Quail vs. Slacken — What's the Difference?

Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds generally placed in the order Galliformes. Old World quail are placed in the family Phasianidae, and New World quail are placed in the family Odontophoridae.

To make or become slower; slow down

Any of various primarily ground-dwelling birds of the genus Coturnix, especially C. coturnix, small in size and having mottled brown plumage and a short tail. Also called coturnix.

To make or become less tense, taut, or firm; loosen

Any of various similar or related birds of the Americas, such as the bobwhite or the California quail.

To make or become less vigorous, intense, or severe; ease

To shrink back in fear; cower.

(intransitive) To gradually decrease in intensity or tautness; to become slack.

(intransitive) To waste away; to fade, to wither.

(transitive) To make slack, less taut, or less intense.

To daunt or frighten (someone).

To deprive of cohesion by combining chemically with water; to slake.

(intransitive) To lose heart or courage; to be daunted or fearful.

A spongy, semivitrifled substance which miners or smelters mix with the ores of metals to prevent their fusion.

(intransitive) Of courage, faith, etc.: to slacken, to give way.

Become slow or slower;

(obsolete) To curdle or coagulate, as milk does.

Make less active or fast;

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.

Become looser or slack;

(uncountable) The meat from this bird eaten as food.

Make slack as by lessening tension or firmness

(obsolete) A prostitute, so called because the quail was thought to be a very amorous bird.

To die; to perish; hence, to wither; to fade.

To become quelled; to become cast down; to sink under trial or apprehension of danger; to lose the spirit and power of resistance; to lose heart; to give way; to shrink; to cower.

To cause to fail in spirit or power; to quell; to crush; to subdue.

To curdle; to coagulate, as milk.

Any gallinaceous bird belonging to Coturnix and several allied genera of the Old World, especially the common European quail (Coturnix communis), the rain quail (Coturnix Coromandelica) of India, the stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis), and the Australian swamp quail (Synoicus australis).

Any one of several American partridges belonging to Colinus, Callipepla, and allied genera, especially the bobwhite (called Virginia quail, and Maryland quail), and the California quail (Calipepla Californica).

Any one of numerous species of Turnix and allied genera, native of the Old World, as the Australian painted quail (Turnix varius). See Turnix.

A prostitute; - so called because the quail was thought to be a very amorous bird.

Flesh of quail; suitable for roasting or broiling if young; otherwise must be braised

Small gallinaceous game birds

Draw back, as with fear or pain;