forktail
forktail Lexical Profile
forktail Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of several small, typically black-and-white insectivorous birds of the genus Enicurus, native to forests and mountain streams in South and Southeast Asia, characterized by their deeply bifurcated tails.
"While hiking along the Himalayan stream, the birdwatcher was thrilled to spot a white-crowned forktail darting among the wet boulders."
Any of various small, slender damselflies of the genus Ischnura, so named for the distinctive forked projection on the tip of the male's abdomen.
"The Eastern forktail is one of the most widespread and recognizable damselflies found near ponds and slow-moving streams in North America."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A straightforward compound of 'fork' and 'tail', coined in the 19th century to describe various animals possessing a deeply cleft or bifurcated tail or tail-like appendage.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.