The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section T, U, V, and W

The letter derives its name and form from the Latin, the form of the Latin letter being further derived through the Greek from the Phœnician. The ultimate origin is probably Egyptian. It is etymologically most nearly related to d, s, th; as in tug, duke; two, dual, L. duo; resin, L. resina, Gr. "rhti`nh, tent, tense, a., tenuous, thin; nostril, thrill. See D, S.

T bandage (Surg.), a bandage shaped like the letter T, and used principally for application to the groin, or perineum. — T cart, a kind of fashionable two seated wagon for pleasure driving. — T iron. (a) A rod with a short crosspiece at the end, — used as a hook. (b) Iron in bars, having a cross section formed like the letter T, — used in structures. — T rail, a kind of rail for railroad tracks, having no flange at the bottom so that a section resembles the letter T. — T square, a ruler having a crosspiece or head at one end, for the purpose of making parallel lines; — so called from its shape. It is laid on a drawing board and guided by the crosspiece, which is pressed against the straight edge of the board. Sometimes the head is arranged to be set at different angles. — To a T, exactly, perfectly; as, to suit to a T. [Colloq.]

Ta (?), v. t. To take. [Obs. or Scot.] Cursor Mundi.

Used by Chaucer to represent a peculiarity of the Northern dialect.

Taas (?), n. A heap. See Tas. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Tab (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] 1. The flap or latchet of a shoe fastened with a string or a buckle.

2. A tag. See Tag, 2.

3. A loop for pulling or lifting something.

4. A border of lace or other material, worn on the inner front edge of ladies' bonnets.

5. A loose pendent part of a lady's garment; esp., one of a series of pendent squares forming an edge or border.

Ta*bac"co (?), n. Tobacco. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

||Ta*ba"nus (?), n. [L., horsefly.] (Zoöl.) A genus of blood sucking ||flies, including the horseflies. || Tab"ard (?), n. [OE. tabard, tabart; cf. Sp. & Pg. tabardo, It. tabarro, W. tabar, LGr. &?;, LL. tabardum.] A sort of tunic or mantle formerly worn for protection from the weather. When worn over the armor it was commonly emblazoned with the arms of the wearer, and from this the name was given to the garment adopted for heralds. [Spelt also taberd.]

In a tabard he [the Plowman] rode upon a mare.

Chaucer.

Tab"ard*er (?), n. 1. One who wears a tabard.

2. A scholar on the foundation of Queen's College, Oxford, England, whose original dress was a tabard. Nares.

Tab"a*ret (?), n. [Cf. Tabby.] A stout silk having satin stripes, — used for furniture.

Tab`a*sheer" (?), n. [Per. tabshr: cf. Skr. tvakkshr, tvakshr.] A concretion in the joints of the bamboo, which consists largely or chiefly of pure silica. It is highly valued in the East Indies as a medicine for the cure of bilious vomitings, bloody flux, piles, and various other diseases.

Tab"bi*net (?), n. [Cf. Tabby.] A fabric like poplin, with a watered surface. [Written also tabinet.]

Tab"by (?), n.; pl. Tabbies (#). [F. tabis (cf. It. tabì, Sp. & Pg. tabí, LL. attabi), fr. Ar. 'attb, properly the name of a quarter of Bagdad where it was made, the quarter being named from the prince Attab, great grandson of Omeyya. Cf. Tobine.] 1. A kind of waved silk, usually called watered silk, manufactured like taffeta, but thicker and stronger. The watering is given to it by calendering.

2. A mixture of lime with shells, gravel, or stones, in equal proportions, with an equal proportion of water. When dry, this becomes as hard as rock. Weale.

3. A brindled cat; hence, popularly, any cat.

4. An old maid or gossip. [Colloq.] Byron.

Tab"by (?), a. 1. Having a wavy or watered appearance; as, a tabby waistcoat. Pepys.

2. Brindled; diversified in color; as, a tabby cat.

Tabby moth (Zoöl.), the grease moth. See under Grease.

Tab"by, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tabbied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tabbying (?).] To water; to cause to look wavy, by the process of calendering; to calender; as, to tabby silk, mohair, ribbon, etc.

Tab`e*fac"tion (?), n. [See Tabefy.] A wasting away; a gradual losing of flesh by disease.

Tab"e*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tabefied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tabefying (?).] [L. tabere to waste away + -fy: cf. L. tabefacere to melt.] To cause to waste gradually, to emaciate. [R.] Harvey.

Ta*bel"lion (?), n. [L. tabellio, fr. tabella a tablet, a writing, document, dim. of tabula a board: cf. F. tabellion. See Table.] A secretary or notary under the Roman empire; also, a similar officer in France during the old monarchy.

Ta"ber (?), v. i. Same as Tabor. Nahum ii. 7.

Tab"erd (?), n. See Tabard.

Tab"er*na*cle (?), n. [F., fr. L. tabernaculum, dim. of taberna nut. See Tabern.] 1. A slightly built or temporary habitation; especially, a tent.

Dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob.

Heb. xi. 9.

Orange trees planted in the ground, and secured in winter with a wooden tabernacle and stoves.

Evelyn.

2. (Jewish Antiq.) A portable structure of wooden framework covered with curtains, which was carried through the wilderness in the Israelitish exodus, as a place of sacrifice and worship. Ex. xxvi.

3. Hence, the Jewish temple; sometimes, any other place for worship. Acts xv. 16.

4. Figuratively: The human body, as the temporary abode of the soul.