See Also: qualm(medicine)
qualm(1)(dictionary)
qualm(2)(dictionary)
qualm(dictionary)
water qualm(medicine)

qualm(1) (iou)



qualm noun. E16.
[Origin uncertain: cf. Old English cw(e)alm pestilence, pain (rel. to QUELL verb1), Middle Low German quallem, German Qualm (Dutch kwalm) thick vapour or smoke.]
A sudden feeling of sickness, faintness, or nausea. E16.
F. C. Burnand No qualms to interfere with appetite.
transf.
a. A sudden feeling of fear, misgiving, or depression. M16.
S. Bellow A nervous qualm went through him.
b. A sudden intense feeling of some quality, principle, etc.; esp. a scruple of conscience, a doubt, a pang of guilt. E17.
A. Brookner Frederick has no qualms in asking for some of the profits.
qualmless adjective E20.
qualmlessness noun (rare) M19.