See Also: fee tail(dictionary)
tail(3)(dictionary)
tail(2)(dictionary)
tail(1)(dictionary)
Tail(finance)
red-tail(dictionary)
rat-tail(dictionary)
rat's-tail(dictionary)
pen-tail(dictionary)
cat's-tail(dictionary)

tail(5) (iou)



tail verb2. E16.
[from TAIL noun1.]
I. verb trans.
Fasten to the back of something else; join (one thing on to another). E16.
J. Scott What is this but to tail one folly to another?
Grasp or drag by the tail. M17.
stave and tail: see STAVE verb.
Remove the tail from; spec. (a) remove the stalks from (fruit); (b) dock the tail of (a lamb). L18.
top and tail: see TOP verb1.
Have sexual intercourse with (a woman). slang. L18.
Building. Insert the end of (a beam, stone, or brick) into a wall etc.; let in, dovetail. E19.
Be or put oneself at the end of (a procession etc.); terminate. M19.
Fraser's Magazine A male author heads and a male author tails the procession.
a. Follow, drive, or tend (sheep, cattle, or horses). Austral. & NZ. M19.
b. Follow someone closely, spec. as a detective or spy. colloq. (orig. US). E20.
M. Puzo They..tailed the old man to his office.
Provide with a tail. Cf. earlier TAILED adjective 1. L19.
II. verb intrans.
Of a ship: run aground stern foremost. E18.
Of water or flames: move back against a prevailing current of water or air. L18.
Of a body of people or animals: move or proceed in a line; esp. lengthen out into a straggling line; drop behind, fall away. L18.
Of a ship etc.: be or be placed with the stern in a specified position relative to the wind, current, etc. M19.
Building. Of a beam, stone, or brick: be inserted by the end into a wall etc., be let in, be dovetailed. M19.
Of a stream: flow or fall into. L19.
Of a fish: show its tail at the surface. L19.
With adverbs in specialized senses: tail away = tail off (a) below. tail off (a) fall behind or away in a straggling line; become fewer or slighter or smaller; end inconclusively; (b) (colloq.) go off, esp. in a specified direction; withdraw; (c) overtake (another competitor in a race etc.). tail on join on in the rear.
Comb.: tail-off colloq. a decline or gradual reduction, esp. in demand.