Middle English Dictionary Entry
quartẹ̄̆ren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | quartẹ̄̆ren v. Forms: p. quartard, quarterd; ppl. i)quart(e)red, quartert, quarterd, quarterred, quartared, quatert & (?error) quarterds. |
| Etymology | From quartẹ̄̆re n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To divide (sth.) into four parts; also, cut (sth.) up; four-quartered, divided into four parts; six-quartered, six-sided; (b) to cut the body of (sb.) into four quarters, as a punishment; (c) to cut (sb.) to pieces; (d)her. quartered with, of a heraldic charge: marshaled quarterly with (another charge); (e) quartered-ware, ?a variety of shoes, perh. made of four pieces of leather; ?a basket, perh. decorated with a heraldic crest.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)p.75 : Plant it boue with prunes and damysyns..and wiþ dates quarterede and piked clene.
- ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)448 : Plaunte hit above with pynes or almondes and prunes and dates quartert, then cover thi coffyn, and bake hit.
- (1434) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)10.593 : Upon the same Coler are v Baleys, whereof iv are of Entaille square, and the vth is vi Quarter'd.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)18 : Take a Capoun..& sethe hym in Water..&..quarter hym.
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)340 : The bores hede schall be broghte..Kiddes cleuen by þe rigge, quarterd swannes.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)362 : Quarteryd: Quadripartus.
- a1500 Abbrev.Elucid.(Pen 12)30/34 : The crosse that he died vpon betokynde the iiij-quarterds [?read: iiij-quarterd; L quadrifidum] worlde whiche was sauyd.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.267 : He was first i-dampned and þan to drawe with horses, and þan an honged by þe þrote, and þan i-quartered [Higd.(2): dividede into iiij partes; L in quarteria divisus], and to deled in dyvers places of Engelond.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.323 : Hewe the Spenser ȝe ȝonge was..an-honged and to-drawe at Hereford, byheded and i-quartred, and his heed was i-sent to Londoun brigge.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)209/23 : Sir Gilbert of Midelton was atteint, and take, and hongede & drawe..& his body quartarede, and his heuede smyten of and sette oppon a spere..and þe iiij quarters sent to iiij citees of Engeland.
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)457 : Þis chevynteyns..buþ draw, hanged, hedyd, quartered.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)55 : The same John Halle..shulde be hangid and quarterid and byhedid.
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Hatfield (Hatfield 281)513 : Thise v persones to be drawen, hanged, beheded, and quartred.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)23 : With an old rusty axe the said hongman smot of thare hedes, and there quartard hem.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)28 : Thay boweld his sonne all quyke, and quarterd hym afor his eene.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)66 : There was Davy..drawen, hangid, and quartered, and his quarteres sent to dyvers places of Ynglond.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)445 : Syr Iohn Mensterworthe, knyȝhte, was drawen, hongede, and heded..and quatert after that.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)21 : Thei were done to dethe in sondrye wise, some hanged and quarterd and some beheded.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)41 : Of whiche robrye Syr Gylbert of Mytton was atteynt, take, drawne, hangyd, hys hed smyt of, and quarterde.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)68 : Ther he was hanged and quartered, and his hede..sett on London brige.
c
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1736 : I walde be wellyde all qwyke and quarterde in sondre Bot I wyrke my dede.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)14335 : Many Bodyes weren slayn there, Beheueded, qwartered, dislemed Also.
- a1500 Bevis (Chet 8009)213/4239 : In euery strete men myght se..Dede bodyes quarterrid in thre.
d
- a1500 Tourn.Tott.(Cmb Ff.5.48)153 : Theire baner was ful bryȝt Off an olde raton fell; The chefe was of a ploo mell, And the schadow of a bell, Quartered with the mone liȝt.
e
- (c1424-34) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.120194 : Pro xij paribus de quarterdware or crested hottes, x d. ob.