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 (kū) 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 Phœnician, the ultimate origin being Egyptian. [ 1913 Webster ]

Etymologically, q or qu is most nearly related to a (ch, tch), p, q, and wh; as in cud, quid, L. equus, ecus, horse, Gr. &unr_;, whence E. equine, hippic; L. quod which, E. what; L. aquila, E. eaqle; E. kitchen, OE. kichene, AS. cycene, L. coquina. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality control. [ abbrev. ] [ PJC ]

n. (Physics) Quantum chromodynamics. [ abbrev. ] [ PJC ]

interj. [ From Latin, quod erat demonstrandum, i.e. which was demonstrated. ] Which was demonstrated; -- a phrase used after the conclusion of some line of reasoning, especially in mathematical or logical proofs. [ abbrev. ] [ PJC ]

n. Quantum electrodynamics. [ abbrev. ] [ PJC ]

conj. [ L., abl. of qui who. ] In so far as; in the capacity or character of; as. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is with Shelley's biographers qua biographers that we have to deal. London Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. D. kwab eelpout, Dan. quabbe, G. quabbe, quappe, LG. quabbe a fat lump of flesh, and L. capito a kind of fish with a large head, fr. caput the head, also E. squab. ] An unfledged bird; hence, something immature or unfinished. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. See Quob, v. i. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The American night heron. See under Night. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The quagga. [ 1913 Webster ]