quiver

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Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Translations 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Adjective 1.4 Etymology 3 1.4.1 Verb 1.4.1.1 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• /kwĭvər/
• [kw̥ɪvə(ɹ)]
• Rhymes: -ɪvə(r)

[edit] Etymology 1

From Middle English via Anglo-Norman quiveir, from Old French quivre and cuevre, from West Germanic *kokar-, whence also Old English cocer, Old High German kohhar

[edit] Noun

quiver (plural quivers)

1. (Weapon) A container for arrows, crossbow bolts or darts, such as those fired from a bow, crossbow or blowgun.
   • 1598, William Shakespeare, Much Ado about Nothing, Act I, Scene I, line 271:

     Don Pedro: Nay, if Cupid have not spent all his quiver in Venice, thou wilt quake for this shortly.

   • 1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 39:

     Arrows were carried in quiver, called also an arrow case, which served for the magazine, arrows for immediate use were worn in the girdle.

2. (figuratively) A ready storage location for figurative tools or weapons.

   He's got lots of sales pitches in his quiver.

3. (obsolete) The collective noun for cobras.
4. Shaking or moving with a slight trembling motion.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

From Middle English cwiver, from Old English *cwifer

[edit] Adjective

quiver (comparative more quiver, superlative most quiver)

1. (archaic) Nimble, active.
   • 1598, William Shakespeare, Henry V, Part II, Act III, Scene II, line 281:

     […] there was a little quiver fellow, and 'a would manage you his piece thus; and 'a would about and about, and come you in and come you in.

[edit] Etymology 3

From Middle English quiveren, probably from the adjective.

[edit] Verb

to quiver (third-person singular simple present quivers, present participle quivering, simple past and past participle quivered)

1. (intransitive) To shake or move with slight and tremulous motion; to tremble; to quake; to shudder; to shiver.
   • 1593, William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus, Act II, Scene III, line 12:

     The birds chaunt melody on every bush, The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun, The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind And make a checker'd shadow on the ground.

[edit] Translations