I. ˈkwel transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, to kill, quell, from Old English cwellan to kill; akin to Old High German quellen to torture, kill, quāla torment, Lithuanian gelti to hurt
Date: 13th century
1. : to thoroughly overwhelm and reduce to submission or passivity
quell a riot
2. : quiet , pacify
quell fears
• quell·er noun
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from quellen to kill
Date: 15th century
1. obsolete : slaughter
2. archaic : the power of quelling