Q to Quadrilateral
Q
(Q) the seventeenth letter of the English alphabet, has but one sound and is always followed by u,
the two letters together being sounded like kw, except in some words in which the u is silent. See
Guide to Pronunciation, § 249. Q is not found in Anglo-Saxon, cw being used instead of qu; as in cwic,
quick; cwen, queen. The name (ku) is from the French ku, which is from the Latin name of the same
letter; its form is from the Latin, which derived it, through a Greek alphabet, from the Phœnician, the ultimate
origin being Egyptian.
Etymologically, q or qu is most nearly related to a p, q, and wh; as in cud, quid, L. equus, ecus,
horse, Gr. whence E. equine, hippic; L. quod which, E. what; L. aquila, E. eaqle; E. kitchen, OE. kichene,
AS. cycene, L. coquina.
Qua
(Qua) conj. [L., abl. of qui who.] In so far as; in the capacity or character of; as.
It is with Shelley's biographers qua biographers that we have to deal.
London Spectator. Quab
(Quab) n. [Cf. D. kwab eelpout, Dan. quabbe, G. quabbe, quappe, LG. quabbe a fat lump of
flesh, and L. capito a kind of fish with a large head, fr. caput the head, also E. squab.] An unfledged
bird; hence, something immature or unfinished. Ford.
Quab
(Quab), v. i. See Quob, v. i.
Qua-bird
(Qua"-bird`) n. (Zoöl.) The American night heron. See under Night.
Quacha
(Qua"cha) n. (Zoöl.) The quagga.
Quack
(Quack) v. i. [imp. & p. p. Qvacked ; p. pr. & vb. n. Quacking.] [Of imitative origin; cf. D.
kwaken, G. quacken, quaken, Icel. kvaka to twitter.]
1. To utter a sound like the cry of a duck.
2. To make vain and loud pretensions; to boast. " To quack of universal cures." Hudibras.
3. To act the part of a quack, or pretender.
Quack
(Quack), n.
1. The cry of the duck, or a sound in imitation of it; a hoarse, quacking noise. Chaucer.
2. [Cf. Quacksalver.] A boastful pretender to medical skill; an empiric; an ignorant practitioner.
3. Hence, one who boastfully pretends to skill or knowledge of any kind not possessed; a charlatan.
Quacks political; quacks scientific, academical.
Carlyle. Quack
(Quack), a. Pertaining to or characterized by, boasting and pretension; used by quacks; pretending
to cure diseases; as, a quack medicine; a quack doctor.
Quackery
(Quack"er*y) n.; pl. Quackeries The acts, arts, or boastful pretensions of a quack; false
pretensions to any art; empiricism. Carlyle.
Quack grass
(Quack" grass`) (Bot.) See Quitch grass.
Quackish
(Quack"ish), a. Like a quack; boasting; characterized by quackery. Burke.
Quackism
(Quack"ism) n. Quackery. Carlyle.
