quadrat meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

quadrat

noun

/ˈkwɒd.ɹæt/

Etymology Borrowed from Latin quadrātum. Doublet of quadrate and of etymology 2 below.

Sciences An area of land, marked for studying its plants, animals, soil, natural processes, etc.

Derived terms: photoquadrat, subquadrat
Related terms: transect

quadrat

verb

Etymology Borrowed from Latin quadrātum. Doublet of quadrate and of etymology 2 below.

To place a quadrat, or divide into quadrats.

quadrat

noun

Etymology Attested since 1683. Possibly from French cadrat or Italian quadrato (“square”), from Latin quadrātum (“square”). Doublet of quadrate and of etymology 1 above. So called because the basic quadrat, the em quadrat, has a square face, having the same width as the height of a line of type.

Letterpress typography, Media, Publishing, Typography Obsolete A quad; a blank metal block used to fill space in lines of type.

If his Title be ſhort, he Sets it in the middle of the Line, by Setting Quadrats on both ſides: If his Title be long, he Sets the middle Line in the middle: If it make three or more Lines, he Indents the firſt with an m Quadrat, and the other with two m Quadrats.1683, Joseph Moxon, Mechanick Exercises: Or, the Doctrine of Handy-Works. Applied to the art of Printing., volume 2, pages 222–23:
The footsticks may be a trifle shorter than the width of two pages and the gutter; for as there should always be a line of quadrats, or a reglet cut to measure, at the foot of each page, the footstick may be a pica shorter without danger, on this account, of any thing falling out, when the form is lifted and it thus prevents the side and foot sticks from binding when locked up.1841, William Savage, A Dictionary of the Art of Printing, page 330:

Egyptology, History, Human sciences, Sciences A virtual rectangular subdivision of a line or column of hieroglyphs within which a group of hieroglyphs is arranged.

Derived terms: quad