mare's-tail: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialist/Formal
Quick answer
What does “mare's-tail” mean?
A tall, slender marsh or aquatic plant (genus Hippuris) with whorls of narrow leaves resembling a horse's tail.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tall, slender marsh or aquatic plant (genus Hippuris) with whorls of narrow leaves resembling a horse's tail.
1. (Meteorology) Long, straight cirrus clouds that resemble a horse's tail, often indicating an approaching weather front. 2. A historical term for a woman's hairstyle where the hair is drawn back tightly and fastened to hang down the back.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant dialectal differences in meaning. Both varieties use the term in botany and meteorology.
Connotations
The term is equally neutral and descriptive in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency and specialised in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “mare's-tail” in a Sentence
The [noun] was fringed with mare's-tails.[Mare's-tail] [verb] in the shallow water.The sky was streaked with [mare's-tail].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mare's-tail” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The mare's-tail reeds swayed gently.
American English
- A mare's-tail cloud formation appeared on the horizon.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in botanical, ecological, and meteorological papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used by gardeners, naturalists, or sailors discussing weather signs.
Technical
Standard term in botany for Hippuris species and in meteorology for a specific cloud formation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mare's-tail”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mare's-tail”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mare's-tail”
- Misspelling as 'mares tail' (without apostrophe or hyphen).
- Confusing it with the more common plant 'horsetail' (Equisetum), which is a different genus.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a hyphenated compound noun: mare's-tail. The plural is mare's-tails.
Historically, yes, but this usage is now archaic. Modern English would use 'ponytail' for a similar hairstyle.
In botany, they are different plants. 'Mare's-tail' refers to Hippuris, an aquatic plant. 'Horsetail' usually refers to Equisetum, a land plant that is a living fossil.
They are a sign of changing weather, often indicating the approach of a warm front and potentially wet and windy conditions within a day or so.
A tall, slender marsh or aquatic plant (genus Hippuris) with whorls of narrow leaves resembling a horse's tail.
Mare's-tail is usually specialist/formal in register.
Mare's-tail: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmeəzteɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmerzteɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'Mare's-tails and mackerel scales make lofty ships carry low sails.' (Weather proverb)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A MARE is a female horse; its TAIL is long and wispy. The plant and the clouds look just like that.
Conceptual Metaphor
FORM IS SHAPE (The plant/clouds are understood via their visual similarity to a horse's tail).
Practice
Quiz
In which two primary fields is the term 'mare's-tail' used as a technical term?