quartern

[kwawr-tern]

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noun Chiefly British.

a quarter, or a fourth part, especially of certain weights and measures, as of a pound, ounce, peck, or pint.

Origin of quartern

1250–1300; Middle English quartroun, quartron, quartern < Old French quarteron, derivative of quart fourth. See quart¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for quartern

term, portion, part, fourth, division, span, section, semester, quad, quadrant, farthing, quartern

Examples from the Web for quartern

Historical Examples of quartern

"Half a quartern," stammered the boy, in a frightened voice.
What the Moon Saw: and Other Tales
Hans Christian Andersen
On March 5, 1801, the price of the quartern loaf stood as high as 1s.
The Political History of England - Vol XI
George Brodrick
He recollects the quartern loaf at 2¼d., primest meat at 1d.
Portraits of Curious Characters in London, &c. &c.
Anonymous
Drink—well, suppose a gentleman does take his quartern, is it a crime?
No Defense, Complete
Gilbert Parker
A quartern is a quarter of a gill, which is about the “dash” of rum.
Stage-coach and Tavern Days
Alice Morse Earle

British Dictionary definitions for quartern

quartern

noun

a fourth part of certain weights or measures, such as a peck or a pound

Also called: quartern loaf British

a type of loaf 4 inches square, used esp for making sandwiches
any loaf weighing 1600 g when baked

Word Origin for quartern

C13: from Old French quarteron, from quart a quarter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012