Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Quirk?

\Quirk\, n. [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. --Shak. 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.