tailfirst

American  

[teyl-furst] / ˈteɪlˈfɜrst /

adverb

1. with the tail or rear part foremost.

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Etymology

Origin of tailfirst

First recorded in 1885–90; tail ¹ + first

Example Sentences

It was the first time a spacecraft had ever come back to earth tailfirst, although similar landings have been made on Mars and the moon.

From Time Magazine Archive

With their swept-back wings, forward-mounted canards, or stabilizers, and pusher propellers, they look a little as if they should be moving through the air tailfirst.

From Time Magazine Archive

Connel quickly cut back the nose braking rockets and again opened the main drive rockets as the ship plummeted tailfirst toward the surface of Mars.

From Sabotage in Space by Glanzman, Louis

The sleek ship began to settle tailfirst toward its destination—Space Academy, U.S.A.

From The Revolt on Venus by Glanzman, Louis

Behind him, Vidac and Governor Hardy watched the surface of Roald as the Polaris began to turn for her tailfirst landing.

From The Space Pioneers by Glanzman, Louis