q

Q&A < an abbreviation of Question and Answer [1954].

Qatar < (?) arabic katran (= tar, resin) [in reference to petroleum].

Q.E.D. < an abbreviation of latin quod erat demonstrandum (= which was to be demonstrated).

q.t. < slang for quiet < middle english quiet < old french quiete (= rest, repose, tranquility) < latin quies [gen. quietis] (= rest, repose, peace).

quadrille < french quadrille < spanish cuadrilla, a diminutive of cuadro (= four-sided battle square) < latin quadrum (= a square), related to quattuor (= four) < I.E. *kwetwer- (= four).

quai < french quai < old french cai (= sand bank) < gaulish caium < old celtic *kagio- (= to enclose) < I.E. *kagh- (= catch, seize).

quake < old english cwacian (= quake, tremble).

qualify < middle english qualify < middle french qualifier < medieval latin qualifico [inf. qualificare] (= make of a certain quality) < latin qualis (= of what sort?) + facio [inf. facere] (= make, do).

quality < middle english quality < old french qualite < latin qualitas (= quality, property, nature, condition) < qualis (= what kind of ?) < I.E. *kwo-.

quantify < medieval latin quantifico [inf. quantificare] < latin quantus (= as much) + facio [inf. facere] (= make, do).

quantity < middle english quantity < old french quantite / cantite < latin quantitas (= relative greatness) < latin quantus (= of what size?, how much?, what amount?)

quantum < latin quantum, neuter of quantus (= as much, how much?) < I.E. *kwo- [applied in physics by German physicist Max Planck (1900)].

quarantine < italian quaranta [giorni] (= forty [days]) [an old policy for ships from plague-stricken countries to wait off the port of Venetia for 40 days (also lazaretto), to protect its people from contagious diseases] < quaranta (= 40) < latin quadraginta (= 40), related to quattuor (= four) < I.E. *kwetwer- (= four).

quark < german Quark (= curds, rubbish) < old church slavonic tvarogu (= curds, cottage cheese) < I.E. *teue- (= to swell) [applied in physics by American physicist Murray Gell-Mann (1964)].

quarrel (= angry dispute) < middle english quarrel (= ground for complaint) < old french querele (= matter, concern, dispute) < latin querella (= complaint, accusation) < queror [inf. queri] (= to complain, lament).

quarrel (= square-headed bolt for a crossbow) < middle english quarrel < old french quarel / carrel (= bolt, arrow) < vulgar latin *quadrellus < a diminutive of late latin quadrus (= square), related to quattuor (= four) < I.E. *kwetwer- (= four).

quarry < middle english quirre (= entrails as a reward to dogs of the chase) < anglo-french quirreie / old french cuiriee (= the spoil, quarry) [by influence of old french cuir (= skin)] < old french corée (= viscera, entrails) < vulgar latin *corata (= entrails) < latin cor [gen. cordis] (= heart) < I.E. *kerd- (= heart).

quart < middle english quart < old french quarte < latin quarta [pars] (= a fourth [part]) < quarta, female of quartus (= fourth), related to quattuor (= four) < I.E. *kwetwer- (= four).

quarter < middle english quarter < old french quartier / cartier < latin quartarius < quartus (= fourth), related to quattuor (= four) < I.E. *kwetwer- (= four).

quartz < german Quarz / Zwarc (= rock crystal) < middle high german twarc < old church slavonic tvrudu (= hard) < proto-slavic *tvrd- < I.E. *(s)twer- (= to grasp, hold).

quasar < quasi stellar [radio source] (1963) < latin quasi (= as if, just as, somewhat like) (< quam (= as) + si (= if)) + stellar (= pertaining to stars, star-like) (< late latin stellaris (= starry) < stella (= star)).

quash < middle english quash < old french quasser / casser (= to annul, declare void) < medieval latin quasso [inf. quassare] < late latin casso [inf. cassare] (= to empty) < cassus (= null, empty).

quasi < middle english quasi < latin quasi (= as if, just as, somewhat like) < quam (= as) + si (= if).

quasimodo (= Low Sunday, Quasimodo Sunday) < latin quasi modo [geniti infants] (= somewhat like [newborn babes]) [the first words of introit for the first Sunday after Easter. Also, the Quasimodo, in Victor Hugo’s novel, abandoned on this day as an infant at Notre Dame] < quasi (q.v.) + modus (= mode).

quay < middle english key(e) / caye (= wharf) < old french cai (= sand bank) < gaulish caium < old celtic *kagio- (= to enclose) < I.E. *kagh- (= to catch, seize).

Quebec < canadian-french Quebec < algonquian /kepe:k/ (= strait, narrows).

quean < old english cwene (= woman, female serf) < proto-germanic *kwenon < I.E. *gwen- (= woman).

queen < old english cwen (= queen, woman, wife) < proto-germanic *kwoeniz {> old norse kvaen, old saxon quan, gothic quens} < *kwenon < I.E. *gwen- (= woman).

queer < scottish queer < (?) low german queer (= oblique, off-center), related to german quer (= oblique, perverse, odd) < old high german twerh (= oblique).

quell < old english cwellan (= kill, murder, execute) < proto-germanic *kwaljanan < I.E. *gwele- (= to throw).

quench < old english acwencan < proto-germanic *kwenkjanan.

Quentin < french Quentin < latin Quin(c)tianus (= fifth [child in birth order]) < quintus (= fifth), related to quinque (= five) < I.E. *penkwe- (= five).

query < quaere (= a question) < latin quaere, imperative of quaero [inf. quaerere] (= seek, ask, demand) < (?) I.E. *kwo-.

quest < middle english quest < old french queste (= search, quest, chase, hunt) < medieval latin questa (= search, inquiry) < latin quaesita, female past participle of quaero [inf. quaerere] (= seek, ask, demand) < (?) I.E. *kwo-.

queue < middle english queue < french queue (= tail) < old french cue / coe (= tail) < latin coda < cauda (= tail).

quick < old english cwic (= alive, rapid, ready) < proto-germanic *kwikwaz {> old norse kvikr, dutch kwik, old high german quec, german keck} < I.E. *gwei- (= to live).

quicksilver < old english cwicseolfor (= living silver) [popular name of the metal mercury for its liquid mobility, a translation of latin argentum vivum (= living silver)].

quiesce < latin quisco [inf. quiescere] (= to rest) < I.E. *kweie- (= to rest).

quiet < middle english quiet < old french quiete (= rest, tranquility) < latin quies [gen. quietis] (= rest, repose, peace) < I.E. *kweie- (= to rest).

quilt < middle english quilt (= mattress with soft lining) < anglo-french quilte / old french cuilte / coute (= quilt, mattress) < latin culcita (= mattress, bolster).

quinta < spanish / portuguese quinta (= a farm and house for a rent of one-fifth of its produce) < latin quintus (= fifth), related to quinque (= five) < I.E. *penkwe- (= five).

quintessence < middle english quintessence (= fifth essence) [of which the heavenly bodies are composed] < middle french quinte essence < medieval latin quinta essentia < latin quinta, female of quintus (= fifth) + essentia (= being, essence) (< esse, infinitive of sum (= I am)).

quintet < italian quintetto, a diminutive of quinto (= fifth) < latin quintus (= fifth), related to quinque (= five) < I.E. *penkwe- (= five).

quip < quippy < (?) latin quippe (= indeed, of course) < quid, neuter of quis (= who) < I.E. *kwo- + [suffix] -pe.

quire < middle english quire (= set of four folded pages for a book) < anglo-french quier / old french quaier (= sheet of paper folded in four) < vulgar latin *quaternus < latin quaterni (= four each) < quater (= four times) < I.E. *kwetwer- (= four).

quit < middle english quit < old french quiter (= clear, release, abandon) < quite (= free, clear, entire) < medieval latin quit(t)us < latin quietus (= free) < I.E. *kweie- (= to rest).

quiver < middle english quiver < anglo-french quiveir / old french quivre / cuivre < proto-germanic *kukur (= container).

quiz < quies < (?) latin qui es? (= who are [you]?) [first question in oral Latin exams in old-time grammar schools] < qui (= who?) + es (= [you] are), second person of present tense of sum [inf. esse] (= I am) .

quote < middle english coten (= to mark a book with chapter numbers) < old french coter < medieval latin quoto [inf. quotare] (= distinguish by numbers, number chapters) < latin quotus (= how many?, which in order?, what number?) < quot (= how many?) < I.E. *kwo-ti- < *kwo-.

quotidian < middle english quotidian (= everyday, daily) < old french cotidian < latin quotidianus (= daily) < latin quotus (= how many?, which in order, what number?) + dies (= day).

quotient < middle english quotient < latin quotiens (= how often?, how many times?, as often as) < quot (= how many?) < I.E. *kwo-ti- < *kwo-.

Quran < Koran < arabic qur’an (= book, reading, recitation) < qara’a (= to read).

q.v. < latin quod vide (= see this) < quod (= this) + vide, imperative of video [inf. videre] (= see).