Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-CUS'SION, n. [L. concussio, from concutio, to shake, from con and quatio, quasso, to shake or shatter. From the sense of discutio and percutio, we may infer that the primary sense is to beat, to strike, or to beat in pieces, to bruise, to beat down, Fr. casser, Eng. to quash, L. cædo, cudo. See Class Gd, No. 33, 40, 76, and Class Gs, No. 17.]

1. The act of shaking, particularly and properly, by the stroke or impulse of another body. It is believed that great ringing of bells, in populous cities hath dissipated pestilent air, which may be from the concussion, of the air. – Bacon.
2. The state of being shaken; a shock; as, the concussion of the brain by a stroke. It is used also for shaking or agitation in general; as, the concussion of the earth. – Woodward.