Definition

Noun

  • A nominal list of a warship’s officers and crew, along with their appointed battle/action stations.

Origin

Probably the 16th century.

Comments

Of the different types of bills, the quarter bill specifically refers to one’s assigned station during battle stations.

This is supposedly the origin of the term “beat to quarters” where drummers would beat a particular rhythm to indicate action was imminent and for men to go to their battle stations. In the British Royal Navy, the rhythm used was Heart of Oak. While drums are no longer used, at the sound of the general alarm, everyone goes to their battle station as indicated on the quarter bill.

References

Kemp, P. (1994). The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. Oxford University Press.

King, D., Hattendorf, J.B, & Estes, J.W. (1997). A Sea of Words: A Lexicon and Companion for Patrick O’Brian’s Seafaring Tales (2nd Ed.). Owl Books.

Rogers, J.G. (1985). Origins of Sea Terms. Mystic Seaport.