| 释义 |
ˈturn-tail, n. and a.
[f. the verbal phr. turn tail (turn v. 59).]
A. n.
1. One who turns tail; one who abandons or forsakes his former associates or principles; also, a coward. Now rare.
1621R. Brathwait Nat. Embassie, etc. (1877) 301 Thou art the rich mans claw-backe,..Go turne-taile go. a1670Spalding Troub. Chas. I (1850) I. 206 Mony covenanteris proveit turne-taillis throw plane feir, and cam most willinglie into him. 1819Lingard Hist. Eng. i. xix. III. 136 note, Under the penalty of culvertage (culvert, a turn-tail) that is perpetual slavery.
†2. A variety of domestic pigeon. Obs.
1741Compl. Fam.-Piece iii. 512 The Croppers are valuable for their Swell... The Turn-tails for their turning them up almost to their Back.
B. adj. That turns tail.
1861Geo. Eliot Silas M. vi, I aren't a turn-tail cur. |