In M. for M. i. 3, prone is, perhaps, prepossessing, that makes one prone or inclined to.
Pun (Tr. and Cr. ii. 1), to pound, crush. It is the A.S. punian, and has been changed to pound, just as hoise has become hoist.
Puppet. "The puppets dallying" (Ham. iii. 2) seems to mean the apparent motion of the babies in the eyes, i.e. the reflections of objects on the outer part of the pupil.
Putter-out (Temp. iii. 3), one who, on going on his travels, placed in the hands of some one a sum of money, on condition of receiving three, four, five, etc. times that sum in case of his safe return. It was a very common practice in those days.
Quail (Tr. and Cr. v. 1) is used figuratively of a loose amorous woman, the quail being regarded as an amorous bird. Bevy was used alike of quails and of women.
Quality, profession, occupation (Ham. ii. 2), chiefly the dramatic; the persons of it (Temp. i. 2).
Quarry (curée, Fr., curata, It. See Bocc. Thes. vii. 76, Orl. Inn. ii. 10, 60), properly the entrails of the game, the part given to the hounds; a heap or pile of slaughtered game (Ham. v. 2, Macb. iv. 3, Cor. i. 1). It was also used of the game itself even while afoot.
Quern (M. N. D. ii. 1), a hand-mill; but in this place Shakespeare evidently uses it for churn.
Quiddit and quillet (Ham. v. 1). The first of this is a corruption of the scholastic quidditas, and denotes a subtle distinction; the second is the same as quibble, whence quip, and is a corruption of quidlibet.
Quietus (Ham. iii. 1), "a word used by the Clerk of the Pipe and Auditors of the Exchequer, in their acquittances or discharges given to accountants, usually concluding with abinde recessit quietus; which is called Quietus est" (Reed, note in Dodsley's Old Plays).