Quid

//kwɪd// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The inherent nature of something.
  2. 2
    A sovereign or guinea, that is, a certain coin or amount of money. historical

    "They invited him to come to-morrow, […] and bring half a quid with him."

  3. 3
    A piece of material for chewing, especially chewing tobacco.

    "Then he lay quiet for a little, and then, pulling out a stick of tobacco, begged me to cut him a quid."

  4. 4
    a wad of something chewable as tobacco wordnet
  5. 5
    A member of a section of the Democratic-Republican Party between 1805 and 1811, following John Randolph of Roanoke. (From tertium quid.) US, historical
Show 8 more definitions
  1. 6
    Pound sterling. (usually only used with a whole number of pounds) UK, colloquial

    "Seven quid for a toastie? Are you taking the mick?!"

  2. 7
    The act of chewing such tobacco. US, colloquial
  3. 8
    something for something; that which a party receives (or is promised) in return for something they do or give or promise wordnet
  4. 9
    Paired with quo, in reference to the phrase quid pro quo (“this for that”): something offered in exchange for something else.

    "[…]; but what is the quo for which they ought to give the quid? you say they ought to give a quid pro quo; what is the quo? […]; did not they give you a pretty handsome quid for the quo there?"

  5. 10
    Various national currencies typically known by the name "pound". Commonwealth, Ireland, colloquial, historical
  6. 11
    the basic unit of money in Great Britain and Northern Ireland; equal to 100 pence wordnet
  7. 12
    Euro. Ireland, broadly, colloquial
  8. 13
    Dollar, dollars. Commonwealth, broadly, colloquial, rare
Verb
  1. 1
    To chew tobacco.

    "Ah! the pig-tailed, quidding pirates and the pretty pranks we played"

  2. 2
    To let food drop from the mouth whilst chewing.

Etymology

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin quid (“what, something”), neuter singular of quis (“who”).

Etymology 2

Likely derives from the phrase quid pro quo (“this for that”), referring to the exchange of goods/services for money.

Etymology 3

From Middle English quide, quede, from Old English cwidu, cwudu (“that which is chewed, cud”). Doublet of cud.

Etymology 4

From Middle English quide, quede, from Old English cwidu, cwudu (“that which is chewed, cud”). Doublet of cud.

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