Crossword Genius

Be afraid like a gamebird (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

quail

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'be' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for quail that I've seen before include "Flinch from small gamebird?" , "Flinch like gamebird" , "recoil with fear" , "Shrink; a bird" , "See little bird" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.
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