quarto

n : the size of a book whose pages are made by folding a sheet

of paper twice to form four leaves [syn: {4to}]

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)