horsetail

n. 1. (Bot.) A leafless plant, with hollow and rushlike stems. It is of the genus Equisetum, and is allied to the ferns. See Illust. of Equisetum. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A Turkish standard, denoting rank. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Commanders are distinguished by the number of horsetails carried before them. Thus, the sultan has seven, the grand vizier five, and the pashas three, two, or one. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shrubby horsetail. (Bot.) See Joint-fir. [ 1913 Webster ]