Full text of "A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles: Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by the Philological Society"



COLLEGLge of tWJ 

OF THE PACIFIC 



&lt;VN 

rary 





N 

I 



A NEW 







ENGLISH DICTIONARY 

#Q * 



ON HISTORICAL PRINCIPLES ; 



FOUNDED MAINLY ON THE MATERIALS COLLECTED BY 



*. 

A., , ! ,. 

^V 



EDITED BY 



SIR JAMES, A H. MURRAY, 

B.A. LONDON, JI.A. OXFORD, LL.D. EUIN. ANDGLASG., I.ITT D. DUBLIN ANDCAMB., D.C.L. DURHAM, D.LITT. WALES AND CAPE TOWS, 

PH.D. FREIBURG i.B. ; FELLOW OF BRITISH ACADEMY AND ROYAL SOCIETY EUIS. ; FOREIGN CORRESP. MEMBER OF THE 

INSTITUTE OF FRANCE (ACAD. INSCR.), THE IMPERIAL AND ROYAL ACADEMIES OF VIENNA, BERLIN, AND FLANDERS, 

THE UAATSCH. NEDERL. LETTERKUNDE, LEIDEN, AND THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 



WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MANY SCHOLARS AND MEN OF SCIENCE. 



VOLUME VIII. 

Q, B. 
BY W.^A. CRAIGIE, 

H.A. OXON.JvM.A., LL.D.yST, ANDREWS. 



BY HENRY 7 fiRADLEY, 

HON. M.A. OXON. J PH.D. HEIDELBERG ; P.LH i.-nfRHAM ; LITT.D. SHEFFIELD; 
VELLOW OF THIC r.KITIM! ACADLMY. 




OXFORD: 

AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. 

1914. 

[All rig Ills reserved.] 



Cv -- " "S 

P REPACK TO V O L U M E 



volume contains the words beginning with O R edited by W. A. Craigie, and S clown to the end 
of SH edited by Henry Bradley. For observations on the etymological and other characteristics of the 
words Deluded, and for detailed statistics of the numbers of words of various classes, and of the numbers of 
quotations, the reader is referred to the separate prefaces to O R and S-SH. The following summary of the 
figures there given may be found convenient : 







Main 


Subordinate 


Special 


Obvious 


Total No. 


No of 






words. 


words. 


Combinations. 


Combinations. 


of Words. 




Q 

R 
S-Sh 


( 80 pages) 
(936 ) 

(800 ) 


1633 
I ,434 
9431 


4 2 3 

3579 

4192 


265 
3470 


408 
2546 

355 


2729 

17,832 
20,644 


9480 
110,269 
94,497 



Total 21,498 8194 5008 6505 41,205 214,246 

The 21,498 Main words are distinguished approximately as follows: 

Current. Obsolete. Alien. Total 

Q 1188 3 Sy 56 ,633 

77 r 2475 2,8 IOH34 

S-Sh 7283 1671 477 943 , 



I( V7 2 4535 79 1 21,498 

For the letters Q-SH the comparative scale of this work and of certain other Dictionaries is shown as 
follows : 

Johnson. Encydotsdic . Century Diet. Funk s, Standard . Here. 

Words recorded 37^ l8j30 8 ,,,044 , 9; 8So 41,20, 

Words illustrated by quotations 2959 6427 7476 1899 35,726 

Number of illustrative quotations 10,523 10,123 ?i,92i 2646 214,246 

The quotations in Richardson s Dictionary in Q-SH are 10,228. 

The aggregate numbers for the first eight volumes of the Dictionary (A-SH) are : 

Mai ." Subordinate Special Obvious Total Illustrative 

orc!t " words. Combinations, Combinations. \vords. quotations. 

l82 &gt;o&gt;7 48,634 35, 47 43,324 306,122 1,298,13.6 

Of the 182,017 Main words 162,306 are current, 15,732 obsolete, 3,979 alien. 






PREFACE TO THE LETTERS Q AND R. 

THIS half-volume contains the words which begin with O and R, the former being few in number in 
comparison with the latter. When reckoned up according to the system adopted for previous letters, O is 
found to include 1633 Main words, 265 Combinations explained under these, and 423 Subordinate entrie 
of obsolete or variant forms; in all 2321. The obvious Combinations, recorded and illustrated by 
quotations, but not requiring to be explained, number 408 more. Of the Main words, 389 are marked f as 
obsolete, and 56 are marked || as alien or not fully naturalized. 

On the other hand, R includes 10,434 Main words, 1273 special Combinations, 3.579 Subordinate 
entries, or in all 15,286; there are further 2546 obvious Combinations, making a total of 17,832. Of 
the Main words 2475 are marked as obsolete, and 258 as alien.* 

The words beginning with Q (which in ordinary use is always followed by it) may as a whole be 
divided into three main classes, the native English, the Romanic (chiefly Latin and French), and those 
adopted from more remote (especially African, Asiatic, and American) languages. Of these classes the 
second is by far the greatest, and covers rather more than ,50 pages out of the total of 80 required by 
this letter, which from the dictionaiy point of view is one of the smallest in the alphabet. A considerable 
number of words have been taken over from Latin without any change of form, as quxre, quantum, quarto, 
quondam, quorum, etc., while many more have been assimilated to the usual English types. Some of these 
had their immediate source in Old French, which has also contributed very largely, e.g. quaint, quarrel, 
quarry, quarter (with a remarkable development of special senses, combinations, etc., extending to 19 
columns), quest, quit, quite. Under the influence of the French and Latin spelling, qn- was substituted for 
the Old English cw-, and this accounts for the appearance here of a certain number of native words, covering, 
however, no more than 16 pages. The most important of these are quake, quean, queen, auell, quench, 
quick (which with its derivatives and combinations takes up 18 columns), and quotl There are also 
some later words not demonstrably of foreign origin, a number of which appear to be Imitative ?.nd intended 
to express the idea of shaking or trembling, as quab, quag, quap, quave, quaver, quiver, quop. 1 hf; more alien 
words are of slight importance in comparison with the rest, but include quagga, quassia, and quina (whence 
quinine, etc.). 

The sources of R are more varied than those of Q, the letter being a common initial in many languages, 
but by far the greater number of the words beginning with it are naturally either Teutonic or Romanic. 
Greek, however, is the main source of the combination RH-, which extends over 15 pages. Apart from 
this small portion, the letter falls into two clearly marked divisions. The first of these includes RA- and from 
Rl- to the end, and is marked by a fairly even balance of the Teutonic and Romanic elements, each of which 
contributes a large number of the commonest and most essential words - n the language. As usual, the 
native English words form the largest body within the Teutonic group, next come the Scandinavian, and 
last of all the Dutch, Flemish, and Low or High German. The second division is that of words beginning 
with RE-, which occupy no less than 436 pages, or more than half of the entire letter. By far the greater part 
of these are formed by means of the Latin prefix RE-, the remark-able duvelopment of which in English is 
traced in the special article on pp. 186-7. The vast stretch of sur-h forms, however, is broken here and there 
by important Romanic words of different formation, as real, realm, reason, regal, regular, etc., and by native 
or Scandinavian words, as read, ready, reap, reck, reckon, reed, reef, etc, 

Some other features of R may be briefly noted. It inc- u des a remarkable number of groups of mono 
syllabic words, written and (usually) pronounced alike, bi* of widely divergent origin and meaning. Ex 
amples of these are race, rack, rag, rail, rake, rap, raf~ &gt; rash, rat, rate, rave, ray, and in the later portion, 

* For these letters the comparative scale of this work and some ot - er Dictionaries is shown by the following figures : 

Cassell s 
Johnson. Encyclopedic . Century - Funk s Standard . Here. 

Q. Words recorded 245 874 1058 971 2729 

Words illustrated by quotations i8" 349 461 108 2253 

Number of quotations I 561 - 1316 156 9480 

R. Words recorded 1881 8400 9486 8480 17832 

Words illustrated by quotati "549 337 3755 977 7713 

Number of quotations " "1 5451 11670 1310 110169 

In the corresponding portion of Ri -ardse quotations number 531 for Q and 5765 for R. 



VIH 



PREFACE TO THE LETTERS Q AND R. 



ront, rove, row, rnck, ruff. Very long articles are not numerous, but the verb RUN covers 37 columns, 
and the words derived from it occupy a good many more. The groups RIGHT and ROUND arc also 
extensive, and the adjective RED has developed a surprising number of special collocations. Many 
wordi in R have considerable historical interest, such as ragman *, railroad and railway, reader, receiver, 
recorder, rector, reformation, register, regratcr, reredos, etc., and the treatment of these has frequently required 
special investigation and outside advice. 

The material originally collected for Q was subedited for the Philological Society by Mr. H. Hucks 
Gibbs, afterwards Lord Aldenham, whose work on it was of important service, although much new material 
had accumulated before the final editing began. Part of the original material for R (down to Reb-} was 
very carefully subedited about the same time by the Rev. Prof. Skeat, while at a later date (1885-6) Rec 
to Rig- was done by Mr. P. W. Jacob, and from 1893 to 1895 the remaining portion was worked over by 
Mr. J. Rartlctt. Further work on the earlier part of the letter (down to Rashness) was also done from 1894 
to 1897 by the Rev. G. B. R. Bousfield. Here also much additional material had been collected during the 

intervening years. 

The whole of the proofs of O and R were read by Mr. A. Caland of Wageningcn, whose death on 
Feb. 18 of this year has deprived the Dictionary of one of its most devoted and helpful voluntary workers. 
For the earlier sections they were also read by the late Lord Aldenham (as far as Reserve) and the Rev. 
J. A. Milne (latterly of Cramond, Midlothian). Mr. H. Chichestcr Hart read those of R down to the time 
of his death in 1908, and the Rev. Canon Fowler of Durham has helped with the later sections of the letter. 

In the etymologies of all words adopted from languages not generally studied constant help was received 
from the late Mr. James Platt, Jun., who had made this branch of study particularly his own, and continually 
anticipated the needs of the Dictionary in respect of such words. For help readily given on other points 
acknowledgements arc due to many persons, of whom the following require to be specially mentioned : 
Dr. Bywatcr, Prof. Cook Wilson, the Provost of Oriel, Mr. H. T. Gerrans, the Controller of the University 
Press, and the Librarian of the Indian Institute ; the Rev. Prof. Skeat, Dr. Furnivall, Prof. Toller, the 
Rev. Prof. Hogg, Manchester, and Prof. Latta, Glasgow; the former and the present Keeper of the Advocates 
Library, Edinburgh, the late Dr. T. G. Law of the Signet Library, Dr. D. Hay Fleming, and Mr. Maitland 
Anderson of the University Library, St. Andrews. Dr. A. M c Kenzie of the Birkbeck Institute has assisted 
with chemical terms, and Mr. C. Davics Sherbornc supplied a number of references for words belonging to 
the physical sciences. The numerous contributions of Mr. R. J. Whitwell have, as always, been of the 
greatest service for the treatment of legal and historical terms. In addition to these, many persons, in some 
cases on behalf of business firms, have readily given useful information relating to the origin, history, or some 
particular application of a single word. 

The important work of verification at the British Museum Library, without which many matters would 
remain doubtful, was voluntarily performed by Mr. E. L. Brandreth until his death in Dec. 1907, and since 
then has been generously undertaken by Mr. W. W. Jenkinson. 

The assistants who have taken a leading share in the preparation of Q and R, either during the whole 
or a considerable part of the time, have been Messrs. E. J. Thomas, J. M. Ramsay, L. F. Powell, F. R. Ray, 
R. Girvan, J. H. Smithwhite, G. Watson, H. E. G. Rope, and Mrs. L. F. Powell. The words beginning with 
Rll- were separately prepared by^Mr. C. T. Onions. 

J.IL- W. A. CRAIGIE. 

OXFORD, March, 1910. 



KEY TO THE PRONUNCIATION 



I. CONSONANTS. 



g as in 

h ... Ao\ (hon). 

r ... ran (rzm), terrier (te riaj). 

i ... her (hai), farther ( 

s ... see (si), cess (ses). 

w ... wen (wen). 

hw ... when (hwen). 

y ... .yes (yes). 



ORDINARY. 

a as in Fr. &lt;J la mode (a la mod ). 
ai ... aye=^w (ai), Isazah (aizai-a). 
se ... man (msen). 

pass (pas), chant (tjant). 

loud (laud), now (nau). 

cut (kot), son (sen). 

y&lt;rt (yet), ten (ten). 

survey sb. (sS ive), Fr. attach/ (atajc). 

Fr. chrf(Jjf). 

evr (evsj), nation (n^-Jan). 

/, eye, (ai), bz nd (baind). 

Fr. eau &e vie (p d? vi" ). 

sz t (sit), nystz c (mistik). 

Psych* (sai-kz), rract (rz ,se kt). 

achOT (? -koj), morality (morse llti). 

oft (oil), b&lt;y (boi). 

hero (hl ro), zoology (zoi^lodji). 

what (hwgt), watch (wgtf). 

got (g p t), soft (s^ft). 

Ger. Koln (koln). 

Fr. feu (po). 

fll (ful), book (buk). 

dwration (diur^i-Jan). 

unto (vntu), fragality (fr-). 

Matthew (mx-]&gt;iu), \\ttue (vautia). 

Ger. Miller (mii ler). 

Fr. dwne (dn). 

I, e, 6 , u) ) 

e?,*.) {seep.x.v-.notes. 

as in able (^b l), eaten (zt n) = voice-glide. 



a 
au 
t&gt; 
e 

e 
II { 

a 

ai 
|| a 

i 

i 

o 

oi 

o 

9 

P, f 
II o 
l|o 

u 

iu 



iu 
|| u 
|| 



* . 



(see 



b, d, f, k, 1, m, n, p, t, v, z have their usual values. 

\ as in thin (pin), ba//z (ba]&gt;). 

8 ... then (Sen), ba//ze (b?3). 

J ... shop (Jop), duA (dij). 

tj ... cAop (tjfp), &\tch (ditj). 

3 ... vision (vi gan), de; euner (depone). 



singing (si-rjirj), thik ({ ink). 
fi?er (firjgaj). 



II. VOWELS. 

LONG, 
a as in alms (amz), bar (bai). 



v ... cm\ (kjl), fr (fj). 

e (e)... th^re (^Sej), p^ar, pare (pea). 

e(el}.,. rein, lain (r?n), thy/ (to). 

I ... Fr. faz re (f|r ). 

5 ... fz r (fsj), fern (fain), earth (ajj&gt;). 



I (!)... bzVr (blj), clzr (kllaj). 

* ... thzVf (Jizf), see (sf). 

0(09)... boar, bore (boej), glory (glos ri). 

o (on)... so, sow (s&lt;?u), sol (soil). 

g ... wa/k (wgk), wart (wgjt). 

f ... short (JpJt), thorn ()&gt;m). 

|| 6 ... Fr. co^ar (kor). 

11 o ... Ger. Gothe (gote), Fr. j^ne (JOT). 

u (u) . . poor (pu-u), moorish (mu rij). 

iu, iu . . . pare (piua), Izzre (liuj). 

u ... two moons (tu mz7nz). 

i,la... few (nii), lte (1 at). 



H w ... Ger. gra n 



^ Fr, js (g). 



-- 



(FOREIGN.) 

n as in French nasal, eviro;z f zron). 
1 ... It. sera^/zo (sera lV). 
n j ... It. si^ore (sz n o re). 
X ... Ger. a&lt;r/z (ax), Sc. \fch (\ox.&gt; lox*) 
X y ... Ger. \ch (ix*), S&lt;x^//t (nex r t). 
7 ... Ger. 

Ger. le^en, re^Ku (Ir^ eu, 




OBSCURE. 
a as in amceba (amz~ba). 



... accept (sekse pt), maniac (nv 1- ni:k). 



v ... datum (d^ tym). 

e ... moment (mo"-ment;, several 

e ... sepuraie (adj.) (se pari t). 

... added (x ded), entail (in^) 



... vanz ty (vsc mtl). 

... remain (r/in* 1 ^, Mievc 

... theory (Ji/ oriN 

.-.. vHet (v*tflet), parody ( 



e kt), amaz&lt;m 



^ ver( ^ - e (.vaudiiu), measure (me g ill,. 
... altoge ther 
iii ... drcalar 



iii. 



the o in soft, of medial or doubtful length. 



Only in foreign (or earlier English) words. 






In the^ 

OE. e, o, representing an earlier a, are distinguished as {, o (h;. ac ^etic value of and f, or 9, ..bove ; as in encte from andi (OHG. anli, 

Goth, andei-s" P" n frjm &lt;", pn from a. 



LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS, SIGNS, &c. 



a. fin Etymol.] .. 

a (M a 1300) 

a., adj., adj 

absol, absol 

abst. = abstract. 

ace 

i ad. [in Etymol.].. 



= adoption of, adopted from. 
= ante, before. 
= adjective. 
= absolutely. 



= accusative. 

= adaptation of. 

= adverb. 

advb. = adverbial, -ly. 

AF., AFr. = Anglo-French. 

Anal = in Anatomy. 

Antiq = in Antiquities. 

aphet = aphetic, aphetized. 

app = apparently. 

Arab = Arabic. 

Arch = in Architecture. 

arch = archaic. 

ArchKol. -- in Archaeology. 

assoc = association. 

IAstr. = n Astronomy. 
Astral. = i; Astrology. 
a .trib = acributive, -ly. 

bef. , = be ore. 

Bial. = in Oology. 

Boh = Bohcniaa. 

Bot = in Bonny. 

Build. = in BuMing. 

c (as ^1300) = circa, alout. 

^. (as 1 3th c.) = century. 

Cat = Catalan. 

= catachrestically. 

Cf., cf. = confer, compare. 

Chun = in Chemistry. 

cl. L = classical Latin. 

:o~n. w = cognate with. 

&lt;V:Vcf = collective, -ly. 

Cfffhf( = colloquially. 

comb = combined, -ing. 

. Comb. = Combinations. 

Comm. = in commercial usage. 

comp = compound, composition. 

"ompl = complement. 

Conen = ; n Conchology. 

ancr concretely. 

&lt;""*/ = conjunction. 

cons *-.. consonant. 

j Const., Const. ... = Construction, construed 
. with. 

Cryst = in Crystallography. 

IX) = in E-Mies (Supp. 

Gloss*) 

Da = Danish. 

dat = dative. 

def. = definite. f, 

dc. : v = derivntive, -r 

dial., dial. = dialect. - . 

Diet = Dictionary. 

dim = diminutive. 

&gt;Du = Dutch. 

Etc! = in ecclesiastical usage. 

ellipt = elliptical, -ly. 

e. midl = east midland (dialect). 

Eng = English. 

Ent in Entomology. 

erron = erroneous, -ly. 

esp., esp = especially. 

etyra = etymology. 

euphem = euphemistically. 

exc = except. 

f. [in Etymo .] ... = formed on. 
f. (in subordinate 

entries) = form of. 

fern, (rarely f.) ... = feminine. 

fir. = figurative, -ly. 

F., Fr = French. 

freq = frequently. 

-"Fris = Frisian. 

5., Ger = German. 

Gael = Gaelic. 



Eng. 



gen 

gen 

gen. sign 

Geol 

Geom 

Goth 

Gr 

Gram 

Heb 

Her. 

Herb 

Hort 

imp 

impers 

impf. 

ind. 

indef. 

iff- 

infl 

int 

intr. 

It 

J, (J.) 
(Jam.) 






(L.) (in quotations) 
lang ................ 

LG ................... 

lit ................... 

Lith ................ 

LXX ................ 

Mai ................ 

masc. (rarely m.) 
Math ................ 

ME ................... 

Mid. ............... 

med.L ............. 

Mich ................ 

Melaph ............. 

MHG ................ 

midl ................ 

Mil. .................. 

Min ................ 

mod ................ 

Mas ................ 



n. of action 

n. of agent 

Nat. Hist 

Navt 

neut. (rarely n.) 

NF., NFr 

N.O 

nom 

north 

N.T 

Numism 

obj 

Obs., obs., obs 

I occas 

OE.... 



OFr. 



Olr. 

ON.... . 
ONF. .. 

Oft 

Ornith. 

OS 

OS1 

O.T _. 

OTeu* 
orip 



-... 



pa. pple. . 
pass 



= genitive. 

= general, -ly. 

-. general signification. 

= in Geology. 

= in Geometry. 

= Gothic (=Mceso-Gothic). 

= Greek. 

= in Grammar. 

= Hebrew. 

= in Heraldry. 

= with herbalists. 

= in Horticulture. 

= Imperative. 

= impersonal. 

= imperfect. 

= Indicative. 

= indefinite. 

= Infinitive. 

= influenced. 

= interjection. 

= intransitive. 

= Italian. 

= Johnson (quotation from). 

= in Jamieson, Scottish Diet. 

= Jodrell (quoted from). 

= Latin. 

= Latham s edn. of Todd s 

= language. [Johnson. 

= Low German. 

= literal, -ly. 

= Lithuanian. 

= Septuagint. 

= Malay. 

= masculine. 

= in Mathematics. 

= Middle English. 

= in Medicine. 

= mediaeval Latin. 

= in Mechanics. 

= in Metaphysics. 

= Middle High German. 

= midland (dialect). 

= in military usage. 

= in Mineralogy. 

= modern. 

= in Music. 

= Nares (quoted from). 

= noun of action. 

= noun of agent. 

= in Natural History. 

= in nautical language. 

= neuter. 

= Northern French. 

= Natural Order. 

= nominative. 

= northern (dialect). 
, = New Testament. 
. = in Numismatics. 
. = object. 
. = obsolete. 
. = occasional, -ly. 
. = Old English ( = Anglo- 
Saxon). 

. = Old French. 
. = Old Frisian. 
, = Old High German. 
. = Old Irish. 

..= Old Norse (Old Icelandic) 
. = Old Northern French. 
.. = in Optics. 
,. = in Ornithology. 
.. = Old Saxon. 
.. = Old Slavonic. 
.. = Old Testament. 
.. = Original Teutonic. 
-= original, -ly. 

" Paleontology. 
.. pav_j ve or past participle. 
= 



pa. t = past tense. 

Path = in Pathology. 

perh = perhaps. 

Pers - Persian. 

pert = person, -al. 

pf. . = perfect. 

f&gt;g = Portuguese. 

Phii ol . "". . .. = in Philology. 

phonet = phonetic, -ally. 

phr. = phrase. 

Phren = in Phrenology. 

Phys = in Physiology. 

pi.,//. = plural. 

poet = poetic. 

pop = popular, -ly. 

///. a., ppl. adj. ... = participial adjective. 

pple = participle. 

p r = Proven9al. 

prec. ... . .. ... = preceding (word or article). 

pref. = prefix. 

prep = preposition. 

pres = present. 

Prim, sign = Primary signification. 

priv = privative. 

prob = probably. 

pron = pronoun. 

pronunc = pronunciation. 

prop = properly. 

p ros = in Prosody. 

pr. pple = present participle. 

Psych = in Psychology. 

q v = quod vide, which see. 

n^ ) = in Richardson s Diet. 

k.C.cH...... . ...... = Roman Catholic Church. 

refash = refashioned, -ing. 

re/., red = reflexive. 

reg = regular. 

repr = representative, representing. 

Rhet. ... . . = in Rhetoric. 

R orn . = Romanic, Romance. 

sb., sb = substantive. 

Sc = Scotch. 

sc = scilicet, understand or?upply. 

sing. = singular. 

Skr = Sanskrit. 

Slav! = Slavonic. 

Sp = Spanish. 

sp = spelling. 

spec = specifically. 

S ubj = subject, subjunctive. 

subord.cl. = subordinate clause. 

subseq = subsequently. 

su bst = substantively. 

suff. = suffix. 

superl = superlative. 

Surg. = in Surgery. 

g w ^ = Swedish. 

s.w. . . = south western (dialect). 

T pp.) = in Todd s Johnson. 

techn = technical, -ly. 

Thtol. = in Theology. 

t r = translation of. 

trans = transitive&gt;^ _. 

trans f. = transferred sense. 

Trig. = in Trigonometry. 

Typog. = in Typography. 

u ]t = ultimate, -ly. 

unkn = unknown. 

U.S = United States. 

v., vb = verb. 

v. str., or w = verb strong, or weak. 

vbl. sb = verbal substantive. 

va r = variant of. 

wd = word. 

\yQ er = West Germanic. 

w . m idl = west midland (dialect). 

\VS.... = West Saxon. 

(Y.)i = i n Col. Yule s Glossary. 

Zool . = in Zoology. 



Before a word or sense. 
~ obsolete. 
= not naturalized. 

In the quo ntions. 
sometimes points out the A ord illustrated. 



In the list of Forms. 
M = before Iioo. 
/2 = I2th c. (iioo to 1200). 
I 3 = i3th c. (1200 to 1300). , 
/5-7 = 1 5th to 1 7th century. (See Generat Explan 
ations, p. ix.) 



In the Etymol. 
* indicates a word or form not actually found, but 

of which the existence is inferred. 
: = extant representative, or regular phonetic 

descendant of. 



The printing of a word in SMALL CAPITALS indicates that further information will be found under uhe word so referred to. 



Q. 






Q(ki),the seventeenth lettcrof the modern and 
the sixteenth of the ancient Roman alphabet, 
was in the latter an adoption of the O (noirira, 
koppd] of some of the early Greek alphabets. The 
Phoenician letter from which this was derived had 
the forms &lt;p, &lt;p,$, and was used as the sign for 
the deeper or more guttural of the two /^-sounds 
which exist in the Semitic tongues (Hebrew p, 
Arabic (J). Though this sound had no real equi 
valent in Greek, &lt;p is found in early inscriptions, 
e. g. as the initial of KopivBos Corinth, but was not 
accepted as a letter of the Athenian alphabet, being 
retained only as a numerical symbol = go. In Latin, 
however, Q was regularly employed, in combina 
tion with V, in representing the double sound (kw) 
which arose partly from the labialized velar guttural, 
as in jm s, quattuor, and partly from a palatal k 
followed by the labial semi-vowel, as in eqmis. In 
the Romanic tongues this Latin combination was 
either retained with its original value, or in certain 
cases (esp. in Fr.) was modified to a simple -sound. 
In the former case the spelling with qu- has com 
monly been retained, even where the sound has at 
a later period been reduced to (k). 

The Latin qu- might naturally have been adopted 
in OE. orthography to represent the Common Teu 
tonic initial combination km- (for which Wulfila 
employed the special sign u) ; but though qu- is 
found in the earliest glosses and occas. in the Rush- 
worth gospels, the ordinary OE. symbol for the 
sound was cw- (in early use also en-}. After the 
Conquest qu- was again introduced, though at first 
sparingly employed ; quart erne appears in the Laud 
MS. of the OE. Chron., an. 1 137, the Lambeth Horn, 
have quic, quiken (but cweS, ciuitSe], and Ormin has 
quctrrtcrrne once, though regularly using cu&gt;- except 
in quapprigan. In the ijth c. the usage varies in 
different MSS., and sometimes even in the same 
text. The earlier version of Layamon has regularly 
qu-, the later civ- ; the Leg. St. Kath. and Jul. have 
cw-, but qu- in quo ; and the A ncren Kiwle usually 
cw-, even in French words, but also qu-, esp. in 
French words. In Gen. & Exod. there is no cw-, 
only qu- or quu- being used. By_the end. of the 
1 3th c. cw- was entirely discontinuerTTand yu- (or 
its variants qv-, qw-~) was the established spelling 
for all cases of the sound (kw), whether of English, 
French, or Latin origin. The author of the Ayen- 
Hte, however, also writes hi-, and this, as well as 
zw-,is occas. found in other MSS. of the 14-15111 c. 
In certain dialects of ME., however, the combina 
tion^- (qmt-,qv-,qw-} was not confined towordsin 
which it represented OE. cw- or Romanic qu-, but 
also took the place of ordinary ME. ivh- (OE. hiv-}, 
as in quan, quat, qvele, qwelpe = when, what, wheel, 
whelp. The earliest occurrence of these spellings 
is in Gen. & Exod., where they are exclusively 
employed ; in later use they are characteristically 
northern, and are found as .late as 1570, Levins 
having quilome, quip = whilome, whip. In the 
14-1 5th c. the combinations qh- and qhw- are simi 
larly employed in MSS. written in the NE. mid 
lands. Scottish scribes preferred quh- (qvh-, qwh-), 
which is also, though more rarely, used in northern 
English MSS. ; this orthography survived till the 
ijth c., and is defended "by A. Hume (Orthogr. 
Brit. Tongue 18) as a more correct method of 

* ?ITTT 



representing the sound than wh-. On the other 
hand wh- was freq. written by northern scribes 
in the 14-151!] c. in place oiqu-, as nuhik, whetne, 
white = quick, queme, quite ; and alliteration of 
original qu- with ih- is not infrequent in some 
poems, as the Wars of Alexander, Destr. Troy, 
and Morte Arthure. The pron. implied by this is 
still current in the northern and north-midland 
counties (not in Scotland) : see esp. the words 
QUAINT, QUEME, QUEY, QUICK. 

In certain words of French origin, qu- varies 
with c- in ME. and early mod.E. As in OF., this 
is most common when oi or ui follows : see the 
forms given under coif, coil, coin (quoiii), coyn, 
quoit, cuirass, cuir-bouilli, cuisse, cushion, custron, 
and quaint. More rarely que- replaces original co 
ot cu-, as in quengeoun congeoun, queriger conjure, 
quenquest conquest, queral coral, querch curch, 
quesing cousin, questrel custrel ; with these cf. the 
Norman quemander, quemencher , quemodittS, que- 
nntn, etc. (Godef. and Moisy). In a few cases the 
qu- forms survive in western dial., as querd cord, 
quite coil, quine coin, quirt court. A similar varia 
tion of c and q in native words is rare, but quo- is 
sometimes found for co-, as in quod cpd, quodgel 
cudgel, quore core, quorn corn : see also QUEEST, 
QUITCH s/&gt;. 1 and COUCH si/. 2 , QUID si&gt;. s 

In ordinary mod.Engl. words Q is employed only 
in the combination qu, whether this is initial as 
in quake, quality, medial as in equal, sequence, 
or forming u final consonant (k) as in cheque, ftque, 
grotesque. There is, however, a growing tendency 
among scholars to use Q by itself to Iran, literate 
the Semite kiiph, writing, e. g., Qabbala, QaraHe, 
Quran. l"f Cm .io o , Karaite, Ksran. 

I. 1. Illustrations ot the c.ic of tit letter. 

c 1000 ALLVKIC Grain, iii. (Z.) 6, n ai d k eendia* on t. 
aefter rihte. q ^eendaS on it. 1530 PALSGR. 9 Whan 1&gt; 
followeth q in a frenche wordc..thln shall it left un 
sounded, a 1637 B. JONSON /&gt;. Cram, iv, 1 e English 
Saxons knew nut this halting Q, vith her wai ig-woman 
it after her. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s. v., Vany gr?m- 
marians, in imitation of the Greeks, banish tlu v*. as a 
superfluous letter. 1797 l.ltcycl. Brit. ted. 31 724/2 The q ir 
never sounded alone, but in conjunction with u. .and nev. 
ends any English word. 1872 MORRIS Enff. Accid 61 
From this table of consonants we huve onvtted. v t because 
this is equivalent to lew. 

2. Used to denote serial order, as O Battery , 
Section Q , etc., or as a symbol of sci n -hing or 
person, a point in a diagram, etc. 

f 3. Q in the corner, ? puss in the rjrner. Olis. 

1782 Miss BURNEY Cecilia I. 41, I will eitUir hide or seek 
with any boy in the parish ; and for a Q in the corner, 
there is none more celebrated. 

II. Abbreviations. 

1. Of Latin words or phraS. f a. Q (in 
medireval notation) = 500; q, qu. = QUASI, as 
if ; q. = quadrans farthing, fftt, b. f 1- d. = 
quasi dictum as if said , ftasi dirat as if one 
should say , etc.; fq. e. ? u &lt;&gt;d est which is ; 
q. v. = quod vide whicl see , fc. From the 
language of medical pretriptions : q. 1. = quantum 
libet, q. pi. = quan u&gt;." placet as much as one 
pleases ; q. s. = QUANTUM SUFFICIT ; q. v. = quan 
tum vis as much as you wish . d. Formula; 
placed at the eni .^f mathematical problems, etc. : 
Q.E.D., Q.E.F., QE-I., = quod erat demonstran 
dum, facinidum. inveniendum, which was to be 
demonstrrted^i Jne, found . 



1542 RECORDS Gr. Aries (rs? .) 29, q a farthing the iiijpart 
of a penny. 1631 WEEVER /\M. Fun. Man. 240 Worth 1412 /. 
4*. 7^. ob. q. 1658 PHILMPS, Aifrcton q. Alfred s Town. 
1678 Ibid. (ed. 4), Bangle-lured (in. Bendle-earedl. 1710 
Land. Gaz. No, 4706, 2 The Ballance . . amounting to 
7ioi9/. is. 5^. 2&lt;?. has been.. credited to the Publick. 1721 
BAILEY, Gossip, of Ca^nr/J Syb,. .a Kinsman,,?, d. Kindred 
in God. 1722 QUINCY J hys. Viet. 69/2, q. s. A sufficient 
Quantity. 1818 MooKfc Fudge Fam. Paris ii. 127 The 
argument s quite Mew, you see, And proves exactly Q. E. D. 
1848 MRS. GASKELI M. Uarton (1882) 86/2 [My thoughts 
don t follow each other like the Q. E. D. of a Proposition 

2. Of English words or phrases, a. Q. = Que-n; 
Q., q. = query, question ; q. (in a ship s lo^) = 
squalls; t q- = quod, QUOTH. Sc. Obs. b. Q.B. = 
Queen ? Bench; Q.C. = Queen s CounseA (! J ice 
Q.C.-dom); Q.M. = Quartermaster ; CM.G. = 
Quartermaster-General; Q. T., q. t. =&lt;r,iet. slang. 
c. | qd. = quod, QUOTH. Obi :,r. = ouarter, quire ; 
qt. = quart, quantity ; qu. - 

1525 Qmiglas ^neis (Small) 
Douglas. 1568 Sawn. MS. in Poeif,* ^ 
18 ffinis .i. Alex . Scott. Ibid, xviii tg. q. Scott oil &gt;&lt;; Mr. 
of Erskyn. 1625 BACON Ess., Prophecies (Arb.) ?6 Ihe 
Q. Mother, .caused the King her H, j5 b?nds Natiiv..e to be 



calculated. 1711 Land.. Gaz. IJ\ 4845/4, 4 
~ 



each 



3 c. of Coffee." 1734 \VARD You,* Math. Guiat fer , 1 , 9 ? 
A Groce- bought 3 c. I qr. 14 Ib. Weight of Cloves. ,^5 
C&gt;?;;/ .\j&gt;. Aug. i44The harl struggle was over, the com- 
parr ,e table-land of Q. C.-Jjm gained. 1884 G. MOORE 
Mwmr rs Wife (1887) 99 ft will be"possible to !.ave one 
spree n the strict q. t. 1893 MRS. CLIFFORD Au it Anne II. 
293 Shp , mister of an eminent Q. C 

Q, ,bs. form of CUE sb2 ; see also Qu. 
,hat, Qheche, Qhom, qhwom, Qhythson- 

yd, obs. ff. WHA?, WHICH, WHOM, WHITSUNTIDE. 

fQu, Q, var of CUE sl&gt;.\ half-a-farthing. Obs. 

CTJ4O, 1617 [.see CUE]. 1554 LYLY Moth. Bomb, in Old 
r . (1814) I. 264 [To Half ^nny] Rather pray there be no 
il of money for then wilt thou go for a q. 1597 ist Pt. 
sltiurn fr. 1 J irnass, i- i. 434 Adew single beare and three 
-jus of brt:?.de. 1674 JEAKE Arith. (i6y6) 77 Some, .divide 
the Farthing int^- 2 Ques, the Q into -2 Gees. 

" O aa (kvvvi), adv. Also qua, qua&gt; [L., the 
abK^iug. fern, of qui who.] In so far as; in the 

1647 ^ARD Simf. Coblt-r 56 Eveiy man was as good a 
man as yb^r Selfe, gun man. 1649 Bounds Publ. Obed. 
(1650) 90 1h * Apostle commands Wives to ^u unut to their 
Husbands, :u*&gt;|y qua Husbands, not qua men. 1776 
Claim Roy Rati^ Churn 17/1 (Stanf.l A body corporate, 
qua corporate, canvn t make an affidavit. 1885 Mnnch. 
Exam. 4 Apr. 4/6 1n\^ r censures are not directed against 
the Church qua Churbb but against the Church gna 
Establishment, 

f Qu abbrev. of l^mtadrans farthing ; cf. 
QUADRANT st*. 1 2 b. 0&&,t!\~ 

1631 WEEVER A nc. Fun. In* 7\6lt was valued at . . three 
pounds fjure shillings, pennie/-.it.e penny qua. 

Qua, obs. northern form qf WHO. 

Quaa, variant of QUAW, bog. St. 

Quaake, obs. var. of QUACK v2 

t Quab, sbl Obs. rare. Also 7 quabbe, 8 
quobb(e. [a. MDu. (and MLG.) quabbe (Du. 
kivab y kwabbc, (L)G. quabbe, Da. kvabbe, Sw. 
qvabba}, burbot or eelpout, gol&gt;y, tadpole; var. of 
quappe y OLG. qucpfa^ 

1. a. A sea-slu^ (see HOLOTHLBIAN sl&gt;.). b. An 
eelpout or burbot. C. (See QUABLTNG.) 

1617 MINSHEU Ductor^ A Quabbe, a kinde of fish. .Hole- 
thuria. Ibid.^ A Quabbe, or Eele-powt. .Mustela jluvia- 
tiiis. 1748 Phil. Trans. XLV. 174 An extraordinar 1 - 
Fish in that Country [Russia], called the Quab, whir 
reported to be first a Tadpole, then a Frog, and 
a Fish. 1799 W. TOOKE View Russian Emt 
Quobbs are likewise In the Irtysh in surprising 

2. Jig. A crude or shapeless thing. 
1628 FORD L&ver s Mel, in. iii, I will she 



A trifle of mine own brain . . a scholar s fancy, A quab ; tis 
nothing else, a very quab. 

Qnab, rf. 2 06s. exc. dial. (quob). Also 7 
quabbe. [ = Du. kivabbe a boggy place ; cf. MLG. 
quabbel slime, and see QOAG.] A marshy spot, 
a bog. Cf. QUABMIRE. 

1617 MINSHEU Dnctor, A Quabbe, or quagmire, a 1656 
USSHER Ann. VI. (1658) 596 Defended by the Maeotis and 
those quabs. 1847 HAI.LIWELL, Quob, a quicksand or bog. 
West. 1879 Miss JACKSON Shrofsh. H ord-bk., Quob, a 
marshy spot in a field ; a quagmire. 

Qnab, v. Obs. exc. dial. (quob). [var. of 
QUAP v. ; cf. G. quabbeln in same sense.] intr. 
To beat, throb, quiver. Hence Quabbing ppl. a. 

1663 Flagtlluin, or O. Cromwell (1672) 123 A dangerous 
impostume [printed -ure] of ambition, whose quabbing, 
beating pains gaue them no rest. 1863 BARNES Dorset 
Gloss., Quob, to quiver, like jelly. 1881 Leicester Gloss., 
Quob, to throb. 

Qua-bird (kwa-baid). U.S. Also 8 quaw-. 
[f. qua, imitative of its note + BIRD.] The Night 
Heron of Norfti America, Nycticorax nxvius or 
Gardeni. 

1789-96 MORSE Amtr. Geos:. 212 Quaw-bird or Frog 
Catcher. 1835 PcnnyCycI. IV. 471 The Night Heron or 

ua Bird . . is found in itolh the old and new world. 1890 
. GOSSE Life P. H. Gosse 115 Thompson s Point, the former 
residence of the night-heron or qua-bird. 

t Qua bling. Obs. rare 1 , [f. QUAB sb.^ + 
-LING.J A goby or gudgeon. 

1617 MINSHEU Dnctor, A Quabling, or little Quabbe,.. 
tC ibio. 

Quabmire. Obs. exc. dial. (quob-). [f. QUAB 
sl&gt;. t or v. , but found earlier.] A quagmire. 

1597 BROUGHTON Ep, Nobit. Eng. Wks. 570 Oversights, 
which for a dry causie bring us to quabmyres. 1841 HARTS- 
HORNE Salop. Antiq. Gloss. 539 Quvhnire, a quagmire. 

Quacha, obs. form of QUAGGA. 

t Qua-cham. Obs. rare 1 . (?) 

1515 BARCLAY Egloges iv. (1570) C. iv. b/2 We other 
Shtnherdes . . Of common sortes, leane, ragged and rent, 
Feu with rude f - r - &lt;;&gt;*-, mini-ham, or with crudd. 

Quacia, ob. form c.l OUASSIA. 
Quaxjk (kwsek),.(i.l Also7quacke. [Abbrev. 
OfQUACKS \t-VER.] 

1. An ignorant pretender to medical or surgical 
skill; oic &gt;"lio boasts to have a knowledge of 
wonderful remedies ; an empiric or impostor in 
medicr.. CHARLATAN 2. 

T. PECKE fa -nassi Puerf. 145 Sir Quac &gt;t Patient 
nothing could cur.- Th&lt;? sn. : ; r. j68&gt; 

*&gt; V OH Folly 47 All these hanl named 

ell. t ... :!0 t make*&gt;o great a tigure : .ick i. 

? " . ^ (1*54)36 Running after QuaiA 

iof Mediohns and Remedies. 1783 CRABLI- 
ftJfA p jlenl quack, long verged h human ills, Whu 
nsults the victim whom he kills. ioo W. IRVW 
^tttckt-rb. (1861) 127 He who Has -jncc ,een vr-dei /he *&gt;- 
jf a quack, is for ever after prone to dabble in drug.. JBJo 
REAL,-. Slight Ailin. 11 Persons would he easily inflin 
by what the quack says. 

2. trans/. One who professes a knowledge 
skill concerning subjects of which he is ignura. 
= CHARLATAN 3. 

1638 FORD Fancies :n. i, There ho sits. .The very qu. 
eds. quaik, quake] of fashK-n- i7io3TEELF. ratler^\- 
2 Rules for knowing the Quacks m both Professions [1 

id Physic]. 1781 COWPER Progr. :~&gt;r 474 Ciu.rch qu:. 
with passions imder no command, Who nil the world A : th 
Joctrines contraband. 1864 BURTOW Scft Abr. I. v 
1 her. . . :ice of a lord rector havfcBK 

I clamorous quack or a canting fanatic. 

3. attrjb. and Comb., as quack-cuivertiscment , -bill, 
bookseller, -doctor, -medicine, etc.; also qu- 
tdoring, -ridden adjs. 

1653 H. MORE Antid. Ath. in. ix. 2 (Schol.) Principle 

:hat no . . pert Saucy Quar Theologist can am way e:icr 

Yale. 1693 tr. Colbakh s Ne-aiLt. Chiritrg. Pu- "" 1 nle-p., 

The Base Imposture of his Quack Medicines, a. 1704 T. 

BROWN Table Talk in Coll. Poems (1705) -3 A Chymist . . 

put out a Quack-Bill. 1707 HEARNE C ttect. (O. H. i.; II. 

5 5 Mr. Bollon..now a quack-Physi an in London. 1751 

WARBURTON Pope s Wks. IV. iST" bills of Quack-Doctors 

and Quack-Booksellers being i.sually pasted tOgMher on 

the same posts. 1785 Eurof M&lt;*g- VIII. 469 A dialogue 

between the doctor and hisx-lerk satirizes quack advertise- 

(ments. 1839 CARLYLE dtf!" v. 138 Europe lay pining,. . 

Iquack-ridden, hag-ridden.|ui855 BROWNING Bp. Bio 

I - j Quark-nonsense aboul crowns, And.. The vague idea 

jaf setting things to righB. 1874 HELPS Sac. Press ii. 26 

/ A puffing-, advertising, gsack-adoring world. 

I Quack (Jku-KKj; sb." [Imitative : cf. Du. i-wak, 

G. quack, Sw. qvack (of clucks or frogs), Icel. kvak 

wittering of birds. See also QUAKE int.] The 

larsh cry characteristic of a duck ; a sound resem- 

&gt;ling, or imitating this. b. humorously. A duck. 

1839 Lett. fr. Madras (1843) 290 Showing his tectrt, and 

ttenng a loud quack ! 1869 BLACKMORE l.orna / . x. He 

;ave me a look from his one little eye . . and then a loud 

|uack lo second it. a 1897 Bird o Freedom (Barrere & 

-eland), I send her herewith a couple of quacks. 1901 

R CONDER Seal Silence 211 The voice of the footman 

&gt;h above the general quack of conversation 

"k, sb.z Obs. rare. In 5 qu&kke, 6 
r lmitative : cf. QUACKLE c. 1 - and LG. 
noan, groan.] A state of he 
the throat. 

Reeve s T. 232 He yexeth, andl..:. speketh 
he were on the quakke, or (in v.. . 



1577 HARRISON England H. xxii. (1877) I. 338 The smoke 
. . was reputed a far better medicine to keepe the goodman 
and his familie from the quacke or pose. 
Quack (kwoek), z&gt;.i [f. QUACK rf. 1 ] 

1. intr. To play the quack, a. To pretend to 
have medical knowledge ; to dabble ignorantly in 
medicine, b. To talk pretentiously and ignorantly, 
like a quack, t Also with of. 

i6z8 VF.NNER Baths of Bathe (1650) 362 In quacking for 
Patients he is so kind and free of his service. 1678 BUTLER 
Hud. in. i. 330 To quack of universal cures. Ibid. 364 
A Virtuoso, able To smaller, quack, and cant, and dabble, 
I7JJ DE FoEffague (Rtldg.) 45 Ignorant Fellows; quacking 
and tampering in Physick. 1756 C. LUCAS Ess. Waters 1. 
Pref., Enlighlen then their understandings .. and who 
then will venture to quack, or be quacked ? 1876 G. 
MEREDITH Beauch. Career III. ii. 29 A wiseacre who went 
quacking about the country, expecling to upset the order 
of things. 

2. trans. To advertise, puff, or palm off with 
fraudulent and boastful pretensions, as a quack- 
medicine or means of cure. fAlso with forth. 
t To quack titles : to invent new titles for old books 
in order to make them sell. 

1651 BIGGS New Disp. Pref. 9 To be Quacked forth in 
Bartholmew-Fayr. 1651 CLEVELAND Poems 33 Could 1 (in 
Sir Emp ricks lone) Speak pills in phrase, and quack destruc 
tion. 1715 MRS. CENTLIVRE Gotham Elect, i, My third 
Son is a bookseller, .he has an admirable knack at quacking 
Titles. 1727 BRADLEY Fain. Diet. s. v. Gill ale, A notorious 
Imposition, which is quack d upon the World . . to be a 
great Restorative and Curer of Consumptions. 1830 Ex- 
awinerbio/2 The Politician must be quacked, paragraphed, 
. .and coteried into notoriety. 

3. To treat after the fashion of a quack; to 
administer quack medicines to ; to seek to remedy 
or put right by empirical or ignorant treatment. 
Also with up. 

1746 H. WALPOLE Lett, to Mann (1833) II. 124 If he has 
any skill in quacking madmen, his art may perhaps be of 
service now. 1757 KI.IZ. GRIFFITH Lett. Henry $ Frances 
(1767) I. 84, I am.. as * hoarse as bondage . 1 .shall there 
fore stay here lo-night, and quack myself. 1778 Sketches 
Jar Tabernacle Frames 17 For quacking Souls you cannot 
he atlack d. i8o BENTHAM Packing (1821) 144 Epitaph on 
a Valetudinarian, who quacked himself to death. 1820 
COL. HAWKER Diary (1893) I. 195, I tried with bricks, 
baskets and everything.. lo quack up one of ihem [defective 
chimneys], a 1876 HT. MARTINEAU Atitobiog. (1877) I. 147 
The le.is its condilion is quacked. .Ihe beller for Ihe mind s 
health. 

Hence Quacked ///. a. 

-i 1876 Hi. MARTINEAU Autobiog. (1877) II. 461 Such ex 
hortations are too low for even the . . quacked morality of 
a time of theological suspense. 

Quack (kwaak) , -j* Also 8 quaake. [Imita 
tive : cf. Du. kwakken, G. qaacken to croak, quack. 
Older variants are QUACKLE, QUAKE, Q. I..IK, q.v.] 

1. intr. Of a duck: To utter its characteristic 
note. Also with cognate obj. 



in. 17*7 BAILEY vol. l\,Qiiackin.t, r \ea. 1731 Quaaking , 

.j a Noise, as ducks do. 1755 JOHNSON, Quack. .. This 

. . is often writlen quaake, lo represent the sound better. 

QUACKING vbl. sb?}. 1862 G. KEARLEY Links in 

"*; ix. (1863) 2K2 [The duck] no sooner recognized the 

than he quackei! vehemenlly. 1869 BLACKMORE 

LortKt D. x, There were thirteen ducks .. and . . they all 

.-. 1893 EARL DUNMORE Pamirs I. 

i [some ducks] . . quacked the quack of derision 

at us. 

b. Of a rayen or frog: TV&gt; -.^-x. rare. 
1^27 IJOVHR . l^g a^i. uict.. To Quack (or to croak, as 
Ravens do), croasse . 1892 TENNYSON Foresters n. ii. 97 
ATy frog that used tcquack When I vaulted on his back. 
2. trans/. To make a harsh sound like the note of 
a duck ; to make a noisy outcry. 

a 1614 Bp. M SMIT.: Semi. (1632) r36 An example to all 
busie-bodyes, that will Jare . . to quacke against their betlers. 
1894 HALL CAINK ,vau.riiian 265 He puffed lill his lips 
. , though tlv: pipe gave oul no smoke. 

O,uack, Quick-belly, -breech, -myre, 
Quicker : se QUAKE .i, QUAKER. 

Quackery 1 (kwae-kari). [f. QUACK j/;.l + -BUY.] 
The characteristic practices or methods of.a r ,.ack ; 
chatlataa*. 

1700-11 J SPWKE (title) Quackery Unmask d. 1717 LADY 
M. W. UoMtcu Let. to AbM Conti i Apr., I know you 
Condemn the . uackery. .as much as you revere the. .Irulhs, 
m which we Ifi agree. 1798 Trans. Sac. Arts XVI. i^o 
All ihe nostrum)ffered . . are mere quackery. duCAILVLE 
Heroes fiB^S) \f&gt; Ouackery and dupery do abound; in 
religions .. ihev h., f fearfully abounded. 1874 MAMAFFY 
Soc. Lij .e ix. .-3 The old quackery of charms and 

m.-antaf 1885 L.,.; m p_ ^n,.^ U ne 908 Theosophy [is] 
. .one of ,ie intci t ing of spiritual quackeries. 

Quackfc , -(,K-w;s ;ar i). nonce-wd. [f.QuACK?-. ^ 
+ -ERT.] . he quackkg o f a number of ducks. 

.8i3 i J WILSON in KUfK. Mag. XXIV. 293 A sort of 
!* &gt;h B!! rh; = ; nor "Musical quackery. 1831 Ibid. 
XX... , .(, I he quackery of a tartled slorm of wild ducks. 

Quackhood (kw^Jhop, [f. QUACK sb i 4- 

-HOOD.] =QUA EF \ 



Verses. Leave Quacking ; and Enucleate The yertues of 
Chocolate. 1664 EVF.LYN Sylva 34 Quacking is not my 
trade : I speak only here as a plain Husband-man. 1702 
DE FOE Afock AFoiirners in Misc. (1703) ^46 All other 
Remedies. .Are Tampering and Quacking with the Slale. 
1733 CHEYNE Eng. Malady in. Inlrod. (1734) 265 The 
Medicines I have only hinled at to prevent the Quacking 
of Patienls Ihemselves. 1827 J. W. CROKFR in C. Papers 
7 Aug. (1884), They found .. the patient so reduced by .. 
alternale quacking and indulgence. 

attrib. 1682 S. PORDAGF. Medal Rev. 210 Some State- 
Physicians., on thee. .would try some quacking trick. 

Quacking (kwae-kirj), vbl. sb.l [f. QUACK v. z 
+ -INQ!.] The uttering of the harsh sound denoted 
by the vb. 

1815 W. H. IRELAND ScrioMeowanta i The sage waddling 
goose, Whose quacking you ll own is the very repealer Of 
my famous Muse. 1880 MACKENZIE Dis. Throat $ Xose I, 
491 The barking of a dog or ihe quacking of a duck. 1892 
BARING-GOULD Trag, C&sars I. 218 Being incommoded by 
ihe quacking of frogs he ordered them to be silent. 

Quacking (kwoe-kin), ///. a.l [f. QUACK vl 
+ -INO-.] That acts or practises as a quack. 
1628 VENNER Baths of Bathe (1650) 357 To . . reject the 



1843 CARLYLE /W * Pr ... xii, To worship new and ! 
ver-!:e.v forms of Quac*.,ood. 

(kwa-l ^;, vbl. &gt;.i [f. QDACK v .1 
e action or u.-ct^e of playing the 



quack ; ignorant da 1 .mij m mef. -- me . 
1652 WADSWDTH tr. &lt; afii .IUT " Tr. ,il.-j!ocolate Intnl. 



Ph} S. II. I. xiv. 31 A more quacking race . . does not exist, 
and they are always swallowing some kind of medicine. 
Quacking (kwarkirj), ppl. a. * [f. QUACK v.u 
+ -ING 12 .] That quacks or makes a sound as a duck. 
1620 DEKKER I illanies Disc, xvii, A Quacking cheate, 
a Ducke. 1898 R. HICHENS The Londoners 82 The quacking 
voice hurled out these last three words with impressive 
emphasis. 

Quackish (kwas-kij), a. [f. QUACK rf.l + -ISH.] 
Ot the nature of a quack or quackery. 

1732 Hist. LitteraHa III. 558 To complele his quackish 
Farce [he] spread prinled Bills all over Paris. 1790 BURKE 
Fr. Rev. 198 All Ihe arts of quackish parade. 1800 Monthly 
Mag. XIII. 131 Regular, nol quackish innovating prac 
titioners. 1865 Sat. Rev. Nov. 570 Anolher . . confounds 
preaching the Gospel wilh a quackish inlerprelalion of 
prophecies. 

Hence Qna ckishly adv. 

1816 J. GILCHRLST } hilos. Etyin. 119 Do not let them 
. .quackishly boas-t of new light and great discovery. 

Quackism (kwrc-kiz m). [f. QUACK sbl + -ISM.] 
Quackery, charlatanism. 

1720-21 Lett. Mist s Jrnl. (1722) II. 22, 1 understand that 
is exploded as Quackism by ihe Judicious. 1762 LLOYD 
St. jajttes*s Mag. I. iv, Olhers, in Ihe Irue spirit of 
Quackism, circulale iheir inlenlions by handbills. 1831 
CARLYLE Misc. Ess., Cagliostro( 1899) 2 74 What unmeasured 
masses of Quackism were set fire to. 

Quackle (kwark l), v. 1 Obs. exc. dial. [Imita 
tive : cf. QUACK st&gt;.3] trans, and intr. To choke. 

1622 S. WARD Woe to Drunkards (1627) 22 The drinke or 
something in the cup quackled him, stucke so in his throat, 
that . . [ilj strangled him presently. 1655 GURNALL Chr. in 
Arm. i. (1665) 72 God knowes, ihou arl almost quackled 
with thy teares. 1806 BLOOMFIELD Wild Floivers Poems 
(1845) 221 Some quack ling cried, Mel go your hold ; The 
farmers held the faster. 1865 Standard 19 Sepl., The verb 
lo quackle is used in Suffolk in reference lo suffocalion, 
when caused by drink going Ihe wrong way \ or by smoke. 
1895 RYE Gloss. E, Anglia, s. v. My cough quackles me . 
He fanged her by ihe Ihroat and nearly quackled her . 

Quackle (kwje-k l), v. 2 [In form a deriv. of 
QUACK v. 2 , but found earlier.] intr. To quack, as 
a duck. Hence Qua okling vbl. sb. and///, a. 

1564-78 BULLEYN Dial. agst. Pest. (1888) 64 Vpon a tyme 
when quacklyng Duckes did speake and caklyng hennes 
could talke. 1825 HONE Every-day Bk. \. 534 The loud., 
quackling of ducks.. is a sign of rain. 1837 CARLYLE Fr. 
Rev. II. i. i, Simple ducks, .quackle for crumbs from young 
royal fingers. 1865 MRS. WHITNEY Gayivorthys I. it 
Undernealh. -splashed and quackled the ducks. 

Quackmire, variant of QUAKEMIRE. 

Quack-quack (kwaek|kwrek). [Imitative: see 
QUACK sb. *} An imitation of the note of a duck ; 
a nursery name for a dock. 

1865 DICKENS Mitt. Fr. nl. xv, Mew says ihe cat, Quack- 
quack says the duck. 1869 OUIDA Puck xxxviii. (1873) 491 
[They] could not themselves tell for their lives . . a canvas- 
back duck from a quack-quack of the gutler. 1889 MIVART 
Truth 226 Quack. quack and gee-gee are just as good 
abslract universal lerms as duck and horse . 

Hence Quack-quacking vbl. sb. 

1824 CARLYLE tr. Wilhelm Meister (1864) II. 257 As the 
duck on the pond . . to the fulure quack-quacking and gibble- 
gabbling of his life. 

Quacksalver (kwre-ksa;lv3j). Also 6-7 
quaok(e)-, 7 quaksaluer. [a. early mod.Dn. 
(i6th c.) quacksalver (Kilian ; mod.Du. kivak- 
zalver), whence also G. quacksalber, Sw. qvack- 
salfvare : the second element is f. salf, zalf salve, 
ointment, and the first is commonly regarded as 
the stem of quacken (mod.Dn. kwakken) to quack. 

On this view a quacksalver is one who quacks or boasts 
about the virtues of his salves ; it has however been sug 
gested thai quack- or kwak- may mean to work in a feeble 
bungling fashion (Franck).] 

1. An ignorant person who pretends to a know 
ledge of medicine or of wonderful remedies : = 
QUACK rf.i i. 

Very common in i7lh c. ; in laler limes largely superseded 
by ihe abbrevialion QUACK sb. 1 

1579 GOSSON Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 53 A quacke-saluers Budget 
of filthy receiles. 1605 B. JONSON Volpone n. ii, They are 
quack-saluers, Fellowes, lhat Hue by senting oyles, and 



QUACKSALVING. 

drugs. 1658 ROWLAND tr. Monfefs Thcatr. Ins. 1074 One 
accidental rash cure of a disease . . makes a Quacksalver a 
great Physician. 1719 D UitFEV Pills (1872) IV. 87 Come 
you Quack-salvers that do kill Sometimes a Patient by your 
skill. 1856 VAUGHAN Mystics (1860) II. vin. ix. 98 What 
a gulf between the high personage our romance imagines 
and ..that shuffling quacksalver which our matter-of-fact 
research discovers. 

attrib. a 1670 HACKET Cent. Serm. (1675) 544 St. Peter 
had no such Quacksalver tricks in Divinity. 

2. transf. = QUACK 2. 

1611 W. BAKER Panegyr. Verses in Coryafs Crudities^ 
The Anatomic dissection or cutting up of that great Quack 
salver of words Mr. Thomas Coryate our British Mercuric. 
1889 SWINBURNE Stud. B. Jonson 43 Brother Zeal-of-the- 
land is no vulgar Impostor, no mere religious quacksalver. 

Hence Quack salverism, f -salvery, quackery. 

16x7 MINSHEU Ditctor, Quacksaluerie. 1864 CARLVLK 
Freak. Gt, IV. 302 Sublime quacksalverism. 

t Quacksalving (kwrc-kscelvirj), ppl.a. Obs. 
[f. *quacksalve vb. (^inferred from QUACKSALVER) + 
-ING 2.] Quackish. 

1. Of things : Belonging to, or characteristic of, 
a quacksalver. 

1608 MIODLETON Ma*i World ii. vi, Any quacksalving 
terms will serve for this purpose. 1691 Bi&gt;. CHOI-T in 
Sowers Tracts (ed. Scott) VII. 290 Generals and particulars, 
the quid) the gnate, the quantum^ and such-likc quack 
salving forms. 

2. Of persons : Resembling, acting like, a quack. 
1608 DEKKER Lanth. $ Cand. k. Quack-saluing Empericks. 

1620 MELTON Astrolog.\% If you should kill three hundred, 
you would still remain hut a Quack-salving Physician. 1622 
MASSINGER DEKKER Virg. Mart. iv. i, Quacksalving, 
cheating mountebanks ! 1649 C. WALKER Hist, Indefiend. 
n. 207 A Quack-salving Doctor of Phisick. 

Hence f Quacksalvingly adv., in the manner of 
a quack. Obs. 

1652 GAULE Magastrom. 105 An experiment in physick or 
medicine, sc., brought to effect, many times, empirically, 
quacksalvingly, iguorantly. 

t Qua ckster. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. QUACK ZJ.I + 
-STEK.J A quack, quacksalver. 

1709 Brit. Apollo II. No. 44. 3/1 The Quackster .. with 
Death signs our Quietus. 

Quacky (kwarki;, a.i [f. QUACK st&gt;*+ -Y*.] 

Inclined to quackery. 

1846 POE Criticism Wks. 1864 III. 23 Who although a 
little quacky per se has. .a whole legion of active quacks at 
his control. 

Quacky (kwx-ki), a? [f. QUACK sb$ + -yl.] 
Of voices : Having the harsh quality characteristic 
of the cry of a duck. Hence Qua ckiuess. 

1895 Forum (N.Y.) June 502 Our women s voices are., 
hardened . . into an habitual quacky or metallic quality. . . 
Quackiness and shrillness prevail less in the Southern 
States than in the Northern and Western. 

Quad (kwgd), j.l, abbrev. (orig. in Oxford slang) 

ofQUADRANGLE sb. 2. 

1820 in Brasenose Ale 8 When first thy Quad, O Erase- 
nose, sprung from earth. 1827" Sporting Mag. XXI. 70 
Mr. Protheroe once met me in Quad during the frost. 
1861 HUGHES Tom Brown at Oxf. i, The rooms ain t half so 
large or good in the inner quad. 1884 Pall Mall G. 24 Jan. 
3/2 Pump Court the dreariest of all the Temple quads. 

Quad (kwgd), sb.-, abbrev. of QUADRAT sb. 2. 

1880 in WEBSTER Suppl. 1884 Western Morn. Neivsij July 
4/6 A quad is a compositor s instrument for the filling 
up of blanks. 1884 TUER (title) Quads within Quads, for 
Authors, Editors, and Devils. 1884 Pall MallG. i Aug. 
4/2 Quads * in the present case are a trade term applicable 
to printers jokes. 

Quad (kwgd), ji.3, abbrev. of QUADRUPLET 3. 

1896 Daily News 2 June 9/2 Stocks was paced by five 
triplets and a quad. 1897 Whitakers Aim. 641/2 A quad 
team did a flying quarter in 24-6 sees. 

Quad (kwgd), sb.*, abbrev. of QUADRUPED i b. 

1894 ASTLBV Fifty Years Life I. 97 He was mounted on 
a sorry old quad. Ibid. II. 88, I stuck to my quad and rode 
into the paddock. 

Quad (kwgd), a., abbrev. of QUADRUPLE a. d. 

1888 in JACOBI Printers I ocab. 1891 Star 12 Nov. j/i 
Printing Plant, including, .quad crown perfecting machine, 
quad demy and double demy machines. 

Quad (kwgd), v.i, abbrev. of QUADRUPLEX v. 

1886 Pall Mall G. 26 Aug. n/i Some lines are quadded 
or quadruplexed. 

Quad ,kwgd), z/.2 Printing, [f. QUAD j.2J To 
insert quadrats in (a line of type) ; to fill with 
quadrats. Also to quad out. 

1888 in JACOBI Printers Vocab. 

Quad, var. QUOD sb., prison; QUED(E a., bad. 

Quad, obs. form of QUOTH v. 

t Quade, v. Obs. rare* 1 . [? f. quade, var. of 
QUKD(E a., bad.] ?To destroy, deface. 

5^5 ) HALLE Hist. Expost. 34 If thou in chirurgerye, 
Alone wylte walke and wade ; Thine erroreswill thy worke 
confounde, And all thine honoure quade. 

tQua der, v. Obs. rare. Also 5-6 quadr-. 
[ad. L. quadrare-. see QUADRATE ^., and cf. F. 
cadrer, quadrer (i6th c.).] a. trans. To square 
(a number), b. trans, and intr. = QUADRATE v. 3. 

c 1430 Art ofNombryttge (E.E.T.S.l 16 [A given number] 
to be quadrede. 1588 KYD Honseh. Philos. Wks. (1901) 269 
In the quadering and making euen of the enterics with 
the expences. 1593 in Fort a. Rev. (1809! LXV. 220 
Nor wold indeed the forme of devyne praiets vsed duelie 
in his Lordship s house have quadred with such reprobates. 
1620 SHELTON Quix. II. iv. vii. 91 The X doth not quader 
well with him because it sounds harshly. 



Quadern, a square : see QUADRAN j/ .l 

Quadle, obs. variant of CODDLE zi.i, to boil. 

1633 HAHT Did of Diseased \. xvii. 66 Raw Apples before 
they be ripe, if used, are best quadled. 1649 G. DANIEL 
Trinarch. To Rdr. 105 Thus wee sett you out Perboyled 
Kinges and Quadled Crownes. 

Quadling, obs. variant of CODLING 2 . 

1584 COGAN Haven Health c. (1612) 87 Rawe Apples and 
Quadlings. 1609 C. BUTLER Fern. Men. (1634) 173 Let 
them boil till they be as tender as Quadlings. 

t Quadmire. Obs. rare- 1 . = QUAGMIRE, q.v. 

1609 BIBLE (Douay) Ps. Ixviii. cowin., I am as one in- 
tangled with quickesand or quadmyre in the bottom of a 
great water. 

II Quadra (kwg dra). Arch. [L. quadra a square, 
used by Vitruvius in sense I.] 

1. a. The plinth or socle of a podium, b. A 
platband or fillet, esp. that above or below the 
scotia in the Ionic base. 

1664 EVELYN tr. Freart s Archit. 131 Pilaij and their 
Quadra s or Tables, .were employ d for Inscriptions. 1842 - 
76 in GWILT Archit. (Hence in recent diets.) 

2. A square border or frame round a bas-relief, 
panel, etc. ; also, loosely, a border or frame of any 
form. 

1727-41 in CHAMBERS Cycl. 1842-76 in OWILT Archit. 
(Hence in recent Diets.) 

Quadra-, occas. erron. form of QUADRI-. 

Quadrable (kwo-drab l), a. Math. Also 8 
-ible. [ad. L. type *qiiadralilis, f. quads-are to 
square : see QUADIIATE v . and -ABLE.] Capable of 
being represented by an equivalent square, or of 
being expressed in a finite number of algebraic 
terms. 

1695 WALLIS in Phil. Trans. XIX. in The Spaces in the 
Cycloid, which are perfectly Quadrable. 1743 EMERSON 



bo: 

Calculus vi. 253 When the area limited by a curve can be 
expressed in a finite number of algebraic terms, the surface 
is said to be quadrable. 

Hence QuadrabMity, the quality or condition of 
being quadrable. 

1743 EMKRSON Fluxions 194 In Curves of more Terms, 
there are several Conditions requisite to their exact Quadra- 
bility. 

Quadragenarian (kwgsdradg&eVrian), a. 
and sb. Also erron. quadri-. [f. L. quadragi- 
nari-us (f. quadragem distrib. of quaiiragiuta 
forty) + -AN.] a. adj. Forty years old. b. sb. 
A person forty years of age. 

1839 Frnscrs Mag, XX. 752 The quadrigenarians may 
reasonably object, that as Lord Byron only lived to seven- 
and-thirty, he could not be a competent judge on this 
matter. 1892 STEVENSON Vailima Lett. xix. (1895) 184 A 
stalwart well-oiled quadragenarian. 1897 Sat. Rev. 20 Feb. 
J 95/2 Quadrigenarian critics. 

So Qua drag-ena rious a. 

1656 BLOUNT Glossogr., Quadragenarians , of or belonging 
to forty years. 1719 BOYER Fr.-Eng. Diet., Qita^rage- 
naire, quadragenarious, forty years old. 1895 Harpers 
Weekly Mag, Feb. 337/2 One of these plumply mellow 
quadrigenarious bodies. 

t Quadragene. Obs. rare. [ad. med.L. 
quadragena^ neut. of quadragem forty each, forty.] 
An indulgence for forty days. 

1664 JER. TAYLOR Dissnas. Popery ii. 4 You have .. 
purchased your self so many Quadragenes or Lents of 
pardon ; that is, you have bought ofF the penances of so 
many- times forty days. 



Quadragesima (kw^drad^e sima). EccL 
[med.L., fern. (sc. dies day) of L. qitad,ragt simtts 
fortieth, f. quaiiraginta forty; hence also It., Pg. 
quadragesima (Sp. cnad-}, F. qnadragtsime (1487). 

The popular Romanic formsare It, qnaresiina^ Pg. guares- 
ma, Sp. cuaresma, OF. qnarfsine^ caresme^ F. entente; cf. 
also Ir. corghas, catrghios, Gael, carghns^ W. garaiuys from 
pop. Lat. *quarages-irtta,] 

ta. The forty days of Lent. Obs. b. (Also 
Quadragesima Sunday.} The first Sunday in Lent. 

{1398 THEVISA Barth. DC P, R. ix. xxx. (1495) 364 Lenle 
highte Quadragesima.] 1604 Bk. Com. Prayer Tables, 
Quadragesima, before Easter, vi weekes. 1617 MINSHEU 
Ductor, Quadragesima Sunday, or the first Sunday in Lent. 
fm. t Quadragesima is the first Sunday in Lent. 1662 A X:. 
Com. Prayer Tables, Quadragesima, six weeks before 
Easter. 1662 GUNNING Lent Fast 167 A Quadragesima all 
call d it. 1665 EVELYN Corr. 9 Feb. (1872) III. 151, I have 
always esteemed abstinence a tanto beyonu the fulfilling 
of periods and quadragesimas. 1794 W. TINUAL Eveskam 
34 He was on Quadragesima Sunday confirmed Abbot. 

Quadragesimal (kwodrad.^e ? ^- 1), a, and sb. 
Also 7 quadrigess-. [ad. late I. quadragesi- 
mdl-is: see prec. and -AL. Cf. F. quatf r arts i mat 
(i5-i6th c.).5 

A. adj. 1. Of a fast (esp. tliat of Lent) : Lasting 
for forty days. 

1654 HAMMOND Amwt. Animadv. I gnat. ii. 2. 38 The Quad- 
rigessimal Fast was observed in the Church to commemorate 
hpth these. 1715 tr. Dufia i Eccl. Hist. i-flA C. I. v. 171 
The Quadragesimal Fast was also regarded as Penance. 
1844 W. H. MILL .Sena. l -mpt. Christ i. 12 That quadra- 
sesimal Fast and retirement of our Lord. 1855 Apf&gt;lic. 
J anth. Print. (1861) in The retirement and quadragesimal 
fast of Elijah. 

2. Belonging or appropriate to the period of 
Lent ; Lenten. 



QUADRANGLE. 

1629 MAUDE tr. Fonseca s Dev. Contempl. title-p., Two 
and Fortie Sermons upon all y Quadragesimal! Gospells. 
1691 WOOD Ath. Oxon. II. 359 Quadragesimal Disputations 
were publickly performed in the Schools. 1717-41 CHAMBERS 
CycL s. v. Quadragesima, Hence some monks are said to 
lead a quadragesimal life ; or to live on quadragesimal food 
all the year. 1882 J. W. LEGO Hist. Lilnrg. Colours in. 
40 The colour of the Quadragesimal ornaments. 
fig. a 1643 W. CARTWRIGHT Ordinary in. v. in Hazl. 
Dodsley XII. 268 But quadragesimal wits, and fancies lean 
As ember weeks. 

3. Consisting of forty. 

1661 GUNNING Lent Fast 50 The Quadragesimal number 
not constituted of men, but consecrated from God. 

t B. sb. a. A fast, properly one of forty clays. 
b. A set of forty, c. A Lent sermon, d. //. 
Lent offerings (see quot. 1721). Obs. 

1660 JEK. TAYLOR Duct. Dutit. in. iv. Rule xiii. 17 
H is no wonder, .that all the set and stationary fasls of the 
Primitive Christians were called Quadragesimals. Ibid. 18 
A quadragesimal of hours is as proper as a quadragesimal 
of days. 1691 tr. Einiliant,e s Frauds Romish Monks 
284 They who print their Quadragesimals and their Advent 
Sermons, .. never print the Second part of them. 1721 
BAILEY, Qltadragesimals, Mid-Lent contributions, Offerings 
made by People to their Mother Church on Mid-Lent 
Sunday. 

Quadragesima-lia. rare. [neut. pi. of late 
L. qiiadragesimalis: see prec.] prec. Ii. d. 

1717-41 in CHAMBERS Cycl. 1876 I rayer-tiook Interleaved 
103 laking Quadragcsimalia or Lent-ofTerings. 

tQuadragesimarian. Obs. rare- 1 . [f. 
QUADRAGESIMA.] An observer of Lent. 

1655 FULLER Ch. Hist. 11. vii. 74 Otherwise it is suspi 
cious that the Quartadecimans were no good Quadragesi- 
maiians. 

t Quadragesima, -gesme. Obs. rare. [ad. 
L. quadragesim-a : see above.] = QUADRAGESIMA. 

(1440 Gcsta Rom. i. Ixii. 266 (Harl. MS.) A goode cristyn 
man that wele blessidly hath fast all the quadragesme. 
1612 R. SHELDON Serin. St. Martin s 5 To proportion my 
discourse to the season, when we all are. .making a Quad- 
ragesime, or fortieth, as a parasceue of Christ his death 
and passion. 1612 SELDEN illustr. Drayton s Poly-olb. XI. 
207 Wks. 1876 II. 91 You will lose therein forty days, and 
the common name of Quadragesime. 

Quadraginte-simal,o. rarc~\ [ForQiUDRA- 
GESIMAL, after ~L.quadraginta] Forty-fold ; having 
forty parts. 

1789 BURNEY Hist. Mns. III. i. 75 Twelve bars of universal 
chorus in quadragintesimal harmony. 

Quadragi-ntireme. rare 1 , [f. L. quadra- 
ginta forty: cf. quadriretne, etc.] (See quot^ 

1799 CHARNOCK in Naval Chron. I. 132 Quadraginti- 
remes, or vessels .. described as having forty ranks., of 
oars. 

Quadrain, a square: see QUADKAN j.i 

Quadrain, obs. variant of QUATRAIN. 

Quadral fkwg dral), a. rare- 1 , [f. QUADR;I)- 
+ -AL.] By four, into four parts. 

1891 W. TUCKWELL Tongues in Trees 146 They held to 
the quadral division of time, distributing the day-night into 
four, eight or sixteen parts. 

tQua dran, sb. (and a.). Obs. Forms: 6quad- 
ron, 6-7 quadrain, 7 quadran, -ren, quadern. 
[Alteration of QUADRANT sb. *, with dropping of 
the -/ and assimilation to other endings.] 

1. A square. 

1591 HARI_NGTON Orl. Fur. vi. Ixxi, These ornaments . . 
All are enrich t with stones of great estate, . . In parted 
quadrons. 1595 B. BAKNES Sp^ir. Somi. Ixxxiii, Bright 
soldiolirs muster up .. Raungde into quadraines and trium 
phant rings. 1648 GAGE H est Ind. xii. (1655) 51 In the 
midst of this Quadern stood a mount of earth and stone 
square likewise. 1653 R. SANDERS Pkysivgn. 153, I erected 
this Figure, and thereupon made certain Quadrains and 
Resolutions, that my Friends might understand the signifi 
cations of the said Figure. 

2. attrib. or adj. Square. 

1598 SYLVESTER Du Bartas n. i. iv. Handie-Crafts 206 
Sixteen fair Trees.. Whose equall front in quadran form 
prospected. 1611 SPEED Thfal. Gt. Brit, xxxvii. (1614)73/1 
In a long Quadren-wise the wals doe incompasse the citle. 

Quadran, obs. var. QUADBANT sb. 1 (sense 3), 
QUATRAIN. 

Quadrangle (kwg-dra rjg l), sli. [a. F. quad 
rangle (I3th c.), ad. late L. quadrangulum, neut. 
of qiiadranguhts (see next), f. quadr- QUADRI- + 
angulus ANGLE. The stressing quatira ngle, which 
appears in some of the quots., is given by Bailey, 
Ash, and Sheridan, and is still the constant Sc. use.] 

1. Geom. A figure having four angles and there 
fore four sides. 

In mod. Gtom. a quadrangle is regarded as a figure 
formed by four points (vertices), three of which are not in 
the same straight line, and by the six straight lines which 
join the four points two by two. (Cf. QUADRILATERAL.) In 
ordinary use the term commonly denotes a square or other 



Quadrangle make ye a f igure round. 1551 KECORDE Pat/m*. 
Knowl. I. Defitt., Thus haue I done with trianguled figures, 
and nowe foloweth quadrangles. 1653 R. SANDERS Physiogn. 
58 The Quadrangle is between the Table-line, the middle 
natural, that of the Sun, and that of Saturn, when there 
are four angles. 1869 DUNKIN Midn. Sky 141 Eight stars 
forming two similar quadrangles. 1884 tr, Lotzc s Logic 130 
Nothing is commoner than for a person who speaks of a 

1-2 



A trifle of mine own brain . . a scholar s fancy, A quab ; tis 
nothing else, a very quab. 

Quab, sb.l 06s. exc. dial. (quob). Also 7 
quabbe. [ = Du. kwabbe a boggy place ; cf. MLG. 
quabbtl slime, and see QUAG.] A marshy spot, 
a bog. Cf. QUABMIRE. 

1617 MINSHEU Ductor, A Quabbe, or quagmire, a 1656 
USSHER Ann. vi. (1658) 596 Defended by the Maeotis and 
those quabs. 1847 HALI.IWELL, Qvob,R. quicksand or bog. 
Wtft. 1879 Miss JACKSON Shrofsh. Word-Ik., Quob, a 
marshy spot in a field ; a quagmire. 

Quab, v. Obs. exc. dial, (quob). [var. of 
QOAP v. cf. G. quabbeln in same sense.] ititr. 
To beat, throb, quiver. Hence Quabbing ///. a. 

1663 Flagtllitm, or O. Crotnivell (1672) 123 A dangerous 
impostume [printed -ure] of ambition, whose quabbing, 
beating pains gaue them no rest. 1863 BARNES Dorset 
Gloss., Qvob, to quiver, like jelly. 1881 Leicester Gloss., 
Quob, to throb. 

Qua-bird (kwa-baid). U.S. Also 8 quaw-. 
[f. qua, imitative of its note + BIRD.] The Night 
Heron of Norfti America, Nycticorax nstvius or 
Gardeni. 

1780-96 MORSE Aitier. Geog. I. 212 Quaw-bird or Frog 
Catcher. 1833 Penny Cycl. IV. 471 The Night Heron or 

gua Bird.. is found in itolh the old and new world. 1890 
. GOSSE Life P. H.Gosse 115 Thompson s Point, the former 
residence of the night-heron or qua-bird. 

t Qua bling. Obs. rare 1 , [f. QUAB jA. 1 + 
-LING.] A goby or gudgeon. 

1617 MINSHEU Ditctor, A Quabling, or little Quabbe,. . 
got/a. 

Quabmire. Obs. exc. dial. (quob-\ [f. QUAB 
sb. l or v., but found earlier.] A quagmire. 

1597 BROUGHTON Ep. Mobil. Eng. Wks. 570 Oversights, 
which for a dry causic bring us to quabmyres. 1841 HARTS- 
HORNE &aloj&gt;. Antiq. Gloss. 539 Quvbmire, a quagmire. 

Quacha, obs. form of QUAGGA. 

t Qua-cham. Obs. rare~ l . (?) 

tjig BARCLAY Egloges iv. (1570) C. iv. b/2 We other 
Shaoherdes . . Of common sortes, leane, ragged and rent, 
Fea with rude frowise, wuh rjtia^ham, or witb crudd. 

Quacia, oi;... form el 



. 

Quarjk (Icwsek), sbl Also 7 quacke. [Abbrev. 
OtQUACKSAI.VEB.] 

1. An ignorant pretender to medical or surgical 
skill ; one who boasts to have a knowledge of 
wonderful remedies ; an empiric or impostor ii 
medicn. . CHARLATAN 2. 

1659 PECKE Pa -nassi Puerf. 145 Sir Quart si Palid,. 
told, nothing could cure The stubborn Feaver. 1683 
K.K .r i. Eras\ an Folly 47 All these harri ;,, 
e " l -v L na . eal ... -ick&lt;;. 

17: &gt;\-. i ,, -"- :i - f ii"*54&gt;3 Running after Quai.1 

* ^&lt; lor Medi.::"ES and Seme-dies. 1783 CR.MSU: 
K, long versed h human tils. Who 
insults the victim whom he kills. r$oo W. IRVIK^ 
rCiTtJki 6, (18611 127 He who has once been u-idet he *- 
)f a quack, is for ever after prone to dabble in_drug.. J)8o 
BeALf. Slight Aitni. 22 Persons would l&gt;e easily influ 
by what tlic quack says. 

Z. trans/. One who professes a knowledge 
skill concerning subjects of which he is ignora. 
= CHARLATAN 3. 

1638 F JRII Faruifi : . . i, There he sits. .The very qu 
&gt;&lt;&.quaik, quake] of fashions i7ioSTEKLK TatUrt o. 
r 2 Rules for kno\\ MIL; tlie ^ :*^ ;s id both P fessions [I 

id Physic). 178* COWPER Progr. 174 L.,i..rch m 
1 ith no command, Who fill the world 

doctrines contraband. 1864 BURTON Scot Abr. I. \ 
Ther. :;n instance of a lord rector havhi^ 

i clamorous quack or a canting fanatic. 
3. attr.ib. and Comb., as quack-ottvertisement , -bill. 
bookseller, -doctor, -medicine, etc. ; also qiit- - 
idorim;, -ridden adjs. 

1653 H. MORE Autia. Ath. in. ix. 2 (ScM.) I- - 
:hat no . . pert Saucy Quar 1 Theologist can an&gt; wa V 
rate. 1695 tr. Coltatch s NtwLt. Chirurg. Pu ""t Tltle-p., 
The Base Imposture of his Quack Medici""- 74 ! 
BROWN Table Talk in Coll. Poems (1705) 3 A Chyn 
put out a Quack-Bill. 1707 HKASNE C-llect. (O. H. Sj II. 
55 Mr. BoTlon..now a quack-Physi" an in London. 1751 
WARBURTON Pope s ins. IV. iST" bills of Quack-Doctors 
and Quack-Booksellers being ...Dually pasted togeth-r on 
-.he same posts. 1783 Europ Mag- VIII. 469 A dialogue 
between the doctor and his Jerk satirizes quack ad\ 
ments. 1839 CARLYLE CAfBkOT v. 138 Europe lay pii 
quack-ridden, hag-ridden.[i i8ss BROWNING Bp. Bio .ram 
I - j Quark-nonsense aboul crowns, And.. The vague idea 
I ut setting things to right. 1874 HELPS Six. Press ii. 26 
I A puffing, advertising, Quack-adoring world. 
I Quack (JkvcA.). it.- [Imitative: cf. Du. !-:vak, 
G. quack, Sw. qvack (of clucks or frogs), Ice!, /rvak 
*wittering of birds. See aho QUAKE /.] The 
larsh cry characteristic of a duck ; a sound rescin 
ding, or imitating this. b. humorously. A duck. 
1839 Lett. fr. Madras (1843) 290 Showing his tt"! ", and 
ttenng a loud quack ! 1869 BLACKMORE I.orna . \, He 
;ave me a look from his one liifle eye . . and then a loud 
pack lo second it. 11897 Bird o Freedom (Barrere & 
-eland), I send her herewith a couple of quacks. 1901 
R COSDER Seal Silence 211 The voice of the footman 
-h above the general quack of conversation 

ik, sb. * Obs. rare. In 5 quakke. 6 
r lmitative : cf. QUACKLE .V ai 
noan, groan.] A state of hoarseness 
the throat. 

teevc s T. 232 He yexeth, and! f speketh 
he were on the quakke, or on the pose. 



1577 HARRISON England n. xxii. (1877) I. 338 The smoke 
. . was reputed a far better medicine to keepe the goodman 
and his familie from the quacke or pose. 

Quack (kwsck), f. 1 [ f - QUACK rf.i] 

1. intr. To play the quack, a. To pretend to 
have medical knowledge ; to dabble ignorantly in 
medicine, b. To talk pretentiously and ignorantly, 
like a quack, t Also with of. 

1618 VENNER Baths of Bathe (1650) 362 In quacking for 
Patients he is so kind and free of his service. 1678 BUTLER 
Hud. in. i. 330 To quack of universal cures. Ibid. 364 
A Virtuoso, able To smaller, quack, and cant, and dabble. 
1711 DE fosPlague (Rtldg.) 45 Ignoranl Fellows ; quacking 
and tampering in Physick. 1756 C. LUCAS Ess. Waters 1. 
Pref., Enlighten then their understandings .. and who 
then will venture to quack, or be quacked ? 1876 G. 
MEREDITH Beauctt. Career III. ii. 29 A wiseacre who went 
quacking about the country, expecting to upset the order 
of things. 

2. trans. To advertise, puff, or palm off with 
fraudulent and boastful pretensions, as a quack- 
medicine or means of cure. fAlso with_/5-M. 
t To quack titles : to invent new titles for old books 
in order to make them sell. 

1651 BIGGS New Disp. Pref. g To be Quacked forth in 
Bartholmew-Fayr. 1651 CLEVELAND Poems 33 Could I (in 
Sir Emp ricks tone) Speak pills in phrase, and quack destruc 
tion. 1715 MRS. CENTLIVRE Gotham Elect. I, My third 
Son is a bookseller, .he has an admirable knack at quacking 
Titles. 1727 BRADLEV Fain. Diet. s. v. Gill ale, A notorious 
Imposition, which is quack d upon the World . . to be a 
great Restorative and Curer of Consumptions. 1830 Ex- 
aminer 610/2 The Politician must be quacked, paragraphed, 
. .and coteried into notoriety. 

3. To treat after the fashion of a quack ; to 
administer quack medicines to ; to seek to remedy 
or put right by empirical or ignorant treatment. 
Also with up. 

1746 H. WALPOLE Lett, to Mann (1853) II. 124 If he has 
any skill in quacking madmen, his art may perhaps be of 
service now. 1757 ELIZ. GRIFFITH Lett. Henry * Frances 
(1767) I. 84, I am.. as hoarse as bondage . 1 shall there- 
fore stay here to-night, and quack myself. 1778 Sketches 
for Tabernacle Frames 17 For quacking Souls you cannot 
be attack d. 1810 BENTHA.M Packing (ifai) 144 Epitaph on 
a Valetudinarian, who quacked himself to death. 1820 
COL. HAWKER Diary (1893) I. 195, I tried with bricks, 
baskets and every thing., to quack up one of them [defective 
chimneys], a 1876 HT. MARTINEAU Antobiog. (1877) I- M7 
The le.-s its condition is quacked, .the better for the mind s 
health. 

Hence Quacked fpl. a. 

11876 Hi* MARTINEAU Autobiog. (1877) II. 461 Such ex- 
hortations are too low for even ihe . . quacked moralily of 
a time of theological suspense. 

Quack (kwaek), v.% Also 8 quaake. [Imita 
tive : cf. Du. kwakken, G. quacken to croak, quack. 
Older variants are QUACKLE, QUAKE, Q &gt;.OK, q.v.] 

1. intr. Of a dock: To utter its charade! istic 
note. Also with cognate obj. 

1617 MINSHEU Ditctor, To Quacke as a ducke, . .coajcare. 
*X7ii W. KiNG(J.), Wild ducks quack where grasshoppers 
die ing. 1727 BAILEV vol. l\,Quacking{ed. i 



. ,. kinr , 

. s a Noise, as ducks do. 1755 JOHN-SON, Quack. . . This 
S often written qttaatie, to represent the sound betler. 
1815 J&gt;ee QUACKING vbl. so.-]. 1861 C,. KEARLEY Links in 
Ctia. ix. (1363) 232 [The duck] no sooner recognized the 
. tl.an he quacke-! vehemently. 1869 BLACKMORE 
Lorna D. x, There were thirteen ducks .. and .. they all 
quai v(ry movingly. 1893 EARL DUNMORE Pamirs I. 
i [some ducks] . . quacked the quack of derision 
at us. 

b. Of a raven or frog- : T/- -... rare. 
i&gt;7 IJOYiiR .-lAgii^f. uict., To Quack (or to croak, as 
Ra\ens do), croasse . i8oa TENNYSON Foresters n. ii. 97 
Afy frog that used tcquack When I vaulted on his back. 

2. trans/. To make a harsh sound like the note of 
a duck ; to make a noisy outcry. 
a 1 6*4 Bp. M SMiTi: Jerni. (1632) 136 An example to all 
1 odyes, that will Jare. . to quacke against their betters. 
1894 HALL CAINE Vanjcwan 265 He puffed till his lips 
i (!, though tlis pipe gave out no smoke. 

^.iiaek, Quick-belly, -breech, -myre, 
Quicker : see QUAKE ., QUAKEK. 

Quackery 1 (kwje-kori). [f. QUACK j/;.i + -Env.] 
The characteristic practices or methods ofa quack : 
chathtaatf. 

1709-11 J SPINKE (title) Quackery Unmask d. 1717 LADY 
M. W. MO.NTAGU Let. to AM Conti i Apr., I know you 
Condemn the uackery. .as much as you revere the. .truths, 
in which we t.h agree. 1798 Trims. Sac. Arts XVI. i,;o 
All the nostrum&gt;ffered . .are mere quackery. 1840 CARLYLE 
Heroes (18^8) 18 Ouackery and dupery do abound; in 
rehgioi.s .. thev h., f fearfully abounded. 1874 MAHAFFY 
.vv. Ltj . e ix. .-3 The old quackery of charms and 

18815 L.,.; m f. Kcv.Jimt 908 Theosophy [is] 
initiating of spiritual quackeries. 
-WK nonce-ivd. [f.QUACK * 



mcantat- ._ 

. .one of ..ie 

Quackb 

-EBY.] 



. . 
he quackig of a number of ducks. 



g of a n 
&gt;B8J. WILSON i,, NfA Mag. XXIV. 293 A sort of 



, 

low, thick, (rurlii , . . nor ui 

XXX. 966 I he quackery of a 



. 

ical quackery. 1831 Ibid. 
rtled storm of wild ducks. 

Quackhood (kwo^khnS}. [f. QUACK rf.i + 

-HOOD.] = Qt A EI" \ 

1843 CARLVLE W * /V .. xii.To worship new and 
ever- 

Quacking (kwa-H.r;;, vbl. f .l [f. QUACK z&lt;.l 
-f -i.\r,l.] The action or i.._cf ce o f playing the 
quack; ignorant da* .ing in mef. ..;,i e , 
1651 WADSVOKTH tr. ( oiii .xff - Tr.-.it.fytocffatc IIIIKH!. 



Verses. Leave Quacking ; and Enucleate The yertues of 
Chocolate. 1664 EVELYN Sylva 34 Quacking is not my 
trade : I speak only here as a plain Husband-man. 1702 
DE FOE Mock Mourners in Misc. (1703) $6 All other 
Remedies. .Are Tampering and Quacking with the State. 
1733 CHEYNE Eng. Malady in. Introd. (1734) 265 The 
Medicines I have only hinted at to prevent the Quacking 
of Patients themselves. 1827 J. W. CROKER in C. racers 
7 Aug. (1884). They found .. the patient so reduced by .. 
alternate quacking and indulgence. 

attrib. 1682 S. PORDAGF, Medal Rev. 210 Some State- 
Physicians, .on thee. .would try some quacking trick. 

Quacking (kwarkin), vbl. sb.% [f. QUACK v2 
+ -ING!.] The uttering of the harsh sound denoted 
by the vb. 

1815 W. H. IRELAND Scribbleomama i The sage waddling 
goose, Whose quacking you ll own is the very repeater Of 
my famous Muse. 1880 MACKENZIE Dis. Throat &lt;$ Nose I. 
491 The barking ofa dog or the quacking ofa duck. 1892 
BARING-GOULD Trag, Cxsars I. 218 Being incommoded by 
the quacking of frogs he ordered them to be silent. 

Quacking (kwre-kin), ///. al [f. QUACK v* 

+ -INO-.] That acts or practises as a quack. 
1628 VENNER Baths of Bathe (1650) 357 To . . reject the 
counsell of any quacking Physician. 1722 DE FOE Plague 
(1754) 39 These quacking sort of Fellows rais d great Gains 
out of the miserable People. 1843 LE FEVRE Life Trait. 
Phys, II. i. xiv. 31 A more quacking race . . does not exist, 
and they are always swallowing some kind of medicine. 

Quacking (kwre^kirj), ///. #. 2 [f. QUACK v.^ 
+ -ING^.] That quacks or makes a sound as a duck. 

1620 DEKKER I illanies Disc, xvii, A Quacking chcate, 
a Ducke. 1898 R. HICHENS The Londoners 82 The quacking 
voice hurled out these last three words with impressive 
emphasis. 

Quackish (kwse-kij), a. [f. QUACK sbl + -ISH.] 
Ot the nature of a quack or quackery. 

1732 Hist, Litteraria III. 558 To complete his quackish 
Farce [he] spread printed Bills all over Paris. 1790 BURKE 
Fr. Rev. 198 All the arts of quackish parade. 1800 Monthly 
Mag. XIII. 131 Regular, not quackish innovating prac 
titioners. 1865 Sat. Rev. Nov. 570 Another .. confounds 
preaching the Gospel with a quackish interpretation of 
prophecies. 

Hence Qua ckishly adv. 

1816 J. GILCHRIST Philos. Etym. 119 Do not let them 
. . quackishly boa^-t of new light and great discovery. 

Quackism (kwarkiz m). [f. QUACK sbl 4- -ISM.] 
Quackery, charlatanism. 

1720-21 Lett. Mist s Jrnl. (1722) II. 22, 1 understand that 
is exploded as Quackism by the Judicious. 1762 LLOYD 
St. Jameses Mag. I. iv, Others, in the true spirit of 
Quackism, circulate their intentions by handbills. 1833 
CARLVLE Misc. Ess., Ca#0.r/n7{ 1899) 274 What unmeasured 
masses of Quackism were set fire to. 

Quackle (kwark I), v. 1 O&s. exc. dt ai. [Imita 
tive: cf. QUACK j.3] trans, and intr. To choke. 

1622 S. WARD Woe to Drunkards (1627) 22 The drinke or 
something in the cup quackled him, stucke so in his throat, 
that . . [it] strangled him presently. 1655 GURNALL Chr. in 
Ami. I. (1665) 72 God knowes, thou art almost quackled 
with thy teares. 1806 BLOOMFIELD Wild Flowers Poems 
(1845) 221 Some quack ling cried, let go your hold ; The 
farmers held the faster. 1865 Standard 19 Sept., The verb 
* to quackle is used in Suffolk in reference to suffocation, 
when caused by drink going the wrong way , or by smoke. 
1895 RYE Gloss. E, Anglia^ s. v. My cough quackles me . 
He fanged her by the throat and nearly quackled her , 

Quackle (kwas k l), v. 2 [In form a deriv. of 
QUACK z;. 2 , but found earlier.] intr. To quack, as 
a duck. Hence Qua ckling vbl. sb. and///, a. 

1564-78 BULLEVN Dial. agst. Pest. (1888) 64 Vpon a tyme 
when quacklyng Duckes did speake and caklyng henries 
could talke. 1825 HONE Eyery-day Bk. I. 534 The loud., 
quackling of ducks, .is a sign of rain. 1837 CARLVLE Fr. 
Rn&gt;. II. i. i, Simple ducks, .quackle for crumbs from young 
royal fingers. 1865 MRS. WHITNEY Gayivorthys I, ii 
Underneath, .splashed and quackled the ducks. 

Quackmire, variant of QUAKEMIRE. 

Quack-quack (kwaekikwrek). [Imitative: see 
QUACK f2] An imitation of the note of a duck ; 
a nursery name for a duck. 

1865 DICKENS Mitt. Fr. m. xv, Mew says the cat, Quack- 
quack says the duck. 1869 OUIDA Puck xxxviii. (1873) 491 
[They] could not themselves tell for their lives . . a canvas- 
back duck from a quack-quack of the gutter. 1889 MIVART 
Truth 226 Quack-quack and gee-gee are just as good 
abstract universal terms as duck and horse . 

Hence Quack-quacking vbl. sb. 

1824 CARLYLE tr. tt ilhelm Meister (1864) II. 257 As the 
duck on the pond . . to the future quack-quacking and gibble- 
gabbling of his life. 

Quacksalver (kwre-kszelvai). Also 6-7 
quack(e)-, 7 quaksaluer. [a. early mod.Du. 
(i6th c.) quacksalver (Kilian; mod.Du. kwak- 
zalver), whence also G. quacksalber , Sw. qvack- 
salfvare : the second element is f. sa/f, zalf salve, 
ointment, and the first is commonly regarded as 
the stem of qwxken (mod.Du. kwakken] to quack. 

On this view a quacksalver is one who quacks or boasts 
about the virtues of his salves ; it has however been sug- 

ested that quack- or kwak~ may mean to work in a feeble 
ungling fashion (Franck).] 

1. An ignorant person who pretends to a know 
ledge of medicine or of wonderful remedies: =* 
QUACK sb. 1 i. 

Very common in i?th c. ; in later times largely superseded 
by the abbreviation QUACK so. 1 

1579 GOSSON Sck. A buse ( Arb.) 53 A quacke-saluers Budget 
of filthy receites. 1605 B. JONSON Volpone n. ii, They are 
quack-saluers, Fellowes, that Hue by senting oyles, and 



QUACKSALVING. 

drugs. 1658 ROWLAND tr. Monfcfs Theatr. Ins. 1074 One 
accidental rash cure of a disease . . makes a Quacksalver a 
great Physician. 1719 D URFEV Pills (1872) IV. 87 Come 
you Quack-salvers that do kill Sometimes a Patient by your 
skill. 1856 VAUGHAN Mystics (1860) II. vm. ix. 08 What 
a gulf between the high personage our romance imagines 
and . . that shuffling quacksalver which our matter-of-fact 
research discovers. 

attrib. a 1670 HACKET Cent. Serin. (1675) 544 St. Peter 
had no such Quacksalver tricks in Divinity. 

2. transf. = QUACK 2. 

1611 W. BAKER Peattgyr* Verses in Coryat s Crudities, 
The Anatomie dissection or cutting up of that great Quack 
salver of words Mr. Thomas Coryate our British Mercuric. 
1889 SWINBURNE Stud. B. Jonson 43 Brother Zeal-of-the- 
land is no vulgar impostor, no mere religious quacksalver. 

Hence Quacksalverism, f -salvery, quackery. 

1617 MINSHEU Dnctor, Quacksaluerie. 1864 CARLYLK 
Fredk. Gt. IV. 302 Sublime quacksalverism. 

t Quacksalving (kwarksailvirj), ///. a. Olis. 
[f. *quacksalve vb. (inferred from QUACKSALVER) + 
-ING 2 .] Quackish. 

1. Of things : Belonging to, or characteristic of, 
a quacksalver. 

1608 MIDDLETON Mad World II. vi, Any quacksalving 
terms will serve for this purpose, a 1691 Bp. Cuoi T in 
Somers Tracts(ed. Scott) VII. 29oGenerals and particulars, 
the quid, the qttale, the guantum, and such-like quack 
salving forms. 

2. Of persons : Resembling, acting like, a quack. 
1608 DEKKER Lanth. fy Cand. k. Quack-saluing Empericks. 

1620 MELTON Astrolog. 18 If you should kill three hundred, 
you would still remain but a Quack-salving Physician. 1622 
MASSINGER & DEKKER Virg, Mart. iv. i, Quacksalving, 
cheating mountebanks ! 1649 C. WALKER Hist. Independ. 
li. 207 A Quack-salving Doctor of Phisick. 

Hence f Quacksalvingly adv., in the manner of 
a quack. Obs. 

1652 GAULE Magastrom. 105 An experiment in physick or 
medicine, sc.. brought to effect, many times, empirically, 
quacksalvingly, ignorantly. 

t Qua ckster. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. QUACK z.l + 
-STEK.J A quack, quacksalver. 

1709 Brit. A folio II. No. 44. 3/1 The Quackster . . with 
Death stalls our Quietus. 

Quacky (kwarki), a.l [f. QUACK rf.l + -yl.] 
Inclined to quackery. 

1846 POE Criticism Wks. 1864 III. 23 Who although a 
little quacky per se has. .a whole legion of active quacks at 
his control. 

Quacky (kwae-ki), a. 2 [f. QUACK rf.2 + -Y 1 .] 
Of voices : Having the harsh quality characteristic 
of the cry of a duck. Hence Qua ckiness. 

J 8g5 Forum (N.Y.) June 502 Our women s voices are.. 
hardened, .into an habitual quacky or metallic quality. . . 
Quackiness and shrillness prevail less in the Southern 
States than in the Northern and Western. 

Quad (kwgd), rf.l,abbrev.(orig. in Oxford slang) 
of 



_ . 

1820 in Brasenose Ale 8 When first thy Quad, O Brase- 
nose, sprung from earth. i8aj Sparling Afag. XXI. 70 
Mr. Protheroe once met me in Quad during the frost. 
1861 HUGHES Tom Brown at Oxf. i, The rooms ain t half so 
large or good in the inner quad. 1884 Pall Mall G. 24 Jan. 
3/2 Pump Court the dreariest of all the Temple quads. 

Quad (kwgd), sb.-, abbrev. of QUADRAT s/&gt;. 2. 

1880 in WEBSTER Suppl. 1884 Western Morn. News 17 July 
4/6 A quad is a compositor s instrument for the filling 
up of blanks. 1884 TUER (title) Quads within Quads, for 
Authors, Editors, and Devils. 1884 Pall Mall G. i Aug. 
4/2 Quads in the present case are a trade term applicable 
to printers jokes. 

Quad (kwgd), sb.*, abbrev. of QUADRUPLET 3. 

1896 Daily News 2 June 9/2 Stocks was paced by five 
triplets and a quad. 1897 IVhitaker s Aim. 641/2 A quad 
team did a flying quarter in 24-6 sees. 

Quad (kwgd), sb.*, abbrev. of QUADRUPED i b. 

1894 ASTLKY Fifty Years Life I. 97 He was mounted on 
a sorry old quad. Ibid. II. 88, I stuck to my quad and rode 
into the paddock. 

Quad (kwgd), a., abbrev. of QUADRUPLE a. d. 

1888 in JACOB; Printers I ocab. 1891 Star 12 Nov. i/i 
Printing Plant, including, .quad crown perfecting machine, 
quad demy and double demy machines. 

Quad (kwgd), v.i, abbrev. of QUADRUPLES v. 

1886 Pall Mall G. 26 Aug. n/i Some lines are quadded 
or quadrnplexed. 

Quad ^kwgd), v2 Printing, [f. QUAD sb.V\ To 
insert quadrats in (a line of type); to fill with 
quadrats. Also to quad out. 

1888 in JACOBI Printers Vocab. 

Quad, var. QUOD sb., prison; QUED(E a., bad. 

Quad, obs. form of QUOTH v. 

tQuade, v. Obs. rare- 1 . [? f. quade, var. of 
QUBD(E a., bad.] ? To destroy, deface. 

T 5*S J. HALLE Hist. Expost. 34 If thou in chirurgerye, 
Alone wylte walke and wade ; Thine errores will thy worke 
confounde, And all thine honoure quade. 

tQua der, v. Obs. rare. Also 5-6 quadr-. 
[ad. L. quadrare : see QUADRATE v., and cf. F. 
cadrer, quaiirer (i6th c.).] a. trans. To square 
(a number), b. trans, and intr. = QUADRATE v. 3. 

c 1430 Art ofNombrynge (E.E.T.S.l 16 [A given number) 
to be quadrede. 1588 Kvu Househ. Philos. Wks. (1901) 269 
In the quadering and making euen of the enterics with 
he expenses. 1593 in Fortn. Rev. (1899) LXV. 220 
Nor wold indeed the forme of devyne praieis vsed duelie 
in his Lordship s house have quadred with such reprobates. 
1620 SHKLTON Qui.r. II. iv. vii. 91 The X doth not quader 
well with him because it sounds harshly. 



Quadern, a square : see QUADBAN j/ .i 
Quadle, obs. variant of CODDLE t/.i, to boil. 

1633 HAKT Diet of Diseased I. xvii. 66 Raw Apples before 
they be ripe, if used, are best quadled. 1649 G- DANIEL 
Trinarch. To Rdr. 105 Thus wee sett you out Perboyled 
Kinges and Quadled Crownes. 

Quadling, obs. variant of CODLING 2 . 

1584 COGAN Haven Health c. (1612) 87 Rawe Apples and 
Quadlings. 1609 C. BUTLER Fern. Man. (1634) 173 Let 
them boil till they be as tender as Quadlings. 

tQuadmire. Obs. rare- 1 . = QUAGMIRE, q.v. 

1609 BIBLE (Douay) f s. Ixviii. comm., I am as one in- 
tangled with quickesand or quadmyre in the bottom of a 
great water. 

II Quadra (kwg-dra). Arch. [L. quadra a square, 
used by Vitruvius in sense I.] 

1. a. The plinth or socle of a podium, b. A 
platband or fillet, esp. that above or below the 
scotia in the Ionic base. 

1664 EVELYN tr. Frearfs Arckit. 131 Pike, and their 
Quadra s or Tables, .were employ d for Inscriptions. 1842- 
76 in GWILT Arc/tit. (Hence in recent diets.) 

2. A square border or frame round a bas-relief, 
panel, etc. ; also, loosely, a border or frame of any 
form. 

1727-41 in CHAMBERS Cycl. 1842-76 in GWILT Arc/tit. 
(Hence in recent Diets.) 

Quadra-, occas. erron. form of QUADRI-. 

Quadratic (kwg-drab l), a. Math. Also 8 
-ible. [ad. L. type *quadrdbilis, f. quadrare to 
square : see QUADHATE v. and -AULK.] Capable of 
being represented by an equivalent square, or of 
being expressed in a finite number of algebraic 
terms. 

1693 WALLIS in Phil. Trans, XIX. in The Spaces in the 
Cycloid, which are perfectly Quadrable. 1743 EMERSON 

Calculus vi. 253 When the area limited by a curve can be 
expressed in a finite number of algebraic terms, the surface 
is said to be quadrable. 

Hence QnadraW lity, the quality or condition of 
being quadrable. 

1743 EMERSON Fluxions 194 In Curves of more Terms, 
there are several Conditions requisite to their exact Quadra- 
bility. 

Quadragenarian (kwgdradgz-neVrian), a. 
and sb. Also erron. quadri-. [f. L. quadrage- 
nari-us (f. quadrageni distrib. of quadraginta 
forty) + -AN.] a. adj. Forty years old. b. sb. 
A person forty years of age. 

1839 Fraser s Mag. XX. 752 The quadrigenarians may 
reasonably object, that as Lord Byron only lived to seven, 
and-thirty, he could not be a competent judge on this 
matter. 1892 STEVENSON Vattima Lett. xix. (1895) 184 A 
stalwart well-oiled quadragenarian. 1897 Sat. Rev. 20 Feb. 
195/2 Quadrigenarian critics. 

So Qua clragena rioxis a. 

1656 BLOUNT Glossogr., Quadragenarians, of or belonging 
to forty years. 1719 BOYER Fr.-Eng. Diet., Qttaitragc- 
naire, quadragenarious, forty years old. 1895 Harpers 
Weekly Mag. Feb. 337/2 One of these plumply mellow 
quadrlgenarious bodies. 

tQuadrageue. Obs. rare. [ad. med.L. 
quadragena, neut. of quadrageni forty each, forty.] 
An indulgence for forty days. 

1664 JER. TAYLOR Dissiias. Popery ii. 4 You have . . 
purchased your self so many Quadragenes or Lents of 
pardonj that is, you have bought off the penances of so 
many times forty days. 

II Quadragesima (kwgdrad5e-sima). Eccl. 
[med.L., fern. (sc. dies day) of L. quadragt simus 
fortieth, f. quadraginta forty ; hence also It., Pg. 
quadragesima (Sp. ciiad-"), F. qitadrage sime (1487). 

The popular Romanic formsare It. (litaresima, Pg. quares- 
ma, Sp. cuaresma, OF. quarcsme, caresme, F. caieme; cf. 
also Ir. corglias, cairgkios, Gael, carghus, W. garaiuys from 
pop. Lat. *quarages-itna.} 

fa. The forty days of Lent. Obs. b. (Also 
Quadragesima Sunday.) The first Sunday in Lent. 

(1398 TKEVISA Earth. DC P. K. IX. XXX. (1495) 364 Lente 
highte Quadragesima.] 1604 Bk. Com. Prayer Tables, 
Quadragesima, before Easter, vi weekes. 1617 MINSHEU 
Ductor, Quadragesima Sunday, or the first Sunday in Lent. 
Ibid., Quadragesima is the first Sunday in Lent. 1662 Bk. 
Com. Prayer Tables, Quadragesima, six weeks before 
Easter. 1662 GUNNING Lent Fast 167 A Quadragesima all 
call d it. 1665 EVELYN Corr. 9 Feb. (1872) III. 151, I have 
always esteemed abstinence a lanfo beyonu the fulfilling 
of periods and quadragesimas. 1794 W. TINDAL Evesham 
34 He was on Quadragesima Sunday confirmed Abbot. 

Quadragesimal (kwgdridsew" !),. and sb. 
Also 7 quadrigess-. [ad. late I . nuadragesi- 
mal-is: see prec. and -AL. Cf. F. quadrag&lt;&lt;siinal 
(i5-i6th c.).] 

A. adj. \. Of a fast (esp. tli.it of Lent) : Lasting 
for forty days. 

1654 HAMMOND Answ, A nimadv. Ignat. ii. 2. 38 The Quad- 
rigessimal Fast was observed in the Church to commemorate 
both these. 1725 tr. Dupiiis Eccl. Hist, tith C. I. v. 171 
The Quadragesimal Fast was also regarded as Penance. 
1844 W. H. MILL Serin. T-mpt. Christ i. 12 That quadra 
gesimal Fast and retirement of our Lord. 1855 Applic. 
rantk. Princ. (1861) 111 The retirement and quadragesimal 
fast of Elijah. 

2. Belonging or appropriate to the period of 
Lent ; Lenten. 



QUADRANGLE. 

1629 MABBE tr. Fonseca s Dev. Contempt, title-p., Two 
and Fortie Sermons upon all y Quadragesimall Gospells. 
1691 WOOD Alh. Oxon. II. 359 Quadragesimal Disputations 
were publickly performed in the Schools. 1727-41 CHAMBERS 
Cycl, s. v. Quadragesima, Hence some monks are said to 
lead a quadragesimal life ; or to live on quadragesimal food 
all the year. 1882 J. W. LEGG Hist. Liturg. Colours in. 
40 The colour of the Quadragesimal ornaments. 

fig. a 1643 W. CARTWRIGHT Ordinary in. v. in Hazl. 
Dodsley XII. 268 But quadragesimal wits, and fancies lean 
As ember weeks. 

3. Consisting of forty. 

1662 GUNNING Lent Fast 50 The Quadragesimal number 
not constituted of men, but consecrated from God. 

t B. sb. a. A fast, properly one of forty days. 
b. A set of forty, c. A Lent sermon, d. //. 
Lent offerings (see quot. 1721). Obs. 

1660 JER. TAYLOR Duct. Dubit. ill. iv. Rule xiii. 17 
It is no wonder, .that all the set and stationary fasts of the 
Primitive Christians were called Quadragesimals. Ibid. 18 
A quadragesimal of hours is as proper as a quadragesimal 
of days. 1691 tr. Emiliantte s Frauds Romisk Monks 
284 They who print their Quadragesimals and their Advent 
Sermons, .. never print the Second part of them. 1721 
BAILEY, Quadragesimals, Mid-Lent contributions, Offerings 
made by People to their Mother Church on Mid-Lent 
Sunday. 

II Quadragesima-lia. rare. [neut. pi. of late 
L. quadragesimalis : see prec.] = prec. K d. 

1727-41 in CHAMBERS Cycl. 1876 Prayer-book Interleaved 
103 Taking Quadragesimalia or Lent-offerings. 

t Quadragesimarian. Obs. rare- 1 . [f. 
QUADRAGESIMA.] An observer of Lent. 

1635 FULLER Ch. Hist. \\. vii. J 74 Otherwise it is suspi 
cious that the Quartadecimans were no good Quadragesi- 
marians. 

t Quadragesime, -gesme. Obs. rare. [ad. 
L. quadragcsim-a : see above.] = QUADRAGESIMA. 

c 1440 Cesta Rom. i. Ixii. 266 (Harl. MS.) A goode cristyn 
man that wele blessidly hath fast all the quadragesme. 
1612 R. SHELDON Serin. St. Martins 5 To proportion my 
discourse to the season, when we all are. .making a Quad 
ragesime, or fortieth, as a parasceue of Christ his death 
and passion. 1612 SELDEN tllustr. Drayton s Poly-olb. XI. 
207 Wks. 1876 II. 91 You will lose therein forty days, and 
the common name of Quadragesime. 

Quadraginte-simal.s. rare- 1 . [For QUADRA 
GESIMAL, after L. quadraginta. ] Forty-fold ; having 
forty parts. 

1789 BURNEY If 1st. Mas. III. i. 75 Twelve bars of universal 
chorus in quadragintesimal harmony. 

Quadragi-ntireme. rare- 1 , [f. L. quadra 
ginta forty: cf. yuadrireme, etc.] (See quot.) 

1799 CHARNOCK in Naval Chron. I. 132 Quadraginti- 
remes, or vessels .. described as having forty ranks., of 
oars. 

Quadrain, a square : see QUADRAN si&gt;. 1 

Quadrain, obs. variant of QUATRAIN. 

Quadral (kwg driil), a. rare- 1 , [f. QUADH(I)- 
+ -AL.] By four, into four parts. 

1891 W. TUCKWELL Tongues in Trees 146 They held to 
the quadral division of time, distributing the day-night into 
four, eight or sixteen parts. 

tQua dran, sb. (and a.). Obs. Forms: 6quad- 
ron, 6-7 quadrain, 7 quadran, -ren, quadern. 
[Alteration of QUADRANT sb. z , with dropping of 
the -/ and assimilation to other endings.] 

L A square. 

1591 HARINGTON prl. Fur. vi. Ixxi, These ornaments . . 
All are enrich t with stones of great estate, . . In parted 
quadrons. 1595 B. BARNES Spir. Sonn. Ixxxiii, Bright 
soldiours muster up .. Raungde into quadraines and trium 
phant rings. 1648 GAGE ll est Ind. xii. (1655) 51 In the 
midst of this Quadern stood a mount of earth and stone 
square likewise. 1653 R. SANDERS Physiogn. 153, I erected 
this Figure, and thereupon made certain Quadrains and 
Resolutions, that my Friends might understand the signifi 
cations of the said Figure. 

2. attrib. or adj. Square. 

1598 SYLVESTER Du Barton n. i. iv. Handie-Crafts 206 
Sixteen fair Trees.. Whose equal I front in quadran form 
prospected. 1611 SPEED Tlttal. Gt. Brit, xxxvii. (1614)73/1 
In a long Quadren-wise the wals doe incompasse the citie. 

Quadran, obs. var. QUADRANT sb. 1 (sense 3), 
QUATRAIN. 

Quadrangle (kwg-dra-rjg l), sb. [a. F. quad 
rangle (i 3th c.), ad. late L. quadrangulum, neut. 
of quadrangulus (see next), f. quadr- QUADRI- + 
angulus ANGLE. The stressing quadra ngle, which 
appears in some of the quots., is given by Bailey, 
Ash, and Sheridan, and is still the constant Sc. use.] 

1. Geom. A figure having four angles and there 
fore four sides. 

In mod. Geom. a quadrangle is regarded as a figure 
formed by four points. (vertices), three of which are not in 
the same straight line, and by the six straight lines which 
join the four points two by two. (Cf. QUADRILATERAL.) In 
ordinary use the term commonly denotes a square or other 
rectangular figure: cf. quot. 1884 and senses 2 and 3. 
CI430 Art of Nombrynge (E.E.T.S.) 14 ffor dyvisioun 
write by vnytes, hathe .4. sides even as a quadrangille. 
1471 RIPLEY Camp. Alch. Ep. iv. in Ashm. (1652) 112 Of the 
Quadrangle make ye a Figure round. 1551 RECORDE Pathw. 
Ktunul. i. Defin., Thus haue I done with trianguled figures, 
and nowe foloweth quadrangles. 1653 R. SANDERS Physiogn. 
58 The Quadrangle is between the Table-line, the middle 
natural, that of the Sun, and that of Saturn, when there 
are four angles. 1869 DUNKIN Midn. Sky 141 Eight stars 
forming two similar quadrangles. 1884 tr. Lotze s Logic 130 
Nothing is commoner than for a person who speaks of a 

1-2 



QUADRANGLE. 

quadrangle to mean really a parallelogram or often even 
a square. 

2. A square or rectangular space or court, the 
sides of which are entirely or mainly occupied by 
parts of a large building, as a college, palace, etc. 
(See also QUAD sb. 1 , and cf. QUADUANT sb. 1 *) 

1593 SHAKS. 2 Hen. VI, i. iii. 156 My choiler being ouer- 
blowne, With walking once about the Quadrangle. 1642 
Caval. Adi . Majesty 7 Our men. .went in at the back Gate 
opposite to Oriall Colledge, and through Canterbury quad 
rangle. 1764 HARMER Observ. xr. iii. 103 These quad 
rangles or courts are paved . . with marble. 1828 SCOTT 
F. M. Perth x, A lofty vaulted entrance led through this 
eastern front into the quadrangle. 1877 W. THOMSON Voy, 
Challenger I. n. 112 We passed through an archway into 
a large quadrangle. 

3. A rectangular building or block of buildings ; 
a building containing a quadrangle. 

1620 T. PEYTON Paradise in Farr S. P. Jos. 7(1848) 179 
Like a quadrangle seated on a hill With twelue braue 
gates. 1645 EVELYN Mem. (1857) I. 217 They [the Schools] 
are fairly built in quadrangle, with cloisters beneath. 171* 
AMHERST Terrx Fil. No. 5 (1754) 24, I would not have 
them set their minds too much upon new quadrangles, and 
empty libraries, and spacious halls. 1846 McCuLLOCH Ace. 
Brit. Empire (1854) II. 383 The buildings of Trinity College 
[Dublin]. .consist of three quadrangles. 1870 F. R. WILSON 
Ch. Lindisf. 64 Beadwell [has] an additional quadrangle of 
houses. 

b. A square block ^in quot., an iceberg). 

1853 KANE Grinnelt Exp, xlix. (1856) 461 A second quad 
rangle stood out from the shore at the same rate. 

4. Comb., (? of the adj.) as quadrangle-wise adv. 
1582 N. T. (Rhem.) Rev. xxi. 16 The citie is situated 

quadrangle-wise, a 1604 HANMER Chron. Ireland(\b-$$ i8j 
The walles foure square, or quadrangle wise. 

t Quadrangle, # Obs. [ad. L. quadranguhis &gt; 
four-cornered : see prec. and cf. obs. F. quadrangle 
(Godef.).] a. = QUADRANGULAR, b. Astron. 
QUADRATE a. 2. 




39/2 i ne ureeKe leuer \ ratner oetoKenein me quaarangie 
figure. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny I. 13 In the quadrangle aspect 
of the Sun she [the Moon] appeareth diuided in halfe : in 
the triangle she is well neere inuironed. 

Quadrangled (kwg-dnci)g kl, kwgdrce-rjg ld), 
a. ("f. as prec. + -ED^.] 

1. = QUADRANGULAR. Now rare or Obs. 

1552 in HULOET. 1570 UILLINGSLEV Ettclitii. xxxii. 42 The 
angles of euery quadrangled figure are equall to 4 right 



are an Oblong .. and a Rhomboide. 1800 J. HUKDIS 
Favourite Village 155 The quadrangled tube Into a pipe 
monotonous converts. 

2. Furnished with a quadrangle. 

1880 SIR J. B. PHEAK Aryan Village 86 There will be 
the brick-built, quadrangled house. 

Quadrangular (kwgdra;-ngi/aaj\a. [ad. late 
L. quadrangularis (Boethius), f. c]iiadrangulum: 
see QUADRANGLE and -AH, and cf. F. quadrangit- 
laire (1543).] Shaped like a quadrangle; having 
four angles ; of four-cornered base or section. 

1592 G. HARVEY I ierce s Super. (1593) 20 The ^Egyptian 
Mercury .. his Image in Athens was quadrangular. 1607 
TOPSELL Foiir-f. Beasts (1658) 250 A company of Horses 
set like a Tower in a Quadrangular form in a field, 
was called Fergus. i6n CORYAT Crudities 169 It hath 
a prety quadrangular Court adjoyning to it. 1671 Phil. \ 
Trans. VI. 2216 It was a very dark Spot almost of a quad* &lt; 
rangular form. 1776 GIBBON Dtcl. # F. xiii. I. 396 The 
form was quadrangular, flanked with sixteen towers. 1784 
COWPER Task iv. 217 With spots quadrangular of diamond 
form. 1849 GROTE Greece n. Iviii. VII. 227 The lower part 
was left as a quadrangular pillar. 1882 Miss BRADDON Alt. 
Royal III. iii. 47 The little quadrangular garden. 

Comb. 1656 HEYLIN Sum. France 74 A house built 
quadrangular wise. 

Hence Quadra ngiilarly adv., in the manner of 
a quadrangle; with four corners. Quadra ngular- 
ness, the state or fact of being quadrangular 
(Bailey, vol. II, 1727). 

1708 OZELL tr. Boileau s Lutrin II. (1730) 125 An inverted 
Cone . . Sharp pointed, and quadrangularly long. 1875 H. C. 
WOOD Therap. (1879) 522 Quadrangularly prismatic crystals. 

t Quadra ngulate, a. Obs. rare. [ad. late 
L. quadrangulat-us (Tertull., Vulg.) ; see QUAD 
RANGLE sb. and -ATE a .] Made quadrangular ; 
squared. 

1592 R. D. Hypnerotomachia sb, The pointed quadran- 
gulate Corner stones. 1599 R. I.INCHE Fount. Anc. Fid. 
H iv, A certaine squared and quadrangulate circle. 

Hence f Quadra ng-ulateuess, the state or con 
dition of having four corners. Obs. rare. 

"597 A- M. tr. Guillemeau s Fr. Clnrurg. 53/2 Through 
the quadrangulatenes therof it cutteth . . al that wheron it 
glaunceth. 

t Quadranguled, a. Obs. rare- 1 , [cf. prec.] 
= QUADRANGLED. 

1392 R. D. Hy r ncntomackia 4 b, Hir charmes and quad- 
ranguled plaint* [A mistranslation] 

Quadrant (kwg-drant), s/i.1 Also 5-6 -ent, 7 
-an. [ad. L. quadrans, quadrant- fourth part, 
quarter (spec, of an as. an acre, a foot, a pound, 
a sextarius, a day ; cf. the senses below), f. quadr- 
four- : see QUADKI-.] 

t L A quarter of a day ; six hours. Obs. 



1398 TEEVISA Earth. DC P. R. ix. ix. (1495) 354 A day 
conteynyth foure quadrantes, and a quadrant conteynyth 
syxe houres. a 1628 SIR J. BEAUMONT End his Majesty s 
ist Yeare (R.), The sunne, who in his annuall circle takes 
A daye s full quadrant from th ensuing yeere. 1646 SIR T. 
BROWNE Pseud. Ep. 219 The intercalation of one day every 
fourth yeare, allowed for this quadrant, or 6 houres super 
numerary. 

t 2. The fourth part of a Roman as. Obs. 

533 BELLENDI:N Livy in. vii. (1901) 270 Ilk man went to 
Valerius hous, and left ane quadrent in it, to cans him be 
the more rkhely buryit. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. 518 A 
small piece of brasse coin, although it be no more than 
a Quadrant. 1655 MOUFET & BENNET Health s linprov. 
191 They were highly esteemed, being sold every Dishfull 
for fourscore Quadrants. 

fb. A farthing. (So med.L. quadrans, AF. 
quadrant,} Obs. 

1609 SKENE Reg. Maj. 123 b (Burgh La-wes c. 40), Hee 
..sail giue ane quadrant (farding). Ibid. zfi\t(Biirgk Laives 
c. 66), The maister. .sail haue ane pennie for his Ouen ; the 
twa servants ane pennie, and the boy ane quadrant, 
t c. at/rib, in contemptuous sense. Obs. 

1589 NASHE Dcd. to Greene s Menaphon (Arb.) 8 Our 
quadrant Crepundios, that spit ergo in the mouth of euerie 
one they meete. 

t 3. The fourth part of a sextarius or Roman 
pint. Obs. rare. 

1601 HOLLAND Pliny I. 267 One of their shels ordinarily 
would containe 80 measures called Quadrants. 1688 R. 
HOLME Armoury in. 339/1 Gill or Quadran, is 4 to a pint. 

4. A quarter of a circle or circular body, viz. (a) 
an arc of a circle, forming one fourth of the circum 
ference ; (6) one fourth of the area of a circle, con 
tained within two radii at right angles. 

1571 DIGGES Pantom. I. B iv, A Quadrant is the fourth 
part of a Circle, included with two Semidiameters. i6e$ 
N. CARPENTER Geog. Del. i. vi. (1635) 123 A circle is diuided 
into foure quadrants. 1660 BARROW Euclid vi. 33 cor. As 
the arch BC is to four quadrants, that is, the whole circum 
ference. 1694 HOLDER Disc. Trine (J.), In each quadrant 
of the circle of the ecliptick. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v. 
Quarter-round, Any projecting moulding, whose contour 
is a perfect quadrant, 1812 WOODHOUSE Astron. \. 6 PQ, 
Pq [are] quadrants containing 90 degrees. 1843 PORT- 
LOCK Gtol. 682 In each quadrant of the kiln, there is an 
opening. 1869 DUNKIN Midn. Sky 74 The north-western 
quadrant of the sky. 1900 Brit. Med. yrnl. (No. 2046) 622 
An insignificant nebula in the lower-inner quadrant of the 
left cornea. 

b. A thing having the form of a quarter-circle. 

Quadrant of Altitude, a graduated strip of brass on an 
artificial globe, fixed at one end to some point of the 
meridian, round which it revolves, and extending round one 
fourth of the circumference. 

1638 CHILMEAD tr. Hues Treat. Globes (1889) 33 Then 
fasten the quadrant of Altitude to the Vertical point. 1726 
tr. Gregory s^ Astron. I. 269 With the Quadrant of Altitude, 
find that Point of the Ecliptic which is elevated 12 Degrees 
above the Western Part of the Horizon. 1816 J. SMITH 
Panorama Sc. fy A rt II. 717 A sliding piece N, (much like 
the nut of the quadrant of altitude belonging to a common 
globe). 1825 J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 114 The 
inclined shaft, .working in the toothed quadrant Z, elevates 
or depresses the sluice. 1888 JACOBI Printers Vocab. 107 
Q fadrant t a small crescent-shaped piece of iron or steel used 
for the movement of the vibrating roller on a platen machine. 
C. A quarter of a sphere or spherical body. 

1882 VINES tr. Sachs Hot. 300 In each of the four quad 
rants [of a cell] a third division takes place. 

5. An instrument, properly having the form of a 
graduated quarter-circle, used for making angular 
measurements, esf. for taking altitudes in astronomy 
and navigation. 

Various kinds of quadrants (some being improperly so 
called) have been employed for different purposes, but are 
now to a great extent superseded by more perfect instru 
ments. The distinctive names are derived either from the 
inventors (as Adams s, Coles s, Collins s, Da-vis s, Godfrey s 
or Hadley s, Gunter s, Svtton s quadrant), from those by 
whom it is used (3&gunner s,suri&gt;eyor s quadrant}, or from 
some property, use, etc., of the instrument (as horodiclical, 
mural, sinical quadrant). 

a 1400 in Halhwell Kara Mathematica (1841) 58 Til . . [&gt;e 
threde whereon be plumbe henges falle vpon be mydel lyne 
of [&gt;e quadrant, |&gt;at es to say [&gt;e 45 degre. a 1400-50 
Alexander 129 Quadrentis [MS. In adrentis] corven all of 
quyte siluyre. 1555 EDEN Decades 245 With my quadrant 
and Astrolabie instrumentes of Astronomic. 1627 CATT. 
SMITH Seaman s Gram. xiv. 68 The Gunners quadrant is to 
leuell a Peece or mount her to any randon. 1638 CHII.MKAU 
tr. Hues Treat. Globes (1889) 102 Observe the Meridian 
Altitude of the Sunne with the crosse staffe, quadrant, or 
other like instrument. 1696 PHILLIPS (ed. 5), David s [1706 
Da-vis s\ Quadrant, an Instrument us d by Seamen, where 
with they observe the height of the Sun with their Backs 
toward it. 1774 M. MACKENZIE Maritime Sum. 10 With 
a Theodolite, or Hadley s Quadrant .. take the Angles 
YXA, YXB, VXC. 1848 DICKENS Dombey iv, The stock 
in trade of this old gentleman comprised . . sextants, and 
quadrants. 1897 F. T. BULLEN Cruise Cachalot 100 Any 
thing . . more out of date than his hog-yoke , or quadrant, 
I have never seen. 

6. alt rib. and Comb., as quadrant cell, lever; 
quadrant-like, -shaped adjs. ; quadrant-compass, 
a carpenter s compass with an arc to which one leg 
may be screwed (Knight Diet. Meek. 1 875) ; quad 
rant-electrometer, an electrometer in which the 
index moves through a quarter of a circle ; quad 
rant steam-engine, an engine in which the piston 
oscillates through a sector of a circle, instead of 
sliding along a cylinder (Knight Diet. Meek.}. 

1816 J. SMITH Panorama Sc. $ Art 11. 247 This conductor 



QUADRANTID. 

should be furnished with a quadrant electrometer. 1833 
T. HOLLAND Manuf. Metal\\. 278 The principle [of Strutt s 
lock] . . consists in a number of quadrant levers. 1874 
MICKLETHWAITE Mod. Par. Churches 163 The mediaeval 
quadrant-shaped cope-chests. 1884 BOWER & SCOTT De 
Bary s Phaner. 20 Each quadrant cell is again divided 
into two unequal parts. 1897 Outing (U.S.) XXIX. 525/1 
The quadrant-like part of the shutter. 

t Quadrant, st&gt;.* Obs, [App. an alteration of 
QUADRAT or QUADRATE sb.\ through assoc. with 
prec. See also QUADRAN sb.] 

1. ^ QUADRANGLE sb. 2, 3. 

1443 in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) I. 389 Werkemen 
and Tabor dryying the berne in to the quadrant of the 
College. 1537 in \V. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford 143 
The abbot send for me, . . he beyng under the ellme in the 
quadrant. 1582 STANYHURST sEneis iv. (Arb.) 118 Dido 
affrighted.. Too the inner quadrant runneth. 1631 WEEVER 
Anc. J" tin. Man. 412 A faire large Chappell on the East side 
of the Quadrant. 1655 FULLER Hist. Camb. v. 29 The 
present quadrant of the Schools. 

2. A square ; a square thing or piece (aIso^/5^.) : 
a square picture. 

1474 CAXTON Chesse 140 The kyng . . is sette in the iiij 
quadrante or poynt of theschequer. 1563-87 FOXE A. ^ M. 
&lt; T $96) 587 Since the time they did receiue the catholicke 
faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, as a most perfect quadrant. 
1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. 440 The quadrants or square 
cantons of the old Tuny fish, burnt to a cole. .are thought to 
be good for the tooth-ach. 1651 Life Father Sarpi (1676) 
22 A portable quadrant of Christ in the Garden. 

b. One side of a square. (Cf. QUADRATURE 2.) 

1577-87 HOLINSHKD Chron. III. 856/2 Apalace,the which 
I was quadrant, and euerie quadrant of the same palace was 
j three hundred and twentie eight foot long. 

Quadrant, sb3 : see QUADRATE sb% 

t Qua drant, a. Obs. [ad. L. quadrant-em, 

pres. pple. of quadrare to square : in sense i perh. 

an alteration of quadrat QUADRATE a. (cf. prec. and 

QUADRAN 2).] 

1. Square ; of a square form. 

1509 HAWES Past. Pleas, in. (Percy Soc.) 15 The craggy 
rocke, whiche quadrant did appeare. 1535 R. LAYTON Let, 
to Cromwell 12 Sept. in Wood Ann. 62 Wee found all the 

Seat Quadrant Court [of New College] full of the leaves of 
unce. 1577-87 [see prec. 2b]. 1591 GARRARD Art Warre 
161 Taking from the quotient y roote of the quadrant 
number. 1601 BP. W. BARLOW Defence 105 The quadrant 
stones of Salomons building. 1603 T. M. Progr. Jas. / in 
Arb. Garner VI H. 501 A goodly edifice of free stone, built 
in quadrant manner. 1618 Bamevelfs Afol. E b, The truth 
resembles, right, the right Cubes figure ; . . Whose quadrant 
flatness neuer doth disfigure. 

b. Astron. = QUADRATE a, 2. 

The form in this case may be due to association with 
QUADRANT j/ .l 4. 

1594 KLUNDEVII. Exerc. vn. x. (1636) 662 Characters.. 
Whereof the first signifieth a conjunction .. the fourth a 
quadrant aspect. 

2. Agreeing, consonant, or conformable (to or 
with}. Cf. QUADRATE a, 4, (So obs. F. quadrant.} 

1536 St. Papers Hen. T/?/, I. 521 Perceyving that your 
opinion and advise is quadrant with the same ; We haue 
sent.. a pardon to our Cousin. 1598 YONG Diana ; 241 To do 
the contrarie. .were., not quadrant to that, which is expected 
at your hands. 1720 WELTON Suffer. Son of God \ I. xx. 567 
Thou art content with the Sincerity and Uprightness of my 
Inclinations, tho they should not be so exactly Conformable 
and Quadrant to Thine Own. 

Quadrantal (kwgdne ntal), a. 1 [ad. L. quad- 
rantalis : see QUADRANT sb. 1 and -AL.] Having 
the shape of, consisting of, connected with, a 
quadrant or quarter-circle ; esp. quadrantal arc 
(t arch}. 

1678 HoBKEsDt Ctirti. ad. fin., Wks. 1845 VII. 180 A straight 
line equal to the quadrantal arc BLD. 1703 T. N. City $ 
C. Purchaser 14 A Quadrantal Casement, rising from its 
Plain. 1797 HELLINS in Phil. Trans. LXXXVIII. 529 
The length of a quadrantal arch of the circle. 1867 G. 
BARRY Sir C. Barry \\. 116 The central building with 
quadrantal corridors. 1871 B. STEWART Heat (ed. a) 71 
A quadrantal arc of a meridian on the earth s surface. 

b. Quadrantal deviation, error, triangle (see 
quots.). 

1706 PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey), Quadrantal Triangle t a 
Spnerick Triangle, that has at leabt a Quadrant for one of 
its Sides, and one Angle Right. 1788 HERSCHEL in Phil. 
Trans. LXXVIII. 374 We may resolve the quadrantal 



.1 puiar-nutj^ucL UVVHMIWII , HUU UUHUIBUMI uc&gt;miiun, 

which changes from positive to negative as the keel turns 
from quadrant to quadrant. 1865 Q. Rev. 358 The quad 
rantal error which depends only on the position of the 
horizontal soft iron of the ship. 

t Quadra iital, ^. 2 Obs. rare. [f. QUAD 
RANT st&gt;.~ + -AL.] a. Square; having a square base. 
b. Astron. = QUADUANT a. i b. 

1665 J. GADBURY Lond. Deliz&gt;. Predicted !. 4 The Con 
junctional, Opposite, or Quadrantal Rays of Jupiter. 1690 
LEYBOL-HN Curs. Math. 517 Let ABCDE be a Quadrantal 
Pyramis, {for a Pyramis is denominated from the number of 
the equal Sides of the Base thereof, as here four. .). 

t Quadra ntal, &lt;7.- f Obs. rare**, [ad. \^.quad- 
rantal-is of a quarter-foot, f. quadrant- QUADRANT 
*M] (See quot.) 

1656 BLOUNT Gloswgr.^ Quadranial. .used Adjectively. . 
four fingers thick, or three inches. 



tid ^kwgdne ntid). [f. L. quadrant- 
stem of quadrans + -ID.] One of a shower of 



QUADRANTILE. 

meteors falling on Jan. 2 and 3, and having its 

radiant point in the constellation Qnadrans mu- 

ralis* (Usu. in//.) 1876 G. F. CHAMBERS Astron. 799. 

Quadrantile, a. rare- 1 , [f. QUADRANT sb. 1 

+ -ILE.] = QUADKANTAL a. I. 

1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) II. 585/2 On this pin are two 
moveable collets, .to which are fixed the quadrantHe wires. 

t Qua drantly, adv. Obs. rare. [f. QUADRANT 
a. + -LY a .] Squarely; in a square form. To 
multiply quadrantly, to square. 

1538 LELAND It in. III. 33 In the midle of the Toun .. is 
a House buildid quadrant ly. 1581 STYWARD Mart. Discipl. 
ii. 108 An order to imbattell 12. C men quadrantlie at the 
sodaine. 1594 BLUNDEVIL Exerc. \. xxvi. (1636) 62 You 
must multiply the said 4 in it selfe Quadrantly, which makcth 
16. 

Quadrapertite, obs. form of QUADRIPARTITE. 

Quadrat (kwo drat). Also 8 quadrate, [var. 
of QUADRATE j.l, in special senses.] 

f 1. An instrument formerly used for measuring 
altitudes or distances, consisting of a square plate 
with two graduated sides, sights, etc. Obs. 

a 1400 in Halliwell Rara Mathematica (1841) 65 When., 
bou wolde mesure be heght. .make a quadrat.. bat es to sey 
a table even foure square ofwode or brasse. 1617 MINSHEU 
Ductor, A Quadrat, or Geometricall instrument, whereby 
the distance and height of a place is knowne afarre off by 
looking thorow a certaine little hole therein,.. dioptra. 

fb. Two graduated sides of a square, marked in 
the rectangular corner of a quadrant to facilitate 
its use. Obs. 

a 1400 in Halliwell Rara Mathematica (1841) 59 pe quad 
rat . . whilk es descryvede .. in be quadrant has tuo sides. 
1706 PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey), Quadrate and Line of Shadows 
(on a Quadrant) is a line of natural Tangents. 1727-41 
CHAMBERS Cycl., Quadrat . .called Z\SQ geometrical square, 
and line of shadows , is an additional member on the face of 
the common Gunter s and Sutton s quadrants. 

2. Printing. A small block of metal, lower than 
the face of the type, used by printers for spacing ; 
abbrev. QUAD sb* 

1683 MOXON Mech. E.rerc., Printing xxii. P 5 If his Title 
..make three or more Lines, he Indents the first with an m 
Quadrat, 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl.s.v., There are quadrats 
of divers sizes, as m quadrats, n quadrats, &c. which are 
respectively of the dimensions of such letters. 1824 J. JOHN 
SON Typogr. II. i!i. 65 An m-quadrat is the square of the 
letter to whatever fount it may belong ; an n-quaclrat is half 
that size. 1843 Penny Cycl. XXV. 455/1 Larger quadrats, 
equal in body to two, three, or four m s. 

attrib. and Comb. 1683 MOXON Mech. Exerc,, Printing 
viii, Head sticks .. are Quadrat high. 1894 Amer. Diet. 
Printing s.v., To throw all the pi and broken letter . . into 
the quadrat box. 

Quadrat, obs. form of QUADRATE. 

f Qua dratary, a. Obs. rare" 1 . [ad.L. qtiad- 
ratdri-zts: see QUADRATE sb^ and -ARY 1 .] Re 
lating to a square. 

1690 LEVBOURN Cnrs, Math. 328 The Proportions Cuba- 
tory and Quadratary, in relation to a Sphere s. .Periphery. 

Quadrate (kwo-dre l t), sb. 1 Also 6-8 quadrat, 
[ad. L. quadrat-um sb., neut. sing, of quadrdtus 
QUADRATE a. 1 : cf. QUADRANT sb.- and QUADRAT.] 

fl. A square; a square area or space; also, a 
rectangle or rectangular space. Obs. 

1471 SIR J. PASTON in P. Lett. III. 17 What brede eche 
towr takythe within iche corner off the quadrate ovyrthwert 
the dorys. 1483 [see QUADRATE a. i]. 1551 RECORDE 
Pathw. Knowl. i. xxi, When any two quadrates be set forth, 
howe to make a squire about the one quadrate, whiche shall 
be equall to the other quadrate. 1598 BARRET Theor. 
Warres in. ii. 46 A Quadrat of ground will bee of men two 
times and one third more broade then long. 1658 SIR T. 
BROWNE Card. Cyrus 4.5 The Labyrinth of Crete, built upon 
a long quadrate, containing five large squares. 1667 MILTON 
P. L. vi. 62 The Powers Militant, That stood for Heav n, 
in mighty Quadrate joyn d. 1680 T. LAWSON Mite Treas. 
33 Their . . Cone, Cylinder, Parallelogram, Quadrat [etc.]. 
t b. A square number, the square of a number. 

1590 RECORDE, etc, Gr. Aries (1640) 575 That number is 
called a Quadrate, which is made by the multiplication of 
two equal numbers. 1646 SIR T. BROWNED Pseud. Ep. 217 
The life of man, whose Period . . he placed in the Quadrate 
of 9. or 9. times 9. that is, 81. 

t c. A group of four things. = QUATERNION i. 

1637 SALTONSTALL Eusebius Life Constantine 139 By the 
number of twice two, hee invented the quadrate of the foure 
Elements. 

2. A square or rectangular plate or block, rare. 

1647 H. MORE Song of Soul i. it. cxliii, A leaden Quadrate 
swayes hard on that part That s fit for burdens. 1799 W. 
TOOKE View Russian Emp. I. 50 It was constructed of 
huge quadrats of ice hewn in the manner of free-stone. 1821 
LAMB Elia Ser. i. Old Benchers f. T., His person was a 
quadrate, his step massy and elephantine. 

f3. Astron. a. Quadrate aspect ; quadrature. Obs. 

1665-6 Phil. Trans. I. 5 This Comet . . Having been in 
Quadrat with the Sun it should still descend. 1686 GOAD 
Celest. Bodies i. vi. 22 The Moon, on the day of the Last 
Quadrate decreasing, makes as high a Water, sometimes 
higher than at the first in the Increase. 1695 CONCREVE 
Love for L. ii. v, Can judge . . of sextiles, quadrates, trines 
and oppositions. 

fb. A right angle. Obs. rare~ l . 

1686 GOAD Celesl. Bodies \. vi. 18 In the one the Moon is 
conjoin d with the Sun in diameter-line making no Angle, 
in the Other making a Quadrate, the utmost distance from 
the Conjunction and Opposition. 

4. Anat. a. The quadrate bone. b. A quadrate 
muscle. 



5 

187* MIVART Anat. 121 Other bones, the lowest of which 
is termed the. Quadrate. 1878 [see QUADRATO- a]. 1883 
MARTIN & MOALK Vertebr. Dissect, n. 103 The quadrates, 
projecting ventrally and forward and bearing the articular 
facets for the mandible. 

t Quadrate, sb Obs. Also quadrat. [App. 

an alteration of QUADRANT j.l, through assoc. with 
prec., or through misreading of quadrat = quad- 
ran tl\ 

1. A quarter; spec, of a circle. = QUADRANT sb^ 4. 
1551 RECORDE Pathw. Knowl. i. Defin., The quarter of a 

circle, named a quadrate. 1604 R. CAWDBEY Table Alph.^ 
Quadrate^ a quarter. 

2. = QUADRANT 5. 

1551 RECORDE Pathw* Knowl. n. Prcf., The arte of 
Measuryng by the quadrate geometricall, and the disorders 
committed in vsyng the same. Ibid.^ A newe quadrate 
newely inuented by the author hereof. 1559 W.CUNNINGHAM 
Cosmogr. Glasseib?, The use of the shipmans quadrat, whose 
inventor was worthy D. Gemma. Ibid. 164 The hier part 
of the Quadrate. 

t Quadrate, sb.% Her. Obs. Also 5 quadrant, 
5-6 quadrat. [Prob, identical with one or other of 
the prcc. sbs., but the precise origin is not clear.] 
(See quots. 1486.) 

1486 Bk. Sf. Albany Her. B iij, In blasyng of armys be 
ix. quadrattis that is to say v. quadrate fmiall and iilj. 
Royall. Ibid. R iv, Quadrat is calde in armys whan the 
felde is set with sum tokyn of armys. 1572 BosSKWBLL 
Armor ie n. 77 b, The Crosse thus charged, is called of olde 
Heraultes, the first quadrate royall. 1586 FERNE Blaz. 
Gentrie 206-209. 

Quadrate (kwydrA), a. Also 5-7 quadrat. 
[rut. L. quadrat-ns, pa. pple. viquadrare to square : 
see QUADRATE v.] 

1. Square, rectangular. Now rare. 

1398 TREVISA Barth. De P. R. xix. cxviii. (1495) 922 
Quadrate shape and square is moost stedfaste and stable. 
1483 CAXTON Gold. Leg. 332^/2 For whanne euery beest 
was quadrate as we may ymagyne In a quadrate ben foure 
corners and euery corner was a penne. 1538 L.KI.AND ftm. 
III. 44 A strong Castel quadrate having at eche corner 
a great Round Tower. 1560 ROLLAND Crf. Venus i. 139 



pears the quadrate pile. 1866 HUXLEY Preh. Rent. Caithn. 
137 The quadrate pelvis is that which is compressed .. so 
that the brim is almost quadrangular. 1880 BASTIAN Brain 
77 These two pairs of ganglia .. are combined into one 
quadrate mass in Hyalea. 

Comb, 1610 GUILLIM Heraldry n. vii. (1660) 85 This is 
termed Quarter pierced, quasi, Quadrate pierced, for that 
the piercing is square as a Trencher. 

fb. Math. Of numbers or roots. = SQUARE. Obs. 

ci43o Art Nombrynge (E. E. T. S.) 14, ,4- is the first 
nombre quadrat, and 2. is his rote. 1571 DIGGES Pantom. 
i. xxv. Hj, These two ioyned together make 43600, whose 
Quadrate roote being about 208 pace 3 foote is the Hypo- 
thenusall line AC. 1611 SI&gt;EF,D Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. viii. 
- 55 2 Ihe Rings Roundnesse must remember the King 
ternitie; the Quadrat number of Constancy. 1646 SIR 



of Et 



T. BROWNE Pseud. Ep. 215 Consisting of square and quad 
rate numbers [viz. 49 and 81]. 1655-60 STANLEY Hist. Phil. 
(1687) 527/2 The Tetrad.. being quadrate .. is divided into 
Equals. 

C. Anat. in the distinctive names of certain parts 
of the body having an approximately square shape. 

Quadrate bone, a special bone in the head of birds and 
reptiles, by which the lower jaw is articulated to the skull. 
Quadrate muscle, the name of several muscles, esp. the 
quadratiislumborum (of the loins), q.femoris (of the thigh), 
and q. pronator (in the forearm) : see QUADRATUS. 

1856-8 W. CLARK Van der Hoeveris Zool. II. 334 The 
quadrate bone of birds is. .divided above into two arms. 

f2. Astron. &lt;=QUARTILE a. Obs. 



C . 

trine ts A- Cf. QUADRATURE 4. 

1551 HULOET, Quadrate aspecte of the pianettes. 1594 
BLUNDEVIL E.rerc. iv. pr. 43 (1636) 501 And they [two 
Planets] are said .. to be in a quadrat aspect when they 
are distant one from another, by three signes. 1601 HOLLAND 
Pliny I. 12 The planet of Mars..maketh station but in 
quadrate aspect: as for lupiter, in triangle aspect. 1685 
BOYLE Enq. Notion Nat. v. 126 At some time She and the 
Sun should have a Trine, or a Quadrate Aspect. 

j3. _/%". Complete, perfect. Obs. 

1608 J. KING Serttr. St. Mary s 7 There yet remameth 
a fourth point to make vp a quadrate and perfitt honor of 
the King. ^1645 HOWKLL Lett. vi. (1650) 253 The Moralist 
tells us that a quadrat solid wise man should . . be still the 
same. 1679 HARRY Key Script, n. 45 That future quadrate 
Righteousness of Gospel-Promise. 

j* 4. Conformable, corresponding (to or ivit/i}. 
Cf. QUADRANT #. 2. Obs. 

a 1657 R. LOVEDAY Lett. (1663) 68 To construe me right, 
and believe my meaning quadrate to my words. 1674 S. 
VINCENT Yng. Gallant s Acad, 99 His word and his meaning 
are quadrate, and never shake hands and part. 1720 WELTON 
Suffer. Son ofGodl. vi, 112 Whose State of Life is Quadrate 
and Concentrkk with the Low and Humble Poverty of their 
Redeemer. 

5. Her. Cross quadrate^ a cross which expands 
into a square at the junction of the arms. 

1780 EU.MONDSON Compl. Body Heraldry I. [See of] Litch- 
fidd. Per pale gu. and ar. a cross potent quadrat. 1797 
Encycl. Brit. (cd. 3) VIII. 452/1. 

Quadrate (kwg dre t), v. Also 7-9 (6 Sc. 
pa. pple. } quadrat. [T- L. quadrat-, ppl. stem of 
quadrare to square.] 

1. trans. To make (a thing) square, rare. 



QUADRATIC. 

1560 HOLLAND Crt, Venus n. 586 With subtill wark it was 
sa roborat Properlic alswa with kirnalis weill quadrat. 1798 
in Spirit P^ubl. Jrnls. (17991 II. 151 The winding stream 
quadrated into fishponds. 1841 Penny Cycl. XIX. 197/2 The 
materials . . are there quadrated or formed into rectangular 
blocks. 

b. Math. To square (a circle, etc.). rare. 

c 1645 HOWELL Lett. (1650) I. 26 The harden tilings in 
the world were ; To quadrate a circle, to find out the philo 
sopher s stone. 1838-9 HALLAM Hist. Lit. III. III. viii. 9 
399 It had long been acknowledged by the best geometers 
impossible to quadrate by a direct process any curve surface. 

f 2. To square (a number or amount). Obs. rare . 

1613 JACKSON Creed n. in. iv. 388 Tbe Pharisees.. did as 
it were quadrate the measure of Proselytes sinnes ; multi 
plying Gentilisme by Pharisaisme. 

3. intr. To square, agree, correspond, conform 
with (rarely to). 

1610 GUILLIM Heraldry VI. v. (1611)265 This forme of 
Helmet.. doth best quadrate with the dignity of a Knight. 
1671 Trite NonconJ. 18 That it exactly quadrates to the 
case of our Controversie is apparent. 1720 WKLTON Snfler. 
Son of God 1. xi. 273 When their Lives Quadrate with 
their Doctrine, their Words Become of weight. 1794 PALKY 
Evid. II. i. (1817) 10 The description, .quadrates with no 
part of the Jewish history with which we are acquainted. 
1876 J. PAKKEK Paracl. II. xviii. 325 He had to make 
a creed which would quadrate with his immorality. 

b. Without const. : To be fitting, suitable, or 
consistent. Also of two things : To harmonize 
with each other. Now rare. 

1664 EVELYN Syh&gt;a (1776) 516 The same arguments do 
not Quadrate in trees. 1718 Freethinker No. 44 P 7 The 
Compliment, .of comparing a Beauty to a .Star, will now 
quadrate in every Respect. 1791 E. DAKWIS Hot. Card. 
Ii. Interl. 84 The similies of Homer.. do not quadrate, or 
go upon all fours. 1833 CHALMERS Const. Man (1835) I. vi. 
256 That the natural . . and the legal or political . . should 
quadrate as much as possible. 

c. trans. To make conformable (to), rare. 

1669 WORLIDGE Syst. Agric. (1681) 296 Therefore I desire 
all such that expect any success to their Observations, that 
they quadrate the Rules to the places where they live. 
1817 T. L. PEACOCK Melinconrt xxv, He quadrates his 
practice as nearly as he can to his theory. 

4. Artillery, a. trans. To adjust (a gun) on its 
carriage (see quots.). b. intr. Of a gun : To lie 
properly on the carriage. 

1706 PHILLIPS fed. Kersey) s.v., In Gunnery, to quadrate 
or square a Piece, is to see whether it be duly plac d, or 
well pois d on the Carriage and Wheels. 1800 Naval 
Citron. IV. 53 A gun quadrates, or hangs well in her carriage. 
1867 SMYTH Sailors Word-l k., Quadrate, to trim a gun on 
its carriage and its trucks, to adjust it for firing on a level 
range. 

5. In fa. pple.: Placed in quadrate aspect. 

1829 POE Poems, Al Aaraf (\y)) 192 What time the 
moon is quadrated in heaven. 

Qua drated,///. a. [f. prec. + -ED 1 .] a. Made 
square, squared, i Obs. b. Quartered, rare- 1 . 

a. 1578 BANISTER tlist. Man viii. 109 A nerue . . is at length 
implanted to the quadrated or foure squared Muscle. 1727- 
41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v. Printing, Little quadrated pieces of 
metal, called quotations. 

b. 1810 MOOR Hindu Pantheon 249 The quadrated lozenge, 
on the breast and in the palm of this image, is also un 
accounted for, and singular. 

f Quadrateness. Obs. rare~ l . Squareness. 

1599 A. M. tr. Galclhoucr s Bk. Pliysicke 112/1 Malleate 
. .with the broadest hammers, .till it be about thre quart, 
in the quadratnes therof. 

Quadratic (kwgdr^-tik), a. and sb. [ad. L. 
type *quadratic-us : see QTJADKATE sl&gt;. 1 and -ic, 
and cf. K. quadratique^\ 

A. adj. 1. Square, rare. 

1656 in BLOUNT Ghssogr. 1876 tr. Wagner s Gen. Pathol. 
115 They first assume the quadratic form at a distance of 
one metre behind the head. 1884 BOWER & SCOTT De 
Bary s Phaner. 107 One epidermal cell which appears m 
surface view rounded and quadratic. 

b. Ciyst. Of square section through the lateral 
or secondary axes ; characterized by this form. 

1871 ROSCOE Elem. Clutn. 215 On boiling this solution 
the salt is formed, and may be crystallized in quadratic 
prisms. 1875 BENNETT & DYER tr. Saclts But. 66 The 
calcium oxalate.. crystallises in the quadratic system. 

2. Math. Involving the second and no higher 
power of an unknown quantity or of a variable ; 
esp. in quatlratic equation : see EQUATION 6. 

1668 WILKINS Seal Char. n. vii. 181 Those Algebraical 
notions of Absolute, Lineary, Quadratic, Cubic. 1690 LEY- 
BOURN Cnrs. Math. 337 All Quadratick Aequations of this 
kind ..have two Roots. 1706 W. JONES Syn. Palmar. 
Matlieseos 128 All Quadratic Equations are reducible lo 
one of these Forms. 1806 HUTTON Course Math. I. 247 
A simple quadratic equation, is that which involves the 
square of the unknown quantity only. 1885 WATSON & 
BUHBURY Math. The. Electr. ^ Magn. I. 169 If we express 
every e in terms of the potentials by means of equations. . 
E will be a quadratic function of the potentials. 

B. sb. a. A quadratic equation, b. //. The 
branch of algebra dealing with quadratic equa 
tions. 

1684 BAKER Gcometr. Key Title-p.,Of linears, quadratics, 
cubics [etc.]. 1690 LEYBOURN Cnrs. Math. 337 The three 
sorts of Mixed Aequations above expressed, are all that can 
happen in Quadraticks. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v., There 
are several methods of extracting the roots of adfected 
quadratics. 1827 HUTTON Course Math. I. 256 note, Cubic 
equations, when occurring in pairs, may usually be reduced 
to quadratics, by extermination, a 1839 PRAED Poems (1864) 
II. 41 By turns, as Thought or Pleasure wills, Quadratics 
struggle with quadrilles. 1870 [see ADFECTED \ 



i! 



QUADRATICAL. 

Quadra tical, a. Now rare. [f. as prec. + 
-AL.] = QUADRATICS. 

1674 IEAKE Arith. (1696) 645 The Quotient shall be 
squaredly Quadratical. 1690 LEYBOUKN Curs. Math. 343 
To receive as many Cubical Points, as the Co-efficient doth 
Quadratical. 1880 GILBERT 1 iratcs Penzance, I understand 
equations, both the simple and quadratical. 

Hence Quadra tioally adv. (Cent. Diet.) 

Quadrate- (k\vgdrc T -t&lt;;), mod. comb, form of L. 
quadratus or qiiadratum, QUADRATE a. or sb?-; 
used in some scientific terms. 

fl. Math. Quadrato-cubic a., of the fifth power 
or degree. Quadrato-qnadrat^e, the fourth power, i 
Quadrate-quadratic, -quadratical adjs., of the 
fourth power ; biquadratic. Obs. 

1662 HOHUES Seven Proli. Wks. 1845 VII. 67 There be 
some numbers called plane . . others *quadrato-cubic. 1787 
WARING in Phil. Trans. LXXVII. 81 Biquadratic and 
quadrato-cubic equations. 1684 T. BAKER Geometr. Key d. 2 
The*quadrato-quadratof -r,a *. i728CLAKKEin/VHY.7&gt;&lt;ij. 



they consist must be *Quadrato-&lt;iuadratic. 1677 BAKER in 
Rigaud Corr. Sci. McndS+i) II. iSThe geometrical con 
structions of all cubic, and quadrato-quadratic equations. 
1668 BARROW ibid. 63 When ihe equations are *quadrato- 
quadratical. 

2. Zool. Connected with or pertaining to the 
quadrate together with some other bone, as Quad- 
ra-to-ju gal a. and sb. (see quot. 1878), -mandr- 
bular, -(meta pte rygoid, -squamo sal adjs. (see 
the second element). 

1870 ROLLESTOS Anim, Life 18 The qnadratojugal rod. 
1878 HELL Gcgcnbaur"s Comp. Anat. 462 In Birds the , 
quadrato-jugal is a slender piece of bone, which arises from 
the side of the mandibular joint of the quadrate. 1888 
ROLLESTON & JACKSON Anivt. Life 338 The quadrate or in 
Teleostei. . the quadrato-metapterygold. 

3. Cryst. Qua=dratoctalie .dron, an eight-sided | 
crystal of square section through the secondary 
axes. 

1884 BOWER & SCOTT Dt fiary s Phaner. 137 The funda 
mental form of the crystals belonging to the quadratic 
system is the quadratoctahedron. 

Quadratrix (kwdr^ l *triks). PI. quadra- 
trices. [mod.L., fem. agent-n. from quadrare to 
QUADRATE ; cf. F. quadra-trice (i7th c.).] A curve 
used in the process of squaring other curves. 

1656 tr. H abbes Elem. Pkilos. (1839) 316 The ancient 

eometricians .. who made use of the quadratrix for the 
inding out of a strait line equal to the arch of a circle. 1727- 
41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v.,The most eminent of these guadra- 
trices are, that of Dinostrates [etc.]. 1816 tr. Lacroix s 
Diff. ff Int. Calculus 662 The Quadratrix, a curve formerly 
celebrated for its apparent connection with the quadrature 
of the circle. 1898 tr. H. Schubert Math. Essays 124 The 
solution of the quadrature of the circle founded on the 
construction of the quadratrix. 

Quadrature (kwo dratuu). [ad. L. quadrd- 
tftra a square, the act of squaring : see QUADBATK 
v. and -URE. Cf. F. quadrature (1529).] 

1 1. Square shape, squareness. Obs. 

1563 FOXE A. 4- M. (1596) 1670 The maruellous quadrature 
of the same, I take to signifie the vniuersal agreement in 
the same, 1600 HOLLAND Livy xxv. xxiii. 565 One of the 
Romans . . counted the stones . . and made estimate to him- 
selfe of their quadrature and proportion. 1653 R. SANDERS 
Physiogn. 60 When the Quadrangle is broad, and well- 
proportioned in its quadrature. 1667 MILTON P. L, x. 380 
Parted by th Empyreal bounds, His Quadrature, from thy 
Orbicular World. 

t2. One side of a square. Obs. rarf~ l . 

1553 EDEN Treat. Ncwe Ind. (Arb.) 25 Euery quadrature 
or syde of the wall hath in it thre principal portes or gates. 

3. Math. The action or process of squaring ; spec. 
the expression of an area bounded by a curve, esp. 
a circle, by means of an equivalent square. 

1506 NASHE Saffron Walden 22 As much time, .as a man 
might haue found out the quadrature of the circle in. 1652 
BEXLOWES Theoph. xi. xxxvii, As hard to find thy cure As 
circles puzling Quadrature. 1664 Phil. Trans. I. 15 A 
method for the Quadrature of Parabola s of all degrees. 
1743 EMERSON Fluxions p. iii, Drawing Tangents to Curves, 
finding their Curvatures, their Lengths, and Quadratures. 
1829 MRQ. ANGLESEA Let. 28 Feb. in Lady Morgans Mem. 
(1862) II. 278, I am as incapable of making a rhyme as of 
effecting the quadrature of the circle. 1881 ROUTLEDGE 
Science ii. 36 The attention which the problem of the quad 
rature of the circle has attracted. 
t b. (See quot.) Obs. 

1737-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. t Quadrature-lines, or lines of 
Quadrature, are two lines frequently placed on Gunter b 
sector. [Description follows.] 

4. Astron. f a. One of the four cardinal points. 
Obs. rare~\ (See note on QUADRATE a. 2.) 

1601 HOLLAND Pliny I. 37 When this concurrence [of the 
planets with the sun] is about the quadratures of the heaven. 
[L. circa qitadrata mitndi.} 

b. One of the two points (in space or time) at 
which the moon is 90 distant from the sun, or 
midway between the points of conjunction and 
opposition. 

1685 BOYLE Eng. Notion Nat. vii. 256 When the Moon is 
in Opposition to the Sun.. that Part of Her Body which 
respects the Earth, is more Enlightned than at the Ne\ 



91 The tides are greatest in the syzigies, and least in the 



6 

quadratures. 1867-77 G. F. CHAMBERS As/ran, i. ii. (ed. 3) 
39 After starting from conjunction with the .Sun it succes 
sively reaches its Eastern quadrature [etc.]. 

c. The position of one heavenly body relative 
to another when they are 90 apart, esp. of the 
moon to the sun when at the quadratures (see prec.). 
t Also Quadrature aspect. 

1591 SPAREV tr. Cattail s Geomancic (1599! 185 The Quad 
rature Aspect is from the first to th&lt;; fourth, or from the first 
to the teinh. 1797 Encycl. Krit. (ed. 3) II. 508/2 Thus the 
sun and moon, . . or any two planets, may be in conjunction, 
opposition, or quadrature. 1812 WOODHOUSE Astron. vii. 44 
The Sun is said to be in quadrature with a star, or planet, 
when the difference of their longitudes is 90 or 270. 1854 
BREWSTER More Worlds xyi. 236 The rays reflected from 
them when the planets are in quadrature. 

t d. Her. In quadrature, at intervals of a 
quarter-circle. Obs. 

1766 PORNV Heraldry (1787) 188 A circular Wreath, Pearl 
and Diamond [= Argent and Sable] with four Hawk s Bells 
joined thereto in quadrature Topaz [=Or]. 

1 5. A division into four parts (? cf. QUADRATE 
si. *}. Obs. rare~ l . 

1578 LYTE Dodoens vi. Ixxix. 759 Foure straight lines 
running alongst the young shutes or branches, the which 
do make a quadrature, or a diuision of the said young 
brandies into foure square partes or cliftes. 

I Quadratus (kwjfdrJ tfci). Anat. [L. : see 
QUADRATE rf.landa.] A quadrate muscle. Quad- 
ratusfemorisjumborum, etc. (seeQuADBATE a. I c). 

1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl., Quadratus . . a name applied to 
several muscles, in respect of their square figure ; as the 
palmaris, and pronators. 1756 WINSLOW Anat. (ed.4) 1. 211 
A tendon . . inserted between the Gemelli and Quadratus. 
1843 ]. G. WILKINSON Swedtu&fftjg s Aniiti. Kingd. I. ii. 60 
Some of the before mentioned muscles : these are the 
triangulares and quadratus. 1870 ROLLKSTON A nim. Life 3 
The two psoas muscles and the quadratus lumborum. 

Quadreble, var. QUATREBLE, quadruple. 

Quadred, pa. pple. of QUADEK v. Obs. 

Quadrefoil, obs. form of QUATHEFOIL. 

Quadrein, obs. variant of QUATRAIN. 

t Quadrel. Ots. Also 7 -ell. [ad. It. quad- 
rello (jned.L. quadrellns, OF. quarrel, K. carreatt) 
square stone or brick, dim. of quadra a square : 
cf. QUAKKEL sby\ A square block, esp. of brick, 
and spec, of a kind of brick used in Italy (see quot. 
1703). Also at/rib. 

1686 PLOT Staffordsh. 358 Their Quadrells of peat, are 
made into that fashion by the spade that cults them. 1688 
R. HOLME Armoury lit. 457/1 A Quadrell Wall, that is 
a wall of Artificiall Stone, as Brick, Tyle, etc. 1703 T. N. 
Cityfy C. Purchaser 232 Quadrels, a sort of artificial Stones 
. . made of a chalky, whitish and pliable Earth, and dry d in 
the Shade. 1715 LEONI Palladia s Archit. (1742) I. 80 
A sort of Bricks larger than Quadrels, or common ones. 

Quadren, square : see QUADRAN. 

Quadrennial (kwgdre nial), a. and sb. Also 
(correctly) quadriennial, (7 -ennal). [ad. L. type 
*quadriennial-is,-ennal-is: seeQuADHENNIUMand \ 
-AL, and cf. F. quatriennal. ] 

A. adj. 1. Occurring every fourth year. 

1701 W. WOTTON Hist. Rome, Marcus iii. 46 1 Their 
Accounts of Time were reckoned by the Quadriennial 
Returns of the Grand Games. 1847 GROTE Greece ii. xxviii. 
IV. 92 Peisistratus . . first added the quadrennial or greater 
Panathenxa to the ancient annual or lesser Panathenaia. 

1880 Times 27 Sept. 8/1 The Archbishop of Canterbury., 
continuing his quadrennial visitation of his diocese. 1884 
Sat. Rev. 7 June 745/2 Its statutes only demanded quadren 
nial residence. 

2. Lasting for four years. 

1656 BLOUNT Glosso^r., Quadriennial, of four years. 1727 
BAILEY, vol. II, Qnaiirennial, of the Space of four Years. 

1881 Daily Neivs ii Mar. 6/2 Biennial Budgets and quad 
rennial Parliaments. 

B. sb. fa. A period of four years. Obs. rare 1 . 
b. An event happening every four years, c. A 
fourth anniversary, or its celebration (Cent. Diet.). 

a 1646 J. GREGORY Pvsthuma, De &ris et Epcchis (1650) 
163 The Egyptians called eveiie daie in the year by the 
Name of som God. .and everie year of their Lustrums or 

?uadriennals in like manner. 1836 Sat. Rev. 8 Nov. 625/2 
he great quadrennial the Presidential election is the 
1 Derby Day of America. 

tlence Quadre nnially adv., every fourth year. 
1796 MORSE Amer. Geog. I. 626 The senate [of Virginia] 
chosen quadrennially. 

II Quadremmim (kwgdre-nium). Also (cor 
rectly) quadrieunium. [a. L. quadrienniuin, 
f. quadrl- QUADRI- + aitinis year.] A period of 
four years; spec, in Se. Law (see quot. 1823). 

.1823 CRABB, Qitadricnniuin litilc, . . the term of four years 
allowed., to a minor after his majority, during which he may 
by suit, or action, endeavour to annul any deed granted to 
his prejudice during his minority. 1857 G. OLIVER Coll. 
Hist. Cath. Relig. Cornwall 482 Francis Watmough . . is 
known to have filled several quadrienniums before his death. 
1876 Fox BOURNE Locke I. ii. 52 In taking his bachelor s 
degree . . Locke abridged the old quadrennium . . by one term. 

Quadri- (kwo-dri), a first element used in combs, 
with the sense having, consisting of, connected with, 
etc. four (things specified) . The L. quadri- was 
so employed in a few words during the classical 
period, as in the sbs. quadridnum, quadrienniuin, 
quadririmis, quadrivium, the adjs. quacirifidus, 
quadrijugus, and the pple. quadripurtltus. In the 
post-classical and later language such compounds 



QUADRI- . 

are much more numerous, esp. adj. forms, as quad- 
riangultis, -emu s, -formis, -gatnus, -laterus, etc. 
(See also QUADHL--.) 

The earliest examples in Knglish are quadrangle, 
quadripartite, quadrivial, which are as old as the 
1 5th c. ; others, as quadrijid, quadriform, quatiri- 
lateral, qiiadrirerne were introduced later, esp. in 
the 1 7th c. By far the greater number of quadri- 
compounds, however, belong to the language of 
modern science, the employment of the prefix in 
popular words being much rarer than that of bi- 
aud tri-. A considerable number of those given 
in the following lists are self-explanatory, and in 
these cases the definition is omitted. 

I. Adjectives with the sense having or consist 
ing of four , characterized by the number four , 
as quadriba sio Client., applied to certain acids 
containing four atoms of displaceable hydrogen 
(Webster, 1864) ; qua : dricente - nnial, consisting 
of, connected with, a period of four centuries (Cent. 
Diet. 1891) ; quadrifa rious [L.-farius], fourfold, 
having four parts ; quadrifo cal, having four foci 
(Cent. Diet.} ; quadrifro ntal [L. -frails ], having 
four faces ; quadriga-bled ; quadrijirgal [L, 
-jugus], four-horsed, belonging to a four-horse 
chariot ; quadrili bral [L. -libris], containing 
four pounds ; quadrilrngual [late L. -lingtiis], 
using, written in, etc., four languages ; quadri - 
rnanous - QUADRUMANOUS ; f quadrimood (see 
quot.) ; quadrino mial, -no mioal, -no minal, 
consistingof four (algebraic) terms ; quadri-parous 
Ornith., laying only four eggs ; quadripla nar ; 
quadri plicate(d), having four folds or pleats 
(Craig, 1848); quadrisylla bic(al), t -syllable, 
-syllabous [late L. -syllabus ] ; quadrrvalent 
Chem., capable of combining with four univalent 
atoms. 

74S SWIFT To Gcorge-Nim-Dan-Dean Esq. Wks. 1841 
I. 762 Hail human compound *quadrifarious. .Invincible as 
wight Briareus. a 1859 DE QUINCEY Post/I. Wks. (1891) I. 
235 All the quadrifarious virtue of the scholastic ethics. 
1886 Academy 25 Apr. 288/1 The famous *QuadrifrontaI 
Roman Arch [at Tripoli). 1892 A. HEALES Arckit. Ch. 
Denmark 69 On the north is a staircase, the angles are 
of brick; quadrigabled. 1819 H. BUSK Vatriadiv. 636 



BIRCH Rfdc Lect. Egypt 41 A *quadnllngual stele at Suez, 
in Egyptian hieroglyphs, Persian, Median, and Babylonian 
cuneiform. 1609 DOULAND Ornith. Microl. 18 Diapente . . 
is the leaping of one Voyce to another by a fift, consisting 
of three Tones, and a semitone . . Therefore Pontifex cals it 
the Quadri-moode Interuall. 1727 BAILEY vol. H,*Ouadri- 
noutial, . . consisting of four Denominations or Names. 
1866-99 W. R. HAMILTON Elem. Quatern. (ed. 2) I. 245 The 
principal use which we shall here make of the standard 
quadrmomial form. 1882 SALMON Anal. Geom. 3 Diniens. 
(ed. 4) 23 We shall use these *quadriplanar coordinates, 



:rythmg p 



1678 



Glos scigr., ^Quadrisyllable,, .that hath four syllables. 
PHILLIPS (ed. 4), List Harbarous Words,*Quadrisyllabous, 
consisting of four syllables. 1869 Eng. Mecli. 12 Nov. 198/3 
The elements are classified as . . tetratomic or quadrivalent, 
having four attractions. 1880 CLEMINSHAW Wurtz Atom. 
The. 283 Carbon is quadrivalent and oxygen bivalent. 

b. Bot. and Zoo!., as quadria late, having four 
ake or wing-like processes (Syd. Soc. Lex. 1897) ; 
quadria nnulate, having or consisting of four 
rings ; quadriarti culate(d), having four joints ; 
quadrica psular, -ca psulate ; quadrica rinate, 
having four carina: or keel -shaped lines, spec, of an 
orthopterous insect (Cent. Diet. 1891); quadri- 
ce llular ; quadrici liate, having four cilia or 
hairs ; quadriei-pital, having four heads or points 
of origin, as the quadriceps muscle ; qua dricorn, 
having four horns (ibid.) ; so -oornous (Blonnt 
Glossogr. 1656) ; quadrico state, having four 
costs or ribs ; quadricotyle donous, having two 
deeply divided (and thus apparently four) cotyle 
dons ; qua drioresee-ntio, -toid, having four 
crescents ; of teeth : having four crescentic folds ; 
quadriou-spid, -cvrspidate, of teeth : having four 
cusps or points ; quadride ntate(d), having four 
serrations or indentations ; quadridrgitate,having 
four digits or similar divisions ; quadrifo liate, 
consisting of four leaves; also = quadrifo liolate, 
of a compound leaf : having four leaflets growing 
from the same point; quadrifuToate(d), having 
four forks or branches ; quadrige minal, -ous, 
belonging to the corpora quadrigemina at the base 
of the brain ; also =quadrige minate, formed of 
four similar parts, fourfold ; quadrigla ndular ; 
quadrihi late (see quot.) ; quadrijvrgate, -jir- 
gous, of a leaf: having four pairs of leaflets 
(Martyn, 1 793) ; quadrila minar, -ate ; quadrilo - 
bate, -lobed ; quadrilo oular, -ate, having four 
compartments; quadrime mbral ; quadrino dal; 



QUADRI-. 

quadrintrcleate ; quadripe nnate, having four 
wings (Worcester, 1846) ; f quadriphyllous (see 
quot.) ; quadripi-nnate, having four pinnre or 
side leaflets ; quadripo lar, having four poles or 
centres of division in a cell ; quadripirlmonary, 
of spiders : having two pairs of pulmonary sacs 
(Cent.Dict.}\ quadrira diate(seequot.); quadri- 
se ptate, having four septa or dissepiments ; quad- 
rise rial, arranged in four series or rows ; quadri- 
se tose, having four setae or bristles {Cent. Diet.} ; 
quadrisprral ; f quadriaulc [late L. -suit-its], 
quadrisirlcate(d), having four grooves or furrows, 
having a four-parted hoof; quadritube rcular, 
-tube rculate ; qua* dri valve, -va lvular. 

1856-8 W. CLARK Van der HoevetCs Zool. I. 321 Abdomen 
*quadriannulate, oval. 1826 KIRIJY & Si&gt;. EntomoL IV. 
325 Quadriarticulate. 1834 MMURTRIE Cuvier s Anitn. 
Kingd. 361 The Insects . . are remarkable . . for their short 
*quadriarticulated tarsi. 1731 BAILEY vol. II, *Qitadri* 
caj&gt;sitlar, . . having a seed pod divided into four partitions. 
1857 BERKELEY Cryptog. Bat. 163 The biciliate spores . . do 
not arise. .from the same tissue as the *quadriciliate. 1854 
OWEN Skel. $ Teeth in Circ. Sc.&gt; Organ. Nat. I. 299 The 
three true molars are *quadricuspid. 1839-47 TODD Cycl. 
A nat. III. 264/2 The three *quadricuspidate grinders of the 
upper jaw. 1760 J. LEE Introd. Dot. i. xv. (1765) 39 
*Quadridentate, split into four segments. 1828 STARK 
Elem. Nat. Hist. II. 159 Body covered with a reddish 
down, ..front quadridentate. 1858 MAYNE Expos. Le.v., 
Quadridigitatus, .. applied to a leaf, the petiole of which 
terminates in four folioles . . *quadridigitate. 1866 Treas. 
Bot. 947/1 *Quadrifoliate. 1884 BOWER & SCOTT DC Bary s 
Phaner. 341 The leaves, .are ranged in alternating, usually 
quad ri foliate whorls. 1777 PENNANT Zool. IV. 7 Cr. with 
a *quadri-furcated snout. 1839-47 TODD Cycl. Anat. III. 
686/1 The *quadrigeminal bodies rest upon two processes 
of fibrous matter. 1856 TODD & BOWMAN Phys. Anat. II. 
39 From the quadrigeminal tubercles to the chiasma. 1866 
Treas. Bot. 947/1 Quadrihilate, having four apertures, as 
Is the case in certain kinds of pollen. 1819 Pantologia X, 
*Qitadrilol ate leaf. 1839-47 TODD Cycl. Anat. III. 607/2 
These cords . . encircle the oesophagus above which they 
develope a quadrilobate ganglion. 1775 JENKINSON tr. Lin- 
nseus Brit. Plants 255 *Qnadrilocnlar. 1835 LINDLEY 
Introd. Bot. (1839) I. 176 The anther could not originally 
be quadrilocular, because it opens by two fissures only. 
1731 BAILEY vol. \\*Qnadriphyllous^, .Plants whose flowers 
have [four] leaves or petals. 1881 Card. Chron. XVI. 685 
The fronds are *quadripinnate in the lower and more com 
pound portions. 1867 J. HOGG Microsc. \\. ii. 400 Some 
Smyrna sponges, and species of Geodia, have four rays 
*quadriradiate. 1887 W. PHILLIPS Brit,. Discomycetes 149 
Pallid; cupsclavate,substipitate ; margin incurved; spori- 
dia . . long, *quadriseptate. 1839 JOHNSTON in Proc. Bcnv. 
Nat. Club I. No. 7. 199 Suckers of the..tentacula *quadri- 
serial. 1693 Phil. Trans. XVH. 934 Musk he takes to be., 
secreted in its proper Cyslis near the Navil of a *Quadrtsulc 
Animal like a Deer. 1775 JENKINSON tr. Linnaeus Brit. 
Plants 255 *Quadrisulcated. 1856-8 W. CLARK Van tier 
Hoevens Zool. II. 753 The two other true molars *quadri- 
tuberculate. 1785 MARTYN Roussea.it 1 s Bot. xvi. 199 The 
capsule is *quadrivalve [ed. 1794 quadrivalvular] or opens 
into four_parts. _ 1875 H. C. WOOD Theraf. (1879) 2 8 
Readily distinguished by its . . quadrivalve spmescent cap 
sules. 1763 RUSSKLL in Phil. Trans. LI I. 556 What 
appeared to be the mouth, was situated a little below the 
apex, and was *quadrivalvular. 

H. Sbs., vbs., and advs,, chiefly from adjs. in I: 
quadriceute nnial, a four hundredth anniversary ; 
quadriceps (extensor) [cf. BICEPS], a large muscle 
of the leg, having four heads; qua drichord 
[late L. -chorduni\ ~ TETBACHORD; qua dricorn, 
an animal with four horns or antennas (Brande 
Diet. Sci. 1 842) ; qua-dricy=cle, a four-wheeled 
cycle ; quadrifa riously adv., in a fourfold man 
ner ; qua drifoil = QOATREFOIL ; qua drifurca 1 - 
tion, a division into four branches ; quadrrgamist 
[L. -ffffftHt], one four times married; qua dri- 
logue, an account by four persons ; a dialogue 
between four; quadri logy, a tetralogy ; quadri- 
pe nnate, a four-winged insect (Brande, 1842) ; 
quadripo-rticus, a colonnade or peristyle round 
a quadrangular building or space ; qua-drisacra- 
me ntalist, -sacramenta rian, a name applied to 
some i6th c. German reformers who held Baptism, 
the Eucharist, Confession and Orders to be sacra 
ments (Blunt Diet. Sects 1874) ; qua-drisect v., 
to divide into four equal parts; hence quadri- 
se ction ; quadrisu lcate, a four-toed animal 
(Brande, 1842) ; quadrisyllable, a word of four 
syllables; quadri valence, the power of an atom 
or radical to combine with four xmivalent atoms ; 
quadrrvalent, a quadrivalent element ; qua dri 
valve, a plant with a quadrivalvular seed-pod ; an 
instrument, esp. a speculum, with four valves ; 
fquadri virate, a union of four men. 

1882 Standard 23 Aug. 5/1 To celebrate their *quadri- 
centennial with a banquet. 1840 G. V. ELLIS Anat. 636 
They separate the *quadriceps extensor muscle from the 
others. 1585 T. WASHINGTON tr. Nicholay s I oy. n. ix. 42 
Terpandre the famous Musition, which joined the seventh 
string to the *quadricord. 1728 R. NORTH Mem. Music 
(1846) 34 That these might augment the voice is certain, but 
then they must be tuned to the quadrichord. 1884 Cycl. 
Tour. Club Gaz. Mar. 86/1 A *quadricycle of the form of the 
Coventry. 1822 T. TAYLOR Apuleius, On God of Socrates 300 
There are four most known elements, nature being as it were 
quadrifariously separated into lajge parts. 1845 La CAMP- 



QUADRILITERAL. 



BELL Chancellors (1857) I- * " r 9^ The scholar . . stuffs his 
volume with firstling violets, roses, and *quadrifoils. 1884 
BLACKMOHF. Tommy Upnt. II. 316 A convenient *quadrifur- 
cation. 1656 I LQVtiT G/ossfgr., *Quadrigamist, i$6$Patl 
MallG. 10 Feb. 5/2 The swindler bigamist or quadrigamist, 
we forget the precise number of his marriages, a 1556 CRAN- 
MER Wks. (Parker Soc.) 1. 66 Your wise dialogue, or *qundri- 
logue, between the curious questioner, the foolish answerer, 
your wise catholic man standing by, and the mediator. 
1570-6 LAMBARDK Peramb. Kent (1826) 358 The Quadriloge 
of Beckets life, 11x656 USSHER in Gutch Coll. Cur. I. 46 
Thomas Becket (as we read in the Quadrilogue, or Quadri 
partite History of his Life). 1865 Athenxttm No. 1950. 
355/3 His *quadrilogy of Nibelungen operas. 1849 FREE 
MAN Arc/tit. 276 The form of Amru s mosque.. being a mere 
*quadriporticus round an open space. 1865 C. R. WELD 
Last Winter Rome 97 Among the most remarkable features 
of this building, .are the Atrium and quadriporticus, 1809 
CAVENDISH in Phil. Trans. XCIX. 227 In *quadrisecting, 
the error of the middle point = 2e. 1673 WALI.IS in Rigaud 
Corr.Sci. Men (1841) II. 571 We find, by the *quadrisection 
of an arch or angle, a biquadratic equation of four roots. 
1809 CAVENDISH in Phil. Trans. XCIX. 227 In the method 
of continued bisection, the two opposite points must be 
found byquadrisection. X7o6PHiLLiPs(ed. Kersey), ^Quadri 
syllable, a Word made up of four Syllables. 1827 HARI-: 
Guesses Ser. i. (1873) 109 Our dignity will not condescend 
to enter into any thing short of a quadrisyllable. 1884 
TRAILL. in Macm. Mag. Oct. 444/1, I will end the sentence 
with ignoramus, .a quadrisyllable. 1880 CLEMiHSHAwWWr/s 
Atom. The. 211 Carbon is therefore a quadrivalent. 1731 
BAILEY vol. II, ^Qitadrivalves, . . those Plants who&gt;e seed 
pods open in four valves or partitions. 1872 F. G. THOMAS 
Dis. Women .ed. 3) 76 Of valvular specula the bivalve of 
Ricord .. and the quadrivalve of Charricre have long been 
popular. 1654 GAYTON Pleas. Notes iv. xvii. 258 This blood* 
lesse victory, over a *Quadrivirate of Mummers. 

b. Math. Chiefly in sense quadric , *of the 
second degree or order , as qua dricone, -co- 
va riant, -derivative, quadrinva riant ; also 
quadrino mial, an expression consisting of four 
terms. 

1856 A. CAYLEY H 7 ks. (1889) II. 272 No. 9 is the *quadri- 
covariant, or Hessian. 1706 W. JONES Syn. Palmar. 
Matheseos 171 To raise any. . *Quadri-nomial. .to any given 
Power. 1827 HUTTON Course Math. I. 167 When the com 
pound quantity consists of two terms, it is called a Binomial, 
.. when of four terms a Quadrinomial. 1856 A. CAYLEY 
ll^ks. (1889) II. 271 No. i is the quadric itself; no. 2 is the 
*quadrinvariant. 1884 W. R. W. ROBERTS in Hermatliena 
X. 182 Functions, .expressed by the qu ad rin variants of the 
quantics [etc.], 

C. Chem. In the names of chemical compounds, 
denoting the presence of four atoms or equivalents 
of an element or radical in a compound, as qitadri- 
oxalate, -phosphate^ -stearate^ -sulphide. Now super- ; 
seded by TETRA-. 

1836-41 BRANDS Chem. (ed. 5) 1067 Then ether would be : 
a compound of i atom of *quadrihydrocarbon and i of 
water. 1826 HKSRY Elem. Chem. I. 591 *Quadriphosphate 
of lime. 1836-41 BRANDE Chem. (ed. 5) 685 The phosphoric 
glass . . is considered by Dr. Thomson as a definite compound, 
which he has termed quadriphosphate of lime. 1849 D. 
CAMPBELL Inorg. Chem. 299 *Quadrisulphide of molybde 
num, MoS4. ivyjAtlbutfsSyst. Aled. IV. 293 It [uric acid] . 
is present in the urine in the form of a *quadriurate. 

Quadri-, occas. erron. form of QUADRU-. 

Quadrible, obs. variant of QUADRABLE a. 

Quadrible, variant of QUATREBLE a. and v. 

Quadric (kw9*drik), a. and sb. Math. [ad. L. 
type *quadric-uS) f. quadra square : see -ic.J 

A. adj. Of the second degree. (Used in solid 
geometry, and where the variables are more than 
two.) 

1858 A. CAYLEY Wks. (1889) II. 497 The case of any 
quadric function of variables. 1865 Athenseum No. 1950. 
352/ 2 Quadric Inversion. 1884 A. S. HART in Hermathena \ 
X. 164 Such curves.. can be traced on a quadric surface. 
Ibid. 166 Two of the given equations will represent quadric 
cones. 

B. sb. A quantic or surface of the second degree. 
1856 A. CAYLEY Wks. (1889) II. 271 The tables Nos. i and 2 

are the covariants of a binary quadric. 1881 MAXWELL 
Electr. fy Magn. I. 215 A variable parameter, which we 
shall distinguish by a suffix for the species of quadric. 1884 
A. S. HART in Hermathena X. 164 There are many such 
[twisted algebraic] curves which do not lie on any quadric. 

Quadriennial, -ium : see QUADRENNIAL, -IDM. j 

Quadrifid (kwo-drifid), a. (sb.) Also 7 quadri- 
fide. [ad. L. quadrifid-us, f. QUADRI- -\-fid~ root | 
otjindfre to cleave. Cf. mod.F. quadrifide] Cleft } 
into four divisions or lobes. 

1661 LOVELL Hist. Anitn. $ Min. 109 Claws like a Cow; 
but quadrifide. 1766 PENNANT Zool. (1769) III. 320 The 
tail is naturally bifid, but in many is trifid, and in some even 
quadrifid. 1830 LINDLEY Nat. Syst. Bot. 52 Distinguished 
by. .the quadrifid calyx. 1875 DARWIN Insectir. PI. xiv. 326 
The quadrifid processes on the outer parts of the lobes. 
b. ahsol. as sb. A qnadrifid process. 

1875 DARWIN Insectiv. PL xiv. 326 On the broad outer 
surfaces of the lobes where the quadrifids are situated. 

Quadriforiu (kwo/driff7jm), a. 1 [ad. late L. 
quadriformis : see QUADRI- and -FORM. Cf. obs. j 



109 Quadriform His Acts, which writing They produce 
before our eyes, 1858 MAYNK Exf&gt;os.Le.\-,iQuadriforwis, \ 
. . applied to a crystal which presents the combination of j 
four distinct forms, .quadriform. 1874 Suf&gt;eruat. Reli*. II. 
HI. ii. 476 Quadriform is the Gospel, nnd quadriform the 
course uf the Lord. 



[f. L. *qitadri- comb. 




scabbard is a large quadriform mace head. 

II Quadriga (kwdrai ga). [L. ; later sing, form 
for pi. quadriga contr. of qiiadrijugx, f. quadri- 
QUADRI- +jugitm yoke. Cf. F. qitadrige (i7th c.), 
and see QUATHEIQAN.] 

1. A chariot drawn by four horses harnessed 
abreast; esp. as represented in sculpture or on coins. 

1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v., On the reverses of medals 
we frequently see Victory, or the emperor, in a quadriga. 
holding the reins of the horses. 1850 LEITCH tr. C. O. 
Miillers Anc. Art (ed. 2) 452 Apollo, .guides a quadriga, 
in which he is carrying oft a lofty and noble female form. 
1884 Chr. World 14 Aug. 612/5 A quadriga ia bronze 
carrying a figure of Victory. 

2. A form of surgical bandage for the sternum 
and ribs. ? Obs. 

1743 HKISTKK Surgery (1768) II. m. iv. 371 The Generality 
of Surgeons make use of a peculiar and stronger Bandage 
for this purpose, which they call the Quadriga or Cata- 
phracta. [Hence in CHAMBERS Cycl. Suppl. lApp.), and 
.some later diets.] 

Hence f Quadriga rious ., of or belonging to 
a Charriot-man (lilount Glossogr. 1656). 

t Quadrigate, a. (sb^} Obs. rare. [ad. L. quad- 
rigdt-us\ see prec.] Of a coin: Stamped with the 
figure of a quadriga, b. sb. A coin so stamped. 

1600 HOLLAND Liry xxn. Hi. 464 To pay 300 quadrigate 
pieces of sillier. Ibid. liv. 465 note, A Quadrigate . . is 
a piece of siluer coyne among the Romanes, the same that 
Denarius : called so of Quadriga. 

t Quadrilater, a. Obs. rare. [ad. late L. 
quattrilatcr-uS) f. quadri- QUADRI- + later- stem 
of /a/Hj side. Cf.F.auadritat2re(aiS4). ] =next. 

1570 UiLLiNGSLF.Y Euclid I. xxi. 31 Wherefore this present 
figure . . is a quadrilater triangle. 1571 DIGGKS Pantom. 
n. xvii. O ij b, The figure signified by the quadrilater super 
ficies Ali(iF. 

Quadrilateral (kwgdrilse teral), a. and sb. 
AUo 7 quadrilaterall. [ad. 1,. type *qitadri- 
lateralis, i. quadrilater-us + -AL. See prec. and 
cf. F. quadrilateral. ] 

A. adj. Four-sided; having a four-sided base or 
section. 

1656 STANLEY Hist. Philos. v. (17^01) 162/2 The Altar.. 
was no longer a Cube, but . . a quadrilateral Pillar. 1674 tr. 
Scheffer s Lapland xvi. 83 The whole form seems to be 
like a quadrilaterall house. 1718 QUINCY Compl. Disp. 33 
In common Salt we plainly discover Quadrilateral Pyramids, 
with square liases. 1836-41 BRANDE Chem. (ed. 5.1 1125 
Carbazotate of Potassa crystallizes in long yellow quad 
rilateral needles. 1876 DUHKING Dis. Skin 38 Nails are 
rounded or quadrilateral bodies. 

b. Bot. Of a stem: (see quot.). 

1875 BENNETT & DYER Sachs* Bot. 184 The principal 
sections of all the leaves.. may lie in two planes, crossing 
one another at right angles, when the shoot is quadri 
lateral. 

B. sb. A figure bounded by four straight lines; 
a space or area having four sides. 

In mod. Geom. A figure formed by four straight lines, no 
three of which pass through the same point, and by the six 
points (vertices) forming the intersections of these lines, 
taken two by two (Cf. QUADRANGLE). 

1650 T. RUDD Euclide 45 To forme a. .Quadrilaterall, 
about which a circle may be circumscribed. 1827 HUTTON 
Course Math. I. 282 A Diagonal is a line joining any two 
opposite angles of a quadrilateral. 1866 R. A. PROCTOR 
Handbk. Stars 16 The intermediate figures are quad 
rilaterals of varying form. 1893 E. H. BARKER Wanderings 
by Southern Waters 301 Four . . towers occupying the angles 
of a small quadrilateral. 

b. The space lying between, and defended by, 
four fortresses ; spec, that in North Italy formed by 
the fortresses of Mantua, Verona, Peschiera, and 
Legnano. 

1859 Times r July 8/5 Such fortresses as compose the 
famous Quadrilateral . 1866 Sat. Kev. 21 July 66/1 The 
Quadrilateral and Venice still remain in the hands of the 
Austrians. 1870 Pall Mall G. 2 Sept. 2 He has four 
fortresses around him ..but upon_ twelve square miles of 
territory.. he cannot play at quadrilaterals. 

fig. 1888 LD. ROSEBERY in Daily News 20 Feb. 5/5 
Am overjoyed .. that Edinburgh is once more the quad 
rilateral of Liberalism. 

Hence Quadrila teralness, the property of 
having four sides (Bailey, vol. II, 1727). 

Quadriliteral (kwgdrili-teral), a. anil sb. [f. 
QUADRI- + LITERAL.] 

A. adj. Consisting of four letters ; spec, of 
Semitic roots which have four consonants instead 
of the usxial three (see triliteral). 

1771 W. JONES Zool. Eth. 102 It must be deemed a quad- 
riliteral word, and as such compounded of a double radix. 
1793 T. BEDDOES Math. Evid.. 133 They assume triliteral 
and quadriliteral as well as biliteral roots. 1837 PHILLIPS 
Syriac Gramm. 96 Quadriliteral verbs. 1869 R. DAVIES tr. 
Gesenius Hebrew Gram. 86 Such lengthened forms . . are 
not regarded as quadriliteral. 

B. sb. A word of four letters : a ^Semitic) root 
containing four consonants. 

1787 Sot W. JONFS Disc. Arabs Wks. 1799 I. 4O_If we 
suppose ten thousand of them [Arabic roots] (without 



QUADRUPLE. 

..doth punish thieves with a quadruple restitution. 1628 
MEAD in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. III. 268 The quadruple 
strength which they have prepared against our fleet, a 1648 
LD. HERBERT Hen. Vlll (1683) 9 [A sum] quadruple to so 
much in this age. a 1745 SWIFT To Gcorgc-Nim-Dan- 
Dean, F.sq. (R.), How I joy to see thee wander. .In circling 
mazes, smooth and supple, And ending in a clink quadruple. 
1807 HUTTON Course Math. II. 269 To receive light and 
heat quadruple to that of the earth. 1820 KF.ATS Hyperion 
II. 146 A quadruple wrath Unhinges the poor world. 1825 
MACAULAV Ess., Machiavelli (1887) 34 When the value of 
silver was more than quadruple of what it now is. 1884 
BOWER & SCOTT De Bary s^ Phaner. &lt;y Ferns 576 Single, 
triple, or quadruple concentric series of narrow elements. 

b. In various special applications. 
Quadruple algebra, algebra in which four independent 



units are used. Quadruple counterpoint, four-part counter 
point in which the parts may be interchanged without 
breaking the rules of counterpoint. Quadruple pistole 



sb. ab. \Quadnipleproportion - quadruple ratio. Quad 
ruple giiaver, a hemidemisemiquaver. Quadruple ratio, the 
ratio of four to one. Quadruple rhythm, time, in Mus., 
rhythm or time having four beats in a measure. 




pistoles. i86cjCH SELE.YC0HHterp. xvii. 134 Triple and quad 
ruple counterpoints . . consist of three or four melodies so 
interwoven that any of them may become a correct bass to 
the others. 1898 J. HAMMOND Let. 22 Dec., Hamilton s 
Quaternions is a quadruple algebra, the 4 independent 
units being his i, j, k, and the unit of quantity. 

C. Hist. Quadruple alliance, an alliance of four 
powers, esp. that of Britain, France, Germany and i 
Holland in 1718, and of Britain, France, Spain 
and Portugal in 1834. 

735 H- WALPOLE Corr. (1820) I. 3, I believe you will 
guess there is no quadruple alliance. 1825 JEFFERSON 
Autobiog. Wks. 1859 I. 76 She [France] secretly engaged, 
also, in negotiations with Russia, Austria, and Spain, to 
form a quadruple alliance. 1872 FREEMAN Gen. Sketch xv. 
2 (1874) 304 France, England, and the United Provinces 
presently joined the Emperor in the Quadruple Alliance 
against Spain. 

fig. 1787 BURNS Let. to Miss Chalmers 12 Dec., MLsfor. 
tune, bodily constitution, hell, and myself, have formed 
a quadruple alliance to guarantee the other. 

d. Applied to printing-papers which are four i 
times the usual size, as quadruple crown, -demy, \ 
-foolscap, etc. Cf. QUAD a. 

B. sb. 1. Anything fourfold ; a sum or quantity 
four times as great as another. 

1609 DOULAND Ornith. Microl. 6r Now if we place these 
Triples . . in the vpper ranke we shall produce Quadruples. 
1640-1 Kirkcudbr. IVar-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855) *49 The 
quadruple of the pryce of the inch of the best sort of schoes. 
1822 J. FLINT Lett. Amer. 309, I believe, if he had laid 
them [the damages] at quadruple, the jury would have given 
him every cent. 

2. spec, f a. A tooth having a quadruple root. 
Obs. f b. A coin of the value of four pistoles j 
(so in French; cf. A. b, quot. 1727). Obs. fc. 
A fourfold fine. Obs. d. A printing machine 
which prints four copies at once. 

1541 R. COPLAND Guydon s Quest. Chirurg., Two donales 
two quadruples .viij. molares and two cassalles. 1655 tr. 
Com. Hist. Francion XII. 20 See here his Quadruples which 
I never touched before. 1673 DRVDEN A mboyna. II. i, No 
transitory Sum, three hundred Quadruples in your own 
Country Gold. 1682 Lond. Gaz. No. 1784/4 A considerable 
Sum of Money was stolen, among which were several Quad 
ruples, or Four-Pistol-Pieces. 1695 Sc. Acts II ill. Ill, c. 55 
(1822) IX. 453/1 Incurring the Quadruples appoynted by the 
said Act by way of penalty. 1890 W. J. GORDON Foundry 
203 It was Mr. Lloyd who had the first of these new Quad 
ruples at work on a London daily newspaper. 

C. adv. in Comb. In a fourfold manner. 

1840 DICKENS Barn. Rudge xli, Places of distrust and 
cruelty, and restraint, they would have left quadruple- 
locked for ever. 1884 Health Exhib. Catal. 62/1 Blunders 
Patent Duplex (quadruple acting) portable Fire Engines. 

Quadruple (.kwp-drwp l), v. Also 6 quad- 
riple, 7 -ruble. [ad. F. qttadntpler (1404) or 
L. quadrupl-are, i. quadrupl-us : see prec.] 

1. trans. To make four times as great or as 
many as before ; to multiply by four. 

1375 BARBOUR Bruce xvm. 30 He suld fecht that day, 
Thouch Tryplit or quadruplit war thai. 1557 RECORDE 
IVhetst. Fiij, Therfore I doe quadriple .195. and it maketh 
.780. c 1611 CHACMAN Iliad i. 129 Vet we all, all losse thou 
sufferst thus, Will treble ; quadruple in gaine. 1642 HOWELL , 
For. Trav. (Arb.) 87 Double the howers above twelve in 
the longest solstitiall day, and the product will shew the 
climat, quadruble them twill shew the parallell. 1792 A. 
YOCNG Trav. France 439, I am confident . .that the mass of ! 
human wretchedness is quadrupled by their influence. 1882 
PEBODV Eng. Journalism xxiii. 178 The Press, by reporting 
the speeches of these men, quadrupled their power in 
Parliament. 1883 Stubbs Mercantile Circular 8 Nov. 982/2 
The import of raw cotton, .has more than quadrupled itself 
in two years. 

2. To amount to four times as many as. 

1832 LEWIS Use t, Ab. Pol. Terms xi. 92 The number of 
females . . probably more than quadrupled that of the male 
governors. 

3. inlr. (for re/I.) To grow to four times the 
former number, amount, or size. 

1776 ADAM SMITH W. N. n. ii. (1869) I. 296 The trade of 
Scotland has more than quadrupled since the first erection 
of the two publick banks at Scotland. 1833 HT. MARTINEAU 
Cinnamon f, Pearls v. 97 The exports . . have quadrupled 
since the relaxation of the monopoly. 1882 PEBODY Eng 



10 

Journalism xix. 145 Mr. Levy reduced the price of the 
paper. . .The circulation doubled, trebled, quadrupled. 

Hence Qua drupled///. a. = QUADRUPLE a. 

1607 Toi SELL Four-/. Beasts (1658) 99 The Harts of 
liriletum and Ibarne, have their reins quadrupled or four 
fold. 1865 MANSFIELD Salts 465 A quadrupled salt with 
a single molecule of adjunct. 

Quadruplet (kwo-drplet). [f. QUADRUPLE 

+ -ET ; after triplet^ 

1. //. Four children born at a birth. 

1787 GARTHSHORE in Phil. Trans. LXXVII. 355 These 
are the only cases of quadruplets . . he had ever heard of as 
born in Scotland. 1836-9 TODD Cj/cl. Anat. II. 736/1 An 
instance of quadruplets consisting of three boys and a girl. 
1898 Daily Xnvs 15 Apr. 5/2 Huller ventured on the asser 
tion, .that quadruplets were born once in 20,000 cases. 

2. Any combination of four things or parts 
united or working together, esp. four combined 
springs (Knight Diet. Meet. Suppl.). 

1851 DE MORGAN- in Graves Life Hamilton (1889) III. 338 
We have then an harmonic quadruplet and sextuplet, and 
we might have octuplets, &c. 

3. A bicycle for four riders. Cf. QuADrf.3 Also 
attrib. 

1895 Daily News 27 July 5/3 Professional riders on tan 
dems, triplets, and quadruplets. 1897 Wkitaker s Aim. 
641/2 A quadruplet team covered a flying quarter in 25.2 sees. 

Quadruplex (kwo drpleks), a. and sl&gt;. [a. 
L. quadruplex fourfold, f. QUADRU- + flic-, to 
fold.] 

A. adj. 1. Electric Telegraphy. Applied to a 
system by which four messages can be sent over 
one wire at the same time. 

1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mich. 1842/1 Quadruples Telegraph. 
1879 G. PRESCOTT Sp. Telephone p. iii, In 1874 Edison 
invented a quadruplex system for trie simultaneous trans 
mission of four communications over the same conductor. 
1881 LUBBOCK Pres. Addr. Brit.Assoc. in Nature No. 618. 
411 Duplex and quadruplex telegraphy, one of the most 
striking achievements of modern telegraphy. 

2. Engineering. Applied to an engine in which 
the expansion of the steam is used four times in 
cylinders of increasing diameter. 

1896 Westm. Gaz. 8 May 10/2 A steamer, fitted with five- 
crank quadruplex engines. 

B. sb. A telegraphic instrument by means of 
which four simultaneous messages can be sent over 
the same wire. 

Hence Qua drnplex v. . to make (a telegraph 
circuit, etc.) quadruplex. Cf. QUAD v. 

1887 Brit. Merc. Gaz. 15 June 43/2 The multiplication of 
wires soon attracted attention to methods of duplexing and 
quadruplexing the circuits, 1889 Times (weekly ed.) 
29 Mar. 5/2 If the line is already duplexed, .the addition of 
the phonophore will quadruplex it. 

Quadruplicate (kwgdr plikA), a. and sb. 

[ad. L. qitaJruplicat-us, pa. pple. of quadrupli- 
care to quadruple, f. quadruplex : see prec.] 

A. adj. 1. Fourfold; four times repeated. 
Quadruplicate proportion, ratio, the proportion or 
ratio of fourth powers in relation to that of the 
radical quantities. 

1657 HOBBES AbsurdGeom. Wks. 1845 VII. 378 An infinite 
row of Arithmetically proportionals, in proportion quadru 
plicate. 1794 G. ADAMS Nat. ff Exp. Philos. III. xxxi. 
269 The efforts tending to destroy the adhesion of beams 
from their gravity only, increase in the quadruplicate ratio 
of their lengths. 1816 PLAYFAIR Nat. Phil. II. 169 The 
same [probability] is increased in a quadruplicate ratio, from 
considering the phenomena of all these four superior planets. 

2. Forming four exactly corresponding copies. 

1807 PIKE Sources Mississ. in. App. (1810) 72, I have 
directed the formula for you to sign of four corresponding 
quadruplicate receipts. 

B. sb. 1. In quadruplicate : In four exactly 
corresponding copies or transcripts. 

1790 \V. HASTINGS Let. to Boswell 2 Dec. in S. s Johnson 
an. 1781 Of these [letters], one which was written in quadru 
plicate . . has already been made publick. 1900 Rales 
(25 Oct.) under Money-Lenders Act vi, The order shall be 
signed in quadruplicate by the permanent Secretary. 
fig. 1886 KIPLING Departm. Ditties, etc. (1899) 47 Four 
times Cupid s debtor I Bankrupt in quadruplicate. 

2. pi. Four things exactly alike ; esp. four exactly 
corresponding copies of a document. 



1883 SIR C. S. C. BOWEN in Law Rep. u Q. Bench Div. 
342 The . . conveniences which merchants . . believed to be 
afforded by the system of triplicates or quadruplicates. 

Quadruplicate (kwgdrtt-plik^t), v. [f. ppl. 

stem of L. quadruplicdre : see prec.] 

1. trans. To multiply by four ; to make four times 
as many or as great ; to quadruple. 

1661 in BLOUNT Glossogr. (ed. 2). 1674 jEAKE/lr&lt;M. (1696) 
56 Or else duplicate, . . quadruplicate, &c. the Fraction 
according to the given Integer. 1694 SALMON Bate s Dis- 
pens. (1713) 327/2 Sometimes the Proportion is to be quad 
ruplicated. 1861 Under the Spell III. 220 Prices were 

quadruplicated ", the demand for places being great. 1888 
G. W. CABLE in Amer. Missionary Apr. 90 If you knew the 
national value of this work, . . you would quadruplicate it 
before the year is out. 

2. To make or provide in quadruplicate; to 
provide four (things) exactly alike. 

1879 G. MEREDITH Egoist III. iii. 64 We are in danger of 
duplicating and triplicating and quadruplicating [wedding 
presents]. 

Hence Quadruplicating vbt. sb. (Ash SuMl. 
1775). 



QUJERE. 

Quadruplication (kwjdr^plik^-Jan). [ad. 
L. qnadruplii ation-em, n. of action from qiiadni- 
plicare to make fourfold : see prec.] 

1. The action or process of making fourfold, of 
multiplying by four; also, the result of this; a 
thing folded four times. 

1578 BANISTER Hist. Man \. 78 It [the vein] is admitted 
into the quadruplication of Dura mater. 1611 COTGR., Quad 
ruplication, a quadruplication. 1616 in BULLOKAR Eng. 
Expos. [Hence in COCKERAM, BLOUNT, etc.] 1674 JEAKE 
Arith. (1696) 24 Quadruplication .. is to double the Dupli 
cation. 1839 ALISON Europe (1849-50) VII. xli. 15. 19 
Twenty-eight years ; the well-known period of the quadru 
plication of the Sum at compound interest of five per cent. 

2. Civil and Canon Law. A pleading on the 
part of the defendant, corresponding to the rebut 
ter at common law. Cf. QUADRUPLY sb. 

1651 W. G. tr. Cmvels Inst. 243 After a Triplication 
[follows] a Quadruplication. 1726 Avi.itFE Parergon 251 
Quad[r]uplications, which the Defendant propounds to the 
Plaintiffs Triplications. 

Quadru plicature. [f. QUADRUPLICATE v. 

+ -URE.] = prec., sense I. 1891 in Cent. Diet. 

Quadruplicity (.kwgdrapli-siti). [ad. L. 
quadruplicitas, n. of quality f. quadruplex: see 
QUADRUPLEX and -ITT.] Fourfold nature; the 
condition of being fourfold, or of forming a set 
of four. 

(1590 GREENE Fr. Bacon ix. 31 The quadruplicity Of 
elemental essence. 1593 NORDEN Spec. Brit., M sex i. 44 
King Canutus the Dane,, .in regard of his quadruplicitie of 
kingdomes, esteemed himselfe more then a man mortall. 
1664 POWER Exp. Philos. 37 Dr. Brown . . hath ranked this 
conceit of the eyes of a snail (and especially their quadru 
plicity) amongst the vulgar errors. 1821; S. T. COLERIDGE 
Aids Reflect. App. C. (1858) I. 395 The universal quadrupli 
city, or four elemental forms of power. 1890 J. H. STIRLING 
Gijford Lect.w. i^\ The origin of the term [final causes] lies 
in the Aristotelian quadruplicity of causes as such. 

t Quadruplify, v. Ol&gt;s. rare- 1 , [f. L. 
ruplus QUADRUPLE + -(I)FY.] = QUADRUPLK v. 

1578 BANISTER Hist. Man vin. 99 In the hynder part of 
the head these Membranes are Quadruplified. 

Quadrupling (kwg -drplirj) , nil. sb. [f. QUAD 
RUPLE v. + -INO i.] The action of the vb. 

1694 Phil. Trans. XVIII. 70 The doubling, trebling, 
quadrupling, &c, of Rations is performed by squaring, 
cubing, biquadrating, &c. of the terms. 1885 Pall Mall G. 
27 Mar. i/i Supplemented, say, by the quadrupling of our 
field artillery. 



t Qua 1 



, sb. Sc. Law. Obs. rare. [ad. 



obs. F. quadniplique (i6th c. in Littre Suppl.} ; cf. 
DUPLY.] = QUADRUPLICATION 2. 

1695 Sc. Acts Will. Ill, c. 6 (1822) IX. 365/2 The Clerks 
writing of the Defences, Duplyes, Triplyes, Quadruplyes, 
and so furth for the defender and pursuer. 1762 (title) Quad- 
ruplies for . . R. Graham . . J. Bakie [etc.] to the triplies for 
P. Honeymoon [etc.], Feb. 10. 1820 [see DUPLY b]. 

Quadruply (kwg-drapli), adv. [f. QUADRUPLE 
a. + -LY 2 .J Four times ; in a fourfold degree or 
manner. 

1726 SWIFT Gulliver i. vi, The innocent person is quadruply 
recompensed . . for the danger he underwent. 1793 T. 



oung s] father was quadruply clerical, be 
rector, prebendary, court chaplain, and dean. 

Quadruviall, obs. form of QUADHIVIAL. 

Quadrypedyd : see after QUADRUPED. 

Quadundrum, obs. variant of CONUNDRUM. 

II Quae dam. Obs. rare. [L., fem. sing, and pi. 
of quidam some one, QUIDAM.] A woman, female 
(in disparaging sense). Also as//. 

a 1670 HACKET Abp. Williams \. (1692) 35 Vain attire, 
wherein wanton Quaedams in those days came to . . excess. 
Ibid. n. 128 He. .settles in Bugden-House for three Summers 
with a Seraglia of Quaedam. 

Quaem, obs. form of QUALM sb. 

Quaer, obs. form of QUIRE sb., WHEIIE adv. 

II Quaere (kw!T), v. imper. and sb. Also 6-9 
quere, (7 queer, quire). [L., imper. of quyrtre 
(med.L. querere] to ask, inquire. Now usually 
in anglicized form, QUERY.] 

1. v. imper. Introducing a question or subject 
of inquiry : Ask, inquire ; hence, one may ask , 
it is a question (whether, etc.). 

535 r. Littleton s Nat. Brev. 18 b (Stanf.) Quere the 
dyuersite. 1548 STAUNFORD Kinges Prerog. (1567) 54 b, 
But quere whether his highnes may bee brought in posses 
sion in those cases by a clayme or not. 1602 CAREW Corn 
wall 135 Notwithstanding, quaire, whether a causlesse 
ambition . . turned not rather Golunt into Gallant. 1703 
HEARNE Collect. 17 Dec. (O. H. S.) I. 131 Quaere more 
about this. 1774 J.ADAMS in Fcun. Lett. (1876) 3 David 
Sewall . . has no ambition nor avarice, they say (however, 
quaere). 1823 J. BADCOCK Dom. Amusfm. 52 Quere, 
whether the natural influence of light and heat occasions 
this apparent coincidence. 1860 O DONOVAN Three Fragw. 
126 Quxre, is Conung an Hibernicized form of the Teutonic 
. . koenung, king? 

2. sb. A question, QUERT. 

1589 WARNER Alb. Eng. vi. xxx. (1612) 150 Thy bad doth 
passe by probate, but a Quere is for mee. 1619 H. HUTTON 
Follies Anat. (Percy Soc.) 54 It would be thought a quaere 
at the beste. 1646 SIR T. BROWNE Pseud. Ep. 282 The 
greater Quere is, when he will come again, and yet indeed 
it is no Quere at all. 1736 SWIFT Let. to Pope 25 Mar., 
I wondered a little at your quaere who Cheselden wast 



QUyERE. 

1856 LEVER Martins ofCro M. 254 The quere itself is its 
own reply said I. 1863 A. J. HORWOOD Yearbks. 30 # 31 
Ediv. I Pref. 26 *", This appears to answer Mr. Booth s 
quaere, .as to the reason for the tender of the demy-mark. 

Hence -j* Qusere, quere z ., to query. Obs. 

1627 W. SCLATER Exp. 2 Thess. (1629) 131 It might be 
queered. 1663 Aron-Cintn. 101 He quaeres what it is that 
renders a people blessed. 1681 T. FLAT.MAN Heraclitus 
Ridens No. 23 (1713) 1. 153 Nay, let em consider of it ; and 
let us Quere about the matter. 1756 H. WAU-OLE Corr. 
(1837) III. 137 Should not one quere whether he had not 
those proofs in his hands antecedent to the cabinet? 

Quaeree, -rie, Qufflrent, obs. ff. QUEKY, 
QUERENT. 

t Quse-ritate, v. Obs. rare- 1 , ff. ppl. stem 
of L. qit &ritare, frcq. of quxrere to ask, inquire.] 
trans. To inquire or search into. 

1657 TOMLISSON Renou s Disp. 387 Apothecaryes quteri- 
tate its Medicinall use, which Mithridates knew. 

Quaery, obs. form of QUERY. 

t Qusesite, anglicized f. QILESITUM. Obs. rare~ l . 

1655 OUGHTRED in Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men (1841) I. 83 
Your fourth quxsite is, why the equation whereby it is 
solved is the very same in both ? 

II Qusesitum (kwlSwit^m). PI. quscsita. [L., 
neut. sing. of^MBfUf-ttf, pa. pple. vlquserere to seek : 
see QUESITED.] That which is sought for ; an 
object of search ; the answer to a problem. 

1748 HARTLEY Observ. Man i. Introd., So as to proceed 
intirely from the Data to the Quaesita, from things known 
to such as are unknown. 1830 HERSCHKL Stud. Nat. Phil. 
n. vi. (1851) 176 A series of careful and exact measures in 
every different state of the datum and qua^situm. 1864 
BOWEN Logic viii. 229 In the Analytic order the Conclusion 
would be more properly called the Quaesitum. 

Quaestor (kwrst^i). Rom. Antiq* Also 4-7 
questor. [a. L. yuxst0r t agent-n. from quserere to 
seek, inquire.] a. One of a number of Roman 
officials who had charge of the public revenue and 
expenditure, acting as treasurers of state, pay 
masters of the troops, etc. b. In early times : A 
public prosecutor in certain criminal cases. 

1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) IV. 49 Caton be questor 
brou^te hym [Ennius] to Rome. Questor is he bat gadre}&gt; 
tribut to Rome, and be domesman was somtyme i-clep^ed 
questor. 1577 HEU.OWES Gueuara. s Chron. 80 Adrian 
was made Questor, that is to say, he had charge to prouide 
victuals and furniture for the campe. 1641 SMECTYMNUUS 
Ansiv. 12 (1653) 45 Tiberius granted a Questors dignitie 
unto a Bishop for his eloquence. 1781 GIBBON Decl. ff F. 
xvii. II. 53 In the course of nine centurie&gt;, the office of 
quEestor had experienced a very singular revolution. 1838 
ARNOLD Hist. Rome I. 339 The two quaestors who judged 
in cases of blood, were also chosen from the patricians. 

trans/, and fig. 1850 S. DOBELL The Roman v. Poet. 
Wks. (1875) 63, I, her [Pity s] qusestor, Claim tribute from 
you. A few tears will pay it. 1863 TREVELYAN Contact. 
Wallah (1866) 124 Our modern quaestors are every whit as 
grasping and venal as the satellites of Verres and Dolabella. 

Quaestor, variant of QUESTOR sb. 1 

Qusestorial (kwfstoe-rial), a. [f. L. quses- 
tdri-us + -AL.] Of or pertaining to a quaestor or 
his position in the state. 

1862 MERIVALE Rom. Emp. 1. (1865) VI. 197 Narcissus 
had received the quaestorial ornaments as the reward of his 
services. 1868 FARRAR Seekers i. v. (1875) 67 Men of con 
sular and quaestorial parentage. 

So f Quzesto rian a. Obs. rare~ l . 

a 1641 BP. MOUNTAGU Acts $ Mon. (1642) 335 Consular, 
Prsetorian, Questorian or Equestrian officers. 

Quses tor ship (kwrst^ifip). [f. QU-ESTOR + 
-SHIP.] The office of quaestor. 

1570 LEVINS Manip. 141/5 Y* Questorship, qnxstnra. 
1581 SAVILE Tacitus, Agricola (1622) 186 After his Questor 
ship till he [Agricola] was created Tribune of the people. 
ci6so DENHAM Of Old Age 94, I, five years after, at 
Tarentum wan The Queestorship. 1834 LYTTON Pompeii i. 
iv, Your petty thirst for fasces and qu zest or ships. 1871 
SEELEY Ln&gt;y i. Introd. qo Of all the great magistracies, 
the quaestorship was the lowest in dignity. 

So f Quae Story (in 6 questorie,. Obs. rare-*. 

1533 BELLKNDEN Livy iv. (1822) 382 The small pepill had 
sic victorje, that thay belevit the questorie nocht to be the 
end of this honoure. 

Quaestuary (kwrstiiari), a. and sb. Also 
7 quest-, [ad. L. qu&stuat i-us^ f. quxstus gain : 
see -ART. Cf. obs. F. questuaire (Godef.).] 

A. adj. Connected or concerned with gain ; 
money-making, 

1594 R, ASHLEY tr. Loysle Roy 125 If they be poore, they 
applie themselues to questuarie, or gainfull arts; whereby 
to haue meanes to Hue. 1646 SIR T. BROWNE Pseitd. Ep. 
137 Although lapidaries, and questuary enquirers afTirme 
it, yet the Writers of Mineralls. .are of another beliefe. 
1694 R. L EsTRANGE/v^/tf.s 454 The Lawyers, the Divines, 
and all quaestuary professions, a 1864 FKRKIKK Grk. P kilos. 
(1866) I. xii. 352 This.. may be termed the quaestuary 
class,.. this being the end which they aim at. 

fB. sb. One who seeks for gain; spec. QUES 
TOR sb. i. Obs. 

1614 Bp. HALL No Peace with Rome 12 Not giuen by 
the popes, but lewdly deuised by some of his base questu- 
aries for an aduantage. 1664 JER. TAYLOR Dissuas. Popery 
ii. 3 Gerson and Dominlcus a Soto are asham d of these 
prodigious indulgences, and suppose that the Pope s Quees- 
tuaries onely did procure them. 

t QuSBSture. Obs. rare 1 . In 7 questure. 
[ad. L. qitxstilra.] = Qu.ESTORSHir. 

1673 .C. Art of Complaisance c& A great many Noble 
persons who stood in competition for the Questure. 



11 

Quafer, v. Obs. rare 1 . [Onomatopoeic.] 
(See quot.). 

1693 CLAYTON- in Phil. Trans. XVII. 990 A Duck has 
larger Nerves that come into their Bills than Geese or any 
other Bird that I have seen and therefore quafer and grope 
out their Meat the most. [Copied as quaffer by Derham 
PhysicO Tkeol. iv. xi. 192, and Bell On the Hand 150.} 

Quaff i^kwcif), si), [f. QUAFF z/.] An act of 
quaffing, or the liquor quaffed ; a deep draught. 

1579 TOMSON Calvin? $ Semn. Tim. 512/2 They thinke that 
a sermon co.steth no more then a quaffe wd them. 1594 
GREENE & LODGE Looking Gl. G. s Wks. (Rtldg.) 141 Now 
Alvida begins her quaff, And drinks a full carouse unto her 
King. 1627-77 FELTHAM Resolves i. Ixxxiv. 129 Proteas 

faue him a quaff of two gallons. 1889 G. GISSING Nether 
Vorld I. v. 97 Each guest having taken a quaff of ale. 
Quaff (kwaf), v. Also 6 quaft, quaf, 6-7 
quaffe. [Of obscure origin; prob. onomatopoeic 
(cf. QUAKER and QUASS v.}. 

The date and history of the word are against any connec 
tion with ^rt^jvar. of QUAICH, which has been suggested as 
the source. (Vigfusson s ON. kvcyfa, to quaff is an error, 
the correct form being kneyfa^. The precise relationship 
of the earliest formanaft to Palsgrave s QUAUGHT and Sc. 
WAUCHT is obscure.] 

1. intr. To drink deeply; to take a long draught; 
also, to drink repeatedly in this manner. Const. 
of Win). 

1529 MORE Suppk Soulys Wks. 331/2 The dregges of olde 
poysoned heresies in whiche they fell a quaffing with the 
deuill. 1547 BOORDE Introd. Kn&lt;nvl. ix. (1870) 149 In 
Holand . . many of the men . . wyll quaf tyl they ben dronk. 
1577 RHODES Bk. Nurture in Bahees Bk. 77 Eate softly, 
and drinke manerly. take heede you doe not quaffe. 1628 
PiiYNNE Cetts. Cozens 47 Poyson must alwayes be ad- 
ministred in golden Chalhces, else none wille quaffe. 1645 
QUARLES Sol. Recant, in. 35 To day we feast, and quaffe in 
frolique Bowles; To morrow fast. 1757 SMOLLETT A eprisal 
II. xv, We laugh, and we quaff, and we banter. 1830 
LYTTON P. Clifford iv, She had that day quaffed more 
copiously of the bowl than usual. 1876 BROWNING Epilogue 
to PacchiarottO) Have faith, give thanks, but quaff. 

2. trans. To drink (liquor) copiously or in a 
large draught. 

*555~8 PHAER &neid in. G iv, Wyne in plenty great they 
quaff. 1648 HERRICK Hesper.^ Lyrick to Mirth, Let us sit 
and quaffe our wine. 1768 BEATTIE Minstr. i. xliv, Merry 
swains, who quaff the nut-brown ale, 1820 W. IRVING 
Sketch Bk. I. 74 They quaffed the liquor in profound 
silence. 1878 Masque Poets 31 Now with b?ck-flung head 
she quaffs The odorous white Mareotic wine. 
fig- 1613 HEYWOOD Braz. Age Wks. 1874 HI. 216 I le 
rather at some banquet poyson him, And quaffe to him his 
death. 1674 MILTON P. L. v. 638 (ed.2) They drink, and in 
communion sweet Quaffimmortalitie and joy. 1820 LANDOK 
Heroic Idylls^ Thrasymedes &lt;$ Eunoe 38 Let my lips quaff 
purity From thy fair open brow. 

b. With advbs. as down, off, out, round, up, 
(Cf. DRINK v.) 

1596 SHAKS, Tarn. Shr. in. ii. 174 Hee calls for wine., 
quaft off the Muscadell. 1633 P. FLETCHER Put-pie Isl. i. 
xxvii. Oh let them in their gold quaffe dropsies down. 
1635-56 Cow LEY Davideis 11. 593 In helmets they quaff 
round the welcome flood. 

3. To drain (a cup, etc.) in a copious draught 
or draughts. Also with off, out, up. 

1523 [CovERDALE] OldGod Of New (1534) O Hj, To quaft of 
two Cannes or tankardes of wine. i6o7DEKKER IV h. Babylon 
Wks. 1873 II. 198, I quaffe full bowles of strong enchanting 
wines. 1633 BP. HALL Occas. Medit, (1851) 152 Why do not 
I . . quaff up that bitter cup of affliction. 1748 THOMSON 
Cast, Indol. viii, As one who quaffs Some potent wine-cup. 
1831 SCOTT Cast. Dang, vii, Your cup, filled with right good 
wine, I have just now quaffed off. 1868 FITZGERALD tr. 
Omar xliii. (1899) 98 And proffering his Cup, invites your 
Soul Forth to your Lips to quaff it. 

4. To drive away, to bring down to or into (a 
certain state), by copious drinking, rare. 

1714 Love s Rtliefm Steele s Poet. Misc. 42 Be brisk and 
gay, And cjuaff this sneaking Form away. 1821 BYRON 
Sardan. i. u. 442 When..! have quaff d me down to their 
abasement. _ 1847 J. WILSON C/tr. North (1857) I. 147 The 
room in which he quaffs, guzzles, and smokes himself into 
stupidity. 

Quaff, obs. var. QUAICH ; see also QUAYF(E. 

Quaffer (kwa-fai), sb. [f. QUAFF v. + -ER*.] 
One that quaffs or drinks deeply. 

1520 WHITINTON Vulg. (1527) 13 b, He is a quaffer namely 
of swete wyne. 1579 G. HARVEY Letter-bk. (Camden) 82 
A company of honest good fellowes, and reasnable honeste 
quarters, a 1624 Bp. M. SMITH Strut. (1632) 278 What 
a grief it was to Novellus Torquatus .. that his sonne was 
such a quaffer. 1822 Blackw. Mag. XI. 346 Pouring it out 
and calling so lustily for quaffers. 

Quaffer, v. : see QUAFER. 

Quaffing (kwa firj), vbl. sb. [f, QUAFF v. + 
-ING!.] The action of the vb. ; copious drinking. 

1532 MORE Confitt. Tindale Wks. 687/2 By bibbing, & 
sipping, & quaffing. 1579 GOSSON SJi. Abuse (Arb.) 34 We 
haue robbed Greece of Gluttonie .. and Dutchland of 
quaffing. 1664 MRQ. WoRc. in Dircks Life xviii. (1865) 325 
Frivolous discourse tending to quarrels and quaffing. 1812 
COMBE Dr. Syntax, Picturesque Tour xii, The Doctor 
talk d nor ceased his quaffing. 1830 M. DONOVAN Dent. 
Econ. I. 39 The unremitted quaffing of wine. 

atirib. 1587 TURBKRV. Trag. T. (1837) 144 A quaffing 
cup, Wherein he tooke delight To bouse at boorde. a 1638 
MEDB Wks. (1672) 123 Causing the Vessels of God s House 
to be made his Quaffing-bowls. 1701 C. WOLLEY Jrnl. 
AVw York (1860) 35 Their quaffing liquors are Rum-Punch 
and Brandy-punch. 

Quaffing (kwcrfirj), ///. a. [f. as prec. + 
-ING -.] That quafTs. Hence Qua ffingly adv. 



QUAGGY. 

a 1693 MOTTEUX Rabelais in. xxxL 255 The Luhbardly 
quaffing Monks. 1843 Taifs Mag. X. 275 At evening 
empty a bottle or two, QuafTingly, quaffingly. 

t Q,uaff-tide. Obs. The season for drinking. 

1582 STANYHURST^ /^ iv. (Arb.) 105 Bacchus third yeers 
feasting, when quaftyde aproacheth. 

t Qua fly, a. Obs. Of the nature of quaffing. 

1582 STANVHURST sEneis i. (Arb.) 24 Theyre panch with 
venison they franck and quaffye carousing. 

Quaft, obs. variant of QUAFF v. 

Quag (kwseg), sb. Also 6, 8 quage, 7quagg(e. 
[Related to QUAG v. ; cf. QUAB, QUAW, and see 
QUAGMIRE.] A marshy or boggy spot, esp. one 
covered with a layer of turf which shakes or yields 
when walked on. 

1589 \\ Y.F0rtif. 16 Where you finde quicke sands, quages, 
and such like. 1657 HOWKLL Londinop. 342 Moorfields, 
which in former times, was but a fenny quagge, or moore. 
11677 BARROW Serin. Wks. 1716 III. 143 The latter walk 
upon a bottomless Quag into which unawares they may 
slump. i784CowpEit Tiroc. 253 We keep the road, Crooked 
or straight, through quags or thorny dells. 1883 BESANT 
AIL in a Garden fair i. ii. (1885) 19 There are pools in the 
forest, .there are marshy places and quags. 
fig. 1888 C/i. Times 27 Jan. 68/3 All who are trying to 
find a way out of the Vatican quag, without turning 
Protestants. 

b. attrib.^nA Comb.^s quag-brain,- kind, -water. 

1719 D URFEY Pills (1872) II. 244 Tho Law and Justice 
were of slender growth Within his quag Brain. 1772 WALKLR 
in Phil. Trans. LXII. 124 It was mostly of the quag kind, 
which is a sort of moss covered at top with a turf of heath 
and coarse aquatic grasses, a 1870 D. G. KOSSETTI Poems 
(1870) 252, I . . fouled my feet in quag-water. 

Quag (kwseg), fc 1 - 1 Obs. exc. dial. [Onomato 
poeic : cf. wag, swag. Some dialects have also 
qnaggle corresp. to ivaggle^\ intr. To shake ; 
said of something soft or llabby. 

1611 COTGR., Briwhaler, . . to shake, swag, or quag, as a 
great dug, or th vnsound flesh of a foggie person. 1616-61 
HOLYDAY Persius 337 That To him a strutting panch may 
quagge with fat. 1623 tr. Famine s Theat. Hon. v. i. 35 
The earth being uncertaine and quagging, 1881 BLACK- 
MORE Christowell xlviii, Many a poor head will ache, and 
many a poor belly quag, if it is so bad as they tell me. 

Quag, v$ rare~ l . [f. QUAG sb.~] f raits. To 
submerge or fix in a quag. 

1673 MARVELL Reh. Transp, n. Wks. 1776 II. 502 Unfortu 
nately . . you sink deeper and quag yourself in your Roman 
Empire. 

Quagga (kwse ga). Also 8-9 quacha, 9 -ccha, 
kwagga. [South African. The earliest authori 
ties give it as a Hottentot word, writing it qttacha 
(Tuncker, 1710), quaiha (Kolbe, 1/19, prob. a 
misprint), or quagga (Sparrman, 1783), but it is 
now current in Xosa-KafTir in the form iqzvara, 
with clicking q and guttural r. (J. Platt, in 
Atkenseumj 19 May, 1901).] a. A South African 
equine quadruped (Etjintsw Hippotigris Qitagga) t 
related to the ass and zebra, but less fully striped 
than the latter, b. Burch ell s zebra. 

The true quagga is believed to have been exterminated 
about 1873. 

1785 G. FORSTER tr. Sparrman s I oy. Cape G. H. I. 223 
One of the animals called quaggas by the Hottentots and 
colonists. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) VI. 713 The quacha, 
or quagga. 1815 SIR J. BARROW Travels 320 The Qua-cha, 
which was long thought to be the female Zebra, is now 
known to be of a species entirely different. 1834 PRINGLE 
Afr, Sk. vjii. 274 The poor quagga., is a timid animal with 
a gait and figure much resembling those of an ass. 1839 
DARWIN Jrnl. Beagle v. 100 Two zebras, and the quaccha, 
two gnus, and several antelopes. 1859 Orig. Spec. \. 
(1873) 128 The quag_ga, though so plainly barred like a 
zebra over the body, is without bars on the legs. 

attrib. 1899 Q. Rev. Oct. 412 The quagga hybrid was 
less striped than many dun-coloured horses. 

Quaggy (kwse gi), a. [f. QUAG sb. or v 
f -Y.] 

1. Of ground : That shakes under the foot ; full 
of quags; boggy, soft. Also of streams: Flow 
ing through boggy soil. 

1610 HOLLAND Canidett s Brit. T. 499 Certaine uneven and 
quaggie rniry plots, a 1756 COLLINS Ode Superst.Highl. 59 
O er the watery strath or quaggy moss. 1814 SCOTT Wav. 
.\vi, The path . . was rough, broken, and in many places 
quaggy and unsound. 1867 MORRIS Jason ,\i. iSSAplain.. 
with quaggy brooks cleft through. 

2. Of things, esp. of the body or flesh : Soft, 
yielding, flabby. Also of persons in respect of 
their flesh, andy%-. 

?i6.. Time s Storehouse 26 (L.) Heate and travaile are 
yrkesome to the Gaules quaggy bodies. 1611 COTGR., 
Mollasse, quaggie, swagging [etc.]. 1694 MOTTEUX Rabe 
lais iv. ix. (1737) 37 A female called Pear* .said to be 
quaggyand flabby. 1748 RICHARDSON C/arzssa(i8u) VIII. 
158 Behold her, then, spreading the whole troubled bed 
with her huge quaggy carcase. 1806-7 J- BERESFORD 
Miseries Hum. Life (1826) vr. 120 O the quaggy rascal ! . . 
I d have given him a little bone to his fat. 1823-34 
Good s Stud. Med. (ed. 4) II. 680 The cells [of dead bone] 
being filled with a corrupt sanies or spongy caruncles, so 
that the whole assumes a quaggy appearance. 1851 H. 
MF.LVTLLK Whale xxv. 125 A mature man who uses hair-oil 
. .has probably got a quaggy spot on him. 

Comb. 1721 RAMSAY Tar tana. 343 May she turn quaggy fat. 

Hence Qua gglness, quaggy condition. 

1653 GATAKER Vind. Annot. Jer. 85 Considering the un- 
soundnesse and qagginesse of their [Astrologers ] grounds. 

Quajte, obs. pa. t. of QCETCH v. 



QUAGMIRE. 

Quagmire ^kwa.-gm3ijj). [app. f. QDAG si. 
or v. 1 (but evidenced a little earlier) + MIRE. 
Numerous synonyms, with a first element of similar 
form, were in use in the i6th and 171)1 cents., as 
&lt;jua-, quab-, quad-, quake-, qual-, qitave-, qtiaw- 
mire, which will be found in their alphabetical 
places : cf. also bog-, gog- and wag-mire. The 
precise relationship of these to each other is not 
clear : all, or most, may be independent attempts to 
express the same idea (cf. elym. note to QUAKE .)] 

1. A piece of wet and boggy ground, too soft to 
sustain the weight of men or the larger animals; 
a quaking bog; a fen, marsh. 

1579 80 NORTH Plutarch (1676) 530 There was a certain 
quagmire before him, that ran with a swift running stream. 
1610 ROWLANDS Martin Mar k-all 26 They come to bogs 
and quagmyres, much like to them in Ireland. 1665 Srtrr. 
Aff. Nttherl. 120 [Holland is) the greatest Bogg of Europe, 
and Quagmire of Christendom. 1756 C. LUCAS Ess. Waters 
II. 131 The quagmire being pierced .. is found no where 
above two feet deep. 1838 PRKSCOTT Ftrtt. &lt;y Is. (1846) III. 
xiv. 121 The excessive rains. .had converted the whole 
country into a mere quagmire. 1881 OUIDA Klaremma I. 
j[7 To reach the mountain crest without sinking miserably 
in a quagmire. 

Comb. 1611 COTGR., Afollasst ,. . quagmire-like. 

2. trans/. and_/\ a. Anything soft, flabby, or 
yielding. 

1635 QUARLES Einbl. i. xii. (1718) 50 Thy flesh a trembling 
bog, a quagmire full of humours, a 1704 T. UKOWN Praise 
Pwerty Wks. 1750 I. 100 The rich are corpulent, drovvn d 



in foggy quagmires of fat and dropsy. 
Mfit. (ed. 4 



__,_. "1822-34 Goafs 
. 4) IV. 488 The indurated patches seem, in 
some cases, to le fixed upon a quagmire of offensive fluid. 

b. A position or situation from which cxirica- 
tion is difficult. 

1775 SHERIDAN Rivals in. iv, I have followed Cupid s 
Jack-a-lantern, and find myself in a quagmiie at last. 1851 
BRIGHT Sf., Eccl. Titles Bill 12 May, The noble Lord . . is 
in a quagmiie, and he knows it well. 1873 HAMERTON 
In/ell. Life v. ii. (1875) 178 Many a fine intellect has been 
driven into the deep quagmire. 

Hence Quagmire v., in pass, to be sunk or 
stuck in a quagmire ; also Jig. t Qua-gmirist, 
one who makes a quagmire of himself. Qua gniiry 
a., of the nature of a quagmire ; boggy. 

1637 Wisrmiop New Eng. (1825) I. 233 A most hideous 
swamp, so thick with bushes and so quagmiry [etc.]. 1655 
R. YOUNGI-: Agst. Drunkards 4 These drunken drones, these 
gut-mongers, these Quagmirists. 1701 Laconics 120 (L.) 
When a reader has been quagmired in a dull heavy book. 
1846 LANDOH fmaf. Conv, Wks. II. 42 A man is never 
quagmired till he stops. 

t Quagswag, v. Obs. rare - . [f. QUAG and 
SWAG, both used by Cotgr. in rendering F. brim- 
baler,] intr. To shake to and fro. 

i*S3 UUQUIIAUT Rabelais n. xi. 78 Advised her not to put 
her selfe into the hazard of quagbwagging in the Lee. 

Ouahaug, quahog (kwahjj-g, kwp-hpg). U.S. 
Also quau-, quohog. [Narmganset Indian, given 
by Roger Williams as poquatihock: -k or -g is 
the plural ending in Algonquian tongues.] The 
common round clam (Venus mercenarid) of the 
Atlantic coast of North America : = HEN sb. 6. 

[1643 R. WILLIAMS Key Lang. Amer. 107 Poquauhock, 
this the English call Hens, a little thick shel-fish, which the 
Indians wade deepe and dive for.] 1828 in WEBSTER. 1851 
MELVILLE Whale .xiv. 70 They first caught crabs and quo- 
hogs in the sand. 1881 Scribner s Mag. XXII. 656/1 So 
seemingly impregnable a victim [of the star-fish] as the 
quahaug. 1882 Sttouiardtt Sept. 2/1 In every hotel bill of 
fare the clam or quahog . . figures in a variety of shapes. 

Quahte, obs. pa. t. of QUETCH v. Quahis, 
obs. f. WHOSE. Quai, variant of QUAY. 

Quaich, quaigh (kw?x)- &. Forms : a. 7-8 
quech, 7, 9 queich, 8- quegh, 9 quaigh, quaich, 
(quoieh). P. S quaff, queff, coif. [a. Gael. 
citack cup, Olr. ciiach, prob. ad. L. caucus (Gr. 
raD/ra), whence also W. cawg. The /3-forms are 
peculiar, as there is no general tendency in Sc. to 
substitute/ for ch.~\ A kind of shallow drinking- 
cup formerly common in Scotland, usually made 
of small wooden staves hooped together and having 
two ears or handles, but sometimes fitted with 
a silver rim, or even made entirely of that metal. 

. 1673 ^Cf- Bit. Sir y. f oulis (1894) 14 A quech weighting 
IB unce and 10 drop. 1697 Iiiy. in Scott. N. f, Q. (1900) 
Dec. 90/2 Three round queichs without luggs. 1715 
PENNECUIK Descr. Tmeediiale, etc. n. 7 r A great Quech, 
which they were made to Drink out of. 1808 SCOTT Alarm. 
VI * X X quaighs were deep, the liquor strong. 1849 

MRS. CARLYLE Lett. II. 6r Passing a cooper s shop.. I slept 
in and bought two little quaighs. 1884 Q. VICTORIA More 

jrj a *"Vu 42 i A sll !" :r l l uaich out of which Prince Charles 
Edward had drunk. 

attrib. 1703 /.. in Scott, ff. S, Q. (1900) Dec. 90/2 A big 
quech cup with three lugs. 




Quaid, var. QUED a. see also QUAY v. Quaier 
obs. f. QUIKE. Quaife, -ff(e, obs. Sc. ff. COIF. 



f^ ., *- f ^\~* "uo. ui_. ii. \_,uir. 

Quaik, obs. Sc. f. QUAKE v. ; var. Sc. quhaik, 

\\ HAIK. 



12 

Quail (kwf l), sb. Forms: 4 quaille, 4-5 
quaylle, 4-6 quayle, 4-7 quaile, 5 qwayle, 
qwyle, 6 quale, St. qua(i)l5a, (7 -Jie), 6- quail, 
[a. OF. quaille (F. caille) = Prov. calha, It. 
quaglia, OSp. coalla, med.L. qualia, qualea and 
qiiaquila, qitacitla ; the source is prob. Teutonic, 
cf. MDu., MLG. qitackele (Du. kivakkel) and OHG. 
quatala, of imitative origin.] 

1. A migratory bird allied to the partridge 
(family rerdicidtx), found in the Old World and 
Australia; esp. the European species, Coturnix 
communis or daetylisanans, the flesh of which is 
much esteemed for the table. 

The Australian quails are chiefly hemipods (TV/rw/.t), esp. 
the Painted Quail, T. varius, or Henripedins ntelinatus. 
The single New Zealand species (Cotiirni.t Norz-Zelandix) 
is almost extinct. 

13.. E. E. Allil. P. B. 1084, I stod as stylle as dased 
quayle. 4:1386 CHAUCER Clerk s T. 1150 Thou shalt make 
him couche as doth a quaille. 1444 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 
219 Geyn Phebus uprlst syngen wyl the quaylle. 1535 
COVERDALE Exod. xvi. 13 At cueii the quayles came vp. 
Ps. civ. 40 At their desyre, there came quales. 1555 
W. WATREMAN bardie Ffuwns 1. v. 53 Quaiil, and mallard, 
are not but for the richer sorte. 1601 SIR W. CORNWALLIS 
Ess. u. (1631) 284 The fighting game at Quailes was 
Anthonies overthrowe. 1684 OTWAY Atheist i. i, Do you 
dispise your own Manna.. and long after Quails? 1727-46 
THOMSON Summer 1657 While the quail clamours for his 
running mate. 1774 GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. (1776) V. 212 The 
quail is by all known to be a bird of passage. 1846 STOKES 
Disc. Australia II. vii. 259 It is known to the colonists as 
the Painted Quail. 1870 MORRIS Earthly Par, III. IV. 296 
Close within the long grass lies the quail. 

2. dial. a. The corn-crake. (First quot. dub.) 

c 1470 HENRVSON Mor. Fab. vm. (Preach. Su alhw) xxiii, 
The quaille craikand in the come. 1881 Leicest. Gloss., 
Quail, the land-rail or corn-crake. 

b. The small spotted water-hen. 

1766 PENNANT Brit. Zool. (1768) II. 504 In Lincolnshire it 
is known by the name of quail. 

3. One of several American gallinaceous birds 
resembling the European quail, esp. the Virginian 
Quail or colin (Ortyx virginiatius), and the Cali- 
fornian or Crested Quail \Lophortyx californicus], 

1817-8 COBBETT Rcsid. U.S. (1822) 43, Chickens . . as big 
as American Partridges (misnamed quails*. 1840 Penny 
Cycl. XVII. 440 Orty.v I irgittianus, ..the Quail of the 
inhabitants of New England, the Partridge of the Pennsyl- 
vanians. 1861 G. F. BERKELEY Sportsm. W. Prairies xi. 
185 A brace of what the Americans call quail. 

t 4. fig. A courtesan. Obs. (So F. caille coijfle.} 

An allusion to the supposed amorous disposition of the 
bird : see the passages cited by Nares. 

1606 SHAKS. Tr. ff Cr. v. i. 57 Heere s Agamemnon,., one 
that loues Quails. 1694 MOTTEUX Rabelais iv. Prol. 
(1737) 83 Several coated Quails, and lac d Mutton. 

5. attrib. and Comb., as quail-basket, -feeding, 
-fight, -fighter, -fighting, -net, -pit, -potage, etc. ; 
quail-surfeited adj. ; quail-call = QUAIL-PIPE ; 
quail-dove, a dove of the West Indies and Florida 
(Slarnamas cyanocephalus} ; quail-hawk, a New 
Zealand species of falcon ; quail-pigeon, a pigeon 
of the genus Gcophaps; quail-snipe, a South 
American plover of the genus Thinocorys. Also 
QUAIL-PIPE. 

1598 FLORIO, Qiiagliere, . . a *quaile basket. 1822 D. 
BOOTH Analyt. Diet. i. 99 A Quailpipe or Quailcall. 1884 
E^ncycl. Brit. XX. 147/1 In old days they were taken in 
England in a net, attracted thereto by_ means of a Quail call. 
1820 T. MITCHELL Aristoph. I. p. Ixiii, When a mania took 
place in Athens . . for *cjuail-feeding or philosophy. 1581 
Mi LCAsTER Positions \\\\\, (1887) 78 Coknghts and *quaile- 
fightes. 1836-48 B. D. WALSH Aristoph., Ac/iarnians I. 
iv. note, The Athenians., were great cock-fighters and quail- 
fighters. 1776 GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. (1790) V. 214 *Quailfight- 
ing was a favourite amusement among the Athenians. 1873 
BULLER Birds N. Zeal. (1888) I. ?if The *Quail-Hawk 
exhibits great perseverance in pursuit of its prey. 1598 
FLORIO, Qaafliera, a *quaile-net. 1879 MRS. A. E. JAMKS 
Ind.Housch. Managem. 56 Quails, .kept in your own quail- 
pit and well fed. 1725 BRADLEY Fain. Diet. s.v. Quail, You 
may also have a *Quail-Potage in the Form of an Oil. 
1649 G. DANIEL Trinarch.,Hen. y, cxxv, And hang a Nose 
to Leekes, *Quaile-Surfetted. 

Quail (kw^ l), v.l Forms: 5-6 quayll, 5-7 
quayle, (5 whayle), quaile, 6-7 quale, 7 quaille, 
6- quail. See also QUEAL. [Of uncertain origin. 
The early spelling and rimes prove a ME. quailcn 
(with diphthongal ai), for which there is no obvious 
source. Phonology, sense, and date are against 
any connexion with early ME. qtwlen QUELE. 

Ill literary use the word is very common from about 1520 
to 1650, after w_hich it practically disappears until its revival, 
app. by Scott, in the early part of the igth c.] 

I. intr. 

1. Of material things, us persons, plants, etc. : 
To decline from a natural or flourishing condition ; 
to fail or give way ; to fade, wither, etc. Obs. 
exc. dial. 

c 1440 CAI-GRAVE Life St. Kath. iv. 1775 Ewery thyng.. 
that makelh resistens Ageyn nature, ful soone wil it quayle. 
^1460 G. loam Dicta Pliilos. 1071 Better were a thing 



QUAIL. 

should quaile, Before his word one iote shyuld faile. a 1796 
PEGGE Derbiclsms (E. D. S.\Quaif t togrow ill. 1825 BROCKEI T 
N. C. Gloss., Quail, to fail, to fall sick, to faint. 1879 Miss 




must quaile. 1602 J. RHODES AIIS-M. Rom. Rhyme, Nf. ~ 
taiic/i. Heretics, Christ s word . . that licauen and earth 



. . 

ACKSON Skn^s/i. Word-fak., Qnail t to languish ; to fail ; to 
fall sick. 1880 IV. Contiv. Gloss, s. v., Quail^ to wither ; 
. . These flowers soon quail . 

2. Of immaterial things. 

a. Of an action, undertaking, state of things, 
etc. : To fail, break down, come to nothing. Obs. 
In mod. use (transf. from 3) : To give way, yield 
to or before. 

c 1440 CAPGRAVE Life Sf. Kath. iv. 1019 Whan moost 
nede is, his resons will quayll [~ .r. whayle]. 1523 Si. 
Papers Hen. VtII&gt; VI. 197 Thei fynally concludyd . . ther 
shold lack 2 or 3 voyces, wherby the election shold quayle. 
1570 B. GOOGE Pop. Kingd. ir. 23 b, They toyle and moyle 
least that his state by talke of tongue should quaile. 
1600 HOLLAND Livy v. xxi. 194 After great massaker and 
execution committed, the fight began to quaile. 1611 SPEED 
Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. ix. 23. 585 The Kings Ambassadours 
relume out of France, without hauing effected that which 
they went about, so that the whole enterprize quailed. 

1810 SCOTT Lady of L. u. xxv, Roderick Dhu s renown.. 
[should] quail to that of Malcolm Grasme. 1857 MAURICE 
Mor. fy Met. Philos. III. iv. g. 117 The name of William 
himself quailed before that of Abelard. 

b. Of courage, f hope, f faith, etc. : To fail, 
give way, become faint or feeble. 

1557 POLE in Strype Ecct. Mem. ^1721) III. App. Ixviii. 
246 The fay the of the sacraments began to quayle in 
so many hartes. a 1577 GASCOIGNE Flowers Wks. 1869 I. 
43 Since courage quayles, and commes behind, Go sleepe. 
1606 IJRYSKETT Civ. Life 89 If. .the hope began to quaile, 
forthwith courage failed withall. 1642 ROGERS Naaman 
408, I perceiue your zeale quales shrewdly in this Laodicean 
a S e - J 835 THIRLWALL Greece I. vi. 212 Perils, which make 
the courage of the hardiest quail. 

3. Of persons : To lose heart, be cowed or dis 
couraged ; to give way through fear (to or before 
a formidable person or thing). 

1555 in Strype Eccl. Mem. (1721) III. App. .\liii. 122 
He made them this faithful promise to the intent that they 
should not quaile. 1577-87 HOLINSHED Chron. III. 1212/1 
The comming forward uf these forces caused the rebels, .to 
quaile in courage. 1604 T. WRIGHT Passions i. vi. 23 
Braggers.. vaunt much at the beginning, but quaile com 
monly in the middle of the fray. 1618 BOLTON f fonts (1636) 
222 All the Lords quailing, and Appuleius tyrannizing. 1813 
BYRON Giaour xxxv, I have not quail d to danger s brow. 
1874 GKEEN Short Hist. iii. | 5. 137 The Earl of Chester.. 
who had risen in armed rebellion, quailed before the march 
of Hubert. 

b. Of the heart or spirit ; also of the eyes. 

563 Homilies \\. Repentance i. (1859) 531 Mens hearts do 
quail and faint, if they once perceive that they travail in 
vaine. 1600 HOLLAND Livy xx.xvi. ix. 924 Seeing many of 
the defendants, .hurt and wounded, their hearts began to 
quaile. 1611 SHAKS. Cymb. v. v. 149 Thy daughter For 
whom my htart drops blood, and my false spirits Quaile to 
remember. 1837 W. IRVING Capt. Bonnes-Hie II. 225 [They] 
felt their hearts quailing under their multiplied hardships. 
1841 BORROW Zincali I. i. i. 26 Their sharp eyes quailed 
quickly before his savage glances. 1892 J. TAIT Mind in 
Matter ^ed. 3) 249 In Gethbemane, the brave spirit of Jtsus 
quailed. 
II. trans. 

t 4. To affect injuriously, to spoil, impair; to 
overpower, destroy, put an end to. Obs. a, a thing. 

1551 GARDINER Explic. Cath. Faith, Of the Presence 60 
The truthe of that place hindreth and qualeth in maner all 
the booke. 1604 T. WRIGHT Clintact. Years u Nature in 
the meane time is strengthened with good foods, and the 
humour either purged or quailed with phisicke. 1655 
H. VAUGHAN Sile.x Scint. u. Time s Book iv, As some meek 
night-piece which day quails To candle light unveils. 1669 
BOYLE Cont. New Exp. n. (1682) 66 The Apricocks were 
flaccid or quailed as if they had been dry or withered. 

absol. 1590 SHAKS. Mtds. N. D. v. i. 292 O Fates ! .. Cut 
thred and thrum, Quaile, crush, conclude, and quell. 
b. an action, state, quality, feeling, etc. 

1532 MORE Confnt. Barnes vni. Wks. 805/2 If he belieue 
saynt Austine. .than is his own fond ymaginacion quayled. 
1551 R. ROBINSON tr. Morels Utop. Ep. Cecil 11895) 20 Mine 
old good wil and hartye affection towardes you is not.. at 
all quayled and diminished. 1577 HANMEK Atii. Eccl. 
I/isf. (1619) 75 Quailing the chearefulnesse of uthers. 1628 
VENNER Baths of Bathe (1650) 350 The taking of cold 
drink doth suddenly quaile the heat. 1654^ tr. Martinis 
Cong. C/titui 5 Their antient . .warlike Spirit, which the 
pleasures., of that Country had quailed and tamed. 

5. To daunt or cow (a person), to bring into 
subjection by fear ; to cause to quail. 

1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W, 1531) 126 b, Some power of 
the soule .shall quayle & trouble them. 1569 GOLUING 
Jicininges Post. 22 Paul was not quayled with the huge- 
nesse of persecutions. 1642 BRIDGE Serin. Norfolk Volun 
teers p He is a stout man whom adversity doth not quaile. 
1719 D UKFEY Pills (1872) III. 23 You Roaring Boys, who 
everyone quails. 1816 ^J. WILSON City of Plague in. i. 49 
As thunder quails Th inferior creatures of the air and 
earth. 1833 M. SCOTT Tom Cringle ii. (1859) 55 Splinter did 
not like it, I saw, and that quailed me. 

b. To daunt, depress (the heart, courage) with 
fear or dejection. 

1567 TUBBERV. Ray ting Route 26 My courage is not 
quailde by cruell Fo. 1600 HOLLAND Livy xcv. 1253 
Uuerthrowes in warre and misfortunes, .at sea, wherewith 
his heart was quailed. 1663 BUTLER Hnd. i. iii. 204 Am 
not I hereto take thy part? Then what has quail d thy 
stubborn heart? 1706 in PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey*. 1844 Dis- 
RA&uC&ttHgsiy v. ii, It. .quailed (he heart of Taper, crushed 
all the rising hopes. 

Hence Quai ler, one who, or that which, quails. 

1599 SANDYS Eurofig S$ec, (1632) 193 Avarice, .the quailer 
of all manly executions. 



QUAIL. 



Quail, v. 2 - 06s. exc. dial. Forms: 5-6 quayle, 
7 quaile. [a. OF. qttaillcr (F. iailler It. qna- 
) Pg. coalhar y Sp. cuajar] : JL. coaguldre to 



) . 

COAGULATE.] 

1. intr. To curdle, coagulate. 

t 1430 Tu Cookery-bks. 27 Caste on whyte Wyne or 
Venegre, & make it quayle. c 1440 Proiup* Parv, 418/2 
Quaylyn, as mylke, and other lycowre, coagulo. 1530 
PAI.SGR. 676/2, I quayle, as mylke dothe, je tjunillcbotic. 
1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. 323 It is no better than poison, 
especially the first beestings, if it quaile and cruddle in the 
stomacke. 1706 in PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey). 1881 Ldcest. 
Gloss., Quail, to turn or curdle; go flat or suur. 
b. To be quailed, to be curdled. 

1530 PALSGR. 676/2 This mylke is quayled. 1809 BATCHELOR 
Ortlioep. Anal. 140 The cream is said to he quailed, when 
the butter begins to appear in the process of churning. 

2. trans. To cause to curdle. rare~~ l . 

1398 TRLVISA Earth. De P. R. iv. Iv. (1405) 83 The more 
boystous . . partyes of the grayne the erth takyth .. and 
quaylyth theym by heete. 

Hence Quailed///, a., curdled. Obs. 

..\i8/i Quaylyd,asmylke f ando(?erlyke, 




.. 
stomack. 

QuaHery. [f. QUAIL sb. + -ERY.] A place 
where quails are kept, esp. to be fattened for food. 

1894 Blackw. Mag, Sept. 387/2 The native caught the 
birds alive for the quaileries of Anglo-Indians, 

Quailing (kw^-lirj), vbl. sb [f. QUAIL z.l 
-f -iNa 1 .] The action of giving way, failing, 
losing heart, etc. 

1549 COVERDALE, etc. Erasnt. Par. Tint. Ded. i Seyng 
Paule was so afrayed of their quayling, whome he had in 
structed. 1596 SHAKS. r Hen. IV, iv. i. 39 There is no 
quailing now, Because the King is certainely possest Of all 
our purposes. 1627 G. HAKEWILL Power fy Pr&lt;n&lt;. God \\.\. 
r. 65 The quailing and withering of all things by the recesse 
of the Sunne. 1642 ROGERS Naaman 557 So farre from 
(mailing of judgement, a 1700 13, E. Diet. Cant. Crew 
Quailing of the Stomack, beginning to be qualmish or un 
easy. 1848 C. BRONTE y. Eyre (1857) 245, I bore with her 
feeble minded quailings. 

tQuai ling, vbL sb2 Obs. [f. QUAIL v*] 

Curdling, coagulation. 

c 1440 Promp, Parv. 418/2 Quaylynge, of lycoure, coagu- 
facia. 1600 SuRFLBT Count rie Far me \\. xlix. 310 To stay 
the quailing of the milkc in their stomacks. 

Quailing (kw^-lhj), ///. a. [f. QUAIL v.i + 
-ING 2.] Diminishing, becoming weak ; losing 
hope or courage, etc. 

1565 GOLDISG Ovid s Met. ix. (1593) 215 To quicken up 
the quailing love. 1586 WARNER Alb. Eng. iv. xxi[i]. 
(1612) 103 Did quicken England* quailing plowes. 1880 
G. MEREDITH Trag.Com, (1881) 158 Her father s unwonted 
harshness suggested the question to her quailing nature. 
1894 SIR E. SULLIVAN Woman 34 Shrinking, quailing, 
agonised victims. 

Quail-pipe, [f. QUAIL sb. + PIPE.] 

1. A pipe or whistle on which the note of the 
quail (usually the female) can be imitated, in 
order to lure the birds into a net ; a quail-call. 
Also used allusively, oryf^. 

For a full description of the calls used to imitate the notes 
of the cock and hen, see Encycl. Brit. (1797) XV. 733/2. 

?&lt;r 1400 LYDG. Chorle $ Byrtte (Roxb.) 9 The quayle pype 
can most falsely calle Tyl the quayle under the nette doth 
crepe, c 1400 Rom. Rose 7261 High shoos knopped with 



tne Quail-pipe. 1821 SCOTT Kenilw. vij, Master Varney, 
you can sound the quailpipe most daintily to wile wantons 
into his nets. 1884 St. James s Gaz. 28 Apr. 6/2 In France 
they are commonly captured on the ground ; a quail-pipe 
. .being employed. 

attrib. 1602 MIDDLETON Blurt i Master-Constable n. i. 17 
A gallant that hides his small- tun be red legs with a quail- 
pipe boot. 1603 DEKKER Wonderfitll Yeare Fiijb, He.. 
cryed out in that quaile-pipe voice. 

t 2. transf. The throat or vocal organs. Obs. 

1693 DRYDEN Juvenal vi. (1697) 120 The Rich to Buy him, 
will refuse no Price ; And stretch his Quail-pipe till they 
crack his Voice, a 1700 U. E. Diet. Cant. Crew, Quail-pipe^ 
a Woman s Tongue. 1748 RICHARDSON Clarissa (1811) VI. 
383 Squeaking inwardly, .from contracted quail-pipes. 

Hence Quai lpipin? vbl. sb. 

1661 R. L ESTRANGE State Divinity 14 To give over., 
their Quailpiping in a Pulpit to catch silly women. 

Quaime, obs. form of QUALM sb. 

t Quain, v. Obs. rare. [a. ON. koeina = OE. 

cwaniait, Goth, qainon \ an ablaut-var. appears in 
MDu. and MLG. quinen (Du. kwijnett) to com 
plain, be ill (cf. MHO. wtjitfnetiy OE. fawlnan to 
waste away).] intr. (also re/I.) and trans. To 
lament, bewail, bemoan. Hence Quaining vbl. sf&gt;. 

n 1300 Cursor J/. 10488 Sco quainid eft on J?is nianer, Oft 
sco said, alias ! alias ! Ibid. 10495 To quils sco qualnid 
bus hir care. Hid. 12495 Quen iesus herd bis quaining gret. 
Ibid. 21886 parof himquaines iesii crist. [A possible instance 
of attain sb. (cf. ON. foe in) occurs in line 11577.] 

Quain, obs. variant of QroiN sb, 

t Quaint, sb. Obs. rare. Also 4 queynt(e. 
[? f. the adj.] (See quot. 1598.) 

c 1320 Sir Tristr, 2254 Hir queynt abouen hir kne Naked 
be knijtcs knewe. (.-1386 CHAUCER Miller s T. 90 Pryvely 



13 

he caught hir by the queynte. 1598 FLORIO, Bccchina, 
a womans quaint or priuities. 

Quaint (kw&lt;? nt), a. (adv.) Forms : a. 3-4 
cointe, (3 kointe, 4 coint(t, coynte, koynt(e), 
quoynte, (3 cwointe, 4 quointe, quoynt), 4-5 
coynt, quynte, (4 quinte, 6 quyent). 0. 3-6 
queyute, (4 qweyut(e), 4-6 queynt, queinte, 
4-8 queint, 6 quent, qwent ; 4-5 quaynt, (4 
qwayut, qwaint), quante, (5 qwantte), 4-6 
quaynte, (5 qwaynte), quainte, 4- quaint. 7. 
4-5 wayut, 5 wheynte, quhaynte, whaynt(e ; 
dial. 7 wheint, 8-9 whaint, whent, y wheaut. 
[a. OF. cointe (quointe, cuinte, etc.), queinte : L. 
etenitum known, pa. pple. oicognosclre to ascertain. 
The development of the main senses took place iu 
OF., and is not free from obscurity (cf., however, 
COUTH and KNOWN). 

In its older senses the Eng. word seems to have been in 
I ordinary use down to the i7thc., though in many i6-i7th 
! c. examples the exact meaning is difficult to determine. 
After 1700 _it occurs more sparingly (chiefly in sense6\until 
its revival in sense 8, which is very frequent after 1800.] 
A. adj. 

I. 1 1. Of persons : Wise, knowing ; skilled, 
clever, ingenious. In later use chiefly with ref. to 
the employment of fine language (cf. sense 6). Obs. 
rt 1250 Leg. Katli. 580 (Cott. MS.) Ht-i ! hwuch wis read 
Of se cointe [f.f. icudd] keiser. t 1290 .V. Eng. Leg. I. 
381/165 pe beste Carpenter And be quoynteste bat ich euere 
l-knev. (i 1325 /Vtwtf rsitlter cxviii. o3 Thou madest me 
quainte [L. pruiteiitcin] vp myn enemis to bi comaunde- 
ment. L 1400 Dcstr. Troy 1531 Wise wrightis to wale., 
qwaint men of wit. 1501 DOUGLAS Pal. Hon. r. Ixv, }it clerkis 
bene in subtell wordis (Client, And in the deid als schairp as 
ony snaillis. 1593 SHAKS. 2 Hen. VI, HI. ii. 274 To shew 
how queint an Orator you are. 1596 Taut. Shr, in. 
ii. 149 Wee li ouerreach. .The quaint Musician, a 1628 
PRESTON .Wry Coz t. (1634) 273 If you would preach as other 
men do, and be curious and quaint of Oratory. i697DRVDEN 
sncid\\. 698 Talk on ye quaint Haranguers of the Crowd. 
1728 MORGAN Algiers I. vi. 176 The Arabs in general are 
quaint, bold, hospitable, and generous, excessive Lovers of 
Eloquence and Poesy. 

t b. In bad sense : Cunning, crafty, given to 
scheming or plotting. Obs. 

a 1225 Ancr. R. 328 feos kointe harloz bet scheaweS for8 
here gutefestre. c 1340 Cursor M. 739 (Fairf.) pe nedder 
bat ys so quaynt of gyle, c 1394 / . PI. Cmie 482 Dere 
brober quab Peres be develi is ful queynte . 1402 
HOCCLEVE Letter ofCiipid 152 Sly, queynt, and fals in al 
vnthrift coupable. 1513 DOUGLAS sEncis n. i. 59 Knaw 3e 
nocht bettir the quent Vlexes slycht ? 1674-91 RAY N.-C. 
Words (E.D.S.), A wheint lad , q. queint ; a fine lad : 
ironicc dictum. Also, cunning, subtle. i68opTWAY Orphan 
in. iv. 864 The quaint smooth Rogue, that sins against his 
Reason. 

t 2. Of actions, schemes, devices, etc. : Marked 
by ingenuity, cleverness, or cunning. Obs. 

(ZI225 Ancr. R. 204 Ure Louerd.-brouhte so to grunde 
his kointe kuluertschipe. c lypArtli. fy Merl. 4447(K01bing) 
Morgein..bat wi); hir queint gin Bigiled J&gt;e gode clerk- 
Merlin. 1387 TREVISA HigJen (Rolls) IV. 429 losephus .. 
fonde up a queynte craft, and heng wete clobes uppon be 
toun walles. c 1460 Towneley Myst. xiii. 593 This was a 
qwantte gawde, and a far cast, It was a hee frawde. 1522 
World ff Child in Hazl. Dodsley I. 245, I can many a 
quaint game. 1598 ROWLANDS Betray. Christ 10 When 
traitor meets, these quaint deceits he had. 1641 BROME 
Jovial Crew n. Wks. 1873 III. 378, I. .over-heard you in 
your queint designe, to new create your selves. 

1 3. Of things : Ingeniously or cunningly designed 
or contrived; made with skill or art ; elaborate. Obs. 
cizgo S, Eng. Leg. I. 88/62 He liet heom makien a 
quoynte schip. 1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 1555 Hii ?eue him 
an quointe [v.r. koynte] drench, mid childe vor to be. c 1384 
CHAUCER H. Fame in. 835 And evermo.. This queynte hous 
aboute wente, That never-mo hit stille stente. a 1400-50 
Alexander 4275 Have we no cures of courte ne na cointe 
sewes. 1627 DRAYTON Xyntphidia. Ixix, He told the 
arming of each joint, In every piece how neat and quaint. 
1631 SHIRLEY Traitor iv. ii, Who knows But he may marry 
her, and discharge his Duchess With a quaint salad? 

f4. Of things: Skilfully made, so as to have a 
good appearance ; hence, beautiful, pretty, fine, 
dainty. Obs. 

13. . E. E.Allit. P. B. 1382 With koynt carneles aboue, 
coruen ful dene. 13 .. Caw. fi Cr. Knt. 877 Whyssynes vpon 
queldepoyntes, bat koynt wer bobe. ? a 1366 CHAUCER 
Kom. Kase 98 A sylvre nedle forth I droughe, Out of an 
aguler queynt ynoug_he. c 1400 Destr. Troy 777 An ymage 
full nobill-.bat qwaint was & qwem, all of white siluer. 
1596 SPENSER F. Q. iv. x. 22 Nor hart could wish for any 
queint device, But there it present was, and did fraile sense 
entice. 1671 MILTON Samson 1303 In his hand A Scepter 
or quaint staff he bears. 

t b. Of dress : Fine, fashionable, elegant. Obs. 
la 1366 CHAUCER Rom. Rose 65 The ground .. maketh so 
queynt his robe and fayr That it hath hewes an hundred 
payr. 1380 Lay Folks Catech. (Lamb. MS.) 1221 Ne wor- 
schipe not men for here fayre clobes, ne for here qweynte 
schappis bat sum men usen. 1501 DOUGLAS Pal. Hon. \. 
xlvi, In vestures quent of mpny sindrie gyse. 1592 GREENE 
Iff st. Courtier in Hart. Misc. (Malh.)II. 223 Costly attirt-, 
curious and quaint apparell is the spur that prickes them 
forward. 1627 FLETCHER Locusts I. xiii, All lovely drest 
In beauties livery, and quaint devise. 
1 5. Of persons : Beautiful or handsome in ap 
pearance; finely or fashionably dressed; elegant, 
foppish. 06s. 

^1300 Cursor J/. 28015 Yee leuedis. ..studis. .hu to mak 
yow senile and quaint. 111310 in Wright Lyric 1\ -6 



q 
Q 



QUAINT. 

Coynte asc columbine, such hire cunde ys. 1362 LANGL. 
P. PI. A. II. 14 A wommon wonderliche clothed. Ther 
nis no qweene qweyntore. a 1450 Kn!. de la. Tour(iZ6S) 40 
Folke shulde not have thaire herte on the worlde, nor 
make hem queint, to plese it. 1590 GREENE Nfcer Too 
LateWs. 1882 VIII. 82 He made himselfe as neate and 

uaint as might be. 1598 SHAKS. Merry W. iv. vi. 41 

uaint in greene, she shall be loose en-roab d. 1610 
Teif. I. ii. 317 Fine apparision : my queint Ariel, Hiarke 
in thine eare. 1784 CowrEB Task II. 461 A body so fantastic, 
trim, And queint in its deportment and attire. 

f 6. Of speech, language, modes of expression, 
etc. : Carefully or ingeniously elaborated ; highly 
elegant or refined ; clever, smart ; full of fancies 
or conceits; affected. Obs. (now merged in 8). 

13.. Guy H anv. (A.) 346 To hir he spac .. Wib a wel 
queynt steuen. 1-1386 CHAUCER Can. Ycom.Prol. t T. 199 
We semen wonder wise, Oure termes been so cleigial and so 
queynte. 1513 DOUGLAS ^Encis I. Prol. 255 The quent and 
curious caslis poeticall. 1:1570 Pride ft Lou l. (1041) 807 
Plcasaunt songes . . To queynt and hard for me to under 
stand. 1655 E. TKRKY Voy. E. Ind. XII. 232 The Persian 
there is spoken as their more quaint and Court-tongue. 
1676 MARVELL Mr. Smirkc K iv, A good life is a Clergy 
man s best Syllogism, and the quaintest Oratory. 1712 
STEELE Spcct. No. 450 r i A new Thought or Conceit 
dressed up in smooth quaint Language. 1783 BUKKE Rep. 
Aff. India Wks. 1842 II. 76 A style,, .full of quaint terms 
and idiomatick phrases, which strongly bespeak English 
habits in the way cf thinking. 

t 7. Strange, unusual, unfamiliar, odd, curious 
(in character or appearance). Ol s. (now merged 
in 8). 

13.. Cow de L. 216 Thou schalt se a queynte brayd. 
(-1369 CHAUCER Dtthc Blaunche 1330 This is so queynt 
a sweuyn. 1400 Dcstr. Troy TJ 15 There come with this 
kyng a coynt mon of shappe. c 1440 Igotnydon 1637 Right 
vnseznely on queynte manere He hym dight. 1513 DOUGLAS 
sEneis m. Prol. 12 Now moist I write.. Wyld auentouris, 
monstreis and qwent afTr.iyis. 1579 Si ENsliR Slu pk. Cat. 



. . 

Oct. 114 With queint Bellonain her equipage. l62gMiLTON 
Nativity 194 A drear, and dying sound Affrights the 
Flamins at their service quaint. 1714 POPE Wife t f Batk 
259 How quaint an appetite in woman reigns ! Free gifts 
we scorn, and love what costs us pains. 1808 SCOTT Mitrm. 
in. xx, Came forth a quaint and fearful sight. 

8. Unusual or uncommon in character or nppear- 
ance, but at the same time having some attractive 
or agreeable feature, esp., having an old-fashioned 
prettiness or daintiness. 

795 SOUTHEY Joan of Arc vm. 234 He for the wintry 
hour Knew many a merry ballad and quaint tale. 1808 
SCOTT Mann. n. iii, For this, with carving rare and quaint, 
She decked the chapel of the saint. 1824 W. IRVING T. 
Trav. I. 91 The streaks of light and shadow thrown among 
the quaint articles of furniture. 1862 STANLEY JtU 1 . C/i. 
(1877) I. x. 202 The device is full of a quaint humour which 
marks its antiquity. 1884 J. T. BENT in Macm. Mag. Oct. 
434/ 2 Ihe herdsmen were much quainter and more enter 
taining than our city-born muleteers. 

II. t 9- Proud, haughty. Obs. rare. 

a 1225 Ancr. R. 140 pet fleshs is her et home . . ant for bui 
hit is cwointe & cwiuer. 1340 Ayenb. 89 po bet make[&gt; 
ham zuo quaynte of be ilke poure noblesse ^et hi habbeb of 
hare moder pe erjre. ^1430 Pilgr. Lvf Manlwde n. cvii. 
115, I hatte orgoill, the queynte [F. la Maiicicr,}, the feerce 
hornede beste. [1610 G. FLETCHER Christ s Viet. n. liv, 
Queint Pride Hath taught her sonnes to wound their 
mother s side.] 

flO. Dainty, fastidious, nice; prim. Obs. 

1483 CAXTON Gold. Leg. 128 b/i She chaslyssed them that 
were nyce and queynte. 1579 G. HARSEY Lettcr-bk. 
(Camden) 73 The rest in a manner ar . . overstate for so 
queynte and queasye a worlde. 1590 SPENSER / . Q. in. vii. 
10 She nothing quaint Nor sdeignfull of so homely fashion. 
1640 BROME Sparagus Card. in. vii. Wks. 1873 III. 167 
Your new infusion of pure blood, by your queint feeding on 
delicate meates and drinks. 1678 R. L ESTRANGE Seneca s 
Mor. To Rdr., Fabius. .taxes him. .for being too Queint 
and Finical in his Expressions. 

1 11. To make it quaint, to act quaintly, in 
various senses, esp. to behave proudly, disdainfully, 
or deceitfully. Obs. 

c 1369 CHAUCER Del he Blaunche 531 Lo ! how goodly spak 
this knight . . He made hyt nouther tough ne queynte. 
1390 GOWER Conf.v. 4623 (II. 282) O traiteresse..Thou hast 
gret peine wel deserved, That thou canst maken it so queinte. 
(1400 Kant. Rose 2038, L.kneled doun with hondis loynt, 
And made it in my port ful queynt. i: 1422 HOCCLEVE 
Jonathas 642 He thognte not to make it qweynte and tow. 
6*1430 Pilgr. Lyf Man/iode n. cvi. (1869) 115 With alle 
myne joyntes stiryinge and with alle my sinewes j make it 
queynte [V.je inarche sijiercment.] 

fB. adv. Skilfully, cunningly. Obs. rare. 

c 1340 Cursor M. 5511 (Fairf.) }ou be-houys to wirke ful 
quaynte and in baire dedis ham attaynt. c 1384 CHAUCER 
//. Fame i. 245 What shulde I speke more queynte, Or 
peyne me my wordes peynte ? 1552 LYNOKSAY Monarche 
180 Fresche flora spred furth hir tapestrie, Wrocht be dame 
Nature quent and curiouslie, 

C. Comb., as quaint-eyed, -felt, -shaped, -stom 
ached, -willy, -worded adjs. 

1575 G. HARVEV Letlcr-tk. (Camden) 91 Thou arte so 
queyntefelt In thy rondelett. 1598 MARSTON Py^inal. i. 
140 Like no quaint stomack t man [he] Eates vp his armes. 
1603 FLORIO tfattaifiu I. xxxvi. (1632)115 A quaint-wittie, 
and loftie conceit. 1744 AKENSIDE Pleas, hnag. in. 250 
Where er the pow r of lidicule displays Her quaint-ey d 
visage. 1853 JAMES Agnes Sorrel (1860) I. 2 This tall 
quaint-shaped window. 1863 GKOSARTo^wd//5ri(ed. 2) 17 
Their quaint-worded dispositions and distinctions. 

Quaint, v.l 06s. exc. dial. Also 4 coynt, 4-6 
quaynt. [See ACQUAINT v., and cf. OF. cointitr 
in Godef.] =To acquaint, in various uses. 



QUAINT. 

&lt;i 1300 Cursor M. 5707 (Gott.) Quenbai war quaintid. .pis 
moyses and sir Raguell [etc.]. 1330 [see ACQUAINT v. 3]. 
c 1350 Will. Palcrnc 4644 He ce-ynted him queyntli with po 
tvo ladies. ai4*x&gt;-y*Al?.\-iimter2i3 Now sal! }e here How 
he . . quayntid him with ladis. 1509 BAPCLAY Shyp of 
Folys (1570) 81 Spede your pace, To quaynt your selfe and 
company with grace. 1591 NASHE Progno&t. i To quaint 
my selfe with the art of Nauigation. 1606 WARNER Alb. 
Eng. xv. xciv. (1612) 378 God quaints not with Baal. 1886 
ELWORTHY W. Somerset Worii-bk., Quaint, to acquaint, 
inform. 

Hence t Q,uai nted///. o. 1 , familiar. Obs. 

1586 W. WEBBE Eng. Pot trie (Arb.) 75 Heere by the 
quainted rloodes and springs most holie remaining. 

t Quaint, v.* Obs. Also 5 coynt(e. [In 
sense I, a. OF. coinlier, cointer, f. cointe quaint ; 
in sense 2, f. QUAINT a. 10.] 

1. trans. To adorn, to make fine or beautiful. 
1483 CAXTON C. de la. Tour (1868) 167 Thus loste. .theldest 

dougnter her maryage bycause she coynted her self. Ibid. 
168 He thennehadde. . coynted hym self of a scarlatte gowne, 

2. To quaint it, to assume a prim air. 

1585 Fairs Em. in. 1281 Let Mistress nice go saint it 
where she list, And coyly quaint it with dissembling face. 

Hence f Quai nted///. a.- (in ; coynted). 

c 1500 fiftlusittt 315 In an euyl heure sawe I euer thy 
coynted body, thy facion, & thy fayre fygure. 

t Quai utance. Obs. In 4 quoynt-, 4-6 

queynt-, (5 qw-), 6 quaynta(u)noe ; 5-7 Sc. 
quentance, (5 quyntans). [Cf. QUAINT f. 1 ] 
= ACQUAINTANCE, q.v. 

c 1300 [see ACQUAINTANCE 2]. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxx. 
(Theodera) 85 He come to )&gt;is theodera & mad his quyntans 
..with hyr. c 1489 CAXTON Blanchardyn xx. 67 Sore 
harde was his queyntaunce to her. a 1533 LD. EERNERS 
Huon xxx. 92 One toke queyntance of an other. 1567 
Satir. Poems Reform, viii. 28 For all bi quentance with be 
quene. 1603 [see ACQUAINTANCE 2], 

i Quaiiltise, . Obs. Forms: a. 4 koint-, 
quointise, quoyntis(e, quint-, quynt-, qwynt- 
is(e, 4-5 coyntise, koyntis. ft. 4 qwayntyse, 
qwaintis, 4-5 quayntyse, quantyse, qwantis(e; 
queintise, queyntyse, qweyntise, 4-6 quentise 
( + variations of suffix, as -ice, -ese, -yze, etc.). 
[a. OF. cointise, cuint-, quentise, etc., f. cointe, 
queinte: see QUAINT a. and -ISE-.] 

1. Wisdom, cleverness, skill, ingenuity. 

1297 R. GI.OUC. (Rolls) 1872 He ladde is kinedom Rijtuol- 
liche & suibe wel wi(&gt; quoyntise & wisdom, c 1330 Spec. 
Gy Waru&gt;. 303 J&gt;ere is euere ioye inouh . . Wit and Running 
aiid kointise. a 1340 HAMPOLE Psalter, Cant. 519 Genge 
withouten counsayl it is and withouten quayntis. c 1425 
Seven Sag. (P.) 378 Fondys..For to holde my lyf a day 
With qweyntys of clergye. 

b. Cunning, craft, underhand dealing. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 740 (Gott.) pe nedder bat es of suilk a 
schaft, Mast of quantise es in [v.r. and ofj craft. 1390 GOWER 
Conf. I. 72 This ypocrite of his queintise Awaiteth evere til 
she slepte. c 1450 St. Cuthtert (Surtees) 1847 pe deuel with 
his quayntys Will be aboute ;ow to suppryse. 1480 CAXTON 
Ckrott. Eng. Mil 37 Vortiger . . thought priuely in his herte 
ihurgh queyntyse to bee kyng. 

2. An instance of cleverness, cunning, or craft; 
a device, stratagem, trick. 

1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 445 Brut & Corineus an quointise 
hpm bi-bou3te. c 1320 Seuyn Sag. (W.) 2769 Thai ne might 
hit no lenger defende, But ase thai dede a fair queintise. 
c 1440 Ifomyaon 359 She hyr bythought on a queyntyse, . . 
To wete, where of he were come. 1483 CAXTON G. de la 
7V)&gt;-Dviij,Suchecoyntyses..were to compare to the Cop. 
spin that made his nette to take the flyes. 

3. Cunning or skilful construction, rare. 

&lt;ri33&lt;&gt; Arth. ff Merl. 3566 (Kolbin?) pere bo men mi;t 
yhere be queintise of be spere, Of be sonne, of mone & 
ster. 

4. Fine or curious dress; fineness, elegance, or 
fancifulness in dress. 

13.. K. Alis.-iTs Ladies, and damoselis, Maken heom 
redy. . In faire atire, in divers coyntise. 13. . E. E. Allit.P. 
B - 54 Pay . . schulde . . in comly quoyntis to com to his feste. 
c 1400 Rom. Rose 2250 He that loveth trewely Shulde. .him 
disgysen in queyntyse. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 146 
The queintise, the plesaunt folyes, and the foule delytis 
that baue be used for. .worldely plesaunce. [1570 LEVINS 
Mamp. 148/10 A Quentise, modus, mos insolitus.] 

5. A device, cognizance, badge, armorial bearing ; 
a coat of arms, or any cloth bearing a heraldic 
device. Cf. COINTISE. 

13.. Coer de L. 5657 A queyntyse off the kynges owen, 
Ujjon hys hors was i-thro\ven. 1330 Arth. ff Merl. 8671 
iKolbing) pai [the helmets] hadde aboue riche queintise Of 
beten gold. 1375 BARBOUR Bruce xnt. 183 Armoris and 
quyntis that thai bare. 

t Quaiiltise, v. Ol&gt;s. Forms : 4 queintise, 
5 queyntise, coyntise. [? f. prec., or a. OF. 
cointiss-, lengthened stem of cointii-] trans. To 
beautify, adorn, dress finely. 

1390 GOWER Conf III. 35 8 Sondri thinges wel devised, I sib, 
wherof thei ben queintised. c 1430 Pilgr. Ly/Manhode n. 
in. (I8t&gt;9) 77 He weeneth he be now wel arayed and queyn- 
tlsed ! 1483 CAXTON G. de la Tonr C iij, They haue so 
many gownes wherof they coyntysc and araye their bodyes. 

Hence f Quaintising -M. sb., adornment, decora 
tion. Obs. 

c t 43 o Piler. LyfManlwde n. civ. (,869) 113 Garnementes 
tfsi n " * g d and silu " nd olh " e queyn- 

Quaintish (kwji-ntij), a . [f. QUAINT a + 
-ISH 1.] Somewhat quaint. 
1594 WILLOUIE Avisa (1880) 53 Your quaintUh quirk-s can 



14 

want no mate. 1796 LAMB Let. to Coleridge in Final Mem. 
i. 195 The concluding simile is far-fetched tempest- 
honoured is a quaintish phrase. 1862 SHIKI.EY Kugx Crit. 
xi. 449 The laureate has alluded to the present effect.. in 
some happy but quaintish lines. 

So Quai ntlike a. 

1844 BlacJhu. Mag. LVI. 159 Good and quaintlike old 
gentle rhymes they are. 

Quaintly i s kw^ l ntli),ff(/z . Forms: as QUAINT 
a. + 3-5 -lioh(e, -lych(e, -li, 4-6 -lye, 4- -ly. 
Comp. 4 queyntlyer, 7 quaintlier. Xi/f. 4 
queyntlokest, quoyntelucst. [f. QUAINT a. + 
-LY 2.] 

1 1. Skilfully, cleverly, ingeniously, so as to ac 
complish some act or attain some end. Obs. 

1297 R. Gl.ouc. (Rolls) 2324 po bibo^te vortiger . . hou he 
mi5te do quoyntelucst \v.r. queyntlokest] bat he him sulf 
were king, c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. Ware (Rolls) 1128 
pe kynges brother & y Ar skaped out fol queyntely. c 1400 
Destr. Trey 164 Thus coyntly it kept was all with clene art. 
1422 tr. Sccreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 167 A newe Payne he 
founde, by the whyche fals luges queyntly he chastid. 1513 
DOUGLAS sEncis x. xi. heading, Juno rycht quayntly causis 
Turnus to tlee. 1593 R. HARVEY Philad. 21 He and his 
surveyed it quantitatively and queintly to the purpose. 
1612 DEKKER Land. Triumph. Wks. 1873 III. 253 A song 
is heard ; the musicke being queintly conueyed in a priuate 
room, and not a person discouered. ? 1708 PRIOR Turtle A&gt; 
Sparrcnu 263 Those points, indeed, you quaintly prove, But 
logic is no friend to love. 1714 GAY Shcph. 11 cek I. 79, I 
queintly stole a kiss. 

t b. Cunningly, craftily. Obs. 

01300 Cursor M. 741 (Gott.) Quaintli taght he him be 
ginne, Hu he suld at be wijf bigine. 1387 TREVISA Higdcn 
(Rolls) VII. 137 Some men tolde bat pis Harold was a 
sowter sone, and queyntly [L. dolose] underput by be for- 
-seide Elgiue. c 1400 Dcstr. Troy 11228 Cast is hit cointly 
by thies kene traytours. .pryam to lose. 

t 2. \Vith ingenious art, so as to produce some 
thing artistic, curious, or elaborate. Obs. 

111300 Leg. Rood (1871) 30 (Ashm.) Salomon it let velle 
and newe as queinteliche as he mi^te. 13.. Coer de L. 1387 
He leet luak a tour ful strong, That queyntly engynours 
made, c 1384 CHAUCER H. Fame in. 833 Domus Dedali .. 
Nas maad so wonderliche, y-wis. Ne half so queynteliche 
y-wrought. 1440 Ipomydon 1641 He .. shove hym bothe 
byhynd & byfore, Queyntly endentyd oute and in. 1513 
UOUGI.AS slincis v. vi. 125 A riche schield, wrocht quentlie. 
1593 SHAKS. 3 Hen. y/, n. v. 24 To carue out Dialls 

?uemtly, point by point. 1653 URQUHART Rabelais I. Ivii. 
. 248 They could speak five or sixe several languages, and 
compose in them all very quaintly. 

1 3. Finely, elegantly ; in a pretty and attractive 
manner. Obs. 

1340 Aycnb. 47 Hy sseawep and di3te}&gt; bam be more 
quaynteliche . . uor to maki musi be foles to ham. 1 a 1366 
CHAUCER Rvm. Rose 783 Her-of lyth no remembraunce, 
How that they daunced queyntely. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf 
Manhode I. c.x.xxix. (1869) 72 She hadde now arayed me 
queyntliche and nobleche. 1490 CAXTON Eneydos x. 40 
Wyth the lad yes he byhaued him soo queyntli swete , . and 
curtoys. 1592 GREENE Upst. Courtier in Harl. Misc. 
(Main.) II. 247 A murrey cloth gowne . . which he quaintly 
bare vp, to sbew his white taffata hose, c 1610 ROWLANDS 
Terrible Battell ^31 The quaintly suted Courtier in attyre. 

4. In a curious, odd, or old-fashioned, but pleasing 
or attractive manner. 

1782 COWI.ER Lett. 18 Nov., A tale ridiculous in itself and 
quaintly told. 1816 J. WILSON City of Plague i. iii. 176 
One quaintly apparell d like a surpliced priest Led the 
procession. 1855 PRESCOTT Philip II, I. i. ix. 129 His 
anger, as his secretary quaintly remarks, was more than 
was good for his health. 1867 TROLI.OPE Chron. Barset II. 
xlv. n She had added the date in quaintly formed figures. 
1870 LUBBOCK Orig. Civiliz. iv. (1875) 178 A father s sister, 
quaintly enough, is called father. 

Quaintiiess (kw&lt;? -ntnes). Also 4 queynt- 
ness, 5 qwhayntnes, 6 queint-, queyntnesse. 
[f. QUAINT a. + -NESS.] The quality or condition 
of being quaint, in various senses of the adj. 

13 .. Coer de L. 1836 Al we should us venge fond, With 
queyntness and with strength of hond. 1483 Cath. Angl. 
296/1 A (jwhayntnes ; HiVwylynes. 1593 DRAYTON Eclogues 
ix. 133 The easie turnes and queyntnesse of the Song. 1603 
FLORIO Montaigne i. xxv. (1632) 80 All niceness and quaint- 
nesse in clothing. 1620 T. V. tr. Strut, du Moulin n 
A vulgar stile, destitute of quaintnesse and eloquence. 1702 
Engl. Theophrast. 234 Some make the quaintness of their 
wit, to consist in employing bad Instruments. 1765 BLACK- 
STONE Comm. I. 72 Coke; a man of infinite learning .. 
though not a little infected with the pedantry and quaintness 
of the times he lived in. 1866 GEO. ELIOT/- . Holt Il.xxiii. 
122 There s a simplicity and quaintntss about the lettei 
which rather pleases me. 

b. A particular instance of this. 

1642 MILTON Apol. Smcct. xi. Wks. (1851) j&gt;3 Which . . 
must needs be a strange quaintnesse in ordinary prayer. 
1830 H. N. COLERIDGE Grk. Poets (1834) 90 The indecorums 
and quamtnesses with which Homer may be reproached. 
1832 L. HUNT Poems Pref. 15 The occasional quaintnesses 
. . which formerly disfigured the story of Rimini. 

f Quaintrelle. Obs. rare- 1 . In 5 queynt-. 
[a. OF. (*qucint-*} cointcrelle fern, ofcointerel beau, 
fop, f. cointe QUAINT a.] A finely-dressed woman. 

cnyyPi/gr. Lyf Manhode III. xlvii. (1869) 160 It folweth 
nouht that thouh j be thus we) kembt, and a litel make the 
queyntrelle [F. me monstrc cointerelle] that for swich cause 
j am fair. 

t Quai-ntry. Obs. rare~ l . In 5 queynterye. 
[a. OP", queint-, cointerie {. as prec.] Finery. 

1483 CAXTON (, . dc la Tour C iv, The tenthe parte of your 
queynteryes and noblesses myght refresshe . . moo than xl 
persones ageynst the cold. 



QUAKE. 

Quair\e, obs. form of QUIRE sb., WHERE adv. 

Quaire, variant of QCJAKRY a. 

Quairn, dial, variant of QUEBN. 

Quaisie, quaisy, obs. forms of QUEASY. 

Quait, dial. var. QUIET a. ; obs. f. QUOIT sb. and v. 

f Quait, -v. Obs. rare. In 5 qwaite. [Of 
obscure origin : the qiu- may represent ivh-^\ ? To 
wait, await. 

a 1400-50 Alexander 1109 Quen ne in quattime sal qwaite 
[Dubl.MS. falle]t&gt;e^isaunter Enquire me 11051 \&gt;sA question. 
c 1400 Dfstr, Troy 13245 There the qwene with hir qwaintis 
qwaitid me to cacche. 

Quaives, pi. of quaif t obs. var. COIF. 

Quake (kw^ k), s&. [f. the vb.] 

L. The act of quaking or trembling ; spec, in mod. 
use, an earthquake. 

Rare as an independent sb., except in very recent use, but 
not infrequent as the second element in combs., as church-* 
Jwnse-t ice-, kingdom-, state-quake, EARTH-QUAKE. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 27362 J&gt;e dai o wreth, o quak, and soru. 
c 1340 Ibid. 927 (Trm.) 1 il b ou turne ageyn in quake To 
bat erbe bou were of take. 1627-77 FELTHAM Resolves i. ii. 
2 The quakes and shakes of Fortune, a 1643 SUCKLING 
Love s World in Fragm. A urea (1648) 1 1 As the Earth may 
sometimes shake, (For winds shut up will cause a quake). 
i8ia LADY GRANVILLE &gt;?//. (1804) ! 35, I have some quakes 
for the poor country. 1881 Mature XXIV. 362 The great 
shock consisted of two quakes and several smaller, but 
distinct, vibrations. 

2. A stretch of quake-ooze. 

1896 Blackw. Mag. May 770 They rose in a body and made 
for the quakes. 

Quake v kw^k), v.l Forms : Inf. i cwacian, 
(cwaec-j cuaec-), 2-3 quakie(n, (2 kwak-, 3 
cwak-, 4 quaki^en, 4 quaky), 4-5 quaken, (5 
qvakyn, whakyn), 4-6 qwake, 4- quake, (4 
quak, quack, 5 qvake, 5- north, whake, 5-6 St. 
quaik, 9 Sc. quack, quauk). Pa. t. i cwgcede, 
cwaecade, cwacode, 3 cwakede, 3-4 quakede, 
4- quaked, (4 -id, 6 Sc. -et) ; also north. 4-5 
quok, (4 qwok, quock), 4-6 quoke, quook, 
qwooke, 5 Sc. quouk, quowke, 6 quooke, 
Sc. qu(h}oik, quuik, 7 dial, whook t. [OE. 
cwacian, not found in the cognate langs. ; the stem 
fwac- is also the base of OE. cwgcan QUETCH, and 
the same initial combination occurs in other words 
implying agitation or instability, as quave, qnap, 
quag (cf. note to QUAGMIKE). The strong form of 
the pa. t. in northern dialects is on anal, of shake, 
shook.] 

1. intr. Of things : To shake, tremble, be agitated, 
as the result of external shock, internal convulsion, 
or natural instability. 

Most frequently used, from the earliest period, with ref. 
to the earth (cf. EARTHQUAKE), and now somewhat rare even 
in this connexion. 

(-825 I 7 esp. Psalter ciii. 32 Se ^elocao" In eorSan & doe3 
hie cwaecian. ^893 K. ALFRED Ores. n. vi. 3 Ofer call 
Romana rice seo eorbe waes cwaciende & berstende. ^1175 
Lamb. Horn. 143 Eorbe seal kwakien on his ecsene. c 1205 
LAY. 27111 pa wal of stanen [sculden] quakien and fallen. 
a 1300 Cursor M. 7260 He it scok, Sua fast bat al be hus 
quok. 1398 TREVISA Barth. DC P. R. XVH. clix. (1495) 708 
The Kyrche . . meuyth and quakith wyth a ryght softe blaste 
of wynde. 1412-20 LVDG. Chron. Trayii.x. (1513) Ev, I fele 
also My penne quake, and tremble in my honde. 1513 
DOUGLAS /Eneis \\\. x. 34 The land all haillof Itailetrurnbillit 
and quhoik. 1596 DALRYMPLE tr. Leslie s }fist. Scot. VHI. 
129 Erdquakes. .war hard,kirkes quaket and trimblet vehe- 
mentlie. 1810 SCOTT Lady of L. i. xii, With boughs that 
quaked at every breath, Grey birch and aspen wept beneath. 
1871 ROSSKTTI Lome s Xocturn vii, Quakes the pall, And 
the funeral goes by. 

2. Of persons or animals, or parts of the body : 
To shake, tremble, a. By reason of cold or other 
physical cause. Now rare. 

c 1000 ^ELFRIC Horn. I. 132 Da leS cwaciaS on swiSlicum 
cyle. Ibid. 1 1.312 Ic. .cwacode eal on fefore. a 1*1$ Juliana 
21 [He] inwio bearnde of brune. .& cwakede as of calde. 
(11300 Cursor M. 5196 Israel wit bis vplepp .. bat quak 
\v.r. quake] wit ilka lim was won. 1362 LANGL. r. PL A. 
xi. 46 Carful inon may crien .. Bothe of hungur and of 
thurst, and for chele quake, c 1460 Tcnvneley Myst. xxviii. 
70 When I for care and colde qwoke by a fyre burnyng full 
bright. 1501 DOUGLAS Pal. lion. i. Iviii, Skrymmorie fery 
gaue me mony a clowre For Chyppynutie ful oft my chaftis 
quuik. 1555 EDEN Decades 12 Suche as inhabyte the 
mountaynes, syt quakynge for coulde in the wynter season. 
z6n SHAKS. Cymb. n. iv. 5, [I] quake in the present winters 
state, and wish That warmer dayes would come. 1784 
COWFER Task iv. 385 [She] Retires, content to quake so 
they be warm d. 1853 KANE Gnnneli F.xJ&gt;. xxx vii. (1856) 
338 Came back again, dinnerless, with legs quaking. 

b. Through fear. Frcq. to quake for fear or 
dread \ also to quake at, -\for (the object of dread), 
andy^r (a thing or person in danger). 

a 900 CVNEWULF Crist 797 ponne cene cwacab, fcehyreft 
cyning mieSlan. ^950 Lindisf. Gosp. Luke viii. 47 pEet wif 
,.cuaccende[^?J/i7c. cwacende] cuom,&gefeall fore fotum 
his. 01225 /^A"- Kath, 1534 pe king..bigon to cwakien & 
nuste hwet seggen. a 1300 Cursor M. 12837 ^ or ckednes 
ilk lim him quok. c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. II ace (Rolls) 
10726 Tounes, castels, for hym bey quok. c. 1386 CHAUCER 
Frankl. T. 132 For verray feere sowolde hir herte quake 
That on hire feet she niyghte hire noght sustene. c 1460 
Tou tietey Hfyst. vii. 182 Euery man shall whake and gryse 
Agans that ilk dome. 1558 KNOX First Blast (Arb.) 32 
They reuerence them, and qwake at their presence. 1582 
tirANYHUKST sEntix n. lArb.) 68 Young children ..With 



QUAKE. 

cold hert moothers, for Greekish victorye quaking. 1603 
DRAYTON Ba&gt; . Wars vi. Ixxxvii, That ne er quayles me, at 
which your greatest quake. 1641 HINDE J. Kruen xlvii. 154 
At which time, .the Devill will quake, yea he doth quake for 
feare now. 1711 ADOISON Sped. No. 44 p t The sounding 
of the Clock in I enice Presented, makes the Hearts of the 
whole Audience quake. 1759 ROIIERTSON ///*/. Scot. VIII. 
Wks. 1813 II. 52 The fellow in the study stood quaking and 
trembling. 1800 WELLINGTON Let. to Lieut. Col. Close in 
Gurw. Dcsp. (1837) I. 103, I quake for the fort at Mun- 
serabad. 1847 J. WILSON Clir. North (1857) J. 22 Onr 
heart quaked too desperately to suffer us to shriek. 1882 
OUIDA Maremnia I. 18 His name was a terror that made 
the dead quake in their graves. 

rejl. a 1300 Cursor M. 19633 (Gutt.) Saul him quok, sua 
was he rad. 

fc. With anger. Obs. rare. 

1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. (i8io_) 292 pe kyng his wordes 
toke wrabefully tille herte, For ire nere he quoke. c 1374 
CHAUCER Boetft. iv. pr. iii. 94 (Camb. MS.) Yif he be dis- 
tempre and quakith for Ire, men shal weene bat he bereb 
the corage of a lyon. 

f 3. trans. To cause to quake. O/ s. 

1398 TREVISA Barth. De P. R, x. v. (1495) 377 A full lytyll 
puffynge of wynde quakyth and styryth flamme. 1607 
SHAKS. Cor. I. ix. 6 Where ladies shall be frighted, And 
gladly quak d, heare more. 1614 H. GREENWOOD Jayle. 
Delhi. 468 The property of the Law is to humble and quake 
us for our sins. 1639 HEYWOOD Loud, peaceable Est. Wks. 
1874 V. 372 Cannon. .Quaking the bellowing Ayre. 

4. Comb., as f quake-belly, a fat-bellied person ; 
f quake-breeeh,-buttock, one wanting in courage ; 
f quakeful a., causing fear or quaking ; ) quake- 
mire, a quagmire; also as vb., to quagmire; quake- 
ooze, soft trembling ooze ; quake-tail Omilh. (see 
quot. 1894). 

1622 MABBE tr. Aletnan s Guzman d Alf. 223 They will 
all forsooth be alike, the tall man as the short, the *Quack- 
belly as the Scranio. c 1590 in Drake Seer. Mem. Earl 
Leicester (1706) 118, I shall surely be *Quack-breech and 
think every Bush a Boggle. 1616 WITHALS Diet. 400 
Excors, . . a faint hearted fellow, a quake-breech, a 1616 
BEAUM. & FL. Wit at Sev. Weap. I. i, Stand putting in one 
foot, and shiver, .. like a "quake-buttock. 1609 HEYWOOD 
Brit. Troy xiii. xxxii, All tmbrude in light, His "Quakefull 
hand and sword so often rearing. 1577 STANYHURST Descr. 
Irel, in Holinshed (1807-8) VI. 21 He was forced to fasten 
the *quakemire with hurdels, and upon them to build the 
citie. 1583 STOCKER Civ. Warres Lmve C. n. 703, His 
horse was gotten into a quackmyre. 1599 CHAPMAN Hum. 
dayes Myrth Plays 1873 I. 73 Howe nowe my liege ! what, 
quackemyred in Philosophic. iSgSHaify Pfelvs 23 Nov. 6/2 
Over a lot of *quake-ooze flats, where a boat could not get. 
1853 OGILVIE Imp. Diet. Suppl. Qitake-tail. 1894 NEWTON 
Diet. Birds, Quake-tail, a book-name invented for the 
Yellow Wagtail and its allies, after they had been genetically 
separated from Motacilla as Budytes. 

t Quake, int. and v. 2 Obs. Also Sc. 6 quaik, 
8 -ek. [Imitative : see QUACK, and cf. Du. kwaken, 
G. quaken to croak, quack.] = QUACK int. and v. 



a drake or ducke. "1785 BURNS Addr. Deil viii, An eld 
ritch, stoor quaick, quaick. 

Quaker (kw^-kaj). [f. QUAKE .i + -KR!.] One 
who, or that which, quakes. 

1. pi. = QUAKING-GRASS. Midi. dial. 

597 GERARDE Herbal i. Ivii. 81 Phalaris pratensis is called 
in Cheshire about Namptwich, Quakers and Shakers. 1611 
COTGR., Amourettes, the grasse tearmed, Quakers, and 
Shakers, or quaking grasse. 1617 MINSHEU Ductor, Quackers, 
or quaking grasse. \WlW.Worc.Gloss. 1890 Clone. Gloss. 

2. With capital Q : A member of the religious 
society (the Society of Friends) founded by George 
Fox in 1648-50, distinguished by peaceful principles 
and plainness of dress and manners. 

Ace. to Fox Cjfrnl. I. 38) the name was first given to him 
self and his followers by Justice Bennet at Derby in 1650 
because I bid them, Tremble at the Word of the Lord ! 
It appears, however, from a letter of intelligence, written at 
London on Oct. 14, 1647, that the name had previously been 
applied to the members of some foreign religious sect : I 
heare of a Sect of woemen (they are at Southworke) come 
from beyond Sea, called Quakers, and these swell, shiver, 
and shake, and when they come to themselves (for in all 
this fitt Mahomett s holy-ghost hath bin conversing with 
them) they begin to preache what hath bin delivered to 
them by the Spiritt (Clarendon MSS. No. 2624). It thus 
seems probable that Bennet merely employed a term already 
familiar, and quite appropriate as descriptive of Fox s earlier 
adherents (cf. quots. 1654, 1694, and see QUAKING vbl. sl&gt;. 
and///, a. 2). The name has never been adopted by the 
Friends themselves, but is not now regarded as a term of 
reproach. 

1653 H. R. (title} A Brief Relation of the Irreligion of the 
Northern Quakers. 1654 E. TERRILL in R. Barclay s Inner 
Life (1876) 317 Thus, they coming as foretold, they were not 
known, but afterwards they were called by the name of 
Quakers , from people s shaking and quaking that received 
them and their doctrine. 1656 EVELYN Mem. (1857) I. 332, 
I had the curiosity to visit some Quakers here in prison : 
a new fanatic sect, of dangerous principles, who shew no 
respect to any man, magistrate, or other. 1679 Trial of 
Lang/iorn 53 He is no Quaker, for he hath got a Perriwig 
on. 1694 DE LA PRYME Diary (Surtees) 53 The Quakers . . 
do not now quake, and howl, and foam with their mouths, 
as they did formerly. 1731 Gentl. Hag. I. 60 The practice 
of the people called Quakers, who maintain none of their 
poor in idleness that are able to work. 1771 SMOLLETT 
Humph. Cl. 26 June, By his garb, one would have taken 
him for a quaker, but he had none of the stiffness of that 
sect. 1837 w - ! RVI&gt;iG Ca f- Bonneville 1. 183 In one respect, 
their religion partakes of the pacific doctrines of the Quakers. 
1876 BANCROFT Hist. U. S. I. x. 363 The early Quakers in 



15 

New England displayed little of the mild philosophy, .of 
Penn. 

b. traiisf. Applied to various plain-coloured 
birds and moths, with allusion to the colour of 
the dress usually worn by Quakers. 

(a) A small bird of the Falkland Islands, (b} The sooty 
albatross. (() The nankeen-bird, or Australian night-heron. 
(d) One of several noctuid moths, esp. A gratis castanea. 

1775 CLAYTON Falkland Islands in Phil. Trans. LXVI. 
105 Of small birds there are several sorts; the red breast, 
..the white throat; the quaker, from its plumage being of 
the colour those people wear. 1894 NEWTON Diet. Binh, 
Quaker, a sailor s name for the Dusky Albatross, Phccbeiria 
fuliginosa. 

c. eliift. for quaker-gun, -hat. 

CI7S4 GARRICK Epil. to Fielding s Fathers, The high- 
cocked, half-cocked quaker, and the slouch, Have at ye all ! 
1829 J. SHUT Mem. ix. (1890) 139 The man of authority in 
size not much larger than a quaker. 1840 R. H. DANA Kff. 
Mast xxvii. 88 A Russian government bark, . . mounting 
eight guns (four of which we found to be quaker.-.). 

3. at trili. and Comb, (from sense 2). a. simple 
nttrib. : Of or pertaining to the Society of Friends 
or its members ; as quaker (or Quaker) bonnet, 
doctrine, dress, meditation, pride, etc. b. simila- 
tive, as qttaker-like adj. and adv., -looking adj. c. 
special combs. : quaker-bird, the sooty albatross ; 
quaker-buttons (U.S.), the seeds of mix vomica; 
quaker-eolour, a drab or grey colour ; so quaker- 
co/oi&lt;redaA}.; quaker-grass, quaking-grass (Halli- 
well) ; quaker gun ( U. S.), a dummy gun in a ship 
or fort ; quaker-ladies ( c7.5.), the small pale-blue 
flowers of the American plant Houstonia. atrulea ; 
quaker-linen (see quot. 1788) ; quaker-meeting 
(also Quakers ), a religious meeting of the Society 
of Friends ; transf, a silent meeting (alluding to 
the Friends custom of remaining silent until moved 
by the spirit) ; quaker moth (see 2 b) ; quaker 
string, a form of string for a stair. 

1859 GEO. ELIOT A. Bede iii, Dinah had taken off her 
little *quaker bonnet again. 1818 Black. Mag. III. 406 
Solemn suits Of customary snuff or *quaker-colour. c 1770 
T. ERSKINE Barber in Part. Reg. (1810) 331 Simplicity .. 
Waves in the eye of Heav n her "Quaker-colour d wings. 
1856 R. A. VAL-GHAN Mystics (1860) II. xi. ii. 222 The 
4 Quaker doctrine concerning stillness and quiet. 1812 
CRABBE Tales ix. Wks. (1834) V. 13 Young Zelinda, in her 
*quaker-dress. 1809 W. IRVING Knickerb. iii. (1820) 240 
A formidable battery of *quaker guns. 1680 R. WARK 
Foxes Iff Firebrands n. (1682) 103 He..*Quaker-like, thou d 
and thee d Oliver. 1818 SCOTT Hrt. Midi, xxvii, Her love 
of and veneration for truth was almost quaker-like. 1838 
LYTTON A lice i. i, A stiff cap of quaker-like simplicity. 1788 
WESLEY Wks. (1872) VII. 24 Let there be no "Quaker-linen, 
proverbially so called, for their exquisite fineness. 1792 
WOLCOTT(P. Pindar) Ode to Irony Wks. 1812 III. 39 Who 
langhest not, thou "Quaker-looking wight. 1835 WILLIS 
Pencilling! II. 1. 95 After sitting awhile in *quaker medita 
tion. 1751 J. BROWN Shaftesb. Charac. 32 The finest 
speaker . . would in vain point the thunder of his eloquence 
on a quaker-meeting. 1821 [see QUAKERESS]. 1861 HUGHES 
Tom Brcnvn at Oxf. xxvi, Isn t it very ridiculous.. that we 
four should be standing here in a sort of Quakers meeting. 
1819 G. SAMOUEI.LE Entomol. Compend. 363 Quaker moth. 
176 . WILK-ES Corr. (1805) III. 77 That "qua ker pride, which 
is the most disgusting thing in the world. 1825 J. NICHOL 
SON Opcrat. Mechanic 598 Sometimes the risers are mitred 
to the brackets, and sometimes mitred with *quaker strings. 
Hence Qua kerdom, Quakers as a class, Quaker 
ism. Qnake rian, Quakeric, t Quakeri stical 
ndjs., Quakerly, Quakerish. Quakeriza tion, the 
action of Quakerizing. Qua kerize v., to convert 
into a Quaker ; to affect with qualities character 
istic of a Quaker. Qua kership, the condition of 
being a Quaker, f Qua kery, Quakerism. 

1839 CAROLINE Fox yrnls. (1882) 42 He spoke very civilly 
of modern "Quakerdom. 1853 Tail s Mag. XXII. 445 
Ellwood was a convert to Quakerdom. 1827 HARE Guesses 
(1867) 132 The Jacobinical metonoma:osis of the months.. 



QUAKY. 

I am your plain, Quakerish governess. 1876 GEO. ELIOT 
Dan, Der. I. 354 A motherly figure of quakerish neatness. 

Hence Qua kerishly adv. 

1886 G. ALLKN Maiiinc s Sake xxxiii, So quaintly and 
quakerishly pretty. 

Quakerism (kw^ ksrizm). [f. as prec. + -ISM.] 
The principles or practice of the Quakers or 
Society of Friends. 

1656 in Brand Hist. Newcastle (1789) II. 235 A great 
apostacy. . to popery, quakerisme and all manner of heresy. 
1751 CHESTERF. Lett, ccxxxi, Plainness, simplicity, and 
Quakerism, either in dress or manners. 1776-91 PAINE 
Com, Sense App. Addr. Quakers 81 The love and desire of 
peace is not confined to Quakerism. 1836 R. A. VAUGHAN 
Mystics (1860) II. xi. i. 214 The elements of Quakerism lie 
all complete in the personal history of Fox. 

Quakerly .kwt l-kaili), a. [f. as prec. -t- -i.v .] 
Like a Quaker; befitting a Quaker. 

1684 GOODMAN Old Kelig. (1848) 247 A malapert quakerly 
humour. 1797 LOUISA GURNKY Diary in A. J. C. Hare 
Gnrncys of Earlhain (1895! I. 66, I am quite sorry to see 
him grow so Quakerly. 1829 MACAI-I.AY Misc. Writ. (1860) 
I. 284 They therefore affect a quakerly plainness. 

Quakerly (kw^-kojli), adv. [f. as prec. + -I.v 2.] 
After the fashion of a Quaker. 

1696 C. LESLIE Snake in Crass (1697) 368 What Quaker, 
or Quakerly- Affected Council drew up this Answer for him ? 
1826 LAMB Let. ia B. Barton in Final Mem. viii. 259 Do I 
write quakerly and simply, tis my. .intention to do it. 1847 
MRS. CARLYLE Lett. II. 6 If you feel a stop (Quakerly 
speaking), best to let it have way. 

Quakery : see under QUAKER. 
Qua-kiness. [f. QUAKY a.] The condition of 
being quaky (Webster, 1864). 
Quaking (kwJ -kirj), vbl. sb. [f. QUAKE vl + 

-ING 1 .] 

1. The action of the vb. QUAKE in various senses. 

c 825 Vesp. Psalter liv. 6 E^e & cwaecung cwomun ofer 
mec. cioooyELKRlc lloin. I. 504 Wa:s se mum Garganus 
bifi^ende mid orma:tre cwacunge. 1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 
6894 pat heo. .steppe mid folle vot wiboute quakinge. ^1374 
CHAUCER And. A&gt; Arc. 214 Tumid is in quakynge all my 
daunce. r 1450 LYDG. & BURGH Secrces 1652 Rennyns 
atTtir mete and also rydyng, . . cause wyl a seknesse callyd 
quakyng. &lt;z 1548 HALL Chrott., Hen. I ll! (1550) 199 b, He 
and the Quene, and the Ladyes, fled out of their Palace . . 
and sodemly the quakyng seassed. 1656 RIDGI.EY f ract. 
Physick 136 The Symptoms, as quaking, nauseating, do shew 
. . new matter is recollected. 1855 BAIN Sens. $ Int. II. iv. 
18 (1864) 285 A tremulous quaking is the characteristic of 
Fear. 1875 LYELL Princ. Gcol. II. II. xxviii. 107 The in 
cessant quaking of the ground for several successive months. 

1 2. spec, with ref. to the behaviour of the early 
Quakers; hence, Quakerism. Obs. 

1653 H. R. Brief R el. Irrelig. North. Quakers 17 Their 
Quaking; are very like the Fits of that Child mentioned, 
Mark 9. 1669 (title} Truth Triumphant, in a Dialogue be 
tween a Papist and a Quaker.. Wherein (I suppose) is made 
Manifest that Quaking is the Off-Spring of Popery. 1671 
R. HEAD Eug. Rcguc H. xxxii. 307 Falling from Ranting 
to Quaking. 

Quaking (kw t Ti kin), ///. a. ff. as prec. + 

-INU 2 .] 

1. That quakes, in senses of the vb. 

c 1000 ^LFRIC Horn. II. 32 Seo cwacfcende swustor. c 1375 
Sc. Leg. Saints xxvii. (Macttor) 1018 }eit ban with quaquand 
voice said he [etc. ]. c 1440 LYDG. decrees 334 With quakyng 
penne my consceyt to expresse. 1508 DUNBAR Goldytt 
Targe 156 Schamefull Abaising, And quaking Drede. 1586 
WARNER Alb. Eng. i. v. (1612) 16 The queaking beards-man 
scarce had said thus much. 1728 POPE Dune. II. 292 Slow 
circles dimpled o er The quaking mud, that clos d, and op d 
no more. 1842 BRANDS Diet. Science 1008 Quaking bog, 
peat bog.. so saturated with water that a considerable extent 
of surface will quake or shake, when pressed on by the foot. 
1875 LVELL Princ. Geol. II. in. xliv. 510 Cattle venturing 
on a quaking moss are often mired. 

f 2. That is, or befits, a Quaker ; Quaker-. Obs. 

1634 BURROUGH & HOWGIL Ansit . Queries in Farmer 
Myst. Godl. A&gt; Ungodl. 37 A paper which was directed to 
Rich. Roper, and to his Quaking friend [etc. 1. 1673 HALLY- 
WELI. Ace. Familism v. 94 If the Quaking Generation shall 
object and say, that this was under the Law. 17x7 MRS. 
CENTLIVRE Bold Stroke for a Wife Dram. Pers., Simon 



ing passage into the Quaiceric dialect. 1685 Ansiv. Dk. \ Pure, a quaking preacher. 1720 DE FOE Capt. Singleton 

bnckhm. on Lib. Consc. 12, 1 should suspect the Pensilvanian xi. (1840) 191 He . . put it off with some quaking quibble, 

had lutord him with this Quakeristical Divinity. 1864 ! 1755 J. SHEBBEARE Lydia (1769) I. 310 Lydia s misfortunes 

bALA in Daily Tel. 5 Dec., No amount of *quakerisation i commence from the source of quaking probity. 



could render the car uncomfortable. 1823 Miss MITFORD 
in L Estrange/-j/fc (1870) II. 198 She is all over *Quakerized, 
as you of course know. 1826 B. BARTON Select., etc. (1849) 6 
Twould be cook-ship versus Quaker-ship. 1673 HALLV. 
WELL Ace. Familism iv. 75 Quakery, though it pretend 
high, is mere Sadducism at the Bottom. 1688 BUXYAN 
Heavenly l- ootman (18861 156 Thou may st stumble and fall, 
..both in ranting and quakery. 

Quakeress (kw^-kares). [f. QUAKER + -ESS.] 
A female Quaker. 

1784 STEWARDSON (title) Spiritual Courtship, or, The Rival 
Quakeresses. 1821 LAMB Ella Ser. i. Quakers Meeting, I 
Lvery Quakeress is a lily. 1827 HONE Every-day Bk. II. i 
no Ihree young Quakeresses had a sort of semi-bathing. 
1852 MRS. STOWE Uncle Tom s C. xiii. 116 A burst of joy 
from the little Quakeress interrupted the speech. 

Quakerish, (kw,? i-karij), a. [f. as prec. + -ISH.] 
a. Of persons : Resembling Quakers in character 
or manners. b. Of things: Characteristic of, 
appropriate to, Quakers. 

1787 M. CUTLER in Life, yrnls. * Corr. (1888) I. 210 We 
were very Quakerish, every man attending close to the 
business of eating, without uttering scarcely a word. 1822 
LAMB/,C//., to Bernard Barton xii. 113 Your plain Quakerish 
beauty has captivated me. 1847 C. BRONTE J. Eyre xxiv, 



commence from the source of quaking probity. 
Qua king-gra^SS. [f. prec.J A popular name 

media. 



growe o e eg o ae a ooe. 17 ARTYN 
Rousseau s Rot. xiii. (1794) 136 A loose panicle, the foot 
stalks of which are so slender as to be moved by every 
wind ; whence they have obtained the name of Quaking- 
grasses. 1848 C. A. JOHNS Week at Lizard 294 Briza 



. . . 

inor. Small Quaking-grass, is one of the most elegant of 
the British grasses. 1882 Garden 14 Jan. 28/3 Briza 
maxima and gracilis are two of the best of the Quaking 
grasses. 

Quakingly (kwfHdnlQ, adv. [f. as prec. + 
-Lv2.] Tremblingly; with quaking or fear. 

1566 DRANT Horace, Sat. i. i. Aiij, What vayles it the so 
qunkinglye to grubbe and grip the moulde. a 1586 SIDNEY 
Arcadia (1622) 232 Neuer pen did more quakingly performe 
his office. 1868 HOLME LEE B. Godfrey xii. 63 Joan went 
rather quakingly. .to prefer her petition. 

Quakke : see QUACK /*.:) 

Quaky (kw^i-ki), a. [f. QUAKE z&gt;.l +-Y!.] In 
clined to quake ; of the nature of quaking. 

1864 in WEBSTER. 1865 Morn. Star 5 July, King Pam. 
I feel quite quaky. Brand. Nay, my good lord, be not at 
shadows shaky. 1869 THACKEKAY Rmind. Papers xxix. 326 



. QUALE. 

So old and toothless and quaky that she can t sing a bit. 
1884 H. Coi-LiNCWoon Under Meteor Flag 88 A curious 
quaky sensation which had for a moment oppressed me. 

Qua), obs. form of WHALE s/&gt;. 

t Quale . Obs. [OE. cwalu = ON. kvfl (stem 
kval-} torment, torture, f. *ku&gt;al- ablaut-var. of 
*Itwe!- : see QUELE, QUELL. The vowel is long in 
OS. quala (MDu. qii&le, Du. kwaal, LG. qtiaal}, 
OHO. qtiala, cliwala, etc. (MUG. yua/t, qufil, etc., 
G. jwa/).] Death, destruction, mortality. 

c 900 tr. Bzda s Hist. It. xi. [xiv.) (1890) 138 Se cyning mid 
arleasre cwale of sicken wa=s. c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Th.) xxix. 8 
Drihten, hu nyt is f&gt;e min ste^e, o(&gt;be min cwalu. c 1175 
Lamb. Horn. 121 God ne sparede na his a5ene berne ; ac 3ef 
hine to cwale for us alle. c 1203 LAV. 31807 pat quale com 
on orue vnimete swiSe. 

b. Comb., as quale-house, house of torture; 
quale-sithe, death from pestilence. 

c IMS LAV. 727 Vt of (&gt;on quarterne, of (&gt;an quale-huM 
\c 1275 cwal-huse]. Il iJ. 3769. Itia. 31900 Heo . . cudden 
heore cunne of heore quale-sise. 

II Qnale 2 (kw^ -li). [L., neut. sing, of qtialis of 
what kind.] The quality of a thing; a thing having 
certain qualities. 

1675 fl!r. CROFT] Naked Truth 25 The quid, the qnalf, 
the quantum, and such-like quacksalving forms, a 1679 
T. GOODWIN Govt. Ch. Christ xi. Wks. 1697 IV. 94 The 
Quale, or what sort of r.odies. .Christ hath instituted, is to 
l&gt;e afterward discussed. 1768-74 TUCKER Lt. Nat. (1834) 
II. 462 Qualities, .cannot actually subsist, though they may 
be thought of, without a qnale to. possess them. 1875 
JOWETT Plato (ed. a) I. 270 When I do not know the quid 
of anything how can I know the quale ? 

Quale, obs. f. QUAIL sb. and -&lt;&gt;., WHALE sb. 

Qualifiable, a. rare. [f. QUALIFY T. + -ABLE.] 
Tnat may be qualified or modified. 

1611 COTGR., ItfodifiaHe, modifiable, qualifiable. a 1677 
MARROW Scrm. Wks. 1716 III. 296 As to that.. Excision 
of the Canaanites. .we may find it qualifiable, if we consider 
..the Trespasses which procured it. 

Qualification (kwgdifikv -Jan). [ad. med.L. 
qiialificatio, n. of action from qnalifictirc : see 
QUALIFY and -ATION, and cf. F. qualification (1573 
in Godef. Comf!.).] The action of qualifying; the 
condition or fact of being qualified ; that which 
qualifies. 

1. Modification, limitation, restriction ; a modify 
ing or limiting element or circumstance. 

1543-4 Act 35 Hen. / ///, c. 5 (Title) An acte concerning 
the qualification of the statute of the syxe articles. 1651 
BAXTER Inf. Rapt. 190 There can be no true closing with 
Christ in a promise that hath a qualification or condition 
expressed. 1756 Ik RKE S-ubl. fy B. I. iv, The removal or 
qualification of pleasure has no resemblance to positive 
pain. 1845 Encycl. Kletrop. X. 776 There is however some 
qualification to be admitted in this general statement. 1891 
Law Times Rep. LXIII. 765/1 The defendants were liable 
as principals, as they had contracted in their own names 
without any qualification. 

1 2. The determining or distinctive quality of a 
person or thing ; condition, character, nature. Obs. 

1604 SHAKS. Oth. n. i. 282 Out of that will I cause these 
of Cyprus to Mutiny. Whose qualification shall come into 
no true taste againe, but by the displanting of Cassio. 
a 1674 CLARENDON Hist. Rel&gt;. xn. ir The commissioners 
. .notwithstanding their qualification . . were imprisoned by 
the Parliament. 1745 De Foe s Eng. Tradesman Introd. 
(1841) I. 3 Having thus described .. the English Tradesman, 
it is needful to inquire into his qualification. 

1 3. A quality, attribute, or property (of). Obs. 
1669 GALE Crt. Gentiles I. in. x. 107 Plato laies down as 

qualifications of true Oratorie [etc.]. 1712 ADDISON Spect. 
No. 435 F 7 Liveliness and Assurance are . . the Qualifica 
tions of the French Nation. 1719 LONDON & WISE Compl. 
Gard. 118 The useless Branches, whether it be because they 
are worn or spent, or because they have no good Qualifica 
tions. 1795 1. MILNER in Life xi. 18 (1842) 194 Whatever 
may be their views of justifying faith, that is, whether they 
think it consists in qualifications or in appropriation, 
t b. An accomplishment. Obs. 
1715 SIR J. CI.F.RK Ment. (1895) 87, I thought it would l&gt;e 
an additional Qualification to him that he understood the 
English Language. 1785 PALEY Mor. Philos. (1818) I. 70 
The pleasures of grown persons . . founded like music, paint 
ing, &c. upon any qualification of their own acquiring. 
1796 JANE AUSTEN Sense &lt;y Sens. (1849) J 6i Every qualifica 
tion is raised at times, .to more than its real value; and she 
was sometimes worried down . . to rate good-breeding as 
more indispensable to comfort than good-nature. 

1 4. The action of qualifying, or process of being 
qualified (for a position, etc.) ; also, the result of 
this action or process. Obs. 

1589-92 in Wodrow Soc. Misc. (1844) 535 Being informit of 
the qualification, literature, and glide conversation of . . N. 
1659 PE\RSOX Creed (1839) 308 The death of Christ [was] 
necessary .. in reference to the Priest himself .- both in 
regard of the qualification of himself, and consummation 
of his office. 1665 BUNYAN Holy Citie 6, I must spe;sk a 
word or two concerning John s qualification, whereby he 
was enabled to behold, .this City. 

5. A quality, accomplishment, etc., which qualifies 
or fits a person for some office or function. 

1669 DK. YORK in Pepys Diary (1879) VI. in Besides his 
general qualifications for thit trust. 1765 FOOTE Commis 
sary i. Wks. 1799 II. 15 A qualification for a canon of Stras- 
Ixjurg. 1779 BL-RKE Corr. (1844) II. 276 Even a failure in 
It [law] stands almost as a son of qualification for other 
things. 1855 MACAULAY Hist. Eng. xii. III. 242 This 
vehement hatred of Popery was.. the first of all qualifica 
tions for command. 1873 HAMERION Intel!. Life \. vii. 
( 875) 37 Even to taste and smell properly, are most impor- 



16 

tant qualifications for the pursuit of literature, art, and 
science. 
b. absol. 

1818 CRUISE Digest (ed. ^ III. 27 The bishops are still in 
law the judges of the qualifications of those who are pre 
sented to them. 1861 M. PATTISON Ess. (1889) I. 37 The 
preceptor . . whatever his other qualifications may have been, 
had not earned his promotion by his Latin style. 1882 
Miss BRADDON HI. Ro.ral I. i. 79 A sturdy truthfulness 
was one of her best qualifications. 

6. A necessary condition, imposed by law or 
custom, which must be fulfilled or complied with 
before a certain right can lie acquired or exercised, 
nn office held, or the like. 

\mAci vf Pennsylvania, Every brewer.. shall be quali 
fied by oath, .which said qualification shall be taken by all 
persons who brew.. for sale. 1763 BLACKSTONE Coiiim. I. n. 
171 The true reason of requiring any qualification, with 
regard to property, in voters. 1819 MACKINTOSH Par!. 
.Suffrage Wks. 1846 III. 215 A representative assembly, 
elected by a low uniform qualification. 1875 JOWETT Plato 
(ed. 2) III. 440 A law which fixes a sum of money as the 
qualification of citizenship. 

b. A document attesting that a person is qualified. 

1748 SMOLLETT Rod. Rand, xviii, I carry my qualification 
to the Navy-office. [/// &lt;/., We must deliver our letters of 
qualification at the Navy-office before one a-clock.] 

7. The act of determining the quality or nature of 
a thing ; spec, a. The determining whether a book or 
proposition merits theological censure as heretical. 

Cf. QUALIFICATOR. 

1826 ISlacJmi. Mag. XX. 336 His Catechism and other 
works were submitted for qualification to Melchior Cano, 
his denouncer. 

b. Logic. The expression of quality, or the dis 
tinction of affirmative and negative, in a proposition. 
(Cent. Diet. 1891.) 

8. attrib. and Comb., as qualification - ticket ; 
qualification shares, shares which one must 
hold in order to be qualified for a directorship of 
a company. 

1797 Sporting Mag. IX. 100 A gentleman . . applied . . for 
a qualification-ticket. 1899 Daily Nevjs 28 Mar. 8/3 The 
money had been given on account of that gentleman s 
qualification shares. 

Hence Qua lifica tionless n., having no qualifica 
tion. 

1898 H eslm. Gaz. iC Dec. 8/3 The new Bill evidently 
contemplated the possibility of qualificationless directors. 

Qualificative (kwo-lifike tiv), a. and sb. rare. 
[f. QUALIFY v. : see prec. and -ATTVE. Cf.Tf.gualtfi- 
catif, -ive (iSthc.).] a. adj. Qualifying; denoting 
some quality, b. sb. A qualifying word or phrase. 

n 1661 FULLER Worthies i. (1662) 59 An Apology for 
Qualificatives used, and Blanks left in this History. 1860 
F. WINSLOW Obscure Dis. Brain 361 Adjectives or quali- 
ficatives disappear last. 1862 RAWLINSON Anc. Mon. I. 
vii. 148 His name., is usually followed by a qualificative 
adjunct. 

Qualificator (kwo-lifik^ tai). [a. med.L. 
agent-n. from qualificare to QUALIFY.] One of a 
board of theologiansattached to the Holy Office, who 
report on the character (heretical or otherwise) of 
propositions submitted to them. Cf. QUALIFIER 3. 

1688 HORNET Lett. St. Italy 20 One of the Qualificatprs 
of the Inquisition. 1736 CHANDLER Hist. Persec. 178 The 
decision in such affairs belongs to the Divines, who are 
thence called Qualificators. 1826 Rlackw. Mag. XX. 76 
The whole, .is then transferred by the Inquisitors to Theo 
logians, Qualificators of the Holy Office. 

Qualificatory (kwo-lifik^tari), a. [ad. L. 
type *qualificatdri-iis : cf. prec. and -OUT.] 

1. Having the character of qualifying, modifying, 
or limiting ; tending to qualify. 

1805 W. TAYLOR in Ann. Rev. III. 651 That evasive, 
Jesuitic, qualificatory extenuation. 1830 JAMES De L Or/nc 
xlvi, 319 The Count would hardly hear of any qualificatory 
measures. 1868 VISCT. STRANGFORD Selections, etc, (1869) 
II. 247 A qualificatory commonplace. 

2. Such as to confer a qualification : (sense 6) 
1889 Academy 12 Oct. 233/2 Some teachers urge .. that 

examinations should be solely qualificatory. 

Qualified (kwg-Iifsid), ///. a. [f. QUALIFY v. 
+ -F.D!.] 

I. f 1. In predicative use : Furnished with, 
possessed of (certain) qualities. Obs. 

1596 SHAKS. Tant.Shr. iv. v. 66 She is.. so qualified as may 
beseemeThe Spouse of any noble Gentleman. x6o3KNOLl.KS 
Hist. Turks (1638) 158 A certaine Gentlewoman . . more 
honourably borne, than honestly qualified. 1665 J. WEBB 
Stmu-Heiig (1725) 45 All Stones are not Qualified alike ; 
some are hard . . some soft. 1681 DRYDEN Abs. fy Achit, 75 
The moderate sort of men, thus qualified, Inclined the 
balance to the better side. 

fb. Attributively: Possessed of good qualities; 
accomplished, perfect Obs. 

1592 NASHF. P. Penilesse (ed. & 25 b, The fine qualified 
Gentleman . . should carie it clean away from the lazie 
clownish droane. 1598 R. BERNARD tr. Terence 286 Such 
a qualified yong gentleman. 1656 FINF.TT For. Ainbass. 
238 Reverenced amongst them for his.. descent from a race 
of qualified saints, a 1700 B. E. Diet. Cant. Crew, Quali 
fied, Accomplisht Statesman, Soldier, Scholar. 

2. Endowed with qualities, or possessed of accom 
plishments, which fit one for a certain end, office, 
or function ; fit, competent. 

a. In predicative vise: const, for (t )&gt; or to 
with inf. 



QUALIFY. 

1589-9* in Wodroiv. Soc. Misc. (1844) 535 Gif he beis 
fundin hable, meit, and sufficientlie qualifeit thaiifoir. 
1605 SHAKS. Lear \. iv. 37 That which ordinary men are 
fit for, I am qualified in. 1665 BOYLE Occtis. Rcjl, i. vii. 
(1848) 89 Him that is qualify d for such Employments. 
1719 DE FOE Crusoe II. xiii. (1840) 274 A government quali 
fied only to rule such a people. 1755 J. MILLS tr. Crwier s 
Rom. Emp. I. 107 That great man, equally qualified for 
war or peace. 1845 S. AUSTIN Ranke s Hist. Ref. III. 83 
A commune was not qualified to dispute concerning things 
of this kind. 1863 LVEI.L Antiq. Man 33 In every way 
highly qualified for the task. 

b. Used attributively. 

1558 Q. KENNEDY in Ji &inw See. Misc. (1844! 152 Than 
sulde be qualifeit men in all the eslaitis of the kirk. 
1693 CAPT. G. ST. Lo (title) England s Safety. .proposing a 
sure method for .. raising qualified Seamen, for manning 
their Majesties Fleet. 1849 COBDEN Speeches 86, I have 
heard qualified persons say, that the.. police there, are the 
finest armed and drilled men in Ireland. 1865 LIGHTFOOT 
Galntians (1874) 72, I am. .a qualified witness of his resur 
rection. 1880 C. K. MARKHAM Pernii.Rark^ The plan . . 
was to make a collection of plants and seeds . . through the 
instrumentality of qualified agents. 

3. Legally, properly, or by custom, capable of 
doing or being something specified or implied. 

1559 Q. KENNEDY in Wodrow Soc. Misc. (1844) 267 That 
I was nocht qualifiet to ressone with Willok, because . . 
I wes hot ane meyne man in our estait. 1656 in Gross 
Gild Merck. (1890) II. 267 Sundry Persons not being 
qualified according to the said Custome. 170* Land. 
Caz. No. 3839/4 The next winning Horse that is duly 
qualified to run for this Plate. 177^ SHERIDAN Sch. 
Scand. n, ii, No person should be permitted to kill char 
acters .. byt qualified old maids. 1849 MACAULAY Hist. 
Eng. viii. II. 202 The king, .had no right to force on them 
even a qualified candidate. 

b. Eccl. Entitled to hold two benefices at once 
(Minsheu Doctor 1617: cf. QUALIFY v. 4, quot. 
1667). 

4. Belonging to the upper classes of society ; of 
quality . Ol&lt;s. exc. dial. 

1604 E. G[RIMSTONE] D Acosta s Hist. Indies v. xix. 380 
If any Indian qualified, or of the common sorte were sicke. 
1608 WU.LKT Hexapla Exod. 481 These personall wrongs 
are .. of persons not qualified hut of common and ordinarie 
persons. 1703 Rules of Civility 116 If. .you be hehind, and 
must pass after the qualify d Person. 1886 Cheshire Gloss., 
Qualified, in good circumstances. A rich man would be said 
to he qualified. 

II. 5. Limited, modified, or restricted in some 
respect ; spec, in qualified acceptance, endorsement, 
estate, fee (see quot. 1818), negative, oath, property. 

1599 Life More in Wordsw. Eccl. Biog. (1853) II. 130 
Delivering this qualified answer to the Kinge. 1635 SWAN 
Spec. M. vi. 2 (1643) 196 If it be taken in a qualified sense, 
it is not much amisse. 1746 HERVEY Medit. (1818) 211 
Every object, a little while ago, glared with light, but now 
all appears under a more qualified lustre. 1769 BLACKSTONE 
Contm. IV. 235 Animals, in which there is no property 
either absolute or qualified. 1818 CRUISE Digest (ed. 2) I. 79 
Where an estate limited to a person and his heirs has a 
qualification annexed to it, by which it is provided that it 
must determine whenever that qualification is at an end ; it 
is then called a qualified or base fee. 1860 MILL Repr. 
Cart. (1865) 1/2 Unfit for more than a limited and qualified 
freedom. 1801 E. PEACOCK N. Brendan II. 432 Narcissa 
gave a qualified reply. 

Hence Qua lifiedly adv., in a qualified fashion ; 
Qua-lifledness, the state of being qualified. 

X 6?5 J. SMITH Chr. Relig. App. I. 23 Oesar had nothing 
to commend him to the Electors, but his qualifiedness for 
that function, by the worth of his parts. 1858 BunMKU, 
Scrm. Neiv Life 308 A force independent and qualifiedly 
sovereign. 1865 J. GROTE Treat. Mor. Ideas vii. (1876) 08 
We cannot be truthful as we may be benevolent, less or 
more, or qualifiedly. 

Qualifier (kwylifelai). [f. QUALIFY + -ER .] 

1. One who, or that which, qualifies, in various 
senses of the vb. 

1561 T. NORTON Calvin s last. iv. xix. (1634) 719 Away 
with these qualifiers, that cover one sacriledge with so many 
sacriledges. 1576 NEWTON Lemnie s Complex. (1633) 79 
Qualifiers and alayers of the heat of blood. 1638 R. YOUNGE 
Drunkard s Character 269 Tobacco, being hot and dry, 
must have a qualifier of cold and moist from the pot. 1754 
RICHARDSON Grandison (1781) I. xxvi. 183 Sir Charles is no 
qualifier, Sir, when he stakes his honour. 1796 LAMB Lett. 
(1837) I. 55, I was unwilling to let my last night s letter go o(I 
without this qualifier. 1887 Pall Hall G. 9 Mar. 5/1 Our 
qualifiers of beer have recently been [catching it]. 

2. Gram. A word, as an adjective or adverb, 
attached to another word to qualify 5t. 

1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. Poesit in. xvii. (Arb.) 193 Your 
Epitheton or qualifier, .must be apt and proper for the thing 
he is added vnto. 1875 WHITNEY Li_fe Lang. vi. 103 Formal 
correspondence between a substantive and its qualifier or 
representative. 

3. K. C. Ch. -= QUAI.IFICATOR. 

^1843 SOUTHEY.CW.-/&gt;/. Bk. (1851) IV. 670 Approved 



Qualify (kwg-lifai), v. Also 6 qualyfy, -fle, 
(6-7 qualle-, qualli-, quale-, -fye, -fie), 6-8 
qualifle. [a. F. qualiji-er (igth c.), or ad. med.L. 
qualificare to attribute a quality to, f. qua/is ol 
such a kind + -fuare : see -FT.] 

I. To invest with a quality or qualities. 

1. trans. To attribute a certain quality or qualities 
to. a. To describe or designate in a particular way ; 
to characterize, entitle, name, (f Const, with.) 



QUALIFY. 

1549 LATIMFR $th Scrm. bcf. Edw. I / (Arb.) 107 S. Paule 
in hys epistle qualifyeth a bishop, and saith that he must be 

. . apte to teache and to confute all maner of false doctryne. 
1633 H. COGAN tr. r inters Trai: xii. 37, I will favor thce 
as a Vassal, and not as a brother, as thou qualifies! thyself. 
1684 J. PETER Siege Vienna 21 Two of the Eldest Colonels 
were qualified with a Title between a Major General and a 
Colonel. 1823 BYRON Juan x. Ixxxi, The Devil s drawing- 
room , As some have qualified that wondrous place. 1826 
Blackw. Mag. XX. 77 The propositions referred to the 
theologians have been qualified as heretical. 1873 BROWN 
ING Red Cott. Nt.-cap 253 Madame Muhlhausen, whom 
good taste forbids We qualify as do these documents. 

b. Gram. Of an adj. : To express some quality 
belonging to (a noun). Of an adv. : To modify. 

[1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. Poesie in. xvii. (Arb.) 193 Some 
times wordes suffered to go single, do giue greater sence 
and grace then words quantified by attributions do.] 1837 
M. GREEN Engl. Gramin. 14 [Adjectives] are added to nouns 
to define, qualify, describe, or limit the signification of the 
noun. 1887 ROGET Introd. Old French 176 [The Adjec 
tive] qualifying two or more Substantives. 1888 H. A. 
STRONG tr. Paul s Princ. Hist. Lang. 424 [The adjective] 
bears the same relation to the substantive as an adverb to 
the adjective which it qualifies. 

f2. To impart a certain quality to (a thing); to 
make (a thing) what it is. Obs. 

1592 GREENE Upst. Courtier in Hart. Misc. i Malh.) 1 1. 221 
Is., not rather true nobility a mind excellently qualified with 
rare vertues? 1600 BIBLE (Douay) Gen. Comm., Then shal 
the bodies be qualified according to the state of the soules, 
happie or miserable for ever. 1645 QUARLES Sol. Recant. 
in. 71 But thou hast tainted that immortall breath, Which 
qualified thy life, and made thee free Of heav n and earth. 
a 1677 HALE Prim. Orig, Man. iv. vi. 344 The Divine Will, 
determined or qualified (if we may use that improper word) 
with the highest.. Wisdom and Power. 

f b. absol. To bring it about that. Obs. 

a 1670 HACKET Abp. Williams \. (1692) 60 It qualified 
also, that no detection could be made, .that he bought this 
greatness. 

3. To invest (a person) with proper or essential 
qualities or accomplishments (for being some 
thing). Also re/I. 

1581 MULCASTER Positions xxxvi. (1887) 134 Set to schoole, 
to qualifie themselues, to learne how to be religious. 1683 
MOXON Mec/i. Exerc., Printing i, A Typographer ought 
to be equally quallified with all the Sciences that becomes 
an Architect. 1711 W. SUTHERLAND Shiphuild. Assist. 22 
Those Properties . . will qualify a Man for a compleat 
Architect. ?i78z COWPER Parrot u To qualify him more 
at large, And make him quite a wit. 

b. To make fit or competent/)/- doing (or to do] 
something, vt for some sphere of action, existence, 
etc. Chiefly reft. 

1665 BOYLE Occas. Refl. vi. iv. (1848) 353 He whose parts 
are too mean to qualifie him to govern others. 1712 Sped. 
No. 524 1*5 To refresh and otherwise qualify themselves for 
their journey. 1749 FIELDING Tom Jones vi. iii, Moderation 
..can qualify us to taste many pleasures. 1817 SCOTT Rob 
Royx \\, Qualifying myself for my new calling. 1852 DICKENS 
Bleak Ho. xxxviii, I am qualifying myself to give lessons. 
1873 HAMERTON Intcll. Life in. i. (1875) 77 Men are qualified 
for their work by knowledge. 

absol. 1742 YOUNG Nt. Th. ix. 575 That strength, Which 
best may qualify for final joy, 

4. To make legally capable ; to endow with legal 
power or capacity ; to give a recognized status to 
(a person). 

1583 STUBBES Anat. Abns. n. (1882) 113 Would God all 
Ecclesiastical persons . . would nowe . . quallifie themselues, 
shewe obedience to Princes lawes. 1667 PEPVS Diary (1879) 
IV. 350 Is made one of the Duke s Chaplains, which qualifies 
him for two livings. 1767 BLACKSTONE Comm. II. 418 These 
game laws . , do indeed qualify nobody, except . . a game 
keeper, to kill game. 1862 MERIVALE Rom. Emp. (1865) IV. 
xxxvii. 291 He qualified others, by adding to their fortunes 
from his own bounty. 1889 Pall Mall G. 27 June 3/1 
A Royal Charter enabling it to qualify nurses as doctors 
are qualified . 

b. spec, by the administration of an oath. U.S. 

[1723 Act of Pennsylvania, Every brewer., shall bequalified 
by oath.. that he will not use any molasses, etc.] 1798 in 
Dallas Amer. Law Rep. II. 100 The court said they would 
order the jury to be qualified. 1800 M. CUTLER in Life, etc. 
(1888) II. 37 He [the Governor of Mass.] met the two Houses 
at 12, and was qualified. 

5. intr. (for refl.} To make oneself competent 
for something, or capable of holding some office, 

exercising some function, etc., by fulfilling some 
necessary condition ; spec, by taking an oath, and 
hence U.S. : To make oath, to swear to something 
(Bartlett, 1848). 

a 1588 TARLTON Jests (1844) p. xxv, Presently he can 
Qualifie for a mule or a mare, Or for an Alderman. 1790 
BURKE Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 384 All the ministers of state must 
qualify, and take this test. 1825 C. R. H. in Hone Every 
day Bk. 1. 1334 His lordship goes to church to qualify. 1849 
MACAULAY Hist. Eng. vi. II. 27 He could not legally con 
tinue to employ officers who refused to qualify. 1891 Law 
Reports, Weekly Notes u8/r It was his duty to qualify for 
the office of director by taking forty shares. 

f6. trans. Sc. Law. To establish by evidence. Obs. 

^1639 SPOTTISWOOD Hist. Ch. Scot. vi. (1677) 333 Hay 
compeired, and nothing being qualified against him, was 
upon suspicion confined, a 1670 SPALDING Tronb. (1850) I. 
358 The vther half [of the forfeited goods] to be givin to 
him who dilates the recepteris, and qualefeis the samen. 
1776 LD. THURLOW in Bos^velCs Johnson (1848) App. 817/2 
If the individual could qualify a wrong, and a damage 
arising from it. 

II. To modify in some respect. 

7. To modify (a statement, opinion, etc.) by any 
VOL. VIII. 



17 

limitation or reservation ; to make less strong or 
positive. 

1533 MORE /f/al. xxvii. Wks. 893/2 He hathe circumspectly 
. . qualyfyed and modered hys tale wyth thys woord (all). 
1551 PRINCESS MARY in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 177 The 
promise made, .by your Majesties counsell. .although they 
seeme now to quallefye and deny the thing, a 1661 FULLER 
Worthies (1840) III. 8 Whilst a prince he was undutiful to 
his father ; or to qualify the matter, over dutiful to his 
mother, whose domestic quarrels he always espoused, a 1731 
ATTERBURY (J.), My proposition I have qualified with the 
word, often ; thereby making allowance [etc.], 1790 BURKE 
Fr.Rw, Wks. V. 296 To observe whether. .1 might not find 
reasons to change or to qualify some of my first sentiments. 
iSssPRF.scoTT Philip II, i. viii. (1857) 146 Elizabeth received 
the offer of Philip s hand, qualified as it was, in the most 
gracious manner. 1883 Contemp. Rev. XL1II. 49 An 
avowal, which he qualifies by a subtle after-thought. 

absol. 1838 LYTTON Alice xi. v, The surgeon .. began to 
apologize to qualify. 

8. To moderate or mitigate, so as to reduce to 
a more satisfactory or normal condition ; esp. to 
render less violent, severe or unpleasant ; to lessen 
the force or effect of (something disagreeable). 

Extremely common in the i6-i7thc., with a great variety 
of objects ; now somewhat rare in comparison with 12 b. 

J 543-4 Act 35 Hen. / ///, c. 5 The greate peril and 
dangier of the kynges majesties subiectes, if the ^ame statute 
shulde not . . be tempered qualified or refourmcd. 1547 
BOORDK firev. Health 170 Qualyfie the heate of the Lyuer 
. . with the confection of Acetose. 1578 1 . N. tr. Con&lt;], II . 
India 229 Our men stoode in gr&lt; at perill . . if this war and 
mutenie had not soone bene qualified. 1608 WILI.KT Ih .vnpla 
Exod. 688 The incense was. .burned, .to qualifie the smell 
..from the sacrifices of (lesh. 1648 MAKKHAM Honscw. 
Card. in. viii. (1668) 68 Camomile., is sweet smelling, 
qualifying head-ach. 1664 H. POWKR Exp. Philos. in. 188 
Something . . that will abate and qualifie the rigour of this 
Conception. 1702 W. J. Bmyn s I oy. Levant xi. 51 This 
Civility of the Turks does in some measure qualify the 
Hardship of those who are confin d Prisoners in that Castle. 
1767 BLACKSTONE Comm. II. 147 Though they still are held 
at the will of the lord, ..yet that will is qualified, restrained, 
and limited. 1827 SCOTT Highl. Wido^vv, A voice in which 
the authority of the mother was qualified by her tenderness. 
1839 BAILEY Festns v, Qualifying every line which vice .. 
writes on the brow. 1856 R. A. VAUGHAN Mystics (1860) 
I. v. i. 116 His sincere piety, his large heart,, .always qualify, 
and seem sometimes to redeem, his errors. 

t b. To make less wrong or reprehensible. Obs. 
1749 FIELDING Tom Jones xui. xii. The frame of her mind 
was too delicate to bear the thought of having been guilty 
of a falsehood, however qualified by circumstances. 1776 
PAINE Com. Sense 76 It is.. the invasion of our country. . 
which conscientiously qualifies the use of arms. 

*t* c. To make proportionate to ; to reduce to. 
Obs. rare. 

1548 UDALL, etc. Erasm. Par. Lnke i. (R.), The Highest 
. .tempering and qualifying his infinite power and vertue to 
the measure and capacitie of mannes nature. 1604 Notting 
ham Kec. IV. 272, 20 H. fyne was ymposed. .which fyne was 
afterwardes . . qualefied to iiij li. 1641 MILTON Reform. ii. 
43 How to qualifie, and mould the sufferance and subjection 
of the people to the length of that foot that is to tread on 
their necks. 

t 9. To appease, calm, pacify (a person). Obs. 
(1540 tr. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden No. 29) 210 
Withowt much adoe they began to molly fy hir .. Whan the 
quene was thus qualyfyed [etc.]. 1579-80 NORTH Plutarch 
(1676) 488 Sertorius. .did qualifie him the best he could, and 
made him more mild and tractable. 1617 MIDDLETON & 
ROWLEY Fair Quarrel iv. i, When you have left him in 
a chafe, then I ll qualify the rascal. 1679 Trials Great, 
Berry, ftfc. 16 You being a Justice of the Peace may qualifie 
them [two men fighting]. 

flO. To bring into, or keep in, a proper condi 
tion ; to control, regulate, modulate. Obs. 

1579 LAN-GUAM Card. Health (1633) 624 The decoction of the 
roots.. doth qualifie the Liner. 1606 SHAKS. Tr. $ Cr. n. 
il. 118 Is your blood So madly hot, that no discourse of 
reason. .Can qualifie the same? 1647 N. BACON Disc. Gwt. 
Enjr. i. xvi. (1739) 30 This Election was qualified under 
a stipulation or covenant. 1688 PKNTON Guardian s Instruct. 
(1897) 15 The practice of these Rules will help qualifie a 
Life of Action such as yours must be. 

11. To modify the strength or flavour of (a liquid). 
1591 NASHE Prognostication Wks. 1883-4 U- 52 A Cuppe 

of Sack, . . so qualified with Suger, that they proue not 
rewmatick. 1633 T. ADAMS Exp. 2 Peter ii. 13 Poison may 
be qualified, and become medicinal. 1671 tr. Frejitf Voy. 
Mauritania 43 Having tasted the water,, .we mixed it with 
a little Aqua vita:, which we had brought with us instead 
of Wine, to qualifie it. 1748 SMOLLETT Rod. Rand. Ivi, 
The Squire .. called for his tea, which he drank .. qualified 
with brandy. 1821 BYRON Juan iv. liii, Tea and coffee 
leave us much more serious, Unless when qualified with 
thee, Cogniac! 1840 DICKENS Barn. Rndge xlv, [He] 
qualified his mug of water with a plentiful infusion of the 
liquor. 

fig&gt; 1697 DRVDEN Ess. Georgics in Virgil (1721) I. 199 
Greek, .rightly mixt and qualified with the Doric Dialect. 

12. f a. To affect (a person or thing) injuriously. 
Const, with. Obs. b. To abate or diminish (some 
thing good) ; to make less perfect or complete. 

1584 R. SCOT Disccrv, Witchcr, in. xv. (1886) 50 Foure old 
witches, who with their charms so qualified the Danes as 
they were thereby disabled. 1602 SHAKS. Ham. iv, vii. 114 
Loue is begun by Time : And . . Time qualifies the sparke 
and fire of it. 1639 FULLER Holy Warn. xvii. (1840) 72 To 
qualify the Christians joy for this good success, Jocelme . . 
was conquered and taken prisoner. 1644 BCLWER Chiron. 
52 The slanders by heartily wish their Hands qualified with 
some Chiragracall prohibition. - 1860 TYNDAI.L Glac. i. 
xxvii. 209 Thoughts which tended to qualify the pleasure. 
1870 DICKENS E. Drood viii, We had better not qualify our 
good understanding. 



QUALITY. 

t!3. intr. To qualify on, to submit quietly to. 

To qualify with, to come to terms \\ith. Obs. 

1754 RICHARDSON Grandison I. xxxiii. 230 What a slave 

had I been in spirit, could I have qualified on such villainous 

I treatment. 1797-1805 S. & HT. LEE Cantcrb. T. V. 494 

&lt; He. .qualifies With any passion which it is vicious to indulge. 



Qualifying (kwo-lifai,in), vhl. sb. [f. prec.+ 
-iMjl.] The action of tl 
senses. 



i of the vb. QUALIFY, in various 



iS74 R. SCOT Hop Card. (1578) Epistle, To deuise argu- 
I ment of priuate profit, to the qualifying of your diaries. 
1610 Gl JLLlM Heraldry in. vii. (1660) 135 The qualifying 
and allaying of the scorching heat of burning Agues. 1748 
i RICHARDSON CSarissa (1811) I. 124, I once thought a little 
i qualifying among such violent spirits was not amiss. 1794 
i J. HUTTON Phifos. Light, etc. 14 To suppose us knowing 
i heat by any other means, beside^ its effect in the qualifying 
. of bodies. 

Qualifying ^kv^ lifaijir^,///. a. [f, as prec. 
+ -1M1-.J That qualifies, in senses of the vb. 

1606 SIIAKS. Tr. .|j- t r. iv. iv. 9 My loue admits no quali 
fying crosse [nsre. emend, druss]. 1704 NOKKIS Ideal World 
u. iii. 192 Something, .so peculiarly qualifying and distin 
guishing. 1769 yisnins Lett . xxxv. 160 A qualifying measure 
would not be accepted. 1812 $&lt; GTT Fain. Lett. (1894) J. 
viii. 241 The good we meet with.. is always blended with 
qualifying bitterness. ifyoAthenxntn 26 Apr. 525 3 To pass 
a qualifying examination and to become a teacher. 

Hence Qua lifyingly adv. 

1831 BLAKE v Frcc-i&lt;&gt;iU 109 They qualifying!)- admit its 
force, by tailing it a difficulty. 

t Qua-litated, /&lt;*.//&. Obs.rare~\ [f. L. type 
*qndlitat-us + -KD 1 .] = QUALITIED. 

1662 J. CHAXDI.KU I an Hehuont s Oriat. 167 Moystness, 
and dryness are rather very Bodies themselves qualitated or 
endowed with qualities. 

Qualitative (kuylitrtiv), a. [ad. late I,. 
quaUtatTv-us (Cassiodorus ) : see QUALITY and -IVE. 
Cf. F. qualitatif, -ive (i5th c. .] Relating to, con 
nected or concerned with, quality or qualities. Now 
usually in implied or expressed opposition to 
QUANTITATIVE. 

1607 COLLINS Serin. (1608) 5 Fourthly, qualitative, from 
the dispositions of the persons them -Delves. 1652 GAULE 
Magastrom. 49 What have the qualitative influxes of the 
planets .. there to doe? #1703 ByRKlTT On N. T. Rom. 
xii. 2 This conversion and renovation is not a substantial, 
but a qualitative change. 1842 PAKNELL Client. Anal. 
(1845) 2 An examination .. which does not develop*; more 
than the nature or quality of the constituents, is termed 
a qualitative analysis. 1881 WKSTCOTT & HORT 6V. A . T. 
11-44 A numerical preponderance may have rightly to yield 
to a qualitative preponderance. 

Hence Qualitatively adv., in respect of quality. 

1681 FLAVKI, Mcth. Grace vi. 128 Faith may be considered 
qualitatively, as a saving grace. 1845 G. E. DAY tr. Sinn&gt;n 
Anint. Chetti. I. 321 The composition of the blood is here 
qualitatively changed. 1862 H. SPENCER First Princ. i. iv. 
S 26 (1875) 90 In consciousness the Unlimited and the Indi 
visible are qualitatively distinct. 

Qualitied (kwo-Htid), a. or///, a. Also 6-7 
qualited. ff. QUALITY fd. orz/. + -ED.] Furnished 
with a quality or qualities, in various senses of 
the sb. (Freq. in lyth c. ; chiefly as predicate, and 
with qualifying adv.). 

1600 HAKLUYT Voy. II. ii. 194 They were so well qualited 
in courage, experience, and discretion. 1616 T. SCOTT 
Christs Politician n Those men ..are conditioned and 
qualited like sheepe, innocent, harmelesse, simple. 1656 
STANLEY Hist. Philos. I. VIM. 112 In things properly qualited 
there is augmentation and diminution. 1728 MORGAN 
Algiers II. iv. 286 The mildest, the best qualitied . . Prince 
that ever existed. 1783 JOHNSON in Boswcll 23 Mar., Lord 
Southwell was the highest-bred man .. the most qualitied 
I ever saw. 1865 J. GROTE Moral Ideals (1876) 187 The 
mind is a qualitied unity. 1889 Harper s Mag. Jan. 184/2 
A dainty hand, and small,.. and qualitied Divinely. 

Hence Qua litiediiess rare~ l . 

1865 J. GROTE Explor. Philos. \. no Form of the higher 
description, .quality or qualitiedness. 

Qualitive, erron. f. QUALITATIVE, rare" 1 . 

1846 J. BAXTER Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4) I. 48 The one 
is called qualitive, . .The other is quantitive. 

Quality (kwo-liti), sb. Forms: 4-7 -He. 4-5 
-itee, 6 -yte, -itye, 6-7 -Hie, 7 quail-, 6- quality. 
[ME. qualite^ a. K. qualite (izth c.\ ad. L. qudli- 
tdt-em (formed by Cicero to render Gr. jrotoT?;?), f. 
qitalis of what kind : see -ITY.] 

I. Of persons (in i and 2 occas. of animals). 

1. Character, disposition, nature. Now rare. 

c 1290^. Eng. Leg. I. 312/433 pe planetes..3"men himal-so 
qualite to don so and so. Ibid. 435 Swuch qualite.. to beon 
lechor o^ur schrewe. 1390 GOWEH Con/. I. Prol. 35 Thus of 
his propre qualite The man . . Is as a world. 1535 LYNDESAY 
Satyre 247, I knaw, be Jour qualitie 5e want the gift of 
chastitie. 1553 BRENDE Q. Cnrtins 25 He vsed to euery 
nacion sondry exhortacions as he thought mete for their 
dispostcions and qualitie. a 1578 LiNDKSAY(Pitscottie) Chron. 
Scot. &lt;S. T. S.) I. io Knawin(g] of wemen . . That thay are 
not constant in tbair quallitie. 1632 I.ITHGOW Trai: vi. 298 
A Dromidore, and Camel differ much in quality. 1639 FORD 
Lady s Trial n\. iii, He deserves no wife Of worthy quality, 
who dares not trust Her virtue in. .any danger. 1847 EMER 
SON Poems (1857) 94 They her heralds be, Steeped in her 
quality. 1873 BROWNING Red Cott. Nt.-capif& Her quality 
was, caterpillar-like, To. .select a leaf And. .feed her fill. 
b. Capacity, ability, or skill, in some respect. 

In mod. use as an echo of Shaks., who prob. intended 
the word in sense 5. 

[1602 SHAKS. Ham. n, ii. 452 Come giue vs a tast of your 
quality: come, a passionate speech.] 1856 KANE Arct. 

3 



QUALITY. 

Expl. I. ii. 24 Hans had given me a touch of his quality by 
spearing a bird on ilie wing. 1863 DORAN Ann. Stage 369 
Thomas . . gave the stranger a hearty welcome, .. asked for 
a taste of his quality. 1871 BROWNING Pr. Hohenst. 1165 
Can t you contrive to operate at once, .. to shew Your 
quality i the world. 

C. Without article or poss. pron. : Excellence 
of disposition ; good natural gifts. (Cf. 9 c.) 

1606 SHAKS. Tr. $ Cr. iv. iv. 78 The Grecian youths are 
full of qualitie, Their louing well compos d, with guift of 
nature. 1607 HEYWOOD Wont. Killed \\. i, O, sir, disparage 
not your worth too much ; You are full of quality and faire 
desert. 1889 TYRWHITT in Universal Rev. 15 Feb. 251 One 
sharp temptation well resisted.. shows real moral quality. 
1894 SIR Ev. WOOD in Daily A eivs i Oct. 6/2 [Capt. Peel] 
had a singularly striking appearance, showing both in face 
and figure what is termed, in describing well-bred horses, 
as quality . 

2. A mental or moral attribute, trait, or charac 
teristic ; a feature of one s character ; t a habit. 

1533 FRITH AHSIU. More To Rdr., Wks. (1573) 4 A frende 
beholdeth all qualities and circumstaunces, his byith, 
bringyng vp, and what feates hee hath done all hys lyfe 
long. 1551 R. ROBINSON tr. Mart s Vtot&gt;. Ep. Cecil (Arb.) 
15 Youre godlye dysposytyon, and vertuous qualytyes. 
1602 MARSTON Ant. $ Mel. MI. Wks. 1856 I. 43, I hate 
not man, but man s lewd qualities. 1689-90 TEMPLE Ess. 
Heroic Virtue Wks. 1731 I. 208 Particular Qualities have 
been observed., in the same Families for several hundred 
Years, as Goodness, Clemency [etc.]. 1783 COWPER I alc- 
diction 31 In thee some virtuous qualities combine To fit 
thee for a nobler part. 1849 MACAULAY ///. Eng. vii. II. 
163 Nature had largely endowed William with the qualities 
of a great ruler. 1853 J. H. NEWMAN Hist. Sk. (1876) I. 
[II,] i. i. 30 The subtlety and perfidy, which .. were the 
qualities of his . . countrymen. 

b. An accomplishment or attainment. 

1584 LYLY Camj&gt;a$pe\. i, Diog. What can thy sons do? 
Syl. You shall see their qualities. Dance, sirrah ! 1607 
SHAKS. Tittion i. i. 125, I haue bred her at my deerest cost 
In Qualities of the best. .71674 CLARENDON (J.), He had 
those qualities of horsemanship, dancing and fencing which 
accompany a good breeding. 1780 COWI-ER Progr, Err, 
423 A just deportment, manners graced with ease, .. Are 
qualities that seem to comprehend [etc.]. 1882 Daily Tel. 
17 May, The fielding, .justified the high reputation for this 
quality which the. .colonial teams, .have enjoyed. 

c. Law. A special or characteristic feature. 
1818 CRUISE Digest (ed. 2) I. 155 A tenant in tail .. has 

eight qualities or privileges. 

o. Hank or position in (a) society. Now rare. 

a 1400-50 Alexander $&&amp;gt;$ Lo ! so J&gt;e quele of qwistsumnes 
my qualite has changid. 1456 SIR G. HAVE Law Arms 
(S. T. S.) 162 To consider, .the state and the qualitee of the 
persouns. 1571 G. BUCHANAN Admonition (S. T. S.) 21 It 
may seame .. that I . . pas myne estait, being of sa meane 
qualitie. 1604 E. G[RIMSTONE] D^Acosta s Hist. Indies v. 
viii. 350 Sometimes this minister had other different liabites, 
according to the quallitie of the dead. 1676 HOBBES Iliad 
Pref. (1686) 2, Readers of Poesie (which are commonly Per 
sons of the best Quality). 1726 DE FOE Hist. Devil n. v. 
(1840) 235 The priests of Apollo were .sometimes of no mean 
quality. 1823 SCOTT Peveril i, A gentleman of middling 
quality. 1873 BROWNING Red Cott. Nt.-cap 1528 What 
quality, what style and title, eh ? 

fig 79 1 WOLCOTT (P. Pindar) Remonstrance Wks. 1812 
II. 453 Hunger. . Is reckon d now a fellow of bad quality : 
Not deem d a gentleman. 

fb. concr. A body of persons of a certain rank. 
Obs. rare *, 

1636 E. DACRES tr. Machiawets Disc. Livy 1. 16 It was com 
pos d only of two of these forenamed qualities, that is to say, 
of the Principality and Nobility. 

4. Nobility, high birth or rank, good social 
position ; chiefly in phr. man, woman, gentleman^ 
lady ) per son, people of quality. Now arch. 

*57&lt;H8o NORTH Plutarch (1595) 875 He had all the men 
of qualitie his sworne enemies. 1625 BACON ss. t Trav. 
(Arb.) 523 Let him .. procure Recommendation, to some 
person of Quality. 1671 LADY MARY BERTIE in ut/t Rep. 
Hist. MSS. Conim. App. v. 22 There are no men of quality 
but the Duke of Monmouth ; all the rest are gentlemen. 
17*2 DE FOE Col. Jack (1840 18 My new friend was a thief 
of quality, and a pickpocket above the ordinary rank. 1771 
MACKENZIE Man. Feet. xl. (1803) 85 The count, for he was 
of quality, was solicitous to return the obligation. 1849 
MACAULAY Hist. Eng. viii. II. 273 Many persons of quality 
sate the whole day in their carriages. 1871 MORLKY 
Vaxwenargites in Crit. Misc. Ser. i. (1878) 9 High enough 
to command the admiration of people of quality. 

b. concr. People of good social position. Now 
arch, or vulgar and dial. 

1693 Humours Town 114 Walk Bare-headed to his 
Master s Daughter, in imitation of Quality. 1706 ESTCOURT 
Fair Exanip. v. i, Did not you tell me . . that you was 
acquainted with all the Quality. 1753 RICHARDSON Sir C. 
Grandison III. ii. (1781) 15, I have looked out among the 
quality for a future husband for her. 1769 WFSLEY in Wks. 
1872 III. 370 A large company of Quality {as they called 
them) came. 1824 BYRON Juan xvr. Ixiv, She was country 
]? or " and bred And knew no better. .Than to wax white- 
blushes are for quality. 1843 LEVER J. Ilinton xl, I was 
standing .. among all the grand generals and the quality. 
1889 John Bull 2 Mar. 142/2 He was fond of quality, and 
quality was very fond o him. 

fo. Profession, occupation, business, esp. that of 
an actor, b. Fraternity ; those of the same pro 
fession ; esp. actors as a body. Obs. 



. ^it. 6 ui3L, rfuu a uiiiii 01 sucn periection, 
we doe in our quality much want. 1603 J. DA VIES J/VV 



18 

profession, I do accuse the quality of treason. 1633 in A. 
W. Ward Hist. Dram. Lit. II. 324 It may herve .. for the 
improvement of the quality, which hath received some 
brushings of late. 

f C. Party, side. Obs. rare*- 1 . 

1596 SHAKS. i Hen. IV, iv. iii. 36 Because you are not of 
our qualitie, But stand against vs like an Enemie. 

6. Title, description, character, capacity. Freq. 
in phr. in (the] quality of. Now rare. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 26682 Man agh to telle hir qualite, sib 
or freind or quat sco be. a 1626 BACON Advice to Villiers 
(J.\ The attorney of the dutchy of Lancaster partakes of 
both qualities, partly of a judge, .and partly of an attorney 
general, a 1648 LD. HERBERT Hen. VIII (1683) 38 Maxi 
milian ..came to the King, in the quality of his Soldier. 
1664 BUTI.ER Hud. n. iii. 338 He serv d his Master In 
quality of Poetaster. 1711 &DDISOH5/K*. No. 127 r i Such 
Packets as I receive under the Quality of Spectator. 1734 
tr. Rollins Anc. Hist. (1827) IX. 66 They paid respect to 
his quality of deputy. 1821 SCOTT Keniliv. xxx, Leicester 
..rode on her Majesty s right hand.. in quality of her host. 
1864 D. G. MITCHELL Sev. Star. 82 To understand that 
I had come in the professed quality of Consul, 
f b. A part or character (acted). Obs. rare~ l . 

1566 ADLINGTON Apnleins 109 When the people was de 
sirous to see me play qualities, they caused the gates to be 
shutte, and such as entred in shoulde pay. 
H. Of things. 

7. An attribute, property, special feature or charac 
teristic. Primary, secondary^ etc. qualities : see 
the adjs. Of a ship : (see quot. 1867). 

1340 Ayenl. 153 To be bod ye of man comep alle eueles uor 
be destempringe of bise uour qualites ober of hise uour 
humours. 1533 EI.YOT Cast. Hctthe (1539) 33a, But no we 
to the qualities of water. 1551 TURNER Herbal \. Aivb, 
The qualites of it answer nothing unto the qualyties of 
wormwode pontyke in Galene. 1604 E. G[RIMSTONE] 
D Acosta s Hist. Indies vi. xiii. 459 According to the 
qualities and wealth uf the Countrie. 1671 R. BOHUN Wind 
165 The judgment to be made concerning the Qualitys of 
Winds.. is very various and fallible. 1725 WATTS Logic \. 
iii. 4 Ideas, with Regard to their Qualities, . . are either 
clear and distinct, or obscure and confused [etc.]. 1854 L. 
LLOYD Scandinavian Aifc. I. 231 The eatable qualities of 
the Bothnian salmon. 1867 SMYTH Sailor s \\ T ord-bk. t 




in some expression of what is decent . . or of what is bright. 
tb. A manner, style. (Cf. 9 b.) Obs. rare. 
1596 SHAKS. Merch. f. in. ii. 6 Hate counsailes not in such 
a qualitie. 1651 Fuller s Abel Rediv.,C(nvper(i$6j) 11.307 
| The parishioners, .built and adorned the church in as good 
a quality as any round about it. 

t c. A habit ; a power or faculty. Obs. rare. 

1647 FULLER Good Th. in Worse T. (1841) 98 Jordan had 

a quality in the first month to overflow all his banks. 1663 

GERBIER Counsel b iij a, If it had a speaking quality, your 

Grace would hear its. .Alembick sing the Gold its joy. 

fd. Concretely: A substance of a certain nature; 
an essence. Obs. rare. 

1704 SWIFT Batt. Bk. Misc. (1711) 257 An atramentous 
Quality, of most malignant Nature, was seen to distil from 
his Lips. 1823 J. BADCOCK Dom. A mus-em. 21 The wood . . 
throws out its volatile qualities, aquaeous and acidulous, 
into the respective tubes. 

8. The nature, kind, or character (&lt;3/" something). 
Now restricted to cases in which there is comparison 

j (expressed or implied) with other things of the same 
kind ; hence, the degree or grade of excellence, etc. 
possessed by a thing. f/ the quality of-, (cf. 6). 
c 1374 CHAUCER Troylns in. Prol. 31 Ye knowe al f&gt;ilke 
couered qualite Of (nng which bat folk on wondren so. 
c 1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) xiii. 59 A man may gyffe no 
couenable penaunce bot if he knawe be qualitee and be 
quantitee of J&gt;e synne. 1509 HAWES Past. Pleas, xxm. 
(Percy Soc.) 106 After the qualyte it doth take effecte. 1570 
DEE Math. Pref. 8 An other liquid Medicine I haue : whose 
Qualitie is heate, in the first degree. 1650 BAXTER Saints 
R. i. iv. (1662) 22 It is so little I know of mine own soul, 
either its cjuiddity or quality. 1697 DRYDEN Virg. Gcorg. 
in. 237 This flying Plague (to mark its quality;) Oestros 
the Grecians call. 1794 J. HUTTON Philos. Light, etc. 272 
This principle of fire moves, in the quality of light, with the 
most amazing velocity. 1841-4 EMERSON Ess., Prudence 
Wks. (Bohn) I. 95 There is more difference in the quality 
of our pleasures than in the amount. 1842 Miss MITFORD 
in L Estrange Life (1870) III. ix. 142 The perfection of 
cunning^ is to conceal its own quality. 1879 HARLAN Eye* 
sight viii. 1 1^ It is on account of the quality, rather than the 
size, of English print, that it is usually so much pleasanter 
to read than American. 

tb. Nature, wiih reference to origin; hence, 
cause, occasion. Obs. rare. 

1606 SHAKS. Tr. $ Cr. iv. i. 44 Giue him note of our 
approach, With the whole quality whereof, I feare We shall 
be much vnwelcome. 1607 Tinion in. vi. 117 Know you 
the quality of Lord Timons fury? 

9. Without article : a. That aspect of things 
under which they are considered in thinking or 
speaking of their nature, condition, or properties. 

The notion of quality includes all the attributes of a thing, 
except those of relation and quantity. Quality is the 
third of the Aristotelian categories. 

"533 ELYOrCVw*. Helthe (1539) i6b, Qualitie. .is the state 
thereof, as Hotteor cold, moist or dry. 1656 STANLEY Hist. 
Philos. I. v. 70 If quality be void of matter, it must likewise be 
void of corporeity. 1727 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v., The antient 
school-philosophers distinguish quality in the general, .into 
essential and accidental. 1829 JAS. MILL Hum. Mind ( 1 869) 
II. xiv. ii. 60 Quality is used as the generical name of every 
thing in objects, for which a separate notation is required. 
1884 tr. Lotze*s Metaph. 45 The question is renewed as to the 
actual essence which, .lies behind this surface of Quality. 



QUALM. 

b. Gram. Manner of action (cf. 7 b), as denoted 
by an adverb ; chiefly in phr. ad-verb of quality. 

1530 PALSGR. Introd. 38 The frenche men .. forme the.yr 
adverbes of qualite by addynge to of went. Ibid. 144 Some 
[adverbs] betoken qualite, and serve to declare .. howe a 
dede is done, a 1637 B. JONSON Eng. Gram. \. xxi, All 
adverbs of quality, .being formed from nouns, for the most 
part, by adding ly. 1845 STODDART in Encycl. Metrop. 
(1847) 1. 122/1 There is no difference in grammatical use 
between . . an adverb of quantity, and an adverb of quality. 
1872 MORRIS Engl. Accid. xiv. 193. 

C. Peculiar excellence or superiority. (Cf. I c.) 

1874 TYRWHITT Sketch, Club 255 Quality of colour means 
purity or truth of hue. 1891 Speaker 2 May 533/1 The 
book. .has. .more quality and distinction than four-fifths of 
the novels which come under our notice. 



10. In special uses (of senses 8 and 9). 

a. Logic. Of propositions : The condition of 
being affirmative or negative. Of concepts : Com 
parative clearness or distinctness. 

J S94 BLUN DEVIL Arie Loeicke in. \, (Cent.), How is a simple 
proposition divided according to qualitie ? Into an affirma 
tive and negative proposition. 1697 tr. Bitrgersdiciits his 
Logic i. xxx. 117 In Regard of Quality, it is that an Enuncia 
tion is divided .. into Affirming and Denying. 1725 WATTS 
Logic (1726) 156 If two Universals differ in Quality they are 
Contraries. 1837-8 SIR W. HAMILTON Lect. Logic ix. (1860) 
I. 158 It is this perfection or imperfection which constitutes 
the logical Quality of a concept. 1843 MILL Logic 11. ii. 
i (1856) 189 What are called the quantity and quality 
of the propositions. 1864 Bow EN Logic v. 120 We thus 
ascertain the Quality of the Judgment, or whether it is 
affirmative or negative. 

b. Law. Of an estate : The manner in which it 
is to be held or enjoyed. 

1818 CRUISE Digest (ed. 2) II. 354 The alteration in the 
particular estate, which would destroy a contingent re 
mainder, must amount to an alteration in its quantity, and 
not in its quality. 1841 Penny Cycl. XIX. 46/1. 

C. Physics. That which distinguishes sounds 
quantitatively the same ; timbre. 

1865 Q. Jrnl. Sc. 592 Though [certain sounds are] the same 
for musical purposes, in all other respects the quality is 
different. 1872 HUXLEY Phys. vii. 183 The quality of a 
voice treble, bass, tenor, c. 1881 BROADHOUSE Mus, 
Acoustics 77 The most uncultivated ear would perceive a 
difference of quality. 

11. A particular class, kind, or grade of anything, 
as determined by its quality. 

1835 URE Philos. Mamtf. 324, 2$. $d. for spinning the 
same quality. 1866 G. MACDOSALD Ann. Q. Neighb. xiii. 
(1878) 253 A quality of dialogue which indicated thought. 

III. f!2. ~ QUALIFICATION i. Sf. Obs. rare. 

1622 Bitrgk Rec. Aberdeen iSpald. Cl.) II. 375 The said 
Mr. James Ross .. acceptit of the said stipend with the 
qualitie and conditioun aboue mentioned. 1714 W. FORBES 
Jrnl. Sess. Pref. 7 Advocates admitted with a quality 
that they should not take in hand to plead in any.. difficult 
cause without, .assistance. 

IV. 13. attrib. and Comb, (chiefly sense 4), as 
quality-acquaintance, -air, -blood, -end, -friend, 
horse, lady, living, -pride, etc. ; quality-like, -mad, 
adjs. ; quality-binding, a kind of worsted tape 
for binding carpets (Jam. 1808). 

1594 CAREW Huartes Exam. Wits vi. (1596) 77 Neither 
the vnderstanding, nor any other accident, can be qualiti- 
like. 1701 FARQUHAR Sir H. Wildair \\. i. Wks. (Rtldg.) 
545, I thought something was the matter; I wanted of 
quality-air. 1706 ESTCOURT Fair Examp. \. \. 10 Your 
Quality Lady, when she speaks, tis thus. 1751 SMOLLETT 
Per. Pic. (1779) II. Ixviii. 238 The influence of Peregrine s 
new quality-friends. Ibid. III. Ixxxii. 274 Peregrine found 
some ladies of his quality-acquaintance. 1768 Woman of 
Honor I. 134 She is so stark quality-mad. 1784 R, BACK 
Bar/tarn Downs I. 233 My Lady s passion for quality 
living. 18x9 Metropolis I If. 149 The Cjuality-end of the 
town. 1837 CARLYLE Fr. Rev. II. 11. ii, Young .. men, 
with quality-blood in them, poisoned with quality-pride. 
1891 Field 7 Mar. 334/2 Quite a quality horse is Gratian. 

Hence Qua lityless a., having no quality or 
qualities ; Quality ship, social position (nonce-tvd.). 

1859 MOZLEV Ess., Indian Corners. (1878) II. 313 Brahm 
is a motionless, characterless, qualityless, colourless essence. 
1865 Dublin University Mag. 1.6 He dressed with regard 
to his qualityship. 1893 J. ORR Chr. Virw God $ W. iv. 
146 An absolutely qualityless matter. .is unthinkable. 

Quality, v. rare. Also 6 qualit-. [f. prec.] 
trans, fa. To furnish with a quality or qualities. 
Obs. b. To rate at a certain quality or value. 

X 579 J JONES Present. Bodie fy Soule Ep. Ded. 2 By these 
three they be all qualited. Motion ingendreth, Light 
shapeth and sheweth, Influencedisposeth orqualiteth. 1813 
BATCHELOR Agric.Surv. Bedfordsh. 236 The warren con 
tained 878 acres, much of which was qualified at gs. to los. 
per acre. 

Qualiver, -vre, qualliver, obs. ff. CALIVEB. 

Quall(e, obs. forms of WHALE. 

Quallefy, -ify, obs. forms of QUALIFY. 

f Quallmire = QUAGMIRE (q. v.). Obs. rare - . 

1553 BALE Gardiner s De Vera Obed. B viij b, Who so 
euer..goeth about to fette it [truth] out of mennes puddles 
and quail myres [v.r. qualmires}. 

t Qua*Uy, a&gt; Obs. rare. [Of obscure origin.] 
Of wine : Turbid, cloudy. 

a 1700 B. E. Diet. Cant. Crew, Qually-Wines l Turbulent 
and Foul. 1703 Art $ Myst. Vintners 22 Without good 
Fermentation, they become Qually, (i. e. Cloudy). 

t Qualm, sb^- Obs. Forms: 1-2 cwealm, 
2-3 cwalm, (3 cu-), 2-4 qualm, 3 quelme, 4 
qw, qualme,6 6V.quhalm,qualim. [OE. avta/r/t 
death, slaughter, pestilence, = OS. qualm, OHG. 



QUALM. 

qu-, chiialm (MHG. qualm anguish) ; f. *kwal-, 
ablaut-var. of *kwel- to die : see QUELE, QUELL.] 

1. General or widespread mortality of men or 
animals; plague, pestilence. 

In OE. also used of the (violent) death of a single person. 

r 1000 /Ki.FRic Horn. II. 122 Micel cwealni wear5 ba;.s 
folces. fl id, 192 Cwealni on heora orfe. c 1125 (9. E. Chron. 
(Laud MS.) an. 1125 Hunger & cwealm on men & on erue. 
CI205 LAY. 31877 pe qualm muchele |&gt;e wes on moncunne. 
a 1250 Owl &lt;$ Night. 1 155 Thu bodest cualm of orwe. a 1340 
HAMPOLE Psalter cv. 29 And finees .stode & quemyd & }?e 
qualm left, c 1386 CHAUCER Knt. s T. 1156 A thousand 
slayn and nat oon of qualm ystorue. 
b. Loss or damage. 

? 1*1366 CHAUCER Raui. Rose 357 Ywys, great qualme [F. 
grant morie] ne were it noon, Ne synne, although her lyf 
were gon. 1513 DOUGLAS sEneis x. i. 31 Quhen the fers 
burgh of Cartage To Romys bpumlis . . Ane huge myscheif 
and gret quhalm [rd. 1553 qualim] send sail. 

2. altrib., as qualm-house, -stow. 

c 725 Corpus Gloss. 2 Calvariac locus, cualmstou. c 1000 
J^LFRIC Horn. II. 254 Da cempan hine 5el;eddon to Sasre 
cwealm-stowe. a 1225 Aticr. K. 106 pe munt of Caluarie . . 
was J)e cwalmsteou. Ibid, 140 Iput in one pristine, & bitund 
ase in one cwalm huse. 

t Qualm, sb.- Obs. rare \ [App. imitative ; 
cf. &lt;j. galtn sound, noise.] Croak. 

c 1374 CHAUCER Troylus v. 382 Augurye of thise foweles. . 
As ravenes qualm, or schrychynge of thise owles. 

Qualm (kwam, kwgm), sb? Forms : 6 quam- 
me (?calme), 6-7 qualme, quaurae, qua(i)me, 
7quawme,quaem,6-qualm. [Of obscure origin : 
in form and sense identical with Da. kvalme, 
f kvalm, Sw. qualm, but these are app. not native 
words. Cf. G. (now dial.) qualm (kalni) swoon, 
faint, unconscious state (: MHG. twalm: see 
DWALM sb.), and G. qualm (whence Da. kvalm, 
Sw. qvalni*) vapour, steam, close air. 

OE. cwealm QUALM j/ .l had the sense pain , torment , 
(see quots. in Bosw.-Toller), and some instances of qualm in 
i6-i;th c. use might conceivably mean pain , pang ; but 
historical evidence of connexion is wanting, and the sense 
of sick fit , sickness is possible in all the cases.] 

1. A (sudden) feeling or fit of faintness, illness, 
or sickness. (Now restricted to cases in which 
the seat of the disorder is in the stomach, but 
formerly in somewhat wider use.) 

c 1530 R. COPLAND Jyl of Brentfords Test. 233 With 
qualmes & stytches it doth me torment, That all my body 
is tome and rent. 1563 JEWEL Rcfl. Harding (1611) 52 
If any quanie or sicknesse happen to fall vpon him. 1594 
T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acaii. \\. 139 Such as haue some 

Tiaume about their heart, so that they faint and sowne. 1683 
RYON Way to Health 27 It makes the Stomach sick. .and 
sickish Qualms to arise. 1740 SOMERVILLE Hobbinol HI. 219 
The sickly Qualms That grieve her Soul. 1829 LYTTON 
Devereux n. v, Has the bottle bequeathed thee a qualm or 
a head-ache. 1874 BUKNAND My time xxxii. 326 Breeze 
enough for sailing, . . no qualms to interfere with appetite. 

2. transf. a. A fit of sickening fear, misgiving, 
or depression ; a sudden sinking or faintness of 
heart. Now rare. 

" 1555 RIDLEY in Foxe A. $ M. in. (1596) 446 The weake 
manne of God., will have now and then such thoughtes and 
quaumes (as they call them) to runne ouer his hart. 1624 
La KEEPER WILLIAMS in Fortesc. Papers (Camden) 203 
Acertayne qualme came over his stomacke to be ofajudge 
noe Judge. 17x2 ARBUTHNOT John Bull in. iii, Many a 
doubt, many a qualm, overspread his clouded imagination. 
1792 MARY WOLLSTONECR. Rig/its Worn. v. 236, [IJ soon 
heard, with the sickly qualm of disappointed hope. .that she 
was no more. 1861 Sat. Re- . 21 Dec. 636 Apt to leave 
qualms and misgivings on the sensitive . . temperament. 

b. A strong scruple of conscience ; a painful 
doubt or consciousness of acting wrongly. 

1649 MILTON Eikon. xxviii. 240 Unedified consciences apt 
to engage their Leaders in great affaires and then, upon 
a sudden qualm and swimming of their conscience, betray 
them. 1687 T. BROWN Saints in Uproar Wks. 1730 I. 77 
So strangely troubled with qualms of conscience. 1749 
FIELDING Tout Jones vi. xiii, It was absurd . . to affect any 
qualms about this trifle. 1806 JEFFERSON Writ. (1830) IV. 
55 One qualm of principle . . I do feel. 1863 KINGLAKE 
Crimea (1877) II. xiv. 241 It was natural that some of the 
members of the Government should have qualms. 

C. A fit or sudden access of some quality, prin 
ciple, etc. (Now only with suggestion of prec.) 

a 1626 BP. ANDRF.WES Serin., Repent, ff Fasting (1661) 170, 
I doubt ours hath been rather a flash, a qualme, a brunt 
than otherwise. 1655 FULLER C/i. Hist. in. v. 55 Although 
this qualm of Loyalty took this Church for the present. 
1655 JER. TAYLOR Guide Depot. (1719) 125 If the Fit or 
Qualm of my Devotion holds out longer. 1820 W. IRVING 
Sketch Bk. II. 282 Immediately after one of these fits of 
extravagance, he will be taken with violent qualms of 
economy. 1873 BROWNING Red Cott. Nt.-cap 269 Had he 
a devotion-fit? Clara grew serious with like qualm. 

3. Comb., as qualm-sick adj. 

1718 Entertainer No. 30. 202 [They] grew qualm-sick at 
the Common Prayer. 1758 Mickmakis Q- Marichects 55 She 
. ; blows the smoak towards his nostrils, even sometimes so 
violently, as to make him qualm-sick. 1880 BURTON Queen 
Anne II. xi. 189 Qualm-sick stomachs of., self-conceited 
hypocrites. 

t Qualm, sb* Obs. rare- 1 , [var. of W AIM, 
perh. after G. qualm steam.] The act of boiling. 

599 A. M. tr. Gabelhouers Bk. Physickc 4/1 Let it seeth 
on the fyer one qualme or two. 

Qualm, v.l [Connected with QUALM sb. A Cf. 
Da. kvalme to have a qualm, and G. (now dial.) 
qualnien (kalmeii) to swoon, be unconscious.] 



19 

f 1. inlr. To have a qualm or qualms. (Cf. 
QUALM ING vbl. sb. and///, a.) Obs. 

1565 COOPER Thesaurus, Dcficere, I faynte, sounde, or 
qualme for heate. 1603 FLORIO tr. Sfoitttugnt III. xiii. 
(1897) VI. 253 My stomacke begins to qualme, my head 
feeleth a violent aking. 

2. a. trans. To make sick. b. absol. To induce 
qualms, rare. 

1611 BEAUM. & FL, Scorrtful Lady iv. i, How I grew 
qualm d in love. 1713 Gentleman Instructed in. viii. 434 
Envy qualms on his Bowels, Prodigality on his Purse. 1884 
G. H. BOUGHTON in Harper s Mag. Oct. 701/1 If one is . . 
qualmed by the show of. . confectionery. 

t Qualm, v:* Obs. rare- 1 , [var. of WALM, 

pcrh. after G. qualmen to steam.] To boil. 

1599 A. M. tr. Gal dlwuer s Bk. Physicke 8/2 Take thre 
quartes of Lye. .and let it qualme a little on the fyer. 

Qua lniiness. [f. QUALMY + -NESS.] The 
condition of being qualmy ; nausea. 

1778 J. ADAMS Diary 19 Feb., Wks. 1851 III. 98 The 
smell of the ship, .or any other offensive smell will increase 
the qualminess. 1884 Miss DILLWYN Jill II. xi. 181 The 
swell made my qualminess increase. 

t Qua lming, rhl. sb. Obs. rare. [f. QUALM 
f. 1 ] The fact of having a qualm or qualms. 

1565 COOPER Th -saitnis, Dcfectio, .. the quaulmyng or 
sownyng of women after conception. 1596 BAHKOUGH Meth. 
Physick 450 It taketh away qwalining and ouercasting of 
the hart. 

t Qua-lining, ///. a. Obs. [f. as prec.] a. 
That has a qualm or qualms, b. Of the nature of 
a fit or sudden access (cf. QUALM sb. l 2 cX 

1576 FLEMING tr. Cains Dogs in Arb. Garner III. 267 To 
succour and strengthen quailing and qualming stomachs. 
*35 QUAKLES Kmbl. v. ii. 36 Let lesses sov raigne Flow r 
perfume my qualming brcst. 1643 MILTON Divorce Introd. 
(1851) 6 Till they get a little cordial sobriety to settle their 
qualming zeal. 

Qualmire : see QUALLJIIRE. 
Qualmish (kwa-mij, kwg-mij), a. [f. QUALM 
sb.* + -ISH .] 

1. Of persons : Affected with a qualm or qualms ; 
tending, or liable, to be so affected. 

1548 UDALI. F.rastn. Par. Luke Pref. 3 Our soule is 
qualmishe ouer this meate. 1599 SHAKS. Hen. V, v. i. 22, 
I am qualmish at the smell of Leeke. 1670 DKYDKN Tyrnn. 
Love iv. i. Qualmish and loathing all you had before : VL-I 
with a sickly Appetite to more. 1748 SMOLLETT Rod. 
Ram/. Ixix, My dear angel has been qualmish of late. 1816 
SCOTT Fanl. Lett. 25 Dec. (1894) I. xii. 388 The. .dog arrived 
.. a little lean and qualmish however after his sea voyage. 
1860 MOTLEY Nctlurl. (1868) I. viii. 521 Elizabeth was not 
desirous of peace., she was qualmish at the very suggestion. 

2. Of feelings, etc. : Of the nature of a qualm. 
1798 Sporting Mag. XII. 195, I began to feel some very 

qualmish symptoms, 1860 T. MARTIN Horace 217 Our 
qualmish sickness drown In Caecuban divine ! 

3. Of things : Apt to produce qualms, rare. 
1826 DISRAELI l~h&gt;. Grey\\. i, It is like a qualmish liqueur 

in the midst of a bottle of wine. 

Hence Qua lmislily aJv. ; Qualmishness. 

a 1650 MAY Satir. Puppy (1657) 105 She would be as 
leacherous as the Mountaine-Goate, had not Natures 
qualmishnesse proved a strong contradiction to her desire. 
1844 ALII. SMITH Adv. Mr. Ledbury ii. (1886) 8 On approach 
ing the Foreland the first sensations of qualmishness became 
apparent. 1845 W. CORY Lett, ff Jrnls. (1897) 32 Think 
ing about it keenly and qualmishly. 

Qualmy (kwa-mi, kw9 mi), a. Also 6 quamie. 
[f. QUALM s6.s + -Y.] = QUALMISH. 

1562 LEIGH Armorie (1597) 129 Neyther abounding in hole 
desire, neither oppressed with quamie colde. 1600 S. 
NICHOLSON Acolastus (1876) 38 Astonish! in a qualmy 
traunce. 1846 LANDOR Exam. Shaks. Wks. II. 274, I my 
self did feel queerish and qualmy. 1884 Miss DILLWYN Jill 
II. xi. 178 The mere smell of it makes one feel qualmy. 

Hence Qua Imyish c;.. somewhat qualmy. 

1831 Blaclni . Mag. XXX. 975 With a queerish and 
qualmyish feeling. 

II Qnaltagh. (kwa-ltax). [Manx, also written 
quaaltagh, f. qttaail (= Ir. and Gael, comhdhail) 
meeting.] The first person one meets after leav 
ing home on some special occasion ; also, the 
first person entering a house on New Year s Day, 
the first-foot. 

1891 MOORE Folk-lore Isle of Man 103 It was considered 
fortunate if the tjjtaltagh were a person .. of dark com 
plexion. 1894 HALL CAINE Manxman 59, 1 should be first 
foot here, only I m no use as a qualtagh. 

Quam, obs. form of WHOM. 

Quamash (kwamse J, kwo mseJX See also 
CAMAS. [N. American Indian.] A North Ameri 
can liliaceous plant (Camassia esculent^), the bulbs 
of which are used for food by the American 
Indians. Eastern quamash (see quot. 1868). 

1814 Lewis ft Clarke s Exp. (1893) 958 The Chopunnish 
are now dispersed in villages, .for the purpose of collecting 
quamash. 1868 Rep. U. .V. Commissioner Agric. (1869) 452 
The plant [Camus] is otherwise known as the eastern 
quamash, or wild hyacinth, and in botanical nomenclature is 
Scilla Fraseri. 1882 Gardtn 13 May 323/3 The white 
Camassia.. [is] not nearly so showy as the blue Quamash. 

Quame, var. of QUEME, v. ; obs. f. QUALM sb. 

tQuamire. Obs. Also 6 -myre, -rnier, 8 
dia whamire. [?var. of quail- or quavemit i". 
see QUAGMIRE, and cf. Sc. quaia-mlre s.v. QUAW.] 
A quagmire, bog. Alsoy?^. 

I55S EUEN Decades 99 Muddy marysshes full of suche 
quamyres that men are oftentymes swalowed vp in them. 



QUANT. 

573 Tt-ssER Hush (1878) 75 For qu.tmicr pet bootes. 1587 
GOLDING DC Mornay in. 32 If we wil get out of the Quamyre 
of our sinnes. Ibid. xix. 302 Orpheus . . as for the wicked 
..burieth them in a quamire. 1703 THORI:SHV Let. to Ray 
27 Apr. (E. D. SJ, Wkamire, a quagmire. 

Quamoclit (kw;e-rm&gt;klit). [Corruption of 
Mexican qnamo chitl {//i = t|\ f. qua-, comb, form 
of qziaiutl tree. + -mochitl, of unknown meaning. 

The erroneous form quamoclit, found as early as 1689 in 
Tournefort s Sc/tola Botanica^ is the basis of imaginary 
etymologies from Greek and Sanskrit.] 

A sub-genus of climbing plants with brilliant 
flowers found in the tropical parts of America 
and Asia, belonging to the genus Ipoincca. (For 
merly regarded as a distinct genus.) 

1731 MILLKR Card. Diet, s.v., Quamoclit with very fine, 
cut, winged Leaves, .. called in Harbudoes S\veet-\Villiam. 
1753 CHAMBHRS Cycl. .V////., The species of quamoclit, 
enumerated by Mr. Tournefurt, are these [etc.]. Ihiii., 
Quamoclit differs from bindweed, or convolvulus, in the 
shape of the flower. 1755 Gcntl. Mag. XXV. 408 As to 
specimens I sent you of the bastard quamoclil [printed 
quarnoclifj. 1841 Penny Cycl. XIX. 193/1 Quamoclit .. 
vul^aris is common in every part of India. 1892 BENTHAM 
^ HOOKER Brit. Flora (ed. 6) 305 The exotic genus Ipomo:a, 
including Pharbitis and Quamoclit. .supplies some of our 
most beautiful greenhouse and hothouse climbers. 

Quan, obs. form of GUAX, WHKN. 

Quandary (kwymle&gt;ri, kwo-mlari), sb. Also 
6 quandare, -arye, 6-7 -arie, 8-9 quondary. 
[Of unknown origin ; in common use from c 1580. 

Possibly a corruption of some term of scholastic Latin. 
The suggestions that it is ad.F. &lt;///&lt; dirai-je what shall 
I say of it? that it represents MR ii&lt;and&gt;-cth, or is an 
abbrev. of hypodwiidry, are (apart from other considera 
tions) condemned by the fact that the original stressing is 
quandary. Recent diets, favour qiia niiary, given by John 
son (who calls it a low word ) and Webster, but not accepted 
by Sheridan, Walker, or Smart.] 

A state of extreme perplexity or uncertainty ; 
a dilemma causing (great) mental agitation or dis 
tress ; fa ticklish plight. Freq. in phr. in a 
(ffreat, sad, etc.) quandary. 

1579 LYLY EvpJnies (Arb.) 45 Kuphues.. departed, leaving 
this olde gentleman in a great quandarie. 1582 STANV- 
iit-Rsr Mncis iv. (Arb.* 94 The Queene in meane while 
with carks quandare deepe angujsht [etc.]. 1611 UKAUM. & 
FL. Knt. Burn. Pestle i. i, Much I fear, forsaking of my 
diet, Will bring me presently to that quandary, I shall bid 
all adieu. 1652 C. B. STAPVI.TON Ifcrodian xvi. 135 The 
Nobles, Gentry, Souldiers in quandaries ., To Turret tops 
he fetches more Vagaries, a 1720 Sui-jrKiKLD (Dk. l!uckhm.) 
U ks. (1729) 201 Apollo now driv n to a cursed Quandary 
was wishing for Swift, or for fam d Lady Mary. 1751 
SMOLI.KTT Per. Pic. (1779) I. ii. 9 Thof he be sometimes 
thrown into perilous passions and quandaries. 1847 Dis- 
RAKI.I Tailored IT. iv, All his quandaries terminated in the 
same catastrophe ; acompromise. 1875 JOWKTI /Va//;{ed. 2) 
I. 229 Now I was in a great quandary at having to answer 
this question. 

t Quandary, v, Ohs. rare. [f. prec.] a. trans. 
To perplex, put in a quandary, b. ; /;-. To be 
in a quandary. 

1616 T. ADAMS Saul s Sic&rtcss Wks. i86r I. 505 He quan 
daries, whether to goe forward to God, or, with Demas, to 
turne backe to the world. 1681 OTWAV .Vo/^/cr i Fort. in. i, 
Methinks I am quandary d like one coing with a Party to 
discover the Enemy s Camp, but had lost his Guide upon 
the Mountains, 

Quandong (kwae-ndc ij, kw9 - n-). Also quan- 
dang, -dung, quon(g)dong, quantong. [Ab 
original Australian.] a. An Australian tree of 
the sandal-wood order (Fitsattus acuminatits or 
Santalum acuminattint], or its edible drupaceous 
fruit, which is of a blue colour and about the size 
of a cherry; also called native peach-tree], b. 
A large Australian scrub-tree (Elcotarfiis grandis), 
or its fruit. Also attrib., as qiiandong-nut , -tree. 

1839 T. L, MITCHELL 3 F..\-pcd. 135 (Morris) In all these 
scrubs on the Murray the Fusamts acuminatits is common, 
and produces the quandang nut. 1850 CLCTTKRBUCK Port 
Phillip II. 30 The indigenous Quandang. . is the only really 
palatable fruit that grows in the wilds of Port Phillip. 1857 
W. HOWITT Tallangetta I. 41 (Morris) Abundance of fig ,. 
trees, cherries, loquots, quondongs. 1859 H. KINGSLEY G. 
Hamlyn xxx. (1894) 279 Such quantongs, such raspberries, 
surpassing imagination. 1887 FARRELL Ho-v he Died 20 
Where barren fig-tree and. .quandong Bloom on lone roads. 

Quann(e, obs. forms of \\ HEN. 

Quannet (kwo-net). Also quonet. [Of ob 
scure origin.] A flat file set in a frame, and used 
as a plane in filing flat surfaces, as in comb-making. 

1842 WHITTOCK Complete Book of Trades 225 The comb- 
makers use a tool.. called a quonet, having coarse single 
teeth, to the number of about seven or eight to an inch. 
1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mech. 1842/1 Qnannct. 

Quanon, variant of KANOON. 

Quant (kwaent, kwont), sb. Also 5 quanta, 
(qv-), whaute, 9 quont. [? ad. L. contus (Gr. 
KOVTOS} boat-pole. Current in E. Anglia and Kent 
(in the latter also a young oak -sapling, a walk 
ing-stick ) : the northern equivalent is KENT j.i] 
A pole for propelling a boat, esp. one with a flat 
cap to prevent it sinking in the mud, used by barge 
men on the east coast. 

11440 Promp. Parv. 418/2 Quante, or sprete, rodde.., 
contus. Ibid. 523/2 Whante, or qvante. 1687 SHADWELL 
ywcnat 38 Contus signifies a Quant or Sprett, with which 
they shove Boats. 1847-78 in HALLIWELL. 1883 G. C. 



QUANT. 

DAVIES Norfolk Broads iv. 25 When the wind fails, the 
men betake themselves to the quant , which is a long 
slender pole with a knob at one end and a spike and 
shoulder at the other. 1893 DOUGHTY Wherry in Wenti. 
LanJs 167 To get all sail off her, and undertake a tough 
job with the quants. 

Quant ^kwsent, kwgnt), v. [f. prec.] a. trans. 
To propel (a boat} with a quant. Also absol. 
b. intr. Of a boat : To be propelled with a quant. 

1865 [implied in QUANTING vbl. sb.\ 1883 G. C. DAVIES 
Norfolk Broads v. 37 The water was too deep for us to 
quant our punt. 1887 W. RYE Norfolk Broads p. ii, Great 
disinclinations to quant or scull. 1893 Toynbec Kec. 90 
Now her stern, now a broadside, is toward us. .as she quants 
against the breeze. 

Hence Qua nting- vbl. st&gt;. (also attrib.} 

1865 W. WHITE East. Eng, I. 84 Wherry men, to whom 
the operation of quanting is very familiar. 1883 G. C. 
DAVIES Norfolk Broads x. 77 There may be a quanting- 
match. 1887 W. RYE Norfolk Broads 39 We and the 
wherry, by dint of very hard quanting, managed . . to get as 
far as the ruins. 

i Qua utal, a. Obs. rare 1 , [f. as next + 
-AL.T = ALIQUANT. 

111696 SCARBURGH Euclid (1705) 177 A Quantal part 
measures not the whole: but repeated is either less or 
greater than it. 

t Qualitative, a. Obs. rare. [For quantita 
tive, as if f. L. quant-its + -ATIVE : cf. QUANTI 
TIVE. (But perh. a misprint in both quots.)] 
= QUANTITATIVE. 

1644 DIGBY Nat. Bodies iii. 30 In compounding and 
diuidmg of bodies according to quantatiue [1669 quantl- 
tivej paries. 1661 GLANVILL Van.Dogin. 29 Motion cannot 
be received but by qualitative dimension. 

Quautic (kwo ntik). Math. [f. L. quant-its 
how much + -ic.J A rational, integral, homo 
geneous function of two or more variables. 

A quantic according to its dimensions is a quadric, cubic, 
t|uartic, etc. according as it is of the and, 3rd, 4th, etc. degree ; 
and is binary, ternary, quaternary, etc. according as it has 
two, three, four, etc. variables. 

1854 A. CAYLEY Wks. (1887) II. 224 We may instead of a 
single quantic consider two or more quantics. 1881 BURN- 
SIDE & PANTON Th. Eqttat. Introd. p. 4 A polynomial is 
sometimes called a quantic. 1896 E. B. ELLIOTT (title) An 
Introduction to the Algebra of Quantics. 

Hence Qua utical a., relating to quantics. 

Quantifiable (kwo-ntifalab n, a. [f. QUAN 
TIFY v. + -ABLE.] That may be conceived or 
treated as a quantity ; that may be measured with 
regard to quantity. 

1883 A. BARRATT Phys. Mctcmpiric p. xxv, Those mutual 
relations of conscious centres which are measurable and 
quantifiable. 1893 Atkenxuin 11 Nov. 667/2 It is the latter 
kind only [of feeling] which is immediately and necessarily 
quantifiable 

Quantification (lewo-ntifik^-Jaii). [f. QUAN 
TIFY -v. : see -FICATION.] The action of quantifying. 

Quantification of the predicate: the expression of the 
logical quantity of the predicate of a proposition, by apply 
ing to the predicate the sign all, or some, or an equivalent ; 
a device introduced chiefly by Sir W. Hamilton, and in 
tended to simplify logical processes. 

-1840 SIR W. HAMILTON Logic (1866) II. 297 Because the 
universal quantification of the predicate is, in this instance, 
materially false, is such quantification, therefore, always 
formally illegal? 1864 BOWKS Logic vii. 181 It is enough 
that the quantifications of the Middle Term in both Premises, 
added together, should exceed unity. 1882 PIAZZI SMITH 
in Mature XXVI. 552 All that we require for the. .quanti 
fication of watery vapour. 

Quantified, ppl. a. ff. next + -ED l.J Pos 
sessing or endowed with quantity; measured or 
determined with respect to quantity. 

1589 R. BRUCE Strut. (1843) 87 To make it, at ane time.. . 
a bodie and not a bodie, quantified and not quantified 
c 1840 SIR W. HAMILTON Logic App. (1866) II. 259 The real 
terms compared in the Convertend. .are not the naked but 
the quantified. 1847 LEWES Hist. Philos. (1867) II. 481 
The discovery of precise quantities proves the objectivity of 
something quantified. 1870 JEVONS Logic 186 Immediate 
inference by added determinant.. can also be applied.. to 
quantified propositions. 

Quantify (kwg-nti&i), v. [ad. med.L. quanti- 
ficare (Du Cange), f. yuant-us how great: see 
QUANTITY and -FT.] 

1. Logic. To make explicit the extent to which a 
term is referred to in a proposition, by prefixing 
all or some or an equivalent word to the term. 

1:1840 SIR W. HAMILTON Logic App. (1866) II. 261 Ordinary 
language quantifies the Predicate so often as this determina 
tion becomes of the smallest import. Ibid. 272 Let us 
overtly quantify the subject . . and say, A II men are animals. 
1864 liowEN Logic v. 127 They further maintain, that the 
t-redicate is never quantified particularly in a Negative 
Judgment. 1887 [see INDEFINITE a. 4]. 

2. To determine the quantity of, to measure. 
1878 LOCKYER Stargazing 152 The magnification .. of 

space, which enables minute portions of it to be most 
accurately quantified. 1881 PIAZZI SMITH in Nature XXVI. 
5 ,?, A. raete rol g cal spectroscope . . may also . . be able to 
quantity, .the proportions of such aerial supply of water-gas 
Hence Quantifying^)/, a 

ci*ar?7 h kW f HAM "- TON Let - !". A - d* Morgan 43 Logi- 
~,-^; ^ ^\ C v r ^., rret * t" 6 quantifying predesignations pin- 
ruin, an I the like, to the most opposite heads 

Quantitative kwo-mit.tiv), . and A fad 
rned.L. quantitiitivus : see QUANTITY and -IVK 
U. K jitanMatif(i 5 S6 in Godef. Compl.) ] 



20 

A. 1. Possessing quantity, magnitude, or spatial 
extent. Now rare. 

1581 MARBECK Bk. of Notes 4 (Angels occupy] no 
bodilie place, no several! nor quantitative place. 1634 
JACKSON Creed vn. xxvi. j 5 The world in the original doth 
not signify this visible or quantitative world. 1697 J. SER 
GEANT Solid Phihs. 22 The Body, only which (and not the 
Soul) is Quantitative. 1847 LEWES Hist. Philos. (1867) II. 
481 The fact that we discover quantitative space and time. 

2. That is, or may be, considered with respect to 
the quantity or quantities involved ; estimated or 
estimable by quantity. 

1656 Artif. Handsom. 44 This Quantitative Adultery, 
which . . makes far more grosse alterations, & substantial] 
changes of nature. 1661 GLANVILL Van. Dogm. 221 The 
colour of mens eyes is various, nor is there less diversity in 
their quantitative proportions. 1841 GROVE Corr. P/iys. 
For. (ed. 6) 142 An invariable quantitative relation to each 
other. 1858 J. MARTINEAU Stud. Chr. 160 Not as its 
quantitative equal .. but as a moral equivalent. 1879 
FARRAR St. Paul (1883) 43 The enormous error that man . . 
can win by quantitative goodness his entrance into the 
Kingdom of God. 

3. Relating to, concerned with, quantity or its 
measurement ; ascertaining or expressing quantity. 

1668 WILKINS KcalCtiar. in. vii. 325 Relative and Quanti 
tative Pronouns. 1830 HERSCHEL Stud. Xat. rhil. 123 It 
is a character of all the higher laws of nature to assume the 
form of precise quantitative statement. 1849 D. CAMPBELL 
Iiiorg. Client. Pref. 4 Tables for assisting in the calculations 
of quantitative analysis. 1882 FARRAR Early Chr. I. 125 
The quantitative conceptions of Jewish formalism. 

4. Pertaining to, based on, vowel-quantity. 

1799 Monthly Rci . XXIX. 49 The quantitative accent, 
as it may be called, follows the analogy of the Latin. 1871 
LOWI-:LL Study It ind. (1886) 241 The best quantitative 
verses in our language are to be found in Mother Goose. 

B. s/i. f a. A sign that indicates quantity. Obs. 
b. That which possesses or involves quantity. 

1668 WILKINS Real Char. in. ii. 305 Of all which [pro- 
nouns] it is to be observed, that they are in some kind or 
other, Quantitatives. 1846 SABINK tr. Huinboldt s Cosmos 
(1847) I. 179 An effort .. to investigate the quantitative in 
the laws of one of the great phenomena of nature. 

Quantitatively, adv. ff. prec. + -LY-.] 
In a quantitative manner ; in respect of quantity. 

1593 R. HARVEY Philad. 21 He and his surveyed it quan 
titatively. 1624 GATAKER Transul St. 115 With quantitie, 
but not quantitatively. 1644 DIGUV Of Man s Soul x. 423 
One pure simple substance, peraduenture Metaphysically, 
or formally diuisible ; . . but not quantitatiuely, 1845 G. E. 
DAY tr. Sit/ion s Anitn. Chein. I. 347 The magnesia and 
silica were not determined quantitatively. 1870 ROLLESTON 
Aniin. Life Introd. 49 The brain holds a more favorable 
relation quantitatively to the body and to the spinal cord. 

So Qua ntitativeuess, the quality or condition 
of being quantitative. 

1858 H. STKNCER Ess. I. 225 The more specific character 
istic of scientific previsions .. their quantitativeness. 1873 
Stud. Social. (1882) 45 Where they are quantitative, their 
quantitativeness. -is mostly very indefinite. 

t Qua iititiecl, a. Obs. [f. QUANTITY + -ED 2 .] 
Endowed with quantity or spatial magnitude. 

1605 SYLVESTER Du Bartas it. iii. i. Abraliam 1115 
Alwaies in some place are Angels .. selfly limited, And 
joyn d to place, yet not as quantiti d. 

Quantitive tkwg-ntitiv), a. ff. QUANTITY + 
-IVK : cf. qua/Hive.] = QUANTITATIVE. 

1656 STANLEY Hist. Philos. v. (1701) 159/2 Neither equal, 
nor certain, nor quantitive, nor qualitative. 1669 [see 
QUANTATIVE]. 1827 G. S. FABER E.tfiat. Sacrif. 148 By 
what intelligible process can we estimate the quantitive 
proportions of two dissimilar oblations? 1882-3 SCHAFF 
Encycl. Relig. Kmnvl. II. 1553 He can make no other dis 
tinction between them . . than a quantitive one. 

Hence Qua-ntitively ailv. = QUANTITATIVELY. 

1827 G.^S. FABER Expiat. Sacrif. 149 The only mode, .in 
which things dissimilar can be quantitively compared. 1871 
B. STEWART Heat^ 402 To estimate either temperature 
or hardness quantitively. 

Quantity (kwg-ntiti). Forms : 4-6 quan- 
tite, -yte, (4 -itee, -ytee, 5 whantite), 6 quaun- 
tit, 6-7 quantitie, (6 -etie), 6- quantity, [a. 
OF. quantitl, ad. L. quantitas, -atem, f. quant-us 
how much, how great : see -ITY.] 

I. 1. Size, magnitude, dimensions. In widest 
sense implying magnitude in three dimensions, but 
sometimes contextually limited to (a) thickness or 
stoutness, (6) extent of surface, area, (c) linear 
extension, length, height. Obs. exc. Math. 

1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) I. 49 Asia is most in quantite, 
Europa is lasse. c 1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) xxi. 96 pare er 
o)&gt;er also of less quantitee, as it ware of be mykill of a 
mannes thee. 1426 LYDG. DC Guil. Pilgr. 5845 Sawh thow 
euere . . Off manhys herte the quantyte ! 1470-85 MALORY 
Arthur v. viii, A grete gyaunt . . whiche was a man of an 
huge quantyte and heyghte. 1378 LVTE Dodoens I. Ixix. 
102 The roote is long, of the quantite of one s fingar. Ibid. 
Ii. v. 153 White huskes . . of the quantitie of a sroote, or 



the just Quantity or Content of any Piece of Ground. 1682 
R. BURTON Admir. Curios. (1684) 30 Diamonds are found 
in many places,, .their quantity is from a Pease to a Walnut. 
1830 KATER & LARDNER Mcch. i. 4 The quantity of a surface 
is called its area ; and the quantity of a line .. its length. 

tb. A dimension. Obs. rare- 1 . 
1590 STOCKWOOD Rules Constr. 48 Whether the word of 
measure do signifie the depth, height, length, thicknes, or 
any such quantitie of a thing. 

t c. An amount equal to the volume of. Obs. 



QUANTITY. 

1610 U. JONSON Alch. ii. i, Taking. .on a knife s point, 
The quantity of a grain of mustard. 1694 SALMON Bales 
Dispens. (1713) 151/1 Of this Balsam .. the Patient may 
take the Quantity of a pretty large Chestnut. 

2. Amount, sum. a. Of material things not subject 
to,ornot usuallyestimated by, spatial measurement. 

&lt; 1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) xxxi. 142 Of f&gt;aim ^ai gader 
boumbe in grete quantitee. 1533 ELYOT Cast. Ifelthe (1539) 
363, Ale and here . . do ingender more grosse vapours, and 
corrupt humors, than wine doth, beinge drunke in lyke 
excesse of quantitie. 1683 TRYON Way to Health (1697) 
205 Of the Quantity of Children s Food. 1769 De Foe s 
TottrGt. Brit, (ed. 7) II. 64 Fern, which formerly grew in 
great Quantity there. 1849 NOAD Electricity 188 The 
quantity of the Electric current bears a relation to the size 
of the plates. 

b. Of immaterial things. 

CI37S Sc. Leg. Saints x. (Matthew} 576 Nothire for J&gt;e 
ennormyte of pe syne, na fe quantyte. c 1400 tr. Secreta 
Secret,, Gov. Lordsh. 106 Chese a sotell man . . to shewe J&gt;e 
quantyte of by hynes. 1432 Rolls of Partt. IV. 403/1 
There should no man ben amerced bote after the quantite 
of his trespas. c 1485 Digly Myst. iv. 621 After the whautite 
of sorofull remembrance. 1611 SHAKS. Cymb. iv. ii. 17, 
I lone thee. . How much the quantity, the waight as much, As 
I do loue my Father. 1647 N. BACON Disc. Gm t. Eng. \. liii. 
( J 73g)94 Fine and Pledges shall be according to the quantity 
of the offence. 1780 BENTHAM Princ. Legist, xvij. 15 
Any punishment is subservient to reformation in proportion 
to its quantity. 1827 POLLOK Course T. vm, He prayed by 
quantity. 

t c. Of money, payment, etc. Obs. 

1460 FORTESCUE Abs. $ Lim. Mon, vi. (1885) 121 The 
iiij th or the v th parte of the quantite of his expenses. 1528 
Gahvay Arch, in iof/1 Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm, App. v. 403 
That some or quauntit of such monye as they playe for. 
a 1548 HALL Chron,, Edw. IV 223 b. The fees of canonizyng 
of a kyng, wer of so great a quantitie at Rome [etc.]. 1600 
HAMILTON in Cath. Tract. (S. T. S.) 219 The qualitie and 
quantitie of the oblation. 1714 FOKTESCUE-ALAND Pref. 
Fortfscne s Abs. &lt;$ Lim. Mon. 48 The Lord was to forfeit 
3aj. which was then near as much in Quantity as 5/. now. 
1775 JOHNSON Tax. no Tyr. 15 The quantity of this payment 
t d. Number, numbers. ^Cf. 9.) Obs. rare. 

1456 SIR G. HAVE Law Anns (S. T. S.) 10 The cristin 
men., war all persewit and put to dede in grete quantitee. 
1581 N. BURNE in Cath. Tract. (S. T. S.) 135 To mak 
Chalices of gold and siluer in mair quantitie and abound* 
ance nor befoir. 

3. Length or duration in time. Now only in the 
legal phrase Quantity of estate, the length of time 
during which the right of enjoyment of an estate 
is to continue. 

f 1391 CHAUCER AstroL \\. 7 Reknc thanne the quantite 
of tyme in the bordure by-twixe bothe prikkes. I bid. 9 
To knowe the quantite of the day vulgare. 1588 A. KING 
tr. Canisius G vij, According to the quantitie of the yere, 
obserueit in that age to contene 304 dayes. 1818 CRUISE 
Digest (ed. 2) II. 354 The alteration in the particular estate 
. .must amount to an alteration in its quantity. 1841 Penny 
Cycl. XIX. 46/1 Where the word Estate is used in its 
technical sen?&gt;e, it . . [means] the quantity and quality of 
enjoyment of the thing. 

b. Pros, Length or shortness of sounds or syl 
lables, determined by the time required to pro 
nounce them. Chiefly used with reference to* 
Greek and Latin verse, in which the metres are 
based on quantity. False quantity : see FALSE a. 2. 

1563-7 BUCHANAN Reform. St. Andros Wks. (1892) 9 Thys 
classe sal reid. .sum buik of Guide, and the quantiteis of 
syllabes. 1586 W. WEBBE Eng. Poetrie (Arb.) 69 As for the 
quantity of our wordes, therein lyeth great difficultye. 
a 1637 B. JONSON Eng. Gram, iii, All our vowels are . . In 
quantity (which is time) long or short. 1727-41 CHAMBERS 
Cycl. s.v., The quantity of the syllables is but little fixed in 
the modern tongues. 1774 \YARTON Hist. Eng. Poetry 
(1840) I. Diss. ii. 108 King Chilperic.. wrote two books of 
Latin verses . . without any idea of the common quantities. 
1859 THACKERAY Virgin, v, George knew much more Latin 
..than his master, and caught him in perpetual .. false 
quantities. 1887 RUSKIN Prseterita II. 275 A rightly bred 
scholar who knew his grammar and his quantities. 
C. Alus. Length or duration of notes. 

1597 MORLLV Introd. Mus. 9 The quantitie of euery note 
and rest in the song. 1674 PLAYFORD Skill MKS. i. vii. 24 
Measure in this Science is a Quantity of the length and 
shortness of Time. 1811 BUSBY Diet. Mns. s.v., Quantity, 
in music, .does not signify the number of notes, or syllables, 
but their relative duration. 

4. In the most abstract sense, esp. as the subject 
of mathematics : That property of things which is 
involved in the questions how great ? or * how 
much ? and is determinable, or regarded as being 
so, by measurement of some kind. 

In this sense continuous and discrete quantity are dis 
tinguished: see DISCRETE 2. Quantity 1 is the second of 
the ten Aristotelian categories. 

1530 PALSGR. Introd. 144 Some [adverbs] betoken quantite. 
1570, 1687, etc. [see DISCRETE]. 1690 LOCKK Hum. Und. 
iv. iii. (1695) 314 The Ideas of Quantity are not those alone 
that are capable of Demonstration and Knowledge. 1756 
BURKE^";^/. 3- B. ni.ii, All proportions, every arrangement of 
quantity, is alike to the understanding. 1797 Encycl. Brit. 
(ed. 3) XV. 741/1 Mathematics is.. employed in discovering 
and stating many relations of quantity. 1864 Bow EN Logic 
vii. 185 Mathematics is the science of pure quantity. 

5. Logic, a. The extension or intension of a term, 
distinguished as extensive and intensive quantity 
(see the adjs.). b. The degree of extension which 
a proposition gives to the term forming its subject, 
and according to which it is said to be universal^ 
particular, singular, and indefinite or indetermi 
nate (see these words). 



QUANTITY. 

1668 WILKINS Real Char. MI. i. 306 Another, A certain 
one, Some one, are for their Quantities, Singulars or Par 
ticulars indeterminate. 1697 tr. Burgersdicins Logic i. 
xxix. 115 In Respect to Quantity, an Enunciation i?, divided 
into Universal, Particular, Indefinite, and Singular. 1725 
WATTS Logic (17261 160 Both particular and universal Pro 
positions which agree in Quality but not in Quantity arc 
call d Subaltern. 1836-8 [see INTENSION 5, EXTENSIVE 5]. 
1843 MILL Logic I. n. ii. i According to what are called the 
quantity and quality of propositions. 1864 BOWEN Logic 
v. 120 We may inquire concerning the number of objects 
about which we judge, and thus determine the Quantity, 
or Extension, of the Judgment. [See also EXTENSION 8 b.) 

f 6. Relative or proportional size or amount, 
proportion. Ohs. rare. 

1551 RECORDE Cast. Know!. (1556) 146 Euery darke body 
giueth shadowe accordinge to the quantitie that it beareth 
to that shyning body, which giueth the light. 1602 SHAKS. 
Hani. in. ii. 177 For womens Feare and Loue, holds 
quantitie. In neither ought, or in extremity : .. And as my 
Loue is siz d, my Feare is so. 

7. Great or considerable amount or bulk. 

1753 HOGARTH Anal. Beauty vi. 29 Windsor castle is 
a noble instance of the effect of quantity. 1877 RAYMOND 
Statist. Mines fy Mining 175 Only the smelting-ores have 
been extracted in quantity. 

II. 8. A (specified) portion or amount of 
an article or commodity. Also transf. of imma 
terial things. (Cf. 2 above.) 

c 1325 Poem times Ediv. //(Percy) xlii, Give the goodman 
to drink A gode quantite. c 1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) viii. 31 
Of J&gt;is liquour J&gt;ai giffe a lytill quantitee til pilgrimes. 1484 
CAXTON Fables of A If once xi, A grete dele or quantite of 
mostard. 1526 Pilgr. Per/. (W. de W. 1531) 64 A lytell 
quantite of sande in an other lytell bagge. 1602 SHAKS. 
Hetnt. v. i. 293 Fortie thousand Brothers Could not (with all 
there quantitie of Loue) Make up my summe. 1696 LUT- 
TRELL Brief Rel. (1857) IV. 4 Having received great quantities 
of broad money from Exeter in order to clip it. 1752 JOHN 
SON Rambler No. 203 i* 10 A certain quantity or measure of 
renown. 793 BEDDOES Calculus 223 A small quantity of 
azotic air. 1825 LAMB Elia Ser. n. Stage Illusion, A suffi 
cient quantity of illusion for the purposes of dramatic 
interest. 1863 Q. Rev. July 78 A certain quantity of snow. 
b. An indefinite (usually a fair or considerable) 
portion or amount; fa small piece, fragment. 

1:1325 Song of Yesterday in E. E. P. (1862) 134 Of his 
strengbe heleost a quantite. c 1400 Song Roland 585 Offred 
them every chon a quantite of gold. 1486 fik. St. Albans 
Cvij, Take a quantyte of poorke.,and butter. 1535 COVER- 
DALE i Sam. xxx. 12 They..gaue him a quantite of fygges, 
two quantities of rasyns. 1596 SHAKS. 7 atrt. S/tr. iv. 
iii. 112 Away thou Ragge, thou quantitie, thou remnant. 
1597 2 Hen. IV) v. i, 77 If I were saw de into Quantities 
I should make foure dozen of such bearded Hermit es staues. 
1731 ARBUTHNOT Aliments vi. vii. g 2 (1735) 182 Warm anti- 
scorbutical Plants taken in Quantities will occasion stinking 
Breath. 1852 MRS. STOWE Uncle Toms C. xxxiii. 299 
Taking a quantity of cotton from her basket, she placed it 
in his. 1883 Manch. Guard. 18 Oct. 4/7 Yesterday., a 
quantity of wreckage was cast up at Southport. 

C. With def. article : The portion or amount 
(of something) present in a particular thing or 
instance. 

1611 BIBLE 2 Esdras iv. 50 As the fire is greater then the 
smoke .. so the quantity which is past, did more exceede. 
1719 DE FOE Crusoe i. ix, I resolv d to sow just the same 
Quantity every Year. 1780 BENTHAM Princ. Legisl. xviii. 
44 The quantity of sensible heat in a human body. 1837 
Penny Cycl. IX. 345 The total quantity of electricity in the 
charge of an electrised body. 1876 PREECE & SIVEWRIGHT 
Telegraphy 2 We can speak of the quantity of sound caused 
by the explosion of a cannon. Ibid. , The force of attraction 
is found to increase with the quantity of electricity present. 

0. A specified, or indefinite (= fair, considerable), 
number of persons or things. 

1375 B ARBOUR Bruce vi. 235 [He] slew of thame a quantite. 
14.. Pol. Rel. ff L. Poems 36 Gadyr a good quantyte of 
snayles. 1456 SiRG. HAVE Laiu Arms(S. T. 8.157 Almaist 
mycht nane persave that ony quantitee of peple eschapit fra 
the bataill. 1485 CAXTON Chas. Gt. 3 The moost quantyte of 
the people vnderstonde not latyn. 1611 COHYAT Crudities 
169 There is a farre greater quantity of buildings in this [the 
Rialto] then in ours. 1750 BEAWES Lex Mcrcat. (1752) 8 
A quantity of small marshy isles. 1852 MRS. CARLYLE Lett. 
II. 198 Four chairs and a quantity of pillows. 1897 MARY 
KINGSLEY W. Africa 241, I., find in it a quantity of pools. 

10. A certain space or surface ; a portion of 
something having superficial extent. Now rare. 

c 1391 CHAUCER Astrol. \\. 30 Swych a quantite of lati 
tude as [sheweth] by thyn Almykanteras. 1464 Rolls Parlt. 
V. 519/2 AGraunte..of a pece or a quantite of Lande. 1611 
COTGR., Quartellei ) a certame quantitie of, or measure for, 
ground. 1758 S. H AYWAXD 5tfTM. xi v. 408 In a race there is 
a quantity of ground laid out. 1792 BURKE Let. to R. Burke 
Corn IV. 26 You would make them a grant of a sufficient 
quantity of your land. 1812-6 PLAYFAIR Nat. Phil, (1819) 
II. 214 A fixed star, .occupies exactly the same place., within 
a quantity so small as to be hardly measurable. 

til. In adverbial phrases : Great quantity , by or 
to a large amount or extent ; to a great distance. 
A quantity, to some extent, considerably. A little 
quantity, a little way. Obs. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 8816 Vp J?ai lifted oft-sith \* tre^ It was 
to scort gret quantite. 1375 BARBOUR Bruce vi. 76 Endlang 
the vattir than }eid he On aithir syde gret quantite. 1377 
LANGL. P. PI. B. xix. 372 pere nas no crystene creature J&gt;at 
kynde wine hadde,.,That he ne halpe a quantite holynesse 
to wexe. c 1400 MAUNDEV. (1839) xxiii. 253 Thei leyn upon 
the hors gold and silver gret quantytee. c 1420 Pallad* on 
Husb. xi. 157 Ek lyfte her plaunte a litel quantite. 

12. Math. A thing having quantity (see 4 
above) ; a figure or symbol standing for such a 
thing. Imaginary quantity : see the adj. i c. 



21 

1570 Biu.iNGSLEY F.uclid xi. def. i. 312 A superficies is a 
quantitie of greater perfection then is a line. 1581 SIDM.Y 
Apol. Poetrie (Arb.) 24 So doe the Geometrician, and Arith- 
metician, in their diverse sorts of quantities. 1700 MOXON 
Matfi. Diet. 133 Those Quantities are said to be commen 
surable, which have one Aliquot part.. but Incommensurable 
Quantities have no Aliquot parts. 1806 HUTTON Course 
Math. I. 201 Range the quantities according to the dimen 
sions of some letter. 1831 BREWSTER Newton (1855) II. xiv. 
1 1 He considered quantities not as composed of indivisibles, 
but as generated by motion, 1881 MAXWELL Klectr. &lt;y 
Magn. I. n There are certain cases in which a quantity 
may be measured with reference to a line as well as with 
reference to an area. 

transf. 1864 CARLYLE Fredk. Gt. xn. xi. (1872) IV. 245 
This Holy Romish Reich ,. has been more and ever more 
becoming an imaginary quantity. 1870 ROGERS Hist. Glean* 
ings Ser. n. 9 Such a monarchy was a mere geographical 
quantity. 1883 STEVENSON Silverado Squatters 134 Her 
husband was an unknown Quantity. 

III. 13. at t rib. and Comb., chiefly in terms 
relating to quantity of electricity, as quantity 
armature, battery, effect, fuse, galvanometer, in 
ductor; also quantity-mark, a mark indicating 
the quantity of a vowel or syllable ; quantity- 
surveyor, a surveyor who estimates the quantities 
of the materials required for any work. 

1838 A lorn, Chron. in Noad\s Electricity (1849^ 401 The 
decomposing power of the quantity inductor. 1849 NOAD 
Electricity 397 One . . is used for quantity effects, such ;is 
igniting platinum wire. Ibid, 399 The quantity armature is 
constructed of stout iron. 1883 JKNKIN* Elcttr. &lt;V Alagn. 
(ed. 7) 190 The term . . quantity galvanometer [is used to 
signify] an instrument with few turns of thick wire [in its 
coil]. 1884 H. SWEET itf/i Prcs. Addr. Philol. Soc. 93 
When .. quantity and accent-marks are neglected. 1896 
Daily News 5 Aug. 9/5 The plans of the buildings, .will be 
now submitted to the quantity surveyor, with a view to the 
quantities being taken out. 

Quautivalence (kwgntrvalens), [f. L. quanti- 
comb. form of quantum how much + -valence 
after equi-valence.] 

1. Of a chemical element : The extent to which 
one of its aloms can hold other atoms in com 
bination ; valence ; atomicity. 

1871 ROSCOE Elan. Chew. 172 This difference of combining 
power is termed Quantivalence of the elements. i88z STALLO 
Concepts Mod. Phys. 36 Dyads, .and other elements of still 
higher quantivalence. 

2. Mechanical equivalence. 

1890 Brit. Mcd. Jrnl. 9 Aug. 319/2 It shows that the 
quantivalence of nerve force is exceedingly small. 

So Quanti valency = prec. ; Quanti valent a. 
pertaining or relating to quantivalence. 

Quantong, variant of QUANDONG. 

Quant, suff., abbrev. of QUANTUM SUFFICIT. 

t Qua ntulate, ^. Obs. rare~ l . [f, L. quantity 
how great (? after calculate}. ] trans. To calculate 
the magnitude of. 

1610 W. FOLKINGHAM Art of Sitii cy ii. iv. 53 Quantulate 
the angle betwixt the marke and second station. 

I! Quaiitulum (kw$*ntu!?l#m). [L., neut. of 
qitantuhts how small.] A small quantum, 

1824 SOUTHEY Sir T. More (1831) II. 260 The quantulum 
at which Oxenstern admired would be a large allowance 
now. 

ii Quantum (kwo nt/nn). PI. quanta (rare"). 
[L., neut. of quantus how much, how great.] 

1. Sum, amount. = QUANTITY 2. 

1619 PURCHAS Rlicrocosnius xxxii. 302 To set The true 
Quantum, the true poize and price vpon himselfe. 1738 
Hist. Crt, Excheq. iii. 43 To vote in the first Place, that the 
King should be supplied; in the next Place, the Quantum 
of the Supply. 1791 NEWTE Tour Eng. fy Scot. 179 The 
momentum of bodies depends on the quantum of their 
velocity multiplied into that of their matter. 1818 CRUISI-; 
Digest (ed. 2) I. 427 If the union and accession of the two 
estates were the cause uf the merger, the quantum of the 
thing granted would be the measure of that merger. 

b. = QUANTITY 7. 

1815 W. H. lfXuuxD$cri&tt0Mam& 33 His study has not 
been for quantum to strive, But with beauties to keep the 
attention alive. 

2. = QUANTITY 12. 

1647 H. MORE Song- of Soul n. i. n. Iv, Each quantum s 
infinite, straight will be said. 1678 CUDWORTH Intcll. Syst. 
i. v. 783 Though it be an Absolute Contradiction, for a Body, 
or Quantum, to be.. All of it in every Part of that Space, 
which the Whole is in. 1877 E. CAIRO P kilos. Kant n. xi. 
442 All phenomena, as perceived, are extensive quanta. 

3. One s share or portion. 

1649 JER. TAYLOR Gt, Exemp. n. xiL 94 Poverty is her 
portion, and her quantum is but food and raiment. 1724 
SWIFT Drapier s Lett. Wks. 1755 V. n. 60 He will double 
his present quantum by stealth as soon as he can. 1818 
BKXTHAM Ck. Eng. 421 A Parish, in which the quantum of 
this soul-saving Mammon rises as high as iz,ooo/. a year. 
1897 F. T. BULLEN Critise Cachalot 167 Having com 
pleted our quantum of wood, water, and fresh provisions. 

4. A (specified) amount. = QUANTITY 8. 

1789 BELSHAM Ess. I. ii. 19 Is there not a sufficient quantum 
of distress and misfortune? 1829 CARLYLE Misc. (1857) II. 
113 Some smaller quantum of earthly enjoyment. 1852 
JERDAN Autobiog. \\. xii. 137 Imbued with a moderate 
quantum of worldly wisdom. 

b. = QUANTITY 8c. 

1735 BERKELEY Querist \. 215 Such a bank .. was faulty 
in not limiting the quantum of bills. 1828 J. BALLANTYNE 
Exam, Hum. Mindll. 69 The mind., has always a tendency 
to possess the same quantum of ideas. 1879 E. K. LANKESTKR 
Advancetn. Sc, (1890) 14 A struggle among all those born 
for the possession of the small quantum of food. 



QUAR. 
II Quantum sufficit (k wo-nt^m so- fisit ; . 

Also abbrev. quantum suff., quant, suff. (suf.). 
[L., a formula used in medical prescriptions.] * As 
much as suffices ; hence, a sufficient quantity, 
a sufficiency ; to a sufficient extent, etc. 

1699 Honour of Gout in Hurl. Misc. (1809) II. 45 We lead 
sedentary lives, feed heartily, drink quantum sufficit^ but 
sleep immoderately. 1775 J. ADAMS in I ani. Lett. (1876) 58 
Scolding at me quantum sufficit for not taking his advice. 
1806-7 J- HKRESKOKD Miseries Hum. Lift- (ed. 5) II. 238 
With numbers though rough. Yet with rage quantum suff. 
1837 LOCKHART .Scott. (1839) VII. 45 Cabinets china ami 
mirrors quantum suff., and some portraits. 1881 AHNEV 
Photogr. 69 The amount of alcohol required is invariably 
^hown as quant, .suf. 

b. \Vith article or possessive pron. 

1747 Scheme Eyuifi. Men of War 23 To provide them a 
Quantum siifficit before they enter into that Service. 1795 
BURKE Regie. Peace iv. Wks. IX. 20 What dose is to be the 
quantum suf/u it i ti 1817 T. I (WIGHT Trav. Nfiv A"f.,etc. 
(1821) I. 515 They have always a quantum suffiuit of money. 
1843 DARWIN Let. to llemlow 25 Jan., My Cored Volume. . 
has received its quant: sufT: of praise. 

Quantuplicity (k\voiiliwpli sTti\ [f. L. yuan- 
tus how much, on anal, of quadniplicily^ etc.] 
The relative magnitude of a quantity. 

1836 DE MURGAN Diff. &lt;V Int. Calc. Introd. 17 The pro 
portions of figures . . depend . . upon what Euclid terms the 
ratio, .which he says ihdf we may coin such an Kn^U-h wurd) 
the numberof "times-ness or quantuplicity of one quantity, 
considered with respect to another. 

t Quap, sit. Obs. rare- 1 . ? variant of QUAB j//.l 

1598 FLORID, C&lt;1,gai, a fish called a quap [1611 aqiiap-fishl, 
which is poison to man, and man to liim. 

t Quap, v. Obs. Forms : 4-6 quappe, 5 
qwappe, (7 quapp). See also Qi or. [Imitative ; 
cf. G. quappen to flop, quappeln to quiver. A 
later form is QUAB v.~\ intr. To beat, throb, 
palpitate, quiver. 

c*374 CHAUCER Troylus m. 8 (571 And lord hnw bat his 
herte gan to quappe, Heryng her come. 1382 WYCLIF 
Tobit vi. 4 He dro} it [the fish] in to the drie, and it began to 
quappe befor bis feet, c 1440 Partonope 5938 His hert gan 
qwappe, his culoure gan change. 1567 TURBKRV. tr. Ovid s 
Ep. 67 Even as the sea doth shake and trembling quappe, 
When with a gentle gale it is enforst. [a 1643 \V. CART- 
WRIGHT Ordinary n. ii, My heart gan quapp full oft.] 

Hence fQua pping vhl. sb. and///, a. 

1398 TREVISA Barth. DC P. R. vn. lix. (1495) 273 The 
tokens of a Flegmon or postume . . ben .. quappynge and 
lepynge of ventosytte. 1572 J. JONES Bathes of Bath I. 7 
Beating, or quapping fpaine] comet h of a hot Aposterne. 

Quap, obs. form of WHAP v. 

t Quaquadrate. Math. Obs. rare - 1 . [f. 
QUA(DRI-) + QUADRATE.] A sixteenth power. 

1674 JEAKE Arith. (1696) 273 Some to shorten.. the long 
Names of . . Higher Powers, . . call 53 a Biquadrate, . . 3^3 
a Quaquadrate, 33333 a Quinquadrate [etc.]. 

Quaquaversal (kw^kwa vassal), a. Also 

quaqu-, qua-qua-versal. [f. late L. quaqua- 
versits, -versiwi) f. quaqtta where-, whithersoever 

+ versus towards.] Turned or pointing in every 
direction ; chiefly Geol. in phr. quaquaversal dip 
(see quot. 1877). 

1728 NICHOLLS in Phil. Trans. XXXV. 442 The quaqua- 
versal Pressure of the Blood will be controll VI by the Pres 
sure on the Artery. 1830 LYELL Princ. Geol. I. 394 The 
slope and quaqua-versal dip of the beds. 1862 LATHAM 
Elem. Cotup. Philol. 126 The affinities of tbe Lap are one 
sided, those of the Turk ito borrow an expresMon from the 
geologists quaquaversal. 1877 A. H. GREEN Phys. Geol. 
ix. 3. 347 If the beds dip away in all directions from a 
centre they are said to have a quaquaversal dip. 

Hence Quaquave r sally adv. 

1875 R. F. BURTON Ultima Thule I. 38 The strata all 
incline gradually and quaquaversally , .towards the centre 
of the island. 1883 BURTON & CAMERON Cold Coast I. iii. 
76 A central boss . . with lines radiating quaquaversally. 

Quaquiner, erron. form of QUAVIVEB. 
t Quar, s6.i, abbrev. of QUARRY sl&gt;. 1 Obs. 

1562 PHAER sKneiffix. Eeij, What murthring quarres of 
men, what heapes downe throwne,.. king Turnus then did 
giue. 1605 SYLVESTER Du Bartas \\. iii. in, (Lawe] 643 
The Falcon . . shall strike ; And with the stroke make on the 
sense-less ground The gut-less Quar.. re-bound. 

Quar, sb Obs. exc. dial. Also 6-7 quarre, 
7 quarr. 8 quaar. [Abbrev. of QUARRY sb.~ ; 
still current in W. Midland and S. W. dialects.] 
A stone-quarry. 

ft 1485 Prowp. Ptirv. 419/1 Quarere (S. quar), lapidicina. 
1529 RASTBLL Pastymt\ Hist. Brit. (1811) 105 Stonys owte 
of anny quarre, or rokk. 1566 STAI LETON Ret. Untr. Jwvel 
iv. 61 Stedfaster than any Rocke or Quarre of what euer 
stone it be. 1622 DRAVTON Poly-olb. xxvi. (1748) 372 She 
mill-stones from the quarr with sharpen d picks could get. 
1672 W. S. Poems B. Johnson Jr., To Ld. Astom Aston, a 
Stone cut from the marble Quar. a 1800 Sotig in Clone. 
Gloss. (1890) 203 The stwons that built George Ridler s 
Oven, .keum from the Bleakeney s Quaar. 

b. attrib. and Comb., as quarman, -pit; quar- 
martin, the sand-martin, dial. 

1606 SYLVESTER Du Bartas n. iv. n. (Magnificence) mo 
The sturdy Quar-man with steel-headed Cones And massie 
Sledges slenteth out the stones. 1870 JEFFERIES Wild Life 
in S. C. 169 These birds are called by the labourers quar- 
martins , because they breed in holes drilled in the face 
of the sandy precipices of quarries. 1886 ELWORTHY W. 
Somerset Word-bk.^ Quar-man, labourer in a quarry; also 
the proprietor or lessee of a quarry. Quar-pit t a quarry,, 
usually a small one. 



QUAR. 

f-Quar, J/ .^, abbrev. of QUABBY rf.3 06s. rare. 

1606 SYLVKSTER Dit Btirtas ii. iv. n. (flfagni/iceiict) 1149 
What mightie "Rowlers, and what massie Cars Could bring 
so far so many monstrous Quars? [F. qnarreaux\. lf&gt;i&lt;f. 
1158 The whole, a whole Quar [F. qiitirreau\ one might 
rightly tearm. 1617 Vestry Bks. (Surtees) 73 Item xix 
quarres mendid in the other windowes. 

Quar, i . 1 Obs. exc. dial. Also 6 querre, 7 
quarre. [Of obscure origin : ? cf. OE. d-cweorran 
to glut.] a. trans. To choke or block up (a channel 
or passage), b. intr. Of a channel : To silt or 
fill up. Hence Qua rring vbl. sb. 

1541-3 Act 34 t, 35 lien. I ll!, c. 9 I The mouth and 
hole channell of the saide hauen is so heaped and quarred 
with stones and robul! of balastes of the shippes. 1584-3 
Act 27 Eliz. c. 20 i Where also the said hauen of Plym- 
mouth . . doth dayly querre and fill with the sand of the 
Tinne-workes and Mynes. 1628 SIR R. BOYLE Diary in 
Lisinorc f apers (1886) II. 257 Provided.. he do nothing to 
the preiudice of my yron worcks, or stopping or quarreing 
vp of the River. 

Quar, ? .- Obs. exc. dial. [Of unknown origin : 
cf. QUABL v.~\ intr. To curdle, coagulate. 

1578 LVTE Dodoens II. Ixxiv. 246 It . . keepeth the mylke 
from quarring and crudding in the brest. 1591 PERCIVALL 
Sp. Diet., Engritmecer, to clot, to quar like cold blood. 

Quar, obs. north, f. WHEKE and were (see BE v.). 

Quarancy : see QUARANTY. 

t Quarantain. 06s. Also 7 -aine, 8 -ane. 
[ad. F. quarantaine ( It. qtiarantand), f. qna- 
rante forty : see next.] 

1. A set of forty (nights). rare~ 1 . 

1653 URQUHART Kabrlais n. i. i It is above fourty quaran* 
taines, or fourty times fourty nights, according to the sup. 
putation of the ancient Druids. 

2. = QUARANTINE 2. 

1669 R. .MONTAGU in Baahuck AfSS, (Hist. MSS. Comm.) 
I. 452 After having made their quarantaine and aired their 
goods. 1687 Lontf. Gaz. No. 2211/1 The Prince of Bruns- 
wicke keeps his Quarantain in the Island Lazaro. 1702 
W. J. Bntyns Voy. Levant xi. 47 Those who come from 
infected Places, there to pass their Quarantain. 

attrib. 1755 MAGENS Insurances II. 236 Anchorage, 
ordinary Quarantain Charges, and such like. 
b. fig. - QUARANTINE 2 b. 

166^7 DENHAM Direct. Paint. I. xvii, There let him 
languish a long Quarantain. 1714 Let.fr. Layman led. 2) 
23 This Crime . . is never to be purged away ; no not by 
performing a Quarantain for a Twelve-month in the Church. 
1741 WARBUHTON Dm. Legal. II. Pref. p. xiv, The Calumnies 
of his Enemies obliged him to a kind of Quarantane. 

3. King s quarantain (tr. F. quarantaine du 
roi^ . see quots. 

1717-41 CHAMBERS Cycl., Quarantain of the King, m France, 
denotes a truce of forty days appointed by St. Louis, during 
which it was expresly forbid to take any revenge (etc.). 
1818 A. RANKEN Hist. France IV. in. i. 233 Forty days, 
called the King s quarantain, were allowed the friends or 
relations of a principal in a private war to grant or find 
security. 

t Quarante, var. COURANTE, akind ofdance. Obs. 

1598 R. DALUNOTOS Jlfft/t. Trav. Vij, Euery poore 
draggletayle can Dance all your Quarantes, Leualties, 
Bransles, and other Dances. 

Quarantinable, a. rare. [f. QUARANTINE v. 
+ -ABLE.] Subject or liable to quarantine. 

1894 Harper s Weekly 7 Apr. 315 The protection against 
cholera and other quarantinable diseases.. is secured. 

Quarantine (kwg-rant/n), sb. Also 7 quaran- 
tene, 8 -in, 7-8 quarantine. [In sense I ad. 
med.L. qiiarentlna ; in sense 2 prob. ad. It. qua- 
rattt-, juarenlina, f. quaranta forty. 

The source of the -itie spelling in sense" i is not clear : in 
the Stasyons of Jerusalem (HaKlm.Altengl. Leg. Neue F., 
365) the form Quaryntyne (riming with wyne] is used to 
render med.L. Quarentena, the name given to the desert 
where Christ fasted for forty days. In sense i the prevailing 
form in i;-i8th c. was quarentine, while quarantine has 
always been the usual form in sense 2.] 

1. Law. A period of forty days during which 
a widow, entitled to dower, had the right to 
remain in the chief mansion-house of her deceased 
husband ; hence, the right of a widow to remain 
in the house during this period. 

1609 SKF.NE Keg. Afaj. 56 (Acts Robt. Ill, c. 20) Anent 
widowes, quha . . can not haue their quarantine without 
pley. 1628 COKE On Lift. 32 b, If she marry within the 
forty days she loseth her quarentine. 1767 KLACKSTONE 
Comm. II. 135 These forty days are called the widow s 
quarentine. 1865 NICHOLS liritttm II. 247 Some other 
decent house shall be provided for their dwelling, where 
they may keep their quarantine. 

2. A period (orig. of forty days) during which 
persons who might serve to spread a contagious 
disease are kept isolated from the rest of the 
community ; esp. a period of detention imposed on 
travellers or voyagers before they arc allowed to 
enter a country or town, and mix with the inhabi 




. , ac or pracce 

of isolating such persons or ships, or of beine 
isolated in this way. 

frnm 3 ,H PKPVS ^"^ , ^ ^" Mn S of =&gt; hips coming 
from thence, to perform their -quarantine for thirty days V , 
Richard Browne expressed it . .contrary to the import 
of the word (though in the general acceptation, it signifies 
now the thing, not the time spent in doing it). ,69, Lu" 



22 

TFELL Brief Rcl. (1857) II. 185 Those that come from 
Naples. .are obliged to perform a quarantine before they 
come to Rome, because of the plague in that Kingdom. 
1712 DE FOE Plague (1884) 204 The Family were oblig d to 
begin their Quarantine anew. 1799 E. STANLEY in A. Duncan 
Nelson (1806) 112 Having finished their quarantine of thir 
teen days. 1836 MARRYAT Midsh. Easy xlii, As soon as 
their quarantine at the Mother-bank was over, they dis 
embarked. 1859 JEPHSON Brittany vi. 77 The lepers often 
sought a voluntary death as the only escape from their 
perpetual quarantine. 1867 F.ren. Standard 6 Aug. 6 
A Royal order has been issued imposing forty days quaran 
tine upon all arrivals in Spanish ports from Algeria, Morocco, 
and the Roman States. 

b. Jig. Any period, instance, etc., of detention 
or seclusion compared to the above. f Free 
quarantine, exemption from quarantine. 

a 1680 BUTLER Rem. (1759) I. 209 Where she denies 
Admission, to intrude . . Unless they have free Quarentine 
from her. 174* YOUNG Nt. Th.\\\. 1046 Deists! perform 
your quarentine ; and then Fall prostrate, ere you touch it, 
lest you die. 1855 MOTLEY Dutch Rep. ll. i. (1866) 132 Nor 
could bigotry devise an effective quarantine to exclude the 
religious pest which lurked in every bale of merchandise. 

c. A place where quarantine is kept or enforced. 
1847 EMERSON Poettts, Monodnoc Wks. (Bohn) I. 435 His 

quarantines and grottos, where He slowly cures decrepit 
flesh. 1892 STEVENSON Across the Plains 171 Somnolent 
Inverkeithing, once the quarantine of Leith. 

3. A period of forty days, in other connexions 
than the above ; a set of forty (days). 

1639 FULLER /jWy }Var\\\. xxii. i47\Vhen their quarantine, 
or fourty dayes service, was expired. 172* DK FOE Plague 
(1756) 235 Not a Quarentine of Days only, but Soixantlne, 
not only 40 Days but 60 Days or longer. 1883-97 Catholic 
Diet. 772/1 Indulgences of seven years and seven quaran 
tines are often granted for certain devotions. 

4. aitrib. (sense 2), as quarantine camp, Jlag, 
hospital, law, officer, regulation, station, etc. 

1805 Mcd. Jrnl. XVII. 507 The recent extension of the 
quarantine laws. 1841 Penny Cycl. XIX. 193/2 The most 
important disease, with reference to quarantine regulations, 
is the plague of the Levant. Ibid. 195/1 A quarantine 
station on a land-frontier. 1861-2 G. A. SPOTTISWOODIC in 
Vac. Tour. 87 Accommodation, .for the director or quaran 
tine-officer. 1871 TYNDALL Fragm. Sc. (1879) I. vi. 200 The 
yellow quarantine flag was hoisted. 

Quarantine (kwo-rantJh), v. Also 9 quaran- 
teen. [f. the sb.] 

1. trans. To put in quarantine. 

1804 W. IRVING in Life f, Lett. (1864) I. v. 8/5 Where 
I should be detained, quarantined, smoked, and vinegared. 
1860 TROLLOPE W, Ind. xxiii. 365 In going to Cuba I had 
been becalmed . . and very nearly quaranteened. 1891 
Cat/i. Neil s 2 May 5/3 The Comte de Paris was quarantined 
for a short time at Southampton. 
b. To prevent by quarantine. In quot.,/^. 

1850 Chamb. Jrnl. XIV. 49 Did any moral taint hang 
about me that quarantined my entrance into its circle? 

2. intr. To institute quarantine. 

1888 Harper s Mag. Oct. 738/1 Only two cases had been 
reported when every neighboring British colony quarantined 
against Martinique. 

Hence Qua rantined, Qua rantining fpl. adjs. ; 
also Qua rautiner, one who puts, or is put, into 
quarantine. 

1831 SCOTT Jrnl. II. 444 The guardians, who attend to 
take care that we quarantines do not kill the people whom 
we meet. 1884 Manch. Exam. 21 Nov. 5/4 The.. block in 
which the quarantined person is located. 1891 Lancet 3 Oct. 
777 Egypt .. always has been . . a quarantining country. 

Quarantine (apple), variant of QUARENDEN. 

tQuaranty. Obs. Also -ancy. [ad. It. 
quarantia, f. quaranta forty : cf. F. quarantie.} 
A former court of judicature at Venice, consisting 
of forty members. 

1636 E. DACRES tr. MachiavcFs Disc. Livy I. 198 They 
have ordained the Quarantiej or counsell of forty. 1659 
J. HARRINGTON Loaagming in. i. (1700) 439 After the manner 
of the Venetian Quarancys. 1707 J. STEVENS tr. Ouevedo s 
Com. Wks. (1709) 446 On his Right was one Chief of the 
Quarantie. 

t Quardecu(e, variants of CABDECU. Obs. 

1611 COTGR., Quart tfescu, a Teston or Quardecue ; a siluer 
peece of coyne worth iStf. sterl. 1657 HOWELL Londintip. 
372 1 here comes not a Quardecu in every Crown clearly to 
the Kings Coffers, which is but the fourth part. 

Quardeel : see CARDEL. 

Quare, obs. form of QUIRE, WHERE. 

t Quare, v. Obs. rare. [a. OF. quarer (F. 
carrer) : L. quadrare QUADRATE .] To square. 
Hence Quared///. a., Qua Ting vbl. sb. 

a 1300 Cursor J/. 1664 (Gntt) A vessel . . sal be mad of quarid 
tre. 1611 MS. Ace. St. John s Hasp., Cantert., Payd for 
hewing and quaring of the tymber. 

Quarefour, variant of CARFOUR. 

Quare impedit (kweVrz rmpfdit). Law. 
[L., ; why he impedes or hinders .] A form of writ 
issued in cases of disputed presentation to a benefice, 
requiring the defendant to state why he hinders the 
plaintiff from making the presentation. 

[1292 BRITTON iv. vi. 2 Si acun, qi ad drett de presenter. . 
voille presenter, et autre i mette destourbaunce . . adounc 
tient proprement lu ccst bref Quare impedit.] 1498-9 
Plmnpton Corr. (Camden) 133 The best remedy for your 
Incumbent was. .to suy a quare Impedit at the comon law. 
1548 STAUNI-ORD Kinges Prcrtg. (1567) 54 b, If his highnes 
bnnge his Quare impedit or accion of trespas. n 1670 
HACKET Life Al p. Williams 11. (1693) 79 In matters eccle- 
slastical, as Advousons, Presentations, Quare-impedits, etc 
1703 DURNET Own Time v. (1734) II, 27 The actions of 



QUARRED. 

Quare Impedit, that they would be liable to, if they did not 
admit the Clerks presented to them. 1804 Bp. OF LINCOLN 
in G. Rose Diaries (1860) II. 88 A caveat or a quare im- 
pedit may be advised. 1875 POSTF. Gains iv. (ed. 2) 636 
Jioth parties are said to be equally plaintiffs and equally 
defendants in the actions .. Quare impedit and Replevin. 

Quarel^e, -ell(e, obs. forms of QUAKKEL sb. 
Quarelet : see QUARRELET. 
Quareuden, quarender (kwoTenrTn, -daa). 
Also 5 quaryndo^u)n, 7, 9 quarrington, 9 qua 
rantine, quarren(d)er, quarendel, -don, -ten. 
[Of obscure origin : the L. equivalents given in first 
quot. seem to be otherwise unknown.] A variety 
, of apple (see quot. 1886) common in Somerset 
I and Devon. Also attrib. 

14.. Voc,\i\ Wr.-Wiilcker 574/34 Cotiduniii, a Quaryndoun. 

I Conduits^ a Quaryndon tre. 1676 WORLIUGK Cyder (1691) 

: 206 The Devonshire Quarrington is also a very fine early 

Apple. 1855 KINGSLEY Westw. Ho i, Red quarrenders 

and maxard cherries. 1869 KLACKMORE Lorna D. (1891) 

125 As he took the large oxhorn of our quarantine apple 

cider. 1874 T. HARDY Far fr. Mad, Crowd I. xxvii. 299 

Some tall, gaunt costard, or quarrington. 1886 ELWORTHV 

/K Sow. ll ord-bk., Quarrentr,.. an oblate shaped, deep 

red, early apple ; also known as suck -apple, 

t Quarental. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. It. qnaranta 
(F. quarante] forty, after TRENTAL.] A set of forty 
requiem masses. 

1566 rasquineina TraunceSg These false Prophets, .that 
deceyue thy people with Trentals and Quarentals. 

Q,ua-renten(e. Hist. rare, [ad, med.L. qtta- 
; rentcna (AF. qnarenteyne) : see QUARANTINE.] 
i A lineal or square measure containing forty poles ; 
a furlong or rood. 

1809 BAWDWEN Domesday Bk. 14 Wood pasture four 
i quarentens long and the same broad. 1869 PEARSON Hist. 
j Maps Eng. (1870) 51 A wood ten leagues long by six and 
I two quarentenes broad. 

Quarentine, obs. variant of QUARANTINE. 
Quarer(e, variants of QUARRER, quarry, 
t Quarester, obs. form of CHORISTER. 

1436 E. E. Wills 105 To euery secundary & clerc of the 
chirch iiijd, and to euery quarester ij 1 . 1450 Rolls Parlt. 
V. 188/1, xii Quaresters, and a maister to teche hem. 

Quarfe, Quarfour, obs. ff. WHARF, CARFOUR. 
f Quarfoxe, obs. form of CARFAX, cross-roads. 

1483 CAXTON Gold. Leg. 89/2 Whan he cam to the quar- 
foxe the deuyl caught the chylde. 

QuarfuILe, var. QUARTFUL a, Quarie, var. 
QUARRY a., coagulated. Quarier(e, obs. ff. 
QUARRIER. Quarilous, var. QUARRELLODS. 

t Quarion, var. QUARRIER 2 , candle. Obs. 

1512 Hoitseh. Bk. Dk, Northnmbld. 3 Wax wrought in 
Quarion.s j Ib. [1860 Our Eng. Hotne 91 Quarions and 
morters..for burning in the chambers at night ; the former 
were square lumps of wax with a wick in the centre.] 

Quark (.kw^uk), v. [Imitative, or a. G. quark- 
en.} To croak. Hence QuaTking vbl. sb. 

1860 J. F. CAMPBELL Pop, T. It . High!. II. 145 The 
gurgling and quarking of spring frogs in a pond. 1893 
[D. JORDAN] Forest TitJies, etc. 186 Rooks . . cawing anu 
quarking. Ibid. 190 The herons quarked harshly. 

Quarken, variant of QUERKEN, to choke. 

Quarl, quarle (kw^ul), sb.^- [var. of QUARREL 
jvU] A large brick or tile; esp. a fire-brick, 
curved like part of a cylinder used to form sup 
ports for melting-pots, retort -covers, etc. 

1875 Ure s Diet. Arts III. 67 (s.v. Lead} The erection of 
nine six-ton pots requires. . 160 feet of quarles. 1883 Daily 
News 10 Sept. 3/2 Making passages below the oven floor, 
and laying upon these passages perforated quarles or re 
cessed bricks. 1894 Northumbld. Gloss, s.v., Under the 
term brick are included sizes up to twelve inches long by 
six inches wide. Above this area it is called a quarl or tile. 

Quarl, sl&gt;.~ rare. [?ad. G. qnalle, Du. kwaL] 
The jelly-fish, medusa, 

1884 Harper s Mag. Dec. 156/1 And momently athwart 
her track The quarl upreared his island back. 

t Quarl, v. Obs. rare. Also 8 quarrel. [Cf. 
QUAKZJ.^] Tocurdle, ?turnsour. Hence tQuarled 
fpl. a. (Cf. QuARHEi)///. a.} 

1607 Toi RNRUR Rev. Trag. v. Hij, Moth. Are you so 
barbarous to set Iron nipples Vpon the brest that gaue you 
suck. Vind. That brest Is turnd to Quarled poyson. 1703 
Art % My st. Vintners 68 Take 2 pennyworth of Rice.. and 
2 pennyworth of Alum ; this will keep your Wine from 
quarrelling, and make it fine. 

Quarl v e, Quar le, Quarled : see QUARL j^. 1 , 
QUARREL j.i, QUARRELLED a. Quar-man, 
-martin : see QUAR sb.^ Quarn, obs. f. QUERN, 

f Quarnell, a. Sc. Obs. rare. Also quernell. 
[App. var. of QUARREL j/;.l or sb.- (used attrib?), 
perh. after CARNEL or CORNEL.] Square, squared. 
So also Qua rnelled (in 6 quernallit). 

1533 BELLENDEN Livy i. x. (1901) 62 This virgine horacia 
was buryit. .in ane sepulture of quernell [i .r. quarnell] stanis. 
1542 /fiz . /\. Wardr. (1815)64 Item, ane small chene with 
thrawin and quernallit linkis. [1808-25 jAMiKsoN.^warw^//, 
cornered, having angles. Fife.\ 

Quarner(e, Quarof, Quarquenet, Quarre, 
obs. ff. CORNER s6.\ WHEREOF, CARCANET, QUARRY. 

Quarreaus, obs. pi. of QUARREL sb.i 

Qua rred, ppl. & Obs. exc. dial. [f. QUAR v. 2 
+ -ED 1 .] Clotted, curdled; soured. 

1599 A. M. tr. Gabelhoncr s Bk. Phystcke 341/1 When we 
haue fallen, and we fcare we haue quarred bloode in our 



QUARREL. 

bod ye. 1871 WISE New Forest in Hampsh. Gloss., Beer is 
said to be quarred, when it drinks hard or rough. 

Quarrefour, var. CARFOUK. 

Quarrel (kwp rel), sbJ- Forms: 3 //. quar- 

reaus, 4-5 quarelle, 4-6 quarel, (4 qwarel, 5 

quarele, -eyll, wharle, 6 quar le), 5-6 quarell, 

(6 quer-), 6-7 quarrell, (6 -elle), f&gt;- quarrel. 

[a. OF. quarel, quarrel (quaral^ carat, etc., pi. 

quarriaitS) qitarcus}, later qitarrian, -can., mod.F. 

carreau, = Prov. cairel, It. qnadrcllo, Sp. cuadrilh, 

med.L. qitadrellus, dim. of Prov. catre, It. qttadro, 

(Sp. at-}, med.L. quadras a square : cf. QuADREL.] 

1. A short, heavy, square-headed arrow or bolt, 
formerly used in shooting with the cross-bow or 
arbalest, 

a 1*25 Ancr. R, 62 peo hwile Jjet me mit quarreaus . . 
asaileo bene cast el. 1340 Ayenb. 71 Al hit ys ywent wel 
ra^re ^&gt;an.. quarel of arolaste. (-1400 Destr. Troy 4743 The 
Grekes ,. Whappet in wharles, whellit the pepull. 1483 
CAXTON Gold. Leg. 314 b/2 A sowne lyke as a quarel had be 
shotte out, of Arbalaste or a crosse bowe. 1540 Act 33 
Hen, / ///, c. 6 Crossebowes ..ready furnished with quarelles. 
1590 SPENSER F. Q. n. xi. 33 Now had the Carle, .his hands 
Discharged of his bow and deadly quar le. 1750 CARTK 
Hist, Eng. 11.463 The Genoese, .let fly their quarrels when 
they imagined themselves to be within a proper distance. 
1846 GREENER Sc. Gunnery 4 It is said of the cross-bow, 
that a quarrel could be projected from them 200 yards. 

attrib. 1412-20 LYDG. Citron. Troy it. xi, Dartes daggers 
..And quarrelheades sharpe & square yground. 1600 
HOLLAND Livy xxi. xi. 400 Ordinance of quarell shot, brakes, 
and other artillerie. 
b. dial. (See quot.) 

1840 SPURDENS East- Anglian Words {E. D. S.), Quarrel, 
a kind of bird-bolt, with a lozenge-shaped head ; now only 
used by rook-bolters for beating down rooks nests. 

t 2. A square needle. Also attrib. Obs. rare. 

1496 Bk. St. Allans, Fishing H iij, For smalle fysshe ye 
shall make your hokes of the smalest quarell nedlys that ye 
can fynde of stele, & in this wyse. Ye shall put the quarell 
in a redde charkcole fyre [etc.]. 

3. A square or (more usually) diamond-shaped 
pane of glass, of the kind used in making lattice- 
windows. Now rare exc. dial. (Cf. QUARRY sb.% 2.) 

1447 in Parker Gfoss. Archit. (1850) 290 Every windowe 
conteineth vi lights .. Item all the katurs, quarrells, and 
oylements. 1507 in Gage Suffolk 143 Setting vp of white 
Normandy glas, oon rowe of quarrells white. 1542 BOORDE 
Dyetary viii. (1870) 249 Let your skynner cut both .. the 
skynnes in smale peces tryangle wyse, lyke halfe a quarel of a 
glase wyndow. 1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. Poesie (Arb.) 106 The 
Lozange is, .a quadrangle reuerst,.with his point vpward like 
to a quarrell of glasse. 1669 BOYLE Contn. New Exj&gt;. i. (1682) 
25 Some plates of glass such as are used for making the (Quar 
rels of Windows. 1711 C. LOCKYER Trade in India vi. 164 
Oyster-shells fixt Diamond-wise in wooden Frames, instead 
of Glass, which look something like our small, old fashion d 
Quarrels. 1828 Craven Gloss., Quarrel, a square of glass. 
1879 Casselfs Tec/in. F.duc. ix. 145/2 The colour . . of the 
quarrels in the original window is a light bluish-green. 

attrib. 1820 SCOTT Abbot xxxiv, A quarrel pane of glass 
in the turret window. 

t4. A square tile. Obs. rare. (Cf. QUARRY 5^.3 3.) 

1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. 596 The manner of pauing with 
smal tiles or quarrels ingrauen. 1610 Camden 1 s Brit. 
i. 511 The pauements wrought Checker wise with small 
square quarels. 

5. techn. a. A glazier s diamond (1807 Douce 
Illustr. Shaksp. I. 181). b. A four-sided graver 
(Ogilvie, 1882). c. A stonemason s chisel (ibid.}. 

Quarrel, sl&gt;2 Obs. exc. north, dial. Forms : 
5 qwaryle, qvar-, qverelle, qwharrell, 5-6 
quarel, (5 -ell), 6 qwarrel,.Sc. querill.querrell, 
7, 9 quarrel, 9 wharrel, wharl. [Alteration of 
quarer, QL ARRER, perh. after prec.] 

1. A place from which stone, ttc., is obtained, 
= QUARRY st&gt;. 2 

14.. Now. in Wr.-Wulcker 737/3 Hoc saxifragium, a 
qwaryle. 1483 Cath. Angl. 296/1 A Qvarefle of stone 
(A. Querelle of stane), lapidicina. 1500-18 Ace. Loath 
Steeple in Arch&ologia X. 71 Riding to the quarrel for 
stone. 1513 DOUGLAS sEneis i. vii. 22 Wtheris .. the huge 
pillaris grett Out of the querillls can to hew and beit. 1802 
Lout/i Corpor. Ace. (1891) 55 That the Market for Sheep 



a stone quarry ; a disused quarry. Seldom heard. 

t b. Sc. The stone or other material obtained 
by quarrying. Also pi. Obs. 

1536 BELLENDEN Cron. Scot. (1821) I. 251 He thirllit thahn 
..to win mettelHs, querrellis, and to mak tild. 1661-73 
LD. FOUNTAINHALL in M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. (1826) II. 
535 (Jam.) To dig, win, work, and carry away coals, lime- 
stone, clay, quarrell. 

2. attrib. as quarrel head, hole, man, well, stone, 

c 1460 Twvncley Myst. ii. 367 When I am dede, bery me 
in gudeboure at the quarell hede, 1472 Durham Ace. 
Rolls (Surtees) 245, j q wharrel Imell. 1513 DOUGLAS SEneis 
viii. iv. 149 AH kynd of wapynnis . . Wyth branchis rent of 
treis, and quarrell stanis Of huge wecht. 1535 LYNDESAY 
Satyre 3061, 1 lent my gossop my mear . . And he hir drounit 
into the querrell hollis. a 1572 KNOX Hist. Rcf. Wks. 1846 
I. 379 At the Querrell Hollis, betuix Leyth and Edin- 
burght. 1571 Wills &lt;V Im&gt;. N. C. (Surtees 1860) 351 John 
Heworthe of gatisheid . . Quarelman. 

Quarrel (kwg-rel), j&3 Forms: 4 querele, 
4~5 (6) querel, 5 qwerell(e, 6 querel (1, 6-7 Sc. 
quer(r)ell; 4-5 quarele, 5 qv-, quarelle, 5-6 
quarell, (5&lt;I1F-}g-7 quarel, 6 quarrel, (6-7 -ell). 



23 

[a. OF. querele, -etle;L. querela, -ella complaint, 
f. quert to complain. The spelling qitar(r]- was 
the prevailing one by Caxton s time ; later exam 
ples of querii- } are chiefly Sc. : see also QUERELK.] 

f 1. A complaint ; esp. a complaint against 
a person ; hence in Law : an accusation or charge ; 
an action or suit. Obs. 

ci374 CHAUCER Boeth. in. pr. iii. 55 (Camb, MS.) For 
whenues corny n elles alle thyse foreyne compleyntes or 
quereles of pletynges [L. forcnses qutrimomgg}. 11400 
Destr. Troy v. heaaing l Of the Qwerell of Kyng Priam for 
his Fader dethe. 1454 Rolls Parlt. V. 258/2 In all maner 
Actions . . suytes, quereles and demandes. 1483 CAXTON 
Gold. Leg. 219 2 They sayd wyth swete and dcuout quarelles 
why she suffred her deuoute seruaunte to dye wythout con- 
fessyon. 1535 COVER DALE Acts xxv. 7 Y I ewes .. broughte 
vp many andgreuous quarels agaynst Paul. iefi$E.i-ec./ar 
Treason (1675) 13 None of them have been sought hitherto 
to be impeached in any point or quarrel of Treason. 1641 
TITIIICS de la Ley 230 b, Qvarels .. extendeth not onely to 
actions., but also to the causes of actions & suits. 

2. A ground or occasion of complaint against 
a person, leading to hostile feeling or action ; 
a cause for which one person has unfriendly or 
unfavourable feelings towards another ; also, the 
state or course of hostility resulting from such 
ground of complaint. Const, against t -\to, later 
with. Now rare. To pick a quarrel , see PICK v. 

1340 Ayenb. 83 Ine ofre quereles huanne me mysnymj) [it 
may be amended J .. ac errour ine batayle ne may na;t by- 
amended. 135*0 GOWER Conf. III. 303 Love hath mad him 
a querele Ayem hire youthe friissh and frele. c 1400 Destr. 
Troy 1763 To qwit claym all querels, & be qweme fryndes. 
1489 CAXTON Faytes of A. i. xviii. 52 What theyre herte 
sayth of the quarell and what wylle they haue for to fyglit. 
1526 TINDALE Col. iii. 13 Forgevynge one another (if e;iy 
man have a quarrell to a nother). 1603 KNOLLES Hist. 
Turks (1621) 306 Although they be in number moe than 
you, yet are they in hope, quarfell and strength, farre infe- 
riour. a 1633 AUSTIN Medit. (1635) 249 The Devill hath the 
same Quarrell to us Men, that hee had to Christ. 1655 
FULLER Ch. Hist. it. v. 43 Ethelred. .with whom DunsUm 
bad a quarrel from his cradle. 1749 FIELDING 7Vw Jones 
xv. vii, All the quarrel the squire hath to me is for taking 
your part. 1760-72 H. BROOKE Fool of Qnal, (1809) I. 32, 
I have no quarrel, I cried, to the high and mighty. 

b. With possessive pron., or genitive : One s 
cause, side, or party in a complaint or contest ; 
f one s claim to a thing. 

1380 Lay Folks Catech. 1287 Hertely in godes querel to 
withstonde .. in al ^at we may. 1390 COWER Conf. I. 29 
That he wol take the querele Of holy cherche in his defence. 
c 1440 Generydes 3536 Off all this land I geve vppe my 
quarell. ,1489 CAXTON Blanchardyn xxxiv. 126 He was 
aduertysed. .of the cause & quarelle of Blanchardyn. 1593 
SHAKS. 2 Hen. I l, in. ii. 233 Thrice is he arm d, that hath 
his Quarrell iust. 1697 DRYDEN I irg. Gcorg. iv. 318 When 
their Sov reign s Quarrel calls em out, His Foes to mortal 
Combat they defie. 1755 YOUNG Centaur\. Wks. 1757 IV. 124 
The. .heart commands the. .head, to figbt its unjust quarrel, 
and say it is its own. 1808 SCOTT Life Dryden in DCs 
Wks. (1882) I. 172 Were a nobleman to have recourse to 
hired bravoes to avenge bis personal quarrel against any 
one. 1892 STEVENSON Across the Plains xii. 313 In our 
own quarrel we can see nothing truly. 

c. With adjs., specifying the justice or other 
aspect of the cause or ground of contention, f Of 
great quarrel \ of importance. 



.... 

a fals quarele agenst God and bis seyntis. 1456 SmG. HAM-: 
Law Arms (S.T. S.) 73 Oft tymes..he that has gude rycht 
tynis the felde, and the wrang querele wynnis. a 1533 Lo. 
BERNERS Hiton xlix. 164 By a iust quarell ye may go and 
make warre vpon hym. 1590 T. HKNEAGE in Lett. Lit. Men 
(Camden) 48 Her Highness dowteth that yt may breed 
discredyt todyvers of great quarrell. 1651 Ho BBES /.*///*. 
n. xix. 97 Sufficient provision being taken, against all just 
quarrell. 1715-20 POPE Iliad in. 309 Perhaps their swords 
some nobler quarrel draw.-;, a 1806 K. WHITE Christmas- 
Day 10 Me higher quarrel calls, with loudest song. 1863 
RUSKIN Arrows of Choc e (1880) II. 25, I would have the 
country go to war, with haste, in a good quarrel. 

td. transf. Cause, reason, ground, plea. Obs. 

1456 SIR G. HAVE Law Anns (S. T. S.) 184 The King of 
France has querele to mak were apon the King of Ungary. 
1476 J. PASTON in P. Lett. III. 164 Then he shold be 
swer that I shold not be flyttyng, and I had syche a qwarell 
to kepe me at home, 1545 ASCEIAM Toxoph. To Gentlem. 
Eng. (Arb.) 20 A fletcher hath euen as good a quarell to be 
angry with an archer. 1607-12 BACON ss. t Marriage 
(Arb.) 270 So as a Man may have a quarrell to marrye 
when he will. 1633 Bp. HALL Hard Texts, TV. T. 142 
Judas of Galilee, . . upon the quarrell of the Taxes laid by 
Caesar. .made an insurrection. 

1 3. An objection, opposition, dislike or aversion 
to a thing. Obs. 

1581 W. STAFFORD Exam. Comfl. Pref., I haue indeuoured 
in fewe wordes to answere certayne quarelU and objections 
dayly and ordinarily occurrent in the talke of sundry men. 
1601 HOLLAND Pliny 1 1. 249 In the disease Tinesmus (which 
is an inordinat quarrell to the stool). 1654-66 EARL ORRERY 
Parthen. (1676) 567 It created a general quarrel to Fortune. 
1720 LADY LANDSDOWN in Lett. C tess Suffolk (1824) I. 70, 
I . .shall be tempted to have a quarrel to matrimony. 
b. Const, with (as in 2 and 4). 

1726 SWIFT Gulliver in. iv, What quarrel I had with the 
dress or looks of his domestics? 

4. A violent contention or altercation between 
persons, or of one person with another ; a rupture 
of friendly relations. 

1572 HULOET, Quarell, controncrsia&gt; contentio, jurgium 
[etc.], 1596 SHAKS. Merch. V. v. i. 238, I am th vnhappy 
subject of these quarrels, Tarn. S/ir. i. ii. 27 Rise Grumio 



QUARREL. 

rise, we will compound this quarrell. 1639 T. BRUGIS tr. 
Camus Afar. Rclat.-2\\ A man very valiant of his hands, but 
hot brained, he had had many quarrels. 1717 LADY M. W. 
MONTAGU Let. to rope 12 Feb., I was very uneasy till they 
were parted, fearing some quarrel might arise. 1769 BLACK- 
STONK Coinnt. iv. xiv. IQI If upon a sudden quarrel two 
persons light, and one of them kills the other, this is man 
slaughter. 1818 SCOTT Rob Roy x, He will take care to 
avoid a quarrel, .with any of the natives. 1838 TIMKLWAI.L 
Greece V. 265 Tbe quarrels between the Phocians and their 
Locrian neighbours. 1876 MOZLEY Univ. Semi. x. (1877) 
204 People rush into quarrels from simple violence and 
impetuosity of temper. 

fb. Quarrelling; quarrelsomeness. Obs. rare. 
1604 SHAKS. Oth. n. iii. 52 He l be as full of Quarrell, and 

offence As my yong Mistris dogge. 1605 HA CON Adv. 
Learn. I. vii. 2 All beasts . . forgetting their several! appe 
tites; some of pray, some of game, some of quarrell. 

5. Comb, as quarrel-breeder. 

1611 COTGR., Sufserttfur de noises, a make-bate, firebrand 
of contention, quarrel l-breeder. 

Quarrel (two -rel),? . Forms: 4querele,6-el^l, 
quarel, 6-7 quar(r)ell, (7 Sc. querrell\ 7- quar 
rel. [In Gower, a. OF. qttereler (F. querel/er}, f. 
querele (see prec.) : in later use prob. f. the sb.] 

1. intr. To raise a complaint, protest, or objec 
tion ; to find fault ; to take exception. 

a. Const. ivitJi. Phr. To quarrel with one s 
j bread and butter : to give up a means of livelihood 
for insufficient reasons. 

1390 ( tou KR Conf. III. 192 With that word the king 
quereleth And seith : Non is above me. 1605 BACON Aih&gt;. 
Learn, i. iv. 6 If you take out every axiom .. one by one, 
you may quarrel with them . . at your pleasure. 1671 MIL 
TON Samson 60, I must nut quarrel with the will Of highest 
: dispensation. 1752 J. GILL Trinity iv. 81, I cannot see 
i why any should quarrel with our translation. 1780 CRAIG 
Mirror No. 69 ? i How did she show superior sense by 
thus quarrelling with her bread and butter? 1894 H. 
DRUM MONO Ascent Man 265 We cannot quarrel with the 
principle in.. Nature which condemns to death the worst. 

transf. 1830 J. G. STRUTT Sylva Brit. 82 It [the Chesnut] 
quarrels with no soil assigned to it. 
t b. Const, at. Obs. 

1585 W. LAMBARD in Camdafs Lett, (1601) 29 This is 
: all that I can quarrel at ; and yet have I pried so far as I 
could. ai66z HFVI.IN Land (1668) 142 Which Clause ..was 
now quarrel d at by the Puritan Faction. 1725 DE FOK 
Voy. round World (1840) 26 The whole weight of their 
resentment seemed to tend to quarrelling at my command. 

fc. absol. or with that. Obs. rare. 

JSSS EDEN Decades 125 For all this were not the enemies 
I satisfyed : querelinge that this thynge was doone by sum 
; slyght. 1563 FOXE A. &lt;y M. (1684) 865 To thintent to 
I appcale, and. .to querell vnder the. . moste effectual! way. 

2. intr. To contend violently, fall out, break off 
friendly relations, become inimical or hostile. 

. Const, with (a person), for or about a thing). 

1530 PALSGR. 676/2, I quarell with one, I pycke a mater to 
hym to fall out with hym. 1597 HOOKER ficcl. Pol. v. 
lx,\iv. i Those [heretiques] which doe nothing else but 
quarrell. 1697 DKYUEN Virg. Georg. \\. 638 Wine urg d to 
lawless Lust the Centaurs Train, Thro Wine theyquarrell d. 
1728 T. SHERIDAN Pcrsiits iii. (1739) 41 Quarrel for your 
Mince-meat, and refuse the Lullaby. 1829 LYTTON Devercux 
n. v, She quarrelled with me for supping with St. John. 
1875 JOWETT Plato (ed. 2) V. 48 Having abundance of 
pasture. . they would have nothing to quarrel about. 

fig. 1610 SHAKS. Temp. m. i. 45 Some defect in her Did 
quarrell with the noblest grace she ow d. 

1 3. trans. To claim contentiously. Obs. rare. 

1579 FENTON Guicciard. 252 Ferdinand . . had alwayes 
secretly quarrelled that title as lawfully apperteining to the 
crowne of Aragon. 1596 DANETT tr. Comtnes (1614) 241 The 
Emperors daughter was restored vnto him, and the countie 
of Artois together with all the townes he quarrelled. 

f4. To dispute, call in question, object to (an 
act, word, etc.) ; to challenge the validity or 
correctness of. Obs. (Freq. in i;th c.) 

1609 TOURNEUR Fun. Poeme Sir F. l- ere 491 If malignant 
censure quarrels it. 1644 PRYNNE & WALKER Plenties $ 
Trial 4 The Lords Orders being not only quarrelled, but 
contemned by those who were to bail him. 1699 COLLIER 
znd Def. (1730) 326 This fine Phrase puts me in mind of his 
quarrelling a Sentence of mine for want . . of Syntax. 1745 
RUDDIMAN I ind. Buchanan 310 (Jam.), I hope you will not 
quarrel the words, for they are all Virgil s. 1786 BURNS On 
Naethingv, Some quarrel the Presbyter gown, Some quarrel 
Episcopal graithing. 

5. To find fault with (a person) ; to reprove 
angrily. Obs. exc. Sc. (Freq. in iyth c.) 

1598 B. JONSON Ev. Man in Hum. n. i, I had quarrell d 
My brother purposely. 1621 J. REYNOLDS God s Rtz 1 . agst. 
Murder i. i. 5 Quarrelling his taylor for the fashion of his 
clothes. 1688 PENTON Guard. Instruct. (1897) 47 Quarrelling 
the poor man for not coming sooner. 1728 \Vedrffiv Corr. 
(1843) III. 363 He ought not to be quarrelled for his 
opinions. 18x7 HOGG Tales ft Sk. (1837) III. 344 They 
might kill a good many without being quarrelled for it. 
1897 CROCKETT Lads Love xiii. 140 It was my fault . . 
1 quarrelled her, I angered her. 

f 6. With complement : To force or bring by 
quarrelling. Obs. 

1610 B. JONSON Alch. iv. iv, You must quarrel him out o* 
the house. 1655 FULLER Ch. Hist. in. xi. 2 Many English 
Bishops, .fearing by degrees they should all be quarrelled 
out of their places. . fled into Scotland. 1655 Hist. Camb. 
(1840) 159 How easy was it for covetousness, in those ticklish 
times, to quarrel the College lands into superstition? 1678 
] ~ng, , Mans Call. 167 There are many.. that quarrel them 
selves carnally to hell. 

Hence Qua-rrelled///. a. Also fQua rrellable 
a., capable of being called in question. 



QUARRELET. 

16.. in Peterkin RentahQrkney\\\. (:8co) 14 (Jam. SuppU 
Quhtlk gift fs not confirmed .. and so his right is most 
quarrallable. 1673 Ln. FOUNTAISHALL in M. P. Brown 
SuppL Decis. (1826) III. 14 The said act of Parliament 
appoints these deeds to be quarrellable. 1820 J. BROWN 
Hist. Brit. Ch. II. App. 7 The Antiburghers still continue 
upon their quarrelled constitution of Synod. 

I Oua rrelet. Obs. rare 1 . In 7 quarelet. 

rr ^T_. . . . .f i _ 11 11 




of pearl. 

Quarrelled (kwg-reld), a. Also quarled. 
[f. QUAKKEL st&gt;. 1 3 + -El) i.] a. Of windows : Made 
of quarrels, b. Of glass : Formed into quarrels. 

1868 J. G. MIALL Coitgreg. Yorksh. 103 The shutters which 
protected the quarreled windows from injury- 889 HISSEY 
Tour in Phaeton 26 Mullioned windows, so pleasantly 
varied by transom and quarrelled glass. 1894 RLACKMORE 
Perlyctvss 142 The light from a long quarled window. 

Quarreller (kwg-relaa . Also 5 querelour, 
6-7 quareller, (7 -or, -our), [f. QUARREL v. + 
-EH .] One who quarrels, in senses of the vh. 

c 1450 Aristotle s ARC in Q. Elh. Acad., etc. 66 Quenche 



be. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny I. 58 No riuer hath lesse liberty 
.. yet he is no quarreller, nor much harm doeth he. a 1642 
SIR W. MONSON Wars with Spain (16821 3 It were better 
to keep company with a Coward than a Quarreller. 176 . 
WESLEV Husli. ff ll hvs iii. 6 Wks. 1811 IX. 66 Away then 
with .. this quarreller, suspicion. 1824 SCOTT St. Ronan s 
viii, Quarrellers do not usually live long. 1892 E. RKKVKS 
Homeward Bound 103 The big albatross.. scattering the 
quarrellers, seizes the tempting morsel for himself. 

fb. With pun on QUARKEL sb. 1 3. Obs. 

1630 Conceits, Clinches etc. (Halliw. 1860) 5 One said it was 
unfit a glasier should be a constable, because he was 
a common quareller. 1673 R. HEAD Canting Acad. 163 
Glasiers. .are constant Quarrellers. 

Quarrelling (kwgTt-lin), vbl. sb. [f. QUARHKL 
v. + -ING 1.] The action of the vb. QUARREL. 

1546 BALE Eng. Votaries I. 72 They wolde . . styll vexe 
hym with olde quarellynges. 1611 RICH Honest. ^^(Percy 
Soc.) 54 The mind is oppressed with idle thoughts which 
spurreth on the tongue to contentious quarrelling, a 1715 
BURNBT O-.UH Time III. (1724) I. 452 Seimour and he had 
fallen into some quarrellings. 1734 T. WATT I ocab. Eng. 
Lat. 38 You are always making a Quarrelling about nothing. 
1866 GEO. ELIOT F. Holt_ (1868) 30 There was no fear of 
family coolness or quarrelling on this side. 

atlrili. 1625 MASSINGER AVzy U ay v. i, Make not My 
house your quarrelling scene. 

Qua-rrelling, ///. a. [f. as prec. + -ING ^.] 
That quarrels ; quarrelsome. 

1589 NASHE Pnf. Greene s Menaphon (Arb.) 13 That 
quarrelling kinde of verse. 1593 Tell-Trotli s N. Y. Gift 
30 The quarreling mate shall not complaine. 1670 CLARKN- 
DON Ess. Tracts (1727) 166 A froward, proud and quarreling 
conscience. 1822 II. CORNWALL Tivo Dreams ii The loud 
quarrelling elements cast out Their sheeted fires. 

Hence t Qua rrelliuffly adv. Obs. 

1571 GpUDlNG Cah in on Ps. Ixix. i r They stryve with them 
quarrellingly, and wythout meeldnesse. 1386 HOLINSHEU 
Citron. F.ng-. III. 20/2 He caused the bishop to be sued, 
quarelinglie charging him that [etc.]. 

t Quarrellous, a. Obs. Forms: 5 quere- 
lous(e, quarelouse, 6 quaril-, quarel(l)-, 6-7 
quarrel-, 6-7 quarrellous. [a. OF. querelous 
(F. querelleux] : see QUARREL rf. 3 an d -ous. In 
later use perh. a new formation.] a. Given to 
complaining ; querulous, b. Quarrelsome, con 
tentious ; fault-finding. (In common use from 
about 1560 to 1650.) 

_ c 1400 Betyn 2070 They were so querelouse of al myjt com 
in mynde Thouje it were nevir indede I-do. -1475 Lertm 
or be Lewde in Bailees Bit. 10 [Be not] To Queynt, to 
Querelous, and Queme welle thy maistre. 1490 CAXTON 
Kneydos xxii. 80 Crete wepynges and quarellouse plaintes. 
1556 AHP. PAKKER Ps. xxxiv. 84 To scape theyr foes so 
quarilous. 1610 Bp. HALL A fa!. Brmvmsts 83 His Maiesties 
speech . . might haue staied the course of your quarrelous 
pen. a 1639 SPOTTISWOOD Hist. Ch. Scot. n. (1677) 66 This 
Gentleman had been in former times very quarrellous and 
turbulent, a 1656 HALES Calif. Rein. (1688) 113 This quar 
rellous and fighting humour. 

Hence f Qua rrellonsly adv. 

1580 A. ML-NDAY in John a Kent, etc. (Shaks. Soc.) 78 
Evene desperate Dick that can .. behave him selfe so 
quarrelously. 

t Quarrel-picker, -piker. Obs. [f. the phr. 

to pick a quarrel: cf. QUARREL s/&gt;.3 2 and PICK v.] 

1. One who picks quarrels ; a quarrelsome person. 

1547 COVERDALE Old Faith To Rdr. Avij, Then shall we 
be no Quarrellpykerrs. 1551 T. WILSON Logike 46 These 
quarelpickers, these roysters, and fighters. 1608 TOPSELL 
Serpents (1658) 780 A company of corner-creepers, spider- 
catchers, fault-finders, and quarrell-pickers. 

2. Slang. (With pun on QUARREL sbl 3 ; cf. 
QUARRELLEK b.) A glazier. 

a 1700 B. E. Diet. Cant. Crew. 

So Quarrel-picking, -piking vbl. sb. and///, a. 
v. 557 J P 6 "^-) Actt xvii. 7 (,., Like quarelpikin" 
they vsed against Chnste 1591 R. TURNBULL Exf. fame s 
tp Bed. Aivb, Reprochfull censure, .. without quarrell- 
plckmg. ,894 Wgtm. Cat. 25 Sept. 3/2 A .. dining^quarre - 
picking, and duelling club. 

Quarrelsome (kwg-ielsm), a. [f. QUARREL 

rf.3 + -SOME.] 



24 

1. Inclined to quarrel ; given to, or characterized 
by, quarrelling, t Const, at. 

1596 SHAKS. Tarn. Shr. i. ii. 13 My M r is growne quarrel- 
some. 1616 W. SCLATER Serin. 10 Weigh well how.. quar 
relsome at the Hues of magistrates the people are. a 1639 
W. WHATEI.EY Prototypes i. xvi. (1640) 161 A quarrelsome 
fellow, still brawling and falling out. 1681 ANNE WYNDHAM 
Kings Concealni, 78 This quarrelsom Gossipping was a most 
seasonable diversion. 1749 FIELDING Tow Jones v. ix, Men 
who are ill-natured and quarrelsome when they are drunk. 
1818 SCOTT Rob Roy xii, The wine rendered me loquacious, 
disputatious and quarrelsome. 1879 MRS. SEGUIN Blk. 
Forest viii. 115 The lords of Windeck .. were of a specially 
quarrelsome temper. 

2. Offensive, disagreeable, nonce-use. 

1835 COLERIDGE Aids Re_fl. App. i. (1836) 35 Technical 
terms, hard to be remembered, and alike quarrelsome to 
the ear and the tongue. 

Hence Qua rrelsomely adv. 

*755 in JOHNSON. 1873 Miss BROUCHTON Nancy III. 132 
In an aggressively loud voice, as if he were quarrelsomely 
anxious to be overheard. 1880 MRS. PARR Adam $ Eve II. 
vii. 147 The crowd grew. .quarrelsomely drunk. 

Quarrelsomeness, [f. prec. + -NESS.] The 

condition or character of being quarrelsome ; con 
tentious disposition. 

1611 DONNE Scrm. (ed. Alford) V. 32 God giveth not his 
Children .. valour, and then leaveth them to a spirit of 
Quarrelsomeness, a 1656 Bi*. HALL Ron. 77 (T.i The 
giddiness of some, others quarrelsomeness. 1780 BF.NTHAM 
Princ, LegisL Wks. 1843 I. 76 note. Although a man, l&gt;y 
his quarrelsomeness, should for once have been engaged in 
a bad action [etc.J. 1879 R. K. DOUGLAS Confucianism in. 
88 In manhood . . lie avoided quarrelsomeness. 

Quarrender, variant of QUAUENDEX. 

tQuarrer. Obs. Forms: 4-5 quarer(e, 4 
quarrer(e, quariere. [a. OF. quarriere f. (i2th 
c. ; mod.F. earrire} t quarrier m. = med.L. quar- 
(r)er(i}a, qitarraria, guadrdria, f. quadrdre to 
square (stones).] =* QUARBT sb* 

13.. Aletr. Horn. (Vernon MS.) in Herrig Archiv LVII. 
259 Ffer fro be Abbey was a quarere. c 1350 /F///. Palerne 
2232 pei saie . . a semliche quarrere under an hei^ hel al 
hohve newe diked. 1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) I. 271 In 
GalHa bej&gt; many good quarers and noble for to digge stoon. 
c 1440 Promp. Parv. 419/1 Quarere, or quarere of stone, 
(A , quarer) . . lapidicina. 

t Quarreure. Obs. rare. [a. OF. quarreure 
(guarntre, mod.F. carmre) L. quadrature* 
QUADRATURE.] Quadrature. 

( 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 112 Loke J?at be 
mone be noght in |&gt;e entree of be way, in be quarreure of pe 
sonne, or els yn his contrary. 

tQuarreyor. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. QUARRY z/.i] 
? A bird proper to be the quarry of a hawk. 

J 575 TURBERV. Faulconrie 130 This you shall doe. .vntill 
your Hawke be well entred and quarreyed and that she 
knowe a quarreyor sufficiently. 

Qua rrial&gt;le, . rare. [f. QUARRY v. 2 + -ABLE.] 
Capable of being quarried. 

1856 EMERSON Eng. Traits iii. 40 The arable soil, the 
quarriable rock. 1880 RI SKIM Fathers Have Told Us i. i. 
16 Quarriable banks above well-watered meadow. 

t Qna rried, /// a- 1 Obs. [f. QUARRY v. 1 } 

Well-quarried, properly trained to fly at quarry. 

X 57S TuRBBRV. Faulconrie 154 Then shall you first cast off 
a well quarried or make Hawke, and let hir stoupe a fowle. 

Qua-rried, ///. a.- [f. QUARRY .* + -ED*.] 
Dug out of, or as out of, a quarry. 

1747 H. BROOKK Fables^ Female Seducers Wks. (1810) 414 
He . . Of pearl and quarry d diamond dreams. 1855 O. \V. 
HOLMES Poems 35 One leap of Ocean scatters on the sand 
The quarried bulwarks of the loosening land. 

Quarrier 1 (kwo/riai). Forms: a. 5 quarre-, 
qwari-, qvary-, querrour, Sc. quereour, 5-6 
quarriour. . quaryere, 6 quarryer, 7- quar- 
rier. [a. OF. gttarreonr, ~ieur t quarrier (mod.F. 
carrier), agent-n. to quarrer (mod.F. carrer}: L. 
qtiadrdre to square (stones) : cf. late L, quadrator, 
qitadratarius, in same sense, and see QUARRY st&gt;.~] 
One who quarries stone ; a quarryman. 

a. 1375 .SV. Leg. Saints xxiii. {Seven Sleepers) 212 
Quereouris gadryt sone stains to wyne. c 1400 Destr. Troy 
1531 Masons full mony ; . . qwariours qweme. 1424 E. K, 
Wills 59 Paied to Fairchild, quarriour, xiijj. and iiijrf, for 
freestone. 1483 Cnth. AngL 296/2 A Qvaryour, lapidicius. 
1590 Serpent of Devis. Ciij, There was found by quarriours 
. .a rich tonibe of stone. 

ft. ci44o Promp. Pan: 419/1 Quaryere, lapidicidius. 
1500-18 Ace. Loitth Steeple in Arcteokgia X. 71 William 



-.57 Pillars and Galleries made by 
Quamers. 1811 PlNKBRTON Petral. 1. 498 Where the gypsum 
once bore a prismatic form, now destroyed by the progress 
of the quarriers. 1876 T. HARDY Ethelbcrta xxxi, Every 
body in the parish who was not a boatman was a quarrier. 

fig. 1825 HONE Every-day Bk. I. 274 He was the quarrier, 
and architect, ^and builder-up of his own greatness. 

t Qua rrier 2 . Obs. Forms: 6 quarier(e,6-7 
quarrier, (6 -iere, -iour). [App. an alteration 
of QUARRY sb.; see also QUARIOK] A large 
square candle. 

&lt; 1550 Document C^.\ To cause the groomes to delyver to 
the groom porter all the remaynes of torches and quarriers. 
1581 STYWARD Mart. Discipl. \. 24 Their quariers and their 
cressets being light euerie one by it selfe. 1604 Honseh. Ord. 
(1790)305 Mortores, Torchetts, Torches, Quarrioures. 1659 
TORRIANO, Doppwne^ a great torch of wax, which in Court 
is called a Standard, or a quarrier. 



QUARRY. 

Quarring, vbl. sb. : see QUAR j .i 

Quarrington, variant of QUARENDEN. 

t Quarromes, quarron. Obs. Cant. The body. 

1567 HARMAN Caveat (1869) 84 Bene Lightmans to thy 
quarromes. .God morrowe to thy body. 1641 BROME Jovial 
Creui u. Wks. 1873 HI- 3^8 Here s Pannum and Lap, and 
good Poplars of Yarrum To fill up the Crib and to comfort 
the Qunrron. 

Quarry (kwo ri), sb* Forms: 4-5 quirre, 
quyrre, 5 kirre, kyrre, whirry, 6 quyrry ; 4-5 
querrye, querre (also 7), 7 querry ; 5 quarre, 
6 quarie, 6-7 quarrie, (6-7 -ey), 6- quarry. 
[a. OF. cuirte, curee, f. ntir (: L. corinni) skin : 
see sense i.] 

f 1. Certain parts of a deer placed on the hide 
and given to the hounds as a reward ; also, the 
reward given to a hawk which has killed a bird 
(see quot. c 1350). Obs. 

c 1320 Sir Tristr. 499 Hert, liuer and li^tes, And blod tille 
his quirre, Houndes on hyde he di^tes. c 1350 Par/. Three 
Ages 233 [The falconer] puttis owte..he maryo [v.r, marowj 
one his gloue And quotes thaym [the hawks] to the querrye 
O.r. whirry] that quelled hym to be dethe. c 1400 Master of 
GaweProl. (MS. Digby 182), And after whann the hert is 
spaled and dede.he vndothe hym, and maketh his kirre and 
enquirreth or rewardeb his houndes. c 1420 / enery de Ttuety 
in Rel. Ant. I. 153 The houndes shal be rewardid with the 
nekke and with the bewellis .. and thei shal be etyn under 
the skyn, and therfore it is clepid the quarre. 1486 Bk. St. 
Albiins F iv, That callid is Iwis The quyrre, a boue the 
skyn for it etyn is. 1576 TURBERV. / enerie 34 How a man 
should enter his yong houndes to hunte the Harte, and of 
the quaries and rewardes that he shall giue them. [1688 R. 
HOLME Armoury \\. 188/1 Quarry., is a gift or reward 
given the Hounds, being some part of the thing hunted.] 

t b. To blow the quarry ; To sound a horn to 
call the hounds to the quarry. Obs. rare- 1 . 

c 1500 H 7 yl Buckes Test. (Copland) 70, I ma no lenger 
tarry, I must nedis hense go, I here them blowe the quarry. 

1 2. A collection or heap made of the deer killed 
at a hunting. Obs. 

13. . Gaiv. &lt;(- Gr. Knt. 1324, & quykly of be quelled dere a 
querre bay naked, (-1400 Master of Game xxxv. (MS. 
Digby 182), Alle ^&gt;e while that be huntynge lasteth shulde 
be cartes go aboute fro place to place, to brynge deer to be 
quirre. lbid. t pen shulde be maistre of be game leede }&gt;e 
kynge to be querre, and shewe it hym. &lt; 1500 Wyl Bucke s 
Test. (Copland) 31 He that me helpeth to the quarry bringe 
I wyll that he haue mi necke, for a shorte repaste. (21550 
Hunting of Cheviot 8 in Child Ballads III. 307 To the 
quyrry then the Perse went, To se the bryttlynge off the 
deare. 1590 NASHE Pasguil s Apol. \. E, The carkases of 
the deade, like a quarrie of Deare at a general hunting, 
[shall be] hurled vppon a heape. 1605 SHAKS. Macb. iv. iiL 
206 To relate the manner Were on the Quarry of these 
murther d Deere To adde the death of you. 

fb. transf. A heap of dead men ; a pile of dead 
bodies. Obs, 

1589 R. ROBINSON Gold. Mirr. (Chetham Soc.) p. xxiii, 
Till to the quirry, a number out of count, Were brought to 
reape the iust reward at last. 1603 KNOLLES Hist. Turks 
(1621) 308 All fowly foiled with bloud, and the quarrey of 
the dead. 1611 SPEED Hist. Gt. Brit. VIM. vii. 50, 410 
Then went they in haste to the quarry of the dead, but by 
no meanes could finde the body of the King. 
fig- I ^33 HERBERT Temple^ Sinner 30, I finde there 
quarries ofpil d vanities. 

3. a. The bird flown at or killed by a hawk or 
other bird of prey. 

1486 Bk. St. Albans Dij, Yowre hawke fleeth to the 
querre. 1590 SPENSER F. Q. H. xl. 43 As when Joue s. .bird 
from hye Stoupes at a flying heron . . The stone dead quarrey 
falls. 1695 CONGREVE Love for L* v. ii, Hooded like a hawk, 



to sieze at first sight upon the quarry. 1748 RICHARDSON 
Clarissa (1811) II. xxv. 166 Wrens and sparrows are not 
too ignoble a quarry for this villanous gos-hawk. 1855 H. 
SPENCER Princ. Psychol. (1872) I. in. viii. 352 A falcon 
swooping on its quarry. 1878 B. TAYLOR Deukalion n. v. 84 
There wheels a vulture seeking other quarry. 

b. The animal pursued or taken by hounds or 
hunters (see also quot. 1867). 

1612 DKAYTON Poly-olb. xin. 215 No beast shal! prove thy 
Quarries hecre, Save those the best of chase. 1665 BOYLE 
Occas. Reft,, Disc. Occas. Med. (1848) 22 One [Rabbit] sets 
him a running, and another proves his Quarry. 1695 
TEMPLE Hist, Eng. (1699)180 The Game, which it was their 
Interest to preserve, both for their Sport and the Quarry. 
1808 SCOTT Mann. n. Introd., The startled quarry bounds 
amain, As fast the gallant greyhounds strain. 1867 SMYTH 
Sailors Word-bk.)Qnarry^\.\\z. prey taken by whaler^. 1883 
E. PENNELL- ELM HIRST Cream Leuestersh. 206 The pack 
pressed their sinking quarry into and through the coverts. 

c. fig. Any object of chase, aim, or attack ; an 
intended prey or victim. 

1615 TOMKINS Albumazar v. \. m Hazl. Dodsley XI. 404 
When they counter Upon one quarry, break that league, as 
we do. 1693 DRYDEN Juvenal Pi ef. (1697)61 Folly was the 
proper Quarry of Horace, and not Vice. 1740 SOMERVILI.E 
i I obbinol m, 362 If from some small Creek, A lurking Cor 
sair the rich Quarry Spies. 1837 CARLYLE Fr. Rev. I. in. 
iii, Count Mirabeau . . scents or descries richer quarry from 
afar. 1883 KROUDE Short Stud. IV. i. iii. 29 The arch 
bishop dared not at once strike so large a quarry. 

1 4. The attack or swoop made by a hawk upon 
a bird ; the act of seizing or tearing the quarry. Obs. 

1607 HEYWOOD Worn, Killed "w. Kindn. Wks. 1874 II. 99 
My Hawke kill d too. Char. I, but twas at the querre, 
Not at the mount, like mine. 1615 LATHAM Falconry (163$ 
27 These kindes of Hawkes . . will be presently wonne with 
two or three quarries. 1667 Decay Chr. Piety v. 16 
Prometheus s vultur begins her quarry in this life. 

5. Cotft&.f as quarry-overtaking, -scorning adjs. 



QUARRY. 

1647 FANSHAWR tr. Pastor Fido (1676) 7 Within whose 
Quarry-scorning mind had place The pleasure or the glory 
of the Chase. 1873 HROWNINC Red Colt. Nt.-caf&gt; 400 For 
ward, the firm foot ! Onward the quarry-overtaking eye ! 
Quarry (kwg-ri), j/;.2 Forms: 5 quar(r)ey, 
querry, 6 quarye, 6-7 quarrie, (7 -ey&gt; quarie), 
6- quarry, (9 dial, wharry). [a. med.L. quareia 
(1266 in Du Cange), var. of quareria, etc. QUAR- 
KEB, q.v. See also QUAR s/&gt;.^, QUARREL jiM] 
1. An open-air excavation from which stone for 
building or other purposes is obtained by cutting, 
blasting, or the like ; a place where the rock has 
been, or is being, cnt away in order to be utilized, 
c 1420 Chron. I Hod, 3657 W* an hors..He ladde stones 
from J&gt;e quarey to }&gt;e chirche. 1458 R. FANNANDK /user, St. 
Helenas, Abingdon in Leland /tin. (1769) VII. 80 Than 
ciafti men for the querry made crowes of yre. 1480 CAXTOM 
Descr. Brit, 5 Quareyes of marble of cUuerse maner stones. 
1562 Act 5 KHz. c. 13 3 The Rubbish or smallest broken 
Stones of any Quarry, 1577 NoRTiniRooKEZJ/zv/fg- (1843) 135 
Let him be punished and cast . . in the quarries to digge stones. 
1664 DRVDKN Rival Ladies n. i, If thou wouldst offer botli 
the Indies to me, The Eastern Quarries, and the Western 
Mines. 1728 YOUNG Love of Fame i. 168 Belus ,. builds 
himself a name; and, to be great, Sinks in a quarry an 
immense estate ! 1759 JOHNSON Kassetas xxxvii, Walls 
supply stones more easily than quarries. 1838 THIRLWALL 
Greece xv. II. 320 The quarries were filled with these un 
fortunate captives. 1877 A. B. EDWARDS Up Nile viL 165 
An ancient quarry from which the stone has been cut out in 
smooth masses. 

fig. 1647 COWLEY Mistr,, Thraldom v, Others with sad 
and tedious art, Labour i the Quarries of a stony Heart. 
1663 SIR G. MACKENZIE Relig. Stoic xvii. (1685) 152 Each 
sentence seems a quarry of rich meditations. 1847 Lu. 
LINDSAY Chr. Art I. 60 The whole quarry of legends, cere 
monies and superstitions which Rome., employed in the 
structure of. . the church of the middle ages. 

b. transf. Any place from which stones may be 
obtained as from a quarry. 

1838 THIRLWALL Greece II. 364 Houses, temples, the 
monuments of the dead, were the quarries from which they 
drew. 1858 HAWTHORNE Fr. fy It. Jrnls. (1872) I. 48 Its 
walls were a quarry of precious stones. 1871 FKI-KMAN 
Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. xviii. 220 The ruins of the Roman 
town still remained as a quarry ; where all who would might 
seek materials for their own buildings. 

t 2. A large mass of stone or rock in its natural 
state, capable of being quarried. Obs. 

1630 MILTON Passion 46 On the softned Quarry would 
I score My plaining vers. 1670 DRYDEN -znd Pt. Conq. 
Granada v. i, As some huge rock, Rent from its quarry, 
does the waves divide. 1711 J. JAMES tr. Le Blond s 
Gardening 107 When they meet with Rocks or Quarries, 
they make use of Gun-powder to blow them up. 1764 
Museum Rust, II. Ixxviii. 272 Where lucern is planted upon 
a quarry, if the stone hath not many interstices., the length 
of the roots will be impeded. 

fig. rti6s FLETCHER Love s Pilgr. v. iv, Though I am 
none of those Flinty fathers, yet.. All are not of my quarry, 
t 3. The hard granular part of a pear. Obs. 
rare 1 . (So F. carriere.) 

1707 Curiosities in Hnsb. $ Gard. 47 Besides these Parts, 
a Pear has one called the Quarry, which is a little heap of 
stony Knobs. 

4. attrib. and Comb.^ as quarry-cart ^ -district, 
-ground, -hole, -land, -mason, -master, -owner, 
-pit, -rid (refuse), -slave, -stone, etc.; quarrylike 
adj. ; quarry-faced a., rough-faced, as taken from 
the quarry ; quarry-stone bond, rubble masonry ; 
quarry-sap, -water, the moisture contained in 
newly quarried stone. 

1805 R. W. DICKSON Pract. Agrlc. (1807) 1. 62 The "quarry. 
cart, a strong low cart for the loading and carrying of heavy 
stones. 1577 HARRISON England n. xxii. (1877) i- 337 Where 
the rocks and *quarrie grounds are. 1891 G. NEILSOM Per 
Lineam Valli 32 Hundreds of *quarry-holes, mere surface 
pitmarks on the hill sides. 17^2 A. YOUNG Trav. France 
289 Rock and "quarry-land, with sandy gravels, abound 
there. 1856 MKS. H. B. STOWE Dred II. vi. 76 They are 
*quarry-masters, that quarry out marble enough for a genera 
tion to work up. 1579-80 NORTH Plutarch (1676) 955 
Dionysius . . sent him forthwith to dig in the *Quarry-pit. 
1862 Mm. Proc. Inst. C. . XXI. 482 Covered with a layer 
of puddled clay . . *quarry rid and broken stone. 1883 
Stonemason Jan., So that .. the *quarry sap might be 
thoroughly diied out of them, and the stone.. fit for use. 
*8i3 J. FORSYTH Rent. Ex curs, Italy 271 An iron crow.. 
appears to have been left there by some ancient *quarry- 
slave. 1856 BRYANT Thanatopsis 77 Like the quarry-slave 
at night, Scourged to his dungeon. 1878 HUXLEY Physiogr. 
22 Stone when freshly taken from the quarry usually holds 
moisture, known to the workman as *quarry water . 

Quarry (kwoTi),^.3 Also 6 -ey, 7 -is. [Later 
form of QUARREL sb^, perh. after QUARRY a. or F. 
quarrt sb. (see next).] 

fl. A square-headed arrow. = QUARREL i. Obs. 
1600 FAIRFAX Tasso in. xlix, The shafts and quarries from 
their engins flie. 1627 DRAYTON Agincourt 20 Out of the 
Towne come quarries thick as haile. 
2. A pane of glass. *= QUARREL 3. 
1611 COTCR., Rhoml&gt;e,..3. figure that hath equall sides, and 
vnequall angles ; as a quarrie of glasse, etc. 1652-62 
HEYLIN Cosmogr. i. (1682) 145 They only open a little 
quarry of Glass, and presently shut it close again. 1727-41 
CHAMBERS Cycl. s, v. Quarry, Quarries, or quarrels, of glass, 
are of two kinds : viz. square and long ; . . the acute angle 
being 77 19 in the square quarries, and 67 22 in the long 
ones. 1733 NEAL Hist. Purit. II. 234 He took down a 
quarry or two in a quiet and peaceable manner. 1879 
MRS, OLIPHANT Within Precincts (TauchiO I. iv. 62 This 
window was filled with old painted glass in. .quarries. 
attrib. 1703 T. N. City $ C. Purchaser 158 For taking 
VOL. VIII. 



25 

down Quarry-glass, Scouring it .. and setting up again, the 
usual Price is i^d, per Foot. 

3. A square storie, tile, or brick. =QUARHEL 4. 

1555 EDKN Decades 329 Al matters of hard compositions 
as quarreys and stones. 1664 H. MORE Myst, I nig. 379 Lying 
not.. as the quarries of a Pavement, but as the scales of 
Fishes. 1709 STEELE Tatler No. 179 f 8 What Ground 
remains . . is flagged with large Quarries of white Marble. 
1876 GEO. ELIOT Dan. Der. n. xvi, Scoured deal, red 
quarries, and white-wash, 

.//&gt;. 1593 NASHE 4 Lett. Confut, 68 In a verse, when 
a worde of three syllables cannot thrust in but sidelings, to 
ioynt him euen, we are oftentimes faine to borrowe some 
lesser quarry of elocution from the Latine. 

Comb. 1885 Census Instruct. 87 Brick-, Tile-maker.. 
Quarry Layer, Presser, Maker. 

t Quarry, sb. 4 Obs. rare- 1 . pa.F.#tfrr/(now 
carrt) a square piece, sb. use of quarrt QUARRY a. 
See also QUARION, QUARRIER.] A square candle. 

1526 J/t&gt;nse?t, Ord. (1790) 157 One of the groomes..to carry 
to the chaundrie all the remaine of morters, torches, quarries, 
pricketts. 

t Qua rry, a. 1 Obs. Also 4-5 quarre, (4 -ee, 

-ey, quare, ?quaire), 6 quarye, 7 quarrie. [a. 
OF. quarre (mod.F. carrt) : L. quadrat-us square, 
QUADRATE #.] Square ; squarely built, stout. 

1*97 R. GLOI.-C. (Rolls) 8527 Quarre [r.r. quarry, quare] he 
was & wel ymad vor to be strong, c 1330 R. BRUNNE 
Chron. U ace (Rolls 1 ) 10310 pat lough ys here yn bys centre, 
Cornerd as a cheker quarre. c 1380 Sir Fernmb. 1072 
Erode scholdres had he with-alle; & brustes ful quarree. 
c 1400 tr. Sir r,- fa Secret. &gt; Gin . Lordsk. 92 Anober [plant]:, 
whos braunche is quarre, whos leuys er round, c 1440 
Prontp. Pan. . 419/1 Quarry, tbykk mann, or womann,.. 
corpulcnttis,gyossus, 157^ G. HARVEY Lctter-bk. (Camden) 
93 They are so quarry bigge and righte Babylonian like. 
1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. 499 To make his images of a quarry 
and_ square stature. 1611 COTGR., Corpulent, grosse, big- 
bodied, quarrie, fat. 

t Qua rry, a. 2 Obs. rare. In 6-7 quar(V)ie. 
[f. QUAR z/.Z + .y].] Clotted, coagulated. 

1587 MASCALL Govt. Cattle, Sheepe (1627) 24: Put the 
fine powder of rozen into the cod, and that will dry vp the 
quarie blond. 1638 FEATLEY Tramubst. 76 You touch no 
soft flesh with your hand, nor quarrie blood with your lips. 

Quarry (kwrrri\ r-.l [f. QUARRY sfi.i] 

1 1. trans, a. To teach (a hawk) to seize its 
quarry, b. To supply with a quarry (in quot. _/%.) 

, X S7S TURBERV. Faulconrie 121 At the beginning rewarde 
hir and feede hir well vpon the quarrey. . . When she is well 
in bloude, and well quarried, then let hir flee with other 
hawkes. 1613 BRAUM. & FL, Captain in. iii, Tis pity Thou 
shouldst not be wellquarredat thy entr ing Thou art so high 
flown for him. 1618 LATHAM znd Bk, Falconry (1633) 1J 7 
Hauing a good make Hawke, you shall wel quarrie her, 
and then she will bee worthy the accounting of. 

f 2. intr. To pounce or seize on y as a hawk on 
its quarry ; to prey or feed on. Obs. 

1627-77 FKLTMAM Resolves \. xxi. 38 She quarries on the 
prey she meets withal, a 1658 CLF.VF.LAND Poems, To Pro- 
tector^ (1677) 144 Can your Towring Spirit, which hath 
quarried upon Kingdoms, make a stoop at us? 1681 T. 
FLATMAN Hemclitus Ridens No. 9 (1713) I. 58 Though 
Eagles do not quarry upon Flies. 1709 JER. COLLIER Ess. 
Mor. Suly. iv. 39 He has quarryed upon the whole, and 
master d the Men, as well as the Money. 

3. trans. To hunt down or kill (a beast of chase). 

1820 BYHON Mar. Fal. in. n. 402 Nor turn aside to strike 
at such a prey, Till nobler game is quarried. 

Quarry (kwo-ri), v? [f. QUARRY sb?\ 

1. trans. To obtain (stone, etc.) by the processes 
employed in a quarry. Also with out. 

1774 GOLDSMITH Hist. Earth v, In the mountains of Cas- 
travan..they quarry out a white stone. 1811 PINKERTON 
Petral. II. 57 It is quarried at Vulpino, 15 leagues from 
Milan. 1853 KANE Grmnell Exfi. xxx. (1856) 258 Now we 
had to quarry out the blocks [of ice] in flinty, glassy lumps. 
1872; YEATS Growth Comm. 39 Higher up the river valley 
were quarried the massive syenite slabs used in the erection 
of their temples. 

b. fig. To obtain or extract by laborious methods. 

1860 MAURY Phys. Geog. Sea x. (Low) 465 Materials 
which a certain kind of insect quarried from the sea water. 
1868 J. H. BLUNT Ref. Ch. Rug. I. 361 His only object was 
to quarry gold and silver out of the monastic treasuries. 

2. To form a quarry in, to cut into (rock, etc.). 

1847 EMERSON Poems, The House, She ransacks mines 
and ledges. And quarries every rock. 1866 LIDDON Bampt. 
Lect. \. (1875) 34 The rocky hillside is no longer beautiful 
when it has been quarried. 1877 A. E. EDWAKDS Up Nile 
v. 120 The rocky barrier .. quarried here and there in 
dazzling gaps of snow-white cuttings. 

3. intr. To cut or dig jn ( or as in, a quarry. 

1848 KINCSLKY Sainfs Trag, n. x, Something did strike 
my heart.. Which quarries daily there with dead dull pain. 
1874 L, STEPHEN Hours in Library (1892) I. x. 345 The 
industrious will find, .waste paper in which they may quarry 
to their heart s content. 

Hence Qua-rrying vbl, sb. Also//, and atlrib. 

1825 CRABB, Quarryings, pieces that are broken off from 
the different materials that are wrought in quarries. 1854 
H. MILLER Sch. $ Schm. xlii. (1860) 138 On first commencing 
our quarrying operations. 1865 SWINBURNE Poems % Ball., 
Orchard 33 No quarrying now the corner-stone is hewn. 

Qua rry, z. 3 rat-g- 1 . [f. QUARRY j.3 2 or 3.] 
trans. To glaze or lay with quarries. 

1851 Tf RNER Dom. Archil. I. v. 246 To whitewash and 
quarry the King s chamber. 

Qua-rryman (kw9-rimn). [f. QUARRY sb.?] 
One employed in quarrying ; one who works in 
a quarry. 

1611 COTGR., Qttarrifur, a Quarrier, or Quarrey-man. 



QUART. 

a 1718 WOODWARD (J.), The quarryman assured me [it] was 
Mat. 1806 A. DUNCAN Nelson 284 His father, a quarryman 
lived at Rusty Anchor. 1862 ANSTKD Channel Id. iv. 
App. B (ed. 21 570 In Guernsey, six hundred and fifty-three 
were quarry men. 1885 Munch. Exam. 28 May 5/2 The 
whole Welsh people, from the aristocracy down to the 
collier and quarryman, are agreed. 

t Quart, quert, a. and rf.l Obs. Forms : 4-5 
quarte, quertfe, qwert(e, 5 qwarte, -tt, whert, 
whart(e, 4-6 quart, [app. a. ON. *kwert, neut. 
of *kiuer-r (of which the recorded forms are I eel. 
kyrr, ONorw. kvirr, Da. qvyr, Sw. ijvar) quiet, 
BtillMHG.&i m; (G.&irre),Golh. qairrus gentle, 
mild. For the retention of the neuter ending cf. 
thwart. In Kngl. the word is chiefly poetic.] 

A. adj. Healthy ; in good condition ; whole and 
sound. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 261 19 (Colt.) Opins to your lauerd your 
liert, And riues it, to mak it quert. 13.. SeufH Sat,: (W.) 
771 The cradel turnd up so doun . . The stapdes hit uphe d 
al quert. a 1400 Stock/i. MeJ. MS. i. 146 in Anglia XVIII. 
298 pis drinke xal . . makyn hym hwngry for to etc As a 
qwert man al mancr mete, a 1420 HOCCLEVE De AVv 
J rinc. 1061 Be thou riclic or poor, or sike or quert. 1450 
Life St. Cnllib. 4215 On one his eye was hale and \\hait. 
1556 ABI&gt;. PARKER j s. Ixxiii. 203 Their paunches ful : their 
helth so quart. 

B. sb. Health ; healthy or sound condition ; the 
state of being alive and well. Chiefly in phr. in 
ijnart (freq. in 14-151)1 c.). 

i3&lt;x&gt; Cursor M. 1803 pof bat noe was in quert, He was 
noght al at es in hert. 1:1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. Wacc 
(Rolls) 9990 Ouer al was wo, & no whar quert. 1:1400 
Destr. Troy 6941 [pai] fayn were. .bat bai had hym at hond 
& in holl qwert. f 1450 Life S!. Cutlikert 3958 Bischop 
Edbart Wex full seke and oute of whart. 1522 MORE DC 
gnat. Noniss. Wks. 80/1 Ve would recken your belly not in 
good quart. 1559 MORWVNG Eronym. 149 It preservelh it 
in good health and in good quart. 

b. That which gives health or soundness, rare. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 21354 P.e rode. .Gains al ur care it es ur 
quert. &lt;ri4oo Vwaiue f Caw. 1488 My leman swete,. .My 
joy, my comforth, and my quert. 

Quart (kw.tt), sb.- Forms : 5 qwh-, qvarte, 
5-7 quarte, J dial, whart), 4- quart. fa. F. 
quaite iem. (i3th c. in sense i) and quart masc. 
(= It. yi/arta, quarto, Sp. atarta,cuarto), repr. L. 
juar/a, -tuin, fern, and neut. of qiiartus fourth.] 

1. An English measure of capacity, one-fourth of 
a gallon, or two pints. 

&lt; 1325 Poem times Edu&gt;. //, xxix, He wil drawe at a 
draw3t A gode quart other more Of gode ale. c 1386 
CHAUCER Miller s T. 311 This Carpenter .. liroghte of 
niyghty Ale a large quart, c 1420 Lih-r Cocorum (1862) 26 
Of hony a qwharte thou take. 1500-20 DUNBAR Poems xl. 
27 They drank twa quartis, sowp and sowp. 1555 EDEN 
Decades 197 They take for euery man two or three quartes 
of water. 1579 n W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford 401 
An ale quarte for a penye. 1599 HAKU YT / "&lt;y. I. 506 Your 
wines shalbe sold by hogs heads, pipes or buttes. but not by 
quartes nor pintes. 1709 PRIOR Yng. Gentlni, in Love 58 
He.. drank a Quart of Milk and Tea. 1816 J. SMITH 
Panorama Sc. $ Art II. 782 Four ounces of Brazil-wood. . 
in a quart of water. 1896 SIR M. HicKS-BKACH in Daily 
Neius 23 July 4/3 What he might describe in homely phrase 
as putting a quart into a pint pot. 

Jig. 1797 COLMAN Heir at Law in. ii, He can ladle you 
out Latin by the quart. 

b. A vessel holding a quart ; a quart -pot or 
quart-bottle. 

ci45oMvRC/ &gt; rtr./ J r.7r2 False measures, busshelles,galones, 
..quartes. 1500-20 DUNBAR Poems xxvi. 95 Mony fowll 
drunckart, With can and collep, cop and quart. 1535 LYNDE- 
SAY Satyre 1373 To fill the Quart I sail rin to the toun. 
1596 SHAKS. Taut. Shr, Ind. ii. 89 Because she brought 
stone-lugs, and uo seal d quarts. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury 
HI. 294, 3 Quarts, their lids open, . . born by QuarTer. c 1800 
[see GILL s/ . 3 2]. 1885 H. FiNCH-HATTON^^ awtf Austral. 
in A tin quart of water is set down by the fire. 

c. attrib., as quart-ale, tattle, Jlagon, -measure, 
retort (see quot.). See also QUART-POT. 

1454 Paston Lett. No. sig I. 307 To sende horn wyn and 
ij. quart botelys. 161 1 FLORIO, Qitarta, . . a quart measure, 
r 1650 BRATHWAIT Barnabces Jrnl. iv. (1818) 167 Thence 
to Lonesdale, where were at it Boyes that scorned quart-ale 
by statute. 1764 COLMAN Prose Scv. Occas. (1787) II. 51 
1 o see a man get into a Quart Bottle. 1767 WOULFE in 
Phil. Trims. LVII. 521 note, What goes by the name of 
a quart retort holds better than two gallons of water. 1828 
SCOTT F. ]\I. Perth xvi, He filled a quart flagon. 

t 2. [F. quart mj A quarter (/something. Obs. 

1454 Paston Lett. No. 201 I. 278 Be the space of on 
qaurte [quarte] of an houre. 1561 HOLLVBUSH Horn. Apoth. 
9 Take a quarte of an unce. 

fb. A quarter of a pound. Obs. rare~ l . 

1496 Fysshynge w. angle (1883) 10 Take, .a lytyll iuce of 
walnot leuys and a quarte of alym. 

t c. Prob., the fourth part of the great tithes 
(Jam.). Obs. rare 1 . 

1630 GORDON Hist. Earls Sntherld. (1813) 32 Ther peculiar 
landward (or rurall) churches, together with the particular 
tithes, crofts, manses, gleibs, and quartes, ar severatlie 
appoynted to everie one of the dignites and channons. 

f 3. a. A quarter of the horizon, b. A quarter, 
region. Obs. rare. 

"559 W. CI-NINGHAM Cosmogr. Glasse 134 Betwixt either of 
these quartes, two other windes brost out. 1590 SPENSER 
F. Q. n. x. 14 Albanact had all the Northerne part .. And 
Camber did possesse the Westerne quart. 

f4. [ad. Sp. cuarto.] A Spanish copper coin, 
worth four maravedis. Obs. 



QUART. 

1631 Celeslina iv. 52, I never wanted . . a Quarte, that is 
the eighth part of sixepence to send for wine. 1777 \\ . 
DALRV.MPLE Trar. Sf. St Fort, xxviii, An officer of the 
customs, demanded a toll, each horse paying three quarts. 

5. Mas. The interval of a fourth, rare. 

1890 Academy 18 Jan. 51 A succession of parallel quarts, 
quints, and octaves,, .intolerable to modern ears. 

Quart (kiit), sb? [ad. F. quarte : see prec.] 

1. A position in fencing (see quot. 1 692) = QUARTE, 
CARTE 2 . Quart and lierce, practice between 
fencers who thrust and parry in quart and tierce 
alternately ; also _/?. 

1691 SIR W. HOPE Fencing-Master 4 When a Man holdeth 
the -Vails of his Sword-hand quite upwards, he is said to 
hold his hand in Quart. 1698 FARQUHAR Love Sf Battle n. 
ii A Frenchman is bounded on the North with Quart, on the 
South with Tierce. 1717 BOVER A ngl.-Fr. Diet., Quarte, 
a Quart, a Pass in Fencing. 1800 MALKIN tr. Gil Bias IV. 
vii. (1881) II. 13 The assassin stab of time was parried by 
the quart and tierce of art. 1889 TENNYSON Dimeter, etc. 
173 Subtle at tierce and quart of mind with mind, 

attrib. 1691 SIR W. HOPE Fencing-Master 22 The Quart 
Parade, or the Parade within the Sword. Ibid. 105 Keep 
ing this Quart Guard with a streight point. 1794 Hope s 
new Metk. Fencing 13 Supplying the defect of the Ordinary 
Quart Guard. 

2. A sequence of four cards, in piquet and other 
card-games. Quart major, the sequence of ace, 
king, queen, knave. 

1717 BOVER Angl.-Fr. Diet., Quarte, a Quart, or fourth, 
at Picket. 1746 HOYI.F. Whist (ed. 6) 26 Suppose you have 
. .a Quart from a King; . . your Partner has a Quart-major. 
1816 .Miss MITFORD Village Ser. n. (1863) 342 [She] never 
dealt the right number of cards, .did not know a quart from 
a quint, i860 Rohti s Hand-Ht. Games Pref. 12 Lead the 
highest of a sequence, but if you have a quart .. to a King, 
lead the lowest. Ibid. \\. 45 A suit of which your partner 
has a quart-major. 

t Quart, s/i.i, obs. variant of CARTE , chart. 

1529 RASTFLL/Vzjr&gt;w;&lt;? Prol. (1811) 5 As they .. may well 
perceyue by the syght of the quart or Mappa mundi. 

Quart, a. : see rf.l above. 

Quart (kaat), z/.l [ad. F. quarter (Moliere ., 
f. quarte, QUART rf. 3] a. intr. To use the posi 
tion quart in fencing, b. trans. To draw back 
(the head and shoulders) in doing so. Hence 
Qua rting vll. sb. 

1692 SIR W. HOPE Fencing-Master *4 You must give it 
with your Nails in Quart, and Quart your head uell. Ibid. 
31 The Quarting of your head preserveth you from being 
hit in the face. (11700 B. E. Diet. Cant. Crew, Quarting 
upon the streight line, keeping the Head and Shoulders very 
much back from the Adversary- s Sword, when one thrusts 
with his own. 1833 -V.ii .J/oxM/i .Va.f-.XXXVIII. 343 He 
quarts and tierces for twenty minutes. 

Quart, v.-, variant of QUARTER v. ii b. rare~ . 

1812 Sporting Mag. XXXIX. 136 The coachman.. on 
quarting out as usual, and finding himself thus borne down 
upon, poured forth a volley of abuse. 

Quartan (kwoMtfin), a. ami sb. Forms: 4-7 
quartaine, 4, 7 -ain, 5-6 -ayn(e; 4-6 quarteyn(e, 
(4 -en, 5 -ein) ; 5-7 quartane, (6 cart-), 6- quar 
tan. See also QUARTERN, a. [Orig. a. F. (fihire) 
quartaine, ad. L. (febris] quartan-a fem. of quar- 
tan-us, f. quartits fourth. The mod. form is directly 
based on the L.] 

A. adj. 1. Path. Of a fever or ague : Charac 
terized by the occurrence of a paroxysm every 
fourth (in mod. reckoning, every third) day. 

In early use placed after the sb., as in F. 

a 1300 Cursor M. 11828 He. .bar-wit had feuer quartain. 
a 1400 Stockh. Med. MS. ii. 954 in Anglia XVIII. 330 
Ageyn feuerys quarteyn It is medicyn souereyn. 1494 
FABYAN Ckron, vii. 520 The appellaunt . . was sore vexyd 
with a feuer quarteyne. 1347 BOORDE Brei*. Health cxxxix. 
51 A fever quartayne. .doth infeste a man every thyrd day, 
that is to say two dayes whole and one sycke. 1570 GOOGE 
Pop. Kingd. iv. 52 b, The quartan ague and such other sick- 
nesse greate. a 1612 HARINGTON Saternc s Reginl. (1634) 
25 Cow flesh, Harts flesh,. . doe engender fever Quartaines. 
1750 tr. Leonardos Mirr. Stones 73 Taken with wine, it 
drives away quartan agues. 1852 Miss YONGE Cameos 
(1877) II. xxxiii. 339 Quartan ague had seized on the en 
feebled frame of her father. 1875 JOWETT Plato (ed. 2) III. 
670 A quartan fever, which can with difficulty be shaken off. 

1 2. Belonging to the fourth place or degree. Obs. 

1794 E. DARWIN Zoon. (1801) IV. 185 The tertian or quartan 
links of associate motions are actuated by direct sympathy. 

B. sb, A (or the) quartan ague or fever. 
Double quartan, one in which there are two sets of 

paroxysms, each recurring every fourth (third* day. 

1387 TKEVISA Higden (Rolls) IV. 249 Porcius. .slow} hym 
self for noye and sorwe of a double quarteyn. 1450-80 tr. 
Secreta Secret. 32 He shalle haue no dowte of flewme . . and 
he shalle haue no quarteyne. c 1491 CAXTON Chast. Goddes 
Chyld. 23 Of this quarteyn some men falle in to another 
feuer that is cleped double quartein. 1597 GERARDE Herbal 
1. cm. 2. 170 A roote or two. .is a good remedie against 
old quartaines. .1633 P.p. HALL Occas. Medit. (1851) 147 
The quartan hath of old been justly styled the shame of 
physicians. 1725 BRADLEY Fam. Diet. s.v. Spider, The 
Spider it self will cure Quartans. 1822-34 Good s Study 
Med, (ed. 4) I. 607 The tertian [has] a longer paroxysm and 
a shorter interval than the quartan. 1898 P. MANSON Trap. 
Diseases i. 25 In quartans and tertians, but especially in 
the former, sporulating rosette forms are seen occasionally 

" I 59J^ S K nufuffl Afol. l. Biij, He that hath 
such a dubble quartane of curiositie . . will prooue passing 
treacherous. 

Quartan : see QUARTERN rf.2 5. 

t Quartana-rian = next s/&gt;. a. Obs. rare- 1 . 



26 

1680 SIR T. BROWNE U ks. (1852) III. 47 2 Formerly they 
gave not the cortex to quartanarians, before they had been 
ill a considerable time. 

t Qua rtanary, sb. and a. Oh. Also 5 quart- 
enare, 7 -ainary. [ad. late L. qitartanari-iis (in 
sense A. a) : see prec. and -ARY.] 

A. sb. a. One who has a quartan fever or ague. 
b. = QUARTANJ^. rare. 

&lt;ri440 Prontf. Pan. 419 ! Quartenare, or bat hathe be 
quarteyne. 1684 tr. Bond s Mure. Contpit. \ i. 223 Quart- 
anaries. .gather much crude humours. 

B. adj. Pertaining to, of the nature of, a quartan 
fever or ague ; characterized by quartans. 



viii. 451 The constitution of this autumn was intermittent 
and quartanary, though many of the fevers . . were continued 
and several made so by ill management. 

Quartar(e, obs. forms of QUARTER sb. 

Quartary (kwgutari), sb. and a. [ad. L. quart- 
ori-us, the lourth part of any measure, esp. of a 
sextarius, f. quartois : see QUART sft. 2 ] fa. s/&gt;. (See 
quot. 1656.) Obs. rare~. b. adj. Fourth. rare~ l . 

1656 BLOUNT Gfassogr., Quart ary&gt; the fourth part of a 
Scxtary; also a quarter of a pound. 1839 J. ROGERS Anti- 
popopr. x. ii. 255 Where to go to find the fourth or quartary 
set of mediators. 

Quartation (kw^-it^ fan). [f. L. qttart-tts 
fourth + -ATION.] The operation of combining 
silver with gold so that the latter metal forms one 
quarter of the whole ; the gold is then separated 
from the silver, and at the same time freed from 
its impurities, by means of nitric acid. 

1612 WOODALL Surg. Mate Wks. (1653) 273 Quartation is 
the separation of Gold and Silver mixt together, by four 
unequal parts. 1680 BOYLE Scf^f. Chew. \\. 144 That 
Operation that Refiners call Quartation, which they employ 
to purifie Gold. 1758 REID tr. Macq-ucrs Chym. \. 149 The 
gold .. is frequently alloyed with more or less silver, from 
which it is to be separated by quartation. 1868 SEYD Bul 
lion 219 Fine Gold may also be assayed without Quartation. 

II Quarte (kart, kait). [a. F. qitarte : see QUART 
sb$\ A position in fencing. = QUART sb.^ I. 

a 1700 B. E. Diet, Cant. Crew, Quarte, Nails of the 
Sword-Hand quite up, (1830 G. ROLAND In trod. Course 
Fencing 16 The parade of quarte is made by offering, with 
the nails turned upwards, the fort of your blade to the foible 
of your adversary s. 1885 E. CASTLE Sch. Fence 133 A 
heavy sweep in seconde from a high quarte at arm s length. 

f.g. 1872 BROWNING Fifine xvi, Words urged in vain.. 
You waste your quarte and tierce. 

f Quarteer, -ier. Obs. rare. [? for qnartereer : 
see -EER, -IER.] = QUARTERMASTER i. 

1719 D URFF.v Pills III. 305 The Quartler must Cun, 
Whilst the foremast-man steers. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. 
s.v. Quarter-master^ The quarter-master, or quarteer, is 
also to mind the ship s loading ; which is the business he is 
chiefly employed about. 

tQuartelet. Obs. rare. [a. OF. quartetette % 
dim. of quarte QUART sb. \ A small quart. 

1453 Test. Ebor. (Surtees) II. 1 191 Item ij pottis quarte- 
lettis of .siluer couered. M59 * n P&ston Lett. No. 336 I. 
488 Item, .j. quartelet for wine. 

Quartenare, variant of QUARTANARY. 

Quarter (kwgutai), sb. Also 4 quartare, 
qwatteer, 4-6 quartre, 5 quartere, -yer, 
wharter, qwarter, 5-6 quartar, 6 qwartter, (7 
coterX [a. OF. quarter, -ier ( 1 2th c. in Littre) : 
L. quartar-ius a fourth part (of a measure), f. 
quartus fourth : see QDART s/&gt;. 2 and -ER 2 2.] 

I. One of four equal or corresponding parts 
into which anything is or may be divided. 

1. Of things generally. 

13.. Guy Warw, (A.) 1497 Gwichard smot Gij . . Opon he 
helme . . pat a quarter out fieye, c 1375 Sc. Leg, Saints xl. 
(Niniari) 737 Nere be quartare of a myl. r 1400 Rom. Rose 
3184 Non herte may thenke . . A quarter of my wo and 
peyne. 0470 HKNRY Wallace ix, 079 Than off the day 
thre quartans was went. 1564 Child Marriages 124 About 
a quarter of a yere ago. 1599 SHAKS. Hen. F, L ii. 215 
Diuide your happy England into foure, Whereof, take you 
one quarter into France. 1650 B. DiscolUminiuin 49 And 
now I am 3 quarters Presbyterian, I keep one quarter still 
Independent. 1697 DRYDEN **&gt; * Georg. i. 349 The four 
quarters of the rolling year. 1796 MRS. GLASSE Cookery 79 
Garnish with a Seville orange cut in quarters. 1841 Q. Rev. 
LXVII. 358 Some quarter of a century ago. 1880 GEIKIK 
Phys, Geog. \, 29 Exactly a quarter of a circle, or 90. 

b. Phr. A bad (etc.) quarter of an hour [tr. F. 
un mauvais quart d heure\ a short but very un 
pleasant period of time. 

[1717 tr. Frezier s I oy. noRablais s Quarter of an Hour, 
that is, when the Reckoning is to be paid.] 1887 J. BALL 
Nat. in S. Atucr. 338 When I reached the station .. I had 
an unpleasant quarter of an hour. 1897 ^ v " ^" NORRIS 
Marietta s Marr. xxxi. 225, I hope he will have a rather 
nasty quarter of an hour. 

c. Qualifying an adv. or advb. phrase (cf. HALF 
adv. i d) ; t formerly also without a. 

i$*a SIR T. CHEYNE in State Papers (1849) VI. 88 He had 
raiher ryde into England . . then to ryde a quarter so farre to 
eny other Prince living. 1545 ASCHAM Toxoph. n. (Arb.) 157 
Sumtyme ful side wynde, sumtyme quarter with hym and 
more. 1818 BUSBY Gramm. Afus. 69 A quaver is only one 
quarter as long as a Minim. 

d. Const, with sbs. without of(cf. HALF a. i b). 

1866 MRS. OLIPHANT Madonna Mary (Tauchn.l I. xiv. 184 
She had nut , , a quarter the pleasures you have. 1897 MARY 



QUARTER. 

KINGSLEV JF, Africa 663 There is not one-quarter the amount 
of drunkenness. 

e. cUipt. in various contextual uses, as () f a 
quarter-barge; (b \ a * quarter-note* or crotchet in 
Music (7. .S .) ; (c) a quarter- mile race. 

1508 M atcrji Arch, in loM AV^. Jfist. AfSS. Connn. App. 
v. 325 Noo boote shal bring woode butt only half barges and 
quarters.. .And every quarter to have iiii. men. 1890 U hita- 
ker s Aim. 637/1 Harrison also won the Quarter by a foot. 

2. One of the four parts, each including a leg, 
into which the carcases of quadrupeds are com 
monly divided ; also of fowls, a part containing 
a leg or wing. Fifth quarter : the hide and fat 
of a slaughtered animal (Funk s Stand* Diet., 
1893). See also FORE 3, HIND a. 

c 1320 Sir Tristr. 453 Bestes bai brae and bare, In quarters 
bai hem wrou}t. 1:1420 Liber (. oconnn 11862) 8 Hew horn 
[chickens] in quarteres and lay bom inne. c 1430 Two 
Cookery-bks. \. 6 Take fayre beef of be rybbys of be fore 
quarterys. 1563-7 BUCHANAN Reform. St. Andros Wks. 
(1892) 6 Ane quartar of mouton. 1660 PEPVS Dinry 17 July, 
They bought a Quarter of Lamb. 1709 STF.EI.E Tailer No. 
21 F 13 A Butcher s Daughter, .sometimes brings a Quarter 
of Mutton. 1776 ADAM SMITH // . N. \. xi. i. (1869) I. 160 
The four quarters of an ox weighing six hundred pounds. 
1853 SOVER Pantroph. 147 Place a quarter of lamb in a 
saucepan. 

b. //. The four parts, each containing a limb, of 
a human body similarly divided, as was commonly 
done in the case of those executed for treason. 

1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 10875 A four half engelond is 
quarters isend were. ["1330 R. BRCNNE Chron. (1810) 244 
His hede J?ei of smyten .Tpe quarters wer sent to henge at 
four citez. ciqooDestr. Troy 1971 Brjttpnet [shuld be] ]&gt;\ 
body into bare qwarters. 1660 PEPYS Diary 15 Oct., This 
morning Mr. Carew was hanged and quartered, .but his 
quarters .. are not to be hanged up. 1773 BRYDONE Sicily 
xxi. (1809) 217 The quarters of a number of robbers were 
hung up upon hooks. 1855 A!ACAUI.AV Hist. ling. xii. III. 
207 Their heads and quarters were still rotting on poles. 

C. Of a live person or animal, esp. of a horse; 
also freq. = hind-quarter, haunch. 

a 1400 Mortc Arth. 3389 Abowte scho whirles the whele. . 
Tille alle my qwarters.. ware qwaste. 1590 SPKNSKR F. Q. 
11. iii. 16 Is not enough fowre quarters of a man, Withouten 
sword or shield, an hoste to quayle? 1665 BRATHWAIT 
Coimn. Chaucer (1901) 84 She had unnimbly rushed down 
upon her four Quarters, and .. done her Reverence. 1678 
BUTLFR Hud. in. i. 1 150 They put- him to the Cudgel . .They 
stoutly on his Quarters laid. 1806 A. DUNCAN Nelson s 
Fun. 35 Two of his .. servants walked at each side of the 
horse s quarter. 1853 LYTTON My Novel i. vi, Down came 
the staff on the quarters of the donkey. 

3. Her. One of the four parts into which a shield 
is divided by quartering (see QUARTER v. jb). 

The four quarters are : i dexter chief; 2 sinister chief; 
3 dexter base; 4 sinister base. When one of these is again 
divided, and the sub-divisions occupied by several coats, it 
is termed a grand quarter . 

1486 Bk. St. Albans, Her. Dij b, In the right side of the 
shelde in the first quarter she bare tharmys of fraunce. 1610 
GUILLIM Heraldry v. i. 238 Without any charge occupying 
the quarters of the Escocheon. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. t 
Quarter is also applied to the parts, or members, of the 
first division of a coat that is quartered, or divided into 
four quarters. 1797 Encycl, Brit. (ed. 3) VIII. 443/1 A per 
pendicular and horizontal line, which, crossing each other at 
the centre of the field, divide it into four equal parts called 
quarters. 1864 BOL-TELL Her, Hist, ff Pop. xv. (ed. 3) 205 
The third quarter of his shield. [See also QUARTERLY adv. 
2 b.l 1893 CUSSANS Her. (ed. 4) 165 The st-cond quarter of 
the Royal Arms of England. Ibid. 168 Second and Third 
grand Quarters, quarterly quartered. 

b. A charge occupying one fourth of the shield, 
placed in chief. 

1592 WYRLEY Arnioric, Ld. Chandos 41 In gold Lord 
Basset dight Three Rubie piles, a quarter ermins bright. 
1610 GUILLIM Heraldry n, vi. 61 The Quarter is an 
Ordinary of like composition with the Canton,.. the quarter 
comprehendeth the full fourth. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl, 
s. v., Franc-quarter is a quarter single or alone ; which is 
to possess one-fourth part of the field. This makes one of 
the honourable ordinaries of a coat. 1838 Penny Cycl. XII. 
141/2 The Quarter is, as its name imports, the fourth part 
of the shield, and is always placed in chief. 1893 CCSSANS 
Her. (ed. 4) 66 The Quarter .. is formed by two straight 
lines, drawn in the direction of the Fess and the Pale, and 
meeting at the Fess-point. Examples of this charge are 
very rarely to be met with. 

c. *= QUARTERING t bl. sb. * b. 

1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v., There are sixteen quarters 
required to prove nobility, in companies, or orders, where 
none but nobles are admitted. 1816 SCOTT Antiq. xxiv, 
A baron of sixteen quarters. 1831 CARLYLE Sart. Res. ( 1 858) 
61 A duke s son that only knew there were two-and-thirty 
quarters on the family-coach. 

II. The fourth part of some usual measure or 
standard. 

4. As a measure of capacity for grain, etc. a. 
The British imperial quarter = S bushels ; the 
fifth (? originally the fourth) part of a wey or load; 
also, local variations of this, containing more or 
less than 8 bushels, f Formerly sometimes const, 
without of. 

c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 244/130 Ane hondret quarters of f&gt;at 
corn, c 1320 SirBeues 1424 A ston gret, pat we} seue quarters 
of whet. 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. U8io) 174 pe hungre 
was so grete . . [&gt;at a quarter whete was at twenty mark. 
c 1386 CHAUCER Sompn. T. 255 A ! yif that covent half 
a quarter otes. 1494 FABYAN Chron. cxxxvi. 122 A quarter 
of whete was worth ,ii. marks and a halfe. 1523 FITZHERB. 
Husb. 12 Foure London busshelles [of beans] fullye, and 
that is half a quarter. 1623 Althorp MS. in Simpkinson 



QUARTER. 

IVas/iingtons (1860) App. 48 For 3 coters of rye bought at 
Harleston. _ 1663 COWLEY Ess., Avarice 129 In thy vast 
Barns Millions of Quarters store. 1763 Museum Rnsf. I. 74 
Wheat will one year sell for 5 1. a load (that is, five quarters). 
1845 McCuLLOCH Taxation i. i. (1852) 49 A farm which pro- 
duces loo quarters of wheat, i86z ANSIED Channel I si. iv. 
(ed. 2) App. A. 567 The Jersey quarter (thirty-four gallons 
and three quarts) [contains] a little more than half an imperial 
quarter. Jl&gt;id, t The English imperial quarter is equivalent 
to about two Guernsey quarters. 

b. In the Channel Islands (cf. quot. 1862 in 
prec.) used as a unit of value for land. 

1682 WARBURTON Hist. Guernsey (1822) 94 He that has 
occasion to take up money on his estate, sells so many 
quarters. 1694 FALLE Jersey ii. 85 1 he way of reckoning 
an Estate with us, is not by Pounds, but by Quarters of 
Wheat. 1862 ANSTED Channel I si. iv. xxiv. (ed. 2) 550 The 
Guernsey quarter of rent is estimated as worth, on an 
average, twenty pounds currency. 

c. The fourth part of a chaldron. 

1434 E. E. Wills 101, I bequethe to lohn Wodrof .. 
v quarteres of coles. 1706 PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey), Qitaricr 
.. In Measure .. the fourth part of a Chaldron. 1727-41 
CHAMBERS Cycl., Quarter is also a dry measure, containing 
.. of coals the fourth part of a chaldron. 1858 GREESLEAF 
Xational Arithm, (t/.S.\ cited by Worcester. 

fd. The fourth part of a peck. 06s. rare 1 . 

1475 Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 26 The ringis of golde..were.. 
mesurid to the quantite of mesure of ,xij. quarters or more. 

f5. The fourth part of a cask or barrel. Obs. ^ 

1579 in W. H.Turner Select Rec. Or/W(i88o) 400 Marline 
Colepeper. .setteth the pryce of a quarter of the beststronge 
ale at iij iiij d . 

6. As a weight, f a. The fourth part of a 
pound. Obs. 

a 1400 Stockh. Medical MS. i. 43 in Anglia. XVIII. 296 
A quarter of vergyn-wax pou take, a 1450 Fysshyiige ?c. 
Angle (1883) 9 Take small ale a potell and stamp it with 
iij handful of walnot levys and a quarter of aloni. 4:1450 
7 ziw Cookcry-bks. 106 Take a quarter of clarefied honey, iij 
vnces of pouder peper. 

b. The fourth part of a hundredweight = 28 Ibs. 
(U. S. commonly 25 Ibs.) 

Ordinarily used only where the hundredweight is also 
mentioned, and usually abbreviated qr. 

1542 RECOKUEGX Aries (1575) 203 The halfe hundred is 
56 : the quarter 28 [poundej. 1588 Bk. of Charges in Dom. 
St. Papers CCXV. 88, 4 quille of ropes wayeinge sixe 
hundred, a quarter, and one pound. 1727-41 CHAMBERS 
Cycl., Quarter^ in weights, is a fourth part of the quintal, or 
hundred weight. The quarter is 28 pounds avoirdupois. 
1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XVII. 4:0 Iron, 5 cwt. 2 qrs. 24 Ib. 
fc. The fourth part of a Dram (Phillips, 1706). 

7. As a measure of length or area. a. The 
fourth part of a yard : nine inches. Also_/%*-. 

433 Rolls t Parlt. IV. 451/2 Clothe of colour shold 
conteigne . . In brede vi quarters di. c 1450 Bk. Curtasye 
359 in Babees /&gt; &,, A stafe, a fyngur gret, two wharters long. 
1483 Act i Rich. Ill, c. 8 Preamble, Someof the same Clothes 
. . ben drawen out .. in Brede from .vii. Quarters unto the I 
Brede of .ii. Yerdys. 1596 SHAKS. Tarn. Shr. iv. in. 109 j 
Thou yard, three quarters, halfe yard, quarter, naile. 1624 
CAPT. SMITH Virginia 11. 25 His arrowes were fiue quarters 
long. _ 1708 J. C Compl. Collier (1845) 16 The 3 Quarter 
Coal [is] about 3 Quarters thick or more. 1778 En^. Gazetteer 
(ed. 2) s. v. Witney t Blankets, .from 10 to 12 quarters wide. 

b. Naut. The fourth part of a fathom. 

1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine (1789) Mm ivb, If he judges 
it to be a quarter . . more than any particular number, he 
calls, And a quarter five! Ibid., At four fathoms and 
3-quarters he calls A quarter less five ! 1855 English 
woman in Russia \ By the quarter seven sang out . . the 
sailor .. engaged in heaving the lead. 

c. An Irish land-measure (tr. Ir. ceathramhadh , 
sometimes anglicized as c arrow] : see quots. 

1607 DAVIES if/ Let. to Ld. Salisbury (1787) 245 Every 
ballibetagh is divided into four quarters of lands, and every 
quarter into four laths. 1683}. KEOGH Acct. Roscommott 
in O Donovan Hy Fiachraich (1844} 453 These countries 
were subdivided into townlands .. which were called Ballys 
. . and each townland was divided again into quarters. Ibid., 
I have been sometimes perplexed to know how many acres 
a quarter contains, but I have learned it is an uncertain 
measure. 1883 SEEBOHM Eng. \ T illage Comm. vii. 223 
Annexed is an example of an ancient bally divided into 
quarters. ..Two of the quarters, now townlands, still bear 
the names of Cartron and Carrow , or Quarter . 1892 
EMILY LAWLESS Crania II. 3 Mishmaan possesses but two 
townlands, containing six quarters each. 

8. As a measure of time. 

a. The fourth part of a year, esp. as divided 
by the recognized QUARTER-DAYS. Also t^esp. in 
Scotland), the fourth part of the school-year, or 
of the period during which instruction is usually 
given, containing about eleven weeks. (See also 1 1 .) 

1389 in Eng. Gihis (1870) 7 What man is take in to be 
brother, schalpaie. .eueri quarter, .iij. d. c 1440 ipomydon 
762 My greyhondes ranne not )?is quartere. 1536 BOORDE 
Lett, in Introd. Knowl. (1870) 53 To come to yow ons in 
a qwartter. 1591 NASHE Prognost. Wks. 1883-4 .U. 164 
The predominant qualities of this quarter [summer] is heate 
and drynesse. a 1610 HEALEY Theophrastus (1636) 40 
A quarters rent of his house. 1623 Althorp MS. in Simp- 
kinson Washing tons ( 1 860) App. 41 To the hoggheard for 
a coter s_wages. 1731 SWIFT On kis Death, He must .. 
change his comrades once a quarter. 1819 SHELLEY Peter 
Bell vi. iii, Then seriatim, month and quarter, Appeared 
such mad tirades. 1836 Penny Cycl. V. 238 For a com. 
mercial education, a guinea a quarter is charged. 1865 
DICKENS Afttt. Fr. i, iv, The gentleman proposes to take 
your apartments by the quarter. 

b. A fourth part of the lunar period. Also, 
the moon s position when between the first and 
second or third and fourth quarters; quadrature. 



27 

c 1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) xx.xiii. 149 J&gt;e moone may 11051 
be sene bare, bot in &gt;e secund quartere. 1632 MASSINGER 
Maid of Hon. i. i, His sheepihearing . . Is in every quarter 
of the moon, and constant. 1694 W. HOLDER Time v. 82 
How near she is to her Quarters, Full, or next New-moon. 
1728 PEMBERTON Newton s Phitos. 201 But. .in the quarters 
the moon . . will be made to approach it [the earth]. 1853 
MAURICE Proph. $ Kings xi. 189 We sometimes see the 
moon in her first quarter with one bright luminous border. 
1867 SMYTH Sailors \Vord-hk. s. v., When the moon appears 
exactly as a half-moon, 90" from the sun towards the east, 
she is in the first quarter. 

fig. 1806 LAMB Let. to Hazlitt 15 Jan. Wks. 1852. 77/1 
Prudentia is in the last quarter of her tutelary shining 
over me, 

c. The fourth part of an hour ; the space of 
fifteen minutes. Also, the moment, as denoted by 
a mark on the dial, the sound of a bell, etc., at 
which one quarter of an hour (cf. Horn 3) ends 
and the next begins; chiefly used of the quarter 
after or before an hour, as a quarter past nine , 
a quarter to ten \ 

[i599 SHAKS. Much Ado v. ii. 85 An hower in clamour 
and a quarter in rhewnie.] 1617 MORYSUN Itin. \. 31 In 
the upper part of the clocke are..statuaes, which strike the 
quarters of the houre. 1659 MAYNE City Match n. iii. 27 
A fellow that turnes upon his toe In a steeple, and strikes 
quarters. 1727 BAILEY vol. II, Quarters [in a Clock or 
Movement} are little Bells which sound the Quarters or 
other Parts of an Hour. 1822 BYRON Vis. Jndgm. Ixxxvii, 
I ve scarcely been ten minutes . . At least a quarter it can 
hardly be. 1842 TENNYSON St. Sit. Styl. 218, I shall die 
to-night, A quarter before twelve. 1844 DICKENS Mart. 
C/iuz. xiv, The quarter s gone ! cried Mr. Tapley. 

In attrib. phrases. 1849 MRS. CARLYLE Lett. II. 77, 

I was up to leaving . . by the quarter-after-eight train. 1857 

HUGHES Tom Brown i.viii. 192 The quarter-to-ten bell. .rang. 

td. The fourth part of the night, or of the 

period between two canonical hours. Obs. rare. 

1x369 CHAUCER Dethe Blaunche 198 Ther-as she lay, 
Right even a quarter before day. 1412-20 LYDG. Chron. 
Troy i. vi, She . . founde a quarter passed after pryme. 

9. Of coins, fa. A farthing. Obs. 

1389 in Eng. Gilds 60 Euery broyer and syster shal offeryn 

ij. qire and j. q r to ye alines. 1641 KKST Farm. Bks. 

(Surtees) 140 Harrowershave usually 3^., or ^d. two quarters. 

b. c7. S. A silver coin = one fourth of a dollar. 

[1799 WASHINGTON Lett* Writ. 1893 XIV. 150 It ought not 
to be larger than would cover a quarter of a dollar.] 1856 
OLMSTED Slave States 4 Here s a quarter for you. 1883 
Harper s M ag. Nov. 950/2 Twenty, .oranges for a quarter. 

10. A r aut. f a. (See first quot.) Obs. 

1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s.v,, A quarter of a point, wind, 
or rhumb, is the fourth part of a cardinal point wind, or 
rhumb; or of the distance between two cardinal points, 
winds, etc. The quarter contains an arch of \\ degrees 15 
minutes. 1796 H. HUNTER tr. St,~rierre"s Stud. Nat. (1799) 
I. 156 The highest Tide.. set in from east-quarter-north. 

b. The fourth part of a point on the compass ; 
2 48 45". Also quarter -point (see 30). 

1795 HUTTON Math. Diet. II. 319. 

11. eUipt. (from 8 a). A quarterly instalment of 
an allowance or payment. 

1679-88 Stcr. Serv. Money Chas. $ Jos. (Camden). 63 
Interest and gratuity for advancing the Dutchess of Ports 
mouth s quarter when she went into France. 1849 THACKERAY 
I 3 endfnnis Iviii, Pay me down the first quarter now. 

III. Senses denoting locality, and transferred 
uses of these. 

12. The region lying about or under one of the 
four principal points of the compass or divisions of 
the horizon ; the point or division itself. Also spec. 
in Astrol. (see quot. 1696). 

t 1391 CHAUCER Astrol. i. 5 The 4 principals plages or 
quarters of the firmament. 1526 TINUALE Rev. xx. 8 The 
people which are in the foure quarters [Gr. youa ait] of the 
erth. 1535 COVERDALE Jer, xlix. 34 Vpon Elam I wil 
bringe the foure wyndes from y foure quarters of heauen, 
1611 BIBLE i Chron. ix. 24 In foure quarters were the 
Porters : toward the East, West, North, and South. 1696 
PHILLIPS, Quarters of Heaven .. in Astronomy, the [1706 
Among Astrologers, certain] Intersections of the Spheres as 
well in the World as in the Zodiack [1706 of which two 
are termed Oriental, and counted Masculine ; the other two 
being Occidental and Feminine]. ij^BAtisofis I oy, n. ii. 
136 We espied a sail in the northern quarter. 1826 SCOTT 
n oodst. ii, Joceline . . looked . . to the four quarters of the 
horizon. 1835 SIR J. Ross Narr. znd I oy. xv. 231 Venus 
was also seen in the southern quarter. 1860 DICKENS Un- 
cotnin. Trav. iv, The Four Quarters of the World came out 
of the globe. 

transf. 1542 RECOHUE Gr. A rtes (1575) 197 The rose . . is 
enuironed on the 4 quarters with 4 floure deluce, 

f b. Boundary or limit towards one of the car 
dinal points ; side. Obs. 

1551 ROBINSON tr. Mores Utoj&gt;. n. (Arb.) 78 A drie diclie 
. . goeth about thre sides or quarters of the city. To the 
fourth side the riuer it selfe serueth for a ditche. 1596 DAL- 
RYMTLE tr. Leslie s Hist. Scot. (1885) I. 2, I wil first .. 
descriue the quarteris and boundes of Scotland. 1611 BIBLE 
Josh, xviii. 14, 15 This was the West quarter. And the 
South quarter was from the end of Kiriath-iearim. 

c. A direction or point of the compass, when 
more than four are mentioned or may be implied. 

1604 E. G[RIMSTONE] D* A cos fa s Hist. Indies 111. v. 132 
They reckon but twoo and thirty quarters of the windes, for 



memorie. 



1664 EVELYN 

5y&w (16793 16 How speedily they [oaks] spread, and dilate 
themselves to all quarters. 1674 GREW Veget. Trunks vi. 
7 Setting down the respect it. -hath to any Quarter in the 
Heavens. 1784 Cow PER Task i. 373 Winds from all quarters 
agitate the air. 1806-7 J- BKRKSPORD Miseries Hum. Life 
(1826) n. xiii, From every quarter of the compass to which 



QUARTER. 

you turn for refuge. 1818 SCOTT Rob Roy viii, * Whew ! sits 
the wind in that quarter ? enquired the justice. 

13. Region, district, place, locality. 

The pi. is sometimes used in much the same sense as the 
sing. With the preps, from, in, to, this sense cannot always 
be clearly distinguished from 120. 

13. . A". A Us. 1902 Sixty citees, in that quarter, Heo for- 
brente. 1471 E. PASTON in P. Lett. III. 27, I trow -&gt;che be 
in sour quarters. 1534 MOKE COM/, a^st. Trib. in. Wks. 
i. M i In this quarter here about vs. 1555 W. WATRE.MAN 
Fardle Facions n. vii. 157 Suche commodities as the 
quartre beareth .. wher they dwelle. 1667 MILTON /*. L. v. 
686 Where we possess The Quarters of the North. 1734 
SALE Koran Prelim. Disc. i (Chandos ed.) i In which 
quarter they dwelt In respect to the Jews. 1765 Museum 
Rusticuin IV. 377 There were in that single quarter [of 
France] above one hundred acres of transplanted cole-seed. 
1855 PRESCOIT rhilipU, n. vi. (1857) 270 The marquis, .had 
left the place on a vi&gt;it to a distant quarter. 1867 FREEMAN 
Norm. Conq. (1876) I. v. 383 Troops Hocked to him from all 
quarters. 

b. Indicating a certain portion or member of 
a community, or some thing or things, without 
reference to actual locality. 

1777 SHERIIJAN Sch. Scaud. \. i, I was hurt, .to learn, from 
the same quarter, that. . Sir Peter and Lady Teazle have not 
agreed lately. 1818 JAS. MILL Brit. India II. v. viii. 668 The 
quarter from which this proposition proceeded .. was no 
secret to him. i8ai J. W. CROKKK in Diary (1884) June 6 
This is erroneous in fact, . . but T. insisted he had it from a 
good quarter. 1856 FROL-DE Hist. Eng. (1858) I. ii. 136 A 
suspicion that even in the highest quarters justice had ceased 
to be much considered. 1886 K. MILLER Textual C,nide 27 
This deference to B. . .leads the two learned Professors to 
follow it whenever it is supported by only slight testimony 
from other quarters. 

14. A particular division or district of a town or 
city, esp. that appropriated to a particular class or 
race of people, as the Jewish quarter, etc. 

1526 TINDALE Luke xiv. 21 Goo out quickly into the 
streles _and quarters [1611 lanes] of the citie. 1541 Act 33 
Hen. VIII, c. 15 The said sainctuarymen .. enter in euery 
parte and quarter of the same towne. 1602 Return fr. Par- 
nass. v.iv.What neweswith you in this quarter of the Citty? 
1711 ADDISON Sficct. No. 31 F i The several Shows that are 
exhibited in different Quarters of the Town. 1756-7 tr. 
A eysl-:r s Trar. (1760- II. 467 Rome is divided into fourteen 
tioni or quarter-;. 18*0 W. IRVING Sketch Bk. I. 121 In 
the most dark and dingy quarters of the city. 1864 D. G. 
MITCHELL Sev. Stor. 214 A narrow court ,. which leads 
into a moldering quarter of the city. 

fb. A particular place or point (in a building, 
etc. . Obs. 

1440 Jacob s J/W/69 pis wose of pride has viij. corneres, 
or viij. quarterys. 1449 Paston Lett. No. 67 I. 83 They 
have made wykets on every quarter of the hwse to scliote 
owte atte. t 1470 HENRY Wallace \\\\. 1051 At a quartar, 
quhar fyr had nocht ourtayn, Thai ink thann out fra that 
castell. 1526 nigr. Per/. (W. de W. 1531) 131 That y 
ennemy may fynde in vs no quarter to entre. 

f C. A part of a gathering or assembly, army, 
camp, etc. Obs. 

1591 SHAKS. i Hen. / /, n. i. 63 Had all your Quarters 
been as safely kept As that whereof I had the gouernement, 
We had not beene..surpriz &gt; d. 1596 Edward, I If, iv. iv. 

50 These quarters, .squadrons, and these regiments. 1599 
HAKLUYT I oy. II. n. 137 It is a thing almost impossible, 
at any your Faires or publique assemblies to finde any 
quarter thereof sober. 

t d. To keep good quarter: To keep good watch; 
to preserve good order. Obs. 

1595 SHAKS. JoJin \. v. 20 Well : keepe good quarter, & 
good care to night. 1653 H. MORE Ant id. Ath. \\. viii. 2 
(1712) 63 To have made Man that he might be a Lord over 
the rest of the Creation and keep good quarter among them, 
fe. To keep a . . . quarter : To maintain a (bad) 
state of things, to behave in a (bad) way; hence, 
even without adj., to make a noise or disturbance. 

1632 LITHGOW Trav. in. 88 The Souldiers kept a bloody 
quarter among themselues. a 1654 SELUEN Table-t. (Arb.) 

51 They keep a huge quarter when they carry it into the 
Cellar. 1659 Commw. Ball. (Percy Soc.) 150 For all you 
kept such a quarter, you are out of the councell of state. 
1668 PEPYS Diary 29 Jan., They had fiddlers, and danced, 
and kept a quarter, which pleased me though it disturbed 
me. 1736 AINSWORTH Lat. Did,, What a quarter they keep 
in the market. 1760 BARETTI Engl.-Ital, Diet., To keep a 
heavy quarter, fare un grande strepito. 

15. Place of stay or residence; dwelling-place, 
lodgings, esp. of soldiers. Now usu. in//. 

Free quarter^} : see FREE-QUARTER. Head-, home-^ out-, 
sittiimcr-^-wintcr-qitarters; see the first element. Quarters 
of refreshment (see quot. 1702-11). To beat ttp the quarters 
of: see BEAT v. 1 28. To take up one s quarters \ to estab 
lish oneself (in a place). 

sing. 1591 Carrara s Art Warrc 77 Let him remember. . 
to bring backe again into his Quarter those souldiers hee 
hath led foorth to any enterpri.se. 1649 G. DANIEL Trinarch.^ 
Hen. Il/ , Ixxxiv, The Lords who must in state Lodge at the 
Crowne .. Defray their Quarter at a Double Rate. 1679 
Estahl. Test. 25 In a place remote from his quarter, he ren- 
devouzes with his fellow adventurers. 17x9 DE FOE Crusoe 
n. vi, I went from their quarter. 1837 CARLYLE Fr. Rev. 
III. i. v, The grate which led to our quarter opened anew. 
1897 HUGHES Medit, Fever ii. 62 The staff-sergeant, .occu 
pied a two-room quarter a few yards away. 

//. 1598 B. JONSON Ev. Man in Hum. iv. v, Turnbull, 
Whitechapel, Shoreditch, which were then my quarters. 
1645 W. BROWNE Let. to Wood 9 Sept. in Wood*s Life 
(O. H.S.) I. 122 note, Our horse from Oxon. fell on the 
enemies quarters at Thame. 1660 SANCROKT Serm. 18 Nov. 
in D Oyly Life (1821) II. 320 God and his church pay their 
quarters wherever they come. 1702-11 M Hit. ^ Sea Diet. 
(ed. 4) i, Quarters oj Refreshment , the Place or Places, where 
Troops that haue been much hara^s d, are put in to recover 

4-2 



QUARTER. 

themselues, during some time of the Summer or Season for 
the Campaign. 17** DE FOE Moll Flanders (1840) 355. 
I found we must shift our quarters. 1758 JOHNSON Idler 
No. 21 f 3, I wandered with the regiment as the quarters 
were changed. 1807 DE QUINCEY in H. A. Page Life (1877) 
I. vii. 125 Mrs. Koster did me the honour to call at my 
quarters. 1856 KANE A ret. ExpL I. iii. 35 We had a 
rough time in working to our present quarters. 1881 BESANT 
& RICE ChapL of Fleet \. vi. 11883) 51 Where . . robbers of 
the road had their customary quarters. 

f b. The compulsory provision by private per 
sons of lodging for troops. Obs. 

1647 N. BACON Disc. G&lt;rvt. Eng. i. Ixvi. (1739) 142 The 
Clergy are charged with Quarter, Cart-Service, and Purvey 
ing. 1781 GIBBON Decl. ff F.y.\\\. 1 1. 45 The most flourishing 
cities were oppressed by the intolerable weight of quarters. 

C. U. S. (South). The cabins in which the 
negroes on a plantation live. 

1804 Europ. Mag. XLV. 19/1, I walked away to the 
Quarter. [Note. The place of abode for the negroes.] 1856 
GLUS-TED Stave Staff s m Several cabins are placed near 
together, and they are called the quarters . 1889 Harper s 
Mag. Jan. 253 Let us go out to the quarters, grandpa ; they 
will be dancing by now. 

d. A plnce of exercise for dogs. 

1844 Sporting Rev. XI. 209 If you have sufficient walks or 
quarters, as they are sometimes called, to enable you to 
bring your own [hounds], begin with a good stock at first. 

16. Assigned or appropriate position, *j" To keep 
quarter-, to keep one s own place, t To hold quar 
ter with : to remain beside. Quarter of assembly 
(see quot. 1802). See also CLOSE QUARTERS. 

i549*G?y*/. Scot. vi. 41 Gunnaris, cum heir and stand by 
5our artnil^ee, euyrie gunnar til his auen quartar. 1606 
SHAKS. Ant. % Cl. iv. iii. 22 Follow the noyse so farre as we 
haue quarter. 1611 BEAUM. & FL. Philaster ir. ii, Let me 
hold quarter with you ; we ll talk an hour Out quickly. 
1612 BACON JLSS., LfX e (Arb.) 446 They doe best that make 
this affection keepe quarter, and seuer it wholly from their 
serious affaires. 1667 MILTON /*. L. m. 714 Swift to thir 
several Quarters hasted then The cumbrous Elements, 
Earth, Flood, Aire, Fire. 1702-11 Milit. $ Sea Diet. (ed. 
4) i. s.v., A Quarter at a Sifge, An Incampment upon any 
of the principal Avenues of the Place. 1769 FALCONER Diet. 
Marine (1780), Quarters, a name given, at sea, to the 
several stations where the officers and crew of the ship of 
war are posted in action. 1802 JAMES Milit. Diet., Quar 
ter of Assembly, the place where the troops meet to march 
from in body, and is the same as the place of rendezvous. 
1836 MARRYAT Midsh. Easy xxvi, Call the drummer , said 
Captain Wilson, and let him beat to quarters . 

1 17. Relations with, or conduct towards, another; 
esp. in phr. to keep good (or fair} quarter(s} with. 

1590 SHAKS. Com. Err. it. i. 108 So he would keepe faire 

Iuarter with his bed. 1604 Oth. \\. iii. 180 Friends all, . 
n Quarter, and in terrnes like Bride, and Groome. 1625 
BACON Ess.) CM**/*^ (Arb.) 439 Two, that were Competitors, 
. .yet kept good Quarter betwcene themselues. 1637 RUTHER 
FORD Lett. (1862) I. 207, 1 find it to be hard wrestling to play 
fair with Christ and to keep good quarters with Him. 
(11674 CLARKNDON Sitn&lt;. Leviathan (1676) 153 The t\vo 
next Kings. .kept very fair quarter with Paschal. 

f b. (Good or fair) treatment or terms. Obs. 
exc. arch. 

1648 Eikon Bas. iv. 25, I never had any thoughts of going 
from my House at Whitehall, if I could have had but any 
reasonable fair Quarter. 1699 BENTLKY Phal, 319 Lucian 
should have no better Quarter from him. 1705 STANHOPE 
Paraphr. II. 268 No other Person must expect fair Quarter. 
735 BoLiN GBKOKE On. Parties Ded. (1738) 7 He would 
deserve certainly much better Quarter {etc.]. 1826 SCOTT 
Woodst, xxxiii, Neither I nor my fellows will deliver it up 
but upon good quarter and conditions. lbid. t They will 
give thee fair quarter. 

18. Exemption from being immediately put to 
death, granted to a vanquished opponent by the 
victor in a battle or fight ; clemency or mercy 
shown in sparing the life of one who surrenders, 
t Formerly also //. f To cry quarter : to call for 
quarter. 

The precise origin of this sense is obscure, but it may be 
derived from 17, or even from, 15 on the supposition that to 
give quarter originally meant to provide prisoners with 
quarters. The assertion of De Brieux (1672 Origines.. 
de plusieurs fa^ons de Parley 16) that it arose in an 
agreement between the Dutch and Spaniards, by which the 
ransom of an officer or private was to be a quarter of his 
pay, is at variance with the constant sense of the phrases 
give and receive quarter. 

1611 COTCR., Onartier .. Quarter, or faire war, wherein 
souldiers are taken prisoners and ransomed at a certaine 
rate, c 1645 Homu.f& (1655) I. 231 He suffered Tilly 
to take that great Town with so much effusion of blood, 
because they wood receuie no quarter. 1659 B. HARRIS 
Parivafs Iron Age 308 Many were cut down, the Swedes 
giving no quarter. 1693 Mem. Cf. Teckely n. 89 As this was 
not a War of Quarter, they defended themselves desperately. 
1720 DE FOE Capt. Singleton xi. (1840) 188 The Portuguese 
cry quarter. 1788 PRIESTLEY Led. Hist. v. Ixii. 494 Civil 
wars are also peculiarly bloody, because less quarter is 
expected in them. 1816 BYRON Siege Cor. xxiv, Cry For 
quarter, or for victory. 1841 JAMES Brigand iii, Several of 
them uttered a cry of Quarter quarter*. 1865 KINCSLEY 
Herew. vii, Hereward bid his men give quarter. 

pi. _ c 1644 MS. Hist. Somerville Fam. in Scott s Rokebv* 
Having refused quarters, every man fell in the same order 
and ranke wherin he had foughten. &USc**dert*f Rt&v. 
iv 91 There was no Quarters given during the heat of the 
fight. 1736 SHERLOCKE Voy. round World 129 They 
instantly came to, and call d for quarters. 1747 GentL A/ae; 
486 Near 7 at night she [the Terrible] called out for quarters. 

1769 FALCONER Diet. Af^HttfdyBo) s.v., Quarters is also an 
exclamation to implore mercy from a victorious enemy 
b. transf. and fig. 

1647 WARD Simp. Cobier 72 He shewes more true fortitude, 



28 

that prayes quarter of. . Truth. 1684 J. PETER Siege yi 




\ 



witticisms, which ought to have no quarter. 1817 SHELLEY 
Rev Islam Pref., There is no quarter given to Revenge, or 
Envy, or Prejudice. 1871 MORLEY Crit. Misc. Ser. i. Vau- 
venarguts (1878) 25 The Trappist theory of the conditions 
of virtue found no quarter with him. 

IV. Technical uses, in most of which the ori 
ginal sense is much obscured. 

19. Carpentry. A piece of wood, four inches wide 
by two or four inches thick (see quot. 1703), used 
as an upright stud or scantling in partitions and 
other framing. Chiefly in //. 

[1331 in J. T. Smith Antiq. Westminster (1807) 207 Two 
pieces of timber eight feet long called quarters.] 1497 Naval 
Ace. Hen. Wi (tBg6) 235 Sawyng of tymbre into plankes 
quarters Bourde and other necessaries. 1565-73 COOPFR 
Thesaurus^ C lost ruin ^ .. a rayle or other like thinge made 
of quarters. 1617 MINSHEU Ditctor, A quarter, a p_eece of 
timber commonly foure square, and foure inches thicke, as 
it were a quarter or fourth part of a beame. 1665 PEPYS 
Diary 21 Sept., 7 he posts and quarters in the walls. 1703 
MOXON Mech. Exerc. 163 Single Quarters are. .two Inches 
thick, and four Inches broad. The Double Quarters are 
sawen to Four Inches square. 1811 Self Instructor 141 
Plastering .. between the quarters in partitioning. 1825 
J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 627 If the workman find 
materials for rendering between quarters, one-fifth must be 
added for quarters. 1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mech. 1843/2 The 
English rule is to place the quarters at a distance not ex 
ceeding 14 inches. 

20. a. Farriery. One side of a horse s hoof; 
one half of the coffin, extending between heel and 
toe; sometimes, the part of this immediately in 
front of the heel. False quarter \ see FALSE a. 7. 
b. The corresponding part of a horse-shoe. 

1523 etc. [see FALSE a. 7], 1607 TOPSELL Four-f. Beasts 
(1658) 309 You shall easily perceive whether his grief be in 
the inward quarter or in the outward quarter ; the quarter 
is to be understood, from the mid hoof to the heel. 1685 
Loud. Gaz. No. 2054/4 A Brown Dun Mare . .with, .a false 
quarter in one of her fore Feet. 1727 BRADLEY Fan?. Diet. 
s. v. Cut, If . . the Horse Cuts himself, or interferes, thicken 
the inner Quarters or Spunges of his Shoes. 1829 Nat. 
Philos.) Prelim. Treat. (U.K.S.) 37 The frog coming down 
in the middle between the quarters, adds greatly to the 
elasticity. 1875 KNIGHT Diet. Mech. 1843/2 Quarter^ . . the 
rear or heel portion of a horseshoe. 

c. That part of a shoe or boot lying immedi 
ately in front of the back-line, on either side of 
the foot ; the piece of leather, or other stuff, forming 
this part of the shoe from the heel to the vamp. 

1753 HANWAY Trav. (1762) I. m. i. 228 They wear slippers 
like women s shoes, without quarters. 1817 MAR. EDGEWORTH 
Harrington vi, A slipper, with a heel so high, and a quarter so 
low. 1834 PLANCHE Brit. Costume 315 The shoes were worn 
with longer quarters and larger buckles. 1885 Harper s 
Mag. Jan. 280/2 The small quarter and button piece are 
4 closed on the large quarter. 

t 21. A bed or plot in a garden. Obs. 

Possibly due, in part at least, to confusion between quarter 
and square (as in the ca&gt;e of quadrant , quadrate) : cf. F. 
earn 1 , Sp. cnadro square, garden-plot. 

1565 COOPER Thesaurus, Area in hortis, .. a platte or 
quarter. 1572 MASCALL / //. # Graff. (1592) 8 Ye may 
plant or set all your Nuttes in one square or quarter to- 

f thcr. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury ii. 118/1 Statues or 
Sgures cut in Stone [are proper] to be in the quarters of the 
Garden. 1706 LONDON & WISE Rctir d Gard ner 12 Dig 
put of the Walks all the good Earth, and wheel or throw it 
into the Quarters. 1764 Museum Rusticum III. xvi. 73 
This year they began to attack a large quarter of new- 
grafted apples. 

22. Nattt. a. The upper part of a ship s side 
between the after part of the main chains and the 
stern. On the quarter^ in a direction about mid 
way between astern and on the beam. 

J 599 [see AFTER a. 4 b]. a 1618 RALEIGH Royal Nary 10 
Otherwise the bow and quarter will utterly spoile her say ling. 
1624 J. TAYLOR (Water P.) Brave Sea-fight Wks. (1630) m. 
39/2 To clap the Portugall aboord on the Larboord quarter. 
1719 DE FoE-Crrtsoe i.xui, All the stern and quarter of her was 
beaten to pieces with the sea. 1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine 
(1780) s. v., If we were to divide the ship s sides into five 
equal portions . . the first, from the stern, would be the quarter. 
Ibid.) s. v. Bearing. These bearings, .which may be called 
mechanical, are on the beam, .. on the quarter [etc.]. 
1805 Log of H. M.S. Tonnant 21 Oct. in Nicolas Disp. 
AW.w(i846) VII. 167 note, The French Admiral sShip under 
our quarter had lost her foremast. 1840 R. H. DANA Be/. 
Mast iv. 8 Leaving the land on our quarter. 1878 Masque 
Poets 120 The sea that came over her quarter. 

b. Of a yard : The part between the slings and 
the yard-arm (see also quot. 1769). 

1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine (1780) s. v. Yard, The 
distance between the slings and the yard-arms on each side 
is . . divided into quarters, which are distinguished into the 
first, second, third quarters, and yard-arms. &lt;ri86o H.STUART 
Seaman s Catech. 25 The quarter of the mainyard. 1882 
NARES Seamanship ^ed. 6) 41 The truss strop on the quarter 
of the yard. 

1 23. The skirt of a coat or other garment. Obs. 

535 COVERDALE Dent. xxii. 12 Thou shall make gardes 
vpon the foure quarters of thy garment. 1591 PERCIVALL 
Sp. Diet., Fa/da, the lap of a coate, the skirtes, the quarters 
of a coate. 1:1658 Wit Restored 167 Chill put on my 
zunday parrell That s lac t about the quarters. 
b. Of a saddle : (see quot.). 

1753 CHAMBERS CycL Sitpp. s. v. t Quarters of a saddle are 
the pieces of leather or stuff made fast to the lower part of 
the sides of a saddle, and hanging down btlow the saddle. 



QUARTER. 

24. One of the four parts into which a road is 
divided by the horse-track and the wheel-ruts. 

1767 A. YOUNG Lett, to People (1771) I : 445 A road. .upon 
which the tracks may vary, without having quarters a yard 
high to cross. 1789 Trans. Soc. Arts VII. 204 Gravelled 
roads,, .where quarters are formed by carriages following in 
one continued track. 1805 DICKSON Practical Agric. I. 
Plate x.xxvii, It is drawn by two horses abreast, the outside 
horse on the outer quarter, and the other in the path. . . Thus 
an inside and outside quarter are taken in going, and the 
others in returning. 1879 in Norfolk Arch. VIII. 172. 

25. dial. One of the four teats of a cow (cf. 
QUARTER-EVIL 2). False quarter (see quot. 1797). 

1797 J. BILLISGSLEY I iew Agric. Somerset 249 This dis 
order frequently affects the udder, and brings on a false 
quarter, that is, a deprivation of milk in one teat. 1886 
HOLLAND Cheshire Gloss, s.y., When a cow. .ceases to give 
milk from one teat, she is said to have lost a quarter. 

26. Miscellaneous uses. 

a. Fencing. Some kind of stroke or blow (cf. quarter-blow, 
-stroke in 30). fb. ?A square space. Obs. tp- ?A 
square block. Obs. t d. Typog. One of the divisions of 
a form (see quot.). Obs. t e. In the manege (see quot.). 
Obs. ff. //. In the old style of Rugby football (see quot.). 
Obs. g. Arch. A portion of a Gothic arch (Knight Diet. 
Mech. 1875). h. Carpentry. A section of a winding stair 
(ibid.), i. A section of a mill-stone dress (ibid.). j. 
That part of the side of a cask which lies between the 
chime and bulge (ibid.). k. An angular piece of cork, 
ready for rounding (itiff.). 

a. 1450 Fencing w, two handed Sword in Ret. Ant. I. 
^09 Thy rakys, thy rowndis, thy quarters abowte. b. 1454 
in Dugdale Antiq. IVar^vicksh. 356 Under every principal! 
housing a goodly quarter for a Scutcheon of copper and gilt 
to be set in. c. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. 602 In Portugall 
.. there be found great crystal quarters or masses of a won 
derful weight. d. 1683 MOXON Mech. E.\-erc. t Printing 
388 Quarto s, Octavo s and Twelves Forms are Imposed in 
Quarters. They are called Quarters, not from their equal 
divisions ; but because they are Imposed and Lockt up 
apart. Thus half the Short-Cross in a Twelves Form is 
called a Quarter, though it be indeed but one Sixth part of 
the Form. e. 17*7 BAILEY vol. II, To work from Quarter ; 
to Quarter, is to ride a Horse three Times an End upon 
the first of the four Lines of a Square, and then changing 
Hands to ride him three Times upon the second, and so to 
do upon the third and fourth. f. 1857 HUGHES Tom Brown. 
i. v. 114 The captain of quarters .. spread his men. .half 
way between their own goal and the body of their own 
players -up. 

V. attrib. and Comb. 

27. General combs, (sense i), as quarter-barrel \ 
-ebb t -face, -flood, -hogshead, -inch, -look, -mile, 
pay, -pint, -rations, -size, -yard, etc. ; quarter- 
faced adj. ; quarter-yearly adv. 

1882 OUIDA Maremma I. 245 There is a trifle of oil, a 
*quarter barrel. ^1391 CHAUCER Astrol. n. 46 Whebir it be 
..half or*quarter ebbe. 1626 CAPT. SMITH Accid.yng. Sea 
men 17 A spring tide, ebbe, a quarter ebbe, half ebbe. 1846 
McCi LLOCH Ace. Brit. Empire (1854) I. 251 Measured from 
the sea at quarter-ebb tide. 1616 B. JOSSON Forest xii, Let 
them still Turn upon scorned verse their *quarter-face. 1833 
Reg-iil. Instr. Cavalry i. 33 Remain *quarter-faced to the 
right, c 1391 CHAUCER Astrol. if. 46 Half flode or *quarter 
flode. 1626 C APT. SMITH Accid.yng. Sea-Mien 17 [The sea] 
flowes quarter floud, high water, or a stiil water. 1801 
NELSON 15 Aug. in Nicolas Disp. (1845) IV. 460 At last 
quarter-flood, at the Pier-head. 1891 T. HARDY Tess 
xxxviii, The washing-tub stood., on the same old *quarter- 
hogshead. 1890 W. J. GORDON Found) y 58 Nearly all of 
them are to a "quarter-inch scale. 1636 MASSINGER Bashf. 
Lover I. i, Observe his posture But with a *quarter-look. 
1895 \Vestni. Gaz. u Jan. 5/2 A "quarter-mile straight race 
for professionals. 1691 LUTTRELL Brief K el. (1857) II. 275 
The seamen shall be . . kept in *quarter pay till spring. 
1744 BERKELEY Let. to Hanmer 21 Aug. in Fraser Lije\\\\. 
(1871) 299 You may take this quantity either in half-pint or 
*quarter-pint glasses. 1856 LEVER Martins o/Cro 1 M. 201 
A shipwrecked crew reduced to *quarter-rations. 1889 
Anthony s Phot ogr. Bull. II. 3 A *quarter-size detective 1 
camera^ a 1400 Stockh, Med. MS. ii. 657 in /$Mg7/V*XVIII. 
323 His stalke is *quarter gerde longe. 1795 HAMILTON 
Wks, (1886) VII. 95 His allowance is at the rate of 25,000 
dollars per annum, 6,250 dollars *quarter-yearly. 

b. With names of coins, as quart er-angel, -dollar, 
-ducat, -eagle, -florin, -guinea^ -noble, -pound, -shekel, 
-shilling) -sovereign, etc. 

1866 CRUMP Banking x. 223 Quarter-angel. 1837 HT. 
MARTINEAU See. Ainer. II. 89 The lowest price .. was a 
*quarter-dollar per acre. 1639 FORD Lady s Trial v. i", 
Pistol a straggler for a *quarter-ducat. 1874 RAYMOND 6M 
Ref. Mines 524 Eagles .. Half-eagles .. *Quarter-eagIes. 
1707 FLEETWOOD Citron. Prec. 21 The *Quarter Floren he 
[Fabian] calls a Farthing, v.il \s. v\\\d. 1776 Ann. Reg. 140 
^Quarter guineas more deficient in weight than . . i dwt. 8 grs. 
1803 HATCHETT in Phil. Trans. XCIII. 137 George 1. a 
quarter-guinea. 1866 CRUMI- Banking x. 222 *Quarter- 
noble. Ibid. 223 *Quarter-pound. 1702 R. L ESTRANGE 
Josefi/iHS, Anti j. vi. v. (1733) 136 The Servants told him that 
he had a *Quarter-Sicle left yet. 1561 Prod. A bossing 
Coynt-s in Stafford Exam. Complaints (1876) 101 The 
*Quarter shilling That was curraunt for iij d shalbe curraunt 
for ij d. 

f C. Artillery, denoting small sizes of certain 
pieces, as quarter-cannon, -culver in t -slang, -sling. 
Obs. (Cf. HALF- II. d.) 

1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 41 Mak reddy^our . . slangis, & half 
slangis, quarter slangis. 1570 DROUT Gaulfr. $ Barn, (1844) 
C 2 Thy roaring cannons . . Yea bases, foulers, quarter-slings. 
1611 FLORIO, Quarto cannone, a quarter Cannon, which is 
but weakely fortifide or mettalled. 1684 J. PETEK Siege 
Vienna in Quarter Cannon, each 12 pound 306. Ibid. 109 
Quarter Culverin. .26. 

d. With names of persons, as quarter-carrier, 
-fairy, -ruler, -tyrant. Also QUARTERMASTER 3. 

1612 SHAKS. FL. Two h oble K. i. ii. 108 Were he a 



QUARTER. 

"quarter carrier of that honour which His enemy comes in. 
a 1634 RANDOLPH Amyntus v. 6 They do caper Like "quarter 
Fairies at the least. 1610 HEAI.EY St. Aug. Citic of God 
iv. xi. (1620) 160 A quarter ruler with his brethren and 
sisters, c 1640 J. SMYIII Lives Berkeley* (1883) I. 116 The 
lawes. .as some have written, were as *quarter-tirants. 
f 28. (Sense 8 a) = quarter s , quarterly , as 
qitarter-allowance, -almoner, -feast, -fee, -salary, 
-sermon, -set-vice, -supper. Also QUARTER-DAY, 

-SESSIONS, -WAITER. 

1727 DOVER Diet. Fr.-Angl., Qnartier, . . "Quarter-allow- 
ance. 1599 SANDYS Eurapz Spec, g With an eye perhaps 
that themselves would be his "quarter Almoners. 1609 B 
JONSON Silent Woman n. ii, It is his "quarter-feast, sir. 
1615 J. STEPHENS Satyr. F.ss.\\ Clearkes and other knaves 
. .Will take a pention or a "quarter-fec. 1583 STUBBES /?&lt;!/. 
Abus. n. (1882) 77 Preaching their "quarter sermons them- 
selues. a 1555 LATIMER Serin, ff Rem. (1845) 243 Any ser 
vices in your churches, either trentat, "quarter-service or 
other. 1593 in Acts Prtu. Comic. N. S. XXII. 564 Irysche 
customes as .. "Quartersupers called Quidraighe. 

29. Naut. (sense 22 a) as quarter- badge, -bitt, 
-boat, -check, -davits, -fast, -netting, -port, -rail, 
-railing, -stanchions (cf. quots.). See also quarter- 
board, -cloth, -ladder, -timbers in 30, and QUARTER- 
GALLERY, -LINE, -PIECE, -WIND. 

1807 ROBINSON Arcliseol. Grxca iv. xiv. 390 To the iutpo- 
proAia in the prow answered the a^Acta-, "quarter-badges, 
m the stern. 1867 SMYTH Sailor s Word-l&gt;k., Quarter- 



badge, artificial galleries; a carved ornament near the stern 
of those vessels which have no quarter-galleries. 1805 Sir 
E. BERRY 13 Oct. in Nicolas Disp. (1846) VII. 118 note, 
I ordered the weather "quarter-boat to be cut away. 1840 
R. H. DANA Bef. Mast vi. 13 The watch on deck were 
lowering away the quarter-boat 1833 MARRYAT P. Simple 
(1863) 41 Request that he will cast off the "quarter check. 
1898 J. CONRAD Nigger of Narch 




outer ends, projecting from a vessel s quarters, to hoist boats 
up to. 1846 A. YOUNG Naut. Diet. 117 Fast, a rope or 
chain by which a vessel is secured to a wharf or quay. They 
are called bow, head, "quarter, and stern fasts. 1769 FAL 
CONER Diet. Marine (1780), *Quartcr-Netting, a sort of 
net-work, extended along the rails on the upper part of a 
ship s quarter. 1867 SMYTH Sailor s Word-Ik., Quarter- 
Nettings, the place alloted on the quarters for the stowage 
of hammocks. Hid., Quarter-forts, those made in the 
after side-timbers and especially in round-stern vessels 
1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine (1780), Quarter-rails, are 
narrow-moulded planks, generally of fir, reaching from the 
top of the stern to the gangway. 1850 Kndiin. Navig. 
(Weale) 139 Quarter-rails, rails fixed into stanchions from 
the stern to the gangway, and serving as a fence. 1809 
W. IRVING Knickerb. (1861) 200 Anthony. .was leaning over 
the "quarter-railing of the galley. 1860 LONGK. Wayside 
Inn, Saga K. Ola/ xx, He sat concealed, .. behind the 
quarter-railing. 1846 A. YOUNG Naut. Diet. 243 Quarter- 
stanchions, strong stanchions in the quarters of a square- 
sterned vessel, one of which forms the outmost boundary of 
the stern on either side : it connects the main rail with the 
taffrail ; [etc.]. 

30. Special combs., as quarter-ail = QUAKTER- 
ILL ; f quarter-ale, an ale or festival held by 
the people of a certain quarter (? or quarterly) ; 
quarter-angled a., at a quarter of a right angle ; 
also Her. = QUADRATE a. 5 ; quarter-aspect, 
quartile-aspect (Worcester 1860, citing Brande) ; 
quarter-back, in American football, a player 
stationed between the forwards and half-backs; 
(see also quot. 1895); f quarter-basin, Sc. (?); 
quarter-bell, a bell in a clock which sounds the 
quarters ; quarter-bend, a section of pipe bent 
into a quarter-circle (Knight Diet. Mcc/t. Suppl. 
1884); quarter-bill, Naut. (see quot.) ; quarter- 
binding, a style of bookbinding with narrow 
leather back and no leather corners; quarter- 
blanket, a small blanket for a horse s back 
(Knight) ; quarter-block, Naut. a block fitted 
under the quarter of a yard ; ) quarter-blow (cf. 
QUARTER 26 a, and quarter-stroke) ; quarter- 
board, f some kind of board used in carpentry ; 
also Naut. in //. (see quot. 1846); f quarter- 
book, ? a book containing quarterly accounts ; 
quarter-boot, a leather boot used to protect the 
heels of a horse s fore-feet from being injured by the 
hind feet (Knight) ; quarter-bound a., in Book 
binding (see quarter-binding) ; quarter-boy, a 
quarter-jack in the form of a boy ; quarter-bred, 
of animals : having one fourth good blood (Ogilvie, 
1882) ; fquarter-bullet (see quot.) ; quarter-butt, 
in Billiards, a cue smaller than the HALF-BUTT; 
quarter-cask, (a) a quarter-hogshead; (i) aquarter- 
butt ; f quarter-cast, a. of a horse (see quot.) ; 
quarter-clock, a clock that strikes the quarters ; 
quarter-cloth, (a) Naut. (see quot.) ; (b) = 
quarter-blanket; quarter-coal, a periodical allow 
ance of coal made to miners (Gresley Gloss. Coal 
mining 1883); quarter-column, Mi 1. (see quots.); 
t quarter-cord, ./J// / f(seequot. 1747 ; quarter- 
course, C.S., a quarter-mile racing-course; quar 
ter-crack, a crack on the inner quarter of a horse s 
fore-hoof (Syd.Soc.Lex. 1897) ; t quarter-curtsey, 
a slight curtsey; quarter-cut, plank cut to a 
quarter of an inch in thickness ; quarter-distance, 



29 

Mil. a distance intermediate between half and close 
distance ; quarter-fishes [Fisii s6.-], Naut. stout 
pieces of wood hooped on to a mast to strengthen 
it (Cent. Diet.} ; f quarter-foot = quarter-hoof; 
t quarter-four, (?) ; quarter-galley, Naut. a 
Barbary cruiser (Smyth) ; quarter-grain, the 
grain of wood in the plane of the medullary fibres 
and radially from the centre, shown when a log is 
quartered ; f quarter-ground (Isle of Man) ^ 



ers ; quarter-timber, t (a) quarts 
timber in the form of quarters ( 
Naut. in //. (see quot. 1846) ; 
Mus. one half of a semitone ; qu 



1797 J- BILLINGSLEY Vino Agric., Somerse I 249 A disorder 
provmcially called the quarter-ail, which is a mortification 
beginning at the hock. 1574 Proviso in Lease in Worsley 
/fist. Isle Wight 210 If the Quarter shall need .. to make 
a "Quarter-Ale, or Church-AIe. 1775 ADAIR Amcr. Ind. 269 
Rushed off with impetuous violence, on a "quarter-angled 
course. 1895 \Vcstm. Caz. 8 Nov. 2/1 Your "quarter-backs , 



heel = QUARTER 20 c ; quarter- hollow, a concave 
moulding, having an arc which is approximately a 
quadrant ; also attrib., or adj., as in quarter-hollow 
tool (Cent. Diet. 1891) ; f quarter-hoof, ? a hoof 
with one of the quarters cut (cf. quarter-cast) 
quarter-hoop, a hoop on the quarter of a cask ; 
also attrib. ; quarter-hung a., of a gun : having 
trunnions with their axis below the line of bore 
(Knight) ; quarter-iron, a boom-iron on the 
quarter of a, yard ; quarter-ladder, Naut. (see 
quots.) ; quarter-left, Mil. one quarter of a right- 
angle towards the left; quarter-light, a side- 
window in the body of a close carriage, as distinct 
from the door-light ; quarter-miler, one who is 
good at running a quarter-mile race ; f quarter- 
moon, (a) a crescent moon ; (b) = QUADRATURE 
4 b i t quarter-night, the time when a quarter of 
the night has passed ; quarter-note, Mus. a 
crotchet; dsx&gt;attrib.a& quarter-note rest; quarter- 
pace, a resting-place or landing on a stair, con 
taining a quadrant or quarter-turn ; quarter- 
partition, a partition whose framework is made of 
quarters ; quarter-pierced a., Her. (see quots.) ; 
quarter-plate, a photographic plate measuring 
3l x 4.i inches ; also, a photograph" taken on a plate 
of this size ; also attrib. quarter-ply a. (?) ; 
quarter-point, Naut. = QUARTER iob; quarter- 
pointed a., Her. (see quot.) ; quarter-pole, a pole 
marking the quarter-mile on a race-course ; quar 
ter-quibble, ? a poor or weak quibble ; quarter- 
race, U.S., a quarter-mile race; quarter-rack, a 
rack which regulates the striking of the quarters in 
a clock ; ) quarter- ranger, ? the ranger or keeper 
of a certain quarter ; quarter-repeater, a repeater- 
watch which strikes the quarters; quarter-rest, 
Mus. a rest equal in time to a quarter-note, a 
crotchet-rest (Cent. Diet.*) ; quarter-right, Mil. 
one quarter of a right angle towards the right ; 
t quarter-road, an ordinary road with quarters 
separated by horse-track and ruts ; quarter-round, 
a convex moulding having an outline of a quarter- 
circle, an ovolo or echinus ; also attrib., or adj., 
as quarter-round tool; t quarter-sack, a sack 
capable of holding a quarter of grain ; quarter- 
sawed a., of wood: quartered; quarter-screw, 
one of the four screws in a compensation balance 
by which the watch is regulated ; quarter-seal, 
a seal pertaining to the Chancery of Scotland, 
having the shape and impression of a fourth part 
of the Great Seal ; quarter- section (U. S. and 
Canada), a quarter of a square mile of land, 
1 60 acres ; quarter-sights, sights engraved on the 
base-ring of a cannon in quarter degrees (Smyth) ; 
quarter-slings, Naut. (see quot.) ; quarter-snail 
(see quot.); quarter-space = quarter-pace (Nichol 
son, 1 8 23) ; f quarter-spells, some game ; quarter- 
square, the fourth part of the square of a number ; 
quarter-stroke, f () = quarter-blow ; (b) the 
stroke with which a clock marks the quarters; 
quarter-stuff, (a) =quarter-timber\&gt;; (b) = quar 
ter-cut (Knight); quarter-tackle, Naut. (see 
quot.) ; f quarter-tale, reckoning (grain) by quar 
ters ; quarter-timber, f (a) quartered timber ; (*) 

(sense 19) ; (c) 
quarter-tone, 
quarter-track = 

quarter-course ; quarter-turn, (a) a rifle in which 
the shot makes a quarter of a revolution in the 
length of the barrel ; (b*) a bend of a quarter of 
a circle ; also atlrib. ; quarter-twist = prec. a ; 
quarter-vine, an American vine (Bignonia capreo- 
latd), the stem of which readily divides into 
quarters (Cent. Diet.} ; f quarter-voided a., Her. 
= quarter-pierced; quarter-watch, Kaut. a. ship s 
watch composed of one-fourth of the crew ; quar 
ter-wheeling, turning through a quarter of a 
circle ; f quarter-wood = quarter-timber. 



QUARTER. 

a o ha f ; b i;ks * hen called, waited for the ball to roll out. 
1899 W. CAMP in Badminton Foothill x.vii. 286 Seven rushers 
or forwards, a quarter-back, who stands just behind this 

1 y, half backs [etc - - BuRNS Lan Eccleficlumi. 

A mickle "quarter basin. 1872 ELLACOMBE Bells o/Ch in 
Ch. Befit Devon viii. 393 The four "quarter bells were cast 
1769 r ALCONER Diet. Marine (1780), *Quarter-Bill, a roll, or 
list, containing the different stations, to which all the officers 
and crew of the ship are quartered, in the time of battle, 
and the names of all the persons appointed tothose stations 
1794 higging ff Seamanship I. 157 Thick-andthin, or 
Quarter * -- - - J - .... 



_ . - 

block, is a double block .. used to lead d 



down the 



through gins instead of quarter blocks. 1555 W. WATREMAN 



with such countrey glances as they coulde. 1638 HLYWOOU 
Wise n om. iv. Wks. 1874 V. 330, I had my wards, and 
foynes, and quarter-blowes. 1452 in Willis and Clark Cam 
bridge (18861 I. 282 The selyng boord .. shalbe quartere 
horde an niche thyk. 1497 Naval Ace. lien. K//(i896i 296 
Sawyng of certeyn tyinbre into plank.es [&] quarterbordes. 
1548 Privy Council Acts (1890) II. 174 Quarter boord, iijml. 
1846 A. YOUNG Naut. Diet. 242 Quarter-Hoards or Top 
gallant Quarter-Boards, a thin bulwark boarding, forming 
an additional height to the bulwarks at the after part of a 
vessel. They also get the name of Topgallant bulwarks. 
1679-88 Seer. Sen,. Money Chas. f, Jos. iCamden) 146 His 
allowance, .for returning the "quarter books to S r Edmund 
I urner. 1826 SOUTHEY I ind. Eccl. A ngl. 260 The machinery 
..by which his own "quarter-boys in Fleet-street perform 
their office. 1900 Acatlemy 28 Apr. 365/1 The grotesque 
quarter-boys corpulent cherubs on either side of the 
clock beat the quarters on the dial. 1627 CAPT. SMITH X, a- 
man s Gram. xiv. 6cj "Quarter Bullets is . . any bullet 
quartered in foure or eight parts. 1873 BENNETT & CAVFX- 
DISII Billiards 27 The cue-butt or "quarter-butt is larger in 
diameter than the cue, about 5 feet long, and leathered 
at the bottom. 1711-2 Ath t. in Spectator (1891) 904, 
22 Hogsheads and 3 "quarter Casks of new Bene-Carlos 
Barcelona Wine . .at . . 5/. per Hogshead and 251. per Quarter 
Cask. 1727 BAILEY vol. II, f Quarter-cast (wilh Horsemen), 
a Horse is said to cast his Quarter, where for any Disorder 
in the Coffin, there is a Necessity to cut one of the Quarters 
of the Hoof. 1626 DONNE Serin. Ixxiii. 748 There was 
never heard "Quarter-clock to strike. 1884 F. J. BRITTEN 
ll- atc/i f, Clockm. 217 [A] Quarter Clock, .[is] a clock that 
strikes or chimes at the quarter hours. 1769 FALCONER 
Diet. Marine (1780), Quarter-cloths, long pieces of painted 
canvas, extended on the outside of the quarter-netting 
from the upper part of the gallery to the gangway. 1894 
Field 9 June 828/3 The names of his two horses em 
broidered on the quarter cloths. 1879 Cassell s Techn. 
Ettuc.lV. 218/2 The "quarter-column is the formation., most 
employed when large bodies of troops are working together. 
1884 St. James s Gas. 21 Aug. 5/2 A battalion of eight 
companies in quarter-column, that is, in column of companies 
one behind the other. 1747 HOOSON Miner s Diet. Q ij b, 
*Quartercord [is] a Measure used in laying out of Flats, tis 
a superficial Measure, and one fourth part of a Mear ; it is a 
Square, each side being seven Yards and one Quarter long. 
1851 TAPPING Gloss. Mining Terms (E. D. S.), s.v. t So long 
as a mine is wrought ,. everything upon the quarter cord 
belongs to the miner. 1885 Century Mag. XXX. 397/2 
"Quarter-courses usually consisted of two paiallel paths, 
and were run by two horses at a time. 1753 SMOLLETT Ct. 
Fathom (1784) 147/1 A "quarter curtsey, or slight inclination 
of the head. _ iSgslr esli:!. Caz. 30 Mar. 3/1 The skin of . .all 
kinds of racing eights, is known as "quarter cut . 1796 
Inslr. ff Keg. Cm alty (1813) 164 The rear .. [divisions] 
quicken their march, and close up to quarter distance. 
1842 ALISON Hist. Europe (1849-50) XIV. xciv. 7. 7 They 
were drawn up in two lines, but the enemy chiefly in quarter- 
distance columns. 1711 Land. Gaz, No. 4888/4 A quarter 
Foot the near Foot behind. 1776 G. SEMPLE Building in 
Heater 66 A nine Foot Pantile-lath or a "Quarter-four. 1745 
P. THOMAS l- oy. S. Seas 58 We found here in the Road . . 
two "Quarter Galleys. 1867 [see HALF-GALLEY]. 1703 T.N. 
City ff C. Purchaser 187 The "Quarter-grain, .is that Grain 
which is seen to run in straight Lines towards the Pitch. 
1825 J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 612 Clear them [laths] 
into thicknesses by the quarter grain. 1593 Statutes Isle 
Man (1821) 76 To pay for every "Quarter Ground in 
respect of their . . Custom Turves. 1703 T. X. City ff C. 
Purchaser 35 "Quarter-heads, or Bill-brads for soft Wood- 
floors. 1727 A. HAMILTON Nnu Ace. E. Ind. I. vii. 67 
Their Shoes, .very low and stiff at the "Quarter-heels. 1713 
Land. Gaz. No. 5148/12 A "Quarter-hoof on one of his hind 
Feet. 1885 Census Instinct., "Quarter Hoop Maker, Bender, 
Shaver, c 1860 H. STUART Seaman s Cateeh. 75 On each 
quarter is a "quarter-iron that opens with a hinge to allow 
the topmast studding sail booms to be raised or lowered. 
1769 FALCONER Diet. Marine (1789), *Qnarter-Lattders, 
two ladders of rope, depending from the right and left side 
of a ship s stern. 1867 SMYTH Sailor s IVord-bk., Quarter- 
Ladder, from the quarter-deck to the poop. 1832 Regnl. 
fnstr. Cavalry ill. 93 The .. command will be given, 
Squadrons . "Quarter or Half Left. 1881 Daily Ncius 
15 Sept. 3/2 The engine.. struck the side of the three last 
carriages . . smashed a number of the "quarter lights . 1890 
W. J. GORDON Foundry 157 The thick glass in the quarter- 
lights, the thinner plate in the door-lights, are not bought 
for nothing. 1899 Daily News 19 July 6/5 The "quarter- 
miler was only just leading. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny I. 121 
With horned points like to a "quarter moone. 1665-6 Phil, 
Trans. I. 55 The Course of irregular Tides about the 
Quartermoons. c 1386 CHAUCER Miller s T. 330 A Monday 
next, at "quarter-night, Shall fall a reyn. 1763 J. BROWN 
Poetry ff Mus. v. 63 "Quarter-Notes ;. .an Interval which no 
human Ear can precisely distinguish. 1773 HARRINGTON 
Singing of Birds \nPhil. Trans. LXIII. 264 Such a minute 
interval . . when a quarter-note for example might be re- 
quired.^ 1825 J. NICHOLSON Opcrat. Mechanic 594 Where 
the height of a story is considerable, resting places are 
necessary, which go under the name of quarter-paces, and 
half-paces, according as the passenger .. has to describe a 
quadrant or semi-circle. 1858 S/tyring s Builders Prices 
(ed. 48) 13 The Plates and Braces in "Quarter Partitions must 
be added. 1842-59 Gwui Arc/lit, (ed. 4) 2024 The scant- 



QUARTER. 

lings of the timbers of a quarter partition should vary accord 
ing to the extent of hearing. 1678 PHILLIPS (ed. 4), *Qnarter 
Pierced^ in Heraldry is when there is a hole of a square form 
made in the middle of a Cross. iSgsCussANS Her. (ed. 4) 63 
The Cross.. If.. that part where the limbs are conjoined be 
removed, it is termed Quarterly-pierced. A Cross with a 
square aperture in its centre, smaller than the last example, 
is Quarter-pierced. 1890 Anthony s Photogr. Bull. 1 1 1. 273 
A half-plate or a * *quarter-plate lens. //&lt;, A beginner 
buying his first quarter-plate outfit. 1856 OLMSTED Slave 



Marine (1789), The quarter-points of the Compass., are 
distinguished, .by the word by. 1840 MARRYAT Olla Podr. 
111.26 How was it possible that a man could navigate a ship 
with only one quarter point of the compass in his head? 
1825-9 w. BI-:RHY Encycl. Her.,* Quarter-pointed,* .extend- 
ing from dexter chief towards the base, and terminated in 
the fesse point. It.. is just one-fourth part of a partition 
per saltier. 1894 Outing (M .S.) XXIV. 142/2 Held his place 
until the *quarter-pole was reached. 1663 DRYDEN Wild 
Gallant i. i. Wks. 1882 II. 35 A bare clinch will serve the 
turn ; a carwichet, a *quarter-quibb!e, or a pun. 1729 T. 
COOKE Tales, etc. 96 Quarter-quibbles made his Heart right 
glad. 1792 Descr. Kentucky 12 His time is employed in 
*quarter-races, cock-fights. 1885 Century Mag. XXX. 
397/2 In North Carolina. . quarter-races were much esteemed. 
1884 F. J. WRITTEN II ate ft &lt;y Clockin. 219 The ^quarter rack 
. .falls against the bent arm of the hour rack hook, a 1613 
OVERBUHY Characters., Sargeant Wks. (1856) 163 The gal- 
lowes are his purlues, in which the hangman and hee are the 
*Quarter-rangers. 1884 F. J. BRITTEN Watch &lt;y Clockin. 224 
In a quarter repeater the last hour is struck, and afterwards 
the number of quarters that have elapsed since. 1832 Regul. 
Instr.Cavalryii. 72 The Troops., wheel *quarter right. Ibid, 
go 1 he previous command is given, Squadrons quarter or half- 
right. 1767 A. YOUNG Lett, to People 282 A broad-wheel 
waggon will go in any ^quarter-road. 1706 PHILLIPS (ed. 
Kersey), Ech inns.. is termed. .Ovolo by the Italians; but 
the English Workmen commonly call it the * Quarter- round. 
1753 HOGARTH Anal, Beauty xiL 171 Let us observe the 
ovolo , or quarter-round, in a cornice. 1851 TURNER Dom. 
Archit. \\. vi. 272 Tht arches and purlins are well moulded, 
with the quarter round and fillet. 15. . Meric Tales of 
Skelton S. s Wks. 1843 I. p. l.\x, The miller hauying a great 
"quarter sacke. a 1661 FULLER ll orthies, Cambridge i. 
(1662) 156 Quarter-sacks were here first used, men commonly 
carrying .. eight bushels of Barly. 1884 F. J. BRITTEN 
IVatch ff Clockin. 25 Drawing out the *quarter screws of 
the balance nearest the fast position .. and setting in the 
ones nearest to slow position. 1706 Act 6 Anne c. ii Art. 
xxw, The privy seal. ,*quarter seal and seals of Courts now 
vised in Scotland. 1879 LD. BEACONSFIKLD Sp. 18 Sept. 2/3 
Every man of fair character who conies to Canada, has a 
right.. to obtain what is called a *quarter-section of land. 
1882 Contemp. Rev. Aug. 233 Each township, section, and 
quarter-section .. marked off by mounds and posts. 1876 
VOYLE & STEVENSON Milit. Diet. 385/2 In smooth-bore guns, 
quarter-sights are cut on the upper quarter of the base ring, 
and numbered up to 3. 1867 SMYTH Sailors H ord-bk., 
* Quarter-Slings, are supports attached to a yard or other 
spar at one or both sides of (but not in) its centre. 1884 F. J. 
BRITTEN Watch % Clockm, 219 [The] Quarter Snail., [is] the 
snail used in the quarter part of clocks and repeatingwatches. 
1448 in Bacon Ann. fpnvic/i 105 John Lackford accused for 
cheating at Games called Whistilds, Prelleds, and *Quarter 
spells. 1841 Penny Cycl. XIX. 199/2 A table which gives the 
squares of the halves of numbers will, by the addition of the 
squares of the halves or *quarter-squares, give the product, 
1559 AYLMEK Harborowe H, They must know their "quarter 
strookes, and the waye how to defende their head. 1589 
Marprel. Epit. Dij, Such a precher. .as this, would quickly 
with his quarter strokes, ouerturne al religion, 1780 COWPER 
Table Talk 531 The clock-work tintinnabulum of rhyme,., 
such mere quarter-strokes are not for me. 1712 J. JAMES 
tr. Le Blonds Gardening 71 They make use.. of *Quarter- 
StufTfor large Plinths and Facias. 1799 Naval Chron. II. 
389 Timber.., blocks, quarterstufif, candles. 1815 Falconer s 
Mar. Dittoed. Knruey)* Quarter-tackle, a strong tackle fixed 
occasionally upon the quarter of the main- or fore-yard, to 
hoist boats and heavy packages into and out of the ship. 
1641 BEST Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 132 For burying of Come by 
*Quarter-tayle . . to have 6rf. a quarter for barley, 4^. a 
quarter for oates. 1601 HOLLAND /Y/wj I. 488 The "quarter 
timber, or that which runneth with foure grains, is simply 
the best. ^ 1846 A. YOUNG Nant. Diet. 243 Quarter-timbers, 
the framing timbers in a vessel s quarter. 1776 BURNKY 
Hist. MHS. (1789) I. ii. 23 A Diesis or *Quarter-tone. 1811 
BUSBY Diet. Mns. s.v., The Quarter-tone is of two kinds, vi/. 
the major-enharmonic . . and the enharmonic minor. 1866 
ENGEL Nat. Mus. ii. 45 The seven intervals of the Hindu 
Scale.. are subdivided into twenty-two srooti, correspond 
ing to quarter-tones. 1888 J. C. HARRIS Free Joe, etc. 10 
There was a quarter-track, . . if he chose . . horse-racing. 1810 
Sporting^Mag. XXXVI. 272 A ^quarter turn, which is the 
kind of rifle the line uses. 1661 MORGAN Sph. Gentry n. iii. 



there is no Danger. 1769 FALCONER Diet. Mari