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queer ken

(dated, UK, thieves, and, Polari) A prison.

ˈkwɪɹ ˈkɛnDocumented since 1700shistorical58 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇬🇧 British & Irish slang
1 definition
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Born ~1700 · no dated citations yet
1700BornToday, 2026

Definitions

UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK

(dated, UK, thieves, and, Polari) A prison.

Origin: From weird; odd + house. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

Queer ken means: A prison.. It comes from prison or criminal-justice contexts; worth knowing what media your teen is consuming. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.

For ESL learners

queer ken means: A prison.. Register: dated, informal. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.

Cluster: identity
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For specific readers

Queer ken means: A prison.. It comes from prison or criminal-justice contexts; worth knowing what media your teen is consuming. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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UK

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🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang

UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.

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