quietus

[Lat. quiet; quietus or quietus est was a formula used in discharging accounts, and suit discharged or settled.] A final discharge or settlement; a quittance; hence, something which effectually finishes with or silences a person. "Some younger brother would ha' thank'd me, And given my quietus." The Gamester, v. *quight ( gh silent), v. t. [QUIT, V.; QUITE, v.] 1. To release, to disengage. "While he strove his combred club be to quight." Spenser: F. Q., I. viii. 10. 2. To recompense, to requite. "Is this the meed With which her so vera in mercy thou doest quight ?" Spenser: F. Q., III. v. 45. *quight ( gh silent), adv . [QUITE, adv .] IMG:content-0111.png:[blocks in formation] *quik, a. [QUICK, a.] *quik-en, v . t. [QUICKEN.] quill, quille, *quylle, subst . [Fr. quille a pin used at ninepins, from O. H. Ger. kegil , chegil ; Ger. kegel a ninepin, a skittle, a cone, a bobbin. Cf. O. Dut. kiel a wedge; Ger. keil ; Ir. cuille a quill (borrowed from English); Gael. cuilc =a reed, a bulrush.] I. Ordinary Language: 1. The stalk of a reed or cane. 2. The faucet of a barrel. 3. One of the large, strong feathers of geese, swans, turkeys, crows, ., used for making pens for writing. IMG:content-0112.png:[blocks in formation] quill *7. A stream. *8. A toothpick. II. Technically: 1. Music : A small piece of quill attached to a piece of wood, by means of which certain stringed instruments, as the virginal, were played. 2. Ornith .: The larger and stronger feathers of the wing. They are of three kinds: primaries, secondaries, and tertiaries. 3. Seal - engraving : The hollow mandrel of the lathe or engine used by the seal-engraver. 4. Weaving : A small spindle, pirn, or rod upon which thread is wound to supply the shuttle with the woof, weft, or filling, as it is variously called, and which cro es the warp, or chain. * To be under the quill : To be written about. "The subject now under the quill is the Bishop of Lincoln."-Hucket: Life of Williams , ii. 28. quill-bit, s. A long pod-bit of small diameter. quill-driver, s. IMG:content-0113.png:[blocks in formation]