I I
Bi i
.--.
m
, :
V
x-f
I
A NEW
ENtLISH DICTIONARY
O HISTORICAL PRINCIPLES.
VOLUME X. PART I. TI-U.
;
vAIGIE,
S, PH.D. F
lMl. INSCR.),THE IM
lKS. THR AMI KU
LEVUEN.
.; PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH IN THr /IVEMII V Oc CHICAGO ;
JR OF ANGLO SAXON IN THE UB | lT - r V OF OXFORD.
OXFORD:
HE CLAREVDON PRESS.
#26.
, l> rights reserved.}
*
Oxford University Press
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New Tori Toronto Melbourne Cape Town
Bombay Calcutta Madras Shanghai
Humphrey Milford Publisher to the UNIVERSITY
A NEW
ENGLISH DICTIONARY
ON HISTORICAL
^ -~. V ^
Ssg
, . .
FOUNDED MAINLY ON THE MATERIALS COLLECTED BY
>
Socutg.
EDITED BY
SIR JAMES A. H. MURRAY,
HENRY BRADLEY, W.A.CRAIGIE, C.T.ONIONS.
VOLUME X. PART I. TI-TJ.
TI TZ.
BY SIR JAMES A. H. MURRAY,
H.A. I.OND., U.A., 11.L1TT. OJCON., I.t-D. EI IN. AND GLASG., LITT.D. DUBLIN AND CAUB., D.C.L. DURHAM, D.I.ITT. WALES AND CAPE TOWN, PH.D. FREIBURG i.B. ; FELLOW
OF THE BRITISH ACADEUY AND ROYAL SOCIETY EDIN. ; FOREIGN CORRESP. MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE (ACAD. 1NSCK.), THE IMPERIAL AN11 ROYAL
ACADEMIES OF VIENNA, BERLIN, t PSALA, AND FLANDERS, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. THE AMERICAN
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY , AND DE UAATSCHAPPY HER NEDERLANDSCHB LETTERKUNDE TE LEYDBN.
u.
BY W. A. CRAIGIE,
M.A. OION-, M.A., LUD. ST. ANDREWS, HON. D.LITT. CALCUTTA ; PROFESSOR OF BNGMSH IN THE CN1VKRSII V OP CHICAGO ;
SOUETIUE RAM I.1NSOM ANI> HOSWORTH PROFESSOR OF ANGI.O SAXON IN 1 Mi; UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.
OXFORD:
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS.
1926.
[.-/// rights reserved.}
Printed in England
At the OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
By John Johnson
Printer to the University
/3
\ * . :
TI TZ
BY SIR JAMES A. H. MURRAY
I
The general preface to the letter T
will be found at the beginning of that
letter in Volume IX.
KEY TO THE PRONUNCIATION,
I. CONSONANTS.
g as in
h ... ho\
r ... run (ion), terrier (te riaj).
J ... her (haj), farther (
s ... see (si), rew (ses).
w ... wen (wen).
hw ... when (hwen).
V ... yes (yes).
b, d, f, k, 1, m, n, p, t, v, z have their usual values.
Ji as in thin (Jiin), ba/7; (baj>).
3 ... then. (Sen), ba//;e (be S).
f ... stop (J>p), disA (dij).
t; ... cAop (tjfp), ditcA (ditj).
; ... vision (vi-jan), de/ euner (de^diie).
rj ... singing (si-gig), thik Qnrjk).
rjsj ... fi^r (figgaj).
(FOREIGN.)
n as in Freiifh nasal, environ (anv/ron).
l y ... It. scra^/Yo (se:a l y o\
n> ... It. si^ore (s/n y <fre\
X ... Ger. a<-/2 (ax), Sc. lo<vi (lox, lox"
X y ... Ger. \ch (ix y ), Sc. nie.it (nox 7 !).
7 ... Ger. sajfen (za-yen).
7 V ... Ger. le^cn, re^nen (^"Y^en,
v
e
e
If
3
ORDINARY.
a as in Fr. a la mode (a la mod ).
ai ... aye =yes (ai), Isa/ah (aizai a).
x ... man (maen).
a ... pass (pas), chant (t/ant).
an ... load (laud), noiw (nau).
ct (kft), son (son).
yet (yet), ten (ten).
survey sb. (sMve), Fr. attach^ (ataje).
Fr. chef (J f).
ever (evsj), nation (ne -pn).
ai ... I, eye, (ai), bind (baind).
|| > ... Fr. eau de vie (o d} vP).
i ... sit (sit), mystic (mistik).
... Psyche (sai kj), react (rj ise kt).
... achor (e koj), morality (mome liti).
01 ... oil (oil), boy (boi).
o ... hero (hlo ro), zoology (zoiplod^i).
9 ... what (hwot), watch (wgtj).
P,i>* got (got), soft (s^ft).
HO ... Ger. Koln (koln).
II o ... Fr. pea (po).
u ... fall (ful),t>0k (buk).
iu ... daration (diure -Jan).
a ... unto (zrnta), fragality (fra-).
iu ... Matthew (mas Jiia), virtae (va Jtia).
II ii ... Ger. Mailer (mit ler).
II a ... Fr. dane (dan).
(see I-, e, o>, u) I , r .
, i (see X o-) t see Vo1 - 1 P- xxlv > note 3-
as in able (eib l), eaten (it n) = voice-glide.
* ^ the o in soft, of medial or doubtful length.
II. VOWELS.
9
LONG,
a as in alms (amz), bar (baj).
carl (kjl), f<r (fj).
there (Seai), pear, pare (pe^-i).
rem, raj n (r/ n), thej< (tSe ).
Fr. fare (f^r ).
fir (f3a), fern (faJn), earth (5j}>
I (!) ... b/er (blj), clear (klij).
i ... th/ef (h/"0. s* (si).
o(o)... boar, bore (bo- j), glory (glo^ ri).
<7(ou)... SO, SOOT (son), S0l (soul).
... wa/k (wgk), wart (wjjt).
f ... short (JffJtJ, thorn (Jipan).
II 6 ... Fr. coear (kor).
||o ... Ger. Gtfthe (gote), Fr. jerfne (?!
u(u) .. ]>oor (pu"j), moorish (mu TiJ).
iu,iu... pre (piuj), lare (l uj).
u ... two moons (t mnz).
lit, hi... few (nit), late (l t).
: |a ... Ger. gran (grn), Fr. jas (3).
OBSCURE.
a as in amoeba (amf ba).
& ... accept (ackse pt), maniac (
f> ... datam (de" tcm).
o ... moment (mJn ment), several (se vtral),
c ... separate (ad/.) ^sc par/t).
* : ... a-kled (s dod), estate (est^-t).
vanity (vas-niti).
remain (r/me -n\ believe (bHrv).
theory (J)?-ori).
violet (vsi wlet) parody (pac rAli).
awthority (fjwriti).
connect (kjTne kt), amnzon (et midj
iii, ii verdare (vaudivu), measure
... altogether (Jltifge tfatf-
iii ... circalar (soukiwla^.
II Only in foreign (or eaiti^fri^ lisb ) wo rds.
s to <
)\vh
ill uic J.irMULUUY, awwnea
-fjune a/I
OF, e, e, representing an earlier a, are distinguished as (. f (having the phonetic value . ( / e " tr C?V . s ., i n ,n<Je from awaY (OHG. anti,
Goth, amlei-s), m?nn from manti , c inJiL in * f . or 9 aDOVe )
in expcctatu a/I.
/rn with or
Jad) ///. a.
. ^i/r>s s r
o fy Mag- LI. "
. ; -^ rather ti.irr
.72} 79 All th
Also 6 f
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS, SIGNS, &c.
a. [in Etymol.] ...
a (as a 1 300) . .
= adoption of, adopted from.
- ante, before.
gen.
genitive.
= general, -ly.
pa. t. . . =
past tense,
in Pathology,
perhaps.
Persian,
person, -al.
perfect.
Portuguese.
in Philology,
phonetic, -ally.
phrase,
in Phrenology,
in Physiology,
plural,
poetic,
popular, -ly.
participial adjective,
participle.
Provencal,
preceding (word or article),
prefix,
preposition,
present.
Primary signification,
privative,
probably,
pronoun,
pronunciation,
properly,
in Prosody,
present participle,
in Psychology.
quod vide, which see.
in Richardson s Diet.
Roman Catholic Church,
refashioned, -ing.
reflexive,
regular,
representative, representing,
in Rhetoric.
Romanic, Romance,
substantive.
Scotch.
scilicet, understand or supply,
singular.
Sanskrit.
Slavonic.
Spanish,
spelling,
specifically,
subject, subjunctive,
subordinate clause,
subsequently,
substantivtly.
suffix,
superlative,
in Surgery.
Swedish,
south western (dialect),
in Todd s Johnson,
technical, -ly.
in Theology,
translation of.
transitive,
transferred sense,
in Trigonometry,
in Typography,
ultimate, -ly.
unknown.
United States.
verb.
verb strong, or weak,
verbal substantive,
variant of.
word.
\Yest Germanic,
west midland (dialect).
West Saxon,
in Col. Yule s Glossary,
in Zoology.
een.
Path =
a., adj., adj
= adjective.
= absolutely.
= abstract.
= accusative.
- adaptation of.
adverb.
= adverbial, -1).
= Anglo-French.
= in Anatomy.
-- in Antiquities.
= aphetic, aphetized.
= apparently.
-- Arabic.
= in Architecture.
= archaic.
= in Archeology.
= association.
= in Astronomy.
= in Astrology.
= attributive, -ly.
before.
= in Biology.
Bohemian.
= in Botany,
in Building.
= circa, about.
= century.
= Catalan.
= catachrestically.
- confer, compare
= in Chemistry.
classical Latin.
gen. sign.
absol., absol
abst
Geol.
Pers.
Gconi.
in Geometry.
ace.
Goth
pf. =
ad. [in Etymol.]...
adv., adv
Gr.
= Greek.
in Grammar.
pg. " :: =
Gram.
Philol. -
advb
Heb
phonet. . .
AF., AFr
Her.
= in Heraldry.
== with herbalists.
= in Horticulture.
= Imperative.
= impersonal.
= imperfect.
= Indicative.
= indefinite.
= Infinitive.
influenced.
= interjection. t>"~
= intransitive.
- Italian.
= Johnson (quotation from),
in Jamieson, Scottish Diet.
phr. =
Anat. .
Herb.
Phren. . . =
Antiq
Hort.
P/iys. =
aphet
imp
poet. , -
app
Arab
impf.
pop =
Arch
ppl. a., ppl. adj.... =
pple =
arch.
indcf. .. .
Archxol.
inf.
Pr =
assoc
inll.
prec.
Astr.
int.
prcf. r=
tret. . .. =
Astral.
intr.
atlrib.
It.
frts.
bef.
T-, (T-)
Prim, sign
piiv
Biol.
(lam.)
Boh.
( fod )
- Jodrell (quoted from).
Latin.
= Latham s edn. of Todd s
= language. [Johnson.
-I.ow German.
literal, -ly.
- Lithuanian.
prob.
Bot. .
L J .
i>ron. .
Build.
(L.) (in quotations)
lang.
pronunc
c fas c 1300)
c. (as I3th c.)
Cat.
prop
LG.
Pros =
lit
F. pple. . . . . =
cdtach r
Lith.
Psych -
Cf., cf.
LXX
q.v =
Chetn
Mai
Malay
(R.) .
cl. L.
masc. (rarely m.)
Math
- masculine.
R.C. Ch =
co^n. w.
= cognate with.
= collective, -ly.
- in Mathematics.
= Middle English.
in Medicine.
refash. . .
collect
ME
rcjl., refl =
colloq.
Med.
reg =
= combined, -ing.
Combinations.
= in commercial usage.
~ compound, composition.
= complement.
= in Conchology.
= concretely.
= conjunction.
= consonant.
= Construction, construed
with.
= in Crystallography.
= in Davies (Supp. Eng.
Glossary).
= medieval Latin.
--- in Mechanics.
= in Metaphysics.
=- Middle High German.
= midland (dialect).
in military usage.
repr =
Comb
Mcch
Metaph.
Rhtt =
Rom =
AIIK;
midl
Mil
Sc -
Conch
sc
Min
= in Mineralogy.
= modern.
= in Music.
Nares (quoted from).
= noun of action.
= noun of agent.
- in Natural History.
sing. =
Skr -=
Mas
Slav -
Const., Const. ...
Cryst
(N 1
Sp. .. =
sp. . .. =
spec. =
Nat Hist
subj
Da.
in nautical language.
suliord. cl. =
neut. (rarely n.)
NF.,NFr
N O
= neuter.
= Northern French.
= Natural Order.
nominative.
= northern (dialect).
subseq =
dat. ..
= dative.
subst =
def. .. ,.
suff. -
deriv. ...
= derivative, -ation.
superl =
dial., diai.
Surf. =
Diet. . . ""
~ Dictionary.
-- diminutive.
N T
Sw -
dim
= in Numismatics.
= object.
S.W =
Du
, .
T. (T.) .. .. =
Eccl.
.; in ecclesiastical usage.
= Miptical, -ly.
= ea.> midland (dialect).
= erroneon .]y
= especially.
Obs., obs., obs. ...
ellipt
occasional, -ly.
Old English ( Anglo-
Theol, -
e. midl
OF
tr. =
Eng
OF., OFr.
Saxon).
= Old French.
= Old Frisian.
= Old High German.
- Old Irish.
Ent
erron
Trie. .. -
esp., esp
/ ] f <> ..
etym
= etymology.
= euphemistical!^
= except.
= formed on.
s
form of.
Olr
ult . =
etiphem
exc
ON
Old Norse (Old Icelandic).
unkn =
ov FT
= Old Northern French.
in Optics.
= in Ornithology.
= Old Saxon.
= Old Slavonic.
= Old Testament.
= Original Teutonic.
= original, -ly.
= in Paleontology.
passive or past participle.
= passive, -ly.
u.s =
f. [in Etymol.] ...
f. (in subordinate
entries)
v., vb --
Ornith
V. sir., or w =
W. sb =
fern, (rarely f.) ...
fig.
= feminine.
= figurative, -ly.
= French.
= frequently.
= Frisian.
German.
OS!
var =
OT
wd. =
F., Fr.
\VGer =
f req
w.midl =
Fris
] ^ . t"
ws =
G., Ger
,v ,
(Y.) =
Gael
= Gaelic. /<t>c - \
1
Zool. .... =
Before a word or sense.
t = obsolete.
|| = not naturalized.
In the quotations.
* sometimes points out the word illustrated.
Mst of Forms.
I = before noo.
2 = 1 2th C. (I IflB lt Y
3 = I3th c. (1200 to i.
5-7 = i sth to 1 7th centu See General Explan
ations, Vol. I, p. XX.;
In the Etymol.
* indicates a word or form not actually found, but
of which the existence is inferred.
: = extant representative, or regular phonetic
descendant of.
The printing of a word in SMALL CAPITALS indicates that further i. -t; on w ill be found under the word so referred to.
V
Ti-Tz.
|| Ti (t). Also ti-ti. [Native Polynesian : cf.
Ki.J Native name of several trees of the genus
Cordyline (formerly included in Dracsena), N.O.
Litiacese, with edible roots ; in Polynesia, C. ter-
minalis\ in New Zealand, C. mtstralis and C.
indivisa ; known also as cabbage-palm^ CABBAGE-
TUEE, club palm , and palm -lily (PALM sl>. 1 I c, 7).
1839 DARWIN Voy. Nat. xviii. (1873) 410 A liliaceous plant
called Ti. 1845 E. J. WAKEFIELD Adv. N. Zealand I. iii.
58 In these natural shrubberies .. a kind of cabbage-tree,
called ti by the natives, flourishes. 1896 Contemp, Rev.
Aug. 240 The //and the ape are taken out well cooked. The
apt prevents the ti from getting too dry in the oven.
b, attrib., as ti-leaf^ -palm, -plant, -root, -tree,
etc. ; ti-oven, an oven for cooking ti-roots.
1840 LUNDIE Mission. Life Samoa xiv. (1846) 89 Many
women having no dress but the ti leaves round the waist.
1866 LADY BAKKKR Station Life N. Zealand viii. (1870) 52
Ti-ti palms are dotted here and there. 1881 MRS. C. PRAKD
Policy fy /*. I. 109 The tender shoots of the young ti-trees.
1882 T. H. POTTS Out in Open 207 (Morris) The tough,
fibrous leaves of the tt-palm. ityfiContemA. Rev. Aug. 240
The //-ovens are frequently thirty feet in diameter.
Tial (toi al). Obs. exc. dial. Forms : 1-2 tigel,
tisl, 4 tie!, 6-7 tiall, tyall (9 tyal), 7- tial.
[OE. */>g*/, tigel = OHG. zugil (G. znget}, Du.
tengel, ON. tygell (Da. toil*} :-OTeut. *tug*il<P,
f. *tug t weak ^rade of *teuh, *tauh : see TEE v. 1
+ -Ho- t -EL l. In later form taken as f. TIE &., and
assimilated to denial, trial. }
1. A rope used to pull, draw, or tow anything ;
a strap, thong, rein (quot. 1387).
c 1000 ^ELFRIC Grant, fy Gloss. (Z.) 314 Tractorium, ti^el.
fzxxoo Ag&. Voc. in Wr.-Wulcker 327/33 Tractorinm,\\-(.
1387 TRKVISA Higden (Rolls) IV. 77 pe plow5men radde bat
some of hem schulde wende home.. and fecche ^ e reynes
ojjer be tiels [redi rent fro loris}.
2. That with which something is tied ; a rope,
cord, string, or thread. Now north, dial, (see Eng.
Dial. Diet.}.
1549 LATIMKR 6th Sfr/rr. bef. Ediu. VI (Arb.) 172 The
gieate belles clapper was fallen doune, thetvall was broken,
so that the By&hop coulde not be runge Into the tonne.
1575 BANISTER Chyritrg. I. (1585) 90 The tial! or band
must bee of such a matter, as will not easily putrifie; as t breed
of stlke. 1600 SURFLF.T Countrie Farms \. xxvjii. i;3 He
. .shall carrie him [the colt] b.icke a^aiue vnto his stable . .
and put him in his ordinary tiall or headstall. 1808 JAMIE-
SON, Tyal, any thing used for tying a latchet.
t b. fig. A bond, lien, tie, obligation. Obs.
>6ai FLETCHER Wild Goose Chase n. i, Nor to contract
with such [a woman] can be a Tial. 1623 T. SCOT High v.
God 21 Religion then being the band or tyall whereby wee
are fastned. 1653 GATAKER ^ KzW. Annot. Jer. 153 No
regard had. .of relations and tials natural, civil or sacred.
II Tiao (tya 0, tyau). Also tiaou. [Chinese.]
A string of Chinese cash 1 (perforated copper
coins).
Nominally the tiao contains icoo cash ; but the actual
number of coins varies from 1000 downwards, according to
the custom of the locality.
1883 S. W. WILLIAMS Middle Kin%d. (enlarged ed.) II. xvi.
86 (Banks and Paper Money) Their [the notes ] face value
ranges from one to a hundred tiao t or strings of cash, but
their worth depends on the exchange between silver and
cash. 1886 Rep. of Sec. Trtas. (U.S.) 300 (Cent. D. ) Twenty
miles from Peking the bi^ cash are no longer in circulation.
Small cash are used, [a nominal] 1000 [at Tientsin, really
500] of which make a tiao t and 3000 to 3500 of which
are equal to a tael of silver. 1908 MORSE Trade Chinese
Et)tp. v. 130 Cash are strung on strings, in rolls of 100, of
which 10 go to the string or tiao, or cfcuart, formerly called
k .tun. 1910 Blackw. Mag. Dec. 763/2, I paid a tiaou for
this ; but I don t begrudge the money.
Tiar (tai ai), sb. Chiefly poet. Also 6 tyar(e,
7-9 tiare, (7 theare). [Anglicized f. TlABA,
prob. after F. tiare (Hth c. in Godef. Compl.).]
L TIARA sb. i. (In quot. 1513 attrib.}
1513 DOUGLAS /Eneis vn. v. 126 The gret king Priame. .
His ceptreals,andeikbistyar[c(/. 1553 tyare] hat, Hallowit
quhayrwyth at sacrifice he sat. 1614 SFI.DEN Titles Hon.
24 The King of Bulsarie. .had also his Crown of Gold, his
Tiar of Silk, and Red Shots. 1725 POPE Odyss, x. 651 A
tiar wreath d her head with many a fold. i8z8 MILMAN
Samor 226 When the Median s brow the massy tiar Let fall.
2. = TIARA sb. 2.
1616 SHELDON Miracles Antichr. 165 His triple Tiare
and Crowne. 1614 DARCIE Birth of Heresies xii. 51 The
Myter or Theare, and some other decorations. 1841
Fraser*$Mag. XXIV. 26 His triple tiare Is flung at hisfeet.
3. TIARA sb. 4. Alsoyfr; (In early instances
perh. confused with TIRB sb^)
1660 JEB. TAYLOR Duct, Dubit, n. iii. rule ix. 29 The
spirit of humility and wisedome.. ought to be the investi
ture of a Christians heart and the tiar of his head. 1667
MILTON P. L. ML 625 Of beaming sunnie Kaies, a golden liar
Circl d bis [an angel sj head. 1801 in Spirit Pitb. Jrnls.
VOL.X.
VI. 204 Head-dress a tiar of diamonds on purple velvet.
1819 KEATS Lamia 58 Sprinkled with stars, like Ariadne s
tiar. 1886 W. ALEXANDER St. Augustine s Holiday, etc.
191 With sackcloth cast above the tiar of gold.
Hence Ti ar v. t Ti ared (-a.id) ///. a. = TIAHA
V., TlAKAEO.
1824 AVzf Monthly Mag. X. 334 Where the tiar d
Pharaohs sleep. 1882 J.^WALKF.R Jaunt to Auld Reekie
172 Red-hatting thy cardinals and tiaring thy popes.
Tiara (t^a ra, tDi,eo*ra), sb. Also 6-7 tyara.
[a. L. tiara ) a. Or. rcdrpa, rid pas, Ionic nrjp^j of
unknown origin. So It, tiara the papal crown.]
1. The raised head-dress or high peaked cap
worn by the Persians and some other eastern
peoples, varying in shape according to the rank of
the wearer ; a kind of turban.
1555 W. WATRFMAN Fardte of Facie ns \\. v. 148 Tim
rounde cappe, whiche thet c.il Tiara, .passed from them
[Medes] to the Persians. 1696 PHU.UIS (ed. 5), Tiara, a
high sharp pointed Cap, worn by Sovereign Princes, and
those uf the Blood Royal, among the Persians. 1734 "
Kollin s Anc. Hist. (1827) II. 378 The Persians wore no
helmets, but only their common caps, which they called
tiaras. 1847 GROTE Greece n. xxxiii. IV. 300 The upright
tiara, the privileged head-dress of the Persian kings.
2. A liigh ovate-cylindrical or dome-shaped
diadem worn by the pope, surmounted by the orb
and cross of sovereignty, and encircled with three
crowns symbolic of triple dignity, and usually
richly wrought with jewels; often called the trifle
tiara or triple crown. Hence transf. the position
or dignity of pope, the papacy. AlsoyTcr.
[1616: see TIAR 2.] 1645 EVELYN Diary 18 Jan., There
were divers of the Pope s pantofles. .also his tyara, or triple
crown. 1700 ASTRY tr. Saavedra-Faxardo II. 316 This
Tiara, or Triple-Crown, is the Touch-stone on which other
Crowns are tried. 1845 S. AUSTIN Ranke*s Hist. Ref. m.
v. II. 173 When Pope Clement VII came to the tiara, he
re\oked all grants of this nature. 1860 HAWTHORNE Marb.
Fatin xxxiv, A figure of a pope, arrayed in his pontifical
robes, and crowned with the tiara.
b. Her. A bearing supposed to represent the
Pope s tiara ; also called triple crown.
1780 EHMONDSON Heraldry II. Gloss., Tiara, or Triple
Crrtvn t with clouds in base issuing rays, being part of the
arms of the Drapers Company. 1894 barker s Gloss, Her,,
Tiara, the pope s triple crown occurs in the arms of one
Company.
3. The bead-dress of the Jewish High Priest.
1868 MARRIOTT Vest. Chr. So The Tiara.. was at once a
covering and an ornament to the bead of the High Priest.
1877 C. GKIKIE Christ Iviii. (1879) ?og Was not the tiara
worn by a fierce Sadducee? 1890 P. H. HUNTER Afterthe
Exile xiii. 250 The tiara might be worn with safety, while
the crown was impossible.
4. An ornamental frontal, coronet, or headband.
In modern use, a richly jewelled ornament worn by ladies
in the hair, above the forehead.
[1660, 1667: see TIAR 3.] 1718 PRIOR Pleasure 507 A
bright tiara, round her forehead tied. 1761 H. WALPOLF,
Let. to H. S. Con-way 9 Sept., Her tiara of diamonds was
very pretty. 1895 RIDER HAGGARD Heart of World xxi,
On her head was set a tiara of perfect pearls.
b. Jig. (Cf. crown, diadem. }
1818 livRON Ch. Har. iv. ii, She [Venice] looks a sea
Cybele..with her tiara of proud towers. 1861 GOULUURN
Pen. Relig. i. iv, (1873) 35 The tiara of the rainbow. 1880
JAS. LEGGE Mem. J. Legge iv. 45 Truth and love are the
double tiara that should rest on his brow.
6. Zool. A mitre-shell, or a genus of mitre-shells.
1835 SWAINSON Elem, Mod. Conchol. 14 Tiara. Sw. Mouth
narrowed at the base ; with an internal upper groove. 1840
Treat. Malacology i. iv. 112 The real type of the Mitri-
n& is our genus Tiara, and not that of Mitra^ as formerly
supposed. 1841 PcnnyCyd. XXIV.420/2 Tiara, ..Swain-
son s name for a genus of Mitrinse . .which are termed
1 Mitres by collectors.
6. at f rib. and Comb.^ as tiara-crowned, -!ike t
-shaped adjs. ; tiara night, a night on which
tiaras (sense 4) are worn at the opera.
1792 R. CUMBERLAND Calvary (1803) II. 123 Round his
brows A cypress wreath tiara-like he wore. 1868 J. A.
WYI.IE Road to Rome v. 45 Popery from its tiara-crowned
chief to its sandal-shod friars. 1897 Westnt. Gaz. 3 June 2/1
The guns sat each in its own little tiara-shaped entrench
ment. 1900 Daily Express 28 June i/i The Opera-house
presented a brilliant spectacle last night, the ladies in the
audience.. having made it a tiara night in expectation of
the Khedive s presence.
Hence Tia ra v., trans, to adorn with or as with
a tiara ; Tia raed, -ra d, (-ad) ///. a., adorned
with a tiara.
1822 MII.HAN Martyr of Antioch 128 The high tiara d
Magian. 1857 New Monthly Mag,\>\. 312 A pyramid of
pilauf literally crowns, or rather tiaras the feast. 1840
CARI.YLE Heroes iii. (1872) 79 All the Tiaraed and Dia
demed of the world.
Tib (tib), sb. Also 6 tyb, 7 tybb, tibb(e.
[Peril, the same as Tio t a shortened hypocoristic
form of the female name Isabel; now rather nidc
or slighting (exc, playfully) ; also with dim. ~y or
-i e, Tibbie^ a common female name in the north.
But in quot. a 1553 Tib is used as short for Tibet, A
St. Tibia is mentioned in C). K. Chron.an. 963 (Laud MS.).]
f 1. Formerly, a typical name for a woman of the
lower classes, as in Tib and Tom (tf.Jack and Gill).
Also, A i^irl or lass, a sweetheart, a mistrc-s ;
dyslogistically^ a young woman of low or loose char
acter, a strumpet. Obs.
1533 J. HEYWOOD (////(.-) A Mery Play bctwcnc Julian Julian
the husbande.Tybhiswyfe.andsyr/ohanthepreest. ^1553
UDALL K oyster D. i. iii. (Arb.) iy (Stage direct.) Tibet Talk
apace, sowyng. Ibid. n. Hi- 36 Who shall then know our
lib Talke apace trow ye? 1582 STANYHURST Atneis iv.
(Arb.) 102 A coy tyb, as vagabund in this my segnorye
want 1 ring. 1589 R. KOIHNSON Golden Mirr. iChethain Nx.)
54 The brauest tiplinc; lib, that is within the t...\vne.
1618 HORNBY Sco. Dronlc. (1^59 19 Where tinkers and thtiir
tibs doe oft repaire. 1681 KOUKUTSON rhrascol. GV.
(1693) 1226 A Tib, nntlicr sordida. 1689 DM r. Summer
in Poor Robin Cv, When Tib and Tom upon a Holy-
day, Make fair assault on such good things as they, a 1700
U. E. Diet. Cant. Crew, Ti,a. young lass.
2. Name for the ace of trumps in the j;amc of
i;Ieek. Obs. exc. Hist.
1655 J. COTGKAVE Wits Intcrpr. (1662) 364 The Art: is
calltd Tib, the Knave Tom, and the four of Trumps Tidie.
a 1658 CixxzLtMV Hermaphrodite fa That Gruncster n^tds
must overcome, That can play both with Tib and Tom.
1688 K. HOLME Armoury in. xvi. (Roxb.) 71/2 The Ace is
15 in hand and iS in play, which is called Tib. 1822 SCOT r
Ni^ct xvi, Tib, which went for fifteen.
f3. Tib of the buttery (jhw simply Tib) \ a goose.
Obs. slang.
1622 FLETCHER Beggar s Bush v. i, Mergery-praters,
Rogers, And Tibs o 1 >!> liuttcry. 1641 URI.ME Jorial
Creiuu. Wks. 1873 III. 388 Here s G[r]unter and Illealer,
with Tib of the l!uttry, And Margery Prater, all drest \\iili-
out sultry, a 1700 1!. K. Diet. Cunt. Crciv y Tib of the Rut-
tcry, a Goose. 1725 New Cant. Diet. Song xviii, On Red
shanks, and Tibs thou shalt ev ry Day dine.
f4. [? Another word.] Name of a kind of
vehicle. Obs. rare.
1793 MAR. J. HOLROYD in Girlhood of M. 7- //. (1896) 243
Papa says he will have a Pole put to the Tib, that it inny be
drawn by the two horses, like a Curricle. 1794 Il hf. 27 June
209 The Aunts go out in the Tib, which jubt suits them.
5. Comb. Tib-cat, dial., also / imp-cat, a female
cat (cf. TOM-CAT) ; Tib s Eve, dial* : see qnots. ;
on Tib s Eve, never.
1828 Craven Gloss.) " Tib-cat, a female cat, a Tabitha.
1785 GROSE Diet. Vnlg. T. s. v., *Saint Tibb s eveniiig, the
evening of the last day. or day of judgement ; he will pay
you on St. Tibb s eve (fris/t). 1870 BKEWEN Diet. Phr. .y
Fable, St. Tib s Eve, never. 1893 in < v - * C?- 3lh Ser - IV -
507, etc. 1893 Newcastle ll eekly Chron. Suppl. 23 Dec. 3
There is no such saint in thecalendar as St. Tib. [Uiit sec
note in Etymol.J Similar expressions to Tib s Eve are
At Latter Lammas , and When two Sundays meet , the
time in each case being never. 1902 N, V (?- 9 th Ser - IX -
109/1 Yes., it will be on Tib s Eve, neither before nor
after Christmas , expressing thus his incredulity as to the
event ever coming off.
Tib(tib),z>. School slang. [Origin unascertained.]
intr. To slip out; to escape unobserved from
school or house ; to break bounds. Also Ti bble
v., in same sense.
1840 T. T. HEWLETT P. Priggns iii, A trick acquired
from tibbling-out down the lane, i.e. Charterhouse Lane, to
the Red Cow. 1855 THACKERAY Newcomes ii, Tibbing out
and receiving the penalty therefor. Ibid. Ixxix, I used what
they call to tib out and run down to a public-house.
Tiberian (toibla rian), a. [ad. L. Tiberianus,
f. Tiberius (see def,) + -anus, -AN.] Of or pertain
ing to (a) Tiberius, emperor of Rome 14-37 A - n -
(alsoy^-.), (b} the town of Tiberias in Galilee,
where the Masoreth or Masora was formed.
1601 HOLLAND Pliny (1634) I. 439 The Tybcrian peares
beare the name of Tibet ius the Emperor, for that of all
others he loued that fruit best. 1659 O\VI:N Integr. llcbrttv
% Grk. Text Wks. 1853 XVI. 392 The points and accents
were invented by the Tiberian Masoretes. 1742 YOUNG Nt.
Tk. v. 815 Tiberian arts his purposes wrap up In deep
dissimulation s darkest night. 1837 R. WILSON Pleas. Piety
v. 115, I see Him seated on a hill Near the Tiberian lake.
f Tiber-, Tyber-stone. Obs. [f. L. Tibnr,
a town of ancient Italy : cf. L. lapis T*iburtlmi$.\
A calcareous stone quarried at Tibur, now Tivoli ;
travertine: cf. TIBURTIXE.
1726 LEONI Albert? s Archit. I. 58/2 One fourth part of
Tylier-Stonc, beat to powder.
Tibert (ti-b.Mt, toi-b3.it). arch. Also 5 Tybert.
fa. Flcm. and Du. Tybert > Tibccrt, OKr. Tibcrt.]
The name of the cat in the apologue of Reynard
1
TIBET.
the Fox ; thence, used as a quasi-proper name for
any cat, and (as a common noun\ a cat. (By
Shakspere identified with Tibalt :-OF. Thibauld,
Thibaut, Eng. Theobald, vulgo Tibbald.}
1481 CAXTON Reynard iii. (Arb.) 6 Wyth this so cam
Tybert the catte . . and sprang in emonge them. [1592
SHAKS. Rom. ft Jul. n. iv. 18 Is he a man to encounter
Tybalt? B, Why what is Tibalt? M. More then Prince
of Cats. Ibid. m. i. 78 Tybalt, you Rat-catcher, will you
walke? Tib. What woulds thou haue with me? Mtr,
Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine Hues.]
1616 B. JONSOH Epigr. ad fin., The Voyage itself 135 Cats
there lay divers had been flea d and roasted. . . Hut mongst
these Tiberts, who dp you think there was? 1672 DRYDFN
Assignation i. i, His violin, .squeaks so lewdly, that Sir
Tibert m the gutter mistakes him for his mistress. 1872 M.
Co i. i.i ss Pr. Clarice II. iv. 61 He d have killed that tibert,
Tybalt, as willingly as he d have killed a cat.
Tiberune, obs. form of TIBURON.
Tibet, Thibet (tibe-t). Name of a country
in central Asia ; used attrib. of wool obtained
thence, or of cloth or garments made from this or
in imitation, of it ; applied (usually thibet } to (a) a
heavy stuff made wholly or partly of goats hair ;
(b} a fine stuff used for women s dresses. absoL
Tibet cloth, or a gown or shawl made of it. Hence
Tibetan (tibrtan) a. , belonging to Tibet.
1827 SCOTT Sttrg. Dau. Concl., *IIow could you., collect
all these hard words about India? 1 ., Like the imitative
operatives of Paisley, 1 have composed my shawl by incor
porating into the woof a little Thibet wool, which ..Colonel
Mackerris..had the goodness to supply me with*. 1857
PARKHILL Hist. Paisley xiii. 97 Shawls of all kinds.. such
as thibet and cashmere shawls. Ibid. 98 Edinburgh had
thibet in the manufacture. 1858 SIMMONDS Diet. Trade t
Thibet-cloth, a camlet or fabric made of coarse goats -hair.
1894 J. MACINTOSH Ayrshire Nights* Entertainm, vii. 129
A small production of thibets, coarse woollens, and muslins.
1900 MARY R. WILKINS Parson Lord 196 Her black thibet
gown. Ibid. 197, I don t care about this old thibet.
II Tibia (ti-bia). PI. -SB (-f). [L. tibia shin-
bone, a pipe or flute.]
1. Anat. and Zool. The inner and usually larger
of the two bones (tibia and fibtila) of the lower
leg, from the knee to the ankle ; the shin-bone.
In birds the tibia is fused with some of the bones of the
tarsus, forming that more strictly called TIBIOTARSUS.
1726-41 MoNX0XffO/< (ed. 3) 282 The superior Extremity
of the Tibia is large. 1701 W. EARTRAM Carolina 505 A
kind of flute, made of. .the tibia of the deer s leg. 1845
Tono & BOWMAN Phys. A nat, I. 100 The tibia is convex
forwards and outwards. 1872 MIVART Elem. Anat. 183
The tibia, or shin-bone, is. .an elongated bone, more so than
any other, .except the femur.
b. Applied also to the corresponding part of the
leg itself; now esp. to the tibiotarsus of birds.
[1693 tr. Blancard s Phys. Diet. (ed. 2), Tibia , the Leg, the
part betwixt the Knee and the Ancle. So 1704 J. HARRIS
Lex. Techn. I.] 1826 STEPHENS in Shaw Gen. Zool. XIII.
214 These birds differ. .in having. .the tibia; divested of
feathers. 1869 GH.LMORE tr. Figuier s Kept. $ Birds iv.
339 Woodcocks differ from Snipes in having .. the tibia?
feathered at the joint.
C. Entom. The fourth of the five joints of the
leg of an insect, that between the femur and the
tarsus.
1815 Vi\iax&.Sv.E*tomo?. (1828) I. xy.488 A pincer formed
by the posterior metatarsus and tibia. 1868 DUNCAN tr.
f- iguiers Insect W. Introd. 8 When about to jump they
bring the tibia into contact with the thigh. 1888 ROLLES-
TON & JACKSON Anim. Life 499 The thoracic limbs [in
Insecta] consist typically of a coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia,
and tarsus. . . The tibia is often armed with spines or calcaria.
2. Antiq. An ancient (single or double) flute or
flageolet.
1705 ADDISON Italy 322 The same Variety of Strings
may be observ d on their Harps, and of Stops on their
Tibia. 1834 LVTTON Pompeii i. ii, I paid a visit to Pliny ;
he was sitting in his summer-house wnting while an unfor
tunate slave played on the tibia,
Tibiad (,ti-bid), adv. Anat. [f. TIBIA + -ad:
see DEXTRA.D.] Towards the tibial aspect.
1803 BARCLAY New Anat. Nomencl. 166 In the sacral
extremities, Tibiad will signify towards the tibial aspect.
1808 Muscular Motions 306 They allow the femur to roll
tibiad or inward, but not fibulad or outward.
Tibial (ti bial), a. (sb.) [ad. L. tibialis per
taining to the shin-bone : see TIBIA and -AL.]
1. Anat. and Zool. Of or pertaining to the tibia.
Also as $b.) ellipt. for tibial artery, muscle, etc.
iJ99 A. M. tr. Gabelfwiter s Bk. Physicke 342/2 If it be a
tibialle Fracture, he must continuallye lye on his Backe.
1786 J. PEARSON in Med. Commun, 11.99 The course of the
anterior tibial artery. 1847 JOHNSTON in Proc. Berya.
Nat. Club II, 231 The tibial joints .. are furnished with
long hairs. 1898 J. HUTCHINSON in Arch. Surg. IX. No.
36- 338 The anterior and posterior tibials [sc. arteries]. 1899
A llbutfs Syst. Med. VI. 668 The nerve and its continua
tion supply the posterior tibial [sc. muscle].
2. Of or pertaining to a tibia or ancient flute.
1656 BLOUNT Glossogr.^ Tibial, of, or belonging to pipes;
meet to make pipes of. 1658 PHILLIPS, Tibial t belonging
to a Pipe or Flute.
II Tibicen (titei-sen). Antiq. [L. tibicen a
flute-player, f. tibia flute + can-tre to sing, also to
play on an instrument.] A flute-player.
1776 BURNF.V Hist. Mus. (1789) I. x. 173 When the Lace
daemonians went to battle a Tibicen played soft and sooth-
ing; music to temper their courage.
Tibicinate (tibi-sin^t), v. rare" , [f. L. tibi-
cinat-, ppl. stem of ttbicin-are to play on the
flute : see prec. and -ATE 3.] intr. To play on
the tibia or flute. So Tibicina tion (rare~ a } ,
Tibi cinist (rare" 1 ) prec.
1656 BLOUNT Glossogr^ Tibicinate (tibicino}, to sing or
pipe. [Hence in later Diets.] 1658 PHILLIPS, Tibicina-
tioti) a playing on a Pipe. 1846 RIMBAULT in North s Mem.
Music 37 note^ An engraving from a manuscript .. in which
a tibicimst is delineated, .blowing on the tibia pares^ or two
equal flutes.
Tibio- (tibw), nsed as combining form of TIBIA,
in anatomical terms in the sense * pertaining to the
tibia and (some other part) , as tibio-femoral,
-fibular^ -metatarsal) -peroneal, -popliteal, etc., adjs. ;
Tibiota rsal a. t of or pertaining to the tibia and
the tarsus; pertaining to the tibiotarsus; Tibio-
ta-rsus, Ornith.) the tibia of a bird s leg with the
condyles formed by its fusion with the proximal
bones of the tarsus.
1835-6 Todd s Cycl. Anat. I. 152/1 The inferior *tihio-
fibular articulation. 1870 ROLLESTON Anim, Life 14 The
*tibiometatarsal joint. 1803 r>A.RCL\v IVezvAnaf. Nomencl.
174 In describing the direction of the superficial femoral
artery, ..at first it is rotulo-tibial, then *tibio-popliteal.
1835-6 Todd s Cycl. Anat. I. 151/2 The anterior *tibio-
tarsal ligament arises from this margin. 1872 CoUES
N. Amer. Birds 69 The leg is almost always feathered toor
beyond the tibio-tarsal joint. 1883 MARTIN & MOALE
Vertebr. Dissect, n. 124 The *tibio-tarsus .. consists not
only of the tibia, but of the proximal bone of the tarsus,
which becomes fused with it at an early period.
Tiborne, Tiburn(e, obs. forms of TYBUBN.
Tiburon (tibnrn). Also 6-7 tiberune, tu-
beron. [a. F. tiburon (Joubert Hist. Poiss. 1558),
tibfron^tiburin (Littotyj&y.tiburon^tibttronespJces,
in Minsheu) = It. tiburino (Florio), Pg. tubarao.
Origin uncertain ; prob. taken into Sp. or Pg.
from some \V. Indian or E. Indian lang.] A name
given by i6-i7th c. navigators to one or more
large species of shark ; applied specifically to the
bonnet-headed shark, Reniccps tiburo\ now, on
the Mexican Pacific coast, to Carcharimtsfronto.
1555 EDF.N Decades 201 The Tiburon.. Is a very great
! fysshe and very quicke and swifte in the water, and a cruell
I deuourer...Thesayde Tuberon [etc.]. 1565 SIR J. HAWKINS
f -2nd Voy. W. Ind. (Hakl. Spc.) 22 Many sharks orTuberons
! ..came about the ships [Sierra Leone]. [1579 T. STEVENS
Lct.fr. Goa in Hakluyt Voy. (1589) 161 There waited on
our ship [in the Atlantic within the Tropics] fishes as long
as a man, which they cal Tuberones. 1508 W. PHILLIP
Linschoten i. xlviii. (Hakl. Soc.) II. 12 There is in the
rivers, and also in the Sea along the coast of India great
store of fishes, which the Port tngalls call Tubaronor Hayen.]
1622 R. HAWKINS Voy. S. Sea 68 The shark, or tiberune, is
a fish like unto those which wee call dogge-fishes.but that he
is farre greater. 1796 MORBBXffW.&dK 1.728 Fish common
to both oceans.. sword fish, saw fish, tiburones, manitis.
Tiburtine (tsrbzutoin),^. [ad. L. Tiburtin-us,
i. Tiburs, Tiburt-em 9 adj., of Tibur.] Of or per
taining to the region or district of Tibur (now
Tivoli) in ancient Latium. Tiburtine stone = TRA
VERTINE : cf. TIBER-STONE.
c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. i. 372 Stone tiburtyne, or Moody
columbyne, Or spongy rede, lete brenne, or marble stone,
For bylding better is the harder myne, 1644 EVELYN
Diary 14 Nov., It is built of Tiburtine stone. 1840 Civil
Eng. ff Arch. Jrnl. III. 132/2 A_bilingual inscription.,
sculptured on both sides of a Tiburtine stone.
Tic (tile), [a. F. tic, first known as the name of
an equine affection: ticq, tiquet *a disease which
on a sudden stopping a horse s breath, makes him
to stop, and stand still* (Cotgr. 1611). Origin
uncertain ; Diez compares It, ticchio whim, freak,
caprice. See also TICK sb. 5 ]
1. A disease or affection characterized by spas
modic twitching of certain muscles, esp. of the
face; nearly always short for tic douloureux : see 2.
1822-34 Good s Study Med. (ed. 4) III. 219 The word tic
is commonly supposed to be an onomatopy, or a sound
expressive of the action it imports. 1849 CLARIDGE Cold
Water-cure 106 A person.. suffering from Tic in his legs.
1860 DICKENS Lett. 5 June, Smith. .has been dreadfully ill
with tic. 1873 STEVENSON/,^/. (1901) 1.62, 1 do not expect
any tic to-night. 1899 Allbutfs Syst, Med. VII. 868 Both
in this country and in America, the term tic has been
applied to . . facial spasm ( tic non-douloureux J, or to facial
neuralgia ( tic douloureux *) Ibid. VI II. 40 A phenomenon
in the symptomatology of simple tic (habit-spasm)
(1 2. Tic douloureux (dlrJ) [F., = painful twitch
ing], severe facial neuralgia with twitching of the
facial muscles.
(Often misspelt by English writers dole-, dolou-> douleif-^
and often mispronounced (dplarw), etc.)
1800 Med. Jrnl. III. 575 The Dolor Fac zei, or, as the
French call it, Tic Donloreux^ is a disorder which has, in
general, frustrated all attempts of the medical art. 1800
HOME in Phil. Trans. XCI. 20 The Tic douteweitx is a
remarkable instance. 1822 GoODiSAnfr Med. I. 55 1 ne
maddening pain tf neuralgia /aciei* or tic douloureux. 182^
LAMB Lett., To B. Barton (1838) II. 162, I hope, .thy tick
doleru, or, however you spell it, is vanished. 1861 LYTTON
Str. Story I. 58 A poor old gentleman, tormented by tic-
dolorcux. 1878 T. BRYANT Pract. Surf. I. 289 The disease
known as * tic-douloureux is an affection of the fifth nerve
and its branches, but any nerve in the body is liable to suffer.
3. A whim : see TICK sl>.s 2.
Tie, variant of TIG.
TICE.
II Tical (in Siam tika l, in Burma ti k l). Also
8 tecul(l, tecal(l, teecall, 9 tickal, tycal, takel,
tackal 1. [Representing, through Pg. ticdl, the
Indian tankd, also takd : see TANGA. Carried in
i6th c. to Siam by the Portuguese ; later to Burma.
(See Sir R. C. Temple in Indian Antiquary
XXVIII. 235, 253.)] A term long in use by
foreign traders in Siam and more recently in Burma,
applied to a silver coin and its weight, representing
roughly the Indian rupee (orig. the same as the
taiika], which has varied in value according to
time and place from 2s. 6d. to is. 2^., and in
weight from more than to less than half an ounce
Troy. (Sir R. C. Temple.) Also attrib.
In Siam, according io Crawfurd, a weight = 225^ grs.
(according to Simmonds = 236 grs.); also a silver coin of
this weight, the value of which has fallen with that of silver.
In Burma, a weight 255-6 grains, the quasi-standard weight
of current (uncoined) silver, said to be equivalent in value to
about i rupee.
1662 J. DAVIES tr. Mandelslo s Trav. 130 The money of
this Country [Slam] is very good.. ; there are of it three
sorts ; Ticats> Moses, and Foangs. 1727 A. HAMILTON
New Ace. E. Ind. II. xlvii. 164 Some were of pure Gold,
others of Tecul Silver, which has no Alloy in it. 1800
Misc. Tracts in Asiatic Ann. Reg. 317/2 The cost of sink
ing a new well is 2000 tecals flowered silver of the country,
or 2500 sicca rupees. 1840 MALCOM Trav. 41/1 They some
times have a gold fuang, equal to eight ticals. The tical,
assayed at the mint of Calcutta, yielded about one rupee
three and a half annas, equal to 2s. 6d. sterling. 1858
T. DALTON in Merc. Marine Mag. V. 337 Last year the
same rice sold for 19 ticals (equal to 60 cents each tical, or
2S. 6d. sterling). 1902 Daily Citron, i Dec. 5/7 A dispatch
from Bangkok . . says : The Siamese Government has
issued a decree fixing the gold standard on the basis of
seventeen ticals to the pound . 1907 Motor Boat 19 Sept.
179/1 American two-stroke motors . .used to arrive in batches
valued at 1,200 ticals each (i tical = is. sid.).
(I Ticca (ti-ka, trka). East Indian. Also
teeka. [ad. Hindi thtka or thikah hire, fare,
fixed price (Yule).] attrib. Engaged on contract,
hired ; esp. in ticca gharry, hired carriage.
1827 Bengal Regulations 27 June (Y.), A Rule, Ordinance
and Regulation . . for regulating the number and fare of
Teeka Palankeens, and Teeka Bearers in the Town of
Calcutta. 1878 Life in Mofussil II. 94 (Y.) We got into a
ticca gharry , hired trap . 1895 MRS. B. M. CROKER
Village Talcs (1896) 48 You.. can, no doubt, retire and set
up a ticca gharry, or a shop. 1903 Blackiy. Ma^. Dec. 817
Engaged in a.. wrangle with a Ticca carriage-driver,
tTicchen. Obs. [OE. tice en = OHG. zicchtn
: WTeut. *tikk~in-> dim. from the stem which also
gave OHG. ziga^ Ger. ziege goat. The modern
Eng. form would have been titchen^ A kid, a
young goat.
^950 Lindisf, Go$p . Matt. xxv. 32 Sua Horde to-sceadas
scipo from tic&enum [^975 Rush. G. ticnum; ciooo Ags.
G. tyccenum ; c 1160 Hatt. ticchenan]. c 1000 VELFRIC Gen.
xxvii. q Bring me tvva ba betstan tyccenu. Ibid. 16 Heo..
befeold his handa mid bfera tyccena fellum. a 1225 A ncr. R.
ico peos fif wittes he cleoped ticchenes; for.. of a ticchen,
bet haueS swete vleschs, kumeO a stinkinde got.
Tice (tais), sb. [f. TICE v.~\ An act of enticing,
an enticement; spec, a stroke at croquet, or { ball*
(bowled) at cricket (see quots. 1888, 1901), which
tempts or entices the opponent to take aim.
1874 J. D. HEATH Croquet-Player 55 It is admissible to
give a double shot as a tice , so as to tempt him to shoot
where his missing would give you the dead ball. 1888
STEEL & LYTTKLTON Cricket (Badm.) iii. 132 In the first
over he [the bowler] should try a yorker . This ball,
called in days gone by a tice , an abbreviation of entice ,
is certainly one of the most deadly balls that can be bowled.
1900 A. LILLIE Croquet up to Date 41 The length of the
tice should depend on the trueness of the ground. 1901
AT. # Q. 9th Ser. VIII. 284/2 It might meet the require-
ments of present-day definition . . if one classed a ( tice as a
lob, or to be more precise, an underhand yorker.
b. Comb, tice-basket, a decoy basket.
1884 \ytkCent. Feb. 245 Fish., falling freely to the native
net and tice-basket.
Tice (tais), v. Obs. exc. dial Forms: 3-7
tyce, 4-6 tise, 4-; tyse, 5-6 Sc. tyss, (6 Sc. tist,
tyst,tyist(e, tyisce), 5-7 ($<&) tice, 7 (9 dial.)
tice. [Aphetic form of atise, ATTICE or ENTICE,
but found earlier than either of these, and perhaps
taken immediately from OF. a-ttser t dropping the
prefix.] trans. To entice; to induce or attract by
the offer of pleasure or advantage. Also absol.
ci27S Moral Ode (Jesus MS.) 266 pe bat were gaderares
of bisse worldes ayhte And duden bat pe lobe gost heom
tycede \v. rr. hechte to, tihte] and tahte. 1303 R. BRUNNE
Handl. Synne 2152 To tyse a chylde swyche synne to do.
c 1449 PECOCK Repr. y. xii. 548 Which schulde rather lette
fro glorie than tice into glorie. 1533 BKLLENDEN Liry \.
xyiii. (S.T.S.) I. 103 He tyistit |>e Joung men of his ciete to
his purpois. 1593 NASHE Christ s T. 48 b, If one tice a
Prentise to robbe his Maister, it is Felony, a 1835 MRS.
HEMANS Let. in Chorley Mem. (1837) I. 299 An old gar
dener of ours used to say of me, .that Miss Felicia ticed
him to do whatever she pleased . 1859 GEO. ELIOT A. Bede
xxxix, He s been false to me, and ticed her away.
Hence Ti-cing vbl. sl>. and/p/. a.
a 1400 Hampole"s Psalter liii. 4 pat pai take me not in
Jwiire wickidnes & lijjere eggynge \v.r. tisynge]. 1456
SIR G. HAVE Law Arms (S.T.S.) 31 For na mede na othir
tyssing. 1^68 in H. Fleming MaryO. of Scots (1897) 512
Be persuasioun and tyisting. 1582 T. WATSON Cfnturie of
TICEMENT.
Lone Ixxii. (Arb.) 108 My Loue, Whose tising face is of
more liuely hewe. 1646 H. P. Medit. Seige 69 What a
ticeing bayt is golden hope !
t Ticement. Obs. Aphetic f. ENTICEMENT.
1303 R. BKUNNE HandL Synne 12016 5> f b ou wylt..with-
slonde hys [the devil s] tycement. c 1400 Brut 182 Lewelyn,
Prince of Walys, brouj ticeraent of Dauid his brofr>er, . . (roust
dibherite Kyng Edward.
Ticer (tai scu). [f. TICK v. + -EB 1 .] An enticer.
a 1529 SKKLTON Mann. World 143 So many carders,
Revelers and dicers, And so many yl ticers, Sawe I never.
1869 E. KAKMER Scrap Sk. (ed. 6) 27 All the lame and the
old, With a few (just as ticers ) are sent to be sold.
Ticliorllilie (tarkorain), a. Palxont. Also
-orrhine, -orine. [ad. mod.L. tichorrhinus, f.
Gr. TCI XO-I wall + ^is (ftv-} nose.] Having an
ossified nasal septum ; the English form of the
specific name of the Woolly Rhinoceros.
1851 D. Wn_sos Prek. Ann. (1863) I. ii. 42 Man was con
temporary with thetichorine rhinoceros. 1854 Zoologist X.\\.
4375 Entire carcases of the extinct mammoth and ticho-
rhine rhinoceros have been handed down in Arctic Sibeii;i.
1860 OWKN Palaeontology 366 The discovery of the carcase
of the tichorrine rhinoceros in frozen soil.
Tieht (Sc.), obs. pa. pple. of TIE v. ; var. TIGHT
v.2- Sc. f. TIGHT.
Tichy, obs. form of TETCHY.
Tick (tik), sl>.1 Forms : (i ticia), 5 teke; 4-7
tyke, 6 tycke, 6-7 tike, tioke, 7 tique, 7- tick.
[Ticia (assumed to be an error for *tiica = fica, or
*t!cca] appears once, in the Erfurt Gloss, a 800,
after which the word is known only in i;;th c. as
teke, from I4th to I7th c. as tyke, and from i6th c.
as tycke, tick. Teke agrees with MD., MLG. teke,
Du. teek, also with the LG. forms teke, take. Tyke,
tike agree with suggested OK. *tica, with LG. ticke,
tick, whence Dn. tick, and mod.EFris. tike, tik,
applied to beetles generally (Dornkaat-Koolman).
Thence also prob. F. tique (1464 in Godef.). The
later tycke, tick may be shortened from teke: cf.
rick, sifk, wick. If - OE. *ticca with OTeut. cc,
it would correspond to Ger. zecke (whence It. zecca}
:-*tikkon m. or *tikkSn f. ; if = *tfca, to MHG.
zeche. The various forms imply WGer. *tika-,
*tika-, *likka-. Ulterior etymology uncertain : see
Kluge and Franck ; also Falk and Torp s. v. Tsege. ]
1. The common name for several kinds of mites
or acarids, esp. of the genus IxoJes or family
Ixodidx, which infest the hair or fur of various
animals, as dogs, cattle, etc., and attach them
selves to the skin as temporary parasites ; also for
the similarly parasitic dipterous insects of the
families Hiff0l>0sci(/fe (bird-ticks, horse-ticks, sheep-
ticks) and Nycteribiidx (bat-ticks).
1800 Erfurt Gloss. (O. E. T.)_ 1 1 30 Ricinits, ticia sax.
1300-25 Song agst. Retainers 20 in Pol. Songs (Camden) 238
*fo shome he huem shadde, To fles ant to fleye, To tyke ant
to tadde. c 1440 Jacob s Well xxi. 146 A waterleche or a tyke
hath neuere ynow,tyl it brestyth. 14. . Voc. in Wr.-Wiilcker
565/47 Ascarida, a Teke. 1523 FITZHERB. Hwsb. 135
There is Jeopardy both for calues, foles and coltes, for tyckes,
or for beynge lousye. 1575 Tl RUEUV. Venerie 229 A receipt
to kill fleas, lice, tykes, and other vermin on dogs. 1603
HOLLAND Plutarch s Mor. 393 The foxe in jfcsops fables
would not suffer the urchin to take off the tiques that were
setled upon her bodie. 1658 ROWLAND Moiifet s Thcat,
Ins. 934 The Tick or Sheep-fly. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury
n. 198/2 The Tike is another kind of Louse,. .a Com
panion for Dogs, Sheep, and Cattle. 1748 Ansons V0y.
m. ii. 314 An insect called a tick, which, though principally
attached to the cattle, would yet frequently fasten upon our
limbs and bodies. 1839 DARWIN Voy. Nat. i. (1879) Io A tick
which must have come here as a parasite on the birds.
1882 Garden 14 Jan. 20/1 The horses., were covered with
large blue ticks.
t b. Applied in contempt or insult to a person.
1631 A. WILSON Siuisser n, i, Yee nigling Ticks you.
2. Short for tick-be9n : see 3.
1765 Treat. Dow. Pigeons 28 Horse-beans are the next
food. . . There is a sort which they call French ticks, which
are good food. 1850-2 MORTON Cycl. Agaric. (1855) I. 200/2
There are several other varieties of the Tick bean in cultiva
tion, known locally fas] Harrow Tick, Flat Tick, Essex Tick,
and French Tick.
3. attrib. and Comb., as, tick genus, plague; tick-
bean, a small-seeded variety of the common bean,
Vicia Faba, so called from the resemblance of the
seed to a dog-tick ; tick-bird, a bird which feeds
on the ticks that infest large quadrupeds, as the
African genus Buphaga (rhinoceros-bird) and the
S. American and \V. Indian Crotophaga ani; tick-
eater = tick-bird; tick fever, a fever (in men or
cattle) caused by the bites of ticks ; tick-fly, any
of the dipterous insects called ticks (see i) ; tick-
seed, name for various plants having seeds re
sembling ticks, as f the castor-oil plant, Ricinus
communis (obs.), and the genera Coreopsis and
Corispermum ; also = tick-trefoil; tick-seeded
a., having seeds resembling ticks ; tick-spider,
name for a jumping spider; ftiok spot, a marking
as if bitten by a tick : cf. TICKED a. ; tick-trefoil,
a plant of the genus Desmodium, so named from
the joints of the pods adhering like ticks to the fur
3
of animals ; tick-weed, ) (a) the castor-oil plant
(see tick-seed above) ; (l>) the American pennyroyal,
Hedeoma pulegioides.
1763 Museum Rust. (ed. 2) I. 187 The methods followed
..in sowing horse beans, or *ticU-beans, as we sometimes
call them. 1805 Trans. Sac. Arts XXIII. 36 One stalk of
the tick bean had 70 pods. 1863 W. C. BALDWIN Afr.
Hnnti)ig\y.. 389, I was much amused by watching the "tick
birds trying to alarm an old white rhinoceros, that we were
approaching from under the wind. 1871 KIN(;SLEY^/.<W/V,
The black tick birds (Crotophaga Ani), a little larger than
our English blackbird. 1896 BADKN.POWELL Mataoele Cam
paign xviii. 133 Colenbrander. .they have called the tick-
bird a bird which in this country always accompanies a
bull, to relieve him of superfluous ticks. 1903 Daily Chron.
1 1 June 3/3 The gulls, . . like the small *tick eaters which live
on African game, delighted in warning their friends of our
approach. 1901 Lancet 23 Nov. 1432/1 "Tick fever is widely
distributed throughout the world... It is communicated to
cattle by insects known as ticks . 1658 ROWLAND Moufct s
Thcat. Ins. 949 Those things that kill and drive away the
"Tyke-flies called Ricini, for the most part kill and drive
away the Dog-flies. 1889 Cent. Diet. s.v. H ifpobosca.,
11. equina is a winged tick-fly of the horse. 1822-34 Good s
Study filed, (ed. 4) I. 263 Linnajus.. laboured, .to prove,
that dysentery is the effect of a.. larva.. belonging to the
acarus or "tick genus. 1806 Daily News 23 Nov. 8/5 The
*tick-plague in Queensland.. is not so terrible a scourge as
the South African rinderpest. 1562 TL RNKR Herbal n.
116 Ricinus is called. .in English palma Christ!, or *ticke
sede. ..The sede. .when the huske is of.-looketh very lyke
a dogge louse which is called a tyke. 1760 J. LEE Intrnd.
Hot. App. 329 Tickseed, Corisperimim. 1860 WORCESTKR,
Tickseed sunflower, a smooth-branched herb, having golden-
yellow, showy rays ; Coreopsis trichosperina. Gray. 1786
ABERCROHBIB Arrangntn, in Gard. Assist. 54/2 Coreopsis,
"tick-seeded sunflower, 1721 BRADLEY Plulos. Ace. Wks.
Nat, 135 The Jumper or *Tick Spider. 1704 Loud. Ga-.
No. 4079/4 A. .Greyhound, .with some white Tick Spots.
1857 GRAY First Less. Bot. (1866) 127 A one-celled ovary
sometimes becomes several-celled, .by the formation of false
partitions,, .as in the jointed pod of the Sea-Rocket and the
*Tick-Trefoil. 1563 HYLL Art Garden. (1593) 32 The hearbe
named "Tick- weed, otherwise in Latin Palma Christi. 1884
MILLKR Plant-n., Tick-weed, Hedeoma pulegioides.
Tick (tik), s62 Forms: a. 5 tikke, tykk>,
6 tyoke, 6-7 tioke, 6- tick; 0. 5-6 toke, 7
teike ; y. (chiefly Sc.) 5- tyke, 6 tyik, 6- tike
(tsik). [Known from I5th c., in the forms tikke,
tike, tyke ; the second corresp. to MLG. and MDu.
teke (mod.EFris. tilt, Doornkaat-Koolman), cog
nate with OHG. zialiha, zicc/ia, MHG., Ger. zieche
bed-tick, pillow-case ; the third to MDu. tike, tijcke,
Du. tijk. These forms point to an earlier WGer.
*tlka, and later *tlka, both a. L. teca, theca, a. Or.
6j]nr] case, whence also F. teie, taie, obs. Eng. TAT,
TEY. The short vowel in tykkt, tikke, licke, tick,
is prob. as in rick, sick, zpzVve.]
The case or cover containing feathers, flocks, or
the like, forming a mattress or pillow ; also, from
1 6th c., applied to the strong hard linen or cotton
material used for making such cases.
a. 1466 Mann, fy Househ. Exp. (Roxb.) 362 For iij. tykkes
[pr. tylkes] and bolsteres to the same fore federbeddes.
1480 Wardr. Ace. Eiiw. 7^(1830) 118 To Lisbet Ketiller
fora grete tikke xxxijs. 1530 PALSGR. 281/1 Ticke for a
fetherbed, coite de lit. 1569 Wills f, Im. N. C. (Surtees)
I. 311 One fether bed, the tycke therof I dyd by. 1586
Kates a/CusfomeEvirjb, Ticks called Brussel ticks, the
Tick xiij.s. iiij.d. 1636 Althorp MS. in Simpkinson
Washington* (1860) App. p. Ixxvii, For 2 feather bed ticks
for Alexander. 1743 Phil. Trans. XLII. 367 Those Ticks
and Pillow-biers covering the Matresses and Pillows. 1812
W. TENNANT AnsterF. it. xxviii, Dunfermline, too, sofam d
checks and ticks. 1842 S. LOVER Handy Andy vi, The
deep pocket of blue striped tick which hung at her side.
ft. 1494 FABYAN Chron. Vll. 414 And of federbeddes [they]
rypped the tekys. 1570 LEVINS Manip. 54/25 Ye Teke of
a bed, teca cnlcitaria. c 1615 in Walcott William df
Wykeham (1852) 167, 3 yeards of teike fora boulster.
y. 1495 in Pitcairn Crim. Trials I. 20*, iij le tykis de
feddirbeddis. 1501 Ace. Ld. High Treas. Scot. II. 295
For tua tikis of feddir beddis to hir. 1534 Im . Wardr.
Kath. ArragoH. in Camden Misc. (1855) 31 A paliotte of
Brusells tyke filled with bastardedowne. 1545 Kates of
Custome C vij, Tikes for beddes the dossen xxxvj.s. Tikes
the pece iij.s. 1573-80 BARET Al~>. T 241 The tike of a
bed : a featherbed. 1580 A berdftn Regr. (1848) II. 36 Auch-
tene codvairis witht sextene tyikis. 1618 SIR R. BOYLE in
Lismore Papers (1886) I. 191, 1 bought a fetherbed tykes.
1806 FORSYTH Beauties Scot!. III. 146 The children sleep
in beds, .with tikes filled with straw.
b. Used for the bed or bolster itself : as,
" That s the tyke or tyken o the bed : a gtiid
feather tyke or tyken [ = tyking] " (Suppl. to
Jamicson, 1887).
More distinctively tyke o 1 bed, or tyke-a-bed.
Tick (tik), st.3 Forms: 5 tek, tekk, 6-7
ticke, 7 tyok, 6- tick. [Not known 31440, the
vb. (TICK z;.l) appearing a century later. Parallels
to sb. and vb. appear in Dn. tik a pat, touch, tick,
tikken to pat, tick, I,G. tikk a touch, also a moment,
instant, with ticken or tikken vb., Norw. tikke to
touch lightly, also MHG. zic a light touch or
push , and zicken vb. These may indicate a
common OTent. source, or they may be of later
onomatopoeic formation, the expression in vocal
gesture of the act or sound in question.]
1. A light but distinct touch ; a light quick
stroke ; a pat, a tap. Obs. exc. dial.
TICK.
c 1440 Promp. Paru. 487/2 Tek, or lytylle towche (K.
tekk or lytyl btrock), tactutus. 1580 SIDNEY Let. 18 Oct. in
Collins/,^/. (1746)!. 285 When you plaj at Weapons .. play
out your Play lustilie, for indeed Tickes and Daliances arc
nothing in earnest. 1621 S. WAKU Life of Faith 84 The
least ticke befalls the not, without the ouer-ruling eye and
hand., of a wise God. 1625 LISLE Du Bartas, Noe 13 He
makes us only afraid With fingers tyck. 1674 N. FAIRFAX
Bulk ff St fo. 96 If the forestroke give us but a little tick,
the backstroke will be sure to give him a knocker. (11825
FOKBY Voc. E. Anglia-t Tick, a very gentle touch, by way
of hint, or as a token of endearment.
b. A children s game in which the object is to
overtake and touch ; TIG sb. 2.
1622 DRAYTON Poly-olb. xxx. 144 The Mountaine Nymphs
. .doe giue each other chase, At Hood-winke, Barley-breakc,
at Tick, or Prison-base. 1884 BLACK Jud. Shaks, iii, The
children playing tick round the grave-stones.
2. A quick light dry sound, distinct but not loud,
as that caused by the sudden impact of a small
hard body upon a hard surface; esp. the sound
produced by the alternate check and release of
the train in the escapement of a watch or clock ;
also the similar sound made by the death-watch
beetle.
Also (repeated) adverbially or interject ion ally, as an imi
tation of thib bound : set; also TICK-TICK.
1680 AUBRFY Lives (1898) I. 28 He [Thomas Allen] hap
pened to leave his watch in the chamber windowe. .. The
maydes.. hearing a thing in a case cry Tick, Tick, Tick,
presently concluded that that was his Devill. 1702 RAY
Rcm. (1780) 324 The leisurely and constant Tick of the Death-
Watch. 1861 Walsall Free Press ^ Dec., By a simple
arrangement of ticks and intervals., the clerk was enabled
to copy the [telegraphic] messages with the utmost rapidity.
1871 TYNDALL Pragni. Sc. (1879) I. xxii. 4g6 Ellicott set one
clock going by the ticks of another. 1910 Nation S Jan.
604/2 With just a tick of bis [a robin s] alarm note,
b. A beat of the heart or of the pulse.
1823 BYKON Juan x. xxxix, Her physician , .found the
tick Of his fierce pulse betoken a condition Which augured
of the dead. 1855 BROWSING An Epistle 194 Something,
a word, a tick o the blood within Admonishes.
3. A small dot or dash (often formed by two
small strokes at an acute angle), made with a pen
or pencil, to draw attention to something or to
mark a name, figure, etc., in a list as having been
noted or checked. In quot. 1860 used in plural for
inverted commas.
1844 Frasers Mag. XXX. S3, i Neat pencil ticks indicated
favourite passages. 1860 MRS. CAKLYLE Lett. (1883) III.
48 To. .interlard his own note with single words or whole
lines of yours l in ticks . 1863 Reader 28 Nov. 638 A tick
at the beginning and end of it.. shows of what extent the
passage is to be. 1865 DICKENS Mttt. Fr. in. i, Those lots
that I d mark with my pencil there s a tick there, and :i
tick there. 1898 SIR E. HAMILTON in Daily News 8 Nov.
6/1 Whether the copy was entered in a large letter-book,
or made on a separate sheet, depended on his having made
one tick or two ticks at the bottom of the first page.
b. A small spot or speck of colour on the skin
or coat of an animal.
1873 D. MACLAGAN in Mod. Scot, Poets (1881) III. 181 The
ticks upon his gawsy side Show him a new-rin saumon.
4. transf. (from 2). The time between two ticks
of the clock ; a moment, second, instant, colloq.
1879 BROWNING Ned Bratts 193 Waste no tick of moment
more. 1904 JEROME Tommy fy Co. (cd. Tauchn.) 236 It s all
right. Can explain in two ticks. 1907 PHYLLIS DAKE Fr.
School to Stage v, At eight o clock to the tick, the day s
regular lesson s began. 1909 HoRNUNcTI/r. Justice Raffti-s
I. 6, I should have been spotted in a tick by a spy.
Tick, sb.i colloq. or slang, [app. abbreviation
of TICKET sb.l 7 in the phrase on the ticket.
Chronology forbids derivation from TICK z>.l 3 or
sb$ 3, which has sometimes been conjectured.]
1. Phrases. On or upon (\the] tick> on credit,
on trust (cf. on ticket, TICKET sh\ 7) ; to go on tick
(also go tick}) run on, upon (f / ) tick, to buy on
credit, run into debt.
1642 Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 37999 If. 66 They would haue
..run on tick with Piggin for inke and songs, rather than
haue lost the show of your presence. 1668 DKYDF.N Even
ing^ Love HI. i. Play on tick, and lose the Indies, 111
discharge it all tomorrow. 167* WYCHERLEY Love in
Wood^\\\. i, A poor wretch that goes on tick for the paper
he writes his lampoons on ! 1849 THACKERAY Pendennis ii,
When be had no funds he went on tick. 1861 HUGHES
Tom Brmvtt at Oxf.\ t Going tick 1 for everything which
could by possibility be booked. 1892 STEVENSON Across
the Plains ii. 100 This villainous habit of living upon tick.
2. Hence, Credit; trust; reputation of solvency
and probity.
1668 SEDLEY Mulb. Gard. \\. ii, I confess my Tick is not
good, and I never desire to Game for mote than I have
about me. 1718 RAMSAY Christ s Kirk Gr. \\\. xiv, Wasted
was baith cash and tick. 1788 Trifler No. 2. 26 If you can
cure him, D r . Bolus, you shall have the best cheese in my
shop, and tick for another. 1894 BLACKMORE Perlycross 105
Giving tick unlimited, or even remission of all charges.
3. A debit account; a score, account, reckoning.
1681 PRIDEAUX Lett. 21 May (Camden) 83 The Marmayd
Tavern is lately broke, and we Christ Church men bear y*
blame of it, our ticks, as y noise of y* town will have it,
amounteing to 1500 . 171* ARBUTHNOT John Bull in. yii,
Paying ready Money, that the Maids might not run a Tick
at the Market. 1755 Connoisseur No. 92 He. .had a long
tick at the tavern. 1840 J. T. HEWLETT P. Priggin$ xiv,
Oh, never mind paying ; I ve got a tick here, i86aTHACKE-
RAY Philip xxxviii, Tnere are some of my college ticksain t
paid now. ..Tailors ticks, tavern ticks, livery-stable ticks.
1-2
TICK.
Tick (tik), ji.s Rarely tic. [ad. F. tic in same
senses : cf. Tic (which retains the Fr. spelling).]
1. The vice or morbid habit in horses called crib-
biting or cribbing. Cf. TICK z/.3
1720 W. GIBSON Diet. Horses v. (1731) 83 There is another
Vice which some Horses areaddicted to. .called the Tick.
2. A whim, a fancy ; a peculiar habit or notion,
an idiosyncrasy.
[1896 Daily News 30 Sept. 6/3 It is mere tic or habit.]
1900 SARAH GRAND Babs ix, She s got some tick in her
head about being firm with me.
Tick, si.* [Echoic.] A local name of the
whinchat.
1848 2oalagist\\. 2137 The whinchat has the nickname
utick , or, more simply is sometimes merely a tick from
its well-known note.
Tick ,tik), v.l [f. TICK s6J: cf. Du. tikken to
pat, tick, Norw. tikke to touch lightly.]
1. inlr. To touch or tap a thing or person lightly ;
esf. to bestow light touches or pats by way of
caressing ; to dally ; esf. in phi. tick and toy fig.
to trifle. 06s. exc. dial.
1546 J. HEYWOOD Prov. (1867) 44 Their tickyng might
haue taught Any yonge couple their lone tickes to haue
wrought. 1550 LATIMER Last Scrm. icf. Eitm. VI 108
Stand not ticking and toying at the braunches.. but strike
at the roote. 1682 KUNYAN Holy IVar xii. 268 His sons
began to play his pranks, and to be ticking and toying with
the daughters of their lord. 1684 Adv. Sufferers Wks.
(ed. Offor) II. 738 Though they may but tick and toy with
thee at first, their sword may reach thy heart-blood at last.
<zi8zs FORBY Voc. K. Anglia, Tick, v. to toy. Indeed
the two are often used together ; . . two fond sweethearts are
sometimes seen ticking and toying .
t b. trans. To tick up : to lift smartly, whip up.
1586 WARNER Alt. Eng. 11. xi, Then ticks he vp her
tucked Frocke, nor did Calysto blush.
2. inlr. Of a clock, watch, etc. : To make the
light quick sound described under TICK rf.3 2.
_ 1721, 1746-7 [see TICKING///, a.i, vtl. sl> 2]. 1775 ASH,
Tick, to make a small quick noise like that of a watch.
1806 J. TRAIN Poet. Reveries 94 (Jam.) When she heard
the Uead-watch tick. 1813 H. & J. SMITH Rej. AM::,
1 lay/wnsc Mils., I heard a trowel tick against a brick.
1820 W. \mnaSkttch Bk. I. 249 An old fashioned clock
ticked in one corner. 1864 THACKERAY D. Diaial iv, The
watch is ticking on the table before me as I write.
b. trans, with various complements : To wear
a-aay or out, bring to an end, in ticking ; to throw
"ff or deliver by ticking (as a telegraph).
1:1870 W. FnEELANoin Wnistletinkit (1890) II. 322 You [a
wagtail] wag and tick the ages out Quicker still and quicker. ;
1880 Miss BROUGH TON Sec. Th. n. iv, More days pass;.. !
none bringing, .much change in. .Gillian s life. The clocks I
tick it monotonously away. 1892 Leisure Hour Apr. 411/2
Each slow moment as it ticked itself away was a blow to
hope. 1902 Strand Mag. Jan. 71/1 The young woman
laughed at the answer as it was ticked off to her. 1906
Daily A r uj2oApr. 6 A telegraphist, .ticking out tidings
of the affair from its scene.
c. transf. (intr.) To beat, pulse, throb.
1868 BROWNING Ring $ Bk. i. 37 When hearts beat hard,
And brains, high-blooded, ticked two centuries since.
3. trans. To mark (a name, an item in a list, etc. )
with a tick ; to mark off with a tick, as noted,
passed, or done with. Alsoy?f. ; colloq. to identify.
1861 DICKENS Gt. Expect, xxxiv, I compared each with
the bill^and ticked it off. 1871 L. STEPHEN Playgr. Evr.
(1891) xiii. 323 One more task ticked off from their memo
randum book. 1874 GREEN Short Hist. vi. 6. 335 Frag
ments of his [Thos. Cromwell s] papers still show us with
what a business-like brevity he ticked off human lives. 1893
G. ALLEN Scallywag 1. 17 Ticking him off on her list. Mod.
I ticked him off as soon as I set eyes on him.
b. To mark with small ticks or spots of colour.
(But cf. TICKED a., TICKING vbl. si. 1 3.)
1910 19/4 Cent. May 915 The white ticked here and there
with black.
Tick (tik), v. i colloq. or slang, [f. TICK ^.4]
1. intr. To go on tick (see TICK sb* i); to
deal with a tradesman, etc. on credit, to take credit ;
to run into debt, leave one s debts unpaid.
1648 WINYARD Mi<tsHintticr-Moon 6 He must tick with
Charon, and have his Epitaph writ in chalk, a i68iOLDHA.M
Poet. Wks. (1686) 90 Who thither flock to Ghostly Con
fessor, To clear old debts, and tick with Heaven for more.
1742 FIELDING Miss Lucy in Town Wks. 1882 X. 310, I gave
that sum to my wife.. to buy her clothes. I ll take it from
her again, and let her tick with the tradesmen.
ta. trans. To leave (an amount) owing to be
entered to one s debit.
1674 S. VINCENT Y. Gallant s Acad. So He..tick[s] his
reckoning, that he may keep half a Crown in his Pocket.
1712 MRS. CENTLIVRE Perplexed Lovers I. i, The Devil a
bottle can I tick because he has forsworn the tavern.
2. intr. To give credit; to supply goods, pro
fessional aid, etc. on credit.
1712 AFBUTHNOT John Bull in. viii, The money went to
the lawyers ; counsel won t tick, Sir. 1721 AMHliRST Terrx
fit. No. 46 (1754) 247 Smarts in Oxford, .who cannot afford
to be thus fine any longer than their mercers, taylors, shoe-
makets,..will tick with them. 1840 J. T. HEWLETT / .
Prifglmi xiii, Sykes is your man ticks for ever, and
never duns.
b. trans. To give (a person) credit.
1842 Ai i ERLEY ( Nimrod ) Lift Sportsman v. He never
refused me a tandem, and he ticked me for a terrier at once.
tTick, v. l Obs. rare. [f. TICK sb.s\ intr.
Of a horse : To practise crib-biting; = CBIB v. 9.
1720 W. GIBSON Diet. Horses v. (1731 ) 84 While they do
this, they give a Belch through their throat, which is that
which we call Ticking. Some Horses Tick upon the
Trench, and some, .upon any post or rail they can come at
. .^because it is sometimes communicated by example, a
Ticker ought therefore to stand by himself.
Tick, variant of TEAK.
Tick-a-tick. [f. same source as TICK v. 1 or
sti.3] An imitation of the sound of a clock or
watch ; ticking; in quot. 1805, throbbing of the
pulse. So Tick-a-tack. (Cf. TICK-TACK, TICK-
TICK.)
1803 in Spirit Put. Jrnls. IX. 243 Munro shall count of
goes tick-a-iack.
Ticked (tikt), a. [f. TICK sb?- + -ED 2 : see quot.
1688, and cf. flea-bitten; in mod. use associated
with TICK j/5.3 3b.] Of a dog: Having small
markings or spots as if bitten by ticks : cf. tick spot
(TiCK rf.l 3) ; hence of birds, etc. : spotted, dotted.
1688 R. HoiMtiArmffUry in. 185/2 Ticked, when a Dog is
spotted with black on white, or with white spots on black,
and the like of the fallow and white, which proceeds from the
biteing of Ticks. 1828 .Miss MITFORD Village Ser. in.
Introd. 6 The puppy. .is fawn-coloured with adash of white,
and promises to be ticked. Are you sportswoman sufficient
to know that ticked means covered all over with white spots
about the size of a pea ? 1873 Spectator 22 Feb. 239/2
ticked that when in a brush-heap checkered black and white,
it was almost impossible to see her. 1902 Fur $ Feather
19 Sept. 207/2 Cats. .. Female .. smooth grey ticked.
Ticked (tikt), ///. a. [f. TICK sb? or v.l +
-ED.] a. Formed or represented by a series of
ticks: as a ticked line", one formed thus ...... .
1833 RICHARDSON Merc. Afar. Arch. 22 A ticked line
through all these spots will form the cant frame. (1850
Ritdiin. Navig. (Weale) 93 A batten.. will form the ticked
curve A D B.
b. Marked or marked o^"with a tick.
i863THF,RRY^;^vi/; iz(title-p.) A supplementary chapter
on Transportation and the Ticked-off System.
t Ti-ckel. Obs. rare. [dim. (?) of TICK rf.l :
see -EL -,~\ = TICK sb.l i.
1577 B. GOOGE Heresbach s Husl). (1586) 143 If they [sheep]
be lowsie, or full of tickets, they vse to beate the rootes of
Maple, and seething them in water, and opening the wooll
with their fingers, they powre the licour. 1741 Coinpl. Fain.-
ricce HI, 492 To destroy Ticks or Tickels in Sheep.
Tickel, -ell, obs. forms of TACKLE, TICKLE.
Tickeil (ti k n, ti-ken). [A dialectal form of
TICKING sb., the ending app. sometimes associated
with -EN *, as in hempen, woollen, etc.] = TICKING
sb., TICK rf. 2 Also cUtrib.
1701 Land. Gaz. No. 3739/4 Striped Ticken Breeches.
1707 E. CHAMBERLAYNE Pres. St.Eng. i. iii. (ed. 22) 20 The
chief Manufactures are Woollen Cloaths, Cottons, and
Ticken. 1769 De Foe s Tour Gt. Brit. I. 93 Part of a
Street of Booths was taken up with Upholsters Ware ; such
as Tickens, Sackens,. .Rugs, Quilts, c. 1843 BORROW
nible in Spain xi. 78 A long loose tunic or slop, seemingly of
coarse ticken.
t Ticker 1 . Obs. rare. [f. TICK z/.s + -Eiii.J
A cribbing horse, a crib-biter.
lyzofsee TICKZV*! 1796 LAWRENCE Treat* Horses iv. 218
The crib-biter, formerly called a ticker.. .These horses will
stand biting at the rack, or manger, or even at a post, throw
ing themselves backward, and sucking in the air with greedi
ness.
^. slang. fObs. [?f. TICK . -.
? One who obtains goods * on tick and never pays
for them ; a fraudulent debtor.
1753 (title) The Thief-Catcher ,. Containing an ample
Discovery of the.. Frauds now practised by Highwaymen,
Tickers, Gypsies, Horse-stealers [etc.].
Ticker ;i (ti-kaj). [f. TICK W.1 + -EE 1 .] Some
thing that ticks, a. The pendulum or escapement
of a clock or watch ; also (sfang} a watch (rarely,
as in quot. 1910, a clock).
1828 [Mom] Mansie Wanch xxv. (1849) 204 Went to and
fro like the ticker of a clock. 1829 MAGINN in Mem, Vidocff
IV. App. 261 Then his ticker I set a-going, With his
onions, chain, and key. 1838 DICKENS O. Twist xviii, If
you don t take fogies and tickers. .some other cove will.
1888 RIDER HAGGARD Col. Quaritch xxviii, I ve sold all my
jewels down to my ticker. 1910 Conteuip, Rev. July 36
Secreting a copy of Keats behind the ticker.
b. A telegraphic recording instrument, a tape-
machine; a stock-indicator.
1883 F. M. CRAWFORD Dr. Claudius (1892) 173 A couple of
y transmtte to every pace o usness.. n ew
York. Ibid, 174 It [the ticker] is the pulse of New York ,
said Barker. .. It tells us everything. Nobody can live
here without a ticker . 1889 Pali Mall G. 22 Jan. 7/2 In
New York . . news agency tickers , messenger calls, private
as well as public telephones, burglar and fire alarms,.. are
to be found in all well appointed offices. 1896 Proc. N.
ticKer . 1902 jHKHttyt Mag, AAVI.
general news tickers.. reporting bad news.
Ticket (ti ket), j/ .l Also 6 Sc. tikkot, -ett,
tek-, tioet, tikk-, tykkatt, tik-, tek-, tecat, 6-7 i
Sc. tiket, 6-8 tickett, 7 tik-, tyckett, tiquet
TICKET.
Sc. tickket. [In i6th c. (1528) tiket, aphetic
form of *etitet, a. obs. F. etiquel a little note,
breuiate, bill, or ticket ; especially such a one, as is
stucke vp on the gate of a Court, signifying the
seisure &c of an inheritance by order of iustice ;
or the parallel F. tliqttelte a ticket fastened within
the mouth of a Lawyers booke bag, and containing
the titles of the bookes, [etc.]; any inscription, super
scription, title, note, or marke set on th outside of
a thing . . ; also, a token, billet, or ticket, deliuered
for the benefit, or acluantage of him that receiues it
(Cotgr.) :-OF. estiquet(te (1387 in Hatz.-Darm.),
f. estiquer, to stick, fix, from Teutonic ; ad. OLG.
stek-an OHG. slchhan, Ger. stechen to stick, fix.
The primary sense was a little note or notice
affixed to anything, a label , whence extended as
in Cotgrave, and in the senses below. It is notable
that our earliest instances are Irish and Scotch ; but
English examples in some senses appear c 1600.
, See also ETIQUETTE, repr. a later sense of the Fr.
word.]
1. A short written notice or document ; a memo-
I randum, a note, a billet. f/ ticket, in writing
I (&.). Obs. exc. as in b, c.
This general sense is present in nearly all those that follow,
which differ mainly in respect of the purpose or use to which
the written statement or note is put,
1528 in \ot/i Kef. Hist. JlfSS. Comtn. App. v. 403 The
liailiefe shall not priese no flesh, . unlesse he can get a tiket
! or bill of the mcrchanndes hand with the boucher to whom
i he had sold the same. 158*) Reg. Privy Council Scot IV.
I 395_To present thair desins in tikkatt to the Lordis com-
poMtouris. c 1600 J/\s. VI in yd Rep. Hist. MSS. Coniin.
i 396/2 Sice soumis as the Duike of Lenox hes in tickket.
1622 MALVXES Anc. Law-Merck. 411 The Bankers. .haue
a meeting, and by certaine tickets in writing eueiie man
: doth deliuer his opinion, what the price of Exchange ought
, to be. 1627 USSHER Lett. (1686) 374 The Bishop of Derry
. hath left with me his Ticket, wherein he undertakes to pay
5o unto any one of the Captains to whom your Lordship
t shall appoint. 1638 BAKKR tr. Balzac s Lett. (vol. II.) 157 If
your ticket had overtaken me at Orleans, I had certainly
returned to Paris. 1661 PEPYS Diary 12 Apr., While I am
now writing, comes one with a tickett to invite me to
Captain Robert Blake s buriall. 1755 in Hist. Rev. Peun-
sylvauia (1759), Every one votes as he pleases, the election
being by written tickets, folded up and put in a box. 1760
HOOPER in Priv. Lett. Ld. Malnicsbttry (1870) L 82 A page
delivered him a ticket, importing that something had
happened to the (late) King.
b. spec. A written tender for ore, made by the
smelter. Cf. TICKETING vbl. sb. 2. local.
1778 PRYCE Mm. Cumuli. 287 The highest bidder or ticket
should be the purchaser, a 1856 PARIS in Jago Cormv. Gloss.
(1882) 201 Those [agents] of various Companies . . produce
a sealed ticket of the price they will give for ore ; and he
whose ticket is highest, takes the ore. 1870 J. PERCY
Alet<tll. Lead 496 Each Aline sends samples of its ore to the
Smelters in various localities, along with a notice to the
effect that tenders or tickets will be received up to a certain
day, on which they will be opened and the highest offer
accepted.
c. Stock Exch. : see quot. 1882-93.
1882-93 BITHELL Coimting-Ho. Diet. s. v. Ticket Day,
The day for the passing of tickets between brokers and job
bers, by means of which they learn the amount of stocks and
shares they have respectively to deliver or receive on the
day following. 1912 Stock Exchange Ticket, All rights in
respect of this ticket are hereby claimed. Itiiit., If this
Ticket be divided, insert Number and name of party dividing
it, or New Ticket will not be paid for.
2. A written notice for public information ; for
merly, a notice posted in a public place ; a placard ;
now esp. a slip of cardboard, metal, paper, etc.,
attached to an object, and bearing its name, de
scription, price, or the like ; a label, show-card.
(This may have been the original sense.)
1567 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 504 At the occasioun of
sum tikkettis affixt on the Tolbuyth dur of Edinburgh, be
his lettre sent to hir Majestic, [he] had desyrit James Erll
Bothwell, and certane speciliit in the saidis tikkettis, to be
apprehendit. a 1661 FULLER Worthies, Buckingham. (1662)
I. 137 Giving notice of the time to his Auditours in a ticket
on the School-dores. 1691- [implied in TICKET ? . i]. 1766
in Westm. Gaz. 22 Apr. (1910) 2/3 The seats in the House
of Commons were begun to be taken for the members by
pinning down a ticket with their names in such seats as they
chose, which were reserved for them till prayers began.
1804 Aston s Maxell. Guide^ 162 A ticket is affixed to each
patient s bed, mentioning his name, and that of his physi
cian or surgeon ; the time of admission, and the diet ordered
for him. 1848 THACKERAY Van. Fair xl, The ticket in the
window which announced Apartments to Let . 1851
MANTEI.L Petrifact. iv. i. 365 The same coloured margin
as that on the ticket Quartz , surrounds every specimen of
quartz in that Case.
3. (More fully visiting ticket.} A visiting-card.
Now Obs. or dial. also Anglo-Ind.
1673 [R. LEIGH] Trans/i. Reh. 142, I shall only therefore
leave a ticket for his assignes. 1773 LADY MARY COKE
Jrnl. 30 Nov., Sir Horatio Mann.. has desired me to leave
a ticket with the Grande Maitresse to-morrow. 1778 MRS.
THRALE Let. to Johnson n Nov., Your visiting ticket has
been left very completely in Wales. Was it the fashion to
leave cards in Prior s time? 1782 Miss BURNEY Cecilia i.
iii, Why, a ticket is only a visiting card, with a name upon
it ; but we all call them tickets now. 1862 THACKERAY
Philip xiii, Poor dear Mrs. Jones.. still calls on the ladies
of your family and slips her husband s ticket upon the hall
table. 1900 C. LEE Cynthia ii. 20 Mr. Gibbs come in just
now.. and left his ticket over the chimley.
TICKET.
5
TICKETING.
f4. A writing in which something is certified or
authorized ; a certificate or voucher ; a warrant,
licence, permit. Alsoy%;
1529 Aberdeen Rfgr- (1844) I. 126 Conforme to the saidis
maisteris of warkis tikatk 1553 Exch. Rolls Scotl. XVIII.
377 Pas this rentell to the lard of Rawelloun . . and kep this
our tecat for your varrand. a 1592 GREENE Jas. /F, 111.
ii, I am the king s purveyor. .Here s my ticket, deny it if
thou darest. 1615 Nottingham Rec. (1889) IV. 334 The
Schoole Wardens shall not hencefurth pay or doo any
reparacions vpon the bowse . . without a tyckett for the same
vnder Maister Maior s hand. 1641 EVKLYN Diary 28 Aug.,
He.. then deliver d me a ticket by virtue whereof I was
made excise-free. 1675 V. ALSOP Anti-sozzo 554 Paul would
have past for a Righteous person upon his producing the
Ticket of a blameless Conversation,
b. = CERTIFICATE sb. 3 b. slang.
rigoo CUTCLIFFE HVNE Master of Fortune i. (Cent.
Suppl.), I m Captain of the whole of this show now, . . and I
intend to be respected as such, and hold a full captain s
ticket.
5. A slip, usually of paper or cardboard, bearing
the evidence of the holder s title to some service or
privilege, to which it admits him ; as a theatre-
ticket : , railway or tramway ticket , insurance-ticket ,
lottery-ticket, lecture-ticket , platform-ticket (at a
meeting), communion-ticket) member s ticket ,
luncheon-ticket, soup-ticket, etc.
1673 Galston Sess. Rec. in Edgar Old Ch. Life Scot.
(1885) if$note t Several bunders of ticketsar distribute. 1682
LUTTRELL Brief R el, (1857) I. 179 The parties were Invited
by tickets, of which any man might have one for a guiney,
it being the price thereof. 1697-6, 1710 [see LOTTERY 5, i].
1710 HKARNE Collect. (O.H.S.) III. 40 The Tickett of a
1000 lib 9 per annum for 32 Years. 1741 WESLEY Wks.
(1872) I. 301 To those who were sufficiently recommended
tickets were given, a 1845 HOOD Double Knock n Sure he
has brought me tickets for the play. 1878 F. S. WILLIAMS
Midi. Riiilw. 626 The printing of tickets is effected by an
ingeniously constructed machine, 1898 FLOR. MONTGOMERY
Tony 17 You have got your ticket quite safe, haven t you ?
1906 Macm. Mag. June 625 Subscribers may obtain from
the Society supplies of food-tickets, each representing two-
pennyworth of food. Mod. Admission only by ticket.
K.fig.
1713 STEELE Englishman No. 21. 135 Your Approbation
is the Ticket by which they gain Admittance into your
Paper. 1784 COWPER Task in. 98 Well dressed, well bred,
Well equipaged, is ticket good enough, To pass us readily
through every door. iBsaThACKKRAY Esmond \i. xi, Within
a month after this day, Mr. Addison s ticket had come up a
rodigjous prize in the lottery of life. 1864 Sac. Sc. Rev.
409 Men who have robbed employers, or in some other
way sullied their fair fame (in cab language lost the ticket )
but who have not been . . prosecuted, easily become cabmen.
6. A pay-warrant ; esp. a discharge warrant in
which the amount of pay due to a soldier or sailor
is certified.
1596 SPENSER State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 657/2 There should
be a pay-master appoynted, of speciall trust, which should
paye everye man according to his captaynes tickett, and
the accompte of the claike of hisbande. 1665 PKPVS Diary
5 Dec., Mr. Stevens, who is . . paying of seamen of their
tickets at Deptford. 1836 MARRVAT Midsh. Easy xl, Gns-
coigne, having received his discharge-ticket, went on board
of the Rebiera. 1849 MACAULAY Hist. Rng. iii. I. 299 The
sailors were paid with so little punctuality that they were
glad to find some usurer who would purchase their tickets
at forty per cent discount. 1858 SIMMONDS Diet. Trade,
Ticket^ Seaman s, a register ticket given to seamen from
the General Register and Record office of Seamen.
b. Short for TICKET OF LEAVE.
1904 A. GRIFFITHS 50 Years Public Service xii. 169 Blue
dress men of exemplary conduct, who were within a year
of release on ticket. Ibid, xxiii. 354 Then he is on ticket
now, and wanted for failing to report himself, no doubt.
1 7. An acknowledgement of indebtedness, an
I O U ; a promise to pay ; a note or memorandum
of money or goods received on credit ; a debit ac
count, a score ; hence phr, on t upon (the) ticket^
on credit, on trust. Cf. on tick (TicK j//. 4 i).
Prob. the ticket was orig. the note of hand 1 of the
borrower, but it might easily be transferred to the statement
of the same rendered by the creditor, and thus to a trades
man s bill , as suggested by Nares.
c 1600 DAY Begg. Bednall Gr. i. i, Your poor Vitler, Sir,
where your Lordships men went o th ticket. 1632 J.
HAYWARD tr. Biondfs Eromena 25 The Admirall lost some
monies .and then playing on ticket, lost twenty thousand
crownes. a 1634 RANDOLPH Hey for Honesty 11. vi, I am
resolved to build no more Sconces, put to pay my old tickets.
1643 DAVF.NANT Unfort. Lovers v. i, Let em not deal on the
Ticket You know ready Mony makes the Pot boil. 1656
HEYLIN Surv. France 147 He that hath, .his gold ready shall
have a sooner dispatch, then the best Scholar upon ticket.
8. In U, S. politics, The list of candidates for
election nominated or put forward by a party or
faction.
General ticket, a list of candidates put forward for a state
or other large political division, equal in number to the
entire representation to which the division is entitled, but
not chosen to represent each local subdivision. Mixcd,
scratch, split, straight ticket : see quot. 1859.
1711 ISAAC N ORRIS in rcnn-Lvgan Corr. (1872) II. 438
Chester [Pennsylvania] carried their ticket entire. 1764
(Nov. 3) In Life etc. J. Reed (1847) I. 36 The Dutch
Calvin Lits and the Presbyterians., to a man assisted the new
ticket. 1766 SAKAH FKANKLIN Lett, to B. Franklin (1859)
191 The old ticket forever ! We have it by 34 votes 1 1789
Maryland Jrnl. 2 Jan. (Thornton Anter. Gloss.), The
Federal Ticket recommends Mr. Daniel Carroll for the
Sixth District; and the opposite Ticket.. Mr. Abraham
Faw. 1859 BARTLETT Diet. Anter. s.v. t According to
chcumstanccs a man is said to vote the straight ticket^
i.e. the ticket containing the regular nomination of his
party without change ; a scratch ticket, a ticket from which
the names of one or more of the candidates are erased ;
a split ticket, a ticket representing different divisions
of his party ; or a mixed ticket, a ticket in which
the nominations of different parties are blended into one,
1861 BLAIR in Century Mng. (1889) Sept. 687/2 Chase, who
never voted a Democratic ticket in his life. 1888 BRYCE
Atncr. Comnnu. I. v. 54 Each party runs its list or ticket
of thirty presidential electors for that Slate.
9. slang, a. The correct thing ; what is wanted,
expected, or fashionable; esp. in phr. thafs the
ticket.
Perh, from S ; or, as some have suggested, from the
winning ticket in a lottery.
1838 HALIBURTON Ctocktn. Ser. n, xxl. 323 They ought
to be hanged, sir, (that s the ticket, and he d whop the
leader). 1843 E. FITZGERALD /,*//. (1889) I. 117, I fancy
that moderately high hills (like these) are the ticket. 1847
Ibid. 17^ This [idealizing of portraits] is all wrong. Truth
is the ticket. 1854 THACKEKAY Newcomes vii, Somehow
she s not she s not the ticket. 1866 Kentledges />. /-Vy j-
; Ann. 411 That s the ticket 1 That s the winning game.
b. The program or plan of action ; that which is
to be done; the thing on hand.
1842 MARRYAT Pcrc. Kccne xiii, Well , said Bob Cross,
I what s the ticket, youngster are you to go abroad with
J me? 1861 C. J. ANDKRSSON Okavango x. 127 [The lion]
| suddenly squatted, evidently intending to spring upon me.
j * Nay, old fellow , I muttered to myself, if that s the ticket,
I will be even with you .
10. attrih. and Comb. a. simple attrib., as ticket-
box^ -pocket^ -punchy -system^ -tax ; b. * having to
j do with the selling, etc. of tickets , as ticket-agent %
-clerk) -guard, -man, -money, -office, -official, -room ;
I c. to which admission is obtained by ticket , as
i ticket-gathering^ -meeting; d. obj. and objective
j genitive, as ticket-buyer^ -clipper, -collector^ -ex-
1 aminer t -receiver, -snipper; ticket-dipping -collect-
\ tw&t -issuing, -punching -snatching^ -writing.
1824 T. CHALMERS in Mem. (1851) III. iii. 37 The ticket
system* operates admirably. 1848-9 CALHOUN Const. U.S.
Wks. 1863 I. 370 The general ticket system ; which has
become, .the universal mode of appointing electors to choose
the President and Vice-President. 1858 SIMMONDS Dt\t.
Trade, Ticket-writtr, one who writes or paints showy
placards and legible tickets for goods in shop windows.
1872 O. W. HOLMES J-\>?t Break/. ~t. vi, Toll-men and
ticket-takers. 1878 F. S. WILLIAMS Midi. Railw. 628 The
walls of the booking office are provided with ticket-boxes or
tubes. 1884 Law Times 23 Aug. 301/1 He presented a
ticket at the barrier, .saying to the ticket-clipper, I want
the train for Canonbury . 1889 Spectator^ Nov. 634/1 A
quasi-public or ticket meeting. 1890 Daily News 22 Sept.
2/6 Wire-plyers and pincers, ticket-nippers, wrenches, span
ners, &c. 1893 GUNTER Miss Dividends 30 The ticket
puncher looks astonished for a moment, and then. .cries,
Next ! 1895 West ** Gaz. 10 Oct. 3/1 After the exhaust
ing and exciting struggle in the ticket-room comes the
preparation for the settling or pay day. 1897 Pall Mall
Mat?. July 384 He put the coin carefully in the ticket-
pocket of his overcoat. 1897 Daily News 6 July 7/3 The
minutes consumed in the stoppage for ticket-collecting.
1908 IVcstin. Gaz. 9 May 2/3 In full view of that stern and
uncompromising ticket-inspector.
11. Special Combs. : ticket benefit, an enter
tainment for which special tickets are sold, the
proceeds being for the benefit of a particular person
or object ; ticket broker ( U. $.}, a dealer in un-
expired or return railway tickets : = ticket-scalper ;
ticket-chopper (/. S.), (a) a machine which
mutilates used railway tickets deposited in it by
passengers ; () the employee in charge of this
machine; ticket-day: see quot. 1858; ticket-
holder, (a) one who holds a ticket of admission,
etc. ; () a clip or other device for holding or
attaching a ticket or label; f ticket-jobber, a
jobber of lottery -tickets ; ticket-man, (#) a
ticket-holder ; spec, a seaman who held a certificate
exempting him from impressment (now Hist.} ;
() a railway employee who collects or punches
tickets; f ticket-monger, one who trafficked in the
pay-warrants of seamen, giving ready money witli
a large deduction, and then presenting them for
payment ; ticket-night, a benefit performance :
see quot. 1812 ; ticket-scalper (lf t S. slang) t one
who buys and sells unexpired or return railway
tickets at less than the rates at which they are
issued ; so ticket-scalping ; ticket-shop, a shop
displaying ticketed goods in the window. See
also TICKET-PORTER.
1898 Daily News 30 July 2/4 The London Trades Council
has arranged for a "ticket benefit.. in aid of the Welsh
Miners Relief Fund. 1902 FARMER VkftoX* Sfa* Diet.
s.v. Scalp, Ticket -scalper, a *ticket-broker. 1905 Daily
Chron. 8 Mar. 5/4 One hundred students from Columbia
University, .volunteered their services to the company as
guards and "ticket -choppers. iSsSSiMMONDS Diet. Trade,
* Ticket -day , the day before the settling or pay-day on the
Stock Exchange, when the names of bona-fide purchasers
are rendered in by one stockbroker to another. 1901
IVestw. Gaz. 12 Dec. ii/i The business of ticket -days .. is
entirely clerical, consisting chiefly . . of the passing of buyers
names to sellers of stock or shares. 1877 KNIGHT Diet.
Meek.) * Ticket-holder, a device to hold a railway ticket in
the hat or to the lappel of the coat ; or a tag to a bale or
package. 1737 Gentl. Mag. VII. 368/1 The Subscriptions
being filled, whatever Reflections may be made, they can be
of no Prejudice to the Lottery, but only affect the Tkket-
Jobbers. 1803 NELSON in Nicolas Disp. (1845) V. 46 This
ship is navigated to Portsmouth by *Ticket-men (men who
are protected from the impress by some cause or other).
1893 GUNTER Miss Dividends 37 Miss Travenion is con
ducted, .past the ticket man at the gate, and on board the
train. 1904 Wcstnt. Gaz. 5 Feb. lo. i Admission is by
tickets, available for six nights, and .. ticket men get
the first chance of entrance. 1668 PKI-YS Diary 5 Mar., To
answer only one question, touching our paying tickets to
* ticket- mongers. 1812 H. & J. SMITH ^?</.^rfrfr.xv,Some
forth on *ticket-nights from tradesmen break, To mar the
actor they design to make. [Note.} Ticket-nights are those
whereon the inferior actors club for a benefit : each distri
butes as many tickets of admission as he \* able among hi-,
friends. 1889 FARMER Diet. Amcr., ^Ticket scalper, a
speculator in unused railway ticktts. 1892 rail Mall G,
i Nov. 2/1 (Farmer) * Ticket Scalping , . has reference to the
transferability or otherwise of tickets rather than to their
date of expiry. 1851 MAYHEW Land. Labour I. 380/2 A
thoroughfare full of *Ucket-shops.
Ticket (ti krt), sb2 dial. fapp. f. TICK j.3 +
-ET 1.] A minute quantity or part.
1634 Reg. Privy Council Scotl, V. 414 Seutoun tbreatned
the notar, avowing to take a ticket art" his hafiet if h<.- pave
out any Instrument in this mater. 1731 FIKLIUNG Lottery
iii, I have not got it as yet but, upon my shoul, I w;i,
within a ticket of it. 1904 in r.ng. Dial. Diet, s.v., (Somer
set) A donkey load would be called just a little ticket .
Ticket (ti-ka), v . [f. TICKET *M]
1. trans. To attach a ticket to; to mark with n
ticket indicating the value, contents, description,
origin, destination, or the like ; to distinguish by
means of a ticket; to label. Chiefly in/. pple.
1611 [see ticketed below], 1691 Lond. Gaz. No. 2624 .!
There being one of the said Bags missing, Ti< ki.-ti/<l
681. 35. 6d. 1719 LONDON & WISE Couipl. Gard. 107 Plant
these Trees in Uai-ktts, well ticket ted, or., set down care-
fully in our Hook. 1770 Chron. in Ann. Reg. 135 2 Tilt-
post-boy, .was robbed. .of the mail. .containing two bags,
ticketed Newcastle, and Newcastle and York. 1810 Sport
ing RIag. XXXVI. 128 Pictures which are sold during the
exhibition will be ticketed as such. 1839 DAK WIN I cy.Nnt.
xvii. (1852) 395 Of those [specimens] which were ticketed
with their locality, not one was common to any two of the
Islands.
b. fig. To describe or mark as by a ticket ; t<>
designate, characterize, set down (as so and so) :
= LABEL v. b.
1654 WHITI.OCK Zoctwnia 435, I make no doubt but confi
dent forward nesse, and undertakings, would Ticket men pass.
able, .that could scarce tell which end of their Bibles to hold
uppermost. 1713 BF.NTU-:Y Rein. Disc. Frec-think. 40. n.
1 6 A few glittering Prizes . . among an infinity of Blanks, drew
troops of Adventurers; who, if the whole Fund had been
equally ticketed, would never have come in. 1856 T. A
TROLLOPE Girlh. Cath, dc ftlcdici i. 10 We find certain
characters ticketed from age to age in history as monsters of
atrocity. 1884 Chr. Cofiuniv. 14 Feb. 424 / 2 There is a present
fashion of ticketing all outspoken religion as sham talk.
2. To furnish with a ticket ; to issue a railway or
other travelling ticket to ; to * book ; also absol^
to issue tickets. U.S.
i84zLoNGF. in Life (1891) I. 415 To borrow the expression
of a fellow-traveller, we were * ticketed through to the depot .
1852 Boston (Mass.) Traveller 24 Dec. 3/2 Passengers
ticketed through from New York to Cincinnati. 1882
Kansas City jml. 19 Feb. Advt., We ticket directly to
every place of importance.
3. intr. To make a tenderer tin or copper ore
by means of a * ticket* or written tender: see
TICKET sbl i b, TICKETING vbl. sk. 2. heal.
1778 PKYCE Min. Cor nub. 287 Three hundred tons of Ore
belonging to the same Mine were to be ticketed, for on a day
appointed.
Hence Ti cketed///. a. t marked with or bearing
a ticket or tickets.
1611 COTGR., Tiqueft, ticketted, or appointed by ticket.
1827 SCOTT Ckron, Cnnongfite vi, A hackney coach.. that
obscure vehicle, which was not permitted lo degrade with its
ticketed presence the dignity of Ualiol s Lodging. 1828
DOBIB Mem. W. Wilson of Crummock (1896) 100 On the
ball night she was my ticketed companion. 1836-9 DICKKSS
Sk. lioz, Hor. Sparkins, A dirty-looking ticketed linen-
draper s shop, with goods of all kinds, and labels of all sorts
and sizes, in the window.
Ticketer (ti-kaaj). [f. TICKET sbl or v. -t-
-EK .] One who tickets ; one who has a ticket.
1778 PRYCE A fin. Cornub. 288 One of the ticketers present
produced his ticket before all the company, whose offer was
nine pounds seventeen shillings per ton (cf- TICKETING 2],
1865 G. MEREDITH Rhoda Fleming xii, I paid, and you re
a ticketer... These chaps get tickets given m.
Ticketing (ti-ketirj), vbl. sb. [f. TICKET v. +
-ING 1 .] The action of TICKET v.
1. Marking with or as with a ticket ; labelling.
18,44 G. Dope Textile Manuf. vii. 228 After a process of
rolling, pressing, ticketing, &c.. the article is finished. 1866
DK. ARGYLL Reign Law L (ed. 4) 4 The mere ticketing and
orderly assortment of external facts.
2. Bidding by a ticket 1 or written tender ; with
//. a sale of ore at which the bids are made in
this way. local.
1778 PKYCE Min. Cornvb. 288 The present mode of ticket
ing for Copper Ores. 1854 C. S. Er>SALL(////r) Copper Ore
Tables,, .with the method of conducting the Ticketings. 1912
Financial Times 30 Apr., Redruth Tin Ticketing.
3. attrib. (chiefly in sense 2).
1778 PRYCE Min. Cornub. 288 On this ticketing day a
dinner almost equal to a city feast is provided at the expence
of the Mines. Ibid., A duplicate of a ticketing paper. 1839
DE LA tiRCHK /?*. Gcol. Cornwall, etc. xv. 541 The copper-
ore sales, or ticketing-days, as they are termed. 1905
TICKETLESS.
6
TICKLE.
HOLMAN-HUNT Pre~Raphalitis>n \, 9 Securing from the
ticketing room a print of Britannia.
Ticketless (ti-ketles), a. [f. TICKET sbl +
-LESS.] Having no ticket ; without a ticket of
admission, a railway ticket, etc.
1868 Daily Neivs 6 July, Regulations which kept the
ticketless public at a distance.
Ticket of leave. A ticket or document giv
ing leave or permission ; an order, a permit (rare}.
Now, in specific use, a licence to be at large after
the expiration of part of the sentence, formerly
granted to convicts in the Australian colonies ;
since 1840, the usual colloquial name for an * order
of licence giving a convict his liberty under cer
tain restrictions before his sentence has expired, the
proportion remitted being dependent on his conduct
and industry.
1732 Ace. Workhouses 17 That no person presume to go
out of the street door without a Ticket of Leave, to return in
good order. 1828 P. CUNNINGHAM N. S. Wales (ed. 3) II.
293 Whether in depriving an individual of a ticket of leave,
or sentencing him to a penal gang, the periods should be
always limited. 1843 Act 6 <$ 7 Viet. c. 7 (titfe\A.n Act to
amend the Law affecting transported Convicts with respect
to Pardons and Tickets of Leave. Ibid,, Permission to such
Felons.. to employ themselves for their own Benefit (which
Permissions are usually called and known by the Name of
Tickets of Leave). 1895 Times 16 Jan. 14/5 A long list of
former convictions, beginning in 1852, was proved against
the prisoner.. .He was now on ticket-of-leave .
b. attrib. or Comb, (hyphened), as ticket-of-lcave
holder, man t woman.
jl *37 J. D. LANG N. S. Wales I. 411 The overseer, on well-
regulated farms, is generally a ticket-of-leave man or
emancipated convict. Ibid. II. 19 A ticket-of-leave holder
..is confined to a particular district, and is liable to lose his j
ticket for various petty misdemeanours. 1862 Lond, Rev, \
30 Aug. 178 A great proportion of these crimes were com
mitted bv Ticket-of-leave Men . 1871 Daily News 25 July,
In one of the. .most fashionable districts of London many
hundreds of domestic servants are ticket-of-leave women.
Hence Ti cket-of-lea-ver, a ticket-of-leave man ;
Ti cket-of-lea vism (nonce-wJ.} t the system or
operation of tickets of leave.
1852 MUNDY Our Antipodes v, (1855) 107 The overseer ..
may be a hireling convict emancipist, expirer, or ticket-of-
leaver. 1857 Taifs Mag. XXIV. 41 The atmosphere itself
was redolent of ticket-of-leaveism. 1858 R. S. SUBTEBS
Ask Mamma xlv, The oft-disappointed ticket-of-leaver was
a.Ljain installed in a butler s pantry.
Ti cket-po:rter.
1. A member of a body of porters in the City of
London who were licensed by the Corporation;
orig. called street-porter -s, and distinct from the
TACKLE-HOUSE/(?/-/^W of the twelve great Merchant
Companies ; in later times the two classes of porters
were united in the Society of the Tackle-house and
Ticket Porters. Now Hist.
1646 [see TACKLE-HOUSE b] The Ticket-Porters, otherwise
called the Street-Porters of this City. 1770 New Guide
London 257 Ticket-porters are all freemen, and their busi
ness is to load and ship off goods exported or imported.
Also to house merchants goods, metals, &c. 1800 COLQU-
HOUN Comm. Thames 328 The Ticket-Porters are persons
appointed by the City of London.. .They give Security in
tool, for Fidelity, and have their Names and Numbers on a
Metal Badj;e. 1833 (Dec. 12) Re- Court Com. Council
(London) on Porters 4 The Ticket Porters. .are entitled to
the work or labour of unshipping, landing, carrying, loading,
and housing all goods, wares and merchandize imported into
the port of London from the several places mentioned in the
Act of Common Council, 27th March, 1798, and also of ship
ping all goods, wares, and merchandize ; and they are like
wise entitled, by custom and usage, to perform the work at
the public markets of this City. Ibid.^ We were.. attended
. . by the Rulers and Registers of the Society of Tackle-house
and Ticket Porters. 1848 DICKENS Dow bey xiii, The ticket-
porter. .always ran officiously before to open Mr. Dombey s
office-door.
2. A (railway) porter who collects tickets.
1852 Aquatic Notes, Camb. 80 A rush of men takes place
from every carriage, and past the ticket- porter,
Tick-hole. [?f. TICK sb.$ + HOLE sb.] A cavity
in nodular stone, usually lined with a crystalline
incrustation.
1829 Glover s Hist. Derby I. 92 At the lime-quarries, Mill- !
town ( Ashover, cavities or tick -holes are frequent in the., i
limestone rock,. .lined with .. quartz crystals. 1881 in RAY
MOND Mining Gloss.
Tickil, obs. form of TICKLE a. and v.
Ticking (ti kig), sb. Forms: a. 7 Sc. tyking,
7-8 tiking ; {3. 7-8 tickin, 7- ticking. See also
TICKEN. [f. TICK j. 2 + -ING 1 .] The material of
which bed-ticks are made; see TICK sb.%
a. 1649 CaldwellPap. (Maitl. CI.) 1. 102 For ane new sheitt
oftykingtoyelard shorss 1. 16.0. 1674 TEAKE-4r#A. (1606)
65 In i Hundred of Tiking and Twill of Scotland, 120 Ells.
1726 SWIFT Gulliver iv. x, I had beaten hemp,, .and. made
of it a sort of tiking : This I filled with . .feathers.
/3. <tx66i FULLER Worthies^ Lanes. (1662) n. 106 It will
be the safest way to wrap them all together in some Man-
chester-Tickin. 1815 J. SMITH Panorama. Sc. $ A rt 1 1. 735
Oil-paintings are generally executed on canvass... A kind of
ticking has lately been much used. 1883 Blackw. Mag,
Aug. 192 She wore over her gown of ticking a great apron of
grey stuff.
b. Rarely applied to the tick or cover itself.
1683 TRYON Way to Health 595 You may have Flock-Beds,
with Canvas-Tickings. 1833 KuxKYAT/%*5mgMp xxi, He.,
put it., away in the ticking of bis bed.
C. attmb. Of the nature of or made of ticking.
1676 COVEL in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.) 164 A bed
..oftwilt or ticking sattin. *68z WHELER Journ. Greece i.
16 Course Ticking-Cloth, well quilted with Wool. 1721
MRS. CENTLIVRE Artifice in, The dirtiest Trollup..must
have her Top-knot and Tickin-shoes. 1756 C. LUCAS Ess.
Waters I. 229 A sliding seat, with a thin ticking bottom.
Ticking (ti kirj), vbl. sb. 1 [f. TICK vl + -ING *.]
1. Touching lightly or wantonly ; dallying : see
TICK v^ i. Obs. exc. dial.
1546 J. HEYWOOD Prov. (1867) 58 Leaue lewde tickyng.
1611 COTGR., Amourettes^ wanton loue-toyes, ticking,
ticklings, daliances.
2. The beating sound of a clock or watch, or any
similar sound : see TICK z/.l 2, TICK sbC& 2.
1746-7 HERVEY Medit. (1767) II. 23 The Ticking of my
Watch is distinctly heard. 1827 F. COOPER Prairie i, The
ticking of gun-locks was heard. 1848 DICKENS Dombey
,\Iiii, She could. .count the ticking of the clock.
b. transf. A telegraphic message: cf. TICKER :! b.
1888 M. ARNOLD in iqtk Cent. Apr. 400, I opened a Boston
newspaper and came upon a column headed Tickings .
By tickings we are to understand news conveyed througli
the tickings of the telegraph.
3. Small spots or points of colour forming the
marking of an animal.
This use may have arisen from TICKED a. by association
with TICK sb.$ 3, 3 b and TICK zU 3.
1885 Bazaar 30 Mar. 1269/2 Belgian hare buck, good in
colour and ticking. 1886 Field 20 Mar. 340/2 Interspersed
with a profusion of longer black hairs, giving the appear-
ance known as ticking .
Ti eking, vbl. sb.% coUoq. or slang, [f. TICK v2
+ -ING !.] The action of TICK v.% ; the taking of
goods on * tick or credit.
i748WARTON(9^/&r^^/^49 Hail, Ticking ! surest guardian
of distress 1 Beneath thy shelter pennyless I quaff The
cheerful cup.
Ti-cking,///. a. 1 [f. TICKZ-.I + .TNG^.] That
ticks, as a clock, etc. ; making or characterized by
a succession of ticks.
1366 in Peacock Eng. Oi, Furniture (1866) 116 A hammcs
hutlde [= amice hood] and tickynge belle. 1721 BRADLEY
Phitos. Ace. Wks. Nat. 154 That ticking Noise, which is
commonly called a Death-Watch.
Ti cking, fpl. a.% colloq. or slang, [f. TICK v.%
+ -ING-.] That ticks or goes on tick ; that
gives tick or credit ; dealing on credit, running
into debt.
1673 WYCHERLEY Cent!. DanciHg.Mas.ltr Prol., Ready to
engage Against the flouting, ticking gentry who Citizen,
player, poet, would undo.
Tickle (ti k l), j*.l [Generally held to be
derived from TICKLE a. or v., and so to go with
TICKLE sl>. ^ (see quot. 1908); but some would
identify it with Eng. dial, stickle a rapid shallow
place in a river . In Nova Scotia also tittle.}
A name given on the coasts of Newfoundland and
Labrador to a narrow difficult strait or passage.
1770 Chart S. E. Part Newfoundland, [A locality at the
head of St. Mary s Bay marked] Tickles. 1792 G. CART-
WRIGHT Jrnl. Labrador Gloss., Tickle, a passage between
the continent and an island, or between two islands, when it
is of no great width. 1837 New Sailing Direct. Neiuf.
(ed. 3) 25 note, The word Tickle is a local name, in common
use at Newfoundland, and signifies a passage between
islands or rocks. 1861 L. L, NOBLE Icebergs 277 No sooner
were we clear of the tickle , or narrows, than Iceberg
ahead! Ice on the lee bowl was cried by the man
forward, 1868 Admiralty Chart No. 22; (Labrador), Indian
Tickle. 1871 Ibid. No. 291 (Newf.), Change Island Tickles.
those old Acadian times. 1903 Daily Chron. 28 Apr. 3/3
See him clinging to the bowsprit, conning the vessel through
tortuous tickles . 1908 ABP. HOWLEY in Newfoundld.
Quarterly Mar. 2 The Tickle. . . It has always been supposed
that this name is a plain English word, implying a passage
of some danger, so that it is a ticklish matter to get safe
"Tickle (ti k l), sb* [f. TICKLE v.] An act of
tickling, in various senses of the vb. ; a touch that
tickles ; a tickling sensation ; a tickled or pleasantly
excited feeling.
1801 in Spirit Pub. Jrnls. IX. 376, I want you to give those
dogs yonder a tickle, en passant. 1872 BLACKMORI-: Maid of
Slter v, I gave her [a child) a little tickle; and verily she
began to laugh. 1880 MRS. WHITNEY Oddor Even ix, And
vibrant with an inward tickle. 1907 Daily Cliron. 9 Dec.
4/7 The dinner was a tickle of the palate. Mod. (Yorksh.
saying) To have tickles in the feet , said of one given to
wandering, who will not settle to any useful work.
Tickle (ti k l), a. (adv.) Forms : see the verb ;
also 4-5 tikil, -ul, tekil, 5 tekyl, -el, tykell, 6
tyokyll, 6-7 tiekell, 8 dial, tikkle. [Goes with
TICKLE v. : the use of the yb.-stem as adj. is nn-
usual ; but cf. KITTLE a. beside KITTLE .]
1 1. (Sense uncertain : ? Threatening or in danger
to fall. Cf. 6.) Obs.
c 1325 Body * Soul in Map s Poems (Camden) 346 POU
hauest y-liued to longe, wo wrath the so suykel L.Pynen
harde ant stronge to be bueb nou ful tykel.
f2. Pleasantly stirred or excited. (Cf. TICKLE
v. i.) Obs.
CI330 R. BRUNKE Chrm. Wace (Rolls) 13413 When y
bybenke on joure godnesse-.Ffor bat ioye myn herte ys
tykel.
t 3. Easily moved to feeling or action ; easily
affected in any way ; not firm or steadfast ; loose ;
also, susceptible to tickling, easily tickled or
tingled. Tickle credit, ready or facile trust or
belief; credulity. Obs.
1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. (Crowley) v. 166 They are tide of her
tonges, & muste al secretes tel. e 1530 H. RHODES Bk.
Nurture 695 Some men be tickle of tongue, and play the
blabs by kynde. 1533 ! . HEYWOOD Play of Love Cj.The
paps so small And lounde with all The wast not myckjll
But it was tyckyll. 1553 T. WILSON Rhet. (1580) 3 Euen
these auncient Preachers must now and then plaie the fooles
in the pulpit, to serue the tickle eares of their tletyng
audience. 1563 Mirr. Ma%., Hastings xlii, Of lyckle
ci-edyte ne had ben the mischiefe. Ibid. Ixxvii, Flye tickle
credyte, shonne alyke distrust.
t b. With reference to incontinency. Obs.
1362 LANGL. P. PI. A. in. 126 Heo is Tikel of hire Tayl,
Taltwys of hiie tonge, As Comuyn as be Cart.wei to knaues
and toalle. c 1475 Songs q Carols ijtA C. (Warton Cl.) 27
Under the tayl they ben ful tekyl. 1604 W. TERILO Pr.
Bacons Proph. 228 in Hazl. E. P. P. IV. 276 Wickednes
was loath d so much, That no man lov d the tickle tuch,
1 4. Having the quality of tickling, tickly. Obs.
(Quots. CI440, 1570 perh. belong here.)
[c 1440 Proinp. Parv. 493/2 Tykel, tilillosus. 1570 LEVINS
Manip. 129/14 Tickil, titillenus, -na.] 1593 B. BARNES
P^artiicnophil, ftladrigal xvi, Soft things whose touch is
tickle to the mind, Give no like touch, all joys in one to wrap,
5. Not to be depended upon ; uncertain (in fact,
action, duration, etc.); unreliable; changeable, in
constant, capricious, fickle, kittle . Now dial.
13.. E. E. Allit. P. B. 6ssMay bpu traw for tykel bat bou
tonne mo^tez. c 1386 CHAUCER Jlfillcr s T. 242 This world
is now ful tikel [71. rr. tekyl, -el, tikil, tykell] sikerly. 1537
St. Papers Hen. VIII, I. 531, I assure your Lordeship the
people be very tykell. 1566 PAINTER Pal. Pleas. I. 58
Holde fast thy fortune, for she is tickle and can not be
holden against her will. 1670 COTTON Esfernon in. xll. 368
His sons.. were best acquainted with his tickle & impatient
humour. 1737 J. BROADHEAD in N. A> Q. (1895) 8th Ser. VII.
405/1 A pretty deal of Rain in some places westward,
Mad[e] Harvest rather Tickle. 1795 Chester Chron. 27 Mar.
(E. D. D.), So tikkle as times ar. 1888 DOUGHTY Aralria
Deserta II. 158 He must learn the English tongue.. who
can foresee the years to come, this world is so tickle.
0. In unstable equilibrium, easily upset or over
thrown, insecure, tottering, crazy; also, easily set
in motion or action ; nicely poised ; delicate, sensi
tive. Now dial, f Tickle of the sear : see SEAK
rf.l i b.
1515 in Foxe A. fy M. (1583) 809/2 A stoole, which stoole
stood vpon a bolster of a bed, so tickle, that any marine or
beaste might not touch it so litle, but it was ready to fall.
1555 Act 2 4- 3 Phil. l<f Mary c. 16 2 Boates. .so shallowe
& tickle that therby greate perill & danger of drowning
hathe many tymes ensued. 1583-1602 [see SEAR sb. 1 ib].
1612 CHAVMAN Widowes T. Plays 1873 III. 29, 1 hauesether
hart vpon as tickle a pin as the needle of a Diall. 1883 IV.
Yorks. Gloss, s. v., A mouse-trap should be set tickle, \. e.
easy to go off. 1904 in Eng. Dial. Diet. s. v., (Lanes.) That
wall s very tickle, you ll have it deawn if yo r not very
careful.
b. transf. Of a place, condition, etc. : Insecure;
precarious, slippery ; risky, dangerous. Obs. or arch.
1579 SPENSKR Sheph. Cal. July 14 In humble dales is
footing fast, The trode is not so tickle. 1589 Mar Martine
5 Thilke way & trood wbilke thou dost swade, is steepe &
also tickle. 1643 BAKER Chron., Hen. Vllitf, These words
. .seemed to expresse a tickle hold of Loyalty. 1665 BRATH-
WAIT Continent 2 7 ales 129 Conventicles are Tickle places for
Holy Sisters. 1681 COTTON Wond. Peak (ed. 4) 43 Footing
..still more tickle, and unsafe. 1834 SIR H. TAYLOR 2nd Pt.
ArtCt elde nr. iii, I oft before have clomb to tickle places,
But this will be the last of all my climbing. 1868 BROWNING
King $ Bk. iv. 51 The grey innocuous grub, of yore, Had
hatched a hornet, tickle to the touch.
7. = TICKLISH a. 5. Now dial.
(1489 CAXTON Blanchardyn liv. 223 Seeing the tickle
state of his fathers kingdome. 1569 STOCKER tr. Diod. Sic.
I. xix. 28 The matter stoode upon this tickle and dangerous
point. 1581 PETTIE Guazzo s Chi. Conv. n. (1586) 71 b, The
trueth is a thing so tickle, that a man may incurre repre
hension, not onely by disguising it in some part coulourably,
but euen by very reporting of it simply. 1586 FERNE Blaz.
Gentrie it. 3 So tickle and nyce be the precepts of those
writers, that to swarue but one haire from their prescribed
rules, hath fordone all thy former worke. <ii6l8 RALEIGH
SouCs Errand viii, Tell wit how much it wrangles In tickle
points of niceness. 1681 W. ROBERTSON Phraseol. Gen. (1693)
385 A very tickle point or controversie. 1868 E. WAUGH
Sncck-Bant iv. (E.D.D.), Hoo s nobbut in a tickle state
o health. 1884 Chester Gloss, s. v., Au ve getten rayther
a tickle job here. 1887 BARING-GOULD Red Spider ii, The
money-spinner is a tickle (touchy) beast, and may take
offence at a godless word.
b. Uelicate in the feelings or senses ; fastidious,
dainty, squeamish; easily upset or disordered.
Now dial.
c 1456 PECOCK Bk. Faith (1909) 212 Whi schulde ?e thanne
be so tikil and squaymoseV 1762 T. HRYUCES Burlesque
Homer (1797) II. 96 Juno, whose nose was mighty tickle,
Soon smelt their most unsavoury pickle. 1853 Shemilld
Chat s Ann. 23 (E.D.D.) Thah s a varry tickle stomach.
looi F. E. TAYLOR Folk Speech S. Lane, (ibid.), He s very
tickle abeawt what he ates an sups.
O. Difficult to deal with.
1570 LEVINS Manip. 121/46 Tickle, impatiens, intactilis.
1582 STANYHURST /Encis Ded. (Arb.) 7 Virgil, .and Quid.,
are so tickle in soom pjaces, as they rather craue a con
struction than a translation. 1887 BARING-GOULD Gaverocks
xxx, There is a tickle (difficult) bit where I cannot plant a
foot.
d. Of an animal : Easily scared ; shy, wild . dial.
[737 Genii. Mag. VII. 114/2 But if shoot Not out of
TICKLE.
hand. The bird, which doth So tickle stand. May chance to fly
away.] 1877 E. LEIGH Chesh. Gloss, viz Tickle is also applied
are said to be strange an tickle . 1879 T. WARDEN Cros
ford I. 22 The birds were excessively tickle, and persistently
got up out of shot.
f 8. quasi-oa z . (in senses 6 and 7) : In a tickle
or ticklish manner; insecurely, precariously. Obs.
1606 DANIEL Funeral Poem Poems (1717) 313 And this
Important Piece.. did then so tickle stand, As that no Join
ture of the Government But shook. 1692 R. L ESTRANCE
Josephus t Wars Jews iv. i. (1733) 689 The Houses stand
so thick and tickle upon the Steep of the Hill, .as if they
were ready to drop into the Precipice. 1699 J. WOODWARD
mPhil. Trans. XXI. 224 Corpuscles.. absolutely Spherical,
must stand so very tickle and nicely upon each other, as to
be susceptible of every impression.
9. Comb. a. in sense easily moved or set in
motion 7 , as f tickle-footed (of a hawk), having
an insecure grasp or clutch ; -f tickle-headed,
light-minded, easily influenced; f tickle-heeled,
having nimble or active heels ; f tickle- tongued,
loose of tongue, talkative, garrulous. See also
TICKLE-TAIL. b. tickle-plough (dial } : see
quot. 1875.
a 1616 BEAUM. & FL. Scornf. Lady \. iv, Lady I would
not undertake ye, were you again a haggard, for the best
cast of four ladys i th kingdom: you were ever "tickle-
footed, and would not truss round. 1583 GOI.DING Calvin
In al ages men haue bin "tickleheaded :
needs be casting of some peeceorcollup
1737 BRACKEN Furriery Impr. (1757) II. 35 A Horse may
. . shew abundance of Life and Action, while under a *tickle
heel d Jockey-Boy. 1875 Sussex Gloss,) ^Tickle-plough^ a
plough with wooden beam and handles. 1884 W. Sussex
Gaz. 25 Sept., Dead stock:.. three one-horse dung carts,
tickle ploughs, .and small harrows. 1577 STANVHURST Descr.
/re/. Kp. Ded., His historic .. being .. somewhat *tickle
toonged,. .it twitled more tales out of schoole [etc.].
Tickle (ti k l), v. Forms: 4 tikelle, 4-5
tikl(en, tykel, 4-6 tikel, 4-7 ticle, 5 tykele,
tykle, tykyl(l, 5-6 tyckel, 6 tikell.tykell, tickil,
tykil, tyckle, tycle, 6-7 tickel, 6- tickle. [Not
recorded in OE. f which however had tincUan to
tickle. Known first after 1300 in form tikelle^ side
by side with the adj. tykel, tikel . origin and history
doubtful. Falk and Torp take it as a freq. deriv.
of TICK z . 1 to touch lightly, pat. It has also been
inferred to be a metathetic form of KITTLE a 1 . 1 ,
parallel to Alemanmc dial, zicklen^ beside Ger.
kitzeln to tickle. See Note below.]
I. Intransitive senses.
fl. To be affected or excited by a pleasantly
tingling or thrilling sensation; tobestirred or moved
with a thrill of pleasure: said of the heart, lungs,
blood, * spirits , etc., also of the person. Obs.
1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. (1810) 113 pe folk ferly mykelle
ageyn him [Stephenl bei ros, & Dauid herte gan tikelle, bat
him wex fele fos. 1577-87 HOI.INSHED Chron. (1808) IV. 378
How the spirits and livelie bloud tickle in our arteries and
small veines, in beholding you the light of this realme. 1589
PasquiCs Ret. 16, I needed no Minstrill to make me merrie,
my hart tickled of it selfe. 1591 SPENSER Muiopotmos 394
who. .with secrete ioy..Did tickle inwardly in euerie vaine.
1624 HKVWOOD Cap twes n. i, I l..sett my mind downe in so
quaint a strayne Shall make her laugh and tickle, a 1625
FLETCHER Nice fr atourv. i, Oh, how my lungs do tickle !
ha, ha, ha ! 1647 H. MORE Poems 172 This pretty sport
doth make my heart to tickle With laughter.
fb. .Said of the feeling or its cause. Obs. rare.
1579 TOMSON Cafoin s Sernt. Tim. 14/2 For so much as. .
this curiosjtie tickleth in many braines.
2. To tingle ; to itch ; alsoy^-. to have an uneasy
or impatient desire (usually to do something) ; to
be eager. Now rare.
This sense was prob. in literal use much earlier, though
quots. have not been found.
1541 UDALL Erasm. Afioph. 344 The fyngers of the Athe
nians ticleed to aid and succour Harpalus. 1557 N. T.
(Genev.) Acts xvu. 19 note t People whose eares euer tickled
to heare newes. 1591 SAVILE Tacitus Hist. iv. xliii. 202 The
Senatour s fingers euen tickled against him. 1906 N.
MUNRO in Blacfnv. Mag. Dec. 802/2, I fairly tickle to take
a walk along. Mod. My foot tickles.
II. Transitive senses (= L. titilldrc).
3. Said of a thing, or impersonally with it : To
excite agreeably (a person, his heart, ears, palate,
etc.); to give pleasure or amusement to; to please,
gratify. To tickle to death : cf. DEATH 12 b.
c 1386 CHAUCER Wife s Prol. 471 It tikleth (v.rr. tikeleth,
tyktlith, ticlebj me aboute myn herte roote. 1406 HOCCLEVE
Misrule 204 So tikelid me bat nyce reuerence bat it me
made larger of despense. 1495 Trevisa s Barth. DeP. R.
xviii. i. (W.deW.)Yj/i Bygendrynge hete tyklyth and
pryckyih : that falleth moost in spryngynge tyme whan the
on Deut, Ixxiv. 455 In al ages men haue bin "tickleheaded :
. .euery man would needs be casting of some peeceorcollup
of his own making, to the things that God had commaunded.
i*. iwi wuauw vi i mill* nun, men oi ante iiiicru to lycKie
hym with adulation. 1607 HIERON Wks. I. 166 Well might
they . . haue their eares tided with some pleasing noise.
734 tr. Ratlin s Anc. Hist. (1827) I. n. 210 Eating in
Egypt wan designed not to tickle the palate but to satisfy
the cravings of nature. 1859 HAWTHORNE Fr. fj It. Note*
Bits. II. 233 Something .that thrilled and tickled my heart
with a feeling partly sensuous and partly spiritual. 1863
GEO. ELIOT Romola xxv, Elements that.. tickled gossiping
curiosity, and fascinated timorous superstition.
4. To touch or stroke lightly with or as with
1 the finger-tips, a straw, a feather, a hair, or the
like ; to tease, annoy, or irritate lightly, so as to
cause a peculiar uneasy sensation. Also said of
the thing. Also absol.
ci45o Voc. in Wr..WCilcker 571/23 CateHo, to mewe
or to tykele. [Cf. F. chatouiller t OF. eatoullerlQ tickle.]
c 1533 Du WES Introd. Fr. in Palsgr. 940 To tickel,
catouller. 1566 BLUNDEVIL Horsemanship iv. Ixviii. (1580)
28 b, By eating a feather, or by eating dustie or sharp
bearded strawe, and such like things; which tickling his
throte causeth him to cough. 1590 SHAKS. Mids. N. iv. i.
28 If my haire do but tickle me, 1 must scratch. 1596
1 Hen. if, n. iv. 340 To tickle our Noses with Spear-
grasse, to make them bleed. 1704 NORKIS Ideal H orld n.
tii. 239 Who ever thought of anything like pleasure in a
feather that tickles his hand? 1710 J. CLARKE Rohaulfs
Nat. Phil. (1720) I. 174 None of them will be able to prick
the Tongue agreeably, but they will only tickle it in a dis
agreeable manner. 1837 DICKENS Picfov. xxxvi, First, some
thing tickles your right knee, and then the same sensation
irritates your left.
b. To touch, or poke (a person) lightly in a
sensitive part so as to excite spasmodic laughter.
Also abso/.
1530 PAI.SGR. 349 He tykeleth my sydes, il me catoille les
castes. Ibid. 758/1 And you tykell me thus I muste nedes
laughe, si roits me gattouillez. .il west force de rire. 1589
PUTTENHAM Eng. Poesic HI. xxii. (Arb.) 266 Her Maiebtie
laughed as she had bene tickled. 1596 SHAKS. Merck. V.
in. i.68 If you tickle vs, doe wcnot laugh? 1675 WYCHERLEY
Country Wife iv. iii, I am trying if Mr. Horner were tickli-h
..I love to torment the confounded toad; let you and I
tickle him. 1872 DARWIN Emotions xiii. 310 We can cause
laughing by tickling the skin.
c. Applied to a method of catching trout or
other fish: see quot 1884 s. v. TICKLING vbl. sb.
3 c. Often in allusive use.
1601 SHAKS. Tiuel. N. n. v. 26 Heere comes the Trowt,
that must be caught with tickling. 1706-7 FARQI-HAR
Beaux Sir at. HI. ii, He., tickles the trout, and so whips it
into his basket. 1745 POCOCKE Descr. East II. n. v. via. 252
Men go into the water, tickle them on the belly, and so get
them ashoar. 1823 SCOTT Quentin D. xxx, He spoke of
fishing I have sent him home a trout properly tickled !
1883 G. C. DA VIES Norfolk Broads xxiiu (1884) 177 The
mode of tickling tench which at one time was common
enough on some of the Broads.
5. Jig. To excite amusement in ; to divert ; often
in the phrase to tickle the fancy. Also absol.
a 1688 VILUERS (Dk. Buckhm.) Chances Prol., There are
Fools that tickle with their Face, Your gay Fool tickles
with his Dress and Motions. 1771 SMOLLETT Humph. CL
26 June, The young squire, tickled by this ironical observa
tion, exclaimed, O che burla ! a 1774 TUCKER Lt. Nat.
(1834) II. 129 Whose play had a quality of striking the
joyous perception, or, as we vulgarly say, tickling the fancy.
1837 LOCKHART Scott an. i8i6nete, Such.. was the story
that went the round of the newspapers at the time, and
highly tickled Scott s fancy. 1858 DORAM Crt. Fools 10
Poor as the joke was, it. .tickled the fancy of the Tiryn-
thians. 1871 &LUCKX* Four Phases i. 69 Brilliant oratorical
displays to tickle and amuse. i&&$Manc/t. Exam. 16 May
6/1 Lord Hartington s slow, quiet, dry answer, No, sir ,
somewhat tickled the House,
b. To puzzle : cf. Sc. to kittle. Sc. dial.
1863 TESTER Poems 47 (E.D.D.) I ve got ye out, but it
tickles my brain How the deuce I m to pitch ye in again.
6. To touch (a stringed instrument, etc.) lightly
as in tickling a person ; to stir (a fire, etc.) slightly.
1589 NASHKAnat. Absurd. Epist., To tickle a Cittern, or
have a sweete stroke on the Lute. 1592 SHAKS. Rom. fy
Jul. i. iv. 36 Let wantons light, of heart Tickle the sence-
lesse rushes with their heeles. 1740 SOMERVILLE Hohbinol
i. 143 Hark from aloft his tortur d Cat-gut squeals, He
tickles ev ry String. 1770 Ace. Bks. in Ann. Reg. 243/2
One of them began to tickle his guittar. 1796 PEGGB
Derbitisms (E.D.S.), Tickle the fire. 18. . in Daily Chron.
10 Dec. (1902)9/1 A country whose soil, it has been well
said, only requires to be tickled with a hoe to laugh with a
harvest.
b. ironically. To beat, chastise.
1592 WARNER Alb. Eng. viu, xliii. (1612) 207 Whose
Knightes, in 2 Richards dayes, so tickeld France and Spaine.
1601 SHAKS. T-wel. N. v. i. 198 If he had not beene _in
drinke, hee would haue tickel d you other gates then he did.
1681 T. FLATMAN Hcraclitus Ridens No. 35 (1713 I- 2 2 5
Our gracious Queen Elizabeth tickled their Tobies for them,
for their Reformation. 1698 J. CRULL Muscovy 175 They
soundly tickle his Back, in the same Manner as we beat the
Dust out of Cloaths. 1800 C. K. SHARPE Corr. (1888) I. 04
These little rogues.. should be well tickled with the birch.
i86x Sat. Rev. XII. 199 Hogarth tickles the poor bardling
with his pencil.
C. To touch up, trick up ; to improve or decorate
with light touches.
1845 THACKERAY Crit. Rev. Wks. 1886 XXIII. 238 The
picture is., tickled up with a Chinese minuteness. 185*
Let. in Esmond (1900) p. xxxiii, Dolls painted and tickled
up in the most charming way.
f 7. To excite, affect, move ; also, to vex, irritate,
provoke. Obs.
1547-64 BAULDWIV Mor. Philos. (Palfr.) 116 Some men
there be, whom bodily lust tickleth not at all. a 1548 HALL
C/tron., Edw. IV 204 These newes sodaynly brought to the
kynge did not a littell vexe & tykil hym. 1593 SHAKS.
2 Hen. VIj i. iii. 153 Shee s tickled now, her Fume needs no
spurres. 1693 DRVDEN PersiuJ Sat. i. 28, 1 cannot rule my
Spleen; My Scorn Rebels, and tickles me within. 1698
FRYER Ace. E. India 4 P. 316 What once tickled the Spleen
of a Philosopher, might here hourly give him the Diversion.
f b. To arouse by or as by tickling ; to stir up,
incite, provoke ; to prompt or impel to do something.
1531 MORE Confut. Tindale Wks. 551/1 V pronity &
TICKLED.
mocions in the fleshe. .whereby we be tided towarde great
actuall deadely sinnes. 1581 MARBECK Bk. of Notes 603
When our flesh tickeleth vs to speake, we must resist it.
01592 GREENE Alpkonsus in. Wks. (Rtldg.) 237/1 What
foolish toy hath tickled you to this?
C. With up : To stir up, arouse by tickling,
excite to action.
1567 DRANT Horace^ Epist. xiii. E iv, Such genre, As will
embaite our Cesars eye, and tickle vp his care. 1583
BABINGTON Conimandm. vii. (1637) 67 These things, .tickle
us up., to the breach of this Commandement. 1642 (SiR J.
SPELMAN] Vieiu Observ. H. M. Late Answ. 38 They so
tickle up theci-asie minds of the multitude. 1674 N. FAIRFAX
Bulk ff Scl-j. 127 If such a spring as this is, may be tickled
and rous d up again. 1898 Daily News 25 Nov. 2/2 Why
don t you tickle up Sandys with those spurs?
d. To get or move (a thing) into or out 0/"some
place, position, or state, by action likened to tickling.
1677 GiLi is Demand, (1867) 389 He endeavours, .to tickle
Him into a humour of arTecting the glory and admiration
which [etc.]. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury in. 315/1 When the
Butcher is to blood them and tickle them out of their
Lives. 1702 Eng. Theophrast. Pref. 2 Others . . have
endeavoured to tickle men out of their Follies. 1704 F.
FULLER Mcd. Cymn. (1711) 88 This is to Cheat People with
the Bcllaria of Physicfc. and Tickle Men into the Grave.
1725 BYKOM Let. to R. L. i.v, The cunning old Pug. .took
Puss s two Foots, And so out o th Embers he tickl d his
Nuts. 1904 Wcsttn. Gaz. 28 Dec. ?/a He slipped from
the chair, tickled his toes into his slippers, and threw his
shoulders back.
1 8. To tickle it : (?) to bring to an agreeable end ;
to ensure a satisfactory result. Obs.
1599 li. JONSON Cynthia s Rev. iv. v, I am sorry the reuels
are crost. I should ha tickled it *.oone. 1672 DRVDEN
Assignation in. i, Now, I think I have tickled it; thi-; dis
covery has reinstated me into the Empire of my wit again.
1761 STKKNE 7V. Shandy III. xx, liless us ! what noble
work we should make ! how should I tickle it off !
9. In various figurative phrases and expressions,
mostly with reference to the pleasing effects of
tickling. To tickle in the palm, to gratify with a
tip .
1694 MOTTEUX Rabelais v. xiii. (1737)54 We tickled the
Men in the Palm. 1706 E. WARD H oodcn World Diss,
(i7oS) 31 The Ale-Wives tickle Mm in the Gills with the
Title of Captain. 1742 VOING AV. Th. vni. 755 Tis pride,
or emptiness, applies the straw That tickles little minds to
mirth effuse. 1807-8 W. IRVING Salntag. (1824) 224 This
straw tickled the noses of all our _dignitaries wonderfully.
1843 CARLYLE Past <V Pr. n. viii, Tickle me, Toby, and I ll
tickle thee 1 1874 Siliad iv. no But, tickled by a shilling
in his palm, [he] Walked on discreetly blind. 1901 Scotsman
4 Mar. 10/5 An officer., when he gets on a palace-car, he can
tickle the porter just as much as he desires at the expense of
the Government pocket-book.
10. In combination with a sb. ; as t tickle-brain,
potent liquor ; hence transf. one who supplies it ;
tickle-grass, name given in U.S. to various
grasses, as the hair-grass, Agroslis scabra, the old-
witch grass, Panicum capillare ( Cent, Diet. ) ;
tickle-moth, tickle-pitcher (slang} , see quots.;
tickle-text (slang) t a parson ; tickle-toby [cf.
quot. 1681 in 6b, also Motteux Rabelais iv. xiii],
a birch, rod, switch ; also, the use of this ; tickle-
weed, swamp hellebore, Veratmm "viride. See
also TICKLE-TAIL.
1596 SHAKS. i Hen. /If, n. iv. 438 Peace good Pint-pot,
peace, good "Tickle-hraine. 1639 DAVENPORT New Tricke
in. i, A Cup of Nipsitate, brlske and neate ; The Drawers
call it Tickle-Braine. 1833 / eg. Subst. Materials^ ofManuf.
ix. 162 A species of grass growing spontaneously in that part
of the United States [Connecticut], and popularly known
by the name of "tickle-moth, a 1700 B. E. Diet. Ca>it.
Crew, *Tickle-pitchcr y a Toss-pot, or Pot-companion, 1725
in New Cant. Diet. 1785 GROSE Diet. I ulg. T., Tickle
pitcher^ a thirsty fellow, a sot. Ibid. t * Tickle text^ a
parson. 1830 BENTHAM Corr. Wks. 1843 XI. 37 A touch,
every now and then, of the *tickle-Toby, which I keep in
pickle for you. 1842 THACKERAY (title) Miss Tickletoby s
Lectures. 1909 Daily Chron. 24 July 3/2 Miss Aurora, who,
to the peril of her neck, practises tickle-toby on Brother
Gustavus s bare soles. 176* MILLS Syst. Pract. Husb. I.
156 Swamp hellebore (known in different places by the
several names of skunk-cabbage, *tickle-weed, bear-root).
Hence Tickled (ti k lcl)///. a.
a 1586 SIDNEY Arcadia in. (1605) 343 A smiling counten
ance, ..mixt betweene a tickled mirth, and a forced pittic.
1647 H. MORE Song Soul n. App. Ixvi, His silvered sound
would touch our tickled ear. 1880 G. MEREDITH Tragic
Coin. (i88r) n They encouraged her with the tickled wonder
which bids the bold advance yet farther into bogland, 1896
Blacku . Mag. May 769 No corn or tickled up seed could
get them [wild-fowl] up the pipes.
[Note. Derivation from TICK v. } , ;n sense to touch lightly ,
would, both in form and sense, suit the later use of tickle*
but is not favoured by the chronology (since tick is not known
so early as tickle\ nor by the fact that the earliest recorded
sense includes no notion of light touching or of the action
of any external agent, but merely expresses a bodily sensa
tion. These considerations partly also affect the^theory of
metathesis from kittle, inasmuch as the latter, exc. in the vbl.
sb. kitelung (a noo), kitlyng^ has not been found before
1440, and is from the first trans., = L. titillare to tickle
(someone). But inON.,<fr/V/a, like hungra> fiyrsta t etc., was
an impersonal vb. of primary sensation : w/V kitlar it
kittles me 1 , like mig hungrar it hungers me . Traces of
this appear also with tickle : see it tikleth me in sense 3.
It was natural for an impers. vb. to develop both intrans. and
trans, constructions : cf. the senses of IRK r-., and the modern
it grieves me with / grieve and you grieve me. It seems
possible that ONorse kit la was adopted at an early date in
some parts of England as kit(e)l-en y kittel^ and in others,
under the influence of tick t as /*/., tikel; and that the
TICKLELY.
latter became the general Eng. form, while the more original
kill-, tittle, was used farther north, and was thus later in
literary record. Neither form appears in Cursor Mundi. ]
fTickle, (?) dial, form of TITTLE .i, to whisper,
575 Gammer Gurtonii. ii, Sig. B iiij, But Tib hath tykled
in Gammers eare that you shoulde steal the cock.
t Ti cklely, tickly, aJv. Obs. rare. Also 7
tickely, tickly. [f. TICKLE a. + -LY 2.] I n an
insecure or unstable manner; ticklishly.
1601 SIR W. CORNWALLIS Disc. Seneca (1631) 10 It is meet
they should stand thus ticklely. a 1628 F. GREVIL Alaham
It. ii, So tickely unworthinesse doth stand. 1674 N. FAIR
FAX Bulk f, Selv. 68 A Coach may be so tickly set upon the
surface of the earth, as to give it self a trundling, one way or
other.
Ticklenburgs (ti-klenbjgz). Also 7 Tiokleu-
burs, Tioklingburs. [For Tecklenburg, from a
town and county of this name in Westphalia,
noted for its manufactures of linen.] A kind of
coarse linen cloth ; see quots.
1696 J. F. Merchant s Ware-ho. 39 Ticklenburs is., a
coarse Linnen, and generally very uneven, ..the right Tick.
lingburfi are almost as strong again as the Ozenbricks [Osna-
burgs]. . . There is not many Cloths sold in England that
hath so great Consumption as this. 1812 J. SMYTH Pratt,
cf Customs (1821) 133 Linen: Ticklenburgs are known by
that word being stamped on the Cloth. 1858 SIMMONDS
Diet. Trade, Ticldenturghs, a coarse mixed linen fabric
made for the West India market.
t Trckleness. Obs. [f. TICKLE a, + -NESS.]
The quality or state of being tickle ; insecurity,
instability; critical situation, precariousness ; in
constancy ; uncertainty.
c 1390 CHAUCER Truth 3 Suffise bin owen bing bei it be
smal For horde habe hate & Clymbyng tykelnesse [v.rr.
tekil-, tikul-]. 1549 in Tytler Rug. under Edw. VI, etc.
(1839) I. 232 Weighing as well the state of the things
above, as also the tickleness of the country, a 1625 in Gntch
Coll. Cur. I, 182, I found such tickleness in the performance
of such charges, that . . my prayers will be full of fear. 1674
N. FAIRFAX Bulk q Selv. 137 According to the tickleness of
its lodging in the mackina. unmdi.
Tickler (ti-kloi). [f. TICKLE v. + -ER!.] One |
who or that which tickles, in various senses.
1. One who tickles by touching or stroking lightly. I
1715 tr. Ctess D Aunoys Wks. 452 One of those ticklers I
of Cat -guts that march before the Milk-women upon May- i
day* 1736 CHESTKKF. Fag s Jrnl. No. 377 rs, If, by chance, i
tht;re be some few unhappy enough not to find ticklers, or
some ticklers clumsy enough not to find business, they com
fort themselves at least with self-titillation.
2. Something that tickles or is used for tickling.
a. A thing (or person) difficult to deal with or understand ;
a teaser; a puzzler (colloy,), b. A feather brush used to
tickle the face of passers, as a diversion at fairs and carnivals.
C. A birch or rod used in castigation ; also, a single-stick.
d. An instrument used by frame-work knitters for slipping
the loops off one needle of the stocking-frame on to another
in narrowing or shaping the fabric. e. An instrument for
extracting bungs from casks, f. An implement for stirring a
fire, a poker, g. In a mot or engine, a device by which a small
quantity of petrol is pumped into the carburettor to facilitate
the starting of the engine, h. A small measure (about half
a pint) of spirits {If. S. colloql). i. A small knife or pistol
carried on the person (U.S.colloq.). j. A memorandum
book, or a series of dated cards on which to enter engage
ments (Z/.S.t.
1680 COTTON Contfl. Gamester (ed. 2) 4 The Knave and
Rascal will violate his trust for profit, and lend him. .a Tickler
shall do his business. 1763 K. THOMPSON Meretriciad (ed. 6)
27 The tickler you must use, And as you flog the Vet Vans,
flog the Muse. 1808 J. BALLANTYNE Let. in Smiles Mem.
J. Murray (1891) I. v. 108 A review, termed by Mr. Jeffrey
a tickler, is to appear. 1825 JAMIESON, Tickler, anything
puzzling. 1825 Sporting Mag. XV. 349 John now practised
often with the * ticklers ; nor was it long before he attained
the reputation of a noted hand at single stick. 1839 Civil
Eng. fy Arch. Jmt. II. 118/1 A new and important manu
facture, .in the hosiery trade, in making lace caps from the
stocking-frame, by the aid of the jack tickler machine. 1839
Harry Franco I. 74 (Thornton Amer. Gloss.), I don t see
that I have got your name down in my tickler. 1840
HALIBURTON Clockm. Ser. in. xi. 155, 1 ..have half a mind
to give you a tickler in the ribs. 1844 DICKENS Mart.
Chuz. xxxiii, A sword-stick, which he called his Tickler ;
and a great knife, which, .he called Ripper . 1848 BART-
LETT Dict.Amer., Tickler, a common name among merchants
and bankers for a book in which a register of notes
or debts is kept for reference. 1861 DICKENS Gt. Expect.
ii, Tickler was a wax-ended piece of cane, worn smooth by
collision with my tickled frame. 1875 Sussex Gloss.,
Tickler, an iron pin used by brewers to take a bung out of
a cask. 1881 Miss JACKSON Shropsk. Word-bk., Tickler,?,
slender steel rod. .used for stirring the fire. 1889 Harper s
Mag. Aug. 388/2 Whiskey, .was not usually bought by the
drink, but by the tickler.. a bottle.. holding a half-pint.
1891 T. ANDERTON Lett.fr. Country Ho. 237 They poke
out the gleeds at the bottom with the tickler, and put them
at the top with the tongs. 1892 Labour Commission Gloss.,
Ticklers, four small points firmly fixed into a piece of wood
which are pressed upon the eyes of the needles and remove
the stitches in the hosiery industry. This is the operation of
fashioning. 1904 Sat. Rev. 18 June 784/1 Patriots, who
with whisky, rattles, ticklers, Union Jacks and patriotic
melody.. celebrated the relief [of Mafeking]. 1906 Daily
Chron. 14 Nov. 9/3 The carburettor can be flooded without
lifting the bonnet, by operating a tickler situated outside
the bonnet,
3. A large American longicorn beetle, Mono/tarn-
mus titillator, with very long antennae. U. S.
1841-52 T. W. HARRIS Insects Injur. Veget. ii. (1862) 105
The largest Capricorn-beetle,, .found in New England, is. .
the tickler.so named probably on account of the habit which
it has. .of gently touching now and then the surface on
which it walks with the tips of its long antenna;.
8
Ticklesome (ti-k ls^m), a. [f. TICKLE v. +
-SOME.]
1. That tends to tickle ; difficult, critical, delicate,
precarious, ticklish. Now dial.
1585 PARSONS Chr. Exerc. 11. v. 343 Miserable is that man
which placeth the ankor of his eternall wealth .. vpon so
ticklesome a point as this is. 1604 yd Pt. Three
Convers. Eng. 314 Hauinge moued such a matter. .in so
dangerous and_ ticklesome a tyme. 1898 MACMANUS Bend
of Road 200 Yis, marriage is a ticklesome subject.
2. ? Easily tickled; tickly; ticklish; suitable or
fitted for tickling or laughter.
1844 HOOD Let. to May Elliot Apr., Wks. 1873 X. 404, I
counthry can. .take his measure.
Ti ckle-tail. [f. TICKLE a. or v. + TAIL st>.]
1. A loose or wanton woman ; cf. TICKLE a. 3 b.
Now dial.
c 1430 LYDG. Mitt. Poems (Percy Soc.) 31 Canst thou no
better come to holynesse, Than lese thiself al for a tikel-
taylle? 1869 J. P. MORRIS Lanes. Gloss. (E.D.D.).
2. That which (or one who) tickles the tail ; \
see quots.
1785 GROSE Diet. Vulg. T., Tickle tail, a rod, or school- I
master. 1828 Craven Gloss., Tickle-tail, a rod.
3. A game : = THREAD-NEEDLE i . dial.
i8zi Blackiu. Mag. Aug. 36/2 Another game played by a I
number of children with a hold of one another, or tickle-
tails, as it is technically called in Scotland, is, Through
the Ncedle-c e.
Tickling (trklirj), vbl. sb. [f. TICKLE v. +
-ING 1 .] The action or condition denoted by the
verb TICKLE.
1. An uneasy sensation as of the teasing of some
sensitive part of the skin or mucous membrane ;
slight nervous irritation akin to itching.
1398 THEVISA Barth. DeP. R.v. xxviii.(Bodl. MS.)If. 16/1
pe whiche wormes litel Si litel wroteji and ete}> }?e skyn &
make)) tikeling and icching. c 1425 tr. Arderne^s Treat.
Fi$ti(la>\ When-someuer bepacient fekbtyklyngorychyng
or prykkyng in be lure. 1626 BACON Sylva 766 All tickling
is a light motion of the spirits, which the thinness of the
.skin, and suddenness and rareness of the touch do further.
1843 R. J. GRAVES Syst. Clin. Med. xx. 242 A sensation
of tickling in the mucous membrane of the trachea. 1898 !
J. HUTCHISON in Arch. Surg. IX. No. 36. 341 He had
some tickling in his throat.
2. fig. A tingling or ( itching* to do something;
uneasy desire, craving, hankering.
*553 Short Catech. in Liturgies^ etc. (Parker Soc.) 521 Our
will is commonly by tickling of affections and stirring of
lusts, drawn to do those things that God is displeased with.
1558 KNOX First Blast (Arb.) 24 Women haue in them selues
a tickling and studie of vaineglorie. 1683 IjURXKTtr.More s
Utopia (i 685) 101 These Things may create some Tickling in
the^ Senses. 1874 GEO. ELIOT Coll. BrcaJtf. P. 628 Whose j
brain.. Has feeble ticklings of a vanity.
3. A repeated light touching, stroking, or poking,
such as to cause laughter ; a state of being tickled ;
Jig. pleasing excitation, gratification ; also, excite
ment of the risible faculty, amusement.
1423 JAS. I Ktngis Q. xxi, With the tiklyng of his bete
and light, The tender flouris opnyt tharne and sprad. ,
c 1440 Promp. Parv. 493/2 Tykyllynge, titillacio. 1548 ;
UDALL Erasm. Par. Pref. 3 The pleasaunt ticleyng or !
clawyng of adulacion. 1603 HOLLAND Plutarch s Mor. \
311 They who naturally are enclined and disposed to
laughter, are to avoid and decline the ticklings and soft
handling in those parts of the body that are most smooth,
sleicke and tender. 1662 PLAYFORD Skill Mus. i. xi. (1674)
39 A certain tickling of the ears of those who do not well
understand what it is to sing Passionately. 1728 YOUNG
Love Fame n. (1757) 94 Tickling is unsafe, If still tis painful
while it makes us laugh. 1872 DARWIN Emotions viii. 201
This so-called tickling of the mind is curiously analogous
with that of the body.
f b. Used as a term of endearment. Obs. rare.
1605 B. JONSON I olpone ni. v, Thou art mine honor,
Mosca, and my pride, My ioy, my tickling, my delight !
C. spec. The taking of trout and other fish by
the method described in quot. 1884.
czi6i6 BEAUM. & FL. Scortif. Lady nr. ii, Leave off your
tickling of young heirs like trouts. 1826 SCOTT Woodst. vii,
Every fisher loves best the trouts that are of his own tickling.
1884 JEFFERIES Red Deer ix. 174 Groping for trout (or
tickling) is tracing it to the stone it lies under, then
rubbing it gently beneath, which causes the fish to gradually [
move backwards into the hand, till the fingers suddenly i
close in the gills.
4. atirih.) as tickling-house, (satirical slang} a j
place of preaching: cf. tickle-text (TICKLE V. 12).
1681 T. FLATMAN Heraclitus Ridens No. 29 (1713) I. 192 i
A Boy that has but.. carried his Mistress s Bible to the I
Tickling-house.
Trckling, ///. a. [f. as prec. + -ING 2 .] That
tickles, in various senses of the verb; exciting
pleasantly, gratifying, alluring; amusing, diverting ;
smootb-fac d Gentleman, tickling commpditie. 1607 TOP-
SELL Four-f. Beasts (1658) 475 The tickling or itching
humor, lying betwixt the skin and the flesh, causeth the
poor Sheep either to bite the place with his teeth,.. or to
rub it upon a tree or wall. 1675 CROWNE Country Wit I. i,
Fie upon this tickling rheum 1 1681 (title) Some Observa
tions upon the Tickling Querie, viz. Whether the admitting
of a Popish Successor be the best way to Preserve the Pro-
testant Religion [etc.]. 1761 PULTENEY in Phil. Trans.
TICKLISHLY.
LIT. 346 A little tickling cough which had remained with
him. 1863 GEO. ELIOT Romola ix, Such vague memories
hang about the mind like cobwebs, with tickling importu
nity. 1887 RUSKIN Prxterita II. 30 One evening. .a short
tickling cough surprised me.
Hence Ti cklingly adv., so as to tickle.
1898 J. A. STEUART Minister rf State i. iv, He smacked
his lips and laughed again;. .the recollections of his aunt s
choler [were] ticklingly comical.
Ticklish. (ti klij),^. [f. TICKLED. or z>. + -ISH!.]
1. Easily tickled; sensitive to tickling.
1598 FLORIO, Solctico, ticklish. 1615 CROOKE Body of
frlan 72 Some part of the skin is.. thin, as in the sides and
scales of the feete, which is the reason that there men are
body and face put into. .unusual motions. 1833 MARRYAT
P. Simple xix, As for not standing the charge of bayonets,
it was not because they were less brave, but the fact was,
that they were most excessively ticklish. 1899 Allbutfs
Syst. Med. VIII. 128 A peculiar mental affection, locally
known as Latah (a word signifying nervous or ticklish).
fb. Sensitive, easily affected ; of a horse: Sen
sitive to touch ; tender. Obs.
1681 Loud. Gaz. No. 1589/4 She drags her hinder feet,.,
cuts a little behind, she is very ticklish on her Crest. 1684
K. WALLER Nat. Exper. 6 After this manner may be had
a very ticklish Thermometer. 1716 Loud. Gaz. No. 5415/4
[A mare] with a Malender on her near Fore Leg, and very
ticklish to be touch d on that Place.
2. Unstably balanced or poised; easily unbalanced
or upset ; unsteady ; of a boat : easily capsized.
1601 HOLLAND Pliny (1634) II. 584 The follie of the blind
& bold people of Rome went beyond al ; who trusted such
a ticklish frame, & durst sit there, in a seat so moueable.
1639 FULLER Holy War in. v. (1840) 123 So ticklish are the
scales of victory, a very mote will turn them. 1687 A.
LOVELL tr. Thevenot s Trav, i. 27 Little slight Boats or
Wherries, and so tick lish that by leaning more to one side
than another, it is an easie matter to overset them. 1784
COWPBR Task in. 550 The ticklish balance of suspense. 1861
Du CHAILLU Equat. Afr. xiv. 234 They are ticklish craft.
b. Of game : Difficult to approach ; shy : =
TICKLE a. 6 c.
1826 COL. HAWKER Diary (1893) I. 290 He got four
wigeon, but found the birds very ticklish. 1829 Ibid. 359
Birds all scattered and ticklish.
3. fig. Easily upset in temper; apt to be offended,
sensitive, touchy.
1581 MULCASTER Positions xxxv ii. (1887) 152 Such parentes
as be tikelish, and such scholers as be shifting, removing
from maisters and renouncing of obedience. 1634 T. JOHN
SON Carey s Wks. 1173 There is not any man so ticklish,
which taketh not in good part what I have said. 1794
Gouv. MORRIS in Spantst&4 Writ. (1832) II. 426 Men
are very ticklish in such revolutions as the present. 1821
BYRON Let. to Moore 16 Nov., You are ticklish on such
points.
4. Unstable, unsteady, unsettled, uncertain, fickle.
1606 in Gardiner Hist. Eng. I. 408 note, Considering..
how ticklish their disposition is towards the State, a 1661
FULLER Worthies (t&^o) III. 265 But foreign friendship is
ticklish, temporary, and lasteth no longer than it is advan
taged with mutual interest. 1693 SOUTH Serm. 99 Uncer
tain ticklish and variable. 1770-4 A. HUNTER Georg. Ess.
(1803) III. 514 Resisting the effects of bad weather in tick
lish hay sea.sons. 1847 LD. PALMERSTON Let. 5 Feb. in
Bulwer Life (1874) III. 337 A throne whose stability rests
on the point of the bayonet has a very ticklish and uncertain
basis.
5. Liable to end in disaster unless treated with
great care ; needing cautious handling or action ;
delicate, critical, precarious, risky, hazardous.
1591 SAVILE Tacitus Hist. i. Ixxxv. 48 To beare a man s
selfe euenly in so nice and ticklish a case. 1600 HOLLAND
Livy in. Ixv. 133 So ticklish and dangerous a thing it is to
keepe a meane in maintenance of libertie. 1666 W. BOG-
HURST Loimographia (1894) 81 This is a very ticklish disease,
and the least error committed turnes a man out of dores. 1674
N. FAIRFAX Bulk $ Selv. To Rdr., Tis a more ticklish
thing to pen a Preface, than tis to write a Book. 1711
SWIFT Lett. (1767) III. 195 Tis a plaguy ticklish piece of
work, and a man hazards losing both sides. 1773 J- JEKYLI,
Corr. 30 May, Her rash, which perhaps was a critical symp
tom in her ticklish constitution. 1809 MALKINL?Z//>YCZJXII.
i. (Rtldg.) 423 A very ticklish predicament. 1899 F. T.
BULLEN Log Sea-waif sj This is a ticklish evolution to per
form successfully in a crowded anchorage.
6. quasi-flwfo. Ticklishly; in a ticklish or easily
moved state ; unsteadily ; delicately. Now rare.
1661 R. BAILLIE in Lauderdale Papers (Camden) I. 95,
I think you stand tiklish. 1771 LUCKOMBE Hist. Print. 318
The upper sides of these Ribs must, .be somewhat arching
..then the Cramp-irons run more easily and ticklish over
them. 1775 T. HUTCHINSON Diary 24 Oct., Mr. Gibbon, .
says the Minister who proposed them stands ticklish.
7. Comb., as ticklish-tempered.
1897 MARY KINGSLEY W. Africa 651 Ticklish-tempered
native gentlemen.
Ticklishly (ti-klijli), adv. [f. prec. + -LY 2.]
In a ticklish position or fashion ; insecurely, criti
cally, delicately.
1640 E. DACRES tr. Machiavclli s Prince 147 The forraine
matters stand but ticklishly. 1762 KAMES Elem, Crit. xxiv.
(1774) II. 478 A bare uniform cylinder.. without a base,
appears too ticklishly placed to stand firm. 1794 WASHING-
TON Let. to T.Lear 14 Dec., It is to be lamented however,
that in plain matters a little ticklishly circumstanced such
hazards.. should be unnecessarily encountered. 1846 D.
TERROLD Chron. Clovernook Wks. 1^64 IV. 424 Paste-board
huts, so loosely, so ticklishly put together, that every wind
that blows scares the tenants.
TICKLISHNESS.
9
TIDAL.
Ticklishness (trklifnes). [f. as prec. + -NESS.]
The quality of being ticklish : see the adj.
1583 GOLDING Calvin on Dent. Ixxxii, 503 Besides yt
tickhshnes which we haue alreadie of nature it pricketh vs
forewarde to say why should not such a thing be good.
1598 FLORIO, Gattorigole, ticklings, ticklishness. 1607
MARKHAM Cttral, v. (1617) 24 His vncomelinesse onely pro-
ceedes from ticklishnesse, or delight which he takes in the
friction, a: 1631 DONNE Lett* (1651) 355 You know the
ticklishnesse of London- Pulpits. 1647 CLARENDON Hist.
Reb. v. 116 Such was the ticklish ness of the King s con-
dition, that.. it was not thought Counsellable at that time
..to commit them to Prison. 1739 CHF.YNF. Regimen 200
(L.) We know by the ticklishness of the soles [of the feet]
what a multitude of fine nervous fibres terminate in them.
1790 PALEY Iforx Paul. vi. (1849) 3^9 The difficulty and
ticklishness of the times in which we live. 1005 Longm.
Mag. Feb. 360 The mare.. was in high spirits, which demon
strated themselves by an affectation of extreme ticklishness,
when a fly alighted on her shining flank.
Tickly (ti kli), a. [f. TICKLE a. + -Y.] Tick
lish; = KlTTLY.
1530 PALSGR. 327/2 Tyckely, that can nat abyde tycke-
lynge, 1661 FELTHAM Resolves \\. xxxv. 252 Nor did they,
like (icklie Italians, pet at this and put another in his room.
1825 JAMIESON, Tickly, puzzling, difficult. 1897 FLANDRAU
Harvard Episodes 223, I was laughing so that my wrists
were all sort of tlckly on the inside.
b. Tickly-be*nders, thin ice which bends under
one s weight ; KITTLY-BENDERS.
1853 KANE Grinncll Exp. xxii. (1856) 179 The young ice
glazing it over, so as to form a viscid sea of sludge and
tickly-benders.
Tickly : see TICKLELY adv. Obs.
Ti Ckney. Obs. or dial. [From Ticknal, name
of a place near Derby where this earthenware was
made.] Epithet of a coarse kind of earthenware
(Tickney ware) , hence, made of thisware(alsoyf^.).
1680 V. ALSOP Mischief of Iwpos. viii. 78 Are Churchmen
more afraid their Tickney Rules and China-Canons should
be preserved than broken? 1688 R. HOLME Armoury in.
113/1 Potters [are] sellers of Earthen or Tickney Ware.
Ibid. xiv. (Roxb.) 7/1 A drinking Jugg or a Tickney Jugge.
[1870 CHAFFERS Porcelain (ed. 3) 592 There was a Pottery
at Ticknal near Derby as early as the i6th century, which
produced articles of a coarse hard body, of a dull brown
colour, sometimes decorated with yellow slip.] 1881 Miss
JACKSON Shropsh. Word-bk.> Tickney, Tickney -ware, ob sols.,
common, coarse earthenware.
Tick-seed : see TICK sd. 1 3.
Tick-tack (ti-k,toe-k). Also 6 St. tik tafc, 7
tic-tack, tick(e)-tacke, 7-9 tic-tac. [Echoic:
so Du., Norw. tiktak, Sw., Da., Ger. tick-tack^ F.
tic-tac. In sense 2 an adaptation or kind of transla
tion of F. trictrac^ a similar echoic word : see
TBIC-TRAC.]
1. An imitation of a reduplicated or alternating
ticking sound, esp. that made by a clock (see TICK
$b$ 2) ; also that of the firing of small artillery.
(Used as adv. or interj.^ and hence as sb. to denote
the sound.)
1549 Compl. Scot, vi. 42 Than the smal artail;e cryit,
tik tak, tik tak, tile tak, tik tak. 17.. in Ritson s Gamut.
Gurton sGarL (1783) 53 Here a nail, there a nail, Tick,
tack, too. 1840 P. Parley s Ann. 54, I am quite tired of
your [a clock s] tick tack. 1858 O. W. HOLMES Aut.
Breakf.-t. viii, Our brains are seventy- year clocks. ..Tic-
tac ! tic-tac ! go the_wheels of thought. 1909 Daily Chron.
12 June 5/1 A Galling gun. .played upon the infantry..;
one heard the tick-tack , tick-tack of the spitting fire.
b. In auscultation, The sound of the heart-beat.
(Usually in Fr. form tic-tac.}
1853 MARKHAM Skoda s A uscult. 175 The normal sounds
of the heart are generally indicated by the expression ( tic-
tac ...This tic-tac I call the sounds (Tffnt) of the heart...
By murmurs (Gerausche) I understand the abnormal sounds
The normal tick-tack of the heart beat with healthy precision.
t 2. An old variety of backgammon, played on
a board with holes along the edge, in which pegs
were placed for scoring. Also fig. Oh$ t (Also
called TRTC-TRAC, in F. trictrac.}
1558 FORREST Grysilde Sec. i. xi. (Roxb.) 28 To pastyme
at Tables, Tick-tacke or Gleeke. 1598 B. JOHBOM Ev. Man
in Hum. in. iii. r 1618 MORYSON I tin. iv. iv. vi. (1903) 306
They play much at Tables, Commonly Tick Tack and lurch,
but never at Irish. 1740 tr. De Monty s Fort. Country.
tf (1741) II. 188 Sometimes we plaid at Tick-tack.
3. attrib. fa. Belonging, or addicted, to the
game of tick-tack (obs.\ b. slang. Applied to a
system of * telegraphy * or signalling used by book
makers at race-meetings, and hence to the men
who practise this (cf. TICKERS b).
1583 BAUINGTON Commandm. ii. (1590) 104 If hee bee a
drunken ale-stake, a ticktack tauerner. 1665 in Boston
(Mass.) Transcript 17 Sept. (1910) n. 8/1 Two tick tack
tables. Ibid., A tick tack board with the pieces, 1899
Daily fftws 15 Mar. 5/5 Another class who are persecuted
most absurdly, as it seems to me, are the tick tack men.
1905 Daily Chron. i Feb. 3/5 A prisoner puzzled the King
ston Bench by describing himself as a racecourse telegra
phist ... A detective explained that the man practised what
is known as tick-tack telegraphy signalling by means of
the arms to outside bookmakers.
Hence Tick-tacker, one who practises tick-tack
telegraphy; Tick-tacking ///. a., making an
alternating ticking sound ; Tick-tack-toe, also
VOL. X.
called tit-tat-toe, tip-tap-toe t a children s game
played on a slate, consisting in trying with the
eyes shut to bring the pencil down on one of the
i numbers of a set, the number hit being scored.
1841 Father Oswald x\\. 117 The death-watch.. is a little
tick-tacking noise, a 1847 ELIZA COOK Old Mill-stream
xxi, Thy pouring cascade, and the tic-tac-ing mill. 1884
Mag. of Art Feb. 135/2 He saw those children playing tic-
tac-toe. 1899 CROCKETT Anna Mark xii, Playing at quoit,
tops, marbles, lic-tnc-toe, jacks, knuckle-bones. 1912 Daily
News 28 Mar. 4 liookies, tipsters, tick-tackers, runners,
welshers, backers, and all the great army who go racing.
Tick-tick (ti k,ti k). [Echoic.] An imitation
! of the ticking of a clock or watch, or a similar
sound ; hence a child s name for a clock or watch.
1774 FOOTE Cozeners m. Wks. 1799 II. 190 Marianne,
; who opened the window? Mar. Little massa, to shew me de
| tick-tick, a 1849 J. C. MANGAN 20 Gold. Y. Ago viii, Tick-
! tick, tick-tick ! Not a sound save Time s. 1864 GLAISHKR
1 mCirc.Sc. (ciS6s) I. 1209/2 We heard, .the tick-tick of a
I threshing machine. 1894 H. DRUMMOND Ascent Man 214
| The child who says.. tick-tick for watch, or puff-puff for
train, is an authority on the origin of human speech.
So Tick-tick v. ; hence Tick-ticking vbl. sb.
1755 B. Bright 1 s New Jrnl. 6 If. .his Mistress, .is absent,
the Clock tick-ticks very slow. 1897 Daily News 17 May
3/3 The tick-ticking of the [telegraph] machines.
Tick-tock (ti-k,t^k). Also tic-toe. [Echoic.]
An imitation of the ticking of a clock, esp. the
slow ticking of a large clock ; also of the sound
of a double knock, or of resounding footsteps.
1848 THACKERAY Van. Fair xxiii, They were both so
silent that the tick-tock of the.. clock on the mantelpiece
became quite rudely audible. 1878 BROWSING Poets Croisic
cxxvii, Bold tic-toe Announces there s a giant at the door,
1906 R. WHITEING Ring- in Neiu 197 The tic-toe of the high
heels was insistent in the passages.
Tick-trefoil, Tick- weed: see TICK sbl 3.
Tickwood, obs. var. teakwopd (TEAK).
1794 Trans. Sac. Arts XII. 314 Tickwood plant or lattee.
Ticky (ti ki), sb. Also tiki, tickle, tikkie,
tickey. [Origin uncertain : see Note.] The collo
quial name in South Africa for a threepenny piece.
[a 1860 Remembered in colloquial use at Cape Town.]
1877 J. A. CHALMERS TiyoSoga xxii. 471 Those poured an
unusually large quantity of tickies into the plates at the
doors. 1895 Westm. Gaz. 6 Mar. 8/1 The coin of smallest
value in the Transvaal is the tickie , or threepenny-bit.
1903 Ibid. 25 July 2/1 In purchasing-power the tickey [of
Johannesburg] is certainly not more than equal to the penny
of London. In many cases its value is less than a halfpenny.
[Note. Residents of Cape Colony, whose memory goes
back to c 1850, state that they have known ticky all their
lives. The prevalent notion is that the word was first used
by the CafTres or other native labourers ; it is at present in
Sesuto (the liasuto Jang.), tekc (t^ k^). But it is believed to
have been a native imitation of some Dutch or Eng. word ;
e.g. of Cape Dutch stnkje little piece, little bit , pro
nounced (stiiki), and imitated by the natives as (tuki, tiki);
according to others, of Eng. ticket, it being explained that
on an occasion when a large body of natives were employed
on a public work, they were, for want of small silver coin,
paid with tickets for 3^., which were taken in payment by
the provision stores, and redeemed at that rate by the au-
i thoruies. Other statements or conjectures (e. g. that tikki
i was an attempt to say * little *) have been offered in the Cape
j Times, etc., April to June 1912, but nothing in the form of
evidence has been adduced.]
Ticky (ti-ki), a. [f. TICK j<M + -Y.] Full of
or infested by ticks.
1831 Blackw. Mag* XXX. 270 He fa turkey] becomes.,
craven and crest-fallen, emaciated and ticky.
I Tide, obs. form of TICKLB.
fl Tic-polonga (tfltipdfngft^ Zool. [Accord
ing to Madras Manual of Administration III. 154,
ad. Sinhalese tit-polonga^ f. tita, in comb. //V-,
speck, freckle, spot, mark +polonga viper. The
form with tic- is app. due to substituting tik spot,
freckle, mark, spot on tiger-deer , for /#-.] A
venomous snake of India and Ceylon : the chain
viper or necklace-snake, Daboia Russellii.
[1681 R. KNOX Hist. Ceylon 29 There is another venomous
Snake called Polonga, the most venomous of all.] 1825 MRS.
HEBERin H. s Narr. Journ. (1828) II. xxvii. 258 The Cobra
de Capello is the most common, but its bite is not so certainly
fatal as that of the Tic Polonga. I^CAUNTER Orient. Ann.
vii. 80 A large dog, belonging to aCingalese who accompanied
us, was bitten by a snake, the ticpolonga. 1910 Times
13 Sept. 7/4 Three of the most deadly snakes known in
India the cobra, the tic-polonga or Russell s viper.and the
banded krait.
Tic-tac, Tic-toe : see TICK-TACK, TICK-TOCK.
Tid(tid),^. 1 Sc. [? unexplained var. of TiDEj/5.]
1. A fit or favourable time or season ; an oppor
tunity, occasion.
1711 RAMSAY Elegy Patie Birnie xiii. 1718 Fables^
Fox <fr Rat 40 He took the tid when Lowry was away.
1801 MACNEILL Poet Wks. (1844) 54 To catch the tids o*
life is sage, Some joys to save.
2. spec. The proper season for some agricultural
operation, asharrowing or sowing; hence, suitable
condition of the soil for cultivation or cropping.
1799 T. ROBERTSON Agric. Perth 147 If it were not for
.fear of losing the proper opportunity (the Tid of sowing, as
it is vulgarly called), the longer the wheat-seed is delayed.,
the belter. 1825 JAMIESON, Tid. .2. The condition which
any soil is in for the purpose of agriculture; as, The
f round s no in tid . ciSyo in Stephens Bk. Farm (1844)
, 537 A tid (or proper condition of the ground for harrowing)
cannot be taken advantage of on the drained furrow until the
other is dry. 1842 J. AITON Domest. Econ. (1857) 79 The
tids of seed-time, hay-time, and harvest, are in a ereat
measure lost. 1863 MORTON CycL Agric. Gloss. (E.D.S.).
3. A humour, mood, or fancy to do something.
a 1774 FERGUSSON Farmer s Ingle Poems (1845) 38 Tak
tent, case Crummy tak her wonted tids, And ca the laig-
leu s treasure [i. e. the new milk] on the ground. 1825 JAMIK-
SON s.v., To tak the tid, to be seized with a perverse or un
governable humour. 1890 J. SERVICE T/iirNotaitdums viii.
48 I m no i the tidd the noo.
Tid, s/ .~ ? local, [app. an alteration of TIT j.3,
in sense girl, young woman.] A girl or woman.
1888 BARKIE When a Atari s Single \, Nanny was a terrible
tid for cleanness. 1891 Little Minister xv, You re the
bonniest tid I ever saw oot o an almanack.
tTid, a. Obs. A word app. deduced by Bailey
from tia-biti but also in independent dialect use.
From Bailey in Johnson, whence in later diets. :
also in nonce-use from tid-bit : see quots.
1727 BAILEY vol. II, Tid, nice, delicate, as a Tiff-Pit.
755 JOHNSON, Tid t adj. (lydder, Saxon), tender; soft ; niue
..Titbi t (properly tidbit ; tid^ tender, and bit), nice bit ;
nice food. [See note below.]
1730 Panegyric on Sivift 13 While Dunces of the coarsest
Clay. .Devour the Church s tiddesi Bits, That only should
be shar d by Wits. 1799 E. Du Bois Piae Family Biog. I.
70 She is too tid a bit for us lubbers aboard the world.
\Note. The OE. word meant by J. is ttdre^ tyddre weak,
fragile, easily broken ; frail in health, infirm ; it could not
give tid tender, soft, nice 1 . The latter does not appear
as general Eng. before Bailey. But the F.ng. Dial. Diet.
lias from Midi, counties Tid, tidd = fond, attached, careful
(of), solicitous (about); (of a child) tender, nice, fanciful ;
(of a man) cunningly reserved . J. D. Robertson s Clou-
cester Glossary (1890) has Tit/, playful, frolicsome , and
cites from John Smyth s Berkeley MSS. 1x640 (ed. 1885, III.
25) Tyd, i.e. wanton. Hee is very tyd, i.e. very wanton.
A tyd bit, i.e. a speciall morsell reserved to eat at last .
These evidence the limited dial, use of an adj. tid, tidd t
or tyd; though the senses given do not very closely agree
with that deduced by Bailey from tid*bit.]
Tid, v. Sc. [f. Tin j.i] trans. To choose the
right time for; to time: esp. with reference to
land or crops : cf. Tin sbl 2.
1808 JAMIESON, Tid, v.a., to time, to choose the proper
season. The aitseed has been tveill tiddit, the proper
season for sowing oats has been taken. 1883 J. MARTIN
Remin. Old Haddington 317 He judiciously tidded the
land and manured highly so as to produce heavy crops.
Tid, obs. var. /? /, TITE adv. obs. pa. t. and pple.
of TIDE z>.!, TITHE t . 1
Tidal (toi-dal), a. [f. TIDE sb. II. + -AL.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or affected by tides; ebbing
and flowing periodically.
Tidal alarm, an audible signal, as a bell or whistle
attached to a buoy, operated by the movement of the tides
(Casscll s Encycl. Diet. 1888); tidal crack - 1 WE.eracb
(Cent. Diet. 1891); tidal friction, frictional resistance to
the motion of the tide-wave, tending to retard the earth s
rotation; tidal motor, a mechanical motor deriving Us
power from the movement of tidal waters ; tidal river, a
river which is affected by the tides for some distance from
its mouth j tidal valve, a valve in a sluice, which opens to
the pressure of land water and closes under the influence of
the incoming tide ; tidal wave, see b.
1807 VANCOUVER Agric. Devon (1813) 300 Had the lots
below.. the new Custom House.. in Dublin, been left open
to the tidal waters, the waters of the Liffy would have
preserved a deep channel for their discharge. 1830 LVKLL
Princ. Geol.\. 359 Suppose that., the Mediterranean should
form a gulf of the great ocean, and that the tidal current
should encroach on the shores of Campania. 1853 HERSCHEL
Pop.Lect.Sc. \. 57 (1873)45 The tidal action of the sun and
moon on., the earth s crust. 1878 HuXLKY/ AgHffifr. i. 2 Up
to Teddington. .the Thames is a tidal river. 1880 HAt <;HTON
Phys. Geoff, i. 9 When the length of the day shall have
become equal to the length of the year, tidal friction will
cease. 1884 F. J. BRITTEN Watch % Clocktn. 256 Tidal
Clock.. designed.. for showing the time of high and low
water, the state of the tides at any time of the day. 1911
Encycl. Brit. XXVI. 945/1 Tidal friction then diminishes
Slanetary rotation, increases the satellite s distance, and
iminishes the orbital angular velocity.
b. Tidal wave : the high water wave caused by
the movement of the tide : tide-wave (TiDE sb.
16 b); erron, an exceptionally large ocean wave
caused by an earthquake or other local commotion.
1830 LVELL Princ. Gcol* I. 293 On mathematical prin
ciples, the rise of the tidal wave above the mean level of a
particular sea must be greater than the fall below it. 1878
HUXLEY Physiogr, 2 The tidal wave occupies about two
hours in coming up from the Nore to London. Ibid. 188
The terrible devastation wiought by the great tidal wave,
which followed the earthquake at Lima. 1899 Daily News
13 June 8/2 The tidal wave sweeps round the earth twice
in the twenty-four hours; the great wave produced by an
earthquake, erroneously described sometimes as a tjdal
wave , has nothing tidal about it, and it is called by scien*
tific men a free wave .
(b} Jig. A great progressive movement or mani
festation of feeling, opinion, or the like.
1884 Boston (Mass.) Traveller Aug., Van Buren was a
candidate again in 1840, but the log-cabin and hard cider
tidal wave was sweeping over the country. 1888 BRVCE
Atner. Comnnv. III. iv. Ixxx. 62 Now and then. .there
comes a rush of feeling so sudden and tremendous, that the
name of Tidal Wave has been invented to describe it. 1895
SCULLY Kafir Stories 50 The repression which he had to
exercise, .caused tidal waves of passion to roll back on his
soul, fraught with destruction to himself and toothers.
(*) Phys. The main or primary height of flow
in a beat of the pulse.
TIDALLY.
1896 Allbutt s Syst. Metl. I. 314 Sphygmographic tracings
show a lowering in the height of the tidal and diciotic wave.
2. transf. and fig. That * ebbs and flows ;
periodic, intermittent ; alternating, varying.
Tidal air (/ /iys.), the air passing in and out of the lungs
at each ordinary respiration ; tidal breathing (Path.),
respiration in which there are pauses alternating with shorter
periods of respiratory activity ; periodic respiration.
187* HUXLEY Phys. iv. 92 In ordinary breathing 20 to 30
inches of what is conveniently called Tidal air pass in and
out. 1876 GRO. ELIOT Dan. Der, iv. xxix, This mood of
youthful, elated desperation had a tidal recurrence. 1896
Daily Nctvs 4 May 3/3 Clerkenwell has.. become mixed in
population and in its political opinions tidal. 1897 Allbntt s
Syst. H fed. IV. 646 Amongst, .the results of derangements
of the pulmonary circulation must be placed the occurrence
of periodic , tidal , or Cheyne-Stokes breathing.
3. Dependent upon or regulated by the state of
the tide or time of high water.
Tidal basin, harbour, a basin or harbour which is
accessible or navigable only at high tide; tidal boat,
steamer, a vessel the sailings of which depend on the time
of the tide; tidal train, a train running in connexion with
a tidal steamer.
1858 SIMMONDS Diet. Trade, Tidal basin, a dock that is
filled upon the rising of the tide. 1859 LKWIN Ini as. Brit.
27 Boulogne is a tidal harbour, . . it can only be entered or
quitted at high water. 1859 RF.KVE Brittany ii. 12 The
tidal hours of departure of the steam-packet. 1866 \V.
COLLINS Armadale II. 240 The tidal train. .was speeding
nearer and nearer to Paris. 1888 GTNTFR Mr. Totter x,
The tidal boat ll be ere in twenty minutes.
b. Elliptical for tidal boat or train.
1883 L. OLIPIIANT Altiora Peto I. 202 He found himself
just in time to take the tidal.
Hence Ti dally adv.^ in a tidal manner ; by or in
respect of the tides.
1879 G. H. DARWIN in Phil. Trans. CLXXI. 713 On the
Secular Changes in the Elements of the Orbit of a Satellite
revolving about a Tjdally Distorted Planet. 1880 Ibid.
CLXX1I. 513 In considering the effects of tidal friction the
theory has Ijeen throughout adopted that the tidally.
disturbed body is homogeneous and viscous.
Tidance, tidand : see TIDING.
Tid-bit, an earlier form of TIT-BIT.
t Tidder, z . 1 Obs. Forms : i tiedran, t^dran,
tyddr^i)an, 3 tuderen, (Ortn.} tiddrenn. [OE.
tydran t related to tnd(d}or TuDDKR, progeny,
offspring.] a. intr. To be productive or prolific.
b. trans. To produce (offspring), to engender.
a 1000 Cxdmon s Gen. 1507 (Gr.) TymaS nu & liedraS.
c 1200 Trin, Coll. How. 177 penne men michel tuderio..
and here tuder swifte wexed. c izoo ORMIN 18307 pa be^re
time wass all gan To tiddrenn to taemenn. ^1250 Gen, fy
Ex. 630 Of hem ben tudered manijon.
[fTi-dder, z/.2 Obs. rare- .
1755 JOHNSON, Tidder, v. a. (from Tid), to use tenderly;
lo fondle. (Hut there is app. some error here : no trace of
such a vb. has been found elsewhere : cf. TID a.)]
Tiddivate, dial, variant of TITIVATE v.
Tiddle (ti d l), v. Obs. exc. dial, or slang. Also
7-9 tittle. [In sense I perh. connected with TID a.
The two senses may be distinct words.]
1. trans. To fondle or indulge to excess ; to pet,
pamper ; to tend carefully, nurse, cherish.
1560 Nice Wanton in Ha/1. Dodsley II. 173 My parents
did tiddle me : they were to blame. 1653 \ 7 erney Memoirs
(1894) III. 203 To midwife it out, and to tittle it up and to
bring it with you in your coach. 1730-6 BAILEY (folio), To
Tiddle, to indulge, or fondle, to make much of. 1753
JOHNSON, Tiddle, v. a. (from Tid), to use tenderly ; to fondle.
1839 (Sis G. C. LEWIS] Herefordsh. Gloss. (E.D.D.). 1881
Miss JACKSOX Shropsh. Word bk., Tiddle, to nurse and
nurture tenderly. 1893 6". E. Wore. Gloss, s. v., You may
tiddle a monkey till e befouls your trenchud.
2. intr. To potter, trifle, * fiddle ; to fidget, fuss.
1747 RICHARDSON Clarissa (1811) I. xlii, 322 To leave the
family pictures.. to you, because you could tiddle about
them, and.. wipe and clean them with your dainty hands !
1839 HOLLOWAY Diet. Prov. s. v., Tiddling about is being
busy about trifle*. 1904 Eng. Dial. Diet. s. v. Tittle,
(Cumbld.) I could par [pare] the fut with a buttress while
another is tittHn over it with a draw-knife.
Hence Ti ddling ///. a. t that tiddles ; over-
indulgent; Ti ddlingly adv., indulgently.
1580 LUPTON Sivgila. 37 The most of our youth.. are so
tydlingly, fondly, wantonly, and idlely brought up, that it is
a griefe to the goal ye,
Tiddle, dial, form of TITTLE v. to tickle.
Ti ddler ] . [? Related to TITTLEBAT and tiddly
little .] Nursery name for a stickleback. So
Ti ddling vbl. sb., fishing for tiddlers .
1885 Ii. E. MARTIN in Harpers Mag. May 866/1 Them s
tiddlers, they is. 1003 Blacfae, Mag. Aug. 203/2, I used to
come and catch tiddlers in it when I was a kid. 1908 Daily
Chron. 3 Aug. 7/3 Within reach of that most delightful
tiddling water in St. James s Park. 1911 Daily News
26 July 4 The long row of boys., in St. James s Park fishing
for tiddlers with sticks and bent pips.
Tiddler %. slang, [f. tiddle, by-form of TITTLE
v. to tickle,] A feather or feather-brush for tick
ling ; a * teaser * or ( tormenter ; a tickler.
1900 Daily Chron. 21 May 5 (Cass. Supp.) In Cheapside. .
you were titillated by penny tiddlers . Anything, from a
peacock 1 .-, feather downwards, which is a foot long and
tickles.is a tiddler . a i9O4E.S.MiTH MS. Cotl. Wanvicksh.
Wds. s. v. (E.D.D.), At mops and fairs in the Midlands the
favourite tiddler, .drawn rapidly down the back, ..made a
noise resembling that of the extinct rattle of the policeman.
Now the tiddler has degenerated into any light weapon
of offence, which drawn across the face or neck, irritates
the skin.
10
Tiddlywink (ti-dliwiqk). Also tidley-,
tiddley-, tiddle-a-wink. [In sense I perh. con-
: nected with slang tiddly a drink, drunk; in 3
perh. with tiddly dial, or baby-talk for little .]
1. An unlicensed public-house or pawnshop; a
! small beershop ; also kiddlywink. slang.
1844 J. T. HEWLETT Parsons f, W. xxxiv, Which does
more to demoralise.. the lower classes than a Tom and
Jerry, tidley-wink, or gin-shop. 1887 BEATTV-KINGSTON
Music ft Mann. II. 15 All the tiny tiddlywinks and spacious
beer.gardens filled to overflowing.
2. a. A game played with dominoes, b. //. A
game in which small counters are caused to spring
from the table into a bell-like or cylindrical recep
tacle, by pressing upon their edges with larger
counters.
1870 HARDY & WARE Mod. Hoyle 104 (Dominoes) Tiddle-
a-wink game.. .In this game. .he who plays out first cries
Tiddle-a-wink, having won. 1870 Routlede s Ev. Boy s
Ann. Nov. 672 The marked difference between Tidley-wink
j and other games of dominoes. 1898 \Vestm. Gaz. 4 Jan. 2/1
Cards, tiddley-winks, and ludo are played. 1906 igf/t Cent.
Mar. 509 The Empress suggested the game of tiddlywinks
for the Emperor s amusement.
3. //. Knick-knacks of victuals, slang.
1893 J. A. BARRY S. firtnvn s Bunyifi, etc. 34 A drop o
good stuff, now, to wash these ere tiddlewinks down with.
Hence (slang) Tiddlywi nker, a cheat, a trifler ;
Tiddly-wi-nking sl>. and a., trifling, pottering ;
Tiddlywi nky a. ilia!., tiny, insignificant.
1869 Rimllfiigf s />. fiiy s Ann. 589 Performed some
1 tiddly-winking woik, that is he had shifted a few spades,
ful of earth. 1888 R. BoLDREWOOD Squatter s Dretuir
vii, I wonder what old Morgan would say to all this here
tiddley-winkin , with steam-engine, and ivire-fences. 1893
J. A. BARRY .V. Rrotun s Kiinyip, etc. 143 It was a fair an
square game.. .There wasn t no tiddleywinkm in the thin^.
Ibid, 145 They re nothin but a lot o tiddleywinkers up
there. 1901 ZACK Talcs Dunstabfe U eir 23 Overagainst
Martin s cottage there was a tiddliwiukie bit o a wood.
Tiddy (ti di). [Origin unknown : perh. =
TEDDY.] In the game of gleek, the four of trumps.
1655 [see TIB sl>. 2], 1680 COTTON Cmnpl. Gamester \\.
(ed. 2) 65 (Gleek) The turned up Card is the Dealers ; and if
it be Tiddy turn d up is four apiece from each to the Dealer.
The Ace is called Tib, the Knave Tom, the four of
Trumps Tiddy. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury in, xvi. (Roxb.)
73/2. 1822 SCOTT Nigel xvi, I gained the cards, and lo you 1
it pleases his lordship to say that we played without tiddy.
Tide (tsid), s6. Forms : I tid (tiid), tyd,
2-5 tid, 2-7 tyd, 3-7 tyde, (5 tyyde, tiid),
3- tide. [OE. tid ^ OS. tid (MLG., LG.
tit, Du. tijd), OHG. ztt (z!d), MHG. zlt (Ger.
zeif), ON. US (Sw., Da. tid) :-OTeut. *ti-d-F,
referred by some to a root *lt- to extend (whence
also TIME). See also note under branch II.]
I. Time.
1 1. A portion, extent, or space of time ; an age,
a season, a time, a while: = TIME sb. 1-3. Obs.
(or tdial.)
a 700 Beowulf m Waes seo hwil mice], xii wintra tid torn
Sebolode. agoo tr. Bxdas Hist. v. xiii. [xii.] (1890) 432
pa ic sume tid fram oe fcewat. 950 Lindisf. Go$p. Mark ix.
21 Huu miceles Tel longes tides. 971 Blickl. Horn. 125
Uncujj bi5 ae?;h w ylcunri amim men his lifes tid. c looo/J^s.
Gosp. Mark ix, 21 Hu lang tid is syoSan him J?is gebyrede?
c xooo ^LFRIC //out. I. 312 preo tida sind on Sysre worulde c
an is seo 5e waes butan a? ;. .seo 3ridde is nu asfter Cristes
to-cyme. [Cf. c 1175 Lamb. Hoin. 89.] a 1300 Cursor M,
391 tCott.) Bath ware made sun and mon, ..In takening o
tides to standj Dais and yeirs. (1400 Destr. Troy 1974
And bou tary in bis towne, or any tide lenge. c 1412 Hoc-
CLEVE DC Reg. Princ. 847, I mote..suffre storm after be
mery tyde. c 1450 Cov. Myst. v. (Shaks. Soc.) 50, I come
a^enwithinneatyde. a 1529 Sv.f.L.iOKj oeinsagst.Garncsche
iv. 162 Stop a tyd, and be welle ware. 1590 SPENSER
f. Q. i. ii. 29 There they alight, .and rest their weary limbs
a tide. 1603 Philotits Ixxvii, Prouyde Ane Pages claithis
in the meine tyde. 1791 J. LEARMOST Poems 331 (E.D.D.),
I wiss that tide had been a lang lang year. 1871 WADDELL
Ps. xxxi. 15 My tides are a 1 i 1 yer hail .
f2. spec. = HOUR I. Obs,
17900 O. E. Chron. an. 879, py ilcan ^eare a^iestrode sio
sunne ane tid daeges. a 900 O. E. Martyrol. 30 June no
bonne se monod by3 Reendod l>e we nemnad se aerra Iy3a,
ponne by5 seo niht six tyda lang ondsedaes eahtatyne tytla
lang. c 1000 >LFRIC Horn. II. 388 An wajccehaifd breotida ;
feower waeccan jefyllao* twelf tida. 1050 fly r/itfert It s
Handboc in Anglia. (1885) VIII. 298 Dzet jer by6 ?;csfctt
on brim hund da?;iiin & fif & syxtigum da^uni & syx tidum.
n 1200 Moral Ode 137 (Lamb. MS.) Hefde he bon berenne
del ooer twa bare tide nolde he for al middenerd be berdde
ber abiden. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 408/223 Huy stodenand
bi-heolden sein lohan longue, ^re tidene and more, a 1300
Cursor M. 14193 (Cott.) Ten tides [F. oures] has be dai and
tua. c 1430 Jt. Gloucester s Chron. (Rolls) App. BB. 3 Pe
foure & twenti tydes \v.r. houres] in day & in be ny^t. .he
dyjte folwel & ri?t Mid breo grete kandlen To berne eite
tides [v.r. houresj.
3. A point in the duration of the day, month,
or year, of human life, or of other natural (or, later,
artificial) period; in reference to an action or
repetition = occasion : = TIME sb. 13, 14. arch, or
pott.
^897 K. ALFRED Gregory s Past. C. xvii. 120 Donne cym5
Ins hlaford..on oa tiid Oaet he hiene ser nat. Ibid, xlvii.
356 Aworpen mon bi6 a unnyt. .Sionaelce tidsawe3 wrohte.
971 Jilickl. How. 21 pa;t leoht on nanre tide ne ablinneb.
c iao$ LAY. 14924 Hit ilomp an are tide heonom hiretoraede.
a 1300 Cursor M. 5733 (Colt.) pe flok he fedd opon a tid, Hi
a wildrin wod side. ( 1385 CHALCER L. G. W. 783 (Thisbe}
TIDE.
Ffor to mete in on place at on tyde. (11400 Pi still of Susan
149 Such toretand teone takeb me bis tyde. a 1419 Cwwr
M. 5874 (Trin.) To stonde lete ?e hem not bide As $e han
done mony a tyde. a 1529 SK ELTON EL Rnnnnyng 155
Such a lewde sorte To Elynour resorte From tyde to tyde,
cis86 C TESS PEMBROKB Ps. (1823) CXLIV. v, My closett
where I wont to hide In troublous tyde. a. 1605 POLWART
Flytingiu. Montgomerie 470 At that tyd [ane after mid
night] was na time for trumpers to tarie. 1633 R. JOHNSON
Hist. Tom a Lincolne (1828) 106 Which ship had beene
seven yea res upon the sea . . and before this tyde could never
see land. 1805 WORDSW. Elegiac Verses on J. Wordsw. vi,
But we will see it joyful tide ! Some day . .The mountain
will we cross. 1868 MORRIS Earthly Par., Mast born to be
King 1272 He, who, from ill death Saved me that tide.
b. A suitable, favourable, or proper time or
occasion; opportune, fit, or due time; season;
opportunity : = TIME sb. 16. arch. Cf. TlD sb\
c 888 K. ALFRED Boeth. xxix. 2 Se 5e his a:r tide ne
liolao, bonne bi3 his on tid untilad. 897 Gregory s
Past. C. xxxviii. 274 Hwilum sie spra^ce tiid, hwilum
swiggean. cgso Lindisf. G. Matt. xxiv. 45 pa;tte he sella
him mett in tid. cio6o Charter of Eadweardin Kemble
Cod. Dipl, IV. 212 Alle bingen 5a 3ar upaspringeft, inne
tyd and ut of tid. ^1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. (1810) 164 Hi
Cipres side Isaac to aspie, If he toke any tide out of lond to
flie. ^1430 Brut 439 Whanne tyde of passage come, thei
toke the see, and pnssid ouyr. 1590 SPKNSER F. Q. in. ix. 32
Then Paridell,, .glad of so litte tide Him to commend to her,
thusspake. 1657 M. LAWRENCE Use fy Pratt. Faith 147 The
foolish virgins lost their tide : the wise had much ado to
gain it, 1887 MORRIS Odyssey ix. 131 For the land is
nothing evil, but would bear all things in tide.
fc. Appointed or fixed time : ----- TIME j. 15. Obs.
a 900 tr. Bxda*& Hist. in. xiv. [xix.j (1890) 210 WaciftS re,
foroon be ?;e ne weoton ne 5one dse^ ne 6a tide. IHd. IV. fit
262 pa cwom his tid, baet he scolde of middan^earde to
Drintne feran. ^950 Lindisf. Gosp. John ii. 4, S: cueS to
him se haelend. .ne Sa^et w/cuom tid min. a 1300 Cursor
M. 21511 (Cott.) pe luu him spedd til-ward his tide, Ouer
term durst he noght bide, a 1436 Domesday Ipswich v. in
Blk. Bk. Admiralty (Rolls) II. 31 Att tide and hour and
tyme, that is to wetyn with ynne the xv. day. .that he plete
to his aduersarye.
f4. Any definite time in the course of the day;
asEVENTIDE, MoKKOW-TJDE,NOON-TII)E,q.V. ; Spec.
the point at which any hour is completed ; as
( at the tenth tide of the day * ; = HOUR 3. Obs.
sol merca ast ilcum tide. < 1160 Hatton Gosp. John i. 39
Hyt wass ba seo teofte tyd. a 1300 Cursor AT. 19810 (Edin.)
Apon a dai at tide of none, An angel come and stode him hi.
c 1391 CHAUCER Asirol. n. 15 Tlianne wol the point of thl
label sit[t]en in the bordure, vp-on the verreytid of the day.
1493 Festh-all (W. de W. 1515) 7 He hyred people to labour
by all the tydes of the day. 1903 ll fstm. Gaz. 10 June 2/3,
1 go to you at gloaming-tide,
b. A more or less definite point or season in the
course of the year, of life, etc., usually defined by
a prefixed word; as April-tide, Junc tide; New-
Years tide, summer s tide, winters tide, etc. ; also
AUTUMN-TIDE, SPRING-TIDE, SUMMER-TIDE, WINTER-
TIDE, etc. q. v. : = TIME sb. 13 b. arch, or pott.
agoo tr. Bafda s Hist. iv. xxix. [xxviii.] (1890) 366 pa ne
com 3a;r nasm;; grownes up ne waestm, ne furSum brordes
o5 sumeres tid. c 1000 ^ELFRIC /font. I. 444 Swa swa on
lengctenlicere tide, rosena blostman and lilian hi ymtryme-
don. c 1122 O, E. Chron. an. 1006, In bare midde wintres
tide. 1541 Rutland MSS, (1505) IV. 312 For bryngyng a
bore at Newe Yere tide, ij s. iiij d. 1556-1840 New-year s
tide [see NEW-YEAR 30], 1870 MORRIS Earthly Par. I, i.
307 When April-tide was melting into May. 1872 TENNY
SON Last Tourn. 241 High over all the yellowing Autumn-
tide. 1900 West in. Gaz.$ July 2/3 The green woods under
the Junetide skies Slope and gleam to the Solent strand.
1902 Ibid. 20 Mar. 9/1 The profits at Coronal ion -tide are
expected to be heavy.
f 5. Each of the seven canonical hours ; also.,
the services recited at these ; = HOUR 5. Obs.
c 1000 ^ELFRIC Colloq. in Wr.-Wiilcker 00/6 Ic sincge
selce da;g seofon tida. ciooo Saints Lives xxxiii.
344 Nu wille ic bset bu . . singe bier bine tida. 1028-60 Laws
Northumbr. Priests 36 5 1 preost on gesetne timan tida
ne ringe oofie tida ne singe, fcebete bact. cizoo Trin. Coll.
/font. 215 pane hit time beS to done |>e tiden. ,71225
Aiicr, R. 22 Et breo tiden sigge6 Credo mit te Pater Noster,
biuoren Uhtsong efter Prime, efttr Cumpelie. Ibid. 44
Toward te preost es tiden herkned se wel 36 muwen. 1297
R. GLOIX. (Rolls) 7605 Vor him ne ssolde no day abide pat
he ne hurde masse 8: matines euesong ech tide. 13. .
Minor Poems fr. \ ernon MS. xxxvii. 767 Atome bou maijt
ful wel abyde Til he haue seid be laste tyde. c 1400 [see
HOUR 5). 1557 in loM Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 386
The said Wardayn. .shall dayly saye or singe., in thequere
the tydes or houres, as tercio, sexto and nono.
6. An anniversary or festival of the church :
chiefly in the names of holy seasons or saints days,
e.g. f St. Andrew s tide, -\Saint Botulf s tide.
See also ALL-HALLOW-TIDE, CHRIST-TIDE, EASTER
TIDE, LAMMAS-TIDE, SHROVETIDE, WHITSUNTIDE,
HIGH-TIDE, HOLY TIDE, etc.
a 900 O. E. Chron. an. 759, Her Bregowine was to ercebisc"
^ehadod to See Michaeles tide. 1900 O. E. MartyroL
18 May 84 On bone eahtateosSan das; baes monies bid
sancte Johannes tid. cioso fiyrhtferth s Handboc in
Anglia (1885) VIII. 300 Fram easier tide baet he eft ctime.
< izoo Trin. Coll. Hotn. 3 To da! is cumen 3e holie tid bat
me cleped aduent. c xzoo ORMIN 8895 Att be Passkemessf-
da35..be boc hemm tahhte To frellsenn bser bat he^he tid.
1297 K- GLOCC. (Rolls) 10877 ^ r edward ibore was A seint
botulfes tid. c 1400 Brut cxxxix. 146 pe sege endurede fro
Michelmas&e vnto Seynt Andiewus tyde. 111568 ASCIMM
TIDE.
Scholtm. i. (Arb.) 36 In a fair garden about S. lames tyde.
1595 SHAKS. Jokn in. i. 86 What hath this day deseru d
. . That it in golden letters should be set Among the
high tides in the Kalendar? 1611, 1613 Michaels-tide,
Michael-tide [see MICHAEL zj. 1817-18 COUBETT Rcsid.
U.S. (1822) 121 The country people, in England, go, to
this day, . .by the tides ; and, . . in some cases, by the move-
able tides. My gardener.. very reluctantly obeyed me
..in sowing green Kale . . because Whitsuntide was not
come, and that, he said, was the proper season. 1839
J. H. NEW.MAN Par. Serin. IV. xxiii. 385 Feast-day and
fast-day, holy tide and other tide. 1903 E. K. CHAMBERS
Mtdixv. Stage 1. i. 16 Holy week, and similar solemn tides.
b. dial. A village feast or fair (taking place
on the festival of the patron saint of the parish \
1814 [see tide-time in 15 a]. 1828 Craven Gloss., Tide,
a feast ; as Bingley tide. 1863 MRS. TOOGOOD Yorks. Dial.
(MS.), Boistall-tide will be next week. 1865 R. HUM/ . /.
Rom. IV. Etig. Ser. I. (1871) 62 The strongest beer, which
was intended to have been kept for a tide. 1884 Let. to
Kditor, The Annual General Holiday at Bin^ley, Yorks.,
is stili called Bingley Tide .
II. Tide of the sea.
[This sense corresponds exactly to MLG.^r/frfc neut.,//Vt
lit, neut. and fern., LG. tide, MDu. ghetide neut., early
mod.Du. tijde, Du. tij neut., tide of the sea , a particular
application of MLG. get iiie, fixed time, lime of prayer,
proper time, opportunity, space of time . OE. had no form
corresp. togctltit (using for tide (of the sea) JIM or JIM
and el ba] ; and ttd or tide in this sense is not known before
1340; it may have been then introduced from or used after
the MLG. word; but as ME. tide had neither the difference
of form nor of gender seen in tie tn and dat tide, actual formal
evidence of the borrowing is wanting. There may have
been a transference of sense in Eng. itself, as well as in LG.
The following two early examples appear to mean the lime
of high water , rather than the flood tide itself, or the
phenomenon of the tides :
1340 HAMPOLE/V. Cause. 1215 For be se, aftir be tydes
certayn, Ebbes and flowes, and falles agayn. c 1386 CHAUCER
Man of Law s T. 1036 Fro day to nyght it changeth as
the tyde.]
7. The (lowing or swelling of the sea, or its
alternate rising and falling, twice in each lunar
day, due to the attraction of the moon and, in a
less degree, of the sun; the alternate inflow and
outflow produced by this on a coast, the flood
and ebb.
"435 Torr. Portugal 1430, I Rede, we take down
saylc & Rowe, While we haue this tyde. 1530 PALSGR.
281/1 Tyde of the see, Jtet, Jlote. 1563 GOLDING Cxsar
III. (1565) 72 There was no comming to theym on foote,
by reason of the rysyng of the tydes. 1590 SHAKS.
Com. Err. iv. i. 46 Both winde and tide stayes for this
Gentleman. 1593 Lucr - l66 7 As through an Arch the
violent roaring tide outruns the eye. 1(99 Hen. V, H.
iii. 14 lust betweene Twelue and One, eu n at the turning o
th Tyde. 1698 KEILL Exam. Th. Eartli (1734) 161 It
is certain, that a Comet, when it passed by the Earth, would
laise a very strong and prodigious Tide in the Seas that
were then on the Surface. 1816 PI.AVFAIR Nat. Phil. II.
326 The alternate rise and fall of the surface of the sea twice
in the_course of a lunar day, or of 24 h 5o m 48 sec of mean
solar time, is the phenomenon known by the name of the
Tides. 1831 FR. A. KEMBLE <:/. in Rec. Girllioodll. viii.
237 The tide had not yet come in,
b. In phrases (chiefly technical), as cross tide,
a tide running across the direction of another ; I
high tide, (a) = HIGH WATKB ; (li) -= SPRIXO
TIDE ; low tide = Low WATER ; leeward, neap,
windward tide : see the denning words ; also
FLOOD-TIDE, SPRING TIDE, HALF-TIDE. Also in |
lig. uses.
1627 CAPT. SMITH Seaman s Gram. x. 47 You say as
well tide of cbbe, as tide of flood, or a windward Tide
River. 1745 P. THOMAS Jrnl. Anson s Voy. 120 There
having been two or three high Tides before we had finished
we found [etc.). 1867 SMYTH Sailors \Vord-bk., Cross-tide,
the varying directions of the flow amongst shoals that are
under water. 1875 BEDFORD Sailor s Pocket Bk. v. (ed. 2)
i?2_ In the English ChanneL.it is ebb tide in the harbours,
while the eastern, or flood stream . . is still running up, form,
ing what is known to Pilots as Tide and half Tide .
fig- S79 W. WILKINSON Con/iit. Fainilye of Lore 57 b,
When . .his high tyde of vpright fredome [shall) become to a
falling water, a 1700 li. E. Diet. Cant. Cmi>, Hii>/i Tide,
wbtn th Pocket is full of Money. Ibid., /.am Tide, when
lliere s no Money in a Man s Pocket. 1856 E.MKRSON 1- n-
frails, Kttif. Wks. il!ohn)II. 9 8 Plenitudes of Divine Pre-
nce, by which high tides are caused in the human spirit.
C. trans/. A recurrent flow, alternate rise and
fall or increase and decrease, other than of the sea.
And tide, a temporary increase of acidity of the
urine while fasting ; alkaline tide, a corresponding
decrease of acidity during digestion.
1604 E. G[RIMSTONE] D Acosta s Hist. Indies ii. xiii. IM
1 he return of the same windes, which otherwise they call
the tide or winde of the sea. 1610 HOLLAND Camden s
bnt . (1637) 558 Awonderfull Well ..which ordinarily ebbeth
and floweth foure times in the space of one houre or there-
about, keeping his just Tides. 1786-7 BONNVCASTLK^,.
viii. 138 1 he aerial tides must be much more considerable
i " J 2? f the occan . ****-# Good s Study .J/Vrf. (ed. 4)
I. 676 There arc two tides or fluxes [of fever] within the
nty-KMir hours, the one occurs in the morning the other
in the evening. Ibid. IV. 304 A fresh tide of water will not
unfrequently accumulate, and the head become as much
distended as before. 1856 BRYANT Earth 14 Swayed by
e sweeping of the tides of air. 1897 Allbutt sSyil. Med,
11
IV. 203 This increased excretion is most marked during the
alkaline tide.
8. The space of time between two successive
points of high water, or between low water and
high water, in the sea ; also, that portion of this
time during which the height of the water ( state
of the tide ) allows of work being done, as in title s
work : see quot. 1867. So, in Mining, a period of
twelve hours (Cussell s Encycl. Diet. 1888).
1495 Act ii Hen. I ll, c. 22 i A Calker laboring by the
tyde, for as longe ty me as he may labour above the Water and
beneth the Water, shall not excede for his Wages for every tyde
iiijd. 1534 Ace. Ld. High Trcas. Scot. VI. 234 Payit..to
xv men to cast the space of xv tydis about the schip, viijd.
the man for ilk tyde. 1724 DE FOE Mem. Cavalier (1840)
281 [They] might.. come by sea in two tides. 1758 J.
BLAKE Plan Alar. Sysc. 63 A ship going into dock for a
tide or two to clean. 1793 S.MEATON Edystone L. 175 We
..landed, and got a tides work of four hours. 1803 R.
PHRING in NaaalChroH. XV. 154 (Royal Naval Yards) The
extra [work] was divided into nights and tides : a night
consisted of five hours, and a tide of an hour and an half.
1867 SMYTH Sailor s ll ord-bk.. Tide s luork, the amount of
progress a ship has made during a favourable tide. Also,a
period of necessary labour on a ship during the ebbing and
slack water of a tide.
9. fig. Applied to that which is like the tide of
the sea in some way ; as in ebbing or flowing,
rising or falling, or turning at a certain time.
1390 GOWER Conf. II. 61 Betre is to wayte upon the tyde
Than i owe ayein the stremes stronge. c 1430 Hymns I irg.
69/368 pe tyde [of life] is ebbid, & no more wole flowe.
1508 DUNBAK Flytiiif 188 Oft beswakkit with ane ourhie
tyd. 1601 SHAKS. Jitl. C. iv. iii. 218 There is a Tide in
the affayres of men, Which taken at the Flood, leades on to
Fortune. 1777 PRIESTLKY Matt, t, Spir. (1782) I. Pref. 10
The tide of popular prejudice may rise still higher. 1849
MxCAULAY Hist. Eng: vi. II. 54 From that moment the tide
of battle turned. 1900 Daily A tus 7 Dec. 8, 5 The drama-
tic tide has its ebb and flow like other tides.
10. spec. = FLOOD-TIDE. AlsoyTf.
1570 LEVINS Manip. 116/47 Ye Tyde, accessus niaris.
1606 SHAKS. Tr. <y Cr. v. i. 90, I haue important businesse
The tide whereof is now. 1610 HOLLAND Caiiulcu s Brit.
(1637) 633 The River at every tide riseth to a great heigth.
1652 NEEDHAM tr. SeMi-u s Marc Cl. 249 By an exquisite
observation of the Tides and Ebbings of the Sea they were
wont to reckon their months and years. 1826 DISRAELI
Va. Grey ill. i. There is that at work in England which,
taken at the tide, may lead on to fortune [cf. quot. 1601 in
9). 1893 STEVENSON Catriana iii. 27 It seemed the devil
was in it, if I was to die in that tide of my fortunes.
11. transf. A body of flowing water or other
liquid ; a stream, a current, poet, and rhet.
[13.. Sir A. Barton xxxix. in Surtees Misc. (1888) 75
Betwexte Trent lid and Tyne.] 1585 T. WASHINGTON tr.
fficholay s Voy. n. xii. 47 b, The fishes being carried by the
violence of the floud, and tyde of the Euxine Sea into Prc-
pontide. 1728-46 THOMSON Spring 563 Stands each attrac
tive plant, and sucks and swells The juicy tide. 173"
Wpcr vv t 3 * CVVVIMI , ITie* K,. K^ I 1 : , . : i T:J.
ESLEY Ps. cxxxvn. i, Fast by the Babylonish Tide (The
Tide our Sorrows made o erflow). 1757 GRAY Bard 144
Deep in the roaring tide he plung d. 1855 MRS. GATTY
Parab.fr. Nat. Ser. I. (1869) 39 She used to sing to the tide
of the river as it swept along. 1872 TENNYSON Last Tourn.
685 Feel this arm of mine the tide within . . Pulsing full nan.
b. transf. and fig.
1601 SHAKS. Jut. C. III. i. 257 Thou art the Ruines of the
Noblest man That euer liued in the Tide of Times. 1697
DRYDEN Virg. Georg. n. 644 A lofty Gate.. T admit the
Tydes of early Visitants. 1781 COWPER Ketirement 453 The
tide of life. .May run in cities with a brisker force. 1830
SADLER Law Popul. I. 430 A tide of emigration has set in
from the Old World to the New.
12. The water of the sea ; the sea (esp. when the
tide is flowing), poet.
[>59S SHAKS. John 11. i. 74 A brauer choyse of daunt-
lesse spirits . . Did neuer flote vpoli the swelling tide )
1791 COWPER Odyss. XX. 74 Whelm me deep in Ocean s
restless tide ! 1821 BYRON Two Foscari I. i, Bounding o er
yon blue tide. <ii847 HLIZA COOK Rover s Song i I m
afloat, I m afloat on the fierce rolling tide, The ocean s my
home and my bark is my bride.
III. Phrases.
t 13. Tide and (or) time (also time ami title : see
TIME ji. 30) : an alliterative reduplication, in which
the two words were more or less synonyms, or =
time and (or) season. 06s.
111225 St. sMarhtr. 18 And te tide and te time bat lu
iboren were, schal beon iblescet. c 1415 Cast, Pcrscn. 2456
in Macro Plays 150 per is no dysese nor debate,, .tyde
nor tyme, erly nor late, but bat Couetyse is f>e grounde.
c 1475 Kauf Coilyar 48, I leid my life in this land with
mekle vnrufe, Baith tyde and tyme in all my trauale. 1583
STOCKER Civ. Warrcs Lowe C. I. 26 b, At al tide and lymes
whensoeuer they shall be commaunded. 1609 Mnll>. Trees
in llarl. Misc. (Malh.) III. 75 If dancers keep not tide and
time in their measures.
t b. The tide altidesfor, tarrieth (for) no man,
stays no man, Tide nor tinu tarrielh no man :
now superseded by Time and tide wait for no man :
see TIME s/>. 30. Here tide originally meant time ,
but from the i6th c. has usually meant the tide of
the sea. Cf. TIME and tide, in both senses. Ohs.
1430-40 LvDG.BocAas in. xi. (MS.Bodl.263) 178/2 The lid abit
nat for no maner man. 1546 J. HEYWOOD Prov. (1867) 6 The
sure sea man seeth, the tide tarieth no man. a 1553 UDALL
Royster D. I. ii. (Arb.) 13 Farewell all my good friendes,
the tyme away dothc waste, And the tide they say, tarieth
for no man. 1579 [see TARRY 7 . 5). 1591 GKEENE Disfnt.
22 Tyde nor time tarrieth no man. a 1625 FLETCHER
Woman s Prise ivv v, The tide stays no man.
TIDE
14. (/) double tides, ?as if taking advantage of
both the tides in one day; esp. to work double
tides, to work as hard as possible- ; so to roar, spin,
etc. double tides. Cf. sense 8.
1788 MME. D ARBLAY Diary July, I was most content to
work double tides for the pleasure of his company. 1805
Naval Chron. XIII. 243 The .. Caulkers worked extra
double tides in gangs. 1832 Examiner 745/2 The artisans
work double tides, that is, they perform two days labour in
one. 1852 Miss YONGE Cameos (1877) II. vii. 95 There is
not a spinster in Brittany who will not spin double tides
until my purchase-money be raised. 1889 RIDER HAGGAKK
Allan s Iff/I; etc. 300 The wounded lioness was now roar-
ing double tides.
V. Combinations.
15. In senses belonging to I, as tide-beef, dial.
beef provided for a tide or feast; tide-serving,
time-serving; tide-time (see 6 b; ; t tide-wise
adv., at times, now and then.
1896 Yorksh. Weekly Post 29 Feb. (E.U.D. 1 , He d made
up his mind they s ould hae some reight tide-beef. 1818
bcorr Br. Laiiuit. xxv, The office shall just cost him as
much time-serving and tide-serving, as if[ctc.]. 1824 Mis-,
MITKORD I Ulaye Ser. i. (1863) 201 At tide-times he loiters
in the chimney-corner :,t the Rose. 1898 T. HARDY lYesiC.i-
Potiiii ^203 To eyes that had seen her in tide. times of weal.
1611 FLORIO, iHterpoltatantente, at certaine seasons, nut
continually, * tide-wise.
16. In senses belonging to II. a. (a" simpk-
attrib. of the tide, tidal , as tide-bar (BAB s/>. ]
15;, -channel, -flow, -Jinx, -lead ^LEAD si>.~ 3 b,,
level, -limit, -lint, -mud, -race (RACE sl>. 1 6),
-reach, run, rush, -stream, -turn, -wash; (If]
dependent on or regulated by the state of the
tide, tidal , as tide-coach, harbour; filled, over
flowed, or covered by the tide , as tide-hole, -land,
-marsh, -pool, -rock; in names of instalments for
measuring the tides, or the like, as tide-ball, -dial,
-gauge, -meter, -predictor, -staff; (c) objective and
obj. genitive, as tide-generating, -predicting, -pro
ducing, -taking adjs. and sbs. ; (it) instrumental,
etc., as tide-beat, -beset, -bound, -caught, -covered,
-driven, -flooded, -free, -like (also adv.), -locked,
-ribbed, -tossed, -trapped, -washed, -wont adjs.
1867 SMYTH Sailor s H oniJik., * Tidc-l all, a ball hoisted
to denote when the depth of water permits vessels to enter
a bai- harbour, or to lake the bar outside. 1898 J. BIXIIAN
in To Day 5 Nov. 7/2 The river the noo is no three feet
deep a ower, wi sands and the shift p the "tide-bar. 1910
Q. Rev. July 88 "Tide-bound at midnight in a small boat oil
. . Deathhole Creek. 1856 KANE Arct. E.tj>l. II. xiv. MJ
I he outside "tide-channel, .was now full of squeezed ice.
1748 SMOLLETT Rod. Rand, xxiv, He took a place in the
tide-coach for Rochester. 1756 J. FERGUSON Astron. 409.
262 The *Tide Dial. ..A movins elliptical Plate, painted
blue, to represent the rising of the Tides, under, and oppo
site to, the Moon, a 1644 QUARI.ES Sol. Recant. Sol. viii. 8_>
As "tide-forsaken Rocks along the Main. 1861 J. BROWSJ
Lett. (1007) 14 2 Glengariff is not tide-free. 1840 Civil
hag. fyArch. Jrnl.\\\. 342/1 A description of a new "Tide
Gauge. 1860 MAURY Phys. Gei-f. S,;i (Low; i. 14 The tide-
gauges showed that several well-marked . . waves had arrived
off the coast. 1863 TY.NDAI.I. Heat iv. 122 (1870) 106 The
tide generating forces of the sun and moon. 1793 S.MEATON
Edystone L. 92 The false idea. .of its being a tide har
bour, with a Bar at its mouth. 1856 KANE Arct. Expl. I.
xx. 260 Our "tide- hole freezes every night alongside. 1891
Cent. Diet., "Tide-land. 1895 Home Missionary (X. Y.)
Sept. 292 Deep alluvial valleys of great fertility, tide-lands
similar to those of Holland. 1856 KANE A ret. E.rfl. I.
XX X - 337 The tide-leads, .one year ago had afforded a pre
carious passage to the vessel. 1865 MRS. L. L. CLARKE
MMOMAvi. 113 If the sea-marks change, and tide level
varies. 1878 HUXLEY Pliysiogr. 180 The Ordnance Survey
has fixed its datum line, or standard from which all heights
are measured, as the mean tide-level at Liverpool. 1848
MRS. GASKELL M. Barton Pref., With ever-returning tide-
like flood. 1854 H. MILLER Sell. >, Sclun. iv. (1860) 40 We
found _the waves chafing among the rocks just where the
"tide-line_had rested 12 hours before. 1849 DICKENS Dar.
Copp. xlvi, This low girl whom he picked out of the "tide-
mud. 1853 Zoologist II. 4055 Almost every "tide-pool and
hollow that retains the sea-water. 1898 Academy 5 Nov.
194/1 Lord Kelvin s "tide-predicting machine. 1891 Ctm.
Diet., 1 ide-predictor. 1898 Academy 5 Nov. 1 04/1 No more
marvellous instrument has ever been invented than the
mechanical tide-predictor devised by Lord Kelvin. 1883
Harper s Afag. Aug. 375/1 These numerous *lide-races often
make the St. Lawrence a rough passage for small ciaft.
1842 FADER Slyrian Lake, etc. 43 Thus do idle poets stand
Lonely on the tide-ribbed sand. 1844 W. H. MAXWELL
-S/V/-A- f; Adi . Seotl. xiii. (1855) 118 The "tide-runs are
traceable upon the surface of the ocean. 1857 R. TOMES
Ainer. in Japan v. 128 An officer and two men were also
stationed on land, near wberea "lide-staffhad been planted,
and were piepared to make observations. 1875 BEDFORD
Sailor s Pocket JSk. v. (ed. 2) 146 Indescribing tide-streams
in the offing, caution must be observed in not confusing the
flood and ebb streams. 1889 P. H. EMERSON .(.
Idylls 42 Tide-tossed trees.. rise upon the face of the
waters. 1882 J. GEIKIE in Nature XXVI. 44 Tracts now
within "tide-wash. 1832 LYELL Princ. Ceol. II. 181 Almost
every "tide-washed rock is carpeted with fuel and studded
with corallines, actiniae, and mollusca. 1858 N. J. GANNON
O Donogliue ii. 28 The spray That crowns the tide-worn
rock.
b. Special combinations : tide-board, a board
placed to prevent buildings being flooded at high
tides; tide-crack, in polar regions, an ice-crack
near the shore caused by the rise and fall of the
tide, which breaks the floating from the shore ice ;
tide-current, the current caused in a tidal channel
2-3
TIDE.
by the rise or fall of the tide (Ogilvie, 1882) ;
tide-day (see quot.) ; f tide-duty, import or ex
port duty levied at a port ; tide-flap, a tidal valve
opening outwardly at the mouth of a drain or
small tidal stream ; tide-house, a (public) house
adjacent to a tidal stream ; tide-lock, a double
lock between tidal water and a canal or the like;
a guard-lock ; tide-maker, that which causes the
tides ; also, a vessel which is compelled to take
advantage of the tide ; tide-plate, a dial on which
the state of the tide is indicated ; tide-register, a
record of tide-movements ; also, an apparatus that
registers tide-movements ; tide-river, a tidal river ;
tide-rode a.j Naitt. (for tide-ridden\ swung by
the tide, as a ship at anchor ; opposed to wind-
rode ; tide-runner, a fish which moves with the
tide (U. S.) ; tide-time, the time at which the tide
serves at any place ; tide-wave, the undulation
which passes over the surface of the ocean, and
causes high or low tide as its highest or lowest
point reaches any place ; alsoyig-. ; tide-weather
^see quot.) ; tide-wheel, a water-wheel turned by
the flowing and ebbing of the tide through a narrow
channel; tide-work, work which can be carried
on only during hours when the tide is low, or that
is paid for by the tide (cf. 8) ; also, part of the
mechanism of a tide-gauge. See also TIDE-BOAT
to TIDEWAY.
1904 Westm. Gaz. 31 Dec. 7/2 Thousands of tons of water
poured over the *tide boardsand protecting walls of various
warehouses, flooding the wharves and warehouses. 1856
KANE Arct. Exfl. II. xiii. 131 He has risen by the side of
an ice-berg.. or through a *tide-crack. 1833 HERSCHEL
Astron.x\, 337 The "tide-day (i. e. the intervalbetween two
.successive arrivals at the same place of the same vertex of
the tide-wave . 1769 FALCONER Diet, Marine (1789), Com-
posit a *tide-duty, or revenue, arising from shipping. 1843
Civil Eng. ff Arch. Jml. VI. 426/1 At the end of the main
sewer was placed a cast-iron frame, upon which were hung
three * tide-flaps with brass facings. 1764 Low Life 100
The Landlords of *Tide-Houses, both up and down the
River Thames, looking out sharp for Boats. 1838 Ch>il
Eng. fy Arch, Jrnl. I. 148/2 The method by which the
mam or framing piles of the coffer-dam for the ""tide-lock. .
were fixed to the rock. 1875 [see guard-lock (GUARD sb. iS)J.
1903 Westm. Gaz. 6 Jan. 4 . 2 The moon is not only a "tide-
maker in the marine sense. Its tangential pull affects the
earth s atmosphere. 1910 Chamb. Jrnl, Jan. 10/2 His hard
overworked apprenticeship to the sea in coasting-schooners,
in undermanned, under-engined tide-makers . 1756 J.
FERGUSON Astron. 409. 263 The Elliptical or *Tide Plat.:,
with the Moon fixt to it, is upon the Axis of the Wheel.
1825 J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 496 An error of three-
quarters of an hour in each lunation will place the tide-
plate H, three hours wrong in the space of about four
nionlhs. 1856 KANE Arct. Expl. I. xi. 117 Our *tide.
register was on board the vessel. 1739 LABELYE Short Ace.
Piers Westm. Br. 80 So wide a *Tide-River as the Thames.
1823 CRABB Technol Dict. t * Tide-road (Alar.), the situation
of a vessel which, being at anchor when the wind and tide are
opposed to each other, has her head towards the current.
i88z NAKES Seamanship (ed. 6) 197 When not tide rode,
pick the lee anchor up. 1877 HALLOCK Sportsman s Gaz.
244 These big fellows [weak fish] are designated as *tide-
runners. 1840 Civil Eng. <$ Arch. Jrnl. III. 182/1 Tide-
time for vessels of i2-feet draft, is denoted by 2 black balls
being kept upon its flag-staff until i2-feet ceases upon the
straight course. 1833 HERSCHEL Astron. xi. 339 The tide-
wave rushing up a narrow channel, is suddenly raised to an
extraordinary height. 1861 T. R. BIKKS Bible $ Mod.
Th. Introd. 5 The tidewave of sceptical thought, which
threatens.. to bury the old landmarks of Christian faith.
1740 LYNN in Phil. Trans. XLI. 689 When the Mercury
has been a good while high,.. there has fallen mistling
Rain ; especially about the New and Full Moon, with an
Easterly Breeze, which the Borderers on the Coast of Lin
colnshire and Norfolk call *Tide-weather, and may be
occasioned by the Vapours arising from the Tides, which
then cover a vast Wash of Sands in their Neighbourhood.
1864 WEBSTER, * Tide-wheel. 1888 GooDE.Anier.J is/ies2o5
A circular basin,, .aerated by a powerful fountain of sea
water, forced up by a tide-wheel. 1739 LABELYE Short
Ace. Piers Westm. Br. 33 The Remainder being only com
mon Tide-work, has nothing worth relating. 1825 J.
NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 493 The wheel-work and
tide-work of this clock are represented by fig. 498. 185*
WIGGINS Embanking 122 Some allowance is to be made for
tide-work and nig hi* work, for bad weather on the coast,
loss of materials.
Tide (teid), V - 1 Forms : I tidan, 3-5 tiden
(3-4 tyd) 4 tid J 4-5 tyden, 4-7 tyde, 5 tydyn),
3- tide ; pres, t. yd sing, (for tidelK} 3-4 tit, tyt,
tyd, 4 tid, 5 tite, tytte. Pa. t. 1-4 tidde, 4
tydde, tyd (6 Sc.), 4-5 tid (5 tyde, tide), 8-
tided. Pa. pple. 3-4 tid (4-5 tyd(d, tidde, 5
tide, 6 tydde), 7- tided. [OE. tidan (oftener
tftidan : see I -TIDE) to happen, come about, f. //</,
TIDE sb. Perfect tenses usually formed with be : cf.
COME v.}
1. intr. To happen, befall; BETIDE v. i.
Often impersonal, arch.
1x1131 O. E, Chron, an. 1123 pa tidde hit on an Wodnes
dei..pet se king rad in his der fald. 1397 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) ;
8649 He. .nolde no leng abide pat he nolde to is game, tide I
wat so bitide. 13. . Cursor M. 27412 (Cott.) For nakin case !
bat mai tide. 1375 BAKBOUR Bruce i. 127 5e traistyt in \
lawte,..And wyst nocht quhat suld eftir tyd. ?ax4oo
Morte Arth. 3655 Of theire termys they talke, how ^ay 1
ware tydd. 14.. Sir JSeuts (MS. Mj 663 Tyde what wyll |
12
be-tyde The tone of vs shall dede abyde. c 1440 Promp.
Parv. 493/2 Tydyn, idem quod happyn. c 1460 TvivneLy
Myst.yi.Ki May tyde he wille oure giftis take. 1513 DOUGLAS
sEneis vi. v. 98 How tyde that cais ; declair me, I pray the.
1680 A. HAIG in J.Russell Haigs x\.( 1881)309 Com what will
com, tyde what may tyde, A Haig shall be Laird of Bemer-
syde. 1808 SCOTT Marm, in. xxii, Soothly I swear, that,
tide what tide, The demon shall a buffet bide. 1875 JAS.
GRANT One of the fooii, You., shall find that, tide what may,
you are not forgotten.
fb. const, with dative : = BETIDE v. i b. Obs.
ciooo Inst. Polity c. 10 in Thorpe Ags. Laws II. 316
peet hepra sewitan beon on Eeghwylcne timan, weald hwaet
heom tide, c 1200 Trin. Coll. Horn. 29 Witte wel hwat hu
hauest, walte hwat J* tide. 13. . Guy Warw. (A.) 4977 Al
his lond him tit for-go. 1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. xi. 5 (MS.
Rawl.) A merueillous meteles me tydde to dreme. c 1384
CHAUCER H. Fame I. 255 Euery cans That hym was tyd
vpon the see. 1430 R. Gloucester s Chron. (Rolls) App.
G. 213 pi lyf be tydeb luse. ^1590 GKKENE Fr. Bacon
xiii. 14 Some deadly act shall tide me ere I sleep.
f 2. To fall as a lot or portion. (Const, dative.}
955 in Birch Cart. Sax. III. 75 jif ban biscop[e] hwset
tide, a 127* Luue Ron 20 in O. E. Misc. 93 Her he haueb
seorewen ryue, Ne tyt him neuer Ro ne Rest, c 1300 6V.
Margarntey& Bote bu do ^is dede Ne tyt be no part wib
me. c 1305 St. Swithin 48 in E. E. P. (1862) 44 Ho so dop
his dede mid bobance, him ne tyt non o^er mede. c 1325
Poem Times Eti-w, 7/236 in Pol. Songs (Camden) 334 He
doth the wif sethe a chapoun and piece beof, Ne tit the
gode man noht therof. c 1386 CHAUCER Reeve s T. 255 This
lange nyght ther tydes me na reste.
f 3. To fare ; to get on (well or ill). Obs. rare- ".
1400 Dcstr. Troy 1202 The Troiens were tyde, & tid bere
J>e bettur.
^14. trans. To meet with, experience (good or
| evil fortune). Obs.
This appears to be an erroneous use, originating with copy-
ists who misunderstood the construction.
a 1400 R. Brunne s Chron. Wace (Rolls) 5495 (Petyt MS.)
i For chances bat haf ben tyd [Lamb. MS. ffor swylke
chaunces bat han bytidj. a 1400 Sir Beues 1844 Go, or be
tit \v.r. bou tytyst] an euel diner, c 1472 Chaucer s Compl.
Mars 202 (MS. Arch. Seld. B. 24) In mony a cas thay
tiden oft tyme sorowe [Fairfax and z other MSS. hem
tydeth, ed. Jul. Notary hem tyden].
Tide (t3id), z>.2 [f. TIDE sb. II.]
1. trans, a. To carry, as the tide does. Chiefly^.
1640 QUAKLES Enchirid. in. 48 Man s Will is theStreame
that Tydes them [our action*] up and downe. i6g3DKYDEN
Pcrsius 1 Sat. vi. (1697) 494 The Kelicks of the Wrack.. are
tided back By the wild Waves, and rudely thrown ashore.
1824 LADY GRANVILLE Lett. June, A flow of animal spirits
and good humour., tided off anything approaching to bore.
1884 Daily News 30 Oct. 7/3 So long will each flood con-
tinue to tide up the river varying proportions of sewage or
other offensive matter.
b. fTo carry through (an undertaking) (obs.*) ;
to enable (a person) to surmount (a difficulty, etc.)
as on a swelling tide.
1626 B. JONSON Staple o/N. iv. iv, I will tyde thisaflayre
for you; giue it freight and passage. ci86o in Holman-
Hunt Pre-Raghaelitism (1005) II. 196 We should like to
tide him over hislow-waterdifficulties. 1869 GOULBURN />?-.*.
Holiness viii. 73 As an exuberant mounting flood shall tide
us over the difficulties of our career. 1870 J. BRUCE Life of
Gideon vi. 109 We are to be tided over all our doubts and
difficulties by what I would call a swelling flood of evidences
or proofs.
2. intr. (and with if]. To flow or surge, as the
tide ; to flow to and fro ; sometimes = flow as
opposed to ebb . Also fig.
15931654 [see TIDING vbl. sb. i]. 1659 W. BROUGH Schism
555 When popular favour blows from us, and secular power
tydes it against us and storms us. 1661 WEBSTER & ROWLEY
Thracian Wonder v, The seas, Whose equal valour neither
ebbs nor tides. 1833 T. HOOK Parson s Dau. n. xii, The
muddy stream of domestic correspondence [i.e. between the
servants] which tided between Binford and Severnstoke.
1843 E. JONES Sens. $ Event Poems 3 The sounding crowd
That far beneath him tides,
3. trans. To make to flow as a tide or stream.
1861 DICKENS Gt. Expect, xix, Tiding it [a roll of cloth]
out in a flowing manner over the counter.
4. intr. To float or drift on the tide ; spec. Naut. t
to navigate a ship by taking advantage of favouring
tides, and anchoring when the tide turns; usually
with adv. of direction. Often to tide it.
1627 CAPT. SMITH Seaman s Gram. x. 47 To Tide ouer to
a place, is to goe ouer with the Tide of ebbe or flood, and j
stop the contrary by anchoring till the next Tide. 1691
LUTTRELL Brief R el, (1857) II. 244 Our fleet.. are now
sailed out, and are now tiding it down with the wind directly
against them. 17x6 LADY M. W. MONTAGU Let. toC tess of
Alar 3 Aug., We. .set out in a calm, and he pretended there
was nothing so easy as to tide it over [from Gravesend to j
Holland]. 1836 MAKHVAT Olla Podr xxvi, We tided and j
warped how we could. 1893 H. M. DOUGHTY VVherry in ,
l^endish L. 71 We could in the morning tide it up further :
with the flood, 1896 A. AUSTIN Eng, Darling iv. li, Hither
there tided The loose-limbed Briton.
b. Jig. To pass or be carried as on the tide ; to
drift.
1835 MRQ. LONDONDERRY in Dk. Buckhm. Crt. Will. IV
(i86i)H.vii. 186 These questions would certainly tide on till !
next year. 1842 MANNING Serm. (1848) I. 86 He will most >
surely tide onward . . down the broad current of eternal death. ,
O. qu&si-trans. To tide on$ way ; to make \
one s way by using the tides ; alsoy?^".
1833 SOUTHEY Lett. (1856) IV. 332 Ministers are now
endeavouring to tide their way through the session. 1854
H. MILLER Sch.$Schm. (1858) 361 We tided our slow way
north.
5. intr. jig, To tide over , to get over or sur-
TIDE-MABK.
mount (a difficulty, time of stress, etc.) as if by
rising on the flowing tide, or by taking advantage
of a favourable tide. With indirect passive. Also
t to tide it out (obsA
a 1659 OSBORN Ess. ii. Wks. (1673) 558 Christianity, .is
prescribed by her Institutes to Tide it out, although the
Stream of its Inconveniencies runs never so strong against
the Nature of Man. ifex EARL OF DUDLEY Lett. 21 Apr.,
I wish we may be able to tide over this difficulty. 1865
SEELEY Ecce Homo iv. (ed. 8) 36 The transgressor has but
to tide over a few years. 1884 Manch. Exam. 12 May 4/7
We . . believe that for the moment the difficulty is tided over.
Tide, obs. pa. pple. of TIE v. ; obs. var. TITE adv.
Tide-boat. A boat or small vessel which
travels with or by means of the tide.
1576 The tyde taryeth no man in Collier Illustr. E. E.
Pop. Lit. (1863) 77 He dyed in a great madnesse, And went
with the tyde boat straight into Hell. 1611 COTGR.,
L Ang-uille^ the name of the tyde-boat which passes betweene
Blaye, and Bourdeaux. 1710 Brit. Apollo III. No. 25. 3/2,
I lately in Tide- Boat to Giavesenddid steer. 1840 DICKENS
Barn, Rudge li, He may get to the Tower Stairs, and
away by the Gravesend tide-boat.
Tided (tai ded), ppl. a. [f. TIDE 5. + -ED^.]
a. Having tides, tidal, b. Seasoned, as in well-
tided, well-timed, seasonable (dial.}.
a. 185* WHITTIER Questions Life 28 The tided oceans ebb
and flow. 1858 Swan Song iii, Broad meadows reached
out seaward the tided creeks between. b. 1801 Farmer s
Mag. Apr. 225 The operations of husbandry, .have been
carried forward.. In that well-tided order and condition, as
to induce us to form the most hopeful prognostication.
Tidefnl (tai-diul), a. [f. TIDE sb. 3 b, 7 + -Ft L. J
fl. Seasonable, opportune, right, fit, convenient,
expedient. Obs.
a 1300 E. E. Psalter xxxi. 7 [xxxii. 6] For bat sal bid to
J>e with blisse Al halegh in tideful time [\V~YCLIK nedful
time], a 1340 HAMPOLE Psalter cxliv. 16 [cxlv. 15] pou gifis
f>e mete of |>aim in tydefull tyme. 1382 WYCI.IF jas. v. 7
An erthe tilyer abijdith precious fruyt of the erthe, paciently
suffringe, til he rectyue tymeful {v. r. tideful] and lateful.
2. Having a full tide; filled with the tide.
1622 DRAYTON/Wy-0#. xix. 3Stemvp his tyde-fullstieame,
vpon that side to rise. Ibid. xxvi. 248 The lustie Salmon
..stemming my tydeful Streame. 1887 Blackw. Mag. Oct.
539 Up fair Bristol s tideful channel.
Hence f Ti defolly adv. t opportunely ; f Ti de-
fulness, a fit or expedient season ; time of need.
a 1340 HAMPOLE Psalter ix. o Helpere in tydfulnesses in
tribulacioun. Ibid. 22 [x. i] pou dispises in tydfulnesis in
tribulacyon [L. despicisin cportunitatibits in tribulacione\
Ibid., Nedfully [v. r. tidfully] bou suffirs vs to be angird and
tribled.
t Tide-gate l . Obs. [f. TIDE sb. 7 + GATE sb?}
TIDEWAY.
"557 W. TOWKSON in Hakluyt Voy. (1589) 113 Like vnto
a streame or tyde gate. 1599 NASHE Lenten Stujffe 8 Now
. .graueld vp, and the streame or tyde-gate turned another
way. 1678 PHILLIPS (ed. 4), Tidcgate^ in Navigation is
where the Tide runs strongest. 1704 J. HARRIS Lex. Techn.
I. s. v. Tide t When the Tide runs very strong, they call it
a Tide Gate. 1711 SIBBALD Descr. Shetland 3 The Rousts
and high tide.gates of the Sea about the Promontories and
the Isles. 1867 SMYTH Sailor s Word-bk,
Tide-gate 2 . [f. as prec. + GATE sb^\ A gate
through which the water passes into a dock or the
like at flood-time, and by which it is retained
during the ebb.
755 JOHNSON, Tidegate, a gate through which the tide
passes into a bason. 1838 Civil Sag. $ Arch. Jml. 1. 4ic/2
As the embankments rise, the tide-gales will be arranged so
as to regulate the quantity of water inside the bays. 1858
SIMMONDS Diet. Trade t Tide-gate^ the entrance gate of a
dock.
Tideless (tsi-dles), a. [f. TIDE sb. + -LESS.]
Having no tide; unaffected by tides; not washed
or covered by a tide. Alsoy^.
1779 SHERIDAN Critic n. ii, Can the quick current of a
patriot heart Thus . . freeze in tideless inactivity ? 1816 BYRON
Siege of Cor. xvi, There shrinks no ebb in that tideless sea.
1865 Pall Matt G. 29 Sept. n/i In proximity., to some
tideless and stinking port. 1886 Manch. Exam. 12 Mar. 5/3
The waters of the tideless Mediterranean.
b. Comb. Ti deless-bloo dedtf., whose blood is
unstirred by passion or emotion.
1785 BURNS To Jos. Smith xxvi, Douce folk, that live by
rule, Grave, tideless-blooded, calm and cool. 1806 MAR.
EDGEWORTH Leonora I, Is it possible that Olivia can envy
these tideless-blooded souls their happiness?
Hence Ti*delessness, tideless state or condition.
1901 Westm. Gaz. 7 Oct. 3/1 What I particularly like
about this Mediterranean sea is its beautiful tidelessness.
Tideling, obs. form of TIDLING, pet.
t Ti dely, adv. Obs. [f. TIDE sb. 8 + -LY *.] At
each tide ; each time the tide serves.
1482 in C. Welch Tower Bridge (1894) So Layers of
wylchons, and other fysshers, lieing almost daylyand lydely
at the said stadelynges.
Tidely, obs. f. TIDILY ; var. TITELY Obs.
Tideman : see TIDESMAN.
Tide-mark. The mark left or reached by the
tide at high or (rarely) low water ; by extension,
the mark left by a river flood. Also, a post or
the like set up to mark the rise and fall of, or the
point reached by the tide. Also fig.
1799 Scotl. Described (ed. 2) 16 Shells have been discovered
..at a considerable distance above the highest tide-mark.
1861 DICKENS Gt. Expect, liv, Red landmarks and tidemarks
stuck out of the mud, 1861 J. U. GR&ENE Man, Anim,
TIDEMENT.
Kingd, n. Ccelcnt. 232 Many../j//:V/a?, it is well known,
are numerous between tide-marks, the common Sea-anemone
tending to encroach upon the line of high water. 1907
Daily Chron. 27 Dec. 4/4 You may still trace the tidemark
of the flood by tufts of dried grass and driftwood sticking
in the branches above your head,
t Ti-dement. Obs. rare- - 1 . [f.TlDBJ^. + -MBNT.]
Time, tide, season.
1560 HOLLAND O/. Venus \. 26 Quhilk..That tydement
crauis be his operatioun.
Ti de-mill. [f. TIDE s6. 7 + MILL rf.i]
1. A mill driven by the flux and reflux of the tide
acting on a water-wheel.
1796 W. H. MARSHALL W. England II. 63 A low bank,
thrown up across these marshlands, . .gives effect to a tide
mill, situated near one end of it. 1825 J. NICHOLSON Oferat.
Mechanic 94 Tide-mills,, .are such as employ for their first
mover the flowing and ebbing tide, either in the sea or a
river. 1870 E. L. GARDETT in Eng. Mech. u Mar. 624/3
Corn has been ground by tide-mills.
2. A mill for clearing lands from tide-water
(Webster, 1828).
Tidend(e, Tider(r, obs. ff. TIDING, THITHER.
Ti de-rip. [f. TIDE sb. 7 + Rip sb i.]
1. A commotion of the sea caused by opposing
currents, or by a rapid current passing over an
uneven bottom.
1850 N. S. WHF.ATON yrnl. 518 We are now on George s
Bank, and surrounded with tide-rips, having precisely the
appearance of those at the mouth of a river. 1860 MAURY
fkys. Geog. Sea. 752 Tide-rips present their most imposing
aspect in the equatorial regions. 1875 R. F. BURTON
Gorilla. L. (1876) I. 2 When the current, setting to the north
west, meets a_ strong sea-breeze from the west, there is a
criss-cross, a tide-rip.
2. A tidal wave or current.
1903 Rlackw. Mag. Mar. 380/1 It was known as Fort
Comosun or Rush of Waters after the tide-rip that races
up the Victoria arm. 1904 Weslnr. Gaz. 4 Feb. 5/2 A tidal
wave a tide rip , as the sailors call it, because they can
see it approaching like a ripple on a smooth sea is a dis
turbance on the surface of the ocean depending entirely on
the influence of the moon.
Tidesman (tai-dzmsen). Also 8-9 tideman.
tl. = TIDE-WAITER i. Obs.
1667 Land. Gaz. No. 194/4 Discovered by some of the
Customehouse Tydes-men upon the Watch. 1773 EARL
CARLISLE in Sclnyn fi Contemf. (1844) III. 46 Thank
Charles for the Tideman s place. 1809 R. LANGFORD
Introd. Trade 135 Tides men or tide waiters, officers
appointed to inspect the loading and unloading ships to
prevent contraband transactions.
2. One whose work depends on the tide.
1882 OGILYIE, Tides-man, one who is employed only
during certain states of the tide. 1894 C. WELCH Tyiacr
Bridge 51 Twenty-one tidemen working at the ram.
Ti de-survey:<>r. A customs official who
supervised the tide-waiters. So Ti de-supervi sor.
1684 E. CHAMBERLAYNE Pres. St. Eng. n. (ed. 15) 243
Stephen Chuseman, Tide Supervisor of all the Tide Sur.
veyors on the River of Thames. 1715 Land. Gaz. No.
6390/7 John Etheridge, Gent. ..Tide Surveyor of His Ma
jesty s Customs. 1806 in J. Smyth Pract. of Customs (1821)
145 The articles to be guarded from and to the Ships, and an
account to be taken of them by the Tide-waiters, under the
special superintendence of the Tide-surveyors. 1892 Pall
Mall G. 24 Mar. 6/3 For many years tide surveyor and
harbour-master at Pakhoi.
tTi des-way. Obs. [{.tide s, poss.ofTiDEj/<.]
The way of the tide ; = TIDEWAY.
1627 CAPT. SMITH Seaman s Gram. i. i You may hale in a
ship.. out of the tides way. 1793 S.MEATON Edystone L.
157 A vessel lies, .at moorings, though in a Tide s-way.
Ti de-table, [f. TIDE sb. 7,8 + TABLE sb. 10.]
A table, or tabular list, showing the time of high
water at a place or places on each day during
the year or other period.
1594 J. DAVIS (title) The Seaman s Secrets, ..wherein is
taught the three kindes of Sayling.. .also an Horizontall
Tyde Table. 1710 Brit. Apollo III. No. 85. 2/1 Mr.
Flamstead s Tide-Table.. will shew him the Time of High-
Water. 1840 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 7) XXI. 284/1 Tolerably
accurate tide-tables have long been published annually for
London, and still better for Liverpool.
Ti de-wai:ter.
1. A customs officer who awaited the arrival of
ships (formerly coming in with the tide), and
boarded them to prevent the evasion of the custom
house regulations. Now Hist.
1699 FARQUHAR Constant Couple i. i, These tidewaiters
and surveyors plague us more with the French wines, than
the war did with the French privateers. 1754 RICHARDSON
Grandhnn (1781) I. xxxv. 247 That I shall Ket employment
on the Keys, or as a tide-waiter extraordinary . 1821 J.
b.MVTH f ract. cf Customs ) Upon the receipt of the War.
rants, the Landing.waiter is to give an order to the Tide-
waiter on board the Ship, without which no Goods can be
permitted to be unladen. 1876 SMILES Sc. Natiir. xiii.267
Ic was willing to be a police officer, a tidewaiter, or any-
thing that would bring in a proper maintenance.
2. jig. ( )ne who waits for a favourable season.
1841 MIALL in Nonconf. I. j 49 The tide-waiters and time.
sen crs of reform are evidently at a discount. 1901 Daily
Ncius 13 Feb. 6/5 Political tidewaiters, whose loyalty.. may
ultimately be reconciled with high salaried posts.
Hence Ti de-wai tership, the office of a tide-
waiter.
1855 THACKERAY Xevxomtsn, Hewould ask the minister
for a tide-waitership for him. 1866 LOWELL Presid on
St*mf Prose Wks. 1890 V. 265 His own chance of reelection,
or that of some fourth cousin to a tidewaitership.
13
Ti - de-wa:ter.
1. Water brought by the Hood-tide.
1799 LD. HAWKE in R. Brown Agric. Sury. W. Riding
,\ii. 6. 164 The tide water that has been previously admitted
by the flood gate opens the clough again, and discharges
itself. 1836 Hull q- Selby Raihv. Act 108 Conveying the
tide-water from the river Ouse. ignQuiLLER-CoucH Shining
Ferry vii. 75 A mort o 1 tide-water have runned up an* down
since you spoke they words.
2. /. S, Water affected by the ordinary ebb and
flow of the tide; tidal water. Also attrib.
1868 Ref>. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869) 389 Through-
out the tide- water district, the whole country is believed to
lie underlaid by deposits of fossil shells. 1876 BANCROFT Hist.
U,S. V. ix. 424 The scanty naval stores.. had to be trans
ported from tide- water to the lake. 1888 GOODE Atitcr,
Fishes 3 A deep hole in the bed of a tide- water creek.
Ti deway. A channel in which a tidal current
runs; also the tidal part of a river ; transf. a strong
current running in such a channel ; = TIDE-GATE 1.
[1627-1793 : see TIDES-WAY.] 1798 Hull Advertiser 4 Aug.
2/4 A gunboat, .being very manageable in a strong tideway.
1810 J. T. in Risdotfs Sun . Dci on p. xxxii, It. .serves to
convey shipping from the Tideway. 1856 KANE Arct.
Expl. I. xxvii. 359 A moment s check would plunge the
whole concern into the rapid tide-way. 1873 HEDFORU
Sailor s Pocket Bk, v. (ed. 2) 153 Sounding in a tide-way
it may be necessary to anchor the boat.
Jig". 1821-30 LD. COCKBURN Mem. iii. (1874) 149 His shop,
in the very tideway of all our business, made it the natural
resort of. .all sorts of literary idlers. 1880 G. MEREDITH
Tragic Com. (1881) 60 A lead that.. would roll him on a
good tideway strong in his own passion and his lady s up
against the last defences. 1883 Lcntttry Mag. Oct. 823/1
Henry VIII. s palace has not been forever a barber s shop,
or the Strand a tide-way of shop-keeping.
tTi dife, -ive. Obs. rare. Also 4 tydif(e,
tydyf, tideue, ti-, tydyue. [Origin and sense
obscure: cf. also TYDIE, and TIDIVE = Tiny a.]
Name of some small bird. (Swainson, after Skinner,
suggests the Blue titmouse.)
c 1385 CHAUCER L. G, W. 154 And thoo [birds] that
hadde doon vnkyndenesse As dooth the tydif [v. rr. tydyf,
tydife] for new fangelness Besoghte mercy . . And sworen on
the blosmes to be trewe. c 13816 Sqr. s T. 640 Alle thise
false fowles As beth thise tidyues [? . rr. tydyues, tydifs,
tideues] tercelettes and Owles. 1671 SKINNER Etymolog^
Voc. Antiq. t Tidefes . . avis genus, nescio an ilia avis quam
nos Titmouse vocamus.
Tidily (tai-dili), adv. Also 4-6 tidely. [f.
TIDY a. + -LY a .] In a tidy manner; f betimes,
seasonably, duly (obs. } ; suitably, in an orderly
manner, skilfully, neatly, etc. : see TIDY.
1340-70 Alisaunder 194 pe fairest feete bat euer freke
kende, With ton [-- toesj tidily wrought. 1350 Will.
Palerne $454 Alphouns. .buskes in to ^e ba)..i: fond it
treuli a-tired Si tidily warme. Ibid. 5482 He..tok to him
tidely trewe cunsayl euere. 1:1400 Destr. Troy 6830 pen
the Troiens, with tene, tidely ^ai faght. 1557-8 LD. WF.NT-
WORTH in Hardwlcke St. Papers (1778) I. 112, 1 willdowhat
I can tidily to signify unto your Majesty our State. 1593
G. HARVEY New Let. Wks, (Grosart) I. 259 You haue lately
..very tidely playde the Bees part. 1771 MRS. HAYWOOD
A New Present 252 To dress herself tidily and quickly.
183* R. & J. LANDER Exped. Niger I. iii. 112 The inhabi-
tantsare. .very tidily clad in cotton dresses. 1870 MRS. KID-
DKLL Austin Friars \i The plates are all ranged tidily away.
Tidiness (tardines). [f. as prec. + -NESS.]
The quality or condition of being tidy (in various
senses : see the adj.) ; f seasonableness ; orderli
ness, neatness.
1567 MAPLET Or. Forest 9 b, For lacke of their naturall
..growth and tidinesse in ripening. 1800 AMELIA OrisLcf.
in Life v. (1854) 74 He has gotten a fit of tidy ness on him.
1860 BOYD Recreat. Country Parson vi. 200 Tidiness is a
great source of cheerfulness. 1879 SALA in Daily Tel.
9 June, One row of houses.. admirable in their neatness,
tidiness, cheerfulness, and commodiousness.
Tiding (tardirj) ; pi. tidings (tai dirjz), sb.
Forms : see sense 2 below. [Late OE. tidung
f., early ME. tiding, as if OE. tid-an vb.
to happen, befall + -ING * ; but prob. ad. ON.
titiendi, -indi neut. pi., events, occurrences, the
reports of these, news, tidings , f. ttfir adj.
happening, occurring + -endi^ -indi, nominal
suffix (see Vigfasson Icel. Diet, xxxiii/i); thence
MSw. tidhende event, occurrence, news, Sw.
tidender m. pi., Nonv. and Da. tidende n. sing,
tidings. In form, late OE. tldung (obi. cases
*ttdunge (-<z), pi. nom. -a (-*), gen. -a, dat. -nm}
might well be a deriv. of tid-an t TIDE z/. 1 ; but the
fact that, beside it, early ME. had also tfocnde t
-itukj tithend, clearly from Norse, also tT8ing(c t
with Norse stem and Eng. suffix, and tidendcj
-zWtf, with Eng. stem and Norse suffix, together
with the fact that the word is unknown to OE.
before the late nth or early lath c., and is re
corded first in the transferred sense tidings ,
makes it probable that the whole group in Eng. was
adopted from ON., in the north in the Norse form,
in the south anglicized, in intervening districts with
various mixtures of the two forms. It is noticeable
that the English or fully anglicized form is that
which happens to occur earliest in an extant
writing, and also that which survives in mod. Eng.,
though the Norse type (with Eng. pi. -j) tithand(e}$,
TIDING.
titftans, came down to isth c. in north. Eng. and
to i6-i7th c. in Sc.
In ON. tfSindi is only plural j so Sw. tidenderi in Norw.
and Da. tidende is sing. ; in early ME. USende was sing, or
pi., with a tendency to make the sing. tiSend; the anglicized
tfditngi -/>/-, normally had the pi. *tidunga, tidinge , but,
as in other fern, sbs., the -e of the oblique cases of the sing.
was often taken by the nom. A single instance of pi.
tiScnden occurs in the later text of Layamon ; but from
1275 the plurals became tidinges and tithaml(c}s. The
vian influence (Kluge).J
1. Something that happens; an event, incident,
occurrence. Obs. or arch.
(This is the elymologically earlier sense; though not
exemplified in Eng. quite so early as sense 2, it was no doubt
current in the Danelaw district from the first. In the two
late quots, a literalism of translation.!
CI205 LAV. 7543 J>a i-xh Cesar tiSend hat him wes sa:r
[cizjs Lidinge J>at was sor]. 1386 CIIAUCKR Man of
Law s T. 628 How that this blistul tidyns [Pttiv. ;1/.S.
tydyngges] is bifalle. 1501 Qrd. Crysten Men (W. de \V,
1506) v. vi. 411 In the delytes of parndyse is neuer foumlt-
ony vai-yacyon, alwaycs in loue without tydynges. 1861
DASENT Story of Burnt Njal I. 107 It must be told what
tidings [Icel. hvat ttocnda\ happened at home. 1864 -
Jest .y Earnest (1873) II. 192 The tokens that are left of
those tidings which happened there.
t b. Custom, usage. Obs. rare.
(Cf. ON. tt$r customary, habitual, that happens
custom, usage, fashion.)
we.,
beod
uaiuiii, uattgc, [uaiiiuii.;
c 1205 LAY. 396 After ben heftene tidende \c 1275 lawe] |V
res in ban lande. Ibid. 2052 [see Tin]. Ibid. i4 ,25 Hit
ieoo tioende [c 1275 bewone] Inne Saxe-londe. .jiat [etc.).
2. The announcement of an event or occurrence ;
a piece of news (now ofrs. or a>-cft.~) ; usually in //.
tidings, reports, news, intelligence, information.
a. 1 Sing. 1-2 tidung, 3-4 tidinge, (3 tidding 1 ,
3-6 tydinge, 3-7 tyding, 4-5 tid-, tydyng;e,
(5 tytynge), 2- tiding.
1069-1125 O. F.. Chron. an. 995 (MS. F.), Da wearb se
cing swybe bli3e bissere tidunge. c 1250 Gen. f, Ex. 2907
Moyses told hem ois tidding. 5:1275 LAY. 1376 I e tiding
com to Corineum, f>at [etc.]. Itid. 22323 pe tyding com to
-
13.. Cursor M. 5114 (Gott.) pis tyding his
soru slake, c 1385 CHAUCKR L. G. W. 1424 (Hffsifyle t,
Medea} Theere was swich tydyng [r .rt: tidynge, tiding]
oueral & swich loos. 1390 GOWER Can/. II. 238 This
uui aisu me oearer ana prociaimer. 1079 lj. oHEPHEKD tr.
Guerangers Lilnrg. Year \. vi. 68 At such a tiding as this,
what else can I, than cry out, ..Lord ! I am not worthy.
a. 2 Plural. I "tidimga (-e), 2-3 tid-, tydinge,
tidynge, 3-4 tiding ; 3-6 tid-, tydinges, -ynges,
4-6 -ingis, -yngys, -yngges, 5 tidenggez, 5-8
tydings, 6 tid-, tydyngs, Si: -engs, 6- tidings.
cizoo I iccs ty Virt. 17 Ic seal iheren reuliche tidinge.
c 1205 LAY. 3601 pe swein .. seide has tidinge [^1275 beos
tiding]. 1:1275 Hid. 1038 peos tidinge him were lobe.
is but few.
came vnto y
ton Corr. (Camden) 54 Sir, as for tydings, here
1535 COVERDALE Jonah iii. 6 The tydinges
kinge of Niniue. 1671 MILTON / . R. \\. 6z
awaited. 1869 FREEMAN Norm. Conq. (1875) III. xiii. 261
Perplexed for a moment by the suddenness of the tidings.
4. 1 Sing. 3 tiBinge, (3 tipingue), 4 tepinge,
4-5 tip-, tyj>-, tyth-, tith-, -ing, -yng(e, (6
teytheyng).
CI290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 6/190 He seide bat one tibingue
to him fram is fader he broujte. 61305 St. Lucy 155 in
E. E. P. (1862) 105 A ioyful tebinge ic 5011 telle. c. 1330 R.
BRUNNE Chron. (1810) 14 pat Hnttrik was dede him com
tibing. 1375 BARBOUK Bruce n. 454 He wes blyb off bat
tithing. 1483 Cat/i. A ngl. 389/1 To telle Tythynge, rvwi-
ftcare. 159* King >t Barker 62 in Hazl. E. P. P. \. 7, Y
know now teytheyng, the thinner seyde.
&.- PI. 2-3 tifiinge; 3-5 tip-, tithinges, 4
tethinges, 4-6 typ-, tyth-, tith-, -inges, -ynges,
-yngus, -ingig, -ingys, 5 tithyngg, tythings,
tithings.
c 1175 Lamb. Horn. 93 Da iwearcS her muchcl etc. .on alle
bam pat beos tidinge iherdon. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Horn. 31
Gode tiSmge and murie to heren. c 1290 Beket 1493 in A".
Eng. Leg. f. 149 po beos tibinges to be kingue . . cam. c 1300
Ibid. 695 (Percy S.) 34 Tethinges to the kinge come, c 1380
WYCLIK Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 198 Good tibingis of be kyngdom
of hevene. c 1400 MAUNDKV. (Roxb.) xxv. 119 When any
tythings er herd in )>e ointree. c 1440 Partonofe 2697 Sone
after haue they tithings. 1530 RASTELL /> . Purgat. Pro!.,
What tythin^es or news. 1567 Gude f/ Godlie B. (S.T.S.)
49 To zow thlr tythingis trew I bring.
ir.l Sing. 3 tijjennde (Orm.), tittende, -end,
-ind, 4-5 tythand(e, 4-6 tip-, tithaud(e, (4 ty$-,
tijand), 5 tipond(e, (9 tithand).
c 1200 ORMIN Dcd. 158 Goddspel! onn Ennglissh nemmnedd
iss..god tibennde. c 1205 LAY. 1376 pa tioind [<: 1275 tiding)
com to Corineum bat [etc.). Ibid. 7543 pa isach Cesar
lidclld [c 1275 tidinge] bat him wes sa:re. a 1300 Cursor
TIDING.
M. 12785 pai sent bair messageres. .To bring fra iohn certan
tiband (fatrf. tibande, Trin. tibond]. ^1430 i,yr I r}
r 5 6 They..tolde the kynge hur tythande. 1513 DOUGLAS
Mtuit II. vii. [vi.l 50 How now, Panthus, quhat tithand do
V. bryng? 1819 W. TENNANT Papistry Storm d (.827) 69
He d got some tithand from the coast.
y fpl 3tJ8ende; -en; 4 ti]>andus, (ty^andes,
tibaus), 4-5 tythandis, 4-6 tipandis, -es, ty
thands, 5 tythandes, -andys, -ondys, tithands,
-anndez, -aundes, 6 -indes, Sc. tythanee.
C1205 LAY. 1038 pa:s tioende [1:1275 l": s Jldinge] him
weren larie. Ibid, 13996 Heo saiiden to ban kinge neowe
tioenden. a 1352 MISOT Potmt iii. 58 pe galay men.,
thanked God ofbir tibandes. 13 . . Cursor M. 15912 (Colt.)
For tibans bat war laid. Ibid. 10312 (GotU PIS angel ..
Broght him tyjandes sua gode. Ibid. 3322 (FurfJ pe may.
dyn ranne hame tibandus to tel. CI44 YorkMyst. xxin.
60 Som new tythandys. c 145 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 7802
pe tithands went to many towns. 1533 GAU R cnt i ay
(S.T.S.) 105/32 This promis is the vangel or loiful tithand 18.
1560 HOLLAND Seven Sag. 115 Of jour tythanee I am ncnt
wonder glaid. a 1584 Satir. Poems Reform, xx. 26 At me
thay speir Quhat tythands in this land?
S.l Sing. 3 tidende, tidind, 4 tydand, -ant,
4-5 tydande, 5 tydond, tydynde.
<-i205 LAY. 17466 pat tidende com to ban kinge. f 1275
Ibid. 9936 Come be tidind [<M2O 5 ba tioende] to Maurus
ban kinge. 1330 R. BRUXNE Cliron. Wace (Rolls) 5005
M-n tolde be kyng tydant, bat Romayns were aryue on
land. Itid. 15936 Til iiym cam ful smert tydande \nrnt on
landel 13.. Cursor M. 10417 (Gutt.) Quen bat scho herd
bis tydand [Cott. tiband, Land tydond, Trin. titoiulej.
c 1400 Laud Troy Bit. 15242 To telle him of her tydande.
6-1460 Lannfal 838 Everych man therfoie was wo lhat
wyste of lhat tydynde.
5.* PI. 3 tidinde, -ende f 5 tid-, tydandes, -is,
-annes, tytandis, 6 Sc. tydinnis, tydanee.
c 1205 LAY 3332 For 5ef ferrene kinges Hiherde ba tidinde.
Ibid. 5139 SelcuSe tidende. 1451 CAPCRAVE St. Gilbert 72
pe grete fere bat he hadde bat he schuld her no euel
tytandis of hem. Ibid. 115 The archbischop. .salde he was
glad of bese tydannes. 1513 DOUGLAS /Eneis xi. xvn. 65
All the maist cruell tydinnis fillis his ens. a 1585 MONT-
GOMERIE Flyling 72 Wee will heir tydanee . . of thy pow.
(. Sing, and //. 3 hyjjingue, 4 thipand, (thy-
sandez), 5 thythyng, -es, thipynges, 6 -thingis
e 1290 St. Lucy 157 in -?. Eng. Leg. I. 105 Ane loyeful
bybingue ich eou telle. 13. . Cursor M 10994 Cot t.) To
bam he moght tell na thiband [r.rr. tiband, tlbond, tydond].
la 1400 Morte Arth. 1567, I jif the for thy thyjandez lo-
louse be riche. 1:1400 R. Gloucester s Chron. (Rolls) 4251
Horn com tydinge [MS. ft. thibynges]. cilfS Seven Sag.
(P.) 1538 When he herde thys thythyng. cttfo Lancelot
2279 Whar that al thithingis goith and cumyth son.
b. plural const, as singular.
CI37S Cursor M. 15912 (Fairf.) Tibinges bat was talde.
1595 SHAKS. 9M* IV. iL 115 The tydmgs comes, that they
.ife all arriu d. 1619 W. SCLATEK Exp. i Tliess. (1638) 214
When tidings is brought us of Brethrens faullings. 1643
TRAIT Comtn. Gen. xxxv. 22 Jacob s great amazement at
this sad tidings. 1839 CARLYLE Chartinu (1842) 48 i
tidings was world-old, or older.
t c. fig. Indications, traces. Obs. rare,
a ma Sir Eglam. 367 Where the bore had wonte to bee ;
Tydyngys of hym sone he fonde, Slayne men on every honde.
3. Comb., as tidings-bearer, -bringer, -bringing,
-maker.
CI440 Promp. Para. 493/2 Tydyngys berare, rumigc-
ruins. 1483 CAXTON C/cgvjb, Thou arte a lyar and a
tydynges maker. 1526 TINDALE Acts xvii 18 He semelh to
be a tydynges brynger off new devyls [CovERD. goddes].
1535 COVEKDALE i Sam. iv. 17 Then answered the tydinge
brnTger, Scsayde: Israel is fled before the Philistynes. i 5S a
HULOET, Tidynges carier, renitncius, ij. 1632 SHERWOOD,
A Tidings bringing, nunciation.
Hence Tl dingless a. , without tidings.
1822 Blackw. Mag. XI. 398 As tidingless returning as
before. 1870 MORRIS Earthly Par. m. 430 Tidingless a
while day passed by day.
Ti ding, -M. sb. [f. TIDE v2, or TIDE sb. +
f 1. The flowing or rising of the tide ; dsafig.
1503 B. BARNES Parthenophil Sonn. xli.More than blessed
waYI, if one tiding Of female favour set mine heart afloat !
i6w G DANIEL Ecclns. xii. 16 The gust of Sin, may Bar
Surly tiding, In Seas pacifique. 1654 WHITLOCK Zootomia
Pref a v, Would you know (saith he) my manner of writing I
it is a kind of voluntary Tiding of, not Pumping for;
Notions flowing, not forced. 1675 E. WILSON Spadacrctu
Diinclm. 21 No more of the River comes back again by
tiding than what ihe Sea forc d up at (he time of its tiding.
b attrib. Tiding time : in quot._/?ir.
1693 PASCHALI. in Phil. Trans. XVII. 816 The Fits gene
rally lasted all the Tiding time, and then went off in gentle
kindly Sweats in the Ebbs.
2. A sailing or drifting with the tide.
i68iT Dust-LEYin Trans. Kilkenny A rchxol. Soc. Ser. u.
IV. 320 They very easily putt to sea. ., a very small matter
of tideing lif any) serves turne. 1711 W. SUTHERLAND Shif-
build. Assist. 164 Stream Anchor ; which stops the Ship in
tiding up a River. 1774 PENNANT Tour Scot in 1772 24
After tiding for three hours anchor in the Sound. 1817
KEATINGE Trav. II. 143 Some little advantage in point ol
position., with convenience of tiding up inland.
Ti ding, ///. a. [f. TIDE z/. 2 + -ING ".] That
ebbs and Hows ; tidal.
1622 DRAYTON Poly-olb. xxx. 88 There is a Tydmg-well,
That daily ebbs and flowes. 1654 WHITLOCK Zootomiayi*
If we fling our Bread upon the Waters, we chuse not Cur
rents lhat run all one way (and that from us), but tyding
waters. 17 . PHILIPS (J.), Wading within the Ouse, he
dealt hisblows, And sent them, rolling, tothe tiding Humber.
1839 STONEHOUSE Axholme p. xiv, The Isle of Axholme..
admirably situated on the banks of a tiding river.
14
fTi dive.a. Obs. rare- 1 . [Alteration of TIDY
a., after adjs. in -IVE; perh. by association with
HASTIVE, HASTY, tardtfe, TARDY, etc.] Timely,
opportune : = TIDY a. i.
?I7.. Lord Barnett, etc. xv. in Child Ballads in. (1885)
257/1 Being in the tidive hour.
Tidliche, tidlike, tidly, var. TITELY Obs.
Tidling (ti-dlirj). Obs. exc. dial. Also 6 tide-
ling (-ynge), 9 dial, tiddling. [? deriv. of TIDDLE
v. i or TID a. : see -LING 1.] A pampered or spoilt
child ; a darling, pet ; a young, delicate, or puny
child or animal, needing special care ; a weakling, ,
dillintf.
1520 WHITINTON Viils. 37 b, These cokeneis and tide-
lynges wantonly bronglit vp. a 1553 fc* Wanton in
Hazl. Dodiley II. 164 She for their sake, Being her tender
tidlings, will me beat. [Cf. Md. 173 [referring to the same
persons] My parents did tiddle me: they were to blame;
ibid 174 Yet were we tiddled, and you beaten now and
then.] c 1580 JEFFERIE Bugbears HI. i. in Arclnv Stint.
Neu. Sfr. (1897), The gray beard daunceth, and fareth as
he weare dame venus tideling. 1657 TRAP? Comm.l s. in.
Introd , Absalom his Son, his Darling, his Tidling, his one
Eye. 1904 Eng. Dial. Diet. s. v. Tiddle, Tiddling, (a) a
young animal, esp. a lamb, brought up by hand; a delicate
child needing care ; (b) the smallest pig in a htter.
Tidology (taidflodsi). rare, [irreg. f. TIDE TO.
+ -(O)LOGY.] The study or science that treats of
the tides. Hence Tidolo gioal a., of or pertaining
to tidology.
1834 WHEWEI.L in Todhunter Ace. Writ. (1876) II. 104
Do not omit to mention what the Liverpool people. .have
done for Tidology. 1840 Pliilos. Induct. Sa. (1847)11.
509, I have ventured to employ the term Tidology, haying
been much engaged in tidological researches. 1843 Mll.l.
Logic\\.m. i No one doubts that Tidology (as Dr. Whewell
proposes to call it) is really a science,
Tidy (Ui-di), a. (sb., adv.) Forms: 3-5 , tidi,
4-5 tide, 4-7, 9 St. tydy, 5 tyde, (tithy),
6 tidie, tydye, 6-8 tydie, 7 Sc. tyddie, (9 dial.
teydey), 4, 7- tidy. [ME. f. tid time, TIDE + -Y.
Cf. OHG., MHO. stlig (Ger. zeilig}, Du. tijdig,
Sw., Da. tidig timely.]
+ 1. Timely, seasonable, opportune ; in season.
c \Vf> Will. Palerne 1339 Gret merbe . . meliors ban made
for be tidy tidinges. Itid. 1710 Til she say tidi time hire
prey for to take, c 1475 Partenay 5722 Of nouel Ihinges . .
No-thing I fynd at no tydy stounde. 1594 CAKEW lasso
(1881) 66 Nor place semes fit, nor season tidie growes. 1660
F BROOKE tr. Le Blanc s Trav. 270 Hearing of this tydie
accident, he was cautious to appear. 1721 RAMSAY Horace
to I irg. 5 King Mo\, grant a tydie tirl.
+ b Tidy cow, a cow giving milk. be. UN.
1493 Act. Dom. Cone. (1839) 3oo pe mylk of thre tithy
ky 1533 in Munim. Burgh Irvine (rSgo) I. 39 Ane tydy
ko w i6 7 o in Proc. Soc. Ant. Scot. (.896) XXX. 20 loo
tj die kay & four yeell [i. e. dry] kay. 1678 Ibid., T wo lyddie
key and a two yeir old kow.
2 In good condition, or of good appearance ,
fair well-favoured, comely, bonny; fat, plump,
healthy. In quot. i34-7 showy, gorgeous.
Now dial.
c 11*0 Gen. f, Ex. 2105, .vii. eares wexen fette of coren, On
an busk ranc and wel tidi. 1340-70 Alt*. * Dmd. 599 We
. no tidi atir in templus araie. 1393 LANGL. f. 1 1. <~.
XIII 187 Seedes bat been sowen and mowe sutire wyntres,
Are n tydyour and tower. 1513 DOUGLAS ^-"eis in. iv. 23
Flockis and hirdis of oxin and of fee ! at and tydye. ^1573
TIE.
tidy pace. 1851 MAYHEW Loud. Labour I. 352 If it is just
after quarter-day, she generally gets a tidy tip. 1854
Househ. Words IX. 69/1, I have a tidy penny m the funds.
1881 ELACKMORE CkriftfmU ii, A horse who had been to
Exeter and back with a tidy load. 1893 LADY BURTON
Sir X. F. Burton II. 252 A very large garden . .wherein one
could take a very tidy walk. 1903 SIR M. G. GERARD
Leaves fr. Diaries ix. 3^4 They do swear a tidy bit.
4. (The chief current use.) a. Of persons: Orderly
in habits, or in personal appearance ; disposed to
keep things (or one s person or dress) neat and in
order.
1706 PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey), Tidy, handy, neat, clean, as A
tidy Servant, a 1800 PEGOE Suffl. Grost, Tidy, neat.
North. 1818 SCOTT Hrt. Midi, xxxiii, If thou knowe*t
of any tidy lass like thysell, that wanted a place, and
could bring a good character. 1831 D. E. WILLIAMS /.{A
,v Corr. Sir T. Lawrence II. 7= lH>e child] folds up
her things like a tidy lady s maid. 1849 LYITON Caxtons
13 My dear mother was the tidiest woman in the world.
b. Of things, esp. of a house, room, receptacle,
etc. : Neatly arranged ; with nothing in disorder
or out of place ; orderly, neat, trim.
1828 WEBSTER s. v., The.children are tidy ; their dress is
tidv The apartments are well furnished and tidy. 1840
DICKENS Bartt. Radge iv, There was not a neater, more
scrupulously tidy, or more punctiliously ordered house in
Clerkenwell. 1859 Habits Gd. Soc. vnl. 271 Some under
bred ladies.. put tidy their work-boxes, making you feel
that you are secondary. 1880 JEFKKKIES Gt. Estate 201 H.
objected to cut and trim them [shrubs, etc.). r or , sal I he,
God made nothing tidy .
5. Comb., as tidy-looking, -minded adjs. ; tidy-
betty, an ash-pan (dial.).
SHAKS 2 Hen /* , n. iv. 250 inuu WMVCWH m**** KTjT
Bartholmew Bore-pigge. 1607 TOPSELL f<"""/- *>*
(1658) 518 When a Sow is very fat she hath alway but 111
milk, and therefore is not apt to make any good tidy Pigs
,7 4 GAY Shepli. Week, Friday 76 Before my Eyes will
trip the tidy Lass. 1803 R. ANDEKSON Cumbld. ball. 56
Bom y teydey, blithe was she. .HoS.J.AMlESON, A tydy
bairn, a child that is plump and .thriving. 1881 GRANT
WHITE Eng. IVitliont t, Within xvi. 387 Among them [the
lower middle class] a tidy girl means a pretty girl, and par
ticularly a girl with a good figure.
3 As an indefinite epithet of admiration or com
mendation, fa. Good, excellent, satisfactory,
useful ; of good character or ability ; worthy, brave ;
able, skilful. (Also ironically.) Obs.
<- 1050 Will. Palerne 2496 Forto telle what lldde of tat
,ide 3 wtrwolf. Itid. 5384 Al b?t touched her to , a tld. erl-
dome To be kowherd & his wif be king ?af bat time. 1393
LANGL. P. PI. C. xxn. 44. Trauaileb. .for a tretour al-so
sore As for a trewe tydy man. c .400 Destr. Troy 1035
^^K^^T^T^^^
^ r cS,:i!^z:^^f e^wit^^s
ibove Ground a 1625 FLETCHER Woman s Prize iv. ll,
! What a g hap had I, And what a tydie fortune, when my fate
Flung me upon this bear-whelp ?
b Now in lighter use: t airly satisfactory,
i pretty good , fair (in quality); decent, ot .1
8 sL IDicKEN-s Sw (ed. 2) I 116 Which I thought for a
coastguardman was rather a tidy question. 1851 MAYHEW
1 ond labourl. 133 Parsons and doctors are often tidy
cus omers ,86 S DICKENS Mut. Fr. .... l, A t.dy shot that
I flatter myself. 1899 E. PHILLPOTTS Human bo) .1,1.82 I
hope he did [succeed], for he was a tidy chap, though q
c. Considerable (in amount or degree) ; pretty
big . A tidy penny - a pretty penny (PBKTTY a.
6 1838 DICKENS Nick. Nick, xxxii, You came along at n
* ront IJamper acung as a Aiuy utiij ".."
1900 Leeds Mercury 9 May, He struck her on the heac
with a tidy-betty , and then kicked her with his clogs,
,900 J. K. JEROME 3 Men on Hummel vii. 156 F
tidy-minded lover of German nature.
B. sb. A name for various articles intended to
keep persons or things tidy or neat. a. A pinafore
or overall, dial.
a 1825 FOKBY Voc. E. Anglia, Tidy, a light outer cover
ing worn by children, to keep their clothes from dirt and
grl b 5 . e An ornamental loose covering for the back
of a chair or the like, usually of fancy work ; an
antimacassar.
1850 Knickerb. Mag. XXXVI. 255 (Thornton/I r.GA>w.)
One cane-seated rocking-chair, the back of which ,s covered
with an unapproachable netting of spotless white, called a
tidy . 1861 J. PYCHOIT Agony Point (.862) 126 After a few
magic passes-the placing of a screen, the arrangement of a
tidy or the folds of a curtain, . . -a room . becomes instinct
with life, and grace, and comfort. 1882 MRS. LC. LILL
Prudence 61 Is that a tidy? Yes.. .They call them antl-
macassars and sofa-backs here.
c A bag or other receptacle in which to keep
scraps, odds and ends, etc. ; a work-bag ; a toilet-
1828 Craven Gloss., Tidy, a work bag, &c. 1863 W. B.
It wou> Signals Distress 207 It was in the days whem.
every scrap of cotton or linen found its way into the tidy .
C. adv. Tidily ; pretty well ; nicely, finely ;
also ironical, dial, or vulgar.
j82 4 in Spirit Put. Jrnls. (1825) 347 They ve served me
pretty tidy going along,.. punching at me with their shlla-
feaghs as they would at a woolsack. 1851 MAYHEW Lomt.
Labour I. 355 Them as could patter tidy did the best.
7904 Eng. Dial. Diet. s. v., That there oak s coming out
q Hence S Ti-dylsm (nonce-wd.), a principle or
practice of extreme tidiness.
1856 Miss YONGE Daisy Chain i. ix, His funny little old
Pvdv v. Chiefly colloq. [f. TlDY fl.j trans.
To make tidy or orderly ; to put in order ; to
arrange neatly ; refl. to put one s hair, dress, etc.
in order ; to make oneself neat. Often with up.
1821 Miss MITFOKD in L Estrange Lije (1870) II. 127, I
mean to have it whitened and tidied up this summer. 1847
C BRONTE % Eyre iv, Bessie, .employed me as a sort ol
under nursery maid, to tidy the room, dust the chairs, &c.
1868 FE. PAGET Lucre tia. 106 When the cook went up
Juirs after tea, to tidy herself. 1897 MARY K.NGSLEY W.
Africa 73 My notes for a day will contain &Ct8 relating to
Ihe kraw-kraw, price of onions, . . genealogies, . . law cases, . .
&c &c And the undertaking of tidying these things up is
: no small one. 1898 G. B. SHAW H. Candida .3, ihe
large table has been cleared and tidied.
b. To stow away or clear up for the sake ot
1867 ti tidying below]. 1884 Nonconformist i May, It
was left on the hall table, .and had been tidied up by one
of .hose., housemaids who are the bane of every busy man.
1906 West in. Gaz. 5 July 2/1 If anything is broken or tidied
away beyond recall.
Hence Ti dying vbl. sb. and ///. a.
1867 H. LATHAM Black $ White 90 After such a war..
! there is no small amount of sweeping up, and tidying awav.
..to be done. 1884 Dlackw. Mag. Dec 734/2 Comt d,
1 Rivaulx ! echoed Madame, pausing in her tidying. 1899
Wcst.n. Gaz. 7 Jan. 3/2 Lovers of nature . . view with horror
the onslaughts of these tidying gentlemen.
Tie (tsi), sb. Forms: a. i t6as, tes, tses, 3
te;, teij. 5 *T, 6 & (/ ) * is (5, 9 f al - te )-
e S-9 tye, 7 ty, (//. tigges, tighes), 6- tie.
fOfl. ledh, tia! fern., Anglian ixg, later IA =
ON. taug fern., rope :-OTeut. *tau^i, -o str. Jem.,
TIE.
f. second grade of the verb-stem tenh- : tauti- : ink :
see TEE v. 1 The -forms are assimilated to, or
formed from, TIE &.]
1. That with which anything is tied; a cord,
band, or the like, used for fastening something;
a knot, noose, or ligature ; a natural formation of
this kind, a ligament (quot. 1659); esp. an orna
mental knot or bow of ribbon, etc.
a. rtSoo CVNRWULF O/j/ 733 He..cyning inne^ebond..
fyrnum teagnm. a 1000 Gloss, in \Vr.-\V itlcker 210/36 Col
larium, sweorclab, itel teg, ft?/ sal. 1205 LAV. 20998 Heo
wolden,.teien heom to-gadere mid guldene tejen. c 1290
S. Eng. Leg. I. 308/301 A tei^ doggue bat is in strongue
tei^e. 1537 Ace. Ld. High Treas. Scot. VI. 335 Thre elnis
canves to lyne the teis of the mulatis. 1825 BROCKETT N. C.
Words, Tee, or Tie t a hair-rope with which to shackle cows
in milking.
^. \fa\-xShnttleworths* Ace. (Chetham Soc.) i4i,ijtigges
for the maydes to mylke the kyne with, ij 1 . 1602 Ibid. 142
To a power man for vj tighes for the kyne, iiij 1 . 1615
CROOKE Body of Man 406 Intercept an arterie with a tye,
and the part below the tye. .will not beate. 1659 MACAU.O
Can. Physick 54 The tyes and ligaments of the brain. 1817
J. BRAUHURY Trav.Ame*: 6oThe horse .. broke his tie, and
gallopped off. 1837 Die K ENS Pickw. xlix, Great formal wigs,
with a tie 1>ehind. 1857 HUGHES Tom Brcnun i, iii, Putting
impossible buttons and ties in the middle of his back.
2. Naut. a. A rope or chain by which a yard
is suspended. See quot. 1841.
a. 1465 AFann. *^ ffoitseh. Exp. (Roxb.) 200 For ij. teyis
[for the ship] weyinge vij. stone,, .xiij.s. ix.d. 1496 Ace.
Ld. High Trcas. Scot. I. 300 Making of a bonat and the
lek [leech] to it, with smal takil and a tee. 1511 Ibid. IV, 300
Item, .for bed towisto the gret schip. .tua cordalis, x trosis,
iij teis. 1513 DOUGLAS ALneis v. xiv. 6 Than all sammyn,
. , Did hels thar saill, and trossit doun ther teis.
0. 1485-6 Naval Accts. Hen. TV/ (1896) 13 An hauser for
a tye weying D Ib. Ibid. 36 Halfe tyes short., ij. Bo we
Sesynges. 1611 COTCR., Arfa;Y!r...tyes; the strings or
ropes of sayles. 1627 CAPT. SMITH Seaman s Gram. v. 21
The Ties are the ropes by which the yards doe hang, and
doe carry up the yards when wee straine the Halyards.
1761-9 I-ALCONER Shipwr. ii. 318 While some above the
yard o erhaul the tye. 1829 MARRYAT F. Mildmay iv, I ..
regained my perch by the topsail-tie. 1841 R. H. DANA
Seaman s Man., Tye t a rope connected with a yard, to the
other end of which a tackle is attached for hoisting.
b. A mooring-bridle.
1867 SMYTH Sailors Word-1 k., Tics, an old name for
mooring bridles. 1883 Fishtvii s Kxhib. Catal, 24 White
Manilla Boat Tie.
3. A knot of hair ; a pigtail ; also short for
TIE-WIG. IQhs.
17*8 YOUNG Lcn>e Fame n, 225 The well-swoln tyes an
equal homage claim. 1742 RICHARDSON Pamela IV. 64 So
1 think, cries the other; and tosses his Tye behind him,
with an Air. .of Contempt. 1760 FOOTE Minor n. Wks.
1799 I. 259 Some recommended a tye, others a bag: one
mention d a bob. 1817 SHELLEY Rev. Islam vi. xxxiii,
Cythna s glowing arms, and the thick ties Of her soft hair.
4. A neck-tie, a cravat.
1761 CHURCHILL Rosciad Poems 1763 I. 5 Thrice he
twirl d his Tye thrice strok d his band. 1860 TRISTRAM
Gt. Sahara xx. 344 Seated in white gloves and ties at the
soiree of Madame R . 1862 SHIRLEY NugxCrit. i.6 Here
..That badge of servitude, the white tie, is unloosed. 1895
* F. ANSTEV Lyre f( Lancet \. 7 He ll come down to dinner
m a flannel shirt and no tie. 1897 LD. TENNYSON Mem.
Tennyson II. 222 Adorned by his accustomed blue tie.
6. A kind of low shoe fastened with a tie or lace.
1826 MRS. McNEiLL Let. in Mem. Sir J. McNeitt\\. (1910),
Two pair black satin slippers, ..two pair neat walking ties.
1904 Westm. Gaz. 15 Apr. 10/3 What we call Oxford Tie-;,
which is a brogue shoe, is a favourite form.. for walking
purposes.
0. gen. Something that connects or unites two or
more things in some way ; a link. (See also 8.}
1711 J. GuBfWOOD Eng. Gram. 152 Called the subjunctive
mood because it is added to the first sentence by some
Cople or Tye. 1830 HERSCHEL Stud. Nat. Phil. n. vit.
(1851) 193 Solid substance[s] retained by a force or united
by a tie. 1857 MILLER Elem. Client. (1862) III. 52 The
tie between the two typical groups being . . the dibasic
radicle <C.,O 2 ).
b. Mus. A curved line placed over or under two
notes on the same degree, to indicate that the sound
is to be sustained (not repeated) : => BIND sb. i c :
cf. LIGATURE s&. 4.
Also placed over or under two or more notes to be per-
formed legato, or to be sung to one syllable; in this case
now called a slitr (Si.UR S?:* 4).
1656 M. LOCKE Little Consort, Treble Pref., In printing of
Tyes, Holds, Slurrs. i66a PLAVFOKD Skill Mns. i. xi. (1674)
35. A Tye is of two uses, first, when the Timeis broken, .in the
middle of the Note, it is u>ual to Tye two Minims, or a Minim
and a Crotchet together. The second sort of Tye is, when
two or more Notes are to be sung to one Syllable, or two
Notes or more are to be plaid with once drawing the bow
en the Viol. 1686 New Method to Learn to Stuff 54 A Tye
thus o, over two or more Notes, signifying that they must
be sung to one Syllable, or struck with one motion of the
Bow upon an Instrument. 1848 (see SLUR sb.* 4].
7. Arch.j etc, A beam or rod used to tie or
bind together two parts of a building or other
structure by counteracting a tensile strain which
tends to draw them apart.
1793 W. H. MARSHALL IV. England (1796) II. 340 The
-
side of the lie of the roof. 1861 SMILES Engineers II. 183
The eight ribs were firmly connected together by braces
and ties. 1869 SIR E. J. HEED Shipbvtild. i. 8 Some of the
longitudinal ties of this ship were broken at the bulkheads,
15
b. U. S. A (transverse) railway sleeper.
(The transverse or ( cross sleepers serve as ties to keep the
rails from spreading under the lateral strain of the wheels.)
1857 U. S. Patent Ojffice Rep. II. 116 The tie and pede-
I stals cast in one piece, the chairs so constructed as to fit in
! or on said pedestals. 1869 Daily Ntius 7 Oct., Vires, .fed
by piles of old sleepers, or ties as they are called here. 1881
7*imes 9 Sept., Heaps of ties (the sleepers of the old
1 world) piled up by the side of the road. 1891 Railroaii
Gaz. (U. S.), The requirements for lies comprise the largest
consumption of wood in this country.
8. fig. Something that ties or binds in a figurative
or abstract sense, a. Something that makes fast
j or secures; a security; something figured as a band
or knot with which things are tied. rare.
11555 I.ATIMER in Foxe A. $ M. (1563) 1313/1 They
haue charitie in such sure tie that they cannot lose it. 1605
, SHAKS. Mack. in. i. 17 Let your Hi^hnesse Command vpon
1 me, to the which my duties Are with a most indissoluble tye
For euer knit. 1670 COTTON Espernon in. x. 531 He had
concluded the Marriage.., a match that was to be the
main tye of this Accommodation. 1810 SCOTT Lady of L,
n. ix, Confusedly bound in memory s ties.
b. Something that restrains or obliges ; a re-
1 straint, constraint; t something that enables one to
restrain another, a hold upon a person (ohs.}\ an
obligation, a bond f of duty or the like).
1596 DRAYTON Leg. iii. 80 Which soone upon Him got so
sure a Tye, As no misfortune e r could it remove. 1621
ELSING Debates Ho. Lords (Camden) 45 The agents com-
plained that they wanted a ty uppon the sylkemen. The
bonde was advysed by others. 1641 Lu. J. DIGBY Sp. in
Ho. Com. 21 Apr. 6, I was.. under tye of Secrecy. 1754
SHERLOCK Disc. (1759) I. xiii. 359 Bound.. by.. the Ties nf
.Moral Duty. 1768 woman of Honor III. 59 Love.. flies
with disdain from everything that has an air of tie, or
constraint. 1835 J. H. NEWMAN Par. Serm. (1837) I. xv.
229 They do not like the tie of religion.
c. Something that connects or unites ; a bond of
union ; a uniting principle ; a link, connexion :
usually with implication of mutual obligation
(cf. b). in reference to social relations or the like.
a 1625 F LETCH KR Bloody Brother iv. i, Mercy becomes a
prince, and guards him best; Awe and affrights are never
ties of love. 1629 CARLIELI. Desert 1 . Favourite 82 To pro
cure her bondage; For such she did account all ties of
marriage Made by the parents without the childs consent.
1733 P. SHAW IT. Bacon" s DC Sap. I et. in. ii. Expl., Philos.
Wks. I. 591 The Bonds of Affinity, which are the Links and
Ties of Nature. 1781 GIBBON Dec I. fy F. (1869) III. 1. 149 We
are bound to each other by the ties of honour and interest.
1874 GREEN Short Hist. i. r. i The ties of a common blood,
and a common speech. 1875 WHITNEY Life Lang. 271
There is no necessary tie between race and language.
d. Obligation of constant attendance ; restraint
of freedom. ? dial, or colloq.
Mod. She finds the children a great tie on her. The place
is easy, but you wouldn t like the tie.
1[ To ride in tie : perversion of to ride and tie
i (see RIDE v. 22), tie being app. taken in sense
connexion \
1908 Academy 8 Feb. 434/2 He rode all the way in tie
with his black slave.
9. The fact or method of tying ; the condition
of being tied, bound, or united. (In quot. 1865
? a bargain settled, a sale.)
1718 Free-thinker No. 66 P 7, I understand the decent
Tye of a Cravat. 1793 SMEATOM Edystone L, 82 The tye
was as good at the bottom as at the top. 1863 Daily Tel.
22 Aug. 6/5 The market expenses, .are little enough: zd a
head toll, and ijd ( a tie , as the phrase is 3Jd, that is, per
beast sold in the market.
b. Mining. ^ TEE sl>. 1 3.
1747 HOOSON Miner s Diet. Oiij, He that comes first to
the Pee, will take it, be he the older or younger, and he will
make the other a way out if possible he can, otherwise if he
cannot then it is called a Tye. 1851 [see TEK sb. 1 3],
c. la silk hand-loom weaving: The tying
together of a combination of heddle-strings, so as
to move a series of warp-strings together.
1831 G. R. PORTER Silk Manuf. 297 Every variation in the
order of succession of the harness used in weaving or In the
weavers language, every different tie, produces a different
pattern.
d. In plastering: = KEY sb.\ loc.
1873 E. 5 PON Workshop Receipts Ser. i. 121/2 After the
coat is laid on, it is .scored in diagonal directions with a
scratcher..to give it a key or tie for the coat that is to
follow it.
10. Equality between two or more competitors or
the sides in a match or contest ; a match in
which this occurs, a drawn match ; a dead heat.
Hence, to play off, shoot off ^ etc. a tie, to resolve
or determine a tie, by playing another match.
1680 [see TIE r . 7], 1736 in Waghorn Cricket Scores (1899)
16 A great single-wicket match . . the country men got but 6,
which made It a tie. 1837 T. HOOK Jack Brag \\\ t lo see the
ties shot oft" of the great pigeon match. 1844 DISRAELI
Coningsby vni. iii, The Government count on the seat,
thouch with the new Registration tis nearly a tie. 1881
T. HARDY Laodicean n. vi, We are bracketed it s a tie.
The judges say there is no choice between the designs.
Hence, b. A deciding match played after a draw ;
also, a match played between the victors in previous
matches or heats. (Seealsor^-/s.v.Cup^. 13C.)
1895 Westm. Gaz. 24 Sept., The . . boys prefer the cup
ties to the Church Catechism. 1904 Ibid. 22 Apr. 12/1
There Is something impressive even to the unathletic man in
these annual Cup-tie figures. 1905 Daily Chron. 17 Apr. 3/7 !
Probably the Cup- tie has been Devolved from the phrase
shooting off or playing off a lie after two competitors ,
TIB.
have tied . The match between tbose u ho stand on a level
gradually gets regarded as Itself the tie .
Tie (tai), v. Inflected tied, tying. Forms :
see below. [In the a-forms, OK. tigan, for O\VS.
*tiegan : *ti-ag-jan to bind, f. tcag rope : see TIE
sb. : cf. ON. tcygja to draw. The ME. /3-forms are
commonly held to represent a non-WSax. (Mercian)
form *ffgan (for *tiegan}\ but cf. MK. ei and i
forms under EYE, HIGH.]
A. Illustration of Foims.
1. Pn s. stcHi^ a. i tis-aii, 3-4 ti}-en, 4 ty^e,
tyen, 4-9 tye, 6-7 ty; 4- tie. Pr. pple. tying.
c looo TUan [see H. i]. c looo^rU-Fnrc Gram. xliv. (Z.) 258
Hu ^es dael ti^o 1 J>a word toganlere. c 1275 LAY. 20997 And
ti^e heom to-ga;dere. 1377 LANGL. / . PI. B. i. 96 And taken
transgressores and tyen hem fastc. Ibid. in. i 19 And lieth
hym taste. i563GoLDiNG C. xsar v. (1565) 138 Headuised him
to tie the letter to the thong of a labeling, so to throw it into
his camp. 1570 Salir, Poems Reform, xxii. 92 To ty on tre.
1618 RALKGII in Four C. Eug. Lett. (iSSoj 38 Tyenge them
back to backe. 1729 G. ADAMS tr. Sophocl.^ Antig. \\. iv. 1 1.
32 If Fear did not tye their Tongues.
/3. 3 teg-en, 3-4 teij-en, tei-e(n, 4-6 teye,
teie, 5 tey-yu, tey, tegh, 6-7 taye, 7 tay, 9
dial. tee.
c 1205 LAY. 20997 -^ nt l teien heom to-gadere. c 1250 Hymn
Virg. 59 In Trin, Coll. Hour. 257 Herre te^en he him nolde.
c 1330 R. HRUNXKC/f?w/. JKrtff (Rolls) ii 187 Many fair palfray
& stede..to wype, & to mangers teye. 1362 LANGL. J\ PI.
A. i. 94 And tei^cn hem faste. 1387 TRTVISA Hidden (Rolls)
IV. 79 Reynes..to teie wib ober oxen, c 1440 r^omp. Pat- .
487 2 Teyyn wythe bondys. ( 1440 Cesta Rom. xxiii. 81
(Harl. MS.) Tey him to Tallies of hor*. 1533 MOKE Amw.
Poy&oned Bk. Wks. 1041/2 Sampson tayeng the Foxes
together. 1664 EARI. OF TYRCOSNEL Let. to Lauderdale
14 Nov. (in DaiiielCs Catal. July (1904) 37/2) That wee
should taye them all bellye to be) lye and throwe them In
the sea.
2. Pa. /. a. [r *ti sede, 3-4 *ti;ede, *ty;ede],
5-8 tyed, (5-6 -it, 6 tight^, 6-7 ty d, 7- tied.
c 1400, 1513 Tyed [see 13 i, i b]. (-1470 Gofagros $ Ga i
61 His hors he tyit to ane tre. 1596 .S> F.\--KR / . Q. vi. xii.
34 Thereunto a great long chains he tight. 1604 K. G[rciM-
SIONE] D Acosta s Hist. Indies vi. xiv. 461 The bridges. .
which they tied to the bankes. 1686 tr. Chardi>fs ft a:-.
Persia 141 Forces, that ty d his Hands. 1720 OZELL Ver tot s
Rom. Rep. I. v. 296 Giief..tyed his Tongue.
0. 3 teide, 5 teyde, teghit, tayed.
c 1290 5. F.ng. Leg. I. 29/91 Huy. .teiden ane rop a boute
is necke. c 1400 Dcstr. Troy 3523 The kyng.. teghit her in
yernes. c 1400 Three Kings Cologne 26 Byslde bat ox
Joseph teyde his asse. 1470-85 MALORY Arthur r. iii. 41
Sir Arthur, .tayed his hors to the style.
3. Pa. pple. a. i se-tis s)ed, 3-4 i-ti5ed, 4
ity;ed, ty;ed, 5 Sc. tichit, ticht ; 4-9 tyed, 6
tiede, 6-7 tyde, tide, 7-8 ty d, 4- tied.
c looo >KI.FRIC Horn. II. 62 An rnmm..?;etirted be (Sam
hornuin. c 1000 Ags, Gosp. Matt. xxi. 2, & bonne sona find*:
Syt ane assene se-iissede [c 1160 Jiatfon Gosp. xe-tei^^ede
[:. r. xeteKXedejj. ^"75 I-ti^ed, ^1320 I-tyjed [see H. i],
13. . Ty^ed [-;ee ! . 4]. 1382 WYCLIF Mark xi. 2 A colt tyed
: [1388 tied], c 1450 HOLLAND Howlat 405 With tuscheis of
\ trast silk tichit to the tre. c 1475 Rauf Coifyar 457 Ane
! Tyger ticht to ane tre. 1590 SPF.NSER / . Q. i. vi. 21 In
I sacred bonds of wedlock tyde. 1608, 1688 Tyed (see B. 5].
1699 J. LOUTHORP F.xper. in Misc. Cur. (1708) II, 198 There
was a IilaJdcr ty d below each Joint., and when it was fitl d
with Water it was ty d above it. 1718 Ty d, 1816 Tyed
[see II. i].
0. 2 se-tessed, -teissed, 3 i-teied, -et, iteid,
3-4 teid, 4 yteyd, tei3ed, teied, teyde, 4-6
teyed, 5 teyghte, 6 teyd, tay(e)d, 9 dial. teed.
<:ii6o ete[i]ed [ see a), c iaoo Trin. Coll. Horn. 181
Iteied [see B. 5], Ibid. 217 pat me ne sholde none man
bitechen bute He were teid to menden rhirclie. c 1230 Halt
Meid. 27 Him. . bat is. .to en i eoriMiche bing iteiet. a 1250
Owl <V Night. 776 An hors..i-teid at multie dtire, c 1350
W- /V/. Palerne 3226 pe sturnest stede in hire stabul tei^ed.
Ibid. 3232 Teied in J?e stabul. 1386 Yteyd, 1387 I-ieyed
[see B. i b]. 1387 TKEVISA Higden (RollsJIV. 77^6 reynes
f>at be oxen scnulde be teyde by. 1390 Teid [set B. sc].
c 1400 Land Troy Kk. 518 Eche a man on londe than go-.,
..And lefft here schip teyghte fast. 1489 CAXIOM Fay re i of
A. I. xvii. 49 Wei teyed with ropys. 1547 HOOROK Introd.
Kno-vl. xiii. (1870) 156 Than am I tonge tayd. 1556 Ch*on.
Gr. Friars (Camtlen) 98 Browte thoirow Cbeppesyde teyd in
ropes xxliij" tayd to-getheres as herrytykes, 1828 Ctartn
<Jloss, t Tcf(/, tied.
B. Signification. I. The simple verb.
1. trans. To bind, fasten, make fast (one thing to
another, or two or more things together) with a
cord, rope, band, or the like, drawn together and
knotted ; to confine (a person or animal) by fasten
ing to something.
c 1000 /Ki i RIC Horn. 1. 432 Ualerianus. .het ti^an [YpolitusJ
be dam fotum to un?;eiemedia horsa swuran. 1205 LAV.
25972 Twaelf swine iteied [1:1275 iti^ed] to-somme. a 1225
Ancr. R. 254Saniumes foxes.. weren bl be teiles iteied ue-itc.
c 13*0 Cast. Love 1130 As fi-.ch..pat whon he worm he
swoleweb-.He is bi J>e hok i-li^ed [r.r. i-ty^ed) fast, c 1400
Land Troy Bk. 2733 Anker the! ca*te, And tyed here schippis
in that porte And jede to londe. c 1440 failed, on Huso.\\\
752 [772] Stakes.. To teye hem to. 1590 SPF.NSER F".Q. t. v. 6
Their shining shieldes about their wrestes they tye. 1638
JusiL s Paint. Ancients 154 A great dogge tyedinachaine,
1718 POPE Iliad n. 55 Th embroicler d sandals on his feet
were ty d. 1816 SINGER Hist. Cards i. 52 Such bells were
also tyed to Hawks.
b. To draw together the parts of (a single thing)
with a knotted cord or the like ; to fasten (a part
of dress, etc.) in this way, esp. with strings already
attached to it (as a bonnet, a shoe) ; also, to draw
TIE.
together (a cord or the like) into a knot, esp. for
the purpose of fastening something.
c 1386 CHAUCER Prol. 457 Hir hosen were offyn scarlett
reed, Ful stieite yteyd. 1387 TREVISA HigtUn (Rolls) V.
369 Hire hosen tilled to the hamme, i-teyed wty layners al
aboute. 1513 MORE in Hall Cnron. t Rich. Ill (1548) 2/b,
After which lyme, the prince neuer tyed his pointes. 1592
SIIAKS. Rom. <$- Jut. in. I, 31 Did st thou not fall out. .with
another, for tying his new shooes with old Riband ? i66z J.
DAVIES tr. Mandelslo*s Trav. 80 They tye their Garments
about with a Girdle. 1716 ADDISON Drummer \\\. i, He ll
tye a wig. 1819 SHELLEY Cenci v. iv. 159 Tie My girdle for
me. Mod. You must tie the string tighter, or the parcel will
come undone.
c. Snrg. To bind and constrict (an artery or vein)
with a ligature, so as to prevent the flow of blood
through it.
1597 [see TIED///, a. i). 1804 ABERNETHY Snrg. Ol>s. 195
To tie the more superficial arteries. 1843 R. J. GRAVES
Sysf. Clin. Med, x\. 123 The effects produced by tying the
carwtid and vertebral arteries.
d. To make or form by tying (a knot, etc.).
1647 COWLEY Mistr. t The Tree v, Go tye the dismal Knot
{why shouldst thou live?). 1808 SCOTT Mann. i. Introd. 48
The garlands you delight to tie. 1838 THIRLWALL Greece
II. xiv. 200 He tied sixty knots in a leathern thong. 1867
F. FRANCIS Angling x. (1880) 340 One of the most difficult
things in tying flies.
e. Tie neck and heels : see NECK j.l 7. Ride
and tie; see RIDE . 22.
2. In figurative phrases. To tie the hands of: to
deprive of freedom of action. To He the knot: to
effect a union between two persons or things; esp.
to perform the ceremony of marriage, f To tie
with St. Marys knot: to hamstring (0Ar.). ( To
tie to thestake^fig. to put into a position from which
there is no escape (0&r.). To tie a person s tongue :
to prevent (him) from speaking, to compel to be
silent (see also TONGUE-TIED). Tied too. woman s
apron-strings : see APRON-STRING.
1559 Bk. Com. Prayer, Prayers Sez>. Occasions* Tyed and
bounde with the cbayne of oure synnes. 1576 GASCOIGXE
Coittpl. Philomene Ixx. (Arb.) 99 Hir swelling sobbes, Did
tie hir long from talke. 1579 LVLY Eitphnes (Arb.) 52
Euphues beeing thus tyed to the stake by their importunate
intrealie, began as followeth. ?a 1600 Dick e 1 the Cow in
Child Ballads (1861) VI. 72 He has lied them a : wi 1
St. Mary s knot, A* these horses but barely three. 1642
FULLER Holy % Prof. St. v. v. 375 When God intends a
Nation shall be beaten, he ties their hands behind them. 1717
PRIOR Alma. \. 332 So to the priest their case they tell: He
ties the knot. 1781 COWFER friendship 62 A fretful temper
will divide The closest knot that may be tied. 1828 [see
KNOT sl>. 1 n bj. 1866 CRUMP Banking ix. 214 It seems very
unjust to tie the hands of the directors in so important a
particular. 1889 The County viii, One would have thought
that very shame would have tied her tongue.
3. To fasten together, connect, join (material
things) in any way ; spec, in Arch, to connect and
make fast by a rod or beam (cf. TlK sb, 7), or by
other means (cf. BOND sb. 1 13 a).
1585 T. WASHINGTON tr. Nicholay s Voy. \\. xviii. 51 [A]
smal habitation,.. made of..glasse, ioyned & tyed together
with roddes of Tin. 1632 LITHGOW Trav. n. 67 Pelopon
nesus. .is tied to the continent by an Istmus. 1793 W. H.
MARSHALL \V. England (1706) II. 340 Firm purchases.. for
the purpose of tying in the front wall. 1851 Runon/aMf
Ven. (1874) I. xv, 161 Every arch or gable not tied at its
base by beams or bars, exercises a lateral pressure upon
the walls which sustain it.
b. To check or hinder the free movement or
working of : see quots.
1597 A. M. tr. Gmllemeau s Fr. Chirurg. 10/1 Spasmns
..with shaklnge and quiveringe, with the tonge tiede, and
with jrremoveable eyes. 1602 CAREW Cornivtill n The.,
Axes and Wedges.. (not seldome) are so tied by the teeth,
as a good workman shall hardly be able to hew three foote,
in the space of so many weekes. 1879 JEFFERIES Wild Life
S, C. 192 When sawing, the wood operated on often ties
the saw, as it is called, that is, pinches it which makes it
hard to work. 18.. Dogs Gt. Brit, fy Amer. 45 (Cent.)
There is a want of liberty in the play of the whole shoulder,
because the elbow rubs against the ribs. . .This is called being
tied at the elbow.
C. Mus. To connect (notes) by a tie or ligature :
see TIE sb. 6b, LIGATURE sb. 4.
1597 [see LIGATURE 4], 1662 PLAYFORD Skill Mus. i. viii.
(1674) 28 Four or more Quavers are Tyed together by a long
Stroke on the top of their Tails. Ibid, [see TIE sb, 6 b].
d. U. S. To furnish (a railway line) with ties
or sleepers (cf. TIE sb. 7 b).
1883 W. Chester^ Pa. Local News II. No. 234. i Forty
miles of road. .had to be.. graded, tied, rails laid.
e. To fasten or fix otherwise (e. g. *t* with nails).
2500-20 DUNBAR Poems Ixxii. 69 Syne tylt him on with
greit irne takkis, And him all nakit on the tre Thai raisit
on loft. Mod. The brick facing of the wall is tied into the
concrete backing by headers at frequent intervals.
4. fig. To join closely or firmly ; to connect,
attach, unite, knit, bind by other than material
ties; esp. to unite in marriage (now dial.).
c looo [see A. i a], c iaoo Trin. Coll. Horn. 183 Hie [the
soul].. to be Hcanie..sei3..Aweilewei lu fule hold bat ich
auere was to be iteied. 13. . E. E. Allit. P. B. 702 When
two true togeder had ty?ed hem seluen. 1571 CAMPION
Hist. Irel. ii. vii. (1633) 100 Richard.. exceedingly tyed
unto him the hearts of the noblemen. 1586 DAY Enff.
Secretary i, (1625) 10 Eloquution is annexed vnto the stile,
which.. is also tyed to the argument. 1684 Contempl. St.
Man i. ii. (1699) 21 The greatest felicity of the World, was
tyed to the greatest Mishap. 1715 DE FOE Fam. Instruct.
16
(1841) II. i, i. 16 Howcould you think of tying yourself to
suchafamily? 1814 WORDSW. IV kite Doe \\\. 3i4At length,
thus. -faintly tied To earth, she. .died. 1890 Spectator
24 May 714/1 If Washington could tie gold and silver
j together in the ratio of sixteen, so could the rest of the
world. 1899 J.LUMSDEN Edin. Poems $ Songs 287 Ma man
j was kill d. . Before that we d been foure days tied.
b. intr. for refl* To attach oneself (to}. Also,
To tie to : to fix one s confidence in, trust to, hold
i on to for support. U. \ S. colloq.
1879 TOURGEE Foots Err. x. 43 He won t du tu tie ter.
1884 A. A. PUTNAM Ten Y. Police Judge xxiii. 200 The
propensities of the thief strikingly tie somehow to the train
ing begotten of ardent spirit. 1892 W. W. FENN Bible in
Theol. 1 7 Those who, as they say, * want something to tie to .
5. trans. To bind, oblige, restrain, constrain to (also
from} some course of action, etc. ; to limit, confine,
restrict. To be tied to (or for) time: to be bound
or limited to a certain time for doing something.
(See also phrases in 2.)
c 1200 Trin. Coll. Horn. 181 Ilch man of his wise noteS
his swinhc switch se he is to iteied. Clerc on his wise.
Cniht on his wise... And ilches craftes beau swo he be3 to
iteied. 1387-8 T. USK Test. Love in. ii. (Skeat) 1. 144 If it
wer nat in mannes own liberte of fre wil to do good or bad
i but to the one teied by bonde of goddes preordinaunce.
c 1412 HOCCLEVE De Reg. Princ. 1474 God for-beede bou be
, haddist tyed per- to, but if bin herte myght ban plyed For to
j obserue it wel. 1577 HANMER Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619) 359,
1 I will . . tie myself, .onto the truth of the historic. i6o8SHAKS.
Per. ii. v. 8 She hath so strictly Tyed her to her Chamber.
1688 R. HOLME Armoury m. 184/1 The White Friers, .were
tyed to Fasting, Silence, and Canonical hours. 1713
BERKELEY Guard. No. 39 p 12, I must tie this gentleman
close to the argument. 1860 MRS. CARLYLE Lett. (1883) III.
38 Unfortunately I am tied to time. I must be back in
London. 1901 Daily Tel. 22 Mar. 9/5 The British being
to a certain extent tied in South Africa.
b. To bind, oblige ; usually in pass, to be bound
or obliged (to do something). Now only dial.
1596 SHAKS. Tarn. Shr. i. i. 217, I am tyed to be obedient,
For so your father charg d meat our parting. 1608 WILLEV
Hexapla E.tod. 498 The borrower . . is tied to make it good.
1625 BURGES Pers. Tithes 66 It was their purpose to tie his
conscience the more to doe iustly herein. 1722 DE FOK
Plague (1756) 108 Nor were they tied to carry the Dead to
their respective Parishes. 1798 Trans. Soc. Arts XVI. 134
Why should the grower tie himself to plant an equal num
ber of different sorts? 1892 M. C. F. MORRIS Yorks. Folk-
Talk 259 We do not reckon obliged in the sense of forced as
part of our vocabulary ; instead we make use of tied.
fc. To bring into bondage ; to enthrall. Ol>s.
1390 GOWER Conf. II. 129 It is impropreliche seid, For
good hath him and halt him teid, That he. .is unto hisgood
a thral. a 1425 Cursor M. 23307 (Trin.) pei euer tyed were
In bis lif for synnes sere. 1426 LYDG. DeGuil.Pilgr. 17513,
I teye my sylff. .And bynde me to my rychesse. 1594 K.YD
Cornelia i. 68 What helps it that thou ty dst The former
World to thee in vassalage? 1613 SHAKS. Hen. F///, iv. ii.
36 One that by suggestion Ty de all the Kingdome.
d. To bind by favour or service rendered :
usually in pass. : = OBLIGE v. 6, 7.
1576 FLEMING Panopl. Epist. 123, I am so streigtly tyed
to his courteste. 1595 tr. Blanchardine Ded. A ij, Whose
deserts haue tyed me during life the vassaile of. .their com-
maunds. 1611 SHAKS. Cymb. \. \\. 23 He is one of the
Noblest note, to whose kindnesses I am most infinitely tied.
1864 BURTON Scot Abr. II. ii. 137 We are also tied in duty
to our comrades that were with us in danger.
e. To restrict (a dealer or firm) to a particular
source for articles sold; only in pa.pple.^ usually
applied to a public house so restricted as to liquor.
Hence trans/, as in quot. 1899. See also TIED 2 b.
1817 [see 10 b]. 1853 Rep. Sel. Committee Public Houses,
Min. Evi d, 118, I am the owner of a free house, tied to
nobody. 1884 Lincoln, etc. Mercury 22 Feb., The Masons
Arms Hotel. . . Tied for beer only. 1894 Westm. Gaz. 9 Apr.
2/3 The system of tied trade . . is not confined to the drink
trade, . . A retail draper was tied to a wholesale house i.e.
..he was under contract to buy all his goods from the
wholesale draoer in question. 1899 Daily News 7 Dec. 4/1
The farmers dictate the terms of tenancy. The cottages are
* tied ,
6. (Jig. from i b or d.) To make sure, confirm,
ratify ; to * knit , * cement *. ? Obs.
1613 SHAKS. Hen. VIII, in. ii. 250 That Scale, .the King
..gaue me. .and..Ti de it by Letters Patents. i697DRYt>EN
;Eneid-x.n. 316 When thus in Public view the peace was
ty d With solemn Vows.
7. intr. To be equal (with) in a contest, etc.
1680 COTTON Conipl. Gamester xy, (ed. 2) 93 If each win a
trick and the third tyed, neither win, because it is trick and
tye. 1870 Routledge s Ev, Boy* s Ann. Oct. 600 The cricketers
tied when they were so equally matched that neither won.
1882 Standard 31 Aug. 6/4 Captain Burridge. .scored 117,
and tied with Mr. Meyler. 1902 Lp. ROSEBERY in Daily
Chron. 13 Oct. 7/1 We have not received intellectual facul
ties equal to Mr. Gladstone s, and we cannot hope to tie
with him in their exercise.
b. pass, in same sense.
1868 U.S. Newspaper, The two political parties in Coun
cils were tied on joint ballot.
f c. In the House of Commons : = PAIR v.\ 4.
1829 O CoNNELL in Corr. May (1888) I. 188 To tie with a
Government member.
d. trans. To be equal with (a competitor) ; to
make the same score as.
1888 ELWORTHY W. Somerset \Vord-bk, s. v., My dog tied
yours, so they must run again.
8. Hunting, intr. Of a hound : To linger upon
the scent instead of following it swiftly; to loiter, la^.
1781 P. BECKFORD Hunting xv. 188 They learn to tye
upon the scent ; an unpardonable fault in a fox-hound. Ibid.
TIE-.
190 If they [the hounds] tie upon the scent, and come hunt-
ing after, hang them up immediately..: there is no getting
such conceited devils on. 1826 [see TYING ppl.a,\.
9. intr. Tie into : to buckle to . U. S. colhq.
19043. E. WHITE Forest x\\, 159 The day following we tied
into it again.
II. With adverbs.
10. Tie down. a. lit. To fasten down or confine
by tying : see sense i and DOWN adv.
1699 GARTH Dispens. i. n More had He spoke but sudden
Vapours rise, And with their silken Cords tye down his
Eyes. 1728 POPE Dune. i. 37 Bards, like Proteus long in
vain tied down, Escape in Monsters, and amaze the town.
1823 J. BADCOCK Dom. Amusein, 196 Strain it off, and keep
it tied down with bladder. 1827 D. JOHNSON Ind. Field
Sports 52 The dogs were accustomed to be tied down
separately every night.
b. fig. To confine stringently (to some thing
or action) : cf. sense 5, and DOWN adv. 17.
1692 LOCKE Educ. 142 Being forced and tied down to
their Books in an Age at enmity with all such restraint.
1720 DK FOE Ca.pt. Singleton v. (1840) 90 We did not tie
ourselves down when to march and when to halt. 1778
Eng. Gazetteer (ed. 2) s. v. Rochester, For the maintenance
of its bridge, certain lands are tied down by parliament.
1817 \st Rep, Committee Police Metrop. n The.. practice.,
for brewers to tie their tenants down to the purchase of
specific articles from individuals named by them. 1884
W. C. SMITH Kildro&tan 87 O you dull fellows, Tied down
to facts, you lose the half of life.
11. Tie up. a. trans. To fasten (a thing) with a
cord or band tied round it, so as to prevent its
moving or falling loose, or to secure it from being
lost or injured; to bind up, wrap up.
1530 PALSGR. 758/1, I tye upmyheare, as a woman dothe,
je me atourne. 1608 SHAKS, Per. in. ii. 41 Or Tie my
treasure vp in silken Bagges. 1706 E. WARD Wooden
World Diss. (1708) 70 His Bob Wig ty d up behind like a
Horse-tail. 1833 HT. MARTINEAU Manch. Strike ii. 19 He
tore my arm one day,, .fathergot an apothecary to tie it up.
1838 DICKERS Nich. Nick, xxii, They had tied up the luggage.
b. To tie (a person or animal) to some fixed
object or in some confined space, so as to prevent
from escaping ; to fasten up,
c 1560 [see c]. 1579 W. WILKINSON Confut. Family* of
Love Ep. Ded. *iij, The bloudy bandogesfof the Romish
Sinagogue be tyed vp. 1611 SHAKS. Cymb. iv. i. 24 My
Horse is tyed vp safe. 1719 DE FOE Crusoe (1840) I. iii. 53
A malefactor, .is tied up. 1883 GILMOUR Mongols xxiji. 285
He had stolen the horse, and tied it up in the mountains.
C. Jig. To bind, restrain, or confine strictly ; to
restrict closely; to hinder from acting freely; to
oblige to act in a particular way. (Cf. 5.) Also
to tie up one s hands ^ one s tongue : cf. phrases in 2.
[ci43S Torr. Portugal 2658 Sith he did make vp-tyed
Chirchus and abbeys wyde, For hym and his to praye.J
1560 GRINDAL in Foxe A. fy M. (1583) 1390/2 He hath
deserued more gentlenesse at your hande, then to be tied
vp so shorte. 1592 SHAKS. Rom. <y Jul. iv. v. 32 Death that
hath tane her hence. .Tiesvprny tongue, and will not let me
speake. 1658-9 Burton s Diary (1828) IV. 226, I would
have you not to tie up your hands from consideration of
either. 1768 COL. CHURCHILL in Jesse Selivyn fyContemp.
(1843) II. 289 Being tied up by my father s will from assist*
ing my younger children during my life. 1879 STAINER
Music of Bible 173 It is not tied up in a strait-jacket like a
modern chant.
d. To moor (a ship or boat); also absol., or
(usually) intr. for pass, said of the vessel.
1853 KANE Grinnell Exp. xvi. (1856) 122 The ice was
closing in every direction ; and our master . . had no alterna
tive but to tie up and await events. 1886 E. ARNOLD India
Revisited iii. 33 At night every steamer ties up . 1893
ELIZ. B. CUSTER Tenting 34 The great cable was used to
tie us up to the bank.
e. Jig. (from a) : To invest or place (money or
property) in such a way as to prevent it from being
spent or alienated.
1822 J. W. CROKER in C. Papers 21 June, He has tied up
his real estates as tight as he could. 1841 THACKERAY Gt,
Ho ar ty Diamond xili, She is close of her money;,, she
has tied up every shilling of it, and only allows me half-a-
crown a-week for pocket-money, a 1859 MACAULAY Hist.
En%. xxiii. (1861) V. 34 To pass a prospective statute tying
up in strict entail the little which still remained of the Crown
property. 1870 Miss BRIDGMAN Rob. Lynne II. v. in Her
money, .had been tied up all tight for her benefit.
f. slang. To give up, desist from, quit (a practice
or course of action) ; also absol.
1760 FOOTE Minor i. Wks. 1799 I. 24r, I have a great
mind to tie up, and ruin the rascals. 1903 FARMER & HENLEY
Slang Diet. s. v., To tie up = to forswear; e.g., to tie up
prigging = to lead an honest life.
g. slang. To vanquish or disable in a contest ;
to finish ; to knock out .
1818 [implied in TIE-UP^. 5]. 1903 FARMER & HENLEY
Slang Diet. s.v., To tie up,. = to knock out (pugilists ); tied-
i t p = (i) finished, settled. 1909 Westm. Gaz. 31 July 16/1
Inclined to lay odds that he and Barnes or Rhodes would
have tied up the Australian batsmen,
h. To join in marriage : cf. 4 (also tie the knot
in 2). colloq. or slang.
1894 ASTLEY Fifty Years Life I. 158 A comelier couple
parson has seldom, .tied up.
Tie : see TYE sb^ and %, and v.
Tie- in combination, [f. TIE s&. 1 or vb."]
1. Attributive or objective combinations of TIE
si), in various senses : tie-block Naut.j the block
on the yard through which the tie passes (see TIE
sb, 2 a) ; tie-maker, a maker of ties Jn quots., in
TIE-
senses 4 and 7 of the sb.) ; tie-pin, a pin, usually
ornamental, worn in a man s neck-tie ; tie-shoot
ing, the shooting off of a tie (TiE sb. 10) in rifle
practice ; so tie-shoot, -shot.
*745 P- THOMAS Jrnt. Anson s Vo}\ 145 We reev d..a
new Strap to the Fore-top-sail *Tye-block. c 1860 H. STUART
Seaman s Catech. 76 There are two iron straps round the
yard for the tye blocks to shackle to. 1901 Dnily Chrcn.
25 July 6/6 The girl . . is a "tie-maker. 1904 Longin. Mag.
Aug. 306 Any moderately good tie-maker can turn out
thirty ties a day in good timber. 1780 Traveller s Guide,
A silver "tie-pui, three silver studs. 1899 Daily Netvs
22 June 7/3 His stand-up collar and his tie-pin. 1909 Daily
Chron. 23 July 7/2 He tied for the Daily Telegraph Cup
and finished second in the *tie shoot. 1902 Ibid. 23 July
6/3 The "tie-shooting for the first Coronation Prize. 1887
Daily Neivs 18 July 2/1 Many men might beat him in [lie
tie shots.
2. Combinations of TIE v. with adverbs : tie-
back, a contrivance for tying something back, esp.
in a woman s dress ; tie-on a., that is fastened on by
tying. See also TIE-UP.
1880 World 29 Sept. 15 The days of tie-backs , either in
the dressing of ladies or artificial flies, were not yet. 1891
Daily Ncu S 27 July 2/1 Even Lady Harberton could
scarcely disapprove of the gored skirt with no tie-backs.
1910 Times 4 July 6/5 Tie-on labels should not be used.
3. Combinations with sbs., in which the first
element may be either TIE sb. or v. : tie -bar, a
bar which ties or acts as a tie, in a building or
other structure; tie -beam,ahorizontal beam which
acts as a tie : see esp. quot. 1823; tie-bolt sb., a
bolt which ties together the component parts of
a structure ; hence tie-bolt v., trans, to fasten
with tie-bolts; tie-cord, a cord used for tying
something ; tie-knot, a knot with which some
thing is tied ; tie-line (Suiveying], a line measured
on the ground after the principal lines of a
triangulated survey have been measured, with the
object of checking the accuracy of the work ; tic-
match, a subsequent match played to decide a tie ;
tie--peTiwig = TIE-WIG ; tie-plate, (a) Naut. a
narrow iron plate placed longitudinally or diagon
ally to space and strengthen deck-beams ; (If) a
plate to receive the pull of a tie-rod, and distribute
the pressure on a supporting beam or wall ; (c)
a. protecting metal plate laid between a sleeper
and the rail ; tie-post, a post to which a horse, etc.
may be tied ; tie-rib, a rib forming a tie in some
structure (in quot.yff.) ; tie-rod, a long tie-bolt or
iron rod which acts as a tie in a building or other
structure; tie-rope, a rope for tying something;
in quot. ^1525, ? = TIE sb. 2 ; tie-stay, a stay
acting as a tie, used to support some part of a build
ing ; tie-strap, a strap for tying up a horse or other
animal ; tie-string, a string for tying something,
e. g. a bonnet or other part of costume ; tie- tie, one
of several cords fastened to a hammock and serv
ing to tie it up in a roll {Cent. Diet. 1891) ; a negro
name for any string ; tie-vote, a vote resulting in
a tie, the numbers on each side being equal : see
TIE sb. 10; tie-wall, a wall having the function of
tying together the parts of a structure ; esp. a trans
verse wall in the hollow spandril of an arch, at
right angles to the spandril-wall (Knight). See
also TIE-DOG, TIE-WIG.
1861 FAIRBAIRN Iron 91 The reverberatory furnace.. con-
sists externally of an oblong casing of iron plates, firmly
bound together by iron "tie-bars. 1813 P. NICHOLSON
Proet. Build. 125 A tie-beam is a piece of timber, connect
ing the feet of the principal rafters, in order to prevent them
from spreading. 1851 SIR F. PALGRAVE Norm. <V Eng. I.
436 The open roof and tyebeams of a Roman Basilica. 1853
SIR H, DOUGLAS Alilit. Bridges (ed. 3) 308 Considered as a
Novtil Archit. 59 Grooved and tongued together at their
edges, and nailed to the cants, being also "lie-bolted where
necessary. 1907 C C. BROWN China in Leg. <$ Story xvii.
240 A queue, scarce big enough to carry its black tie-
cord. 1800 COLKKIDGE Wallenst. \. iii. 64 The "tie-knot
here Is off this hair must not hang so dishevelled.
1877 RANKINR Man. Civ. Engin. 24 The accuracy of the
Third Kent (Lee) v. Eighth Kent iSydenham). These
two corps fired for a tie match. 1898 Westm. Caz.
26 Feb. 3/3 In case of tics.. the prizes are to be divided,
except the first prize, which must be determined by a tie
match of four games. 1717 GAY Btgt. Of. L iii, Three "tye-
pemwigs and a piece of broad cloth. 1771 SMOLLETT
Humph. Cl. II. 23 June, An old Scotch lawyer, in a tie-
penwig. 1874 THEARLF. Naval Archil. 119 The deck fasten
ings are not so efficient in iron as in wood beams, and hence
both stringer and tie-plates are of service in opposing the
first tendency of the deck to elongate. 1884 Harper s Afaf.
Jan. 328,2 Throwing the reins over a tic-post. 1896 KIP
LING Seven Sea;, Deep Sea Cables ii, Here on the tie-ribs
of earth Words, .flicker and flutter and beat. 1839 C ivil
Eif. < Arch. Jrnl. II. 191/2 Four iron tye-rods with
washers placed transversely through the arch, c 15*5 in
Archnalogia XLVII. 332, ij. roopes, called "tye ropes, for
the Henry Grace Dieu. 1886 T. HARDY Mayor o/L asterir.
iii, The pens for sheep, the lie-ropes for horses. 1891 Daily
ffeyis 20 Feb. 3/4 The Repair of Canterbury Cathedial. . . A
VOL. X.
17
series of tiestays are being inserted. 1877 KN-IGHT Diet.
\ Mech., *Tie-strap. 1901 Mnnseys Mag. XXV. 737/2 An
attendant snapped a tie strap into his halter and led him
back to barn or paddock. 1897 Outing (U.S.) XXX. 379 i
A rubber^blanket . . with tic-Strings at the four corners, can
be made into a first-rate shelter by tying twocorners to poles
driven into the ground, and the other corners to pegs. 1883
MOLONEV IV. African Fisheries 17 (Fish. Kxhib. PubUThe
..occupants .. standing erect, or perched on seats cross
sticks, secured by *tie-tie on gunwale of canoe. 1894 Daily
News 6 Oct. 6/5 A proposal only lost. .by a tie-vote.
Tied (taid),///. a. Also 7 tide, tyed. [f. TIE
V. + -ED 1.]
1. Bound or fastened with a cord or the like ;
! joined, connected (as letters in printing, quot.
1891): see TIE v. B. 1-3. Also TONGUE-TIKD.
1591 SHAKS. Two Gent. it. iii. 41 Panth. What s the vn-
kindest tide? Lau. Why, he that s tide here, Crab my
dog. 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeaus Fr. Chirurg. 38 b/2 The
tyed Vayne might chaunce to vntye. 1614 GORGE-IS Lucan
vi, 253 He stonisht was.., His tyed long no sound could
, blunder. 1758 J. S. Le Dran s Ol>sen>. Surg. (1771) 220, I
dressed it with tied Dossils. 1864 Bow EN Logic xi. 365 The
nervous fluid will not travel along a tied nerve. 1891 W.
MORRIS in Mackail Life (1899) II. 252 We have no contrac
tions, few tied letters. 1904 BUDGK $rd fy $t/i Egypt. Rooms
Brit. Mus. no Oxen with tied feet.
b. Tied note : see quots. and TIE sb. 6 b, r>. % c.
1716 (title) The Dancing-Master.. .Sixteenth Edition...
The whole Work Revised and done on the New-Ty d-Note.
1801 BUSBY Diet, of Music, Tied-Xotes, notes, the tails
of which are joined together by cross lines, as in united
quavers, semiquavers, &c.,or over the beads of which a curve
is drawn to denote that they are to be slurred,
2. fig. United, joined ; restrained, confined, etc. :
| see TIE v. B. 4, 5.
1876 T. HARDY Ethclberta (1890) 140 That s why married
j men advise others to marry. Were all the world tied up,
, the pleasantly tied ones would be equivalent to those at
i present free. 1907 Daily Chron. 22 Mar. 7/1 The sight of
the Progressives banded together emphasized the fact of
their being the tied party of the Chamber of Mines.
b. spic* Of an inn or public house : Of which
the tenant is bound to take his liquor from a par-
> ticular brewing firm (which usually owns the
j house), hence transf. of a labourer s cottage: of
i which the tenant is aslricted to work on the farm.
1887 Pall Mall G. 23 July 16/1 Local breweries have
almost entirely depended upon tied houses for the sale of
their products. 1890 Guardian 17 Sept. 1434/2 The ques
tion of renewing licences to * tied houses has been con
sidered at some of the licensing sessions. 1899 Daily News
7 Dec. 4/1 The labourers hatethe tied [cottage system. 1901
Ibid. 16 Feb. 5/3 Certain brewers are in the habit of turning
unsuccessful houses into tied-house clubs,
3. Tied np, in lit. and//^. senses : see TIE v. B. 1 1 .
1603 SHAKS. Mtas.for M. i. iii. 32 It rested in your Grace
i To vnloose this tyde-vp Justice. 1693 W, BOWLES in Dry-
. den s Juvenal v. 13 And with a Matt, and Crutch, and
ty d up Leg, More honestly and honourably Beg. 1711-12
SWIHT Jrnl. to Stella 6 Jan., It was not proper to go to
1 Court without a long wig, and his was a tied-up one. 1822
: SAVAGE Hints Decorative Print. 46 Four or five octavo
t pages of tied up letter. 1876 [see 2].
t Tie-dog. Obs. Forms : see TIE and DOG.
j [See TIE- 3.] A dog kept tied or chained up,
, either to guard a house, or because fierce ; =
1 BANDOG. (In last quokyff.)
c ttgaS.Enft Leg. I. 308/301 pe deuel. .ne may no man. .
taken a-jein is wille, Nonmore pane a lei} doggue |>at is in
strongue tei^e. 1380 WYCLIF Wks. (1880) 252 I ouj bei
bynden hem not to o synguler place as a ley dogge. 1430-
40 LYDG. Bochas in. i. (MS. Bodl. 263) 151/1 Cruel Orchus,
the teidogge infernall Shal reende thi skyn..fro thi bonys.
1542 UDALL Erasm. Apoph. 127 b, Ther are tye doggues or
mastifes for keepyng of houses. 1601 CHETTLE & MUNDAY
Death Earl of Huntingdon u.i. Eiij, I knowethe villaine. .,
But as a ty-dogge I will muzzle him. ci-joo MATHER in
Harper s Mag. July (1883) 222/1 The Ty-dogs of the Pit are
abroad among us.
t Tiego t^tai g*?). Obs. Colloq. or vulgar abbre
viation of VERTIGO.
1634 MASSINGER Very Woman iv. Hi, I am shrewdly
troubled with a tiego Here in my head, madam, often with
this tiego, It takes me very often.
Tiel, Tield, variant of TIAL Obs., TELD Oh.
Tieless (tai-les), a. [f. TIE sb. + -LESS.] With
out a tie ; wearing no neck-tie.
1903 W. CHURCHILL Crisis n. ii, Every gentleman.. collar-
less, coatless, tieless and vestless. 1907 Wtsttn. Gas. 21
Mar, 2/1 His head was bare, and he was tieless.
Tiemannite (trmanait). A/in. [ad. Ger. 7-
tuannit, named by Neumann, 1855, from the dis
coverer, Tiemann : see -ITE 1 2 b.] Native~selehTde
of mercury, occurring in dark grey masses or
granules with a metallic lustre. 1868 DANA Min. 56.
Tien, obs. f. TINE v. Tiend, obs. f. TEIND,
TIND. Tienthe, obs. f. TENTH.
Tier (tli), *. 1 Also 6-9 tire, 6-8 tyre,
(6 teare, 7 tere, 7-8 teer, 8 tear). [Orig. tire,
a. F. tire, in OF. (t 1 2 1 o in Godef.) * suite, sequence,
range, rank, order 1 : cf. tire d tire in succession,
one after another, f. tirer to draw, elongate. The
phonetic history of the forms teare t tere, teer, is
obscure. PI. after a numeral sometimes tier. ]
1. A row, rank, range, course; usually one of a
series of rows placed one above another, or at
least rising each above the preceding one; e.g.
tiers of galleries, shelves, boxes in a theatre, or
TIER.
seats on a sloping floor ; also of banks of oars in
ancient ships or boats ; see also b, c.
1569 STOCK ER tr. Died. Sic. in. viii. 114/2 Ten gallics of
fiue tier of ores, a 1625 FLETCHER Bloody Brother n. ii, I
have ballast for their bellies, if they eat a gods name. Let
them have ten tire of teeth a piece, I care not. 1627 CAPT.
SMITH Seaman s Gram. vii. 33 Caske.. stowed tier aboue
tier. 1686 J. DUNTON Lett. Neiv-Eng. (1867) 35 He has
three Tere of Teeth in his Chaps. 1720 in AV:c En$\ Hist.
V Gen. Reg. (1875) XXIX. 288 Eastward of the fir-t tear of
lots. 1722 Conn. Col. Rcc. (1872) VI. 311 The northtrmost
tier of the three tier of lots lying next to Midletown. 1730
A. GORDON Majfeis Amphitk. 203 The .. Stones .. which
form d the first Tyre or Belt thereof 1743 Land. % Country
V Gen. Reg. (1875) XXIX. 288 Eastward of the fir-t tear of
lots. 1722 Conn. Col. Rcc. (1872) VI. 311 The nortlurrnost
1730
hkh
_ . 1743 Lond. $ Country
Brew. in. fed. 2) 182 The Worts now run swiftly into a
j single Teer of Backs. 1787 M. CUTLI-R in Life, etc. (1888)
I. 311 1 here are two tiers of galleries, and the [meeting-]
house was very full. 1796 MOKSE Amcr. Gco. II. 358 It
consists of three bridges, or tires of arches one above
I another. 1844 Ln. HOUGHTON Palm Leaves r Above the
I towers of tripple tire. 1867 SMYTH .Va/AirV M ord-bk. 3.16
A round of grape-shot consists of three tier-; of cast-iron
balls, generally three in a tier. 1873 KVMONDS Grk. Poets ix.
280 The new theatre in Athens contained 30,000 spectators
seated in semicircular tiers scooped out of the rock.
b. A row of guns or gun-ports in a man-of-war
! or (as in quot. 15/3) in a fort.
1573 ! n Catr. Scott. Pap. IV. 475 Davyes towre. .a coin-ten
\viih vj cannons .. in loopes of stone .. behynd the same
standes another teare of ordinance] lyke xvj foote clym
above the other. 1632 LITHGOW Tmv. \\, 54 [A] man of
war. .carrying two tyre of Ordonance. a 1647 I J ETTE in
Archxologia. XII. 283 The. .distance of the lower tire of
ports from the water. 1722 DE For. Col. Jack (1840) \-z-z A
good tier of guns kept the rest at a distance. 1813 BYRON
Corsair in. xv, She bears ber down majestically near, Speed
on her prow, and terror in her tier.
C. A rank of pipes in an orgnn controlled by one
stop (see RANK sb* i, quots. 1811, 1881).
1828-33 in WEBSTER. 1880 E. J. HOPKINS in Grove Diet.
Mus. II. 580/2 Although the number of pipes to each key
thus continued to be added to, no means was devised for
silencing or selecting any of the several ranks or tiers.
d. transf. nndy?^. Rank, grade ; stratum.
1590 SPENSKR F. Q. \. iv. 35 Such one was Wrath, the last
of this ungodly tire. 1646 CRASHAW Sosp. if Her. xxxviii,
A gen ral hiss, from the whole tire of snakes. 1710 PAI.MKK
Proverbs 201 This is a sin of quality for the mo~t part, tho
the lower tier of people are often tainted with it. 1882
W. R WEEDEN Soc. Law Labor 66 The base Fuidirs com
posed the lower tier of society.
2. Naut. a. A row of ships moored or anchored
at a particular place ; hence, an anchorage or
mooring-place where ships lie in rows or columns.
1732 Lond. Mag. I. 152 All the Ships Crews in the Teer
gathered together. 1771 Ann. Reg. 148 A Dutch vessel.,
broke from her mooring, ran foul of a tier of ships. 1774
Hull Dock Act 33 No more than three ships.. shall lie in
the same tier, within the said haven. 1865 DICKENS Mnt.
Fr. i. i, The tiers of shipping lay on either hand. 1907 Law
Rep., Probate 61 A steamship, .which was lying at Green
wich tier.
b. (See quot. 1882.)
1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) X. 644/2 He [the mate] is to
have a diligent attention to the cables, seeing that they are
well coiled and kept clean when laid in the tier. 1800
COLQUHOUN Comm. Thames iii. 94 Tea . . stowed in the cable
tier of a China Ship. 1825 [see TIERER ]. 1833, 1860 [-ee
cable-tier s.v. CABLE sb. 7]. 1882 NAFES Seamanship (ed. 6}
05 The tiers are large racks, and stow the stream cable,
hawsers for the kedge, etc., anchor gear, runners and
tackles,.. clothes-lines, etc.
3. attrih. and Comb. : tier-board, a board be
longing to a cable or rope tier : see 2 b ; tier-
ranger, a (Thames) river thief; tier-saw: see
quot. 1877; tier-shot: see quot. 1867.
1887 MATHER Nor ard of Dogger (1889) 81 They spread
some the trawl-warp tier-boards along the thwarts, an a
rug on the top of em for me to lie on. 1858 DICKENS Dcnun
ivith Tide Repr. Pieces (1899) I 9^ "Tier-rangers, who
silently dropped alongside the tiers of shipping in the Pool,
by night. Ibid. 200 We took no Tier-rangers.. nor other
evil-disposed person or persons. 1862 MAVHEW L<>>/.
Labovr IV. 370/2 Tier-rangers or river pirates. 1877 KNIGHT
Diet. Meck. t * Tier-saw, one for cutting curved faces to bricks
for arches and round pillars. 1828 J. M. SPFARMAN Brit.
Gunner (cd. a) 35 *Tier Shot. At 50 rounds per gun. 1867
SMYTH Sailor s Word-bit., Tier-shot, that kind of grape-
shot which is secured in tiers by parallel iron discs.
Tier(t3i 3i),^. 2 Alsotyer. [f. TIEW. + -ER!.]
1. One who ties ; spec, a person employed to tie
something. Also tier up.
1633 P. FLETCHER Pott. Misc. 57 Hymen, the tier of hearts
already tied. 1648 HEXHAM it, Een H center, a Fixer, a
Fastner, or a Tyer to, 1848 Jml. R. Agric. Soc. IX. n. 554
The tiers can take the best to tie to the poles. 1876 PLUM-
MER tr. Ddllingers Hifpol. <J Cattistus\\\. issTheChurch..
is the tyer of the marriage bond. 1895 Daily Tel, 18 Sept.
4/2 He begins life at the sandpaper works, as a tier up of
bundles, at three and sixpence a week.
2. One who ties with another in a match or
competition.
1810 Sporting Mag. XXXV 97 The tyers to play with
one another in the order they become tyers.
3. Something that ties or is used for tying ; a band ;
spec. pi. ~ TIE-UP 4.
1844 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. V. i. 36 The beans are cut . . and
tied with strong tyers or straw bands. 1882 NARKS Seaman-
ship (ed. 6} 130 The sail is secured to the yard with tyers.
1895 Sotheby $ Catal. 25 Apr. 52 (Kelmscott Press) Morris,
. . The Defence of Guenevere , ornamental title and initial
letters, vellum, silk tyers, uncut.
4. U. S. A pinafore or apron covering the whole
3
TIER.
front of the dress. (Also spelt tire, tyre, and referred >
by some to TIRE so. 1 q. v.)
1846 WORCESTER, Tier, one that ties ; a child s apron,
tidy. See TIRE. 1864 WEBSTER, Tier, a child s apron
without sleeves, and covering the upper part of the body,
[1890] and tied with tape or cord. 1865 MRS. WHITNEY
Gayworthys I. 106 She took care of Say; put on her long- ]
sleeved tyers when she sent her out to play. 1889 L.
LARCOM A New Enflii. Girlhood 22 We sometimes smirched
.
our clean aprons (high-necked and long-sleeved ones, known
Tier(tij),z | . 1 [f. TIER rf. 1 ] trans. To arrange
or pile in tiers.
1888-9 N - Y rk Produce Exch. Kef. 301 (Cent.) Lighter-
men shall not.. be required to tier or pile their freight on
the docks.
Tier, v. 2 , erron. spelling of TEEK.
1837 J. MATLEY in Civil Eng. ft Arch. Jrnl. \. 54/2
Machinery for the operation of Tiering used in printing
Cotton, Linen, &c. 1909 Dundee Adrert. 25 Dec. 7 H
commenced work. .as a tier boy to a calico block printer.
Tier, obs. form of TEAR sb.\ TIRE.
Tierce (ti j js),rf. Forms: a. 4-8terae,6teyrse,
teers, 6-7 tearce, 7 tearse, teirce, teirse, ters,
5-9 teree : see also TERCE. 13. 5 tyerce, tyrse,
5-6 tyerse, 6 tyers, tiersse, tiers, tirce, 6-7
tierse, 4- tierce, [a. OF. terce, tierce, fern, of
terz, tiers (Roland, 1 1 th c.), later ters, tiers, mod.F.
tiers, fern, tierce : L. tertium, fern, tertiam third.]
tl. A third part ; = THIRD so. I. Obs.
1491 Aberdeen Kegr. (1844) I. 326 Twa terc!s beand
defalkyt of be sade some. 1555 EDEN Decades 351 Iwo
smaule Ilandes standyng in the xxii degrees and a terce.
1624 CAPT. SMITH Virginia 16 We came to Hatorask in 36.
degrees and a terse. 1631 DAVENANT Gondibert \. v. Ivi^J our-
hundred leaders.. And twice the tierce of these consists of
those [etc.].
fb. .=- THIRD so. 7. Obs. rare- 1 .
c 1420 LYDG. Thebes \. 39 The heauenly mansions Clerely
searched, by smale fraccions, First by secondes, terces, and
eke quartes.
1i o. Abbreviated title of the treatise Super Ter
tium Sententiarum of Alexander Hales. Obs.
1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) iv. xxi. 240 It is
sacrylege, after mayster Alexander de halis in his tyers.
2. Eccl. a. The third hour of the canonical day,
ending at 9 a.m. ; also, the period from 9 a.m. till
noon. (Cf. PRIME sb i.) Obs. exc. Hist.
C1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xi. (Symon ff ludns) 197 To-morne,
or it terse be,. .sal cum to |>e Messyngeris. 1450 Mirotir
Saluacioun 3644 It was hot tierce of the daye ouer ayrly
than for drynking. 1483 CAXTON Gold. Leg. 84/2 He..
18
1691 SIR W. HOPE Fencing.M aster (ed. 2) 4 When a Man I
holdeth the Nails of his Sword Hand quite downwards, he I
is said to hold his hand in Terce. 1707-1878 [see CARTE*]. ;
1779 SHERIDAN Critic in. i, O cursed parry ! that last
thrust in tierce Was fatal. 1809, 1889 [see QUART sb. s Ij. I
1876 TEXNYSON Q. Mary v. v, To reign is restless fence,
Tierce, quart and trickery.
7. In piquet and other card games, a sequence of
three cards in any suit.
Tierce major, the highest three cards of a suit ; tierce
minor, the lowest three, i.e. seven, eight, and nine ; tierce
to a king, queen, etc., a tierce of which the king, queen, etc.,
is the highest. Cf. QUART 3 2, QUINT i b.
tr. uns cc. s. \ . . .
the 12 hours] which lasted till Noon, was called Tierce,
because it began at the Third Hour of the day. 1844
LINGARD Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858) I. vii. 272 note, The third
of these hours was called undern or terce.
b. (Now usually spelt teree.) The office said
at this hour.
.-1380 WYCLIF Wks. (1880) 4r Late lewid freris seie..for
prime, tierce, vndren & noon, for eche of hem seuene pater
nostris. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 164 b, The
chirche . . in . . the . . houres canonical! entendeth to. . worshyp
at vij tymes in the daye, that is to saye, in matyns, pryme,
tierce, sext, none, euensonge & complyn. 1753 CHALLONER
Cath. Chr. Instr. 212 Terce, Sext, and None, begin with
Pater, Ave, &c. and consist each of them of a proper Hymn,
and six Divisions of the n8th Psalm. 1833 DALE tr.
Baldeschts Ceremonial 101 The vesting of the Bishop for
Terce. 1897 E. BISHOP in Prymer (E.E.T.S.) Introd. 38
The day hours, prime and terce, and sext and none, said in
every secular church.
3. Sc. Law. See TERCE.
"754 [see tercer s. v. TERCE, quot. c 1575!
4. An old measure of capacity equivalent to one
third of a pipe (usually 42 gallons old wine
measure, but varying for different commodities : cf.
PIPE sb* 2); also a cask or vessel holding this
quantity, usually of wine, but also of various kinds
of provisions or other goods (e. g. beef, pork,
salmon, coffee, honey, sugar, tallow, tobacco) ;
also such a cask with its contents.
1531 C/iarterfarty in R. G. Marsden Sel. PI. Crt. Admir.
36 Accounttyng. .ij pipes for a ton iiij hoggeshedds for a ton
and vj tercys for a ton. 1531-2 Act 23 Hen. VIII, c. 7 5
The butte, tonne, pype . . teers, barrell or rondletL 1538 ELYOT
Addit., Hemicadia, vesselles callyd a tierce, halfe a hogges-
heed. 1588 Wills f, Inv. ff. C. (Surtees) II. 180, ix tearces
of honeye, at i6t. per tonne, 24/. 1707 Land. Gaz. No.
4337/4 On Wednesday . . will be exposed to Sale . . about
400 Hogsheads and 10 Tierces of.. French Claret. 1800
COLQUHOUN Comm. Thames iii. 136 Beef and Pork, .con-
tained in. .Tierces and Barrels. 1825 Gentl. Mag. XCV. i.
216 [Coffee berries] closely packed in tierces for exportation.
1886 Pall Mall G. 19 June 6/1 The tobacco .. comes from
abroad.. in hogsheads, .in what are called tierces (a smaller
wooden barrel), and in bales.
f 6. A band or company of soldiers (cf. TERCIO).
1577-87 HOLINSHED Chron. III. 1227/1 Foure hundred
harquebusiers Spaniards, of thetierseofSardigna. 1668 Lond.
Gaz. No. 237/3 The Leavies of a Terse of Italian Infantry.
6. One of the positions in fencing ; the third of
the eight parries in sword-play, or the correspond
ing thrust : see quots. Also jig. (usually in con
junction with carle or quarle~). Cf. CARTED,
QUART sb$ i.
Picket, and of Kna-e, Queene and King in other games.
1765 STERNE Tr. Shandy VII. ix, That, Sir, is a terce to a
nine in your favour. 1860 Bohn s Hand-l k. Games I. 14
Many good players, in playing tierce majors, begin with the
king and queen. 1904 M. HEWLETT Queen s Qxain, xi. 146
I ve a terce to my Queen, mistress.
8. Alus. a. The interval of a third (major or
minor) ; the note at this interval above a given
note. Now rare or Obs. b. The note two octaves
and a major third (= a major I7th) above a funda
mental note ; hence, a mutation stop in an organ
giving tones at this interval above the normal pitch. (
Tierce of Picardy (usu. in Fr. form tierce de Picardie), a
major third used instead of a minor in the final chord of a
piece in a minor key.
1696 PHILLIPS (ed. 5), Tierce, ..in Musick, a Concord.
1704 J. HARRIS Lex. Techn. I. s.v., If the Terms be as 5 to
4, tis called, a Tierce Major, or a Diton ; but if the Terms
are as 6 to 5, then tis called, a Tierce Minor, or Demi-
Diton. 1776 BURNEY Hist. Mus. I. 138 The two stops of an
organ, called the fifteenth and tierce. 1801 BUSBY Diet.
Mus., Tierce of Picardy. 1879 tr. Du Moncets Telephone
43 Vibrations . . in the relation of a tierce major, that is in
the relation of four to five.
9. Her. a. A charge composed of three triangles,
usually all of different tinctures, arranged in fesse,
also in bend. b. The division of^a shield by lines
into three equal parts: see TIERCE, quot. 1883.
[c 1828 BERRY Eticycl. Her. I. Gloss., Tierces, or Tierches,
..used by French heralds to express three figures which
only take up the space of a fesse, but which are sometimes
placed in bend.] 1847 WEBSTER, Tierce, .a field divided
into three parts. 1894 Parkers Gloss. Her., Tierce (fr.), a
charge occurring in some French arms, consisting of three
triangles arranged generally in fesse. There may be two
tierces in the same shield.
10. attrib. or as adj. in special collocations :
tierce guard, parade : see sense 6 ; tieroe point,
Arch. [F. tiers-point}, the vertex of an equilateral
triangle, or of a pointed arch; tieroe rime =
TERZA-RIMA; tierce-song, the office of terce
( = sense 2 b) ; cf. undern-song.
1692 SIR W. HOPE Fencing-Master (ed. 2) 116 The *Terce
Guard, with the point higher than the Hilt. Ibid. 22 The
Terce Parade, or the Parade without the Sword, because
you put by the thrust upon that side which is without your
Sword. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Or/., Third Point, or*Tierce-
point... Arches or vaults of the third faint, called by the
Italians di terzo acnto, are those consisting of two arches of
a circle, meeting in an angle a-top. 1842-76 GWILT Encycl.
Archit. Gloss., Tierce Point. 1877 TOMLINSON (;;//)_ A
Vision of Hell : The Inferno of Dante translated into English
Tierce Rhyme. 1832 ROCK Ch. tif Fathers III. x. 473
St. Bede died a little after undern-time, or *tierce-song hour.
Hence Tierce v. (in phr. carte or quart and tierce:
cf. QUART a. 1 ), intr. to parry or thrust in tierce
(in quot. 1833 transf.}; in quot. 1765 trans. ?to
fence with (or ? as a vague threat).
1765 FOOTE Commissary in. (1782) 65 John, fetch me the
foils ; I ll carte and tierce you, you scoundrel. 1833 New
Monthly Mag. XXXVIII. 343 He quarts and tierces for
twenty minutes, slips, drops, and rolls.
II Tierce (tyfre, tiMsc), a. Her. [F. tierci, -(e, f.
fiercer to divide into three parts (i 3th c. in Godef.).]
Said of a field divided en tierce, i. e. into three
equal parts all of different tinctures : cf. prec. 9.
Also anglicized as Tierced (tiJst).
1725 COATS Diet. Her., Tierci, ..a French Term import,
ing that the Shield is divided into three equal Parts, when
those Parts are of as many different Colours or Metals.
1864 BOUTELL Her. Hist. <fr Pop. xxxii. (ed. 3) 471- "883
Chambers s Encycl. S.V., A shield may be tierce in pale, in
fess, in bend, in bend sinister, or in pall ; all which, wi
other arrangements in tierce, are common in French
Tiercel, Tiercelet : see TERCEL, TERCELET.
Tierceron (tI*Mserjm). Arch. [a. F. tierccron
(1518 in Godef. Compl.}, i. tiers, tierce third -t-
suffix -on (see -oos), with intercalated -er- : see
Godef. 63. i.] A subordinate arch springing
from the point of intersection of two main arches
of a vault.
1842-76 Guilt s Encycl. Archit., In de J-, Tierceron, _in
vaulting. 1890 C. H. MOORE Goth. Archit. i. 18 note, The
additional ribs, liernes, tiercerons, etc., which appear in tn.
later forms of vaulting, . . are mere surface ribs haying no real
function. 1905 BOND Gotk.Archit^i Intermediate ribs, or
tiercerons, were added in Lincoln nave.
Tierceroon, Tiercet, var.TERCEROON, TEKCET.
Tiered (tl-jd), a. [f. TIER soJ + -ED 2.] Hav
ing, or arranged in, tiers ; chiefly in parasynthe-
tic comb., as high-tiered, three-tiered, triple-tiered.
1807 J. BARLOW Columb. VH. 493 Flames, triple tier d, and
tides of smoke, arise. 1877 BI.ACKIE Wise Men 75 High-
TIE-WIG.
tiered, palatial dwellings. 1899 MACKAIL W. Morris II. 51
The passage of the shuttle through a double- or triple-
tiered warp. 1909 Daily Chron. 16 Sept. 7/2 The tiered
seats of the big demonstration kitchen.
Tierer J (tl-raj). [f. TIER j*. 1 or v. 1 + -ER .]
a. A aut. One who stows the cable in the tier : see
TIEK so. 1 2 b. b. One who arranges anything in
tiers.
1825 H. B. GASCOIGNE Nav. Fame 48 Hard work the
Tierers in the Tier below, The sturdy Cable in true coils
to Stow. 1891 Cent. Diet., Tierer.
Tie j rer-,var. orerron. i.teerer: seeunderTEER v.
1836 in Statist. Ace. Scotl. (1845) VIII. 384 Block-printers,
journeymen 16, apprentices 44, Tierers, one to each printer.
So Tiering, = TEERING.
1904 Eng. Dial. Diet,, Tiering, the cieling or rendering
of a roof J the plastering under slates.
Tiering (tisTirj), a. rare. [f. TIER so. 1 (or
? TIER z>.i taken in sense to form tiers ) + -ING 2 .]
Forming or rising in tiers.
1892 KIPLING Barrack-r. Ballads 132 The skipper looked
at the tiering guns and the bulwarks tall and cold. 1896
Seven Seas 137 You ll see her tiering canvas in sheeted
silver spread.
Tierme, obs. form of TERM.
llTierras (tye-ras),sA. //. Mining. U.S. [Sp.
tierras earths, pi. of tierra earth : L. terra.]
Pulverulent ore, spec, of quicksilver, mingled with
sand and earthy matter ; in Mexico, inferior pulver
ulent ores generally. Also attrib., as tierras-
furnace, -ore.
npregnated with qi
adobes before roasting.
Tiers, -e, Tierselet, obs. f. TIERCE, TERCELET.
II Tiers etat (tyfrzrta). [Fr., = third estate :
see TIERCE and ESTATE.] A third estate or class ;
esp. the third estate, the body of commons or their
representatives in the French National Assembly
before the Revolution ; whence sometimes applied
to the corresponding body in other countries : see
ESTATE sb. 6.
1783 J. ADAMS Diary 27 Feb., There are.. thirty classes
in the Tiers Etat. 1794 J. GIFFORD Reign Louis XVI 260
The three orders united confirmed all those important
decrees that had been made by the Tiers Etat. 1799
Monthly Kev. XXX. 548 Montesquieu mistakes in affirming
that the natives of the country [Russia] are all either lords
or slaves, and that there was no tiers-etat. 1837 CARLYLE
Fr. Rev. I. IV. i, Necker . . emits, if any proclamation or
regulation, one favouring the Tiers Etat.
Tiestie, dial. var. TEISTIE, the black guillemot.
Tieth, obs. form of TITHE.
Tie-Tip (tsi op), sb. (a.) [i. tie up: TIE v. 1 1 .]
I. Something tied up, or used for tying up.
1 1. = TIE-WIG. Obs.
1714 C. JOHNSON Country Lasses H. i, The last tye-up I
sold you was as light and bright as silver . . with a fine flowing
large open curl.
2. A ribbon with which some part of a child s
dress is tied or fastened up.
1896 Blackw. Mag. Oct. 520/2 The little ones .. rejoice in
clean bishops and tie-ups of various hues. 1909 Daily
Chron. 18 Nov. 7/1 Brief drawing-room appearances in a
nurse s arms with robes and tie-ups blue for a boy, pink for
a |! r An animal tied up as a bait for a beast of prey.
1893 MRS. B. M. CROKER Village Tales (1896) 27 Where s
the chap with the buffalo where is our tie-up? Ibid.. It
will be an awful sell if there is no tie-up, and the tiger
happens to go by.
4. Bookbinding, pi. Tapes or nbbons attached
to a portfolio, book-cover, etc., as a fastening.
1806 D. Reeves Catal. Sept. n/i Parchment, with silk
tie-ups. 1902 Ibid. Jan. 10/2, 4 sheets and a plan of London,
1572,. .in portfolio with tie ups, 215.
II. Act of tying up, or state of being tied up.
5. slang, a. A finish, conclusion, wind-up^ .
b. Pugilism. A knock-out blow, a finisher :
Storting ~Mag. II. 211 He knobbed his adversary
. .. stoppage of work or business, esp. on
account of a lock-out or strike.
1880 Sci. Amer. 19 Jan. 32/3 In the event of a tie-up , or
suite. 1894 Timlin July 7/1 (The Great Northern Pacific
Railroad] could not. .afford to face a tie-up. 1003 H estm.
Gaz. 30 June 11/3 No such tie-up has ever before been
known in the American cotton industry.
7 A condition of being tied up ; entanglement.
iod5 Statesman (Calcutta) 30 Sept. 3/7 She had no desire,
she said, to get into any more domestic tie ups .
III. 8. as adj. Constructed by tying up.
1881 Cheq. Career 43 Thirty whares [houses] with their
usual tie-up fences around them formed the outside Pah.
Tiew, variant of TEW Obs.
Tie -wig. Also tye-wig. [Cf. TIE- 3.] A
wig having the hair gathered together behind and
tied with a knot of ribbon.
TIE-WIGGED.
19
TIFT.
1713 GAY Guard. No. 149 f 17 The smart tye-wig with the
black ribbon. 1816 Scorr Antitj. iii, In tie-wigs and laced
coat.s. 1852 THACKERAY Esiond\\\. v,The gentleman-usher s
horror when the Prince of Savoy was introduced to her
Majesty in a tie-wig, no man out of a full-bottomed periwig
ever having kissed the Royal hand before.
attrib. 1887 BROWNING Parleying*, B. de Mandcvilte iv,
Addison s tye-wi^ preachment.
Hence Tie -wig sfed (-wigd) a., wearing a tie-wig.
1763 Brit. RIag. IV. 605 The powder d tye-wigged sons of
soot Trip to the shovel with a shoeless foot.
tTiff, sb^ Obs. rare- 1 , [f. TIFF vt\ Manner
of dressing or arranging, get-up ; the way in which
the hair, wig, etc. is dressed.
1703 The Levellers in Harl. Misc. (1745) V. 419/2 Did
you mark the beau Tiff of his Wig, what a deal of Pains he
took to toss it back ?
Tiff (tif ), st>. 2 colloq. or slang. ? Obs. Also 9
Sc. tift. [Origin obscure ; perh. onomatopoeic ;
cf. TIFF p.l, TIFT v.*]
1. Liquor, esf. poor, weak, or small liquor,
tipple .
a 1635 CORBET Poems, On J. Dawson, So let your chan
nels flow with single tiff, For John I hope is crown d. 1661
A. BROME Ansiv. Univ. Frietui Poems 165 Your next is
money, which I promise, Full fifty pounds alas the summe
is, That too shall quickly follow, if It can be rais d from
Strong or Tiffe. 1703 J. PHILIPS Splt-ndid Shilling 15
With scanty offals and small acid tiff (Wretched repast !j.
1736 AINSWORTH Lat. Diet, n, Vappa, .. palled wine that
hath lost its strength, dead drink, poor tiff. 1823 SCOTT
Quentin D. Introd., Drinking acid tiff, as above mentioned.
2. A sip or little drink of punch or other diluted
liquor. Cf. WHIFF.
1717 BAILEY vol. II, Tiff, a small Quantity of potable
Liquor, as a Tiff of Punch, etc. 1752 FIELDING Amelia
vili. x, What say you to. .a tiff of punch by way of whet ?
1804 STAGG Misc. Poems (1807) 3 (E.D.D.) Mpnnie a tift o
yell. 1815 SCOTT Guy HI. xi, Sipping his tiff of brandy
punch with great solemnity. titfaSportUtf Xfag.W . 272 The
gentleman can t take a tiff of beer in a morning. 1820
Blackw. Jtfaf. VIII. 98 We shall take a tiff of Campbell
and Somerville s best black strap.
Tiff (tif), rf.3 colloq. [Origin obscure; prob.
onomatopoeic, from the sound of a slight puff of air
or gas.]
1. A slight outburst or fit of temper, pettishness,
or ill-humour. Now rare or merged in 2.
1727 BAILEY vol. II, Tiff,, .also a small Fit of Anger, etc.
1729 M RS. DELANY in Life ft Carr.(iKi) 1. 230 That common
compassion (says he in a tiffj would give me but little satis
faction. 1739 K- H L L I- " Dedekindus Grobianus 102
tain Anthony being in some tiff of his own.
2. A slight or petty quarrel ; a temporary ill-
humoured disagreement ; a breeze ; sometimes
applied to a more serious quarrel.
1754 RICHARDSON Grandison, (1781) IV. xxxviii. 268 My
Lord and 1 have had another little Tiff, shall 1 call it? it
came not up to a quarrel. 1755 KlDGELLCar^II. 150 Your
dear Letter fell into Mamma s Hands, and. .Madam thought
herself entitled to open it. So, my Dear, we had a violent
Tiff upon it. 1868 LOUISA M. ALCOTT Little Women ix,
More friendly than ever after their small tiff. 1888 BRYCE
Amer. Comttiw. I. xi. 145 Little tiffs are frequent when
the senatorial majority is in opposition to the executive.
3. A short outburst (of laughter, etc.). rare.
1858 CARLYLE Fredlt. Gt. vn. i. II. 149 Wilhelmina ..
answered.. him with tiffs of laughter, in a prettily fleering
manner.
tTiff, v. 1 Obs. [a. OF. tifer, tiffer to adorn
(i2th c. in Godef.), mod.F. atlifer: see ATIFFE.]
1. trans. To attire, dress, deck out, trick out,
tittivate (one s person, hair, etc.). (In i8th c.
like F. attifer, usually familiar.)
1225 [sec TIFFING vU. s6.]. 1303 R. BRUNNE Handl.
- - , . _ 1350 IVill. Paierne 3183
bow noujt . . (>at i was tiffed in a-tir when i wend fro be.
1382 [see TIFFLE i], 1729 MRS. DELANY in Life >r Corr.
(1861) I. 225, I am sorry your ladies should tiff anything but
their hair. 1768 TUCKER Lt. Nat. (1834) I. 40 Her desire of
tiffing out her mistress in a killing attire,
b. a/isa/. or intr.
1700 CONGREVE Way o/ World n. iv. Poor Mincing tift
nd tm all the morning. 1741 MRS. MONTAGU Lett. (1906)
I. 65 While Deb is tiffing and tiffing till my hair is so pure
and so crisp.
2. trans, a. To put in order, arrange, b. To
prepare, make, construct.
vi I3 , i C< "" * Gr - Knt - I12 . & t" a y buskcn vp bilyue,
blonkkez to sadel, Tyffen her takfes, trussen her males.
1400-50 Alexander 4465 Sum [idols] ere tiffid all of tree,
and sum of tyn pured.
8. intr. To be idly employed, be busy about
trines.
c 1440 Promf,. Pan. 493/2 Tyffyn, werke ydylly, idem
jBDrftymeryn.
Hence f Tiffed ppl. a., tricked out, adorned (in
quot.yfy.) : see also TIFT///. a.
1303 K. BRUNNE I land!. Synne 11763 Yn tyfed [v.r. tyf-
fedej wurdys bat slyked are, Seme}, for synnes bat >ey no;t
Tiff, v. l colloq. or slang. ? Obs. [f. TIFF sb*
Cf. TIFT v. t] trans. To drink; esf. to drink
slowly or in small portions, to sip.
1769 Trincxio i Trip 25, I was tiffing a stout cann of flip.
iSog-ii COMBE Syntax v. 140 He tifTd his pu;ich, and went
to rest.
Tiff, Z . 3 [f. TIFF ^.3] intr. To be in a tiff or
pet ; to have a tiff, or petty quarrel.
1727 BAILEY vol. II, To TiJF, to be angry, peevish, fretful,
or displeased at. 1859 F. FRANCIS Newton Dog-vane (1888)
59 The Captain was late, and Miss Bowers tiffed.
Tiff, ? . 4 Anglo-lnd. [app. abbreviation of or
back-formation from tiff-ing^ TIFFIN.] intr.=
TIFFIN v. t to lunch.
1803 ELPHISSTONE in Colebrooke Life (1884) I. v. 116 We
were interrupted by a summons to tiff, at Flayer s. After
tiffin Close said he should be glad to go. 1816 (Juiz Grand
A) aster p viii. 230 The huntsman now inform d them all, They
were to tijfa\. LJobbVy Hall. 1825 T. HOOK Sayings Ser. n.
Passion <y Princ. in, I m afraid you won t like our tiffin,
Walford . .. I have tiffed , said Walford. 1859 LANG
IVaitd. India. 16, 1 will tiff with you to-day at half-past two,
Tiffany (trfani). Also 7 tiffanie, -enay,
-eney, -inie, -iny, tifine, tifuie, tiphany, ^-9
tiffeny, 9 tiffiiey. [a. OF. tifaiie (c 1200),
tiphanie (with 40 variants in Godefroy, s. v. Ti-
faigne} : L. theophania, THEOPHANT, applied to
the Epiphany (see Du Cange). Sense 2 appears
to be English only, and to have arisen about 1600;
it is usually taken to be short for * Epiphany silk
or * muslin ; but as to the reason of the name no
evidence has been found. (Perhaps it was a fanci
ful name, with allusion to the sense manifestation 1 :
see quots. 1601, 1645 in 2.)]
1 1. The festival of the Epiphany or Twelfth Day
(Jan. 6). Obs. (Scarcely an English use.)
[1292 BRITTON n. xxi. 2 Del comencement del Advent
jekes as utaves de la Tiphanie [v. rr. Tiphayne, Kpiphanie ;
tr. from the beginning of Advent until the Octaves of the
Epiphany]. 1^23 in Tate Housch. Ord. dw. 7/62 margin,
l,e jour de la Pyffayne.] 11633 AUSTIN Medit. (1635) 56
This is Twelfe day.. .Hut mare anciently and most properly
it was called the Epiphany.. .Our great grand Fathers, .as
the Legend sayes called it the Tiffany .. we must know it
signifies Apparition or Manifestation from above.
2. A kind of thin transparent silk; also a trans
parent gauze muslin, cobweb lawn : see also
quots. 1882.
1601 HOLLAND Pliny xi. xxii. I. 323 The invention of
that fine silke, Tiffanie, Sarcenet, and Cypres, which in
stead of apparell to cover and hide, shew women naked
through them. 1611 COTGR., Gaze.,, .also (the sleight stufTe)
Tiffanie. a 1625 FLETCHER Noble Gent. i. i, Let her haue
Veluets, Tiffin ies, Jewels, Pearls. 1645 EVELYN Diary June,
[Venetian ladies], their sleeves. ., shewing their naked armes,
thro false sleeves of tiffany. 1671 SKINNER Etymol.^ Tiffeny t
Sericum tenuissimum & mollissimum. 1682 WHEI.ER Jottrn.
Greece i. 64 Silken Vail, as thin as Tiphany. 1685 Lond.
Gaz. No. 2001/4, 33 Yards of Black Tiffeney for Mourning
Scarves. 1718 LADY M. W. MONTAGU Let. to C tess Mar
10 Mar., The table-cloth and napkins. . were all tiffany, em
broidered with silk and gold. 1788 MRS. SHERWOOD in Life
(1847) v. 63 A shepherdess s hat, of pale blue silver tiffany,
1796 MRS. GLASSE Cookery xxi. 325 Good clear isinglass..
tied up in a piece of thin tiffany. 1882 HECK Draper s Dict. t
Tiffany.. a. kind of transparent gauze stiffened with gum,
still produced for employment in the production of artificial
flowers. 1882 CAULFEILU & S AWARD Diet. Needlework,
Tiffany, a thin description of semi-transparent silk textile,
resembling gauze. Ibid., Tijfeny, a description of muslin,
of open make,.. employed for Needle Embroidery.
b. An article made of tiffany, as a head-dress,
a garment, a sieve, etc.
1606 WARNER Alb. Eng. xvi. ci. (1612) 400 Fannes, Tifnies,
Maskes, Bongraces. -1620 T. ROBINSON Mary Magd. i.
423 Atiffany shee wore about her head, Hanginge submissely
to her shoulders white. 1788 \V. MARSHALL Yorksk. Gloss.,
Tiffany, a fine gauze sieve, for separating fine flour. 1882
T. LUCAS Stud. Nidderdale 15 Flour, .separated from the
bran by being worked through a hair-sieve tiffany, or temse.
-.Af.
a 1624 Bp. M. SMITH Semi. (1632) 132 Put on the silke of
honesty, the tiffiny (as it were) of sanctimony, and the purple
of chastity. 1650 B. Discolliminium 36 As a wel-wrought
piece of tiffany or sophistry, but not as a sound Logicall or
Theologicall Webbe. 1651 BIGGS New Disp. r 250 From
the Tiffany and thinner dresse of a vapour. 1829 T. HOOK
Bank to Barnes 86 The trumpery tiffany of drawing-room
tittle-tattle.
d. ait rib. or as adj. Made of or resembling
tiffany; Jig. transparent*, flimsy, e. Comb, as
tiffany -trader.
1608 DEKKER -2nd Pt. Honest Wh. \\. i. Wks. 1873 II. 119
As arrant a whore as euer stiffned tiffany neckcloathes in
water-starch. 1626 Faithf. Friends i.ii, This tiffany-trader
wants customers. 1658 R. FRANCK North. Mem* (1821) 48
It s a tiffany plot ; any man with half an eye may easily see
through it. 1664 H. POWER Exf, Philos. i. 30 Another
pair of filmy Tiffany long wings, like those of Flyes. 1699
EVELYN Acetaria (1729) 174 Stamp it as small as to pass
thro a fine Tiffany Sieve. 1703 MRS. CENTLIVRE Beau s
Duel n. ii, Whose tiffany natures are so easily impos d upon.
18*3 LAMB Elia Ser. n. New-Y. s coming of age , Twelfth
Day. .came in a tiffany suit, white and gold.
f TrflTety-ta-ffety, a. nonce-wd. Reduplicated
form vitaffety adj. = TAFFETA B. 2 (cf. quot, 1621
there) ; perh. also associated with TIFFZ.I
1595 Maroceus Ext. 13 Tush, she that I talke of can enter-
taine you with a duzen of tiffite taffetie girles in a morning.
Tiffin (ti fin), $b. Anglo-Ind. Also 9 tiffing.
[Appears to have originated in the Eng. colloq. or
slang tiffing^ vbl. sb. from TIFF z>.- to take a little
drink or sip (cf. quot. 1785), which has been
specialized in Anglo-Indian use.
1785 GROSF. Diet. Vitlg. Tongue, Tiffing, eating, or drink
ing out of meal time. 1867 WEDGWOOD Diet. Eng. Etymol.,
Tiffin, now naturalised among Anglo-Indians in the sense
ofmncheon, is the North country tijfing (properly sipping).]
In India and neighbouring eastern countries,
A light midday meal ; luncheon.
1800 WARD in Carey s Life vi. (1885) 137 Krishna came to
eat tiffin (what in England is called luncheon] with us. 1803
[see TIFF v. ]. 1810 T. WILLIAMSON E. Ind. I "ade M. I. 352
The [Mahommedan] ladies, like ours, indulge in tidings
(slight repasts). ri8i6 MRS. SHEKWOOD Stories on Ch.
Catech. xvi. 141 She gave them a good tiffing about one
o clock. 1831 TRKLAWNY Adv. Younger San II. 115 When
the gong sounds one, you will find tiffin in the hall. 1896
1 H. S. MKRKIMAS I lotsam xx, I ll call for you after tiffin.
1906 Peking f, Tientsin Times g May 1/2 Those wishing
to have tiffins at the forthcoming spring meeting will please
apply at the secretary s office. Price $2. oo per tiffin.
b. attrib., as tiffin-bell, -table, -time.
1811 MKS. SHERWOOD Henry ff Bearer 31 The tiffin time
was very stupid to the little boy. 1852 Life in Bombay 34
The preparation of the tiffin tablf. 1890 CLARK RI/SSELL
Shipmate Louise vi, The tiffin-bell rang.
Hence Ti ffin ;., a. intr. to take tiffin, to lunch ;
cf. TIFF t .4 ; b. trans, to provide with tiffin.
1866 MissIiRADrxw Lady s Mile xi, I d tiffin them if they
were my visitors. 1880 P. GILI.MORK On Duty 51 Here I
tiffined. 1903 I.D. R. COWER Rec. ft Remin. 388 We tiffined
at a tea-house in the village.
Tiffing (ti-firj), vbl. sb. [f. TIFF .l + -ixc,l.]
The action of TIFF v^ ; decking or tricking out,
personal adornment.
n 1225 Ancr. R. 420 (MS. C.) Wrihen ha schal hire
scheome, as sunfule Kue dohter ;. .& naut drah f> wrihel<- S
to tiffung & te prude. 1303 R. BRUNNE llandl. Synne 3243
Moche she loued feyre tyfyng_ On here hede. 1635 CRANLK.Y
Amanda 33 Thus with thy tiffing, trimming, and thy mend
ing, Thou spend st whole houres together without ending.
1741 MRS. DELANY in Lift ff Corr. (1861) II. 168 Now f. .r
curling, tiffing, etc. Our Duchess will be almost as fine as the
Nabob s lady.
Ti fflsh.ff. colloq. rare ". [f.TiFFJ/v ! + -ISH ] .]
Given to tiffs, ready to take offence; pettish, peevish.
1855 in O.AKKF. 1864 in WEBSTER.
Tiffle (ti f l), t . 1 Obs. exc. dial. Forms : 4 tifle,
5 tiffel, tyffle, 6 tyfi f)ell, o tiffle. [Dim. or freq.
of TIFF z/.l]
(I. trans. To dress up, adorn, deck or trick
out (in a trifling or time-wasting way). Obs.
1388 WYCI.IF Ecclus. xxxii. 15 In the our of risyng, tifle
[1382 tyff] thee not. Margin, That is, make thee no tari-
yng in araiyng, ether tiflyng of heeris, as wymmen doon.
2. intr. To busy oneself idly, fiddle , trifle;
to potter about. Now dial.
f 1440 rrtimf. Pan . 493/2 Tyfflynge, or vnprofytabylle
werkynge (S., A., / . tyffynge). 1530 PALSGK. 758/1, 1 tyfell
with my fyngers, or busye my selfe longe aboute a thyng. .,
je tijffe. You have spente two houres to lyffell about this
thyng. a 1825 FORBY Voc. E. Anglia, Tiffle, to be mightily
busy about little or nothing.
Hence Ti ffler, one who tiffles ; in qnot. app.
one who dresses up ; in mod. dial. a trifler, idler .
(1400 ritnyitians T. 195 But Antichrist they serven clene,
Attyred all in tyrannye;. .Tiffelers attyred in trecherye.
Tiffle, tifle (ti-f l), v." Chiefly dial. [app.
onomatopceic : cf. TAFFLE.] trans. To disorder,
disarrange, entangle, ravel ; tijflc out, to ravel out.
1811 WILLAN Words W. Riding m Archsrol. (1814) XVII.
161 Tijlc, v. to entangle, to mix and knot threads together.
1815 Monthly Mag. i Mar. 125/1 Essex Dialect, Tiffle, to
disarrange. 1823 BROCKETT N. C. Words, Tiflt, tyjell, to
entangle, . .to ruffle. 1880 Plain Hints Netdlework 121
Tifflings . . is used in some parts to describe the ravellings
or threads. To tiffle out , to ravel out or unweave.
Tiffoon, obs. form of TYPHOON.
t Tiffu-re. Obs. rare- 1 , [a. OK. lifeure a head
dress (a 1 200 in Godef.), f. tifer, TIFF z/.l : see
-ORE.] Dressing up, adornment.
1303 R. BRUNKE Handl. Synne 3290, Y suffre bys mys-
auenture For on my heuede ouer feyre tyfure.
Tiffy (ti fi), sb. Naut. slang. [Contraction of
ARTIFICER.] An engine-room artificer.
1899 F. T. BULLEN Way Navy 34 My life long admiration
for the blue-jacket proper will be shared by his brothers in
arms, the stoker and engine-room artificer ( tiffy as we call
1904 KIPLING Traffics^ Disc. 57 Those dirty engin
room objects which we call tiffies .
him).
Tiffy (ti-fi), a, [f. TIFF J^.S + .T.] Given to
tiffs; in a tiff; pettish, ill-humoured; faddy.
1810 Splendid Follies II. 126 The old lady felt quite tiffy,
and mumbled her roll in silence. 1883 Bread-Winners
(1884) 27 She s too tiffy for poor folks like us.
Tifle (t9H l) > z>. Chiefly dial. Also 8-9 tyfle.
[Origin unascertained.] intr. Of a horse: To get
a strain in the back : chiefly in Tifled ///. a.
1703 THORESBV Let. to Ray s.v. (E.D.S.), A lifted horse,
when broken above the loins. 1708 J. C. Compl. Collier
(1845) 33 Least a Horse or two Tyfle, or be out of Order by
a Fall. 18*8 Craven Gloss., Tijled, sprained in the back.
1863 MRS. Toocooo Yorksh. Dial. (MS.), The horse will
never do any more work ; he is tyfled in the back.
Tift (tift), sb Sc. and north, dial. [History
obscure; ? related to TIFT ///. a. and TIFT T/.I]
Condition, order ; conditionof mind, mood, humour.
1717 RAMSAY Elegy on Lucky Wood vii, Beef, dry fish, or
cheese, Which kept our .. health in tift. 171* WODROW
Hist.Ch. Scot. 1 1. in. iv. 4. 140 The King s Horse being in
good Tift. 1715 RAMSAY GentlcShepk. \. i, I m in tift to hear
you play and sing. 1824 MACTAGGART Gallovid. EncycL
449 A poet s muse is in lift when she sings well; corn also
3-a
TIFT.
is in lift when it is dry, viz., in tift to lead. 1904 in Eng.Dial.
Diet, cited Cumberld., to Cheshire, and n..w. Derbysh.
Tift, sb.- Sc. and dial. [app. var. of TIFF j.3]
1. A slight fit of ill-humour or offendedness; a
petty quarrel or disagreement : = TIFF sb. * * I, 2.
1751 SMOLLETT Per, Pic. (1779) IV. xc. 83 It [his intimacy]
was now chequered with occasional tifts. 1761 MRS. F.
SHEKIDAN Sidney Biditlpk III. 42 She supposed he married
in a tiffi, upon my refusal of him. 1808 ELKANOR SLEATH
Bristol Heiress III. 81 My wife and 1 have often a bit of a
tift. 1887 P. M C NEILL Blawearie 61 The last time we
met Bob and I we had a tift , ye ken what that is.
2. A puff, breath, or slight blast (of wind).
41765 Ld. Thomas, etc. xvii. in Child Ballads in. (1885)
183/1 Four and twanty siller bells Wer a tyed till his mane,
Andyae tift o the norland wind, They tinkled ane by ane.
t Tift, ppl. a. Sc. Obs. [Goes with TIFT v.^]
Prepared, ready ; set in order; provided, furnished.
13.. Cursor HI, 1761 (Cott.) Quen al was tift [v.rr. wro3t,
don] was Jsar na bide, pe stormes ras on ilka side. Ibid.
5089 Mas your gere al redi tift, Your seckes sal i til o gift.
Ibid. 24807 Wit trissor son his scipp was tift. c 1375 Sc.
Leg. Saints xvlii. (Egificiane) 870, I cane fond To bnt
flume.., And wesche in y l bath handis & face; Syne come
agane, & with schryfte And contryt hart mad me lyfte,
Tift, v. 1 Obs. exc. dial. [Origin uncertain ; in
quots. ^1425, 1600 it appears to be a var. of
TIFF v.^ ; but in the rest it may be a different word :
cf. TIFT sb.^j TIFT///. #.] trans. To prepare, make
ready, put in order; to dress.
13.. Cursor M. 19425 (Cott.) Steuen lifted him al bun [so
Go tt. ; Fair/. $ Tr. made him redi bun], And ^an bigan a
gret sarmun. c \qi$St.]\Iaryo/ Oignies \. \.\nAttglia. \\\\.
135/34 Tressynge an ^ lifting of here [ hair]. 1600 ABP.
ABBOT E.\-p. Jonah 591 Beholding a woman most curiously
trimmed, and exquisitely tiffted up. 1641 BEST Farm. Bks.
(Surtees) 32 There are many ihinges belonge to t if tinge of
hay ; as spreadinge, . . turninge, rakinge, and cockinge. Ibid.
33 If it [hay] bee eyther wette or greene when yow cocke it,
yow are not to lette it stande above three dayes afore yow
throwc it out againe and gette it well lifted [#r. tifledj in.
Ibid. 61 For tiftinge of a newe hive. 1790 M ORISON Poems
25 (Jam.) The fidler lifted ilka string. 1876 Whitby Gloss.
s.v. ( Tifted up , cleansed and put into order.
Tift, v.- Sc. and dial. [var. of TIFF z>. 2 ] trans,
To drink, quaff; = TIFF z/.2 ( a l so intr.}.
1722 W. HAMILTON Wallace in. i. 18 They. .lifted canty
wine. 1819 W. TENSANT Papistry ,S/0nw & (1837) 101 The
siller stoups, on heigh upliftit, Were tootit in a whip, and
tiftit. 1833 M. SCOTT Tom Cringle x. (1859) 203 The Captain
was stowing his cargo with great zeal and lifting away at
the fluids as became an honest sailor.
Tift, v$ Obs. or dial. [f. TIFT sb?] intr. To
have a tiff; = TIFF v.i
1777 SHERIDAN Sch. Scand. i. ii, We lifted a little going
to church, and fairly quarrelled before ihe bells had done
Tig (tig), sb Also 9 tigg, tic. [f. TIG z>.]
1. A touch : usually a light but significant touch,
a tap or pat, = TICK sb2 i ; rarely applied to
one that hurts. Sc. and north, dial.
1721 KELLY Sc. Prov, 243 Many Masters, quolh the
Poddock lo ihe Harrow, when every Tin[e] gave her a Tig.
1822 GALT Sir A. IVylie I. v. 36 It s bairnly to mak sic
a wark for a bit tig on the haffet. 1823 BROCKETT N. C.
Words, Tig, a slight louch ; as a mode of salulation. 1897
LD. E. HAMILTON Outlaws ii. 21 Just a tig of the cheek,
Gavin. ..There s nolhing in lhat to shame an honest man,
surely ?
2. A children s game, in which one of the players
usually designated tig or it pursues the others
until he overtakes and touches or tigs one, who
in his turn becomes tig* : the same as TAG sd. 2
Cf. TICK st>2 i b, and Sanders Wffrterb. (1865) Der Zeck t
em Spiel der Kinder, wobei eins dem Andern einen Schlag
giebt.
1816 S. M. TAIT in Remin. Lady Wake v. (1909) 62 If it
is wet, we play at tigg up and down the stairs. 1854 WARTER
Last of Old Squires ii. 15 The sons., would have a start
with ihe fleelest youlhs of the hamlet at prison er s-base, or
the old fashion d game of tic. i88j H. O. FORBES Nat.
Wand. E. Archip. 68 Wilh varieties of chevy, tig, and
blind-man s buff. 1894 MRS. H. WARD Marcella I. 12 The
mad games of tig which she led., in the top playground.
Tig, sb.t, variant of TYG, a drinking-cup.
Tig (tig), v. [History obscure. It may be, as
some think, a variant or alteration of TICK z;.l, or
a parallel formation. Cf. the parallelism of MHG.
and Ger. zecken to pat, and der zeck the game of tig
(Tic *U 2).]
1. intr. To give light or playfully rough touches ;
esp.yig . to trifle, dally with ; f to tig and tar to
tick and toy : see TICK z>.l i. Sc. and north, dial.
c 1470 HENRYSON Mor. Fab. v. (Parl. Beasts} i, [The fox]
That luifit weill with pullrie to tig and tar. 1634 RUTHER
FORD Lett. (1862) I. 140 He may get up and lend them a
blow who are tigging and playing with Christ and His
spouse. 1815 G. BEATTIE John c? Arnna (1826) 41 It was
nae joke To tig wi fiends that vomit smoke. iSag JAMIE-
SON s. v., Young people are said to be tigging, when sport
ing wilb genlle touches, or palling each other.
b fs~ To interfere, meddle, have to do with. Sc.
90
iSai Bl&ckw. Mag. Aug. 38 To join the merry ring at
..Tig me if you can. 1828 Crarcn Gloss. t Tig, to touch
lightly ;. .to have the last touch when leaving school. 1866
A, W. BUCHAN Song of Rest n. 29 Some tig and run,
TIGER.
iv. v. 177 The lesser sort of Tigres spotted like a Leopard.
1748 Ansoiis Voy. n. xii. 267 There were great numbers of
tygers in the woods [Pacific coast, Mexico] . . they are by no
trench lig] is always to tig on a p<
cult lo hold whilst tigging anolher.
b. intr. Jig. To pluck or dig at, as if playing
tig ; to annoy one by petty provocations, dial.
wi you Will soon hae cause to claw. 1873 W. ALEXANDER
Johnny Gibb xix, Nedder you nor Mr. Sleekaboot made yer
plack a bawbee by liggin wi her.
2. trans. To touch in the game of tig (TiG sb.^ 2).
Also absol. (see also b).
ging, And winna let me be.
3. intr. transf. To run from place to place, as if
chased, dial.
1834 LOVI;R Leg. f ff Stor. Irel. Ser. n. 297 He run undher
a stool, and kept tiggin about from one place to th other.
1882 J.WALKER Jannt to Auld Reekie 13 Like cattle liggin 1
frae ihe clegs and flees Awa they scamper.
II Tige (tifc). [F. tig* stalk :-L. tibia, shank,
pipe.] The shaft of a column ; also transf., in a
tire-arm or cartridge, see quot. 1877; ^ n Bot. y see
quot. 1900. Tige-arm, a fire-arm fitted with a
tige (Cent. Diet. 1891).
1664 EVELYN K.Frearfs Archit. 126 That round and long
Cylinder diversly named by Authors, Scapus, Vivo, Tige,
Shaft, Fust, Trunke. 1710 J. HARRIS Lex. Techn. II, Tige.
in Architecture, is the Shaft of a Column from the Astragal
to the Capital. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl., Tige, in archi
tecture, a French term for the shaft or fust of a column,
comprehended between the astragal and the capital. 1877
KNIGHT Diet. Ulech,, Tige,. .a stem or stalk. A pin at the
base of the breech in the Thouvemn system of fire-arms, for
expanding the base of the ball ; an anvil or support for Ihe
cap or primer in a central-fire cartridge. 1900 B, D. JACK
SON Gloss. Bot. Terms 271/1 Tige,. .stem.
II Tigelle (t/^e-l). Bot. Also tigel, and in L.
form tigella (tid^e la), (erron. tige llum, ti-
ge-llus). \^. tigelle caulicle, radicle, dim. of tige.
(Tibta^tige^tigelle^x^ fern., hence the correct Latin form is
tigella.)]
The embryonic axis or primitive stem, which
bears the cotyledons ; the caulicle or radicle.
Sometimes applied tothe plumule, which is properly
the growing top of the tigelle. Hence Tigel-
late (ti-d^ekit) a., having a tigelle; Tigellnle
(tidge-litfl), see quot. 1860; whence Tig-e-llular
a., pertaining to or of the nature of a tigellule.
1860 MAYNE Ex^os. Le.r., Tigella^ term for that part of
the vegetable embryo which unites the radicle to the coty
ledon. Ibid., Tigellatits, applied to ihe pltdnula when
supplied with a visible tigella, as in the /-": tigellale.
ltta. t Tigellular. Ibid.^ Tigfllitla, term by Turpin for Ihe
short and sterile filaments which are one of the two ele
mentary organs of the mass of the IrufHe: a ligellule. 1866
Treas. Bot.) Ttgellate, having a short stalk, as the plumule
of a bean. 1900 B. D. JACKSON Gloss. Bot. Terms 271/1
Tigelle^ Tigella,..^. miniature or initial stem, used for (a)
caulicle or hypocotyl, (l>) plumule.
Tiger (tai-gai), sb. Forms : I (//.) tigras,
(-es) ; 4-7 tygre, 4-8 tigre, 5 tigir, -yr, tygyr,
-vXt 5-9 *yg er ) ^ tygiTj Sc. tegir, tegre, 6-7
tigar, 7 tygar, 7- tiger. [ME. a. OF. tigre
fVii5O in Godef. Compt.), ad. L. tigrem t nom.
tigris, whence also rare OE. pi. tigras^ -es ; Ger.,
Da., S\v. tiger t Du. tijger, Sp., Pg., It. tigre. L.
tigris was a. Gr. riypts, a foreign word, evidently
oriental, introduced when the beast became known.
(Some have conjectured connexion with Zend tigftri arrow,
tighra sharp, pointed, in reference lo the celerity of its
spring ; but no application of either word, or any derivative,
to the tiger is known in Zend.)]
1. A large carnivorous feline quadruped, felis
tigrtSj one of the two largest living felines, a cat- i
like maneless animal, in colour tawny yellow with
blackish transverse stripes and white belly ; widely i
distributed in Asia, and proverbial for its ferocity
and cunning.
Bengal tiger, Royal tiger (t tiger royal}, the tiger of Ben
gal, where it altains its typical development.
a 1000 DC rebus in Orients in Cockayne Narrat. 58 Ymb
J?a stowe beo3 . . fore hundum tigras & leopardos "^ hi feda"3.
c xooo ^LFRIC Horn. II. 492 Twa hreSe deor, ^e sind tigres
fcehalene.baEir urnon. 13.. ,AT./I#.r.5227(Bodl.MS.)Lyouns, :
Olyfaunz,Tygres, and dragouns, Vnces grele, and leopardes.
c 1386 CHAUCER Sqr, s T. 411 Ther nys Tygre \v.r. tigre], ne
noon so crueel beesl-.That nolde ban wept. 1484 CAXTON
Fables of Auian xiii, Whan he sawe passe ihe lygre before
the busshe, he shote at hym an arowe. 1581 PETTIE Gitazzo s
Civ. Com , in. (1586) 124 So monstrous a creature.. that U i
was doubtfull whether she were a woman or a tigar. 1605 .
SHAKS. Macb. in. iv. 101. 1698 FRYER Ace. E. India $ P. \
iv. v. 176 A Youth killed a Tigre-Royal.. .It was a Tigre of
the Biggest and Noblest Kind. 1777 ROBERTSON Hist* \
Anier. I. iv. 260 America gives birth to no creature that
equals the lion or tyger in strength and ferocity. 1847
EMERSON Refr. Men, Napoleon Wks. (Bohn) I. 369 A man
of stone and iron., with the speed and spring of a tiger in
action. 1882 F. M. CRAWFORD Mr. Isaacs x, Crashing
through the jungle after tiger with varying success.
2. Applied to other animals of the same genus,
as in America to the Jaguar, Felis onca, and the
Puma or Cougar, F. concolor (rare) ; and esp. in
South Africa to the Leopard or Panther, F.pardus.
1604 E. G[RIMSTONE] D Acflsta s Hist. Indies in. xv. 166
Vpon the sea shoare the Caymant with his taile gaue great
blowes vnto the Tygre. 1698 FRYER Ace. E, India 4- P.
part oi Africa call tygers,
.represented in. .M. de Buffon s work, under the denomina
tion of panthers and leopards. 1832 MACGILLIVRAY tr. Hum-
boldCs Trav. xvi. (1836) 215 When the ligers approached ihe
edge of the forest, a dog which the travellers had began to
howl. 1894 E. EGGLESTON in Century Mag. Apr. 849 The
panther was long called a tyger in the Carolinas.
b. esp. with qualifications.
^American t. t ^Mexican /., ihe jaguar; black /., a dark
variety of (a) the jaguar, (b) the leopard ; clouded (., inar-
bledt., tortoises/tell t., species of TIGER-CAT; ^poltroon /.,
t red /., earlier names for the puma; ^spotted t. t (a 1 the
leopard, (&) the cheetah (also t tiger of chase}.
1774 GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. II. xiv. 332 The tyger of Bengal
has been seen to measure twelve feet in length,, .whereas
the American tyger seldom exceeds three. Ibid. III. vii.
244 An animal of America, which is usually called the Red
Tiger, but Mr. Buffon calls it the Cougar. 1784-5 Ann.
Keg. n. 20 His tygers of chase likewise pay him a visit.. .
These are the spotted tygers. 1790 BEWICK Hist. Quad.
(1824) 220 It [the Cougar] is sometimes called ihe Poltron
liger. 1825 WEDDELL Voy. S. Pole 210 The American tiger,
called by the Spaniards jaguar, is often seen on the coast.
1826 HONE Every.Day Bk. I. 1176 Panther, or spotted
tiger of Buenos Ayres. 1827 ROBERTS Voy. Centr. Amer.
95 A species of black liger will also watch ihe turtle.
1842 Penny Cycl. XXIV. 440/2 The Black Tiger, Felis
inelas, . .is considered as only a dark variety of ihe Leopard.
Ibid. 441/1 The Mexican Tiger of Pennant is said to be a
representation of/", macronra. 1863 BATES Nat. Amazon
xi. (1864) 352 The black-tiger appears to be more abundant
lhan ihe spoiled form of jaguar in the neighbourhood of Ega.
1879 K - P- WRIGHT A nim. LifeKt, The Clouded Tiger (Felis
mncrocelis) seems lo be of a less mischievous disposilion
than many of the other cats. 1896 List Anim. ZooL Sac,
56 Felis nebuloia^ Clouded Tiger. Hab. Assam.
c. Applied to other than feline beasts.
(a) Tasmanian or Native tiger: namesgivenlolheTnYLA-
CINE, the striped wolf or zebra-wolf of Tasmania, (b) Sabre-
toothed tiger: see SABRE sb. 40.
1832 Ross Hobart To^un Almanack 85 (MoriU) During
our stay a nalive liger or hyena bounded from ils lair
beneath the rocks. 1879 E.P. WRIGHT Anim. Lifezij The
Tiger, or Slriped Wolf of the colonists (Thylacinus cynoce-
fihalu$\ inhabits Tasmania. 1892 A. SUTHERLAND Elem,
Geog. Brit, Colonies xiii. 273 The Tasmanian Tiger is of
the size of a shepherd s dog, a gaum yellow creature, wilh
black stripes round the upper part of its body.
j* d. Applied (in L. form) to fabulous creatures,
beasts or birds : see quots. Obs.
1481 CAXTON Myrr. ii. vi. 73 In ynde ben ther other
bestes grete and fyrs whiche ben of blew colowr, and haue
clere spottes on the body,, .and ben named Tygris. c 1511
ist Eng. Bk. Amer. (Arb.) p. xxxii/2 Byrdes the whyche
ben called Tygris, and they be so stronge that they wyll
here or cary in theyr nesle a man sylling vpon an horse all
armyd fro the hede to ye fote.
3. The figure or representation of a tiger ; esp. one
used as a badge or crest ; hence, popularly applied
to an organization or society having this badge ;
also, a member of such a society;
spec. (Tammany Tiger), the Tammany organlzalion C U.S.).
CI475 Ran/ Coilyar 457 He bair grauit in Gold and
Gowlis in grene, Ane Tyger ticht to ane tre, ane takin of
tene. 1725 COATS Diet. Her. s.v., The Heads of Tigers are
also born in Arms either Couped or Eraz d. 1871 Harper s
Weekly 25 Nov. 1099/2 The tiger, symbol of the Americus
Club, is used in a manner to produce the effect of a telling
retort. 1874 Chamb. Jrnl. 801 (Farmer) The i 7 h [foot].,
the Bengal Tigers, from their badge a tiger. 1894 Parker s
Gloss. Her. s. v., This beast, as drawn by ancient painters,
is now often called the heraldic tiger, as distinguished from
the natural. 1901 Scotsman 7 Nov. 4/3 New York, .cannot
be worse governed in the future than it has been under the
rule of ihe Tammany Tiger. 1910 Westm. Gaz. 14 Mar. 14/2
(Hockey) The cup-holders were defeated by ihe Leicesler-
shire Regiment (the Tigers) by 2-1.
4. transf. and fig. Applied to one who or that
which in some way resembles or suggests a tiger.
a. A person of fierce, cruel, rapacious, or blood
thirsty disposition ; also sometimes, a person of
very great activity, strength, or courage.
1500-20 DUNBAR Poems xxxviii. ii The auld kene tegir,
with his teith on char, Quhilk in a wait hes lyne for ws so
lang. 1581 Satir. Poems Reform, xliv. 175 Thou hes Bias-
to!
that ihen sought to suck her blood. 1649 ROBERTS Clavis
Bibl. 510 Antiochus Epiphanes lhal cruellest Tyger and
Persecutor of the Church. 1806 FESSENDEN Democr. I. 77
note, The blood-thirsty tygers of the French revolution.
1893 BARING-GOULD Cheap Jack Z. 1. 149, 1 who have lived
in the Fens and among the tigers all my days.
b. Any animal of savage or vicious temper or
of great rapacity.
1859 Art of Taming Horses i. 23 The boasting Mr.
..was beaten pale and trembling out of the circus by thai
equine liger. 1884 R. BOLDREWOOD Melbourne Mem. xxi.
153 Many of ihe others [horses] were regular tigers , re
quiring any horseman who essayed to ride them habitually
to be young, valiant, in hard training. 1885 LADY BRASSEY
The Trades 211 The right time of the moon for the tigers
of the sea [sharks] to be about. 1894 Outing (U. S.) Feb.
393/1, I saw one of ihese sea-ligers [small sharks] glide
towards it, and then a sudden splashing struggle began.
c. The tigerish spirit or disposition. Cf. DEVIL
sb. 6 a.
1825 T. HOOK Sayings Ser. n. Passion & Prittc. ix. III.
139 The incalculable quantity of nonsense which the ad
TIGEE.
21
TIGER.
"/
dp
miring fools talked, had nearly roused the tiger. 1877
TENNYSON Harold i. i, I trust the kingly touch that cures
the evil May serve to charm the tiger out of him.
t5. A speckled hemipterous insect of the family
Tingitidx, which infests the leaves of pear and
other trees. Cf. liger-bahh in 13. [F. tigrej punaise
iigre.] Obs.
1706 LONDON & WISE Rctird Card. I. i. xiv. 63 Pear-trees
planted in an Espalier, have upon trial been found so subject
to Tigers, which creates a sort of Sickness in the Trees.
1719 LONDON & WISE Compl. Gard. VH. x. 181 Another
incurable Distemper is Tigers, which stick to the back of the
Leaves of Wall-Pear-Trees, and dry them up, by sucking
all the green Matter that was in them. 1725 Bradley" s
Fam. Diet. s.v. Diseases of Trees, Tigers attack only Wall
Pear-trees, and never Dwarfs.
6. A smartly-liveried boy acting as groom or
footman; formerly often provided with standing-
room on a small platform behind the carriage, and
a strap to hold on by ; less strictly, an outdoor
boy-servant, slang, obsolescent.
c 1817 [see quot, 1880]. 1825 HOOK Sayings Ser. n. Man
f Many Fr. I. 247 Ah! said Arden, seven hun-
red pounds a-year, and a tiger ! 1827 LYTTON Pelham
xliv, I sent my cab boy (vulgo Tiger) to inquire [etc.].
1836-7 DICKENS Sk. Boz, Gt. Winglebury Duel, Leaving
his tiger and cab behind him. 1842 W. IRVING in Life $
Lett. (1886) III. 218 The young gentlemen have made a
page, or tiger, of a nephew of Lorenzo. 1853 THACKERAY
Newcomes xxv, He is the valet or tiger, more or less im
pudent and acute. 1880 W. H. HUSK in Grove Diet. Mits.
II. in/2Lee,Alexander[i8o2-i85i].. .Whenaboyheentered
the service of Lord Earrymore as tiger , being the first of
the class of servants known by that name.
f7. A vulgarly or obtrusively overdressed per
son ; also a sponger, hanger-on, parasite; a roue",
rake, swell-mobsman. slang. Obs.
1827 SCOTT Jml. (1890) I, 367 Our young men.. have one
capital name for a fellow that out res and outroars the
fashion.. .They hold him a vulgarian and call him a tiger.
1837 T. HOOK Jack Brag i, Every well dressed woman. .
whom he happened to see with the tigers in whose set he
mingled. 1849 THACKERAY Pendennis xix, A man may
have a very good coat-of-arms, and be a tiger , the Major
said. ., that man is a tiger, mark my word a low man \
b. (See quot.) slang
1899 IVestm. Gas. 29 Aug. 8/1 The convict wears a dull
yellow cap... The thick rough jacket and trousers are of the
same yellowish hue. . . A favourite form of insubordination is
to tear to pieces these yellow suits, the punishment for
which is that the tiger appears in the quarry next day
arrayed in board-like black canvas.
8. U.S. slang. A shriek or howl (often the word
tiger ) terminating a prolonged and enthusiastic
cheer; a prolongation, finishing touch, final burst.
1856 Knickerb. Mag. XLVIII. 258 (Thornton) Terrific
cheers and a tiger. 1859 BARTLETT Diet. Amer. (ed. 2) s, v..
In 1826 the [Boston Light] Infantry visited New York. .,and
while there the Tigers at a public festival awoke the echoes
. .by giving the genuine howl. . . Gradually it became adopted
on allfestive and joyous occasions, and now three cheers
and a tiger are the inseparable demonstrations of approba
tion in that city [New York]. 1869 R. F. BURTON//^///.
Brazil I. 239 When the ceremony ends, the scamp of the
party.. proposes three cheers and a tiger for Mr. Gordon.
1880 Daily Tel. 8 Oct., Three cheers in properly hearty
1904 N. China Herald 27 May 1119/1 All the guests rising
and singing.., giving three times three cheers, followed by
a vigorous Tiger .
9. a. The game of faro. To buck or fight the
tiger> at faro or roulette, to play against the
bank ; also, less strictly, to gamble, play cards.
(7.S. slang.
1851 Adv. Simon Suggs iv. (Thornton Anter, Gloss.}
(heading) Simon starts forth to fight the Tiger. 1852
Knickerb. Mag. XL. 317 (ibid.) Such is the tiger*, as the
faro-table is called at the Springs : why, I never could
learn. 1863 Rocky Mountain News 29 Jan. (ibid,), Buck-
ing the tiger, which we wouldn t advise any one to do.
1888 Daily Inter-Ocean (Chicago) ii Feb. (Farmer Amer.}.
More than one unsuspecting wife will have her eyes opened
to the fact that the wicked tiger, and not legitimate busi
ness has been detaining her husband out so late at night.
b. A hand at poker : see quots.
1889 GUERNDALE Poker Bk. 23 Tiger. This hand is, fortu
nately, very seldom played. It consists of the lowest
possible combination of five cards ; these are two, three, four,
five, and seven. 1909 Cent. Diet. Supp., Tiger, in poker, a
hand which is seven high and deuce low, without a pair,
sequence, or flush.
c. Blind tiger, an establishment at which in
toxicating drinks are surreptitiously sold (U. S.).
1891 Evening Echo 30 June 1/7 The proprietor of a blind
tiger (an illicit drinking place) in Lancaster, a.. town of
i A tuc * y been tined in 57 ? cases -
10. As a name for various implements: see quots.
1864 WEIISTKR, Tiger,., a pneumatic box or pan used in
sugar-refming. 1877 KNIGHT Diet. Meek., Tiger (Sugar), a
tank having aperforated bottom, through which the molasses
escapes. 1881 RAYMOND Mining Gloss. t Tiger. Seo
frt&inf-ferk, A tool for supporting a column of bore-rods
while raising or lowering them.
11. Short i<x tiger-moth, -shark, -snake, -wolf, etc.
and transversely. 1819 G. SAMOUELLK Entomol. Cotnp 41
ArctiaCaja. The Garden Tyger. 1870 Eng. Mech. 21 Jan.
449/3 One of the handsomest moths belonging to.. the
ligers , is that called the wood tiger (Chctenia planta-
\ ginis). 1895 VVcstm. Gaz. 14 Sept. 2/3 The traveller in the
oush often comes across two tigers pegging away at each
other for dear life. . . Sometimes snakes in captivity are
trained to fight, and an owner will occasionally be found to
back his "tiger " to fight any snake of his inches in New
South Wales . 1895 Chainb. Jrnl. XII. 645/1 The sharks. .
are at certain seasons a serious drawback, the tiger more
especially. 1901 Scribner s Mag. XXIX, 45^/1 Going out
into the garden, . . stopping beside the tigers [tiger-lilies] and
loonies.
12. attrib. and Comb. a. simple attrib., as tiger-
cub ^ -drive, -httnt, -jungle, -pit (Prr sb.\ 5), -s^t/i,
i -spring^ -stripe; objective and obj. genitive, as
tiger-hunting, -shooting sb. and adj., -slayer.
1800 Misc. Tr. mAsiaf. Ann. Reg. 343/1 Jackets, turbans,
and handkerchiefs, marked with the bubbcrec, or tyger
stripe,. .The tyger stripe was the royal mark, and was pecu
liar to Tippoo and his family. 1815 SCOTT Guy J/. xxv,
He had.. ridden a-tiger-hunting upon an elephant with the
Nabob of Arcot. 1848 tr. Hojfmeisters Trai 1 . Ceylon, etc.
vii. 244 We remained for several days, on account of a tiger-
hunt. 1839 LANG Wand. India 358 He had enough of tiger-
shooting in that one tiger. 1865 SIR T. S EATON Fr. Ccuit t
toColonel\\. 26 There was no tiger-jungle within thirty miles
of the spot. 1886 KIPLING Depart m. Ditties, etc. (1899) 56
A pet tiger-cub in wreaths of rhubarb leaves, symbolical of
India under medical treatment. 1895 Daily News 27 Nov.
6/3 At Shrovetide, 1509,. .Princess Mary, afterwards Queen,
wore a black mask as an Ethiopian queen, and a little jacket
of tigerskin. 1906 Macin. Mag. Aug. 778 The spears snowed
that a tiger-drive was contemplated, for across each, some
eighteen inches below the point, a little piece of wood was
lashed on at right angles to the shaft.
b. passing into adj. tiger-like, tigerish , as
tiger despair, fury, joy, spasm, thirst ; (b} dis
tinguished by or marked with the figure of a tiger
| (or tiger s head) J , as tiger gttn, soldier.
1800 Chrott. in Asiat. Ann, Reg. 150/1 Tippoo s Tiger
j grenadiers, .are met by- a party of the 73d regt. Ibid., A
severe conflict is maintained with the leader of the Ti^er men
by a Serjeant of the Highlanders. 1827-39 DE QL INCEY
: Murder Wks. 1862 IV. 64 The impression of his natural
tiger character. 1842 Penny Cycl. XXIV. 440/1 The tiger
j soldiers of Hyder Ali and Tippoo Saib were among the
choicest of their troops. 1845 STOCQUELKR Handbk. Brit,
India (1:854] [ 2 S8 The arsenal, the gate of which is flanked
by two of Tippoo s brass tiger guns, the muzzle representing
the open mouth of that animal. 1856 MRS. H. O B.
CONANT Eng. Bible xix. (1881) 144 To foster.. that tiger
thirst for blood. 1885 TENNYSON/! nc. Sage in Tircsias, etc.
61 The tiger spasms tear his chest. igioil^fsftrf.Gas. 22 Mar.
5/2 The ideal Othello, played with a perfect mastery of all
the modes of expressing tiger fury and tiger despair.
c. parasynthetic, instrumental, similative, etc.,
as tiger-footed^ -hearted, -looking, -marked, -pas
sioned, -proof, -striped oAfa. See also TIGER-LIKE.
1597 BEARD Theatre God s Jndgem. (1612) 220 The poore
old man thus cruelly handled, .departed comfortlesse from
his Tygre-minded sonne. 1607 SHAKS. Cor. HI. i. 312 This
Tiger-footed-rage. .will (too late) Tye Leaden pounds too s
heeles. 1616 R. NICCOLS Orcrlntry s I ision in /far!. Misc.
* "nlh.) III. 350 Such monsters were my tyger-hearted
<. 1752 SIR J. HILL Hist, Anim. 153 The tyger-
itted Pprcellana. 1796 CHARLOTTE SMITH Marchntont I.
205 This tiger-looking man., was., an Attorney. 1820 KK ATS
Hyperion n. 68 Now tiger-passion d.lion-thoughted, wroth.
835 J. DUNCAN Beetles (Nat. Libr.) 92 The tiger-marked
boa, his tail fixed to the trunk of a tree, . .lies in ambush on
the bank. 1892 Daily News 7 June 5/4 Lofty and tiger-
proof night shelters for travellers. 1896 Ibid. 13 July 7/2
Pansies, bronzed, tiger-striped, and deep purple.
13. Special combs. ; chiefly names of animals
and plants with tiger-like markings : f tiger-babb
[? BOB j<M 9], a parasite infesting the pear tree:
= sense 5 ; tiger-beetle, any species of the family
CicindelidXj characterized by variegated colouring,
activity, and voracity ; tiger-bird, (a) a South
American scansorial barbet: = THICK-HEAD 2b;
{b} tiger-bittern ; tiger-bittern, a South Ame
rican bittern of the genus Jigrosoma, with striped
plumage ; tiger-chop, a species of fig-marigold,
Mesembryanthemiim tigrinum, the toothed leaf of
which suggests a * chop or jaw : cf. cat-chop (CAT
j/ . 1 1 8) ; tiger-civet, a name fortheLiNSANG : see
quot. ; tiger-cowrie, a white cowrie, Cyprtea tigris^
with brown spots ; tiger-dog, a dog resembling
a tiger (cf. sense 2) ; spec, the spotted carriage-
dog ; tiger-eye = tiger s-eye : see b ; tiger-finch, a
name of the Amadavat, Estrilda amaitdava ; tiger-
fish, a large fresh-water fish of South-cast Africa ;
tiger-flower, any plant or species of Tigridia> a
genus of tropical American bulbous plants bearing
large purple, yellow, or white spotted flowers ;
esp. T. Pavonia (also Peacock or Mexican tiger-
\ flower ; tiger-iris ; flower of Tigris) with brilliant
j orange blooms ; tiger-foot -^ tigers-foot (see b) ;
tiger-frog, the leopard-frog or shad-frog (Rana
j halecina or virescens} of N. America; tiger-grass
(palm), a dwarf fan-palm, Nannorhops (Chamx-
rops} Ritchieana, of Western India and Persia;
tiger-hound : see quot., and cf. tiger-dog ; tiger-
hunter, one who hunts the tiger ; also, a gambler
i {U.S. slang: cf. sense 9 a); tiger-iris, see tiger-
flower ; tiger-lily, a tall garden lily, Lilittm
tigrinum, with bell-like orange flowers marked
! with black or purplish spots ; also called tiger-
spotted lily \ tiger-mosquito, any striped or banded
foes.
mosquito of the genus Stegomyia\ tiger-moth, a
moth of the family Arctiidx, esp. the British species
Arctia caja^ a large scarlet and brown moth spotted
and streaked with white ; tiger-mouth (also
tiger* s-mouth\ a local name for the Snapdragon,
Foxglove, and various species of Toad-flax ; tiger-
nut, the edible rhizome of Cypents escuhntus, used
locally as food, and also medicinally ; the rush-
nut; tiger-owl, the tawny or brown owl; tiger-
party, a tiger-shooting party ; tiger-python, the
Indian python ; tiger- salamander, a name for the
large western salamander, Atnblystoma tigrinum
(Cent. Diet. Supp. 1909); tiger-shark, a name
for various voracious sharks, as Galeocerdo macn-
latus of warm seas, Stegostoma tigrinum of the
Indian Ocean ; in New Zealand, the Porbeagle,
Lamna cormtbica ; tiger-shell = tiger-cowrie ;
tiger-snake, a venomous Australian snake, IIoplo-
ccphalus cnrtus, so called from its markings ; in
Tasmania also called carpet-snake ; tiger-spider,
a large American burrowing spider, Lycosa tignna^
the legs of which arc ringed with grey and black ;
t tiger-stone : see quot. ; tiger-swallowtail, a
large North American butterfly, having yellow
wings striped with black ; the turnus ; f tiger-
table : see quot. ; tiger-ware, an old Knglish
stoneware with a spotted gla/e ; tiger-wolf, (a]
the Spotted Hyena (Hyxna Croatia) ; (b} = sense
2 c(<z) Ogllvie, 1 882); tiger- wood, a streaked black
and brown cabinet-maker s wood ; = ITAKA-WOOD ;
also, a variety of citron-wood. See also TIGER-CAT.
1693 EVELYN DC la Quint. Compl. Gard. I. Si The Per-
secution of the *Tyger-babbs [Fr. tigre&\ keeps the Pears
too far off from the Assistance of Wall-trees. 1826 KIKIJY &
1 SP. Entomol. III.xxx. 152 That beautiful "tiger-beetle, the
Cicindcld. canificstris L., not uncommon on warm sunny
banks, 1835 J. DTXCAN Beetles (Nat. Libr.) n^The majority
are variegated with spots and streaks of yellow. Their
, rapacity and agile movements have procured for them the
name of Tiger-beetles. 1869 A. R. WALLACE Malay Archif.
I. 409 One beautiful group of insects, the ti.;er-beetles.
1817 WATERTON U and. S. Anter. \\. (1825) 136 The small
Tiger-bird. . .The throat, and part of the head, are a bright
red; the breast ami belly have black spots on a yellow
ground. 1879 J. (. WOOD Explan. Index ibid. (iS-j) 474
The Tiger-Bird utters its cry in the early morning and late
| in the evening. 1785 LATHAM Got. Synopsis V. 6j Tiper
Uittern. .the plumage deep rufous, marked with black, like
, the skin of a tiger, .inhabits Cayenne, Surinam, and other
arts of South America. 1894 LYUEKKER Royal ^ at. Hist.
. 456 On account of their striking and handsome coloration,
i the name of "tiger-civets has been suggested for thcM.:
animals [the Linsangs]. 1839 J. PVK SMITH Script, fy C,eol.
4118 A well-known species is on almost every mantel -piece,
the *tiger-cowry. i68a CKKKCH Lucretius (1683) 90 The
A Tyger-dog will file pursuing Deer. 1883 R. GROOM Gt,
Dane 8 The name Tiger Dog, as used in Germany, was
applied to those specimens with patches and spots of black
, upon a white ground. 1891 Cent. Diet., *Tiger-eye. 1896
CHESTER Diet. Niiiites Min,, Tiger-eye^ a popular name
; for a siliceous pseudomorph after crocidolite, in allusion to
its yellow-brown colourand chatoyant lustre. 1900 Feat hired
World 28 Sept. 399 The common Avadavat is the Tiger-
finch. . . Brown and reddish copper, spotted with white. 1893
SKLOUS Trav. S. E. Africa 303 P.urnett.. caught afine*tiger-
fish. 1894 Sat. Rev. 24 Nov. 563/1 In fly-fishing, .the chief
j quarry, the tiger-fish , ran to 8$ Ibs., and afforded nearly as
! good sport as salmon. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XI. 671/2
| A beautiful flower called the *tyger-flower, with three red
pointed petals, the middle part mixed with white and yellow.
1845-50 MRS. LINCOLN Lect. Bot. 175 The Mexican tiger-
flower, genus Tigridia, is a splendid plant of this order (/"-
daceae}. 1888 Nicholson s Diet. Gard, t Tigridia, Mexican
Tiger Flower; Tiger Iris. This genus includes about seven
species of. .bulbous plants, from Mexico, Central America,
Peru, and Chili. . . T. pavonia. . Flower of Tigris ; Peacock
Tiger Flower. 1836 SMART, * Tiger-foot (a plant). 1884
MILLER Plant-n., Palm, "Tiger-grass, Chamxrops Rit-
chieana, 1891 Cent. Diet.) Tiger-grass^^ dwarf fan-palm,
Nannorhops Ritchieana , of western India, extending into
Persia. 1880 LEWIS & SHORT, Tigris n. 2, The name of the
spotted *tiger-hound of Actaeon. 1896 LILLARD Poker
Stories iii. 87 The unsophisticated young *tiger hunter
I had something on his mind. 18x4 Miss MITFORO Village
\ Ser. i. (1863) 40 Those fierce and warlike flowers the *tiger-
I lilies. 1835 MARRYAT Olid Podr. v, No one can have an
I idea how hard the * tiger-mosquito can bite. 18x6 KIRBY
I & SP. Entomol. xxi. (1818) II. 226 The caterpillar of the
! great *tiger-moth {Botnbyx Caja, F.). 1864-5 WOOD
j Homes without H. xiv. (1868) 286 The well known Tiger
j Moth whose scarlet, white, and brown robes are so familiar.
1886 BRITTEN & HOLLAND Eng. Plant-n^ *Tiger, or Tigers
Month. 1887 MOLONEY Forestry W. A_fr. 72 The *liger
, nut, the tuber of the Cyperus esculentus^ is well known in
, West Africa. 1864 TREVELYAN Compet. WallaJi (1866) 133
, An account of our "tiger-party in Nepaul. 784-5 Ann.
Rcff. 241 The squalus or true tyger shark,., well known to
our seamen in the West Indies. 1898 MORRIS Austral Eng.
s.v. Sfar&, Tiger Shark (N.S.W.), Galcoccrdo rayneri...
New Zealand. .. Tiger Shark, Scymnus spinosus (Maori
name, Afako). 1753 CHAMBERS Cycl. SuM tf * Tigcr-shell^ the
English name of the red voluta, with large white spots.
1874 BEVKRIDGE Loot Life 50 [He] eyed me as a *tiger snake
j The bull-frog or the fieldmouse eyes. 1890 Science Gossip
i XXVI. 37/2 The tiger-snake reaches the length of eight, or
occasionally even ten feet. 1907 Westm. Gas. 25 Sept. 12/1
The venom of the tiger-snake is fourteen times more deadly
(1634) I* 305 The wood curleth in and out along the graine,
and therefore such bee named Tigrinae (/. *lire*taulc:,..
TIGER
22
1731 MEDLEY Kolbtn s Cape G. Hope II. 108 The I.ion,
liger, and Leopard are bitter enemies to the *Tiger-Wolf,
Tigrish heart, n 1586 SIDNEY Arcadia (1622) 467 Were thy
eyes so stonie, thy breast so tygrish V 1604 EARL STIRLING
1838 IcnnyCycl. XI I. 369/1 The Spotted Hyjcna, or Tiger- Aurora xci, And with my ashes glut thy Tygrish heart.
Wolf of the [South African] colonists. 1858 SIMMONDS Diet. 1846 Blackw. Mag. LIX. 406 [Their] craving for possession
is treacherous and tigerish. 1887 Miss E. MONEY Lit.
Dutch Maid. (1888) 95 A wild-cat skin with handsome
tigerish stripes. 1909 Daily Chron. 18 Feb. 7/4 There are
many predatory and tigerish plants, of which the sundew is
a notable example.
. .
Trade, * Tiger-wood^ a valuable wood for cabinet making, . .
obtained in Guiana. 1866 [see ITAKA-WOOD).
g
fe
b. Combs, with tiger s : tiger s -claw, (a} a
weapon for secret attack used by the Mahrattas,
consisting of short sharp curved steel blades fixed
to a plate or strap which is secured to the palm of
the hand ; () in Jlfec/i. a boring or rifling rod
in which the cutting tool is automatically sheathed
as it enters the bore and expands on the cutting
stroke ; tiger s-eye, popular name for (a) a yellow
ish brown quartz with brilliant lustre, used as a gem
(also called tiger-eye} : see CROCIDOLITE ; () a
crystalline pottery glaze, with auriferous reflections
(&. S.) ; tiger s-foot, a convolvulnceous plant,
Iponicea Pes-tigndis, common in India, with hairy
palmate leaves ; tiger s horn, tiger s tooth, old
names for species of Strombus or wing-shell ;
tiger s milk, (a] the acrid white juice of Excotca-
ria Agallocha, a small euphorbiaceous East Indian
tree ; () gin (slang] ; tiger s mouth = tiger-
mouth (see 13).
1891 CM/. 2>JtVA,* Tiber s claw, *Tiger*s-eye. i8s6CHi:sTER
Diet. N antes M in., Tiger seye, same as tiger-eye. 1893 E. A.
BARBER Pottery $ Porcelain U, S. xiii. 290 The highest
achievements in glazing are the so-called tiger s-eye and
old-stone, which glisten in the light with a beautiful auri
erous sheen. 1828-32 WEBSTER, Tiger s-foot (citing LEK).
1713 PETIVER Aquat. Anim. AitidoinxTab. iv, Strontbus. .
Brown "Tygers Horn. 1850 R. G. GUMMING Hunter s Life
5. Afr. (1902) 9/1 A fountain of *tiger s milk had started in
the stern of the waggon. 1886 "Tiger s Mouth [see tiger.
mouth in 13]. 1713 PETIVER Aquat. Anim, Amboiwe Tab.
v, Strombus. .Thick "Tygers-tooth.
Hence (nonce-ivds.} Trjrer v. intr., to act,
behave, or walk to and fro, like a tiger ; f Tiger-
a ntic a. [? after elephantic] = TIGERISH i ;
Tigere tte, a diminutive she-tiger, a * cat * ;
Ti gerling*, a young or diminutive tiger; Tiger-
crcioustf. \nonce-wd. zhvt ferocious], = TIGERISH i.
a 1704 T. BROWN Lctt.fr. /JVa^Wks. 1720 II. 216 In wh. it
Sheeps-head Ordinary have you chew d away the meridian
Altitude of your Tygerantick Stomach? 1858 MRS. GORE
Heckington xxxi, Miss Corbet, on whom the tamed tiger-
ling [a hmall boy] was now lavishing his endearments. 1874
F. W. NEWMAN in Davies Heterodox Land. II. 311 He is
dietetically, neither swinish nor tigerocious. 1898 MKNIE
M. DOWIE Crook of Bough 52 He finished his cigar by tiger
ing on the platform, his hands behind him, his head turning
from side to .side. 1906 Daily Chron. 23 Aug. 5/7 Amongst
the tigeresses who devour, and the tigerettes who scheme,
you will not find a woman who can claim to have passed
through a public school and university training.
Ti ger-ca:t. A name for any of the feline
beasts of moderate or small size which resemble
the tiger in their markings or otherwise ; including
the Margay, Ocelot, Serval, etc. (In Zool. Society s
List applied to two species : see quot. 1896.)
1699 DAMPIER Voy. II. ir. 62 The Beasts of Prey that are
bred in this Country are Tigre-Cats, and .. Lions. The
Tigre-Cat is about the bigness of a Bull-Dog. 1774 GOLDSM.
Nat. Hist. III. vii. 255 Descending to animals .. still
smaller, we find the Catamountain, which is the Ocelot of
Mr. BufTon, or the Tiger Cat of most of those who exhibit it
as a show. 1785 G. FORSTER tr. Sparrmans Voy. Cape
G. H. (1786) II. 80 An opportunity of seeing an amorous
combat between two tiger-cats. 1842 Penny Cycl, XXIV.
440/2 Tiger-Cats Under this title may be classed all those
lesser striped and spotted Asiatic, African, and American
Cats which do not come under the well-understood denomi
nations of Tigers, Leopards, and Panthers. 1871 KINGSLEY
At Last xi, No jaguar or tiger-cat, .would care to meddle
with anything so exquisitely nasty. 1896 List Anim. Zool.
Sac. 58 Felis planiceps . ., Rusty Tiger Cat. Hob. Malacca.
.. Felis chrysothrix.., Red Tiger Cat. Hab. Gold Coast,
West Africa. 1907 Daily Chron. 19 Feb. 7/4 The dusky
African tiger cat, a new animal about the size of a leopard.
b. In Australasia applied to two carnivorous
marsupials, Dasyuntsviverrimts and D. maculatus.
1832 J. BISCHOFF Van Diemens Land ii, 52 Theskins of
the .. opossum, tiger-cat, and platypus .. are exported.
1852 R. C. GUNN Papers .$ Pro*. Roy. Sac. Van Dtemcn s
L. II. ii (Morris) Dasyurus tnaculatus .. the Spotted
Martin.. . Tiger Cat of the Colonists of Tasmania, . .distin
guished from D. vwerrinus, the Native Cat of the
Colonists, by its superior size.
c. Applied to a hybrid between the domestic cat
and the wild cat (F. coins] (Cent. Diet. 1891).
Tigerhood (targaihud). [f. TIGER + -HOOD.]
The state or condition of being a tiger (in any
sense) ; in quot. 1846, the post of boy-groom (see
TIGER 6).
1846 MRS. GORE Eng. Char. (1852) 118 Advantages at
tached to the tigerhood of his establishment. 1871 BLACKIE
Four Phases i. 34 The true humanity of man as distin
guished from tigerhood and spiderhood. 1885 HORNADAY
2 Yrs. in "Jungle xiv. 159 A splendid specimen every way,
just in the prime of tiger-hood.
Tigerine, variant of TIGRINE.
Tigerish (tai gsrij), a. Also 6-7 tygrish,
6, 9 tigrish, [f. TIGER sb. + -ISH*.]
1. Like, or like that of, a tiger ; esp. of the nature
or having the qualities of the tiger ; cruel, blood-
thirsty, fierce, relentless.
1573 L. LLOYD Marrow of Hist. 1,1653) 265 Her cruel and
b. Loud, flashy : cf. TIGER sb. 7.
1831 [see 3]. 1836 Nem Monthly Mag. XLVIII. 458
Whatever deviates from the unique standard of gentlemen s
dressing is tigerish. 1853 LYTTON My Novel vi. xx, Nothing
could be more vagrant,.. and, to use a slang word, tigrish,
than his whole air.
2. Abounding in or infested with tigers.
1819 Sporting Mag. IV. 175 They had crossed again
Firoze s canal, which appeared very tigerish. 1851 Fraser s
Mag. XLIV. 19 Through the thickest and most tigerish
section of the jungle.
3. Comb., as tigerish-looking.
1831 Society I. 48 A tigerish looking man planted himself
where he could very rudelystare at Miss Delamere.
Hence Ti-g-erishly adv., Tigerishness.
1869 Daily News 12 June, A well-known plunger, whose
attendant tiger is a miracle of tigerishness. 1879 J. TOD-
HUNTER Alcestis 125 This sudden flood of fearful rapture,
which Tugs my heart tigerishly.
Tigerism (tsi-gariz m). [f. TIGER sb. + -ISM.]
1. The qualities or characteristics of a tiger
(TlGER sb. 7); vulgar ostentation or affectation;
pretentiousness, side , swagger . ? Obs.
1836 New Monthly Mag. XLVIII. 455 We have the
neologismal appellatives, tiger , and tigerism , words of
great intensity and signification, without which it would be
impossible to get on for one calendar day in genteel
society. 1863 R. H. GRONOW Remin. II. 144 All his imita
tors fell between the Scylla and Charybdis of tigerism and
charlatanism. 1868 LEVER Bramleighs I. x. 137 His lord
ship now placed his hat on his head, slightly on one side. 1 t
was the tigerism of a past period.
2. The condition and functions of a tiger or
juvenile groom (TiGEB sb. 6).
1846 MRS. GORE Eng. Char. (1852) 117 The nature and
attributes of tigerism, however, as set forth by the gallant
captain, were far from unsatisfactory.
Tigerkin (tai-gaikin). [f. as prec. -f -KIN.]
A diminutive tiger ; a tiger-cub ; also, a cat.
1849 LYTTON Caxtons xiv. ii, It is only from the attic that
you can appreciate the picturesque which belongs to our
domesticated tigerkin ! 1867 Land. Rev. 26 Jan. 116/2 The
tigerkin whose claws are not grown and whose habits are
. .playful.
Ti ger-like, adj. and adv. [f. as prec. + -LIKE.]
A. adj. Like, or like that of, a tiger ; tigerish.
1577-87 HOLINSHED Chron. I. 126/1 Which is more than
tigerlike crueltie. 1828 SEWELL Oxf. Prize Ess. 40 Tyger-
like thirst for blood. 1903 Weslin. Gaz. 28 Jan. 4/2 In
colour and markings the wild cat is very tiger-like.
B. adv. In a tigerish manner.
1576 GASCOICNE rhilotnene cxxxi. (Arb.) 107 (Tygrelike)
she toke The little boy. 1587 TURBERV. Trag. T. (1837) 67
The tyrants mother Calvia, tygreleeke, Procurde her plagues.
1850 R. G. GUMMING Hunters Life S. Afr. (1902) 142/2 My
eye fixed tiger-like upon him.
Tigerly (tai-gajli) , a. rare. [f. as prec. + -LY .]
Tiger-like, tigerish.
1633 D. DYKE in Spurgeon Trcas. Dav. Ps. xciv. 12 Tigerly
and tyrannical persecutors. 1648 King s Gracious Messages
for Peace 39 They are not ashamed., to appropriate unto
him their own Tigerly dispositions. 1855 CJtamb. Jrnl. IV.
289 You might mollify the heart of the most tigerly disposed
of the human race.
So tTi fferness Obs., tigerishness, ferocity.
1532 STEWART Cron. Scot. (Rolls) I. 91 He changit syne..
To tigirnes and greit tiranitie.
tTi gerous, a. Obs. rare. Also 6 tigrous.
[f. as prec. + -ous.] = TIGERISH. Hence f Ti grer-
ously adv. Obs. rare* 1 .
1532 W. WALTER tr. Guistardfy Sisimond (1597) B ij, Yet
thought her not soe tigrous and cruell. 1698 [R. FERGUSSON]
View Eccfes. 117 He hath Tygerously fallen upon the Dead
and Endeavoured to Blacken their Memory.
Tigery (tai gari), a. rare 1 , [f. as prec. + -Y.]
Tigerish, tiger-like.
1859 All Year Round No. 36. 218 The Tchirgee..is of a
choleric and rather tigery nature.
Tigger (ti-gai). [f. TIG z>.l + -ER 1.] One who
tigs or touches ; the pursuer in the game of tig .
1893 E. L. WAKEMAN in Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch 19 Oct.,
This impedes the tigger s running.
Tigh, tighe, tije, obs. forms of TYE, TIE sb.
Tigh-hee, tighie, obs. forms of TEHEE.
t Tight, tyht, st>.l Obs. Forms : 1-4 tyht
(i tiht), 3 tuht (). [OE. tyht m. (with change
of gender) = OS. tuht (MLG., MDu., LG., Du.
lucht),O\lG., MHG. zuht (G. zuchf), Goth. *tauhts
in ttslauhts completion : OTent. "tuhti* fern., f.
*tuh, weak grade of verb-stem *teuh (see TEE z/. 1 ,
and -T suffix 3 a).]
1. The action of drawing, draught ; going, march
ing, march, course, way. Only OE.
a 800 CYNEWULF Etna 53 Werod wzs on tyhte. 11850
Phoenix 525 Fyr bio on tihte, Eeled uncyste.
2. Bringing up, rearing, training, education ;
(good) breeding ; behaviour.
c 888 K. JELFRED Boeth. viii, Ic 5e jeongne . . me to bearne
Senom, & to minum tyhtum setyde.. .J>u me waere. .leof..
aer bon be 6u cu&e minne tyht & mine beawas. a 1240
Sawlti Wardt in Cott. Ham. 247 For >>at is )>eaw in euch
TIGHT.
stude ant tuht forte halden. c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. \Vace
(Rolls) 9307 What for laughynge & o^er tyhtes, What for
presentes & oj>er delites [v.r t sightes], pe Erl perceyued..
pe kyng [Uther] louede his wyf Igerne.
Tight, sb.* -. see TIGHT a. 13 ; also TIGHTS.
Tight (tair, a. (adv.} Forms: 5-6 tyght, 6-
Sc. ticht, tycht, 5- tight (also erron. 7-8 tite,
tyte). [App. an altered form of THIGHT, with
which in its early literal senses it was synonymous.
Tonne-tight and tonne-thight occur together in
Rolls of Parlt. 1379 : see sense 14. The change
from thight to tight was perh. due to the influence
of native words from the *teuh-, *tauk-> *tuk- verbal
system : see TEE z/.l, and cf. TAUT a., TIGHT z/.l,
and ticht pa. pple. of TIE z>.]
f 1. Dense, as a wood or thicket ; = THIGHT i ;
superseded by thick (THICK a. 4). Obs. rarc~~*.
ci435 Torr. Portugal 589 Hys squyer Rod all nyght In
a wod, that wase full tyght.
fb. Close or compact in texture or consistency,
as a solid body or substance ; dense, solid ; =
THIGHT 3. Obs. rare.
1513 DOUGLAS Mneis ix. ii.64 The wyld wolf..Abowt the
bowght, plet all of wandis tyght, Bayts and gyrnis. 1677
GREW Anat. Fruits v. 18 The Outer Part, .is softer and
more succulent ; the Inner a tite and strong Membrane, a 1728
[implied in TIGHTNESS i]. 1797 Encycl.Brit. (ed. 3) XVI 1.
424/1 Construct a block of as tight wood as possible.
2. Of such close texture or construction as to be
impervious to a fluid, etc. a. as the second
element in combinations, as water-, wind-^ air-,
gas-, oil-, light-tight, the first element denoting
that which the vessel keeps in or out.
1307 Rec. St. Mary at Hill 23 Yat they . . y c said tene
ment.. shall kepe, repaire and mayntene,wynd tyght, water
tyght. 1760 [see AIR-TIGHT], 1831 Gas.tight [see GAS st>. 6J.
1896 Pop. Set. Jrnl. L. 267 The human mind is not built
in thought-tight compartments. 1905 Westm, Gaz. n Mar.
14/2 Untoned prints should be kept under close pressure in
a light-tight and air-tight box.
b. as simple word.
(See also tight barrel^ cask, cooper, etc. in C. 3.)
[1501 : see THIGHT 4.] 1661 [see dj. 1660 BOYLE Contn.
New E.rp. i. xxxvii,The Nose of a pair of Bellows that are
Tite enough is well stopt. 1749 BERKELEY Word to Wise
Wks. III. 443 A tight house, warm apparel, and wholesome
food. 1856 QuattoSiaotSiataa, I have faith that there
is a tight roof above the very much cracked ceiling. 1857
MILLER Elem. Chem. (1862) III. 144 A portion of biead was
enclosed in a tight case, to prevent loss of water by evapo
ration.
C. esp. Of a ship : Water-tight ; well caulked
and pitched ; not leaky. Cf. THIGHT 4.
1568 Sattr. Poems Refonn. xlvi. 4 Quhat pylett takis my
schip in chairge, Mon hald hir clynlie, tryni, and ticht.
1596 SHAKS. Tarn. Shr, n. i. 381 Two Galliasses And twelue
tite GalHes. 1615 Br. HALL Contempl. t O. T. xi. iii, As
some tight vessel that holds out against wind and water, so
did Ruth against all the powers of a mother s persuasions.
1704 J. HARRIS Lex. Techn. I, Tite, the Seamen say aShip
is Tight, or Tite, when she is so staunch as to Jet in but very
little Water. 1747 Gentl. Mag. 170 The pitch being put in
very hot will.. make the ship as tight as a bottle. 01826
A. CUNNINGHAM Wet Sheet <y Fto^vingSea ii, The good ship
tight and free.
d. transf. andyf^*. leading to 3.
1661 FELTHAM Resolves n. xxix. 240 They are not tyte
enough to trust with a secret. 1730 in J. Copywell S/iru&s
Parnassus (1760) 130 Old Chaucer and Drayton I found
in good plight, And Shakcspear and Spencer appear pretty
tight. 17.. C. DIBDIN Song, The Island i, O, tis a snug
little island ! A right little, tight little island ! 1809 MALKIN
Gil Bias vn. i. r 5 He is a tight vessel, well armed and
manned. 1817 COBBETT IVks. VI. 31 A Sinecure, which you
have secured for your Son, . .who is (if all remains tight) to
enjoy it for his life after your death. 1865 DICKENS Alut.
Fr. i. viii, Mr. Boffin s notions of a tight will.
3. fig. of a person, expressing somewhat in
definite commendation : Competent, capable, able,
skilful ; alert, smart ; lively, vigorous, stout ; also
in ironical use : cf. FINE a. 1 2 c. Obs. exc. dial.
1598 [implied in TIGHTLY i]. 1606 SHAKS. Ant. <$ C/. iv.
iv. 16 Thou fumblest Eros, and my Queenes a Squire More
tight at this then thou. 1653 R. BAILLIE Dissuas. Vina.
(1655) Pref., That reverent, famous, most able, and tight writer.
1735 BRACKEN Burdons Pocket Farrier 81 note, The less
Physick the better, pi ovided your Judgment s tite. 1822 SCOTT
Piratex\, He. .swore. .that if he hadathousand daughters,
so tight a lad, and so true a friend, should have the choice
of them. (11825 FORBY Voc. E. Anglia, Tig ht,.. prompt ;
active; alert. A tight fellow ! 18*9 MAKRYAT P. Mild-
may ii, I ll pay you off for this, my tight fellow. 1851
HAWTHORNE Ho. Sev. Gables xiii, It will take a tighter
workman than I am to keep the spirits out of the seven
gables. 1891 WRENCH Winchester Word-bk., Tight, fast,
hard. A tight bowler, etc,
4. Neat in appearance; neatly and carefully
dressed ; trim, tidy, smart ; also, Of a neat compact
build, well-made, shapely, arch, or dial. Cf.
TAUT a. 2 b.
1697 DAMPIER Voy. round World (1699) n They wear good
Cloaths, and take delight to go neat and tight. 1706-7
FARQUHAR Beaux Strat. \. i, But you look so bright, And
are dress d so tight. 1712 ARHUTHNOT John Buh nt. ii,
waistcoat, as tight a girl as England s sun shines on. c 1830
MRS. SHERWOOD Hottlston Tracts III. No. ST. 2. I was
tight and smart in my own persn ; so that, as the neighbours
used to say, every thing looked well upon me. 1886 M. K.
TIGHT.
23
TIGHT.
MACMILLAN Dagontt the Jester 8 The tightest and cleanliest
lads in the village.
b. Ot things : Neatly arranged or constructed ;
tidy, neat, snug, compact. Now dial*
1720 RAMSAY Edinburgh s Saint, v, Than I, nor Paris,
nor Madrid, Nor Koine, I trow s mair able To busk you up
a better bed, Or trim a tighter table. 17*5 T. THOMAS in
Portland Papers VI. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) 126 Improved
grounds, .with tight, low, new farm houses, c 1813 MRS.
SHERWOOD Stories C/t. Cateclt. xvi. 139 Sarah was contented
with the coarsest gown.. if it were but clean and tight.
1831 J. OGILVIE in Aberdeen Mag. Dec. 638 His wordy wife
. . Hauds a thing tight about the house.
6. Firmly fixed or bound in its place ; strongly
attached or secured; not easily moved; also _/?,
faithful, steadfast, constant.
1513 DOUGLAS SEneis in. viii. 52 Our fallowis fangis in
thair salis tycht [i- ela legnnt socii], 1687 A. LOVELL tr.
Thevenofs Trav. t. 23 To gird it about with great bars of
Iron to keep it tight, and hinder it from falling. 1690 C.
NESRE O. fir N. Test, I. 153 His faith.. kept him all along
tight, steady and constant. i7isDESAGUUERs Fires Iinpr.
129 You may fix it without any trouble, and be sure that it
is tight. 1909 MABEL BARNFS-GRUNDY Thames Camp 202, 1
pulled and strained, but it was as tight as wax.
6. Drawn or stretched so as to be tense; not
loose or slack : said of a rope, etc., or of a surface ;
= TAUT a. i, 2.
1576 FLEMING Panopl. Epist. 256 (Like vnto a bowe)
sometimes bent very tight, and sometimes againe made slack
for the nones, 1589 PKELE Tale Troy 256 Away they flye,
their tackling teft \ed. 1604 toft] and tight. 1703 DAMPIF.R
Voy. III. 19 When the Rope is hal d tight. 1800 COLE
RIDGE Christabel \\. 49 That (so it seem dj her girded vests
Grew tight beneath her heaving breasts. 1846 BRITTAN tr.
Malgaigne s A/an. Oper. Surg. 39 The knots ought to be
tight enough to hold in apposition the edges of the wound ;
but not so tight as to cut the skin when the inflammation
comes on, and the parts swell. 1857 HUGHES Tom Brown
i. iv, Tom has eaten, .and imbibed coffee, till his little skin
is as tight as a drum. 1885 Law Rep. 15 Q. B. Div. 360
The belt. .was passed over the drums, .and drawn tight.
b. fig* Strict, stringent ; severe.
1871 BAGEHOT Physics <y PoL (1876) 37 The efficacy of the
tight early polity and the strict early law. 1884 STORRS
Div. Orig. Chr. v. 152 The larger moral power won by
woman, by degrees made the tightest legal restrictions
loose and elastic. 1887 Poor Nellie (1888) 294 Every boy
wants a good tight hand over him.
7. Drunk; tipsy. Cf. SCREWED///, a. 6. slang.
1853 Household Words 24 Sept. 75/2 For the one word
drunk, besides the authorised synonyms tipsy, inebriated,
intoxicated, I find of unauthorised or slang equivalents.,
thirty-two, viz.: in liquor,., half-seas-over, far-gone, tight
(etc.). 1860 LEVER One of Them II. 151 (Fliigel) He was
very tight , as we call it.. far gone in liquor, I mean. 1868
Brainlcigks xxiv. II. 46 No, sir, not a bit tipsy , said
8. Of a garment, etc. : Fitting closely, tight-
fitting ; often = too tight, closely fitting because not
large enough. A tight fit, a garment, etc. which
fits tightly ; heflce transf. (colloq.^.
1779 COOK Voy* Pacific vi. vii. (1784) 111.377 A pair of tight
trowsers, or long breeches, of leather. 1831 Examiner 11/2
It s rather a tight fit. 1840 DICKENS Barn. Rudge vi, A very
particular gentleman with exceedingly tight boots on. 1867
TROLLOPE Chron. Bar set xxxv, A wedding-ring growing
always tighter as I grow fatter and older. 1872 Punch
15 June 250/2 A tight uniform is so bad a thing for the
soldier.
9. Difficult to deal with or manage; hard,
severe, tough , stiff ; esp. in phr. a tight place,
corner, squeeze, etc., a position of difficulty, colloq.
1764 FOOTE Mayor ofG. it. Wks. 1799 1. 180 Is Lady Bar-
bara s work pretty tight? 1772 NUGENT tr. Hist. />.
Gerund I. 10 This question of yours is a tight one. 185*
TOWNSHEND (of Ohio) in House Repr. 23 June (Thornton),
I felt myself in a tight spot. 1855 HALIBURTON Nat. ff Hum.
Nat. xvi. II. 121 It s a tight squeeze sometimes to scrouge
between a lie and a truth in business. 1864 Daily Tel.
26 Sept, When they find they are getting into a tight place
to borrow an Americanism [they] gather up their gold, and
run off. 1889 GRETTON Memory s Harkb. 80 We were sub
jected to a very tight examination ; for the prize was one
of considerable value. 1891 Daily Nejvs 14 Nov. 2/3 [It]
would suffice to drive the Bears of Russian stock into a tight
corner.
10. colloq. or techn. a. Said of a contest in which
the combatants are evenly matched ; close ; so of a
bargain ; with little margin of profit, orig. U. S.
1828 WEBSTER s. v., A tight bargain. 1848 BARTLETT
Diet. Amer., Tight match, a close or even match, as of two
persons wrestling or running together. 1903 W estm. Gaz.
i Sept. 3/1 The tighter the match the better he plays.
b. Of a person : Unwilling to part with money,
close-fisted; c. Finance, Of money: Difficult to
obtain except on high terms ; also transf. of the
money-market when money is scarce.
1828 WEBSTER s. v., A man tight in his dealings. 846-7
MRS. WHITCHER Widow Bedott Paters 30 (Bartlett) The
Deacon was as tight as the skin on his back; begrudged
folk their victuals when they came to his house. 1846
Daily News 21 Jan. 4 6 In Paris money is tight also, and
discounts difficult. 1866 CRUMP Banking vil 153 A tight
money market will force sales, and make purchasers.,
reluctant to buy. 1868 LEVER Bramleighs xvi. I. 219
Money was tight being the text of all he said.
11. a. Closely packed. Cf. TIGHTEN v. i b.
1856 KANK Arct. Expl. I. xxiv. 313 For thirty-five miles
south the straits are absolutely tight [i.e. with ice],
b. Of language : Terse, concise, condensed.
1870 SWINBURNE Ess. fy Stud. (1875) 85 The highest form
of ballad . . must condense the large loose fluency of romantic
tale-telling into tight and intense brevity.
c. Art slang. Lacking freedom or breadth of
treatment ; cramped.
1891 SPIELMAN in Contemp. Rev. July 60 It [Tenniel s art
in 1850] is certainly tighter : it is younger. 1902 Encycl.
Brit. XXVII. 252/1 In his first style [Corot] painted
traditionally and "tight that is to say, with minute exact
ness, clear outlines, and with absolute definition of objects
throughout. 1905 Q. RW. July 234 His style, if a little
what artists call tight , has the rare gift of being entirely
lucid in the expression of subtleties.
d. Of the edge of a saw: Compressed by
hammering (Cent. Diet. 1891).
12. Billiards, slang, (a) Said of balls when they
are in contact : * last , frozen . (//) Of pockets :
Having a small opening compared with the diameter
of the balls.
1909 in Cent. Diet. Supp.
13. The adjective used absolutely. (See also
TIGHTS.) Rugby Football = SCRIMMAGE sb. 4. rare.
1904 IVestm. Ciaz. 19 Nov. 15/1 The forwards are strong
and hard workers in the tight, but in the loose are slow and
cumbersome. . . Both in the tight and loo--e they must remem
ber to watch and follow the ball. V)Q$Daily Chron. i Nov.
9/5 They have shown little dash in the open and no skill in
thi: tight.
1 14. Formerly ( r 4th- 1 7th c.) appended to foti,
pipe, hogshead, dolium, as measures of capacity,
originally and especially in stating the number of
tons burden (2. e. the tonnage) of a ship ; also as nn
equivalent weight of stones, gravel, salt, etc. See
also TON, TOXNAOE, TUN.
[1894 C. N. ROBINSON Brit. Fleet 217 The unit of ship
measurement, both in England and on the continent, at the
time [of Henry VII], was, as heretofore, the tun cask of
wine, and the stated tons or tuns burthen of a ship meant
the number of tuns or butts of wine she could carry. War
ships tonnage was estimated by roughly comparing their
bulk with merchant-ships of known carrying capacity.]
1379 Rolls of Parlt. III. 63/2 Pur prendre de chescun
nief & craier, de quele portage q il soil, qe passe par la mier
dedeinz le dite Admiralte alant & retournant, par le voiage
de chescun tonne-tight vjd...ltem, de prendre de chescun
vesseau pessoner, qe pessent sur la mier du dit Admiralte
entour Harang, de quele portage q il soit, en un simaigne
de chescun tonne-tight, vi d.. .en truiz simaignes de chescun
tonne-thight, vi d. 1410 in Proc. Privy Council (1834) I.
327 La somme des gages & regardz des gens dannes archers
conestables & marinsdeinz especiriez, ovesque le tonnetyght
samontent par un qrt. . viij 1 " 1 ccxlj. Ii. xviij. s. vjd. 1427-9
Rolls of Parlt. IV. 365 i To have Lett res Patentz..for
to take and resceyve of every Vessell ladon of. .C tonnetite
vni d, and of every Vessell of lesse tile mi d. /bid. [French
version], P[re]ndre avoir dechacun Nief del portage de..
C tonelx.. vni d., & de chacun autre Vessell de meyndre
portage. .1111 d. 1428-9 Rec. St. Mary at Hilt 70 For a
tonne tyght of northenn ston for J>e new chtrche porche..
vijs viijd. 111483 Liber Niger in Househ. Ord. (1790) 74
The kinge hathe it intytled by his prerogative to have of
every shippe from xx dol tyght before the mast & behynd
to have it dot wyne; and soe of every shippe lyll he come
to the tyght of ccc dol 1 ; then the kinge hath before and
behynd of every such shippe iiii dol 1 wyne. 1495 Navat
Accts. Hen. K//(i8g6) 154 Payed.. for cccclxviij ton tyght
of. .Stones vij/t". xvjj. As for ciiij"xvj ton tyght of gravell
xxiiij.J. \}d. 1497 Ibid, 186 For the byre of hys bote con-
teynyng vij Tonne Tight. Ibid. 228 A pipe Tyghte yron
price y\s. &..for a hoggeshed Tyghte yron price xxs.
a 1500 in Arnolde Ckron. (1811) 127 A crane sufficient and
able to take vp from the water of the Thamis the weight of
a tonne tight. 1504 Sel. Cos. Crt, Star Chamber (Selden)
212 Of & for eny ton or ton tyght of marchaundis conteigned
in the same vesselles..vj d, 1603 OWEN Pembrokeshire
(1892) 139 In bargayninge by the toone yt requireth that yt
be expressed what nomber of barrells the toonne shalbe of,
ffor of late yeares. .toonne tight, wh ch comonly is vsed in
bargaynes of freight, differreth from the toonne by measure
both of come and sake.
B. adv. (The adj. used adverbially.)
1. Soundly, roundly; = TIGHTLY i. Now dial.
and U. S.
1790 J. FISHER Poems 61, I charg d them tight, An* gart
them pay o lawing clink, Mair than was right. 1898
Elizabeth fy German Garden 29 She had been sotight asleep.
2. Firmly, closely, securely ; so as not to allow
any movement : TIGHTLY 3.
1680 MOXON Meek. Exert, xii. 208 You may without more
ado screw up your Work tight 1768 TUCKER Lt. Nat. (1834)
I. 194 The prospect of getting a livelihood holds them tight
to their work. 1838 DICKENS Nich. Nick. Iiii, Holding
tight on with both hands. 1878 T. L. CUYLKR Pointed
Papers 206 The tighter I clung the safer I felt.
b. To sit tight) fto apply oneself closely to
(oos.) ; to maintain one s position firmly in refer
ence to something ; also, to sit close, to remain
under cover, colloq.
1738 Lemd. Mag. 131 Andromache and all the great Ladies
3000 Years ago, sat very tight to their Stitching. 1897
VIOLET HUNT Unkist, Unkind xiv, Sit tight! she ex
claimed, pinching my arm violently. She always talks slang
when she is excited. 1898 Daily Nnus 10 Feb. 3/2 No
money is forthcoming, and banks sit tight. 1909 Athenxttm
20 Mar. 345/3 Is not Sit tight the watchword of constitu
tionalism?
3. With close constriction or pressure ; closely,
tensely ; = TIGHTLY a.
1818 SCOTT Rob Roy xxxii, A horse-girth buckled tight
behind him. 1853 LANDOR [mag. Conv., Hare r L. Wks.
1891 IV. 423 He whose dress sits tight upon him.
C. Combinations.
1. Adjectival, as tight-falted (having a tight belt),
-bodied, -booted, -hosed, -limbed^ -lipped, -skinned,
-skirted, -sleeved, -waisted adjs. (Sometimes not
clearly distinguishable from next.)
1767 S. PATKRSON Another Trav. I. 315 Their habit is
entirely white ..and being tight-bodied, gives them the
appearance of a company of millers in their holiday -deaths.
1836 T. HOOK G. Gurney v, Perhaps a tight-skinned sailor
walking his way to town from Portsmouth. 1859 (-* MERE-
DITH A . Fei erd ii, The boy was. .not so tight-limbed and
well-set. 1876 MiSS BRADDON J. Haggarcfs Dau. II. 47
How would that tight-waisted, tight-lipped damsel get on
with a lovely young wife. 1896 HOWELLS Impressions <y
J : ..\-p. 73 She wore a tight-skirted black walking-dress. 1896
KIMTH THOMPSON in Monthly Packet Christmas No. 80
Tight-booted and tight-belted in correct Continental mili
tary style.
2. Adverbial, as tight-bound (= tightly bound),
-closed, -draped, -drawn, -fitting, -looking, -made,
-packed, -pressed, -rooted, -shut, -stretched adjs. ;
tight-reining sb. ; tight-clasp, -tie verbs. See also
TIGHT-LACED, etc.
1801 MAR. RDGKWORTH Angelina ii, She was hospitably
received by a tight-looking woman. 1819 KEATS Ode
Melancholy i, Go not to Lethe, neither twisi Wolfs bane,
tight-rooted, for its poisonous wine. 1832 Scarcity Farm
J\t p. 8 in Libr. Usef, Knowl., Hitsb. Ill, A large and
tight-bound sheaf will require to stand twodays lonytir than
a small otic. 1844 DICKENS Mart. Chnz. v, I did not think
you were half such a tight-made fellow ! 1860 RKADK
Cloister $ H . (1861) I. 20 Clad in a pair of tight-fitting buck
skin hose. 1865 DICKENS Mitt. Fr. iv. vii, With the palms
of his hands tight-clasping his hot temples. 1879 HKOWN-
ING Ivan h ancn>iteh 166 I ll.. tight-tie you with the strings
Here of my heart ! 1884 VATF.S Recoil, ii. (Tauchn.) 80
After tight-reining and regular hours. 1896 A. PALMER in
Academy 25 Jan. 80/3 It is strange how the tight-stretched
tambourine can be called titolle. iqo$Daily Chron. 21 Oct.
5/2 Strong men stood with tight-drawn lips.
3. Special combs. : tight barrel or cask, a barrel
for liquids ; nlso called wet barrel or cask ; cf.
SLACK a. 10 ; so tight cooper (see quot.^ ; tight-
corking (dng/ing), a method of float-fishing in
which the line (with the float or corlO is kept taut
between the point of the rod and the plummet
at the bottom ; tight-fisted a., parsimonious,
close-fisted ; tight-jeff : see JEFF; tight-lock
dial, (see qnot.) ; tight shop, a cooperage where
tight "work is done ; tight work (see quot.).
1884 KNIGHT Diet. Mcch. Suppl., Slack Barrel, one for
flour, sugar, cement, fruit, and what not, of a dry character.
In contradistinction to "tight barrel. 1759 KLLIS in / ////.
Trans. LI. 209 This was put into a *ti^ht cask. 1877
Kncycl. Urit. VI. 338 Tight or wet and dry or slack cask
manufacture. 1889 Cent. Diet. s. v. Cooper, Wet or *iight
cooper, a cooper who makes casks for liquids. 1867 F.
FRANCIS Angling i. (1880) 59 * Tight-corking is using a
heavyjsh float well shotted and plumbed some two feet two
deep, 1844 DICKENS Christmas Carol i, He was a "tight-
fisted hand at the grindstone, a 1825 FOR BY I oc. E. Anglia^
* light-lock^ any species of coarse sedge growing in marsh
ditches. So called, from its being used to bind the sheaves
of beans or oats, growing very luxuriantly on such land.
1892 Labour Commission Gloss., Tight S/to^s, workshops
in whicli tight work is performed. Ibid. s. v. Work, "Tight
work is a term used in the coopering industry to denote the
making of casks or any vessels to hold water or liquids.
t Tight, z . 1 Obs. Forms: i tyhtan, tihtan,
3 tuhten (if), tuihten, tihhtenn (Orm.\ 4 ty^t.
Pa. t. i tyhte, 1-3 tihte, 2-3 tuhte (//), 4 ty;t,
tyht, 4-5 ti}t, tight. Pa. pph. i jetiht, 2-3
ituht, 4 iti5t, y-tyght, tyght, ty;t, ti;t, tight,
Sc. tycht. [OE. tyhtan = OHG. zuhten (zuhtdn},
MHG. ziihten (G. ztichten to breed, train) : OTeut.
*tuht~jan t denominative verb f. *tukf- : see TIGHT
1. trans. To draw, pull ; = TEE v.^ I ; to stretch.
a 1000 in Anglia XIII. 421/806 Oferbrsedels..onbutan
etiht, nelainen . . in gyro tensutn. a 1240 Ureisun in Cott.
Horn. 203 pi sune was ituht on rode. 13.. Sir Beues (A.)
3215 panne was be-fore his bed iti}t. .A couertineon raile tre,
For noman scholde on bed ise. rj.. Gaw. ff Gr. Knt. 568
Fyrst a tule tapit, ty^t ouer J>e net..pe styf mon steppez
beron. Ibid, 858 Tapytez ty^t to pe wo^e, of tuly and tars,
And vnder fete, on Je flet, of fol^ande sute. c 1375 Sc. Leg.
Saints xl. (Ninian) 1331 Quhene it [his curtain] vpe ves
tycht, Pane wist he he [had) tynt J sycht.
2. fig. To draw, attract, entice, allure (to some
action, or to do something) ; = TEE z>.* 2.
c 1000 ^ELFRIC Horn. I. 174 On Sreo wisan bi5 deofles
costnunjj : biet is on tihtinge, on lustfuliunge, on je3afunge.
Deofol tiht us to yfele, ac we sceolon hit onscunian. it..
Departing Souft Addr. Body 423 pe [deofel] tuhte hU
hearpe ant tuhte be to him. /bid. 437 Ac efre he tuhte be-
c75 Lamb. Horn. 121 pe deofel heom tuhte to Jan werke.
c 1200 ORMIN 7048 Tihhtenn & turrnenn hasbenn follc..To
lefenn uppo Criste.
3. To train, discipline ; = TEE v^ 3 ; to chastise.
a 1000 Ags. Ps. (Th.) xciit[i]. 12 pe ]m bine, .^etyhtest
\qucm tu ervdieris\ 01125 Ancr. R. 18^ Hwon he haue5
inouh i beat en his child, &haue3 ituht hit wet. Ibid. a68
Tu ne schuldest nout tuhten, ne chasten \>\ meiden uor hire
eult. a 1240 Satufcs Warde in Cott. Horn. 267 Ah cfter
pat wit wule bat is husebonde tuhten ant teachen bat wit
ga euer biuore.
4. reft, and intr. To betake oneself; to go, pro
ceed, advance; -= TEE v\ 6 a, b.
ci2O LAV. 810 His horn he vastliche bleu. Iherden hit
Troymsce & tuhten [c 1275 to^e] to )x>n Gricken. Ibid.
TIGHT.
97321 Ure drihten heo bi-laeue3 And to Mahune heo tuhte<5.
a 1300 Cursor M. 3157 Quen he J>e sled sagh bar he tight,
(>e child he dide o be ass light. Ibid. 20506, I sal far J>ar
mi sun has tight. 13.. A". Alis. 7164 (Bodl. MS.) f>at nei}
be kyng hij ben ytijth. c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. (1810) 93
To hunte f?er he had tight in his new forest. 13. . E. E.
Allit. P. A. 717 Do way, let chylder vnto me tyjt. a 1400-
50 Alexander 2304 To be temple he tight tithanndez to
herken. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1358 All tight to J>e tempull of
jjere tore goddes. For drede of the dethe.
Hence f Ti ghting vbl. sb., persuading, enticement.
c 1000 [see 2], a 1175 Cott. Horn. 229 purh diofles tihtinge
beswjcen. t izoo 1 rin. Coll, How, 29 pat is be defies
tuihting and nnslore.
t Tight, z>. 2 Obs. Forms : 4 ty$t ; pa. /. 4
tijte, ty;te, tyjt, tight, 5 ti3t, tyght; pa. pple.
4 y-ti;!, tiht, ty;t, ty;te (thit, tithte), 4-5 ti$t,
tighti^e, 5 tijte, Sc. ticht. [Etymology obscure :
see Note below.]
1. trans. To appoint, ordain, set,fix (a time,etc.);
to devise, contrive; to prepare, get ready. Cf.
DlGHT V. 2, II, 14.
a 1300 Cursor M. 24344 (Edin.) To ten al tiht [r. r. tight]
vs was bat tiin Quen we na hel moht se on him. Ibid. 18323
(Cott.) pat bou thoru prophet tald and tight Nu es It fulfilled
be-for vr sight Ibid. 11050 (Gott.) [Gabriel says to
Zacharias] All bat be is tight [v.r. hight] sal be-tyde.
4:1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. Wuct (Rolls) 5488 Atte water
Hamon doun lyght, Intil a bot Hamon had tyght. 13..
E. E. Allit. P. A. 502 Of tyme of }ere be terme watz ty}t.
Ibid. B. 1153 3if }e wolde ty^t me a torn telle hit I wolde.
a 1425 Cursor M. 4124 (Trin.) pe foly bat his bre^eren ti^t.
c 1470 Golagros $ Gaiu. 744 The renkis of the Round Tabill,
That has traistly thame tight to governe that gait.
2. With inf. or absol. (rarely refl.} : To fix it in
one s mind ; to determine, intend, purpose ; to set
oneself to do something.
a 1300 Cursor M. 1301 (Cott.) Wen bat drightim had him
tight To send him be oile bat he him hight. c 1300 Havelo t
2990 Hwou the swikes haueden tiht [MS. thit] Reuen hem
that was here riht [J/.9. rith]. 13.. Sir Bates (A.) 838 A
stiward was wib king Ermin, pat badde ti}t to sle bat swin.
13. . Gaiv. ff Gr. Knt. 2483 Mony a-venture. . bat I ne ty^t,
at bis tyme, in tale to remene. c 1380 Sir Fentinb. 729 To
slen him had he ti^te. a 1400 Octouian 1476 To brewe the
Cry.-,tene mennys banys Hy hadden tyght. 1475 Songs,
Carols, etc. 85/64 Alone to be, she hath her tight. ? 1500
Chester PI, xi 165 Therforeasonge, as I haue tighte,. .1 will
shewe here in thy sighte.
3. To set, set firmly, fix, set up (an edifice),
pitch (a tent). Cf. DIGHT v. 5, 8.
138* WYCUP Judg. xx. 33 So alle thesonesof Yrael. .listen
shiltron in the place that is clepid Baalthamar. ( 1394 P.
PI. Crede 168 Wib tabernacles y-ti;t to toten all abouten,
a 1400-50 Alexander 1373 (Ashm.) Quen he had ti^t vp bis
tram and bis tild rerid. (-1420 Anturs of Arth. 355 pe
lasses were of topas, bat were bere to ti^te [v. r. tygbte].
c 1440 Bone Flor. 377 They tyght ther pavylons in a stede.
c 1470 Golagros fy Gavj. 526 Ane hie toure, that tight wes
full trest.
b. ?To set down in writing, to state. Cf.
DIGHT v. 6.
13.. E. E. Allit. P. A. 1052 pe hyje trone..With alle be
apparaylmente vmbe py3te, As lohan be apostel in termez i
tyjte.
c. To set or deck with jewels. Cf. DIGHT v. 10.
c 1475 RaufCoifyar 473 Bricht braissaris of steill . . Ticbt
ouir with Thopas, and trew lufe atanis.
\Note. No word answering to ME. tihtan appears in OE. !
or in the cognate langs., and its origin is a puzzle. Sense i <
corresponds closely to that of OE. stihtan, ME. STIGHT, to J
dispose, arrange, regulate, direct, rule ; senses i and 3 b
correspond also to various senses of OE. di/ttan, DIGHT r/. i
Formal connexion with the latter seems impossible; deriva
tion from the former by loss of s, if not impossible in such .
constructions as is (s)tight t was (s)tight, cannot be assumed j
without some direct evidence.]
Tight (tsit), z;.3 Also Sc. 6 teicht, 7 ticht.
[f. TIGHT a.] trans. To make tight, in various i
senses, f a. To make (a vessel) water-tight. Obs. \
f b. To stretch, tighten, brace ; to draw tight,
compress. Obs. o. (also reft.} To put in order,
make tidy or neat. dial. Hence Trghted ppl. a.
i$3*Acc.Ld. High Treas. Scot. VI. 156 For boyingis and
teichteinof the xij barrellis of aill forsaidis. 1581 MULCASTER
Positions xvii. (1887) 76 Wrastling-.tightes the sinews.
1587 J. MELVILL Diary (Wodrow Soc.) 255 His lessone
was a tichted upe abregment of all he haid telched
theyeir bypast. 1611 CQiGR. t G0udr0nner. . to pitch, trimme,
or tight a ship. 1661 Sc. Acts Clias. 7/(i82o) VII. 230/2
The said bairells to be well tichted and double girthed
before the transporting thairof. 1775 S. J. PRATT Liberal
t?//#.lxxxvi. (1783) III. 138 Mr. Benjamin, .had so spruced
and lighted himself up, that he really looked quite interest
ing. 1895 Gloss. E. Anglia s, v. ( 3. = Tidy. Tight ysur-
self up .
Tight, tijt, obs. ff. TITE; pseudo-arch, pa. t. TIE.
Tighten (tsi-t n), v. [f. TIGHT a. + -EN 5.]
L trans. To draw tight or tighter ; to make taut
or tense, to draw close ; hence, to fix tightly, to
make strict or rigid ; to secure. Alsoyf^-.
1727 BAILEY vol. II, To Tighten, to make straight, as a
Line, Cord, etc., also to dress after a tight Manner. 1755
JOHNSON, To Tighten^ to straiten, make close. I774GOLUSM.
Nat. Hist. VII. 257 The spider only wants to have one
end of the line fast, in order to secure and tighten the
other. 1810 SCOTT Lady ofL. i. vi, What reins were tightened
in despair. 1846 BRITTAN tr. Malgaigne s Man. Ofer. Surg,
39 The stitches should not be tightened until all the threads
are in ; and the rule is, that those of the middle, or angles,
should be first tightened. 1859 Handbk. Turning 59 If it
cuts too deep, tighten the screws a little more. 1896 LADY
24
A. KERR LifeSeb. Valfri 232 We find him.. revising and
tightening-up the rules of a community.
b. To press closely together ; to pack ; to com
press. Alsoy?f.
1843 FAIRBAIRN Typol. Script. (1057) I. I. ii. 49 A type so
tightened and compressed as to admit of nothing but what
pertained to the tabernacle worship. 1853 KANE Grinnell
Exf.x\\. (1856) 123 A gradually increasing breeze from the
K.S.t...had tightened the floes.
c. absol. TIGHT-LACE v. collot].
1896 Daily Ne-M 29 Oct. 9 5 A fellow servant, .used to
ask why she didn t tighten a little more .
2. intr. To grow tight or tense ; to be stretched
tight or drawn close. Alsoyfjf.
1846 LANDOR I mag. Conv., F.nip. China XT Tang-Ti Wks.
1853 II. 118/1 My skin seemed too small for them, it tight
ened so. 1868 ROGERS Pol. Econ. xi. (1876) 150 As the
market tightens., the rate of discount rises. 1871 L. STEPHEN
Plafgr. Eur. vii. (1894) 158 The rope once or twice tiaht-
ened unpleasantly. 1897 Alllnitts Syst. Med. II. 788 The
radial artery is felt to tighten day by day.
t 3. refl. To make oneself tight or tidy ; cf.
TIGHT a. 4. Oh. rare.
1786 MRS. A. M. HENNETT "Juvenile Indiscr. II. 113 Her
daughter was run up to tighten herself, fit, as she said, to
walk with them.
Hence Tightening vbl. sb. and///, a.
1846 J. NICHOLSON Ofcrat. Mechanic 34 Placing the
tightening roller in the position represented by the dotted
lines. Jbid. 806 Two of the bracing chains, with their
tightening shackle. 1836 W. IRVING Astoria I. 139 The
tightening of the padding and the pressing of the head to
the board is gradual. 1877 KNIGHT Diet. Meck, t Tightening
pulley, one which rests against the band in order to tighten
it. 1902 Words Eyewitness 1 35 Men . . who would have met
untold sorrow with but a tightening of the lips.
Tightened (tai-t nd), ///. a. [f. prec. + -En .]
Made or become tight ; drawn tight or close ;
tense, stretched ; firm, rigid ; constricted.
1760 FAWKES tr. Anacreon, Ode lix. 7 With tighten d
Rein, I ll urge thee round the dusty Plain. 1810 SCOTT
Lady of L. n. xxxvi, Malcolm did. .bind. . His ample plaid
in tightened fold. 1833 COLERIDGE Table-t. 10 Aug., Like
a sigh heaved up from the tightened chest of a sick man.
1880 G. MEREDITH Tragic Com. (1881) 291 The tightened
grasp of her hand confessed her understanding of the thing
she pressed to hear repeated. 1899 A llbutt s S_yst. Med. VI.
48 The pulse may be but little changed [in angina], yet it is
sometimes tightened.
Tightener (tai-t naj). ff. TIGHTEN v. + -EB V]
One who or that which tightens.
1829 Nat. Philos., Prelim. Treat. 32 (U.K.S.), [In lizards]
the two toes or tightners, by which the skin of the foot is
pinned down. 1851 MAYHEW Land. Labour I. 66 What is
elegantly termed a tightner, that is to say, a most plentiful
repast. 1890 llluslr. Land. News 6 Sept. 298/3 A minstrel
. .a tightener of the strong sinews of warlike hearts ! 1891
Wheeling 25 Feb. 402 Wrenches, spoke tighteners, and
padlocks and chain ; bearings, hubs, and pedals. 1895
Standard 2r Nov. 5/2 There is no such tightener of the
purse strings as want of confidence.
t Ti ghter. 06s. rare. [f. TIGHT v.3 + -ER 1.]
1. One who makes tight the seams of ships ;
a caulker.
1611 COTGK., Goildronneur, a pitcher, trimmer, or tighter
of ships. 1653 URQUHART Rabelais \\. xxx, Julius Csesar
and Pompey were boatwrights and tighters of ships.
2. A ribband or string by which women straiten
their clothes (J.).
Tightish ftsitij), a. [f. TIGHT a. + -ISH >.]
1. Rather tight or close-fitting.
775 S. J. PRATT Liberal Ofin. xcvi. (1783) III. 202 Are
they [the clothes] not a little lightish ? 1848 CURZON Visits
Afonast. I. v. 58 It comes up high upon the neck, and has
lightish sleeves. 1893 QUILLER-COUCH Delectable Duchy 223
In a tighlish uniform.
b. as adv. Somewhat tightly.
1767 J. FERGUSON Lect.,Suffl. 31 The top goes on lightish,
but must be made to turn round on the cylinder.
2. Somewhat difficult to accomplish, attain to,
etc. ; rather stiff or difficult.
1786 MRS. A. M. BENNETT Juvenile Indiscretions III. 207
Amounted to a pretty tighlish sum. 1801 Ir. Gabrielli s
Myst. Husb. II. 96 They have had a lightish day s work.
1832 WILSON in Blackw. Mag. XXXI. 859 Tis a lightish
swimacross. 1890* BoLDREWOOD CW. Reformer (1891) 418,
I had a tighlish ride lo get over before I caughl Ihe mail.
Ti ght-la:ced (-l^st), a. That is laced tightly ;
having the laces drawn tight ; wearing stays tightly
laced ; constricted or compressed by tight-lacing.
1741 [see b]. 1828 Lights f, Shades II. 132 The light-
laced spark of fashion, wilh his hat on one side. 1860 W. G.
CLARK in Vac. Tour. 43 We saw . . Ihe belles of the island, . .
with . . tight-laced black bodices. 1871 Figure Training 106
May I add a lillle praclical information.. on Ihe health of
tight-laced ladies ? 1905 H. D. ROLLESTON Dis. Liver 1 1
Tight-laced livers are often associated with dyspepsia.
D. Jig. Strict in the observance of rules or usages
of morality or propriety. (Usually dyslogistic.)
Even in Ihese lighl-laced days, ihe obscurily of a learned
language allows a lillle pleasantry. 1844 ALB. SMITH Adv.
Mr. Ledbury liv. (1886) 164 Eliquelte is nol over tight-laced
upon the mountains. 1881 LARWOOD Land. Parks xiv. 282
This somewhat tighl-laced gentleman was greally shocked.
Ti glvt-la cing, vbl. sb. The action or process
of lacing tightly ; spec, the practice of wearing
tightly-laced stays in order to reduce or preserve
the form of the waist.
TIGHT ROPE.
1834 TaiCs Mag, I. 101/2 The demon of tight-lacing is
still in existence. 1871 Figure Training 47 My two
daughters., can bear me out in my favourable opinion of
tight-lacing, and their good health speaks volumes in its
praise. 1897 Allbutt s Syst. Med. IV. 343 Cruveilhierlong
ago pointed out the influence of tight lacing as a cause of
displacement [of the kidney].
Hence Ti-g-ht-la ce v. (back-formation) trans.,
to lace tightly, to compress (the waist) by wear
ing tightly-laced stays; also refl. and absol. \ so
Ti glit-lace attrib. phr. t affected by tight-lacing;
Trg-ht-la-cer, one who practises tight-lacing.
1859 Habits of Gd. Society 172 It is often difficult to con-
vince the practised tight-lacer; for vanity is generally
obstinate. 1880 tr. Ziemssen s Cycl. Med. IX. 40 In slight
grades of the so-called tight-lace liver only a shallow
transverse furrow is observable. 1897 Allbutfs Syst. Med.
IV. 343 The tight-lace line on the liver is on the same level
as the upper pole of the kidney. 1898 Daily News 19 Jan.
9/2 She told me that she tight-laced herself to present a
good figure in the shop. 1907 Daily Chron. 14 Sept. 5/7
The majority of tight lacers develop thick unshapely legs
sooner or later.
Tightly (tsi-tli), adv. [f. TIGHT . + -LY2.]
In a tight manner.
1. Soundly, properly, well; effectively; stoutly,
vigorously. Cf. TIGHT a. 3. Now dial.
1598 SHAKS. Merry W. i. iii. 88 Hold Sirha, beare you
] these Letters tightly. Ibid. n. iii. 67 He will Clapper-claw
j thee tightly. 1598 B. JOKSON Ev. Man in Hum. \\. ii, He
i shall heare on t, and that tightly too. a 1625 FLETCHER,
etc. Fair Maid Inn n. ii, When we have cozen d em most
tightly, thou shall steal away the innkeeper s daughter.
^1700 B. E. Diet. Cant. Cre~M s. v. Sock, I ll Drub ye
. tightly. 1700 S. L. tr. Fryke s Voy. E. Ind. 193 Our eight
Boats.. pursued them so tightly, that.. by Noon our Boats
were all got within a quarter of a League of em. a 1713
ELLWOOD Autobiog. 163 He stood up titely to them. 1786
BURNS Inventory 41 An ay on Sundays duly nightly, I on
the questions [- catechism] tairge them tightly, a 1825
FOKBY I oc. E. Anglia t Tightly, . . promptly; actively; alertly.
2. With constriction, tension, or compression ;
closely, tensely ; strictly ; not loosely. AlsoyT^.
1758 RUTTY Sir. Diary (ed. 2) 104 A busy week ; yet
kept to all meetings tightly. 1776 Trial of Nundocomar
60/1 A paper, wrapped in a wax cloth, .bound tightly down
with a string. 1816 SCOTT Let. 22 Nov., I have settled
Walter tightly to his Greek and Latin. 1859 Habits ofGd.
Society iii. 145 Anything which binds any part of the body
tightly impedes the circulation. 1879 STEVENSON Trav.
Cevennes (1886) 34, I was tightly cross-examined about my
journey. 1883 Harper s Mag, Nov. 004/2 The contests
were . . more tightly fought out than by the trotting equines.
3. Firmly, securely.
1866 MRS. GASKELL Wives <$ Dau, xlviii, Trying to take
one of his hands; but he kept them tightly in his pockets.
1898 FLO. MONTGOMERY Tony 13 Their hands clasped tightly.
4. Neatly, tidily, smartly.
1825-9 MRS. SHERWOOD Lady of Manor II. xv. 297 It
does me good to see you going about, .so tightly dressed in
your neat little cap and blue apron.
5. In comb, with ppl. adj. (used attrib.), as
tightly-clenched^ -corsetted, -reined , -wrapped^ etc.
1825 T. HOOK Sayings Ser. ir. Passion fy Princ. xii. III.
292 The tightly-strained white kid gloves. 1866 HOWELLS
Venet. Life xi. 154 Her tightly-corsetted waist. 1888 J. S.
WINTER Bootle s Childr. iii, Between her tightly-clenched
teeth.
Tightly, tigtli, erroneous spellings of TITELY.
Tightness (tai-tnes). [f. TIGHT a. + -NESS.]
The quality or condition of being tight.
1. Closeness of texture; denseness, solidity (obs.) ;
compactness of structure, impermeability. Alsoyf^.
a 1728 WOODWARD (J. ), The bones are inflexible, which arises
from the greatness of the number of corpuscles that compose
them, and the firmness and tightness of their union. 1759
ELLIS in Phi!. Trans. LI. 207 The tightness of the cask
would secure them from the salt water. 1865 DICKENS Mut,
Fr. i. viii, Make me as compact a little will as can be recon
ciled with tightness.
2. The condition of being drawn tight, stretched,
or strained ; tenseness, tautness.
1780 New Newgate Cal. V. 152 Placing a fife within the
cord so as to twist it to a proper tightness. 1793 BEDDOES
Scurvy 63 It was not occasioned by any tightness of dress.
1869 SPURGEON Treas. David Ps. iii. 2 Harp-strings, .need to
be screwed up again to their proper tightness. 1885 Man
chester Exam. 7 Oct. 5/2 The very tightness with which the
screw is being applied renders the probability of a break
down of the machinery more probable.
b. transf. Constriction felt (as in breathing) ;
hardness (of the pulse). Cf. TIGHTENED.
1785 J. PEARSON in Med. Commun.ll. 68 A sense of tight
ness across the chest. 1898 Allbutfs Syst. Med, V. 37
Nothing will relieve the tightness of the chest and the hard
ness of the cough. .better than antimony. 1899 Ibid. VI.
49 Diminution in size and increase in tightness of the pulse.
3. The condition of being tipsy, slang,
1864 Daily Tel. 4 Oct., At the first_ blush, the Americans
strike a foreigner as being an exceedingly drunken people.
..You cannot fail to observe an immense amount of tight
ness during your walks abroad.
4. Comm. Scarcity of money in the market.
1838 R. S. SURTEES Ask Mamma Ixvii, In consequence
of the tightness of the money-market, an early settlement
would be agreeable. 1901 Scotsman 7 Mar. 6/2 The tight-
ness of money is again beginning adversely to affect gilt-
edged stocks.
Tight rope, trght-rope, sb. A tightly
stretched rope, wire, or wire cable, on which rope-
dancers and acrobats perform feats of ^quilibristic
skill. Also attrib. (Contrasted with SLACK-ROPE.)
TIGHT-ROPE.
25
TILE.
1801 STRUTT Sports % Pint. m. iv. (1810) 188 Tumbling
nnd jumping through a hoop., and dancing upon the tight
rope. 1861 THACKERAY Four Georges iv. (1876) 105 A
charming young Prince who danced deliciously on the
tight-rope. 1890 Spectator 22 Nov. 729/2 An interview
with a tight-rope dancer.
Hence Ti ght-rope z>., intr t to perform on the
tight-rope ; trans, to walk along as if on a tight
rope.
1858 A. MAY HEW Pared with Gold it. vii, A small..
tarden, intersected with gravel paths not broader than deal
oaids which entailed balancing on those who tight-ropetl
its walks. 1908 Daily Ckron. i Feb. 5/6 He has tumbled
and tight roped, slept under hedges, and accepted presents
from reigning potentates.
Tights (tails), sh. pi. [Elliptical use of TIGHT
#.] a. Tight-fitting breeches, worn by men in the
1 8th and early igth centuries, and still forming part
of court-dress.
1833 MARRYAT P. Simple xxxi, The frill of his shirt, ex-
tending from bis collar to the waistband of his nankeen
tights, which weie finished offat his knees with huge bunches
of riband. 1857 DICKENS Lett, (1880) II. 26 A pair of com
mon nankeen tights, to button below the calf. 1889 \V. S.
GILBERT Foggerty s Fairy i, If tights and trunks came in
again.
b. Garments of thin elastic material, fitting tight
to the skin, worn by dancers, acrobats, and others
to facilitate their movements or display the form;
skin-tights. Sometimes covering the whole body,
but usually the legs only.
1836-7 DICKENS Sk, Bcz, Airs. JosepJi Porter (1870) 300
None of the performers could walk in their tights, or move
their aims in their jackets. 1845 ALB. SMITH Fort, Scatter*.
Fam. xlil. (1887) 140 Gentlemen in fle^h tights jumped over
strips of cloth, coming down on the horse again. 1897
Times 4 Oct. 8/1 [She] would be well advised to abandon
her tights and resume the garb of her sex.
Tiglic (.ti*glik),#. Client, [f. mod.L. Tigl-ium^
specific name of the croton oil plant, Croton
Tiglium (Linn.), of the Coromandel coast in
India, the seeds of which were known in rfth cent,
pharmacy as grana tiglia and grana tilli \ accord
ing to \\ittstein, 1856, f. Gr. rt\os liquid faeces,
as in diarrhoea, from their purgative quality.
If so, the spelling tiglia or tiglii for tilia, tilli
prob. arose in Italy.] Contained in or derived
from croton oil ; tiglic acid, C R H 8 O, ( Watts)
CH 3 .CH:C(CH 3 ).CO.OII, a colourless crystalline
compound, crystallizing in triclinic plates or rods,
obtained from croton and other oils ; stereo-isomeric
with angelic acid. Also called methyl-crotonic
add. So Tig-late, a salt of this acid; Ti gline
(see quot. 1900); Tigli nic a. t tiglic.
1873 WATTS Diet. Ghent. VII. 395 (Croton oil, acids
obtained from) Geuther and Frohhch designate this acid
provisionally as tiglic acid, and point out that it is, perhaps,
identical with Frankland and Duppa s methyl-crotonic acid.
.. Barium liglate, (CsHTOz^Ba-f 10 HaO. 1876 HARLEY
Royle s Mat. Med. 440 It is composed of the ordinary fatty
acids, and volatile, acetic, butyric, and valerianic, tiglinic
acid. 1900 li. D. JACKSON Gloss. Bot. Terms, Tigline, the
acrid principle in the seeds of Croton Tiglhtm, Linn.
Tigress (tsi gres). (Also 9 tigeress.) [f.
TIGEK + -E33, after F. tigresse^
1. A female tiger.
1611 COTGR., Tigresse, a Tigresse, a she Tiger. 1624
MASSINCER Renegado m. v, If Christians have mothers,
sure they share in The tigress fierceness. 1647 R. STAPYLTOM
"Juvenal xv. 278 The Indian tigresses firme peace enjoy.
1891 E. PEACOCK N. Brendan II. 117 She turned on him like
a tigress at bay.
2. Jig. A fierce, cruel, or tiger-like woman : cf.
TIGER sb. 4.
1700 MOTIEUX Quix. i. iv. iv, II. 400, I never will give
any body reason to call me Tigress and Lioness. 1706
PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey), Tigress., .a ranting Woman, a cruel
MiMress. 1871 M. COLLINS Martj, $ Mtrch. I.iii. iziThe
proper subjugation of the young heiress and tigress.
fb. A vulgarly or obtrusively overdressed woman:
cf. TIGER 7. Obs.
1836 AYn< Monthly Mag, XLV1II. 460 Tigresses, too,
shone in a near approach to nudity, in Greek draperies and
a Brutus wig,
8. attrib. and Comb*) as tigress-heart , -like adj.
1844 LOUISA S. COSTF.LLO Btarn $ Pyrenees II, 341 Adieu,
tigress-heart ! Shepherdess without affection. igioQ. 7v-.
Jan. 13 Started in llgress-like revenge by a lady of quality.
llTigridia (tsigri-dia), Bot. [mod.L., named
by Ker 1805, f. Gr. rrypiS-, variant stem of riypts
TIOER+-IA>; so called from the spotted flowers.]
Name of a genus of bulbous plants, N.O. Iridacex^
known as Tiger-iris or Tiger-flower, esp. T. Pa-
vonta t the Peacock Tiger-flower, a native of
Mexico, Central America, and tropical S. America.
1866 in Trcas. Bot. 1888 Pall Mall G. 10 Nov., I feel
bound to say a word in praise of the orchid-like tigridia, a
bulbous plant of about a fool in height, and whose blossoms,
like those of the cistus, never last longer than a day.
Tigrine (toi-grain), a. (Also tigerine.) [ad.
L. tigrin-ns (Pliny) marked like a tiger: see
INK 1 .] Of, pertaining to, or resembling a tiger,
esp. in marking or colouring; in specific names
of animals translating L. tigrinus.
1656 BLOVNT Gfossflgr., Tigrine t of, or like the swift beast
called a Tigre. 1800 SHAW Gen. Zool. I. 408 Tigerine
I
Bfl
i weesel. .of the size of a Cat, and of mild manners. The body
! ..with a black stripe from head to tail, and spotted on the
; sides with brown. 1803 Ibid. IV. 556 Tigrine Holocentrus
I ..native of the Indian seas. 1842 Penny (.>/. XXIV. 440/1
! Two soldiLTS. .habited and shielded so us to exhibit a lige-
I rine aspect. 1861 G. MRRKDITH Evan Harrington xl,
With tigrine claw thou mangiest my speech. 1908 Times
8 June 6/3 Carpet, diamond, and tigrine snakes.
Tigrish, Tigroua : see TIGERISH, TIGEROTJS.
Tigroid (tai-groid), a. [f. Gr. nypoft^y like a
tiger : see -OIU.] Resembling a tiger or tiger s skin ;
marked like a tiger. Tigroid body {Path.} : see
quots. Also absol. as sb.
1901 Buck s Handbk. Med. Sc. II. 338 The tigroid in the cell
bodies of the nuclei of origin of the motor cerebral nerves.
lbid. t A part of the dendritu where tigroid bodies disappear.
1904 TITCHENKR tr. IVitndt s Physiol. Psychol. I. 41 When
highly magnified, most nerve -eel Is show, .a tibri Hated struc
ture ; clusters of granules are set.. between the meshi^ of
this fibiillar network. ..The granular deposits are named,
from their discoverer, the corpuscles of Nissl ; they are
also known as tigroid bodies, or as cliromophilous substance.
1909 Cent, Diet. Sufipl, s. v. Granule, Nissl granules, small,
deeply staining bodies found by Nissl in the cytoplasm of
nerve-cells... Also called ftissl s bodies and tigroid.
Hence Tigrolysis (taigrp lisis) [Gr. \v<ns dis
solution], the breaking down of the tigroid substance
in the nerve-cell; Tigrolytic (-tflrtik) a., of or
pertaining to tigrolysis.
1903 Buck s Handbk. Med. Sc. VI. 264 This disintegration
..of the tigrold has been variously designated.. . Kohn-
stamm gives it the name tigrolysis,.. which I prefer. Ibid.,
Cells still tigrolytic may be observed.
Tigro-logy. nonce-wd. [See -O)LOGY.] The
branch of zoology which treats of tigers.
1822-56 DK QUINCEY Confess, Wks. V. 70 The Indignation
! arose naturally against my three tormentors (guardian,
Archididascalus, and the professor of tigrology).
Tig-tag (li g|tae-g), v. Sc. [Reduplicated forma
tion, suggesting the continuous alternation of the
game of TIG or TAG.] a. intr. To continue in reci
procal action ; to bicker ; to haggle in bargaining.
b. trans. To drive to and fro, to keep (a person)
running to and fro. Hence Tig-tagging vbl. sb.
1643 BAILUE Lett., to IV. Sflang 7 Dec., The King came.,
with purpose to break up Waller s quarters, -but ..Waller is
recruited, from Kent, with horse and foot, and minds to
stand to it. They may tig tag on this way this twelve
month. 1825 JAMIESON, Tig-taggin, the act of hagglin ;
as, We had an awfu tig-taggin about it, before we coud
inak our bargain. 1844 W. CROSS Disruption xxxv. (1846)
"83 They ve .. been tig-tagit for years, waiting on this
Jill and the ither Bill.
Tigurine (ti giurain), a. and sb. [ad. L. Tigu-
rin-iis in Tigurinus pagits (Caesar), a district of
ancient Helvetia, generally identified with Zurich
(7*r/V/).] a. adj. Of or pertaining to Zurich
(cf. Consensus Tigurinus, the Zurich Consensus of
1549); hence = ZWINGLIAX. b. sb. A Zwinglian.
(i 1631 CALUERWOOD Hist. A7>v(i843) II. 331 The interpre-
tatioun of the Confession!! of the Tigurine kirk made by
Mr Robert Pont. 1674 HICKMAN Quinqnart. Hist. (ed. 2) 59
Blessed is the man who hath not gone in the counsel of the
Sacramentarians, nor stood in the way of the Zmnglians, nor
sate in the seat of the Tigurines. 1675 V. PUSQ? Anti-sozzo
273 Those low-spirited, phlegmatic Tigurine doctors, who
trade all in. .unwieldy systems of Divinity. 1697 POTTF.R
Antiq. Greece i. i. (1715) 3 Cf. the Tigurine Version with that
of Geneva. 1788 G. CAMPUELL Four Gospels (1807) I, 143
This has been followed by the Tigurine translator.
Tigurye, obs. variant of TUGUBY.
Ti-he, -hee, obs. ff. TEHEE. Tiht, obs. f.
TIGHT, TITE adv.
Tikal, var. TICAL. Tikat, obs. f. TICKET.
t Tike, tyke . Obs. rare { . [Generally taken
as ~ TYKE, dog, sense 2 ; but perh. ad. Welsh tatog
(taiog), in (Welsh taiawc villain, churl, Cornish
tioc or tiac husbandman, farmer, ploughman, rustic
: OCeltic *tegdcos, deriv. of *teg-os, Welsh ty a
house : cf, for the sense COTTAR, med.L. fofarit4s t
from cota ; VILLEIN, med.L. villanus, from villa.]
One of a class of persons subject to tallage (cf.
TALLAGEABILITY, quot. 1888); a churl, villein.
1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. xix. 37 The itiwes, l>at were gentil
men, ihcsu he dispised, Bothe his lore & his lawe ; now ar
J>ei lowe cherlis. As wyde as (>e worlde is, won yet h J>ere
none But vnder tribut & taillage as tykes & cherles (1393
C. xxu. 37 tikes and chicories].
[Note. On this word see A. L. Mayhew in Guardian
10 Nov. 1909. TVwtfif was in Welsh a technical term{.-/c/.
Welsh Laws 216, 266), and may have been known west of
the Severn in English counties on the Welsh Border. Tike
dog , appears later, and then only in the north.)
Tike *, var. TYKE, a low-bred dog.
Tike, Tikel, -ell(e, -11, Tiket, tikkat, -et,
obs. forms of TICK, TICKLE, TICKET.
II Til 1 (til). East Ind. Also teel, teal. [a.
Hindi /*V:-Skr. tild."\ The Indian name of the
plant Sesanntm indicttm\ chiefly attrib. or in comb.,
as /// seed\ til oil, til-seed oil, the oil obtained
by bruising the seeds. Klack til = RAMTIL, Gui-
zotia olcifcra (formerly called Verbesina saliva).
1840 Penny Cyct. XVI. 417/1 India, whence, .sesamum or
til seed is. .largely imported, as well as from Egypt. 1845
STOCQUELER Handbk. Brit. India (1854)514 It is. .inferior. .
to the oil of til (seMMttm). 1849 BAI.FOI-R Afan. Bot. S 951
Teel seeds, the produce of Sesamum orientale^ supply a
blaml oil. t 1865 LETHF.BY in Circ. Sc. I. 101/2 Sessama,
gingilie, or teal oil. (11875 Table Customs-Duties British
India (Yule), Oils, Jinjili or Til. 1905 Statesman 23 Aim.
5/4 The Sesamum (Til or Jinjili) crop of the season.
II Til -. [Native name in Madeira : perh. a local
use of I g. til t TETL or linden.] A lauraceous
tree, Qreodaphne fetenSy of the Canary Islands and
Madeira; also its wood, which has a fetid smell.
Chiefly attrib., as til-tree, til-wood.
1858 HOGG Vfg. Kingd, 623 Til-wood, produced by
G\<.rppt ytia\ fa tcns, a native of the Canaries, has a mo^t
disagreeable odour. 1884 MILLER Plant-it., Orcodaphnt
(Launts) ftjetcns, Fetid Laurel, or Til-ircc. 1885 LADY
URASSEY The Trades 30 The black Til ..or native laurel.
Til, obs. form of TEIL, TILE, TILL.
Tilbury (ti-lbwi). [f. proper name Tilbury t
in sense i that of the inventor, in sense 2 of the place :
see quot. 1796.]
1. A light open two-wheeled carriage, fashionable
in the first half of the igth c.
1814 Sporting Mag. XLIII. 240 Fifteen tilburies, drawn
by fine blood horses. 1842 DICKENS Ainer, Xotes vi. (1850)
55/2 Gigs, phaetons, large- wheeled tilhuries, and private
carriages. 1863 Oi inA Held in Bondage ^1070) 41 Wu
stood waiting for his tilbury.
f 2. A sixpenny piece ; sixpence, slang. Obs.
1796 GROSE Diet, l- ulg. T. fed. 3), Tilbury, sixpence; so
called from its formerly being the fare for crossing over from
Gravesend to Tilbury fort. 1805 in Brathwaifs Barnabecs
Jrnl. (i3i3) Introd. 43 note, As if a man. .should say
Arriving at Til bury, fort, I gave a beggar a Tilbury (sixpence)
for the name s sake . 1811 J. H. VAUX Flask Diet., Tilbury,
a sixpence.
Hence Ti lbury d a,, of driving gloves, having
the finger-palms strengthened with leather to resist
the friction of the reins.
1901 Trade Catalogue, Knitted tilbury d gloves.
tTild. Obs. Forms: 4 tyle, 5 tyll, tilde,
tylde, 5-6 tyld. [In 14-15^ c. tyle, tyll, app. a.
OF. title a piece or portion : cf. itne title de son bacon
(t2lh c.), tille de lart (i4th c. in Godef.).] Each
of the four cuts or portions into which a quarter
of beef may be divided.
1342-3 Durh. Ace. Rolls (Surtees) I. 38 In j quart, earn.
Bon recent, et ij tyles et j carcos. pore. 1417 Ibid. 55
In v Carcass, j qart. et j tyld Cam. buv. c 1430 li<ui. 56
In iiij carcas ij tyll bov, sals. 1514-15 Earl Northumber*
tana s Househ. Bk. (1770) 135 There shal be strikkyn of every
Carcass of Beef Ixiiij Stroks, wlu che is. .after iiij Tilde in
every Quarter and after iiij Stroks in every Tylde.
Tild, -e, var. TELD sb. nnd v. Obs. ; obs. f. TILE.
II Tilde (.ti ld*). [Sp. tilde % a popular metathetic
form of the type *tidlo for tit(it]h, ad. L. tititlus
TITLE. Dicz cites as a parallel instance cabildo, L.
capititlum.] The diacritic mark ~ placed in
Spanish above the letter n to indicate the monilti
or palatalized sound (n> ), as in sefior (senior;.
Orig. the wouilte sound was written nn, as in the parallel
//; the tilde is an abbreviated form of the second n.
1864 in WEBSTER. 1889 Pall Mall G. 21 Jan., It is not
considered [by the authoress] of any importance if the word
seiior remains without its tilde,
Tile (tail), -f^- 1 Forms : a. i tisulo, 1-2 tijele,
3 tigel, 4 te^ele, tijl, 4-5 tiel, 4-6 tyel, 4-9 tyle,
5 til, tyl, tille, tyell, tyil, ty;!,!, tele, 5-6
teylle, tylle, 4- tile. ^. Sc. and north, dial. 5-6
tild, tyld(e. [OE. ///*, //^:-\VGer. legala,
ad. L. tegtila a tile, f. teg-trt to cover. So OIIG.
ziagal (MHG., G. ziegel}, Du. tegcl, tUhel, ON.
tigl (Sw. tcgel, Da. /^/).]
1. A thin blab of burnt clay, shaped according to
the purpose for which it is required ; usually un-
glazed and flat or curved for covering the roofs of
buildings, flat for lining ovens, etc. ; flat, usually
glazed and sometimes encaustically ornamented
when used to pave floors, or line walls, fire-places,
etc. ; semi-cylindrical or tunnel-shaped when used
for purposes of drainage.
a. originally and generally as used for roofing
purposes ; hence also applied to similar coverings
of metal, marble, f wood * shingles , etc.
75 Corpus Gloss. 1092 (O.E.T.) Tegula, ti^ule. ^815
y*sp. / s. xxi. 16 [xxii. 15] Adru^ade swe swe ti^ule (L.
tt sta\ meen min. c 1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 156 jebtcrn
under ttjelan to ahsan. a 1300 Cursor M. 18930 pe fire es
god to strengh be tile. 1340 Ayenb. 167 Tribulacion make|
pacience. .ase \>et uer make)? be te^ele hard, ciyxt Srut
ccxlii. 352 A large hous of tymbir .. couered with tylez
ouyr. c 14*5 I oc. in Wr.-Wiilcker 667/22 Hec tcgula, teylle.
1552 H I:LOF:T, Tyles of woode called shyngles. 1555
KIKN Decades 150 Their houses.. are couered eyther with
tyles, slates, reader, or stalkes of certeyne herbes. 1613
PURCHAS Pilgrimage (1614) 467 The house wherein his
Pagode. .standeth, is couered with Tik-s of siluer. 1617
MORYSON I tin. i. 64 The building is very faire, of free stone
. ., but covered with tiles of wood for the most part. 1678
CUDWORTH Intelt. tyst. i. iv. 460 He uncovered another
Temple. .,and taking off the Marble-Tyles thereof, sent them
into Spain to adorn his new erected Temple withal. 1746-7
HFRVF.V Mtdit. (1818) 27 Even a single tile, dropping from
the roof, may be as fatal as the fall of the whole structure.
1840 R. H. DANA Bef, Afastxm, 30 The better houses, .have
red tiles upon the roofs. 1850 LEITCH tr. C. O. Mallet s
Anc. Art 53 Byzes of Naxos invented the art of cutting
marble tiles about the soth Olympiad. 1857 BIRCH Anc.
Pottery (1858) I. 162 Tiles were extensively used in Greece
for roofing.
TILE.
( b. As used in building generally, and includ
ing thicker slabs of the shape and quality of bricks :
cf. TILE-STONE i. Obs.
(Cf. the corresponding use of G. tiegfl. The word brick
first appears in E. in the r5lh c.)
893 K. /ELFRED Oros. it. iv. 7 (Se weal]] is ^eworht of
tixelan of eordtyrewan. [1:1150-1387: see 2.) c 1385
CHAUCER L. G. W. 709, & wallis make Fill hye of harde nils
wel I-bake. 1481 CAXTON Myrr. in. xi. 158 They made
other [pillar].. of tyles all hole wythoute ony loyntures.
c. As used for paving floors, lining walls, fire
places, etc.
c 1386 CHAUCER Sojnpn. T. 307 Ne of our pauement Nys
nat a tyl yet wilh-Inue oure wones. (c 1394, 1426-7 : see 2.]
1611 COTGR., Quarreau,. .a square tile, or biicke, fit to p.iue
\vith. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury in. 343/2 Roman Tiles.,
found in Vaults and Cellars in Chester. 1715 LEOSI
Palladia s Archit. (1742) I. 27 The Floors may be made.,
of square Tyles. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl., Flemish or
Dutch Tyles are of two kinds, antient and modern. The
ant lent were used for chimney foot-paces. ..The modern
Flemish tyles are commonly used plastered up in the
jaumbs of chimneys, instead of chimney-corner-stones. 1733
BERKELEY Querist 117 Whether tiles a_nd plaster may not
supply the place of Norway fir for flooring. 1844 DICKENS
Christmas Carol i, The fireplace .. paved .. with quaint
Dutch tiles. 1888 Miss BHADDON Fatal Three I. v, The
walls were lined with Minton tiles.
d. As used for draining land, roads, buildings,
etc., or for other purposes. These are either hollow
lubes or semicircular and open.
1830, 1844 [see tilt-draining, -machine in 6]. 1869
BOUTELL Arms A> Arm. iv. (1874) 60 One of these shields is
nn elongated and convex oblong, somewhat resembling a
hollowed water-course tile. 1870 EMEKSON Soc. A> Salit^. vi.
122 See what the farmer accomplishes by a cartload of tiles:
he alters the climate by letting off water. 1875 \V.
M<ILWRAITH Guide Wigtownshire 7.18 The spring .. has
been diverted into tiles, and forms a spout-well. 1883
Fisheries Exhib. Catal. 297 Tiles prepared for collecting
Spat... Knives for detaching the young oysters from the
chalked tile.
e. Metallurgy. A small flat piece of baked earth
or earthenware used to cover vessels in which
metals are fused.
1741 CRAMER Art Assaying Metals 67 In Fusions, it is
often necessary to cover the Vessels with Tiles.. .These are
made of the same Matter as the melting Pots and Crucibles.
1753 CHAMBERS Cycl. Supp., Tile, or Tyle, in assaying, a
small flat piece of dried earth, used to cover vessels in whkh
melals are in fusion. . . The Tile sits close upon the vessel.
1877 KNIGHT Diet. Meek., Tile.. 2. (llrass-founding.) The
cover of a brass furnace. Now made of iron, but formerly
a flat tile.. .3. (Metallurgy.) A clay cover for a melting-pot.
f. The name given to a small flat plate of copper :
cf. tile (oppcr in 6.
1868 JOYNSON Metals 96 The copper, .is cast into ingots ,
1 tiles , or wire bars .
g. To have a tile loose (and similar expressions
derived from roofing tiles) : to be slightly crazy, or
not quite right in the head, slang.
1846 W. H. MAXWELL Brian a Linn xvii. 0848) II. 212
1 There is not a tile off your upper story , as they say in the
north. 18706. MACDONALD Back of North Windxlx, He s
not right in the head, you know. A tile loose. 1877 UESANT
& RICE Harp ff Cr. iv, Is he cracked V Has my cousin
dropped a tile ?
2. The material of which tiles or bricks consist,
burnt clay (cf. BRICK sb. 1 i); tiles (or f bricks)
collectively (in early use const, as pi.), f Oil of
tile = brick-oil (BuiCK sbl 10). Obs.
a. c 1250 Gen. <V Ex. 2552 Do sette sundri hem to waken
His thel and lim, and walles maken. rti3<x> CursorM.
533 (Colt.) Tua pilers bai mad, o tile (>e tan, (>e tober it waso
merbul Stan. 1387 TREVISA //;* (Rolls) IV. 297, I fonde
a citee of brend tyle, and now I leve a citee of marbil.
c 1394 P. PI. Creiie 194 pat cloister .. was .. y-paued wib
peynt til, icbe poynte after ober. 1426-7 Kec. St. Mary at
Hill 64 Payd for xj" pavyng tyle. 1566 in J. Morris
Troubles Cath. Forefathers (1877) 336A11 the residue of
tile, timber, and stuff. 163* LITHGOW Trav. IV. _i39 The
couertures being erected .. after the Italian fashion with
gutterd tyle. 1634 J. B[AIE] Myst. Nat. 64Takeof oyleof
Tile one pound. 1707 MORTIMER tfusb. (1721) I. 142 To do
them with Dutch Tile, such as they set Chimneys with.
1842 DICKENS Anier. Notes xi. (1850) 112/1 Cincinnati is a
beautiful city. .with, .its well-paved roads, and foot-ways of
blight tile.
ft. c 1425 WYNTOUN Cron. i. v. 235 He gert twa pilleris
sone be maid : Offtild or planter wes the tane, The tober
wes of merbill stane. 0450 Maill. Club Misc. III. 205
A litill basyn of payntit tild for the hee alter. 1552 LYNUE-
SAY Monarche 1702 All fell to warke, boith man and chylde.
Sum holkit claye, sum biynt the tylde. 1553-4 Burgh Rcc.
Edinb. (1871) II. 346 Item, to Maister Johne Prestoun for
ane hundreith tylde. -xv 1 .
t b. The covering of a roof, roofing. Obs. rare.
1611 CORYAT Cruditits 362 The tyle of most of their houses
is made of pieces of wood.
3. slang. A hat. Cf. TILED///, a. I c.
1823 in Spirit rub. Jrnls. 55 The prompter s boy threw
up his tile. 1825 Sporting Mag. XVI. 59 The Suffolk
Champion took off his tile, and made a silent appeal. 1837
DICKENS Picfrw. xii, Afore the brim went it was a wery
handsome tile. 1873 O. W. HOLMES Centenn. Dinner Boston
Pier 22 The square-toed boys in the three-cornered tiles.
4. Applied to an ancient Greek game : see quot.
1837 li. D. ^yALSH Aristoph., Knights II. iy. 212 note,
The game of tiles was played [thus]. A tile is provided,
..black on one side, and white on the other. The players
are separated into two. .parties, the blacks and the whites.
A child tosses up the tile in the air, ..if it falls with the
black side uppermost, the blacks run after the whites [etc.].
6. Short (or TILE-FISH.
26
1893 Worthington s Mag. (Hartford, Conn.) I. 150 The
Tile should be obtainable in numbers equal to the cod. .its
flesh is more delicate and has a better flavor.
0. atlrib. and Comb., as tile pavement, paving,
roof, roofing, sole; tile-layer, -moulder, -scraper;
tile-clad, -covered, -floored, -lite, -lined , -paved,
-roofed adjs. ; tile-burner, one who burns or bakes
clay into tiles, a tile-maker ; tile-clay, a kind of
clay adapted for making tiles ; tile copper, impure
copper or bottoms (BOTTOM sb. S b) made in flat
rectangular plates or tiles ; tile creasing : see
CREASING vbl. sb:- ^ ; tile-drain sb. , a drain con
structed of tiles; so tile-drain v. trans., to drain
(a field, etc.) by means of tiles ; tile-draining
vbl. sb. ; tile-earth = tile-flay ; tile-field, a piece
of ground where tiles are made: cf. brick-field;
tile-laths, laths supporting the tiles of a roof;
tile-machine, a machine for making tiles, esp.
drain-tiles; t tile-oast = TILE-KILN; tile-ore, an
earthy variety of cuprite or copper ore, usually of
a reddish colour; tile-oven = TILE-KILN ; tile-
pipe, a hollow cylindrical tile for drainage ; tile-
pit, a pit in which clay for tiles is dug ; tile-red
a. and sb., (of) a red colour like that of tiles ;
tile-root, name for the South African genus
Geissorhiza of iridaceous plants, from the over
lapping scales on the rhizome, the remains of the
bases of the leaves; tile-seed, name for the
Australian genus Geissois of saxifragaceous trees,
from the flattened seeds ; t tile-stricker, a work
man who formed the clay into a brick or tile;
tile-tea, an inferior kind of brick-tea : see quots. ;
t tile-theeker, one who covers roofs with tiles, a
tiler; tile-ways adv., in the manner or form of
a tile or tiles ; tile-work, work consisting of tiles ;
formerly including brick-work, and pottery in
general; tile-works, a place in which tiles are
made ; tile-wright [repr. OE. tigel uyrhta ], a
maker of tiles ; tile-yard, a yard or enclosure where
tiles are made. See also TILE-FISH, -KILN, etc.
1563-6 in Archxologia XXXVI. 303 To the *tyle burner.
1830 Cumb. Farm Rep. 62 in Lib. U. K., Hnsb. Ill, The
engagement with the Staffordshire tile burner. 1849 CLOUGH
Amours de Voyage in. 233 Looking down on the tile-clad
streets. 1707 MORTIMER Huso. (1721) I. 78 A sort of yellow
Tile-Clay. 1825 J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic
TILE-FISH.
in.
up t
Bk. Farm I. 585 The Marquis of Tweeddale. .has. ."tile,
drained extensively. 1830 Cumb. Farm Rep. 67 in Lib.
Use/. Kn., Huso. Ill, The system of "tile-draining is.,
begun in Ayrshiie. 1828 WEBSTER, "Tile-earth, a species
of strong clayey earth; stiff and stubborn land. 1882 OGIL-
VIE s. v. Tile-field, The palace of the Tuileries is thus named
from standing on what was once a "tile-field. 1849 DICKENS
Dav. Copp. x, The "tile floored kitchen. 1844 STEPHENS
JBk. Farm I. 188 A tile roof lequires "tile-lath, il inch
square, and n inches apart. 1851 RICHARDSON Ceol. (1885)
448 Ancient reptiles..; their .. covering consisted of long,
narrow, wedge-shaped, "tile-like, horny scales. 1895 Jrnl.
Roy. lust. Brit. Anhit. 14 Mar. 348 The "tile-lined walls
of the Alhambra. 1844 STEPHENS Bk. Farm I. 581 The.,
tile-machine .. makes tiles at the rate of 10,000 tiles a day.
1591 PERCWAL Sp. Diet., Tejar, a "tile ost. 1823 URE
Diet. Chem. (ed. 2), Tile ore, a sub-species of^octohedral
red cop]
them for
. . , ,
iperore. i535CovERDALK2.Srtw. xii. 3r Hebroughte
>rth . .and burned them in "tyle ouens. 1891 in Cent.
Diet. 1715 LEONI Palladia s Archit. (1742) I. 27 Square
"Tyle-Pavements are more agreeable to the Eye. c 1440 / al-
!s hyacinth-red, mixed with greyish-while... Examples, Por
celain-jasper and zeolite. 1600 HOLLAND Liny xxxvi. xxxviu
939 Two tame oxen climed up a ladder in the street Carinje,
to the tyle-roofe of a certaine house. 1844 STEPHENS Bk.
Farm I. 109 In "tile-roofing, tiles are made on purpose to
Wllll IIIIIK,
ticle of food
585 Canterbury Marr. Licences 22 May (MS.), Tyle-
tricker. 1858 SIMMONDS Diet. Trade, *Tile-tea, a kind of
fl,
A
butter, salt, and herbs, constituting rather an article of foo
than a. .beverage. 1881 OGILVIE, Tile-tea, a kind of inferic
tea prepared by stewing refuse leaves with milk, butter, salt,
and herbs, and solidifying the mixture by pressing it into
moulds. cmoYorkMyst.x\v.(heading)Tne tillethekers.
1789 MRS. Piozzi Jouni. France II. 272 The roofs are all
wood cut tile-ways. 1535 COVERDALE Isa. ix. 10 The "tyle
worcke is fallen downe, but we will buylde it with harder
stones. 1865 ELIZA METEYARD Jos. Wedgwood I. 42 The
. . term of tilewoi k embraced every article manufactured by
the Saxon, and later by the Norman Potter. 1882 OC.U.VIE,
Tile-ivork [t Tile-works}, a place where tiles are made;
a tilery. 1891 Cent. Diet., Tile-works. 1906 A. U. TODD
Autobiog. vii. 70, I went to labour at the Lanfine tile-
works, c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt, xxvii. 10, & his sealdon
bzt on "tiselwyrhtena zcyr. 1865 ELIZA METEVARD Jos.
Wedgiwod I. 93 Every worker in its clays became a tile-
wright, whether he moulded tiles, or formed the homely
pipkin or porringer, the slab-like dish, or ale.vat for the
uncomfortable places, such as brick-fields and tile yards.
fTile, sb.2 Obs. rare~ . [ME., ?absol. use of
OE. ///adj. serviceable, competent, good, excellent.]
?Gain, profit; wealth, possessions, goods.
c 1250 Gen. A> Ex. 1519 An hundred so mikel wex his tile,
So may god frioe 3or he wile.
Tile (tail), v. Also 4- tyle. [f. TILE rf. 1 ; in
sense 2, back-formation from TILEB 2.]
1. trans. To cover with tiles ; to overlay (a floor
or roof) or line (a wall, fire-place, etc.) with tiles ;
in quot. 1812, to roof.
c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xl. (Ninian} 930 par-of eftire, in
schorl quhile, He gert his quere rycht wele lyle. 1467
in Eng. Gilds ( 1870) 386 That the owners., tyle the thacched
houses. 1591 in Gentl. Mag. (1779) XLIX_. Si Many offices
new builded..all which were tyled. 1605 in Willis & Clark
Cambridge (1886) II. 494 Thomas Yates to Slate and Tyle
y e Kytchen. 1704 N. N. tr. Boccalinfs Advts.fr. Parnass.
III. 272 My Spanish Palace, which I might easily have
Tiled with Massie Gold or Silver. 1812 BIGLAND Beauties
Eng:. fy Wales XVI. 629 Open hay barns, tiled with slate.
1829 D. CONWAY Norway 152 Assisting to tile a house.
1901 West in. Caz. ro Jan. 7/3 The tunnels are to be tiled-up.
b. transf. and fig. To cover as with tiles ; to
cover over, cover up : spec, of overlapping leaves,
scales, etc. (= IMBUICATEZ . 2). fin quot. 1641-2,
to place (a thing) upon another so as to cover it.
1512 Ace. Ld. High Treas. Scot. IV. 298 To tile the
kingis oratour in the Margret schip, xxxv elms Kendillye
1641-2 J. SHUTE Sarah <5- ffagar (1649) 62 God .. hath
heaped up blessings upon us; yea, lyled one favour upon
another. 1719 LONDON & WISE Compl. Cant. ix. 322 By
lyling^ up, or wrapping about, or Earthing up ; or otherwise
covering them. 1776 WITHERING Brit. Plants (1796) III.
783 Sphagnum... Leaves, .concave, soft, tiling the branches.
1884 W. K. PARKER Mammalian Desct. iv. (1885) 95 The
Pangolin is tiled over with patches of cemented hair
2. freemasonry. (Usually tyle.) To protect (a
lodge or meeting) from interruption and intrusion,
so as to keep its proceedings secret, by placing a
TILER before the door. Also transf. to bind (a
person) to secrecy ; to keep (any meeting or pro
ceeding) strictly secret.
1762 Key to Free- Masonry (1776) 4 Master to the Junior
Deacon. What is the chief Care of a Mason? Ans. To see
that the Lodge is tyled. 1768 T. WILSON Master-Mason
(eel. 2) 26 The master asked his brother warden, if he was a
mason, if the lodge was tiled from whence he came. 1846
THACKERAY Bk. Snobs xxv. Come, come, Snob my boy, we
areall tiled, you know. 1859 SALA Tltt. roundClock 11861)
308 The doors of those mysterious meeting-places are tiled
as securely as Freemasons lodges. 1896 Law Times CU.
123/2 A Parliament chamber [at the Inns of Court] is close
tiled, except for purposes of discipline affecting character.
Tile, obs. form of TEIL, lime-tree, TILL v.
Tiled (taild),///. a. [f. TILE W. + -EI)!.]
1. Covered, roofed, lined, or laid with tiles.
1:1450 Codstow Kef. 495 Bitwene the tyled house of
Isabell-.and the ovyn of the same Isabel!. 1546 J. HEY-
WOOD Prov. (1867) 58 A tyeld house. 1609 Ev. Woman in
Hum. iv. ii, He that has not a tilde house must bee glad of
a lhatch house. 1849 DICKENS Dav. Copp. xxi, She was in
the tiled kitchen. 1881 RITA Lady Coquette iii, A bright
wood fire burns in the old tiled fireplace.
b. Nat. Hist. Covered with or composed of
overlapping leaves, scales, or the like (also said
of the leaves, etc.) ; imbricated. ? Obs.
1750-1 MRS DELANY Life f, Corr. (1862) III. 27 A pre-
sent, .of a tiled cockle, that weighs above a hundredweight.
1776 WITHERING lirit Plants (1796) I. 139 Scirpus.. .Spike
tiled on every side, the florets separated by Scales Ibid.
364 The tiled leaves at the extremity of the plant. 1805
PRISCILLA WAKEPIELD Domestic Kecr. (1806) I. 12 The
third order have four tiled or feathered wings.
c. slang. Hatted.
1791 Misc. Est. in Ann. Keg. 153/2 Nor were Iivin S heads
only new tiled in this taste. The statues of their favorite
poets were crowned with a red cap.
2. Locally applied to fish dried in the sun (V upon
tiles).
1808 SCOTT Aiitobiof. in Loclrhart, Dined at Prestonpans
on tiled haddocks very sumptuously. 1830 Diary
27 June, [At Cockenzie] we had a tiled whiting, a dish un
known elsewhere.
3. Freemasonry. See TILE v. 2.
Tile-fish. [Suggested by the termination of
the generic name Lopholatilus, and by the brilliant
colouring resembling ornamental tiles.] Name for
the fish Lopholatilus chamxleonticeps , found in
abundance in 1879 off the coast of New England,
and valued as food ; supposed to be extinct from
the early part of 1882 till 1892, since which year
its numbers have again increased.
1881 TANNER in Rep. U. S. Comm. Fish f, Fisheries (1884)
34 One of the tile-fish taken in the morning was boiled for
dinner and served with egg sauce. 1884 GOODE Fisheries of
V. S. I. 360 The Tile-fish. .a form discovered on a hitherto
unexplored ground, eighty miles southeast of Noman s Land,
Massachusetts, in [May] 1879. . . Captain Kirhy of Gloucester,
who was the first to obtain specimens of this fish, caught in
a few hours several hundred. 1893 Worthington s Mag.
(Hartford, Conn.) I. 150 The Tile Fish, with its back of
pale violet hue and greenish-yellow spots, is one of the
most biilliantly colored fishes in the world. 1902 JORDAN
& EvERMANN/lr. Food Fishes 504 The famous tilefish,
whose discovery only a few years ago, and sudden dis
appearance a few months later, has interested commercial
TILE-KILN.
27
TILL.
fishermen and scientists as well,. .It was not until 1892 that
they were found again.
Ti le-kiln. Also 6-7 -kil(l. A kiln in which
tiles are baked.
1531 Lett. $ Pap. Hen. VfII,V. 180 A longe cart caryng
of tylys from the tyle kyll at Newname Brige unto the
Kinges storehouse within the towne of Calais. 1675 COVEL
in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.) 185 There is also just
by this town a tile kill. 1830 Cumb, Farm Rep. 62 in Lib.
Use/. Knmul., Husl>. Ill, A proper tile-kiln, shed, etc.,
were erected.
Ti le-maker. A maker of tiles ; a workman
employed in making tiles.
1415 Qrdo pngin. ludi Corp. Cr. in York Myst. Introd.
p. xxv, Tielmakers, Milners. 1548 Nottingham Rcc. IV. 4
Robert us Walesby, tylemaker. 1562 [see TILEK i], 1688
LUTTRELL Brief Rel. (1857) 1.453 The princes nurse is. .a
tilemaker s wife. 1724 Loud. Gaz. No. 6251/3 Every Brick-
maker and Tylemaker. 1837 PRICHARD Phys. Hist. Man.
(ed. 3) II. 135 A caste of potters and tile-makers.
So Ti le-making 1 .
Kk. Farm 1. 581 Clay of excellent qi
t Ti leman. Obs. TILE-MAKER.
1479-81 Rec. St. Mary at Hill 105 Pa yd to Knyghte,
Tyleman, for ij m l tyle, x s viij d. 1609 MS. Ace. St. John s
Hosp, t Cantcrl ., Pa yd vnto the tyll mane for a thousand
and a haulfe of tylles.
Tile-pin. A * pin (Fix sb.^ i) or peg of hard
wood used to fasten the tiles to the laths of a roof.
1338 in Dugdale Monasticon (1846) II. 585/2 In latthe-
Hyta. .jf Item in latthes, jd...ltem in tyelpynnes, ob.
1422-3 Alnngdon Rolls (Camden) 97 In ty3lpynnes emptis
viijd. 1426-7 Rec. St. Mary at Hill 65 A buschel tyle
pynnes viijd. 1563-4 in Swayne Sarum Churchw. Ate.
(1896) loo, A peck of tylepyns 3d. 1679 MOXON Mech.
Exerc.v\\\.n5 Tile-pins of Oak. 1825 J. NICHOLSON Operat.
Mechanic 550 A square of plain tiling will require a bundle
of laths, . . two bushels of lime, one bushel of sand, and a
peck of tile-pins.
Tiler (tai bi). Also 3 tyelere, 5 tylare,
tyller, tiller, tiellere, teyller, teler, 6 tyloure,
tylar, teller, 7 tylere, 5-9 tyler. [f. TILE sb
and v. + -ER l.]
1, One who covers the roofs of buildings with
tiles, a tile-layer ; also formerly, a tile-maker.
la 1300 Deed\\\ Shropsh. Arch. Soc. Trans. (1878) I. 368
De domo mea..que est inter dornum Willi le galeys et
domum Martini le Tyelere. 1415 Ordo Pagin, ludi Corp.
Cr. in York Myst. Introd. p. xxi, Tylers. 1467 in Eng.
Gilds (1870) 374 That euery tyler marke his tyle. 1483
Cath. Angl. 379/1 A Teler,. .tcgulator. 1562 Act 5 EuM,
c. 4 30 Tharte or Occupation of a .. Bricklayer. Tyler,
Slater, Healyer, Tilemaker. 1663 GERBIEB Counsel 51 The
Tiler, who often removes ten Tiles to lay two new ones,
1735 HKRKELEY Querist 399 Whether.. tilers, plumbers,
and gla/iers wouul not find employment if. .building pre
vailed ? 1824 LANDOR /rung. Com 1 , xii. Wks. 1846 I. 49
Like tilers, in mending one hole, they make another.
2. Freemasonry. (Usually tyler.) The door
keeper who keeps the uninitiated from intruding
upon the secrecy of the lodge or meeting.
ci742 in Hone Every-day Bk. (1827) II. 525 Two Tylers,
or Guardeis. .are to guard the Lodge, with a drawn Sword,
from all Cowens and Eves-droppers. 1762 Key to Free-
Masonry (1776) 39 As soon as you come to the Door of the
Lodge, you will find the Tyler on the Outside, with a drawn
Sword in his Hand, and a white Apron on. 1888 [see
TILING i bl
t3. l^See quot.) slang. Obs.
1659 Caterpillers of Nation Anat. % Tilers, or Cloyers,
equivalent to shoplifters.
4. A tile-kiln.
1877 in KNIGHT Diet. Mech.
5. A cat that frequents the tiles or roofs.
1905 VIOLET HUNT Autobiog. Cat ix. 108 A nice tiler and
mouser would be more appropriate.
f6. ? A pimple. Obs .rare*.
1660 HOWELL Parly of Beasts 25 (The Ass says] Our very
Urine is found to be good against Tilers or Morphews in
Ladies faces.
Tilery (tai-bri). [f. TILE, TILER : see -ERY.]
A place where tiles are made; a tile-field or -kiln.
1846 J. BAXTER Libr. Pract. Agric. I. 237 From the tilery
to his farm. 1856 Farmer* s Mag. Jan. 75 In cases where
estates extensively require draining, tileries and kilns should
be erected. 1871 RUSKIN Fors Clav. vi. n The first rough
putter s fields, tileries, as they called them, or Tuileries.
t Tile-sherd. Obs. or dial. [f. TILE sfi. l +
SHERD, SHARD; ct. potsherd.] A broken piece or
fragment of tile.
1527 Luton Trin. Guild (1906) 190 For careeg of a loode
of tyle sherdis to vndre pyn w all. 1533 MS. Ranol. D.
776 If. 1 47 b, A loode of Tyle sherdes ffor the levelyng vppe of
the vndeipynnyngof the said wharffe. 1616 CHAHPNEY Voc,
Bps. To Kur,, Little children that build Castles of Tile-
shaids. 1777 HOWARD Prisons Eng. (1780) 369 Some
Prisoners were employed in beating or pounding tile-sherds
>r the bricklayers, a 1825 FORBY Voc. E. Anglia, Tile-
sherd, . . a fragment of a tile, as potsherd of a pot.
Tilestone (Ui-l,st^n). Forms : see TILE and
STONE. [OK. tittlstdn, f. tigelc, TILE s&. l + stan,
STONE sb. Cf. MHG. ziegelsUin.]
fl. A brick or tile; the material of bricks or
tiles: - TILE *M i, 2. Obs.
a 1100 Gloss, in Eng. Studien XI. 66 Hec imbrex, tijel-
stan. 1382 WYCLIF Gen. xi. 3 Cometh, & make we tile
[1388 ticTj stoons, and sethe we hem with fier. 1388 Isa.
ix. 10 Tijl stoonys fellen doun, but we schulen bilde with
square stoonys. 1432-50 tr. Hidden (RolUj II. 233 Oon sion
was of marbole,. .that other was of tyleston. c 1425 tr.
Arderne*s Treat. Fistula 82 Tak a tile stone or a scarce
of a potte, and putte it in IK middez of brynnyng colez.
573 L- LLOVD Marrow of Hist. (1653) 21 Pyrrhus. .was
killed by a .. woman with a Tile stone. 1600 NASHE
Summers Last Will in Hazl. Dcdsley^\\\. 25 For fear of
wearing out my lord s tile-stones with your hobnails. 1681
CHETHAM Angler s Vade-tn. iv. 20 Dry them on a Fire-
Shovel ur Tilestone or in an Oven.
2. Gcol. Any laminated flagstone, splitting into
layers thicker than slate, suitable for roofing-tiles ;
spec, a, group of sandstones forming the transition
beds between the Silurian and Devonian systems.
1668 CHARLETON Onomast. 242 Saxum Fisst7f..S\3.ic or
Tyle-stone. 1719 STRACHKY in Writ. Trans, XXX. 971 At
Stanton they have . . an Iron-Gritt or grey Tile-Stone, which
is a Fore-runner of the Coal-Clives. 1778 Eng. Gazetteer
(ed. 2), Norton under Hambden-Hil), Som. ..has large
quarries of free-stone,, .as well as of tile-stone, i\:c. 1842
BBDGWICK in Hudson Guide Lakes (1843) 213 Three groups
the lowest characterized by red flagstone (or tilestone ).
1876 A. H. GREKN Phys. Gcol. ii. 7 If the layers are thin
enough for roofing purposes the rock is called a Tilestone.
t Tile tte. Obs. rare 1 , [f. TILE sb.^- + -ETTE.]
A small or minute tile.
c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. vi. 105 Erode and thynne Tilette
[L. te^llas} or tabulette of marbul stoon.
fTilforr, <onj. Sc. Obs. [f. til- = To- prefix
+ foif, FORE adv. and/;v/.] TOFOUE, BEFORE.
15. . Aherd. Reg, ijam.), A yeir tilfoir he deceissit.
t Tilgrddire, adv. Sc. Obs. [for TOGETHER,
with ///- = To-.] Together.
c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xl. (Nintan) 420 To god be fadlr be
lowinge, ..To god be sone ay honoure be,.. Til haly gaste
als, ..& til ^ame til-giddire richt.
Tiliaceous (tili^i Jas),^. Bot. [f. \ f .tilidce~its
(f. tilia lime-tree) + -ous : see -ACEOUS.] Belong
ing to the Natural Order Tiliacex, typified by the
genus Ti/ia, the lime or linden tree.
1891 in Cent. Diet. I\Iod. Jute isobtained from species of
thetiliaceous genus Corihorus.
fTilie. Obs. Also 2 teolie, 4 tilye. [OK.
it/ia, agent-n. f. tilian to TILL.] One who tills or
cultivates the soil ; a husbandman ; ^ TILLEK sbj-
c looo Ags. Gosp. Matt. x.xi. 38 pa 3a tylian [c 1160 Hatt.
G. tylien] bone sunu ^esawun, ba cwa:don hi^ [etc ]. c 1175
Lamb. How.. 133 Alse be wise teolie benne he wule sawe
n imed 3eme of twain bingen, an is hweiSer bet lond beo bicu-
melic to b sede. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Horn.. 155 On tilie ferde
ut and sew. a. 1225 Ancr. A*. 416 PCOS riche ancren bet beo A
eoroe tilien, o3er habbeG rentes i-sette, c 1325 Chron. Eng.
93(Ritson) Muche folk. .That were erthe lilyes gode.
Tilie, obs. form of TEIL, lime-tree, TILL v^
Tiller, obs. form of TILLER sb.i
Tiling (tai lirj), vbl. sb. [f. TILE v. and s&. 1 +
-ING !.]
1. The action of the verb TILE ; the covering (of
a roof, etc.) with or as with tiles.
ci44o Promp. Parv. 494/1 Tylynge, of howsys, tcgulacio.
1591 PERCIVAL Sp. Diet., Att<ifler/a, tiling, Tilers art,
Masons craft. 1624 CAPT. SMITH Virginiavi. 209 Free-stone
for building, Slate for tyling. 1726 LsoNI Alberti s Arckit.
I. 57/1 Another. .convenient way of Tiling.
b. Freemasonry. (Usually tyling.) The proper
guarding of a lodge.
1888 Pall Mall G. 31 Oct. 7/2 Brother W E ,
Acting Past Master, .deliberately broke the tyling of the
lodge, and placed the tyler inside along with the ladies.
2. cona: \Vorkconsistingoftiles; the tiles form
ing the covering of a roof, floor, etc., collectively.
1526 TIN DALE Luke v. 19 They went vp..and lett hym
doune thorowe the tylynge. 1634 SIR T. HERBERT Trav.
61 Churches .. their outside tyling, pargetted with azure
stones. 1694 tr. Marten s Voy. Spitzbergcn in Ace. Sen.
Late Voy. \\. 135 The Head of the Whale. .goeth down
sloaping like unto the tyling of an House. 1725 Bradley s
Fam. Diet. s. v. Building* Tiling is measured by ten Foot
Square.. .Three Bushels of Lime will do a Square of Tiling.
1883 MRS. BISHOP Sit. Malay Pen. ii, in Leisure Hour 21/2
Dutch tiling and Dutch., conceits of all kinds abound.
3. attrib.
1703 MOXON Mech. Exerc. 248 A Tyling Trowel, to take
up the Morter and lay it on the Tiles. 1765 Museum Rust.
IV. 80 Tiling lath, 2 s. lod. per bunch. 1907 Wtstnt* Gaz.
x Oct. 7/3 Two shillingswortn of cement and sand would be
. -required for a yard of tiling-work.
Till (til), Jd.l Forms: 5-6 tylle, 6 tilie, 6-7
tyll, 7 til, 6- till. [Origin obscure.]
f 1. A small box, casket, or closed compartment,
contained within or forming part of a larger box,
chest, or cabinet ; sometimes one that could be
lifted out, sometimes a drawer in a cabinet or chest
of drawers ; used for keeping valuables, documents,
etc., more safely. Obs. except as in 2.
1452 in Munimenta Academic* (Rolls) II. 653 Prout patet
in scriptis indentures positis in * le tylle * in studio meo
Oxoniae. 1530 PALSGR. 281/1 Tyll in a chest, chettron*
1534 Inv. Wardr. Kath. Arragon in Caniden Misc. (1855)
40 One cofar.. having foure tilles therin, the fore fronte of
every of them gilte. X547"S3 SlR K - SADLER List in lo/A
Rep. Dtp. Kpr.P.tbl. Rec. (1869) 224 Bagges of Bolces,
Lettres, and other \Vritenges remayneng in the study at
Westminster, and in several tilles within the same. 1549 in
Palgrave A*c. Kal. ft /xv. Exchey, (1836) III. 417 Which
lettres patentes do lye in the nethermost tyll under the tyll
wheron is written in text hand Acquietauncies. 1561 in
Nichols Progr. Q. Eli*. (1823) 1. 118 By Anthony Anthony
a corbonett fall [full] of tylU. 1591 PERCIVAL i>. Diet.,
Caxon de area, the till of a chest, loculus. 1633 G.
HERBERT Temple* Confess, i, Within my heart I made
, Closets; and in them many a chest;. .In those chest-;,
( boxes ; in each box, a till. 1651 DAVF.NAN i Gondibert in. i.
liv, A spacious cabinet, with all things fraught... she by
degrees Lifts every till, does every drawer draw. 1664 PKPYS
Diary 8 Jan., Going to his secret till in his desk, wheiein
the key of his cash-chest lay. 1719 DE FOR Crusoe \. 229
, When I came to the Till in the Chests, I found UK- re thrc-e
j great Bags of Pieces of Kight. 1737 [S. BERINCTON] G de
\ Lucca s Mem. (1738) 13 Two little Cabinets, .full of intriuiiu
Drawers or Tills.
2. Now spec. A drawer, money-box, or similar
| receptacle under and behind the counter of a shop
! or bank, in which cash for daily transactions is
temporarily kept.
1698 Lond, Gaz, No. 336-5/4 Lost out of Mr. Wray s Shop
in Little-Britain, a Til. 1801 MAR. KDGEWORTH Contract
j v, James swept some loose money off the counter into the
till. 1866 CRUMP Hanking \. \\ All the money.. excepting
what must be kept in the till* for immediate uie. 1908
7YwF22Apr. 5 5 Officers, .suspected they had contemplated
robbing the tills.
/itf. 1886 Harper s Mag. Jan. 242 There is generally a race
to .see who shall first tap nature s till [i. e. strike oil],
3. Printing. Each of the spaces or cells between
the ribbed projections of the platen of ,1 hand
printing-press, in which the pressman keeps various
small requisites.
1888 J AGO BI Printers I ocab. 141 Tills, the cell-like divi
sions in the topside uf the platen of a h.tml printing press.
4. attrib. and Comb. v from 2), as till-lock. -money,
-robber, -robbing \ tiU-alarm, a device by which ;i
bell is automatically runjj when the till is opene ;
till-box = sense i ; till-tapping, pilfering i rom a
till; so till-tapper.
it>gz LonJ, Gaz. No. 2 756 4 Stolen, .a Tili-box \\nli si int-
Money in it. 1737 Salmon s Country Guilder s l-Mituat *
(ed. 2) no Cabinet Locks, Till Locks, and Scrutoire Locks
i86a Catal. Internat. Exh.> Bnt. n. Xo. 5152 Ticket, receipt,
and till protector. 1877 KNIGHT Diet, ^tech., Till- alarm.
1891 Daily AVrcj 3 Feb. 2 4 I art of their reserves,. being
j necessary till-money for daily transactions in small change.
1893 Columbus (Ohio) Disp, 14 Nov., For sume time the
j firm has been a loser by persistent till-tapping.. .The camera
i lens closed automatically with the photographs of the iill
I tappers. 1895 SS.MTH />. .l/cr>T / xxvii, Pete declared it [the
1 money stolen] was a month s till money.
Till, sb Orig. and chiefly -SV. [Origin un
ascertained : cf. THILL 2 in similar sense.]
1. A term applied to a stiff clay, more or less
impervious to water, usually occurring in unstrati-
fied deposits, and forming an ungeninl subsoil.
Originally a term of agriculture in Scotland.
1765 A. DICKSON Treat. Agric. \\. (ed. 2) 222 They [plow-
men] are so inattentive, as to leave good soil in some places,
and turn up till in others. 1799 J. ROBKRTSON Agric. Pertk
IQ On the declivities of almost all the hills a strong stifT till
abounds. Ibid. 477 Like all the land on the south Aspect of
the Seedlaws being a red till, capable of high cultivation
and in most places approaching to the nature of loam. 1805
FOKSYTH Beauties Scotl, lL 66 /> //,.. is in universal use
among farmers,. . implying very various mixtures of mineral
substances placed under the fertile mould., .hi general, ..a
hard clay of any sort, which in a very slight degree admits
the passage of water, and is impenetrable by the roots of
plants. 1816 SCOIT A ttry. iv, Placing paving-stones beneath
the tree when first planted.. a barrier between his roots
and the unkindly till. Ibid, xxiii, We re down to the till
now,.. and the ne er a coffin or ony thing else is here.
fig l &3 1 BRF.WSTER Nat. Magic xi. (1833) 287 It may lie
i long unproductive in the ungenial till of human knowledge.
b. In the majority of cases this clay belongs to
the Glacial or Drift period, and in geological use
* till has the specific sense * boulder clay .
1841 DARWIN in Life fy Lett. (1887) I. 300 A contribution
to the Geological Society, on the boulders and till of South
America. 1851 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. XII. i. 281 This clay
..rests upon till , or boulder clay. 1863 LYELL Antiq.
Man xii. (ed. 3) 218 Erratics of Scandinavian origin occur
chiefly in the lower portions of the till. 1863 A. C. RAMSAY
Phys. Geog. xxiv. (1878) 384 Much of the Lower Boulder-
clay is known as Till in Scotland.
2. Hard or soft shale ; app. - THTLL 2 . dial.
167* SINCLAIR Misc. Observ. Hydrost. 260 (Jam.) All
metals, as stone and tilles (which are seems of black stone,
and participat much of the nature of coal t, ly one above
another, and keep a regular course. 1831 W. PAT K ICK Plants
Lanark Pref. 18 The stratum itself lies on a bed of till
above the main coal.
3. Comb. Till-stone, a fissile shale, in coal
mines, etc.
(71830 Glouc. Farm Rep. 4 in Lib. Use/. Kn. t Husl>. III,
A thin wet clay, of a most adhesive nature, coveting the
thin fissile till-stone.
tTill, s&.3 Obs. or dial. Abbrev. of LENTIL,
quasi Lent-till : see quo t. 1640. (Chiefly in//.)
1388 WYCLIF Ezek, iv. 9 Take..wheete, and barli, and
beenys, and lillis (1382 lent]. 1398 TRKVISA Barth. De
/ . R. xvn. xcvi. (Bod!. MS.), Malice off Tilie is temprid ?if
>e skynne b ido aweye & pe pi> sode in freschc water.
14.. Voc. in Wr.-Wiilcker 594/5 Lufinut t Tylles. 1607
SckoL Disc. agst. Antichr. \. ii. 95 What inakelh the fitches,
tylles, tares.. which are mingled with the wheate? 1640
PARKINSON Theatr. Hot. 1068 Wee in English [call it]
Lentills, but the country people in Hampshire, and other
countries.. call it Tills, leaving out the Lent, as thinking
! that word agreeth not with the matter. 1669 WORLIDCE
| Syst. Agric. (1681) 42 The least of all Pulses is the Lentil,
1 in some places called Tills. 1760 J. LEE Introd. Bot. App.
I 330 Tills, Eruum.
Till,^. 4 Printing. [Cf. MHG., Gcr.tttlle (LG.
1 dulle> Du. dine} a socket in which something is
4-2
TILL.
fixed, or through which a rod or spindle passes.] i
In the early forms of hand printing-presses, a
horizontal cross-piece extending between and fixed
to the two main uprights, through which passes the
hose or sleeve, and the shank of the spindle ; also ]
called shelf.
1611 COTGK., Plant lie, . . the Till of a Printers Presse, or the
shelfelhnlcompasstlh ihe Hose. 1683 MOXON Mech. Exerc.,
Printing x. P6 The Till is a Board about one Inch thick. ..
In its middle it hath a round Hole.. for the Shank of the
Spindle to pass through. 1771 LUCKOMBI-: Hist. Print. 366
It may.. be botched up by putting scabbord between the
Hose and the square holes of the Till. 1841 SAVAGE Diet.
Printing 796 Till or Shelf, a mahogany shelf that clasps the
hose and causes it and the spindle to come down perpen- (
dicularly without any play.
Till, sh.a Obs. or dial. [f. TILL z>.l]
1. An act of tilling or ploughing land : see TILL
^.l 4.
1647 Husbandman s Pica agst. Tithes 36 Item for plowing
of the fallow for Wheat at 3 lilies at 5 s. the Acre, for every
of the three times plowing 60 Ii. 1760 BROWN Compl. Farmer
li. 32 In Oxfordshire.. they give their sour land a till, ac
cording to the., condition of their lands.
b. concr. (See quots.)
1794-1806 Kfp. Agric., Lane. 27 (E.D.S.) Till, a compost !
tjf earth and lime, mixed. iSzSCrarenGloss., Till, Tillage,
manure, compost.
2. ? Labour, toil : cf. TILL v.\ i .
?<zi8oo Dame Oliphant xii. in Child Ballads (tS86) iv.
409/r Willie he gaed hame again, To his hard task and till,
t Till, ^. Obs. rare- 1 , [f. TILL w. 3] Allure-
ment, enticement.
1596 COLSF. Penelo{>c (1880) 179, I feare me he hath caught
some done, And keepes her tame, with tills of loue.
Till (til), v. 1 Forms: a. 1-2 tiliau (i til(i)san),
2-5 tilie^n, 3 tilijen, tillien, 3-5 tylye, 3-6 tile,
tyle, 3-7 tille, 4 tilye, tylie, tilly, 4-6 tylle,
4-7 til, 6 tyll, 6- till. /3. i tiol-, teolian, 2
teolien, 2-3 telijen, 4 telie(n, tell, teile, 4-5 I
(Sc. 6) tele, 5 telle, 6-7 Sc. teil, teill, 8-9 dial. \
teel. 7. 1-2 tylian, 3-4 tulie(n (), 4 tulye ( ).
[OE. tilian to strive, acquire OKris. lilia to get,
cultivate, OS. tilian to obtain (MDu., Du. lelen to
breed, raise, cultivate, cause, etc.), OHG. zilon,
zilln to strive (G. zielen to aim, strive) : OTent.
*tild-jan, *lilejan, denom. f. *lilo m : see TILL prep.
By breaking of i before /, lilian became Italian,
teolian, later tele : cf. PILL z>.i, PEEL v. 1 (Sievers
Ags. Cram. ed. 3, 105, 3, 107 Anm. 4, 416,
14 a.).]
I. To labour, work for or at, cultivate.
fl. intr. To strive, exert oneself, labour, work.
a. 897 K. jY,LFED Gregory s Past. C. xix. 147 He sceal
tilian oEet he licige. c 1000 JELFRicSaiuts Lives xxviii. 168
To bisum swicolum life we swincad and tiliab and to bam i
towerdan life we tiliao hwonlice. 1175 Lamb. Horn. 19
Nu sculle we.. tilian to here saule bihofde. c 1200 Trin.
Coll. Horn. 37 Sume men..tilt3et[h] michel to ooYe mannaes I
bihofbe. a 1225 Ancr. R. 404 Ure Louerd. .tiled efter hore i
luue.
0, y. 971 Blickl. Ham. 219 Se deada man cwic eft..&
leolode to arisenne. c 1000 JLFRIC Horn. 1,412 Oxa leolao
his hlaforde. Ibid. II. 76 pa lyliaS.. Code, ba oe ne secao
heoraa^en sestreondurh sytsunge. c 1175 Lamb. Horn. 133
penne heo fundied to leoliende efter istreone. c 1200 Trin.
Coll. Horn. 155 panne hie wilen tulien after strene.
( 2. trans. To labour after, seek after, provide ;
to get by effort, to obtain, acquire, or earn by
labour; also (later) simply, to get, obtain. In
OE. and Early ME. const, with genitive, later
with ace. Obs.
a 900 Ags. Psalter (Th.) xlviii. 7 Full neah aelc mann baes
tiola6..hu he on ecnesse swincan mae^e, ciooo ^ELFRIC
flout. II. 552 Se asolcena oeowa, be nolde tilian nan oing
his hlafoide. c 1016 O. E. Citron, an. 1016 (Laud), Hi..
heom metes tilodon. a 1175 Cott. Horn, 223 pu sceall mid
aerfeoriesse be metes tylian. CI22O Bestiary 80 in O. E.
Misc. 3 Ne mai} he [the eagle] tilen him non fode. 1297 R.
GLOUC. (Rolls) 974 Hii..swonke & tylede horliflode. c 1330
R. BRUNXE Chron. (1810) 220 His luf to tak & tille. 1377
LANGL. P. PI. B. xiv. 67 Many wyntres men lyueden and
no mete ne tulyeden [v. rr. teleden, tiliden, tilieden, tylied ;
C. xvi. 271 no mete telden]. c 1380 WYCUF Wks. (1880)300
Pore men.. bat hauen greet neede..to byng bat freiis tillen
of hem. c 1425 Cast. Persev. 2538 in Macro PI. 153 A-forn
mele, men mete schul tyle [rimes skyl, wyl, hylej. c 1440
York Myst. vi. 59 Adam ! . . tille wilh-alle bi meete and
drynke for euer-more.
t 3. To take care of or attend to medically ; to
treat (a patient, or a disease). Const, as in 2.
Only OE.
a9y>Laws Ecgberf, Poenii. iv. c. 20 Wifman . . sif heo tila5
hire cilde mid Eenisum wiccecrasfle. 897 K. ALFRED
Gregory s Past. C. Ixii. 457 HwaetSres. . oara yfela is betere
fer to tilianne? fiiooo Life St. Guthlac xxii. (Goodw.) 96
His Iseces hine mid sealfum lange teolodon. ciooo Sax.
Leechd. II. 60 ponan se micla jeoxa cume, obbe hu hit
mon tilian scule.
4. trans. To bestow labour and attention, such
as ploughing, harrowing, manuring, etc., upon
(land) so as to fit it for raising crops ; to cultivate.
a. c 1205 LAV. 2618 pat lond heo lette tilien [c 1275 tilie].
a 1300 Cursor M. 23851 (Edinb.) II worbe it es to til \y.rr.
tile, tille, Gttt. tell] be fild, pat noht ogain be sed mai yeld.
c 1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) xxxii. 147 pe folk nowber tillez ne
sawez na land, c 1449 PECOCK Repr. in. i. (Rolls) 275
Feeldis.. which thei hem silf tilien. 1533 COVERDALE Gen.
28
ii. 5 Nether was there cny man to tylle the earth. 1625
CARPENTER Geog. Dclin. II. i, He began, .to till and manure
the soyle with all heedfull Industrie. 1765 HUTCHINSON
Hist. Mass. I. 207 Light land being easily tilled. 1835
IHIRI.WALI. Greece I. ix. 342 The prisoners were forced to
till the enemy s land.
ft. c 1200 I iccs % Virtues 75 And land telijen and
weri}en. 13. . Tell [see quot. a 1300 in a], r 1400 MAUNDEV.
(Roxb.) xxii. 103 Men of oure stature, be whilk teles be
land, c 1450 Gothtoiv Reg. 33 In londes I-telyd and not
I-telyd. 1536 in Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 1538. 394 Licence.,
to ryfe, outbreke and teill yeirlie 1000 acris of thair com-
mounlandis. 1569 Reg. I rhy Council Scot. 1. 653 Na Scottis-
man dwelland in Scotland sail tak or teill ony ground in
England. 1882 JACO Corn. Gloss., Teel, to plant or sow.
b. spec. To plough (land).
1377 LANGL. f. PI. B. xix. 256 My plowman Piers shal
ben . . , And for to tulye \v. r. tilie] treuthe a teme shal he
haue. 1513 DOUGLAS sEm is vi.: xiv. c;6Qiihair thowthiriggis
telts for to saw. 1535 COVERHALE i Sam. xiv. 14 Halue an
aker of londe, which a pare of oxen maye t>ll in one daye.
1652 NEEDHAM tr. Sddcn s Mare Cl. 260 An Hide.. is so
much Land as a Man can til] with one Plow for a year.
1863 FAWCETT Pol. Kcon. I. iy. (1876) 42 The same ploughs
till the land for many successive crops.
C. ahsol.
1100-21 O. E. Chron. an. 1097, On unjewederan ba
man oooe tilian sceolJe oAoe eft lilfta Jcgaderian. 1340-70
Alex, ff Dind. 854 Whan ?e mow lake no tol to tilien on erbe.
a 1400-50 Alexander 4581 How suld 3e telle withouten
toles? MO6DAUIYMPLK tr. Leslie s Hist. Scot. v. (S.T.S.) I.
293 This Haii..was behaldeng in the neisl feild how the
pluche teilet. 1652 I3p. HALL Invis. ll m-ld i. viii, They
then musl purvey for iheir own food, and either till, or
famish. 1850 MRS. JAMESON Leg, Monast. Ord. (1863) 125
They drained, they tilled, they planted.
f5. trans. To raise, rear (a crop) ; to tend and
cultivate (a plant) so as to promote growth. Obs.
1250 Gen. ff Ex. 1278 Abraham, .tillede corn and sette
treen. 1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) II. 309 To ere and
sou-e and naue corne i-teled. c 1400 MAUNDEV. (1839) v. 50
Men maken all weys bat bau-ine to ben tyled of the cristen
men. 1483 CAXTON Gold. Leg. 391 b/i Of hym that tylyeth
the vyne.
6. fig. To cultivate (something figured as land or
as a crop, e. g. the mind, a field of knowledge,
a virtue, etc.).
1393 LANGL. P. PI. C. I. 87 Dissliopes. .Ben chargid with
holy churche charyte to tulie, pat is, leel lone, .a-mong lered
and lewed. 1535 COVERDALE Ezek. xxxvi. 9 Vnto you will
I turne me, that ye maye be tylied and sowen. 1642 GAU-
DEN Three Serin. 132 Hee becomes lild and polished for ihe
best sociely. (11764 LLOYD Author s Apol. Wks. 1774 I. 6
And lills their minds with proper care. 1889 ROSCOE in
Nature 10 Oct. 579/1 His most important researches have
entered upon fields hitherto tilled, with but scanty success,
by the biologist.
II. To prepare, set, or spread in readiness.
7. trans. To spread (a net), set (a trap or snare).
Also, to set in any position. Now s. w. dial. Cf.
TELD v. 4. Also a/no!.
a 1225 Ancr. A . 334 (MS. Nero) per me sit mid be grea-
hundes forte kepen ) horde, oSSer tilien [v. rr. I crn. tllleb,
Corpus, Clcop., Cains Iilde3, Titus lildes] be nettes a^ean
ham. 1587 TURDERV. Trag. T. 33 The wilie wilted boy
That tiles his trappe to take the subtile foxe. 1613 W.
BROWNE Sheph. Pipe\\. (1614) Dj b, Nor knowes a trappe nor
snare lo till, c 1750 MRS. PALMER Devon. Dial. (1837) 2
Took a bard out of the springal that little maester had
a-teel d. 1799 in Southey Connii.-pl. Bk. (1851) IV. 523 [By
Newton Bushel we saw a board] Man Traps and Spring
Guns are tilled in this Garden. 1880 CARNEGIE Trapping
5 It is ten chances lo one that the rabbit will go over
or to the place at which you did not (as it is called in
the West) till your gin. Ibid. 36 In.. trapping rooks..
Ihere is no difficulty in lelling what part of the field to lill
in. 1882 JAGO Coniw. Gloss., Teel, lo sel or teel a trap .
1890 Gloucestersh. Gloss., Tile or Teel. . lo lile a Irap, lo set a
trap; to tile a gate, to set it open. 1895 QuiLLER-CoucH
Wand. Heath 80 He and his mates went out and tilled
ihe Irammel.
1 8. To pitch (a tent) : = TELD v. i ; to set
(a sail). Obs.
1362 LANGL. P. PI. A. 11. 44 Ten bousend of Tenles I-tilled
\v.rr. 1-teldyde, teldil, leled] be-sydes. 1628 DICBV Voy.
Mcdit. (Camden) 1 1 We had nol men enough lo lill our sailes
unlill the olher shippes were gone past our discerning.
III. f9. Cow*, of verb-stem. Till-land (tele-
land), tilled land, land nnder cultivation ; so till-
ridge (teill ryge). Sc. Obs.
1437 Registr. Aberdon. (Mailland) I. 247 Merkand norlh-
wesl our a moss to be nerrasl leleland of Ardgrane. 1549
Aberdeen Rt?gr. (Spald. Cl.) I. 274 Thai na maner of lakis-
men..ryif oul. .ony landis. .wilhoul lhair teill rygeof auld.
t Till, . 2 Obs. Forms : 3-4 tille ; also yd
sing.pres. 3 tilp, tylj); pa. t. 3 tylde, 3-4 tilde,
5 tilt. [OE. *tillan, in comb, getillan to touch,
reach, attain, atillan to touch ; cf. Goth. gatilSn to
attain, obtain.] intr. To reach, extend (to a
specified point or distance; in quot. 1393, to
a specified length).
[a 1000 Blickl. Glosses (E.E.T.S.) 262/2 Weras bloda &
facenfulle na healfe getillao.] c 1290 St. Brendan 616 in
6". Eng. Leg. 236 His her tilde doun to i.s fet, of berde and
of heued. 1297 R. GLOUC. 174 Fram douere in to chestre
tilleb watelinge stret 1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) II. 107
The kyngdom of Deyra tillede and strci3te from be ryuer of
Humber anon to be ryuere of Tyne. 1393 LANGL. P. PI.
C.vn. 220 Ich puttehem in pressours. .Tyl ten ^erdes ober
twelue tilled [A\v. 128 lolden ; B. v. 214 lolled] out brettyne.
b. trans, (a) To stretch to, attain to, reach,
touch. ({ ) To stretch (a thing) out.
[c 961 /ETHELWOLD Rule St. Benet vii. (Schtoer) 23 sif we
TILL.
bone hrof ba. ie healican ea5modnesse ftflillan wiltaS.] 61400
I Dcstr. Troy 914 As he lilt oul his lung with his tethe giym.
tTill, v.z Obs. Forms: [i tylian, pa.t. tylde],
3 tulle(n ( ), fa. t. tulde, 4-5 tille, tylle, 5 tyll,
4-7 till (4 til, 6-7 pa. t. and pple. tild) : see also
TOLL v.^ [OE. *lyllan (in comti.fortyllan to draw
away, seduce), early ME. tulien (it), ME. tylle, tille,
I till. Ulterior history obscure.]
1. trans. To draw, attract, persuade ; to entice,
allure, coax ; to win over.
a 1225 Ancr. R. 320 Mi liht onswere, ooer mine lihl lales,
tulde him erest upon me. Ibid. 414 Ne tulle }e to be 3etc
none unkuoe harlo?. a 1300 Cursor M. 12175 (Coll.) To be
scole him for to lill \fi.r. lillej. 111340 HAMI-OLE Psalter
xxiv. 2 pof )?ai waite nyghl and daye wilh ill suggestions lo
lill me lil syn. 13.. Minor Poems /r. VtnufSS.xd*. 11.
38 On of be lewes Malicious Tilled be child in to his hous.
c X 375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxx. (Thcodera) 159 For eth is a man
to til To do it bat is his wil. 1471 RIPLEY Coinp. Alclt. v.
xliii.in Ashm.(i652) 158 Lest wyththeyr flatteryngthey solhe
lyll Thai thou agre unto ther wyll. 1581 A. HALL Iliad iv.
71 He tild them for to liye And proue with him the corn-
bate. 1600 HOLLAND Lhyxxi. xi. 399 By tilling them on,
and alluring (hem with hope of great rewards. 1609 C.
Bui LER Jfc/ri. Mon. ii. (1623) Div, The sunne rising doth
oftiines till Ihem fprlh. 1666 M. M. Solomon s Prescript.
83 Devils ..labouring lo..lill Ihee on.
b. absol.
13.. C irsor M. 27307 (Colt.) He sal him til a-mendes
drau, ..wit wordes soft and mild, Als moder tilland dos hir
child. <i 1591 H. SMITH Wks. (1866-7) \- 299 As ihough his
eyes would draw his hearl, as the bait tilleth on Ihe hook.
2. To draw (physically).
a 1400-50 A Icxander^ 5479 pai [sirens] dro^e b_am doun in-to
bedepe & drowned bairn. .Or els bai lillid bairn to be Irees.
b. intr. ? To proceed, go. (Cf. draw near .)
1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 2492 Sire graunte me banne, quab
hengisl, gif it is bt wille As moche place as mid a buong ich
may aboute lille. c 1330 R. BRUNKE Chron. (1810) 128 To
gile no lo fraude wild he neuer lille. [Bui this may be i.]
Till (til), f. 4 [mod. f. TILL rf.l] trans. To
put (money) into a till.
1841 J. T. HEWLETT Parish Clerk III. 68 Having tilled
the fourpence three farthings. 1891 GOSCHEN in Standard
9 July 2/3 Coins. .which have been tilled for many years,
thereby not being exposed lo any friction.
Till (i\\),prep., conj., adv. Forms: I, 3-7 til,
4-5 tille, tylle, 4-6 tyl, tyll; 3 (Orm.~), 4- till
(in 1 8th c. often printed till as if short for UNTIL).
Also 4 tel, 4-5 tell, 5 telle ; 5 (9 dial.} tul, 6
(8 dial.} tull; 5 thyll(e. [ONorthumb. til, a.
ON. til prep, with genitive (e. g. til Islands, to
Iceland, til datiSa-dags to the day of death) ; mod.
Icel., FJCTO., Norw., Da. til, Sw. till; also OFris.
til prep, with dative. Prob. originally a sb. *// /
- OE. //// fixed point, station, OHG., MHG. zil,
Ger. siel neut. end, limit, point aimed at, goal,
late MLG. tel, til aim, (fixed) point of time ; cf.
OX. aldrtili end of life, death; hence the const,
with genitive : prop. with the limit or goal of
(the place or time named) . In ON. it filled the
place of the \YGer. prep. t$, ti, te, Ger. a, zi, ze,
OE. ti, To. Characteristically northern in reference
to place or purpose (though in ME. occasionally
midl. or south.) ; in reference to time, general Eng.
from c 1 300, though now often superseded by the
compound UNTIL. To the same root belong OE.
til adj. to the purpose, serviceable, good , and
OE. tilian, -tilian, TILL v.\ v. 2 ]
A. prep. I. Local and dative. Now only n.
dial, and Sc., where normally used instead of to
before a vowel or h.
1. = To prep. a. In the ordinary local sense of to.
a 800 Inscription, Rut/m ell Cross, Dumfries in O. E. T.
126 Hwebras ber fusae fearran kwomu aebbilae til anum.
c 1200 ORMIN Ded. 170 He. .stah ba sibbenn upp lill heffne.
a 1300 Cursor M. 10832 (Coll.) Ar he his wijf nl hus wald
bring, c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. (1810)3 P e fl ea< out f
Wales away lille Ireland. 1380 WVCLIF Sel. Wks. III.
445 Suche gone prively lil helle. c 1386 CHAUCER Knl?s T.
2106 They goon Hoomlil Althenes. 1460 Towneley Myst.
xv. 1 13 Tyll egyp weynd shall we. 1489 CAXTON Faytes
of A. II. xiii. 114 He dyde goo from one place tyl another.
1582-8 Life James VI (1804) 256 The Earle of Atholl sent
aduertisemenl heirof lill Argyll, ai6i8 J. DAVIES Eglogues
Poems(i772) 114 Whanwewenden till anolher place. 1807 T.
STAGG Poems 36 As king Solomon hath said, The place 1 11
not turn tilt [= to it]. 1816 SCOTT Antiq. ix, Rab. .bang d
out o 1 bed, and till some of his readiest claes.
b. As far as ; so as to reach. Cf. also C. 3.
1775 BARBOUR Bruce x. 682 Swerdis. .War till the hyltis
all oludy. r 1400 MAUNDEV. (1839) ix. 107 The forparlie of
Ihe heed lil vnder Ihe chyn is at Rome. 1483 CAXTON
Gold. Leg. 80/2 Nabugodonosor . .sente vnlo all Regyons
aboule..lyl ihe mounles of elhyope. 1535 COVERDALE
Judg. xx. 43 They. .folowed vpon them.. and trode them
downe tyll afore Gibea. 1561 HOLLVBUSH Hotn. Apoth. 38
That it maye reache . . from the nauell lyll the priuy
membres. 1828 BUCHAN Ballads I. 2 He read it till an end.
2. In senses of to derived from the local, a. where
the object is not a point in space. Now Sc.
<ri2oo ORMIN Ded. 18 pu bohhlessl tatt itt mihhte we] Till
mikell frame turrnenn. a 1340 HAMPOLE Psalter xxiv. a
111 suggeslions lo lill me til syn. c 1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.)
Pref. 2 What lufe he had lil his sugets. Ibid. iv. 12
Changed.. fra a faire damysell til a dragoun. 1509 Bp.
FISHER Funeral Serm. Ctess Richmond Wks. (E.E.T.S.)
i. 294 She restrayned her appetyte tyl one mele & tyl one
TILL.
29
TILLAGE.
fysshe on the day. 1513 DOUGLAS /Eneis vi. Prol. 64 Till
vertu thaim to brod. 1582-8 Life Jos. VI (1804) 260 He
was putt till extreme lortor. 1655 FULLER Ch. Hist. iv. Hi.
40 He was. .restored till his liberty and archbishoprick.
i86 j. WILSON Noct. Ambr. Wks. (1855) I. 125, I venerate
the adherence till t. 1858 RAMSAY Remin. v. (1870) 104
* They re what we must all come till *.
f b. Conformably to, in accordance with, after.
Obs. rare.
1340 HAMPOLE Pr. Consc. 90 Ilk man.. God made til his
a wen lyknessc. c 1400 MAUNDEV. fRoxb.) Pref. 2 Howdere
he boght man bat he had made lil his awen liknes. c 1489
CAXTON Blanckardyn xix. 59 He was not armed tyl his
plesure.
t c. To or for the purpose of, in order to be ; to
become, as. Obs.
a 1352 MIXOT Poems xi. 40 pat he may at his ending haue
hetiin till his mede. a 1450 LeMorte Arth. 637 The feyiest
lady..Tille his lemman chosen hath he. 0489 CAXTON
Blanchardyn xxv. 93, I wolde haue gyuen you tyl his wyflf.
3. Expressing the indirect object or dative rela
tion. After verbs of giving, telling, comparing,
hearkening, pertaining, addition, affecting action ;
adjs. and sbs. of likeness, agreeableness, belonging,
relationship, etc. Now n. dial, and Sc.
1950 L indisf. tt osp. Matt. xxvi. 31 Da cue3 til him 3e
hculend. c 1200 ORMIN 803 He se3^de (niss till himni. 13..
Cursor M. 13632 (Colt. & Fairf.) Hald be til [Cott. <V Triit.
lo] him. I340HAMPOLE Pr. Consc. 1833 Of twa [reasons]
byfore I spake, Now wil I other twa til bam take. 1357
Lay Folks Catefh. 29 (M.S. T.) Of the lawe and be lare hat
langes till halik irke. Ibid. 89 lesu crist. .Is sothefastly god
cuen til [ ~ equal to] his fadir. 1375 HARBOUR Bruce \, 565
pe Endentur till him gaf he. Ibid. xm. 511 Till hym neir
syb wes he. 1400 MAUNDEV. (Roxb.) Pref. 2 Knawen
openly til all men. Ibid, iii, 9 pai schuld be obedient til
him. c 1460 Towncley Myst. xvni. 239 Whi dos thou tyll
vsthus? 1521 FISHER iVrOT.dtf*/.wM/ri,\Vlcs.(E.E.T.S.)
i. 317 How that shadowe & this thynge agreeth. .one tyll
another. 1724 RAMSAY Tea-t. Misc. (1733) I. 21 Wad ye
compare ye r sell to me, A Docken till a tansie. 1790 MRS.
WHEELER Westmld. Dial. (1821) 59 He hes dun lull em
oa ( = all] alike. 1815 SCOTT Guy Jlf. xv, The death of the
grey mare.. was naething till t. 1818 Hrt. Midi, xviii,
* Hear till her , said Madge.
t 4. In prec. senses, often placed after its object,
for metrical reasons. Obs.
ft 1300 Cursor M. 3712 (Cott.) And sithen his sun he cald
him till, c 1350 Will. Palerne 2350, 1 wold wend hem tille
wib-oute ani stint. 1380 Sir Fcrnwb. 5264 pus he spak
him tille. c 14x0 Chron. b Hod. 1412 Alle his askyng hey
grauntede hym tylle. 111562 G. CAVENDISH Poems (1825)
II. 19, 1 espied certeyn persons comyng me tyll,
II. Of time.
5. Onward to (a specified time) ; up to the time
of (an event) ; during the whole time before ; until.
(Denoting continuance up to a particular time, and
usually implying cessation or change at that time :
cf. IJ. i.)
c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. \Vace (Rolls) 27 Fro Eneas till
Brutus tyme. ^1375 Cursor M. 498 (Fairf.) Sa bai sal tille
\Cott.j Cott. to] domes day. -11400 Sir Fere. 25 Fro
thethyne tille hislyvesende. a 1548 HALL Chron., Ediv, IV
232 b, He kepte all these thinges secret, tyll his retorne.
1588, 1827 [see MORN 2 b]. 1591 SHAKS. i Hen. J Y, i. ii.
127 Fight till the last gaspe. 1611 BIBLE Exod. xvi. 19
Let no man leaue of it till the morning. 1632 LE GRVS
tr. yelleius Paterc. Ded. 7 From the foundation of the city
till the ruine of the Macedonian kingdome. 1824 SCOTT
St. Ronans xxxviii, She doubted if the woman would live
till morning.
b. After a negative, denoting the continuance of
the negative condition up to the time indicated
(and implying its cessation then); thus nearly
equivalent to before. Cf. B. I b.
1590 SHAKS. Com. Err. n. ii. 164, I neuer saw her till this
time. 1649 HEYLIN Relat. $ Observ. \\. 155 To give no
account for it till Doomes-day in the afternoone. 1671 LADY
MARY BERTIE in is/4 Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 22
The grand ballett is not to be danced till Shrove-Munday.
1719 DE FOE Crusoe (1790) I. 28 [He] begged of me not to
fo on shore till day. 1861 M. PATTISON Ess. (1889) I. 41
t was not till the fourteenth century that their guild rose
into wealth and importance. 1887 MRS. OLIPHANT Makers
Venice IT. ii. 177 The news, .did not reach him till long after
the event.
c. Followed by an adverb (or adv. phr.) of time.
Cf. Now 13, THEN 7.
ci38o WYCLIF Last Age Church 30 Fro Crist til now,
briltene hundrid ?eer and sixe and fyfty. a 1518 SKELTON
MagMyf, 319 Fare you well tyll sone. 1535 COVERDALE
Prov. xxix. ii A foole poureth out his sprete alltogether,
but a wyse man kepeth it in till afterwarde. 1598 SHAKS.
Mtrty W. v. i. 28, I knew not what twas to be beaten, till
lately. 1667 MILTON P. L. n. 744, I know thee not, nor
ever saw till now Sight more detestable. 1746 FRANCIS tr.
Horace^ Ejist. i. vii. 107 Till then farewel. 1844 KINGLAKE
Eothtn vui, It was not till after midnight that my visit.,
came to an end. Mod. \ stayed till after ten o clock.
III. = To with the infinitive. Now only Sc.
6. a. as prep, introducing the infinitive of purpose.
Not in Norse. Closely akin to 2 c ; Jure sorrow til arnese
= to or with the aim of, or for the purpose of, amesing their
sorrow, to the mitigation of their sorrow.
13. . Cursor M. 5330 (Cott.) He praid be god men bat bar
wer To lith a quil his word til her. c 1373 Sc. Leg. Saints
xxi, (Clement) 519 Thane, bare gret sorow tilamcs, Petyre
bame laid how It was Hapnyt. c 1425 WYNTOUN Cron.
ix. xxv. 2838 Tyll etc ore drink, syng ore dance. 1513
DOUGLAS A*efs vui. vii. 31 Sen Nereus douchtir, Thetis,
mycht.. Induce the till enarme hir son Acbill 1535
STEWART Cron. Scot, (Rolls) III. 333 For till reskew Thalr
hbertie . . Besctkand him to tak auctoritie In that mater
and afald ay till be. 1599 A. HUMK Epist. to G. Moncrieff
164 Till execute their office man be hyred.
b. as sign of the simple infinitive ; esp. nfter/0/".
Now chiefly used before a vowel or //.
c 1375 Cursor M. 12989 (tairf.j For tille [v. r. to] be myne
vnderloute. 1375 BAUBOUR Bruce \. 98 Trawayllyt for to
wyn senyhory, And throw hys mycht till occupy Landis.
1424 Cold&tream Chartul. (1879)42 Be it mad kend..me
Jon of Swynton. .till haue full! grantit to ye priores [etc.].
11485 Digby Myst. 11882) iv. 1252 Now aught I sore till
irke ! 1513 DOUGLAS sEneis vi. xv. 10 For til excersthe art
of geometrye. 1816 SCOTT A titty, xxv, An ye had wussed
till hae been present, c 1880 LYTTLE Paddy McQuillan 85
(E.D.D.J Get Mickey Mooney till gie me a lift wi 1 them.
B. conj. (orig. the prep, governing the demon
strative pron. that, in apposition with the following
clause.) Cf. UNTIL, similarly used.
(From the earliest ME. times both till that (see THAT
conj. ic) and the simple ////occur; supplanting OE. dfi
>&F/,early ME.<>/<*;,aAz/fsee O//r/. n , A>mft.*), also OE.
ofi fie and the .simple 6/>. Till that represented ON. til fiess
(MSw. tildes (at) t til AA Sw. til dess at.)
1. To the time that ; up to (the point) when ;
until. (Denoting the continuance of the action or
state expressed by the principal clause up to the
time expressed by the dependent clause, and usually
im plying that at that time such action or state
ceases and a different or opposite one begins.)
Formerly often (and still arch.) with dependent clause in
subjunctive when expressing supposition, contingency, or
expectation (in ME. sometimes even when expressing fact);
so also in subordinate senses below.
1154 O. E. Chron, (Laud MS.) an. 1137, par he nam be
bi^cop,.&. .hise neues dide jclle in piUun til hi iafen up
here castles, c 1200 ORMIN 126 Swa be^leddenn heore lif Till
batt less \\aerenn aide. Ibid. 9147 Fra (>att he wass full lirdl
Till batt he waxenn wass. a 1225 Leg. Katlt. 720 peos meiden
..abad baldeltche aftet me [r. r. til bet men] come & fatte
hire. 1320 Cast. Love 44 To wonen and welden to such
ende, TUpat he scholde to heuene wende. 13.. Cursor M.
8421 (Gutt.) pu sett him to fostering, Tille ho be lerid him
self to lede. 1420-30 Prymer (E.E.T.S.) 64 Alle be daies
in whiche y trauele now, y abide til my chaungyng come.
1526 TIN DALE Luke xv. 8 What woman.. doth not..seke
diligently, till she finde it? 1560 INGKLENH Disob. Child
(Percy Soc.) 22, I thought it surely a whole hundred yerc,
Tyll in this place I sawe you here. 1588 SHAKS. L. L. L.
i. ii. 131 Forbeare till this company be past. 1610 Temp.
i. ii. 465, I will resist such entertainment, till Mine enemy
ha s more pow r. 1611 BIBLE Dan. ii. 34 Thou sawest till
that a stone was cut out without hands. 1625 MASSINGER
New Way \\\. iii, She. .sits on thorns, till she be private with
him. 1707 E. CHAMBEIILAYHS ./Vttf . St. Rug. n. xv. (ed. 22)
194 They . . forfeited their Places if they did marry, till by
Act of Parliament. .they were allowed to take Wives. 1796
Hist. Ned Evans II. 213, I shall count the hours till I
return. 1833 HT. MARTINEAU Three Ages iii. 89 To be left
at the Blue Lion till called for. 1850 TENNYSON In Mem.
xiii. 8 Silence, till I be silent too.
b. With negative (expressed or implied) in the
principal clause, and the dependent clause with ////
denoting the continuance of the negative condition
up to the specified time, and usually (as in i)
implying its cessation or reversal (i.e. the com
mencement of the opposite or positive condition)
at that time.
Here before can be substituted for ////, but is not strictly
synonymous with it, since in that case the negative qualifies
the whole statement including the dependent clause. This
may also be the case with ////, e. g. You need not wait till
I come back (sense i) ; cf. ( You must not go till I come
back (i b). Hence some sentence? of this form are ambig
uous ; but usually the context or circumstances make it
clear which is meant,
c 1220 ISestiary 19 Ne stlre5 he noutof slepe Til 5e sunne
haued Mtien 3nes him abuten. 13. . Scuyn Sag. (W.) 1276
For thef of steling wil nowt bhnne Til he honge bi the
chinne. c 1386 CHAUCER Prol. 21 Til we be roten, can we
nat be type. 1463 Bury Wills (Camden) 27 This mony
not to be delyuerid..tyl the messe of Requiem be endycf.
1526 TINDALE "John xiii. 38 The cocke shall nott crowe, till
thou have [1611 hast] denyed me thryse. 1648 HKHKICK
Hcsper.j Glorie, Seldome comes Glorie till a man be dead.
1676 LISTER in Ray s Corr. (1848) 125, I shall resolve upon
nothing till Isee you. 1766 GOLDSM. Vic. JK.xviii, Man little
knows what calamities are beyond his patience to bear,
till he tries them. 1780 Mirror ^No. 104 f8 At length we set
out.. but not till repeated instructions were given [etc.J,
a 1814 Spaniard s tv. i. in New Brit. Theatre III. 239 Nor
will the flaming sword of war.. Be sbeath d again till that
the Moorish pride Be humbled. 1832 HT. MARTINEAU
Demerara i. 15 We shall never prosper, .till the system is
wholly changed. 1864 LEVKR J/t \ //V//.v, etc. Ser. i. 91
* Never imagine , said a wise prelate, that you will root
Popery out of England till you destroy Oxford .
o. Formerly, and still dial, and in U. S., used
after a negative principal clause, where before (or
when} is now substituted in Standard English.
c 1420 ? LYDC. Assembly of Gods 1130 No man cowde hym
Jet tyll he came there. 1559 ^ftrr. Mag^ Edw. IV iii, I
could not be ware tyl I was begiled. 163* LITHCOW Trav.
v. 231 Scarcely were wee well aduanced in our way, till wee
were beset with more then three hundred Arabs. 1715 DE
FOE Voy. round World (1840) 79, I had not been many
hours on board, till I was surprised with the firing of three
muskets. 1756 MRS. CALDERWOOD in Cottness Collect. (Maitl.
CL) 186, I was not long set till Margaret came to see me.
d. Depending on a principal clause containing
an expression of long duration of time or delay
before the act or state expressed by the dependent
clause begins or takes effect. Now dial.
^1330 Assttwp. Virg. (R M. MS.) 121 Alle him Jienkeb
Mvibe longe Til bou come*t hem amonge. 1450 MARU
PASTON in P. Lett. I. 178, I thynk ryth longe t>ll I haue
some god tydyngysfro yow. c 1530 LD. BERNKRS Arth. Lyt.
Bryt. 445, i shal think tyll that season be come as long or
longer than ye shal do. 11533 Gold. Bk. M. Aurcl.
Rivh, The may dun that tarieth long tyll she be marled.
1590 M -\RI.OWK Etiw. //, ii. i. 82 Come, leade the way, I Inn-
till 1 am there. 1602 SHAKS, Hani. iv. vii. i8j Hut long it
could not be, Till that her garments.. Pul d the poore
wretch. .To muddy death. 1640 tr. Vcrdcre s Kont. of Row.
III. iv. 13 He. .thought it long till hec was in the Cilic.
1825 CARLVI.E SchilL-r in. (1845) 189 It was not long till..
he set about tuinin^ this new knowledge to account. 1866
HOWELI.S l^i-nct. Life (1880) 122 So at first she seemed, and
it was long till we doubted her perfection.
e. Indicating the ultimate result or outcome of
a continued action expressed by the principal clause :
bo long or so far that ; so that at length.
c 1220 ttcstiary 65 Der-ouer he fle^efl, and up he left, Til
oat he ?e heuune se<Y a 1300 Cursor ^/. 10991 (Con.) Quen
bai had beden til ^ai war iik. 1377 LAN>,L. P. PL B. n.
96 And banne to sittcn rind sou pen til slepe hem a->aillo.
c 1430 Chev. Assigne 96 He wente borow a forestc . .Thylle
he come to a watur. 1508 DUNIIAR (>old. Ttir^c ^39 Thay
fyrit gunnis .. Till iliat the reke raise to the firniainent.
1610 SHAKS. TV;///, i. i. S Blow till thou hurst thy wincle.
1766 GOLDSM. I ic. //". xii, He.. stands out and higgles, and
..tires tht;m till he s;ets a bargain. 1895 MKS. 11. \\"ARI>
Bessie Costrcll ii. 31 Uessic ran till she as out of breath,
ff. After so long, so far ^ etc., indicating ulti
mate result. Obs. (Now expressed by that, or b>
till with omission of so long, etc. as in e.) (Cf.
MSw. siva langc til fes ; Ger. so fang fiis.}
c 1386 CHAUCER Sontfn, T. 58 So lon^e he wcnte hous by
hous, til he Cam til an hous thcr he was wont to IK:
Refreshed. 1470-85 MALORY Arthur ,\\n. \.\iii. 724 He
rode so fast tyl he came to Camelot. 1590 Si ENSKK F. Q.
n. ii. 12 So long they travelled. .Till that at last they to a
Castle came. 1593 SHAKS. 2 Hen. VI, in. i. 362 [He]
fought so long, till that his thiyhes with Darts Weie
almost like a sharpe-quill d Porpentine. 599 A. .M. ir.
Gabelhoncr s Bk. Physicke 44/1 Vie it a^> long till it return
noe more. 1643 TKATP Cointii. (ie>i, xxxii. 26 The im
portunate widow teacheth us, to press God so far, till we
put him to the blush, a 1738 J. SKINNER Christmas Kaing
xiii. Poems (1809) 45 Leitch. .gae im sic a kick, Till they a
thought him slain. [1800 COLEKIUGK Piccoloin. iv, v, And
till we are indemnified, so long Stays Prague in pledge.]
t 2. During the time that ; so long as ; while.
CI 33 R- DKUNNE Chron. (1810) 18 His childre he wild
auance tille he o lyue were. 1375 $ Leg, Saints Prol.
82 Til saule & body togydir ves. Ibid. 107 Til bat he ves
vith bairn in lyfe. 1558 I5i . WATSON Sei , Sacrant. xvi.
102 Let vs.. make haste to amende our lyues tyll we haue
tyme. 1604 T. WRIGHT Passions (1620) 14 To prosecute
pleasures.. enjoy the roses til they flourish.
t C. adv. = To adv. Obs. rare.
1. In conjunction \\ \i\\fra ( ^ fro) : see FRO adv.)
and cf. To AND FRO.
a. 1300 Cursor M. 11937 pat water moght rin fra and till,
Vte of be flum al atte will. 13.. Evang. Nicod. 195 in
Herrig s Archiv LI 1 1. 395 Sir Pilates wife. .Till hir lord bus
gan say Deme noght Ihesu tyll ne fra. f 1386 CHALCKR
Reeves T. 119 How that the hopur wagges til and fra,
2. = to prep, (see A. i) with ellipsis of sb.
c 1330 R. BKUNNE C/tr<jn.(i8io) 107^6 gode erle of Aniowe,
of ^lald herd he say Fulle richely to trowe tille tok his way.
c 1375 Cursor M. 14523 (Fairf.), & ber-to gode couenande
bai higt, & iche an tille paire traubis pli^t-
3. Used to qualify to, into, unto. In \Vyclif render
ing L. usque (ad, /), even, as far as, on (to).
138* WYCLIF Acts xxiii. i, I with al good conscience haue
lyued bifore God, til into \l T ulg. usque in] thi-^ dai. Ibid.
xxviii. 24 Fro the moru til to euentijde. 1388 Jer. Ii
9 The doom therof cam til to \Vulg. usque ad, 1382
vnto] heuenes. f 1435 Torr. Portugal 992 That thys fynd
hym yeld A-non to me tylle [rime wyllej. 14.. in Hist.
Coll. Citizen London (Camden) 90 The sayde Adam was
mayre tylle unto the xxj day of Marche. 1577 KNEWSTUK
Caifut. (1579) 70 b, Euen so remember the suffering of
Christ. .till vnto his comming.
Tillable (ti-lab l), a. [f. TILL V.I + -ABLE.]
Capable of being tilled or cultivated; usually,
capable of being ploughed, arable.
"573 NORTHBROOKE Poore Mans Card. To Rdr., The Earth
then remained to man as a thins tillable. 1610 W. FOLK-
INGHAM Art of Survey i. x. 26 Wee found it scarce tillable
with a strong Teeme of Oxen. 1784 TWAMLEY Dairying
22 The greater number of Dairys are on Tillable or Arable
Farms. 1810 G. CHALMERS Caledonia II. it. vii. 135 The
most common divisions of tillable lands were carucates, or
plough lands, and bovates, or oxgangs. 1893 J. W. HOFF
200 Miles on Delaware Kiver 125 The cultivated and
tillable soil, .in this region is formed from decayed rock.
Tillage (ti-leds). Also 6 tilladge, 6-7 tyllage,
7 tilage, tilledge. [f. TILL z>.i + -AGE.]
1. The act, operation, or art of tilling or cultivat
ing land so as to fit it for raising crops; cultiva
tion, agriculture, husbandry.
1538 STARKEV England \. iii. 96 Mesemylhtherys a grete
faute in tyllage of the ground. 1616 SUBFL. & MARKK.
Country Forme 555 Barley asketh the greatest tillage of all
fraines. 1707 MORTIMKR Hush. (1721) I. 137 Pea^e and
leans belong to Garden Tillage, as well as that of the Field.
1711 J. _[AMKS tr. Le Blond s Gardening 166 There is no
Danger in giving the Trees a good Tillage, that is to say,
in breaking up the Ground pretty deep. 1735 BERKELEY
Querist 5 85 If all the land were tilled that is fit for tillage.
1833 HT. MARTINF.AU Briery Creek iii, The farmer makes
his land yield double by good tillage.
b. The state or condition of being tilled or
cultivated. In tillage, in or under cultivation.
1488-9 Act 4 Hen. VIl> c. 10, xx. acres of lond . .lyeng in
tillage or husbondrie. 1523 FITZHERB. Surv. 2 It is at the
lordes pleasure wbeder they shall lye to pasture or to
TILLAGED.
tyllage. 1523 Husb. 123 As moche land kept in tyllage.
1669 WORLIDGE Syst. Agric. (1681) 37 There is much waste
Land,.. although for the most part, .it may be reduced into
Tillage, and become very fruitful. 1787 WINTER Syst. Hitsb,
33 When land has been long in tillage. 1897 G. ALLEN
TypC -writer Girl iii, They have bought ten acres of wild
land.. ; they are getting it into tillage.
C. jig. The culture of the mind or spirit.
1555 EUEN Decades (Arb.) 64 If I shal perceaue the fruiies
of this my tyllage to be delectable. 1586 T. B. La Primaud.
Fr. Acad. \. (1594) 47 The true medicine and tillage of the
soule whereby all vertue is taught us. 1683 TRYON Way to
Health 472 We do also esteem that Country most miserable,
that doth neglect the proper Tillage, and Education of
Children. 1878 T. L. CUYI.ER fainted Papers 185 He needs
the tillage of prayer and Bible-study.
2. concr. Tilled or ploughed land ; land under
crops as distinct from pasturage ; the crops growing
on tilled land.
1543 A ct 35 He n. VIH t c. 17 3 Noe persons . . shall convene
or tome into pasture or tillage anye suche Coppies. 1632
LITHGOW Trav. v. 191 It is also beautified with all the
ornaments of nature, asHetbage, Tillage, Pastorage, Fructi
ferous Trees. 1649 Alcoran 228 Will ye forsake eternal) riches
..to put your trust in your gardens, your fountains, your
tillages, your dates, and fruits? 1681 WottUDGV Syst, Afric.
viii. 3 (ed. 3) 159 Of Beans, Pease, Melons, Cucumbers,
Asparagus, Cabbage, and several other sorts of Garden.
Tillage.. An Acre of .qruund will yield far more of Tillage
than of Corn, c 1710 CELIA FIENNKS Diary (1888) 108 Lands
. .with all sorts of Herbage and tillage. 1894 LD. WOLSELEY
Life Marlboroug/t I. 334 The fence .. which divided the
tillage from the moorland.
fig. 1582 BENILEY Mon. Matroncs 70, I praie God all men
..may haue grace to become meete tillage for the fruits of
theGospell. 1611 BIBLE i Cor. iii. 9 Ye are Gods husbandry
\ma>g. tillage], ye are Gods building.
3. attrib. and Comb.
1542 in J. H. Glover Kingsthorpiana (1883) 73, xxx acres
of tyllage land. 1583 Exec, for Treason (1675) 5 These..
Jesuits, .have as Tillage.men, laboured, .to perswade the
, , .
people. 1585 T. WASHINGTON tr. Nicholay s I oy. ii. x. 43 b,
Gardens.., tillage grounds and pastures. 1712 J. MORTON
Nat. Hist. Northawpt. 7 Tillage-land or Fielden. 1834
. .
Brit. Husb. I. 40 Tillage Farms are the most profitable to
the community.
Hence Tillaged (-ed^d) a., brought under tillage.
1854 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. XV. i. 24 The servitude of day
labour upon the newly tillaged Fens.
[|Tillandsia(tilo."ndzia). Bot. [mod.L. (Lin
naeus), named after Klias Tillands, a Swedish
botanist.] A large genus of herbaceous plants of
the pine-apple family (Brometiaceaz), found in
tropical and subtropical America and the West
Indies, chiefly epiphytic on trees.
T. usneoides, also called long-beard, long-moss, hanging
jnoss t or Florida moss, forms long pendent grey tufts, the
fibres of which are used for stuffing mattresses, etc. ; other
species, as T. utriculata, have the leaves dilated at the
base so as to form a reservoir for water; many others are
cultivated for ornament.
1759 B. STiLLiNGFL.tr. Bifar s Econ. Nat. in Misc. Tracts
fi 762) 76 The tillandsia, which . . grows on the tops of trees in
the desarts of America, has its leaves turned at the base into
the shape of a pitcher.. ; in these the rain is collected, and
preserved for thirsty men, birds, and beasts. 1860 GOSSE
Rom. Nat. Hist. 61 The tillandsias nestle at the ramification
of the smaller branches, ..where they often grow to an im.
mense size. 1863 RUSSELL Diary North <$ South I. 220
The overlacing arms and intertwined branches of the
tillandsia or Spanish moss, a weeping, drooping, pluma-
ceous parasite, which.. clings to the tree everlastingly. 1896
Daily News 16 Mar. 6/5 A number of species of the so-
called air plants Tillandsias exhibited.
Tilled (tild),///. a. [f. TILL Z/.I + -EDI.] Of
land : see TILL z;. 1 4.
1546 Re%. Mag. Sig. Scot. 10 Exceptis terns aratis vul-
gariter tehtland. 1577-95 Descr. Isles Scot I. in Skene Celtic
Scotl. III. App. 435 The teillit earth. 1733 TULL Horse-
Hoeing Husb. i. 8 When Roots are in a Tif^d Soil, a 1859
MACAULAY Hist. Eng. xxiii. (1861) V. 95 In that thickly
peopled and carefully tilled region.
Tiller (ti-lai), sb.* Now literary or arch.
Forms : 3-4 tiliere, 4 teoliare, teller, tylier,
tileer, 4-5 tiller, tylyer, tilyer, 5 tylyar, telar,
tillour, tylere, tyllare, 5-6 tyllar, 6 tyller, Sc.
telare, 5- tiller. [ME. tiliere, taking the place of
OE. tilia (TILIE), f. tilian> TILL v.* + -ere t -EB 1 ;
subseq. spelt conformably to the verb.] One who
tills the soil, or cultivates any crop or plant ; a
husbandman, cultivator ; a farmer or farm labourer.
See also EABTH-TILLER, land-tiller (LAND sb. 10 b).
c 1250 Gen. fy Ex. 1482 Esau wilde man huntere, And
lacob tame man tiliere. 1300 Life Jesus (Horstm.) 589
Ich am, he seide, a ri^t soth vine, and mi fader teoliare is.
X 377 LANGL. P. PI. B. xni. 239 For alle trewe trauail-
lours and tilieres of be erthe. 1400 Plowman s T. 453
What knoweth a tillour at the plow The popes name?
ci4 HOCCLEVE De Reg. Princ. 4418 The Tylere [v.r.
tilyer] with his pore cote and land. 1530 PALSGR. 187 Uig~
neron, a tyller of vygnes. 1661 J. CHILDBEY Brit. Baconica
ii The tiller can commonly take but two crops of wheat.
1767 A. YOUNG Farmers Lett. People 74 The little farmer
is always considered as the chief tiller of his land. 1849
MACAULAY Hist. Eng. iii. I. 418 The remuneration of work
men employed in manufactures has always been higher than
that of the tillers of the soil.
Ti ller, sb.* Forms: (4 AF. teller), 5 telor,
tiler, 6 tyller, -our, 6-7 tillar, 6- tiller, [a.
OF. telier (a 1200 in Godef.), tetticr, in sense i ;
orig. a weaver s beam (telier des tisserands> Godef.),
med.L. teldriutn, f. L. tela web : see -ABY 1.]
30
t 1. Archery, etc. In a cross-bow : The wooden
beam which is grooved for reception of the arrow,
or drilled for the bolt or quarrel ; the stock. Obs.
[ 353 Mag- Rot. 27 Edw. Ill in Arcftxol. Jrnl. (1862)
XIX. 72 In. .xl. lignis vocatis cost pro balistis inde facien-
dis, xl. lignis pro telar 1 balistarum . . cxx, clavis vocatis
somernailes pro telar . 1361 Indenture 35 Edw. Ill ibid.
(1854) XI. 385, xxiiij. arc pur arblastes de corn saunz tellers.)
1412-20 LYDG. Chron. Troy iv. 1370 He . . hent a bowe
bat passingly was stronge, And with an arwe to his tiler
longe. 14.. I oc. in Wr.-Wulcker 615/44 Tenprcula, a
telor of an arblast. c 1532 Du WES Introd. Fr. in Palsgr.
914 Tyller of a crosbowe, cormier. 1544 in Lett, <$ Pap,
Hen. I 7 III (1905) XIX. n. 405 Oon tyllour, oon paire of
chekes, and oon bender, . .oon crossbowe case and oon dosen
di of crossbowe stringes. 1609 HOLLAND A mm. Afarcell.
221 An expert .. workeman .. cunningly besloweth in the
hollow passage of the beame or tiller [of a balista] a shaft of
wood. 1611 COTGR., Arbrier^ the Tillar of a Crosse-bow.
a 1618 SYLVESTER Woodman s Bear xliv, Eyes that arme
Love s Arches tillar.
t b. A stock or shaft fixed to a long-bow to admit
of its being used as a cross-bow, for greater con
venience or precision of aim. Obs.
1590 BARWICK Briefe Disc, n Whether a Cros-bowe, or a
Long-bowe in a Tyller, shoot more certainly. 1611 BEAUM.
& FL, Philaster \\, ii, Use exercise, and keep a Sparrow-
hawk, you can shoot in a Tiller. "
t c. transf. A bow fitted with a tiller. Obs.
*S7* J- JONES Bathes Buckstone 12 Rather wyth longe
Bowe, than wyth Tyller, Stone bowe or Crosse bowe. 1598
FLORIO, Batista^ . . a crosse bow, a stock.bow or tillar. 1616
SURFL. & MARKH. Country Farme 508 Neither is the crosse*
bow so daungerous, whether it be the tiller, or the bullet.
1688 R. HOLME Armoury in. xvi. (Roxb.) 77/1 The Tiller
hath the Bow of wood either Ash or Yew whose string is
held vp (when..drawne) by a wooden Nutt as it is called,
and a handle to let it off.
d. (See quot. 1801.)
*545 [app. presupposed in TrLLERiNG vbl. sb^\. 1801 T.
ROBERTS Eng. Bmvman 295 Tiller^ an instrument made of
a straight piece of wood, with a notch at the end, and notches
on the upper side ; in which a bow is placed and drawn, to
try how it bends.
fe. A stock or shaft in the earliest forms of
hand-gun or cannon. Obs.
f f 353 Mag. Rot. 27 Edw. Ill in Archseol. Jrnl. (1862)
XIX. 74 Pro. .portagio x. gunn cum telar . 1885 DILLON
Fair/toll s Costume II. Gloss., Telar, the stock of a hand
gun (with above reference).]
2. Naitt. A horizontal bar or beam attached to
the rudder-head, acting as a lever by means of
which the rudder is moved in the act of steering.
(Not in Fr., where the tiller is barre du gouvernail .)
a 1625 Notitenclator Navalis s. v. (Hart. MS. 2301),
The Hehne and Tiller is all one., only the word Tiller
is properlie used for that which we steere the Bote by.
1627 CAPT. SMITH Seaman s Gram. ii. 12 The Tiller is a
strong peece of wood made fast to the Rudder. .whereby
the Rudder is so turned to and fro as the Helmesman
pleaseth. 1704 J. HARRIS Lex. Techn, I, Tiller, the very
same with the Helm of a Ship : It is most properly used in
a Boat where that which would be the Helm in a Ship, is
called the Tiller. 1743 BULKELEY & CUMMINS Voy. S. Seas
17 The Ship struck a second Time, which broke the Head
of the "filler. 1836 MARRY AT Midsh. Easy xix, Easy wrested
the tiller from Gascoigne s hand. 1875 HELPS Soc. Press,
vi. 76 You are either.. a slave at the oar, or a serf at the
tiller. 1905 A.C. BENSON Upton Lett. (1906)39 Not fit. .to
take the tiller.
b. Also loosely t the steering-gear of a rowing-
boat ; cf. tiller-line, -rope in 4.
3. In various technical uses : see quots.
1630 J. TAYLOR (Water P.) A Tkiefe Wks. n. 119/2 As
once a Windmill (out of breath) lack d winde A fellow
brought foure bushels then to grinde, And hearing neither
noyse of knap or tiller. Laid downe his come, and went to
seeke the miller. 1789 BRAND Hist. Newcastle I. 687 note,
A piece of wood, called a tiller, is. .applied to one wheel, ,
and pressed thereon, a 1825 FORBV Voc. E. Anglia, Tiller, \
the handle of a spade. 1877 KNIGHT Diet. Meck. t Tiller, i
i. A transverse handle at the upper end of a pit saw. 1881
RAYMOND Mining Gloss. t Tiller, See Brace-head.
4. attrib. and Comb. : -j* tiller-bow sense i c ;
tiller-chain, a chain answering the same purpose
as a tiller-rope ; on steamships, used in conjunction
with steel-wire to connect the rudder with the
steam steering-gear; tiller-head, the extremity of
the tiller to which are secured the two ends of the
tiller-rope or -chain ; tiller-lines, two lines or
ropes fastened each to one arm of the tiller-yoke in
a boat ; also called yoke-lines^ yoke- t tiller-ropes \
tiller-post, the upper part of the rudder-stock ;
tiller-rope, (a] the rope (now usually a chain)
connecting the tiller-head with the drum or barrel
of a ship s steering-gear ; () a rope leading from
the tiller-head to each side of the deck, to assist in
steering in rough weather ; (c) pi. = tiller-lines ;
tiller-steerage, -steering, the arrangement for
steering a motor-car by means of a lever (as distinct
from wheel- steerage) j tiller-wheel, a wheel by
which a rudder is actuated, a steering-wheel ;
tiller-yoke, a yoke fixed on the rudder-head of a
boat and serving as a tiller.
1583 W, M.Remembr.m Roberts Eng. Bowman (1801) 261
Every one bearing a *tiller-bow or cross-bow, and broad
arrows. 1590 BARWICK Z?/Vc, Weapons 11^.^. .then can either
loose Long-bowe, Tiller-bowe, or Cros-bowe. 159* PER-
CIVAL Span. Dict.y Zebretana^ a tiller bowe, balistae genus.
1841 R, H. DANA Seaman s Man. Diet, s. v. Tiller^ropts,
TILLERING.
Ropes leading from the *tiller-head round the barrel of the
wheel. 1905 Westm. Gaz. 3 Jan. 4/2 With one hand on the
*tiller-lever he can perform all the functions of driver and
other damage done to the stern. 1745 P. THOMAS jrnl.
Alison s yoy. 148 Our old *TUler-Rope being much worn,
d it, and reev d a new one. 1872 BLACK Adv.
Bell pulled the white tiller-ropes over her
we unreev t
Phaeton
shoulder.
Ti Uer, sb$ Now dial. Forms: i (see ety-
mol.); 7- tiller, 8-9 tillar, tellar, teller; 9
dial, tellow, tillow, telly. [App. repr. OE. telgor^
tealgpr str. m., also telgra wk. m. (see sense i),
extended forms of telga wk. masc., * branch, bough,
twig* = ON. tjalga fern., MLG., LG., Du. telg,
MDu. telch, telg- t m. and n., MHG. zelchj zelge,
zilge m. : OTeut. *telgo(n) 9 telg&n- twig, branch,
sprout. Not found in Eng. between 1 100 and 1660;
the phonetic history is obscure. The dial, tellow>
tillow may repr. OE. tetga."]
f 1. (In OE.) A plant, a shoot, a twig ; esp. a shoot
or sucker from the root. Obs.
a 1000 Blickl. Glosses (E.E.T.S.) 261/2 Teal?;ras,/n/<z-
gines. c 1000 /ELFKIC Gen. ii. 5 And aelcne tel^or on eorftan
Ecr flam be he uppasprunge on eoroan. a 1050 Herbarium
in Sax. Lcechd. I. 276 Deos wyrt. .of anum wyrttruman
manesatelgranasende}?. Ibid., Hypericon..Of anum stelan
maneja telgran weaxab. Ibid. 324 Heo eal . . wi5 ba eorSan
hyre tel^ran tobrarde^. a 1050 Mcdicina de Qitadrufi. ibid.
332 Do on arme teljran [bxs morbeames] Se sy adune
gecyrred.
2. A young tree, a sapling; esp. a stock-shoot,
rising from the stock or stool of a felled tree.
1664 EVKLYN Sylva in. iv. 29 {.Charcoal) This [ladder]
they usually make of a curved Tiller fit to apply to the con
vex shape of tiie heap. 1706 PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey), Tillar
(in Husbandry), a small Tree left to grow till it be fellable.
1712 J. JAMES tr. Le Blond s Gardening 50 They are obliged
to leave sixteen Tillers on an Acre. 1768 TUCKER Lt. Nat.
(1834) I. 322 First shoots up a tender twig, which then
becomes a sapling, a waiver, a tellar, and at last a perfect
oak laden wilh acorns. 1794 W. PEARCE Agric. Berks 55
[They] permit their labourers, during the winter months, to
take up the old roots, from which no heir or teller is rising.
1832 Planting 92 in Libr. Use/. Knou>l. t Husb. Ill, Tiller
or Tellar, a shoot selected, .from those produced by a cop.
pice stool to stand for a timber-tree. 1875 Sussex Gloss. ,
Teller, THlcnv . ., a young oak tree. 1878 N. $ Q. 5th Ser.
X. 223 The lessee covenants not to cut down tellows and
stemners.
3. One of the lateral shoots from the base of the
stalk of corn or grass or other herbaceous plant.
1733 TULL Horse-Hoeing Hnsb. xi. 132 The same Plant
that when poor sends out but Two or Three Tillers, would
if well nourish d. .send up a -Multitude of Tillers, as is seen
in Ho d Wheat and Sown Wheat. 1759 tr. DuhameFs
Husb, \. xiii. (1762) 70 New stalks, or, as some call it, tillers.
1764 Museum Rust. III. xn. 46 If the season is lost tc
encrease the number of tillers, we may enlarge the ears,
1811 W. LESLIE Agric. Surv. Moray Gloss., Tiller, the
rising blade of growing corn shooting out several stems from
one seed. [Cf. 1828 Craven Gloss. , Telly, a single stalk
of grass or corn.]
f Tiller, sb. Obs. rare- 1 , [app. f. TILL j.i
-f- -EB 1, ? after drawer.} = TILL sb.l i.
1693 DRVDEN Juvenalsi. sS^Searchher Cabinet.and thou
shal find Each Tiller there with Love-Epistles Jin d.
Tiller (trbi), vl Also 7 tillar, 9 tillow. [f.
TILLER sb$\ intr. Of corn or other plants: To
produce * tillers or side shoots from the root or
base of the stem ; also said of the shoots thus
arising. Also with out \ forth.
1677 PLOT Oxfordsh. 245 The Seed in the rich [Land] does
tillar, i. e. sprout into several blades and spread on the
ground. 1733 TULL Horse-Hoeing Husb. xix. 270 More
Stalks would nave Tillered out, 1743 MAXWELL Set. Trans.
Soc. Improv. Agric. Scot. 24 Clover-plants, when they have
room to grow, tiller or stool, and employ more Ground than
those of Corn. 1805 R. W. DICKSON Pract. Aerie. I. 463
Oats do not tiller so much as other grains. 1813 VANCOUVER
Surv. Hampshire 196 The more that the crown of this
plant is. .divided, the greater disposition it has to stool and
tillow forth in additional stems and succours. 1868 Rep. U.S.
Commissioner Agric. (1869)406 It [wheat] tillered astonish-
ingly, as many as fifty heads growing from one kernel.
b. trans. To throw out (stalks, etc.) by tillering.
1787 WINTER Syst. Husb. 207 The roots of the drilled
[wheat] tillered out from ten or twelve to upwards of thirty
stalks on each root.
Hence Trllered///. a., having several shoots or
stems springing from one root ; Ti llering vbl. sb.
and///, a.
1733 TULL Horse-Hoeing Husb. vii. 72 These Tillered
Ho d Stalks, if they were planted sparsim all over the Inter.
val, it might seem well cover d. 1764 Museum Rust. III.
xu. 46 There is a particular season for its tillering, or spread
ing ; another for its upright growth. ibyiRidgemontFarm
Rep. 137 in Libr. Usef. Kn&wl., Husb.\\\ % By a rapid and
early vegetation of the wheat, the tillering branches of the
young plant are apt to exhaust themselves. 1885 W. K.
PARKER Mammalian Descent vi. 158 The multiplied (or
tillered) stems of a wheat-plant.
t Tiller, z/.^ : see TILLERING vbl. sb
Tiller, dial, form of THILLEB.
t Tillerate, v. Obs. rare" 1 . =* TILLER .i
1759 tr. DuhainefsHnsb. \\\. i. (1762) 299 The roots which
stood thin in the rows, tillerated out from ten or twelve.
t Ti llering, vbl. sb. 1 Obs. rare. [Implies a
verb tiller^ from TU-LEB sb.* i d : see -ING*.] The
TILLERLESS.
putting of a bow upon a tiller (TILLER sb. z i d) in
order to stretch or bend it.
"S45 ASCHAM Toxeph. n. (Arb.) 114, I woulde desyre all
bowyers to season theyr staues well, to woorke them and
synke them well, to giue them heetes conuenient, and
tyllerynges plentye. Ibid. 115, I suppose that nether y
bowe can be to good and chefe woode, nor yet to well
seasoned or truly made, wyth hetynges and lillerynges.
1801 T. ROBERTS Eng. Bo-Minan 295 Tillering, trying a bow
bythe tiller. Altering a bow by scraping it.
Tillering, vl>l. sb. 2 : see after TILLER z\l
Tillerless (ti-lajles), a. [f. TILLER sb? +
-LESS.] Without or lacking a tiller.
1870 Routledge s Ev. Boy s A nn. Feb. 86 The rudder was
tillerless.
Tillet 1 (ti lt-t), tillot (ti bt). Forms: 5
tyllete, tillette, 6 tyllet, 7 tillett, -it, 6- tillet,
9 -ot. [app. ad. OF. telletle (Mth c. in Godef.
Compl^), collateral form of teilete, toilete a wrapper
of cloth : see TOILET.]
1. A kind of coarse cloth, used for wrapping up
textile fabrics and (formerly) garments ; also for
making awnings.
1466 Matin, f, Household Exf. (Roxb.) 211 Paid to lohn
Felaw for xij. yerdes of tyllete for the spynas. 1530 PALSGR.
281/1 Tyllet to wrap clothe in, toyllMe. 1590 Inv. Sir
T. Ramsey in Archxologia XL. 327 A scarlet cloke faced
w th gray with the tillet. 1637 Specif. S, Mason s Patent
No. 106 The sole dying of tmckromes and tillits. 1837
WmrrocK, etc. Bk. Trades (1842) 246 The tillet, or little
cloth, for encasing glazed stuffs intended for a foreign
market, was the first approach towards pattern floor-cloth
painting. 1904 Times 5 Sept. 1/2 Mr. Justice Farwell..
restrained., the said Defendants, .from wrapping up any
goods .. in lining papers and tillots supplied by the Plaintiffs.
b. A bag made of thin glazed muslin, used as a
covering for dress-goods.
1871 in M<ELRATH Diet. Commerce (Vw\\t.).
1 2. A tilt or awning. Obs.
1497 Naval Ace. Hen. VII (1896) 1 10 Cartes with tillettes
for shott with all apparelle.
Hence Tl lloting, in lillotiag cloth, a cloth used
as a wrapper, esp. for textile fabrics.
1884 Sped/. Tiller s Patent No. 2357 Improvements in
tillotting cloths.
t Tillet *. Obs. Also 7 tylet. [a. OF. tillet,
teillet (i 4 -i5th c. in Godef.), dim. of HI, teil; see
TEIL and -ET.] A lime or linden-tree.
1601 HOLLAND I liny (1634) II. 7 The thin barks of the
Linden or Tillet tree. Ibid. 185. 1686 tr. Chardin s Trav.
Persia 370 Groves of Poplers and Tylets, which they plant
to serve em for building their Houses.
II Tilleul. [K. tilleul (t/ yol) linden-tree : L.
*tilio!us, dim. of *tilius = tilia linden.]
1. A lime or linden-tree.
1530 PALSI.R 281/1 Tylleull, a kynde of frute [error for
free], tilleul. 1825-9 MRS. SHERWOOD Lady of Manor II.
xiv. 180 The gardens of orange trees ; the avenues of tilleul;
the groves of myrtle.
2. attrib. a. Name of a shade of colour : a pale
yellowish green like that of the leaves of the lime-
tree.
1884 Cnsietfs Fam. Mag. May 371/2 A light tilleul
ground, just the tint of lettuce, shot with white. 1909
Daily Chron. 26 June 4/5 Lady St. Germans, .becomingly
dressed in tilleul voile.
b. Tilleul tea, an infusion of lime-tree flowers,
used as a remedy for headache, etc.
1908 Daily Chron. 14 Nov. 4/4 Ordinary lea [has been
replaced] by the bitter-tasted tilleul variety, which was first
on show at an hotel in Paris.
t Till -hew, v. Obs. rare. [i. till- for To- prefix *
+ HEW ti.] trans. To hew or cut to pieces.
375 HARBOUR Bruce n. 381 He all till-hewyt bat he our-
tuk. liiti. XX. 367 So fast till-hewyn wes all his face.
Tilli, in tilli berries : see TILLY sb.
Tilling (ti-lin), vbl. sb. [f. TILL vl + -ING l.]
The action of TILL z;.l ; work done upon land for
raising crops ; cultivation, tillage.
a 1*25 Ancr. R. 296 pe win}eardes . . bet mot muche
tilunge to uorte beren windberien. 1377 LANGL. P. PI. B.
xiv. 63 Fourty wynter folke lyued wnh-oulen tulyinge.
1387 TREVISA Higdcn (Rollsl II. 281 Konnynge of telienge
\v. rr. tellynge, tillyng] of feeldes bey cleped Cereres. 1475
Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 70 In lilieng, ering, and labourage of
his londis to bere come and fruit, a 1610 HEALEV Theo-
phrastus (1636) 12 The well tilling and husbanding of the
ground. 1678 SIR G. MACKENZIE Criin. Laws Scot. I. xix.
5 9 (1699) 101 The stealers of Pleugh-graith. .in the time of
Teiling..are to be punished to the death. 1710 Loud.
Gaz. No. 4703/2 A Bill.. for encouraging the Tilling of
Land with Bullocks. 1817 W. SELWVN Law JVisi Prius
(ed. 4) II. 1206 Whether the land is of such a nature as to
require an extraordinary expence in manuring or tilling.
fit;. 1483 CAXTON Gold. Leg. 271 b/i I.yke a tylyer of
IliLMi cryst he prouffyted in spyrytuel tylyeng. 1640 H.
WOODWARD (title) A Childes Patrimony laid out upon the
good culture or tilling over his whole man.
fb. toner. The produce of tilling; a crop:
= TILLAGE 2 b. Obs. rare.
1680 J . UOODVKAR in Hereford Dioc. Keg. 4 Oct., Want
ing topes in the time of Harvest to carry in his tilling with.
C. attrib., as tilling land, land fit for tilling,
arable land.
1387 TREVISA Hidden (Rolls) II. 89 But now wodes beb
i-hewe adoun and newe telynge lond i-made. 1488 Cat.
Anc. Kec. Dublin (1889) 494 Parte of the tyllyng land
Tilling, ///. a. (l. TILL z/.i + -ING *.] That
tills or cultivates land.
31
c 1380 WVCLIF Serin. Sel. Wks. I. 319 pe first was an
heerde, and be tober a tiliyng man. 1906 Daily Chron. 15
Sept. 3/1 Nor spurn my muse because it sings. .Of tilling
men who plough and reap.
t Ti llman. Obs. [f. TILL v^ + MAN s/>.] A
man employed in tillage; a farmer, husbandman ;
a ploughman, peasant ; a tiller of the soil.
940 Grant of land in Witts, in Birch Cart. Sa.v. II. 483
Lang we^es ban ofer tilmannes dene. 13. . Cursor AT. 4696
(Cott.) Tilmen oueral be land a-boute..pair sede had saun.
c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xl. (\inian) 201, & he bane, as gud
tele-man, To wirk in goddis ?ard begane. (-1440 Jacob s
Well 237 Summe feendys koinyn as tylmen wylh here hots
& carte. 1573 TUSSER llitsl . (1878) 34 Good shepheard,
good tilman, good Jack and good Gil, Makes husband and
liuswife their cofers to fil. 1620 T. GKANGER Din. Logike
56 The till-man plowing in the field, findeth a treasure.
Tillocrat (ti-lckrat). nonee-iud. [f. TILL z.i 4
+ -(O)CRAT.] A ruling member of an agricultural
class.
1858 BAILEY Age 5 Farmers, bankers, millocrats, Officials,
manufactuters, merchants, tillocrats.
Tillodoiit (ti ltfdfHvt). Palaeont. [f. mod.L.
Tillodontia, f. Gr. riAA-fiv to pluck + oSovs, uSovr-
tooth.] A member of the Tillodon/ia, a group of
extinct mammals apparently combining the char
acters of ungulates, rodents, and carnivora, whose
remains are found in the Eocene of N. America.
[1875 Amer. Jrnl. Sci. Ser. III. IX. 221 At the last meeting
of the Connecticut Academy, Feb. 171)1, Professor O. C.
Marsh made a communication on a new order of Eocene
Mammals, for which he proposed the name Tilludomia.
1876 MARSH ibid. XI. 249.] 1889 NICIIOLSOM & LVDI.KKF.II
Palzont. II. 1408 The characters presented bythe Tillodonts
harmonise with the view that both the Ungulatesand Rodents
have been derived from a primitive Carnivorous slock.
Tillot: seeTiLi.Eii. Tillow, var. TiLLEiui.s, z.
i Ti llsmail. Obs. In 6 Sc. telisman, 6-7
tilsman. Alteration of TILLMAX, with inserted s,
after huntsman, spokesman, steersman, etc.
1561-1 in Keith Hist. Ch. Scot. (1734) I. App. 179 All and
sindrie Parochinaris, Takkismen, Telismen, Fewruis, Renta.
laris, Possessonris. 1589 NASHE Anal. Absurd. 30 Theyr
father was a Tilsman attendant. 1643 WAKD^\ nn. l>cf. llo.
Co in. zb Mar. 3 1 Like a piece of ground that hath beene
stirred by the Plough, and the tils-man doth not follow on
to give it more earths in due season.
Tillward : see TILWAIU).
Tilly (ti li), sb. Also 8 tilli, tyle. [app. a.
F. tilli, ad. med.L. tigfium, in It. tiglia : cf.
TIGLIC.] In tilly-sced, the seed of a species of
Croton (formerly called C. Pavana, now identified
with C. Tigliitm), which yields Croton oil.
1712 tr. Poniit s Hist. Drugs I. 144 The smooth Fruit
call d in the Shops, Tyle Seed, or Tilli-Berries [or\.Ricinits
nrbre A/ruit lisse, nomme grain dc Till!\. 1858 SIMMONDS
Diet. Trade, Tilly.seed, a small tree, the Croton Pavana. of
Hamilton, . . the seeds of which have the same properties as
those of the Croton Tiglimn.
Tilly (ti H), a. [f. TILL sb.- + -Y.] Abounding
in, or of the nature of, till or tenacious clay.
799 J- ROBERTSON Agric. Perth 14 Houses composed of
this mortar or tilly clay. 1811 SIR J. SINCLAIR Sysl. Ilusl .
Scot. I. 227 Stiff stubborn tilly land. 1844 STEPHENS Bk.
Farm I. 169 Clay, and tilly clay even more than the unc
tuous, retains a great deal of water.
Tilly-vally, int. Obs. or arch. Also 6 tully
valy, 7 tillie vallie, 7, 9 tilly-fally, 9 tilley-
valley. [Origin unknown.] An exclamation of
impatience : Nonsense ! fiddlesticks !
a 1529 SKELTON Manerly Marg. flylk q- Ale 5 Tully
valy, strawe, let be, I say ! 1597 SHAKS. 2 Hen. ff, n. v.
oo Tilly-fally (Sir lohn) neuer tell me, your ancient Swag
gerer comes not in my doores. 1601 rzvel.N.w. iii. 83 Am
not I consanguinious? Am I not of her blood? tilly vally.
< 1630 Life Sir T. More iv. 127 Tillie vallie, tillie vallie :
will you silt and make goslings in the ashes? 1816 SCOTT
Antiq. vi, Tilley-valley, Mr. Love] which, by the way, one
commentator derives from tittivilliliutn, and another from
talley-ho but tilley-valley, I say, a truce with your polite
ness. 1864 St. James Mag. 334 Tilly-fally, man 1-But go
on with your evidence, brother Burt.
|| THma. [Mexican Sp., ad. Nahuatl tilmatli, in
comb, li/ma-.] A kind of simple cloak or blanket
secured with a knot, worn by the Indians of Mexico.
1851 MAYNE REID Sialf Hunt, x, We see mangas and
tilmas, and men wearing the sandal as in Eastern lands.
IHd. xx, There were pueblosclad in their ungiaceful tilmas.
1895 Daily News 6 Nov. 3/5 The shrine of our Lady of
Guadaloupe had its origin in an alleged apparition of the
Madonna to an Indian, Juan Diego, in the early days of the
Conquest l9Dec. 1531]... A picture of the Virgin is said to
have appeared on the coarse tilma,or cloak of the Indian.
Tilaent, early perversion of TINSEL sb. *
Tilt (tilt), rf. 1 Also s telt(e, 5-7 tylt, 6 tylte,
7 tillte. [Collateral form of ME. lild, TELD
sb., perh. influenced by tent.]
1. A covering of coarse cloth, in early quots. of
hair-cloth ; an awning ; a booth, tent, or tabernacle.
CI440 J roinp. Parv. 488/1 Telle, or tente, tentorium.
547 Privy Council Acts (1890) II. 133 Tylles of heare to
couver the powder. 1556 TOWRSON in Hakluyt Voy, (1589)
no On shoare, wee made a Tilt with our Oares and saile.
1633 T. ADAMS Exf. 2 Pettr i. 13 The apostle compares his
life to a tabernacle; a little shed or lilt, wherin the irn.
mortal soul dwells. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury iv. xii.
(Roxb.) 504/1 The coffin had ouer it a tilt or stately frame
of wood couered with black. 1771 SMOLLETT Humph. Cl.
I I July, Machines.. fitted with tilts, that project from the
seaward ends of them,, .to screen the bathers uom the view.
TILT.
2. spec. An awning over a boat.
1611 MIDDLETON & DEKKFR Roaring Girl iv. ii, A Itoat,
with a tilt over it. 1716 (JAY Trivia, i. 164 The rowing
Crew To tempt a Fare, clualh all their Tilts in blue. 1887
BESANT The World went ii, A broad canvas tilt or awning
rigged up from stem to stern.
3. An awning or cover for a cart or wagon,
usually of canvas or tarpaulin.
1620 SHELTON Qitix. (1746) III. xi. 69 The Waggon s Self
was opened, without Tilt or Boughs. <zi6s6UsSHER Ann.\\.
(1658) 228 They covered the Cart with a base dirty tilt made
of skins. 1753 Scots Alag. Nov. 541/1 The tilt or some
other conspicuous place of his waggon. 1834^ PRINGLE Afr.
Sk. ii. 141 Each wagon is provided with a raised canvas tilt
to protect the traveller from sun and rain. 1893 SELOUS
Trav. S . Africa 24 My waggon . .on the hinder part uf
which stood a tilt or tent where I slept.
4. In Labrador and Newfoundland : A fisher
man s or wood-cutter s hut.
1895 R. G. TAIIER in Oi/tifi\J. S.) XXVII. 20/1 A score
of shoresmen s tilts rude tnrf-covered huts, some little
cleaner than the Esquimaux habitations, 1906 Toilers of
Deep June 150/2 {Labrador} A fe\v wooden tilts nestled
at the edge of the river.. .The tilts are :ill very much alike
the general living-room ,. .and the beds in cirrtained-uff
recesses. The little colony, .come from their homes at Cape
Charles only for the winter s trapping and wood-cutting.
5. attrib. and Comb., as tilt-maker, -weaver,
-window ; tilt-like adj. ; also tilt-bonnet, :i
woman s or girl s bonnet in the form of a wagon-
tilt, made by bending a piece of pasteboard into
a half-cylinder, and covering it with linen or calico,
a drawing-string holding it in shape, the material
being extended to cover the crown and form a
curtain (T. Hardy): cf. coal-scuttle bonnet; tilt-
cloth, = senses 1-3; -|- tilt hair, ? hair-cloth lor
tilts; tilt-roof, a round-topped roof, shaped like
a tilt or wagon-cover ^Knight Diet. Mech. 1877) ;
t tilt-sail, ? a sail made of conise cloth; tilt-
wherry, a wherry having a tilt, a TILT-BOAT.
1874 T. HARDY Farfr. Cladding Cf -o-.i d xxv, The women
..wore*tilt bonnets covered with nankeen. 1611 in loM
Rep. Hist. MSS. Cotjnn. App. iv. 432 For a *tylt cloth,
25. 6d. 1790 LL-CKOMBE Eng. Gazetteer III, Witney,0xf...
Tilt-cloths for bargemen are likewise made here, c 1440
Promp. Parv. 488/1 Telte hayyr (//., A., P. It-It, hayrd,
rauda. 1562 in Rogers Agric. ft Prices III. 576/1 Tilt
hair. 35$ bolts (<r 1/4, 94 pieces (tt) ii/-. 1834 H. MILI.KK
Sienes f, Leg. xiii. (1857)203 The grey ruins, and the mossy,
*tilt-like hillocks. 1847 ADDISON Contracts ll. vii. 2 (1883)
921 The defendant ordered the plaintiff to make him a
waggon, and . .employed, .a *tiltmaker to put on a tilt. 1620
SHELTON Quix. (1746) IV. xxii. 178 The General made all
the Gallies strike their "Tilt-sails. 1579 Trainer. Faver.
1799 11 till Advertiser-^ Aug. 4/1 She., thrust it out at one
of the *tilt-windows.
Tilt (tilt), sb: Also 6 tylt(e, 6-7 tilte. [In
branch I from TILTZ/.I : ; in br. llfr. TILTZ/.I II.]
I. 1. A combat or encounter (for exercise or
sport) between two armed men on horseback, with
lances or similar weapons, the aim of each being
to throw his opponent from the saddle ; = JUST
j*. 1 i ; also, the exercise of riding with a lance,
or the like, at a mark, as the quintain.
1511 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. n. I. 181 Thise iiij Knightes
shall piesent themself.,in barneys for the Tylte 1553 T.
WILSON Khel. (1580) 13, I maie commende hym for plaiyng
at weapons, for runnyng vppon a greate horse, for chargyng
his staffe at the Tilt. 1656 KAKL MOSM. tr. KoccalinisAdvts.
. .
fr. Parnass. I. U ii. (1674) 74 [To] spend a hundred thousand
Crowns in Tilt and Turney.
Walpole Mem. Ceo. // (1847)
. . . .
Crowns in Tilt and Turney. 1745 SIR C. WILLIAMS in H.
II. App. 396 Low pleasures,
. .
such as operas, plays, masquerades, tilts, and tournaments.
iSjgTENNYsoN AmV/52 Forgetful of the tilt and tournament.
b. transf. and Jig. An encounter, combat, con
test; a debate, public dispute or discussion. In
i7-i8th c. often applied to a duel.
1567 TURBERV. Efit. Dame Ely*. Arhundle 3 Who ran
hir race in vertues tylt aright, And neuer had at Fortunes
hand the foyle. a 1670 HACKET Ahft. Williams II. (1692)
21 He would not fly the tilt nor start from any colour of
accusation. 1693 Humours Town 27 A modish Tilt upon a
foolish hot-headed Punctilio. 1700 STKELE Taller No. 39
f 16 We., generally conducted our Dispute and Tilt accord
ing to the last that had happen d between Persons of Repu*
tation. 1881 F. M. CRAWFORD Mr. Isaacs ii, I trust that
our collision in the flesh has had no worse results than out
tills in print. 1906 Spectator 3 Feb. 173/2 She enjoys the
tilt of rather rough speech.
c. A thrust of a weapon, as at a tilt. Now
only fig.
1716 AODISON Freeholder No. 10 r 5 His Majesty. .enter
tain d him with the Slaughter of two or three of his Liege
Subjects, whom he very dexterously put to Death with the
Tilt of his Lance. 1754 RICHARDSON C.randison (17811 I.
xiv. 82 Miss Barnovelt took a lilt in heroics. 1863 COWDEN
CLARKE Shaks. Char. viii. 200 She has a tilt at him, jeering,
joking, mystifying, obfuscating him.
2. A place for holding tilts or justs; a tilting
ground or yard ; the lists.
a 1510 Justes May t, June 1507. 68 in Hazl. E.P.P.ll.
n6 Two seruauntes of this lady ofdelyle Sholde Demounted
armed and redy dyght At atyltes ende. 1530 PALSCR. 183
ynes lices, a tylte to lerne to juste at. a 1548 HALL Chron.,
Hen. I 111 45 b, The kyng . . rode about the Tylt. 1564
HAWAKD Eutropius vn. 75 He fynyshed sondry pieces of
work at Rome among which was .. the Tilt [ \-forum trattti-
laiinm], a place for men to run in. 1586 WARNER Alt. Eng.
J
k
TILT,
n. ix. (1589) 35 In beaten Pathes, ore boorded Tylthes
I Tyltesf to breake their staffe-like Reeds.
3 Phr. (from I or 2). a. To run at (the) tilt:
to ride in a tilt or just.
1548 ELYOT Diet., Dicurrere in armis, to renne : at the
tylt! in barneys. .590 MARLOWE f:hu. II, v. v. When for
her sake I ran at tilt in France, And there unhors d the
Duke of Cleremont. 16.1 COTCR., Courir la lance, to tilt,
or to run at tilt. 1636 P. RANDALL in Ann. Dutrensia
(1877) 19 As they at Tilt, so wee at Quintain runne. 1649
JER. TAYLOR Ct. Exemp. in. Disc. xx. 143 Henry II was
:illed running at Tilt.
b. So to run a tilt (see also A-TILT 2, A/w/.i) ;
also ft?. Also rarely to run tilt.
1591 SHAKS. i Hen. VI, in. ii. 51 Break a Launce, and
mrme a-Tilt at Death. 1674 N. FAIRFAX Bulk f, Sfia.M
If you make two such bodies, .to run a tilt upon such a line
of odd leastings. 1762-71 H. WALPOI.E Vertuc s Anecd.
Paint. (1786) I. 158 The next, .exhibits two knights running
a tilt on the foreground. 1831 CARLYLE in r roude Life
(1882) II. viii. 170 With her..l was provoked .., so pert was
she, to run tilt, and I fear transfix her. 1871 Miss MUI.OCK
Fair France \. 3 Like Don Quixote with his windmill.. it
is running a tilt against perfectly imaginary foes. 1891
Temple llnr Mag. Sept. 102 He runs lilt against the hypo
crisies of social life.
c. Full lilt (advb. phr.) : at full speed and with
direct thrust ; with utmost adverse force or impetus.
1 a 1600 Hist. Tom Thumb n. 45 in Hazl. E. P. P. II. 213
The cook was running on full tilt, When Tom fell from the
air 1679 Hist. Jetzer 24 Drawing out his knife, [he] made
at her Ladyship full tilt 1861 Temple Bar Mag. IV. 83
Managers of schools should run full tilt at the whole scheme.
1889 GRETTON Memory s Harkb. 145 The Earl rode full tilt
at him as though he would have unhorsed him.
II. 4. The act of tilting, or fact or condition ot
being tilted (TlLT vl 4); a sudden or abrupt
divergence from the normal vertical or horizontal
position ; inclination upward or downward.
[Implied in quots. 1562, r6s8, 1706 in b.]
1817 BABBAGE Bridgew. Treat. App. 246 The variation of
res sure, and the infirmity of supports broken by weights or
f . . 11 i , ,..,,i,..., ,;i, c yflcn All year Round
pressure, and tne innrnmy 01 suppun* UIUKCM uj v.. s ..^ ~.
softened by heat, to produce tilts. 1859 All Year Round
No. 29 67 The twinkle of his eye, and the saucy tilt of his
rae"ed cap, spoke volumes. 1872 Routltdge t Er. Boy sAnn.
Apr 262/1 Until one tilt, stronger than the others, upset the
lamp. 1906 Daily A ews 5 Mar. 6 Leaning against the wall
. with bis stool at a perilous tilt.
b. On or upon the lift: in a tilted position, like
a cask or vessel raised on one end or side when
nearly empty : = A-TILT i. Alsoyfy.
1562 I. HEYWOOD Prav. f, Epigr. (1867) 194 Till tubbe
stande a tilte. 1658 T. GOODWIN Fair Prospect Ep. Ded.,
When her natural strength, and Abilities began to run low,
and on Tilt, as it were; Her Spiritual affections seemed as
if but fre-h broached. 1706 BAYNARD in Sir J. Floyer Hot t,
Cold Bath n. 4>9 When (low diawn) Time s upon the lilt,
Few Sands and Minutes left to run. 1712 Sped. No. 292 f 4
Libeiality.. performed with such Chearfulness. .that may
shew Good-nature and Benevolence overflowed, and do not,
as in some Men, run upon the Tilt, and taste of the Sedi
ments of a grutching uncommunicative Disposition.
c. Geol. An abrupt upheaval of strata to a con
siderable angle from the horizontal, d. gen. A
slope, or sloping portion, of the surface of the
B i85o"pAGE Ceol. Terms, Tilted up, applied to strata that
are suddenly or abruptly thrown up at a high angle ot
inclination. Tilts of this nature are usually accompanied
bv fractures and ciushings of the strata. 1903 G. A. SMITH
n Expositor Jan 7 This tilt towards Olivet does not ex.
haust the eastern bent and disposition of the city. 1910
Daily News 27 Aug. 4 As we crossed a tilt of the torn
heath I saw suddenly between myself and the moon a black
shapeless pile,
f 5. The liquor, or sediment, obtained by tilting
a vessel ; dregs, lees. Obs.
a 1603 T. CASwWOHT Confut. Ehem. N. T. (1618) 449
The tilt and lees of traditions, dregges of custome, and
poyson of Popish decrees.
6. A contrivance used in North America in fishing
through a hole in the ice, in which a stick or cross-
piece is tilted up when the fish takes the hook.
1891 in Cent. Diet. .
7. In Newfoundland, A pier on which fishermen
uniond and dress their fish. 1891 in Cent. Diet.
8. Short for TILT-HAMMER.
1831 J. HOLLAND Manuf. Metal I. 241 The annexed figure
is the plan of a tilt. i8 5 8GREENER Gunnery ,67 [By] weld-
ing and forging by the heavy hammer, reducing by a ti
and rolling down to the smallest description of rod, a most
excellent, tenacious, and dense body of iron is thus obtained.
iMZtefc News 27 Jan. 8/5 The activity at the forges,
rolling mills, and tilts where large quantities, .are prepared
III. 9. The stilt or long-legged plover of North
America. (Cf. TILT-UP A. 2.)
1831 A. WILSON& BONAPARTE Amer. Ornith. III. 77 The
name by which this bird is known on the seacoast is the
stilt or tilt, or long-shanks. 1859 BARTLETT Diet. Amer
Lawyer, i. (Himantopus nigncallis.) The black-necked
Stilt . known also by the names of Tilt and Longshanks.
IV. 10. attrib. and Comb., as tilt-day, -horse;
tilt-cart, a cart of which the body can be tilted so
as to empty out the contents ; tilt-forge, a forge
in which a tilt-hammer is used ; tilt guard : see
under TILT-YARD ; tilt house = tilt-mill (b) ; tilt-
mill, (a) the machinery for working a tilt-hammer ;
(b) a building in which a tilt-hammer is worked ;
tilt-rod, a curved rod projecting from the rear of
a tricycle so as to catch the ground in the event of
32
the machine being tilted backward; tilt-staff, a |
staff used instead of a lance in tilting ; tilt-wheel,
a little wheel at the end of the tilt-rod of a tricycle.
See also TILT-HAMMER, TILT-YARD.
1844 STEPHENS Bk. Farm II. 660 If they are *tilt or
coup-carts, he elevates the front a few inches. 1605 CAMDEN
Rcm. 174 At the next "Tike-day following. 1836 Btackw.
Mag. XXXIX. 3^9 We passed some usines, "tilt-forges, |
where the makers of nails [etc.] use the power to tilt hammers
of small water wheels placed on one of the streams. 1894
Times 28 May 6/1 The 2nd Life Guards, furnishing the n
guard, sent a squadron of about 50 of all ranks. 1909
Daily Chron. 20 Feb. 5/3 What we call the Horse Guards,
which was then called the Tilt Yard (where the guard, I
think, is still called the Tilt guard). 1562 J. HEYWOOD
Pror. * Epigr. (1867) 178 A *Tilt horse, alias a beere
horse to bee, Which wouldst thou bee? 1864 STRAUSS, etc.
F-ng. Workshops 90 Two hammer or *tilt houses. 1825 J.
NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 337 The tilt-mills employed
in the manufacture of steel. 1912 J. T. FOWLER Let, to
Editor, Modern tricycles cannot be tilted backward, and so
do not require tilt-rods. 1650 W. SAUNDERSON Anhcus
Coauin. 69 He medled not with the ^Tilt-staff. 1886 Cycl.
Tour. C. Caz. IV. 144 "Tilt wheels loose are very noisy,
t Tilt, s/>3 slang. Obs. In 7 tylt. A cant name
for some species of rogue.
1620 DEKKER Drcame (1860) 38 Base heapes tumbled to
gether,. . high-way-standers, Foists, nips, and tylts, prinadoes,
bawdes, pimpes, panders.
Tilt (tilt), z . 1 Also 4 tylte, 7 tylt. Pa. t.
and pple. tilted ; also 4 pa. t. tult, pa. pple. tylt,
5 pa. t. and pple. tilt. [In I, ME. lylten, repr. an
OE. *tyltan for *tiellan:*talt-jan, f. OE. teall
unsteady, shaky, TEALT (whence OE. lealtian :-
*tall-ojan to be unsteady). Cf. Norw. tylten adj.
inclined to fall over, unsteady, Sw. tulta to totter.
Branch II is from I ; but br. Ill is from TILT sbf
i (cleriv. of i here) ; br. IV from TILT-HAMMER :
these are thus, strictly, separate vbs. of secondary
origin.]
I. f 1. trans. To cause to fall ; to thrust, push,
throw down or over ; to overthrow, overturn, upset.
Obs. (exc. as in 4 c, 6 b).
B. E. Allit. P. B. 832 pe trestes tylt to be wo?e & be
table hope. Il ia. I2r 3 Ouer-tok hem, as tyd, tult hem of
sadeles. a 1400-50 A lexandtr 1 303 Sone be top of be toure
he tiltis in-to be watir. 1577-87 HOI.INSHED Chron. III.
1063-1 He. .said to his wife; Mistiys Alice what milke
haue you giuen me here ? Wheerewithall she lilted it ouer
with her hand, saieng, I weene nothing can please you.
f 2. intr. To fall over, tumble ; be overthrown.
13 E E. Allit. P. C. 252 With-outen towche of any
totne he [Jonah] tult in his [the whale s] brote. H-id. 361
Truly bis ilk toun schal tylte to grounde. aim Joseph
A rim. 4 Feole temples ber-inne tulten to be eorbe, t or heore
false ymages bat bei on leeueden. ?al 4 oo Marte Arth.
1144 Untenderly fro be toppe thai tiltm to-gederz.
3. intr. To move unsteadily up and down ; esp.
of waves or a ship at sea, to pitch,
isoo SHAKS. Com. Err. iv. ii. 6 (Fols. 2 & 3) What obserua-
tionmad st thou inthiscaseOf[/W.iqh,]hisheartsMeteors
tilting in his face ? 1594 MARLOWE Dido 1. 1, Phrygian ships
. .so wrack d and welter d by the waves, As every tide tilts
twixt their oaken sides. i667Mi:.lON / ./.. XI. 747 The float-
in" Vessel, .with beaked prow Rode tilting o re the Waves.
,725 POPE Odyss. xiv. 289 And tilting o er the bay the
vessels ride. 1822-56 DE QUINCEY Con/ess. (1862) 238 To
and fro, up and down, did I tilt upon those mountainous seas.
1826 A. A. WATTS Death Pompfy v, A bark comes tilting
through thespray. 1878 MRS. STOWE Poganuc P. xxvm. 238
The tree.. where the bobolink was tilting up and down.
II. 4. trans. To cause to lean abruptly from
the vertical or incline abruptly from the horizontal ;
to slope, slant; to tilt up, to raise one end or side
above the other, to tip up.
In Geol. used m passive of strata inclined abruptly upwards
from their horizontal position : cf. TILTS*. 4 c.
ieo PLAT 7e-.uell-ho. HI. 59 It is also very good to tilt
vourbeere, when the Vessel is little more then halfe drawn
off for so you shall draw your beere good euen_to the latter
end. 1607 MIDDLETON Michaelm. Term iv. iv, Give her
more air ; tilt up her head. 1807 HERSCHEL in Phil, frans.
XCVII 199 By gently lifting up or tilting the lens. 1833
I YFLL PrYnc Ccol. III. 340 Sedimentary beds tilted up,
and mofeorless contorted on the flanks of the mountains
1868 JOVNSON Metals 19 Where the waggons are tilted and
heir contents shot out. 1908 Blackw. Mag. Sept. 319/2
His helmet tilted well to the rear to screen his neck.
b intr. To move into a slanted position or
direction ; to incline, slope, slant, heel over, tip up.
1626 BACON Sylva 155 Keeping it even, that it may not
tilt on either side. i68i MOXON Meek. Exerc., Printing
xxii F 2 Letting the hither side of the Board rest upon the
of the Rincing.Trough ; that the Form may
TILTED.
7/5 They object to being tilted out of a truck like potatoes
out of a sack.
ty
water. 1909 Daily Chron. 24 Feb. 1/5 South Africa also
tilts to theTast in summer and to the west in winter. T his
is probably traceable to the seasonal HWL
e. trans. To pour or empty out (the contents
of a vessel), or cause them to flow to one side, by
.*?, T ,//...* .1 865 L- in F~*.
Rev. if. 702 To tumble out their senten es . a j. th , ey j^
tilt stones from a cart. 1865 DICKENS ffut.fr. i. xn H.
poured the wine into his mouth tilted it into his nghl .cheek
,883 HardwiJCs Photoer. Cheni. xui. (ed. Taylor)
Tilt the developing fluid backwards and l?jrds ipon ine
film for about thirty seconds. 1899 Daily News 20 Nov.
Ill ff
5. inlr. To engage in a tilt or just ; to just or joust.
1595 T. EDWARDES L Envoy to Cephalns f, Procris vii,
Although he differs much from men Tilting under Frienes.
1611 COTGR., Courir la lance, to tilt, or, to run at tilt. 1622
in Crt. f, Times 7as. I (1848) II. 335 He ran at the ring,
and tilted with the Lord Montjoy. 1697 COLLIER Ess. Mot
Subj i (1709) 131 Tis not yet the Fashion for Women of
Quality to Tilt. 1859 TENNYSON Enidtfx, But in this tourna
ment can no man tilt, Except the lady he loves best be there,
fb. transf. See quots. Obs.
a 1700 B. E. Diet. Cant. Crew, To tilt, to fight with a
Rapier. 1706 PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey), To Tilt, to run at Tilts,
to fence or thrust with Swords or Foils.
c. transf. mAfig. To engage in a contest ; to
combat, encounter, contend (with ); to strike or
thrust at with a weapon, to charge or impinge
against.
"1588 SHAKS. L. L. L. v. ii. 483 Loe, he is tilting straight.
1589 GREKSE Menafhon (Arb.) 74 Her eyes were like the
fierie torches tilting against the Moone. I59 SHAKS. A am.
* Jul. in. i. 163 He Tilts With Peitcing steele at bold Mer-
cutio s breast. 1613-16 W. BROWNE Brit. Past. n. i, Against
whose naked brest The surges tilted, a 1661 DULLER
Worthies, Loud. (1662) n. 193 With which Horn he tilteth at
his prey 1733 POPE Hor. Sat. it. i. 70 Satire s my weapon,
but I m too discreet To run a muck, and tilt at all 1 meet.
1809 PINKNEY Trav. France 25, I resolved, .never to tilt
with a French lady in compliment. 1908 [Miss L. rowLERl
Helm. Trent f, Ancholme 12 Coifi struck down the idol.,
tilting at it with his spear.
d. To charge into a place or on some one ;
to run against, rush or burst in, through, etc._
1831 T. L. PEACOCK Crotchet Castle xviii, He.. seized a
long lance, threw open the gates, and tilted out on th
rabble. 1854 H. MILLER Sch. f, Schm. u. (1857) 21 Not at
all sure that I might not tilt against old John in the dark.
1873 HOWELLS Chance Acquaint, iv, Tilting along through
the crowd with a half-staggering run.
6. trans, (loose uses) : a. To poise (the lance)
for a thrust.
1708 J. PHILIPS Cyder n. 603 Sons against Fathers tilt the
fatal Lance, c 1870 B. HARTE Tiventy Years Poems (1886) 36
The apple-blooms shook on the hill i And the mullein-stalks
tilted each lance.
b. To tilt at ; to rush at, charge ; to drive 01
thrust by tilting.
1796 MORSE Amer. Geog. II. 465 Shooting at a mark or
tilting it with darts. 1822 W. IRVING Braat. Hall xxw,
Never so happy as when they can tilt a gentleman logician
out of his saddle. 1893 Cornh. Mag. June 597 The wood-
cock often disport themselves, .. tilting one another with
ruffled plumage.
C. To drive or thrust with violence.
1582 STANYHURST jEneis I. (Arb.) 29 A tempest. .Oure
ships to Libye land with rough extremitye tilted. 1697
COLLIER Ess. Mor. Sulij. i. (i79> "5 I f was the Custom
to Tilt your Head against a Post.
IV. [f. TILT-HAMMER.] 7. trans. To forge or
work with a tilt-hammer.
1825 J NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 770 It is cast into
ingots, which by gentle heating and careful hammering, aie
tilted into bars. 1831 J. HOLLAND Ma,i/. Metal I. 241
All steel, whether cast or skear, which is to be used for the
best articles, should be tilted to the strength required 1889
O Re- July 137 When piled and tilted ; that is. .cut
up into short lengths, laid in bundles, reheated, welded,
and consolidated into a solid mass under the tilt hammer.
TUt (tilt), v. 2 [f. TILT .s*. 1 ] trans. To cover
with a tilt or awning. (Chiefly in fa. pple.)
1409 [implied in TILTING vtl. si ?}. 1587 M. GROVE Pelots
* Hipp. Poems (.878) 22 Omaus king doth stay Ere this
time long in closet tilte To heare what we can say. 1588
PARKF. tr! Mendoza s Hist. China 295 A great barke..very
well tilted and dressed. 1625 Cousalvio s Sp. Inijuis. 64 I o
row vpon the riuer in Barges tilted with purple and sUke.
1818 W TAYLOR in Monthly Rev. LXXXVII. 4 79 Felt,
with which they tilted their waggons. 1839 Sat. Mag.
Supp., June 253/2 The cart is tilted with canes and straw
TI&, pa. t. of TILL v.* 06s. ; obs. f. TILTH.
Tilt-boat, [f. TILT rf.i (or short for tilted)
+ BOAT j*.] A large rowing boat having a tilt or
awning, formerly used on the Thames, esp. as a
passenger boat between London and Gravesend.
1463 Ma,m. f, Househ. j/..(Roxb.) 251 For a tylt bote to
London.. iiij.d. 1 S 7 in Feuillerat Revels Q. khz (1908)
268 For the Cariadge of stuff to Hampton Court, .by Tilt
bote. 1615 G.SANDYS Trav. 17 A vessel.. like in proportion
to a Graves-end tilt-boate. 1737 Act to Get. 11, c. 31 % f
It shall not be lawful for any Person ..who shall, .navigate
anv Tilt-boat.. to receive.. or carry.. at one and the same
Time, any more than thirty-seven Passengers. 1764 Loiu
Life ed ) 3 Waiting, .to go in the Tilt-Boat to Gravesend.
78w IALA V. round Clock (i860 n Now ..we go to
Gravesend by the steamer, instead of the tilt-boat.
Tilte, obs. pa. pple. of TILT p.
Tilted (ti-lted), ///. a- 1 [f- TILT rf.i or . +
-ED 1 Having, or covered with, a tilt or awning.
c 1440 Promp.Parv. 488/1 Teltyd, ga,,datus (A. cauaa-
tus) 1562 BULLEYN Bulwark, Sicke Men 67 b, To be rowed
up and doune, in a tilted Boat or Barge, a 1656 USSHER
Ann vi. (1658) 230 He was in his poor tilted cart 1819 H.
KVuMadm. 557 Wheel off, like Tartars in their tilted
towns 1844 DICKENS Mart. Chuz. xlii, Faces full of con-
sternation in the tilted waggons that came tearing past.
Tilted, ppl. at [f. TILT z/. 1 + -ED i.]
1 Poised or thrust, as a weapon in tilting;
(loosely) fought or engaged in, as a tilt or tourna
ment.
TILTER.
33
TILTING.
1776 MICKLE tr. Canteens Lnsiad VIM, 330 At just and
tournay with the tilted lance Victors they rode. 1803 VISCT. I
STRANGFORD CVwwviw 1 Lusiad\\. xlii, Their own compatiiots
. . Who erst the tilted fight gainst England s Twelve j
maintain d. 1861 LYTTON& FANE TannJiiiuser^ And from i
that hour, in court, And chase, and tilted tourney, many a \
month,.. Men miss d Tannhauser.
2. Abruptly inclined or sloped from the erect or
the horizontal position. In quot. a 1613, obtained
or emptied out by tilting the vessel.
a 1613 OVF.RBUKY Characters^ Whore (1615) E ij, Her
body is the tilted Lees of pleasure. 1892 Pall Mall G.
4 Tune 1/3 The steep northern escarpment, the tilted strata of
wnich . . suggest . . the denudation of the Weald. 1906 Daily
JVeius 3 July 6 The question of speed, .is. .of the greatest
importance where a train runs round what I may call a lilted
curve.
Tilter CtHtax), *<M [f. TILT p. 1 -(--IB 1 .]
1. One who tilts or justs; a combatant in a tilt ;
i6ii FLORIO, F$Ua..z. course in the field where many
horsemen or tillers, after they haue runne single one to one,
they runne pell mell altogether. 1612 WEBSTER White
Devil in. i, None are judges at tilting, but those that have
bene old tillers. 1749 SMOLLETT Gil Bias v. i. (1782) II.
148, I was shocked at the inequality of the combat, and, as
I am naturally a tiller, flew lo the assistance of the old man.
1827 SCOTT Tales Grandfather Ser. i. xxiii. (1828) II. 216
The best tilter with the spear received from the King a
lance with a head of pure gold. 1898 J. HOLLISGSHEAD
Gaiety Chron. \. 37, I was always a tilter at windmills.
f b. A rapier or sword, slang. Obs.
1688 SHADWELL Sqr, Alsatta u. Wks. 1720 IV. 47 Let me
see your Porker; here s a Porker! here s a Tilter! 1691
Islington-Wells j A young spruce City Fop,. .With a Long-
Wig and Tilter on. 1713 STEELE Guard, No. 143 p 5 To . .
reduce their tillers to a more reputable, as well as a more
portable size.
2. One who or that which tilts, inclines, or slopes
(something) up or down; spec, (a) an apparatus for
tilting a cask so as to empty it without stirring up
the dregs ; () a workman who tilts or empties out
the coal into trucks at the pit s mouth.
1630 Maldon^ Essex, Documents Bundle 217 No. 22 In the
butterye, i beer stalle and i tilter, ./. 1892 J. LUMSDEN
Sheeph. <V Trotters 213 The neatest tilter and emptier of a
brandy and water glass I ever saw. 1896 Daily News
i May 2/1 The only persons in the vicinity of the pit mouth
were the banksmen, blacksmiths, and tilters.
3. One who works with a tilt-hammer.
1829 E. ELLIOTT Vill. Patriarch i. i, Loud thumps the
forge; bright burns the cottage fire, From which the tiller s
lad is loth to go. 1831 J. HOLLAND Manuf. Metal I. 242
During the operation of hammering, . . the tilter sits on a seat
reaching nearly to the ground.
Ti lter, sb? dial* [prob. rustic pronunciation
of TILTUBE : cf. pictur, picter for picture.] Proper
condition; order: perh. orig. of cultivated land,
and afterwards of things generally.
1674 N. FAIRFAX Bulk $ Selv. 75 The single shove or
heave of the spring, .puts the Watch thus fadg d together
and in tilter into motions round, right on,.. forwards, back-
wards, upwards, downwards, and otherwayes. a 1880
Kentish Dial., This thurruck is out o tiller all the way
along. 1887 Kent Gloss, s. v., He s left that farm purty
much out o tiller, I can lell ye.
Ti lter, -v. dial. [app. freq. of TILT zr.l, sense 3 ;
cf. OE. teallrian to be unsteady, shake, totter, ex
tended form of tealtian (TiLT Z/. 1 ) : see -ER 5 .
Cf. a 800 CVNEWULF Christ 371 Hu we tealtrijaS tydran
mode, a 1000 Haupt s Glosses 529 Tealtrian, vacillare,
t Unbare.]
intr. To sway up and down.
1845 S. JUDD Margaret i. xiv, A bobolink clung tillering
to the breezy tip of a white birch. 1895 KATE D. WIGGIN
Vill. Watch-Tower 36 Butterflies .. perch on the .. stalks
and tilter up and down in the sunshine.
Tilth (tilb), sb. Forms: i til, tilSe, 1-5
tilj>e, (3 erron. tilaehtje, tylehpe), 4 tulthe (#),
Sc. tiltht, 4-6 (8-9) tilthe, 4-7 tylth, (5 telpe,
telth(e), 5-6 tylthe, (7-9 tilt), 4- tilth. [OE.
til]) str. fern,, til)e wk. fern., f. OE. til-ian, TlLLz/.l
+ -TH suffix^ cf. OKris. tilath cultivation.]
j-1. Labour, work, or effort directed to useful or
profitable ends. Rihtlic /i/flf, honest labour. (OE.)
t a 1013 WULFSTAN Horn. x. (Napier) 72 Se oe wxre sca3-
jende, weoroe se tilijende on rihtlicre tilde.
2. esp. Labour or work in the cultivation of the
soil ; tillage, agricultural work, husbandry. (In
full in OE. torj>tilj>.}
c 1000 [see EARTH-TILTH]. aiiooGfreftt in Anglia (1886)
IX. 259 Se scndwis xerefa sceal wilan a-lcre tilSan timan 3e
to tune belimpS. a 1200 Moral Ode 57 Vre swine and ure
Ulpe is ofte iwoned to swinden. a 1300 Cursor M. 3504
He delt als wit tilth o corn, c 1375 Sc. Le^. Saints xxix.
(Placidas) 450 Telemen left be uliht ..& folouyt hym.
a 1380 Poems fr. Yemen MS. I. 269 }if bou wolt knowe be
tilbe of eorbe, pat be fayle corn none, Go and red virgiles
bpk. 14.. Tretyce in W. cf He nicy s Hnsb. (1890) 44
Comaunde your bayle siraytly lo kepe bis maner off
gydynge m_telthe- 1573 TUSSER flush, iv. (1878) 13 Tilth
_ f ^ ___ j) T j -j
wele done, in season due. 1660 SHARROCK Vegetables 98
After four years tilth, lay down your land. 1799 J. ROBERT-
SON Agric. Perth 12 Clay . .when dried by a long tract of
weather, without rain, .becomes so hard., as to lose the
benefit of any tilth formerly given it by frequent ploughings.
1870 FREEMAN Norm. Cong. (ed. 2) I App. 709 To betake
himself to the tilth of the ground.
b. Jig. The cultivation of knowledge, morality,
religion, the mind, etc.
a 11*5 A tier. R. 78 Cultus justiciae silenciurn : be tilfie
VOL. X.
of rihtwisnesse, bet is silence. 1550 BALF, ApoL Pref. n
In the ydell slouthfulnesse of the churche whan the profyt-
able tylthe of Christe was not regarded. 1810 CRABBE
Borough xxi. 260 Numbers there were defiled by mire and
filth Whom he recovered by his goodly tilth. 1847 DE
QUINCEY Schlossers Lit. Hist. Wks. 1862 VII. 75 What a
tilth of intellectual lava must [Burke] have interfused amongst
the refuse and scoria of such mouldering party rubbish.
c. (with ^/.) An act of tilling; a ploughing,
harrowing, or other agricultural operation.
1565 COOPER Thesaurus s. v. Nouo, A grunt nmtare, to vse
the seconde tilth: to till the seconde time. 1649 BLITHE
Eng. lmf>rov. fiir^r. (1652) 103 The nature of the Land [will
not be] changed with fewer Tilths. 1707 MORTIMER Husb.
(1721) I. 76 They give their sowre Land a tilt. 1844 Jmf.
R. Agric. Soc. V. i. 5 The tilths being given at intervals of
about one month.
d. The condition of being under cultivation or
tillage ; hence, (good or bad) condition (of land
under tillage).
1488-9 Act 4 Hen. VII, c. 19 Leyeng to pasture loncles
which custumeably have ben used in tilthe. 1552 HULOET,
Brynge lande in due tempre, or tilthe, with dygging, and
labour. 1674 N. FAIRFAX Bulk $ Selv. 132 The ground
that was to be sown that year in as good tilt as in the other.
1805 K. W. DICKSON Pract. Agric, I. 538 It is. .necessary
that the soil should be reduced to a considerable degree of
fineness, or what by writers on husbandry is termed tilth.
1825 JAMIESON, Tilt, tilth, plight, condition, good or bad
..; The land s in sae bad a tilth, that we canna saw*.
1884 Times 20 June 4 Working ground into a clean tilth.
f 3. transf. The result or produce of tillage ;
crop, harvest. Alsoy?^. Obs.
diioo Gerefa in Anglia (iSS6) IX. 261 Fela tiloa ham
gsderian. a 1300 Cursor M. 1068 Vr louerd loked noght
bar-till..O be tilth bat he wit delt. 1377 LANGL. P. PL
B. xix. 430 God. .Qui plnit super iustos $ iniustos. .And
sent be sonne to saue a cursed mannes tilthe [C. xxn. 434
tulthe, v. rr. tilbe, telbe], As biy^te as to be best man & to
be beste woman. 1390 GOWER Conf. II. IOXD So that the
tilthe is nyh forlorn, Which Crist sew ferst his oghne bond.
1612 DRAYTON Poly-olb. xiii. 342 That cruel! Bore.. Whose
tusks turn d vp our Tilths. 1781 COWPF.U Hope 46 Banks
clothed with flowers. .The yellow tilth, green meads.
4. Land under cultivation, as distinguished from
pasture, forest, or waste land ; tilled or arable land ;
a piece of tilled land, a ploughed field.
c J 375 $ c - Leg. Saints xxix. (Placidas) 326 Towne & lilth
al mad wast, c 1460 Oseney Reg. 133 Whereof xij. acris of
londe lien in the North felde at Radawelle, that is to say, in
be telth be which is i-called Brerefurlonge. Ibid. 134 Vppon
Ramme dune, iij. telthis, |e which conteynen xij. acris.
f 1 1577 GASCOIGNE Wks.> Hearbes^ IVeedes^ etc. (1587) 149 As
men can dense the worthless weedes from fruitfull fallowed
tilth. 1616 SURFL. & MARKH. Country far me 20 Lead
forth your dung, compasse, or manure to your tilth or fallow
field. 1851 WORDSW. Prelude x. 7, I paused, and cast Upon
his rich domains, vineyard and tilih, Green meadow-ground,
and many-coloured woods . . a farewell look. 1881 Gd.
Words XXII. 44/1 A summer till is, or was, a field which
was let alone for a season. Now-a-days people want crops
off every acre, every year.
b. The prepared surface soil ; the crumb, or depth
of soil dug or cultivated.
1743 Lond. <$ Country Brew. iv. (ed. 2) 252 Where Turneps
have been eaten off, the Barley, .is.. not esteemed so good,
as that from off a pure Tilth. 1846 J. BAXTER Libr.
Pract. Aerie, (ed. 4) I. 372 The surface or tilih should be
made as fine and level as possible. 1881 WHITEHEAD Hops
45 The ground is kept stirred till the first week in July, by
which time there should be a good tilth, or crumb, at least
a foot deep.
5. attrib. and Comb., as tilth-ground, -land, -man.
1638 MARKHA.M Farew. Husb. (ed. 4) Pref., The third or
fourth part of al arable ground is lost in the fallow or tilth
f round. 1657 J. WATTS Dipper Sprinkled 92 It is called
ilih-Iand and a Wheat-field. 1657 REEVE God s Plea 235
A lamentable tilth-man, which doth plow and sow for others,
and bath not. .any crop of his own.
Tilth, v. Ohs. or rare. [f. prec. sb.] trans.
To till, cultivate. Hence Trlthed ///. a. ;
fTi lthing vbl. sb. t tillage; also fTi-lther, a
tiller, cultivator.
1495 Trevisa s Barth. De P. R. xvn. cxiv. (W. de W.)
5 j/2 The wyld cole growyth wythout tylthyng [Bodl. MS.
teleinge]. Ibid, clxxx, The erthe tylthers \Bodl. MS. tiliers]
6 kepers of vynes. 1496 Diresfy Paup. (W. de W.) i. xxii.
58/1 They.. gyue them to tylthe the londe. 1866 J. B. ROSE
tr. Ovid s Met. (1809) 113, 1 cast tbe viperous leeih in tilthcd
ground. Ibid. 202 The husbandman beholds the unharnessed
bull Fall in the tilihcd furrow.
Ti It-hammer, [f. TILT sb. z or z*. 1 ] A heavy
hammer used in forging, nxed on a pivot and acted
upon by a cam-wheel or an eccentric, which
alternately tilts it up and allows it to drop.
1773 Gentl. Mag, Oct. 513/2 Any plating forge to work
with a tilt-hammer. 18*5 J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic
345 The tilt-hammer used . . weighs about 100 pounds, and
in.. is a place for Tylting, called Tournelles, 1730 A. GOR-
, DON Majjfris Amphith. 250 The Armour People put on at
tilting with Lances. 1893 KATE SANBORN Truthf. ll omatt
, in S. California 172 The tournament is exciting, where
, skilful riders try tilting at rings, trying to take as many
| rings as possible on lance while galloping by.
b. \Yith a and //. A tilt, a just. Now rare
I or Obs.
c 1618 MORYSON /fin. iv. y. i. (1903) 465 They haue Tiltings,
Runnings with lances against a Post Armed like a man at
all peeces. 1621 SIR \V. ALEXANDER in Sidney s Arcadia
in. (1629) 337 At a Tilting in Iberia.. 1 ranne in a Pastoral!
shew against the Corinthian Knight^. 1761 HUME Hist.
Eng. II. xxxi. 197 At a tilting at Greenwich.
c. transf. andy?^.
1668 HOWE Bless. Righteous (1825) 175 A perpetual hos
tility, a very tilting at his cross. 1752 FIELDING Amelia
v. ix, His Urother and the Lieutenant were gone out with
a Design of Tilting. 1878 STEVKSSON Edinburgh (iSSg)
2 Perpetual tilting against squalls.
2. The action of TILT v\ in sense 4; inclination
from the vertical or horizontal ; sloping, slanting.
1658 OSBOHN Ad~c. Son (1673) 70 Though a Vessel may
yield the more for tilting or stirring. 1835-6 Toad s Cycl.
Anat. I. 655 2 This tilting forwards of tho apex gives the
heart a pulsation against the ribs. 1850 I >ANA GeoL iii. 238
There are no tiltings no anticlinal and synclinal valleys.
1878 &&WL\ Photogr, (iSSi) 245 Tilting should be cautiously
and sparingly used.
f b. concr. (//.) The dregs of the liquor in a
cask, collected by tilting it. Qbs*
1611 COTGR., Bessicres, the tiltings, dregs, or bottomes of
low-running wine, &c.
3. Working with a tilt-hammer.
1839 URE Diet. Arts 1173 Condensed, .by the operation
of tilting, under a powerful hammer driven by machinery.
11864 STRAUSS, etc. Engl. Workshops 83 The blistered steel
is prepared for tilting.
4. attrib. and Comb, (mostly in sense i), as tilting
armour -, bout, encounter, field, \furnitnre, ground,
horse t match, sport ; tilting bucket conveyor, a
means of transporting coal or other substances,
constructed of two endless chains between which
on trunnions are slung buckets, the contents of
which are tilted or tipped at any given spot by a
tippling device; tilting coffer, a chest carved
with representations of tournaments; tilting-fillet,
a wedge-shaped slip of wood placed under the front
edge of the first or lowest course of slates in a roof,
to give to that course the same inclination as in the
courses above ; tilting-gauntlet, a form of gauntlet
used in tilting, having a hook with which it could
be fastened so as to secure the lance in the grasp
of the hand ; tilting-helm, -helmet, a large heavy
helmet worn over the ordinary one in tilting, com
pletely covering the head and face, with slits for
breathing and vision; tilting-lance, a form of
lance used in tilting, often ornamental, with a large
guard or vamplate, and a blunt point or a coronal ;
tilting-mill =- tilt-mill (see TILT sb 10) ; tilting-
shield, a shield used in tilting, so constructed as
to cause the opponent s lance to glance off side
ways ; tilting-spear = /;Y//;/^-/<2T; tilting-staff,
a staff used instead of a lance in tilting ; tilting-
target = tilting-shield ; tilting-yard = Ti LT- YARD.
1819 SCOTT Let. to D. Terry 18 Apr., in Lockhart,\ see Mr.
Bullock., advertises his museum for sale. I wonder if a good
set of real tilling armour could be got cheap there. 1827
Chron. Canongate\\, A suit of tilting armour of bright steel,
inlaid with silver. 1754 RICHARDSON Grandison (1810) I.
. 5 We had. .a *tilting-bout. .but are sworn friends now.
1911 Encycl. Brit. VII. 56 Thi gravity or "tilling bucket
conveyor can be used as a combined elevator and conveyor.
Ibid. VI. 107 There is a whole class of chests known as
allowed to fall upon the billet, bloom, or bar. 1894 Harpers
Mag. Jan. 422 Before James Nasmyth s great invention of
the steam hammer, trip or tilt and helve hammers had been
the forging tools.
Tilting (ti-ltirj), -obi *M [f. TILT .i + -INQ i.]
1. The action of TILT z>. 1 in sense 5 ; charging
on horseback with a lance against an opponent, or
a mark ; justing.
1610 HOLLAND Camden s Brit. ^1637) 250 Having unhap
pily slaine his onely sonne while he trained him at Tilting.
1617 MORYSON I tin. \. 190 On the right hand as you come
.... __J3P. NIC
399 Theslater..nailsdownthese tilting fillets. 1833 I.OUDON
ncycl. Archil. I 83 Tilting fillets are used to give a slight
inclination to the verge or bo.der-slates, where they butt
against brick-work. 1667 MILTON P. L. IX. 34 "Tilting
Furniture, emblazon d Shields, . . Caparisons and Steeds.
1850 MARSDF.N Early Purit. (1853) 77 Cartwright, if dissatis
fied, should have, .challenged other hearers than his pupils,
and upon some other "tilting-ground than the fenced enclo
sures of a university. 1880 Academy 20 Nov. 371/3 A very
fine "tilting helm with the wooden crest of Sir John
Gostwick, Master of the Horse to Henry VIII. 1846
FAIKHOLT Costume in Eng. 119 [The figure] represents [Sir
Geoffrey Loutterell). .receiving from the ladies of his family
his "tilting-helmet, shield, and faron. 1623 in Crt. Sf
Times Jos. I (1848) II. 385 He hath, .sent for his arms and
tilting horses. 1863 THORNBURY Trite as Steel III. 318
This iron hand of mine can handle a "tilting lance better
than a pen. 1854 MILMAN Lai. Chr. vlil. v. III. 359 Abc Iard
became the most powerful combatant in the intellectual
tilting matches ofthe schools. 1835 URE Philos. Manvf.
61 These are. .the foundations of kindred works, such as.,
tilting-mills. i<So MARSTON Ant. r Mel. i. Wks. 1856 I.
13 He is made like a -tilting staffe. 1606 DRUMM. OF
HAWTH. Let./r. Greenwich Wks.(i7ii) 232 His lodging.,
was in the house of the tilting yard, where the king bore
him company at supper. 1617 MORYSON Itin. I. 10 The
same Court serves for a Tilting-yard.
Tilting, vbl. J*.- [f. TILT v? or j*. 1 -t -ING i
cf. carpeting.] The action of covering with a tilt
or awning ; concr. a tilt, or material for tilts.
1499 Proinp. Parv. 488/1 (Pynson) Teltinge, gaudacio.
17*0 DF. FOR Caft. Singleton vi, Our mats, .are our beds to
lay under us, and our tilting to cover us. l86> CataL
5
TILTING.
Internal. Exhib., Brit. ii. No. 4014 Witney blankets, tilt-
ings, yarns.
Ti lting, ///. a. [f. TILT vl + -ING 2 .] That
tilts, in various senses.
1. Moving unsteadily, rising and falling, swaying
up and down. (See also 3.)
1605 SYLVESTER Du Bartas n. iii. i. 123 Sea s foaming
Course, whose ever-Tilting Tide (Ebbing or flowing) is con-
fin d to Season. ^1630 in Risdon Surv. Devon 225 (1810)
239 Her tilting tides near unto Appledore Have clean swept
Hubba s trophy off the shore. 1841 CATLIN ^V. Anier. Ind.
(1844) I. vi. 40 He approached . . with a slow and tilting step.
2. Justing; encountering in, or as in, a tilt.
1679 CROWSE Ambitious Sia.tesm, in, I have seen., their
tilting lips meet close, and grapple.
3. Causing something to tilt or slant ; also, that
is or can be tilted.
1807 HERSCHEL in Phil. Trans. XCVTI. 190 A tilting
motion, given to the lens., will move the two sets of rings
from side to side. 1907 Daily Chron. 14 May 6/3 The cost
of til ting standards and electroliers was shown to be excessive.
Til- tree: see TIL 2.
Tilt-Up, sb. and a. [Uses of phr. to tilt up : see
TILT z-. 1 ] A. sb. Something that tilts up.
1. Fishing. = TILT sb.- 6. U. S\
1891 in Cent. Diet.
2. The American sandpiper. U. S.
1848 [see TEETER sb. 2].
B. adj. That tilts up; = TIP-UP B.
1891 Daily News 13 Nov. 2/1 St. James s Hall will be.,
reseated, the balcony being supplied with tilt up stalls.
fTi lture. Obs. rare, [irreg. f. TILL v.l t app.
after culture t etc. : see also TILTEK s/>.-] Tilth,
tillage, agriculture.
1573 TUSSER Ilnsb. (1878) 92 Good tilth brings secdes,euill
tilture, weedes. 1577 B. GOOGE Ileresbach s Hnsb. i. (1586)
i6b, Let me here your opinion of the Feeld, and the tilture
thereof.
Tilt-yard (trltiyaid). Also tylt-. [f. TILT
J. + YARD.] A yard or enclosed space for tilts
and tournaments; a (permanent) tilting-ground.
Tilt Yard guard, the name of the guard mounted on
the site of the tilt-yardof the old Royal Palace of Whitehall.
Also called later ftV/tt<zm(secTlLT.*io). Discontinued
i5th Nov. 1898.
1528 Fox in Pocock Rec. Ref. 1. 141 Who nt that time . .
lay in the gallery in the Tiltyard. 1711 STEELE Spect.
No. 109 P 3 He was the last Man that won a Prize in
the Tilt- Yard. 1825 SCOTT Talism, vi, A fine figure on
horseback, and can bear him well in the tilt-yard.
i-jy^Regitncntal Hist. Coldstreatn Guards 29 Oct. (MS.),
The Officers to mount all guards in their regimentals and
gaiters during his Majesty s residence in town, and the
Serjeants to mount in their regimentals, the Tylt Yard guard
as well as the King s.
t Ti lward, prep. Obs. rare. Also 4 tillwar(d.
[f. TILL prep. + -WARD.] In the direction of,
toward, (In first quot. = To.)
a 1300 Cursor M. 938 tCott.) Loo , he said of adam, hu
Lik e,s made tilward us nu, Bath be god and U knauand*.
Ibid. 15187 Gas til- ward [Gvtt. till-ward] b tun , he said.
Ibid. 17636 (Gb tt.) Vp tilluar heuen his heued he bedd,
Til- wood: see TIL 2.
tTi ly, a. Obs. rare-*. [f. TILE j.l + -Y.]
Consisting of * tiles" or bricks.
138* WYCLIF Jer. xliii. 9 In the caue, that is vnder the lily
\val[i388 wal of till stoon : Vulg. muro latcricio\
Tilye, Tilyer, obs. ft TILIE sb., TILL z>.*,
TILLER j<M
t Tim. Obs. A term of personal abuse.
1610 B. JONSON Alch. iv. vii, Then you are an Otter, and
a Shad, a Whit, A very Tim. 1673 S too him Bayes 73.
Timaliine, variant of TIMELIINE.
II Timar (t/ ma-r). Obs. Also 7 -arr. [Persian
(and Turkish) \+*3 timar attendance, watching.]
Formerly, in the feudal system of Turkey, a fief
held by military service : see quots.
1601 R. JOHNSON Kingd. fy Commu>. (1603) 51 It is the
custome of Ottoman princes to sieze vpon al the land which
they take from their enimies, and assigning a small parcell . .
to the auncient Lordes, they deuide the resydue into Timars,
to eueiy gallant seruitor a portion ; but vpon condition, to
find so and so many seruiceable horse for the war. 163*
LITHGOW Trav. iv. 166 These Timars or grounds, emertaine
..two hundreth and fifty thousand horses. 1681 NEVILE
Plato Rcdiv. 87 Planting above sixty thousand Souldiers
upon Lands in Lombardy ; That is, erecting so many Bene-
ficia, orTiman s. 1819 T. HOPE Anastasius (1820) II. xiii.
303 The Spahees, or horse soldiers, on the contrary, often
only holding their Zeeameth or Timar from some grandee as
the wages of domestic service.
lib. erron. One holding a timar : = TIMARIOT.
1598 DALLINGTON Metk. Trav. K iij b, They are bound to
serue the Great Turke with horse and in person in his
warres. These are called his Timars. 1638 SIR T. HERBERT
Trav. 233 The Timarrs or Turqmars are more despicable
[i.e. than the ranks and degrees before mentioned],
Timarau, variant of TAMARAU.
1898 WORCESTER Philippine^ Isl. xvi. 364 We had been
tempted to visit the island [Mindpro] by stories of a strange
animal called the * timarau , which was said to abound in
the interior.
Timarchy (tai-maiki). rare. [ad. Gr. TTpap-
\ia t f. rt^i7 honour + -apxia government.] =
TIMOCRACY.
c 1643 Afa.rirnes Unfolded 4 That they all be present... his
Majestic as the heire of the Kmgdome, his Peeres by their
Birth, and the Commons by the peoples Election. The fir-^t
shewcth a Monarchic, the second an Aristocracie, and the
34
third a Timarchie. Ibid. 5 Titnarchy, or Plutarchy, is
when great men of meanes, wanting the honour of Peeres,
. .have the dignity of Gravity and discretion to make them
reputed, and to be well esteemed amongst the people. Ibid.
28 When the best in wealth and estates governe the poore,
it is called Plutarchie, the Empire of riches, or Timocracie,
the command of honour, which is also named Timarchie.
1852 [see TIMOCRACY 2],
t Timariot (tima ript). Ota. Also 7 ty-, -ott,
erron. timorat. [a. F. iimariot, ad. It. timariotto
(Florio, 1598), f. Persian timar TIM.VK+ -OT 11 .]
The holder of a TIMAR. Also attrib.
1601 R. JOHNSON Kingd. $ Cottunw. (1603) 52 They can
no sooner stirre, but as so many falcons these Timorats are
presently on their neckes. 1629 MASSINGER Picture i. i,
Who knows but some party Of his Timariots. .May fall
up^on us? 1690 TEMPLE Ess. \\. Heroic Vjrt. 120 The
Division of all Lands in conquered Countries into Timariots
or Soldiers Shares. 1813 BYRON Br. Abydos I. vii, First of
the bold Timariot bands.
Timbal, tymbal (ti-mbal). Now Hist, or
arch. Also timbul. [ mod.F. timbale (1646 in
Ilatz.-Darm.), It. timballo, Sp. timbal, Pg. timbal,
timbale, substituted for, and app. altered from,
earlier F. attabale (Cotgr. 1611), It. taballo (Florio
161 1), Sp. alabal, Pg. attabale, see ATABAL. It is
not clear in which lang. or under what influence
the change was made (perh. in It., which had
already dropped initial a) : cf. the F. alteration
of labour to tambour. The spelling tymbal was
app. due to the influence of cymbal.] A kettledrum.
1680 Land. Gaz. No, 1484 i The Trumpets and Timbals
led the way. f 1709 PRIOR Charity 15 A tymbal s sound were
better than my voice. 1713 Lond. Gaz, No. 5106/2 Two
hundred of their People [Turks] riding., with Timbals and
Chalumeau.v. 1788 GIBBON Decl. f, F. 1. (1846) V. 15 A
chorus of women, striking their tymbals, and displaying the
pomp of their nuptials. 1813 Arabian Nts. III. 345 [They]
danced and skipped about him to the sound of the tymbals.
So f Tymbalon (arbitrary form of prec.).
1817 MOORE Lalla R. t Veiled Proph., With gong and
tymbalon s tremendous chime.
|] Timbale (t^nba l). [F. : see prec.]
1. Entom. A membrane (resembling a dram-head)
in certain insects, as the cicada, by means of which
a shrill chirping sound is produced.
1854 BL SHNAN in Circ. Sc. (c 1865) I. 295/1 [In the cicada]
the muscles.. act upon the timlalfs, stretching them out or
bringing them into their natural state, whereby the sounds
are produced. 1867 MARSHALL Physiol., ffjttn. fy Comp. I.
271 The noises in certain species [of insects} are de.
pendent upon the rapid movements of folded membranes,
called the timbales, .. moved by. .special, .muscular fibres.
2. Cookery. A dish made of finely minced meat,
fish, or other ingredients, cooked in a crust of
paste or in a mould : so called from its shape.
1880 OuiDA 1 Moths I. 25 Eating her last morsel of a
truffled timbale. 1899 Wrstm. Gaz. 16 Sept. 1/3 If I could
only have a little sweetbread timbale , she said longingjy.
1908 Daily Chron. 10 Apr. 7/5 Chicken Timbales with
Sauce.
3. Comb, timbale-iron, a cooking utensil with
a bulging head used to form a cup-shaped crust.
1893 in Funk s Stand. Diet.
Timber (ti mbaj),^.! Forms: o. I -timber;
4-5 -bir, 4-7 -bre, 5 -bur (7 -berr), 3-7 tymber,
4-6 -bre, 5 -byr, -bir(e, 5-6 -bur, (tembre).
/3. Sc. and north, dial. 4-5 tymyr(e, 5 tymmir,
-yr(e, (temir, -yr), 5-9 tymmer, 6 tymer, -ir,
(temmer), 8-9 timmer. [OE. timber = OFris.
timber, OS. timbar (Du. dial, timmer], OHG.
zimbar (MHG. timber, G. simmer room), ON.
limbr timber (Sw. timmer, Da. temmer), Goth.
*liir (cf. timr-jan to build, timr-ja builder, etc.)
: OTeut. *tim-ra m :*tem-ro m : Indo-Eur. *dem-
ro m , f. ablaut series *dei : *dom : *dm, to build :
cf. Gr. Sip-civ to build, Sop-os, L. Jom-us house.]
)!. A building, structure, edifice, house. Also
jig. Obs. (?only OE.)
a 750 Cxdtnon s Gen. 135 fa seo tid gewat ofer timber
[MS. fiber] sceacan middanjeardes. cBzS Vesf. Psalter
ci. 8 Swe swe spearwa se anga in timbre [unit us in aedi-
fido\ Ibid, cxxviii. 6 Sien swe swe hes timbra [facnniii
aedificiontiH\. a goo tr. Bzdas Hist. MI. xiv. [xvii.J (1800)
204 J a nseslas..be heo mid baem to baem timbre \xdifici\
jefaestnad waes. Ibid. iv. iii. (1800) 262 t>set . . ba lifi-
Jendan stanas bare cirican of eor5!ictim seplum to fjsem
eofonlican timbre jeba=r. 1:950 Lindisf. Gasp. Mark xiii. i
jesih hulco stanas & hulij timber [Afs. Gasp, hwylce j;e-
timbrunga, Vvlg. quales structurae]. c 1000 Sax. Leechd.
II. 198 Sio [liver] is blodes timber, & blodes bus & fostor,
c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. Wace (Rolls) 3692 pey logged
hem, & tymber teld [Fetyt MS. timbred teld = constructed
tents (which is prob. the correct reading)).
t b. The process of building. Obs. (only OE.)
ciooo Sax. Leechd. III. 178 On .vi. nihtne monan..he is
. god circan on to timbrane and eac scipes timber on to
anginnanne.
1 2. Building material generally ; material for
the construction of houses, ships, etc., or (in ex
tended sense) of any mannfactnred article ; the
matter or substance of which anything is built up or
composed ; matter, material, stuff. Obs. Cf. BELLV-
IIMBEB, Jlesh-timber (FLESH sb. 13).
In early use including 3 ; in later use prob. fig. from it.
11900 tr. Bxda s Hist. ill. xvi. (xxii.) (1890) 224 pa:tte ne
meahten godo beon, ba ce monna hondum jeworhte waeron
e
TIMBER.
of eorSHcxim timbre, o3be of treotn, o3be of stanum. a 1000
Laws Ecgbert, Poenit. in Thorpe Ags. Laws Addit. 16 II.
234 Ne sceal cyrcean timber [L. ligna ecclesiae} to Eeni^uni
orbrum weorce. a 1300 Cursor M. 333-4 (Cott.) pis wright
..Fra al ober, sundri and sere, For J>ai most ober timber
take, Bot he bis self can timber make. 1607-12 BACON Ess,,
Goodness (Arb.) 206 Such dispositions are., the fittest tymber
to make great Pollitiques of. 1840 M. F. SHEPHERD mLife
of Adam Clarke viii. 261 There is much sound timber in
these sermons.
3. spec. Wood used for the building of houses,
ships, etc., or for the use of the carpenter, joiner,
or other artisan ; wood in general as a material ;
esp. after it has been suitably trimmed and squared
into logs, or further adapted to constructive uses.
(A restricted use of sense 2, and in early quots. often not
distinguishable from it.)
a iiooGerffa inAngtza(i886) IX. 261 On wintraerian and
in miclum gefyrstum timber cieofan. c 1200 Vices ff Virtues
27 And 3e wrihte his timber to keruen after 9are mone.
fizos LAY. 22929 Timber me lete biwinnen and bat beord
bi-ginnen. a 1300 Cursor M. 1724 Now wat sir noe quat
wnrk to do And hent timber bat fel bar-to. 1398 TRF.VISA
Bartk. De P. R. xiv. ii. (Tollem. MS.), Ararat is be hy^est
hill of Armenia;, .and ;it to bis day be tymber of be schip
is sene in be mounteyne. 1466 Burgh Rec. Edinb. (1869)
I. 23 Mak the ruiffes of guid tymmer and theik thame with
sclaitt. 1563 TURNER Herbal n. 29 Y e tymmer of y e larche
tre..is very, .profitable for bildyng. 11674 MILTON Hist.
Mosc. i. Wks. 1851 VIII. 472 Thir Boats of Timber without
any Iron in them. 1712 W. ROGERS Voy. 338 Vessels, .chiefly
imploy d in carrying Timber, Salt, ..and other Commodities
1830 LINDLEY Nat. Syst. Bot. 84 The timber of the Beam
Tree (Pyrtts Aria) is invaluable for axletrees. 1832 Planting
92 in Lib. Use/. A K., Husb. Ill, When the wood of a stem
or branch of any species of plant attains to the dimensions of
24 inches in circumference, or upwards of eight inches in
diameter, it is termed timber.
b. Wood as a substance, or as the material of
small utensils or parts of them. Now dial.
1530 RASTELL Bk. Purgatory ir. xii, A cup of tymber or
metal, a 1631 DRAYTON Robin Hood fy Merry Men 31 Their
arrows finely paired, for timber and for feather. 1663 WOOD
Life 30 Nov. {O. H. S.) I. 503 For setting up a strip of
timber on my window, 6</. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury ir.
84/2 The Wood, or Timberr, is between the Sap and Heart.
1793 T. SCOTT Poems 364 (E.D.D.) A breast o 1 timmer an 1
a heart o stane. 1834 SMART Rhymes 135 (ibid.) Her wheels
were made o timmer.
4. Applied to the wood of growing trees capable
of being used for structural purposes ; hence col
lectively to the trees themselves; standing timber,
trees, woods. Rarely in //.
^893 K. /EI.FRED Oros. iv. vi. 2 .^Efter siexte^um daa
ba:s j>e ?set timber [L. arbores] acorfen was. 1416 LYDG,
DtGitil. Pilgr. 11808 A kanker..the werm..That ffreteth
the herte off a tre, And.. Doth to tymber gret damage.
1566 in Reg, Mag, Sig. Scot. 1584. 209/1 Habere lie wattillis
et lie fallin tymmer de silva de Cleue. 1634 WOOD New
Eng. Prosp. (1865) 16 The Timber of the Countrey growes
straight, and tall. 1718 Free-thinker No. 59 Fn A naked
Ground, blest only with a small Group of Timber. 1787 G.
WHITE Selborne viii. (1789) 22 A rough estimate of the value
of ihe timbers. .growing at that time in the district of The
Holt. 1841 W. ROBINSON Assam 41 Another large and
elegant timber indigenous to the forests of Assam, is the
Cedrela Toona. 1880 C. R. MARKHAM Perm). Bark 158 We
continued our journey . . through a forest of grand timber,
b. spec, in English Law, Trees growing upon
land, and forming part of the freehold inheritance :
embracing generally the oak, ash, and elm, of the
age of twenty years or more ; in particular districts,
by local custom, including other trees, with various
limitations as to age.
As to the legal bearing of this, see quots. 1766, 1818.
1766 BLACKSTONE Conitn, II. xviii. 6. 281 Timber also is
part of the inheritance. Such are oak, ash, and elm in all
places: and in some particular countries, by local custom,
where other trees are generally used for building, they
are thereupon considered as timber; and to cut down
such trees, or top them, or do any other act whereby the
timber may decay, is waste. 1818 CRUISE Digest fed. 2) I.
131 By the custom of some countries, certain trees, not
usually considered as timber, are deemed to be such, being
there used for building... And all the Justices at Serjeants
Inn were of opinion that in the county of York birch trees
were timber, and belonged to the inheritance ; therefore
they could not be taken by the tenant for life. 1891 Daily
News 19 Jan. 5/4 By the custom of the county of Bucking
ham beech trees are timber.
5. transf. Applied to any object familiar to the
speaker, composed wholly or chiefly of wood, as
fa spear-shaft; fa bowl; a ship; the stocks
(s/ang) ; wooden gates and fences {Hunt ing slang] ;
a wicket (Cricket slang] ; small timber, lucifei
matches (street slang].
c 1400 Rowland fy O. 455 Theyre loynynge was so harde
that tyde That theyre timbir in sondire gan ryde. ^1435
Torr. Portugal 2349, I pray, thnt tbou woldist my son lere,
Hys Tymber ffor to asay. ^1450 Merlin 117 [They] mette
to-geder on the sheldis,sothat the horse ne myght not passe
ferther till the tymbres were broken. 1725 RAMSAY Gentle
Shcph. in. ii, Come, turn the timmer to laird Patie i health.
1791 G. GAMBADO Ann. Horsem. vi. (1809) 90 The leaps
large and frequent, and a great deal of timber to get over.
1851-4 D. JERROLD Men of C/tar., Ckr. Snub i, The squire
..gives me over to the headle, who claps me here in the
timber. 1857 LAWRENCE Gvy Livingstone iii. 17 They..
would grind over.. the March Gibbon double timber as.,
undauntedly as over the accommodating Bullingdon hurdles.
1871 R. ELLIS Catullus iv. 3 Nor yet a timber o er the
waves alertly flew. 1876 in Bettesworth Walkers of South*
gate (1900) 332 Appleby.. dislodged Webbe s timbers by his
second ball in the first over.
TIMBER.
35
TIMBER.
b. spec, A wooden leg: cf. timber-toe in 10;
hence transf. a leg. slang.
1807 RUICKBIB Wayside Cottager 9 (E. D. D.). 1821
CLARE VUl. Mitts tr. I. 35 Boys, miss my pegs .. and
hit my legs, My timbers well can stand your gentle taps.
1862 WHVTE MELVILLE Ins. Bar (ed. 12) I. 230 [The hounds)
have a strong family likeness in the depth of their girth. .
and the quality of the timber on which they stand.
6. A single beam or piece of wood forming or
capable of forming part of any structure. Also
collectively in //. a. gen.
c 1555 HARPSFIELD Divorce Hen. VIII (Camden) 288 The
treasure that was made of the timbers, bells, and leads, and
the ornaments of the church. 1623 GOUGE Serin. Extent
God s Provid. 15 The massy timber la summer] shivered
in two, as suddenly as the other knapped asunder. 1793
SMEATON Edystone L. 85 To fasten the outside Timbers.
1850 W. S. COLEMAN Woodlands (1866) n The original
limbers after this immense lapse of time are still sound
internally. 1893 Labour Connn. Gloss.) Pair of Timber, two
timbers placed against the sides of the tunnels in a mine at
acute angles with the bottom. They support not only these
sides but also another timber, which upholds the roof.
b. pi. spec. Nattt. The pieces of wood com
posing the ribs, bends, or frames of a ship s hull :
see FRAME sb. n d, quot. 1769.
Often preceded by a qualifying word, as cant-, compass-,
cross-,Jilling-,Jloor~,futtock , head-, knee-, knuckle-, rising-,
side-, squaw-, stern-, top-timbers : see these words.
T."j4&Ansons Voy. n.iv.isS Her spirkitingand timbers were
very rotten. 1782 COWPER RoyalGeorge 29 Her timbers yet
are sound. 1809 A. HENRV Trav. 185 We dragged our
baiges over the neck of land, but not without straining their
timbers. 1857 COLQUHOUN Conip. Oarsman s Guide 29 All
the ribs underneath these [floor-boards] are called floor
limbers.the lest simply timbers. 1885 Sis J. C. MATHEW in
Law Tunes Rep. LII. 265/1 Her timbers, no doubt, held
together, but she was no longer a ship.
Jig. 1751 SMOLLETT Per. Pic. xx.xvii, My timbers are now
a little crazy, d ye see; and God knows if I shall keep afloat
till such time as I see thee again. 1850 B. TAYLOR Eldorado
xiii. (1862) 132, I, whose timbers were somewhat strained,
laboured after him.
c. Naut. slang, in exclamations, as my timbers !
shiver my timbers I (see SHIVER v.~).
1789 PIBDIN Song t Poor Jack ii, My timbers ! what lingo
he d coil and belay,
7. fig. Bodily structure, frame, build ; also, in
later use, the * stuff" of which a person is made;
personal quality or character.
1612 PAULB Life Alp. Whitgift 138. 93 For his small
limber, he was of a good quicke strength, straight and well
shaped. 1611 BEAUM. Ft. Knt. Burn. Pest. n. ii,The
twelve Companies of J^ondon cannot match him, timber for
timber. 1670 MILTON Hist. jEf.vi. \Vks. 1851 V. 261 Canute
..doubting to ad ven lure his body of small Timber, against a
man of Iron sides. 1822 LAMB EliaSvt. i.Sonie old Actors,
He was not altogether of that timber out of which cathedral
seats and sounding-boards are hewed. 1906 Mititsey s Mag.
Jan. 411 His wish to be courteous to men of Cardinal
Rampolla s timber.
8. attrib* or adj. Made or consisting of wood ;
wooden. (See also 9, 10.)
1529 RASTELL Pastyint (iSn) 29: The said duke, pro-
tectour..toke the lorde Hastynges.. and. .caused his hede
to be smytten of urx>n a tymber log within the Towre. 1535
COVER-DALE /Jtx. xxii. 8 Then wassene the segu of thetymbic
house. 1560 DAUS tr. Sleidane s Comm. 323 b, The
Spaniardes with theyr ordenaunce beate doune a timber
walle. 1565 Cooi-KR Thesaurus s. v. Cassandra, The trea
son of the tymber horse at the siege of Troye. 1663 GI-.KHH st
Counsel 21 The making of Timber partitions. 1700 R. SIN
CLAIR in Leisure //<?> (1883) 205/2 Timber cups and dishes.
J 799 I- ROBERTSON Agric. Perth 92 A timber mallet wrought
by the hand was all they had. .to break the clods. 1890
SERVICE Notanduws viii. 48 The leg will be stiff for mony
a day to come, and like a timmer ane for vera thrawnness.
b. 6V. dial. Unmusical; having no musical ear ;
dull, wooden ; unimpressionable.
1815 SCOTT Guy M. iii, He was a good deal diverted with
the harsh timber tones which issued from him. 187400-
TRAM Annuity ix. in Mod. Sc. Poets (1881) II. ?i8 The
timmer limmer daurs the knife To settle her annuity. 1875
JAS. GRANT One of the 600 vi. 46, 1 regretted my own timbre
tones. But I must confess to being enchanted while Louisa
sang. 1893 STEVENSON Catriona vii. 75 You have the finest
timber face, 1901 Blackw. Mag. July 58/1 If I were not,
so far as music goes, as timber as the table there.
9. Comb. a. attrib. (often two words, as in 8) t
of or for timber*, as timber-ash^ -bar, -beam,
-broker, -butt (BUTT sb.$} t -claim, colour > -crib
(CRIB sb. 14), -culture, ehri, -factor, forest, f -haw
(HAW j/ .l), -house, -land, -log, -market, -melt
(M KE.L j.l), -merchant, -mill, -monger, -nail, -oak,
-patch, -plank, -post, -raft, -shade, -ship, -sled,
-slide, -trade, -wain, -wright. b. obj. and obj.
gen., as timber-borer, -cutter, -devourer, -feller,
-Jtoater, -worker; timber-boring, -tarrying, -cut
ting, -devouring, -eating, -floating, -producing sbs.
and adjs. c. instrumental and parasynthetic, as
timber -built, -ceilinged, -covered, f -heeled, -laden,
-lined, -propt, -skeletoned, -strewn adjs. ; also tim
ber-like adj.
1707 "Timber Ash (see timber oak}. 1685 BOYLE Effects
of Mot, v. 44 In the striking of a timber-beam at one end,
the motion, .may become sensible at the other. i8i< KIKBY
n. * i^_.j ::: /_o_n. T, . J ,
T. S. Art s lmprffv t 23 An Observation of an Experienced
*Timber Brokei. 1825-9 MRS. SHERWOOD Lady of Manor
xii, An old "timber-built cottage. 1608 T. COCKS Diary
(1901) 32 Payde..for bringinge home my two "tymber butts.
1903 LD. R. GOWEK Rec. <v Remin. 226 A handsome *timber-
ceiling d hall. 1890 L. C. D OYLE Notclies 124 He took up
a homestead and a timber-claim with the. .intention of
raising cattle and a family. 1663 GERBIER Counsel (1664)
84 Frames .. gilded, the ground a "Timber colour. 1895
Outing (U.S.) XXVII. 44/2 Enclosed between three great
peaks one * timber-covered to its top. 1888 LICHTHALL
} . Seigneur u A *timber-crib which was going to run a
rapid. 1887 Daily News 3 Nov. 5/4 Buying under the
homestead and "timber-culture laws. 1775 ROMANS Florida
App. 30 Fires, .occasioned by the hunters and *timber-
cutters, who burn the woods to clear them of under-wood.
1826 KIRIIY & SP. Entomol. Ill, xxxiv. 430 In the stag-
beetle, and some other "timber-devourers. Ibid. xxx. 146
A small timber-devouring beetle. i8i5/&itviu. (1818)1.237
"Timber-eating beetles. 1731 Gentt, Mag. Nov. 502/2 James
Jelly. .*Timber-F3ctor and Wharfinger. ci6ii CHAPMAN
IUady.\, 79 When in hill-environ d vales the timber-feller
takes A sharp set stomach to his meat. 1854 HOOKER Himai
Jntls, I. xvii. 398 The shelter of ^timber-floaters. 1887
MOLONEY Forestry W. Afr. 205 The Gambia timber-float
ing industry. 1442, 1457 "Tembre haw, tyinbre hawes [see
HAWJ. ]. 1640-1 Kirkcttdbr. War-Comm. Min, .(1855)
149 Women s schoes, tymber heilled, of the best sort. 1535
*Tymbre house [see 8). 1723 MANDEVILLE Fab. Bees (1725)
I. 419 If.. Ships should always have fine Weather,. .Ships
would last as long as Timber-Houses. 1871 KINGSLEV At
Last xii, A roomy timber house, beautifully thatched with
palm. 1842 Penny Cycl. XXIV. 191/1 The light to timber
and timber-like trees belongs to the landlord. 1897 P.
WARUNG Tales Old Regime 95 The walls of the shaft were
. ."timber-lined. 1529 Tymber log [see 8]. 1583 GOLDING
Calvin on Dent, viii, 44 That there is no more zeal in vs
than in a timberlogge. 1681 DRYDEN Spanish Fryar\\\. \,
32 What ate become of those two Timber-loggs that he us d
to wear for Leggs ? 1477 in Charters, $c, Kdinb, (1871) 141
The wod and "tymmer merket. 1721 RAMSAY Horace to
rirgil 41 Hercules, wi s "timber-mell, Plays rap upo the
yates of hell. 1679-88 Seer, Serv. Money C/ias, If fy Jas. II
(Camden) 206 John Martyr, ^timber merchant. 1771 SMOL-
i ETT Humph, Cl. ii June, He lived some time as a clerk to
a timber-merchant. 1908 Chambcrs s Jrnl. Nov. 702/2
Tasmania prides itself on its. .giant "timber-mills. 1275
Memoranda, K. R. 2 & 3 Edw. 1, n b (P.R.O.), Recognicio
lohannis le *Tymbermongere. 1552 HULOET, "Tymbcr
nayle, ini&ago. 1707 MORTIMEK//W.S^. (1721) II. 106 In the
above Scheme, the first Column is the Names of the FieM^,
..the third the number of ^Timber Oaks, the fourth the
Timber Ash, the fifth the Timber Elms. 1886 EBBUTT
Emigr. Life Kansas 96 We could not.. get down to our
*timber patch. 1609 BIBLE (Douay) Gen. vi. 14 Make thee
an arkeof "timber planke. 1622 CALLIS Stat. Stivers (1647)
213 Piles and "Timberposts are set in the waters. 1887
MOLONEY Forestry \V. Afr. 3 The approximate extent of
"timber-producing forests. 1785 BURNS Halloween xxiii,
It chancd the stack he faddom t thrice. Was "timmer-piopt
for thrawin . 1853 SIR H. DOUGLAS Milit. Bridges 236 The
large "timber-rafts which descend the St. Lawrence. 1626
BACON Sylva 936 Plaine Champaignes. .Or else Timber-
Shades, as in frorrests. 1704 Land. Gaz, No. 4005/2 Her
Majesty s Ship the Shorebam, having under her Convoy
4 Timber Ships. 1852 MUNDY Our Antipodes (1857) 198
The snow afibrdsa road. .where the "timber-sled, with its
ponderous log, runs glibly down to the creek. 1884 S. E.
DAWSON Handbk. Canada 287 The "timber-slides, by which
the lumber from the upper river passes down .. into the
navigable water below. 1855 A. MOKKIS Canaiia. iv. 64
A new branch of the "timber trade has been established
during the present year. 1832 HT. MAKTINEAU Homes
Abroad iv, 59 The creaking "limber-wain. 1848 BUCKLEY
Iliad 239 Some pine which timber- workers have cut down.
1:1450 Cov. Myit. xv. 6, I.. am a pore*tymbre wryht \MS,
wrythj, born of the blood of Davyd.
10. Special combs. : timber-beetle, any beetle
which, in the larval or the perfect state, is destruc
tive to timber ; timber-brick, a brick-shaped
block of wood, inserted in brickwork ; timber-
capricorn, a kind of timber-beetle (^CAPRICORN 3) ;
timber-cart, spec, a high-wheeled cart for carry
ing heavy timber, which is slung under the axles ;
timber-chain, an iron chain used in hauling
timber ; timber-dog, a short wrought iron rod
with both ends turned down and sharpened, for
driving into and holding together timbers in tun
neling or the timbering of trenches ; timber-
doodle, U.S. local, the American woodcock, Philo-
hela minor (Cent. Diet. 1891) ; slang, spirituous
liquor; timber-fall, a mass of fallen trees; timber-
frame, f (a) timber for use in frames (FRAME sb.
10) ; () see quot. 1877; timber-framed a., having
a frame of timber, framed in wood ; timber-grouse,
U.S., any species of grouse frequenting woodlands ;
timber-head, Naut., the head or end of any
timber ; spec, such an end rising above the deck
and serving as a bollard : see KEVEL j. 2 , quot.
c 1860; timber-headed a., wooden-headed, dense
or obtuse in intellect ; timber-hitch sl>. t a knot
used in attaching a rope to a log or spar for hoist
ing or towing it: see quot. 1815 ; hence timber-
hitch ., trans, to make fast with a timber-hitch ;
timber-jumper (Hunting s!ang) t a horse good at
jumping over gates and fences ; timber-leader,
C0a/.A/wn (seequot.); timber-limit: seequot. ;
timber-line (chiefly U. S.\ the altitude above
sea-level at which timber-trees cease to grow;
timber-lode, in Feudal Law, a service by which a
tenant was bound to carry wood felled in the forests
to the lord s house (cf. BOED-LODE) ; timber-mare,
a kind of wooden horse on which offending soldiers
and others were made to ride as a punishment ;
timber-pond, a recess in a dock or harbour where
timber may be floated ; timber-road, a road laid
with timber for wheels to run upon, an early form
of railroad; timber-rot, (a) rotting of wood
caused by various hymenomycetous fungi ; () A r ew
ng., a hot-house disease of cucumbers \FunKs
\ Stand. Did.} ; timber-scribe [ScitlBE sb. *] : see
i quots. ; timber-sow, a wood-lonse or sow-bug,
! Oni$cus\ f timber-stairs (slang), the pillory ;
j t timber-taster, a dockyard official formerly em
ployed in testing the measurement, soundness, and
i quality of timber ; timber-toe (slang), a wooden
leg ; hence timber-toe, -toes, a wooden-legged
1 man ; so timber-toed a. ; timber-topper =
! timber-jumper ; so timber-topping ; timber-
i tower, a wooden tower on wheels formerly used
in sieges ; timber-tug : see quot. ; f timber-
turner, humorously used for a player at bowls ;
timber-wolf, Western U. S., the grey wolf, Canis
lupus ocddentalis^ as distinct from the prairie-
wolf; timber-worm, a worm or larva injurious
to timber. See also TIMBEKMAN, -TREE, etc.
1841-52 T. W. HARRIS Insects injur. P eget. (1862) 58 The
I first was obtained by beating the limbs of some forest-tret-.
, It may be called Lyniexylon sericeutn, the silky timber-
beetle. i8oaBiNGL&Y^iw.V^ .(i3i3)III.i38The Timber
i Capricorn. Both in its perfect and in its larva state.. feeds
: principally on fir timber, which has been felled. 1884 KNIGHT
Diet. Mccli., Suppl., *Timber Cart. ..The timber, after the
cart is driven over it, is raised to the axle by crank-gearing
and tackle. 1707 MORTIMER //:. (1721) I. 308 The quickest
way of pulling them [shrubs and bushes] up, is to inclose in
1 a "Timber-Chain as many of them as you can, and to clap
to them a Team of Horses. 1873 ^ <^ *7 May 201/2 Any
desciiption of beverage possessing the properties of Ameri
can * timberdoodle . 1897 MARV KINGSLEY VV. Africa 289
We climbed up one hill, ..went through our athletic sports
j over sundry *tinibtr falls, and struck down into the ravine.
1703 ! . N. City -t C, PurcJiaser 237, 7*. which indeed is the
commun price for sawing a good large siz d "Timber-frame
I ..per Load. 1877 KNIGHT Diet. Aleck., Timber-frame, a
-. gang-saw ; the name by which it is known in England.
1843 Ciz il Eng. ij- Arch. Jrnl, VI. 179/2 Along a whole
I range of lofty "timber-framed roofs. 1004 Essex Rev. XIII.
215 The house is timber-framed in oak, standing on plinth
j of brick and septaria. 1891 Cent. Diet., *Timber-giouse.
1894 Outing (U. S.) XXIV. 305/1 We. .had great fun with
the timber-grouse and the sage-hens. 1794 Rigging fy Sea-
| inanship II. 287 The head-rail and "timber-head, on the fore
i sideof thecathead. 1840 R. H. DANA Kef. Mast x, We went
I aft and manned the slip-rope which came through the stern
i port with a turn round the timber-heads. 1666 W. BOCHUKST
j Loitnographia 74 Such timber-headed fellows that they
, could make noe accurate observations. 1815 BURNEY
I Falconer s Diet. Marines. \. Hitch, Timber Hitch . .is made
by taking the end of a rope round the spar, or timber head,
leading it under and over the standing part, and passing
several turns round its own part, c 1860 H. STUART Seaman s
Catech. 2 What is a timber hitch used for ? For bending to a
spar, to haul it along, sending it aloft, &c. 1893 F. M. CRAW-
FOKD Childr. King\\, xii. 214 He slipped the line under the
! bags of ballast, and made a timber-hitch with the end, hauling
it well taut. 1882 Vf/atxsStamaHS/u/ (ed. 6) 87 The standing
pait is *timber-hitched round the yard. 1847 THACKERAY
Contri&.toPuncft\V\i5. 1902 VI. 498, 1 never put my leg over
such a timber-jumper in my life. 1891 Labour Commission
Gloss., * Timber-leader,.. a, person whose duty is to ensure
the sufficiency of props, planks, brattice, and crown trees,
supplied to each hewer in noithern coal mines. 1876
Encycl. Brit. IV, 774/1 The Governments of the different
provinces (Canada] grant licences, .to cut timber over vast
tracts of land, under the name of timber limits . 1874
COUES Birds N.-W. 272 The flowers growing far above
*timber-line of Mount Lincoln, c 1400 WILL. THORNE Chron.
an. 1364, Pro schippeshere, *timberlode & bordlode, vel
cariare extra waldam per mare, a 1670 SIALDING Hist.
Troub. Scotl. (1850) I. 290 He causit big wp .. ane
* tymber meir, quhairvpone runnaget knaves and runaway
soldiouris sould ryde. I75S JOHNSON, Horse, ..ii. wooden
machine which soldiers ride by way of punishment. It is
sometimes called a timber-mare. 1840 E.z>id. Hull Docks
Comm.g The "limber-pond to which I allude is at this spot.
1803 Naval Chron. IX. 270 Four low wheels, . .to run. .upon
a rail-way or "timber.road. 1858 SIMMONDS Diet. Trade,
*Timber-scribe, a metal tool or pointed instrument for
marking logs and casks. 1877 KNIGHT Dict.Mtch., Timber-
scribe, a scoring-tool for limber; a race-knife. 1626 BACON
Sylvct 693 Creatures bred of Putrefaction;. .as Earth*
Wormes, *Timber-Sowes, Snails, f 1750 in Herd Songs
(1776)11. 181 Up stairs, down stairs, "Timber stairs fears me.
1803 T. NETHERTON in Na-valChrott. XV. 220 The *timber
tasters.. have been paid at the same rate.. as the labourers.
1806 yd Report Revising Commission, The several
Measurers, Timber Tasters, Converters, and Plug Keepers
[etc.], are to be called Single-stalioned-men. 1785 GROSK
Diet. yulg. T., * Timber toe, a man with a wooden leg.
a 1845 Hoou Forget >tie*nots iv, Why did he plant his
timber toe on my toe. a 1814 Sailor s Ret. n. iii. in New
Brit. Theatre II. 343 The old "timber-toed pensioners.
1883 Standard 12 Feb. 2/6 The champion "timber-topper of
the day. 1904 Daily Chron. 26 Feb. 9/3 An animal who u
to be condemned to the drudgery of timber-topping. 1614
SYLVESTER Betkulia s Rescue HI. 111 Here, tn* Knginei
begins his Ram to rear ; . . Brings here his Fly -Bridge, there
bis bat t ring Crow : Besides high * Timber-Towers, on rowl.
ing Feet Mov d and remov d. a 1800 PECGK Suppi. Grose,
*T imber~t*g (Kent), the carriage of a waggon for convey,
ing timber, with a long perch, which may be adapted to any
length, or shortened. 1599 PORTER Angry Worn. Abingd.
(Percy Soc.) 20 Com Swonds, where be these timber turners.
these trowle-the-bowles, these greenemen, these f 1891
Century D;ct., Timber-wolf. 1904 Westni. Gaz. 28 Apr. 12/1
5-2
TIMBER.
Last year the female timber-wolf in the Zoological Gardens
produced eight cubs. 1530 PALSCR. 281/1 Tymbre worme.
1599 T. M[OUFET] Silkwormes 23 Before thou wast, were
Timber-worms in price ? 1658 ROWLAND tr. MoufeCs Thcat.
Ins. 108 j The Philosopher saith that Kis is a little Creature
bred in wood, like Worms bred in Corn; the English call
them Timber-worms, because they are seldome^in any wood
but that which is cut, and prepared for building. 1668
CHARLETON Onomast. 55 Cossi\ Timber- worms.
Timber (trmbsi),^.* Forms: a. 4-6 tymbre,
5, 9 timbre, 6-7 tymber, 6- timber. 0. Sc. 5
tymmyr, tymire, 5-6 tymir, 6 tymyr. [In OF.
timbre ( 1 350 in Godef.) , med.L. timbrium, timbria
(1207 Rouen, in Du Cange, also 1314 Upsala) ;
MLG. timber (i3th c.), timmer, LG. timmer\
MHG. timber (i jth c.), Ger. zimmer ; Norse timhr
(app. isthc. in Vigf.), Sw. timmer y Da. simmer
(from Ger.). Supposed to be ultimately a special
use of TIMBER sb. 1 , which prob. arose in the fur
trade in Low German, whence it spread into other
langs. The immediate source of ME. timbre
appears to have been French. For the reason of the
name cf. quot. 1597, and see TAVELTX. But some
suppose a sense heap, pile : see Schade, and Falk
& Torp ; others suspect that it was an eastern word.]
A definite quantity of furs, a package containing
40 skins (i. e. half-skins, 20 pair) of ermine, sable,
marten, and the like. (After a numeral usually
timber, less commonly timbers!)
a 1150 Assisa Regis David. R. Scott, in Acta Parl. Scot,
\. 667 De custuma tymbriarum. De tymbria uulpium ciro-
grillorum Martinorum MurelegorumSabinorum Beueriorum
uel similium. De vnaquaque timbria ad exitum. iiij.d.
[i5/A c. transl^ Of a tymmyr of skynnis of toddis quhy-
tredijs mertrikiscaltis beueris sable ferrettis or swylk vthyr ;
of ilk tymmyr at the ouipassing ijij d.]. c 1290 KLETAII. xii.
8 Lunda autem pellium continet tiiginta duo timbria.
1390-1 Earl Derby s Exf. (Camden) 92 Pro j furrura de
gr>>. -de vj tymbre, et de ij tymbre de meniuer, xij nobles.
Ibid. 93 Pio ij furruris de grys,. .quolibet de xij tymbre.
1473-4 Ace. Ld.Uigh Treas. Scot. I. 31, ilij tymire of grece
to purfcll that govne, .. the tymire contenand iij destine
iiij besiis. 1480 Wardr. Ace. Edw. IV (1830) 133, xxxij
tyrnbres off eimyns. 1503 Ace. Ld. High Trt as. Scot. II.
201 For xij tymir of gray giece to lynethe samyn, ilk tymir
contenand xl bestis. 1566 A. EDWARDS in Hakluyt Voy.
(1886) III. 392, 1 have further received two timbers of
Sables. >577 HARRISON England n. v. (1877) it. 122 Ihe
prince hath fiue yardes of cloth for his gowne and whpod..
beside fiue timber of the finest mineuer. [margin] A timber
conteinethfortie skins. 1597 SKENE/? Verb.Sign.^ Timbria
Pellium. . . ane Tirnmer of skinnes : That is, swa monie as is
inclused within ta bioddes of Timmer, quhilk commounlie
conteinis fourlie skinnes : In the quhilk manner, merchandes
vsis to bring hame Mai trick, Sable, and vther coastlie
skinnes and Furringes. 1707 E. CHAMBERLAYNE Pres. Si.
Eng. in. ii. 256 Of Furrs, Fitches, Grays, Jennets, Martins,
Mincks, Sables, 40 Skins is a Timber ; other Skins five Score
to the Hundred. 1714 Fr. Bk. Rates 41 Ermine per
Timber of 20 Couple. 1858 SIMMONDS Diet. Trade s.v., In
some skins, however, the timbre counts to 120. 1901 WeUm.
Gaz. 27 Nov. 8/2 Ten years ago.. ermine, .cost 285. to 305.
per timber of forty skins. The price for a timber to-day.,
is 1765.
Timber (ti mbai), v. Forms : see TIMBER sb.^
[OE. timbran and timbrian = OS. timbrian (MDu.,
Du. timmeren\ OHG. zimberen, zimbaron (MHG.
zimber(e)n, Ger. zimfnern), ON. Umbra (Sw.
timbrel^ Da. tommre}^ Goth, and OTeut. timr-jan 9
f. *tim-r- TIMBER sb. 1 ]
1. trans. To build, construct, make (as a house,
ship, etc.); spec, (in later use) to build or con
struct of wood. Obs. or arch.
a 730 Csedmon s Gen. 1692 Weall stasnenne up forS
timbran. tiyootr. Bxdas Eccl. Hist. in. xvii.[xxiii.] (1890)
232 Neowan stowe mynster to timbrenne od(>e cirican.
cioooAgs. Gosp. Matt. xvi. 18 Ofer bisne stan ic timbrije
mine cyricean. c 1200 ORMIN 13368 Totimmbrenn himman
. hali? bus. c 1350 Will. Palerne 2015 Sche chold sone be bi-
schet .. In a fuTtristy tour timbred for be nones, a 1400-50
Alexander 2110 (MS. Dubl.) par fand hetembreton be topp
& tyldit vp a cyte. 1565-73 COOPER Thesaurus s. v. Conta-
bulo, Contabulare murum tnrrtbus..to make towers, to
tymber plankes euen with the walles. 1857 SIR F. PALGRAVE
Norm. <y Eng. II. 128 Here had Guillaume timbered and
thatched a rustic habitation.
b. absol, ; spec, of a bird, to build (scil. its nest).
^897 K. ALFRED Gregory s Past. C. Iviii. 445 On osem
botle, 3aer 5a;r we timbran willen. a noo Gere/a in Angtia
(1886) IX. 261 Me maeig on sumera..tymbrian, wudian,
weodian, faldian. a 1300 Cursor M. 8763 (Cott.) Quils he
was timberand to bis thing. 1377 LANGU P. PI. B. xi. 35^
Moche merueilled me. .who tauite hem [birds] on trees to
tymbre so heighe. 169* K. L ESTRANGE Fables Ixxii. 71
There was a Bargain struck up betwixt an Eagle and a Fox.
The One Took-up in a Thicket of Brushwood, and the Other
Timber d upon a Tree hard by. 1706 PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey),
To Timber\\r\ Falconry}^ to nestle, to make a Nest ; as Birds
of Prey do.
f O. with advb. extension : To build up. Obs.
555 W. WATREMAN Fardle Facions \\. vii. 156 They
timbre vpdrie stickes together,
f2. Jig. To construct, frame, effect, do, form,
cause, bring about, bring into existence or operation
(any action, condition, etc.). Obs.
4:897 K. ALFRED Gregory s Past. C. xxxiii. 215 Da godan
weorc5ehe..2er..timbrede. a \oooAgs. Ps. (Th.) cxxviii[i],
2 [3] Ofer minum ba^ce bitere ongunnon ba firenfullanfacen
timbrian. c 1205 LAY. 6620 Hit wesvmbe fif winter.. seo33en
he Jias seorsc him seolfen hxfde itimbred. a 1125 Ancr. R.
36
124 t>eos hond-.hauecS itimbred me |>e bliscen of heouene.
? a 1400 Morte Arth. 3742 That traytoure . . That this
tresone has tymbyrde to my trewe lorde. c 1450 BoneFlor.
560 That hath tymberde all my teene. 1646 MR I . BROWNE
Pseud. Ep, i. v. 14 Heads that were never timber d for it.
j3. To make up or add fuel to (a fire). Obs.
1486 Bk. St. Albans Fvijb, A fly re Tymbered. 1513
Bk. Kerving in Babees Bk. (1868) 265 Tymbre that fyre.
1530 PALSGR. 758/2, 1 tymber a (yre t je acconslrc, orje tnets
a poynt. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury m. 85/1 Timber the
Fire, is to mend the Fire, make it burn better, by putting
more Fuel or Wood or Coles to it.
4. To furnish with timber. (See also TIMBERED
ppl. a.) f a. To supply or arm with spears : cf.
TIMBER s&. 1 5. Obs.
a 1578 LINDESAV (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) II. 98
The earle of Angus was weill temmert withi so money sharp
speiris and lang.
b. To put in or apply timber to support the
roof of a mine or working, the sides of a shaft or
a trench, the roof and sides of a tunnel, etc.
1702 SAVERY Miners Friend 6 The more Shafts or Pits are
sunk, the more \Vood-woik will be necessarily imployed in
Timbering them. 1725 T. THOMAS in Portland Papers
(Hist. MSS. Comm.) VI. 106 The lining of it (the pit shaft)
with wood in order to hinder it from falling in, is timbering
of it. 1844 SIMMS Pract. Tunnelling xii. 121 The leaving
the lower part of the excavation without being timbered
was not general throughout the tunnel. 1872 R. B. SMYTH
Mining Statist* 62 The new shaft, .has been sunk, timbered,
and centred to a depth of 260 feet. 1904 Times 28 Jan.
10/4 Trie- gang had to timber up the roof.
c. To cover or frame with timber or wood.
1850 HAWTHORNE Scarlet L. i. (1883) 67 A wooden edifice,
the door of which was heavily timbered with oak. 1904
Westm. Gaz. 26 Aug. 3/1 If you have the floor of the butt
timbered or stoned.
5. intr. Of a tree : To form timber. ? Obs.
1610 [implied in TIMBERING vbl. sb. and///, a.].
f 6. trans. Timber out, to divide (timber) into
beams, planks, etc., suited for building. AlsoySg".
1628 MS. Ace. St. John*s Hasp., Canler2>. t To appoynte
the tymber to be brought home and to be timbered out for
diuerse vses. 1637 Ibid., Payed for timberinge out of our
woods j s. 1662 HIBBERT Body Div. i. 69 Many men engage
in undertakings, for which their heads were never squared
or timbred out.
Timber, obs. form of TIMBRE.
Timbered (ti-mbsid),///. a. [f. TIMBER sb^
and v. + -ED.]
1. Constructed of timber ; built or made of wood,
wooden.
c 1412 HOCCLEVE De Reg. Princ. 5338 Castels doun bette,
and tymbied houses brent. 1552 HULOET, Tymbred, ma-
tcriatus, ..materior,. .to worke in tymber. 1632 LITHGOW
Trav. VIM. 351 A great thicket of wood, where their timberd
Cabine stood. 1699 DAMFIER Voy. II. I. ix. 172 About a
hundred yards from the Fort .. there is a low timbered
House, 1848 LYTTON Harold \. iv, They entered London,
a rude, dark city, built mainly of timbered houses. 1905
A. C.BENSON Upton Lett. (1906) 139 A little ancient church,
with a timbered spire.
2. a. Of a thing (concrete or abstract) : Having
a structure (of a specified kind); constructed,
framed, built, made. (In parasynthetic comb., or
qualified by an adv.)
1570 FOXE A. $ M. (ed. 2) 1333/1 Loe here the mighty
reasons, the stronge ty inhered argumentes. 1602 SHAKS.
Ham. iv. vii. 22 My Arrowes Too slightly timbred for so
loud a Winde, Would haue reuerted to my Bow againe.
1697 COLLIER Ess. Mor. Subj. it. (1709) 80 Let them be as
Sleek and well Timber d as those Atoms Epicurus made his
Soul of. 1771 SMOLLETT Humph. Cl. 28 Sept., Lord Ox-
mington was well known to have his brain very ill timbered.
b. Of a person or animal : Having (such and
such) a bodily structure or constitution ; framed,
built. (Usually in parasynthetic comb.)
1581 MULCASTER Positions xxxvii. (1887) 144 Your childe
is weake tymbred, let scholing alone. 1622 FLETCHER &
MASSINGER Spanish Curate 11. i, A finestraite timber d man
and a brave soldier. 1769 Stratford Jubilee n. i, I m as
well timbered about the legs and face, as one can meet.
1861 Times 27 Sept., Cart-horses, young, and well-timbered,
and quick walkers.
3. Furnished with growing trees ; wooded.
1701 Lend. Gaz. No. 3724/4 Piggott s Farm. ., being well
Timbred. 1754 FIELDING Fathers \\. i, That estate. .of
yours in Hampshire is a very ill-timbered estate. 1854
BARTLETT Mex. Boundary I. ix. 234 So lich a timbered
country. 1887 MOLONEY Forestry W. Afr. 6 About one
half of the timbered land in the island belongs to the
Government.
Trmberer. [f. TIMBER sb.i -t- -ER!.]
1. = TIMBERMAN 3. 1891 in Cent, Diet.
2. A ship engaged in the timber trade.
TIMBEK-WOBK.
2. concr. Building material (esp. of wood) ;
timber-work; spec, in Mining, the timber used to
support the sides of a shaft or the roof of a working.
1486 Bk. St. Albans, Hawking a ij, We shall say that
hawkys doon draw when they here ty inhering to their
nestes. 1791 NEWTE Tour Eng. $ Scot. 241 Oak.. fit for
agricultural utensils, and timbering for the roofs of houses.
1844 SIMMS Pract. Tunnelling xii. 121 The whole of the
limbering of the top of the new length is. .complete down
to the first sill. 1867 MUSGRAVE Nooks O. France II. t 6
A lofty domicile . . exhibiting laths, timbering and slatework.
Ti inhering, ///. a. [f. as prec. + -ING 2 .]
That timbers; constructing, building; of a tree,
producing timber.
1610 FOLKINGHAM Art of Survey i. iii. 6 The high
timbring Oake dilating mjghtie armes in large extent.
1648 EARL OF WESTMORELAND Otia Sacra (1879) 155 Thou
maist as well make wonder less, By fancying of two Timber
ing Phoenixes At the same time.
Timberless (trmbailes), a. [f. TIMBER sb.\
+ -LESS.] Without timber; devoid of forest-trees.
1859 R. F. BURTON in Jrnl. Geog.Soc. XXIX. 140 Tracts of
dense bush and timberless woods. \&JQ Daily News 15 Feb.,
Those piairie States.. are mostly timberless States.
Timbering (ti-mbarirj), vbl. sb. [f. TIMBER v.
+ -ING !.]
1. The action of the verb TIMBER, in various
senses.
c 1175 Lamb. Horn. 93 J>i bileafden heo heore timbrunge.
a \**$Attcr. R. 124 Al is to his biheue, & timbrungetouward
his blfsse. 1591 PERCIVAL Sp. Diet., Maderamiento, timber
ing, contignatio. 1610 FOLKINCHAM Art of Survey i. in. 6
The boaling, spreading, arming, timbring and tapering of
Trees. 1844 SIMMS (title) Practical Tunnelling.. the setting
out of the works; Shaft sinking,.- Timbering [etc.]. 1803
Labour Commission Gloss* Timbering, propping up the
roof or sides of a mine by means of planks and cogs, &c.
Timberliiig (ti-mbs-ilirj). [f. TIMBER
-LING.] A young timber-tree; a sapling.
1787 W. MARSHALL Norfolk I. 99 The timbers, pollards,
and timberings should first be inspected. 1796 W.
England I. 83 The ancient law.. requires that a certain
number of Timberlings should be left standing. Ibid* II.
156 Train up the young stands, or timberlings, so as to give
them length of stem.
Timberman (ti mbsimEen). [f. TIMBER sb. ]
+ MAN jJ]
f 1. A man who supplies or deals in timber. Obs.
1429 Rec. St, Mary at Hill 70 Payd to more tymberman
for tymbre for gretynges hous. 1625 BACON Ess., Richt-s
(Arb.) 235 A Great Sheepe-Master, A Great Timber Man.
1656 [?J. SERGEANT] tr. T. White s Peripat. Inst. 420 Trees
are thrown by Timber-men into the Water.
b. A man employed in handling timber.
1890 GORDON Foundry v\.(keading\&m<sn%, the timbermen.
Ibid. 114 We turn into Canada Dock, and are at once among
the timbermen. 1891 Labour Commission Gloss., Timber.
men, men who discharge timber cargoes from ships, and
stock timber on shore and upon raft on water.
1 2. One who makes things of timber ; a carpenter.
[So Du. timmerman^ G. zintmermann. ] Sc. Obs.
1466 Sc. Acts Jas. Ill (1814) II. 87 pe master of be schip
I sal fynd sufficiand stermane, tymmerman, & schipmen con-
I uenient for be schip. 1496 Ace. Ld. High Treas. Scot, I.
I 282 To Hermyn, tymmyr man, Duchman, for v c and xij
tachteris. 1302 Ibid. II. 281 To fee tymirmen to pas to the
i wod with the said wricht. 1534 Ibid. VI. 234 To Thomas
Corry, thre tymmermen, ..to pas to calfet the Kingis schip.
1643 in Cramond Ann. Banff (1891) I, 90 Any wright or
, other timberman burger or inhabitant.
3. A man employed in timbering the shafts or
i roofs of a mine, the sides of a trench, or any other
excavation.
1849-50 W KALE /?:/. TerwS) Timber-man, in mining, the
man employed in placing supports of timber in the mine.
1877 FOSTER & GALLOWAY tr. Cation s Lect. Mining I. 231
The timberman who sets up the props has usually no special
tool except his axe. 1881 Echo 14 Jan. 1/6 A timberman
..had seen.. one of the men give a light to the manager,
both having their lamps open.
4. A species of timber-beetle.
1894 B ham Weekly Post 14 Apr. 4/7 That curious and
interesting beetle the Timberman (Astinotutfs afdilis).
Timbersome, variant of TIMORSOME.
Timber-tree. A tree yielding timber or
wood fit for building or construction.
c 1505 Plumpton Corr. (Camden) 198 Tha will bey none
without they have tymmertres. 1558-9 Act lEiiz.c.. isAny
Tymber Tree or Tymber Trees of Oke, IJeeche, or A*he. 1601
R.
but greater by sales of timber trees ; for.. the greatest pan
ot their buildings consist of timber, 1726 SWIFT Gulliver
i. viii, Cutting down some of the largest timber trees for oars
and masts. 1766 Act 6 Geo. Ill, c. 48 All Oak, Beech, Chest
nut, Walnut, Ash, Elm, Cedar, Fir, Asp, Lime, Sycamore,
and Birch Trees, shall be deemed and taken to be Timber
Trees within thetrue Meaning, .of this Act. iMjf CfeuNfcrr 1
Encycl. s. v. Poplar^ The cottonwood of North America is
valued as a timber-tree.
Timber-wood. Now rare. Wood suitable
for structural purposes ; = TIMBER j^. 1 3.
c 1483 CAXTON Dialogues 40 Alle the tymbre woode, tons
les boys charpentijs. 1579 E. K. Gloss in Spenser s Sheph*
Cal. Feb. 146 Trees of state, taller trees fitte for timber
wood. 1602 FULBECKK ynd PL Parall. 52 He shal not
meddle with great timber-woode without the assent of his
lessor... But the cutting of dead wood is not waste. 1653
H. MORE Antid. Ath. n. iii. (1712) 47 (heading) The
designed Usefulness of Quarries of Stone, Timber- Wood,
Metals, and Minerals. 1899 Westm.Gaz, 15 Feb. 7/3 There
have, .been many substitutes proposed, .for breakwaters...
Well-knit timber-wood, filled in with stones, does very well.
Timber-work.
1. Work executed in timber ; the wooden part of
any structure.
1390 GowEnCV/C 11.200 A wildefyr.. They caste among
the timberwerk. c 1470 HI:NRY Wallace \i\\.6\-] The tem u
werk thai brynt wp all in playn. 1574-5 ^<f Privy Coun
cil Scot. 11.432 Amendiment of the ruif andtymmer werk of
thair..parroche kirk. 1703 T. N. City fy C. Purchaser 215
Window-frames . . Friezes, and Cornishes, and all other
Timber-works that are expos d to the Weather. 1864 A.
M C KAY Hist. Kilmarnock (1880) 255 The inner toof {"is
composed] of open, oak-varnished timber-work.
TIMBEBY.
fig, 1594 T. B La Pritnaud. Fr. Acad. \\. Seneca, The
bones as it were the frame and timberwprke of mans body.
2. //. An establishment where timber is prepared
or worked up.
1875 W. M C !LWRAITH Guide Wigtownshire 94 Here are
extensive timber-works.
Timbery (ti-mbari), a. rare. [f. TIMBER sb
+ -Y.] Abounding in or characterized by timber.
1859 SALA Tiu. round Clock (1861) 354 The bleak, timbery
city of Copenhagen.
Timber-yard. An open yard or place where
timber is stacked or stored.
In cricket slang applied to the place in which the wickets
are pitched. Hence a rcnv in his t. t in reference to the
wickets being struck with force by the ball.
1482-3 Ace. Exck. K. R. Bundle 496 No. 25 (P.R.O.) Pro
canagio. .dediversislocis.. usque dictum castr urn, le tymber-
yard. 1545 Act 37 Hen. l IIf t c. 12 10 Any Mansion-house
with a Shop. .Timber-yard, Teinter-yaid, or Garden belong
ing to the same. 1768 EARL CARLISLE in Jesse Sehvyn <v
Contemp. (1843) II. 272 Why did you not set his timber-yard
a-fire? 1853 ( C. BEDB Verdant Green \. xi, The wicket-
keeper., informed him there was a row in his timber-yard .
1869 Kentledge s Ev. Boy s Ann. 638 After a desperate
lunge he was startled with a row in his timber yard .
fTrmbester. Obs. [app. for timbenter or
timbrester, f. TIMBRE v.^ + -STER : cf. TIMBRER.]
A female performer on the timbrel.
la 1366 CHAUCER Rom. Rose 769 Ther was many a timbe-
stere [F. tyaiberresse$\... r \i\\t timbres up ful sotilly They
caste, and henten [hem] ful ofte Upon a finger faire and softe.
1721 BAILEY, Timbestores [later edd. *ters\ Players on
Timbrels. 1843 LVTTON Last Bar. \. ii, A young maiden
was struggling, .to extricate herself from a troop of timbrel
girls, or tymbesteres.
t Timbre (ti-mbai), sbl Obs. Also 4-5
tymbre, tymber (5 -yr(e, -ere), 5-6 Sc. tymmer
(8 timber), [a. OF. timbre (i2th c. in Hatz.-
Darm.) \*timhne : late pop.L. *timbano t for L.
tympanum^ a. Gr. rif^iravov timbrel, kettledrum.
In OF. timbre was used in I3th c., and in ME. by
\Vyclif, to render L. tympanum in Ps. 150. This
and the next two words all represent senses of the
same French word, but having been taken into En^.
at different dates, and without the intervening links
by which the senses were connected in French, are
here treated as distinct words.] = TIMBRKL sb^
Jet 1300 French Ps. in Lib, Psalm. Versio Gallica. (F.
ichel, Oxford 1860) App., Ps. cl. 4 Loes-1 en timbre en
Concorde (yulg. Laudate eum in tympano et choro).]
13. . K. Alt s. 191 Orgies, tymbres \LaudMS. chymbes], al
maner gleo, Was dryuen ageyn that lady freo. 13. . E. E.
Altit. P. B. i4i4Tymbres & labornes, tulket among. ? 1366
[see TIMBESTER). 1381 WYCLIF fsa. v, 12 Harpe, and syn-
gende instrument, and tymbre, and trumpe [1388 Harpe and
giterne, and tympan, and pipe]. 1390 GOWER Conf* III.
63 Ther was ful many a tymber bete And many a maide
carolende. c 1440 Pranp. Parv. 494/1 Tymbyr, lytyl
tabowre, timfiamllum. 1525 LD. BERNERS tr. Froiss. II.
clxxi. [clxviu] 499 They sowned tymbres and labours,
accordynge to their vsage. c 1560 A. SCOTT Poems. Of May
12 In May gois gallandis bring in symmer, And trymly
occupyis thair tymmer With Hunts vp , every morning
plaid.
b. attrib. in timbre weights^ app. = timbrels or
tambourines as formerly used in May-day merry
makings.
A weight (Sc. iveckl) ts a vessel like a sieve without holes,
formed oy stretching a skin across a hoop of a few inches
depth. In shape it resembles a tambourine, which may there
fore be called, as Jamieson points out, a timbre or timbrel
weight. Wychtis appears to be erroneous for wecktis or
weights, and waits to embody a false etymology.
1560 A. SCOTT Poems, Of May 9 And now in May to
madynnis fawis [i. e. falls] With tymmer wechtis to trip
in ringis. 1593 in \^th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. in. 41
Dischairgeing [i.e. forbidding] also pasche play is, tymmer
wychtis, banefyris and ringing of baisingis [basins]. (1756
Gentl. Mag. Feb. 73/2 After having completed this circuit,
they again enter the town [AInwick] sword in hand, and are
generally met by women dressed up with ribbons, bells, and
garlands of gum-flowers, who welcome them with dancing
and singing, and are called timber-waits. [ Note} Perhaps a
corruption of timbrel-wait s^ players on timbrels, waits
being an old word for those who play on musical Instru
ments in the streets.J
Timbre, tymber (ti-mbai), sb? Obs. exc.
Hist. Also 4-6 tymbre, (4 Sc. tymmer), 5-7
timber, [a. F. timbre (i4th c.), the same word as
in prec., which in OF. was transferred to a kind
of bell, esp. a hemispherical clock- or table-bell,
and thence to a skull-cap of metal, a helmet, and
in Heraldry to the crest over the shield in a coat
of arms. (Thence also to a crest impressed or
stamped upon a legal or official document, a stamp,
whence to a postage-stamp : see TIMBRO-.)]
The crest of a helmet ; hence, the crest or exterior
additions placed over the shield in heraldic arms:
see quot. 1894.
1375 BARBOUR Bruce xix. 306 Twa novelreis that day
[1327-8] thai saw, That forrouth in Scotland had beyn nane.
rymbrys [v. rr. Tymbres, Tymmeris] for helmys wes the
tane, That thame thoucht than of gret bewte, And alsua
wounder for to se. 1478 in W. G. D. Fletcher Shro^slt.
Grants of Arms (1909) 12 A shild of azure and pourpll
parted in pale, a cross engrayled gold or bythwen foure
rosses silver, and to his tymbre a gauntetet sillver sette in a
wrethe gold and azure. 1513 DOUGLAS s&neis x. v. 136 (ed.
1555) The creist or schynand tymber, that was set Aboue
Kneaft helme and top on hicht. 1571 BOSSEWELL Artuorie
37
ii. 88 b, The Tymbre, apalme of an hande dexter, d Ermyne,
setteon a Wreath Or, and Sable, mantcled Azuie. 1586 [see
ACHIEVEMENT 3]. 1894 Parker s Gloss. Hcr. % Timbre^
this French term .. comprises the exterior ornaments of the
escutcheon, that is (i) the helmet, (2) the mantelling, (3) the
crest. By some, however, it is held to include (4) the
escroll, (5) the wreath, (6) the motto, (7) the supporters, as
well as (8) the cap of dignity and crown.
I Timbre ^tfnbr ), $b$ [a. mod.F. timbre .
see TIMBRE sb. 1 and -. From the sense bell*,
small bell (see TIMBRE j#.-) arose that of sound
of a bell*, * sonorous quality of any instrument or
of a voice , and finally that of * character or quality
of sound (= Ger. klangfarbe]^ in which the word
has passed into English use, retaining its French
pronunciation.]
The character or quality of a musical or vocal
sound (distinct from its pitch and intensity)
depending upon the particular voice or instrument
producing it, and distinguishing it from sounds
proceeding from other sources ; caused by the
proportion in which the fundamental tone is com
bined with the harmonics or overtones (_ = Ger.
klangfarbe],
In first quot. only a nonce-use of the Fr. word.
1849 C. BRONTE Shirley x, Your voice . . has another
* timbre than that hard, deep organ of Miss Mann s. 1853
MARKHAM Skoda s, Anscult. 53 The voices of individuals,
and the sounds of musical instruments, differ, not only in
strength, clearness, and pitch, but (and particularly) in that
quality also for which there is no common distinctive ex
pression, but which is known as the tone, the character, or
timbre of the voice. The timbre of the thoracic, always
differs from the timbre of the oral, voice. . .A strong thoracic
voice partakes of the timbre of the speaking-trumpet. 1876
tr. Blasernas Sound viii. 147 There are scarcely any two
individuals who have exactly the same timbre of voice.
1890 R. BOLDREWOOD Col. Reformer (1891) 184 [His] voice
..being mild and small of timbre.
t Timbre, v.i 06s. [f. TIMBRE sbJ-i cf. F.
timbrer.} intr. To play on the timbrel. Hence
t Ti mbring vbl sb.
c 1400 Song Roland 54 Blowinge off bugles.., Trymlmge
of tabers Ana tymbringsoft. 1530 PALSGR. 758/1, I tymbur,
I playe on an instrument or a tymber,,/* timbre. The may-
dens of London were wonte to lymber more than they do
nowe.
,^. 2 [f. TIMBRE j/>.-] trans. To furnish
or adorn with a crest ; to surmount as a crest.
HenceTi inbred///. a., crested; Ti mbringz/<V.j/;.
1513 DOUGLAS s&neis xn. ii. 100 Eik his tymbret helm
wyth crestis two. 1606 SYLVESTER Dtt Bartas n. iv. in.
Magnificence 1034 Loe, the Cock. .A purple Plume timbers
his stately Crest. i6oGuiLLiM Heraldry vi. v. 264 In some
Countries,.. it js not permitted to persons inferior to the
degree of a Knight, to Timber their Armes, that is to say, to
adorne them with Helme, Mantle, Crest, Sic. Ibid* 267
Kodolph Duke of Lorraigne. . was the first that bare his
Armes Tymbered. 1688 R. HOLME A rrnoury iv. vi. (Roxb.)
320/1 Concerning the coate and Tymbreing in the scale
thereof. 1894 WOODWARD Eccles. Heraldry 255 The others
[helmets] were timbred with the Crest of the See of Main/.
Timbre, obs. form of TIMBER.
Timbrel (ti-mbrel), s&. 1 Now chiefly biblical.
Also 6 tumbrel(le, timbril, -elle, tymbrel^le,
Sc. timberall, 6-7 tyrn-, tinibrell, 7 timbrill.
[app. a dim. of the earlier TIMBKK jf.l in same
sense: see -EL 2 . So far as appears, it was an
Eng. formation; but Sp. has a somewhat parallel
dim. form in tamboril tabor, tabret, from tambor
drum (cf. F. tambouriti], More s spelling appears
to be due to confusion with the earlier word TUM-
BRELJ., which was also sometimes written timbrel ^\
A musical instrument of percussion ; a tambourine
or the like that could be held up in the hand.
Chiefly used (to render Heb. tcph} in versions of the Bible
from Coverdale onward, or in allusions to the biblical use,
and in reference to Oriental instruments thought to be the
same or similar. Cf. the earlier TIMBRE sb\
1500-10 PUNBAR Poems Ixxvii. 45 Syne come tbair four
and twentie madinis ;ing, . . Playand on timberalHs, and
syngand rycht sweitlie. 1534 MosCMf^4Hli Trib. in.
Wks. 1261/2 If the Turkestode euen here with all his whole
army about him, &..fel at at once In a shoute, with trum
pets, tabrets, & tumbrels al blowen vp at once. 1535 COVER-
DALE Exod. xv. 20 Miriam the prophetisse..tokeatymbrell
in hir hande, and all the women folowed out after her with
timbrels in a daunse. 1553 EDEN Treat. Newt Ind. (Arb.)
14 A great noyse of cimbals, drumslades, timbrelles, shames,
pipes, flutes, ..and diuerse other musical instrumentes.
1662 J. DAVIES tr. Oleart us* Voy* Atnbass, 277 The Indian
Timbrels are two foot long, but broader in the middle than
at the Extremities, much after the fashion of our Barrels.
[app. = tom-toms. J 1768 BEATTIE Minstr. i. xxxv, With
merriment, and song, and timbrels clear, c 1850 A rab. fits.
(Rtldg.) 165 A little hunchbacked fellow came .. and began
playing on a timbrel, which he accompanied with his voice.
b. ? A figure of a timbrel. (Cf. falls, etc.)
a 1548 HAU,C//^., Hen. Vflf-jOt their hosen . . the nether
partes were of Scarlet, poudred with tymbrelles of fyne
golde.
O. attrib. and Comb.
1551 H ULOET, Tymbrel 1 player, tytnpanista^ . . tympanistria.
1757 DYER Fleece n. Poems (1761) 102 O er all the timbrel-
sounding squares and streets. 1843 LYTTON Last Bar. i. ii,
The timbrel-girl sptang into the crowd and vanished.
t Timbrel, sb? Sc. Obs. tart. In 5 tymeral,
6 tymbrall, -ell, -ill. [f. TIMBRE
The crest of a helmet ; - TIMBRE sb.
TIME.
c 1450 HOLLAND Howlat 613 Four helmes full fair, And in
thar lymeralis tryid tiewly thai bere The plesand Poyne..
provde to repair. 1513 DOUGLAS sEneis H. viii. [vii.J 88
The portratour of artnes was mysknaw, AH war bot Grekis
tymbrallis at thai saw.
Ti mbrelf z>. [f. TIMBREL si . 1 ] intr. To play
upon a timbrel ; trans, to accompany with a timbrel
or similar instrument. Hence Trmbrelled (-breld)
ppl. #., accompanied by the playing of timbrels;
also Ti mbreller, a performer on the timbrel.
1629 MILTON Hymn Nativity xxiv, In vain with Timbrel d
Anthems dark The sable-stoled Sorcerers bear his worship!
Ark. 1785 S. ROGERS Ode Snperstit. 68 A timbrelled an
them swells the gale. 1833 BOWLES St. John in Patmos ir.
165 There the timbrelled hymn Rings to Osiris. 18.. I-
\\urn Death fy Ruffians 14 To let their timbrellers and
tumblers in. 1854 S. DOBELL Balder xxiv. 152 A country
song. .Fit to be timbrelled to the tambourine.
Timbrel(], obs. form of TUMBREL.
t Timbrer. Ohs. rare. In 5 tymberer, tymbrer.
[f. TIMBRE v. 1 +-EH 1 .] A timbrel-player.
ci425 St. Eliz. ofSpalbeck in Anglia VIII. 109/29 pis
newe tymbrer settij) her fl esc he for an harpe,and hir cheKys
for a tymber. c 1425 St. Mary ofOignies \\. v. ibid. 166 21?
She, J?at }onge tymberer, hadde strecchyd hir body, and
dryed hit as by-twix two trees of J>e cro^se.
t TilllbrO-, combining form repr. Fr. timbre
{-poste} postage-stamp [see TIMBRE s/>.~], used for
a short period to form terms relating to stamp-
collecting ; now superseded by PHILATELY and
related words. Timbro logy [-LOGY] tiwbro-
phily\ Tiinbroma iiia [F. titnhronmnie\^ a craze
or mania for collecting stamps ; hence Timbro-
ma niac, Timbro man 1st ; Timbro phily [F.
timhrophilie, Gr. </><A( a love, friendship], stamp-
collecting; = PHILATELY; hence Timbrophrlic
a., Timbro pliilist.
1864 LEWINS Her Majesty s Mails 26^ It only reinains^to
refer for a moment to the timbromanie or stamp mania.
1865 K out ledgers Ev. Boy s Ann. 722 We bold timbroinania
to be just as sensible a pursuit as a taste for numismatics. . .
The timbromaniac.. studies history. 1867 Philatelist I. 2
Timbroinania was its first designation. Timbrophily and
Timbrology next had a short reign as a technical term, till
Philately., has proved to be the right word. Ibid. 203
Timbrophilists would be a respectably large array. 1880
Bric-a Rrac Oct. 2 A proof of the great profits made by
timbromanists. 1891 Cornh. Mag. July 36 Which he will
dispose of to Western timbroinanJacs.
Timburine, obs. variant of TAMBOURINE.
Time (taim), sb. Forms: 1-2 tfma, tyma,
2-8 tyme, 4 tira, teme, teyme, 4-6 tym, 6
taym, 2- time. [OE. tima ON. timi, wk. masc.,
time, fit or proper time, (first, etc.) time, good
time, prosperity (Da. tirne t S\v. titnme an hour),
: OTeut. *//-w-, app. f. a root ti- to stretch,
extend (see TIDE sb.} + abstr. suffix -mon t -man (see
Kluge Stammbildungslehre 154).]
I. = A space or extent of time.
A limited stretch or space of continued exist-
ence, as the interval between two successive events
or acts, or the period through which an action,
condition, or state continues; a finite portion of
time (in its infinite sense : see 24), as a longtime,
amort time, some time ^ for a time.
In no time, in less than no time (colloq.), immediately,
very quickly or soon. Absolute time: see quot. 1842.
^"893 K. ALFRED Oros. iv. v. 5 Ymbe "ftone tun, in be bi^s
WIES. c 1000 ^ELFRIC Horn. I. 60 Hit was jewunelic on
<^am timan. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 437 He heold on.. long
time of |>e del. c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. Wace (Rolls)
4190 [Caesar] tok his leue..To wende fro J?em for longe
teymes. 1377 LANGL. P. PL B. xvnr. 63 And tolde whi \>at
tempest so longe tyme dured. c86 CHAUCER Clerk s T.
386 Nat longe tyme after that tlilSsGrisild Was wedded,
she a doghter hath ybore. c 1440 Prrrffip. Parv. 494/1
Tyme, idetn quvd tyyde (P. tyme, whyle, tcmpus}. 157*
FORREST Theophilus 263 in Anglia VII, By so longe tyme
as his busshoppe dyd fyue. 1610 SHAKS. Tetnp, in. ii. 93
After a little time He beate him too. ifipi GERBIER
Princ. 28 No New Building could stand any time without
Proppings. 166* STILLINGFL. Orig. Sair. nr. iv. 5 The
highest mountains in the World ..may be ascended in
three dayes time. 1670 SIR S. CROW in iztk Rep. Hist*
MSS. Cotnm. App. v. 15 [Hangings) that for a time will
look better to the eye. 1711 ADDISON Sp?ct. No. 37 P i It
was some time before the Lady came to me. 1761 KAMES
EUm. Crit. (1833)479 A child perceives an interval, and that
interval il learns to call time. 1794 MRS. RARCMFFK Myst.
Udolpho xxv, Annette.. was absent a considerable time.
1843 BORROW Bible in Sai* x.xix. (1901) 417 Follow me..
and I will lead you to Finisterre in no time, 1849 MACAULAY
Hist. Eng. iii. I. 291 The time occupied., was not to exceed
fourteen days in one year. 1875 JOWETT Plato (ed. 2) I.
195 In less than no time you shall near. 184* BRANDE
Diet. Scf. t etc. s. v., Absolute Time is time considered in
itself without reference to that portion of duration to
which it belongs, however noted or marked. 1868 DK.
ARGYLL in Mem t (1906) II. xlvi. 540 Have we any link con
necting time-relative with time-absolute?
4xji(a). The space of an Jwnir (for OE. tid^
TIDE sb. 2). Obs. rare. ($) A space of time, gener
ally understood to mean a year. (A literalism of
biblical translation.)
(a) c 13*0 Cast. Lave 1403 Riht in to hello he code, Fourti
tymen {v.r. tymes] J>er he wes [frig. Ouarante ures i demora]
Er ^at he vp risen ches. (b) 1381 WYCLIF Dan. iv. 13 [16]
The herteof wiilde beest be 3puen to it, and seuen tymes be
chaungid vpon nym. Ibid, xti. 7. 1381 Rti>. xii. 14 She
TIME.
is fed bi tyme, and tymes, and the half of tyme [v.r. Haifa
tymej. 1535 COVEKDALE ibid., She is noryszhed fora tyme,
two tymes, and halffe a tyme. [So in later versions.] 1827
G. S. FAUER Sacr. Calend. Prophecy (1844) I. 27 Of such
numbers, the three times and a half, the 42 months, and the
1260 days, are mutually equivalent.
2. A particular period indicated or characterized
in some way. f That time (obs.), at, for the time,
for (the) time being (^ during), during the period
under consideration.
ciooo-^Li- Ric Horn. II. 340 Hit is awnten be Sam yfelum
timan. a 1023 WULFSTAN Horn. ii. (Napier) 19 ./Efter fnsum
faece jewurdan sceall swa eseslic tima, swa a;fre ser nes.
Ibid. xiii. Si \Va Sam wifum, f>e (?onne tymao 7 and on bam
earmlican timan heora cild fedaS. 1154 O. E, Chron. an.
1137 (Laud MS.), On al bis yueletime heold Martin abbot his
:ibbotrice. 1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. x. 72 Sithen J>e pestilence
tyme. 1474 CAXTOS C/usse n. iv. (1883) 53 As the Knyghtes
shold kepe y 8 peple in tyme of peas. 1486 Rec. St. Mary
nt Htll 2 That the forsaid tenementes & Rent., shall
hoolly remayn to the parUshens . . for the tyme beyng
for euer. Ibid. 15 The Mayre or Wardeyn of the Citee of
london for the tyme beyng. 1542 UDALL Erasni. Apoph.
75 b, He had the best right & title for the tyme duryng, to
the shadoe of the Asse. 1680 BUTLER Rem. (1759) I. 114
To pass his Times of Recreation In choice and noble Con
versation, a 1774 TUCKER Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 645 Though
the time for them be over, yet time itself is not exhausted.
. (11864 (attributed to Pres. Lincoln), You can fool all
the people some of the time, and some of the people all the
time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. 1875
JOWETT Plato (ed. 2) IV. 233 All times of mental progress
arc times of confusion.
3. A period in the existence or history of the
world ; an age, an era. In later use more indefinite,
esp. \npL
.1000 J^LLFRIC Iloni. II. 190 pry timan .sind on byssere
\vorulde: Ante legem, Sub lege,Sub gratia. ..Se tima is a;r
x jecweden, be waes fram Adam buton ai od Moysen.
t izoo Trin. Coll. Hon. 3 [Advent] bitocne3 bre time. On }>e
was bi.fore be olde la^e, >e ofter was on be holde la^e, and
\K t l-idde was on J?e newe la^e. 1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 192
Kram be beginning of be world to be time bat now is Seuene
ages ber habbcb ibe as seue times iwis. \>e verste age &
lime was fram our fcrste fader adam To not:. 1483 CAXTON
Chron. (colophon), Here cudc the Crpniclis of cnglonde with
the frute of timis. 1560 DAUS tr. Sleidaiie^sConiin. 471 Tully
calletli an history the \vitnesoftymes,and light of veritic. 1638
WILKINS Xew World xiv. (1707) 125 Rondoletius, to whose
Diligence these later Times are much beholden. 1686 \V.
HOPKINS tr. Rattammts Dissert, iii. (1688) 59 The Southern
Parts of France, where the Albigenses and Waldenses..
have abounded in all Times ever since. 1734 tr. Rollins
Anc. Hist. (1827) I. 120 Lay aside the prejudice of birth,
nations and times. 1861 M. PATTISON Ess. (1889) I. 39 With
Northern Germany our connexion was, from the earliest
times, most intimate. 1884 W. C. SMITH Kildrostan 86 It
is a folly, man, A superstition of these modern times.
b. Time(s past, past time(s ; old, olden, or
ancient time(s, etc.
a 1067 in Kemble Cod, Dipl. IV. 202 Swa he on aildum
timum selEe^d wa;-,. 1340 HAM POLE Pr. Consc. 796 He
loves men bat in aid lyme has bene. 14.. Voc. in Wr.-
W flicker 564/26 Antiqttitus^ yn olde tyme. c 1470 HENRY
Wallace i. 6 It has beyne seyne in thir tymys by went. 1474
CAXION Chesse in. ii. (1883) 88 In tyme passid the philo-
sophres dyde the same. I54j> Compl. Scot. xi. 88 Thai sal
intend veir contrar ^our maister..as there forbears did in
alld tymis. 1605 [see OLDEN a. i]. 1610 HOLLAND Camdens
Brit. (1637) 259 A towne in ancient time of great fame.
Ibid., It was fortified in times past with a castle. 16x1
COTGR.S. v. Argent t In good old times when men were loath
to publish their owne goodnesse. 1784 COWPER Task vi.
715 Encomium in old time was poet s work. 1843 M. PATTI
SON Ess. (1889) I. ii The memory of the great and the
saintly of ancient time.
C. Time(s to come, (^time coming], times to be
(arch.), future time ; esp. future ages, the future.
dri34oHAMPOLE/ J n>je Tr. i. 4 pay sail joye nowe. .and jn
tym to come. 1376 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 53 Hopyng in
tyme comyng to haue ben encresyd. 1440 Alphabet of
Tales 107 f>e paynys bat er ordand..for syn in tyme to
com. 1578 Reg. Privy Council Scot. III. 36 That na
pensionis of victuall be gevin in tyme cuming furth of the
said superplus. 1891 LD. COLERIDGE in Law Times Ref.
LXV. 581/1 It may become necessary to decide this point in
time to come; it is not now.
d. The time (the times} \ the age now or then
present. Cf. the day, the hour, the moment.
[1588 SHAKS. L. L. L. v. ii. 791 Rated them.. As bumbast
and as lining to the time.) 1596 Merch. V. ii. 1x^48 How
much honor Pickt from the chaffe and ruine of the times, To
be newvarnisht ? 1640 New Serai, of Newest Fashion (ify 1 ?)
45 Hee is the onelie man of the time, hee is the onelie able
man. a 1704 T. BROWN Two Oxf. Scholars Wks. 1730 I. 3
Cannot I . . sigh for the Iniquities of the Times? 1850
TENNYSON InMctn. cvi. 18 Ring out the want, the care,
the sin, The faithless coldness of the times. 1869 FREEMAN
Norm. Cong. III. xi. 55 _An act which ran counter to the
religious feelings of the time.
4. With possessive or of\ The period contem
porary with the life, occupancy, or activity of some
one ; (his) age, era, or generation. Often //.
= DAY sb. 14,
961-3 Laws Edgar Suppl. B. Leges sxcnlares c. 2, On
minum timan, swa.. on mines feeder. 1154 O. E, Chron.. an.
1135 (Laud MS.), On bis kinges time wes al unfrio 7 & yfel.
c 1200 OBMIN 14429 Fra bait tatt Adam shapenn wass Anan
till Nowess time. 1x1300 Cursor M. 10 Non in his tim was
like, c 1380 WvcLiF Strm. Sel. Wks. I. 27 Phariseis. . weren
religiouse in Cristis tyme. 1484 CAXTON Fables of Page v,
Poge of Florence recyteth how in his tyme one named
Hugh prynce of the medycyns sawe a catte whiche had two
hedes. 155* Bk. Com. Prayer, Ordin. Pref., From the
Apostles tyme there hathe bene these ordres of Ministers.
i6a$ BACON Ess., Rictus (Arb.) 235 A Nobleman, .that had
38
! the greatest Audits, of any Man in my Time. 171* STEELE
SJ>ect. No. 497 F a In the time of Don Sebastian of Portugal.
1814 WORDSW. White Doe i. 42 In great Eliza s golden time.
1833 TENNYSON Dream Fair Women n, The spacious times
of great Elizabeth. 1865 DICKENS Mut. Fr. i. i, In these
times of ours.
5. A period considered with reference to its pre
vailing conditions ; the general state of affairs at a
particular period. Chiefly//.
Often in colloq. phrases, as as times go (- as things go in
these times), behind the times (= behind the modes or
methods of these times).
1484 CAXTON Fables of & sop \\. viii, Men say comynly
that after that the*Xyme goth, so must folke go. 1603
SHAKS. Ham. \, v. 188 The time is out of ioynt, 1712 STEELE
S feet. No. 298 F 3 Persons, of tolerable Figure too as Times
go. 1757 FRANKLIN ss. Wks. 1840 II. 96 We may make
these times better, if we bestir ourselves. 1837 J. H.NEW
MAN Par. Serin, (ed. 2) III. xii. 178 When times grew cold
and unbelieving. 1881 FROUDE Short Stud. IV. n, i. 163
How times had changed in the last forty years. Mod. We
live in perilous times.
b. pi. Used as the name of a newspaper.
1788 (title) The Times. 1801 G. ROSE Diaries (1860) 1.439,
I found here the Times of Saturday. 1829 (title) South
Wales Times. 1854 HAWTHORNE Eng. Note-B&s. to$8$
I. 477 Every Englishman runs to The Times with his
little grievance. Mod. There is an obituary notice in the
Oxford Times.
6. A period considered with reference to one s
personal experience ; hence, an experience of a
specified nature lasting some time ; esp. in (to have)
a {good) bad) etc.) time (of it) ; to make a time, i.e.
a demonstration, fuss (U. S. collog.).
To have a good time ( - a time of enjoyment) was common
in Eng. from c 1520 to ci688; it was app. retained in
America, whence readopted in Britain in igth c. (See also
Goon a. lod.) So to have the time of ones life, i.e. the
best one has ever had.
a 1529 SK ELTON Bk. 3 Poles Wks. 1843 * 2O F r to naue
good tyme and to lyue meryly. 1647 TRACT Cotnm. Ep. 59
They would have a fine time of it. Ibid. 199 Those poor. .
souls.. have an ill time of it. 1666 PEPYS Diary 7 Mar., I
went and had as good a time as heart could wish. 1673
S too him Baycs 26 It seems his servants had a good time
Slave States 82, I was having a very good time with her,
when her father came in and told her she was troubling
the gentleman . 1886 P. S. ROBINSON Valley Test. Trees
in, We ll have a high old time together. 1902 ELIZ. L.
BANKS Newspaper Girl i, Think of that when you are
tempted to have a good time instead of studying hard.
7. Period of duration; prescribed or allotted term.
a. Period of existence or action ; period of one s
life, life-time.
c IOOO^EI.I-RIC Honi. 1 . 4 His tima ne bi9 na langsum ; forjjan
\>e Codes grama bine forded, c 1200 Vices # Virt. 39 Behoueb
to charite on alle Sines Hues time, c 1400 Brut cxxxv. 142
|>o seisede Kyng Henry al Normandye into his hand, &
helde hit al his lifes tyme. 1535 COVERDALE Ps. cii[i]. 15
That a man in his tyme is but as is grasse. 1549 Compl.
Scot. I 21 Of this sort euere thyng hes ane tyme. 1577 in
Exch. Rolls Scot/. (1899) XX. 373 In the resyngnatioun, to
hymself land] his wyf, for their tym. 1600 SHAKS. A. Y. L. \\.
vii. 142 One man in his time playes many parts. 1657
THORNLEY tr. Longus* Daphnis <V Chloe 55, 1 am older then
Sa
s
last my ti
an existence.
b. spec, (a) The period of gestation, (b} The
menstrual period; tramf. menstruation, (c) (One s)
term of apprenticeship, (d) The duration of a term
of imprisonment ; usually in phrase to do time
(slang), (e) An unexpired period of compulsory
service (67". ..). (/) The prescribed duration of
the interval between two rounds in boxing, or of a
round or game in athletics, football, etc., or the
moment at which this begins or ends ; also ellipt.
as the signal to begin or end a bout, as in to call
time, (g) The periodic time of a heavenly body:
see PERIODIC a. i . ^^.
(a) tWQ&XwtnCffotM. I. 30 Hire tima WEBS XefyllwLfet
heo cennan sceolde. 1577 B. GOOGK HeresbacJis Husb. in.
(1586) 127 A cowe and a quene haue both one time. 1809
MALKIN Gil Bias xi. i. (Rtldg.) 392 Beatrice s time was up
first: she was safely delivered of a daughter. (b) 1564-78
BULLEVN Dial. agst. Pest. (1888) 41 Certaine people mate
not bleede, as women whiche haue their times aboundauntlie.
ijoiCoUect. Voy. (Churchill) III. 582/1 Women, who shall
not be subject to the monthly times. 1889 [see MONTHLY
a. ibj. (c) 1645 HOWELL Lett. (1650) I. 227 To be
both of one trade, because when they are out of their
time they may join stocks together. 1718 Free-thinker
No. 21 P i The.. Indiscretion of Apprentices Marrying
Servant- Wenches, before their Time is expired. 1808 BYRON
Eng. Bards 63 A man must serve his time to every trade,
Save censure critics all are ready made. (a) 1865 [see
Do 7>. ii i]. 1888 R. BOLDRKWOOD Robbery under Arms
xli, People can t be expected to associate with men that
have done time . 1904 GRIFFITHS 50 Years Pubt. Service
xiii. 185 He did his time without protest. (e) 1769
Boston Gaz. (U.S.) 20 Nov. (Thornton AtKtr. Gloss.\ To be
sold for five Years, The Time of a hearty young Man, who
is a good Sailor. 1843 Missouri Reporter (U. S.) 28 Jan.
(ibid.), I have for sale a very likely yellow woman, about
24 years of age... She has between five and six years to
serve. The balance of her time will be sold very low.
(/) 1811 Snorting Mag. XXXIX. 102 George was the first
to call time . iBai EGAN Boxiana (1829) III. 571 When
TIME.
time was called, the men were to be immediately brought
up to the scratch. 1832 MARRYAT N. Forster xfvfl, It s a
finisher can t come to time. 1840 DICKENS Barn. Rudge
xxii, In prize-fighting phraseology, [he] always came up to
time with a cheerful countenance. 1857 HUGHES Tom
Brmvn i, Three whiffs of which would knock any one else
out of time [see KNOCK v. 12 dj.
8. The length of time sufficient, necessary, or
desired for some purpose ; also, time available for
employment ; leisure or spare time.
c 1220 Bestiary 256 Dus :je tileS 3ar wiles ?e time haue3.
c 1470 HENRY Wallace vni. 502 No teyme we haiffoffsegyng
now to bid. 1585 T. WASHINGTON tr. Nicholays Voy. i. xv,
i6b, There was yet time inough to pleasure them. 1689
Tryal Bps. 34 These Gentlemen have had time enough to
have prepared Precedents. 1723 Pres. St. Russia II. 325
In case the Russian Troops should get time of rallying.
1743 BULKELEV & CUMMINS I oy. S. Seas 88 He must have
Time to consider of it. 1796 MME. D ARBLAY Camilla II.
23 Pray take your own time. I am not in any haste. 1833
T. HOOK Parson s Dau. in. ii, Being pressed greatly for
time, in order to get back to London. 1865 RVSKIN Sesame
ii. 62, I could multiply witness upon witness.. if I had
lime.
b. The (shortest) period in which a given course
of action is completed.
1894 Times it) Nov. 7/3 Various new tandem times were
made by the winners. 1899 F. V. KIRBY Sport E. C. Africa
v. 61 One of them [the boys] came in sight, making excellent
time towards the nearest tree, with the wounded cow in
close pursuit. 1908 Daily Chron. 15 Jan. 7-5 The times
..did not compare with those established by the amateurs
the day before. Still some wonderful times were put up.
9. spec. The amount of time worked under a
specific contract ; hence, in workmen s speech, pay
equivalent to the period worked ; also an account
or certificate showing the days, hours, etc. worked,
and wages due : usually called back time.
1795 NELSON in Nicolas Disp. (1845) II. 116 This time as
Mid is absolutely necessary as a part of the long six years.
You had better get out his Time from the Navy Office. 1888
Times 29 Sept. 6/6 The men asked to be paid [for overtime]
at the rate of time and a half, but the Masters refused a
greater rate than time and a quarter. 1908 Somerset Mag.
Apr. 564 Tim added * And I d like my time . Time, in the
cattle idiom, meant back pay uptodate. Mod. If you can t
move a bit quicker, I ll send you to get your back time.
10. Anc. Prosody. A unit or group of units in
metrical measurement. Also transf. in Alus.
A single, primary, or least time is the duration of utter
ance of a short syllable ; = MORA I 3 ; a double or compound
time is composed of two or more single times.
meter vers sceal habban feower and twentig timan. Ibid, %
Dactilus stent on anum langum timan and twain sceortum
and spondeus stent of feowrum langum.] 1589 PUTTENHAM
Eng. Poesie IT. xii. (Arb.) 132 A new inuention of feete and
times. 1686 Neiv Met/tod to Learn to Sing 50 In this
Example, you have two Staves of Lines ; in the upper are
Semibreves, each of which is a Time, and fills up a Bar.
1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s. v., Some call each half of the
measure in common time, a time. 1749 J. MASON Num
bers in Poet, Comp. 8 The Measure of a single Time is the
Space in which we commonly pronounce any of the Liquids
or Consonants, preceded by a Vowel, e.g. an, of^ it, in. 183*
Encycl. Amer. XI. 591 The short syllable.. is considered
as the original unit for the measure of time in the rhythm,
and is called a time* or mora.
11. Mil. The rate of marching, calculated on the
number of paces taken per minute. Double time,
slow time: see the adjs. ; see also QUICK TIME.
1802-1876 [see QUICK TIME). 1853 STOCQUELER Milit.
Encycl. s. v. Pace, In quick time, 108 paces, or 270 feet, are
taken in a minute ; and in slow time, seventy-five paces, or
187 feet. In double time, 150 paces of thirty-six inches,
making 450 [feet] in a minute. 1859 Field Exerc. Infantry
21 The time having been given on a drum, on the word
March, the squad will move off.
/12. Music, a. fThe duration of the breve in v
/relation to the semibreve ; cf. MOOD sb2 3 a, PBO-
LATION 2 (0&r.) ; hence, the rhythm or measure
of a piece of music, now marked by division of
the music into bars, and usually denoted by a
fraction expressing the number of aliquot parts
of a semibreve in each bar (time-signature). To
beat time : see BEAT v. 1 32. In time-out of time,
in or out of correct rhythm, t Perfect, imperfect
time \ see PERFECT a. 10, IMPERFECT a. 7.
1531 ELVOT Gov. i. xxi, The associating of man and
woman in daunsing, they bothe obseruinge one nombre and
tyme in their meuynges. 1609 C. BUTLER Fern. Mon. v.
(1623) Kiij, Now and then she beginneth in duple time some
two or three Semibriefes. 1706 A. BEDFORD Temple Mus.
iii. 62 Tis..in the same Time and Tune. 1710 ADDISON
Toiler No. 153 P 14 To play out of Time. 1854 HELMOKK
Pract. Lect. Church Music 6 It is sometimes said. .that in
Plain Song * there is no time . 1884 ROCKSTRO in Grove
Diet. Mus. IV. 117/2 In modern Music, the word Time is
applied to rhythmic combinations of all kinds, mostly indi
cated by fractions, (jj etc.) referring to the aliquot parts of a
Semibreve the norm by which the duration of all other
notes is and always has been regulated. 1893 STEVENSON
Catriotuti, 4 A. .brisk tramp of feet in time and clash of steel*
b. The rate at which a piece is performed ; the
tempo ; hence, the characteristic tempo, rhythm,
form, and style of a particular class of compositions
(usually in combination, as dance-time^ march-time,
waltz-time).
[1446 LYDG. Two Nightingale Poems L 80 But, doun
descendyng, she said in hasti tyme : My lyfe be kynde
endure shall not longe*. 1602 MIDDLETON Blurt HI. i. Ej,
To keep quick time unto the owl] 1887 BARING.GOULD
TIME.
89
TIME.
Gaverocks xiii, Little feet beat the dance time on the.,
floor. 1903 Critic XLI1I. 361/1 Rag-time music, which
interpiets that divine art only for vulgar heels and toes.
Mod. A movement in slow time,
O. The time-value or duration of a note. (Not
in technical use.)
1727-41 CHAMBERS CycL s. v., Where the time or duration
of the notes is ecjual, the differences of tune alone are
capable to entertain us. 1776 BURNEY Hist. Mus. (1789) I.
vi. 63 The most common application of this term [Rhythm]
has been to express the Time or duration of many sounds
heard in succession.
II. = Time when : a point of time ; a space of
time treated without reference to its duration.
The point may be an instant (as the time when a star
crosses the meridian), or it may have some duration (as the
time for sowing), but the question of its length is not con
sidered, only the question when, it occurs (i. e. where it is
situated in the period), and its distinctive qualification.
13. A point in the course of time or of a period :
= TIDE sb. 3 ; spec, in early ME., the hour of the
day; = OE. tld\ see TIDE ^.4. In mod. Eng. What
is the time ? i. e. the hour and minute as shown by
the clock. What time, ativhattime^ ~ when, (at)
the time that : see WHAT.
cixoo ORMIM 12745 Patt time..Wass rihlit swa summ itt
off batt da?5 pe tende time wsere. a 1225 .S7. Marker. 8
As bah hit were be seouede time of b dei. c 1391 CHAUCER
Astral, ii. 3 To knowe. .euery tyme of the nyht by the
sterres fixe. 1764 GRAY Candidate 10 At our lime of life
twould be silly, my dear. 1823 J. BADCOCK Dojii.Anntsein.
162 By the light you shall catch a few words in the book,
or the time on the watch. 183^ Nat. Philos. III. Astron.
i-35/i (Usef. Knowl.Soc.) The difference between the actual
time of the sun s being on the meridian and the beginning
of the mean solar day. 1908 R. BAGOT A. Citthbert viii,
Find out what time the marchesa intends to breakfast.
b. A point or fixed part of the year, a season,
as in time of year \ in comb, in spring-time^ sum-
mer-time t autumn-time, winter-time ; also term-
time, vacation -time > holiday-time, etc.; also, of
a day, as time of day, time of night, day-time,
night-time, morning-time, evening-time ; also
dinner-time, bed-time, etc.; also, a point in the
moon s age.
r looo /ELFKIC Num. xiii. 21 Hit waes 3a se tima 3a:t win-
berian ripodon. c 1050 Byrhtferth s Handboc in Anglia
VIII. 312 Feower timan beob...Uer ys lengten tima,..se
o5er tima hatte a;stas .. Se bndda tima ys autumnus on
lyden jecweden. cii?5 Lamb. Horn. 119 Vre drihtnes
haliepassiun. . isnuicumen in,, .be ure drill ten bolede for us
on bisse timan. 1398 TREVISA Barth. De P. R, ix. iii.
(Bodl. MS.)j pe gere of J;e sonne..conteynefc> foure tymes,
winter, spnngingtyme, somer, and harueste. 1:1400 tr.
Stcreta Secret., GOT. . Lordsh. 74 Heruest bygynnes. .and
lastys Ixxxviij dayes. . . In bis tyme ys also be day and be
nyght euyne. a 1529 SKELTON On Tyme 23 The rotys tak
theyr sap in tyme of vere. 1566 BLUNDEVIL Horseman
ship iv. xxxii. (1580) 16 The horse that hath this disease, is
blind at certaine times of the Moone. 1825 T. HooK-SVy.
ings Ser. 11. Passion $ Princ. ix. III. 153 Fleeting showers
of rain, unseasonable at the time of year.
fc. A season or part of the year considered
with reference to the weather experienced ; weather
(of some kind). Obs. rare. (Cf. F. temps in
similar sense.)
c 1400 tr. Secreta. Secret., G<rv. Lordsh. 93 pe right of hym
bat reygnyth ys more profitable to subgitz ban plente of
good tyme. 1422 Ibid,, Priv. Priv. 220 The colerike by
kynde . . sholde haue a stomake good y-nowe, namely in colde
tyme.
14. A point in duration marking or marked by
some event or condition ; a point of time at which
something happens, an occasion, f On a time, on
one occasion, once. At no time, on no occasion.
c 893 K. jEi.FRED Oros. iv. v. 5 Ymbe Sone timan be biss
wxs. c looo ^LFRIC Horn. I. 78 Herodes .. jeornlice hi
befran to hwilces timan se steorra him serst jeteowode.
1x1050 O. . Chron. an. 1009 (Laud MS.) On bisum ilcan
timan oSSelilleaer bet [etc.]. 1*05 LAV. 2582 Seo65en him
a time com mid teonen he wes i-funden. c 1275 Ibid-., Subbe
him com a time bat he to wode wende. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 2
Constantin & Maxence weren, on ane time . . behest in Rome.
13. . Gaw. $ Gr. Knt. 2243 At bis tyme twelmonyth bou toke
bat be failed, c 1386 CHAUCER Frankl. T. 830 Aurelius..
Curseth the tyme pat euere he was born. 1470-85 MALORY
Arthur \\. i. 75800 it befelle on atyme whannekyng Arthur
was at London. 1538 STARKEY Let, in England p. Ixxiii,
Long and much at sundry tymis. 1590 SIR J. SMYTH Disc.
Weapon* 36 From that time forward he would hold the
Bowe to be the onelie weapon of the world. 1766 GOLDSM.
Vt c. W. xii, By this time the unfortunate Moses was un
deceived. 1837 J. H. NEWMAN Par. Serm. (ed. 3) I. vii. 99
Surely man is at all times the same being. 1845 M. PATTI-
SON Ess. (1889) I. 27 This . . trick escaped detection at
the time. 1873 BLACK Pr. Thule xxv, It will be nearly
two by the time you get down.
15. The appointed, due, or proper time.
c897 K. >ELPRKD Gregorys Past. C. Ixiii. 459 Nu us is
tima 5aet we onwzcnen of slscpe. c xooo ^ELFRIC Colloq. in
Wr.-Wiilcker toa/i Hwaenne wylle e syngan ?. .ponne hyt
tima byb [Qmvtdo tempus erit\ 1154 O. E. Chron. an.
lou.Mann nolde him to timan [MS. C.atiman] gafol bedan.
c 1175 Lamb. Horn. 103 peo ded bet mon et er timan and
drtncea. 13.. Cursor M. 11814 (CotL) Nu neghes tim to
tak his lai. c 1400 26 Pol. Poems xxv. 539 Tyme ys that
men now for me pray, For Parce michi, dentine I c 1412
HOCCLEVE De Reg. Princ. 1274 Sires, it is tyme bat we
hcnnes hye. c 1489 CAXTON Blanchardyn xxiii, 74 It was
tyme to goto bed. a 1586 SIDNEY Ps.xn. i, Lord, helpe, it
is hytjhe tyme for me to call. 1741-1 GRAY Agrippina 158
Tis time to go, the sun is high advanc d. 1809 MALKIN
Gil Bias VIM. i, My business consisted in .. dunning the
farmers, and keeping them to time m their payments. 1872
Routtedge s Ev. Bey s Ann. 349/1 See that you are up to
time.
b. Qualified by poss. pron., as his, her, ifs
often ellipt. for time of death, of childbirth^ etc. ;
before (his, etc.) time, prematurely.
c xooo Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxvi. 18 Min tima is se-hende.
John v. 4 Drihtenes engel com to his timan \Hatton to
hys tyme] on bone mere K: bst waiter was astyred. 1388
WYCLIF Prcni, xxv. it A goldun pomel in beddis of siluer is
he, that spekith a word in his [-its] time, c 1440 Aiphab,
Tales ii Sho wex grete & drew nere hur tyme. 1560 DAI/S
tr. Sleidane s Cotrmi, 451 b, Y e Quene. .was with childe, and
nere her time. 1689 HICKKRINGILL Ceremony-monger 126
A young Lady. .Excommunicated for breaking her Leg or
coming before her lime. 1700 DRYDFN Sigism, fy Guise ard,
26 In the prime Of youth, her lord expired before his time.
1799 WORDSW. Lucy Gray viii, The storm came on before
its time. 1853 C. BRONTE Villette 180 Ten minutes behind
his time *, said she. 1890 Field 31 May 790/3 The Eanksia
roses.. are bent on coming out before their time.
16. A or the favourable, convenient, or fitting point
of time for doing something ; the right moment or
occasion ; opportunity. (Often with his, her, etc.)
c 897 K. /ELFRED Gregory s Past. C. xxxiii. 220 Se wisa
hilt his sprasce & bitt timan. 1297 R. Gi.ouc. (Rolls) 7633
Huld hem euere in Scotlond,& poer to hemnome, To worn
vpe king willam, wanne god time come. 1382 WYCLIF Eccfos,
iii. 4 Time of weping, nnd time of lathing [1388 Tyme to
wepe, and tyme to lei^e]. c 1386 CHAUCER Mclib. r 14
Whan she saugh hir tyme, she seyde hym in this wise:
Alias! my lord . I533 LD. EERNFRS Iluon Ixvii. 2;,o
When he sawe his tyme, he cryed his worde& token. 1590
NASHE Pasquil s Afiol. i. Wks. (Grosart) I. 233 There is a
time for speech, and a time for silence, c 1610 BODLEY in
Rettq. (1703) 108 A Clock and a Bell will be needful for the
Library..: but every thing must have his time. 1709 STF.ELE
Tatler No. 36 p 4 When Stocks are lowest, it is the Time
to buy. a 1722 FoUNTAiNHALLZ>tfaf. (1759) I, gThey must
wait their tour, since the devil bides his time. 1849 MACAULAY
Hist. Eng. iv. I. 512 An adversary of no common prowess
was watching his time. Mod, Now s your time !
17. Any one of the occasions on which something
is done or happens ; each occasion of a recurring
action. Often qualified by a numeral. ( = OE. sfd :
see SITHE st>. 1 4-5.)
For ^one time, ^two thnes have been substituted once,
twice. At a time, at one time, at once, simultaneously.
CI3OO St. Julian 108 (Ashm. MS.) Let me go at bis one
tyme. I ne scbal neuereft derie be. < 1380 WYCLIF Sel.
Wks, III. 350 How J>at men shulde snybbe ber breberen bi
bre tymes. c 1400 Destr. Troy 8272 The next tym bou
noyes me, bou neghis to be fer. 1454 Rolls of Parlt. V.
241/1 At too tymes hath be made requestes to the seicl
I.ieutenaunt. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 300 b, How
he wolde deny the thre tymes that nyght. 1560 DAUS tr.
Sleidanc s Comm. 441 b, The third way.. hath bene dtuers
times assaied. 16x1 BIBI.K John xxi, 16 He saith to him
againe the second time, Simon Sonne of lonas, louest thou
me? 1660 R. ELLSWORTH in Extr.S, P.rcl. Friends n.
(1911) 122 Heere they, .haue their Meeteings at all Seasons
..sometymes about icx or 1200 att a tyme. 171* STEELF.
Sped, No. 422 p i An utter Aversion to speaking to more
than one Man at a time. 1829 LANDOR hnag. Conv., Villcle
fy Corbierc I. 123 He did it fifty times, at the very least.
1876 TKBVELVAN Macaulay II. ix. 125 The publishers, .are
still pouring forth reprints by many thousands at a time.
b. Agric. (See quots.) dial.
1813 R. KERR Agric. Sun>. Berw. 198 The completest
harrowing is called a double double time; in which the har
row goes four times successively over the same range. 1857
N. fy Q. and Ser. IV. 80/1 A time ..in some parts of
Scotland is the act of once furrowing between two plough-
ings. 1894 Northumbtd, Gloss., Time, the journey once
across a field in agriculture, Time-aboot, a double journey
in field work, extending from heedrig to heedrig and back
again.
18. Many a time, f many time, many times, ellip-
tically times, also times and often, times without
number, many a time and oft (often] : on many
occasions, in many instances ; often, frequently.
c 1250 Kent. Serm. in O. E, Misc. 30 Ure lord god al-
michti. .habbeb mani-time maked ofwatere wyn gostliche.
1375 HARBOUR Bruce i. 336 That may mony tyme awaill.
c 1400 Rom. Rose 6974, I am gladly executour And many
tymes a procuratour. 1535 COVRRDALE Ps. Ixxvii. 38 Many
a tyme turned he his wrath awaye. 1360 INGF.LKN D
Disob. Child D ij b, Many a tyme and oft, I am fayne To
playe the Priest, Clarke, and all. 1590 SIR J. SMYTH Disc.
Weapons Ded. 6 Which I haue heard manie, and manie
times publikelie reported by manie valiant Gentlemen. 1622
R. HAWKINS Voy. S. Sea (Hakl. Soc.) 115 Which.. many
time is cause of dissention. 1701 DF. FOB Truf~born Eng,
ir. 312 Englishmen have done it many a time. 1760-72 H.
BROOKE J ool of Qua /. (1809) IV. 51 Many a time and oft.,
you carried me in your arms. 1808 ELEANOR SLKATH Bristol
Heiress III. 94 The fine handsome young officer, who has
been here times and often. 18.. G. MEREDITH Juggling
Jerry ii, We ve travelled times to this old common. 1892
Law Times XCIL 147/1 Times without number the courts
In bankruptcy have been called upon todecide the question.
1899 THINE In Tune with Infinite (1903) 186 Those who take
great pride in speaking of their own practicality are many
times the least practical.
19. Preceded by a cardinal numeral and followed
by a number or expression of quantity : used to
express the multiplication of the number, etc.
c 1380 WVCLIF Sel. U r ks t II. 309 As foure tymes sixemaken
bis noumbre. c 14*5 Craft e Nontbryngt a Ten tymes twene
is twenty. Ibid, 4 If it stonde in the secunde place of be
rewle, he betokens ten tymes hym selfe,as bis figure 2 here.
c 1440 Jacob s Well 45 Thre tymes ten is thretty. 17*6
SWIFT Gvlliver IT. iii, An animal of ten times my strength.
1798 COLF.RIDGE Anc. Mar. in. xvi, Four times fifty living
men. 1868 G. DUFF Pol. Surv. 48 His territories in Asia. .
are more thantwenty.one times the size of Scotland.
f b. Also followed by an adj. or adv. in the com
parative degree, or in the positive by as (formerly
so) with an adj. or adv., expressing comparison.
1551 CROWLEV Pleas. $ Pain 229 This ini^ht you reade,
I and ten tymes more In the Bible. "1567 STOW in Sur-?:
(1908) I. p. Ii, Fabyan-.was a very nowghty cronycle, and
Copin..was x. tymes worse. 1583 STUBBES Auat.Abns. n.
(1882) 45 They shall pay tenne times so much as it is worth.
1644 NYE Gunnery \. 5 Which composition I will call
6 - - i - - 1, meaning six times so much Peter [nitre], ns one
time Sulpher, and one time Cole. 1712 AHDISON Sfiect. No.
415 P8 A Goihick Cathedral tho it be five times larger than
the other. 1876 GLADSTONE Glean. (1879) II. 289 Men who
had ten or twenty times less to remember. Alod. We have
five times as many as we can use.
f20. Gram. = TEKSE sb. 2. Obs.
J 53 O PALSCJR. Introd. 32 In these syxe modes be dyvers
tymes. Ibid. 84 Tenses or tymes they have in every of these
modes. ^1620 A. HUMB Brit. Tongue (&*>) 31 Tyme i* an
affection of the verb noating the differences of tyme, and is
either present, past, or to cum.
21. Fencing. See quots., and cf. time-attack^ time-
thrust in 52.
1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s. v., Time in fencing. There are
three kinds of time ; that of the sword, that of the foot, and
that of the whole body. All the times that are perceived
out of their measure, nre only to be considered as appeals,
or feints, to deceive and amu^e the enemy. 1753 ///</.,
Supp. s. v. Binding, Binding is a method of pursuit more
safe and certain, .than taking of tirm-. 1809 ROLAND Fencing
vii. i To take the time, is making your thrust by a judi
cious discernment on the motion of your adversary.
22. Manage. (= F. temps.} Applied to each
completed motion or action.
1753 CHAMBERS Cycl. Supp. s. v., Time, in the manege, U
sometimes taken for the motion of a horse, that obscrvt.-s
measure and justness in performing a manege. In the
manege of a step and a leap, the horse makes by turns a
corvet between two caprioles; and in that ca-e the corvct
is one Time that prepares the horse for the caprioles. Ibid,^
A good horseman disposes his horse for the effects of the
heel, by beginning with one Time of the legs, and never
runs precipitately upon his Times.
23. pL Originally (in sense 15), The fixed hours
of the day at which an omnibus started from its
1 various stations; hence, the established business
enterprise of running an omnibus on a given route
at such times, and the * good-will thus created by
the owners of public service vehicles overparticular
routes, as a recognized vendible asset.
1863 E. YATES Business of Pleasure (1865) I. 40 They [the
London General Omnibus Company] possessed them^elve-;
of the times of all the important routes in London and the
suburbs. These times are, in fact, the good will of the
roads, and were considered so valuable, that in some cases
as much as from 200 to ,250 were given for the times of
one omnibus. 1906 ll- eshti. Gaz. 15 May 2/3 Emphasis [is]
laid in one of the various motor- bus prospectuses, just now
..upon the value of the times owned by each member of the
associated companies. Ibid,, The times , which area special
privilege, religiously guarded by the omnibus fraternity,.,
were also made over as a part of the bargain.
III. In generalized sense.
24. Indefinite continuous duration regarded as
that in which the sequence of events takes place.
a. Attempts to define or explain.
1398 TREVISA Barth. De P. R, ix. ii. (Bodl. MS.), Tyme is
mesure of chaungeable binges, as Aristotel seith. 1597
HOOKER Eccl. Pol. v. Ixix. 2 Now as Nature bringeth forth
Time with Motion, so wee by Motion haue learned how to
diulde Time, and by the smaller parts of Time, both to measure
the greater, and to know how long all things else indure.
Ibid*) Some haue defined time to be the measure of the
motion of heauen. 1600 LOCKE Hum, Und. n. xtv, 17
This Consideration of Duration, as set out by certain
Periods, and marked by certain Measure* or Epochs, is that,
I think, which most properly we call lime. 1854 CALDER-
WOOD Philos. Infinites. 88 Add event to event, still Time is
recognised as stretching forth, and still there is room for
more. 1862 SPENCER First Princ. u. iii. 47 (1875) 163 The
abstract of all sequence is Time.
b. Examples of this use of the word.
1480 Robt. Devyll 121 in Hazl. E. P. P, I. 224 The tyme
drewe so, that nyne monethes was past. 1539 TAVERNKR
Erasm. Prov. (1552) 38 There is nodispleasure so greate, no
hatred so impotent, no sorow so immoderate, but tyme
aswageth it. 1638 JUNIVS Paint. Ancients 29 In processc
of time. 1651 HOBRKS Lcoiath, it. xxx. 176 Time, and
Industry, produce every day new Knowledge. 1743 Hi. AIR
Grave 479 Think \ye, or think we not, Time hurries on With
a resistless, unremitting Stream. 1748 B. FRANKLIN Adv,
Yng. Tradesman Wks. 1799 II. 34 Remember that time is
money. 1794 MRS. RADCLIFPR Myst. Udolpho xxx, The
few gray locks which time had spared on his temples,
i8zi BYRON Cain HI. i, The mind then hath capacity of
time, And measures it by that which it beholds, Pleasing
or painful. 1908 Programme of Modernism 169 We have
cast the seed in the furrow. Time will do the rest.
25. Personified as an aged man, bald, but having
a forelock, and carrying a scythe and an hour-glass.
Also called Father Time. To take Time by the
forelock (f by the ^/), to seize one s opportunity,
to act promptly : see also FORELOCK sb.% 2.
1509 HAWKS Past. Pleas. XLIV. (1555) C iv. Sodainly came
Time in breuiacion Whose similitude, I shall anone expresse
Aged he was, with a bearde doubtlei Of swalowes feaders.
1590 SIIAKS. Com. Err. n. ii. 71 The plaine bald pate of
Father time hlmselfe. 1606 Tr, fy Cr. in. iii. 145 Time
hath, my Lord, a wallet at his backe, Wherein he puts almcs
for obliuion. 1594 [see FORELOCK sb. 1 2). [1711 ADDISOM
Stect. No. 63 P 4 Equipped (like the figure of lime) with an
Hour-glass in one Hand, and a Scythe in the other.] 1820
W. IRVING Sketch Bk. II. 24 Time is ever silently turning
TIME
40
TIME.
over his pages. 18.. MARSDEN What is Time? 32, I ask d
old Father Time himself at last ; But in a moment he flew
swiftly past !
26. In restricted sense, Duration conceived as
beginning and ending with the present life or |
material universe ; finite duration as distinct from j
eternity.
1388 WVCLIF Rev, x. 6 And the aungel.-lifte vp his bond
. .and swoor bi hyin that lyueth tn to worldis of worldis. .
that time schal no more be (1526 TINDALE, that there
shulde be no lenger tyme; 1557 Geneva, that tyme should
be no more; 1611, that there should be time no longer].
X 573 TUSSER Husb. (1878) 65 For time is it selfe but a lime
for a time, Forgotten ful soone, as the tune of a chime. 1635
SWAN Spec. M. i. 3 (1643) 15 All time compared with
eternitie is but short time, yea indeed as no time. 1650
CRASHAW Death Herrys 36 Weak time shall be pour d out
Into eternity. 1745 Scotch TransL ff Paraphr. xxxv. Sx, He
lov d us from the first of Time, And loves us to the last.
ti 1758 RAMSAY Some of Contents of Evergreen xi, A monu
ment. . Quhiik sail endure quhyle tymis telled out be days.
1803 HEDKR Palestine^ His voice amid the thunder s roar,
His dreadful voice, that time should be no more. 1827
POLLOK Course T. x, Time gone, tlie righteous saved, the
wicked damned, And God s eternal government approved.
1836 H.ROGERS J. Hoiuei. (1863) 8 Time, with him, derived
all its importance from a reference to eternity. Mod,
Kntirely occupied with things of time and sense.
27. A system of measuring or reckoning the
passage of time.
1706 PHILLH-S ltd. Kersey s. v., Relative, Apparent, or i
Vulgar Time, is the sensible and outward Measure of any j
Duration or Continuance estimated by Motion ; and this is
commonly us d instead of true Time. 1727-41 CHAMBERS
Cycl. s. v., Astronomical time ; is that taken purely from the
motion of the heavenly bodies, without any other regard, j
Civil time, is the former time accommodated to civil use?;, j
1764 MASKELYNK in Phil. Trans. LIV. 344 There are three
different kinds of time used by astronomers, sidereal time, j
apparent solar time, and mean solar time. 1834 Nat. P kilos. \
III. Math. Geog. v. 16/1 (Useful Knowl, Soc.) A common ;
sun-dial shows the hour of apparent time. Time-keepers or !
chronometers, common watches and clocks, are made to show
the hour of mean time. 1861, 1893 [see GKEENWICH).
b. Phrenol. (See quot.)
1860 MAYNE Expos. Lex., Time^.Phrenol^^. Faculty.,
giving the power of judging of time, and of intervals in
general.
IV. Phrases. (See also sense i S.)
* With another sb.
28. Time of day. a. The hour or exact time
as shown by the clock ; hence, a point or stage
in any course or period (somewhat colloq,}.
1596 SHAKS. i Hen. IV, i. ii. i Now Hal, what time of
day is it Lad ? 1634 FORD P, Warbeck in. i, How runs the
time of day? Past ten, my lord. 1699 COLLIER Answ.
Stages Surveyed (1730) 382 The Favour of a Prince was not
. .unreputable at that Time of Day. 177^1 SMOLLETT
Humph. Cl. 17 Apr., I will not begin at this time of day to
distress my tenants, because they.. cannot make regular
payments. x86z GEN. P. THOMPSON in Bradford Adver
tiser 15 Mar, 6/1 No man at this time of day pretends to
maintain, that [etc.]. 1870 JAS. NICHOLSON Idylls 25
A watch. . . At least twad ha e tald him the time o the day.
b. In salutations, as f Good, fair time of day
(obs.) ; also, to give one, or pass y the time of day
(now dial, and colloq.) t to greet, salute, exchange
salutations.
1594 SHAKS. Rich. Ill, i. iii. 18 Good time of day ynto
your Royall Grace, 1599 Hen. V, v. ii. 3 To our Sister
Health and faire time of day. 1608 Pericles iv. iii. 35.
i6n COTGR., Saluer, to salute, greet,.. giue the time of
the day vnto. 1707 J. STEVENS tr. Quevedo*s Com. Wks.
(1709) 300 It shall be always allow d to give the Time of the
Day, but no New- Years-Gifts. 1851 MAYHEW Lond.
Labour (1861) 11.489/2 The police, .they re very friendly,
they ll pass the time of day with me. 1864 Let, to Editor^
In Radnorshire a clergyman told me the other day that there
was not one in the parish who would not give him the time
of day . He meant, say How do or a fine day, Sir ,
c. colloq. or slang. The prevailing aspect of
affairs; the state of the case; (to know) what s
what ; also, the right way of doing anything ; the
latest dodge or wrinkle ; cf. to know -what J clock
it is (CLOCK sbl 3 d).
1667 POOLE Dial, bctuj. Protest. $ Papist (1735) 144
No, Friend, it is not that time of Day. 1682 BUNYAN Holy
War ii If that be done, I know, quickly what time of
day twill be with us. 1837 DICKENS /V<rw.xxxix, Steady,
Sir, steady ! That s the time o day ! 1840 1 Barn. Rudgc
xxxviii, Hurrah for the Protestant religion ! That s the
time of day. 1897 OUIDA Massarenes xxvii, She knows
the time o day , said the other.
29. Time of memory : see quot. 1848. Time
out of mind (also, f out of memory}, from a time
or during a period beyond human memory; so
time, t times (also for, from time) immemorial.
Also f7c/Mo/pr ^ out oft. of wind, ^within timeofmittd,
^before t. of mind had t ^during t. of no mind, {front t.
whereof is no mind, or -whereof the memory of man is not
(to) the contrary; ^during^ from, out of, of t, that no
(man s] mind is the contrary. See also MIND sb. 1 2f.
1407 l^aterf. Arch, in loM Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm.
App. v. 329 The nonpaying.. during time of noo mynde.
14*5 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 267/2 Beyng Erles, of tyme yat
no mynde is ye contrarie. 1480 Coventry Leet Bk. 460
Ther haue ben Chirche wardens., tyme out of mynde elect yff
yerely. 1504 Set. Cos. Crt. Star Chamber (Selden) I. 211
Which all weyes withoute tyme of mynde hath be made.
1511 Waterf. Arch, in loth Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App.
vsed the tyme wherof mannys mynde is not to the contrarie.
1523 KITZHERB. Surv. 7 Except it haue ben vsed tyme out
of mynde. 15*7 Sel. Cas. Star Chamber (Selden) II. 16
So hath been oute of tyme of mynd. 1553 in Leadam Court
R equests (Selden) 196 Whether it grewe first.. before tyme
of mynde had. 1602 [see IMMEMORIAL]. 1622 CALLIS Stat.
Servers (1647) 89 He and his Predecessors had used time out
of memory to repair such a Bridge, which was in decay. 1759
GOLDSM. ]>ee No. i. ni This deformity. .it had been the
custom, time immemorial, to look upon as the greatest orna
ment of the human visage. 1760 Impostors Detected nr.
x. II. 103 The beavers having been in possession of it [the
inland] for time immemorial. 1765 BLACKSTONE Comm. I.
viii. ^281 The king s ordinary revenue is such, as has either
subsisted time out of mind in the crown ; or else has been
granted by parliament. 1831-2 Act 2^3 Will, IV, c. 71
i Time Immemorial, or Time whereof the Memory of
Man runneth not to the contrary. 1848 WHARTON Law
Lex. s. v. Memory ) By Statute Westminster the First,
3 Edw. I., A. D. 1276, the time of memory was limited to the
reign of Richard ist, July 6th, 1189. 1887 T. A. TROLLOPE
What I remember II. iii. 37 An ancient, .goblet, which has
belonged to the Musgraves time out of mind.
30. Time and tide, an alliterative reduplication,
in various senses of time; now only or mainly in
proverbial phrases, as time and tide wait (stay}
for no ?;/aw,etc.,supersedingtheearlier tide (tidenor
time] tarrieth no man, etc. (see TIDE sb. 13 b).
a. 1300 Cursor M. 778 He wat wel wat tim or tide pat }ee
hade eten o l>is tre. c 1550 R. BIESTON Bayte Fortune B j,
And founden wast thou fyrst in euyll time and tyde. 1581
MARBECK Bk. of Notes 804 For their penaunce, according to
the number, manner, time and tide giuen them by their
ghostly father. i6oz MARSTON Antonio s Rev. n. iv, The
divell in his good time and tide forsake thee.
31. Time after time, on many occasions, re
peatedly.
1631 GOUGE Cod s Arroivs iii. 6. 192 The like hath been
verified time after time. 1881 JOWETT Thitcyd. I. 42 Time
after time we have warned you.
* * With a following adv.
32. Time about, alternately, in turns. (Formerly
with their. ] Chiefly Sc. or northern.
1537 Rcgistr, Aberdon. (Maitland) I. 413 Sex of be foir-
said yiccaris ^air tyme about ilk Satirdaye.. sail syng \>e
foirsaid anteme. a 1670 SPALDING Troubles Chas. /U8so)
I. 131 Becaus. .diuerss of his freindis sould cum..thnir
tyme about, and attend his lordschipis seruice. 1756 MRS.
CALDERWOOD in Coitness Collect, (Maitl.) 272 That a pro-
testant emperor should be chosen time about with a popish,
1816 SCOTT A ntiq. xx v, Time about s fair play. 1828 Craven
Gloss, s.v., Times about, in turns, in rotation. 1859 G,
WILSON Gateway Knoivl. (ed. 3) 35 Two paviours, driving in
stones, bring down their mallets time about.
33. Time (also times) and again, with frequent
recurrence ; repeatedly, very often.
1864 D. G. MITCHELL Seven Stor, 49 Time and again I
looked over the way. 1870 [see AGAIN adv. 4 b]. 1878
MRS. H. WOOD Pomeroy Abb. I. 85 Times and again she
had wondered .. who the recreant truant could be. 1897
HALL CAINE Christian iv. xiv, Time and again I thought
John s love of you was near to madness.
b. Times and often ; times without number ;
many a time and oft : see 18.
34. Time back, at some past time. Obs. or dial.
1834 LANDOR Exam. Shaks.Vf\&. 1846 II. 298/1 The
girl s mother, sir, was housemaid and sempstress in your
own family, time back. 1887 S. Chesh. Gloss. , Time ago . . ,
Time back.., some time ago.
35. Time enough, soon enough, in time, suffi
ciently early.
1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. xi. 35 A man may stoupe tymes
[C. xn. 197 tyme] ynow whan he shal tyne be croune.
1470-85 MALORY Arthur vn. XL 228 Thou shall see hym
tyme ynough. 1583 STOCKER Civ. Warres Lowe C. in.
117 b. 1669 R. MONTAGU in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS.
Comm.) I. 458 That I may prepare time enough to fit my
equipage for the jouiney. 1726 SWIFT Stella s Birthday 7
To-morrow will be time enough To hear such mortifying
stuff". 1864 MRS. GATTV Parables fr. Nat. Ser. iv. 27 Time
enough to go into the depths when you have used up what
is so much easier got at.
* * * With a governing preposition.
36. Against time, in competition with the
passage of time ; so as to finish one s task before
the expiry of a certain period.
1854, 1868 [see AGAINST prep. 12 d]. 1872 Punch 10 Feb.
57/2 No member shall speak against time or his own con
victions. 1883 SWINBURNE in Encycl. Brit. XV. 556/2 A
man who. .was often.. compelled to write against time for
his living. 1887 RUSKIN Prseteritall. 171 [To] walk against
time up a regular slope of eight feet in the hundred is the
most trying foot-work I know.
37. At time(s, etc. a. At times, fo/(0) time
(obs. rare), at one time and another, at various
times, occasionally. Also at times and again.
1529 MORE Dyaloge in. Wks. 245/1 Our sauiour at tyme
taught his apostles a part. 1604 SHAKS. Otk. ii. iii. 319
You, or any man Huing, may be drunke at a time, man.
1611 BIBLE Judg. xiii, 25 The Spirit of the Lord beganne to
mooue himat times. 1779 Mirror No. 39 P9, 1 believe most
men have, at times, wished to be .. possessed of the power of
moulding the world to their fancy. 1864 Reader 634/3
Some blacks, at times and again, hovering over a few coals.
1884 W. C. SMITH Kildrostan 46, I blame myself at times.
b. (At} one time with (and} another, during
various detached periods ; on various occasions.
1613 R. FENTON Usury 37 If they could with their owne
free stocke raise the like gaine one time with another. 1845
Con Puritanism 252 Wmthrop .. was governor, at onetime
with another, eleven years. 1884 MRS. OLIPHANT Sir Tom
II. vi. 84 He had seen a good deal of her one time and
another in bis life.
C. At the same time, during the same period,
at the same moment, not before or after. (For
merly without at.} Also used in introducing a
reservation, explanation, or contrast, = * while say
ing this, nevertheless, however, yet, still *.
1526 TINDALE Matt, xviii. i The same tyme the disciples
cam vnto lesus, sayng (etc.]. Acts xix. 23 The same
tyme there arose no litell a do aboute that waye. 1563
PILKINGTON Knrn. I aules Ch. D ij b, Tertulian who lyued
at the same time of this Pope. 1705 SFKELE Tender Husb.
Ded., At the same time I hope I make the Town no ill
Compliment, .in acknowledging that it has so far rais d my
Opinion [etc.]. 1749 WESTtr. Pindar, New. Ode xi. Argt.,
Lest he should be too much puffed up with these Praises,
he reminds him at the same Time of his Mortality. 1780
Mirror No. 100 r 4 In two of Shakespeare s tragedies are
introduced, at the same time, instances of counterfeit mad
ness, and of real distraction. 1891 J. S. WINTER Lumley
,\v, Give them my best wishes. At the same time I must
say I do not envy the girl.
38. Between times, in the intervals between
other actions ; at intervals, between-whiles.
[1580, a 1641 Between-time sb. : see BETWEEN B. 4.] 190*
ELIZ. L. BANKS Newspaper Girt 159 She served me faith
fully till the very last, packing her humble belongings in
between times.
1 39. By time, by times, a. By time : in good
time, early; = BETIME adv. Obs.
c 1250, a 1300 [see BKIIMG adv. i, 2]. 1340-70 Altx. ff
Dind. 368 We ne sain hut sob & sesen by time, c 1425
Cast. Persev. 413 in Macro Plays 89 3 a * on M sowle bou
schalt J>ynke al be tyme. 1565 W. ALLEN in Fulke Confnt.
Purg. (1577) 142 Therfore deare brethern let vs turne and
amende by time.
} b. By times : (a) in good time, early ; =
BETIMES adv. (<) at various times ; from time to
time; at times, now and then, Obs.
c 1314, c 1380 [see BETIMES adv. 1,3]. 1460 FORTESCUK
Abs. fy Lint. Mon. xi. (1885) 135 The kynge.. hade be tymes,
sithen he reigned vpon vs, livelod. .nerehand to the value of
i>e vf> parte off is Reaume. 1530 TINDALE Ansiv. More
Wks. (1572) 251/1 Let therfore M. More and his company
awake be tymes ere euer their sinne be ripe. i6yjNorth^&
Plutarch (1676) 960 He slept in the day, and by times in
the night. 1743 in Egan Boxiana (1830) I. 49 Gentlemen
are therefore desired to come by times. 1825 KNAPP &
BALDW. Newgate Cal. IV. 177/1 The prisoner and I were
on good terms by times. 1825 SCOTT Betrothed xi, His
nephew . . was despatched by times every morning.
t C. By a time, at times, occasionally. Obs.
1721 KELLV Prav. 26 A Horse with four Feet may snap
per, by a time.
1 4O. For time, for the time being. Obs.
1464 Rollsof Parlt. V. 510/2 Any persone or persones for
tyme dwellyng. .within the same Chapell. 1483 Ibid. VI.
257/1 The Goodes and Chattells of the seid Provost and
Fellawes for tyme founden upon the seid Lande.
41. From time to time. a. At more or less
regular intervals; now and again, occasionally;
in quot. 1382, f at stated times, at definite intervals
(obs.} ; in quot. c 1412 with ellipsis of from.
1382 WVCLIF Ezck. iv. ji Fro tyme vn to tyme [1388 fro
tyme til to tyme] thou shalt drynke it. r 1412 HOCCLEVE
De Reg.Princ. 4189 Tyme to tyme he $af hem Of hisgoode.
1423 Acts Privy Council III. 88 Ye desire to be acertained
fro tyme to tyme of oure prosperite and welfare. 1651
HOBBES Leviathan in. xl. 255 From thence proceeded from
time to time the civill troubles, .of the Nation. 1891 Law
Rep., Weekly Notes 136/1 The passage., was used only from
time to time, and not continuously.
fb. Denoting succession of periods without
intervals : Continuously, constantly, at all times.
I 553 T. WILSON Rhet. 14 Heaven is theirs, saieth David,
that doe justly from tyme to tyme. 1586 T. K.LaPritnand.
Fr t Acad. (1589) 519 Therefore nothing was more esteemed
from time to time among the auncients, than the institution
of youth, which Plato calleth Discipline.
42. In time, f in times, a. In time, (a) In
the course of time, sooner or later, (b} Soon or
early enough, not too late, t(^) At a suitable
time ; seasonably ; opposed to out of time, 44 a (a).
Obs. rare, (d} Mus. In the correct rhythm : see 1 2 a.
(a) c 1450 tr. De Imitatione in. xxxv. 103 Consolacion shal
come to \>G in tyme. 1594 WIU.OBIE Avisa xtvii, I thinke
in tyme she may be wonne. i6;6 EARL MONM. tr. Bocca-
tinis Advts.fr. Parnass. I. xxiii. (1674) 24 Potent men.,
would certainly in time work their revenge. 1818 SCOTT
Hrt. Midi, xyi, The inner turnkey s office to begin wi , and
the captainship in time.
(/ ) 1467-8 Rolls of Parlt. V. 62^/1 Yf it were used in tyme.
1605 SHAKS. Macb. n. iii. 6 Come in time, haue Napkins enow
about you. i74 Qbsero* Methodists 4 It will be too late
to remedy it if not attended to in Time. 1834 Picture of
Liverpool 73 Letters put into any of the Receiving Houses
before twelve o clock will be in time for the early malls.
iqia Eng. Hist. Rev. Jan. 44 Mansel soon returned.. in
time to assume the custody of the seal in September 11238.
(c) 1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. ix. 184 Whan BC haue wyued, bewar
and worcheth in tyme. isftiSTUBBEsAnat. Abus.M. (1882)
78 The worde of God is to be preached night and day, in
time, and out of time, in season and out of season.
t b. In times, (a} At various times, on several
different occasions, (b} In times . . in times, some
times . . sometimes ; at one time . . at another.
1422 tr. Secret* Secret.^ Priv. Priv. 181 He that is a
gouernoure in tymes he shall Spare, and in tymes vengeaunse
lake. 1611 MS. Ace. St. John s lfosp. t Canterb., Payd
vnto Thomas Williames in timesinconsederationof a diall
ing of sartayn tythe wood.
C. In good time, (a) After the lapse of a suitable
interval ; iu due course or process of time ; at a
proper time, when it seems good. () Soon or
TIME.
4-1
TIME.
early ; quickly, f (Y) At the right or a season
able moment ; luckily. Obs. f (d} As an expression
of ironical acquiescence, incredulity, amazement, or
the like: To be sure!, indeed!, very well! (Cf.
Fr. a la bonne heure.} Obs,
(a) 1:1440 LOVKI.ICH Merlin 90,85 Forth on his message he
gan to gon, and dytle his message al in good tyme. 1622 in
Crt, ff Times Jos. I (1248) II. 343 But God, in his good time,
will amend all that is ami>s. 1777 SHEKIUAN Sch. Scand.
iv. i, I sliall be rich and splenetic, all in good time. 1822
SCOTT Pirate ix, The devil take him ! * said Mordaunt, in
impatient surprise. A in gude time *, replied the jagger.
i883GiLMOUK Mongols xvii. 206 Every true-hearted follower
shall, in good time, arrive at the desired goal.
(b) 1585 T. WASHINGTON tr. Nicholas s Voy. n. x.xii. 6j
[They] come home againe in good time without the knowledge
..of their husbands. 1872 Punch 19 Oct. 158/1 My aunt
wants to be back in good lime.
(c) 1586 A. DAY Eng. Secretary n. (1625) 62 If it please you
then to relume by him those parcels. ., they will cume now in
very good time. 1590 SHAKS. Com. Err. n. ii. 65 Learne to
iest in good time, there s a time for all things. 1633 S. DM
VERGF.R tr. Camus Adntir. Events 7 This came in good
lime to keepe this poore family from necessity.
(d) 1610 SHAKS. Temp. u. 1.95 Sowing the kernels of it [an
island] .. briiiit forth more Islands. ..Why in good time.
1650 Kuu.KR Pisgah u. vi. 149 There, .even at this day, are
shewed the mines of those three tabernacles built according
to Pelers desire. In very good time no doubt ! 1789 MKS.
Piozzt Journ. France II. 50 lionducci . .calls him emulous
of Milton, in good time 1 Ibid. 56.) Making fat the objects
of his partial tenderness with their best treasures -in good
time !
43. On time, punctually ; also prcd. punctual.
Chiefly C/. S, colloq. See also 48.
1878 MRS. STOWE Poganuc P. xxiii. 209 His wife had
always been on time, and on duty. 1890, 1892 [see ON prep.
6 d]. 1893 Scrilmer s Mag. June 781/2 My endeavors to
get the family out of the house and into our pew on time.
1904 Daily Chron. 5 Feb. 3/4 An Americanism here and
there out of place (as.. when the native dwarf, Cerberus.,
speaks of liis mistress as being on time in her return from
a trance).
t b. On a time : see 14. Obs.
44. Out of time. a. adv. phr. f(V) At an inap
propriate time ; unseasonably. Obs. (&} After the
prescribed period has elapsed ; too late. See also
7b(/). (f) Afus. See 12 a.
(a) 1393 LANGU P. PI. C. xi. 291 }e |*at ban wyues, be}?
war worchet nat out of tyme. c 1420 Avow, Artlt, xxiii, I,
Kay, that thou knawes, That owte of tyme bostus and
blawus. 1579 LVLV Eufftues (Arb.) 100 Doth not Tryacle
as well poyson as htlpe, if it be taken out of time? 1583
[see 423(0]. 1780 WAHNEK in Jesse Selwyn fy Contemp.
( 1844) IV. 325, I went like a thing born out of time, and had
the door almost shut in my face.
(b) 1884 GRAHAM HASTINGS in Law Tiiitts Rep. L. 175/1
On that view of the case also they are out of time, as they
took no steps in the matter until Oct. 1883. 1886 Law Times
LXXX. 241/2 Counsel for the respondent took a prelimi
nary objection that the appeal was out of time.
b. adj. phr. Unseasonable ; see OLT-OF-TIME.
45. To time, f a. For all time, for ever. Obs.
ciioo Trin. Coll. Horn. 183 For f>ine gulte ishal nu to
fine, rotie mole }>u to time. 1607 SHAKS. Cor. v. iii. 127,
..that brought you forth this boy To keepe your name
lining to time.
f b. conj. phr. To the time that, until such time
as, till. Also into, unto, till time. Obs t
a 1351 Misor Poems (1887) iv. 6 In bat land. .Ordanis he
still lor to dwell, To time he think to fight. 1449 PKCOCK
Repr* u. xvi. (Rolls) 246 Thei [images! wolden not at alle
tymes ^eue answeris. .into tyme thei weren myche preied.
C 1470 HENRY Wallace in. 432, 1 sail donocht till tyme I tak
my leyfl". 1500 Melusinc 170, 1 shal neuer departe fro this
land vnto tyme I be al dyscomfyted, or t>at I haue put them
to flyght. 1506 GUVLFORDE Pilgr. iCamden) 18 A lytell
cave, where they shytte him in, to tyme the Jewes had.,
deiermynyd what they wulde do with hym.
o. Within certain limits of time j so as to com
plete something by the end of a certain period.
187$ ETHEL UE FONBLANQUE Life A. Fonblanque 40 A
growing dislike to the act of writing to time *.
46. With time, with the lapse of time, in the
course of time ; = in time (42 a (a 1 )).
1578-9 Reg. Privy Council Scot. III. 82 Your Hienes sal
have pruif with tyme of my following thair trew. .service to
your Grace. 1650 EARL MONM. tr. Senault s Man bee.
Guilty 104 When with time he is grown greater, Ibid. 272
Ambition incieasing with time. Mod. With time it will
come all right.
t 47. "Without time, outside of or independent
of time; forever; eternal, ly). Obs.
a 1400 Pryntcrf) Holi modir of god. -bat we..moun stie
up to be seete of endeles blis l>eie fc>ou dwellist wib \>\ sone
wi>-outen lyme. 1509 HAWKS fast, fleas, xliv. (Percy
Soc.) 215 Withouten tynie is no erthly thynge, Nature,
fortune, or yet dame Sapyence. 1587 GOLDING DeMornay
\\. 79 This Minde is without time and onely everlasting.
f 48. In commercial phraseology, at,/or t on time,
at the rate which may be current on the day ap
pointed for settling; cf. TIME-BARGAIN. Obs.
1651 M ARIUS Adv. Cone. Hilts F.xch. 74 Goods sold one
part for ready Monv, the rest at Time. 17*7 SWIFT What
passed in London Wks. 1755 III. i. 188 There were many
who called themselves Christians, who offered to buy for
time. 1766 W. GORDON (/>. Counting-h. 10 Debited.. to
the persons of whom they are bought, if on time,
****\Vith a verb.
49. (The) time was ,hath been, shall be),
inversion of there was (etc.) a time ivheri}.
1509 BARCLAY Shvp <//Wi* 11874) I. 35 The tyme hath
VOL. X.
ben, nat longe before our dayes Whan [etc.). 1549 COVER-
DALE, etc. Erasin. Par. Gal. v. 18 The tyme was when it
was nedefull. 1611 UIBLE Transl. Pref. 5 The same
Hierome elsewhere affirmed), that he, the time was, had set
furth the Translation of the Seuenly for hii countrymen
of Dalmatia. 1791 CoWPM Iliad i. 300 Time shall be,
when Achilles shall be mis^ d. 1874 MICKI.KTHWAITE Mo,(,
far. Churches 251 Time was when we had a national style.
50. To keep time. a. A7us. To mark the rhythm
by movements of the hand or baton ; to beat time ;
also, of a performer, to adhere to the correct rhythm
and rate of the music, to keep pace with a measure
or another performer, etc. Alsojig.
1599 Ii. JONSON Cynthia s Rev. \. i, Slow, slow, fresh fount,
keep time with my salt tears. 1662 PL AY FORD Skill Alus, i. ix.
(1674) 29 In keeping time your hand goes duwn at one half,
and up at the next. 1687 LOVELL tr. Thwenofs T>ai>.
\\. 85 They beat this Stuff with one hand two and two over
against one another, .. keeping time to this tune. 1817
UVRON Kt />po Ixiii, I can t well break it, Hut must keep
time and tune like public singers. 1821 SCOTT Kenikv.
xviii, Thy reward shall be princely, if thou kuep bt time and
touch, and exceedest not the due proportion.
b. Of a timepiece : To register the passage of
lime correctly.
1899 P.N. HASLUCK Clock Jobber s Handl k. 61 The clock
is ready.. with every probability of going and keeping time
for two or three years.
V. Combinations.
51. a. Simple alt rib. (_a) Of or pertaining lo
time , as time-basis > -division t -drop, -guide,
-integral (INTEGRAL U. 4 a), -inark^ -ocean, -per
spective, -reference^ -schedule, -sense, -variation ;
also, of time as distinct from eternity , as time-
element^ -pattern^ -state^ -venture, -world; (/>) re
lating to, based upon, or indicating the amount of
time occupied in some work or process , as time-
allowance ^ -board, -log (Loc sbj- 7), -march, -prize t
-race t -record, -ticket ; (c} in names of instruments,
machines, or appliances used as time-signals or
timed to operate at a given moment, as time-alarm
(ALARM $b. 7), -bomb, -fuse, -glass (cf. HOUR-GLASS),
-gun, -measure, -taper.
1877 KNIGHT Diet. 3Iecft. t * Time-alarm, an audible notice
at the expiration of a set time. 1883 I>. KFMP in Fortn.
Rev. i Sept. 324 The yachts . .were sailed in classes without
time-allowance. 1849 J. A. CAKLYLE tr. Dante s Inferno
p. xxxi, The whole "time-basis of his mighty song has become
dim and cold, 1890 W. J. GORDON Foundry 34 As the men
come in past the time-office they take their piece or "time-
boards from the rack, where each is placed against its proper
number. 1895 Times 7 Jan. 3/3 In the case of one larye
yard the men have come out on strike against the introduc
tion of the timeboard system. 1893 Daily Tel. g Nov.
5/7 The engine of destruction was not a "time bomb. 1877
K. CAIRD Philos. Ka.nt u. x. 415 The schematism of the
categories, the translation of them into time-determinations
is no mere idle play of the imagination. 1888 J. PKF.STWICH
Geol. II. 3 The great "time-divisions are of almost universal
application, a. 1711 KF.S rreparativcs Poet. Wks. 1721 IV.
3g Minutes.. On these "Time-drops eternal Joys depend.
1831 CAKLYLE Sart. Rf$. nr. viii, Pierce through the*Time-
element, glance into the Kternal. 1862 Ctital, Internal.
Exhib. II. xi. 23 A fuse.. placed and used like the ordinary
simple *time fuse. 1804-6 SYD. SMITH Mor. Philos. (i&so)
122 If you were to say that man was like a time-glass, that
both must run out, and both render up their dust. 1875
Zoologist X. 4587 He wished it to be a "time-guide to the
appearance of butterflies and moths. 1878 STEVENSON
Edinburgh 133 The "time-gun by which people set their
watches. 1885 TAIT Rec. Adv. Phys. Sc. (ed. 3) 359 Mo
mentum is the *Time-Integral of Force because force is
the rate of change of Momentum. 1868 Time-log [see
LOG sb. 1 7]. 1891 Labour Commission Gloss., Time-Log^ the
printed statement of times allowed for making garments in
the tailoring trade, agreed upon between employers and
employed. 1896 Daily News 22 Dec. 6/6 Captain M ..
was thrown from his horse yesterday near Fleet during a
"time march. 1901 Spectator 20 July 93/2 The continually
recurring "time-marks of winter and summer. 17*6 LEONI
AlbertCs Archil. Pref. 3 Vehicles, Mills, "Time-measures,
and other such minute things. 1864 LOWELL Fireside Trai>.
125 The old lime-ocean throws upon its shores just such
rounded and polished results of the eternal turmoil. 1907
Gentl. Mag. July So The Australian child is deficient not so
much in imagination as in what may be called "time-perspec
tive. 1897 Outing (U.S.) Aug. 494/1 In 1800 Murphy was
on scratch, and won the time-prize. iSga BATEMAN Aquatic
Notes an. 1844, P. M [won the sculls] after a pood
time-race wiih R- . 1887 E. MOORE (title) The *Time-
References in the Divina Commedia, and their Bearing on
the Assumed Date and Duration of the Vision. 1877 E.
CAIRO i hili s. Kant n. xi. 445 So far as sensations are repre
sented as objects, they must be represented as events in time,
and thus.. considered as the real subjects of "time-relations
like any other events. 1004 Daily Chron. 31 Dec. 6/7 The
reconstruction of an old [line], when the working moments
must be snatched in the gaps of the "time.^chedule, and the
greater part of the work must be tarried out during a
period of four hours al dead of night. 1899 Syd. S<v. Ltx.,
*Time sense, the perception of the lap*e of time. 1810
SOUTHEY Kehama \\\\. vii, Lo ! the time-tapt-r s flame
ascending slow. 1903 K. WALLACE Life iii. 52 This view of
the Sabbath as a sacrifice or "time-tax paid to the Deity.
1900 H. LAWSON Over SJuprails 123 The door opened.
Arvie. .took bis "time-ticket, and hurried in. 1881 MAXWRLL
Electr. ff Magn. II. 223 The third term. .depends on the
"time-variation of the magnetic neld. 1831 CARLVLK Sart.
Res. in. viii. Nature, which is the "Time-vesture of God, and
reveals Him to the wUe, hides Him from the foolish. 1843
Pasttf /V. ii. vi. This "Time-world.. plays and flickers
in the grand still mirror of Eternity.
b. Objective and obj. gen., as time-beater> -gi~ fr t
-measurer, ffamvr, -pkaser, -saver, -setter \ 7,40^
-$ptnder t -waster (1661 }, etc. j time-beguiling
( 1592), -bettering, -breaking^ -dehtding, devouring t
-economizing, -noting, -setting (1340), -spending
(1509), -wasting, etc., adjs. and sbs. ; c. instru
mental, as time-authorized (a 1628), battered,
-hent^ -bcwasted (1593), -blackened, -blanched,
-born, -bound, -cleft, -discoloured, -eaten, -gnawn,
-mellowed^ -rent, -rztsty, -shrouded, -taught, -tried,
-wasted, -icearied, -white, -unthered^\.^.,^.(\]^. , d. in
various relations with pples. and adjs., as time-en-
during(^-during} t -lasting, -marked, -proof ,-sen cd.
a 1628 F. GREVII. Sidney xv. (1652) 199 Those "time-
authorized assemblies. 1729 SAVAGE // antlercr v. 44 "Time-
Latter d Tow rs frown awful in Decay. 1881 Ai/ie>ia>tt>ti
cMar.342 3 To feel at once the important difference between
a conductor and a "time-beater. 159* SHAKS. / V. \ A,>.
24 A sommers day.. wasted in such time-begin linp sport.
1863 Pilgr. (K t-r Prairies II. 302 The grey :md timebent
grandsire. c 1600 SHAKS. Sonn. UxxH, Some fresher stamp?
of the *iime bettering dayes. 1593 Ric/t. //, i. iii. 221 My
oyle-dride Lampe, and "time-bewasted light. 1806 SCRR
ll inicrin Loud. I. 178 "Time-blanthed locks. 1628 G \rt E
Pract, The. Panegyr. 59 He *time-borne Sonne, i^ot from
eternitie. 1647 FIU.KK Gwd T/i. in H tvsf T. ii^i i
When we are "time-bound, place-bound, or person-bound.
1601 SIR W. CORNVVALUS Ess. IT. xxxvi. (1631) iog After
comes the torture of the * time. breaking whet le. 1800 Ht RDiS
l "a" . I illagc 182 The time-cleft arch Of ancient chantry.
a 1617 HIKHOX \l ks, (1620) I. 10 Idle loyterers. .or *time-
d eluding triflcrs. 1742 MRS. DF.LANV in Life <\ Cory. (1861)
II. 198 Accustomed to the nianyhinries n:id *time-devotiring
accidents of this hu.^e place. 1836 H. COLKRIDGG Xorih.
Worthies In trod. (1852) 17 To. .run his eye along the time-
discoloured pages. 1548 UDALL, etc. Erasin. Pnr. John xi.
80 Not. .that it is an uncouth or a *time duryng thyn^ to
me. a 1849 POE City in Sea. i, "Time-taten towers that
tremble not. 1839 BAILEY ^/j xi. (1852) 142 Now go 1
forth again . .Upon my time-enduring pilgrimage. 1613
DANIEL Coil. Hist. J<nff. (1626) 33 The Kin;; . . was no time-
giuer vnto growing dangers. 1863 HAWIHORNK Our Old
Home (1879) 162 A gray, *time-gnawn, poru erous, shadowy
structure. 1674 N. FAIRFAX Bulk <v Selv. 40 This *titne-
lasting World, and every while-being thing in it. 1888 K.
CLODD Story Creation xi. 217 The rude, chant of the
savage, time-marked by yell and tamtam. 1864 HAWTHORNE
S. felton (1883) 265 The time-measurer of one whose mortal
life he had cut off. 1904 Edin. Rt~i>, Jan. 200 The pendulum
was. .assigned its function as a time-measurer. 1615 I .RATH-
WAIT Strappado (1878) 109 My Time-noting lines ayme not
at thee. 1647 TRAPP C0JW/1. Luke xiv, 7 Ministers, though
they may not be time-servers, yet they must be time-
observers. 1601 SHAKS. Twel. A , it. iii. 16^1 The diu ll a
Puritane that hee is, or any thing constantly but a *time-
pleaser. 1607 Cor. \\\ \. 45 Time-pleasers. 1806 J.
GRAHAME Hints Scot. 74 In some vacant niche, Or "time-
rent crevice. 1639 FULLER Holy War v. x.\ix. 279 How
would a Herald sweat with scouring over these "time-rustic
titjes. i873l!*MERTON* Intell. Life Iv. i. (1876) 135 The best
"time-savers. 1900 Daily E.i flressi^ June 5/2 All the men
. .at the bureaus for time-served soldiers. 1340 Aytnb. 36
pe "time-zettere on t re we. . . Vor hire time-zettinge hi
destrue^ and makej> beggeres be kny3tes. 1794 COLKRIDCK
ilfonody Death Chatterton ad fin., S eet Harper of "time,
shrouded Minstrelsy. 1670 G. H. Hist. CatdmaU \.\. 12
Those impertinent time-spenders, the Priests. 1509 HA WES
Past. Pleas, xliv. (Percy Soc.) 215 Kyther hell or heaven,
wythout lesynge, Alway he getteth in his *tyme pendynge.
1799 CAMPHKLL Pleas. Hope \\. 224 The *time-tatight spiiit,
pensive not severe. 1870 RI SKIN Lect, Art i. (1875) ?
Faithful servant of *time.tritd principles. 1814 SCOTT Ld.
of Isles i. Introd. iv, Through fields time-wasted, on Mid
inquest hound. 1661 BAXTER Last ll ork /ielia-er \Vks.
(1846) 253 She was a stranger to pastimes, and no companion
for *time- wasters. 1741-3 GRAY Agrippina 139 The
slacken d sinews of time-wearied age. ri6 (CHAPMAN
Iliad viii. 454 To warn the youth, yet short of war, and
*time- white fathers.
52. Special combs. : time-attack (Fencing)
= time-thrust ; time-bill, (a) a lime-table of
trains, etc. ; () a record kept by the guard of a
train of the time it leaves each station ; time-book,
(a} a book in which an entry is made of the time
worked by employees ; (k) a chronicle (cf. Ger.
zeitbucK} ; (c} = time-bill (a} ; time-candle (see
quot.) ; time-card, (a] a card on which a record
is kept of time worked ; () a card time-table ;
time-catch, in a photographic camera, a catch
which retains the shutter for a fixed time ; time-
catcher, in Fencing^ one who takes the time :
see 21; time-charter (see quot.) ; time-clause
Gram., an adverbial clause of time, a temporal
clause ; time-constant Electr. (see quot. 1902) ;
time-course Naut.^ a ship s rnn, as in a fog,
calculated by the vessel s speed, the time occupied,
and the direction; time-curve (see quot.) ; time-
detector, a clock (stationary at a point) or watch
(carried by the watchman) having additional
mechanism, operated by the watchman, to show
the times at which he was at certain points of his
round (Knight Diet. Meek. 1877): cf. TKI.L-TALE
2g; also called time-watch\ time-disk, nn in
strument used in conjunction with the kymograph
for investigating the time-sense ; time-expired a. t
whose term of engagement has expired ; time-ex
posure j*hotogr. y exposure for a regulated time, ns
distinguished from instantaneous exposure ; so
time-exposed a.; ftime-fellow, a contemporary;
time-globe, a terrestrial globe rotated once in
twenty-four hours by a clock-movement, and en-
6
TIME.
circled at the equator by a stationary graduated
zone, showing the local time at any meridian ; time-
lag, the length of time separating two correlated
physical phenomena ; time-line, (a) pi. a certificate
of apprenticeship (see LINE sb. 2 23 f) ; (A) an undu
lating line indicating small fractions of a second, by
which the time or rate of some process may be
measured ; time-lock, a lock with clockwork
attachment which prevents its being unlocked until
a set time ; time-marker, (a) an automatic device
in a cab, etc., which registers the time it is in use,
with the fare payable ; (6) Electr. (see quot. 1902) ;
time-notice, a notice given a definite time before ;
time-payment, (a) payment by instalments; (/>)
payment on the basis of time worked ; time-policy
(see quot. 1848) ; time-rate, (a} rate in time ; (/)
rate of payment on the basis of time worked ;
time-recorder, an apparatus which records the
time of an act or event ; time-sheet, a time-table (on
a sheet) ; the paper on which are entered the names
of workmen and the hours worked by them ; time-
shutter, in the photographic camera, a shutter for
time-exposures ; time-sight Naiit., an observation
of the altitude of the sun or a star for the purpose
of ascertaining the time and, hence, the longitude
(Cent. Diet.) ; time-signal, a visible or audible
signal made at an observatory, etc., to announce
the exact time, e. g. the fall of a time-ball, or
firing of a time-gun; time-signature Mus., a
sign placed at the beginning of a piece of music,
or where the time changes, to show the measure
or rhythm ; rhythmical signature ; time-taker,
t (a) = TIME-SERVER i ; (l>) one who takes a note
of the time occupied in any work or course ; time-
taking a., that takes time, leisurely, slow ; time-
thrust (Fencing), an offensive-defensive counter-
stroke made within the time of the adversary s
movement of attack, and preventing its completion ;
time-value Mm., the relative duration of a note ;
time-waiter, one who awaits a favourable turn of
events ; cf. TIDE-WAITER 2 ; time-watch = time-
detular; time-work, work which is paid for on
the basis of the time occupied ; distinguished from
piece-work ; so time-worker ; time-zone, any one
of the twenty-four divisions of the surface of the
globe (each bounded by two meridian lines), within
each of which the standard time adopted is the
mean solar time of the meridian distant from Green
wich a number of complete hours : an improper
designation, for the regions so bounded are not
,ones. See also TIME-BALL, -BARGAIN, -WORN, etc.
1889 Dusx Fencing 62 *Time attacks, whereby, having
anticipated in what line your opponent s attack will be de
livered, you intercept his blade as he gives in -his attack.
1847 (July i) East. Counties ty E. Union Raihv ays ( Rail.
Mag. Jan. 1910. 46) "Time bills of a prior date are not correct.
1858 SIMMON IJS Diet. Trade. Time-bill, a time-table of
the arrivals and departures of trains, omnibuses, steamers,
&c. 1878 F. S. WILLIAMS Midi. Raihi: 658 To ascertain
the precise moment that the train clears certain stations,
that he [the guard] may. .chronicle the same in his time-
bill. 1898 Daily NS-MS 19 Oct. 3/2 She looked down the
timebill for a place a long way off", and seeing Blackpool
and the distance it was off took a ticket for there. 1854 H.
MILLER Sch. <y Schm. xiii. (1858) 27T, 1 still retained the
*time-book in my master s behalf. 1867 tr. -wafffs Hist.
Israel^? Like a true time-book (or chronicle) terminated with
the description of the most recent great deeds. 1877 KNTGHT
Diet. Mech., * Time-candle, one in which the size and
quality of the material and the wick are so regulated that a
certain length will burn in a given time. 1891 Cent. Diet.,
* Time-card. T$tfi Engineering Jfag. XVI. 41 Each work
man perforates a five-minute time-card for each job on
which he is employed, simply piercing the card at the five, t
minute points most nearly representing his times of begin
ning and ending. 1890 Anthony s Pliotogr. Bull. III. 383
The time catch is on the other side, and by means of two
slots and pins, is arranged so that it cannot fall backwards |
or forwards when not in use. 1753 CHAMBERS Cycl. Si</>f>.
s. v. Binding, The great objection made by some people,
particularly those time-catchers, against the frequent use i
of binding, is [etc.]. 1891 Labour Commission Gloss.,
* Time-charter, an agreement under which the owner hires
his vessel for a stipulated monthly payment, generally in
advance, in which case the charterer loads and discharges .
the vessel. 1895 Funk s Stand. Diet., Time-constant.
igoa SLOANE Stand. Electr. Diet., Time Constant, (a)
If., we divide the inductance in henries by the resistance in
ohms, the ratio gives the time-constant of the circuit, or it i
expresses the time which it will take for the current to \
reach 0-63 of its final value, (b) In a static condenser the
time required for the charge to fall toone 2-7183111 part ofits
original value. 1909 Cent. Diet. Suppl., ^Time-curve, a
curve so plotted that one of its coordinates represents time,
or periods of time. 1901 E. B. TITCHENER Exper. Psychol.
I. x. 338 The most useful appliance for investigation is, pro
bably, Meumann s time.sense apparatus, consisting of
Baltzar kymograph, time-disc, set of contacts, and sound-
hammers. _ 1885 SIR H. GREEN in Pall Mall G. 14 Feb.2/r
"Time-expired soldiers in India will not, as a rule, re-enter
the ranks. 1889 Anthony s Plwtogr. Bull. II. 79 To level
your camera when taking time-exposed pictures and hence
get straight lines. 1893 J. A. HODGES Elew. Pfwtogr.
(1907) r8 A tripod stand will be required.. when time
exposures are given. 1899 A. B. LLOYD in Daily News
9 Jan. 2/3, I couldn t give a time exposure, as the pigmies
42
i would not stand still. 1577 HARRISON England i. xviii,
. (1880) 131 My Synchroni or *time fellows can reape at this
; present great commoditie in a little roome. 1638 CHILLINGW,
| Relig.Prot. I. vi. 23. 340 The disinterested time-fellowes
; or immediate Successors of Liberius. 1862 Cat. Internal.
Ex/iib., Brit, n. No. 5516 "Time globe, planetary clock.
1895 Daily News 5 Dec. 2/2 The masters, it is admitted,
would be acting quite within their powers if they refuse to
grant the apprentices their *iirne lines. 1898 Allbutfs
i Syst. Med, V. 814 No pulse is regular, as a time line at the
foot of a sphygmographic tracing will prove. 1877 KNIGHT
1 Diet. Mecfi., "Time-luck, a. lock having clock-work attached
which. .prevents the bolt being withdrawn when locked,
until a certain interval of time has elapsed. 1908 Daily
Chron. 10 June 7/1 The time-lock on the door of a bank s
vaults makes it impossible for the bank s officers themselves
. to enter the strong room after closing-time. 1898 H estm.
Gaz. uMar.7/2 Five hundred cabs provided with the "time
and fare marker were put on the stand-;. 1902 SLOANE
, Stand. Electr. Diet, Suppl., Time-marker, a light flexible
stylus actuated by an electro-magnet in circuit with an
electro-magnetic tuning-fork. It is used for recording
tuning fork vibrations on a chronograph drum. 1902 IVestm.
\ Gaz. 7 Feb. 2/2 The Bill, .provides for a *time-noiice of
seven years to the holders of licences to sell liquor for con
sumption on the premises. 1908 Ibid. 23 Mar. 2/3 The
far loo much bother for me, and I look on it as undignified
for our trade. 1848 ARNOULD Mar. Insur. \. v. (1866) I.
219 A time policy is one in which the limits of the risk are
designated only by certain fixed periods of time. 1895
KENNI-DY in Lazy Times Re/>. LXX1I. 861/1 The policy is
a time policy for six months from the gth Jan. 1894 to the
8th July 1894. i88z_MixcHiN Unipl. Kimmat. 60 The
, time-rate of description of area round the fixed centre is
; constant in all positions of the moving point, 1902 ELIZ. L.
BANKS Newspaper Girl 263 We always pay the expenses
and time rates when you go off on a job like that. 1898
Engin. Mag. XVI. 41 Workmen use a mechanical "time-
recorder requiring the vibration of a lever on entering and
leaving the shop. 1893 ^estm. Gaz. 7 July 5/1 An ele
gantly printed Mime-sheet had been laid on the table for the
use of the Duke and Piincess. 1907 Daily Citron. 3 May 9/2
A light folding quarter-plate camera, with good lens, "time
and instantaneous shutter. 1877 KNIGHT Diet. Mech. s. v.,
The electro-magnetic telegraph has been used for operating
*time-signals. .; thus, the Greenwich time is indicated at
Liverpool, .by the diopping of a ball. 1875 STAINER &
BARRF.TT Diet, Mus. Terms s. v. Signature, There are two
kinds of signature, the "time-signature and the key-signa
ture... It would be more proper to call the time-signature
the measure-sign, as it shows the contents of a bar, but not
the pace at which the music should be performed. 1630-
56 GORDON///*/. Earld. Sutherld. (1813) 325 That *tyme-
lakeis wold be now easalie decerned fiom true freinds. 1867
LIVINGSTONE in Blaikie Life xix. (1910* 323 His time-taker
had no conscience and could not be trusted. 1838 DICKENS
Nidi. Nick, i, Mr. Nickleby.. was a slow and ^time-taking
speaker. 1809 ROLAND Fencing%\ To leave his body exposed
to receive, in the interim of his motion, a "time thrust. 1834
Encycl. Brit. (ed. 7) IX. 503 Time thrusts are so called
because the success of these movements depends entirely
upon their being executed at the exact moment of time
employed by the adversary in planning or in executing his
attack. Ibid., Passim. 1889 Fencing (Badm. Libr.) 91 The
time-thrust is an attack made with opposition on a com
plicated attack, and intended to intercept the line where
such an attack is meant to finish. 1859 SALA Tw. Round
Clock (1861) 175 You never see these ghostly time-waiters
anywhere but on Change, and cut of Change hours. 1899
Globe 30 June, During the debate Mr. Courtney call d him
self first a Liberal Unionist and then a Time-waiter. 1829
BENTHAM Justice^ Cod. Petit. ^ More Abr. Petit. Justice 3
He is paid according to the time during which he is occupied
..in doing the woik : this ! called . . "time work. 1910 Edinb. \
Rev. Jan. 12 The advantages which piecework has ovei
timework are more completely secured. 1906 Outlook 9 June
774/i To move the Observatory . . would involve the adop
tion of a new starting-point for the meridians of longitude
and for the "time-zones into which the world is divided.
Time (taim), v. Pa. t and pple. timed (taimd). !
{f. TIME sb. : cf. OE. getimian to happen, befall, i
n sense i, app. substituted for TIDE .i, when !
time sb. was superseding tide,]
I. fl. intr. To befall, to happen; = TIDE
v. 1 i. Tmpers. or with subject it. (Perf. with be.) I
c 1205 LAY. 27978 J>a wes hititimed [^1275 ifunde] ^>ere |>at
Merlin saide while, c 1230 Hali Metd. 35 Ofte hit time6
f?at tat leoueste beam . . sorhe<5 & sweameS meast his ealdren |
on ende. c 1250 Gen. fy Ex. 3820 Do we us alle in godes !
red, Vs sal limen 3e betre sped, c 1350 Will. Palerne 5433
pe same sey i be Jre, so me wel time, la 1400 Morte Arth. \
3150 In-to Tuskane he tournez, whene thus wele tymede.
t b. intr. To fare (well or ill) ; spec, to fare
well, prosper. Obs.
c 1250 Gen. ff Ex. 1023 BI San sal sarra selSe timen >at ;e
[= she] sal of a sune trimen. Ibid. 3392 Amalech fle^ and
israel Hadde he^ere bond, and timede wel. Ibid. 4024 Dis
folc..Is vnder god timed wel. c 1460 Towneley Myst. \\.
26 God gif you ill to tyme !
II. 2. trans. To appoint or arrange the time of
(an action or event) ; to choose the moment or
occasion for. Usually (in context), to do (a thing)
at the right time; * to adapt to the time* (J.).
13.. Gaw. fy Gr. Knt. 2241 pou hatz tymed Jn trauayl as
true mon schulde. 1440 Promp, Pa>~u, 490 ! Tymyn, or
make in tyme (and) in seson, temporo. 1625 BACON Ess.,
Of Delays (Arb,) 525 There is surely no greater Wisedome,
then well to lime the Beginnings, and Onsets of Things.
a 1708 BKVERIDGR T/ies. TheoL (1710) II. 329 To teach us to
submit to His wisdom. .in liming all things. 1786 MMF.
D ARBLAY Diary 6 Oct., This visit was not so timed as to
compose me. 1802 MAR. EDGEWORTH Moral T., Forester
Jii, Pray let me go to sleep.. and time your explanations
a little better. 1821 SCOTT Kcnihv. xvi, Why, how now,
TIME.
Eowyer , said Elizabeth, thy courtesy seems strangely
timed ! 1865 KINCSLF.Y Here, v, They had timed their
journey by the tides. 1884 COURTHOPK Addiaon v. 113
Nothing could have been better timed than the appearance
of the Spectator.
b. To arrange the time of arrival of (a train, a
ship, etc.) ; hence, to regulate the rate of travelling
of; also, to calculate or judge the moment of
impact of (a ball or moving body).
1861 Times 22 Aug., The Royal train was timed to reach
Leamington at 1.17 p.m. 1866 Routledge s Ev. Boy s Ann.
< 356 Educating, so to speak, his eye to time the ball correctly.
1880 NEWTON Serin. Boys <y Girls (1881) 167 Not timing
himself right.. he met him just in the road. 1889 ACWORTH
Railw, kng. 198 The best train each way.. is timed at over
45 miles an hour. Ibid. 202 The Great Northern.. timed
their trains to Doncaster. .in 6 minutes less. 1890 Punch
12 July 15 Special trains, timed to take at least half-an-hour
longer. 1893 [see TIMING fbl. sb. 2].
c. To adjust (a clock, etc.) to keep accurate time.
1825 J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mech. 504 The easy Timing of
Watches by the Vibrations of the Pendulum. 1884 F. J.
BRITTEN Watch fy Clotkm. 264 [A] Timing Box [is] a brass
i box for the reception of an uncased watch movement while
j it is being timed. Mod. Your watch is finished, but has not
; been exactly timed yet.
3. To mark the rhythm or measure of, as in
I music; to sing or play (an air or instrument) in
(good or bad) time. Also_/5g".
cisoo in Giose, etc. Antiq. Rep. (1809) IV. 408 Yet
tationalis lingua cxpellit instruments all, Wel tymede and
tewnede. 1602 MARSTON Ant. $ Mel. v, If that thou canst
not give, goe hang thyselfe: He time thee dead, or verse
thee to the rope. 1607 SHAKS. Cor. \\. ii. 114 He was a thing
of Blood, whose euery motion Was tim d with dying Cryes.
a 1711 [see TIMING vbl. sb. 2]. 1837 LOCKHART Scott Mar.
an. 1815, He then. .joined with a stentorian voice in the
, cheering, which the Prince himself timed.
b. To set the time of; to cause to coincide in
time with something (const, to}.
1655 H. VAUGHAN Silex Scint. t Isaac s Marr. 67 Others
were tym d and train d up to t. a 1719 ADDISON tr. Ovid in.
Mariners Transf. Dolphins 52 Old Epopeus..Who over-
look d the oars, and tim d the stroke. 1725 POPE Odyss. vn.
419 How fleet our sail, When justly tim d with equal sweep
they row. 1805 SOUTHEY Madoc in \V. xvii, Hark ! tis
the mariners with voice attuned Timing their toil ! 1808
SCOTT Warm. i. ii, Timing his footsteps to a march, The
i warder kept his guard. 1871 TYNDALL Fragm. Sc. (1879) I.
vi. 197 Timing the pull to the lurching of the ship.
c. intr. To keep time to\ to sound or move in
; unison or harmony with.
1850 WHITTIER Elliott iv, Timing to their stormy sounds,
His stormy lays are sung. 1855 TENNYSON Maud i. xviii. 8
Beat, happy stars, timing with things below, Beat with my
heart more blest than heart can tell, a 1892 WHITMAN Out
o/ Cradle 8 The savage old mother, incessantly crying, To
the boy s soul s questions sullenly timing.
1 4. trans. To * give or tell the time to (any one).
Obs. rare.
1583 MELBANCKE Philotimus C y, The fyre to warrne
thee, the scortching of thesunne: thy clocke to time thee,
the scritching of y* owle.
5. To fix the duration of; to assign the metrical
quantity of (a syllable) or the duration of (a note) ;
also, to regulate the operation or action of (a
mechanism, etc.) as to duration (see also 7).
1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. Poeste n. xii[i]. (Arb.) 131 It could
not possible be by vs perfourmed, because their sillables
came to be timed some of them lont*, some of them short.
1597 [see TIMING vl>l. sb. 2]. 1835 Frasers Mag, XII. 416
Lamarck has defined nature to be motion, and law, and
space, and time, without reference to a being moving or
moved, legislating or legislated upon, and timing or spacing,
or being timed and spaced. 1885 Manch, Exam. 12 Jan. 5/2
The clockwork apparatus, timed to run for two horns. 1893
J. A. HODGES Elem. Photflgr.(iqoj) 58 If we have correctly
timed our exposure.
fb. To time it out, to procrastinate, delay, spin
out the time. Obs.
1613 DANIEL Coll. Hist. Eng. 81 They timed it out all
that Spring, and a great part of the next Sommer. a 1649
DRUMM. OF HAWTH. Hist, Jas. //, Wks. (1711) 32 Otheis
advised him.. to time it out a while: in this IJngring war a
truce might be agreed upon.
6. To ascertain or note the time at which (some
thing) is done or happens ; to note the time
occupied by or the duration of an action, etc.).
1670 MILTON Hist, Eng. iv. Wks. (1847) 527/2 So different
they often are one from another, both in timing and in
naming. 1692 NORRIS Curs. Refl. 19 The Question will be
concerning the Timing of it, whet her any of these Impressions
be Original Characters or no. 1723-4 DK. WHARTON True
Briton No. 71 II. 602 The Timing of the subsequent Piece
obliges us to insert the following Letter. 1859 LANG Wand.
India 393 Slowly as he read, it was over In twelve minutes,
for I timed him. 1878 BROWNING La Saisiaz 193 We who,
darkling, timed the day s birth. 1896 Daily News 13 Jan.
8/2 Another letter . .timed 9 p.m. states that during the night
of the 8th and $th inst. the Shoans made an attack by sur
prise. 1907 Academy 14 Sept. 885/2 He does not believe in
what he cannot see, or time, or measure, or weigh.
7. Mech. To adjust the parts of (a mechanism)
so that a succession of movements or operations
takes place at the required intervals and in the
desired sequence ; to arrange the time of (an
operation) in a mechanical cycle or series.
1895 in Funk s Stand. Diet. 1898 Engineering Mag.
XVI. io8/t When. .a timing valve is used, instead of per-
milting the ignition to be timed by the compression.
8. fencing. = To take the time (TIME sb. 21,
quot. 1809),
TIME-BALL.
1809 ROLAND Fencing ioq The too frequent practice of
timing their adversary, because they will render their modes
of play., very disagreeable to each other. 1889 DUNN
Fencing 8 5 There is always a large element of risk in liming.
9. To time out : to parcel out or apportion (a
space of time). Cf. to space out.
1902 Fortn.Rt r. June 1036 When a m;m is always timinc;
out his day, and dovetailing together the duties which com
pose his daily life.
Time, obs. form of THYME.
Ti me-ball. A ball moving on a vertical rod
or pole, placed in some prominent elevated position,
for the purpose of indicating mean time, which it
does by dropping at a certain moment each day
from the top to the bottom of the lod, usually by
the closing of nn electric circuit,
The time thus indicated is usually i p. m., in U. S. noon.
1858 SI.MMONDS Diet. Trade, Titc-bal/,3. ball, moved by
rleciiiuty, which is dropped from the summit of a pole to
indicate the true meridional or mid-day time. 1878 LUCKYER
.Margazt Mg-279 This (wirej is used for dropping the time-
ban at Deal. 1884 WRITTEN Watch ff tlocknt. 263 The
time ball at Greenwich Observatory is of very thin cupper,
Ti me-ba:rgain. A contract for the sale or
purchase of goods or stock at a stipulated price on
a certain future day; in Stock Exchange parlance,
a transaction in which one accepts the liability to
profit or lose by the amount of the difference be
tween the prices of the stock involved on the day
of dealing and on the settling-day.
1775 MORTIMER V. Man his Own Broker 63 nrtt, Time,
bargains, which have no foundation in rtal piopetty. 1844
HARVEY Rep. 5V/. Connn. on Gaming Q. 69 A tirm--batgain
is in the nature of a bet upon what will be the price of slocks
on a given day. i88a UirHELt, Counttng-ho. Dict.^ (1893)
s. v., Time bargains originated in the practice of cloving the
bank for six weeks in each quarter for the ptcpaintion of
the dividends. As no transfer could be made during that
period, it became a practice to buy and sell for the opening.
1888 J.S.NICHOLSON in h ncycl.Brlt. XXIII. 8y/i A curious
example of legal evasion [of taxes on the transfer of slocks
and shares] Is furnished by time-bargains; and the imposi
tion of the tax directly on the contracts of sale, instead of
as at present on the actual transfer, has been. strongly uiged.
Timed (taimd), ///. a. [f.TiME v. (and $b.} +
-ED.] t a* Matured by time, seasoned. Obs.rare~^.
b. Done, made, or occurring at a (proper or
improper) time; fdone a t tne r ight time, well-
timed, timely (0bs.\ c. Of music or verse: \Vritten
in measure, d. Fixed or regulated as to time.
Also, as second element in a compound, as;7/-//w<v/, ivell-
linied t ei cn tiined*, /rcn., Ihrce-^foitr-timcd.
1628 KtLiHAM Rt$oh>(s ii, [T.] xliv. 130 There is a flowing
noblenesse, that some men be graced with, which farre out
shines the notions of a timed Student, a 1760 HOGARTH
in Cunningham Rrit, Paint, (1829) I. 167 The stagnation
rendered it necessary that I should do some timed thing to
recover my lo-%t time and stop a gap in my income. 1888
Bookseller $ Sept. 020 Two-tinad metie is identified with
ihe octave or root, three-timed metre with the fifth, and four-
limed meiie the last of the uncompounded inches, and
including the other two is identified with thethitd. 1896
R. G. MOULTON Lit. Stud. Bible iv. 1 17 The oratorio com
bines recitative with timed music. 1898 G. MEREDITH Odes
Fr. Hiit. 83 A timed artillery speaks full-mouthed. 1901
R. HLLIS \r. Aetna 4 1he--e.. kilns the Cyclops used, when
bending, .to their even-timed strokes, they shook the dread
ful thunder-bolt with the beat of their ponderous hammers.
Tinieful (t^i-mfiil), a. Now rare. [f. TIME
si . + -FUL.]
1. Seasonable, due; = TIMELY a. 2.
41300 E. E. Piatier cxliv. [cxlv.J 16 pou glues bar mete
in time ful tide. 1614 RALEIGH ///f/. World I. vi. 9 (1634)
8) Interrupting, .nil offer of timefull returne towards God.
iSisCARLYLK Sciiitltr\\ 92 1 he timeful change of Christen
dom ;.. The universal Spring that shall make young The
countenance o th* liaith.
f2. Early in season ; ^ TIMELY a. i. Obs.
1382 WYCLIP Jas. v. 7 Paciently sufTiinge, til he icceyue
tymefuland lateful [r^SS adds fruyt; KW&-. temporaneum et
serolinuin ; TINDALK the yeily and the latter rayne]. 1388
Jer. v. 24 Oure Lord God, that jiueth to vs icyn tyme-
ful, and lateful in his tyme.
1 3. Occurring in or consisting of time ; temporal,
durational. Obs.
a 1400 Hvi.iON.SVa/tf Ftrf. it. xxiv. (\V. de W. 1494^, The
nyghie as a tymefull space bytwix dayes two.
Hence Ti mefully adv.) with timely action.
i837CARLYLE Fr. Rev. I. in. iii, Warned by friend Talley
rand..!^ timefully flits over the marches. 1845 Crow-
st-tV/dSyi) 1. 105 The Five Members, timefully warned, were
gone into the City.
Ti me -honoured, a. Honoured or made
honourable by length of time ; revered or respected
on account of long existence or old establishment.
1503 SHAKS. Rich. //, i. i. i Old lohn of Gaunt, time-
honoured Lancaster. 1751 MASON Elfrida Poemi (1774) 90
That old minstrelsy, which breath d Through each time-
honour d grove of Hiitish oak. 1831 WILLIS Poetn Broum
Utth-trstty 57 They have crown timehonoured on their
shrines. 1887 STR R. H. ROBERTS / the Shires ix. 141
A time-honoured custom had pre% ailed for years.
Ti me-kee:per, timekeeper.
1. An instrument for registering the passage of
time; a timepiece; formerly, a specially constructed
timepiece for scientific use, a chronometer.
1686 MOLYNEUX Saoth. Ttltsc. Title-p., For Regulating
and Adjusting Curious Pendulum- Watches and other Time-
Keepers 1764^ Chrott. in Ann. Rfg. 99/2 Mr. Harrison s
new invented time keeper. 1776 COOK Voy. Pacific Ocean
43
I. i. (1784) I. 4 The Board, likewise, put into our possession
the same watch, or time. keeper, which I had carried out in
my last voyage, and had performed its part so well. 1878
HUXLEY Pnjrsiogr. 7 True noon does not always coincide
with 12 o clock as indicated by an ordinary timekeeper.
tra JS/. 1868 I.OCKYER G (ilieniins Heavens (ed. 3) 6
According to the happy expression of Humholdt, they make
of the Universe an eternal timekeeper.
b. Applied to an almanac, tionce-ine.
1778 Miss HURNKY Evclii ti Ixxviii, It would make me
quite melancholy to have such a time-keeper in my pocket.
2. One who notes, measures, or records time ;
ifec. a. one who is employed in keeping account of
workmen s hours of labour; b. one who beats
time in music ; c. one who marks the time occupied
by a race, the rounds in a pugilistic encounter, etc.
"1795 SOUTHF.Y Lett. fr. Kfain (iSoS) 1. 294 The time
keeper .then turned up an hour-glass. 1851 MAYHEW Lend.
Labour I. 356/1, I went to a firm.. at Beckenham, near
Cioydon,as woikingtime-keeper,or foreman. 1879 K. GAR-
RETT* I louse ly n t fks II. 185 A po<t as timekeeper ;it some
great engineering works. 1903 Daily Chroii. ?3 Nov. 5/2
The Duke of Wellington called [Sir Thomas McUougall]
llrisbane the timekeeper of the Army .
3. \\ith qualifying word : A peison or tiling that
keeps (good or bad) time.
1899 I . w. HASLUCK Circle Jal frer s JIandM. -2 Being very
cheap .and fair time keepers American clocks ale exceed
ingly popular. Mcif. He is u good executant, but a bad
time-keeper.
Hence Ti mekee:pership, the position or office
of a time-keeper. So Ti nie-kee-.pingf si ., the
keeping of time ; adj. that keeps time (in various
senses of the phrase : >ee. TIME sit. 50.)
1816 HERVB Beauties I nris I. 211 No swing of the
.shoulders from side to side with graceless limekueping. 1825
J. NICHOLSON Opera!. Itech. 522 This degree of time-keep
ing cannot reasonably be expected from anyotlur (Jock.
1887 fall MallG. 16 Sept. ir/i The need eM-ted for a
timekeeping watch at alow piice. 1891 H liccli ig 25 Keb.
414/3 The Timekeepership of the London Centre. 1895
Daily X, u-s 20 Apr. 2/1 The right of the employer to make
reasonable regulations for time-keeping
Ti me-ki ller. One who or that which kills
time (see KILL v. 5) : said of a. person, an amuse
ment, etc. So Ti-me-killinjj sit. and a.
1751 RICHARDSON in Jptinsoris KansHer No. 97 f 24
Another .seasonable relief to those modern lime-Killers.
1825 KlacliW, Mng. XVII. 28 Much resorted to by. .anti
quity hunters, vk-w-hunter-, Time-killers. 1882 W. CORY
Lett, ttf Jrnls. 11897) 44 Hard up for time killing occupa
tion. 1895 0H/i*<r (U.S.) XXVI. 427/2 Reading it with the
idle inteitst of a time-killer.
Timeless (tai-mli-s), a. (adv.} [-LESS.]
1. That is out of its proper time ; untimely ; un
seasonable, ill-timed; esp. occurring or done
prematurely. Chiefly poet., now arch, or Obs.
1560 Trag. Rich, II (1870) 96 Wert thou aliue to see
How He reuenge thy tymless tragedye On all ther heads.
1590 MARLOWE 2nd ft. Tnnifairt. v. iii. ad fin., Let earth
and heaven his timeless death deplore. ci6n CHAPMAN
Iliad vl. 349 Wretched man ! -So timeless is thy spite That
tis not honest. 1621 LADY M. WROTH Urania 40 A time-
lesse, and vnseasonable biith. 1751 FALCONER To Pr. of
Wales 78 Well maysl thou mourn thypatriot s timeless end !
1850 Doli^Li, Rottian iii, Cease these timeless babblings.
b. as adv. = TIMKI.ESSLY a.
1586 KYD Ansiu. Tychborne s Lament, iii. Wks. (1901) 341
Thy glorie and thy glassearetimelesrunne. 1631 CHAPMAN
Cxsar ff Pontpey u. iv. 152 And tis their repaire That time-
lesse darken thus the gloomy ayte. i876SwiNBURNF. Etech-
tlieus 256 To slay thee timeless with my proper tongue.
2. Not subject to time ; not affected by the lapse
of time ; existing or operating without reference to
duration; eternal. Chiefly poet, and rhet.
a 1628 F. GREVIL Hum. Learn, xcvi, Curious mystery Of
timelesse time. 1678 CUDWORTH Intcll. Syst._ i. v. 21.
781 The reason why we cannot frame a Conception of such
a timeless Eternity. 1742 Yousc Nt. Th. ii. 222 When
woilds.. headlong rush To timeless night, and chaos, whence
they rose. 1819 Blacltta. Ufa?. V. 323 There timeless,
spaceless, dwells the Eternal One. 1871 K. ELLIS Catullus
ct. 10 Yea, take, brother, a long Ave, a timeless adieu.
b. absolutely. Cf. KTERNAL B.
1825 COLERIDGE Aiili Rejl.d%4$) I. 22 All the truths, acts,
and duties, that have an especial reference to the timeless,
the permanent, the eternal. 1892 TENNYSON Attar s Dream,
Hymn ii, Kneel adoring Him the Timeless in the flame that
measures Time !
3. fa- Of no duration; brief, short-lived. Ol s.
rare 1 , b. Destitute or ignorant of musical time.
C. Having reference to no particular time.
1657 COKAINE Obstinate Lady Poems(i66ol 339 Thy time-
less inexperience doth deceive thee. 1821 BYRON Juan w.
Nvxvii. An ignorant, noteless, timeless, tuneless fellow.
1837 G. PHILLIPS Syriac Cram. 112 The participle is time
less; i.e. it has no time of its own ; but partakes of every
time with which it may be connected.
Timelessly (tsi-mlesli), adv. [f. prec. + -LY 2/
In a timeless manner, a. Unseasonably, out of
due time. arch, or Obs. b. Without reference to
time, independently of the passage of time.
1625 MILTON Death fair Infant i, Soft silken Primrose
fading timelcsslie. c 1750 SHKNSTONE R*inrl Ab/vy
73 The cruel meed Of virtuous ardour timelessly dis-
play d. 1824 Klackn: Mai;. XVI. 580 Destined lobe seveied
timelessly and know no fruitage. 1833 J. H. NEWMAN
Arians M. v. (1876) 210 Brought intoexistencc timelesbly ,
independent of that succession of second causes.
So Ti-melesnes, the quality of being timeless.
1872 Spectator 7 Sept. 1138 Even nature almost witnesses
TIMELY.
to the timelessness of the Divine Being. 1894 SWETK A fast.
Creed iii. 33 Because Tertullian has not clasped the liinw-
lessness of the mutual relations of the Divine Life.
Timelia (taimflia). Ornith. [Altered by
Sundevall (1872) from Ilorslield s name Timalia
(i8jO:, said to be from an E. Ind. name.] A genus
of East Indian oscine birds, the type of which is
T. fileala, a small bird found Irom Nepal to
Cochin China and Java. Hence Time-lian a. ;
|! Time-liidae //., a provisional family or group
of passeriiie birds, which have been supposed
to be related to Timelia; Timeliine (tsimf li|3in)
a., allied, or assumed to be allied, to Timelia.
1896 NIUTHN / /;/. A mrV 963 The l >oglvdytidy_ (Wren)
..were referred to the * 1 ixicltidif, wheieas if thtir union
were necessary, the "i imelkis should have been referred to
the Wiens. ll-id.,note. A solution of the Timelian difficulty
will indeed be a great feat. 1874 /// .* Jan. 89 (Cass. Supp)
l)c-cii[)lion of a new * l imaliine biid from West Africa.
1881 K. 11. SIHRPE Catal. Birds lirit. Mus. VI. 301
Birds \slmh are tine Wrens and othtis which ate truly
Timeliine. 1898 Field 12 Apr. 518 The concave Timeliine
shape of the \\ing. .is reckoned of little worth.
tTi-melily, adv. Of>s. rare. [f. TIMELY a. +
-i.v -.] = TIMELY adv.
1608 H. CI.ATIIAM Errour Left Hand 85 God giue the
truth to pieuaile timehly with me and all his people.
Ti nie-li : niit. A limit in time, or to the
duration of some action or condition ; e. g. a limit
to (he length of speeches in parliament, etc.; also,
a limit to the duration of a licence or privilege.
1880 Pr.uvirm: in Diet. Clir. B:i>g. II. 192/2 He [Origeu]
taught the perpetual freedom of the will, and therefore set
no time limits to the capacity for restoration. 1891 KIPLING
Li^ht that Failed x. 199 What is my time-limit, avoid
ing all Krain and worry C Peihaps one year. 1894
Watrn. Caz. 3 Jan. 1/2 The stronger . .the case appears for
..time-limit by Standing Orders. 1899 Ibid. 6 Feb. 2/2
Should this be effected, there will be a time-limit grained
of from three to five years before any public-house is closed.
Timeliness Ormlini s). [f. TIMELY a. +
-NESS.] The quality of being timely, ta.. Early
development or maturity. Obs. rare. b. Season-
ablencss, suitableness to the time.
1599 SANDYS Europe Sf-c. (1632! 81 Difficulties, .kindle
..the generous spints, and adde that to their diligence
which was wanting in tbeir timeliness-j. 1612-13 C. UROOKI:
/ Iffy Poems 11872) 180 His timelinesse did so preuent his
date, That ere the floure was look t for came the fruit. 1860
EMERSON Cond. Life iii. (i36i) 53 The ait of setting rich
consists not in industry, nni -h less in saving, but in a better
order, in timeliness, in being at the right spot. 1868 RUSKIN
Arrows c-fCftace (rSSo) II. 195 All measures of reformation
are effective in exact proportion to their timeliness.
tTi Hieling. Obs. [f. TIME si: + -use 1 .]
A time-server.
1563 HKCON Humble Supplic. Wks. III. 21 Mynisters,
whiche are faynteharted, and ..but tymelynges, seruing
rather the tyme (as the manner of the worldlynges isi.
1631 WILSON S-Mtiser u. i. 158 What sayes my Lip.Ladds
My little Time.lings?
Timely (toi-mli), a. Forms : 2-3 timelich, 4
timlich, tymeli, 5 -lie, 5-6 -ly, 6-7 -lye,
timelie, 6- timely, [f. TIME sl>. + -LY : cf. ON .
tinialig-r temporal. (Not recorded in OE., and
rare in ME. ; it may have arisen later than the adv.
under its influence.)]
1. Occurring or appearing in good time ; early ;
tof a plant, fruit, etc., bearing or ripening early.
Now rare or Obi. (exc. as blending with 2).
1382 WYCLIK Jer. v. 24 Oure God, that ^yueth to vs tymeli
rein. 1530 PALSCR. 327/2 Tymely, ttmprif. i563HvLLv4r<
Card. (1593) 86 To hnue timely Roses 1585 ABP. SANDYS
.Serin, xv. (Paiker Soc.) 301 The timeliest fruit often corneth
to least proof. 1598 GRENEwEv7ffC//i. Ann. It. ii. (1622) 34
Short summers.and timely winters. 1612 T.TAYLOR Comm.
Titus ii. 6 (1619 405 It filled Paul with ioy to remember
Timothies timely faith, a 1715 BURNET Own Timt (1766)
II. 8 If a timely stop were not put to the progress.
2. Occurring, done, or made at a fitting or
suitable time ; seasonable, opportune, well-timed.
CI200 Trin. Coll. Horn. 13 (He) nutteo timeliche metes,
and ^emeo his muoes meoe. a 1541 WVATT Cmtft. Loi t
to Reason 59 Though my timely death hath been so slow.
1580 SIDNEY fs. i. ii, Lyke a freshly planted tree, Whose
braunches faile not timelie fruite to nourish. 1605 SHAKS.
Mad , in. iii. 7 Now spurres the lated Traueller apace, To
gayne the timely Inne. 1738 WESLEY Psalms xvm. iv.
He.. sent the timely Rescue down. 1781 COWPER Cilpln
xliii, Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, And loved a timely
joke. 1890 Spectator 31 May 763/2 With the general drift of
his essay we heartily agree, and think it both wise and timely.
f 3. Of or in time, as opposed to eternity ;
temporal, earthly. Obs. rare.
1340 Ayenb. 209 We habbe)>mede..ofgostlicheguodesand
of timliche guodes. c 1400 Lay folks Mass Bt. App. in. 123
f>at he absteyne hym from alle (>ingis tymely bat myjtte
lylen his soule. 01615 DONNE Ess. (1651) 30 Saying
that after John s eternal Beginning, and before Moses s
timely beginning, Christ had his beginning.
\ 4. a. Of time or duration ; pertaining to the
time of day. b. Keeping time or measure. Obs.
1590 SPENSER F. Q. i. iv. 4 A Diall told the timely howres.
Ibid. v. 3 And many Bardes, that to the trembling chord,
Can tune their timely voices cunningly.
Timely (t3i-mli), adv. Forms: i timh ce, 2-3
timliche, 3 timeliche, -lyche, 4 tymliche. 4-6
tymely (5 tymli, -ly, 6 Sc. tymlie\ 4- timely.
6-3
TIMEN.
[Late OE. timlicc> f. lima TIME + -LY - : possibly
suggested by ON. ttmaliga adv. timely, early.]
1. Early, betimes; in good time; soon, quickly.
Now arch, or poet,
c 1000 ^ELFRIC De I ct. tt de No^ . Test, ad itiit., Ic ^e tie
eti(WJe ealles swa timlice,ser bam be bu mid \veorc um pa:s
?;ewilnodost xi me. c izo$ LAY. 31369 Penda..seide bat he
wolde sablnesse wurche and timliche him speken wio 7 .
a 1225 La;. Kath, 2117 ^cf bu be tirnluker [waiurins} do be
i be^eintum. a 1225 Juliana^ Ase timliche as he hefde
iherd bis, a 1373 Joseph Arhtt. 415 pe kyng..Comaundes
hem to meeten him tymt ly on be morwen. 1390 GOWER
Conf. II. 107 As tymliche as I may, Fulofte wnanne it is
brod day. 1455 Paston Lett, I. 338, 1 had lever ye were at
London a weke the rather and tymelyer then a weke to j
late. 1578 LYTE Dodoens in. i. 314 The Aristolochias do i
flowre .. timelier in hoate Countries. 1596 DALRYMPLE tr. ;
Leslie s Hist. Scut. (S.T.S.) I. 26 Gif in a schip, tymlie in |
the morning ^e passe by the craig. 1602 CAREW Cornwall
4 b, The Spring visiteth not these quaiters so timely, as the
Eastern parts. 1680 O. HEVWOOD Diaries, etc. (iSSi) II. \
299 Came home pietly timely of the day. 1716 S. SEWALL
Diary 5 Oct., Got up so timely, that the Comissions were
read by 11. inane, 1827 K.KBLE C/ir. }""., Morning v, Oh !
timely happy, timely wise, Hearts that with rising morn
arise !
2. fSoon enough, in time, not too late (pbs.)\ \
hence, In due season, at the right or a fortunate
time; seasonably; opportunely as regards time.
c 1175 Lamb. How. 25 }et ic mei longe Hubert and alle mine
sunne timliche ibeten. 1552 HULOEF, Tymely or in dew
season, as noiher to tymelynor to late. 1621 FLETCHER 7s/.
Princess v. ii, A virtuous point of gratitude, Timely, and
nobly taken. 1678 WANLKY Wonders Lit. H orld \. ii. 8.
469/1 RurTmus. .sought to betray him to the Goths, but was
timely discovered to his ruine. 1715 LEOM Palladia s
Archit. (1742) I. i All requisite materials timely provided.
1828 DISRAELI Chas. /, II. x. 247 Buckingham had timely
perished to be saved from the reproach of one more political
crime. 1842 ARNOLD Hist. Koine II. 208 The attempt of L.
Fulvius to surprise Rome ..was timely baffled.
3. Usually hyphened to an adj. or pple. when
used attributively.
J593$HAKS. 2 Hen. I 7 /, in. ii. 161 Oft haue I scene a timely- I
parted Ghost, Of ashy semblance. 1651 JF.R. TAYLOR Holy \
Dying v. 5 (172^) 221 Our timely-repented and often
forsaken habits of sin. Mod. Your timely- offered help.
tTimen, variant of TAMIN Obs., stamin.
1756 MRS. CALDBRWOOD Jml. (1884) 3^,4 Window-curtains
of English stuff, .about the substance of a timen or crape.
t Ti-menoguy. Naut. Obs. [app. f. F.
timon TIMOX * + GUY sb?\ (See quots.)
1794 Riggtxg ff Seamanship I. 178 Tinienoguy^ a Rope
fastened at one end to the fore-shrouds, and nailed at the
other end to the anchor-stock, on the bow, to prevent the fore-
iheet from entangling. 1841 DANA Seaman s J\fan. t Timeno*
guy, a rope carried taut between different parts of the \essel,
lo prevent the shtetor tack of a course fiom getting foul, in
working ship. 1867 SMYTH Sailor s Wo*d>bk., TiwcMguy, ,
former .y [as in Dana ; tut adits] specially from the fore-
vigging to the anchor-stock, to prevent the fouling of the
fore-sheet, Jl ld. t Timoncgy^ this term properly belongs to
steering, and is derived from timon, the tiller, and the j
twiddling-lines, which worked in olden times on a gauge in
front of the poop.., by which the position of the helm was ;
easily read even from the forecastle.
Timeous, timous (tai-mas),. (adv.) Chiefly
Sc. Forms : 5 tymys, 6 tymouse, -ouis } -ose,
tymmos, 6-7 tymous, -eous, 7- timeous,
timous. [f. TJMKJT& + -OUS ; perh. after wrongous t
righteous. Occasionally pronounced (lai imas) or
(ti myas), from the spelling : cf, righteous^
1. Early (in the morning, or in the season) ; i
Sufficiently early; done betimes : = TIMELY a. I.
1470 [implied in TIMEOUSLY]. c 1520 NISBET N.T. in \
Scots Jas. v. 7 J acientHe suffring, till he resaue tymouse and
laatsiim fruit. 1564 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 292 Upoun
lauchfull and tymous warning, a 1578 LINDESAV (Pits-
cottie) Chron. Scot. xxi. xvii. (S.T.S.) I. 324 Sayand. .that
thai sould haue goode huntting on the morne and bad him
be tymmos. *637~5o Row Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc ) 319 |
It cannot be a lawfull Assemblie when there is not lawful! ,
and tymous intimation and premonition made. 1687 Royal \
Pteclam. 12 Feb., in Loud. Gaz. No 2221/5 ^ e do hereby |
Command, Our Lyon King at Arms,. .to make timeous
Proclamation thereof at the Met cat-Cross of Edinburgh.
1825 JAMIESON s. v., See that ye keep timeous hours, i.e. that
ye be not too late, 1910 Highland Railw. Time table
July, Stops to take up far East of Aviernore [Inverness] on
timeous notice being given to the Station Master.
b. as adv. Early, betimes. Now dial.
a 1578 LINDESAV (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. xxu. xxiv.
(S.T.S. J II. 135 Tymose in the morning he departit of the
toun. 1679 J. RUSSELL in Kirkton Hist. Ch. Scot.> etc.
(1817) App. 430 Timous m the morning they went to their
prayers. 1892 Ballymena Obs, (E.D.D.) ( A ll be up gye
an timus in the mornin .
2. Coming in due time ; suitable or proper in
respect of time ; well-timed, seasonable, opportune ;
= TIMELY a. 2.
a 1626 BACON (J.), By a wise and timous inquisition, the
peccant humours and humourists may be discovered, purged,
or cut off. 1656 J. FERGUSSON On Colossians 136 Tho-^e
fruits were timeous, and constant. 1729 WODROW Corr,
(1843) HI. 451, I fear his writings do a world of mischief,
without a timeous antidote. 1849 AVTOUN Lays Scot. \
Cav. {ed. a) 96 His retreat was timeous, for General Mackay ,
..had despatched a strong force.. to make him prisoner. ;
i8&4 X/i*x*KM i Mar. 271/1 The book IR. McCormick s
Voyages ] is timeous.
3. a. Temporal ; of finite time : TIMELY a. 3.
b. Keeping time, moving in time or measure.
i to nee- uses*
44
i8ss BAILEV Spir. Leg. in Mystic, etc. 103 Duration,
timeous and aeterne, and space. 1884 D. GRANT Lays fy
Lee. North 112 Never yet to mortal measures Raise and
fell sic timous feet.
Timeously (tai-masli), adv. [f. prec. + -LY ^.]
In a timeous manner ; f at an early hour or season,
in good time (obs.} ; hence, early or soon enough,
in time; at the right or a fitting time; seasonably;
opportunely.
c 1470 HENRY Wallace vm. 1180 To souppar went, and
tymysiy thai slepe. 1473 Rental l>k. Cupar-Angus (1879)
I. 188 A chalder ofquhet als arly and tymsly sawn as it ina
be. 1571-5 Diurnal ofOciurr. (1833) 259 Cert ane. .horsmen,
and fyftie hagbutaiis past furth tymou-slie in the moinyng.
1637*50 Row /to/. Kirk (Woe) row Soc ) 319 If one presby-
terie was not war nit tymeoushe, all the rest conveening
cannot ju^tlie make any conclusion whilk may binde that
presbyterie. 1708 Roy. Ptoclam. (Scotl.) in Lond Gm.
No. 4456 2 We Oidaiu Our Solicitor timeously to dispatch
Copies of the above Proclamation 1758 WASHINGTON Let.
Wnt. 1889 II. 34 Differences.. which, if not properly, and
timously attended to may be productive of the most serious
consequences. 1820 SCOTT Monait. ix,That fitting prepara
tion may be timeously made. 1824 S YD. SMITH Amcr Wks.
1859 II. 52/1 The existence of slavery,, .if not timously
corrected, will one day entail (and ought to entail) a bloody
servile war upon the Americans. 1901 Scotsman 13 Mar.
ii/3 Undue detention of two \essels occasioned by the
defenders failing timeously to deliver coals for loading.
Timepiece. [PIECE 17.] An instrument for
measuring and registering the passage of time ;
in a general sense, any kind of chronometer, includ
ing clocks and watches; spec, : see quot. 1884.
1765 (tit U ) Minutes of the Proceedings of the Commis
sioner ;, concerning Mi. Harrison s Time Pieces. 1784
CowpfR Task it. (// /A ) The Time-piece. 1823 Mechanics
Mag. No. 17. ?6g What kind of time piece is best adapted
for the pocket. 1876 G. CHAMBERS Astroi 1 .. 733 An ordinary
good parlour time piece.. will meet all the requirements of
the amateur. 1884 F. J, URTTTEN Watch fy Clockm. 264 Any
timekeeper above the size cf a watch which does not strike
at the hours is called a timepiece.
Timer (tai maj). [f. TIME v. and sb. + -ER .]
T"l. One who is skilled in time or measure; a
musician. Ols. iare~ l t
c 1500 in Grose, etc. Antifj. Rep. (rSog) IV, 407 How may a
Kw&movede tyniere jud?ca trew instrument?
2. One who appoints or fixes the time for an
action, event, etc.
1841 LOWELL Ode \\. 3 [The Poet] fits his singing, like a
cunning timer, To all men s prides and fancies as they pass.
3. a. A watch or clock, with reference to its
time-keeping qualities; a (good or bad) time-keeper.
b. One who times clocks, etc., i. e. who keeps them
to exact time. C. One who marks the time in
athletics, etc. ; = TIME-KEEPER 2 c.
1884 Graphic 20 Sept. 303 2 Guaranteed good Timers.
1884 F. J. BRITIKN \Vatch \ Clock tn. 14 The want of con
stancy in the force of the balance spring. .is one of the chief
difficulties of the tinier. 1890 Century Mag. June 205/2 The
English are partial to a single watch in the hands of an
experienced timer, but to make a record in this country
requires the presence of three timers or measurers. 1891
Cycling -21 Feb. 82, I am aware tb.it timers of professional
events in the Midlands use the old-fashioned type.
4. As the second element in combinations, as
FULL-TIMER, HALF-TIMER, OLD-TIMER; fast timer,
one who or that which completes a race, etc. in
fast time.
1891 Daily News 28 Dec. 3/5 The fastest timers ran in
the deciding round. 1903 Motor. Ann. 163 In the mile race
the fastest timers in the different elates weie [etc ].
t TiixiG rity. Obs. Also 7 trron. temerity.
[f. timeroitS) TIMOROUS, app. on mistaken analogy
of temerity from Umeroiis rash ; it may also
sometimes have been a corruption of timidity.
As timcrous and teweroits ran together in use, so temerity
was sometimes put for timerity, as n. of quality from timer-
CMS, TIMOROUS, as well as from tenierous rash .]
Fear, timidness, timidity.
1582 MONDAY Disc- E, Campion Fviij, The great time-
rltie and unstable opinion of his conscience, .would not
suffer him to utter it 1601 CHESTER Love s Mart. (1878) 8
Nature was struck with pale temeritie, To see the God of
thunders lightning eyes. 1618 LATHAM -2nd Bk. Falconry
(1633! 2 Without much timentie or fearfulnesse. a 1660
Contnnft. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Aicha?ol Soc ) I. 248 Such was
the timeritie and cowardi/e and feare of all men there.
Timerity, obs. form of TEMERITY.
Timerosity, Timerous, obs. ff. TIMOROSITY,
TIMOROUS, q.v.
Ti me-seTVer. [agent -n, from the phrase
to serve the time (cited 1560 } : see SERVE v. 1 1 1.]
1. One who adapts his conduct to the time or
season; usually, one who on grounds of self-interest
shapes his conduct in conformity to the views that
are in favour at the time; a temporizer, a trimmer*.
(By Fuller used in a neutral or good sense.)
1584 G. BABINGTON Frailty ff Faith (1506) 49 Will then a
dissembling time-seruer not be vncased? 1638 SIR _T.
HERBERT Trav. (ed. 2) 136 This brave man is a Georgian
bydiscent, a Mussulman by profession, a Time-server for
preferment, a 1680 BUTLER Rent. (1759) 1 1. 2 19 A Time-server
wears his Religion, Reason, and Understanding always in
the Mode. 1770 LANGHORNE Plutarch (1879) II. 904/2 He
was never a timeserver either in word or action. 1849
MACAULAY/ftf/, Eng. ii. \. 1 88 The Puritan, .deserted by all
the timcservcrs who, in his prosperity, had claimed brother
hood with him. 1898 L. STEPHEN Stud. Biog. I. v. 148
TIME-TABLE.
Every autobiography is inteiestin-, even when ii unveils a
mere time-server and hypocrite.
1642 FULLER Holy fy Prof. State m. xix. 202 He is a good
time-server, that comply* his manners to the several ages (
of this life ; pleasant in youth, without wantonness; grave
in old age, without frowardness. . . He is a good time-server,
that finds out the fittest opportunity for every action.
t 2. One who serves only for a time, and after
wards deserts or ( falls away*. Obs. rare.
Apparently with reference to the parable of the sower,
Malt. xiii. 21, Mark iv. 17, Luke viii. 13.
n 1575 UP. PILKINGION- Expos. Nch. iv. 15 (1585) 65 Such
be those time-seiuers which the Gospel speaketh of, that for
a time make a shew in sertiing the Lord, but in the tyme of
triall they fall away.
Trme-se:rvice. [See P rc c- and SERVICE.]
1. = TlME-SEKVINC t M. Sb.
1883 SYMONUS Shaks. Prcdec. v. (1900)150 This freedom
from time-service.. give[sja dignity to Hey wood s character.
2. The work done by an observatory staff in
daily furnishing the correct time to the community.
1890 Smithsonian Rep. 160 Observations of nebulx and
physical observations of Jupiter and Saturn; time service.
1899 AthensKin 29 July 161/3 1 he time-service has also
occupied part of the energy of the observatory.
Ti me- serving, vbl. sb. [See TIME-SERVER,
and SERVE z>.* u.J The action or conduct of a
lime-server; * trimming".
1621 BUKTON Anat.Mcl. n. in. vj. 419 Let them goe on, get
wealtn,.. by impudence, and time-seruing, let them..crosse
ineon every side. 1642 FULLER Holy ff Prof. St. in. xix 202
There be foure kinds of Time-serving : first out of Christian
discretion, which is commendable ; second, out of humane
infii mi ty, which is more paidonable ; third and fourth, out of
ignorance, or affection, both uhich are damnable. 1712
ADDISON Spect. No. 445 P6, I h.ive been accused by these
despicable Wi etches of Trimming, Time-serving, 1894 MRS.
OLJPHANT Hist. Sk. Q. Anne vi. 315 It was all devotion, not
time-serving as the vulgar thought,
Trme-se:rving,///. a. [f. as prec.with -ING <]
fl. Serving the time or season ; serviceable,
seasonable. Obs. tare" 1 .
1627 PEBROP Tithes 73 His ships. .full ikhly stowed with
nil manner of choice and time-serving commodities.
2. Characterized by interested compliance ; l trim
ming*, temporizing.
1630 PKYNNE Anti-Annin. 77 Not by some one or two
ambitious, time-seru ing, DOUelluinfl Diuines. 1638 SIR T.
HERBERT Ttav (ed. 2) 99 His owne two sonnes. . brought
also to Mahobet by lynie-serving Madofier-chan to abide
liis meicy. 1809 MALKIN Gil fttas xn. iii. (Rtldg.) 428 The
school of time serving morality. 1860-70 STUBBS Led.
E.urop, ///i/. i. viii. (1904) looThe leading man . . was a time-
seiving rogue
Hence Ti me-se rvingness.
f a 1734 NORTH Lh-cs (1826) I. 2, \\\ ascribe it chiefly to
ignorance, although I think time-servingness and malice
hath the greatest share 1812 SHELLEV in Hogg Life (1858)
II. 196 The address. .so barefaced a piece of time-serving-
ness. 1890 Lippinioifs Mag. May 763 The cowardice and
the time strvingness.
t Ti-mesome, a. Ol>s. rare. [f. TIME sb. +
SOME.] Of, pertaining to, existing in, or subject
to time as opposed to eternity; of finite duration ;
temporal. Hence f Trmesomeness.
1674 N. FAIRFAX Bulk $ Sclv. 33 Everlastingness is no
mpie All at Once, as a Now of Time is, ..than it is it self
Timcsom. Ibid. 1 54 God . . may as well be brought down to
the timesomness of that which is bounded, as that which is
every way bounded, may be lifted up to the alwayness of
him who is unbounded, /bid 181 When we say, the body
is dying or liniesoni, the soul deathless or endless, we do
not mean the body should theieby lose its bodyhood, but
only its suchness.
Ti me-spi:rit. [transl. of Ger. Zeitgeist.]
The spirit ol the time, the genius of the age.
1831 CARLVLE Mart, Res. n. ix, To me, in this our life.,
which is an internecine waifare with the Time-spirit, other
warfaieseemsquestionable. 1873 M. ARNOLD Lit. 9f Do^tua
(1876) p. xxi, To say that the Chut ch-dog mas of his time., on
which the Time-Spirit had not then turned his light, were
false developments. 1880 T. HODGKIN Italy $ Inv. \\\. ix,
II. 547 One is disposed to look the present Time-Spirit
boldly in the face and ask why it.. must be infallible and
eternal
Ti me-ta:ble. A tabular list or schedule of the
times at which successive things are to be done or
happen, or of the times occupied in the parts of
some process.
spec. a. A printed table or book of tables showing the
times of arrival and departure of railway trains at and from
the stations; also a similar table of times of arrival
and departure of steamboats or other public conveyances.
b. A chart used in railway traffic offices, showing by means
of cross lines, in one direction representing hours and
minutes and in the other miles, the position of the various
trains at any given moment {Cassell s ^Encycl. Diet. 1888).
C. A time-sheet on which a record is kept of the time
worked by each employee. d. A table showing how the
time of a school or other educational institution, for any day,
or for a week, is allotted to the various classes and subjects.
e. Mus. A table of notes showing their relative time-value.
1838 OSBORNE Guide to Grand Junction or Birm ham,
Liverpool <y Manck. A d/7., On and after Wednesday
May 23rd. ..Time Table shewing the Hours [etc.]. 1838
Cornish" s Grand Junction [etc.] Railway Companion, ed. 3,
Time Table, shewing the hour of each Train [etc.] after
iSih June 1838. 1839 (title) Bradshaw s Railway Time
Tables.. loth Mo, igth. 1844 J. ALLEN Kept. Schools
S. Distr. in Min. Cowm. of Council on Education
II. 91 For the morning s work, I have sometimes suggested
the following time-table. 1844 F. C. COOK Reft. Schools
E. Distr. ibid. 178 The time-table should contain an exact
TIMEWARD.
account [etc.% 1856 F. K. PAGKT Owlet Owlst. 104 The j
time-table of that man s life was a curiosity in its I
way. 1858 SIMMONDS Diet. Trade, Time-table, a register
nf the time of high-water, and of the departure of steam
boats, railway trains, etc.; a check upon the period of
labour of workmen. 1861 M. ARNOLD 7V/. Ednc. France
08 The present time-table, .of the lay public schools of Paris.
1862 MissIlR ADDON Lady Audley xxviii, He walked straight
Iwck to the hotel, where he called for a time-table. An ex
press for London left \Vildernsea at a quarter-past one.
18. . HULLAH in Stainer & Barrett Diet. Ahis. Terms (1875)
s-v. Nomenclature, The Germans call these notes. .the
whole note, the half note, the quarter note, and so on.
These appellations, .form of themselves a time-table. 1889
W. S. KOCKSTRO in Grove Diet. Mus. s.v., The earliest
known indication of a Time Table is to be found in the
well-known work on Cantus tnensurabilis^ written by
Franco of Cologne about the middle of the nth century.. .
The modern Time Table, denoting the proportionate value
of all these notes, is too well known in our schoolrooms to
need a word of description here. 1889 G. FINDLAY Eng.
Railivay 8 It was not until after some time ..that the
time-table became a recognised institution. 1907 \Vesim.
Gaz. 7 May 2 2 This is the first time that a time-table has
been arranged in advance for a whole [parliamentary] Bill,
but it seems to us that the procedure was justified.
Timeward (t3i*mwjd), a., adv. [f. TIME sb.
4- -WARD.] Towards what belongs to time; tem
poral.
1883 H. DRUMMOND Nat. Laiv in Spir. W. v. (1884) 158
The mind of the flesh,, .by its very nature, limited capacity,
and time-ward tendency, is.. Death.
Ti me*worn, a. Worn by process of time ;
impaired by age.
1729 SAVAGE Wanderer v. 3 By time-worn Step-; a steep
Ascent we gain. 1813 W. S. WALKICR Poems 152 On the
gieen margin of the tjuiet flood, ..a time-worn exile stood.
1901 BiRRrxL Misc. iii. (1902) 82 An ancient, time-worn
litual, which gives dim expression to ghostly ideas.
Timid (trmid), a. [ ac L L. timid-it^ f. tint -ere
to fear. Cf. F. timide (a 1528 in Godcf. Compl. .]
Subject to fear; easily frightened; wanting bold
ness or courage ; fearful, timorous. Rarely const.
(?/"(cf. TIMOROUS i a). Alsoy?^.
1549 Compl. Scot. Ep. Ded. 6, I vas Jang stupefact ancle
timide, for fait of ane peremptoir conclu&ione, 1697 BKNTLEY
Phal. 14 Another sort of Proofs, that will affect the most
slow Judgments, and assure the most timid or incredulous.
1730-46 THOMSON Autumn 401 Poor is the triumph o er the
timid hare. 1764 Museum A wi/. II. 270 Lucem..in its
infant state ..i-. very tender, and timid of fro^t. 1841 KLPHIN-
STONE Hist. hid. II. 545 The troops became more timid
than ever. 1865 DICKI:SS Mnt. Fr. iv. xii, Bella was so
timid of him.
. b. Characterized by or indicating fear.
1741-2 GRAYj4^*r ipplna 87 Carry to him thy timid counsels.
1812 J. WILSON Isle of Palms in, 168 With a timid smile.
1873 BLACK /V. Thnle vi, She has given him some timid
encouta^einenl.
Timidity (timrdili). [ad. L. timidttas } f.
timid-its TIMID : see -JTY. Cf, F. limidiU (a 1 429)-]
The quality of being timid; fearfulness.
1598 FLORIO, Timidila, timjditie, feare, dread [etc.]. 1603
HOLLAND Plutarch 285 This procecdeth from . . extreame
folly and tirmditie of heart. 1658 Si KT. I ROWNK Pseud. Ep.
III. xvii. (ed. 4) 182 [The haie] figured ..pusillanimity and
timidity from Us temper. 1762 SVMMER in Ellis Orig, Lett.
Ser. n. IV. 450 Lord \Veymouth. .spoke with grace and
dignity, though with the timidity of a young man. 1849
MACAULAY flist. Eng. vii. II. 244 Butnet was well aware of
his danger: but timidity was not among his faults.
Timidly (trmidli), adv. [f. TIMID a. + -LY 2 .]
In a timid manner; shrinkingly, npprehensively.
1767 S. PAIEKSOS Another Trav. I. 375 To the timidly-
supetstitious>..they would seem a company of necromancers.
1843 BKTHUNE Sc. Fireside Stor. 137 The lady.. glanced
timidly at me to ascertain if I observed her. 1885 L"pool
Daily Tost n Apr. 4/9 One traveller timidly attempts the
fraudulent experiment.
Ti michiess. rare. [-NE.SS.] = TIMIDITY.
18x8-31 in WEBSTEK. 1889 STEVHNSON Master of B. ii,
He looted up., with a kind of timidness.
t Ti inidous, ^. Obs. rare. [f. L. thmd-ns
TIMID-H-OUS.] TIMID.
1663 BL TLER Hud. 1.111.396 Fortune th* audacious doth
/ware, But lets the timidous miscarry. i734 NORTH
Lives (1826) I. 371 His lordship knew him lo be. .a timi-
dous man. Ibid. 421 His timidous manner of creating and
judging ..points, some on one side, and some on another.
Timing (tai-mirj), vbl. sb. [f. TIME v. + -ING i.J
The action of TIME v. in various senses.
fl. Happening, occurrence, hap; (good or ill)
fortune ; an event, occurrence, case. Obs.
c 1250 Gen. $ Ex. 31 Almi^tin louerd, he5e^t kinge Su giue
me sell timinge. Ivid. 1194 Swilc timing was hire bi-tid.
Ibfd. 2644 Bissop Eliopoleos Sa? 3is timing, & up he ros.
c 1310 A". Horn 164 Crist him ;eue god tymyng. c 1400 Brut
clxviii. 191 Thus staterand Scottes,. .Erly in a mornyng in
an euel tyming went ^e fro Dunbarr.
2. The fixing, ascertaining, noting, or recording
of time : see TIME v. ; in Cricket , see quot. 1 893.
1597 MOR LEV Introd. Mus. 9 Phi. What is the timing of
a note? Ma. It is a certayne space or length, wherein a
note may be holden in singing. 1656 Eirenicon 20 I^et thy
charity advance To give them timeing of an Ordinance.
1658-9 In Burton s Diary (1828) III. 154 There is no excep
tion against the petition, but against the timing of it. 1693
J. EDWARDS Author. 0. *t N. Test. 357 Josephus is often
faulty as to the timing of things, ai-jn KES Psyche Poet.
Wks. 1721 IV, 278 The Voice, the Lute, the Passion sweet
and strong, The Timing, the adapting of the Song. 1889
ACWORTH Railways Eng. 202 The acceleration over the
oidinary timing of the r p.m. was no more than 4 minutes.
45
1893 W. I>. MURDOCH Cricket 29 Timing is the working in
perfect unison of the hands, arms, legs and all ihe necessary
muscles which are subservient to the eye. 1908 Daily
News 7 Dec. 9 This, considering the heavy state of the
roads, was excellent timing.
b. attrib. ami Comb., as timing box t ntt( t screw^
rafae, -wheel.
1884. F, J. URITTF.S Watch fy Clockin. 264 Timing Box
[see TIME " . 2 c]. ll id. 265 [The] Timing Screws [are] four
screws or nuts placed at equal distances round the rim of a
watch compensation balance,.. used for getting the watch
to mean time. // /V,, In a marine chronometer ihere are
two timing nuts, 1898 Timing valve [see TIME? . 7]. 1907
M cstm. C,az. 21 Nov. 4/2 All the timing-wheels are made of
fibre and brass, and are contained in an oil-light aluminium
case in front of the engine [of a motor-car].
t Ti mish, a. Obs. rare. [f. TIMK st>. + -ISH !.]
a. Of the nature of time; temporal, temporary, b.
Belonging to the time; in the stjle of the times,
modish, fashionable. Hence f Ti mishness.
1674 N. FAIRFAX Bulk -V Sclv. 20 The reality of time being
grafted in its timeishness, not in it-> boundlesness ; so that
every little share of time must have a little of this little
reality, and every lillle must make a inicklt_ . 1676 Life
Muvgleton in Hart. Misc. I. 612 A timish gentleman,
accoutered with sword and peruke, heating the noi--e this
man caused. ., had a great desire to discourse with him.
Tiniist ^Ui inist). Also 8-9 timoist. [-I>T.]
"\* 1. One who follows or complies with the
humour of the time ; a time-server. Obs.
a 1613 OVKRBURY Chainc., Timist Wks. (1856) 56 A TimM
is a noune adjective of the present tense. He hath no more
of a conscience then feare. and his religion is not his but
the princes. 1620 URATHUAIF Fire Senses iii. 33 The dis-
sembling appearances of all obseruinc; Timists. 1658 J. JONKS
Ovid s Ibis 162 So Timists and Hypocrites change their
opinion.
f2. A timepiece, clock. 0/>s. Jioint -nse.
1711 E. WARD ru!iis Krit. \, 61 To bring the poor con-
demn d Machine To th flaming Pile, and cast therein The
costly Timist.
3. One who keeps correct time in music.
1765 GOLDSM. Ess. Misc. Wks. 1837 I. 203 Neither the one
or the other are, by any means, perfect ti mists. 1774 J-
C OLLIER, etc. Jlfits. Trati. (1775) 8 She introduced me to
Mr. Dilettanti, a most illustrious timeist. 1866 KNGEL Xat.
Kins. ix. 339 The Chinese are known to be excellent timists,
and they have several marks for indicating how the timu i>
to be beaten.
4. One who confines Ms outlook to time, i.e. to
the present life. rare.
1801 R. CECIL Mem. J. B.iccn Wks. i85i I. 203 Let the
whole world be divided into two great sect*, vi/. Timists
and Kternalists.
5. A chronologer. ran.
1897 S. J. Hi MPiiL EY in Chicago Advance 23 Sept. 422/1
The next day (Tuesday, Apr. 25, A.U. 6u, fur so the timisls
calculate) tliey [Paul and his companions] came to Rhode-..
6. One of a sect of Adventisis. I , S.
1884 Independent Almanac 18 Only a small company [of
Adventlsls], called Timi>ts , now venture lo fix a definite
time for the advent.
7. Cricket. One who { limes (well or badly).
1893 W. L. MURDOCH Cricket 30, 1 think Loid F 1!
must have had all the attributes of a good timist . . for. . it U
\\ritten of him. .that he had a greater \ariety of bits than
anyone else and they were all along the ground.
Timit (ti mil). [Native name in Galibi.] A
species of palm, Klanicaria sacdfera, var. Plukc-
netii, a native of Trinidad, and of the tidal swamps
of the Amazon. Also attrib.
1858 CRUGKR Outl. Flora Trinidad 5 The limit (Mani-
caria) grows in light sandy soils. 1871 KINC.SI.KY At La*t
xi, Rows of pot*, probably of palin-*.teriis thatched over. .
with the leaves of the Timit palm. Ibid. ,\ii, Lath Negro. .
, carried a Timit-leaf, and hooked it on to his head when a
gush of rain came down.
^Tirnmele, obs. Sc. form of THIMBLE.
fTimmen, variant of TAMIX Of>s. t stamin.
1824 Miss FERRIKR Inker. Ixxi, Broadcloth and timmen.
Timmer, obs. and dial, form of TIMBER.
Timmersome, variant of TIMOKSOME.
Timmy whisky : see TIMWHISKY.
Tiniocracy (taim^krasi). Also 6 -cratie.
[a. OF. tymocracie (Oresme i4th c.), mod.F.
tiniocratU) ad. med.L. tiinocratia (in I3th c. trans!.
Aristotle), a. Gr. TTpoKparia, used by Plato and by
Aristotle in two distinct senses, f. rtfirj (a) honour,
() value or valuation + -xparia : see -CRACY. The
Aristotelian, the later sense in Greek, was the first
to appear in Eng. literature.]
1. In the Aristotelian sense : A polity with a
property qualification for the ruling class.
1586 T. B. La Primattd. Fr. Acad. (1589) 548 The third
kind of a good and right common-wealth is of a Greeke word
called Timocratie^ which we may cal the power of meane
or indifferent wealth. 1594 Mirr. Policy (1599) Dijj,
Between the two kinds of a depraved Coinmonweale, to wit,
Oligarchic and Democratic, this Coinmonweale Timocratie
is founded, a 1647 SIR R. FILMER Observ. Aristotle s Pol,
(1652) 6 Of all the right kindesof Government Monarchy was
the best, and a Timocratie the worst. 1818 T. TAYLOR Aris
totle s Khet.)t\c. 1 1. 311 The polities indeed are, a kingdom,
an aristocracy, and the third is derived from the distribution
of honours through the medium of wealth, which as it seems
may be appropriately called a lirnocracy. 1835 THIRLWALL
Greece I. x. 408 The scale of the timocracy was gradually
lowered, until it was wholly abolished. 1847 GROTE Greece
II. xi. III. 159 Such were the divisions in the political scale
established by Solon, called by Aristotle a Timocracy, in
TIMORIST.
which the rights, honour*, functions and liabilities of the
citizens were measured out according to the assessed pro
perty of each.
2. In the Platonic sense: A polity (like that of
Sparta; in which love of honour is said to be the
dominant motive with the rulers.
1656 STANLEY Hist. Philos. \. (1701) 195 Of a Common
wealth he asserleth five kinds, the first, Aristocracy, when
the best Rule ; the second, Timvcracy, when the Ambition-, ;
the third, Democracy, when the People; the fourth, Oly-
garchy, when a few ; the last, Tyranny^ which is the worst
of all. 1845 MAUKICE Mor. .y Met. Phifas. in Encycl.
Mctrop. II. 620/1 The fraternal type of equality will be
preserved in all friendships under a timocracy. 1852 UAVIES
& VALGHAN tr. Plato s Rep. 11858) 307 We will begin on the
present occasion by examining the ambitious constitution
(I do not know of any other name in use; we must call it
Timocracy or Timarchy). 1871 MOKLEY Crit. Misc. Ser. i.
33} A timocracy in which the energetic ambitious and
military type "ill become dominant,
Timocratie [taimokrre tik), a. [ad. mcd.L.
tiwoci iitic-us, a. Gr. -rlnoKpartK-us, f. ripOKparia ;
s-,e prec. and -ic. So F. timocraiique^\ Of, be
longing to, or characterized by a timocracy.
a. In the Aristotelian sense: see prec. i.
1847 GKOTK (I recce n, xxxi. IV. 168 The timociatic classi
fication of Solon . .continued to subsist, 1869 A. \V. WAKD
tr. C/n tins Hist. Greece II. n. iv. 9 These were the tjmo-
i.ratic constitutions, which arrange the citizens in division--,
and determine the measure of their rights according to the
standard of property. 1875 FOSTE (.iains i. (ed. 2) 32 The
C omitia Centunata was a timocratic assembly, or one in
which the ascendency belonged to wealth.
b. In the Platonic sense : see prec. 2.
1852 DU-IKS & VAI-GHAN tr. Plato s Rep. 11858) 31^ Such
\\e find to be the character of the limocratic youn^ man,
who resembles the timocralic state. 1905 Contevip. Rev.
Apr. 556 The timocratic man who seekb honour may easily
degenerate to the mere money lover.
Timocra tical, a. [f. as pree. + -AL ; sec
-K AL.] = prec.
a. a 1647 SIR R. FH.MKK Or\c>"-. Aristotle s Pol. (1652 6 It
may very properly be called a timocratica] Government,
where Magistrates are chosen by their wealth. 1844 THIRL-
\\ALL (-recce \TII. l.xi. 85 A timocratical restriction on the
exercise of the franchise.
b. s8 T. MITCHELL Aristsph. II. 13 In. .Plato s Re
public., the author traces out the origin of four different sorts
of government [viz. the timocratical ur Lacedemonian [etc.]).
1875 JOWI-:TT Plato (ed. 2) III. 99 Ueginning with the
timocracy, let us go on to the timocratical man.
Timon ! ^tarnyn. . [Clr. 1 tpwv, personal name.]
The name of a noted misanthrope of Athens, the
hero of Shakspere s play of the same name;
hence, one like Timon, a misanthrope.
1588 SHAKS. L.L.L. iv. iii. 170 And Critiicke Tymou
laugh at idle toj-es. 1711 SHAI IKSB, Charac. (1737) II- 197
^ on discover d ^o much aversion, as wou d make one believe
you a compleat Timon, or man-hater. 1819 LADY MORGAN
Aittobiog, (1859) 281 She had grown into a sort of female
Timon not of Athens bitter, and always going over old,
past scenes. 1886 Pall Mail (/. 15 June 6 i Both Mr.
Kuskin and Mr. Fronde have lonu; l-:en kiion ;i> highly
cultivated disciples of the latter-day Timon of Cheyne-row.
Hence Timcrnian a.j of, pertaining to, or like
Timon ; Ti/monisrn, misanthropy ; Ti monist,
a misanthrope; Ti monize v. intr. t to play the
Timon or misanthrope.
1770 LASUMOKNE Plutarch (1851) II. 997/1 He left his
Timonian retreat. 1886 Pall Mall G. 15 June 6/1 No
new Timon arose, for "Ti monism bad been found out to be
a fraud. 1590 GKKKNE Mourn. Garni. (1616! - Vet wa* he
not. .such a "Timonist, but hee would familiarly conuerse
with his friends. >6oa DEKKI.K Xatirom. Liij, I did it to
retyre me from the world ; And turne my Muse into a
Timonist. 1713 Cent!. Instr. it. viii. (ed. 51 180, I >b -uK!
be tempted to "Timonue, and clap a Satyr upon our whole
Species.
t Tim Oil -, temon. Obs. rare. [a. ! . titnon,
temon pole, staff, handle of rudder, helm : L.
ternon-cm beam, pole.] The rudder of a ship.
[i39-3 Earl Derby s Expedition (Camd.) 225 Item pro
reparacione j tymon per le hcriuen.] 1506 GUVLFORDE
Pylgr. (Camd.) 76 Tournynge with suche vyolence y l with
the jumpe and stroke of y* falle of >* galye to the rok, the
sterne called the lemon sterte and flewe frome the hokes.
Timoueer (t3ini6nl- j\ rare. [a. F. tintonier
(i2th c. in Godef. CVww//.), It. tinionien^ f. timon
helm : see prec. and -EEU.] A helmsman, steersman.
1762-9 FALCOSKR Shifrwr. n. 178 The helm the attentive
timoneer applies. Ibid. 111.67, 115 [etc.]. 1806 i i. PINCKARD
Notes W. I tfi, I. 183 The timoneer left the helm; and the
ship remained tmmoveable upon the water. 1883 G. C.
DAVIBS Afe^/l Broads xxv.(i884) 188 Her timoneer sitting
..with the tiller in one hand and the Vcet in the other.
Timor (ti moj). rare. [a. L. timor fear.] Fear.
1599 A. M. tr. Gabclhoucr* s Kk. i . *icke 102/2 For
Asthmasye, or shortnes of breath, and timor of the conbump.
tione, 1850 P. CROOK War of H ads 43 In slothful timor.
Timorat, erron. variant of TIMAHIOT. Obs.
fTimorate, a. Obs. rare" , [ad. late L. timo-
rdt-us (Vulg.) full of the fear of God, f. timer few :
see -ATE 2. Cf. F. timort (Cotgr.), It. timorate
(Florio, 1611).] Devout, full of reverence.
1570 Ltviss Manip, 41/14 Timorate, ttmoratus.
-|-Ti-morist. Obs. rare. Also tymor-. Deriva
tion and sense doubtful : the context appears to
require Timist, time-server .
ci6*o FELTHAM Resoh es xx, 60 What would the world
think of me, that could thus in otic, be hot, and cold ? should
I not be censured as a Timorist ? \ed, 1647 Tymorist.J
TIMOROSITY.
tTimorO Sity. 06s. Forms: (stymorysite), !
6 timerosity, -itie, tymer-, (temer-),timorositie,
6-7 timorosity. [f. as TIMOROUS + -ITY ; cf. obs.
It. tinwrosita (Flono).] Timorousness, timidity.
1490 CAXTON F.neydos\\. 20 For tymorysite. -his tonge..
clyued to the palate of his mouuth. 1531 ELVOT Cov. i. xxi,
Audacitie with timero-itie maketh Magnanimiiie. Ibjd. in.
viii, The surplusage is called Audacilie, the lacke Timoro-
sitieor feaie. 1538 St. Papers Hen. /- ///, III. 12 In the
end, temeroiitie putt apart, 1 have determinid playnly to
expres to your Loidship suche thinges..as restith in my
knowledg. 1547-64 BAULDWIN Mor. Philos, (Palfr.) 151
In men we note aitdachie, but commonly in women timero
sity. 1647 Sj>. Ho. Com. 23 June i The timorosity of
Offending, the volubility of Scandal.
Timorous (ti moras), a. Forms : a, 5-6
tymerous e, (5 tumerous;, 6-8 timerous, (6
-ouse). (0. 6 temerous.) 7. 5-6 timorouse,
6 tymorous, 6-8 timourous, (6 -ouse, 7
timrous, 7-8 tim rous), 6- timorous. [= OF.
Itmeros, -ous (i4th c. in Godef.), later timoureus^
timoreitXi OSp., Pg. tenuroso t It. timoroso, med.L.
tintorosus (iith c. in Du Cange, and prob. in late
L.), f. L. tiwdr-em fear.
The existence of the forms timerous, temerous brought
this word into formal con fusion with TEMEROUS rash ; whence
temerity^ pioptrly n. of quality from TEMEROUS, was also
used as deiiv. of timorous in sense timidity : seeTiMERiiv.]
1. Full of or affected by fear (either for the time
or habitually); fearful, a. Feeling fear; frightened,
apprehensive, afraid. (Sometimes const, of, or with
inf. or clause.) Now rare.
c 1450 jlfan&itia &os in Macro Plays 30 He ys so tymer-
ou-e ; me semyth hys vytall spryt doth expyre. c 1530 Crt.
Love i With timerous \cd. 1561 temerous] herte, and trem
bling 1 hand of drede. c 1555 HARPSFILLD Divorce Hen. IS/II
iCamd.) 185 The King s doings.. may seem .. to have pro- i
teeded fiom a tymerous fearful conscience to offend God.
161-5 W. BROWNE Brit. Ptist. it. v, Timerous of death.
a 1631 DONNE Holy Sonnets xii. 10 You have not sinned
nor need be timomou-;. 1707 Reflex, upon Ridicule
11. 269 Our Kriemls are for the most part timerous. 1750
JOHNSON Rambler No. 75 F 15 He is now more timorous
lest his freedom should be thought rudeness. 1840 DICKENS
Barn. Rndge Ix.xii, He. .was rather timorous of venturing
on Joe.
b. Subject to fear ; of a fearing disposition ;
easily frightened ; timid, f In early use sometimes
in good sense : Modest, reverential.
1474 CAXTON Chesse n. ii. (1833) 32 A Queue ought to be
well manerd Sc anionge alle she ought to be tumerous and
bhamefast. Ibid. in. ii, Maysters and marroners on the see
. ,yf they be tumtrous and ferdful they shold make aferde
them that ben in thcyr shippis. 1503 ATKVNSON tr. De
fmitnlionc n. x. 189 The grace wherby we may be made
humble & tymerous to God. 1534 MORE COM/, agst. Trib.
n. Wks. 1182/1 Thys f.iute of pustllanimitye and tymorous
myndc. a 1557 MRS. M. HASSF.T tr. M ore s Treat. Fasshn
ibid. 1358/1 O temerous & weake scly shepe,_ thynke yt
sufficient for thec. onely to walke after me, which am thy
shcpehearoY. 1600 HOLLAND Livy 11. Iv. 8r Their own timer
ous conceits & imaginations. *774 GOLDSM. Nat, Hist.
(1776) IV. 3 Animals of the hare kind. .are inoffensive and
timorous 1833 MACAULAY Hist. Eng. xvi. III. 636 Con
junctures such as have often inspired timorous and delicate
women with heroic courage.
c. Indicating or proceeding from fear; charac
terized by timidity. Alsoyf^.
1581 J. EKLL Haddons Answ. Osor. 477 b, Tymerous
feare of men hath straightened it. 1603 H. CPOSSE Vert ut s
Ccmmii}.(\%-fS) 139 The linke of wofull wretcheducs maketh
his death timtrous and fearfull by his leaud life. 165*
CRASHMV Carmen Deo Nostro Wks. (7904) 254 The timerous
light of stares. 1701 C. WOLLEY Jrnt, .\ cw York (iS6:>) 60
There is the timorous objection: the Ship may founder by
springing a Leak. 1781 GIBBON Dccl. A> F. xxvi. (1869) II.
48, I^hall proceed with doubtful and timorous steps. 1838
PRESCOTT Fcrd. ff Is. (1846) I. iii. 151 His troops mur-
mured at this timorous policy.
f2. Causing fear or dread; dreadful, terrible. Ohs.
455 Rolls o/Parlt. V. 281/1 In as rigorous and timorouse
manere as the Chirche wol suffre it. 1513 BRADSKAW St.
Wtrburgc ii. 766 They set theyr ordinaunce agaynst the
towne. ."timorous for to se. 1608 R. JOHNSON ScvenCliam-
pious 45, I grant thee..by the law of arms to choose thy
death, els hadst thou suffered a timorous torment. 1632
J,ITHGOW Trav. vi. 262 Wee came to the most scurrile and
timorous Discent of the whole passage.
3. dial. (See quots.)
1691 RAY N.C. Words, Timorous, by the Vulgar js here
used for furious or passionate. 1828 Craven Gloss,, Timor-
ous, difficult to please, fretful ; also, nice, particular in dress.
Timorously (ti-morasli), adv. [f. pree. + -LY 2 .]
In a timorous manner; timidly.
1548 UDALL, etc. Erasm. Par. John xxi. 117 He
aunswerelh sincerely .. but timerously and very lowlye
withal. 1560 DAUS tr. Slridane s Comnt. 273^ Rendryng
so lightly and timourously. 1655 STANLEY Hist. Philos. in.
(1701) 99/1 Timerously shunning all publick Affairs. 1697
Jos. WOODWARD R cliff. Soc. London i. (1701) 13 You will
stand idly or timorously, when the Goliahs of darkness come
forth and blaspheme the living God. 1835 LYTTON Rienzi
i. iii, Hush , said a third, timorously looking round. 1885
Manchester Exam. 3 June 5/4 Reflections .. timorously
emphasised by a letter.
Timorousness (ti-morssnes). [f. as pree. +
-NESS.] The quality or state of being timorous;
fearfulness, timidity.
1494 FABYAN Chron. vi. clxxv. 172 Gosselyne and Conrade
-. . complaynynge theym vnto her of the vnstablenesse of
her lorde and tymerousnesse. 1533 ELYOT Cast. Helthe
( 54 1 ) 75^i n case that either for age or for limourouse.
46
ne&se a man wyll not be lette blonde. 1624 DONNE Scrm.
ii. ( r64o) 1 5 Gideon, in a modest tinrorou^nesse askes a signe.
1681 R. KNOX Ceylon 168 Whom we perceiving to be free
from timerousnebs at rhe sight of us. 1748 HARTLEY Observ.
Alan I. iv. 454 The Ridicule cast upon Timorousness by
Hoys and Men. 1876 BANCROFT Hill. U.S. I. viii. 228
Afflicted ..with ..an overpowering timorousness of nature.
Timorsome (ti msj;5m), a. Now dial. Also
7-9 timer-, timour-, erron. timber-, (8 timber-,
8-9 timmor-). [app. i. timor-otis, timer-ous, with
substitution of -some suffix for -ous ; cf. liurtlien-oiis,
burthen-saint, quarrcl-ous, quarrel-some, and esp.
htaiiorous, humoitrsoDie (but humour was in
common English use, which timer was not).]
1. Subject to or characterized by fear ; timorous,
timid.
1599-1600 G. RUGGLE Chtl> Law i. iv, Impossible for a
rrian to be a. . Headsman, .that is timber-some or afraid.
1602 SKUAR Hon. Mil. <v Civ. I. xxx. 39 The second was
impotent of his feet, and the third tinrersome. a 1652 DROME
Covcnt Card. v. i, I never saw a man so timoursome. 1749
FIELDING Tom Jones vin. viii, He is a timborsome Man
every Body knows. 1818 SCOTT Let. to D. Terry 30 Apr.,
in Lockliart, Last night.. the very same noise occurred.
Mrs. S., as you know, is rather timbcrsonie, so up got I,
with Benrclie s broadsword under my arm. ..But nothing
was out of order. 1840 MARRVAT Poor Jack xxii, A miglrty
timorsome sort of young chap he appeared for to be. 1897
BARING-GOULD Hiadys xxvi, I m forced, when feeling tirnor-
some of nights, to bolt my door.
2. Inspiring fear, fearful, dreadful ; = TIMOROUS 2.
rare.
1894 BLACKMORE Pcrlycross rgi It looks, .so. .strange and
ungodly, and and so timoursome.
Timothy (ti mojn). [A Christian name, ad. L.
Timotheus, Gr. Ti/iutfeos (= honouring God ).]
1. Short for TIMOTHY GKASS.
1747 B. FRANKUN Let. Wks. 1887 II. 77 You made some
mistake when you intended to favor me with some of the
new \aluable grass seed.. for what you gave nre . . proves
mere timothy. 1840 J. ZvKLfannert Coup. 22^ Timothy,
better known in the east as l:t-rd>,-grass, and in Europe as
meadow cat s- tail . . is the gerrei al foi age grass of the northern
States. 1887 Daily Ne:us r8 Oct. 3/8 Timothy is scarce
both in America and Germany, whence our supplies are
mainly derived, arrd is likely to be dear.
b. attrib., as timothy field, hay, seed, sod.
1784 l\-nnsyh ania Gaz. i-j Mar. 32 Timothy seed. 1868
Rc/>. U.S. Commissioner Agnc. (i86q) 420 A timothy sod
plowed late in spring. 1884 ROE Nat. Ser. Story viii, The
rnourng machine would be used in the timothy fields. 1902
Encycl. Brit. XXVI. 535/2 Clover seed oolb.j timothy seed
48 Ib.
2. A brew or jorum of liquor (Sc. slang; .>.D.}.
1855 STKANG Clnsgo-^ f, it s Chits (r8 5 6) 338 Rum filled
the crystal timothies. 1890 J. SERVILE Tf.ir Notandums
xii. 87 Drink f.iir, pree and pree aboot, \vi that timothy o
toddy that you ve been hirpling aboot to mak.
Timothy grass. [See quots. 1765, 1894.]
A name (otigmally American) for Meadow Cat s-
tail Grass, Phleum protease, a native British grass,
introduced into cultivation under this name in the
North American colonies in the eighteenth century.
(11736 J. F.UOT Ess. Field Huslt. (1760) 57 Herd-Grass
(known in Pennsylvania by the name of Timothy-Grass). _..
It is sard that Herd-Grass was fust fouml in a swnmp in
Piscataqua by one Herd, who propagated the same. 1747
FRANKLIN Let. Wks. 1887 II. _83 A bushel of clean chaff of
timothy or Salem grass will yield five cjunrts of seed. 1750
W. ELLIS Mod. Huslandm., St. Timothy Grass. 1763
Museum Rust. (ed. 2) I. 235 Timothy grass, .delights in a
by one Timothy
tury Diet., about 1720]. 1809 KEKCALL Trav. I. xxni. 228
Timothy, here called Englitli grass is tne E rass cultivated.
1894 Times 23 Apr. 12/3 Although rlitnim firatcnse, long
known as meadow catstail, is a native Brrtish grass, its
cultivation as an agricultural plnnt was originated last cen
tury by Timothy Hanson, an American, after whom the
glass got called timothy grass.
Timous : see TIMKOUS.
t Timp,-C. Obs. rare 1 . [App. shortened from
L. tympanum, TVMPAX.] A tambourine.
c 1205 LAV. 7003 Ne cuoe ira mon swa muchel of song, Of
harpe& of salterrun,. .Of lirnpe & of lire. \Timpt is prob.
l| Timp, vnr. of TVMP. Timpan^e, -phan,
Timpanie, obs. ff. TVJIPAX, TVMPAXV. Timse,
var. TEMSE, a sieve.
t Timwhi sky. Obs. Also 8-9 -whiskey, (S
timmy whisky, -whiskee). [A compound of
WHISKY, a light one-horse carriage : first element
uncertain.] A kind of high light carriage, seated
for one or two, drawn by a single horse or by two
horses driven tandem ; a gig ; a whisky.
1764 T. BRYDCES 1 1 mar Travest. (1797) II. 324 In spite
of him these younkcrs frisky Went out and hir d a timmy
whisky. 1768 H. WALPOLE Let. to Co-way 9 Aug., The
apprentices lhat flirt to Epsom in a Tim-whisky. 1769 BURKE
Corr. (r844) I. r82 Lord Chatham passed by my door on
Friday morning, in a jimwhiskee {error for tim-] drawn by
two horses, one before the other. 1769 CHESTERF. Lett, to
Godson rs Aug.. Many of our young nobility push for it
[fame] by driving a Chaise and four, or a Tim Whrskey.
Doctor lMeK\\.x\v. IV. 43 The difference between a Baptist
and an Anabaptist, which Sir John Danvers said, is much
TIN.
the same as that between a Whiskey and a Tim whiskey,
that is to say no difference at all.
Tin (tin), sb. Forms: 1-3 tin, 3-7 tyn, 4-6
tynne, 5 tyne, 5-7 tynn. 6 teene. Sf. twne,
tun), 6-7 tinne, 7 tinn, 7- tin. [OE. //;/ neut.
1 = MLG., MDu. /;(, ten (LG. f KFris., Du. // ;,
OHG., MHG. zin (G. sintt\ ON. tin (Da. tin,
\ Sw. tenn} : OTeut. */in-o m ; not known outside
i Teutonic. Ir. tinne ib from ling.
The i6thc. Sc. foims /?iw, tun are difficult to account for.]
1. One of the well-known metals, nearly approach
ing silver in whiteness and lustre, highly malleable
1 and taking a high polish; used in the manufacture
of articles of block tin, in the formation of alloys,
! as bronze, pewter, etc., and, on account of its
resistance to oxidation, for making tin-plate and
lining culinary and other iron vessels.
Tin is rarely if ever found native, but occurs in two oies,
thedioxkie, SnO:, called tinstone or cassitentc, and, less
commonly, in tin-pyrites or sulphide of tin, SnSj Chemic
ally it is a dyad metallic element, symbol Sn (stannto i},
atomic weight (O = 16) 119 (Internal. Committee in Jrnt.
Cheat. Soc. Sept. 1912, 1832); sp. gr. about 7-3. In Alchemy
represented by the same sign (I) as the planet Jupiter.
^897 K. ^LFRF.D Gregory s Past. C. xxxvii. 266 Dis Isra-
hela folc is geworden nu me to sindrum & to are & to tine
& to iserne & to leade inne on minum ofne. c 1200 7>/.
Coll. HOIH. 163 Be caliz [in church is] of tin and hire [the
1 priest s concubine s] nnp of mazere and ring of golde. 1197
R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 144 Metal, as led and tyn. 138* WYCLIK
Num. xxxi. 22 1 iasse, and yren, and tynne. a 1450 I oc in
Wr.-Wukker 613/20 Statinutrr, tyn. Hid. 65 5/1 4 Hoc sta%~
;//;/, tyne. 1544 PHAER Regim. Lyfc (1560) Civ, Kepe
them in a boxe of tinne. 1548 Al-ctdetn Reg*. dS-n) I- 259,
vij platis of twne,. .item, iij qunnis of twne. 1561 Ibid. 336
Ane charger of tun, ane plait of tun, ane di^che of tun.
1559 Will R. Hoopc (Somerset Ho.), lleades ol Teene. 1610
HOLLAND Camden s Brit. (1637) 184 Rich and plenteous
mines of tinne. 1796 KIRWAN Elcm. Alia, (ed, 2} II. 105
The colour of Tin is greyish white.. . Fracture hackly,
ciackles.. when bent. 1815 J. SMITH Panorama Scr. -f Art
1 II. 388 Equal parts of tin and bismuth form a brittle alloy.
1863 LYF.LL Antiq. Man ii. 10 Hronze is an alloy of about
nine parts of copper and one of tin.
b. \Vith defining attribute, as
bar-tin = block tin ; black tin, tin otef the dioxide, SnO?)
prepared for smelting ; block tin, metallic tin refined and
cast into blocks; grain tin, a very pure tin obtained by
fusing stream tin in a blast furnace --uppliecl with charcoal,
and breaking it into .small pieces ; phosphor tin, an arti
ficial compound of tin and phosphorus ; stream, tin, tin
ore washed from the sand or giavel in which it occurs;
white tin, refined metallic tin.
1870 YEATS Nat. Hist. Comm. 361 Stream ore;^ produce
the grain tin, ..and the others the *bnr or block tin. 1873
WAITS Fovsncs 1 Ctict .: 443 Two varieties of commercial tin
are known, called crain-and bar-tin. 1610 HOLLAND GiwrVw j
Brit. (1637) 185 * Black tin. .is tinne ore broken and washed.
1865 E. BuRRirr Walk Land s End 323 The mine produces
about 430 tons of black tin annually. 1668 CHARLETON
Onon:ast. 295 Mundick, and * Block Tin. 1688 LUTTRELL
Brief l\cl. (1857) I. 455 There is a new patent passing em.
pow ring commissioners for the making of new tinn farthings
of block tinn. iZ$*Pc>:>iy Cyct. XXIV 472/2 After refining,
the tin is cast into blocks of about three cwt each.. .Tin
thus prepared is sold as block tin. 1796 KIRWAN Elcm. Aft a.
(ed. 2) II. 201 "Grain Tin approaches to the silvery white.
Common block Tin is bluer. 1877 KNIGHT Diet. Alcch.
2575/1 Grain-tin is prepared by plunging blocks of tin into
a bath of molten tin, and when they have assumed a brittle
cry.-i.nling texture, they are broken with a hammer ; or, after
being heated nearly to the fusing-point, they are allowed to
fall doin a considetable hight ; they are thus broken up into
elongated grains. 1884 Ibid. Suppl., W/0.s///<-7V... Useful
in making phosphor bron/e. 1796 KIRWAN EUtn. Miu.
(ed. 2) II. 201 In Cornwall the best Tin Ores are those lhat
are washed down the hills by torrents, and thence called
Stream Tin Ores. 1842 HRANDE Diet. ,SV., etc., s.v Tin,
Stream tin,, .from it the purest metal is obtained- 1674 RAY
Words t Prcj>ar. Tin 124 Two pound of black tin. .yields a
pound of White or more. 1706 Lond, Gaz, No. 4?4i/f A
new Inventionof Smelting. . of Black Tin-Ore into While Tin.
2. A vessel made of tin, or more usually of tinned
i iron ; spec, a vessel in which meat, fish, fruit, etc., is
i hermetically sealed for preservation ( = CAN sb.^ 3);
] locally, a small cylindrical drinking vessel or mug
with a handle.
1821 CLARK nil. Minstr. II. 73 With shining tin to keep
his dinner warm Swung at his back. 1851 MAYHFW Lond.
Labour I. 354 The sellers of tins, who carry them under
I their arms, or in any way on a round, . . are known as
! hand sellers. 1853 KANE Grinncll Exp. xxx. (1856) 258
i Now we had to quarry out the blocks [of icel .. and then
melt it in tins for our daily drink. 1898 British Printer
XI. 218 A couple of opened ink tins. 1900 H. G. GRAHAM
Soc. Life Scot, in iBt/t C. iv. ii. (1901) 135 They partook
of a tin of ale. 1901 Westm. Gaz. 29 Nov. 8/2 An action
.. that concerns 200,000 tins of strawberry jam for the
troops in South Africa, The manufacturers are proceeding
i against the tin-makers, as the tins leaked. Mod. To open
a tin of sardines. (St ott.) Each child brought a tin and
received her tinful of milk*
b. Tin-plate as the material of such vessels.
1879 MRS. A. E. JAMES Ind. I/emst/t. Managem. 85 A tin
writing case is much more useful.. for in tin nothing will
i mildew as it is liable to do in leather. 1886 RUSKIN
Pryterita I. 283 Meat of their own herds, untainted by
American tin.
3. s/antf. Money, cash. Cf. UUASS sb. jb.
Said to have been first applied to the small silver coins of the
! iSthc., which before their recall in 1817 were often worn
quite smooth without trace of any device, so as to icsemble
pieces of tin. See quot. for tin~ti&fin 4 c.
1836 SMITH Individual. Thieves Chaunt 5 (farmer)
TIN.
Because she lately nimm d some tin. They have sent her
to lodge at ihe King s Head Inn. 1840 DICKENS Old C.
Shop ii, How much better would it be .. to hand over a
reasonable amount of tin. 1854 MARION HARLAND Alone
xxiv, She married a rich old man for his tin .
4. attrib. and Comb. a. attrib. or as adj. Made
or consisting of tin (or of tin-plate), as tin bar,
basin, box, bucket^ button, can, farthing, filings,
flagon, metal, -nail, saucepan, -solder, spoon, thread,
-ware, whistle ; of, pertaining or relating to, pro
ducing, or concerned with tin, as tin-amalgam,
-dip, -farm, -float (FLOAT sb. 19), -furnace, -grain,
-kiln, -law, -lode, -merchant, -mine, ore, -pit, -shop,
trade, vein , put up or preserved in tins, tinned, as
tin junk, milk*
1839 URF. Diet. Arts 593 The glass.. with its interior
coaling of tin-amalgam, 1487 Cely Papers (Camden) 157
A *tyn hasson w l oder geyr. 1858 SIMMONDS Did. Trade,
*Tin-lo\, Tin-case, a strong iron box tinned and japanned,
for holding papers, dress articles, etc. 1642 in J. Lister
Autobiog. (1842) 78 Michael Woodhead was shot upon his
"tin-buttons. 1858 SIMMONDS Did, Ttadc, * Tin-can, a
metal vessel for holding liquids. 1877 KNIGHT Diet. RTech.,
Tin Can, the ordinary name for the cans of tinned iron now
so widely used. 1775 ASH, "Tin-canister, a canister made
of tin. 1839 URF. Diet. Arts 1253 (Tin-plate) The final
"tin-dip is useful to remove the marks of the hiu^h. 1758
BORLASE Connvall 190 The "lin-farm of Cornwall ai ihis
time amounted to. .one hundred marks per annum. 1688
*Tinn farthings [see block tin in sense i b], 1822-34 Good s
Study Mcd. {ed. 4) I. 288 The anthelmintic virtues of tin-
filings 1589 Excli. Rolls Scotl. XXII. 73 Audit *iin
flauconis contenand ane point thepece. 1681 GREW Musznm
ur. 11. ii. 328 A Slag, remaining in the bottom of the *Tin-
Floale. 1695 WOODWARD Nat. Hist. F.artk iv. (1723) 213
"Tin-Grains, and other Ores of Metalls. 1710 j. HARRIS
Lex. Techn. II, * Tin-kiln, \& used for the Burning of the
Mundick from the Tin-ore. 1611 SPEED Theat. Gt* Brit.
i. (1614) 21/1 This Eaile made certain tinne-laws which
with Ii bet ties and priviledtjcs were confirmed by Karle
Edmund his soime. 1839 UE LA HECHE Rep. Geol. Com.
wail, etc. x. 301 Wheal Friendship lode differs but a few
degrees from east and west, as is also the case with Wheal
Jewel "tin-lode on the north of it. 1708 Land. Gaz, No.
4461/4 Richard Balhatchett,. .Tinner, or Tinn-Merchant.
1882 Three in Nonvay v. 35 When we have only tin milk.
1610 HOLLAND Caniden s Brit. 185 The incur.-aons of the
Mores had stopped up the "tinne mines of Spaine. 1839
URE Diet, Art* 1241 The tin-mines of the Malay peninsula.
1381-1 Durham Ace. Rolls (Surtees) 389 In CCC "Tinnail
et vernys empt. pro ostio parliament! in claustro. 1610
*Tinne ore [see black tin in i b]. 1766 WESLEY Jml.
it Sept., My horse was just stepping into a "tin-pit. 1834
Tail s Mag. I. 181/2, I have known a blacksmith, .un
aware of the fact that what are called "tin saucepans are
made of tinned plate iion. 1603 HOLLAND Plittatck s Mar.
189 Like as "tin-soder doth knit and rejoyne a crackt peece
of biasse. 1669 STURMV Mariner s Mag., Penalties -5- For.
fcit. 2 "Tin and Leaden Spoons. 1674 tr. Sthcjfcrs Lapland
105 Adorned with needle work of "lin-thred upon diverse
colour d cloth. 1839 DE LA BECHE Rep. Geol. Cornwall,
etc. xv. 525 The chief emporium of the tin trade was Biuges.
1610 HOLLAND C an:^ t s Brit. 185 Ihe *tynne veinet in
Get manie .. were not as yet knowen. 1860 PIESSK Lab.
C/teni, Wcndtrs 36 It is thii substance which constitutes
our famous tin-ware. 1825 J. NEAT. Bro. Jonathan I. 90
As if he were sounding a charge with.. a *tin-uhistle.
b. fig. in reference to tin as a base metal, esp.
in comparison with silver : Mean, petty, worthless,
counterfeit. (Cf. COPPKR sb\ 9 c.)
1886 KIPLING Dcpartm. Ditties (1899) 24 The Little Tin
Gods hanied their little tin souls. 1902 Daily Cnr ( i>i.
10 July 3/3 Tho ie funny little tin revolutions afiVctcd by the
South American Slates. 1905 H. A. VACHKLL tfillix. 187,
I hope he s not going to make a sort of tin parson of you.
c. objective and obj. genitive, as tin-healer,
-maker, -metier, -miner, -palter, -stamper, etc. ;
tin-learing) -dressing, -getting, -mining, -smelting,
-stamping, etc., sbs. and adjs. ; instrumental, as
tin-poisoning, -roofing ; tin-lined, -mailed, -roofed
adj*. ; parasynthetic, as tin-bottomed, -coloured,
-handled, -tabled adjs. ; similativc, as tin-white adj.
and sb. ; also tin-like adj. and adv.
1899 Daily Nws 30 Nov. 2/1 (Prospeclu 4 ;) Two immense
depo-ils of tin-bearing drift. 1848 W. H. KEI.I.V tr. L.
Blanks Hist, 7V Y. II. 272 Francois Foucret, tin-beater,
.Jiving in Vaise. 187* CALVERLEV Fly-leaves (1903) 73 Hit
a linhottom d tray Hard with the fireshovel. hammer away !
( 1515 Cocke Lorcl/cs B. TO Balancers "tynne casters, and
skiyueners. 1606 SYLVESTER Du Ba*tas \\. iv. 11. Magni
ficence 926 On his back he wears *Tin-colour*d Tissue.
1896 Daily News 17 Nov. 3/5 He was given a tin-handled
knife. 1846 MRS. GORF. Eng. Char. 6 Many pet sons.,
remember the villanous old coinage of George III, [properly
Queen Arine to Gco. II, still current under Geo. Ill, but
gradually withdrawn after 1817], the "tin-like sixpcnce,which
added a word to the slang dictionary, and the button-like
shillings, of which the image and superscription might have
been Caesar s. 1868 Rep. U, .V. Commissioner Agric. (1860)
192 Heated by circulated air.. ascending in "tin-lined flues.
1879 MRS. A. E. JAMES tnd. Hoitsch. Mana^cm. 21 Articles
..should be securely packed in tin boxes, or else in boxes tin-
lined. 1887 RUSKIM Prxterita II. 401 The delicately tin-
mailed and glittering spires of the village church. 1592
CHETTLE Kindc-harts Dr. (1841) 26 The receipte which the
linne-mehers wife rmimtred. 1899 R. MUNRO t rcliist.
Scot. L 6 Diodorus Siculus makes mention of the "tin-
miners. 1841 LMKRSON A". Ser. i. iv. (1876) 112 He hears
and feels what you say of the seraphim, and of ihe *tin-
pedter. 1904 H esttH. Ga*, 20 Sept. 3/2 These could not
47
Epit. Chcni. (1808) 252 The colour of this metal [telluiium]
v* "tin-while, verging to lead-grey. 1855 J, R. LEIFCHILD
Cornwall Mines 39 Good specimens of tin-white cobalt.
5. Special Combs. : tin-bath (HATH sb.^ 18), the
mnss of melted tin in a tin-fumace; tin bill:
see (juot. ; f tin-blain, a Main or inflammatory
swelling of the tongue in horses; -^tin-boat, a
pontoon or the like made of tin (or some alloy
of tin): cf. PONTOON sl>. i, quots. 1710 and 1811 ;
tiu-bound sb. = BOUND sb. 1 30; hence tin-
bound z . trans., to mark ovit the boundaries of (a
piece of ground) for tin-mining ; whence tin-
bounder, -bounding; tin-clad a., covered with
tin; s/f. [after iron-c/ad]* a lightly armoured boat;
tin-field, a tract of country yielding tin; tin-
floor, (a) a floor made of tin ; (/) a horizontal
course or stratum of tin ore: see FLOOR si). 12 ;
tin-frame : see quot. ; tin-glaze, a glaze for fine
pottery, having an oxide of tin as a basis ; hence
tin-glazed a. ; tin-gravel, gravel containing tin
ore, which is obtained by streaming ; tin-ground
tin-field , tin-hammer, a hammer with a heavy
tin head, used to drive home tightly fitting bolts,
etc.; tin-house, (a) a houe constructed of tin;
(A) a building where tin is worked ; tin-liquor, a
solution of tin in strong acid mixed with common
salt, used as a mordant in dyeing ; tin-loaf, a loaf
baked in a tin, a pan-loaf; tin-mordant, a mordant
consisting of a solution of tin in acid, as tin-liquor;
tin-mouth, a sun-fish found in the Mississippi,
the crappie ; tin-opeuer, an instrument for open
ing soldered tins; tin pan sb., a pan made of tin,
also attrib. in reference to the noise made by
beating such ; hence tin-pan z\ trans,, to serenade
in derision by beating tin pans; tin-pulp, the
precipitate from a solution of tin chloride and
yellow prussiate of potash, used for dyeing; tin-
putty, putty-powder; tin-pyrites, a sulphide of
tin: see PVKITES; tin-rock, a variety of rock
pigeon; tin-salt, the crystalline hydralcd chloride
of tin, SnCl 2 2H.jO, obtained by dissolving tin in hot
hydrochloric acid ; also, with //., any salt of tin ;
tin-saw, ( a saw used by bricklayers for cutting
kerfs in bricks (Knight Diet. Afah. 1877); tin-
scrap, the waste tin-plate in the manufactuie of
tin-ware; tin-silver, imitation silver made of
tin ; tin-spar (see quot. 1 796) ; tin-spirits = tin-
liquor \ tin-stuff, a miner s name for tin ore;
tin-vat, a vessel in which tin-liquor is kept ;
tin wash, stream tin (see i b) ; tin-washing -
TIN-STREAMING; //. works where tin-streaming is
done ; tin-witts : see quots. ; tinwomaii, a woman
who sells tin (cf. TINMAN) ; tin-work, often //.
-works, a place where tin is worked or manu
factured; so tin-worker, -working; tin-worm,
the * worm or spiral tube of a still, made of tin.
See also TINFOIL, -GLASS, -KETTLE, -POT, -TACK, etc.
1839 URE Diet. Arts 1749 (Tin- Refining) Into die tin-
bath, billets of gteen wood are plunged. 1778 PRYCE Mia.
Cornub.\. iv. 291 The manner of agreeing for or buying the
Tin Ore. .being to give *Tin bills or promissory notes to the
owners thereof. Ibid. 292 This makes what they call
the Tin bill tiade so noted in this county. 1614 MARKHAM
Cheap Husk, i. vi. (16681 74 For the Blain on the tongue, of
some called the *Tin-blain, it is a blister which groweth at
the roots of the tongue. 1677 Loud. G<iz. No. 1109/3 Some
of the biggest Cannon out of the Maqa/ine at Delft, and the
"Tin Boats from the Hague. 1691 $*& Lymcrick 4 This
day there came into our Camp Twenty Nine Tin-Boats. 1863
Standard n July, The Beam mine had been woiked by tin
bounders under the custom of Cornwall. ///>/., Up to 1858
the mine had been woiked under the custom of "tin bounding.
1883 POLLOCK Land Laws ii. (1887) 50 In Cornwall, .called
* tin-bounding , from the setting out of the working by bounds
which Is the adventurer s first step towards establishing his
claim. 1873 HOWELLS Chance Acquaintance ii, The slen
der "tin-clad spire of its church. 1887 Scf. Amcr. 23 Apr.
263/3 He converted .. seven transports into what were
called tinclads , or musket-proof gunboats. 1898 Dally
News 26 Apr. 9/4 The tin wash and tailings of the leading
tin sluicing mines of the Ruigarpoma "Tinfield. 1907 Daily
Chrflii. 28 Sept. 5/4 Prospectors in the Government tin-fields
at Waterberg. 1707 MORTIMER Husb. (1721) I. 185 On this
* Tin-floor or Bed may the Hops be turned.. with less ex-
ptnce of Fuel. 1839 URE Diet. Arts 1241 The stanniferous
small veins - .intci posed between certain rocks ---ire com
monly called tin-floors. 1881 RAYMOND Mining Gloss. , * Tin-
frantc, Cornfwall], a sleeping-table used in dressing tin-ore
slimes, and discharged byturning it upon an axis, .and then
dashing water over it. 1904 Daily Chron. 7 July 8/4 The
*iin-glazed ware of Delft, and the salt-glared stoneware of
Germany. 1874 J. H. COLLINS Metal Mining 55 The
deposit of "tin gtavel at the mouth of the Carnon Valley.
1839 DE LA HECHE R?j>. Geol. Cornwall, etc. xiii. 401 To
fill up the space once occupied, by the tin-ground. 1798
H. M. WILLIAMS Tour in Stcifzfr. I. x. 133 This admiiable
mimick-creation of silver torrents, mossy forests, tin-houses
and glass lakes, 1904 Daily Niws 19 Nov. 12 The mills
and tin house were stopped for nearly an hour. 1858 SIM-
MONDS Diet. Trade, *i m-liquor. Hid. s. v. Loaf, The
cottage loaf; "tin loaves. 1839 URF. Diet. Arts 1252 "Tin
mordants, for dyeing scarlet. 1888 GoooEXwrr. frishesj\
Ponioxys annularis. .has other names of local application
as "Tin Mouth , Biidge Peich . 1895 Daily News ai June
3/7 Duggan and Kartell stiuck at her with a tin opener.
TINAMOU.
1854 EMERSON Lett.% Soe. Aims, Poet. .5- /mag. Wks. (Bohn)
I II. 169 What we once admired as poetry has . . come io be a
sound of "tin pans. 1885 Daily Ncivs 8 Jnn. 6/6 The female
portion of the community* *tin-panning the rev. gentleman,
a great uproar being caused by the beat ing of old trays, kettles,
&c. 1874 W. CKOOKES Dyeing *t Caluo-Print. 11. i. 166 The
.so-called prussiate of tin, or tin-pulp, is chiefly used as an
ingredient in printing steam-blues on cotton. 1839 UKK
Diet. Arts 801 The last polish is given [to marble] with "tin-
putty. 1796 KIRWAN Elem.Min. (cd. 2) II. 75 *Tin Pyrites.
1839 UKK Ditt. Arts 1241 There are only two ores of tin ;
the peroxide, or tin-stone, and tin pyrites. 1892 GREENER
Breech-Loader 237 The greater portion of the pigeons used
for trap shooting are brought over from that port [Antweipl,
and sold here as "Tin Rocks. 1849 I). CAMI-HELL Inort>.
Cheui. 229 Boiling with phosphorous acid or tin salt. 1681
GREW Musxunt IK. I. v. 307 A Yellow "Tin-Spar from
Iieland. 1796 KLJUVAX Efeiit. Min. idl. 2) II. 198 The
yellowish grey [tin stone] is often called Tin spar, 1877
O NKILL in Entycl. Brit. VII. 574/2 The solution of tin
used by dyers .commonly called tin spirit.i . 1778 \\ .
PKVCE Min. Corinth. 67 The Tinners or Miners, .give it the
name of/Tin-stufT. 1865-72 WATTS Ditt.Chcm. III. 252
In the "tin -vat, commonly used for calico-printing, the indigo
rs reduced by a solution ofstannous oxide in caustic poia-h
or soda. 1898 "Tin wash [sue tin-field above]. 1869 A. k
WALLACE Malay Archip. I. 43 Extensive "tin-washings,
employing over a thousand Chinese. 1853 ^ RE Diet. Arts
II. 858 Tin wilts : ihe ore obtained from the stamp-floors.
1881 RAYMOND Mining Gloss., Tin-witts, Cornwall], the
pioduct of the first dressing of tin-ore-, containing, beside-*
tinstone, other heavy mineials (wolfram and metallic sul
phidesj. 1884 M. K. WILKINS in Harper & Mag: June 29 2
Her customers. . had giown used to the novelty of a "tin-
woman, instead of a tinman, 1475 Rolls of Put It. VI. 134 2
A *Tyn werk within the said Counte of Comewaill, called
the .Myne of the Clcker. 1610 HOLLAND Cantden s l>rit.
184 Of these Mines or tinne-workes, there be two kinds.
1839 DE LA BF.CHE Rep. Geol. Cormvali, etc. xiii. 408 An
epocli corresponding with that to which the Cornish stream
tin-works belong, 1610 HOLLAND Cam den s ttrii. 185 Hee
delivered rules and piecepts to these Tinne* workers. 1827
G. HIGGINS Celtic Druids Fief. 51 Kef ore thi-, tin-woikin^
nation dived into the bowels of the enith. 1800 tr. La-
grange s Client. 11, 53 The tin-worms of stills.
Tin (tin), v. Forms: see prec. [f. prec. sb.
Cf. Du., LG. -linnen, Ger. -zt nnetz. ]
1. trans. To cover with a thin deposit of tin ; to
coat or plate with tin.
1398 TBKVIBA Bart/i. De P. R. xvi. xxxvii. (Tollem. MS.),
Brasen vessel ben sone reed and rousti..and haue an yuel
sauoure and Mnel, but bey be tynned. c 1440 Pron p. Parz\
494/1 Tynnyn wytlie l> line, stanno. 1599 A. M. tr. Gabcl-
/it tttr s Bfc. Pkysicke 547 1 Take a copper basen which is not
tinned. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny (1634) II. 517 A Jeuise to tin
pots, pans, and other pieces of brass*,. with while lead or
tinglasse. 1747 MRS. GLASSE Cookery v. 63 Take steal
Care the Pots or Sauce-pans., be well tinned, for fe;ir of
giving the Broths or Soops any brassy Taste. 1816 P. CLFAVF-
LAND Min. 5^5 Tin-plate. .consists of iron, who.-e suiface is
tinned to prevent oxidation. 1832 UABBAGE Eeon. Manuf.
xix. (ed. 3) 182 The man who pickles and tins the pins.
2. In soldering iron, brass, etc., To perform the
preliminary process ot heating the surfaces and
covering them with a thin costing of the solder.
1873 E. SION- Workshop Receipts Ser.i. (1888) 366/1 First
clean tht; iron and biass well and then tin thtm before
placing them together for soldering. . .The articles can be
tinned by rubbing while hot with rosin; thtn rubbing them
over with solder.
3. To put up or seal (provisions) in a tin for pre
servation; to can. (In quot. 1887 intr. for /aw.)
1887 CassflFs Mag. Feb. 148 Some fish tin well, others
do not. 1890 Daily News iC Apr. 6/2 The method of tin
ning milk for use of troops.
Tin, obs. form of//, THINE (after a dental).
Tin, var. TIND v. Obs., to kindle; var. TINE 5^.2
Obs.) loss. Tinacle, obs. form of TUNICLE.
t Ti Xiage. Obs. Also 6 tyuage, 7 tynaxe ; and
in Sp. forms tina ja^tina xa^ tinaio (i.e. tinajo].
[ad. Sp. tinaja t -\ tinaxa .tina xa) = It- tina(do^
augmentatives of // # and tino.\..tlna wine-vessel.]
A large earthenware jar.
1574 HELLOWES dtcuara t Fain. Ep. (1584) 241 His soul-
dicrs. .haue drunke out a whole linage of wine. 1582 N
LICHFFIELD tr. Castanhfda s Cony. f:. hid, \. xlix. io6Sixe
gieat Tynages of fine Earth, which they doe call Porcelancis
1598 \V. PHILLIP Linschotcn \. vi. 16/2 The water that they
drmke. .they keepc in great pots {as theTinaios in Spaine).
1621 R. H^WKIN S Voy, S. Sea \\\. 25 The Inhabitants doe
re^crue water, .in their Cisttins and Tynaxes. 1676 LA or
FANSHAWE Man. (1830) 195 That admirable wine is kept in
great tinajas. which are pots holding about ^oo gallons each.
1845 FORD Haniil k. Sfa/ n i. 2,11/1 At Cona are made the
enormous eaiihenwnre jars in which oil and olives are kept :
these tinajas are the precise amphorae of the ancients.
II TilianiOU (li namw). [a. F. tinamoit (Barrere
1741, Buffon 1771)1 a. tinamu, native name in
Galibi.] A bird of the genus Tinamus (Latham
1790) or family 7V;ww/(/ > diom?eogiialhous birds,
according to Huxley forming the bond of union
between the Carinatx and RmfiiU* The species
have an external resemblance to partridges or
quails, the place of which they fill on the pampas.
1783 LATHAM Synopsis Birds II. 724 Genus LII. Tinamou
No. i. Great T(inamou). .. Tinamou dc Oirrjir...Thi5 is
found in the woods of several parts of South America, par
ticularly of Cayenne and Guiana. \%& Penny C}d. XXIV.
476/7. 1884 G. ALLEN in Loitgtn. Mag. Ian. 793 All other
modem birds, .are linked .. to the still earlier toolhed ances
tral types, by the South , American tinamous. 1889 P. L.
SCLAIKR Argentina Ornitk. II. 207 The Tinamou? consti
tute unc of the most singulai and charactenslic types of the
TINCAL.
Neotropical avifauna. 1895 F. W. HEADLEV Struct. $ Life
Birds xiii. 343 The Spotted Tinnamou, or common Partridge
of the Pampas. 1896 NEWTON Diet. Birds 964 In 1830
Wagler. .placed the Tinamous in the same Order as the
Ostrich and its allies. 1902 Q. J\tv. Oct. 427 Another some-
what less distinguished game-bird.. is the tinatnu.
Tin-bath to -bounding : see TIN sb. 5.
Tincal (tiijkal), tiiicar (ti rjkai). Forms:
a. 7 tyncall, 8-9 tinkal, 7- tincal ; . 7-8
tinkar, 8- tincar. [In form tincal, a. Malay
tingkal : Skr. tankana ; in Pers., Arab., Urdu
,l5sjj tankdfy tinkar y whence the -forms and
ALTINCAR.] Crude borax, found in lake-deposits
in Tibet, Persia, and other Asiatic countries.
a. 1635 in Foster Crt. Mix. E. fnd. Co. (1907) 99 Tyn
call [to .Mr. Allen]. 1678 Phil. Trans. XII. 1050 If any
Dross or filth be in the Melting-Pot, they throw in some
Tincal, which gathers the dross together. 1763 tr. Bnsch.
ing s Sysf. Gtog. I. 44 Borax... I is species are a bluish kind
called Tinkal, and the proper borax, which is a purified
Tinkal and appeals white. 1811 A. T. THOMSON Lond.
Dii>p. n. (1818)371 The borax is dug in large masses froni
the edges and shallows of the lake. .. In this state it is
named tincal, and is brought home packed in chests, in
masses of adhering crystals, of a grey yellowish, or greenish
white colour. 1873 WATTS Founts C hem. (ed. 11) 341 It
is impoited in a crude state from the East Indies under
the name of tinea!.
0. 1678 PHILLICS (ed. 4), Tinkar, a Chyrmcal word for
Borax. 1706 Ibid. (ed. Kersey), Tincar (Arab.), a sort of
Nitre, or Salt-peter, .dug out of the Eaith. 1756 P. BROWN R
Jamaica 38, 6 Borax, r. Tinkal or Tinkar.
Tincel, obs. form of TINSEL $b$
Tinchel (ti*nx y el, ti-rjkel). Sc. Forms : 6
tinchill, tynchal, teinchell, 6-7 tinchell, 6, 9
tainchel.l, 7 tinckhell, 8-9 tinkell, 9 tinckell,
tinkal, tinchal, tinchel. [ad. Gael, timchioll
(tjV mx y 61) circuit, compass, round (as prep. --
* around, about ).] In Scotland, A wide circle of
hunters driving together a number of deer by ,
gradually closing in upon them. Also attrib.
1549 D. MONRO Dcscr. West, /ales 15 All the Dcire of j
the west pairt of that forrest will be callit [= dtiven] be !
tainchels to that narrow entres, and the next day callit west ,
againe be lainchels through the said narrow entres, &
infinit Deire slatne ther. Ibid. ioa The Deire will be tallit
upwart ay be the Teinchell. 111578 LINDESAV (Pitscottie)
Citron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 56 Ilk ane lyand wait for wther as ,
they had ben setiand linchellis for the murther of wyld
beistes. 1618 J. TAYLOR ( Water P.)/ V/y/<^/ J // i >-.Wks.(i63o)
136/1 Those foresaid Scouts which aie called the Tinckhell,
doe bring do wne the Deere. 1814 SCOTT IV (iv. \.\iv, These
active assistants spread through the country far and near,
forming a circle, technically called the tinchel^ which, gra.
dually closing, drove the deer in herds together towards the
len where the Chiefs and principal sportsmen lay in wait
or them. 1820 HOGG Tales <V S, t B tidal Potniod xiii,
The linkell wa-> raised at two in the morning. Ibid, xvi,
Tinckell. 1834 MUOIK Brit. Birds {i&v} 1.283 He [dipptrj
gives chase, with all the confidence of one who drives deer
into a tinchal, or ducks into a decoy, 1868 Nat. Entycl. I.
238 Hunting, which sport they carry on like the Scottish
* tinkal . 1904 Blarkw, Mag. June 757/2 A tainchel or
hunting dme waste meet at Figinthas.
Tinck(e, Tinckle: see TINK v., TINKLE.
Tin-clad: see TIN sb. 5.
Tincle, obs. form of TINKLE, TINSEL sb.">
Tinct (tinkt), sb. Now only poet. [ad. L,
timt tts a dyeing, f. ting&re to dye, stain.]
1. Colour, hue, tint; colouring matter, dye: ~
TINCTURE sb. i, 2.
48
1594 PLAT Jewell-ho. n. 22 Water deepelie died, or tincted
with.. colour of the hearbe. 1596 DRAYTON Leg. ii. 541 My
delicious Cheeke Tinkled with Crimson. 1626 B. JONSON
Masque, Fort, Isles, I will but touch your Temples,, .and
tinct the Tip, the very Tip of your Nose, a 1648 DIGBY
Chym. Seer. it. (1682) 174 It will Tinct itself as red as blood.
1650 AsiiMOLRCAjwt. Collect. 127 A Dry earthy Body tincts
not, unlfiflM it be tincted. 1686 GOAD Celest. Bodies n. xiii.
337 In dry Seasons the Solar Halo s are sometimes tincted
with red.
gl
fo
1601 SHAKS. Ham. in. iv. 91 There I see such blacke and
grained spots, As will not leave their tinct. 1611 Cymb.
ii. ii. 23 White and Azure lac d With Blew of Heauens owne
tinct. 1706 PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey), Tinct, or Teint (Lat.),a
Colouring. 1748 THOMSON Cast. Indol. i. xliv, Raising a
world of gayer tinct and grace, a 1855 Miss MIFFORIJ
Foetus^ A Portrait^ Such brilliant white, such rosy tinct,
The apple blossom shows. 1861 WYNTER Soc. Bees 500 The
dirTerence of colour is entirely owing to the tinct of the fluid
which fills the hollow tube in each hair. 1884 BROWNING
FerishtaJi) Bean-Strife 347 There s no single tinct Would
satisfy the eye s desire to taste The secret of the diamond.
b. Jig. A touch, trace, tinge (of something) :
TINCTURE sb. 4.
1752 FOOTE Taste i. Wks. 1759 I. 8 If I do now and then
add some tincts of antiquity to my pictures. 1794. MRS.
PIOZZI Synon. II. 195 That lovely season of life gives to
every thing a linct of Its own greenness.
f2. Alch. A transmuting elixir; ^TINCTURE
sb. 6. Obs.
1471 RIPLEY Comp. Alch. xn, i. in Ashtn. Theat. Chew.
Brit. (1652) 184 And Tynctin Projeccyon all Fyerstoabyde.
1601 SHAKS. All s Well y. iii. 102 Platus himselfe, That
knowes the tinct and multiplying med cine. 1606 Ant.
<V Cl. i. v. 37 Vet comming from him, that great Med cine
hath With his Tinct gilded thee.
Tinct, ///. a. poet. [ad. L. tinct-us^ pa. pple.
of ting$rt\ see prec.] Coloured, tinted; dyed,
tinged; imbued. Const, as pa. pple.
1579 SPENSER Shepk. Cat. Nov. 107 The blew in black,
the greene in giay is tinct. 1615 BKATHWAIT Strappado^
etc. (1878) 284 Her sanguine colour tinct with Lyons iawes.
1819 KEATS Ere St. Agnes xxx, Lucent syrops, tinct with
cinnamon. 1839 BAILEY Festus xxxi. (1852) 530 In robes
Of scagreen hue, engirdled with a zone All variously tinct.
t Tinct, v. Obs. Also 6 tinkt. [f. L. tinct-,
ppl. stem of tingere to dye, colour. First used in
pa. pple. f tinted: cf. TINCT///. a.]
1. trans. To colour; to dye; to tinge, tint.
2. transf. and _/?-. To imbue or impregnate with
some substance or quality, esp. in a slight degree;
to tinge, tincture, taint, a. with a physical sub-
stance or quality: = TINCTURE V. 2 a.
a\6z6 BACON New All. (1650) 27 Artificiall Wells and
Fountaines, made in Imitation of the Natural! Sources and
Bathes; As tincted upon Vitiioll, Sulphur, Steele, Brasse,
Lead, Nitre, and other Mineral Is. 1626 Syfaa 882 So
the strainer itself is tincted with salt. 1638 RAWLEY tr.
Bacons Life $ Death (1650) 48 That towards the Morning,
there be used some Anointing, or Shirt tincted with Oyle.
1644 DIGBY Nat. Bodies xxiv. (1658) 280 Although the
heart should be tincted from its first origine with an undue
virtue from some part.
b. with a mental or moral quality, or with
knowledge, etc. : = TINCTURE v, 2 b.
1599 U. JONSON Ev. Man out of Hum. Ded., To take it in
your hands, peihap^ may make some bencher, tincted with
humanity, read and not repent him. 1666 BANCROFT Le.v
Ignen 23 Conjectures, .so tincted and debauch t with private
piejudice. a 1734 NORTH K.\ani. \. iii. r5 (1740) 132 To
suppose his Reader .tincted beforehand with what was
oidinaiily understood by the Plot.
3. Alch. To subject to a transmuting elixir : see
TINCTURE sb. 6.
1599 [see tincting below]. 1601 DOLMAN La Primaud.
Fr. Acad. (r6iS) III. 844 Iron too much concocted and
highly tincted, is easily changed into brasse. 1610 B. Jox-
SON Alch. ii. iii, I meane to iinct C [a letort] in sand-heat
to morrow, And giue him imbibition. 1655 Fulke s Meteors^
Obierv. 163 Cyprus Copper is made of IJras^e and Iron..,
and high tincted is easily changed into Brass, and rechanged
; . . into Copper.
Hence *Trncted///. a., Ti ncting vbl. sb..
1599 THYNNE Aniuiadv. (1875) 33 Ferniciitacione ys a
1 peculier terme of Aldiemye. . wliiche is before tinctinge, or
fyvinge tincture or cooler. 1626 BACON Syh a 960 Tincted
.anthorns, or Tincted Skreens of Glasse Coloured into
Green, Blew, Caination &c. 1673 BOVIK in Phil. Trans.
VII. 5110, I applied a seal d Weather glas-=, furnished with
, tincted spirit of wine.
Tinction (ti-rjkfan). [ad. late L. tinction-eni
a dipping; baptism administered by non-Catholics
(Cyprian a 258, Ep. 71/1 and 75/8), n. of action
f. tinge rt to dip, dye.]
fl. Dipping ^in baptism) ; cf. TINCTURE sb. 8. Obs.
l( 5S7 J- WATTS Dipf>er Sprinkled 33, I yeild tinction or
dipping, and immersion to be one and the same likewise in
this matter. lbid tl Both perfusion and tinction are called
lapti-.ni.
2. The action of imbuing with colour; colouring,
tinging, tinting.
1888 BILLINGS in Amer.Nat, Feb. 118 These micro-organ-
isim.. color more diffusely with the same degiee of exposure
to the tinction.
Tinctorial (tirjktd**rial), a. [f. L. tinctori-us
(Pliny) (f. iinctdr-em dyer) + -AL.] Of, pertaining
to, or used in dyeing; yielding or using dye or
colouring matter.
1655 How Let. lo Sir T. Browne 20 Sept., in .V Whs.
(Bohn) III. 517 After wee have thus circumscribed the plant
wee shall adde our experiments ; .. hoi tensiall,.. medicinal!,
..tinctorial). 1811 \V, TA\LOR in Monthly Mag. \ Oct.
258/2 Plants, oleaginous, tinctorial, textile, medical, and
culinary. 1837 Penny Cycl. IX. 227/1 Tinctorial colours
are either simple or compound. 1887 Pall Mall G. 5 Sept.
7/2 Mr. C. O Neill, .discoursed on the change of fashion in
colour, in a paper on The extent to which calico printing
and the tinctorial arts are affected by the introduction of
modern colours .
Hence Tincto rially adv.
1898 Allbutt s Syst. Mcd. V. 412 The stain acts tinctorially
as a free acid.
Tincto-rious, a. rare. [f. as prec. + -ous.] !
= TINCTORIAL.
1786 ABERCROMBIE Arr. in Card. Assist. 66 Tinctorious i
yellow Virginian. 1900 in B. D. JACKSON Gloss. Bot. Terms, \
Tinctumutant(ti:nktu/|inizrtant). Zool.rare~^. \
[f. L.//;7<Vw-.r(seeTiNCTj.) + mutant-crn changing.] I
An animal that changes colour. So Trnctumuta*- !
tion, change of colour.
1895 J. WEIR in Pap. Sci. Monthly Jan. 388 The chamc- ,
leon is the best known of all the t me tu mutants. //</.,
Physiological changes that take place in the act of tinctu-
mutation.
Tincturatiou (tigktiur^-Jan). [f. TINCTURE
v. + -ATION : cf. med.L. tinctumtio dyeing.] The
preparation of a tincture of some substance.
1860 UrCs Diet. Arts III. 427 Tincturation. Musk,..
ambergris, . .vanilla, civet, and a few other odorous sub
stances, yield their odours to spirit by (induration, that is,
by putting the fragrant material into the spirit and allow
ing it to remain, .till the alcohol has extracted all the scent.
Tincture (ti-nktifu, -t/3J), sb. [ad. L. tinct ura
a dyeing, tinging, f. tinct- t ppl. stem of tingle to
dye: see -URE.]
fl. A colouring matter, dye, pigment; spec, a
dye used as a cosmetic. Obs.
c 1400 Lanfraiics Cirttrg. 180 If a man (.le-inb for to
haue blac heeris.,, Ratine make JMS lincturc. 1606 WARNER
TINCTURE.
Alb. Eng. xvi. ci. 401 Tinctures, Tiers, Maske, Faidin^ale,
and Fan. 1613 PURCHAS Pilgrimage (1614) 646 Some oi
them.. rubbed his skin, to see whether his whitenesse were
natural!,.. perceiuing it to be no tincture, they were out of
measure astonished. 1693 DRVDEN Juvenal Ded. (1697) 36
When the Wooll has taken the whole Tincture, and drunk in
as much of the Dye as it can receive. 1717 LADV M. W.
MONTAGU Let. to C tess Mar i Apr } The Greeks and Turks
have a custom of putting round their eyes, .a black tincture,
that .. adds very much to the blackness of them. 1815
J. NICHOLSON Ope>at. Mechanic 730 Extract, by infusion,
the tincture of the colouring substances.
2. Hue, colour : esp. as communicated (naturally
or artificially) by a colouring matter or dye, or by
something that stains ; a tinge, tint. Now rare*
1477 NORTON Ord. Alch. Proem in A-shm. Theat. Chan.
Brit. (1652) 7 All such Men as give Tincture to Glasse.
1555 EDEN Decades 328 Certeyne waters .. do .. shewe. .
dyuers tinctures of mynerall substaunce. 1594 PLAT
Jewt ll-ho. n. ii If you may not giue a tincture to your
creame before you chearne it. 1602 MARSION Ant. fy Mel.
HI. Wks. 1856 I. 30 The Juddering morne that flakes, With
silver tincture, the east vierge of heaven. 1713 ADDISON Cato
i. iv, Tts not.. The tincture cf a skin, that I admire. 1800
HELENA WELLS Cottstnntia Neville (ed. 2) I. 254 The heat o(
the mask had given to her complexion such a tincture of red.
1822-34 Good s Study Mcd. (ed. 4) IV. 374 The matter has
a bloody tincture and a bilious smell.
b. Her. Inclusive term for the metals, colours,
and furs used in coats of arms, etc.
1610 Cunt IM Heraldry i. ii, (1611) 7 Tincture is a variable
hew of Amies and is common as well to differences of Arme^
as lo the Armes thtmselues. 1725 COATS Dht, Her., Tim-
ture, is no other than the Hue or Colour of any thing in
Coat-Armour, and under this Denomination may be also
included the two Metals Or and Argent.. because they are
often represented by Yellow and White, and they themselves
bear those Colours. 1842 I RANDK Diet. Sc., etc., Tinctures.
in Heraldry are of three descriptions: metals, colours, and
, furs. Ihe former are or, argent; the second gules, azure,
sable, vert, purpurt , sanguine, and tenny. The chief fur>
are ermine and \air ; but there are several varieties of both,
distinguished by different names. 1864 BOUIELL Her. Hist.
I <y Pop. iv. 20 The lepresentaiion of the Tinctures by means
! of dots and lines was not in use. .before, .the acce-vSion of
the Stuarts. 1891 Scott. N. <y Q. Apr. 210/2 At the foot of
the stone there is cut the armoiial coat.. carved so as to
show the tinctures, viz., Sable, a fess between three mascles,
two and one, or.
f3. The action of dyeing, staining, or colouring.
1601 HOLLAND Pliny (1634) U- 619 This s-lone [Chryso-
prase] is very apt to be counterfeited, and especially by
tincture. 1650 DVLWn Anthroponiet. ii. 58 This Tincture
of Hair is most shameful and detestable in men. 1681 tr,
Willis* Rem. Med. Wks. Vocab., Tincture, a dying or
colouring.
fb. fig. A stain, blemish. Obs.
a 1640 J. BALL Amw. to Canne ii. (1642) 9 Our service
was picked and culled out of the mabse booke..so it might,
and yet be free from all fault and tincture, a 1658 CLEVE
LAND Poems, etc. (1677) 149 To offend against .so Gracious
a Patron, would add a Tincture to our Disobedience.
f4. Jig. An imparted quality likened to a colour
or dye ; a specious or ( colourable appearance ;
a quality or character with which anything is im
bued, esp. a derived quality; a tinge. Obs.
1590 NASHE PasquiCs Apol. i. Dij, They that abused
thys place,.. had a little more tincture from htnce to lay
uppon theyr opinion, than Penrie can haue. 1640 HARVEV
Synagogue (1647)7 Hypocrisie in Church is Alchymie.That
casts a golden tincture upon brasse. 1651 L. S. People**
Liberty vii. 13 His speech .. having a tincture from his
guilty conscience. 1711 STEELE Sfact. No. 144 ? 7 A good
ness mixed with Fear, gives a Tincture to all her Behaviour.
1757 BURKE Abridgm. Eng. Hist. ii. i, The Saxon lan
guage received little cr no tincture from the Welsh. 1806
SURR Winter in Lond. \. 242, I attributed this tincture of
mind in a great degree to his peculiar destiny,
f5. A physical quality (other than colour) com
municated to something ; esp. a taste or flavour, a
taint. Obs.
1610 HOLLAND Cawden s Brit. i. 306 Whether it bee by
the nature, or tincture and temper thereof. 1625 N. CAR
PENTER Ge0g. Del, u. v. (1635) 77 They receiue their tinc
ture of saltnesse from some salt minerals of the Earth. 1697
BP. PATRICK Coinin. E.vod, xiii. 6 Anything, .that might
give a Tincture of Acidity to the Bread. 1727 Bradley* &
Fam. Diet. s. v. Distilling, The Waters, .smell of Smoke,
and had a Tincture of Adustion.
b. A slight infusion (of some element or quality ;
a tinge, a shade, a flavour, a trace; a smattering
(^/"knowledge, etc.).
1612 SELDEN Illustr. Dray ton s Poty-olb. xi. 184 They
had lived here C. L. yeers by the common account without
tincture of true religion. 1697 BURGHOPE Disc. Relig,
Asseinb. 107 This irreligious custom, .has a tincture of athe
ism in it. 1711 STEELE Sfiect. No. 38 f 5 This, perhaps,
cannot be called Affectation ; but it has some Tincture of it.
1775 TYRWHITT Chaucer IV. 26 We may fairly conclude,
that the English language must have imbibed a strong
tincture of the French, long before the age of Chaucer.
1858 CARLYLE Fredk. Gt. i. iv. (1872) 1.31 Ernst August has
some tincture of soldieiship at this time.
f 6. Alchemy. A supposed spiritual principle or
immaterial substance whose character or quality
may be infused into material things, which are then
said to be tinctured ; the quintessence, spirit, or soul
of a thing. Universal tincture, the Elixir. Obs.
1599 T. M[OUFETI Silktuoruies 68 A Quintessence? nay
we I it may be call d A deathlesse tincture, sent vs from the
skies Whose colour stands, whose glosse is ne er appall d.
1649 J. E[LLISTONE] tr. Behmen s Epist. Pref. 10 This.,
conduces to the attainment of the Universal! Tincture and
Signature ; whereby the different secret qualities, and ver-
TINCTURE.
tues, that nre hid in all visible and corporeall things.,
may be drawne forth and applyed to their right naturall
use. Ibid. iii. 34 Operation of the philosopher s stone or
universal tincture from me, 1693 tr. Blancetrd*$ Phys.
Diet. (ed. 2), Tinctura, a Tincture, or Elixir^ the Extrac
tion of the Colour, Quality, and Strength of any thing.
t b. An active principle, of a physical nature,
emanating or derivable from any body or sub
stance ; a liquid or volatile principle. Obs.
1602 T. FITZHERB. A Pol. 48 If by chaunce her Maiestie had
layed her hand vpon tne poysoned pomel of the Sadie in the
moneth of Inly when the pores and veynes are open she
might haue byn poysoned or receaue maligne vapors or
tinctures. 1671 GRKW Anat. Plants ii. 23 The purest part
[of the Sap], .recedes, with its due Tinctures, from the said
Cortical Body, to all the parts of the Lignous. Ibid. \ \. 4
Precipitation is made by the mixture and reaction of the
Tinctures of the Lignous and Cortical Bodies upon each
other. (11677 HALF, Prim. Orig. Man. n. xii. 241 The
Fertility of their Soil by the Inundation of Nilus, which
at its recess leaves so fruitful a Tincture, that thereby and
by the heat of the Sun, Animals have their visible production,
Ibid. in. iv. 267 The. .Dew exhaled from some sorts of Herbs
or Weeds,, .carries with it theSeminalTinctureof the Herb,
7. Chem. and Pharm. t a. In early chemistry,
and in derived uses : The (supposed) essential prin
ciple of any substance obtained in solution. Also,
the extraction of this essential principle. Ohs.
Tincture of gold.. POTABLE gold, aurum potabile. Tine-
ture of the Moon (i.e. of silver, Luna) : see quot. 1706.
1610 B. JOKSON Alch. n. iii, Infuse vinegar, To draw his
volatile substance and his tincture. 1626 Fort. Isles
Wks,(Rtldg.) 649/1 This little gallipot Of tincture, high rose
tincture. 1651 FRENCH Distill, vi. 179 A way by which the
tincture of gold which is the soule thereof,, .may l>e.. ex
tracted. 1669 WORLIDGE Syst. Agric. (1681) 39 Many of
our best Mechanicks being too much addicted to the tinc
ture of this Grain [barley]. 1675 E. WILSON Spadacrene
punelm, Pref. 12 As to the discovery of Metalline tinctures
in waters. 1696 PHILLIPS (ed. 5), Tincture.. In Chymistry,
the Extraction of the Colour, Quality and Strength of any
thing. 1706 Ibid. (ed. Kersey), Tincture of the Moon, is a,
Dissolution of some of the more rarify d parts of Silver,
made in Spirit of Wine, and whetted by Alkali-Salts.
1707 MORTIMER Husb. (1721) I. 355 Tis not unlikely that
Grain may afford its Tincture, and that excellent Beer and
Ale may be made thereof without Malting.
b. Mod. Pharmacy. A solution, usually in a
menstruum of alcohol, of some principle used in
medicine, chiefly vegetable, as tincture of opium
(laudanum), but sometimes animal, as tincture of
cantharides, or mineral, as tincture of ferric chloride.
More particularly called an alcoholic tincture. But the
menstruum may also be sulphuric ether or spirit of ammo-
nia (both mainly alcohol), which give ethereal and ammo*
niated tinctures respectively; when wine is used they are
called medicated wines. A tincture is simple when it is a>
solution of one substance only, compound when of two or
more substances.
a 1648 DIGBV Chym. Seer. (1682) 172 An excellent Spirit of
Wine, fit to draw Tinctures. 1704 J. HARRIS Lex. Tec/in. I.
Tincture, in Chymistry, is a Dissolution of the more fine, and
volatile Parts ofa mixt Body in Spirit of Wine, or some such
proper Menstruum. 1712 tr. Pomet s Hist. Drugs 1. 184 A
Tincture is likewise extracted with Spirit of Wine rartariz d.
1789 UUCHAN DOM. Med. (1790) 695; Aromatic Tincture.
Infuse two ounces of Jamaica pepper in two pints of brandy,
without heat, for a few days ; then strain off the tincture.
1800 tr. L-agrange s Chew, II. 327 Alcohol dissolves resins
and resinous gums: these solutions are called Tinctures,
Elixirs, Quintessences, &c. 1813 J. THOMSON Lect. Infiam.
83 The results were the same when tincture of opium was
employed. 1842 BRANDE Diet, Sc. etc., s. v., The term
tincture is sometimes applied to alcoholic solutions of resins,
of which tincture of myrrh, of assafcetida, &c. furnish
instances. 1871 GARROD Mat. Med. (ed. 3) 162 Tincture of
Aconite. (Aconite root, in coarse powder, two ounces and
a half; rectified spirit, twenty fluid ounces. Prepared by
maceration and percolation.)
f 8. Affectedly used for * baptism *. Cf. late L. use
of tingfre (to dip) for * baptize , and TINCTION i.
1612 SF.LDEN fllustr. Draytorits Poly-alb* iv. 73 Honoured
in holy tincture of Christianity with the name of Robert.
Ibid. \-x, 146 Cadwallader. .received of P. P. Sergius, with
holy tincture, the name of Peter.
Ti*ncture, z>. U- P r ec. sb.]
1. trans. To impart a tincture or dye toj to
dye ; to colour, tinge, imbue. (Chiefly in pa. pple.)
1616 [see tincturing below]. 1634 SIR T. HERBERT Trav.
147 Cheekes tinctured with Vermillion. 1664 H. MORE
Myst. Iniq. 310 The River that will run tinctured with bloud
three hundred years hence. 1715 tr. Pancirollus* Rerum
Mem. I. i. L 2 This Juice, .which Wooll and Purple-Silk. .
were tinctur d with. 1814 WORDSW. Excursion VH. 188
Homespun wool But tinctured daintily with florid hues.
1822-34 Good s Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 325 One of the latest
fluids that becomes tinctured is the milk in icteric wet-
nurses. i8a8 MOORE Tis sweet to think ii, It will tincture
Love s plume with a different hue.
2. transf. and Jig, To imbue or impregnate with
a quality ; to communicate some quality to ; to
affect, tinge, taint. (Chiefly in pa. pple., const.
with.) fa. with a physical quality, as smell or
taste. Obs.
1668 H. MORE Div. Dial, v. xxxv ui. (1713) 515 Innocuous
Whirl-winds of sincere Air, tinctured only with a cool
refreshing smell. 1671 GREW Anat. Plants ii. 23 The
remainder., is in part carried off into the Cortical Body back
again, the Sap whereof it now tinctures into good Aliment.
1678 R. BARCLAY AfoL Quakers vn. xii. 237 Water may be
capable to be tinctured with unclean ness. 1820 MAIR Tyro s
Diet. (ed. 10), Atuminosus, .. tinctured with, smelling or
tasting of alum.
b, with a mental or moral quality or character ;
VOL. X.
49
with reference to knowledge (pass, with w>lli\ to
have a smattering of. (In early use often with
allusion to alchemy: cf. prec. 6.)
1636 HEYWOOD Love s Mistr. Prol., So pure a mind, As if
tinctur d from Heaven. 1651 WITTIK tr. Primroses Pop.
Err. i. xiii. 47 He professed himselfe to be a Physician
(although he was but lightly tinctured with the knowledge
of Physick). 1662 SPARROW tr. BehntSs Retn. \Vks., Apol.
cone. Perfect. 147, I must be Tinctured or else I cannot be
Transmuted ; If Christ do not Tincture me with his Bloud,
then my Holy Paradise. Life remaineth faded. 1718 Free,
thinker No. 7P2 His Conversation was tinctured through
out with the Ancient Mythology. 1878 STURGEON Treas.
Dav. Ps.cxv. i The prayer is evidently tinctured with a con
sciousness of unworthiness.
c. intr. for pass. To take or have a tinge of
something. rare~ 1 .
t 1787*0. GAMBADO Acad. ffflrsettiendfrx}} 15 It [a portrait]
is_ like, but a likeness that tinctures of the prejudice of
friendship.
t 3. To deposit (one metal upon another), rare.
1670 Specif. Pr. Rupert s Patent 2 A new Invencion or Art
of Tincturing Copper vpon Iron. 1679 Kssex Papers
(Camden) I. 235 Of tincturing of Copper upon Iron as to him
or them shall seem meet.
Hence Ti ncturing vbl. sb.
1616 T. TUKR (title) A Treatise against Painting and
Tincturing of Men and Women. 1656 A rtif. llandsoin. no
Hangings, pictures, carvings, guildings,and tincturings. 1679
[see 3 above]. 1902 W. M. ALEXANDER Demonic Possession in
N. T. iii. 65 [They] may contain a tincturing of medical lore.
Tinctured (ti nkiiiud), ppl. a. [f. TINCTURE
v. (or // .) + -ED.] Imbued witli a tincture or
colour ; having a tincture (esp. of a specified kind) ;
dyed, coloured, stained, tinged.
1626 CAPT. SMITH Virginia. I. 1 7 Very rocky, and much tinc
tured stone like Mineral!. 1737 M. (ii EEN Spleen 737 And
fancy s telescope applies With tinctur d glass to cheat his
eyes. 1782 ELIZ. N. BLOWER Ceo. Batcinan II. 155 The
blood-tinctured weapon. 1908 Daily Citron. 17 Aug. 4/7
Zinc and other metallically tinctured ointments.
Tincy, variant of TiNSEY.
Tind (tind), v. Obs. exc. dial. Forms : a. (i
tendan), 2-3 tenden, 3-5 tende, 4 (yd pers.
sing.} tent ; pa. t. 3-5 tende, 4 tendede ; fa, pple.
2-4 itend, 2 itent, itende, 3-5 tende, 4 ytend,
4-5 tend. 0. 4 teendo, 6-7 (9 dial.) teend;
pa. pple. 4 teendid. y. 3 tiende, 5 tynd, 6
tinde, 6-7 tynde, 5- tind ; pa. pple. 6 tynded,
6-7 tinded. S. 6 tinde, 6-7 ? tynde, 6-9
tind. f. 5 tynne, 6-7 tinue, 7-9 tin ; pa. t.
and pple. 7 tinn d. (. 5-6 tyne, 7 tine ; pa. (.
6 tynde, tind ; pa. pple. 5 tyned, 6 tynde, tind,
6-7 tined. rj. 5-6 teyne,/<r. pple. y-, iteyned.
8. 7, 9 teen, pa. t. and pple. teened. [ME. had
tcnd-e(n from 1175 to 142;;; also, in \Vyclifand
down to I7thc., with lengthened vowel, teende(n,
in some mod. dialects teend (If ml). From c 1400
onward also tind and tind (see y, S forms). Later
with loss of final d from both forms (perh. arising
out of shortened pa. pple. tind, tind, teend, taken as
= tin-d, tlne-d, teen-d, hence inf. tin, tine, teen ; but
reduction of -ndio -n is found in many other words).
In mod. dial, surviving from Scotl. to Cornwall as
(tind, tsind, tin, tain, t<h) : see qnots. and Eng. Dial.
Diet. Early ME. tenden corresponded to an OE.
*tfndan (in comp. ontejidan, atyidan, fortpidan,
to set fire to, kindle, and in vbl. sb. tending,
Napier Conlrib. to OE. Lexic."), corresp. to Goth.
tandjan, Da. t&nde, Sw. tcinda ; causal of *tindan
str. vb. (ablaut series tind-, land-, lund-\ to be
on fire, burn, glow, represented by MUG. linden
str. vb., in same sense. The history of early ME.
tiende, tinde, now tind, tind (taind), is more diffi
cult : as no other example is known of OE. and
ME. -end becoming later -ind, much less -ind, it
is probable that we have here a parallel formation,
representing an OE. *lyndan (from the weak ablaut
grade ttind-), cognate with OIIG. sun/en (from
zuntjan :*tundjari), MIIG. and Ger. ziinden to
set on fire, kindle, and OE. tynder TINDEH. In
that case, tend (teend, teen, teyne) and tind (tynd,
tind, tin, tine, tyne] are two distinct but parallel
and synonymous formations from the same root
verb.]
1. trans. To set fire to, ignite, light, kindle (a
fire, lamp, torch, flame, etc.).
a. [1901 Laws A". sElfred Prol. c. 27 Gif fyr sic ontended
Zt to bxrnanne. a 1000 tr. Bxda s DC Tentporibus in Sax,
tcclid. III. 242 Donne he [moon] of hyre (sun] ontendbyl?.
a 1050 O. E. Chron. an. 904 (MS. C) Kac hi mid fyre on
tendon woldan. riioo Cltarttis in Sax. Leechd. III. 286
Ontend J>reo candela.] c 1175 Lamb. Hunt. 81 He wule
aquikien and al \K brand tenden. 1340-70 Alex, ff Ditto 1 . 333
Ofa lorche }>at is tend, tak an en-sample. 1377 LANGL. / . PI.
B. xviu. 238 po bat weren in heuene token sttlltt comata,
And tendeden hir [C. xxi. 250 tenden hit! as a torche. 1387
TREVISA Higden (Rolls) II. 17 I-tend in l>e fire hit feseb
awey serpentes. c 1400 Land Troy Bk. 17978 The Troyens
. .tende hire fir more than ten sithe, But it )ede out. c 1425
Seven Sag. (P.) 2183 He tende hys torche at a cole.
p. 1382 WVCLIF Isa. 1. ii Lo ! }ee alle teendende vp
[1388 Kyndlynge] fyr. Ecclus. viii, 13 Teende thou not cohs
of synneres..lest thou be tend with the flaume of the fyr of
TINDAL.
the synnes of hern. 1388 Matt. v. 15 Ne men teencHth
not [1382 Nether men temlyn] a lanterne, and puttiih it
vndur a husschel. 1598 SVLVESTKR Dn Bartas 11. j. iv.
Handy-crafts 707 Teend again Truth s near-exlinguisht
Taper. 1605 //</. iii. ii. Fathers 306 Thou whetst a sword,
and thou dost teend a brand. 1648 HERKICK ffesfcr.,
Candtein. Day ii, Kindle the Christmas brand. .Part must
be kept wherewith to teend The Christmas log next yeare.
y. a 1400-50 Alexander 4179 It tinds on tend lowe
trappour of stede, And many costious cost is consumes in-to
askis. 1589 R. HAKVEY PL Pcrc. 20, I see no more Candles
tinded then wont to be. 1622 MAHBE tr. A If man s Guzman
d Alf. II. 19 Those coales, that were already throughly tinded.
a 1663 SANDERSON Scrm. (1689) 56 As one candle tindeth a
thousand. 1706 PHILLIPS (ed. Kersey), To 7V,/, to light ;
as lo tind a Candle. 1904 Eng. Dial. Diet., 7VW, to light,
kindle. (Generally diffused, Scotl. to Heref., Northamp.,
Bedford, Berks, Cornwall.) 1910 Old man at Gors/ev,
Gta sto; Get up and tind (tind) the fire.
5. ^1548 UDALL, etc. Erasm. Par. John v. 40 Only a
burnyng cnndeil tynded at our fyre. 1558 PHAER sfcneid
in. G ij, Altars vp againe we make and tiers on them we
tinde [rime blind]. [1590 SIENSKR F. Q. n. viii. n Stryfnl
Atm in their stubborne mind Coles of contention and whot
vengeaunce tind. 1594 CAREW Tasso i. (1881) 27 For if
one feare to crueltie him tinde [rime finde], Another greater
doubt bridles no ltsse.]_ (?) 1623 in toM Rep. Hist. J/.S .S.
Comnt. App. iv. 433 Paied for sixe faggottes to tynde the
COales, .\d. 1834 Tail s Mag. I. 741 2 For him it [the
heavenly torch] beams not, can but tind [rime LlimlJ,
And lands and cities turn to dust.
e. 1497 Croscombe C/iurchw. Ace. (Som. Rec. Soc.) 27
Paid to \V. Toyt for tynnyng of the lyght. 1562 PHAI-.K
sEneid viii. Ubijb, Her couchyd hnrth she steeres and
stnrging spaikes of tire doth tinne. 1638 FARLEY Emblems
v. B vj, That learned dogge, at noone-tyde tinn d his li^lit.
1655 H. V.AL-GHAN .SV/fjr Seint. ii. Cockcrow. (1858) 142 It
seems their candle, howe er done, Was tinn d and lighted at
the sunne. 1674 KAV S. $ E. C. Words, To Tine or tin n
Candle, to light it. Mod. Bedford $ Northampt, Dial.,
I get up at six, tin the fire, and then sweep the ro^in up.
C- [1471 Rii LEY Comp. Alch. xr. ii. in Ashm. The at. Chem.
Brit. 1 1652) 181 For yt ys Fyer whych tyned wyll never dye.]
ciSn isee Tinding\ Tynyng. 1591 SPENSER b irg. Gnat
394 Whose bridale torches foule Erynnis tynde [rime ini-
kmde]. Ibid. 504 Flames, weapons, wounds, in Greeks ik-t-te
to have tynde [rime minde]. 1594 T. B. La Primajid. /> .
Acad. n. 514 With the same fire wherewith that was (list
lined. 1612 PasquiCs Night-Cap (1877) 26 Though others
tine their candles at my light. 1667 MILTON P. L. x. 1075
As late the Clouds Ju.stling or pusht with Winds rude in thir
shock, Tine the slant Lightning. 1700 DRVDRN Iliad 1.635
The priest.. was seen to tine The cloven wood, and pour
the ruddy wine.
)j. 1482 CAXTON Trcvisa s Iligden i. xxiv. 30!), Whan it
was ones yteyned [ed. 1527 Iteyned] and settc a fyre.
0. 1847-78 HALLIWF.LL, 7 <r, to light a candle. Var. dial.
1864 K. CAPKRN Devon. Prm inc., Teen the candle is often
used for light the candle. iSpsQuiLLER-CouCH }\ anderiug
Heath 85 She struck flint over touchwood and teened a fire.
2. intr. To catch fire, kindle, become ignited,
begin to burn.
c 1290 St. Michael 523 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 314 And 3 wane *
conuz a-mong be fuyre, sone it bi-gynntz forto tiende
[Harl. MS. 2277 sone hit gynneb tende : rime ende). 1382
WVCLIF Kcclus. xvi. 7 Wrathe shal waxe ful out tend [i;,33
yre schal brennej. c 1400 llrut xcvi. 94 J e fire biganne to
tt-nde and brenne al (>e toune. 1648 HERRICK /fcs/>t-r., To
Maids, Wash your hands, or else the fire Will not teend to
your desire.
3. Jig. trans. To inflame, excite, arouse, inspire.
c \\T$Lamb. Ham. 81 For hwat he seal his sunne uor-saken
and bileuen and bon itent of ben hrdi gast. ///</., Ho weren
itende of ban halie gast. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 156 Swa "i-tend
of wra^Se bat wod ha walde wuroeu. (71240 Lofsong in
Cott. Horn. 215 Tend mine heorte. 1382 WVCLIF Prw.
xxviii. 4 Who kepen, fehul ben tend [1388 Icy ml! id] vp
a^en hym. 1:1450 MYRC Festiat 60 Yn token he was yn
hyr wombe bat schuld aftyr tynd mony mannys charite,
SO ! 594 I see J ^]- 1621 MABBE tr. Alemans Guzman
d Atf. i. 234 He was some-what too touchy, and would.,
quickly be tinded. 1682 DRVOF.N Duke oj Guise i. i, Shop-
consciences,. .Preach d up, and ready lined for a rebellion.
b. intr. To become inflamed or excited.
1297 K. GLOUC. (Rolls) 4416 In is wod rage he wende Vor
to awreke is vncle deb, as fur is [ = fire his] herte tende.
Hence Ti*nded (tende)///. a. t Ti-ndingz / /. sb.
and///, a.
(1900 W^ERFERTH Dial. Gregory (1900) 101 (MS. H.) He..
hine sylfne nacodne awearp .. on Jxcra netela tendingum.
1297 K. GLOUC, (Rolls) 11022 po nome tende taperes be
bissops in hor hond. 138* WVCLIF Num. xi. 3 He clepide
the name of that place Tendynge (1388 Brennyng, Vnlg.
incensio] for thi that the fier of the Lord was tende [1388
kyndlid, I tttg- incensus fuisset] a5ens hem. 1497 Tynnyng
[see i]. c 1511 In Swayne Sarnm Chnrchw. Ace. (1896) 61
divided their night into ten parts,. .2 Prima fax, candle*
tinning.
Tind, obs. form of TINE j. 1 , prong.
HTindal 1 (ti-ndal). E. Ind. [ad. Malayiilam
tandal^ Telugu tandtht, also Hindustani (andel t
chief or head man of a body of men.]
1. A native petty officer of lascars, on board
ship, or in the ordnance department ; also the
foreman of a gang of labourers on public works
(Yule) ; a boatswain ; a foreman.
1698 FRVER Ace. E. India fy P. 107 The Captain Is called
Nueguedah, the Boatswain Tindat. 1778 K. ORME Hist.
Klilit. Trans. It. ix. 339 One Tindal, or corporal of the
Lascars. 1800 WELLINGTON in Gurw. Desp. (1844) I. 93 A
detachment of gun lascars, consisting of i tindal and 20
lascars. 1803 R. PERCIVAL in Naval Ckron. X. 26 Each of
the boats carries., a tindal^ or chief boat-man, who acts as
7
TINDAL.
pilot. 1848 tr. Hoffateisttr** Trap. Ceylon^ etc. x. 343 The
Tindal*, or superintendent of the coolies, was dismissed.
1849 K. I . KASTWICK Dry Leaves 23 Our Tindal jumped out
on the bank, on which was not four feet water.
2. A personal attendant : see qnots.
1859 LANG II and. India 36 Almost every one who visits
ihe Hills keeps a servant called a tindal. His duty is to
look after the men who carry your janpan, to go enands, to
keep up the fire. lit id. 40 My tindal aroused me at eleven,
and informed me that a young man wished to see me.
f Tindal -. Obs. See quots.
1859 SALA Tw. remind Clock 22 [At Billingsgate] Sprats
are sold on board the ships by the bushel. A tindal is a
thousand bushels of sprats. 1863 SiMMOHM Diet. Trade
Supp!., Tindal, a thousand bushels of sprats.
Tinder (trndai), sh. Forms: a. i tyndre,
tyndir, 1-7 tynder, 5 -yr, 3- tinder (7 -ar).
(3. 3-7 (9 dial.} tunder, 4 tender, tondre, 4-5
tundyr, 5 Sc. toundire. 7. 3-4, 6 tendre, 5
tendern, tendere. [OE. lyndcr ? m., and tyndre
wk. fem. (? : *ti4ndrio-, *tundriCm- \ 1 from OTeut.
*tnnd- weak grade of *tind- to kindle : see TIND v.
Cognate forms (varying in suffix and gender) are
MLG., LG. tuxder, Du. fonder, ON. tundr (Sw.
tnnder, Da. tonder\ OIIG. zuntara fem. (MUG. ,
zitnder m. and n., Ger. zuniferm.). ME. and mod.
Kng. tinder regularly represent OE. tynder\ ME. \
tunder (tonndii j fonder], also mod. dial. (Line.), :
may be from ON. tundr. The i3-i6th c. forms
tendere, -dre, -der (implied for I3th c. in TINDER? .),
were prob. assimilated to the o-type of TIND #.]
Any dry inflammable substance that readily takes
fire from a spark and burns or smoulders; esp.
that prepared from partially charred linen and
from species of Polyporus or corkwood fungus
(AGARIC i), formerly in common use to catch the
spark struck from a flint with a steel, as the means
of kindling a fire or * striking a light. German
tinder: see AMADOU.
a. (1700 Ef>inal Gloss. (O.E.T.) 562 Isca, tyndirin [<t8oo
Erfurt tyndrin], fi i d. 685 Naphtha, genus fotnenti, id est
tyndir. a 800 Leiden Gloss, 179 Isica, tyndri. c 1000
^ELPRIC Gloss, in Wr.-Wiilcker 149/30 Points, ^eswselud
spoon, itel tynder. a 1050 Liber Scintill. 210 Naelleshwar
Sewilnunge tyndran on^l}>. nzos LAY. 29267 pa. .he.,
lette ^e curneles ut dra^en & tinder nom And lette i ban
scalen don. 1398 TREVISA Barth. De P. R. x. viii. (1495)
379 Of a lytill sperkyll in an hepe of towe or of tyndyr
cometh sodaynly a grete fyre. 1582 STANVHURST SEneis i.
(Arb.) 23 In spunck or tinder tbee quick fyre he kindly re- i
ceaued. 1610 B. JONSON Alch. \. i. 1664 EVELYN Sylva
(1679)27 Nor may we.. omit to mention the. .fungus s to
make Tinder. 1682 N. O. Boileau s Littrin in. 57 The
spark in Tinder cherisht, toucht with Metch In Sulphur
dip t, kindles with quick dispatch The Torch. 1773 COOK
Voy. round Worldi, vii. (1777) 1.113 I none there was the stone
they strike fire with, and tinder made of bark. 1812 SIR H.
DAVY Chew. Philos. 90 A machine for setting fire to tinder :
of the agaric by the compression of air has been for some
time in use. 1837 HOWITT Rur. Life ii. iii. (1862) 115 He i
strikes a li^ht with his tinder, for lucifers he never saw, :
1867 BAKER Nile Tribut. xv. (1872) 263 The grass was as i
inflammable as tinder. 1879 Casselfs Techn. Educ. vm.
1 14/2 The internal spongy portion of several species of Poly-
porus, soaked in a solution of nitre^ forms tinder.
/3. c i23o Bestiary 535 Of ston mid stel m 5e tunder Wei j
to brennen one <5Ss wunder. 1303 R. KRUKNE Handl. Synne \
7925 Hyt fareb wyj? hem as fyre and tundyr [rime wundyr].
c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xlix. (Tecla) 72 Wod dry as toun
dire. 1377 LANGL, P. PI. B. xvii. 245 Bot bow haue towe
to take it with tondre [v.r. tunder ; 1393 C. xx. an fonder,
tendere] or broches. 1483 Catk. Angl. 396/1 Tundyr,
/ncentiHum, .. receptacidum ignis,, ignicippiutn. 1530
PALSGR. 283/2 Tunder to lyght a matche, ,// ?# *5<>* Tun-
NER Herbal ir. 29 b, Agarik . . where of som make tunder
bothe in England and Germany. i6iz Sc. Bk. Rates in
Halybttr ton s Ledger (1867) 291 Boxes called fyre or tunder
boxes the groce iiiili.
y. c 1380 WVCLIF Sel. Wks. III. 102 panne maist bou wih
tendre gete fuyre of \>at ston. 1393 Tendere [see quot. 1377
in ft], c 1400 R. Gloucester s Chron. App. S. 7 (MS. 6) po
let he nime tendern [other MSS. tynder, tunder]. 1541
R. COPLAND Guydon s Quest. Chirnrg. M j. They be made
of softe tendre, as of scare olde lynen cloth.
t b. transf. Fire ; a spark ; a tinder-box ; phr.
to strike (on} a tinder. Obs.
1570 LEVINS Manip. 77/10 Tynder, incendium. 1604
SHAKS. Oth. i. i. 141 Strike on the Tinder, hoa : Giue
me a Taper. 1607 DEKKF.R & WEBSTER Northiv. Hoe HI.
Wks. 1873 HI. 44 He goe stiike a Tinder, c 1626 Dick of
Devon, i. ii. in Bullen O. PI. (1883) II. 12 So from a tinder
at the first kindled Grew this heartburning twixt these two
great Nations.
Q.fig.
<:888 K. ^ELFRED Boeth. v. 3 We habbaS nu fciet J>one
maestan dse\ f>xre tyndran binre haele. a \vy> Liber Scintill.
Ixxvii. (1889) 206 Tyndre [fomentuni] and ceap godescynnes
laerestre rnxjenes de3 on criste wunian symle. 1595 Poll*
manteia (1881) 6r They haue strook fire into the tinder of
my soft heart. 1643 ^ AKER Chron., Hen. II 73 Finding his
hot spirit to be fit tinder for such fire. 1794 WOLCOTT (P.
Pindar) Pindariana Wks. i8r2 IV. 212 Nothing to gild thy
solitary tinder Save the rude flint and steel of Peter Pindar.
d. attrib. and Cornb., as tinder-pottch, -purse ;
tinder-cloaked, -dry, -like adjs. ; tinder-fungus, a
fungus from which tinder is made, as tinder-
polypore, Polyporus fomentarius ; tinder-ore,
tinder-water, see quots.
1647 CLEVELAND Char. Diurn. Maker Wk*. (1677) 101 It
is like over-reach of Language, when every Thin, *Tinder-
cloak d Quack must be called a Doctor. 1891 KIPLING
50
Light that Failed \\. 33 The *tmder-dry clumps of scrub.
leathery fungus, .growing on trees; the amadou of com
merce. 1607 SHAKS. Cor. 11. i. 55 Said to be.. hasty and
Tinder-like vppon to triuiall motion. 1887 RIDER HAG-
CARD Jess xxviii, The tinderlike roof burst into a broad
sheet of flame. 1868 DANA Min. 91 Zundererz, or Berg-
zunderz (- *TinderOre) of G. Lehmann.., which is soft like
tinder and dark dirty red in color,, .proves to be jamespn-
ite or feather ore mixed with red silver and arsenopyrite.
1883 R. TURNER in Gd. Words Sept. 591/1 The common
*tinder-polypore has.. been found in the lake-dwelling at
Lochlee. 1883 Fisheries Exhib.Catal. 236 *Tinder-pouch
..used by Hungarian fishermen. 1662 J. BARGRAVE Pope
Alex. VH (1867) 122 We had .. "tynder purses .., with
flint, steef, and match, to lighten our torches and candles
when they went out. 1748 SMOLLETT Rod. Rand, xlvi,
*Tinder-water !.. Water extracted from tinder.. .An uni
versal specific for all distempers.
Hence Ti ndereda., burnt to tinder; Ti nderish,
Ti-nderous adjs,, of the nature of tinder, tinder
like ; Ti nderly adv., like tinder, in a tinder-like
degree.
1809 T. COWDFLL Poet. Jrnl. 4^0 in AVrvz Seoiia Mtnsir.
(1811) 47 Her tinder d garments in my hand. 1825 T. HOOK
Sayings Ser. n. rassion fy Princ. xiv. III. 343 Harriet was
tinderly tender. 1870 Daily News 18 July, The furze is dry
and tinderous. 1889 CLARK RUSSELL Marooned (1890) 213
So damp and tinderous too was the timber. 1890 Ocean
Trftg. xii, A sound as of the pressure of a Hi^ht foot upon
tinderish brushwood.
t Tinder, tender, v. Oh. rare- 1 -. [ME.
tendren, f. tendre 1 7-form of TINDER sb.~\ intr. To
become inflamed, glow, bum.
c 1230 Halt Uleid. 31 Ti neb ute-wiS tendreo" ut of tene.
Ti/nder-bOX. A box in which tinder was kept
(also usually the flint and steel with which the
spark was struck, and sometimes the brimstone
matches with which the flame was raised).
1530 PALSGR. 283/2 Tunder boxe, boytte de fusil. 1580
HAKI.UVT Voy. (1599) L 442 Tinder boxes with Steele, Flint,
& Matches and Tinder. 1612 [see TINDER 0). 1697 COLLIER
Kss. ii. (1703) 84 One would think we might.. with a good
flint and steel strike consciousness into a Tinder-box. 1759
DUMARESQUE in PJiil. Trans. LI. 485 They make use of a
wooden machine (instead of a tinder-box), to light fire with.
1836 MARRVAT Japltet xlvii, I . .found a tinderbox. I struck
a light. 1840-5 {Titnder-box in use in N. Lincolnsh.).
1893 LEI.AND Mem. I. 47 The use of the tinderbox and brim
stone was universal.
b. fig. A thing or person likened to a tinder-box,
esp. as being very * inflammable or a source of
heated strife.
1598 SHAKS. Merry Jl r . i. iii. 27, I am glad I am so acquit
of this Tinderbox. 1608 SYLVESTER Du Bartas n. iv, v.
Decay 12 Huff-pufft Ambition, tinderbox of warre, Downfall
of Angels, Adam s murderer. 1839 J. MACDONALD in
Tweedie Life iv. (1849) 335 The tinder-box of mortality
within me may at any moment take fire. 1807 Current
Hist. (Buffalo, N.Y.) VII. 313 One of the chief danger,
points in Europe, a veritable tinder-box.
C. atlrib. and Comb.
a 1704 T. BROWN Lett, to Centl. <$ Ladies Wks. 1709 III.
n. 107 A Couple of Tinderbox-cryers. 1856 KANE Arct.
Expl. I. xxix. 379 He struck them together after the true
tinder-box fashion.
fTi-ndern, a. Obs. rare. [f. TINDER $&.+
-n y -EN 4 : cf. leathern, silvern. } In tindern iron :
?a steel used in striking the flint to light tinder.
1586 FERNE Blaz. Gentrie 172 Betweene four tindern irons,
or fusils argent. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury in. 289/2 Tin
dern Irons, or Clothiers Bench Hooks.
Tindery (ti ndari), a. [f. TINDER sb. + -7.] Of
the nature of or resembling tinder, tinder-like;
alsoy^. easily inflamed, inflammable *, passionate.
1754 RICHARDSON Grandison (1781) IV. xviii. 146 What
woman would have herself supposed capable of such a
tindery fit? 1795 MME. D ARBLAY Lett. 15 June, 1 love
nobody for nothing; I am not so tindery ! 1814 Wan~
derer I. 100 You were in such a tindery fit as to be kindled
by that dowdy. 1886 Miss BRADDON One Thing Needful
v, Sheets of tindery paper.
Tindle (ti nd l). dial. [app. a deriv. of TIND
v. to kindle ; akin to TANDLE and TENDLE, or a var.
of the latter.] In//., A name given locally to small
fires lighted out of doors at the beginning of May
and November. (Cf. TANDLE.)
See fuller quot. in E.D.D., and references to N. & Q. and
Glossaries there given.
1784 Gentl. Mag. Nov. 836/2 At . . Findern, in Derbyshire, . .
the boysand girls . . in the evening of the second of November
. .light up a number of small fires amongst the furze, .and
call them . . Tindles. 1871 HARDWICK Trad. Lanes. 30 In
Derbyshire these fires [on ist May] were called Tindles.
*f Ti ndling. Sc. Obs. rare. [Origin uncertain.]
A cloth of some kind, app. linen.
1565 Aberdeen Regr. (Jam.), Ane new sark of tindling.
1596 Compt Bk. D. Weddtrburne (S.H.S.) 47. *xvj ellis
tindling.
Tine (t^in), &M Forms: a. i, 3-6 tind, 4-6
tynde, 5 tyynde, 6 (9 dial.} tynd. . (5 tene),
5-9 tyne, 6- tine. [OE. ftW=MHG. zint
sharp point, ON. tindr tine (Sw. tinne, Da. dial.
tind tooth of a rake) :-OTeut. *tind-i*. (To the
same root prob. belongs OHG. zinna merlon of a
wall : OTeut. *tindjdn-.) OE. tind became in ME.
tind, as in bind, etc. ; whence, by loss of </, tine, as
in TIND v. Cf. WFris. tine, tooth of fork, etc.]
TINE.
1. Each of a series of projecting sharp points on
some weapon or implement, as a harrow, fork,
eel-spear, etc. ; a prong, spike, tooth.
a. a -jooE final Gloss. (Q.^. Y.) 873 Rostris, foraeiiuallum,
T^/tindum. 725 Corpus Gloss, iibid.) 1753 Kostri t tindas.
: cr 1400 Erasmus (Bedf. MS. If. 280) in Horstm. Altengl.
Leg: (1878) 202 Castyng hym oftyn on be tyndes of an harow.
r 1400 Laud Troy B. 15724 Thei..Sclow hem thikkere
with her arwes Than tyndes of tre stondis In harwes. c 1440
Promp. Par~i\ 494/1 Tyynde, prekyl (A*, tynde, pryke),cr-
tn ca. 1668 R. B. Adagio. Scot. 37 Many mai>ters, quoth
the Poddock to the Harrow, when every tind took her a
knock.
ft, 1554 Lydgate s Bochas ix. vi. 200 b/2 The fiery tines
of his brennyng arow. 1591 GKEHNE Art Conny Catch. \\.
(1592) 25 A long hooke..that hath at the end a crooke,
with three tynes turned contrary. 164* FULLER Holy *
Prof. St. iir. xxi. 211 That fork needing strong tines
wherewith one must thrust away nature. 1644 I\VALSING-
HAM] Effigies True fortitude 12 An old man.. with his
Pitchforke ran at Captaine Smith, and twice stroke the tynes
thereof against his breast. 1649 BLITHE Eng. Improv.
Itnpr, xvi. (1653) 104 Two or three sorts of Harrows, each
Harrow having his Teeth or tines thicker than other. 1721
[see TIG sb. 1 i]. a 1734 NORTH Lives (1826) II. 201 A fork
with five tines. 1789 Trans. Sac. Arts I. 100 A harrow
composed of coulters instead of tines. 1828 Craven Gloss.,
Tine, the prong of a fork. ,; also the tooth of a harrow.
2. Each of the pointed branches of a deer s horn.
a. [a 1000 Sal. $ Sat. (Kemble) 150 Anra gehwylc deor
hffibbe synderlice xii hornas irene, and anra ^ehwylc ho; n.
ha;bbe xii tindas irene, and anra gehwylc tind haebbe synder
lice xiiordas.l c 1375 St. Leg. Saints xxix. (Placidas) 105 A
gret hart.. he saw betwen his tyndis brycht A verray croice
schenand lycht. c 1430 Syr Try tint. 1085 The herte stroke
hym wyth hys tyndys. 1513 DOUGLAS SEneis VH. ix. 18
This hart.. \Vith large heid and tyndis fwrnest fayr. 1393
Rites of Durham (1903) 24 Dyd cast backe his handes
betwixt y e Tyndes of y e said harte to stay him selfe.
1495 Trevisas Barth. De P. R. xvm. xxx. 702 The
aege of hartys is knowe by auntlers and tynes of his homes,
for euery yere it encreacith bi a tyne vnto vii yere. 1616
SURFL. & MARKH. Country fartne 684 You may likewise
iudge of their age by the tynes of their hornet. 1825 SCOTT
Tatism. xxiv, A stag often tynes. 1877 Encycl. Brit. VII.
23 The antlers of the Stag are rounded, and bear three
* tines or branches, and a crown consisting of three or more
points.. .The antlers during the second year consist of a
simple unbranched stem, to which a tine or branch is added
in each successive year, until the normal development is
attained.
f b. A small branch or twig of a tree ; the stalk
of a fruit. Obs. rare.
13. . E. E.Allit. P. A. 78 As bornyst syluer be lefonslydez,
pat bike con trylle on vcha tynde [rime schynde). 13..
A/inor Poems fr. Version MS. Hi. 82 His hed nou leonej> on
bprnes tynde. c 1440 Pallad. on Hiisb. iv. 395 Pomes take,
The tenes with, to stonde in Cannes saue.
c. transf. Each of two branches of a stream.
1875 R. F. P>URTON Gorilla L. (1876) II. 73 We reached a
shallow fork, one tine of which.. comes from the Congo
Grande.
f 3. A rung or step of a ladder. Obs. rare.
11225 Ancr. R. 354 Scheome and pine, ase Seint Bernard
seio, beoS be two leddre stalen..and bitweonen beos stalen
beoo be tindes iyestned of alle gode ^eawes, bi hwuche me
climbed to be blisse of heouene.
4. [f. TINE v. 3\ An act of harrowing.
1778 [W. MARSHALL! Minutes Agric. 12 Dec. an. 1776, Our
first tine was with fine harrows, which broke the crum,
without tearing-up the sod. 1825 JAMIESON s. v., A double
tynd, or teind, is harrowing the same piece of ground twice
at the same yoking. 1854 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. XV. H. 403
Some sow it after the barley, and give it a tine with the
harrows.
f 5. attrib. and Comb. : tine-knife, see quot. ;
tine nail (tynd naif), a large sharp-pointed nail,
a spike. Obs.
1555-$ Burgh Rec, Edinb. (1871) II, 322 For xix" of grait
tynd nalis to the greit yat of the tolbuith. 1888 Sheffield
Gloss., Tine-knife, a knife whose haft is made from a tine of
a stag s antler.
tTine, sh2 Obs. rare~ l . In 4 tin. [f. TINE
^.2] Loss.
c 1320 Sir Tristr. 3006 In wining and In tin Trewe to ben
ay, In ioie and in pin, In al }ing, to say.
tTine, sb$ Obs. Also tyne. [a. F. tine
large vessel, tub (c 1230 in Godef.),Sp.,It. tina :
L. tina wine-jar.] A vessel for brewing ; a tub, vat.
[1310 Letter- Bk. D. Land. If. 99 b, Itembonacapta. .super
Aliciam relictam Walter! le Cuuer ,j. Cumelina et .j. Tyna,
precium yj d.] 1337 Ibid. F. If. 20 Hoi es bracinas tenentes
. . qui mittunt.. . Braciatores suos cum vasts suis vocatis
Tynes ad dictum Conductum. 1388-9 Abingdon Rolls
(Camden) 57, ij vates et j tyne. a 1400 CHAUCER Balade
to Rosemounde 9 For thogh I wepe of teres ful a tyne
[cf. Fr. Le jor i ot plore de larmes pleine tine (see Skeat s
Chaucer 1.549).]
Tine, ^- 4 Obs. exc. dial. Also tyne. [Etymo
logy uncertain : see Note below.] A wild vetch or
tare; a name for certain leguminous plants grow
ing as weeds in corn, etc., and climbing by their
tendrils, esp. the strangle-tare, Vicia hirsuta ;
also locally V. Cracca, and Lathynts tuberosns.
CI540 J. HEYWOOD in J. Redford Mor. Play Wit $ Sc.
(Shaks. Soc.) 79 This vice I lyken to a weede That husbond-
men have named tyne, The whych in corne doth roote or
brede. 156^ GOLDING Ovid s Met. v. (1593) 120 The tines
and bryars did overgrow the wheate. 1573 TUSSER Husb.
(1878) 109 The titters or tine makes hop to pine. 1707 MOR
TIMER Hnsb. {1721) I. 128 The Docks, Tyne, Tares, May
weed, c. pull up by hand. 17*6 Diet. Rust. (ed. 3),
Chalkly-Lands . . naturally produce May-weed, Poppeys
Tine, &c. 1733 W. ELLIS Chiltern % Vale Farm. 300
TINE.
Wild Thetch, Tyne, or Uind-weed, is an ugly Companion
amongst the Corn.
b. Also called tine-grass, tine-fare (tintare,
tyntare\ tine-weed.
( 1450 Alphita (Anecd. Oxon.) 186 TrifoUum ftcutttm,an.
wildetare wt /tintare. Ibid. 189 Viciola^ angl, tintara. 1577
B. GOOGE HeresbadCs Husk. i. (1586) 35 It groweth halfe
a yarde hie, leaued like Tyntare. 1621 G. SANDYS Ovid s
Met. v. (1626) 101 Tintare [fr. kintare], and Darnell [L.
lolimn tribulioue] tire The fetter d Wheat; and weeds that
through it spire. 1733 W. ELLIS Chiltern fy Vale Farm.
302 Cliver or chickweed. .twists about the Wheat, like the
Tyne-weed. 1744-50 Mod. Husband m. I. i. 143 The
Tyne-grass and the Lady-finger grass are the two best sorts
of Natural Meadow Grasses. 1861 Miss PRATT Flotver.
PI. II. 134 I icia. hirsuta (Hairy Tare), .the Tine Tare as it
is called in some counties. c 1878 Oxford Bible-Helps 217
Lentiles, . . a species of vetch, resembling the tine-tare, grown
on poorer soils.
[Note. As tinfare, tine-tare, appears to occur nearly a
century earlier than the simple form fix?, it was possibly the
original name, its first element being one of the other TINE
words. If originally applied to I 7 icia hirsuta, the sense
small or diminutive tare (f. TINE a.) would be appropriate
enough. Hut perhaps derivation from TINE z . 3 , or TINE s6. 1
or 2 , in reference to the injury or trouble which it causes,
is more likely. Cf. the name $trangle-tare\
t Tine, sb$ Obs. Also 6 tyne. (Only in and
after Spenser.) [By-form of TEEN sbj- in various
senses. Perh. from Norse : cf. Norw. dial, tyne
injury : cf. TINE v 2.] Affliction, trouble, sorrow.
1590 SPENSER F. Q. I. ix. 15 To seek her out with labor
and long tyne. 1591 Tearcs Muses 3 Those piteous
plaints and sorrowfull sad tine \t-hnc nine]. 1600 Toi UNEUR
Trans, Met. To his Booke, The more the world doth seeke
to work their tine, 1610 FLETCHER Faithf. Sheph. i. iii, And
far more heavy be thy grief and tine.
t Tine, a. and sb$ Obs. Also 5 tyn, 5-7 tyne.
[Appears as adj. and sb. about or soon after 1400 ;
origin unknown : see Note below, and TINY (?.]
A. adj. Very small, diminutive: = TINY a.
App. always preceded by little : cf. Sc. little wee (bairn).
a 1400-50 Alexander 507 Scho had layd in his lape a litill
tyne egg. ? c 1450 Song- ii. m Two Cov. Corpus Chr. Plays
(E.E.T.S.) 32 Lully, lulla, thow Httell tine child, By by,
lully lullay, thow littell tyne child, c 1460 Tcnvnelcy Myst,
xii. 467 Hayll, lytyll tyn mop, rewarder of mede !. . Hayll,
lytyll mylk sop ! hayll, dauid sede ! I597SHAKS. 2 Hen.IV^
v. i. 29 A ioynt of Mutton, and any pretty little tine Kick,
shawes. Ibid. v. iii. 60 Welcome my little tyne theefe,
1605 Lear in. ii. 74 He that has and a little-tynu wit.
B. sb. or quasi-j^. A very little space, time, or
amount; a very little; a bit 1 .
App. always prec. by little; cf. similar Sc. use of ivte:
BAHBOUH Rruce vn. 182 The kyng than wynkit a little wee.
1 1420 (?)LYDG. Assembly of Gods 1063 He was constreynyd
..A lytyll tyne abak to make a bew retret. Ibid. 1283 A
lyttyll tyne hys ey castyng hym besyde. 1523 SKELTON
Garl. Laurel 505 Sir, I pray you a lytyll tyne stande backe,
1546 J. HEYWOOD Prov. r. xi. Wks. (1562) D ij, For when
prouander prickt them a little tyne. 1556 Spider fy F.
Ix. Ccivb, But stey a litle tine [rime fine].
[Note. In the absence of evidence, the etymology of tine t
its accidence, and its relation to TINY, have received a good
deal of discussion : see Wedgwood Diet. Eng. Etyin. (1872)
684, Skeat Notes on Eng. Etymol. 300, E. Weekley in
Trans. Philol. Sac. 1909. Prof. Skeat inclines to take tine
as a later shortening of *//W, afterwards titty, and *tin as
a sb., possibly a. OF. tinee tubful . But though it is
possible that fine was orig. a sb., in sense bit , the evidence
is that it was always a monosyllable. Prof. Weekley sug
gests the possibility of tine, ti n/j tiny being aphetic for OF.
nn tantin or tantinet a little time or quantity , related to
L. tantillus * so small, so little . This would suit the sense,
but evidence connecting the forms has not been found (cf.
TINY a.}.]
Tine, tyne (tain), vl Obs. exc. dial. Forms :
see below. [OE. tynan = OFris. tlna, OLG.,
MLG., LG. tfinen, EFris. tunen, tiinen, MUu.
tunen, Du. tuinen, OHG. z&nen (MHG. siutten,
G. zaitnett) : OTeut. *tnn-jan, f. *tAne- enclosure :
see TOWN. From OE. tyn-an, ME. had three
dialect types, a. southern, ///-, tuin- ; #. midl. and
north, tyn-, tin-, tine; y, Kentish ten-, teen-.]
A. Illustration of Forms.
a. Present, i tynan, 3 tunen ( ), 5 tuyne,
tuynde. Pa. t. i tynde, 3 tunde. Pa. pple. i
Setyned, 4-5 ytund.
688-95 Laws of In* c. 42 Gif. .hsebben sume ^etyned hiora
d;cl, sume na:bben. 4:900 tr. Bxda s Hist. iv. iii. (1890) 268
ponne tynde he his bee. 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt, xxiii.
13 Rie tyndon ric heofna. aiooo in Anglia, IX. 261 Me
msei?; . .on sumera. . tynan. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Horn. 43 Ne bat
be deuel me swel?e, ne bat be pit tune ouer me his mu5.
Ibid. 181 Hie tuned to hire fif ^aten, and penne5 wel faste.
1 1*05 LAY. 15320 pa ^ten heo tunden uaste. 1400
Trti isa s Higden (Rolls) VI. 229 pe ;ates..were i-schette
[MSS. ft. tynde. -y. ytund]. (11450 MYRC Par. Priest 63
Tuynde byn ye pat thow ne se The cursede worldes vanyte.
&. Present. 3 tinen, 4-5 tynen, tynde, 5
tyn-yn, 5-6, 9 dial, tyne, 7-9 dial. tine. Pa. t.
4 tyned, 5 tynd. Pa. pple. 3 tined, 5 tynde,
tynyd, tyndyd, 9 tined.
c isoo Trin. Colt. Horn. 43 pe pit tineS his mu3 ouer be
man, be ii3 on fule synnen. Ibid. 101 pe yate of paradus,
be burh Eue gilte wifl hem was er tined. 138* Tyndynne
[see B. ij. c 1400 I^-nde [see al. a 1400-50 Alexander
2193 pen tened be Thebees folke& tynd to be jatis. < 1440
Promp. Parv. 494/1 Tynyn, or make a tynynge, sepio.
e 1460 Pol. Rel. ff L. Potms 167 A^en bee wole y my ?atis
tyne. 1585 JAS. I Ess. Poesic. (Arb.) 56 And efter that made
Argus for to tyne. .all his windois. 1674 RAY N. C. Words,
51
To Tine, to shut, fence. Tine the door ; shut the door.
1825 BROCKETT N. C. Word$ t Tine, to hut,to inclose. 1874
Tined [see Ii. i J.
y. Present. 4 tende, 6 tene, 7 teeno, 7-9 dial.
teen. Pa. t. 4-5 tende. Pa. pple. 4 i-tend, 5
yteynd, 7 dial, teened.
1387 TKEVISA Higden (Rolls) IV. 443 }if eny dore were
i-tend [y. ytund]. Ibid. 453 To tende [sec B. i]. c 1420
Chron. IS Hod. 3725 Bot be durus of bat chapelle weron bo
y-teynde. 1626 in Archxoi. Cant. (1902) XXV. 40 Peter
Denhani hath lately teened and fenced up a common foot
way. 1674 RAY N. C. Words 49 To enclose, fence, hedge,
or teen, c 1700 KKNNETT MS. Lansd. 1033 If. 389 To Teen
(L-anc. to Tine), to hedge or to enclose a field, in Kent. 1887
Kentish Gloss.) Teener, Tetifr, a man who teens or keeps^in
order a raddle-fence.
B. Signification.
1. trans. To close, shut (a door, gate, or window ;
a house, one s mouth, eyes, etc.). Also with to adv.
(cf. SHOT to), and absol.
a 900 [see A. a], c 950 Lindisf, Gosp, Luke xiii, 25, & tynei5
ba;t dujo. .71225 Ancr. R, 62 An ancre nule nout tunen
hire eiSurles a^ein dea3 of helle & of soule. 1382 WYCUK
Gen. xix. 6 Loth gon oute to hem.. and tyndynge to the
dore, seith. 1387 TH?:VISA Hidden (Rolls) IV. 453 pe Est
gate of be temple, .was so bevy of sound bras bat twenty men
were besy i-now for to tende \_MSS. a. tynde, 0. tyne, y.
tuynde] it. a 1450 MYRC far. Priest 490 To tuynen and
open at heyre byddynge. 1523 FiTZHERB. Hitsb, 141 Yf
ony gate. .go not lyghtly to open and tyne. 1561 Child-
Marriages 114 That she did se hym tyne the windowes,
and put to the dore with his fote. 1674 [see A. ft]. 1874 T.
HARDY Far fr. Madding Crowd xv, Cainy and I haven t
tined our eyes to-night.
2. a. To enclose or shut (a thing;) up in some
thing.
13.. E. E. Allit. P. B. 498 Tyl pay had tybyng fro be
tolke bat tyned hem ber-inne [i.e. in the ark]. iSftS A. S.
WILSON Lyric lifeless Love xxvni. 92 Come, choral voices,
. . And in my soul the sweetness tine Which harps of Eden
wear.
b. To enclose with a hedge or fence; to fence,
to hedge in.
688-95 [see A. a]. c*44 Promp. Parv. 494^1 Tynyd, or
hedgydde (P. tyndyd), septus. 1570-6 LAMBARDK Peranib.
Kent (1826) 376 Their [the Saxons ] woorde (Tynan) to tyne,
or inclose with a hedge. 1598 STOW Sur?: xlix. (1603) 547
To inclose or tyne. 1604 in Eng. GiMs(iBfo) 437 That they
leaue to tine and keep so that his neighbor be harmeles^e
by the cattel. 1864 W. BARNES in Macm. Mag. Oct. 477
An there wer my orcha d a-tined \Vi a hedge on a steep-
zided bank. 1892 BROOKE Hist. E. Eng. Lit. ix. 203 The
place was tyned or girded with a fence of rods.
c. To make or repair (a hedge or fence).
152* MS. Ace. St. John s Hasp., Canterb., Paied for
tenying of a hedge. 1630 Ibid,, For two bundles of bushes
to teene our orchard hedges viij d. 1887 Kentish Gloss.,
Teen, to make a hedge with raddles [ green sticks].
T~3- fig. To confine, restrain to something. Obs.
c 1430 Hymns Virg. 25 To bat loue y schal me so faste
tyne, pat y in herte it euermore holde.
Tine, tyne (tain), z/.- Chiefly (now only)
north, dial, and Sc. Pa. t. and pple. tint (tint).
Forms: 3- tine ; also 4 tin, 4-6 tyn, 4-9 tyne,
(5 teyn, 6 tyen). Pa. t. 4 tinte, 4-6 tynt(e, 4-
tint ; also 5 tynit, 6 (Spenser) tyned, S tined.
Pa. pple. 4 itint, y-tint, y-tent, 5 ytynt ; 4-6
tinte, tynt, 5 tynte, tynde, 4- tint. [a. ON.
tyna (:- *//w/a), Norw., older Da. and Sw. dial.
tyne, to destroy, lose, to perish, deriv. of tj6n
loss, damage (cogn. with OE. tton injury, etc. : see
1. trans. To lose; to suffer deprivation of; to
cease to have or enjoy.
a 1300 Cursor M. 5518 (Colt.) pan has bair will our wiber-
win, And we ma sua our landes tin [v. rr. tine, tyne]. c 1300
Havelok 2023 That he ne tinte no catel. 13.. Sir Beue s
(A.) 4386 Treitour ! now is be lif itint. c 1320 Sir Tristr.
1911 pou hast y tent bi pride, c 1330 R. BRUNNE Chrou.
(1810) 15 He is now in poynt his regne forto tyne. 11340
HAMPOLE Psalter Ixi. 10 It is a harmefull winninge to win
cattell & tine rightowsnes. 1377 LANGL. P. PI. B. xvni. 140
Pat was tynt borw tre, tree shal it wynne. a 1400 Octouian
1147 Tho both hys armes were y-tent. c 1400 Destr. Troy
12467 Trees, thurgh tempestes, tynde hade bere leues.
c 1460 T<nvHfley Afyst. i. 160 Oure loye is tynt. 1549
Cowpl. Scot. x. 83 There can no thing be tynt, bot quhen
he that tynis ane thing. .knauis nocht quliair it i-. 1575
CHURCHYARD Ckippes (1817) 184 Our greedy mind gaines
gold and tyens good name. 1596 UALRVMTLE tr. Leslie s
Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 51 The Salmonte.,tynes in smal
watiris,. .the gret fatnes, that thay fand in the braid Sey.
1606 WARNER Alb. Eng, xw. Ixxxvii. (1612) 358 Both their
Kings in following fight did brauely tyne their Hues. 1721
RAMSAY Prospect of Plenty 162 To stow them.. In barrels
tight, that shall nae liquor tine. 175* J. LOUTHIAN Fonn
of Process (ed. 2) 31 The Repledger.. tined his Court for Year
and Day. 1790 BURNS Tain o Shanter 188 Tam tint his
reason a thegither. 1865 G. MACDONALD A. Forbes 51,
I dinna think the lx>rd II tyne the grip o* his father s son.
1886 STEVENSON Kidnapped y\x, James must have tint his
wits,
b. To fail to gain, attain, or win: -= LOSE v.
7, 8 ; absol. to lose the battle, be defeated :
LOSE v. 8 b.
1250 Gen. $ Ex. 3518 For if 8u it Denies and ^isse, 5u
tines vn-cnded blisce, 1340 HAMPOLE fr. Consc. 2054 pus
sal bai dyghe and heven bhs tyne And be putted til endcles
pync. a 1400 Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton A/S. 38 pou tynes
pc mede of bi seruyce. 1549 Contpl. Scot. ix. 80 He tint
threttynebattellis. c 1560 A. SCOTT / <vi/rf(S.T.S.)ii. 48X050
quha tynt or wan The feild. 1681 COLVIL Wkigs Suppiic.
TINEAN.
I (1751) 25 Whether he gain the day or tine, He never misseth
j to kill nine. 1721 RAMSAY Prospcit of Plenty 50 She
grasps the shadow, but the substance tines, a 1810 TANNA-
HII.I. Poems (1846) 101 I m fear d that I may tyne The love
that ye hae promised me.
c. To spend in vain or to no purpose, to waste :
= LOSE v. 6.
c *33P R- BRI- NNE Chron. (1810) 43 Kyne Suanegaf assaut,
...Mykelle folk he les, & tynt his trauaile. 1393 L*M;I.
/ . PI. C. xv. 8 Ich haue. .counsailede be. . Notyme to tyne.
1563 DAVIDSON Confut. Kennedy in Wodrow Sac. J//V.
(1844) 216 Thay doctours tynt thare tyme. 1631 A. CK\K;
Pilgr. fy Hereinitc 9 My true travtll shall bee tint. 1827
SCOTT T~vo Drovers Introd., If they had burned the rudas
queen for a witch, I am thinking, may be, they would not
have tyned their coals.
t d. To cause the loss of: = LOSE v. 9 a. Of>s.
ci47o HENRYSON Mor. Fab. x. (Fcx% U olf) vi, This tarying
will tyne the all thy thank. 1588 A. KING tr. Canisiits 1
Catech. 223 Receauing trew and Christian notice. .in stead
of that whilk Adam by his inobedience tint to him and vs.
e. absol. or intr. To suffer loss : LOSE z . 4.
1340 HAMPOLE Pr. Consc. 1457 Now haf we ioy, now liaf
we pyn, Now we wyn, now ue tyn. c 1400 Destr. Troy
1208 I e Troiens .. tynte of here folkes. c 1470 HKNKY
Wallace vi. 460 Hot thow be war, thow tynys off thi chaffair.
1862 HISLOP Pror. Sc<.>t. 27 A tale never tines in the telling.
f f. trans. To incur (a penalty", : cf. LOSE v. 3 g.
1426 Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 11/1 Wilder the payn oiTpurel
that efter folowys, and al that yhe may teyn enent us. 1478
Rental Bk. Cnpar* Angus (1879) I. 212 At al thir pwntL-,
forsad be treuly kepit ondyr al peynis tha ma tyne of law.
g. To let slip from one s remembrance, to forget :
= LOSE v. 5 d.
1513 DOUGLAS sKueis ix. v. 76, I hecht forsuith that dtii!
sail nevyr be tynt. 1837 R. NicOLL roans (1843) 123 Thae
auld-warld fancies my heart winna tyne. Ibid. iSS Your
father s dying counsels from Your bosoms never tine.
h. To leave far behind, as in a race ; to outstrip
entirely; to get far ahead of: = LOSE v. 50. dial.
1871 W. ALEXANDER Johnny Gibb vii, Oor Liza an you
ees t to be heid-y-peers, but ye re tynin her a thegithcr.
II. f 2. To ruin, destroy, bring to nought : -
LoSEf. 2. (Cf. L. perdtre to destroy, and lo lose.)
a 1300 Cursor M. 2911 Sua tin [v. r. tyne] hai bam wit-
outen end pat wil npght Jun in time mend. Ibid. 4774 Fur
bof he proue his freind wit pine, pnr-for wil he noght him
tine. 13. . E. E. Allit. P. \\. 907 We schal tyne bis toun iS;
traybely disstrye. c 1400 Apol. Loll, 43 If God schal tyne
alle boo bat spek Icsyng. 6-1520 NISISET N. Test, in Sects
Mark xii. 9 He sal cum and he sal tyne the teelars [Wvci.u-
tilieris), and geuu the wyneyarde to vtherls. 1589 R. BKLTK
Semi. ( Wodrow Soc.) no He has power only to save and tine.
3. intr. To be lost, ruined, or destroyed ; to
perish : ^ LOSE v. i.
13.. Sir Benes (A.) 652 Tiding com to king Ermyn, pat
Beues hadde mad his men tyn. 13.. Cursor M. 13511
(Cott.) (Juen bai had eten, bat drightin Bad bam late na
crummes tin. c 1475 RaufCoifyar 58 Baith myself and my
hors is reddy for to tyne. 1570 Satir. Poems Reform, xii.
97 For want of ane I wald nocht all suld tyne. c 1575 /> .i. -
foitr s Practicks, Ship Laws (1754) 623 Gif ony ship tine
be storm of wether. 1792 BURNS Gallant IVtarcr ii, I was
fear d my heart would tine, And I t;ied it to the weaver.
a. 1810 IANNAHILL Poems (1846) 97 1 11 tendthee . .Wi love
that ne er shall tyne.
Tine, v.s [f. TINE tf>.i]
1. trans. To furnish with tines or prongs ; sec
also TINED.
a 1518 SKELTON Magnyf. 728 My tonge is with Fauc-ll
forked and tyned. 1760 [see TINING i bl. sl 2].
2. To scratch or work with tines ; to harrow.
1766 [see TINING vbl. sb$\. 1854 Jrrtl. R. Agru: Sec. XV.
II. 405 Two drills are tined at a time.
Tine, variant of TIND v. Obs., to kindle.
Tine, obs. form of THINE (after a dental).
H Tinea (ti n/a). [L. tinea a gnawing worm, a
moth, bookworm.]
1. Path. Technical name of the disease KINO-
WORM.
1398 TREVISA Barth. De P. R. vn. iii. (Bodl. MS.) pe heed
is ofte dissesed with an yuel bait children haue ofte. .and we
clepith bat yuel Tinea a mo|be, for it freeteb and gnawith
be oure parties of be skynne of be heed as a niobbe freteb
cloob. c 1400 Lanfrancs Cintrgie 181 Cirurgians. .clepid
tineam here bat bcre is corrupcioun in be skyn wib harde
crustis & quytture. 1693 tr. BlancartCs Phys. Diet. (ed. 2}
s.v., If running Sores in the Head.. continue long. .they
grow into Tineas, crusty stinking Ulcers of the Head, which
gnaw and consume its Skin. 1804 ABERNETHY Surg. Obs.
169 A circle of smalt sores, like what takes place in tinea.
1862 H. MACMILLAN in Macnt. Mag. Oct. 466 \ east.. granules
may be made to induce the ordinary parasitic skin diseases
a few germs rubbed into the head, .producing. .tinea.
2. Entom. Name given by Haworth to a genus
of small moths {Micreltpiaoptsra)i the larvae of
which are very destructive to cloth, feathers, soft
paper, decaying wood, stuffed birds, etc., examples
of which are the common clothes-moths, 71 tapet-
zdta, and T. pellionetta, and the very destructive
pest in museums of natural history, T. destructor.
In earlier times the word was applied to other de
structive insects and worms.
1658 ROWLAND Mottfefs Theat. Ins. noo Pliny saith
that Tinea; do destroy the seeds of Figs.. .Niphus cals that
little Scorpion which eats books Tineas, whereof I spake in
the history of Scorpions. 1706 PHiLUPs(ed. Kersey), Tinea,
. .the Moth, an Insect that eats Clothes. Mod. The genus
Tinea contains about too sp*cies,of which 15 were recorded
as British in Rennie s Conspectus 1832.
Hence Ti nean, Ti neid a. t ot or belonging to
w
JOl
TINED.
the genus Tinea or family Tineidx ; sb. a member
of this genus or family.
1891 Cent. Dict. t Tinean, Tineid.
Tined (Uind), a. Also 5-6 tynyd, 6 tinded,
7 tyned. [f. TINE sb. 1 (or vty + -ED.] Furnished
with or having tines, a. Of a fork, rake, harrow,
or other implement. Chiefly in comb., as long-
tineJ, three-fined) etc.
c 1440 Pi-onip. Pa>~v. 494 /i Tynyd, wythe a tyne. 1523
FITZHERB. l/usb. 15 They be lyke sloted and tinded. 1577
HAKRISON England in. viii. (1878) n. 53 The heads of
saffron are raised in lulie, either with plough, raising, or lined
hooke. 1611 SPEED Hist. Ct. Brit. vi. v. 58 In his hand for
a Scepter, a Mace three-lined, as Neptune or God of the
Sea. 1698 G. THOMAS Pendtvania 8 Their Ground is
harrowed with Wooden Tyned Harrows.
b. Of a deer s horns. In quot. 1530 Her.
having the tines of a specified tincture.
c 1410 Master of Game (MS, Digby 182) xxiv, An hert )?at
bereth an hye heede bat is wyde and hye ytyneded with
longe beemes. 1530 in Ancestor xr. (1904) 182 A hertes
hede silver tynyd gold. 1878 S. LANIEK Rev. Hamish i A
tun-Lined buck in the bracken lay. 1902 Times 13 Nov.
i j 6 A goodly proportion of strongly lined heads.
[Tineman, a spurious word ; being a misread
ing in Harrison of the word tumnan in a MS.
c 1570 of Cnufs forest Laws (c 1 185), whence app.
in Manwood and in Spelman 1664, and thence in
later writers, and taken to repr. L. minutus homo
(as if f. TINE adj. very small + matt], (The actual
OE. (tinman is found in an nth c. Vocab. (Wr.-
"Wiilcker 332/22), rendering L. mllanns villein.)
c 1185 Cnut s Constit. de Foresta 4, Camb. MS. c 1570
(Liebermann 621) Sub horum iterum quolibet sint duo minu-
loruiu hominum, quos tunmati [or ? timmanj Angli dicunt ;
hi! nocturnam curam et ueneris et uiridis, turn serinlia opera
subibunt. So 1577 HAKKISON England n. xix. (1877) i. 315
[t/te same, with Tineman and hij. 1592 transl. in Man-
wood Brefe Collect. Letives of Forest, Againe, vnder euery
one of these meane men, let there be iwo of the least men
of account of the Forest (which Englishmen do call * Tyne-
men ) : these persons shall vndertake the seruile labour,
and also the night charge of Vert and Venison. 1598 MAN-
WOOD Laws Forest (1615) 2 (quoting prec. Latin) margin^
Tineman. These are they that now are called Foresters
or Keepers. 1670 BLOUNT Law Diet., Tineman or Tien-
3iian, was of old a Petty Officer in the Forest, who had the
Nocturnal care of Vert and Venison, and other servile
employments. 1906 DOYLE SirNigtl x, The lineman and
verdercrs have nol forgotten me yet.J
Tiller (tai naj). Sc. Obs. or arch. In 6 tyner,
-ar. [f. TINE Z/.- + -ER 1 .] A loser.
1540 Sc. Acts Jas. V (1814) II. 375 It is statute. .bat
be tynar of be cause pay the wynnaris expensis. 1560 HOL
LAND Seven, Sages 81 O subtell schiew, . .Tyner of treuth,
with loung IntoxicaC. 1596 DALRYMPLE tr. Leslie s Hist.
.Scot. \. Ixxx. (S.T.S.) I. 292 Victor and Vanquibt, tyner and
Winner war baith present.
Tinet : see TINNET. Tine-tare, Tine- weed ;
see TINE sb. Tinewald, var. TYNWALD.
f Trne-worna. Obs. rare. Also 8 tin-. An
unidentified * worm , said to be injurious to sheep ;
? = TAINT- WORM.
1587 MASCALL Govt. Cattle (1596) 15 Against the swelling
in a bea_st by eating of a Tyne-worme. ibid. 250 The line
worme is a small red worme with many legs, much like a hog
lowse, and they will creepe in grasse : ifsheepe or other
cattell do eate one, tbey will swell and within a day die, if
he be not remedied. 1704 Diet. Rust., Tinworm.
Tin-field f -floor, etc. : see TIN sb. 5.
Tinfoil (ti nfoil), sb. Forms : see TIN sb. and
FOIL sb. 1 ; also 6 tynfule. [f. TIN sb. + FOIL sbl]
Tin hammered or rolled into a thin sheet; also, a
sheet of the same rubbed with quicksilver, used for
backing mirrors and precious stones; a similar
sheet ofan alloy of tin and lead, used as a wrapping
to protect comfits, etc., from moisture or air.
1467-8 Durham Ace. Rolls (Surtees) 92 Pro le Tynfole
empt. pro ornacione et pictura del Soteltez erga festum Natal.
Domini, xjd. 1477-9 Ace. Exch. K t R. Bundle 496 No.
18 (P.R.O.) Pro..Tynnefoile, Canvas [etc.]. 1481-3 Ibid.
No. 26, vij dos Tynfoill. 1525-6 Durham Ace. Rolls
(Surtees) 108 Pro preparacione le borehede et tynfule. 1586
Rates of Customs Evilj b, Tin foile the groce iiij.s. 1681
GREW Musxum m. n. lii. 335 With this the Tin-Foile is
made to stick close lo ihe backsides of Looking-G lasses.
1762 FRANKLIN Lett., etc. Wks. 1840 V. 408 It is what they
call tinfoil, or leaf-tin, being tin milled between rollers.
1825 J. NICHOLSON Operat. Rlecltanic 715 The tin-foils are
only used in the case of colourless stones. 1839 URE Diet.
Arts 1251 Tin-foil coated with quicksilver makes the reflect
ing surface of glass mirrors. 1876 HARLEY Royle s Mat.
Med. 256 Tin-foil, so largely used by druggists to wrap up
medicines and form capsules for bottles, is an alloy of tin,
and contains from 25 to 75 per cent, of lead.
attrib. 1849 NOAD Electricity (ed. 3) 146 By a tin-foil com.
munication, a connection is made. 1862 Catal. Internat.
Exhib. t Brit. II. No. 5142 Plain, fancy, and tinfoil papers.
Ti nfoil, v. [f. prec. sb.] trans. To cover or
coat with tinfoil. Hence Trnfoiled (-foild)///. a. %
esp./^.
1598 B. JONSON Ev. Man in Hum. i. ii, This man ! so
graced, guilded, or to use a more fii metaphor.. so tinfoild
by nature. i6ai BURTON Anat. Mel. \\. iii. in. 399 T is
bracteataf<*licitas t a. ~, Seneca termes it, tin-foyl d happines
if it be happines at all. a 1658 CLEVELAND Hecatomb 9 My
Text defeats your Art, ties Nature s tongue, Scorns all her
Tinfoyl d Metaphors of Pelf. 1887 Si i. Amcr. i OcL 215/3
The lass. .after being tin foiled, is. . pushed acioss the table
containing the mercury.
52
Tillful (ti nful). [f. TiN + FtTL.] As much as
a tin will contain.
1896 A. MORKISON Child of the Jti^o 169 Tobacco pillaged
from a tin-full his father had bought.
Ting (tiij), sb. [f. TING v. : cf. DING si:.-]
The sound emitted by a small bell, or other reso
nant body, as a thin glass vessel, as the result of a
single stroke ; a thinner or sharper sound than that
expressed by TANG. Also advb., or without gram
matical construction, esp. when repeated.
1602 MIDDLETON Blurt iv. ii, Midnight s bell goes ting,
ting, ting. 1611 COTGR., Tinton, ..the ting of a bull. 1677
WALLIS in Phil. Trans, XII. 842 A thin .. Venice-glass,
cracked with the. .sound of a Trompet. .sounding an Uni
son or a Consonant note to that of the Tone or Ting of the
Glass. 1859 CORN-.VALLIS Panorama New World I. 178
The liquid ting ting ting of the bell-bird. 1895 ZANU-
\VILL The Master ir. ix, His own turn came, announced by
the sharp ting of a hand-bell. 1898 G. W. E. RUSSELL Coll. jr
Recall, xxxiv. 473 The shrill ting-ting of the division-bell.
1906 Daily Chron. 14 Feb. 6/7 Ting went the bell.
b. Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ring, the sound of the
continued ringing of a small bell, or the like.
Also advb.
1833 MKS. MARCET Seasons II. Spring iv. 54 The great
dinner-bell went ting a ring a ring a ring. 1863 C. C.
ROBINSON Leeds Gloss. 436 Ting-din, all in 1 ... 1 Its ominast
ting-elin now . 1879 MACDONALD Sir Gibl ie xix, I hae
naething till acquaint yer honour \vi , sir, but the ting-a-
ling o* tongues. 1906 Westin. Gnz. 20 Jan. 5/1 Ting-a-ling.
Telephone again. Who s there ?
Ting (tirj), v. [Echoic. Cf. PING; also obs.
Du. tinghe, tan^hcn tintinare .]
1. trans. To cause (a small bell or the like) to
emit a ringing note; in quot. 1607, to try (a coin)
by ringing in order to test its genuineness.
1495 Trrvisa s Earth. DcP.R. xvill. xii. (W.de W.\ Wyth
betynge of basynes, tyngynge & tynkynge of tymbres they
(bees] ben comforted & callyd to the hyues. 1552 Berks. Ch.
Goods (1879) 39 A bell used to be tyngetl before dede corses.
1607 R. QAREW] tr. Estiennes World of Wonders 131
They sticke not to ting and peize the money. 1611 COTGK.,
Tintiner, to ting, or toll, a bell, a 1825 FORBY Voc. E.
Anglta, Ting, to ring a small bell.
ta. To ting bees, to make a ringing sound, as
with a key and shovel, when bees swarm, to induce
them to settle : cf. quot. 1495 in I ; also TANG v. 2 4,
RING v.~ 10 b.
1609 C. BUTLER Fein. Moil. i. (1623) 3 Tinging of swarmes
to make them come downe. a 1825 FORBY Yoc. E. Anglia
s. v., *To tf/jqfbees i is to collect them together, when they
swarm, by the ancient music of the warming-pan and the
key of the kitchen-door.
2. intr. Of a bell, a metal or glass vessel, or the
like : To emit a high-pitched ringing note when
struck, to ring.
1562 PHAER sEneid. IX. D d j, His helmet tincgling tings.
1607 ROWLANDS Diog. Lanth. 21 If we but heare a ISell to
ting. . Into a hole we straite may skippe. 1653 URQUHART
Rabelais i. v, Bowls [began] to ting, glasses to ring. 1840
[see TINGING vbl. sb.\.
b. trans. To announce (an hour) by tinging ; to
ring or strike (the hour). Also ting out.
1888 F. W. ROBINSON Youngest Jlfi ss Green III. 78 The
clock, .then tinged out One .
3. intr. To make a ringing sound ivith a bell,
etc. Also to ting it.
1605 AKMIN Foole npon F. (1880) 8 They tinged with a
knife at the bottome pfagiasse. i6i3PuncilAS PUgnmaft
(1614) 492 Often tinging with a little Bell of Siluer. a 1693
Urquharfs Ral dais in. Prol. 6 There did he. .ting it, ring
it, tingle it, towl it. 1872 T. HARDY Under Greenwood Tree
v. i. II. 186 So he jist stopped to ting to em [bees] and
shake em.
Ting : see THING sb. z
Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ring : see TING st. b.
Tinge (tindj), sl>. 1 [(. TINGE v.]
1. A slight shade of colouring, csp. one modifying
a tint or colour.
75 } HiLL//ij/./): /K.4ii Butwiih more of the reddish
tinge. 1796 KIRWAN Elem, Alin. (ed. 2) II. 290 This blue
tinge has sometimes occasioned it to be taken for Cobalt.
1815 I. SMITH Panorama Sc. * Art II. 540 In purifying
the silks which are to remain white, a tinge is given by the
addition of a small quantity of different colouring matters.
1907 Edin. Rev. Oct. 510 The blue, instead of being con
verted into buff, bad a tinge of red in it.
b. transf. A minute quantity of colouring matter
or dye.
1770 DUNN in Phil. Trans. I,X. 71 Dyingaway like adrop
of tinge thrown into water. 1825 I. NICHOLSON Operat.
Mechanic 716 These colours may be had ..from a tinge
wholly dissolved in spirit of wine.
2. Jig. A modifying infusion or intermixture ; a
slight admixture of some qualifying property or
characteristic ; a touch or flavour of some quality.
1797 SCOTT Let. to Miss C. Ruthcr/ordQct., in Lockhmt,
A very slight tinge in her pronunciation is all which marks
the foreigner. 1800 HT. LKE Canterb. T. (ed. 2) III. 121
_ = ^ t _
Doric tinge." J^ MACAULAY Hist. Eng .\M. II. 275 His
political opinions had a tinge of Whiggism.
3. Trade. (See quot.)
1850 Chninb. Jrnl. XIV. 217/1 A trader [draper] who has
too much window stock upon his hands at the approach of
spring tinges his winter goods, afttr which they rapidly
decrease in amount. The tinge is a cabalistic bignappendcd
TINGING.
to the private mark, by which all the shopmen know that a
premium is attached to the sale of the article bearing it.
Tinge, sb.- Idial. (See quot.)
1812 SIK J. SINCLAIR Syst. Ilusb. Scot. I. 119 If given raw,
to horses especially, they are one great cause of the tinge or
gripes.
Tinge (tin^s), *> Also 6-7 ting. [ad. L.
ting-ere to dye, colour.]
1. trans. To impart a trace or slight shade of
some colour to; to tint; to modify the tint or
colour of (const, with}. AUo absol.
1477 RIH.EY Coinp. Atch. xi. vi. in Ashm. Theat. Cheat,
Brit, (1652) 182 Saffron when yt ys pulveryzate, Tyngyth
much more of Lycour. 1577 HARRISON England MI. viii.
(1878) n. 55 As their saffron is not so fine as that of Cam
bridge shire and about Walden, so it will not take, ling, nor
hold colour withall. 1577 HOLUNSHED CYm>., Dt-scr. Scot.
vii. 9/2 Tlieyr fleshe moreouer is redde as it were lynged
with Saffron. 1638 A. Fox l^ ilrtz Surg. in.xvi. 265 Which
will tinge the Aquavitae to a redne.ss. 1725 Bradley s Fain.
Diet. s. v. OaA; A way of tinging Oak. .so as it will resemble
coarse Ebony. 1769 N. NICHOLLS Cprr. if. Gray (1843) 99
Just when Autumn had begun to tinge the woods with a
thousand beautiful varieties of colour. 1863 MANY HOWITT
/ . Brewer s Greece II. xvi. 138 The summit of Parnassus
was tinged with the red light of morning.
b. transf. To impart a slight taste or smell to ;
to affect slightly by admixture.
1690 C. NESSE O. fy JV. Test. I. 236 Fragrant flowers and
fruits, the sweet odours whereof had likely ting d those
Dodly garments. 1707 MORTIMER Hush. (1721) II. 353
iquors tinged with the spirituous Flavour of other Fruits.
C 1826 Land. Encycl. s. v. Barometer, Common water, tinged
with a sixth part of aqua regia. 1863 MRS. OLIPHANT Salem
Chapel xiii, The sweet atmosphere was tinged with the
perfumy breath which always surrounded her.
2. intr. To become modified in colour; to take
a (specified or implied) tinge.
i66a R. MATHEW UnL Alch. 107. 174 Put on more
Vinegar, .till thou seest that it will ting no more. 1756 C.
LUCAS Ess, Waters I. 15 The solution, .upon the addition
of new spirit of salt, tinges a kind of orange color. 1821
CLAUE Vitl. Minstr. I. 93 He [the oak] tinges slow with
sickly hue.
3-./. To affect in mind or feeling by inter
mixture, infusion, or association ; to qualify, modify,
or slightly vary the tone of.
1674 N. FAIRFAX Bulk ff Selv. 47 Our souls are indeed so
far ting d with body. 1681 WOOD Life 14 Mar. (O.H.S.)
II. 526 Fame tells us that he is tinged with presbyterian
leven. 1702 C. MATHEK A/agn. Chr. m. i. Hi. (1852) 303 His
exact education, .tinged him with an aversation to vice.
1784 COWPER Task iv. 553 The town has ting d the country.
1856 EMERSON En*. Traits, Lit. Wks. (Bohn) II. 106 The
influence of Plato tinges the British genius. 1884 JENNINGS
Croker Pafers I. vi. 182 This grief tinged the whole of Mr.
Croker s subsequent life.
^4. trans. Alchemy. To change by the action of
a tincture : cf. TINCTURE v. 2 b, TINCT v. 3. Obs.
1650 FRENCH Distill. (1651) Ded, A iv b, As men biing
lead to Philosophers to be tinged into gold. 1660 tr. fara-
celsits Arckidoxis i. v. 75 So likewise doth this Tincture
tinge the Hydropical . . Body into a sound State.
5. Trade. To mark with a tinge (TlNGE sb. 1 3).
1850 [see TINGE j<M 3).
Hence Tinged (thu^d)///. a.
1658 A. Fox Wiirtz* Surg. \\\. xvi. 265 This ting d Aqua-
vitae is to be extracted per Balneum. 1774 M. MACKENZIE
Maritime Surv. no With a smoked or tinged Glass before
your Eye. i867DEinscH Rem. (1874) 23 To be dependent
on the possibly tinged version of an interpreter,
Tingeing: see TINGING///, a.*
Till gent (ti ndgent) , a. Now rare or Obs. [ad.
L. tingent-em, pres. pple. of ting-re to colour,
TINGE.] That tinges or colours, colouring, dyeing.
1650 ASHMOI.E Chyin, Collect. 118 Those two Bodies are
shining, in which are tingent splendid Raies. 1667 STRAT
Hist. R. Soc. 304 In some Colours and Stuffs the Tingent
Liquor must be boyling. 1727-41 CHAMBERS Cycl. s. v.
Dying) Some tingent liquors are fitted for use by long keep
ing. 1813 E. BANCROFT Dyeing, etc. I. 166 note, The tingent
matter was in union with too great a proportion of the other
Constituents of the plant.
fTinger 1 (ti-rjaa). Obs. rare. [app. from a
vb. *ting, OE. *tengan = ON. tengja to make
fast, fasten, tie together.] A workman employed
in raising and making fast the body of a cart after
it has been emptied by tipping.
1587 FLEMING Contn. Holinshed III. 1544/2 There were
also eight lingers, whose speciall office was to lift vp the
courts [= carts] Jmniediatelie after they were vnloden, and
to make fast their tackle. . . There attended also . . men called
vntingers, to loose and vndoo the tackle, .before the vnloding.
Ibid. 1545/1 The driuer neuer staled, but went foorth for a
new lode: the linger runneth after and pulleth vp the court (
ami fasteneth the tackle,
Tinger 2 (trndsai). [f. TINGE v. + -ER 1 .] One
who or that which tinges.
1814 W. TAYLOR in Monthly Mag-. XXXV II. 146 Girdle
of the summer rain, Tinger of the dews of air. 1864 in
WEBSTER.
Ti llgible, a. rare. [ad. L. type *tin$ibili$, \.
tingere to TINGE ; see -JULE.] Capable of being
tinged or coloured.
1656 BLOUNT Glossogr., TiKgibIt(tirtfibitt$,ti&.t maybe
stained, dipped or died. 1901 Jrnl, Exper. Mcd, 29 Nov.
58 The adjacent tingible substances in the nucleus.
Tinging (ti rjirj), "vbL sb. [f. TING v. + -ING .J
The action of the verb TING ; ringing.
U95 (see TING v. i\ 1528 PAYNEL Salcrnes Rcgiin. Y ii_u
\Vhiche..cau;ieth tyngynge or lyngynge in the eare. 156*
TINGING.
TURNER Bat/is Aijb, The wyndenes or synging or tyngjng
of the eares. 1611 COTGR., Tinteurent, a tinging, ringing,
tingling. 1840 P. Parley s Ann. I. 54 It goes click clack,
tick tack,. .ting, ting, ting, ting, and slops between its ting
ing almost as if it were out of breath.
Tinging (ti nin 1 , ///. . 1 [f. TING v. + -ING -.]
That tings ; ringing, as metal ; that emits a ringing
sound, as the tinging frog.
1609 HOLLAND Atniit. Marcel/, xxiv. iv. 250 Neither the
tinging sound [L. tinnitus] of the yron tcoles digging hard
by could bee heard. 1611 COTGK., Charivaris ok poetics^
the carting of an infamous person, graced with the harmonic
of tinging kettles, and frying-pan Musicke. 1802 SHAW
Gen. Zool. III. i. 135 Tinging Frog. ..Smaller than the
European Tree Frog. Native of .South Ameiica.
Tinging, tingeing (ti-nd^in), ppl. . 2 [f.
TINGE v. + -ING 2 . The distinctive spelling tingc-
ing t on the analogy of singeing, appears in Webster
1864, Cent. Diet., Funk s Standard Diet.] That
tinges or colours slightly.
1663 BOYLE Usef. Exp. Nat. Philos. i. i. 14 My
curiosity leading me to abstract the Menstiumn from the
tinging Powder. 1758 J. KENNKUY Curios, tt ilton House
(1786) p. xiv, Places, where no tinging or fouling Substances
touched them. 1838 T. THOMSON CJiein. Org. Bodies 400
A Florentine, named FederigOj discovered, .the tinging
properties of this lichen.
Tin-glass. Now rare. [f. TIN sl>. + GLASS.]
1. An old name for BISMUTH.
11558 Off. Augm., Misc. Bk. XLI. No. 194 (P. R. O.)
Vaynes and Mynes . . of. . Antimon ia and tyne glas ami
Sonddrye markasites. 1577 HARRISON Englan d\\\. XL. (1878)
11.72 It [pewter ]consisteth of acompusition,which hath thirtie
pounds of kettle brasse to a thousand pounds of tin, wher.
vnto they ad three or foure pounds of tinglasse. x68a
HARTMAN Present. $ Restorer Health 3^2 The ueparalion
of Magistery of Bi^tmuih orTinglass. 1704 J. HARRIS Ajr
Tecfut. I, />Vi/wM,or Tt nG/as$,by the Ancients was thought
lobeanatural Marcasiteor Mineral. 1815 J. SMITH PanO
ranta Sc. V Art II. 397 Bismuth U known among artisans
by ihe name of tinglass.
f2. Tin. Obs. rare.
1601 HOLLAND Pliny xxxiv. xvi. II. 517 This white lead or
tinglasse [plumbum album : see LEAD sb. 1 i b] hath been of
long time in estimation, even since the warre of Troy, as
witne&seth the Poet Homer, whocalleth itCassiteron Ibid.
xvii, A devise to tin pots, pans, and other peeces of bra ss. .
with white !ad or tmglassc.
Tin-glaze, -glazed ; see TIN sb. 5.
Tingle (ti ng l), sl>.* tethn. Also 4-5 tyngyl,
-il ( 6 tyng-le. [Cognate with MHO. zingtl little
lack, little hook (Lexer), of which the LG. form
would be tingel. App. f. the same verbal stem
ting-, Ung- as in TiNGEii 1 + instrumental suffix
-el i see -LE suffix I. The original sense was thus
that which fastens , a name susceptible of many
applications.]
1. A very small kind of nail ; the smallest size
of tack. Usually tingle nail (also tingle sprig).
[1288 Boshatn Ace. (Sussex) m Rogers Agr tc. fy Pr. I.
472/4 Tingle 750 (a> /i).] 1377-8 Durham Ace. Rolls
(Surtees) 587 In D.C tyngylnaile empt. pro fenestr. in
gianatio, xijd. [1415 York Ace. in Rogers Agric. <V Pr.
III. 447/4 Tingle nail 4 m 3C@ i/--] 1449-50 Durham Ace.
Rolts (Suitees) 239 CO * del Tyngilnaill. 1581 Wills $
/ni 1 . N. C. (Surtee>) II. 67, vj hondeit hetche naills 3/-,
xv hondert latt biods 6/-, xij hondreth tyngle naills s/*.
1831 J.HOLLAND Manuf. Metal I. 194 The smallest tingle
nails of about a quarter of an inch. 1886 G. R. SIMS in
Daily News 4 Dec. 5/6 The smallest [nails], which he calls
tingles , he can buy a farthing s worth of. 1899 Labour
Commission Gloss,, Tingle s^ also called tacks.
2. A strip of metal bent into an S shape, forming
a clip to support heavy panes of glass on roofs;
also, a strip of lead turned up at one end, used in
replacing slates; also, a strip of lead bent in the
middle, of which the lower half is nailed to the
board, while the upper half forms a core on which
the edges of two contiguous sheets of lead are
folded together, to form a close joint.
1884 Span s Mtthanfcs own Bk. (1886) 627 Tingle for
fixing Ridge. 1887 Notes Building Constr. (Rivingtons)
420 When [the roof panes] are large and heavy, any ten
dency for them to slip down is prevented bv hanging the
tail of each on to the head of the pane below by means of a
zinc or copper tingle. Ibid. (1901) 218 The ends of two
adjacent bheets are turned up against one another . . ; the two
are then bent over together to form a roll.. . Between the
ends of the two sheets so treated is a clip or * tingle . .a
narrow strip of lead, of which about 2 inches is naifed to the
boards.
3. Bricklaying. A small loop of string attached
at intervals to a bricklayer s line, to keep it hori
zontal and prevent sag. The tingles (Sc. latchets)
are supported on bricks laid at intervals along the
course, and kept in place by laying another brick
upon each. (In some handbooks the name tingle
is erroneously given to the supporting bricks.)
1886 COL. SBDUOM Builder s Work 43 To prevent sagging,
if the line be long, it must be carefully propped at intervals
. .by. .tingles
Ti-ngle, sb [f. TINGLE v. Cf. \VFIem. tin&l
nettle.] An act, instance, or condition of tingling.
a. A tingling or tinkling sound. Also advb. or
without construction, as imitation of the sound.
b. A tingling sensation in the ears, or in some other
part of the body; the tingling action of cold, etc.
aiyoo in O.ll.S. Coltt<.t. IV. ]S 3 Tingle, tingle, tingle
53
Says the little bell att 9 To call the beercrs homo. 1841
HOOD Tale Trumpet xxxviii, That like the bell With
muffins to sell, Her ear was kept in a constant tingle ! 1848
LOWKLL Fable for Critics 1557 A Leydcn-jar always full-
charged, from which flit The electrical tingles of hit after
hit. 1879 BESRBOHM Patagonia iv. 49 The wind was just
cold enough to give that exciting tingle to the blood which
i influences one s spirits like a subtile wine. 1906 Daily Chrc>n.
\ 8 Mar. 6/4 A tingle of regret runs through me that I lia\e
lost my good manners. 1908 Blctckw. 31 ag, Oct. 682/2 One
feels the tingle of the morning air.
Tingle (ti rjg l), v. Also 4-5 tyngle, 6 tingil,
tiucgle. [app, iu origin a modification of TINKLE
z>. 1 (in both branches), for which it is substituted in
some MSS. of the second \Vycliffite version : cf.
; crinkle^ cringle. It has the form of a frequentative
i of TING v. and sl>. t and has prob. in later use (in
, branch II) been associated with that group, but
is found earlier.]
I. 1. intr. Said of the ears : To be affected with
a ringing or thrilling sensation at the hearing of
anything. Cf. KING v.% 5.
Perh. the original notion was * to ring or resound in response
to a loud noise ; but it was very eaily applied to the result of
heaiing something mentally shocking or painful, without
any reference to sound.
1388 WYCLIF 2 Kings xxi. 12 Yuelis . .that who euer herith,
bothe hise eeris tyngle [1382 tynclyn; 1388 v. r. tyncle or
ringe]. 1581 MULCASTER Positions x. (1887) 57 To much
shrilnesse straynes the head [of the speaker], causelh the
temples pante,. .the eyes to swell, the eares to tingle, 1598
HAKLUYT Voy, I. 585, Least I cause good and learned niens
eares to tingle at his leudand vnseemely rimes. 1623 GOUC.E
Semi. Extent Cod s Prn<id. ii A judgement \\hich would
make a mans eare to tingle again. 1715 ATTKRBURY Serin.
(1734) I. v. 133 Implications, which the Ears of sober Heal hens
would tingle at. 1847 L. HUNT Jar Honey x. (1848) 141 His
ears tingled, his head turned giddy. 1850 MIRUALE Rom.
Euip, (1565) I. ix. 355 Senators and knights returned to
Rome, their ears tingling with his compliment^.
b. Said also of the cheeks under the influence
of shame, indignation, or the like.
(Here there is no notion of sound, but only of the sensation
caused by the rush of blood to the cheeks.)
1555 in Strype Eccl. Mem. (1721) III. App. r. 163 So that
thy swoln cheeks shal even tingle at the hearing. 1779
MME. D ARBLAY Diary 3 Nov , Miss Burney,do not your
cheeks tingle? 1818 U ISRAELI Chas.I> I. v. 129 This would
have made an English Piotestant s check tingle with
indignation.
2. Of other parts of the body : To be thrilled by
a peculiar stinging or smarting sensation, physical
or emotional ; to smart, thrill, vibrate; also fig.
\ of inanimate things/ companies or bodies of per-
: sons, etc.
1398 TRF.VISA Earth. De P. R. vn. Ixvii. (Bodl. MS.),
Atukeneofvenym. .;if he. . dreueleband be lippes. .smarten
and tinglen. c 1530 Lu. BEHNERS Arth. Lyt. Bryt, Ivii.
(1814) 214 The stioke lyght on a grete rotke soo rudely,
! that his handes tynger [?tyngel] so sore therwith. 1664
\ PEI-YS Diary 3 Sept., My blood tingles and itches .. all
j over my body. 1742 POPK D,inc. iv. 147 The pale Boy-
Senator yet tingling stands, And holds his brteches close
with both his hands. 1848 THACKERAY Van. Fair xxxiii,
i Wounds tingle most when they are about to heal. 1853
KANE Grinnell E*p, xxxi. (r856) 273 Your lungs tingle
, pleasantly as you draw [the cold air] in. 1878 ! . L. CUV.LKR
! Pointed Papers 124 His conscience begins to tingle. 1884
Times 13 Feb. 11/4 All England tingles with the pain of
the blow. 1898 \V. WATSON Ode in May i, And Eaith,
j unto her leaflet tips, Tingles with the Spring,
b. Predicated of that which causes the sensation :
| To thrill, vibrate; to pass with a thrill.
1819 SHELLEY Prometh. Unb. \. \. 133 It tingles through
; the frame As lightning tingles, hovering ere it strike. 1848
I THACKERAY l f an, Fair xvi, Every note. .tingled through,
> his huge frame. 1865 KISGSLF.Y l/etviu.\\\ t Hereward. .felt
the lust of battle tingling in him from head to heel. 1875
LOWELL Under Old Elm \. \. 4 The boy feels deeper mean*
1 ings thiill his ear, That tingling through his pulse life-long
. shall run.
3. trans. To cause to tingle; to affect with a
1 thrilling, smarting, or stinging sensation (physical
I or mental) ; to sting, excite, stimulate. (Cf. L.
auriculas tinmre to tingle or tickle the ears; also
\.YFlem. tingeUn to sting as a nettle, or like the
cold.)
1571 MASCALL Plant. $ Graff. (1592) 49 Small spotts..
which will. .tingled trouble you like Nettles. 1607 DEKKI-.II
& WEBSTKR ////./> T. Wyatt Wks. 1873 III. 106 That
picture should haue power to tingle Loue In Royall brests.
1860 EMERSON Cond. Life, Fate Wks. (Bohn) II. 3ro The
cold t inconsiderate of persons, tingles your blood. ^ 1875
LOWELL Fight Concord Bridge iii, That I might praise her
m rhyme Would tingle your eyelids to tears. 1899 MRS.
OLIPHANT Marr. ELtnor III. xxxvii. 63 It tingled her to
her very fingers ends.
b. absol. or intr.
1871 BEKCIIEK Lccf, Preach, ix. 178 Don t whip with a
switch that has the leaves on if you want to tingle. 1883
E. INCERSOLL in Harper s Mag. Jan. 199 Pepper-woods,
whose leaves.. tingle upon the tongue like cuiiy.
II. 4. intr. To make a continued light ringing
sound : nearly - TINKLE v. 1 2. Now rare or spec.
as in quots. I77* 1906.
1398 TREVISA Barth. DC P. R. x\m. xii. {Bodl. MS.),
Wif> belinge of bacyns, uillinge and tingelinge Jei [bees] bej>
icomforted and icleped to >e huyues. c 1450 Wy<lifs
Bible^ i Cor, xiii. t (MS. Arundel 104), V am maad as bias
sownynge, or a cymbal tinglinge \0tfttr .1/.V5. tynkynge,
cnce tym-lynqej. a 1335 SIR T. MORE in Grose, etc. Antiy.
Rep. 0809) IV. 654 Cletck he was in Wellis, Where tingle
TINGLINGLY.
a great many Idles. (21652 13 ROME Queens ExJi. \\, ii (
The grtat Hells of our Town, they tingle thty tangle. 1771
N. NiCHOLLsOrr w.Gray (1843)144 Little bells of different
tones perpetually tingling for the elevation of the ho^t. 1806-7
J, IltKLsroHD Mist-tiff Hum, Life (1826) x. Iv, A little
shrill bell. .that, .keeps tingling. 1820 MAIR Tyro s Did.
(ed. 10) 385 7Y/0,..to tinkle or tingle. 1906 I AKOSESS
ORCZY ^VW of People xvi, When the little bell had ceased
to tingle, few heads dared as yet to look towaids the altar.
5. trans. To cause (a bell) to ring lighlly; to
ring (a bill, a chime, ctc.\ Now rare.
1649 G. DANHCL Trinarch., Rich. II cixUi, Hee.. tingles
out A Chime. 1775 S. J. PRATT Ltiaal Ogbt. uii. dyS^i
III. 234 He..ga\e the iiMial signal .. by tingling a Ltl!.
1812 H. & J. SMITH Kcj. Atitir. t Macbeth i, I d thank htr to
tingle her bell. 1843 J. BALLAST INE Cal crlnnzie s Wallet
v. 122 We niiyht as wed yet the town-ciitr and gaur him
tingle his bell.
b. To tingle bees : to charm or influence bees by
a tingling or metallic sound : cf. TING v. \ b.
1649 G. DANIKL Tn narc/i., Hen. /K cccxxviii, As \ ( ,LI
may tingle Dees Hee chatmts the gaddings of opinion.
Tingler (trnglaj). [f. prec. + -ER 1 .] Some
thing that causes tingling, as a blow ; a stinger .
1831 WILSON in Blackw. Mag. Feb. 411/1 But the flog-
ging. .is far from being equal to his deserts. So he nniit gut
gome more one other stripe but a tingler. a 1836 (i. Coi.-
MANin W. Irving Geld&mitk xxxiv. (18^9) 291 Which amiaUe
act I relumed with a very smart sl;ip in the face; it mu>t
have been a lingler.
Ti ngle-ta ngle. [Reduplication of TJNULE.]
A confused tinkling or ringing, ns of a number of
bells. (In quot. 1653 an rib. ) AUo^f. a disturb
ance, to-do, fuss.
1653 UKQUHART.AW f/a/j r. xl, W r lih a tingle tangle jangling
of bells they liouble.,all their neighbours. 1670 AUUKI-.Y
Inttod. Nat. Hist, N. U ilts. in Misc. (1714) 35 The tingle
tangle of their Convent Uells, .. like the College Bells at
Oxford. 1880 Sii RCEON Serin. XXVI. 527 There is a gieat
tingle-tangle over nothing.
Tingling* (ti nglin), vbl. sb. [f. TINGLE v. +
-ING i.J The action or condition expressed by the
verb TINGLE, in its various senses.
I. 1. The ringing of the ears ; a thrilling or un
pleasant tickling of the ear.
1398 TKEVISX Barth. De P. R. xvn. .xii. iBotll. MS.>,
Warmod i-tamped with boles lyuoure ii ido into be eres
debliuyeb ringinge and tingelinge bat is herein. 1607
TorsELL Foui-f. Blasts (1658) 93 For the tingling of the
ears, take with this gall the Oyl of Ro>es. 1611 UP. HALL
hitprmse of God i. Wks. (1624) 442 Ten tunes. . is the same
word dually used ; for C> mbals ; and the Verbe of this root
[i^S tsa/ii/, to tinkle, tingle, vibrate, quiver] is the ^ame,
whereby God would e.xpresse the tingling of the eares.
2. A thrilling, stinging, or smarting sensation ; an
emotion likened to this, a thrill.
1398 TREVISA Barth. De P. R. vn. Ivi. (Bodl. MS).
T> niiling and (let ing in be nggebone and abouie ^e
schuldres. 1584 R. SCOT Discw. Witchcr. xi. xiii. (i336) 162
The tingling in the finger, the elbowe, the toe. 1597 SHAKS.
2 Hen. /l t I. ii. 129. 1653 W. G. Bacons J/ist. It- mrff,
etc. 222 Also sharp and \iulent cold pioducetb a kinde of
tingling, like unto buining. 1658 A, Fox It itrtz Surg. in.
xxiii. 293 When that member felt a tickling or tingling, it
was a sign of htaling. 1769 PRIESILKY in PhiL Tians.
LIX. 62 The explosion, .gave it [my hand] a violent jar,
the effect of which remained, in a kind of tingling. 1843
LEVER J. Hinton xxxiii, Feeling a kind of tingling of ^ame.
1847 EMERSON A* <-pr. Men, Uses Gt.Men Wks. (Hohn) I. 279
\V c cannot read Plutarch without a tingling of the blood.
1899 Ailbuti s Sj-it. Med. VI. 705 Numbness and tingling
m the lingers and toes.
II. 3. A continued light ringing sound of a small
bell or the like; nearly TINKLING vbl. sb. 2.
1398 [see TINGLE r. 4]. a 1533 FRITH Disfut.Pn>gat.(\$2)
134 St. Dominic s box (which hath such puuer, that as soon
as the tingling is heard in the box, so soon the soul is fiee in
heaven). 1653 GATAKER Vind. Annct. Jer. 53 They wtie
wont.. to keep a whooping and ha!owing,..and blowing of
horns, and tingling of bels. 1817 LAUY MORGAN France \.
(1818) I. t>2 \Ve were awakened., by the noise of hammering,
and the tingling of bells, a i8a8 H. NEELK Lit. Rent. (1829)
219 And distant linglings mingled with the lay.
Ti iigling, /// a. [f. as prec. + -ING -.] That
tingles : see the verb, in its various senses.
1. Thrilling; stinging, smarting (as with cold);
quivering, vibrating.
1716 GAY Trivia 11. 336 The harness d Chairman.. Swing-,
around his Waste, his tingling Hand*.. 1735 SOMERVILLE
Chase \. 361 Quick Pleasures si ing Their tingling Ner\es.
1751 CAMBRIDGE Scribleriad v. 20 The Scratching stick
with which the Seer subdutd The tingling tumults of his
boiling blood. 1842 TENNYSON Morie d"Arth. 199 A ciy
that shiver d to the tingling stars. 1863 GEO. ELIOT Roturta
xxxvt, She felt a tingling shame at the words of ignominy
she had cast at Tito.
2. Ringing lightly, as a small bell; tinkling;
jingling.
c 1450 [see TINGLE :-. 4]. 1581 SiDHKYXjM /MHSr(ArK]
63 A confused masse of words, with a tingling sound ofryine.
1651 Burtons Anat. Mel. u. ii. vi. iii. 300 Eees .. when
they hear any tingling [earlier cdd. tinkling] sound, will
tarry behinde. lywAvTkYtrt&UKWrfta-J iuwrabli 73 Their
tingling shrill sound is like a Voice.
Hence Ti nglingly adv.> a. in a way that makes
some part of the body tingle ; b. quiveringly,
tremulously; ticklishly, delicately,
1889 TentpU Bar Mag. Nov. 397 Lest . . the sanctity of the
Sabbath [should 1 be impressed linglingi y on me. 1905
WestM. Gaz. 13 Apr. 10/1 He [Sbatu>. s Rich. II] U i>o nicely
balanced, sc ttngluigly poised.
TINGLISH.
Ti-nglish, a. [f. TINGLE sl>." or v. + -ISH .]
Characterized by tingling ; quivering.
1855 HROWNING Old Pict. in l lor. xxix, For them the
panels may thrill, The tempera grow alive and tinglish.
Tillgly (ti rjgli), a. rare. [f. TINGLE sl>.* or v.
+ -Y.] Characterized by tingling.
1898 J. HUTCHINSON in Arch. Sitrg. IX. No. 36. 332
His finger-tips became numb and tingly, as if frostbitten.
Tin-gravel, -ground : see TIN st. 5.
Ting-tang (trrjitiETj), st. Also ting-tong.
[Kclioic.J A succession of two ringing sounds,
differing in tone or force.
1. The alternating sound made by the ringing of
a small bell ; hence iransf. a small bell, esp. the
sanclns bell. In quot. 1680 advb.
1680 V. ALSOP Mischief of Impos. Ep. Ded., Tliat [bell]
which ..goes Ting tang, ting tang, before the Hoste, when
carried to the sick, a 1800 PEGGE Suppl. Grpse, Ting-Tang,
called in the South The Saint s-bell. 1808 18 JAMIESON,
Ting-tang, sound of a bell, a 1825 FORBV I oc. E. Aiigtia,
J iHjf-tang, a small and shrill bell, to summon the family
to dinner, the congregation to prayers, &c. 1848 NOAKE
Rambler Wore. I. 308 There is a peal of six be ls, besides a
ting tang*. 1881 Miss JACKSON Shrppsh. Word-bk., Ting
tang, a peal of two bells ; a term derived from the sound
the lighter bell being ting, the heavier tang.
b. Jingling repetition of sounds, rime.
1686 F. Sr-ENCE tr. St. Euremonft Misc. Pref., Blank-
verse, .without the necessity of cursing Arabique customs or
Moorish innovations, which forced a man to spoil a good
thought by tagging it with Ting-tong.
2. atlrib., as ting-tang bell; ting-tang clock,
see quot. 1884.
1777 in Picton L fool .Vua/c. Rcc. (1886) II. 278 A small
or Ting Tang bell. i85z Catal. Internal. Exhlb. t Brit. ii.
No. 3302, Ting long carriage clock. 1875 J. W. BENSON
Time ft Time-tellers (1902) 99 St. Paul s Cathedral Clock. .
may be described as a ting-tansj quarter on the rack princi
ple. 1884 F. J. BRITTEN Watch !, Clockm. 265 Ting
1 ang Clock.. [is] a clock that sounds the half hours or
quitters on two bells only.
Hence Ting-tang v.tiial. [cf. WFris. <ingetange>i\.
1881 Miss JACKSON Shropsh. Word-bit., Ting-tang, to
ring into church with two bells. 1888 W. RAYMOND
Mistcrtons Mistake viii, As if Wycherney volk had nothing
. .to do but to listen to hear the parish bell ting-tangey.
Tin-hammer, etc. : see TIN sb. 5.
Tiliily (tai-nili), adv. [f. TINY a. + -LY 2 .] In
a tiny degree; minutely, diminutively.
1862 Tcm fie Bar Mag. IV. 552 Hands so tinily, delicately
lovely. 1897 F. THOMPSON To Sno-M-Jlake 18 So purely,
so palely, Tinily, surely, Mightily, frailly, Insculped and
embossed.
TinineSS (tai-nint-s). Also 7 tinyness. [f.
as prec. + -NESS.] The quality of being tiny ;
extreme smallness ; minuteness.
1674 N. FAIRFAX Bulk ff Selv. 21 Tis such a kind of some-
whatkin, as truckles beneath the very tinyness of an half
nothing. 1830 J. G. STRUTT Sylva Brit. ^ When we con.
sider the tininess of its origin. 1891 Pall Mall G.y Feb.
6/1 His pictures owe much of their fame to their tininess.
Ti-ning, vbl. sbl Obs. exc. dial. [f. TINE z>.i
4 -ING !.] a. The action of TINE v. 1 ; enclosing,
fencing, hedging ; making or repairing of a hedge.
b. foncr. A hedge or fence, esp. a new one made
from dead thorns. C. atlrib., as tining-gloves,
gloves worn in repairing hedges, hedging-gloves.
c 1440 Prom/. Parv. 494/2 Tynynge, drye hedge, sepcs.
1512 MS. Ace. St. John s Host ., Canterli., Paied for tenyng
of a hedge. 154* > n Bo > s Sand-.uiclt (1792) 80 Paid for
tenyng and mendyng of gapps lod. 1616 T. ADAMS End
of Thorns Wks. 1862 II. 486 Men commonly deal with
their sins as hedgers do when they go to plash thorn bushes ;
they put on lining gloves, that the thorns may not prick
them. 1813 T. DAVIS Agric. Wilts Gloss., Tining, a new
enclosure made with a dead hedi;e. 1894 ATKINSON Old
Whitty 53 He must do the tyning or fencing-in with
stoup or stake, and wattle or brush.
Tilling, vbl. sb? Now only St. and north,
dial. [f. TINE t/.2 + -ING 1 .] The action of losing,
loss ; f destruction. Between the fining and the
winning; said of being in a critical position, which
may issue either in ruin or in success.
111300 Cursor Af. 18261 (Cott.) Ha! sathan..all bat )>u
wan. .thoru J?e tinning of paradis, Xu has )rou tint on oper
wis. C *31S S- S~ f Saints v. (Johannes) 212 Sa gret
besynes He has for to get riches, And besy thocht of (>e
kepynge, And gret dut of be tynynge. c 1400 Dcstr. Troy
7611 For the tene. bat horn tyde, & tynyng of pepull.
c 1520 NISBET N. Test, in Scots (S. T. S.) III. 283 (Ecclus.
1. 4) The gret preest..that delyuirit thame fra tynyng. _ 1720
RAMSAY Rise ft Fall of Stocks 146 A the country is repining,
And ilka ane complains of lining. 1825 SCOTT Diary
28 Dec., in LockJtart, At present he is between the tyning
and the winning.
Tining (tarnirj), vbl. sb? [f. TINE z>.3 ( O r sb?)
-f-iNG^J a. The action of TINE w.3; harrowing.
b. foncr. (pl.^ The tines or teeth of a harrow, etc.
collectively.
1760 WASHINGTON Writ. (1889) II. 163 A new harrow
made of smaller and closer linings. 1766 Compl. Farmer
s. v. Tine, The common phrase, of giving two or three
linings, signifies to draw the harrows Iwice or Ihrice over
Ihe same spot of ground.
Tillk (tirjlO, int. and sb. [Echoic.] A repre
sentation of the abrupt sound made by striking
resonant metal with something hard and light : cf.
CHINK, CLINK; often reduplicated in imitation of
54
the repetition of such a sound, also with such
variations as tilth-tank, tink-a-tink, etc. Hence
as j*. a single sound of this kind ; a\sofig. in refer
ence to rime or verse (cf. jingle), t To cry link,
to make such a sound, lo tinkle (olis^j.
1609 fi. JONSON Sil. Worn. ii. iii. How it [the poem]
chimes, and cries tinke i the close, diuinely ! 1840 DICKENS
liarn. Rtidge xli, There issued forth a tinkling sound..
Tink, link, tink clear as a silver bell, a 1847 ELIZA COOK
KofyO More vij, Mars chiming in with his rude tink-a-ting. .
He had turned into cymbals the sword and the shield. 1890
J. H. STIRLING Gijford Lcct. xii. 279 It was in the heroic
ten-syllabled tink-a-tink, and read like Pope s Homer. 1901
Ulackiu. Mag. Aug. 251 The metallic clang-clank, tink-
tank of chisel and hammer and stone saw.
Tink (tink), z>.l ? Obs. Forms : 4-6 tynke, 6
tyncke, 6-7 tirick, tinke, 7 tincke, 7 tink.
[Echoic ; cf. EFris. tinken. ]
1. intr. To emit a metallic sound with very short
resonance, e.g. as is done by a cracked bell, but
sometimes used as = TINKLE ; to chink, clink.
In quot. 1655 of rime (cf. jingle).
Prov. As ike fool tkinkcth, the Ml tinkcth: \. e. to the
fool the bell seems to say what he wants it to say ; referring
to a superstitious notion that the tinkling of a bell sometimes
gives an oracular monition or answer. Cf. SOUTHEY Doctor
.\\xii. i, the legend of Dick Whiltington, etc.
1382 WVCLIF i Cor, xiii. i, I am maad as bras sownnynge,
or a symbal tynkynge. c 1540 J. HEYWOOD Four P. P. B ij,
Syr after dryngking, while the shot is tinkynge, Som heades
be swiming, but mine wilbe sinking. 1627 J. CARTER Plain
K.vpos. 34 Other folkes must thinke as his Dels tinke. 1655
FILI.K.R Ch. Hist. II. 167 If the verses do but chime and
tinck in the close, it is enough to the purpose.
b. trans. To utter or express by emitting such
a sound (with allusion to the proverb : see i).
1624 lip. MOUNTAGU Gags 283 Even as the Bell tinketh
whatsoever the foole thinketh.
2. intr. Of a person : To make such a sound by
striking upon metal or other resonant substance.
b. Tink out (trans.) : to express or give out in
this way.
1533 MORE Dclvll. Salem Wks. 955/1 That the tinkar
would haue linked out of his pannes bottome a reason that
woulde at the leaste wise ring a little better then this. 1609
AKMIN Mauls of More-Cl. C iij b, Toures tincks vpon his
pan drinking. 1658 ROWLAND Moufcfs / heat. Ins. 804
According as he that links on the brazen kettle, pleaseth,
so they slack or quicken their flying.
3. trans. To cause (something) to emit an abrupt
metallic sound ; sometimes = to tinkle (a bell, etc.).
1495 [see TING 7 . il. 1532 Hcnryson s Test. Crcs. r44 (ed.
Thynne) Cupyde the kynge tynkyng \cd. Chartcris (1593)
ringandjasyluer bel. 1537 Thersytcs in J- oitrO. PI. (1848)
So Mercolfe monyles.. Tyncke wyll the tables thoughe he
there not tary.
Hence Ti nkiug vbl. sh. and ///. a.
1382 [see sense i]. 1530 PALSGE. 281/2 Tynkynge, the
sowndyng of metalls, whan they be strycken togyder, tintyn.
1610 BOYS Expos. Dom. Epist. fy Gcsp. Wks. (1622) 205
Wee were but as a sounding brasse, or as a tincking cymball.
Tink, .- ? Obs. Also 5 tynky. [Goes with
TINKER sb., of which, if its history could be traced
farther back, it may be the source ; but it may also
be a back-formation from tinker 1\ trans. To mend,
solder, rivet (rarely, to make) pots and pans, as a
tinker. Hence Trnking z M. sb.
14 . . I oc. in Wr.-Wulcker 576/39 Crusto, to tynky.
Critstator, a tynkere. Cisco World Af Child (1905) 179
Art thou any craftsman? Yea sir, I can bind a sieve and
tink a pan. 1565 HARDING in Jewel D?f. Afol. (1611) 525
Tinkers and Tapsters . . what should they doe there [at the
General Council! ? For there is no linking, nor tipling.
1825 JAMIESON, To Tink, f.a., to rivet, as including the
idea of the noise made in the act of rivetting ; a Gipsy
word, Roxb.
of tink = crnstare, with TINK v. 1 seems unlhinkable.J
Tinkal, -ar : see TINCAL, TINCHEL.
Tinkar s (also Tinker s) root or weed. See
Dr Tinkar, who first brought the root into notice.) A
North American shrub (Triosteum perfoliatum\ N.O.
Caprifoliaccx, whose root is an emetic and mild cathartic.
Tinker (ti-nksj), sb. Forms: (3 tynekere),
4 tinkere, 4-5 tynkere, -are, 4-7 tynker, 5
tenker, 6 tinkar, tyuoar, tiukard(e, tynkard,
6-7 tiueker, 6- tinker. [Origin uncertain ; goes
vith TINK V. *, either as source or derivative.
Often taken as agent-noun from TINK . , in reference to
the noise made in hammering metal : cf. Promp. Para.
1:1440, and Johnson because in their work they make a
tinkling noise . This explanation is not in itself very plau-
sible, and its support by the Sc. form tinkler, as an assumed
parallel derivative of tinkle, is overthrown by the fact that
tinkle vb. was app. not in Sc. use. Moreover Sc. tinkler
and Eng. tynkere appear as trade names or surnames in
1175 and 1265 respectively, and in many instances befoie
1300, long before any trace of tink or tinkle has been found.]
1. A craftsman (usually itinerant) who mends
pots, kettles, and other metal household utensils.
The low repute in which these, esp. the itinerant sort,
were held in former times is shown by the expressions to
swear like a tinker, a tinker s curse or damn, as drunk
TINKER,
or as quarrelsome as a tinker, etc., and the use of tinker *
as synonymous with vagrant \ gipsy (see b).
<:" 1265 in dt/t Rep, Hist. A/SS. Conuti. 578/2 (Corporation
of Wallingford) [The lowest assessment is that of] h-ditha le
Tynekere [at z pence]. 1362 LANGL. P. PI. A. v. 160 Tomkyn
fc>e Tinkere [1393 C. vn. 364 tynkere] and tweyneof hisknaues.
1377 Ibid. IJ. Prol. 220 Taillours and tynkeres & tolleres in
marketes. 14.. [see TINK i ,1\. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 494/2
Tynkare,. .tintinarius; et capit nonicn a sono artis, ut
tintinabul/(in t sus,et inulta alia, pe r onoinotofieiam, c 1510
BARCLAY Afirr. Gd. Manners (1570) Cij, What should a
bardie knight be fclowe to a knaue, Or with a trifling tinkarde
a clarke companion. 1566 Eng; Ch. Furniture (Peacock) 33
One crysmatorie sold to atincker. 1573-80 UARET A h>. T 265
A Tincker, or tinkeler, sarctoraerarius, 1590 SHAKS. Alids.
JV. i. ii. 63. 1597 Shuttleit orths Ace. (Chetham Soc.) 108
The tynkard for mendynge of mylkinge vessells vi] d . 1608
DEKKER -zttdPt. Honest IVh. \Vks. 1873 II. 149 He. .swore
like a dozen of drunken Tinkers. 1611 COTGR., // jure
commie t- Aide [etc.], [he swears] like a Tinker, say we.
1674 Warrant for Arrest {Westtn. Gaz. 16 Mar. 1904, 5/1),
One John Bunnyon of yor said Towne Tynker hath divers
times within one Month last past .. preached or teached at
a Conventicle Meeteingor assembly under color or pretence
of exercise of Religion. 1717 PRIOR Alma in. 577 And, for
the metal, The coin may mend a tinker s kettle. 1832
BABBAGE Econ. Manitf, \, 10 Worn-out saucepans and tin
ware, .beyond the reach of the tinker s art. 1854 MACAU LAY
ftiog., Bnnyan (1867) 27 The tinkers then formed a here
ditary caste.
b. la Scotland and north of Ireland, the ordinary
name for a gipsy : see TINKLER *. Also, applied to
itinerant beggars, traders, and performers generally;
t" a vagabond, tramp, or reputed thief (obs.").
The chief ostensible business of travelling gipsies in Scot
land used to be the sale or mending of pots, pans, kettles,
and metal-ware generally; hence tinkers^ rather tinklers,
was their ordinary designation.
1561 AWDELAY Frat. I acah. (1869) 5 A Tinkard leaueth
his bag a sweating at the Alehouse, .and. .goeth abrode a
begging. 1597 Act 39 Eliz. 0.4 2 All Juglers Tynkers Ped-
lers and Petty Chapmen wandring abroade. 1609 AKMIN
Maids of More-CL C iv, Lady. Is this the tinker you talke
on ? Hum. I madame of Twitnam, I baueseenehim licke out
burning lire brands with s tongue, drinke two pense from the
bottome of a full pottle of ale [etc.], 1801 STRUTT Sports
<$ Past. in. v. 29 Another itinerant, who seems in some
degree to have rivalled the lower classes of the jugglers, was
the tinker. 1806 Gazetteer^ Scoll. (ed. 2) 615/2 Yetholm.
are the gipsies of the Irish country-side.. .Tinkering is their
ostensible trade, but they are supposed not to be particular
about incitm and tuum. They are a wild lawless set, and
tinker has come to be an abusive term in Ireland from its
association with them.
C. A clumsy or inefficient mender; a botcber;
alsoyfr". In U.S. also applied to a ( jack-of-all-
trades ? (CV;/A Dicf.\
1644-7 [implied in tinkerwhe below]. 01704 T. BROWN
Praise Po~ . Wks. 1730 I. 89 To cure one hole, like a true
tinker, he here makes two. 1905 IVcstut. Gaz. 13 Oct. 3/1
Not so, however, the new Secretary of State proved himself,
but a tinker like the rest.
d. Rot to care, or be worth, a tinkers curse or danni^
an intensification of the earlier *not to care, or be worth,
a curse or damn (see CURSE sb. 2 F, DAMN sb. 2), with refer
ence to the reputed addiction of tinkers to profane swearing :
see i. Cf. also quot. 1884, in which *not to care a straw is
similarly intensified. (An ingenious but baseless conjecture
suggesting another origin appears in quot. 1877.)
[i8z4MACTAGGAKT Sir Balderdash v. inGaltcz id tEncyct.
s. v. Balderdash^ A tinkler s curse she did na care What she
did think or say.] [1877 KNIGHT Diet. Mech. t Tinker s-
dam t a wall of dough raised around a place which a plumber
desires to flood with a coat of solder. The material can be
but once used J being consequently thrown away as worth
less, it has passed into a proverb, usually involving the
wrong spelling of the otherwise innocent word dam .] 1884
St. Jatties* Gaz. 24 Apr. 12/1, I don t care two tinkers
straws if you do. a 1894 STEVENSON St. Ives xxv, I tare not
a Tinker s Damn for his ascension. 1907 Westm. Gaz.
28 Oct. 2/3 A tinker s curse \ as used in the two new plays
Irene Wycherley and The Barrier 1 . // /(/., The sug
gestion that the phrase really refers to a tinker s dam .,
does credit to the speculative person who earliest associated
it with the familiar old saying,
2. [f. TINKER z .] An act or bout of tinkering;
a stroke of tinker s work; fig. a bungling or un
skilful attempt at mending something.
1857 HUGHES Tom Brown, i. i, They must.. spend their
time and money in having a tinker at it.
3. Local name for various fishes, birds, etc. a.
The skate, b. The stickleback, c. U. S. A small
or young mackerel ; also, the chub-mackerel (Cent.
Diet.}, d. The silversides, a fish (ibid.}, e.
The razor-billed auk. Newfoundi J and and Labrador.
f. The guillemot : = TINKEBSHEKE. g. A kind
of seal. Newfoundland* (Cent. Diet. ].
1836 YARBELI, Brit. Fishes 1 1. 421 The Skate. Blue Skate,
and Grey Skate, Scotland. Tinker, Lyme Regis. i8>6 E.
NEWMAN in Zoologist XIV. 5125 We have in the ditches
round London myriads of a very minute fresh-water fish,
known to every boy. .by the name of tinker . Ibid.^ The
Tinker or g-spmed Stickleback (Gasterostcus txvis). 1856
Anvoooin Goode Fisheries (1884) 298 The tinkers, two years
old. ..The mackerel.. are denominated as follows: Large
ones, second size, tinkers, and blinks. 1861 COUES in Proc.
Acad. Nat. .Set. Phiiad. 251 It [the razor-billed auk] is known
..to all fishermen and eggers..by the singular name of
Tinker . 1886 Sci. Anter. 5 June 352/3 Young mackerel
or tinkers . 1896 NEWTON Diet. Birds, Tinker^ or Tinkcr-
sftirc, one of the many names of the Guillemot,
4. Ordnance. Name for a small morlar fixed on
TINKER
55
TINKLER.
the end of a staff, and fired by a trigger and ,
lanyard. U. S.
1877 in KNIGHT Diet. Meek.
5. at t rib. and Comb. t as tinker-like adj. and adv., !
preacher , -tool ; tinker mackerel sense 3 c.
1705 HICKF.RINGILL Priest-cr. ii. viii. 90 Lest we make
Tinker-like Work, like that of the Presbyter inn-Directory,
mend one hole, and make two. 1753 T. CIBBFR Let. to
Warbiirton 5^ This unmerciful Editor, who, Tinker-like,
makes many Holes for one lie mends. 1857 BORROW Romany
Rye xix. 118 Tinker-took. 1888 GOODE Atncr. Fishes 179
A considerable school of these fish, .were taken in company
with the Tinker Mackerel. 1900 Westtn. Gaz. 26 May 8/1
Bedford, .so intimately associated with the tinker-preacher s ,
life and work.
Hence Ti nkcrdom, a realm or domain of
tinkers; the condition or practice of a tinker; i
Ti nkerwise adv., in the manner of a tinker;
Ti nkery, the business of a tinker (in quot.al/s tf.)-
1630 Tinker of Turvey 12 A budget fastened with a thong,
..wherein are All his tooles and tinkery ware. 1644-7
CLEVELAND Char. Land. Dinrn. 8 What did this Parliament
ever go about to reforme, but Tinkerwise, in mending one
hole they made three? 1834 CABLYLE Let. 27 June, in Life
(1882)11.439 His [Hunt s] house exceU all you have ever
read of a poetical Tinkerdom, without parallel even in
literature, ibid. 440 Yet the noble Hunt receives you in
his Tinkeidom in the spirit of a kins. 1887 Scott. Leader
27 Oct. 7 Cis-pontine prejudices fed by poultry-larceny and
tinkerdom.
Tinker (trnksi), v. [f. prec, sb.]
In all senses usually depreciative.
1. intr. To work as a tinker ; to mend metal
utensils (and hence gen* any material objects), esp. I
in a clumsy, bungling, or imperfect way.
1592-1857 [see TINKERING ikl. sl>. and///. a.].
b. fig* To work at something (immaterial)
clumsily or imperfectly, esp. in the way of attempted
repair or improvement ; also more vaguely, to .
occupy oneself about something in a trifling or ,
aimless way; to trifle, potter. Const. <?/, with.
1658 GURNALI. Chr. in Ann, verse 14. xiii. (1669) 53/1 He >
th.it will l)e tinkering with his own heart, and not seek out
to Heaven for help, will in the end where he mends one
hole, he ll make two worse. 1856 KANE Arct. Ex pi. II. .
xiii. 134 When in-doorsand at rest, tinkering over their ivoiy j
harness-iings. 1880 MCCARTHY Oivn Times IV. Iviii. 258
The public were tired of government which merely tinkered j
at legislation. 1894 JESSOPP Random Roaming Pref. 5 A
work of art does not admit of being tinkered at indefinitely. \
2. trans. To mend as a tinker ; to repair or put
into shape in an imperfect or makeshift way ; to
patch up. a. material objects ; also, human beings
(in reference to medical or surgical treatment).
1814 JF.FFFRSON Writ. (1830) IV. 240 However we may |
tinker them [our machines] up for a while, all will at length
surcease motion. 1835 F. Ii. HEAD in Smiles Mem. J. j
Murray (1891) II. xxxi. 362 The waters will tinker you up -.
in a most extraordinary manner. 1851 MAYHFW Lond.
Labour I. 325/1 If the old article were of good quality, it
was polished and tinkered up for sale in the Saturday evening [
street-markets, and often wen toft" well . 18855. O. J EWE IT
in Harper s Ma. Jan. 209/2 She tinkered the rickety bee- ,
hives. 1891 C. f. DENT Mountaineer, ii. 68 An axe that !
does not come out right at first can rarely be tinkered into
a good one by alterations.
b. fig* (immateiial things).
753 (see TINKERING vbl.sb.\ 1768 H. WALPOLE Hist.
Doubts Pref. 6 Chronology and astronomy are forced to
tinker up and reconcile, as weil as they can, those uncer
tainties [of ancient history). 1768 Let. to Gray 18 Feb.,
I am criticised for the expression tinker uf> in the preface.
. . I think such a low expression, placed to ridicule an absurd
instance of wise folly, very foicible. 1866 BRIGHT Sfl. Re-
form 20 Nov. (1876) 388 The Tory party refused even to
have it tinkered. 1879 MCCARTHY Own Tunes II. xxv. 257
Little plans of adjustment were tinkered up and tiled. 1887
LOWELL Democr. 38 Men are prone to be tinkering the work
of their own hands.
c. Pugilistic slang. To batter, maul.
1826 Sporting Mag. XVIII. 253 Tom completely tinkere 1
his antagonist s upper-crust.
Hence Ti nkered (-kaid)///. a. ; also Ti nkerer,
one who tinkers or works at mending something
in a clumsy or ineffective way.
1862 LYTTON Sir. Story xx, I clamped and soldered dogma
to dogma in the links of my *tinkered logic. 1867 FBOUDE
Short Stud. I. 40 The reconciliation ..is no tinkered-up
truce, or conyetiient Interim. 1906 Athenaeum 28 Apr.
505/3 He reprints Hayley s tinkered version .. instead of the
edttio princeps in John Buncombe s Works of Horace in
English Verse . 1894 W. H. HOTCHKISS in Rwinu of Rev. j
June 683/1 An examination of the checks on the charter j
tinkerer in other constitutions.
Tinkering (ti-nkarirj), vbl. st>. [f. TINKER v.
+ -ING!.] The work of a tinker; the action of
TINKER v* (in ///. andyf^. senses).
1591 R. D. Hypntrotontochia& b, What a stately porche
. .with his stone of Phenicea with alt the tinkering and pul-
lishing about it. 1753 H. WALPOLE Lett. (1846) II. 478, I
left the tinkering of the bill. 1857 BORROW Romany Rye
(1905) II. App. v. 328 He [the Gipsy] took to tinkering and
Miiiiheiy, because no better employments were at his com.
mand. 1885 Athenxitm 14 Feb. 221 A very good (picture]
..free from any after-meddling and tinkering.
attrib. 1813 Examiner \ Feb 72/1 The terrible tinkering
woik theie must be. 1841 HOOD Tale of Trumpet xxxviii,
Or Trudge and his ass at a tinkering job.
Ti-nkering, ppl. a. [f. as prec. + -ING 2.]
That tinkers (in /; /. and _/?. senses) : see the vb.
1598 MARSTON .So>. I tUanie (1509) 167 Fidlers.scriuentrs,
pedlers, tynkering knaues. 1818 BYRON Juan Ded. xiv, A
tinkering slave-maker, who mends old chains. 1880 E.
WHITE Cert. Relig. 44 A purblind tinkering criticism.
Tinkerly (ti ijkaili), a. ?O&s* [f. TINKER^.
+ -LY 1 .] Having the character of a tinker or of
tinker s work ; clumsy, bungling, unskilful ; of poor
quality; mean, low, disreputable. ^Depreciative.]
1586 W. WEBBE Eng. Poetrie (Arb.) 31, I meane this
tynkerly verse which we call ryme. 1592 LYI.V Mieitis iv. i,
Thou art Van and all, nil Pan and tinker!) 1 . 1593 G. HAR
VEY Pierce* s Super. 183 Shewe me any halfe pa^e without
piperly phrases, and tinkerly composition. 1647 TRAPP
Coifim. Eph. iv. 25 A base tinkerly sin, as Plutarch calleth
it, shameful! and hateful). 1681 HICKRRINGII.I. Si /i Man-
Catching Postscr., The wary Hollanders, .suffer no Tinkerly
Pleading, of mending one hole, and making too.
Tinkerman, error for TRINKERMAN, q. v.
Tinker slier e, -shire (ti-nlojjiu). Also
(? erron.) -shue. [f. TINKER^, (cf. 31): the second
element is obscure.] A local name for the common
guillemot ; also for the black guillemot.
1799 R. PllLTENEY Catal. Birds, etc. Dorset (rSro) 17
Colyntbus 7Vw7e...The Foolish Guillemot Uiver; called
here The Tinkershire. 1802 G. MONTAGU Ornith. Did.
Q ij b, Guillemot, Foolish. . .Provincial. Sea-hen. Scout...
Willock. Tinkershire. 1831 RENME Montagues Ornith.
Dict. t Tinker %-hue, 1864 A i KINSON Pravinc. Names Birds t
Tinkershue, lilack Guillemot, Uria gryllc. 1885 SWAINSON
Prffninc. Nantes Birds 218 Common Guillemot.. .Tinker-
shire, or Tinkershue. From its black head and back. 1889
H. SAUNDRBS Man. Brit. Birds 684 By fishermen it i-> known
as Scout , Mariot or * Tinkershere .
Tin-kettle, sb. A kettle of tinned iron.
Often //y. with allusion to its being fastened to a dog s tail
to tease and frighten it, or to the noise made by beating it.
1775 R. CHANDLER Trav. Asia i\f. viii. (1825) I. 28 [Our
cook s] tin kettle boiling over a fire in the open air. 1831
CARLYLE Sari. Res. 11. Hi, A Conquering Heio, to whom
Fate.. has malignantly appended a tin-kettle of Ambition,
to chase him on. 1864 TREVRLYAN Cotnpet. Wallah d366)
172 A new Montgomery, .to whose tail fastidious middle life
may attach the tin kettle of hostile criticism. 1895 MRS.
CHOKKR Village Talcs (1896) 42 Battered old tin kettle as
it was, that despised piano had cost one hundred pounds !
Hence Tin-kettle v., trans, to serenade roughly
or opprobrionsly, also to cause (swarming bees) to
settle^ by beating a tin-kettle ; whence Tin-kettling
vhL sb. ; also Tin-kettly ., like a tin-kettle.
1875 A. J. ELMS tr. HelmhoUz Sensations Tone 119 Their
quality of sound is.. unmusical, bad, and tin-kettly. 1898
N,9fO, Qth Ser. I. 116/2 An inn-keeper was reported to
have beaten his wife, . .^o [his neighbours] tin-kettled him
right royally. 1900 H. LAWSON On Track 5 The diggers. .
gave them a real good tinkettling in the old-fashioned style.
/bid. 20 We d tin-kettle em [bees J, ..and., they d settle on
a branch.
Tinkle (ti-nk l), sb. [f. TINKLE v.i (sense 2).]
The act or action of tinkling; a sharp light ringing
sound, such as that made by a small bell, or by
piecesof metal, glass, or the like, struck together, etc.
1804 J. GRAHAMF, Sabbath, etc. (1808) 66 Its runnel by
degrees Diminishing, the murmur turns a tinkle. 1825 SCOTT
Betrothed ix, The shrill tinkle of a harp. 1847 KMERSON
Merlin i, No jingling serenader s art, Nor tinkle of piano
strings. 1871 R. ELLIS Catullus Ixiv. 262 Now with a
cymbal slim would a sharp shrill tinkle awaken. 1877-8
HENLEY in Ballades, etc. (Canterb. Poets) 77 Of ice and
glass the tinkle, Pellucid, silver-shrill.
b. Jig. in reference to speech or verse. Cf.
TINKLE v. 1 2 c, sb.
1725 P. WALKER Life A. Pfden To Rdr. (1827) 17 None of
their Addresses have had the Tinkle or Sound of the De
claration*, and Faithful Warnings of the General Assemblies
of this Church. 1776 MICKLE tr. Canteens,* Lusiad Introd.
141 note, There area race of Critics, .who would strip poetry
of all her ornaments,, .who would lerwe her nothing but the
neatness, the cadence, and the tinkle of vevw?. 1789 KI.I sn \M
Ess. I. xii. 226 What Dryden calls the tinkle in the close of
the couplet. 1795 MASON Ch. Afus. ii. 114 The tinkle of
the words is all that strikes the ears.
c. Reduplicated, expressing repetition of such
sounds ; also as adv.
168* Bells of Oxford in Wit * Drollery 302 Tincle,
tincle, goes the little Bell, To call the Students home. 1879
JEFFERIKS Wild Life in S. Co. 260 There comes the tinkle-
tinkle of a bell. 1888 DofCHTvXro^/a Deserta 1. 149 They
make, as the daughters of Jerusalem, a tinkle-tinkle as
they go.
Tinkle (ti-rjk l), vl Forms : 4 tyncle(n, 4-6
tynkle, 5 -kel, -kyll, 6 -ckle, tinkel, 6-7 tincle,
6-8 tinckle, 6- tinkle. [Tinkle has the form of
a frequentative of TINK v* (see -LE 3), which also
suits the chronology. In some MSS. of the later
\Vyclifversion, it takes the place of the earlier (ink t
as said of a cymbal ; and it is frequent from 1450
of the sound of bells, etc.
In both Wyclif versions tynclc Is also used of the ringing
and tingling of the ears ; but in some MSS. of the later
version tingle is substituted. In the i6th c. tinckle is said
even of the nose. Here it might be thought to represent
OE. tinclian to tickle , L. titsllare^ if there were any trace
of that vb. in ME. But it is to be remembered that L.
tinnire, which Wyclif rendered tynke and tyncle* was used
of the ringing both of metals and of the cars, and even in
the sense tingle . In mod. use, tinkle may be said of the
ears in the sense ring , implying sound objective or sub
jective, but the thrilling nervous sensation is expressed
by tingle \ my ears tingle , like my hands tingle : see
TINGLE 7 . Cf. WFlem. tinkelen, to tingle (as the fingers
with the cold), also said of the sound of a drop falling into
water.]
I. 1. intr. Of the ears : To ring, to tingle : =
TINGLE v. i (now rare^. f Of the nose or other
pnrts: = TINGLE 7 . 2, TICKLE v. 2 (ods.}.
1382 WYCI.IF i Sam. iii. n Loo, Y doo a word in Yrael,
the which who so euere herith, boihc hiseeris shulen tynck-n
[1388 tyncle, ryn^e]. Jer. xix. 3 F.che that shal heren
it, tyncle hys eres [1388 hise eeris tyn^le]. 1581 MARIII .< K
I>k. of Notes 589 Who soheareth of it his cares shall tinckle.
? a 1600 J. COXYBHARE Lett. # Excrc. (1505) 40 Nasturtium
called cresses being eaten doth make the no^e tinckle. 1700
PRYDEN Theod. .y Hon. 94 Hi> Ears tinckled, and his Colour
fled. 1722 RAMSAY Three Bonnets in. 44, I ha e a secret to
impart . .will set bniih your lugs a tinkling. 1871 R. ELLIS
Catullus Ii. ii With inward Sound the full eais tinkle.
II. 2. intr. To give forth a series of short light
sharp ringing sounds. Said of bells, musical instru
ments, and other resonant objects (cf. TINKLE .r/O.
a 1400-50 Alexander 1385 (Dubl. MS.) Now tynkyll vp
taburnes l>at all be towneringes. 1440 U yclr/ s />*// /<-, i (~sr.
xiii. i, Y am maad as bras sownyn^e, or a cymbal tynclyn^e
[1382 tynkynge, 1388 (MS. 1420) tynkynce, (MS. 14501 tins-
linge]. 1526-1563 [M.-C TINKLING ppl.a. ]. 1617 MOKYSON
ltin.\. 69 Wee could not sleepe for little bels duckling all
night. 1697 DRYDEN sKneid n. 7^5 [The javelin] faintly
tinckl d on the brasen Shield. 1724 RAMSAY Tea-/. Misc.
Ped. iii, The spinnet tinkling with her voice. 1819 Wn-i-i s
Aonian Hours (18201 50 A sheepbell tinkles on the heath.
1831 I 1 . F. Hells i. How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, In the iuy
air of night ! 1873 T. W. HlCCiNSON Old port Days ix. 210
The dry snow tinkled beneath my feet.
ft. 1654 JEK. TAYLOR Real Prcs. xii. 281 The bell alwayes
mu>t tinkle as they me pleased to think. [Cf. TINK r. 1 i.j
b. To flow or move with a tinkling sound.
1822 W. IRVING Braccb. Hall xvii, A small rill tinkled
along clo->e by. 1851 HAWTHORNE Sno .v Image, My Kins*
}iian (1879) 248 The latch tinkled into its place. 1855
UijowNiNG L,OZ among Ruins i, Our sheep Half-asleep
Tinkle homeward through the twilight. 1859 KINCSLEY
Mite. II. 2S3 A stream tinkling on from one rock-basin
to another. 1871 HOWELLS ll edd. Jonrn. (1892) 29 1 he
street-cars that slowly tinkled up and do\\n,
c. trans/. To rime or jingle.
1626, 1822 [see TINKLING />/>!. a. 1 b]. 1684 DRV DEN T- 1 /. A
F.nrl RsscoJiffln 14 A kind of hobbling pruse, That limped
along and tinkled in the close. 1711 K. FENFON Ep. tj
Scut/iernc Poems (1717) 82.
3. intr. Of a person : To produce such a sound.
17.. Bob Norice ix. in Child Ballads iv. (iSS6) 267/2 Hut
whan he came to Lord Hat net s cartel He t inkle t at the rin^
[cf. TIRL r . 3 3 a]. 1809 MALKIN Gil 7>Y<u v. i. P 29 Our bon
. .was tinkling on a cracked guitar. 1860 HAWTHORNE i\lirc.
I-ann ,\, The musicians scraped, tinkled, or Mew.
b. Jig. To utter empty sounds or senseless words,
talk idly, prate.
1641 R. BAILLII: Parallel Liturgy :c. Mass-Ik., etc. 54 All
the question wee and they have long tinkled on for til-
worshipping of Saints. 1645 MILTON Tetrach. \\. i.\\"k >. 1851
IV. 20 1 We are but ciackt cimbals, we do but tinckle, we
know nothing, we do nothing. 1646 R. BAILLIE Let. to
Henderson 16 May, If that man now go to tinkle on bishops
and delinquents and such foolish toys, it seems he is mad.
1781 Cow PER Convcrsal. 892 The tide of speech. .No longer
labours merely to produce The pomp of sound, or tinkle
without use. 1871 [see TINKLING ///.. bj.
4. trans, a. To make known, call attention to,
or express by tinkling (lit. ory?o-.).
1562 in Blomefield Norfolk (1806) IV. 355 twte, A woman
for whoredom to ryde on a cart.. and tynkled with a bason.
1861 All Year Round V. 13 Flattery in the fluent phrase
that just Tinkled the tender moral o er the dust Of great
ness. 1862 SALA Seven Sons I. iv. 76 The multitude of
clocks, .were tinkling out the hour of nine.
b. To affect, attract, or summon by tinkling.
To tinkle bees : see TING v. i b.
158* STANYHURST sKneis i. (Arb.) 29 Of Troy seat yf hap.
lye the rumoure Youre ears hath tinckled. 1639 SALT-
MARSH Policy 130. irr Bees are best tinckled together when
they rise. 1832 }. WILSON Noct. Ambr. in Blackw. Mag.
Feb. 264 The very kitk. .whose small bell tinkled the joyous
school-boy to worship.
c. = TICKLE v. 3. rare.
1883 W. M. ADAMSON in Ez<ang, Union Worthies 316 The
flimsy sensational preacher, whose desire is to tinkle the ear,
more than touch the conscience.
5. To cause (something) to tinkle or make a short
light ringing sound ; jto produce by tinkling.
1583 STANYHURST /Ends in. (Arb.) 74 Moonewise Corj-
bants on brasse their od harmonye tinckling. Ibid. 80 Thee
place she tinckled \pnittftn Impln it clamorc lotunt\. 1617
MORYSOS /tin. in. 209 Many drums were beaten and basons
tinckled about them. 1798 JANE AUSTEN Nortkang. Abb.
i, She was very fond of tinkling the keys of the old forlorn
spinnet. 1834 SOUTHEY Doctor i, I finished my glass
of punch, tinkled the spoon against its side. 1900 H. G.
GRAHAM Sec. Life Scot, in iSUi C. vn. t. (1001) 245 The bell
pennies for tolling or tinkling the dead bell before the
coffin at funerals.
Hence Tinkled (ti*rjk ld) ///. a., made to tinkle.
1821 CLARF Vill. Mitistr. I. 160 The tinkled latch startled
her.
t Tinkle, v.% Ob$. [Back-formation from TINK
LER K] = TINKERS, i. Hence Tinkling///, a.
i59j) MARSTON Sec. Villanie in. ix, I once did know a
tinkling Pewterer. 1630 B. JONSOS New Inn i. i, Who
tinkles then, or personates Tom Tinker?
Tinkler 1 (ti rjkbi). St. and dial. [app. f.
TINKER, with different suffix: cf. pedder^ peddler^
pedlar :] A tinker, a worker in metal ; in Scotland,
north of England, and Ireland, usually a gipsy, or
other itinerant mender of pots, pans, and metal-work.
cii75 Carta Willclmi Regis in Liber Ecdtsie de Scon
(1843) 30 [Terra] que iacet inter terram serlon incisoris et
terram Jacobi tinkler. 1484 Nottingham Rtc. II. 346
TINKLER.
Christoferus Tynkeler,.. tynkeler.
77/12 A Tinkler, [sartor t
for,
157 I^VITCS Manip.
,,, .- .,. . ... 157* Satir. Poems Re
form, xxxli. 49 We Tinklaris, Tailjeouris. . . We wait of
nocht bot mekill cair and cummer. 1605 N. Riding Rec.
(1884) I. 3 Joh. Jackson, tinkler. 1681 O. HEYWOOD Diaries*
etc. (1881) 1 1. 228 Her mother brought a panne to a tinkler s
house. 1785 BURNS Jolly Beggars Air vi, My bonnie lass,
I work in brass, A tinkler is my station. 1818 SCOTT Jfrt.
Midi, xlix, This fellow had been originally a tinkler, or
* caird , many of whom stroll about these districts. 1825
BROCKETT A^ C. Words s. v., The celebrated Wult Allen
was for many years the king of the tinklers in the North.
1847 C. BKONIE J. Eyre xviii, She looks such a tinkler.
1911 \ythCcnt. Sept. 546 These wandering caird s or tinklers
had four separate lan^uagjes at their command.
attrib. 1786 BURNS Twa Dogs 18 Ev n wi a tinkler-
gipsey s messan. 1787 When Gnilford good* v, An
Charlie Fox threw by his box, An lows d his tinkler jaw,
man.
Tinkler 2 , [f. TINKLE z/.i + -ERI.] That
which tinkles ; esp. a descriptive name for a small
bell, etc. (\nsfaug *= bell ); in quot. J 600, a name
for some base coin.
1600 Stirling Kirk Sess. Keg: (Bann. Cl.) 133 Ane great
part of the almus gevin to the Pure is fals cunjie callit Tin-
klaris. 1767 ANNA SF.WARD Let. in Poet, Wks. (1810) 1. 195
A Spinnet,., the little tinkler is a wretched substitute for
my dear harpsichord. 1787 WOLCOTT (P. Pindar) Ode upon
Ode Wks. 1812 I. 419 Thus when the Oxford Bell, baptized
Great Tom, Shakes all the city with his iron tongue, The
little Tinklers might as well be dumb. 1838 DICKENS
O. Tivist xxv, Hark ! cried the Dodger at this moment,
I heard the tinkler . 185* R. S. SURTECS Sponge s Sf>.
Tonrm, Giving the little tinkler of a bell a pull as he spoke.
1901 R. ANDERSON Hist. Kilsyth vii. 65 The old tinkler
which . .had done service in the belfry of the disused church.
b. A person who tinkles; a rimester.
1731 A. HILL Adv. Poets xxii, But, ah ! far short th un.
solid Tinklers rise; Nor soar, but flutter, in the Muse s Skies.
Tinklerman, error for THINK ERM AN, q. v.
1840 THACKERAY Catherine xiv, The ferries.. and., the
pn ales who infest the same namely tinklermen, petermen,
hebbermen, trawlermen. ///</., A combat.. between the
news of a tinklerman s boat and the water-bailiffs.
Ti-nkle-ta nkle, sb. (also aitrih.). [Varied re-
duplication of TINKLE.] Tinkling with alternation
of sonnd. So Trnkle-ta nkling vbl. sb. and ///. a.
a 1619 FLETCHER Wit without M, v. i, Here is such a
tinkle -lanklings that we can ne re lie quiet. 1859 SALA
Tn>. roundClock (1861) 186 Plenty of good heavy choruses,
tinkie-taiikling instrumental music. 1882 J. WALKER
Jaunt to Aitld Reekie 205 Stringed guitars with tinkle-
tankle tones. 1901 EL, G. HAYUEN Trav. round \ 7 ill. 125
A flale or violin whose quaint imkle-tankle adds to the
nrchaic character of the proceeding.
Tinkling (irnklin), vbl. sb. [-iNcV]
I. The action of TINKLE z>.i
1. The (subjective) ringing of the ears. Now rare.
1495 Trei-isa s Bartk. De / . A , xvii. civ. (W. de W.) T vij/2
Senuey..dooth awaye tynkelynge \Bodl.MS. tingelinge]&
ryngynge of the eere. 1544 PHAER Regiin. Lyfe (1553) Cvj, j
Deafenes ie by wynde..in the eare,. . causeth tyncklyng in .
the heade. 1635 BRATHWAIT Arcnd. Pr. 104, 1 feele a per- !
petuall tinckling and sowing [?sowning] in mine eares. j
1833 Med. Jrnl. IX. 145 Affected. .with a difficulty of
hearing, and a tinkling in the ears.
2. A succession of short light ringing sounds, as
of a cymbal or a small bell ; jingling. Alsoy^r.
1549 COVERDALE, etc. Erasni. Par. i Cor. jcm. 35 Acym-
ball, that with his vnprofi table tinklyng trouuleih the
eares. 1617 MORYSON ///. m. 32 The Papists at the tinck
ling of a little Bell, lift up the consecrated Bread. 1651
DAVENANT Condibert Pref. (1673) 9 Old Men.. think it lyes
in a kinde of tinkling of words. 1750 GRAY Elegy 8 Drowsy
linklings lull the distant folds. 1784 COWPER Task vi. 1021
Idle tinkling of a minstrel s lyre. 1800 H nil Advertiser
8 Nov.3/3Piettnded half-guineas.., and nothing but the test
of tinkling can lead to dttection. 1881 BROADHOUSE Mas.
Acoustics 197 That peculiar high inharmonious noise which
\\e are accustomed to call tinkling \
II. 3. Short for tinkling grackle\ see next, c.
Tinkling (ti-rjklirj),///. a.i [f. TINKLE z/.i +
-ING-.] That tinkles; making a short light ring
ing sonnd, or a succession of such ; jingling,
i 1440 [see TINKLE 7 . 1 2]. i56TiNDALE i Cor. xiti. i, I were .
even as soundynge brasse, and as a tynklynge Cymball.
1563 WINJET Four Scoir Thre Quest. vii. Wks. (S.T.S.) I. I
75 Lyke soundand mctell, or ane tincland cimbal. 1621
BURTON Anat. Mel. n. ii. vi. 111.373 Bees. .when they heare !
any tinkling \ed. 1651 linglinglsoundjwill tarry beliind. 1663
COWLEY Versesfy ss. t Complaint vii, The tinckling strings
ofthyloose minsttelsie. 1717 POPE Eloisa 158 Tht; grots that
echo to tb? tinkling rills. 18*9 SCOTT Anne of G.xii i, Along
train of mules a jolly tinkling team. 1877 MAR. M. GRANT
Sitn-Maid i, There came the tinkling musical echo of a bell.
b. Jig. of speech (or a speaker), or verse.
1626 B. IONSON Fort. Isles Wks. (Rtldg.) 650/1 In Rhime !
fine tinckling Rhime ! and flowand Verse ! 1692 WASHING
TON tr. Milton s De/. Pop. Pref., M. s Wks. 1851 VII. 10
Them, I say, together with their tinkling Advocate,.. we
shall e en let whine on, till they cry their eyes out. 1812
HAZLITT Table-t. Ser. n. v. (1869) 120 Keep to your sound-
ing generalities, your tinkling phrases. 1871 B. TAYLOR
Faust (1875) I. i. 24 Beware, a tinkling fool to be !
C. Tinkling grackle^ also simply tinkling: a
bird, a species of grackle (Quiscahts crassirostris)
found in Jamaica ; so called from its note.
1847 GOSSE Birds Jamaica 217 Tinkling Grakle. t Ibid.
219 Like the Ani, the Tinkling feeds on the parasites of
cattle. 1890 Blackiv. Mag. June 787 The tinkling may be
seen feeding greedily in the pastures, 1896 NEWTON Diet.
Birds t Tinkling or Tin-tin, the name in Jamaica for one of
the American Crackles, Quiscalus crassirostris.
Hence Ti nklingly adv. t in a tinkling way.
56
1 1894 CROCKETT Mad Sir Uehtred 25 As she spoke she
I laughed tinklingly.
Tinkling,///. a.2 ; see TINKLE v?
Tinkly (ti-rjkli), a. [i. TINKLE v.i or J. + -Y.]
i Characterized by tinkling.
1892 KIPLING Barrack-r. Ballads 52 The tinkly temple-
! bells. 1894 Outing (\}S.) XXIV. 71/2 An ex-captain sits
, at the tinkly piano.
Tink-tank : see TINK inf. and st>.
Tinley, variant of TJNDLE sb. dial,
1788 Gent/. Mag. July 602/2 It is a custom with the Papists
in some parts of the kingdom, upon (he eve of All Souls,
to illuminate some of their grounds, by bearing round them
straw.. kindled into a blaze. The ceremony.. is called a
Tinlcy; and the account vulgarly given of it.. is, that it is
meant emblematically to signify the lighting of souls out of
Purgatory. i8z HONE E?>ery-day l>k. I. 1414.
Tin-liquor to Tin-mouth: see TIN sb. 5.
Tinman (trnma-n). [f. TIN sb. +MAN si."}
A man who works in or with tin; a tinsmith; a
dealer in tin-ware. In Cornwall, a man employed
in dressing tin ore. Also transf. a ship engaged
in the carriage of tin ore.
1611 COTGR., Estawier, a Tynner, Tynne-man; Pewterer.
1667 Lend. Gaz. No. 154/1 A New England Vessel of 16
Guns.. was forced with some Tinmen and Colliers to put
into St, Ives. 1704 PRIOR Simile 2 Didst them never pop
Thy head into a tin-man s shop? 1840 Civil Kng. fy Arch.
Jrnl. III. 284/2 The common soldering irons used by tin
men and plumbers. 1855 J. R. LEIFCHILD Cornwall Mines
228 Tinmen are not copperers , as the Cornish miners say.
1887 Contanp. Rev. Sept. 398 Thirty or forty years ago, the
tinman, .was recognized as one of the leading and mst skil
ful mechanics.
Tinne, variant ai TIND v. Obs.^ to kindle.
Tinned (tind), ///. a. [f. TIN sb. or v. + -ED.]
1. Coated or plated with tin.
c 1384 CHAUCER H. Fame in. 392 A pilere That was of
the same Jemewes. 1691 Patent Specif. (1856) No. 282. i
Iron plates tinned over comonly called tinned plates. 1831
M. RUSSELL Egypt x. (1853) 420 A small chafing dish of
tinned copper. 1839 Civil Eg. $ Arch. Jrnl. II. 361/2
Manufacturer of zinc and of tinned iron.
2. Preserved in air-tight tins; canned.
1879 .V//<? 18 Oct. 1/5 The trade m tinned food is enormous,
and is constantly on the increase. 1883 Fisheries F.xhib.
Catal. 371 Cooked and tinned Salmon. 1895 SUPPLING
Land of Broads 19 Try a tinned pineapple.
3. Baked in a tin.
1890 STROUD Judicial Diet. 310 Tinned Loaves, made
crusty all round, .is not French or Fancy Bread .
Tinneis, obs. Sc. form of TENNIS.
t Ti nnen, a. Obs. [OE. tinen t f. TIN sb. +
-EN 4 . So \VFlem. tinnen.] Made or consisting
of tin.
ciooo ^LFRIC Grain, vi. (Z.) 15 Stagnum, tin, $tagneus t
tinen. c 1440 Pallad. on llusb. vi. 99 Other with tynnen
lounges take her strynges. i$5i-a in Swayne Sarum
Chnrchw. Ace. (1896) 278 For a tynnen Bottell to fetch
Wyne in. 1631 BP. WF.BIJE Quietn. (1657) 82 A tinnen or
earthen vessel. 1653 H. COGAN tr. Pitito s Trav. xxiv. 91
Tlie women wore great t mnen Bracelets about, .their arms.
Tinner (trnw). [f. TIN sb. or v. + -ER*.]
1. One who gets or digs tin ore; a tin-miner.
1512 Act 4 Hen. VII f, c. 8 All other tynners. .dyggyng of
tyn in the several! soyle of the said Richard. 1602 CAKEW
Cornwall %\> t Where the finding of these affordeth a tempt
ing likelihood, the Tynners goe to worke. 1670 PETTUS
Fading R*g. 12 The King for advancement of the Stan-
naries .. frees the Tinners from all pleas of the Natives
touching the Court. 1743 WESLEY Jrnl. (1003) 147 Nine
or ten miles east of St. Ives, where we found two or three
hundred tinners. 1883 R. T. DYKR in Leisure Hour "Dec.
733/z In Cornwall, the second Monday before Christmas is
a festival kept by the tinners.
2. One who works in tin ; a tin-plater, tinman,
tinsmith.
1611 COTGR., Estaingnier, a Pewterer, a Tinner. 01817
T. DWIGHT Trav. New Eng.^ etc. (1821) II. 53 His trade
was that of a tinner. 1890 Anthony s Photogr. Bull. III.
45 Have made for you at any tinner s, a tin pan about an
inch larger all around than your toning tray.
3. One who tins meat, fruit, etc. ; a canner.
1906 Referee 26 Aug. 9/2 Then down with the kickshaws
that all taste alike, And the stock of cold storer and tinner.
4. Local name for the pied wagtail : see quot.
1880 JK. Cornwall Gloss., Tinner... A water wagtail*.
Eottrell. 1904 AthfrutUM 4 June 274/3 The pied wagtail.,
known [at Land s End] as the tinner , because it builds its
nest in the mouth of old mine-shafts.
Tinnery (trnari). [f. TINNER -t- -Y, or f. TIN +
-EKY.] Tin-mining ; //. tin-mines or tin-works.
1769 De Foe s Tour Gt. Brti. I 409 There is still a great
Resemblance between the Scilly Islands and Cornwall, in
their Culture, Plants, and other Produce, their Tinnery,
Fishery, &c. a 1787 S. JENYNS Wks* (1790) II. 238 Miners
from tinneries, and coal-pits.
TINNY.
Trouse, Brushwood and Thorns to make and repair Hedges.
1701 Coweirs Jnterfir., Tineitmn, Trouse.. is still in Kent
called Teenet. 1753 CHAMBERS Cycl. Suty., Tinet, Tinef.
turn. 1004 Bug. Dial. Diet., Tinne t [cited from Heref..
Glouc., Suss.)-
Tinnicle, obs. form of TUNICLE.
t Ti nnient, a. Obs. [ad. L. tinnient-em, pr.
pple. of tinnire to ring, tinkle.] Ringing, resonant.
1668 H. MORE Div. Dial. 11. v. (1713) ioo A sportful
passage of Nature, to try how tight and tinnient her new
workmanship was. 1753 Ess. on Action for Pulpit 86 It
will make every religious string, so to say, more intense
and tinnient.
Ti-nnified, ///. a. rare. [f. TIN or TINNY a. +
-FY + -ED!.] Made tinny or like tin ; impregnated
with tin ; in quot. 1794 depredative.
1794 Manners France 80 Has Horace or Ovid their fair
ladies clad In the tinnify d charm of cork rumps or a pad?
1855 J. R.LEJFCHILD Cornwall Mines 38 Stannified granite
. .which the plain reader may call tinnified granite.
Ti-nnikin. Sc. rare. [f. TIN or TINNY sb. +
-KIN : cf. mannikin^\ A very small tin or mug.
1896 CROCKETT Cleg Kelly viii, He brought his mistress
a drink in a little tinnikin.
f Trnniment. Obs. rare , [ad. L. tinni-
went-um a ringing or tinkling ( tinnimentum
auribus , Plautns), f. tinnire to ring, jingle.]
1656 BLOUNT Gtosspgr., Tinniment) a ringing or tinckling,
as metals do. 1658 PHILLIPS, Tiniment, (lat.) a tingling, or
sounding of metals.
Ti-nniness. [f. TINNY a.] Tinny quality.
1891 KIPLING Life s Handicap ii. 37 Tinned beef of sur
passing tinniness.
Tinning (ti-nin), vbl. sb. [f. TIN v. or sb. +
-ING 1.] I. The action of the verb TIN.
1. Coating, lining, or plating with tin ; working
at tin-ware.
c 1440 Promp. Parv. 494/2 Tynnynge wythe tynne, stan-
nacio. 1487-8 Rec. St. Mary at Hill 130 Paide to West-
wode, smytn,. .for tynnyng of the same boltes. 1537 Ace.
Ld.High Trens.Scot. VI. 337 Item, for grathinganddichiing
and tynnyng of ten tuahandit suerdis. 1611 COTGR., Plotube-
vient) a leading, or tinning. 1789 Trans. Sac. Arts I. 13
Tinning with pure Tin. 1800 tr. Lagrange s Chew. II. 107
The tinning of copper consists in applying a coating of tin
to the surface of that metal. 1851 MAYHEW Lond. Labour
(1864) 1.302/1 As you see, sir, I work at tinning. ! put new
bottoms into old tin tea-pots, and such like. 1873 E. SPON
Workshop Receipts Ser. i. 9/1 When the article is prepared
for tinning, it may be immersed in the tinning metal.
b. concr. A tin coating or lining.
1761 Citron, in Ann. Reg. 143/1 This accident was. .occa
sioned by using a copper sauce pan, from which the tinning
was worn off. 1839 URE Diet. A rts s.v. A Hoy, Tinning, gild
ing, and silvering may also be reckoned a species of alloys.
2. The putting up and sealing of meat, fish,
fruit, etc.. in tins for preservation ; canning.
1903 Daily CJiron. 13 Jan. 6/1 The tinning of sprats from
Honneur and other points.
II. 3. Tin-mining.
1855 J. R, LEIFCHILD Cornwall Mines 197 For a long
period in the early history of tin-mining, the mines of Corn
wall appear to have been in the hands of the Jews... When
the Jews were hotly persecuted, those engaged in tinning
were particularly exempted.
III. 4. attrib.
>86o TOMLINSON Arts fy Mannf. Ser. n. Pins 47 Then
comes the whitening, or tinning process. 1868 JOVNSON
Metals 104 The plates are now received one by one from
the tinning bath. 1898 Daily News n Aug. 7/2 Tinning
factories have more than they want. 1909 Exg. Rev. Mar.
621 [They] put them into patent tinning-pots.
Tinnis, obs. form of TENNIS.
Tinnitate (ti-nitcit), v. nonce-wd. [f. L. tinm-
tat~ t ppl. stem of tinnttdre, freq. of tinnzre : see
next.] intr. To ring, give forth a ringing sound.
1866 J. B. ROSE tr. Ovtft Fasti iv. 231 And high and
mighty Ida tinmtates To drown the infant s cries.
|j Tinnitus (tinsi-t^s). Aied. [L. tinnitus
(tt-stem), f. tinnire to ring, tinkle.] A sensation
in the cars.
or repairing hedges or fences. Cf. TINSEL sb.%
[1443 Carta Ric. Moninion (Blount), Et praxlictus Fir-
marius habebit tineitum sufficiens extra boscum ipsius R.
ad clausurandum terras & pasturas supradictas.] 1650
Parl. Sutv. Sussex in Sussex Archseol. Coll. XXIII. 311
The Coppiehold" of Duddleswell doe claime to have ffrith
and tennett out of the said Parke for fencing their lands
1691 Btowtt s Law Diet. (ed. 2), Tinet (Tinettitm} ..,
[1693 tr. Blancartfs Phys. Diet. (ed. 2), Tinnitus A ttriuui,
a certain Buzzing or tingling in the Ears.] 1847 R. J.
GRAVES Syst, Cltn. Med. xiv. 170 On admission, he com
plained of headache, tinnitus aurium. 1879 ^- Geo>ige $
Hosp. Rep. IX. 649 The development of constitutfona/
symptoms, such as tinnitus and slight deafness.
Tinny, tinnie (ti ni), sb. Sc. [f. TIN sb. +
-ie t -Y, dim. suff.] A small tin mug, a child s tin.
1825 JAMIESON, Tinnie, the small jug or porringer.. used
by children. 1864 Auld Ayr 86 Let us nave a tinny of
grog. 1906 Scott. Chron, 6 July 482/2 They turned up.,
each with his or her * tinnie well in evidence.
Tinny; (ti ni), a. [f. TIN sb. + -Y.]
1. Consisting of, abounding in, or yielding tin ;
formerly also, Of tin, made of tin.
1552 HULOET, Tynny or of tynne, stanneus. 1576 BAKER
Jewell of Health 231 Let this be kept in a Sylveror Tynnie
vessel. 1596 SPENSER F. Q. tv. xi. 31 Dart, nigh chockt
with sands of tinny mines, 1612 DRAYTON 1 oly-olb. i. 157
Those armes of sea that thrust into the tinny strand. 1695
BLACKMORE Pr. Art!i.\\. 419 Pale Tinny Oar, and Copper s
brighter Vein. 1881 Standard 28 Oct. 1/2 The lode is
six feet wide, and tinny throughout.
2. Like or resembling tin or that of tin; charac
teristic of tin ; esp. of sounds ; in Painting^ hard,
crude, metallic.
1877 HALLOCK Sportsman s Gaz. 379 Long tinny mouth
(of a fish]. 1892 Sat. Rev. 21 May 597/2 We have accused
Mr. Parsons of a hard tinny quality in colour and form.
TINOCERATID.
1904 RATED. WICGIN Ajffair at Inn 177 She was sitting at
the old tinny-sounding spinet. 1908 Daily Chron. 24 Oct.
3/1 How ttnny look Claude s landscapes in the room at the
National Gallery.
b. Tasting or smelling of tin; tinged with tin.
1906 Blackiv. Mag. Aug. 213/1 One of the pans in the
dairy smelt suspiciously tinny .
3. slang. Having plenty of ( tin ; rich, wealthy.
1871 Punch 14 Oct. 160/2 There s heaps of tinny fellows
who ll be awful glad to give.
Tinoceratid (tain^se ratid), a. and s/>. Palwont.
[irreg. f. Gr. rt w-etv to stretch, as if = stretching
out + Ktpasj Kfpar- horn + -ID.] a. adj. Of, per
taining to, or having the characters of the Tino-
ceras, a very large fossil mammal, b. $b. A fossil
of this genus (Cent. Diet. 1891). So Tinoce 1 -
ratine ., Tinoce ratoid a. and s/>.
1889 NICHOLSON & LYDEKKER Palxont Ixi. II. 1389 The
genus \Uint at her ittm\ may be divided into a Dinoceratine
and a Tinoceratine group. 1891 Cent. Diet., Tinoceratid, a.
1895 Funk s Stand. Diet., Tinoceratid, Tinoceralokl, a.
and sb.
Tin-opener to Tin-pan : see TIN sb. 4, 5.
Tinpan, obs. (erron.) form of TYMPAN.
Ti n-pla te. Sheet-iron or, in recent use, often
sheet-steel, coated with tin ; a plate of this.
1677 YARRANTON Eng. Iinpr&v. To Rdr., In order to the
establishing of the like [tradej in England, to set the Poor on
work, which was the Linen, Thread, Tape, and Tin-plates.
1758 REID tr. Matquer sChym. 1. 70 Tin-Plates are no other
than thin plates of Iron tinned over. 1812 SIR H. DAVY
Chem. Philos. 30,3 Tin plate is formed by dipping thin plates
of iron into melted tin. 1839 URE Diet. Arts,etc. s. v.,The
formation of tin-plate, or white-iron.
b. attrib. and Comb.
1710 STRYPE Stows Sum. (1754) II. v. xv. 323/1 The
Company of Tin plate workers were incorporated by charter
in the 22nd year of King Charles II. 1815 J. SMITH Pano~
ratna Sc. <$ Art II. 794 A japanned tin-plate tray is of less
value than a paper one. 1860 PIF.SSE Lab. Chem. Wonders
37 England is the tin-plate manufacturer for the whole world.
1906 IVcstm. Gaz. 10 Jan. 2/1 The transformation at Welsh
tinplate works has been very great.
So Ti n-pla-ted ///. a. y plated with tin; Ti-n-
pla ter, a workman who makes tin-plates.
1890 Engineer LXIX. 496 The [search-light] projector
barrel is 16 in. diameter, rolled out of steel sheet tinplated
and very strong. 1903 Westm. Gaz. i Sept. 5/1 The unions
contend, .that, .the tin platers so treated have a claim for
damages against the masters.
Tin-pot (ti*n,pp-t, trnp^t).
1. (as two words) A pot made of tin or tin-plate.
1771 T.SIMPSON Vermin-Killer 21 A pound of arsenick..
put into a tin pot or kettle.
2. The pot of molten tin into which the sheet of
iron is dipped in the manufacture of tin-plate.
1839 URE Diet. Arts 1253 The first rectangle in the range
is the tin-pot. 1864 STRAUSS, etc, Eng. Workshops 78 The
first pot, called the tinman s-pan. , .The second pot ( called
the tin-Pot. 1880 FLOWER Hist. Trade Tin xni. 170
From the palm-oil bath by means of tongs, the sheets are
passed by the tinman., to the tin pot, which is full of molten
tin, and here they remain to soak for a period of 20 minutes.
3. Short for tin-pot bell , see 4.
1895 Miss E. P. THOMPSON Veil of Liberty ix. 176 The
..church next door began to clink its miserable tin-potit
had once had a good set of bells, but it had felt it prudent
to give these to the nation.
4. attrib. Resembling or suggesting a tin pot in
quality or sound ; hence contemptuously, without
solid worth, of inferior quality, shabby, poor, cheap.
1865 Slang Diet. s. v., He plays a tin-pot game , ;. e. t a
low or shabby one. Billiards. 1875 \V. MORRIS in Mackail
Life (1899) 1. 309 Within sound of those tin-pot bells. 1891
KIPLING Light that Failed iii. To the tin-pot music of a
Western waltz the naked Zanzibar! girls danced furiously.
1897 Daily News 23 Mar. 6/7 Made a sacrifice to some
miserable tin-pot politicians. 1907 Ibid. 4 Oct., Some tin-
pot comic opera receives praise from the very same critics.
Hence Ti n-po tter Naut. slang, see quot. ; Ti n-
po ttery, tin pots or tin-ware collectively.
1867 SMYTH Sailor sWord-bk.* 7Y-/0//^r,agalley skulker,
shamming Abraham. 1850 SCARGILL Eng. Sketch-Bit, j
Dealing in grocery, drapery, and tin-pottery.
Tin-pulp to Tin-scrap : see TIN sb. 5.
Tinsel (ti-nsel, -s l), st>. 1 Chiefly north, and
(from c i4OOonly) Sc. Also 3 tinsil, 4 -ill, -elle,
4-7 -ell, 5-7 -ale, -all, 6 -aill ; 4 tynsil, -yll, 4-6
-al(l, 4-7 -ell, 5-7 -el, 6 -ele; 5 tensale, -elle.
[ME. tinsel^ tynsd, etc., prob. ad. ON. *tynsla, f.
tyna(~ ME. tin-en t tyn-en y TINE v . 2 ) tolose, perish,
destroy, with the Norse suffix -sla (as in geymsla,
rennsla, etc.): cf. mod.Norw. tynsla destruction,
damage, spilling.]
1 1. The losing of something, or the sustaining of
harm, damage, or detriment ; loss. Obs.
01300 Cursor M. 916 (Cott.), I most couer t>is tinsel [71
loos] are. 11340 HAMPOLK Psalter cxxxvi. i Worldis
men gretb bot nou?t for tynsil of ^air codes, a 1400 R.
Ermine s Chron. Wa<c 2352 (Petyt MS.)Hureouer-^oughte
mykel more pc wrabthe of hure fader ^e kyng..pan be
tynsell of ober thyng. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 9936 What
harme that day to the be-felle ! Thow may telle of thi ten-
selle. c 1470 HENRV Wallace v. 387, ! meyn fer mar the
tynsell off my men. < 15*0 M. NISBET N. Test, in Scots,
Acts xxvii. 22, 1 counsale you to be of good counfort, for
tynsele [WvcLiF, los ; Gr. ano&o\y] of na persoun of you
salbe. 1556 LAUDER Tractate 382 In this Consistis, with-
outtin faill, Bohh thewynninyj and tinsaill. a 1600 MONT-
VOL. X.
57
GOMFRIE Misc. Poems xxxii. 67 Quhair tentles bairnis may
to their tinsall Ink The neiv with na thing, and the full
refuse. 1728 RAMSAY 7 \ua Cut-purses 33 Where er your tin
sel be, Ye canna lay the wyte on me. 1737 Scots Frov.
xv. (1750) 42 He that s far frae his gear is near his tinsel.
f2. The condition of being lost spiritually;
perdition, damnation. Obs.
11300 Cursor M. 11946 (Cott.) pou godds fede, Sun o
tinsel and o ded ! a 1300 E. E. Psalter lxxxvii[ij. 12 [n]
Wher ani in thrughes sal telle bi milthnes, Ore in tinsel [L.
in perditionc\ bi sothncs ? c 1375 Sc. Leg. Sainfs ii. 828 Als
he slew pelir and paule, Till eku be tynsale of his sawle.
3. Sf. Law. Forfeiture, deprivation ; now only
in some archaic phrases: see quot. 1838.
1424 Sc. Actsjas. 7(1814) II. 5/ 1 Vnder the payne of tyn-
sal of all gold and siluer that beis fundyu. 1565-75 Dhiru.
Occitrr, (Hann. Cl.) 80 Vnder the paynes of tynsall of lyif,
landis and goodis. c 1575 nalfour s Practicks (1754) 17
Under the pane of ten pundis.and tinsell of his office. 1678
SIR G. MACKENZIE Crini. Laws Scot. \. xxx. 6 (1699) 155
Punished with tinsel of Life and Goods. 1838 \V. KELL
Diet. Laiu Scot., Tinsel of the Fen, is an irritancy incident
to every feu-right, by the failure to pay the feu-duty for two
years whole and together. . . Tinsel of Superiority, is a
remedy.. for unentered vassals whose superiors are them
selves uninfeft, and therefore cannot effectually enter them.
t Tinsel, ^ - 2 Obs. [Known from late I .s
f. TINE .l, OE. lyn-an to enclose, fence, hedge,
with Norse suffix -si, prob. taken over from north.
dial. gar-sell, GARSII- (=ON. *gerSsf), meaning the
same thing.] Brushwood for hedging or fencing.
1486 Nottingham Rec. III. 254, ij. lodes of tynsell from
be Copy. 1610 W. FOLKINGHAM Art of Survey I. vi. 13
For woods, .how enterlaced, as Timber with Tinsell, Cop
pice, or vnderwood. 1620 in N. fy Q. ist Ser. (1851) III.
478 A few underwoods, .of hasell, alders, withie and thornes
..which the tenants doe take and use for Tinsel as need
requires. 1637 in Chesh. Closs.^Z^] s.v..To take sufficient
trouse and tynsel. .for the fencing in and repairing of the
hedges. 1793-1813 Rep. Agric., Derby 45 (E.D.S.) Having
stone provided in the quay, and tinsel crop for fencing.
Tinsel (ti nsel, -s l), sb.?> and a. Forms: a.
6- tinsel; also 6 tynsel(le, -sil^l, -syll, tincel,
tincle, tensell, 6-7 tyn-, tinsell, -sill, 7-8 -ail.
/3. 6 tylsent, tilsent. 7. 6 tynsyn, tensyn, -sen,
tinsin, 7 tynsin. See also TINSEY. [The ety
mology, though certain in its main fact, presents
difficulties of detail, owing chiefly to the want of
early OF. examples. Evidently tineel, tinsel, arose
out of OF. estintclle, mod.F. kincelle a sparke or
sparkle of fire, a flash , Cotgr. (: pop.L. *stincillct
for scintilla spark), and OF. estimcli?, mod.F.
ttinceli sparkled, sparked, also powdered or set
with sparkles , pa. pple. of OF. eslinceler to
sparke, to sparkle as fire ; to twinkle as a starre or
Dyamond ; to set thicke with sparkles (: pop.L.
"stincillnre for scintillare to sparkle, glitter). In
I4~i5th c. Fr., the s of es- had long been mute,
and the pronunciation was actually as in mod.Fr.
ftincelle, -ele; of this the initial e disappeared (app.
in Anglo-F. or Eng.) by aphesis, giving tincel(le.
Our earliest examples show the word used attrib.
or as adj. in tinselle satin, app. representing
a Fr. satin etinceli (with -e mute in Eng., as in
some other words), or else the Eng. tinselled satin
(see TINSELLED) with d lost between / and s.
Thence sense 2, tinsel alone = tinsel satin, tinsel
cloth, etc. Sense 3, which is later, may represent
the Fr. sb. etincelle. Tilsent and tinsin, early
popular perversions, scarcely survived the iCth c. ;
they also were at first attrib. in tylsent satin,
tynsyn satten."]
1. adj. passing into sb. used attrib. Of satin, etc. :
Made to sparkle or glitter by the interweaving of
gold or silver thread, by brocading with such
thread, or by overlaying with a thin coating of
gold or silver.
n. 1502 Priv. Purse Exp.Eliz.of York (iSsoJgBlake tyn-
sellesatenof the richemaking. 1537 in Reliquary Jan. (1893)
37 A nother Tynsell Satten with a Crowne ouer the breste
of the seid lorde Mounte Egles Armes. 1552 HULOET,
Bawdkyn or Tynsel clothe.
p. 1510-11 Wanir. Ace. 2-3 Hen. VIII 52/2 (in N. f, Q.
8th Ser. I. 129) Tylsent satin. tfalaKaafeLuflfMSS,
(1836) 67 Twoo baces of clothe cf goide reysed w lk red sylke,
tylsent satten. Twoo baces of clothe of golde, blewe tilsent
crymsin and purple vellett in clocks.
y. 1509-10 Act i Hen. VIII, c. 14 Clothe of Golde or cloth
of Sylver or tynsyn Satten. 1530 PALSGH. 281 /2 Tynsyn
satten, satytt broche. 1531 Rec. Si. Mary at Hill 41 Small
schredes of tensyn satten. 1551 in Dillon Calais f/ Pale
(1802) 97 One Vestimente of reed Tensen satten without
albe. 1603 Ceremonies Coronal. Jas. /(i68s) n The Dean
..arrayeth the King.. with the Tynsin Hose.
t 2. A kind of cloth or tissue ; tinselled cloth ;
a rich material of silk or wool interwoven with
gold or silver thread (cf. BADDEKIN) ; sometimes
apparently, a thin net or gauze thus made, or
ornamented with thin plates of metal; later,
applied to a cheap imitation in which copper
thread was used to obtain the sparkling effect. Obs.
o. 1516 in Inv. Goods Dk. Richmond in Camden Misc.
(1855) 18 A Testour, panyd with clothe of golde, grene tynsell,
andcrymsen velwet. 15*9 N.C. Wills (Surtees 1908) 93 My
bedde of grene tynsill and white satteyne embrotherid with
TINSEL.
blue velvit. a 1548 HAI.L Chrmi., Hen. VIII 3 Richely
appareled in Tissues, clothe of Golde, of Siluer, Tynsels am!
Veluettes Kmbroudered. 1552 Inv. Ck, Surrey (1869) 18 A
sute of vestimentes of white tynsell. 1552 HULOET, Tyn-
sell or bawdkyn cloth, intcrtextus. 1583 STI;BBF.S Anat.
Al iis.i. (1879) 47 Euery place was hanged with cloth of gold,
cloth of sillier, tinsell, arrace, tapestrie. 1599 B. JONSON
Cynthia s Rev. v. ix, The fourth, in watchel tinsell, is the
kind and truly benefique Evcolos. 1603 KNOLLES Hist.
Turks (1621) 1203 The Kmbassador and 16 of his compame,
received each of them a robe of tinsell. 1611 COTGR. ,/>>,->-
catel, tinsell ; or thin cloth of gold, or siluer. 1639 MAYNE
City Match Kp. Ded , Masquers, who spangle, and glitter
for the time, but tis through a tinsell. (1645 HOWFLL /.?//.
(1650) III. 3 In that more subtill air of yours tinsell some
times passes for tissue. 1656 ULOUNT Glossogr., Tinccl . .
signifies with us a stuff or cloth made partly of silk, and
partly of copper ; so called, because it glisters or sparkles
like stars or fire. Hence 1721 BAILKY, Tinsel, a glittering
Stuff made of Silk and Copper. 1755 JOHNSON, Tinsel, a
kind of shining cloth.
/3. 1547 Tilsent [see i j3], c 1547 in H. Ainsworth Con
stable Tower I. v. (1861)1.71 [The Karl of Surrey, .appeared
in a doublet of black] tylsent fwelted with cloth of silver].
y. 1523 in *4Aaw/i7< XXXVIII. 363 A spatverpayned
with ctemesyn tynsyn, and blake velvet. (71548 HALL
Chmi., Hen. r///75b, Clothe of Golde, Clothe of Sillier,
Veluettes, Tinsins, Sattins embroudered.
3. Very thin plates or sheets, spangles, strips, or
threads, originally of gold or silver, later of copper,
brass, or some gold- or silver-coloured alloy, used
chiefly for ornament ; now esp. for cheap and showy
ornamentation, gaudy stage costumes, anglers flies,
and the like : see also quot. 1903.
1593 G FLETCHER I.icia (1876) 28 As twinckling starres,
the tinsell of the night. 1506 NASIIE Saffron Ir aMcn 49
As day-light [is] beyond candle-light, ortinsell or leafe-gold
abone arsedine. 1732 GRAY in Phil. Trans. XXXVI I. 2?S
A Piece of Sheet-Brass, commonly called Tinsel. 1782 V.
KNOX Ess. I. viii. 38 The character of a man of integrity and
benevolence is far more desirable than that of a man of plea
sure or of fashion. The one is like solid gold, the other like
tinsel. 1809 MALKIN Gil Klas iv. viii. p 6 Those who are
behind the scenes are not to be dazzled by the tinsel of the
property-man. 1839 G. HIRD Nat. Phil. 211 These gentle
men fixed one end of a cord covered with tinsel., to the cap
of an electrometer, and tying the other to an arrow, they
projected it. .into the air. 1859 LANG Wand. India 66 Beside
him his .. bride, dressed in garments of red silk, trimmed with
yellow and gold tinsel. 1867 F. FRANCIS Angling x. (1880)
343 Silver tinsel and twist. 1903 Elcttr. World <y Engin.
29 Aug. 341 (Cent. Suppl.) The stranded conductors are uni
versally made of very fine copper or copper bronze wire, or
what is technically called tinsel.
4. fig. Anything showy or attractive with little or
no intrinsic worth ; something that gives a decep
tively fine or glittering appearance.
1660 JER. TAYLOR Rule <>fCfiisc. I. iv. rule x. 53 There is
more gold now than before, but it is. .so hidden in heaps ot
tinsel, that when men are best pleased, now adays they are
most commonly cozened. 1747 RICHARDSON Clarissa (1811)
I. iii. 14 If Miss Clary were taken with his tinsel. 1751 JOHN
SON Rambler No. 147 F 7 That poverty of ideas which had
been hitherto concealed under the tinsel of politeness. 1825
IF.FFERSON Autoliiog. Wks. 1859 I. 105 Chaste eloquence,
disfigured by no gaudy tinsel of rhetoric or declamation.
1863 GEO. ELIOT Ronwla vi, An age worse than that of iron
the age of tinsel and gossamer.
5. attrib. and Comb., as tinsel-foil, -lace, -maker;
tinsel-dad, -covered, -faned, -slippered adjs. ; tinsel-
embroidery, see quot. 1882.
1575 Lane. Wills (Chetham Soc.) II. 159 One dublite of
crimsinesattenand onetynsell paned. 1634 MiLTONCcmwr
877 Thetis tinsel-slipper d feet. 1840 HOOD Uf the Rhine
207 Waxen tapers, Smartened with tinsel. foil and tinted
papers. 1858 SIMMONDS Did. Trade, Tinsel lace-maker, a
maker of imitation gold or silver lace. 1882 CAULFEILD &
SAWARD Diet. Needlework 495/1 Tinsel Embroidery. This
is worked upon net, tulle, and thin muslin materials, and
is an imitation of the Turkish Embroideries with gold thread
upon crepe. 1897 Daily Nous 24 Feb. 5/2 Naked or tinsel-
clad savages. 1906 Daily Chron. 27 Jan. 3/2 Description of
a tinsel-maker in Delhi.
6. allrib. passing into adj. t Glittering, splendid
(obs.}; chiefly in disparagement: Of deceptively
brilliant or valuable appearance; showy with little
real worth ; cheaply gaudy, tawdry.
gion. 1667 MILTON P. L. ix. 36 Bases and tinsel trappings,
gorgeous knights. 1680 BuRNKr Rochester (1692) 175
Neither their tinsel wit, nor superficial learning will hold
them up then, a 1704 T. BROWN tr. ^Etuas Sylvius Wks.
1709 III. II. 63 A Good of no Value, a mere tinsel Bauble.
1733 BERKELEY Th. Vision 3 A certain way of writing,
whether good or bad, tinsel or sterling, sense or nonsense.
1760 Junius Lett. xxi. (1770) 132 You assure me, that my
logic is puerile and tinsel. 1783 BLAIR Lect. Rliet., etc.
xviii. I. 384 Nothing can be more contemptible than that
tinsel splendor of Language, which some writers . . affect.
1844 KEBLE Lyra Innoc. ix. xiy. (1846) 299 The ears that
hear its murmuring, crave No tinsel melodies of earth.
t Trnsel, vl Sc. Obs. rare. [f. TINSEL s//. 1 ]
trans. To subject to loss; to impoverish, to en-
damage ; to punish by a fine, to mulct.
1475 Aberdeen Regr. (1844) I. 34 He is sa tensalit in gudis
that he is nocht of poyar to pay certane dettis and soumes
of money awing be him. 1609 SKENE Reg. Maj. 114 He
that swa is ossonzied may be tinselled and skaithed.
8
TINSEL.
Ti-nsel, v* [f. TINSEL sb$\
1. trans. To make glittering with gold or silver
(or imitations thereof) interwoven, brocaded, or
laid on. Also fig. b. To embellish (pictures,
letters, etc.) with gold leaf; to embellish (ceramic
ware) with metallic effects (Cent. Diet. Suppl,
1909). Hence Ti nselling vbl. sb.
1594 NASHE Unfort. Trav. E iv, Hir daintie lims tinsill
hir silke soft sheets, Hir rose-crownd cheekes eclipse my
dazeled sight. 1611 COTGR., Pourfelerdor^ topurfle,tinsell,
or ouercabt with gold thread, &c. Ibid., Pourfileitre,.*
purfling ;. .baudkin-worke ; tinselling. 1730-6 BAILEY (folio),
Tinselling; a border of silver. 1851 MAYHEW Land. Labour^
Answ. Corr. xvii, I want to do something in the evening on
my own account (tinselling pictures, for instance).
2. To give a speciously attractive or showy
appearance to ; to cover the defects of with or as
with tinsel.
1748 WARBURTON Alliance betw. Ch. fy Sf. i. v. (ed. 3) 83
The Gloom of Equivocation, which spreads itself thro the
formal Chapters of the one ; and the Glare of puerile Decla
mation, that tinsels over the trite Essays of the other. 17 . .
~ Unpitbl. Papers (1841) 440 False honour may thus tinsel
over the gaudy slaves of an absolute master, a 1774 TUCKER
Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 265 The hopes that tinsel the gay and
bu>y hours of life.
Tinselled (ti nseld),///. a. Also 6-7 tinceld.
[In sense i, app. representing F. etincett . see TIN
SEL $0.3 ; in sense 2, mostly f. TINSEL W.2 + -ED 1 .]
1. Made to sparkle or glitter with gold or silver
thread, brocade, or embroidery, b. Embellished
with gold or silver leaf.
1532-3 Act 24 Hen. y/ff, c. 13 No Man, vnder the State
of an Erla [shall]., weare. .any Clothe ofGoldeor Syluer, or
tynseld Saten. 1545 Rates of Customs c iv b, Satten tyn-
seld with gold the yarde xiii. s. mi. d... Satten of bruges
counterfete tynselde the yarde m.s. mi. d. 1634 SIR T.
HERBERT Trav. 146 Their out Garment or Vest, .of cloth of
gold and Tinselled. 1653 URQL-HART Rabelais I. Ivi. 244
Figured sattin tinselled and overcast with golden threads.
1748 RICHARDSON Clarissa VI. 3 Tinselled hobby-horses,
gilt gingerbread. 1853 KANE Grinnell Exp. v. (1856) 40
Some of these huts were garnished with little tinseled
pictures. 1871 ROSSETTI Last Confession 387 Before some
new Madonna gaily decked, Tinselled and gewgawed, a
slight German toy, I saw her kneel.
2. iransf. wn&fig. ; in later use often depreciative
or contemptuous (cf. b).
c 1620 Convert Sonle in Farr S. P. Jas. I (1847) 89 Then
dream of shadowes, make thy coate Of tinsel d cobwebs.
1648 EARL OF WESTMORELAND Otia Sacra (1879) 6 As the
Tincell d Night gives way At th opening o th true Golden
pay. \T^C,entl. Mag. VIII. 521/2 Observe the Gentleman
in that gaudy slight French Dress, how he is tinsel d and
pouder d over. 174* RICHARDSON Pamela (1824) I. 180
Tinselled toy! said I (for he was laced all over). (11774
TUCKER Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 126 Clouds, .whose tinselled edges
glitter in the western sun.
b. fig. Having a flashy superficial splendour
without intrinsic value.
1651 CLEVELAND Poems 4 His tinsil d metaphors of pelf.
i8zo HAZLITT Lect. Dram. Lit. 144 Beaumontand Fletcher
..laid the foundation of the artificial diction and tinselled
pomp of the next generation.
Tinselly (ti-nseli), a. [f. TINSEL J&S + -Y.]
Of the nature of, characterized by, or abounding
in tinsel; hence, cheaply splendid or sparkling,
gaudy without real worth, i pinchbeck .
1811 Miss MITFORD in L Estrange Life (1870) I. v. 148
Sometimes pedantic, and sometimes tinselly, none of her
works were ever simple.. or natural. 1836 Backwoods of
Canada 289 These Indians appear less addicted to gay and
tinselly ornaments. 1885 Athenaeum 15 Aug. 205 None of
that false ornamentation, that tinselly glitter.
So Ti nselly adv. [-LY 2], showily and cheaply.
1864 in WEBSTER; whence in later Diets.
Tinselry (ti-nselri). [f. TINSEL J.S + -RY.]
Showy and tawdry material or ornamentation.
1830 S. WARREN Diary Physic. (1838) I. xiii. 258 The
ghastly visage of Death, thus leering through the tinselry
of passion,, .was a horrible mockery of the fooleries of life !
1869 S. BOWLES Neiv West xxvii. 518 The poor tinselry of
the worship.
Tinsen, -sin, obs. corrupt forms of TINSEL sb.%
Tinsey (ti nsi). Also 7 tincy, 8-9 tinsy. A
popular corruption of TINSEL sb.%
1685 Lond. Gaz. No. 2001/4 A Groce of Gimp Lace mixt
with Tincy. 1707 E. WARD Hnd. Rediv. II. in. 10 Built
for imaginary Princes To strut in Buskins and in Tinseys.
1771 SMOLLETT Humph. Cl. 15 May, I ve shown him how
little I minded his tinsy and his long tail. 1831 J. WILSON
Noct. Ambr. Wks. 1856 III. 301 Ye think the peacock s harl
and the tinsy hae slipped frae your jaws. 1889 STODDART
Angling Songs 254 Awa wi yer tinsey sae braw !
b. attrib. or adj. ; also in Comb.
1699 E. WARD Lond. Sj>y x. (1709) 237 The Quality of the
Fair, strutting round their Balconies in their Tinsey Robes.
1704 F. FULLER Med, Gymn. (1718) 234 They clap a Saddle
upon em, cover d with a Sort of Tinsey Stuff. 1711 RAM-
SAV Morning Interview 162 His head reclin d upon a tinsy
roll. 1753 SMOLLETT Ct, Fathom (1784) 81/1 You come over
like a walking atomy, with a rat s tail at your wig, and
a tinsey jacket. 1828 Blackw. Mag. Sept. 298/1 [Angling}
The yellow-bodied, tinsey- tailed, black-half-heckle.
Tinsmith. (ti-n,smib). [f. TIN + SMITH: cf.
goldsmith, silversmith^ etc.] A worker in tin ; a
maker of tin utensils ; a whitesmith.
1858 SIMMONDS Diet. Trade, Tinsmith^ a worker in tin.
1865 J.CAMERON Malayan India 6 1 These are. .blacksmiths,
tinsmiths, gunsmiths. 1892 LE CAROS 2f Years Seer.
58
Service (1895) 303 Burke called at a tinsmith s shop, and
asked the smith to solder up a box for him.
Hence Ti nsmi thing 1 vbl. sb. [see -ING 1], doing
tinsmith s work ; working in tin.
1897 Westm. (7(12. 15 Feb. 10/1 His occupation is that of
a tinsmith in Lelth, and one of his platform stories deals
with the tinsmithing job that he was tackling when elected
M.P. 1902 Times 14 July 12/5 The various industries.,
included tinsmithing, carpentry, engineering.
Tin-Stone. The most commonly occurring
form of tin ore ; cassiterite, native tin dioxide
(peroxide). Also attrib.
1602 CAREW Cornwall 86 They discouer these workes, by
certaine Tynne-stones, lying on the face of the ground. 1671
Phil. Trans. VI. 2098 Most Tin-stones are porous, not
unlike great bones almost throughly calcined. 1805-17 R.
JAMESON Char. Min. (ed. 3) 210 Annular tinstone, .is a four
sided prism, truncated on all the edges and angles. 1839
URE Diet. Arts 1241 There are only two ores of tin ; the
peroxide, or tin-stone, and tin pyrites. 1905 Times n Aug.
3/4 In the tinstone works of Malacca.
Ti ll-stream. Usually in//. Seequot. 1891,
and cf. stream tin s. v. TIN sb. i b.
855 J. R. LEIFCHILD Corn-wall Mines 200 There is no
regularity in these tin-streams, as they are of different
breadths, though seldom less than a fathom. 1891 Labour
Commission Gloss., A tin streams (not stream) deals either
with alluvial deposits or with the refuse of the mines, .and
separates what is valuable, .by washing processes.
So Ti/n-strea mer, one who obtains tin from a
deposit of sand or gravel by washing ; T in-
strea min, the washing of tin from such a deposit.
1839 DE LA BECHE Rep, Geol. Cornw. etc. xiii. 405 Whole
ground, as the tin-streamers term the stanniferous gravel
and superincumbent beds which have not been previously
disturbed by the old men. Ibid. xv. 545 Tin -streaming
seems to have been conducted in Pryce s time much as it is
at present. 1881 H. H. DRAKE in Athenxutn i Oct. 432/3
Tin-streaming was a wealthy and influential industry, that
enriched landlords, tenants, and bounders , who.. set Acts
at defiance. 1899 BARING-GOULD Bk. of West II. 83 This
rubble has been turned over and over by tin-streamers.
Tint (tint), sb.l [app. altered from the earlier
TINCT, which may already have been so pronounced ;
but It. tinta tint, hue, may have influenced the
technical use in painting.]
1. A colour, hue, usually slight or delicate ; a
tinge; esp. one of the several lighter or deeper
shades or varieties, or degrees of intensity, of the
same colour: see quots. 1848-79 in sense 2.
1717 POPE Epist. to Mr. Jervas 5 Whether thy hand
strike out some free design, .. Or blend in beauteous tint
the colour d mass. 1754 GRAY Pleasure 42 Chastised by
sabler tints of woe. 1798 WORDSW. Thorn v, Ah me ! what
lovely tints are there Of olive green and scarlet bright. 1834
MRS. SOMERVILLE Connex. Phys. Sc. xxxvi. 387 Exhibiting
all the variety of tints that indicates the changes of combus
tion. 1838 !. THOMSON Chem. Org. Bodies 516 It is nearly
colourless, having only a slight tint of yellow. 1878 DALE
Lect. Preach^ v. 128 Autumn tints of brown and gold.
b. fig. in various senses ; esp. Quality, character,
kind ; a slight imparted or modifying character, a
* tinge* of something.
1760 STERNE Scrm. xix, Each one lends it something of
its own complexional tint and character. 1768 Sent.
Journ., Passport, Hotel at Paris, Liberty ! . . No tint of words
can spot thy snowy mantle. 1817 BYRON Manfred m. if,
Our inborn spirits have a tint of thee. 1825 JEFFERSON
Antobiog, Wks. 1859 1. 114 His virtue was of the purest tint.
1901 Empire Rev. I. 360 In New South Wales., free trade was
the dominant tint [at the election].
2. spec. a. Painting , see qnots. Middle tint)
prime tint\ see MIDDLE a. 6, PRIME a, 9 a.
1753 HOGARTH Anal. Beauty xiii. 179 Light and shades. .
become, as it were, our materials, of which prime tints are
the principal. By these I mean the fixed and permanent
colours of each object, as the green of trees, &c. 1784 J.
BARRY in Lect. Paint, v. (1848) 183 The middle tint, or inter-
mediate passage between the two masses of light and dark.
1848 WORNUM ibid. 2ii note, Although there are but three
primitive colours, painters have nine. These are _ yellow,
red, blue,.. orange, purple, green,, .russet, olive, citrine...
AH other gradations of colour are mere tints of the above ;
dark or light, according as they are mixed with black or
white, or according to the proportions in which theyaie
compounded. Thus the variety of tints is infinite. 185961:1.-
LICK & TIMBS Paint. 8 note, Tints differ from each other in
being simply lighter or darker, but hues differ in colour.
Ibid. t In ordinary usage, however, by tints 1 we frequently
mean colours generally, and the word is often substituted
for hues . 1879 POLE in Nature 6 Nov. 15/2 note, In
technical language mixtures of a colour with white are called
tints, with black, shades.
b. Engraving. The effect produced by a series
of fine parallel lines more or less closely drawn so
as to produce an even and uniform shading.
Crossed tint* one produced by lines crossing at right angles.
Ruled tint, one produced by a single series of parallel lines.
Safety tint, that used on bills of exchange, cheques, etc.,
either as a ground of the whole surface, or specially on the
parts which have to be completed in writing, as a security
against alterations.
1880 Print. Trades Jrnl. xxxt. 6 Worked in black, and
light tints, on a stone coloured paper.
3. attrib. and Comb. t as tint work\ tint-block,
a block of wood or metal hatched with fine
parallel lines suitable for printing tints ; tint-
drawing, drawing in diluted shades of various
colours, or in one colour so that the gradations are
produced by washes of pigment ; tint-tool, an im
plement used for hatching or graving a tint-block.
TINTER.
1869 Eng. Mech. 10 Dec. 298/3 Tint-tools. 1873 E. SPON
Workshop Receipts Ser. i. 147/1 The parallel lines forming
an even and uniform tint, as in the representation of a clear
sky, are obtained by what is called the tint-tool. 1884 St.
James Gaz. 24 Oct. 7/1 Mr. Linton. .draws an emphatic
distinction between wood-cutting, .and wood -engraving, or
white-line tint- work, i&yj Daily News 23 Apr. 6/5 He.. is
seen to most advantage in tint works, such as the View over
Romney Marsh.
Tint, sb2 dial. [Origin uncertain: perh. two
different words.
In sense i tint may be a variant of tent dial., lit. trial ,
f. L. tentnre to try. It is also possible that tint in sense 2,
quot. 1886, has the same origin (quasi not a taste, not a
trace J; but it is very doubtful whether this origin can be
assumed for quot. a 1225.]
1. ? A trial, taste, touch ; a foretaste ; a trace,
indication (<?/" anything). Sc.
1768 Ross Helenore in. 122 Great search for her was
made, baith far an near. But tint nor tryal never cud appear.
1878 \V. THOH in Whistle Binkie (1890) II. 44 The half-
ta en kiss., Is, heaven kens, fu sweet amen s. An tints o
heaven here. 1887 Suppl. to Jamieson, Tint, proof, evi
dence, indication ; forecast, foretaste; The beast sawa, and
ye 11 ne er get tint or wlttins o t*.
2. After negative: l^Not) a bit, particle, atom.
\a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1254 pset nefde hare nan tunge to taue-
lin a tint wi&.J 1886 ROSA MULHOLLAND Marcella. Grace
xii, We haven t had a tint o milk these three days.
Tint (tint), ppl. a. Now only Sc. and north,
dial. [pa. pple. of TINE z/.-] Lost.
a 1340 HAMPOLE Psalter xvii. 18 Eot if^e lefe goure syn
and doe penaunce }e be tynt men. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints iii.
I (Andreas) 438 How J>e tynt sawlis of al men War brocht to
|je restorynge Of }>e croice. c 1500 KENNEDY Passion of
Christ 214 Lord and King, Send fra J>e hevin the tynt man
1 to recure. a 1584 MONTGOMERY Ckerrie <y Sloe 816 Tint
tyme we may not get again. 1725 RAMSAY Gentle Sheph.
in. iii, But we re nae sooner fools to give consent, Than we
our daffin, and tint power repent.
Tint (tint), v . [f. TINT sb. 1 ] trans. To impart
a tint to ; to colour, esp. slightly or with delicate
shades ; to tinge. Also absol.
1791 MRS. RADCLIFKE ROM. Forest i, The sun at length
i tinted the eastern clouds and the tops of the highest hills.
1833 J. RENNIE Alph. Angling 22 Silken or hempen lines
may be tinted by a decoction of oak bark. 1860 TVNDALL
Glac. r. xvi. 106 The sun . . still tinted the clouds with red and
purple. 1873 BLACK Pr. Th ule xxvii, The beautiful colours
of August tinting the great masses of rock. 1893 Westm.
, Gaz. 28 Feb. 3/1, I can t call him a painter at all. A man
; of marvellous imagination, a surprising flow of lovely fancies
. but a painter, no ! He merely tints.
fig* *799 ANNA SEWARD Sonn, i. Poet. Wks. 1810 III. 122
No more young Hope tints with her light and bloom The
i darkening scene. 1861 HOLLAND Less. Life v. 72 All truth
is tinted by the medium through which it passes.
b. techn. (See quot.)
1857 YOUMANS Handbk. tfouseh. Sc. 161 By the addition
I of black the red is said to be shaded, by the addition of
j white it is tinted.
C. intr. fa pass. To become tinted or coloured.
1892 Pict. World 7 May 32/3 The forced leaves, .begin to
tint in about three hours.
Hence Ti nted ppl. a. y coloured, tinged, dyed ;
tinted drawing = tint-drawing : see TINT sb. 1 3.
1821 CRAIG Lect. Drawing \. 15 Mr. Sandby.. denomi
nated this manner tinted drawing. 1831 WILLIAMS Life <y
Corr. Sir T. Lawrence, II. 351 note t The tinted drawings of
Lawrence are calculated to give the finest feelings to the
imagination. 185* THACKERAY ZTjw/cw^ n. xi, A face., like a
tinted statue. 1903 Daily Chron. 8 May 8/5 Talking of
make-up reminds me of what we now call tinted hair.
Tint, obs. f. TENT $b.\ pa. t of TINE z.2
Ti n-ta ck. A tack, or short light iron nail,
coated with tin.
1840 DICKENS Old C. Shop xxviii, Mrs. Jarley served out
the tin tacks from a linen pocket. 1887 G. R. SIMS Mary
Jane s Mem. vit. 91 He had trodden on a tin-tack on the
carpet, point up.
Ti-ntage. rare. [f. TINT j.l + -AGE.] Tints
in the mass ; tinting.
1859 R. F. BURTON CV/r. /?/>. in Jrnl Geog.Soc. XXIX.
213 The sight wearies with the unvarying tintage all shin
ing green and vivid blue.
Tintamarre (tintama r). Now rare. Forms :
6 tyntamar, 7 tintamare, -marr, tintimare,
-marre, (tinamar), 7-8 tintamar, (9 -mara,
-merre, tintimar), 7- tintamarre. [a. F. tinta-
marre ( 5th c.), of obscure origin : see suggestion
in Littre.] A confused noise, uproar, clamour,
racket, hubbub, clatter.
1567 FESTON Trag. Disc. 418, I leave you to judge what a
tyntamar entred the head of therle. 1603 KLORIO Montaigne
in. xiii. 644 Hee learnd and profited much by that hurly
burly or tmlimare. 1640 HOWELL Dodotia s Gr. 64 He
preservd Ampelona.. without the least tintamarre or noise
of commotion. 1705 VANBRUGH Confed. v. !i, But amongst
all this tintamar, 1 don t hear a word of my hundred pounds.
1806-7 J- BERESFORD Miseries Hum. Life, Post. Groans
xxiii, During its intolerable, indomitable, and interminable
tintamara. 1834 H. GR*.\ \I.LK Diary -21 Nov. (1883) 40 Such
a tintamarre I never heard, but the audience were enthu
siastic. 1901 Academy 28 Dec. 635/1 The just.. praise he
wishes to utter is forestalled by a tintimar of rash eulogy.
Tintare, obs. f. tine-tare \ see TINE sb.* b.
Tint-block, -drawing, etc. : see TINT sb. 1 3.
Tinte, obs. form of TENT sb* (wine).
Tintenaga, tintenagall.erron. var. TUTENAO.
Tiiiter (ti ntai). [f. TINT v. + -ER!.] One
who or that which tints ; now esp* an artist or
TINTEBNEL.
painter skilful in tinting; spec. b. a tinted glass
slide used with plain slides in a magic lantern ;
c. an instrument or machine for tinting or colour-
inor paper or engraving tint-blocks.
1823 BYRON 7 xui. cxi, Good hours of fair cheeks are
the fairest timers. 1830 CUNNINGHAM Brit. Painters II.
181 He was a most splendid tinter, but no colourist. 1862
THORNBURY Turner I. 48 The tinters of backgrounds still
survive. 1891 LEWIS \J-&\G\\\ Optical Projection viii. (1906)
122 Timers may add very much to the pleasing effect of
plain photogiaphs, if used with suitable subjects.
t Tinternel. Obs. Also tyu-. [Origin un
ascertained. (Cf. F. tinter to ring.)] ?Some form
of instrumental music. Hence f Tinternelling a.
1575 GASCOIGNE Adv. F. /. Wks. 210 Calling the musi-
tions [he] caused them softly to sounde the Tynternall.
Jbid. 218 His Mist res could not be quiet vntill she heard
hym repeat the Tinternell which he had vsed ouer niiiht.
Ibid., She demanded secretly and in sad earnest, who
deuised this Tinternell. 1593 NASHE Christ s T. (1613)69
The Virgins on their loud tinternelling Timbrils .. should
haue descanted on my praises. [1847-78 HALLIWKLL, Tinter-
nell, the name of an old dance. (Hence in later Diets.
Auihoiily for tins statement is not given.)]
t Tint for taut. Obs. Also tint for taunt.
[A reduplicated phrase with antithetic modification
of the first member : cf. /// for tat. Probably
altered from taunt for (pour} taunt (TAUNT
sb.l i).] Retaliation, retort in kind.
1620 T. GRANGER Div. Lt/tik* 124 Regestion is commonly
termed like for like, pin drilling out a pin, tint for taunt,
&c. 1677 COLES Eng. Lat, Diet. s.v. Tint, To pive one tint
for tant, p<ir ari rejcrre, 1710 (tit If) Tint for J aunt. The
Manager Managed. .in Remarks. .upon a Sermon.. in ..St.
Paul Covent-Garden .. by .. R. L. Lloyd. 1828 Craven
Gtoss. s. v., Tint for tant , a requital, similar to tit for tnt.
Tintiness: see after TINTY a.
Tinting (trntirj), vbl.sb. [f. TINT v. + -ING *.]
The action of TINT v. ; the result of this ; tint or
tints ; colouring. Also attrib. ; tinting-tool =
tint-tool (TINT j<M 3),
1853 KANE Gr tnnell Exp. ix. (1856) 64 The water and the
sky.. had a pearly or ash-colored tinting. 1856 E. CAPFRN
Poenn, Gentle Annie, Scarce fifteen rosy years had left
Their timings on her cheek. 1879 ATCHERLEY Boerland 72
In colour it is very pleasing, the ground tinting being a
cinnamon brown.
Tintinnabulant (tiatina-bWUnt), a. [f. as
next -H -ANT 1 .] Ringing or tinkling as a small bell;
jingling. (This and the allied words all pedantic.)
1812 H. & J. SMITH ReJ. Addr., Johnson* sGhoitj\\&t. lifi-
neousbarricado. .decorated with frappant and tintinnabulant
appendages. 1865 Daily Tel. 13 June, The tintinnabulant
fancies of an Edgar Poe.
Tintinnabular (tintinae-bWlaj), a. [f. L.
tinlinnabnl-um bell + -AH.] next.
1767 S. PATERSON Another Trav. I. 392 The vulgar tin-
tinnabular art of pulling ropes. 1835 Frasers Mag. XII.
97 He seems .. to sympathise with the bell-ringer in his
tintinnabular enthusiasm. 1856 C. BF.DE Tales College
Life 57 He threw down the [morning paper], and imme
diately responded to the tintinnabular call.
Tintinnabulary (tintime-bidlari), a. (j.)
[f. as prec. + -ARY 1. Cf. med.L. tintinndbnldrhts
bell-man (Oxford Laudian Statutes}. } Of or
pertaining to bells or bell-ringing ; of the nature of
a bell ; characterized by bell-ringing.
1787 G. COLMAN Prose Sev. Occas., Let.fr. Lcxiphanes
Gloss., Ding-dong, Tintinabulaty chimes, used metaphori
cally to signify dispatch and vehemence. 1839 New Monthly
Mag. LVII, 131 That truly tintinnabulary peculiarity of
the British nation, the half-hour bell . 1886 T. FROST
Country Jrnliit. 101 The boy who responded promptly to
the tintinnabulary summons.
b. sb. A bell-ringer.
1825 A>- Monthly Afaf. XIV. 494 Sacred, but at the
same time thoughtless tmtmnabularies.
Tintinnabulate (tintinarbitfl^t), a. rare. [ad.
L. tintinnabulat-its furnished with a bell or bells,
f. tintinndbidum bell : see -ATE a 2.] Bell-shaped.
1874 RUSKIN VaiD Arne i. 22 (1886) 13 How that lintin-
nabulate roof differs from the dome of the Pantheon.
So Tintinna bulate v., intr. to ring, tinkle.
1906 Daily Chr on. 4 Sept. 4/4 For some days past.. the
ox bells have clinked and lintmnabulated.
Tintinnabulation (tintinbijH?i*j), [n.
of action f. L. tintinnabuhtm bell : see -ATION.] A
ringing of a bell or bells, bell-ringing ; the sound
or music so produced.
1831 POE Bells \, Keeping time.. To the tintinabulation
that so ^musically swells From the bells. 1883 READB in
Harper $ Mag, Jan. 259/1 All this tintinnabulation. .grati
fied Vladimir s vanity.
Tintinnabulatory (tintinae birflatari), a. [f. as
TINTINNABULATE a. + -OKY.] = TINTINNABULAHY.
1817 W. G. S. Excurs. Vill. Curate 129 Tapster of the
tintinnabulatory cerevisiarutu, vulgo ale-house. 1880 Daily
Tel. io Dec. 5/3 A clause authorising ihe tintinnabulatory
PJ olllu R at i on f muffins,
Tintinnabule. humorous nonce-wit, [ad. L.
tintinnabul-um.] A bell.
1834 Frasers Mag. IX. 711 The tintinnabulc.. brought
to my hand the promised jug of bubbling water.
Tintinna-bulism. nonce-ivd. [f. as prec. +
-ISM,] The art or practice of bell-ringing. So
Tintinna bulist, a professional Ix-ll-ringer.
1826 .\V Monthly Mag. XVI. 474 An Armenian mass
with all its tintinabulism *, and nas.il singing, and incon-
59
dite music . 1830 Frasers Mag. II. 450 An army of red-
coated tintinnabulists are called for to remind the greasy
citizens of the lime,
Tintinnabulous (tmtinse-bitfbs), a. [f. L.
tintinndbul iim : see next and -ous.] Character
ized by or pertaining to bell-ringing.
1791-3 in Spirit Piil>. yrnls. (1799) I. 225 Tinlinnabulous
Intrepidity, or scenes of bell-ringing. 1822-56 DEQUINCEY
Confess. (1862) 214, I, with many others who suffered
from liis tinlimiabulous propensities. 1897 F. THOMPSON
Poems, New Year s Chimes, Tintinnabulous, tuned to ring
A multitudinous-single thing, Rung all in rhyme.
|| Tintinnabulum (tmtinarbiwlym), PI. -a.
[L., a bell, f. tintinna-re to ring, clink, jingle -t-
-bitlum, suffix of instrument.] A small tinkling
bell. Also/?^. b. See quot. 1877.
[1398 THE VISA Barth. DC P. A*, xix. cxxviii. (1495) 9,5
Timiiiabulum is the belle that is often hangyd abo .vte the
ncckes of houndes & fete of foules and byrdes.] 1597 ist
Pt. Return fr. Parmiss. v. i. 1465 Thoue whorsonn tintu-
nabulum, thou that art the scorne of all good wins. 1782
COWPKR Table-t. 529 Heating alternately, in measured time,
The clockwork lintinnabulum of rhyme. 1877 KMCKT Diet.
Mech., TintiunrtbuluHt, a musical instrument of pfrnusiion,
consisting of a number of bells suspended in a frame.
t Ti-ntinnate, v. Obs. rarc~^. [f. ppl. stem of
L. tintinnare to ring: see -ATE ^ 5.] intr. To
: ring, as a 1*11 ; to tinkle. Hence fTintinna tion
| Obs. rare~^, a ringing, a tinkling.
1623 COCKEKAM, Tintinate, to ring like a bell. 1658
PHILLIPS, Tintinnation, * ringing like a bell.
Tintist (ti ntist). [f. TINT sb.^- + -IST 4.] One
skilled in tinting, a tinier; one who prefers tinting
to colouring.
1890 Univ. Rev. May 32 There arc- the camps of the
i colourists and the tintists.
Tintless (thules), a. [f. TINT sbl + -LESS.]
Having no lint or tints ; devoid of colour.
1789 E. DARWIN Bot. Card. i. 491 The Adept. .Shades
i with pellucid clouds the tint less field. 1813 T. JJuswv
I Lucretius I. n. 811 Tintless themselves, no colours seeds
! unfold.^ 1878 Frascr s Mag. XVIII. 767 The blue heaven,
as we rise into it, is mere tintless air.
tTinto (trnt0), sbl Obs. [a. Sp. tinto tinted,
j deep-coloured, in vino tinto a blackish wine in
Spaine* (Minsheu).] Tent wine; = TENT sd.*
Also the name of a French wine : see quot. 1833.
1599 MINSHEU Sp. Diet., Dial. 6 Which will you haue
Sir, Sack or Tinto [Sp. bianco o tintoV*. .Ifnrg., Tinto Is a
wine in Spaine red and blackish. 1833 C. REDDING Wines
(1851) 138 In the airondissement of Montet Smart [in France]
..there is a vineyard .in ihe commune of Rochegude, and
the wine produced there, called Tinto, sells for a hundred
francs the hectolitre. 1858 SIMMONDS Diet. Trade, Tinto,
a red Madeira wine, wanting the high aroma of the white
sorts; and, when old, resembling tawny port.
tTinto (trnttf), a. and sb.- Obs. [a. It. Unto
dyed, tinted; a dye.] adj. Tinted; sb. a tint:
see quots.
1686 AGMONHY Painting Illustr. Explan. Terms, Tinto,
is, when a thing is done only with one Colour, and that
generally Black. 1739 EI.IZ. CARTER Atgarotii on 1 New
ton s Theory (1742) I. 203 You will see Colours and half
Tintos appear.
Tintometer (tintp mftw). [f. TINT sb. 1 +
-OMKTER.] An apparatus for the exact determina
tion of colour : see quots,, and cf. COLORIMETER.
1889 Daily Neivs 9 May 5/7 Royal Society Soiree.. .Mr.
J. W. Lovibond, of Salisbury, exhibited an instrument called
; the Tintometer, an invention which, by means of numberless
slips of coloured glasses, measures colour blindness and
differences of colour vision between the two eyes. 1895
If^fsfnt. Gaz. n Nov. 3/1 The inventor of a tintometer has
told us recently that he can account for 60,000,000 shades of
colour. 1898 AllbutCs Syst. Med. V. 433 With the tinto-
j meter. .three sets of definitely graded glasses are provided.
Hence Tintome tric a., of or pertaining to a
tintometer; Tinto metry, the use of a tintometer.
1901 Buck s Handbk. Med. Sc. II. 58 Dark Box for Esti-
mating Percentage of Hemoglobin by the Tintometric
Method. 1909 Cent. Dut 
