quarter English · revision 3716

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la quārtus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkwɔː.tə/, US /ˈkwɔːr.t̬ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|quarter]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|xno|quarter]], Old French quartier,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|quārtārius|t=fourth part of a measure]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|quārtus|t=fourth]], related to [[m|la|quattuor|t=four]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*kwetwer-|t=four]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[quart]], [[quarry]] and [[four]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One fourth part of something: probably before 1300, in ''Sir Tristrem'', with a surname from 1267,^(Barnhart 1988) and about 1300 in Etymonline, often of the four parts into which a slaughtered animal is cut;^(Etymonline) one of its earliest uses is of the parts of the body dismembered at an execution.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A measure of eight bushels is from the 13th century.^(Hoad 1986) A fourth of the year is from 1389, the phase of the moon before 1420, and a quarter of an hour before 1456.^(Barnhart 1988) The four main divisions of the horizon are from 1391, and any region or locality from probably before 1300.^(Barnhart 1988) A district of a town is from 1526,^(Barnhart 1988) or the 1520s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Dwelling places, mostly as [[quarters]], are from 1591,^(Barnhart 1988) and soldiers' lodgings from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) Mercy shown to a defeated enemy, as in ''to give no quarter'', is from 1611;^(Barnhart 1988) its precise origin is obscure to the OED, which suggests the sense “relations with, conduct towards another” or the assigned place where the defeated waited for their fate,^(Etymonline) and Barnhart the older military sense of an assigned position (1549).^(Barnhart 1988) The American coin worth a quarter of a dollar is from 1783.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) One of four periods of play in a game is from 1911.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, to divide into four, is from about 1353, and as a punishment of criminals from the late 14th century;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) to lodge soldiers is from the 1590s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – a fourth part.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1353 – verb, to divide into four.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1389 – a quarter of a year.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1456 – a quarter of an hour.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1526 – a district of a town.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1591 – dwelling place.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1611 – mercy to a defeated enemy.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1783 – the American coin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1879 – ''quarterback''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1911 – a period of play.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # One of four equal parts.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A coin worth a fourth of a [[dollar]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A quarter of an hour; fifteen minutes.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Three months, a fourth of a year.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A district of a city: ''the Latin Quarter''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A person or group regarded as a source: ''from every quarter''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''quarters'': a place to live, especially for soldiers.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Mercy shown to a defeated enemy: ''no quarter''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # One of four periods of play in some games.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To divide into four equal parts.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To [[dismember]] a human body into four parts.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To provide with lodgings, especially soldiers.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Being a fourth part.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[quarterer]]

+ * [[quarter-hour]]

+ * [[quarter blanket]]

+ * [[quarter crack]]

+ * [[quarter day]]

+ * [[quarter horse]]

+ * [[quarter note]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[quart]]

+ * [[quarters]]

+ * [[quartet]]

+ * [[quarantine]]

+ * [[quadrant]]

+ * [[quarry]]

+ * [[four]]

+ * [[squad]]

+ * [[square]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}