Tail Meaning and Definition
Tail
Pronunciation
/teɪl/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A tail is the posterior part of the body of an animal, typically tapering to a point and used for balance, communication, or for use as a whip or flag.
Examples
- The cat’s tail twitched back and forth as it watched the bird outside.
- The dog’s long tail wagged excitedly as it ran around the park.
Synonyms
- Fin
- Appendage
Antonyms
- Head
- Forepart
Etymology
The word “tail” originated from the Old English word “tægl”, which was derived from the Proto-Germanic word “*taliz”, which was also the source of the Modern German word “Haar” (hair).
Usage Notes
Tail can be used as a noun or verb. As a noun, it refers to the posterior part of an animal’s body. As a verb, it means to follow or trail behind something or someone.
Cultural References
TAIL (TV series), a Japanese anime and manga series about a young boy who becomes a mermaid in the Tokyo harbor.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
In the doghouse, meaning being in trouble or disfavor.
Related Words or Phrases
Body parts: head, neck, torso, limbs, tailbone, rump
Collocations
tail-chasing, tail-docking, tail-less, tail-end
Frequency of Use
The word “tail” is relatively common in everyday language, with an average frequency of use in the top 100,000 words in the English language.
Common Misspellings
teile, tale, tayl