Quail



GRE 蓝宝 Barron TOEFL

解释

GRE 红宝书

• v.畏惧, 颤抖
• ［英］ v.畏惧, 颤抖 ( to coil in dread or fear; cower)
• ［类］ 反义词: become resolute ( 坚决)
• ［记］ quail原意为""鹌鹑""
• ［例］ His heart quailed. ( 他心存恐惧)

Webster Collegiate

I. noun (plural quail or quails)

• Etymology: Middle English quaile, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin quaccula, of imitative origin
• Date: 14th century
• any of numerous small gallinaceous birds: as
  • a. an Old World migratory game bird (Coturnix coturnix)
  • b. bobwhite

II. verb

• Etymology: Middle English, from Middle Dutch quelen
• Date: 15th century
• intransitive verb
  • 1.
    • a. chiefly dialect wither, decline
    • b. to give way ; falter <his courage never quailed>
  • 2. to recoil in dread or terror ; cower <the strongest quail before financial ruin — Samuel Butler ?1902>
• transitive verb
  • archaic to make fearful
• Synonyms: see recoil

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