quean

[ kween ]

noun

1. Archaic. an overly forward, impudent woman; shrew; hussy.
2. Archaic. a prostitute.
3. British Dialect. Sometimes quine. a girl or young woman, especially a robust one.

quean

/ kwiːn /

noun

1. archaic.
   1. a boisterous, impudent, or disreputable woman
   2. a prostitute; whore
2. a young unmarried woman or girl

Other Words From

• quean·ish adjective
• quean·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quean¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English quene, Old English cwene; cognate with Middle Dutch quene, kone, Old Saxon, Old High German quena, Gothic qino, from unattested Germanic kwenōn-; akin to Old English cwēn “woman, queen” ( queen )

Word History and Origins

Origin of quean¹

Old English cwene; related to Old Saxon, Old High German quena, Gothic qino, Old Norse kona, Greek gunē woman. Compare queen

Example Sentences

Call the quean up; if my men want shoe-thread, Ill swinge her in a stirrup.

From Project Gutenberg

You come hither to steal my glasses, and then counterfeit you are going to your quean's.

From Project Gutenberg

A subtle quean as any in this town, your neighbour here, dame Chat.Gammer.

From Project Gutenberg

"Only the pictur' o' some randy quean," his father answered, chucking away at the inanimate chin.

From Project Gutenberg

She went so far as to say, that it was a shame such a drunken quean should have a Christian burial.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• tramp
• whore