• 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. consisting of forty; forty 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. to divide into four equal parts …1809
• QUADRISYLLABLE
n. a word of four syllables …1827
• QUADRIVIOUS
adj. having four ways meeting in one point; going in four directions, as a street …1883
• QUADRIVIRATE
n. a union of four men …1654 obs.
• QUADROON
n. the offspring of a mulatto and a White parent …1780s African-American
• QUADRUPLET
n. a bicycle for four riders …1895
• 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. in a disparaging sense: a woman, a female; a loose woman, a harlot …a1670 obs. rare
•QUAEGEMES
n. an illegitimate child …E18 sl.
• QUAERE
n. a question, a query …1589
vb. to query …1627 obs.
• QUAERITATE
vb. 1657 obs. – to inquire or search into
• 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. a marshy or boggy spot …1589
n. 2. a shake, a state of trembling …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 3. a male homosexual …1930s US homosexual sl.
vb. to shake: said of something soft or flabby …1611 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
• QUAGGINESS
n. a quaggy condition …1653
• QUAGGLE
n. a quivering, shaking motion, such as that of jelly or of loose boggy soil …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
vb. 1. to strangle …1893 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to shake like jelly …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• QUAGGOT
n. a male homosexual …1930s US homosexual sl.
• QUAGGY
adj. 1. of the body or flesh: soft, yielding, flabby …?1600
adj. 2. of ground: that shakes under foot; full of quags; boggy, soft …1610
• QUAGMIRIST
n. one who makes a quagmire of himself; one who gets himself into a situation which is difficult to get out of …1655 obs.
• QUAGSWAG
vb. to shake to and fro …1653 obs. rare
• QUAICH
n. a wild scream, a screech …1866 Sc.
vb. to scream wildly, to shriek …1866 Sc.
• QUAIGH
n. a small and shallow cup or drinking vessel with two ears for handles; generally of wood, but sometimes of silver …1721 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 1. to bend, to turn …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to drink deeply …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• QUAIL
n. 1. 1606 obs. – a courtesan; a prostitute
n. 2. 1859 US sl. – a young woman; a sexually attractive young woman
n. 3. M19 US tramps’ sl. – an old maid; a spinster
n. 4. L19 US sl. – an order of chicken stew
n. 5. 20C US sl. – a sexually loose woman
n. 6. 1960s US homosexual sl. – an attractive young man
n. 7. 1976 US sl. – a girl under the legal age of consent
n. 8. 1983 US sl. – a twenty-five cent betting token used in craps
vb. 1. c1430 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to curdle, to coagulate
vb. 2. c1440 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to fade, wither, etc.
vb. 3. c1440 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to fail or give way; to break down
vb. 4. 1551 obs. – to overpower, to destroy, to put an end to
vb. 5. 1551 obs. – to spoil, to impair
vb. 6. 1777 Eng. dial. – of wet, boggy land: to tremble under foot
vb. 7. 1790 Eng. dial. – to languish; to fall ill; to faint; to have a sinking sensation in the stomach
vb. 8. 1791 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to quell; to subdue through fear
vb. 9. 1819 Eng. dial. – of milk, beer, etc.: to turn sour or flat
vb. 10. 1820 – to give way, to yield to or before
vb. 11. 1873 Eng. dial. – to grow flabby
vb. 12. 1897 Sc. – to quiet down; to lull, to abate, esp. of the wind
vb. 13. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to be frightened; to quake with fear
vb. 14. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to quench, to extinguish
• QUAILAWAY
n. 1866 Eng. dial. – a stye or small pustule on the eyelid
• QUAILER
n. 20C Aust. sl. – a stone
• QUAIL-HUNTER
n. 20C US sl. – a woman-chaser; a whoremonger
• QUAIL-MUTTON
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – the flesh of a sheep that has died from natural causes, drowning, etc.
• QUAIL-PIPE
n. 1. a1400 – 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 obs. – the throat or vocal organs; a woman’s tongue
• QUAIN
vb. a1300 obs. rare – to lament, to bewail, to bemoan
• QUAINT
adj. 1. a1225 obs. rare – proud, haughty
adj. 2. a1225 obs. – cunning, crafty, given to scheming or plotting
adj. 3. a1250 obs. – wise, knowing; skilled; clever, ingenious
adj. 4. a1300 obs. – of persons; beautiful or handsome in appearance; finely or fashionably dressed; elegant, foppish
adj. 5. a1366 obs. – of dress: fine, fashionable, elegant
adj. 6. 1483 obs. – dainty, fastidious, nice; prim
adj. 7. 20C teen & high school sl. – dull or lacking in interest
n. c1320 obs. rare – female genitals
vb. 1. a1300 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to acquaint; to inform
vb. 2. 1483 obs. – to adorn, to make fine or beautiful
• QUAINTANCE
n. c1300 obs. – acquaintance
• QUAINTED
adj. 1586 obs. – familiar
• QUAINTISE
n. 1. 1297 obs. – a device, a stratagem, a trick; an instance of cleverness, cunning, or craft
n. 2. 1297 obs. – wisdom, cleverness, skill, ingenuity
n. 3. a1300 obs. – cunning, craft, underhand dealing
n. 4. a1300 obs. – fine or curious dress; fineness, elegance or fancifulness in dress
vb. 1390 obs. – to beautify, to adorn, to dress finely
• QUAINTISING
n. c1430 obs. – adornment, decoration
• QUAINT IT
vb. c1585 obs. – to assume a prim air
• QUAINTRELLE
n. c1430 obs. rare – a finely-dressed woman
• QUAINTRY
n. 1483 obs. rare – finery
• QUAIRNY
adj. 1882 Eng. dial. – in small particles
• QUAISS KITIR!
int. 1898 Brit. services’ sl. – an exclamation of delight or exultation
• QUAIST
n. 1880 Sc. obs. – a rascal, a rogue, a wag
• QUAISTERIN
n. 1880 Sc. obs. – a person who lives on his friends, a sponger
• QUAIT
vb. a1400-50 obs. rare – ? to wait, to await
• QUAKE
n. 1880 Sc. – a quagmire
• QUAKE-BELLY
n. 1622 obs. – a-fat-bellied person
• QUAKE BREACH
n. L16 sl. – a coward
• QUAKE-BREECH
n. c1590 obs. – one wanting in courage; a coward
• QUAKE-BUTTOCK
n. a1627 obs. – one wanting in courage; a coward
• QUA-KEEPER
n. L18 cant – a ‘gaoler’
• QUAKEFUL
adj. 1609 obs. – causing fear or quaking
• QUAKE-MIRE
n. 1577 obs. – a quagmire
• QUAKE-OOZE
n. 1898 – soft, trembling ooze
• QUAKER
n. 1. 1861 Eng. dial. – a shake; a shiver
n. 2. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a hard, and possibly lengthy, piece of excreta excrement
n. 3. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an earthquake
vb. 1703 Eng. dial. – to tremble, to shake with cold, fear, etc.
• QUAKER-COLOUR
n. 1818 – a drab or grey colour
• QUAKER FIP
n. 1846 Amer. dial. – a kiss
• QUAKER GUN
n. 1809 US – a dummy gun in a ship or fort
• QUAKER NICKEL
n. 1957 Amer. dial. – a kiss
• QUAKER OAT
n. 1932 rhyming sl. – a coat
• QUAKER’S BARGAIN
n. L17 sl. – a ‘take it or leave it’ bargain
• QUAKER’S BURYING-GROUND
n. 19C Brit. – a privy
• QUAKERS’-MEETING
n. Bk1905 Sc. – a silent assembly
• QUAKERTOWN
n. 1866 Amer. – Philadelphia
• QUAKING-BOG
n. 1866 Sc. – a moving quagmire
• QUAKING CHEAT
n. 1. M16 sl. – a sheep
n. 2. M16 sl. – a calf
• QUAKING MOSS
n. 1878 Sc. – a quagmire
• QUAKING-QUAW
n. 1824 Sc. – a moving quagmire
• QUAKY ISLES
n. 20C Aust. sl. – New Zealand
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Updated: February 27, 2023
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