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oxtail

American  
[oks-teyl] / ˈɒksˌteɪl /

noun

  1. the skinned tail of an ox or steer, used as an ingredient in soup, stew, etc.


oxtail British  
/ ˈɒksˌteɪl /

noun

  1. the skinned tail of an ox, used esp in soups and stews

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of oxtail

First recorded in 1675–85; ox + tail 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I think the first time I went, they had a really good oxtail mac and cheese.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Options range from $19 wagyu oxtail patties to a $48 grilled pork chop served with crab butter, grilled mango and a jus flavored with kuchela, a Trinidadian green-mango relish.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

The organisation runs a weekly community meal on Tuesday for about 60 adults and Mr Price said attendees will see beef and oxtail soup become part of the menu.

From BBC • May 24, 2025

When they added a Haitian food truck, people drove from an hour away for freshly cooked oxtail, fried plantains and marinated pork.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 8, 2024

This evening they had supped on oxtail soup, summer greens tossed with pecans, grapes, red fennel, and crumbled cheese, hot crab pie, spiced squash, and quails drowned in butter.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin