or cue, kue, subs. (old).—1.  See quots. 1440 and 1617. Hence (2) a score (whence a reminder: cf. quot. 1594 and the theatrical usage), and (3) an item of small value: see WORTH.

1

  c. 1440.  Promptorium Parvulorum, 106. CU, halfe a farthynge or Q.

2

  c. 1510.  BARCLAY, Mirror of Good Manners (1570), Bij. All these … are scarcely worth a KUE.

3

  1526.  SKELTON, Magnyfycence, 36. That lyberte was not worth a CUE.

4

  1594.  J. LYLY, Mother Bombie, ii. 3. Ris. … If you be examined how we met, sweare by chance…. Dro. … Every one remember his QUE.

5

  1617.  MINSHEU, Guide into the Tongues. CUE, halfe a farthing, so called because they set down in the Battling or Butterie Bookes in Oxford and Cambridge the letter Q for halfe a farthing, and in Oxford when they make that CUE or Q a farthing, they say, Cap my Q, and make it a farthing thus a/Q

6

  Q IN A CORNER, phr. (legal).—Something not seen at once, but subsequently brought to notice.

7

  See P’s and Q’s.

8