a quarter is the coin worth 25 cents, or one quarter of a dollar. a washing machine that "takes quarters" means you have to put coins in the slot to make it work. The washing machine that he got from the crackhead was probably stolen from a laundromat.

1. housing or accommodation, esp as provided for military personnel and their families 2. (Military) the stations assigned to military personnel, esp to each crew member of a warship: general quarters. 3. (in India) housing provided by an employer or by the government 4. (Military) (functioning as singular) military slang short for quartermaster 5. (Nautical Terms) (functioning as singular) military slang short for quartermaster