quarter-hour

[ kwawr-ter-ouuhr, -ou-er ]

noun

1. a period of 15 minutes.
2. a point 15 minutes after or before the hour.

quarter-hour

noun

1. a period of 15 minutes
2. any of the points on the face of a timepiece that mark 15 minutes before or after the hour, and sometimes 30 minutes after

Derived Forms

• ˌquarter-ˈhourly, adverbadjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quarter-hour¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Here were two new griefs hurling themselves in over the wires all in the same quarter-hour, besides the one I had up my sleeve.

From Project Gutenberg

Something tender came into their tones as quarter-hour after quarter-hour went on, and they forgot the lapse of time.

From Project Gutenberg

But first she had to undergo a bad quarter-hour in the back-parlour.

From Project Gutenberg

A quarter-hour later the doctor had him safely tucked into his berth in the cabin, with whisky and lemon aboard him.

From Project Gutenberg

We have had a quarter-hour's ride when the gondola comes to rest before broad stone steps leading upward to a wide doorway.

From Project Gutenberg