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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

On quarter day, he pays his rent at the stroke of noon.

From English Pharisees and French Crocodiles and Other Anglo-French Typical Characters by O'Rell, Max

The first were for a full day's work, the second for a half day, and the last for a quarter day.

From Camp-Fire and Cotton-Field Southern Adventure in Time of War. Life with the Union Armies, and Residence on a Louisiana Plantation by Knox, Thomas Wallace

He was worth a cool two thousand a year was Morry—that's five hundred each quarter day, you understand, and somewhere or other there must be the bonds or securities from which this money came.

From The Avenger by Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)

By adding a quarter day to each year, there is a surplus of eleven minutes, fourteen seconds.

From Astronomy for Amateurs by Welby, Frances A. (Frances Alice)