Quartation

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Quartation \Quar*ta"tion\, n. [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)
     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}.
     [1913 Webster]