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Tails

 [teylz]   Origin

tails

   [teylz]
adjective, adverb
1.
(of a coin) with the reverse facing up: On the next toss, the coin came up tails. Compare heads.
noun
2.
tail (def. 6).

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Tails is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Origin:
1675–85; tail1 + -s1
Dictionary.com Unabridged

tail

1   [teyl]
noun
1.
the hindmost part of an animal, especially that forming a distinct, flexible appendage to the trunk.
2.
something resembling or suggesting this in shape or position: the tail of a kite.
3.
Astronomy. the luminous stream extending from the head of a comet.
4.
the reverse of a coin (opposed to head).
5.
Aeronautics. the after portion of an airplane or the like.
EXPAND
6.
tails,
a.
tail coat.
b.
the tapering skirts or ends at the back of a coat, especially a tail coat.
c.
men's full-dress attire.
d.
Distilling. alcohol obtained in the final distillation. Compare head (def. 22).
7.
Slang. the buttocks or rump.
8.
Informal. a person who trails or keeps a close surveillance of another, as a detective or spy: The police decided to put a tail on the suspect.
9.
Informal. the trail of a fleeing person or animal: They put a detective on his tail.
10.
Slang: Vulgar.
a.
coitus.
b.
a woman considered as a sexual object.
11.
the hinder, bottom, or end part of anything; the rear.
12.
a final or concluding part of a sentence, conversation, social gathering, etc.; conclusion; end: The tail of the speech was boring. Toward the tail of the concert I'd begun to get tired.
13.
the inferior or unwanted part of anything.
14.
a long braid or tress of hair.
15.
an arrangement of objects or persons extending as or as if a tail.
16.
a line of persons awaiting their turns at something; queue.
17.
a retinue; train.
18.
the lower part of a pool or stream.
19.
the exposed portion of a piece of roofing, as a slate.
20.
Printing, Bookbinding. the bottom of a page or book.
21.
Printing. the lower portion of a type, as of g, y, or Q.
COLLAPSE
adjective
22.
coming from behind: a tail breeze.
23.
being in the back or rear: the tail section of a plane.
verb (used with object)
24.
Informal. to follow in order to hinder escape of or to observe: to tail a suspect.
25.
to form or furnish with a tail.
26.
to form or constitute the tail or end of (a procession, retinue, etc.).
27.
to terminate; come after or behind; follow like a tail.
28.
to join or attach (one thing) at the tail or end of another.
EXPAND
29.
Building Trades. to fasten (a beam, stone, etc.) by one end (usually followed by in or into).
30.
to dock the tail of (a horse, dog, etc.).
COLLAPSE
verb (used without object)
31.
to follow close behind: She always tails after her sister.
32.
to disappear gradually or merge into: The path tails off into the woods.
33.
to form, or move or pass in, a line or column suggestive of a tail: The hikers tailed up the narrow path.
34.
(of a boat) to have or take a position with the stern in a particular direction.
35.
Building Trades. (of a beam, stone, etc.) to be fastened by one end (usually followed by in or into).
Idioms
36.
turn tail,
a.
to turn one's back on, as in aversion or fright.
b.
to run away from difficulty, opposition, etc.; flee: The sight of superior forces made the attackers turn tail.
37.
with one's tail between one's legs, utterly humiliated; defeated; cowed: They were forced to retreat with their tails between their legs.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English tægl; cognate with Old Norse tagl horse's tail, Gothic tagl hair, Middle High German zagel tail, Middle Low German tagel rope-end

Related forms
tail·er, noun
tail·less, adjective
tail·less·ly, adverb
tail·less·ness, noun
tail·like, adjective

tail

2   [teyl] Law.
noun
1.
the limitation of an estate to a person and the heirs of his or her body, or some particular class of such heirs.
adjective
2.
limited to a specified line of heirs; being in tail.
Origin:
1200–50; (noun) Middle English taille < Old French, derivative of taillier to cut < Late Latin tāliāre (see tailor1); (adj.) late Middle English taille < Anglo-French tailé cut, shaped, limited, past participle of tailler

Related forms
tail·less, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To Tails
Collins
World English Dictionary
tails (teɪlz)
 
—pl n
1.  an informal name for tail coat
 
—interj, —adv
2.  Compare heads with the reverse side of a coin uppermost: used as a call before tossing a coin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

tail
"follow secretly," U.S. colloquial, 1907, is from earlier sense of "follow or drive cattle," from tail (n.1). Tail off "diminish" is attested from 1854.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

tail (tāl)
n.
The posterior part of an animal, especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
tail   (tāl)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. The rear, elongated part of many animals, extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body. Tails are used variously for balance, combat, communication, mating displays, fat storage, propulsion and course correction in water, and course correction in air.

  2. A long, stream of gas or dust forced from the head of a comet when it is close to the Sun. Tails can be up to 150 million km (93 million miles) long, and they always point away from the Sun because of the force of the solar wind. ◇ Plasma tails, or ion tails, appear bluish and straight and narrow, and are formed when solar wind forces ionized gas to stream off the coma. Dust tails are wide and curved, and are formed when solar heat forces trails of dust off the coma; solid particles reflecting the Sun's light create their bright yellow color.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

tails definition


  1. n.
    a tuxedo with long sections in back. : Ralph had to rent tails for the evening.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
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