quinsy

plural quinsies · alternative quinsey · alternative quinzy

1. countableuncountablemedicineA peritonsillar abscess; 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.

   He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weal throat, and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech.

   1891 [September], A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Adventure III.—A Case of Identity.”, in Geo[rge] Newnes, editor, The Strand Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly, volume II (July to December), number [9], London: […], page 251, column 2

   2 more examples

   b False. Quinsies are found at the back of the throat on either side of the uvula along the tonsils. c True. A quinsy grows as it swells with pus. This space-occupying effect can push the uvula away from it towards the opposite side.

   2010, Gurdeep Singh Mannu, Tunde Odutoye, ENT MCQs for Medical Students: With Explanatory Answers, page 130

   The patient may have cervical lymphadenopathy, trismus (moderate to severe increases suggestive of quinsy in acute setting), erythema of tonsils, crypt debris in tonsils or purulence of tonsils.

   2011, Kerryn Phelps, Craig Hassed, General Practice: The Integrative Approach, page 317

   Synonyms: angina, squinancy, squinzey, squinzy