quartern
Americannoun
noun
-
a fourth part of certain weights or measures, such as a peck or a pound
-
Also called: quartern loaf.
-
a type of loaf 4 inches square, used esp for making sandwiches
-
any loaf weighing 1600 g when baked
-
Etymology
Origin of quartern
1250–1300; Middle English quartroun, quartron, quartern < Old French quarteron, derivative of quart fourth. See quart 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Shop-windows were stoned that night in south and east London; but twenty-four hours later the price of the quartern loaf was 1s. 3d., and a man offering 1s. 2d. would go empty away.
From The Message by Brock, H. M. (Henry Matthew)
I asked what the trouble was, and was told the baker had refused to sell his half-quartern loaves under sevenpence, or his quartern loaves under a shilling.
From The Message by Brock, H. M. (Henry Matthew)
"Half a quartern," stammered the boy, in a frightened voice.
From What the Moon Saw: and Other Tales by Dulcken, H. W. (Henry William)
Well, say the best is a penny a quartern more—and the wife seems so satisfied because she thinks she is saving.
From Original Penny Readings A Series of Short Sketches by Fenn, George Manville
Out of this I had to pay ten pounds house-rent; at that time too every thing was dear; for a quartern of corn cost six pounds, and a quart of wine eight rapps.
From The Autobiography of Thomas Platter, a schoolmaster of the sixteenth century. by Platter, Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
