quail
Cross references:
1. recoil
1. quail \'kwa-(*)l\ n or quail or quails [ME quaille, fr. MF, fr. ML
quaccula, of imit. origin] pl 1: any of various Old World gallinaceous
birds (genus Coturnix); e sp : a migratory game bird (C. coturnix syn. C.
communis) 2: any of various small American game birds (order Galliformes);
esp : BOBWHITE
2. quail vb [ME quailen to curdle, fr. MF quailler, fr. L coagulare - m]ore
at COAGULATE chiefly dial 1: WITHER, DECLINE 2: to lose courage : COWER
archaic : to make fearful