RH:
... Duas Quintas? Two fifths, or two vinyard farms?

Tue, 25 Nov 2003 06:51:14 +0100: Magda : in
soc.culture.portuguese:

A "quinta" is NOT 1/5 ("um quinto"), but a large, cultivated and inhabited property.

I know. My 2/5ths translation was a joke.
But one theory as to the origin of the word is a 20% fee that farmers
had to pay to the land owners.
OTOH, Porto Editora traces the word back to the Latin word 'quintana'
= pequeno mercado no acampamento = small market in an army camp.
(not sure if that is what 'acampamento' means in this context - please
correct anyone who can)
--
Ruud Harmsen, http://rudhar.com/