Lexic.us

Definition of Tail

1. Noun. The posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body.

2. Verb. Go after with the intent to catch. "They tail the car down the avenue"; "The dog chased the rabbit"

3. Noun. The time of the last part of something. "The tail of the storm"

4. Verb. Remove or shorten the tail of an animal.

5. Noun. Any projection that resembles the tail of an animal.

6. Verb. Remove the stalk of fruits or berries.

7. Noun. The fleshy part of the human body that you sit on. "Are you going to sit on your fanny and do nothing?"

8. Noun. A spy employed to follow someone and report their movements.

9. Noun. (usually plural) the reverse side of a coin that does not bear the representation of a person's head.

10. Noun. The rear part of an aircraft.

11. Noun. The rear part of a ship.

Definition of Tail

1. n. Limitation; abridgment.

2. a. Limited; abridged; reduced; curtailed; as, estate tail.

3. n. The terminal, and usually flexible, posterior appendage of an animal.

4. v. t. To follow or hang to, like a tail; to be attached closely to, as that which can not be evaded.

5. v. i. To hold by the end; -- said of a timber when it rests upon a wall or other support; -- with in or into.

6. n. In some forms of rope-laying machine, pieces of rope attached to the iron bar passing through the grooven wooden top containing the strands, for wrapping around the rope to be laid.

7. n. In flying machines, a plane or group of planes used at the rear to confer stability.

Definition of Tail

1. to provide with a tail (a hindmost part) [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Tail

1. 1. The terminal, and usually flexible, posterior appendage of an animal. The tail of mammals and reptiles contains a series of movable vertebrae, and is covered with flesh and hairs or scales like those of other parts of the body. The tail of existing birds consists of several more or less consolidated vertebrae which supports a fanlike group of quills to which the term tail is more particularly applied. The tail of fishes consists of the tapering hind portion of the body ending in a caudal fin. The term tail is sometimes applied to the entire abdomen of a crustacean or insect, and sometimes to the terminal piece or pygidium alone. 2. Any long, flexible terminal appendage; whatever resembles, in shape or position, the tail of an animal, as a catkin. "Doretus writes a great praise of the distilled waters of those tails that hang on willow trees." (Harvey) 3. Hence, the back, last, lower, or inferior part of anything, as opposed to the head, or the superior part. "The Lord will make thee the head, and not the tail." (Deut. Xxviii. 13) 4. A train or company of attendants; a retinue. ""Ah," said he, "if you saw but the chief with his tail on."" (Sir W. Scott) 5. The side of a coin opposite to that which bears the head, effigy, or date; the reverse; rarely used except in the expression "heads or tails," employed when a coin is thrown up for the purpose of deciding some point by its fall. 6. The distal tendon of a muscle. 7. A downy or feathery appendage to certain achens. It is formed of the permanent elongated style. 8. A portion of an incision, at its beginning or end, which does not go through the whole thickness of the skin, and is more painful than a complete incision; called also tailing. One of the strips at the end of a bandage formed by splitting the bandage one or more times. 9. A rope spliced to the strap of a block, by which it may be lashed to anything. 10. The part of a note which runs perpendicularly upward or downward from the head; the stem. 11. Same as Tailing. 12. The bottom or lower portion of a member or part, as a slate or tile. 13. See Tailing. Tail beam. Same as Tailpiece. Tail of a comet, the post where the besiegers begin to break ground, and cover themselves from the fire of the place, in advancing the lines of approach. Tail spindle, the spindle of the tailstock of a turning lathe; called also dead spindle. To turn tail, to run away; to flee. "Would she turn tail to the heron, and fly quite out another way; but all was to return in a higher pitch." (Sir P. Sidney) Origin: AS. Taegel, taegl; akin to G. Zagel, Icel. Tagl, Sw. Tagel, Goth. Tagl hair. 59. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Tail

Tai taiaha taiahas Taichung Taif taig taiga taigas taiglach taigle

taigled taigles taigling taigs tail (current term) tail (current term) tail-flower tail-specific protease tailard tailards

tailback tailbacks tailboard tailboards tailbone tailbones tailcoat tailcoated tailcoats tailed

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