Wednesday, 4 March 2026

When you say 'quinsy' are you speaking Greek?

'Quinsy' is a word borrowed from Greek 'kynanchē'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.


quinsy [noun] [14th century]
An abscess in the tissue around a tonsil usually resulting from bacterial infection and often accompanied by pain and f...
See 'quinsy' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Greek.

note: The word quinsy comes from Middle English which is a corruption of the Greek word kynanchē meaning dog strangulation. This name was likely given because of the way a person with the condition (a peritonsillar abscess) throws open their mouth in distress. The Greek term is made up of kyn- (dog) and anchein (to strangle).
Etymology: Middle English 'quinesie' from Anglo-French 'esquinauncy, quinancie' from Late Latin 'cynanche' from Greek 'kynanchē' from 'kyn-, kyōn' dog + 'anchein' to strangle
See more loan words from 1300s.


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