Quiz (?), n. [It is said that Daly, the manager of a Dublin playhouse, laid a wager that a new word of no meaning should be the common talk and puzzle of the city in twenty-fours. In consequence of this the letters q u i z were chalked by him on all the walls of Dublin, with an effect that won the wager. Perhaps, however, originally a variant of whiz, and formerly the name of a popular game.]

1.

A riddle or obscure question; an enigma; a ridiculous hoax.

2.

One who quizzes others; as, he is a great quiz.

3.

An odd or absurd fellow.

Smart. Thackeray.

4.

An exercise, or a course of exercises, conducted as a coaching or as an examination.

[Cant, U.S.]

 

© Webster 1913.


Quiz (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quizzed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Quizzing (?).]

1.

To puzzle; to banter; to chaff or mock with pretended seriousness of discourse; to make sport of, as by obscure questions.

He quizzed unmercifully all the men in the room. Thackeray.

2.

To peer at; to eye suspiciously or mockingly.

3.

To instruct in or by a quiz. See Quiz, n., 4.

[U.S.]

Quizzing glass, a small eyeglass.

 

© Webster 1913.


Quiz, v. i.

To conduct a quiz. See Quiz, n., 4.

[U.S.]

 

© Webster 1913.