quarter

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   clemency or mercy shown to a defeated opponent

   We surrendered but asked for quarter, hoping that our captors would be accommodating.

2. 2
   noun

   piece of leather that comprises the part of a shoe or boot covering the heel and joining the vamp

   I had the cobbler replace the quarter on my boots.

3. 3
   noun

   the rear part of a ship

   I snuck aboard the boat by hiding in the quarter.

4. 4
   noun

   a district of a city having some distinguishing character

   The French Quarter of the city is considered to be the most beautiful.

5. 5
   noun

   an unspecified person

   They dropped a word in the right quarter.

6. 6
   noun

   a United States or Canadian coin worth one fourth of a dollar

   I fed four quarters into the slot machine.

7. 7
   noun

   one of four equal parts

   I ate a quarter of the pie.

8. 8
   noun

   one of the four major division of the compass

   The wind is coming from that quarter.

Etymology

From Middle English quarter, from Anglo-Norman quarter, from Latin quartarius, from quartus. Compare Spanish cuarto (“room, quarters; quarter”). Doublet of quartier.