Quean

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Quean \Quean\, n. [Originally, a woman, AS. cwene; akin to OS.
     quena, OHG. quena, Icel. kona, Goth qin?, and AS. cw['e]n,
     also to Gr. ? woman, wife, Skr. gn[=a] goddess. Cf. {Queen}.]
     1. A woman; a young or unmarried woman; a girl. [Obs. or
        Scot.] --Chaucer.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. A low woman; a wench; a slut. "The dread of every scolding
        quean." --Gay.
        [1913 Webster]

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  QUEAN. A worthless woman a strumpet. The meaning of this word, which is now 
  seldom used, is said not to be well ascertained. 2 Roll. Ab. 296 Bac. Ab. 
  Stander, U 3.