Coming from a nautical background, I believe this term to be derived in part from the days of the 'men of war', or sailing vessels. I currently don't recall the name of the relatively infamous skipper who used the phrase, but what it refers to is the quarter of a ship -- the port and starboard sides aft, just forward of the transom.
The cannons on these fighting ships were usually placed along the sides, the stern section housing officer quarters. So, to say you will give or show no quarter, is to basically say you will not allow the ass end of your vessel to line up with the guns of your foe. Such condition would leave your vessel most vulnerable.
It is interesting how I used the word quarters to describe the officer berths above. This made me think, as I'm sure the meaning of this term also implies "take no prisoners". This same meaning could easily have come from the days of sail as well.
The cannons on these fighting ships were usually placed along the sides, the stern section housing officer quarters. So, to say you will give or show no quarter, is to basically say you will not allow the ass end of your vessel to line up with the guns of your foe. Such condition would leave your vessel most vulnerable.
It is interesting how I used the word quarters to describe the officer berths above. This made me think, as I'm sure the meaning of this term also implies "take no prisoners". This same meaning could easily have come from the days of sail as well.
The Captain exulted, "I WILL SHOW YEE NO QUARTER!", as the salvo of cannon shot bore through his enemy's waterline.
by thirtythreecents November 30, 2006
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An idiot. In reference to children that would walk up to an arcade cabinet and instead of asking their parents for a quarter to play, would just grab the joystick and mash the buttons and would think they are playing. This is because they are dumb and don’t know how anything works. Similar to anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers.
“The government is putting micro chips in the vaccine!”
“Oh, you were a No-Quarter kid weren’t you bud?”
“Oh, you were a No-Quarter kid weren’t you bud?”
by SammyCrates January 5, 2022
Get the No-Quarter Kid mug.A phenomenon started at Texas A&M University where during the last quarter of a home football game fans participating take off their shirt for the last quarter of the game.
by ChunkND October 7, 2009
Get the No Shirt 4th Quarter mug.Don’t fall into conformity. Rather, forge your own path. Seek adventure, thrill, and challenges. Think outside the box and encourage others to do so as well.
John: “Here’s a quarter, try and get the high score.”
Max: “It doesn’t really matter, the game has a pattern.
John: “You go through life thinking you don’t stand a chance, that you’re just a part of the pattern? No patterns on my quarter. Make your own path. Embrace the challenge.”
Max: “It doesn’t really matter, the game has a pattern.
John: “You go through life thinking you don’t stand a chance, that you’re just a part of the pattern? No patterns on my quarter. Make your own path. Embrace the challenge.”
by GL Bacchus September 20, 2023
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