A Tail Does More Than Hang There
A tail is the rear appendage of an animal. Its uses range from balance to signalling.
A tail is the rear appendage of an animal, or anything resembling one. Tails do a remarkable range of jobs: cheetahs use them as a counterweight to turn at speed, kangaroos use them as a fifth limb that pushes as hard as both legs together, beavers store fat in them, and dogs use them almost entirely for signalling. Humans retain a vestigial one, the coccyx. *Tail* is Old English *tægl*, and the legal term *entail* is a separate word from French *taille*, a cutting.
- An animal's rear. *A long tail.*
- The rear part. *The tail of the plane.*
- To follow. *Tailing a suspect.*
- The reverse of a coin. *Heads or tails.*
- Old English — *tægl*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | tail | A tail. |
| Plural | tails | Tails. |
| Verb | tail | Tailing. |
| Adjective | tailless | Tailless. |
| Old English | tægl | A tail. |
- The dog wagged its tail.Animal.
- The tail of the aircraft.Structure.
- Heads or tails.Coin.
What tails are for
- Balance — cheetahs counterweight sharp turns at speed
- Propulsion — fish and whales drive themselves with them
- Support — a kangaroo's tail acts as a fifth limb
- Storage — beavers and some lizards store fat in them
- Signalling — dogs, deer and many primates communicate with them
Old English *tægl*, of Germanic origin, related to German *Zagel*.
Do humans have a tail?
A vestigial one. The coccyx is the fused remnant of tail vertebrae, present in every human.
How does a cheetah use its tail?
As a counterweight, swinging it to balance sharp turns at high speed without losing footing.