tailor

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: tai=lor

CIDE DICTIONARY

tailor, n. [OF. tailleor, F. tailleur, fr. OF. taillier, F. tailler to cut, fr. L. talea a rod, stick, a cutting, layer for planting. Cf. Detail, Entail, Retail, Tally, n.].

•  One whose occupation is to cut out and make men's garments; also, one who cuts out and makes ladies' outer garments.  [1913 Webster]

  "Well said, good woman's tailor . . . I would thou wert a man's tailor."  [1913 Webster]
•  The mattowacca; -- called also tailor herring.  [1913 Webster]
•  The goldfish.  [1913 Webster]

Salt-water tailor (Zoöl.), the bluefish. [Local, U. S.] Bartlett. -- Tailor bird (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of small Asiatic and East Indian singing birds belonging to Orthotomus, Prinia, and allied genera. They are noted for the skill with which they sew leaves together to form nests. The common Indian species are Orthotomus longicauda, which has the back, scapulars, and upper tail coverts yellowish green, and the under parts white; and the golden-headed tailor bird (Orthotomus coronatus), which has the top of the head golden yellow and the back and wings pale olive-green.

tailor, v. i. 

 To practice making men's clothes; to follow the business of a tailor.  [1913 Webster]
"These tailoring artists for our lays
Invent cramped rules."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

tailor, n. & v.
--n. a maker of clothes, esp. one who makes men's outer garments to measure.
--v.
1 tr. make (clothes) as a tailor.
2 tr. make or adapt for a special purpose.
3 intr. work as or be a tailor.
4 tr. (esp. as tailored adj.) make clothes for (he was immaculately tailored).
5 tr. (as tailored adj.) = tailor-made.

Idiom

tailor-bird any small Asian etc. bird of the genus Orthotomus that stitches leaves together to form a nest. tailor-made adj.
1 (of clothing) made to order by a tailor.
2 made or suited for a particular purpose (a job tailor-made for me).
--n. a tailor-made garment. tailor's chair a chair without legs for sitting cross-legged like a tailor at work. tailor's twist a fine strong silk thread used by tailors.

Derivative

tailoring n.

Etymology

ME & AF taillour, OF tailleur cutter, formed as TAIL(2)

THESAURUS

tailor

accommodate, accord, accustom, adapt, adjust, adjust to, alter, assimilate, attune, block out, busheler, bushelman, carve, cast, change, chisel, clothier, conform, convert, coordinate, costumier, couturier, create, cut, cut to, dovetail, dressmaker, efform, equalize, fashion, figure, fit, fitter, fix, forge, form, formalize, found, frame, furrier, garmentmaker, gear to, harmonize, hew, homologate, homologize, key to, knead, knock out, lay out, lick into shape, make plumb, make uniform, measure, mint, model, modify, modiste, mold, mould, needle, needleman, needler, needlewoman, needleworker, outfitter, proportion, put in tune, quadrate, reconcile, rectify, regulate, right, rough out, roughcast, roughhew, sartor, sculpt, sculpture, seamster, seamstress, sempster, set, set right, sew, sew up, sewer, shape, shape up, similarize, square, stamp, stitch, stretch, style, suit, sync, synchronize, tailleur, tailoress, thermoform, trim to, true, true up, tune, work

ROGET THESAURUS

tailor

Agent

N doer, actor, agent, performer, perpetrator, operator, executor, executrix, practitioner, worker, stager, bee, ant, working bee, termite, white ant, laboring oar, servant of all work, factotum, workman, artisan, craftsman, handicraftsman, mechanic, operative, working man, laboring man, demiurgus, hewers of wood and drawers of water, laborer, navvy, hand, man, day laborer, journeyman, charwoman, hack, mere tool, beast of burden, drudge, fag, lumper, roustabout, maker, artificer, artist, wright, manufacturer, architect, builder, mason, bricklayer, smith, forger, Vulcan, carpenter, ganger, platelayer, blacksmith, locksmith, sailmaker, wheelwright, machinist, mechanician, engineer, sempstress, semstress, seamstress, needlewoman, workwoman, tailor, cordwainer, minister, servant, representative, coworker, party to, participator in, particeps criminis, dramatis personae, personnel, quorum pars magna fui, faber est quisque fortunae suae.

Clothing

N clothing, investment, covering, dress, raiment, drapery, costume, attire, guise, toilet, toilette, trim, habiliment, vesture, vestment, garment, garb, palliament, apparel, wardrobe, wearing apparel, clothes, things, underclothes, array, tailoring, millinery, finery, full dress, garniture, theatrical properties, outfit, equipment, trousseau, uniform, regimentals, continentals, canonicals, livery, gear, harness, turn-out, accouterment, caparison, suit, rigging, trappings, traps, slops, togs, toggery, day wear, night wear, zoot suit, designer clothes, masquerade, dishabille, morning dress, undress, kimono, lungi, shooting-coat, mufti, rags, tatters, old clothes, mourning, weeds, duds, slippers, robe, tunic, paletot, habit, gown, coat, frock, blouse, toga, smock frock, claw coat, hammer coat, Prince Albert coat, sack coat, tuxedo coat, frock coat, dress coat, tail coat, cloak, pall, mantle, mantlet mantua, shawl, pelisse, wrapper, veil, cape, tippet, kirtle, plaid, muffler, comforter, haik, huke, chlamys, mantilla, tabard, housing, horse cloth, burnoose, burnous, roquelaure, houppelande, surcoat, overcoat, great coat, surtout, spencer, mackintosh, waterproof, raincoat, ulster, P-coat, dreadnought, wraprascal, poncho, cardinal, pelerine, barbe, chudder, jubbah, oilskins, pajamas, pilot jacket, talma jacket, vest, jerkin, waistcoat, doublet, camisole, gabardine, farthingale, kilt, jupe, crinoline, bustle, panier, skirt, apron, pinafore, bloomer, bloomers, chaqueta, songtag, tablier, pants, trousers, trowsers, breeches, pantaloons, inexpressibles, overalls, smalls, small clothes, shintiyan, shorts, jockey shorts, boxer shorts, tights, drawers, panties, unmentionables, knickers, knickerbockers, philibeg, fillibeg, pants suit, culottes, jeans, blue jeans, dungarees, denims, Levis, Calvin Klein, Calvins, Bonjour, Gloria Vanderbilt, headdress, headgear, chapeau, crush hat, opera hat, kaffiyeh, sombrero, jam, tam-o-shanter, tarboosh, topi, sola topi, pagri, puggaree, cap, hat, beaver hat, coonskin cap, castor, bonnet, tile, wideawake, billycock, wimple, nightcap, mobcap, skullcap, hood, coif, capote, calash, kerchief, snood, babushka, head, coiffure, crown, chignon, pelt, wig, front, peruke, periwig, caftan, turban, fez, shako, csako, busby, kepi, forage cap, bearskin, baseball cap, fishing hat, helmet, mask, domino, body clothes, linen, hickory shirt, shirt, sark, smock, shift, chemise, night gown, negligee, dressing gown, night shirt, bedgown, sac de nuit, underclothes, underpants, undershirt, slip, brassiere, corset, stays, corsage, corset, corselet, bodice, girdle, stomacher, petticoat, panties, under waistcoat, jock, athletic supporter, jockstrap, sweater, jersey, cardigan, turtleneck, pullover, sweater vest, neckerchief, neckcloth, tie, ruff, collar, cravat, stock, handkerchief, scarf, bib, tucker, boa, cummerbund, rumal, rabat, shoe, pump, boot, slipper, sandal, galoche, galoshes, patten, clog, sneakers, running shoes, hiking boots, high-low, Blucher boot, wellington boot, Hessian boot, jack boot, top boot, Balmoral, arctics, bootee, bootikin, brogan, chaparajos, chavar, chivarras, chivarros, gums, larrigan, rubbers, showshoe, stogy, veldtschoen, legging, buskin, greave, galligaskin, gamache, gamashes, moccasin, gambado, gaiter, spatterdash, brogue, antigropelos, stocking, hose, gaskins, trunk hose, sock, hosiery, glove, gauntlet, mitten, cuff, wristband, sleeve, swaddling cloth, baby linen, layette, ice wool, taffeta, pocket handkerchief, hanky, hankie, clothier, tailor, milliner, costumier, sempstress, snip, dressmaker, habitmaker, breechesmaker, shoemaker, Crispin, friseur, cordwainer, cobbler, hosier, hatter, draper, linen draper, haberdasher, mercer, diaper, nappy, disposable diaper, cloth diaper, Luvs Huggies, invested, habited, dighted, barbed, barded, clad, costume, shod, chausse, en grande tenue, sartorial, the soul of this man is his clothes.