quincy
quincy Lexical Profile
• noun
American A city in eastern Massachusetts, located in the United States just south of Boston, historically significant as the birthplace of U.S. Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams.
American A city in western Illinois, situated on the Mississippi River in the United States, known for its historic architecture and role as an important 19th-century river port.
An alternative or obsolete spelling of quinsy, a rare but serious complication of tonsillitis characterized by a peritonsillar abscess in the throat.
"In the 18th century, a severe case of quincy was often a life-threatening illness that required immediate medical intervention."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the throat condition (peritonsillar abscess), it is typically spelled 'quinsy'. As a geographic or personal name, it is always capitalized as 'Quincy'.
• Rhymes for quincy
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The proper noun is derived from the Norman territorial surname de Quincy, originating from Cuinchy in Pas-de-Calais, France. The lower-case medical term is an alternative historical spelling of 'quinsy', from Old French 'esquinancie'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.