I. ˈkwāl noun
( plural quail or quails )
Etymology: Middle English quaile, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin quaccula, of imitative origin
Date: 14th century
: any of numerous small gallinaceous birds: as
a. : an Old World migratory game bird ( Coturnix coturnix )
b. : bobwhite
II. verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle Dutch quelen
Date: 15th century
intransitive verb
1.
a. chiefly dialect : wither , decline
b. : to give way : falter
his courage never quail ed
2. : to recoil in dread or terror : cower
the strongest quail before financial ruin — Samuel Butler †1902
transitive verb
archaic : to make fearful
Synonyms: see recoil