quail

1 of 2

noun

ˈkwāl 

plural quail or quails

: any of numerous small gallinaceous birds: such as

a

: an Old World migratory game bird (Coturnix coturnix)

b

: bobwhite

Illustration of quail

quail

2 of 2

verb

quailed; quailing; quails

intransitive verb

1

a

chiefly dialectal : wither, decline

b

: to give way : falter

his courage never quailed

2

: to recoil in dread or terror : cower

… the strongest quail before financial ruin …

—Samuel Butler †1902

transitive verb

archaic : to make fearful

Did you know?

Turning to the noun quail, referring to any of a number of chicken-related game birds, for information about the verb quail is of little help. The two are etymologically unrelated, and there’s nothing specific in the behavior of quails to suggest the verb’s meaning. But never fear—the next time you hear quail, think quiver instead. Although quail and quiver are also unrelated, they both start with a distinctive qu and have meanings involving a physical reaction to fear. When you quiver (as in response to, say, hearing things that go bump in the night), you shake or move with a slight trembling motion. Quailing often goes a bit beyond trembling; quail implies shrinking or cowering in fear, as perhaps when the things that go bump in the night suddenly start approaching.

Synonyms of quail

Verb

• recoil
• flinch
• wince

Choose the Right Synonym for quail

recoil, shrink, flinch, wince, blench, quail mean to draw back in fear or distaste.

recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.

recoiled at the suggestion of stealing

shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.

shrank from the unpleasant truth

flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution.

faced her accusers without flinching

wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling).

winced in pain

blench implies fainthearted flinching.

stood their ground without blenching

quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.

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

Noun

Tellman said a quail hunter in the area spotted her body a few weeks later. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026

This is the Vietnamese evolution of the classic, traditionally filled with ground pork, wood ear mushroom, onion, Chinese sausage and a quail egg. —Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026

Verb

Many colonists, in fact, would have quailed at the thought. —Arthur Krystal, New Yorker, 25 May 2026

The result is a trip through cultures—such as grits topped with foie gras, quail with creole sauce, and the Low Country rice dish perloo with okra. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 19 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English quaile, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin quaccula, of imitative origin

Verb

Middle English, from Middle Dutch quelen

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing quail

• button quail
• Japanese quail

Rhymes for quail

• airmail
• assail
• avail
• bewail
• blackmail
• cattail
• cocktail
• curtail
• derail
• detail
• dovetail
• email

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Kids Definition

quail

1 of 2 noun

ˈkwā(ə)l 

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)