Quinsy

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkwɪnzi/

Alternative forms

• quinsey obsolete

Origin

From Old French quinencie, from Medieval Latin quinancia, from Ancient Greek κυνάγχη ("canine quinsy"), from κύων ("dog") + ἄγχω ("throttle").

Full definition of quinsy

Noun

1. (pathology) 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.
• 1891: He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. — Arthur Conan Doyle, ‘A Case Of Identity’ (Norton 2005 p.85)

Synonyms

• peritonsillar abscess
• squinancy
• squinzey

Anagrams

• Yuqins