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quota

a fixed share or number allowed

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Where does the word "quota" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin quota pars, and was adopted directly into English (1660s).

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Where does the word "quota" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin quota pars, and was adopted directly into English (1660s).

Quota’s story begins in Medieval Latin: quota pars meant “how great a part.” From 'quotus', of what number. It reached English by 1660s as quota. US immigration quotas of the 1920s spread it widely. Today, quota means a fixed share or number allowed.

  1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval quota pars "how great a part", from 'quotus', of what number.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1660s quota "a share", US immigration quotas of the 1920s spread it widely.

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