hightail
UK[ˈhaɪteɪl]US[ˈhaɪteɪl]
v
to leave or move very quickly, especially in order to escape or avoid something
Morpheme Breakdown
high
tail
high
at or to a great height
tail
the hindmost part of an animal
Etymology
the word "hightail" is a distinctly american english verb, originating in the late 19th century from the observation of animals, particularly deer and rabbits, fleeing with their tails held erect. the literal image of an animal's tail held high as it runs at full speed was metaphorically applied to humans or vehicles departing in great haste. this vivid compound word exemplifies how concrete, physical descriptions from the natural world are co-opted into the abstract lexicon of human behavior, creating a dynamic and informal term for rapid retreat.
Analysis
Structure: high + tail
high (old english, meaning "at or to a great height"); tail (old english, meaning "the hindmost part of an animal")
Examples
when the storm clouds gathered, we decided to hightail it back to the cabin.
the thieves hightailed out of the bank as soon as the alarm sounded.
if you see any trouble, just hightail it home.