queerish

queerish
queer ► ADJECTIVE 1) strange; odd. 2) informal, derogatory (of a man) homosexual. 3) Brit. informal, dated slightly ill.
► NOUN informal, derogatory ▪ a homosexual man.
► VERB informal ▪ spoil or ruin.
● in Queer Street — Cf. ↑in Queer Street
● queer someone's pitch — Cf. ↑queer someone's pitch
DERIVATIVES queerish adjective queerly adverb queerness noun.
USAGE The word queer was first used to mean ‘homosexual’ in the early 20th century. It was originally, and usually still is, a deliberately derogatory term when used by heterosexual people. In recent years, however, gay people have taken the word queer and deliberately used it in place of gay or homosexual, in an attempt, by using the word positively, to deprive it of its negative power.
ORIGIN perhaps from German quer 'oblique, perverse' .

English terms dictionary. 2015.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Queerish — Queer ish, a. Rather queer; somewhat singular. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • queerish — adjective Somewhat queer. I expect to have an interesting time and penetrate into queerish places. Syn: oddish …   Wiktionary

  • queerish — adjective see queer I …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • queerish — See queer. * * * …   Universalium

  • queerish — kwɪrɪʃ / kwɪər adj. odd, strange; giving a strange impression …   English contemporary dictionary

  • queerish — queer·ish …   English syllables

  • queerish — …   Useful english dictionary

  • queer — I. adjective Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1508 1. a. worthless, counterfeit < queer money > b. questionable, suspicious 2. a. differing in some odd way from what is usual or normal b …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • queerness — See queerish. * * * …   Universalium

  • queerly — See queerish. * * * …   Universalium

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