Forms: 1, 3 cwene, (1 cwyne), 3–6 quene, (5 qw-), 4–5 quen, queyne, 5 qw-, queyn, 4–6 queine, 7 queene, 7–8 queen, (8 north. whein); 6–7 queane, (8 quane, 8–9 north. whean), 6– quean; 8–9 Sc. quine. [OE. cwene wk. fem. = OS. quena (MDu. quene, Du. kween a barren cow), OHG. quina, quena, ch(w)ena, ON. kvenna, kvinna (gen. pl.), Goth. qino woman:—OTeut. *kwenōn-, a lengthened form of the stem which appears in Zend genā, Gr. γυνή, OSl. and Russ. žená, OIr. ben, repr. a common Aryan type *gwenā: cf. QUEEN.
In ME. the word was distinguished from QUEEN by its open e, which in the 14–15th c. was sometimes denoted by the spelling with ei or ey, and later (as in other words of the class) by ea.]
1. A woman, a female; from early ME. a term of disparagement or abuse, hence: A bold, impudent or ill-behaved woman; a jade, hussy; and spec. a harlot, strumpet (esp. in 16–17th c.).
a. 1000. Riddles, lxxiii. (lxxiv.) 1. Ic wæs fæmne ʓeong, feaxhar cwene.
a. 1023. Wulfstan, Hom., xxiii. (1883), 161, note. Þæt … ane cwenan ʓemænum ceape bicʓað … and wið þa ane fylðe adreoʓað.
c. 1205. Lay., 12872. Whær swa hco funden æine mon … þa quenen [c. 1275 cwenes] lude loȝen.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 194/6. An old quene þare was biside, stron hore and baudestrote.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. IX. 46. A churche in the charnel cheorles aren vuel to knowe … other a queyne fro a queene.
1481. Caxton, Reynard (Arb.), 95. The fowle olde quenes wold fayne haue beten vs.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 618/1. Tyll he … catch him a queane & cal her his wife.
1589. Nashe, Almond for Parrat, 17 b. All spent in a Tauerne amongst a consort of queanes and fidlers.
1627. Hakewill, Apol. (1630), 361. The common queanes, which got their maintenance by that trade.
1670. G. H., Hist. Cardinals, I. III. 98. A certain paultry Queen in mans apparel, that would pass for a Lady.
1777. Sheridan, Sch. Scand., III. ii. Here’s to the flaunting extravagant quean And here’s to the housewife that’s thrifty.
1823. Byron, Juan, VI. xcvi. This martial scold, This modern Amazon and queen of queans.
1880. Webb, Goethe’s Faust, III. ii. 190. The dame’s a most commodious quean, A gypsy born and go-between!
transf. a. 1845. Hood, Flowers, i. The tulip is a courtly quean, whom, therefore, I will shun.
2. Sc. A young woman, girl, lass; usually denoting one of a healthy and robust appearance.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IV. 782. A stalwart queyne, forsuth, yon semys to be.
1728. W. Starrat, Ep. to Ramsay, 13. Blaw up my heart-strings, ye Pierian quines.
1787. Burns, Guidwife Wanchope, iii. I see her yet, the sonsie quean, That lighted up my jingle.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxvii. It shews a kind heart … in sae young a quean; Mattie’s a carefu’ lass.
1871. W. Alexander, Johnny Gibb (1873), 215. I notices brawly that the quine hed been greetin.
Hence † Queaning, associating with immodest women; † Queanish a., of the nature of, characteristic of, a quean; † Queanry = Queaning.
c. 1560. A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), xxxiv. 124. Quhair hurdome ay vnhappis, With quenry, canis, and coppis.
1569. J. Sanford, trans. Agrippa’s Van. Artes, 119 b. In feastinge, queaninge, huntinge, fowlinge and attiringe.
1596. Colse, Penelope (1880), 167. Thy giggish tricke, thy queanish trade, A thousand Bridewel birds hath made.
1618. Rowlands, Night-Raven (1620), 25. If she would seeke to mend her queanish life.
a. 1693. Motteux, Rabelais, III. xxxiv. 284. Queanish flurting Harlots.
