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Having a short, thick tail. Stump-tailed lizard (Zoöl.), a singular Australian scincoid lizard (Trachydosaurus rugosus) having a short, thick tail resembling its head in form; -- called also sleeping lizard.

Having a tail like that of a swallow; hence, like a swallow's tail in form; having narrow and tapering or pointed skirts; as, a swallow- tailed coat.

A kind of tenon or tongue used in making joints. See Dovetail.

The thrasher, or fox shark. See Thrasher.

The limulus.

A worm which has its tail conspicuously colored.

The spotted sandpiper. See the Note under Sandpiper.

A beautiful South American humming bird (Gouldia Popelairii), having the six outer tail feathers long, slender, and pointed. The head is ornamented with a long, pointed crest.

lackish when dead. Its dorsal and anal fins are long, and extend back on each side of the tail. It has large silvery scales which are used in the manufacture of fancy work. Called also, locally, black perch, grouper, and flasher.

A round or curled-up tail; also, a dog with such a tail. Shak.

An old game at cards. [Obs.]

et which is intended for the admission of air, -- sometimes in the visor. Spenser. Her ventail up so high that he descried Her goodly visage and her beauty's pride. Fairfax.

Food; victuals. [Obs.] Piers Plowman. Chaucer.

ed genera of the family Motacillidæ. They have the habit of constantly jerking their long tails up and down, whence the name. Field wagtail, any one of several species of wagtails of the genus Budytes having the tail shorter, the legs longer, and the hind claw longer and straighter, than do the water wagtails. Most of…

See under Wagtail.

Having a tail which has the middle pair of feathers longest, the rest successively and decidedly shorter, and all more or less attenuate; -- said of certain birds. See Illust. of Wood hoopoe, under Wood. Wedge-tailed eagle, an Australian eagle (Aquila audax) which feeds on various small species of kangaroos, and on lam…

The Virginia deer.

Having some or all of the tail quills terminated in a long, slender, pointed shaft, without a web or barbules.

Any one of several species of marine carangoid fishes of the genus Seriola; especially, the large California species (S. dorsalis) which sometimes weighs thirty or forty pounds, and is highly esteemed as a food fish; -- called also cavasina, and white salmon.

To make shorter; to shorten in duration; to lessen; to diminish; to curtail; as, to abridge labor; to abridge power or rights. "The bridegroom . . . abridged his visit." Smollett. She retired herself to Sebaste, and abridged her train from state to necessity. Fuller.