quail
7 synonyms and 3 antonyms for quail, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small, plump game bird related to pheasants and partridges.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use quail
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
quail eggs
quail at the thought of
quail before
Etymology
The bird sense and the "lose courage" verb sense come from two different, unrelated old words that happen to look identical in modern English; the verb traces to Middle Dutch quelen, "to suffer."
Full origin of quail →Frequently asked questions
What does “quail” mean?
The word “quail” means a small, plump game bird related to pheasants and partridges. In plain terms, a small game bird, or — as a verb — to flinch or lose nerve out of fear.
How do you pronounce “quail”?
“Quail” is pronounced kwayl (/kweɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “quail” in a sentence?
Here is “quail” used in a sentence: “The farm raises quail for their eggs and meat.”
What part of speech is “quail”?
Depending on how it is used, “quail” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “quail” come from?
The word “quail” comes from Dutch. The bird sense and the "lose courage" verb sense come from two different, unrelated old words that happen to look identical in modern English; the verb traces to Middle Dutch quelen, "to suffer.".
How many meanings does “quail” have?
“Quail” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, plump game bird related to pheasants and partridges.
