quota直接借自拉丁语，乃中世纪拉丁语短语quota pars之缩略语，该短语意为how great a part或how great a share，意思即是多大一份。在现代英语中quota仍然指份额，分配额，也指限额，定额。
- I'm going home now─I've done my quota of work for the day.
我现在要回家了——我已完成了今天的工作指标。 - The bill would force employers to adopt a quota system when recruiting workers.
该法案将迫使雇主在招聘工人时采取限额制度。
