n. [ Written also querk. ] [ Cf. W. chwiori to turn briskly, or E. queer. ] 1. A sudden turn; a starting from the point or line; hence, an artful evasion or subterfuge; a shift; a quibble; as, the quirks of a pettifogger. “Some quirk or . . . evasion.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ] We ground the justification of our nonconformity on dark subtilties and intricate quirks. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. A fit or turn; a short paroxysm; a caprice. [ Obs. ] “Quirks of joy and grief.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. A smart retort; a quibble; a shallow conceit. [ 1913 Webster ] Some odd quirks and remnants of wit. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. An irregular air; as, light quirks of music. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. (Building) A piece of ground taken out of any regular ground plot or floor, so as to make a court, yard, etc.; -- sometimes written quink. Gwilt. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. (Arch.) A small channel, deeply recessed in proportion to its width, used to insulate and give relief to a convex rounded molding. [ 1913 Webster ]
Quirk molding, a bead between two quirks. [ 1913 Webster ]
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