[Ads-l] 1783 proposed etymology of quiz

[Stephen Goranson]

"....a number of the Scholars [at Harrow] seeing that they were strangers, had gathered about them, calling them ludicrous names, such as bucks, bloods, and quizzes [quizzes in italics], which latter was explained by Mr. Bearcroft, as the cant word of the school for the year, being an abbreviation of the words [italic next two:] quere phizzes, and that the Defendants had pulled the hair of the Plaintiffs, spit upon them, and otherwise ill treated them..."
Stamford Mercury, Thurs. June 19, 1783, p.3 c.3. Gale.
Also reported in a GB book as 1783.

SG


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