Mil. A rate of marching that in the British army now consists of 128 paces of 33 inches each (= 118 yards) in a minute, or four miles an hour. Formerly the rate per minute was 108, then 116, and latterly 120 paces of 30 inches each (cf. quots. and DOUBLE-QUICK).
1802. James, Milit. Dict., Quick Step, or Quick Time, is 108 steps of 30 inches each, or 270 feet in a minute, and is the step used in all filings of divisions. Quickest Step, or Quickest Time is 120 steps of 30 inches each, or 300 feet in a minute.
1833. Regul. & Instr. Cavalry, I. 18. The Quick Step. The cadence of the slow pace having become … habitual to the recruits, they are … to be taught to march in ‘quick time,’ which is 108 steps in a minute, each of 30 inches.
1876. Voyle & Stevenson, Milit. Dict., Quick-time, a pace soldiers ordinarily march at, viz. 3·3 miles an hour. Ibid., s.v. Step, Quick step, a military step of 30 inches, with a cadence … of 116 per minute, in the British army. It constitutes what is technically called quick time in marching.
b. quasi-adv. In quick time.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., x. Come, come, Mrs. Janet—march, troop—quick time.
