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

Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder

Scrabble Cheat

Words With Friends Cheat

Hanging With Friends Cheat

Scramble With Friends Cheat

Ruzzle Cheat



Related Resources:
animals beginning with i
animlas that start with a