Forms: α. 3 cwaer, quaer, 4–5 quayer, (5 -ere, qwayer, quaier), 4–6 quayre, (5 qwayre, qvayr), 5–6 qv-, quare, quair, 5–7 quaire, 6 qw-). β. 6 quear(e, quere, 6–7 queere, 6–7 (9 dial.) queer. γ. 6 quier, quyer, 5– quire. [a. OF. quaer, quaier (later caier, mod. cahier a quire of six sheets, a copy-book, writing-book, etc.) = Prov. cazern, It. quaderno:—pop. L. *quaternum (med.L. quaternus, -um), f. L. quaternī a set of four, f. quattuor four: see QUATERNION. The loss of the final -n in F. quaer for *quaern is normal; cf. chair, enfer, etc. Icel. kver a quire, little book, is from F. or Eng.
There are three main forms of the word in Eng., quair, quear (quere), quire. The second of these arises from a narrowing of the vowel after the k- sound (cf. quail and queal, quaisy and queasy, kay and key, kayles and keals, kaiser and keasar), and the further change to quier, quire is similar to that of brere, frere to briar, friar.]
1. A set of four sheets of parchment or paper doubled so as to form eight leaves, a common unit in mediæval manuscripts; hence, any collection or gathering of leaves, one within the other, in a manuscript or printed book. Also, twenty-four (formerly sometimes twenty-five) sheets of writing-paper.
α. c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 1549–50. Of quayers seuen I haue a boke We may ilk a day a quayer loke.
1469. Paston Lett., II. 335. I did write to quairs of papir of witnessis, every quair conteynyng xiiij leves.
1531. Elyot, Gov., 172. Muche more he wrote, as it seemed, for diuers quaires lacked in the boke.
1613. Mem. St. Giles’s, Durham (Surtees), 42. A quaire of paper for the use of the parishe.
β. 1530. Palsgr., 164. Mayn, bothe for a hande and for a queare of paper.
1575. Churchyard, Chippes (1817), 106. If heere I should all skirmishes expresse … Of paper sure, a quere would not suffice.
1597. Bp. Hall, Sat., II. i. 10. Lo what it is that makes white rags so deare, That men must giue a teston for a queare.
1696. in Pall Mall Gaz. (1889), 8 Jan., 7/2. A Queer of paper…. A Coppy Booke.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Gloss., Queer, a quire of paper.
γ. 1497. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 128. j reame & vij quires of small paper.
1560. Ludlow Churchw. Acc. (Camden), 96. A quyer of paper … iiij d.
1589. Pappe w. Hatchet, B. Hee’le spend all he hath in a quire of paper.
1646. J. Hall, Poems, 1. How better were it for you to remain (Poore Quires) in ancient raggs.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 120/1. Cassie Quires, are the two outside Quires in a Ream, called also Cording Quires.
1772. Junius Lett., lxviii. 354. He was charged … for feloniously stealing eleven quires of writing paper.
1879. Print. Trades Jrnl., No. 26. 20. The cost of paper from one quire to one ream.
b. In quires: Unbound, in sheets.
c. 1480. Paston Lett., III. 301. Item, in quayers, Tully de Senectute. Ibid. Item, in qwayers, a Boke de Sapiencia.
1549. Bk. Com. Prayer (Grafton), colophon, The Imprinter to sell this Booke in Queres for two shillynges and sixe pence.
1679. Wood, Life, 10 Feb. (O. H. S.), II. 439. I gave my book … to the Heralds Office in quires.
1733. Swift, On Poetry, 144. Your poem sunk, And sent in quires to line a trunk.
1885. Bookseller, 5 March, 313. Advt., The valuable publication stock, in Cloth and Quires.
fig. 1682. Grew, Anat. Plants, Ep. Ded. So that a Plant is as it were, an Animal in Quires.
† 2. A small pamphlet or book, consisting of a single quire; a short poem, treatise, etc., which is or might be contained in a quire. Obs.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 248. Þeo ancre þet wernde an oðer a cwaer uorto lenen. Ibid., 282. Ȝif þu hauest knif oðer cloð … scrowe oðer quaer.
c. 1430. Lydg., Compl. Bl. Knt., xcvii. Go litel quayre, go unto my lyves queene.
c. 1430. Life St. Kath. (1884), 1. Ther was take to me a quayere. Where yn was drawe in to englesshe … hire martirdom.
c. 1500. MS. Selden B. 24 lf. 191. Heirefter followis the quair maid be King James of Scotland the first, callit the kingis quair.
a. 1529. Skelton, Sp. Parrot, 280. Go litell quayre, namyd the Popagay.
c. 1535. Fisher, Wks. (E.E.T.S.), 429. Who so euer ye be, yt shall fortune to rede this queare.
1570. Foxe, A. & M., 1393/2. The bishop of Salis. drewe out a quire of the Concordance, and layd it before the bishop of Harford.
3. Comb., as quire-work; quire stock, books in quires; quire-wise adv., on double leaves, which can be formed into quires to be sewed.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 124/1. When quire work is Printed.
1885. Bookseller, 5 March, Advt., Bookselling Business for Sale … including … bound and quire Stock.
Quire sb.2: see CHOIR.
