Part 744

Quin*till"lion (?), n. [Formed fr. L. quintus the fifth, after the analogy of million: cf. F. quintillion. See Quint.] According to the French notation, which is used on the Continent and in America, the cube of a million, or a unit with eighteen ciphers annexed; according to the English notation, a number produced by involving a million to the fifth power, or a unit with thirty ciphers annexed. See the Note under Numeration.

Quin"tin (?), n. See Quintain.

Quin"tine (?), n. [L. quintus the fifth: cf. F. quintine.] (Bot.) The embryonic sac of an ovule, sometimes regarded as an innermost fifth integument. Cf. Quartine, and Tercine.

Quin"tole (?), n. [It. quinto fifth.] (Mus.) A group of five notes to be played or sung in the time of four of the same species.

Quin"tu*ple (?), a. [L. quintus fifth: cf. F. quintuple, L. quintuplex. Cf. Quadruple.] Multiplied by five; increased to five times the amount; fivefold.

Quintuple time (Mus.), a time having five beats in a measure. It is seldom used.

Quin"tu*ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quintupled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Quintupling.] [Cf. F. quintupler.] To make fivefold, or five times as much or many.

{ Quit"tu*ple-nerved` (?), Quin"tu*ple-ribbed` (?), } a. (Bot.) The same as Quinquenerved.

Quin"zaine (?), n. [F., from quinze fifteen, L. quindecim. See Fifteen.] The fifteenth day after a feast day, including both in the reckoning. [Written also quinzain.]

Quinze (?), n. [F.] A game at cards in which the object is to make fifteen points.

Quip (?), n. [Cf. W. chwip a quick flirt or turn, chwipio to whip, to move briskly, and E. whip. Cf. Quib, Quibble.] A smart, sarcastic turn or jest; a taunt; a severe retort; a gibe.

Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles.

Milton.

He was full of joke and jest, But all his merry quips are o'er.

Tennyson.

Quip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quipped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Quipping (?).] To taunt; to treat with quips.

The more he laughs, and does her closely quip.

Spenser.

Quip, v. i. To scoff; to use taunts. Sir H. Sidney.

Qui"po (?), n. Same as Quipu.

||Qui"pu (?), n.; pl. Quipus (#). [Peruv. quipu a knot.] A contrivance ||employed by the ancient Peruvians, Mexicans, etc., as a substitute ||for writing and figures, consisting of a main cord, from which hung ||at certain distances smaller cords of various colors, each having a ||special meaning, as silver, gold, corn, soldiers. etc. Single, ||double, and triple knots were tied in the smaller cords, representing ||definite numbers. It was chiefly used for arithmetical purposes, and ||to register important facts and events. [Written also quipo.] Tylor.

The mysterious science of the quipus . . . supplied the Peruvians with the means of communicating their ideas to one another, and of transmitting them to future generations.

Prescott.

Quir"boil*ly` (kwr"boi*l`), n. [OE. cuir bouilli.] Leather softened by boiling so as to take any required shape. Upon drying, it becomes exceedingly hard, and hence was formerly used for armor. [Obs.] "His jambeux were of quyrboilly." Chaucer.

Quire (kwr), n. See Choir. [Obs.] Spenser.

A quire of such enticing birds.

Shak.

Quire, v. i. To sing in concert. [R.] Shak.