Definition: quarry

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

quarry
     n 1: a person who is the victim of ridicule or exploitation by
          some hostile person or influence; "he fell prey to
          muggers"; "everyone was fair game" [syn: prey, target,
           fair game]
     2: a surface excavation for extracting stone or slate: "a
        British term for `quarry' is `stone pit'" [syn: pit, stone
        pit]
     3: animal hunted or caught for food [syn: prey]
     v : extract (something such as stones) from or as if from a
         quarry; "quarry marble"

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Quarry \Quar"ry\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quarried; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Quarrying.]
   To dig or take from a quarry; as, to quarry marble.
Quarry \Quar"ry\, n. [OE. quarre, OF. quarr['e] square, F.
   carr['e], from L. quadratus square, quadrate, quadratum a
   square. See Quadrate, and cf. Quarrel an arrow.]
   Same as 1st Quarrel. [Obs.] --Fairfax.
Quarry \Quar"ry\, a. [OF. quarr['e].]
   Quadrate; square. [Obs.]
Quarry \Quar"ry\, n.; pl. Quarries. [OE. querre, OF.
   cuiri['e]e, F. cur['e]e, fr. cuir hide, leather, fr. L.
   corium; the quarry given to the dogs being wrapped in the
   akin of the beast. See Cuirass.]
   1.
      (a) A part of the entrails of the beast taken, given to
          the hounds.
      (b) A heap of game killed.

   2. The object of the chase; the animal hunted for; game;
      especially, the game hunted with hawks. ``The stone-dead
      quarry.'' --Spenser.

            The wily quarry shunned the shock.    --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.
Quarry \Quar"ry\, v. i.
   To secure prey; to prey, as a vulture or harpy. --L'Estrange.
Quarry \Quar"ry\, n. [OE. quarrere, OF. quariere, F.
   carri[`e]re, LL. quadraria a quarry, whence squared
   (quadrati) stones are dug, fr. quadratus square. See
   Quadrate.]
   A place, cavern, or pit where stone is taken from the rock or
   ledge, or dug from the earth, for building or other purposes;
   a stone pit. See 5th Mine
   (a) .