pintail

American  

[pin-teyl] / ˈpɪnˌteɪl /

noun

pintails, plural pintail plural

1. a long-necked river duck, Anas acuta, of the Old and New Worlds, having long and narrow middle tail feathers.

2. sharp-tailed grouse.

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pintail British  

/ ˈpɪnˌteɪl /

noun

1. a greyish-brown duck, Anas acuta, with slender pointed wings and a pointed tail

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• pintail
  plural
• pintails
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pintail

First recorded in 1760–70; pin + tail ¹

Example Sentences

Northern pintail ducks are common, but their population is declining, The Cornell Lab reported.

From Washington Times • May 4, 2022

The zoo said a Northern pintail duck was also killed by the fox and three other flamingos were hurt and were being treated at the zoo’s veterinary hospital.

From Washington Post • May 3, 2022

As the Prairie Pothole Region goes, so goes the northern pintail.

From Slate • May 10, 2018

First last August come the iconic northern pintail, an elegant duck, with its needle tail and long, slim profile.

From National Geographic • Jul. 16, 2015

Frightful might have remained with them had not a flock of pintail ducks come down on the shore below.

From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George