[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

quarter \quar"ter\ kwaumr"t~er, n. f. quartier, l.
   quartarius a fourth part, fr. quartus the fourth. see
   quart.
   1. one of four equal parts into which anything is divided, or
      is regarded as divided; a fourth part or portion; as, a
      quarter of a dollar, of a pound, of a yard, of an hour,
      etc. hence, specifically:
      a the fourth of a hundred-weight, being 25 or 28 pounds,
          according as the hundredweight is reckoned at 100 or
          112 pounds.
      b the fourth of a ton in weight, or eight bushels of
          grain; as, a quarter of wheat; also, the fourth part
          of a chaldron of coal. --hutton.
      c astron. the fourth part of the moon's period, or
          monthly revolution; as, the first quarter after the
          change or full.
      d one limb of a quadruped with the adjacent parts; one
          fourth part of the carcass of a slaughtered animal,
          including a leg; as, the fore quarters; the hind
          quarters.
      e that part of a boot or shoe which forms the side, from
          the heel to the vamp.
      f far. that part on either side of a horse's hoof
          between the toe and heel, being the side of the
          coffin.
      g a term of study in a seminary, college, etc, etc.;
          properly, a fourth part of the year, but often longer
          or shorter.
      h pl. mil. the encampment on one of the principal
          passages round a place besieged, to prevent relief and
          intercept convoys.
      i naut. the after-part of a vessel's side, generally
          corresponding in extent with the quarter-deck; also,
          the part of the yardarm outside of the slings.
      j her. one of the divisions of an escutcheon when it
          is divided into four portions by a horizontal and a
          perpendicular line meeting in the fess point.
          1913 webster

   note: when two coats of arms are united upon one escutcheon,
         as in case of marriage, the first and fourth quarters
         display one shield, the second and third the other. see
         quarter, v. t., 5.
         1913 webster
      k one of the four parts into which the horizon is
          regarded as divided; a cardinal point; a direction'
          principal division; a region; a territory.
          1913 webster

                scouts each coast light-armed scour,
                each quarter, to descry the distant foe.
                                                  --milton.
          1913 webster
      l a division of a town, city, or county; a particular
          district; a locality; as, the latin quarter in paris.
      m arch. a small upright timber post, used in
          partitions; -- in the united states more commonly
          called stud.
      n naut. the fourth part of the distance from one point
          of the compass to another, being the fourth part of
          11deg 15', that is, about 2deg 49'; -- called also
          quarter point.
          1913 webster
          1913 webster

   2. proper station; specific place; assigned position; special
      location.
      1913 webster

            swift to their several quarters hasted then
            the cumbrous elements.                --milton.
      1913 webster hence, specifically:
      a naut. a station at which officers and men are posted
          in battle; -- usually in the plural.
      b place of lodging or temporary residence; shelter;
          entertainment; -- usually in the plural.
          1913 webster

                the banter turned as to what quarters each would
                find.                             --w. irving.
          1913 webster
      c pl. mil. a station or encampment occupied by troops;
          a place of lodging for soldiers or officers; as,
          winter quarters.
      d treatment shown by an enemy; mercy; especially, the
          act of sparing the life a conquered enemy; a
          refraining from pushing one's advantage to extremes.
          1913 webster

                he magnified his own clemency, now they were at
                his mercy, to offer them quarter for their
                lives.                            --clarendon.
          1913 webster

                cocks and lambs . . . at the mercy of cats and
                wolves . . . must never expect better quarter.
                                                  --l'estrange.
          1913 webster

   3. friendship; amity; concord. obs. to keep quarter, to
      keep one's proper place, and so be on good terms with
      another. obs.
      1913 webster

            in quarter, and in terms like bride and groom.
                                                  --shak.
      1913 webster

            i knew two that were competitors for the secretary's
            place, . . . and yet kept good quarter between
            themselves.                           --bacon.
      1913 webster

   false quarter, a cleft in the quarter of a horse's foot.

   fifth quarter, the hide and fat; -- a butcher's term.

   on the quarter naut., in a direction between abeam and
      astern; opposite, or nearly opposite, a vessel's quarter.
      

   quarter aspect. astrol. same as quadrate.

   quarter back football, the player who has position next
      behind center rush, and receives the ball on the snap
      back.

   quarter badge naut., an ornament on the side of a vessel
      near, the stern. --mar. dict.

   quarter bill naut., a list specifying the different
      stations to be taken by the officers and crew in time of
      action, and the names of the men assigned to each.

   quarter block naut., a block fitted under the quarters of
      a yard on each side of the slings, through which the clew
      lines and sheets are reeved. --r. h. dana, jr.

   quarter boat naut., a boat hung at a vessel's quarter.

   quarter cloths naut., long pieces of painted canvas, used
      to cover the quarter netting.

   quarter day, a day regarded as terminating a quarter of the
      year; hence, one on which any payment, especially rent,
      becomes due. in matters influenced by united states
      statutes, quarter days are the first days of january,
      april, july, and october. in new york and many other
      places, as between landlord and tenant, they are the first
      days of may, august, november, and february. the quarter
      days usually recognized in england are 25th of march lady
      day, the 24th of june midsummer day, the 29th of
      september michaelmas day, and the 25th of december
      christmas day.

   quarter face, in fine arts, portrait painting, etc., a face
      turned away so that but one quarter is visible.

   quarter gallery naut., a balcony on the quarter of a
      ship. see gallery, 4.

   quarter gunner naut., a petty officer who assists the
      gunner.

   quarter look, a side glance. obs. --b. jonson.

   quarter nettings naut., hammock nettings along the
      quarter rails.

   quarter note mus., a note equal in duration to half a
      minim or a fourth of semibreve; a crochet.

   quarter pieces naut., several pieces of timber at the
      after-part of the quarter gallery, near the taffrail.
      --totten.

   quarter point. naut. see quarter, n., 1
      n .

   quarter railing, or quarter rails naut., narrow molded
      planks reaching from the top of the stern to the gangway,
      serving as a fence to the quarter-deck.

   quarter sessions eng. law, a general court of criminal
      jurisdiction held quarterly by the justices of peace in
      counties and by the recorders in boroughs.

   quarter square math., the fourth part of the square of a
      number. tables of quarter squares have been devised to
      save labor in multiplying numbers.

   quarter turn, quarter turn belt mach., an arrangement
      in which a belt transmits motion between two shafts which
      are at right angles with each other.

   quarter watch naut., a subdivision of the full watch one
      fourth of the crew on a man-of- war.

   to give quarter, or to show quarter mil., to accept as
      prisoner, on submission in battle; to forbear to kill, as
      a vanquished enemy.

   to keep quarter. see quarter, n., 3.
      1913 webster
see also:
quart quarter stud quarter point false quarter fifth quarter 
on the quarter quarter aspect quadrate quarter back quarter badge 
quarter bill quarter block quarter boat quarter cloths quarter day 
quarter face quarter gallery gallery quarter gunner quarter look 
quarter nettings quarter note quarter pieces quarter point quarter railing 
quarter rails quarter sessions quarter square quarter turn quarter turn belt 
quarter watch to give quarter to show quarter to keep quarter 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

back \back\ ba^k, n. as. baec, bac; akin to icel., sw., 
   lg. bak, dan. bag; cf. ohg. bahho ham, skr. bhaj to turn,
   oslav. b=egu^ flight. cf. bacon.
   1. in human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending
      from the neck to the end of the spine; in other animals,
      that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to
      such part of a human being; as, the back of a horse, fish,
      or lobster.
      1913 webster

   2. an extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.
      1913 webster

            the mountains their broad bare backs upheave
            into the clouds.                      --milton.
      1913 webster

   3. the outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the
      inner or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of
      the foot, the back of a hand rail.
      1913 webster

            methought love pitying me, when he saw this,
            gave me your hands, the backs and palms to kiss.
                                                  --donne.
      1913 webster

   4. the part opposed to the front; the hinder or rear part of
      a thing; as, the back of a book; the back of an army; the
      back of a chimney.
      1913 webster

   5. the part opposite to, or most remote from, that which
      fronts the speaker or actor; or the part out of sight, or
      not generally seen; as, the back of an island, of a hill,
      or of a village.
      1913 webster

   6. the part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its
      edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.
      1913 webster

   7. a support or resource in reserve.
      1913 webster

            this project
            should have a back or second, that might hold,
            if this should blast in proof.        --shak.
      1913 webster

   8. naut. the keel and keelson of a ship.
      1913 webster

   9. mining the upper part of a lode, or the roof of a
      horizontal underground passage.
      1913 webster

   10. a garment for the back; hence, clothing. obs.
       1913 webster

             a bak to walken inne by daylight.    --chaucer.
       1913 webster

   behind one's back, when one is absent; without one's
      knowledge; as, to ridicule a person behind his back.

   full back, half back, quarter back football, players
      stationed behind those in the front line.

   to be on one's back or to lie on one's back, to be
      helpless.

   to put one's back up or to get one's back up, to assume
      an attitude of obstinate resistance from the action of a
      cat when attacked. colloq.

   to see the back of, to get rid of.

   to turn the back, to go away; to flee.

   to turn the back on one, to forsake or neglect him.
      1913 webster
see also:
bacon behind one's back full back half back quarter back to be on one's back 
to lie on one's back to put one's back up to get one's back up to see the back of to turn the back 
to turn the back on one 

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