See also: Quiver

English

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Pronunciation

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A bow and quiver

Etymology 1

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From Middle English quiver, from Anglo-Norman quivre, from Old Dutch cocare (source of Dutch koker, and cognate to Old English cocer (quiver, case)), from Proto-West Germanic *kokar (container), said to be from Hunnic,[1] possibly from Proto-Mongolic *kökexür (leather vessel for liquids); see there for more. Replaced early modern cocker, the inherited reflex of that West Germanic word.

Noun

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quiver (plural quivers)

  1. (weaponry) A container for arrows, crossbow bolts or darts, such as those fired from a bow, crossbow or blowgun.
    • 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], line 271:
      Don Pedro: Nay, if Cupid have not spent all his quiver in Venice, thou wilt quake for this shortly.
    • 1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 39:
      Arrows were carried in quiver, called also an arrow case, which served for the magazine, arrows for immediate use were worn in the girdle.
  2. (figuratively) A ready storage location for figurative tools or weapons.
    He's got lots of sales pitches in his quiver.
  3. (obsolete) A vulva.
  4. (obsolete) The collective noun for cobras.
  5. (mathematics) A multidigraph.
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Etymology 2

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From Middle English quiver, cwiver, from Old English *cwifer, probably related to cwic (alive).

Adjective

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quiver (comparative more quiver, superlative most quiver)

  1. (archaic) Nimble, active.

Etymology 3

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From Middle English quiveren, probably from the adjective.

Verb

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quiver (third-person singular simple present quivers, present participle quivering, simple past and past participle quivered)

  1. (intransitive) To shake or move with slight and tremulous motion.
    Synonyms: tremble, quake, shudder, shiver
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Further reading

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Middle English

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Etymology 1

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From Anglo-Norman quivre, from Old Dutch cocare; perhaps ultimately from Proto-Mongolic *kökexür or Hunnic.[1] Doublet of coker.

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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quiver (plural quivers)

  1. A quiver (a receptacle for arrows)
  2. (rare, vulgar) A vulva.
Descendants
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  • English: quiver
References
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Etymology 2

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From Old English *cwifer, probably related to cwic (alive).

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Adjective

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quiver

  1. fast, speedy, rapid
  2. energetic, vigourous, vibrant
Descendants
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