[Quarter Days], in England and Ireland Lady Day, 25th March; Midsummer Day, 24th June; Michaelmas Day, 29th September; and Christmas Day, 25th December; while in Scotland the legal terms are Whitsunday, 15th May, and Martinmas, 11th November, though the Whitsunday term is now changed to the 28th May.
[Quarter-deck], the part of a ship abaft the main-mast, or between the main and mizzen, where there is a poop.
[Quarter-Sessions], a court held every quarter by justices of the peace in the several divisions of a county to try offences against the peace.
[Quarter-staff], strong wooden staff 6½ ft. long, shod with iron, grasped in the middle; formerly used in England for attack and defence.
[Quarterly Review], a review started by John Murray, the celebrated London publisher, in February 1809, in rivalry with the Edinburgh, which had been seven years in possession of the field, and was exerting, as he judged, an evil influence on public opinion; in this enterprise he was seconded by Southey and Scott, the more cordially that the Edinburgh had given offence to the latter by its criticism of "Marmion." It was founded in the Tory interest for the defence of Church and State, and it had Gifford for its first editor, while the contributors included, besides Southey and Scott, all the ablest literary celebrities on the Tory side, of which the most zealous and frequent was John Wilson Croker.
[Quartermaster], in the army an officer whose duty it is to look after the quarters, clothing, rations, stores, ammunition, &c., of the regiment, and in the navy a petty officer who has to see to the stowage, steerage, soundings, &c., of the ship.
[Quartette], a musical piece in four parts, or for four voices or instruments.
[Quarto], a book having the sheet folded into four leaves.
[Quasimodo Sunday], the first Sunday after Easter.
[Quass], a beer made in Russia from rye grain, employed as vinegar when sour.