tail-end
tail-end
UK[ˌteɪl ˈend]US[ˌteɪl ˈend]
n
The final or hindmost part of something, especially when it is less important or less active.
n
The concluding period or stage of an event or process.
Morpheme Breakdown
tail
end
tail
hindmost part
end
extremity
Etymology
The compound 'tail-end' is a tautological reinforcement, combining two native English words of Germanic origin that both signify finality. 'Tail' derives from the Proto-Germanic taglaz, referring to the projecting appendage at the rear of an animal, which became a metaphor for anything situated at the back. 'End' comes from the Proto-Germanic andijaz, denoting a limit or boundary. Their combination, first recorded in the late 16th century, creates a vivid and emphatic image for the very last part of a sequence, object, or period, intensifying the sense of conclusion or remoteness.
Analysis
Structure: tail (hindmost part) + end (extremity)
tail: From Old English tægl, tagl (tail of an animal, hindmost part). Germanic origin.
end: From Old English ende (end, limit, boundary, conclusion). Germanic origin.
Examples
He always arrives at the tail-end of the meeting.
The interesting news was buried in the tail-end of the report.
She suffered from a cold during the tail-end of her vacation.