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” ( see queen)

Example Sentences

Under the first was written 'The Zarr,' and under the other 'The Empress Quean.'

From Old and New London Volume I by Thornbury, Walter

Appearing at the Bar of the House of Commons, this vile impostor cried out, "Aye, Taitus Oates, accause Caatharine, Quean of England, of haigh traison."

From Royalty Restored by Molloy, J. Fitzgerald (Joseph Fitzgerald)

Then aloud to the Abbot he said, "An it please you, sir, I can sing 'O Mary Quean!'"

From The Black Douglas by Richards, Frank

His movement has the terror of thunder breaking in the middle of the night,— "Quean sequitur fragor et fractæ collisio nubis."

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 16, No. 98, December, 1865 by Various

Related Words

• tramp
• whore