/hawrs"tayl'/ , n.
1. Also called scouring rush . any nonflowering plant of the genus Equisetum, having hollow, jointed stems.
2. a horse's tail formerly used as a Turkish military standard or as an ensign of a pasha, the number of tails increasing with the rank.
[ 1350-1400; ME horse tayle. See HORSE, TAIL 1 ]