Quail
/kweɪl/noun
To shrink back or lose courage, especially from fear or intimidation.
Did you know?The fear-verb “quail” is unrelated to the bird; historical dictionaries connect it, cautiously, with Old French language describing falling, weakening, or possibly curdling.
Etymological Timeline
12th Century
Old French
quailler
“To fall, decline, or fail; the probable source of the English fear-sense.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
coagulare
“To curdle or cause to thicken; a proposed, but not certain, deeper source.”
14th Century
Middle English
quailen
“To fail, weaken, or lose heart.”
16th Century
English
quail
“To shrink back or become faint with fear.”
Modern English
English
quail
“To recoil, cower, or lose courage under intimidation or fear.”
Explore more surprising origins