close quarters, n. pl.
[close a. + quarters.]
1. Naut. (See quots. = earlier close-fight.)
| 1753 Hanway Trav. (1762) I. iii. xlv. 210 We had provided close quarters and powder-chests; so that they could not have taken us without an encounter. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1789), Close-quarters, certain strong barriers of wood stretching across a merchant-ship in several places. They are used as a place of retreat when a ship is boarded by her adversary, and are..fitted with..loop holes, through which to fire. c 1850 Rudim. Navig. (Weale) 107. |
2. a. fig. Immediate contact with the foe.
| 1809 Roland Fencing Introd. 29 They [marines] are more frequently at close quarters with the enemy than the military are. 1855 Prescott Philip II, i. viii. (1857) 137 The combatants were brought into close quarters. 1864 MacDougall Mod. Warfare 241 (L.) This force..made no attempt to come to close quarters with their enemy. 1882 Daily News 29 Aug. 6/3 His cavalry are far too shy of coming to close quarters. |
b. attrib. (Also in form close-quarter.) Done at close quarters; in immediate contact.
| 1871 What happened after Battle of Dorking 5 Serving out the old-fashioned muzzle-loading musket..for close-quarter shooting and bayonet work. 1916 ‘Boyd Cable’ Action Front 119 Their nerves shaken..by the close-quarter bombing. 1962 I. Murdoch Unofficial Rose xxvii. 265 He shrank from any close-quarters looking-after of her. |