Quail, v. t. [Cf. Quell.] To
cause to fail in spirit or power; to quell; to crush; to subdue.
[Obs.] Spenser.
Quail, n. [OF. quaille, F.
caille, LL. quaquila, qualia, qualea, of
Dutch or German origin; cf. D. kwakkel, kwartel, OHG.
wahtala, G. wachtel.]
1. (Zoöl.) 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. (Zoöl.) 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. (Zoöl.) 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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), 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 (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.]
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. i. [OF. coaillier, F.
cailler, from L. coagulare. See Coagulate.]
To curdle; to coagulate, as milk. [Obs.]
Holland.