Chapter CCCLVIII: Prologue (9)

1. A space of forty days; -- used of Lent.

2. Specifically, the term, originally of forty days, during which a ship arriving in port, and suspected of being infected a malignant contagious disease, is obliged to forbear all intercourse with the shore; hence, such restraint or inhibition of intercourse; also, the place where infected or prohibited vessels are stationed.

Note: Quarantine is now applied also to any forced stoppage of travel or communication on account of malignant contagious disease, on land as well as by sea.

3. (Eng. Law)

Defn: The period of forty days during which the widow had the privilege of remaining in the mansion house of which her husband died seized. Quarantine flag, a yellow flag hoisted at the fore of a vessel or hung from a building, to give warning of an infectious disease; -- called also the yellow jack, and yellow flag.

QUARANTINE Quar`an*tine", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quarantined; p. pr. & vb. n. Quarantining.]

Defn: To compel to remain at a distance, or in a given place, without intercourse, when suspected of having contagious disease; to put under, or in, quarantine.

QUARL Quarl, n. Etym: [Cf. G. qualle.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A medusa, or jellyfish. [R.] The jellied quarl that flings At once a thousand streaming stings. J. R. Drake.

QUARREL Quar"rel, n. Etym: [OE. quarel, OF. quarrel, F. carreau, LL. quadrellus, from L. quadrus square. See Quadrate, and cf. Quadrel, Quarry an arrow, Carrel.]

1. An arrow for a crossbow; -- so named because it commonly had a square head. [Obs.] To shoot with arrows and quarrel. Sir J. Mandeville. Two arblasts, . . . with windlaces and quarrels. Sir W. Scott.

2. (Arch.)

Defn: Any small square or quadrangular member; as: (a) A square of glass, esp. when set diagonally. (b) A small opening in window tracery, of which the cusps, etc., make the form nearly square. (c) A square or lozenge-shaped paving tile.

3. A glazier's diamond. Simmonds.

4. A four-sided cutting tool or chisel having a diamond-shaped end.

QUARREL Quar"rel, n. Etym: [OE. querele, OF. querele, F. querelle, fr. L. querela, querella, a complaint, fr. queri to complain. See Querulous.]

1. A breach of concord, amity, or obligation; a falling out; a difference; a disagreement; an antagonism in opinion, feeling, or conduct; esp., an angry dispute, contest, or strife; a brawl; an altercation; as, he had a quarrel with his father about expenses. I will bring a sword upon you that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant. Lev. xxvi. 25. On open seas their quarrels they debate. Dryden.

2. Ground of objection, dislike, difference, or hostility; cause of dispute or contest; occasion of altercation. Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him. Mark vi. 19. No man hath any quarrel to me. Shak. He thought he had a good quarrel to attack him. Holinshed.

3. Earnest desire or longing. [Obs.] Holland. To pick a quarrel. See under Pick, v. t.

Syn. -- Brawl; broil; squabble; affray; feud; tumult; contest; dispute; altercation; contention; wrangle.

QUARREL Quar"rel, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quarreled or Quarrelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Quarreling or Quarrelling.]

1. To violate concord or agreement; to have a difference; to fall out; to be or become antagonistic. Our people quarrel with obedience. Shak. But some defect in her Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed. Shak.

2. To dispute angrily, or violently; to wrangle; to scold; to altercate; to contend; to fight. Beasts called sociable quarrel in hunger and lust. Sir W. Temple.

3. To find fault; to cavil; as, to quarrel with one's lot. I will not quarrel with a slight mistake. Roscommon.

QUARREL Quar"rel, v. t.

1. To quarrel with. [R.] "I had quarelled my brother purposely." B. Jonson.

2. To compel by a quarrel; as, to quarrel a man out of his estate or rights.

QUARREL Quar"rel, n. Etym: [Written also quarreller.]

Defn: One who quarrels or wrangles; one who is quarrelsome. Shak.

QUARRELET Quar"rel*et, n.

Defn: A little quarrel. See 1st Quarrel, 2. [Obs.] "Quarrelets of pearl [teeth]." Herrick.

QUARRELING Quar"rel*ing, a.

Defn: Engaged in a quarrel; apt or disposed to quarrel; as, quarreling factions; a quarreling mood. -- Quar"rel*ing*ly, adv.

QUARRELLOUS Quar"rel*lous, a. Etym: [OF. querelous, F. querelleux, L. querulosus and querulus, fr. queri to complain. See 2d Quarrel.]

Defn: Quarrelsome. [Obs.] [Written also quarrellous.] Shak.

QUARRELSOME Quar"rel*some, a.

Defn: Apt or disposed to quarrel; given to brawls and contention; easily irritated or provoked to contest; irascible; choleric.

Syn. -- Pugnacious; irritable; irascible; brawling; choleric; fiery; petulant. -- Quar"rel*some*ly, adv. -- Quar"rel*some*ness, n.

QUARRIED Quar"ried, a.

Defn: Provided with prey. Now I am bravely quarried. Beau. & Fl.

QUARRIER Quar"ri*er, n.

Defn: A worker in a stone quarry.

QUARRY Quar"ry, n. Etym: [OE. quarre, OF. quarré square, F. carré, from L. quadratus square, quadrate, quadratum a square. See Quadrate, and cf. Quarrel an arrow.]

Defn: Same as 1st Quarrel. [Obs.] Fairfax.

QUARRY Quar"ry, a. Etym: [OF. quarré.]

Defn: Quadrate; square. [Obs.]

QUARRY Quar"ry, n.; pl. Quarries. Etym: [OE. querre, OF. cuiriée, F. curée, fr. cuir hide, leather, fr. L. corium; the quarry given to the dogs being wrapped in the akin of the beast. See Cuirass.]

1. (a) A part of the entrails of the beast taken, given to the hounds. (b) A heap of game killed.

2. The object of the chase; the animal hunted for; game; especially, the game hunted with hawks. "The stone-dead quarry." Spenser. The wily quarry shunned the shock. Sir W. Scott.

QUARRY Quar"ry, v. i.

Defn: To secure prey; to prey, as a vulture or harpy. L'Estrange.

QUARRY Quar"ry, n. Etym: [OE. quarrere, OF. quariere, F. carrière, LL. quadraria a quarry, whence squared (quadrati) stones are dug, fr. quadratus square. See Quadrate.]

Defn: A place, cavern, or pit where stone is taken from the rock or ledge, or dug from the earth, for building or other purposes; a stone pit. See 5th Mine (a).

QUARRY Quar"ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quarried; p. pr. & vb. n. Quarrying.]

Defn: To dig or take from a quarry; as, to quarry marble.

QUARRY-FACED Quar"ry-faced`, a. (Stone Masonry)

Defn: Having a face left as it comes from the quarry and not smoothed with the chisel or point; -- said of stones.

QUARRY-MAN Quar"ry-man, n.; pl. Quarrymen (.

Defn: A man who is engaged in quarrying stones; a quarrier.

QUART Quart, n. Etym: [F. quart, n. masc., fr. L. quartus the fourth, akin to quattuor four. See Four, and cf. 2d Carte, Quarto.]

Defn: The fourth part; a quarter; hence, a region of the earth. [Obs.] Camber did possess the western quart. Spenser.

QUART Quart, n. Etym: [F. quarte, n. fem., fr. quart fourth. See Quart a quarter.]

1. A measure of capacity, both in dry and in liquid measure; the fourth part of a gallon; the eighth part of a peck; two pints.

Note: In imperial measure, a quart is forty English fluid ounces; in wine measure, it is thirty-two American fluid ounces. The United States dry quart contains 67.20 cubic inches, the fluid quart 57.75. The English quart contains 69.32 cubic inches.

2. A vessel or measure containing a quart.

QUART Quart, n. Etym: [See Quart a quarter.]

Defn: In cards, four successive cards of the same suit. Cf. Tierce, 4. Hoyle.

QUARTAN Quar"tan, a. Etym: [F. quartain, in fièvre quartaine, L. quartanus, fr. quartus the fourth. See Quart.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the fourth; occurring every fourth day, reckoning inclusively; as, a quartan ague, or fever.

QUARTAN Quar"tan, n.

1. (Med.)

Defn: An intermittent fever which returns every fourth day, reckoning inclusively, that is, one in which the interval between paroxysms is two days.

2. A measure, the fourth part of some other measure.

QUARTANE Quar"tane, n. Etym: [L. quartus the fourth.] (Chem.)

Defn: Butane, each molecule of which has four carbon atoms.

QUARTATION Quar*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. quartus the fourth: cf. F. quartation. So called because usually enough silver is added to make the amount of gold in the alloyed button about one fourth.] (Chem. & Assaying)

Defn: The act, process, or result (in the process of parting) of alloying a button of nearly pure gold with enough silver to reduce the fineness so as to allow acids to attack and remove all metals except the gold; -- called also inquartation. Compare Parting.

QUARTE Quarte, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: Same as 2d Carte.

QUARTENE Quar"tene, n. Etym: [Ouartane + ethylene.] (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Butylene.

QUARTENYLIC Quar"ten*yl"ic, a. Etym: [Quartene + -yl + -ic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid of the acrylic acid series, metameric with crotonic acid, and obtained as a colorless liquid; -- so called from having four carbon atoms in the molecule. Called also isocrotonic acid.

QUARTER Quar"ter, n. Etym: [F. quartier, L. quartarius a fourth part, fr. quartus the fourth. See Quart.]

1. One of four equal parts into which anything is divided, or is regarded as divided; a fourth part or portion; as, a quarter of a dollar, of a pound, of a yard, of an hour, etc. Hence, specifically: (a) The fourth of a hundred-weight, being 25 or 28 pounds, according as the hundredweight is reckoned at 100 or 112 pounds. (b) The fourth of a ton in weight, or eight bushels of grain; as, a quarter of wheat; also, the fourth part of a chaldron of coal. Hutton. (c) (Astron.) The fourth part of the moon's period, or monthly revolution; as, the first quarter after the change or full. (d) One limb of a quadruped with the adjacent parts; one fourth part of the carcass of a slaughtered animal, including a leg; as, the fore quarters; the hind quarters. (e) That part of a boot or shoe which forms the side, from the heel to the vamp. (f) (Far.) That part on either side of a horse's hoof between the toe and heel, being the side of the coffin. (g) A term of study in a seminary, college, etc, etc.; properly, a fourth part of the year, but often longer or shorter. (h) pl. (Mil.)

Defn: The encampment on one of the principal passages round a place besieged, to prevent relief and intercept convoys. (i) (Naut.) The after-part of a vessel's side, generally corresponding in extent with the quarter-deck; also, the part of the yardarm outside of the slings. (j) (Her.) One of the divisions of an escutcheon when it is divided into four portions by a horizontal and a perpendicular line meeting in the fess point.

Note: When two coats of arms are united upon one escutcheon, as in case of marriage, the first and fourth quarters display one shield, the second and third the other. See Quarter, v. t., 5. (k) One of the four parts into which the horizon is regarded as divided; a cardinal point; a direction' principal division; a region; a territory. Scouts each coast light-armed scour, Each quarter, to descry the distant foe. Milton.

(l) A division of a town, city, or county; a particular district; a locality; as, the Latin quarter in Paris. (m) (Arch.) A small upright timber post, used in partitions; -- in the United States more commonly called stud. (n) (Naut.) The fourth part of the distance from one point of the compass to another, being the fourth part of 11° 15', that is, about 2° 49'; -- called also quarter point.

2. Proper station; specific place; assigned position; special location. Swift to their several quarters hasted then The cumbrous elements. Milton. Hence, specifically: (a) (Naut.) A station at which officers and men are posted in battle; -- usually in the plural. (b) Place of lodging or temporary residence; shelter; entertainment; -- usually in the plural. The banter turned as to what quarters each would find. W. Irving. (c) pl. (Mil.)

Defn: A station or encampment occupied by troops; a place of lodging for soldiers or officers; as, winter quarters. (d) Treatment shown by an enemy; mercy; especially, the act of sparing the life a conquered enemy; a refraining from pushing one's advantage to extremes. He magnified his own clemency, now they were at his mercy, to offer them quarter for their lives. Clarendon. Cocks and lambs . . . at the mercy of cats and wolves . . . must never expect better quarter. L'Estrange.

3. Friendship; amity; concord. [Obs.] To keep quarter, to keep one's proper place, and so be on good terms with another. [Obs.] In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom. Shak. I knew two that were competitors for the secretary's place, . . . and yet kept good quarter between themselves. Bacon. False quarter, a cleft in the quarter of a horse's foot. -- Fifth quarter, the hide and fat; -- a butcher's term. -- On the quarter (Naut.), in a direction between abeam and astern; opposite, or nearly opposite, a vessel's quarter. -- Quarter aspect. (Astrol.) Same as Quadrate. -- Quarter back (Football), the player who has position next behind center rush, and receives the ball on the snap back. -- Quarter badge (Naut.), an ornament on the side of a vessel near, the stern. Mar. Dict. -- Quarter bill (Naut.), a list specifying the different stations to be taken by the officers and crew in time of action, and the names of the men assigned to each. -- Quarter block (Naut.), a block fitted under the quarters of a yard on each side of the slings, through which the clew lines and sheets are reeved. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Quarter boat (Naut.), a boat hung at a vessel's quarter. -- Quarter cloths (Naut.), long pieces of painted canvas, used to cover the quarter netting. -- Quarter day, a day regarded as terminating a quarter of the year; hence, one on which any payment, especially rent, becomes due. In matters influenced by United States statutes, quarter days are the first days of January, April, July, and October. In New York and many other places, as between landlord and tenant, they are the first days of May, August, November, and February. The quarter days usually recognized in England are 25th of March (Lady Day), the 24th of June (Midsummer Day), the 29th of September (Michaelmas Day), and the 25th of December (Christmas Day). -- Quarter face, in fine arts, portrait painting, etc., a face turned away so that but one quarter is visible. -- Quarter gallery (Naut.), a balcony on the quarter of a ship. See Gallery, 4. -- Quarter gunner (Naut.), a petty officer who assists the gunner. -- Quarter look, a side glance. [Obs.] B. Jonson. -- Quarter nettings (Naut.), hammock nettings along the quarter rails. -- Quarter note (Mus.), a note equal in duration to half a minim or a fourth of semibreve; a crochet. -- Quarter pieces (Naut.), several pieces of timber at the after- part of the quarter gallery, near the taffrail. Totten. -- Quarter point. (Naut.) See Quarter, n., 1 (n). -- Quarter railing, or Quarter rails (Naut.), narrow molded planks reaching from the top of the stern to the gangway, serving as a fence to the quarter-deck. -- Quarter sessions (Eng. Law), a general court of criminal jurisdiction held quarterly by the justices of peace in counties and by the recorders in boroughs. -- Quarter square (Math.), the fourth part of the square of a number. Tables of quarter squares have been devised to save labor in multiplying numbers. -- Quarter turn, Quarter turn belt (Mach.), an arrangement in which a belt transmits motion between two shafts which are at right angles with each other. -- Quarter watch (Naut.), a subdivision of the full watch (one fourth of the crew) on a man-of- war. -- To give, or show, quarter (Mil.), to accept as prisoner, on submission in battle; to forbear to kill, as a vanquished enemy. -- To keep quarter. See Quarter, n., 3.

QUARTER Quar"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quartered; p. pr. & vb. n. Quartering.]

1. To divide into four equal parts.

2. To divide; to separate into parts or regions. Then sailors quartered heaven. Dryden.

3. To furnish with shelter or entertainment; to supply with the means of living for a time; especially, to furnish shelter to; as, to quarter soldiers. They mean this night in Sardis to be quartered. Shak.

4. To furnish as a portion; to allot. [R.] This isle . . . He quarters to his blue-haired deities. Milton.

5. (Her.)

Defn: To arrange (different coats of arms) upon one escutcheon, as when a man inherits from both father and mother the right to bear arms.

Note: When only two coats of arms are so combined they are arranged in four compartments. See Quarter, n., 1 (f).

QUARTER Quar"ter, v. i.

Defn: To lodge; to have a temporary residence.

QUARTER Quar"ter, v. i. Etym: [F. cartayer.]

Defn: To drive a carriage so as to prevent the wheels from going into the ruts, or so that a rut shall be between the wheels. Every creature that met us would rely on us for quartering. De Quincey.

QUARTERAGE Quar"ter*age, n.

Defn: A quarterly allowance.

QUARTER-DECK Quar"ter-deck`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: That part of the upper deck abaft the mainmast, including the poop deck when there is one.

Note: The quarter-deck is reserved as a promenade for the officers and (in passenger vessels) for the cabin passengers.

QUARTERED Quar"tered, a.

1. Divided into four equal parts or quarters; separated into four parts or regions.

2. Furnished with quarters; provided with shelter or entertainment.

3. Quarter-sawed; -- said of timber, commonly oak.

QUARTERFOIL Quar"ter*foil`, n. Etym: [Quarier + foil: cf. F. quatre.] (Arch.)

Defn: An ornamental foliation having four lobes, or foils.

QUARTERHUNG Quar"ter*hung`, a. (Ordnance)

Defn: Having trunnions the axes of which lie below the bore; -- said of a cannon.

QUARTERING Quar"ter*ing, a.

1. (Naut.)

Defn: Coming from a point well abaft the beam, but not directly astern; -- said of waves or any moving object.

2. (Mach.)

Defn: At right angles, as the cranks of a locomotive, which are in planes forming a right angle with each other.

QUARTERING Quar"ter*ing, n.

1. A station. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.

2. Assignment of quarters for soldiers; quarters.

3. (Her.) (a) The division of a shield containing different coats of arms into four or more compartments. (b) One of the different coats of arms arranged upon an escutcheon, denoting the descent of the bearer.

4. (Arch.)

Defn: A series of quarters, or small upright posts. See Quarter, n., 1 (m) (Arch.) Gwilt. Quartering block, a block on which the body of a condemned criminal was quartered. Macaulay.

QUARTERLY Quar"ter*ly, a.

1. Containing, or consisting of, a fourth part; as, quarterly seasons.

2. Recurring during, or at the end of, each quarter; as, quarterly payments of rent; a quarterly meeting.

QUARTERLY Quar"ter*ly, n.; pl. Quarterlies (.

Defn: A periodical work published once a quarter, or four times in a year.

QUARTERLY Quar"ter*ly, adv.

1. By quarters; once in a quarter of a year; as, the returns are made quarterly.

2. (Her.)

Defn: In quarters, or quarterings; as, to bear arms quarterly; in four or more parts; -- said of a shield thus divided by lines drawn through it at right angles.

QUARTERMASTER Quar"ter*mas`ter, n. Etym: [Quarter + master: cf. F. quartier- maître.]

1. (Mil.)

Defn: An officer whose duty is to provide quarters, provisions, storage, clothing, fuel, stationery, and transportation for a regiment or other body of troops, and superintend the supplies.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: A petty officer who attends to the helm, binnacle, signals, and the like, under the direction of the master. Totten. Quartermaster general (Mil.), in the United States a staff officer, who has the rank of brigadier general and is the chief officer in the quartermaster's department; in England, an officer of high rank stationed at the War Office having similar duties; also, a staff officer, usually a general officer, accompanying each complete army in the field. -- Quartermaster sergeant. See Sergeant.

QUARTERN Quar"tern, n.Etym: [OE. quarteroun, quartron, F. quarteron, the fourth part of a pound, or of a hundred; cf. L. quartarius a fourth part, quarter of any measure, quartern, gill. See Quarter, and cf. Quarteron, Quadroon.]

1. A quarter. Specifically: (a) The fourth part of a pint; a gill. (b) The fourth part of a peck, or of a stone (14 ibs.).

2. A loaf of bread weighing about four pounds; -- called also quartern loaf. Simmonds.

QUARTERON Quar"ter*on, n. Etym: [F. See Quartern.]

Defn: A quarter; esp., a quarter of a pound, or a quarter of a hundred. Piers Plowman.

QUARTERON; QUARTEROON Quar"ter*on, Quar"ter*oon, n.

Defn: A quadroon.

QUARTERPACE Quar"ter*pace`, n. (Arch.)

Defn: A platform of a staircase where the stair turns at a right angle only. See Halfpace.

QUARTER ROUND Quar"ter round`. (Arch.)

Defn: An ovolo.

QUARTER-SAW Quar"ter-saw`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quarter-sawed -sawn; p. pr. & vb. n. Quarter-sawing.]

Defn: To saw (a log) into quarters; specif., to saw into quarters and then into boards, as by cutting alternately from each face of a quarter, to secure lumber that will warp relatively little or show the grain advantageously.

QUARTERSTAFF Quar"ter*staff`, n.; pl. Quarterstaves (.

Defn: A long and stout staff formerly used as a weapon of defense and offense; -- so called because in holding it one hand was placed in the middle, and the other between the middle and the end.

QUARTET; QUARTETTE Quar*tet", Quar*tette", n. Etym: [It. quartetto, dim. of quarto the fourth, a fourth part, fr. L. quartus the fourth. See Quart.]

1. (Mus.) (a) A composition in four parts, each performed by a single voice or instrument. (b) The set of four person who perform a piece of music in four parts.

2. (Poet.)

Defn: A stanza of four lines.

QUARTIC Quar"tic, a. Etym: [L.quartus fourth.] (Mach.)

Defn: Of the fourth degree.

QUARTIC Quar"tic, n. (a) (Alg.) A quantic of the fourth degree. See Quantic. (b) (Geom.) A curve or surface whose equation is of the fourth degree in the variables.

QUARTILE Quar"tile, n. Etym: [F.quartile aspect, fr. L. quartus the fourth. See Quart.] (Astrol.)

Defn: Same as Quadrate.

QUARTINE Quar"tine, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. quartus the fourth.] (Bot.)

Defn: A supposed fourth integument of an ovule, counting from the outside.

QUARTO Quar"to, a. Etym: [L. in quarto in fourth, from quartus the fourth: cf. F. (in) quarto. See Quart.]

Defn: Having four leaves to the sheet; of the form or size of a quarto.

QUARTO Quar"to, n.; pl. Quartos (.

Defn: Originally, a book of the size of the fourth of sheet of printing paper; a size leaves; in present usage, a book of a square or nearly square form, and usually of large size.

QUARTRIDGE Quar"tridge, n.

Defn: Quarterage. [Obs.]

QUARTZ Quartz, n. Etym: [G. quarz.] (Min.)

Defn: A form of silica, or silicon dioxide (SiO2), occurring in hexagonal crystals, which are commonly colorless and transparent, but sometimes also yellow, brown, purple, green, and of other colors; also in cryptocrystalline massive forms varying in color and degree of transparency, being sometimes opaque.

Note: The crystalline varieties include: amethyst, violet; citrine and false topaz, pale yellow; rock crystal, transparent and colorless or nearly so; rose quartz, rosecolored; smoky quartz, smoky brown. The chief crypto-crystalline varieties are: agate, a chalcedony in layers or clouded with different colors, including the onyx and sardonyx; carnelian and sard, red or flesh-colored chalcedony; chalcedony, nearly white, and waxy in luster; chrysoprase, an apple- green chalcedony; flint, hornstone, basanite, or touchstone, brown to black in color and compact in texture; heliotrope, green dotted with red; jasper, opaque, red yellow, or brown, colored by iron or ferruginous clay; prase, translucent and dull leek-green. Quartz is an essential constituent of granite, and abounds in rocks of all ages. It forms the rocks quartzite (quartz rock) and sandstone, and makes most of the sand of the seashore.

QUARTZIFEROUS Quartz*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Quartz + -ferous.] (Min.)

Defn: Consisting chiefly of quartz; containing quartz.

QUARTZITE Quartz"ite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. quartzite.] (Min.)

Defn: Massive quartz occurring as a rock; a metamorphosed sandstone; -- called also quartz rock.

QUARTZOID Quartz"oid, n. Etym: [Quartz + -oid.] (Crystallog.)

Defn: A form of crystal common with quartz, consisting of two six- sided pyramids, base to base.

QUARTZOSE Quartz"ose`, a. Etym: [Cf. F. quartzeux, G. quarzig.] (Min.)

Defn: Containing, or resembling, quartz; partaking of the nature or qualities of quartz.

QUARTZOUS quartz"ous, a. (Min.)

Defn: Quarzose.

QUARTZY Quartz"y, a. (Min.)

Defn: Quartzose.

QUAS Quas, n.

Defn: A kind of beer. Same as Quass.

QUASCHI; QUASJE Quas"chi, Quas"je, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The brown coati. See Coati.

QUASH Quash, n.

Defn: Same as Squash.

QUASH Quash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Quashing.] Etym: [OF. quasser, F. casser, fr. L. cassare to annihilate, annul, fr. cassus empty, vain, of uncertain origin. The word has been confused with L.quassare to shake, F. casser to break, which is probably of different origin. Cf. Cashier, v. t.] (Law)

Defn: To abate, annul, overthrow, or make void; as, to quash an indictment. Blackstone.

QUASH Quash, v. t. Etym: [OF. quasser, F. casser, fr. L. quassare to shake, shatter, shiver, v. intens. fr. quatere, quassum, to shake, shatter. Cf. Concussion, Discuss, Rescue, and also Quash to annul.]

1. To beat down, or beat in pieces; to dash forcibly; to crush. The whales Against sharp rocks, like reeling vessels, quashed, Though huge as mountains, are in pieces dashed. Waller.

2. To crush; to subdue; to suppress or extinguish summarily and completely; as, to quash a rebellion. Contrition is apt to quash or allay all worldly grief. Barrow.

QUASH Quash, v. i.

Defn: To be shaken, or dashed about, with noise.

QUASHEE Quash"ee, n.

Defn: A negro of the West Indies.

QUASI Qua"si. Etym: [L.]

Defn: As if; as though; as it were; in a manner sense or degree; having some resemblance to; qualified; -- used as an adjective, or a prefix with a noun or an adjective; as, a quasi contract, an implied contract, an obligation which has arisen from some act, as if from a contract; a quasi corporation, a body that has some, but not all, of the peculiar attributes of a corporation; a quasi argument, that which resembles, or is used as, an argument; quasi historical, apparently historical, seeming to be historical.

QUASI CORPORATION Qua"si cor`po*ra"tion.

Defn: A corporation consisting of a person or body of persons invested with some of the qualities of an artificial person, though not expressly incorporated, esp. the official of certain municipal divisions such as counties, schools districts, and the towns of some States of the United States, certain church officials, as a churchwarden, etc.

QUASIMODO Quas`i*mo"do, n. Etym: [So called from the first words of the Latin introit, quasi modo geniti infantes as newborn babes, 1 Pet. ii. 2.] (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: The first Sunday after Easter; Low Sunday.

QUASS Quass, n. Etym: [Russ. kvas'.]

Defn: A thin, sour beer, made by pouring warm water on rye or barley meal and letting it ferment, -- much used by the Russians. [written also quas.]

QUASSATION Quas*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. quassatio, from quassare to shake. See Quash to crush.]

Defn: The act of shaking, or the state of being shaken. Gayton.

QUASSIA Quas"si*a, n. Etym: [NL. From the name of a negro, Quassy, or Quash, who prescribed this article as a specific.]

Defn: The wood of several tropical American trees of the order Simarubeæ, as Quassia amara, Picræna excelsa, and Simaruba amara. It is intensely bitter, and is used in medicine and sometimes as a substitute for hops in making beer.

QUASSIN Quas"sin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. quassine. See Quassia.] (Chem.)

Defn: The bitter principle of quassia, extracted as a white crystalline substance; -- formerly called quassite. [Written also quassiin, and quassine.]

QUAT Quat, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (a) A pustule. [Obs.] (b) An annoying, worthless person. Shak.

QUAT Quat, v. t.

Defn: To satiate; to satisfy. [Prov. Eng.]

QUATA Qua"ta, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The coaita.

QUATCH Quatch, a.

Defn: Squat; flat. [Obs.] Shak.

QUATER-COUSIN Qua"ter-cous`in, n. Etym: [F. quatre four + cousin, E. cousin.]

Defn: A cousin within the first four degrees of kindred.

QUATERNARY Qua*ter"na*ry, a. Etym: [L. quaternarius consisting of four each, containing four, fr. quaterni four each, fr. quattuor four: cf. F. quaternaire. See Four.]

1. Consisting of four; by fours, or in sets of four.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: Later than, or subsequent to, the Tertiary; Post-tertiary; as, the Quaternary age, or Age of man.

QUATERNARY Qua*ter"na*ry, n. Etym: [L. numerus quaternarius: cf. F. quaternaire.]

1. The number four. Boyle.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: The Quaternary age, era, or formation. See the Chart of Geology.

QUATERNATE Qua*ter"nate, a.

Defn: Composed of, or arranged in, sets of four; quaternary; as, quaternate leaves.

QUATERNION Qua*ter"ni*on, n. Etym: [L. quaternio, fr.quaterni four each. See Quaternary.]

1. The number four. [Poetic]

2. A set of four parts, things, or person; four things taken collectively; a group of four words, phrases, circumstances, facts, or the like. Delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers. Acts xii. 4. Ye elements, the eldest birth Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run. Milton. The triads and quaternions with which he loaded his sentences. Sir W. Scott.

3. A word of four syllables; a quadrisyllable.

4. (Math.)

Defn: The quotient of two vectors, or of two directed right lines in space, considered as depending on four geometrical elements, and as expressible by an algebraic symbol of quadrinomial form.

Note: The science or calculus of quaternions is a new mathematical method, in which the conception of a quaternion is unfolded and symbolically expressed, and is applied to various classes of algebraical, geometrical, and physical questions, so as to discover theorems, and to arrive at the solution of problems. Sir W. R. Hamilton.

QUATERNION Qua*ter"ni*on, v. t.

Defn: To divide into quaternions, files, or companies. Milton.

QUATERNITY Qua*ter"ni*ty, n. Etym: [LL.quaternitas, fr. L. quaterni four each: cf. F. quaternité.]

1. The number four. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

2. The union of four in one, as of four persons; -- analogous to the theological term trinity.

QUATERON Qua"ter*on, n.

Defn: See 2d Quarteron.

QUATORZAIN Qua*torz"ain, n. Etym: [See Quatorze.]

Defn: A poem of fourteen lines; a sonnet. R. H. Stoddard.

QUATORZE Qua*torze", n. Etym: [F. quatorze fourteen, L. quattuordecim. See Fourteen.]

Defn: The four aces, kings, queens, knaves, or tens, in the game of piquet; -- so called because quatorze counts as fourteen points.

QUATRAIN Quat"rain, n. Etym: [F., fr. quatre four, L. quattuor, quatuor. See Four.] (Pros.)

Defn: A stanza of four lines rhyming alternately. Dryden.

QUATRE Qua"tre, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A card, die. or domino, having four spots, or pips

QUATREFEUILLE; QUATREFOIL Qua"tre*feuille, Qua"tre*foil, n. Etym: [F. quatre feuilles.]

Defn: Same as Quarterfoil.

QUATTROCENTO Quat`tro*cen"to, n. & a. [It., four hundred, used as an abbreviated expression for the dates beginning with fourteen hundred.]

Defn: The fifteenth century, when applied to Italian art or literature; as, the sculpture of the quattrocento; quattrocento style. --Quat`tro*cen"tist (#), n.

QUATUOR Quat"u*or, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. quattuor, quatuor, four. See Quartet.] (Mus.)

Defn: A quartet; -- applied chiefly to instrumental compositions.

QUAVE Quave, n.

Defn: See Quaver. [Obs.]

QUAVE Quave, v. i.

Defn: To quaver. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

QUAVEMIRE Quave"mire`, n.

Defn: See Quagmire. [Obs.]

QUAVER Qua"ver, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quavered; p. pr. & vb. n. Quavering.] Etym: [OE. quaven to shake, to tremble; cf. LG. quabbeln to shake, to be soft, of fat substances, quabbe a fat lump of flesh, a dewlap, D. kwabbe, and E. quiver, v.]

1. To tremble; to vibrate; to shake. Sir I. Newton.

2. Especially, to shake the voice; to utter or form sound with rapid or tremulous vibrations, as in singing; also, to trill on a musical instrument

QUAVER Qua"ver, v. t.

Defn: To utter with quavers. We shall hear her quavering them . . . to some sprightly airs of the opera. Addison.

QUAVER Qua"ver, n.

1. A shake, or rapid and tremulous vibration, of the voice, or of an instrument of music.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: An eighth note. See Eighth.

QUAVERER Qua"ver*er, n.

Defn: One who quavers; a warbler.

QUAY Quay, n. Etym: [F. quai. See Key quay.]

Defn: A mole, bank, or wharf, formed toward the sea, or at the side of a harbor, river, or other navigable water, for convenience in loading and unloading vessels. [Written also key.]

QUAY Quay, v. t.

Defn: To furnish with quays.

QUAYAGE Quay"age, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: Wharfage. [Also keyage.]

QUAYD Quayd,

Defn: p. p. of Quail. [Obs.] Spenser.

QUE Que, n. Etym: [Cf. 3d Cue.]

Defn: A half farthing. [Obs.]

QUEACH Queach, n. Etym: [Cf. Quick.]

Defn: A thick, bushy plot; a thicket. [Obs.] Chapman.

QUEACH Queach, v. i. Etym: [Cf. E. quich, v. i., quick, v. i.; or AS. cweccan to shake.]

Defn: To stir; to move. See Quick, v. i. [Obs.]

QUEACHY Queach"y, a.

1. Yielding or trembling under the feet, as moist or boggy ground; shaking; moving. "The queachy fens." "Godwin's queachy sands." Drayton.

2. Like a queach; thick; bushy. [Obs.] Cockeram.

QUEAN Quean, n. Etym: [Originally, a woman, AS. cwene; akin to OS. quena, OHG. quena, Icel. kona, Goth qin, and AS. cwén, also to Gr. gna goddess. Cf. Queen.]

1. A woman; a young or unmarried woman; a girl. [Obs. or Scot.] Chaucer.

2. A low woman; a wench; a slut. "The dread of every scolding quean." Gay.

QUEASILY Quea"si*ly, adv.

Defn: In a queasy manner.

QUEASINESS Quea"si*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being queasy; nausea; qualmishness; squeamishness. Shak.

QUEASY Quea"sy, a. Etym: [Icel. kweisa pain; cf. Norw. kveis sickness after a debauch.]

1. Sick at the stomach; affected with nausea; inclined to vomit; qualmish.

2. Fastidious; squeamish; delicate; easily disturbed; unsettled; ticklish. " A queasy question." Shak. Some seek, when queasy conscience has its qualms. Cowper.

QUEBEC GROUP Que*bec" group`. (Geol.)

Defn: The middle of the three groups into which the rocks of the Canadian period have been divided in the American Lower Silurian system. See the Chart of Geology.

QUEBRACHO Que*bra"cho, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Bot.)

Defn: A Chilian apocynaceous tree (Aspidosperma Quebracho); also, its bark, which is used as a febrifuge, and for dyspnoea of the lung, or bronchial diseases; -- called also white quebracho, to distinguish it from the red quebracho, a Mexican anacardiaceous tree (Loxopterygium Lorentzii) whose bark is said to have similar properties. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).

QUEBRITH Queb"rith, n. Etym: [OE. quebrit, quibrith, Ar. kibrit.] (Alchemy)

Defn: Sulphur. [Obs.]

QUECH; QUECK Quech, Queck, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Quick, Queach.]

Defn: A word occurring in a corrupt passage of Bacon's Essays, and probably meaning, to stir, to move.

QUEEN Queen, n. Etym: [OE. quen, quene, queen, quean, AS. cwen wife, queen, woman; akin to OS. quan wife, woman, Icel. kvan wife, queen, Goth. qens. sq. root221. See Quean.]

1. The wife of a king.

2. A woman who is the sovereign of a kingdom; a female monarch; as, Elizabeth, queen of England; Mary, queen of Scots. In faith, and by the heaven's quene. Chaucer.

3. A woman eminent in power or attractions; the highest of her kind; as, a queen in society; -- also used figuratively of cities, countries, etc. " This queen of cities." " Albion, queen of isles." Cowper.

4. The fertile, or fully developed, female of social bees, ants, and termites.

5 5, (Chess)

Defn: The most powerful, and except the king the most important, piece in a set of chessmen.

6. A playing card bearing the picture of a queen; as, the queen of spades.

Defn: A male homosexual, esp. one who is effeminate or dresses in women's clothing. Sometimes pejorative. Queen apple. Etym: [Cf. OE. quyne aple quince apple.] A kind of apple; a queening. "Queen apples and red cherries." Spenser. -- Queen bee (Zoöl.), a female bee, especially the female of the honeybee. See Honeybee. -- Queen conch (Zoöl.), a very large West Indian cameo conch (Cassis cameo). It is much used for making cameos. -- Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king. Blackstone. -- Queen dowager, the widow of a king. -- Queen gold, formerly a revenue of the queen consort of England, arising from gifts, fines, etc. -- Queen mother, a queen dowager who is also mother of the reigning king or queen. -- Queen of May. See May queen, under May. -- Queen of the meadow (Bot.), a European herbaceous plant (Spiræa Ulmaria). See Meadowsweet. -- Queen of the prairie (Bot.), an American herb (Spiræa lobata) with ample clusters of pale pink flowers. -- Queen pigeon (Zoöl.), any one of several species of very large and handsome crested ground pigeons of the genus Goura, native of New Guinea and the adjacent islands. They are mostly pale blue, or ash- blue, marked with white, and have a large occipital crest of spatulate feathers. Called also crowned pigeon, goura, and Victoria pigeon. -- Queen regent, or Queen regnant, a queen reigning in her own right. -- Queen's Bench. See King's Bench. -- Queen's counsel, Queen's evidence. See King's counsel, King's evidence, under King. -- Queen's delight (Bot.), an American plant (Stillinqia sylvatica) of the Spurge family, having an herbaceous stem and a perennial woody root. -- Queen's metal (Metal.), an alloy somewhat resembling pewter or britannia, and consisting essentially of tin with a slight admixture of antimony, bismuth, and lead or copper. -- Queen's pigeon. (Zoöl.) Same as Queen pigeon, above. -- Queen's ware, glazed English earthenware of a cream color. -- Queen's yellow (Old Chem.), a heavy yellow powder consisting of a basic mercuric sulphate; -- formerly called turpetum minerale, or Turbith's mineral.

QUEEN Queen, v. i.

Defn: To act the part of a queen. Shak.

QUEEN Queen, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Queened; p. pr. & vb. n. Queening.] (Chess.)

Defn: To make a queen (or other piece, at the player's discretion) of by moving it to the eighth row; as, to queen a pawn.

QUEENCRAFT Queen"craft`, n.

Defn: Craft or skill in policy on the part of a queen. Elizabeth showed much queencraft in procuring the votes of the nobility. Fuller.

QUEENDOM Queen"dom, n.

Defn: The dominion, condition, or character of a queen. Mrs. Browning.

QUEENFISH Queen"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A California sciænoid food fish (Seriphys politus). The back is bluish, and the sides and belly bright silvery. Called also kingfish.

QUEENHOOD Queen"hood, n.

Defn: The state, personality, or character of a queen; queenliness. Tennyson.

QUEENING Queen"ing, n. Etym: [See Queen apple.] (Bot.)

Defn: Any one of several kinds of apples, as summer queening, scarlet queening, and early queening. An apple called the queening was cultivated in England two hundred years ago.

QUEENLINESS Queen"li*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being queenly; the; characteristic of a queen; stateliness; eminence among women in attractions or power.

QUEENLY Queen"ly, a. Etym: [AS. cwenlic feminine.]

Defn: Like, becoming, or suitable to, a queen.

QUEEN OLIVE Queen olive. [Cf. Sp. aceituna de la Reina olive of the Queen.] (Olive Trade)

Defn: Properly, a kind of superior olive grown in the region of Seville, Spain. It is large size and oblong shape with a small but long pit; it is cured when green, keeps well, and has a delicate flavor. Loosely, any olive of similar character.

QUEEN-POST Queen"-post`, n. [Arch.]

Defn: One of two suspending posts in a roof truss, or other framed truss of similar form. See King-post.

QUEENSHIP Queen"ship, n.

Defn: The state, rank, or dignity of a queen.

QUEENSLAND NUT Queens"land nut`. (Bot.)

Defn: The nut of an Australian tree (Macadamia ternifolia). It is about an inch in diameter, and contains a single round edible seed, or sometimes two hemispherical seeds. So called from Queensland in Australia.

QUEEN TRUSS Queen" truss. (Arch.)

Defn: A truss framed with queen-posts; a queen-post truss.

QUEER Queer, a. [Compar. Queerer; superl. Queerest.] Etym: [G. quer cross, oblique, athwart (cf. querkopf a queer fellow), OHG. twer, twerh, dwerah; akin to D. dvars, AS, þweorh thwart, bent, twisted, Icel. þverr thwart, transverse, Goth. þwaìrhs angry, and perh. to L. torqyere to twist, and E. through. Cf. Torture, Through, Thwart, a.]

1. At variance with what is usual or normal; differing in some odd way from what is ordinary; odd; singular; strange; whimsical; as, a queer story or act. " A queer look." W. Irving.

2. Mysterious; suspicious; questionable; as, a queer transaction. [Colloq.]

QUEER Queer, n.

Defn: Counterfeit money. [Slang] To shove the queer, to put counterfeit money in circulation. [Slang]

QUEERISH Queer"ish, a.

Defn: Rather queer; somewhat singular.

QUEERLY Queer"ly, adv.

Defn: In a queer or odd manner.

QUEERNESS Queer"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being queer.

QUEEST Queest, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. kvisa a kind of bird, kvistr a branch of a tree, and E. cushat.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European ringdove (Columba palumbus); the cushat. [Written also quist, queeze, quice, queece.] See Ringdove.

QUEGH Quegh, n.

Defn: A drinking vessel. See Quaich.

QUEINT Queint, a.

Defn: See Quaint. [Obs.]

QUEINT Queint, obs.

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Quench. Chaucer.

QUEINTISE Queint"ise, n.

Defn: See Quaintise. [Obs.] Chaucer.

QUELL Quell, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quelled (; p. pr. & vb. n. Quelling.] Etym: [See Quail to cower.]

1. To die. [Obs.] Yet he did quake and quaver, like to quell. Spenser.

2. To be subdued or abated; to yield; to abate. [R.] Winter's wrath begins to quell. Spenser.

QUELL Quell, v. t. Etym: [OE. quellen to kill, AS. cwellan, causative of cwelan to die; akin to OHG. quellen to torment, Icel. kvelja. See Quail to cower.]

1. To take the life of; to kill. [Obs.] Spenser. The ducks cried as [if] men would them quelle. Chaucer.

2. To overpower; to subdue; to put down. The nation obeyed the call, rallied round the sovereign, and enabled him to quell the disaffected minority. Macaulay. Northward marching to quell the sudden revolt. Longfellow.

3. To quiet; to allay; to pacify; to cause to yield or cease; as, to quell grief; to quell the tumult of the soul. Much did his words the gentle lady quell. Spenser.

Syn. -- to subdue; crush; overpower; reduce; put down; repress; suppress; quiet; allay; calm; pacify.

QUELL Quell, n.

Defn: Murder. [Obs.] Shak.

QUELLER Quell"er, n.

1. A killer; as, Jack the Giant Queller. [Obs.] Wyclif (Mark vi. 27).

2. One who quells; one who overpowers or subdues.

QUELLIO Quel"li*o, n. Etym: [Sp. cuello, L. collum neck.]

Defn: A ruff for the neck. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

QUELQUECHOSE Quelque"chose`, n. Etym: [F. quelque chose something.]

Defn: A trifle; a kickshaw. Donne.

QUEME Queme, v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. cweman, akin to cuman to come. sq. root23.]

Defn: To please. [Obs.] Chaucer.

QUEMEFUL Queme"ful, a.

Defn: Kindly; merciful. [Obs.] Wyclif.

QUENCH Quench, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quenched; p. pr. & vb. n. Quenching.] Etym: [OE. quenchen, AS. cwencan in acwencan, to extinguish utterly, causative of cwincan, acwincan, to decrease, disappear; cf. AS. cwinan, acwinan, to waste or dwindle away.]

1. To extinguish; to overwhelm; to make an end of; -- said of flame and fire, of things burning, and figuratively of sensations and emotions; as, to quench flame; to quench a candle; to quench thirst, love, hate, etc. Ere our blood shall quench that fire. Shak. The supposition of the lady's death Will quench the wonder of her infamy. Shak.

2. To cool suddenly, as heated steel, in tempering.

Syn. -- To extinguish; still; stifle; allay; cool; check.

QUENCH Quench, v. i.

Defn: To become extinguished; to go out; to become calm or cool. [R.] Dost thou think in time She will not quench! Shak.

QUENCHABLE Quench"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being quenched.

QUENCHER Quench"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, quenches. Hammond.

QUENCHLESS Quench"less, a.

Defn: Incapable of being quenched; inextinguishable; as, quenchless fire or fury. "Once kindled, quenchless evermore." Byron.

Syn. -- Inextinguishable; unquenchable. -- Quench"less*ly, adv. -- Quench"less*ness, n.

QUENELLE Que*nelle", n. Etym: [F.] (Cookery)

Defn: A kind of delicate forcemeat, commonly poached and used as a dish by itself or for garnishing.

QUENOUILLE TRAINING Que*nouille train"ing. Etym: [F. quenouille distaff.] (Hort.)

Defn: A method of training trees or shrubs in the shape of a cone or distaff by tying down the branches and pruning.

QUERCITANNIC Quer`ci*tan"nic, a. Etym: [L. quercus an oak + E. tannic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a tannic acid found in oak bark and extracted as a yellowish brown amorphous substance.

QUERCITE Quer"cite, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline substance, C6H7(OH)5, found in acorns, the fruit of the oak (Quercus). It has a sweet taste, and is regarded as a pentacid alcohol.

QUERCITIN Quer"ci*tin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow crystalline substance, occurring quite widely distributed in the vegetable kingdom, as is apple-tree bark, horse- chestnut leaves, etc., but originally obtained by the decomposition of quercitrin. Called also meletin.

QUERCITRIN Quer"cit*rin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. quercitrin. See Quercitron.] (Chem.)

Defn: A glucoside extracted from the bark of the oak (Quercus) as a bitter citron-yellow crystalline substance, used as a pigment and called quercitron.

QUERCITRON Quer"cit*ron, n. Etym: [F. quercitron, the name of the name of tree; L. quercus an oak + citrus the citron tree.]

1. The yellow inner bark of the Quercus tinctoria, the American black oak, yellow oak, dyer's oak, or quercitron oak, a large forest tree growing from Maine to eastern Texas.

2. Quercitrin, used as a pigment. See Quercitrin.

QUERCUS Quer"cus, n. Etym: [L., an oak.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of trees constituted by the oak. See Oak.

QUERELE Quer"ele, n. Etym: [See 2d Quarrel.] (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: A complaint to a court. See Audita Querela. [Obs.] Ayliffe.

QUERENT Que"rent, n. Etym: [L. querens, p. pr. of queri to complain.] (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: A complainant; a plaintiff.

QUERENT Que"rent, n. Etym: [L. quaerens, p. pr. of quaerere to search for, to inquire.]

Defn: An inquirer. [Obs.] Aubrey.

QUERIMONIOUS Quer`i*mo"ni*ous, a. Etym: [L. querimonia a complaint, fr. queri to complain. See Querulous.]

Defn: Complaining; querulous; apt to complain. -- Quer`i*mo"ni*ous*ly, adv. -- Quer`i*mo"ni*ous*ness, n.

QUERIMONY Quer"i*mo*ny, n. Etym: [L. querimonia.]

Defn: A complaint or complaining. [Obs.] E. Hall.

QUERIST Que"rist, n. Etym: [See Query.]

Defn: One who inquires, or asks questions. Swift.

QUERKEN Querk"en, v. t. Etym: [Icel. kverk throat.

Defn: To stifle or choke. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

QUERL Querl, v. t. Etym: [G. querlen, quirlen, to twirl, to turn round, fr. querl, querl, a twirling stick. Cf. Twirl.]

Defn: To twirl; to turn or wind round; to coil; as, to querl a cord, thread, or rope. [Local, U.S.]

QUERL Querl, n.

Defn: A coil; a twirl; as, the qwerl of hair on the fore leg of a blooded horse. [Local, U. S.]

QUERN Quern, n. Etym: [AS. cweorn, cwyrn; akin to D. kweern, OHG. quirn, Icel. kvern, Sw. qvarn, Dan. quærn, Goth. qairnus (in asiluqaírnus), Lith. qìrnos, and perh. E. corn.]

Defn: A mill for grinding grain, the upper stone of which was turned by hand; -- used before the invention of windmills and watermills. Shak. They made him at the querne grind. Chaucer.

QUERPO Quer"po, n.

Defn: The inner or body garments taken together. See Cuerpo. Dryden.

QUERQUEDULE Quer"que*dule, n. Etym: [L. querquedula.] (Zool.) (a) A teal. (b) The pintail duck.

QUERRY Quer"ry, n.

Defn: A groom; an equerry. [Obs.]

QUERULENTIAL Quer`u*len"tial, a.

Defn: Querulous. [R.]

QUERULOUS Quer"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. querulus and querulosus, fr. queri to complain. Cf. Cry, v., Quarrel a brawl, Quarrelous.]

1. Given to quarreling; quarrelsome. [Obs.] land.

2. Apt to find fault; habitually complaining; disposed to murmur; as, a querulous man or people. Enmity can hardly be more annoying that querulous, jealous, exacting fondness. Macaulay.

3. Expressing complaint; fretful; whining; as, a querulous tone of voice.

Syn. -- Complaining; bewailing; lamenting; whining; mourning; murmuring; discontented; dissatisfied. -- Quer"u*lous*ly, adv. -- Quer"u*lous*ness, n.

QUERY Que"ry, n.; pl. Queries. Etym: [L. quaere, imperative sing. of quaerere, quaesitum to seek or search for, to ask, inquire. Cf. Acquire, Conquer, Exquisite, Quest, Require.]

1. A question; an inquiry to be answered or solved. I shall conclude with proposing only some queries, in order to a . . . search to be made by others. Sir I. Newton.

2. A question in the mind; a doubt; as, I have a query about his sincerity.

3. An interrogation point [] as the sign of a question or a doubt.

QUERY Que"ry, v. i.

1. To ask questions; to make inquiry. Each prompt to query, answer, and debate. Pope.

2. To have a doubt; as, I query if he is right.

QUERY Que"ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Queried; p. pr. & vb. n. Querying.]

1. To put questions about; to elicit by questioning; to inquire into; as, to query the items or the amount; to query the motive or the fact.

2. To address questions to; to examine by questions.

3. To doubt of; to regard with incredulity.

4. To write " query" (qu., qy., or ) against, as a doubtful spelling, or sense, in a proof. See Quære.

QUESAL Que*sal", n (Zoöl.)

Defn: The long-tailed, or resplendent, trogon (Pharomachus mocinno, formerly Trogon resplendens), native of Southern Mexico and Central America. Called alsoquetzal, and golden trogon.

Note: The male is remarkable for the brilliant metallic green and gold colors of his plumage, and for his extremely long plumes, which often exceed three feet in length.

QUEST Quest, n. Etym: [OF. queste, F. quête, fr. L. quaerere, quaesitum, to seek for, to ask. Cf. Query, Question.]

1. The act of seeking, or looking after anything; attempt to find or obtain; search; pursuit; as, to rove in quest of game, of a lost child, of property, etc. Upon an hard adventure yet in quest. Spenser. Cease your quest of love. Shak. There ended was his quest, there ceased his care. Milton.

2. Request; desire; solicitation. Gad not abroad at every quest and call Of an untrained hope or passion. Herbert.

3. Those who make search or inquiry, taken collectively. The senate hath sent about three several quests to search you out. Shak.

4. Inquest; jury of inquest. What lawful quest have given their verdict Shak.

QUEST Quest, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. quester, F. quêter. See Quest, n.]

Defn: To search for; to examine. [R.] Sir T. Herbert.

QUEST Quest, v. i.

Defn: To go on a quest; to make a search; to go in pursuit; to beg. [R.] If his questing had been unsuccessful, he appeased the rage of hunger with some scraps of broken meat. Macaulay.

QUESTANT Quest"ant, n. Etym: [OF. questant, F. guêtant, p. pr.]

Defn: One who undertakes a quest; a seeker. [Obs.] Shak.

QUESTER Quest"er, n.

Defn: One who seeks; a seeker. [Obs.]

QUESTION Ques"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. quaestio, fr. quaerere, quaesitum, to seek for, ask, inquire. See Quest, n.]

1. The act of asking; interrogation; inquiry; as, to examine by question and answer.

2. Discussion; debate; hence, objection; dispute; doubt; as, the story is true beyond question; he obeyed without question. There arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. John iii. 25. It is to be to question, whether it be lawful for Christian princes to make an invasive war simply for the propagation of the faith. Bacon.

3. Examination with reference to a decisive result; investigation; specifically, a judicial or official investigation; also, examination under torture. Blackstone. He that was in question for the robbery. Shak. The Scottish privy council had power to put state prisoners to the question. Macaulay.

4. That which is asked; inquiry; interrogatory; query. But this question asked Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain Milton.

5. Hence, a subject of investigation, examination, or debate; theme of inquiry; matter to be inquired into; as, a delicate or doubtful question.

6. Talk; conversation; speech; speech.[Obs.] Shak. In question, in debate; in the course of examination or discussion; as, the matter or point in question. -- Leading question. See under Leading. -- Out of question, unquestionably. "Out of question, 't is Maria's hand." Shak. -- Out of the question. See under Out. -- Past question, beyond question; certainly; undoubtedly; unquestionably. -- Previous question, a question put to a parliamentary assembly upon the motion of a member, in order to ascertain whether it is the will of the body to vote at once, without further debate, on the subject under consideration.

Note: The form of the question is: "Shall the main question be now put" If the vote is in the affirmative, the matter before the body must be voted upon as it then stands, without further general debate or the submission of new amendments. In the House of Representatives of the United States, and generally in America, a negative decision operates to keep the business before the body as if the motion had not been made; but in the English Parliament, it operates to postpone consideration for the day, and until the subject may be again introduced. In American practice, the object of the motion is to hasten action, and it is made by a friend of the measure. In English practice, the object is to get rid of the subject for the time being, and the motion is made with a purpose of voting against it. Cushing. -- To beg the question. See under Beg. -- To the question, to the point in dispute; to the real matter under debate.

Syn. -- Point; topic; subject.

QUESTION Ques"tion, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Questioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Questioning.] Etym: [Cf. F. questionner. See Question, n.]

1. To ask questions; to inquire. He that questioneth much shall lean much. Bacon.

2. To argue; to converse; to dispute. [Obs.] I pray you, think you question with the Jew. Shak.

QUESTION Ques"tion, v. t.

1. To inquire of by asking questions; to examine by interrogatories; as, to question a witness.