Quavery

[kwey-ver] /ˈkweɪ vər/

verb (used without object)
1.
to shake tremulously; quiver or tremble:
He stood there quavering with fear.
2.
to sound, speak, or sing tremulously:
Her voice quavered a moment and then she regained control.
3.
to perform trills in singing or on a musical instrument.
verb (used with object)
4.
to utter, say, or sing with a quavering or tremulous voice.
noun
5.
a quavering or tremulous shake, especially in the voice.
6.
a quavering tone or utterance.
7.
Music (chiefly British) . an eighth note.
/ˈkweɪvə/
verb
1.
to say or sing (something) with a trembling voice
2.
(intransitive) (esp of the voice) to quiver, tremble, or shake
3.
(intransitive) (rare) to sing or play quavers or ornamental trills
noun
4.
(music) a note having the time value of an eighth of a semibreve Usual US and Canadian name eighth note
5.
a tremulous sound or note
v.

“to vibrate, tremble,” early 15c., probably a frequentative of cwavien “to tremble, shake” (early 13c.), which probably is related to Low German quabbeln “tremble,” and possibly of imitative origin. Meaning “sing in trills or quavers” first recorded 1530s. Related: Quavered; quavering.
n.

1560s, in music, “eighth note,” from quaver (v.). Meaning “a tremble in the voice” is from 1748.