QUARTATION

Etymology

Noun

quartation (usually uncountable, plural quartations)

(chemistry, archaic) The act, process, or result (in the process of parting) of alloying a button of nearly pure gold with enough silver to reduce the fineness so as to allow acids to attack and remove all metals except the gold.

Synonyms

• inquartation

Source: Wiktionary

Quar*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. quartus the fourth: cf. F. quartation. So called because usually enough silver is added to make the amount of gold in the alloyed button about one fourth.] (Chem. & Assaying)

Definition: The act, process, or result (in the process of parting) of alloying a button of nearly pure gold with enough silver to reduce the fineness so as to allow acids to attack and remove all metals except the gold; -- called also inquartation. Compare Parting.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition