WITH A WET FINGER

Daily Word Quiz
 
QUINKLE 
a) of a light: to go out
b) to make a sound like that of boiling liquid
c) to live as a tramp, travelling the country
d) in snowboarding: to hit the snow hard
 
Answer below.
 
Today's Featured Phrase: WITH A WET FINGER
 
ADVERB
1. easily, with little effort, without difficulty ...1542 obs.
2. readily, without hesitation, promptly ...1583 obs.
3. slightly, superficially ...1586 obs.
 
ETYMOLOGY
perhaps from the practice of wetting the first or second finger on
one's tongue in order to facilitate turning over the pages of a book,
or to rub out writing on a slate
 
FIRST DOCUMENTED USE
1542 - see EXAMPLE below
 
EXAMPLE
"... or to any good matier in the booke conteined, readie waye
and recourse maye with a weat fynger easily bee found out."
 
From: Apophthegmes, That is to Saie, Prompte, Quicke, Wittie and Sentencious Saiynges, of certain Emperours, Kynges, Capitaines, Philosophiers and Oratours
Compiled in Latin by: Erasmus of Roterodame
Translated into English by:  Nicolas Udall
 
Daily Word Quiz Answer
 
QUINKLE a) of a light: to go out ...1513 Scot. obs. rare