Queer
/kwɪər/noun
Strange or unusual; often used to describe non-heteronormative sexual orientations or identities.
Did you know?Originally from the 16th century, 'queer' was linked to the term for 'twisted' or 'sickly', evoking the idea of something beyond the norm.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
queyr
“Strange, odd, or peculiar.”
16th Century
Germanic
kwer
“Twisted or crooked.”
18th Century
English
queer
“Unusual or eccentric in behavior.”
Late 19th Century
English
queer
“Used derogatorily to refer to homosexual individuals.”
20th Century
English
queer
“Reclaimed as a positive term for diverse sexual identities.”