n. [ Russ. kvas'. ] A thin, sour beer, made by pouring warm water on rye or barley meal and letting it ferment, -- much used by the Russians. Called also
n. [ L. quassatio, from quassare to shake. See Quash to crush. ] The act of shaking, or the state of being shaken. Gayton. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ NL. From the name of a negro, Quassy, or Quash, who prescribed this article as a specific. ] The wood of several tropical American trees of the order
n. [ Cf. F. quassine. See Quassia. ] (Chem.) The bitter principle of quassia, extracted as a white crystalline substance; -- formerly called