three-quarterthree-quartersn.adj.adv.
A. n.
1. three quarters phr. three of the four equal parts into which anything is or may be divided; loosely, the greater part of anything.
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the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a great part or proportion > the greater part, the majority
the more partOE
the best part ofOE
(the) more parta1350
(the) most parta1350
(the) most part alla1350
(the) most party1372
for (also be, in) the most part (also deal, party)a1387
the better part ofa1393
the mo?a1400
most forcea1400
substancea1413
corsec1420
generalty?c1430
the greater partc1430
three quartersc1470
generalityc1485
the most feck1488
corpse1533
most1553
nine-tenths?1556
better half1566
generality?1570
pluralityc1570
body1574
the great body (of)1588
flush1592
three fourths1600
best1601
heap1609
gross1625
lump1709
bulk1711
majority1714
nineteen in twenty1730
balance1747
sweighta1800
heft1816
chief1841
the force1842
thick end1847
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > four > [noun] > division into four > a fourth part > three quarters
three quartersc1470
three fourths1600
c1470 Henry Wallace ix. 979 Than off the day thre quartaris was went.
1650 N. Ward Discolliminium 49 And now I am 3 quarters Presbyterian, I keep one quarter still Independent.
1886 C. E. Pascoe London of To-day (ed. 3) i. 29 A modest luncheon of grilled chops and boiled potatoes is ordered. In three-quarters of an hour these appear.
1900 F. H. Stoddard Evol. Eng. Novel 191 That three-quarters of life which is called conduct.
2. three-quarter (plural three-quarters), in Rugby Football, short for three-quarter back n. at Compounds.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > [noun] > types of player > player or position
full back1875
goal kick1875
No. eight1876
goalkicker1879
three-quarter back1880
handler1888
three-quarter1889
heeler1892
scrum half1894
lock forward1898
standoff1902
five-eighth1905
hooker1905
threes1905
flying half1906
loose head1907
standoff1908
fly-half1918
fly1921
inside half1921
outside half1921
scrum1921
inside centre1936
flank forward1937
out-half1949
prop1950
prop forward1951
number eight1952
flanker1953
tight head1959
back-rower1969
second rower1969
striker1973
packman1992
1889 H. Vassall Rugby Football 13 If he [the captain] is playing four three-quarters and finds that his eight forwards are swamped by the opposing nine, he must make his extra three-quarter go forward.
1897 Whitaker's Almanack 645/1 The English halves and three-quarters were run out before they had a chance of getting away.
B. adj.
a. three-quarter (rarely three-quarters). Amounting to three quarters of the whole; one quarter less in magnitude or dimension than that which is complete or full; three-fourths of the ordinary; also vaguely (cf. A. 1).
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the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [adverb] > for the most part
nigheOE
almostOE
three-quarters1677
e'enamost1735
about1769
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > four > [adjective] > divided into four > three-quarter
three-quarter1677
1677 London Gaz. No. 1239/4 A middle sized Fox Beagle,..white breast, and her legs whitish, with three quarter sterne.
1684 J. P. von Valcaren Relation Siege Vienna 204 Three quarter Cannons, of each 36 pound.
1700 Let. 8 Apr. in T. Brown 3rd Vol. Wks. (1708) ii. 101 As if he had been riding three-quarter-speed.
1766 J. Entick Surv. London in New Hist. London IV. 448 Adjoining to the walls are ten three-quarter columns.
1837 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 1 33/1 Secured with three-quarter inch bolts.
1869 A. J. Evans Vashti xxii. 292 A three-quarter moon was staring down at her own image.
b. spec. Of portraits, etc. (a) Originally applied to a canvas measuring 30 inches by 25 (about three-fourths of the area of a kitcat, 36 in. × 28). (b) Now usually applied to a portrait showing three-fourths of the figure (in full, three quarter(s length). Also of a coat, sleeve, etc.: (having) three-fourths of the normal length. (c) three-quarter-face (esp. in Photography), the aspect intermediate between full face and profile.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [adjective] > of specific length
foot-sideOE
sideOE
long-side1575
sidelong1575
nock-shorn1632
talarian1671
three-quarter1713
overknee1831
talaric1853
high water1856
ankle-length1876
long1882
hip-length1893
knee-length1895
thigh-length1895
fingertip1920
mid-calf1931
wrist-length1935
floor-length1939
cropped1954
waltz-length1958
two-thirds1963
calf-length1965
midi1968
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > painting > painting according to subject > [adjective] > portrait-painting > full-length, half-length, etc.
three-quarter1713
half-lengtha1739
Kit-cat1754
head-and-shoulders1822
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > [noun] > person photographed > aspect of
three-quarter-face1865
1713 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 27 Feb. (1948) II. 628 I have a very fine Picture of Ldy Orkney,..by Sr Godfry Kneller, 3 quarters length.
1831 D. E. Williams Life Sir T. Lawrence, 1769–1830, I. 77 The last prices received by Sir Thomas Lawrence. For a head-size, or three-quarters, 210l.; for a kit-kat, 315l.; for a half-length, 420l.;..and for a full-length, 630l.
c1850 Catalogue of Wm. Macgill, Edinb. 10 Canvasses on Frames kept in Stock..24 by 20, head size; 30 by 25, ¾ size; 36 by 28, Kitcat,..50 by 40, half-length [etc.].
1865 M. E. Braddon Sir Jasper ii There were several sketches of the Baronet's elder daughter; now a three-quarter face..; now a profile..; now a full face.
1882 J. Ashton Social Life Reign of Queene Anne II. xxvii. 42 Wollaston, a portrait painter, who could only command five guineas for a three-quarters canvas.
1894 H. Gamlin G. Romney 202 Lady Susan Murray is a beautiful three-quarter standing figure.
1911 Queen 4 Nov. (Suppl.) 14/3 A three-quarter length [coat] comes out at only 5 guineas.
1919 in C. W. Cunnington Eng. Women's Clothing in Present Cent. (1952) 156 The three-quarter coat is the latest rage.
1940 R. Graves & A. Hodge Long Week-end xvi. 280 Swagger coats..were of three-quarter length.
1943 P. Cheyney You can always Duck v. 85 She is wearin'..a loose three-quarter length coat.
1960 Woman's Own 19 Mar. 42/3 Three-quarter sleeve overblouse.
1960 News Chron. 4 Apr. 6/1 The collar sits well away from the face; the sleeves are definitely three-quarter.
1960 Harper's Bazaar Aug. 8/2 A brief tartan jacket..which has..three-quarter length sleeves.
1960 Harper's Bazaar Oct. 119 A three-quarter coat in oatmeal tweed.
1972 A. Price Col. Butler's Wolf xi. 119 A reversible three-quarter length overcoat.
c. elliptical. Measuring or relating to three quarters (of a yard) in Cloth Measure, or three fourths of any quantity indicated by context; spec. of a coal seam, three quarters of a yard thick.
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the world > the earth > minerals > mineral deposits > [adjective] > thick vein or coal seam
strong1684
three-quarter1708
1708 J. C. Compl. Collier 4 in T. Nourse Mistery of Husbandry Discover'd (ed. 3) The 3 Quarter Coal about 3 Quartes thick or more.
1837 J. R. McCulloch Statist. Acct. Brit. Empire I. i. i. 87 The principal beds of coal are one of 6 feet in thickness, and a lower one, called the three-quarter bed.
1838 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 1 381/2 A half-inch service pipe will fill a cistern in one-third the time now taken by the three-quarter cock.
1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words Three-quarter-coal, a seam of coal about three-quarters of a yard in thickness.
1912 N.E.D. at Three-quarter Mod. The three-quarter chimes.
C. adv.
To the extent of three quarters.
ΚΠ
a1584 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 110 That littil God of loue..with bowe thrie quartars scante.
1832 Proposed Regulations Cavalry iii. 106 The..Troops wheel three-quarters left about.
1869 ‘L. Carroll’ Phantasmagoria 106 Prone to the dust he bent his head, And lay like one three-quarters dead.
Compounds
three-quarter back n. in Rugby Football (also in Hockey), one of two, three, or four players stationed between the half-backs and the full-backs.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > [noun] > types of player > player or position
full back1875
goal kick1875
No. eight1876
goalkicker1879
three-quarter back1880
handler1888
three-quarter1889
heeler1892
scrum half1894
lock forward1898
standoff1902
five-eighth1905
hooker1905
threes1905
flying half1906
loose head1907
standoff1908
fly-half1918
fly1921
inside half1921
outside half1921
scrum1921
inside centre1936
flank forward1937
out-half1949
prop1950
prop forward1951
number eight1952
flanker1953
tight head1959
back-rower1969
second rower1969
striker1973
packman1992
1880 Daily Tel. 20 Dec. One of the Northern three-quarter backs sustained an injury to his leg.
1889 H. Vassall Rugby Football 10 This led to the increase in the number of three-quarter-backs, first, from one to two, with two full-backs, and then to three, with one full-back—in other words, three-quarter-back became the main line of defence against the rush of opposing forwards.
1890 F. S. Creswell Hockey 10 The three-quarter-backs, generally two in number.
three-quarter bed n. a bed intermediate in width between a single and a double bed.
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society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > bed > types of bed > [noun] > specific sizes of bed
double bed1839
three-quarter bed1919
twin bed1919
queen1955
California king size1957
California king1983
1919 L. R. Balderston Housewifery vii. 196 Size of Bedspreads..80 in. × 100 in.—three-quarter bed.
1978 Lancashire Life Oct. 141/2 The old four foot wide ‘three~quarter’ bed—known in the trade as a ‘landlady's double’ because seaside landladies used it to get two people into what should have been a single room—is rarely seen nowadays.
three-quarter binding n. a style of bookbinding having more leather than half-binding: see quot.
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society > communication > book > manufacture or production of books > book-binding > type of binding > [noun]
antiquing1728
royal binding1808
Russia binding1817
gothique1818
half-binding1821
Roxburghe1839
paper cover1843
trade binding1874
tree-calf1879
Grolier1880
yapp1883
cloth-work1885
publisher's binding1885
tree-marble1885
treed calf1892
presentation binding1893
quarter leather1894
quarter calf1896
three-quarter binding1897
library binding1903
circuit-binding1909
publisher's cloth1911
quarter binding1912
loose back1923
open back1923
spring-back1923
spiral binding1949
1897 Let. to Editor (O.E.D. Archive) Three quarter binding is a very wide back and large corners. The sides may be of anything, paper, cloth [etc.].
three-quarter-bred adj. having three quarters of pure blood.
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the world > people > ethnicities > division of mankind by physical characteristics > mixed race > [adjective] > person
mongrel1566
mulatto-like1719
half-breeda1762
mixed breed1775
half-caste1789
half-blood1830
three-quarter-bred1902
quarter-caste1952
biracial1963
multiracial1964
the world > animals > domestic animal > [adjective] > of livestock > kept for breeding > having three-quarter pure blood
three-quarter-bred1902
1902 Bodkin Shillelagh 32 The fast three-quarter bred mare between the shafts.
three-quarter cleft n. (also three-quarter clift) dialect a person three-quarters ‘cracked’: cf. quarter cleft n. 2.
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the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > degree or type of mental illness > [noun] > slight madness > person
touched1625
three-quarter cleft1830
quarter cleft1831
mattoid1891
borderland1894
borderline case1907
wackadoo1979
wackadoodle1991
1830 W. Carleton Traits & Stories Irish Peasantry I. 4 ‘A three-quarther clift’, or mischievous fellow, half knave, half fool.
three-quarters face n. Military three quarters of a full ‘face’ or turn.
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society > armed hostility > military operations > evolution > [noun] > other evolutions
inversion1627
conversion1635
fronting1796
platoon1797
platoon exercise1797
half-face1833
right (or left) shoulders (in)!1833
three-quarters face1833
about-face1835
ployment1861
1833 Regulations Instr. Cavalry i. i. 14 The recruit..makes a three quarters face in the given direction.
three-quarter fiddle n. see quot.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > stringed instruments > bowable instrument > [noun] > violin > small violin
kit?1520
pochette1654
violino piccolo1776
three-quarter fiddle1889
1889 E. J. Payne in Grove Dict. Music IV. 813/1 Violino Piccolo (..Dreiviertel-geige, Three-quarter fiddle), a violin of small size, but of the ordinary parts and proportions, differing in this respect from the pochette or kit.
three-quarter line n. Rugby Football the row of three-quarter backs aligned (and usually angled back) across the field, esp. at a set-piece.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > [noun] > formations
line-out1889
backline1960
three-quarter line1960
1960 E. S. Higham & W. J. Higham High Speed Rugby vii. 58 The scrum-half's first and foremost duty is to feed the three-quarter-line.
1976 Eastern Evening News (Norwich) 9 Dec. 19/8 Norfolk took an early lead when the ball was quickly fed along the three-quarter line to put Hopkins over for a try.
three-quarter plate n. (also three-quarter plate watch) see quot.
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the world > time > instruments for measuring time > watch > [noun] > particular types of watch
German watch1611
larum watch1619
clock-watch1625
minute watch1660
pendulum watch1664
watch1666
alarm watch1669
finger watch1679
string-watch1686
scout1688
balance-watch1690
hour-watch1697
warming-pan1699
minute pendulum watch1705
jewel watch1711
suit1718
repeater1725
Tompion1727
pendulum spring1728
second-watch1755
Geneva watch1756
cylinder-watch1765
watch-paper1777
ring watch1788
verge watch1792
watch lamp1823
hack1827
bull's-eye1833
vertical watch1838
quarter-repeater1840
turnip1840
hunting-watch1843
minute repeater1843
hunter1851
job watch1851
Geneva1852
watch-lining1856
touch watch1860
musical watch1864
lever1865
neep1866
verge1871
independent seconds watch1875
stem-winder1875
demi-hunter1884
fob-watch1884
three-quarter plate1884
wrist-watch1897
turnip-watch1898
sedan-chair watch1904
Rolex1922
Tank watch1923
strap watch1926
chatelaine watch1936
sedan clock1950
quartz watch1969
pulsar1970
1884 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockmakers' Handbk. (new ed.) 199 In three-quarter plate watches there is a piece cut out of the top plate sufficiently large to allow the balance to move in the same horizontal plane.
three-quarter veneer n. Dentistry = partial veneer n. at partial adj. and n. Compounds.
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the world > health and disease > healing > dentistry > [noun] > a restoration > crown
crown1781
pivot tooth1842
crown cap1876
jacket crown1891
post crown1905
three-quarter veneer1924
veneer crown1927
veneer1930
1924 J. F. Hovestad Pract. Dental Porcelains xii. 110 (heading) The partial coping or the all porcelain three-quarter veneer crown.
1963 J. Osborne Dental Mech. (ed. 5) xxiii. 415 Three-quarter or partial veneer crowns. Such crowns are usually employed as bridge retainers.
Derivatives
three-quartered adj. †(a) made in three sections (obsolete); (b) Heraldry of an animal as a bearing: turned so as to be nearly affronté, but showing a part of the flank.
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the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > three > division into three > [adjective]
tripartitec1420
tripartited1426
triparted1429
three-quartereda1450
three-parted1556
tripart1592
tripartitory1651
three-part1854
trifid1871
tri-vided1900
society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > heraldic representations of creatures > [adjective] > specific aspects of heraldic beasts
regardantc1460
addorsed1572
guardant1572
inverted1610
despectant1688
recursant1688
respectant1688
suspectant1688
adossé1710
affrontee1718
affrontee1724
tourné1725
spectant1825
three-quarteredc1828
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xxxv. l. 535 There-Inne stoden peleris of Marbil stones..thre-qwarterid they weren Of Gold & Asure and Of Silver.
c1828 W. Berry Encycl. Her. I. Gloss. Three-quartered, showing three-fourths of an animal; termed, also, trian-aspect, as an eagle, &c. in a trian-aspect.
1889 in C. N. Elvin Dict. Heraldry
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
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n.adj.adv.a1450