quail

Where does the word "quail" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin quaccula, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Quail’s story begins in Medieval Latin: quaccula meant “quail.” An imitative word from the bird's call, possibly of Germanic origin. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as quaille. Hunted for food in medieval Europe. It reached English by 1300s as quail. Unrelated to 'quail' meaning to cower. Today, quail means a small, short-tailed game bird.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval quaccula "quail", an imitative word from the bird's call, possibly of Germanic origin.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval quaille "quail", hunted for food in medieval Europe.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s quail "game bird", unrelated to 'quail' meaning to cower.