tailpiece

[ teyl-pees ]

noun

1. a piece added at the end; an end piece or appendage.
2. Printing. a small decorative design at the end of a chapter or at the bottom of a page.
3. (in a musical instrument of the viol family) a triangular piece of wood, usually of ebony, to which the lower ends of the strings are fastened.
4. Also called tail beam. Building Trades. a relatively short beam or rafter inserted in a wall by tailing and supported by a header.

tailpiece

/ ˈteɪlˌpiːs /

noun

1. an extension or appendage that lengthens or completes something
2. printing a decorative design at the foot of a page or end of a chapter
3. music a piece of wood to which the strings of a violin, etc, are attached at their lower end. It is suspended between the taut strings and the bottom of the violin by a piece of gut or metal
4. Also calledtail beam architect a short beam or rafter that has one end embedded in a wall

Word History and Origins

Origin of tailpiece¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; tail ¹ + piece

Example Sentences

As a tailpiece to this portion of the subject it is a pleasure to introduce a freak among the native orchards, as shown in Fig. 3.

From Project Gutenberg

They were stretched between the yoke and bridge, or to a tailpiece below the bridge.

From Project Gutenberg

Each mat has a red border at its lower end, which forms a satisfactory tailpiece, and unites it with the straight lath.

From Project Gutenberg

He was not content, like many, with sticking on a tailpiece of application at the end of a long discourse.

From Project Gutenberg

For example, here is a little tailpiece of Bewick's, to the fable of the Frogs and the Stork.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cartoon
• decoration
• depiction
• engraving
• etching
• image
• painting
• photo
• photograph
• picture
• sketch
• snapshot
• vignette