quail-pipe
[f. quail n. + 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 Apr. 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
ˈquailpiping vbl. n.| 1661 R. L'Estrange State Divinity 14 To give over..their Quailpiping in a Pulpit to catch silly women. |