† quilaten.
Obsolete.
= carat n. 3. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > [noun] > unit or denomination of weight > unit of weight for precious stones
carat1568
quilate1577
ct.1865
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > precious metal > [noun] > gold > measure of fineness
carat1555
quilate1577
karat1901
ct.1985
1577 J. Frampton tr. N. Monardes Ioyfull Newes ii. f. 55v And in the deseases that are not so cold, or that doe participate of any heate, they shall put the water lower, in Quillats [Sp. Baxaran de quilates el agua], seething it less, and puttyng lesse woode, the maner and order is this.
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 320 Hee teacheth vs the quilates and aloy of that gold.
1688 P. Rycaut tr. G. de la Vega Royal Comm. Peru viii. xxiii. 343 Those that knew, and were acquainted with Pearls, and pretious Stones, did aver, that it weighed 24 Quilats above any other that was ever known.
1737 T. Salmon Mod. Hist. XXIX. viii. 209 And that Gold of Peru is generally about eighteen or twenty Quillats (I suppose it should be Carats) in Goodness.
1742 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes Instructive & Entertaining Novels 197 For I would not have thee think that my Value is of so little worth, and of so few Quilates, that Captivity shall work that with me, which Liberty could not do.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.1577