Tailgate is an American English word denoting the door or access 'gate' at the back of a station wagon, pickup truck, sport utility vehicle (SUV) or other similar type of vehicle that is hinged at the bottom and can be opened for the convenience of loading cargo into the rear of the vehicle. Traditional U.S. station wagons included a roll down window. Because of the potential for carbon-monoxide fumes, the tailgate window on station wagons should be closed whenever the engine is running. A similar vehicular feature, the hatch, hatchback or liftgate, is a door at the back of a vehicle that is hinged at the top and opens upward.
In modern usage, the word tailgate may refer to a true tailgate, a hatchback, or a lateral opening door (hinged on the left or right side) in the back of a pickup truck, wagon, or SUV.
In British English, the tailgate is commonly referred to as the 'boot' and sometimes called the hatch, and is a door on the back of a vehicle that can be moved either up or down, such as on a pickup truck or hatchback.
Tailgates can also be furnished with additional accessories like a "pocket" for storage purposes. Traditional station wagon and pickup tailgates can also serve as a mount for a workbench.
The following terms were derived from the noun tailgate:
- Driving closely behind another vehicle
The verb to tailgate refers to the practice of driving closely behind the rear fender of a preceding vehicle. - Entering an area without authorization verification
The term also refers to closely following someone, such as through a door or gate, where individual passes may be required, also known as "piggybacking". - Tailgate party
The term tailgate party refers to the practice of engaging in a social drinking and/or eating event that uses the tailgate or back of truck, wagon, or SUV as a buffet table.