Ducktail

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈdʌkˌteɪl/

Definitions

1. A grooming style where the hair is styled backward and converges into a pointed shape at the neck that gives a polished appearance This fashion hairstyle is reminiscent of vintage looks with a tapered back portion A distinctive hair design that features slicked back sections meeting in a narrow point at the base of the head for a chic aesthetic
2. A hairstyle where the hair is combed backwards and narrows to a V-shaped point at the nape
3. Hair arranged smoothly backwards so that it forms a tapered tail-like shape at the back of the head

Etymology: The ducktail is named for its shape, not for any connection to the bird's behaviour. The hairstyle, in which hair is swept back at the sides and tapers to a point at the nape, is simply a compound of "duck" and "tail," and the image is that of a duck's tail-feathers coming to a tapering point. The bird is the source of the picture, and the word is built the plain way English builds most of its descriptive compounds. The style's appeal lies in its silhouette. Its name is literal: the hair at the back is brought together and shaped into a rear point that resembles the upturned tail of a duck. Because the image comes from the shape rather than from a figure or event, the word carries no story beyond its own two parts, and the picture it asks you to form is the same one the compound already describes.