[Ads-l] 1783 proposed etymology of quiz

[Cohen, Gerald Leonard]

Hi all,

Stephen, Pascal Tréguer already noticed the 1783 quote, and here now are two bibliographic items on the etymology of quiz:
1.  Pascal Tréguer and Gerald Cohen:  Possible origin of

     18th century quiz (person of peculiar or ridiculous appearance)

      Comments on Etymology, April 2019, vol. 48, no. 7, pp. 2-25.


 2. Gerald Cohen:  QUIZ – How did its meaning change from someone or something ridiculous to informal test? Comments on Etymology, Oct. 2020, vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 2-4.


I am sending a copy of this to Pascal in case he wishes to comment

on it  He deserves the major credit for our April 19 COE issue.

And btw (for all ads-l readers) Pascal's very interesting online blog is https://wordhistories.net<https://wordhistories.net/>


Best. -- Jerry

________________________________
 Stephen Goranson <goranson at DUKE.EDU> wrote, October 1, 2023 3:22 PM:

"....a number of the Scholars [at Harrow] seeing that they were strangers, =
had gathered about them, calling them ludicrous names, such as bucks, blood=
s, and quizzes [quizzes in italics], which latter was explained by Mr. Bear=
croft, as the cant word of the school for the year, being an abbreviation o=
f the words [italic next two:] quere phizzes, and that the Defendants had p=
ulled 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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