What is "to quit cost"

Quit \Quit\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quit or Quitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Quitting.] [OE. quiten, OF. quiter, quitier, cuitier, F. quitter, to acquit, quit, LL. quietare, fr. L. quietare to calm, to quiet, fr. quietus quiet. See Quiet, a., and cf. Quit, a., Quite, Acquit, Requite.]

1. To set at rest; to free, as from anything harmful or oppressive; to relieve; to clear; to liberate. [R.]

   To quit you of this fear, you have already looked Death in the face; what have you found so terrible in it?
   --Wake.

2. To release from obligation, accusation, penalty, or the like; to absolve; to acquit.

   There may no gold them quyte.
   --Chaucer.

   God will relent, and quit thee all his debt.
   --Milton.

3. To discharge, as an obligation or duty; to meet and satisfy, as a claim or debt; to make payment for or of; to requite; to repay.

   The blissful martyr quyte you your meed.
   --Chaucer.

   Enkindle all the sparks of nature To quit this horrid act.
   --Shak.

   Before that judge that quits each soul his hire.
   --Fairfax.

4. To meet the claims upon, or expectations entertained of; to conduct; to acquit; -- used reflexively.

   Be strong, and quit yourselves like men.
   --1 Sam. iv. 9.

   Samson hath quit himself Like Samson.
   --Milton.

5. To carry through; to go through to the end. [Obs.]

   Never worthy prince a day did quit With greater hazard and with more renown.
   --Daniel.

6. To have done with; to cease from; to stop; hence, to depart from; to leave; to forsake; as, to quit work; to quit the place; to quit jesting.

   Such a superficial way of examining is to quit truth for appearance.
   --Locke.

   To quit cost, to pay; to reimburse.

   To quit scores, to make even; to clear mutually from demands.

   Does not the earth quit scores with all the elements in the noble fruits that issue from it?
   --South.

   Syn: To leave; relinquish; resign; abandon; forsake; surrender; discharge; requite.

   Usage: Quit, Leave. Leave is a general term, signifying merely an act of departure; quit implies a going without intention of return, a final and absolute abandonment.