Definition of horsetail
: any of a genus (Equisetum of the order Equisetales) of lower tracheophytes comprising perennial plants that spread by creeping rhizomes and have leaves reduced to nodal sheaths on the hollow jointed ribbed shoots
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Recent Examples of horsetail from the Web
-
Enclosed in glass on three sides, like some giant terrarium, but open to the sky, the inaccessible landscape will sprout with ferns, horsetail and magnolia trees.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'horsetail'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of horsetail
First Known Use of horsetail
15th century
HORSETAIL Defined for Kids
horsetail
playDefinition of horsetail for Students
: a plant that produces spores and has small leaves resembling scales
Learn More about horsetail
-
See words that rhyme with horsetail Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about horsetail
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up horsetail? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!