rest list → tail

(setf (rest list) new-tail)

list — a list, which might be a dotted list or a circular list.

tail — an object.

rest performs the same operation as cdr, but mnemonically complements first. Specifically,

(rest list) ≡ (cdr list) 
(setf (rest list) new-tail) ≡ (setf (cdr list) new-tail)

(rest '(1 2)) → (2) 
(rest '(1 . 2)) → 2 
(rest '(1)) → NIL 
(setq *cons* '(1 . 2)) → (1 . 2) 
(setf (rest *cons*) "two") → "two" 
*cons* → (1 . "two")

cdr, nthcdr

rest is often preferred stylistically over cdr when the argument is to being subjectively viewed as a list rather than as a cons.