fishtail

American  

[fish-teyl] / ˈfɪʃˌteɪl /

verb (used without object)

1. to swerve or skid from side to side, as the rear end of a car.

2. to slow an airplane by causing its tail to move rapidly from side to side.

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noun

1. such a maneuver.

2. a gas burner having two jets crossing each other so as to produce a flame resembling a fish's tail.

3. a device having a long, narrow slot at the top, placed over a gas jet, as of a Bunsen burner, to give a thin, fanlike flame.

4. Jewelry. a setting consisting of four prominent triangular corner prongs to hold the stone.

fishtail British  

/ ˈfɪʃˌteɪl /

noun

1. an aeroplane manoeuvre in which the tail is moved from side to side to reduce speed

2. a nozzle having a long narrow slot at the top, placed over a Bunsen burner to produce a thin fanlike flame

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verb

1. to slow an aeroplane by moving the tail from side to side

2. to drive with the rear of the vehicle moving from side to side in an uncontrolled fashion

Etymology

Origin of fishtail

1400–50; late Middle English. See fish, tail ¹

Example Sentences

The car started to fishtail before sliding out of control off the runway and into a grassy area from which spectators were watching.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 25, 2021

With the locals and fans shrieking at what they saw, she engaged all of her core strength to fishtail like a Formula 1 car under full acceleration.

From BBC • Oct. 6, 2021

When little girls wore blue satin and blond fishtail braids and conjured fearsome powers that they, like Princess Elsa, struggled to hold back?

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 10, 2019

The East Garden Court fountain is bathed in hydrangeas, azaleas and plantings of fishtail palms, philodendrons and peace lilies.

From Washington Post • Apr. 4, 2019

When I was eight years old, a flock of wild, green- rumped parrots moved into the fishtail palm tree by the back wooden fence.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Related Words

• fluctuate
• lurch
• seesaw
• teeter
• vacillate
• waver
• wobble