estate in tail

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Tail \Tail\, n. [F. taille a cutting. See {Entail}, {Tally}.]
   (Law)
   Limitation; abridgment. --Burrill.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Estate in tail}, a limited, abridged, or reduced fee; an
      estate limited to certain heirs, and from which the other
      heirs are precluded; -- called also {estate tail}.
      --Blackstone.
      [1913 Webster]