quicks

In Appalachian and Southern speech, the "quicks" are the tender, living flesh under your fingernails or toenails. It’s an older English word that survives in rural speech.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

I've never heard that part of your nails called anything other than 'quicks.

Pronunciation

[KWIKS]

Meaning & Usage

- The tender living flesh under a fingernail or toenail (noun)

Mae:

Ouch! I clipped down into my quicks!

Earl:

Told you to be careful - that’ll make it sting.

other spellings: the quick of the nail

★ This older term shows up in phrases like "cut to the quick" and survives in rural and Southern talk about nail care. ★

Origin

From Old English "cwic" meaning "alive." In older English, "quick" meant "living flesh" - that’s why we still say "the quick and the dead." The plural "quicks" refers to the living part under the nails.

Notes

Still heard in parts of the South and Appalachia, especially among older generations. Elsewhere, people usually say "nail bed" or "cuticle," so "quicks" sounds quaint and rural.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "kwiks." Same as the word "quick" with an "s" at the end.

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Common Questions

Is "quicks" the same as cuticle?

Close - it’s the tender flesh under the nail edge, not just the cuticle.

Do people outside the South know "quicks"?

Fewer do today, but older speakers or those familiar with the Bible phrase "cut to the quick" may recognize it.

Does "quicks" have other meanings?

Yes - historically it also meant "living" or "alive," as in "quick with child" (pregnant).