quartet

What it means

1. A group of four people or things, particularly

   The last of the quartet of American fighter pilots to join the RAF before the war was Cyril 'Pussy' Palmer, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in March 1918.

   2015, Tony Holmes, American Eagles: US Fighter Pilots in the RAF 1939-1945

   1. entertainmentA group of four musicians who perform classical music together.

      The string quartet played some chamber music.

   2. entertainmentA musical composition in four parts, each performed by a single voice or instrument.

      He composed a string quartet.

In a sentence

The last of the quartet of American fighter pilots to join the RAF before the war was Cyril 'Pussy' Palmer, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in March 1918.

2015, Tony Holmes, American Eagles: US Fighter Pilots in the RAF 1939-1945

Where it comes from

1. Italianquartetto
2. Frenchquartette
3. Englishquartet

From French quartette, from Italian quartetto. Doublet of cuarteto and quartetto.