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. 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. [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 Novae-Hollandiae}).

   {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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