Here's a breakdown:
* Cot: This refers to a small house or cottage.
* Quean: This was a derogatory term for a woman, often used for a prostitute or a woman of loose morals.
Putting these together, a "cot quean" was essentially a man who was seen as behaving like a gossipy, meddling woman in a small house. The term is similar to "busybody" or "gossipmonger" but carries a stronger connotation of being effeminate or inappropriately involved in domestic matters.
Here's an example of how Shakespeare uses the term in "The Merry Wives of Windsor":
> "This is the very painting of your fear. This is the very life and breathing image of a cot quean, that will never cease meddling till she hath broke the neck of her own quiet." - Act 2, Scene 2
In this instance, the character is referring to Mistress Quickly, who is meddling in the affairs of other characters. The term "cot quean" is used to highlight her perceived nosiness and interference.
Remember, this term was deeply offensive in Shakespeare's time, reflecting the rigid social norms of the era.