freq. ME. (esp. northern) var. of QU- (and WH-), as qwa = qua who, qwal = qual whale, qwarell quarrel, etc. (see the forms with QU-). Also qwaintan quintain, qwalester chorister, qwarto whereto, qwatteer quarter, qwaylle whale, qwe whew, qweasse quease, qweel wheel, qwelke whelk, qwenock whinnock, qweschyn, qweseyn cushion, qwinaci quinsy, qwissel whistle, qworle whorl.

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  So Qwh-, var. of QUH-, as qwhele wheel, qwhen when, qwhete wheat, qwhite white, qwhylum whilom; etc. Also Qwy-, var. of quy- = QUI-, as qwy(e quey, qwyce quice, qwych(e which, qwynne whin, qwynse quinsy, qwysschewes cuisses, qwyuer quiver; etc. (See the forms with QUI-.)

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