quarter

quarter · noun, adjective, verb¹

1. Latin · derived fromquartarius
2. Anglo-Norman · derived fromquarter
3. Middle English · inherited fromquarter
4. English todayquarter

From Middle English quarter, from Anglo-Norman quarter, from Latin quartarius, from quartus. Compare Spanish cuarto (“room, quarters; quarter”). Doublet of quartier.

quarter · verb²

1. French · borrowed fromcartayer
2. French · borrowed fromcartayer
3. English todayquarter

Borrowed from French cartayer.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. Each of four equal parts into which something can be divided; a fourth part.
• from 13th c. A measure of capacity used chiefly for grain or coal, varying greatly in quantity by time and location.
• from 14th c. A fourth part of a pound; approximately 113 grams.
• from 14th c. A measure of length; originally a fourth part of an ell, now chiefly a fourth part of a yard.
• from 14th c. A fourth part of the night; one of the watches or divisions of the night.
• from 14th c. A fourth part of the year; 3 months; a term or season.
• from 15th c. A fourth part of an hour; a period of fifteen minutes, especially with reference to the quarter before or after the hour.
• fromat 15th c. A fourth part of a hundredweight.