ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: Middle English fox tail, from fox (I) + tail
1.
a. : the tail of a fox
b. : something resembling the tail of a fox
there were foxtails white and wispy all over the sky — David Walker
2.
a. or foxtail grass : any of several grasses especially of the genera Alopecurus, Hordeum, and Setaria with spikes resembling brushes — compare bristle grass
b. : any of several ground pines ; especially : a widely distributed ground pine ( Lycopodium alopecuroides ) of barren sandy or peaty moist coastal regions of eastern and southeastern United States that has numerous erect fertile branches thickly clothed with usually bristly ciliate leaves
3. : the last cinder obtained in the fining of metal