slang. [f. QUEER a.1 or a.2]
1. trans. a. To quiz or ridicule; to puzzle. b. To impose on, swindle, cheat.
1790. By-stander, 343. Young rascals, who are telling you … how archly they queer attornies.
1797. Mrs. M. Robinson, Walsingham, II. 299. ‘Vy, you’re found out, that’s all,’ replied the turnkey; ‘you’re blown; there’s no queering the law—ve gentlemen in office arn’t to be done over.’
1812. G. Colman, Br. Grins, Two Parsons, lxviii. A shoulder-knotted puppy, with a grin, Queering the threadbare curate, let him in.
1819. Borrow, Wand. Children, in W. J. Knapp, Life, I. 64. Well, we have tramped the roads, and queered Full many a sharp and flat.
2. To spoil, put out of order.
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict.
1818. Sporting Mag., II. 189. His ogles were queered … and his head was dunned.
1884. G. Moore, Mummer’s Wife (1887), 190. All they [the chorus] dared do they did to ‘queer’ her Scene.
3. To put (one) out; to make (one) feel queer.
1845. W. Cory, Lett. & Jrnls. (1897), 34. Hallam was rather queered (it not being in his line to do anything so conspicuous).
1894. Outing (U.S.), XXIV. 362/2. It queered me to think what would happen if they were to lose foothold.
Hence Queerer, one who queers.
1812. G. Colman, Br. Grins, Two Parsons, lxxxv. These wooden wits, these quizzers, queerers, smokers.
