quartering

[ kwawr-ter-ing ]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that quarters.
2. the assignment of quarters or lodgings.
3. Heraldry.
   1. the division of an escutcheon into quarters.
   2. the marshaling of various coats of arms on an escutcheon.
   3. any of the coats of arms so marshaled.

adjective

1. that quarters.
2. lying at right angles.
3. Nautical. (of a wind) blowing on a ship's quarter.

quartering

/ ˈkwɔːtərɪŋ /

noun

1. military the allocation of accommodation to service personnel
2. heraldry
   1. the marshalling of several coats of arms on one shield, usually representing intermarriages
   2. any coat of arms marshalled in this way

Word History and Origins

Origin of quartering¹

First recorded in 1585–95; quarter + -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

A short list might be made of English poets who witnessed with their own eyes a hanging, drawing, and quartering.

From The Daily Beast

Or the one about quartering abortion soldiers in private abortion houses?

From The Daily Beast

It was not seen again, and still more beams winked on, began to search, systematically quartering the sky.

From Project Gutenberg

But the novelty of Mosby's mode of warfare consisted chiefly in the manner of subsisting, quartering and protecting his men.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1765 a Quartering Act was passed by which 10,000 imperial troops were quartered in the colonies.

From Project Gutenberg

The skinning and quartering took up the whole afternoon, and Billy was heavily laden when he drew his cart home.

From Project Gutenberg

At it we went, but in front and quartering on the left thick masses of the enemy slowly but steadily advanced upon us.

From Project Gutenberg