Quiz

Origin of: Quiz

Quiz

According to the OED, quiz is first attested as a noun from 1782 when it meant an odd, eccentric person and the origin is unknown. As a verb, it is first attested from 1796 when it meant to make fun of or mock someone. By 1807, it was also being used to mean a practical joke, a witticism or a piece of banter. All these meanings are now obsolete and have been overtaken by its current modern meanings. Firstly, as a verb meaning to question or interrogate, secondly as a noun, meaning a test of knowledge or an oral examination. These current meanings originated in America during the late 19th century and are now part of Standard English. The origin of the word, however, still remains unknown despite many theories and stories, all of which are unproven.