a. A wind blowing on a vessel’s quarter. † b. A wind from one of the cardinal points. Obs.
a. 1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Aorça, with a quarter winde.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., vii. 32. Few ships will steare vpon quarter winds with one saile. Ibid. (1692), I. xvi. 80. Quarter Winds, are when the Wind comes in abaft the main-mast-shrouds even with the Quarter.
1727–41. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The quarter-wind is the best of all winds, as bearing into all the sails.
1846. A. Young, Naut. Dict., 243.
b. 1598. Florio, Quarta,… a quarter winde of the compasse.
