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Glite Dictionary
kite tail

kite tail

2.1
A strip attached to the end of a kite to keep it steady in the air
  • noun
  • /kaɪt teɪl/
translation icon : cola de cometa
  • The added kite tail helped stabilize the kite in the strong wind.

Examples

  • Without a kite tail, the kite spun out of control and crashed.

  • I bought a new kite tail for my kite.

  • He made a colorful kite tail out of ribbons to decorate his homemade kite.

  • The kite tail fluttered in the wind.

  • The added kite tail helped stabilize the kite in the strong wind.

  • He made a colorful kite tail out of ribbons to decorate his homemade kite.

  • Without a kite tail, the kite spun out of control and crashed.

Synonyms

tail
vskite tail
421 1.0

The rear part of an animal or object that sticks out at the end

is specifically a strip attached to a flying object to provide balance and stability

Surface Forms

kite tail singular
kite tails plural

Morphology

kite + tail

The meaning 'a strip attached to the end of a kite for balance' is directly derivable from the constituents: 'kite' (a flying frame) + 'tail' (a rear appendage or trailing part), since 'tail' commonly denotes a trailing appendage on objects. This is a literal, cross-linguistically common noun–noun composition, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Kite tail comes from the simple picture of a tail on a kite: people tie long strips or ribbons to the kite's end so their weight and the air's pull keep the kite steady. So, a kite tail means a strip added to give the kite 'balance' and stop it from spinning.