QUICK (3)

Quick, n. 1. 1. That which is quick, or alive; a living animal or plant; especially, the hawthorn, or other plants used in making a living hedge.
The works . . . are curiously hedged with quick. Evelyn. 2. 2. The life; the mortal point; a vital part; a part susceptible of serious injury or keen feeling; the sensitive living flesh; the part of a finger or toe to which the nail is attached; the tender emotions; as, to cut a finger nail to the quick; to thrust a sword to the quick, to taunt one to the quick; — used figuratively.
This test nippeth, . . . this toucheth the quick. Latimer. How feebly and unlike themselves they reason when they come to the quick of the difference ! Fuller. 3. 3. (Bot.) Quitch grass. Tennyson.