tapn.1
/tap/, U.S. /tæp/ 1.
a. A cylindrical stick, long peg, or stopper, for closing and opening a hole bored in a vessel; hence, a hollow or tubular plug through which liquid may be drawn, having some device for shutting off or governing the flow; used especially in drawing liquor from a cask, or water from a pipe, and for regulating the flow of gas, steam, etc.; a cock, a faucet.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > other specific types of equipment > [noun] > tap
tapc1050
faucet?a1400
cockc1483
spigot1530
vice1530
water cock1585
quill1611
spicket1888
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > protective studs or plates > other
speckc1440
under-leather1569
rand1598
tongue1598
ruffle1600
underlay1612
tap1688
jump1712
bottom1768
boot-garter1824
yarking1825
range1840
counter1841
insole1851
sock1851
galosh1853
heel plate1862
lift1862
foxing1865
spring1885
saddle1930
c1050 in Techmer's Int. Zeitschr. f. allg. Sprachwissensch. II. 120 Ðonne þu win habban wille, þonne do þu mid þinum twam fingrum, swilce þu tæppan of tunnan onteon wille.
c1050 in Techmer's Int. Zeitschr. f. allg. Sprachwissensch. II. 120 Tæppan teon.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 27 Vor hit behoueþ þet zuich wyn yerne by þe teppe ase þer is ine þe tonne.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 486/2 Tappe, of a vessel, ductillus, clipsidra.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 279/1 Tappe or spygote to drawe drinke at, chantepleure.
1588 ‘M. Marprelate’ Oh read ouer D. Iohn Bridges: Epist. 42 Sir Ieffry..tooke such vnkindenes at the alehouse, that he sware he would neuer goe againe into it..the tap had great quietnes and ease therby.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory (1905) iii. xx. 231 The Cock or Tapp, letting out the hot water.
1773 J. Hawkesworth Acct. Voy. Southern Hemisphere II. i. ii. 17 It was impossible..to draw out any of its contents by a tap.
1874 J. T. Micklethwaite Mod. Parish Churches 185 A few taps only are turned, and all is ready for lighting.
b. figurative.
ΚΠ
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 36 As many a yeer as it is..Syn þt my tappe [v.r. tap] of lyf bigan to renne.
1599 Master Broughtons Lett. Answered xi. 37 This whole tractate of yours,..is but the droppings of other mens taps.
1658 W. Gurnall Christian in Armour: 2nd Pt. 556 Labour to take the advantage of thy present relenting frame..now the Ordinance hath thawed the tap.
1907 Daily Chron. 18 Apr. 5/6 There was certainly a ‘tap on’, as the vulgar phrase is, in the market yesterday, and much scrip was thrown out at 1/ 2 to 5/ 8 premium.
c. on (in) tap, on draught, ready for immediate consumption or use (literal and figurative); also spec. in Stock Market use, applied to securities which are the subject of a large issue. Cf. quot. 1907 at sense 1b. †to sell by tap (Scottish), to sell in small quantities, to retail (Obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > acquisition > [adjective] > obtained or acquired > able to be > easily
on (in) tap1483
to the fore1636
euporistical1657
push-buttona1935
on-demand1962
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > types or qualities of intoxicating liquor > [adverb] > on draught
on (in) tap1891
society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > [adverb] > as subject of large issue
on (in) tap1923
1483 Seill of Caus, Edinb. 2 May (Jam.) That no common cremaris of the toune wse to sell be tap ony hammermans work.
1862 J. R. Lowell Biglow Papers 2nd Ser. ii. i. 54 Who is he that..has eloquence always on tap?
1890 R. L. Stevenson Vailima Lett. (1895) 35 The moon is on tap again.
1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles I. i. 8 There's a very pretty brew in tap at The Pure Drop.
1917 R. Kipling Diversity of Creatures 251 Then Beetle, concertinaing his books, observed to Winton, ‘When King's really on tap he's an interestin' dog.’
1923 Westm. Gaz. 8 Jan. 4/2 It is some time since ‘additional’ Treasury Bills have been on ‘tap’ at so low a rate as..17/ 8 per cent.
1926 L. R. Robinson Investm. Trust Organization & Managem. 71 Whether the investment trust should raise its funds by keeping ‘on tap’ its offerings to the public and ‘feeding’ them out in response to demand..depends upon a number of factors.
1931 J. Greenhill in Westm. Bank Guild Lectures 1930–1 III. 105 We have not seen Bills ‘on tap’ for some considerable time past.
1935 A. Huxley Let. 5 June (1969) 396 His own left organizations in France will of course be on tap.
1958 Times 2 Oct. 3/3 Anything offered by television is on tap.
1965 J. L. Hanson Dict. Econ. 371/2 Securities are said to be on ‘tap’ when they are issued in unlimited quantities (though the amounts permitted to each individual may be restricted) and are available for purchase direct from the issuing authority at any time.
1975 J. F. Burke Death Trick (1976) v. 82 We'll look into those alibis. Meanwhile, I want you both on tap. Understand?
d. Electrical Engineering. = tapping n.1 2b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrical engineering > transformer > [noun] > conductor > within winding
tap1900
tapping1903
1900 M. A. Oudin Standard Polyphase Apparatus & Syst. ix. 173 The secondary of each interchangeable transformer has two taps, giving 50 per cent and 86·7 per cent of the full voltage, so that either transformer can serve as the teaser, or supplementary one, by using the proper terminals.
1947 R. Lee Electronic Transformers & Circuits viii. 214 To improve the closeness of voltage control, a variable autotransformer has been developed in which the moving tap is a carbon brush which slides over exposed turns of a winding.
1974 C. C. Woodard Cable Television vi. 121 A complete new installation..from the tap to the subscriber's television set.
e. Stock Market. A security which is available ‘on tap’ (see sense 1c above).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > stocks, shares, or bonds > [noun] > types of
redeemables1720
government bond1737
corporate bond1810
trustee security1859
international1863
foreigners1883
most active list1885
gilt-edge1900
actual1908
heavies1922
toxic waste1922
gilt-edged1930
prior charge1930
short1932
gilt1936
performer1939
tap1948
energy security1960
fallen angel1963
medium1968
physicals1974
underperformer1975
taplet1982
1948 Economist 8 July 772/2 £24½m...was perhaps acquired by original conversion of Local Loan or through the tap; but the additional £55m. was presumably bought on the market.
1960 Economist 8 Oct. 167/2 The issue price is nominal, since no one expected more than a small fraction of Wednesday's issue of £500 million would be taken by the public. The rest goes into the official tap, and the tap price can of course be adjusted as events dictate.
1967 Economist 4 Feb. 444/1 Supplies of the long tap (Treasury 6¾% 1995/98), issued only last October 28th, had already run out.
1976 Southern Evening Echo (Southampton) 12 Nov. 24/6 Gilts managed to push forward by 1/ 4 to 3/ 8 taking the new Treasury 14 per cent. 1982 ‘tap’ up 1/16 to 98 5/16. But the new long ‘tap’ Treasury 151/ 4 1996 stays at 971/ 2.
1980 Times 15 Jan. 18 It would not surprise them to see the authorities issue another tap at the end of this week.
2.
a. A taproom or tap-house. colloquial. Also spec. at Eton College: (the) Tap, a place where beer is sold to pupils at Eton.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > drinking place > [noun] > tap-room or bar
tapstryc1460
ale stand1588
tap1725
bar-room1797
taproom1807
estaminet1814
saloon1841
sample room1865
cantina1892
mahogany1896
beverage room1936
spit and sawdust1937
1725 New Canting Dict. at Tape The Renters of the Tap..in Newgate.
1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker II. 72 Rabbit him! the tap will be ruined.
1837 J. D. Lang Hist. Acct. New S. Wales II. 102 He had been drinking in the Tap over-night.
1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days i. iv. 87 Guard emerges from the tap, where he prefers breakfasting.
1865 Etoniana 23 The ‘Tap’ and the Christopher had their earlier prototypes.
1917 A. Huxley Let. 30 Sept. (1969) 134 They were regrettably caught at the time just entering Tap.
1980 Sunday Times 14 Dec. (Colour Suppl.) 94/3 On the other days I'm free and I go for a drink to Tap.
b. A pit in which tan-liquor is mixed; = leach n.2 2 ? Obsolete.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > other specific types of equipment > [noun] > other tools and equipment
pollhache1324
poleaxe1356
muckrake1366
pestlea1382
botea1450
staff1459
press-board1558
reel1593
water crane1658
lathekin1659
tower1662
dressing hook1683
liner1683
hovel1686
flax-brake1688
nipper1688
horse1728
tap1797
feather-stick1824
bow1839
safety belt1840
economizer1841
throttle damper1849
cleat1854
leg brace1857
bark-peeler1862
pugging screw1862
nail driver1863
spool1864
turntable1865
ovate1872
tension bar1879
icebreaker1881
spreader1881
toucher1881
window pole1888
mushroom head1890
rat1894
slackline1896
auger1897
latch hook1900
thimble1901
horse1904
pipe jack1909
mulcher1910
hand plate1911
splashguard1917
cheese-cutter1927
airbrasive1945
impactor1945
fogger1946
1797 Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 307/1 Strong liquor called ooze or wooze prepared in pits called letches or taps kept for the purpose, by infusing ground bark in water.
3.
a. The liquor drawn from a particular tap; a particular species or quality of drink. Also figurative a particular strain or kind of anything. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > [noun] > a kind, sort, or class
kinc950
kindOE
distinction?c1225
rowc1300
spece1303
spice1303
fashionc1325
espicec1386
differencea1398
statec1450
sort?1523
notion1531
species1561
vein1568
brood1581
rank1585
order1588
race1590
breed1598
strain1612
batch1616
tap1623
siege1630
subdivision1646
notionality1651
category1660
denomination1664
footmark1666
genus1666
world1685
sortment1718
tribe1731
assortment1767
description1776
style1794
grouping1799
classification1803
subcategory1842
type1854
basket1916
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > other alcoholic drinks > [noun] > others
stitch-broth1635
Cherellya1640
rug1653
steel-nose1654
pope's-milka1661
Northdown1670
purl royal1675
sweetsa1679
forty-ninea1713
huggle-my-buff1756
slug1756
gunpowder1765
guarapo1772
peachy1781
all nations1785
anti-fogmatic1789
soma1827
ava1831
native1832
tap1832
stone fence1844
slap-bang1845
Angostura1856
jake1910
tepache1926
pruno1936
muratina1968
makkoli1970
alcopop1996
1623 tr. A. Favyn Theater of Honour & Knight-hood i. i. 1 Such a one was called a Gentleman of the first Tappe.
1832 L. Hunt Redi's Bacchus 75 Those Norwegians and those Laps Have extraordinary taps.
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxxiv. 305 I wish my aunt would send down some of this to the governor; it's a precious good tap.
1872 O. W. Holmes Poet at Breakfast-table (1885) vi. 139 Sentiment wasn't his tap.
1902 A. Birrell W. Hazlitt iv. 55 His [Hazlitt's] ‘tap’ was too bitter, his stride too long.
b. Short for tap-cinder n. at Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > materials produced from metalworking > [noun] > slag or scoria > produced in puddling furnace
tap-cinder1861
tap1878
1878 R. Hunt & F. W. Rudler Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 7) IV. 493 Using such purple ore in the ordinary way, as fettling in conjunction with ‘tap’, pottery mine, etc.
4. Mechanics. A tool used for cutting the thread of an internal screw, consisting of a male screw of hardened steel, grooved lengthways to form cutting edges, and having a square head so that it may be turned by a wrench.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine tool > other specific machine tools > [noun] > machine for cutting screw-threads > taps
screw tap1678
tap1678
plug tap1815
tap-tool1874
bottoming tap1875
taper tapa1877
second tap1888
1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. ii. 31 Turn about the tap in the hole and make grooves and threds in the Nut.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art I. 39 The pin by which the spirals of a screw nut are formed, is called a tap.
1875 J. Lukin Carpentry & Joinery 81 A tap..to cut the requisite thread inside the nut.
1884 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockmakers' Handbk. (new ed.) 232 Taps for watch makers' use are made by running a piece of steel through a screw plate.
5. An object having the shape of a slender tapering cylinder, as an icicle; esp. a taproot.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > fact or condition of tapering > [noun] > tapered object > cylindrical
tap1658
the world > space > shape > curvature > curved three-dimensional shape or body > cylinder > [noun] > cylindrical object > tapering at one end
carrot1646
tap1658
the world > plants > part of plant > root > [noun]
moreeOE
rootc1175
master-rootc1330
rootinga1400
radix1558
leg1597
taproot1601
top-root1651
tuberous root1668
heart-root1669
pivot1725
spill1766
tap1796
tutty-more1873
pneumatophore1891
stem root1901
heart-root1903
1658 E. Phillips New World Eng. Words at Isicle A tappe of ice, a drop of water frozen.
1796 C. Marshall Gardening (1813) xix. 318 The tap of the oak will make its way downward, in a direct line, through the hardest soils.
1857 H. Miller Testimony of Rocks xi. 497 The central axes of the trees do not elongate downwards into a tap but throw out horizontally on every side a thick net-work of roots.
6.
a. A device by means of which a telephone conversation may be listened to secretly by a third party. Cf. tap v.1 2c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > [noun] > listening > eavesdropping > on telephone > device
tap1923
1923 E. Wallace Missing Million xxiii. 181 How did you know where the ‘tap’ was?
1959 Washington Post 26 Oct. a2/1 Law enforcement agencies use the taps even where prohibited by law.
1967 Times Rev. Industry Aug. 76/1 Telephones can be tapped so that it is virtually impossible for physical search to locate the tap, and if a searcher came near to it, the tap would automatically destroy itself without trace.
b. The act of listening secretly to a telephone conversation by means of a connection to the wire. Cf. phone tap n. at phone n.2 Compounds 2; telephone tap n. at telephone n. Compounds 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > [noun] > listening > eavesdropping > on telephone
telephone tap1903
telephone tapping1903
tap1950
1950 Sun (Baltimore) 24 Jan. 12/3 The Holmes view has been accepted by the Supreme Court in a series of decisions steadily narrowing the use to which wire-tap material may be put in court. But there is still a shadow-land within which the Justice Department feels safe in authorizing use of the wire tap.
1968 W. Garner Deep, Deep Freeze iii. 35 He'd made a phone tap, a successful tap, and overheard a reference to an agent..who was being sent to England.
1973 B. Murphy Business of Spying viii. 134 As well as being ‘bugged’, a telephone can be ‘tapped’. This permits the recording and/or monitoring of both sides of the conversation. The most basic and easy way to monitor a telephone conversation is to carry out a direct line tap.
1979 Guardian 1 Mar. 1/3 There had to be good grounds for suspecting that a tap would be productive.
c. A recording made secretly from a telephone conversation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > [noun] > listening > eavesdropping > on telephone > recording
tap1969
1969 L. Sanders Anderson Tapes (1970) xxix. 73 Tape SEC. 25 JUN 68... This is a telephone tap.
1978 S. Brill Teamsters ii. 62 Telephone taps were played on tape recorders in court.
7. on the tap, begging, making requests for loans. Cf. tap v.1 3. slang.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > poverty > mendicancy > [adjective] > begging
thigginga1300
begging1583
skeldering1602
maundering1615
maunding?1629
mendicanting1630
mumping1709
panhandling1884
on the tap1932
1932 A. R. L. Gardner Tinker's Kitchen iii. i. 217 Bob the journalist was, like everyone else at the Cross,..out to get what he could.., in plain words ‘on the tap’.
1977 P. Carter Under Goliath xii. 61 She was a real moaner and always on the tap, borrowing sugar and milk.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a. In sense 1.
tap-dropping n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > providing or serving drink > [noun] > serving liquor > dregs or drops from taps
tap-dropping1678
1678 Quacks Acad. 4 Vials filled with Tap-droppings.
tap-maker n.
ΚΠ
1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 23 Mar. 6/3 One of his former friends,..a tap-maker.
taps-droppings n.
ΚΠ
1608 T. Middleton Familie of Love (new ed.) iv. sig. F3v How ranck the knaue smells of grease and Tapsdroppings.
tap-spirits n.
b. (In sense 1e.)
tap bill n.
ΚΠ
1957 A. C. L. Day Outl. Monetary Econ. xxxv. 443 The British Exchange Equalization Account started operations with large quantities of sterling assets, which it holds in the form of ‘tap’ Treasury bills.
tap bond n.
ΚΠ
1942 Sun (Baltimore) 9 May 16/1 (heading) About $4,500,000 ‘tap’ bonds sold here.
tap issue n.
ΚΠ
1926 L. R. Robinson Investm. Trust Organization & Managem. 71 ‘Tap issues’ are better fitted for a market in which the investor is learning for the first time the advantages of participation in investment trusts.
1973 Daily Tel. 3 Feb. 21/1 During the past fortnight, despite the exhaustion of two sizeable tap issues and the successful launching of a new 9½ p.c. long-dated stock, the [gilt-edged] market has lacked impetus.
tap price n.
ΚΠ
1958 Times 21 June 11/3 The strong demand for Funding Five-and-a-Half per Cent., 1982–84,..enabled the ‘tap’ price (the price at which Government departments are prepared to sell the stock they took up when the original issue was made) to be raised by 1–16 twice during the day.
tap rate n.
ΚΠ
1922 Daily Tel. 12 June 2/1 New second-hand Treasuries were dealt in at 21/ 4 per cent., the ‘tap’ rate now being 21/ 8 per cent.
tap sale n.
ΚΠ
1926 L. R. Robinson Investm. Trust Organization & Managem. 71 ‘Tap’ Sales, and occasional flotations.
1958 Times Rev. Industry Dec. (London & Cambridge Econ. Bull.) p. x/2 Tap sales have reduced bank liquidity.
tap stock n.
ΚΠ
1966 Punch 9 Nov. 710/3 The Bank will not allow anything like a boom in glit-edged to develop—and it has tapstocks of its own to sell.
1980 Times 15 Jan. 15 Without tap stocks to deter them, gilts climbed briskly.
c. (In sense 2.)
tap-boy n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > providing or serving drink > [noun] > serving liquor > tapster or barmaid
tapsterc1000
drawer1379
wine-drawer1415
birlerc1440
shenkerc1440
trayer1473
tranter1500
skinker1575
lick-spigot1599
shot-shark1600
runner1601
skink1603
Hebe1606
Ganymede1608
squire of the gimlet1611
skinkard1615
bombard-man1616
bar-boy1631
faucet1631
tapstress1631
potman1652
barmaida1658
pot-boyc1662
tavern-drawer1709
tavern-boy1796
pot-girl1797
tap-boy1801
knight of the spigot1821
pewter-carrier1834
bartender1836
tap-waiter1836
barman1837
beer-boy1841
mixologist1856
bar-girl1857
mixer1858
gin slinger1871
swamper1907
tap-man1907
pot-woman1918
bar-staff1965
bar-person1976
1801 G. Hanger Life II. 97 A tap-boy at a public-house.
tap-man n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > providing or serving drink > [noun] > serving liquor > tapster or barmaid
tapsterc1000
drawer1379
wine-drawer1415
birlerc1440
shenkerc1440
trayer1473
tranter1500
skinker1575
lick-spigot1599
shot-shark1600
runner1601
skink1603
Hebe1606
Ganymede1608
squire of the gimlet1611
skinkard1615
bombard-man1616
bar-boy1631
faucet1631
tapstress1631
potman1652
barmaida1658
pot-boyc1662
tavern-drawer1709
tavern-boy1796
pot-girl1797
tap-boy1801
knight of the spigot1821
pewter-carrier1834
bartender1836
tap-waiter1836
barman1837
beer-boy1841
mixologist1856
bar-girl1857
mixer1858
gin slinger1871
swamper1907
tap-man1907
pot-woman1918
bar-staff1965
bar-person1976
1907 Month July 7 Not but what priests doctor their stuff and give short measure like any tap-man.
C2. See also tap-hole n., tap-hose n., etc. † tap-lead n. Obsolete = tap-trough n. † tap-shackled adj. Obsolete ‘fettered’ by drink, drunk.† tap-staff n. Obsolete a staff used to stop the tap-hole of a mash-tub.† tap-stone n. Obsolete (?).† tap-tree n. Obsolete = tap-staff n.† tap-trough n. Obsolete a leaden trough used in brewing.† tap-waiter n. Obsolete a waiter in a taproom or tap-house (obsolete rare).† tap-whips n. Obsolete dialect variant of tap-hose n.† tap-whisk n. Obsolete dialect variant of tap-hose n.† tap-wort n. Obsolete the dregs of ale or beer.
tap-auger n. an auger for boring tap-holes.
ΚΠ
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 317/2 (Coopers' Instruments) Tap Auger.
tap-bar n. a testing bar placed in a cementation furnace and withdrawn for inspection during the process ( Cent. Dict. 1891).
tap-bolt n. a threaded bolt which is screwed into a part, as distinguished from one that penetrates it and receives a nut.
ΚΠ
1864 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. Tap-bolt.
tap-borer n. a tapering instrument for boring bung-holes or tap-holes.
ΚΠ
1877 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Tap-borer.
tap-changer n. an apparatus for accomplishing this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrical engineering > transformer > [noun] > conductor > within winding > change of > apparatus for
tap-changer1931
1931 S. R. Roget Dict. Electr. Terms (ed. 2) 342/2 Tap changer.
1962 Newnes Conc. Encycl. Electr. Engin. 748/2 Where possible, the tap-changer has minimum voltage to earth, and on most high-voltage line transformers it is at the neutral point.
1979 Railway Gaz. Internat. Jan. 49/1 As compared with the equivalent..tap-changer loco, maintenance was halved.
tap-changing n. Electrical Engineering the process of changing the connection to a transformer from one tap to another so as to vary the turns ratio and hence control the output voltage under a varying load.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrical engineering > transformer > [noun] > conductor > within winding > change of
tap-changing1929
1929 W. T. Taylor Electr. Supply Transformer Syst. ii. 21 For station and distribution types of transformers, voltage control is now effected by tap-changing on load; several satisfactory designs have been produced which enable tap-changing to be carried out directly on tappings from the main transformers.
1962 Newnes Conc. Encycl. Electr. Engin. 748/1 Tap-changing may be done when the transformer is out of circuit.
tap-cinder n. the slag or refuse produced in a puddling furnace.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > materials produced from metalworking > [noun] > slag or scoria > produced in puddling furnace
tap-cinder1861
tap1878
1861 London Rev. & Weekly Jrnl. 16 Feb. 167 In the process of making malleable iron, which is called ‘puddling’, there is a large quantity of refuse, known as ‘tap-cinder’.
1894 Daily News 23 Apr. 8/4 Some time ago it was discovered that this tap-cinder contained an amount of phosphorus which rendered it of sufficient service for basic steel-making as to justify the cost of its transmission for that purpose to the continent.
tap-dressing n. decoration of wells at Whitsuntide, a Derbyshire custom.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > liturgical year > feast, festival > specific Christian festivals > Pentecost > [noun] > dressing of wells at
well-dressing1819
well-flowering1823
tap-dressing1851
1851 in Notes & Queries 2nd Ser. IX. 431/1 A great deal of taste and fancy is exhibited in the..‘tap-dressing’.
1860 Notes & Queries 2nd Ser. IX. 430/2 [He] was collecting [flowers] for the Pilsley ‘Well’ or ‘Tap’ dressing.
1892 Daily News 22 Sept. 3/1 The Rev. G. S. Tyack's account of the curious custom of well-dressing, or ‘tap-dressing’, as it is called.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > brewing > [noun] > trough used in brewing
tap-trough1335
tap-lead1429
stillion1826
1429 in J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices (modernized text) III. 550/1 Vas plumbeum called tapled.
tap-plate n. a steel plate having holes, wormed and notched, for cutting external threads; a screw-plate (E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. 1877).
tap-rivet v. (transitive) to secure by tap-rivets.
ΚΠ
1869 E. J. Reed Shipbuilding ii. 43 They are each composed of two angle-irons, tap-riveted or screwed (and not through riveted) to the bottom plating.
1874 S. J. P. Thearle Naval Archit. (new ed.) I. 79 It is connected to the stem, either by angle-irons on each side, through riveted, and tap riveted to the stem.
tap-rivet n. see tap-bolt n.
ΚΠ
1874 S. J. P. Thearle Naval Archit. (new ed.) I. 129 In riveting the angle-irons of bilge keels to the bottom plating tap rivets are used.
tap-riveting n. the use of tap-rivets.
ΚΠ
1874 S. J. P. Thearle Naval Archit. (new ed.) I. 129 Tap riveting is employed in securing plates to forgings.
tap-screw n. = tap-bolt n.
ΚΠ
1891 Cent. Dict. Tap-screw.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [adjective] > drunk
fordrunkenc897
drunkena1050
cup-shottenc1330
drunka1400
inebriate1497
overseenc1500
liquor1509
fou1535
nase?1536
full1554
intoxicate1554
tippled1564
intoxicated1576
pepst1577
overflown1579
whip-cat1582
pottical1586
cup-shota1593
fox-drunk1592
lion-drunk1592
nappy1592
sack-sopped1593
in drink1598
disguiseda1600
drink-drowned1600
daggeda1605
pot-shotten1604
tap-shackled1604
high1607
bumpsy1611
foxed1611
in one's cups1611
liquored1611
love-pot1611
pot-sick1611
whift1611
owl-eyed1613
fapa1616
hota1616
inebriated1615
reeling ripea1616
in one's (or the) pots1618
scratched1622
high-flown?1624
pot-shot1627
temulentive1628
ebrious1629
temulent1629
jug-bitten1630
pot-shaken1630
toxed1635
bene-bowsiea1637
swilled1637
paid1638
soaken1651
temulentious1652
flagonal1653
fuddled1656
cut1673
nazzy1673
concerned1678
whittled1694
suckey1699
well-oiled1701
tippeda1708
tow-row1709
wet1709
swash1711
strut1718
cocked1737
cockeyed1737
jagged1737
moon-eyed1737
rocky1737
soaked1737
soft1737
stewed1737
stiff1737
muckibus1756
groggy1770
muzzeda1788
muzzya1795
slewed1801
lumpy1810
lushy1811
pissed1812
blue1813
lush1819
malty1819
sprung1821
three sheets in the wind1821
obfuscated1822
moppy1823
ripe1823
mixed1825
queer1826
rosined1828
shot in the neck1830
tight1830
rummy1834
inebrious1837
mizzled1840
obflisticated1840
grogged1842
pickled1842
swizzled1843
hit under the wing1844
obfusticatedc1844
ebriate1847
pixilated1848
boozed1850
ploughed1853
squiffy?1855
buffy1858
elephant trunk1859
scammered1859
gassed1863
fly-blown1864
rotten1864
shot1864
ebriose1871
shicker1872
parlatic1877
miraculous1879
under the influence1879
ginned1881
shickered1883
boiled1886
mosy1887
to be loaded for bear(s)1888
squiffeda1890
loaded1890
oversparred1890
sozzled1892
tanked1893
orey-eyed1895
up the (also a) pole1897
woozy1897
toxic1899
polluted1900
lit-up1902
on (also upon) one's ear1903
pie-eyed1903
pifflicated1905
piped1906
spiflicated1906
jingled1908
skimished1908
tin hat1909
canned1910
pipped1911
lit1912
peloothered1914
molo1916
shick1916
zigzag1916
blotto1917
oiled-up1918
stung1919
stunned1919
bottled1922
potted1922
rotto1922
puggled1923
puggle1925
fried1926
crocked1927
fluthered1927
lubricated1927
whiffled1927
liquefied1928
steamed1929
mirackc1930
overshot1931
swacked1932
looped1934
stocious1937
whistled1938
sauced1939
mashed1942
plonked1943
stone1945
juiced1946
buzzed1952
jazzed1955
schnockered1955
honkers1957
skunked1958
bombed1959
zonked1959
bevvied1960
mokus1960
snockered1961
plotzed1962
over the limit1966
the worse for wear1966
wasted1968
wired1970
zoned1971
blasted1972
Brahms and Liszt?1972
funked up1976
trousered1977
motherless1980
tired and emotional1981
ratted1982
rat-arsed1984
wazzed1990
mullered1993
twatted1993
bollocksed1994
lashed1996
1604 J. Morris Commonpl.-bk. (BL Royal MS 12.B.v) f. 6v A scholler of Cambridge being somewhat tap-shackled walking in the streete met a blacke bull.
?1609 J. Healey tr. Bp. J. Hall Discouery New World 82 [He] being truely tapp-shackled, mistooke the window for the dore.
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the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > [noun] > closure for a vessel, tube, etc. > spigot
dossil1297
spigot1383
spicket14..
tap-staff14..
faucetc1430
dottle1440
tap-tree1483
tapon1543
forcehead1598
spiddock1629
spile1707
vent-peg1707
pale1726
spile-pega1825
14.. in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 572/13 Ceruida, a tapstaf.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 319/2 The Brewers Thorn with the Tap Staff through the middle of it.
1703 J. Moore Englands Interest (ed. 2) 66 After this, you must lift up your Tap-staffe, and let out about a Gallon [from the mash-vat]..and put it up again, stopping your Tap-hole.
ΚΠ
1522 in J. Raine Wills & Inventories N. Counties Eng. (1835) I. 106 Also I bequeth to my son John Trollop..the brewehouse..a brewelede with a mashefatt and a tap~stone with a boltong arke and the bras pottes called Thornley Pottes.
tap-tool n. = sense 4.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine tool > other specific machine tools > [noun] > machine for cutting screw-threads > taps
screw tap1678
tap1678
plug tap1815
tap-tool1874
bottoming tap1875
taper tapa1877
second tap1888
1874 S. J. P. Thearle Naval Archit. (new ed.) I. 127 Screwing the rivet into a screw hole previously prepared for it by means of a ‘tap tool’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > [noun] > closure for a vessel, tube, etc. > spigot
dossil1297
spigot1383
spicket14..
tap-staff14..
faucetc1430
dottle1440
tap-tree1483
tapon1543
forcehead1598
spiddock1629
spile1707
vent-peg1707
pale1726
spile-pega1825
1483 Cath. Angl. 378/1 A Tap tre, ceruida, clipcidra.
1743 Sel. Trans. Soc. Improvers Knowl. Agric. Scotl. 284 Take out your Cork, or Tap-tree, and have a Tub below to receive the Lee that comes off.
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the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > brewing > [noun] > trough used in brewing
tap-trough1335
tap-lead1429
stillion1826
1335 in H. T. Riley Memorials London (1868) 194 1 tappetroghe [of lead].
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > providing or serving drink > [noun] > serving liquor > tapster or barmaid
tapsterc1000
drawer1379
wine-drawer1415
birlerc1440
shenkerc1440
trayer1473
tranter1500
skinker1575
lick-spigot1599
shot-shark1600
runner1601
skink1603
Hebe1606
Ganymede1608
squire of the gimlet1611
skinkard1615
bombard-man1616
bar-boy1631
faucet1631
tapstress1631
potman1652
barmaida1658
pot-boyc1662
tavern-drawer1709
tavern-boy1796
pot-girl1797
tap-boy1801
knight of the spigot1821
pewter-carrier1834
bartender1836
tap-waiter1836
barman1837
beer-boy1841
mixologist1856
bar-girl1857
mixer1858
gin slinger1871
swamper1907
tap-man1907
pot-woman1918
bar-staff1965
bar-person1976
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. II. 179 You leave your bag, and repair to ‘The Tap’... The tap-waiter finds himself much comforted by your brandy-and-water.
tap-water n. water drawn through a tap; spec. water supplied by a system of pipes and taps for household use.
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the world > matter > liquid > water > [noun] > conveyed by pipes > for household use
tap-water1881
1881 J. Tyndall Ess. Floating Matter of Air 81 Ice-water, distilled water and tap-water..deprived of their powers of infection.
1898 P. Manson Trop. Dis. i. 32 Wash in tap water and then in distilled water, dry and mount in zylol balsam.
ΚΠ
1743 W. Ellis Suppl. to London & Country Brewer (ed. 2) 267 In [a Mash-Tub] fix a Brass Cock of three Quarters of an Inch Bore in a Tapwhips, or do it by Plug and Basket.
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the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > freedom from impurities > removal of impurities > filtering or percolating > [noun] > filter or percolator > on tap
tap-hose14..
filter faucet1846
tap-whisk1854
1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 329 Tap-whisk.
1881 S. Evans Evans's Leicestershire Words (new ed.) Tap-whisk,..the wicker strainer placed at the back of the tap inside a mash-vat, &c.
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the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > [noun] > dregs or lees in vessel or cask > dregs of ale or beer
tap-wort1582
tap-lash1623
1582 N. Breton Toys of Idle Head in Wks. (1879) 26/2 A cuppe of small Tap worte.
tap wrench n. a wrench for turning a tap-tool.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > screwdrivers, wrenches, spanners > [noun] > spanner or wrench > other spanners or wrenches
tap wrench1815
doghook1847
stock1862
stud box1867
socket wrench1905
Allen key1910
wheel brace1920
tongs1922
nut driver1939
spud wrench1939
torque wrench1948
nut runner1958
Mole1959
skate key1962
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art I. 40 The tap-wrench is simply a lever, with a hole..to admit the rectangular head of the tap, for the purpose of turning it round.
1956 H. Townsend in D. L. Linton Sheffield xvi. 299 Sheffield plays a large part in the production of drills and tipped cutters,..bit gauges, tap wrenches, pin vices,..and so on.
1964 S. Crawford Basic Engin. Processes i. 26 As its name implies the tap-wrench is required to provide a convenient method of revolving the tap in the drilled hole.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
tapn.2
/tap/, U.S. /tæp/ 1.
a. A single act of tapping; a light but audible blow or rap; the sound made by such a blow.
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the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific degree of force > [noun] > a slight or light blow
touchc1325
tapc1400
popc1425
tickc1440
tipa1466
tit1546
bob1611
waffa1754
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > sound of blow or fall > [noun] > tap or pat
pat1582
tap1720
tapping1786
tap-tap1840
tip-tap1892
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 406 Ȝif I þe telle trwly, quen I þe tape haue.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 2357 At þe þrid þou fayled þore, & þer-for þat tappe ta þe.
a1466 Duke of Orleans Poems (Roxb.) 7 As strokis grete not tippe, nor tapp, do way The rewdisshe child so best lo shall he wynne.
1573 G. Gascoigne Disc. Aduentures Master F. I. in Hundreth Sundrie Flowres 266 Much greater is the wrong that rewardeth euill for good, than that which requireth tip for tap.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. i. 195 This is the right fencing grace, my Lord, tap for tap, and so part faire. View more context for this quotation
a1627 W. Rowley & T. Middleton Wit at Severall Weapons iii. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Kkkkkk4v/2 But when a man's sore beaten a both sides already, Then the least tap in jest goes to the guts on him.
1720 S. Jenyns Art Dancing ii, in Poems (1761) 21 Let them a while their nimble feet restrain, And with soft taps beat time to ev'ry strain.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho I. vii. 208 A gentle tap at the chamber-door roused her.
1862 G. A. Sala Seven Sons Mammon II. vii. 194 The convicts were called off by the tap of a drum.
1877 Encycl. Brit. VII. 609/2 Rolling croquet..is made by trailing the mallet after the balls as soon as the stroke or tap is made.
b. tap-tap n. a repeated tap; a series of taps; also adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > sound of blow or fall > [noun] > tap or pat
pat1582
tap1720
tapping1786
tap-tap1840
tip-tap1892
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > sound of blow or fall > [adverb] > tap or pat
tap-tap1840
tip-tap1911
1840 F. Marryat Poor Jack xxiii. 162 The water went tap, tap, tap against the bends.
1843 W. M. Thackeray Ravenswing ii, in Fraser's Mag. May 600/2 Mr. Tressle's man..ceased his tap-tap upon the coffin.
1905 E. Chandler Unveiling of Lhasa xii. 212 The tap-tap of the Maxim, like a distant woodpecker, in the valley.
c. = tap-dancing n.
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society > leisure > dancing > types of dance or dancing > tap- or step-dancing > [noun]
treble1805
clog-dance1881
step-dancing1886
step-dance1887
sand-dancea1894
soft-shoe1900
sand-dancing1905
tap-dancing1928
tap-dance1929
tap1944
tapping1944
1944 N. Streatfeild Curtain Up viii. 97 The same sandals do for everything except tap.
1950 R. P. Blesh & H. Janis They all played Ragtime (1958) iii. 57 Chauvin had a fine tenor voice and sang and danced superbly, buck and wing, regular and eccentric tap.
1950 A. Lomax Mister Jelly Roll (1952) v. 202 Well, I did my tap numbers in a lot of shows after that.
1972 Guardian 13 Dec. 9/1 It was quite bad enough doing tap—all the kids at school used to tease me.
d. Phonetics. A single momentary contact between vocal organs in the production of a speech sound; the sound produced by such contact.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > speech sound by manner > [noun] > sonant > liquid > flap or tap
flap1887
tap1952
1952 A. Cohen Phonemes of Eng. 29 These two sounds (one-tap and fricative r) are in no way opposed.
1954 M. A. Pei & F. Gaynor Dict. Linguistics 214 The Spanish pero is pronounced with a tap r, but perro with a trill r.
1964 W. Jassem in D. Abercrombie et al. Daniel Jones 339 The assumption that two ‘taps’ are sufficient for a sound to be labelled ‘rolled’.
1977 Language 53 861 The individual closures of a trill are much more rapid than the single closure of a tap.
e. In figurative phrase a tap on the wrist, a mild reprimand. Cf. slap n.1 2a.
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the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > [noun] > mild > instance of
a flap with a fox tail1553
rub1642
a slap in (or on) the face, in the eye, on the wrist1914
a tap on the wrist1973
wrist-slap1977
1973 Black Panther 20 Oct. 2/1 Forty pages of charges gathered by the Justice Department, and he gets off with a tap on the wrist for income tax evasion.
1974 Anderson (S. Carolina) Independent 23 Apr. 4 a/1 Disrespect for the law and the courts stems from instances.. in which the accused have been found not guilty or have received a mere tap-on-the-wrist sentence when it was obvious that all evidence pointed to guilt.
2. Plural taps n. U.S. Military a signal sounded on the drum or trumpet, fifteen minutes after the tattoo, at which all lights in the soldiers' quarters are to be extinguished. Sounded also, like last post (post n.8) over the grave of a soldier. Also figurative, the end.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > signals > [noun] > signal on instrument > specific signals
dian1591
alvarado1598
retreat1600
reveille1633
preparative1635
leveta1640
charge1650
gathering1653
reveil1668
chamade1684
assembly1728
rouse1789
roll-call1793
dinner call1799
taps1824
recall1825
fall-in1834
last post1845
lights out1864
post1864
assemble1883
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > [noun]
endc1000
endingc1000
finea1300
conclusion1382
ooc1384
close1399
finance1449
terminationc1500
last?1520
winding up1560
wind-up1573
wind-up-all1573
conclusure1578
clause1581
upshot1582
desinence1598
omega1599
Godspeed1606
finis1682
finale1786
finish1790
tie-up1829
Z1877
curtains1912
taps1917
1824 H. R. Doc. 18th U.S. Congress 1 Sess. No. 111. 35 It is his [sc. the orderly's] duty..to visit his rooms, at the taps; see that the lights are extinguished; the fires properly secured; the occupants present, and in bed.
1862 Index (Boston) 25 Sept. I well remember how ‘at taps’ we were wont to huddle together in our narrow quarters, each man's knapsack serving for his pillow.
1869 T. W. Higginson Army Life (1870) 34 The mystic curfew which we call ‘taps’.
1891 Cambridge (Mass.) Tribune 10 Jan. 8/5 The customary volleys were fired over the grave, and Bugler Fitzgerald sounded ‘taps’, the soldier's last sad farewell.
1904 J. A. Riis Theodore Roosevelt viii. 199 Taps had been sounded long since.
1917 A. G. Empey Over Top 258 Then it was taps for me.
3. A piece of leather with which the worn-down heel or sole of a boot is made up and repaired or ‘tapped’ (U.S.); a plate or piece of iron with which the heel is shielded; also, the sole of a shoe (English dialect). (Cf. tap v.2 3) on one's taps, on one's feet; on the move; busy.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > sole
solec1440
under-solingc1440
undershoea1500
underlaying1611
treadc1720
tap1844
outsole1862
tap-piece-
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > protective studs or plates > for heel
heel iron1783
heel plate1827
heel tip1833
heel-shodc1840
tap1882
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 324/2 A false quarter shooe..hath one of the Heel Taps cut off.]
1743 J. Hempstead Diary 12 Dec. (1998) 412 Nailed on a pr of Tapps on a pr of New Shoes for adam.
1844 W. Barnes Poems Rural Life in Dorset Dial. Gloss. Tap, the sole of a shoe.
c1850 Nat. Encycl. I. 240 The imports of Herat..lemon-juice, and ivory heel-taps.]
1855 T. C. Haliburton Nature & Human Nature II. xi. 332 They have to be on their taps most all the time.
1864 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. Tap..the piece of leather fastened upon the bottom of a boot or shoe in tapping it, or in repairing or renewing the sole or heel.
1882 F. W. P. Jago Anc. Lang. & Dial. Cornwall Tap, the sole of a boot or shoe. Also the iron..‘scute’ of the heel, ‘heel tap’.
1954 J. Steinbeck Sweet Thursday 33 Brown calf shoes (heel taps a little run over).
1965 E. Tunis Colonial Craftsmen iv. 107 The thick leather for the tap (sole) soaked all day in water.
1976 National Observer (U.S.) 6 Mar. 14/6 Amazing polyurethane taps keep heels perfect for months. Attach in seconds to any heel, and no one can tell you're wearing taps.
4. In negative context: the slightest amount of work. Cf. stroke n.1 11a. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > work > amounts of work > [noun] > minimum amount
stroke1568
stitch1581
hand's turn1765
handturn1859
tap1887
1887 Lantern (New Orleans) 22 Jan. 2/2 I understand that Eddie never done a tap of work in his life.
1946 F. Sargeson That Summer 185 For several weeks Jack hadn't done a tap of work in the garden.
1952 E. O'Neill Moon for Misbegotten i. 10 He's nothing but a drunken bum who never done a tap of work in his life.
Compounds
tap-in n. Basketball a goal scored by tapping the ball into the basket, usually when following up an unsuccessful shot.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > basketball > [noun] > goal > types of goal
bank shot1859
field goal1896
dunk shot1940
tap-in1948
dunk1957
tip-in1958
slam dunk1969
put-back1980
1948 Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va.) 4 Feb. 9/3 Counting a tap-in one point would help equalize the height advantage, he said, but as in the case of the delayed whistle, what would constitute a tap-in?
1976 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald 4 Dec. 12/5 Coward netted a brace with a powerful long-range shot and a tap-in from Martin's cross.
tap-kick n. Rugby a light kick given to the ball whereby play is re-started from a penalty and possession retained; also as v. transitive.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > [noun] > types of kick or ball
drop1845
drop-kick1857
punt-out1861
free kick1862
poster1862
goal kick1870
dropout1882
touch kick1887
touch-finder1898
fly-kick1906
grubber kick1950
grub-kick1951
tap-kick1960
up and under1960
chip kick1965
Garryowen1965
box kick1972
chip and chase1976
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > play rugby football [verb (transitive)] > actions to ball
to knock on1642
punt1845
to touch down1859
ground1863
touch1864
scrimmage1871
heel1886
scrum1889
hook1906
tap-kick1960
1960 T. McLean Kings of Rugby xi. 120 When Hewitt after a tap-kick penalty in the Lions' 25 set off with a tremendous burst of speed..the audience rose to him in wonderment and delight.
1978 Rugby World Apr. 6/1 After he had given an indirect free-kick against the French, the Scotland captain, Doug Morgan, dropped a goal direct from hand, without bringing it into play with a tap-kick first.
1978 Rugby World Apr. 6/1 Mr. Thomas's explanation was that he had been telling the French why the kick had been awarded and that his back was half-turned when Morgan began the run-up to his kick. ‘I assumed Morgan had tap-kicked the ball first,’ he said.
tap pants n. U.S. a type of fashionable ladies' knickers.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > underwear > [noun] > underpants > for women (and children)
knickerbocker1872
trouserettes1874
knickers1882
trolly1891
knicks1895
panties1904
skirt-knicker1908
Directoire knickers1911
panties1922
step-in1922
French knickers1925
scanty1928
passion-killer1943
parapants1944
tap pants1977
1977 Hartford (Connecticut) Courant 6 June 24/4 Teddys are no longer synonymous with teddy bears alone. They also represent the sexiest lingerie around... The teddy is a camisole and tap pants set combined. The chemise bodice, often fashioned after a camisole, unbuttons either in the front or back... The all-in-one feature of teddys has made them more popular as sleepwear.
1982 Penthouse July 26 I..have bought pretty tap pants and knickers from various lingerie establishments.
tap penalty n. Rugby a penalty taken with a tap-kick.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > [noun] > actions or manoeuvres
scrimmaging1776
throw on1845
rush1857
catch1858
maul1860
touch1863
mauling1864
touch-in-goal1869
goal-kicking1871
throw-forward1871
sidestepping1877
handing1882
punting1882
heel1886
touch kicking1889
forward pass1890
scrumming1892
touch-finding1895
heeling1896
wheel1897
scrag1903
reverse pass1907
jinka1914
hand-off1916
play-the-ball1918
gather1921
pivot pass1922
sidestep1927
smother-tackle1927
stiff-arm1927
heel-back1929
scissors1948
rucking1949
loose scrummaging1952
cut-through1960
pivot break1960
put-in1962
chip kicking1963
box kicking1971
peel1973
chip and chase1976
tap penalty1976
1976 Sunday Post (Glasgow) 26 Dec. 36/3 It only took Gala five minutes to score. From a tap penalty Dickson tore a gash in the defence, and Telfer accepted his scoring pass in the corner.
1978 Rugby World Apr. 33/1 He..carries particularly fond memories of the six tries he recorded last season, almost all from tap penalties at close range.
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Categories »
tap-piece n. = 3.
tap-piece v. to repair with a tap-piece.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > making footwear > make footwear [verb (transitive)] > repair or renovate > in specific way
forefoot1465
welt1483
spetch1582
speck1681
tap1746
heel-tap1763
fox1796
resole1821
refoot1827
tap-piece1903
1903 R. M. F. Watson Closeburn xiv. 235 Mony a day I hae tappieced and heeled your auld shoon.
tap shoe n. a shoe worn for tap-dancing, having a specially hardened sole or attached metal plates at toe and heel to make a tapping sound.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > shoe or boot > shoe > [noun] > types of > with specific types of sole > with studs or plates
clout-shoe1462
tap shoe1932
1932 Boot & Shoe Recorder 20 Feb. 62/3 A four style range of toe, ballet, acrobatic and tap shoes covers the usual store's requirements.
1936 ‘Isolde’ Tap Dancing Made Easy 9 You can practise in an ordinary pair of shoes, but much better results can be obtained when wearing proper Tap shoes.
1980 Daily Tel. 10 Mar. 12/6 The musical..brings out the best in the most bashful of bathroom singers and puts imaginary tapshoes on confirmed wall-flowers everywhere.
Draft additions 1993
f. A shot fired from a gun, esp. in target-shooting. Usually with qualifying word, as double (treble, etc.) taps. slang.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > competitive shooting > [noun] > a shot
tap1987
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > [noun] > a shot
pot-shot1592
shot1653
pop1657
pluff1663
round1690
whiff1837
tap1987
1987 Guns & Weapons User Summer 34/2 In firing either the Sten or Sterling in the repetition mode it is fairly common to experience double ‘taps’ (shots) and more rarely triple.
1988 Target Gun Sept. 29/3 Mark moved forward to 15 and 10 metres and provided an impressive display of double and treble-taps on a series of targets.
1989 Combat & Survival Mag. Oct. 59/3 As the figure left the shadows to get a better fire position, I let rip with a double tap and saw him go down.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
tapn.3
A rush-basket (usually containing c 28 lbs.) in which figs of an inferior quality are imported. tap-figs n. (colloquially shortened to taps) figs of the quality imported in taps.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > fruit or a fruit > fig > [noun] > types of
figs of Pharaoh?c1225
fig-dote1481
figling1612
fig-flower1719
tap-figsc1860
Turkey fig1866
adam's fig1907
society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > basket > [noun] > made of reeds or rushes > specific
tapc1860
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > tropical exotic fruit > fig > tap-figs
tap-figsc1860
c1860 [Recollected in use].
1909 Wholesale Grocer's Price-list Figs..Layers 40/-..50/-per cwt. Taps, 19/-... Naturals 25/6.
1910 Produce Mark Rev. 19 Feb. 155 Figs..Layer Figs..Pulled figs..Naturals..Comadra, Taps.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
tapn.4
/tap/, U.S. /tæp/ East India.
Malarial fever.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > fever > [noun] > malaria
fever and ague1666
helodes1724
Roman fever1726
malaria1740
marsh fever1752
fen-fever1772
dumb ague1793
malaria fever1818
Panama fever1849
swamp fever1870
melanuric fever1875
tap1882
subtertian1902
1882 F. M. Crawford Mr. Isaacs xii Unless I feared the tap, the bad kind of fever which infects all the country at the base of the hills.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
tapv.1
/tap/, U.S. /tæp/ I. To open (a cask, reservoir).
1. transitive. To furnish (a cask, etc.) with a tap or spout, in order to draw the liquor from it.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > other specific types of equipment > furnish with other specific types of equipment [verb (transitive)] > fit with tap
tapc1050
c1050 in Techmer's Int. Zeitschr. f. allg. Sprachwissensch. (1885) II. 125 gyf þe gedryptes wines lyste, þonne do ðu mid þinum swyþran scytefingre on þine wynstran hand, swylce þu tæppian wille, and wænd þinne scytefinger adune.
1483 Cath. Angl. 378/1 To Tappe, ceruidare.
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Ci/2 To Tappe, fistulam addere.
1696 E. Phillips New World of Words (new ed.) To Tapp a Vessel, to fix a Tapp in the Bung-hole..thereby to draw out the Liquor.
1832 E. Bulwer-Lytton Eugene Aram II. iii. xi. 93 I will tap a barrel on purpose for you.
1880 Act 43 & 44 Vict. c. 24 §90 The rectifier must not..tap, open, alter, or change any cask..containing any such spirits.
2.
a. To pierce (a vessel, tree, etc.) so as to draw off its liquid contents; to broach; to draw liquid from (any reservoir); slang, to draw blood from the nose.e.g. To bore into (a tree) so that sap may exude; to allow the molten metal to run from (a furnace); to pierce the wall of (a reservoir), to drain (a marsh).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > open [verb (transitive)] > open to use or a source > broach (a cask, etc.)
to set abroach1390
attame1393
abroachc1400
tame?a1412
broachc1440
to set a (on) broachc1440
strikea1616
tap1694
peg1721
spile1832
1694 W. Westmacott Θεολοβοτονολογια 12 It [the Quicken] will yield a liquor, if tapt as we do birch in the spring.
1792 J. Belknap Hist. New-Hampsh. III. 114 The season for tapping the [maple] trees is in March.
1809 Nat. Hist. in Ann. Reg. 843/1 The maple tree..the oftener it is tapped the better.
1832 H. Martineau Hill & Valley iv. 60 He was just going to tap the furnace, i.e. to let out the fused iron.
1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge li. 231 Perhaps, sir, he kicked a county member, perhaps sir he tapped a lord..blood flowed from noses, and perhaps he tapped a lord.
c1865 J. Wylde Circle of Sci. I. 419/2 The tree is ‘tapped’; that is, a hole is cut into it.., and the resin exudes.
?1873 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia X. App. 199 What bogs he has tapped and dried, what canals he has dug.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 27 The natural reservoir being thus tapped, a spring of water flows out.
1900 G. C. Brodrick Mem. & Impr. 315 The Braemar air..coming across treeless granite mountains which tap the rain-clouds as they sweep over.
b. spec. in Surgery. To pierce the body-wall of (a person) so as to draw off accumulated liquid; to drain (a cavity) of accumulated liquid.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > treatments removing or dispersing matter > remove or disperse [verb (transitive)] > drain
tap1655
emulge1778
1655 [implied in: N. Culpeper et al. tr. L. Rivière Pract. Physick vii. v. 164 The Opening or Tapping for the Dropsie. (at tapping n.1 1a)].
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 62. ⁋11 I have ever since my Cure been..dropsical; therefore I presume it would be much better to tap me.
1778 Latham in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 69 56 I tapped her once in a fort~night.
1807 S. Cooper First Lines Pract. Surg. I. ii. xxxv. 393 If the viscera were protruded.., he used to reduce them, and then tap the hydrocele in the common manner.
1869 G. Lawson Dis. Eye (1874) 71 Tapping the anterior chamber with a fine needle, and letting off the aqueous, will often do good.
1898 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. V. 788 The peritoneal cavity and pleura become repeatedly full of fluid and have to be tapped again and again.
c. to tap an electric wire or cable: to divert part of the current, esp. so as to intercept a telegraphic communication. So to tap a call, line, message, telephone, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > telecommunication > telegraphy or telephony > [verb (transitive)] > divert or intercept
to tap an electric wire1869
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > hear [verb (transitive)] > listen to > eavesdrop > on telephone
to tap an electric wire1869
milk1878
monitor1939
1869 Cornhill Mag. XIX. 759 A favourite plan of the raiders was to ‘tap’ the wire.
1871 Q. Jrnl. Sci. 1 117 For days the unconscious French were sending [telegraphic] messages, which were ‘tapped’ by the Prussians.
1874 J. H. Bunnel in J. E. Smith Man. Telegraphy (ed. 10) p. xv The means employed to ‘tap’ a Telegraph line..are very simple.
1878 A. Pinkerton Strikers xvi. 199 The strikers certainly had some experienced telegraphers..capable of tapping the lines.
1879 G. B. Prescott Speaking Telephone (new ed.) 108 The telephone presents facilities for the dangerous practice of tapping the wire.
1892 N.Y. Tribune 15 Jan. 7/5 (Funk) By tapping the wire for a message from Guttenburg the operator could interrupt communication with all three.
1897 Westm. Gaz. 3 Apr. 9/3 It would be an unheard of thing for any casual merchant steamer to ‘tap’ a company's cable out at sea in order to gratify a private whim for news.
1897 Daily News 14 July 3/4 Extraordinary allegations of ‘tapping’ telegraph wires were made yesterday in a case heard at the Liverpool County Court.
1909 G. B. Shaw Press Cuttings 3 Why didnt you telephone? Balsquith. They tap the telephone.
1911 World's Work XVIII. 588/2 Hundreds of amateur installations erected in the vicinity of either station, whereby messages might be tapped or confused.
1957 Times 7 June 10/5 (heading) Calls tapped on barrister's telephone. Home Secretary questioned.
1972 Times 19 Dec. 2/7 He could not prove beyond all reasonable doubt that the call he made to Mr Hope on December 1 had been tapped.
1978 G. A. Sheehan Running & Being ii. 32 There is no need to tap my phone or open my mail.
3. figurative. To open up (anything) so as to liberate or extract something from it; to open, penetrate, break into, begin to use. Also absol.e.g. To open up (a country, district, trade, mineral vein, etc.); to extract money or elicit information from (a person); to rob (a till or house), pick (a pocket); to break (money) (break v. 2e); to broach (a subject).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > open [verb (transitive)] > open to use or a source
tap1575
broach1582
tame1642
to break out1840
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > use or make use of [verb (transitive)] > make available for use
openc1390
tap1575
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > steal [verb (transitive)] > steal from
picka1350
lifta1529
filch1567
purloinc1571
prowl1603
touch1631
pinch1632
to pick up1687
to speak with ——1725
knock1767
shab1787
jump1789
to speak to ——1800
shake1811
spice1819
sting1819
tap1879
to knock over1928
1575 W. Stevenson Gammer Gurtons Nedle ii. iii. sig. Ci Ye see..yt one end tapt of this my short deuise Now must we broche thoter to, before the smoke arise.
1750 H. Walpole Lett. (1846) II. 358 How does cet homme là..dare to tap the chapter of birth?
1768 H. Walpole Hist. Doubts 43 Dr. Shaw no doubt tapped the matter to the people.
1781 H. Walpole Let. to W. Mason 22 May After tapping many topics, to which I made as dry answers as an unbribed oracle, he vented his errand.
1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) (at cited word) To tap a note or sovereign, to get it changed.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop ii. lxiii. 153 Here I am—full of evidence—Tap me!
1864 Home News 19 Dec. 19/2 So well had the interior of India been tapped by new roads.
1872 R. W. Raymond Statistics Mines & Mining 268 It is the intention of the owner to tap the vein by a tunnel.
1878 W. J. Thoms in Folk Lore Rec. I. Pref. 16 Mr. Gomme has ‘tapped’—(I thank thee, Horace Walpole, for teaching me that word)—has tapped a subject which is, I believe, new in this country.
1879 A. Pinkerton Criminal Reminisc. xiii. 212 In the act of ‘tapping’ the till of a North Side [of Chicago] German grocery.
1901 Essex Weekly News 29 Mar. 5/1 The first gentleman who was tapped for a subscription generously promised £30.
1903 F. W. H. Myers Human Personality I. 315 While he was entranced, we endeavoured to ‘tap’ Mr. Browne.
c1926 ‘Mixer’ Transport Workers' Song Bk. 31 Some tap the boss before they join,..By this they make their marble good.
1929 W. R. Burnett Little Caesar i. 10 They only bank once or twice a week. They're careless, get that; because they've never been tapped.
1931 T. Horsley Odyssey of Out-of-work xxiii. 247 We'll tap these mansions.
1931 ‘G. Orwell’ Hop-picking in Coll. Ess. (1968) I. 57 Ginger tapped the local butcher, who gave us the best part of two pounds of sausages.
1935 ‘G. Orwell’ Clergyman's Daughter ii. 105 They were begging..‘tapping’ at every..likely-looking cottage.
1939 J. Worby Spiv's Progress iii. 17 Every night he would put on his plimsolls and go tapping.
1979 Tucson (Arizona) Mag. Mar. 46/1 Many of the big plush resorts that tap you for $80 to $100 a day.
II. To draw off (liquid, etc.).
4. † b. transferred. To retail (any commodity). Scottish. Obsolete.
a. To draw (liquor) from a tap; to draw and sell in small quantities. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > providing or serving drink > [verb (transitive)]
birleOE
drenchc1000
shenchOE
adrenchc1275
to drink to1297
tap1401
skinkc1405
propinec1450
brince?1567
liquor1575
to do right1600
dram1770
butler1826
jerk1868
to set up1880
drink1883
bartend1948
to break out1962
1401 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 95 Me thynkith ȝe ben tapsteres in alle that ȝe don: ȝe tappe ȝour absoluciones that ȝe bye at Rome.
1589 T. Nashe Anat. Absurditie sig. Biiiiv These Bussards thinke knowledge a burthen, tapping it before they haue halfe tunde it.
1621 Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1816) IV. 669/2 Four pundis..of ilk Tune of wyne To be toppit, ventit, and sauld in smallis within the said burgh.
1665 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 1 46 The boyled liquor..is tapp'd out of the said Kettles, through holes beneath.
1677 Act 29 Chas. II c. 2 §1 Any..person or persons who doe or shall sell or tap out Beere or Ale publiquely or privately.
1737 (title) An Act for laying a Duty of Two Penies Scots upon every Scots Pint of Ale and Beer brewed for Sale, brought into, vended, tapped, or sold within the Town of Aberbrothock.
1743 W. Ellis London & Country Brewer (ed. 2) III. 236 The Beer or Ale in a Week after should be tapt.
1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust II. i. ii. 15 The City Council, too, must tap their liquor.
1872 J. Yeats Techn. Hist. Commerce 126 On festive occasions, these lords alone possessed the privilege of tapping wine.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)] > sell in specific manner
retail1365
tap1478
retaliate1640
outsella1687
wholesale1792
to sell short1852
hustle1887
brand1909
oversell1928
package1946
soft-sell1958
test-market1958
mass-market1959
sales-drive1962
bundle1969
cross-sell1972
up-market1972
onsell1979
1478–9 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1869) I. 37 That na regratour by nor tap any vittale to regrate agane vnder the payne of pvnissing be the baillies after the tenour of the first act.
1478–9 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1869) I. 37 The provest and counsale of the towne ordanis the meilmen topperis fremen of the towne and [to] top his meill daylie.
1538 Aberdeen Regr. XVI. (Jam.) For the spilling of the merkat in bying of wittail in gryt, & topping tharof befor none.
1573–4 Burgh Rec. Glasgow (1876) I. 450 To pas to Dunbertane to arreist schippis for talping of greit salt.
1605 in Gross Gild Merch. (1890) I. 222 To tapp tar, oil, butter, or to tapp eggs.
1615 Stirling Council Rec. in Trans. Nat. Hist. & Archæol. Soc. Stirling (1902) 61 Na craftsman [sal] buy, top, nor sell any merchand wairis.
c. absol. To draw liquor; to act as tapster.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > providing or serving drink > [verb (intransitive)] > serve drink
skink1591
tap1602
pour1906
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > extraction > extract [verb (transitive)] > extract gas or liquid
exhaust1540
draina1552
to draw off1594
uncask1594
spring1597
carry1602
tap1602
milka1628
to carry off1677
evacuate1719
drafta1875
aspirate1880
bleed1889
1602 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor i. iii. 10 Ile entertaine Bardolfe. He shall tap, he shall draw.
1607 Merrie Iests George Peele 29 Those bombortes that liue by tapping, betweene the age of 50. and 3 score.
1633 P. Massinger New Way to pay Old Debts iv. ii. sig. I3v For which grosse fault, I heere doe damne thy licence, Forbidding thee euer to tap, or draw.
5. † b. intransitive. figurative. To ‘turn on the tap’ of gifts; to open the purse or pocket; to spend or ‘bleed’ freely. slang. Obsolete.
a. To draw off (liquid) from any source.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > action or process of extracting > extract liquid [verb (transitive)]
draw1379
to draw off1594
tap1598
broach1649
1598 [implied in: A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. 20 b/2 In the drawing or tappinge of the water. (at tapping n.1 1a)].
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 357 When the fluid lead is tapped, or drawn off.
1853 ‘C. Bede’ Adventures Mr. Verdant Green xi. 106 He told Verdant, that his claret had been repeatedly tapped.
1873 H. B. Tristram Land of Moab xviii. 361 Little rills tapped from the springs.
1894 R. R. Bowker in Harper's Mag. Jan. 417 [It] floats on the top, and is easily tapped off.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > spend or incur expense [verb (intransitive)]
spenec1175
spend1297
to do or make (the) cost(s)c1325
costc1384
to be at charge or at charges?1542
to be at cost?1548
to spend and be spent1611
disburse1615
to lug out1684
tap1712
part1864
society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > waste of money or extravagance > spend extravagantly [verb (transitive)]
to piss (money, an opportunity, etc.) against the wall1540
lavish1542
melt1607
to piss away1628
unbowel1647
tap1712
sport1785
waster1821
blue1846
spree1859
to frivol away1866
blow1874
bust1878
skittle1883
to blow in1886
burst1892
bang1897
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 550. ¶1 A certain Country Gentleman begun to tapp upon the first Information he received of Sir Roger's Death.
1713 R. Steele Guardian No. 58. ⁋6 I design to stand for our borough the next election, on purpose to make the squire on t'other side tap lustily for the good of our town.
III. Technical uses.
6. Mechanics.
a. To furnish (a hole) with an internal screw-thread, or (any part) with a threaded hole.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > fastening > fasten [verb (transitive)] > with screws > furnish with screw-thread
worm1605
tap1808
thread1858
1808 Henry in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 98 287 The lower orifice..is tapped internally, for the purpose of receiving a small screw.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 131 A screw..is cut on the gudgeon..and a piece of iron..is tapped to fit it.
1833 J. Holland Treat. Manuf. Metal II. 105 The [gun] barrel having been tapped at the stouter end, and being fitted with the breech screw.
1902 P. Marshall Metal Working Tools 32 Holes of varying sizes..are drilled and tapped.
b. To furnish with an external screw-thread; to convert (a bolt or rod) into a screw.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > making tools, equipment, or fastenings > make tools, equipment, or fastenings [verb (transitive)] > processes in making screws
tap1815
screw1833
strip1873
burr1880
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art I. 40 The bolt or pin intended to be tapped, either with a screw-plate or stocks, is tapered in a small degree at the extremity.
1837 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 1 48 The lower part of the king-bolt is tapped with a screw and nut.
1888 F. Rutley Rock-forming Minerals 23 Each rod is tapped with a [screw-]thread.
c. To cause to pass through or in by screwing.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > fastening > fasten [verb (transitive)] > with screws
vice1542
screw?1597
to worm in1605
to screw down1683
tap1869
coach-screw1874
1869 E. J. Reed Shipbuilding ii. 44 The angle-irons..are secured to the plating by 1 inch screws tapped through it.
1885 C. G. W. Lock Workshop Receipts 4th Ser. 341/2 The hook should be ‘tapped’ in very tight.
7. To deprive (a plant) of its taproot.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > forestry or arboriculture > [verb (transitive)] > trees: prune or lop > root-prune
tap1792
root-prune1812
root1817
1792 Trans. Soc. Arts 10 6 Young Oaks..are for the most part tapped at the time of removal.
Derivatives
tapped adj.1 /tæpt/
/tæpt/ΘΚΠ
society > communication > telecommunication > telegraphy or telephony > [adjective] > tapped
tapped1925
1670 W. Simpson Hydrol. Ess. 111 I caused a tap'd vessel to be filled.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 158 Two tapped holes in the bar.
1874 S. J. P. Thearle Naval Archit. (new ed.) I. 79 Four of the rivets..are through, and four are tapped.
1880 C. R. Markham Peruvian Bark 459 Regularly tapped trees do not exceed 60 feet in height.
1881 W. E. Dickson Pract. Organ-building viii. 95 Tapped Wires..are pieces of wire about 3½ inches in length..and cut with a screw-thread upon about half their length.
1902 P. Marshall Metal Working Tools 63 The thread should be tried into a nut or tapped hole of the right size from time to time until a proper fit is arrived at.
1925 P. J. Risdon Crystal Receivers & Circuits 9 In the case of a tapped inductance coil, the wire is tapped at every turn for so many turns, for fine adjustment, and then once every few turns for coarse adjustment.
1964 L. Deighton Funeral in Berlin v. 37 Transcripts of tapped phone calls.
1978 D. Murphy Place Apart ii. 22 He called in a disguised message over the tapped phone that he would be over that evening.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
tapv.2
/tap/, U.S. /tæp/ 1.
a. transitive. To strike lightly, but clearly and audibly; rarely applied by meiosis to a sharp knock or rap. to tap up, to rouse, cause to get up by tapping at the door. to tap out, to mark or signify by a tap or series of taps; to cause to be produced thus; spec. to type out (a letter, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific degree of force > strike with specific degree of force [verb (transitive)] > strike lightly
thackc897
tap?c1225
touchc1330
strike1488
tip1567
tit1589
tat1607
dib1609
bob1745
popc1817
percuss1827
rap1873
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific degree of force > strike with specific degree of force [verb (transitive)] > strike lightly > mark, signify, or produce by
to tap out1903
society > communication > printing > typing > type [verb (transitive)]
to peck outa1382
pound1865
write1874
typewrite1887
type1888
tickle1926
to tap out1952
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 218 Ne ȝef þu him neauer inȝeong. ach tap him oðe sculle. for he is arch.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 487/1 Taspyn, palpo... Taspynge (K., P. tappynge), palpacio, palpitacio.
1761 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy IV. Slawkenbergius's Tale 17 This faithful slave..has carried me.., continued he, tapping the mule's back, above six hundred leagues.
1777 J. Cook Jrnl. 10 July (1967) III. i. 175 They come and squat down before him, bow the head to the sole of his foot.., after rising the head they tap or touch the sole of the foot with the under and upper side of the finger of both hands then rise up and retire.
18.. T. Moore Woodpecker (song) Every leaf was at rest, and I heard not a sound, But the wood pecker tapping the hollow beech tree.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 517 [Founding] Before lifting off the frame, we must tap the pattern slightly, otherwise the sand enclosing it would stick to it.
1840 F. Marryat Poor Jack xxiv. 171 I went to bed, was tapped up..by Bessy.
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxvi. 230 He sate there tapping his boot with his cane.
1888 J. W. Burgon Lives Twelve Good Men I. i. 71 He tapped my fingers in the way which was customary with him.
1903 R. Langbridge Flame & Flood i. 4 He was tapping out a cautious progress towards the women with a stick, letting himself down with a surprised bump upon each step.
1904 W. E. Norris in Longman's Mag. Dec. 168 A parchment-visaged priest..taps his insistent gong.
1912 Red Mag. Mar. 427/2 The clock of the Royal Exchange began to tap out the hour of nine.
1944 in B. A. Botkin Treasury Southern Folklore (1949) iii. i. 447 He..tapped out ‘73’, which is the telegrapher's traditional symbol for goodby.
1952 M. Laski Village xviii. 248 Gerald tapped out a formal letter on the old typewriter.
1976 J. McClure Rogue Eagle ii. 27 Buchanan put down his cup where the writer carriage wouldn't bump it..and..tapped out the name of his freelance agency.
b. To strike (the foot, hand, etc.) lightly upon something.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > impinge upon [verb (transitive)] > cause to impinge > gently or lightly
tapa1500
dab1592
squat1609
a1500 Ragman Roll 131 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 75 And your foot ye tappyn, and ye daunce.
1819 W. Irving Rip Van Winkle in Sketch Bk. i. 87 The bystanders began now to..tap their fingers against their foreheads.
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess Prol. 8 Upon the sward She tapt her tiny silken-sandal'd foot.
c. To arrest (someone). Also in to tap on the shoulder. slang.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > general proceedings > arrest > [verb (transitive)]
at-holda1230
attacha1325
resta1325
takec1330
arrest1393
restay?a1400
tachec1400
seisinc1425
to take upa1438
stowc1450
seize1471
to lay (also set, clap, etc.) (a person) by the heels?1515
deprehend1532
apprehend1548
nipa1566
upsnatcha1566
finger1572
to make stay of1572
embarge1585
cap1590
reprehend1598
prehenda1605
embar1647
nap1665
nab1686
bone1699
roast1699
do1784
touch1785
pinch1789
to pull up1799
grab1800
nick1806
pull1811
hobble1819
nail1823
nipper1823
bag1824
lag1847
tap1859
snaffle1860
to put the collar on1865
copper1872
to take in1878
lumber1882
to pick up1887
to pull in1893
lift1923
drag1924
to knock off1926
to put the sleeve on1930
bust1940
pop1960
vamp1970
1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue at Tap A tap on the shoulder, an arrest.]
1859 G. W. Matsell Vocabulum 89 Tap, to arrest.
1894 J. G. Littlechild Reminisc. xix. 193 We instructed him..to hint darkly that he was going to be ‘tapped’—i.e. taken into custody on charges connected with the forged cheques.
1968 ‘R. Simons’ Death on Display iii. 44 I'm goin' straight. Last time I was done was two years ago, and I ain't been tapped on the shoulder since.
2. † b. spec. of a hare or rabbit: To make a drumming noise with the feet in rutting-time. Obsolete.
a. intransitive and absol. To strike a light but distinct blow; to make a sound by so striking, e.g. on a drum; esp. to knock lightly on or at a door, etc. in order to attract attention. Also in reduplicated form tap-tap v. (and variants.) to tap repeatedly (usually as present participle).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > sound of blow or fall > [verb (intransitive)] > pat or tap
tapc1425
pat1767
tap-tap1922
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific degree of force > strike with specific degree of force [verb (intransitive)] > lightly
tapc1425
strike1488
tick1546
pat1601
dib1869
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking in specific manner > strike in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > so as to produce a sound > knock
knockc1000
tapc1425
rap1440
chopa1522
knap1535
knack1570
chap1774
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific degree of force > strike with specific degree of force [verb (intransitive)] > lightly > and repeatedly
tamper1606
virginala1616
tap-tap1922
c1425 Cast. Persev. 2111 in Macro Plays 140 Putte Mankynde fro þi castel clere, or I schal tappyn at þi tyre.
1791 A. Radcliffe Romance of Forest II. x. 82 She tapped gently at the door.
1831 E. A. Poe Raven iv So faintly you came tapping.
1873 W. Black Princess of Thule xix. 315 He tapped with his stick on one of the panes.
1888 F. Hume Madame Midas i. ii. 24 Tapping with his wooden leg on the floor.
1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles III. xliv. 67 They heard her footsteps tap along the hard road as she stepped out to her full pace.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. xi. [Sirens] 277 A stripling, blind, with a tapping cane, came taptaptapping by Daly's window.
1977 New Yorker 6 June 38/2 Two reels of thread escaped from it, rolled along the landing, and went tap-tapping down the stairs.
1982 R. Timperley Face in Leaves iv. 34 I heard her typewriter tap-tap-tapping.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Lagomorpha (rabbits and hares) > [verb (intransitive)] > make drumming noise with feet
tap1575
beat1632
1575 G. Gascoigne Noble Arte Venerie lxxix. 238 A Hare & a conie beateth or tappeth.
1650 [see tapping adj. at Derivatives]. 1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) (at cited word) Among Hunters, a Hare is said to Tap or Beat, i.e. to make a Noise.
1711 J. Puckle Club (1817) 90 And told us..a goat rats, a boar freams, a hare tapps.
c. To walk with sharp light steps.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)] > lightly
trip?a1400
tripplea1640
link1718
tap1749
pat1767
tip1819
flip1862
light-foot1887
soft-foot1913
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. xi. ii. 110 Our England for ever!..my brave Lad! I am going to tap away directly.
d. To sound, esp. as a signal.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > signalling > audible signalling > sound as signal [verb (intransitive)]
sound1705
tap1887
1887 A. J. Wilson At Mercy of Tiberius xxxiii. 576 Somewhere in the apartment, a bell tapped.
1887 A. J. Wilson At Mercy of Tiberius xxxiii. 577 The time has come; the drum taps, I must march away.
1915 C. Johnson Battleground Adventures liv. 419 A bell would tap for a waiter to come and take the team.
3. transitive. dialect and U.S. To add a thickness of leather to the sole or heel of (a shoe) in repairing; cf. tap n.2 3. Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > making footwear > make footwear [verb (transitive)] > repair or renovate > in specific way
forefoot1465
welt1483
spetch1582
speck1681
tap1746
heel-tap1763
fox1796
resole1821
refoot1827
tap-piece1903
1746 J. Hempstead Diary 1 Jan. (1998) 446 I Tapt & nailed Jont Pierpoints Shoes.
1781 in Narragansett Hist. Reg. (1883) Apr. 284 Tapped a pair of shoes.
1818 J. Kitto in Eadie Life (1861) ii. 44 Set to tapping leather shoes to-day.
1846 J. E. Worcester Universal Dict. Eng. Lang. Tap, to add a new sole or heel to a shoe.
1847 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words II. 850/2 Tap, to sole shoes.
1852 Knickerbocker Aug. 149 There is also the shoemaker..who ‘taps’ for half the city price.
1880 M. A. Courtney W. Cornwall Words in M. A. Courtney & T. Q. Couch Gloss. Words Cornwall (at cited word) The tap of your shoe is wearing; it wants tapping.
4. To designate or select (a person) for a task, honour, or membership of an organization. U.S. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > office > appointment to office > appoint a person to an office [verb (transitive)] > nominate
nameOE
nevenc1425
nominate1556
design1564
voice1594
designatea1616
tap1952
1952 E. O'Neill Moon for Misbegotten i. 55 He was tapped for an exclusive Senior Society at the Ivy university to which his father had given millions.
1972 J. Mosedale Football ii. 13 Sports Illustrated magazine tapped him..as its ‘Sportsman of the Year’.
1977 Time 23 May 13/3 Britain's youthful Foreign Secretary David Owen announced last week that he had tapped Jay, at 40, to serve as Ambassador to Washington.
Derivatives
ˈtapping adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific degree of force > [adjective] > lightly
tapping1816
1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine iii. 338 Here..the beating Hares [are said] to forme, the tapping Conies to sit.
1816 Sporting Mag. 47 177 The Oilman is a tapping and inoffensive hitter.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 240 Far and faint..whips resound..like a tapping-bird or the snapping of dried sticks.
Draft additions January 2018
U.S. to tap one's heels together: (with reference or allusion to The Wizard of Oz: see note) used to indicate or emphasize a fervent wish or strong desire for a particular event, occurrence, outcome, etc. (esp. one which seems unlikely or impossible). Also to tap one's heels (together) three times. Cf. to click one's heels together at click v.1 4c. [In the 1939 U.S. film The Wizard of Oz (and the 1900 book by L. Frank Baum on which it is based), the main character Dorothy must tap her heels together three times in order for her wish to return home to Kansas from the Land of Oz to be granted; compare: ]
1939 N. Langley et al. Wizard of Oz (film script) (1989) 160 Close your eyes, and tap your heels together three times.
ΚΠ
1971 Art Direct. Nov. 53/3 Becoming an Art Director requires more than tapping your heels together twice somewhere in the country.
1979 Daily Herald (Chicago) 5 Dec. ii. 6/4 I'm not suggesting that they have Carson Cumulus tap his heels together three times and recite over and over, ‘There's no place like home, there's no place like home,’ before good witch Lugulbanda sends him back to Kansas.
1986 Brownfield (Texas) News 16 Feb. a6/4 Maybe if I try real hard and tap my heels three times I can think of some positive functions.
2004 News-Jrnl. (Daytona Beach, Florida) (Nexis) 4 Sept. 1 b The GOP believe if we wish hard enough for a robust economy, we can make it so. And anyone who doesn't..cross their fingers and tap their heels together three times is somehow less of a person.
2010 Daily News (N.Y.) (Nexis) 2 Mar. (Sports Final ed.) (Sports section) 59 A baseball broadcaster cannot close his eyes, tap his heels together and suddenly transform a loser into a winner.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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