1. a hairstyle in which the hair is cut short except for a long thin section at the back of the neck
Usage: informal
2. a type of file with a long thin tapered end used for filing in narrow spaces
Usage: technical
3. any of various fish with long thin tails, especially grenadiers
Usage: zoology

Examples

• He wore his hair in a rattail throughout middle school.
• The mechanic used a rattail file to smooth the metal edges.
• Deep-sea rattails are found in ocean trenches around the world.
• Her brother’s rattail hung down to his shoulders.
• The jeweler reached for a rattail to file the tiny clasp.
• Rattail fish are an important part of the deep ocean ecosystem.