quid

¹ American  

[kwid] / kwɪd /

noun

1. a portion of something, especially tobacco, that is to be chewed but not swallowed.

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quid ² American  

[kwid] / kwɪd /

noun

1. British Informal. one pound sterling.

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quid ¹ British  

/ kwɪd /

noun

1. slang one pound sterling

2. slang in a very favourable or advantageous position

3. slang mentally subnormal

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quid ² British  

/ kwɪd /

noun

1. a piece of tobacco, suitable for chewing

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Etymology

Origin of quid¹

First recorded in 1720–30; dialectal variant of cud

Origin of quid²

First recorded in 1680–90; origin uncertain

Explanation

A quid is a hunk or wad of something you chew. I don't recommend shoving a quid of gum in your mouth right before you give your speech. Quid, defined in the 1720s as "a portion suitable to be chewed or held in the mouth," shares a source with cud, as in what a cow chews. The Old English root of both is cudu, "gum or resin." Quid is also British slang for one pound sterling, which may derive from the Latin word meaning "that which is." Order fish and chips in a London pub and you may hear, "That'll be six quid, mate."

Example Sentences

Incredibly, as the New York Times reported in 2024, there was “never an official quid pro quo.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

“It’s Easter, the Vatican is involved in pushing for humanitarian gestures on the part of Cuba as well as Trump. It looks like a humanitarian quid pro quo,” Kornbluh said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

District Judge Katherine Menendez, presiding over Minnesota’s request to end what locals officials have called a federal occupation, seemed to recognize the quid pro quo at play.

From Salon • Jan. 28, 2026

"I would have been happy with a few quid to go down the pub. I didn't expect anything."

From BBC • Nov. 15, 2025

“Wilcox's lost his wallet, right, with hundreds of quid in it!”

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell