What does quass mean?
Quass is an uncommon historical noun referring primarily to the wood of trees in the genus Quassia, especially the bitter ash. It could also denote a bitter medicinal drink prepared from that wood, particularly a tonic promoted in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The word belongs to the same naming tradition as quassia, which came through New Latin from the name of the Surinamese botanist known as Graman Quassi and became associated with the intensely bitter substance obtained from the tree. Quass should not be confused with quassia: the former is a rare term for the wood or preparations made from it, while the latter is also used more broadly for the plant genus, extract, and drug. Today, quass appears mainly in historical or specialist writing.
nounThe wood of any of several trees of the genus Quassia, especially the bitter ash. The term has also been used for a bitter tonic drink prepared from the wood.
- The wood of a tree of the genus Quassia, especially the bitter ash.
- A bitter tonic or medicinal drink made by steeping or otherwise preparing quass wood.
"The apothecary steeped quass in water and added it to the patient's tonic."
"The bark of the bitter ash was occasionally added to preparations made from quass."
"In the eighteenth century, a decoction of quass was sold as an invigorating tonic."
Plural use is possible when referring to separate pieces, specimens, or kinds of quass, though the mass noun is more usual when referring to the wood or a preparation.
"The shop sold rare quasses and other old-fashioned bitter tonics."
Once promoted as a restorative tonic, quass was named from the bitter ash whose intensely bitter wood was long used in herbal medicine.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does quass come from?
The word comes through New Latin from Quassia, a genus name honoring the Surinamese botanist known as Graman Quassi. The short form quass and the more established quassia were both used for the wood and medicinal preparations obtained from the bitter ash. Quassin is the name of the bitter chemical constituent associated with these preparations.
How quass is actually used
Quass is now rare and chiefly historical. In modern usage, quassia is more common for the genus, medicinal preparation, and extract.
Easily confused with quass
Quassia is the genus name and the usual name for the drug or extract made from these trees, whereas quass is a rare term for the wood or preparations made from it.