pin-tailed

[ pin-teyld ]

adjective

, Ornithology.

1. having a tapered tail with long, pointed central feathers.
2. having the feathers of the tail stiff, narrow, and pointed.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pin-tailed¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

The pin-tailed whydah is a spectacular little bird.

From New York Times

People buy pin-tailed whydahs as pets.

From New York Times

The pin-tailed whydah is one out of only about 100 parasites of the 10,000 bird species in the world.

From New York Times

During the mating season, a male pin-tailed whydah grows a plume of black feathers twice as long as his body.

From New York Times

Several migrating birds were seen in September at 17,000 feet and above, among them Temminck's stint, painted snipe, pin-tailed snipe, house-martin and several pipits.

From Project Gutenberg