early 15c., from Latin quadripartitus, from quadri- "four" (from PIE root *kwetwer- "four") + partitus, past participle of partiri "to divide" (from pars "a part, piece, a share," from PIE root *pere- (2) "to grant, allot").
quadrifid
quadrilateral
quadriliteral
quadrille
quadrillion
quadripartite
quadriplegia
quadriplegic
quadrivium
quadroon
quadru-