foxtail

English
foxtail, attached to fox
a meadow foxtail grass head (Alopecurus pratensis)

Etymology

From Middle English fox-tail, equivalent to fox +‎ tail.

Noun

foxtail (plural foxtails)

  1. The tail of a fox.
  2. A dry spikelet or spikelet seed and flower cluster of some grasses
  3. A plant having a part resembling the tail of a fox or such spikelet.
    1. Any of various grasses having bushy seed spikelets that resemble the tail of a fox
      Look at the foxtails growing along the road.
      1. species of genus Alopecurus, foxtail grasses.
      2. species of Setaria, foxtail millets.
      3. Bromus madritensis, foxtail brome.
      4. Hordeum jubatum, foxtail barley.
    2. Acalypha hispida, chenille plant.
    3. Lycopodiella alopecuroides, foxtail clubmoss.
    4. Wodyetia bifurcata, foxtail palm.
    5. The orchid Rhynchostylis retusa.
  4. (metallurgy) The last cinders obtained in the fining process.[1]

Derived terms

Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

References
  1. Rossiter W[orthington] Raymond (1881) “Foxtail”, in A Glossary of Mining and Metallurgical Terms. […], Easton, Pa.: [American] Institute [of Mining Engineers], […], →OCLC.

Further reading
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