quit adj. OED

Etymology

< Anglo-Norman quit, quyt, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French quite, Anglo-Norman and Middle French quitte (French quitte) acquitted, cleared of a moral accusation or blemish, absolved of (a sin) (all c1100), released or exempt from (an obligation) (beginning of the 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman), cleared of (a debt), (of property) exempt or released from (taxes), (of taxes) no longer payable (all second half of the 12th cent.), (of property) in full possession, free of dues (early 14th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman)

I.1.a ?c1225-

Exempt or released from an obligation, debt, etc.; free, clear. Also (more emphatically) †quit and free. to be quit for: to get off with, suffer nothing more than. to pass (also go, escape, etc.) quit: to escape unharmed; to go unchecked or unpunished. Now rare.

Earliest Uses

?c1225 / (?a1200): For sum is strong. sum vn strong. & mei fulwel beon quite [c1230 Corpus MS. cwite] & Paien god mid lesse.
Ancrene Riwle (Cleopatra MS. C.vi)
a1300: Hit is eur kustume to habbe quyt enne At eure Muchele feste euervyche yere; Schal ich þere gywene kyng lete gon al skere?
Passion our Lord 370 in R. Morris, Old English Miscellany (1872)

I.1.b. ?c1225-

Free, clear, rid of (a person or thing); acquitted of an offence. Also with †from.

Earliest Uses

?c1225 (?a1200): Ach ase quite [c1230 Corpus MS. cwite] as ȝe beoð of þullich leoue sustren weren alle oðre ure lauerd hit uðe.
Ancrene Riwle (Cleopatra MS. C.vi)
c1325 (c1300): Þo was Willam oure king al quit of þulke fon, Vor þer ne bileuede of hor children aliue bote on.
Chronicle of Robert of Gloucester (Caligula MS.)
1340: Of þise zennes ne byeþ naȝt kuytte [c1450 Bk. Vices & Virtues beþ þei coupable] þo þet þe guodes of holy cherche..despendeþ in kueade us.
Ayenbite (1866) 41

I.1.c. a1400-1876

† Law. Of real property: exempt or released of or from taxes, service, or other claims. Also more emphatically quit and free (also free and quit). quit and clear: free of encumbrances. Obsolete (historical in later use).

Earliest Uses

a1400 (c1303): Þan ys oure charter quyte and clere, Confermyng with þe bysshopes powere.
R. Mannyng, Handlyng Synne (Harley MS.)
?a1400 (a1338): William passid þe se, þer of he mad þe skrite, Of France to hold þat fe of oþer tenement alle quite.
R. Mannyng, Chronicle (Petyt MS.)