First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1quarry
noun quar·ry \ˈkwȯr-ē, ˈkwär-\
plural quarries
Definition of QUARRY
1
obsolete : a heap of the game killed in a hunt
2
: game; specifically : game hunted with hawks
3
: one that is sought or pursued : prey
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Origin of QUARRY
Middle English quirre, querre entrails of game given to the hounds, from Anglo-French cureie, quereie, from quir, cuir skin, hide (on which the entrails were placed), from Latin corium — more at cuirass
2quarry
noun
plural quarries
Definition of QUARRY
1
: an open excavation usually for obtaining building stone, slate, or limestone
2
: a rich source
Origin of QUARRY
Middle English quarey, alteration of quarrere, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *quadraria, from Late Latin quadrus hewn (literally, squared) stone, from Latin quadrum square
First Known Use: 14th century
3quarry
verb
: to dig or take (stone or other materials) from a quarry
: to make a quarry in (a place)
quar·riedquar·ry·ing
Full Definition of QUARRY
transitive verb
1
: to dig or take from or as if from a quarry <quarry marble>
2
: to make a quarry in <quarry a hill>
intransitive verb
: to delve in or as if in a quarry
See quarry defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of QUARRY
1774
4quarry
noun
plural quarries
Definition of QUARRY
: a diamond-shaped pane of glass, stone, or tile
Origin of QUARRY
alteration of 1quarrel
First Known Use: 1555
QUARRY Defined for Kids
1quarry
noun quar·ry \ˈkwȯr-ē\
plural quar·ries
Definition of QUARRY for Kids
: an animal or bird hunted as game or prey
Word History of QUARRY
Quarry in the meaning “game” or “prey” can be traced to a hunting ritual from medieval times. At the end of a successful hunt the hounds used in the pursuit were rewarded with a part of the slain animal's entrails. Traditionally the entrails were spread out on the animal's hide. The word for the hounds' feast in medieval French was cuiree, a derivative of cuir, meaning “skin, hide.” Cuiree was borrowed into English as querre or quirre. Over time the meaning of the word shifted from the slain animal's entrails to the live animal itself, seen as the object of a hunt.
2quarry
noun
plural quar·ries
Definition of QUARRY for Kids
: an open pit usually for obtaining building stone, slate, or limestone
Word History of QUARRY
The origin of this word is completely different from that of the quarry meaning “prey.” The word quadrus in Latin meant “hewn stone” and is related to Latin quadrum, “square,” and quadri-, “four” (as in English quadrilateral). From a derivative of quadrum came Old French quarrere, “pit for cutting stone,” which was borrowed into English and eventually altered to quarry.
3quarry
verb
quar·riedquar·ry·ing
Definition of QUARRY for Kids
1
: to dig or take from or as if from a quarry <Stone was quarried from the hillside.>
2
: to make a quarry in <A crew quarried a rocky slope.>
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