QUIRK

Source: 566, 567

quirk. Quirk, n. a subtilty, nicety, quibble, light tune

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Quirk (kwẽrk), n. [Written also querk.] [[Cf. W. chwiori to turn briskly, or E. queer.]] 1. 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. 2. A fit or turn; a short paroxysm; a caprice. “Quirks of joy and grief.” Shak.
3. 3. A smart retort; a quibble; a shallow conceit.
Some odd quirks and remnants of wit. Shak. 4. 4. An irregular air; as, light quirks of music. Pope.
5. 5. (Building) A piece of ground taken out of any regular ground plot or floor, so as to make a court, yard, etc.; — sometimes written quink. Gwilt.
6. 6. (Arch.) A small channel, deeply recessed in proportion to its width, used to insulate and give relief to a convex rounded molding.
Quirk molding, a bead between two quirks.