Adjacent Words

Sea quail definitions

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Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sea quail Sea" quail` (Zo["o]l.) The turnstone.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Quail Quail, n. [OF. quaille, F. caille, LL. quaquila, qualia, qualea, of Dutch or German origin; cf. D. kwakkel, kwartel, OHG. wahtala, G. wachtel.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any gallinaceous bird belonging to Coturnix and several allied genera of the Old World, especially the common European quail (C. communis), the rain quail (C. Coromandelica) of India, the stubble quail (C. pectoralis), and the Australian swamp quail (Synoicus australis). 2. (Zo["o]l.) 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). 3. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Turnix and allied genera, native of the Old World, as the Australian painted quail (Turnix varius). See Turnix. 4. A prostitute; -- so called because the quail was thought to be a very amorous bird.[Obs.] --Shak. Bustard quail (Zo["o]l.), a small Asiatic quail-like bird of the genus Turnix, as T. taigoor, a black-breasted species, and the hill bustard quail (T. ocellatus). See Turnix. Button quail (Zo["o]l.), one of several small Asiatic species of Turnix, as T. 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 (Zo["o]l.), any one of several American ground pigeons belonging to Geotrygon and allied genera. Quail hawk (Zo["o]l.), the New Zealand sparrow hawk (Hieracidea Nov[ae]-Hollandi[ae]). Quail pipe. See Quail call, above. Quail snipe (Zo["o]l.), the dowitcher, or red-breasted snipe; -- called also robin snipe, and brown snipe. Sea quail (Zo["o]l.), the turnstone. [Local, U. S.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Turnstone Turn"stone`, n. (Zo["o]l.) Any species of limicoline birds of the genera Strepsilas and Arenaria, allied to the plovers, especially the common American and European species (Strepsilas interpres). They are so called from their habit of turning up small stones in search of mollusks and other aquatic animals. Called also brant bird, sand runner, sea quail, sea lark, sparkback, and skirlcrake. Black turnstone, the California turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala). The adult in summer is mostly black, except some white streaks on the chest and forehead, and two white loral spots.