Hôrse'-tāil, n.
n. 1. (Bot.) A leafless plant, with hollow and rush-like stems. It is of the genus Equisetum, and is allied to the ferns. The shrubby horse-tail is of the genus Ephedra.
Sense 2. A Turkish standard. ☞ Commanders are distinguished by the number of horse-tails carried before them, or planted in front of their tents. Thus, the sultan has seven, the grand-vizier five, and the pachas three, two, or one.
