different between quoth vs quaff

English

Etymology

From Middle English quoth, quath, from Old English cwæþ (first and third person past indicative of cweþan (“to say, speak to, address, exhort, admonish”)), from Proto-Germanic *kwaþ (first and third person past indicative of Proto-Germanic *kweþan? (“to say”)).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kw???/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /kwo??/
• Rhymes: -???

Verb

quoth

1. (archaic or literary, now defective) simple past tense of quethe; said

Verb

quoth (third-person singular simple present quoth, no present participle, simple past and past participle quoth)

1. (defective, modal, auxiliary) to say

Usage notes

Quoth is considered a defective verb because it is now the only recognizable form of the verb quethe, all other forms of which are obsolete. Quoth almost always comes before the subject, usually in the form "quoth he/she." It also often comes after the object, which is whatever is being said by the subject, written between quotation marks. It can also be inserted in the middle of an object phrase, where "quoth [subject]" is separated from the rest of the sentence by commas.

See also

• quote
• say

English

Etymology 1

Of uncertain origin. Suggestions include connection with Old Irish cuäch (“cup, goblet, bowl; cauldron, large vessel; bowl, cup”) (whence Scots quaich, queff). The noun is derived from the verb.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /kw?f/
• (US) IPA^(key): /kw?f/, /kw?f/
• Rhymes: -?f

Verb

quaff (third-person singular simple present quaffs, present participle quaffing, simple past and past participle quaffed)

1. To drink or imbibe with vigour or relish; to drink copiously; to swallow in large draughts. [from mid-16th c.]
   • 1594, William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew i 2

     Please ye we may contrive this afternoon, / And quaff carouses to our mistress' health

   • 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost Book V

     They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet

     Quaff immortality and joy […]

   • 1852, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Dr. Heidegger's Experiment

     Even while quaffing the third draught of the Fountain of Youth, they were almost awed by the expression of his mysterious visage.

Translations

Noun

quaff (plural quaffs)

1. The act of quaffing; a deep draught. [from late 16th c.]

Synonyms

• chug
• gulp
• swig
• See also Thesaurus:drink

Etymology 2

Noun

quaff

1. Misspelling of coif.