What is "querk"

Quirk \Quirk\ (kw[~e]rk), 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.

vb. 1 (context transitive English) To throttle; choke; stifle; suffocate. 2 (context intransitive English) To grunt; moan.