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What is the difference between partridge and quail?

partridge | quail |

As nouns the difference between partridge and quail

is that partridge is any bird of a number of genera in the family Phasianidae, notably in the genera Perdix and Alectoris while quail is any of various small game birds of the genera Coturnix, Anurophasis or Perdicula in the Old World family Phasianidae or of the New World family Odontophoridae.

As a verb quail is

to waste away; to fade, wither.

As a proper noun Quail is

{{surname|from=Scottish Gaelic}.

partridge

English

Noun

(wikipedia partridge) (en-noun)
  • Any bird of a number of genera in the family Phasianidae'', notably in the genera ''Perdix'' and ''Alectoris .
  • (obsolete, military) A type cannon charge composed of several missiles fired all together, similar to langrage or case-shot. Also a large cannon that shoots stones.
  • Derived terms

    * Arabian partridge * African partridge * bamboo partridge * Barbary partridge * bearded partridge * birch partridge * blackheaded partridge * black wood-partridge * Bonham's partridge * buff-breasted partridge * California partridge * capoeira partridge * chukar partridge * common partridge * crested partridge * crested wood partridge * crimson-headed partridge * Daurian partridge * ferruginous wood partridge * French partridge * Gambel's partridge * gray partridge, grey partridge * Greek partridge * green wood partridge * Guiana partridge * Hey's partridge * hill partridge * Himalayan partridge * * Hungarian partridge * long-billed partridge * Madagascar partridge * Massena partridge * mountain partridge * Namaqua partridge * night partridge * painted partridge * partridge berry, partridge-berry, partridgeberry * partridge bird * partridge-breast * partridge-breasted aloe * partridge breeder * partridge brood * partridge bush * partridge cane * partridge chick * partridge Cochin * partridge country * partridge dance * partridge dove * partridge drive * partridge-driving * partridge feather * partridge fillet * partridge hackle * partridge hawk * partridge-legged clover * partridge-like * partridge mew * partridge-mortar * partridge net * partridge pea * partridge pie * partridge pigeon * partridge plum * partridge poult * partridger * partridge shell * partridge shooter * partridge shooting * partridge-shot * partridge tun * partridge-vine * partridge wing * partridge-wood * partridging * Philby's partridge * plumed partridge * Przevalski's partridge * red-crowned wood partridge * red-legged partridge, redlegged partridge * Rubeho forest partridge * rock partridge * sand partridge * sanguine partridge * sea partridge * see-see partridge * snow partridge * spruce partridge * stone partridge * swamp partridge * Tibetan partridge * tree partridge * Udzungwa forest partridge * water partridge * white-browed partridge * white partridge * wood partridge

    quail

    English

    (wikipedia quail)

    Etymology 1

    Origin uncertain; perhaps related to (etyl) queilen.

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete) * (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To waste away; to fade, wither.
  • * 1978 , (Lawrence Durrell), Livia , Faber & Faber 1992 (Avignon Quintet), p. 358:
  • To tell the truth the prospect rather quailed him – wandering about in the gloomy corridors of a nunnery.
  • To lose heart or courage; to be daunted, fearful.
  • * Longfellow
  • Stouter hearts than a woman's have quailed in this terrible winter.
  • * 1886 , (Robert Louis Stevenson), (Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde):
  • Mr. Utterson had already quailed at the name of Hyde; but when the stick was laid before him, he could doubt no longer; broken and battered as it was, he recognized it for one that he had himself presented many years before to Henry Jekyll.
  • * 1949 , (George Orwell), Nineteen Eighty-Four , p. 25:
  • His heart quailed before the enormous pyramidal shape.
  • To slacken, give way (of courage, faith etc.).
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) ).

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • Any of various small game birds of the genera Coturnix'', ''Anurophasis'' or ''Perdicula in the Old World family Phasianidae or of the New World family Odontophoridae.
  • (obsolete) A prostitute; so called because the quail was thought to be a very amorous bird.
  • (Shakespeare)
    Derived terms
    * common quail * quailish

    See also

    * partridge

    Etymology 3

    (etyl) coaillier, (etyl) cailler, from (etyl) (lena) coagulare. See coagulate.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To curdle; to coagulate, as milk does.
  • (Holland)
    (Webster 1913)