804) I. 274 
The deathes of our captaines were revenged by our quarter- 
men and scoutemen, who .. slewe 7 of the rebells, whiche 
assaied to force the quarter. 

2. A foreman-shipwright. 

1793 SMEATON Edystone L. 62 That species of foreman 
shipwright, called a Quarter-man in Plymouth dock. 1803 
R. PERING in Naval C/iron. XV. 155 The quartermen . . give 
an account of the work performed to the job office. Ibid. 
157 Quartermen of shipwrights and caulkers . .have appren 
tices. 1861 SMILES Engineers II. 30 [He] was then a fore 
man of shipwrights, called a quarterman, in Plymouth Dock. 

Quartermaster (kwg-jtsjma^stgj). [Insense i 
app. from QUARTER rf.l 16; sense 2 (from QUARTER 
sb. 15) is app. the original meaning of F. quartier- 



QUARTERN. 

mattre, Du. kwartier-meester, G. qtiartier-meisler, 
etc., and may have been adopted from one or 
other of these languages.] 

1. Naut. A petty officer who attends to the 
steering of the ship, the binnacle, signals, stowing 
of the hold, etc. 

1442 Rolls Parlt. V. 60/1 The Maisters of the Shippes, 
Quarter Maisters, Shipmen and Soudeours. 1509 BARCLAY 
Shyp of Folys (15701 pp iij, Purser and Captayne, Quarter 
master, Lodesman. 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 41 Euery qtiartar 
master til his auen quartar. 1626 CAPT. SMITH Accid. 1 ne: 
Seamen 5 The quarter^ Maisters hath the charge of the hold 
for stowage, rommageing, and trimming the shippe ; and of 
their squadrons for their watch. 1643 Declar. Commons, 
Reb. Irel. 50 He is one of the Quarter-masters of the Dun- 
kirke Frigot. 1708 Royal Proclam. 20 May in Lond. Gaz. 
No. 4440/1 The Midshipmen, .. Quarter. Master, Quarter- 
Masters Mates,, .and Serjeants of Marines. 1836 MARRVAT 
Midsh. Easy xxvi, Up with the helm, quarter-master. 
b. transf. Steering-gear. 

1882 Standard 26 Dec. 2/2 She will have a brigantine rig, 
. .and [be] steered by a steam quartermaster . 1899 F. T. 
KULLEN ll ay Nai-y 37 Like everything else in this giant 
vessel, the steam quartermaster is on an immense scale. 

2. Mil. An officer, ranking as lieutenant, attached 
to each regiment, with the duties of providing 
quarters for the soldiers, laying out the camp, and 
looking after the rations, ammunition and other 
supplies of the regiment. 

1600 DY.MMOK Ireland (1843) 33 The small losse we sus- 
teyned..was multiplied upon the rebell by our quarter and 
skoutmasters. ^1653 GOUGE Comm. Heb. vi. 18 A quarter 
master, who goeth nefore hand to prepare quarters for 
.souldiers. 1721 DE FOE Mem. Cavalier (1840) cjj The king 
..made him a quarter-master to a troop of Cuirassiers. 1803 
WELLINGTON Let. to Col. Stevenson 16 Sept. in Gurw. Desp. 
(1837) II. 308, I rather believe that your Quarter Masters 
have loco bullocks for each regiment. 1893 FORBES- 
MITCHELL Remin. Gt. Mutiny 150 Our quartermaster 
divided among us a lot of shirts and underclothing. 

b. Quartermaster-general, a staff-officer who 
is chief of the department exercising control over 
all matters relating to the quartering, encamping, 
marching and equipment of troops. 

1701 Lond. Gaz. No. 3732/1 The said Quartermaster- 
General and Adjutant-General Baron Riedt were sent out 
to view the Ground. 1813 WELLINGTON Let. to Sir G. 
Collier 19 Aug. in Gurw. Desp. (1838) XL 15, I enclose a 
letter to the Quarter Master General directing that the 
Infantry now in the horse ships at Bilbao may be removed. 
1876 BANCROFT Hist. U. S. V. xliv. 35 Mifilin, who in August 
had been appointed quartermaster -general. 

C. Quartermaster-sergeant, a non-commis 
sioned officer, ranking as a staff-sergeant, who 
assists the quartermaster in his duties. 

1869 E. A. PARKES Pract. Hygiene (ed. 3! 300 The Serjeant- 
major and Quarter-master-serjeant are entitled to two rooms 
and a kitchen. 

1 3. One who shares authority with another to the 
extent of a fourth. Obs. 

Prob. transf. from sense i, with pun on quarter one 
fourth; cf. QUARTER sb. 27 d. 

1550 LATIMER Last Serm. be/. Edw. VI in They do it, 
because they will be quarter maister with their husbandes : 
Quarter maister ? nay halfe maisters : yea some of them will 
be whole maisters. 1617 COLLINS Def. Bp. Ely I. L 7 Dis- 
cerne you no better betweene Popes and Councels, which 
are the Church in effect ? or shall these play quarter 
masters with the Pope ? 1685 R. BURTON Eng. Emp. A mer. 
ii. 28 The English Nation .. might have made themselves 
Quarter-Masters, at least with the Spaniards. 

1 4. A gild-official, having charge of the gilds- 
men in a quarter of the town. Obs. 

1646 in G. Tale Alnwick II. xvii. 338 It is agreed that 
none of the wood shall be sould but with the consent of the 
four quartermaisters. [1868-9 G. TATE Alnwick II. xvii. 338 
Wood and bark were therefore bought for the whole com 
pany, by officers called quartermasters, who allotted to each 
tanner a proportional share of every purchase.] 

Hence Qua rterma^ster v., to perform the 
duties of a quartermaster (hence quartermaslering 
vbl. sb.); Quartermasteriveness, the qualities 
of a quartermaster (nonce-wet.) ; Quartermaster- 
ship, the office of quartermaster (so also Quarter 
master-generalship ). 




fully in arrear. 1862 Times 8 Ja , 
manoeuvring, or quartermastering. 1870 Daily News 3 Nov., 
The quartermastership . . of the district around Metz. 1876 
BANCROFT Hist. U. S. VI. Index 553 [Greene] resigns [the] 
quartermaster-generalship abruptly. 

t Quartern, J*. 1 Obs. Forms: i cweartern, 
-en, cwert-, cwiertern, 1-2 owart-, quartern, 
3 owarrt-, quarrterrne, owart- , quarterne. 
[Of obscure origin, poss. an alteration of OE. 
carcxrn, carcern, ad. L. carcer.\ A prison. 

&lt;T975 Rushm. Cos/. Matt. xxv. 39 Hwonne we be sejun 
untrymne o(x$e in quartern ? c 1000 ^LFRIC Exod. xl. 3 pa 
dyde hi man on cweartern . . and t&gt;es cwearternes hirde 
betsehte his losepe c 1154 O. E. Chron. an. 1137 Hi dyden 
heom in quarterne. c 1200 ORMIN 6168 Himm patt i cwarr- 
terrne lib Forrbundenn. Ibid. 18187 Inntill quarrterrne 
worrpenn. c 1205 [see QuALE 1 b]. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 670 
Al be cwarterne of his cume leitede o leie. 

Quartern (kw^-Jtam), sb? Forms: 3-7 
quartron, (4 -run, -roun, -eroun, quaterone, 
6 -eren), 5-7 quarteron, (5 -eren, -rone), 6-7 
quarterne, (7 ooterne), 7-9 Jr. cartron, 9 quar- 



QUARTER-PIECE. 

tan, dial, wartern, 6- quartern, [a. AF. qiiar- 
truit, OF. qtiart(e)ron, gnat(te}ron, used in most 

of the senses of the E. word (see Godef.) f. quart(e, 

fourth, fourth part.] 

1. A quarter tf/ anything. Obs. exc. dial, 

c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 476/510 With-inne a quartron of be 
3ere buy comen to Marcilie. -1440 Anc. Cookery in 
Househ. Ord. (1790) 455 A quartrone of a pounde of pynes. 
1547 BOORDE Brev. Health 20 Take of . . greale reasons, .a 
quartron of a pounde. 1587 HARRISON England \\. vi. 
(1877) I. 159 She addeth .. halfc a quarterne of an ounce of 
baiberries. 1607 TOPSELL Four-f. Beasts (1658) 287 Take of 
Hony a quartern of a pinte. 1647 Will of John Clarke of 
Scawthorpe (N. W. Line. Gloss.), Three quatrans of one 
oxgange of land, a 1796 in PEGGE Derbicisms. 1877 A . W. 
Line. Gloss., Quartern, a quarter of anything. 

1 2. el/if I. A quarter of something (esj&gt;. a weight 
or measure) already specified. Obs. Cf. 3. 

1361 LANGL. P. PI. A. v. 131 The pound tliat heo peysede 
by peisede a quartrun [v.r. quarteroun] more then myn 
auncel dude, c 1400 MAUNDEV. (1839) xxx - 3 01 There is not 
the Mone seyn in alle the Lunacioun, saf only the seconde 
quarteroun. 1480 Wardr. Ace. Edm. 7(^(1830) 130 Sylk 
j Ib. an unce and j quarteron. 1496 Naval Ace. Hen. I /f 
(1896) 174 A Chalder and a quarteron of Smythes Cole*;. 
ifa$ Althorp MS. in Simpkinson The Washingtons (1860) 
A pp. 42, 2 barrells of neates tongues weight 100 and a coterne. 
Ibid. 45 For 3 pintes wanting di. a coterne of aquavita?. 1653 
URQUHART Rabelais n. xxix. 187 Weighing nine thousand 
seven hundred kintals and two quarterons. 

3. A quarter of various weights and measures. 

a. of a pound. Now rare. b. of an ounce, c. of a 
chalder, hundredweight, etc. Now only dial, f d. = 
QUARTER 4 a. e. of a stone or peck. ff. of some measure 
of land ; in Ireland QUARTER 7 c, or the fourth part of 
this. g. of a pint. 

a. [1316 Durham Ace. Rolls (Surtees) 15 In uno quar 
teroun croci, i6jy.] c nooMasterofGamexu. (MS. Digby 
182), Take ye vi poundes of hony, and a quartron of vert- 
grece. -1450 ME. Med. Bk. (Heinrich) 173 Tak bre quar 
terons of clene rosyn, & a quateron of good perrosyn, & half 
a pounde of good oile de olyue. 1510 WHITINTON Vulg. 
(1527) 12 b, Bye me a halfe pounde of saffron, a quarteren of 
cynamon. 1754-6 Connoisseur No. 76 At every petty 
Chandler s shop in town, while the half quarterns of tea are 
weighed out. 1836-9 DICKENS Sk. Boz, Tales iv, He dis 
pensed tea and coffee by the quartern, retailed sugar by the 
ounce. 1878 Cumbld. Gloss. Suppl., Quartern, a quarter of 
a pound of flax ready for being spun. 

b. 1607 T. COCKS Diary (1901) 5/6 Paide for a quartern 
of sylke 4 rf. 1861 MRS. H. WOOD Mrs. Hallib. (1864) II. 
viii. 193 That surly old foreman says. . What d ye leave for 
silk ?. .There s two quarterns down . 

C. 1497 Naval Ace. Hen. K//(i8o6) 230, iiij quarterons 
salte. 1590 RECORDE, etc. Cr. Arts (1646) 134 There bee 
greater weights, which are called a hundred, halfe a hun 
dred, and a quarterne, and also a halfe quarterne. 1883 
Almondb. !f Huddcrsf. Glass., Wartern, i.e. a quartern, a 
weight of woolen warp which is, when complete, twenty-four 
or twenty-five pounds. 

d. 1583 in Collect. (O. H. S.) I. 234, 53 quarterns, 3 
bushells of malt. 

e. 1836-9 DICKENS.?*. Boz, Tales n, Applicants for.. half- 
quarterns of bread. 

f. 1679 BLOUNT/JM. Tenures 3 Each [bondman] held one 
Messuage, and one Quartron of Land. 1683 J. KEOCH 
Aec. Roscommon in O Donovan Tribes Hy-Fiachraick 
(1844) 454 The lands here are generally set and let. .by the 
name of quarters, cartrons, and gnieves, a quarter being the 
fourth part of a townland . . and a cartron . . the fourth part 
of a quarter. 1883 [see QUARTER 7 c]. 

g. 1706 PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey), Quartern, a sort of 
Measure, the fourth part of a Pint. 1761 SMOLLETT Launce- 
lot Greaves (1793) II. xvii. 90 The waiter .. returned with 
a quartern of brandy. _ 1833 MARRYAT Jac. Faith/, xxii, 
T here is my mother with a quartern of gin before her. 
1839 CARLVLE Chartism iv. 132 Liquid Madness [Gin] sold 
at ten-pence the quartern. 

f4. A quarter of a hundred; twenty-five. Quar 
tern-book: (see quot. 1584). Obs. 

1472-3 Rolls Parlt. VI. 37/2 Item, C of Milwell and 
Lyng drye ; Item, a quartern of Mersaunte Lyng. 1561 
AWDELAY Frat. Yacab. 12 The xxv orders of Knaves, other 
wise called a quarterne of Knaves. 1584 StarChamb. Decree 
(1863) 15 Any Stationer that shall bye a quarterne at ones or 
more ; which quartern is xxv bokes, in which case the byer 
hath alwaie a quarterne boke given him freely, that is to 
sale, one boke for everie xxv that he byeth. 1630 J. TAYLOR 
(Water P.) T. s Water worke Ded., A Quarterne of new- 
catcht Epigrams caught the last Fishing-tide. 1650 TRAPP 
Contm. Deut. xvii. 4 The Catholikes follow the Bible (saith 
Hill, in his quartern of Reasons). 

5. A quarter of a sheet of paper. 

1821 SOUTHEY Lett. (1856) III. 249 During the last year., 
at Westminster, one imposition served me : . . it lasted till 
the appearance of the quartan might have betrayed its 
history. 1874 DASENT Half a Life 232 This message, 
written on a quartern , that is, on a quarter of a sheet of 
ruled paper, on which we wrote our exercises. 

6. A quartern-loaf. 

1844 DICKENS Mart. C/ius. viii, That . .loaf which is known 
to housekeepers as a slack-baked crummy quartern. 

7. C0OT*.,astquartern-book(see4); quartern- 
loaf, a loaf made of a quartern of flour, a four- 
pound loaf; f quartern-wind, a quarter-wind. 

1591 GREENE Disput. i Thinke you a quarterne winde 
cannot make a quicke saile. i8ia Examiner 24 Aug. 531/1 
Ihe price of the Quartern Loaf still continues at is.Sii. 
1887 JESSOPP Arcatiy vi. 176 Ben has been seen to eat two 
quartern loaves at a sitting. 

t Quarterage ., erron. forms of QUARTAN, 
through assimilation to prec. Obs. 

1548 HOOPER Ten Commandm, ix. Wks. (Parker Soc.) 373 
Those . . that bid the pestilence, the fever quartern, .. or such 
other execrations. 1588 J. READ Contend. Meth. 64 b, The 
dropsie, quarterne fluxes and strangurie. 

VOL. VIII. 



33 

Quarteron, -oon, variants of QUADROON. 
Quarter-piece. 

fl. A quarter of a standard coin. Obs. rare~^. 

1650 FULLER Pisgah I. xii. 38 Some English coines, being 
quarter-peices, cannot be put away in payment without loss, 
except four of them be joyned together. 

2. Naut. f a. A piece of ordnance placed on the 
quarter of a vessel. Obs. rare~ l . 

1626 CAPT. SMITH AcciJ. yng. Sea-men 31 The peeces 
in the prow,.. in the Sterne, the quarter peeces [etc.], 

b. (See quots.) 

1711 W. SUTHERLAND Shipbuild. Assist. 162 Quarter, 
pieces ; large carved Pieces fixed to terminate the Quarter 
with the Stern. 1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine (1780) Gg, 
The quarter-pieces, which limit and form the outlines of the 
stern. 1797 Encycl.lirit. XVII. 4o8/2 I he taffarel and quarter 
pieces, which terminate the ship abaft, the former above 
and the latter on earh side. 1846 A. YOUNG Naut. Diet. 
243 If there be a quarter-gallery, the quarter-piece forms its 
after end. 

C. Projections beyond the quarters of a ship for 
additional cabin accommodation (Cent. Diet.}. 
f3. ^QUARTER 19 and 20 c. Ol&gt;s. rare"". 

1688 MIKGE Grt. Fr. Diet, n, Quarter-piece, quarter. The 
two Quarter-pieces of a Shoe. 1736 AINSWOHTH Lat.Dict., 
A double quarter piece, trabs crassior. 

Quarter-sessions. [QUARTER sb. 8 a.] 

17 In England and Ireland : A court of limited 

criminal and civil jurisdiction, and of appeal, held 

quarterly by the justices of peace in the counties (in 

Ireland by county-court judges), and by the recorder 

in boroughs. 

1577 HARRISON Englana II. iv. (1877! I. 100 They haue 
finallie their quarter sessions, wherein they are assisted by 
the justices and gentlemen of the countrie. 1660 R. COKE 
Pouter $ Sulj. 233 Justices of Peace in their Quarter- 
sessions, have power to hear and determine the offences 
aforesaid. 1711 ADDISON Spcct. No. 122 f 4 There is not 
one in the Town where he lives that he has not sued at 
a Quarter-Sessions. 1844 LD. BROUGHAM Brit. Const, xix. 
6 (1862) 375 Much of the criminal business of England is 
transacted by the quarter-sessions. 1901 L. COURTNEY 
Working Const. U.K. II. 248 Prisoners apprehended under 
charge of crime are . . committed for trial at the Assizes or 
Quarter Sessions. 

attrib. 1847 TENNYSON Princ. Concl. 90 A quarter-sessions 
chairman, abler none. 

2. In Scotland: A court of review and appeal 
held quarterly by the Justices of the Peace on days 
appointed by statute (1661). 

1661 Sc. Acts Parl. c. xxxviii. (1681), The Justices of Peace 
. . shall appoint at the Quarter Sessions . . the ordinary H ire 
and Wages of Labourers. 1679 in Wodrow If is. . Ch. Scot. 
(1722) II. 17 With Power.. to call the remanent Justices of 
Peace to the Quarter-sessions. 1773 J. ERSKINE fnst. Lams 
Sect. i. iv. 6p Constables . . are appointed by them in their 
quarter-sessions. 1898 Green s Eiicycl. Law Scot. VII. 268 
A judgment in Quarter Sessions cannot be reviewed by a 
later Quarter Sessions. 

Qua;rterstaff. 1. A stout pole, from six to 
eight feet long and tipped with iron, formerly used 
as a weapon by the English peasantry. 

The exact sense of quarter is not clear : quot. 1589 sug 
gests that the staff may have been made from a tree of a 
certain size cleft in four; cf. QUARTER-CLEFT li. i. 

a 1550 Play of Robin Hooit^ in Child Ballads 1 1 1. 127 With 
a stout frere I met, And a quarter-staffe in his hande. 1589 
R. HARVEY PI. Perc. (1860) 3 Plodding through Aldersgate, 
all armed as I was, with a quarter Ashe staffe on my 
shoulder. 1626 Dick of Devon iv. iii. in Bullen Old PI. 
II. 81 My owne Country weapon. What? A Quarter 
staffe. 1700 DRYDEN Cymon &lt;$ Iph. 82 His quarter-staff .. 
Hung half before and half behind his back. 1725 DE FOE 
Voy, round World (1840) 121 A cane about eight foot long 
and an inch and a half in diameter much like a quarter- 
staff. 1821 SCOTT Kcniliv. xxv, Their rude drivers, .began 
to debate precedence with their waggon-whips and quarter- 
staves. 1887 BESANT The World went xv. 128 [He) took 
the quarterstaff, .. poised it in his hands, and turned a smiling 
face to his adversary. 

attrib. 1890 Daily Nems 19 June 6/4 Dumb-bell and 
quarter-staff drill. 

2. Fighting or exercise with the quarterstaff. 

i7ia ARBUTHNOT John Bull\. ii, He had acquir d immense 
Riches, which he used to squander away at Back-Sword, 
Quarter-Staff.and Cudgell-Play. 1775 SHERIDAN Rivalsn . 
i, If you wanted a bout at boxing, quarter staff, or short- 
staff. 1849 MACAULAY Hist. Eng. ii. I. 252 He . . wrestled, 
played at quarterstaff, and won footraces. 

Hence Qna-rterstaff . , to beat with a quarter- 
staff. 

1700 STEELE Tatler No. 31 p 5, 400 Senators . . thought it 
an Honour to be cudgelled and quarterstaffed. 



t Qua-rterth, a. Obs. [f. QUARTER sb. + -TH.] 
Fourth (part). 

lS 58 Caper s Rem, To Rdr., His recipees amounted not to 
the half nor quarterth part of a common Apothecaries Bill. 

Quarter-waiter. [QUARTER sb. 8 a.] One 
belonging to the lower class of Gentlemen-Ushers, 
who remained in waiting for a quarter of a year. 

&lt;iiJ22 in Rutland Papers (Camd.) 102 Gentilmen ushers 
quarter wayters. c 1600 SIR J. DAVIES Dialogue (Tanner MS. 
79 If. 15), Gentleman Usher. I should know something that 
have^eene a quarter-wayter these 15 yeares. 1610 Housch. 
Ord. (1790} 338 The gentlemen ushers, daily waiters, and 
quarter waiters. 1636 FINETT For. Ambass.i-2$ They gave 
to the hand of a Gentleman Usher Quarter-waiter 10 Peeces. 
1731 Gent/. Mag. I. 126 One of the .. Quarter-waiters in 
ordinary to his Majesty. 



QTTARTILE. 
Quarter-wind, a. A wind blowing on a 

vessel s quarter. fl&gt;. A wind from one of the car 
dinal points. Obs. 

a. 1591 PERCIVALL Sp. Diet., Aorca, \\ ith a quarter winde. 
1627 CAPT. SMITH SffOUfHUt t Gram. vii. 32 Few ships will 
steare vpon quarter winds with one saile. 1692 Ibid. i. xvi. 
80 Quarter Winds, are when the Wind comes in abaft the 
mum-mast-shrouds even with the Quarter. 1727-41 CHAM 
BERS Cycl. s.v., The quarter-wind is the best of all winds, 
as bearing into all the sails. 1846 A. YOUNG Naut. Diet. 243. 

b. 1598 FLORIO, Quarta, . . a quarter winde of the com- 
passe. 

t Quartessence. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. L. quarta 
fourth, after QUINTESSENCE.] An essence one 
degree less pure than a quintessence. 

1605 TIMME Qucrsit, i. xi. 48 It is called a quintessence, 
but more truly and properly a quarteSbence. 

Quartet, quartette (kwgate-t). Also 9 -tett. 
[a. F. quartette, ad. It. qitartetto : see next.] 

1. Mas. A composition for four voices or instru 
ments, esp. one for four stringed instruments. 

1790 COLERIDGE Inside the Coach, We snore quartettes in 
ecstasy of nose. 1845 E. HOLMES Mozart 245 A single 
quartet for stringed instruments. tMjtAACFAKREttflarmffny 
i. 14 Beethoven s Quartet in A, &c. attrib. 1872 BHOWNINC, 
Fifine cxvi, Inspect this quartett-score ! 
fig:. 1838 DICKENS O. 7 M)/Wxxxix, A quartette of Shame 
ful 1 with which the Dianas concluded. 

2. a. Mis. A set of four singers or players who 
render a quartet, b. transf. A set of four persons. 

1814^ SIR R. WILSON Priv. Diaty\\. 304 We are a quariett 
of miserables. 1849 THACKERAY Pcndcnnis I. 294 The 
parties are arranged in messes of four, each of which 
quartets has its piece of beef. 1876 GEO. ELIOT Dan. Der. n. 
xv, When the quartette of gentlemen . . met on the terrace. 

3. A set of four things ; e. g., of lines in a sonnet, 
of runs at cricket, etc. 

1837-9 HALLAM Hist. Lit. II. n. v. S 44. 208 The first lines 
or quartets of the sonnet excite a soft expectation, which is 
harmoniously filled by the tercets, or last six lines. 1882 
Daily Tel. 17 May, Shaw, letting out at that bowler s next 
delivery, drove it to the boundary for a quartette. 1889 
GROVE Diet. Mits. IV. 341 A glass case containing two 
quartets of stringed instrument* 

I: Quartette (kwgjte-to). ? Obs. [a.. l\.. quar- 
tetto, f. quarto fourth : see prec.] 

1. Mus. = QUARTET i. 

i775in ASH Siippl. 1789 BURNEY Hist. Mus. III. Introd. 9 
In 1752, Quantz classed Quartettes at the head of Instru 
mental Music. 1806-7 J- BERESFORD Miseries Hum. Life 
(1826) xvi. ii. 89 Playing the solo part for the flute in a 
quartette. 1835 L. RITCHIE Wand, by Seine 201 Every 
song was at least a quartetto. 

2. = QUARTET 2 and 3. 

1790 COWPER Lett. Wks. 1836 VI. 340 Wishing much 
that you could change our trio into a quartetto. 1807 Sin 
R. C. HOARE Tour Irel. 235 Potatoes, oats, tlax, and bog, 
the almost inseparable quartetto. 1819 T. HOPE Anastasius 
III. xiv. (1820) 362 The quartetto. .consisted of a poet, a 
scene-painter, a musical composer and a ballet-master. 

attrib. 1842 MRS. BROWNING Grk. Chr. Poets 173 A large 
soul . . containing sundry Queen Anne s men, one within 
another, like quartetto tables. 

[Quarteus, an error for CERCEAUS, q.v. 
1340 Ayenb. 159 Yef be ondcrstondinge . . wybwent ayen 
ase deb be quarteus, al be inwyt sscl by byestre.] 

Quarteyn, obs. form of QUARTAN. 

Qua-rtful, sb. rare. [f. QUART s/ .- + -FUL.] 
As much as a quart-vessel will hold. 

1745 SWIFT Direct, to Servants Wks. (1869) 571/1 Carry 
two quartsful [of ale] to the stable. 

t Qua-rtful, a. Obs. Also 5 qwar(t)-, quar- 
fulle, quarty-, 5-6 whart-. [f. QUART sb. 1 + 
-FUL.] Sound, healthy ; safe, prosperous. 

(1460 Totunelcy Myst. vi. 29 Whartfull shall I make thi 
gate, I shal the help erly and late. 1483 Cath. Angl. 296/2 
Quartyfulle (A. Qwartfulle), compos, prosper, sospes. Ibid. 
297/1 To make Quarfulle, prosperare. 1530 Test. Ebor. 
(Surtees) V. 290 Whartfull the mynd. and compleit in 
remembrance. 1537 Will of Agnes Bell (Somerset Ho.), 
Heyll and quartfull in mynde. 

Hence f Quar(t)fnlness, health, prosperity. Obs. 

1483 Cath. Angl. 297/1 A Quarfullnes, prosperitas. 

Quartic (kwgutik), a. and sb. A/ath. [f. L. 
quart-its fourth + -1C.] a. adj. Of the fourth 
degree, b. sb. A quantic, curve, or surface of the 
fourth degree. 

1856 CAYLEY Wks, (1889) II. 263 We have for the quartic 
the following irreducible covariants, viz. the quartic itself 
/[etc.J. 1885 SALMON Mod. Higher Algebra 345 Sylvester 
proved that every invariant of a quartic is a rational function 
of .S and T. 

Quartier, variant of QUARTEER. 

Quartile (k jutil) , a. and sb. Astr. and Astral. 
[ad. med.L. qttartilis, f. quartus fourth : cf. quin- 
tile, textile.] 

A. adj. Quartile aspect, the aspect of two 
heavenly bodies which are 90 distant from each 
other. (Cf. QUADRATE a. 3.) b. Connected with, 
relating to, a quartile aspect. 

1585 LUPTON Thous. Notable Th. viii. 43 (1660) 201 If 
the Aspect be .. by a Quartile or Opposite Aspect, he shall 
get it with tediousness. 1647 LILLY Chr. Astral, i. 26 When 
two Planets are ninety degrees distant one from another, 
wee call that Aspect a Quartile Aspect, and write it thus, fj. 
1768 SMEATON in Phil. Trans. LVIII. 166 If the quartile 
observations are made when the planets are considerably to 
the east or west of the meridian. 1856 R. A. VAUGHAN 
Mystics (1860) II. 51 To think that he must toil in obscurity 
like a gnome, calculating aspects, sextile and quartile. 



QUARTINE. 

B. s/i. A qu.irlile aspect ; a quadrature. 

1509 HAWF.S Past. Pleas, xxxvi. (Percy Soc.) 188 When 
fyve bodies above on the heaven Wente retrogarde . . Wiih 
divers quartiU. 1621 BURTON Anal. Mel. I. L I. i, The 
Heauens threaten vs with their, .oppositions, quartiles, and 
such vnfriendly aspects. 1686 GOAD Cflest. Bodies I. vi. 22 
The Full Moon, the Interlunia, and the Quartiles. 1768 
SMEATON in Phil. Trans. LVIII. 163 Let the place of Mars 
be observed when the Moon is nearest her quartile with 
Mars. 1839 BAILEY Festus ix. (1852) 121 Your partite 
quartiles, and your plastic trines, And all your Heavenly 
houses and effects. 

Quartine (kwg-Jtain). rare. [f. L. quart-us 
fourth t -INE * and 5.] 

1. Bot. Mirbel s name for a fourth integument 
supposed by him to occur in some ovules. 

1832 LINDLEY Introd. Bot, 158 [Quoting Mirbel], I have 
only discovered the quartine in ovula of which the tercine 
is incorporated at an early period with the secondine. 

2. Chem- (See quot.) 

1873 RALFE Phys. Chem. p. xviii, Triads. Glycerin 
Series. Quartine or Crotonylene Cf Ho. 

Quartinva riant. AJat/i. [f. as prec. + IN 
VARIANT.] An invariant of the fourth degree. 

1884 W. R. W. ROBERTS in Heruuithena X. 182 The 
evectants of the quartinvarinnts of the qualities. 1885 
SALMON Mod. Higher Algebra Index, Quartimariant of 
odd quantic. 

t Quartle, . Obs. rare. [a. OF. yuartett, 
pa. pple. ofyua//-, carteler to quarter.] Quartered. 

1:1420 Liter Cvcoriim (1862) 37 Take fyggus quartle, and 
raysyns, tho Hole dates, almondes. c 1440 Promp. Pan . 
419/2 Quartle (S. quarteryd), qvadnpartitiis. 

So t Quartled, Her. quartered. Obs. 

1480 CAXTON Ckron. Eng. ccxxv. 231 The kynges armes of 
fiaunce quartled with the armes of englond. 

Quart-major : see QU.VIIT f/&gt;. 3 2. 

Quarto (.kw^uto). Also written 410, 4. [I,. 
(i.i t/itarto, (in) the fourth (of a sheet), abl. sing, 
of qitartus fourth.] 

1. The size of paper obtained by folding a whole 
sheet twice, so as to form four leaves, in which as 
a rule the height is not markedly in excess of the 
breadth. Orig. and chiefly in phr. in quarto. 

Quarto. sizes range from 15 X n inches (imperial quarto} 
to 7iix6jj (pot quarto], according to the size of the original 
sheet. 

1589 Pappe vj. Hatchet Biij,All his works bound close, 
aie at least sixe sheetes in quarto. 1633 PRYNSK Histrio-m. 
To Chr. Rdr., Some Play-books . . are growne from Quarto 
into Folio. 1679 [see FOLIO 5!. 1720 Lend. Gaz. No. 5851/4 
Sets of his Homer in . . large or small Paper, or Quarto 
Royal may be had. 1793 BOSWELL Johnson Pref. 2nd ed., 
These I have ordered to be printed separately in quarto. 
1837-9 HALLAM Hist. Lit. I. i. iii. 148. 250 The Psalter of 
1457, and the Donatus of the same year, are in quarto. 1898 
S. LF.E /, iff Shaks. xix. led. 3) 299 In 1616 there had been 
printed in quarto seven editions of his Venus and Adonis . 

attrib. 1868 BROWNING Ring fy Bk. I. 85 Small-quarto 
size, part print part manuscript. 

fig. 1640 GI.APTHORNI-: Il- it in Constable n. Wks. 1874 I. 
195 The rest were made But fooles in Quarto, but I finde 
myselfe An asse in Folio. 

2. A book composed of paper in this form ; a 
quarto-volume. 

1642 FULLER Holy fy Pro/. St. in. xxv. 228 Those which 
they bought in Folio shrink quickly into Quarto s. 1728 
POPE Dune. i. 141 Quarto s, octavo s, shape the less mng 
pyre. 1769 Jnnius Lett. xx. 90 The form and magnitude 
of a quarto imposes upon the mind. 1839 YEOWELL Anc. 
Brit. Ch. Pref. (1847) 7 His writings, .contain more matter 
than would be comprised in twenty modern quartos. 1898 
S. LEE LifeShaks. xix. ^ed. 3) 301 These sixteen quartos were 
publishers ventures. 

Conili. 1814 COLERIDGE Lett. 1 1895) 11.638 Of all scribblers 
these agricultural quarto-mongers are the vilest. 

3. attrib. or as adj. Of paper : Folded so as to 
form four leaves out of the original sheet ; having 
the size or shape of a quarter-sheet. Of books : 
Printed on paper thus folded or having this form. 
Of works : Published in quarto. 

1633 PRYNNE Histrio-m. To Chr. Rdr. i b, Farre better 
paper than most Octavo or Quai to Bibles, a 1658 CLEVE 
LAND Wks. (1687) 248 Where others go before In.. Quarto 
Pages. 1711 HEARNE Collect. (O. H. S.) 1 1 1. 131 These verses 
I have transcrib d in a Q"&gt;. paper. . . He has also lent me a 
Quarto Vol. 1789 DK. LEEDS Polit. Mem. (1884) 137 It con 
sisted of three sheets of Quarto Paper. 1807 Life FicMing m 
Tom Jones, Every thing . . in the London quarto edition . . 
is included in this new edition. 1821 BYRON jfvan in. 
Ixxxvi, He would write. .a six canto quarto tale. 

Quartodeciman (kwgitode-siman), sb. and a. 
Also 7 -decuman, [ad. med.L. quarta-, quarto- 
deciman-us, {. quarttis decimus fourteenth.] 

A. j*. One of those early Christians who cele 
brated Easter on the day of the Jewish Passover (the 
I4th of Nizan), whether this was a Sunday or not. 

The practice (chiefly observed in Proconsular Asia) was 
condemned by the Council of Nice, A. D. 325. 

1624 DARCIE Birth of Heresies viii. 3 t The Phrygian 
Montamsts condemne the Quartodecumans. 1642 HALES 
^cliisiii 7 Why might not it be lawful .. to celebrate Easter 
tn the Quartodeciman. 1709 J. JOHNSON Clergym. Vadc 
M. ii. p. cxv, When Austin came first to this island, the 




B. adj. Of or relating to the Quartodeciinans, or 
their method of observing Easter. 
1702 ECHARD Eccl. Hist. (1710) 478 The Quartodeciman 



34 

controversy . . between the Eastern and Western churches. 
1761 HUME Hist. Eng. I. i. 38 The quartodeciman schism 
as it was called. 1833 J. H. NEWMAN Arinu i. i. (1876) 13 
Polycrates, who was primate of the Quarto-deciman churches. 
1879 MACLEAR Celts xi. 180 The quarto-deciman view of 
the earlier Asiatics of A-sia Minor. 
Hence Quartode-cimanism, the views or practice 

of tlie Quartodecimans. 

1880 Athcnxmn 9 Oct. 463/2 The quartodecimanisrn of 
John. 1885 G. SALMON in Academy 5 Dec. 367/2 I he 
Ignatian letters have not a word about Quartodecimanism. 

So t Qnartodecimarian a. Obs. rare~ l . 

1666 BP. SAM. PARKER Free Censure 90 That early and 
unhappy Quartodecimarian Schism. 

Quart-pot. A pot capable of containing the 
measure of a quart. 

1412-1 AUngdon Ace. (1892) 94 Item j quartpot. 1463 
Bury H ills (Camden) 23 A quart pot of pewter. 1550 
CROWLEY Epigr. 363 Go fyll me thys quarte pot. 1593 
SHAKS. 2 Hen. /"/, iv. x. 16 Many a time . . it hath seru d 
me insteede of a quart pot to drinke in. 1613 WITHKK 
Abuses Stript i. v. 240 Sometime in reuenge the quart-pot 
flies. 1711 STEF.I.E Stect. No. 22 F 5, I came in with a Tub 
about me, that Tub hung with Quart-pots. 1838 DICKENS 
O. Twist xxv, A* quart-pot .. filled with gin and water. 
1870 LOWELL Study ll ind. 47 Quartpots are for muddier 
liquor than nectar. 

b. a/trili., as quart-pot tea, Austral, (see quot. 
1885). 

1878 MRS. H.JoNES Long Years in Australia 87 Taking 
a long draught of the quart-pot tea. 1885 H. FINCH- 
HATTON Advance Austral, in Quart-pot tea , as tea 
made in the Bush is always called. . . A tin quart of water is 
set down by the fire, and when it is boiling hard a handful 
of tea is thrown in. 

Quartre, Quartrage,-redge, -ridge, Quart- 
ron(e, -r(o)un, obs. fT. QUARTER sb. and v., 
QUARTERAGE, QUARTERN. 

f Quart-saw. Ol&gt;s, rare 1 . (?) 

1577 M ilh $ Im&gt;. N. C. (Surtees 1835) 414 In the Ireon 
Seller. Eighte qwarte sawes xvj". thre whope sawes xx s . 

Quartu invirate. rare l . [Cf. QUADHUM-, 

QUATRUMVIRATE.] = QUATUORVIRATE. 

1819 SYD. SMITH ll A s. (1859) I. 282/1 The noble quart urn- 
vlrate, in all matters of foreign policy, have a veto on the 
king s decisions. 

Quartyer, obs. form of QUARTER sb. 

Quartz (kwgita). AJin. [a. G. qttarz (first in 
MHG.) of uncertain origin : hence also Du. kwarfs, 
. quarlZy It. quarto ^\ 

1. A widely diffused mineral, massive or crys 
tallizing in hexagonal prisms ; in a pure form 
consisting of silica or silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), but 
varying greatly in colour, lustre, etc., according to 
the different impurities it contains. 

Quartz forms the rocks quartzite and sandstone, and is an 
important constituent in granite, gneiss, and other rocks. 
It frequently contains gold, and is largely mined and crushed 
for the purpose of extracting this metal (cf. quots. in 2). The 
numerous varieties are chiefly denoted by adjs. descriptive 
of their structure or colour, as (i) amorphous^ astcriated 
(star-quartz), capped, cavernous, compact, (crypto-) crystal 
line, fibrous, grained, radiated, sagenitic, sparry, etc., (2) 
blue isiderite or sapphire-quartz), &r0ttfftQrtm0Jky (cairngorm, 
morion), green (chrysoprase, prase), milky (milk-quartz), 
purple (amethyst), red, rose, yell&lt;nu (citrine), etc. ; also Babel 
or Balylonian quartz, found in Devonshire, showing on its 
under-surface the impression of the crystals of fluor-spar on 
which it was deposited. The colourless crystalline variety 
is known as ROCK-CRYSTAL. 

1756 Observ. Isl. Scilly 71 White debas d Crystal (which 
the Germans call Quartz). 177* tr. Cronstcdfs Min. 57, 
I shall adopt this name of quartz in English as it has already 
gained access into other European languages. 1831 BREW- 
STER Optics xvii. 94. 151/2 Among the crystals best fitted 
for exhibiting the phenomena of positive double refraction 
is rock crystal or quartz. 1859 R. F. BURTON Centr. Afr. 
in Jrnl. Geog. Soc. XXIX. 107 Boulders of primitive forma 
tion, streaked with snow-white quartz. 1879 RUTLKY Stud. 
Rocks x. 150 Quartz is infusible before the blowpipe, in- 
soluble in all acids except fluoric acid. 

2. attrib. and Comb. 

a. attrib. in sense consisting of quartz*, or 
containing quartz , as qttartz-boU (see quot. 1869), 
-crystal, -gritstone, -lode, -pebble^ -porphyry, -reef, 
-rock, -sand, -schist, -slate, -vein, etc, 

1789 SAUNDERS in Phil. Trans. LXXIX. 82 It is known 
to mmeralists in that state by the name of quartz gritstone. 
i8oa PLAYFAIR Illnstr. Mutton. Th. 167 Vertical strata 
much intersected by quartz veins. Ibid. 326 Granites con- 
taining quartz-crystals. 1833 LYEI.L Princ. Geol. III. 367 
Beds of pure quarta rock. 1843 PORTLOCK Geol. 170 Mica 
slate passing into quartz slate. 1869 R. B. SMYTH Gold 
Fields Victoria 283 Quartz reefs are richer as they increase 
in depth. Ibid, 618 Quartz-boil, an outcrop of a quartz reef 
on the surface, or an outburst or extension in width of the 
reef beneath it. 1877 RAYMOND Statist. Mines $ Mining- 
218 Very little work has been done, .on quartz-lodes. 

b. attrib. in other senses, obj., and obj. gen., 
chiefly in terms relating to the extraction of gold 
from quartz, as quartz-battery, -crusher, -crushing 
a( U- -gM ( see q u t. l8 74)&gt; -mill, -mining, -pros 
pecting, -reefing ( = mining), etc. 

1861 MRS. MEREDITH Over the Straits iv. 133 Quartz- 
reefin s the payinest game, now. 1872 RAYMOND Statist. 
Mines fy Mining 17 Some gold quartz-mining enterprises 
have been in operation. 1874 /bid. 317 It is largely quartz 
gold , that is, not rounded and water-worn, but irregular 
and frequently twisted in form, usually very bright, and 
always of fine quality, as is the gold of the quartz-veins. 
1877 /bid. 220 The discovery .. of quartz-claims in the 



QUASH. 

district. This action gave an impetus to quartz-prospecting. 
1882 AY/, to Ho. ReAr. Prec. Met. U.S. 596 Quartz-crush- 
ig machines yet to be invented. 

iferous (kw$tfsi*&ra), . [f. prec. + 

Bearing or containing quartz. 

1832 UE LA BECHE Gcol. Man. led. 2) 403 The pieces of 
quartziferous porphyry . .have better resisted attrition. 1872 
\V. S. SYMONDS Kec. Rocks iii. 49 The Quartziferous brec 
cias .. of the Caernarvon peninsula. 1879 RUTLRV Stud. 
Rocks xii. 242 A., number of diorites are quart ziferous. 

Qua rtzilie, a. rare 1 , [i. as prec. + -IKE*.] 
Quartzose, quartzy. 

1853 KANE Grinnell Exp. v. 40 Gneiss . . was the basis 
material, the quartzine element greatly predominating. 

Quartzite (kwg-Jtsait). Min. Also -yte. [f. 
as prec. + -ITE.] An extremely compact, granular 
rock, consisting essentially of quartz. 

1849 MURCHISON Silm-ia viii. 167 The quartzites of the 
west are manifestly altered sandstones. 1873 J. GEIKIE Gt. 
Ice Age App. 479 A boulder of quartzite . . was found em 
bedded in a seam of coal. 

attrib. 1870 Pall Mall G. 17 Nov. 4 The stag is formed 
of white quartzite stones. x8So DAWK INS Early Man vii. 
181 There were also quartzite flakes and implements. 

Hence Quartzitic a., of the nature of quartzite. 

1872 W. S. SYMONDS Kec. Rocks \\. 191 This remarkable 
yellowish and quartzitic conglomerate. 1876 PAGE Adr. 
Text-bk. Gcol, viii. 157 Bands of quartzitic rock. 

Qua rtzless, a. [f. as prec. + -LESS.] Desti 
tute of quartz. 

1879 RUTLEY Stud. Rocks xii. 235 Some of these rocks are 

very poor in quartz, and they then pass into the quartzless 

1 hornblende-andesites. 1892 Nation (N. V.) 28 July 73/2 

This widely distributed andesite is highly basic, in many 

cases being almost quartzless. 

Qua rtzoid. [f. as prec. + -DID.] A crystal 
having the form of a double six-sided pyramid. 

1864 WEBSTER cites DANA. 1882 DANA Alan. Min. (ed.4&gt; 47. 

Quartzose (kwg JrtS^*), a. [f. as prec. + -OSE.] 
I Mainly or entirely composed of quartz ; of the 
, nature of quartz. 

1757 DA COSTA Fossils 275 Pellucid quartzose grains it has 
noiie. 1857 BIRCH Anc. Pottery (1858) II. 332 Some 
varieties of this ware are filled with quartzose sand. 1878 
A. H. GREEN, etc. Coal ii. 47 Thick masses of very coarse 
quartzose conglomerate. 

So f Qita rtzous a. Obs. 

1790 Monthly Rev. III. 547 It appears, that hard quartzous 
i and silic ious stones give a reddish light. 1815 Chron. in 
| Ann. Reg: 540 The sand, .is quartzous. 

Quartzy (kwgutsi), a. [f. as prec. + -Y 1 .] Of 
the nature of quartz ; resembling quartz. 

1774 PENNANT Tour Scotl. in 1772, 218 The stones of this 
i mountain are white quartzy and composed of small grains. 
1836 MACGII.LIVKAY tr. Humboldfs fraf. xviii. 256 The 
bottom, which consists of white quartzy sand, is usually 
visible. 1880 BIRDWOOD Ind. Art II. 4 The iron ore is . . 
separated from its granitic or quartz)- matrix by washing. 

Jig- 1864 ROGERS New Ryan 11. 42 He ., avows his in 
ability to find Another lyric in his quartzy mind. 

Quarved, ? error for quarred\ see QUAB z/. 1 

1627 JACKSON Creed vi. xii. 9 This, .current of life, .the 
more it ts dammed or quarued by opposition of the sonnes of 
darknesse, the more plentifully it ovei flowes the sons of light. 

fQua-ry. Obs. 1 . [?ad. L. quare wherefore.] 
11550 Image Hypocr. in Skeltotts Wks. (1843) II. 427 
With quibes and quaryes Of inventataries. 

Quaryndo(u)n, obs. forms of QUARENDEN. 

Quas, variant of KVASS. 

Quas(e, obs. northern forms of WHOSE. 

Quash, j.l rare. A squash or pumpkin. 

1687 MIEGE Grt.Fr. Diet. 11. Quash. See Pompion. 1736 
AINSWORTH Lat. Diet.) A quash, or pompion,/t^. [Hence 
in JOHNSON and later Diets.] 1823 T. ROUCHLKY Jamaica 
Planter s Guide 74 The Indian kale, ochro, quash, peppers, 
akys, and a variety of pulse, being natural to the climate. 

Quash, sb2 rare- 1 . [Cf. WASH.] ? A stretch 
of shallow water. 

1790 BEATSON Nav. fy Mil. Mem. I. 69 From the report 
made by those who sounded the quash opposite the town., 
there was not found water sufficient to enable them to 
undertake the enterprize. 

Quash (kwo/), v. Forms: 4-5 quasse, (5 
qwas-), 4 quasche, 5 qv-, quaschyn, quassh-, 
quaysch-, 6- quash. [In branch I, ad. OF. quasser 
*=casser\Q annul, ad. late L. cassare (med.L. also 
qnassare), f. cassus null, void ; in branch II, ad. OF. 
quasse); casserio break, smash, etc. : L. quassare, 
freq. of qttatfre to shake. In later F. the form in 
all senses is casser. Senses 2 and 3 may be partly 
derived from 4, and the later examples in 5 may be 
partly of onomatopoeic origin. Cf. SQUASH z&gt;.] 

I. 1. trans. To annul, to make null or void 
(a law, decision, election, etc.) ; to throw out or 
reject (a writ, indictment, etc.) as invalid ; to put 
an end to, stop completely (legal proceedings), 
f Also with down. 

^1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. (1810) 209 pe pape at his dome 
J?er Klites quassed doun. Ibid. 217 pe purueiance . . He 
quassed it ilk dele |x&gt;rgh jugement. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyj 
hhinhodt! i. Ixxvi. (1869) 44 Michel it displeseth hire that ye 
quassen thus hire ordinaunces. 1589 WARNER Alb. &gt;tf. 
vi. xxx. (1612) 151 Phoebus his plainte did quash. 1671 
F. PHILLIPS Reg. Necess. 521 All the then Judges did agree, 
that if a Writ of that Form should be brought unto them., 
they would immediately quash it. 1768 BLACKSTONE Comm. 
III. 303 Praying judgment of the writ, or declaration, and 
that the same may be quashed , cassetnr, made void, or 
abated. 1829 SCOTT Dcmonol. ix. 335 The Lord Advocate.. 



QUASHEE. 

quashed all farther procedure. 1882 SERJT. BALLANTINE 
Exper. iy. 43 My clients were completely exonerated and 
the conviction was quashed. 

b. Used adverbially with go (suggesting sense 4). 
1802-12 BENTHAM Ration. Judic. E-vid. (1827) IV. 406 Down 
comes the money, quash goes the conviction, like a snail 
under our feet. 

2. To bring to nothing; to crush or destroy; to 
put down or suppress completely; to stifle (esp. 
a feeling, idea, scheme, undertaking, proceeding, 
etc.). Also with down, 

1609 BIBLE (Douay) Ecclus. vi. 2 Extol not thyself. . lest 
perhaps thy strength be quashed. 1646 P. BULKELEY Gospel 
Ctrvt. v. 366 Balaam had faire hopes before him .. but all was 
quasht in a moment. 1717 TABOR in Phil. Trans. XXX. 552 
When the Ground about the Pavement was dug, all these 
Suppositions were quash d. 1774 GOLIXSM. Nat. Hist. (1862) 
I. 34 The sound seemed at last quashed in a bed of water. 
1834 PRINGLE Aft; Sk. 316 Every such attempt had hereto 
fore been . . quashed by the . . authorities. 1857 MRS . CARLYLE 
Lett. II. 313, I wanted to scream, but the physical weari 
ness had quashed down that nonsense. 1879 FROUDE Cxsar 
xviii. 305 The preparations for the election were quashed. 
3. To crush, quell, or utterly subdue (a person) ; 
to squash. Now rare. 

1639 G. DANIEL Ecclus. xxxv. 50 His Arme Shall Quash 
the Cruel], and prevent their harme. 1643 BURROUGHES 
Exp. Hosea I. v. 128 They did not stay the building of the 
wall of Jerusalem, till all their adversaries were quashed. 
1753 HANWAY Trav. (1762) II. vti. ii. 168 This .. resolution 
. . would in all probability have quashed their enemies. 1876 
BLACKIE Songs Relig. fy Life 182 When, by Logic s iron 
rule, I ve quashed each briskly babbling fool. 

II. 1 4. To break or dash in pieces ; to smash ; 
also, to crush, squeeze, squash. Obs. 

1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) IV 439 panne be secounde 
wal was i-quasched [v.r. yquaysched). ? (11400 Morte 
Arth. 3389 Abowte scho whirles the whele .. Tille alle my 
qwarters..ware qwaste al to peces. 1563-87 FOXE^. &lt;$ M. 
(1596) 310/2 A mightie stone . . able to haue quashed him in 
peeces. 1608 TOPSELL Serpents (1658) 628 Then, shepheard, 
take both stone in hand, and blade, To quash his swelling 
neck. 1650 BULWER Anthropomet. 12 The Fathers and 
Mothers never faile to quash, or flat down that part of the 
face which is between the eyes and mouth. 1750 W. ELLIS 
Mod. Husbandm. IV. iii. 85 (E. D. S.) [Boys] rejoice when 
they find a nest of eggs to quash with their feet. 

t b. To dash or smash on or against something. 
1548 UDALL Erasm. Par. Luke ix. 99 The eiuill spirit that 
was in hym tooke hym,quashyngthechylde on the grounde. 
1620 WILKINSON Coroners ff Sheriffs 19 A man falfeth from 
his horse and quasheth his head against a blocke. c 1645 
WALLER Salt. Summer-is!, n. 25 The whales Against sharp 
rocks, like reeling vessels quash d.. are in pieces dash d. 

t 5. intr. To shake ; to splash, to make a splash- ! 
ing noise. Obs. 

1393 LANGL. P. PI. C. xxi. 64 The erthe quook and quashte 
as hit quyke were. 1691 RAY Creation n. (1692) 12 A thin 
and fine Membrane strait and closely adhering to keep it 
[the brain] from quashing and shaking. 1739 SHARP Surg. 
xxiv. 122 The water by a sudden Jirk maybe heard to quash. 
1750 W. ELLIS Mod. Husbandm. III. i. 130 (E. D.S.) When 
the butter is come, which you may know by its quashing. 

Hence Quashed (kwgjt) ppl. a. ; Qua shing vbl. 
sb. and ppl. a. 

a 1665 J. GOODWIN Filled w. the Spirit (1867) 107 A notion 
..of a dangerous and quashing import to the spirit of all 
signal excellency. 1802-12 BENTHAM Ration. Judic. E-l id. 
(1827) IV. 408 A rare trade, this quashing trade. 1816 W. 
TAYLOR in Monthly Mag. XLI I. 35 These are called stratous 
clouds from their sinking quashed appearance. 1846 J. 
HAMILTON Ml. of Olives viii. I9 6 With quashed delight and 
bitter fancies. 1859 I. TAVLOR Logic in Theol. 270 A fac 
titious quashing of any sensibility. 
Quash, obs. variant of KVASS. 

Quashee (kwo jV); quashie (kwo-Ji). [Ashan- 

tee or F anlee Kwasi, a name commonly given to 
a child born on Sunday.] A negro personal name, 
adopted as a general name for any negro. 

1833 M. SCOTT Tom Cringle (1862) 246 Then Quashie him. 
self, or a company of free blacks. 1850 MRS. CARLYLE Lett. 
II. 122 A certain sympathy with Quashee ! 1889 CLARK 
RUSSELL Marooned (1890) 275 The same Quashee whom I 
had supposed dead. 

Quashey. rare 1 . (See quot. and cf. QUASH sb\} 

1823 SOUTHEY Lett. (18561 III. 391 With regard to these said 
quasheys (which, I believe, is their name, first cousins to 
the squash pumpkin). 

Quasi (kw^ -ssi), adv. and pref. [L. quasi as 
if, as it were, almost.] I. In limiting sense. 

1. Used parenthetically = as it were , almost , 
virtually . rare, 

In Caxton after F. quasi (isth c., from It. or L.). 

1485 CAXTON Paris ft V. (1868) 30 Whereof he was moche 
angry, and quasi half in despair. Chas. Gt. 204 After 
that charles had the domynacyon quasi in al espayne. 
1692 T. WATSON Body of Div. 97 Men come quasi armed 
in Coat of Male, that the Sword of the Word will not enter. 
1818 CRUISE Digest (ed. 2) V. 184 This devolution, .is quasi 
a descent per /ormam doici. 

2. In close connexion with the word following ; 
hence usually treated as a prefix and hyphened. 

a. With sbs. : (A) kind of; resembling or simu 
lating, but not really the same as, that properly so 
termed. 

1643 SIR T. BROWNE Relig. Med. i. 49 An Empyriall 
Heaven, a quasi vncnitie. 1676 R. DIXON Tlvo Testaments 
30 The reason why God confirmed his Testament . . is, be 
cause this was an act of his Quasi-dying. 1727-41 CHAM- 
UERS Cycl. s.v.. In a quail-contract, one party may be bound 
..without having given his consent. IHd., The reparation 
of quasi-crimes. 1815 J. ADAMS Wks. (1856) X. 151 A . . plot 



35 

. . to draw me into a decided instead of a quasi war with 
France. 1837 CARLYLE Fr. Rev. I. vi. iv, The art, or quasi- 
art, of standing in tail. 1864 KINGSLEY Rom. $ Tcut. iii. 
(1875) 91 Romans, with Greek names who become quasi- 
emperors. 1889 SWINBURNE Stud. Jonson 47 The epilhala- 
mium of these quasi-nuptials is fine. 

b. With adjs., more rarely with advbs. or vbs. : 
Seemingly, or in appearance, but not really ; almost, 
nearly, virtually. 

1802-12 BENTHAM Ration. Judic. Ez iif. (1827) 1. 149 False 
hood in this quasi-colloquial shape, as well as in the shape 
of ordinary discourse. 1826 SOUTHEY F/W. Eccl. Angl. 394 
We neither deify nor quasi-deify the head of our Church. 
1836 SIR H. TAYLOR Statesman viii. 50 His functions in 
these cases are quasi-judicial. 1861 KINGSLEY Lett. (1878) 
II. 80 The independent and quasi-Episcopal position of the 
rector. 1888 BRVCE Amcr. Commw. II. m. Ixxiv. 610 
Public or quasi-public organisms. 

II. 3. Introducing an etymological explanation 
of a word: As if it were . (Abbreviated a., au.: 
see Q. II. i.) 

1588 SHAKS. L. L. L. iv. ii. 85 Master person, quasi 
Pers-on. c 1630 RISDON Sum. Devon 82 (1810) 81 Culmc, 
so called, as some say, quasi Calme. 1686 PLOT Staffordsh. 
419 They are more properly call d Almanacks, quasi Al- 
mon-aght. 1826 SCOTT Woodstock Note 3 Rere-suppers 
(yuasi arriere) belonged to a species of luxury [etc.]. 1866 
LOWELL Biglow P. Wks. (1880) 181/2 The Earls of Wil- 
braham (quasi wild boar ham). 

Quasi, Quasie, Quass, obs. ff. QUASSIA, 
QUEASY, KVASS. 

t Quass, v . Obs. Also 6-7 quasse. [a. MLG. 
quassen (quasen, quatzen : see Grimm) to eat or 
drink immoderately : prob.of onomatopoeic origin.] 
tutr. To drink copiously or in excess ; to quaff. 
Hence f Qua ssing vbl. sb. 

549 CHALOMEH Erasm. on Folly E iv, Remembre the law 
of quassyng, * Other drinke thy drinke, or rise, and goe thy 
waie . 1572 GASCOIGNE Fruites ll arre Ixxxvii, Hope 
brings the boll wherein they all must quasse [rime passe]. 
1607 MAKSTON What You Will n. i, Sing, sing, or stay 
weele quasse or any thing. 

Quassa tioil. rare. [ad. L. quassdt ion-em, 
n. of action f. quassare to shake : see QUASH u.j 
A shaking, beating, pounding. 

1654 GAYTON Pleas.. Votes in. i. 68 Solidated by continual 
contusions, threshings, and quassations. 1683 PET rus Fleta 
Mitt. n. 15 Byquassation and constant compressure of such 
flexible grounds. 1897 Syd. Soc. Lex., Quassation, . . in 
Pharmacy, . . reducing roots and tough bark to pieces, to 
facilitate the extraction of their chief active principles. 

t Quassative, a. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. ppl. stem of 
L. quassare (see prec.) + -IVE.] Inclined to shake. 

1626 Miuu\ : -e.Tox AnythitigforQiiict Lift lit. ii, A French 
man s heart is more quassative and subject to tremor than 
an Englishman s. 

Quassia (kwas sia, kwarj-, kwo JiaX Also 8 
quassi, quassy, quasi, (quaeiee). [Named by 
Linnaaus, about 1761, after a Surinam negro, Gra- 
man ( = grand man) Quassi or Quacy ( = QUASHEE), 
who discovered the virtues of the root in 1730. 

Quassi communicated his discovery to C. G. Dahlberg, by 
whom it was mnde known to Linna- us : see C. M. lilom in 
C. Linn&i Atnacnitates Academicx VI. (1764) 420, and 
Stedman Surinam II. xxix.] 

1. The wood, bark, or root of a South American 
tree (Quassia amara), found esp. in Surinam, and 
of some other trees, esp. the bitter ash (ficnena 
ejccelsa) of Jamaica, and the bitter damson (Sima- 
ruba amara} of the West Indies and S. America. 
b. The bitter decoction prepared from this, used 
for medicinal and other purposes. 

The quassia now in use is chiefly that obtained from the 
bitter ash, commonly sold in the form of chips. 

1765 [cf. 3], 1770 Gcntl. Mag. XL. 227 The quasi was ad 
ministered in decoction. 1803 DAVY in Phil. Trans. XCI1I. 
268 The infusions of quassia . . are scarcely affected by 
muriate of tin. 1830 HERSCHEL Stud. Nat. Phil. 86 An 
intense and pure bitter like quassia. 1878 T. BRYANT 
J ract. Surf.aBjg) 11.59 An enema of some bitter vegetable 
infusion, such as quassia. 

2. Any of the trees yielding quassia, esp. the 
Quassia amara of Surinam. 



1766 [cf. 3]. 1797 Encycl. Brit. XV. 7 53 /r Dr. Wright 
found this tree to be a species of quassia. 1859 AU Year 
Round No. 32. 127 Why not.. cultivate.. quassia, which is 
such a handsome shrub? 1876 HARLEY Mat. Med. (ed. 61 
673 Quassia bears some resemblance to the common ash, 
attains a height of 50, 60, or even 100 feet. 

3. allrib., as quassia-bark, -chips, -root, -tree, 
-wood; quassia cup, a drinking cup made of 
quassia wood, a bitter cup . 

765 Ann. Reg. 114 Linnaeus, .has lately recommended .. 
a new medicine, called quassi-wood. 1766 Ibid. 76 They 
write from Pensacola that the true Quassi medicinal tree 
has lately been discovered in the western parts of that 
province. 1767 HARLEY in Phil. Trans. LVI1I. 81 At last 
I tryed the Quassi Root. 1834 T. J. GRAHAM Dam. Med. 
(ed. 6) 70 Quassia wood comes from Jamaica and the Carilj- 
bean islands. 1860 PIESSE Lab. Chem. Wonders 171 The 
purest bitter principle is yielded by the quassia tree. 

Quassin (kwarsin). [f. QUASS-IA-T-IN!.] The 
bitter principle of quassia. 

1819 in J. G. Children Chem. Anal. 288. 1845 Penny Cycl. 
Suppl. I. 349/2 Quassin dissolves readily in alcohol and 
in anher. 1876 HARLEY Mat. Med. (ed. 6) 675 A neutral, 
odourless, crystallisable principle, termed quassin. 

Also Qua ssite, in same sense. 

1838 T. THOMSON Chem. Org. Bodies 705 Quassite has 
been given by Wiggers to the bitter principle of the quassia 



QUATENTJS. 

I amara and cxcclsa. 1841 Penny Cycl. XXII. 26/1 Its chief 
constituents are quassite, resin [etc.]. 

Quassing, vbl. sb. : see QUASS v. 

Qua-sum, north, variant of WHO-SU.ME. 

Quasy, obs. form of QUEASY. 

Quat (kwgt), sb.l Obs. exc. dial. Also 8-9 
quot. [Of obscure origin.] 

1. A pimple or pustule; a small boil ; a stye. 

1579 I.ANGHAM Card. Health 153 Inflammations and soft 
swellings, burnings and impostumes, and choleric sores or 
quats. 1751-3 A. MuRriiv (. .ray s Inn Jrnl. No. 15 A Quat, 
or Quot, being a small Heat or Pimple. 1848 A. B. EVANS 
Lcicestcrsh. Words s.v., He was rubbing hi.-, throat, and he 
broke the head of his quot. 1896 Warwick Gloss., Quat, 
a sty or poke. 

| 2. transf. Applied contemptuously to a (young) 
person. Obs. 

1604 SHAKS. Oth. v. i. IT, I haue rub d this yong Quat 
almost to the sense, And lie growes angry. 1609 UEKKEK 
Gvlls Hornc-Ht. 151 Whether he be a young quat of the 
first year s revenue, or some austere and sullen -faced steward. 
l63 ( WEBSTER /AT /YV La-i&gt;.Lasc n. i, O ionng quat, in- 
I continence is plagu d In all the creatures of the world. 

t Quat, sb* Obs. rare. Also 7 quatte. [f. 
Qt ATZ). 1 ] The act or state of squatting. 

1602 Xiircissus (1893) 475 The doggs have putt the hare 
from quatte. 1612 WKBSTER White Dc-i il Wks. (Rtldg.) 
31/2 A full cry for a quarter of an hour, And then . . put to 
the dead quat. 

Quat ^kwgt), a. Obs. exc. dial. Also 9 quot. 
[Related to prec. and next : cf. SQUAT a., and It. 
quatto squatting, cowering, quiet, still (Baretti).] 

1. Squatted, close, still, quiet, in hiding. 

c 1450 Merlin xxv. 463 The x traitoris that were quatte in 
the gardin vnder an ympe. I kid., Bretell and Vlfin. .weren 
quat vnder the sleyri^. 1682 ULNVAN Holy War 310 The 
ixst lay so quat and close that they could not be appre 
hended. 1685 Bk. Boys f, Girls 21 My King quat, until 
tlie Fly is catcht Shews [etc.]. 1879 Miss JACKSON Shropsh. 
Ward-bk., Quat, close, still, as a hare on her form. 1886 in 
ELWOKTHY W. Som. Wd.-tk. 

2. Low and broad ; squat. 

1863 BARNES Dorset Gloss., There s a little quot rick . 

Quat (kwot;, v. 1 Obs. exc. dial. Also j qwat;te, 
8 quatt, 9 quot. [a. OF. qtiaitir, qudtirlo beat 
or press down, to force in, to hide (mod.F. catir to 
press), f. OF. "quail, l j rov. qtiait, It. quatto (see 
prec.) : L. coaclus pressed together, COACT.] 

1. trans. To beat or press down ; to squash, 
! flatten, extinguish. Also absol. 

1400-50 Alexander 560 All flames be flode..And ban 
ouer-qwelmysinaqwirre&qwatiseuere-like. 1589 GREENE 
Tullics Love (1609) F iij, Her resolution . . quatted the 
conceit of his former hope. 1590 Never too late (1600) 
K4 The renowne of her chastity .. almost quatted those 
sparks that heated him on to such lawlesse aflection. 1893 
li iltslt. Gloss., Quat, i wu/,..to flatten, to squash flat. 

b. To load, sate, glut (the stomach). See also 
QUOT fa. f fie. 

1579 LVLV Eufhues (Arb.) 44 To the stomack quatted 
with dainties, al delicates seeme queasie. 1606 J. HYXD 
Lliosto Lilud, 58 Amazias having quatted the quesy stomaks 
of the rebels.. returned with safety to Famagosta. 

2. intr. To crouch down or lie close, as an animal 
in hiding; to squat. ( = OF. se quatir.) 

c 1400 Master of Game ii. (MS. Digby 182), pen he shall 

ruse oute of be wey for to stalle or qwatte to rest hym. 

j 1602-12 (implied in QUAT sb."\ 1757 FOOTE Author n. Wks. 

i 1799 I. 149 You grow tir d at last and quat, Then I catch you. 

! 1781 W. BLASE Ess. Hunt. (1788) 125 She will only leap off 

a few rods, and quat. 1879 JEFFEHIES /( / /,/ Life- in S. C. 

222 The crake .. will then .. if still hunted, quat in the 

thickest bunch of grass or weeds he can find. 

fb. To sink, subside. Obs. rare, 
a 1722 LISLE Huso. (1752) 118 If rain in the interim should 
come, such ground will quatt, and the furrow will fill up. 
Hence Qua tting vbl. sb. 

1757 FOOTE Author ii. Wks. 1799 I. 14^9 Begin and start 
me, that 1 may come the sooner to quattlng. 

Quat, v.~ Sc. var. (also pa. t. and pa. pple) of 
QUIT v. (Cf. QUATED.) 

1573 Satir. Poems Reform, xxxix. 54 So had the cause 
bene quat, wer not for shame. 1597 MONTGOMERIE Cherrie 
3?S/ae 1179 Thou. .Gars courage quat them. 1637-507. Row 
Hist. Kirk Seotl. (1842) 254 So he quat his mimstrie. 17x4 
RAMSAY Elegy John Cowfer xii. (1877) I. 168 To quat the 

frip he was right laith. 1786 BURNS To James Smith xxix, 
shall say nae mair, But quat my sang. 1836 M. MACIN 
TOSH Cottager s Daughter 49 For your threats ae truth I 
winna quat. 

Quat, obs. f. QUOTH, WHAT; Sc. var. QUIT a. 
Quata, var. of CUAITA. 

tQuatch. 1 . Obs. [f. quatch, var. QuETCH v. : 
cf. QUINCH si.] A word, a sound. 

,i 1635 Bp. CORBET Poems (1807) 114 Noe; not a quatch, 
sad poets ; doubt you, There is not greife enough without 
you? 1783 NICHOLS Bill. Tof. (1790) IV. 57 (Berks) A 
quatch is a word. (Hence in GROSE and HALLIWELL.) 

tQuatoh 2 . Obs. rare~ l . (Meaning uncertain.) 

1601 SHAKS. Alts Welln. ii. 18 A Barber s chaire, that fits 
all buttockes, the pin buttocke, the quatch-buttocke [etc.]. 

Quatch, variant of QUETCH. 

Quate, variant of WHATE, forlune. Obs. 

Quated, obs. Sc. var. qitiled : see QUIT v. 

a 1605 MONTGOMERIE Misc. t oems xlv. 27 Alace ! suld my 
treu service thus be quated? [rime hated]. 

II Quatenus (kw^-t/hs), adv. [L., how far , 
to what extent , f. qua where + tentts up to.] In 
so far as ; in the quality or capacity of ; QUA. 

5-2 



QUATER-CENTENARY. 

1652 N. CULVERWEL Lt. Nature xi. (1661) 78 An innate 
power of the Soul, that is fitted, and fashioned for the 
receiving of spirituals, quatenus Spirituals. 1664 BUTLER 
Hud. ii. ii. 277 A broken Oath is, quat nus Oath, As 
sound t all purposes of Troth. 1673 WOOD Life (O. H. S.) 
II. 274 That every canon of Ch. Ch. should (quatenus as 
a member of the university) preach at St. Marie s, and 
(quatenus canon) at Ch. Ch. 1697 J. DENNIS Plot and no 
Plot 52 Tho the Viscount be my superiour, quatenus Vis 
count, yet he does esteem himself my equal. 

Quater, obs. form of QUATRE. 

Quater-centenary, rare. [f. L. quater four 
times ; cf. tercentenary] A four-hundredth anni 
versary, or the celebration of this. 

1883 Harper s ffag. Aug. 479/1 The forthcoming celebra 
tion of the Luther quater-centenary. 

Quater-co(u)sin, obs. ff. of CATER-COUSIN. 

1656 in BLOUNT Glossogr. 1755- in JOHNSON, etc. 

Quaterime : see QUATREME. 

Quate rn, il&gt;. rare. [a. F. quaterne set of four 
numbers, f quire (Godef.), ad. L. quaterims : see 
QUATERNION and QCIBE.] 

f 1. Sc. A quire of paper. Obs. 

1578 in Haiti. Cl. Misc. (1840) L 12 Tuentie fyve countis 
and quaternis of the Q. and Q. regent. 

2. A set of four numbers in a lottery. 

1868 BROWNING Ring $ Bk. xn. 158 But that he forbid 
The Lottery, why, Twelve were Tern Quatern ! 

t Quate rn, a. Bot. Obs. rare- 1 , [ad. L. qua- 
termfour together, by fours.] Arranged in fours. 

1760 J. LEE Introd. Bot. III. xxiii. (1765) 235 In respect to 
Opposition, opposite Leaves will sometimes become tern, 
quatern or quine, growing by Threes, Fours, or Fives. 

QuatCTnal, a. rare. [f. as prec. + -AL.] a. 
= QUATERNARY a. i. b. erron. = QUADRENNIAL. 

1616 R. C. Times Whistle Cert. Poems (1871) 150 His first 
Advent yeilds a quaternall section, His birth, his life, his 
death, his resurrection. 1655 MOUFET & BENNET Health s 
Imprw. (1746) i6r The Carthaginians, whose famous qua- 
ternal Feast consisted only of four Dishes. 1813 J. C. 
HOHHOUSE Journey (ed. 2) 581 Prizes distributed at each 
qualerna! celebration of the Olympian games. 

Quatema-rian, a. rare. [t. as next + -AN-.] 

= iQUATEHNARY a. I . 

1647 M. HUDSON Dh . Right Govt. I. vi. 55 A quaternarian 
number, as four beasts, and four wheels. 1856-8 W. CLARK 
Van der Hoeren s Zool. 1. 108 Arrangement of parts usually 
quaternarian. 

Quaternary (kwgto Jiiari), a. and sb. [ad. L. 
quaternari-us, f. qitalerni four together, by fours. 
Cf. F. quaternaire (1515).] 

A. adj. 1. Consisting of four things or parts; 
characterized by the number four. Now chiefly 
Chem. in quaternary compound, a combination of 
four elements or radicals. 

Quaternary number, usually 4, but sometimes taken as 
= 10 (see B). 

1605 TIMME Qitcrsit. I. xi. 45 To appoynt a quaternarie 
number of elements, out of the quaternary number of the 
fower qualities. 1695 F. GREGORY Doctr. Trin. 63 We read 
what great respect Pythagoras and his sect had for their 
quaternary number. 1825 T. THOMSON ist Princ. Chem. 
I. 37 Ammonia is a quaternary compound, consisting of i 
atom azote and 3 atoms hydrogen. 1830 LINDLEY Nat. 
Syst. Bot. 14 The quaternary number of the divisions of the 
flower. 1872 OLIVER Elem. Bot. I. ii. 17 The nitrogen 
occurs combined with the same three elements, forming 
a quaternary compound. 

2. Geol. Used, with the sense of fourth in order , 
as an epithet of the most recent of the geological 
periods (following on the Tertiary), and of the 
deposits, animals, etc., belonging to it&lt; 

1843 W. HUMBLE Diet. Geol. 216 Quaternary formations. 
1865 TYLOR Early Hist. Man. viii. 198 The instruments of 
the Drift, or Quaternary deposits. 1871 DARWIN Desc. Man 
I. vii. 237 The quaternary race of the caverns of Belgium. 
1880 A. R. WALLACE Isl. Life xxi. 448 Deposits which may 
be of Quaternary or even of Pliocene age. 

B. sb. A set of four (things) ; the number four. 
Quaternary of numbers, the Pythagorean Terpaicrvff, or 

1 + 2 + 3+4 = 1. 

c 1430 Art ofNombrynge (E. E. T. S.) 8 Withdraw ther-for 
the quaternary, of the article of his denominacion twies, of 
.40., And ther remaynethe .52. 1603 HOLLAND Plutarch s 
Mor. 1310 The quaternarie is the first square or quadrate 
number, a 1638 MEDE Wks. (1672) 654 In which Quaternary 
of Kingdoms.. the Roman, being the Last of the Four, is 
the Last Kingdom. 1661 LOVEI.L Hist. Atrim. , Min. 438 
According to quaternaries, or septenaries [of days] after the 
nature of the disease. 1809 W. IRVING Knickerb. (1861) 44 
They are regarded with as much veneration as were the 
disciples of Pythagoras . . when initiated into the sacred 
quaternary of numbers. 1845 DAY An. Chem. I. 141 Thus 
quaternary compounds may be split into several quaternaries 
with the same or a different radical. 

Quaternate (kwgta-jn^t), a. [f. as prec. + 
-ATE2 : c f. F. quaterne.] Arranged in, or forming, 
a set or sets of four ; composed of four parts. 

1753 CHAMBERS Cycl. Sufp. s.v. Leaf. 1867 J. HOGG 

l , Cr ?* c ; " L 2 5 The Sarcina ventriculi, with its remark- 
able-looking quaternate spores. 1875 BENNETT & DYER tr. 
i&gt;acks hot. 391 With a long stalk and a quaternate lamina. 

(.omb. 1829 LOUDON Encycl. Plants Gloss. 1103/2 Qiiatcr- 
tiate^pinnate, pinnate, the pinnae being arranged in fours. 

ii Quate miO. rare. = next. 

1678 CUDWORTH Intell. Syst. i. iii. s 9 . ,,, Aristotle in his 
Metaphysicks, speaking of the Quaternio of Causes [etc.]. 
1681 H. MORE Lxp. Dan. ii. 25 These are the Four Winds 
of Heaven, The Quaternio of the Angelical Ministers of 
Divine Providence. 1872 D. BROWN /,,/.. John Duncan v. 
87 Watson broke up the quaternio by going to Edinburgh. 



36 

Quaternion (kwgta-jni^n). [ad. late L. qua- 
ternio, -ion-em, f. quaterni four together: cf. obs. 
F. quaternion (Godef.).] 

1. A group or set of four persons or things. 

1382 WYCLIF Acts xii. 4 Bitakinge [him] to foure qua- 



JENKYN Blind Guide Pref. Aiij, He puts his whole Booke 
under a quaternion of topicks. 1695 TRYON Dreams Vis. 
x. 185 This. .Elementary Quaternion of Earth, Air, Water 
and Fire. 1745 tr Columbia s Husb. III. xx, So let us be 
content with a certain Quaternion as it were of chosen vines. 
1868 MILMAN St. Paul s xii. 329 His great quaternion of 
English writers, Shakspeare, Hooker, Bacon, Jeremy Taylor. 
b. A quatrain. rare 1 . 

1846 LANDOR Pentam. iv. Wks. 1876 III. 517 You have 
given me a noble quaternion. 

2. Of paper or parchment : a. A quire of four 
sheets folded in two. f b. A sheet folded twice. 

1623 USSHER Ans-.u. Jesuit 398 The quaternion, .in which 
I transcribed these things out of my table-booke. 1656 
BLOUNT Glossegr., Quaternion,. . a Quire with four sheets, 
or a sheet foulded into four parts. 1816 SINGER Hist. Cards 
167 Before they had completed the third quaternion (or 
gathering of four sheets) 4000 florins were expended. 1882-3 
SCHAFF Encycl. Relig. Knowl. I. 268 The books were 
mostly made up of quaternions, i. e. quires of four sheets, 
doubled so as to make sixteen pages. 

3. The number 4 or 10 (cf. QUATERNARY). 

1637 HEYWOOD Land. Sfec. Wks. 1874 IV. 310 The 
Pythagoreans expresse their holy oath in the quaternion. 
1768-74 TUCKER Lt. Nat. (1834) I. 462 Adore the sacred 
quaternion : the quaternion containeth under it one, two, 
and three. . . The quaternion four alone is one and uncom- 
pounded. 

4. Math. a. The quotient of two vectors, or the 
operator which changes one vector into another, 
so called as depending on four geometrical elements, 
and capable of being expressed by the quadrinomial 
formula iu + xi+yj + ik, in which w, x, y, z are 
scalars, and i, j, k are mutually perpendicular 
vectors whose squares are I. b. pi. That form 
of the calculus of vectors in which this operator is 
employed, invented by Sir W. R. Hamilton in 1 843. 

1843 SIR W. R. HAMILTON Let. in Philos. Mag. XXV. 
493 We have, then, this first law for the multiplication of 
two quaternions together. 1858 Let. 15 Oct. ibid. 436 
To-morrow wilt be the isth birthday of the Quaternions. 
1 hey started into life, or light, full grown on the l6th of 
October, 1843. 1866 (Title) Elements of Quaternions. 
1873 H. SPENCER Stud. Social. (1882) 7 The value of Quater 
nions for pursuing researches in physics. 

5. attrib. or as adj. Consisting of four persons, 
things, or parts. 

1814 GARY Dante, Purgatory xx.xin. 3 The trinal now, 
and now the virgin band Quaternion, their sweet psalmody 
began. 1849 TICKNOR Span. Lit. I. 27 When and where 
this quaternion rhyme, as it is used by Berceo, was first in 
troduced, cannot be determined. 

Hence I QuateTiiion v., to arrange in quaternions 
(only in pa.fple. Quate rnioned); Quaternio nic 
a., pertaining to quaternions ; Quate rnionist. 
one who studies quaternions. 

1641 MILTON Ch. Govt. i. i, Yea, the Angels themselves., 
are distinguish d and quaternion d into their Celestial 
Princedoms, and Satrapies. 1873 TAIT Quaternions (ed. 2) 
266 It would be easy to give this a more strictly quaternionic 
form. 1881 J. VENN Symbolic Logic 91 Do we depart wider 
from the primary traditions of arithmetic than the Quater- 
nionist does ? 

Quate:riiita riau. rare. [f. next, after -, 
tnnitarian.~\ One who believes that there are four 
persons in the Godhead. 

1829 GEN. P. THOMPSON Exerc. (1842) I. 72 We should all 
have been Quaternitarians, and Quaternitarians would have 
been the orthodox. 1865 M. ARNOLD Ess. Crit. viii. (1875) 
328 The Jansenists . . are, without thinking or intending it, 
Quaternitarians. 

Quaternity (kwgto-jniti). [ad. late L. quatcr- 
nitas (Augustine, etc.), f. quaterni four together : 
see -TV. Cf. F. quaternity .\ 

1. A set of four persons (esp. in the Godhead, in 
contrast to the Trinity) or of four things. 

1529 MORE Dyaloge I. Wks. 145/1 He is bounden to beleue 
in y trmite. And y felowe beleueth in a quaternitie. 1603 
SIR C. HEVDON Jud. Astral, xx. 405 Antiquitie did deuide 
the elements into a treble quaternitie. 1678 CI DWORTH 
Intcll. Syst. i. iv. 36. 557 Not a Trinity, but a Quaternity, 



ermty t ^ ...^. 

ind of the 1 ruth. 1830 J. DOUGLAS Truths K dig. iv. (1832) 
185 Plato may be argued to have held either a trinity or a 
quaternity. 1889 Sat. Rev. 26 Oct. 475/1 A remarkable 
quaternity of great-grandmamma, grandmamma, mamma, 
and little daughter. 

2. The fact or condition of being four in number, 
or an aggregate of four. 

1839 BAILEY Fcstus xix. (1852) 287 Some [held] that in 
mystical quaternity all Deity existed. 

f 3. erron. A quarter. Obs. rare 1 . 

1633 P. FLETCHER Purple Isl. v. xii, The first with divers 
..turnings wries, Cutting the town in four quaternities. 

Quateron, obs. variant of QUADROON. 

t Quaterpetal. Ots. rare- 1 , [f. L. quater four 
times.] A plant whose flowers have four petals. 

i7S J- PETIVKR in Phil. Trans. XXIX. 274 Hcrbx Tetra- 
petatx, Quaterpetals. 



QUATRE. 

t Quater-piereed. Her. Var. of quarter- 
pierced : see QUARTER sb. 30. Obs. 

1610 GUILLIM Heraldry II. vii. (1611) 71 He beareth azure 
a crosse moline, Quater-pierced, or. . . This is termed 
Quater-pierced, quasi Quadrate pierced, for that the piercing 
is square as a Trencher. 

t Quater-temper, -temps. Obs. rare. [a. OF. 
quatior-, qitatuortempre (ad. L. quatuor tempera} 
and quatretemps , f. quatre four + temps time. Cf. 
QUARTER-TENSE.] The four fasting-periods of the 
year: see EMBER ^ 

535 i" Weaver Wells Wills (1890) 205 All crysten sowles 
comynually remembryd in the fraterny te of y e quater temps 
of y a same. 1550 BALE Eng. Votaries n. 53 Theyappoynted 
the laye people to fast y" Lent, . . aduent, rogacyon dayes, 
and quatertemper. 

t Quatervois. Obs. rare. Also 7 quatrefois. 
[Refashioning of CARFAX, after F. quatre four + 
voie way.] A place where four ways meet. 

1646 J. GREGORY Notes % Ots. (1650) 108 In the Tetram- 
podus or Quatrefois of that City .. there stood a marble 
statue of Venus. 1687 WOOD Life Sept. (O. H. S.) III. 230 
When he came to Quatervois he was entertaind with the 
wind musick or waits belonging to the city and Universitie. 

Quateryme : see QUATBEME. 

Quath(e, pbs. variants of QUOTH. 

t Qua-thrigan. Obs. rare. [ad. L. quadriga] 
= QUADRIGA (by Ormin supposed to be a four- 
wheeled chariot) ; also_/?f. the four gospels. 

c 1200 ORMIN Pref. 3 piss boc..iss wrohht off" quabbrigan, 
Off goddspell bokess fowwre. Ibid. 21 {&gt;att wa^jn iss 
nemmnedd quabbrigan bat hafebb fowwre wheless. 

Quatkin, obs. form of \\~HATKIN. 

Quatorzain (kx-tpsze in). Also 6 quaterzayn, 
7 quatorzen, 9 quatuorzain. See also QUATOR- 
ZIEM. [a. F. quatorzaine a set of fourteen (persons, 
days, etc.), f. quatorze : see next.] A piece of verse 
consisting of fourteen lines ; a sonnet. In mod. use 
spec. A poem of fourteen lines resembling a sonnet, 
but without strict observance of sonnet-rules. 

1583 G. BUCKE Commend. Verses in T. Watson s Centurie 
of Lone (Arb. ) 33 The Thuscan s poesie, Who skald [ = scaled] 
the skies in lofty Quatorzain. 1591 NASHE Pref, Sidney s 
Astr. ff Stella, Put out your rush candles you poets and 
rimers and bequeath your quaterzayns to chandlers. 1605 
CHAPMAN All Fooles u. i. 174 Sonnets in Doozens or your 
Quatorzaines [printed -anies]. 1813 LOFFT (title} Laura: 
or, an Anthology of Sonnets (on the Petrarcan model), and 
Elegiac Quatuorzains. 1836 H. F. CHORLEY Mrs.Hemans 
(1837) II. 276 This volume .. contains also many beautiful 
sonnets, or more strictly speaking, quatuorzains. 1880 Sat. 
Rev. 27 Mar. ^21 The sonnet became, .as incorrect as in.. 
Cowper s exquisite quatorzain to Mrs. Unwin. 

li Quatorze (katjrjz). [F . quatorze :L.qiiatuor- 
decim fourteen.] In piquet, a set of four similar 
cards (either aces, kings, queens, knaves, or tens) 
held by one player, which count as fourteen. 

1701 FARQUHAR Sir H. Wildair v. iv, Show for it, my 
lord 1 I showed quint and quatorze for it. 1778 C. JOSF.S 
Hoyle s Games Impr. 127 Let us suppose the Younger-hand 
to have two Quatorze against him. 1821 LAMB Elia Ser. i. 
Mrs. Battle on Whist, I love to get a tierce or a quatorze, 
though they mean nothing. 1868 PARDON Card Player 51 
You are to call a quatorze preferably to three aces. 

Quatorziem, -sime, obs. Sc. varr. QUATOHZAIN. 

For the change of ending, cf. QUINZIEME 2. 

1615 in Montgotnerie s Poems (S. T. S.) Introd. 51 The 
Cherrie and the Slae. -Newly altered, perfyted and divided 
into 114 Quatorziems. [c 17*4 RAMSAY Some^ConUnts Ever 
green ix, Montgomery s quatorsimes sail evirpleis.] 

Quatrain (kwo tre n). Also 6 quadrain, 
-rein(e, -reyne, 7 -ren, -rin, -ran. [a. F. quat 
rain, f quadrain (Cotgr.), f. quatre four.] 

1. A stanza of four lines, usually with alternate 
rimes ; four lines of verse. 

o. 1585 JAS. 1 Ess. Poesie (Arb.) 13 Ane qvadrain of Alex- 
andrin verse. 1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. Poesie \\. ii. (Arb.)8i 
It is not a huitane or a staffe of eight, but two quadreins. 
1611 FLORiOft^uartetto,. .a quadren of a Sonnet, or stafie of 
foure verses. 1651 DELAUNE (title) A Legacie to his Sonnes. 
Digested into Quadrins. 

p. 1666 DKYUEN Pref. Ann. Mirab. Wks. (Globe) 38, I 
have chosen to write my poem in quatrains or stanzas of four 
in alternate rhyme. 1683 TEMPLE Mem. Wks. 1731 I. 478 
A Quatrain recited out of Nostredamns. 18*3 ROSCOE tr. 
Sumondfs Lit. Eur. (1846) I. iv. 102 The beautiful stanza 
of ten lines, in one quatrain and two tercets. 1856 R. A. 
VAUGHAN Mystics (1860) II. 7 There are many terse and 
happy couplets and quatrains in the Wanderer. 
b. A set of four persons, nonce-use. 

1862 S. LUCAS Secularia 289 There were four English 
men of letters . . of this stately quatrain Swift and Dryden 
are the only two he has encountered in his history. 

2. = QUARTERN 5. rare 1 . 

1819 SOUTHEY Lett. (1856) III. 120 Did I send you the 
opening of Oliver Newman , in a small square size . . or in 
half quatrain form ? 

II Quatre (katr, ka-tsj). Also 6 quatter, 6, 8 
quater. [F. quatre four.] The number four ; the 
four in dice. = CATER sl&gt;.~ 

a 1550 Image Hypocr. iv. in Skeltoris Wks. II. 442/1 
Swordemen and kmghtes, That for the faith fightes With 
sise, sinke, and quatter. c 1570 Prided Lfnvl. (1841) 75 All 
for a matter deer of quater a~e. 1611 FLORIO, Qnaderni, two 
quaters or foures at dice: 1694 MOTTEUX Rabelais v. x. 
( 737) 37 Cinques, Quaters, Treys. 1772 FOOTE XaM n. 
Wks. 1799 II. 301 Cinque and quater: you re out. 1814 
CARY Dantt , Paradise v. 59 Included, as the quatre in the 
sise. 1850 Holm s Hand-bit. Games 383 Should two quatres 
be thrown, any of the following moves may be played. 



QTJATREBLE. 

Hence Qnatre-crested a., having four crests. 

1791 COWPER Iliad it. 48 His helmet quatre-crested. [Note. 
Quatre-crested. So I have rendered Terpa^aAqpor.] 

t Quatreble, a. and s6. Obs. Also 5 -trebil, 
-tribill, 6 -treple, quadreble, -ible. [Alteration 
of F. quadruple on anal, of trible TREBLE.] 

A. adj. QUADRUPLE. 

1398 TREVISA Bartli. DC P. /?. xix. cxxv. (1495) 925 Thre 
is treble to one ; and fowre is quatreble to one. [See also 

?UIN1BLE.] ,1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Cov. Lordsk. 82 
reble or quatreblee [odours]. 1454 Rolls Parlt. V. 273 
The quatreble value of Wolles . . so shippid. 1489 Barbours 
/&gt;Vwc&lt;r(Edinb. MS.) xvm. 30 He suld fecht that day Thocht 
tribill ami quatribill war thai. 1553 Respublicti (Hrandl) II. 
iii. 4 Ye, double knave youe, will ye never be other? .. Ye, 
quadribie knave [etc.]. 1356 J. H EYWOOD Spit ier fy F. xcvi. 
8 Double or treble (yea qualreble) cause. [1735 W. HAWKINS 
Stat. at Large I. 425 The same Hostler shall incur the 
quatreble Value of that which he hath taken.] 

B. sl&gt;. 1. A fourfold amount. 

14 . . Lansdcnmie .VS. 763 in -V. $ Q. 4th Ser. (1870) VI. 
117/1 The same proportion that is betwene twoe small 
numberis, the same is betwene doubles and treblis, and 
quatrebils and quiniblis. 1439 Rolls Parlt. IV. 349/1 Ye 
parte pleynyng shal have ye quatreble of his damages. 
1540-1 ELYOT Image Gov. 51 If they had dooen euill, they 
shuld paie the quatreple or foure tymes so much as they 
receiued. 

2. Mas. A note higher than the treble, being an 
octave above the mean. (Cf. QUINIBLE.) 

15*8 [see next quot.]. 1855-7 W. CHAPPELL Pop. Mils. 
Olden Time I. 34 To sing a quatrible [means] to descant 
byfourths. The. -term is used by Cornish in his Treatise be 
tween Trowthe and Enformacion, 1528. 1870 in N. ff Q. 
4th Ser. VI. 117/1 The quatreble began and ended a twelfth 
above [the plain song] and the quimble a fifteenth. * 

Hence fQuatreble (quadribie) v., to quadruple ; 
also Mils., to sing a quatreble. 

1398 TREVISA Earth. De P. R. xvm. ix. (1495) 759 Some 
serpentes haue many hedys, for some bell dowble and some 
treblyd and some quatrebled. ( 1500 Prffv. in Antiq. Rep. 
(1809) IV. 406 He that quadribilithe to hy, his voice is 
variable. 1607 J. NORDEN Surv. Dial, II. 67 The profits 
was twice quadrebled. 

Quatrefoil (kre-taifoil), sb. and a. Forms : 5 
quaterfoile, -foyl(e, katir-, katerfoil, quarter- 
foyle, (9 -foil), 6 quaterfoiUe, -foyle, -fold, 
caterfoyle, 7 -foile, 8- quadre-, quatrefoil, (9 
-feuil-le). [a. OF. type *qua(rcfoil, f. qitatre four 
^foil leaf, FOIL sb^ Cf. CINQUEFOIL.] 
f A. adj. Having four leaves. Obs. ran. 

CI4ZO Pallad. on Hnsb. II. 57 Whan whete is quaterfoyle 
[L. qutitHorfpliorutn} and barleyfyue. .hit is to wede hem. 
Ibid. xi. 118 And katerfoil, when thai bcth vp yspronge, 
Transplaunte hem. 

B. sb. f 1. A set of four leaves. Obs. rare~ l . 

1:1420 Pallad. on Hush. m. 623 Let grounden glas go 
syfte on hem. .When theyr trefoyl or quaterfoyl is owte. 

2. A compound leaf or flower consisting of four 
(usually rounded) leaflets or petals radiating from 
a common centre ; also, a representation or con 
ventional imitation of this, esp. as a charge in 
Heraldry, b. Arch. An opening or ornament, 
having its outline so divided by cusps as to give it 
the appearance of four radiating leaflets or petals. 

Double quatrefoil t zn ornament, etc., having eight divisions 
similarly disposed. 

494 FABYAN Clinn. VH. 600 Qnynces in compost. Blaund 
lure, powderyd with quarter foyles gylt. 1520 in Archaa- 
logiaUll. 19 A crosse sylver and gylte like a quaterfold. 
1562 LEIGH Armorie (1597) nob, He beareth .. a double 
Caterfoyle. . . He beareth the quaterfoyle double . . because 
he is the viij from the heire. 1610 GUILLIM Heraldry I. vi. 
(1611)26 The Crosse Moline, and the Double Cater-foile. 
1771 Antiq. Sarisb. 191 A little cross .. like a quaterfoiUe. 
1805 SCOTT Last Minstr. n. ix, The key-stone, that lock d 
each ribbed aisle, Was a fleur-de-lys, or a quatre-feuille 
1849 FREEMAN Archil. 360 We .. find in Early Gothic the 
head of a couplet filled with a circle, a quatrefoil [etc.]. 

Hence Qna-trefoiled a., having the form of a 
quatrefoil, divided into four parts by cusps. 

1848 B. WEBB Coat. Ecclesiol. 62 The side lights having 
quatrefoiled circles in their heads. &*&EccUtulogitt XVI. 
295 A taller column, quatrefoiled in section. 1881 N. f, Q. 
6th Ser. III. 133/1 A brass seal with a quatrefoiled handle. 

So Quatrefo-liated a. 

1850 T. INKERSLEY Inq. Rum. ft Pointed Archil. France 
309 Sustaining two quatrefoliated circles. 

Quatrefois, variant of QUATERVOIS. 

t Quatreme, -ime. O6s, rare. In 5 quat- 
erime,-(e)ryme, katereme. [a. OB , quatrieme, 
-esme (i4th c. in Godef.), subst. use of quatrieme 
fourth.] A duty or tax of a fourth part levied on 
certain commodities. 

^1460 FORTESCUE Abs. ft Lim. Moil. \. (1885^ 131 The 
gabell off the salt, and the quaterimes of the wynes, were 
graunted to the kynge by the iij estates of France, c 1465 
Kng. Chron. (Camden 1856) 48 Alle maner custumez, fe fer- 
mez, and quatrymez. 1480 CAXTON Citron. Eng. vll. (1520) 
149/2 All maner customes and fee fermes and kateremes. 

Quatreple, -trible, variants of QUATREBLE. 

t Quatri-dual, a. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. L. quat- 
riJu-um + -AL.] Lasting for four days. 

1646 R. BAILLIE Aaataftism (1647) 34 This is the fruit of 
their quatridual fastings. 

Qua trin. Now rare. Also 5 katereyn, 6 
-in, -yn, 6-7 quatriue. [a. OF. qualrin, quaJrin 
(Godef.), or It. quattrino, f. quattro four.] A small 
piece of money; a farthing. Cf. QUADRINE . 



37 

c 1400 Apol. Loll. 12 t&gt;ou schalt seue me foure fioreynis. . . 
And he ansuerid, Sobli, I haue but foure katereynis. 1547 
BOORDE Introd. Know!, xxiii. (1870) 179 (Italy) In bras they 
haue kateryns, and byokes, and denares. 1382 MUNDAY 
Eng. Rom. Life in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) II. 202 Supping so 
well as 1 coulde, with two quatrines woorth of leckes. 1617 
MORYSON Itin. i. 92 From hence [Bologna] we hired a boat 
for foure bolinei and foure quatrines. 1888 Pali Alall G. 
17 Nov. 2/2 Does it refer to the Pope who had not a quatrin, 
or to St. Martin ? 

Quatriplate, Quatrivial, Quatron(e, 
Quatroon, varr. or obs. ff. QUADRUPLATE, QUAD- 
RIVIAL, QUARTERN, QUADROON. 

t Quatrumvirate. Ol&gt;;. = QUATUORVIRATE. 

1684 T. GODUAKD Plato s Demon 53 The whole Trium 
virate, or if you will, Quatrumvirate are included. 

Quat-so-(euer), Quatt, obs. ff. WHAT-SO- 
(EVER), WHAT. Quarter, obs. f. QUATRE. 

II Quattrocento (kwattro,tje-nttf). [It., lit. 
four hundred , but used for fourteen hundred : 
cf. ClxyuECENTo.] The fifteenth century (14 . .), 
as a period of Italian art, architecture, etc. 

1873 POLLEN Anc. 4- Mod. Furn. 61 The better known 
Italian furniture of the quattrocento . . is gilt and painted. 
1882-3 J- L. CORNINO in Schaff Encycl. Kelig. Ktioml. III. 
2159 We may include both of these the quatrocento [sic] 
and the cinquecento in the third great period of Christian 
sculpture. 

Hence Quattroce-ntist, || -centi-sta (It., with 
pi. -isti), -centiste (F.), an Italian artist, author, 
etc. of the 1 5th c. ; also attrib. or as adj. 

1853 MOTLKV Corr. (1889) I. vi. 182 The wonderful Quattro 
Centisti of Florence, the painters, I mean, of the fifteenth 
century. 1873 OUIDA Pfiscurel I. 66 He would bring out 
from its corner _his little old quattrocentiste viol. 1886 
HOLMAN HUNT in Contcmp. Rev. XLIX. 476, I began to 
trace the purity of work in the quattrocentists, to this 
drilling of undeviating manipulation. Ibid. 477 The quattro- 
centist work.. became dearer to me as I progressed. 

Qua-tuor. Aim. [L. four .] =QUAKTKT i. 
The current term in Fr., but not now in Eng. use. 
1726 BAILEY, Quatiior (in Musick Books) signifies Musick 
composed for 4 Voices. 1811 in BUSBY Diet. Jfas. (ed. 3 . 

t Quatuordecangle. Obs. rare 1 , [f. L. 
quatiior four + dec-em ten + ANGLE.] A figure 
having fourteen angles. 

1667 COLLINS in Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men (1841) I. 128 The 
side of a regular quatuordecangle inscribed in a circle. 

Quatuo-rvirate. rare 1 , [ad. L. quatuor- 
virat-us, f. quatiior four + vir man. Cf. QUAD- 
BUM-, QUARTUM-, QUATRUMVIKATE.] A body of 
four men. 

_ 1836 W. C. LAKE in Life (1901) 195 Lending his religious 
influence to the Triumvirate or Quatuorvirate. 

tQuaught, v. Obs. rare-", [var. of quaft, 
QUAFF v. or of Sc. WAUCHT.] To drink deeply. 

1530 PALSGR. 676/2, I quaught, I drinke all out. Je boys 
dautant. Wyll you quawght with me? 

Quauk, Sc. form of QUAKE v. 

t Quave, sb. Obs. [f. next.] A shake, tremble. 

1382, etc. [see EARTH-QUAVE). c 1440 Promp. Parv. 419/2 
Quaue, of a myre (K., P. quaue, as of a myre), latino. 
1633 SWAN Spec. M. (1670) 196 A quave of the earth 
swallowed a middle part of the city Misia. 

t Quave, v. 06s. Also 3 owauien, 4, 6 quaue, 
5 qyavyn, 6 queaue. [Early ME. cwavien, prob. 
repr. an OE. *civajian, of parallel formation to 
cwacian QUAKE ; for the stem cf. QUIVER v.~\ 

1. intr. To quake, shake, tremble. 

a izs St. Marker. 19 Al \&gt;e eorSe . . bigon to cwakien 
[ff. ant to cwauien]. 1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. xvm. 61 The 
wal wagged and clef, and al the worlde qunued. 1382 
WYCLIF i Sam. xxviii. 5 And Saul, .dradde, and his herte 
quauyde ful myche. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 419/2 Qvavyn, 
as myre, ircino. 1481 CAXTON Myrr. II. c. 22 Now vnder- 
stande ye . . how the erthe quaueth and shaketh. 1509 
Parl. Dcvyllcs Ivi, The erthe quaued . . Valeys and stones 
brest asonder. 1687 MIEGE Grt. Fr. Diet, n, To Quave. 
As to quave with fat. [1823 see Quaving ppl. a.] 

2. iiitr. To beat, palpitate ; to throb with life. 
1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) VI I. 37 pe place at Schaftes- 

bury J&gt;ere his longes jit quaveb al fresche and sound. 1589 
PUTTENHAM Eng. Pocsie 111. xix. (Arb.) 223 Is he aliue, Is 
he as I left him queauing and quick. 

Hence f Qua ving vbl. sb. and///, a. 

13. . E. E. Atlit. P. B. 324, I schal. .quelle alle bat is quik 
with quauende flodez. 1382 WVCLIF i Kings xix. ii After 
the wynde, quauynge ; not in the quauyng the Lord. 1533 
ELYOT Cast. Heltk i. ii, That body is called fleumatike, 
wherein water hath pre-eminence, and is perceiued by these 
slgnes : fatnesse, quaving ; and soft. 1610 HOLLAND Cam- 
den s Brit. i. 530 So quaving soft and moist the Bases were. 
1823 BUTTON Beauties Wilts III. 8 In the valley.. are 
some quagmires, called by the inhabitants quaving-gogs. 

t Qua-vemire. Obs. [f. QUAVE v. + MIRE.] 
= QUAGMIRE (q.v.). 

1330 PALSCR., Quave myre, foundriere, crouliere. 1363 
JEWEL Def. Apol. d6i i) 404 Pooler, Marishes, . . and Quaue- 
mires. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny I. 221 Dyonisius was forced 
to leaue his horse sticking fast in a quaue-mire. 1610 
Camden s Brit. 529 The Lower [part] hath in it foule and 
slabby quave mires, yea and most troublesome fennes. 

fig. 1581 J. BELL H addon s Answ. Osor. 206 They do 
winne nothing by thys distinction : seeing that they fall 
back into the same quavemire. 

Quaver (kwf^vai), sb. [f. the vb.] 

1. Mus. A note, equal in length to half a crotchet 

or one-eighth of a semibreve. 
1570 LEVINS Afanip, 76/18 A Quauer, oetana pars men. 

suns. 1397 MOKLEY Introd. Mus. Annot., Who inuented 



QUAVERING. 

the Crotchet, Quauer and Semiquauer is vncertaine. 1659 
LEAK Waterwks. 31 Demi- crochets or Quavers, whereof 
there are sixteen in one measure. 1706 A. BEDFORD Temple 
Mits. viii. 165 The greatest Part, -is sung in Short Notes. , 
and are Prickt with Quavers. 1789 K. DARWIN Bot. Card. 
ii. ^1791) 60 And then the third on four concordant lines, 
Prints the lone crotchet, and the quaver joins. 1866 Exoti. 
Nat. Mns. iii. 90 A slight alteration of the melody, .such 
as a substitution of two quavers for a crotchet. 
fig. a 1619 FOTHERBY Atktoni, n.xii. i (1622) 327, I will 
not strictly examine euery crochet and quauer. 

2. Mits. A shake or trill in singing. 

1611 CORYAT Crudities 27, I heard a certaine French man 
who sung very melodiously with curious quauers. 1711 
ADDISON Sped. No. 29 p ii A Voice so full of Shakes and 

8uavers, that I should have thought the Murmurs of a 
ountry Brook the much more agreeable Muaick. 1768-74 
TUCKER Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 443 The people . . attend solely 
to their quavers, without heeding the substance of what 
they sing. 1817 BYRON Beppo iij There are songs and 
quavers, roaring, humming. 1883 STEVENSON Treas, Id. 
v. xxiii, A. .sailor s song, with a droop and a quaver at the 
end of every verse. 

b. in instrumental music, rare. 

1627-77 FELTHAM Resolves 11. xxxvii. 234 Unlike a quaver 
on an Instrument, it is not there a grace, but a jar in Music. 
1712 AUDISON Sped. No. 361 f 6 Whether we consider the 
Instrument [the Cat-call] itself, or those .several Quavers and 
Graces which are thrown into the playing of it. 

3. A shake or tremble in the voice ; a tremulous 
voice or cry. 

1748 RICHARDSON Ctarissa fiSii) III. xiii. 86 [She] drew 
a sigh into two or three but just audible quavers. 1833 Hi. 
MARTINEAU TaleofTyne iii. 53 There was. .a quaver of the 
voice which belied what he said. 1882 SIKVI-:,\SON New 
Arab. Nts. (1884) 63 Silas, with a quaver, admitted that he 
had done so. 

4. A quivering or tremulous movement. Also/yf. 
1736 H. BROOKE Univ. Beauty v. 136 Tissu d wing its 

folded membrane frees, And with blithe quavers fans the 
gath ring breeze. 1881 STEVENSON I irg. Pitcri^/ue, Eng. 
Admirals 208 The worth of such actions is not a thing to 
be decided in a quaver of sensibility* 

Quaver (kw^ vaa), v. Also 5 qwaver. [f. 
QUAVE v. + -ER3. Cf. QUIVER v.] 

1. intr. To vibrate, tremble, quiver. Now rare. 
1430-40 LYDG. Bockas viii. viii. (1558) fol. vi, Whose 

double whele quauereth euer in dout. 1477 SIR J. PASTON 
in / . Lett. III. 174 It semythe that the worlde is alle 
qwaveryng. 1590 MARLOWE vnd Pt. Taniburt. r. iii, Their 
lingers made to quaver on a lute. 1629 GAULE Holy Madn. 
206 Tongue stammers, lips quauer. 1692 LUTTRELL Brief 
AW. (1857) II. 571 The earthquake was so severe, .that the 
streets quavered like the waves of the sea. 1839 BAILEY 
Festus ix. (1852) 125 Like rivers over reeds Which quaver 
in the current. 1887 STEVENSON Afisadv. J. Nicholson ii. 
4 The breeze, .set the flames of the street-lamps quavering. 
b. Of the voice: To shake, tremble. 
1741 RICHARDSON Pamela II. 43 That melodious Voice 
praying for me. .still hangs upon my Ears, and quaver* upuii 
my Memory. 1825 J. NEAL Bro. Jonathan I. 401 His fine 
voice quavered. 1866 G. MACDONALD Ann, Q, Neighb. \. 
(1878) 2 When my voice quavers. 

2. intr. To use trills or shakes in singing. 

1538 ELYOT, Vibrisso, To quauer in syngynge. a 1592 
H. SMITH in Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. cxxxvi. i Like 
a nightingale, which .. quavers and capers, and trebles 
upon it. 1665 BRATHWAIT Comm. 2 Talcs 23 He quavers 
in his musical Aires melodiously. 1684 tr. Agrippas Van. 
Arts liv. 147 In Singing also the Italians Bleat, the 
Spaniards Whine, the Germans Howl, and the French 
Quaver. 1708 J. PHILIPS Cyder ii. 413 Now sportive Youth 
Carol incondite Rhythms with suiting Notes, And quaver 
unharmonipus. 1806-7 J- BERESFORD Miseries Hiou. Life 
(1826) v. xii, One poor singer quavering like Orpheus of old 
to the trees. 1854 H. MILLER Sc/t. &lt;y Scknt, (1858) 403 Jock 
laboured hard to keep up with his guide; quavering and 
semi-quavering, as his breath served. 

3. trans. To sing (a note, song, etc.) with trills 
or quavers. Also with/i?rM, out. 

1570 LEVINS Manip. 78/43 To Quauer a note, vibrarc. 
1596 DRAYTON Legends i. 43 The Larke . . Quaver d her 
cleare Notes in the quiet Ayre. 1651 CLEVELAND Poems 49 
Can a groan Be quaver d out by soft division? 1757 DYER 
Fleece (1807) 94 Th 1 am rous youth . . Quavers the choicest 
of his sonnets. 1820 W. IRVING Sketch Bk. (1859) 150 He 
quavered forth a quaint old ditty. 1856 R. W. PROCTER 
Barbels Shop xiv. (1883) 118 1 he song which Jack, .liked 
most to quaver was Alice Gray. 

4. trans. To drive away by playing quavers. 
1780 COWPER Progr. Err. 127 With wire and catgut .. 

Quavering and semiquavering care away. 

Hence Qua vered///. a. Also Qua verer, one 
who quavers. 

1611 COTGR., Gringuenoteur* A warbler, shaker, quauerer. 
1762 SIR W. JQXKS Arcadia 164 His tune so various and 
uncouth he made, That, .not a nymph [could] the quaver d 
notes approve. 1802 in Spirit Pnb. Jrnls. VI. 222 Italia 
sends us home Three quaverers together. 

Quaver, obs. Sc. form of QUIVER st&gt;. 1 

Quavering (kw^-varirj), vbl, sb. [f. QUAVEB v. 
+ -ING!.] The action of the vb., in various senses. 

1552 HULOET, Quauerynge, mbratio. 1577 tr. Bitllinger s 
Decades (1592) 32 A Hymne..may bee humblie vttered 
without quauering of the voice. 1634 WITHER Embl. 82 
T will cause a thousand quaverings in your breast. 1706 
A. BEDFORD Temple Mns. \\\. 158 Tebhir + . may denote a 
Shake or Quavering of the Voice. 1826 SCOTT Woodst. i, 
The . . Mayor then interrupted the quavering of . . the clerk. 
1892 E. REEVES Homeward Bound -222 A buzzing, humming 
sound, .with quaverings on its sharp and flat. 

Quavering (kw^-variq), ///. a. [f. as prec. + 
-ING 2 .] That quavers, in senses of the vb. 

1430-40 LYDG. Bockas iv. xx. (1554) 119 In al such quauer 
ing perseuerance Thinke on Lisymachus. 1561 HOLLYBUSH 



QUAVERINGLY. 

Ham. Afoth. 22 S. Ihons hcries. .be goixl for the quauering 
harte. 1607 TOPSELL Four-/. Beasts (1658) 272 Such pass 
ing sweet inusick as that his fine quavering hand could 
sometime make. 1715 POPE Odyss. xx. 222 With quavering 
cries the vaulted roofs resound. 1873 HOLLAND A. Bonnie. 
xxl. 340 A voice quite unnatural in us quavering sharpness. 

Hence Qua-veringly &lt;& ., in a quavering manner; 
with a quaver in the voice. 

1594 NASHE Unfort. Tntv. Wks. 1883-4 V. 185 lairing on 
them quaueringly with his hammer. 1882 J. HAWTHORNE 
Fart. Fool i. xiu. I don t want to have you go, Jack ! said 
she, quaveringly. 

Quavery (kw^ vari), a. rare. [f. as prec. + 
-vT] Apt to quaver ; somewhat quavering. 

1519 HORMAN Vitlg. 240 A quauery or maris and vnstable 
fun rulacion , must be holpe with great pylys of alder rammed 
downe. iK6 Miss BRADDON Liutys Mile 35 Quavery old 
sextons. 1890 HALL CAINE Bondman in. iv, He began to 
sing, .in his hoarse and quavery voice. 

So Qua-very-ma-very, in an uncertain or pre 
carious condition, rare. 

1809 MALKIN Gil Bias x. ii. r 3 Your father, .is standing, 
as a body may say, quavery. mavery between life and death. 
a 1815 FORHY Voc. E. Anglia, Quatffry-fHavtry, undecided ; 
and hesitating how to decide. 

Quaving, vtl. sb. and ///. a. : see QUAVE v. 

tQuaviver. Obs. Also 7 quaui(u}er, qua- 
wiuer. [app. f. VIVEB ; the first element is obscure.] 
The fish called sea-dragon or dragonet. 

1589 RIDER Bibl. Schotast. 1723 A quaviuer, a kind of sea 
fish, araneits drac&na. 1611 COTGR., Traignc, the sea 
Dragon, Viuer, Quauiuer. 1655 Mol FKT & BENNET Health s 
[tnprffu. 1 1746) 258 Quawiuers, for so the Scots and Northern 
English term them, are very subtile and crafty Fishes. 1725 
BRADLEY Fant. Diet. s.v. Fish, Your Quavivers or Perches 
must be boiled in Water with Salt. 1783 AINSWORTH Lat. 
Diet. (Morell) n, Draco,, .a fish called a quaviver. 

t Qua vy, Obs. rare. Also 5 quauie, qwauy. 
[f. Qu AVE v. + -Y i.] Soft, flabby. 

1398 TREVISA Earth.. DC P. R. iv. ix. (Tollem. MS.), Dull 
of witte .. nesche of flesche and quauy. Ibid. \\. iv. (1405) 
191 The chyldes rlesshe that is newe borne is tendre, nesshe, 
qwauy and vnsadde. 

Quavyr, obs. Sc. var. of QUIVER sl&gt;. 1 

Quaw (kw). Sc. Also 9 quai&gt;, quah. [Of 
obscure origin, poss. repr. an earlier * quail: cf. 
qitallmire and the forms cited s.v. QUAGMIRE.] 
A quag, quagmire. Also Qnawmire. 

535 LYNDESAY Satyrc 837 (Laingl Lyk ane quaw myre. 
1595 DUNCAN App. F.tym. (E. D. S.), I orago, a gulfe, or 
quaw-myre. 1824 MACTAGGART Gattovid. Encycl., Qnakin. 
qttains or Qitaws, or moving quagmire bogs. 1880 - / ntrhn 
Ac Down Gloss., Quaa, quah, a marsh; a quagmire, or 
shaking bog. 1894 CROCKETT Raiders 167 Green, deceitful 
quakkin-qua s , covered with a scum that looked like 
tender young grass. 

Quaw-bird, variant of QUA-BIBD. 

Quawght, variant of QUAUOHT. Obs. 

Quawk (kwgk), v. dial. [Imitative ; cf. CAWK 
sb?] intr. To caw. Hence Quawking vbl. sb. 

1821 CLARE Vill. Minstr. I. 24 Rous d by quawking of the 
flopping crows. Ibid. II. 121 The rooks . .Quawk clamorous 
to the spring s approach. 1879- In dial, glossaries (Leic., 
Shropsh., etc.). 

t Quax, v. O/ S.- 1 [? var. QUASS v.] To quaff. 

1509 BARCLAY Shyf of Folys (1874) II. 261 Some drynkes ; 
some quaxes the canykyn halfe full. 

Quay &gt;* ), sb. [Later spelling of kay, KEY sb?, 
after F. quai. The pron. is that of key ; cf. how 
ever quots. 1723 and 1850.] An artificial bank or 
landing-place, built of stone or other solid material, 
lying along or projecting into a navigable water 
for convenience of loading and unloading ships. 

1696 PHILLIPS (ed. 5), Quay or Kay, a broad Space pav d 
upon the Shore of a Kiver, Haven or Port, for the loading 
and unloading of Goods. 1713 SWIFT Stella at Wood-Park 
46 But now arrives the dismal day, She must return to 
Ormond-quay. 1756-7 tr. Kcyslcr s Trav. (1760) II. 382 
Repairs and improvement of the ancient quay. 1800 COL- 
QUHOUN Couim. &lt;$ Pol. Thames i. 26 The small Vessels land 
their Goods at the Quays. 1830 TENNYSON In tlem. xiv, 
If . . I went down unto the quay [rime to-day], And found 
thee lying in the port. 1884 PAE Eustace xviii. 233 A small 
quay ran along the north of the little harbour. 

b. attrib. and Comb., as quay-berth, -charges, 
-dues, -edge, -head, -holder, -labourer, -like adj., 
man, -master, -room, -side (hence -sider), -space, 
-stone, -wall, etc. 

1798 R. DODD Port Loud. 7 Regular quay-walls on both 
sides the river. Ibid. 9 The legal quay-holders and wharf 
ingers. 1820 KEATS Lamia I. 224 His galley now Grated the 
quay-stones, c i8ao S. ROGERS Italy, Como 28 A quay-like 
scene, glittering and full of life. 1862 ANSTED Channel fsl. 
I. 111. (ed. 2) 40 The quay-room was extremely narrow and 
restricted. 1889 P. H. EMERSON Eng. Idyls 128 Paddling 
to a quay-head, they landed. 

Hence Quay t&gt;.l trans., to provide with a quay. 

, ... r * J 




592 Quay the calm porls and dike the"] awns, nave! " 1857 
Baktubgnt X VI 1 1. , 75 The quayed and purified Thames. 

tQuay.s^ Ohs. rare-^. [? Alteration of QUAII, 
v .] trans. To depress, subdue, daunt. 

1590 SPENSER F Q i. viii. 14 Therewith his sturdie corage 
soon was quayd, And all his sences were with suddein 
dread dismayd. 

Quay, obs. form of WHEY. 



38 

Quayage (,kred5). [In sense I for earlier kay-, 
KEY AGE, q. v. ; in sense 2 f. QUAY sb. + -AGE.] 

1. Dues levied on goods landed or shipped at 
a quay, or on ships using the quay. 

1756 in ROI.T Diet. Trade. 1778 Engl. Gazetteer (ed. 2) 
S v Truro, The quayage of goods laden or unladen there. 
1894 J. H. WVLIE /list. Eng. Hen. II , II. 475 A quayage 
of 6it. was levied on every ship bringing articles alongside. 

2. Quay-room, quay-space. 

1840 Evid. Hull Docks damn. 29 You have allotted con 
siderable room for quayage. 1881 W. WH.KINS Songs of . 
Study 32 We strolled by the quayage and bridges. 1888 
Spectator 30 June 891/2 A hundred years ago, the quayage 
of the harbour [Glasgow] measured 382 yards. 

Quayer(e, obs. forms of QUIRE si. 1 

t Q.uayf(e, quaff, obs. ff. Coir. (In quots. = 

omentum ; cf. COIF 6, and Cotgr. s.v. Coiffe.} 
1597 Lowi; Chirurg. (1634) 223 The cure [of tumor in the 

Navel] is . . reduce the pudding and Quaffe [etc.]. 1622 

J. REYNOLDS GocTs^Revcnge ll. 195 On his right side; but 

it touch t neither his bowels nor quayfe. 

Quayful. [f. QUAY sb. + -FUL.] A quantity 
sufficient to fill a quay. 

1856 KANE Arct. E.t:pl. II. xvii. 181 Much like a gang of 
stevedores going to work over a quayful of broken cargo. 

Quayl^e, Quaym, obs. ff. QUAIL sb. and v., 
WHOM. Quaynt(e, obs. f. QUAINT a. ; obs. pa. 
pple. of QUENCH v. Quayntance : see QUAINT- 
ANCE. Quayre, Quays, obs. ff. QUIRE, WHOSE. 

Que, obs. f. CUE si. 1 and sb. 2 , QUEY. 

Queacll(kwitJ). In. exc. dial. Also 5 quech(e, 
/ queich. [Of obscure etym.] A dense growth 
of bushes ; a thicket (see also quot. 182;;). 

c 1450 Merlin xxvii. 540 Thei rode so longe till thei com 
in to a thikke queche in a depe valey. 1486 Bk. St. A loans 
Dj, When ye come to a wode or a quech of bushus. 1565 
GOLDING Oi id s Met. I. (1593) 4 Their houses were the 
thicks, And bushie queaches. 1653 Sin W. DENNY Peleca- 
nicidijt n in. ix. 7 Through furzie Queaches thou must 
goe. ai8z FORBY l\&gt;c. E. Anglia, Queach, a plat of ground 
adjoining arable land, and left unploughed, because full of 
bushes or roots of trees. 1832 L. HUNT Poems 198 Wood, 
copse, or queach. 

Queachy (kwz-tji), a. Obs. exc. dial. Also 6-7 
quechy, 9 \dial.~) queechy. [f. prec. + -Y -. For 
the connexion between senses I and 2, cf. CARR 2 .] 

1 1. Forming a dense growth or thicket. Obs. 

1565 GOLDING Ovid s Alet. To Rdr. (1593) i Eche queachie 
grove, eche cragged clifie, the name of Godhead tooke. 
1586 W. WEUBE Eng. Poetrie (Arb.) 76 Neuer againe shall 
I . . See ye in queachie briers, .clambring on a high hill. 

2. Of ground : Swampy, boggy. Obs. exc. dial. 
1593 PEELE Ediu. I E iv, The dampes that rise from out 

the quechy [1599 quesie] plots. 1613 HEYWOOD Bras. Age 
II. ii. Wks. 1874 III. 100 Aime them at yon fiend, Deu d in 
the quechy bogge. 1631 CHETTLE Hoffmann I b, Nor doth 
the sun sucke from the queachy plot The ranknes . . of the 
Earth. 1886 EI.WORTHY \V. Som. Word-Ik., Queechy, .. 
Applied to land wet ; sodden ; swampy. 

3. dial. Feeble, weak, small. 

1859 GEO. ELIOT A. Bede x, They re poor queechy things, 
gells is. 1886 ELWORTHY \V. Som. Word-bk., Queechy, 
sickly, feeble, queasy. 

Quead, variant of QUED, bad. Obs. 

Queal, qneel (kwf 1), v. Obs. exc. dial. [Later 
form of QUAIL v. for the change of vowel, cf. 
QUEASY.] intr. and trans. = QUAIL v. 

1515 BARCLAY Egloges ii. (1570) B v, Their matters quealeth, 
for solde is all Justice. 1550 HOOPER Serm. Jonas vii. 
Wks. (Parker Soc.) 552 He bringeth forth a young tree... 
P&gt;ut the Lord queeleth it again straightway. 1622 W. 
YONGE Diary 19 Aug. (Cauiden) 63 The wind, .quealed all 
hedges towards the south. 1847-78 HALLIWELL, Queal, to 
faint away. Devon. Il id., Qneel, to grow flabby. Devon. 
1848 A. B. EVANS Leicestersli. Words, Queel, to extinguish : 
He could not queel the fire . 

Queale, obs. form of WHEAL. 

Quealy (?), a. : see QDEASY 2 c, quot. 1649. 

Quean ;kwm). Forms: I, 3 owene, (i owyne), 
3-6 quene, (5 qw-), 4-5 quen, queyne, 5 qw-, 
queyn, 4-6 queine, 7 queeue, 7-8 queen, (8 
north, whein) ; 6-7 queane, (8 quane, 8-9 north. 
whean), 6- quean ; 8-9 Sc. quine. [OE. fwene 
wk. fern. = OS. quena (MDu. quene, Du. kween 
a barren cow), OHG. quina, quena, c!i(w)ena, 
ON. kvenna, kvintia (gen. pi.), Goth, qino woman 
:-OTeut. *kwenon-, a lengthened form of the stem 
which appears in Zend gena, Gr. 71^107, OS1. and 
Russ. send, Olr. lien, repr. a common Aryan type 
*g w end : cf. QUEEN. 

In ME. the word was distinguished from QUEEN by its 
open e, which in the 14-1 5th c. was sometimes denoted by 
the spelling with ei or ey, and later (as in other words of 
the class) by ea.] 

1. A woman, a female ; from early ME. a term 
of disparagement or abuse, hence: A bold, impu 
dent, or ill-behaved woman; a jade, hussy; and 
spec, a harlot, strumpet (esp. in i6-i7th c.). 

a looo Riddles Ixxiii. (Ixxiv.) i Ic wa;s fa;mne Jeong.feaxhar 
cwene. a 1023 WUUSTAN Horn, xxiii. (1883) 161 note, pat 
. . ane cwenan semainurn ceape bicja3 .. and wiS ba ane 
fylfle adreoxaO. cios LAY. 12872 \Vha:r swa heo funden 
a;ine mon..ba quenen [^1275 cwenes] lude lo}en. &lt; 1290 
.V. Kug. Leg. I. 194/6 An old quene t&gt;are was biside, strong 
bore and baudestrote. 1393 LANGL. P. PI. C. ix. 46 At 
churche in the charnel cheorles aren vuel to knowe .. other 
a queyne fro a qucene. 1481 CAXTON Reynard (Arb.) 95 



QUEASY. 

The fowle olde queries wold fayne haue beten vs. 1532 
MORE Confitt. Tindale Wks. 618/1 Tyll he..cutch him 
a queane & cal her his wife. 1589 NASHE Almond for 
Parrat 17 b, All spent in a Tauerne amongst a consort of 
queanes and fidlers. 1627 HAKEWILL Afiol. (1630) 361 The 
common queanes, which got their maintenance by that 
trade. 1670 G. H. Hist, Cardinals i. in. 98 A certain 
paultry Queen in mans apparel, that would pass for a Lady. 
1777 SHHRIDAN Sc/t. Scant/, in. ii, Here s to the flaunting 
extravagant quean And here s to the housewife that s 
thrifty. 1823 BYRON Juan vi. xcvi, This martial scold, 
This modern Amazon and queen of queans. 1880 WEBB 
Goethe s Faust in. ii. 190 The dame s a most commodious 
quean, A gypsy born and go-between ! 

trans/, a 1845 HOOD Flowers i, The tulip is a courtly 
quean, whom, therefore, I will shun. 

2. Sc. Ayoung\voman,girl,lass; usually denoting 
one of a healthy and robust appearance. 

c 1470 HKNRY Wallace iv. 782 A stalwart queyne, forsuth, 
yon semys to be. 1728 W. STARKAT Ep. to Ramsay 13 
Blaw up my heart-strings, ye Pierian quines. 1787 BURNS 
Guidwlfe Wanchopc iii, I see her yet, the sonsie quean, 
That lighted up my jingle. 1818 SCOTT Rob Roy xxvii, It 
shews a kind heart . . in sae young a quean ; Mattie s a carefu 
lass. 1871 W. ALEXANDER Johnny Gibb (1873) 215, 1 notices 
brawly that the quine hed been greetin. 

Hence fQuea-ning^ associating with immodest 
women ; t Quea nish a. t of the nature of, charac 
teristic of, a quean ; f Quea nry Qtieaning. 

c 1560 A. SCOTT Poems (S. T. S.) xxxiv. 124 Quhair hur- 
dome ay vnhappis, With quenry, cams, and coppis. 1569 
J. SANFORU tr. Agrippas I/an. Artes 119 b, In feastinge, 

?ueaninge, huntinge, fowlinge and atiiringe. 1596 COLSE 
enelope (18801 167 Thy giggish tricke, thy queanish trade, 
A thousand Bridewel birds hath made. 1618 ROWLANDS 
Night^ Raven (1620) 25 If she would seeke to mend her 
queanish life, a 1693 MOTTEUX Rabelais in. xxxiv. 284 
Queanish Hurting Harlots. 

Queare, obs. form of CHOIR sb. 

tQuease, v Obs. rare. Also 5 qveyse, 6 
queash. [See SQUEEZE v.] To press, squeeze. 

c 1450 Bk. Hawking in R el. Ant. I. 302 Take mellfoyle 
and stamp it.. then after take al togedere, and put in a 
lynnyn cloth, and qveyse out the jus. -1550 LLOYD Treas. 
Health (1585) Enj, Presse the holowe ulcere, so that the 
rottenness may be queashed or crushed out. 1601 R. JOHN 
SON Kingd, &lt;y C0MMW. (1603) 168 Their chiefest sustenance 
is milke dried in the sunne after the butter is queased out. 

f Quease, v.* Obs. rare-*. Insqweasse. (Of 
obscure origin and meaning.) 

^ 1460 Towneley Myst. xiii. 487, I may not well qweasse. 
Ich fote that ye trede goys thorow my nese. 

Quea sily, adv. [f. as next + -LY ^.J In a queasy 
manner. (In quot. used as adj. ; cf. badly.) 

1845 BROWNING Flight Duchess xii. Wks. (1896) I. 416/2 
Since, before breakfast, a man feels but queasily. 

Queasiness (kwz -zines). Also 6 quesi-, 7 
queisi-, que(e)zi-. [f. QUEASY a. + -NESS.] The 
state or condition of being queasy (lit. andjf^.). 

1579 LVLY Enphues (Arb.) 1 16 Their slibber sawces, whiche 
bring quesinesse to the stomacke. 1632 tr. Bruets Praxis 
Med. 44 Then queisinesse and gnawing of the stomacke 
doth very much trouble him. 1660 H. MORE Myst. Godl. 
To Rdr. 29 A pretended queziness of Conscience. 1710 
T. FULLER Pharm, Extetnp. 120 It is prevalent against.. 
Queasiness. 1851 D. JERROLD St. Giles viii. 78 [He] felt an 
odd queasiness in his throat, and could say nothing. 1898 
STEVENSON St. Ives^ xxxiv, Captain Colenso perceived my 
queasiness, and advised me to seek my berth and lie down. 

Qnea-SOm, v. Obs. exc. dial. Also 6 queso- 
men, queazen, 9 dial, quessom, quezzen. [Of 
obscure origin.] a. trans. To choke, stifle, b. intr. 
To be choked or smothered. 

1561 DAUS tr. Biillinger on Apoc. (1573) 99 Without 
breathing and cooling, men must needes wither and be 
quesomened and choked vp. 1599 NASHE Lenten Stuffe 
57 The spirable odor and pestilent steame . . would haue 
queazened him. 1616 HAYWARD Sanct. Troub. Soul \. iii. 
(1620) 46 Behold (O Lord) how my conscience lyeth quea- 
somed vnder the multitude of my offences. 11825 FORBY 
Voc. E. Anglia, Quezzen, (i) To suffocate with noxious 
vapour. (2) To smother away without flame. If the fuel be 
damp, the fire quezzens out. 

Queasy (kwrzi), a. Forms : 5-6 coisy, coysy ; 

5 qweysye, 5-6 queysy, (6 -se, -sie), 6 quaisie, 
-sy, 6-7 queisie ; 5-6 quasy, ^6 -ie, -ye) ; 5 
qwesye, 6 quesie, -y(e, 6-7 queasie, (6 -ye), 
queazie, -y, 7- queasy. [Of obscure history. 

The early forms coisy and queisy prob. indicate a F. origin, 
and connexion with OF. coisier to hurt, wound (Godef.), 
seems possible, if the original sense was wounded , bruised 
and hence tender , uneasy , but of this there is no clear 
evidence. A similar development of sense is implied in the 
usual etym. from ON. ki cisa boil (see CWEISE), whence perh. 
I eel. kvcistinn tender, touchy, but there is little evidence 
for this as an Eng. word, and the form coisy would remain 
unexplained. The change from queisyor quaisy to queasy 
is parallel to quail , queal and qnair*. qnear, QUIRE.] 

1 1. Of the times or state of affairs : Unsettled, 
troublous, ticklish. Obs. (Cf. also 5 b.) 

1459 raston Lett. I. 497 Be my feyth, here is a coysy 
werd. 1471 SIR J. PASTON ibid. III. 4 The worlde I ensur 
yow is ryght qwesye. c 1563 Jack juggler 1. 66 The time 
is so quesie That he that speaketh best, is lest thanke 
worthie. 1586 J. HOOKER Hist. Irel, in Holtnshed II. 
136/2 So manie of hir maiesties priuie councell, as could in 
that quesie time be assembled. 1611 STEED Hist. Gt. Brit. 
ix. xx. 47. 965 The times being queasie, the King wisely 
forbare to take any seuere reuenge. 

f b. Of a matter: Uncertain, hazardous. Obs. 

1589 COOPER Admon. 203, I must, .protest it is a queisie 

6 dangerous matter. 1605 SHAKE. Lear n. i. 19, 1 haue 
one thing of a queazie question Which 1 must act. 



QUEBRACHO. 

2. Of articles of diet : Unsettling the stomach or 
health ; causing sickness or nausea. Now rare. 

1496 Fysshyngc 7c. Angle (1883) 24 The barbyll .. is a 
quasy meete & a peryllous for mannys body. 15.. /ViTj- 
of FitllkaJil 19 in Hazl. E. 1*. P. II. 3 Kodlynges, konger, 
or suche queyse [v.r, coisy] fysche. 1544 I HAER resil 
ience (1553) N viij 1&gt;, In this disease ye niaye eate no 
queasie meates, as eles, gese, duckes. 1579 I-VLY Etiplutt s 
(Arb.) 44 To the stomacke sated with dainties, all delicates 
seeme queasie, 1655 MANTON K.v/&gt;. James i. 21 Like a hot 
morsel or queasy bit, it was soon given up again. 1661 
LOVELI. Hist. Aniin. fy Min, 225 Their flesh is queasy, 
corruptible, and aguish. 1876 G. MEREDITH Bcaucli. 
Career I. xiv. 210 The . . queasy brew . . which she calls by 
the innocent name of tea. 

f b. Of seasons : Unhealthy ; in which sickness 
is prevalent. Also of days of ill-health. Obs. 

1510-20 CoinpL them that ben to late maryt d (Collier 1 862) 
16, I haue passed full many quasy dayes. 1603 KNOLI.ES 
Hist. Turks 1*1621) 732 Infection taken in the campe in 
strange aire, and a most queasie time of the yeare. 

to. Of land : Unfavourable to growth. Obs. rare. 

1599 [see QUEACHV 2]. 1649 KLITHE Eng. Iiuprov. xiv. 
So It was great Lands., full of your soft Rushes .. and 
lay very wet . . it was so Weake and Harren, so cold and 
queasy. [Cf. il&lt;id. xxiv. 149 The coldest and most quealiest 
QmitirilU) parts of thy Lands.] 

3. Of the stomach : Easily upset ; unable to digest 
strong food ; inclined to sickness or nausea. (In 
i6-i7th c. freq. Jig. and in fig. context.) Hence 
of the body, heart, health, etc. 

1545 RAVNOLD Byrth Mankynde fol. 142 She shall better 
digest and lyke her meate ; her stomacke nothyng so 
quesy ne feable. 1574 NEWTON Health IMag. 26 It is 
better for . . stronge Stomackes then for Quasie and weake 
bodies. 1604 DEKKER Honest H- h. Wks. 1873 II. 46 He 
gird it close, As if my health were queazy. a 1651 J. SMITH 
Sel, Disc. ix. 468 A divine philosophy; which.. as men 
grew worse, their queasy stomachs began to loathe it. 
a 1684 LEICHTON Wks. (1830) I. 42 A full table, but a sickly 
body and queasy stomach. 1839 J. FUME Paper on 
Tobacco 70 Not digested without grumbling by certain 
queasy stomachs. 1889 C. KEKNE Let. in Life xiii. (1892) 
409 My stomach is in such a queasy state, that a gram in 
excess puts me all wrong. 

fb. transf. Of the mind, feelings, etc. : Delicate, 
fastidious, nice. Obs. 

1545 ASCHAM Toxcfh. I. (Arb.) 40 These Instrumentes 
make a mannes wit . . so tender and quaisie that they be 
lesse able to brooke strong and tough studie. c 1590 GREENE 
Fr. Bacon x. 130 Eyes are dissemblers, and fancy is but 
queasy. 1642 ROGERS Naaman 565 Beware then of a sullen, 
queazy, coy and proud heart. 1639 EEDES Wifdoni s ystif. 
40 The queasie soul that receives not the Word. 
c. Of conscience, etc. : Tender, scrupulous. 

1579 G. HARVEY Letter-Irk. (Camden) 76 The thinges 
themselves.. ar not so offensive to quesy consciences. 1646 
SIR T. BROWNE Psenii. P.p. 374 The ambition of Boniface 
made no scruple thereof; nor of more queasie resolutions 
have been their Successors ever since, 1781 COWPER Charity 
447 When queasy conscience has its qualms. 1886 SYMONDS 
Kenaiss. It., Cath. React. (1898) I. iv. 223 Ignatius recom 
mended fishers of souls to humour queasy consciences. 

4. Of pains, etc. : Of the nature of sickness ; 
uneasy, uncomfortable. 

1589 Papfe w. Hatchet (1844) 13 O what queasie girds 
were they towards the fall of the leafe. 1650 BULWKH 
Anthrt pomet. 158 To return by Art their queasie paine 
upon women, to the great reproach of Nature. 1878 STEVEN 
SON Inland 1 oy. 114, I had a queasy sense that I wore my 
last dry clothes upon my body. 

5. Of persons : Having a queasy stomach ; liable 
to turn sick ; subject to, or affected with, nausea. 



1606 SHAKS. Ant. f, Cl. in. vi. 20 [The Romans) queazie 
with his insolence already, Will their good thoughts call 
from him. 1622 FLETCHER Span. Car. in. ii, Your queazie 
young wiues That perish undelivered, I am vext with. 1682 
N. O. Boileau s Lutrin i. Argt., Thus Queasie Madams 
meat forbear Untill they read, The Bill of Fare. 1816 
T. L. PEACOCK Headlong Hall vii, The Reverend Doctor 
Caster found himself rather queasy in the morning. 1855 
BROWNINC; Grammar. Funeral 64 Even to the crumbs I d 
fain eat up the feast, Ay, nor feel queasy. 

b. transf. (with earlier quots. cf. sense i). 

1579 G. HARVEY Letter-tk. (Camden) 73 Over-stale for so 
queynte and queasye a worlde. 1602 MARSTON Ant. t, Mel. 
n.^Wks. 1856 I. 22 O that the stomack of this queasie age 
Digestes, or brookes such raw unseasoned gobs. 1641 
S. MARSHALL Fast Serin, bef. Ho. Comm. Ep. Ded. 3 A 
time so queasie and distempered as can hardly beare that 
Food or 1 hysicke which is needful]. 1869 BROWNING Ring 
ft Bk. x. H3_The queasy river could not hold Its swallowed 
Jonas, but discharged the meal. 

6. Comb, queasy-stomached a. (see sense 3). 

1579-80 NORTH Plutarch (1676) 757 Antonius . . being 
queasie stomacked with his Surfeit. 1608 ARMIN Nest 
Ninn. (1842) 6 The World, queasie stomackt as one fed with 
the earth s nectar, and delicates. 1635 QUARLES Emol. in. 
xiv. (1718) 181 Look, sister, how the queazy-stomach d 
graves Vomit their dead. 

Queat.e, Queatchfe, Queave, Queazen: 

see QUIET, WHEAT, QCETCH, QUAVE, QUEASOM. 

t Quebas. Obs. rare 1 . Some kind of a game. 

1668 ETHEREDGE She woit d if she con d in. iii, Did I 
associate myself with the Gaming Madams, and were every 
afternoon at my Lady Briefes. .at Umbre and Quebas. 

II Quebracho (kAra-t/o). [Sp. quebracho, also 
quiebra-hacha, {. quebrar to break + hacha axe.] 
The name of several American trees, having 
extremely hard timber and medicinal bark ; esp. 
the white quebracho of S. America (Aspidosperma 



39 

Quebracho} and the red quebracho of Mexico 
{Schinopsis Lorentzii], Also attrib. as quebracho 
bark, gum. b. Quebracho-bark. Hence Que- 
bra chamine, Queljra chine, alkaloids found in 
quebracho-bark. 

1881 WATTS Did. Clum. y& Suppl. 916, 1731. 1891 W. 
MAKTINDALE Extra rharmacop. (ed. 6) 325 White Que 
bracho Bark . . imported from the Argentine Republic, laid., 
Quebracho contains six alkaloids, . . Quebrachine, Que- 
brachamine [etc.]. 1897 Syit, Soc. Lex. s.v., Quebracho is 
a valuable remedy for dyspnoea. 

Quecchen, Quech(e, obs. forms of QUETCH. 

Queeh(e, obs. forms of QUEACH, WHICH. 

t Queck, sb. 06s. rare* 1 . ? A knock, whack. 

1554 F.nterl. Youth Aij, If I fal I catche a quecke, I may 
fortune to breke my necke. 

t Queck, r .t Obs. Also 4-5 quek:. [Imitative : 
cf. ])u. kiaekken, and see QUACK z/. a ] intr. To 
quack, as a duck. Hence Que cking vbl. sb. 

(-1325 Class. W. ,ie JHMesm. in Kel. Ant. II. 79 [The 
gander] quekez, taroilt!. Quekine, taroil. 1492 in Archiv 
Mini. neii. Spr. LXXXIX. 285 He toke a gose fast by the 
nek, And the goose thoo began to quek. 1573 TWYNI-: 
sEneid-x.. Ddiv, Whom stars of heauen obeyen at beck., 
and chattring birds with long that queck. a 1693 MOTTKUX 
Rabelais in. xiii. 107 The . . pioling of Pelicanes, quecking 
of Ducks, ..and wailing of Turtles. 

t Queck, v. 2 06s. rare 1 . ?=QrETCHt&gt;. 

&lt;zi550 Image Hyfxr. in. in Skclton s Wks. (1843) II. 
436/2 Not for his life to quecke [rime necke] But stande 
vpp, like a bosse. [1755 in JOHNSON (and hence in some 
later diets.), with quot. from Bacon Kss.^ in which however 
the correct reading is qncching.\ 

Queck : see QUEK(E. 

t Qued, quede, " and sb. Obs. Forms : 3 
ewead, 3-4 quead,4 kuead ; 3 owed, 3-5 qued, 
quede, 4 kued, quet, 4-6 queed, (5 qw-), 5 
queyd,quethe,qwepe; 3-4 (6.SV.) quad, 4 (6.5V.) 
7 quade, 6 Sc. quaid. [Early ME. cwead, cwei/, 
avail = OFris. ijiiacf(mod.}- ris. quoad, auaf\ MDu. 
quaet, quaed- (Uu. kwaad], MLG. guSt, quad-, of 
uncertain origin. OHG.^(?/(MIIG. quat, kat,k6t, 
G. hot, kotli), filth, is usually regarded as a subst. 
use of the same adj., but the vowel of the corresp. 
OE. cwcad presents difficulties.] 

A. adj. Evil, wicked, bad. 

c 1205-25 [implied in QUEDSHII-]. 1-1250 Gen. ff Ex, 536 
Wapmen bignnnen quad mester. a 1300 I ox % H i&gt;(/~zoo 
in Hazl. . / . P. (18641 I- 64 Ich habbe ben qued al mi 
lif-daie. ^1330 Arth. fy Merl. 1498 iKolbing) pat ober 
dragoun.. Clowes he hadde qued. 1340 Aycnb. 17 pe uerste 
is kuead, bo ober worse, be bridde alberworst. ^1386 
CHAUCER Prioress Prel. 4 God yeue this monk a thousand 
last quade yeer. c 1420 Liber Cocorum (1862) 37 pou take 
gode ale, bat is not quede. 1501 DOUGLAS Pal. Hon. i. 
Ixii, This inordinate court, and proces quaid [rime braid, 
laid] I will obiect. 1560 ROLLAND Crf. Venus II. 161 The 
quader was his weird. Ibid. 333 Quad knaif, thow was 
ouir negligent. 1669 STURMV Mariner s Mag. I. ii. 18 How 
Wind you ? East . A bad quade Wind. 
b. Hostile, inimical to. rare. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 8535 (Gott.) pe cyte of cartage, bat to 
Rome was euer quede. 1418-20 Siege Rouen in A rchzologia 
XXI. 65 Owre men gaff ham sum off here brede, Thow 
thay to us ware now so quede. 

B. sb. 1. A bad or wicked person. 

c 1250 Gen. ff Ex. 295 Dowgte Sis quead, hu ma it ben 
[etc.] . Ibid. 4063 Balaam, Sat ille quad [rime dead]. 
1300 Prov. Hending xxvi. in Kemble Salomon fy Sat. 
(1848) 277 Ant himself is be meste qued pat may breke eny 
bred. 1:1330 R. BRUNNK Chron. H acc (Rolls) 8596 Kyng 
of Amalek was that qued, A ful fers kyng. 171400 Minor 
Poems fr. Vernon MS. (E. E. T. S.) 589/440 Kep, and sane 
bi gode los, And beo I-holden no qued. c 1460 Tmimeley 
Myst. ix. 117, 1 am fulle bowne To spyr and spy. .After that 
wykkyd queyd. 

b. spec. The evil one ; the Devil. 

c 1250 Death 246 in O. E. Misc. 182 Ne mai no tunge telle 
hu lodlich is be cwed. 1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 6429 Hii 
bitoke be qued hor soule, be kunde eirs to bitraye. c 1325 
Chron. Eng. 210 in Kilson, Tho thes maister was ded, Anon 
he wende to the qued. 1377 LANGL. / . / /. B. xiv. 189 He 
shulde take the acquitance . . and to the qued schewe it. 
c 1450 LONELICH Grail xxxvii. 634 He [Jesus] travailled.. 
Man-kynde to byen from the qwed. 

2. Evil, mischief, harm. 

a 1225 After. R. 72 Mom mon weneS to don wel 1 he deS 
alto cweade. a 1300 Vox f, Wolf 210 in Hazl. E. P. P. 
(1864) I. 65 Forjef hit me, Ich habbe ofte sehid qued bi the. 
1:1330 Arth. $ Merl. 5508 (Kolbing) Com we noujt hider 
for bl qued . . ac for bi gode. 1340 Ayeno. 28 pe kueades of 
obren he hise moreb and arereb be his mijte. 1387 TRF.VISA 
Iligden (Rolls) I. 417 At Penbrook in a stede Fendes doob 
ofte quede. a 1529 SKELTON Epithaphe 4 This knaues be 
deade, Full of myschiefe and queed. 

Hence t Quedful a., full of evil or wickedness ; 
Quedhead [= OFris. quadhed, Du. kwaadheid\ 
= Quedship; Quedly adv. [ = OFns. qua\de)like\, 
wickedly ; Quedness, Quedship, evil, wickedness. 

1340 Ayenb. C paries be wone is kueaduol and may wel 
wende to zenne dyadliche. 1340-70 Alex. # Ditto. 541 To 
quern quedfulle godeis bat quenchen your blisse. e 1315 
SHOREHAM 151 O justyse .. [that] dampneth theves for to 
ordeyne Peys in londe. . Ne for "queadhevede. 1340 Ayenb. 
101 pet bou hatye zenne and uoulhedes and kueadhedes. 
c 1300 E. E. Psalter xvii. 22 (Harl. M.S.), I jhemed waies 
of Laverd wel, Ne *quedlic bare I fra mi God na del. 1340 
Ayenb. 2 Na?t kueadliche ake ligllichc and wyboute sklaun- 
dre. c 1300 E. E. Psalter x. 6 pat loues *quednes, his 
saute hates he. 1340 Ayenb. 40 Ofte lyese be guode playntes 
l&gt;e hare kueadnesse. (1205 LAY. 5067 Ne sculde na cniht 



QUEEN. 

..on his cuhSe "quedschjpe wurchen. ci2w&gt; Bestiary 387 
Fox is dire to name for hire quefisipe. 0:12x5 Ancr. R. 422 
Al Sodomes cweadschipe com of idelnesse & of ful wombe. 
Quede, var.Qi WE s&. QueSen, var.QuETHE v., 
WHKTHKN adv. QuefSer, Quedir, -ur, obs. ff. 
WHETHKH, \VHITHKU. Quee, Queece, Queech, 
varr. Qi Ei^QuEEsT, QUETCH. Queed, var.Qi Ei&gt;(K 
a. ; dial. var. CUD. Queel, vnr. QUEAL 7 . 

Queen (kw/nj, $h. Forms : i cwcen, cwsen, 
cw6nn, 1-3 cw6n, (i cu-), 2-3 cwene, kwene ; 
2-4 quen, (3 quu-, 4 qw-\ 2-6 quene, (4-6 qw-, 
5^ v -)i 3quiene,quyene f 4qwhene,4-5 whene, 
queyn, 4-6 queyne, 4-7 queene, 6 quein(e, 4- 
queen. [OE. civdn str. fem.^ OS. qudn (once in 
Hel.), ON. town (also kvan\ Goth, qens woman 
: OTcut. *kwni-z f., an ablaut-var. of the stem 

I represented by OE. civene QL EAN. The gen. sing. 

1 qiiene (OE. cu&gt;ene} is occas. found in ME.] 

1. A (king s) wife or consort ; a lady who is wife 
to a king. 

Even hi OK., iiwn was app. not an ordinary term for 

wife*, but was applied only to the wife of a king or (in 

poetry! some famous person; in later use the only distinc 

tion hetween this sense and 2 a is that here the relationship 

: of the queen to her hushaiid is formally express!. 

c 893 K. ^KLI-RED Oros. \. ii. 2 /Kft&lt;jr his tlea&u Sameramis 
his cwen [L. w,n?r} fengc . . to \&gt;xm rice, a 1000 Czdtnon s 
Gen. 2259 Da wearS unbliSe Abrahames cwen. c 1050 O. J- , 
Chron, (Laud MS.) an. 1048 pa forlet se cyng ba lila;fdian 
seo \v,ts ^ehal^od him to cwene. 11123 H M- an. 1115 
Willelnie ^e he be his cwene hsefde. nzos LAY. 43 ^EHenor 
j be wes Henries quene. 13.. Coer de L. 1123 Krlys and 
. barouns come hym to. And his quene dede alsoo. 1591 
SHAKS. i Hen. /- /, v. iii. 117 lie vndertake to make thce 
Henries Queene. 1611 H int. T. in. ii. 12 Hermione, 
ueene to the worthy Leontes, King of Sicilia. 1859 
ENNYSON Elaine 1215 As Arthur s Queen I move and rule. 

2. a. The wife or consort of a king. b. A woman 
I who is the chief ruler of a state, having the same 

rank and position as a king. 

(-825 Vesp, Psalter xliv. 10 ^Etstod cwoen [L. rcgi ia] to 
swioran 5ire. c 1000 ./Ki.FRic Horn. II. 584 Sum cCven was 
on Sam da^um on suSdaele, Saba ^ehaten. c 1205 LAY. 



Qu 
TE 



608 pe queue fader Corineus. 13. . Gaw. $ Gr. Knt. 2492 
J&gt;e kyng kysse? be knyjt, & be whene alee, c 1400 Destr. 
Troy 3163 Meneiai wife, Lady of bis lond . . and a gai 
qwhene. c 1420 A vow . A rth. xxxiii, Hit is atte the quene 
wille. 1473 WARKW. Chron. (Camden) 9 The Lorde Scales, 

, the Queues brother, was sent thedere. 1562 WiN^tT Cert. 

j Tractates Wks. 1888 I. 32 Dew obedience .. to kingis, 
quenis, princes, and prelatis. 1590 SHAKS. 3/i c/s. A A . ii. i. 19 

I The King doth keepe his Keuels here to night, Take heed 

| the Queene come not within his sight. 1628 MILTON l- ncat. 

i Exerc. 47 Then sing of secret things.. And last of Kings 

j and Queens and Hero s old. 1710 SWIFT Lett. (1767 III. 
29 My memorial which was given to the queen. 1845 

I S. AusTiN/t aw^ .s Hist. Ref. II. 385 His sister waited in 
Vittoria. .in order to enter France as queen. 

C. \\ ith additions, as queen -consort, -doivagerj 

\ t -dowrier, -rectrix^ -regent, -regnant, -widow : see 

i CONSORT, etc.; also QUEEX-MOTHER. 

?555 [see DOWRIER]. 1622 BACON Hen. VII, Mor. & Hist. 
Wks. (Bohn, 1860) 311 To remain with the queen dowager her 
mother. 1650 BUI.WER Anthropomet. 198 A late Queen- 
Rectrix. 1727 DE FOE Syst. Magic i. ii. (1840) 42 The queen 
dowager was with child, and would bring forth a prince. 
1765 BLACKSTONE Coinnt. i. iv. 212 The queen of England 
is either queen regent, queen consort, or queen dowager. 
1818 SCOTT Hrt. Midi, xxxvii, Since Margaret of Anjou, no 
queen-consort had exercised such weight in the political 
affairs of England. 1891 C. CREIGHTON Hist, Kpidem, 
Brit. 288 The queen-widow (mother of Edward V) had died 
of the plague. 

3. As a title, placed immediately before a personal 
name (f in OE. immediately after it) ; also the 
queen, before or after the name (now a;r//.). See 
also QTEEN ANNE. 

^893 K. ^ELFRED Oros. \. x. 3 paer wearS Marsepia sio 
cwen ofslagen. _c893 O. E. Chron. (Parker MS.) an. 888 
/Ebelswi^cuen, sio was /Elfredes sweostor cyninges. a 1121 
Ibid. (Laud MS.) an. 1097 Malcomes sunu cynges & 
Margarite bjere cwenan. 1205 LAY. 2122 Hit is icleped 
Wales for pere quen Galoes. 13.. Gaiv. fy Gr. Knt. 74 
Whene Guenore ful gay, graybed in be myddt-s. 1387 
TREVISA Higden (Rolls) VII. 165 pan J&gt;e queene Emme gaf 
unto seynt Swithyn nyne maneres. 1506 GUYLFORDE Pylgr. 
(1851) 4 Lasheles, where lyethe quene Elyanour of Englonde. 
1572 Memorial in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) 23 
Young Quein Marie. 1673 WYCHERLEY Gent. Dancing- 
Master v. i. 95 You must, .furnish as becomes one of my 
Quality; for don t you think we ll take up with your old 
Queen Elizabeth Furniture. 121700 B. E. Diet. Cant. 
Crew, Queen Elizabeth s^focket-pistol^ a Brass-Cannon of 
a prodigious Length at Dover-Castle. 1738 SWIFT Polite 
Conv. i, News? Why, Madam, Queen Elizabeth s dead. 
1754 RICHARDSON Grandison I. xxxvii. 270 We will leave 
the modern world to themselves; and be Queen Elizabeth s 
women. 1847 WORDSW. Ode Install. Pr. Albert ad. fin., The 
pride of the islands, Victoria the Queen. 1884 KNIGHT Diet. 
Mech. Suppl. 733/2 Queen Charlotte s ware, now known by 
the contracted title [Queensware]. 

4. "With specification of the people, country, etc. 
ruled over by a queen or by the king her consort, 
as Queen of Scots, of France. Also Queen of S "pain 
(see quot. 1866 and FRITILLABY 2 . 

(-950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xii. 42 Cuen su5-dieles arises. . 
in dom. c 1205 LAV. 4570 He bohte to habben Delgan to 
quene of Denemarke. c 1250 Gen. &lt;V Ex. 296 Hu ma it 
ben, Adam ben king and cue quuen Of aUe Se Singe in 



QUEEN. 

werldeben c 1386 CHAUCER Man of Law s T.6}, L.wolde 
she were of all Europe the queene. c 1440 Gcnerydcs 17 
His doughter quene of Inde. 1562 WINJET Cert. Iractates 
Wks. 1888 I 2 The maist excellent and gracius Souerane, 
Marie Quene of Scottis. 1606 SHAKS. Ant. $ Cf. in. vi. n 
He . made her Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia, absolute 
Queene 1712-4 POPE Rape Lock in. 13 One speaks the 
glory of the British Queen. 1770 Ann. Reg. 102 Died 
lately, at her hut at Norwood, Bridget, the Queen of the 
Gipseys. 1818 CRUISE Digest (ed. 2) III. 200 Her Majesty 
or her successors, kings or queens of the realm. 1806 
BLACKMORE Cradock NtmiM xxx, If by the Queen of 
Spain you mean that common brown little butterfly. 

5. transf. A female whose rank or pre-eminence 
is comparable to that of a queen. 

a. Applied to the Virgin Mary, esp. in phr. as 
Queen of glory, grace, heaven, paradise, women,&lt;Ac, 

a 900 CVNEWULF Christ 276 Seo_cteneste cwen ofer eorjxm. 



O. K. Misc. 195 Leuedi quene of parays. c 1373 Sc. Leg. 
Saints xxiv. (Alexis) 26 pat he in weding borne was of 
raary, be quene of grace, c 1410 Hoccucvi Mother ft boa 
2 O blisful queene, of queenes Empence. r 147 HENRY 



Hist. Indies vn. xxvii. 582 The favour which the Queene 
of glorie did to our men. 1798 COLERIDGK Anc. Mar. \. \, 
To Mary-queen the praise be yeven. 1840 1. 1 AYLOR Ancient 
C/ir. (1842) II. ii. 169 Our Queen, though the Queen of heaven 
as well as of earth [etc.]. 

b. Applied to the goddesses of ancient religions 
or mythologies ; also in phrases, as queen of heaven, 
love, marriage, etc. 

1382 WYCLIF Jer. vii. 18 That thei make sweete cakis to 
the quen of heuene. 1508 DUNBAR Gold. Targe 73 Tliare 
saw I Nature, and [als dame] Venus quene. 1500-20 
Poems xlviii. 63 Haill princes Natur, haill Venus luvis quene. 
1592 SHAKS. I m. ff Ali - 2 5 Poor queen of love, in thine 
own law forlorn ! 1608 Per. II. iii. 30 By Juno, that is 
queen of marriage. 1629 MILTON Ode Nativity 201 Mooned 
Ashtaroth, Heavn s Queen and Mother both. 1809 in Spirit 
Pnb. Jrnls. (1810) XIII. 328 O Venus, Queen of Drury Lane. 
a 1822 SHELLEY Hani. Venus 13 Diana, golden-shafted queen. 
C. Applied to a woman as a term of endearment 
and honour. 

1588 SHAKS. L. L. L. iv. iii. 41 O Queene of Queenes, 
how farre dost thou excell, No thought can thinke. 1596 
Merch. V. n. i. 12, I would not change this hue, Except 
to steale your thoughts, my gentle Queene. 1865 RUSKIN 
Sesame 185 Queens you must always be; queens to your 
lovers ; queens to your husbands and your sons. 

d. A woman who has pre-eminence or authority 
in a specified sphere, f Queen of the Bean : see 
BEAN 6 c. Queen of Hearts (cf. 8 b). Queen of 
the May : see MAY. 

1596 SHAKS. Merch. V. m. ii. 171, I was the lord of this 
fair mansion . . Queen o er myself. 1608 Per. u. iii. 17 
Come, queen o the feast, For, daughter, so you are. c 1645 
HOWELL Lett. ii. xii. (1650) 13 The Lady Elizabeth, which 
. . is called . . for her winning Princely comportment, the 
Queen of Hearts. 1652 J. WRIGHT tr. Camus Nat. Paradox 
III. 53 Shee thought to triumph over all her Competitors and 
be Queen of the Bean. 1816 KEATS To my Brother George 
87 Upon a morn in May . . that lovely lass Who chosen is 
their queen, a 1822 SHELLF.Y Chas. I, n. 394 The Twelfth- 
night Queen of Hearts. 1830 TENNYSON Isabel ii, Isabel. . 
The queen of marriage, a most perfect wife. 1858 LYTTON 
What will He do i. xiv, Lady Selina Vipont was one of the 
queens of London. 

6. Applied to things : a. Anything personified as 
a woman and looked upon as the chief, esp. the 
most excellent or beautiful, of its class. 

a 1050 Liber Scintill. xvii. (1889) 84 Ealdorlicra leahtra 
cwen and modor ofermodignyss ys. a 1235 .VI. Marker. 19 
Meifihad be is cwen of alle mihtes. 1340 Ayenb. 10 J&gt;e kuen 
of uirtues, dame charite. 1508 DUNBAR Gold. Targe 82 
There saw I May, of myrthfull monethis quene. 1563 

of 



M. 333/2 That noble ground and quene 
1604 E. G[RIMSTONE] D Acosta s Hist. Indies 



FOXE A. 
prouinces. 
n. vi. 93 This river (which in my opinion, deserves well the 



fern . . sometimes called the Queen of Ferns . 1886 
E. MILLER Text. Guide 75 The Peshito has been called 
The Queen of Versions . 

b. That which in a particular sphere has pre 
eminence comparable to that of a queen. 

Queen of heaven, night, the tides, the moon. Queen of 
the meadtnv(s, MEADOW-SWEET. Queen of tJie prairie, an 
American herbaceous plant, Spirxa lobata (N. O. Rosacez). 
1552 LYNDESAY Monarche Prol. 153 Synthea, the hornit 
nychtis quene. 1597 GERARDE Herbal II. ccccxix. (1633) 
1043 Called in English Meadow Sweet and Queene of the 
Medowes. 1611 SHAKS. Wint. T. iv. iv. 146 Each your 
doing. -Crownes what you are doing. .That all your Actes, 
are Queenes. 1671 MILTON f. K. IV. 45 Great and glorious 
Rome, Queen of the Earth. 1812 BYRON Ch. Har. n. Ixxx, 
The Queen of tides on high consenting shone. 1840 ALISON 
Hist. Europe Ii. 52 The Emperor travelled . . to Venice : 
he there admired the marble palaces of the Queen of the 
Adriatic. 1878 Bosw. SMITH Carthage 9 Destined . . to 
become the Queen of the Mediterranean. 1883 G. MAC- 
DONALD Donal Grant ii. 18 Bushes of meadow-sweet, or 
queen-of-the-meadow, as it is called in Scotland. 
7. The perfect female of bees, wasps, or ants. 
1609 C. BUTLER Few. Mon. i Of the nature and properties 
of Bees, and of their Queene. a 1711 KEN Sion Poet. Wks. 
1721 IV. 352 The same Tune . . In which the Bees . . For their 
Dismission to their Queen entreat. 1724 DERHAM in Phil. 
Trans. XXXIII. 54 The Male Wasps are lesser than the 
Queens. 1774 GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. (1776) VIII. 124 The 



40 

working ants having.. deposed their queens 1847 TENNY 
SON Princ. I. 39 Around them both Sweet thoughts would 
swarm as bees about their queen. 1892 LUBBOCK Beaut. 
Nat. 60 The working Ants and Bees always turn their heads 
towards the Queen. . , 

8. In games, a. In chess : The piece which has 



greatest freedom of movement, and hence is most 
effective for defending the king, next to which it is 
placed at the beginning of the game. Also, the 
position on the board attained by a pawn when it 
is queened (see QUEEN v. 4). 

Queens bishop, knight, fa-Mi, etc. : cf. KING 9 a. Queen s 
gambit : see GAMBIT, t To make #= &+, 




lady sittyng in a chayer [etc.]. 1562 ROWBOTHUM Playe of 
Cheasts Cv, Thou shalte playe thy queenes Paune one 
steppe geuing him checke by discouery of thy queenes 
Bishoppe. 1597 G - B - / -"* Scluuxix A 4 When he [the 
pawn] can.. arrive at the last ranke of his enemies he is 
chosen and made . . the Queene. a 1689 Yng. Statesmen vi. 
in Coll. Poems Popery 8/2 So have I seen a King on Chess 
. . His Queen and Bishops in distress. 1733 BERTIN Chess 38 
The Queens Gambet, which gives a Pawn with a design to 
catch her adversary s Queen s Rook. 1761 HOYLE Chess 51 
The exact Number of Moves, before you can make a Queen. 
773 PHILIDOR Chess Analysed 13 The King s Pawn makes 
a Queen, and wins the Game. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) 
IV. 640 He should take the adversary s pawns, and move 
the others to queen. 1822 W. LEWIS Elem. Game Chess 
149 If a Pawn be on a Rook s file it will go to Queen. 1838 
LYTTON Alice 169, I think I will take the queen s pawn. 
1894 J. MASON Principles Chess 77 Just as the foremost 
[Pawn] is but a square from Queen. 

b. In ordinary playing-cards : A card bearing 
the figure of a queen, of which there are four in 
each pack, ranking next to the kings. 

575 Gamin. Gurton n. ii. 29 There is five trumps beside 
the queene. 1607 HEYWOOD Worn. Killed w. Kiniin. Wks. 
1874 II. 123 This Queene I haue more then myowne. .Giue 
me the stocke. 1712-4 POPE Rape of Lock in. 88 The 
Knave of Diamonds .. wins .. the Queen of Hearts. 1791 
Gentl. Mag. 141 The Queen of Clubs is called in Northamp 
tonshire, Queen Bess. 1816 SINGER Hist. Cards 39 Like the 
Italians and Germans, they [the Spaniards] have no Queen 
in the Pack. 1883 R. A. PROCTOR Whist 5, I lead Ace, and 
follow with Queen of my best suit. 

9. Technical uses. a. //. One of the classes into 
\vhich fullers teasels are sorted (see quot.). 

1813 T. RUDGE Gen. View Agric. Clone. 156 The produce 

of the second and subsequent cuttings are sorted, according 

to their size, into Queens, which are the best teazles; 

Middlings. .and Scrubs. 

b. A roofing-slate, measuring three feet by two. 

1825 J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 622 Slaters class the 
Welsn slates in the following order: Doubles, Ladies, .. 
Queens. 1893 J. BROWN Open. Kailw. to Delalvle xxiii, 
We ve countess, duchess, queens and rags. 

C. //. A class of apples, the rennets (q.V.). 

1836 LOUDON Encycl. Plants 426 Apples are classed as 
pippins or seedlings, . .rennets or queens, specked fruits. 

10. a. A name of the scallop and cockle. =QuiN. 
18036. MONTAGU Testacea. Brit. 1. 146 Pecten opercularis 

..in Devonshire and Cornwall is.. known by the name of 
Frills or Queens. 1883 N. JOLY Man before Metals u. i. zoo 
Several molluscs, especially oysters, . . mussels, queens, 
whelks, and snails. 

b. A local name for the smear-dab. 
1674 RAY Coll. Words, Sea Fishes 100 Queens: a Fish 
thinner than a Plaise. 1884 St. James s Gaz. 18 Jan. 6/1 
The. .lemon-dab or queen. 

11. A female cat. (Cf. queen-cat in 13.) 

1898 Bishopsgate Cats in Ladies Field 6 Aug. 378/1 A few 
outdoor houses for the queens are used. 
II. attrib. and Comb. 

12. General combs, a. appositive, as queen- 
bride, -county, -galley, -moon, -rose, -spirit, -spouse, 
-strumpet, b. attrib., as queen-craft, -features. 
c. objective, as queen-killing. 

1606 Proc. agst. late Trailers 105 That King-killing 
and Queen-killing was not indeed a doctrine of theirs. 
1634 FORD Perk. Warbeck ill. ii, This new queen-bride 
must henceforth be no more My daughter, a 1661 FULLER 
Worthies, Kent (1662) I. 67 She [Q. Elizabeth] was well 
skilled in the Queen-craft. 1820 KLATS Ode to Nightingale 
36 Haply the Queen-Moon is on her throne. 1846 BROWNING 
Lett. 16 June (1899) II. 241 You must, .add the queen-rose 
to his garland. 1863 A tlantic Monthly Oct. 502 The queen- 
strumpet of modern history. 1880 HAY Pike County Ball. 
113 The still queen-features glorious In the dawn of love s 
first gleams. 1888 TH. WATTS in AthenzittH 18 Aug. 224/2 
See how the four queen-galleys ride. 

13. Special combs. : t queen-apple, an early 
variety of apple ; queen-bee, a fully developed 
female bee ; also transf. ; queen-bird, a swan ; 
queen-cage, an apparatus for conveying or trans 
ferring a queen-bee to a hive ; queen-cake, a small 
currant-cake, usually heart-shaped ; queen-cat = 
QUEEN 1 1 ; queen-cell, a cell in a bee-hive, in 
which the queen is reared ; queen closer, a quarter 
of a brick, used in building to close the end of 
a course (see CLOSER 2 3) ; queen-conch, a large 
marine shell, Strombus gigas; queen-excluder, 
a device in a bee-hive to prevent the passage of 
the queen without excluding the workers (Funk s 
Stand. Diet.} ; queen-fish, a small edible fish 
(Serip/ius politus) found along the Pacific coast of 
America (Cent. Diet. 1891) ; f queen-gold, a 



QUEEN. 

former revenue of the king s consort, consisting of 
one-tenth on certain fines paid to the king ; queen- 
lily, a Peruvian ornamental flowering plant of the 
genus Phvdranassa (Cent. Diet.) ; queen-pigeon 
= queen s pigeon (Funk s Stand. Diet.} ; queen- 
stitch, a fancy stitch in embroidery; f queen-suit, 
a set of cards belonging to one suit, of which the 
queen is the highest ; queen-truss, a roof-truss in 
which there are QUEEN-POSTS; queen-wasp, a 
perfect female wasp ; queenwood, an Australian 
timber tree, Davidsonia pruriens (see also quot.). 
1579 SPENSER Sheph. Cat. June 43 Tho would I seeke for 
*Queene apples vnrype. 1626 BACON Sylva 511 Few 
Fruits are coloured Red within ; The Queen-apple is. 1707 
MORTIMER Husbandry 537 The Queen Apple, those, .of the 
Summer kind, are good Cyder Apples, mix d with others. 
1609 C. BUTLER Fern. Mon. i. A 3 The *Q[u]eene-bee is 
a Bee of a comely and stately shape. 1753 CHAMBERS 
Cycl. Supp., Qneen-bee, a term given by late writers to 
what used to be called the king-bee. 1823 BYRON Juan 
xin. xiii, Sweet Adeline, amidst the gay world s hum, Was 
the Queen-Bee. 1830 Miss MITFORD Village Ser. iv. (1863) 
286 Repeating, .as we met the *Queen-birds, The swans 
on fair St. Mary s lake . 1875 J. HUNTER Manual Bee 
keeping 82 There are many more *Queen cages in use, 
and . . there is no reason why any Bee-keeper should not 
make modifications. 1769 MRS. RAFFALD Eng. Hotisekpr. 
(r 77 8) 271 To make Queen Cakes. 1840 MRS. F. TROLLOPS 
Widow Married xii, When I ve done eating this one queen- 



Archit. (ed. 4) 1896 It becomes necessary near the angles 
to interpose a quarter brick, .called a *otieen closer. 1813 
Sketches Character (ed. 2) I. 130 That "Queen Conch wants 
only colouring to persuade us it is a real one. 1885 LADY 
BRASSEY The Trades 303 Some years ago the queen-conch 
(a shell with a delicate pink lining) was in great demand. 
1679 BLOUNT^IWC. Tenures 36 *Queen-gold is a Royal duty 
of Ten in the Hundred. 1765 BLACKSTONE Conaa. I. 221 
The queen . . is in titled to an antient perquisite called queen- 
gold or aurum reginae. 1875 STUBBS Const. Hist. II. xv. 
218 note, In 1255 the citizens refused to pay queen-gold. 
1882 CAULFEILD & SAWARD Diet. Needlework 192 *Queen 
Stitch. Also known as Double Square. [Description 
follows.) 1744 HOYLE Piquet 9 The younger-hand is gene 
rally to carry Guards to his *Queen-suits. 1778 C. JONES 
Hoyle s Games Impr. 71. 1724 DERHAM in Phil. Trans. 
XXXIII. 59 The *Queen-Wasps. .were weak, and did not 
buz long. 1827 E. BEVAN Honey-Bee 187 The queen- 
wasps were unusually numerous in the spring of that year. 
1882 OGILVIE (citing Weale), *Queen-wood, a name some 
times given to woods of the greenheart and cocoa-wood 
character, imported from the Brazils. 

14. Combinations with queen s, a. In titles or 
appellations, with the sense of belonging to, in 
the service of, the queen , royal (cf. KINO S), as 
Queen s advocate, bench, counsel, English, evidence, 
highway, keys, letter, messenger, pay, peace, prison, 
servant, wardrobe : see these words. 

In these terms, as in many of those given under b, the 
use of queens in place of kings is largely or entirely a 
result of the long reign of Queeu Victoria (1837-1901). 

b. queen s allowance (seequot.) ; queen s arm, 
a musket ; f queen s cloth (?) ; queen s colours, 
one of the pair of colours carried by a regiment, 
the royal colours; queen s cushion, a seat (for 
a girl) made by the grossed hands of two persons 
(Jamieson, 1808); fqueen s evil = king s evil, 
scrofula ; queen s gambit : see GAMBIT ; queen s 
game: see DOUBLET 3 b; t queen s head, a postage 
stamp ; queen s metal, an alloy of tin, antimony, 
bismuth, and lead ; queen s own, Government 
property or provisions (Smyth Sailor s Word-bk. 
1867) ; queen s parade, the quarter-deck (ibid.); 
queen s pigeon, a large and beautiful crested 
pigeon of the Papuan region, Gaura Victories ; 
queen s pipe, a furnace formerly used for destroy 
ing smuggled or damaged tobacco ; queen s shil 
ling, a shilling formerly given to a recruit when 
enlisting ; t queen s stuff (?) ; queen s tobacco 
pipe = queen s pipe; queen s ware, (a) a cream- 
coloured kind of Wedgwood ware ; (b) a kind of 
stone - ware ; queen s weather, fine weather ; 
queen s yellow, turpeth mineral, used as a yellow 
pigment. 

1876 VOYLE & STEVENSON Milit. Diet. 320/2 ""Queen s 
alltnuance, an allowance in aid of the expenses of the officers 
mess. 1848 LOWELL Biglow P. Ser. i. The Courtin , The 
ole "queen s-arm that gran ther Young Fetched back from 



19/2 I tie curinge OI queenes evu. iwu ooitri.r.1 t,trmm 
forme I. xii. 58 For the Queenes euill (margin The Kinges 
euill]. c 1554 Interlude of Youth C iij, I can teache you to 
play at the dice, At the *quenes game and at the Iryshe. 
a 1618 J. DAVIES Wittes Pilgr. (1878) 32 (D.) Here Love at 
tick-tack plaies, or at Queen s-game, But Irish hates. 1844 
ALB. SMITH Adv. Mr. Ledbury xv. (1886) 45 Notes it 
would not do to stick a penny *Queen s Head upon. 1800 
Miss YoNGES/0te/y.SV&lt;Tr.i.(i86i)i6, 1 must have a queen s- 
head to write to Mamma. 1839 URE Diet. A rls 952 Queen s 
metal . . serves also for teapots and other domestic utensils. 
18515 MILLER Inorg. Chem. II. 930 Another alloy, which is 
en ewter and Britannia 



, 

n. 8/4 Abolition of the "Quee . . 

Soc. Life Reign Q. Anne II. 203 The Queen s shilling 
once being taken, .there was no help for the recruit, unless 



QUEEN. 



41 



QUEER. 



he was bought out. 1766 \V. GORDON Gen. Counting-ho. 
428, 16 fine brocaded \nieens stuffs. 1843 Pww Cycl. 
XXV, 17 The damaged tobacco thus removed is consumed 
in a furnace . .jocularly termed the "queen s tobacco-pipe . 
1782 WEDGWOOD in Phil. Trans. LXX. 320 Delft ware 
is fired by a heat of 40 or 41; cream-coloured or *Queens 
ware, by 86. 1792 A. YOUNG Trav. France 79 English 
goods . . hard and queen s ware; cloths and cottons. 1884 
Health Exhib. Catal. 49/2 Sanitary appliances in action, 
and general Queen s Ware. 1899 Johannesburg Star 
(weekly ed.) 22 Apr., Although the wind is rather high, 
Queen s weather prevails. 1839 URE Diet. A rts 1054 
* Queen s Ycltow is an antient name of Turbith Mineral, or 
yellow subsulphate of mercury. 1851-61 MAYHEW Lend, 
Labour II. 70 When canaries are a had colour . .they are 
re-dyed, by the application of. . Queen s Yellow . 

c. in names of plants, as t queen s balm, 
alyssum ; queen s berry, the cloudberry, Rubus 
Chamxmonts ; queen s cushion, cut-leaved saxi 
frage (Treas. Bot. 1866); queen s delight, an 
American enphorbiaceous plant, StiUingia sy/- 
vatica (ibid?) ; queenis flower, an Indian tree 
{Lagerstrcemia Flos-Reginx] with beautiful rose- 
coloured (lowers (O/. Diet. 1891) ; queen s gilli- 
flower or July-flower, dame s violet, Hesperis 
Matronalis ; f queen s herb, tobacco (see QUEEN- 
MOTHEK 4) ; queen s pincushion, the flowers of 
the guelder rose (Cassell s Encyd. Diet. 1886) ; 
queen s root = queens delight (Mayne Expos. Lex, 
1858); queen s violet ^ queen s gilliflower. 

1767 ABERCROMBIE E-u. Man his own Gardener (1803) 735/1 
List of Hardy Annuals . . Alysson, or mad-wort, * Queen s 
Balm. 1861 S. THOMSON Wild Fl. in. (ed. 4) 221 It is the 
cloud-berry or *queen s-berry. 1573 TUSSER Httsb. (1878) 96 
Herbes, branches, and flowers, for windowes and pots. 
*Queenes gilleflowers. 1597 GERARDE Herbal\\. cxxii. (1633) 
461 Dames Violets or Queenes Gillofloures. 1760 J. LF.E 
Introd. Bot. App. 324 Queen s July-flower. 1577 FHAMPTON 
Joyfull Newes n. Ixxvi. 42 Some haue called this Hearbe 
the *Queenes herbe, because it was firste sente vnto her. 
[1894 S. J. WEYMAN Man in Black 60 You take the Queen s 
herb, you snee/e.] 1731 MILLER Card. Diet, Index (1733), 
*Queen s Violet, vide Hesperis. 

Pneen (kw/h), v. [f. prec.] 
To queen it : To be a queen ; to act or rule as 
queen ; to have pre-eminence like a queen. 

1611 SHAKS. IVint. T, iv. iv. 460 He Queene it no inch 
farther, But milke my Ewes, and weepe. 1613 Hen, 11 7, 
n. iii. 37 A threepence bow d would hire me Old as I am, to 
Queene it. 1790 BURNS Prol. Theatre Dumfries 2 Yon 
great city That queens it o er our taste. 1818 MILMAN 
Samor 7 Her milk-white neck embour d in arching spray, 
Queens it along the waters. 1826 SCOTT Woodst. xxvi, The 
imperious Vashti is left to queen it in solitude. 1894 MRS. 
F. ELLIOT Roman Gossip vi. 181 Josephine was queening 
it at the Tuileries. 

b. absol. in same sense, rare, 

1843 LYTTON Last Bar. iv. ii, I can scarce queen while 
Warwick is minister , said Elizabeth. 

2. trans. To make (a woman) a queen. Also fig. 
1843 LYTTON Last Bar. \\. i,This Dame Woodville, whom 

I queened. 1880 LADY MARTIN Shaks. Few. Char. 120 That 
passionate childlike loving queens her in his sight. 

3. To rule over as a queen. 

1839 BAILEY Festus xvi. (1852) 182 As the moon doth 
Queen the night. 1843 E. JONES Poems ^ Sens, fy Event 115 
His will, a trembling rudder She held to play with, or to 
queen. 

4. Chess. To advance (a pawn) to the opponent s 
end of the board, where it acquires the power of, 
and is replaced by, a queen or such other piece as 
the player may choose. Also absol. 

1789 Twiss Chess II. 155 Darner le Pion, literally to 
queen ttie Pawn, is a French expression. 1797 Encyd. 
Brit. (ed. 3) IV. 640 note, To giteen is to make a queen. 1808 
Studies Chess I. 219 The pawn is queened, and wins the 
game. 1848 H . R. AGNEL Chess 63 You . . queen your Pawn, 
and instead of claiming a Queen, you take a Knight. 1894 
J. MASON Principles Chess 88 That the player who Queens 
first wins is a rule. 

b. intr. Of a pawn : To reach the position at 
which it acquires the power of a queen. 

1894 J. MASON Principles Chess 61 Attacking the Pawn, 
and taking it on the next move, whether it queens or not. 

5. To supply (a hive) with a queen-bee. 

1884 Bee-keeping (Brit, Bee-keepers Assoc.) 27 The bees 
came up. .1 lifted the card, she was welcomed, and the hive 
was now queened. 

Hence Queened///, a., Quee-ning vbl. sb. 

1860 STAUNTON Chess Praxis iv. 41 The spirit of the 
modern game is to regard the Queening of a Pawn as the 
highest feat a player can accomplish. Ibid. 43 White can 
win the game by converting a Queened Pawn into a 
Bishop. 

Queen Anne. The Queen of Great Britain 
and Ireland who reigned from 1702 to 1714. 

Queen Anne is dead . & phrase implying stale news (cf. 
QUEEN 3, quot. 1738). Queen Anne s bounty: see BOUNTY 
5 a. Queen Anne s free gift . see quot. 1867. 

1840 BARHAM Ingol. Leg. Ser. i. Ace. New Play, Lord 
Brougham, it appears, isn t dead, though Queen Anne is. 
1859 THACKERAY Virgin. Ixxiii, On which my lady cried 
petulantly, Oh Lord, Queen Anne s dead, I suppose. 1867 
SMYTH Sailor s Word-bk. , Queen Anna s Free Gift, a sum 
of money formerly granted to surgeons annually, in addition 
to their monthly twopences from each man. 

b. attrib. as an epithet of the style of furniture, 
buildings, etc., characteristic of Queen Anne s reign, 
or of things made in this style. Also absol. 

1881 A. LANG Library 36 What furniture-dealers indiffer 
ently call the Queen Anne or the Chippendale style. 

VOL. VIII. 



1883 Harper s Mag. Sept. 560/2 In all Queen Anne build 
ings the architecture is applique. However, to disparage 
Queen Anne is not to explain its acceptance. 

Hence Queen A nneified a. t in Queen Anne style ; 
Queen A nneism, employment of, or preference 
for, a Queen Anne style; Queen A nneist, -ite, 
one who adopts or favours this style. 

a 1878 SIR G. SCOTT Recoil, ix. (1879) 375 1 ne Queen- 
Anne-ites soon threw off this disguise. 1879 Athoi&iim 
No. 2696. 818 Even Queen-Anne-ism should draw the line 
somewhere. 1887 J. C. ROBINSON in Times 17 Aug. 5/4 
AM architects, Gothic, Classic, and Queen Anneists alike. 
1889 J. K. JEROME Idle Thoughts 43 Drinking the waters 
sounded fashionable and Queen Anneified. 

Queendom (k\w~ncbm). [f. QUEEN sb. + -ixr.] 

1. The country ruled over by a queen. Alsoyf^. 
1606 G. W[OODCOCKK] Hist. Irstzne n. 9 The Queendome 

was governed by two of the foure Sisters. 1705 HICKERIN- 
GILL Priest-cr. \\. viii. 75 It has been fatal and ruinous to 
these Queendoms already. 1834 Eraser s Mag. IX. 248 
Ours is a literary kingdom, or rather, queendom. 1873 
RUSKIN Fors Clai\ xxxiii. {1896} II. 217 She should as 
seldom leave it [her home] as a queen her queendom. 

2. The position of a queen ; queenhood. 

1657 TRAPP Comm. Esther ii. 12 Whereby they might get 
the Kings favour -and attaine to the Queendome. 1844 
MRS. BROWNING Dead Pan xi, Will thy queendom all lie 
hid Meekly under either lid? c 1861 MRS. CRAIK Eliz. fy 
Vtct. (1870) 121 Womanhood is higher than queendom. 1877 
G. MACDONALD Marquis of Lossie xl, [The moon] shone out 
fair and clear, in conscious queendom of the night. 

Queenhood (kwf-nhud). [f. as prec. + -HOOD.] 
The rank or dignity of a queen ; queenly estate. 

1859 TENNYSON Enid 176 She. .with all grace Of woman 
hood and Queenhood, answered him. 1885 MRS. LYNN 
LINTON in Fortn. Rev. Nov. 629 Her queenhood was not 
real. 1894 RALPH in Harper s Mag. Aug. 338 Thousands 
of tiny flowers, over which the wood violet, the strawberry, 
and the arbutus struggle for queenhood. 

Queening (kwrnin). Also 5 quenyng, 7 
queenen. [? f. QUEEN sb. + -INGS.] A variety of 

apple. Cf. WiNTER-QUEEXING. 

c 1430 LYDG. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 15 Eke the frutis 
wiche more comon be, Quenyngez, pechis, costardes, etiam 
wardens. 1635 QUARLES Embl. v. ii. (18181 262 Tis not the 
lasting deuzan I require, Nor yet the red-cheeked queening. 
1688 R. HOLME Armoury n. iii. 48 The Queening, is a fair 
red striped Apple, and beautiful in its Season, being a kind 
of Winter Fruit. 1698 M. LISTER Journ. Paris (16991 194 
It was the White Queenen (or Calvil d Este] the Stem 
of the bigness only of my Thumb. 1879 Miss JACKSON 
Skropsh. H ord-bk , Queening^ a fine-flavoured sweet apple, 
common in the cider-orchards. 

t Quee*nist. Obs. rare. =QUEFNITE (applied 
to partisans of Mary, Queen of Scots). 

1563 WINZET Four Sioir Thre Quest. Wks. 1888 I. 59 
Thai wold mpk ws on lyke manere, and call ws Kingisds 
and Queneistis. 1584 CALDERWOOD in IVoiircnu Soc. Misc. 
I. 426 In their places entered.. Queenists, such as employed 
their witts and force with his Mother against him.self. 

Quee nite. [f. QUEEN sb. + -ITE.] One of the 
partisans of a queen, esp. of Queen Caroline against 
George IV, or of Queen Isabella of Spain against 
Don Carlos. 

1820 J. JEKYLL Corr. iii. (1894) 106 Fourteen at table., 
mixed of Queenites and Anti-Queeniles. 1837 MAJOR 
RICHARDSON Brit. Legion v. (ed. 2) 132 The inhabitants of 
Vitoria are infinitely more Carlists than Queenites. 1859 
DK. BUCKINGHAM Mem, Geo. IV, I. 87 Theodore Hook . . 
made the respectable portion of the Queenites heartily 
ashamed of their cause. 

attrib. 1839 THACKKRAY Major Gahagan iii, A troop of 
the Queenite lancers [in Spain). 

Quee nless, a. [-LESS.] Having no queen. 

1858 Sat. Rev. VI. 29/1 They may learn what happens to 
the queenless swarm. 1880 LUBBOCK in Jrnl, Linn. Soc. 
XV. 176, I procured a queen, -and put her with some honey 
in a queenless nest. 1882 Harpers Mag. LXV. 252 Gladis 
hung the cage for one day in her queenless hive. 

Hence Quee iilessriess. 

1884 Bee-keeping (Brit. Bee-keepers 1 Assoc.) 26 With me 
queenlessness presents the worst of all difficulties. 

Quee lilet. [-LET.] A petty queen. 

1833 CARLYLE Diderot in Misc. Ess. (1888) V. 33 The 
whole North swarms with kinglets and queenlets of the like 
temper. 1899 Month Apr. 429, I thought this queenlet 
lived among the forest folk. 

Quee nlike, a. [-LIKE.] Like a queen ; ma 
jestic, haughty, etc., as a queen; queenly. 

1612 DRAYTON Poiy-olb. x. 117 Istrad likewise hies Unto 
the Queen-like Cluyd. 1670 HANNAH WOLLKV (title) The 
Queen-like Closet; or Rich Cabinet stored with all manner 
of Rare Receipts. 1828 CARLYLE Misc. (1857) * 200 With 
queenllke indifference she cast it from her hand. 1871 
CARLYLE in Mrs. C. s Lett. II. 310 The most queen-like 
woman I had ever known. 

Queenliness (kwrnlines). [f. QUEENLY a. + 
-NESS.] The condition or quality of being queenly. 

1863 GEO. ELIOT Romola I. 290 Casting around, as it 
were, an odour of queenliness. 1874 GREEN Short Hist. 
vii. 8. 446 If she [Elizabeth] once broke the silence, it was 
with a flash of her old queenliness. 1875 BROWNING Inn 
Album iv, The lady s proud pale queenliness of scorn. 

Queenly (kwrnli), a. [f. QUEEN sb. + -LY*. 
OK. had cwtnlic in the sense of 4 feminine*.] 

1. Belonging to, appropriate to, a queen. 

c 1540 CROMWELL Let. to Hen. I lll in Burnet Rec. (1779^ 
I. in. 193, I answered and said. .that I thought she had a 
Queenly manner. 1550 RALE Eng. Votaries n. D iij, He 
deprived her of all queenly honour. 1570 FOXE A . fy M. I. 
546 Whether they shal be eyther of regal, quenely, or im 
perial dignitie. 1849 W. M. W. CULL Reverberations ii. 2 
Soon Alcestis . . With a queenlier presence . . Stept forth. 



1878 GLADSTONE Prim. Homer 133 In the Odyssey Helen 
reappears full of queenly dignity. 

2. Resembling a queen ; queenlike. AlsoyS^. 

1824 Miss MITFORD Village Ser. i. (1863) 87 That queenly 
flower becomes the water. 1854 DOKAN Habits &lt;V Men 104 
Anne of Denmark, .did not look queenly even in Elizabeth s 
robes. 1869 FREEMAN Norm. Conq. (1876) III. xi. 33 It had 
brought forth its queenly leaves and its kingly fruit. 

Comb. 1871 AMY BUTTON Streets fy Lanes i. 32 A queenly- 
looking old lady. 

So Quee-nly adv., in the manner of a queen. 

a 1851 MOIR To a wounded Ptarmigan vi, The wild swan 
from the lake, Ice unfetter d oar d it queenly. 1864 TENNY 
SON Aylmer s Fielding Quetnly responsive when the loyal 
i hand Rose . . as she past. 

Queen-xno tner. [See QUEEN 2 c.] 

1. A queen dowager who is the mother of the 
reigning sovereign. 

1577 FRAMPTON Joyfull Newcs ii. Ixxvi. 43 b He .. did 
sende it to kyng Fraunces the seconde, and to the Queene 
Mother. 1664-5 I EI-YS Diary (1879) III. 106 Mr. Povy 
carried me to Somerset House and showed me the Queene- 
Mother s Chamber. 1768 H. WALPOLE Hist. Doubts 98 
1 Why was not the queen-mother applied to. .for his support 
and education? 1853 MAURICE I roph. &lt;$- Kings xi. 177 A 
usurpation by the queen-mother for six years follows. 

2. A queen who is a mother. Also applied to 
a queen-bee, and_^ r . 

1602 SHAKS. Ham. in. !. 190 Let his Queene Mother all 
alone intreat him To shew his Greefes. a 1658 CLEVELAND 

i Myrtle-Grove 9 Clarinda rose . . Like the Queen mother of 
, the__Stars above. 1816 KIRBY & SP. Entomol. (1818) II. 
xviii. 118 The first fruits of the queen-mother s vernal par 
turition assist her. 1899 IVesttn. Gaz. 24 May 5/1 For mote 
than sixty years the Queen-mother has j^one in and out 
among generations of Windsor people. 

3. a. A variety of plum. b. A variety of pear. 
1664 EVELYN Kal. Hort. (1729) 233/2 Plums, . .Saint Julian, 

Queen Mother. 1767 J. ABICKCROMBIE Ev. Man Ins own 
Gardener (1803) 673 Peais, .. Queen mother, Myrobalan 
[etc.]. 1770 FOOTE Lame Lover \\\, Wks. 1799 II. 86 A da- 
mascen plum . . does pretty well indeed in a tart, but .. to 
compare it with the queen mother, the padrigons [etc.]. 

4. attrib. , as TQueen-mother herb, queen s 
herb , tobacco (Minsheu Duttor 1617). Qbs. 

So called after Catherine de Medici, to whom it was sent 
by Nicot, then ambassador in Portugal (1559-61). 

Quee ii-post. [Cf. KING-POST.] One of two 
upright timbers in a roof-truss } which are framed 
above into the rafters and below into the tie-beam, 
at points equidistant from its middle or ends. 

1823 P. NICHOLSON Pract, Build. .127 The use of the 
queen-posts is similar to that of the king-posts; viz. for fur 
nishing a general support for the principals. 1847 SM RATON 
Builder s Man. 72 When the king-post is not thought to be 
sufficient to support the pressure .. Queen-posts .. may be 
| used. 1851 TURNER Dom. A re kit. II. iv. 162 This [toof] is 
1 very strong and massive, with tie^beamsand queen posts. 

attrib. 1836 PARKER Gloss. Arc hit. (1850) 394 A king 
post roof has one vertical post in each truss, a queen post 
roof has two. 

Queenship (kwrnjip). [f. QUEEN sb. + -SHIP.] 

1. The dignity or office of a queen. 

1536 ANNE BOLEVN in Ld. Herbert Hen. VIII (16831 447 
Neither did I . . forget my self in my exaltation, or received 
Queenship. 1648 HERRICK Hesper.^ to Julia u86g) 28 For 
thy queen-ship on thy head is set Of flowers a sweet com 
mingled coronet. 1848 FABER ./*/&gt;. Confer. 11861) 146 What 
| name can we give to a queenship so grand? 1876 j. ELLIS 
! Cssar in Egypt 83 Hast thou not saved my State.. And 
given me Queenship? 

2. The personality of a queen ; (her) majesty. 

1603 DRAYTON Heroic al Ep. xiii. 107 Y faith her Queene. 
ship little Rest should take. 1694 MOTIEUX Rabelais v. 

j xxii. (1737) 101 We..thank d her Queenship. 1767 Woman 
of Fashion I. 91 It was my Ladyship, I presume, that put 

, her in mind of Cleopatra, no Disparagement to her 
Queenship. 

Queer (kwl^r), a. 1 Forms : 6 queir, queyr, 
que(e)re, 7 quer, 7- queer. [Of doubtful origin. 
Commonly regarded as a.G. gner(^,\ HG. tiver, see THWART), 
cross, oblique, squint, perverse, wrongheaded ; but the date 
at which the word appears in Sc. is against this, and the 
prominent sense does not preciselycorrespond lo any of the 
uses of G. quer. There are few examples prior to 1700.] 

1. Strange, odd, peculiar, eccentric, in appear 
ance or character. Also, of questionable character, 
suspicious, dubious. 

1508 DUNBAR Fly ting -2.1& Heir cumis our awin queir Clerk. 

1513 DOUGLAS /Eneis vm. Prol. 43 The cadgear . . Calland 

the collar ane knaif and culroun full queyr. 1550 KALE 

Eng. Votaries u. 21 Y e Chronycles. .contayne muche more 

, truthe than their quere legendes. 1598 MAKSTON Pygmal. 

\ \. 138 Show thy queere substance, worthlesse, most absurd. 

1621 W. YONCE Diary 27 Aug. (Camden) 43.The emperor is 

I in that quer case, that he is not able to bid battle. 1663 

! Flagellum or O. Cromwell 109 That the world may see 

i what queer hypocrites his attendants were. 171* STEELE 

SJ&gt;ect. No. 474 P 2 Let me be known all at once for a queer 

Fellow, and avoided. 1741 RICHARDSON Pamela III. 224, 

I have heard of many queer Pranks among my Bedfordshire 

Neighbours. 1840 DICKENS Barn. Rudge xxxix, It was 

a queer fancy . . but he was a queer subject altogether. 1870 

H. SMART Race for IVife i, In the queer old room with its 

still queerer attempts at decoration. 

absol. i8a6 SCOTT Woodstock (1894) II. 19 His appear 
ance bordered.. upon what is vulgarly called the queer. 

2. Not in a normal condition ; out of sorts ; 
giddy, faint, or ill : esp. in phr. to feel (or look) 
queer. Also slang: Drunk. 

1800 W. B. RHODES Bomb. Fur. \. (1830) 8 We feel our- 

selves a little queer. i86 Sporting Mag. XVIII. 285 

| Galloping . . with a rummish team, and himself queer. 1848 

6 



QUEER. 

DICKENS Domliy i, I am so very queer that I must ask you 
for a glass of wine and a morsel of that cake. ,885 Miss 
BRADDON Wyllard s ll eini I. i. 39 That business on the 
railway was enough to make any man feel queer. 
3. Queer Street : An imaginary street where 
people in difficulties are supposed to reside ; 
hence, any difficulty, fix, or trouble, bad circum 
stances, debt, illness, etc. slang. 



at present. 1886 STEVENSON Dr. Jekyll i. led. 2) n Ihe 
more it looks like Queer Street, the less I ask. 

4. Comb., as queer-looking, -shaped, -tempered. 

,825 I. NEAL^ro. Jonathan II. 171 A little, modest, queer- 
looking brown girl. 1838 DICKENS A7cA. Nick, x, You are 
the longest-headed, queerest-tempered, old coiner of gold 
and silver there ever was. 1891 T. HARDY Tea (1900) 105/1 
The queer-shaped flints. 

Queer, a. 2 Thieves cant. Forms: 6 quyer, 
quyre, 6-7 quire, quyre, 7 queere, 9 queer. 
[Of obscure origin: in later use (from ^1700) 
identified in form with prec., and perh. associated 
with it in meaning.] Bad; worthless. 

The exact sense varies with the sb. ; for a list of the common 
est phrases, zsquetrbird, buffer, bung, cole, etc. see iheVicf. 
Cant. Crew (a 1700). Cf. also the sbs., as CUFFIN, COLL, 
etc. In quot. 1561 there may be an allusion to quire choir. 

1561 AWDELAY Frat. ^ acafi. (1869) 4 A Quire bird is one 
that came lately out of prison. 1567 HARMAN Caveat (1869) 
84 To cntti quyre whyitdis, to geue euell wordes or euell 
languages. 1609 DEKKER Lanth. H Candle Lt. C iij b, To 
the quier cuffing we bing. 1641 BROME JmialCrtW iv. ii. 
Wks. 1873 III. 431 The Quire Cove and the Harmanbeck. 
a ,700 B. E. Diet. Cant. Cre-i , Queers, base, Roguish, 
naught. 1812 J. H. VAUX Flash Diet., Queer-bail, Persons 
of no repute, hired to bail a prisoner in any bailable case. 
[1865 DICKENS Mitt. Fr. in. i, Concerning that bill-broking 
branch of the business. .. What queer bills are to be bought, 
and at what prices ?] 

b. as sb. : Bad money ; base coin. 
,8,1 J. H. VAUX Flash Diet. 
Queer (,kwla), v. slang, [f. QUEER a.l or a. *] 

1. trans, a. To quiz or ridicule ; to puzzle, b. 
To impose on, swindle, cheat. 

1790 By-Standtr 343 Young rascals, who are telling you . . 
how archly they queer attornies. 1797 MRS. M. ROBINSON 
Walsingham II. 299 You re found out, that s all , replied 
the turnkey, . . there s no queering the law . 1812 COLMAN 
Br. Grins, Two Parsons Ixviii, A shoulder. knotted puppy, 
with a grin, Queering the threadbare curate, let him in. 
1819 BORROW U and. Children in \V. J. Knapp Life I. 64 
Well, we have tramped the roads, and queered Full many 
a sharp and Bat. 

2. To spoil, put out of order. 

1811 J. H. VAUX Flash Diet. 1818 Sporting Mag. II. 189 
His ogles were queered . . and his head was dunned. 1884 
G. MOORE Mummer s Wife (1887) 190 All they [the chorus] 
dared do they did to queer her Scene. 

3. To put (one) out ; to make (one 1 ) feel queer. 
1845 W. CORY Lett. !, Jrnls. (1897) 34 Hallam was rather 

queered (it not being in his line to do anything so con 
spicuous . 1894 Outing (U. S.) XXIV. 362/2 It queered me 
to think what would happen if they were to lose foothold. 
Hence Quee rer, one who queers. 

1812 COLMAN Br. Grins, Tivo Parsons Ixxxv, These wooden 
wits, these quizzers, queerers, smokers. 

Queer, obs. form of quere QU.ERE, QUIRE. 

Queer(e, obs. forms of CHOIR sb. 

t Queering, ? syncopated f. Severing COVERING. 

1688 R. HOLME Armoury in. 261/2 Queering is the cover 
ing of a Wall .. new built, that Rain drive not into it. 

Queerish (kwi rij;, a. Also 8 quear-. [f. 
QUEEK a. 1 + -ISH.] Somewhat queer. 

ij4yGe&gt;itt. Mag. 191 God knows the cause ! but Nan looks 
quearish. 1775 S. J. PRATT Liberal Opin. xlix. (1^83) II. 97 
Methinks the London ladies are a little queerish. 1819 
SHELLEY Peter Bell n. vi, He called the ghost . . It had 
a queerish look. 1846 LANDOR Exam. Skaks, Wks. II. 274, 
1 myself did feel queerish and qualmy. 

Hence Quee rishness. 

j8os RAMSAY Scotl. fy Scotsmen in i8M C. (Allardyce, 
18881 1. 382 The queerishness of his countenance. 

Queerister, obs. form of CHORISTER. 

Queerity (kwi.&gt;-riti). Also 8 que(a)r-. [f. 
QUEER a.l + -ITY.] Queerness, oddity. 

1711 STEELE Sped. No. 17 P 3 No Person .. shall be 
admitted without a visible Quearity in his Aspect, or 
peculiar Cast of Countenance. 1720-1 Lett. fr. Mist s Jrnl. 
(1722) II. 303 When I survey the Querity of thy Aspect. 
a 1849 POE Marginalia. Wks. 1864 III. 555 The pages have 
now and then a typographical queerity. 1880 BLACKMORE 
Maty Amrley II. 146 York city, teeming .. with most 
deligutful queerities. 

Queerk, obs. form of QUIRK si. 

Queerly (kwia-ili), adv.* [f. QUEER &lt;z.i + -LT 2 .] 

Strangely, oddly. 

1707 HEAHNE Collect. 16 Apr. (O. H. S.) II. 6 [He] liv d 
querely. 1714 in Somers Tracts (1748) I. 387 The Earl 
looked queerly. 1790 MAD. D ARBLAY Diary 6 May, 
A sister-in-law of the queerly celebrated Miss Monckton. 
1864 SIR F. PALCRAVE Norm, f, Eng. IV. 395 Names., 
queerly inappropriate. 

tQuee-rly, adv? Qbs. Cant. [f. QUEER a.2] 
In a bad or rascally manner. 

a 1700 B. E. Diet. Cant. Crew s. v. Qtiecrt, How Queenly 
tin Cull Touts, how roguishly the Fellow looks. 

Queerness (kwi-.tnes). [f. QUEER a.i + 
-NESS.] Strangeness (f reluctance) ; queer ways, 
condition, etc. Also, an instance of this. 



42 

.. TRELAWNY in T. Papers Camden Misc. uSss) .H- 



QUELLER. 

reygne neuer ceased theyre quel, murder, death & slaughter. 
1605 SHAKS. Macb.i.\ \\. 72 Hisspungie Officers. . shall beare 
the guilt Of our great quell. 1818 KEATS Endym. H. 537 



,rtIv 7 &lt; ihuilt O our great que. ., EATS nay.n. . 537 

could nw ^vaywr.h ,821-30 Ln. COCKBURN Mem. 54 The Awfully he stands, A sovereign quell ,s ,n his wavmg hands 
vTslareVaTlLfornUquSrness. ,879 ATCHERLEY Trip , Quell,**.* rart~\ [a. G. quelle spring : cf. 



boys stared at him for his queerness. ,879 ATCHERLEY frit 
Boerland 43 Six or eight [oxen] were lying dead, and the 
whole were showing unmistakable signs of queerness. 

Queest (kw/st.). Forms: a. 5 quysht(e, 
quyste, quisle, 7, 9 quist, quoist, (7 ooist), 8 
quiest, 9 quest, queist, 7- queest. $. 7 quees, 
quiese, 8-9 queece, 9 queeze, quice, quoioe, 
etc. [ME. quisht, ?for *cusht, var. of CUSHAT 
(OE. cuscote, -sceole) by elision of the second 
vowel. Still current in western dialects.] The 
ring-dove, wood-pigeon. 

o c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. I. 758 So hoot is no donge O: 
foul as of the dowue, a quyshte out take. 1:1430 fwa 
Cookcry-tks. 8 Take quystes, an stoppe hem wyth-m vvyth 
hole peper. ,598 SYLVESTER Du Bartas I. v. 713 Ihe 
grizel Quoist. ,60, HOLLAND Pliny I. 342 Coists or Stock- 
doues ,6,, COTGR., Phavier, a Ringdoue, Queest, Coushot, 
Woodculuer. 1800 Gentl. Mag. I. 106 The ring-dove or 
quiest ,843 Zoologist I. 213 Hiding himself in a barn, 
waiting for queests . ,860 WHVTE MELVILLE Holmby 
House II. iii. 29 The quest s soft, plaintive lullaby. ,870 
M. COLLINS Vivian II. iii. 35 As pensive as a quoist. 

attrib. ,653 URQUHART Rabelais n. xxvii, The homes of 
a roebuck .. the feet of foure queest-doves. 

(3. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury n. 244/2 The Stock Dove.. 
is also termed by us a Quees or Quiese. ,882 W. Wore. 
Gloss., Qneece. ,895 B ltam Weekly Post 16 Feb. 4/8 
A wood-pigeon, or quice , as it is commonly^ called. 

collect. ,896 Westm. Gaz. ,2 May 4/1 Sitting with his 
gun waiting for quoice. The quoice were disappointing. 

Queet, var. COOT sb.-, ankle-joint. Queethe, 
var. QUETHE v. Queeziness, obs. f. QUEASI- 
NESS. Queff, Quegh, varr. QUAIGH. Quehen, 
obs. f.\\ HEN. Quehte, obs. pa. t. of QUETCH v. 
Queich, var. QUAIGH, QUEACH. Queif, obs. Sc. 
f. COIF. Queijte, obs. pa. t. of QUETCH . 

t Quermish, a. (also 5 qweymows), obs. var. 
SQUEAMISH, q.v. Hence Quermishly adv. 

a ,485 Promp. Pan*. 419/2 (MS. S.) Qweymows, infra in 
skeymowse, or sweynlows, abliominativus. 1594 CHAP 
MAN Shailoiu Nig ht, Ded. Aij, Theyqueimishliecommende 
it for a pretie toy. 

Queine, obs. f. QUEAN, QUEEN. Queint, obs. 
f. QUAINT a. ; obs. pa. pple. of QUENCH ; var. 
QUENT v. Queintise, etc. : see QUAINT-. Queir, 
obs. Sc. f. CHOIR. Queist, var. QUEEST. Queit, 
obs. f. QUOIT sb. Queite, obs. pa. t. of QUETCH v. 
Queith. : see QUETHE sb. and v. 

t Quek, qneke. Obs. rare. [Of obscure 
origin.] A chequer or chess-board ; some game 
played on this. Also Queke-board. 

[1376 in Riley Lend. Mem. (1868) 395 A pair of tables on 
the outside of which was painted a chequer-board that is 
called a quek . The complainants played with the de 
fendant Nicholas at quek.] ,426LvDG. DeGuil. Pilgr. 11198 
Rede . . On thyng that ys nat worth a lek ; Pleye at the 
keyles the quek. ,477 Act 17 Edw. IV, c. 3 Diversez 
novelx ymaginez jeuez appellez Cloishe Kaylez half kewle 
Hondyn & Hondoute & Quekeborde. a 1500 in Freeman 
Exeter (1887) 161 Yongpeple. .within the said cloistrehave 
exercised unlawful games as the toppe, queke, penny prykke. 
Quek, var. of QUECK v. 1 Obs. 
Quek(e, obs. forms of QUICK. 
f Queke, int. Obs. rare - . [Cf. Dn. kweken to 
quack.] An imitation of the note of a goose. 

ci38, CHAUCER Parl. Foules (Harl. MS.) 594 $a queke 
yit saide the goos ful wele & faire. 
Queken, -yn, obs. forms of QUICKEN v. 
Quelcll (kwelj, -tj~), v. rare. Also 7 quelsh. 
[Related to SQUELCH as quash, quat to squash, 
squat.] intr. and trans. To squelch. 

,659 WOOD Lije 31 July (O. H. S.) I. 280 Some hang 
swinging on the gallery . . and then come quelshing downe 
on people s heads. ,866 BLACKMORE Cradock Noivell xxxvi. 
(1883) 219 With the water quelching in his boots. 1896 
A. J. C. HARE Life II. x. 277 Any good opinion of me . . 
was quelched by my want of admiration. 
Queldepoynte : see QUILTPOINT. 
t Quele, v. Obs. [OE. cwelan = OS. qttelan 
to die a violent death (MDu. quelen to suffer, be 
ill), OHG. quelen (MHG. queln) :-OTeut. *hvel- 
an from root *kivel- : see QUELL v.] To die. 

c ,000 Saxon Leechd. III. 272 Swa swa fixas cwelaS syf 
hi of waetere beo5. CII75 Lamb. Ham. in Du gederast 
mare & mare, & men cwelaS on hungre. c ,205 LAY. 31815 
MorS wes iwuroen ; quelen pa eorles, quelen ba beornes 
[etc.]. 01250 Proi . /Elfred 155 in O. E. Misc. 112 pat he 
may. .god iqueme er he quele. 
Quele, obs. north, form of WHEEL. 
t Quelet, quylet(e. Obs. rare. [a. OF. cueil- 
lete, cuillette, etc.: see CULET!.] A gathering, 
collection ; congregation. 

,382 WYCLIF Lev. xxiii. 36 It is forsothe of companye, and 
of quelet. Dent. xvi. 8 The quylet of the Lord thi God. 
1422 tr. Secreta Secret. Priv. Priv. vii. 136 There shall 
noone quylete of auere, ne no hepe of tresure . . make his 
roialme ayeyne come. 

Quelk-chose, var. quelque-chose KICK-SHAW. 

Quell (kwel), sb^ rare. [f. QUELL z/.i] Slay 
ing, slaughter ; power or means to quell. 

c ,420 Antursof Artk. 49 (Douce MS.) Withe gret questes 

and quelles Bothe in frethes and felles. ,543 GRAFTON 

I Contn. Harding 518 Through al the tyme of hys v.surped 



QUELL z&gt;.-] A spring, fountain. 

,894 G.EGERTON Discords 213 She was . .the quell of living 
waters out of which he drew fresh strength for new lays. 

Quell (kwel), z. 1 Forms: i owellan, (owoel- 
lan), 3 cwelle, -enn ; 3-4 quellen, (5 qvellyn), 
3-5 quelle, 5 qweU\e, whell(e, 4, 6 quel, 4- 
quelL Pa. t. I cwealde, 3 qualde, quolde, (//. 
cwelden, owaldenn, qualden), 3-4 queld(e; 
4- quelled, (4 -id, 6 Sc. -it, -yt). Pa. pple. 3 
i-queld, 4 quelt, 6 queld, 4- quelled, (5 -et). 
[OE. cwejlan = OS. qttellian (MDu. quellen, Du. 
twelkit), OHG. quellen, chellen (MHG. quellen 
queln, etc. G. qudlen), ON. kvclja (Svv. qvdlja, 
Da. kvsele) : OTeut. *kwaljan, causative from the 
I root kwal- : see QUALE, QUELE.] 

1. trans. To kill, slay, put to death, destroy 
(a person or animal). Now rare or Obs. (in later 
j use associated with sense 3"). 

1:897 K. /ELFRED Gregory s Past. xlv. 342 Swelce hwa 
wille blotan oasm faeder. .his a^en beam, & hit Sonne cwelle 
beforan his eajum. criooo .rKLFRic Exod. xxix. 16 ponne 
bu hine cwelst, bit nyrnst his blod. c 1205 LAY. 1752 Heo 
qualden [c 1275 cwelden] pa Frensce alle ba heo funden. 
c 1250 Death 14 in O. E. Misc. 168 pe feond penche5 iwis be 
sawle forto cwelle [v. r. quelle]. ,350 IVill. Palerne 179 
Briddes & smale bestes wi}&gt; his bow he quelles. a ,400-50 
Alexander 1307 He. .Bretens doun all be bild X be bernys 
quellis [v. r. whellis]. c ,510 BARCLAY Mirr. Gd. Manners 
(1570) D vj, If he be much cruell which doth his body quell 
Who killeth his owne soule is much more cruell. ,598 
HAKLUVT Voy. I. 20 Like barbarous miscreants, they 
quelled virgins vnto death. 1658 J. JONES Ovid s Ibis 93 
Cassandrus . . was by his subjects quelled with earth. 1791 
COWPER Iliad v. 128 Yet him the dart Quell d not. 18,7 
BYRON Manfred n. i. 85, I never quell d An enemy, save in 
my just defence. 

absol. 1397 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 885 pis king..bigan berne 
& quelle. 1590 SHAKS. Mids. N. v. i. 292 O Fates. .Quaile, 
crush, conclude, and quell. 

t b. To dash out, knock down. (Cf. KILL v. 
i.) Obs. rare. 

c 1374 CHAUCER Troylus iv. 18 (46) They fyghte . . And with 
here axes out be braynes quelle. 1535 STEWART Cron. Scot. 
1.636 With monyknok : the Romanes doun tha quell. 11,550 
Cliristis Kirke Gr. xxi, The carlis with clubbis coud udir 
quell Quhyle blude at breistis out bokkit. 
c. To kill, destroy (a plant). rare~ l . 

1778 [W. MARSHALL] Minutes Agric. 6 June 1775 A dry 
summer, no doubt, quells the roots. 

2. To destroy, put an end to, suppress, extin 
guish, etc. (a thing or state of things, esp. a bad 
or disagreeable one, a feeling, disposition, etc.). 

13. .Galu. &lt;5- Gr. Knt. 751 pat syre bat . . was borne oure 
baret to quelle. a ,400 Ipotis 334 in Horstm. A Itfngl. Leg. 
(1881) 345 He wente to helle, pe fendes pou.-te for to quelle. 
1591 SHAKS. Tivo Gent. iv. ii. 13 All her sodaine quips, The 
least whereof would quell a louers hope. ,650 FULLER 
Pisgah n. iv. 103 Here some Commentators being not able 
to quell, never raise this objection. ,678 Trans. Crt. Spain 




FREEMAN Norm. Conq. (1876) II. viii. 173 All opposition was 
quelled by fire and sword. 

3. To crush or overcome (a person or thing) ; to 
subdue, vanquish, reduce to subjection or sub 
mission ; t to force down to. 

,570 Satir. Poems Reform, xxiii. 124 Thay did comfort vs, 
And maid vs fre quhen strangers did vs quell. 16,0 HF.ALEY 
St. Aug. City of God 650 Pompey the great quelled them 
first, and made them tributaries to Rome. ,645 MILTON 
Tetrach. Wks. (1847) 178/1 (Gen. i. 27) The want of this 
i quells them to a servile sense of their own conscious un- 
worthiness. ,748 GRAY Alliance 91 With side-long plough 
to quell the flinty ground. ,838 THIDLWAU. Greece IV. xxxiii. 
320 It might enable him to quell the revolted Egyptians. 
,868 FREEMAN Norm. Cong. (1876) II. viii. 297 The energy 
of William had thus thoroughly quelled all his foes. 

absol. ,853 C. BRONTE Villettc xv, He quelled, he kept 
down when he could. 

1 4. intr. = QUAIL v. 2, QUEAL v. Obs. 

,579 SPENSER S/teph. Cal. Mar. 8 Winters wrath beginnes 
to quell [gloss, to abate], a 1599 F. Q. vn. vii 42 Then 
came old January wrapped well .. Yet did he quake and 
quiver, like to quell. ,6,6 SUHFL. & MARKH. Country Fanne 
,14 Where ten thousand haue died for want of this exercise, 
not one hath quelled which hath beene vsed in this manner. 

Hence Quelled///, a. 

13. . Gain. # Gr. Knt. 1324 Quykly of be quelled dere 
a querre pay maked. ,821 JOANNA BAILLIE Metr. Leg., 
Wallace iii, Her quell d chiefs must tamely bear From brag 
gart pride the taunting jeer. 

^ Quell, v.- rare. [In first quot. app. repr. an 
OE. +cwellan = OS., OHG. quellan : in second 
quot. a. G. quellen.~\ intr. To well out, flow. 

,340 Aycnt. 248 pe welle eurelestinde bet alneway kuel? 
andfayly ne may. ,863 KINCSLEV Water-Bat, i, Out of 
a low cave.. the great fountain rose, quelling and bubbling. 

Queller (kwlai). [OE. cwellere - ON. kvel- 
jari : see QUELL v. 1 and -ER 1.] One who quells, 
in senses of the vb. 

Freq. as a second element in combs., e. g. boy-, child; 
devil-, giant-, manqueller. 



QUELLING. 

1:900 tr. Bxda s Hist. \. vii. (1890) 38 Se sylfa cwellere ?e 
hine slean sceolde. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Mark vi. 27 Se 
cinincg..sendeenne cwellere. c 1290. V. .. ?. I. 37/116 
[To] loste be quellare he was bi-take. 1388 WYCLIF Tol it 
iii. 9 Thou sleeresse [v. r. quellere] o_f thin hosebondis. c 1520 
BARCLAY Jugurtha (ed. 2) 48 The ioye of the quellars and 
murderers. 1671 MILTON P. R. iv. 633 Hail Son of the most 
High.. Queller of Satan. 1804 W. TAYLOR in Ann. Rev. II. 
210 The promoters and quellers of the Wexford insurrection. 
1881 SEELEY Bonaparte in Macm. Mag. XLIV. 168/2 The 
queller of Jacobinism . . Bonaparte. 

Quelling (kwe-lirj), vbl. sb. [f. QUELL z/.l + 
-ING .] The action of the vb. QUELL. 

1197 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 5996 Brenningge & robberye & 
quelllnge. 1513 DOUGLAS SEneis xiu. ill. 116 All the fludis 
walxynreid. .Of mannis quelling. I0nOwZN^VMntaArrtf 
(1891) 91 The fallinge of the earth and the quellinge of the 
poore people. 1641 HINDE y. Britai xlv. 143 The killing or 
quelling of many noysonie lusts. 1779 HERVEY Nav. Hist. 
II. 97 The quelling of Tyrone s rebellion. 

Quelling (kwe-lirj), ///. a. [f. as prec. + 
-ING 2 .] That quells, in senses of the vb. 

1581 T. HOWELL Denises (1879) 211 Through quelling cares 
that ^threat my woful wrack. 1602 CAREW Cornwall 125 b, 
The imaginary Prince receiued a quelling wound in his head. 
1641 MILTON C/i. Govt. \\. iii, The heaviest and most quelling 
tyranny. 1894 MRS. H. WARD Manilla I. 124 Lord Max 
well had written him a quelling letter. 

t Que llio. 06s. [ad. Sp. cuello neck, collar 
: L. collum neck.] A Spanish ruff. Also attrib. 

1632 MASSIN GER City Madam iv. iv, Your Hungerland 
bands, and Spanish quellio ruffs. 1633 SHIRLEY Triumph 
Peace 9, I ha scene . . Baboones in Quellios, and so forth. 
1638 FORD Lady s Trial n. i, Our rich mockado doublet, 
With our cut cloth-of-gold sleeves, and our quellio. 

tQuelm, v. 06s. [OE. cwelman, cwiejnian 
( = OS. quelmian once in Hel.), f. cwealm QUALM.] 
trans. To torment ; to kill, destroy. 

1:825 fesf. Psalter xxxvi. n Benedon bo^an his. .3x1 hie 
cwaelmen Sa. rehtheortan. 971 Blickl. Ham. 63 Judas nu 
is cwylmed . . on bsem ecum witum. a 1300 E. E. Psalter 
xxxvi. 14 He bent his bowe. .bathe, .quelm rightwis of hert. 

Hence f Que lmer, a destroyer. Obs. 

1:1415 LYDG. Assembly of Gods 709 Quelmers of chyldren, 
with fornycatours. 

f Quelme, obs. variant of WHELM. 

1647 H. MORE Song o/Sonl I. I. xxv, So School-boyes do 
aspire With coppell d hat to quelme the Bee. 

Quelp, obs. f. WHELP. Quelque-chose : 
see KICKSHAW. Quelt, obs. f. KILT sb. 

t Queme, sb. Obs. Also 2-3 oweme, 5 wheme. 
[App. subst. use of next.] Pleasure, satisfaction. 
Chiefly in plir. to queme, so as to please or satisfy ; 
also, to take to queine, to accept. 

c "75 Lamb. Horn. 23 Ne bu ne mijt beon wel iscrifen god 
almihti to cweme. a 1300 Cursor M. 1064 (Gott.) Godd 
toke to queme his sacrefis. c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. Wace 
(Rolls) 2018 Of alle scheo was most til his queme. a 1400 
Minor Poems fr. fernon MS. 624/444, was cros to monnes 
quemus. c 1460 To .vnclcy Myst. vii. 62 Thou shall .. seme 
to wheme God with all thi hart. 

Queme, a. Obs. exc. north, dial. Forms : | 
a. 3 oweme, 3-5 queme, 4-5 quern, 5 qwem(e, j 
6 queeme, 7-8 Sc. quim, 9 Sc. queem. j8. north. 
5 wheme, 7 wheeme, 7-9 wheam, wheem, 8-9 
whim, 9 weam, weme. [ME. cweme, queme, repr. 
OE. *cwt me (cf. cw&iian, civifmites), or zectuinie 
I-QUEME = ON. kvxm-r (MSw. qvani) : cf. OHG. 
piqtutmi (MHG. bequxme, G. bequem = MDn. 
beqttame, Du. bekwaani). The stem kwxmi- 
belongs to the ablaut-series of the vb. COME : for 
the sense cf. Goth gaqimil it is fitting, Eng. 
BECOME v. 7ff., and L. convenire.] 

1 1. Pleasing, agreeable, acceptable to a person. 
(In early nse with dat. of person.) Obs. 



sulde we . . sen Quilc gure sal god quemest benY a 1300 
Cursor M. 26559 To deme quic and ded als him es queme. 
c "375 Sc. Leg. Saints 1. (Katharine) 29 Quha sacrifice mad 
till hym quern, c 1460 To-.vneley Myst. i. 42 This warke to 
me is queme. 

b. Of pleasing appearance ; specious; beautiful, 
fair ; neat, tidy. 

aiynCnrsor M. 28128, I ..sayd my scryft wit wordes 
queme pat my syn he lesse suld seme. 13. . E. E. Allit. 
P. B. 1178 Me payed ful ille to be outfleme .. Fro alle bo 
sy^tez so quykez & queme. c 1400 Destr. Troy 6203 The 
whelis full wheme, all of white aumber, 1:1450 Mironr 
Saluacioun 2892 A newe grave fulle qweme. 1883 Almondb. 
&lt;r Httdttersf. Gloss, i Iff aw, weme, .. tidy .. A nice little 
weme packet . 

c. dial. Closed against or protected from the 
wind, snug ; unruffled, smooth. 

1674-91 RAY N..C. Words, Wheam, wheem, near, close, 
so as no wind can enter it. 1830 Martnaideii o Clyde in 
Whitelaw Bk. Sc. Ballads (1874) 93/2 Whan the year 
grown auld brings winter cauld We flee till our ha s sae 
queem. 1824 MACTAGGART Gallovid. Encycl. (1876) 391 
Dream ^that the ocean s queem. 

2. Fit, fitting, suitable ; convenient, handy ; 
near at hand, close. Const, to or dative. 

a 1300 Cursor Jlf. 8734 Sai me nu quat yow thine queme. 
Ibid. 8809 pe tre was a ls mete and quern, Als animan bar-to 
cuth deme. 01400-50 Alexander 5078 [A way] bat to be 
marche of Messedone was him mast qweme. 1570 LEVINS 
Manip. 60/15 Queeme, xqttus, compur. 1674-91 RAY N.-C. 
Words, Wheam, wheem, . . very handsome and convenient 
for one. 1812 T. WILKINSON Death of Roger in Gilpin 



Poetry Cumberl. 206 How wheem to Matty s elbow draws 
his chair. 1882 Lancash. Gloss. , Wheem, handy, convenient. 
3. Of persons : t a. Friendly or well-disposed 
{to}, intimate (with}. Obs. 

c 1325 Melr. Hom. 20 That he be ti! us quern that day. 
t: 1400 Destr. Troy 1763 To qwit claym all querels, & be 
qweme fryndes. c 1440 Bone l lor. ^5 They lefte a burges 
feyre and w heme, All ther schyppys for to yeme. a 1687 
MWAKD Contend. 262 (Jam.) They shall fall . . into an 
intimacy with the malignant enemies to the work of God, 
and grow quim and cosh with them. 1731 Plain Reasons 
Presbyt. Dissent. 53 Quim and cosh with them. 

b. Quiet, still, etc. 

c 375 -i r. Leg. Saints v. (&gt;/&lt;! 324 Sa bu wil bis folk mak 
quern.. I sal sone consent bar-to. 1873 S-Miledale Gloss., 
Wheem, smooth, demure, still, slyly quiet, mock-modest. 
1883 Almoiuit. f; Huddersf. Gloss , Weam or Weme, quiet 
. . A weme woman in a house is a jewel . 

t c. Skilled, clever ; smart, active. Obs. rar.e. 
c 1400 Destr. Troy 4202 Who is now so qweme or qwaint 
of his wit, T hat couthe mesure our might. 1611 COTGR., 
A droit, . . Handsome, nimble, wheeme, readieor quicke [etc.]. 
1 4. As atlv. = QUEMELY. Obs. rare, 
c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints^ vi. (Thomas) 180 And }e be bidding 
5eme of be apostil wel & queme. 1513 DOUGLAS sEneis ix. 
xii. 6 He thristis to the levys of the jet, And closit queym 
the entre. 

t Queme, v. Obs. Forms: i eweman, 3 
eweme(n, -enu; 2-3 quemen, (4-5 -yn), 3-6, 8 
queme, (4 quern, quime, kueme), 5-6 queeme, 
(5 ^w-) ; 3-5 qweme, (5 qwh-, wh-). Pa. t. 
i quemde, 1-3 cwemde, 3 cwemmde, quern-, 
quamede, 4 quemed, (5 -et, 6 Sc. -it). Pa. 
pple. 3 cwemedd, cwemmd, 3-5 quemed, (5 
-yd). [OE ciutman ( = j^ccwtman I-QI-EME v.) 
f. (ge~,cw/!me adj. ; see prec. and cf. MSw. qvamma, 
qvemma, G. biqutmen (f. bequem adj.).] 

1. Of persons : To please, gratify (another, esp. 
a superior) ; to act so as to please (one). Orig. 
const, with dat. or to, later with objective case. 

11750 Blickl. Glosses 13 in O. E. Texts 123 Conplacebam, 
quemde. (-897 K. /ELI-RED Gregory s Past. xix. 146 Daet ic 
monnum cweme & licije. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 67 }ef bu |&gt;us 
dost, .bu quemest god. 1:1250 Gen. fy Ex. 1380 Him..WiS 
watres drinc ghe quemede wel. 1340 Ayenb. 26 To. .do bet 
kuead, uor to kueme kuead-liche to be wordle. c 1374 
CHAUCER Troylus v. 695 My fader nyl . . do me grace . . for 
ought _I kan hym queme. 1496 Dives $ Paup. (W. de W.) 
Vlli. xiv. 342/1 We haue not gyuen hym ne wherwith to 
queme hym but that we take of hym. [1530 PALSGR. 676/2, 
/ queme, .. This worde is nowe out of use.] 

absol. c 1275 Moral Ode 96 in O. E. Misc., Hwat schulle 
we beren vs bi-voren ; Mid hwan schulle we queme. a 1300 
E. E. Psalter Iii. 6 God skatered banes of ba Unto men fat 
qwemes swa. 

2. Of things : a. To please, to be acceptable or 
agreeable to (a person). Const, as prec. 

a 1000 Sal. &lt;y Sat. (Gr.) 165 Nseni^ man scile oft orSances 
ut abredan waepnes ecgje, 5eah 3e him se wlite cweme. 
111225 Ancr. R. 338 Seruises inedde ne cwemeS nout ure 
Louerde. 1:1330 R. BRUXNE Chron. Wace (Rolls) 578 py 
dom vsalle quemes. 1390 GOWF.R Conf.\\. 273 Every newe 
love quemeth To him which newefongel is. 1447 BOKENHAM 
Seyntys (Roxb.) 196 Tyl it hym queme To returnyn ageyn. 
a 1500 How the good wife etc. in Hazlitt E. P. P. I. 188 
A dede wele done herte it whemyth. 1579 SPENSER Sheph. 
Cal. May 15 Such merimake holy Saints doth queme [gloss. 
please], 1602 DAVISON Rhapsody (1611) 53 Like peerlesse 
pleasures wont us for to queeme. 

b. To be suitable or fittingyi;/-. rare~^. 

c 1400 Destr. Troy 3404 Paris . . Worshippit bat worthy in 
wedys full riche As qwemet for a qwene. 

3. trans. To satisfy, appease, mitigate, rare. 

c 1250 Gen. tf Ex. 408 Swilc tiding 5hugte adam god, And 
sumdel quemeS it his seri mod. Ibid. 978 At a welle quemede 
hire list. 1430-40 LYDG. Bochas (1494) i. xxiii. 125 All the 
worlde outcneth of vs tweyn Whos hatful ire by vs may 
nat be quemyd. 

4. To join or fit closely. Sc. rare. 

1501 DOUGLAS Pal. Hon. in. Ixvii, And thame [the stones] 
coniunctlie jonit fast and quemit. 1808-80 JAMIESON, To 
Queem, to fit exactly; as, to queem the mortice, or joint 
in wood. Upp. Lanarks. 

5. To slip in. rare . 

1727 BAILEY vol. II, To Queme, as to queme a Thing into 
one s Hand, to put it in privately. 

Hence f Quemed///. a. ; f Que-ming vbl. sb. 

cti$oGen. ff Ex. 86 Til ihesus crist fro helle nam His 
quemed wid cue and adam. a 1300 E. E. Psalter cxlvi. 10 
Noght . . in schines of man queming bes him tille. 1340 
Ayenb. 26 pe ilke ssame comb of kueade kuemynge. c 1440 
Promp. Parv. 420/1 Qwetnynge, or peesynge, pacificacio. 

tQue meful, a. Obs. Also quemful(l, &gt; 
qwem-, qweemeful. [f. QUEME sb. + -FUL.] 
Pleasing, pleasant, agreeable ; kind, gracious. 

111340 HAMPOLE Psalter, Cant. 499 Dwelland out tharof. 
psalme is noght quemeful til ihu crist. 1388 WYCLIE Job 
xxxiii. 26 God. .schal be quemeful to hym. 

Hence t Qne-mefnlly adv. Obs. rare*. 

375 Sc. Leg. Saints i. (Katltarint) 1204 To leyd oure 
lyff sa quemfully till hyme, bat we ma cum. .to bat loy. 

Que-mely, adv. lObs. Also 5 qwem-, 8 
wheem-, whim-, 9 queem-. [f. QUEME a. + 
-IT 2 . Cf. MSw. qvamelika] In a pleasing, 
agreeable, or becoming manner ; neatly, gently, 
smoothly, etc. 

c 1380 WVCLIF Sena.. Sel. Wks. II. 361 No bing is more 
resonable ban to quemely serve God. c 1400 Destr. Troy 
11783 The golde was all gotyn,& the grete sommes. .qwemly 
lo-gedur. 1:1475 RanfCoifyart,i The flure..couerit full 
clene, Cummand fra the Cornellis closand quemely. 1703 " 



QUENCH. 

THORI-.SBY Let. to Ray (E.D.S.), Wheemly. neatly. 1788 
W. MARSHALL I orksh. Gloss. (E.D.S.), Whimly, softly, 
silently, or with little noise. 1824 MACTAGGAUT GaUmild. 
Encycl. s.v. Queem, The gled glides qucemly alang ; the 
kite glides smoothly along. 

So fQue-meness, pleasure, satisfaction. Obs.rare. 
cyx&gt; tr. Bxda s Hist. I. xvi. [xxvii.] (1890) 82 Cwemnis 
uncysta. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 55 Ne nuige we noht 
singe be blissfullc songes. .gode to quemnesse. 
Quen, obs. form of QUEEN, WHEN. 
Quenee, obs. form of QUENCH, QUINCE. 
Quench, obs. variant of QUINCE. 
Quench, sb. rare. [f. the vb.] The act of 
quenching ; the state or fact of being quenched. 

1529 MORE pyaloge It. Wks. 184/1 [To] lye and smolder 
as coles doth in quenche. 1546 J. HEYWOOD Prw. (1867) 9 
A whyle kepe we in quenche All this Case, c 1611 CHAPMAN 
Iliad xix. 365 A harmful! fire let runne . . none came To 
Kjue it quench. 1818 I . BKOWN in Welsh Life vi. (18251 389 
1 he quench Of hope . . Made even the ghastly change . . 
Seem ghastlier. 

Quench, (kwenj), v. Forms : 3 Orm. owenn- 
kenn, 3-5 quenohen, 3-6 quenche, 4- quench, 
(also 4-5 qwench, whench, 5 quynehe, 6 
quenoe, -she, 7 queush). Pa. t. 3 cweu(ch)te, 
quein(c)te, 5 queynte, 6 qwent ; 4- quenched 
(4-5 -id, -yd). Pa. pple. 3 Orm. cwer.ukedd, 
(-enn), 4 ykuenet (-Jt 1 , -quenet, 4-5 .i)queynt, 
(5 yqueynte), 4-6 queint, quaynt, 6 quent ; 
4- quenched (4-5 -id, 5 -yd}. [Early ME. 
cwcnken, quenchen : OE. *cwyican (cf. acwyican 
AQUENCH) : *ciuancjan, causative form corre 
sponding to the strong vb. cwincan (acwincaii) 
to go out, be extinguished = Fris. kiuinka (see 
QUINKLE): cf. drench, drink.} 

I. trans. 1. To put out, extinguish (fire, flame, 
or light, lit. or Jig:), f Also with out. Now rhet. 
a izoo Moral Ode 249 pet fur. .ne mei nawiht hit quenchen. 
c 1200 ORMIN 10126 Waterr hafebb mahht To sleckenn fir & 
cwennkenn. c 1320 Cast. Love 1708 Fyre that may not be 
queynte. 1340 Ayenb. 186 Huanne hit faileb, bet uer is 
y-kuenct. _ 1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) I. ng ,if ^e li^t is 
l-queynt, it dujipeb doun and dryncheb. 1481 CAXTON 
Myrr. in. xiii. 161 In one day alle the fyre tliurgh out 
Rome faylled and was quenchid. 1581 RICH Fareu ., I 
.. will not . . extinguishe or quence the flames of so fervent 
and constaunte a Jove. 1604 E. G[HIMSTONK] D Acostas 
Hist. Indies HI. viii. 142 Greene wood . .smoakes most when 
the flame js quenched. 1622 MASSINGLR & DEKKER Virg. 
Klart. II. iii, O ! my admired mistress, quench not out The 
holy fires within you. 1713 BERKELEY &lt;iuardian No. 35 
F 5 He had almost quenched that light which his Creator 
had set up in his soul. 1810 SCOTT Lady of L. 111. xi, 
Quench thou his light, Destruction dark ! 1880 MRS. FOR 
RESTER Ray ff V. I. 49 A tear comes into either eye and 
quenches the fire there. 

b. To put out, extinguish, the fire or flame of 
(something that burns or gives light, lit. m fig.}. 
(Also with away. out. Now only rhet. 

1382 WYCLIF 2 Chron. xxix. 7 Thei .. quencheden the 
lanterns. 1382 Isa. xlii. 3 Flax smokende he shal not 
quenchen. 1382 l-.ph. vi. 16 5 e mown quenche alle the 
firy dartis of the worste enmye. 1413 Pilgr. .^cnule n. Ixi. 
(1859) 58 Wax smelleth wors after it is ijuenchid, than 
doth any talowe. 1513 DOUGLAS sEneis iv. li. 60 The lycht 
of day Ay mair and mair the mone quenchit away. 1548 
UDALL, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. xii. 71 He wyll not quenche 
out the smokyng flaxe. 1604 SHAKS. Oth. 11. i. 15 The 
winde-shak d-Surge . . Seemes to . . quench the Guards of 
th euer-fixed Pole. [1667 MILTON P. L. xn. 492 Able to 
resist Satans assaults, and quench his fierie darts.] 1810 
SCOTT Lady of L. in. xi, The.. points of Sparkling Wood 
He quenched among the bubbling blood. 1853 C. BRONTE 
Villette xxii, There stood the candle quenched on the 
drawers. 1870 MORRIS Earthly Par. I. i. 392 As she 
turned . . To quench the lamp. 

c. To destroy the sight or light of (the eye). 
1667 MILTON P. L. III. 25 These eyes, that rowle in vain. . 

So thick a drop serene hath quencht thir Orbs. 1793 5. 
ROGERS Pleas. Mem. 11. 137 When age has quenched the 
eye and closed the ear. 1850 MRS. BROWNING Lam. for 
Adonis ii, His eyeballs lie quenched. 

2. To extinguish (heat or warmth, lit. oryf^-.) 
by cooling. ( Also with out. 

1406 HOCCLEVE La Male Regie 135 Heuy purs, with 
herte liberal, Qwenchith the thirsty hete of hertes drie. 
1:1410 Mother of God 28 That al the hete of brennyng 
Leccherie He qwenche in me. 1513 DOUGLAS sEneis IV. 
Pro!. 119 Heit .. in to agit fail^eis, and is out quent. 1604 
E. G[RIMSTONE] D Acosta s Hist. Indies III. ix. 150 A 
kinde of cold so piercing, that it quencheth the vitall heate. 
1884 TENNYSON Becket n. ii, Pity, my lord, that you have 
quenched the warmth of France toward you. 

b. To cool (a heated object) by means of cold 
water or other liquid. 

1398 TREVISA Earth, De P. R. vn. xxxv. (1495) 250 
Gotes mylke in the whyche stones of ryuers ben quenchyd. 
1460-70 Bk. Quintessence 7 panne quenche 5oure florcyn 
in be beste whist wiyn. 1584 COGAN Haven Health x. 
(1636) 34 [Rice], .boyled in Milke wherein hot stones have 
beene quenched. 1612 WOODALL Sttrg: Mate Wks. (1653) 
358 Hot Bricks, somewhat quenched with water. 1747 
WESLEY Prim. Physic (1762! 61 Quench it in half a Pint of 
French white Wine. 1826 SCOTT Woodst. \, Was the steel 
quenched with water from Rosamond s well. 
fig. 1719 YOUNG Parafhr. Job Wks. 1757 I. 208 Who can 
refresh the burning sandy plain, And quench the summer 
with a waste of rain ? 

t c. To slake (lime). Obs. rare. 

1577 HARRISON England n. xii. (1877) I. 234 The white 
lime. .being quenched. 1643 J. STEER tr. Exp. Chyrurg. \. 
3 When Lymc is quenched.. it is.. heated. 



QTJENCHABLE. 

3. transf. To put an end to, stifle, suppress (a 
feeling, act, condition, quality, or other non-mate 
rial thing, in early use chiefly something bad). 

c 1200 ORMIN 491 1 All idell ?ellp & idell ros bu cwennkesst. 
c \yf,Soni&gt;s oj Mercy m E. E.P. (1862) 120, I whenched al bi 
care, c 1330 R. BRUNNE Citron. Waee ( Rolls) 16357 Louerd ! 
bou quenche his wykkednesse. 1494 FABYAN Citron, v. 
xci. 67 In thyse Prouynces the faythe of Criste was all 
quenchyd. 1545 BRINKLOW Conifl. iii. (1874) 16 How 
mercifully dyd God quench the fury of the peple. 1632 
LITHGOW Trav. in. 84 Quenching the least suspmon he 
might conceiue. 1741 YOUNG tit. Th. n. 340 All god-like 
passion for eternals quencht. 1833 HT. MAKTINEAU Loom 
t, Lugger n. v. 81 The observance of this rule would soon 
quench the desire for protection. 1876 TAIT KlC. Adv. 
Phys. Sc. vii. ted. 2) 172 The final effect of the tides in 
stopping or quenching the earth s rotation. 

b. To slake (thirst) completely; f rarely, to 
satisfy or dispel (hunger). 

1390 GOWER Conf. II. 201 Thus the thurst of gold was 
queynt. a 1533 LD. BERNERS Cold. Bk. M. Aurel.(^if&gt;) 
Dijb, His hunger is not thereby quenched. 1535 COVEK- 
DALE Ps. ciii[i). n That the wylde asses maye quench 
their thyrste. 1661 LOVELL Hist. Anim. f, Min, 235 
Slickle-backs .. serve better to quench hunger, than to 
nourish. 1752 YOUNG Brothers IV. i, Friends, sworn to . . 
quench infernal thirst in kindred blood. 1841 ELPHINSTONE 
Hist. Ind. I. 489 Where they could quench their thirst at a 
well of brackish water. 

fO. With personal object. Obs. rare. 

1611 SHAKS. Cymb. v. v. 195 Being thus quench d Of hope, 
not longing [etc.]. 1614 B. JONSON Earth. Fair n. n. A 
botle of Ale, to quench mee, Rascal. 

4. To destroy, kill (a person); to oppress or 
crush, t Also with out. Now rare. 

c 1200 ORMIN 19632 ^653 wolldenn himm forrfarenn all & 
cwennkenn. 1:1380 WYCLIF Sfl. Wks. III. 363 He wi)&gt; his 
part bat loveb be world quenchen men bat speken bis. 1399 
LANGL. Rich. Redeles in. 327 They constrewed quarellis to 
quenche the peple. 1567 Triall Treas. (1850 44, I, Tyme, 
. .quenche out the ungodly, their memory and fame. 1850 
DOBELL Roman iv. Poet. Wks. (1875) 54 Oh sea, if thou 
hast waves, Quench him . 1859 TENNYSON I ivien 216 (67) 
His greatness whom she quench d. 

absol. c 1200 ORMIN 15213 Swillc iss winess kinde, 3iff . . 
matin drinnkebb itt att oferrdon, itt cwennkebb. 
b. To put down (in a dispute), to squash. 

1840 DICKENS Barn. Ritdge ix, I knew I should quench 
her, said Tim. 1868 Miss ALCOTT Little Women (1869) I. 
vi. 94 Jo quenched her by slamming down the window. 

f o. To destroy some quality of (a thing). Obs. 

1398 TREVISA Earth. De P. R. xvi. vii. (1495) 556 Quycke 
syluer . . is quenchyd wyth spotyll whanne it is frotyd 
theiwyth. 

II. intr. f 6- Of fire, a burning thing, etc. : 
To be extinguished, to go out, to cease to burn or 
shine. Obs. 

c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 19/6 Heore li^t queincte ouer-al. 
c 1386 CHAUCER Knt. s T. 1479 Right anon on of the 
fires queinte . . And as it queinte, it made a whisteling. 
1460 Lybt aits Disc. 1805 The torches that brende bryght 
Quenched anon ryght. 1513 DOUGLAS sEncis iv. xii. 121 
Thair with all the naturall heit out quent. c 1586 C TESS 
PEMBROKE I s. cxx. iv, Coales. .which quickly fired, Flame 
very hott, very hardly quenching. 1623 FLETCHER Bloody 
Brother iv. iii, Like a false star that quenches as it glides. 
t b. transf. Of non-material tilings : To come 
to an end, perish, disappear. Obs. 

c 1305 St. Edmund in in E. E. P. (1862) 74 Quenche 
mi^te hire fole bo}t mid blod bat heo schadde. c 1400 Rom. 
Rose 5324 This love, -wole faile, and quenche anoon. 1641 
MILTON Reform. Wks. 1738 I. 16 The Spirit daily quench 
ing and dying in them. 

t c. Of a person : To cool down. Obs. rare 1 . 

1611 SHAKS. Cymb. I. v. 47 Dost thou thinke in time She 
will not quench, and let instructions enter Where Folly now 
possesses. 

Hence Quenched (kwenJV///. a., extinguished. 

1814 BYRON Lara i. xxix, Quench d existence crouches in 
a grave. 1825 J. NEAL Bro. Jonathan III. 412 He could 
not bear the look of the quenched eyes. 1868 BROWNING 
Ring if Bk. vl. 148 To relume the quenched flax. 

Quenchable (kwe-nfab l), a. [f. prec. + 
-ABLE.] That may be quenched. 

1611 COTGR., Amortissable, quenchable, stintable, dissolue- 
able. a 1620 J. DYKE Sel. Serm. (1640) 8 If. .it be a quench 
able fire. 1818 SCOTT Br. Lamm, v, Had we thought that 
your, .drought was quenchable. 1837 CARLYLE Fr. Rev. II. 
IV. ix, Fire itself is quenchable, yet only quenchable at first. 

Hence Que nchableness (Bailey vol. II. 1727). 

t Qne/nch-COal. Obs. [f. as prec. + COAL.] 
Something which extinguishes burning coal. In 
quots. fig. : An extinguisher. 

1615 S. WARD Coalfr. Altar Serm., etc. (1862) 71 Zeal 
hath in this our earthly mould little fuel, much quench- 
coal. 1641 SYMONDS Serin, bef. Ho. Comm. F iii b, Opinions 
should not be quench-coales of love. 1742 J.WiLLisoN Balm 
o/Gilead ii. (1800) 25 Carnal company oft proves a dangerous 
quench-coal to zeal. 

Quenche, obs. form of QUINCE. 
Quencher (kwe-nfai). [f. as prec. -f -ER!.] 
One who, or that which, quenches. 
c 1440 CAPGRAVE Life St. Kath. i. 820 Norysshere of verti 



44 

1840 DICKENS Old C.Shof xxxv, Mr. Swiveller replied., 
that he was still open to a modest quencher . 1856 T. 
HUGHES Tom Brmvn i. i, A pleasant public, whereat we 
must really take a modest quencher. 1857 KINGSLEY Two 
Y. Ago xviii, Trebooze . . now offers Tom a quencher , as 

VQue-nch-fire. Obs. rare- 1 . An apparatus, 
or substance, for extinguishing fires. 

1667 EVELYN Diary 10 July, I went to see Sir Sam. Mor- 
land sinventionsand machines, arithmetical wheeles.quench- 
fires, and new harp. 

Quenching (kwe-n/in), vbl. sb. [f. QUENCH . 

+ ING 1 .] 

1. The action of the vb. in various senses. 

c 1220 Bestiary 207 Dat is soule drink, sinnes quenching. 
&lt;ri29o 5-. Eng. Leg I. 3 5 sit f" is ba n ne selde wetc to 
maken quenchingue of fuyre. I3O8TBEVISA Earth. De P. K. 



~ . . . - - r =7) 353 II 

Spirit in themselves. 1704 F. FULLER Med. Gymii. (1711) 
) Liquorice.. was ever reputed by the Ancients, for the 
greatest quencher of Thirst in Nature. 1848 DICKENS 
Dombey vm, Mrs. Pipchin s presence was a quencher to any 
number of candles. 1879 H. N. HUDSON Hamltt Pref. 4 
A feast so overlaid with quenchers of the appetite. 

b. colloii. Something to quench thirst ; a drink. 



yng out of candels. 1664 MABVELl.Corr.Wks. 1872-5 II. 
176 Engins, such as are used frequently in the quenching 
of great fires. 1730 SAVERY in Phil. Trans. XXXVI. 307 
Steel hardened by quenching. a 1864 HAWTHORNE Amer. 
Note-bks. (1879) I. 222 A quenching of the sunshine. 

b. spec. The process of throwing water upon 
the molten metal in a refining-hearth or crucible, so 
that it may be removed in disks or rosettes . 

1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mech. 1847/2, 1984/1. 

2. attrib. and Comb, as quenching-test , -tub. 

1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mecli. 1847/2 Quenching-tub. 1879 
Cassetl sTech. Educ. IV. 373/1 These conditions provide for 
the so called quenching and bending tests being applied 
to a piece cut from each plate and bar. 

So Qne nchinfr///. a., that quenches. 

1382 WYCI.IF ll isd. xix. 19 Water format his quenchende 
kinde. 1398 TBEVISA Bartlt. De P. K. x. ix. (1495) 379 
Cinis is lytyll asshes lefte of quenchynge and sparklynge 
matere. 1359 .Ifirr. Mag., George Plantag. fiv, Like 
quenching blastes, which oft reuive the flame. 1611 BIBLE 
U isti. xix. 20 The water forgat his owne quenching nature. 

Quenchless (kwe-nfles), a. [f. as prec. + 
-LESS.] That cannot be quenched ; unquenchable, 
inextinguishable. 

1557 Tottelts Misc. (Arb.) 137 These hellish houndes, with 
paines of quenchlesse fyre. c 1632 COWLEY Elegy Ld. 
Carleton, An angry Fever, Whose quenchless Thirst, by 
Blood was sated never. 1742 YOUNG Nt. Th. VI. 473 In 
faculties of endless growth, In quenchless passions. 1816 
BYRON Ch. Har. in. xlii, Fire. .,but once kindled, quenchless 
evermore. 1877 C. GEIKIE Christ ivii. (1879) 691 A last sad 
look of quenchless pity. 

Hence Que-nchlessly adv. ; Que-iichlessness. 

1594 KYU Cornelia, v. 403 Sacred Temples quenchlessly 
enflam d. 1848 CRAIG, Quenchtessncss. 

t Que-nchour. Obs. rare 1 . Quenching. 

1460-70 Bk. Quintessence 6 Loke bat Je haue a sotilte and 
a slei}(7e to quenche sodeynly be fier. .and whanne Je haue 
do }oure quenchour, putte alle be watris togidere. 

Quency, obs. form of QUINSY. 

t Quene, obs. form of COIN sb. 

1505 Will of Leek (Somerset Ho.}, Exspencis bidding of 
the church and makyng of my tombe w l suche Quene as 
I shall leve in their hande. 

Quene, obs. form of QUEEN, WHEN. 

II Quenelle (k^ne l). [F., of uncertain origin.] 
In Cookery, a seasoned ball, of which the chief 
ingredient, commonly meat or fish, has been 
reduced to a paste. 

1883 V. STUART Egypt 296 Savoury quenelles of mutton 
enveloped in fennel leaves. 1888 Queen 15 Dec. 786/2 The 
insipid sweetbread, -the pasty quenelle, the sticky jelly. 

t Quengeoun, var. CONGEON. Obs. 

c 1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb. ) 1339 Thou mysproude quen- 
geovn, Whi answerst thou not to my reason. 

f Quenger, obs. var. CONJURE. 

1567 Tales ff Quiche Answ. (Berthelet) Contents Ixxx, Of 
the olde man that quengered the boy oute of the apletre 
with stones. 

t Quenqueste, obs. form of CONQUEST. 

1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 171 Ihon de curcy, 
and many otheres of the quenqueste of Irland. 

Quenstedtite (kwe nitetsit). Min. [Named 

in 1888 after Prof. F. A. von Qucnstedt : see -1TE 1 .] 
Hydrous sulphate of iron found in Chili. 

iSSSAmer. Jrnl. Sc. XXXVI. 156 The name quenstedtite 
is given to a salt occurring in reddish-violet, tabular crystals. 

t Quent, sb. Obs. rare. [ad. Sp. qiienlo, 
ettenlo = It. conto, OF. conte, COUNT sb.~\ A mil 
lion (of maravedis). 

1555 EDEN Decades 314 Luys of S. Angell . . sente theym 
syxe quentes of marauedes. 1577 HELLOWICS Guetiara s 
/ am. Ep. 68 A. .gentleman of more than a Quent of rent. 

t Quent, v. Obs. rare. Also 6 queint. [erron. 
f. queint, obs. pa. pple. of QUENCH z&gt;.] trans. 
and intr. To quench. 

557 Tottelts Misc. (Arb.) 262 Set about my hersse, Two 
lampes to burne and not to queint [rime spent]. 1567 
TURBERV. Efit., etc., Myrr.Fall of Pride, He thought forth 
with his thirst to quent . . But there he found or ere he went 
a greater drougth. 

t Quent, Sc. f. a(c\quenl, ACQUAINT///, a. 

1536 BELLENDEN Cron. Scot. (1821) I. 1^9 New servandis 
ar in derisioun amang the quent servitouns. 

Quent, obs. f. QUAINT a. ; obs. pa. pple. of 
QUENCH v. Quentance, -ise, var. QUAINTANCE, 
-ISE. Quenthing, erron. f. QUETHING. 

tQue-ntin. Obs. rare ", [a. F. quentin 
French Laune (Cotgr. ). Cf. QUINTIN.] A sort 



QUERCITRON. 

of French Linnen-cloth that comes from S. Quentin 
in Picardy (Miege 1687; also in Phillips 1706, 
Bailey 1721). 

Queor, obs. form of CHOIK. 

Quep, erron. archaism for guep : see GUP. 

1822 SCOTT Nigel iv, Marry quep of your advice. 1825 
Betrothed ix, Marry quep, my cousin the weaver. 

t Quequer, late var. COCKER, a quiver. Obs. 

c 1500 Robin Hood # Potter 51 in Child Ballatis III. 112 
To a quequer Roben went, A god bolt owthe he toke. 

Quer, obs. form of CHOIK, WHERE. 

t Queral, obs. form of COR.U.. 

1533 GAU Richt Vay 85 Mony prayis ye psalter of our 
ladie..vith queral bedis. 

fQuerant. Obs. rare . [a. F. querant, pple. of 
querir to inquire (cf. QUERE &.).] = QUERENT sbl 

1591 SPARRY tr. Cattans Geomancie 8r The questions., 
touching the sillier of the brother or sister of the querant. 

t Querbole, obs. form of CUIH-BOUILLI. 

1453 Test. Ebor, (Surtees, 1855) II. 190, j par of tables .. 
case of querbole. 

Quercetin (kwa-as"tin). Chew. [Arbitrarily 
f. L. querc-us oak + -IN l. (Cf. L. quercetum an 
oak-wood. )] A yellow crystalline substance widely 
distributed in the vegetable kingdom, but usually 
obtained by decomposition of quercitrin. 

1857 MILLER Eleni. Client, in. 512 When quercitrin is 
boiled with dilute sulphuric or hydrochloric acid, it is de 
composed into glucose and quercetin. 1872 WATTS Diet. 
Chem. ist Suppl. 982 Gintl.. has found quercetin in the 
leaves of the ash-tree. 

Hence Querce tamide, an amide obtained from 
quercetin in the form of an amorphous orange- 
yellow powder. Quercetic (kwajse tik) a., derived 
from quercetin, as in quercetic acitl. 

1868 WATTS Diet. Chetn. V. 3 On adding ammonia to the 
acid filtrate, quercetamide is obtained. Ibid. 5 Quercetin 
heated with potash yields quercetic acid and other products. 

1893 T. E. THORPE Diet. Chetn. III. 324 If the melting is 
continued longer than necessary to obtain quercetic acid, 
then quercimeric acid is obtained. 

t Querch(e, obs. forms of CURCH, kerchief. 

c 1373 Sc. Leg. Saints ii. (Pauf) 265 With be querch [he] 
hid his face. Ibid. 295 Paule myn querche gaf to me. 

Quercimeric (kwarsime-rik), a. Chem. [f. 
querci-, comb, form of L. quercus oak + Gr. pipes 
part + -1C.] Quercimeric acid, an acid derived 
from quercetin or quercetic acid. 

1868 WATTS Diet. Chem. V. 5 Quercimeric acid . . Produced 
by the action of melting potash on quercetic acid. 1893 
T. E. THORPE Diet. Chem. III. 324 Quercimeric acid .. is 
isolated in the same manner as quercetic acid, from which 
it differs by being much more soluble in uater. [See also 
QUERCETIC.] 

Quercin (kwSMsin). Chem. [f. L. quercus oak 
+ -IX 1 .] (See quots.) 

1845 Penny Cycl. Suppl. I. 349/2 Quercin, a neutral 
crystalline substance procured from the bark of the oak. 

1894 H atts Diet. Chem., Quercin .. occurs in oakbark, 
being obtained from the mother-liquors in the preparation 
of quercite. 

Quercine (kwa-asain), a. [ad. L. quercin-us, i. 
quercus oak : see -INE-.] Of or pertaining to the 
oak; made of oak. oaken. 

1656 BLOUNT Glossogr., Quercine, oken, make of Okes. 
1658 PHILLIPS Quercine, belonging to an oak. 1854 B. 
TAYLOR Lands Saracen xxxvii. (1855) 440 The mast . . was 
as sweet and palatable as chestnuts, with very little of the 
bitter quercine flavour. 

Quercitannin .kwaisitarnin). Chem, [f. L. 
querci- oak- + TANNIN.] A form of tannin obtained 
from oak-bark. So Qnercita nnic a., in querci- 
tannic acid = quercitannin. 

1845 W. GREGORY Otttl. Org. Chem. 416 Tannic Acid .. 
Syn. Quercitannic Acid, Tannine. This acid occurs chiefly 
in oak-bark and in nut-galls. 1852 MOKFIT Tanning and 
Currying (1853) 78 The tannin of tea is similar in properties 
to quercitannin. 1895 Naturalist 25 A tannin, which is 
probably quercitannin. 

Quercite (kwa-Jsait). Chem. [f. L. quercus 
oak + -ITE 1 4.] A sweet crystalline alcohol obtained 
from acorns. 

1857 MILLER Eleni. Chem. in. 72 Quercite . . from acorns. 
..Transparent prisms. 1863 FOWNES Chem. 434 The juice 
of the acorn is submitted to fermentation. The fermented 
liquor, on evaporation, yields small prisms of quercite. 

Hence Quercitin(e) = QUERCETIN (Webster 1 864, 
citing Gregory). Que roitol = QUERCITE (Watts 
Diet. Chem. 3rd Suppl. 1881). 

Quercitron (kwsusitran). [Abbreviated for 
querti-citron, f. L. quercus oak + CITRON. Named 
by Dr. Bancroft about 1 784.] The black or dyer s 
oak of N. America (Quercus tinctona) : also called 
quercitron oak. b. The inner bark of this, used as 
a yellow dye and in tanning : also quercitron bark. 

1794 BANCBOFT Philos. Pttman. Colours xiL The Quer 
citron bark .. is one of the objects of a discovery, of which 
the use and application for dying, calico-printing, &c. are 
exclusively vested in me . . by an act of parliament passed 
in the 25th year of his present Majesty s reign. 1852 
MORFIT Tanning tr Currying (1853) 100 The black, or 

guercitron oak, is a large tree found throughout the United 
tales. IHd. 101 The quercitron, so much used in dyeing, is 
obtained from the cellular integument. 

attrib. 18*3 UKE Diet. Chem. (ed. 2) 398/1 Cloth .. sub 
jected to the quercitron bath. 
Hence Querci trein, a product of quercitrin. 






QUERCIVOROITS. 

? Obs. Querci tric a., derived from quercitrin, 
as in quercitric acid (Watts Diet. Chem. 1868). 
Que rcitrin, the yellow crystalline colouring 
matter of quercitron bark. 

1833 EncycL Brit. (ed. 7) VIII, 320/2 To this colouring 
matter Chevreul has given the name of quercitrin. Ibid, 
321/1 Yellow crystals possessing the characters of quercitrin. 
1841 Penny Cyct. XIX. 211/1 The tannin which quercitrin 
contains, .gives a green colour with peroxide of iron. 1845 
Ibid. Suppl. I. 349/2 On boiling a solution of quercitrin, it 
becomes turbid, and deposits a quantity of small acicular 
crystals of quercitrein. 

ercivorous fkmui*v&9i , a. [f. L. querctis 
-zwJ devouring,] Feeding on oak-leaves. 
1858 Zoologist XVI. 6154 An individual [caterpillar] which 
had already become quercivorous. 

Querck, obs. form of QUIRK. 
f Querculane, a. Obs. rare , [ad mod.L. 
querculdn-us, f. qitcreus oak.] = QUERCINE a. 
1656 BLOUNT Gfostogr, [Hence in .some later diets.] 

Querdlynge : see CoDLixc 2 , 

t Quere, v- Obs. rare. Also 5 quire, [a. OF. 
quer-re (in conj. quitr, quer- mod.F. querir) : L. 
quxr$re : see INQUIRE.] To ask, inquire. 

13.. Propr. Sanct. (Vernon MS.) in Archiv nen. Sp&gt;: 
LXXXI. 319/7 He wolde wite and quere What-maner mon 
bat he were, a 1400-50 Alexander 1703 His qualite, Ms 
quantite, he quirys \Dubl. MS. enquirez] all-to-gedire. 
a 1425 Cursor M. 19611 (Trin.) As he bus went to quere 
\Cott, sek] & aske .. pe fuyr of helle him smot. f 1423 
Seven Sag: (P.) 691 Alas ! that thow grevest the so sore, 
Or thow haddyst queryd more. [ciSio Merry-Cock Land 
vii. in Child Ballads (1888) III. v. civ. 250 And if my play 
fellows come to quere for me, Tell them I am asleep.] 

Quere, obs. form of CHOIR, QU-ERE, QUEER. 

Quereboly, obs. form of CUIR-BOUILLI. 

t Querelatory, a. Obs. rare 1 , [f. ppl. stem 
of med.L. quereldre to complain (see QUERELE) + 
-ORY.] Of the nature of a complaint. 

1553 i n Strype Eccl. Mem. (1721) III. i. ii. 23 [Bonner did 
present his libel called in the instrument] a certain ap- 
pellatory and querelatory Libel. 

t Querele, sb. Obs. [Orig. form of QUARREL 
sb.% (q.v.), occasionally employed (prob. under 
influence of L. querela] after quar(f}el had become 
the usual form.] 

1. A complaint ; an action. = QUARREL i. 

1494 FABYAN Chron. an. 1123 To go before the king with 
a lamentable querele expressing how with true despites he 
was deformed. 1542 UDALL Erasm. Apofh. 146 Such 
persones, as dooe by a wrongfull querele obiecte vnto me, 
that [etc.]. 1628 COKE On Lift. 292 If a man release all 
Quereles. .all actions reall and personall are released. 1726 
AYLIFFE Parerg. [189] Not in Causes of Appeal, but in 
Causes of first Instance and simple Querele only. 

2. A cause, affair, etc. = QUARREL 2. 

1552 Order St. Bartholomew s Av, So sufficiently .. set 
forth this enormitie of the Citezeins, as semed behouefull 
for the querele of charitie. 1566 GRINDAL Lett, to Sir W. 
Cecil Wits. (Parker Sue.) 289 All ministers, now to be 
deprived in this querele of rites. 

So f Querele v. = Qu ARREL v. Hence f Quereler , 
quarreller, objector. Obs. 

1542 UDALL Erasm. Apoph. 306 The faulte fynder or 
quereler. 1548 Par. Luke xv. 133 The elder sonne.. 
proudely quereled and reasoned the mattier with his father. 

Querele, -ell, obs. forms of QUARREL sb$ 
t Querelous, a, Obs. rare. [ad. late L. quere- 
los-us, f. qttcrela QUERELE.] - QUERULOUS (q.v,). 

For earlier examples of the form see QUARRELLOUS. 

1581 ]. HAMILTON in Cath. Tract. (S. T. S.) 84 Thir ar 
murmurers, queretus [L. querulo$i\, 1614 Bp. HALL No 
Peace ivitk Rome 2 That querelous Ubell of the Macedo 
nians, rt 1661 FULLER Worthies, Kent \\. (1662) 74 Though 
fenerally the Irish are querelous of their Deputies .. yet 
ir Henry left a good memory. 1751 Affecting Narr. of 
Wager 32 A Midshipman . . of an insolent querelous Temper. 

Hence f Querelousuess. Obs. rare~ l . 

1643 PRYNNE Ofen. Gt. Seal Ep., The quereloubnesse of 
the clamorous Opposites. 

Querent (kwi* rent), sbl Also 7 queer-, [ad. 
L. quxrent-entj pres. pple. of quxre re to inquire: 
cf. QUERANT, QUERIST.] One who asks or inquires ; 
spec, one who consults, or seeks to learn something 
by means of, an astrologer. 

1598 F. WITHER tr. Dariot Astrol. Jndg. O 3, By this 
meanes the Querent shall not haue his desyre. 1647 LILLY 
Chr. Astrol. vi. 49 [see QUESITED]. 1653 ^ (R ^- WHARTON 
Comets Wks. (1683) 141 Many Queries .. which 1 have 
answered .. to my own and the Querents admiration. 1696 
AUBREY Misc. (1784) 129 The Magicians now use a crystal- 
sphere, .. which is inspected .. sometimes by the Querent 
himself. 1705 BOSMAN Guinea 152 If the Priest is enclined 
to oblige the Querent, the Questions are put. 1845 White 
hall x\ \. 151 The astrologer, fixing his keen, cunning eyes 
on the querent. 1881 [see QUESITED]. 

Que rent, sb.t and a. rare, [ad. L. qutrent-em, 
pres. pple. of qtteri to complain.] a. sb. A com 
plainant, plaintiff * (J.). b. adj. Complaining. 

1727 in BAILEY, vol. II. 1845 Whitehall li. 363 A process 
in which Joyce assisted with manifest sulkiness, and many 
a querent glance at his young commander. 

Quereour, Queresoeuer, Querester(e, 
Querf, Querfore, obs. ff. QUARRIED, WHERE 
SOEVER, CHORISTER, WHARF, WHEREFORE. 

tQue*rical, a. and sb. Obs. rare. [f. quere 
.Qu.ERE sd., or QUERY sb. + -ICAL.] a. adj. Of the 
nature of a query or queries, b. sb. A query. 



45 

1699 (title\ Querical Demonstrations writ by Prince 
Butler Author of the Eleven Queries [etc.]. Ibid. 24 
Don t disdain, My Querical Strain, And I .. have yet in 
store, Of such Quericals more, At least a whole Score. 

Querie, obs. var. EQUERRY (q.v.). 

Que ried,///. a, [f. QUERY v. + -EDI.] Called 
in question ; marked with a query. 

1772 Ann. Reg. 241/2 You have insisted, .that you should 
not have rejected the queried votes, if you had not been con 
vinced., that they were all corrupted. 

Querier (.kwie-riai). [f. QUERY v. + -ER 1 .] One 
who queries ; also slang, a chimney-sweep who 
asks for work. 

1673 PENN Spir. Truth Vind. 93 That would have been 
no Answer to their weighty Question, nor any allay to that 
earnest Enquiry.. the Queriers were under. 1861 MAYHKW 
Lond. Labour 1 1. 377 The knuller is also styled a querier , 
a name derived from his making inquiries at the doors of the 
houses as to whether his services are required. 

Querimonious (kwerim^-niss), a. Also 7 
quere-. [ad. late L. guerimonios-us : see next 
and -ous. Cf. obs. F. querimonieux (Godef.).] 
Full of, addicted to, complaining. 

1604 in R. CAWDREY Table Alph. 1630 J. TAYLOR (Water 
P.) Epigr. xxxvi. Wks. n. 266/1 Querimonious paines Doe 
puhierise the concaue of my braines. 1658 OSBORN Adv. 
Son (1673) 206 Querimonious accusations of his best 
Servants. 1791 COLLINSON Hist. Somerset 608 It was on 
this solitary island that Gildas. .composed his querimonious 
treatise. 1848 MOZLEY ss., Luther (1878) I. 354 That 
passionate and querimonious temper. 

Hence Querimo niously adv. ; Querimo nious- 
ness v Bailey vol. II. 1727). 

a 1668 DF.NHAM A Dialogue, Most queremoniously con 
fessing That I of late have been compressing. 

Querimoiiy V k\ve rim3ni). [ad. L. querimonia, 
f. querl to complnin : cf. F. qutrimonie (i6th c.).] 
Complaint, complaining. 

1529 in Froude Hist. Eng. (1856) I. 217 By way of queri- 
mony and complaint, a 1548 HALL Chron. , Kdiv, IV 239 b, 
The king .. troubled with hys brothers dayly querimonye. 
1610 HP. HALL.-L*O/. Brownists 39 tnarg., To which vniust 
and iriuiall quenmony, our most hist defence hath beene 
[etc.]. 1887 BLACKHORE Springhavsn (ed. 41 I. viii. 6t The 
scholars of the Virgil class .. had recovered from the queri- 
monies of those two sons of Ovid. 

f Que rism. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. as next* -ISM.] 
The practice of inquiring or asking. 

1648 JENKYM Blind Guide iv. 88 Your engagement against 
querism or seeking . . will come to nothing. 

Querist (kwi^rist). [f. L. quser-fre to ask -f 
-IST: cf. QUERENT, QUERY.] One who asks or 
inquires ; a questioner, interrogator. 

1633 EARL MANCH. Al Mondo (1636) 147 Those Querists 
who must haue a reason for every thing in Religion. 1713 
STEF.LE EngHshm. No. 5. 31 This Querist thinks himself., 
very seasonable in the Questions, a 1774 GOLDSM. Sut~:&gt;. 
Exp. Philos, (1776) II. 2 Were we asked . . what is air, we 
should refer the querist to his experiencealone. 1875 JOWETT 
Plato (ed. 2) III. 92 A troublesome querist comes and asks, 
1 What is the just and good ? 

Querister, variant of CHORISTER. 

Querity, Querk, obs. ff. QUEERITY, QUIRK. 

Querken ^kw3 jk n),?&gt;. Obs. exc. dial. Forms : 
5 querkyn. qwerken, -yn ; 6 quarken, 7 quirk-, 
whir-ken, 8 dial, quacken, 9 dial, wirken, quock- 
en, 5-6 (8-9#&lt;z/.) querken. [ = OFris. querka 
(mod. qzierke, quirke], ON. kvirkja, kyrkja (Da. 
kuxrke, kyrke], f. OKris. querk, ON. kverk (MSw. 
qvarK\ t OHG. querca throat.] trans. To choke, 
suffocate, stifle. Hence Que rkening vbl. sb. 

c 1440 Promp. Pan . 420/2 Querkenyd, snffocatm. Quer- 
kenynge, sujffbcacio. Querkyn, idem qnod quellyn. 1450- 
1530 Myrr. our Ladye 249 The bytternesse of sorowe quer- 
kynde & stopped . . the virgins harte. 1540 PALSGR. A colastus 
H ij, I haue a throte bolle almoste strangled, snarled, or 
quarkennyd with extreme hunger. 1541 R.CoMJWod^ dkffV 
Quest. Chirug.^ Mancr exam, lazarcs, Q iv, Yf there apere 
any stray tnes of breth as yf wolde querken [sic]. 1607 WALK- 
INGTON Opt. Glass 124 It wil .. send up such an ascending 
fome that it will bee ready to quirken and stifle vs. 1611 
COTGR., Noyer, to drowne, to whirken, or stifie with water, 
etc. lbid. t Suffocation^ a suffocation, . .whirkening. 1783 
LEMON Eng. Etym., Querkencd, sometimes written, and pro 
nounced quackned. 1828 Craven Gloss., Querkened^ suffo 
cated. 1848 A. B. EVANS Lcicestersh. Words s.v., The 
wind was so high .. that I was welly quockened. 1880 in 
Cheshire Gloss. (1886), Wirken. 

Querl (kwail), sb. (7.S* Also quirL [?var. 
of CUHL, or a. G. querl t quirl from MHO. twirl 
TWTKL.] A curl, twist, twirl. 

1880 in WEBSTER Suppl. 1883 Cent. Mag. Dec. 201/1 The 
forms are grotesque beyond comparison : twists, querls, 
contortions. 1885 Harper s Mag. LXX. 219 The crooks and 
querls of the branches on the floor. 

So Querl v., to twirl, coil, etc. (Knowles, 1835). 

Quern 1 (kwsin). Forms: i cweorn, cwyrn, 
(coern, cern\ cweorne, cwearne, 4 queern(e, 
quyerne, qwhern, 4-7 querne, 5 queren, 5-6 
qwern, 6 quearn, (wherne, wyrne), Sc. queirn, 
7 quarn, 8 6V. quirn, 7- quern. [OK. cuueorii, 
cwiyn sir. fern., cweorne wk. fem. OFris. quern^ 
OS.(///tv- (or quanta, MDu. qncn n-e, Du.faveem}, 
OHG. quint, churn and chuirna y MIIG. knr)i, 
kiime\ ON. kutrn (Icel. kvorn t Sw. qvarn, Da. 
kvR rn}) Goth, -qairmts, from a pre-Teitt. stem 
yV/v/-, variations of which appear in synonymous 



, 

We 
483 



QUEHULATION. 

forms in other Aryan languages, as Lith. girnos, 
OS1. zritny and zrunftvii, Russ. JKepHOB b, Pol. 
zarna, Olr. br6 (gen. broon), W. breuan, etc.] A 
i simple apparatus for grinding corn, usually con 
sisting of two circular stones, the upper of which 
is turned by hand; also, a small hand-mill for 
grinding pepper, mustard, or similar substances (see 
pepper-, mustard-quern}. 

c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. x.\iv. 41 Tuu wif jegrundon on 
coernae [Knskiu. zet cweorne]. c 1000 /KLKRIC E.rod. xi. 5 
psere wylne . . (?ast sitt a;t barre cweornan. ^1305 Pilate 
in E. E. P. (1862) in I!i a mdewardes dorter he lai..And 
bi}at on hire vnder be querne be libere bern. 1340 Ayenb. 
181 Samson. .uil into be honden of his yuo, bet him cleden 
grinde ate querne. ciyj^Cn.wctt Former Age 6 Onknowyn 
was b tiiiyerne and ek the melle. 0420 Pallad. on Hush. 
i. 831 Eek as for hail a russet weede is To ke^t vpon the 

querne. 1513 DOUGLAS sF.neis \. iv. 39 Kor skant of victuall 
the conies in quernis of stane Thai grand. 1577 IJ. GOO^E 
Hersbach"s Hnsb. (1586) 10 A Querne or a hand Mill doth 

| but a little good. 1647 LILLY Chr. Astrol. 1. 354 Some 

. necessary thing ..to use in his house, asa Furnace or Quern, 

or such like. 1699 EVI:LYN Acetaria (\TZ$ 148 The seeds 
. are pounded in a Mortar, or . . ground in a Quern contriv d 

for this Purpose. 1771 PKSNANT Tour in Scotl. 11794) 232 
Saw here a Quern, a h-ort of portable mill made of two stones. 
1841 S, C. HALE Ireland III. 296 Two women generally 
worked the Quern, one sitting facing the other, the quern 
between them. 1884 J. COLBORNE flicks Pasha 60 The 
circular querns of Lower Egypt, which are turned by means 
of a wooden handle. 

b. attrib. and Comb., as quern-chant, -house, 
-mill, -picker^ -song, -staff; quern- like adv. See 
also QUERN-STONE. 

1898 Edinb. Rev. Apr. 440 In the North, where he often 
heard the rhythmical *quern-chant. 1525 in Southwell 
l^isit, (1891) 123, ij leads that standes m *wherne-house. 
1591 SYLVESTER Du Bartas i. vi. 595 Two equall ranks of 
Orient Pearls. . (*Quern-HkeJ grinding small Th imperfect 
food. 1600 HOLLAND Livy xxxm. xlv. 706 Troughs and 
"querne mils. 144! in liiiry Wills iCamdenl 256 (The will 
of William Tolyl, *quernepykker , [1441, is in Lib. Osbern, 
f. 247]. 1816 W. TAYLOR in Monthly A\v. LXXXI. 73 " 
will now subjoin the Grotta-Saungr or ^quern-song. I. 
Cath, Angl. 297/1 A *Querne-stafFe, inolucrum. 

t Quern-. Obs. rare- 1 . In 5 qwerne, qweryn. 
App., a large piece of ice. 

a 1400-50 Alexander 3003 Alexander, .rydis To be grete 
i flode of Granton & it on a glace fyndis. Or he was so^t 
: to be side git sondird |?e qweryns \Dubt. IMS. qwernes]. 

Quern, obs. variant of KERX v. 1 

Que mal, a. rare. [f. L. quern-us. f. qitercus 
oak + -AL.] 

1 1. Made of oak-leaves ; oaken. Obs. rare 1 . 

1599 TIIYNNE Animadv. (1875) 49 The Quernall crowne 
j gyven to those whiche had saued a cytyxen. 

2. Bot. Quernal alliance, Lindley s name for his 
alliance of diclinous exogens, containing the 
orders Coiylacex unftjug/andacese. 

1846 LINDLEY l^eget. Kingd. 289 If it were not for the 
minute embryo . . it might take its place in the Quernal 
Alliance. 

tQuerne. Obs. rare 1 , [a. OF. querne (Godef.) 
for quaterne, after teme.~\ A qnatie or four in 
dice-playing (in quot.yf^.). 

13 . . Cocr de L. 2009 Richard . . gave him a stroke on the 
molde . . Ternes and quernes he gave him there. 

Quernell, square : see QUARNELL. 
Querner, obs. form of CORNER sb. 1 
Que m-stoiie. [Cf. ON. kvemsteinn.] One 

ofthe two stones forming a quern ; a millstone. 

C95o Lindisf. Gosp. Matt, xviii. 6 Behofas him bset he 
Sehongisacoern-stan. .in suire his \c icoo Ags. Gosp. cwyrn-, 
cweorn-stan]. i388\VYCLiF Num. xi. 8 And the puple jede 
aboute, and gaderide it, and brak with a queerne stoon. 
14 . . Norn, in Wr.-Wiilcker 725/24 Hec mola, a qwernston. 
1582 STANYHURST j-Eneis i. (Arb.) 23 Theyre come in quern- 
stoans they doe grind. 1610 HOLLAND Camderis Brit. i. 
760 Round stones as much as milstones or quernstones. 
1662 Ireland, Stat. at Large (17651 II. 416 Quern-stones, 
large, the last, ^13. ictf. 1812 J. SMYTH Pract. of Customs 
(1821) 242 Quern Stones under three feet in diameter, and 
not exceeding six inches in thickness. 1875 W. MC!LWRAH n 
GuideWigtownshire^T, Opposite the east gable ofthe Church 
a quern-stone . . has been stuck up. 

Querof, obs. form of \VHEBEOF. 

t Queror. Obs. rare", [a. OF. quereor, -citr t 
agent-n. f. qtterre, querir QUERE v.] An inquirer. 

14.. I ve, in Wr.-Wiilcker 610/18 Scitor, a querour. 

Querpo, variant of CUERPO Obs. 

Querquedule (kwoukw/di/?!). Ornith. [ad. 
L. querqucdula a species of duck.] a. *A genus 
of ducks, one species of which . . is the common 
teal (Worcester, i86o\ b. &lt; The pin-tail duck* 
(Webster, 1864, citing ng. Cyc.). 

Querre, var. QUAH v. ; obs. f. QUARRY j&lt;M 

Querrell, Querrister, Querrour, Querry, 
obs. ff. Qi- ARRKL j^.3 and v., CHORISTER, QUAKHIER , 
EQUERRY. Quert : see QUART a. and j/ . 1 

t Querulation. Obs. rare 1 , [n. of action 
f. med.L. putrttfarfto complain, f. i]uentt-us\ see 
next.] Complaint, complaining. So also (from 
stem ^//tV7//-)Qnemle*ntal f -le &gt; ntialtf., querulous. 
Qne ruling ^/V.^., complaining. Que riilist, one 
who Complains. Queru-lity, Querulo sity (cf. 
next), habit or spirit of complaining. 






QUERULOUS. 

1614 T. ADAMS Sinners Passing Heft \J\LS. (1629) 264 Will 
not these mournings, menaces, *querulations, stirre your 
hearts? 1785 R. CUMBERLAND tM-wrwr No. 103 F3 A lady. . 
rather captious and *querulental. 1806 Mem. 17 Wai- 
pole had. .a plea for being captious and *querulential, for 
he was a martyr to the gout. 1838 S. BELLAMY Betrayal 94 
The Devil give thee heed ! Haply he ll better care thy 
*queruling Than He I follow mine. 1788 T. TOUCHSTONE 
Trifler 431, I have carefully examined the various subjects 
of complaint. , If my third fair *querulist would [etc.]. 1866 
Pall Mall G. 27 June i The Premier had. .very insufficient 
grounds for his *querulity. 1882 F. T. PALGRAVE in Grosart 
Spenser $ W 7 ks. IV, p, Ixiv, Unreasonable *querulosity. 

Querulous (kwe rirfUs), a. Also 6 -ose, 7 
querr-. [ad. late L. quenilds-ns, f. qnertilns, f. 
t/Ht rito complain : cf. QUEKELOUS, QUARRELOUS.] 
1. Of persons : Complaining, given to complain 
ing, full of complaints, peevish. 

In first quot possibly for ^w^/&lt;7jQuARRELOUS ; a certain 
confusion between the words is also suggested by some i^ih 
c. quots., which at least do not imply peevish or whining 
complaint. 

? a 1500 Mankind (Brand! 1896) 46/200 My body wyth my 
soull ys euer querulose \rime house]. 1594 HOOKER Eccl, 
Pol. in. xi. 9 A people, .by nature hard-hearted, querulous, 
wrathfull. 11610 HEALEY Theophrastus (1636) 63 These are 
the maners of a querrulous waiward man. 1651 BAXTER Inf. 
Bapt. 242, I would have no godly man be. over querulous, 
when God hath done so much for us. 1750 JOHNSON Rambler 
No. 73 F i The querulous are seldom received with great 
ardour of kindness. 1837 WHEWELL Hist. Induct. Si . (1857) 
II. 149 He was naturally querulous and jaundiced in his 
views. 1879 FROUDE Cxsar xxvi. 445 His sons and nephews 
were equally querulous and dissatisfied. 

b. Of animals or things: Uttering or producing 
sounds expressive or suggestive of complaint. 

1635 SWAN S^ec. M. viii. 2 (1643) 409 The Lapwing .. is 
a querulous bird, a 1643 W. CAKTWRIGHT Poenis^ Corinnas 
Tomb 18 Hither sad Lutes they nightly bring, And gently 
touch each querulous string. 1699 POMFRET Pastoral Ess. 
174 Ye purling quer llous Brooks ! o ercharged with grief. 
1847 DICKENS Haunted M. (C. D. ed.) 205 One querulous 
rook, unable to sleep, protested now and then. 
2. Of the nature of, characterized by, complaining. 
CIS40 tr. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden) 100 Queru 
lous repetition, as well of late as of almost forgotten faultes. 
1642 HOWELL For. Tray. (Arb.) 19 French., hath a whining 
kind of querulous tone. 1714 Sped. No. 6i8f2 His Versifi 
cation .. should be soft, and all his Numbers flowing 
and querulous. 1783 JOHNSON Let. to Afrs. Thrale 19 June, 
I am almost ashamed of this querulous letter. 1848 DICKENS 
Dombey xxxiv, She uttered a querulous cry of disappoint 
ment and misery. 1874 L. STEPHEN Hours in Library (1892) 
II. vii. 225 The querulous comments of old ladies. 

Que rulously, adv. [f. prec. + -i,Y2.] l n a 
querulous manner. 

1652 GAULE Magastrow. 147 Querulously accusing her for 
playing with her own gifts. 1728 YOUNG Love Fame vi. 138 
His wounded ears complaints eternal fill, As unoil d hinges, 
querulously shrill. 1812 H. & J. SMITH Rej. Addr. x, Ob 
jections, -captiouslyurgedandquerulouslymaintained. 1883 
SIR T. MARTIN Ld. Lyndhnrst xiv. 366 [They] complained 
almost querulously of the bitterness of Lord ],yndhurst s 
invectives. 

Que rulousness. [f. as prec. + -NESS.] The 

state or condition of being querulous. 

1651 J. AUDLEY Engl. Commonw. Ded., To answer the 
querulousnesse of some persons. 1750 JOHNSON Rambler 
No. 50 p 7 The querulousness and indignation which is 
observed so often [etc.]. 1828 D ISRAELI Ckas. /, I. ii. 23 
That impatient querulousness, which betrays its moments of 
weakness. 1884 Expositor Feb. 87 Querulousness and the 
captiousness of despair took possession of them. 

Query (kwia-ri), sbl Also 7 queree, quseree, 
7-8 qusery. [Anglicizing of qiterc, QO.ERE.] 

1. Introducing a question : = QUAERE i. 

Now rarely written in full, being usually expressed by the 
abbreviation qy. (&lt;?r,, qu.) or the sign ?. 

1667 PEPYS Diary 23 Aug., Query, whether a glass-coach 
would have permitted us to have made the escape? 1732 
SWIFT Corr. (1766) II. 690 That .. the subscription be 



46 



QUEST. 



si 



Query (kwi- Ti), V. Also 7 qusery. [f. QUERY ther was set a quest ofladyes on syr gauayn. 1549 LATI.MKR 

Al (T On* KF 7; 1 sthSerm.l ef. Edw. / /(Arb.) 153 The quest corames in and 

t * C* .. sayes not guilty. 1579 fv\.Kt.Heskins Parl. 499 He shoulde 

! haue twelue which make_a ques^ to giue verdict in this 



N. tr Q. 7 h Ser. V. i8s/2.It was afterwards repurchased by 
that monarch (but query if purchase money was ever paid). 

2. A question. QU.KRE 2. 

o. 1645 R. SYMONDS Diary (Camden) 270 The cowardly 
commissioners, .put queries. Where shall wee have winter 
quarters? 1658 J. DURHAM Exp. Revelation (1680) vii. 342 
This is the scope of the Queree. 1691 BENTLEY Boyle 
Lett. vi. (1735) 203 We are now enabled to give Answers 
to some bold Queries and Objections of Atheists. 1767 
A. YOUNG Fanner s Lett, to People 270 It may.. admit of 
a query, Whether the above expences are not too great for 
the crops to repay? 1813 SCOTT Hokeby i. x, [He] forced 

he embarrass d host to buy, By query close, direct reply 
1866 GEO. ELIOT F. Holt (1868) 22 She had prepared herself 
.. to suppress all . . queries which her son might resent. 

ft. a 1635 CORBET Poems (1807) 63 He that is guilty of no 
quaery here, Out-lasts his epitaph. 1648 JENKYN Blind 

it* -," 96 Iy first 1 ua5re&lt;: . is whether grace be an adiutory. 
*5r*S UL-RNET Th. Earth it. 218 A great many quarries 
and difficulties might be proposed relating to the millennium. 
J7 9 D URVEY P.lls (1872) 1 1. 99 What News, is the Qusry. 

i. A mark of interrogation (?), used to indicate 
a doubt as to the correctness of the statement, 
phrase, letter, etc. to which it is appended or 
refers ; the abbreviation ,jy. etc. used for the same 
purpose. 1836 in SMAKT. i88a- in OGILVIE, etc 

t Query, j/,.2 Obs. rare~\ [App. f. L. querl 
to complain.] ? Complaint. 

J 3 i, E i, ?"{ r ^ , 8o2 ^u a **? to 1* Sla ? )&gt;" 
was he, & as lombe. .So closed he hys mouth fro vdi query. 



1. f raits. To put as a question. ? Ol&gt;s. 

1657 Karr. late Parlt. in Select.fr. Harl. Klisc. (1793) 409 
The like maybe queried concerning the swordsmen scapacity 
to sit. l6l GI.ANVILL Van. Dognt. 188 It s queried whether 
there be any Science in the sense of the Dogmatists. 1716 
BERKELEY Let. 12 Oct., in Fraser Life iv. (1871) 136, I do . . 
entreat you to answer all that I have queried on that head. 
1755 B. MARTIN Mag. Arts fif Sc. 130, I .. shall suspend 
what I have further to query till To-morrow. _ 

b. With interrogative clause as obj. : To ask, 
inquire, put a question (whether, if, what, etc.). 

1657 S. PURCHAS Tlieat. Pol. Flying.Ins. 15 Some query 
whether a living creature can subsist without the head. 
1658 SIR T. BROWNE Pseud. Ep.\. xxii. (ed. 3) 328 We shall 
not proceed to querie, What truth there is in Palmistrie. 
1681 E. MuRpnY^V&lt;i/&lt;?/nr/rt(/ 40 The Deponent, .queried 
if Captain Butler was come thither. 1756 H. WALPOLE Lett, 
to Mann 17 Oct. (1846) III. 245 Should not one query 
whether he had not those proofs in his hands antecedent to 
the cabinet ? 1818 SCOTT Hrt. Midi, xiii, Shall we remove 
Mr. Butler? , queried the assistant. 1866 WHITTIER Marg. 
Smith s Jrnl. Pr. Wks. 1889 I. 64 On my querying whether 
any did find treasures hereabout, my aunt laughed. 

c. absol. To ask a question or questions. 

1681 T. FLATMAN Ifcraclitits Ridens No. 4 (1713) I. 23 
Nay, if you be for that Sport, e en Query by your self. 1720 
S. PARKER Bibliotheca Riblica. I. 394 He queried, and 
reason d thus with himself. 17*8 POPE Dune. n. 349 Each 
prompt to query, answer, and debate. 1814 BYRON Lara 

1. i note. A passenger queried as to the author. 

2. To question, interrogate (a personV rare. 
1654 GAYTON Pleas. Notes 97 The Don . . assaults the first 

pittifull Scout . . whom he should have quaeried in this 
manner. 1690 CHILD Disc. Trade (1698) 47 So I have been 
assured by many antient men whom I have queried parti 
cularly as to this matter, c 1890 A. MURDOCH Yoshhvara 
Episode in Fr. Anstr. to Japan (1892) 49 He ..began to 
query her about the financial part of the business. 

3. To call (a thing) in question ; to mark as 
doubtful. 

1772 Ann. Reg. 54/2 The returning officer . . had queried 
76 [votes]. 1839 D ISRAELI Curios. Lit. (1849) ! ^4 Sir 
John . . afterwards came to doubt it with a sed de hoc gitzre 
query this ! 

b. To question, doubt, if, etc. 

1815 W. H. IRELAND Scribbleotnania 140, I very much 
query if two, and sometimes three of Sonini s Alpine pictures 
were not condensed into one by the author. 

Hence Que rying- vl&gt;l. st&gt;. and ///. a. ; Que ry- 
ingly adv. ; Que-ryist = QUERIST. 

1669 W. SIMPSON Hydrol. Clym. 107 One able physitian 
being asked... The querying person returned, that [etc.): 
1706 W. JONES Synop. Palmar. Mathcseos 140 The Query, 
ing Term in the 3d. Place. 1863 Reader 19 Dec. 729 A queryist 
in the American Publishers Circular. 1865 E. BURRITT 
IValk to Land s End 286 A pair of baby eyes, peering up 
ward with querying wonder. 1890 Harper s Mag. July 
272/1 Thequeryings of philosophy. 1890 JEAN MIDDLEMASS 
Two False Moves I. xv. 226 He looked at her queryingly. 

Queryster, obs. form of CHORISTER. 

Quesal, variant of QUETZAL. 

Quesing, Quesion, obs. ff. COUSIN, CUSHION. 

Quesited (kw/sai-ted), a. and sb. [f. med.L. 
quesit-, L. quxsit-, ppl. stem of quxrere to seek + 
-EDl. Cf. QU.SSITUM.] 

1 1. at/j. Sought for, asked about, etc. Ol&gt;s. rare. 

1647 LILLY Chr. Astrol. vi. 49 Significator of the Querent or 
thing quesited. 1674 JEAKE Arith. (1696) 20 The remains 
are the Numbers quesited. 

2. sb. Astrol. The thing or person inquired about. 

1647 LILLY Chr. Astrol. xx. 123 The Quesited is he or 
she, or the thing sought and enquired after. 1881 SHORT- 
HOUSE y. Inglesant I. xv. 282 A very good argument that 
the querent should see the quesited speedily. 

So f Quesiti-tious a. = QUESITED a. Obs. rare. 
Qne-sitive a., interrogative. Quesilive quantity, 
quantity expressed by an interrogative numeral 
(Cent. Diet. 1891). 

, l6 74 JEAKE Arith. (1606) 334 As in Extraction of Roots and 
Equations, A. .is called the Supposititious or Quesit[it]ious 
Root. 1690 LEYBOURN Curs. Math. 341 Multiplying the 
assumed Root fi+c in the place of the Quesititious Root a. 

Quesomen : see QUEASOSI. 

Quest (kwest), sbl Also 4 quisle, 4-6 queste, 
5-6 wheat, (qw-), 6 queast. [a. OF. queste (F. 
qtilte) = Prov. questa, qiiista, Sp. aiesfa, It. chiesta 
: pop. L. *questa, pa. pple. of qitercre, L. quxrere 
to seek, inquire : cf. INQUEST sb.] 

I. 1. An official or judicial inquiry. = INQUEST 
si. i. Obs. exc. dial. (cf. CROWNER^). 

1303 R. BRUNNE Hand!. Synne 5508 Perof shal Gode take 
a quest, c 1330 C/iron. (1810) 238 Of clippers, of roungers, 
of suilk takes he questis. 1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. xx. 16 1 
Her syre was a sysour . . ateynte at vch a queste c 1440 
Gcsta Rom. i. Ixx. 387 (Addit. MS.) When the lustice was 
comyn, he ordeyned a false queste. 1543 BRINKLOW Lament. 
(1874) 91 I here is a custome in the Cytie, ones a yeare to 
haue a quest called the warnmall queste, to redresse vices. 
a 1577 SIR T. SMITH Commm. Eng. (1609) 73 Enquest or 
quest is called this lawfull kinde of triall by twelue men 
1694 U-TTRiiLi. Brief Rel. (1857) III. 417 The lord mayor 
and aldermen of London have forbid feasting at the quests 
1876- In dial, glossaries (Yks., Chesh., Som., etc.). 

2. The body of persons appointed to hold an 
inquiry. = INQUEST sb. 2. Now rare. 

13.. Evang. Nicod. 243 in Anhivneu. Spr.\A\\. 396 He 
chesed a quest, on him to pas. c 1440 Jatob s Well 257 fan 
schalt . . aftyrward be pourgyd out wyth a quest of clerltys. 
1470-85 mMamArtbtrlU. viii, By ordenaunce of the quene 



matter. 1612 T. TAYLOR Comm. Titus lii. i Which is as if 
a theife should be tried by 




coroner s quest pronounces in accordance with the evidence . 

fig. &lt;ri6oo SHAKS. Sonn. xlvi, To side this title is im- 
pannelled A quest of thoughts, all tennant to the heart. 
fb. transf. A dozen (cf. quot. 1 5 79 above). Obs. 

1589 Almond for Parrat 14 He haue a spare fellowe shall 
make mee a whole quest of faces for three farthinges. 

3. Any inquiry or investigation made in order to 
discover some fact ; also, the object of such inquiry. 
_ 1598 FLORIO Diet. Ep. Ded. 3, 1 in this search or quest of 
mquirie haue spent most of my studies. 1627 Lisander 
AfCal. in. 39 The quest ended with no more knowledge than 
it began. 1727 SWIFT To Earl of Oxford, In quest, who 
might this parson be. 1831 CARLYI.E Sari. Res. n. viii, Let 
us not forget the great generality, which is our chief quest 
here. 1878 Masque Poets 101 The guest Half paused to ask 
in idle quest. 

II. 4. Search or pursuit, made in order to find 
or obtain something. Const, of , for. 

n..E. E. Allit. P. B. 39 Hit arn fettled in on forme . . 
& by quest of her quoyntyse enquylen on mede. 1526 Pilgr. 
Pcrf. (W. de W. 1531) 96 b, Peace & brotherly Concorde 
dissolueth this quest & assaute of enuy. 1605 SHAKS. Lear 
I. i. 196 What . . Will you require in present Dower with her, 
Or cease your quest of Loue ? 1655 H. VAUGHAN Silex Scint. 
I. Search (1858) 34 My Quest is vaine, Hee ll not be found 
where he was slaine. 1704 F. FULLER Med. Gyinn.(i-jii) 138 
To rouse People into a Quest of Health. 1816 BYRON Ch. 
Jfar. in. Ixxvi, Whose desire Was to be glorious; twas 
a foolish quest. 1874 GREEN Short Hist. viii. 4. 491 
Luckily the quest of gold proved a vain one. 

b. Kreq. in phr. in quest of (t after, or inf.). 

1575 CHURCHYARD Chippcs 11817) 24 In quest of solace, he 
retired to Bath. 1:1600 SHAKS. Sonn. cxxix, Had, hauing, 
and in quest to haue. 1663 BUTLER Hud. I. iii. 233 He went 
in quest of Hudibras. 1705 HEARNE Collect. 6 Oct. (O. H. S.) 
I. 52 He is in quest after other Pieces. 1820 W. IRVING 
Sketch Bk. II. 349 The ghost rides forth to the scene of 
battle in nightly quest of his head. i86z GOULBURN Pers. 
Kelif. IV. i. (1873) 256 Eager running to and fro in quest of 
worldly wealth. 

t c. A person (or set of persons) employed in 
searching. Obs. rare~ l . 

1604 SHAKS. Oth. \. ii. 46 The Senate hath sent about three 
seuerall Quests, To search you out. 

5. In mediaeval romance : An expedition or ad 
venture undertaken by a knight to procure some 
thing or achieve some exploit ; the knights engaged 
in such an enterprise. Also iransf. 

1384 CHAUCER H. Fame HI. 648 They that have do 
noble jestes And acheved all hir questes. c 1450 Merlin 
503 Thei entered in to many questes forto knowe which 
was the beste knyght. 1470-85 MALORY Arthur xvi. xii, 
1 hey supposed he was one of the quest of the Sancgreal. 
1590 SPENSER F. Q. m, viii. 53 Her well beseemes that 
Quest. 1813 SCOTT Triermain I. xi, Rather he chose, that 
Monarch bold, On vent rous quest to ride, 1850 KINGSLEY 
Alt. Locke xi, You are my servant now, by the laws of 
chivalry, and you must fulfil my quest. 1876 GREEN Stray 
Stud. 262 The Quest of ./Eneas is no self-sought quest. 

6. a. The search for game made by hounds, b. 
The baying of hounds in pursuit of game; a 
peculiar barking tittered by dogs when in sight of 
game. Obs. exc. dial. 

X3 .. Gaiu. ff Gr. Knt. 1150 At be fyrst quethe of be 
quest quaked be wylde. e 1420 Anturs of Art h. 49 Withe 

g et questes and quelles Bothe in frethes and felles. 1513 
OUGLAS jfcneis v, v. 26 For hundis quest it semyt the lift 
rife wald. 1589 R. ROBINSON Gold. Mirr. (Chetham Soc.) 
12 Thus as I stood to heare this merry quest I heard the 
names of houndes that hunted best. 1649 G. DANIEL 
Trinareh., Hen. IV, Ixxiv, Twas soe resolu d ; vpon the 
doubtfull Quest The Game gets to safe Covert. 1688 
HOLME Armoury in. 188/2 Quest,, .the first opening, or cry, 
of the Dogs when they have found the scent. 1876 SWIN 
BURNE Erechtheus 1306 Lo, night is arisen on the noon, and 
her hounds are in quest by day. 1878 Cnml ld. Gloss., 
Quest, the early morning search for a hare by the scent of 
the hounds. 1886 ELWORTHY IV. Somerset lVordJ&gt;k. s.v., 
He don t never give no quest thout he s right pon it. 

transf. 13.. S. Erkemuolde 133 in Horstmann Altengl. 
Leg. (1881) 269 pe masse he begynnes.. With queme questis 
of ^e quere with fill quaynt notes, a 1633 G. HERBERT 
Templt, Content ii, Gad not abroad at ev ry quest and call 
Of an untrained hope or passion. 

7. R. C. Ch. The collection of alms or donations 
for religious purposes. 

1528 ROY Rede me (Arb.) 76 The observauntis no people 
do spare, Makynge their quest every wheare With most 
importunate cravynge. 1691 tr. D Etnilliane s Frauds 
Romish Monks 262 The Farmer [of Purgatory moneyj sends 
some of his Emissaries into the Fields, to carry on the 
Quest there for the said Souls. 1748 Earthquake Peru i. 
85 If we consider the extraordinary Product of the Quest 
[of the Franciscans], 1873 BROWNING Red Cott. Nt.^apqji 
When Marquise jokes My quest, forsooth ? Each doit I 
scrape together goes for Peter-pence. 

8. Comb., as f quest - ale, prob. ale of special 
quality (cf. audit-ale); f quest - diter, -ganger, 
= QUEST-MONGER. Also QUEST-HOUSE, -MAN. 

c 1460 Towneley I\fyst. xxii. 24 All fals endytars, Quest- 
gangars, and lurars, .. Ar welcome to me. Ibid. xxx. 185 
Thi.se rolles Ar of bakbytars And fals quest-dytars. a 1704 
T. BROWN Pleas. Epistle Wks. 1730 I. no Private delibera. 
tions over brawn and quest-ale. 



QUEST. 

t Quest, sb* Obs. [Related to QUETHE ?., as 
bequest (q.v.) to bequeath.] A bequest. 

c 1300 ffavefok 2iQ He made his quisle swithe wel, c 1400 
Gatnelyn 64, I byseke yow . . For Gamelynes love, that my 
queste stonde. 1418 K. E. tl- ills (1882) 35 After my dettii 
payde and my questes fulfilled. 1478 Crpscombe Church-iv. 
Ace. (Som. Rec. Soc.) 8 And bryngs in of the quest of 
Water Bigge xij d. 

So f Quest word. Obs. rare~ . 

1793 Archaeologia X. 197 The legacies or questword of 
the deceased supplied the rest. 

Quest ikwest), v.l [a. OF. quest er (F. quctei}, 
f. queste QUEST j*. 1 ] 

1. intr. Of hunting flogs, etc. : To search for 
game. Also with about. 

ci35o Ipomadon (Kolbing) 619 A brachet of thee beste, 
That euer wold trewly queste And securly pursewe. c 1420 
Anturs of Arth, 49 pay questede and quellys By fry this 
and fellis. 1523 SKELTON Garl. Laurelling The howndes 
began to yerne and to quest. 1607 TorsELL Four-/. Beasts 
(1658) 133 Such [Dogs] as delight on the land, play their 
parts, either by swiftness of foot, or by often questing, to 
search out and to spring the bird, a 1680 BUTLER Rfti:. 
(1759) II. 88 If they prosper they .. give the Jackal some 
small Snip for his Pains tn questing. 1826 SCOTT U oodst. 
xxxi, Bevls, questing about, found the body. 
fig- J 59 SOUTHWELL M. Magd. Fnnera.ll Teares 113 Why 
doth thy sorrow quest so much upon the place where he is ? 
1668 DRYDEN Even. s Love II. i, Cast about quickly, . . 
Range, quest, and spring a lie immediately. 

b. Of animals : To search about for food. 

1796 PEGGE Anonym. (1809) 137 It would be natural for 
them [the whales] to quest about for that jelly they live 
upon. 1879 JEFFERIES Amateur Poacher xii. 236 There was 
the pheasant not fifteen yards away, quietly questing about. 

2. Of hunting dogs : To break out into a peculiar 
bark at the sight of game ; to give tongue ; to bark 
or yelp. Obs. exc. dial. 

1420 in Rel. Ant. II. 7 Kenettes questede to quelle, Al 
so breme so any belle. 1470-85 MALORY Arthur ix. xxi, 
This lytel brachet . . lepte vpon hym and . . whyned and 
quested. 1377 STANVHURST Descr. Irel. \i\Holinshed VI. 41 
The hunter may perceive the beast resting on the one 
banke, the dogs questing on the other brim. 1616 SURFI.. & 
MARKH. Country Farme 681 You shall then take care, that 
not at any time, . . he dare to quest or open his mouth, but 
that he hunt so silent and mute as is possible. z68i OTWAV 
Soldier s Fort. iv. (1735) 84 Lie still, you knave, close, close, 
. . you had best quest, and spoil the Sport, you had. 1831 
Miss MITFORD in L Estrange Life (1870) II. xiv. 328 Just 
before the coursing season began, he [a doi^] began to 
dream of going out and quested in his sleep. 1886 in 
ELWORTHY 11- . Somerset Word.bk. 

fb. transf. Of frogs: To croak. Obs. rare 1 . 

1607 TOPSELL Serpents (1658) 725, I mean the little Frog 
questing hoarse voyce amain. 

3. Of persons : To go about in search of some 
thing; to search or seek. Also with about, and 
constr. after, for. (Chiefly transf. from sense I.) 

1624 HEVWOOD Captives i. i. in Bullen O. PL IV, This too 
yeares I have quested to his howse. 1686 F. STENCE tr. 
Varilla s Ho. Medicis 281 This young Lord had won the 
prize of a Turnament, and lay questing after a panegyrick. 
1701 COLLIER M. Aurel. (1726) 89 They went questing with 
flambeaux. 1864 Miss YONGE Trial I. v. 91 One of the 
bridal pairs . . was seen questing about as if disposed to 
invade our premises. 1882 STEVENSON Mem. ff Portraits 
xvi. (1887) 288 Neither Mr. James nor the author . . has ever 
gone questing after gold. 

b. f!. C. Ch. To ask for alms or donations. 

1748 Eartlujuake Peru iii. 303 If the Friars go into the 
Country, a questing for their Monastery. 1867 R. PALMER 
Life Philip Howard 104 There were not to be more than 
thirteen religious, who were never to quest or beg alms. 

4. trans, a. To search for, pursue, seek out. 
1751 BYROM Enthusiasm in Poems 1773 II. 34 Averse to 

Heav n, .. They quest Annihilation s monst rous Theme. 
1842 Miss MITFORD in Friendsh. Miss Mitford (1882) II. 
v. 77 Flush found a hare, and quested it for two miles. 
1855 SINGLETON Virgil I. 164 In noontide heats Quest out 
a shady dell. 1882 SIR E. ARNOLD Pearls of Faitk xxviii. 
(1883) 99 A wild bee questing honey-buds. 
b. To question, request, demand, rare. 

1897 F. THOMPSON Ne Poems 35, [I] quested its secret of 
the sun. 

t Quest, V. 2 Ms. rare. [? cf. LG. questen, var. 
quessen, quetsen (G. quetschen, Du. kivetseit) to 
press, squeeze.] trans. To crush. 

1647 HARVEY Schola Cordis xv. 8 If Thy presse stand, 
Mine heart may chance slip out. O quest it into nothing. 
1674-91 RAY N. C. Words s. v., Pies are said to be quested, 
whose sides have been crushed by each other. 

Quest, variant of QUEEST, ring-dove. 
Questane, obs. form of WHETSTONE. 
t Que-stant. Obs. rare 1 . - QCESTEB. 
1601 SHAKS. All s Well n. i. 16 You come Not to wooe 
honour, but to wed it, when The bravest questant shrinkes. 

Quest-dove : see QUEEST. 

Quester (kwe-stai). [f. QUEST w.l -t- -ER!.] 
One who quests, in senses of the vb. 

a 1550 Image Hypocr. iv. in Skcltorfs Wits. (1843) II. 440 
Redy regesters, Pardoners and questers. 1707 J. STEVENS 
tr. Quevedo s Com. Wks, (1709) 208 The wicked Quester 
tuck d up his.. Robe. 1718 ROWE tr. Liican iv. (R.), The 
quester..to the wood they loose, Who silently the tainted 
track pursues. 1875 DovtDKuSAaAs^ere 10 It is the ascetic 
quester, Galahad . . who beholds the mystical Grail. 

Questeroun, variant of CUSTRON. Ohs. 

Que-stful, a. rare 1 , [f. QUEST sl/.^ + -Fur..] 
Full of questing or searching. 

1869 LOWELL Invita Minerva 246 The summer day he 
spent in questful round. 



47 

t Quest-house. Obs. The house at which the 
inquests in a ward or parish were commonly held. 

1571 Ace. St. Gilts, Cripplegatc in MS. Addil. 12222 
[cited by Halliwell,s.v.]. i6c^DEKKER& WEBSTER North. 
Hoe i. D. s Wks. 1873 III. 12 Are all the Quest-houses 
broken vp? 1668 PEPYS Diary 24 Jan., At the Quest 
House, where the company meets to the burial of my cozen 
Joyce. 1696 Lond. Gaz. No. 3239/4 At the Quest-house on 
Little-Tower-Hill is a Grammar-School. 1828 NARES Let. 
to A. Dyce, A Quest-house was the chief Watch-house in a 
parish. . . Some parishes in London still have them, e. g. St. 
Giles s Cripplegate. 

f g- 635 QUARLES Embl. 102 It is a world, whose VVork.. 
Is vanity, and vexation ; .. A Quest-house of complaint. 

attrib. 1628 SPELMAN De Sepult. (1641) 22 A Parish Audit, 
or a Quest-House dinner. 

Questing (kwe stin), vM. st. [f. QUEST v.i + 
-ING 1 .] The action of the vb. in various senses. 

1470-85 MALORY Arthur i. xix, The noyse was . . lyke 
vnto the questyng of xxx coupyl houndes. 1540-1 ELYOT 
Image Cop. Pref. (1556) 10 After two or three questynges, 
he lept to the great Olyphante. 1603 FLORIO Montaigne n. 
xi. (1632) 238 A long questing and heating for some game. 
1700 JER. COLLIER ind Def. Short View n8 All this 
Questing has sprung but very little Game. 1824 Miss MIT- 
FORD tillage Ser. I. (1863) 109 Nothing is more certain than 
Dash s questing, . . for a better spaniel never went into the 
field. 1839 BAILEY Festns\\. (1848) 63 Must thou still Revel 
in bootless questings? 

Questing (kwe-stin), ///. a. [f. as prec. + 
-HfG 2 .] That quests, in senses of the vb. 

15 J 3 DOUGLAS AZneis XIII. iii. 25 Than the remanent of 
that questing sort, . . Wythdrawis. c 1600 DRAYTON Miseries 




exertions of power. 

d. In question, under consideration, forming the 
subject of discourse. To come into question, to 
be thought of as possible. 

1611 SHAKS. Cymb. i. i. 34 His Father.. had (besides this 
Gentleman in question) Two other Sonnes. 1653 DOROTHY 
OSBORNE Lett, to Sir IV. Temple (1888) 100 After dinner we 
sit and talk till Mr. B. comes in question, and then I am gone. 
1775 SHERIDAN Rivals n. i, He does not think his friend .. 
ever saw the lady in question. 1831 MACKINTOSH Hist. Eng. 
1 1. 96 The very ill-fated man in question was John de la Pole. 
1874 STVBBS Const. Hist, I. i. 7 The succession of masters was 
too rapid to allow a change of language to come into question 
among the greater, .part of the people. 1893 TRAILL Soc. 



hound. 1888 P. FITZGERALD Fatal Zero xxvii. 168 That 
questing, roving eye., that looks out of the corners sharply. 

Question (kwe styan), sb. Also 4 questiun, 
4-0 -oun, questyon, (4 qw-, 5 -one, -oun\ 5 
whestion. [a. AF. questiun, OF. question 
(GodeO, ad. L. q&gt;uestiiin-em, n. of action from 
quxrfre to ask, inquire : cf. Ql .ERE, QUERY.] 
I. The action of inquiring or asking. 

1. The stating or investigation of a problem ; 
inquiry into a matter; discussion of some doubtful 
point, f To make question, to raise discussion or 
talk, to express or entertain doubt (whether, of, 
about). Obs. 

1375 BARBOUR Bruce i. 249 Than mayss clerkis questioun 
.. Quhethir he his lordis neid suld let. 1386 CHAUCKU 
Knt. s T. 1656 Peples-.holdyn.se hir question Dyuynynge 
of thise Thebane kuyghtes t\\o. 1447 BOKENHAM Seynlys 
(Roxb.) 2 If be what or why Be questyoun maad of thys 
tretyhs [etc.]. 1523 LD. BERNEKS Froiss. I. 592 Qvestyon 
was made therof before the marshalles. 1599 SHAKS. Hen. V, 
I. i. 5 The. .vnquiet time Did push it out of farther ques 
tion. 1638 R. BAKER tr. Balzac s Lett. II. 102 Let us .. 
never_ make question whether we ought to call them in- 
nrmitiesof age, orfruits of reason. 1778 F. BURNEY Evelina. 
xxxiv, As to consulting you . . it was out of all question. 1824 
J. MARSHALL Const. Opin. (1839) 3 11 We cannot perceive 
how the occupation of these vessels can be drawn into 
question. 1886 RUSKIN Prxterita I. vi. 185 [My father] 
allowed it without question. 

b. In adverbial phrases, as Beyond (all) question, 
out of; past, without cjtiestion : Unquestionably. 

1586 T. B. La Primauii. I- r. AcaJ. 189 Out of question 
we will judge those men verie blinde. 1601 SHAKS. Twel. N. 
I. iii. iQi,And. Why, would that haue mended my haire? To. 
Past question. 1680-90 TEMPLE Ess., Heroic Virtue Wks. 
1731 I. 212 He was without Question, a Great and Heroick 
Genius. 1756 BURKE Vimi. A at. Soc. Wks. 1842 I. 5 In 
the state of nature, without question, mankind was sub 
jected to many and great inconveniences. 1818 JAS. MILL 
Brit. India II. v. viii. 684 He is beyond all question the 
most eminent of the chief rulers. 1880 L. STEPHEN Pope 
v. 118 The Dunciad..is beyond all question full of coarse 
abuse. 

C. f In question, in dispute, in controversy ; in 
a doubtful or undecided state. Obs. So also with 
into and in = into ; chiefly, and now only, in phr. 
to call in question : see CALL v. 18. 

1390 in Kec. Coldingham Priory (Surtees) 65 That yhour 
richte be na mare putt in questioun. 1494 FABYAN Chron. 
(i533&gt; vii. ccxxxii. 158 b, A longe whyle thys fyghte stode I 
in questyon, whyther partye shulde obteynevyctorye. 1513 
MoKEinGraftonCin&gt;.(ij68)II.769lfitfortunetheCrowne 
to come in question. 1529 Dyaloge I. Wks. 123/2 The 
thynge standinge in debate and question. 1565 JEWEL Def. 
Apol. (1611) 324 How could these so doubtfull matters euer 
haue fallen in question amongst your fellowes. 1620 J. 
WILKINSON Coroners $ Sherifes 13 It hath beene in ques 
tion and ambiguity. 1683 DRYDEN Life Plutarch in P. s 
Lives (1700) 1. 18 The Pyrrhonians . . who bring all certainty 



QUESTION. 

F.ng. Introd. p. xxxvi, Discoveries of a far-reaching . . 
character, have during the period in question been made. 

2. The action of questioning, interrogating, or 
examining a person, or the fact of being ques 
tioned, etc. ; f hence, talk, discourse. 

1390 GOWER Conf. i. 1013 Ferst he let the Prestea take, .. 
He put hem into questioun. 1456 SIR G. HAVE Law Arms 
(S. T. S.) 185 He aw nocht to be stoppit, bot frely to have 
passage throu all realmes but questioun. 1596 SHAKS. 

Merch. V. iv. i. 346 lie stay no longer question. 1605 

Macb. III. iv. 118 Ross. What sights, my Lord? La. I pray 
you_speake not. .Question enrages him. 1690 LOCKE Govt. 
n. ii. 13 One Man. .may do. .whatever he pleases, without 
the least question or control!. 1849 M. ARNOLD Sonnets, 
. Shaksp., Others abide our question. Thou art free. 1869 
TENNYSON Coming Arthur 311 Fixing full eyes of question 
on her face. 

b. spec. The application of torture as part of 
a judicial examination. 

583 Exec, for Treason (1675) 12 No one was called to 

any capital or bloody question upon matters of Religion. 

1651 KVKI.YN Mem. (1857) I. 275 A malefactor was to have 

the question, or torture, given to him. 1689 HI RNET Tracts 

\ I. 80 The common Question that they give.. is, that they 

, tyethe Hands of the suspected Person behind his ba&lt;k[etc.J. 

1761 HUME Hist. Eng. III. Ii. no He urged too, that 

r elton should he put to the question in order to extort from 

j him a discovery of his accomplices. 1871 H. AINSWORTH 

I Ty.ver Hill in. xix, Let him be submitted to the question, 

ordinary and extraordinary. 

to. In question: Under judicial examination; 
on trial. Obs. rate. 

1589 HOKSKY Trav. (Hakluyt Soc.) App. 330 John Chapele 
..was. .ymprisoned almost a yeare, in question to have 
bene executed. 1597 SHAKS. 2 lien. II , i. ii. 68 He that 
was in question for the robbery. 

d. J o cull in (t or into) question : To examine 
i judicially, bring to trial ; to take to task, call to 
account. 

1611 Bini.E Acts xix. 40 We are in clanger to be called in 

| question for this dayesvpi ore. a 1641 Bp. MOUNTAGU Acts \- 

Man. 11642) 59 Socrates, .was called into question, and had 

sentence of death pronounced against him. 1647 J- CARTER 

i Nail J^ Wheel 78 Presently he was.. called in question as 

j a delinquent. 

II. What is asked or inquired (about). 
3. The interrogative statement of some point to 
be investigated or discussed ; a problem ; hence, 
a matter forming, or capable of forming, the basis 
of a problem ; a subject involving more or less 
difficulty or uncertainty. The question : the precise 
matter receiving or requiring deliberation or dis 
cussion. To beg the question : see EEC v. 6. 

a 1300 Cursor Af. 26104 par.wit-al sum questiones we sal 
vndo be merk resons. 1387 TREVISA Higden i Rolls) I. 15 
Wel nyh al problernys and questiouns of the wiscste men. 
1467 in Rymer Foedera (1710) XI. 579 If.. any Difficultie 
or Question in the Lawe happen to ryse. c 1510 MORE 
Pins Wks. 3/2 Some good simple folk, that should of xele 
to the faith . . impugne those questions, as new thinges. 1508 
SHAKS. Merry IV. i. i. 227 But that is not the question : the 
question is concerning your marriage. 1663 BUTLER Hud. 
I. ii. 465 It was a Question, whether he Or s Horse were of 
a Family More worshipful. 1768 T. POWNALL Admin. 
Brit. Col. (1774) I. 7 This American question.. must now 
come forward. 1854 KINGSLEY Lett. (1878) I. 416 This is a 
question involving the lives of thousands and tens of thou 
sands of human beings. 1879 MCCARTHY Own Time II. 
xxv. 219 The Eastern Question it was that disturbed the 
dream of peace. 

b. spec. A subject for discussion, a proposal to 
be debated or voted on, in a meeting or delibera 
tive assembly, esp. in Parliament ; t the putting of 
this proposal to the vote. Question . , used (a) to 
recall a speaker to the subject under discussion, 
t (/&gt;) to demand that the vote be taken (quot. 
1817). Previous question: see PREVIOUS. 

1658-9 Burtons Diary (1828) IV. 37 The persons con 
cerned must withdraw when any question is. 1678 MARVELL 
Growth Popery 24 Whereupon the greater number called 
for the Question, and had it in the Affirmative, that the 
Debate should be laid aside. 1791 Debate Abolit. Slave. 
Trade 119 A loud cry [being] kept up a considerable time 
for the question. 1817 Hansard s Parl. Debates XXXV. 
758/2 Lord Cochrane rose, amidst reiterated cries of 
question, to state [etc.]. 1863 H. Cox Instil. I. ix. 139 The 
Speaker,, .when it has been seconded, proposes it to the 
House, and then the House are said to be in possession of 
the question. Ibid. 140 If it be wished to avoid a question, 
it is usual to move that the chairman do leave the chair. 

C. Const, of (the subject-matter or sphere). Now 
freq. in phr. it is a question of = what is required 
or involved is, etc. 

1382 WYCLIF Acts xviii. 15 If questiouns ben of the word, 
and names of the lawe. 1526 TINDALE Acts xviii. 15 Yf it 
be a question off wordes or off names or of youre lawe. 1812 
H. & J. SMITH Kej. Addr., Living Lustres ii, The question 
of Houses I leave to the jury. 1836 J. GILBERT Chr. 
Atonem. ix. (1852) 275 The recovery of transgressors is not 
a question of mere power. 1867 FREEMAN Norm, Cong. 
(1876) I. iv. 223 It was a question of time. 

d. Phr. Out of the question, foreign to the subject ; 
hence, not to be considered or thought of. 

1700 COLLIER ind Def. Short Vieio 122 His Objection.. Is 
out of the Question. 1815 B NESS BUNSEN in Hare Lift 
(1879) I. iii. 88 To go on describing the different effects, .is 
out of the question. 1878 Bosw. SMITH Carthage 210 The 
third alternative was no longer open, .for retreat was out of 
the question. 

4. A subject of discussion, debate, or strife between 
parties, or of one party with another. 



read, I bought a Question 



QUESTION. 

OF. question occurs freq. in the sense of difference*, 
dispute , quarrel . 

1382 WYCLII- John iii. 25 A questioun is maad of Johnis 
disciplis with the Jewis, of the puriucacioun. 1390 GOWER 
Conf. vii. 4148 A question betwen the tuo Thus writen in 
a bok I fond. 1456 SIR G. \l.\\ Law Arms (S. T. S.) 115 It 
efferis to the constable to here all questiounis, querelis and 
complayntis of his men5e. 1484 CAXTON Fables o/JEsop v. 
x, Telle me your resons and caas.-that the better I may 
gyue the sentence of your dyferent and question. 



sword was drawne about this question. 1818 CRUISE Digest 
(ed. 2) VI. 249 A Question arose between the heir at law 
and the younger children, whether it passed by the will. 

5. In negative expressions. It is no (or not a) 
question, there is no question, f or simply no ques 
tion : There is no room for dispute or doubt \lnit, 
that}. To make no question : To raise or entertain 
no doubt (of or about a thing, but or inf.). 

1583 W. FULKE Dcf. Tr. Script. Pref. 5 We make no 
question but that it is Apostolical. 1593 SiiAKS._2 Hen. Vf, 
iv. ii. 61, I am able to endure much. No question of that. 
1596 Alerch. / . i. i. 184, I no question make To haue it. 
1605 VI-RSTEGAN Dec. Intell. ii. (1628) 25 That our Saxon 
ancestors came out of Germanic .. is no question. 1625 
BL-RGES Pers. Tithes 2 My Purpose is not here to fall vpon I 
that Question, (for I make no Question of it) Whether [etc.], i 
1711 AUDISON Sf&gt;ect. No. 59 P 3, I make no Question but it , 
would have been looked upon as one of the most valuable 
Treasuries of the Greek Tongue. 1815 JANE AUSTEN Ennna , 
i. ix, I cannot make a question, .about that; it is a certainty, i 
1845 M Ci LLOCH Taxation Introd. (1852) 21/2 It is no , 
longer a question that the disgust occasioned by this in 
equality, .mainly contributed to throw France into a flame. ; 

t b. No question ^used parenthetically) : No 
doubt, without question. Obs. 

1594 O. B. Quest. Profit. Concern. 27 We haue set at 
naught,. the poore.. whose accusations, no question, are 
gone vp into heauen. 1621 BP. MOUNTAGU Diatribse 273 
Alluding, no question, vnto that of the Psalme. a 1674 
CLARENDON Sun: Lmiaih. (1676) 260 This no question is 
his meaning. 1722 DE FOE Plague (1884) 125 There were, i 
no Question, Accounts kept of their Charily. 

6. A sentence of interrogative form, addressed by ; 
one person to another in order to elicit information ; j 
an interrogation, query, inquiry. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 22891 iCott.) An crafti clerc. .asked him 
a questiun of a wolf and a Icon. 1340 HAMPOLE Pr. Consc. 
8288 Now may bou ask me. .A questyon.and say. .Salle j?ai | 
[etc.]? a 1400-50 Alexander mo Inquire me noght bis 
question, I quetli it J?e neuer. c 1485 Digby Myst. iv. 1311 
Yeaskit hym. .a whestion. 71580 SIDNEY Ps. XLII. ii, Their 
daily questions . .Where is now thy God soe good? 1665 
BOYLE Occas. Rejl. iv. xvii, Before we could answer that 
Question, we must ask one of him, which was, what he had 
been doing. 1773 GOLDSM. Stoops to Cong. in. in Ask me 
no questions and I ll tell you no hbs. 1776 Trial of Nando- \ 
comar 73/2 If you do not give a plain answer to a plain i 
question, you will be committed. 1869 Q. Rev. July 211 | 
Go and put that question to the great armies of Austria. 

fb. Questions and commands, the name of a i 
game in which one person addressed ludicrous ] 
questions and commands to each member of the 
company. Obs. 

1673 WYCHERLEY GentL Dancing-Master n. ii, He is as 
dull as a country-squire at questions and commands. 1709 
STEELE Tatter No. 144 F i Just as one is chosen King at 
the game of Questions and Commands. 1731 FIELDING Grub 
St. Opera in. vii, Unless when we have [kissed] at questions 
and commands. 

C. Sc. in //. The catechism (cf. question-book 
in 7). Also transf. 

1795 BURNS Election v, The billle is gettin his questions, 
To say in St. Stephen s the morn. 1893 STEVENSON Cairiona 
31, 1 judged, .he would think the better of me if I knew the 
questions. 

III. 7. attrib. and Comb. a. attrib.,ttlfttflfi&ff- 
box, -hoitr, -time ; b. objective, as question-answer 
ing^ -askings-begging (see BEG v. 6), -putting, sbs. 
or adjs. ; c. phrasal, as question-and-answer lesson ; 
d. question-book Sc., a catechism (formerly often 
containing also the alphabet or a spelling-book) ; 
question-mark, -stop, a mark of interrogation ; 
f question-sick, having a mania for questioning ; 
t question-wise adv., as a question. 

1642 R. H ARKIS Serm on 29 If wee follow Chrysostom s sense 
..and read the words Questtonwise, Will hee suffer longl 
1647 TRAPP Comm. Acts via. 24 All Christ s scholars are 
questionists, though not question-sick, c 1700 in Wodrow s 
Hist. C/i. Scot. (1828) II. 5. " 



Having a mind to learn to 
X)k. 1839 Lett.fr. Madras 

(1843) 2 S5 i ne question-and-answer lessons on Scripture 
History, c 1860 WHATELY Comm-pl. Bit. (18641 263 What 
Jeremy Bentham calls question -begging appellatives . i86a 
T. A. TROLLOPE Marietta I. xi. 200 Looking at her like a 
question stop. 1869 LOWELL Cathedr., This age, that blots 
out life with question-marks. 1884 E. YATES Recoil, (ed. 
Tauchn.) II. vii. 259 Much is said of .. their constant 
question-asking. 1885 Manch. Exam. 28 Feb. 6/1 Sitting 
apathetically through a rather lively question time. 
Question (kwe-styan), v. Also 5-6 -yon, (5 
-one,, [a. OF. questionner (ijth c.), f. question 
QUESTION sb.] 

1. trans. To ask a question or questions of (a 
person or Jiff, a thing) ; to interrogate, f Also 
with double object (quot. 1604). 

1490 CAXTON Eneydos xv. 58 Fame . . sette herself .. with 
the porters and mynystres for to questyone theym. 1600 
SHAKS. A. 1". L. n. iv. 64 One of you question you d man, 



48 

If he for gold will giue vs any foode. 1604 Oth, i. iii. 129 
Her Father. .Still question d me the Storie of my life. 1714 
SWIFT //;/// Hor, n. vi, And question me of this and that. 
1814 GARY Dante, Paradise in. 133. I to question her be 
came less prompt. 1863 GEO. ElJOT -ff *** Introd., The 
night-student, who had been questioning the stars or the 
sages.. for that hidden knowledge. 

b. To examine judicially ; hence, to call to 
account, challenge, accuse (of}. Now rare. 

1637 HKYLIN^MJ?* . Burton 60 When you were questioned 
publickely for your misdemeanours, a 1641 BP. MOUNTAGU 
Acts $ Mon. (1642) 240 Socrates was questioned and con 
demned at Athens. 1656 BRAMHALL Rcplic. ii. 96 He had 
rather his own Church should be questioned of Idolatry. 
1789 Constitution U. S. Art. i. 6 For any speech or debate 
in either house [membersof Congress] shall not be questioned 
in any other place. 1839 MACAULAY Ess. (1843) II. 458 [He] 
cannot be questioned before any tribunal for his baseness 
and ingratitude. 

f c. To challenge, defy (one) to do something. 
Obs. rare- 1 . 

1643 SIR T. BROWNE Relig. Med. i. 27, I cannot see why 
the Angel of God should question Esdras to recall the time 
past, if it were beyond his owne power. 

f2. intr. To question with : To ask questions of ; 
to hold discourse or conversation with ; to dispute 
with. Obs. 

1470-85 MALORY Arthur x. iv, These two knyghtes mette 
with syre Tristram and questioned with hym. ij55 EDEN 
Decades 10, I questioned with hym as concernynge the 
eleuation of the pole. 1614 JACKSON Creed in. i. 5 Little 
would it boote vs to question with them about their meaning. 
1760-72 H. BROOKE Fool of Qnal. (1809) II. 97, I was not 
far from murmuring and questioning with my God. 

3. intr. To ask or put questions. 

1584 LYI.Y Canipaspe v. ii, Thy sighs when he questioned, 
may breed in him a jealousy. 1593 SHAKS. 3 Hen. VI, in. 
ii. 122 Goe wee . , to the man that tooke_ him To question of 
his apprehension. 1626 D Ewns in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. 
III. 217 Others hearing not well what hesaied hindred those 
by questioning which might have heard. 1725 POPE Odyss. 
xxni. no, I scarce uplift my eyes, Nor dare to question. 
1858 LONGF. M. Standish ix. 53 Questioning, answering, . . 
and each interrupting the other. 

b. trans, with clause stating the question. ? Obs. 

1592 GREENE Upst. Courtier in Harl. Afisc. (Malh.) II. 
2^7, I.. was so bould as to question what they were, and of 
their businesse. 1611 SHAKS. l\ 7 int. T. i. ii. 433 Tis safer 
to Auoid what s growne, then question how tis borne. 1651 
HOBBES Leviath. n. xxi. no They never questioned what 
crime he had done. 

t c. intr. To inquire or seek after. Obs. rare~" 1 . 

i6o6G.W[ooDCOCKE]A r i"j/, Ivstiex\xi, 105 Which flattery 
. .so much delighted him that them which before his affection 
hated, now his desire earnestly questioned after. 

4. trans. To make a question of, to raise the 
question (whether, if, etc.) ; hence, to doubt, hold 
as uncertain. 

1533 FRITH Answ, More Wks. (1573) 33 Whether it be so 
or not it may be questioned. 1659 SLINGSBY Diary (1836) 
356, I sent you a leter . . but I question whether you re 
ceived it. 1745 P. THOMAS Jrnl. Ansons Voy. 286, I much 
question if those who left them had once fired them. 1758 
JOHNSON Idler No. 4 F 9 No man can question whether 
wounds and sickness are not really painful. 1883 Law 
Times 20 Oct. 408/1 Whether the request, .can be complied 
with.. may be questioned. 

b. In negative expressions, as / do not question 
(but) etc.) = I have no doubt, I am sure (that) ; 
also pass. (cf. 5) it cannot be questioned = it is 
certain ; etc. 

1613 SHAKS. Hen. VIII ^ n. iv. 50 It is not to be question d, 
That they had gather d a wise Councell. 1687 T. BROWN 
Saints in Uproar Wks. 1730 I. 82, I ..question not but 
you ll do me and these two martyrs justice, a i72oSE\vEL 
Hist. Quakers (1795) I. Pref. 23 Some cases which I did not 
question to be true. 1749 FIELDING Tom Jones xvm. H, He 
did not in the least question succeeding with his daughter. 
1869 HUXLEY in Set. Opin. 21 Apr. 464/3 Nor can it be 

3uestloned that [etc.]. 1878 SIMPSON Sat. Skaks. I. 120 He 
id not question but the native Irish would join him. 

5. a. To call in question, dispute, oppose. 

1632 Gahvay Arch, in TO. /I Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. 
V. 478 Wee question the truth of your informacion. 1647 
N. BACON Disc. Govt. Eng. i. lix. (1739) 112 This the wilful 
Archbishop never questioned, till he questioned all Author 
ity. 1781 GIBBON Decl. $ F. xxvii. III. 3 The worthless 
delegates of his power, whose merit it was made sacrilege 
to question. 1832 HT. MARTINEAU Life in Wilds vii. 96 
There would be no true humility in questioning your decision. 
1883 FROUDE Short Stud. IV. n. i. 164 Any one who openly 
questioned the truth f Christianity was treated as a public 
offender. 

t b. To bring into question, make doubtful or 
insecure. Obs. rare. 

1637 HEYWOOD Roy all King in. Wks. 1874 VI. 43 This 
emulation Begets our hate, and questions him of life, a 1643 
SUCKLING Goblins v. (1646) 58 Behold (grave Lords) the man 
Whose death questioned the life of these. 

t c. To state as a question. Obs. rare" 1 . 

1643 SIR T. BROWNE Relig. Med. \. 21 Myself could shew 
a Catalogue of doubts, never yet imagined nor questioned. 

f6. To ask or inquire about, to investigate (a 
thing). Obs. rare. 

1599 SHAKS. Hen. V, \\. iv. 142 Dispatch vs with all speed, 
least that our King Come here himselfe to question our 
delay, a 1633 AUSTIN Medit. (1635) 133 When they Question 
such things, as the Holy-ghost is silent in. 1655 STANLEY 
Hist.Philos. in. (1701)87/1 Socrates asked them if. .he might 
be permitted to question what he understood not. 

Questionabrlity, = QUESTIONABLENESS. 

1843 CARLYLR Cromwell (1871) V. 125 Widening into new 
dreariness, new questionability. 



QUESTIONARY. 

Questionable (kwe-styonab l), a. [f. QUES 
TION V. + -ABLE.] 

fl. a. Of a person: That may be interrogated; 
of whom questions may be asked, b. Of a ques 
tion : That may be asked or put. c. Of a place : 
\Vhere questions may easily be asked. Obs. rare. 

1590 C.S. Right Relig.i It Is a question, scarse questionable. 
1602 SHAKS. Ham. i. iv. 43 Thou com st in such a question- 
able shape,That I will speake to thee. 1607 M IDDLETON Five 
Gallants n.iii, In such public as a tavern, such a questionable 
place. [1878 SIMPSON Sch. Shaks. II. 119 (Ir, Prodigal Son) 
Hollah ! boy. .Stay still and be questionable. Tell me [etc, }.} 

t 2. Of persons or acts : Liable to be called to 
account or dealt with judicially. 06s. 

1639 GESTILIS Servita s Inquis. (1676) 833 The delinquent 
shall be sent to the place where he is questionable for 
spiritual Matters. 1660 Trial Regie. 51 Whatever was 
done by their Commands, or their Authority, is not question 
able by your Lordships. 1685 COTTON tr. Montaigne (1877) 
I. 60 Many have thought we are not fairly questionable for 
anything but what we commit against our conscience. 

3. Of things, facts, etc. : That may be questioned 
or called in question (rarely const, by} ; open to 
question or dispute; doubtful, uncertain. Freq. 
in phr. it is questionable (whether, if, etc.). 

1607 TOPSKLL Four-f. Beasts (1658) 96 It is questionable, 
whether they have any Hindes or females. 1643 PRYNNE 
Treach. fy Disloyalty in. 127 (R.) Making it a thing not 
questionable by our Prelates and Clergie. 1685 LADY 
RUSSELL in Bucclruck MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 341 
The Queen, is not at all well; . . tis questionable if she can 
endure the ceremony of the Coronation. 1772 Junius Lett. 
Ded. 6 The right of juries to return a general verdict, in all 
cases whatsoever is. .not. .in any shape questionable by the 
legislature. 1790 BURKE Fr. Rev. 63 Whatever rendered 
property questionable, ambiguous, and insecure. 1818 
CRUISE Digest (ed. 2) IV. 147 This doctrine is very ques 
tionable. 1882 SPURGKON Treas. Da-v. Ps. cxxiv. Introd., 
They have ventured upon so many other questionable state 
ments that we are not bound to receive this dictum. 1883 
SIR J. C. MATHEW in Law Rep. n Queen s Bench Div. 592 
It was very questionable whether the words used were 
defamatory per se. 

b. Of doubtful or obscure meaning, rare. 

1742 RICHARDSON Pamela III. 408 When I cannot answer 
for myself, to render anything dark or questionable in it. 
1835 I. TAYLOR Spir. Despot, iv. 119 In the lapse of ages, 
the phraseology of law may become first obsolete, and then 
questionable. 

c. of qualities, properties, etc. : About the exist 
ence or presence of which there may be question. 

1796 MORSE A mer. Geog. I. vii, The propriety of importing 
any of our school books from Great Britain . . is very question 
able. 1856 KANE Arct. Expl. I. xii. 123 The questionable 
privilege of having as many wives as he could support. 
1885 Manch. Exam. 20 Feb. 5/1 Either its object is of 
questionable expediency, or its work is imperfectly done. 

d. Of doubtful nature, character, or quality ; 
dubious in respect of goodness, respectability, etc. 

1806 SURR Winter in Land. II. 261 There are a thousand 
questionable thoughts rushing at once upon my mind, a 1822 
SHELLI-:Y Chas. /, n. 203 Stick not even at questionable 
means. 1880 L. STEPHEN Pope iii. 79 A coolness ensued 
between the principal and his partners in consequence of 
these questionable dealings. 

Que-stionableness. [f. prec. + -NESS.] The 
state of being questionable ; doubtfulness, etc. 

1668 H. MORE Div. Dial. n. xxii. (1713) 158 tnarg., From 
the Questionableness whether .. there does not as much 
good redound to the Universe. 1857 DE QUIXCEY Keats 
Wks. 1862 V. 270 The questionableness of its particular state 
ments. 1867 C. J. SMITH Syn. $ Antonyms s.v. Apparent^ 
The adverb apparently admits the sense of questionableness 
still more strongly. 

Que Stionably, adv. [f. as prec. + -LY 2.] In 
a questionable manner. 

1859 WILSON & GEIKIK .Mem. E. Forbes \. 8 This dim pre 
historic dawn, through which the shadowy figures of . . 
Druids questionably hover. 1885 Mag. oj Art Sept. 443/1 
An eccentric and questionably drawn performance. 

f Que stional, a. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. QUESTION sb. 
+ -AL.] Relating to questions. 

1607 R. C. tr. Estienne"s World Wond. xxxix. 327 The 
Decretals haue had their part,, .the Questionall, Distinction- 
all, QuodlibeticaU bookes. .theirs. 

tQue Stionary,^- 1 Obs. rare. Also9quaest-. 
[ad. med.L. questionari-tts : see QUESTION and 

-ARY 1 .] 1. =QUESTIOKIST. 

1435 MISYN Fire oj Love 3, I trowe J?ies Jringes here 
contenyd, of bies questionaries . . may no3t be vnderstandyd. 
1563 Fox A. $ M. 589/2 Then did he rede openly. . Paules 
Epistles, and put by Douns and Dorbel, & yet he was a 
questionary him selfe. 1787 Minor n. xx. 141 Are you 
become a questionary at this time of day ? 

2. =QUESTOR I. 

1820 SCOTT Abbot xxvii, A quaestionary or pardoner, one 
of those itinerants who hawked about . . reliques. 

Que Stionary, $b.~ rare. [ad. med.L. qites- 
tionarium ; or, in mod. use, ad. F. questionnaire ; 
see -AKY!.] A list of questions ; fa treatise in the 
form of questions, a catechism. 

1541 R. COPLAND Guydon s Quest. Chirurg. Pref., This 
lyteli questyonary & formulary, .haue ben often requyred 
and soughte for. 1887 Athwmum 10 Sept. 345/3 Answers 
to the society s questionary of sociology and ethnography. 

Questionary (kwe stysnari), a. [ad. late L. 
qnxst-, questiondri-us (Boethius) : see QUESTION 
and -ARY 1 .] 

1. Having the form of a question ; consisting of 
questions ; conducted by means of questioning. 



QUESTIONATIVELY. 

1653 MANTON Exp. James iii. 13 The questionary proposal 
intimateth the rare contemporation of these two qualities. 
a 1715 BURNET Own Time (1724) I. 35 The questionary trial 
came last, Every Minister asking such questions as he 
pleased. 1775 ADAIR Amer. Ind. 60 The reply confirms the 
meaning of the questionary salute. 1838 CHALMERS Wks. 
XIII. 75 Let us institute a questionary process upon the 
doings. 

2. That asks questions. rare~^. 
1711 STEELE Sped. No. 80 F 6 Let those two questionary 
Petitioners try to do thus with their Who s and their 
Whiches. 

f Que Stionatively, adv. 06s. rare- 1 . [Perh. 
on anal, of interrogatively, imperatively, etc.] As 
a question. 

1657 REEVE God s Plea 7 These words are put question- 
atively. 

Questioned (kwe-stysnd), ///. a. [f. QUES 
TION v. + -ED!.] That is questioned, in senses of 
the vb. Also absol. as sb. 

1680 BAXTER /f&lt;/..SV;%/7.xxxiv.58ThelittIedifferences 
of our questioned Assemblies. 1753 H. JONES Earlof Essex 
(1756) 26 Clear Your question d conduct from disloyal guilt. 
1881 Times 18 May ir/s At other times questioner and 
questioned agree in seeking an occasion to state a fact. 
Questionee-. rare 1 . One who is questioned. 
1866 Sat. Rev. 12 May 564 Questioner and questionee 
will soon lose each other in the wilderness of words. 
Questioner (kwe-styanaj). [f. QUESTION v. + 
-ER 1 .] One who questions; an Interrogator, in 
quirer; fan interrogative form of speech; erotema. 
*55I CRANMER Answ. Gardiner 73 The curious questioner, 
the foolishe answerer. 1389 PUTTENHAM Bug. Poesie in. 



709 



. 

1801 SOUTHEV Thalaba v. xvi, Stranger, in thy turn, ..who 
art thou, the questioner? 1890 H. S. SALT Thorean 20 He 
was.. a fearless thinker and questioner on.. matters social 
and religious. 

t Que Btionful. nonce-wd. [f. QUESTION sb. + 
-FUL.] A full reply to a question. 

1647 WARD Simp. Cotter 30 If any body comes to me for 
a question-full or two about fashions, they never complain 
of me for giving them hard measure, or under-weight. 

Questioning (kwe-styanin), vl/l. sli. [f. 
QUESTION v. + -ING 1 .] 

1. The action of the vb., in various senses. 

01635 SIBBES Confer. Christ $ Mary (1656) 04 The 
ministeriall questioning of sinners. 1646 SIR T. BROWNE 
Pseud. Ep. 208 The questioning of their true endowments. 
1776 JOHNSON in Boswell Mar. (at Lichfield), Questioning is 
not the mode of conversation among gentlemen. 1861 GEO. 
ELIOT Silas M. 48 Silas now told his story under frequent 
questioning. 

attrib. 1837 WHEWELL Hist. Induct. Sc. I. 25 The vigour 
and confidence of the questioning spirit. 

2. With a and//. : An instance of this. 

1607 HIERON Wks. I. 266 An aduised questioning with 
hlmselfe, touching the value of this offered treasure. 1677 
GILPIN Demonol. (1867) 303 Unseemly questionings of his 
goodness and compassion. 1803-6 WORDSW. Ode Intim. 
Immort. 1^2 Those obstinate questionings Of sense and 
outward things. 1885 SIR R. BAGGALLAY in Lam Rep 15 
Queen s Bench Div. 59 There are four species of questionings 
to which the debtor is to be subject. 

Questioning (kwe-styanin), ///. a. [f. as prec. 
-t- -ING *.] That questions, in senses of the vb. 

1801 CHARLOTTE SMITH Lett. Solit. Wand. 1. 234 Under 
.. the questioning eye of his father. 1818 SHELLEY Rev. 
Islam v. xli, Earnest countenances on me shed The light 
of questioning looks. 1858 LONGF. /]/. Standish vi. 31 Like 
a ghost that is speechless, Till some questioning voice dis 
solves the spell of its silence. 

Hence Que-stioning-ly adv., in a questioning 
manner ; inquiringly. 

1863 B. TAYLOR H. Thurston I. 87 As he looked keenly 
and questioningly at the little figure. 

Qnestionist (kwe-styanist). Also 7 -eat. [f. 
QUESTION v. + -IST.] 

1. A habitual or professed questioner, spec, in 
theological matters. (In early use applied to certain 
of the schoolmen, as Aquinas and Duns Scotus.) 

53 [CovERDALE] Old God ff New (1534) Rij, Opinia. 
tors & questionistes braulynge and striuyng among them 
selues. 1518 ROY Rede Me (Arb.) 43 They sent thether 
ihomasand Scole With wother questionistes. aisSSAscHAM 
Scholem. (Arb.) 137 The worst of all, as Questionistes, and 
all the barbarous nation of scholemen. 1660 INGELO Bentiv. 
r Ur. i. (1682) 142 They let alone the trifling niceties of 
Questionists. 1761 Gentl. Mag. 84 Your respectable rendez- 
vous of curious questionists. 1812 COLERIDGE Lett., to his 
Wife (1895) 581 He is a fearful questionist, whenever he 
thinks he can pick up any information. 1874 SYLVESTER 
in Proc. Roy. Instit. VII. 184 note, A questionist in the 
Educational Times . 

2. Formerly, at Cambridge and Harvard : An 
undergraduate in his last term before proceeding 
to the degree of B.A. 

1574. M. STOKYS in Peacock Stat. Cambridge (1841) App. 



A Petition of Questionests to Mr. Frost for their degree s! 
77" JEKB Remarks 20 The Examination of the Questionists ; 
this being the appellation of the Students during the last 
six weeks of their preparation. 1887 Cambridge Univ. Cat. 
64 If any Questionist have been prevented by illness from 
keeping all his terms, a Certificate must be delivered. 

VOL. VIII. 



49 

Questionless (kwe-styanles), a. and adv. [f. 
QUESTION sl&gt;. + -LESS.] 

A. adj. 1. Not admitting of question ; unques 
tionable, indubitable. 

1532 MOREO//K/. 7VW,i& Wks. 814/2 Thys questionlesse 
and cleare vndowted churche. c 1611 CHAPMAN ///Wiv. 17 
The conquest yet is questionless. 1642 J. EATON Honey*. 
Free Justif. 81 It is questionlesse that all our sins are in 
Gods sight. 1862 LYTTON Sir. Story II. 37 Reft from my 
senses are the laws which gave order and place to their old 
questionless realm. 1870 LOWELL Among my Bks. Ser. i. 
(1873)226 He. .remained always its born and questionless 
master. 

2. That asks no questions ; unquestioning. 
1880 L. WALLACE Ben Hur 498 With the same clear mind 
and questionless faith. 

B. adv. Without question, beyond all question ; 
unquestionably ; undoubtedly. 

In common use from about 1550 to 1750 ; since then some. 
what rare, 

1412-20 LYDG. Chron. Troy n. xix, And questionles 
reporte this of me That [etc.], 1550 BALE Eng. Votaries 
Qiv, Questionlesse theyr brutishe heades are to blockish. 
1624 CAPT. SMITH Virginia 107 If they .. had not so soone 
returned, questionlesse the Indians would haue destroied 
the Fort. 1676 HALE Contempt, i. 83 Each did questionless 
make a deep impression upon our Saviour. 1760-72 H. 
BROOKE FoolofQual. (1809) IV. 23 The first man who came 
into the world was, questionless, the most perfect. 1809 
MALKIN Gil Bias vn. xiii. r 6 Questionless, said I, talents 
like yours are convertible to every purpose. 1866 GEO. 
ELIOT F. Holt v, A young man. .who can questionless write 
a good hand and keep books. 

Hence Que stionlessly adv. a. = QUESTIONLESS 
B. b. Without asking questions. 

1658 EARL MONM. tr. Partita s Wars Cyprus 169 The 
advantage of the League, which was questionlesly known, 
would be very great. 1865 MRS. WHITNEY Gayiuortliys 
II. 175 To-day, still calmly, questionlcssly, he did more. 
1877 RUSKIN Fors Clav. Ixxx. 225 Being simply and ques- 
tionlessly father-laws from the beginning. 

Que-stman. [f. QUEST s/&gt;.i + MAN.] 

1. A member of a quest ; one appointed to 
make official inquiry into any matter ; spec, f a. a 
parish or ward official elected annually (see quot. 
1706). Obs. 

_ 1548 GESTE Serm. in H. G. Dugdale Life (1840) 188 All 
judges, all officers, all quest men which have sworne to 
speake the truthe. 1599 NASHE Lenten Stujfe Wks. 1883-4 
V. 239 They. . come to bear office of Questman and Scauinger 
in the Parish where they dwell. 1631 BRATHWAIT Whimsies, 
Questman 125 This Questman. .becomes frequently versed 
in sundry ancient Presidents. 1706 PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey), 
Quest or Quest-Men, Persons who are chosen yearly in 
every Ward, and meet about Christmas, to enquire into 
Abuses and Misdemeanours committed therein, especially 
such as relate to Weights and Measures. 1761 London iff 
Environs IV. 23 [The mob of 1381] levelled to the ground 
the houses of all lawyers and questmen. 

b. Eccl. A churchwarden s assistant ; a sides 
man. Now only Hist. 

1454 in T. Gardner Hist. Dumvich (1754) 149 To the 
Quest Men for the Ton 12^. 1555 Bp. HOPLIN in Ellis 
Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 189, I dyd sende ymedyatlie for the 
sayd Curate, the Churche wardeyns, and the questmen. 
1624 BP. HALL True Peace Maker in Var. Treat. (1627) 
543 Who troubles the house ?. . In the Church . . not the care- 
lesse questman, not the corrupt official! ; but the clamorous 
preacher, a 1656 Rem. Wks. (1660) 342 We have in every 
Parish. .Churchwardens, Questmen, or Sidemen, and Over 
seers for the Poor. [1732 MEAL Hist. Purit. I. 307 To give 
it in charge to their Quest-men to present the names of all 
Non-conformists. 1893 J. BROWN Pilgrim Fathers I. 35 
He swore in six questmen to bring presentments against 
such as come not to church.] 

t2. = QUESTOR I. Obs. rare 1 . 

1691 tr. Emilianne s Frauds Rom. Monks (ed. 3) 262 One 
of the Quest-men told her, That they would take care to 
make a little shift of it, for some small Soul in Purgatory. 

t Que Stluonger. Obs. Also 4-6 -mongere, 
5 -manger, 6- moonger. [f. QUEST s6. 1 + MONGER.] 
One who made a business of conducting inquests. 

377 LANGL. P. PI. B. xix. 367 Lyeres and questmongeres 
that_were forsworen ofte. 1:1449 PECOCK R epr. v. vi. 516 
Vnpitefulquestmongersand forsworen iuerers. 1494 FA RYAN 
Chron. in. 530 They . . slewe as many men of lawe and 
questmongers as they myght fynde. 1533 LATIMER Serm. 
Lord s Prayer iv. 28 Aboue all thynges, these questmongers 
had neede to take heede. 1622 BACON Hen. VII, 211 Hauing 
euer a Rabble of Promoters, Questmongers and Leading 
lurors at their Command. [1776 ENTICK London I. 293 
Lawyers, jurors, and questmongers.] 

Questor (kwe-stjfo, -3j). Also 6, 9 quarter, [a. 
med.L. questor agent-n. f. querSre = quserere to ask 
(cf. QUESTOR) : hence also It. questore, F. questeur.] 

1. R. C. Ch. An official appointed by the Pope 
or by a bishop to grant indulgences on the gift of 
alms to the Church ; a pardoner. 

1387 TKEVISA. Higden (Rolls) IV. 49 Now cherles and 
pardoneres beeb i-cleped questores. 1415 York Myst. Introd. 
26 Escriueners, Lum[i]ners, Questors [Pardoners tvritten 
above\, Dubbers. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (VV. de W. 1506) 
IV. xxi. 239 Yf he hath suffred wyttyngly questours to renne 
thraghe his dyocese in prechynge false indulgences. 1580 
tvLKEAgst. Allen 168 Men pay monie to the Pope or his 
pardoning qusestors, for leaden bulls. 1748 Earthquake 
Peru i. 85 The great Monastery alone has twenty-four 
Questors. 1823 LINGARO Hist. Enf. VI. 125 Ninety-five 
short theses on the nature of indulgences and the errors of 
the questors. 1895 Month July 447 The malpractices of the 
Questors. 

2. a. In France : One of the treasurers of the 
National Assembly. 



QUETCH. 

1848 W. H. KELLY tr. L. Blanc s Hist. Ten Y. I. 413 He 
arrived at the Palais Bourbon . .went straight to the questors 
[etc.]. 1896 Daily News 28 Mar. 5/5 There seemed a 
danger yesterday.. that the Questors would be obliged to 
call in the police. 

b. In Italy : A commissary of police. 

1865 MAFFEI Brigand Life II. 169 The indefatigable 
questor of Naples, .says [etc.]. 

3. [? f. QUEST v.] One who seeks or searches. 

1887 Miss BETHAM-EDWARDS Next of Kin Wanted II. x. 
"7 Unhappy questors after something to their advantage. 

Questor, obs. variant of QU.ESTOK. 

Questorian, -ie : see QU^STORIAN, -Y. 

tQuestrel, variant of CUSTREL, groom. Obs. 

1551 EDW. VI Lett, in Lit. Rem. (Roxb.) 72 They had 
noe pages, questrells, nor demilaunces, but al wel armed. 

tQue-strist. Obs. rai-e- 1 . [f. QUESTEB + -IST.] 
One who goes in quest of another. 

1605 SHAKS. Lear m. vii. 17 Thirty of his Knights Hot 
Questrists after him, met him at gate. 

Quest rope : see GUEST ROPE. 

t Que-stry. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. QUEST sb., prob. 
after jury, vestry.] Only in questrymen, jurymen. 

1:1690 Sir Hugh of the Grxme in Roxb. Ball. (1888) VI. 
596 The Quest of Jury-men was call d . . Then other Questry 
men was call d. 

Questuary, obs. form of QU.ESTUARY. 

Questure : see QU^STUKE. 

Questword : see QUEST sb* 

Quet, variant of QUED(E, bad. Obs. 

Quetans, obs. form of QUITTANCE. 

Quetch, quitch, v. Obs. exc. dial. Forms : 
a. I cweccan, (cu-), 3 quecehen, queche, 6 
queech, queatche, 6-7 que(t)ch ; (3. (? 3 owich, 
quic), 5 qvycch-, qvyhch-, qvytchyn, quycohe, 
6 quytch(e, quyohe, quich, 6-7 quitch, 9 dial. 
quitchy ; 7. 6 (9 dial.} quatch. J a. t. I cweehte, 
i, 3 cwehte, 3 quehte, qu-, cuahte, 4 quei(})te, 
qua;te ; also 6 quitched, 6-7 quetched, 7 
quatched, quitcht. [OE. caieccan:*cwacjan, 
causative from the root *cwac- : see QUAKE, and 
cf. OS. quekilik glossing L. versatilem or vibra- 
tilem (gladium). See also AQUKTCH.] 

fl. trans. To shake; to brandish; to drive, chase. 
Obs. (OE. and early ME.) 

f 825 Vcsp. Psalter vii. 13 Nemne ge sien jecerde, sweord 
his [he] cweceS. c looo Ags. Gosp. Matt, xxvii. 39 pa we^fe- 
renden. .cwehton \v. r. cwxhton]heora heafod. c 1205 LAV. 
23907 Heo quehten [c 1275 cwehten] heore scaftes. Ibid. 
31475 Hi^endliche he heom quehte ouer bere Humbre. 

f2. intr. Of things : To shake, tremble. Obs. 

c 1205 LAY. 20141 pa eorSe a?;cn quehte [c 1275 cwehte). 
/fid. 26919 Quahten on hafden helmes he-,en. cijSo Sir 
Ferumb. 607 So Sterne strokes bay arau}te..pat al be eithe 
ber-of qua^te a myle & more on lenghbe. 

f3. intr. To stir or move Irom one place to 
another ; to go, run, hasten. Obs. 

c 1205 LAY. 826 Ne lete ?e nenne quick quecehen to holte 
[CI27S scapie to felde]. Ibid. 7271 pa heo weoren ouer- 
cunien ba; quahten [c 1275 wenden] heo wide, c 1350 Will. 
Palerne 4344 pat werwolf, .queite toward be queue. 

4. intr. Of persons (or animals) : a. To move 
the body or any part of it ; to stir ; in later use 
esp. to shrink, wince, twitch (with pain), and 
usually in negative clauses. Obs. exc. dial. 

The phr. cwich ne ciueS in Leg. S!. Kath. 1261, fuic ne 
fiiet in Ancr. R. 122 (two MSS.), app. belongs here, mean 
ing stirred nor spoke , though the form is difficult to 
account for. 

* 1205 LAY. 25844 pa fond he ber ane quene quecehen mid 
hafde. 1:1330 Arth. f, Mert. 9051 (Kolbing) pe stede he 
smot, bat it quehte. 1 1440 Promp. Pan. 421/1 Qvycchyn, 
or mevyn. 1530 PALSGR. 677/2, I quytche, I styrreor move 
with my bodye. 1579-80 NOKTH Plutarch (1676) 587 He . . 
never stirred hand nor foot, nor quitched when the fire took 
him. 1596 SPENSER F. Q. v. ix. 33 With a strong yron chaine 
and coller bound, That once he could not move, nor quich 
at all. 1609 HOLLAND Amm. Marcell. xxix. i. 357 Simo- 
nides .. endured the flames, and never quetched [L. 
immtaSll 1636 FEATLY Clavis Myst. iii. 33 He whosuf- 
fereth all this, quatcheth not, stirrelh not. a 1664 FRANK 
Sermons (1672) 147 To . . look up stedfastly still, not quich 
aside. 1685 COTTON tr. Montaigne \. 253, I have seen men 
. . that would neither cry out, wince nor quitch, for a good 
swinging beating. 1886 ELWORTHY W. Somerset Word-bk.. 
Quiuhy, to twitch; to make sudden, involuntarymovements. 

b. intr. To utter a sound. (Usually in negative 
clauses.) Also with against, at. Obs. exc. dial. 

1530 PALSGR. 601 She layde upon him lyke a mantle sacke 
and the poore boye durste nat ones quytcbe [F. nosa pas 
iyntcr\. 1531 TINDALE Exp. i John (1538) 23 b, Thys doth 
Paule . . so- confirme, that all the worlde can not quytch 
against it. 1657 W. MORICE Coena quasi Kotnj Def. xvi. 256 
To snatch their mouths full of earth, that they might not 
be heard to quetch or groan. 1672 MARVELL Reh. Transp. 
I. 159, 1 will speak alwayes with so Magisterial a confidence, 
that no modest man.. shall so much as quetch at me. 1847- 
78 HALLIWELL, Quatch, to betray, tell. . . Oxf. 1888 Berksh. 
Gloss., [? Not to\Quatch, to keep absolute silence as regards 
a certain subject. 

t c. Freq. in phr. one dare (or durst) not quetch, 
implying fear or absolute submission. Also const. 
against, at. Obs. 

13.. A". Alts. 4747 Dar no man agein hym queche. 1496 
Dives * fauf(W. de W.) ix. viiu 358/1 Be he so solempne 
& so myghty, that no man dare quycche ayenst hym. 1528 
in Furnivall s Ballads from MSS. I. 359 Thow knowyste 
how . . mortimer, in bis lande dyd Rule & Rayne, For whom 
no man durste quyche. 1565 GOLDING Ovid s Met. v. (1593) 



QUETCHING. 

124 The seelie lamb that dares not stirre nor quetch, when 
he heares the howling of the woolfe. 1587 FLEMING Contn. 
holinshedlll. 975/1 They durst not queech in his presence, 
but were like a sort of timorous cattell. 1638 FEATLY Strict. 
Lyndom. I. 1 10 A most learned worke, against which never 
a Papist yet durst quatch. 1653 H. COGAN tr. Pinto s Trav. 
xix. 67 Which put them in such a fear as they durst not so 
much as quetch. 

Hence t Que tching, qui tching vbl. sb. Obs. 

1676 H. MORE Rem. Disc. Hale 94 The quitching of the 
skin. 

Quete, obs. form of WHEAT. 

Quetenite Ckwe tenait). [Named 1890 (Que- 
tenit) from Quetena, in Chili, its locality: see 
-ITE !.] Hydrous sulphate of iron and magnesium, 
found in reddish-brown masses (Chester). 

1890 Amer. Jrnl. Sc. Ser. in. XL. 259 Quetenite occurs 
at the Salvador Mine in Quetena. 

Queter, obs. form of QUITTER s/&gt;. 1 

t Quethe, **. Obs. rare. Also 6 Sc. queith. 
[f. the vb.] Speech, address; sound, cry. 

13.. Caw. f;Gr. Knt. 1150 At be fyrst quethe of bequest 
quaked be wylde. 1513 DOUGLAS Aineis v. ii. 102 Quairfor 
Enee begouth again renew His faderis hie saull queith. 

t Quethe, v. Obs. (exc. in pa. t. QUOTH). 
Forms : Inf. I cwe 5an,(ow8eSan,cwi?an,cuoe 8a, 
etc.), 2 cwepen, 2-3 queSen, 5 queth(yn, (qv-, 
qw-). Pres. t. (i sg.~) I cwefle, (cweoftu, cuelSo, 
etc.), 4 quepe,4-5 queth(e, 5 qwethe, 6 queythe. 
Pa. t. \ cwseft, etc., 1-2 owed, 1-3 owe*, 2 cwet, 
quaU, 3 cwapp, qu(u)ad, queU, 4 quape, quath, 
(queped, 5 1 qwithit) : see also QUOTH. Pa. pple. 
i cweden, 2 i-cwe?e(n, 2-3 i-quefien, 3 i-cwede, 
i-quefce, queflen, 6 queythed. [OE. cweSan 
(cw&S, cuidon, ewe Jen] OFris. quetha, queda, 
quan, OS. queltan (quart, quath, quad; qua/tun, 
qiidduif), OHG. quedan, chweden (quad, quat; 
quadun, qu&lun : MHG. queden, keden), ON. 
kveia (kvaS, kvdSum, H-veSinn : Da. kvsfde, Sw. 
qviida to sing), Goth, qipan (qa)&gt;, qfyum, qijtaii) : 
OTeut. *kwefan, kiaaj&gt;, kwxctum, kweftono-.] 

1. trans. To speak, say, tell, declare, call. 

c8zs I t-sp. Psalter ii. 7 Dryhten cwa;5 to me, sunu min 
Su earS . ll id. xli. 4 Donne bi3 cweden to me. . hwer is 
god Sin . 971 Bliikl. Horn. 183 pa cwe^&gt; Neron to Petre, 
Sehyrstu, Petrus, hwa:t Simon cwib ? c \r]$Laml&lt;. Hani. 
37 Do summe of bisse binge be ic wulle nu cweben. 1250 
Gen. ff Ex. 1496 Sel me So wunes, Se que5en ben &lt;5e firme 
sunes. a 1300 Cursor Af. 22973 M;uii man. .Wat noght bis 
word i for-wit quath, c 1330 R. mvttmCAratt. Wace (Rolls) 
1224 Series, bys were our most profit, Wi)&gt; loue & leue he 

Suepe [7 .r, quede] vs quyt. a 1400-50 Alexander 4325, 
sal! quethe Ve forqui & quat is be cause. 
b. intr. in phr. Quick and quething : Alive and 
able to speak. 

1529 MORE Dyaloge I. Wks. 131/2 A man and a woman 
whyche are yet quicke and quething. 1546 GARDINER Declar. 
Joye 39 b, I meruayle where he had lerned that lesson being 
yet quicke and quethynge. 

2. To promise, rare. 

c 1250 Gen. fy Ex. 64 God hem quuad 5or seli suriurn, 
Ibid. 2788 Nu am ic ligt to fren hem deoen And milche and 
hunige lond hem queden. 

3. To assign by will, to bequeath. 

1303 R. BRUNNE Handl. Synne 6294 Hous, and rente, and 
ouper byng, Mow_bey quebe at here endyng. 1:1330 

ma 
be 

GuiL Pilgr . 4794 My body, I quethe also To the sepulkre, 
for dayes thre. 1463 Bury Wills (Camden) 16 Item I geue 
and quethe to William Hussher iiji. iiij//. 1530 PALSGR. 676/2 
Hath he queythed you any thyng in his testament! 
b. 1 To bestow, deliver, rare 1 . 

c 1400 Destr. Troy 6973 To Qwintilion the quern he qwithit 
a dynt, Woundit hym wickidly. 

Hence t Que-ttung vbl. sb., bequeathing; queth 
ing word, last farewell. Also f Que the-word, 
a legacy, bequest. 

c 1380 WYCLIF Sel. Wks. III. 373 By beggynge, by queeth- 
yng [v. r. quebinge] . . and ober fals meenes [they] cryen 
evere after worldly godis. 1481 in T. Gardner Hist. Dun, 
ivich (1754) 148 Of Cutberd Eyer, for the Queth Word 
of Tym Chawmbyr 405. -1490 Promp. Pan: 420/2 (MS. 
K) Qvethe worde .. legatum. 1513 DOUGLAS SEneis IX. 
viii. 62 Thi last regrait and quething wordis to say. 1532 
Churchw. Ace. Wigtoft, Lines, in Nichols Illustr. Ane. 
Mann. (1797), Item, receyvyd of Margaret Brygg for y 
quethword of Rob" Brygg hir husband i/-. 

Quethe, var. QUED(E, bad. Quethen, -un, 
varr. WHETHEN, whence. Quether, -ur, obs. ff. 
WHETHER. Quetor, -our, -ure, obs. ff. QUITTER 
sb\ Quetstone, obs. f. WHETSTONE. 

Quetzal (ke-tsal). Also quezal, quesal. [a. 
Sp. quetzal, older quetzale, a. Aztec quetzalli a 
tail-feather of the bird called quetzaltototl (f. the 
comb, form of quetzalli + tototl bird).] An ex 
tremely beautiful bird (Pkaromacrus mocinno} of 
Central America (esp. Guatemala), belonging to the 
Trogon family ; the cock is remarkable for its long 
tail-coverts, of a resplendent golden-green colour. 



50 

Aztec Emperor was reserved for imperial wear. 1887 W. T. 
BRIGHAM (title) Guatemala, the Land of the Quetzal. 

Queue (ki), sb. Also 9 queu. [a. F. qiieue, 
OF. coue, cue, coe:-L. cauda tail : see CUE s6.3] 

1. Her. The tail of a beast. 

Queue fourM(e, having a forked or double tail. 

1592 WYRLEY Armorie 41 Gold ramping Lion queue doth 
forked hold. 1864 BOUTELL Her. Hist. S, Pop. xiv. (ed. 3) 
164 The lion of Gueldres is also queue fourchee. 1868 
CUSSANS Her. (18931 86 A Lion, with its tail between its 
legs, is said to be Coward; when furnished with two tails, 
Qaeut fourchf, or Double queued. 

2. A long plait of hair worn hanging down behind, 
from the head or from a wig ; a pig-tail. 

1748 SMOLLETT Rod. Rand. (1760) II. xlix. 116 A.. coat 
over which his own hair descended in a leathern queue. 1774 
GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. II. v. loo The largeness of the doctor s 
wig arises from the same pride with the smallness of the 
beau s queue. 1802 JAMES Milit. Diet., Queue, .an append 
age that every British soldier is directed to wear in lieu of 
a club. 1843 LE FEVRE Life Trav. Pliys. I. I. viii. 183 Old 
cocked-hats, and tied queues, still stalk about the town. 
1888 W. R. CARLES Life in Corea iii. 40 These boys were all 
bachelors, and wore their hair in a queue down their backs. 

3. A number of persons ranged in a line, awaiting 
their turn to proceed, as at a ticket-office ; also, 
a line of carriages, etc. 

1837 CARLYLE Fr. Rev. I. vn. iv, That talent . . of spon 
taneously standing in queue, distinguishes . . the French 
People. 1862 THACKERAY Pliilif II. viii. 177 A half-mile 
queue of carriages was formed along the street. 1876 C. M. 
DAVIES Unorth. Lond. (ed. 2) 120 A long queue, like that 
outside a Parisian theatre. 

4. A support for the butt of a lance. 

1855 in OCILVIE Sufpl. 1860 HEWITT Ancient Armour 
Suppl. 647 The butt of the lance, .is supported by the piece . 
called the queue : this was of iron, and made fast to the 
body-armour by screws. 

5. a. The tail-piece of a violin or other instru 
ment b. The tail of a note (Stainer Sc Barrett 
Diet. Mus. Terms 1876). 

Queue (kiw), v. [f. prec. sb.] 

1. trans. To put up (the hair) in a queue. Also 
with personal obj. 

1777 W. DALRYMPLE Tray. Sp. Sf Port. Ixvi, They came 
not out.. in the morning till their hair was queued. 1820 
W. IRVING Sketch Bk. II. 385 Their hair generally queued 
in the fashion of the times. 1858 CARLYLE Fredk. Gt. (1872) 
II. iv. viii. 19 While they are combing and queuing him. 
1885 Century Mag: XXIX. 891/2 Some of them clubbed 
and some of them queued their hair. 

2. intr. To move in, in a line of people. 

1893 Westm. Gaz. 31 Jan. 6/3 You queue in, hand your 
card to somebody, pass on. 

t Queu6 a. J/er. Obs. rare~ l . [a. OF. queue, 
coi .L. caiidat-um, f. cauda tail, QUEUE] =next. 

1613 PEACHAM Painting 170 The King of Bohemia beares 
Gules, a Lion double Queue. 

Queued (kid), a. Her. Also 7 queved. [f. 
QUEUE sb. + -ED 2 .] Furnished with a tail ; in comb. 
double-queued. 

1688 HOLMF. Armoury 11.459/2 A Lion double queved and 
crowned. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v. Queue, If a lion have 
a forked tail, he is blazoned by double-queued. 1868 [see 
QUEUE sit. ij. 

t Queve, for queue, obs. var. CFE s/&gt;.~ 

1659 H. L ESTRANGE Alliance Div. Off. 317 They had no 
other queve to direct them, then the loud pronunciation [etc.]. 

|| Quev6e, a. Her. [For queuie = QUEUE a.] 
Tailed, in comb, double qtievie (cf. QUEUED). 

1761 Brit. Mag. II. 532 Supporters. Two lions double 
queve e. 1840 H. AINSWORTH Tenner of London i A lion 
rampant, or, double quevee, vert. 

t Queven, v. Obs. rare- 1 . [? Related to ON. 
kvefja (kefja) to put under water.] ? To plunge. 

^1325 Metr. If out. 128 Quen Satenas sal Jowes queuen 
{printed quenen ; rirne heuin] In ouer mirkenes. 

Quever, Quew, obs. forms of QUIVER a., CUE. 

Quey (kw J. Sc. and north, dial. Forms: a. 
4 *wy, 5 Qui, 5-6 qwye, 6 quy, 6-7 quye ; 5 
que, 5-9 quee ; 8- quey ; 6 koy, 6-9 quoy, 
9 coy. 0. north. 5-9 why(e, 6 qwhy, 7-8 
whee, whie, 7-9 whey, 9 wy(e, etc. [a. ON. 
kvtga (Sw. qviga. Da. kvie~), app. f. kit Cow.] 
A young cow before it has had a calf; a heifer. 

a. 1374 Durti. Halm. Rolls (Surtees) 124, xij stots et 
qwyis. 1:1425 Voc. in Wr.-Wulcker 669/10 Hec juucnca, 
quee. 1485 Will in Rifon Clt. Acts (Surtees) 277 That 
Elyne Peke have a quye. 1308 DUNBAR Fly ting 142 Beggand 
koy and ox. 1513 DOUGLAS /Eneis iv. ii. 19 Ane vntamyt 
joung quoy. 1673 Defos. Cast. York (Surtees) 196 A quye 
. .which now pines away. 1725 RAMSAY Gentle Sheph. n. i, 
Ye . .sauld your crummock, and her bassand quey. 1768 
A. Ross Fort. Shepherdess ill. 112 The beef of the new 
slaughtered quoy. 1818 SCOTT Hrt. Midi, xxxix. If Cowans, 
the brockit cow, has a quey. 1884 STREATFEILD Lincoln 
ft Danes 263 The garthman. .will be proud to show you . . 
the stots and quees. 

ft. 1483 Cath. Angl. 416/1 A Why, bucula,juuenca. 1565 
Wills $ Iftv. N. C. (Surtees 1835) 230, vj oxen iiij OT kye or 
qwhyes. 1614 Inv. in Trans. Ciimbld. % Wrsttnld. Arch. 
Soc. III. 113, 20 stotts, 5 whies, 14 younger neats. 1726 
Diet. Rust. (ed. 3 , Whee or Whey, a Word us d in York 
shire, for an Heifer. 1802 in Anderson Cumtld. Ball. 23, 
I carried our whye to the bull. 

b. Comb, quey-calf [= ON. kvlgukalfr, Sw. 
qvigkalf, Da. kviekalv\, a female calf. 

1568 Wills ff Inv. N. C. (Surtees 1835) 293, I gyue vnto. . 
my dowghter one quye calfe. 1375 in R. Welford Hist. 
Ne-.vcastle (1885) II. 465 The first whey calf that God sends 



QUIBBLE. 

him. 1725 RAMSAY Gentle Sheph. lit. ii, Twa quey cawfs 
I ll yearly to them give. 1855 STEPHENS Bk. of Farm (ed. 2) 
I. 506/2 The quey-calf occupies the near, and the bull-calf 
the off-side horn. 

Hence Quey -ock (also 6 quiok, 7 quoy-, quyaoh, 
9 queyoch, etc.) ; =QuEV. 

1513 DOUGLAS SEncis vm. iv. 76 In the cave . . a quyok 
lowis. 1536 BELLF.NDEN Cron. Scot. (1821) I. p. iv, The 
quiokis war nevir slane quhill they wer with calfe. 1609 
SKENE Reg. Maj. 2 b, Item for the Serjant, ane colpindach 
(ane quyach, ane Joung kow). 

Queyd, var. QUED(E, bad. Queyere, obs. f. 
CHOIR. Queynose, obs. f. QUINSY. Queynt : 
see QUAINT a., QUENTH v. Queynt-a(u)nce, 
-ise, varr. QUAINTAKCE, -ISE. Queyr, obs. f. 
CHOIR s/&gt;., QUEER a. Queyse, var. QUEASE v. 
Queysie, obs. f. QUEASY a. Queythe, var. 
QUETHE v. 

Quezal, var. QUETZAL. Queziness, obs. f. 
QUEASINESS. Quezzen, dial. var. QUEASOM. 

Quh-, an obs., chiefly Scottish, variant of the 
initial combination wh- (OE. Aw-), as in qultan, 
qu/iat, quhele , quhete when, what, wheel, wheat. 
(Also quhou, quh&lt;rw, y;//( = how.) The use of 
quh- for original qu- is much rarer, in most cases 
perhaps accidental. See the introductory note on 
the letter Q. , 

Qui, obs. form of QUEY, WHY. 

t Quib, sb. Obs. Also 6 -be, 7 -bbe. [App. 
ad. (orig. in pi.) L. quibus, dat. or abl. pi. of qui 
who, which , as a word of frequent occurrence in 
legal documents and hence associated with the 
quirks and quillets of the law. 

For other allusive uses of the L. word, cf. F. qnilus money, 
cash ; Du. kwibus fool, weathercock.] 

1. = QUIBBLE sb. 2. 

a 1550 Image Hypocr. m Skellon s Wks. (1843) 11.427 His 
tones and quottes Be full of blottes: With quibes and 
quaryes Of mventataries. 1592 GREENE Upst. Courtier in 
Hart. Misc. (Malh.) II. 232 These lawiers baue..such quibs 
and quiddits, that beggering their clients they purchase to 
themselues whole lordships. 1608 HIERON Defence II. 221 
M. H. answereth by an unsound reason, two qnibbes & two 
authors onely produced. 

2. A gibe, gird, QUIP. rare~ l . 

1658 BRADFORD Plymouth Plant. 151 M r . Weston ..gave 
them this quib (behind their baks). .That though they were 
but yonge justices, yet they wear good beggers. [1736 in 
AINSWORTH ; hence in JOHNSON and later diets.] 

t Quib, v. Ods. rare. [f. prec. sb.] trans, and 
intr. To taunt, gibe (at), QUIP. 

1592 KYD Murther. I. lire-Men Wks. (1901) 291 When he 
quibd her with vnkindnes..she asked him if he would haue 
her forsworne. 1608 HIERON Defence ii. 223 He goeth on 
& saith..thus quibbing at the Ministers. 

t Quib, adv. Obs. rare 1 . [Cf. prec. sb. and 
vb.] In an affected or punning style. 

1614 B. JONSON Earth. Fair l. i, When a quirk, or a 
quiblin do s scape thee, and thou dost not watch, and ap 
prehend it, and bring it afore the Constable of conceit (there 
now, 1 speake quib too). 

Quibble (kwi b l), sb. [? dim. of QUIB.] 

1. A play upon words, a pun. 

1611 L. BARRY Rain Alley m. i, We old men have our 
crotchets, our conundrums, Our figaries, quirks and quibbles, 
As well as youth. 1711 SHAFTESB. Charac. i. I a (1737) I- 
64 All Humour had something of the Quibble. The very 
Language of the Court was Punning. 1779-81 JOHNSON L. 
P., Pope Wks. IV. 156 The opposition of Immortalis and 
Mortalis, is a mere sound, or a mere quibble. 1858 O. W. 
Hfii.Mf.sAut.Brcakf.-t. xi. 100 Several questions, involving 
a quibble or play upon words. 

2. An equivocation, evasion of the point at issue ; 
an argument depending on some likeness or differ 
ence between words or their meanings, or on some 
circumstance of no real importance. 

1670 At oral Stale Eng. 23 An unnatural Antithesis, a forced 
quibble. 1675 BAXTER Cath. Theol. i. m. 41 To answer all 
these fallacies and quibbles, founded in some false supposition 
or ambiguous word. 1768 H. WALPOLE Hist. Doubts 100 
note, Henry was so reduced to make out any title to the 
crown, that he catched even at a quibble. 1855 MACAULAY 
Hist. Eng. xiv. III. 471 To a plain understanding his 
objections seem to be mere quibbles. 1878 LECKY Eng. in 
. I. ii. 280 Those advocates of persecution, who would 



stoop to any quibble in their cause. 
fig. 1796 MRS. M. ROBINSON A ngelina II. 184 His features 
were all quibbles; for it was impossible to guess what they 
meant for two minutes together. 

b. The use of quibbles, quibbling. 



Junins Lett. Ixi. 319 Yo 1 

behalf of innocence, oppressed by quibble and chicane. 

3. altrib. and Comb., as quibble-catching, -loving 
adj., -sanctioning adj., -springe. 

1678 RYMER Trag. last Age 4 Much less have I cast 
about for Jests, and gone a quibble-catching. 1802-12 
BIN i HAM Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827) V. 234 A quibble-loving 
lawyer. 1829 Justice $ Cod. Petit. 115 The quibble- 
sanctioning judge. 1830 MORIARTY Husband Hunter III. 
202 Law pun-traps and quibble-springes, 

Quibble (kwi b l), f.l Also 7 quible. [f. 
prec. sb.J 

) 1. intr. To pun, to play on words. Obs. 

a 1629 T. GOFFE Careless Sheph. Prael. 129 His part has all 
the wit, For none speaks, carps and Quibbles besides him. 
1670 EACHARD Cant. Clergy 130 How the ministers them 
selves do jingle, quibble, and play the fools with their texts. 



QUIBBLE. 

1711 ADDISON Sfecl. No. 61 r 2 Nothing is more usual than 
to see a Hero weeping and quibbling for a dozen Lines 
together. 1751 CHESTERF. Lett. (1792) III. 121 Were I in 
clined to quibble 1 would say [etc. ; a pun on air], 

Z. intr. To argue in a purely verbal way; to 
evade the real point by a quibble. 

1656 CROMWELL Sp. 17 Sept. in Carlyle, Needlessly to 
mind things that are not essential ; to be quibbling about 
words. 1839 JAMES Louis X[V ! II. 83 Mazarin proceeded 
to irritate I)e Retz . . by quibbling upon the words of his 
bargain. 1854 tr Lamartine s Celetr. Char. II. 26, I shall 
not quibble between the titles of King or Protector. 1864 
BOWEN Logic ix. 293 A satirical disputant quibbling about 
the meaning of words. 

b. To wriggle out of, to trifle or deal unfairly 
with, by quibbling, rare. 

1842 DICKENS Amer. Notes (1850) 99/1 The simple warriors 
. . who only learned . . from white men how to break their 
faith, and quibbleout of forms and bonds. 1859 G. MEREDITH 
R . Fevcrel xxxiv, Sensible that she had been quibbled with. 

3. trans, with advbs. : To cheat or bring out of, 
waste or explain away, by quibbling. 

1713 BIRCH Guard. No. 36 p 4 Who ever lost his estate ii 



path. 1857 TOULMIN SMITH Parish 101 This Act has also, 
in many cases, been quibbled away. 

Qui bble, v. 2 Obs. exc. dial. [? Onomatopoeic : 
cf. QUIVER.] intr. To quiver ; to shake. 

1716 BAILEY, Quibble, to move as the Guts do. 1886 
ELWORTHY If. Sam. Word-bk. s.v., I be afeard I ve a catcht 
a chill, I do quibbly all over. 

Qui-bbleism. rare~\ [f. QUIBBLED. + -ISM!.] 
The practice of quibbling. 

1836 New Monthly Mag. XLVII. 417 The use he may make 
of the most ordinary words for the purposes of quibbleism. 

Quibbler (kwi-blw). [f. QUIBBLE z/. + -ER i.J 
One who quibbles, in senses of the verb. 

,/ 1680 BUTLER Rent. (1759) II. 206 A Quibbler is a Jugler 
of Words, that shows Tricks with them, to make them . . 
serve two Senses at once. 1737 LAW Demonstr. gross Err. 
of late Bk. (1769) 227 If your heart is shut up in death and 
dryness, your reason will be a poor quibbler in words and dead 
images. 1807 Med. Jrnl. XVII. 42 M. C.,. .asall Quibblers 
do, works m words which are not mine. 1883 Law Times 
27 Oct. 231/2 A race of astute quibblers, and not a body of 
scientific lawyers. 

Quibbling (kwi-blin), vbl. si. [-ING!.] The 
action of the verb QUIBBLE. Also with a and//., 
an instance or specimen of this. 

1618 SHIRLEY Witty Fair One in. ii, I have made a quib 
bling in praise of her. 1658-9 Burton s Diary (1828) IV. 36 
You say you will bound, and you will not bound. It looks 
like quibbling. 1681 \V. ROBERTSON Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 
487 There_ s nothing which these disputants will not oppose 
by their niceties and quibblings. 183% BLAKEY Free-will 172 
The _ various quibblings, shufflings, reservations, and quali 
fications, .must be abundantly evident to everyone. 1855 
MACAULAY Hist. Eng. xv. I II. 514 In spite of this quibbling, 
he was pronounced guilty. 

Quibbling (kwi-blin), ///. a. [-INO2.] That 
quibbles ; characterized by quibbles. 

"657 J- JORDAN Walks Islington II. ii, Pox on your Cobling 
jeasts, you quibling Coxcombe. 1675 BAXTER Calk. Theol. 
ii. ii. 250, I have detected the fraud of their quibling dis 
tinction. 1773 Juniits Lett. Ixviii. 353 A cunning quibbling 
attorney might, .discover a flaw. 1875 JOWETT Plato (ed. 2) 
I. 266 The quibbling follies of the Sophists. 

Hence Qui bblingly adv. 

1657 J- SERGEANT Schism Disfach t Post-scr., Their old 
method of talking preachingly, quotingly, and quibblingly. 

Qui bbly.a. rare . Of the nature of a quibble. 

1*95 Cat/,. Neius 28 Dec. 4/3 The arguments-small, 
quibbly and lacking of elemental foundation. 

Quibe, variant of QUIB s/&gt;. 

Quibib(e, -bibbe, obs. forms of CUBES. 

tQuibibble, obs. var. QUIBBLE sl&gt;. (Cf. next.) 

1606 Choice, Chance, etc. (1881) 40 You are so full of 
quibibbles, that I feare you meane knauery. 

tQuibi be. Obs. rare- 1 . [?A fanciful ex 
tension of quibe QUIB ; cf. prec.] = QUIBBLE sl&gt;. 2. 

aiSSo Image Hypocr. in Skelton s Wks. (1843) II. 440 
Lawyers and scribes With many quibibes. 

tQuibi ble. Obs. Alsofi-byble. [Of obscure 
origin.] ? A pipe or whistle. Alsoyfc. 

a 1529 SKELTON Dk. Albany 389 Your braynes are ydell 
It is time for you to brydell, And pype in a quibyble. 1642 
SHIRLEY Sisters II. i, Manilla. I ll try what I can do ! 
[Draws her knife.} Piperollo. Oh! myquibibles! 

Quible, -ler, obs. forms of QUIBBLE, -LEK. 

Quiblet (kwi-blet). Obs. exc. U. S. [f. QUIB or 
QUIBBLE : see -LET.] = QUIBBLE s6. 

1630 J. TAYLOR (Water P.) Wit $ Mirth Wks. 181/2 A 
quiblet . . Nay, then I cannot blame you to be angry. 1636 
ABP. WILLIAMS Holy Table (1637) 128 This Quiblet is 
grounded upon a mere Errour of the Printer. 1681 T. 
FLATMAN Heraclitus Ridtns No. 46 (1713)11. 43, I cannot 
admire the Quiblet of the Influences of a Half-moon. 1890 
BAKREHE & LELAND Slang Diet., Quiblets (American), a 
kind of witticism much in vogue in negro minstrelsy. 

tQui blin. Obs. [f. QUIB or QUIBBLE; cf. 
QUIBBLING.] A pun or quibble ; a trick. 
^ 5605 CHAPMAN, etc. East. Hoe in. i, Tis a trick rampant ; 
tis a very quiblin. 1610 B. JONSON Alch. iv. vii, This is 
some trick ; Come, leave your quiblins, Dorothee. 1614 
Earth. Fair i. i, When a quirk, or a quiblin do s scape thee. 

Quibling, obs. form of QUIBBLING ///. a. 

Quibyb(e, -byble : see CUBEB, QUIBIBLE. 

Quie, obs. f. QUICK a. ; see also QUETCH v. 



51 

t Quice. Obs. rare. In 5 qwyee. [Of obscure 
origin.] Only in quice-tree = gorse, whin. 

c 1440 Promp. Parv. 162/1 Fyrrys, or qwyce tre, or gorstys 
tre, r-uscns. Ibid. 204/1, 421/1. 

Quice, Quich, variants of QUEEST, QUETCH. 
Quich(e, obs. forms of WHICH. 
Quick (kwik), a., sb}, and adv. Forms : a.. I 
. cwic(u), o(w)uou, cue-, owyo, 1-2 cwuc, (2 
cwuce), 1-3 ewie, 3 cwico, cwi(c)k-, 4 kuic, 
kuik ; 3-4 quic, 3-5 quick-, 4 quyo, 5 quyck, 
5-6 quycke, (5 qw-), 5-7 quicke, (5 qw-), 5- 
quick; 3-6 quik, quyk, (5-6 qw-), 4 quiyk-, 
4-5 quikke, quyk(k)e, (5 qw-), 5 quike, quikk, 
(ow-) ; 4-5 quek, 5 qu-, qweke. 0. Sc. and 
north. 5 quhyk, qwhick, -ikke, -yke, 5 whik, 
whicke, whyk, 6-9 whick, y wick. 7. 5 whyt, 7 
whitt. [Comm. Teut. : OE. cwicit, c(w}ucu and 
civic, c(w]uc-, = OFris. qiiik, quek (mod.Fris. quifk, 
quecK), OS. quik (MDu. quic, Du. kwik), OHG. 
ijuec, quecch- and chec, checch- (MHG. quec, qucck- 
and kec, keck-, G. keck lively, pert, bold ; also dial. 
qiteck, quick], ON. kvik-r, kvikv- and kyk-r, kykv- 
(MSw.gvi&,gve&,Sw.ovfei; Da. kvik,a\sokvirg sb., 
cattle , and kvpeg-, ktiik- in combs, as kvyg- or 
kviksand) : OTeut. *kwik-Mo-z. The origin of the 
second k is obscure ; it is absent in the Gothic 
*qius (in pj. qiwaf) :*kwiwo-z, from the common 
Aryan *g" ! hvo- which appears in Skr.jivd, L. vivus 
(for *gvivus), Lith. gyvas, OSlav. iivil, Olr. biu, 
beo alive, living, Gr. /3i os life. An ablaut-variant 
of the Teut. stem is found in ON. kveikja to kindle.] 
A. adj. 

I. Characterized by the presence of life. 
1. Living, endowed with life, in contrast to what 
is naturally inanimate. Now dial, or arch. 

&lt;:888 K. ALFRED Boeth. xxxix. 3 [tette men & ealle 
cwuca wuhta habba5..andan betwuh him. c 1200 ORMIN 
3691 He batt fede))() ennglebeod & alle cwike shaffte. c 1300 
St. Brandan 163 As a quic thing hupte up and down. 1387 
TREVISA Higiien (Rolls) I. 383 Goddes heste, bat heet )&gt;e 
erjje brynge forj&gt; gras and quyk bestes. 1422 tr. Sccreta 
Secret. 208 Sowne of thynges that bene not quycke as the 
Sowne of watyr, & brekynge of trees, thundyr [etc.]. 1523 
FITZHERB. Hush. 102 The bottes .. be quycke, and stycke 
faste in the mawe-syde. 1611 SPEED Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xiii. 
(1623) 741 They could see no quicke things left but onely 
Owles. 1820 SHELLEY Witch Atl. ix, Where the quick 
heart of the great world doth pant. 1857 E. WAUGH Lane. 
Life 29 There isn t a wick thing i this world can wortch as 
it should do, if it doesn t heyt [ = eat] as it should do. 

t b. Of possessions or property : Consisting of 
animals ; live (stock). Freq. in phrases quick cattle, 
good(s, stock, etc., and hence, by analogy, quick 
beast. Obs. Cf. also OE. cwicxht, -feoh. 

871-89 Charter 45 in Sweet O. E. Texts 451 Ic .. sello 
werburge . . (&gt;as lond mid cwice erfe & mid earoe. 971 Blickl. 
Horn. 39 pone teoban dsel on urum wsestmum & on cwicum 
ceape. 1397 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 11108 Sir Ion giflard nom to 
him is quic eijte echon. 1433 E. E. Wills 95 Alle my goodes 
& catelles, bothe quike & dede. 1523 FITZHERB. Sum. xii. 
(1539) 29 He that hath no quycke good, shall giue his beste 
deed good. 1526 Lane. Wills I. 15, I bequeth ffor my 
mortuarye my be^t qwyk beast. 1592 WEST ist Ft. Symbol. 
25 Houses and landes and quicke beastes, as sheepe and 
oxen. 1649 Bp. HALL Cases Consc. ix. (1654) 62 If they be 
quick commodities, as horses, sheep, kine and the like. 1686 
R. P. in Phil. Trans. XX. 383 Houshold-goods . . lost ; 
besides many quick Goods. 1745 W. STOUT A utobiog. (1851) 
ad Jin., A public sale of all his quick goods and cattle. 

C. Applied to things properly inanimate in 
various transf. or fig. uses (cf. II). 

900 tr. Bxda s Hist. iv. xx. [xviii.] (1890) 314 He,.beaw 
IXES songes cwicre st^efne .. sangeras laerde. cgsfi Lindisf. 
Gosp. John iv. ii [He] ualde gesealla 5e uaeter cuic. a 1175 
Cott. Horn. 241 Ic am cwuce bread. 1382 WYCLIF Hel&gt;. 
iv. 12 Forsoth the word of God is quyk. [Also in later 
versions.] i Pet. ii. 5 5oure silf as quike stoones be aboue 
bildid spiritual housis. 1502 ATKINSON tr. De Imitatione 
ill. x. 205 Of me. .pore & ryche, drawe quycke water as of 
the well of lyfe. 1586 J. HOOKER Hist. Irel. in Holinshed 
II. 101/2 To rush through such quicke iron walles [armed 
Galloglasses). 1732 POPE Ess. Man I. 234 See thro . . this 
earth All matter quick, and bursting into birth. 1894 
CHOCK ETT Raiders 13 Young green leaves breaking from 
the quick and breathing earth. 

2. Of persons and animals : In a live state, 
living, alive. Now dial, or arch. 

c 888 K. ALFRED Boeth. xxxvi. 7 [Ne] ma Se we maxon . . 
habban deadne mon for cwucone. ciooo Sax. Leechd. I. 
362 WiS miltwra;ce, cwices hundes milte abred of. a 1225 
Leg. St. Kath. 63 pe riche reooeren & schep. .brohten to 
lake, |je_ poure cwike briddes. a 1300 Cursor M. 864^ Mi 
quik child has bou stoln..And has \&gt;\ ded barn laid bi me. 
1362 LANGL. P. PI. A. n. 14 Ther nis no qweene qweyntore 
that quik is alyue. cny&gt; Two Cookery-bks. II. 99 Take 
a quyk lamprey, And lete him blode at &gt;e nauell. a 1529 
SKELTON Elynour Rnmtnyng 431 A cantell of Essex 
chese. .well a fote thycke, Full of maggottes quycke. 1584 
R. SCOT Discm. Witchcr. v. vi. (1886) 81 marg., To hold 
a quick eele by the taile. &lt;zl66x FULLER Worthies (1840) 
I. v. 212 Not the quick but dead worthies properly pertain 
to my pen. 1790 MRS. WHEELER Westnild. Dial. (1821) 98 
Wor thor giants alive ? Mary. Nay, nay, . . they er net 
whick I racken. 1873 Spectator 23 Aug. 1069/1 Quick 
animals, to use a Yorkshire phrase, are sold here. 1875 
Sussex Gloss. s.v., I thought at first that sheep was dead, 
but I found it was quick still. 
b. Freq. as complement to the subject of intr. 



QUICK. 

and pass, verbs, or to the object (rarely subj.) of 
trans, verbs ; sometimes with intensive all prefixed. 
c 825 Vesp. Psalter cxxiii. 3 Cwice forswel ja3 usic. 971 
Blickl. Horn. 19 1 He woldan..J&gt;onecaserecwicenne forbairnan. 
CII22 O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1009 pzt he WulfnoS 
cuconne oSSe deadne bejytan sceolde. c 1200 ORMIN 1364 An 
bucc rann jizer awe all cwice. 1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 4166 
Some he mid strencpe nom & al quic horn vret. 13 .. Evang. 
Nicod. 1082 in Herrig Archiv LIII. 411 Ely be prophete . . 
whik to heuen yhede. c 1400 Rom. Rose 4070 Al quik 
I wolde^be dolven depe. c 1450 Mirour Saluacionn 737 But 
offred hire vntogodde to serue hym qwhikke swetlye. a 1533 
LD. BERNERS Huon xlvii. 159 Y e lechour. .shalbe flayne all 
quycke. 1632 LITHGOW Trav. I. 37 There was a gray Frier 
burning quicke at S. Markes pillar. 1678 R. L ESTRANGE 
Seneca s Alor. (1702) 246 Privacy, without Letters, is but 
the Burying of a Man Quick. 1708 J. PHILIPS Cyder i. 12 
Ingulft By the wide yawning Earth, to Stygian Shades 
Went quick. 

t c. Of the flesh or parts of the body. Obs. 

a. 1225 Ancr. R. 112 So bet flesch is cwickure, so J&gt;e pine 
berof ii )&gt;et hurt is more & sarre. Ibid., His fleschs wire 
tendrust & cwickest of alle vlesches. 1382 WYCLIF Lev. 
xiii. 15 If the quyk flesh is spreynt with k-pre, it is vnclene. 
ci\ta Chron. Vilod. 2624 A lyuyng mone, p hadde be lette 
blode in a quyke veyne. 1513 DOUGLAS jteneis vin. viii. 69 
Quhillquyk mouthisdyddeyd mouthiskys. 1527 L. ANDREW 
tr. J. Bmns^vyke s Distyl. Waters C ii, The lame lymmes 
and membres . . become quycke agayne. 1603 FI.ORIO tr. 
Montaigne II. iii. (1807) III. 51 To cut and slice great 
mammocks of their quicke flesh. 1649 DNUMM. OF HAWIH. 
Poems Wks. (1711) 1/2 My wasted heart, Made quick by 
death, more lively still remains. 

d. transf. and_/ff., chiefly of qualities, feelings, 
etc. (cf. II). 

c 1200 Trin. Coll. Horn. i?r po unbileffule men be bi here 
quica liue here sunnes ne forleten. 1:1380 WYCLIF Wks. 
(1880) 369 pai suffre not criste to be alyue in be sowlis of 
his peple bi qwike faythe. 1547 Homilies I. Faith i. 11640) 
22 As the other vaine faith is called a dead faith, so may 
this be called a quicke or lively fayth. 1599 SHAKS. Hen. V, 
II. ii. 79 The mercy that was quicke in vs. .is supprest and 
klll d. 1631 CHAPMAN Cxsar f, Pompcy Plays 1873 III. 132 
Strike dead our feare . . Rather then keepe it quick. 1728 
POPE Dune. \. 59 Hints, like spawn, scarce quick in embryo 
lie. 1895 I. ZANGWILL / /;&lt; Master n. vii. 213 Not only .. 
the glamour of the dead past, but the poetry of the quick. 

3. Of plants or their parts : Alive, growing. See 
also QUICKWOOD. 

c loco Ags. Ps. (Th.) ciii. 16 Cwice cederbeamas. c izoo 
ORMIN 10002 pe^ wa^renn o be treo All cwike & grene 
bojhess. 1552 HULOET, Arboure or place made with quicke 
springes. 1577 Nottingham Rec. IV. 168 Dressyng of the 
hedge of quycke grose. 1626 BACON Sylva 514 Dividing 
a Quick-Tree downe to the Ground. 1647-6 COTTERELL 
Davila s Hist. Fr. (1678) 27 If there be any quick roots left, 
which may send forth new sprouts. 1802 W. FORSVTH Fruit 
Trees (1824) 214 If any of the old dead snags remain they 
should be cut off close to the quick wood. 

b. Composed of living plants, esp. hawthorn, as 
quick fence, t frith, hedge (cf. Du. kwikhaag}, 
mound. Cf. QUICKSET. 

1467 Bury Wills (Camden) 45 The qwyk heige set frome 
the gate on to the hall doore. 1563 HYLL Art Garden. (1593) 
7 A quick hedge, which we cal a quickset hedge. 1564 MS. 
Ace. St. Johns Hosp., Canlei l ., To enclose the vij acres 
of land . . wyth a quyk fryth. 1627 F. LITTLE Man. Chr. 
Mnnif. (1871) 93 They fenced it with a quick mound. 1669 
\Vc;RLlDGK Syst. Agric. (1681) 15 A thousand Acres of Land 
divided with good Quick-fences. 1719 DE FOE Crusoe i. viii, 
A quick or living hedge. 1894 J. T. FOWI.KR Adamnan 
Introd. 38 On the top a palisade and quick hedge. 

4. Const, with. 

a. Quick with child, said of a female in the stage 
of pregnancy at which the motion of the fcetus is 
felt. Now rare or Obs. 

(This use has app. arisen by inversion of the phr. with 
quick child exemplified in the following quots. c 1450 
Merlin 12 She was grete with quyk childe. 1752 J. LOUTHIAN 
Form of Process (ed. 2) 217 You of the Jury of Matrons., 
say, that E. L. is not pregnant with quick Child.) 

(1450 LONELICH Merlin 826 (Kolbing) This good man 
sawh, that sche Qwyk with childe was. 1493 Festivall 
(W. de W. 1515) 106 Thenne conceyued Elyzabelh and 
whan she was quycke w* chylde [etc.], 1616 R. C. Times* 
Whistle iii. 1163 His vnckles wife surviues, purcbance Left 
quick with childe. 1678 LADY CHAWORTH in 12^ Rep. 
Hist. MSS. Comm. App. V. 51 Sister Salisbery and sister 
Ansley [are] both quicke with child. 1774 GOLDSM. Nat. 
Hist. (1776) II. 43 Women . . quick with child, as their ex 
pression is, at the end of two months. 

Jig. 1870 LOWELL Among my Bks. Ser. I. 238 Puritanism, 
believing itself quick with the seed of religious liberty, laid, 
without Knowing it, the egg of democracy, 
t b. absol. in same sense. Obs. 

1588 SHAKS. L. L. L. v. ii. 687 Then shall Hector be 
whipt for laquenetta that is quicke by him. 1647 TRAPP 
Comm. Rom. ix. 1 1 Acknowledging . . her issue for their 
Prince, before she as yet had felt her self quick. 

C. Alive, instinct with (life, soul, feeling, etc.). 

In some cases prob. associated with sense 19. 

1837 DISRAELI Venetia iv, iv, That languid form quick with 
excitement. 1839 BAILEY Festus xxiii. (1852) 416 Thy 
palpitating piles of ruin . . quick With soul immortal. 1873 
DIXON Two Queens I. I. ix. 63 In Barcelona everyone was 
quick with rage. 1883 A. E. HAKE Story Chinese Gordon 
xii. (1884) 294 To give peace to a country quick with war. 

II. Of things: Having some specific quality 
characteristic or suggestive of a living thing. 

* In a sound or natural condition ; fresh ; pro 
ductive. 

( 5. Of the complexion : Having the freshness of 
life. Obs. rare. 

a 1225 Ancr. R. 332 pe cwike rude of (&gt;e nebbe makeS to 

7-3 



QUICK. 

understonden fc&gt;et te soule let. .nefde bute dead heou, haue^ 
ikeiht cwic heou. 1423 tr. Secreta Secret. 223 The [fifth 
token] Is that a man haue quyke coloure. 1656 [see QUICK 
NESS 2\ a 1693 AUBREY Lives (1898) I. 60 (W. Aubrey) 
He had a delicate, quick, lively., complexion. 

f6. Of things seen: Lifelike, vivid. Obs. rare. 

13.. E. E. Allit. P. A. 1179 Fro alle \&gt;o sy;tez so quylcex 
[Iread quyke] & queme. c 1450 tr. De Imitations i. xviii. 
19 Beholde be quicke ensamples of olde fadres. 1533 
BELLENDES Livy Prol. (1901) 4 Of awfull batallis, .. &gt;e may 
fynd here,..Als quyk as J?ai war led afore }our Ee. 

1 7. a. Of rock : Natural, * living . b. Of earth : 
(see quot. 1620). Obs. 

1475 Partenay 1125 Vppon the quicke Roche thay It 
sett tho. Ibid. 4352 A caue .. Within the quike roche. 
1620 MARKHAM Farew. Husl\ n. i|. (1668) 7 You shall he 
sure to raise up the quick earth which had not been stirred 
up with the Plough before. 

8. a. Mining. Of veins, etc. : Containing ore, 
productive. (Cf. DEAD a. 10.) 

1676 J. BEAUMONT in Phil. Trans. XI. 735 Subterraneous 
Vaults or Grotto s^ whereof some . . are said by our Miner: 



the Names of Dead Veins. 1881 in RAYMOND Mining Gloss. 
b. Of stock, capital, etc. : Productive of interest 
or profit. 

1701 LUTTRELL Brief R el. (1857) V. i The quick stock of 
both companies shal be paid for discharge of their debts. 
a 1711 KEN Christophil Poet. Wks. 1721 I. 423, I . .spent on 
the Quick-stock which I could never drain. i8i8jAS. MILL 
Brit. India I. i. v. 81 The estimate which was formed of 
their quick and dead stock, 1891 Pall Mall G. 19 Nov. 7/1 
The quick assets (of the American Cotton Oil Trust] .. 
amounted on August 31 last to 5,928,338 dols. 
** Possessed of motion. 

9. Of wells, springs, streams, or water: Running, 
flowing. (Cf. OE. cwicweUe adj.) Now rare. 

c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Th.) cxiii. 8 He. .clifu cyrreS on cwicu.. 
wxteres wellan. c 1220 Bestiary 341 BihoueS us to rennen 
to cristes quike welle. 1340 Ayenb. 98 To lhade of be zeue 
streames f&gt;e quikke weteres. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxiii. 
(George) 319 In J&gt;e mydis J&gt;e altere a quyk wel sprang. 
c 1430 LYDG, Coin6l. Bl. Knt. xi, A litel welle, That had his 
cours .. with quikke stremes colde. 1600 HOLLAND Liry 
XLII. Hv. 1147 The place is. .watered also with many quicke 
and running springs. 1677 EVELYN Diary (1827) II. 425 
Whose house stands inviron d with very sweete and quick 
streams. 1710 CELIA FIENNES Diary (1888) 289 Its not 
a quick spring and very often is dranke drye. 1816 BYRON 
Purisina xx, The living stream lies quick below, And flows, 
and cannot cease to flow. 1889 PATER G. de Latonr 75 
Gently winding valleys, with clear, quick water. 

10. Of soil, etc. : Mobile, shifting, readily yield 
ing to pressure. Now rare. Cf. QUICKSAND. 

a 1340 HAMPOLE Psalter i. r As he J? 1 gas on qwik grauel 
Jjat gers him synk b 1 standis bar on. 1552 HULOET, 
Quycke sandes or shelues, syrtes. 1602 CAREW Cornivall 
8 b, The quicke ground (as they call it) that mooued 
with the floud. 1696 Phil. ^ Trans. XIX. 352 Great 
Freshes., make the Sands Shift, and consequently Quick. 
1771 SMOLLMTT Humph. Cl. 12 Sept., The Solway sands, . . 
as the tide makes,, .become quick in different places. 1890 
EMERSON Wild Life 58, I pulled my legs out of the soft 
ooze, and was soon across the patch of quick ground. 
*** Having some form of activity or energy. 

11. t a. Of coals: Live, burning. Obs. 

c looo Sax. Leechd. II. 224 Do to fyre on croccan, ofer 
wylle on godum gledum cljenum & cwicum. 1340 Ayenb. 
205 A quic col berninde ope ane hyeape of dyade coles. 
c 1400 MAUMOSY, (Roxb.)xxxi. 142 If a man. .couer \&gt;Q coles 
Jjeroff with aschez, J&gt;ai will hald in quikk a twelfmonth. 
1413 Pilgr. Sovvle (Caxton 1483) in. ix. 55 Quyck coles 
whiche brente them full bytterly. 1581 T. HOWELL Deuises 
(1879) 200 Kindled coales close kept, continue longest quick. 
1657 TRAPP Comm. Ps. cxx. 4 Juniper .. maketh a very 
scorching fire, and quick coals, such as last long. 1764 
HARMER Observ. iii. 118 They. .put it into an oven upon 
the quick coals. 

b. Of fire or flames : Burning strongly or briskly. 
Also of an oven: Exposed to a brisk fire. 

c 1374 CHAUCER Boetk. iv. pr. vi. 104 (Camb. MS.) A ryht 
lyfly and quyk fyre of thowht, 1604 E. G[RIMSTONE] 
D Acosta s Hist. Indies n. vii. 96 If it [the fire] bee quicke 
and violent, it doth greatly evaporate the quick-silver. 
1624 QUARLES Sion s Sonn. xx. 19 Thy breath .. incends 

Suicke flames, where Ember d sparkes but shine. 1708 
. C. Compl. Collier (1845) 16 It makes a hot quick Fire. 
1769 MRS. RAFFALD Eng. Honsekpr. (1778) 4 Bake it in 
a quick oven three hours. 1821 SHELLEY Prometh. Unb. 
in. i. 38 God! Spare me ! I sustain not the quick flames. 
1863 READE Hard Cash xiv, You will cook your own 
goose by a quick fire. 

t!2. Of speech, writings, etc.: Lively, full of 
vigour or acute reasoning; smart, sprightly. Obs. 

rt 1225 Ancr. R. 170 Ye eihtuSe reisun is uorte habben 
cwike bone. 1340 Ayenb. 134 pet is to zigge : oj?er J&gt;anc 
quicke scele ober aperte miracle. (1386 CHAUCER Prol. 
306 That [speech] was . . short and quyk, and ful of hy 
sentence, c 1400 Apol. Loll. 8 A?en swilk feynid . .indulgens, 
hpwij? a feijjful prest to multiply quek resouns. 1531 
ELYOT Gov. i. x, Some quicke and mery dialoges elect out 
of Luciane. 1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. Poesie^ i. xxviiL (Arb.) 
70 An inscription.. in few verses, pithie, quicke and senten 
tious. _ 1625 GILL Sacr. Pkilos. Pref., Though his writings 
be easie and quicke, yet his matiers are scattered. 

1 13. Of places or times : Full of activity or 
business; busy. Of trade: Brisk. Obs. 

c 1386 CHAUCER Frankl. T. 774 Amyd the toun, right in 
the quyke strete. 1538 LELASD Itiit. I. 8 A good quik 
Market Toune. 1641 BEST Farm. fiks. (Surtees) 102 The 
kinge beinge there, the markets were very quicke a 1661 
FULLER Worthies (1840) II. 190 He called Manchester the 
fairest and quickest town in this county, a 1687 PETTY 



52 

Pol. Arith. (1690) 18 Some where or other in the World, 
Trade is always quick enough. 1726-46 THOMSON Winter 
779 Pure, qukk, and sportful is the wholesome day. 

f!4. Of sulphur: Keadilyinflammable, fiery. Obs. 

ciS3o Itickscorner in Hazl. Dodsley I. 179 He asked for 
a mouthful of quick brimstone. 1559 MORWYNG Evonym. 
323, ij unces of bothe kindes of Sulphur or brimstone, that 
is of the quik and dead. 1590 SPENSER F. Q. i. vii. 13 That 
divelish yron Engin,. .With windy Nitre and quick Sulphur 
fraught. 1661 LOVELL Hist. Anim. $ Mm. 107 Honey, 
nitre, . . and quick brimstone, reduced unto the consistence 

fl5. Of wine and other liquors: Brisk, effer 
vescent. Obs. -*" 

1620 VENNElf K/VI Recta ii. 25 A pure and quicke wine. 
1677 YARRANTON Eng. Improv. 122 As the different heat of 
the Climate is, so the Liquor shall ripen and grow quick 
and fit to drink. 1730-46 THOMSON Autumn 706 The 
mellow-tasted burgundy; and, quick As is the wit it gives, 
the gay champagne. 

**** Producing a strong effect on the senses or 
wind. 

16. fa. Of the voice: Loud, clear. Obs.rare~ } . 
c 1205 LAY. 12306 Heo..himtocleopeden quickere staeuene 

[c 1275 mid swipe loude stemne], 

b. Of colour: Vivid, bright, dazzling, rare. 
1664 POWER Exp. Philos. \. 13 Eyes. .of a very quick and 
lively transparency or fulgour. 1851 G. MEREDITH Love 
in the Valley xx, Slain are the poppies that shot their 
random scarlet Quick amid the wheatears. 

17. Of feelings : Lively, vivid, keen, strongly felt. 
(-1449 PECOCK Repr. n. viii. 183 Quyk and feruent and .. 

deuout remembraunce. 1551 ROBINSON tr. More s Utop. \\, 
ix. (1895) 284 Onles they, by quycke repentaunce approue 
the amendement of their ly fifes. 1665 GLANVILL Def. 
I ain Dogw. 75, I have still a quick resentment of the 
Vanity of Confiding in Opinions. 1710 STEELE Tatter No. 
196 f 5 These have in their several Stations a quick Relish 
of the exquisite Pleasure of doing Good. 1752 CHESTERF. 
Lftt.(ijf)2) III. 254 The scene of quick and lively pleasures. 
1839 BAILEY Festus viii. (1848) 87 Firestranded, rolling in 
quick agony. 

18. fa. Of a taste or smell : Sharp, pungent ; 
brisk. Also of things in respect of taste or smell 
(cf. 15). Obs. 

1573 Treas. Hid. Secrets xliij, If white Saunders. .be old, 
and nave no pleasant and quicke odour, they are nothing 
worth. 1578 LYTE Dodoens v. xx. 574 These two Purce- 
laynes are., of a sharpe or quicke taste. 1641 FRENCH 
Distill, v. (1651) 126 It will last as quick as bottle beer that 
is a fortnight old. 1670 NARBOROUGH Jrnl, in Ace. Sev. 
Late \ 7 oy. (1694)1. 68 This Rind, .is hotter than Pepper and 
more quicker. 1758 REID tr. Macquer s Chym. I. 33 Its 
smell is. .extremely quick and suffocating when it smokes. 
1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) I. 625/2 Their smell is quick and 
penetrating, their taste pungent. 

fb. Of speech or writing : Sharp, caustic. Obs. 

1580 LYLY Enphues (Arb.) 280 A quicke aunswere that 
mL;ht cut him. 1589 NASHE Prej. Greene s Menaphon 
(Arb.) 9 In Scholler-like matters of controuersie, a quicker 
stile may pass as commendable. 1616 BULLOKAK Eng. Expos.) 
r, a quicke checke, a pretty taunt. 1685 Roxb. Ball. 



. a, an ege e percng ge 

C. Of air or light : Sharp, piercing, rare. 

1608 SHAKS. Per. tv. i. 28 The air is quick there, And it 
pierces and sharpens the stomach. 1818 KEATS Endynt. \\. 
018 Other light, Though it be quick and sharp enough to 
blight The Olympian eagle s vision, is dark, 
t d. Of what causes pain. Obs. rare~ l . 

a 1716 SOUTH Serm. (1744) II. 27 The punishment of the 
Cross is . . the quickest and the most acute. 

III. Having in a high degree the vigour or 
energy characteristic of life, and hence distinguished 
by, or capable of, prompt or rapid action or move 
ment. 

19. Of persons (or animals) : Full of vigour, 
energy, or activity (now rare) ; prompt or ready 
to act ; acting, or able to act, with speed or rapidity 
(freq. with suggestion or implication of sense 23). 

13. . E. E. Allit. P. B. 624 He. .Comaunded hir to be cof 
and quyk at bis one}, c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. Wace 
(Rolls) 16372 pey smette to-gedere so bitterlyke, fat cyber 
side fond ober_quyke. 1434 MISYN Mending Life 118 So 
bat qwen ba rise to pray, ba be qwhickar Jjen pai before 
were, c 1440 Promp. Pan. 421/1 Quyk, or lyvely, or de- 
lyvyr, vivax. 1535 COVERDALE Ezra vii. 6 Ezdras . . was 
a quycke scrybe in the la we of Moses, a 1348 HALL Chron., 
Hen. IV 32 b, This king was . . formally compact, quicke 
and deliver and of a stout courage. 1611 BIBLE Ecchts. 
xxxi. 22 In all thy workes bee quicke. a 1715 BURNET Chun 
Time III. (1724) I. 382 Seimour..was a graceful man, bold 
and quick. 1816 BYRON Ch. Har. in. xlii, Quiet to quick 
bosoms is a hell. 1833 TENNYSON Rosalind ii, The quick 
lark s closest-caroll d strains. 

b. Of qualities in a person (or animal). 

c 1380 WYCI.IF Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 109 Crist fastide fourty 
daies .. and he was in quyke age, and listide wel to etc. 
535 STEWART Chron. Scot. I. 12 Thair curage .. that tyme 
wes so quik. c 1580 SIDNEY Ps. xxxin. xi, Of quick strength 
is an horse, a 1661 FULLER Worthies (1840) II. 536 He was 
a good patriot, of a quick and clear spirit. 1732 NEAI. 
Hist. Ptirit. I. 342 He was a little man, of a quick 
spirit. 1819 SHELLEY Cenci I. iii. 173 The resolution of 
quick youth Within my veins. 

c. Of things (material and immaterial). 

1545 ASCHAM Toxoph. n. (Arb.) 117 So that he [a bow] be 
. . quycke and spedye ynoughe_ for farre castynge. 1551 
ROBINSON tr. Mare s Utop. n. iv. (1895) 149 They., finde 
spedy and quicke remedies for present fautes. 1592 SHAKS. 
Rom. t, Jul. v. iii 120 O true Appothecary : Thy drugs 
are quicke. 1699 Pennsylvania Arch. I. 127, I am obliged 
for thy quick Caie about ye Wine. 1820 SHELLEY Vision 



QUICK. 

of Sea, 50 A lead-coloured fog . . Whose breath was quick 
pestilence. 1883 GRESLEY Gloss. Coal-mining s.v., Blasting 
powder is said to be quick when it burns or goes off very 
rapidly. 

20. Of the eye, ear, etc. : Keen or rapid in its 
function; capable of ready or swift perception. 

c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. vm. 126 Digestioun hit macth 
and eyon quyk. a 1450 Knt. de la. Tour (1868) 18 She., 
hadd a quicke yee, and a light. 1590 SPENSER F. Q. i. ii. 26 
Busying his quicke eies her face to view, a 1661 FULLER 
Worthies (1840) III. 104 They have a quicker palate than 

I, who can make any such discovery. 1778 JOHNSON L. P. t 
Milton Wks. I. 140 His eyes .. must have been once quick. 
1818 SHELLEY Rosal. % Helen 1212 The same lady ..With 
silver locks and quick brown eyes. 1864 Cornh. Mag. Dec. 
655 The quick ear of Midwinter detected something wrong 
in the tone of Mr. Brock s voice. 

b. So of the senses, perception, feeling, etc. 

01548 HALL Chron. % Hen. VI 130 The kynges counsaill, 
whiche did not with quicke sight, forese .. thynges for to 
come. 1604 E. G[RIMSTONE] D Acosta s Hist. Indies iv. 
xxxvii. 309 Those [birds], .have a very quicke sight. 1849 
MACAULAY Hist. Eng. v. I. 618 Several dogs of quick scent 
were turned out. 1870 ROCK Text, Fabr. Introd. 87 Women 
being gifted with such quick feeling of finger. 

21. Mentally active or vigorous ; of ready appre 
hension or wit ; prompt to learn, think, invent, etc. 

1484 CAXTON Fables ofPoge xii, Two prestes . . of whome 
that one was quyck and coude putte hym self forth. 1551 
ROBINSON tr. More s Uto^. n. vi. (1895) 212 The people be 
gentle, merye, quycke, and fyne wytted. 1606 SHAKS. Ant. 
&lt;$ Cl. v. ii. 216 The quicke Comedians Extemporally will 
stage vs. 1640 BP. REYNOLDS Passions xiiL 121 Another by 
nature quicke and of noble intellectuals wholly applyeth 
himselfe unto it [learning]. 1792 Z.&lt;/. Auckland s C0rr.(iB6i) 

I 1. 410 He is a quick, sensible man. 1847 TENNYSON Princ. 
Prol. 137, 1 would teach them all that men are taught; We 
are twice as quick. 

b. So of mind, wit, etc., and of qualities or opera 
tions (cf. 25) of the mind. 

6-900 tr. Bseda s Hist. v. xvii. [xix. 1(1890) 452 He ^acwices 
modes jeornlice leornade ^a bing. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. 
deW. 1531) 8 In theyr ownepregnauntand quycke wytte and 
reason. 1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. Poesie in. xvii. (Arb.) 196 
Synecdoche, . .because it seemeth to aske a good, quick, and 
pregnant capacitie,. . I chose to call him the figure., of quick 
conceite. 1651 HOBBF.S Leviath. i. xiii. 60 One man .. of 
quicker mind then another, a 1715 BURNET Own Time nr. 
(1724) I. 354 Lord Sunderland was a man of. .a quick decision 
in business. 1785 PALEY Mor. P kilos. (1818) I. 361 At our 
public schools ..quick parts are cultivated, slow ones are 
neglected. 1804 Ann. Rev. II. 79/1 The author is evidently 
a man of quick observation and lively fancy. 1855 MACAULAY 
Hist. Eng. xix. IV. 310 Queen Mary, .had naturally a quick 
perception of what was excellent in art. 

22. Hasty, impatient, hot-tempered. ? Obs. 

1549 LATIMER 6th Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 172 The 
Bysnop was some what quicke wyth theym, and signified 
that he was muche offended. 1588 SHAKS. L. L. L. 11. i. 
118 You must not be so quicke. 1628 FORD Loi er s A/et. 
n. i, Are you so quick? Well, I may chance to cross Your 
peevishness. 

b. So of temper, disposition, etc. 
1837 DISRAELI Vcnetia \. viii, The expressions of a quick 
and offended temper, i 1850 Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.) 89 The 
quick and violent disposition of his master. 

23. Moving, or able to move, with speed, 

c 1450 Cov. Myst. xxx. (Shaks. Soc.) 298, I am as whyt 
[ = whyk] as thought, a 15*9 SKELTON Elynour Rnmmyng 
337 Her tonge was verye quycke, But she spake somwhat 
thycke. 1599 SHAKS. Hen. V&gt; v. i. 91 lie. .something leane 
to Cut-purse of quicke hand. 1605 Lear w. vii. 35 The 
most terrible and nimble stroke Of quick, cross lightning. 
1730-46 THOMSON Autumn 526 The quick dice .. leaping 
from the box. 1821 SHELLEY Epipsych. 532 The young 
stars glance Between the quick bats in their twilight dance. 
1861 THORNBURY Brit. Artists I. 247 The quick lizard is 
already out. 

24. Of movement or succession : Rapid, swift. 
1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 4544 He sywede after J&gt;e traytour 

mid wel quic pas. i6oa T. MIDDLETON in Shaks. Cent, of 
Praise (1879) 51 To keep quick time unto the owl. 1610 
SHAKS. Temp. iv. i. 39 Incite them to quicke motion. 163* 
LITHGOW Trav. vi. 298 The Dromidory hath a quicke 
and hard-reaching trot. 1655 STANLEY Hist. Pkilos. i. 
(1701) 63/2 The Body, which is continually in quick motion, 
is . .called aether. 1759 JOHNSON Rasselas vi, There may be 
danger of too quick descent. 1771 Jnnius Lett. lix. 310 
There is a quick succession of subjects. 1860 TYNDALL 
Glac. ii. xxvii. 384 The quicker flow of the centre causes 
this structure to bend. 

25. Of an action, occurrence, process, etc. : That 
is done, happens, or takes place, rapidly or with 
speed; esp. that is over within a short space of 
time; that is soon finished or completed. 

a 1548 HALL Chron., Hen. VI 169 And therfore willed her 
in so quicke a mischief, to provide a hasty remedy. 1591 
SHAKS. i Hen. VI &gt; v. iii. 8 This speedy and quicke appear 
ance argues proofe Of your accustom d diligence. 1607 
Timon i. i. 91 Morall Paintings .. That shall demonstrate 
these quicke blows of Fortune. 1634 MILTON Cottnis 284 



They, .purpos d quick return. Ibid* 841 She. .underwenta 

?uick immortal change. 1664 MARVELL Corr. Wks. 1872-5 
I. 151 Give me a quick dispatch one way or other. 0:1756 



MRS. HEVWOOD New Present (1771) 263 A quick Way 
to take Grease out of Woollen Cloth. 1819 SHELLEY Mask 
of Anarchy Ixxv, With a quick and startling sound. 1820 
Prometh. Unb. in. iii. 135 It feeds the quick growth of the 
serpent vine. 1821 Epipsych. 547 The pebble-paven shore, 
Under the quick, faint kisses of the sea Trembles. 1854 
RONALDS & RICHARDSON Chetn. Technol. (ed. 2) I. 343 A 
quick process of distillation. 

t 26. Of steel : Breaking readily ; brittle. Obs. 

1677 MOXON Mech. Exerc. 55 The Spanish Steel .. is too 
quick (as Workmen call it) that is, too brittle for Springs or 
Punches. 



QUICK. 

27. Of a curve, turn, etc, : Sharp. 

1725 W. HALFPENNY Sound Building 9 If the Arch is 
required to be quicker or flatter on the Hanse. 1793 
SMEATON Edy stone L. 81 A much quicker curve, or sweep 
of a less Radius. 1858 Sky ring s Builders Prices (ed. 48) 
57 Mouldings, .circular on plan, .quick sweep. 

fig. 1732 POPE Ep, Cobham 64 Tho* strong the bent, yet 
quick the turns of mind. 1781 COWPER Charity 544 The 
turns are quick, the polished points surprise. 

28. With constructions : 

a. with to and infin. 

1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 9327 Slou to fi^te & qujc to He 
& (&gt;at nis no manhede. 1584 LYLY Campaspe n. ii, A wit 
apt to conceive, and quick to answer. 1593 SHAKS. Rich. II, 
n. i. 234 Quicke is mine eare to heare of good towards him. 
1808 SCOTT Mann, n. Introd. 95 The widow s deafen d ear 
Grows quick that lady s step to hear. 1879 CHURCH Spenser 
139 Those who. -are quick to respond to English manliness 
and tenderness. 

b. with in. 

&lt; 1449 PECOCK Repr. n. xvi. 243 Summe othere. .weren 
quycker in natural witt and waxiden better philsophiris. 
1551 ROBINSON tr. Mores Utop. n. vi. (1895) 218 The wyttes 
therefore of the Vtopians . . be maruelous quycke in the 
inuentyon of feates. 1588 SHAKS. L. L. L. i. li. 31, I do say 
thou art quick in answers. 1642 FULLER Holy &lt;$ Prof. St. 
n. i. 51 Others that are so quick in searching, seldome 
search to the quick. 1837 MARRYAT Percival Keene xii, 
He s not very quick in temper. 1882 J. H. BLUNT Rcf. Ch. 
Eng. II. 190 So quick was justice in overtaking the rebels. 

C. with of. 

1560 HOLLAND Crt. Venus Prol. 27 Quik of Ingyne, of 
Lordschipcouetous. i573TussER Hitsb. (1878) 173 Launders 
and millers be quick of their toll. 1607-12 BACON Ess., 
Death (Arb.) 384 The most vitall partes are not the quickest 
of sence. a 1626 BP. ANDREWES Semi. (1841) IV. 43 More 
quick of touch than the rest. 1840 DICKENS Barn. Rudge 
x, He is quick of foot. 1859 TENNYSON Elaine 1198 It may 
be, I am quicker of belief. 

d. with at, for, unto. 

1590 SHAKS. Alids, N. in. ii. 342 Your hands then mine, 
are quicker fora fray. 1640 A. MELVILLE Cotnmonpl. Bk. 
(1899) 18 Quhick at meitt, quhick at work. 1850 TENNYSON 
In Mem. xxxiii, Her hands are quicker unto good. 

IV. 29. Combs., chiefly parasynthetic adjs., as 
quick-answered , -born, -chapt, -eared , -handed, 
-hearted, -nosed, -paced, -scented ^ ( -sensedness) , 
- shod, -spirited, ( ^-sprighted} , -tempered, - thoughted, 
-voiced, -winged. Also QUICK-EYED, -SIGHTED, 

-WITTED. 

1611 SHAKS. Cymb, in. iv. 161 Ready in gybes, *quicke- 
answer d, sawcie. a 1300 Cursor M. 28547 P at *q_uikborne 
child i haue fprdon. 1824 BYRON Def, Transf. r. ii. Si His 
own twin, quickborn of the same womb. 1598 E. GILPIN 
Skial. (1878) 59 Here his wife s bated by some *quick-chapt 
youth. 1771 MRS. GRIFFITH Hist. Lady Barton I. 118 
They are. .*cjuick-eared as the mole. 1847 JAMES J. Mar- 
ston Hall vii, You are a good, *quick-handed boy. 1820 
L. HUNT Indicator No. 29 (1822) I. 231 Ending with that 
simple, *quick-hearted line. 1561 T. NORTON Calvin s Inst. 
I. 40 Many *quicknosed men do laugh at this. 1607 TOP- 
SELL Four-f. Beasts (1658) in Dogs, .are called sharp, .and 
quick-nosed. 1390 R. HARVEY PI. Perc. A ij b, Being 
*quicksented [I] thrust forward on the trale. 1647 SANDER 
SON Serrn. II. 216 So quick-scented where there is a likeli 
hood of gain. 1656 W. D. tr. Comenius Gate Lat. Unl. 
149 The sagacitie or *quick-sensedness of reason. 1645 
City Alarum 23 If the Souldier be *quickshod with this 
mettall [etc.]- 155* HULOET, *Quycke spirited, and quycke 
of spirite. a 1653 GOUGE Comm. Heb. iv. 12 That is 
said to be quick .. which is active, .as . .quick-spirited. 
1598 E. GILPIN Skial. (1878) 27 My quick-sprighted lasse 
can speake. 1830 Miss MITFOKD Village Ser. iv. (1863) 149 
She used to be a little *quick-tempered ! 1782 COWPER 
Expostulation 316 Laborious and *quick-thoughted man. 
1820 KEATS Hyperion i. 149 Thus she *quick-voiced spake. 
1833 MRS. BROWNING Prometh. Bound Wks. 1850 I. 152 
On the back of the *quick-winged bird I glode. 

B. Elliptical or absolute uses passing into sb. 
&lt;rf.I). 

1. a. pi. (\fy ithout article or -s.") Living persons. 
(Chiefly in echoes of Acts x. 42 or the Apostles 
Creed, in phr. quick and dead.) 

c 897 K. /ELFRED Gregory s Past. xv. 96 Se )&gt;e demende is 
cwicum & deadum. a 900 CYNEWUI-F Christ 997 Djcr bi5 
cirm ond cearu ond cwicra ^ewin. 1067 Charter of Ead- 
iveard in Kemble Cod. Dipl. IV. 220 For alle quiken and 
for alle dede to helpe. c 1200 ORMIN 10557 1 demenn 
cwike & dade. 1:1380 WYCLIF Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 213 
His preier . . doib more harm to quike and dede. c 1440 
Jacob s Well 65 Paye . . to qwyke & to dede, )&gt;at |&gt;ou owyst. 
1562 COOPER Answ. Priv. Masse (1850) 56 For then ye 
applied it to high, to low,, .to quick, to dead. 1667 MILTON 
P. L. xii. ^60 To judge both quick & dead. 1733 LAW 
Serious C. ii. (ed. 2) 22 The Judge of quick and dead. 

b. The quick, the living. Usu. //., and in con 
junction with the dead (cf. prec.). 

c888 K. yELFREn Boeth. xxxvi 7 Ne biS se cwuca Sonne 
nyttraSe se deada. cgoa tr. Bzda s Hist. I. xi. [xiv.] (1890) 
50 Da cwican no senihtsumedon \&gt;&t hi 5a deadan bebyri^dan. 
a 1200 Moral OJe 190 pet he seal deme ba quike and ba 
dede. 1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 5877 Me halt euere mid be 
quike ; be dede was sone stille. c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. 
Wace (Rolls) 4388 J?e quiyke vpon pe dede 5ede. c 1400 
Apol. Loll. 49 What ri;tfulnes is bis to ?ef ;eftis to be dead, 
& spoyle be quek ? 1567 Gude f, Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 41 Gif 
ony to the quick }eid from the deide, Trewlie they suld 
repent. 1654 FULLER Two Sertn. 55 Such Volumes as con 
cern the Quick at that Day. 1727 DE FOE Hist. Affar. 
vii. 99 The dead could never come to the quick. 1800-24 
CAMPBELL Death-Boat o/Heligoland 2 The quick have their 
sleep-walkers, so have the dead. 1850 BI.ACKIE /Eschylus 
I. 156 He, who was dead, has slain the quick. 

t c. That which is alive. (OE. and early ME. 
in gen. sing.) Ol/s. 



53 

Beowulf (Z.) 2314 No 5xr aht cwices la&lt;5 lyft flo^a lasfan 
wolde. .1000 MlfSK Gen. viii. 21 Ne ofslea ic . . mid 
wajtere aslc Jing cuces. 1205 LAY. 25758 Na whit heo ne 
funden quikes uppen wolden. a 1225 A rtcr. R. 334 pe reade 
[deade C.J see, bet nowiht cwices [nis] inne. 

td. Live stock, cattle. (So OP ris. quek, qiiik, 
LG. queck, quick, Da. kvseg.} Obs. rare~~ l . 

a 1400-50 Alexander 4469 Of any gud at 5e geet a gift ye 
am offirre, A quantite of all-quat, of quike & of ellis. 

2. \Vith a and //. A living thing, rare (now 
only dial.). 

(iooo Ags. Ps. (Th.) ciii. 24 His is mycel sae . . bar is 
unrim on ealra cwicra. 13.. E. E. Allit. P. B. 567 As to 
quelle alle quykez for qued |&gt;at my;! falle. 1579 SPENSER 
Sheph. Cal. Mar. 74, [I] Might see the moving of some 
quicke Whose shape appeared not. 1664 POWER Ex/&gt;. 
I hilos. i. 34 You shall see these little Quicks.. grow feebler 
in their motion. 1899 Cumbld. Gloss., Whicks,.. maggots. 

3. coll. Living plants, spec, of white hawthorn, 
set to form a hedge. = QUICKSET i a. 

1456-7 Durham Ace. Rolls (Surtees) 241 Pro factura 
unius fosse et insercione de lez Whyke. 1484-5 Ibid. 98 
Pro CC m * qweke et plantacione ejusdem. 1641 EVELYN 
Diary (1871) 33 The \vorkes..are curiously hedg d with 
quick. 1725 BRADLEY Fain. Diet. s.v. Quickset, The same 
Method is used in planting all Sorts of Quick . . except the 
Alder, Elder, Furz, and Holly. 1764 Museum Rust/cum III. 
Ixiii. 285, 1 keep the quick regularly clipped, which, in a few 
years, renders the fence impenetrable. 1818 Rclig. Clerici 
405 Hedges of living quick, a yew alcove. 1881 Card. Chron. 
26 Mar. 409 Planting two hollies and six quick in every yard. 
b. With a and//. A single plant of this descrip 
tion. = QUICKSET i b. 

1507-8 Durham Ace. Rolls (Surtees) 660 Et sol. ..sepienti- 
bus cum lez Wykkes . . querend. le Whikkes. 1671 Vestry 
Bks. (Surtees) 202 For quickes, $s. 8^. 1765 EARL HAD- 
DINGTON Forest trees 40 Upon this I laid another turf, .and 
a row of thorns, or quicks. 1792 Trans. Soc. Arts (ed. 2) 
III. 173 Quicks thus planted will at an early age, form a 
fence. 1850 TENNYSON In Mem. Ixxxviii, Wild bird, whose 
warble, . . Rings Eden thro the budded quicks, 
fc. (See quot.) Obs. rare~~. 

^753 CHAMBERS Cycl. Supp. App., Quick, the name by 
which some call a species of Mespilus, or medlar. 

4. The qttick : The tender or sensitive flesh in 
any part of the body, as that under the nails or 
beneath callous parts; also, the tender part of 
a sore or wound. Usu. in phr. to the qtiick. -f- Also 
without article (quot. 1562). 

1523 FITZHERB. Husb. 115 An hurte, that commeth of 
yll shoynge, whan a smyth dryueth a nayle in to the 
quycke. 1562 J. HEYWOOD Prov. $ Epigr. (1867) 178 
Itching and smartyng, both touch vs at quicke. 1571 
Satir. Poems Reform, xxvi. 168 Fra tyme ye spur and hit 
him on the quik. 1602 SHAKS. Ham. \\. vii. 124 But, to 
the quick o the ulcer : Hamlet comes back. 1697 DRYDEN 
I irg. Georg. in. 673 The raw Rain has pierc d them to the 
quick. 1726 SWIFT Gulliver ii. iii, They would fix upon 
my nose or forehead, where they stung me to the quick. 
1767 WESLEY Jrnl. i Nov. (1827) III. 293 Five nails were 
driven into the quick. 1825 KNAP? & BALDVV. Newgate 
Cal. IV. 350/2 Picking his fingers until he brought blood 
thro the quick. i86z SALA Seven Sons I. x. 243 He was 
in the habit of biting his nails to the quick. 

b. fig. with ref. to persons, chiefly in phrases 
denoting acute mental pain or irritation, as touched, 
galled, stung, etc. to the quick. 

1526 SKELTON Magnyf. 1630 Yf a man fortune to louche 
you on the quyke, Then feyne yourselfe dyseased. 1551 
ROBINSON tr. Mare s Utop. i. (1895)46 Theirtenauntes, . . whom 
they polle and shaue to the quycke, by reysing their rentes. 
1579-80 NORTH Plutarch (1676)433 Tigranes. .was galled to 
the quick, and hit at the heart. 1628 WITHER Brit.Rememb. 
n. 933, I confesse that on the quick they grated, Who in 
this manner have expostulated. 1647 TRAPP Comm. Rom. 
ii. 3 This is preaching to the conscience, to the quick. 
1722 DE FOE Moll Flanders (1840) 44 This stung the 
elder brother to the quick. 1793 MAD. D ARBLAY Lett. 
21 Oct., I could not deeply consider the situation of these 
venerable men, without feeling for them to the quick. 
1842 TENNYSON Walk, to the Mail 73 A Tory to the quick. 
1883 FROUDE Short Stud. IV. i. iv. 45 His proud temper 
was chafed to the quick, and he turned sick with anger. 

c. transf. of things (esp. immaterial things) : 
The centra!, vital, or most important part. 

1567 R. EDWARDS Damon $ Pithias in Hazl. Dodsley IV. 
12 In^comedies the greatest skill is this, rightly to touch 
All thing! to the quick. 1600 SURFLET Countrie Farme in. 
xlvi. 516 There is neede to digge trees at the foote in winter 
vnto the very quick of the earth. 1643 BURROUGHES Exp. 
Hosea ix. (1652) 314 If things were examined to the quick 
in our receiving the Sacrament. 1693 EVELYN tr. DC la Quint. 
Compl. Card. II. 19 The Tree .. must be refreshed as far 
as ( the quick. 1837 HOWITT Rur. Life vi. i. (1862) 404 It is 
existence shorn of all its spreading and flowering branches, 
but not pared to the quick. 1876 GEO. ELIOT Dan. Der. 
vii. li, The point touched the quick of his experience. 

d. With a and//. : A tender, sensitive, or vital 
part, rare, 

c 1550 BALE A . Johan (Camden) 77 To drive hym to holde 
and searche hym in the quyckes. 1705 WROE in Phil. 
Trans. XXV. 1900 There appearing great quicks (as they 



QUICK-. 

f6. = Quick-mire (see D.). Obs. rare 1 . 

1648 SANCROFT in H. Cary Mem. Gt. Civ. War (1842) II. 
40, I arn here in Sloughland, in the midst of quicks and 
quagmires, 

7. U*S. Mining. Abbrev. of QUICKSILVER. (So 
G. quick?) 

1882 Rep. to Ho. Repr., Prec. Met. U.S. 651 From this 
groove the amalgam and quicksilver run in gas-pipes to the 
securely- locked amalgam safes ) in which the surplus 
quick is strained off. 

C. adv. 1. = QUICKLY. 

c izgo Michael 502 in S. Eng. Leg. 314 Heo..mai beo 
nou}&gt;e here and her ase quik ase man ties muynde. 1:1330 
R. BRUNNE Chron. (1810) 79 13ot comen is William quik, 
and sekes ^am fulle streit. 1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. xiv. 189 
He shulde take the acquitance as quik. a 1529 SKELTON 
Etynour Ruminyng 206 This ale shal be thycker, And 
tlpwre the more quicker. 1610 SHAKS. Temp. v. i. 304 Such 
discourse, as . . shall make it [the night] Goe quicke away. 
1667 MILTON P. L. iv. 1004 The latter quick up flew, and 
kickt the beam. 1692 LOCKE Ednc. 160 Any .. Person 
who writes well, and quick. 1748 CHESTERF. Lett. (1792) 
II. 25, 1 am told that you speak very quick. 1788 CHARLOTTE 
SMITH Emmeline (1816) IV. 55, I am going .. to Havre, 
whence I shall get the quickest to Southampton. 1840 
DICKENS Barn. Rudge x, The person who d go quickest, 
is a sort of natural. 1865 TENNYSON On a Mourner iii, 
Nature . . on thy heart a finger lays, Saying Beat quicker . 
1874 GREEN Short Hist. ii. 88 A peaceful invasion . . followed 
quick on the conquest of the Norman soldiery. 

b. Phr., (As~} quick as lightning, thought^ wink, 
etc. (cf. A. 23, quot. c 1450). 

1813 SCOTT Rokeby r. xix, Thoughts .. Glance quick as 
lightning through the heart. 1825 Brother Jonathan I- in 
Fire away as quick as wink. 1871 B. TAYLOR Faust (1875) 
II. r. ii. 8 As quick as thought.. Him to replace there came 
another. iH&lScr Oner s Mag. XXII. 108/2 Quick as thought, 
Roger slipped his hands from their, .noose. 1893 FORBES 
MITCHELL Remin. Gt. Mutiny 88 Quick as thought I.. 
clasped it. 

2. Used imperatively. (In some cases perh. 
representing the adj. in the phr. Be quick!} See 
also QUICK MARCH 2. 

1596 SHAKS. Merch. V. n. ix. i Quick, quick I pray thee, 
draw the curtain strait. 1604 Oth. v. i. 3 Quicke, quicke, 
feare nothing; He be at thy Elbow. 1822 SHELLEY tr. 
Caldcron in. 176 Livia, quick, bring my cloak. 1852 MRS. 
STOWE Uncle Toms C. v. 31 Get on your clothes, old man, 
quick ! 1872 TENNYSON Gareth &lt;$ Lynette 147 Nay quick ! 
the proof to prove me. 

3. Combs, a. \Vith present participles, as quick- 
acting, -burning, -coming, -conceiving, -decaying^ 
-designing, -devouring, -fading (sze quot.), -falling, 
-firing, -flowing, -glancing, -growing, -guiding, 
-gushing, -labouring, -moving, -piercing, -relishing, 
-returning^ -rolling, -running, -scenting, -self- 
lessening, -setting, -shifting, -shutting, -spouting, 
-stepping, -thriving (chiefly adjs.). 

1878 ABNEY Photogr. (1881) 222 Those *quick-acting 
lenses.. for taking instantaneous pictures. 1799 G. SMITH 
Laboratory I. 43 Prime it with a *quick-burning charge. 
1870 MORRIS Earthly Par, Apol. 3, 1 cannot. .make ^quick- 
coming death a little thing. 1596 SHAKS. i Hen. IV, i. iii. 
189 To your *quicke conceyuing Discontents, Ilereade you 
Matter, deepe and dangerous. 1708 J. PHILIPS Cyder \\. 
64 Freezing Nose, and *quick-decaying feet. 1676 D URFEY 
Mad. Fickle iv. ii, I ll.. bring it off with *quick designing 
Wit. 1621 QUARLES Div. Poems, Hadassa (1638) 91 The 
*quick-devouring fire of heaven. 1597 GEKAKUE Herbal n. 
cxxvii. 2. 395 Ephemernm Mathioli, *Quicke fading 
flower. 1661 LOVELL Hist. Anim. fy Min. 57 The quick 
fading flower, drunk with the grapes of wild vine. 1832 



_ 5. The quick : The life (see LIFE sb. 7). Chiefly 
in phr. to the quick. 

1563 MAN tr. ftlusculus Ccminonpl. 43 Images, .with mar- 
uelouse deuice set forth to the quicke. 1727 BOYER Diet. 
Royal II, To draw to the quick (or to the life). 1858 J. 
BROWN Horse Subs. (1863) 3, 1 think I have only to sit down 
and write it [my father 5 life] off, and do it to the quick. 
1880 G. MEREDITH Trag. Com. (1881) 96 Our blood runs 
through it, our history in the quick. 



hast sweetly sung . . in our *quick-flowing tongue. 1751 
GRAY Spring 30 The insect youth, .show their gayly-gilded 
trim *Quick-glancing to the sun. 1879 MRS. A. E. JAMES 
Ind. Honseh. Managem. 62 Planting a *q nick-growing 
shrub to form a hedge. 1793 HOLCROFT tr. Lavaters 
Physlog. xxvii. 129 The work of the *quick-guiding Provi 
dence. 1845 MRS. NORTON Child of the Islands (1846) 135 
The shy, ^quick-gushing blood. 1535 COVERDALE Prov. x. 
4 A *quycke laboringe hande maketh riche. 1793 HOLCROFT 
tr. Lavater s Physiog. xxxv. 180 The cheerful, open, free, 
*quick-moving mouth. 1633 FORD Broken Heart i. iii, 
Their *quick-piercing eyes, which dive . . Down to thy 
thoughts. 1708 J. PHILIPS Cyder i. 29 That from Harvey 
nam d, *Quick-relishing. 1728-46 THOMSON Spring 999 A 
*quick-returning pang Shoots thro the conscious heart. 
1584 Three Ladies Lend, i.in Hazl. Dodsley VI. 338 *Quick- 
rolling eyes, her temples high. 1743 FIELDING ?. Andrews 
in. vi, The *quick-scenting dogs attacked him. 1613-6 
\V. BROWNE Brit. Past. n. i, Braue birds they were, whose 
"*quick-selfe-Iess ning kin Still wonne the girlonds from the 
Peregrin. 1837 SMITH tr. Vicat s Mortars 22 The Harwich 
. . is a *quicker-setting cement. 1593 SHAKS. Liter. 459 
There appears *Quick-shifting antics, ugly in her eyes. 
1876 T. HARDY Ethelberta (1890) 142 Faith s soft, *quick- 
shutting eyes looked unutterable things. 1813 T. BUSBY 
Lucretius I. in. 731 *Quick-spouting blood . . And fierce 
convulsions. 1884 Times 27 Feb. 7/6 The high-standing, 
*quick-stepping Clydesdales. i669 WORLIDGE Syst, Agric. 
(1681) 93 The Ash is a gallant *quick-thriving wood. 

b. With pa. pples., as quick-compounded t ~dra^vn^ 
-gone^ -raised^ -wrought adjs. 

1730-46 THOMSON Autumn 1363 The mind, The varied 
scene of "quick-compounded thought. 1882 J. HAWTHORNE 
fort. Fool i. xii, A "quick-drawn, panting sigh. 1887 
BOWEN I irg. SE_neid v. 202 The limb and the feverish Up 
Quiver with quick-drawn breath. 1818 KEATS Endym. I. 
375 He could not miss His *quick gone love. 1596 SHAKS. 
i Hen. IV, iv. iv. 12 The King, with mightie and *qmck- 
raysed Power. 1898 Q. Rev. Apr. 435 He wove for Theseus 
a snare "quick-wrought. 



QUICK. 

D. Special combs, or phrases (chiefly the adj. in 
close connexion with a sb., sometimes written as 
a single word, or hyphened) : ( quick anatomy 
(see ANATOMY i b) ; quick-change, atlrib. as 
epithet of an actor or other performer who quickly 
changes costume or appearance in order to play 
a different part; t quick dissection, vivisection; 
quick-fire, attrib. of a type of gun which can fire 
shots in rapid succession ; quick-firer, a quick- 
firing gun; quick-foot adv., in haste, swiftly; 
t quickfrith, plants to form a quick hedge ; quick- 
in-the-haud, a popular name of the yellow balsam; 
t quick-iron, the load-stone, magnet ; t quick- 
line, asbestos ; quick-loader, a device to enable 
a gun to be loaded quickly; t quick-mire, a quag 
mire ; quick relief, Naut., one who turns out 
speedily to relieve the watch (Smyth Sailor s Word- 
bk. 1867); quick-return, attrib. of gearing in a 
cutting machine which brings the bed quickly back 
after each cut of the tool (Knight Diet. Mech. 1875); 
quick saver, Naut., a span formerly used to 
prevent the courses from bellying too much when , 
off the wind (Smyth) ; f quick-scab, a form of 
scab in horses ; f quick shot, fg., small drink- 
ing-vessels that are quickly emptied; quick- 
side, Naut., = FKEE-BOABD ; t quick-spring, a 
running spring ; f quick-spur, one who rides 
quickly (in quot. jig.) ; quiek-stick^s), quickly, 
without delay (also in quick sticks} ; f quickthorn, 
thorn used for hedging ; f quickthorned a., resem 
bling hedge-thorn ; quick-water [ = G. quick- 
wasser], a solution of nitrate of mercury and gold 
used in water-gilding (Knight). See also QUICK- 
BEAM, -LIME, MARCH, -MATCH, -SAND, -SET, -SILVER, 
STEP, TIME, -WOOD, -WORK. 

1889 PallMallG. 3 Apr. 6/1 The celebrated "quick-change 
artist. 1578 BANISTER Hist. Man iv. 54 This is the notable 
vtilitie of Diaphragma, as the same Author reporteth to 



. 

xxvi. (1794) 407 We have also a wild species called Yellow 
Balsam, and also by the familiar names of Quick-in-hand 
and Touch-me-not. 1864 PRIOR Plant-n., Quick-in-the- 
hand, that is alive in the hand , the Touch-me-not, from 
the sudden bursting and contortion of its seed pods upon 
being pressed. 1398 TREVISA Earth. De P. R. XVI. Ixii. 
( T 495) 573 The stone magnes drawyth to itself yron, therfore 
in the comyn speche this yren is callyd *quycke yren. 
1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. 515 The ignorant people seeing 
these rings thus rubbed with the load-stone,, .call it quick- 
yron. Ibid. 4 There is a kind of Line found out which will 
not consume m the fire: this in Italy they call Quick-line. 
1884 Sat. Rev. 16 Feb. 209/2 A contrivance called a quick- 
loader* has been issued for simultaneous trial with the 
Martini-Enfield. c 1394 P. PI. Crede 226 Wij&gt; a face as fat 
as a full bledder. .pat all wagged his fleche as a quyk myre. 
1377 DEE Relat. Spir. i. (1659) 12 A place, where Springs, 
Quick-mires, and Bogs are. 1639 DE GRAV Expert Ferritr 
ii. xvii. 297 This malady, which we call the Quick-scab, .. run 
neth from one member of the horse to the other. \f&gt;*\Skeltons 



ouerset the ship. 1604 MOTTEUX Rabelais v. xvii. (1737) 76 
Lest the Ship s Quick-Side should lye in the Water. 1622 
A. COURT Constancie i. 33 Hence as from a *quick-spring 
did flow that Constancie. 1660 SHARROCK Vegetables 89 
You need but open that very place to your quick-spring, 
and give it a clear vent, and certainly your bog would 
decay. _ 1600 SURFLET Countric Farms m. xxi. 4^73 As 



BL. ^ ,_.._ 

stick. 1890 R. BOLDREWOOD ^Squatter s Dream xviT 204 
We should have a note to settle our little account in quick 
sticks. 1785 COWPER in Life (1836) V. 166 The people of 
Turvey have burnt him . . in effigy, with a bundle of 
"quickthorn under his arm. 1567 MAPLET Gr. Forest 89 
The Hedgehog hath a sharp and *quickthorned garment. 

Quick, sb? Also 4 quike, 5 quyke, quikk, 
9 north. w(h)ick. [Northern form of QUITCH sb}\ 
coll. or//. Couch-grass, and other field -grasses and 
weeds, or their underground stems. = QUICKEN s6* 

.11387 Sinon, Barthol. (Anecd. Oxon.) 23 Gramen,.. 
speciahter accipitur in medicina pro quadam herba..an 



8 5 Heavier harrows.. are used to clean t he land from quicks. 

1876- In northern dial, glossaries, in form vjhick or wick. 
So Quick-grass. (Cf. Da. qvik-, qvsekgrxs.) 
1617 MINSHEU Diiclor, Quickgrasse,..Gra/&lt; caninum. 

1711 tr. Pfftfl Hist. Drugs I. 52 There are several other 

Roots sold in the Shops, .as the Dog grass, or Quick grass. 

1765 Htuatm Rusticum IV. xxi. 94 It takes fresh root 

at its joints, like quick-grass. 1770-4 A. HUNTER Georg. 

ess. (1804) II. 213 Turned over when the least particle 

of quick-grass appears. 

Quick (kwik), w.l arch. Forms: i owic-, 
cwyc-, cucian, 3 quikie, 5 quykee (?) ; 2 quiken, 



haue beholden in *quicke dissections. 1891 Times 7 Oct. 
4/6 A Gruson *quicK-nre howitzer, which is intended to 
discharge shells in rapid succession. 1894 Pall Mall G. 
23 Oct. 2/1 They .. carry in their huge fighting masts an 
aisenal of quick-firers. 1901 Spectator 12 Oct. 524/1 The 
newest 6 in. quick-firers are not officially known as quick- 
firers, because they have not a metal cartridge-case. 1891 
ATKINSON Lastof Giant-killers yi\l\\\y ..vas. xvl off "quick- 
foot. 1536 MS. Ace. St. Johns Hasp., Canterb., Payd for ! 
atheryng*quykfryth. .iiiji/. i78sMARTYN Rousseau s Bot. 



54 

4 quik(e, quyk(ke, 4-5 quyke, 5 qwyk, queke, 
quek-, qvyk-, whykyn, 5-6 quycke, 6 quioke, 

4. 7- quick. [OE. cwician \*cwic6jan, f. ewic 
QUICK a., = OS. quikdn ; properly intransitive, but 
even in OE. also used transitively, there being no 
causative form corresponding to OHG. quichan, 
quicken. In common use from -1300-1450, after 
which examples are very rare.] 

1 1. intr. Of persons, animals, and plants, or their 
parts: To come to life ; to revive. 06s. = QUICKEN 
v. 6. 

(iooo Sax. Leechd. II. 338 Smire mid [&gt;a saran limu ; hie 
cwiciab sona. c izoo Trin. Coll. Horn. 177 To-3enes sumere 
alle moren quiken, and eorSe and trewes growen. c 1290 

5. Eng. Leg. I. 476/485 Mijhte bis wumman quikie a-3ein ; 
and liuen and hire sturie? 1:1425 Cursor- M. 20883 (Trin.) 
A ded mon quyked bi his shade, c 1520 L. ANDREWE Noble 
Lyfe in Babees Bk. (1868) 234 Whan she feleth her yonges 
quycke, or stere in her body. 

fig. c 1000 /ELFRIC Horn. I. 494 Se synfulla mid godcundre 
onbryrdnysse cucab. 

t b. Of a firebrand or fire : To kindle, begin to 
burn. Olis. rare. 

cnys Lamb. Horn. 81 pe brond be is al aquenched .. ne 
quikeS he neure. c 1384 CHAUCER H. Fame m. 988 As fire 
ys wont to quyk and goo. c 1386 Knt. s T. 1477 Oon of 
the fyres queynte And quyked agayn. 

fc. Of a rumour: To arise, spread. Obs. rare l . 

r 1425 Cursor M. 17476 (Trin.) Wo was hem . . whenne bis 
tiding bigon to quyk. 

2. fa. trans. To give or restore life to. 06s. 
QUICKEN v. i. 

C95o Lindisf.Gosp. John v. 21 Suae se fader a-uaecceS 5a 
deado & cuicaS, su&lt;e xc Se sunu &lt;5a3e [he] wil cwicao. 



c 1440 CAPGRAVE Life St. Kath. iv. 1801 Whan to the body 
he cam it for to queke. 1447 BOKENHAM Seyntys (Roxb.) 
85, L.beseche for thi dede man Qwyk hym ageyne lord. 

Jig. c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Th.) cxviii. 50 Me bin spraec spedum 
cwycade.^ f 1430 LYDG. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 177 Pray 
we to Crist. .To quyke a figure in cure conscience. 

b. To give or restore vigour to ; to stir up, in 
spire, etc. Now rare. = QUICKEN v. 2. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 2558 1 pou . . quicked vr hertes, suete iesu. 
1:1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. Wace (Rolls) 13247 pe ton quiked 
be tober to lyue, be Romayns to greue, fast gon bey stryue. 
1:1386 CHAUCER Pars. T. r 462 Ire. .is the feruent blood of 
man yquyked in his herte. c 1449 PECOCK Repr. n. xv. 237 
Forto quykee [sic] in hem the mynde . . of the bifore seid 
thingis. 1567 DRANT Horace, Ep. n. i. G vij, That poet . . 
That can stere vp my passions, or quicke my sprytes at all. 
1615 Albumazar i. ii. in Hazl. Dodsley XI. 308 Vour love 
sir, like strong water, .quicks your feeble limbs. 1898 T. 
HARDY IVessex Poems 188 That swift sympathy With 
living love Which quicks the world. 
t c. To kindle (a fire). Obs.rare. = QUICKEN 3. 

CI 374 CHAUCER Troylus ni. 484 (435) Pandarus to quyke 
alwey \K fyr Was euere y-lyk prest and dyligent. c 1386 
Frankl. T. 322 Hire [the moon s] desire Is to be quiked 
and lighted of your [the sun s] fire. 

Quick (kwik), z/.2 [f. QUICK a. B. 3.] trans. 
To furnish with a quickset hedge, rare. 

1801 Trans. Soc. Enc. Arts XIX. 73 A ditch.. quicked 
with a double row of fine plants. 18x9 T. THOMAS Ace. 
Fencing. For quicking and ditching Leasehold. 

Quick(kwik),z&gt;.3 Alsoafoz/.w(h)ick. [f.QuiCK 
sl&gt;*] To pull up quicks or couch-grass. Hence 
Quicking-drag (see qnot. 1800), -rake. 

1800 TUKE Agric. 85 Quicking-drag. In the northern 
part of the vale of York, a drag on an excellent construction 
is used, for cleaning the land from quicks. 1874 E. PEACOCK 
7. Markenfteld III. 113 Their boys and girls released., 
from tricking and singling turnips. 

Qui-ckbeam. 0/&gt;s. exc. dial. [App. f. QUICK a. 
+ BEAM, but the precise force of the adj. is not 
clear : cf. G. queck- and quickenbaum (also quits-, 
quitzen-, quitschenbatini) service-tree. The name 
belongs to the south of England.] = QUICKEN sl&gt;. 1 

In OE. glosses, cwicbea.ni usually renders L. cariscus. 



which seems to be otherwise unknown, and is perh. an error 
for tamariscus (cf. quot. 1587 below). 

a 700 Epinal Gloss. 238 Carts : - - " 

Leechd. II. 66 porn, esc, cwi( 
Wr.-Wiilcker 423/23 luniperu, 
Cast. Helt/te (1541) 59 Purger 
Hartis tongue : Quickbeme. i 



c xooo Sax. 
Voc. in 
ELVOT 



a 700 Epinal Gloss. 238 Cariscus, cuicbeam. 
L" c kd. II. 66 porn, zesc, cwicbeam. ciogo .. 6 ,. 
Wr.-Wulcker 423/23 luniperum, quicbeam. 1533 E 
Cast. Helthe (1541) 59 Purgers of melancolye . . Bourage : 
Hartis tongue : Quickbeme. 1562 [see QUICKEN st. l 1578 
LYTE Dodoens vi. Hi. 727 The barke of one kinde of Sorbus 
(whiche is our Quickbeme). 1579 LANGHAM Card. Health 
(1633) 628 The barke of the roots of heath may be vsed 
in stead of the barke of the root of Tamariske, rather then 
the barke of quickebeame. 1731 MILLER Gard.Dict., Sorbus 
The wild Service or Quickbeam. 1836 BRAY Descr. Tamar 
Sf Tavy vu. 122 Oaks . . interspersed with what is called 
in Devonshire the quick-beam, or mountain-ash 1873 
O CURRY Lect. Ancient Irish II. 213 Let them cut down 
and carry out loads of the quickbeam. 1884 JEFFERIES Red 
Deer xii. 112 In the Exmoor country the mountain-ash is 
called the quick-beam. 

attrib. c 1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 78 Wyl on wajtere ascrinde, 
cwicbeam rmde. 1562 TURNER Herbal n. (1568) 59 b The 
quikbem tre which is a kynde of sorbus. 1587 MASCALL 
Gmt. Cattle, Hogges (1627) 263 Tamarix, which as I thinke 
is called in the English quick-beame wood. 1760 J. LEE 
Introd; Bot. App. 324 Quickbeam-tree, Sorbus. 

Quick-chaws, obs. variant of KICKSHAW. 

Quicken (kwi-k n), *&lt;M Also 4 quiken, 6 
quickeue ; 6- -whieken, 7 whighen, 9 wicken, 
wiggin. [The northern equivalent of QUICKBEAM, 
and presumably from QUICK a., but the exact nature 



QUICKEN. 

of the ending is not clear : in early use always in 
comb, with tree. Cf. QUICK TREE. 

An OE. cioictrcow is found in glosses, rendering an obscure 
L. cresis or gnesis.} 

1. a. The mountain-ash, or rowan-tree (Pyrus 
aucuparia). b. The service-tree (Sorbus domes- 
tied). fC- The juniper. (Ots.) 

Comb, with tree, a 1387 Sinon. Barthol. (Anecd. Oxon.) 
26 yuniperus, quikentre. 1548 TURNER Names Heroes 
(E. D. S.) 75 The seconde kynde [of sorbus] is called .. in 
Englishe a rountree or a Quicken tree. 1561 Herbal 
II. (1568) 71 The tre whiche we call in the North countre 
a quicken tre or a rown tre, & in the South countre a 
quikbeme. 1686 PLOT Staffordsh. 223 The Fraxinus syl- 
vestris or Quicken-tree, which they firmly believe will 
certainly preserve them from all fascinations, and evill 
spirits. I7J6S1R J. HiLL^rc/./iVrAx/SHWehavetwoother 
species, i. The common Service. . . 2. The Quicken-tree. 
1844 M. A. RICHARDSON Borderer s Table-Ik. VII. 182 
Witchwood, the mountain ash . . called in divers parts of 
Northumberland the whicken-tree. 1857 O GRADY Pursuit 
Diarmuid 143 He . . followed Diarmuid s track to the foot 
of the quicken tree. 

absol. 1674 in Depos. Cast. York 209 They tye soe much 
whighen about him, I cannot come to my purpose, else 
I could have worn him away once in two yeares. 1756 
POCOCKE Trav. (1889) II. 217 The quicken and yew grow 
here. ^ 1769 R. FRENCH in A. Young Tour Irel. (1780) I. 
380 Two small groves .. consisting of quicken or mountain 
ash. 1857 O GRADY Pursuit Diarnutid 143, I know that 
Diarmuid is in the top of the quicken. 

2. attrib., as quicken-berry, -bough, -branch. 

1579 LANGHAM Card. Health (1633) 88 Mulberies, Quicken- 
berries, greene Grapes. 1671 SIR W. BOREMAN in F. P. 
Verney Mem. Verney Font. (1892) 1. 15 The king s, .thankes 
for the Quickenbury trees y" sent his ma 1 . 1879 HENDERSON 
Folk-lore vi. 184 Twigs of mountain-ash or quicken-berry. 
1894 YEATS Celtic Twilight 86 One of these bands carried 
quicken boughs in their hands. 

Quicken (kwi-k n), sb* Sc. and north, dial. 
Also north, whick-, wicken. [f. QUICK sb.%, the 
northern form of QUITCH.] Couch-grass; also//, 
the underground stems of this and other grasses. 

1684 MERITON Yorksh. Dial 41 Our Land is tewgh, and 
full of strang whickens. 1816 SCOTT A ntiq. xxxv, The plant 
Quicken, by which, Scottice, we understand couch-grass, 
dog-grass, or the Triticum repens^ of Linnaeus. 1842 J. 
AITON Doniest. Econ. (1857) 173 Quickens, docks, thistles,., 
furze, broom. 1898 J. R. CAMPBELL in Trans. Highl. ff Agric. 
Soc. 85 Quickens are in reality underground stems. Unlike 
roots they are jointed. . . Quickens are not confined to one 
species of grass. 

b. attrib. and Comb., as quicken-grass, -producer, 
quickens-scutch. 

1843 HARDY in Proc. Bet-w. Nat. Clut II. No. n. 63 note, 
Loosening and breaking the roots of the quicken-grass. 
1858 R. S. SURTEES Ask Mamma Ixv. 295 The rushes of 
one field and the whicken grass of the other. 1898 J. R. 
CAMPBELL in Trans. Highl. ij- Agric. Soc. 85 The grass that 
is best known to farmers as a quicken -producer is couch- 
grass. Ibid. 88 It is a_ common belief that fibrous root- 
scutch belongs to Agrostis, and that quickens-scutch belongs 
to couch-grass. 

tQui-cken, sb3 Obs. rare 1 . In 6 quiken. 
[f. QUICK a. Cf. B. 2.] A living creature. 

1523 FITZHERB. Husb. 55 If thou cut the lyuer, therin 
wyll be lyttell quikens lyke flokes. 

Quicken (kwi-k n), v. Forms : a. 4 quicken, 
-in, quikken, -in, quiken, -yn, quekeu, qui-, 
quykne, quicn-, quykene(n, qwi-, qwycken, 
(-kk-), qwi-, qwykyn, qwykn-, 4-5 qwyken, 5 
quyknyn, 4-6 quyken, 5-6 quikin, 5-8 quicku-, 
6 quycken, -yn, quyckn-, Sc. quyckyn, -kkin, 
quikkine, quikn-, 6- quicken. /3. 4 quhykine, 
whiken, 5 qwhykkyn. [f. QUICK a, + -EN 6. Cf. 
ON. kvikna, kykna to come to life, come into being, 
Sw. qvickiia ; Da. dial, kvifgne to refresh. In Eng. 
the trans, sense is more usual than the intr.] 
I. Transitive senses. 

1. To give or restore life to ; to make alive ; to 
vivify or revive ; to animate (as the soul the body). 

a 1300 Cursor M. 20883 Petre. .a ded he quickend wit his 
schade. 1:1380 WYCLIF Whs. (1880) 344 Whenne he had 
qwickened lazar, he brou^t him out of his sepulcre. c 1440 
Promp. Pan . 421/1 Quyknyn [ K., P. quykyn], vegeto, vivi. 

fco. 1535 COVERDALE 2 Kings v. 7 Am I God then, that 
can kyll and quycken agayne. 1601 SHAKS. AlCs Well 
n. i. 77 A medicine . . able to breath life into a stone, Quicken 
a rocke. 1674 N. FAIRFAX Bulk ft Sel-i. 28 The soul that 
I was quickned with at birth day, is the same that I am 
quickned with at this day. 1730-46 THOMSON A ntumn 664 
Still the fresh Spring finds New plants to rjuicken. 1819 
SHELLEY Cenci iv. i. 189 111 things Shall, with a spirit of 
unnatural life, Stir and be quickened. 1876 MORRIS Sigurd 
ii. 84 How many things shalt thou quicken, how many shall 
thou slay ! 

b. Jig. in renderings of Biblical passages, or 
echoes of these, occas. with ref. to spiritual life. 

a 1300 E. E. Psalter Ixxxiv. 6 God, bou turned qwycken 
vs sal. 1357 Lay Folks Catech. 150 [Crist] whikend [Lamb. 
MS. qwyknyd] us un-to lyf thurgh his risyng. 1383 WYCLIF 
John vi. 64 It is the spirit that quykeneth, the fleysch pro- 

:._.u .1.: ._ T-\ IT? .-- .. n - - 



fiteth nothing. 1513 DOUGLAS JEneis x. Prol. 128 To 
quykkin thy sclavys tnolit schamful ded maiste fell. 1563 
WINJET tr. Vincent. Lirin. Wks. 1890 II. 23 He wald .. 



quikin his spiritual peple afoir slane. 01653 BINNING 
Serm. (1845) 9 The second Adam aspired to quicken what 
Adam killed. 

t c. To be quickened = 6 b. Obs. 
1599 NASHE Lenten Stuffe Wks. 1883-4 V. 268 She was 
now quickned, and cast away by the cruelty of ^Eolus. 1607 



QUICKEN. 

MARKHAM Carat, i. (1617) 50 Let their Mares after they 
are quickned, be moderately travelled or wrought. 

2. To give, add, or restore vigour to (a person or 
thing) ; to stimulate, stir up, rouse, excite, inspire. 

a. a person, 

1523 LD. BERNERS Froiss. I. Ixxxi.v. in Loue quickened 
hym day and night. 1525 Ibid. II. ex. [cvi.] 317, I am 
quickened so to do. 1542 N. UDALL in Lett. Lit. Men 
(Camden) 7 A contynuall spurre..to pricke and to quicken 
me to goodnes. a. 1632 T. TAYLOR God s Jitdgeni. \. it. Hi. 
(1642) 413 Vou .. he now quickened and stirred up to his 
love. 1703 PENN in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem. IX. 271, I hope., 
you will be quickened to show yourselves men in that affair. 
1856 KANE Arct. Exf&gt;l. I. xxviL 352 We were like men 
driven to the wall, quickened, not depressed. 1874 GREEN 
Short Hist. viii. 5. 519 He rode through England to quicken 
the electors to a sense of the crisis. 

b. a feeling, faculty, action, course of things, etc. 
t Also with up. 

1423 JAS. I Kingis Q. clxxxi, To quikin treuly day by day 
my lore. 1450-1530 Myrr. our Ladye 68 Other bokes ther 
be that ar made to quyken, & to sturre vp the affeccyons 
of the soule. 1579-80 NORTH Phttarch (1595) 236 The first 
honour that valhant mindes do come vnto, doth quicken vp 
their appetite. 1659 RUSHW. Hist. Coll. I. 538 Sir Dudley 
Diggs quickned his motion and spoke roundly. 1723 DE 
FOE Colt Jack (1840) 89 This quickened my resolution. 
1781 COWPER Charity 522 The frequent interjected dash 
Quickens a market, and helps off the trash. 1853 MAURICE 
Proph. ff Kings ix. 150 The savage impulses of the soldier 
became quickened. 1883 FROUDE Short Stud. IV. n. iii. 
194 Other conventional teliefs, too, were quickened into 
startling realities. 
C. absol. 

1581 MULCASTER Positions xxxix. (1887) 2I 5 To consider 
of education and learning, what is good and quickneth. 
1637 HEVWOOD Roynll King u. Wks. 1874 VI. 33 The 
King . . quickens most where he would most destroy, a 1859 
DE QUINCEY in Page Life (1877) I. ii. 20 Pillar of fire, that 
didst go before me to guide and to quicken. 

3. To kindle (a fire) ; to cause or help to burn up. 
^1340 HAMPOLE Psalter xvii. 10 Coles J&gt;at before ware 

ded..ere kyndild and qwikynd agayn. ^1386 CHAUCER 
Frankl. T. 322 Her desir Is to be qwykkened and li^tned 
of jour fire. 1556 J. HEVWOOD Spider $ F. xiv. 59, 1 will 
yet once againe, quicken this cole. 1751 Ajffect. Narr. of 
Wager 105 The Fire they dress d by was. .quickned by the 
Timber of one of the Casks. 1870 MORRIS Earthly Par. 
III. iv. 75 While she Quickened the fire. 1887 BROWNING 
ParleyingS) F. Furini xi, Let my spark Quicken your 
tinder. 

4. a. To make (liquor or medicine) more sharp 
or stimulant. ? Obs. 

1591 SPENSER Muiopotm . 196 Dull Poppie, and drink- 
quickning Setuale. 1713 STEELE Guard. No. 143 F 8 Rack- 
punch, quickned with brandy and gun-powder. 1733 CHEYNE 
Eng.Malady\\. xL3 (1734) 232 Diaphorelicks. .quickened 
withvolatill Spirits. 1799 M, UNDERWOOD Diseases Children 
(ed. 4)^ I. 55 A few grains of magnesia . . forms a much neater 
medicine (which may be quickened and warmed by the addi 
tion of a few drops of tincture of senna). 

b. To imbue (tin) with quicksilver, rare. 
1799 [see QUICKENING vbl. sb. and ppl. a, ]. 1825 J NICHOL- 
SON Operat. Mechanic 728 Mercury, .soon unites itself with 
the tin, which then becomes very splendid, or, as the work 
men say, is quickened. 

C. dial. To work with yeast. (Halliwell.) 

5. To hasten, accelerate, give speed to. 

1626 BACON Sylva 990 You may sooner by Imagination 
quicken or slacke a Motion, than raise or cease it. 1691 
I. H[ALE] Ace, New Invent. 127 In what proportion 
Smoothness, Sope and Tallow doth quicken [a ship s way], 
1776 ADAM SMITH IV. N. (1869) I. i. i. u To facilitate and 
quicken their own particular part of the work. 1786 MAD. 
D ARBLAY Diary 17 July, I was only quickening my pace, 
when I was again stopped. 1838 THIRLWALL Greece IV. 
381 It had induced him to quicken his departure. 1855 
BAIN Senses % Int. n. iv. n (1864) 275 In rapid walking, 
the very thoughts are quickened. 
b. To make (a curve) sharper. 

1711 W. SUTHERLAND Shipbuild. Assist. 162 To Quicken 
the Sheer ; to shorten the Radius that strikes out the Curve. 
ciSso Rudim, Navig, (Weale) 139 To quicken^ to give 
anything a greater curve. 
II. Intransitive senses. 

6. To receive life, to become living ; f also, to 
recover life, to revive. 

1382 WYCLIF i Kings xvii. 22 The soule of the child is 
turned a?en with ynne hym, and he a^en quikenyde. 1530 
PALSGR. 677/1, I quycken, I revyve, as a thyng dothe that 
fyrst doth begyn to styrre, or that was wyddered, or almoste 
deed. 1553 T - WILSON Rhet. 29 Hym that killeth the child 



Seas, the bottom being too cold for it to quicken there, 1823 
SCOTT Pntril xiii, The seed which is sown shall one day 
sprout and quicken. 1842 TENNVSON Vision of Sin 210 
Below were men and horses pierced with worms, And slowly 
quickening into lower forms. 

fig. 1851 DIXON W. Penn xv. (1872) 132 The germ of 
Pennsylvania was quickening into life. 

b. Of a female : To reach the stage of pregnancy 
at which the child shows signs of life. Cf. i c. 

53 PALSGB. 677/r She quyckynned on al ballon day. 
1662-3 PEPVS Diary i Jan., She quickened at my Lord 
Gerard s at dinner. 1748 [see QUICKENING vii. s6.1. 1822-34 
Good s Study Meit. (ed. 4) IV. 183 A woman .. became preg. 
nant, quickened and had a flow of milk in the breasts. 

fig. 1695 BLACKMORE Pr. Arth. n. 26 Barren Night did 
pregnant grow, And quicken d with the World in Embrio. 

7. Jig. To come into a state of existence or ac 
tivity comparable to life. Const, to, into. 

01300 Cursor M. 26482 All quickens [a]gain his first 
penance M tint was. 13.. K. E. Allit. f&gt;. C. 471 pat J&gt;er 



55 

quikken no cloude bifore be cler sunne. r 1386 CHAUCER 
Pars. T. F474 Lookehow that fir of smale gleedes that been 
almoost dede vnder asshen wollen quike agayn. 1435 MISYN 
Fire of Love 8r pe self sawle. .qwhykkynand toheuehlylik- 
yng. t^o Fasten Lett. No.648 II. 406 The materqwykenn- 
ythe bothe fTor yowe and yowres. is68GRAFTONC /mw. II. 
203 At this time also, the warre began to quicken in Guyan. 
1821 SHELLEY False Laurels q True ii The hopes that 
quicken . . Are flowers that wither. 1829 I. TAYLOR Enthus. 
vi. 177 Countries that were quickening into freedom, a 1881 
ROSSETTI House of Life ii, At her heart Love lay Quicken 
ing in darkness. 
b. To grow bright. 

1712-4 POPE Rafe Lock I. 144 Sees ..keener lightnings 
quicken in her eyes. 1859 TENNYSON Geraint fy Enid 535 
The pale and bloodless east began To quicken to the sun. 
1885 BRET HARTE Mamja i, Meanwhile the light [of day) 
quickened. 

8. To become faster, to be accelerated. 

1805 [see QUICKENING ///. .]. 1857 W. SMITH Thorndalc 
111. iv. 226 His step quickened, his countenance lighted up 
with joy. 1891 T. HARDY Tess xxx, Tess s breath quickened. 

t Qui ckenaiice. Obs. rare. Also 7 quick- 
nance, [f. prec. + -ANCE.] = QUICKENING vbl. sb. 

a 1617 BAYNE On E/&gt;h. (1643) 396 Could he not. .swallow 
up death, create life and quicknance in us. 1656 JEANF.S 
Fuln. Christ 21 A living member of her, which hath .. 
quickenance from the head of the Church. 

Qui-ckened, ppl.a. [f. QUICKEN v. + -EDI.] 
Made living or quick ; animated, stimulated ; 
hastened, accelerated ; etc. 

1612 DRAYTON 1 oly-olb. iii. 208 Not from the quick ned 
mine. 1660 Charac. Italy to Rdr. Aiv, Some Squeamish 
Zealot, who. .is become a meer lump of quickened Care. 
1805 SOUTHEY Matioc in Aztlan i, His blood Flow d 
from its quicken d spring. 1894 H. DRUMMOND Ascent 
A/an 389 Courtship, with its vivid perceptions and quickened 
emotions. 

Quickener (kwi-k nsj). [f. QUICKEN v. + 
-ER 1 .] One who or that which quickens, in various 
senses of the verb. 

1513 DOUGLAS ^Eneis xii. Prol. 254 Welcum quyknar of 
florist flowris schene. EriBxMuLCASTR/ &lt;v2Vnff vi. (1887)40 
The soule, . . the quickner of the body. 1653 H. MORE 
Anlid. Ath. II. xii. 12 Notable whetters and quickners of 
the spirit of life. 1767 S. PATERSON Another Trav. I. 425 
Ke-edifiers of fallen temples, and quickeners of dead laurels. 
1820 W. IRVING Sketch Bk. (1859) 137 These tokens of 
regard, and quickeners of kind feelings. 1879 M. D. COX- 
WAY Demonol. I, i. ii. Q Baal . . represents the Sun in his 
glory as quickener of Nature. 

Qui ckening, sl&gt;. rare~ l . = QOICKEN sb. z So 
also Qui ckening -g-rass. 

1763 Museum Kusticum IV. 454 Stones, quickenings, and 
every other thing that may hinder the growth of the flax, 
should be removed. Ibid. 456 Quickening grass should not 
be taken up. 1765 A. DICKSON Treat. Agric. (ed. 2) 106 
Of the first sort is the quickening-grass, or couch-grass. 

Quickening (kwi-k nirj),^/. sb. [f. QUICKEN i&gt;. 
+ -ING 1 .] The action of the vb. QUICKEN, in 
various senses. 

ci4}o Pilgr. Lyf Manhode n. cviii. (1869) 116 He hadde 
with mne gret quiknyng of cole. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de 
W. 1531) lib, For the. .quyckenynge of theyr reason. 1577 
tr. Bullingers Decades (1592) 45 Justification of life there 
fore is. .a quickening or translating from death to life. 1626 
Naiuortk Househ. Bks. (Surtees Soc.) 237 To Eyst for iij 
quickinings, ..xviij*. 1655 H. VAUGHAN Silex Scint., Holy 
Cotnmun. i, Nothing that is, or lives, But hath his Quick- 
nings, and reprieves. 1748 Phil. Trans. XLV. 132 After 

2uickening her Health became better. 1799 G. SMITH 
aboratory I. Pref. 6 Quickening is a singular expression 
to be employed in gilding. 1874 GREEN Short Hist. vii. 
7. 419 The intellectual quickening of the age had now 
reached the mass of the people. 

b. eoncr. That which quickens ; hence, yeast, a 
quantity of yeast, dial. 

1598 FLORID, Creimfre, yeast, barme, quickninff. 1790 
MRS. WHEELER Westmld. Dial. (1821) 81 Me mudder lent 
her a whicknin, an we wor bawn at brew. 

Quickening (kwi-k nirj), ///. a. ff. QUICKEN 
v. + -ING 2.] That quickens, in senses of the vb. 

1382 WVCLIF i Cor. xv. 45 The laste Adam [is made] in to 
a spmt_quykenynge. 1531 FRITH Judgm. Tracy (1573) 80 
Fayth is .. the quickning power out of which all good fruites 
spring. 1590 SPENSER F. Q. i. v. 12 Quickning faith. .The 
creeping deadly cold away did shake. 1674 J. B[RIAN] 
Harv. Home Postscr. 53, I finisht have The first part of 
this quickning Text. 1799 G. SMITH Laboratory I. 89 
A quickening water. Take one ounce of quicksilver, and as 
much aqua fortis [etc.]. 1805 WORDSW. Prelude iv. i When 
quickening steps Followed each other. 1870 H. MACMILLAH 
bible Teach. Pref. 15 Bursting buds and quickening roots. 

Quickening-grass : see QUICKENING si. 

Quicken-tree : see QUICKEN rf.l 

Quick-eyed, a. Having a quick eye (see 
QUICK a. 20). Alsoy?^. 

a 1616 BEAUM. & FL. Rondnca iv. iii, Care, counsel, Quick- 
eyed experience, and victory. 1647 H. MORE Song of Soul 
II. ill. III. xii, The cheerfull children of the quick-ey d Morn. 
1727-46 THOMSON Summery The quick-eyed trout Or dart 
ing salmon. 1809-10 COLERIDGE ^rrf(i865)2r4Brissot.. 
was rather a sublime visionary than a quick -eyed politician. 
1876 T. HARDY F.tkclberta (1890) 215 A quick-eyed, light- 
haired, slight-built woman. 

Quick-grass: see QUICK rf.2 

Quickhatch (kwi-k|hxtf). Also 8 queeque-, 
9 quicke-. [An adaptation of the Cree (Indian) 
name, given by Richardson as okeecoohagces or 
-gnv, by Watkins (1865) as kwekisiukao ; from 
other Algonquin dialects come the forms CARCAJOU 
and KTNKAJOU.] The wolverene. 



QUICKLY. 

1743 M. CATESBY Nat. Hist. I. xxx.The quickhatch. ,ha 
not been observed by any author, or known in Europe, till 
the year 1737, one was sent to Sir Hans Sloane. 1744 
A. DOBBS Countries Adjacent to Hudson s Bay 40 The 
beavers have three enemies, man, otters, and the carcajou 
or queequehatch. 1829 J. RICHARDSON Fauna Boreali- 
Americana I. 42 The European labourers in the service of 
the Hudson s Bay Company term it Quickehatch. 

Quick hedge : see QUICK a. 3 b. 

Qui eking, vbl. sbl rare. [f. QUICK z/.i + 
-ING 1 .] = QUICKENING vbl. sb. 

ci4oo Apol. Loll. 54 pe principale and be finale wark of 
Crist. .is be quiking of soulis. 1666 BROMK On Death 
K. Charles 18 He did fall, Whose influence Rave quicking 
to us all. 1825 J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 719 Some 
times the amalgam is applied to the surface to be gift, with 
out any quicking, by spreading it with aqua-fortis. 

Qui-cking, vbl. sbt rare. [f. QUICK w.2 + 
-ING!.] a. The action of planting with quick . 
b. foncr. The quicksets for a hedge. 

1469-70 Durham Ace. Rolls (Surtees) 244 Et sol \\s. pro le 
qwyking sepium unius clausuia;. 1485-6 Ibid. 649 Pro le 
qwhykkyng circa clausur. . .vijs. 1664 EVELYN Sylva (1776) 
402, I find most do greatly affect the vulgar way of Quicking. 

Quicking-drag : see QUICK zj.3 

Qui cklime. [f. QCTCK a. + LIME, after L. calx 
viva (Yitruvius), F. chaux vizv, etc.] Lime which 
has been burned and not yet slaked with water ; 
calcium oxide, CaO. 

(1400 Rom. Rose 4179 The mor(ere..Of quykke lyme 
peisant and egre. 1489 CAXTON Faytes of A. n. xxxix. 163 
To be cast to the shyp of the enemies pottes full of quyk 
lyme made in to pouldre. a 1533 Lo. BERNERS Huon cxii. 
389 They cast vpon them hole lede and boylynge oyle and 
quycke Lyme. 1590 WEBBE Trar. (Arb.) 31 Constrained 
to drinke sake water and quicklime. 1683 BOYLE Salubr. 
Air 61 Such a thick smoke as good quicklime is wont to 
doe, whilst men slake it with water. 1703 MOXON Alech. 
F.xerc. 242 Quick Lime, .consumes dead Bodies put therein. 
1813 SIR H. DKTI Agric. Chcm. vii. (1814) 317 Quicklime 
in its pure state, .is injurious to plants. 1873 13. STEWART 
Cotuerv, Force iii. 58 Limestone .. is decomposed when 
subjected to the heat of a lime-kiln, carbonic acid being 
given oft", while quick-lime remains behind. 

attrib. 1684 BOYLE Porousn. Anim. ff Solid Bod. vi. 55 Dip 
a_very large Sponge in good Quick-lime-water. 1861 KLOR. 
NIGHTINGALE Nursing ii. 23 Washing the walls and ceilings 
with quick-lime wash. 

t Qui-ckly, a. Obs. fan- 1 . In 5 qwhikly. 
[f. QUICK a. + -LYi. Cf. ON. kvikligr.] Lively. 

1435 MISYN Fire of Love 96 If bou lufe in )&gt;ismaner..to 
bat qwhikly syght kou salt be nere full glorius. 

Quickly (.kwi kli), adv. Forms: see QUICK a. 
(Also era//. 3cwicluker, 5qwyklyar,qwhykliar; 
sup. qwhikestly, 6 quyklyst.) [f. QUICK a. + 
-LY*. Cf. ON. kvikliga] 

1 1. In a living or lively manner ; with animation 
or vigour ; also, with strong feeling, sensitively. Obs. 

c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Th.) cxviii. ^7 Me on so3ne we^ binne .. 
la;de cwiculice. c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. M acf (Rolls) 
6722 Be 5e doughty, & lere|) of armes, & quykly defende 
30W fro harmes. c 1380 WYCLIF Serin. Sel. Wks. II. 251 
Men shulden . . do quycly wijj her lippis bi resoun of Goddis 
cause. 1435 MISYN Fin of Lore 77, I suld more loy or 
ellis qwyklyar syng^e. c 1440 HVLTON Scala Perf. (W. de 
W. 1494) II. xxviii, Suche a man.. is soo quyckely and soo 
felyngly inspired, i 1449 PFCOCK Repr. i. ix. 47 It is quikli 
and smertli spoken. 1596 DALRYMH.E tr. Leslie s Hist. 
Scot. ix. 153 Al his speiking euer taisted of heavinlines..to 
. .steir thame up quiklier, quha war in the gud way. 1738 
WAKBURTON Div. Legal, n. iv. (R.), It was proper to 
represent a perfect lawgiver as quickly touched with all the 
affections of humanity. 1800 in Spirit Pub. Jrnls. IV. 340 
Ministers of state have a right to feel rather quickly upon 
the subject of character. 

f b. With quickness of perception. Obs. 

(-1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. Wace (Rolls) 7782 By alle be 
costes quykly to wake pat no Saxoyn on ;ow aryue. 1486 
Bk. SI. A Ibans C viij b, Of sharpenesse of fair corage and of 
hir lokyng quicly. 1587 GOLDING De Mornay xiv. 217 
There are beasts which do heere, see, smel, taste, and feele 
much better and quicklier than man doth. 

fc. In a life-like manner ; to the life. Obs. 

c 1477 CAXTON Jason 84 An ymage of fyn golde so quickly 
made after the facon of appollo that it semed proprely his 
persone. c 1525 SKELTON Garl. Laurel 592 A lybbard,.. 
As quikly towchyd as it were flesshe and bones, a 1529 
P. Sparowe 1 1 21 Handes soft as sylke .. That are so 
quyckely vayned. a 1605 Uankis Helicon 41 in Mont- 
gomerie s Poems (1887) 274 Not abill, in tabill, With colours 
competent, So quiklie or liklie A form to represent. 

2. Rapidly, with haste or speed. 

a. Describing the rate of progress in a motion, 
action, or process, without consideration of the 
time at which it begins and ends. 

1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 7455 His folc quicliche to be 
bataile sscet. a 1400-50 Alexander 1414 Sum braidis to 
bar bowis .. Quethirs out quarels quikly betwene. 1526 
Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 119 We may fele our pulses 
bete quikly and continually, a 1548 HALL Chron., Hen. V 
50 He . . folowed so quickely that the Frenchmen turnyng to 
flyght, ranne [etc.]. 1829 LANDOR Imag. Conv., Man d fy 
Bp. Parker Wks. 1853 II. iii/r We. .throw them down in 
the dirt to make them follow us the quicklier. 1860 TYNDALL 
Glac. II. i. 226 The wings of the small insect vibrate more 
quickly than those of the larger one. 

b. Denoting that the whole action or process is 
begun and ended within a comparatively short 
space of time. 

a 1225 Aticr. R. 270 Ich chulle gon nu slepen & arisen 
nunon, & don cwicluker ben nu |i&gt;et ich schulde don nu. 
c 1420 Pal/ad, on Husb. vi. 122 So smyte hem of, quycly 



QUICK MARCH. 

that hit be do. 1435 MI.SYN J-irc of Love 81 Now qwhykliar, 
now slawlyer, it warnies. 1544 PHAER Rcgim. Lyfc (1553) 
E iij, A little good wine, .is the chiefe thing that quickliest 
restoreth him. 1596 DALRYMPI.K tr. Leslie s Hist. Scot. I. 
95 Breid wil thay make quiklier . . [in this way] nor vthirwyse. 
1629 EARLE Microcosm., High-spirited Man (Arb.&gt; 92 A 
man quickly fired, and quickly laid downe with satisfaction. 
1677 JOHNSON in Rays Corr. (1848) 128 Possibly their 
stomach may digest very quickly. 1747 WESLEY Prim. 
Physic. (176?) 117 This quickly heals even cut Veins anil 
Sinews. i8n A. T. THOMSON Land. Disp. (1818) 607 On 
this account decoctions should be quickly made. 1861 
FLOK. NIGHTINGALE Nursing 41 Leave the sick room 
quickly and come into it quickly, not suddenly, nor with 
a rush. 

c. Denoting that there is little or no interval 
between a given point in time and the doing of an 
act or happening of an event (freq. also implying 
a or b) ; without delay ; very soon, shortly. 

&lt; 1205 LAY. 4697 He.. bad hine quicliche a^euen him his 
quene. ^1330 Arth. fy Mer(- 7809 (Kiilbing) Soriandes .. 
o$ain ferd For to taken qulclike be children. 1393 LANGL. 
P. PI. C. xxi. 76 Quikliche cam a cacchepol, and craked 
a-two here legges. 1490 CAXTON Eneydos xxvi. 94 Aryse 
vp quykly without taryenge. IS^TAVERXER F.rasm.Proi . 
(1545) 25 He gyueth twyse, y l gyueth quyckelye, 1593 
SHAKS. 3 Hen. * /, iv. i. 132 They are alreadie, or quickly 
will be landed. 1603 Macb. iv. iii. 200 If it be mine 
Keepe it not from me, quickly let me haue it. 1666 BUNYAN 
Grace Abound. 29 But quicklyafterthls, I fell in company 
with one poor man. 1779-81 JOHNSON /,. P. t Mallet \Vk&gt;. 
1787 IV. 282 The series of great men, quickly to be 
exhibited. 1847 MRS. A. KERR Hist. St-rz ia 308 Retalia 
tion and vengeance quickly followed. 1888 Pall MallG. 
12 Dec. 12/1 Quickly afterwards a Conservative member . . 
carried it off. 

3. Used with ppl. adjs., as quickly-aging, gone, 
-growing, -speaking^ working. 

1597 GERARDE Herbal Table Eng. Names, Quickly gone 
flower, that is Uenice Mallow. 1866 ODLING Anim. Chem. 
^o A quickly-growing leafy plant. 1870 W. D. CHRISTIE 
in Drydens Wks. (Globe) p. xv, An active and quickly 
working brain. 1874 LISLF CARR Jud. Givynne I. i. 44 The 
quickly-speaking eyes of the dashing warrior. 

Quick march. Mil. [In i, f. QUICK a. + 

MARCH sl&gt;. In 2, f. (or altered to) QUICK adv. 2 + 
MARCH v.] 

1. A march in QUICK TIME. Alsoy^. 

1751 HUME Ess. &lt;$ Treat. (1777) I. 287 That quick march 
of the spirits .. does in the tfnd exhaust the mind. 1796 
Instr. tf Reg. Cavalry (1813) 247 The Quick March, 108 
steps in a minute, 1867 SMYTH Sailor* s \\~ord-bk.i Quick 
march, . . the ordinary pace is 3$ miles to the hour, or no 
paces (275 feet) to the minute. 

attrib. 1852 DICKENS Bleak Hf. II. "111.32 Softly whistling, 
in quick-march time. 

2. Used as a command to soldiers to march in 
quick time (see quots. 1802 and 1833). 

i8oa TAMES Milit. Diet., Quick .. forms the cautionary 
part of a word of command when troops are ordered to 
move in quick time ; as Quick March. 1833 Regul. Instr. 
Cavalry 1. 18 Quick March. Thecommana^///^, March* 
is to be given with a pause between the words, the word 
Quick being considered as a caution. 1887 Times (weekly 
ed.) 18 Nov. 2/4 The words of command were .. Eyes front, 
by your right, quick march . 

Quick-match. A quick-burning match used 
for firing cannon, igniting fire-works, shells, etc., 
consisting of cotton-wick soaked in a composition 
of gum, spirits, water, and gunpowder. 

1765 R. JONES Ftrcivorks ii. 66 Quick-match is generally 
made of such cotton as is put in candles. 1803 WELLINGTON 
Let. to Col. Stevenson in Gurw. Desp. (1837) II. 418 A shell 
or two. .having in them a bit of quick match, besides the 
fuse. 1847 ALB. SMITH Chr. Tadpole ^xxxviii. (1870) 324 Any 
family wrong acted like a quick-match amongst them all. 

attrib. 1802 JAMES Milit. Diet. s.v. Laboratory^ Stores 
for a Fire-ship of 100 tons. .Quick-match barrels i. 

Quickness (kwi-kaii). [f. QUICK a. + -NESS.] 
1. Life, vitality, vital principle. Now rare, 
a 1215 Ancr. R. 150 J?e rinde. .is pe treouwes warde, & wit 
t = keepsj hit ine strencSe & ine cwicnesse. c 1440 Pronip. 
Parv. 421/1 Quyknesse, of lyve, vita. 1538 STARKEY 
Dialogue 87 In a goute the handys and fete ..be as dede, 
wyihout lyfe and quyknes to procure thyngys necessary 
for the body. 1545 RAYNOLD Byrtk Mankynde 139 The 
lyfe and quycknesse of the grayne is vtterly destroyed. 
1613 M. RIDLEY Magn. Bodies 63 As though they had a new 
life of quicknesse infused into them. 1655 H. VAUGHAN 
Siltx Sf infill, u. Quickness v, Life is . . A quickness, which 
my God hath kist. 1883 Pop. Sci. Monthly XXII. 168 All 
the energies seen in nature are .. but manifestations of the 
essential life or quickness of matter. 

1 2. Animation, liveliness, briskness, vigour, fresh 
ness, etc. Obs. 

c 1369 CHAUCER Dethe Blaunchc 26 Defaulte of slepe, and 
hevynesse Hath sleyne my spirite of quyknesse. 4:1430 
Pol. Rcl. tf L. Poems (1866) 28 To grant it [a statue] lyfe 
and qwiknesseof langage. 1539 MORE Dyaloge u. Wks. 1557 
11,83/1 Make hym do al hys good woorkes wearyly, and 
wilhoute consolacion or quyckenes. 1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. 
/V/&gt; i. xxvii. (Arb.) 60 That disticke of Virgil ..I will 
recite for the breifnes and quicknes of it. 1636 A rtif. Hand- 
Sff o i 6 . 3 Addln S a quicknesse of complexion to the face. 

*. Liveliness, readiness, rapidity, or acuteness of 
feeling, perception or apprehension. 
a. Physical ; esp. 0/the eyes or sight. 

1398 TRF.VISA Bartk. Dt P. R. v. xxix. (1495) 140 For 
quyknes and lyfnes of thesynewes. .in the ouermest partyes 
of the fyngres. i6 COCKERAM u, Quicknesse of sight, 
*&"**( {? &* LD PRESTON Bottk. ,. 3 A Woman . 
wilh sparkling Eyes, which were of an extraordinary Force 
andQu.ckness ,841 LANE^*. Nts. I. 127 The altonish- 
ing quickness of sight of one of the hawks 



56 



1516 I ilgr. Pcrf. (W. de W. 1531) 216 b, He halh this 




people, a 1661 FI LLER Worthies (1840) II. 382 Whom he 
much resembled in quickness of parts. 1735 POPE Ef. Lady 
97 With too much Quickness ever to be taught. 1798 
EDGF.WOBTH Pract. Educ. (1822) I. 113 Attentive patience 
can do as much as quickness of intellect. 1884 L J. JEN 
NINGS Crater Pafcrs I. viii. =33 A man of great quickness 
of spirit and acuteness. 

4. Speed, rapidity(of action, motion, etc.); sharp 
ness (of a curve) ; hastiness (of temper). 

1548 HALL Chron., Hen. V 60 Their quicknes and swift- 
nes did more prejudice to theyr enemyes. 1597 HOOKER 

ith a 



npanions from their bed of qu . 

fig* 1847-9 HELI S Friends in C. Ser. i. (1851) II. 4 Men 



QUICKSILVER. 

would have one sturdy quickset of the same height and 
colour both in their fellow-men and their hedges. 

b. With a and //. A single slip or cutting of this 
kind. 

i53 FITZHERB. Husb. 124 Get thy quycksettes in the 
wode-contrey and let them be of whyte thorne and crabtre 



trees, or any Coppice-wood, or Hedge-wood ; and also 
Quick-sets. 1794 Act /or inclosing South Kelsey 13 For 
preserving the young Quicksets to be planted in the Fences. 
1866 ROGERS Agric. &lt;$ Prices I. xviii. 428 Quicksets are also 
purchased, for the same purposes as those which are familiar 
to the modern agriculturist. 
2. A quickset hedge or thicket. 



ness. 1719 Col. Rcc. Fcnnsyk: III. 366 His Horse was 
hurt through the quickness of the Journey. 1796 MORSE 
Amtr.Gtog. I. 62 The quickness of vegetation .. proceeds 
from the duration of the sun above the horizon. 1858 
Skyring s Guilder s Prices (ed. 48) 57 The quickness of the 
curve and depth of the quirks make them difficult of access 
to work. 1863 A. BLOMFIELD Mem. ISp. Blomfield II. ix. 
1 80 A quickness of temper which . . marred the perfection of I 
his character. 

b. \Vith a and //. : A case or instance of this. 

1656 tr. Hobtcs Elcnt. Philos. (1839) 218 The sum of all 
the several quicknesses or impetus. 1883 BESANT All in a 
Garden Fair (1886) 78 Little quicknesses of gesture. 

1 5. Sharpness, keenness ; pungency or acidity of 
taste ; sharpness of speech. 06s. 

1611 BEAUM. & FL. MaitFs Trag. i. i. To see my sword, 
and feel The quickness of the edge. 1647 CLARENDON Hist. 
Reb. i. 83 Her Majesty answering with some quickness. 
1652-62 HEVLIN CosttH gr. in. (1682) 2g Lemmons, Pome- 
granats, Citrons, .much praised for their quickness of taste. 
1741 Cviitpl. Fain.-Piece i. i. 52 The Quickness of the Liquor, 
which may make him weep. 1748 RICHARDSON Clarissa I. 
xvii. (1811) 117 This quickness upon me. .is not to be borne. 

Quicksand (.kwi-ksxnd). [ME.(f. Qi icKa.io), 
= Du. kwikzaiui, G. quick-. Da. kvik-, Sw. qvick- 
snnci, Icel. kviksandr; but it is doubtful whether 
all of these are independent formations.] 

1. A bed of extremely loose wet sand, easily 
yielding to pressure and thus readily swallowing 
up any heavy object resting on it. Quicksands are 
frequent on some coasts, and are very dangerous to 
travellers, stranded ships, etc. 

14. . Burlesque in Relig. Anliq. (1841) I. 82, .vij. acurs of 
londe betwyxe Dover and Qwykkesand. i48oCAXTONCfc?wi. 
F.ng. ccxliv. (T482) 304 He brought hem thurgh a quyke 
sand and so in to an He. 1523 FITZHERH. Hitsb. 128 It is 
in manner of a quycke sande that harde it is for any thynge 
to goe ouer. 1610 HOLLAND Camdens Brit. i. 753 Uncer- 
taine sands . . ready to catch and swallow, they call them 
Quick-sands, c 1700 PRIOR The Ladle 26 Amphitrite clears 
his way From rocks and quicksands in the sea. 1784 
COWPER Tiroc. 870 Conscious that there lay. .quicksands in 
his way. 1851 MAYNE REID Scalp Hunt. v. 39, I was 
sinking in a quicksand. 

b. fig: Applied to things (more rarely to persons) 
having the absorbent, yielding, or treacherous 
character of a quicksand. 

1593 SHAKS. 3 Hen. I l, \. iv. 26 What [is] Clarence, but 
a Quick-sand of Deceit ? i6oa MARSTON A ntonio s Rev. iv. 
iv, I am a poore, poore orphant . . the very ouze, The quick 
sand that devours all miserie. 1608 MIDDLETON Trick to 
Catch Old One i. i, Swallowed in the quicksands of law- 
quillets. 1697 Jos. WOODWARD Relig. Soc. x. (1704) 157 Self- 
conceit . . is a quicksand in which thousands have been 
swallowed up. 1781 COWPER Progr. Err. 552 Sinking in the 
quicksand he defends, He dies disputing. 1879 CHURCH 
Spenser 161 Heonce more tried the quicksands of the Court, 

attrib. a 1616 BEAUM. & FL. Bondnca u. i, Fling their 
fame and fortunes Into this Britain gulf, this quicksand ruin. 

2. Without article : Loose yielding sand. 

1838 Civil Eng. I, Arch. Jrnl. I. 151/1 It passes through 
quicksand, clay[etc.]. 1859 MARCY Prairie Trav. iii. 75 A 
man incurs no danger in walking over quicksand provided 
he step rapidly. 1881 RAYMOND Mining Gloss., Quicksand, 
sand which is. .shifting, easily movable or semi-liquid. 

Hence Qui cksand v. in pass., to be stuck in a 
quicksand. Qni clcsanded a., full of quicksands. 
fig. Qui-cksandy a., of the nature of a quicksand. 

1614 T. ADAMS Flys. from Heaven Wks. 1861 I. 358 The 
rotten, moorish, quicksandy grounds, that some have set 
their edifices on. 1618 MYNSHTL Ess, Prison, Jaylors 30 
Many men . . forsake the calmes of their owne happy 
fortunes, to arriue on these quicksanded Shores. 1899 
Ifeslm. Gaz. 20 May 5/2 The animal and the cart became 
quicksanded. 

Quickset (kwi-k-set), rf.l and a. Also 5-6 
quyk-, 6 quyck-, quyke-, 7 quio-, etc. [f. QUICK 
a. 3 + SET ///. a. and sti.~] 

1. a. collect. Live slips or cuttings of plants, set 
in the ground to grow, esp. those of whitethorn 
or other shrub of which hedges are made. 

1484 Kent rollXt. U olstan s Hosf., Worcester (Bodleian 
Holls, Wore. No. i), Et soluti pro fodicione. .cum Ouyksette 
hoc anno-ij*. jrf. 1573 TUSSER Hsb. (1878) 51 Where 
speedy quickset for a fence ye wil drawe. 1607 J. NORDEN 
Sura. Dial. v. 237 They plant them in hedges, and the 
quickset of them make a strong fence. 1717 BRADLEY Fam. 
Viet. s.v. Agriculture, To make a Hedge and lay the 



quick-set about mee. 1680 OTWAY Caius Alarius iv. i, A 
new Quick-set, which I had just made to keep the Swine 
from the Beans. 1768 PENNANT Brit, Zool. II. 338 They 
generally chuse a quickset to make their nest in. 1896 
Cornh. Mag. Dec. 799 We strode with difficulty . . through 
this great dark quickset of nature. 

trans/ . 1605 BACON Adv. Learn, n. vii. 7 The baires of 
the Eye-liddes are for a quic-sette and fence about the 
Sight. 1650 FULLER Pisgah iv. ii. | 34 Esau, who Satyr-like 
had a quickset of hair on his body. 

B. adj. (or attrib?) Of a hedge : Formed of 
living plants. So also with fence, rank t row, 
screen, etc. Cf. QUICK a. 3 b. 

1535 Nottingham Rec. III. 374 For cuttyng up the quyke 
setnege. 1597-8 BP. HALL Sat. v. i. As thicke as wealthy 
Scrobioes quicke-set rowes. Ibid, iii, Beset around with 
treble quickset ranks. x644inRushw. Hist. Coll. in. II. 743 
Between the Pallisado s and the quick-set Hedge. 1774 
GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. (1776) IV. 10 An hare, sorely hunted, 
has got upon the top of a cut quick-set hedge. 1819 SHELLEY 
Peter Bell the Third v. xi, Many a ditch and quickset 
fence. 1875 W. S. HAYWARD Love agst. World n They 
approached the first hedge, a pretty stiff quickset one. 

trans f. and ./?. 1631 HEYWOOD zndPt. Iron Age 11. Wks. 
1874 III. 382 Are we not rounded with a quick-set hedge Of 
pointed steele? 1652 STEBRY Eng. Deliv. North. Presb. 7 
Enclosed with the Quick-set hedge of his Divine Wisdome. 
1816 COLERIDGE Statesm. Man. (1817) 356 Aristotle s works 
a quickset hedge of fruitless and thorny distinctions ! 
b. transf. Of a beard : Rough, bristling. 

1599 B. JONSON EJI. Man out of Hunt. v. viii, Hang him 
rascall. .with his wilde quickset beard there. 

Quick-set, $b (See quot.) 

1852 P. Parley s Ann. 174 What are technically called 
quick-sets, which consist of a "screw and a nut, provided 
with a large hook at the top, and a small pointed hook at 
the bottom. 

t Quickset, v. Obs. [f. QUICKSET sb.*] trans. 
To iuruish (plant, enclose, etc.) with a quickset 
hedge. Also absol. 

1508 in Cal. Doc. Scotl. (1888) 351 [To] diche, quyk set, 
enclose, and dyvyde into clausures the boundes of Berwyk. 
1523 FITZHERB. Husb. 123 It is lesse cost for hym..to 

3 



iry in Lismore Paper. 
166 Enclosing and quicksetting the lands. 1672 PETTY Pol. 
Anat. (1691) 14 Gardens. . ditch d and quicksetted. 

Hence t Quick set ting vbl. sb. Obs. 

1523 FITZHERB. Husb. 124 If thou haue pastures, thou 
muste nedes haue quyckesettynge, dychynge and plassh- 
ynge. 1541 Nottingham Rcc. III. 390 Dykyng and quyck- 
settyng of the Long Hedge. 

f- Quickshaw, obs. variant of KICKSHAW. 

1655 tr. Cow. Hist. Franc ion in. 73 Tarts, Custards, Fruit, 
and such like quickshawes. 

tQuicksnip. Obs. rare 1 . = QUICKNESS. 

a 1215 Ancr. R. 150 Ine strencSe & ine cwicnesse [MS. C, 
quicshipe]. 

Quick-sighted. (Stress variable.) [f. quick 
sight + -ED 11 ; see QUICK a. 20 b.] Having quick 
sight, (lit. and^/%-.) 

1552 HULOET, Quycke syghted, oculatus. 1571 GOLDING 
Calvin on Ps. Ixiii. 17 They dpo nought else but dote, that 
wil bee wel eyed and quicksighted of themselves. 1610 
HOLLAND Camderis Brit. i. 348 A man right skilfull and 
deepely quick-sighted. 1677 HORNECK Gt. Law Consid. v. 
(1704) 253 Such writings, as acute and quick-sighted men had 
dispersed throughout the world. 1755 SMOLLETT Quix. 
(1803) IV. 296 The boys, who are quick-sighted as lynxes. 
1772 PRIESTLEY Inst* Relig. (1782) I. 400 They are quick- 
sighted to foresee. 1837 W. IRVING Capt. BonntvilU \\. 03 
It was dangerous to ., light a fire .. where such .. quick- 
sighted enemies were at nand. 1870 Miss BRIDGMAN R. 
Lyntu- I. xi. 165 Rose was quicker-sighted. 

Hence Quicksi ghtedness. 

1652 J. WRIGHT tr. Camus Nat. Paradox iv. 84 The 
Symptomes, whereby his quick-sighted ness read her Disease. 
1749 FIELDING Tom Jones XL x, Quick-sightedness into 
evil. 1869 J. MARTINEAU Ess. II. 400 The mere quick- 
sightedness of a pilot in a strange sea. 



Quicksilver (kwrksM 
= OHG. quccsilbar^ -silper (MHG. quec- t keesilber, 
G. quecksilber\ Du. kwikzilvcr, ON. kviksilfr (Sw. 
qvicksilfver , Da. kvxg-, kviksoh)\ after L. argentum 
vivum (Pliny) : see QUICK a. and SILVER.] 

1. The metal mercury, so called from its liquid 
mobile form at ordinary temperatures. 

ciooo Sax. Leechd. II. 356 WiJ&gt; magan warce rudan saed 
& cwic seolfor. (1386 CHAUCER Ca. Yeotn. Pro/. 4- T. 269 
The firste spirit quyksiluer called is. 1436 Pol. Poems 
(Rolls) II. 160 Commodytes .. commynge out of Spayne, 
..Bene fygues.. Saffron, quicksilver. 1555 EDEN Decades 
335 By the helpe of quickesyluer it is drawen owt. 1625 



QUICKSILVER. 

N. CARPENTER Geog. Del. IT. v. (1635) 71 Quick-siluer . . will 
gather it selfe to a round body. 1669 WOIU.IDGK Syst. Affric. 
(1681) 300 This Column of Quicksilver in the Tube, is 
supported by the weight of Ihe Air Ambient. 1781 COWPER 
I rogr. Err. 21 Like quicksilver, the rhetoric they display 
Shines as it runs, but grasped at slips away, 1825 J. NKAL 
Rro. Jonathan I. 326 A profusion of little rain-drops ; like 
spattered quicksilver. 1870 _\ KATS Nat. Hist. Comm. 360 
Quicksilver is met with pure in minute globules, but for the 
purposes of commerce it is obtained from one of its ores, 
cinnabar, a red sulphide of mercury. 

2. Used allusively, a. with reference to the quick 
motion of which the metal is capable. 

1562 J. HEYWOOD f*rcnt. &lt;fr Epigr. (1867) 165 She is quycke 
syluer. 162* BACON /fen. VII 192 Perkin (who was made 
of Quick-silver, which is hard to hold or imprison) began to 
stirre. 1820 SCOTT Abbot xix, Thou hast quicksilver in the 
veins of thce to a certainty. 1889 Hoy s Own Paper 17 Aug. 
730/3, I . . had come off the journey with my veins full of 
quicksilver. 

b. with ref. to its use in mirrors (see the vb.). 
1851 ROBERTSON Sertn. Ser. n. xii. (1864) 166 The dull 
quicksilver of their own selfishness behind the glass. 

3. attril&gt;. and Comb. a. attributive, in senses 
consisting of, containing, pertaining to, etc. quick 
silver , as quicksilver bath, ball fry, earth, field, 
globe, mine, ore, plaster, ship, tank,vatve,wattr,elc, 

1551 HITI.OET, Quyckesyluer earth, antrax. (11631 IMS.-NK 
Poems. Apparition. In a cold (Quicksilver bath. 1685 Land. 
Gaz. No. 1996/1 The Quick-Silver Ships may be expected 
Ihis month at Cadiz. 1751 MRS. DEI.ANY Aiitoliiog. (1861) 
III. 53 Quick-silvcr-water is the most effectual remedy for 
worms. 1756-7 tr. Keysler s Trait. (1760) IV. 152 Cinnabar 
or quicksilver ore. 1839 MARHVAT I hant. Ship iii. (1874) 2 5 
In the centre of the ceiling hung a quicksilver globe, a 
common ornament in those days. 1877 RAYMOND Statist. 
Mines &lt;y Mining 19 A very important quicksilver-field is 
about to be opened in the far north. It id. 260 A.. clever 
arrangement of quicksilver-tanks. 

b. atlrib. in sense resembling quicksilver (in 
quickness of movement) , as quicksilver mind, 
rebel, rogue, temper, 

1655 GURNALL Chr. ill Arm. V. 8 4 (1660) 94/1 Labour 
therefore in hearing the Word to fix thy quick-silver mind. 
1676 W. HUBBAKD Happiness: of People 29 These are 
Inqnieta infenia of Quick-silver tempers. 1796 EAKL BAL- 
CARRES in Bryan Edwards Proc. Maroon Negroes (1796) 35 
Until such time as these quick-silver rebels are under lock 
and key. 1863 COWDEN CLARKE Shaks. Char. xiv. 360 That 
prince of quicksilver rogues Master Autolycus. 

C. objective, and obj. genitive, as quicksilver- 
feeder, -fixation, -producing adj., -reduction, etc. 

1834 MACAULAY Ess., Pitt (1887) 306 The periwig company, 
and ^the Spanish-jack-ass-company, and the quicksilver- 
fixation-company. 1877 RAYMOND Statist, Mines &lt;$ Mining 
19 Coming south from Trinity, the next quicksilver-pro 
ducing locality . . is in the Coast Range. 188* Rep. Ho. 
Repr. Free. AM. U.S. 507 A quicksilver feeder has been 
devised for feeding mercury to gold mills. 

Hence Quicks! Iverlsh a., somewhat quick- 
silvery (hence Qul cksi Iverishness) ; Qui ck- 
si Ivery a., of the nature of, resembling, quicksilver. 

1611 COTGK., I if-Argeiitin, quicke-siluene. 1829 Anni 
versary, Honeycomb * Hitter Count 118 The flighty and 
quicksilver) youth of the palish. 1852 MILS. CRAIK Afatha s 
Husband^ 1 1. i. 17 She bad . . a certain quicksilverishness of 
manner, jumping here there everywhere like mercury on 
a plate. 1891 T. HARDY Tea (1900) 70/2 The quicksilvery 
glaze on the rivers and pools. 

Quicksilver (kwi-ksHvai), v. [f. prec. sb.] 
To treat, imbue, or mix with quicksilver; esp. to 
coat (the back of glass) with an amalgam of tin in 
order to give a reflecting power. 

1704 NEWTON Optics (1721) 94 Metal, .reflects not so much 
Light as Glass quick-silver d over does. 1799 G. SMITH 
Laboratory I. 178 How to Quicksilver the inside of Glass 
Globes, so as to make them look like Looking-glass. 1831 
BlEWBTU Optics \. 4 The glass is always quicksilvered on ; 
the back, to make it reflect more light. 

Hence Qui cksi Iverert ppl. a. (in early quots. 
Jig.}. Qni-cksi Ivering- vkl. sb,, the action or 
process of coating, etc., with quicksilver; also 
concr. a coating of quicksilver or amalgam. 

1599 E. SANDYS Kuropx Spic. (1632) 80 Those nimble and 
quicksilverd braines which itch after change, c 1645 
HOWELL Lett. (1650) I. iv. 21 The Leaden-hceld pace of the 
one, and the Quick-silver d motions of the other. 1753 
PARSONS in Phil. Trans. X LVI 1 1. 380, 1 took a quicksilver il 
glass. 1825 J. NICHOLSON Operat, Mechanic 728 The 
quicksilvered tin-foil adheres, .firmly to the glass. 

Quick step, qui ckstep. 

1. Mil. The step used in marching in quick time. 
Also quasi-oafo., at a quick step. 

1802-1876 [sec QUICK TIME], 1875 W. MC!LWRAITH Guide 
Wigtownshire 51 We now move, quick-step, over the 
pasture-fields. 

trans/. 1877 TALMAGE 50 Scrm. 26 Nearly all the verses 
of the Bible have a quick-step. 

2. Mus. A march in military quick time. 

1811 BUSBY Diet. Mus., Quick-step, a species of march 
generally written in two crotchets in a bar. 1885 Harpers 
Maf. Feb. 384/1 The drum . . beats a . . quickstep. 1897 
H. PORTFR Campaigning with Grant in Century Mag. 
Apr. 826 Bands were playing stirring quicksteps. 

Quick stick(a : see QUICK a. I). 

Quick time. Mil. A rate of marching which 
in the British army now consists of 128 paces of 
33 inches each (=118 yards) in a minute, or four 
miles an hour. Formerly the rate per minute was 
108, then 116, and latterly 120 paces of 30 inches 
each (cf. quots. and DOUBLE-QUICK). 
VOL. VIII. 



57 

1801 JAMKS Milit. Diet., Quick Step, or Quick Time, is 
108 steps of 30 inches each, or 270 feet in a minute, and 
is the step used in all filings of divisions. Quickest Step, or 
Quickest Time is 120 steps of 30 inches each, or 300 feet in 
a minute. 1833 Kegul. tnstr. Cavalry I. 18 The (&gt;/ &lt; X- 
Step. The cadence of the slow pace having become., 
habitual to the recruits, they are. .to be taught to march in 
| quick time , which is 108 steps in a minute, each of 30 
inches. 1876 VOYLK & STEVENSON Milit. Diet., Quick- 
time, a pace soldiers ordinarily march at, viz. 3-3 miles an 
hour. llnd. s, v. Step, Quick step, a military step of 30 
inches, with a cadence. .of 116 per minute, in the British 
army. It constitutes what is technically called quick time 
in marching. 

b. quasi-ar/v. In quick time. 

1816 SCOTT Old Mort. x, Come, come, Mrs. Janet march, 
troop q^uick time. 

t Quick tree. Obs. rare 1 . -= QUICKEN rf.i 

1548 TfRNER Names llerlics (K. D. S.) 54 Myrica, other- 
wyse named tamarix . . The Poticaries of London vse nowe 
for thys quik tree. 

Quick-witted, a. (Stress variable.) [f. quick 
(OT/+-BDS.] llavingaquick orready wit; mentally 
acute, sharp, clever. 

1530 TINIIAL Pent., I.c-. . Prol. (1884) 297 Allegoryrs make 
a man qwick wilted. 11596 SHAKS. I atn. S/ir. v. ii. 18 
How likes (Jremio these quicke&gt;witted folkcs? itfMDnvDRN 
jfurenal^ iii. (1697) 5 Quick-Witted, Brazen-fac d, \\ilh 
fluent Tongues. 170* IfflBAD Mec/i. Ate. Poisons Wks. 
(*775) 5 Impatient, ready to action, quickwitted. 1824 
Miss MITKORD I illaxc Ser. r. (1863) 133 There is always 
great freshness and originality in an uneducated and quick 
witted person. 1870 LOVVKI.L Among my A X-j. Ser. I. \ 187 
189 The cultivated and quick-witted men in whose familiar 
society he lived. 

Hence Qnickwi ttedness. 

1863 COWDEN CI.ARKK Shaks. Char, x. 257 He has French 
quick-wittedness, French good lumper. 1883 I . SCIIAI l&lt; 
Hist. Church I er. i. II. Ixxxiii. 7i2 l lie curiosity and quick - 
wittedness of the Samaritan Magdalene. 

Qurf kwood. [f. QUICK a. 3.] - QUICK s/&gt;. 3, 
QUICKSET. (Chiefly at/rib.} 

H73-4 Durham Ace. Rolls (Surtecs) 645 Pro..plantacione 
de le Whikwod. 1696 AUHREV Misc. (1721) 104 A Pond . . 
adjoyning to a Quick-wood-hcdge. 1769 Ad,&gt;ine Itulos. 
Act 10 All the new quirk -wood fen&lt; es. 1800 TrKK Agrii. 
91 White thorn (provlncially quickwood) constitutes the 
most common fence throughout the Riding. 1892 J. D. 
HOOD Waterspouts Yorksh. H olds 25 Rooting up a strung 
quickwood fence. 

Qui ck-work. Nattt. (See quots.) 

1711 W. SUTHERLAND Shipbvild. Assist. 162 Quick-work ; 
that part of a Ship s Sides both within and without Board, 
above the Channel-wales and Decks. 1730 CAPT. W. 
WRIGLESWORTH MS. l.og-bk. of the I.ycll 21 Si-pt., This 
morning begun to Caulk the Quick Work on the Quarter 
deck. 1776 FALCONER Diet. Marine (ed. 2), Quick-Work., .a 
general name given to all that part of a ship which is 
under the surface of the water when she is laden. 1780 
Ibid. (ed. 3), I i/ ord, the quick-work, or that part of a ship s 
side, .comprehended between the drift-rails and the waist- 
rail. 1850 Kudim. Naiiig. (Weale) 139 Quick-work. A 
denomination given to the strakes which shut in between 
the spirketing and clamps. 1867 SMYTH .Sailor s Word-bk., 
Quick-Work, is also applied to that part of the inner upper- 
works of a ship above the covering board. Also, the short 
planks worked inside between the ports. . . In general par 
lance quick-work is synonymous with spirkctting. 

t Qulcqui dlibet. Obs. rare- 1 . [L., f. quic- 
ynid whatever + libel it pleases.] Whatever one 
pleases, anything whatsoever. 

1647 WARD Simp. CobU-r 22 A multimonstrous maufrey of 
heteroctytes and quicquidlibets. 

I! Quid (kwid), st.l [L. quid what, anything, 
something, neut. sing, of quis who, any one, etc.] 

1. That which a thing is. Cf. QUIDDITY i. 

1606 MARSTON Parasitastcr I. ii, My age Hath scene the 
beings and the quide [sic] of things. 1611 L. BAKRY Ram 
Alley in Uodsley (1874) X. 363 A widow that has known the 
quid of things. 1675 [lip. CROU ) Naked Truth 25 The 
quid, the quale, the quantum, and such-likc quack-salving 
forms. i77-4x CHAMIIKKS t ycl, s.v., Hence we have two 
kinds of quids, nominal . . and real. 1875 IOWETT Plato 
(ed. 2) I. 270 When I do not know the quid of anything 
how can I know the quale ? 

f2. = QUIDDIT, QUIDDITY 2. Obs. rare 1 . 

157* GASCOIGNE Steeled. (Arb.i 77 That Lo^ike leape not 
ouer euery stile . . With curious quids to maintalne argument. 

3. U. S. (abbrev. of tertium quid) A name given 
to a section of the Republican party in 1805-1 

i8osjF.pFF.nsoN Writ. (1830) IV. 4; Those called the third 
party, or Quids. 1882 H. ADAMS /. Randolph (1884) 182 
He belonged to the third party, thcquiddists or quids, h.-in^ 
that tertium quid.. which had no name, but was really an 
anti-Madison movement. 

Quid, J*. 2 slang. [Of obscure origin.] 

1. A sovereign ; f a guinea. 

(PI. usually without -i, as two quid, a fem quid, etc.), 

1688 SHADWF.LL Syr. Alsatia in. i, Let me equip thee 
with a Quid. 1791-3 in Spirit Pul: Jrnls. (1799) I. 244 The 
man.. rarely has more than from thirty to fifty quids a year. 
1796 Mod. Gulliver 165 The twenty last arc worth full 
forty quid. 1834 H. AINSWORTH Ronkwuod III. III. xiii. 
166 line quid, two coach wheels. 1883 BKSANT All in 
Carden f \u r n. x, It isn t two quid a week that will keep 
a young gentleman of your powers. 

1 2. //. (with -s.) Money, cash. Obs. rarf. 

a IT&lt;X&gt; B. E. Diet. Caul. Crtlv. 

Quid (kwid), rf.:i [var. of CUD sb. (j.v.l A 
piece of something (usu. of tobacco), suitable to 
be held in the mouth and chewed. 

1717 in BAH EY vol. II. 1731 denll. Mag. I. 349 Spitting; 
about the church . . A if heil got a quid m s mouth. 1789 
G. KEATK Peleni [si. 27 Beetle-nut and Chinam, of which 



QUIDDITY. 

they had always a quid in their mouths. 1833 MARKYAT 
/ . Simple (1863) 89 The first lieutenant . . perceived that lie 
had a quid of tobacco in his rlirek. 1883 Si i \ KNSON .SY/rrr- 
adoSq. (1886)68 His mind was. .revolving the profile ..... f 
existence like a quid of gum. 

fig. l8os W. HUNTER in Naval Citron. XIII. )5 , 1 chewed 
my Quid of bitterness. 

Quid, f. 1 Obs. Forms: I cwyddian, 2-3 
cwiaden, quidd(i)en. [OK. cwiildian, f. "cwiiii- 
QUIDE (q.v.).] trans, and inlr. To say, speak. 

c looo jKl.FRlc Horn. II. 388 Crist hi befran hu men cwyd- 
dodon be him. c 1200 ORMIN 3048 pall illke word wass 
cwiddedd .-cr. &lt;- 1105 LAY. 9825 Bi-benc (m a |&gt;inc quides |&gt;e 
bu snlf quiddett ^1275 Woman Samaria 55 in (&gt;. /:. 
Misc. 85 Nv quiddcb men, |&gt;at cumcn is Mcssyas. 

Quid, v. i [f. QUID **.:&gt;] 

1. inlr. To chew tobacco ; to chew the cud. 
1775 in ASH. 1778 Gcntl. Mag. July 311/1 The cow chews 

her cud, and the man, when he chews tobacco, i alls it 
quldding. 1893 Surrey Glass., Ouiddinp, &lt; hewing the cud. 
The heifer fl K U n^ better, she s quidding all I ij;lit . 

2. trans. Of horses: To let (food) drop from the 

mouth when half chewed. 

183! VOUAIT Horse (1847) 258 The Horse quids his hay, 
ami gulps his water. 1888 W. WILLIAMS / rim: I ft. Me-/. 
(ed. s) 376 Soreness of the throat is indicated by quiddiiii! 
of the food . 

Hence Qui-dder, a horse which quids (Cassell s 
I -ncyct. Did. iSSft). 

II Qiu&lt;l;uii (kwoi dam). rare. [L., f. I/HI who: 
cf. QU.KIIAM.] Somebody; a certain person. 

1579 I ". K. Dfd. Sfenst-r s Sheph. Cal. I ost-scr.. So many 
vnworthy Quidams, whicb catch at the gailond which l.i 
J .ni alone isdewe. 1624 UKDI l.i. Lett. xi. I.) \ \\ ho were these 
i|iiiclanis that laid hands on Story V 111641 lip. MOUNTAGD 
At ts&gt;t Man. (\ 6j 2 1 .,8 Some Indh iduum vnfiim, a ceil.-iine 
Quidam in the Clouds. 

I lence Quida mity, an allusion to somebody . 

1892 A then. i ii in i) July 65/1 A retort lay ready to his hand 
I ..... vlleclue than any indiilgrni-e ill t"" fV&gt; -ities. 

I Qui ddany, s/&gt;. 0/&gt;s. Also 7 quiddanet,-onio, 
quidenio, 7 S quiddoiiy, -ony, 8 quidony. [ad. 
obs. l- .roi/fi,iint, condoij^ntic, etc. (moil. I 1 , colignac, 
It. cotoffnato~) = med.l.. codcuiiutum, var. of cydoni- 
ciluni, I. I,, fydimiii : see &lt;^i I.NCK, and cf. CODIMAC, 
COTINIATE, QriNiUNiAC .] A thick fruit-syrup or 
jolly; orig. and properly, one made Inini quinces. 

1616 BULLOKAK KIIX. K.vpiK.,&lt;.1nidiiantt, a swtete mixture 
thicker than a sirupe, and not so thicke nor stilTc as manna- 
let. 1638 Ii. Union s Life f, llcath lif&gt;5i) 42 That whii h 
they tall Quiddeny of Quinces. 111655 Sii! T. MAYIUSK 
.I &gt;, fli/uaf, Anglo-Gall. No. i 5 ,,(ii, 5 K) I.,i B,,jl,. the Syrrup, 
tinlill it be as thicke as for quiddonie. .695 WKM MACOTT 
Script. Herb. 203 Sloes in the form of a Qlliddeny, or 

Marmalade. 1712 tr. 1 omcfs Hist. Drm-n I. i u It is us d 
in Rob or Quiddoiiy, made with I )amask- Rose-Water 1736 
liAll.hY llousch. Hu/. .| I)4 Qiiidd.my of (Juinces. 

Hence t Qui ddany v. traits., to make into a 
qtiiddany. (In (juot. fig.~) 

1647 WAUI&gt; Simp. i oHer 18 He will .. Quidanyc Clnist 
with Sugar and Rats !&gt;ani . 

Qurddative, a. rare. [For &lt;/uidditative ; cf. 
qua/Hire, &lt;/niin/iti~&gt;,:~\ QIIIDIHTATIVK. 

1642 J, JACKSON Ilk. Conscience 18 Find out the very 
quiddative nalure and being of Cons. :i.:m &lt;. 172741 
CHAMBER) Cycl. s.v. Quiddity, What is essential to a thing 
is said in be quiddative as quiddative knowledge. 1898 

DiMin Rev. Oct. 299 The quiddative unity &lt;if things. 

Quiddenie, -eny, varr. QIJIDHANY. 

Qtli dder, ( ta. and) adv. Sc. rare. [Cf. Xorw. 
dial, kvidra to dart about.] Only in phr. quick and 
qitiddcr, quickly, forthwith. 

In Ihsl ouot. pcrh. as adj. = alive and lively . 

1633 Fi/e Witch-Trial m Statist. Ace. Scotl. XVIII. 6 S 8 
He jjave her, soul and body, quick and quiddcr full to the 
devil. 1866 EDMONUSTON Gloss. Shell, q Orkn.,Qnick-and- 
Cjiiidder, swiftly, quickly. 

Quiddist: see QUID rf.l 3, quot. 1882. 

Qniddit (kwi-dit). Now arch. = QUIDDITY 2. 

1592 (1m -KNE Upst.Courtierm llarl. Misc. (Malh.) II. 232 
These lawiers haue .. such quibs & quiddits. a 1613 OvhR- 
BIIRY A Wife, etc. (1638) 188 He makes his Will in fiirnie o( 
a Law-case, full of quiddits. 1635 HKVWOOII Hierarch. iv. 
202 He .. Stretches each Quiddit of the Law to fmde Him 
culpable. 1838 Hon. Sunn Tor Hill II. 221 Rhyming 
couplets, quirks, quiddits and riddles. 1855 BROWNING Old 
I tct. Florence xx, The first of the new.. Beats the last of 
the old ; tis no idle quiddit. 

t Qui dditative, a. Obs. [f. QUIDDIT-Y + 

-ATIVK. Sec also Ql IDDATIVE.] 

1. Pertaining to the quiddity or essence of a thing. 

1650 CIIARLF.TON Paradoxes Q The quidditative and 
peculiarly expressc causes of all those admirable effects of 





Loadstone. 1656 1! J. SERGEANT] tr. / . White s 1 iripat. 
t. 320 The quidditative notion of an Klement. 




I .ng. 1 i p. Cerem. i. ix. 31 A weak 
hedge of some quiddilative Cautions. 

Hence f Qui dditattvely at/v. 

c 1600 Timon iv. iii. (1842) 66 The moonc may bee taken., 
either specificatiuely, or quidditatiuely, or superficially, or 
catapodlally. 

Quiddity (kwi-dfti). [ad. schol. L. quidiiitas : 
see QUID jA.l and -ITY ; so F. i/iiiittlili! (i4th c.).] 

1. The real nature or essence of a thing; that 
which makes a thing what it is. 

1569 J. SANFORD tr. Axriffa s fan. Aries 21 The true 
demonstration . . is that whichc is made (as the Logitioners 

8 



QUIDDLE. 

speakel by Quidditcs, and by ihe proper difference of thinges. 
1628 T. SPFNCER Logick 75 Dissent is in the qualitie not 
the quidditie, or being of the subject. 1670 MAVNWARINC, 
Vita Sana x. 106 These notions being too.. remote from 
the quiddity, essence and spring of the Disease. 1710 
BERKELEY Print. Hum. Knowl. 81 The positive abstract 
idea of quiddity, entity, or existence. 1828 DE QUINCEY 
Rhetoric Wks. 1862 X. 76 The quiddity, or characteristic 

1897 S. S. 



58 



surgeons. 

b. Something intangible, raft**. 

1774 BURKE Sf. Amer. Tax. Wks. 1842 I. 158 Fighting 
for a phantom; a quiddity; a thing that wants, not only 
a substance, but even a name. 

2. A subtlety or captious nicety in argument; 
a quirk, quibble. (Alluding to scholastic argu 
ments on the quiddity of things.) 

1530 TAVERNER Card. Wysed. i. 18 b, [He] must nat playe 
with hj-s sophemes and quyddities. 1579 FOLKE Hcskms 
Part. 475 Hee saith hee will not vse the quiddities of the 
schooles, but plaine examples. 1678 R. BARCLAY Afol. 



1700 STKELE Tatlcr No. 10 P 2 The Insignificancy of my 

anhers.. makes the Laughers called me a Quid Nunc. 

1781 COWPER ;-*.(i8 3 7&gt; XV. 126 Acknowledge, now.. that 

1 should make no small figure among the quidnuncs of 

Olney. 1833 W. IRVING Alhamtra II. 05 He was a sort of 



and speat of law-quirks and quiddities. 1807 W. IRVING 
Salmag. (1824) 33, I humbly solicit .. A quiddity, quirk, or 
remonstrance to send. 1877 C. GEIKIF. Christ xxv. (1879) 
281 Their quiddities and quillets, and casuistical cases. 

Cam/: 1863 DE MORGAN Pre/.\n From Matter to Sf it-it 
40, I went back to the old quiddity-mongers. 

b. Subtlety (of wit) ; ability or tendency to 
employ quiddities. 

6oo W. WATSON Decacordon (1602) 140 How shall euer 
those come in heauen, that haue neither qualitie of body to 
get it., nor quidditie of wit to keepe it? 1881 W. S. GILBERT 
Patience, To stuff his conversation full of quibble and of 
quiddity. 1884 R. BL CHANNAN in Pall Mall G. 16 Apr., With 
the intellectual strength and bodily height of an Anak, he 
possessed the quiddity and animal spirits of Tom Thumb. 

Quiddle &gt;kwi-d l), sb. dial, and U.S. [f. 
QUIDDLE v.~\ A fastidious person. 

1856 EMERSON Eng. Traits vi. 108 The Englishman is 
very petulant and precise about his accommodation .. a 
quiddle about his toast and his chop [etc.]. 

Quiddle (kwi d l , v. Now chiefly dial, and 
U.S. [Of obscure origin : cf. twiddle, jiddlc^\ 

1. intr. a. To discourse in a trifling way. 

1567 EDWARDS Damon Sf Pithias in Hazl. Dodsley IV. 81 
Set out your bussing base, and we will quiddle upon it. 1587 
FLEMING Contn. Holinshfd III. 1275/2 Which name of the 
Marishes, Marshes, or Moores, if it like them to expound it, 
as I doubt not but manie will quiddle therevpon. 1863-70 
[see Qui DOLING]. 

b. To trifle, waste time (with}. 

1832 in WEBSTER, a 1877 in J. Cook Orthodoxy iv. (1882) 
81 Don t quiddle with the goody little notes to Gibbon by 
Milman and others. 

t 2. trans. To trifle or play with, Obs. 

a 1652 BROME City Wit in. i. Wks. 1873 I. 311 Cras. How 
does she feel your hand ? Lin. O, she does so quiddle it, 
shake it, and gripe it ! 

Hence Qui-ddling 1 vbL sb. and ///. a. Also 
Qui dciler, a trifler. 

1832 in WEBSTER. 1860 EMERSON Cond. Life iv. (1861) 92 
Neither will we be driven into a quiddling abstemiousness. 
*Tis a superstition to insist on a special diet. 1863 W, 
PHILLIPS Speeches vii. 181 Lawyers, bound by quiddling 
technicalities. 1870 H. STEVENS Bibl, Histor. Introd. 14 
He indulged in .. bibliographical quiddling about the 
mechanical and manufacturing points of the books. 

Quiddonie, -y, variants of QUIDDANY. 

t Quide. Obs. Forms: i cwyde, 1-2 cwide, 
3 quede, quetfe, 3-4 quide, 4 qwede. [OE. 
cwide (cwyde} = OS. quidi, OHG. quidi, chwiti^ 
etc., ON. kviSr verdict :-OTeut. *&wi&lt;K-s, f. the 
root *kwef&gt;- to say, QUETHE.] 

1. A saying, speech, statement. 

t:888 K. ALFRED Boeth- in. 4 Is )ris nu se cwide J&gt;e fcm 
me seo ssdest? cioBo O. E. Chron. (Parker MS.) an. 1070 
Se ar b. .mid strangan cwydan Jwet ylce sefae*tnode. c JIO j 
LAY. 9141 Hit wes ^are iqueSen, pa quides beoS nu so5e. 
a 1250 Owl # Night. 685 Alvered seide of olde quide [etc.]. 
b. A promise. rare~ l . 

ciaso Gen. fy Exod 1463 He bad god. .Sat he sulde fillen 
5at quede, 3e he abraham quilum dede. 

2. A will, legacy, bequest. 

950 in Thorpe Diplom. 500/1 Bis is Byrhtrices 
his wifes nihsta cwide. pe hi cwadon . . on heora 
jewitnesse. a 1050 Liber Scintill. xliv. (1889) 146 On 
cwyde Jnnum Isef bearfum. f 1205 LAV. 14857 Ich foniue 
selchere widewe hire lauerdes quide. 13., K. Alts. 8020 
To have theo kyngis qwede, Muche bataile was heom myde. 

Quidenie, variant of QUIDDANY. 

Quider, obs. form of WHITHER. 

t Quidi-fical, a. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. QUID sb* + 
-(I)FIC + -AL.] Quibbling, captious. 

1541 UDALL Erastn, Apoph. 124 Diogenes mockyng suche 
quidifical! trifles saied [etc.]. 

Quidighe, var. CUDDY i. (See QUIDBATHE.) 
t Quidlit, obs. var. of (or misprint for) QuiDDIT 

or QUILLET. (In quot. attriii. ) 
1598 GILPIN Stial., Satyr u. 43 Then whats a wench but 

a quirke, quidlit case, Which makes a Painters pallat of 

her face ? 

Quidnunc (kwi-dncnk). [f. L. quid what + 
mine now.] One who is constantly asking : What 
now? What s the news? ; hence, an inqnisitive 
person ; a gossip ; a newsmonger. 



44 



Olney. 1831 W. JKICTU ^.^.". ?j 

scandalous chronicle for the quid-nuncs of Granada. 1874 L. 
STEPHEN Hours in Library (1892) I. x. 352 Some wretched 
intrigue which had puzzled two generations of quidnuncs. 

attrit. 1880 loM Cent. VII. 191 Not for the mere grati. 
fication of quidnunc curiosity. 

Hence Quld-nunc-ism, Quidnunckery, curio- 
sity, love of news or gossip, nonce-wiis. 

1804 in Spirit Pub. "Jrnls. VIII. 93 His attachment to 
quidnunckery is as constant as ever. 1847 J. CAIRNS Let. 
m Lift x\. (1895) 281 The ne plus ultra of disappointed 
religious quid-nunc-ism. 

Quidony, variant of QUIDDANY. 

|] Quid pro quo (kwid pr&lt;5u k\v&lt;&gt;) , st&gt;. [L. quid 
something, fro ior, quo (abl. of quid) something.] 

1. One thing in place of another ; orig. and esp. 
one medicinal substance used for another, either 
intentionally, fraudulently, or by mistake. 

1565 CALFHILL Answ. Martiall 32 b, A leude Apoticarie, 
that vnderstindeth not his bil, but giueth Quid pro Quo. 
1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. A vj b, Succedan, that drug which 
may be used for default of another. The Apothecaries 
call such Quid pro quo. 1654 R. WHITLOCK Zootomia 
60 The Apothecaries themselves, both take, and receive 
(from Herbe-women) Quid fro Quo, one thing for another, 
many, many Times. 1738 STEWARD in / /;; /. Trans. XL. 
449 A Mistake .. and a putting of quid fro quo (as tis 
commonly express d i. 1804 Edixb. Rev. III. 416 Referring 
the proximate cause of this disease to a deficiency of azote 
is only substituting quid fro quo. 

b. The action or fact of using or putting one 
thing for another ; the result of this ; a mistake or 
blunder consisting in such a substitution. 

1679 EVERARD Discourses 35 A Capital quid pro quo of 
Estate of the most part of the Potentates of Europe. 1687 
MIEGE Grt. Fr. Diet., Quiif-pro-quo or mistake, * Qui 
pro quo. 1717-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v. Quid. A northern 
physician, in a printed thesis on quid pro quo s, owns in 
genuously, that they are very frequent. 1824 LADY MORGAN 
Sah afor Rosa I. v. 263 He .. produces the most ludicrous 
quid pro gun s by misapplied erudition, witty absurdities, 
and nai ve questions. 1843 THACKERAY Misc. Essays (1885) 
44 A laughable quid pro quo . . occurred to him in a con 
versation. 

t c. One who assumes a false character. Obs. 

1689 HICKERINGILL Modest Inquiries n. 10 Have we not still 
. .somz^Quidproquo s, amongst us) Papists in Masquerade? 

2. One thing (or action) in return or exchange 
for another ; tit for tat. 

1591 SHAKS, i Hen. I f, v. iii. 109, I cry you mercy, ti: 
but Quid for Quo. 1608 MIDDI.ETON Mad world 11. iv. 4. 
Let him trap me in gold, and I ll lap him in lead; quid prv 
quo. 1703 HICKERINGILL Priest-cr. iv. (1721) 206 Every 
Church is the Old-Exchange, Spiritual Things in exchange 
for Carnal Things ; Heaven for Earth ; QitidproQuo. 1727 
BOYER Diet. Royal II. s.v. Quid. To give one Quid-pro- 
quo (or tit for tat). 1820 COMBE Dr. Syntax II. xxix. (1869) 
167, I shall lie able .. to bestow What you will find a quid 
pro quo. 1871 M. COLLINS Mrq. fy Merck. II. ix. 276 The 
tradesman gets his quid pro quo, 

attrib. 2861 T. A. TROLLOPE La Beata II. xvii. 187 
A system of conduct based on the theory of a quid-pro-quo 
purchase. 

t Quidrathe. Obs. rare. Also -raighe. [Ir. 
(iiidpa.it, portion + rait he quarter of a year.] A 
quarterly tax, payment, or entertainment. 

1570 in uM Rep. Dtp. Kpr. Irel. 235 An Irish custom of 
;io sterling called quidrathe. 1592 in Acts Privy Council 
N.S. XXII. 564 Unlawfull taxacions of Iryshe customes as 
Quony, Quoshirs, Nightsupers called Quidighe, Quarter- 
supers called Quidraighe, Huerye for their horses or anie 
other like taxes. 

Quie, obs. form of QUET. 

t Quiell, obs. var. KEEL sbl (after F. quille or 
Pg. qitilhd). 

1582 N. LlCHEFtl.D tr. Castanheda s Conq. E. Ind. 336 
They have no quiell, but are flat-bottomed. 

fQuiennal. Obs. rare. In 4 qui-, quyenal. 
[For quinqnennal, on anal, of BI-, TRIENNAL, q. v.] 
A dispensation or indulgence for five years. 

1380 WYCLIF Se/. IVks. III. 398 Freris . . mony times 
bringen veyne pardouns, quienals, and ober veyne privi- 
legies. Wks. (1880) 66 To paie..for pardons, quyenals, 
priuylegies, for assoilyngis of wowes, & many feyned lapis. 
Quier, obs. form of QUEER a.* 
Quier(e, obs. forms of CHOIR, QUIRE st. 1 
Quierie, obs. variant of querry EQUEBRY. 
Quiesce (kww,e-8), v. [ad. L. quicscere to be 
quiet, f. quies QUIET rf.] 

1. intr. To become quiescent ; to subside into. 
1833 Wild Sports of West I. 27 Did tired nature quiesce 

for a moment, I was. .roused with a tornado of.. sounds. 
1888 HOWELLS Annie Kilbum xxx, 330 The village, after 
a season of acute conjecture, quiesced into.. sufferance of 
the anomaly. 

2. intr. Of a letter : To become silent ; said of 
the feeble consonants in Hebrew when their sound 
is absorbed in that of a preceding vowel. 

1828 STUART F.lem. Heb. Lang. (1831) 25 A moveable con 
sonant is one which is sounded, and does not quiesce or 
coalesce. 1853 J. R. WOLF Practical Heb. Gr. 8 The letters 
"inn are said to quiesce in the vowels after which they are 
placed. 

Quiescence (kw3i,e-sens). [ad. late L. qui- 
escentia : see QUIESCENT and -ENCE.] The state of 
being quiescent ; quietness ; an instance of this. 



QUIET. 

a 1631 DONNF. Lett. Ixxx. Wks. (ed. Alfurd) VI. 397 Bless 
them with a satisfaction and Quiescence. 1664 POWER 
Exp. Philos. Pref. 1 1 That there is no such thing in the 
World as an absolute quiescence. 1751 JOHNSON Rambler 
No. 137 P 2 To sleep in the gloomy quiescence of astonish 
ment. 1812 WOODHOUSE Astron. xxiii. 239 The anomalous 
retrogradations and quiescencesof the planets. 1830 LYELL 
Princ. of Geol. (1875) II. n. xxx. 177 The local quiescence 
or dormant condition of the subterranean igneous causes. 
1879 PROCTOR Pleas. Ways Sc. ii. 29 The usual condition 
of the air .. is one of motion, not of quiescence. 

b. spec, in Hebrew grammar : see QUIESCE if. 2. 

1828 STUART Eton. Heb. Lang. (1831) 54 Quiescence 
sometimes happens when the Evi would (by analogy) have 
a vowel. 1853 J. R. WOLF Practical Heb. Gram. 112 This 
quiescence consists in such letters losing their consonantal 
power when preceded by certain vowels. 

Quiescency (kwaije sensi). [See prec. and 
-ENCY.] = QUIESCENCE. 

1649 BULWER Pathomyot. n. i. 82 To find a quiescency 
many Muscles working. 1664 POWER Exp. Philos. i. 70 
When the Animal Spirits are in Quiescency. 1824 LANDOR 
I mag. Com. 1 .) Southey &lt;y Porson Wks. 1853 I. 79/2 Much 
of tliis quiescency induces debility. 1882-3 SCHAFF Encycl. 
Rclig. Knowl. I. 465 His Godhead . . was in a state of 
quiescency during his humiliation. 

Quiescent (kw3i t e sent), a. and sb. [a. ppl. 
stem of L. qniesctre to QUIESCE. So mod.F. 
quiescent^ A. adj. 

1. Motionless, inactive, at rest. 

1646 SIR T. BROWNE Pseud. Ep. 190 The active or moving 
side.. the weaker or more quiescent part. 1710 BERKELEY 
Princ. Hum, Kftowl. 114 A man in a ship may be said to 
be quiescent with relation to the sides of the vessel. 1753 
CHAMBERS CycL Suppl. App. s.v. Force, The pressure of the 
quiescent body against the obstacle that hinders it to move. 
1812 WOODHOUSE Astron. i. 3 The pole, which is the place of 
a quiescent star. 1874 LUBBOCK Orig. &lt;$ Met. Ins. iv. 63 
The quiescent and death-like condition of the pupa. 
f b. Quiescent reason, the fallacy of sorites. 

1656 STANLEY Hist. Philos. vm. (i.) xxxli, Sorites . . is 
called also ^\&lt;rv\a.^av Aoybs, the quiescent reason, because 
the way to withstand it, is by stopping, and withholding the 
assent. 

2. Of a letter: Not sounded, silent; spec, in 
Hebrew grammar (see QUIESCE v. 2). Quiescent 
verb: (see quot. 1853). 

1609 C. BUTLER Fern. Mon. (1634) p. iv, The E silent or 
quiescent, which yieldeth no sound. 1711 J. GREENWOOD 
Eng. Gram. 301 Other Letters .. are quiescent or silent. 
1807 G. CHALMERS Caledonia I. i. iv. 160 The Irish Raths 
have the same origin, the [th] being quiescent. 1807 HUR- 
WITZ EUm. Heb. Lang. 101 According to the system of 
reading by points, the letters M n N are in many instances 

uiescent. 1853 J. R. WOLF Practical Heb. Grant, in 

uiescent verbs are those in which one of the feeble letters 
riM occurs as a radical letter. 
b. Of a person : Silent, not speaking, rare. 

1791 BOSWELL Johnson an. 1784. 17 May, Johnson was 
very quiescent to-day. 

B. sb. 1. A quiescent letter. 

1727 in BAILEY, vol. II. 1807 HURWITZ Elem. Heb. Lang. 
134 Whenever a letter is written and not pronounced, it is 
called by Hebrew Grammarians.. an invisible quiescent, or 
a mute. 1831 LEE Hebr. Grant. (1832) 36 The. .letters, 
considered either as consonants or quiescents, will occasion 
ally be changed for one another. 1882-3 F. BROWN in Schaff 
Encycl. Relig Knowl. I. 583/1 The weaker Shemitic gut 
turals and the quiescents. 

2. A quiescent verb (see 2 above). 

1831 LEE Hebr. Gram. (1832) 222 We do not think it 
necessary here to divide these verbs into Defectives and 
Quiescents as has usually been done. 

Quiescently, adv. [f. prec. + -LY 2 .] In a 

quiescent manner ; at rest ; in repose. 

1805 FOSTER Ess. \\. iii. 146 Quiescently regarding the 
conclusions. 1887 Twin Soul I. xiii. 131 They float 
quiescently upon the fleecy clouds. 

f Q,uie*sceous, a. Obs. rare 1 . [irreg. f. 
QUIESCE v. + -ous.] Belonging to quiescence. 

1688 R. HOLME Armoury u. 388/2 The Sense of Ease and 
Rest, .it shall be termed The Quiesceous sense. 

Quiese, obs. form of QUEEST, wood-pigeon. 

Quiet (kwai et), sb. Also 4-6 quyet(e, quiete, 
7 quiett. [ad. L. quiet-^ stem of quies rest, repose, 
quiet. An AF. quiete may have existed beside 
quieti QUIETY.] 

1. Absence of disturbance or tumult ; peaceful 
condition of affairs in social or political life. 

13 . . Cursor M. 29341 (Cptt. Galba), [Cursed] er ha! fc&gt;at . . 
robbes or reues on ani side, Whare pese and quiet suld 
j bityde. ^1375 Sc. Leg. Saints iii. (Andrew} 519 pe quyet 
; of our lord Hiesu, luk in vnreste }e turne nocht now. 1470-85 
MALORY Arthur xx. xvii, In this realme wyll be now no 
quyete but euer stryf and debate. 1542-3 Act 34 # 35 Hen. 
VIII, c. 27 1 19 Lawes and ordinaunces for the . . good quiet 
of his saide dominion of Wales. 1651 HOBBES Leviath. iv. 
xlvi. 380 To whom the care of the PubHque quiet is com 
mitted. 1763 BURKE Corr. (1844) I. 43 Why is not the 
nation s quiet secured, and its independance asserted ? 1874 
BANCROFT Footpr. Time \. 104 A long period of almost 
absolute quiet followed the establishment of the empire. 

personified. 1590 SPENSER F. Q. i. i. 41 Carelesse Quiet 
lyes, Wrapt in eternall silence farre from enimyes. 1631 
MILTON Penseroso 45 Join with thee calm Peace, and 
Quiet, Spare Fast, that oft with gods doth diet. 1754 GRAY 
Pleasure 53 Humble quiet builds her cell. 

b. Absence of noise or ijapid) motion ; calm 
ness, stillness. 

a 1400 Stockh. Medical MS. ii. 382 in Angtia XVIII. 316 
Ageyn cowrs of watyr wyll he flete, 3 f t* 6 water renne in 
good quiete. 1602 MARSTON Antonio s Rev. i. i. Wks. 
1856 I. 73 No breath disturbs the quiet of the ayre. 1816 



t;ui 

5 



QUIET. 

SHELLEY Aliistor 393 A smooth spot Of glassy quiet mid 
those battling tides Is left. 1867 SMILES Huguenots Eng. 
iii. (18801 51 It was only the quiet that preceded the out- 
break of another storm. 

2. Freedom from external disturbance, molesta 
tion, interruption, or noise ; f freedom from work 
or occupation ; rest, repose. 

1140 HAMPOLE Pr. Consc. 0128 Whare alle ryghtwyse men 
salle won at ees, In ioyfulle quyete, and rest, and pese. 
c 1430 LVDG. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 249 Lat me nat reste 
nor have no quyete, Occupye my soule with spiritual travayl. 
1494 FABYAN Chron. vil. ccxxx. 156 Tliis foresayd countesse 
.. with her sonne .. was in quyete of theyr countrey and 
castell. 1592 GREENE Canny catchingm. 12 She seeing him 
laid in bed . . commits him to his quiet. 1638 R. BAKER tr. 
Balzac s Lett. (vol. II) 26, I have too much care of my own 
quiet, to goe about to trouble his. 1749 FIELDING Tom 
Jones VIH. xi, An arrant vixen of a wife soured his domestic 
quiet. 1865 HOOK Lives Abps. III. 301 It often happens 
that a man, turbulent in his youth, will make great sacrifices 
to procure peace and quiet in his old age. 
//. 1650 WELDON Crt. Jas. /, 185 More beneficial! to llic 
Subjects in respect of their quiets. 

b. Freedom from mental agitation or excitement; 
calm or peace of mind. 

(11628 PRESTON New Cavt. (1634) 421 As wondrous quiet 
and peaceableness, and calmness in the heart. 1688 LADY 
R. RUSSELL Lett. I. Ixxi. 156 Such letters as yours, Sir, 
do not disturb my quiet. 1716 SWIFT Corr. Wks. 1841 II. 
586 An accident that must be so fatal to my quiet. 1840 
LADY C. BURY Hist, of Flirt vi, A matter that concerns 
my quiet. 

3. The condition of remaining quiet, of refraining 
from disturbance, hurry, exertion, etc. 

559 Mirr. Mag., Henry VI, vii, My mynde to quyet bent, 
had not bene tossed so. c 1586 C TESS PEMBROKE Ps. cxxxi, 
None more [than me] for quiet might compare Ev n with 
the babe. 1604 E. G[RIMSTONE] D Acosta s Hist. Indies \. 
v 343 That God was a great Lord, who with great quiet 
and leasure performeth his workes. 1750 JOHNSON Rambler 
No. 74 r 12 Knowledge and genius are often enemies to 
quiet, by suggesting ideas of excellence. 1889 PATER G. tie 
Latour (1896) 41 How becomingly .. that self-respecting 
quiet sat upon their high-bred figures. 

4. Freq. in phrases at, fz w, and \ottt of quiet, 
with vbs. of being, remaining, maintaining, etc. 

1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. I. 121 God .. garte the heuene to 
stekye. and stonden in quiete. CI4SO tr. De [mitatime n. 
vi. 46 An evel conscience is euer dredful and oute of quiete. 
1533 FRITH Another Bk. agst. Rastcll Prol. (1573) 61 
They could neuer be at quiet, .untill they had dronken his 
bloud. 1577 Test. Xll Patriarchs- (1604) 101 Bear your 
losses willingly, and be not out of quiet for it. 1609 BUKNKT 
39 Art. \. (1700) 21 Every part of it is at quiet till it is put 
in motion. 1771 JEFFERSON Writ. (ed. Ford) II. 129 ! 
Matters . .are too much in quiet to send you news from hence. 
1830 SCOTT Dcmonol. viii. 266 The country remained at 
quiet. 1886 STEVENSON Dr. Jekyll 54 Mr. Utterson began 
..to grow more at quiet with himself, 
t b. With adjs., esp. at (a) good (or better) quiet. 

1470 HENRY Wallace viu. 587 The ost he maid in gud 
quyet to be. 1603 KNOLLES Hist. Turks (1638) 62 The 
other Christian Princes also being at no better quiet. 1651 
COTTERELL Cassandra IV. (r676) 68 He began to be at a little 
better quiet. 16*3 PEPVS Diary 30 June, My differences with 
my uncle Thomas at a good quiett, blessed be God ! 



"-"&gt; - iL swu quicn, uicsseu m; vjou . 

W uet (kwaWt), a. Forms: 4-7 quyet, (4-6 
-te, 6 -tt), 5 quiete, 6 quyat, quyit, queat, 8 Sc. 
quail, 6- quiet, [a. OF. quiete or ad. L. quietus, 
pa. pple. to quiescere to come to rest, f. root of 
quies rest, QUIET sb. The popular Fr. form coi is 
represented by COY a.] 

I. 1. Of persons (or animals) : Making no stir, 
commotion, or noise ; causing no trouble or disturb 
ance ; remaining at rest ; not moving or acting. 

1382 WYCLIF i Thess. iv. n We preyen 5011 ..that ae be 
quyet, and do joure ncde. 1560 DAUS tr. Slfidane s Ccmm 
277 b, Obteyne of the Clergie, that they wyll be quiet, tyll 
suche tyme as the other States may declare [etc.]. 1586 
WARNER Alb. Eng. i. vi..{i6i2) 24 Lycus .. did cast his 
haughtie armes abroad, as who would say, be queat. 1715 
RAMSAY Christ s Kirk Gr. n. vi, Let gae my hands I say- 
be quait. 1738 SWIFT Polite Conv. Wks. 1883 IX. 403, 
I wish you would be quiet, you have more tricks than 
a dancing bear. 1837 MRS. SHERWOOD Henry Milner m. 
iii. 44 The young men began to call to them crying, Whisht, 
whisht, what ails the curs? quiet there, Viper . 1843 
MIAI.L in Nanconf. III. 635 Rebecca s rights once obtained 
we will be as quiet as mice. 

b. (Also of nature or disposition.) Habitually 
or naturally peaceful or averse to making stir, 
noise, etc. Of an animal: Gentle. 

1432-50 tr. Higtien (Rolls) II. 167 The peple of the 
sowthe is meke and quiete. 1535 COVERDALE i Chron. 
xxn[i). 9 I he sonne which shal be borne vnto the, shal be a 
quyete man. 1609 BIBLE (Douay) Hie. iv. coiitm., Quiet 
patient people .. suffering persecution with alacritie of 
minde. 1669 CLARENDON Ess. Tracts (1727) 148 Quiet and 
easy natures are like fair weather, a 1720 SEWEL Hist. 
Quakers (1795) I. P re f. 18 They always were quiet and 
never made any resistance. 1811 Sporting Mag. XXXVIII. 
212 Ihe defendant did not put the question .. whether it 
were a quiet horse? 1840 DICKENS Barn. Rudge vi, 
Barnaby is not in his quietest humour to-night. 1863 
Q. RKI. July 262 It is a great relief to quiet people when 
the Easter ceremonies are wound up. 

j- C. Sc. in specific senses : Acting or living 
quietly ; remaining hid or secret ; fast asleep. 06s. 

533 GAU Richt Vay 17 Thay that ar quiet and fals 
flatterers. 1536 BELI.ENDEN Cron. Scot. x. vii, Traistyng. . 
sum quiet personis Hand ay in wait to inuaid hym. 1632 
LITHGOW Trav. x. 444, I could not beleeue, that the Patrone 
of so great a Monarchy, could be so quiet ; yea, as quiet as 
a Countrey Baron is with vs. 1651 WELDON Crt. Jas. /, 107 



59 

Loveslon replies, He is quiet (which in the Scotish dialect 
is fast asleep). 

2. Of things : Not active ; not moving or stirring ; 
also, making no noise ; still. 

Quiet disease, latent hip-joint disease in children (SyJ. 
Soc. Lex. 1897). \Quiet letter, a quiescent letter. 

. 599 SHAKS. Hen. V, in. ii. 36 For Pistoll, hee hath a 
killing Tongue, and a quiet Sword. 1658 P. GOODWIN 
Myst. Dreams in Spurgeon Treat. Dav. Ps. cxxvii. z The 
Hebrew word . . being with alef i, a quiet or resting letter. 
1798 WORDSW. Tintern Abbey 47 An eye made quiet by the 
power Of harmony. 1816 SCOTT Antiq. iii, The dust was 
very ancient, peaceful, quiet dust about an hour ago. 
a 1889 ELIZA COOK Poems (Rtldg.) 51, I prize the soul That 
slumbers in a quiet eye. 1898 J. HUTCHINSON in Arch. 
Surg. IX. 330 Doubts might have been felt as to whether 
the induration was really malignant. It was quite quiet. 

b. Free from excess ; not going to extremes ; 
moderate, gentle ; esp. of colour, dress, style, etc. : 
Not obtrusive, glaring or showy. 

1560 DAUS tr. Sleidane s Comm. 261 b, That for the appeas. 
ing of religion, they would use lawfull and quiet remedies. 
1634 SIR T. HERBERT Trav. 5 Now you shall have a quiet 
breath and gale, and suddenly an unexpected violent gust. 
1685 DKYDEN Horace, Odes in. xxix. 54 The tide of bus ness 
.. Is sometimes high, and sometimes low, A quiet ebb, or 
a tempestuous flow. 1768 STEUNE Seat. Joiirn. (1778) I. 
63 (Remise Door), I made them a quiet bow, and wished 
them a good passage to Dover. 1838 LYTTON Alice 21 
A woman of quiet and pleasing exterior. 1856 RUSKIN iWod. 
Paint. III. iv. App. 346 The beautiful quiet English of 
Helps. 1885 R. L. & F. STEVENSON Dynamiter 185 He 
was conscious of a certain regular and quiet sound. 1889 
Catholic A eivs 15 June 8/6 There was a quiet trade in pigs. 

c. Avoiding or escaping notice ; private, secret, 
underhand. (In older use only Sc.) 

a 1578 LINDESAY (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S. T. S.) I. 87 
He. .send quyit messagis to his freindis. ,11600 MO.NT- 
GOMERIF. Misc. Poems xviii. 6s Thair companie [it] wes not 
quyet, Bot or they wist they wer beuryde. 1609 SKENH 
Reg. Maj. 52 (Acts Robt. Ill, c. 2) The kings lieges, are 
trubled in their lands, be volunter and quyet recognitions, 
made be the overlords. 1899 Weslm. Gaz. 29 Dec. 8/2 
Quiet cases meaning the insurance of lives without the 
knowledge of the persons so insured. 

II. 3. Free from disturbance, molestation, or 
annoyance; not interfered or meddled with; left 
in peace, a. of a state, condition, procedure, etc. 

1383 WYCLIF i Tim. ii. 2 That we lede quyet and pesyble 
lyf. c 1450 St. Cnthbcrt (Surtees) 3720 In quiete prayers he 
contenued. 1532 Du WES Intrott. Fr. in Palsgr. 921 A 
quyete slope is right necessary and delycious. 1560 DAUS 
to. Sleidane s Comm. 94 b, If they maye have their Religion 
quiet untill the counsel], they are also contented to become 
contrihutaries. 1601 R. JOHNSON Kingd. &lt;v Comm-w. (1603) 
96 They sent, .to Casar, to intreat a quiet passage through 
the Romana province. 1642 FULLER J/olyff Prof. St. (1648) 
18 Though prayer purchaseth blessings, giving praise doth 
keep quiet possession of them. 17*6 BLACKSTONE Comni. 
II. 304 The grantor may covenant . . for the grantee s quiet 
enjoyment. 

t b. of a person, people, or country. Also i 
const, from. Obs. 

1558 GOODMAN How to Obey 175 Hauing your Realme 
free from strangers, and quiete from all enimies. 1599 SHAKS. 
Much Aiia n. i. 266 While she is heere, a man may Hue as 
quiet in hell, as in a sanctuary. 1611 BIBLE Job iii. 26, 
I was not in safetie, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet 
1655 FULLER CA. Hist. n. iii. 26 That the abbot should be 
quiet from the bishop s right. 1671 MILTON P. R. in. 360 
Long to enjoy it quiet and secure, 
t C. Quit, clear. Obs. rare.- 1 . 

.473-4 in Swayne Sarum Church-w. Ace. (1896) 16, liijj. 
vijrf. the which ben forgeven them . .and so they ben quyete. 

4. Characterized by the absence of all strife, 
bustle, stir, or commotion ; also, free from noise or 
uproar, silent, still. 

1514 BARCLAY Cyt. t, Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.) ir Than ! 
. . Wedlocke was quyet & pleasaunt without stryfe. 1596 
SHAKS. i Hen. IV, v. i. 25, 1 could be well content To enter- 
tame the Lagge-end of my life With quiet houres. 1611 i 
BIBLF. Wiid. xviii. 14 While all things were in quiet silence. I 
1055 FULLER CA. Hist. in. xii. 27 He chose a quiet county 
before a cumbersome kingdom. 1791 MRS. RADCLIFFE Rom. 
I-orest x, In the second chamber all was quiet and in order 
1831-3 E. BURTON Keel. Hist. i. (1845) 9 If the state of things 
might bedescnbed as at all quiet. 1856 KANE A relic Kxplor. 
II. xxiv. 204 We gave two quiet hours to the memory of 
our dead brother. 1872 RUSKIN Eagle s N. % 179 My hope 
..that the streams of the Isis and Cherwell will be kept 
pure and quiet. 

b. Remote from scenes of activity ; retired. 
1500-20 DUNBAR Poems (S. T. S.) xliii. 33 In quyet place, 

. . They can, percaice, Purchess some grace, a 1578 LINDE 
SAY (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S. T. S.) I. 187 They .. past 
to the wall heid at ane quyit place quhair the watches might 
haue no sight of them. 1738 GRAY Profertius iii. 105 Then 
to my quiet Urn awhile draw near. 1861 H. KINGSLEY 
Ravenshoe xxxvii, As soon as he and Lady Ascot were 
seated on a quiet sofa. 

c. Partaken of, or enjoyed, in quiet. 

1837 DICKENS Pickw. xxvi, To have a quiet cup of tea. 
1892 ANSTEY Voces Pop. Ser. u. 85 A cup of coffee, and 
a quiet cigar. 

5. Of the mind, conscience, etc. : Not troubled or 
distressed ; free from agitation or excitement. So 
also of persons in respect of the mind, etc. 

535 COVERDALE Prov. xv. 15 A quyete herte is as a con- 
tynuall feast. 1552 Bk. Com. Prayer Commun., With 
a quiet conscience. 1558 GOODMAN Haw to Obey 230 That 
you cannot be quiete in conscience. 1593 SHAKS. Rich. II, 
i. in. 96 Truth hath a quiet breast. 1631 GOUGE GotCs 
Arrows I. 5. 8 The bond of a Creditor, so lies on the 
debter, that he is not quiet till it be discharged. 



QUIETATION. 

t 0. Sheltered from the wind. Obs. rare. 

1596 DALRYMPLE tr. Leslie s Hist. Scot. I. 30 In the scoug 
of the craig and castell is a verie quyet hauining place 
1697 DRYDEN Virg. Georg. iv. I0 For thy Bees a quiet 
Station find, And lodge em under Covert of the Wind. 
HI- t". Used as adv. = QUIETLY. Obs.rare-^. 

573 TUSSER Huso. (1878) 63 More profit is quieter found 
(where pastures in several bee). 

8. Quasi-j/)., in phr. On the quiet, privately, in 



avoiu ooservation, under tne rose . i 

.. t I d just like to have a bit of chinwag with you on" the 
quiet about the .. troubles of a Cabby. 1889 H. O REILLY 
loYrs.on Trail-] Having on the quiet found out a pa^seneer 
steamboat. 

0. Comb., as quiet-eyed, -mannered, -minded, 
spoken, -tempered ; quiet-going, -living, -looking, 
moving, -seeming adjs. 

1780 S. J. "PvmEmmaCorbcttM.i,} I. 107, I can. .impress 
the quiet-seeming sentiment. 1825 J. NKAL Jonathan II. 
, 194 An old, stately, quiet-looking negro. 1848 DICKENS 
Dombey iii, She was a quiet-Iempered lady, l/ itt. iv, He 
| was a slow, quiet-spoken.. old fellow. 1886 H. F. LESTER 
1 Under two Hg Trees 59 The exciting incidents which now 
i and then ruffle the life of even the most quiet-going family. 
1888 BRYCE Amer. Commw. II. n. xlii. 119 A larger sum 
than a quiet-living man can need. 
Quiet (kwai-etVz/. Also 6 quyet. [ad. med.L. 
quictare, f. L. quietus QUIET a.] 
fl. trans. To quit, acquit (oneself or another}. 
c 1440 CentryJcs 2861 Eche of hem iij so wele quiete them 
ther. 1472-3 Rolls Parlt. VI. 50/1 That your said sup- 
l&gt;haunt..be discharged, relesed and quieted, of almaner 
. . fynes, paynes [etc.]. 

2. To make quiet (in various senses) ; to reduce 
to quietness : 

a. a person or people, a material thing, etc. 
55&lt;J CROWLEY Way to Wealth 269 Quiet thy selfe therfore, 

and striue not againste the streame. 1599 SHAKS. Hen. K, 
v. i. 54 Quiet thy Cudgell, thou dost see I eate. 1609 
HOLLAND Amm. Marcell. 109 Those savage nations whom 
he had quieted. 1665 MANLEY Grotius Low-C. Warres 520 
A very difficult piece of Work .. to quiet all the right side of 
the Rhine. 1786 MAD. D ARBLAY Diary 8 Nov., I did what 
1 was possible to quiet her, but to, no purpose. 1855 MACAULAY 
Hist. Eng. xii. III. 211 In trying to quiet one set of male- 
contents, he had created another. 1866 G. MACDONALD 
Ann. Q. KeigU. vi. (1878) 73 She knew she had no chance 
of quieting the girl. 

b. a feeling or emotion, esp. of fear. 

1526 Pilgr. Per/. (W. de W. 1531) 2 b, His naturall in- 
chnacyon and appetytecan neuer be sacyate, contented and 
quieted. 1552 Bk. Com. Prayer Commun., If there be any 
of you which .. cannot quiet his own conscience. 1748 
Anson s Voy. n. xi. 253 This quieted our apprehensions for 
some days. 1855 MACAULAY Hist. Eng. xi. III. 32 The 
event quieted the fears of one party. 1888 BRVCE Amer. 
Conunu: III. Ixxxviii. 190 In order to quiet these suspicions 
the comptroller played a very bold game. 

c. a disturbance, dissension, etc. 

1560 DAUS tr. Sleiiiane s Comm. 174 The byshop wyl 
sende thether. .to quiet the controversy. 1601 J. WHEELER 
Treat. Comm. 33 Till the said King Edward had quieted 
the troubles with his subiects at home. 1674 Essex Papers 
(Camden) 1.193 Some companys of y e Guard being comanded 
together to quiet y Tumult. 1792 BURKE Let. to R. Burke 
Corr. IV. 4 Measures which may quiet the unhappy divisions 
of the country. 1846 TRENCH iWirac. iv. (1862) 147 Quieting 
with a word the tempest in their bosoms. 1875 JOWETT 
Plato (ed. 2) V. 360 The motion . . quiets the restless palpi 
tation of the heart. 

3. To settle or establish in quiet. Chiefly Law. 
c 1586 C TESS PEMBROKE Ps. LXXXJI. iii, You should unto 

the weake extend Your hand, to loose and quiet his estate. 
1654 G. GO.DDARD Introd. Btirton s Diary (1828) I. 190 A 
Bill for quieting the possession of the government. 1668 
Oimonde MSS. in loth Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. V. 69 
Your petitioner . . made surrender of his estate unto the 
Crowne so soone as he was quieted in the possession 
thereof. 1884 SIR J. BACON in Law Rep. 27 Chanl. Div. 47 
The Plaintiffs are entitled . . to be quieted in the possession 
they have had for so many years. 

4. intr. To become quiet. Also to quiet down. 
1791 PAINE Rights of Man (ed. 4) 27 The mind can hardly 

. .conceive the possibility of its quieting so soon. 1851 
MAYNE REID Scalp Hunt, xxxii. 247, I have never seen 
buffaloes quieting down before. 1865 MRS. WHITNEY 
Gay-.vorthys II. 237 By and by she quieted, and, from pure 
exhaustion, fell asleep. 

Hence Qui eted///. a. 

1894 E. F. BENSON Dodo 185 The darkened house, the 
quieted movements. 

t Quietance. Obs. [ad. med.L. qtiictancia, i. 
quietare\.o QUIET : see -ANCE.] =QUITTAKCE 2. 

1451 Rolls Parlt. V. 224/1 Liberties, Fraunchises and 
Quietaunces conteyned in the same. 1571 Act 13 Eliz. c. 29 
All manner of Liberties, Franchises, Immunities, Quietances 
and Privileges. 

Quietant (kwai-etant). [f. QUIET v. + -ANT!.] 
Anything that makes quiet or soothes. 

1873 H. C. WOOD Therap. (1879) 340 As a nocturnal 
quietant and hypnotic, it would appear to offer very great 
advantages. 

t Quieta tion. Obs. Also 6 quietaoion, -oyon, 
quyat-, quyetaoyon, -oion. [ad. med.L. quiita- 
tidn-em, n. of action f. quietare to QUIET. Cf. 
obs. F. nuietacion (Godef.j.j The action of quiet 
ing ; the state of being quieted or qniet. 

1502 W. ATKYSSON tr. De Imitatione in. xl. 229 If thou 
seke here rest, how shalt thou come to euerlastyng rest & 
HUietacion in heuen ? 1526-9 LD. DUDLEY in Ellis Orig. Lett. 
Sen in. II. 84 For the quyatacion of the Kyngs subgetts. 



QUIETEN. 



III. 427 From God I case or succour find, And QuieUtion 
to my Mind. 

Quiete, variant of QUIETY 06s. 

Quieten (kwai-ct n), v. [(. QUIET a. + -EN;" .] 

1. trans. To make quiet. 

1818 in Craven Glass. 1844 N. Brit. Rev. I. 182 To 
4 quieten the children . . is not English. 1853 MRS. GASKELL 
Knllt III.X. 280, I will stay, .. partly to quieten the fears of 
this poor, faithful fellow. 1888 Chantb. Jrnl. 7 Apr. 223 
The incident did not quieten the audience. 

2. intr. To become quiet. Commonly with down. 
1890 C. DIXON Stray Feathers, v. 67 They soon quieten 

down. 1897 Westm. Gaz. 21 Aug. 5/1 Towards the close 
the market quietened. 

Hence Qui etener, = next. (Cf. QUIETANT.) 

iSSa f rater s Mag. XXV. 35 The poisonous method of 
giving soothing or narcotic quieteners to children. 

Quieter (kwaMStai). [f. QUIET v. + -ER!.] One 
who or that which makes quiet. 

a 1541 WYATT in Totters Misc. (Arb.) 45 The bodyes ease, 
and troubler of my heart : Quieter of minde. iS47-*4 
BAULDWIN Mor. Pkilos. (Palfr.) 140 It is also a satislier or 
ioyfull quieter of the mindc. 1831 SOUTHKY Lett. (1856) IV. 
261 Half an hour of some goodly grave old book . . as a 
quieter for the night. 

t Qui etful, a. Obs. rare-*, [f. QUIET sb. + 
-FUL.] Full of quiet ; calm. 

c 1440 HVLTOS Scala Per/. (W. de W. 1494) III. xv, A 
quyetful langynge with a trusty desyrynge to heuenly Joye. 

Quietie, variant of QUIETY Ots. 

Qureting, vbl. sb. [f. QUIET v. + -ING 1.] The 
action of the vb. 

a 1548 HAH Citron., Hen. VIII, 179 He . . for quietyng of 
his conscience called together the best lerned of the realme. 
a. 1652 J. SMITH Sel. Disc. x. 511 A pacifying and quieting 
of all those riots and tumults. 1783 MAD. D ARBLAY Diary 
18 Jan., I felt so fagged.. that I really wanted quieting and 
refitting. 1861 GOLDW. SMITH Irish Hist. 105 To withhold 
the capital grace concerning the quieting of titles to land. 

Quieting, ppl.a. [-IXG^.] That quiets. 

1659 A. HAY Diary (S. H. S.) 80 There is a quieting rest 
under Christ s wings. 1759 H. WALPOLE Lett, to Mann 
9 Feb. (1846) III. 432 The Parliament has taken a quieting- 
draught. 1839 I. TAYLOR Anc. Chr. I. 22 The quieting 
recollection that they themselves are members of a series. 
1846 TRENCH Mime, xxxii. (1862) 450 The Lord spoke these 
quieting words to his disciples. 

Quietism (kwaretiz m). [ad. It. qiiietismo 
(whence also F. quiitismt, mod.L.ijuictismits,etc.) : 
see QUIET a. and -ISM.] 

1. A form of religious mysticism (originated prior 
to 1675 by Molinos, a Spanish priest), consisting in 
passive devotional contemplation, with extinction 
of the will and withdrawal from all things of the 
senses; hence, any form of mysticism in which 
such principles are enjoined. 

The Guida spirituals in which Molinos expounded his 
views was published at Rome in 1675, and condemned by 
the Inquisition in 1685. 

1687 m Burnet Lett. (1688) Suppl. 46, I will here digress 
a little from the business of Quietism. 1698 tr. Fenelon s 
Maxims of Saints Introd., There are but a few people 
that have not heard of Molinos, and his Doctrine of 
Quietism. 1773 WESLEY Whs. (1872) XIII. 25 Her 
[Madame Guion s] writings will lead any one who is fond 
of them, into unscriptural Quietism. 1838 SIR J. STEPHEN 
Ecct. Bio%. (1850) II. 70 Quietism, indigenous in the East, 
is an exotic in this cold and busy land of ours. 1873 C. M. 
DAVIES Unorth. Land. 200 To avoid the Charybdis of 
carnalism, there is no need to setk the Scylla of Quietism. 

2. A state of calmness and passivity of mind or 
body ; repose, quietness, tranquillity. 

1772 Tffivn ff Country Mag. 86 This discovery deprived 
him of all his quietism. 1795 JEFFERSON Writ. (1859) IV. 
122 That quietism into which people naturally fall after 
first sensations are over. 1836 Eraser s Mag. XIII. 526 
They could, .disturb his quietism by acrimonious attacks. 

Quietist (kwai-tist). [ad. It. ijtiielista (F. 
quiitiste) : cf. prec. and -1ST.] 

L One who believes in or practises Quietism, or 
any form of mysticism resembling it. 

1685 BURNET Letterfrom Romeddty] 205 A state of inward 
quietness, from which the name of Quietists was given to all 
his followers. 1687 Land. Gaz. No. 2269/3 They write from 
Rome that the Pope had assisted a third time at a Con 
gregation held concerning the Quietists. 1733 BERKELEY 
Alciphr. in. 14 The disinterested Stoics (therein not unlike 
our modern Quietists). 1840 THIRLWALL Greece VII. liii. 
14 He conceived a like admiration for the Indian quietists. 
1893 C. G. LELAND Memoirs I. 23 Reading works by Mys 
tics, Quietists, and the like. 

2. One whose attitude towards political or social 
movements is analogous to Quietism in religion. 

1798 CHARLOTTE SMITH Yng. Philos. IV. 393, 1 will not 
taUc to you about politics because you are among the 
moderates and quietists. 1834 SOUTHEY Doctor &\. (1862) 
232 He was not like him a political quietUt from indifference. 
1871 R. H. MUTTON Ess. II. 442 He was, in political and 
social conviction, a democratic quietist ; one might almost 
say a fatalist. 

3. attrib, or as adj. 

1856 R. A.VAUGHAN Mystics (1860) II. xi. ii. 224 The 
Quietist doctrine of unconsciousness. 1860 O. W. HOLMFS 
Elsie y. xxviii. (1891) 413 Hymns .. of the Methodist and 
Quietist character. 1873 Money Rousseau 1 1. x. 29 Rous 
seau raised feeling, now passionate, now quietist. 

Qnietistic (kwsieti-stik), a. [f. prec.: see 
-ISTIC.] Belonging to, or characteristic of, quietists. 



60 

iSSO H. BUSHNEI.L God in Christ 321 They make a study I 

of the mystic and quietistic writers. 1876 Macm. Mag. \ 

XXXIV. 194 He displays. .the most tender love and quiet- \ 
istic resignation. 

Quietive (kwsi-etiv). [f. QUIET v. + -IVE.] , 
That which tends to produce quiet ; a sedative. 

1894 BRUCE Paul s Concept. Chr. xx. 365 It is his quietive j 
amid disgusts. 

Qui-etize, v. rare- 1 , [f. QUIET a. + -IZE.] 

trans. To make quiet. 

1791 MAD. D ARBLAY Diary (1842-6) V. vi. 271 Solitude, 
and patience, and religion, have now quietized both father 
and daughter into tolerable contentment. 

Qui-etlesa, a. rare- 1 , [f. QUIET sb. + -LESS.] 
Devoid of quiet. 

1839 BAILEY Festus (1852) 376 The moon . .comes haunting 
the cold earth . . quietless. 

Quietlike, a. and adv. Sc. [See -LIKE 2 b.] 
Apparently quiet ; quietly. 

1470 HENRY Wallace v. 577 AH his four men 1-ar thaim 
quietlik. Mod. Sc. Your horse is a quictlike beast. 

Quietly (kwai-etlil, adv. Forms : 5-6 quyetly, j 
-lie, 6 quietlie, -ely , 6- quietly, (9 dial, whietly). [ 
[f. QUIET a. + -LY 1 *.] In a quiet manner ; without 
molestation, peacefully; withoutexcitement, tumult, j 
or noise ; without moving or stirring, etc. 

1494 FABYAN Citron, i. iv. n He was stablysshed in his 
Realme quyetly. 1535 COVERDALE I Sam. xxiv. 4 Dauid 
stode vp and cut of the typpe of Sauls garment quyetly. 
1568 GRAFTON Cliron. II. 378 They entred into the Citie, and 
there abode quietly. i6xz TOURNF.UR Ath. Trag. I. ii. Wks. 
1878 I. 35 That he may sleepe the quietlier. 1729 BUTLER 
Serin. Hum. Nat. ii. Wks. 1874 II. 20 Let every one then 
quietly follow his nature. 1793 SMEATON Edystone L, | 227 ! 
A weight of lead . . which, in all such trials as had hitherto | 
been made thereof, had lain quietly. 1878 Hvx\.vi Physiogr. 
xvii. 281 When the river.. quietly deposited mud and sand. ] 

Quietness (kwai etnes). Forms : 5-7 quiet- 
nes(se, 6 quyetnes(se, 7 quiett-, quyettnes, 6- 
quietness. [f. as prec. + -NESS.] The condition 
of being quiet or undisturbed ; absence of noise, 
motion, or excitement ; calmness, tranquillity. 

("1450 tr. De Imitations I. ix. 10 f&gt;ou shalt neure finde 
quietnes but in meke subieccion under a prelate. 1526 
Pilgr, Per/. (W. de W. 1531) 142 It is lesse labour and more j 
quietnes. a 1578 LINDESAY (Pitscottie) Citron. Scot. (S.T.S.) j 
1. 185 Althocht the conspiratouris thocht to have this matter 
. . in quyetnes, yet . . the king of France gat wit of the samin. | 
1682 NORRIS llitrocles 71 The knowing man . . will learn 
quietness and sedateness. 1730 EARL OF OXFORD in Swift s 
Lett. (1768) IV. 25 Enjoying the fruit of his victory, peace 
and quietness. 1807 WORDSW. White Dee I. 294 Happy in 
the shy recess Of Barden s lowly quietness. 1874 GLADSTONE 
in Contemp. Rer. Oct. 664 A word spoken in quietness .. 
can rarely fail to be in season. 

f b. With a (not followed by that). 06s. 

a 1548 HALL Chron., Hen. V 75 b, To set all thynges in a 
quietnes. 1549 LATIMER -znd Serm. be/. Edw. VI (Arb.) 73 
That she wold let the great man haue a quietnes in hyr 
Lande. 1596 SHAKS. Merck. V. iv. i. 12, I .. am arm d To 
suffer, with a quietnesse of spirit [etc.]. 

t Quretous, a. Obs. rare. [f. QUIET sb. + -ous.] 
Quiet, peaceful. Hence t Q,ui etously adv. 

1550 BALE Image fi&lt;&gt;th Ch. 84 b, Quietously to rest for a 
season. Ibid. 93 b, Bringing men to a quietous holde and 
sure stay in the Lord. 

Qui-etsome, a. Obs. exc. dial. [f. QUIET a. 
+ -SOME.] Quiet. 

1595 SPENSER Epithal. 326 Let the night be calme and 
quietsome. 1876 \Vhitby Gloss., Quietsome, retired ; silent. 

Quietude (kwai-eti7d). [a. F. quietude (c 1500) 
or ad. late L. quietudo, f. quict-us QUIET a.] = 
QUIETNESS; rest, calm, tranquillity. 

1597 A. M. tr. Guiflemeajt s Fr, Chirurg. 46b/2 That 
parte requireth nothinge els then quietude. 1675 OTWAY 
Alcibiades in. i, How sweet a Quietude s in Fetters found. 
755 J- SHEBBEARE Lydia (1769) II. 3 Love, .. urged his 
bosom too vehemently, to suffer a moment s quietude or 
delay. 1832 LYTTON Eugene A. I. y. 28 Philosophy has 
become another name for mental quietude. 1877 H. A. 
PAGE De Quiticey II. xvi. 29 The quietude of the Meadows 
. . made them his favourite resorts. 

II Quietus (kwai,rts). [Short for next.] 

1. A discharge or acquittance given on payment 
of sums due, or clearing of accounts ; a receipt. 

1540 Act 32 Hen. V1I1 (Pardon), Such issues fines 
or amerciaments . . and haue his or their Quietus for the 
same. 1623 WEBSTER Ditch. Malfi in. ii, You had the tricke 
in Audit time to be sicke, Till I had sign d your Quietus. 
1688 EVELYN Diary 15 Mar., I gave in my account about 
the Sick and Wounded, in order to have my quietus. 1780 
BURKE Sp. Econ. Reform Wks. 1826 III. 297 A final acquit 
tance, (or a yuief/ts, as they term it) is scarcely ever to be 
obtained [from the exchequer]. 1887 4%th Dep. Keeper s 
Rep. 628 The several Books . . being preserved, and . . the 
satisfaction or quietus being therein entered, 

1 2. A discharge from office or duty. Obs. 

c 1670 WOOD Life an. 1650-1, 16 Jan. (O. H. S.) I. 166 Had 
A. W. continued postmaster a little longer, he had, without 
doubt, received his quietus. 1687 LUTTRELL Brief Rel. 
(1857) I. 401 Sir Francis Withens, a judge of the Kings 
bench, hath his quietus, a 1711 KEN Hymiiotheo Poet. 
Wks. 1721 III. 155 The Guardian to relieve, Who his 
Quietus shall in Heav n receive. 1788 WAI.POLE Letters 
(1902) io.; A Veteran Author ought to take out his quietus 
as much as the Superannuated of any other Profession. 

3. Discharge or release from life; death, or that 
which brings death. 

1602 SHAKS. Hain. in. i. 75 When he himselfe might his 
quietus make With a bare bodkin. 1768-74 TUCKER Lt. 
Nat. (1834) II. 639 Some obtain their quietus without any 



QUILL. 

signs of pain at all. 1775 SHERIDAN Rivals v. iii, If an 
unlucky bullet should carry a quietus with it. 111839 
PRAED Poems (1864) II. 65 Sought his quietus in a duel. 
1872 BAKER Nile Tribut. v. 65 This shot, far from producing 
a quietus, gave rise to a series of convulsive struggles. 

b. Final settlement or extinction. 
1806-7 BERESFORD Miseries Hum. Life (ed. 5) I. 233 We 
have now, I think, given a quietus to the parlour. 1885 
CLODD Myths A&gt; Dr. i. iv. 73 This law gave the quietus to 
theories of common origin. 

4. (By assoc. with quiet.) Something which 
quiets or represses. 

1824 Miss FEHRIER Inker, xxxii, This disaster, .had the 
effect of a quietus upon Miss P. for some time. 1855 
THACKERAY Nevxomes II. 304 The nurse ran to give its 
accustomed quietus to the little screaming infant. 

Hence t Quietus v. trans., to discharge. Obs. 

1688 in Ellis Corr. II. 22 The other Powell and Holloway, 
who are quietus d. 

II Quietus est. Obs. [(med.)L. = heisquit .] 
QUIETUS. 

1427-8 Rolls I arlt. V. 409/2 That the! haue not theire 
Quietus est out of the Eschequier. 1530 LATIMER Rent, 
(Parker Soc.) 309 To have.. your quietus est sealed with the 
blood of our Saviour Christ. 1594 CAREW Huarte s Exam. 
Wits (1616) 217 That Steward . .salued vp all his reckonings, 
and got his quietus est. 1681 LUTTRELL Brief Kel. (1857) 
I. 74 On Monday the nth of Aprill the lord cheif justice 
Scroggs received his quietus est. i 7 o6PHlLLirs(ed. Kersey), 
Quietus est ..a Phrase us d by the Clerk of the Pipe and 
Auditors in the Exchequer, in their Acquittances and 
Discharges given to Accountants : A Quietus est granted 
to the Sheriff likewise discharges him of all Accounts due 
to the Queen. 

t Qui ety. Sc. Obs. rare. In 6 quiete, -tie, 7 
quyetie. [a. OF. quiete, qiiitt (Godef.) :-L. type 
*qtrictat-cm, f. quiet-its QUIET a.] Quietness. 

4:1470 HENRYSON Mor. Fab. n. (Town &lt;J- C. Mouse) xxxi, 
lilissit be sober feist in quiete [ea. 1621 quyetie]. 1528 
LYNDESAY Drente 283 Secreit synnis done in quietie. 

Quife, Quig, Quight, obs. ff. Coir, WHIG, 
QUITE. 

(kwsiihai). Also -hi. [Urdu (Hindi) 

* ^"* s (/ " } an x ne 0*" ) t iere 



a call used in India to summon a servant.] An 
Anglo-Indian, esp. one belonging to the Bengal 
Presidency. 

1816 Quiz (title), The Grand Master, or Adventures of 
Qui Hi in Hindostan. 1822 BlgeJkwoatfs Mag. Aug. 133 So 
if you are neither a qu, hy [sic] nor a politician [etc.]. 1834 
MEDWIN Angler in Wales 1.7 An apparition . . not unusual at 
that refuge for Indians, a qui hi . 1864 TREVELYAN Compel. 
Wallah (1866) 170 Old Quihyes, with clogged livers and 
shattered nerves^ 

attrib. 1840 E. E. NAPIER Scenes fy Sports For. Lands II. 
iv. 91, I sent to my Qui Hi friend an Arab pony. 

Quik(e, quikk(e, etc., obs. ff. QUICK a. and v. 

Quil, obs. form of WHILE, WHICH. 

t Quilate. Obs. Also 6 quillat(e. [a. Sp. or 
Pg. quilate: cf. KiLLAT.] = CARAT, q.v. 

1577 FRAMPTON Joyfull Neives n. 55 They shall put the 
water lower, in Quillats. 16*2 MABBE tr. Aleman s Guzman 
d Alf. i. 27 Shee would rather die. . then..faile one quilate in 
the touch and finenesse of her punctualitie. 1622 Ibid. n. 
320 Hee teacheth vs the quilates and aloy of that gold. 

Quile, obs. f. WHICH. Quile, var. COIL sb.$ 
haycock, WHILE. Quiler, var. QUOILEB. 

t Quilicom. Obs. rare~ i . [Of obscure forma 
tion.] App., an idle fancy, conceit, or quibble. 

1644 QUARLES Barnabas fy B. (1651) 43 It is enough for 
me to know, that God is a good man . . and for all other 
Quilicoms, they shall never trouble my braines. 

Quilis, -ist, obs. forms of WHILES, WHILST. 

Quilk, obs. form of WHICH. 

Quill (kwil), sb. i Forms: 4-7 quil, 5 quyl, 
qwil, qvylle, 6 quyll, 6- quill. [Of obscure 
etym. : cf. LG. quiele, G. kiel, dial, keil (MHG. 
ktf), quill (of a feather).] 

1 1. A hollow stem or stalk, as that of a reed ; 
a smooth piece of stem between two joints. Obs. 

1412-20 LYDG. Chron. Troy l. vi, They take a quil . . or a 
large can, And in the ende this stone they set. 1440 
Pramp. Pan. . 421/1 Qvylle, stalke, calamus. 1688 K. HOLME 
Armoury n. 84/2 Of a Tree . . the Quill, is the Cane, or 
space between two such joints. 

b. A piece of reed or other hollow stem on 
which yarn is wound ; hence, a bobbin, spool, or 
pirn of any material. 

14. . Voc. in Wr.-Wiilcker 613/1 Stola, a Quyl, or a Spole. 
1547 SALESBURY Welsh Diet., Prikied edafedd, a quyll of 
yorne. 1610 GUILLIM Heraldry iv. vii. 11611) 204 Hee 
beareth Argent three Weauer s Shuttles Sable tipped and 
furnished with Quils of Yarne. 1635 Roxb. Ball. (1890) 
VII. 142 If I should a Weaver have, .. Either wind silk, 
or fill his quills, tis either I can fit. 1771 MRS. DKLANY 
Lett. Ser. n. I. 382 Neither by force or art can I get the 
present quill off the spindle. 1831 G. R. PORTER Silk 
Mttnuf. 221 The quantity of silk wound upon each of these 
quills is necessarily but small. 1886 ELWORTHY W. Som. 
Word-bk., Quill, to wind the yarn from the hank or skein 
on to a