1894. Moore, Esther Waters, xli. It was not his habit to notice domestic differences of opinion, especially those in which women had a share—queer cattle that he knew nothing about.
1898. Pink 'Un and Pelican, 240. He hardly ever uttered the spurious coins himself . . . and, consequently, seldom had any queer about his person.
2. (old).—See quot.
1818. Egan, Boxiana, 11. 423 [Note]. Queer, a term made use of by the dealers in soot, signifying a substitute imposed for the original article, inferior in point of value, 4d. per bushel.
3. (common).—A quiz (q.v.); a look; a hoax : also queer-*quish. As verb. = (1) to ridicule, and (2) to distinguish or divine, to spot (q.v.); queerer = a quizzer (q.v.).
c. 1790. Old Song, 'Flash Man of St. Giles's' [Busy Bee. . . .] And queer'd the flats at thrums, E, O.
1814. Colman, Poetical Vagaries, 144. A shoulder-knotted puppy, with a grin, Queering the thread-bare curate, let him in. Ibid. 150. These wooden wits, these quizzers, queerers, smokers.
1818. Scott, Midlothian, xxvi. "Wha is he, Jeanie?—wha is he?—I haena heard his name yet—Come now, Jeanie, ye are but queering us."
1823. Byron, Don Juan, xi. 19. Who in a row like Tom could lead the van, Booze in the ken, or at the spell ken hustle? Who queer a flat?
1844. Puck, 13. I'm as happy o'er my beer as anyone that's here, And if need comes can queer a bargee again.
1857. Punch, 31 Jan., 49. 'Dear Bill, This Stone-jug.' In the day-rooms the cuffins we queer at our ease.
1892. Henley and Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, v. 15. Have a queer at her phiz. Ibid. Tab. 11. 2. Let's have another queer at the list.
2. (old).—Cute; knowing; fly (q.v.).
1789. Parker, Sandman's Wedding, 'Air,' ii. For he's the kiddy rum and queer.
Verb. (common).—1. See subs. 3.
2. (common).—To spoil; to outwit; to perplex. Hence to queer a pitch (cheap Jacks and showmen) = to spoil a chance of business; to queer the noose or stifler = to cheat the hangman; to queer fate = to get the better of the inevitable; to queer the ogles = to blacken the eyes.—Grose (1785); Vaux (1819).
1818. Scott, Midlothian, xxiii. I think Handie Dandie and I may queer the stifler for all that is come and gone. Ibid. If the b queers the noose, that silly cull will marry her.
1819. Old Song, 'Young Prig' [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896), 83]. There no queering fate, sirs.
1836. Milner, Turpiris Ride to York, i. 2. I can queer these brither blades of the road.
1843. Moncrieff, Scamps of London, ii. 3. I'll queer them yet.
1875. Frost, Circus Life, 278. Any interruption of their feats, such as an accident, or the interference of a policeman, is said to queer the pitch.
1886. Referee, 21 Feb. Endeavours made to queer a rival's or an antagonist's pitch. Ibid. (1889), 26 May. Why should not our non-professors' little game be queered?
1891. Morning Advertiser, 27 Mar. His pitch being queered he marched to another point, but here he found the police in possession.
1900. Free Lance, 6 Oct., 20, 2. That's the third show she's queered this season. I believe she'd sink a ship.
Queer (fine, odd, or tight) as Dick's (or Nick's) hatband, phr. (old).—Out of order or sorts, not knowing why: also as queer as Dick's hatband that went nine times round and wouldn't meet.—Grose (1785).
