What does tailpiece mean?
A tailpiece is a small piece attached to, or placed at, the end of something. It may have a decorative purpose, a practical function, or both. The best-known examples are the tailpieces of string instruments such as violins and guitars, where the piece helps secure the strings and can also contribute to the instrument’s appearance and tonal character. In printing and book design, a tailpiece is an ornamental arrangement placed at the foot of a page, often consisting of small decorative devices or floral motifs. The word is therefore quite specific: it suggests a discrete final component rather than the entire back or lower portion of an object. Although it can be understood in British and American English, it is chiefly encountered in specialist writing about instruments, manufacturing, typography, and book arts.
A small ornamental or functional component at the end of an object, especially a musical instrument or tool.
"The watchmaker polished the metal tailpiece before fitting it back onto the strap."
The term is most common in descriptions of instruments and crafted objects.
A decorative design or arrangement placed at the bottom of a page in a printed book or document.
"A leafy tailpiece closes the page beneath the final line of the chapter."
This sense is used chiefly in printing, typography, and book design.
The regular plural is formed by adding -s.
"The workshop displays several carved tailpieces for violins."
A tailpiece may be tiny, but on a violin it helps anchor the strings and shape the instrument’s sound.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of tailpiece
The word is an English compound formed from tail, meaning the rear or terminal part of something, and piece, meaning a component or fragment. The compound developed in English and is used especially for a terminal component of an object and for a decorative element at the bottom of a printed page. It is related to the root represented by tail, from which forms such as tailed and tailless also derive.
Related word forms
How tailpiece is actually used
The term is chiefly used for physical terminal components and for decorative page elements. It is more specialized and less common than general words such as end or tip.