queer Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun offensive term for an openly homosexual man
    poove; fairy; nance; queen; fagot; pansy; poof; pouf; faggot; fag.
  2. verb hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
    thwart; bilk; cross; frustrate; baffle; foil; spoil; scotch.
    • What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge
    • foil your opponent
  3. verb put in a dangerous, disadvantageous, or difficult position
    endanger; scupper; expose; peril.
  4. adjective satellite beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
    funny; rum; singular; curious; odd; peculiar; rummy.
    • a curious hybrid accent
    • her speech has a funny twang
    • they have some funny ideas about war
    • had an odd name
    • the peculiar aromatic odor of cloves
    • something definitely queer about this town
    • what a rum fellow
    • singular behavior
  5. adjective satellite homosexual or arousing homosexual desires
    homophile; gay.

WordNet

Queer adjective
Etymology
G. quer cross, oblique, athwart (cf. querkopf a queer fellow), OHG. twer, twerh, dwerah; akin to D. dvars, AS, þweorh thwart, bent, twisted, Icel. þverr thwart, transverse, Goth. þwaìrhs angry, and perh. to L. torqyere to twist, and E. through. Cf. Torture, Through, Thwart, a.
Wordforms
comparative Queerer ; superlative Queerest
Definitions
  1. At variance with what is usual or normal; differing in some odd way from what is ordinary; odd; singular; strange; whimsical; as, a queer story or act. " A queer look." W. Irving.
  2. Mysterious; suspicious; questionable; as, a queer transaction. Colloq.
Queer noun
Definitions
  1. Counterfeit money. Slang

Webster 1913