[Ads-l] 1783 proposed etymology of quiz

[James Eric Lawson]

I see now that in May 2023 Pascal covered much and more of the same 
ground I just (this evening) covered, including the 1783 "Advice to the 
Universities",

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015013157279&seq=472&q1=quiz

&tc. in his 12 May 2017 (edited 21 May 2023) article:

https://wordhistories.net/2017/05/12/origin-of-quiz/

He seems, however, to have possibly overlooked, or at least did not 
remark, the earliest use of 'quiz' that I found, 24 April 1780 (date 
from end of preface),

1780  John Hope *Hope’s Curious and comic missellaneous works, started 
in his walks ...* (HathiTrust) 261   But now it seems no longer odd;/For 
here thou say’st, my little quiz!/(How could I read it in thy phiz?)

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433074965827&seq=281&q1=quiz

Also remarkable, with reference to the etymology and general sense of 
both noun and verb, is the 1779 contextual evidence:

1779  *A dictionary of the Norman or Old French language; collected from 
such acts of Parliament, Parliament rolls, journals, acts of state, 
records, law books, ...* (HathiTrust) 199/2  Quis, quise, quiz, *sought, 
searched for, drawn out, entered up.*

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc2.ark%3A%2F13960%2Ft3nv9dn01&seq=211&q1=quiz


On 10/1/23 20:06, James Eric Lawson wrote:
> Despite having asked to be subscribed to Comments on Etymology, I don't 
> have the "two ... items" to read, but here is a different explanation of 
> the origin offered not quite two years later:
> 
> 1785  *Dunlap and Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser* (Philadelphia, 
> Pennsylvania) 3 May 2/2 (newspapers.com)  A smart man is now called a 
> pink, and a modest man in grave attire a *quiz*. The word *quiz* was of 
> Cambridge origin, from the Latin adage, *vir bonus est quis*, &c. it 
> grew in disuse for a confiderable time, but is now revived by the 
> celebrated military critic, and admitted into his catalogue of catch words.
> 
> https://www.newspapers.com/article/dunlap-and-claypooles-american-daily-ad/132766293/
> 
> 
> 
> On 10/1/23 17:38, Cohen, Gerald Leonard wrote:
>> 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

-- 
James Eric Lawson

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