quartering

Pluralquarterings (some meanings)

1. 1
   noununcountable

   The splitting of something into four equal parts.

   Like cutting a sandwich into four pieces.

   The quartering of the apple gave each child one piece.

   After the quartering of the pie, four slices sat on the plate.

   Similardivision, partition, splitting

   Note
2. 2
   verb

   Present participle of quarter. Use this form for the action happening right now.

   The cook is quartering the chickens for tonight's dinner.

   They spent the morning quartering apples for the pie.

   Note
3. 3
   noununcountable

   A way of putting someone to death by cutting the body into four parts.

   The quartering of traitors was once a public spectacle.

   Crowds gathered to watch the quartering of the condemned man.

4. 4
   noununcountable

   Giving soldiers a place to live, sometimes forced on ordinary people's homes.

   Like being told you must let a stranger sleep in your house.

   The quartering of troops in private homes angered the colonists.

   Townspeople resented the quartering of soldiers during the long campaign.

   Similarbilleting, lodging, housing

5. 5
   noununcountable

   Splitting a coat of arms into four or more sections, each showing a different family's design.

   Like a window with four panes, each holding a different picture.

   The quartering on the shield showed her noble ancestry.

   Heralds explained the quartering to the curious visitors.

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountable

   Each separate coat of arms placed on a shield to show where a family came from.

   Like one photo on a page full of family pictures.

   Each quartering told part of the family's story.

   The herald pointed to a quartering from her mother's side.

   Note
7. 7
   noununcountable

   The way a hunting dog searches a field by running across the wind to catch a scent.

   Like mowing a lawn in straight rows so you don't miss any grass.

   The dog's quartering of the field flushed out a pheasant.

   Good quartering helped the spaniel find the hidden birds.

   Note
8. 8
   adjective

   Coming from behind and to one side, but not straight from behind. Used for waves or wind.

   Like wind hitting your back at an angle instead of straight on.

   The small boat rocked in the quartering waves.

   A quartering swell pushed the craft sideways.

   Note
9. 9
   adjective

   Coming from behind and to one side, so it pushes both sideways and forward.

   Like rain blowing at your back from one side.

   Pilots dislike a quartering wind during landing.

   The quartering gust pushed the plane off the runway center.

   Note
10. 10
    adjective

    Set at right angles to each other, like the cranks on a steam locomotive.

    Like the hands of a clock at three o'clock, making a square corner.

    Engineers checked the quartering cranks on the old locomotive.

    A quartering setup keeps the engine from stalling at dead center.

    Note

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