DCHP-2

kétaine ketaine, quétaine, quetaine DCHP-2 (October 2016)

• adj. — Quebec, rare

  tacky or kitschy.

  Type: 1. Origin — From Quebec French slang, kétaine, the term's French origin is uncertain, but might be related to quêteux (Canadian French for 'beggar'). Sometimes the term is connected with the bad taste of a particular family, supposedly the "Keaton" or "Keating family" from an unspecified mid-20th century Quebec village (Language Portal of Canada reference, s.v. "Quétaine"). This explanation is likely folk etymology.
  See also COD-2, which marks the term "Cdn (Que)".

  • The term is rare in written Quebec English, but does have some currency in written Quebec French.