Forms: 6–9 quass(e, 8 quas, 8–9 quash, 9 kuass, kvass, kvas. [Russ. квасъ kvas ‘leaven, kvass.’] A fermented beverage in general use in Russia, commonly made from an infusion of rye-flour or bread with malt; rye beer.
c. 1553. Chancelour, Bk. Emp. Russia, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1886), III. 51. Their drinke is like our peny Ale, and is called Quass.
1608. Heywood, Rape Lucrece, IV. i. Wks. 1874, V. 216. The Russe drinkes quasses.
1609. Pimlyco (N.). The base quasse by peasants drunk.
1753. Hanway, Trav. (1762), I. V. lxi. 283. Beer, quash, and bad wine.
1778. Phil. Trans., LXVIII. 672. The drink … was quas or sour small beer.
1823. Mechanics’ Mag., No. 4. 58. The common drink of the Russians is kuass, which is not so good as our small beer.
1863. Mrs. Atkinson, Tartar Steppes, 232. They have bread in unlimited quantity, quass,… farinaceous food.
1894. Garnett, trans. Turgenev’s Ho. Gentlefolk, 121. ‘Fetch the kvas,’ repeats the same woman’s voice.
