quail snipe

Snipe \Snipe\, n. [OE. snipe; akin to D. snep, snip, LG. sneppe,
   snippe, G. schnepfe, Icel. sn[imac]pa (in comp.), Dan.
   sneppe, Sw. sn[aum]ppa a sanpiper, and possibly to E. snap.
   See {Snap}, {Snaffle}.]
   1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of limicoline game
      birds of the family {Scolopacidae}, having a long,
      slender, nearly straight beak.
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   Note: The common, or whole, snipe ({Gallinago c[oe]lestis})
         and the great, or double, snipe ({Gallinago major}),
         are the most important European species. The Wilson's
         snipe ({Gallinago delicata}) (sometimes erroneously
         called {English snipe}) and the gray snipe, or
         dowitcher ({Macrohamphus griseus}), are well-known
         American species.
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   2. A fool; a blockhead. [R.] --Shak.
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   {Half snipe}, the dunlin; the jacksnipe.

   {Jack snipe}. See {Jacksnipe}.

   {Quail snipe}. See under {Quail}.

   {Robin snipe}, the knot.

   {Sea snipe}. See in the Vocabulary.

   {Shore snipe}, any sandpiper.

   {Snipe hawk}, the marsh harrier. [Prov. Eng.]

   {Stone snipe}, the tattler.

   {Summer snipe}, the dunlin; the green and the common European
      sandpipers.

   {Winter snipe}. See {Rock snipe}, under {Rock}.

   {Woodcock snipe}, the great snipe.
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Quail \Quail\, n. [OF. quaille, F. caille, LL. quaquila, qualia,
   qualea, of Dutch or German origin; cf. D. kwakkel, kwartel,
   OHG. wahtala, G. wachtel.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. (Zool.) 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}).
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   2. (Zool.) 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}).
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   3. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Turnix and allied
      genera, native of the Old World, as the Australian painted
      quail ({Turnix varius}). See {Turnix}.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. A prostitute; -- so called because the quail was thought
      to be a very amorous bird. [Obs.] --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Bustard quail} (Zool.), a small Asiatic quail-like bird of
      the genus {Turnix}, as {Turnix taigoor}, a black-breasted
      species, and the hill bustard quail ({Turnix ocellatus}).
      See {Turnix}.

   {Button quail} (Zool.), one of several small Asiatic species
      of Turnix, as {Turnix Sykesii}, which is said to be the
      smallest game bird of India.

   {Mountain quail}. See under {Mountain}.

   {Quail call}, a call or pipe for alluring quails into a net
      or within range.

   {Quail dove} (Zool.), any one of several American ground
      pigeons belonging to {Geotrygon} and allied genera.

   {Quail hawk} (Zool.), the New Zealand sparrow hawk
      ({Hieracidea Nov[ae]-Hollandi[ae]}).

   {Quail pipe}. See {Quail call}, above.

   {Quail snipe} (Zool.), the dowitcher, or red-breasted snipe;
      -- called also {robin snipe}, and {brown snipe}.

   {Sea quail} (Zool.), the turnstone. [Local, U. S.]
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