tail

¹tail

noun, often attributive \ˈtāl\

Definition of TAIL

1

: the rear end or a process or prolongation of the rear end of the body of an animal

2

: something resembling an animal's tail in shape or position: as a : a luminous stream of particles, gases, or ions extending from a comet especially in the antisolar direction b : the rear part of an airplane consisting usually of horizontal and vertical stabilizing surfaces with attached control surfaces

3

: retinue

4

plural a : tailcoat b : full evening dress for men

5

a : buttocks, butt b usually vulgar : sexual intercourse

6

: the back, last, lower, or inferior part of something

7

: tailing 1 —usually used in plural

8

: the reverse of a coin —usually used in plural <tails, I win>

9

: one (as a detective) who follows or keeps watch on someone

10

: the blank space at the bottom of a page

11

: a location immediately or not far behind <had a posse on his tail>

— tailed \ˈtāld\ adjective

— tail·less \ˈtāl-ləs\ adjective

— tail·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

Origin of TAIL

Middle English, from Old English tægel; akin to Old High German zagal tail, Middle Irish dúal lock of hair

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Zoology Terms

altruism, integument

Rhymes with TAIL

ail, ale, bail, bale, Bâle, brail, braille, Braille, dale, fail, flail, frail, Gael, gale, Gale, grail, hail, hale, jail, kale, mail, male, nail, pail, pale, quail, Quayle, rail, sail, sale, scale, shale, snail, stale, swale, tael, taille, tale, trail, vail, vale, veil, wail, wale, whale, Yale