WordGarden.iofantail
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /fˈɑːnteɪl/
US
- /ˈfænˌteɪl/
Meanings
Noun
a bird with a broad fan-shaped tail
a tail, end, or part spread out like a fan
the overhanging stern or rear deck area of a ship
More meaningsFewer meanings
a variety of goldfish with a wide fanlike tail fin
Adjective
prepared by splitting and flattening shrimp into a fan shape
Beyond the definition
A fantail can refer to a few different things, all linked by the image of a tail or shape spread out like a fan. Most often, it means a small bird with a wide, fanned tail, especially one known for quick, lively movements. It can also mean a type of goldfish with a flowing double tail. On a ship, the fantail is the deck area at the very back. In some older or more special uses, it can also describe something with a fan-like shape in design or structure.
The word "fantail" comes from the image of a tail spread out like an open fan. One common meaning is a small bird with a broad, fanned tail. This use is especially familiar in places such as New Zealand and Australia, where birds like the grey fantail are well known for their quick flight and constant tail movements as they chase insects.
The word is also used for a type of goldfish with a rounded body and a flowing double tail. In maritime language, the fantail is the part of a ship at the stern, often the aft deck area that extends across the back. Because the word is strongly tied to shape, it can also appear in design or architecture for things that spread outward in a fan-like form.
Across these uses, the idea stays the same: something that opens, spreads, or flares like a fan. Whether you are talking about a lively bird, a fancy goldfish, or the back end of a ship, "fantail" keeps that same clear visual picture.
Examples
- 1
Bird appearance
A fantail landed on the fence and flicked its tail open.
- 2
Garden wildlife
We watched two fantails dart through the garden, catching insects as they flew.
- 3
Night feeding
In the evening, a fantail kept circling the porch light for moths.
See also
Similar
- fan-tailed bird
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- pied fantail
- gray fantail
- fantail bird
Explore
- fan-shaped tail
- flycatcher
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- fantailnoun