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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Quail \Quail\, v. t. [Cf. {Quell}.]
To cause to fail in spirit or power; to quell; to crush; to
subdue. [Obs.] --Spenser.
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Quail \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.
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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.
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The atheist power shall quail, and confess his
fears. I. Taylor.
Stouter hearts than a woman's have quailed in this
terrible winter. --Longfellow.
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Syn: to cower; flinch; shrink; quake; tremble; blench;
succumb; yield.
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Quail \Quail\, v. i. [OF. coaillier, F. cailler, from L.
coagulare. See {Coagulate}.]
To curdle; to coagulate, as milk. [Obs.] --Holland.
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Quail \Quail\, n. [OF. quaille, F. caille, LL. quaquila, qualia,
qualea, of Dutch or German origin; cf. D. kwakkel, kwartel,
OHG. wahtala, G. wachtel.]
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1. (Zool.) 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}).
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2. (Zool.) 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}).
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3. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Turnix and allied
genera, native of the Old World, as the Australian painted
quail ({Turnix varius}). See {Turnix}.
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4. A prostitute; -- so called because the quail was thought
to be a very amorous bird. [Obs.] --Shak.
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{Bustard quail} (Zool.), 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} (Zool.), 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} (Zool.), any one of several American ground
pigeons belonging to {Geotrygon} and allied genera.

{Quail hawk} (Zool.), the New Zealand sparrow hawk
({Hieracidea Nov[ae]-Hollandi[ae]}).

{Quail pipe}. See {Quail call}, above.

{Quail snipe} (Zool.), the dowitcher, or red-breasted snipe;
-- called also {robin snipe}, and {brown snipe}.

{Sea quail} (Zool.), the turnstone. [Local, U. S.]
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