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quarter |
7 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Quarter \Quar"ter\, 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. 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. 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. Scouts each coast light-armed scour, Each quarter, to descry the distant foe. --Milton. 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}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom. --Shak. I knew two that were competitors for the secretary's place . . . and yet kept good quarter between themselves. --Bacon. {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}, or {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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Quarter \Quar"ter\, v. i. [F. cartayer.] To drive a carriage so as to prevent the wheels from going into the ruts, or so that a rut shall be between the wheels. Every creature that met us would rely on us for quartering. --De Quincey. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Quarter \Quar"ter\, v. i. To lodge; to have a temporary residence. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: quarter adj : consisting of one of four equivalent parts "a quarter pound of butter" [syn: {quarter(a)}] n 1: one of four equal parts "a quarter of a pound" [syn: {one-fourth}, {fourth}, {fourth part}, {twenty-five percent}, {quartern}] 2: a district of a city having some distinguishing character; "the Latin Quarter" 3: one of four periods of play into which some games are divided; "both teams scored in the first quarter" 4: a unit of time equal to 15 minutes or a quarter of an hour; "it's a quarter til 4"; "a quarter after 4 o'clock" 5: one of four periods into which the school year is divided; "the fall quarter ends at Christmas" 6: a fourth part of a year; three months; "unemployment fell during the last quarter" 7: one of the four major division of the compass; "the wind is coming from that quarter" 8: a quarter of a hundredweight (25 pounds) 9: (British) a quarter of a hundredweight (28 pounds) 10: a US coin worth one fourth of a dollar; "he fed four quarters into the slot machine" 11: an unspecified person; "he dropped a word in the right quarter" 12: the rear part of a ship [syn: {stern}, {after part}, {poop}, {tail}] 13: the part of a shoe or boot covering the heel and joining the vamp v 1: provide housing for of military personnel [syn: {billet}, {canton}] 2: kill by pulling the victim's body into pieces by having horses pull on each extremity; "people were executed by being quartered" [syn: {draw and quarter}] 3: divide into quarters; "quarter an apple" 4: divide by four divide into quarters From Jargon File (4.2.3, 23 NOV 2000) [jargon]: quarter n. Two bits. This in turn comes from the `pieces of eight' famed in pirate movies -- Spanish silver crowns that could be broken into eight pie-slice-shaped `bits' to make change. Early in American history the Spanish coin was considered equal to a dollar, so each of these `bits' was considered worth 12.5 cents. Syn. {tayste}, {crumb}, {quad}. Usage: rare General discussion of such terms is under {nybble}. From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]: quarter Two bits. This in turn comes from the "pieces of eight" famed in pirate movies - Spanish silver crowns that could be broken into eight pie-slice-shaped bits" to make change. Early in American history the Spanish coin was considered equal to a dollar, so each of these bits" was considered worth 12.5 cents. Usage: rare Synonyms: {tayste}, {crumb}, {quad}. See also {nickle}, {nibble}, {byte}, {dynner}. [{Jargon File}] (1995-01-25)
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