subs. (sporting).—1. A greyhound: hence, as dogs unqualified to hunt were curtailed, gentlefolk.
1596. SHAKESPEARE, Merry Wives of Windsor, iii. 4. Come cut and LONGTAIL under the degree of a squire.
1662. Rump Songs, ii. 126. But LONG-TAIL and bob-tail can never agree.
1885. Graphic, 17 Oct., 427/2. Greyhounds, as all coursers know, are often designated as LONG-TAILS.
2. (sporting).—A pheasant.
1854. F. E. SMEDLEY, Harry Coverdale’s Courtship, ch. xxiii. In the meantime, Harry and the Colonel were blazing away at the LONG-TAILS most unmercifully.
1871. Standard, 6 Nov. The period of the year at which we have now arrived is quite as important as the advent of the month sounding the note of war against the ‘birds,’ or initiating the campaign against the LONG-TAILS.
3. (old).—A native of Kent.
1628. Robin Good-fellow [HALLIWELL & WRIGHT], s.v. Truly, sir, sayd my hoastesse, I thinke we are called LONG-TAYLES, by reason our tales are long, that we use to passe the time withall, and make our selves merry.
1662. Rump Songs, ii. 47. I shall not dispute whether LONG-TAILS of Kent.
1701. Broadside (in Dulwich College Library), ‘Advice to the Kentish LONG-TAILS by the Wise Men of Gotham’ [Title].
4. (old).—See quot.
1755. JOHNSON, A Dictionary of the English Language, s.v. LONGTAIL, a canting term for, one or another.
