quarry1
- an excavation or pit, usually open to the air, from which building stone, slate, or the like, is obtained by cutting, blasting, etc.
- an abundant source or supply.
- to obtain (stone) from or as if from a quarry.
- to make a quarry in.
Origin of quarry1
quarry2
- an animal or bird hunted or pursued.
- game, especially game hunted with hounds or hawks.
- any object of search, pursuit, or attack.
Origin of quarry2
quarry3
- a square stone or tile.
- quarrel2(def 2).
Origin of quarry3
Examples from the Web for quarries
Contemporary Examples
The subjects of his work range from mines, quarries, and shipping around the world to manufacturing and urban renewal in China.
Historical Examples
Jean, who was beginning to recover his self-possession, proposed the quarries.
The DownfallEmile Zola
I thought so, too; but it might be a blast, for we are not far from the quarries.
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. I (of II)Charles James Lever
He's a contractor himself, who furnishes labor for the quarries.
Sonnie-Boy's PeopleJames B. Connolly
Some say I ought to have built it across the river, where the quarries are.
A Book of BurlesquesH. L. Mencken
The stone in quarries is found to be of different and unlike qualities.
Ten Books on ArchitectureVitruvius
quarry1
- an open surface excavation for the extraction of building stone, slate, marble, etc, by drilling, blasting, or cutting
- a copious source of something, esp information
- to extract (stone, slate, etc) from or as if from a quarry
- (tr) to excavate a quarry in
- to obtain (something, esp information) diligently and laboriouslyhe was quarrying away in the reference library
Word Origin
quarry2
- an animal, bird, or fish that is hunted, esp by other animals; prey
- anything pursued or hunted
Word Origin
quarry3
- a square or diamond shape
- something having this shape
- another word for quarrel 2
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for quarries
quarry
n.1
"what is hunted," early 14c., quirre "entrails of deer placed on the hide and given to dogs of the chase as a reward," from Anglo-French quirreie, Old French cuiriee "the spoil, quarry" (Modern French curée), altered (by influence of Old French cuir "skin," from Latin corium "hide"), from Old French corée "viscera, entrails," from Vulgar Latin *corata "entrails," from Latin cor "heart" (see heart). Sense of "anything chased in hunt" is first recorded 1610s; earlier "bird targeted by a hawk or other raptor" (late 15c.).
quarry
n.2
"open place where rocks are excavated," c.1400 (mid-13c. as a place name), from Medieval Latin quareia, dissimilated from quarreria (mid-13c.), literally "place where stones are squared," from Latin quadrare "to square" (see quadrant).
quarry
v.
1774, from quarry (n.2). Related: Quarried; quarrying.