Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Quirk

Quirk

(kwẽrk)
,
Noun.
[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.
We ground the justification of our nonconformity on dark subtilties and intricate
quirks
.
Barrow.
2.
A fit or turn; a short paroxysm; a caprice.
[Obs.]
Quirks of joy and grief.”
Shak.
3.
A smart retort; a quibble; a shallow conceit.
Some odd
quirks
and remnants of wit.
Shakespeare
4.
An irregular air;
as, light
quirks
of music
.
Pope.
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.
6.
(Arch.)
A small channel, deeply recessed in proportion to its width, used to insulate and give relief to a convex rounded molding.
Quirk molding
,
a bead between two quirks.

Webster 1828 Edition


Quirk

QUIRK

,
Noun.
quurk.
1.
Literally, a turn; a starting from the point or line; hence, an artful turn for evasion or subterfuge; a shift; a quibble; as the quirks of a pettifogger.
2.
A fit or turn; a short paroxysm; as a quirk of joy or grief.
3.
A smart taunt or retort.
I may chance to have some odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me.
4.
A slight conceit or quibble.
5.
A flight of fancy. [Not in use.]
6.
An irregular air; as light quirks of music.
7.
In building, a piece of ground taken out of any regular ground-plot or floor, as to mark a court or yard, &c.

Definition 2024


Quirk

Quirk

See also: quirk

English

Proper noun

Quirk

  1. A surname.

Derived terms

quirk

quirk

See also: Quirk

English

Noun

quirk (plural quirks)

  1. an idiosyncrasy; a slight glitch, mannerism; something unusual about the manner or style of something or someone
    The car steers cleanly, but the gearshift has a few quirks.
  2. (architecture) An acute angle dividing a molding; a groove that runs lengthwise between the upper part of a moulding and a soffit
  3. (archaic) A quibble, evasion, or subterfuge.

Translations

Derived terms

Verb

quirk (third-person singular simple present quirks, present participle quirking, simple past and past participle quirked)

  1. (transitive, intransitive) To move with a wry jerk.
    He quirked an eyebrow.
    The corners of her mouth quirked.