quartern

American  

[kwawr-tern] / ˈkwɔr tərn /

noun

Chiefly British.

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

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quartern British  

/ ˈkwɔːtən /

noun

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

2. Also called: quartern loaf. 

   1. a type of loaf 4 inches square, used esp for making sandwiches

   2. any loaf weighing 1600 g when baked

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Etymology

Origin of quartern

1250–1300; Middle English quartroun, quartron, quartern < Old French quarteron, derivative of quart fourth. See quart ¹

Example Sentences

What title to gormandize over the butcher's fat joints, and the baker's quartern loaves, if they who furnish them are left to gnaw bones, and live upon crumbs?

From The Wanderer (Volume 2 of 5) or, Female Difficulties by Burney, Fanny

This John Bull is hacked to make a Corsican and Yankee holiday, taxed at the bayonet's point, starved on bread at eighteenpence the quartern, and offered up as a sacrifice to a Bourbon "Bumble-head."

From George Cruikshank by Chesson, W. H.

With the exception of a stone here and there—none of them larger than a quartern loaf—the sandy surface was perfectly smooth and level as a table.

From The Young Yagers A Narrative of Hunting Adventures in Southern Africa by Reid, Mayne

On March 5, 1801, the price of the quartern loaf stood as high as 1s.

From The Political History of England - Vol XI From Addington's Administration to the close of William IV.'s Reign (1801-1837) by Brodrick, George C. (George Charles)

And this yere was first the roial, half roial, and quartern aungel, and aungellet of golde.

From A Chronicle of London from 1089 to 1483 Written in the Fifteenth Century, and for the First Time Printed from MSS. in the British Museum by Nicolas, Nicholas Harris, Sir

Related Words

• fourth
• one-fourth
• part
• portion
• term