• Q
adj. homosexual …1940s sl.
n. 1. San Quentin prison, California …L19 US criminals’ sl.
n. 2. a homosexual; a queer …c1930 Brit. theatrical sl.
n. 3. barbecued ribs …1940s African-American sl.
n. 4. Quaaludes™ …1977 US sl.
n. 5. in a casino: a $25 chip …1983 US sl.
n. 6. in a deck of playing cards: a queen …1991 US sl.
n. 7. a quarter of an ounce of marijuana …1997 UK sl.
n. 8. a barbecue …2001 US sl.
• Q AND A
n. 1997 US – a question and answer session
• QAT
n. 2003 US sl. – methcathinone
• Q BOAT
n. 1977 UK sl. – an unmarked police car with plain clothes officers
• Q.E.
vb. 1950s UK prison sl. – to turn Queen’s Evidence; hence, to inform
• Q IN A CORNER
n. c1870 legal usage – something not at once seen but brought to subsequent notice
• Q-IN-THE-CORNER COVE
n. c1815 boxing sl. – a keen follower of boxing
• Q-ISH
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – possessing quality
• Q.P.
n. 1980s US drug culture sl. – a Quarter Pound of cannabis
• Q.Q.
n. 1950s W. Indies sl. – a Quarter-Quart of rum
• Q-SHIP
n. 1965 US sl. – among hot-rodders: a high-performing car that appears to be a conventional car
• Q.T.
adj. L19 sl. – surreptitious
n. 1990s US sl. – proper care and attention (Quality Time)
• Q TIP
n. 1996 US sl. – in poker: a queen and a ten
• QUA
n. L18 cant – a prison
• QUAARTISH
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – contradictious and quarrelsome
• QUAB
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – sickly, infirm
n. 1. 1627 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – a marshy spot; a bog
n. 2. 1628 – a crude or shapeless thing
vb. 1663 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to beat, to throb, to quiver
• QUABBLE
n. 1. 1887 Eng. dial. – confusion
n. 2. B1900 Eng. dial. – a quibble
vb. B1900 Eng. dial. – to quibble
• QUABMIRE
n. 1597 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – a quagmire
• QUACK
adj. 1. L18 sl. – pert. to a charlatan doctor or his medicines
adj. 2. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – silent, close
n. 1. 1659 – a pretended doctor
n. 2. L17 sl., orig. Aust. & NZ – a doctor, irrespective of their abilities
n. 3. M18 sl. – a charlatan, other than in a medical context
n. 4. 1882 Sc. obs. – a brief moment; a trice, the shortest possible time
n. 5. 1896 Eng. dial. – a great gossip
n. 6. L19 – a duck
n. 7. 1923 Eng. dial. – a pebble, a stone
n. 8. 1960s African-American sl. – a homosexual
n. 9. 1977 US sl. – a novice surfer
n. 10. 1978 US sl. – a hospital patient who feigns symptoms in order to receive attention, prescription medication or both
n. 11. 1979 US sl. – in poker: a player who complains loudly when losing
n. 12. 1985 US sl. – Quaaludes™
n. 13. 1990s sl. – an act of breaking wind
n. 14. 1997 UK police sl. – a firefighter
vb. 1. 17C colloq. – to play the ‘quack’ (doctor)
vb. 2. 18C booksellers’ usage – to change the title of a book
vb. 3. 1727 rare – of a raven or frog: to croak
vb. 4. 1756 – to talk pretentiously and ignorantly, like a quack
vb. 5. M19 sl. – to promote one’s business through fraudulent claims
vb. 6. 1876 Eng. dial. – to squeeze, to press down, to pinch, to hold tight
vb. 7. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to chatter; to talk for the sake of talking; to gossip; to be noisy
vb. 8. 1940s sl. – to complain
vb. 9. 1990s sl. – to break wind noisily
• QUACK-BELLY
n. 1622 obs. – a-fat-bellied person
• QUACK-BREECH
n. c1590 obs. – one wanting in courage; a coward
• QUACK-BUTTOCK
n. a1616 obs. – one wanting in courage; a coward
• QUACKER
n. 1. 19C colloq. – a duck
n. 2. 1960s motorcyclists’ sl. – a Japanese Kawasaki motorcycle
n. 3. 2000s Aust. sl. – the female genital area
• THE QUACKERY
n. 1971 UK police sl. – forensic scientists; a forensic science department
• QUACKIE
n. 1. 1830 Sc. – a duck
n. 2. 1971 Trinidad and Tobago – a White person
• QUACKING-CHEAT
n. 1620 cant – a duck
• QUACKLE
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – the noise made in choking; the death-rattle
vb. 1. 1564 – to quack, as a duck
vb. 2. 1622 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to interrupt breathing; to suffocate; to choke
• QUACK-MIRE
n. 1577 obs. – a quagmire
• QUACK-QUACK
n. 1. a duck …1865 UK nursery usage
n. 2. a commotion …1982 Trinidad and Tobago
• QUACK, QUACK, QUACK, COME TO MEAT!
int. a call to ducks …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• QUACKS
n. quaaludes …1980s US drug culture sl.
• QUACKSALVER
n. an ignorant person who pretends to a knowledge of medicine or of wonderful remedies …1579
• QUACKSTER
n. a quack, a quacksalver …1709 obs. rare
• QUACKTAIL
n. the girlfriend of a township gangster …1960s S. Afr. sl.
• QUACK TITLES
vb. to invent new titles for old books in order to make them sell …1715 obs.
• QUACKY
adj. pert. to a charlatan doctor or his medicines …L16 sl.
• QUACO
n. an unsophisticated, ignorant person; a countrified person …1940s W. Indies sl.
• QUAD
adj. vile, base, bad …1887 Sc. obs.
n. 1. prison …a1700 sl.
n. 2. a horse …M19 sl.
n. 3. a quadricycle …L19 sl.
n. 4. a carburettor with four barrels …1965 US sl.
n. 5. a very clumsy person …1970s US college sl.
n. 6. in trucking: a quadriplex transmission that provides twenty forward gears and four reverse …1971 US sl.
n. 7. a quadriplegic …1980 US sl.
n. 8. Quaaludes™ …1980 US sl.
• QUAD CULL
n. a prison warder, a turnkey …M18 sl.
• QUADDLE
n. 1. the codlin apple …1777 Eng. dial.
n. 2. a grumbler, a complainer of ill health; a disagreeable person …1891 Eng. dial.
vb. 1. to dry, to shrivel up; to make limp or flabby …1777 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to boil and bubble, as water or broth …1892 Eng. dial.
vb. 3. to waddle ..1886 Eng. dial.
vb. 4. to grumble; to complain of ill health …1897 Eng. dial.
• QUADDLIN
n. a semi-imbecile, stupid manner …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• QUAD DOWN
vb. to squat …1898 Eng. dial.
• QUADDY
adj. of a person: very broad, short and thick; squat …B1900 Eng. dial.
• QUADE
vb. ? to destroy, to deface …1565 obs. rare
• QUADER
vb. 1. to square a number …c1430 obs. exc. Sc.
vb. 2. to agree, to be harmonious, to get along …1847 Sc.
• QUAD-FIFTY
n. a quadruple mount .50 calibre machine gun, a devastating truck-drawn trailer-mounted weapon …1953 US sl.
• QUADLE
vb. to boil …1633 obs.
• QUADMIRE
n. a quagmire …1609 obs. rare
• QUADRAGENARIAN
adj. forty years old …1897
n. a person forty years of age …1839
► QUADRAGENARIOUS adj. forty years old; also, aged between forty and forty-nine years → 1656
• QUADRAGESIMAL
adj. consisting of forty …1662
• QUADRAN
adj. square …1598 obs.
n. a square …1591 obs.
• QUADRANGULATE
adj. made quadrangular; squared …1592 obs. rare
• QUADRANT
adj. 1. square; of a square form …1509 obs.
adj. 2. agreeing, consonant, or conforming to or with …1536 obs.
n. 1. a quarter of a day; six hours …1398 obs.
n. 2. a square; a square thing or piece; a square picture …1474 obs.
• QUADRATARY
adj. relating to a square …1690 obs. rare
• QUADRATE
adj. 1. square, rectangular …1398 rare
adj. 2. complete, perfect …1608 obs.
adj. 3. conformable, corresponding to or with …a1657 obs.
n. 1. a square; a square area or space; also, a rectangle or rectangular space …1471 obs.
n. 2. a group of four things …1637 obs.
n. 3. a right angle …1686 obs. rare
vb. 1. to make (a thing) square …1560 rare
vb. 2. to agree, correspond, or conform with …1610
vb. 3. to be fitting, suitable, or consistent; of two things: to harmonize with each other …1664 rare
• QUADRATENESS
n. squareness …1599 obs. rare
• QUADRATIC
adj. square …1656 rare
• QUADRATURE
n. square shape, squareness …1563 obs.
• QUADRENNIAL
adj. 1. lasting for four years …1656
adj. 2. occurring every fourth year …1701
n. 1. a period of four years …a1646 obs. rare
n. 2. an event happening every four years; a fourth anniversary, or its celebration …1856
• QUADRENNIALLY
adv. every fourth year …1796
• QUADRENNIUM
n. a period of four years …1823
• QUADRICENTENNIAL
adj. consisting of four centuries …Bk1914
n. a four hundredth anniversary …1882
• QUADRIENNIAL
adj. 1. lasting for four years …1656
adj. 2. occurring every fourth year …1701
• QUADRIENNIUM
n. a period of four years …1754
• QUADRIGAMIST
n. one four times married; one who has four wives or four husbands at the same time …1865
• QUADRILATER
adj. quadrilateral; four-sided …1570 obs. rare
• QUADRILINGUAL
adj. using or written in four languages …1876
• QUADRILITERAL
n. a word of four letters …1787
• QUADRILOGUE
n. an account by four persons …a1556
• QUADRISECT
vb. 1809 – to divide into four equal parts
• QUADRISYLLABLE
n. 1827– a word of four syllables
• QUADRIVIOUS
adj. 1832 – going in four directions, as a street; generally, going in every direction
• QUADRIVIRATE
n. 1654 – a union of four men (obs.)
• QUADROON
n. 1780s – the offspring of a mulatto and a White parent (African-American)
• QUADRUPLET
n. 1895 – a bicycle for four riders
• QUADRUPLETS
n. in poker: four cards of the same rank …1979 US sl.
• QUADRUPLICATE
vb. to multiply by four; to make four times as many or as great …1661
• QUADRUPLIFY
vb. to multiply by four; to make four times as great …1578 obs. rare
• QUADS
n. 1. the quadriceps muscles …1984 US sl.
n. 2. in poker: a hand with all four cards of the same rank …1996 US sl.
• QUAECALL
n. a turnkey; a jailer …L18 US criminals’ sl.
► QUAEDAM n. a loose woman, a prostitute → a1670 obs., derogatory
•QUAEGEMES
n. an illegitimate child …E18 sl.
• QUAERE
n. a question, a query …1589
vb. to query …1627 obs.
• QUAERITATE
vb. 1657 – to inquire or search into → obs.
• QUAESITE
n. 1655 obs. – a ‘Quaesitum’
• QUAESITUM
n. 1748 – that which is sought for; the answer to a problem
• QUAESTUARY
adj. connected or concerned with gain; money-making …1594
n. one who seeks for gain …1614 obs.
• QUAFF
n. a deep draught …1579
vb. 1. to drink deeply or copiously; to take a long draught …1529
vb. 2. to puff up; to fill out …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• QUAFFED
adj. satisfied; full …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• QUAFFER
n. one who drinks deeply …1520
• QUAFFING
adj. luscious, satisfying; producing flatulence …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. flatulence …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• QUAFF-TIDE
n. the season for drinking; drinking time …1582 obs.
• QUAFFY
adj. of the nature of quaffing …1582 obs.
• QUAFT
n. a trick …1881 Eng. dial.
vb. to trick, to deceive …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• QUAG
n. 1. 1589 – a marshy or boggy spot
n. 2. 1905 – a shake, a state of trembling → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 3. 1930 – a male homosexual → US homosexual sl.
vb. 1611 – to shake: said of something soft or flabby → obs. exc. Eng. dial.
• QUAGGINESS
n. 1653 – a quaggy condition
• QUAGGLE
n. 1905 – a quivering, shaking motion, such as that of jelly or of loose boggy soil → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
vb. 1. 1893 – to strangle → Eng. dial.
vb. 2. 1905 – to shake like jelly → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• QUAGGOT
n. 1930 – a male homosexual → US homosexual sl.
• QUAGGY
adj. 1. 1600 – of the body or flesh: soft, yielding, flabby
adj. 2. 1610 – of ground: that shakes under foot; full of quags; boggy, soft
• QUAGMIRIST
n. 1655 – one who makes a quagmire of himself; one who gets himself into a situation which is difficult to get out of → obs.
• QUAGSWAG
vb. 1653 – to shake to and fro → obs.
• QUAICH
n. 1866 – a wild scream, a screech → Sc.
vb. 1866 – to scream wildly, to shriek → Sc.
• QUAIGH
n. 1721 – a small and shallow cup or drinking vessel with two ears for handles; generally of wood, but sometimes of silver → Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 1. 1905 – to bend, to turn → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
vb. 2. 1905 – to drink deeply → Eng. dial.
• QUAIL
n. 1. 1606 – a courtesan; a prostitute → obs.
n. 2. .M19 – an old maid; a spinster → US tramps’ sl.
n. 3. 1859 – a young woman; a sexually attractive young woman → US sl.
n. 4. ..L19 – an order of chicken stew → US sl.
n. 5. ..20C – a sexually loose woman → US sl.
n. 6. 1960 – an attractive young man → US homosexual sl.
n. 7. 1976 – a girl under the legal age of consent → US sl.
n. 8. 1983 – a twenty-five cent betting token used in craps → US sl.
vb. 1. 1430 – to curdle, to coagulate → obs. exc. Eng. dial.
vb. 2. 1440 – to fade, wither, etc. → obs. exc. Eng. dial.
vb. 3. 1440 – to fail or give way; to break down → obs. exc. Eng. dial.
vb. 4. 1551 – to overpower, to destroy, to put an end to → obs.
vb. 5. 1551 – to spoil, to impair → obs.
vb. 6. 1777 – of wet, boggy land: to tremble under foot → Eng. dial.
vb. 7. 1790 – to languish; to fall ill; to faint; to have a sinking sensation in the stomach → Eng. dial.
vb. 8. 1791 – to quell; to subdue through fear → Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 9. 1819 – of milk, beer, etc.: to turn sour or flat → Eng. dial.
vb. 10. 1820 – to give way, to yield to or before
vb. 11. 1873 – to grow flabby → Eng. dial.
vb. 12. 1897 – to quiet down; to lull, to abate, esp. of the wind → Sc.
vb. 13. 1905 – to be frightened; to quake with fear → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
vb. 14. 1905 – to quench, to extinguish → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• QUAILAWAY
n. 1866 – a stye or small pustule on the eyelid → Eng. dial.
• QUAILER
n. 20C – a stone → Aust. sl.
• QUAIL-HUNTER
n. 20C – a woman-chaser; a whoremonger → US sl.
• QUAIL-MUTTON
n. 1905 – the flesh of a sheep that has died from natural causes, drowning, etc. → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• QUAIL-PIPE
n. 1. 1400 – 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
n. 2. 1693 – the throat or vocal organs; a woman’s tongue → obs.
• QUAIN
vb. 1300 – to lament, to bewail, to bemoan → obs.
• QUAINT
adj. 1. 1225 – proud, haughty → obs.
adj. 2. 1225 – cunning, crafty, given to scheming or plotting → obs.
adj. 3. 1250 – wise, knowing; skilled; clever, ingenious → obs.
adj. 4. 1300 – of persons; beautiful or handsome in appearance; finely or fashionably dressed; elegant, foppish → obs.
adj. 5. 1366 – of dress: fine, fashionable, elegant → obs.
adj. 6. 1483 – dainty, fastidious, nice; prim → obs.
adj. 7. ..20C – dull or lacking in interest → teen & high school sl.
n. 1320 – female genitals → obs.
vb. 1. 1300 – to acquaint; to inform → obs. exc. Eng. dial.
vb. 2. 1483 – to adorn, to make fine or beautiful → obs.
• QUAINTANCE
n. 1300 – acquaintance → obs.
• QUAINTED
adj. 1586 – familiar → obs.
• QUAINTISE
n. 1. 1297 – a device, a stratagem, a trick; an instance of cleverness, cunning, or craft → obs.
n. 2. 1297 – wisdom, cleverness, skill, ingenuity → obs.
n. 3. 1300 – cunning, craft, underhand dealing → obs.
n. 4. 1300 – fine or curious dress; fineness, elegance or fancifulness in dress → obs.
vb. 1390 – to beautify, to adorn, to dress finely → obs.
• QUAINTISING
n. 1430 – adornment, decoration → obs.
• QUAINT IT
vb. 1585 – to assume a prim air → obs.
• QUAINTRELLE
n. 1450 – a finely-dressed woman → obs.
• QUAINTRY
n. 1483 – finery → obs.
• QUAIRNY
adj. 1882 – in small particles → Eng. dial.
• QUAISS KITIR!
int. 1898 – an exclamation of delight or exultation → Brit. services’ sl.
• QUAIST
n. 1880 – a rascal, a rogue, a wag → Sc. obs.
• QUAISTERIN
n. 1880 – a person who lives on his friends, a sponger → Sc. obs.
• QUAIT
vb. 1400 – ? to wait, to await → obs.
• QUAKE
n. 1880 – a quagmire → Sc.
• QUAKE-BELLY
n. 1622 – a-fat-bellied person → obs.
• QUAKE BREACH
n. L16 – a coward → sl.
• QUAKE-BREECH
n. 1590 – one wanting in courage; a coward → obs.
• QUAKE-BUTTOCK
n. 1627 – one wanting in courage; a coward → obs.
• QUA-KEEPER
n. L18 – a ‘gaoler’ → cant
• QUAKEFUL
adj. 1609 – causing fear or quaking → obs.
• QUAKE-MIRE
n. 1577 – a quagmire → obs.
• QUAKE-OOZE
n. 1898 – soft, trembling ooze
• QUAKER
n. 1. 1861 – a shake; a shiver → Eng. dial.
n. 2. 1905 – a hard, and possibly lengthy, piece of excreta excrement → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 3. 1942 – an earthquake → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
vb. 1703 – to tremble, to shake with cold, fear, etc. → Eng. dial.
• QUAKER-COLOUR
n. 1818 – a drab or grey colour
• QUAKER FIP
n. 1846 – a kiss → Amer. dial.
• QUAKER GUN
n. 1809 – a dummy gun in a ship or fort → US
• QUAKER NICKEL
n. 1957 – a kiss → Amer. dial.
• QUAKER OAT
n. 1932 – a coat → rhyming sl.
• QUAKER’S BARGAIN
n. L17 – a ‘take it or leave it’ bargain → sl.
• QUAKER’S BURYING-GROUND
n. 19C – a privy → Brit.
• QUAKERS’-MEETING
n. 1905 – a silent assembly → Sc. (Bk.)
• QUAKERTOWN
n. 1866 – Philadelphia → Amer.
• QUAKING-BOG
n. 1866 – a moving quagmire → Sc.
• QUAKING CHEAT
n. 1. M16 – a sheep → sl.
n. 2. M16 – a calf → sl.
• QUAKING MOSS
n. 1878 – a quagmire → Sc.
• QUAKING-QUAW
n. 1824 – a moving quagmire → Sc.
• QUAKY ISLES
n. 20C – New Zealand → Aust. sl.
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