Forms: α. 5 quysht(e, quyste, quiste, 7, 9 quist, quoist, (7 coist), 8 quiest, 9 quest, queist, 7– queest. β. 7 quees, quiese, 8–9 queece, 9 queeze, quice, quoice, etc. [ME. quisht, ? for *cusht, var. of CUSHAT (OE. cuscote, -sceote) by elision of the second vowel. Still current in western dialects.] The ring-dove, wood-pigeon.
α. c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 758. So hoot is no donge Of foul as of the dowue, a quyshte out take.
c. 1430. Two Cookery-bks., 8. Take quystes, an stoppe hem wyth-in wyth hole peper.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. v. 713. The grizel Quoist.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 342. Coists or Stock-doves.
1611. Cotgr., Phavier, a Ringdoue, Queest, Coushot, Woodculuer.
1800. Gentl. Mag., I. 106. The ring-dove or quiest.
1843. Zoologist, I. 213. Hiding himself in a barn, waiting for ‘queests.’
1860. Whyte-Melville, Holmby House, II. iii. 29. The quest’s soft, plaintive lullaby.
1870. M. Collins, Vivian, II. iii. 35. As pensive as a quoist.
attrib. 1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, II. xxvii. The hornes of a roebuck … the feet of foure queest-doves.
β. 1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 244/2. The Stock Dove … is also termed by us a Quees or Quiese.
1882. W. Worc. Gloss., Queece.
1895. B’ham Weekly Post, 16 Feb., 4/8. A wood-pigeon, or ‘quice,’ as it is commonly called.
collect. 1896. Westm. Gaz., 12 May, 4/1. Sitting with his gun waiting for quoice. The quoice were disappointing.
