ˈblack-tail
† 1. A sea fish not identified; the µελάνουρος, melanurus, of ancient writers. Obs.
| 1661 Lovell Hist. Anim. & Min. 232 Black-taile, Melanurus..Was counted a poore fish. |
2. A name for certain varieties of the perch.
| 1734 Mortimer in Phil. Trans. XXXVIII. 316 Perca marina, cauda nigra, the Black-Tail. |
3. The black-tailed deer. Also attrib. with deer, buck. U.S.
| 1828 H. G. Rogers Jrnl. 20 June in H. C. Dale Ashley-Smith Explor. (1918) 259, I killed a fine black tail buck. 1848 J. W. Abert Exam. New Mexico 23 Of the latter there are two varieties, the common deer, and the black tail. 1872 Schele de Vere Americanisms 371 The variety found on the Pacific coast (Cervus columbianus) is more commonly designated as the Black-tail Deer, from the black tip to its tail. 1895 Outing (U.S.) XXVII. 45/2 We..had two large black-tail bucks and a doe. |
4. = dassie n.2 S. Afr.
| 1905 East London Dispatch 29 July 7/3 A few friends, fishing in the Buffalo River..had some excellent sport, taking..black-tail of about 21/2 lbs. 1906 Ibid. 6 Mar. 7/5 The biggest I caught on these rocks was a fine dasje (black-tail) weighing 7½ lbs. |