Tail

tāl, n. the posterior extremity of an animal, its caudal appendage: anything resembling a tail in appearance, position, .: the back, lower, or hinder part of anything: a retinue, suite: a queue or body of persons in single file: anything long and hanging, as a catkin, train of a comet, long curl of hair, .: in Turkey, a horse-tail, formerly carried before a pasha as an emblem of relative rank.— n. Tail′-board , the board at the hinder end of a cart or wagon, which can be let down or removed, for convenience in unloading.— adj. Tailed , having a tail of a specified kind.— ns. Tail′-end , the hind part of any animal, the tip of the tail: the end or finish of anything, the fag-end: ( pl. ) inferior corn sorted out from that of better quality; Tail′-feath′er , one of the rectrices or rudder-feathers of a bird's tail; Tail′-gate , the aft or lower gate of a canal lock.— n.pl. Tail′ings , refuse, dregs.— adj. Tail′le , having no tail.— ns. Tail′piece , a piece at the tail or end, esp. of a series, as of engravings; Tail′pipe , the suction pipe in a pump.— v.t. to fasten something to the tail of, as a dog, to fix something to one by way of joke.— ns. Tail′race , the channel in which water runs away below a mill-wheel; Tail′rope , in coal-mining, a rope extending from the hind part of a car or kibble in a slightly inclined pa age, by means of which the empties are drawn 'inby,' while the loaded cars are drawn 'outby.'— Lay , or Put , salt on the tail of (see Salt ); Make neither head nor tail of anything (see Head ); Turn tail , to run away, to shirk a combat; Twist the lion's tail ( U.S. ), to goad or insult the pacific and long-suffering British public feeling for political purposes in America; With the tail between the legs , in a cowardly way, after the manner of a beaten cur when he sneaks away. [A.S. tægel ; Ger. zagel ; Goth. tagl , hair.]