[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

tail \tail\, n. as. taegel, taegl; akin to g. zagel, icel.
   tagl, sw. tagel, goth. tagl hair. root59.
   1. zool. the terminal, and usually flexible, posterior
      appendage of an animal.
      1913 webster

   note: the tail of mammals and reptiles contains a series of
         movable vertebrae, and is covered with flesh and hairs
         or scales like those of other parts of the body. the
         tail of existing birds consists of several more or less
         consolidated vertebrae which supports a fanlike group
         of quills to which the term tail is more particularly
         applied. the tail of fishes consists of the tapering
         hind portion of the body ending in a caudal fin. the
         term tail is sometimes applied to the entire abdomen of
         a crustacean or insect, and sometimes to the terminal
         piece or pygidium alone.
         1913 webster

   2. any long, flexible terminal appendage; whatever resembles,
      in shape or position, the tail of an animal, as a catkin.
      1913 webster

            doretus writes a great praise of the distilled
            waters of those tails that hang on willow trees.
                                                  --harvey.
      1913 webster

   3. hence, the back, last, lower, or inferior part of
      anything, -- as opposed to the head, or the superior
      part.
      1913 webster

            the lord will make thee the head, and not the tail.
                                                  --deut.
                                                  xxviii. 13.
      1913 webster

   4. a train or company of attendants; a retinue.
      1913 webster

            "ah," said he, "if you saw but the chief with his
            tail on."                             --sir w.
                                                  scott.
      1913 webster

   5. the side of a coin opposite to that which bears the head,
      effigy, or date; the reverse; -- rarely used except in the
      expression "heads or tails," employed when a coin is
      thrown up for the purpose of deciding some point by its
      fall.
      1913 webster

   6. anat. the distal tendon of a muscle.
      1913 webster

   7. bot. a downy or feathery appendage to certain achenes.
      it is formed of the permanent elongated style.
      1913 webster

   8. surg.
      a a portion of an incision, at its beginning or end,
          which does not go through the whole thickness of the
          skin, and is more painful than a complete incision; --
          called also tailing.
      b one of the strips at the end of a bandage formed by
          splitting the bandage one or more times.
          1913 webster

   9. naut. a rope spliced to the strap of a block, by which
      it may be lashed to anything.
      1913 webster

   10. mus. the part of a note which runs perpendicularly
       upward or downward from the head; the stem. --moore
       encyc. of music.
       1913 webster

   11. pl. same as tailing, 4.
       1913 webster

   12. arch. the bottom or lower portion of a member or part,
       as a slate or tile.
       1913 webster

   13. pl. mining see tailing, n., 5.
       1913 webster

   14. astronomy the long visible stream of gases, ions, or
       dust particles extending from the head of a comet in the
       direction opposite to the sun.
       pjc

   15. pl. rope making in some forms of rope-laying machine,
       pieces of rope attached to the iron bar passing through
       the grooven wooden top containing the strands, for
       wrapping around the rope to be laid.
       webster 1913 suppl.

   16. pl. a tailed coat; a tail coat. colloq. or dial.
       webster 1913 suppl.

   17. aeronautics in airplanes, an airfoil or group of
       airfoils used at the rear to confer stability.
       webster 1913 suppl.

   18. the buttocks. slang or vulgar
       pjc

   19. sexual intercourse, or a woman used for sexual
       intercourse; as, to get some tail; to find a piece of
       tail. see also tailing3. slang and vulgar
       pjc

   tail beam. arch. same as tailpiece.

   tail coverts zool., the feathers which cover the bases of
      the tail quills. they are sometimes much longer than the
      quills, and form elegant plumes. those above the quills
      are called the upper tail coverts, and those below, the
      under tail coverts.

   tail end, the latter end; the termination; as, the tail end
      of a contest. colloq.

   tail joist. arch. same as tailpiece.

   tail of a comet astron., a luminous train extending from
      the nucleus or body, often to a great distance, and
      usually in a direction opposite to the sun.

   tail of a gale naut., the latter part of it, when the
      wind has greatly abated. --totten.

   tail of a lock on a canal, the lower end, or entrance
      into the lower pond.

   tail of the trenches fort., the post where the besiegers
      begin to break ground, and cover themselves from the fire
      of the place, in advancing the lines of approach.

   tail spindle, the spindle of the tailstock of a turning
      lathe; -- called also dead spindle.

   to turn tail, to run away; to flee.
      1913 webster

            would she turn tail to the heron, and fly quite out
            another way; but all was to return in a higher
            pitch.                                --sir p.
                                                  sidney.
      1913 webster
see also:
head tailing tailing tailing3 tail beam tailpiece 
tail coverts upper tail coverts under tail coverts tail end tail joist 
tail of a comet tail of a gale tail of a lock tail of the trenches tail spindle 
dead spindle to turn tail 

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