starter

n 1: an electric motor for starting an engine

2: a contestant who is in the game at the beginning

3: the official who signals the beginning of a race or

competition [syn: {dispatcher}]

4: any new participant in some activity [syn: {newcomer}, {fledgling},

{fledgeling}, {neophyte}, {freshman}, {entrant}]

5: rotating shaft with parallel handle [syn: {crank}]

quarter

Two bits. This in turn comes from the "pieces of eight" famed

in pirate movies - Spanish silver crowns that could be broken

into eight pie-slice-shaped "bits" to make change. Early in

American history the Spanish coin was considered equal to a

dollar, so each of these "bits" was considered worth 12.5

cents. Usage: rare.

Synonyms: {tayste}, {crumb}, {quad}.

See also {nickle}, {nibble}, {byte}, {dynner}.

[{Jargon File}]

(1995-01-25)