Tatta - Tax

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Tatta (?), n. [Hind. �a��ī, tātī.] A bamboo frame or trellis hung at a door or window of a house, over which water is suffered to trickle, in order to moisten and cool the air as it enters. [India]
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Tatter (?), n. One who makes tatting. Caulfield & S. (Doct. of Needlework).
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Tatter (?), n. [Icel. tötur, töttur, pl. tötrar, �öttrar; cf. Norw. totra, pl. totror, LG. taltern tatters. √240.] A rag, or a part torn and hanging; -- chiefly used in the plural.
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Tear a passion to tatters, to very rags. Shak.
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Tatter, v. t. [p. p. Tattered (?).] To rend or tear into rags; -- used chiefly in the past participle as an adjective.
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Where waved the tattered ensigns of Ragfair. Pope.
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Tatterdemalion (?), n. [Tatter + OF. desmaillier to break the meshes of, to tear: cf. OF. maillon long clothes, swadding clothes, F. maillot. See , and armor.] A ragged fellow; a ragamuffin. L'Estrange.
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Tattersall's (?), n. A famous horse market in London, established in 1766 by Richard Tattersall, also used as the headquarters of credit betting on English horse races; hence, a large horse market elsewhere.
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Tatting (?), n. A kind of lace made from common sewing thread, with a peculiar stitch.
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Coloq. Tatting shuttle , the shuttle on which the thread used in tatting is wound.
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Tattle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Tattled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tattling (?).] [Akin to OE. tateren, LG. tateln, D. tateren to stammer, and perhaps to E. titter.] 1. To prate; to talk idly; to use many words with little meaning; to chat.
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The tattling quality of age, which is always narrative. Dryden.
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2. To tell tales; to communicate secrets; to be a talebearer; as, a tattling girl.
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Tattle, n. Idle talk or chat; trifling talk; prate.
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[They] told the tattle of the day. Swift.
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Tattler (?), n. 1. One who tattles; an idle talker; one who tells tales. Jer. Taylor.
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2. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of large, long-legged sandpipers belonging to the genus Totanus.
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☞ The common American species are the greater tattler, or telltale (Totanus melanoleucus), the smaller tattler, or lesser yellowlegs (Totanus flavipes), the solitary tattler (Totanus solitarius), and the semipalmated tattler, or willet. The first two are called also telltale, telltale spine, telltale tattler, yellowlegs, yellowshanks, and yelper.
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Tattlery (?), n. Idle talk or chat; tittle-tattle.
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Tattling (?), a. Given to idle talk; apt to tell tales. -- Tattlingly, adv.
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Tattoo (?), n. [Earlier taptoo, D. taptoe; tap a tap, faucet + toe to, shut (i. e., the taps, or drinking houses, shut from the soldiers).] (Mil.) A beat of drum, or sound of a trumpet or bugle, at night, giving notice to soldiers to retreat, or to repair to their quarters in garrison, or to their tents in camp.
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Coloq. The Devil's tattoo . See under .
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Tattoo, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tattooed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tattooing.] [Of Polynesian origin; cf. New Zealand ta to tattoo, tatu puncturation (in Otaheite).] To color, as the flesh, by pricking in coloring matter, so as to form marks or figures which can not be washed out.
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Tattoo, n.; pl. Tattoos (�). An indelible mark or figure made by puncturing the skin and introducing some pigment into the punctures; -- a mode of ornamentation practiced by various barbarous races, both in ancient and modern times, and also by some among civilized nations, especially by sailors.
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Tatty (?), n.; pl. Tatties (#). [Hind. ṭaṭṭī.] A mat or screen of fibers, as of the kuskus grass, hung at a door or window and kept wet to moisten and cool the air as it enters. [India]
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Tatu (?), n. (Zoöl.) Same as .
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Tatusiid (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any armadillo of the family Tatusiidæ, of which the peba and mule armadillo are examples. Also used adjectively.
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Tau (tou), n. [Gr. tay^.] The nineteenth letter (Τ, τ) of the Greek alphabet, equivalent to English t.
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Tau (?), n. [Gr. tay^ the letter τ (English ).] (Zoöl.) The common American toadfish; -- so called from a marking resembling the Greek letter tau (τ).
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Coloq. Tau cross . See Illust. 6, of .
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Taught (?), a. See . Totten.
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Taught, imp. & p. p. of . [AS. imp. tǣhte, p. p. getǣht.] See .
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Taunt (?), a. [Cf. OF. tant so great, F. tant so much, L. tantus of such size, so great, so much.] (Naut.) Very high or tall; as, a ship with taunt masts. Totten.
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Taunt (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Taunted; p. pr. & vb. n. Taunting.] [Earlier, to tease; probably fr. OF. tanter to tempt, to try, for tenter. See .] To reproach with severe or insulting words; to revile; to upbraid; to jeer at; to flout.
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When I had at my pleasure taunted her. Shak.
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Syn. -- To deride; ridicule; mock; jeer; flout; revile. See .
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Taunt, n. Upbraiding language; bitter or sarcastic reproach; insulting invective.
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With scoffs, and scorns, and contemelious taunts. Shak.
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With sacrilegious taunt and impious jest. Prior.
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Taunter (?), n. One who taunts.
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Taunting, a. & n. from , v.
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Every kind of insolent and taunting reflection. Burke.
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Tauntingly, adv. In a taunting manner.
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Tauntress (?), n. A woman who taunts.
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{ Taupie, Tawpie } (?), n. [Cf. Icel. tōpi fool, Dan. taabe, Sw. tåp.] A foolish or thoughtless young person, esp. a slothful or slovenly woman. [Scot.] Burns.
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Taur (?), n. [L. Taurus.] The constellation Taurus. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Tauricornous (?), a. [L. tauricornis; taurus a bull + cornu a horn.] (Zoöl.) Having horns like those of a bull. Sir T. Browne.
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Taurid (?), n. [Taurus + 1st -id.] (Astron.) Any of a group of meteors appearing November 20-23; -- so called because they appear to radiate from a point in Taurus.
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Tauridor (?), n. [See .] A bullfighter; a toreador. Sir W. Scott.
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Tauriform (?), a. [L. tauriformis; taurus a bull + -form: cf. F. tauriforme.] Having the form of a bull.
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Taurine (?), a. [L. taurinus, fr. taurus a bull. See .] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the genus Taurus, or cattle.
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Taurine (?), n. [So named because it was discovered in the bile of the ox. See .] (Physiol. Chem.) A chemical compound occurring in small quantity in the juices of muscle, in the lungs, and elsewhere, but especially in the bile, where it is found as a component part of taurocholic acid, from which it can be prepared by decomposition of the acid. It crystallizes in colorless, regular six-sided prisms, and is especially characterized by containing both nitrogen and sulphur, being chemically amido-isethionic acid, C2H7NSO3.
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Taurocholate (?), n. (Physiol. Chem.) A salt of taurocholic acid; as, sodium taurocholate, which occurs in human bile.
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Taurocholic (?), a. [Taurine + cholic.] (Physiol. Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a conjugate acid (called taurocholic acid) composed of taurine and cholic acid, present abundantly in human bile and in that of carnivora. It is exceedingly deliquescent, and hence appears generally as a thick, gummy mass, easily soluble in water and alcohol. It has a bitter taste.
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{ Taurocol (?), Taurocolla (?), } n. [NL. taurocolla, fr. Gr. tayrokolla; tay^ros a bull + kolla glue: cf. F. taurocolle.] Glue made from a bull's hide.
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Tauromachian (?), a. [See .] Of or pertaining to bullfights. -- n. A bullfighter.
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Tauromachy (?), n. [Gr. tayromachia; tay^ros bull + machh fight.] Bullfighting.
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Taurus (t�rŭs), n. [L., akin to Gr. tay^ros, and E. steer. See a young ox.] 1. (Astron.) (a) The Bull; the second in order of the twelve signs of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the 20th of April; -- marked thus [♉] in almanacs. (b) A zodiacal constellation, containing the well-known clusters called the Pleiades and the Hyades, in the latter of which is situated the remarkably bright Aldebaran.
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2. (Zoöl.) A genus of ruminants comprising the common domestic cattle.
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Taurylic (?), a. [L. taurus a bull + E. phenylic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid found of a urine of neat cattle, and probably identical with cresol.
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Taut (?), a. [Dan. tæt; akin to E. tight. See .] 1. (Naut.) Tight; stretched; not slack; -- said esp. of a rope that is tightly strained.
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2. Snug; close; firm; secure.
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Coloq. Taut hand (Naut.), a sailor's term for an officer who is severe in discipline.
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Tautaug (?), n. (Zoöl.) Same as .
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Tautegorical (?), a. [Gr. �, for � � the same + � to speak. Cf. .] Expressing the same thing with different words; -- opposed to allegorical. [R.] Coleridge.
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Tautochrone (?), n. [Gr. �, for � � the same + � time: cf. F. tautochrone.] (Math.) A curved line, such that a heavy body, descending along it by the action of gravity, will always arrive at the lowest point in the same time, wherever in the curve it may begin to fall; as, an inverted cycloid with its base horizontal is a tautochrone.
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Tautochronous (?), a. (Math.) Occupying the same time; pertaining to, or having the properties of, a tautochrone.
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Tautog (?), n. [The pl. of taut, the American Indian name, translated by Roger Williams sheep's heads, and written by him tautaúog.] (Zoöl.) An edible labroid fish (Haitula onitis, or Tautoga onitis) of the Atlantic coast of the United States. When adult it is nearly black, more or less irregularly barred, with greenish gray. Called also blackfish, oyster fish, salt-water chub, and moll. [Written also tautaug.]
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Tautologic (?), a. Tautological.
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Tautological (?), a. [Cf. F. tautologique.] Involving tautology; having the same signification; as, tautological expression. -- Tautologically, adv.
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Coloq. Tautological echo , an echo that repeats the same sound or syllable many times.
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Tautologist (?), n. One who uses tautological words or phrases.
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Tautologize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Tautologized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tautologizing (?).] To repeat the same thing in different words.
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Tautologous (?), a. [Gr. �; �, for � � the same + � to speak.] Repeating the same thing in different words; tautological. [R.] Tooke.
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Tautology (?), n. [L. tautologia, Gr. �: cf. F. tautologie.] (Rhet.) A repetition of the same meaning in different words; needless repetition of an idea in different words or phrases; a representation of anything as the cause, condition, or consequence of itself, as in the following lines: --

The dawn is overcast, the morning lowers,
And heavily in clouds brings on the day. Addison.
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Syn. -- Repetition. -- , . There may be frequent repetitions (as in legal instruments) which are warranted either by necessity or convenience; but tautology is always a fault, being a sameness of expression which adds nothing to the sense or the sound.
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Tautomeric (?), a. (Chem.) Relating to, or characterized by, tautomerism.
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Tautomerism (?), n. [Gr. �; �, for � � the same + � part.] (Chem.) The condition, quality, or relation of metameric substances, or their respective derivatives, which are more or less interchangeable, according as one form or the other is the more stable. It is a special case of metamerism; thus, the lactam and the lactim compounds exhibit tautomerism.
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{ Tautoousian (?), Tautoousious (?), } a. [Gr. �; �, for � � the same + � being, essence.] Having the same essence; being identically of the same nature. [R.] Cudworth.
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Tautophonical (?), a. Pertaining to, or characterized by, tautophony; repeating the same sound.
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Tautophony (?), n. [Gr. �; �, for � � the same + � voice.] Repetition of the same sound.
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Tautozonal (?), a. [Gr. �; �, for � � the same + E. zonal.] (Crystallog.) Belonging to the same zone; as, tautozonal planes.
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Tavern (?), n. [OE. taverne, F. taverne, from L. taberna a hut, booth, tavern. Cf. , .] A public house where travelers and other transient guests are accomodated with rooms and meals; an inn; a hotel; especially, in modern times, a public house licensed to sell liquor in small quantities.
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Taverner (?), n. [F. tavernier, L. tabernarius.] One who keeps a tavern. Chaucer. Camden.
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Taverning, n. A feasting at taverns. [Obs.] “The misrule of our tavernings.” Bp. Hall.
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Tavernman (?), n.; pl. Tavernmen (�). The keeper of a tavern; also, a tippler. [Obs.]
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Taw (?), n. Tow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Taw, v. t. [Cf. to tow, , v. t.] To push; to tug; to tow. [Obs.] Drayton.
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Taw (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tawed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tawing.] [OE. tawen, tewen, AS. tāwian to prepare; cf. D. touwen, Goth. tēwa order, taujan to do, and E. tool. √64. Cf. 1st , the coarse part of flax.] 1. To prepare or dress, as hemp, by beating; to tew; hence, to beat; to scourge. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
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2. To dress and prepare, as the skins of sheep, lambs, goats, and kids, for gloves, and the like, by imbuing them with alum, salt, and other agents, for softening and bleaching them.
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Taw, n. [Cf. AS. tāw instrument.] 1. A large marble to be played with; also, a game at marbles.
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2. A line or mark from which the players begin a game of marbles. [Colloq. U. S.]
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Tawdrily (?), adv. In a tawdry manner.
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Tawdriness, n. Quality or state of being tawdry.
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A clumsy person makes his ungracefulness more ungraceful by tawdriness of dress. Richardson.
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Tawdry (?), a. [Compar. Tawdrier (?); superl. Tawdriest.] [Said to be corrupted from Saint Audrey, or Auldrey, meaning Saint Ethelreda, implying therefore, originally, bought at the fair of St. Audrey, where laces and gay toys of all sorts were sold. This fair was held in Isle Ely, and probably at other places, on the day of the saint, which was the 17th of October.] 1. Bought at the festival of St. Audrey. [Obs.]
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And gird in your waist,
For more fineness, with a tawdry lace. Spenser.
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2. Very fine and showy in colors, without taste or elegance; having an excess of showy ornaments without grace; cheap and gaudy; as, a tawdry dress; tawdry feathers; tawdry colors.
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He rails from morning to night at essenced fops and tawdry courtiers. Spectator.
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Tawdry, n.; pl. Tawdries (�). A necklace of a rural fashion, bought at St. Audrey's fair; hence, a necklace in general. [Obs.]
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Of which the Naiads and the blue Nereids make
Them tawdries for their necks. Drayton.
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Tawer (?), n. One who taws; a dresser of white leather.
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Tawery (?), n. A place where skins are tawed.
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Tawniness (?), n. The quality or state of being tawny.
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Tawny (?), a. [Compar. Tawnier (?); superl. Tawniest.] [F. tanné, p. p. of tanner to tan. See , v. t. & n. Cf. .] Of a dull yellowish brown color, like things tanned, or persons who are sunburnt; as, tawny Moor or Spaniard; the tawny lion. “A leopard's tawny and spotted hide.” Longfellow.
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Taws (?), n. [See to beat.] A leather lash, or other instrument of punishment, used by a schoolmaster. [Written also tawes, tawis, and tawse.] [Scot.]
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Never use the taws when a gloom can do the turn. Ramsay.
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Tax (?), n. [F. taxe, fr. taxer to tax, L. taxare to touch, sharply, to feel, handle, to censure, value, estimate, fr. tangere, tactum, to touch. See , and cf. , .] 1. A charge, especially a pecuniary burden which is imposed by authority. Specifically: --
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(a) A charge or burden laid upon persons or property for the support of a government.
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A farmer of taxes is, of all creditors, proverbially the most rapacious. Macaulay.
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(b) Especially, the sum laid upon specific things, as upon polls, lands, houses, income, etc.; as, a land tax; a window tax; a tax on carriages, and the like. Taxes are annual or perpetual, direct or indirect, etc.
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(c) A sum imposed or levied upon the members of a society to defray its expenses.
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2. A task exacted from one who is under control; a contribution or service, the rendering of which is imposed upon a subject.
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3. A disagreeable or burdensome duty or charge; as, a heavy tax on time or health.
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4. Charge; censure. [Obs.] Clarendon.
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5. A lesson to be learned; a task. [Obs.] Johnson.
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Coloq. Tax cart , a spring cart subject to a low tax. [Eng.]
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Syn. -- Impost; tribute; contribution; duty; toll; rate; assessment; exaction; custom; demand.
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