Tailer

Tailer is a relatively obscure English term that may function as a noun in a few limited senses, but it is more commonly encountered as a surname. In one possible sense, derived from the verb tail (to follow closely), a tailer would be a person who tails someone. This usage is rare in modern English, and when following someone is described, terms such as tailing, follower, or shadow are typically used instead.

More often, tailer appears as a misspelling or archaic variant of tailor, the occupation that makes and alters clothing. The standard and contemporary spelling for that profession is tailor. Historical texts occasionally show alternate spellings, including tailer, but tailor is the dominant form today.

As a surname, Tailer (and its capitalization variants) has appeared in genealogical and historical records. Surnames can stabilize in communities over time and may be found in legal documents, census materials, or literary works, sometimes without connection to any concrete occupational meaning.

In contemporary usage, the word tailer is not a common entry in most English dictionaries as a standard noun for a person who tails someone, and it typically requires contextual clarification. If you intended to refer to someone who makes clothing, the correct term is tailor. If you intended a person who follows someone, more precise expressions such as tailer (rare) or tailing operative would usually be replaced by clearer wording.