Quirking

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The act of exhibiting unconventional or peculiar traits or behaviors; a notable quirk that adds a humorous or interesting layer to someone's character; the distinctive, idiosyncratic habits or features that set an individual apart from others
2. The action or habit of showing unusual or unexpected characteristics that make someone or something stand out
3. Expressing distinctive or eccentric qualities in behavior or manner that differ from the norm

Etymology: Quirk, the base of "quirking," may have begun as a word for the throat. In Old Norse, "kverk" meant a throat or gullet, and also an interior angle, such as the bend below a crossbeam. Scots "querk" carries the same sense of throat, along with any hollow of the body such as an armpit or groin. The first English record of "quirk" dates to the 1540s, but its exact origin remains uncertain. Dialect speech offers a more tangled trail. Some English dialects used "quirk" or "querk" for a whim or fancy, but also for peevish grumbling and even for dying. These senses seem to trace back to a Middle English verb meaning "to choke," itself borrowed from the Old Norse "kvirkja," meaning "to choke" or "strangle." Despite its similar spelling, "quirk" is probably unrelated to "queer."

Synonyms: twisting, bending, contorting, gyrating, shaping

Antonyms: straightening, aligning, flattening, leveling, regularizing