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quail
1[ kweyl ]
/ kweÉȘl /
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noun, plural quails, (especially collectively) quail.
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.
Older Slang. a woman or girl.
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Origin of quail
1First recorded in 1350â1400; Middle English quaille, quaylle, from Old French quaille, from Medieval Latin quaccola; imitative of its call
OTHER WORDS FROM quail
quail·like, adjectiveWords nearby quail
quaggy, quagmire, quahog, quaich, Quai d'Orsay, quail, quail-brush, quail clock, quail dove, quaint, quair
Other definitions for quail (2 of 2)
quail2
[ kweyl ]
/ kweÉȘl /
verb (used without object)
to lose heart or courage in difficulty or danger; shrink with fear.
Origin of quail
21400â50; late Middle English <Middle Dutch quelen, queilen
synonym study for quail
See wince1.
OTHER WORDS FROM quail
un·quail·ing, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use quail in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for quail (1 of 2)
quail1
/ (kweÉȘl) /
noun plural quails or quail
any small Old World gallinaceous game bird of the genus Coturnix and related genera, having a rounded body and small tail: family Phasianidae (pheasants)
any of various similar and related American birds, such as the bobwhite
Word Origin for quail
C14: from Old French quaille, from Medieval Latin quaccula, probably of imitative origin
British Dictionary definitions for quail (2 of 2)
quail2
/ (kweÉȘl) /
verb
(intr) to shrink back with fear; cower
Word Origin for quail
C15: perhaps from Old French quailler, from Latin coÄgulÄre to curdle
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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