noun

1. a sudden, brief feeling of sickness, faintness, or nausea
2. a sudden feeling of uneasiness or doubt; misgiving
3. a twinge of conscience; scruple

Etymology: ME qualme < OE cwealm, death, disaster (akin to Ger qual, pain, Swed kvalm, nausea) < base of cwellan, to kill (see quell): all extant senses show melioration of the orig. meaning