[tail] n, often attrib [ME, fr. OE taegel; akin to OHG zagal tail, MIr dual lock of hair] (bef. 12c) 1: the rear end or a process or prolongation of the rear end of the body of an animal
2: something resembling an animal's tail in shape or position: as a: the luminous train of a comet b: the rear part of an airplane consisting usu. of horizontal and vertical stabilizing surfaces with attached control surfaces
3: retinue
4. pl a: tailcoat b: full evening dress for men
5. a: buttocks, butt b: a female sexual partner--usu. considered vulgar
6: the back, last, lower, or inferior part of something 7: tailing 1--usu. used in pl. 8: the reverse of a coin--usu. used in pl. "~s, I win" 9: one (as a detective) who follows or keeps watch on someone 10: the blank space at the bottom of a page 11: a location immediately or not far behind "had a posse on his ~" -- tailed adj -- tail.less adj -- tail.like adj
[2]tail vt (1523) 1: to connect end to end
2. a: to remove the tail of (an animal): dock b: to remove the stem or bottom part of "topping and ~ing gooseberries" 3 a: to make or furnish with a tail b: to follow or be drawn behind like a tail
4: to follow for purposes of surveillance ~ vi 1: to form or move in a straggling line
2: to grow progressively smaller, fainter, or more scattered: abate--usu. used with off "productivity is ~ing off --Tom Nicholson"
3: to swing or lie with the stern in a named direction--used of a ship at anchor
4:
[2]tag -- tail.er n [3]tail n [ME, fr. MF, fr. OF, fr. taillier] (14c): entail 1a [4]tail adj [ME taille, fr. AF tayle, fr. OF taillie, pp. of taillier to cut, limit--more at tailor] (15c): limited as to tenure: entailed