free-quarterv.
/ˌfriːˈkwɔːtə/, U.S. /ˌfriˈkwɔ(r)dər/ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > logistics > quartering > take up quarters [verb (intransitive)] > be quartered on someone
coynye1606
free-quarter1645
1645 T. Tyrell Let. 5 Mar. in Let. Bk. Samuel Luke (BL Egerton 787) f. 69v Not a man yt complaines (I will warrant y[o]u) was neu[er] plundered nor scarce free Quartered one [i.e. on].
1646 J. Byron Lord Byrons First Articles 6 That the Garrison which shall be placed within this City, consist only of Cheshire men, and be maintained with Contribution out of that County, and not by Free-quartering upon the Inhabitants within the City.
1649 W. Prynne Legall Vindic. Liberties Eng. (new ed.) 36 No sooner have they pay'd in their Contribution, but they have been freequartered on as much or more then formerly.
1659 G. Torriano Florio's Vocabolario Italiano & Inglese Vivere à discrettione..for a souldier to free-booter or free-quarter in any place.
2. transitive. To accommodate (troops) at free quarter; to impose (troops) on or upon a householder in this way. Now rare (historical in later use).
ΚΠ
1646 in Notes & Queries (1953) Jan. 27 The said Richard hath free quartered some of Cap[tain] Potters soldiers.
1693 in Jrnls. House Commons (1803) XI. 33/1 The several Proposals made to them..for the more regular subsisting a greater Number of Soldiers than were free-quartered upon them.
1713 Answer D. Clayton's Let. (single sheet) We were freed from the Burthen of Free-quartering the Soldiery.
1919 E. Hamilton Elizabethan Ulster vii. 86 The kerne and gallowglasses who were free-quartered on the people were a law unto themselves.
1993 A. Haley & D. Stevens Alex Haley's Queen ii. 27 British troops would now be dispersed throughout Ireland, and free-quartered wherever they chose.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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