QUAD'RAT, noun [Latin quadratus, squared.] 1. In printing, a piece of metal used to fill the void spaces between words, etc. Quadrats are of different sizes; as m-quadrats, etc. 2. A mathematical instrument, called also a geometrical square, and line of shadows.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI