1748. Dyche, Dict., s.v. Quid, so much tobacco as a person can take between his thumb and two fore-fingers, when cut small, in order to put into his mouth to chew.
1771. Smollett, Humphry Clinker, 57. A large roll of tobacco was presented by way of dessert, and every individual took a comfortable quid.
1836. Michael Scott, Cruise of Midge, 103. Wait until your wound gets better. Surely you have not a quid in your cheek now?
1889. Daily Telegraph, 1 Jan. A deleterious custom—that of chewing quids.
3. (venery).—The female pudendum: see Monosyllable.
Verb. (American).—To puzzle; to embarrass.
See Quip.
Quidnunc, subs. (colloquial).—(1)
A person curious, or professing,
to know everything. [Latin =
'What now?']. Hence (2) a
politician. [Popularised by a
character in Murphy's Upholsterer
(1758).]
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 10. "The insignificancy of my manners to the rest of the world, makes the laughers call me a quidnunc, a phrase which I neither understand, nor shall never enquire what they mean by it.'
1729. Pope, Dunciad, i. 270. This the great Mother dearer held than all The clubs of Quidnuncs, or her own Guildhall.
1818. Moore, Fudge Family, pt. 81. Or Quidnuncs, on Sunday, just fresh from the barber's Enjoying their news.
1886. Athenæum, 6 Nov. 595, 1. What the masses believed . . . and what the quidnuncs of London repeated, may here be found.
Quid pro Quo, phr. (colloquial).—A
tit for tat; a Rowland for
an Oliver (q.v.): an equivalent.
Also quid for quod. Cf. quip.
1565. Calfhill, Answ. to Martiall [Parker Soc.]. [Oliphant, New Eng. i. 571. Among the Romance words are . . . quid pro quo, Tom Fool . . .]
1592. Shakspeare, 1 Hen. IV. v. 3. I cry for mercy, 'tis but quid for quo.
1608. Middleton, Mad World, ii. Let him trap me in gold, and I'll lap him in lead; quid pro quo.
1611. Chapman, May-day, i. 2. Women of themselves . . . would return quid for quod still, but we are they that spoil 'em.
1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 262. Unless she lets her conscience go, And gives the knave a quid pro quo.
1820. Combe, Syntax, 11. iii. I shall be able With all fair reasoning to bestow What you will find a quid pro quo.
1890. Grant Allen, Tents of Shem, x. A quid pro quo, his friend suggested jocosely, emphasising the quid with a facetious stress.
Quien, subs. (common).—A dog.
1861. Reade, Cloister and Hearth iv. 'Curse these quiens,' said he.
Quier. See Queer, passim.
Quiet. On the Quiet. See
Q. T.
As quiet as a wasp in one's nose, phr. (colloquial).—Uneasy; restless.—Ray (1670).
Quietus (or Quietus est), subs.
(colloquial).—A form of finality;
a settling blow; death, &c.:
originally = a quittance or pardon.
c.1537. Latimer, Remains [Parker Soc.], 309. [You will] have your quietus est.
1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, iii. 1. "Who would fardels bear . . . When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin?"
1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 317. Nestor's in danger, stop and meet us, Or Hector gives him his quietus.
1891. Lic. Vic. Gaz., 3 Ap. After a contest which lasted for the best part of an hour and a-half, M'Carthy received his quietus.
