ear tabn.
/ˈɪə tab/, U.S. /ˈɪ(ə)r ˌtæb/ U.S.† 1. = ear tuft n. (a) at ear n.1 Compounds 2. Obsolete. rare.
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the world > animals > birds > order Strigiformes or owl > [noun] > parts of
operculum1713
disc1769
ear tab1851
plumicorn1883
the world > animals > birds > parts of or bird defined by > [noun] > head > feathers on
cop1483
top1578
copple1600
copple-crowna1635
topping1694
mufty1829
muff1850
ear tab1851
calotte1874
aigrette1917
1851 Monthly Literary Misc. 4 67/2 A couple of white owls..sat in their hooded state, with ruffled pantaletts and long ear-tabs.
2. Either of a pair of tabs, esp. affixed to either side of a cap or hat, which cover the ears for warmth or protection; an ear flap. Usually in plural.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > parts of headgear > [noun] > part which covers ears
lug1495
oreillet1548
ear1579
earpiece1653
ear lappet1670
ear flap1823
ear guard1842
ear tab1855
ear muff1859
1855 Knickerbocker Feb. 199 In stable-yards, old-looking black boys, in cat-skin caps, with ear-tabs to them.
1909 N.Y. Evening Post 28 Jan. 1/6 With the first really cold weather of the winter, there appeared on Broadway the vendors of ear-tabs.
1934 G. C. Stone Gloss. Arms & Armor 56/1 The whole arrangement is very like the caps with reversible ear tabs worn in winter in New England.
1960 E. R. Merriken in J. Dickin Looking for Country (1999) ii. 69 We worked with eartabs turned down and fur collars up, with mittens and wool socks on.
2004 Fund. Fire Fighter Skills (Internat. Assoc. Fire Chiefs) (ed. 4) 32/2 When entering a burning building, the fire fighter should pull down the ear tabs to ensure maximum protection.
3. = earphone n. 1b. Usually in plural. Now rare.
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society > communication > telecommunication > [noun] > reception of signals > instrument for > earphones
earpiece1853
earphone1881
headphone1882
phone1884
headset1900
ear tabc1909
can1927
c1909 M. Penrose Campfire Girls Roselawn xvii. 141 She tore off the eartabs and demanded: ‘What are you doing, Jess? That doesn't sound like anything I ever heard before’.
1922 Short Stories Feb. 36/1 An experience much like the one I had had in the wireless station... Sprague gave me one set of ear tabs and took the other for himself.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1851