From high + tail; refers to the behavior of fleeing animals, such as deer, that raise their tail when running away.
Formed from high + tail
Proto-Indo-European *kewk- ‘to bend’
Proto-Germanic *hauhaz
Proto-West Germanic *hauh
Old English hēah ‘high’
Middle English high
English high
Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to tear, fray, shred’
…
Proto-Germanic *taglą ‘hair, fiber’
Proto-West Germanic *tagl
Old English tæġel
Middle English tail
English tail
Today it means
verb To move at full speed, especially in retreat.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / hightail
Shirt and support for this word