TAIL, n. 1. The part of an animal which terminates its body behind. In many quadrupeds, the tail is a shoot or projection covered with hair. In fowls, the tail consists of feathers, or is covered with them, which serve to assist in the direction of their flight. In fishes the tail is formed usually by a gradual sloping of the body, ending in a fin. The tail of a fish may assist the animal in steering, but its principal use is to propel the fish forward. It is the instrument of swimming.2. The lower part,noting inferiority. The Lord will make thee the head, and not the tail. Deut.28.3. Any thing hanging long; a catkin.4. The hinder part of any thing.5. In anatomy, that tendon of a muscle which is fixed to the movable part.6. In botany, the tail of a seed, is a downy or feathery appendage to certain seeds, formed of the permanent elongated style.7. Horse's tail, among the Tartars and Chinese, is an ensign or flag; among the Turks, a standard borne before the grand visier, bashaws and the sangiacs. For this purpose, it is fitted to a half-pike with a gold button, and is called toug. There are bashaws of one, two and three tails.8. In heraldry, the tail of a hart.9. In music, the part of a note running upwards or downwards. 10. The extremity or last end; as the tail of a storm. Tail of a comet, a luminous train which extends from the nucleus in a direction opposite to the sun. To turn tail, is to run away; to flee. Tail of a lock, on a canal, the lower end, or entrance into the lower pond. Tail-piece, of a violin, is a piece of ebony attached to the end of the instrument, to which the strings are fastened. TAIL, n. In law, an estate in tail is a limited fee; an estate limited to certain heirs, and from which the other heirs are precluded. Estates tail are general or special; general, where lands and tenements are given to one, and to the heirs of his body begotten; special, where the gift is restrained to certain heirs of the donee;s body, as to his heirs by a particular woman names. See Entail.] TAIL, v.t. To pull by the tail. |
Why Donate?
Here are a number of reasons:
To indicate your approval.
To express your appreciation.
To help pay for website expenses and keep this website online.
Donate Using PayPal
If you have a major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) or a PayPal account, donating is easy. Just click the dollar amount below to donate:
Donations from Outside of the United States
We welcome donations from anywhere in the world and in any currency. PayPal accepts a number of international currencies.
Donations by Other Methods
If you wish to donate via direct bank deposit or mail a cheque or money order, please
email me
.
|
| Firefox Plugin |
| I | S |
 |
1828 Webster's |
Add Search
To Your Site |
[ + ] |
|
|
|
In celebration of Noah Webster's Birthday (October 16, 2009), we have prepared an updated website. 
