cue

cue · noun¹

1. Latin · derived fromcū
2. Latin · derived fromquadrāns“quarter of an as”
3. Middle English · inherited fromcu
4. English todaycue

From Middle English cu (used for half a farthing, from q as an abbreviation for Latin quadrāns (“quarter of an as”)), from Latin cū, kū. Compare French ku.

cue · noun, verb²

1. Latin · derived fromquandō“when”
2. English todaycue

From earlier qu, abbreviation of Latin quandō (“when”), marked on actor's play copy where they were to begin.

cue · noun, verb³

1. French · borrowed fromqueue“tail”
2. English todaycue

Variant of queue, from French queue (“tail”).

Words from the same roots