1560s, from Latin, literally "something for something, one thing for another," from nominative and ablative neuter singulars of relative pronoun qui "who" (from PIE root *kwo-, stem of relative and interrogative pronouns) + pro "for" (see pro-) + quo, ablative of quid.
quicksand
quickset
quicksilver
quick-step
quid
quid pro quo
quiddity
quidnunc
quiesce
quiescence
quiescent