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What does it mean to give someone a quarter?
(Mil.) to accept as prisoner, on submission in battle; to forbear to kill, as a vanquished enemy.
What does it mean to give quarter in war?
This term is used in such expressions as “to give no quarter” or “cry quarter”; in regard to hostilities by land, sea or air, denial of quarter means refusing to spare the life of anybody, even of persons manifestly unable to defend themselves or who clearly express their intention to surrender.
Where does the expression give no quarter come from?
Etymology. The term may originate from an order by the commander of a victorious army that they will not quarter (house) captured enemy combatants. Therefore, none can be taken prisoner and all enemy combatants must be killed.
What does quarter mean in military?
housing
A place for people to live, especially if they’re in the military, can be called quarters. If you join the Army, your quarters might be a dorm-like space that you share with many other people. You can use this word to mean “housing” generally, although it’s most common for soldiers and servants to live in quarters.
Why is everyone saying no quarter given?
To give no quarter originally applied to military situations. If a victor was not willing to take care of prisoners he would warn that he would give no quarter. To house and feed a prisoner one would give them quarters are quarter them, so to refuse to quarter men who surrendered meant that they would be put to death.
Is giving no quarter a war crime?
Under the Statute of the International Criminal Court, “declaring that no quarter will be given” is a war crime in international armed conflicts. The prohibition is contained in numerous military manuals. Under the legislation of many States, it is an offence to issue an order that no quarter be given.
Is no quarter illegal?
“No quarter” practices are illegal under International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and clash with historical social and political norms related to warfare. Article 23 of the Hague Convention and customary IHL prohibit the practice, not least because of its indiscriminate nature.
Is no quarter a war crime?
What no quarter means?
Definition of no quarter literary. : no pity or mercy —used to say that an enemy, opponent, etc., is treated in a very harsh way The soldiers showed/gave no quarter to the enemy.
What does it mean to give a quarter?
Community Answers. 8-15-13. To “give no quarter” is to refuse to spare the life of an opponent who surrenders. It may derive from the idea that to “quarter” is to house, as in “headquarters” or “quarter master.” In other words, to “give no quarter” is to refuse to house a vanquished foe in a prison.
What does give quarter mean?
To grant or give quarter would mean to show mercy and provide prisoners with shelter. “No quarter asked and no quarter given” means this is a fight to the death.
What is meant by the term ‘no quarter given’?
Give No Quarter Meaning Definition: Show no mercy. Origin of Give No Quarter This phrase comes from the ancient practice of sparing the lives of enemy combatants who have come into one’s power.
What does quarter to something mean?
Quarter means one fourth of something. An example of a quarter is one piece of a brownie cut into four equal pieces. The definition of a quarter is twenty five cents or a U.S. coin equal to twenty five cents.