Snipe \Snipe\, n. [OE. snipe; akin to D. snep, snip, LG. sneppe,
   snippe, G. schnepfe, Icel. sn[imac]pa (in comp.), Dan.
   sneppe, Sw. sn[aum]ppa a sanpiper, and possibly to E. snap.
   See Snap, Snaffle.]
   1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of limicoline game
      birds of the family Scolopacidae, having a long,
      slender, nearly straight beak.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: The common, or whole, snipe (Gallinago c[oe]lestis)
         and the great, or double, snipe (Gallinago major),
         are the most important European species. The Wilson's
         snipe (Gallinago delicata) (sometimes erroneously
         called English snipe) and the gray snipe, or
         dowitcher (Macrohamphus griseus), are well-known
         American species.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. A fool; a blockhead. [R.] --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   Half snipe, the dunlin; the jacksnipe.

   Jack snipe. See Jacksnipe.

   Quail snipe. See under Quail.

   Robin snipe, the knot.

   Sea snipe. See in the Vocabulary.

   Shore snipe, any sandpiper.

   Snipe hawk, the marsh harrier. [Prov. Eng.]

   Stone snipe, the tattler.

   Summer snipe, the dunlin; the green and the common European
      sandpipers.

   Winter snipe. See Rock snipe, under Rock.

   Woodcock snipe, the great snipe.
      [1913 Webster]

Quail \Quail\, n. [OF. quaille, F. caille, LL. quaquila, qualia,
   qualea, of Dutch or German origin; cf. D. kwakkel, kwartel,
   OHG. wahtala, G. wachtel.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. (Zool.) Any gallinaceous bird belonging to Coturnix and
      several allied genera of the Old World, especially the
      common European quail (Coturnix communis), the rain
      quail (Coturnix Coromandelica) of India, the stubble
      quail (Coturnix pectoralis), and the Australian swamp
      quail (Synoicus australis).
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Zool.) Any one of several American partridges belonging
      to Colinus, Callipepla, and allied genera, especially
      the bobwhite (called Virginia quail, and Maryland
      quail), and the California quail (Calipepla
      Californica).
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Turnix and allied
      genera, native of the Old World, as the Australian painted
      quail (Turnix varius). See Turnix.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. A prostitute; -- so called because the quail was thought
      to be a very amorous bird. [Obs.] --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   Bustard quail (Zool.), a small Asiatic quail-like bird of
      the genus Turnix, as Turnix taigoor, a black-breasted
      species, and the hill bustard quail (Turnix ocellatus).
      See Turnix.

   Button quail (Zool.), one of several small Asiatic species
      of Turnix, as Turnix Sykesii, which is said to be the
      smallest game bird of India.

   Mountain quail. See under Mountain.

   Quail call, a call or pipe for alluring quails into a net
      or within range.

   Quail dove (Zool.), any one of several American ground
      pigeons belonging to Geotrygon and allied genera.

   Quail hawk (Zool.), the New Zealand sparrow hawk
      (Hieracidea Nov[ae]-Hollandi[ae]).

   Quail pipe. See Quail call, above.

   Quail snipe (Zool.), the dowitcher, or red-breasted snipe;
      -- called also robin snipe, and brown snipe.

   Sea quail (Zool.), the turnstone. [Local, U. S.]
      [1913 Webster]

Redbreast \Red"breast`\ (-br?st`), n.
   1. (Zool.)
      (a) The European robin.
      (b) The American robin. See Robin.
      (c) The knot, or red-breasted snipe; -- called also robin
          breast, and robin snipe. See Knot.
          [1913 Webster]

   2. (Zool.) The long-eared pondfish. See Pondfish.
      [1913 Webster]

Robin \Rob"in\, n. [Properly a pet name for Robert, originally
   meaning, famebright; F., fron OHG. Roudperht; ruod (in comp.;
   akin to AS. hr?? glory, fame, Goth. hr?peigs victorius) +
   beraht bright. See Bright, Hob a clown.] (Zool.)
   (a) A small European singing bird (Erythacus rubecula),
       having a reddish breast; -- called also robin
       redbreast, robinet, and ruddock.
   (b) An American singing bird (Merula migratoria), having
       the breast chestnut, or dull red. The upper parts are
       olive-gray, the head and tail blackish. Called also
       robin redbreast, and migratory thrush.
   (c) Any one of several species of Australian warblers of the
       genera Petroica, Melanadrays, and allied genera; as,
       the scarlet-breasted robin (Petroica mullticolor).
   (d) Any one of several Asiatic birds; as, the Indian robins.
       See Indian robin, below.
       [1913 Webster]

   Beach robin (Zool.), the robin snipe, or knot. See Knot.
      

   Blue-throated robin. (Zool.) See Bluethroat.

   Canada robin (Zool.), the cedar bird.

   Golden robin (Zool.), the Baltimore oriole.

   Ground robin (Zool.), the chewink.

   Indian robin (Zool.), any one of several species of Asiatic
      saxoline birds of the genera Thamnobia and Pratincola.
      They are mostly black, usually with some white on the
      wings.

   Magrie robin (Zool.), an Asiatic singing bird (Corsycus
      saularis), having the back, head, neck, and breast black
      glossed with blue, the wings black, and the belly white.
      

   Ragged robin. (Bot.) See under Ragged.

   Robin accentor (Zool.), a small Asiatic singing bird
      (Accentor rubeculoides), somewhat resembling the
      European robin.

   Robin redbreast. (Zool.)
   (a) The European robin.
   (b) The American robin.
   (c) The American bluebird.

   Robin snipe. (Zool.)
   (a) The red-breasted snipe, or dowitcher.
   (b) The red-breasted sandpiper, or knot.

   Robin's plantain. (Bot.) See under Plantain.

   Sea robin. (Zool.)
   (a) Any one of several species of American gurnards of the
       genus Prionotus. They are excellent food fishes. Called
       also wingfish. The name is also applied to a European
       gurnard.
   (b) The red-breasted merganser, or sheldrake. [Local, U.S.]
       

   Water robin (Zool.), a redstart (Ruticulla fuliginosa),
      native of India.
      [1913 Webster]