quash

verb

Etymology: From Middle English quaschen, quasshen, cwessen, quassen, from Old French quasser, from Latin quassāre, under the influence of cassō (“to annul”), from Latin quatiō (“to shake”) Cognate with Dutch kwetsen (“to hurt, injure”), German quetschen (“to crush, squash”), Spanish quejar (“to complain”).

1. To defeat decisively, to suppress.

   “The army quashed the rebellion.”

   “Contrition is apt to quash or allay all worldly grief.”

2. To crush or dash to pieces.

   “The whales / Against sharp rocks, like reeling vessels, quashed, / Though huge as mountains, are in pieces dashed.”

3. To void or suppress (a subpoena, decision, etc.).

   “In the case of an appeal against conviction the Court shall, if they allow the appeal, quash the conviction.”