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Q . the seventeenth letter of the English alphabet, has but one sound (that of k), and is always followed by u, the two letters together being sounded like kw, except in some words in which the u is silent. See Guide to Pronunciation, / 249. Q is not found in Anglo-Saxon, cw being used instead of qu; as in cwic, quick; cwen, queen. The name (k/) is from the French ku, which is from the Latin name of the same letter; its form is from the Latin, which derived it, through a Greek alphabet, from the Ph/nician, the ultimate origin being Egyptian.
Qraspine p. pr. & vb. n. of Grasp
Qua conj. In so far as; in the capacity or character of; as.
Qua-bird n. The American night heron. See under Night.
Quab n. An unfledged bird; hence, something immature or unfinished.
Quab v. i. See Quob, v. i.
Quacha n. The quagga.
Quack v. i. To utter a sound like the cry of a duck.
Quack v. i. To make vain and loud pretensions; to boast.
Quack v. i. To act the part of a quack, or pretender.
Quack n. The cry of the duck, or a sound in imitation of it; a hoarse, quacking noise.
Quack n. A boastful pretender to medical skill; an empiric; an ignorant practitioner.
Quack n. Hence, one who boastfully pretends to skill or knowledge of any kind not possessed; a charlatan.
Quack a. Pertaining to or characterized by, boasting and pretension; used by quacks; pretending to cure diseases; as, a quack medicine; a quack doctor.
Quack grass . See Quitch grass.
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