fantail

American  

[fan-teyl] / ˈfænˌteɪl /

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.

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adjective

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

fantail British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• fan-tailed adjective

Etymology

Origin of fantail

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 • Mar. 6, 2024

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

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2023

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

From Salon • Oct. 16, 2021

His father and his shipmate then climbed up the ship’s stern, got to the Eagle’s fantail and leaped into the water, from where they watched the ship go down.

From Fox News • Oct. 7, 2019

For a while it had a clipper bow and a fantail like a destroyer.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck