One of four equal parts of something; it can also mean a coin worth 25 cents in the US, or a particular area or district in a town.
From Old French *quartier* meaning 'fourth part', from Latin *quartus* ('fourth'), from *quattuor* ('four'). The idea of 'one‑fourth' led to many uses, from fractions to city areas.
Quarter is built on 'four', which is why it means one‑fourth, 25 cents (a quarter of a dollar), or a quarter of an hour (15 minutes). Even city 'quarters' started as areas that were roughly one of four main sections.
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