(a) The flexible, hanging appendage extending outward from the hindquarters of most mammals, a tail; also in proverbs; also, fig. one who obscures the traces of something; bicche (bukke, squirel, etc.) ~; ~ bond, a crupper; ~ rop, q.v.; drauen at hors (mere) ~, to drag (a corpse) behind a horse; drauen at tailes of hors, drag (a condemned person to the gallows) behind horses; (b) the hindmost part of the body of a reptile or reptilian monster; the hindmost section of an invertebrate; also fig.; also, the postanal spine of a fish, the tail of a ray; the fishlike tail of a mermaid or merman; fish (reihe, rouhe) ~; (c) the postanal spine of a scorpion or locust; also fig.; (d) the tail feathers of a bird, esp. a peacock; also fig.; (e) the tail attributed to Satan, a demon, etc.; the tail-like appendage with which, according to legend, Englishmen, esp. of Kent, were afflicted as punishment for their mockery of St. Augustine of Canterbury;—also with punning reference to the tail of a dog; dogge tailes; (f) a representation of a tail of a dragon on a banner; (g) in conventional comparisons.

(a) The lowest portion of the spinal column, the coccygeal region; ~ bon, the coccyx; ~ ende, q.v.; (b) the hindquarters of an animal; (c) the pudendum; also, the penis;— freq. with punning reference to taille n. or other senses of tail n.; tikel ~, a loose woman.

(a) In adverbial and prep. phrases: ~ over top, top over ~, in a tumbling motion, head over heels; an hering ~, by so much as a herring's tail, the least bit; bi the ~, by the feet; bi top and ~, by head and feet; top and ~, head and foot, all over; (b) in stock expressions: something of little worth; also, the most inferior position; in-to ~.

(a) A trailing group of stars; the configuration of stars resembling a tail in constellations named for animals; ~ of the dragoun, the node of the moon's orbit descending in relation to the ecliptic; (b) the trailing portion of a long garment, a train; (c) the extended or trailing portion of a plant, a stalk, stem; also in fig. context [1st quot.]; also, the roots [quot. c1400]; foles (mere) ~, a grasslike plant, prob. mare's tail (Hippuris vulgaris); (d) ?a strip of parchment partially cut away from the lower margin of a document.

(a) The rear portion of an army or other military group; a military train; also, a band of followers; a train of animals following an army; after (at, in, on, upon) ~, at the (someone's) rear; also fig.; (b) cutten (dokken) ~, to cut off the rear portion of a military column; also, fig. curtail someone's source of support; cut off support (for sth.);—freq. with punning ref. to sense 1a.(a).

(a) The end or handle of an implement; also, the end of a length of wood; the end of a needle opposite the point, eye; the end of a piece of thread; also, the end of a leaf; ~ hok, ?the hook of a ship's rudder; ~ rop, q.v.; (b) the stem of a musical note; (c) the end of a word or text.

The channel leading away from a watermill, a tailrace.

The end of a matter or an affair; the consequence or outcome of an action.

In adverbial and prep. phrases: (a) at the ~, in the end; from ~ to top (top to ~), from beginning to end; from top and ~, from beginning to end; top and ~, beginning and end; (b) with diminished force: both top and ~, altogether; absolutely; from ~ to top, from top to ~, completely.

Error for hed n.(1).

In surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.175].