E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Quillet.
An evasion. In French “pleadings” each separate allegation in the plaintiff’s charge, and every distinct plea in the defendant’s answer used to begin with qu’il est; whence our quillet, to signify a false charge, or an evasive answer.
1
“Oh, some authority how to proceed;
Some tricks, some quillets, how to cheat the devil.”
