From Middle Englishquoten, coten(“to mark (a book) with chapter numbers or marginal references”), from Old Frenchcoter, from Medieval Latinquotāre(“to distinguish by numbers, number chapters”), itself from Latinquotus(“which, what number (in sequence)”), from quot(“how many”) and related to quis(“who”). The sense developed via “to give as a reference, to cite as an authority” to “to copy out exact words” (since 1680); the business sense “to state the price of a commodity” (1866) revives the etymological meaning. The noun, in the sense of “quotation,” is attested from 1885; see also usage note, below.
Until the late 19th century, quote was exclusively used as a verb. Since then, it has been used as a shortened form of either quotation or quotation mark; see etymology, above. This use as a noun is well understood and widely used, although it is often rejected in formal and academic contexts.[1]
^Rosenheim, Edward W.; Ann Batko. (2004) When Bad Grammar Happens to Good People: How to Avoid Common Errors in English. Career Press, Franklin Lakes, NJ. p. 207 →ISBN