\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 a ornamental way. [Obs.]
         Entailed with curious antics.         --Spenser.