Definition of quail

• v. i. - To die; to perish; hence, to wither; to fade.
• v. i. - To become quelled; to become cast down; to sink under trial or apprehension of danger; to lose the spirit and power of resistance; to lose heart; to give way; to shrink; to cower.
• v. t. - To cause to fail in spirit or power; to quell; to crush; to subdue.
• v. i. - To curdle; to coagulate, as milk.
• n. - Any gallinaceous bird belonging to Coturnix and several allied genera of the Old World, especially the common European quail (C. communis), the rain quail (C. Coromandelica) of India, the stubble quail (C. pectoralis), and the Australian swamp quail (Synoicus australis).
• n. - Any one of several American partridges belonging to Colinus, Callipepla, and allied genera, especially the bobwhite (called Virginia quail, and Maryland quail), and the California quail (Calipepla Californica).
• n. - Any one of numerous species of Turnix and allied genera, native of the Old World, as the Australian painted quail (Turnix varius). See Turnix.
• n. - A prostitute; -- so called because the quail was thought to be a very amorous bird.