n.1 four sheets of paper etc. folded to form eight leaves, as often in medieval manuscripts.
2 any collection of leaves one within another in a manuscript or book.
3 25 (also 24) sheets of paper.
Phrases and idioms:
in quires unbound; in sheets.
Etymology: ME f. OF qua(i)er ult. f. L quaterni set of four (as QUATERNARY)