En*tail" (?), n. [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.
En*tail", v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Entailed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Entailing.] [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 an ornamental
way. [Obs.]
Entailed with curious antics.
Spenser.