Cue (kū), n. [ OF.
coue, coe, F. queue, fr. L. coda,
cauda, tail. Cf. Caudal, Coward,
Queue.] 1. The tail; the end of a
thing; especially, a tail-like twist of hair worn at the back of
the head; a queue.
2. The last words of a play actor's
speech, serving as an intimation for the next succeeding player
to speak; any word or words which serve to remind a player to
speak or to do something; a catchword.
When my cue comes, call me, and I will
answer.
Shak.
3. A hint or intimation.
Give them [the servants] their cue to
attend in two lines as he leaves the house.
Swift.
4. The part one has to perform in, or as
in, a play.
Were it my cueto fight, I should have known
it
Without a prompter.
Shak.
5. Humor; temper of mind. [Colloq.]
Dickens.
6. A straight tapering rod used to impel
the balls in playing billiards.
Cue, v. t. To form into a cue;
to braid; to twist.
Cue, n. [From q, an
abbreviation for quadrans a farthing.] A small
portion of bread or beer; the quantity bought with a farthing or
half farthing. [Obs.]
☞ The term was formerly current in the English
universities, the letter q being the mark in the buttery
books to denote such a portion. Nares.
Hast thou worn
Gowns in the university, tossed logic,
Sucked philosophy, eat cues?
Old Play.