Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to watch, to spy on; as n., quiz, a look, quizzer, an ogler.

1795		M.P. Andrews Mysteries of the Castle Prologue: While the rude boy, from Westminster or Eton, / Who ‘spies’ and ‘quizzes’ one, where’er they meet one.
1807		H. Corp Antidote to the Miseries of Life 122: ‘Have you any more quizzing achievements of a more modern date to communicate, Sir?’ ‘We have lost some of our quizzing fun,’ rejoined the spark, ‘as it respects the ladies, for they are now so used to our quizzing-glasses, that they don’t value them a rush – and being provided with some themselves [...] a general quiz goes round with all parties.’.
1812		G. Colman Yngr ‘Two Parsons’ Poetical Vagaries 136: They did’nt quiz too much at the beginning.
1820		‘Jacko and Judas’ Slops Shave at a Broken Hone 19: ‘Now, Jacko, quiz the King.’ – ‘Now smoke the parson’.
1830		Ely’s Hawk & Buzzard (NY) 26 June 2/2: If they do not desist from quizzing respectable females [...] they will be put in the Hawk and Buzzard.
1831		‘Gallery of 140 Comicalities’ Bell’s Life in London 24 June 2/1: What a Shocking Bad Bonnet! She is quizz’d by the girls – she is smoak’d by the boys.
1849		Paul Pry 7 May 6/2: Paul Advises [...] G. G--ge, not to promenade the High-street all day [...] quizzing the girls.
1857		Paul Pry (London) 15 Aug. n.p.: He strutted through the grounds [...] quizzed the ladies, uttered sundry dry bon-mots, to which one could take off the hat and recognise as old familiar friends.
1857		Paul Pry (London) 15 Aug. n.p.: Jim H—, the flash taylor, of Free-school-street, and the pattern card of his own establishment [and] Joe, the famous dress quizzer.
1867		Sportsman 26 Nov. 2/1: Notes on News [...] [T]he mortifying suspicion, quizzing, haw-hawing, and hissing.
1870		Hotten Sl. Dict. [as cit. 1859].
1903		Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Dec. 40/3: ‘Goot-tay,’ ’e says, nosin’ round the ’bus, and then quizzin’ my fare-box.
1920		B. Cronin Timber Wolves 306: Let’s have a quiz at your caller.