quaker

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The dial had no letter "q," and as the man was described as a quaker the word was sent "kwaker."

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Definitions (11)

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  1. One who quakes or trembles.
  2. [capitalized] One of the religious denomination called the Society of Friends. The name, originally given in reproach, has never been adopted by the Society. See Society of Friends, under friend. Quakers that, like to lanterns, bear Their lights within 'em will not swear. S. Butler, Hudibras, II. ii. 219. A certain minister in Bremen, … reproached with the name of Quaker, because of his singular sharpness against the formal lifeless ministers and Christians in the world. Penn, Travels in Holland, etc. Get the writings of John Woolman by heart, and love the early Quakers. Lamb, A Quakers' Meeting.
  3. A Quaker gun (which see, under gun). The only other vessel in the port was a Russian government bark, … mounting eight guns (four of which we found to be quakers). R. H. Dana, Jr., Before the Mast, p. 271.

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Examples (50)

  • In Chester I met with a quaker, named Sharpies, who took me to his house, gave me the best accommodation, and called his friends to see me, never seemed weary of asking questions of negro life in the different plantations. —  Narrative of the Life of J.D. Green, a Runaway Slave, from Kentucky
  • Yarnall, though averse, as a quaker, from all killing of enemies with a gun, yet saw no objection to holding one a moment. —  The Life of General Francis Marion
  • The tall slim figure, always of a kind of quaker neatness; the innocent anxious face, anxious bright hazel eyes; the timid, yet gracefully cordial ways, the natural intelligence, instinctive sense and worth, were very characteristic. —  The Life of John Sterling
  • Is it Melmoth,(80) Philanthropist or patriot, Childe Harold, quaker, devotee, Or other mask donned playfully? —  Eugene Oneguine [Onegin] A Romance of Russian Life in Verse
  • A tall, large person, in semi-quaker garb, who did not look unlike George Fox, run to seed, said, with a flourish, that these battles were nothing to Shiloh. —  Campaigns of a Non-Combatant, and His Romaunt Abroad During the War
 

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Etymologies (1)

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from quake + -er. Hence (in sense 2) F. Quacre, Quaker = Spanish Cuákero = Portuguese Quacre = Dutch Kwaker = German Quäker = Danish Kvæker = Swedish Quäkare.
 

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