Quinsy
/ˈkwɪnzi/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A peritonsillar abscess; a painful pus-filled inflammation or abscess of the tonsils and surrounding tissues, usually a complication of tonsillitis, caused by bacterial infection and often accompanied by fever. countable, uncountable
"He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weal throat, and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech."
- 2 a painful pus filled inflammation of the tonsils and surrounding tissues; usually a complication of tonsillitis wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
More examples"He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weal throat, and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech."
Etymology
From Middle English quinesye, from Old French quinencie, from Medieval Latin quinancia, from Ancient Greek κυνάγχη (kunánkhē, “canine quinsy”), from κύων (kúōn, “dog”) + ἄγχω (ánkhō, “throttle”). Doublet of cynanche.