tailpiece

American  

[teyl-pees] / ˈteɪlˌpis /

noun

1. a piece added at the end; an end piece or appendage.

2. Printing. a small decorative design at the end of a chapter or at the bottom of a page.

3. (in a musical instrument of the viol family) a triangular piece of wood, usually of ebony, to which the lower ends of the strings are fastened.

4. Also called tail beam.  Building Trades. a relatively short beam or rafter inserted in a wall by tailing and supported by a header.

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tailpiece British  

/ ˈteɪlˌpiːs /

noun

1. an extension or appendage that lengthens or completes something

2. printing a decorative design at the foot of a page or end of a chapter

3. music a piece of wood to which the strings of a violin, etc, are attached at their lower end. It is suspended between the taut strings and the bottom of the violin by a piece of gut or metal

4. Also called: tail beam.  architect a short beam or rafter that has one end embedded in a wall

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Etymology

Origin of tailpiece

First recorded in 1595–1605; tail ¹ + piece

Example Sentences

It’s easy to remove the control rod by turning a nut on the tailpiece pipe.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 27, 2023

For the solo, John simply wailed on the guitar, executing a series of power chords as Douglas, sitting nearby, reached over and worked the instrument's Bigsby tailpiece.

From Salon • Jan. 24, 2021

You can also unscrew the nut on the back of the tailpiece, remove the lever that lifts the stopper and clear out all the obstructions.

From Washington Post • Feb. 18, 2020

The 3DVarius’ tuning pegs have been moved from the top of the neck to the bottom of the instrument’s body, near the tailpiece.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2018

If I were a Bewick, I have in mind a little tailpiece for this chapter.

From The Bonadventure A Random Journal of an Atlantic Holiday by Blunden, Edmund

Related Words

• cartoon
• decoration
• depiction
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