Quarter

Quarter
Quarter Quar"ter (kw[aum]r"t[~e]r), n. [F. quartier, L. quartarius a fourth part, fr. quartus the fourth. See {Quart}.] 1. One of four equal parts into which anything is divided, or is regarded as divided; a fourth part or portion; as, a quarter of a dollar, of a pound, of a yard, of an hour, etc. Hence, specifically: (a) The fourth of a hundred-weight, being 25 or 28 pounds, according as the hundredweight is reckoned at 100 or 112 pounds. (b) The fourth of a ton in weight, or eight bushels of grain; as, a quarter of wheat; also, the fourth part of a chaldron of coal. --Hutton. (c) (Astron.) The fourth part of the moon's period, or monthly revolution; as, the first quarter after the change or full. (d) One limb of a quadruped with the adjacent parts; one fourth part of the carcass of a slaughtered animal, including a leg; as, the fore quarters; the hind quarters. (e) That part of a boot or shoe which forms the side, from the heel to the vamp. (f) (Far.) That part on either side of a horse's hoof between the toe and heel, being the side of the coffin. (g) A term of study in a seminary, college, etc, etc.; properly, a fourth part of the year, but often longer or shorter. (h) pl. (Mil.) The encampment on one of the principal passages round a place besieged, to prevent relief and intercept convoys. (i) (Naut.) The after-part of a vessel's side, generally corresponding in extent with the quarter-deck; also, the part of the yardarm outside of the slings. (j) (Her.) One of the divisions of an escutcheon when it is divided into four portions by a horizontal and a perpendicular line meeting in the fess point. [1913 Webster]

Note: When two coats of arms are united upon one escutcheon, as in case of marriage, the first and fourth quarters display one shield, the second and third the other. See {Quarter}, v. t., 5. [1913 Webster] (k) One of the four parts into which the horizon is regarded as divided; a cardinal point; a direction' principal division; a region; a territory. [1913 Webster]

Scouts each coast light-armed scour, Each quarter, to descry the distant foe. --Milton. [1913 Webster] (l) A division of a town, city, or county; a particular district; a locality; as, the Latin quarter in Paris. (m) (Arch.) A small upright timber post, used in partitions; -- in the United States more commonly called {stud}. (n) (Naut.) The fourth part of the distance from one point of the compass to another, being the fourth part of 11[deg] 15', that is, about 2[deg] 49'; -- called also {quarter point}. [1913 Webster] [1913 Webster]

2. Proper station; specific place; assigned position; special location. [1913 Webster]

Swift to their several quarters hasted then The cumbrous elements. --Milton. [1913 Webster] Hence, specifically: (a) (Naut.) A station at which officers and men are posted in battle; -- usually in the plural. (b) Place of lodging or temporary residence; shelter; entertainment; -- usually in the plural. [1913 Webster]

The banter turned as to what quarters each would find. --W. Irving. [1913 Webster] (c) pl. (Mil.) A station or encampment occupied by troops; a place of lodging for soldiers or officers; as, winter quarters. (d) Treatment shown by an enemy; mercy; especially, the act of sparing the life a conquered enemy; a refraining from pushing one's advantage to extremes. [1913 Webster]

He magnified his own clemency, now they were at his mercy, to offer them quarter for their lives. --Clarendon. [1913 Webster]

Cocks and lambs . . . at the mercy of cats and wolves . . . must never expect better quarter. --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster]

3. Friendship; amity; concord. [Obs.] To keep quarter, to keep one's proper place, and so be on good terms with another. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

I knew two that were competitors for the secretary's place, . . . and yet kept good quarter between themselves. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

{False quarter}, a cleft in the quarter of a horse's foot.

{Fifth quarter}, the hide and fat; -- a butcher's term.

{On the quarter} (Naut.), in a direction between abeam and astern; opposite, or nearly opposite, a vessel's quarter.

{Quarter aspect}. (Astrol.) Same as {Quadrate}.

{Quarter back} (Football), the player who has position next behind center rush, and receives the ball on the snap back.

{Quarter badge} (Naut.), an ornament on the side of a vessel near, the stern. --Mar. Dict.

{Quarter bill} (Naut.), a list specifying the different stations to be taken by the officers and crew in time of action, and the names of the men assigned to each.

{Quarter block} (Naut.), a block fitted under the quarters of a yard on each side of the slings, through which the clew lines and sheets are reeved. --R. H. Dana, Jr.

{Quarter boat} (Naut.), a boat hung at a vessel's quarter.

{Quarter cloths} (Naut.), long pieces of painted canvas, used to cover the quarter netting.

{Quarter day}, a day regarded as terminating a quarter of the year; hence, one on which any payment, especially rent, becomes due. In matters influenced by United States statutes, quarter days are the first days of January, April, July, and October. In New York and many other places, as between landlord and tenant, they are the first days of May, August, November, and February. The quarter days usually recognized in England are 25th of March (Lady Day), the 24th of June (Midsummer Day), the 29th of September (Michaelmas Day), and the 25th of December (Christmas Day).

{Quarter face}, in fine arts, portrait painting, etc., a face turned away so that but one quarter is visible.

{Quarter gallery} (Naut.), a balcony on the quarter of a ship. See {Gallery}, 4.

{Quarter gunner} (Naut.), a petty officer who assists the gunner.

{Quarter look}, a side glance. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.

{Quarter nettings} (Naut.), hammock nettings along the quarter rails.

{Quarter note} (Mus.), a note equal in duration to half a minim or a fourth of semibreve; a crochet.

{Quarter pieces} (Naut.), several pieces of timber at the after-part of the quarter gallery, near the taffrail. --Totten.

{Quarter point}. (Naut.) See {Quarter}, n., 1 (n) .

{Quarter railing}, or {Quarter rails} (Naut.), narrow molded planks reaching from the top of the stern to the gangway, serving as a fence to the quarter-deck.

{Quarter sessions} (Eng. Law), a general court of criminal jurisdiction held quarterly by the justices of peace in counties and by the recorders in boroughs.

{Quarter square} (Math.), the fourth part of the square of a number. Tables of quarter squares have been devised to save labor in multiplying numbers.

{Quarter turn}, {Quarter turn belt} (Mach.), an arrangement in which a belt transmits motion between two shafts which are at right angles with each other.

{Quarter watch} (Naut.), a subdivision of the full watch (one fourth of the crew) on a man-of- war.

{To give quarter}, or {To show quarter} (Mil.), to accept as prisoner, on submission in battle; to forbear to kill, as a vanquished enemy.

{To keep quarter}. See {Quarter}, n., 3. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Quarter — is one fourth, ¼, or 25%, and may refer to: Quarter (country subdivision), a section or area, usually of a town Quarter (United States coin), valued at one fourth of a U.S. dollar Quarter (Canadian coin), valued at one fourth of a Canadian dollar …   Wikipedia

  • quarter — 1. Practice varies in the hyphenation of quarter in compounds, and the following forms are recommended: quarter day, quarterdeck, quarter final, quarter hour (but a quarter of an hour), quarter light, quartermaster, quarter sessions. 2. The BrE… …   Modern English usage

  • quarter — ● quarter verbe transitif Faire subir à un échantillon de minerai une réduction de volume par quartage. ● quarter (homonymes) verbe transitif carter verbe quarté nom masculin I. ⇒QUARTER1, verbe intrans. ESCR. Se mettre en quarte. Je quarte du… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • quarter — [kwôrt′ər] n. [ME quartre < OFr quartier < L quartarius, fourth part < quartus, fourth: see QUART1] 1. any of the four equal parts of something; fourth 2. one fourth of a hundredweight: 25 pounds in the U.S., 28 pounds in Great Britain 3 …   English World dictionary

  • Quarter — (en. quarter „Viertel“, von lat. quartus „der vierte“) steht für: Vierteldollar (Vereinigte Staaten), die amerikanische Vierteldollarmünze Vierteldollar (Kanada), die kanadische Vierteldollarmünze Quarter (Maßeinheit), verschiedene Massen und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • quarter — [n1] one of four equal parts division, farthing, fourth, one fourth, part, portion, quad, quadrant, quartern, section, semester, span, term, two bits*; concept 835 quarter [n2] area, neighborhood barrio, bearing, direction, district, division,… …   New thesaurus

  • quarter — ► NOUN 1) each of four equal or corresponding parts into which something is or can be divided. 2) a period of three months, used especially in reference to financial transactions. 3) a quarter hour. 4) a US or Canadian coin worth 25 cents. 5) one …   English terms dictionary

  • Quarter — Quar ter (kw[aum]r t[ e]r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Quartered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Quartering}.] 1. To divide into four equal parts. [1913 Webster] 2. To divide; to separate into parts or regions. [1913 Webster] Then sailors quartered heaven. Dryden.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Quarter — Quarter, englisches Getreidemaß (Imperial Quarter) zu 8 Bushels = 290,78 l; an der Londoner Börse ein Gewicht für Weizen = 480–504 englische Pfund. Der alte Winchester Quarter der Vereinigten Staaten = 281,904 l. Ferner ein Gewicht in… …   Lexikon der gesamten Technik

  • Quarter — Quārter, engl. Getreidemaß (Imperial quarter) zu 64 Gallons = 290,79 l; Gewicht zu 28 engl. Handelspfund = 12,70 kg; Tuchmachermaß = 1/4 Yard = 0,2386 m; Münze in Nordamerika = 1/4 Dollar …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

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