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A.Word.A.Day--quean

Pronunciation: WAV or RealAudio

quean (kween) noun

1. A woman regarded as being disreputable, especially a prostitute.

2. Scots. A young woman.

[Middle English quene, from Old English cwene, woman.]

"A witch, a quean, an old cozening quean! Have I not forbid her my house?" Shakespeare, William, The Merry Wives of Windsor: Act IV, Scene II.

This week's theme: Words with slightly different spellings from some everyday words.

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