shirttail

American  

[shurt-teyl] / ˈʃɜrtˌteɪl /

noun

1. the part of a shirt below the waistline.

2. Journalism.  a brief item added at the end of a related newspaper story.

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adjective

1. quite young and immature in behavior.

2. Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S.  of distant relation, especially by marriage.

   some shirttail cousins I'd never met.

verb (used with object)

1. Informal.  to append or add (an item) to a discussion or writing.

   The tariff concessions were shirttailed onto the trade bill.

Etymology

Origin of shirttail

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; shirt + tail ¹

Example Sentences

Her numbers accelerate upwards, with eight million followers and counting clinging to her shirttails.

From BBC

Unless someone put him to rights, he might show up for a speech with his shirttail out, or wearing his lunch on his tie.

From Los Angeles Times

Like, ‘No, no, let that moment be messy. Let the shirttails hang out,’” Lewis said.

From New York Times

He chuckled, his buoyant, lisp-tinged laughter calling to mind fluttering shirttails.

From New York Times

He broke one tackle — tight end Demetrius Harris had his shirttail at one point — and outran several others behind a wall of blockers.

From Seattle Times