WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Quirk
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [Cf W. chwiori to turn briskly, or E. queer.]
Definition : 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. Shak.

4. An irregular air; as, light quirks of music. Pope.

5. (Building)

Defn: 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.)

Defn: 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.

[Written also querk.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913