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Definition of wagtail

wagtail

/ˈwæɡ.teɪl/
wag · tail
Plural:wagtails
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wagtail Lexical Profile

wagtail Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various small, slender insectivorous songbirds of the family Motacillidae (genus Motacilla), native chiefly to Eurasia and Africa, known for their characteristic habit of constantly bobbing their tails up and down.

Example

"The yellow wagtail darted across the marsh, pausing occasionally to bob its long tail while hunting for insects."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for wagtail

• Rhymes for wagtail

• Nearby Words

waglers pit viper
wagner viper
wagon
wagtail
wagyu
wahkeena
wahlenbergia

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the 1520s, formed from the verb 'wag' and the noun 'tail', in direct reference to the bird's characteristic motion of pumping its tail up and down.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wagtail. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wagtail
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