dictionary definitions for "quarry"


From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:

  quarry
      n 1: a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of
           ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or
           influence; "he fell prey to muggers"; "everyone was fair
           game"; "the target of a manhunt" [syn: prey, target,
            fair game]
      2: a surface excavation for extracting stone or slate; "a
         British term for `quarry' is `stone pit'" [syn: pit,
         stone pit]
      3: animal hunted or caught for food [syn: prey]
      v : extract (something such as stones) from or as if from a
          quarry; "quarry marble"

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Quarry \Quar"ry\, v. i.
     To secure prey; to prey, as a vulture or harpy. --L'Estrange.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Quarry \Quar"ry\, n. [OE. quarrere, OF. quariere, F.
     carri[`e]re, LL. quadraria a quarry, whence squared
     (quadrati) stones are dug, fr. quadratus square. See
     Quadrate.]
     A place, cavern, or pit where stone is taken from the rock or
     ledge, or dug from the earth, for building or other purposes;
     a stone pit. See 5th Mine
     (a) .
         [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Quarry \Quar"ry\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quarried; p. pr. & vb.
     n. Quarrying.]
     To dig or take from a quarry; as, to quarry marble.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Quarry \Quar"ry\, n. [OE. quarre, OF. quarr['e] square, F.
     carr['e], from L. quadratus square, quadrate, quadratum a
     square. See Quadrate, and cf. Quarrel an arrow.]
     Same as 1st Quarrel. [Obs.] --Fairfax.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Quarry \Quar"ry\, a. [OF. quarr['e].]
     Quadrate; square. [Obs.]
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Quarry \Quar"ry\, n.; pl. Quarries. [OE. querre, OF.
     cuiri['e]e, F. cur['e]e, fr. cuir hide, leather, fr. L.
     corium; the quarry given to the dogs being wrapped in the
     akin of the beast. See Cuirass.]
     1.
        (a) A part of the entrails of the beast taken, given to
            the hounds.
        (b) A heap of game killed.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The object of the chase; the animal hunted for; game;
        especially, the game hunted with hawks. "The stone-dead
        quarry." --Spenser.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The wily quarry shunned the shock.    --Sir W.
                                                    Scott.
        [1913 Webster]


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