Definition of "quail" in English

verb

1. (intransitive) To waste away; to fade, to wither.

2. (transitive, now rare) To daunt or frighten (someone).

   • To tell the truth the prospect rather quailed him – wandering about in the gloomy corridors of a nunnery.

3. (intransitive) To lose heart or courage; to be daunted or fearful.

4. (intransitive) Of courage, faith, etc.: to slacken, to give way.

noun

1. Any of various small game birds of the genera Coturnix, Anurophasis or Perdicula in the Old World family Phasianidae or of the New World family Odontophoridae.

2. (uncountable) The meat from this bird eaten as food.

3. (obsolete) A prostitute.

verb

1. (obsolete) To curdle or coagulate, as milk does.