WORDCRAFT DICTIONARY, T
Note:
clickable items link to Wordcraft Archives, which may have further notes
tabby – toponym: 1.
silk taffeta (originally striped), esp. with a moiré finish 2. a
striped or brindled cat; or a she-cat (further, obscure meanings are
omitted)
tabula
rasa – an
absence of preconceived ideas or predetermined goals
tachygrapher – one who writes shorthand; a
stenographer
tachygraphy – shorthand; the art
of rapid writing
tacky [etymology] – 1. in
neglected disrepair 2. in bad taste or offensive
tadger; todger – Brit. slang from the 1950s: penis (affectionately)
tadoma – [eponym] a way for a deaf-blind
person to "hear" a conversation by touch
taffeta – a fine crisp
lustrous fabric
tafumtu – see snafu
take to the woodshed (or 'to woodshed') – U.S politics: 1. orig.:
to 'grill' someone brutally, in private; to subject to no-holds-barred
questioning 2. more commonly: to criticize scathingly
talisman – an object as a charm to avert
evil or good fortune; figuratively, something producing apparently
magical or miraculous effects
tall boy – slang: a 16-ounce beer can
tall poppy syndrome – cutting down to size anyone who sets himself up as
superior
talus¹ (plural taluses) – a sloping mass of loose rock
at the foot of a cliff (also, a like slope of an earthwork or tapering
wall)
talus² (plural tali) – the anklebone [also called the astragalus]
tamp – to pack down such matter as
powder, sand, coffee grounds, tobacco
Note: sources simply say "ram down" or "pack down".
Wordcrafter suggests 'tamp' pertains only to "loose" small matter:
you can ram a spike into the ground, or pack down items in a suitcase, but you
would not tamp them.
tampion – a cover
or a wooden plug for the muzzle of a gun, to keep it clean and dry
tandem – one behind the
other (as bicycle-riders, carriage-horses, or airplane cockpits) [a pun on
Latin tandem ‘at length’, which refers to a length of time.]
tanner – British slang: the
old sixpence (see coins and currency)
TANSTAAFL – the principle,
"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free
Lunch"
tantony – eponym: the runt of a litter; also,
the smallest bell in a church; also, one who constantly, obsequiously
follows after another
Tapleyism – eponym: optimism in
the most hopeless circumstances [a very rare word]
tarantella – toponym: rapid
whirling South Italian dance, once thought to be the sovereign remedy for
tarantism [Note: in this context, sovereign means "of the utmost
potency".]
tarantism – toponym: a
disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to dance
tarantula – toponym: a
large black wolf spider of southern Europe (or similar hairy spiders of the
tarantulate – to excite or govern the emotions by music
tarassis – male hysteria. How interesting
that our language persists in almost-exclusively use of the term hysteria, which is
feminine (from Greek for "womb")
tarfu – see snafu
tarn – a lake that
develops in the basin of a cirque (more generally, a small
mountain lake)
Tartarean – toponym: hellish, infernal [from Tartarus, a section of
Hades reserved for punishment of the wicked]
tartuffe – eponym: a hypocrite, esp. who affects piety
tattersall – toponym: noun & adj. a cloth with a pattern of
dark lines forming squares on a light background; the pattern itself
taurine – like a bull
tautology – 1. an empty statement which is, by definition true. (Either
we'll go or we'll stay.) 2. redundancy
taw – a large choice or
fancy marble, often streaked or variegated, being that with which the player
shoots
tawdry – eponym: gaudy and cheap; also, by
extension: sordid; sleazy: her tawdry past
tawse – a leather strap used for
disciplining children
taxis – see tropism (not
'taxicabs'!)
taxonomy – classification of plants and animals; classification and
categorization generally
Taylorism – eponym: the
principles or practice of the
teave – dial.: work; struggle
telamon – (pl. telamones) a figure of a man used
as a supporting column (synonym atlas [pl. atlantes]; the femele
version, caryatid, is much
more common)
telematics – the branch of information technology dealing with long-distance
transmission of computerized information
teleology – the philosophical study of
purpose
tempean – (of a place)
of great and delightful natural beauty (a very rare word)
temper (metals) – to harden by alternately heating and cooling
temulent – drunken,
intoxicated
tendentious – highly partisan; marked by a
strong tendency in favor of a particular point of view
tender offer (oxymoron) – a general, public
offer to buy a firm’s stock at a premium price
tenebrism – a style of painting in which
most of the figures are engulfed in shadow but some are dramatically
illuminated by a beam of light
tentiginous – 1. stiff;
stretched; strained. 2. lustful, or pertaining to lust
teosinte – a tall grass of Mexican/Central American, related to corn/maize and
cultivated for fodder
tephra – solid matter
ejected into the air by an erupting volcano
tephromancy – divination by ashes [dictionary at mancy
lists 54 form of divination]
tergiversate – 1. to change sides;
abandon a cause; apostatize 2. to equivocate; to evade by deliberate
ambiguity
termagant – eponym: an or overbearing, quarrelsome
or nagging woman; a
shrew
terminus ante quem – the latest possible date of a past occurrence; the date
by which it must have occurred ['limit before which']. Also known as terminus ad
quem.
terminus post quem – the earliest possible date of a past occurrence; the
date after which it must have occurred ['limit after which']. Also known as terminus a quo.
terp
– slang: an interpreter
terpsichorean – eponym: noun: a dancer. adj. relating to
dancing
terrane – “an accretion that has collided with a continental
nucleus, or 'craton,
but can be recognized by the foreign origin of its rock strata"
(Wikipedia)
terrapin – one of certain small freshwater
turtles [Algonquin. The earlier form, torope, had by coincidence curious
similarity to torpor.]
testaceous – reddish-brown (brick-colored) or
brownish-yellow (also – pertaining to shells; hard-shelled)
tester bed – a four-poster bed topped by a
wooden canopy
testiculose – "that hath
great Cods" (Grose’s Dictionary of
the Vulgar Tongue)
tetchy – mildly
testy; irritable; grumpy
tête-à-tête – 1. a private conversation
between two persons 2. a sofa for two. adj. & adv.:
without the intrusion of a third person; in intimate privacy
thalassocracy – maritime supremacy;
command of the seas (naval power or commercial power) (thalassocrat)
thalian – eponym: pertaining to
comedy; comic
thank-you-ma'am – a ridge or hollow across a road to turn
aside rain-water [from the sudden bowing of a person, caused by the pitching of
a vehicle in crossing such a place]
Thatcherism – the political policy of Margaret
Thatcher
thaumaturgy – making magic or miracles (derivatives: thaumaturge,
thaumaturgist, thaumaturgus,
thaumaturgise, and thaumatrope)
the 400 – see four hundred
theave – a ewe lamb of the first year; also, a sheep
three years old
thenar – the fleshy mass on the palm of
the hand at the base of the thumb
theodolite – a surveying
instrument with a rotating telescope, for measuring horizontal and vertical
angles
theologaster – a petty or contemptible
theologian
theomancy – divination by pretending to divine by the revelation of the Spirit, and by the
Scriptures, or word of God [dictionary at
mancy lists 54 form of divination]
therblig – eponym: a basic elements in a task or manual operation.
Gilbreth coined the word, basically his own name spelled backwards
theremin –
considered the first electronic musical instrument, invented in 1919 by Russian
born Lev Sergeivitch Termen, which he anglicized to Leon Theremin
theriomancy – divination by beasts [dictionary at
mancy lists 54 form of divination]
thersitical – eponym: loud and abusive;
foul-mouthed, scurrilous
thespian – eponym: an
actor or actress; also, related to drama and the theater
thill – either of the two long shafts between which an animal is fastened
when pulling a wagon
thin red line – a small but valiant
line of defense standing between victory and defeat. ["thin blue line" is also used, when referring to
police.]
think piece – a thought-provoking, speculative
writing
third estate – the commons (especially in
thirlable – that may be thirled or pierced; penetrable
thole – a wooden peg, set in pairs
in a boat's gunwales, to serve as an oarlock
thorp; thorpe – a village or hamlet
thrasonical – eponym: boastful,
bragging, vainglorious
three-tailed bavalorus – a comical and mythical beast of
the northwestern
throe – a severe pang or
spasm of pain, as in childbirth
through-line – unifying element of a scene, play, book,
etc.
thrum – to make a
continuous rhythmic humming sound [with the suggestion of suppressed power
about to break fourth] (noun: the sound itself)
thrunched – very angry, displeased [obsolete; from The
Word Museum by J. Kacirk]
thrutch – to push or to squeeze out
tilde – the ~ sign
tilth – the physical
condition of particular soil (less commonly: tilled ground)
Timbuktu – a extremely remote place. going
to
timorous (also here) – timid; or
expressing timidity
tin god – a self-important and overbearing
person (esp. a minor official)
ting – a light and clear metallic
sound, as of a small bell (verb: to
give off that sound)
tinking (knitting) – un-knitting;
carefully taking each stitch back [“tink” is “knit” spelled
backwards]
tintinnabulation – a
tinkling sound, as of a bell or bells
tip-off – (from basketball) figurative: the commencement of an
other extended activity
titan – eponym: one of prodigious
size, strength, or achievement
titch; tich; titchy – eponym: very small
titian – eponym: a
brownish orange
titivate – to spruce up
titubate – to stumble or stagger; also,
to rock or reel, like a curved-bottom bowl on a table. titubation – a staggered or unbalanced
gait
titular – 1. relating to a title 2. holding or constituting a
formal position or title without any real authority. [Anyone who thought
otherwise has a dirty mind!]
toad-eater – a fawning flatterer,
parasite, sycophant (also called a toady)
toad-in-the-hole – Brit: sausages cooked in batter. Delicious. Recipe
toadstool – an umbrella-shaped
mushroom, typically a poisonous or inedible one
Tobacco Road – a squalid poverty-stricken rural
area or community
tocology – the science of
childbirth; midwifery or obstetrics
tocsin – the ringing of an alarm bell (or
the bell itself); extended, an alarm
Tom and Jerry – eponym: a hot sweetened drink of rum,
water and spices and a separately-beaten egg
Tom Collins – eponym: a collins drink with a base of gin
Tom
Swiftie – a wellerism
based on a punning adverb
tomcat – eponym: a
male cat (to tomcat: [of a man] to pursue women promiscuously)
Tommy Atkins – eponym: a
British soldier
tommy gun – eponym: a Thomson (or other) submachine gun
tonal language – a language that uses pitch as an
intrinsic part of the meaning (Many East Asian languages are tonal, as are many
from Africa and
tonneau – 1. the rear seating compartment, in a
car with separate front/rear compartments (e.g., a
tontine – eponym: a pooled fund where the entire fund goes to the
last-surviving participant
toothsome – 1.
temptingly tasty to the mouth 2. attractive, alluring (esp.,
sexually appealing to the eye)
tope – to habitually
drink alcohol excessively
toponym – the name of a
place, or a word derived from a place name
topophysis – the growth
response of a plant part depending on its orientation or position on the plant
Topsy ("growed like topsy") – eponym: "growed like
Topsy": figure of speech for growing by itself, without apparent design or
intention
toque [rhymes with poke]
– 1. the chef's
hat, tall and white (more fully, toque blanche)
2. a certain small woman's
hat, brimless and close-fitting. (Also, see tuque.)
torii – a Japanese
gateway of light construction, often put at the entrance to a Shinto
shrine. two posts and two crosspieces. [from Japanese for “bird’s nest”]
torpid – sluggish, in mind or in body [noun:
torpor]
torschlusspanik (literally "shut door
panic") – a sense of panic in middle age brought on by the feeling that
life is passing you by. But the term has broad application; one
finds it defined or applied as
(a) middle-aged men pursuing young women for a final fling "before the
gates close";
(b) young women fearing they will not be married until they are to old to have
children;
(c) the woman who longs to rediscover the excitement of youth and fears being
left "on the shelf" (OED);
(d) a rush to get in on a financial opportunity before the door shuts
tosherooon – British slang: the half-crown coin (see coins and
currency)
tosspot – a drunkard
touchstone – a standard or criterion used to judge something's quality or
genuineness
tourbillion – 1. lit.
or fig.: a whirling mass or system; a vortex; a whirl; an eddy, a
whirlpool. 2. a firework which spins as it rises, forming a spiral or
scroll of fire
tournure – 1. graceful
manner or bearing 2. a woman's bustle or other padding "to give
shapeliness" to her waist or hips
Toyko Rose – eponym:
occasionally used to mean one broadcasting negative propaganda to military
troops
tragus (also here) – the fleshy bump of
cartilage, on the ear, in front of the
ear-hole
tralatitious – passed along from
generation to generation [Wordcrafter note: but not in the sense of an heirloom
(complimentary) but rather in the negative sense of “dubious received wisdom;
fossilized doctrine”.]
tramontane – adj: from another
country; foreign (noun a foreigner). [also, "on the far side
of the mountains"; also, a certain wind blowing across the
tranquillityite – toponym: a
certain mineral not of earth, found in the
transmogrify – to change into a different shape
or form, esp. one that is fantastic or bizarre
transpire – to become known; to come to light
(Note – often used to mean “occur” or “happen”. But though some language
experts find this usage acceptable, even they call it pretentious and pompous.)
treacly – cloyingly sweet
treasury bond (or T-bond)
– long-term debt of a government, issued as a tradable security
trebucket – see cucking stool
tregetry – 1. juggling 2.
deception; trickery
tremulous – shaking slightly,
quivering, as with nervousness, timidity, or excitement
trencher – a wooden board or
platter, for carving or serving food
trencherman – a hearty eater
trendelenburg
position – supine (lying on
one's back) and tilted with the head down
trepan¹,² – 1. to
ensnare or entrap (noun: a snare; or, a trickster) 2. an
old surgical instrument to cut into the skull to relieve pressure (or a like
boring instrument for mining). (verb: to use a trepan; to bore.)
trepid – timid; timorous
trepidacious – fearful; agitated; trembling
trepidate – [Ciardi's coinage, not in dictionaries]
to put forth tentatively; to propose (an idea)
trichobezoar – a bezoar in a person, from thrichophagia
trichophagia – chronic pulling
and eating of hair
tricolor – 1. a flag
having three stripes 2. the French flag
trifecta – a bet where the
bettor must name the top three finishers, in order
trilby – eponym: a felt hat with a narrow brim
creased crown
trilithon – a monument of three stones, two uprights with a crosspiece on
top, as in
trime – US silver 3-cent piece
(see coins and currency)
triolet – a poem of 8 lines, with the 1st repeated as the 4th and 7th, and
the 2nd repeated as the last
tritanopia – complete blue-yellow colorblindness
Tritonis – a mythical lake near the Mediterranean coast of
triumvirate – a commission or ruling body of
three persons (triumvir – a member of a
triumvirate)
trivial – (interesting etymology; see
Archives)
trochaic – see iambic
troche – (two syllables; vowel sounds as
in SHOW-me) a medicated lozenge used to soothe the throat. The same lozenge
could also be called a pastille.
troglodyte – 1. a
cave-dweller 2. one who is reclusive, reactionary, out of date, or
brutish
troilism – a ménage à trois; a sexual
relationship involving three people
Trojan – a virus which infects another program: when you
launch the program, the virus gets launched [see malware]
Trojan horse – toponym: someone or something intended
to defeat or subvert from within usually by deceptive means [also used in
computerese]
tropism – involuntary response of an organism turning toward or away from
external stimulus; e.g., a plant turning toward the sun. (Usually applied to plants; in a
microorganism it is usually called taxis.)
trouvaille – a lucky find; a
windfall; something interesting, amusing, or beneficial discovered by chance
troy – toponym;
truckle – to
act servilely or submissively to another
truncheon – Brit: a short thick stick
carried as a weapon, as by a British police officer
truthiness – the quality of stating concepts one wishes or
believes to be true, rather than the facts [American Dialect Society's word of
the year for 2005]
tsatske – Yiddish:
1. a cheap trinket 2. a young woman kept as a rich man’s toy
tsunami – a wave caused by underwater earthquake or volcano. Huge at
harbor, but it crosses ocean imperceptibly small and at jet speed. NOTE:
dictionaries do not note that term is often used metaphorically. Also, often
misused literally as "a huge wave". From Japanese tsu harbor +
nami wave.
tu
quoque [Latin for "you too," or more
loosely, "So's your old man."] – a retort charging an adversary with
doing what he criticizes in others
tuber – see geophyte
tub-thumping – adj. or noun: a forceful, violent or ranting impassioned speech,
based more on emotion than reason
tumbrel; tumbril – a two-wheeled
cart, especially a farmer's cart that can be tilted to dump a load (used to
carry prisoners to execution during the French Revolution)
tumescent – swollen; somewhat tumid
tumid – 1. swollen, distended 2.
overblown,; bombastic: tumid political prose
tump¹ (noun) – a hillock; or a clump of trees, shrubs,
or grass, esp. in a dry spot in a bog
tump² (verb) –
tunic – a papery
protective cover on certain bulbs, such as the onion. A bulb with a tunic is turnicate; one without is imbricate.
tunnel vision – 1.
inability to clearly perceive things unless they are close to the center of the
field of view. 2. informal the tendency to focus exclusively on a
limited view
tuppenny-ha'penny – British
slang: inferior and trivial
Tupperware
– eponym; trademark: a
range of plastic containers, etc., sold exclusively at ‘parties’ for potential
buyers (proprietary name)
tuque or toque (Canadian;
rhymes with duke) – a knitted cap
in the form of a closed bag: one end is tucked into the other to form the cap
turdine – pertaining to thrushes
turkey (etymology) – how did this native
American bird become named for a country 4,000 miles away?
turnicate – see tunic
turnpike – originally, a
spike barrier obstructing a road, as a defense. Later, turnpike came to
mean 'a tollbooth obstructing a road', the road coming to be called a 'turnpike
road', and then simply a 'turnpike'.
turpitude – depravity, baseness or base act;
shameful wickedness
Turveydrop – eponym: a perfect model
of deportment (Turveydropdom; Turveydropian)
tush – an exclamation,
expressing disapproval, impatience, or dismissal
tushery – high-flown, pretentious writing, usually larded with archaic words (the
sort of writing in which the characters say "Tush, tush.")
tuxedo – a toponym. No definition needed
twee – Brit: affectedly quaint,
pretty or sentimental
Tweedledum & Tweedledee – eponym: two individuals or groups that are practically
indistinguishable
twill – a fabric woven to
have a surface of parallel diagonal ridges
twiss (etymology) –
a chamber pot
twitten –
twitterpated – love-struck, smitten [nonce word, in the movie Bambi]
two bits – a spanish coin splitable into 8 parts (pieces of
eight), each a bit; hence two bits = a quarter (see coins and currency)
twonie – slang: Canadian two-dollar coin
twy – a meteor squall on the coasts
tycoon (etymology) – from Japanese
(and ultimately Chinese) meaning '"great lord"
typhlobasia – kissing with the eyes closed
Typhoid Mary – eponym: one who, by
circumstances, spreads something undesirable (contrast Johnny Appleseed,
though not listed in dictionaries as a word: one who seeds and spreads something
desirable.)
tyromancy – divination by cheese [dictionary at
mancy lists 54 form of divination]
tzigane (accent on 2nd
syllable) – a Hungarian gypsy [also seems to be used to mean 'gypsy music',
though I don't find that definition in the dictionaries]
