tale/tail

tale (tāl)

Noun

• A recital of events or happenings; a report or revelation: told us a long tale of woe.
• A malicious story, piece of gossip, or petty complaint.
• A deliberate lie; a falsehood.
• A narrative of real or imaginary events; a story.

tail (tāl)

Noun

• The posterior part of an animal, especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body.
• The bottom, rear, or hindmost part: the tail of a shirt.
• The rear end of a wagon or other vehicle.
• The rear portion of the fuselage of an aircraft.

Adjective

• Of or relating to a tail or tails: tail feathers.
• Situated in the tail, as of an airplane: a tail gunner.

Verb. Transitive

• To provide with a tail: tail a kite.
• To deprive of a tail; dock.
• To serve as the tail of: The Santa Claus float tailed the parade.
• To connect (often dissimilar or incongruous objects) by or as if by the tail or end: tail two ideas together.

Verb. Intransitive

• To become lengthened or spaced when moving in a line: The patrol tailed out in pairs.
• Informal. To follow: tailed after the leader.