quire

views updated Jun 11 2018

quire / kwīr/ • n. four sheets of paper or parchment folded to form eight leaves, as in medieval manuscripts. ∎  any collection of leaves one within another in a manuscript or book. ∎  25 (formerly 24) sheets of paper; one twentieth of a ream.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

quire

views updated May 17 2018

quire †small book, short poem, etc.; set of four sheets of parchment or paper doubled so as to make eight leaves: hence, any gathering of sheets. XV. ME. quaer, later quayer, quair, quere, quire — OF. qua(i)er (mod. cahier quire, copy-book):- Rom. *quaternum, f. L. quaternī set of four, f. quater four times, f. quattuor FOUR.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

quire

views updated Jun 27 2018

quire archaic variant of choir.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

quire

views updated May 11 2018

quire. See choir.

A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture JAMES STEVENS CURL

Quire

views updated May 23 2018

Quire

any collection or gathering of leaves in a book or manuscript; a collection of 24 or 25 sheets of paper.

Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms

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