| 释义 |
ˈbang-ˈtail
[cf. bang v. 8 c.]
A (horse's) tail, of which the hair is allowed to grow to a considerable length and then cut horizontally across so as to form a flat even tassel-like end. Also, a horse or other animal (in Australia, esp. cattle) whose tail has been cut in this way; in U.S. slang, any horse, esp. a race-horse; bang-tail muster: in Australia, a round-up of cattle during which the tuft at the end of the tail is cut straight across as the cattle are counted. Hence bang-tailed ppl. a.
1861Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. vi. (D.) ‘These bang-tailed little sinners any good?’ said Drysdale, throwing some cock-a-bondies across the table. 1870Daily News 19 July 6 A good mare with a bang tail. 1887W. S. S. Tyrwhitt New Chum in Queensland Bush iii. 61 Every third or fourth year on a cattle station, they have what is called a ‘bang tail muster’; that is to say, all the cattle are brought into the yards, and have the long hairs at the end of the tail cut off square, with knives or sheep-shears... The object of it is, to..find out the actual number of cattle on the run. 1921Collier's 27 Aug. 20/2 If by some miracle the bangtail wins—beat it! 1927M. M. Bennett Christison xxv. 223 In a bang-tail muster each animal was put through the yards and counted, the tip of hair on its tail being cut off square. |