🎣 A fishing lure 🦌 Deer tail hair 🏛️ A political group member

bucktail

9.9

A member or supporter of an early 1800s New York political group called the Bucktails

noun
/ˈbʌkˌteɪl/

Formal

: bucktail

Many bucktails were active during the 19th century in New York.

Examples

Many historians study the influence of the bucktail faction on American democracy.
A bucktail is a supporter of a historical faction.
In the early 1800s, he became a prominent bucktail advocating for political reform in New York.
The bucktail movement played a significant role in shaping state politics during that era.
The Bucktails were known for their strong influence in New York's politics during the 19th century.
Many members of the Bucktails promoted reform and change in government during their time.
As a devoted Bucktail, he actively participated in political meetings and rallies.

Surface Forms

bucktail singular

bucktails plural

Morphology

bucktail = buck + tail (opaque) = buck + tail

Although the word historically refers to an actual buck's tail, the sense 'member or supporter of a political faction' is not derivable by standard compounding rules for most learners.

Etymology

The word bucktail was used for a member of a 19th century New York political group who wore a deer's tail as a badge. It comes from buck ('male deer') and tail, and that badge made the name stand for a supporter of that faction.