† ˈquavemire Obs.
[f. quave v. + mire.]
= quagmire (q.v.).
| 1530 Palsgr., Quave myre, foundriere, crouliere. 1565 Jewel Def. Apol. (1611) 404 Pooles, Marishes,..and Quauemires. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 221 Dyonisius was forced to leaue his horse sticking fast in a quaue-mire. 1610 ― Camden's Brit. 529 The Lower [part] hath in it foule and slabby quave mires, yea and most troublesome fennes. |
| fig. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 206 They do winne nothing by thys distinction: seeing that they fall back into the same quavemire. |