quartering block

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Quartering \Quar"ter*ing\, n.
   1. A station. [Obs.] --Bp. Montagu.
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   2. Assignment of quarters for soldiers; quarters.
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   3. (Her.)
      (a) The division of a shield containing different coats of
          arms into four or more compartments.
      (b) One of the different coats of arms arranged upon an
          escutcheon, denoting the descent of the bearer.
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   4. (Arch.) A series of quarters, or small upright posts. See
      {Quarter}, n., 1
      (m) (Arch.) --Gwilt.
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   {Quartering block}, a block on which the body of a condemned
      criminal was quartered. --Macaulay.
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