tail- noun
- tail
- tail shaped piece of land
- verb cut the tail off, especially turnips ☞ “We tailed twa three dreel o neeps afore denner”
- tail girdeen that part of a horse’s harness which goes under the tail
- tail puddeen very fatty type of mealy pudding used to counteract the effect of alcohol
The fiddler who played at a wedding feast was traditionally met at the yard slap (gate) and had to eat a tail puddeen to ensure that he remained sober for a reasonable period of time. - tail sweepers
The last couple at the end of a wedding procession who, with besoms, removed the evidence of the party and prevented evil spirits following in their train. This couple were doomed to remain unmarried for a year. - Taily Day • Taileen Day second day of April (It was common throughout Orkney until fairly recently to pin a tail secretly on someone as a prank)
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