quartern
Americannoun
noun
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a fourth part of certain weights or measures, such as a peck or a pound
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Also called: quartern loaf.
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a type of loaf 4 inches square, used esp for making sandwiches
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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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
The quartern loaf of 4 lb. or 64 oz. now costs 5d., wheat being very cheap.
From The History of London by Besant, Walter, Sir
"Half a quartern," stammered the boy, in a frightened voice.
From What the Moon Saw: and Other Tales by Dulcken, H. W. (Henry William)
But I know that by nightfall you could not have purchased a quartern loaf for elevenpence halfpenny within ten miles of Charing Cross.
From The Message by Brock, H. M. (Henry Matthew)
A paper bag containing half a quartern loaf was also given to each, and the contents rapidly disappeared.
From Mystic London: or, Phases of occult life in the metropolis by Davies, Charles Maurice
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.
