quatrefoil

[ kat-er-foil, ka-truh- ]

noun

1. a leaf composed of four leaflets.
2. Architecture. a panellike ornament composed of four lobes, divided by cusps, radiating from a common center.

quatrefoil

/ ˈkætrəˌfɔɪl /

noun

1. a leaf composed of four leaflets
2. architect a carved ornament having four foils arranged about a common centre, esp one used in tracery

Other Words From

• quatre·foiled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quatrefoil¹

1375–1425; Middle English < Middle French quatre four + -foil (as in trefoil )

Word History and Origins

Origin of quatrefoil¹

C15: from Old French, from quatre four + -foil leaflet; compare trefoil

Example Sentences

On the ground-floor, which was lighted by a row of quatrefoil windows in pointed arches, there were forty-eight rectangular doors.

From Project Gutenberg

On the south, however, the quatrefoil decoration is slightly different.

From Project Gutenberg

The mullions, or radii, are all faced with small pillars and capitals, and lined with the dog-toothed quatrefoil.

From Project Gutenberg

Above this is an open gallery with very beautiful twisted pillars and quatrefoil piercing in the three arches.

From Project Gutenberg

The windows in the chapels of the chevet are of two lights, with a small quatrefoil pierced in the tympanum above the lights.

From Project Gutenberg