qat also kat or khat The buds and leaves of a large shrub, Catha edulis, indigenous to Ethiopia and the Arabian Peninsula; when eaten they produce excitation and increase energy, while reducing the need for sleep and food, somewhat as COCA does, but in this case the active chemical is not known.
quacksalver A charlatan, a quack.
quadrant In the late 18th century, this was an instrument in the form of a graduated eighth-circle (actually an octant, although called a quadrant because it could measure a quarter of a circle by using reflective mirrors). It was used for measuring angles in navigation, especially altitudes of heavenly bodies above the horizon or angles between two terrestrial objects in coastal surveying. The seaman’s quadrant was invented by John Hadley in 1731. It superseded Davis’ Quadrant, invented by John Davis in 1594. See also SEXTANT.
quadrille A French form of square dance, usually involving four couples in five stages, each a complete dance in itself.
quaere Ask, inquire; a question (Latin). Used chiefly in the imperative to introduce a question.
quartan A type of malaria in which a paroxysm of fever occurs every 72 hours. Compare TERTIAN.
quarter The upper after parts of a ship’s side (between the after part of the MAIN CHAINS and the STERN), as in STARBOARD quarter. Of a YARD, the part between the SLINGS and the YARDARM. The distance between the slings and the yardarm on each side is divided into the first, second, and third quarters, and yardarm. “To sail with the wind on the quarter” is to sail with the wind blowing between BEAM and STERN. A sea is said to quarter when it strikes a vessel on the quarter. Quarter also means mercy, clemency, especially toward a defeated opponent.
quarter-bill A list of the ship’s officers and men and their appointed battle stations.
quarterdeck The part of the ship from which the Captain, MASTER, or officer of the WATCH commands the sailing activities and that is used as a promenade by the officers. Originally, a smaller deck above the HALFDECK, covering about a quarter of the vessel. The tradition of saluting the quarterdeck when entering or leaving a ship or reporting there to an officer dates from early times. There is a historical debate about the origins of this custom. Some argue that the practice developed in ancient times when a pagan altar was located on board a GALLEY and others say it comes from an independent English practice. Officers on the quarterdeck traditionally lifted their hats in return to those who saluted in this way. By the late 18th century, the quarterdeck itself was considered virtually sacred and treated with great respect by all seamen and officers.
quarter-gunner A PETTY OFFICER subordinate to the Gunner, whom he assists in keeping all guns and carriages in working order. The number of quarter-gunners allowed per ship is one for every four guns.
quartermaster A PETTY OFFICER who assists with numerous tasks, including attending to the BINNACLE, steering the ship, signaling, and navigational duties.
quarter-netting Netting extended along the rails on the upper part of a ship’s QUARTER for the stowage of hammocks.
quarters Living accommodations or battle stations. “To beat to quarters” meant to play the drummer’s tune—in British ships frequently “Heart of Oak”—that called men to their battle stations.
quart major In cards, the sequence of ace, king, queen, knave.
quarto The size of paper obtained by folding a whole sheet twice to form four leaves. A book printed on quarto pages.
quasi pannus menstruate Like a menstrual cloth (Latin).
quay An artificial bank or landing place, usually built of stone, alongside or parallel to a navigable water for loading and unloading ships. When projecting into the water as a breakwater and a landing place, it is also known as a MOLE. In later American usage, this is also called a pier, but in England in the late 18th century, a pier was normally a quay protecting the entrance of a river, harbor, etc.
Queen Anne’s Free Gift A sum of money granted annually to ships’ Surgeons to boost their modest monthly income. Queen Anne’s Bounty was first instituted in 1704 to supplement the income of clergymen who had inadequate stipends.
Queen Charlotte, H.M.S. Named after King GEORGE III’s consort, this 100-gun first rate built in 1790 fought in the GLORIOUS FIRST OF JUNE in 1794. She was blown up in an accident off LEGHORN in 1800. A well-known painting by Henry Briggs depicts George III presenting a sword to Lord HOWE on board his FLAGSHIP, H.M.S. Queen Charlotte, on June 26, 1794. Also, a second rate of 1810.
Queeney or Queenie See KEITH, LADY.
Queen of May A girl chosen to be “queen” of the games on May Day and crowned with flowers.
queue A long plait of hair that hangs down behind from the head or from a wig; a pigtail.
Quichua An Indian people of Peru and neighboring parts of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador. The group of related languages that these people speak.
quicksilver The metal MERCURY, so called for its liquid state at normal temperatures.
quid One POUND sterling.
qui ferox bello tamen inter arma/sive iactatam religarat udo/litore navim ... et Lycum nigris oculis nigroque/crine decorum He who had fought boldly in war, after mooring his ship ashore ... [he sang of the Muses... ] and of Lycus with black eyes and black hair adorned (Latin, Horace’s Odes, I, 32).
quillon One of the two arms that form a sword’s cross-guard, the device that protects the swordsman’s hand.
quinoa A plant, Chenopodium quinoa, found on the western slopes of the Andes, cultivated for its edible wheatlike seeds.
quire A set of four sheets of parchment or paper doubled to form eight leaves, a unit common in medieval manuscripts. Any collection of leaves, one within another, in a manuscript or book. Also, 24 or 25 sheets of writing paper.
quittance A release from a debt or obligation; a receipt, repayment, or reprisal.
qui venit Who has come (Latin).
Quixote An eager visionary similar to Cervantes’s fictional character Don Quixote, who was inspired by lofty, unattainable ideals.
quizz An odd or eccentric person in character or look.
quod volunt credere What they wish to believe (Latin).
quoin A wooden wedge with a handle at the thick end used to adjust the elevation of a gun.
Quo me rapis? Where are you carrying me off to? (Latin)
Quoniam tu solus sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus altissimus Because you alone are holy, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the most high (Latin).
quota-men or Lord Mayor’s Men Recruits raised for the Navy after the passage of Pitt’s quota-bill in 1795, requiring each county to provide a certain number of recruits. Payments to these recruits, often outcasts and ne’er-do-wells, ranged from 20 to 70 pounds, far surpassing the sums previously paid to volunteers, which angered Navy seamen.