It's a little surprising, right? The word didn't originally have anything to do with testing knowledge.
Here's a bit of its history:
* 18th Century: "Quiz" first appeared in the late 1700s as a slang term for a person who was a bit odd, perhaps mischievous, or quick-witted.
* 19th Century: The word's meaning shifted slightly in the 1800s. It became more associated with a playful or unexpected challenge.
* 20th Century: It was around this time that "quiz" gained its modern meaning of a short test of knowledge or a question game. This likely developed from its association with playful challenges.
So, the next time you take a quiz, remember its origins as a word for a slightly peculiar individual!