Quirk \Quirk\, n. [Written also querk.]

[Cf W. chwiori to turn briskly, or E. queer.]

1. A sudden turn; a starting from the point or line; hence, an artful evasion or subterfuge; a shift; a quibble; as, the quirks of a pettifogger. ``Some quirk or . . . evasion.'' --Spenser.

We ground the justification of our nonconformity on dark subtilties and intricate quirks. --Barrow.

2. A fit or turn; a short paroxysm; a caprice. [Obs.]

``Quirks of joy and grief.'' --Shak.

3. A smart retort; a quibble; a shallow conceit.

Some odd quirks and remnants of wit. --Shak.

4. An irregular air; as, light quirks of music. --Pope.

5. (Building) A piece of ground taken out of any regular ground plot or floor, so as to make a court, yard, etc.; -- sometimes written quink. --Gwilt.

6. (Arch.) A small channel, deeply recessed in proportion to its width, used to insulate and give relief to a convex rounded molding.

Quirk molding, a bead between two quirks.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)