Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

trail arms

 - 2 dictionary results

trail

  [treyl]
Use trail arms in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to drag or let drag along the ground or other surface; draw or drag along behind.
2. to bring or have floating after itself or oneself: a racing car trailing clouds of dust.
3. to follow the track, trail, or scent of; track.
4. to follow along behind (another), as in a race.
5. to mark out, as a track.
6. to tread down or make a path through (grass or the like).
7. to draw out, as speech; protract.
8. Ceramics. to pour (slip) on a biscuit so as to produce a pattern.
–verb (used without object)
9. to be drawn or dragged along the ground or some other surface, as when hanging from something moving: Her long bridal gown trailed across the floor.
10. to hang down loosely from something.
11. to stream from or float after something moving, as dust, smoke, and sparks do.
12. to follow as if drawn along.
13. to fish by trailing a line from a moving boat; troll.
14. to go slowly, lazily, or wearily along.
15. to pass or extend in a straggling line.
16. to change gradually or wander from a course, so as to become weak, ineffectual, etc. (usually fol. by off or away): Her voice trailed off into silence.
17. to arrive or be last: He finally trailed in at 10 o'clock.
18. to be losing in a contest: The home team was trailing 20 to 15.
19. to creep or crawl, as a serpent.
20. to follow a track or scent, as of game.
21. (of a plant) to extend itself in growth along the ground rather than taking root or clinging by tendrils, etc.
–noun
22. a path or track made across a wild region, over rough country, or the like, by the passage of people or animals.
23. the track, scent, or the like, left by an animal, person, or thing, esp. as followed by a hunter, hound, or other pursuer.
24. something that is trailed or that trails behind, as the train of a skirt or robe.
25. a stream of dust, smoke, light, people, vehicles, etc., behind something moving.
26. Artillery. the part of a gun carriage that rests on the ground when the piece is unlimbered.
27. Architecture. a running vine, leaf, or tendril ornament, as in a Gothic molding.
—Idiom
28. trail arms, Military.
a. to hold a rifle in the right hand at an oblique angle, with the muzzle forward and the butt a few inches off the ground.
b. a command to trail arms.
Origin:
1275–1325; ME trailen to draw or drag in the rear; cf. OE træglian to tear off; c. MD traghelen to drag; akin to Latvian dragât to tear off, drag

Related forms:
trail⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
trailless, adjective

Synonyms:
3. trace, hunt. 16. diminish, shrink, dwindle. 22. See path. 23. spoor.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To trail arms
Word Origin & History

trail  (n.)
c.1300, "train of a robe," from the source of trail (v.). The meaning "track or smell left by a person or animal" is also from 1590. Meaning "path or track worn in wilderness" is attested from 1807.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see trail arms on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way