quash Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb put down by force or intimidation
    subdue; reduce; repress; subjugate; keep down.
    • The government quashes any attempt of an uprising
    • China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently
    • The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land
  2. verb declare invalid
    invalidate; annul; void; nullify; avoid.
    • The contract was annulled
    • void a plea

WordNet

Quash noun
Definitions
  1. Same as Squash.
Quash transitive verb
Etymology
OF. quasser, F. casser, fr. L. cassare to annihilate, annul, fr. cassus empty, vain, of uncertain origin. The word has been confused with L.quassare to shake, F. casser to break, which is probably of different origin. Cf. Cashier, v. t.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Quashed ; present participle & verbal noun Quashing
Definitions
  1. (Law) To abate, annul, overthrow, or make void; as, to quash an indictment. Blackstone.
Quash transitive verb
Etymology
OF. quasser, F. casser, fr. L. quassare to shake, shatter, shiver, v. intens. fr. quatere, quassum, to shake, shatter. Cf. Concussion, Discuss, Rescue, and also Quash to annul.
Definitions
  1. To beat down, or beat in pieces; to dash forcibly; to crush.
    The whales Against sharp rocks, like reeling vessels, quashed, Though huge as mountains, are in pieces dashed. Waller.
  2. To crush; to subdue; to suppress or extinguish summarily and completely; as, to quash a rebellion.
    Contrition is apt to quash or allay all worldly grief. Barrow.
Quash intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be shaken, or dashed about, with noise.

Webster 1913