English

Noun

quoy ‎(plural quoys)

1. (in Scotland, especially as part of a placename) An area of wasteland (or common land) now enclosed for farming

French

Pronoun

quoy

1. Obsolete spelling of quoi

Middle French

Alternative forms

• quoi

Pronoun

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

• Like modern French quoi, chiefly used after prepositions such as à, de, comme, etc.

References

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