Definition of quail

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< Quai d'Orsay

quail >

quail ¹    (kwl) KEY  

NOUN:
pl. quail or quails

1. Any of various Old World chickenlike birds of the genus Coturnix, especially C. coturnix, small in size and having mottled brown plumage and a short tail.
2. Any of various similar or related New World birds, such as the bobwhite.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English quaille, from Old French, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *coacula, of imitative origin

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