Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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

Quail \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.]

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

Source : WordNet®

quail
     n 1: flesh of quail; suitable for roasting or broiling if young;
          otherwise must be braised
     2: small gallinaceous game birds
     v : draw back, as with fear or pain; "she flinched when they
         showed the slaughtering of the calf" [syn: {flinch}, {squinch},
          {funk}, {cringe}, {shrink}, {wince}, {recoil}]