Old World quail
- noun
- UK
:
codorniz del Viejo Mundo
- The Old World quail is commonly found in grasslands across Europe and Asia.
Examples
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Unlike the partridge, the Old World quail has a more rounded body and shorter tail.
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The Old World quail is known for its distinctive call.
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Many hunters in Africa prize the Old World quail for its elusive nature.
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Many hunters prefer the Old World quail for its flavor.
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Hunters seek out the Old World quail due to its unique flavor and texture.
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The Old World quail can be found in various habitats, particularly in grasslands.
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In Europe, the Old World quail travels in small groups during the breeding season.
Synonyms
25
4.2
A small round bird with a short tail that lives in fields
A group of small ground birds like quails that live in Europe, Asia, or Africa
A small quail found in Europe, Asia, and Africa that moves long distances each year
A small brown bird that people hunt and that moves between areas each year
A small ground bird that moves long distances at certain times of year
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositional: 'quail' names the bird and 'Old World' specifies its geographic origin (the traditional Old World continents), so a learner who knows the words can infer it means a quail from Europe/Asia/Africa. This kind of region + noun naming is cross-linguistically common and follows regular English modification patterns, making the meaning accessible to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Old World quail was named because these small birds live in the parts of the world Europeans called the Old World, meaning Europe, Asia and Africa, rather than in the Americas. That's why the name shows they are different from 'New World' quail.