Definition

A painful condition caused by inflammation of the tonsils and nearby tissue, often resulting in an abscess.

Example

After feeling a sore throat for days, the doctor diagnosed her with quinsy.

Conversation

I heard you were feeling sick last week, what happened?

I had this awful case of quinsy that made it really hard to swallow.

That sounds painful! Did you see a doctor for it?

Yeah, they gave me some antibiotics and it cleared up pretty quickly.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'quinsy' originates from Old French 'quinzie' (meaning a sore throat or inflammation of the throat), which itself comes from Latin 'cynanche' (meaning a dog-like cough). The term refers to a condition characterized by a severe sore throat and swelling.

Memory Tip

Think of the Old French word for a sore throat, 'quinzie', to remember that 'quinsy' refers to a painful throat condition.

Visually Confused Words