A quid is one pound sterling, be it Imperial or decimal. Hence the phrase "unwell cetacean" for the sum of six pounds: sick squid.
It seems to have originated in the 1600s and there are several possible roots: the Latin "quid" as in "quid pro quo" meaning the wherewithal to pay, the fact that the Quidhampton Paper Mill made the paper for early banknotes or some sort of relation to "quid" as a measure of tobacco.
Interestingly, the term quid is usually not used with a plural so it's:
Lend us a quid.
I made fifteen quid on it.
I blew a hundred and fifty quid on the scabby nag.
The only difference is "quids in" suggesting that you've made a serious profit.
Now excuse me whilst I cross the frog and go into the rubadubdub to beat seven bells out of the Berk in the corner, happy days, sorted.
Last edited by simonmark6; 10-13-2011 at 01:53 PM.
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