Quail

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Quail, v. i. [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.].

•  To die; to perish; hence, to wither; to fade.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "The atheist power shall quail, and confess his fears. I. Taylor.
  Stouter hearts than a woman's have quailed in this terrible winter."  [1913 Webster]

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.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]

Quail, v. i. [OF. coaillier, F. cailler, from L. coagulare. See Coagulate.].

 To curdle; to coagulate, as milk.  Holland.  [1913 Webster]

Quail, n. [OF. quaille, F. caille, LL. quaquila, qualia, qualea, of Dutch or German origin; cf. D. kwakkel, kwartel, OHG. wahtala, G. wachtel.].

•  Any gallinaceous bird belonging to Coturnix and several allied genera of the Old World, especially the common European quail (Coturnix communis), the rain quail (Coturnix Coromandelica) of India, the stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis), and the Australian swamp quail (Synoicus australis).  [1913 Webster]
•  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).  [1913 Webster]
•  Any one of numerous species of Turnix and allied genera, native of the Old World, as the Australian painted quail (Turnix varius). See Turnix.  [1913 Webster]
•  A prostitute; -- so called because the quail was thought to be a very amorous bird.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

Bustard quail (Zoöl.), a small Asiatic quail-like bird of the genus Turnix, as Turnix taigoor, a black-breasted species, and the hill bustard quail (Turnix ocellatus). See Turnix. -- Button quail (Zoöl.), one of several small Asiatic species of Turnix, as Turnix 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 (Zoöl.), any one of several American ground pigeons belonging to Geotrygon and allied genera. -- Quail hawk (Zoöl.), the New Zealand sparrow hawk (Hieracidea Novæ-Hollandiæ). -- Quail pipe. See Quail call, above. -- Quail snipe (Zoöl.), the dowitcher, or red-breasted snipe; -- called also robin snipe, and brown snipe. -- Sea quail (Zoöl.), the turnstone. [Local, U. S.]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Quail, n. (pl. same or quails) any small migratory bird of the genus Coturnix, with a short tail and allied to the partridge.

Quail, v.intr. flinch; be apprehensive with fear.

Etymology

ME, of unkn. orig.

THESAURUS

Quail

Cornish hen, avoid, blanch, blench, blink, boggle, broiler, caille, canard, caneton, capon, chapon, chicken, cower, cringe, crouch, damsel, demur, dindon, dodge, draw back, duck, duckling, evade, fade, faisan, fall back, falter, fight shy of, flinch, fowl, fryer, funk, gal, goose, grouse, guinea hen, hang back, hang off, have qualms, hesitate, hold off, jib, lass, lassie, maid, maiden, make bones about, miss, missy, oie, partridge, pause, pheasant, pigeon, pigeonneau, poulet, pull back, quiff, recoil, reel back, retreat, roaster, scruple, sheer off, shrink, shrink back, shy, shy at, sidestep, skulk, slink, sneak, squab, squinch, start, start aside, start back, stewing chicken, stick at, stickle, strain, swerve, turkey, turn aside, volaille, waver, weasel, weasel out, wild duck, wince

ROGET THESAURUS

Quail

Fear

VB fear, stand in awe of, be afraid, have qualms, apprehend, sit upon thorns, eye askance, distrust, hesitate, falter, funk, cower, crouch, skulk, let 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would' take fright, take alarm, start, wince, flinch, shy, shrink, fly, tremble, shake, shiver, shiver in one's shoes, shudder, flutter, shake like an aspen leaf, tremble like an aspen leaf, tremble all over, quake, quaver, quiver, quail, grow pale, turn pale, blench, stand aghast, not dare to say one's soul is one's own, inspire fear, excite fear, inspire awe, excite awe, raise apprehensions, be in a daze, bulldoze, faze, feeze, give an alarm, raise an alarm, sound an alarm, alarm, startle, scare, cry 'wolf', disquiet, dismay, fright, frighten, terrify, astound, fright from one's propriety, fright out of one's senses, fright out of one's wits, fright out of one's seven senses, awe, strike all of a heap, strike an awe into, strike terror, harrow up the soul, appall, unman, petrify, horrify, pile on the agony, make one's flesh creep, make one's hair stand on end, make one's blood run cold, make one's teeth chatter, take away one's breath, stop one's breath, make one tremble, haunt, prey on the mind, weigh on the mind, put in fear, put in bodily fear, terrorize, intimidate, cow, daunt, overawe, abash, deter, discourage, browbeat, bully, threaten.

Cowardice

VB quail, be cowardly, be a coward, funk, cower, skulk, sneak, flinch, shy, fight shy, slink, turn tail, run away, show, the white feather.