a proportional share or part that is due from or to any person or body of persons, in Med. Lat. quota, sc. pars, from quotus, an adjective formed from quot, how many. The word first appears in connexion with the levying of men, money or supplies for military and naval purposes from districts, towns or seaports, and thus is equivalent to "contingent" (Lat. contingere, to happen to, fall to one's lot or share, cum, with, and tangere, to touch), used since the 18th century specifically of a contribution of men or ships according to a scale fixed between the contracting parties.