Word | Definition |
qanat | underground tunnel for carrying irrigation water |
qat | leaves chewed or brewed in tea as a stimulant |
qigong | system of Chinese meditational exercises |
qintar | Albanian unit of currency |
qiviut | wool of the undercoat of a musk-ox |
qoph | a Hebrew letter |
qua | in the capacity of |
quab | something unfinished or immature; unfledged bird |
quackle | to choke; to suffocate |
quad | unit of energy equal to one quadrillion British thermal units |
quadra | square frame; plinth |
quadragesimal | of or relating to Lent; lasting forty days |
quadral | in four parts |
quadrat | small square block used as a space in printing |
quadrate | to make square; to make to agree |
quadratrix | a curve by which a circle may be squared |
quadratura | wall or ceiling painted with arches and columns in strong perspective |
quadrennial | lasting four years; occurring once every four years |
quadrifid | split into four |
quadrifoliate | having four leaves |
quadriga | two-wheeled carriage drawn by four horses |
quadrigeminal | in four similar or equal parts |
quadrigenarious | comprising four hundred |
quadrille | square dance for four couples |
quadrilocular | having four compartments |
quadrimium | four-year-old wine; best or oldest wine |
quadrireme | ancient ship with four sets of oars |
quadrivial | leading in four directions; concerning a four-way junction |
quadrivium | four branches of mathematics in medieval education |
quadrivoltine | having four litters in a single year |
quadroon | old term for a person of one-quarter black ancestry |
quadrumanous | of the primates other than man |
quaeritur | the question is asked |
quaesitum | something sought for; the true value |
quaestionary | religious pardoner |
quaestor | ancient magistrate; a medieval pardoner |
quaestuary | money-making; money-seeking; in business only for profit |
quagga | extinct African wild ass like the zebra |
quagma | hypothetical matter made up of quarks and gluons |
quahog | type of edible clam |
quale | quality or property of something; abstract virtue or quality |
qualificator | one who prepares ecclesiastical cases for trial |
qualtagh | first person encountered after leaving home on a special day |
quango | a quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization |
quannet | flat file used like a plane |
quant | punting or jumping pole with a flat end |
quantometer | instrument for measuring proportions of elements in metallic samples |
quantophrenia | obsessive reliance on statistics and mathematical results |
quantulum | small quantity |
quaquaversal | facing or bending all ways |
quarender | dark red apple |
quaresimal | Lenten; having the meagreness of Lenten meals |
quark | soft cheese made from skim milk |
quarkonium | meson formed of a quark and an anti-quark |
quartan | a fever recurring every third day |
quartation | mixing one part gold with three parts silver prior to purifying it |
quarterdeck | part of ship's deck set aside by captain for ceremonial functions |
quartering | sailing nearly before the wind |
quarterlight | small triangular ventilation window in a car |
quartern | one quarter of various measures |
quartodeciman | early Christian who celebrated Easter on Passover even if not a Sunday |
quartziferous | bearing quartz |
quasi | as if; seemingly; in a manner |
quasquicentennial | one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary |
quassation | act of shaking or being shaken |
quat | a pimple; an insignificant person |
quatenus | in the capacity of; in so far as |
quaternity | fourness; any group of four things |
quatint | engraving using nitric acid |
quatrayle | great-great-great grandfather |
quatrefoil | four-petalled flower; design or ornament with four flowers or leaves |
quattrocentism | style of art of the fifteenth century in Italy |
queach | a thicket |
quean | lewd woman; hussy; woman of bad character |
queenite | a queen's partisan |
quelch | to squelch |
quena | vertical bamboo flute used in the Andes |
quenelle | poached meat dumpling |
quenouille | concerning the training of trees into cone-like shape |
quercetum | plantation of oak trees |
quercine | of or relating to oak trees |
querent | one who asks a question |
querimony | complaint |
querist | inquirer |
quern | stone mill worked by hand |
quersprung | in skiing, a jump-turn at right angles |
querulous | complaining; peevish |
quesited | sought for; asked about |
quetzal | gold and green bird with long tail feathers |
quich | to stir; to move |
quickset | formed of living plants arranged in place |
quicksilver | old name for mercury |
quickstep | fast march-like dance |
quid | a cut or wad or something chewable |
quidam | a certain person; somebody |
quiddany | jelly or thick syrup made from sweetened quince juice |
quiddity | unique essence; eccentricity |
quidnunc | busybody; one keenly interested in gossip |
quietism | doctrine of enlightenment through mental tranquility |
quietus | discharge from life; extinction; death; silencing |
quiff | tuft of hair brushed away from the forehead; oiled lock of hair |
quillet | subtle point in argument; a quibble |
quilling | strip or ribbon gathered into flutings |
quillon | arm of the cross-guard of a sword handle |
quince | orange-coloured, pear-shaped fruit |
quincunx | five things with four at corners and one in middle |
quinology | study of quinine |
quinquefarious | arranged in five rows |
quinquennium | period of five years |
quinsy | old disease like tonsilitis |
quint | five-stringed tenor viol |
quintain | post for tilting with turning cross-piece |
quintal | unit of weight equal to 100 kilograms |
quintroon | old term for someone who is of 1/16 black descent |
quipu | knotted cords used as Inca mnemonic device |
quire | twenty-four sheets of paper of the same size and quality |
quirister | a chorister |
quiritary | in accordance with Roman civil law |
quisling | one who aids the enemy; a puppet leader supported by foreign power |
quisquilious | made of rubbish |
quitclaim | deed relinquishing a claim, such as a mining title |
quitrent | small nominal rent paid to commute feudal service |
quixotic | extravagantly and romantically chivalrous; idealistic |
quodlibet | philosophical argument of disputation; humorous medley |
quoin | a wedge; salient angle of a building; cornerstone |
quoit | heavy flat ring thrown over pin in a game like horseshoes |
quomodocunquize | to make money in any way possible |
quondam | former; sometime; formerly |
quorate | having or being a quorum |
quotatious | tending to quote; given to quoting |
quotha | expression of surprise or contempt |
quotidian | everyday; commonplace |
quotiety | number; numerical relationship |
quotition | a division regarded as a repeated subtraction |