Definition of the word quits

The origin of the word "quits" can be traced back to the Old English language, where it was spelled "cyttan" and pronounced "kit-tun." Over time, the word evolved through Middle English, losing its original pronunciation and hyphenated spelling, and eventually becoming the modern "quits." The meaning of "cyttan" in Old English was "settle or bring to an end." It's believed that the word came from the Old Norse "kitja," meaning "satisfy," which was introduced to the English language through the Viking invasions in the 9th and 10th centuries. Throughout medieval times, "quot" (meaning "exactly") and "hit" (meaning "exact amount or value") were used interchangeably with "quits" to signify the completion or satisfaction of a debt or obligation. By the 15th century, "quits" was being used to mean "settled or discharged, no longer owing," as well as "equal or even" in regard to a transaction or exchange. Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of "quits" underwent further changes, with the "t" dropping and the vowels changing due to the influence of other words (such as "quilt" and "quick"). In Modern English, "quits" is commonly used to mean "having fulfilled an obligation or claim, beholden to nothing further."