quean

[ kween ]
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noun
  1. Archaic. an overly forward, impudent woman; shrew; hussy.

  2. Archaic. a prostitute.

  1. British Dialect.Sometimes quine . a girl or young woman, especially a robust one.

Origin of quean

1
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” (see queen)

Other words from quean

  • quean·ish, adjective
  • quean·like, adjective

Words Nearby quean

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How to use quean in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for quean

quean

/ (kwiːn) /


noun
  1. archaic

    • a boisterous, impudent, or disreputable woman

    • a prostitute; whore

  2. Scot a young unmarried woman or girl

Origin of quean

1
Old English cwene; related to Old Saxon, Old High German quena, Gothic qino, Old Norse kona, Greek gunē woman. Compare queen

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