Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Thomas Arnold (1823–1900), literary scholar and teacher. From quarter + tense, after French Quatre Tempsquater temps.
Definition of quarter tense in US English:
quarter tense
nounˈkwɔːtə ˌtɛns
Quater temps.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Thomas Arnold (1823–1900), literary scholar and teacher. From quarter + tense, after French Quatre Temps quater temps.