ENGLISH
REFERENCE

quarry

n.
US //ˈkwɔɹi// UK //kwˈɒɹi// quar·ry
  1. 1 stone mine (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a large, deep hole in the ground where people dig out stone, like marble or granite, for building.

    an open-pit excavation from which stone, slate, or other minerals are extracted for industrial or construction use.

    Example

    The workers spent all day at the limestone quarry cutting large blocks for the new library.

    Example

    The abandoned granite quarry has since filled with rainwater, creating a deep pool that is popular with local swimmers despite the safety warnings.
  2. 2 hunted animal or person (n.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    an animal or person that is being hunted or followed.

    an animal or person being hunted or pursued; the object of a search or chase.

    Example

    The hunters followed their quarry deep into the dark forest.

    Example

    The detective remained patient, waiting for his quarry to make a single mistake that would reveal his hidden location.
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  1. 3 glass pane (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Archaic

    a small, diamond-shaped piece of glass used in a window.

    a diamond-shaped pane of glass or a tile used in decorative flooring or windows.

    Example

    The old cottage had windows made of small glass quarries held together with lead.

    Example

    The restoration team carefully replaced each cracked quarry in the stained-glass window to match the original medieval design.
Etymology 1

From Middle English quarere, from Medieval Latin quarreria (1266), literally a “place where stones are squared”, from Old French quarrière (compare modern French carrière), from Vulgar Latin quadraria, from Latin quadrō (“I square”), itself from quadra (“a square”), from quattuor (“four”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kʷetwóres (“four”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English quyrre, querre, quirre, from Anglo-Norman quiree (“entrails of deer placed on the hide and given to dogs of the chase as a reward”) (influenced by cuir (“skin (of an animal)”), from Latin corium (“a hide”)), from coree (“entrails, viscera”), from Vulgar Latin corata (“entrails”), from Latin cor (“heart”).

Etymology 3

Alteration of quarrel (“diamond-shaped piece of coloured glass forming part of a stained glass window; square tile”).

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