Quinsy

Quinsy
Not a TV detective but an old word for a peritonsillar abscess. Whether you call it quinsy or a peritonsillar abscess, it is a collection of pus (an abscess) behind the tonsils that pushes one of the tonsils toward the uvula (the prominent soft tissue dangling from the back of the palate in the back of the mouth). A peritonsillar abscess is generally very painful. It is usually also associated with a decreased ability to open the mouth. Treatment is imperative. If left untreated, the infection can spread deep in the neck causing airway obstruction and life-threatening complications.
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Obsolete term for peritonsillar abscess. [M.E. quinsie (quinesie), a corruption of L. cynanche, sore throat]
- lingual q. phlegmonous inflammation of the lingual tonsil and neighboring structures.

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quin·sy 'kwin-zē n, pl quin·sies an abscess in the connective tissue around a tonsil usu. resulting from bacterial infection and often accompanied by fever, pain, and swelling called also peritonsillar abscess

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n.
pus in the space between the tonsil and the wall of the pharynx. The patient has severe pain with difficulty opening the mouth (trismus) and swallowing. Treatment is with antibiotics. Surgical incision of the abscess may be necessary to release the collection of pus. Medical name: peritonsillar abscess.

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quin·sy (kwinґze) [Gr. kynanche sore throat] peritonsillar abscess.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Quinsy — Quin sy, n. [Contr. fr. squinancy, F. esquinancie, L. cynanche a sort of sore throat, Gr. ? sore throat, dog quinsy, fr. ? dog + ? to choke; cf. also L. synanche sore throat, Gr. ?. Cf. {Hound}, {Anger}, and {Cynanche}.] (Med.) An inflammation of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • quinsy — ► NOUN ▪ inflammation of the throat, especially an abscess near the tonsils. ORIGIN Greek kunankh canine quinsy , from kun dog + ankhein to strangle …   English terms dictionary

  • quinsy — (n.) severe sore throat, c.1300, qwinaci, from O.Fr. quinancie, from L.L. cynanche, from Gk. kynankhe dog strangling, originally dog collar, from kyon (gen. kynos) dog (see CANINE (Cf. canine)) + ankhein to strangle, cognate with L …   Etymology dictionary

  • quinsy — [kwin′zē] n. [ME quinaci < ML quinancia < LL cynanche < Gr kynanchē, inflammation of the throat, lit., dog choking < kyōn, dog (see HOUND1) + anchein, to choke (see ANGER)] former term for TONSILLITIS …   English World dictionary

  • quinsy — quinsied, adj. /kwin zee/, n. Pathol. a suppurative inflammation of the tonsils; suppurative tonsillitis; tonsillar abscess. [1300 50; ME quin(e)sie < ML quinancia, LL cynanche < Gk kynánche sore throat] * * * ▪ medicine       also called… …   Universalium

  • quinsy — noun /ˈkwɪnzi/ A painful pus filled inflammation or abscess of the tonsils and surrounding tissues, usually a complication of tonsillitis, caused by bacterial infection and often accompanied by fever. , 1891: Hed had the quinsy and swollen glands …   Wiktionary

  • quinsy — [14] Quinsy, a now virtually obsolete term for ‘sore throat’, has one of those etymologies that strain credulity to the limit. For it comes ultimately from a Greek term that meant literally ‘dog strangling’. This was kunágkhē, a compound formed… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • quinsy — [ kwɪnzi] noun inflammation of the throat, especially an abscess near the tonsils. Origin ME: from OFr. quinencie, from med. L. quinancia, from Gk kunankhē canine quinsy , from kun dog + ankhein throttle …   English new terms dictionary

  • quinsy — quin•sy [[t]ˈkwɪn zi[/t]] n. pat an abscess located between the tonsil and the pharynx accompanied by a severe sore throat and fever • Etymology: 1300–50; ME quin(e) sie < ML quinancia, LL cynanchē < Gk kynánchē sore throat, quinsy… …   From formal English to slang

  • quinsy — [14] Quinsy, a now virtually obsolete term for ‘sore throat’, has one of those etymologies that strain credulity to the limit. For it comes ultimately from a Greek term that meant literally ‘dog strangling’. This was kunágkhē, a compound formed… …   Word origins

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