QUIRITATION Quir`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. quiritatio, fr. quiritare to raise a plaintive cry, v. freq. fr. queri to complain.]
Defn: A crying for help. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
QUIRITE
Qui"rite, n.
Defn: One of the Quirites.
QUIRITES
Qui*ri"tes, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. Cures, a Sabine town.] (Rom.
Antiq.)
Defn: Roman citizens.
Note: After the Sabines and Romans had united themselves into one community, under Romulus, the name of Quirites was taken in addition to that of Romani, the Romans calling themselves in a civil capacity Quirites, while in a political and military capacity they retained the name of Romani. Andrews.
QUIRK Quirk, n. [Written also querk.] Etym: [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.