pintail

American  

[pin-teyl] / ˈpɪnˌteɪl /

noun

plural

pintails,

plural

pintail

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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Etymology

Origin of pintail

First recorded in 1760–70; pin + tail ¹

Example Sentences

A Northern pintail duck was also killed by the fox, and three other flamingos were hurt and were treated at the zoo’s veterinary hospital.

From Washington Post • May 13, 2022

A wild fox killed 25 American flamingos and one Northern pintail duck Monday after breaking into an exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in the District of Columbia.

From Washington Times • May 4, 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