QUERK. (1) To grunt; to moan. West.
(2) A moulding in joinery. North.
QUERKEN. To stifle, or choke. North.
"Chekenyd or qwerkenyd," Pr. Parv. It will grow in the ventricle to such a masse that it will at the recelt of any hot moisture send up such an ascending fome that it will be ready to quirken and stifle us. Optick Glasse of Humors, 1639, p. 124.
QUERN. (1) Corn. Salop.
(2) A mill. This word is generally applied to a hand-mill. (A.-S.) "Mola, a qwernstone," Nominale MS.
Having therefore groond eight bushels of good malt upon our querne, where the toll is saved, she addeth unto it halfe a bushell of wheat meale.
Harrison's Description of England, p. 169.
QUERPO. Same as Cuerpo, q. v. "Me must den valke in quirpo," Nabbes' Bride, 4to. Lond. 1640, sig. F. iv.
A batt, who nlgh in querpo sat, Lay snug, and heard the whole debate.
Collins' Miscellanies, 1762, p. 132.
QUERROUR. A worker in a quarry.
QUERT. Joyful. Also, joy. In quert, joyful, in good spirits. See Lydgate, pp. 32, 38; Ritson's Met. Rom. iii. 408-9.
Remembyr thy God while thou art quert.
MS. Laud. 416, f. 76.
And that hym byhoveth leve hyt in querte, And be overcomen and caste to helle pytt.
MS. Cantab. Ff. ii. 38, f. 14.
But thouge that Noe was in quert, He was not al in ese of hert.
Cursor Mundi, MS. Coll. Trin. Cantab. f. 12.
QUEST. (1) The sides of an oven. Pies are said to be quested when their sides have been crushed by each other, or so joined to them as thence to be less baked. North.
(2) To give tongue as hounds do on trail. "To bay or quest as a dog," Florio, p. 1. Still in use. See Forby, ii. 268.
Kenettes questede to quelle, Al so breme so any belle, The deer daunteden in the delle, That al the downe denede.
Reliq. Antiq. il. 7.
(3) An inquest. Var. dial. Both words are used by Hall, Henry VIII. ff. 50, 53.
QUESTANT. A candidate; one who is seeking for some object. Shak.
QUESTE. A prayer, or demand. (A.-N.)
QUESTEROUN. Cooks, or scullions.
QUEST-HOUSE. The chief watch-house of a parish, generally adjoining a church, where sometimes quests concerning misdemeanours and annoyances were held. The quest-house is frequently mentioned in the accounts of St. Giles, Cripplegate, 1571, MS. Addit. 12222.
QUESTMEN. "Those that are yearly chosen, according to the custom of a parish, to assist the churchwardens in the enquiry, and presenting such offenders to the ordinary as are punishable in the court-christian," Blount's Glossographia, ed. 1681, p. 594.
QUESTMONGER. A juryman.
Awake, awake, ye questmongers, and take heed you give a true, just, and right verdict.
Becon's Works, p. 370.
QUESTUARY. Profitable.
QUETE. Wheat. It is the translation of frumentum in MS. Lansd. 560, f. 45.
That zere shalbe litulle qwete, And plenté shalbe of appuls grote.
MS. Cantab. Ff. v. 48, f. 75.
QUETHE. (1) Harm; mischief. (A.-S.)
(2) To say; to declare. (A.-S.)
(3) To bequeath. Lydgate.
Hous and rente and outhcr thyng Mow they quethe at here endyng.
MS. Harl. 1701, f. 42.
(4) Cry; clamour. Gawayne.
QUETHING. Saying, crying?
Being alive and seinge I peryshe, i. beinge quycke and quethyng I am undone.
Palsgrave's Acolastus, 1540.
QUETHUN. Whence. Robson.
QUETOURE. A scab, or swelling.
QUEVER. Gay; lively. West.
QUEW. Cold.
QUEZZEN. To suffocate. East.
QUHILLES. Whilst.
Qwhylles he es qwykke and in qwerte unquellyde with handis,
Be he never mo savede ne socourede with Cryste.
Morte Arthure, MS. Lincoln, f. 93.
QUIB. A taunt, or mock. Coles.
QUIBIBES. Cubebs. "Quiperium, a quybybe," Nominale MS.
QUIBLIN. An attempt to deceive.
QUICE. A wood-pigeon. Glouc.
QUICHE. To move.
QUICK. (1) Alive; living.
In thilke time men hem tok With juggement withouten lcs, And also quic dolven hes.
Arthour and Merlin, p. 28.
Sir, he seid, asay of this, Thei were zisturday qwyk i-wysse.
MS. Cantab. Ff. v. 48, f. 50.
Quyk ? ye, forsothe, quyk it was, As wel I may tel you all the case.
The Sacrifice of Abraham, p. 18.
(2) The growing plants which are reared or set for a hedge. Var. dial.
(3) Sharp; piercing. Devon.
QUICK-DEER. Deer with young.
QUICKEN. (1) Couch grass. North.
(2) To work with yeast. Quickening-dish, the yeast or balm that is put to new drink to make it work. North.
(3) To revive. Still in use.
(4) To conceive with child.
QUICKER. A quickset hedge. West.
QUICKLINGS. Young insects. East.
QUICKMIRE. A quagmire. Devon.
QUICKWOOD. Thorns. Yorksh.
QUID. (1) The cud. Var. dial. Hence, generally, to suck one's tongue.
(2) A mouthful of tobacco. Var. dial.
QUIDDITY. A subtlety; a subtle quirk or pretence. Quiddit was also used.
QUIERIE. A royal stable.
QUIET. Gentlemanly. West.
QUIETUS. The official discharge of an account.
(Lat.) It is chiefly used metaphorically, and