quail

¹

[ kweyl ]

noun

, plural quails, (especially collectively) quail.

1. Also called true quail. any of numerous gallinaceous birds, order Galliformes, classified as either Old World quails, within the pheasant family (Phasinidae), especially the genus Coturnix, or the distantly related New World quails, comprising their own family (Odontophoridae), including the genera Colinus, Callipepla, and Odontophorus : among the most familiar true quails are the Old World king quail and the New World bobwhite.
2. button quail ( def ).
3. Older Slang. a woman or girl.

quail

²

[ kweyl ]

verb (used without object)

1. to lose heart or courage in difficulty or danger; shrink with fear.

   Synonyms: cower, blench, flinch, recoil

quail

¹

/ kweɪl /

noun

1. any small Old World gallinaceous game bird of the genus Coturnix and related genera, having a rounded body and small tail: family Phasianidae (pheasants)
2. any of various similar and related American birds, such as the bobwhite

quail

²

/ kweɪl /

verb

1. intr to shrink back with fear; cower

Other Words From

• quail·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quail¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English quaille, quaylle, from Old French quaille, from Medieval Latin quaccola; imitative of its call

Origin of quail²

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle Dutch quelen, queilen

Word History and Origins

Origin of quail¹

C14: from Old French quaille, from Medieval Latin quaccula, probably of imitative origin

Origin of quail²

C15: perhaps from Old French quailler, from Latin coāgulāre to curdle

Synonym Study

See wince ¹.

Example Sentences

He loved to hunt and cook, sometimes combining the two passions at the fire station by serving quail enchiladas, the poultry fresh from a recent hunt.

From Los Angeles Times

Many species showed a preference for burrows no matter how burned the area was; the bush rats, agile antechinuses and quails were most active around burrows in areas that had been burned heavily.

From New York Times

Border Patrol vehicle, botanist Sula Vanderplank heard a quail in the scrub yelp “chi-ca-go,” a sound the birds use to signal they are separated from a mate or group.

From Seattle Times

"There's no reason that it will not work for all poultry operations, including turkeys, quail and ducks," Dridi said.

From Science Daily

The tinned dishes included typical Mediterranean ingredients, such as olives, tomatoes, quails and swordfish.

From Seattle Times