fantail

noun

fan·​tail ˈfan-ˌtāl How to pronounce fantail (audio)
1
: a fan-shaped tail or end
2
: a domestic pigeon having a broad rounded tail often with 30 or 40 feathers
3
: an architectural part resembling a fan
4
: a counter or after overhang of a ship shaped like a duck's bill

Examples of fantail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Other sailors set up a medical triage on the fantail. — Brendan Quinn, The Athletic, 1 July 2024 That day only one or two neophytes had stood on the fantail to watch the launch, and to see Alvin sink into the abyss, untethered, for the 2,428th time. — Robert Kunzig, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fantail was in 1728

Rhymes for fantail

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Cite this Entry

“Fantail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fantail. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fantail

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