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Definitions for: Quail [n] small gallinaceous game birds
[n] (game bird) flesh of quail; suitable for roasting or broiling if young; otherwise must be braised
[v] draw back, as with fear or pain; "she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf"
Webster (1913) Definition: Quail, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Qualled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Qualling.] [AS. cwelan to die, perish; akin to cwalu
violent death, D. kwaal pain, G. qual torment, OHG. quelan to
suffer torment, Lith. gelti to hurt, gela pain. Cf. Quell.]
1. To die; to perish; hence, to wither; to fade. [Obs.]
--Spenser.
2. To become quelled; to become cast down; to sink under
trial or apprehension of danger; to lose the spirit and
power of resistance; to lose heart; to give way; to
shrink; to cower.
The atheist power shall quail, and confess his
fears. I. Taylor. Stouter hearts than a woman's have
quailed in this terrible winter. --Longfellow.
Syn: to cower; flinch; shrink; quake; tremble; blench;
succumb; yield.
Quail, v. t. [Cf. Quell.]
To cause to fail in spirit or power; to quell; to crush; to
subdue. [Obs.] --Spenser.
Quail, v. i. [OF. coaillier, F. cailler, from L.
coagulare. See Coagulate.]
To curdle; to coagulate, as milk. [Obs.] --Holland.
Quail, n. [OF. quaille, F. caille, LL. quaquila, qualia,
qualea, of Dutch or German origin; cf. D. kwakkel, kwartel,
OHG. wahtala, G. wachtel.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) Any gallinaceous bird belonging to Coturnix
and several allied genera of the Old World, especially the
common European quail (C. communis), the rain quail ({C.
Coromandelica}) of India, the stubble quail ({C.
pectoralis}), and the Australian swamp quail ({Synoicus
australis}).
2. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several American partridges
belonging to Colinus, Callipepla, and allied genera,
especially the bobwhite (called Virginia quail, and
Maryland quail), and the California quail ({Calipepla
Californica}).
3. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Turnix and
allied genera, native of the Old World, as the Australian
painted quail (Turnix varius). See Turnix.
4. A prostitute; -- so called because the quail was thought
to be a very amorous bird.[Obs.] --Shak.
Bustard quail (Zo["o]l.), a small Asiatic quail-like bird
of the genus Turnix, as T. taigoor, a black-breasted
species, and the hill bustard quail (T. ocellatus). See
Turnix.
Button quail (Zo["o]l.), one of several small Asiatic
species of Turnix, as T. Sykesii, which is said to be
the smallest game bird of India.
Mountain quail. See under Mountain.
Quail call, a call or pipe for alluring quails into a net
or within range.
Quail dove (Zo["o]l.), any one of several American ground
pigeons belonging to Geotrygon and allied genera.
Quail hawk (Zo["o]l.), the New Zealand sparrow hawk
(Hieracidea Nov[ae]-Hollandi[ae]).
Quail pipe. See Quail call, above.
Quail snipe (Zo["o]l.), the dowitcher, or red-breasted
snipe; -- called also robin snipe, and brown snipe.
Sea quail (Zo["o]l.), the turnstone. [Local, U. S.]
Synonyms: cringe, flinch, funk, recoil, shrink, squinch, wince
See Also: bevy, bobwhite, bobwhite quail, California quail, Lofortyx californicus, move, Old World quail, partridge, phasianid, quail, quail, retract, shrink back, wildfowl
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