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 throat, or parts adjacent, especially of the fauces or tonsils, attended by considerable swelling, painful and impeded deglutition, and accompanied by inflammatory fever. It sometimes creates danger of suffocation; -- called also squinancy, and squinzey.

• (pathology) 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.