quartet

n 1: the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one [syn: {four},

{4}, {IV}, {tetrad}, {quatern}, {quaternion}, {quaternary},

{quaternity}, {quadruplet}, {foursome}, {Little Joe}]

2: four performers or singers who perform together [syn: {quartette}]

3: a set of four similar things considered as a unit [syn: {quartette},

{quadruplet}]

4: four people considered as a unit; "he joined a barbershop

quartet"; "the foursome teed off before 9 a.m." [syn: {quartette},

{foursome}]

5: a musical composition for four performers [syn: {quartette}]

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)