A length of flexible line spliced directly to the strap or eye of a pulley block. Rather than using a fixed shackle, the tail allows sailors to quickly lash the block to any spar, stay, or deck fitting using a rolling hitch or similar knot. It provides a movable lead for lines that need temporary rerouting.
Heard on the job
Grab a tail block from the locker and lash it to the rail so we can get a better lead on this spring line.
Also heard as
- tail block