Part 721

Quar"ter*foil` (?), n. [Quarier + foil: cf. F. quatre.] (Arch.) An ornamental foliation having four lobes, or foils.

Quar"ter*hung` (?), a. (Ordnance) Having trunnions the axes of which lie below the bore; -- said of a cannon.

Quar"ter*ing, a. 1. (Naut.) Coming from a point well abaft the beam, but not directly astern; -- said of waves or any moving object.

2. (Mach.) At right angles, as the cranks of a locomotive, which are in planes forming a right angle with each other.

Quar"ter*ing, n. 1. A station. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.

2. Assignment of quarters for soldiers; quarters.

3. (Her.) (a) The division of a shield containing different coats of arms into four or more compartments. (b) One of the different coats of arms arranged upon an escutcheon, denoting the descent of the bearer.

4. (Arch.) A series of quarters, or small upright posts. See Quarter, n., 1 (m) (Arch.) Gwilt.

Quartering block, a block on which the body of a condemned criminal was quartered. Macaulay.

Quar"ter*ly, a. 1. Containing, or consisting of, a fourth part; as, quarterly seasons.

2. Recurring during, or at the end of, each quarter; as, quarterly payments of rent; a quarterly meeting.

Quar"ter*ly, n.; pl. Quarterlies (&?;). A periodical work published once a quarter, or four times in a year.

Quar"ter*ly, adv. 1. By quarters; once in a quarter of a year; as, the returns are made quarterly.

2. (Her.) In quarters, or quarterings; as, to bear arms quarterly; in four or more parts; -- said of a shield thus divided by lines drawn through it at right angles.

Quar"ter*mas`ter (?), n. [Quarter + master: cf. F. quartier-maÓtre.] 1. (Mil.) An officer whose duty is to provide quarters, provisions, storage, clothing, fuel, stationery, and transportation for a regiment or other body of troops, and superintend the supplies.

2. (Naut.) A petty officer who attends to the helm, binnacle, signals, and the like, under the direction of the master. Totten.

Quartermaster general (Mil.), in the United States a staff officer, who has the rank of brigadier general and is the chief officer in the quartermaster's department; in England, an officer of high rank stationed at the War Office having similar duties; also, a staff officer, usually a general officer, accompanying each complete army in the field. -- Quartermaster sergeant. See Sergeant.

Quar"tern (?), n.[OE. quarteroun, quartron, F. quarteron, the fourth part of a pound, or of a hundred; cf. L. quartarius a fourth part, quarter of any measure, quartern, gill. See Quarter, and cf. Quarteron, Quadroon.] 1. A quarter. Specifically: (a) The fourth part of a pint; a gill. (b) The fourth part of a peck, or of a stone (14 ibs.).

2. A loaf of bread weighing about four pounds; -- called also quartern loaf. Simmonds.

Quar"ter*on (?), n. [F. See Quartern.] A quarter; esp., a quarter of a pound, or a quarter of a hundred. Piers Plowman.

{ Quar"ter*on (?), Quar"ter*oon (?) }, n. A quadroon.

Quar"ter*pace` (?), n. (Arch.) A platform of a staircase where the stair turns at a right angle only. See Halfpace.

Quar"ter round` (?). (Arch.) An ovolo.

Quar"ter*staff` (?), n.; pl. Quarterstaves (&?;). A long and stout staff formerly used as a weapon of defense and offense; -- so called because in holding it one hand was placed in the middle, and the other between the middle and the end.

{ Quar*tet", Quar*tette" } (?), n. [It. quartetto, dim. of quarto the fourth, a fourth part, fr. L. quartus the fourth. See Quart.] 1. (Mus.) (a) A composition in four parts, each performed by a single voice or instrument. (b) The set of four person who perform a piece of music in four parts.

2. (Poet.) A stanza of four lines.

Quar"tic (?), a. [L. quartus fourth.] (Mach.) Of the fourth degree.

Quar"tic (?), n. (a) (Alg.) A quantic of the fourth degree. See Quantic. (b) (Geom.) A curve or surface whose equation is of the fourth degree in the variables.