quarter
Two bits. This in turn comes from the "pieces of eight" famed
in pirate movies - Spanish silver crowns that could be broken
into eight pie-slice-shaped "bits" to make change. Early in
American history the Spanish coin was considered equal to a
dollar, so each of these "bits" was considered worth 12.5
cents. Usage: rare.
Synonyms: {tayste}, {crumb}, {quad}.
See also {nickle}, {nibble}, {byte}, {dynner}.
[{Jargon File}]
(1995-01-25)