† qw-
freq. ME. (esp. northern) var. of qu- (and wh-), as qwa = qua who, qwal = qual whale, qwarell quarrel, etc. (see the forms with qu-). Also qwaintan quintain, qwalester chorister, qwarto whereto, qwatteer quarter, qwaylle whale, qwe whew, qweasse quease, qweel wheel, qwelke whelk, qwenock whinnock, qweschyn, qweseyn cushion, qwinaci quinsy, qwissel whistle, qworle whorl.
So qwh-, var. of quh-, as qwhele wheel, qwhen when, qwhete wheat, qwhite white, qwhylum whilom; etc. Also qwy-, var. of quy-, qui-, as qwy(e quey, qwyce quice, qwych(e which, qwynne whin, qwynse quinsy, qwysschewes cuisses, qwyuer quiver; etc. (See the forms with qui-.)