whitetail
UK: ˈwaɪt.teɪl | US: ˈwaɪt.teɪl
n. a deer (especially the Virginia deer) with a tail that is white on the underside
n. informal term for the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
The word "whitetail" is a straightforward compound of "white" (from Old English hwīt, meaning "bright" or "colorless") and "tail" (from Old English tægl, meaning "appendage"). It directly describes the distinctive white underside of the deer’s tail, a key identifying feature of the species. The term emerged in American English to colloquially name the white-tailed deer, emphasizing this visible trait.
A whitetail bounded across the meadow, its tail flashing white as it ran.
Hunters often track whitetails during the autumn season.
The whitetail is one of the most common deer species in North America.
We spotted a young whitetail grazing near the forest edge.
The whitetail’s tail serves as a warning signal to other deer.