Also 6 quyppe, 6–7 quipp(e. [var. of QUIPPY (q.v.), perh. associated with words of similar ending (as clip, nip, snip, whip) which contain the idea of something sharp or cutting.]
1. A sharp or sarcastic remark directed against a person; a clever gird or hit. In later use also without implication of sharpness: A clever, smart or witty saying; a verbal conceit. Freq. in phr. quips and cranks (after quot. 1632).
In common use down to c. 1650, after which literary examples are rare till after 1800.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 709/2. With this goodly quyppe agaynste me.
1584. Lyly, Alex. & Camp., III. ii. What’s a quip? Man. Wee great girders call it a short saying of a sharpe wit, with a bitter sense in a sweet word.
1632. Milton, L’Allegro, 27. Quips and Cranks, and wanton Wiles.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Warres, 351. This by a military jest, and facetious quip, they called the Common-wealth.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 472. Direct me to a quip Or merry turn in all he [Paul] ever wrote.
1843. Lever, J. Hinton, xliv. The whole conversation is … a hailstorm of short stories, quips, and retorts.
1855. A. Manning, O. Chelsea Bun-ho., xvi. 274. She … gave him back quip for crank.
b. A verbal equivocation; a quibble.
c. 1590. Greene, Fr. Bacon, ix. 225. These Schollers know … How to vse quips and sleights of Sophistrie.
1812. Knox & Jebb, Corr., II. 95. The practical goodness may be readily overlooked, whilst theological quips and quiddities may be fastened on.
1850. Kingsley, Alt. Locke, xxxvii. I will not … entrap, you by quips and special pleading.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 73. Tricks of controversy and quips of law.
2. a. A curious, odd or fantastic action or feature.
1820. Shelley, Witch Atlas, li. Many quips and cranks She played upon the water.
a. 1864. Hawthorne, Amer. Note-bks. (1879), I. 136. His manner was full of quirks and quips.
1878. Mrs. Stowe, Poganuc P., ix. 75. All the quips and turns and oddities of human nature.
b. An odd and whimsical trifle; a knick-knack.
1820. Shelley, Lett. to Maria Gisborne, 55. Upon the table More knacks and quips there be than I am able To cataloguize.
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. (1863), 216. The quips and quiddities of these degenerate days, little bits of riband, and pasteboard, and gilt paper.
Hence Quipful, Quippish, Quippy, Quipsome adjs., given to or characterized by quips; so Quipsomeness; Quipster, one given to quips.
1859. W. Chadwick, Life De Foe, vii. 372. As a writer, he was a quippy slack-wire performer.
1876. J. Weiss, Wit, Hum. & Shaks., vi. 198. There never was such a jaunty and irrepressible quipster.
1881. Sat. Rev., 23 April, 528. His very style is young, and not without a certain quipsomeness.
1884. Miss Yonge, in Eng. Illustr. Mag., I. 462. Is it only that the lad is thy very marrow, quipsome one?
