It’s kind of an old-timey usage. Comes up a lot in Lord of the Rings.
“Gay” in this context is also old-timey.
But a cigarette is still a “fag” to a lot of people. Interestingly uncomfortable for me to even type out even though I grew up with that being a totally normal word!
I know gay and fag mean happy and cigarette, but didn’t know that queer was used to mean unusual (like I know it can be defined as that, but didn’t think anyone used it like that.)
The song “Star of the County Down”, as sung by The High Kings, uses “queer” to mean “unusual”. Incidently, I find that to be the best arrange of this classic Irish tune - very melodious.
Really that’s how they use queer?
It’s kind of an old-timey usage. Comes up a lot in Lord of the Rings.
“Gay” in this context is also old-timey.
But a cigarette is still a “fag” to a lot of people. Interestingly uncomfortable for me to even type out even though I grew up with that being a totally normal word!
I know gay and fag mean happy and cigarette, but didn’t know that queer was used to mean unusual (like I know it can be defined as that, but didn’t think anyone used it like that.)
There may be a historical ink between the two meanings.
The song “Star of the County Down”, as sung by The High Kings, uses “queer” to mean “unusual”. Incidently, I find that to be the best arrange of this classic Irish tune - very melodious.
Not frequently said, but certainly written
'as I crossed the misty downs I had the queerest feeling - as if being watched."
There’s nowt so queer as folk