noun
quail
kwayl
Quail (noun) means a small, plump game bird related to pheasants and partridges. Example: “The farm raises quail for their eggs and meat.”
noun
1
A small, plump game bird related to pheasants and partridges.
"The farm raises quail for their eggs and meat."
verb
1
To lose courage or shrink back out of fear.
"She refused to quail in front of the angry crowd."
"His confidence quailed the moment the interview began."
How to use quail
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small game bird, or — as a verb — to flinch or lose nerve out of fear.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the bird noun with the verb meaning "to shrink back in fear" — they're historically unrelated despite the identical spelling.
Common pairings
quail eggs
quail at the thought of
quail before
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like quail.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- quails
- Third person singular
- quails
- Past tense
- quailed
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."
Related words
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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include quail:
