subs. phr. (old).—1. See quot. 1544.
1544. ASCHAM, Toxophilus [GILES, ii. 130]. Having two points or barbs, looking backward to the stele and the feathers, which surely we call in English a broad arrow head, or a SWALLOW-TAIL.
1828. SCOTT, The Fair Maid of Perth, ii. 223. The English then strode forward,… and sent off their volleys of SWALLOW-TAILS before we could call on St. Andrew.
2. (nautical).—The points of a burgee.
3. (common).—A dress coat; a STEEL-PEN COAT (q.v.).
1886. Referee, 29 Aug. He is stripped of his SWALLOW-TAIL and his pseudonym, and marched off to the guard-room again.
1888. BESANT, Fifty Years Ago, 50. Here is one of the new police, with blue SWALLOW-TAIL COAT tightly buttoned, and white trousers.
1902. LYNCH, Unseen Hand, i. He passed his hand caressingly over the lapel of an immaculate SWALLOW-TAIL.
4. (? punning nonce word).—A tongue always wagging.
1690. D’URFEY, Collin’s Walk through London and Westminster, i.
| He’d tire your ears with pentagons … | |
| And all your out-works would assail, | |
| With his eternal SWALLOWS TAIL. |
