Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (Aus.) used of humans or animals (usu. horses), one who enters a sporting event, e.g. a race, under false credentials.

1900		Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 10 Oct. 1/1: Next to owning a ring-tail, sporting good horse, the best thing is to own a pretty good one, and know how to approach the handicapper with an argument that convinces him your horse is no good.
1910		Sun. Times (Perth) 19 June 3rd sect. 17/3: It was in a Sheffield Handicap [...] that a ped was ‘rung in.’ Writer forgets for the moment under what name he entered, but this ‘ring-tail’ was made the eleventh-hour favorite for his heat.
1954		Truth (Sydney) 16 May 41/5: I immediately raced across to where the stipes [...] were climbing down from their stand and I challenged them. ‘That thing,’ I said, pointing to Maister Jolly, ‘that’s a possum (ringtail)’.

2. (Aus.) a coward.

1924		C.J. Dennis ‘The Faltering Knight’ in Chisholm (1951) 74: I ain’t a ringtail; but, by gum, it’s tough. I loves me wife too much to treat ’er rough.
1943		Baker ‘Influence of American Sl. on Australia’ in AS XVIII:4 256: With Americans a ringtail is a grouchy person; with Australians he is a coward.
1955		N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 238/1: ringtail – a coward.

3. (US) an irritable, unpleasant person.

1931		Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. Sl. 159: Ring Tail.–A grouchy individual.
1935		A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 98/1: Ring tail, an ignorant, loud mouthed, vulgar person.
1943		Baker ‘Influence of American Sl. on Australia’ in AS XVIII:4 256: With Americans a ringtail is a grouchy person; with Australians he is a coward.
1962		Ragen & Finston World’s Toughest Prison 815: ring tail – A grouchy individual.

4. (US) a tramp (who is seen as inevitably ill-tempered); also as adj.

1926		AS I 652/2: Ring-tail, a Hobo who is carrying a ‘grouch’.
1930		(con. 1890) G. Milburn ‘A Convention Song’ in Hobo’s Hornbook 26: There was Boogie Sam and Biff ’n’ Bam [...] Hikes and Spikes and Old Ring-tail Sykes. [Ibid.] 27: Now here I am in Omaha, / A hungry, ring-tailed bum, / Tooting ringers for poke outs, / When what I want is slum.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn).

5. (US tramp) a tramp who is a poor beggar and sponges off his peers or takes temporary employment.

1928

J. Callahan Man’s Grim Justice 132: The poorly dressed boys were the dynamiters, shovel stiffs, Gay Cats, Ring Tails, Ding Bats, the men who couldn’t beg successfully, who are not recognized by the Johns and who are detested because they work now and then.

6. (US prison) an informer.

1931–4

D. Clemmer Prison Community (1940) 335/1: ring tail, n. An informer; a stool pigeon; a squealer.