quarter day

American  

noun

1. (in England, Ireland, and Wales) one of the four days, Lady Day, Midsummer Day, Michaelmas, or Christmas, regarded as marking off the quarters of the year, on which quarterly payments are due, tenancies begin and end, etc.

2. (in Scotland) one of the four days, Candlemas, Whitsunday, Lammas, or Martinmas, regarded as marking off the quarters of the year.

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quarter day British  

noun

1. any of four days in the year when certain payments become due. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland these are Lady Day, Midsummer's Day, Michaelmas, and Christmas. In Scotland they are Candlemas, Whit Sunday, Lammas, and Martinmas

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Etymology

Origin of quarter day

First recorded in 1470–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

quarter day

There remains practically a quarter day, which every four years could be counted an accumulated full day.

From Time Magazine Archive

If they work fractions of a day, eight hours is called a half and four a quarter day, and the men submit with the same patience as the women.

From Prisoners of Poverty Abroad by Campbell, Helen

When the other day he sent me out to change his last fiver, and told me he'd have to make it do till quarter day, and there's still three weeks to that.

From A Woman Perfected by Marsh, Richard

Miss Grimes," he said, "you forget that the rooms are mine till next quarter day.

From The Cinema Murder by Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)

And immediately it was quarter day; and the King’s quarter’s salary came rattling down the chimney, and bounced into the middle of the floor.

From The Magic Fishbone A Holiday Romance from the Pen of Miss Alice Rainbird, Aged 7 by Dickens, Charles