top and tail

top and tail (plural tops and tails)

1. The top and bottom of something.

top and tail (third-person singular simple present tops and tails or top and tails, present participle topping and tailing or top and tailing, simple past and past participle topped and tailed or top and tailed)

1. (transitive) To add to the beginning and end of (something), such as the salutation and valediction added to a letter.
2. (transitive) To remove the top and bottom of (an item), for example when preparing carrots for cooking.
3. (transitive, broadcasting) To set the limits of (an audio tape recording, a digital video file, etc.) by adding physical markers or by trimming unwanted portions.
   • 2002, Carole Fleming, The Radio Handbook, page 128:

     They are retrieved when needed, topped and tailed ready for use, and stored on the newsroom system […]

   • 2013, Jeff Burger, Springsteen on Springsteen:

     “Roger—a lovely man, great DJ, and huge Bruce fan—got the interview for [London's] Capital Radio,” rock journalist Patrick Humphries told me. “He liked the Springsteen book I'd done so I transcribed the tape and topped and tailed it. […]

4. (transitive, colloquial) To bathe (a small child) in a minimal way by wiping its face and bottom.
5. (transitive, rail transport, UK) To provide (a train) with a locomotive at each end, for ease of reversal.
   • 2018, Nicholas Wilcock, Arriva Trains Wales:

     All services to Rhymney were top and tailed by locos that had been associated with the line over the years; namely, Classes 33, 37, 47 and 50.

   • 2021 October 6, “News in pictures: Final journey for damaged Class 507”, in RAIL, number 941, page 30, photo caption:

     Railway Support Services repaired the damaged drawgear to enable the unit to be top-and-tailed to Peel Ports' Alexandra Dock (Liverpool) by Rail Operations Group 57310 and 57312, [...].