fishtail

American  

[fish-teyl] / ˈfɪʃˌteɪl /

verb (used without object)

1. to swerve or skid from side to side, as the rear end of a car.

2. to slow an airplane by causing its tail to move rapidly from side to side.

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noun

1. such a maneuver.

2. a gas burner having two jets crossing each other so as to produce a flame resembling a fish's tail.

3. a device having a long, narrow slot at the top, placed over a gas jet, as of a Bunsen burner, to give a thin, fanlike flame.

4. Jewelry.  a setting consisting of four prominent triangular corner prongs to hold the stone.

fishtail British  

/ ˈfɪʃˌteɪl /

noun

1. an aeroplane manoeuvre in which the tail is moved from side to side to reduce speed

2. a nozzle having a long narrow slot at the top, placed over a Bunsen burner to produce a thin fanlike flame

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verb

1. to slow an aeroplane by moving the tail from side to side

2. to drive with the rear of the vehicle moving from side to side in an uncontrolled fashion

Etymology

Origin of fishtail

1400–50; late Middle English. See fish, tail ¹

Example Sentences

The world provides guardrails against our juvenile impulses, particularly the ones we continue to drag behind us as we fishtail into our middle years.

From Washington Post

The technical phase lasts about three minutes with swimmers performing required elements such as the ballet leg, fishtail full twist and barracuda airborne split.

From Los Angeles Times

Already, the photographer told the Liberation daily, “the Mercedes was fishtailing dangerously and the driver didn’t seem to be in control.”

From Seattle Times

My back tire fishtailed, and I found myself heading straight into a pond.

From Washington Post

Video from the scene before the lane closures showed drivers struggling to maintain control of their vehicles, causing some to fishtail.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fluctuate
• lurch
• seesaw
• teeter
• vacillate
• waver
• wobble