Q (k), 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, ß 249. Q is not found in
Anglo-Saxon, cw being used instead of qu; as in cwic, quick; cwen,
queen. The name (k) 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 Phúnician, the ultimate origin being
Egyptian.
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. &?;, whence E.
equine, hippic; L. quod which, E. what; L. aquila, E. eaqle; E.
kitchen, OE. kichene, AS. cycene, L. coquina.
Qua (?), conj. [L., abl. of qui who.] In so far as; in the capacity or
character of; as.
It is with Shelley's biographers qua biographers that we have to
deal.
London Spectator.
Quab (?), 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.
Quab, v. i. See Quob, v. i.
Qua"-bird` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The American night heron. See under Night.
Qua"cha (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The quagga.
Quack (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Qvacked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Quacking.]
[Of imitative origin; cf. D. kwaken, G. quacken, quaken, Icel. kvaka to
twitter.]