quash English · revision 1295

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kwɒʃ/ ''(UK)''; /kwɑʃ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Two Middle English verbs have merged in this word.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) ''Quash'' “to annul” comes from Middle English ''quassen'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|fro|quasser|t=to annul]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|la-med|quassare]], an alteration of [[la-lat|cassare]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from [[la|cassus|t=empty, void]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) ''Quash'' “to crush” comes from Middle English ''quashen'',^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) from Old French ''quasser'' “to break”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|la|quasso|t=to shake violently, shatter]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) a frequentative of ''quatere'' “to shake”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It is related to [[squash]] and [[concussion]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To suppress or overcome (about 1250, as ''cuvessen'');^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) to annul (before 1338);^(Barnhart 1995) and to break or crush (before 1387).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Medieval Latin ''quassare'' was often used for ''cassare'', and in French both became ''casser'';^(Etymonline) in English the two words are now largely fused.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) The sense to annul is chiefly legal, as of an indictment or writ.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) The sense to put down summarily, as a rebellion, is from about 1600,^(Etymonline) while the literal sense to smash is obsolete.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1250 – to suppress or overcome.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1338 – to annul.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * before 1387 – to break, crush.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1609 – to put down or suppress completely.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To put down or suppress forcibly and completely, as a [[rebellion]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To set aside or [[annul]], especially by [[judicial]] action.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[unquashed]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cask]]

+ * [[casket]]

+ * [[concussion]]

+ * [[discuss]]

+ * [[discussion]]

+ * [[fracas]]

+ * [[percussion]]

+ * [[rescue]]

+ * [[squash]]

+ * [[cassation]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''crush'', ''squash'', ''quench'' and ''repress'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}