Tail

Tail, tāl, n. the posterior extremity of an animal, its caudal appendage: anything resembling a tail in appearance, position, &c.: the back, lower, or hinder part of anything: a retinue, suite: a queue or body of persons in single file: anything long and hanging, as a catkin, train of a comet, long curl of hair, &c.: in Turkey, a horse-tail, formerly carried before a pasha as an emblem of relative rank.—n. Tail′-board, the board at the hinder end of a cart or wagon, which can be let down or removed, for convenience in unloading.—adj. Tailed, having a tail of a specified kind.—ns. Tail′-end, the hind part of any animal, the tip of the tail: the end or finish of anything, the fag-end: (pl.) inferior corn sorted out from that of better quality; Tail′-feath′er, one of the rectrices or rudder-feathers of a bird's tail; Tail′-gate, the aft or lower gate of a canal lock.—n.pl. Tail′ings, refuse, dregs.—adj. Tail′less, having no tail.—ns. Tail′piece, a piece at the tail or end, esp. of a series, as of engravings; Tail′pipe, the suction pipe in a pump.—v.t. to fasten something to the tail of, as a dog, to fix something to one by way of joke.—ns. Tail′race, the channel in which water runs away below a mill-wheel; Tail′rope, in coal-mining, a rope extending from the hind part of a car or kibble in a slightly inclined passage, by means of which the empties are drawn 'inby,' while the loaded cars are drawn 'outby.'—Lay, or Put, salt on the tail of (see Salt); Make neither head nor tail of anything (see Head); Turn tail, to run away, to shirk a combat; Twist the lion's tail (U.S.), to goad or insult the pacific and long-suffering British public feeling for political purposes in America; With the tail between the legs, in a cowardly way, after the manner of a beaten cur when he sneaks away. [A.S. tægel; Ger. zagel; Goth. tagl, hair.]