sb. and a. [f. the verbal phr. turn tail (TURN v. 59).]
A. sb. 1. One who turns tail; one who abandons or forsakes his former associates or principles; also, a coward. Now rare.
1621. Brathwait, Nat. Embassie, etc. (1877), 301. Thou art the rich mans claw-backe,… Go turne-taile go.
a. 1670. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1850), I. 206. Mony covenanteris proveit turne-taillis throw plane feir, and cam most willinglie into him.
1819. Lingard, Hist. Eng., I. xix. III. 136, note. Under the penalty of culvertage (culvert, a turn-tail) that is perpetual slavery.
† 2. A variety of domestic pigeon. Obs.
1741. Compl. Fam.-Piece, III. 512. The Croppers are valuable for their Swell…. The Turn-tails for their turning them up almost to their Back.
B. adj. That turns tail.
1861. Geo. Eliot, Silas M., vi. I aren’t a turn-tail cur.
