Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Cue?

\Cue\ (k[=u]), n. [ OF. coue, coe, F. queue, fr. L. coda, cauda, tail. Cf. {Caudal}, {Coward}, {Queue}.] 1. The tail; the end of a thing; especially, a tail-like twist of hair worn at the back of the head; a queue. 2. The last words of a play actor's speech, serving as an intimation for the next succeeding player to speak; any word or words which serve to remind a player to speak or to do something; a catchword. When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer. --Shak. 3. A hint or intimation. Give them [the servants] their cue to attend in two lines as he leaves the house. --Swift. 4. The part one has to perform in, or as in, a play. Were it my cueto fight, I should have known it Without a prompter. --Shak. 5. Humor; temper of mind. [Colloq.] --Dickens. 6. A straight tapering rod used to impel the balls in playing billiards.
\Cue\, v. t. To form into a cue; to braid; to twist.
\Cue\, n. [From q, an abbreviation for quadrans a farthing.] A small portion of bread or beer; the quantity bought with a farthing or half farthing. [Obs.] Note: The term was formerly current in the English universities, the letter q being the mark in the buttery books to denote such a portion. --Nares. Hast thou worn Gowns in the university, tossed logic, Sucked philosophy, eat cues? --Old Play.