Quick match

Quick \Quick\, a. [Compar. {Quicker}; superl. {Quickest}.] [As.
   cwic, cwicu, cwucu, cucu, living; akin to OS. quik, D. kwik,
   OHG. quec, chec, G. keck bold, lively, Icel. kvikr living,
   Goth. qius, Lith. q[=y]vas, Russ. zhivoi, L. vivus living,
   vivere to live, Gr. bi`os life, Skr. j[imac]va living,
   j[imac]v to live. Cf. {Biography}, {Vivid}, {Quitch grass},
   {Whitlow}.]
   1. Alive; living; animate; -- opposed to {dead} or
      {inanimate}.
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            Not fully quyke, ne fully dead they were. --Chaucer.
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            The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and
            the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. --2 Tim.
                                                  iv. 1.
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            Man is no star, but a quick coal
            Of mortal fire.                       -- Herbert.
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   Note: In this sense the word is nearly obsolete, except in
         some compounds, or in particular phrases.
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   2. Characterized by life or liveliness; animated; sprightly;
      agile; brisk; ready. " A quick wit." --Shak.
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   3. Speedy; hasty; swift; not slow; as, be quick.
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            Oft he to her his charge of quick return
            Repeated.                             --Milton.
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   4. Impatient; passionate; hasty; eager; eager; sharp;
      unceremonious; as, a quick temper.
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            The bishop was somewhat quick with them, and
            signified that he was much offended.  -- Latimer.
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   5. Fresh; bracing; sharp; keen.
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            The air is quick there,
            And it pierces and sharpens the stomach. -- Shak.
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   6. Sensitive; perceptive in a high degree; ready; as, a quick
      ear. "To have an open ear, a quick eye." --Shak.
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            They say that women are so quick.     --Tennyson.
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   7. Pregnant; with child. --Shak.
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   {Quick grass}. (Bot.) See {Quitch grass}.

   {Quick match}. See under {Match}.

   {Quick vein} (Mining), a vein of ore which is productive, not
      barren.

   {Quick vinegar}, vinegar made by allowing a weak solution of
      alcohol to trickle slowly over shavings or other porous
      material.

   {Quick water}, quicksilver water.

   {Quick with child}, pregnant with a living child.
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   Syn: Speedy; expeditious; swift; rapid; hasty; prompt; ready;
        active; brisk; nimble; fleet; alert; agile; lively;
        sprightly.
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Match \Match\ (m[a^]ch), n. [OE. macche, F. m[`e]che, F.
   m[`e]che, fr. L. myxa a lamp nozzle, Gr. my`xa mucus,
   nostril, a lamp nozzle. Cf. {Mucus}.]
   Anything used for catching and retaining or communicating
   fire, made of some substance which takes fire readily, or
   remains burning some time; esp., a small strip or splint of
   wood or cardboard dipped at one end in a substance which can
   be easily ignited by friction, as a preparation of phosphorus
   or chlorate of potassium.
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   {Match tub}, a tub with a perforated cover for holding slow
      matches for firing cannon, esp. on board ship. The tub
      contains a little water in the bottom, for extinguishing
      sparks from the lighted matches.

   {Quick match}, threads of cotton or cotton wick soaked in a
      solution of gunpowder mixed with gum arabic and boiling
      water and afterwards strewed over with mealed powder. It
      burns at the rate of one yard in thirteen seconds, and is
      used as priming for heavy mortars, fireworks, etc.

   {Slow match}, slightly twisted hempen rope soaked in a
      solution of limewater and saltpeter or washed in a lye of
      water and wood ashes. It burns at the rate of four or five
      inches an hour, and is used for firing cannon, fireworks,
      etc.
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