Quail
/kweɪl/noun
To lose courage, shrink back, or become fearful.
Did you know?The verb’s origin is uncertain: scholars connect it either to an Old French word meaning “to collapse” or possibly to Latin coagulate, “to curdle,” creating a vivid image of fear making someone seize up.
Etymological Timeline
13th Century
Middle English
quailen
“To fail, wither, or lose heart”
13th–14th Century
Old French
quailler
“To fall into a faint or collapse”
Medieval Latin (proposed)
Latin
coagulare
“To curdle or thicken; a proposed, uncertain source”
14th Century
English
quailen
“To shrink or give way through fear”
Modern English
English
quail
“To cower, recoil, or lose courage”