fourth part of any thing, the fractional expression for which is $\frac{1}{4}$.

weights, is generally used for the fourth part of an hundred weight avoirdupois, or 28 lb.

Used as the name of a dry measure, quarter is the fourth part of a ton in weight, or eight bushels.

term in the manage. To work from quarter to quarter, is to ride a horse three times in upon the first of the four lines of a square; then changing your hand, to ride him three times upon the second; and so to the third and fourth; always changing hands, and observing the same order.

Quarters, with respect to the parts of a horse, is used in various senses: thus the shoulders and fore-legs are called the fore-quarters, and the hips and hinder-legs the hind-quarters. The quarters of a horse's foot are the sides of the coffin, comprehending between the toe and the heel: the inner quarters are those opposite to one another, facing from one foot to the other; and these are always weaker than the outside quarters, which lie on the external sides of the coffin. False-quarters, are a cleft in the horn of a horse's hoof, extending from the coronet to the shoe. A horse is said to be quarter-calf when for any disorder in the coffin we are obliged to cut one of the quarters of the hoof.

Astronomy, the fourth part of the moon's period: thus, from the new moon to the quadrature is the first quarter; from this to full moon, the second quarter, &c.

Heraldry, is applied to the parts or members of the first division of a coat that is quartered, or divided into four quarters.

Franc Quarter, in Heraldry, is a quarter single or alone; which is to possess one fourth part of the field. It makes one of the honourable ordinaries of a coat.

Quarter of a Ship, that part of a ship's side which lies towards the stern; or which is comprehended between the aftmost end of the main chains and the sides of the stern, where it is terminated by the quarter-pieces.

Although the lines by which the quarter and bow of a ship, with respect to her length, are only imaginary, yet experience appears sufficiently to have ascertained their limits: so that if we were to divide the ship's sides into five equal portions, the names of each space would be readily enough expressed. Thus the first, from the stern, would be the quarter; the second, abaft the midships; the third, the midships; the fourth, before the midships; and the fifth, the bow. Whether these divisions, which in reality are somewhat arbitrary, are altogether improper, may be readily discovered by referring to the mutual situation or approach of two adjacent vessels. The enemy boarded us on the larboard side! Whereabouts? Abaft the midships, before the midships, &c.

Fig. 1 represents a geometrical elevation of a quarter of a 74 gun ship. A the keel, with a the false keel beneath it. B the stern-post. DD the quarter-gallery, with its ballustrades and windows. EE the quarter-pieces, which limit and form the outlines of the stern. F the taffarel, or upper pieces of the stern. FG the profile of the stern, with its galleries. H the gun-ports of of the lower deck; \( h \) the gun-ports of the upper and quarter-deck. \( I \) the after-part of the mizen channel. \( K \) the wing transom. \( KG \) the lower counter. \( LB \) the station of the deck transom. \( LQ \) the after-part of the main-wale. \( DR \) the after-part of the channel-wale, parallel to the main-wale. \( SU \) the sheer-rail, parallel to both wales. \( T \) the rudder. \( AF \) the rake of the stern. \( Pii \) the drift-rails. \( TU \) the after-part of the load water-line; \( kkl \) the curve of the several decks corresponding to those represented in the head. See the article Head.

As the marks, by which vessels of different constructions are distinguished from each other, are generally more conspicuous on the stern or quarter than any other part, we have represented some of the quarters, which assume the most different shapes, and form the greatest contrast with each other. Fig. 2 shows the stern and quarter of a Dutch flight. Fig. 3, the stern and quarter of a cat. Fig. 4, the stern and quarter of a common galley. Fig. 5, exhibits the quarter of a first-rate galley, otherwise called a galleasse. Fig. 6, the quarter of a Dutch dogger, or galliot. Fig. 7, represents the stern and quarter of a sloop of war.

The quarters of all other ships have a near affinity to those above exhibited. Thus all ships of the line, and East-Indiamen, are formed with a quarter little differing from the principal figure in this plate. Xebecs have quarters nearly resembling those of galleasses, only somewhat higher. Hagboats and pinks approach the figure of cats, the former being a little broader in the stern, and the latter a little narrower; and the sterns and quarters of cats seem to be derived from those of fly-boats. The sterns of Dutch doggers and galliots are indeed singular, and like those of no other modern vessel: they have nevertheless a great resemblance to the ships of the ancient Grecians, as represented in medals and other monuments of antiquity.

On the Quarter, may be defined an arch of the horizon, contained between the line prolonged from the ship's stern and any distant object, as land, ships, &c. Thus if the ship's keel lies on an east and west line, the stern being westward, any distant object perceived on the north-west or south-west, is said to be on the larboard or starboard quarter.

Quarter-Bill, a roll, or list, containing the different stations, to which all the officers and crew of the ship are quartered in the time of battle, and the names of all the persons appointed to those stations. See Quarters.