ˈturn-tailn.adj.
A. n.† 2. A variety of domestic pigeon. Obsolete.
1. One who turns tail; one who abandons or forsakes his former associates or principles; also, a coward. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > [noun] > desertion of one's party or principles > one who
renay1340
apostate1362
renegatec1450
starter1519
reniant1532
changeling1539
rannigala1560
recreant1570
turncoat1570
renegado1573
start-away1574
off-faller?1575
start-back1579
departer1586
reneger1597
retrospicientc1600
runagadea1604
renegade1611
turn-tail1621
runagado1623
trip-coata1625
retrogredient1650
retrograde1651
tergiversator1716
rat1755
ratter1819
tergiversant1833
blackleg1844
strike-breaker1904
faller-out1964
1621 R. Brathwait Natures Embassie (1877) 301 Thou art the rich mans claw-backe,..Go turne-taile go.
c1650 J. Spalding Memorialls Trubles Scotl. & Eng. (1850) I. 206 Mony covenanteris proveit turne-taillis throw plane feir, and cam most willinglie into him.
1819 J. Lingard Hist. Eng. III. i. xix. 136 (note) Under the penalty of culvertage (culvert, a turn-tail) that is perpetual slavery.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > domestic pigeon > [noun] > other types
porcelainc1530
turn-pate1611
light horseman1661
runt1661
smiter1668
helmet1676
mammet1678
Cortbeck1688
turbit1688
turner1688
dragoon1725
finicking1725
Leghorn1725
nun1725
owl1725
petit1725
trumpeter1725
horseman1735
Mahomet1735
barbel1736
turn-tail1736
frill-back1765
blue rock1825
beard1826
ice pigeon1829
toy1831
black1839
skinnum1839
splash1851
whole-feather1851
spangle1854
swallow1854
shield1855
stork pigeon1855
Swabian1855
yellow1855
archangel1867
dragon1867
starling1867
magpie1868
smerle1869
bluette1870
cumulet1876
oriental1876
spot fairy1876
turbiteen1876
blondinette1879
hyacinth1879
Modena pigeon1879
silver-dun1879
silverette1879
silver-mealy1879
swift pigeon1879
Victoria1879
visor1879
ice1881
swallow pigeon1881
velvet fairy1881
priesta1889
frill1890
1736 Compl. Family-piece iii. 444 The Crappers are valuable for their Swell... The Turn-Tails for their turning them up almost to their Back.
B. adj.
That turns tail.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > cowardice or pusillanimity > [adjective] > abjectly cowardly
recrayedc1330
recreantc1330
craven?a1400
poor1425
currishc1460
fazart1508
soulless1568
dastardly1576
beastly1584
dastard1595
low-spirited1598
peaking1611
white meata1625
cur-like1627
snivelling1647
cravenly1653
base-mettled1681
niding1755
poltroonish1801
niddering1819
turn-tail1861
turpid1867
cold-footed1944
Charley1954
1861 ‘G. Eliot’ Silas Marner vi. 104 I aren't a turn-tail cur.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
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n.adj.1621