Quarantine

(kwŏr'an-teen, 110), n. [It. quarantina, quarentina, quarantana, quarentena, forty, forty days, quarantine, L. Lat. quarentena, quadraginta, from Lat. quadraginta, forty, It. quaranta, Fr. quarante; Fr. quarantaine, Pr. quarantena, carantena, Sp. cuarentena.]

1. A space of forty days.
2. Specifically, the term, originally of forty days, but now of undetermined length, during which a ship, arriving in port, and suspected of being infected with a malignant, contagious disease, is obliged to forbear all intercourse with the shore; hence, restraint or inhibition of intercourse to which a ship is subjected, on the presumption that she may be infected.
3. (Law.) The period of forty days, during which the widow has the privilege of remaining in the mansion-house of which her husband died seized.