tail etymology

Etymology:

  • Origin: Middle English "taile"
  • Latin: "talea," meaning "a cutting, a slice"

Meaning:

  • The free extremity or end of an animal's body, extending beyond the hindquarters.
  • The rearmost part or end of an object, such as a line, rope, or queue.
  • A trailing or extended part, such as a gown's train or a kite's tail.
  • An extension or appendage, such as the tail of a musical instrument.

Origin:

The word "tail" is ultimately derived from the Latin term "talea," which originally meant "a cutting" or "a slice." This sense of the word is still found in botany, where "talea" refers to a small branch or stem used for propagation.

Over time, the meaning of "talea" expanded to include the free extremity of an animal's body, which was typically cut off for docking or other purposes. The word "tail" eventually came to be used for this specific part of the animal's anatomy.

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