quail

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[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Etymology 1

From Old French quaille (French: caille).

[edit] Noun

Singular
quail

Plural
quails

quail (plural quails)

  1. Any of various small game birds of the family Phasianidae or of the family Odontophoridae.

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

[edit] Etymology 2

Middle Dutch

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to quail

Third person singular
quails

Simple past
quailed

Past participle
quailed

Present participle
quailing

to quail (third-person singular simple present quails, present participle quailing, simple past and past participle quailed)

  1. To shrink or waver; to become fearful or doubtful.
    • 1949, George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, p25
      His heart quailed before the enormous pyramidal shape.
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