queynte

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman cointe, queinte, from Latin cognitus.

The often-discussed sense "vulva" is usually thought to be an euphemising modification of cunte (“vagina”), but may instead be at least partially a semantic extension of the other adjectival or nominal senses (e.g. "elegant", "amazing").

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkwæi̯nt(ə)/

Adjective

queynte (comparative queynter, superlative queyntest)

  1. intelligent, smart, well-thought, sagacious, judicious:
    1. adept, competent, well-taught
    2. deceptive, cunning, tricky
  2. wonderful, curious, extraordinary:
    1. bizarre, odd, weird
    2. esoteric, unknown, unfamiliar
    3. Related to witchcraft or the paranormal
  3. renowned, notable, recognisable
  4. sophisticated, complicated, detailed
  5. polite, kind, of good manners.
  6. stylish, trendy, beautiful, attractive
  7. boastful, prideful

Descendants

  • English: quaint
  • Middle Scots: quent
    • Scots: whint (Orkney)

References

Noun

queynte (rare)

  1. trick, artifice
  2. ornament, gadget (of interest)
  3. (euphemistic) vulva (female genitalia)
    • c. 1390, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Wife of Bath's Tale”, in Canterbury Tales:
      And trewely, as myne housbondes tolde me, / I hadde þe beste queynte þat myghte be.
      [And truly, as my husbands told me / I had the best cunt that might be.]

Descendants

References

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