quean

American  

[kween] / kwin /

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.

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quean British  

/ kwiːn /

noun

1. archaic

   1. a boisterous, impudent, or disreputable woman

   2. a prostitute; whore

2. a young unmarried woman or girl

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Other Word Forms

• queanish adjective
• queanlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of quean

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 )

Example Sentences

Thinks the false quean by such a sleight, that chill my nee'le lack?

From Gammer Gurton's Needle by Art, Mr. S. Mr. of

She could coax you to the buying like a Cumnock quean, and fleece you in the selling like the cadgers o' Kincardine.

From The House with the Green Shutters by Brown, George Douglas

He was in a crunkle o’ green brae, a wee below the chaipel, a’ by his lee-lane, and lowped and flang and danced like a daft quean at a waddin’.

From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 11 (of 25) by Stevenson, Robert Louis

Thou talkest like a foolish quean that has been frightened by the fluttering of her own poultry.

From The Headsman The Abbaye des Vignerons by Cooper, James Fenimore

I don't set store by clothes, meself; but a fine han'some quean they make of ye.

From Lady Good-for-Nothing by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir

Related Words

• tramp
• whore