n. Acute inflammation of the tonsils and the surrounding tissue, often leading to the formation of an abscess. [Middle English, from Medieval Latin quinancia and Old French quinancie, both from Greek kunankhē, dog quinsy, dog-collar : kuōn, kun-, dog; see kwon- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + ankhein, to squeeze; see angh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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