Quiz

The true etymology is unknown.

proposed etymologies:

(1790) Originally applied to a popular toy, from a dialectal variant of whiz.
Reputed without evidence to have been invented by a late 18th century Dublin theatre proprietor who bet he could add a new nonsense word to the English language. He thus had the word painted on walls all over the city. The morning after, everyone was talking about the new word.
The original meaning is interrogation (1867), being derived from the verb. Current meaning only since 1941.
The meaning "hoax" is the original (1796), shifting to the meaning "interrogate" (1847) under the influence of to question and inquisitive.
Originally quies (1847), may have derived from Latin qui es? (who are you?), traditionally the first question in oral Latin exams. Used as a noun from 1867, spelling quiz first recorded in 1886.

Full definition of quiz

(plural quizzes)

Something designed to puzzle one or make one ridiculous; banter; raillery.
One who or that which quizzes.
(dated) An odd or absurd person or thing.
A competition in the answering of questions.We came second in the pub quiz.
A school examination of less importance, or of greater brevity, than others given in the same course.
A shorter version of a test. Usually given in a classroom setting.

(transitive, archaic) To hoax; to chaff or mock with pretended seriousness of discourse; to make sport of, as by obscure questions.