queer

queer
n, adj
(a person who is) homosexual. Until the 19th century queer denoted odd or curi-ous, as it still does in standard English. Its use as first a euphemism, then a slang synonym for homosexual arose between the world wars, probably first in the USA. Queer ultimately derives from quer, a German word meaning crooked or awry. In the mid-1980s gay activists began to use the term to refer to themselves, in keeping with the trend among 'transgres-sive' minorities to appropriate the lan-guage of their oppressors (as in the earlier case of nigger).
► 'You can't expect to pick up a young post-office worker and his middle-aged keeper, and burst into tears because the keeper is queer.' (Joe Orton's Diary, 2 May 1967)

Contemporary slang . 2014.

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  • Queer — [ kwɪə(ɹ)] ist ein Fremdwort aus der englischen Sprache und bezeichnet als Adjektiv Dinge, Handlungen oder Personen, die von der Norm abweichen. Ursprünglich drückte es meist eine negative Einstellung zu der Abweichung oder dem Abweichler aus… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Queer — has traditionally meant odd or unusual, but is now also used to refer to anyone who is not heteronormative. Its use in reference to LGBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex) communities as well as those perceived to be members of those …   Wikipedia

  • queer´ly — queer «kwihr», adjective, noun, verb. –adj. 1. not usual or normal; strange; odd; peculiar: »a queer way to repay a favor. That was a queer remark for her to make. The old three cornered hat, And the breeches, and all that, Are so queer! (Oliver… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Queer — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda La palabra queer tradicionalmente ha significado en inglés ([kʷɪɚ(ɹ)]) extraño o poco usual, pero su utilización en referencia a la comunidad LGBT y los miembros que se percibe que pertenecen a ésta ha modificado la… …   Wikipedia Español

  • queer — queer; queer·ish; queer·i·ty; queer·ly; queer·ness; queer·ish·ly; queer·ish·ness; …   English syllables

  • queer — ► ADJECTIVE 1) strange; odd. 2) informal, derogatory (of a man) homosexual. 3) Brit. informal, dated slightly ill. ► NOUN informal, derogatory ▪ a homosexual man. ► VERB informal ▪ spoil or ruin …   English terms dictionary

  • Queer — (kw[=e]r), a. [Compar. {Queerer} (kw[=e]r [ e]r); superl. {Queerest}.] [G. quer cross, oblique, athwart (cf. querkopf a queer fellow), {OHG}. twer, twerh, dwerah; akin to D. dvars, AS, [thorn]weorh thwart, bent, twisted, Icel. [thorn]verr thwart …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Queer — Queer, n. 1. Counterfeit money. [Slang] [1913 Webster] 2. a homosexual. [disparaging and offensive] [PJC] {To shove the queer}, to put counterfeit money in circulation. [Slang] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Queer — (kw[=e]r), v. t. [From {Queer}, a.] 1. To puzzle. [Prov. Eng. or Slang] [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 2. To ridicule; to banter; to rally. [Slang] [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 3. To spoil the effect or success of, as by ridicule; to throw a wet blanket on; to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • queer — The word was first used as an adjective and noun meaning ‘homosexual’ in the 1920s. Although it is still generally regarded as derogatory or offensive when used by heterosexual people, it has been adopted in recent years by homosexuals referring… …   Modern English usage

  • queer — [adj1] odd; abnormal anomalous, atypical, bizarre, crazy, curious, demented, disquieting, doubtful, droll, dubious, eccentric, eerie, erratic, extraordinary, fishy*, flaky*, fly ball*, freaky*, funny, idiosyncratic, irrational, irregular, kinky* …   New thesaurus

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