[f. QUAIL sb. + PIPE.]
1. A pipe or whistle on which the note of the quail (usually the female) can be imitated, in order to lure the birds into a net; a quail-call. Also used allusively, or fig.
For a full description of the calls used to imitate the notes of the cock and hen, see Encycl. Brit. (1797), XV. 733/2.
a. 1400[?]. Lydg., Chorle & Byrde (Roxb.), 9. The quayle pype can most falsely calle Tyl the quayle under the nette doth crepe.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7261. High shoos knopped with dagges, That frouncen lyke a quaile pipe.
1611. R. Fenton, Usury, III. i. 110. Those Echoes and quailpipes amongst vs, who catch friends by imitating their voice.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 108, ¶ 5. A late Invention of Will’s for improving the Quail-pipe.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., vii. Master Varney, you can sound the quailpipe most daintily to wile wantons into his nets.
1884. St. James’s Gaz., 28 April, 6/2. In France they are commonly captured on the ground; a ‘quail-pipe’ … being employed.
attrib. 1602. Middleton, Blurt, Master-Constable, II. i. 17. A gallant that hides his small-timbered legs with a quail-pipe boot.
1603. Dekker, Wonderfull Yeare, F iij b. He … cryed out in that quaile-pipe voice.
† 2. transf. The throat or vocal organs. Obs.
1693. Dryden, Juvenal, vi. (1697), 120. The Rich to Buy him, will refuse no Price; And stretch his Quail-pipe till they crack his voice.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Quail-pipe, a Woman’s Tongue.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), VI. 383. Squeaking inwardly … from contracted quail-pipes.
Hence Quailpiping vbl. sb.
1661. R. L’Estrange, State Divinity, 14. To give over … their Quailpiping in a Pulpit to catch silly women.
