tailgate — ODE

tailgate /ˈteɪlɡeɪt

▸ noun

1 a hinged flap at the back of a truck that can be lowered or removed when loading or unloading the vehicle.

▪ the door at the back of an estate or hatchback car.

▪ North American English a social event held in a car park, typically before a sporting event or concert, at which refreshments are served from the back of a parked vehicle; a tailgate party:

here's a quick and easy recipe for your next tailgate

[as modifier] a tailgate picnic.

2 [as modifier] denoting a style of jazz trombone playing characterized by improvisation in the manner of the early New Orleans musicians.

▸ verb informal

1 [with object] drive too closely behind (another vehicle):

he started tailgating the motorist in front.

2 [no object] North American English host or attend a social gathering at which an informal meal is served from the back of a parked vehicle, typically in the car park of a sports stadium:

their families tailgated together at Iowa home football games.

– DERIVATIVES

tailgater noun