quiz

Where does the word "quiz" come from? It comes from English quiz, and was adopted directly into English (1867).

Quiz’s story begins in English: quiz meant “eccentric person; a hoax.” Origin unknown, first meaning an odd or eccentric person; the story that Dublin theatre owner Richard Daly invented it for a bet in 1791 is a later legend. It reached English by 1867 as quiz. Perhaps influenced by 'inquisitive'; US students used it from 1867 for an oral test, and radio quiz shows spread from the late 1930s. Today, quiz means a set of questions as a test or game.

1. Stage 1 · English · 1780s quiz "eccentric person; a hoax", origin unknown, first meaning an odd or eccentric person; the story that Dublin theatre owner Richard Daly invented it for a bet in 1791 is a later legend.
2. Stage 2 · American English · 1867 quiz "short test", perhaps influenced by 'inquisitive'; US students used it from 1867 for an oral test, and radio quiz shows spread from the late 1930s.