quail

C2 Topic:Sports & Fitness

US /kweɪl/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like quell /ɛ/ vs /eɪ/

Freq #18307

Meanings

1

noun
small gallinaceous game birds

Quail is easy to overcook, but when it is done right it tastes amazing.
2

verb
to draw back, as with fear or pain

The solider quailed as they were struck with a bullet in the shoulder.
3

noun
Any of various small game birds of the genera Coturnix, Anurophasis or Perdicula in the Old World family Phasianidae or of the New World family Odontophoridae.

Quail require little water, so there is no point to putting in a guzzler if there is any permanent water within travel range.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to draw back, as with fear... wince

Word family

Derived forms button-quailbuttonquailquail-dovequail-pipequail-ploverquail-thrushquailerquaileryquailgatequailinglyquailishquaillike

Related forms bevy partridge

Etymology

From Middle English quayle, quaile, quaille, from Anglo-Norman quaille, from Late Latin quaccola (“quail”). (prostitute): So called because the quail was thought to be a very amorous bird.

Topics

Sports & Fitness

External links

# quail

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /kweɪl/
**Frequency rank:** 18307

## Meanings
1. small gallinaceous game birds
2. to draw back, as with fear or pain
3. Any of various small game birds of the genera Coturnix, Anurophasis or Perdicula in the Old World family Phasianidae or of the New World family Odontophoridae.

## Examples
- Quail is easy to overcook, but when it is done right it tastes amazing.
- The solider quailed as they were struck with a bullet in the shoulder.
- Quail require little water, so there is no point to putting in a guzzler if there is any permanent water within travel range.

## Synonyms
- wince

## Derived Forms
- button-quail
- buttonquail
- quail-dove
- quail-pipe
- quail-plover
- quail-thrush
- quailer
- quailery
- quailgate
- quailingly
- quailish
- quaillike

## Related Forms
- bevy
- partridge

## Etymology
From Middle English quayle, quaile, quaille, from Anglo-Norman quaille, from Late Latin quaccola (“quail”). (prostitute): So called because the quail was thought to be a very amorous bird.

## Topics
- Sports & Fitness

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