tailwise

In the direction of the tail; tail first.

Adverb

  1. In the direction of the tail; tail first.
    • No serrature of abdominal outline, but bony scales present or dermo-hæmal processes under true scales as figured above, overlapping and having short end pointing tailwise from pectoral to anal fin. - 1883, Transactions...
    • If the Soviet missile were toppled, would it still go off if it hit sidewise or tailwise? - 1982, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Armed Services, Research and development, Title II, page 1216:
    • It was at this point the plane gave its lurch and slid tailwise down into the water until its rear fuselage struck the sandy sea bed. - 2015, Chris Snell, The Shout:

Origin

From tail + -wise.