Meanings
nounquarter-ill (uncountable)
- uncountableblackleg (cattle disease)
When the quarter-ill made its appearance the "muckle wheel" was set in motion, and turned till fire was produced. From this virgin flame fires were kindled in the byres
1881, Walter Gregor, Notes on the Folk-lore of the North-east of Scotland, page 186
Origin
Because it affects the "quarters" (limbs) of cattle.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
quarter-ill. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/quarter-ill
MLA
“quarter-ill.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/quarter-ill. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “quarter-ill,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/quarter-ill.
Source: quarter-ill on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.