tail Definition

tail¹
noun

1. The part of an animal's body that projects from the lower or rear end of the back to form a flexible appendage.
2. The feathers that project from the rear of a bird's body.
3. Anything which has a similar form, function or position as a creature's tail.

Example: shirt tail
4. A lower, last or rear part.

Example: the tail of the storm
5. The rear part of an aircraft including the rudder and tailplane.
6. astron.
The trail of luminous particles following a comet.
7. The reverse side of a coin, that side which does not bear a portrait or head. Compare heads at head noun 21.

Form: tails
8. A tailcoat.

Form: tails
9. Evening dress for men, usually including a tailcoat and white bow tie.

Form: tails
10. colloq
Someone who follows and keeps a constant watch on someone else.
11. colloq
The buttocks.
12a. offensive, slang
Women thought of as sexual objects;
12b. offensive, slang
The female genitalia.

verb tailed, tailing

1. To remove the stalks (from fruit or vegetables).
2. To follow someone or something very closely.

Thesaurus: follow, track, trail, spy on, shadow, stalk, dog (slang).
3. To provide someone with a tail.
4. To join (objects or ideas, etc) with or as if with a tail.

Derivative: tailed

Having a tail.

With the tail removed.

Note: in compounds
Having a tail of a specified kind.

Derivative: tailless
adj

Idiom: turn tail

To turn round and run away.

Idiom: with one's tail between one's legs

Completely defeated or humiliated.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon tægel.

Phrasal Verb: tail away or off

To become gradually less, smaller or weaker.

---

tail²
noun

1. The limitation of who may inherit property to one person and that person's heirs, or to some other particular class of heirs.

adj

1. Limited in this way.

Etymology: 15c: from French taillier to cut.