Category:Entail

En*tail", n. Etym: [OE. entaile carving, OF. entaille, F., an incision, fr. entailler to cut away; pref. en- (L. in) + tailler to cut; LL. feudum talliatum a fee entailed, i. e., curtailed or limited. See Tail limitation, Tailor.]

1. That which is entailed. Hence: (Law) (a) An estate in fee entailed, or limited in descent to a particular class of issue. (b) The rule by which the descent is fixed. A power of breaking the ancient entails, and of alienating their estates. Hume.

2. Delicately carved ornamental work; intaglio. [Obs.] "A work of rich entail." Spenser.

entail En*tail", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Entailing.] Etym: [OE. entailen to carve, OF. entailler. See Entail, n.]

1. To settle or fix inalienably on a person or thing, or on a person and his descendants or a certain line of descendants; -- said especially of an estate; to bestow as an heritage. Allowing them to entail their estates. Hume. I here entail The crown to thee and to thine heirs forever. Shak.

2. To appoint hereditary possessor. [Obs.] To entail him and his heirs unto the crown. Shak.

3. To cut or carve in a ornamental way. [Obs.] Entailed with curious antics. Spenser.