fantail

[ fan-teyl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a tail, end, or part shaped like a fan.
one of a breed of domestic pigeons, having a fan-shaped tail.
any of various small birds having fanlike tails, as the Old World flycatchers of the genus Rhipidura and the American wood warblers of the genus Euthlypis.
fantail goldfish.
Building Trades, Architecture. a structure or structural member having a number of radiating parts, as an arch centering.
Nautical.
1. the part of a rounded stern extending abaft the aftermost perpendicular; rounded counter.
2. the area within this.
Western U.S. a mustang.

Cooking. (of shrimp) shelled, split almost through, and flattened slightly before cooking.

fantail

/ ˈfænˌteɪl /

a breed of domestic pigeon having a large tail that can be opened like a fan
any Old World flycatcher of the genus Rhipidura , of Australia, New Zealand, and SE Asia, having a broad fan-shaped tail
a tail shaped like an outspread fan
architect a part or structure having a number of components radiating from a common centre
a burner that ejects fuel to produce a wide flat flame in a lamp or furnace
a flat jet of air and coal dust projected into the air stream of a pulverized-coal furnace
an auxiliary sail on the upper portion of a windmill that turns the mill to face the wind
a curved part of the deck projecting aft of the sternpost of a ship

Origin of fantail¹

First recorded in 1720–30; fan ¹ + tail ¹

Towards the end of the month the white-browed fantail flycatchers (Rhipidura albifrontata) begin to nest.

In the breeding season the cock sings a sweet little lay—an abridged version of that of the fantail flycatcher.

Many of the wire-tailed swallows, minivets and white-browed fantail flycatchers bring up a second brood during the rains.

The fantail or full-snipe (G. coelestis) is at least one week later in arriving.

To balance the large tail carried in this position the Fantail has to carry its head very far back.

April 25, 2024firkin

[fur-kin ]

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