quadruplet
(ˈkwɒdrʊplɛt)
[f. quadruple + -et1; after triplet.]
1. pl. Four children born at a birth.
| 1787 Garthshore in Phil. Trans. LXXVII. 355 These are the only cases of quadruplets..he had ever heard of as born in Scotland. 1836–9 Todd Cycl. Anat. II. 736/1 An instance of quadruplets consisting of three boys and a girl. 1898 Daily News 15 Apr. 5/2 Huller ventured on the assertion..that quadruplets were born once in 20,000 cases. |
2. a. Any combination of four things or parts united or working together, esp. four combined springs (Knight Dict. Mech. Suppl.).
| 1852 De Morgan in Graves Life Hamilton (1889) III. 338 We have then an harmonic quadruplet and sextuplet, and we might have octuplets, &c. |
b. Mus. A group of four notes to be played in the time of three of the same value.
| 1873 H. C. Banister Music 13 Other irregularities..such as four notes for three, termed a Quadruplet. 1938 Oxf. Compan. Mus. p. xlviii (heading) Irregular rhythmic groupings (duplets, triplets, quadruplets, etc.). 1946 P. Hindemith Elem. Training for Musicians ix. 117 The names of these newly established values are: duplets, triplets, quadruplets, and so forth up to decuplets... Some of these terms are so awkward (linguistically) that they are hardly ever used. |
3. A bicycle for four riders. Cf. quad n.3 Also attrib.
| 1895 Daily News 27 July 5/3 Professional riders on tandems, triplets, and quadruplets. 1897 Whitaker's Alm. 641/2 A quadruplet team covered a flying quarter in 25.2 secs. |