wagtail

[ wag-teyl ]

/ ˈwægˌteɪl /

noun

any of numerous small, chiefly Old World birds of the family Motacillidae, having a slender body with a long, narrow tail that is habitually wagged up and down.

any of several similar birds, as the water thrushes of the genus Seiurus.

Origin of wagtail

First recorded in 1500–10; wag + tail¹

Words nearby wagtail

wagonage, wagoner, wagonette, wagonload, wagram, wagtail, wagyu, wah-wah, wahhabi, wahhabism, wahiawa

Example sentences from the Web for wagtail

The careless gesture reminded him of the matchless grace of the wagtail.

The Promise of Air |Algernon Blackwood
Wagtail and Gelid had followed me on deck, and were now assisting their servants in putting the muskets in order.

Hair Breadth Escapes |T. S. Arthur
Wagtail, too, was soon 98 obliged to beat a retreat, but Gelid remained firm as a rock.

Hair Breadth Escapes |T. S. Arthur
The ceaseless wagging of a wagtail is a mere habit of cheerfulness, like the twirling of her thumbs by an idle Scotswoman.

Concerning Animals and Other Matters |E.H. Aitken, (AKA Edward Hamilton)

A dull-coloured bird like a wagtail in shape, but with a shorter tail, which it sometimes wags in a half-hearted manner.

Indian Birds |Douglas Dewar

British Dictionary definitions for wagtail

wagtail

/ (ˈwæɡˌteɪl) /

noun

any of various passerine songbirds of the genera Motacilla and Dendronanthus, of Eurasia and Africa, having a very long tail that wags when the bird walks: family Motacillidae

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

wagtail

noun

Origin of wagtail

Words nearby wagtail

Example sentences from the Web for wagtail

British Dictionary definitions for wagtail

noun

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

wagtail

noun

Origin of wagtail

Words nearby wagtail

Example sentences from the Web for wagtail

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noun

British Dictionary definitions for wagtail