ringtail noun. ['rɪŋteɪl] Also ring-tail, (in sense 4) ring tail [also rɪŋ 'teɪl]. M16.
[from RING noun¹ + TAIL noun¹.]
1. a. A female harrier (formerly mistaken for a separate species). M16.
b. More fully ringtail eagle. = RING-TAILED eagle. L18.

2. Nautical. A small triangular gaff topsail; a small triangular sail set on the stern of a vessel to form a self-steering device. M18.
attrib.: ringtail boom, ringtail sail etc.

3. A ring-tailed animal; spec. (more fully ringtail possum) any of several possums of Australia and New Guinea of the genus Pseudocheirus and related genera, which have a prehensile tail. L18.

4. A dog's tail which is curled so as to form nearly a complete circle. L19.

5. A worthless or irritable person; a hobo. US slang. E20.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲