Quarantine

(kwor* ’-anten) [It., quaranta, forty]. The time (formerly forty days) during which ve els or travellers from ports infected with contagious or epidemic diseases are required by law to remain outside the port of their destination, as a safeguard against the spreading of such diseases. 2. Also, the place of detention. 3. The act of detaining ve els or travellers from suspected ports or places for purposes of inspection or disinfection. Q., Land-V the isolation of a person or district on land for similar purposes. 541