Pronunciation: [kwˈa͡ɪ͡ə] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "quire" can be a bit tricky due to the fact that it is pronounced differently than it looks. The IPA phonetic transcription for "quire" is /kwɪər/, which means it is pronounced like "kwir". The word "quire" refers to a set of 24 or sometimes 25 sheets of paper, commonly used in bookbinding. The correct spelling can often be confused with the word "choir" which refers to a group of singers.
A "quire" refers to a specific unit of measurement commonly used in bookbinding and paper manufacturing. It is defined as a measure of paper or parchment consisting of 24 sheets or 25 sheets, depending on the specific context. In the first definition, a "quire" is equivalent to one-twentieth of a ream of paper, which typically consists of 480 sheets. This means that a quire consists of 24 sheets of paper.
However, in certain historical or specialized contexts, a "quire" can refer to 25 sheets of paper instead. This older definition is based on the traditional practice of including an extra sheet as a flyleaf or for other purposes. This usage is primarily found in the field of bookbinding and manuscript production.
The term "quire" is derived from the French word "quayer" or "quaye," which means "to cut into four." This etymology is reflective of the original practice of preparing a quire by folding and cutting a large sheet of paper into four smaller sections or gatherings.
Overall, a "quire" is a meaningful unit of paper or parchment measurement, representing either 24 or 25 sheets, often used in the bookbinding and paper manufacturing industries.
• See Choir.
• A quantity of twenty-four sheets of paper, each folded once.
• Another spelling of choir, which see.
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 "quire" has its origins in Middle English, via Old French "quayer" meaning "four sheets of parchment". This term can be traced back to the Latin "quaternum" meaning "a set of four". In medieval times, parchment was commonly folded and gathered into quires, which typically contained four sheets or leaves. Over time, the term "quire" also came to refer to a gathering of folded and stitched or bound sheets of paper.
