Quirk

Quirk
Quirk Quirk (kw[~e]rk), n. [Written also {querk}.] [Cf. W. chwiori to turn briskly, or E. queer.] 1. A sudden turn; a starting from the point or line; hence, an artful evasion or subterfuge; a shift; a quibble; as, the quirks of a pettifogger. ``Some quirk or . . . evasion.'' --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

We ground the justification of our nonconformity on dark subtilties and intricate quirks. --Barrow. [1913 Webster]

2. A fit or turn; a short paroxysm; a caprice. [Obs.] ``Quirks of joy and grief.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. A smart retort; a quibble; a shallow conceit. [1913 Webster]

Some odd quirks and remnants of wit. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. An irregular air; as, light quirks of music. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

5. (Building) A piece of ground taken out of any regular ground plot or floor, so as to make a court, yard, etc.; -- sometimes written quink. --Gwilt. [1913 Webster]

6. (Arch.) A small channel, deeply recessed in proportion to its width, used to insulate and give relief to a convex rounded molding. [1913 Webster]

{Quirk molding}, a bead between two quirks. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Quirk — may refer to an odd habit or a family name. Odd habit A quirk is an odd habit. Most dictionaries list this word s origin as “unknown”. However, as the surname arises from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea, and because the island is somewhat… …   Wikipedia

  • Quirk — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Cory Quirk (* 1986), US amerikanischer Eishockeyspieler Lawrence J. Quirk (* 1923), US amerikanischer Journalist und Filmhistoriker Randolph Quirk (* 1920), britischer Linguist Robert E. Quirk (* 1918), US …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • quirk — [kwə:k US kwə:rk] n 1.) something strange that happens by chance quirk of ▪ Years later, by a strange quirk of fate , she found herself sitting next to him on a plane. 2.) a strange habit or feature of someone s character, or a strange feature of …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • quirk — quirk; quirk·i·ly; quirk·i·ness; …   English syllables

  • quirk|y — «KWUR kee», adjective, quirk|i|er, quirk|i|est. full of quirks, twists, or shifts: »The writing has a quirky, personal quality that gives it an uncommon flavor (New Yorker) …   Useful english dictionary

  • quirk — ► NOUN 1) a peculiar behavioural habit. 2) a strange chance occurrence: a quirk of fate. 3) a sudden twist, turn, or curve. DERIVATIVES quirkish adjective quirky adjective (quirkier, quirkiest) …   English terms dictionary

  • quirk — [kwʉrk] n. [< ?] 1. a) a sudden twist, turn, or stroke [a quirk of fortune] b) a flourish in writing 2. an evasion, subterfuge, or quibble 3. a peculiarity, peculiar trait, or mannerism 4 …   English World dictionary

  • quirk — I (accident) noun accidental occurrence casualty, chance, circumstance, fate, fortuitous event, fortuity, freak, hap, inadvertence, luck, misadventure, mischance, mishap, nonintentional occurrence, turn, twist, undesigned occurrence, unforeseen… …   Law dictionary

  • Quirk —   [kwəːk], Sir (seit 1985) Randolph, britischer Sprachwissenschaftler, * Lambfell (Isle of Man) 12. 7. 1920; Professor u. a. an den Universitäten Durham (1958 60) und London (seit 1960); v. a. durch Forschungen zur alt und neuenglischen Grammatik …   Universal-Lexikon

  • quirk — [ kwɜrk ] noun count 1. ) a strange or annoying habit 2. ) something strange that happens for reasons that you do not know or understand …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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