Cue
/kjuː/noun
A signal that prompts an action, or a short stick used in cue sports.
Did you know?In theater, a cue is literally a prompt for action, and the word’s history is tied to how performers tracked their exact moment to enter or speak.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
French
queue
“A line, tail, or the tail-end of a process; also a theatrical prompt note from the letter q used as a cue-mark.”
Late 16th Century
English
q
“The letter q used in stage directions as an abbreviation indicating a performer’s cue to enter or speak.”
17th Century
English
cue
“A signal or hint for an actor to begin speaking or acting.”
18th Century
English
cue
“A prompting sign, then a brief instruction or reminder.”
19th Century
English
cue
“A billiards stick, named from its pointed end or from earlier prompting senses.”
Modern English
English
cue
“A signal that triggers an action, or the stick used in cue sports.”