button quail

or but·ton·quail

[ buht-n kweyl ]

noun

1. any of several small, drab, terrestrial birds of the family Turnicidae, with all but one species in the genus Turnix and well distributed in the grasslands of Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe: named for their resemblance to Old World true quails, the button quails belong to a different order (Charadriiformes) and are distinct in having neither a hind toe nor a crop.

button quail

noun

1. any small quail-like terrestrial bird of the genus Turnix , such as T. sylvatica (striped button quail), occurring in tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World: family Turnicidae , order Gruiformes (cranes, rails, etc) Also calledhemipode

Word History and Origins

Origin of button quail¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

So there's another heading for a game book here; that might begin with elephant and finish up with mouse-deer and button-quail.

From Project Gutenberg

You christened little Miss Demby the Button-quail, last cold weather; you know you did.

From Project Gutenberg