The aggregation of houses enclosed by four streets. Sometimes called a SQUARE.
1796. The whole block of buildings included between that slip, Front Street, and the Fly Market.—The Aurora (Phila.), Dec. 13.
1824. A fire broke out [in Columbia, S.C.] by which nearly a whole block was consumed.—Carolina Gazette, Jan. 17, p. 3/2.
1837. Paved thoroughfares, and manufacturing or commercial blocks.—Knick. Mag., ix. 72 (Jan.).
1843. “I was standing in my shop-door, if the court please, when about two blocks off I saw”—“Two blocks?” interrogated the district attorney. “Yes, sir, two blocks,” retorted the crockery-dealer.—Cornelius Mathews, ‘Writings,’ p. 276.
1846. Seventeen blocks, (squares,) containing houses of the largest and most costly construction, were consumed in one night [in the great fire of 1835].—John F. Watson, ‘Annals of New York,’ p. 378.
1847. If he means to tell you there’s a man across the street, ’tis ten to one he goes round the whole block to define his position.—J. K. Paulding, ‘American Comedies,’ p. 187 (Phila.).
1855. The traveller would probably be completely masticated [by the horses] about once in passing three blocks. Then he would, according to the best authorities, be run over some three times in one block.—S. A. Hammett (‘Philip Paxton’), ‘Captain Priest,’ p. 237.
1860. In length [the Great Eastern] reaches three city “blocks” or squares, taking in the river terminus of Hammond, Troy, and Bethune streets.—Corr., Richmond Enquirer, July 6, p. 4/2.
1869. The dogs sleep in the streets all over the city [Constantinople]. From one end of the street to the other, I suppose they will average about eight or ten to a block. Sometimes, of course, there are fifteen or twenty to a block.—Mark Twain, ‘The Innocents Abroad,’ chap. xxxiv.
1909. [They] took the negro from his cell and hanged him from an electric light pole half a block from the jail.—N.Y. Ev. Post, April 5.
