Also 4 quike, 5 quyke, quikk, 9 north. w(h)ick. [Northern form of QUITCH sb.1) coll. or pl. Couch-grass, and other field-grasses and weeds, or their underground stems. = QUICKEN sb.2

1

a. 1387.  Sinon. Barthol. (Anecd. Oxon.), 23. Gramen,… specialiter accipitur in medicina pro quadam herba … ance quikes.

2

1483.  Cath. Angl., 292/1. Quikk (A. Quyke), eruus.

3

1764.  Museum Rusticum, III. 296. A machine, that would clear … land from quicks, or other weeds.

4

1800.  Tuke, Agric., 85. Heavier harrows … are used to clean the land from quicks.

5

1876–.  In northern dial. glossaries, in form whick or wick.

6

  So Quick-grass. (Cf. Da. qvik-, quækgræs.)

7

1617.  Minsheu, Ductor, Quickgrasse,… Gramen caninum.

8

1712.  trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 52. There are several other Roots sold in the Shops … as the Dog grass, or Quick grass.

9

1765.  Museum Rusticum, IV. xxi. 94. It takes fresh root at its joints, like quick-grass.

10

1770–4.  A. Hunter, Georg. Ess. (1804), II. 213. Turned over when the least particle of quick-grass appears.

11