Quarks are fractional charge fundamental particles in six flavors (types).

The name "quark" was taken by Murray Gell-Mann from the line "Three quarks for Muster Mark..." in the book "Finnegan's Wake" by James Joyce. Gell-Mann received the 1969 Nobel Prize for his work in classifying elementary particles.

Quarks are fermions with half integral spin. Along with their anti-particles the six quarks and six leptons are the fundamental particles - that's it?! 12 Quarks and 12 Leptons. The hadrons are combinations of quarks. That is the Standard Model.

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