c. 1300, "come to life; give life to," from quick (adj.) + -en (1). Meaning "become faster" is from 1805. Related: Quickened; quickening. An earlier verb was simply quick (c. 1200), from Old English gecwician.
the fetus quickened
qui vive
quib
quibble
quiche
quick
quicken
quickie
quicklime
quickly
quick-march
quickness