† couch-quailn.
Obsolete.
In phrase, to play couch-quail, apparently = couch as a quail (see couch v.1 17): cf. leap-frog n. 1. Also as v.: To cower, crouch timidly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > physical symptoms of fear > exhibit physical symptoms [verb (intransitive)] > cower or flinch
wondec897
shuna1000
blencha1250
cowerc1300
scunnerc1425
cringea1525
to play couch-quaila1529
quail1544
winch1605
dwindle1612
blank1642
shy1650
scringec1700
funk?1746
flinch1883
curl1913
a1529 J. Skelton Speke Parrot in Poet. Wks. (1843) II. 21 To lowre, to droupe, to knele, to stowpe, and to play cowche quale.
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 586/1 If there be such dogges..men..must..chastice them & make them couch quaile.
?1562 Thersytes sig. A.iv Howe I haue made the knaues for to play cowch quaile.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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n.a1529