quail
quail¹
Definition
quail (kwāl)
intransitive verb
to draw back in fear; lose heart or courage; cower
Etymology: ME quailen, prob. < OFr coaillier < L coagulare, to coagulate
quail²
Definition
quail (kwāl)
noun pl. quails or quail
any of a number of small, short-tailed gallinaceous birds (family Phasianidae), including the bobwhite
Etymology: ME quaille < OFr < ML cuacula, of echoic orig.
quail
Synonyms
quail
Usage Examples
Converse of object
- roast: We chose chargrilled leeks with poached egg and mustard sauce and marinated roasted quail with salad.
- have: Today I will have a quail or a piece of chicken or some cold lamb.
- lay: This description refers to the normal Coturnix laying quail.
- bring: He sent a wind and it brought quail from the sea.
- stuff: I recommend stuffed quail - SUPERB and delicious chocolate spring rolls for a nice finish!
- make: It was a scene to make even the intrepid Welsh leader quail.
Preposition: at
- thought: Do not you quail at the thought of the danger to which you exposed yourself?
Adjective modifier
- Japanese: The LC of the pigeon are longer than those of the domestic fowl or Japanese quail.
- painted: The Chinese Painted quail is probably the most widely kept of the ornamental aviary breeds.
Modifies a noun
- egg: Now, at last, quail egg capsules have reached the UK.
- hunting: The 78-year-old was sprayed with shotgun pellets during a quail hunting trip.
- breast: Recipe: Cut each bacon rasher in half and put a piece over each quail breast.
- dove: The track was dark and shady, and free of vegetation, and looked perfect for quail doves.
- hunt: Vise President Dick Cheney accidentally shot a man during a quail hunt at a political supporter's ranch.
- salad: Food treads a Mediterranean path: warm quail salad with asparagus & pine kernels or wild mushroom pancake with Stilton glaze to start.
Modifying Another Word
- not: They did not quail in the hour of peril.
Noun used with modifier
- bobwhite: Bobwhite quail is an American variety of quail named after its calling note.
- roast: My first ever pinky roast quail was so good it will not be my last.
Possessives
- egg: The rain gives way to showers with a bright, low sun, the sky just paler than the blue of quails ' eggs.
Preposition: from
- sea: He sent a wind and it brought quail from the sea.
Browse dictionary entries near quail
- quaint
- quake
- Quaker
- Quaker gun
- Quaker-ladies
- Quaker meeting
- quaking aspen
- quaking grass
- quaky
- quale
