wagtail的词源

英文词源

wagtail (n.)

c. 1500, kind of small bird that has its tail in continuous motion (late 12c. as a surname), earlier wagstart (mid-15c.), from wag (v.) + tail (n.). From 18c. as "a harlot," but this sense seems to be implied much earlier:

If therefore thou make not thy mistress a goldfinch, thou mayst chance to find her a wagtaile. [Lyly, "Midas," 1592]

中文词源

wagtail：鹡鸰

即摇尾巴的鸟。

该词的英语词源请访问找单词词源英文版：wagtail 词源，wagtail 含义。