fantail

noun

fan·​tail ˈfan-ˌtāl How to pronounce fantail (audio)
1
: a fan-shaped tail or end
2
: a domestic pigeon having a broad rounded tail often with 30 or 40 feathers
3
: an architectural part resembling a fan
4
: a counter or after overhang of a ship shaped like a duck's bill

Examples of fantail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That day only one or two neophytes had stood on the fantail to watch the launch, and to see Alvin sink into the abyss, untethered, for the 2,428th time. Robert Kunzig, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 Langdon’s fantail is actually a common carp with an unusual genetic mutation. Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 14 June 2023 The rufous fantail is no more. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 30 Jan. 2012 Willson and his team of volunteers are currently working on the fantail, or rear, of the Aurora and aim to fully restore the galley and dining area throughout the rest of 2022. Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN, 8 Apr. 2022 On the walk, guests should keep an eye out for native rātā, kōwhai and pōhutukawa trees, and wildlife including the North Island tomtit, kaka, tui, and fantail birds. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2022 The golden bronze fish had the showy fins of the fantail carp and the distinctive scale pattern of a mirror carp. Jesse Leavenworth, courant.com, 4 June 2021 During that time, luxury cars were sometimes designed with back ends tapered to a point like the fantail of a boat. Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 27 May 2021 Two RHIBs launched off the fantail and pulled alongside the burning trawler. Elliot Ackerman, Wired, 26 Jan. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fantail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fantail was in 1728

Dictionary Entries Near fantail

Cite this Entry

“Fantail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fantail. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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