fantail

[ fan-teyl ]

noun

1. a tail, end, or part shaped like a fan.
2. one of a breed of domestic pigeons, having a fan-shaped tail.
3. any of various small birds having fanlike tails, as the Old World flycatchers of the genus Rhipidura and the American wood warblers of the genus Euthlypis.
4. fantail goldfish.
5. Building Trades, Architecture. a structure or structural member having a number of radiating parts, as an arch centering.
6. Nautical.
   1. the part of a rounded stern extending abaft the aftermost perpendicular; rounded counter.
   2. the area within this.
7. Western U.S. a mustang.

adjective

1. Cooking. (of shrimp) shelled, split almost through, and flattened slightly before cooking.

fantail

/ ˈfænˌteɪl /

noun

1. a breed of domestic pigeon having a large tail that can be opened like a fan
2. any Old World flycatcher of the genus Rhipidura , of Australia, New Zealand, and SE Asia, having a broad fan-shaped tail
3. a tail shaped like an outspread fan
4. architect a part or structure having a number of components radiating from a common centre
5. a burner that ejects fuel to produce a wide flat flame in a lamp or furnace
6. a flat jet of air and coal dust projected into the air stream of a pulverized-coal furnace
7. an auxiliary sail on the upper portion of a windmill that turns the mill to face the wind
8. a curved part of the deck projecting aft of the sternpost of a ship

Derived Forms

• ˈfan-ˌtailed, adjective

Other Words From

• fan-tailed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fantail¹

First recorded in 1720–30; fan ¹ + tail ¹

Example Sentences

Its stems are curiously inclined, by a benign malformation known as fasciation, to twist and flatten into a fantail shape.

From Seattle Times

Rounding out the top five were the kea, kākāpō and the fantail.

From BBC

I joined students and teachers to haul folding tables to the fantail, spread out white tablecloths, cake plates, and silverware.

From Salon

Towering soldiers wearing wide fantail hats face off across a pair of metal gates on one of the most heavily militarized borders in the world.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of the crew used a ladder on the fantail, while others went for the open stern notch at the ship’s stern, where heaving lines were thrown to shipmates in the water.

From Fox News