The story
Uncertain; perhaps quiz + -by, or from queer or Queer Street (“difficult circumstances”).
First known use, by meaning
- 18th–19th c. A wretch; an idle person.
- from 19th c. Mean; destitute; strange.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
quisby
Today it means: A wretch; an idle person. Full definition →
First used 18th–19th c.