Definition

1. Noun:
   • A long, narrow, flowing cirrus cloud: A specific type of high-altitude cloud formation that resembles the long, streaming tail of a horse.

Usage

• The term "mare's tail" is a specific meteorological term used to describe a visual cloud pattern. It is typically used in weather observation and descriptive contexts.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The sky was streaked with delicate mare's tails, a sign of changing weather.
  • Sailors often look for mare's tails as an indicator of approaching wind.

Advanced Usage

• In meteorology, the presence of "mare's tails" (cirrus fibratus or cirrus uncinus clouds) can be an early sign of an approaching warm front or tropical cyclone.
  • The forecaster noted the mare's tails on the horizon, suggesting a low-pressure system was moving in.

Variants and Related Words

• Cirrus cloud (n): The general category of high, wispy clouds to which mare's tails belong.
• Cirrus fibratus (n): The more technical Latin name for this cloud type.

Synonyms

• Cirrus uncinus: Another technical term for a hooked cirrus cloud formation similar to a mare's tail.

Notes on Meaning

• The term is a compound noun ("mare's" + "tail") used as a single lexical unit to name a specific phenomenon. It is a metaphor based on the cloud's appearance.
• It should not be confused with the literal tail of a female horse or with the aquatic plant also commonly called "mare's-tail" (). The context (e.g., weather vs. botany) makes the meaning clear.

Noun

1. a long narrow flowing cirrus cloud