quean

noun

ˈkwēn  ˈkwān 

plural queans

1

disparaging : a disreputable woman

specifically : a woman who engages in sex acts and especially sexual intercourse in exchange for pay : a woman who is a sex worker

2

chiefly Scotland : woman

especially : one that is young or unmarried

Synonyms

• chippie
• chippy
• doxy
• doxie
• fancy woman
• floozy
• floozie
• hoochie [slang]
• hussy
• Jezebel
• minx
• tramp
• trollop
• wench [archaic]

Examples of quean in a Sentence

in pirate tales there's always the raucous tavern and its cadre of buxom queans

Word History

Etymology

Middle English quene, from Old English cwene; akin to Old English cwēn woman, queen

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2