\Quail\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Qualled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Qualling}.] [AS. cwelan to die, perish; akin to cwalu
violent death, D. kwaal pain, G. qual torment, OHG. quelan to
suffer torment, Lith. gelti to hurt, gela pain. Cf. {Quell}.]
1. To die; to perish; hence, to wither; to fade. [Obs.]
   --Spenser.
2. 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.
         The atheist power shall quail, and confess his
         fears. I. Taylor. Stouter hearts than a woman's have
         quailed in this terrible winter.      --Longfellow.
Syn: to cower; flinch; shrink; quake; tremble; blench;
     succumb; yield.

\Quail\, v. t. [Cf. {Quell}.]
To cause to fail in spirit or power; to quell; to crush; to
subdue. [Obs.] --Spenser.

\Quail\, v. i. [OF. coaillier, F. cailler, from L.
coagulare. See {Coagulate}.]
To curdle; to coagulate, as milk. [Obs.] --Holland.

\Quail\, n. [OF. quaille, F. caille, LL. quaquila, qualia,
qualea, of Dutch or German origin; cf. D. kwakkel, kwartel,
OHG. wahtala, G. wachtel.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) 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}).
2. (Zo["o]l.) 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}).
3. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Turnix and
   allied genera, native of the Old World, as the Australian
   painted quail ({Turnix varius}). See {Turnix}.
4. A prostitute; -- so called because the quail was thought
   to be a very amorous bird.[Obs.] --Shak.
{Bustard quail} (Zo["o]l.), a small Asiatic quail-like bird
   of the genus Turnix, as {T. taigoor}, a black-breasted
   species, and the hill bustard quail ({T. ocellatus}). See
   {Turnix}.
{Button quail} (Zo["o]l.), one of several small Asiatic
   species of Turnix, as {T. Sykesii}, which is said to be
   the smallest game bird of India.
{Mountain quail}. See under {Mountain}.
{Quail call}, a call or pipe for alluring quails into a net
   or within range.
{Quail dove} {(Zo["o]l.)}, any one of several American ground
   pigeons belonging to {Geotrygon} and allied genera.
{Quail hawk} (Zo["o]l.), the New Zealand sparrow hawk
   ({Hieracidea Nov[ae]-Hollandi[ae]}).
{Quail pipe}. See {Quail call}, above.
{Quail snipe} (Zo["o]l.), the dowitcher, or red-breasted
   snipe; -- called also {robin snipe}, and {brown snipe}.
{Sea quail} (Zo["o]l.), the turnstone. [Local, U. S.]