Stop explaining consequence of docking (4,3)

I believe the answer is:

tail off

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'stop' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are verbs in their base form.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tail off that I've seen before include "end in anticlimax?" , "Gradually diminish" , "Fade gradually" , "Become gradually less" , "Peter out" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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