Obs. In phrase, to play couch-quail, app. = couch as a quail (see COUCH v. 17, quot. 1386): cf. leap-frog. Also as vb.: To cower, crouch timidly.
a. 1529. Skelton, Speke Parrot, 420. To lowre, to droupe, to knele, to stowpe, and to play cowche quale.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 586/1. If there be such dogges … men … must … chastice them & make them couch quaile.
1537. Thersites, in Hazl., Dodsley, I. 396. How I have made the knaves for to play couch-quail.
