Main Entry:

¹tail

Pronunciation:

\ˈtāl\

Function:

noun

Usage:

often attributive

Etymology:

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

Date:

before 12th century

1: the rear end or a process or prolongation of the rear end of the body of an animal2: 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: retinue4plural a: tailcoat b: full evening dress for men5 a: buttocks, butt busually vulgar : sexual intercourse6: the back, last, lower, or inferior part of something7: tailing 1 —usually used in plural8: the reverse of a coin —usually used in plural <tails, I win>9: one (as a detective) who follows or keeps watch on someone10: the blank space at the bottom of a page11: 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