Main Entry:

¹quail

Pronunciation:

\ˈkwāl\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural quail or quails

Etymology:

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

Date:

14th century

: any of numerous small gallinaceous birds: as a: an Old World migratory game bird (Coturnix coturnix) b: bobwhite

[quail illustration]