Quaint - Encyclopedia

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES

QUAINT (0. Fr. cointe, from Lat. cognitus, known, probably influenced by association with Lat. comptus, neat), an adjective meaning unusual or fanciful, often applied to things with a sense of old-fashioned charm or prettiness. "Queer," which has much the same meaning, is of doubtful etymology, but is generally taken as adapted from Ger. quer, crooked.