quicksilver vs shifty

quicksilver

adj
  • Unpredictable, erratic or fickle; mercurial. 

verb
  • To overlay with quicksilver. 

  • To treat with quicksilver. 

noun
  • The metal mercury. 

  • An amalgam of mercury and tin applied to the backs of mirrors, quicksilvering. 

shifty

adj
  • Subject to frequent changes in direction. 

  • Moving from one object to another; not looking directly and steadily at the person with whom one is speaking. 

  • Resourceful; full of, or ready with, shifts or expedients. 

  • Having the appearance of being dishonest, criminal, or unreliable. 

How often have the words quicksilver and shifty occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )