tailgate

¹

[ teyl-geyt ]

noun

1. the board or gate at the back of a wagon, truck, station wagon, etc., which can be removed or let down for convenience in loading or unloading.

verb (used without object)

, tail·gat·ed, tail·gat·ing.

1. to follow or drive hazardously close to the rear of another vehicle.

verb (used with object)

, tail·gat·ed, tail·gat·ing.

1. to follow or drive hazardously close to the rear of (another vehicle).

adjective

1. pertaining to or set up on a tailgate:

   a tailgate picnic before the football game.

tailgate

²

[ teyl-geyt ]

noun

, Jazz.

1. a style of playing the trombone, especially in Dixieland jazz, distinguished especially by the use of melodic counterpoint and long glissandi.

tailgate

/ ˈteɪlˌɡeɪt /

noun

1. another name for tailboard
2. a door at the rear of a hatchback vehicle

verb

1. to drive very close behind (a vehicle)

Derived Forms

• ˈtailˌgater, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tailgate¹

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; tail ¹ + gate ¹

Origin of tailgate²

First recorded in 1945–50; so called from the usual seat of trombonists in trucks carrying musicians during a parade

Example Sentences

During that evidence he admitted escaping from Wandsworth Prison in London by hanging in a makeshift sling under a food delivery lorry, concealed by the tailgate.

From BBC

Despite the country’s political polarization, many people in these tailgate groups weren’t even sure who their football friends were supporting.

From Los Angeles Times

But it had tailgating and built an intense connection between those who showed up, Stang said.

From Los Angeles Times

There are no door staff here, and I tailgated some residents through a starkly decorated lobby.

From BBC

The lawyer said that prior to the shooting, Pounds “tailgated and aggressively menaced” the Cadillac from his dark sedan with blacked-out window tinting.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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• turn