> as lemmas

1607 T. Walkington Optick Glasse sig. A3^v Sal, Sulphur, and Mercurius, the Tria omnia of their [sc. the Paracelsians'] quicksiluer wits.

a1631 J. Donne Apparition in Poems (1633) 191 Bath'd in a cold quicksilver sweat.

1655 W. Gurnall Christian in Armour: 1st Pt. 248 Labour therefore in hearing the Word to fixe thy quicksilver-minde.

1676 W. Hubbard Happiness of People 29 These are Inquieta ingenia of Quick-silver tempers.

1767 T. Hull Perplexities v. 66 I suppose you wish every body to have such a quicksilver heart, as yours: that can settle no where.

1796 Earl Balcarres in B. Edwards Proc. Maroon Negroes 35 Until such time as these quick-silver rebels are under lock and key.

1833 T. S. Fay Crayon Sketches I. 127 The present quicksilver generation.

1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters xiv. 360 That prince of quicksilver rogues—Master Autolycus.

1922 D. H. Lawrence England my England 23 From mother and nurse..a..gunfire of commands, and blithe, quicksilver disobedience from the three blonde, never-still little girls.

a1944 K. Douglas Alamein to Zem Zem (1946) xiii. 79 We couldn't expect Robin to supply Ken Tinker's quicksilver dash and brilliance in action.

1979 S. Brett Comedian Dies ii. 24 The quicksilver repartee of Charles Paris was at last to be accorded its proper recognition.

2004 Cincinnati Enquirer (Nexis) 19 Dec. 9 k The complex intelligence and quicksilver personality of Hughes.