qualm

 
Pronunciation: /kwɑːm, kwɔːm/

noun

  • an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear, especially about one’s own conduct; a misgiving: military regimes generally have no qualms about controlling the press
  • archaic a momentary faint or sick feeling.

Derivatives

qualmish

adjective

Origin:

early 16th century (in the sense 'momentary sick feeling'): perhaps related to Old English cw(e)alm 'pain', of Germanic origin