Longtail

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For the economic term, see The Long Tail.

In Bermuda, the Longtail is the common name for the White-tailed Tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus.

On the Isle of Man, longtail is a euphemism to describe a rat, as a relatively modern superstition has arisen that it is considered bad luck to mention this word. The origins of this superstition date to sea-taboos, where certain words and practices were not allowed to be mentioned aboard ship, for fear of attracting bad luck (or worse, bad weather).

Although this particular sea-taboo was one amongst many and didn't apply on land, it has become a popular modern myth that the word is somehow "unlucky" and has been adopted by some as a typical Manx practice, despite the fact that the old Manx had no qualms in using the word, or its Manx gaelic version "roddan". In modern times, even non-local and non-superstitious people will refrain from using the "r" word in an effort to fit in with those who take it seriously, or may adopt the superstition in an attempt to become more "folksy".

Local, and socially acceptable alternatives for the superstitious also include joey, ringie, queerfella, iron fella and roddan (a Manx word). Recently young people have also begun saying r-a-t, owing to the influence of English immigrants.^{[citation needed]}

Such sea-taboo names would have originally only applied on boats. Similar taboos can be found as far north as Shetland. Other sea taboos included pigs, cats, and knives. There are many such superstitions on the Isle of Man, another example would be the need to say the phrase "Good morning Fairies" three times and doff one's cap upon crossing the "Fairy Bridge."

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