Illustration of quail
plural quail or quails
: any of numerous small gallinaceous birds: such as
a
: an Old World migratory game bird (Coturnix coturnix)
b
: bobwhite
quailed; quailing; quails
2
: to recoil in dread or terror : cower
the strongest quail before financial ruin—
Samuel Butler †1902
Samuel Butler †1902
archaic
: to make fearful
Did you know?
Flinch, recoil, and wince are all synonyms of quail, but each word has a slightly different use. When you flinch, you fail to endure pain or to face something dangerous or frightening with resolution ("she faced her accusers without flinching"). Recoil implies a start or movement away from something through shock, fear, or disgust ("he recoiled at the suggestion of stealing"). Wince usually suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction to something ("she winced as the bright light suddenly hit her eyes"). Quail implies shrinking and cowering in fear ("he quailed before the apparition").
Examples of quail in a Sentence
Noun
We had quail for dinner.
Verb
Other politicians quailed before him.
He quailed at the thought of seeing her again.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nick Kelley, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
At Spoon & Spindle, Chef Lewis is honored with a dish called Quail Lewis (quail stuffed with wild rice and white grapes).
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 17 July 2025
Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2025
Despite fears that the lingering climate of uncertainty would quail buyers, the challenges that sourcing from Bangladesh presents don’t appear to be insurmountable, at least from the United States’ point of view.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for quail
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Noun
When Hashbrown takes off in pursuit of quail, Trigger does the grunt work on the ground, re-flushing birds that try to hide in the brush and standing guard whenever the hawk makes a kill.
—Nick Kelley, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
At Spoon & Spindle, Chef Lewis is honored with a dish called Quail Lewis (quail stuffed with wild rice and white grapes).
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 17 July 2025
Verb
Their prey includes smaller rats (more nutritious than mice), as well as squirrels, mice, chipmunks, birds (sometimes quail or chicks) and amphibians.
—Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2025
Despite fears that the lingering climate of uncertainty would quail buyers, the challenges that sourcing from Bangladesh presents don’t appear to be insurmountable, at least from the United States’ point of view.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for quail
Cite this Entry
“Quail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quail. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
quail
1 of 2 noun
plural quail or quails
: any of various mostly small plump game birds (as the bobwhite) that are related to the common domestic chicken
quail
2 of 2 verb
: to lose courage : shrink in fear
Etymology
Noun
Middle English quaile "quail (bird)," from early French quaile (same meaning), from Latin quaccula (same meaning), of imitative origin
Verb
Middle English quailen "to wither, decline," from early Dutch quelen (same meaning)
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