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." "We ground the justification of our nonconformity on dark subtilties and intricate quirks."
2.A fit or turn; a short paroxysm; a caprice. (Obs.) "Quirks of joy and grief."
3.A smart retort; a quibble; a shallow conceit. "Some odd quirks and remnants of wit."
4.An irregular air; as, light quirks of music.
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.
6.(Arch.) A small channel, deeply recessed in proportion to its width, used to insulate and give relief to a convex rounded molding.