quarter

quarter
{{11}}quarter (n.) c.1300, "one-fourth of anything," from O.Fr. quartier (12c.), from L. quartarius "fourth part," from quartus "fourth" (see QUART (Cf. quart)). Earliest sense is "parts of the body as dismembered during execution" (c.1300). Used of the moon from c.1400 and the hour from 1590s. The coin is peculiar to U.S., first recorded 1783.
Meaning "region, locality" is from c.1300. Meaning "portion of a town" (identified by the class or race of people who live there) is first attested 1520s. Quarter days (late 15c.), when rents were paid and contracts and leases began or expired, were, in England, Lady day (March 25), Midsummer day (June 24), Michaelmas day (Sept. 29), and Christmas day (Dec. 25); in Scotland, keeping closer to the pagan Celtic calendar, they were Candlemas (Feb. 2), Whitsunday (May 15), Lammas (Aug. 1), and Martinmas (Nov. 11). Quarter horse, bred strong for racing on quarter-mile tracks, first recorded 1834.
{{12}}quarter (v.) "to cut in quarters," early 15c., from QUARTER (Cf. quarter) (n.). Related: Quartered; quartering. The verb meaning "to put up soldiers" is recorded from 1590s (see QUARTERS (Cf. quarters)).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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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