intransitive. To shrink or flinch for fear; to hesitate (esp. const. infinitive); to refrain.

intransitive. To shrink with dread; to be afraid. Obsolete.

intransitive. To start aside, so as to elude anything; to swerve, ‘shy’; to flinch, shrink, give way.

intransitive. To stand or squat in a bent position; to bend with the knees and back; to crouch, esp. for shelter, from danger, or in timidity.

intransitive. †(a) To shrink back with fear, to flinch. Obsolete. (b) To be affected with violent disgust, to feel sick.

intransitive. To contract the muscles of the body, usually involuntarily; to shrink into a bent or crooked position; to cower. Also (of a part of the…

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.

intransitive. Of the heart, spirit, eyes, etc.: to flinch, be cowed; to give way through fear, awe, etc. (before, away from, under a formidable…

figurative. To recoil in fear or disgust (at). Obsolete.

To shrink (with fear). Obsolete. rare. (Probably a misuse owing to two senses of shrink.)

intransitive. To be disconcerted; to blench; to shrink back. Obsolete.

intransitive. To take a sudden fright or aversion; to make a difficulty, ‘boggle’ about doing something; to recoil, shrink. Const. at, from: rarely to…

intransitive. To cringe or flinch, esp. in fear; to cower. In later use English regional and U.S. regional (chiefly southern and south Midland).

intransitive. To cower or tremble with fear; to back out of something; to surrender in a cowardly fashion. Also with at.

To blench: see blench, v.1 2 6.

figurative. To shrink or writhe with horror, shame, etc.; esp. const. up.