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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quarterly, -lie, adv. Also: -lé, -lay; and Quarterrie. [Late ME (1458) and e.m.E.]

1. Every quarter of a year; once a quarter.Half quarterlie, twice a quarter. 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II 168.
That the portar … haif yeirlie vj li. to be payit quarterlie 1553 Bk. Old Edinb. C. VI 57.
That all the breder of the said craft sall convene in the dekynnis hous quarterlie 1555 Peebles B. Rec. I 214.
And the baillies to caus him be payit in tymes cuming half quarterlie 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 105. 1650 Glasgow Wrights Acts 9.
The collector … sall mak his accomptis quarterlie or termlie 1674 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 183. 1692–9 Ib. 193.

2. a. For a quarter of the year each. b. According to the division into ‘quarters’ in senses 5 and 6 of Quarter n.a. 1532–3 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 396.
Quhilk day sall be completit the end of all the four quarteris of this realm divisit to remane quarterly and monethly on the bordouris 1542 Acts II 414/2.
That thir lordis … be … put for keping of the quenis grace or ony tua of thaim quarterlieb. 1532–3 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 394.
That forsamekle as the kingis grace has divisit his liegis to pas quarterlie towart the bordouris for resisting of our auld inymyis of Ingland 1554 Dundee B. Ct. II fol. 347b (12 Nov.).
And the towne quarterlie to help to cast the dame [of the mills] 1565 Edinb. Univ. MS La. iii 388a 13a.
And thair resavis proces be the commoun table quhilk cumis on bot quarterlie as the countrey is deuydit in four quarteris 1603 Stirling B. Rec. I 106.
This ordour to be quarterlie kepit throuch the haill toun, begynnand at the first quarter 1609 Peebles B. Rec. I 359.
Quarterle a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 241.
The haill cuntrey wes devyded into four quarters and all actions wer callit accordeing to the table quarterlie

3. Arranged in the four divisions of a heraldic shield; placed in diagonally opposite quarters of a shield or standard. c1450-2 Howlat 417 (A).
Ane [shield] … I beheld … Quhilk cassyn be cognoscence quarterly was Ib. 591.
He bure quarterly maid … The armes of the Dowglas 1494 Loutfut MS 147b.
He beris quarterlie geulez & siluer 1577 A. Hay Nobility 9.
Gyving the the [sic in pr.] Frenche armes quarterly 1622 Sc. Ant. XIII 162.
His lordshipes master-stabler … carying on a spears point quarterlay yellow and whyt tefety whilk is the ground of the cullers of the house

4. ? To the extent of a quarter of a whole. 1571 Crail B. Ct. MS 31 July.
The said Thomas … allegit that his cattell ait onlie quarterlie in his fald