quarter-pounder

See also: quarterpounder

English

Etymology

From the Quarter Pounder, a hamburger sold by the fast food chain McDonald's since 1971. By surface analysis, quarter +‎ pound +‎ -er. Now sometimes used as a genericized trademark, although the trademark remains active in many countries.

Noun

quarter-pounder (plural quarter-pounders)

1. A burger weighing approximately a quarter of a pound.
   • 2011, Tom Colburn, Shattered Window, page 88:

     "Deal. I'm hungry. Wanna grab a little snack with me? Maybe a half a dozen quarter pounders and a couple large fries?"

   • 2011, Michael Turney, Son of a Sea Cook Cookbook, page 140:

     This recipe will make 6–8 “quarter pounders” from only one pound of hamburger. Do the math. Then all you do is BBQ, fry or broil them.

   • 2014, Eugene Holod, “Rock Rampant”, in Ochre Tinge, page 102:

     I've got four quarter-pounder burgers in the grill pan,
     I've micro-waved some sesame seed buns,
     I've got the kettle on […]
     Come back in, and my quarter-pounders are a-blazing!
     I turn off the heat, and quickly remove the grill pan, […]

   • 2018, Campaign for Real Ale, Good Beer Guide 2019:

     A range of homemade food is available including original recipe minced beef and onion pie and special quarter pounder burgers, plus steaks on request (every day except Sunday). The pub is a big supporter of armed forces charities.

   • 2022, Isabel Albiston, Fionn Davenport, Marc Di Duca, Lonely Planet Great Britain:

     Here plant-based versions include crispy, fried not-chicken burgers, beyond meat quarter pounders and dirty fries.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see quarter,‎ pounder: Anything weighing a quarter of a pound.
   • 1931, Arthur Ransome, Swallowdale:

     A half-pound fish is a very good one, and the quarter-pounders are good enough.