quail
Quail (noun) means a small, plump game bird related to pheasants and partridges. Example: “The farm raises quail for their eggs and meat.”
How to use quail
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small game bird, or — as a verb — to flinch or lose nerve out of fear.
Don't confuse the bird noun with the verb meaning "to shrink back in fear" — they're historically unrelated despite the identical spelling.
Word forms
quailed past tense, quailed past tense, quails plural, quail plural, quails singular, quails singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The farm raises _____ for their eggs and meat.
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."
Rhymes for quail
See all rhymes for 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.
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