QUESTIONABLEQues"tion*a*ble, a.
1. Admitting of being questioned; inviting, or seeming to invite,inquiry. [R.]Thou com'st in such a questionable shape That I will speak to thee.Shak.
2. Liable to question; subject to be doubted or called in question; problematical; doubtful; suspicious. It is questionable whether Galen ever saw the dissection of a human body.T. Baker.
Syn. — Disputable; debatable; uncertain; doubtful; problematical; suspicious.
QUESTIONABLENESSQues"tion*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being questionable, doubtful, or suspicious.
QUESTIONABLYQues"tion*a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a questionable manner.
QUESTIONARYQues"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Inquiring; asking questions; testing. "Questionary epistles."Pope.
QUESTIONARYQues"tion*a*ry, n.
Defn: One who makes it his business to seek after relics and carry them about for sale.
QUESTIONERQues"tion*er, n.
Defn: One who asks questions; an inquirer. "Little time for idle questioners." Tennyson.
QUESTIONISTQues"tion*ist, n.
1. A questioner; an inquirer. [Obs.]
2. (Eng. Univ.)
Defn: A candidate for honors or degrees who is near the time of his examination.
QUESTIONLESSQues"tion*less, a.
Defn: Unquestioning; incurious. [R.]
QUESTIONLESSQues"tion*less, adv.
Defn: Beyond a question or doubt; doubtless; certainly.[R.] South. What it was in the apostles' time, that, questionless, it must be still. Milton.
QUESTIONNAIREQues`tion`naire", n.; pl. -naires (F. ). [F.]
Defn: = Questionary, above.
QUESTMANQuest"man, n.; pl. Questmen (.
Defn: One legally empowered to make quest of certain matters, esp. of abuses of weights and measures. Specifically: (a) A churchwarden's assistant; a sidesman. Blount. [Obs.] (b) A collector of parish rents. Blount. [Obs.]
QUESTMONGERQuest"mon`ger, n.
Defn: One who lays informations, and encourages petty lawsuits.[Obs.] Bacon.
QUESTOR Ques"tor, n. Etym: [L. quaestor, contr. fr. quaesitor, fr. quaerere, quaesitum, to seek for, ask: cf. F. questeur.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: An officer who had the management of the public treasure; a receiver of taxes, tribute, etc.; treasurer of state. [Written also quæstor.]
Note: At an early period there were also public accusers styled questors, but the office was soon abolished.
QUESTORSHIPQues"tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office, or the term of office, of a questor.
QUESTRISTQuest"rist, n. Etym: [See Quest.]
Defn: A seeker; a pursuer. [Obs.] "Hot questrists after him." Shak.
QUESTUARY Ques"tu*a*ry, a. Etym: [L. quaestuarius, from quaestus gain, profit, quaerere, quaesitum, to seek for, earn.]
Defn: Studious of profit. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
QUESTUARYQues"tu*a*ry, n.
Defn: One employed to collect profits. [R.] "The pope's questuaries."Jer. Taylor.
QUETQuet, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common guillemot. [Prov. Eng.]
QUEUE Queue, n. Etym: [F. See Cue.] (a) A tail-like appendage of hair; a pigtail. (b) A line of persons waiting anywhere.
QUEUEQueue, v. t.
Defn: To fasten, as hair, in a queue.
QUEYQuey, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. qvie.]
Defn: A heifer. [Scot.]
QUIBQuib, n. Etym: [Cf. Quip.]
Defn: A quip; a gibe.
QUIBBLE Quib"ble, n. Etym: [Probably fr. quib, quip, but influenced by quillet, or quiddity.]
1. A shift or turn from the point in question; a trifling or evasive distinction; an evasion; a cavil. Quibbles have no place in the search after truth. I. Watts.
2. A pun; a low conceit.
QUIBBLEQuib"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quibbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Quibbling.]
1. To evade the point in question by artifice, play upon words, caviling, or by raising any insignificant or impertinent question or point; to trifle in argument or discourse; to equivocate.
2. To pun; to practice punning. Cudworth.
Syn.— To cavil; shuffle; equivocate; trifle.
QUIBBLERQuib"bler, n.
Defn: One who quibbles; a caviler; also, a punster.
QUIBBLINGLYQuib"bling*ly, adv.
Defn: Triflingly; evasively.
QUICAQui"ca, n. Etym: [From the native Brazilian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small South American opossum (Didelphys quica), native ofGuiana and Brazil. It feeds upon insects, small birds, and fruit.
QUICEQuice, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Queest.
QUICHQuich, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Quinch.]
Defn: To stir. [Obs.]He could not move nor quich at all. Spenser.
QUICHUANQui"chuan, a.
Defn: Designating, or pertaining to, a linguistic stock of South American Indians, including the majority of the civilized tribes of the ancient Peruvian Empire with some wild tribes never subjugated by the Incas. Most of these Indians are short, but heavy and strong. They are brachycephalic and of remarkably low cranial capacity. Nevertheless, they represent one of the highest of native American civilizations, characterized by agricultural, military, and administrative skill rather than by science or literature, although they were adept potters, weavers, and goldsmiths, and preserved by the aid of the mnemonic quipu a body of legendary lore in part written down since the introduction of writing.
QUICK Quick, a. [Compar. Quicker; superl. Quickest.] Etym: [As. cwic, cwicu, cwucu, cucu, living; akin to OS. quik, D. kwik, OHG. quec, chec, G. keck bold, lively, Icel. kvikr living, Goth. qius, Lith. qyvas, Russ. zhivoi, L. vivus living, vivere to live, Gr. bi`os life, Skr. jiva living, jiv to live. Cf. Biography, Vivid, Quitch grass, Whitlow.]
1. Alive; living; animate; — opposed to dead or inanimate. Not fully quyke, ne fully dead they were. Chaucer. The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. 2 Tim. iv. 1. Man is no star, but a quick coal Of mortal fire. Herbert.
Note: In this sense the word is nearly obsolete, except in some compounds, or in particular phrases.
2. Characterized by life or liveliness; animated; sprightly; agile; brisk; ready. " A quick wit." Shak.
3. Speedy; hasty; swift; not slow; as, be quick Oft he her his charge of quick return Repeated. Milton.
4. Impatient; passionate; hasty; eager; eager; sharp; unceremonious; as, a quick temper. The bishop was somewhat quick with them, and signified that he was much offended. Latimer.
5. Fresh; bracing; sharp; keen. The air is quick there, And it pierces and sharpens the stomach. Shak.
6. Sensitive; perceptive in a high degree; ready; as, a quick ear. "To have an open ear, a quick eye." Shak. They say that women are so quick. Tennyson.
7. Pregnant; with child. Shak. Quick grass. (Bot.) See Quitch grass.— Quick match. See under Match.— Quick vein (Mining), a vein of ore which is productive, notbarren.— Quick vinegar, vinegar made by allowing a weak solution ofalcohol to trickle slowly over shavings or other porous material.— Quick water, quicksilver water.— Quick with child, pregnant with a living child.
Syn. — Speedy; expeditious; swift; rapid; hasty; prompt; ready; active; brisk; nimble; fleet; alert; agile; lively; sprightly.
QUICKQuick, adv.
Defn: In a quick manner; quickly; promptly; rapidly; with haste;speedily; without delay; as, run quick; get back quick.If we consider how very quick the actions of the mind are performed.Locke.
QUICKQuick, n.
1. That which is quick, or alive; a living animal or plant; especially, the hawthorn, or other plants used in making a living hedge. The works . . . are curiously hedged with quick. Evelyn.
2. The life; the mortal point; a vital part; a part susceptible of serious injury or keen feeling; the sensitive living flesh; the part of a finger or toe to which the nail is attached; the tender emotions; as, to cut a finger nail to the quick; to thrust a sword to the quick, to taunt one to the quick; — used figuratively. This test nippeth, . . . this toucheth the quick. Latimer. How feebly and unlike themselves they reason when they come to the quick of the difference ! Fuller.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Quitch grass. Tennyson.
QUICKQuick, v. t. & i. Etym: [See Quicken.]
Defn: To revive; to quicken; to be or become alive. [Obs.] Chaucer.
QUICKBEAMQuick"beam`, n. Etym: [A. S. cwicbeám.]
Defn: See Quicken tree.
QUICKENQuick"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. quickened; p. pr. & vb. n. Quickening.]Etym: [AS. cwician. See Quick, a.]
1. To make alive; to vivify; to revive or resuscitate, as from death or an inanimate state; hence, to excite; to, stimulate; to incite. The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead. Shak. Like a fruitful garden without an hedge, that quickens the appetite to enjoy so tempting a prize. South.
2. To make lively, active, or sprightly; to impart additional energy to; to stimulate; to make quick or rapid; to hasten; to accelerate; as, to quicken one's steps or thoughts; to quicken one's departure or speed.
3. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: To shorten the radius of (a curve); to make (a curve) sharper; as, to quicken the sheer, that is, to make its curve more pronounced.
Syn. — To revive; resuscitate; animate; reinvigorate; vivify; refresh; stimulate; sharpen; incite; hasten; accelerate; expedite; dispatch; speed.
QUICKENQuick"en, v. i.
1. To come to life; to become alive; to become vivified or enlivened; hence, to exhibit signs of life; to move, as the fetus in the womb. The heart is the first part that quickens, and the last that dies. Ray. And keener lightnings quicken in her eye. Pope. When the pale and bloodless east began To quicken to the sun. Tennyson.
2. To move with rapidity or activity; to become accelerated; as, his pulse quickened.
QUICKENERQuick"en*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, quickens.
QUICKENINGQuick"en*ing, n.
1. The act or process of making or of becoming quick.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The first motion of the fetus in the womb felt by the mother, occurring usually about the middle of the term of pregnancy. It has been popularly supposed to be due to the fetus becoming possessed of independent life.
QUICKENSQuick"ens, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Quitch grass.
QUICKEN TREE Quick"en tree`. Etym: [Probably from quick, and first applied to the aspen or some tree with quivering leaves; cf. G. quickenbaum, quizenbaum, quitschenbaum. Cf. Quitch grass.] (Bot.)
Defn: The European rowan tree; — called also quickbeam, and quickenbeam. See Rowan tree.
QUICKHATCHQuick"hatch`, n. Etym: [From the American Indian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The wolverine.
QUICKLIMEQuick"lime, n. Etym: [See Quick, a.] (Chem.)
Defn: Calcium oxide; unslacked lime; — so called because when wet it develops great heat. See 4th Lime, 2.
QUICKLYQuick"ly, adv.
Defn: Speedily; with haste or celerity; soon; without delay; quick.
QUICKNESSQuick"ness, n.
1. The condition or quality of being quick or living; life. [Obs.] Touch it with thy celestial quickness. Herbert.
2. Activity; briskness; especially, rapidity of motion; speed; celerity; as, quickness of wit. This deed . . . must send thee hence With fiery quickness. Shak. His mind had, indeed, great quickness and vigor. Macaulay.
3. Acuteness of perception; keen sensibility. Would not quickness of sensation be an inconvenience to an animal that must lie still Locke
4. Sharpness; pungency of taste. Mortimer.
Syn. — Velocity; celerity; rapidity; speed; haste; expedition; promptness; dispatch; swiftness; nimbleness; fleetness; agility; briskness; liveliness; readiness; sagacity; shrewdness; shrewdness; sharpness; keenness.
QUICKSANDQuick"sand`, n.
Defn: Sand easily moved or readily yielding to pressure; especially, a deep mass of loose or moving sand mixed with water, sometimes found at the mouth of a river or along some coasts, and very dangerous, from the difficulty of extricating a person who begins sinking into it. Life hath quicksands, — Life hath snares! Longfellow.
QUICK-SCENTEDQuick"-scent`ed, a.
Defn: Acute of smell.
QUICKSETQuick"set`, n.
Defn: A living plant set to grow, esp. when set for a hedge; specifically, the hawthorn.
QUICKSETQuick"set`, a.
Defn: Made of quickset.Dates and pomegranates on the quickset hedges. Walpole.
QUICKSETQuick"set`, v. t.
Defn: To plant with living shrubs or trees for a hedge; as, to quickset a ditch. Mortimer.
QUICK-SIGHTEDQuick"-sight`ed, a.
Defn: Having quick sight or acute discernment; quick to see or to discern. Locke. —Quick"-sight`ed*ness, n.
QUICKSILVERQuick"sil`ver, n. Etym: [Quick living + silver; — so called from itsfluidity; cf. G. quecksilber, L. argentum vivum. See Quick, a.](Chem.)
Defn: The metal mercury; — so called from its resemblance to liquid silver. Quicksilver horizon, a mercurial artificial horizon. See under Horizon. — Quicksilver water, a solution of mercury nitrate used in artificial silvering; quick water.
QUICKSILVEREDQuick"sil`vered, a.
Defn: Overlaid with quicksilver, or with an amalgam of quicksilver and tinfoil.
QUICKSILVERINGQuick"sil`ver*ing, n.
Defn: The mercury and foil on the back of a looking-glass.
QUICKSTEPQuick"step`, n. (Mus.)
Defn: A lively, spirited march; also, a lively style of dancing.
QUICK-WITTEDQuick"-wit`ted, a.
Defn: Having ready wit Shak.
QUICK-WITTEDNESSQuick"-wit`ted*ness, n.
Defn: Readiness of wit. "Celtic quick-wittedness." M. Arnold.
QUICKWORK Quick"work`, n. (Naut.) A term somewhat loosely used to denote: (a) All the submerged section of a vessel's planking. (b) The planking between the spirketing and the clamps. (c) The short planks between the portholes.
QUIDQuid, n. Etym: [See Cud.]
Defn: A portion suitable to be chewed; a cud; as, a quid of tobacco.
QUIDQuid, v. t. (Man.)
Defn: To drop from the mouth, as food when partially chewed; — said of horses. Youatt.
QUIDAMQui"dam, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Somebody; one unknown. Spenser.
QUIDDANYQuid"da*ny, n. Etym: [L. cydoneum quince juice, quince wine. SeeQuince.]
Defn: A confection of quinces, in consistency between a sirup and marmalade.
QUIDDATIVEQuid"da*tive, a. Etym: [See Quiddity.]
Defn: Constituting, or containing, the essence of a thing; quidditative.
QUIDDITQuid"dit, n. Etym: [Cf. Quiddity, Quillet, and Quibble.]
Defn: A subtilty; an equivocation. [Obs.] Shak.By some strange quiddit or some wrested clause. Drayton.
QUIDDITATIVEQuid"di*ta*tive, a.
Defn: Quiddative.
QUIDDITY Quid"di*ty, n.; pl. Quiddities. Etym: [LL. quidditas, fr. L. quid what, neut. of quis who, akin to E. who: cf. F. quiddité.]
1. The essence, nature, or distinctive peculiarity, of a thing; that which answers the question, Quid est or, What is it " The degree of nullity and quiddity." Bacon. The quiddity or characteristic difference of poetry as distinguished from prose. De Quincey.
2. A trifling nicety; a cavil; a quibble. We laugh at the quiddities of those writers now. Coleridge.
QUIDDLEQuid"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quiddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Quiddling.]Etym: [L. quid what.]
Defn: To spend time in trifling employments, or to attend to useful subjects in an indifferent or superficial manner; to dawdle.
QUIDDLE; QUIDDLERQuid"dle, Quid"dler, n.
Defn: One who wastes his energy about trifles. Emerson.
QUIDNUNCQuid"nunc, n. Etym: [L., what now]
Defn: One who is curious to know everything that passes; one who knows, or pretends to know, all that is going on. "The idle stories of quidnuncs." Motley.
QUIESCEQui*esce", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quiesced; p. pr. & vb. n. Quiescing.]Etym: [L. quiescere, akin to quies rest, quiet. See Quiet, a. & n.]
Defn: To be silent, as a letter; to have no sound. M. Stuart.
QUIESCENCE; QUIESCENCY Qui*es"cence, Qui*es"cen*cy, n. Etym: [L. quiescentia, fr. quiescens, p. pr.; cf. F. quiestence. See Quiesce.]
Defn: The state or quality of being quiescent. "Quiescence, bodily and mental." H. Spencer. Deeds will be done; — while be boasts his quiescence. R. Browning.
QUIESCENTQui*es"cent, a. Etym: [L. quiescens, -entis, p. pr. of quiescere: cf.F. quiescent. See Quiesce.]
1. Being in a state of repose; at rest; still; not moving; as, a quiescent body or fluid.
2. Not ruffed with passion; unagitated; not in action; not excited; quiet; dormant; resting. In times of national security, the feeling of patriotism . . . is so quiescent that it seems hardly to exist. Prof. Wilson.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: Not sounded; silent; as, y is quiescent in "day" and "say."
QUIESCENTQui*es"cent, n. (Gram.)
Defn: A silent letter. M. Stuart.
QUIESCENTLYQui*es"cent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a quiescent manner.
QUIETQui"et, a. [Compar. Quieter; superl. Quietest.] Etym: [L. quietus, p.p. pf quiescere to rest, keep quiet; akin to quies rest, and prob. toE. while, n. See While, and cf. Coy, a., Quiesce, Quietus, Quit, a.,Quite, Requiem.]
1. In a state of rest or calm; without stir, motion, or agitation; still; as, a quiet sea; quiet air. They . . . were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him. Judg. xvi. 2.
2. Free from noise or disturbance; hushed; still.
3. Not excited or anxious; calm; peaceful; placid; settled; as, a quiet life; a quiet conscience. " So quiet and so sweet a style." Shak. That son, who on the quiet state of man Such trouble brought. Milton.
4. Not giving offense; not exciting disorder or trouble; not turbulent; gentle; mild; meek; contented. The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. 1 Pet. iii. 4. I will sit as quiet as a lamb. Shak.
5. Not showy; not such as to attract attention; undemonstrative; as, a quiet dress; quiet colors; a quiet movement.
Syn. — Still; tranquil; calm; unruffled; smooth; unmolested; undisturbed; placid; peaceful; mild; peaceable; meek; contented.
QUIETQui"et n. Etym: [L. quies, -etis. See Quiet, a.]
1. The quality or state of being quiet, or in repose; as an hour or a time of quiet.
2. Freedom from disturbance, noise, or alarm; stillness; tranquillity; peace; security. And join with thee, calm Peace and Quiet. Milton. At quiet, still; peaceful. — In quiet, quietly. " I will depart in quiet." Shak. — Out of quiet, disturbed; restless. [Obs.] "She is much out of quiet." Shak.
QUIETQui"et, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quieted; p. pr. & vb. n. Quieting.]
1. To stop motion in; to still; to reduce to a state of rest, or of silence.
2. To calm; to appease; to pacify; to lull; to allay; to tranquillize; as, to quiet the passions; to quiet clamors or disorders; to quiet pain or grief. Quiet yourselves, I pray, and be at peace. Shak.
QUIETQui"et, v. i.
Defn: To become still, silent, or calm; — often with down; as, be soon quieted down.
QUIETAGEQui"et*age, n.
Defn: Quietness. [Obs.] Spenser.
QUIETERQui"et*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, quiets.
QUIETISMQui"et*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. quiétisme.]
1. Peace or tranquillity of mind; calmness; indifference; apathy; dispassion; indisturbance; inaction.
2. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: The system of the Quietists, who maintained that religion consists in the withdrawal of the mind from worldly interests and anxieties and its constant employment in the passive contemplation of God and his attributes.
QUIETISTQui"et*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. quiétiste.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect of mystics originated in the seventeenth century by Molinos, a Spanish priest living in Rome. See Quietism.
QUIETISTICQui`et*is"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Quietists, or to Quietism.
QUIETLYQui"et*ly, adv.
1. In a quiet state or manner; without motion; in a state of rest; as, to lie or sit quietly.
2. Without tumult, alarm, dispute, or disturbance; peaceably; as, to live quietly; to sleep quietly.
3. Calmly, without agitation or violent emotion; patiently; as, to submit quietly to unavoidable evils.
4. Noiselessly; silently; without remark or violent movement; in a manner to attract little or no observation; as, he quietly left the room.
QUIETNESSQui"et*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being quiet; freedom from noise,agitation, disturbance, or excitement; stillness; tranquillity;calmness.I would have peace and quietness. Shak.
QUIETSOMEQui"et*some, a.
Defn: Calm; still. [Obs.] Spenser.
QUIETUDEQui"e*tude, n. Etym: [L. quietudo: cf. F. quiétude.]
Defn: Rest; repose; quiet; tranquillity. Shelley.
QUIETUS Qui*e"tus, n. Etym: [LL. quietus quit, discharged, L., at rest, quiet, dead. See Quiet, a., and cf. Quit, a.]
Defn: Final discharge or acquittance, as from debt or obligation; that which silences claims; (Fig.) rest; death. When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin. Shak.
QUILL Quill, n. Etym: [Perhaps fr. F. quille ninepin (see Kayless); but cf. also G. kiel a quill. MHG. kil, and Ir. cuille a quill.]
1. One of the large feathers of a bird's wing, or one of the rectrices of the tail; also, the stock of such a feather.
2. A pen for writing made by sharpening and splitting the point or nib of the stock of a feather; as, history is the proper subject of his quill. Sir H. Wotton.
3. (Zoöl.) (a) A spine of the hedgehog or porcupine. (b) The pen of a squid. See Pen.
4. (Mus.) (a) The plectrum with which musicians strike the strings of certain instruments. (b) The tube of a musical instrument. He touched the tender stops of various quills. Milton.
5. Something having the form of a quill; as: (a) The fold or plain of a ruff. (b) (Weaving) A spindle, or spool, as of reed or wood, upon which the thread for the woof is wound in a shuttle. (c) (Mach.) A hollow spindle. Quill bit, a bit for boring resembling the half of a reed split lengthways and having its end sharpened like a gouge. — Quill driver, one who works with a pen; a writer; a clerk. [Jocose] — Quill nib, a small quill pen made to be used with a holder. Simmonds.
QUILLQuill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Quilling.]
1. To plaint in small cylindrical ridges, called quillings; as, to quill a ruffle. His cravat seemed quilled into a ruff. Goldsmith.
2. To wind on a quill, as thread or yarn. Judd.
QUILLAIA BARKQuil*la"ia bark`. (Bot.)
Defn: The bark of a rosaceous tree (Quillaja Saponaria), native ofChili. The bark is finely laminated, and very heavy with alkalinesubstances, and is used commonly by the Chilians instead of soap.Also called soap bark.
QUILLBACKQuill"back`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An American fresh-water fish (Ictiobus, or Carpiodes, cyprinus); — called also carp sucker, sailfish, spearfish, and skimback.
QUILLEDQuilled, a.
Defn: Furnished with quills; also, shaped like quills. "A sharp- quilled porcupine." Shak. Quilled suture (Surg.), a variety of stitch in which the threads after being passed deeply through the edges of a wound are secured about two quills or bodies of similar shape, in order to produce a suitable degree of pressure.
QUILLETQuil"let, n. Etym: [L. quidlibet what you please. Cf. Quiddit, andQuibble.]
Defn: Subtilty; nicety; quibble. "Nice, sharp quillets of the law."Shak.
QUILLING Quill"ing, n. (a) A band of linen, muslin, or the like, fluted, folded, or plaited so as somewhat to resemble a row of quills. (b) One of the rounded plaits or flutings of such a band.
QUILLWORTQuill"wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant or species of the genus Isoetes, cryptogamous plants with a cluster of elongated four-tubed rushlike leaves, rising from a corm, and containing spores in their enlarged and excavated bases. There are about seventeen American species, usually growing in the mud under still, shallow water. So called from the shape of the shape of the leaves.
QUILT Quilt, n. Etym: [OE. quilte, OF. cuilte, L. culcita bed, cushion, mattress. Cf. 2d Counterpoint, Cushion.]
Defn: Anything that is quilted; esp., a quilted bed cover, or a skirt worn by women; any cover or garment made by putting wool, cotton, etc., between two cloths and stitching them together; also, any outer bed cover. The beds were covered with magnificent quilts. Arbuthnot.
QUILTQuilt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quilted; p. pr. & vb. n. Quilting.]
1. To stitch or sew together at frequent intervals, in order to confine in place the several layers of cloth and wadding of which a garment, comforter, etc., may be made; as, to quilt a coat. Dryden.
2. To wad, as a garment, with warm soft material.
3. To stitch or sew in lines or patterns.
QUILTERQuilt"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, quilts.
QUILTINGQuilt"ing, n.
1. The act of stitching or running in patterns, as in making a quilt.
2. A quilting bee. See Bee, 2.
3. The material used for making quilts.
4. (Naut.)
Defn: A coating of strands of rope for a water vessel.
QUINQuin, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European scallop (Pecten opercularis), used as food. [Prov.Eng.]
QUINALDINEQuin*al"dine, n. Etym: [Quinoline + aldehyde + aniline.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless liquid of a slightly pungent odor, C9H6N.CH3, first obtained as a condensation product of aldehyde and aniline, and regarded as a derivative of quinoline; — called also methyl quinoline. [Written also chinaldine.]
QUINARY Qui"na*ry, a. Etym: [L. quinarius, from quini five each, akin to quinque five: cf. F.quinaire. See Five.]
Defn: Consisting of five; arranged by fives. Boyle. Quinary system (Zoöl.), a fanciful classification based on the hypothesis that each group contains five types.
QUINATEQui"nate, a. Etym: [L. quini five each.] (Bot.)
Defn: Growing in sets of five; — said especially of leaves composed of five leaflets set at the end of a common petiole.
QUINATEQui"nate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of quinic acid. [Written also kinate.]
QUINAZOLQuin"a*zol, n. Etym: [Quinoline + azote.] (Chem.)
Defn: A complex nitrogenous base related to cinnoline. [Written also chinazol.]
QUINCEQuince, n. Etym: [Prob. a pl. from OE. quyne, coin, OF. coin, cooin,F. coing, from L. Cydonius a quince tree, as adj., Cydonian, Gr.Quiddany.]
1. The fruit of a shrub (Cydonia vulgaris) belonging to the same tribe as the apple. It somewhat resembles an apple, but differs in having many seeds in each carpel. It has hard flesh of high flavor, but very acid, and is largely used for marmalade, jelly, and preserves.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: a quince tree or shrub. Japan quince (Bot.), an Eastern Asiatic shrub (Cydonia, formerly Pyrus, Japonica) and its very fragrant but inedible fruit. The shrub has very showy flowers, usually red, but sometimes pink or white, and is much grown for ornament. — Quince curculio (Zoöl.), a small gray and yellow curculio (Conotrachelus cratægi) whose larva lives in quinces. — Quince tree (Bot.), the small tree (Cydonia vulgaris) which produces the quince.
QUINCEWORTQuince"wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The squinancy. Called also quinsywort.
QUINCH Quinch, v. i. Etym: [Cf. OD. quincken to quiver, shake, Fries. quink hovering. Cf. Quich.]
Defn: To stir; to wince. [Obs.] Spenser.
QUINCUNCIALQuin*cun"cial, Etym: [L. quincuncialis, from quincunx. See Quincunx.]
1. Having the form of a quincunx.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the leaves of a pentamerous calyx or corolla so imbricated that two are exterior, two are interior, and the other has one edge exterior and one interior; as, quincuncial æstivation. Quincuncial phyllotaxy (Bot.), an arrangement of five leaves in a spiral, each leaf two fifths of a circle from the next.
QUINCUNCIALLYQuin*cun"cial*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner or order of a quincunx.
QUINCUNX Quin"cunx, n. Etym: [L., fr. quingue five + uncia an ounce. The quincunx was marked by five small spots or balls. See Five, and Ounce the weight.]
1. An arrangement of things by fives in a square or a rectangle, one being placed at each corner and one in the middle; especially, such an arrangement of trees repeated indefinitely, so as to form a regular group with rows running in various directions.
2. (Astrol.)
Defn: The position of planets when distant from each other five signs, or 150º. Hutton.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A quincuncial arrangement, as of the parts of a flower in æstivation. See Quincuncial, 2.
QUINDECAGONQuin*dec"a*gon, n. Etym: [L. quindecim fifteen + Gr. (Geom.)
Defn: A plane figure with fifteen angles, and consequently fifteen sides.
QUINDECEMVIRQuin`de*cem"vir, n.; pl. E. Quindecemvirs, L. Quindecemviri. Etym:[L., from quindecim fifteen + vir a man.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: One of a sacerdotal college of fifteen men whose chief duty was to take care of the Sibylline books.
QUINDECEMVIRATEQuin`de*cem"vi*rate, n. Etym: [L. quindecimviratus.]
Defn: The body or office of the quindecemviri.
QUINDECONEQuin*dec"one, n. Etym: [L. quindecim fifteen.] (Chem.)
Defn: An unsaturated hydrocarbon, C15H26, of the valylene series, produced artificially as an oily liquid. [Written also quindekone.]
QUINDECYLICQuin`de*cyl"ic, n. Etym: [L. quindecim fifteen + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid of the fatty acid series, containing fifteen atoms of carbon; called also pentadecylic acid.
QUINDEMQuin"dem, n.
Defn: A fifteenth part. [Obs.]
QUINDISMQuin"dism, n.
Defn: A fifteenth. [Obs.] Prynne.
QUINHYDRONEQuin*hy"drone, n. Etym: [Quinone + hydroquinone.] (Chem.)
Defn: A green crystalline substance formed by the union of quinone with hydroquinone, or as an intermediate product in the oxidation of hydroquinone or the reduction of quinone. [Written also chinhydrone.]
QUINIAQuin"i*a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Chem.)
Defn: Quinine.
QUINIBLEQuin"i*ble, n. Etym: [L. quini five each.] (Mus.)
Defn: An interval of a fifth; also, a part sung with such intervals.[Obs.] "He sang . . . a loud quynyble." Chaucer.
QUINICQuin"ic, a. Etym: [See Quinine, and cf. Kinic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or connected with, quinine and related compounds; specifically, designating a nonnitrogenous acid obtained from cinchona bark, coffee, beans, etc., as a white crystalline substance. [Written also chinic, kinic.]
QUINICINEQuin"i*cine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An uncrystallizable alkaloid obtained by the action of heat from quinine, with which it is isomeric.
QUINIDINEQuin"i*dine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid isomeric with, and resembling, quinine, found in certain species of cinchona, from which it is extracted as a bitter white crystalline substance; conchinine. It is used somewhat as a febrifuge. [Written also chinidine.]
QUININEQui"nine, n. Etym: [F. (cf. Sp. quinina), fr. Sp. quina, orquinaquina, Peruvian bark, fr. Peruv. kina, quina, bark. Cf. Kinic.](Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid extracted from the bark of several species of cinchona (esp. Cinchona Calisaya) as a bitter white crystalline substance, C20H24N2O2. Hence, by extension (Med.), any of the salts of this alkaloid, as the acetate, chloride, sulphate, etc., employed as a febrifuge or antiperiodic. Called also quinia, quinina, etc. [Written also chinine.]
QUININICQui*nin"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a nitrogenous acid obtained as a yellow crystalline substance by the oxidation of quinine.
QUININISM; QUINISMQui"nin*ism, Qui"nism, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Cinchonism.
QUINIZARINQui*niz"a*rin, Etym: [Hydroquinone + alizarin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow crystalline substance produced artificially. It is isomeric with alizarin.
QUINIZINEQuin"i*zine, n. Etym: [Quinoline + hydrazine.] (Chem.)
Defn: any one of a series of nitrogenous bases, certain of which are used as antipyretics.
QUINNATQuin"nat, n. Etym: [From the native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The California salmon (Oncorhynchus choicha); — called also chouicha, king salmon, chinnook salmon, and Sacramento salmon. It is of great commercial importance. [Written also quinnet.]
QUINOAQui*no"a, n.
Defn: The seeds of a kind of goosewort (Chenopodium Quinoa), used inChili and Peru for making porridge or cakes; also, food thus made.
QUINOGENQuin"o*gen, n. Etym: [Quinine + -gen.] (Chem.)
Defn: A hypothetical radical of quinine and related alkaloids.
QUINOIDINEQui*noid"ine, n. Etym: [Quinine + -oid.] (Med. (Chem.)
Defn: A brownish resinous substance obtained as a by-product in the treatment of cinchona bark. It consists of a mixture of several alkaloids. [Written also chinoidine.]
QUINOLINEQuin"o*line, n. Etym: [Quinine + L. oleum oil + -ine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A nitrogenous base, C9H7N obtained as a pungent colorless liquid by the distillation of alkaloids, bones, coal tar, etc. It the nucleus of many organic bodies, especially of certain alkaloids and related substances; hence, by extension, any one of the series of alkaloidal bases of which quinoline proper is the type. [Written also chinoline.]
QUINOLOGISTQui*nol"o*gist n.
Defn: One who is versed in quinology.
QUINOLOGYQui*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Quinine + -logy.]
Defn: The science which treats of the cultivation of the cinchona, and of its use in medicine.
QUINONEQui"none, n. Etym: [Quinine + ketone.] (Chem.)
Defn: A crystalline substance, C6H4O2 (called also benzoketone), first obtained by the oxidation of quinic acid and regarded as a double ketone; also, by extension, any one of the series of which quinone proper is the type. [Written also chinone, kinone.]
QUINOVICQui*no"vic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a crystalline acid obtained from some varieties of cinchona bark. [Written also chinovic, and kinovic.]
QUINOVIN Qui*no"vin, n. Etym: [NL. quina nova the tree Cosmibuena magnifolia, whose bark yields quinovin.] (Chem.)
Defn: An amorphous bitter glucoside derived from cinchona and other barks. Called also quinova bitter, and quinova. [Written also chinovin, and kinovin.]
QUINOXALINEQuin*ox"a*line, n. Etym: [Quinoline + glyoxal.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of a series of complex nitrogenous bases obtained by the union of certain aniline derivatives with glyoxal or with certain ketones. [Written also chinoxaline.]
QUINOXYLQuin*ox"yl, n. Etym: [Quinone + oxygen + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: The hypothetical radical of certain quinone derivatives related to rhodizonic acid.
QUINOYLQui"noyl, n. Etym: [Quinone + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A radical of which quinone is the hydride, analogous to phenyl.[Written also kinoyl.]
QUINQUAGESIMA Quin`qua*ges"i*ma, a. Etym: [L., fr. quinquagesimus the fiftieth, akin to quinquaginta fifty, quinque five. See Five.]
Defn: Fiftieth. Quinquagesima Sunday, the Sunday which is the fiftieth day before Easter, both days being included in the reckoning; — called also Shrove Sunday.
QUINQUANGULAR Quin*quan"gu*lar, a. Etym: [L. quinquanqulus; quinque five + angulus ad angle: cf. F. quinquangulaire.]
Defn: Having five angles or corners.
QUINQUARTICULARQuin`quar*tic"u*lar, a. Etym: [Quinque- + article.] (Theol.)
Defn: Relating to the five articles or points; as, the quinquarticular controversy between Arminians and Calvinists. [Obs.] Bp. Sanderson.
QUINQUE-Quin"que-. Etym: [L. quinque five. See Five.]
Defn: A combining form meaning five, five times, fivefold; as, quinquefid, five-cleft; quinquedentate, five-toothed.
QUINQUEANGLEDQuin"que*an`gled, a. Etym: [Quinque- + angle.]
Defn: Having five angles; quinquangular.
QUINQUEDENTATE; QUINQUEDENTATED Quin`que*den"tate, Quin`que*den"ta*ted, a. Etym: [Quinque- + dentate, -tated: cf. F. quinquédenté.]
Defn: Five-toothed; as, a quinquedentate leaf.
QUINQUEFARIOUS Quin`que*fa"ri*ous, a. Etym: [From L. quinque five: cf. F. quinquéfarié. Cf. Bifarious.] (Bot.)
Defn: Arranged in five vertical rows; pentastichous. Gray.
QUINQUEFID Quin"que*fid, a. Etym: [Quique- + the root of L. findere to cleave: cf. F. quinquéfide.] (Bot.)
Defn: Sharply cut about halfway to the middle or base into five segments; as, a quinquefid leaf or corolla.
QUINQUEFOLIATE; QUINQUEFOLIATED Quin`que*fo"li*ate, Quin`que*fo"li*a`ted, a. Etym: [Quinque- + foliate, -ated: cf. F. quinquéfolié, L. quinquefolius.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having five leaves or leaflets. Gray.
QUINQUE FOLIOLATEQuin`que fo"li*o*late, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having five leaflets. Gray.
QUINQUELITERALQuin`que*lit"er*al, a. Etym: [Quinque- + literal.]
Defn: Consisting of five letters.
QUINQUELOBATE; QUINQUELOBARED Quin`que*lo"bate, Quin`que*lo"ba*red, a. Etym: [Quinque- + lobate, - ated: cf. F. quinquélobé.]
Defn: Cut less than halfway into portions, usually somewhat rounded; five-lobed; as, a quinquelobate leaf or corolla.
QUINQUELOBEDQuin"que*lobed`, a. Etym: [Quinque- + lobe.]
Defn: Same as Quinquelobate.
QUINQUELOCULAR Quin`que*loc"u*lar, a. Etym: [Quinque- + locular: cf. F. quinquéloculaire.]
Defn: Having five cells or loculi; five-celled; as, a quinquelocular pericarp.
QUINQUENERVEDQuin"que*nerved`, a. Etym: [Quinque- + nerve.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having five nerves; — said of a leaf with five nearly equal nerves or ribs rising from the end of the petiole.
QUINQUENNALIAQuin`quen*na"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. quinquennalis. SeeOuinquennial.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: Public games celebrated every five years.
QUINQUENNIAL Quin*quen"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. quinquennalis and quinquennis; quinque five + annus year. See Five, and cf. Biennial.]
Defn: Occurring once in five years, or at the end of every five years; also, lasting five years. A quinquennial event.
QUINQUENNIUMQuin*quen"ni*um, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Space of five years.
QUINQUEPARTITE Quin*quep"ar*tite, a. Etym: [L. quinquepartitus; quinque five + partitus, p. p. of partire to divide: cf. F. quinquépartite.]
1. Consisting of five parts.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Divided into five parts almost to the base.
QUINQUEREME Quin"que*reme, n. Etym: [L. quinqueremis; quinque five + remus an oar: cf. F. quinquérème]
Defn: A galley having five benches or banks of oars; as, an Athenian quinquereme.
QUINQUESYLLABLEQuin"que*syl`la*ble, n. Etym: [Quinque- + syllable.]
Defn: A word of five syllables.
QUINQUEVALVE; QUINQUEVALVULAR Quin"que*valve, Quin`que*val"vu*lar, a. Etym: [Quinque- + valve, valvular: cf. F. quinquévalve.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having five valves, as a pericarp.
QUINQUEVIR Quin"que*vir, n.; pl; E. Quinquevirs, L. Quinqueviri. Etym: [L., fr. quinque Five + vir man.] (Bot. Antiq.)
Defn: One of five commissioners appointed for some special object.
QUINQUINAQuin*qui"na, n. Etym: [NL. & F. See Quinine.]
Defn: Peruvian bark.
QUINQUIVALENTQuin*quiv"a*lent, a. Etym: [Quinque- + L. valens, -entis, p. pr. SeeValence.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Pentavalent.
QUINSY Quin"sy, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. squinancy, F. esquinancie, L. cynanche a sort of sore throat, Gr. synanche sore throat, Gr. Hound, Anger, and Cynanche.] (Med.)
Defn: An inflammation of the throat, or parts adjacent, especially of the fauces or tonsils, attended by considerable swelling, painful and impeded deglutition, and accompanied by inflammatory fever. It sometimes creates danger of suffocation; — called also squinancy, and squinzey.
QUINT Quint, n. Etym: [F. quinte, fr. L. quintus, quinta, the fifth, quinque five. See Five.]
1. A set or sequence of five, as in piquet.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: The interval of a fifth.
QUINTAIN Quin"tain, n. Etym: [F. quintaine, LL. quintana; cf. W. chwintan a kind of hymeneal game.]
Defn: An object to be tilted at; — called also quintel. [Written also quintin.]
Note: A common form in the Middle Ages was an upright post, on the top of which turned a crosspiece, having on one end a broad board, and on the other a sand bag. The endeavor was to strike the board with the lance while riding under, and get away without being hit by the sand bag. "But a quintain, a mere lifeless block." Shak.
QUINTAL Quin"tal, n. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. quintal, fr. Ar. qintar a weight of 100 lbs., prob. fr. L. centenarius consisting of a hundred, fr. centeni a hundred each, fr. centum a hundred. See Hundred, and cf. Kentle.]
1. A hundredweight, either 112 or 100 pounds, according to the scale used. Cf. Cental. [Sometimes written and pronounced kentle.]
2. A metric measure of weight, being 100,000 grams, or 100 kilograms, equal to 220.46 pounds avoirdupois.
QUINTANQuin"tan, a. Etym: [L. quintanus, fr. quintus fifth, quinque five.See Five.]
Defn: Occurring as the fifth, after four others also, occurring every fifth day, reckoning inclusively; as, a quintan fever. — n. (Med.)
Defn: An intermittent fever which returns every fifth day, reckoning inclusively, or in which the intermission lasts three days.
QUINTELQuin"tel, n.
Defn: See Quintain.
QUINTESSENCEQuin*tes"sence, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. quinta essentia fifth essence.See Quint, and Essence.]
1. The fifth or last and highest essence or power in a natural body. See Ferment oils, under Ferment. [Obs.]
Note: The ancient Greeks recognized four elements, fire, air, water, and earth. The Pythagoreans added a fifth and called it nether, the fifth essence, which they said flew upward at creation and out of it the stars were made. The alchemists sometimes considered alcohol, or the ferment oils, as the fifth essence.
2. Hence: An extract from anything, containing its rarest virtue, or most subtle and essential constituent in a small quantity; pure or concentrated essence. Let there be light, said God; and forthwith light Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure, Sprung from the deep. Milton.
QUINTESSENCEQuin*tes"sence, v. t.
Defn: To distil or extract as a quintessence; to reduce to a quintessence. [R.] Stirling. "Truth quintessenced and raised to the highest power." J. A. Symonds.
QUINTESSENTIALQuin`tes*sen"tial, a.
Defn: Of the nature of a quintessence; purest. "Quintessential extract of mediocrity." G. Eliot.
QUINTET; QUINTETTEQuin*tet", Quin*tette", n. Etym: [It. quintetto, dim. of quinto thefifth, a fifth part, from L. quintus the fifth: cf. F. quintette. SeeQuint.] (Mus.)
Defn: A composition for five voices or instruments; also, the set of five persons who sing or play five-part music.
QUINTICQuin"tic, a. Etym: [L. quintus fifth, fr. quinque five.] (Alg.)
Defn: Of the fifth degree or order.— n. (Alg.)
Defn: A quantic of the fifth degree. See Quantic.
QUINTILEQuin"tile, n. Etym: [F. quintil aspect, fr. L. quintus the fifth.](Astron.)
Defn: The aspect of planets when separated the fifth part of the zodiac, or 72º. Hutton.
QUINTILLLION Quin*till"lion, n. Etym: [Formed fr. L. quintus the fifth, after the analogy of million: cf. F. quintillion. See Quint.]
Defn: According to the French notation, which is used on the Continent and in America, the cube of a million, or a unit with eighteen ciphers annexed; according to the English notation, a number produced by involving a million to the fifth power, or a unit with thirty ciphers annexed. See the Note under Numeration.
QUINTINQuin"tin, n.
Defn: See Quintain.
QUINTINEQuin"tine, n. Etym: [L. quintus the fifth: cf. F. quintine.] (Bot.)
Defn: The embryonic sac of an ovule, sometimes regarded as an innermost fifth integument. Cf. Quartine, and Tercine.
QUINTOLEQuin"tole, n. Etym: [It. quinto fifth.] (Mus.)
Defn: A group of five notes to be played or sung in the time of four of the same species.
QUINTROON Quin*troon", n. [Sp. quinteron the off-spring of a quadroon and a white.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: The off-spring of an octoroon and a white person.
QUINTUPLE Quin"tu*ple, a. Etym: [L. quintus fifth: cf. F. quintuple, L. quintuplex. Cf. Quadruple.]
Defn: Multiplied by five; increased to five times the amount; fivefold. Quintuple time (Mus.), a time having five beats in a measure. It is seldom used.
QUINTUPLEQuin"tu*ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quintupled; p. pr. & vb. n.Quintupling.] Etym: [Cf. F. quintupler.]
Defn: To make fivefold, or five times as much or many.
QUINTUPLE-NERVED; QUINTUPLE-RIBBEDQuin"tu*ple-nerved`, Quin"tu*ple-ribbed`, a. (Bot.)
Defn: The same as Quinquenerved.
QUINTUPLETQuin"tu*plet, n. [From Quintuple.]
1. A collection or combination of five of a kind.
2. pl. Five children born in the same labor.
3. (Mus.) A group of five connected notes; a turn of five notes.
4. A cycle having five crank shafts and adapted for five riders, all of whom can assist in the propulsion.
QUINZAINEQuin"zaine, n. Etym: [F., from quinze fifteen, L. quindecim. SeeFifteen.]
Defn: The fifteenth day after a feast day, including both in the reckoning. [Written also quinzain.]
QUINZEQuinze, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A game at cards in which the object is to make fifteen points.
QUIP Quip, n. Etym: [Cf. W. chwip a quick flirt or turn, chwipio to whip, to move briskly, and E. whip. Cf. Quib, Quibble.]
Defn: A smart, sarcastic turn or jest; a taunt; a severe retort; agibe.Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles. Milton.He was full of joke and jest, But all his merry quips are o'er.Tennyson.
QUIPQuip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quipped; p. pr. & vb. n. Quipping.]
Defn: To taunt; to treat with quips.The more he laughs, and does her closely quip. Spenser.
QUIPQuip, v. i.
Defn: To scoff; to use taunts. Sir H. Sidney.
QUIPOQui"po, n.
Defn: Same as Quipu.
QUIPUQui"pu, n.; pl. Quipus. Etym: [Peruv.quipu a knot.]
Defn: A contrivance employed by the ancient Peruvians, Mexicans, etc., as a substitute for writing and figures, consisting of a main cord, from which hung at certain distances smaller cords of various colors, each having a special meaning, as silver, gold, corn, soldiers. etc. Single, double, and triple knots were tied in the smaller cords, representing definite numbers. It was chiefly used for arithmetical purposes, and to register important facts and events. [Written also quipo.] Tylor. The mysterious science of the quipus . . . supplied the Peruvians with the means of communicating their ideas to one another, and of transmitting them to future generations. Prescott.
QUIRBOILLYQuir"boil*ly`, n. Etym: [OE. cuir bouilli.]
Defn: Leather softened by boiling so as to take any required shape. Upon drying, it becomes exceedingly hard, and hence was formerly used for armor. [Obs.] "His jambeux were of quyrboilly." Chaucer.
QUIREQuire, n.
Defn: See Choir. [Obs.] Spenser.A quire of such enticing birds. Shak.
QUIREQuire, v. i.
Defn: To sing in concert. [R.] Shak.
QUIRE Quire, n. Etym: [OE. quaer, quair, OF. quayer, cayer, caïer, F. cahier, a book of loose sheets, a quarter of a quire, LL. quaternus, quaternum, sheets of paper packed together, properly, four together, fr. L. quaterni four each, by fours, quattuor, four. See Four and cf. Cahier.]
Defn: A collection of twenty-four sheets of paper of the same size and quality, unfolded or having a single fold; one twentieth of a ream.
QUIRINALQuir"i*nal, a. [L. Quirinals, fr. Quirinus, a name of Romulus.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, the hill Collis Quirinalis, now Monte Quirinale (one of the seven hills of Rome), or a modern royal place situated upon it. Also used substantively.
QUIRISTERQuir"is*ter, n. Etym: [See Quire, Chorister.]
Defn: A chorister. See Chorister. [R.] Thomson.
QUIRITATION Quir`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. quiritatio, fr. quiritare to raise a plaintive cry, v. freq. fr. queri to complain.]
Defn: A crying for help. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
QUIRITEQui"rite, n.
Defn: One of the Quirites.
QUIRITESQui*ri"tes, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. Cures, a Sabine town.] (Rom.Antiq.)
Defn: Roman citizens.
Note: After the Sabines and Romans had united themselves into one community, under Romulus, the name of Quirites was taken in addition to that of Romani, the Romans calling themselves in a civil capacity Quirites, while in a political and military capacity they retained the name of Romani. Andrews.
QUIRK Quirk, n. [Written also querk.] Etym: [Cf W. chwiori to turn briskly, or E. queer.]
1. A sudden turn; a starting from the point or line; hence, an artful evasion or subterfuge; a shift; a quibble; as, the quirks of a pettifogger. "Some quirk or . . . evasion." Spenser. We ground the justification of our nonconformity on dark subtilties and intricate quirks. Barrow.
2. A fit or turn; a short paroxysm; a caprice. [Obs.] "Quirks of joy and grief." Shak.
3. A smart retort; a quibble; a shallow conceit. Some odd quirks and remnants of wit. Shak.
4. An irregular air; as, light quirks of music. Pope.
5. (Building)
Defn: A piece of ground taken out of any regular ground plot or floor, so as to make a court, yard, etc.; — sometimes written quink. Gwilt.
6. (Arch.)
Defn: A small channel, deeply recessed in proportion to its width, used to insulate and give relief to a convex rounded molding. Quirk molding, a bead between two quirks.
QUIRKEDQuirked, a.
Defn: Having, or formed with, a quirk or quirks.
QUIRKISHQuirk"ish
Defn: , Consisting of quirks; resembling a quirk. Barrow.
QUIRKYQuirk"y, a.
Defn: Full of quirks; tricky; as, a quirky lawyer.
QUIRLQuirl, n. & v.
Defn: See Querl.
QUIRPELEQuir"pele, n. Etym: [Tamil kirippillai.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Indian ferret.
QUIRTQuirt, n.
Defn: A rawhide whip plaited with two thongs of buffalo hide T.Roosevelt.
QUISHQuish, n.
Defn: See Cuish.
QUITQuit, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of small passerine birds native of tropical America. See Banana quit, under Banana, and Guitguit.
QUITQuit, a. Etym: [OE. quite, OF. quite, F. quitte. See Quit, v.,Quirt.]
Defn: Released from obligation, charge, penalty, etc.; free; clear; absolved; acquitted. Chaucer. The owner of the ox shall be quit. Ex. xxi. 28.
Note: This word is sometimes used in the form quits, colloquially; as, to be quits with one, that is, to have made mutual satisfaction of demands with him; to be even with him; hence, as an exclamation: Quits! we are even, or on equal terms. "To cry quits with the commons in their complaints." Fuller.
QUIT Quit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quit or Quitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Quitting.] Etym: [OE. quiten, OF. quiter, quitier, cuitier, F. quitter, to acquit, quit, LL. quietare, fr. L. quietare to calm, to quiet, fr. quietus quiet. See Quiet, a., and cf. Quit, a., Quite, Acquit, Requite.]