Dictionary 1. (v. i.) To die; to perish; hence, to wither; to fade.2. (v. i.) 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. 3. (v. t.) To cause to fail in spirit or power; to quell; to crush; to subdue. 4. (v. i.) To curdle; to coagulate, as milk. 5. (n.) 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). 6. (n.) 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). 7. (n.) Any one of numerous species of Turnix and allied genera, native of the Old World, as the Australian painted quail (Turnix varius). See Turnix. 8. (n.) A prostitute; -- so called because the quail was thought to be a very amorous bird. Thesaurus Cornish hen avoid blanch blench blink boggle broiler caille canard caneton capon chapon chicken cower cringe crouch damsel demur dindon dodge draw back duck duckling evade fade faisan fall back falter fight shy of flinch fowl fryer funk gal goose grouse guinea hen hang back hang off have qualms hesitate hold off jib lass lassie maid maiden make bones about miss missy oie partridge pause pheasant pigeon pigeonneau poulet pull back quiff recoil reel back retreat roaster scruple sheer off shrink shrink back shy shy at sidestep skulk slink sneak squab squinch start start aside start back stewing chicken stick at stickle strain swerve turkey turn aside volaille waver weasel weasel out wild duck wince |