quas

v. i. To be shaken, or dashed about, with noise. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Quashed p. pr. & vb. n. Quashing. ] [ 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. ] (Law) To abate, annul, overthrow, or make void; as, to quash an indictment. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Squash. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ 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. ] 1. To beat down, or beat in pieces; to dash forcibly; to crush. [ 1913 Webster ]

The whales
Against sharp rocks, like reeling vessels, quashed,
Though huge as mountains, are in pieces dashed. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To crush; to subdue; to suppress or extinguish summarily and completely; as, to quash a rebellion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Contrition is apt to quash or allay all worldly grief. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A negro of the West Indies. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ L. ] As if; as though; as it were; in a manner sense or degree; having some resemblance to; qualified; -- used as an adjective, or a prefix with a noun or an adjective; as, a quasi contract, an implied contract, an obligation which has arisen from some act, as if from a contract; a quasi corporation, a body that has some, but not all, of the peculiar attributes of a corporation; a quasi argument, that which resembles, or is used as, an argument; quasi historical, apparently historical, seeming to be historical. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A corporation consisting of a person or body of persons invested with some of the qualities of an artificial person, though not expressly incorporated, esp. the official of certain municipal divisions such as counties, schools districts, and the towns of some States of the United States, certain church officials, as a churchwarden, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ So called from the first words of the Latin introit, quasi modo geniti infantes as newborn babes, 1 Pet. ii. 2. ] (R. C. Ch.) The first Sunday after Easter; Low Sunday. [ 1913 Webster ]