1. [n]  a rectangular area surrounded on all sides by buildings
2. [n]  (printing) a block of type without a raised letter; used for spacing between words
3. [n]  a muscle of the thigh that extends the leg
4. [n]  one of four children born at the same time from the same pregnancy

1. \Quad\, Quade \Quade\, a. [Akin to AS. cw[=ae]d, cwead,
   dung, evil, G. kot, dung, OHG. qu[=a]t.]
   Evil; bad; baffling; as, a quade wind. [Obs.]
         Sooth play, quad play, as the Fleming saith. --Chaucer.
   

2. \Quad\, n. (Print.)
   A quadrat.
   

3. \Quad\, n. (Arch.)
   A quadrangle; hence, a prison. [Cant or Slang]
   

1. Two bits; synonym for quarter, crumb, tayste.

2. A four-pack of anything (compare hex).

3. The rectangle or box glyph used in the APL language for various arcane purposes mostly related to I/O.

Former Ivy-Leaguers and Oxford types are said to associate it with nostalgic memories of dear old University (short for "quadrangle").

[Jargon File]