Brewer's: Tails

The men of Kent are born with tails, as a punishment for the murder of Thomas á Becket. (Lambert: Peramb.) (See the Spectator, 173.)

“For Becket's sake, Kent always shall have tails.”

Andrew Marvel.

Tails.

It is said that the Ghilane race, which number between 30,000 and 40,000, and dwell “far beyond the Sennaar,” have tails three or four inches long. Colonel du Corret tells us he carefully examined one of this race named Bellal, the slave of an emir in Mecca, whose house he frequented. (World of Wonders, p. 206.)

The Niam-niams of Africa are tailed, so we are told.

Tails

The Chinese men were made to shave their heads and wear a queue or tail by the Manchu Tartars, who, in the seventeenth century, subdued the country, and compelled the men to adopt the Manchu dress. The women were allowed to compress their feet as before, although the custom is not adopted by the Tartars.

“Anglicus a lergo caudam gerit”

probably refers to the pigtails once worn.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894

Tailors

Tail