devil's tail

English

Etymology

From devil + tail; applied in Scotland to a cooper’s “knocking-up” tool (cask-head lifter).

Noun

devil's tail (plural devil's tails)

  1. (Scotland, coopering) A cooper’s knocker-up; a tool used to lift or level a cask head from inside the cask.

Synonyms

Quotations

  • 2011, David Woodcock, Master Catalogue for Scotland: Woodworking Tools, STICK (Scottish Transport & Industry Collections and Knowledge Network), page 171:
    Devil’s tail: Cooper’s 'knocker-up' (a cask head lifter).
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