[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fantail.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / fantail

[← F](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/F/)

# fantail

«fantail» in Mova's school dictionary: **A small bird with a tail that spreads out like a fan; in…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

noun (a fantail, fantails)

### meaning for a pupil

1) A small bird with a tail that spreads out like a fan; in New Zealand the fantail (pīwakawaka) is a common, friendly bird that follows walkers to catch insects. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fantail/#m1)

2) A kind of fancy pigeon or goldfish with a fan-shaped tail. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fantail/#m2)

3) A tail or end shaped like a fan. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fantail/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In nature lessons in New Zealand and Australia, fantails are familiar birds; in Māori stories the pīwakawaka has a special role, linked with the hero Māui. Fantail pigeons and fantail goldfish are bred as pets. Phrases: «a fantail pigeon», «fantail goldfish».

### examples

- A fantail flitted along the bush track beside us. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fantail/#x1)
- The fantail spread its tail like a little fan. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fantail/#x2)
- In New Zealand the fantail is called pīwakawaka. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fantail/#x3)
- Grandad keeps white fantail pigeons. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fantail/#x4)
- Our fantail goldfish has a long, flowing tail. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fantail/#x5)
- The fantail snapped up insects that our feet disturbed. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fantail/#x6)

### note

Countable compound: fan + tail. In Australia there are several kinds called fantails or willie wagtails (a close relative). Names of breeds and birds are not always written with capitals.

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «fantail» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fantail/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.