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Glite Dictionary
🛡️ Shield division 🏠 Providing lodging ➗ Dividing in four
quartering

quartering

1 9.7
A shield divided into four parts showing family coats of arms
  • noun
  • /ˈkwɔrtərɪŋ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cuartel
  • The intricate quartering on the family crest represented the lineage of both her parents.

Examples

  • During the ceremony, the quartering of the shield revealed the diverse ancestry of the bride.

  • The quartering.

    Mercy (2021)

  • The coat of arms displayed a stunning quartering, showcasing the heritage of four noble families.

Surface Forms

quartering singular
quarterings plural

Morphology

quartering = quarter (semi-transparent) = quarter + ing

Formed from 'quarter' + '-ing'; the basic sense 'dividing into four' is clear but the heraldic, technical meaning (coats of arms) is specialized.

Etymology

Quartering comes from the idea of a 'quarter' or one of four parts, from Latin quartus meaning 'fourth'. In heraldry it means making a shield into four parts to show different family arms, so the origin explains the modern meaning.