noun
quail
A small ground-dwelling game bird, also used as food.
A quail searches for seeds in the grass beside the trail.
Etymology
The English word continues an older French bird name. Its use for meat simply transfers the animal’s name to the food obtained from it.
More examples
- Several quail scatter as we approach the field.
- The quail builds its nest on the ground.
- The restaurant serves roasted quail with wild rice.
Forms
quail · quails
Similar words
- game bird
- A broader term for birds hunted for food or sport.