Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 262, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1915 — Derivation of “Quarter." [ARTICLE]

Derivation of “Quarter."

The origin of this military term appears to be as follows: A recognized meaning of the Old French word quartier (Latin quartarius) was “peace, friendship,” and “demander quartier” signified “to sue for peace.” No doubt quartier also implied in ah earlier stage of the language (as, curiously enough, it also does today in such locutions as "headquarters" and "married quarters”) some sort of abode. Hence “refuge, shelter,” from which the transition to its derivative sense is easy and obvious. Figuratively it signifies mercy in sparing the life of a fallen or captured enemy on the field of battle, or it may imply clemency on the part of the victor in allowing his foe “quarter” of a specified length of time wherein to make peace with his God before being put to death.