English

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Etymology

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From the Norn reflex of Old Norse kví (enclosure).

Noun

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quoy (plural quoys)

  1. (Scotland, chiefly in place names) An area of wasteland (or common land) now enclosed for farming.

French

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Pronoun

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quoy

  1. Obsolete spelling of quoi.

Middle French

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Alternative forms

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Pronoun

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quoy

  1. what
    • 1602, Laurent de Paris, Le palais d'amour divin de Jésus, et de l'âme chrestienne ou toute personne tant religieuse que séculière peut apprendre à aymer Dieu en Dieu, page 9:
      A quoy pensez vous ?
      What are you thinking about?
  2. (interjective) what? (indicates surprise or anger)

Usage notes

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References

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  • quoi on Dictionnaire du Moyen Français (1330–1500) (in French)