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

“Like, we should be able to wear leggings without feeling like it’s a problem because guys will be staring at us,” student Quean Foster told a local NBC News affiliate.

From Washington Times

While the author of the “Anatomy of Melancholy” is still more unkind, for he says— “A filthy knave, a deformed quean, a crooked carcass, a maukin, a witch, a rotten post, a hedge-stake may be so set out and tricked up, that it shall make a fair show, as much enamour as the rest.”—Part iii. sect.

From Project Gutenberg

But the saucy quean, to force me to go to her!

From Project Gutenberg

Deil a wig has a provost of Fairport worn sin’ auld Provost Jervie’s time—and he had a quean of a servant-lass that dressed it hersel’, wi’ the doup o’ a candle and a dredging box.

From Project Gutenberg

There is many a quean in it, fairer than I twice told, and not spoiled with weeping.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• tramp
• whore