Four a. and sb.

Forms: 1–3 féower, féwer, (2 fure), 2–3 f(o)uwer, 3 feouwer, fowuer, fower, Orm. fowwerr, foo(u)r, fuȝer, fur, south. vor, 3–4 south. vour, 3–7 fowre, foure, (3 fawre, fowr, Orm. fowwre), 4 faur(e, 3– four. [Com.Teut. and Aryan: OE. féower = OFris. fiuwer, fior, OS. fiwar, fiuwar, fiori (Du. vier), OHG. fior, fier (MHG. mod.Ger. vier), ON. fiórer masc., -ar fem., fiogor neut. (Sw. fyra, Da. fire), Goth. fidwôr. In comb. OE. had a form fyðer-, fiðer-, Anglian feoðor-, -ur; cf. OSw. fiæþer-, Frankish fitter- (Lex Salica), Goth. fidur-. The phonological relation of the Teut. forms to those in other Aryan langs. presents anomalies of which the explanation is still disputed; the OAryan type is *qetwer-, -wōr-, qetur- (with other ablaut-variants of somewhat uncertain form), regularly represented by Skr. catvār-, catur-, Gr. τέσσαρες (Dor. τέτορες), L. quattuor, OIrish cethir, OWelsh petguar (mod. Welsh pedwar).] The cardinal number next after three, represented by the symbols 4 or IV.

  A.  as adj.

  1.  In concord with the sb. expressed.

  The four corners, quarters, etc. (of the earth, heavens or world): the remotest parts; see CORNER sb.¹ 8. The four corners (of a document): the limits or scope of its contents; see CORNER sb.¹ 1 e. Within the four seas: within the boundaries of Great Britain, † Of all four sides: entirely, thoroughly.

a. 1000.  Crist, 879 (Gr.).

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 159. Þos fure kunnes teres boð þe fuwer wateres þa þe beoð ihaten us on to weschen.

c. 1205.  Lay., 5153.

a. 1225.  Juliana, 9. Þa leaden him i cure up o fowr hweoles.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 14240 (Cott.).

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 8807.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, vi. 151. Gyve hym your suster to his wyfe, so shall he be well maryed, for reynawde is well a noble gentylman of all foure sides.

1533.  Wriothesley, Chron. (1875), I. 19. A rich canapie of cloath of silver borne over her heade by the fower Lordes of the Portes.

1642.  Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., V. i. 359. Sometimes she ties her self in marriage to one, that she may the more freely stray to many: and cares not though her husband comes not within her bed, so be it he goeth not out beyond the Foure-seas.

1745.  P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 156. They fired four Guns as Signals of Distress, but the Wind blew too hard for us to hear any thing of them; neither, if we had, could we have been of the least Service to them.

1886.  Mrs. Lynn Linton, Paston Carew, I. iii. 46. He had learned the eleventh commandment to the echo, and was the safest confidant to be found within the four seas.

1893.  Law Times, XCV. 29/2. It may be necessary to look beyond the four corners of the agreement.

  b.  Four corners, a game: see quots. Also, in Horsemanship (see quot. 1753).

1730–36.  Bailey (folio), Four-comers [with Horsemen].

1753.  Chambers, Cycl., Supp., Four-corners, in the manege, or to work upon the four corners, is to divide in imagination the volt or round into four quarters, so that upon each of these quarters, the horse makes a round or two at trot or gallop; and when he has done so upon each quarter, he has made the four corners.

1801.  Strutt, Sports & Past., III. vii. 241. Four-corners [is] so called from four large pins which are placed singly at each angle of a square frame.

1881.  in, Isle of Wight Gloss., 64. The game of Skittles is also altered from nine pins to four, and is called ‘Four Corners.’

  c.  The history of the Four Kings (see quot.).

1760.  Foote, Minor, I. Wks. 1799, I. 241. Come, shall we have a dip in the history of the Four Kings this morning?

1877.  Brewer, Dict. Phrase & Fable, s.v. The History of the Four Kings (Livre des Quatre Rois). A pack of cards.

  2.  With ellipsis of sb., which may usually be supplied from context. † Four for four: in fours.

c. 1205.  Lay., 4046.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 937.

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 201.

1611.  Bible, 2 Sam. xxi. 22. These foure were borne to the Gyant in Gath, and fell by the hand of Dauid, and by the hand of his seruants.

a. 1699.  Lady Halkett, Autobiog. (1875), 53. They were all fowre were in the place apointed and there doubletts off.

  b.  with omission of hours, as four o’clock.

1575.  Laneham, Lett. (1871), 32. (Az vnhappy it waz for the bryde) that cam thyther too soon, (& yet waz it a four a clok).

1727.  Swift, To Earl of Oxford, Wks. 1755, III. II. 44.

1875.  Jevons, Money (1878), 266. The bustle and turmoil of the work grow to a climax at four o’clock, the runners rushing in with the last parcels of drafts, up to the moment when the door is finally closed.

  c.  with omission of horses.

1815.  L. Simond, Tour Gt. Brit., I. 3. An elegant post-chaise and four stopped at the door.

1858.  Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., II. 363. It is as pleasant as a barouche and four, the top of an omnibus; but the conductors don’t like the trouble of helping one up.

  † d.  In phrases On (upon, of) all four (sc. feet or limbs); also on or upon four. Obs.; now on ALL-FOURS.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 1683. He fares forth on alle faure.

1430–40.  Lydg., Bochas, I. ix. 37.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, II. xviii. Thenne balan yede on al four feet and handes and put of the helme of his broder.

1611.  Bible, Lev. xi. 20. All foules that creepe, going vpon all foure, shalbe an abomination vnto you.

1641.  Marmion, Antiquary, I. in Hazl., Dodsley, XIII. 431.

1662.  J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass. (1669), 157. [Babies] will crawl stark naked of all four about the House and into the Fields.

1699.  Bentley, Phal., 128. What a sorry cripled Argument’s here, even lame upon all four?

1712.  Arbuthnot, John Bull, II. iv. I would crawl upon all four to serve you.

[1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, 111. Going into this low Place, I was oblig’d to creep upon all Fours.]

1722.  Lett. from Mist’s Jrnl., I. 294. I would have the old Man to have in his Chariot an old black Horse, that can scarce crawl upon Four.

  3.  Coupled with a higher cardinal or ordinal numeral following, so as to form a compound (cardinal or ordinal) numeral.

c. 1205.  Lay., 2091.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XII. xi. (1495), 421. Amonge foules oonly the rauen hath fowre and syxty chaungynges of voyce.

1579.  Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 416. The foure and thirtieth Chapter sheweth the vse of the Masse vsed and practised by the Apostles.

1818.  Scott, Hrt. Midl., viii. My breath is growing as scant as a broken-winded piper’s, when he has played for four-and-twenty hours at a penny wedding.

  B.  as sb.

  1.  The abstract number four.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 21747.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. cxviii. (1495), 921. One doo to thre makyth foure.

1837.  Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sc. (1857), I. 47. The number Four, to which they gave the name of Tetractys, was held to be the most perfect number, and was conceived to correspond to the human soul.

  2.  A set of four persons or things: esp. a. A card, domino, or the side of a die marked with four pips or spots; a throw of the die by which the ‘four’ comes uppermost. b. Card-playing (Poker). A set of four cards of the same value. c. A four-oared boat or a crew of four oarsmen. Fours, races for four-oared boats. d. Cricket, etc. A hit for which four runs are scored. e. pl. (See quot. 1888.) Also in fours (formerly † in fours and fours), arranged in groups of four; spec. in Bibliography used to indicate the number of leaves in a sheet or gathering.

  a.  1599.  Minsheu, Pleasant and Delightfull Dialogues in Spanish and English (1623), iii. 26. R. I did lift an Ace.—L. I a foure.

1674.  Cotton, Gamester, vi. 80. Before you begin the Game at Picket, you must throw out of the Pack the Deuces, Treys, Fours, and Fives, and play with the rest of the Cards, which are in number thirty and six.

1728.  Swift, Jrnl. Mod. Lady, Wks. 1755, III. II. 196.

1870.  Hardy & Ware, Mod. Hoyle, 81. Suppose your hand consists of a four, five, and six of spades, and a five of diamonds is turned up.

  b.  1883.  R. A. Proctor, Poker Principles and Chance Laws, in Longm. Mag., II. Sept., 499. The points which give a hand value are the presence of cards of the same denomination (as a pair, or two of the same denomination; triplets, or three of a kind; and fours, or four of a kind).

1894.  Maskelyne, Sharps & Flats, 84. If he had been so fortunate as to possess another ace among the cards which fell to his hand on the deal, he would have a ‘four.’

  c.  1861.  Dickens, Gt. Expect., liv. A Four and two sitters don’t go hanging and hovering, up with one tide and down with another.

1891.  Outdoor Games & Recreat., 137. He must graduate through his college fours, and Torpid races. Ibid., 144. These ‘Fours’ [the ‘Coxswainless Fours’ and the ‘Trial Eights’] … are inter-collegiate races—that is to say, the colleges compete with one another.

  d.  1836.  in ‘Bat,’ Cricketer’s Man. (1850), 100. Threes, fours, and fives appear as easy for him to get, as ’tis for us to write about them.

1894.  A. Lang, Ban & Arrière Ban, 67.

  e.  1488.  in Ld. Treas. Acc. Scotl., I. 84. Item, a frete of the Quenis oure set with grete perle sett in fouris and fouris.

1888.  Jacobi, Printer’s Vocab., Fours.—A familiar term used by compositors for ‘quarto.’

1890.  H. O. Sommer, Malory’s Arthur, II. Introd. 9. The first part has signatures A to Z … in fours.

  3.  Short for, a. four-shilling beer (see quot.); b. four-pennyworth (of spirits); c. (pl.) four-percents.

  a.  1633.  W. R., Match at Midn., II. in Hazl., Dodsley, XIII. 43. Tim. What is ’t, brother? Four or six? Capt. Four or six! ’tis rich Canary…. Tim. … Now I think on ’t, a cup of this is better than our four-shilling beer at home.

  b.  1869.  E. Yates, Wrecked in Port, xxii. 241. ‘Fours’ of rum and ‘sixes’ of brandy.

1876.  Besant & Rice, Gold. Butterfly, I. i. 49. The girl, as if anticipating his wants, set before him a ‘four’ of brandy and the cold water.

  c.  1887.  Daily News, 15 Nov., 5/6. Fully-paid-up stock … in exchange for the converted Fours and Four-and-a-Halfs.

  C.  attrib. and Comb.

  1.  a. Combined with sbs. forming adjs., as four-acre, -button, -gallon, -gun, -line, -story, -year-old.

1868.  Gladstone, Juv. Mundi (1869), xi. 420. Odysseus, in disguise, challenges Eurumachos the Suitor to try which of them would soonest mow a meadow, and which drive the straightest furrow down a *four-acre field.

1896.  Daily News, 2 July, 8/7. White kids sewn with black … as well as lavender, chiefly in *four-button length.

1879.  Miss Bird, Rocky Mount., I. 264. I told him to fill up the *four-gallon kettle, and an hour afterwards found it red-hot on the stove.

1862.  Ansted & Latham, Channel Isl., III. xvii. (ed. 2), 400. A fourteen-gun schooner, a *four-gun cutter, some boats, and forty men constituted the authority by which the new custom-house or registry regulations were enforced.

1827.  Gentl. Mag., XCVII. II. Dec., 501/2. Underneath this a stave or *four-line verse,—always relative to marriage, and seemingly of the fortune-telling school of poetry.

1888.  A. K. Green, Behind Closed Doors, vi. Mr. Gryce went up the steps of a *four-story brick building to which was attached a doctor’s sign.

1832.  Lytton, Eugene A., I. v. The *four-year-old mutton modestly disclaiming its own excellent merits, by affecting the shape and assuming the adjuncts of venison.

1855.  Tennyson, Brook, 136.

  b.  In parasynthetic adjs. with suffix -ED², as four-barrelled, -chambered, -columned, -decked, -faced, -fingered, -headed, -legged, -lettered, -lined, -roomed, -sided, -snouted, -spined, -stranded, -stringed, -tined, -toed.

1881.  Times, 15 Jan., 5/6. A high power of firing for a *four-barrelled gun.

1870.  Gillmore, Reptiles & Birds, Introd. 2. The heart is *four-chambered, transmitting venous blood to the lungs, and pure arterial blood to the body.

1768–74.  Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1852), I. 386. We may despatch as much business in a minute as we can now in an hour, and perhaps be able to read through Guicciardine in the time we are now poring over all the nothings in a *four-columned newspaper.

1833.  Marryat, P. Simple, xxxv. Nothing would suit Nelson but this *four-decked ship.

1878.  Gurney, Crystallogr., 86. The resulting form may be described as a cube with a low four-sided pyramid on each face. Hence the form … is sometimes called a *four-faced cube, or more technically a tetrakishexahedron.

1802.  Bingley, Anim. Biog. (1813), I. 89. The *four-fingered monkey.

1864.  Pusey, Lect. Daniel, ii. 75. The human head was, in the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, a symbol of human intelligence. Probably these heads, like the *four-headed creatures in Ezekiel’s vision, looked all ways, E. W. N. S.

1663.  Butler, Hud., I. i. 402.

1778.  Hutton, in Phil. Trans., LXVIII. 57. The whole being supported by a four-legged stand of very strong timber.

1828.  Scott, F. M. Perth, xi. Louise … calling her little four-legged companion, had eagerly followed in the path.

1652.  H. C., Looking-Glasse for Ladies, 4. That *four-letter’d name, rare and Divine.

1831.  Southey, Lett. (1856), IV. 214–5. The poem, which is in *four-lined stanzas, would extend (reckoning six stanzas to the page) to nine sheets.

1890.  Boldrewood, Colonial Reform. (1891), 234. A new *four-roomed cottage, of horizontal timbers, arose on the bank of the lagoon.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. 26. Of *Four-sided Figures, A Quadrat or Square is that whose Sides are equal, and his Angles right.

1647.  R. Stapylton, Juvenal, v. 55.

1836.  Yarrell, Brit. Fishes, I. 83. The *four-spined Stickleback.

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), U 11 iij. The middle strand of a *four-stranded rope.

1742.  Berkeley, Lett. to Gervais, in Fraser, Life, viii. (1871), 284. The instrument she desired to be provided was a large *four-stringed bass violin.

1765.  Univ. Mag., XXXVII. July, 33/1. He found the best method of drawing the carrots to be with a *four-tined fork.

1872.  Baker, Nile Tribut., ii. 27. For the first time I saw the peculiar *four-toed print of the hippopotamus’s foot.

  c.  In parasynthetic sbs. with suffix -ER¹, as four-boater, -decker, -master, -year-older.

1889.  Century Dict., *Four-boater, a whaling-ship carrying four boats on the cranes.

1833.  Marryat, P. Simple, xxxv. She was a *four-decker, called the Santissima Trinidad.

1826.  Disraeli, Viv. Grey, I. vii. They would have retired to a corner of the room, and conversationized with any stray *four-year-older not yet sent to bed.

  d.  In advb. sense (= in four parts) with pa. pples., as four-cleft, -parted adjs.

1793.  Martyn, Lang. Bot., *Four-cleft leaf. Folium quadrifidum.

1846.  Dana, Zooph. (1848), 139. Mouth prominent, four-cleft within.

a. 1619.  Fotherby, Atheom., II. vii. § 3 (1622), 264. Paintes them out, vnto our eyes, in two liuely emblemes: the one, of the *foure-parted Image; the other, of the foure fearefull Beasts.

1793.  Martyn, Lang. Bot., Four-parted leaf. Folium quadripartitum.

  2.  Special comb.: four-ale, ale sold at fourpence a quart; four-cant (see quot.; cf. four-strand); four-centred arch (Arch.), one described from four centres; † four-corner a. = next; four-cornered a., having four corners, square; four cornered cap, a college cap or ‘square.’ Hence four-cornerwise adv., so as to form four corners; four-coupled a., having four coupled wheels; four-course (Agric.), a four years’ course or series of crops in rotation (in quote, attrib.; see COURSE sb. 23); four-crossway(s, the place where two roads cross or four roads meet; four-dimensional a. (Math.), of or belonging to a fourth dimension; four-dimensioned a., having four dimensions; † four-double = FOURFOLD a. 1; † four-eared a. fig., twofold; four-eyes, (a) see quot. 1755; (b) the name of a fish (see quot. 1879); (c) slang (see quot. 1874); † four-fallow v., to fallow fourfold; four-field course (Agric.), a series of crops grown in four fields in rotation; four figures, i.e., an amount of one thousand pounds or over (whence four figured adj., that sells for four figures); four-foil (Arch.), a quatrefoil; four-foot (way), the space (really 4 ft. 8¹/₂ in.) between the rails on which the train runs; four-half (slang), half ale, half porter, at fourpence a quart; four-horse, four-horsed adjs., that is drawn by four horses; four-hours Sc., a light refreshment taken about four o’clock; also † four hours penny (see quot. 1651); four-inch a., that measures four inches, also ellipt. = four inch rope; † four-inched a., four inches wide; four-lane-end(s dial., = four-crossways; † four-millioneer, one who is worth four millions of money; four-nooked a., four-cornered (obs. exc. dial.); four-oar, a boat rowed with four oars; four-oared a., propelled by four oars or oarsmen; also absol. (= four-oared boat); four-part a. (Music), composed for four parts or voices; four-post, -posted adjs., (of a bedstead) having four posts (to support a canopy and curtains); four-poster, a four-posted bedstead; four-pounder, (a) a gun to carry a four-pound shot; (b) a loaf four pounds in weight; four-rowed, (of barley) having four rows of awns; four-shilling a., that costs four shillings (in quot., † of beer, 4s. the barrel); four-strand, (of a rope) having four strands; four-tailed bandage (see quot.); four thieves’ vinegar (see quot.); four-tooth (see quot.); four-way(e = four-crossways; four-way a. (in four-way cock or valve), having communication with four pipes; four-winged a., having four wings or wing-like appendages; four-wings (see quot.).

1883.  Daily News, 8 Sept., 3/1. Nearly every man seemed to order nothing more mischievous than ‘half-a-pint of *four ale.’

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., *Four-cant, a rope composed of four strands.

1812–6.  J. Smith, The Panorama of Science and Art, I. 154. Its arch is very often *four-centred, which at once decides its date.

1640–1.  Ld. J. Digby, Sp., in Ho. Com., 9 Feb., 9. The Lawne sleeves, the *foure corner Cap, the Cope.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 175/2. *Fowre corneryd, quadrangulus.

15[?].  in Strype, Parker, App. (1711), No. 40. Every Hedde of College … to weare when they goo abrode, longe Gownes or Hodes, or Typetts, and square or four cornered Capps.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, II. xv. It [the idol] had … a mouth extended four-cornered, like that of a lion, with horrible teeth, hooked like a parrot’s under bill.

1823.  Scott, Lett. to Ld. Montagu, 18 June, in Lockhart. Think of a vile four-cornered house, with plantations laid out after the fashion of scollops.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 509. The common kind of this moustrap is made of wood, long, and *foure cornerwise.

1889.  Daily News, 21 June, 6/3. A *four coupled engine drew an excursion train of 13 vehicles.

1846.  J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4), II. 245. By what is termed the *four-course shift, having equal proportions of fallow, barley, clover, peas or beans, and wheat in each year.

1891.  S. C. Scrivener, Our Fields & Cities, 28. This ‘Four-Course’ system, as it is called, produces five entirely different plants, namely, turnips, barley, beans, clover, and wheat.

[a. 1490.  Botoner, Itin. (1778), 176. At the crosse yn Baldwyne strete been *IIII crosse wayes metyng.]

1647.  W. Browne, trans. Polexander, I. 48. He came to a foure crosse way and saw by the light of that fire which came out of the Mountaine a woman chained by the feet and the hands.

1842.  P. Parly’s Ann., III. 288. Do you mean … that your husband was buried in a four-crossways? He must then have killed himself.

1886.  Gurney and Myers, Phantasms of the Living, II. 314. Psychical energy … operates in … *four-dimensional space (if that exists).

1880.  Daily News, 20 Oct., 5/1. The unfamiliarity of a début in this world to a spirit more at home in *four-dimensioned space.

1527.  Andrew, Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, A ij. With a *foure dowble clowte, or with hempen towe steped in the same … do as ye dyde before twyse or thryse a daye.

1599.  A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 249/2. Wet therin a fourdubble cloth, & applye him theron as longe as it is not broken out.

1704.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3990/4. A small Gold Chain 4 double fastened to the Watch.

1600.  E. Blount, Hosp. Incurable Fooles, 62–3. Santiccio of Ritonda, is a ridiculous and *foure[printed fower]-eared foole, for all the summer he doth nothing else but take frogs and flea them.

1614.  Breton, I would & I would not, lxxxii. Wks. (Grosart), I. 10.

1755.  T. Amory, Mem. (1769), I. 199. Some people have named this bird [the golden eye] the four-eyes, because at the angles of its black beak are two round spots, which resemble the eye.

1874.  Slang Dict., Four-eyes, a man or woman who habitually wears spectacles.

1879.  Boddam-Whetham, Roraima, xii. 130. Another common and very hideous creature is the little fish known as ‘Four Eyes’ [note, Anablaps tetraophthalmus], which takes amusement in shooting along the water and stranding itself at every opportunity.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb. (1586), 22 b. You must not only twyfallow & threefallow your ground, but also *fourefallow it.

1842.  Tennyson, Audley Court, 33.

1844.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., V. I. 162. It is usually cropped on the four-field, or Norfolk course:—

1893.  Pall Mall G., 12 Jan., 3/2. The two best yearlings sold for *four figures.

1895.  Daily News, 7 Jan., 3/4. The total amount of capital invested in these *‘four-figured’ … animals.

1860.  Ruskin, Mod. Paint., V. VI. iv. § 29. The normal of *four-foils is therefore [etc.].

1896.  Daily News, March, 5/5. The body of the lady, who was lying in the *four-foot.

1884.  Punch, LXXXVI. 29 Nov., 257/1. Reads novels, sings comic songs, drinks anything stronger or dearer than *‘four-half.’

1765.  A. Dickson, Treat. Agric., II. (ed. 2), 254. In a *four-horse plough yoked in pairs, the two forces are equal.

1842.  Dickens, Amer. Notes (1850), 91/1. The mail takes the lead in a four-horse wagon.

1382.  Wyclif, Isa. lxvi. 15. The Lord in fyr shal come, and as a whirlewynd his *foure horsid carres.

1887.  Bowen, Virg. Æneid, VI. 587.

1637.  Rutherford, Lett., xciv. (1863), I. 243. We think all is but a little earnest, a *four-hours, a small tasting, that we have, or that is to be had, in this life.

a. 1651.  Calderwood, Hist. Kirk (1843), II. 125 When the craftsmen were required to assemble, and to free the proveist frome the fume of the multitude, they went to their foure houres pennie. Note, The name of the afternoon refreshment of ale, wine, or usquebauch, which was taken at four o’clock, and most commonly in some tavery or alehouse.

1870.  Ramsay, Remin., v. (ed. 18), 188. The kitchen is just coming in, and I feel a smell of tea, so when I get my four hours, that will refresh me and set me up again.

1858.  Glenny, Gard. Every-day Bk., 254/1. Seedlings of all kinds must be pricked off into *four-inch pots, round the sides of them, four, or six, or more in a pot.

1840.  Marryat, Poor Jack, xii. Here’s a good long piece of *four-inch, which I picked up, and it ’s well worth a schilling.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, III. iv. 57. To ride on a bay trotting horse ouer *foure incht Bridges.

1787.  Pegge, in Archæol., VIII. 203. He being also anathematized was interred at a *four-lane end without the city.

1666–7.  J. Denham, Directions to a Painter, II. ix. 14.

c. 1205.  Lay., 21999.

1536.  Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), I. 286. The mone beand in opposition, quhen it is maist round, apperit suddanly as it war foure nukit.

1876.  Whitby Gloss., Four-neuk’d, square or four-cornered.

1844.  Ld. Malmesbury, Mem. (1884), I. 154–5. We then returned home in the *four-oar.

1685.  Lond. Gaz., No. 2023/4. A six Oared Barge … and a *four Oared Boat.

1861.  Dickens, Gt. Expect., liv. Asked me if we had seen a four-oared galley going up with the tide?

1870.  Dasent, Annals Eventful Life (ed. 4), I. xii. 141. I got a ‘stick-licking,’ a very nasty thing let me tell you, that made you black and blue all over, for leaving the boat-hook of a four-oared, which I steered, hanging on Putney Bridge, when we started against four other four-oars to race to Westminster.

1664.  Pepys, Diary (1879), III. 79. We sung, with my boy, Ravenscroft’s *4-part psalms, most admirable musique.

1890.  E. Prout, Counterpoint, 143, chap. title. Four-Part Counterpoint.

1818.  M. G. Lewis, Jrnl. W. Ind. (1834), 110. I saw none without a *four-post bedstead and plenty of bed-clothes.

1823.  Byron, Juan, VI. xxv.

1856.  Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., II. 285. I expect to sleep in my great comfortable four-posted bed now that the first exciting night is over.

1836–9.  Dickens, Sk. Boz (1850), 265/2. His small French bedstead was converted into a regular matrimonial *four-poster.

1684.  J. Peter, Siege Vienna, 109. *Four Pounders  10.

1855.  Mrs. Gaskell, North & S., xvii. I ha’ gone and bought a four-pounder out o’ another baker’s shop to common on such days.

1876.  Bancroft, Hist. U. S., IV. xxv. 573. At daybreak it was boarded by the provincials, who carried off four four-pounders and twelve swivels, and then set it on fire.

1882.  J. Hardy, in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, IX. No. 3. 444. It might have been once used for husking big, or *four-rowed barley.

1633.  [see B. 3 a] *Four-shilling beer.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v. Ropes.… *Four-strand is similarly laid with four strands, and a core scarcely twisted.

1844.  Hoblyn, Dict. Med. Terms (ed. 2), *Four-tailed bandage. A bandage for the forehead, face, and jaws.

1868.  Paxton’s Bot. Dict., *Four thieves’ vinegar, a preparation from Rosmarinus officinalis.

1793–1813.  Agric. Surv. Dorset, 8 (E.D.S.), *Four-tooth, a two-year-old sheep.

1598.  Florio, Quadriuio, a *fower-way, a way that hath fewer turnings, a place where fower waies meete.

1891.  H. Haliburton, Ochil Idylls, Our Country Quarters, 72.

1824.  R. Stuart, Hist. Steam Engine, 161. A considerable improvement on the *fourway-cock, which had been used in low-pressure engines, by making it revolve continuously instead of the usual alternate revolution.

1841.  Brees, Gloss. Civ. Engin., Four-way Cock (in steam-engines), a description of valve much used for passing the steam to the cylinder; it was invented by Leopold in about the year 1720.

a. 1711.  Ken, Urania, Poet. Wks. 1721, IV. 457.

c. 1755.  Garden, in Phil. Trans., LI. 931. They are followed by pretty large four-winged fruit, which likewise hang in bunches, each containing four kernels, that are very agreeable to the taste.

1878.  Bell, Gegenbaur’s Comp. Anat., 248. In the other four-winged orders they have undergone considerable differentiations.

1889.  Century Dict., *Four-wings, a name of the goatsuckers or night-jars of the genera Macrodipteryx and Cosmetornis, in which some of the flight-feathers are so much elongated that the birds seem to have four wings.