3. (Her.) (a) The division of a shield containing different coats of
arms into four or more compartments. (b) One of the different coats of
arms arranged upon an escutcheon, denoting the descent of the bearer.
4. (Arch.) A series of quarters, or small upright posts. See Quarter,
n., 1 (m) (Arch.) Gwilt.
Quartering block, a block on which the body of a condemned criminal was
quartered. Macaulay.
Quar"ter*ly, a. 1. Containing, or consisting of, a fourth part; as,
quarterly seasons.
2. Recurring during, or at the end of, each quarter; as, quarterly
payments of rent; a quarterly meeting.
Quar"ter*ly, n.; pl. Quarterlies (&?;). A periodical work published
once a quarter, or four times in a year.
Quar"ter*ly, adv. 1. By quarters; once in a quarter of a year; as, the
returns are made quarterly.
2. (Her.) In quarters, or quarterings; as, to bear arms quarterly; in
four or more parts; -- said of a shield thus divided by lines drawn
through it at right angles.
Quar"ter*mas`ter (?), n. [Quarter + master: cf. F. quartier-maÓtre.] 1.
(Mil.) An officer whose duty is to provide quarters, provisions,
storage, clothing, fuel, stationery, and transportation for a regiment
or other body of troops, and superintend the supplies.
2. (Naut.) A petty officer who attends to the helm, binnacle, signals,
and the like, under the direction of the master. Totten.
Quartermaster general (Mil.), in the United States a staff officer, who
has the rank of brigadier general and is the chief officer in the
quartermaster's department; in England, an officer of high rank
stationed at the War Office having similar duties; also, a staff
officer, usually a general officer, accompanying each complete army in
the field. -- Quartermaster sergeant. See Sergeant.
Quar"tern (?), n.[OE. quarteroun, quartron, F. quarteron, the fourth
part of a pound, or of a hundred; cf. L. quartarius a fourth part,
quarter of any measure, quartern, gill. See Quarter, and cf. Quarteron,
Quadroon.] 1. A quarter. Specifically: (a) The fourth part of a pint; a
gill. (b) The fourth part of a peck, or of a stone (14 ibs.).
2. A loaf of bread weighing about four pounds; -- called also quartern
loaf. Simmonds.
Quar"ter*on (?), n. [F. See Quartern.] A quarter; esp., a quarter of a
pound, or a quarter of a hundred. Piers Plowman.
{ Quar"ter*on (?), Quar"ter*oon (?) }, n. A quadroon.
Quar"ter*pace` (?), n. (Arch.) A platform of a staircase where the
stair turns at a right angle only. See Halfpace.
Quar"ter round` (?). (Arch.) An ovolo.
Quar"ter*staff` (?), n.; pl. Quarterstaves (&?;). A long and stout
staff formerly used as a weapon of defense and offense; -- so called
because in holding it one hand was placed in the middle, and the other
between the middle and the end.
{ Quar*tet", Quar*tette" } (?), n. [It. quartetto, dim. of quarto the
fourth, a fourth part, fr. L. quartus the fourth. See Quart.] 1. (Mus.)
(a) A composition in four parts, each performed by a single voice or
instrument. (b) The set of four person who perform a piece of music in
four parts.