Ponytail
/ˈpoʊ.ni.teɪl/noun
A hairstyle in which the hair is gathered and tied at the back of the head or neck.
Did you know?Unlike words with occult roots, ponytail is a relatively recent compound from ordinary English, first appearing in the 20th century as a vivid visual comparison rather than a mystical term.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
pāna
“cloth, pennant, flag”
Middle English
ME
taille
“tail”
18th Century
English
pony
“a small horse”
18th Century
English
tail
“the hindmost appendage of an animal”
20th Century
English
ponytail
“a hairstyle gathered and tied to resemble a pony’s tail”