tail¹ / tāl/ • n. 1. the hindmost part of an animal, esp. when prolonged beyond the rest of the body, such as the flexible extension of the backbone in a vertebrate, the feathers at the hind end of a bird, or a terminal appendage in an insect. ∎  a thing resembling an animal's tail in its shape or position, typically something extending downward or outward at the end of something: the trailed tail of a capital Q | the cars were head to tail. ∎  the rear part of an airplane, with the horizontal stabilizer and rudder. ∎  the lower or hanging part of a garment, esp. the back of a shirt or coat. ∎  (tails) inf. a tailcoat; a man's formal evening suit with such a coat: the men looked debonair in white tie and tails. ∎  the luminous trail of particles following a comet. ∎  the lower end of a pool or stream. ∎  the exposed end of a slate or tile in a roof.2. the end of a long train or line of people or vehicles: an armored truck at the tail of the convoy. ∎  [in sing.] the final, more distant, or weaker part of something: the forecast says we're in for the tail of a hurricane. ∎ inf. a person secretly following another to observe their movements.3. inf. a person's buttocks: fireworks followed when the coach kicked Ryan in his tail. ∎ vulgar slang a woman's genitals. ∎ inf., chiefly offens. women collectively regarded as a means of sexual gratification: my wife thinks going out with you guys will keep me from chasing tail.4. (tails) the reverse side of a coin (used when tossing a coin).• v. [tr.] 1. inf. follow and observe (someone) closely, esp. in secret: a flock of paparazzi had tailed them all over Paris. ∎  [intr.] follow: they went to their favorite cafe—Bill and Sally tailed along.2. [intr.] (of an object in flight) drift or curve in a particular direction: the next pitch tailed in on me at the last second.3. rare provide with a tail: her calligraphy was topped by banners of black ink and tailed like the haunches of fabulous beasts.4. archaic join (one thing) to another: each new row of houses tailed on its drains to those of its neighbors. PHRASES: chase one's (own) tail inf. rush around ineffectually.on someone's tail following someone closely: a police car stayed on his tail for half a mile.a piece of tailsee piece.the tail wags the dog the less important or subsidiary factor, person, or thing dominates a situation; the usual roles are reversed: the financing system is becoming the tail that wags the dog.with one's tail between one's legs inf. in a state of dejection or humiliation.PHRASAL VERBS: tail something in (or into) insert the end of a beam, stone, or brick into (a wall).tail off (or away) gradually diminish in amount, strength, or intensity: the economic boom was beginning to tail off.DERIVATIVES: tailed adj. [in comb.] a white-tailed deer. tail·less adj.tail·less·ness n.tail² • n. Law, chiefly hist. limitation of ownership, esp. of an estate or title limited to a person and their heirs: the land was held in tail general. See also fee tail.

tail the tail wags the dog the less important or subsidiary factor or thing dominates a situation; the usual or expectable roles are reversed.
with one's tail between one's legs in a state of dejection or humiliation.

See also make head or tail of, heads I win, tails you lose, put salt on the tail of, a tiger by the tail, twist the lion's tail.

TAIL

Limited, abridged, reduced, or curtailed.

An estate in tail is a legally recognizable interest of inheritance that goes to the heirs of the donee's body instead of descending to the donee's heirs generally. The heirs of the donee's body are his or her lawful issue (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so on, in a direct line for as long as the descendants endure in a regular order and course of descent). Upon the death of the first owner to die without issue, the estate tail ends.

cross-references

Entail.

Tail

the inferior and of ten least influential members of a group, political party, etc., 1604; those who make up the end of a procession.

Examples : tail of the army, 1604; of poor followers, flappers, and flatterers, 1838; of maids, 1633; of people, 1604; of ignorant persons, 1578; of precedence, 1895; of an honest profession, 1604.

tail of a list.
1. The last item in a list.

2. The list remaining when the head has been removed.