quartane

[Lat. quart ( us )=fourth; -ane.] [BUTANE.] quar-tā-tion, s. [French, from Latin quart us Metall.: The proce formerly employed of separating gold from silver by means of nitric acid. This would not act effectually upon an alloy containing le than three parts silver, so that when the mixture was richer in gold, silver was added to make this proportion. *quarte (1), s . [QUART, 8. ] quarte (2), s. [Fr.] Fencing: One of the four guards, or a corresponding position of the body. quar-tene, s. [Latin quart ( us )=fourth; -ene .] [BUTENE.] IMG:content-0059.png:[blocks in formation] More widely, any region or point; direction; as, From what quarter does the wind blow? (b) The fourth part of the year; especially at schools, the fourth part of the period of the year during which the pupils are under instruction, generally about ten or eleven weeks. In this sense now becoming gradually superseded by term (q. v.). (c) The fourth part into which a body or carca is divided, including one of the limbs. (d) The fourth part of an hour, equivalent to fifteen minutes. "A fellow that turns upon his toe In a steeple, and strikes quarters !" Mayne: City Match, ii. 2. IMG:content-0060.png:[blocks in formation] 3321 (4) Mercy; merciful treatment on the part of the conquerors or stronger party; a refraining from pushing one's advantage to extremes. [ To show quarter .] *(5) Peace, friendship, concord, amity. II. Technically: 1. Arch .: A portion of a Gothic arch. 2. Astron.: The fourth part of the moon's monthly revolution; as, The moon is in her first quarter . [MOON.] 3. Building and Carpentry: (1) An upright stud or scantling in a partition which is to be lathed and plastered. The English rule is to place the quarters at a distance not exceeding fourteen inches. (2) A section of winding stairs. (3) A square panel inclosing a quatrefoil or other ornament. 4. Coopering: The portion of the side of a cask intermediate between the chime and the bulge. 5 Cork-cutting : A piece of cork, blocked out and ready for rounding into proper shape. 6. Farriery : (1) That part of a horse's hoof between the toe and the heel, being the side of the coffin. False quarter : A cleft in the hoof extending from the coronet to the shoe, or from top to bottom. When for any disorder one of the quarters is cut, the horse is said to be quarter-cast. (2) The rear or heel portion of a horseshoe. 7. Her.: One of the divisions of a shield, when it is divided into four portions by horizontal and perpendicular lines meeting in the fe e point; an ordinary occupying one-fourth of the field, and placed (unle otherwise directed) in the dexter chief. 8. Mil . ( pl .): A station or encampment occupied by troops; place of lodging or encampment for officers and men. The apartments a igned to officers and soldiers in a barrack. [HEAD QUARTERS.] 9. Nautical : 1ST OR 2ND OR DEXTER SINISTER CHIEF QUARTER CHIEF QE 3RD OR 4 OR DEXTER SINISTER BASE BASE QQ Quar ers. IMG:content-0061.png:[blocks in formation] point.) 12. Shoemaking : The portion of a boot or shoe upper behind the ankle-seams. 13. Weights and Measures : (1) The fourth part of a hundredweight, or 25 lbs. (2) The fourth part of a ton in weight, or eight bushels of grain. (3) The fourth part of a chaldron of coal. (1) To show quarter, To grant quarter , * To keep quarter : In war, to spare the life of a vanquished enemy; hence, generally, not to push one's advantage to an extreme; to show mercy; to be merciful, kind, or forgiving (The origin of the term is disputed; by some it is referred to an agreement said to have been anciently made between the Dutch and the Spaniards, that the ransom of a soldier should be the quarter of his pay. It may, perhaps, be referred to the meaning 1. 2. (5), and so mean, to grant friendship or peace.) (2) On the quarter : Naut .: In the direction a point in the horizon