DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Quar·ter n.
 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.
 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.
 (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.
 Scouts each coast light-armed scour,
 Each quarter, to descry the distant foe.   --Milton.
 (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 11° 15´, that is, about 2° 49´; -- called also quarter point.
 2. Proper station; specific place; assigned position; special location.
 Swift to their several quarters hasted then
 The cumbrous elements.   --Milton.
 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.
    The banter turned as to what quarters each would find.   --W. Irving.
 (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.
    He magnified his own clemency, now they were at his mercy, to offer them quarter for their lives.   --Clarendon.
    Cocks and lambs . . . at the mercy of cats and wolves . . . must never expect better quarter.   --L'Estrange.
 3. Friendship; amity; concord. [Obs.] To keep quarter, to keep one's proper place, and so be on good terms with another. [Obs.]
    In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom.   --Shak.
    I knew two that were competitors for the secretary's place, . . . and yet kept good quarter between themselves.   --Bacon.
 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.

 Sta·tion n.
 1. The act of standing; also, attitude or pose in standing; posture. [R.]
    A station like the herald, Mercury.   --Shak.
    Their manner was to stand at prayer, whereupon their meetings unto that purpose . . . had the names of stations given them.   --Hooker.
 2. A state of standing or rest; equilibrium. [Obs.]
    All progression is performed by drawing on or impelling forward some part which was before in station, or at quiet.   --Sir T. Browne.
 3. The spot or place where anything stands, especially where a person or thing habitually stands, or is appointed to remain for a time; as, the station of a sentinel. Specifically: (a) A regular stopping place in a stage road or route; a place where railroad trains regularly come to a stand, for the convenience of passengers, taking in fuel, moving freight, etc. (b) The headquarters of the police force of any precinct. (c) The place at which an instrument is planted, or observations are made, as in surveying. (d) Biol. The particular place, or kind of situation, in which a species naturally occurs; a habitat. (e) Naut. A place to which ships may resort, and where they may anchor safely. (f) A place or region to which a government ship or fleet is assigned for duty. (g) Mil. A place calculated for the rendezvous of troops, or for the distribution of them; also, a spot well adapted for offensive or defensive measures. --Wilhelm (Mil. Dict.). (h) Mining An enlargement in a shaft or galley, used as a landing, or passing place, or for the accommodation of a pump, tank, etc.
 4. Post assigned; office; the part or department of public duty which a person is appointed to perform; sphere of duty or occupation; employment.
    By spending this day [Sunday] in religious exercises, we acquire new strength and resolution to perform God's will in our several stations the week following.   --R. Nelson.
 5. Situation; position; location.
 The fig and date -- why love they to remain
 In middle station, and an even plain?   --Prior.
 6. State; rank; condition of life; social status.
 The greater part have kept, I see,
 Their station.   --Milton.
    They in France of the best rank and station.   --Shak.
 7. Eccl. (a) The fast of the fourth and sixth days of the week, Wednesday and Friday, in memory of the council which condemned Christ, and of his passion. (b) R. C. Ch. A church in which the procession of the clergy halts on stated days to say stated prayers. --Addis & Arnold. (c) One of the places at which ecclesiastical processions pause for the performance of an act of devotion; formerly, the tomb of a martyr, or some similarly consecrated spot; now, especially, one of those representations of the successive stages of our Lord's passion which are often placed round the naves of large churches and by the side of the way leading to sacred edifices or shrines, and which are visited in rotation, stated services being performed at each; -- called also Station of the cross. --Fairholt.
 8. In Australia, a sheep run or cattle run, together with the buildings belonging to it; also, the  homestead and buildings belonging to such a run.
 Station bill. Naut. Same as Quarter bill, under Quarter.
 Station house. (a) The house serving for the headquarters of the police assigned to a certain district, and as a place of temporary confinement. (b) The house used as a shelter at a railway station.
 Station master, one who has charge of a station, esp. of a railway station.
 Station pointer Surv., an instrument for locating on a chart the position of a place from which the angles subtended by three distant objects, whose positions are known, have been observed.
 Station staff Surv., an instrument for taking angles in surveying. --Craig.
 Syn: -- Station, Depot.
 Usage: In the United States, a stopping place on a railway for passengers and freight is commonly called a depot: but to a considerable extent in official use, and in common speech, the more appropriate name, station, has been adopted.