▪ I. † quib, n. Obs.
Also 6 -be, 7 -bbe.
[App. ad. (orig. in pl.) L. quibus, dat. or abl. pl. of quī ‘who, which’, as a word of frequent occurrence in legal documents and hence associated with the ‘quirks and quillets’ of the law.
For other allusive uses of the L. word, cf. F. quibus money, cash; Du. kwibus fool, weathercock.]
1. = quibble n. 2.
| a 1550 Image Hypocr. in Skelton's Wks. (1843) II. 427 His tottes and quottes Be full of blottes: With quibes and quaryes Of inventataries. 1592 Greene Upst. Courtier in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) II. 232 These lawiers haue..such quibs and quiddits, that beggering their clients they purchase to themselues whole lordships. 1608 Hieron Defence ii. 221 M. H. answereth by an unsound reason, two quibbes & two authors onely produced. |
2. A gibe, gird, quip. rare—1.
| 1656 Bradford Plymouth Plant. 151 M{supr}. Weston..gave them this quib (behind their baks)..That though they were but yonge justices, yet they wear good beggers. [1736 in Ainsworth; hence in Johnson and later dicts.] |
▪ II. † quib, v. Obs. rare.
[f. prec. n.]
trans. and intr. To taunt, gibe (at), quip.
| 1592 Kyd Murther. I. Brewen Wks. (1901) 291 When he quibd her with vnkindnes..she asked him if he would haue her forsworne. 1608 Hieron Defence ii. 223 He goeth on & saith..thus quibbing at the Ministers. |
▪ III. † quib, adv. Obs. rare—1.
[Cf. prec. n. and vb.]
In an affected or punning style.
| 1614 B. Jonson Barth. Fair i. i, When a quirk, or a quiblin do's scape thee, and thou dost not watch, and apprehend it, and bring it afore the Constable of conceit (there now, I speake quib too). |