The word "quid" is a four-letter English word that has its roots in Latin. It is a slang term for the British pound, meaning "money." The spelling of "quid" is unique as it is pronounced with a short "i" sound, represented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /kwɪd/. The spelling of the word is also interesting as it can be traced back to the Latin word "quid," which means "what." Despite its slightly unusual spelling, "quid" has found a place in everyday British language.
The term "quid" can be defined as a colloquial expression used predominantly in British English, referring to the British pound sterling (£). It is a slang term, informal in nature, which is often used in casual conversations and informal writing. The word "quid" is believed to have originated from the Latin word "quid," meaning "what." It first appeared in English slang during the early 18th century, establishing itself as a common term by the 19th century.
Although "quid" is primarily associated with currency, it can also be used more broadly to describe any equivalent unit of value, especially in British contexts. Additionally, "quid" can occasionally be used as a slang term for money in general, comparable to the American English "dollar" or "bucks."
The plural form of "quid" is often simply "quid," but can also be referred to as "quids" or "quid's." For instance, one might say "five quid" to indicate five pounds sterling.
Overall, "quid" signifies a familiar and informal way to refer to the British pound in conversation. Its usage is prevalent across various English-speaking regions, particularly in the United Kingdom, where it has become deeply ingrained in colloquial language.
A piece of tobacco rolled about in the month, like a cow chewing the cud.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "quid" originated in the early 17th century and is derived from the Latin expression "quid pro quo", which means "something for something". In this context, "quid" refers to a specific amount of money or a particular item. Over time, "quid" started to be used as a colloquial term for the British pound sterling, similar to how "bucks" is used to refer to dollars. Today, "quid" is predominantly used in British English as a slang term for pounds.