See Also: Trail(medicine)
trail(1)(dictionary)
trail(2)(dictionary)
trail(3)(dictionary)
trail(4)(dictionary)
Trail Mix Truffles(recipes)
Chisholm Trail(dictionary)
Trail of Tears(encyclopedia)
Trail (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
Oregon Trail, the(dictionary)

trail(4) (iou)



trail verb. ME.
[from Old French traillier tow, or Middle Low German, Middle Flemish treilen haul (a boat), ult. from Latin tragula drag-net. Cf. DRAIL, TRAWL verb.]
I.
verb intrans. Hang down so as to drag along a surface, esp. the ground; be drawn or dragged along behind something in motion. ME.
P. Norman The curtain..is..so long that it trails on the ground. E. Figes Leaning back in the..boat with his hand trailing in the water.
verb intrans.
a. Walk slowly or wearily as if dragged along; follow along behind, esp. passively or in a lengthened formation; (rare) creep, crawl. Formerly also, walk with long trailing garments. ME.
A. W. Kinglake The cavalcade which had trailed in his wake. J. Trollope Henry..was trailing dismally at the rear.
b. Orig., (of liquid) flow slowly. Later, (of a thing) move along slowly; drift; form a trail. L15.
c. Extend in a straggling line. E17.
d. Cards. In cassino, play a card that is useless for gaining a point. E20.
verb intrans. (Of a garment, hair, etc.) hang down or fall loosely; (of a plant, branch, stem, etc.) grow decumbently to a considerable length so as to rest on the ground, hang over a wall, etc. LME.
J. Uglow The guelder roses trailing through the windows.
a. verb trans. Draw along behind; drag (a garment etc.) along, esp. over the ground. LME.
Day Lewis Black engines with funnels..trailing an ostrich feather of white smoke. R. Dahl The rest of us sat in the boat trailing our fingers in the clear water.
b. verb trans. Of a vehicle: carry or convey by drawing or dragging. Now esp. tow (a trailer, a caravan, etc.); transport (a boat etc.) on a trailer behind a motor vehicle. LME.
c. verb trans. Drag (the body or limbs) along wearily or with difficulty; refl. drag oneself along. M16.
A. Davies She stood on our doorstep..trailing her mangled leg.
d. verb intrans. Fish by trailing or dragging a bait from a moving boat. M19.
e. verb trans. Bowls. Drive (the jack) further up the green by carrying it along with the force of the shot. E20.
verb trans. Military. Orig., carry (a pike or similar weapon) in the right hand at an oblique angle with the butt nearly touching the ground; carry (a pike) reversed, with the pointed head dragging along the ground, as at a military funeral. Later, carry (a rifle etc.) in a horizontal position in the right hand with the arm fully extended downward, or (US) in an oblique position, grasping it just above the balance with the arm extended downward and slightly bent. M16.
verb trans. fig. Draw out, protract; drag forcibly to a course of action; cause (a person) to accompany or follow one, esp. reluctantly. E17.
D. Rutherford Sally..trailing a reluctant Josie, was heading for the exit.
b. Lead on as by persuasion; arch. colloq. ridicule, make a fool of. E18.
verb intrans. Tail off indefinitely or inconclusively; peter out; gradually diminish. Usu. foll. by off, away. M19.
W. Golding Mr Pedigree's voice trailed off.
verb trans. Advertise or publicize (esp. a film, a radio or television programme) with a trailer or trailers. Cf. TRAILER verb 1. M20.
Media Week Trailed beside relevant sports programmes..the Sportsyear series will reach a wide..audience.
II.
verb trans. Decorate or cover with a trailing pattern or ornament. Foll. by with. Now chiefly as trailed ppl adjective. LME.
b. Ceramics. Apply (slip) through a nozzle or spout to decorate pottery. M20.
a. verb intrans. Follow the trail or track of hunted game. LME.
b. verb trans. Follow the trail or track of, track; gen. follow. L16.
A. Lurie The dog that is trailing Vinnie..is her familiar demon.
c. verb trans. Lag behind (someone or something) in a contest, comparison, etc. M20.
Times Another poll..showed them trailing the Liberals..by 54 per cent to 23 per cent.
d. verb intrans. Be losing or lagging behind in a contest, comparison, etc. M20.
Times Hansen's best work came after he had trailed for the first four rounds.
verb trans. Mark or beat out (a trail or track); make trails or tracks in; US tread down (grass) to make a path or track. L16.
b. Drive or herd (livestock) along a trail. US. E20.
Phrases: trail a pike arch. serve as a soldier. trail one's coat(-tails): see COAT noun.
trailable adjective (US & Austral.) (of a boat) that may be towed on a trailer behind a motor vehicle M20.
trailing noun (a) the action of the verb; an instance of this; (b) a form of bowls in which the object is to trail or carry the jack into a semicircle drawn beyond two bowls placed three feet apart; (c) a trailing branch or shoot of a plant; a long trailing part or appendage: ME.