Etymology: Apparently < the reflex of Old English cwiss action of speaking, speech ( < the same Germanic base as queath v.) + -t suffix³ 1.In β. forms with alteration of stem vowel after queath v.; compare bequest n.

Etymology: Partly (i) < Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French queste (French quête ) gain, acquisition (c1176), search (c1177), collection of alms (1262), inquest (c1290, apparently only in Anglo-Norman), hunt (late 14th cent.; probably use as noun of the feminine of an unrecorded early form of the past participle of querre : see queer v.¹); partly (ii) < post-classical Latin quaesta, questa tribute, tax, tallage (11th cent.; 12th cent. in British sources), collection of alms (13th cent. in a British source), quest, search, judicial inquiry, inquest (13th cent.; 15th cent. in British sources), use as noun of feminine (also masculine) of past participle of classical Latin quaerere to seek, inquire (see queer v.¹); and partly (iii) < classical Latin quaestus (in post-classical Latin also questus) acquisition or pursuit of income, production of profit, advantage, accession of wealth or other possessions, income < quaest- , past participial stem of quaerere + -tus , suffix forming verbal nouns. Compare Old Occitan questa , quista levy (mid 12th cent.), search (c1300; Occitan quista search, charity collection), Catalan questa levy (1094), search, quest (1380), Spanish †quiesta , †questa (1135; regional and rare), Italian chiesta request (a1292). Compare earlier inquest n.In later use in branch I. probably partly shortened < inquest n.

Etymology: Partly < Anglo-Norman and Middle French quester (in Anglo-Norman also as quasteier , questeyer ; French quêter ) to search for (beginning of the 13th cent. in Old French), (of hounds) to bay at the sight of game (early 14th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman as questeyer ), to ask for or collect alms or donations (first half of the 14th cent. used intransitively, second half of the 15th cent. used transitively), (of a hound or hunter) to search for game (1394; rare before 19th cent.), to go in search of something (1551; < queste quest n.²), and partly < quest n.² With senses 3, 4 compare post-classical Latin quaestare to search for, ask for, beg (1308 in a British source). With sense 4 compare Occitan quistar (c1150 in Old Occitan as questar), Catalan †quistar (1696), both in sense ‘to collect alms, to beg’.In the following quot. quest is apparently shortened < request v.¹, rather than showing an earlier example of sense 5:?1875 S. N. Cook Out in Streets i. i. 5 Mr. Davis is down stairs and sends his implements, and quests a interview wid Massa Colonel Wayne.

Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps < an unattested metathetic variant of either Dutch kwetsen, †quetsen (Old Dutch quezzen to strike, Middle Dutch quetsen, quessen) or German quetschen, †quetsen (Middle High German quetzen, quetschen; compare Middle Low German quessen, quetsen, quetten), both in sense ‘to crush, pound, bruise, squeeze’, and of uncertain origin, perhaps imitative; or perhaps < either Middle Low German questen to beat, thrash (a person, especially as punishment) or early modern German (now regional: central, east central) questen to beat, scourge (late 15th cent.), which are derived respectively < Middle Low German quast, quest and early modern German quast, quaste, quest, queste (Middle High German queste; now Quaste) tassel, twig, branch.