sb. Also 7 -ot, 8 -iot, 9 -otte. [The name of the hero of Cervantes’ romance (see DON sb.1 c), = Sp. quixote, now written quijote a cuisse.] An enthusiastic visionary person like Don Quixote, inspired by lofty and chivalrous but false or unrealizable ideals.
1648. Merc. Prag., No. 1. A ij. The Romance’s and Gazetta’s of the famous Victories and Exploits of the godly Quixots.
a. 1658. Cleveland, Gen. Poems, etc. (1677), 112. Thus the Quixots of this Age fight with the Windmils of their own heads.
1786–7. Bonnycastle, Astron., i. 17. There are Quixotes and pedants in every profession.
1811. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 164. What these Quixottes are clamoring for on false estimates of honor.
1896. Spectator, 7 March, 337/1. Where the more sober thinker fails, the Quixote is often of service.
Comb. 1800. Mrs. Hervey, Mourtray Fam., IV. 41. Quixote-like, going to fight when he had no occasion.
b. attrib. passing into adj. = QUIXOTIC.
1708. Ozell, trans. Boileau’s Lutrin, IV. (1730), 209. A weak Defence for Quixiot kings.
1757. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to C’tess Bute, 7 July. The Quixote reputation of redressing wrongs.
1782. H. Walpole, Lett. to M. Cole, 14 Feb. (1846), VI. 160. My diet-drink is not all of so Quixote a disposition.
1810. Bentham, Packing (1821), 198. Our Quixote Sheriff.
Hence Quixote v. intr. (also with it), to act like a Quixote.
1702. Vanbrugh, False Friend, V. i. When you … are upon your rantipole adventures, you shall Quixot it by your self for Lopez.
1803. Jane Porter, Thaddeus (1826), I. vi. 131. I will not be the first to tell him of our quixoting.
