a variant of QUADRI-; in L. restricted to a few formations in which the second element begins with p, as quadrupēs, quadruplex, quadruplus, and their derivatives. Apart from words based on these L. forms, mod. Eng. has quadru- only in quadrumanous etc. (after quadruped), but a few other examples are found in 16–17th c., as quadrucorn, a four-horned animal; quadrulapse, a fourth lapse or fall; quadrupart(ed) = QUADRIPARTITE a. Also quadru-pawed nonce-wd., having four paws.
1575. Sir T. Gresham, in Wills Doctors’ Comm. (Camden), 64. The said indenture quadrupartted dated the saide xxth day of Maie.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 203. The quadrupart monarchie began in Babylon vnder Nabuchodonosor.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 546. The Oryx … which Aristotle and Pliny call a unicorn, Aelianus a quadrucorn.
1663. in Cramond, Ann. Banff (1893), II. 43. Helen Morrison is ordained to appear … in Sackcloth, it being a quadrulapse.
1685. Rec. Dingwall Presb. (Sc. Hist. Soc.), 357. [A] quadrulapse in fornication.
1828. Sterling, Ess., etc. (1848), II. 35. A quadru-pawed monster.
