Forms: 5–6 quayll, 5–7 quayle, (5 whayle), quaile, 6–7 quale, 7 quaille, 6– quail. See also QUEAL. [Of uncertain origin. The early spelling and rhymes prove a ME. quailen (with diphthongal ai), for which there is no obvious source. Phonology, sense and date are against any connection with early ME. quelen QUELE.
In literary use the word is very common from about 1520 to 1650, after which it practically disappears until its revival, app. by Scott, in the early part of the 19th c.]
I. intr.
1. Of material things, as persons, plants, etc.: To decline from a natural or flourishing condition; to fail or give way; to fade, wither, etc. Obs. exc. dial.
c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., IV. 1775. Ewery thyng … that maketh resistens Ageyn nature, ful soone wil it quayle.
c. 1460. G. Ashby, Dicta Philos., 1071. Better were a thing never to [be] had Than in handes to quaile & to be badde.
1568. T. Howell, Arb. Amitie (1879), 24. Length of time, causeth man and beast to quaile.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Nov., 91. The braunch once dead, the budde eke needes must quaile.
1602. J. Rhodes, Answ. Rom. Rhyme, Sp. touch. Heretics. Christ’s word … that heauen and earth should quaile, Before his word one iote should faile.
a. 1796. Pegge, Derbicisms (E. D. S.), Quail, to grow ill.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Gloss., Quail, to fail, to fall sick, to faint.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., Quail, to languish; to fail; to fall sick.
1880. W. Cornw. Gloss. s.v., Quail, to wither;… ‘These flowers soon quail.’
2. Of immaterial things.
a. Of an action, undertaking, state of things, etc.: To fail, break down, come to nothing. Obs. In mod. use (transf. from 3): To give way, yield to or before.
c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., IV. 1019. Whan moost nede is, his resons will quayll [v.r. whayle].
1523. St. Papers Hen. VII., VI. 197. Thei fynally concludyd … ther shold lack 2 or 3 voyces, wherby the election shold quayle.
1570. B. Googe, Pop. Kingd., ii. 23 b. They toyle and moyle least that his state by talke of tongue should quaile.
1600. Holland, Livy, V. xxi. 194. After great massaker and execution committed, the fight began to quaile.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. ix. § 23. 585. The Kings Ambassadours returne out of France, without hauing effected that which they went about, so that the whole enterprize quailed.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., II. xxv. Roderick Dhu’s renown … [should] quail to that of Malcolm Græme.
1857. Maurice, Mor. & Met. Philos., III. iv. § 9. 117. The name of William himself quailed before that of Abelard.
b. Of courage, † hope, † faith, etc.: To fail, give way, become faint or feeble.
1557. Pole, in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), III. App. lxviii. 246. The faythe of the sacraments began to quayle in so many hartes.
c. 1577. Gascoigne, Flowers, Wks. 1869, I. 43. Since courage quayles, and commes behind, Go sleepe.
1606. Bryskett, Disc. Civill Life, 89. If … the hope began to quaile, forthwith courage failed withall.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 408. I perceiue your zeale quales shrewdly in this Laodicean age.
1835. Thirlwall, Greece, I. vi. 212. Perils, which make the courage of the hardiest quail.
3. Of persons: To lose heart, be cowed or discouraged; to give way through fear (to or before a formidable person or thing).
1555. in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), III. App. xliii. 122. He made them this faithful promise to the intent that they should not quaile.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1212/1. The comming forward of these forces caused the rebels … to quaile in courage.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, I. vi. 23. Braggers … who vaunt much at the beginning, but quaile commonly in the midle of the fray.
1618. Bolton, Florus (1636), 222. All the Lords quailing, and Appuleius tyrannizing.
1813. Byron, Giaour, xxxv. I have not quail’d to danger’s brow.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iii. § 5. 137. The Earl of Chester … who had risen in armed rebellion, quailed before the march of Hubert.
b. Of the heart or spirit; also of the eyes.
1563. Homilies, II. Repentance I. (1859), 531. Mens hearts do quail and faint, if they once perceive that they travail in vaine.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXXVI. ix. 924. Seeing many of the defendants … hurt and wounded, their hearts began to quaile.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., V. v. 149. Thy daughter For whom my heart drops blood, and my false spirits Quaile to remember.
1837. W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, II. 225. [They] felt their hearts quailing under their multiplied hardships.
1841. Borrow, Zincali, I. i. I. 26. Their sharp eyes quailed quickly before his savage glances.
1892. J. Tait, Mind in Matter (ed. 3), 249. In Gethsemane, the brave spirit of Jesus quailed.
II. trans.
† 4. To affect injuriously, to spoil, impair; to overpower, destroy, put an end to. Obs. a. a thing.
1551. Gardiner, Explic. Cath. Faith, Of the Presence, 60. The truthe of that place hindreth and qualeth in maner all the booke.
1604. T. Wright, Climact. Years, 11. Nature in the meane time is strengthened with good foods, and the humour either purged or quailed with phisicke.
1655. H. Vaughan, Silex Scint., II. Time’s Book, iv. As some meek night-piece which day quails To candle light unveils.
1669. Boyle, Contn. New Exp., II. (1682), 66. The Apricocks were flaccid or quailed as if they had been dry or withered.
absol. 1590. Shaks., Mids. N., V. i. 292. O Fates!… Cut thred and thrum, Quaile, crush, conclude, and quell.
b. an action, state, quality, feeling, etc.
1532. More, Confut. Barnes, VIII. Wks. 805/2. If he belieue saynt Austine … than is his own fond ymaginacion quayled.
1551. R. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., Ep. Cecil (1895), 20. Mine old good wil and hartye affection towardes you is not … at all quayled and diminished.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 75. Quailing the chearefulnesse of others.
1628. Venner, Baths of Bathe (1650), 350. The taking of cold drink doth suddenly quaile the heat.
1654. trans. Martini’s Conq. China, 5. Their antient … warlike Spirit, which the pleasures … of that Country had quailed and tamed.
5. To daunt or cow (a person), to bring into subjection by fear; to cause to quail.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 126 b. Some power of the soule shall quayle & trouble them.
1569. Golding, Heminge’s Post., 22. Paul was not quayled with the hugenesse of persecutions.
1642. Bridge, Serm. Norfolk Volunteers, 9. He is a stout man whom adversity doth not quaile.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills (1872), III. 23. You Roaring Boys, who everyone quails.
1816. J. Wilson, City of Plague, III. i. 49. As thunder quails Th’ inferior creatures of the air and earth.
1833. M. Scott, Tom Cringle, ii. (1859), 55. Splinter did not like it, I saw, and that quailed me.
b. To daunt, depress (the heart, courage) with fear or dejection.
1567. Turberv., Rayling Route, 26. My courage is not quailde by cruell Fo.
1600. Holland, Livy, XCV. 1253. Ouerthrowes in warre and misfortunes … at sea, wherewith his heart was quailed.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. iii. 204. Am not I here to take thy part? Then what has quail’d thy stubborn heart?
1706. in Phillips (ed. Kersey).
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, V. ii. It … quailed the heart of Taper, crushed all the rising hopes.
Hence Quailer, one who, or that which, quails.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 193. Avarice … the quailer of all manly executions.
