fantail
fantail Lexical Profile
fantail Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small, primarily insectivorous bird native to Australasia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, characterized by a long tail that frequently spreads into a distinctive fan shape.
"While walking through the New Zealand bush, we were followed by a friendly fantail catching insects disturbed by our footsteps."
A popular domestic breed of fancy goldfish originating in Asia, characterized by an egg-shaped body and a double tail fin that spreads horizontally.
"She added a vibrant orange fantail to her freshwater aquarium, admiring how its delicate fins glided through the water."
The rounded, overhanging rear deck or stern of a ship.
"The passengers gathered on the fantail to watch the sun dip below the ocean horizon as the cruise ship sailed onward."
• Rhymes for fantail
Word Origin & Etymology
Early 17th century; formed by combining the words 'fan' and 'tail', originally used to describe a breed of pigeon with a fan-like tail, and later applied to similarly shaped birds, fish, and ship sterns.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.