[L.; later sing. form for pl. quadrīgæ contr. of quadrijugæ, f. quadri- QUADRI- + jugum yoke. Cf. F. quadrige (17th c.), and see QUATHRIGAN.]
1. A chariot drawn by four horses harnessed abreast; esp. as represented in sculpture or on coins.
1727–41. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., On the reverses of medals we frequently see Victory, or the emperor, in a quadriga, holding the reins of the horses.
1850. Leitch, trans. C. O. Müller’s Anc. Art (ed. 2), 452. [Apollo] guides a quadriga, in which he is carrying off a lofty and noble female form.
1884. Chr. World, 14 Aug., 612/5. A quadriga in bronze carrying a figure of Victory.
2. A form of surgical bandage for the sternum and ribs. ? Obs.
1743. Heister, Surgery (1768), II. III. iv. 371. The Generality of Surgeons make use of a peculiar and stronger Bandage for this purpose, which they call the Quadriga or Cataphracta. [Hence in Chambers, Cycl., Suppl. (App.), and some later dicts.]
Hence † Quadrigarious a., ‘of or belonging to a Charriot-man’ (Blount, Glossogr., 1656).
