Pronunciation: ˌ p ē z- ə n- ' kyüz
Function: noun plural
Etymology: from the phrase mind one's p's and q's, alluding to the difficulty a child learning to write has in distinguishing between p and q
Date: 1779
1 : something (as one's manners) that one should be mindful of <better watch his p's and q's when I get a six-gun of my own ― Jean Stafford>
2 : best behavior <being on her p's and q's for two solid days was too much ― Guy McCrone>