Quean – an overly foward, impudent woman; a prostitute; a young,
robust woman; “loose woman”.
Origin:
Quean, probably has the same root as queen: an Old English word,
“cwen” which meant woman.
Had I had my own will, I would have had her to Bridewell, to flog the
wild blood out of her—a cutty quean, to think of wearing the breeches,
and not so much as married yet!
— Sir Walter Scott, Waverley Novels
