n. [ Cf. Quip. ] A quip; a gibe. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Quibbled p. pr. & vb. n. Quibbling ] 1. To evade the point in question by artifice, play upon words, caviling, or by raising any insignificant or impertinent question or point; to trifle in argument or discourse; to equivocate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To pun; to practice punning. Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To cavil; shuffle; equivocate; trifle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Probably fr. quib, quip, but influenced by quillet, or quiddity. ] 1. A shift or turn from the point in question; a trifling or evasive distinction; an evasion; a cavil. [ 1913 Webster ]

Quibbles have no place in the search after truth. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A pun; a low conceit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who quibbles; a caviler; also, a punster. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Triflingly; evasively. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From the native Brazilian name. ] (Zool.) A small South American opossum (Didelphys quica), native of Guiana and Brazil. It feeds upon insects, small birds, and fruit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) See Queest. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Cf. Quinch. ] To stir. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He could not move nor quich at all. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Designating, or pertaining to, a linguistic stock of South American Indians, including the majority of the civilized tribes of the ancient Peruvian Empire with some wild tribes never subjugated by the Incas. Most of these Indians are short, but heavy and strong. They are brachycephalic and of remarkably low cranial capacity. Nevertheless, they represent one of the highest of native American civilizations, characterized by agricultural, military, and administrative skill rather than by science or literature, although they were adept potters, weavers, and goldsmiths, and preserved by the aid of the mnemonic quipu a body of legendary lore in part written down since the introduction of writing. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ Compar. Quicker superl. Quickest. ] [ As. cwic, cwicu, cwucu, cucu, living; akin to OS. quik, D. kwik, OHG. quec, chec, G. keck bold, lively, Icel. kvikr living, Goth. qius, Lith. q&ymacr_;vas, Russ. zhivoi, L. vivus living, vivere to live, Gr. bi`os life, Skr. jīva living, jīv to live. Cf. Biography, Vivid, Quitch grass, Whitlow. ] 1. Alive; living; animate; -- opposed to dead or inanimate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not fully quyke, ne fully dead they were. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. 2 Tim. iv. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

Man is no star, but a quick coal
Of mortal fire. Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In this sense the word is nearly obsolete, except in some compounds, or in particular phrases. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Characterized by life or liveliness; animated; sprightly; agile; brisk; ready. “ A quick wit.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Speedy; hasty; swift; not slow; as, be quick. [ 1913 Webster ]

Oft he to her his charge of quick return
Repeated. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Impatient; passionate; hasty; eager; eager; sharp; unceremonious; as, a quick temper. [ 1913 Webster ]

The bishop was somewhat quick with them, and signified that he was much offended. Latimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Fresh; bracing; sharp; keen. [ 1913 Webster ]

The air is quick there,
And it pierces and sharpens the stomach. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Sensitive; perceptive in a high degree; ready; as, a quick ear. “To have an open ear, a quick eye.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

They say that women are so quick. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Pregnant; with child. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Quick grass. (Bot.) See Quitch grass. --
Quick match. See under Match. --
Quick vein (Mining), a vein of ore which is productive, not barren. --
Quick vinegar, vinegar made by allowing a weak solution of alcohol to trickle slowly over shavings or other porous material. --
Quick water, quicksilver water. --
Quick with child, pregnant with a living child. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Speedy; expeditious; swift; rapid; hasty; prompt; ready; active; brisk; nimble; fleet; alert; agile; lively; sprightly. [ 1913 Webster ]