Definition of "quirk"

quirk¹

/kwɜːk/

noun
plural quirks
1. An idiosyncrasy; a slight glitch, mannerism; something unusual about the manner or style of something or someone.
2. (architecture) An acute angle dividing a molding; a groove that runs lengthwise between the upper part of a moulding and a soffit.
3. (archaic) A quibble, evasion, or subterfuge.
  Quotations
  Had you no quirk / To avoid gullage, sir, by such a creature?
  1605 (first performance), Benjamin Jonson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Volpone, or The Foxe. A Comœdie. […]”, in The Workes of Ben Jonson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616
  Let us not be too curious in prying into Gods arke, leaſt vve ſmart like the flie fluttering about the candle, for God is a conſuming fire to thoſe that vvill be ſporting themſelves in the quirks of their vvit about his ſacred myſteries.
  1657, Samuel Purchas, “[The Second Part. Being Meditations and Observations, Theologicall, and Morall, upon the Nature of Bees.] The First Century.”, in A Theatre of Politicall Flying-Insects. […], London: […] M. S. for Thomas Parkhurst, […], section II, page 258
verb
third-person singular simple present quirks, present participle quirking, simple past and past participle quirked
1. (transitive, intransitive) To (cause to) move with a wry jerk.
  Quotations
  He quirked his lips playfully.
  2017, Jane Gloriana Villanueva, Snow Falling, page 203
2. (transitive, architecture) To furnish with a quirk or channel.
3. (intransitive, archaic) To use verbal tricks or quibbles.
  Quotations
  I have stung her and wrung her,The venom is working;—And if you had hung herWith canting and quirking,She could not be deader than she will be soon
  1820, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Oedipus Tyrannus; Or, Swellfoot The Tyrant: A Tragedy in Two Acts

quirk²

/kwɜːk/

verb
third-person singular simple present quirks, present participle quirking, simple past and past participle quirked
1. Alternative form of querk

Definition of "quirk"

quirk1

noun

Quotations

verb

Quotations

Quotations

quirk2

verb

quirk¹

quirk²