shirttail

[shurt-teyl]

noun

1. the part of a shirt below the waistline.

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

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of shirttail¹

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.

Read more on BBC

We rented it from some shirttail cousin on my father’s side.

Read more on Literature

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on New York Times

Before emerging from cover, I made sure my shirttails and tzitzis were tucked in and smoothed down my shirt and waistcoat.

Read more on Literature