coattail
UK[ˈkəʊt.teɪl]US[ˈkoʊt.teɪl]
n
The lower back flap of a man's formal jacket or coat.
n
Used in the phrase "on the coattails of" to mean benefiting from the success or popularity of someone else.
Morpheme Breakdown
coat
tail
coat
tail
Etymology
The word "coattail" is a straightforward compound noun formed from two Old English and Germanic roots. It literally describes the tail-like flap at the rear of a coat, a design element common in 18th and 19th-century men's formalwear. The metaphorical sense, emerging in the mid-19th century, leverages the image of a person holding onto the coattails of another to be pulled along. This evolved into the modern political and social idiom "on the coattails of," denoting the act of gaining advantage through association with a more powerful or successful figure.
Analysis
Structure: coat + tail
- coat (Old French 'cote', of Germanic origin): A garment worn on the upper body.
- tail (Old English 'tægl'): The hindmost part of an animal.
Examples
He grabbed the coattail of the man in front to avoid getting lost in the crowd.
The candidate won the election largely on the coattails of the popular presidential nominee.
Many smaller companies rode the coattails of the tech giant's innovative success.