tail

tail

tail¹ [tāl]

n.

[ME < OE tægel, akin to OHG zagel < IE base * dek̑-, to tear, tear off > Sans saśā, fringe]

1.

a) the rear end of an animal's body, esp. when forming a distinct, flexible appendage to the trunk

b) such an appendage

2. anything like an animal's tail in form or position [the tail of a shirt]

3. a luminous train behind a comet or meteor

4. the hind, bottom, last, or inferior part of anything

5. [often pl.] the reverse side of a coin

6. a long braid or tress of hair

7. a train of followers or attendants; retinue

8. the lower end of a pool or stream

9.

a) the rear or back section of an aircraft

b) a set of stabilizing planes at the rear of an airplane

c) the rear part of a rocket or missile

☆ 10. [pl.]

a) TAILCOAT

b) full-dress attire for men

11. Informal a person or vehicle that follows another, esp. in surveillance

12. Slang the buttocks

13. [Vulgar Slang]

a) sexual intercourse with a woman

b) a woman regarded as a sexual partner

14. Printing the bottom of a page

15. Prosody the short line or lines ending certain stanzas or verse forms

adj.

1. at the rear or rear end

2. from the rear [a tail wind]

vt.

1. to provide with a tail

2. to cut or detach the tail or taillike part from

3. to form the tail or end of, as of a group or procession; be at the rear or end of

4. to fasten or connect at or by the tail

5. to fasten one end of (a brick, board, etc.) into a wall, etc.: with in or on

☆ 6. Slang to follow stealthily; shadow

vi.

1. to straggle

2. to become gradually smaller or fainter: with off or away

3. to be fastened into a wall, etc. by one end: said of a brick or board

☆ 4. Informal to follow close behind

5. Naut. to go aground or be anchored stern foremost

——————

☆ on someone's tail

following or shadowing someone closely

——————

turn tail

to run from danger, difficulty, hardship, etc.

——————

with one's tail between one's legs

in defeat or in escape from expected defeat, esp. with fear or dejection

tailless

adj.

taillike

adj.

tail² [tāl]

n.

[ME taile < OFr taille, a cutting < taillier: see TAILOR]

ENTAIL (n. 2 & 3)

adj.

limited in a specific way, as to certain heirs or order of succession