quail

quail
{{11}}quail (n.) c.1300, quayle, from O.Fr. quaille, perhaps via M.L. quaccula (Cf. Prov. calha, It. quaglia, O.Sp. coalla), from a Germanic source (Cf. O.H.G. quahtala "quail," Ger. Wachtel), imitative of the bird's cry. Or the English word might be directly from Germanic. Slang meaning "young attractive woman" first recorded 1859.
{{12}}quail (v.) "to lose heart, to shrink," c.1400, of unknown origin, perhaps from M.Du. quelen "to suffer, be ill," from P.Gmc. *kwel- "to die" (see QUELL (Cf. quell)). Or from obsolete quail "to curdle" (late 14c.), from O.Fr. coailler, from L. coagulare (see COAGULATE (Cf. coagulate)). Sense of "cower" is attested from 1550s. Common 1520-1650, then rare until 19c.; apparently revived by Scott. Related: Quailed; quailing.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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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.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any gallinaceous bird belonging to {Coturnix} and several allied genera… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • QUAIL — (Heb. שְׂלָו), the bird Coturnix coturnix, the smallest of the pheasant family. The quail is approximately seven inches (about 18 cm.) long and weighs some 3½ ounces (100 gr.). The color of its plumage is like that of the house sparrow, a fact… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • quail — the bird [14] and quail ‘cower’ [15] are not related. The former comes via Old French quaille from medieval Latin coacula, which probably originated in imitation of the bird’s grating cry. It is not known for certain where the verb (which… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • Quail — Quail, TX U.S. Census Designated Place in Texas Population (2000): 33 Housing Units (2000): 16 Land area (2000): 3.168881 sq. miles (8.207363 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 3.168881 sq. miles (8 …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Quail, TX — U.S. Census Designated Place in Texas Population (2000): 33 Housing Units (2000): 16 Land area (2000): 3.168881 sq. miles (8.207363 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 3.168881 sq. miles (8.207363 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • quail — quail·berry; quail; un·quail·ing·ly; …   English syllables

  • quail — the bird [14] and quail ‘cower’ [15] are not related. The former comes via Old French quaille from medieval Latin coacula, which probably originated in imitation of the bird’s grating cry. It is not known for certain where the verb (which… …   Word origins

  • Quail — Quail, v. t. [Cf. {Quell}.] To cause to fail in spirit or power; to quell; to crush; to subdue. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Quail — Quail, v. i. [OF. coaillier, F. cailler, from L. coagulare. See {Coagulate}.] To curdle; to coagulate, as milk. [Obs.] Holland. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • quail — Ⅰ. quail [1] ► NOUN (pl. same or quails) ▪ a small short tailed game bird, typically with brown camouflaged plumage. ORIGIN Old French quaille, from Latin coacula. Ⅱ. quail [2] ► VERB …   English terms dictionary

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