Meaning

adjective (used especially of glances) directed to one side with or as if with doubt or suspicion or envy; - Elizabeth Bowen

originFrom Middle English asquint, asquynt, asqweynt, equivalent to a- (“on, at”) + a word related to Dutch schuinte (“tilt, slant, slope”), Saterland Frisian Schüünte (“slope, slant”), West Frisian skeante (“slope, slant”), German Low German Schüünte (“angle, slant, slope, pitch”). Compare also Middle English askoin, askoyn, of skwyn (“on a slant, askance”), Dutch schuin (“oblique, slanting,…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0