Q (cue or kue), subs. (old).—1. See quots. 1440 and 1617. Hence (2) a score (whence a reminder: cf. quot. 1594 and the theatrical usage), and (3) an item of small value: see Worth.
c.1440. Prompt. Parv., 106. Cu, halfe a farthynge or Q.
c.1510. Barclay, Good Manners (1570), Bij. All these . . . are scarcely worth a kue.
1526. Skelton, Magnyfycence, 36. That lyberte was not worth a cue.
1594. Lyly, Mother Bombie, ii. 3. If you be examined how we met, sweare by chance . . . Every one remember his que.
1617. Minsheu, Guide unto Tongues, Cue, halfe a farthing, so called because they set down in the Battling or Butterie Bookes in Oxford and Cambridge the letter q for halfe a farthing, and in Oxford when they make that Cue or q a farthing, they say, Cap my Q, and make it a farthing thus a/q
Q in a corner, phr. (legal).—Something not seen at once, but subsequently brought to notice.
Set P's and Q's.
Q.H.B. (or K.H.B.), phr. (naval
and military).—See quots.: also
Queen's (or King's) bad bargain
(or shilling).—Grose
(1785).
1865. Cornhill Mag., Feb., 243. This was a man of the old school. The younger Bohemians of the service of my own standing were a more polished breed. . . . They were generally indeed, what used to be called Q. H. B.'s—Queen's hard bargains—from a professional point of view.
1890. Tit-Bits, 26 Ap., 35, 1. A worthless character such as used to be called a Queen's bad shilling, when men were enlisted with a shilling. . . . He schemes into hospital . . . to get off a route march, a field-day, coal-carrying.
1898. Daily Mail, 13 Ap., 7, 2. The Q.H.B. used to devote his attention to the Militia, but the Royal Artillery is now a favourite corps with him. . . . Sent to so many different stations, the chances of detection are less.—[Abridged.]
Q.T. On the Q.T., phr. (common).—On
the quiet: also on
the strict Q.T.
c.1870. Broadside Ballad, 'Talkative Man from Poplar.' Whatever I tell you is on the Q.T.
1893. Emerson, Signor Lippo, ix. We asked him on the Q.T. how it was.
Qua, subs. (old).—A prison: hence
qua-keeper = a gaoler.—Tufts
(1798).
Quab, subs. (old).—1. An unfledged
bird.
1628. Ford, Lover's Melan., iii. 3. A quab. 'Tis nothing else, a very quab.
Quack, subs. (common).—1. A
duck: also quacking-cheat
and quacker.—Harman (1567);
Dekker (1616); B. E. (c.1696);
Grose (1785).
