• TIAL
n. a tie; a string with which anything is fastened; anything used for tying a latchet; a tying …Bk1905 Sc.
• TIB
int. a call made to ewes …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 1. formerly, a typical name for a woman of the lower classes; a common woman …1533 obs.
n. 2. a girl or lass; a sweetheart …1582 obs.
n. 3. a mistress; a young woman of loose character; a strumpet, a prostitute …1582 obs.
n. 4. a goose …1622 sl. obs.
n. 5. the ear; the tip or lobe of the ear …1876 Eng. dial.
n. 6. weak beer …1886 Eng. dial.
n. 7. the fundament; the anus …B1900 Eng. dial.
n. 8. the head …B1900 Amer.
n. 9. a tub …Bk1905 Eng. dial. obs.
n. 10. a term of endearment …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 11. a calf …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 12. the calf of the leg …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
vb. to slip out; to escape unobserved from school or house; to break bounds …1840 school sl.
• TIBBET
n. the peak in front of a bonnet …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TIBBITS
n. physical sensation, feelings; energy, strength …1808 Sc.
• TIBBLE
vb. to slip out; to escape unobserved from school or house; to break bounds …1840 school sl.
• TIBB’S EVE
phr. a day which never comes, never …1870 Sc. & Eng. dial.
• TIBBY
n. 1. a term of endearment …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 2. a calf …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 3. the calf of the leg …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TIBBY-CAT
n. a female cat …1828 Eng. dial.
• TIBBY-LAMB
n. a term of endearment applied pitifully to a child …1896 Eng. dial.
• TIB-CAT
n. a female cat …1828 Eng. dial.
• TIBERT
n. a cat; a name for a cat …1481
• TIBICEN
n. a flute-player …1776 Antiq.
• TIBICINATE
vb. to play on the tibia (an ancient flute) …1656 rare
• TIBICINATION
n. a playing on a pipe …1658 rare
• TIBICINIST
n. a flute-player …1846 rare
• TIBITLESS
adj. without feeling; destitute of sensation, numb, benumbed …1768 Sc.
• TIB OF THE BUTTERY
n. a goose …1622 sl. obs.
• TIB’S EVE
phr. a day which never comes, never …1870 Sc. & Eng. dial.
• TIC
int. a call to poultry …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. a whim …19C
• TICCHEN
n. a kid, a young goat …c950 obs.
• TICE
n. 1. an act of enticing; an enticement …1874
n. 2. a stroke at croquet or cricket, which tempts or entices the opponent to take aim …1874
n. 3. advantage, grace given in any game …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 4. kind treatment; the act of treating in a coaxing manner …Bk1905 Sc.
vb. 1. to entice; to tempt, to allure, to induce or attract by the offer of pleasure or advantage …c1275 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to encourage, to incite, as a dog …Bk1905 Eng. dial. obs.
• TICE-FOOLS
n. puffballs …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TICEMENT
n. enticement; encouragement …1303 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
• TICE-PENNY
n. anything tempting to buy …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TICER
n. an enticer …a1529
• TICERY
n. entertainments of all kinds…Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TICE-TRAP
n. a matter of temptation or allurement; a glaring display to entice the beholder …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TICHEL
n. any article kept secretly …Bk1905 Sc.
vb. to join hands; to make a line or string …Bk1905 Sc.
• TICHER
vb. to laugh in a suppressed way; to titter …Bk1905 Sc.
• TICING
adj. alluring, seductive, tempting; of sweet, pleasing manners …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TICK
adj. loving, fond …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 1. a light but distinct touch; a light quick stroke; a pat, a tap … c1440 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 2. a contemptible person …1631 sl.
n. 3. credit; trust; reputation of solvency and probity …1668
n. 4. a debit account; an account, reckoning …1681
n. 5. a beat of the heart or of the pulse …1823
n. 6. a moment, a second, an instant …1879 colloq.
n. 7. a whim, a fancy; a peculiar habit or notion; an idiosyncrasy …1896
n. 8. a dot of any kind; a small speck or spot; the dot above the letter I, etc. …Bk1905 Sc.
n. 9. a clock …1950s Amer. sl.
n. 10. a many too lazy to work, and too shiftless to move …1958 Amer. sl.
n. 11. a bedbug …1966 Amer. dial.
n. 12. one who is greedy or selfish …1975 Amer. sl.
n. 13. an overweight person …1975 Amer. sl.
vb. 1. to touch or tap a thing or person lightly; to bestow light touches or pats by way of caressing …1546
vb. 2. to take credit; to run into debt, leave one’s debts unpaid …1648 sl. or colloq.
vb. 3. to beat, pulse, throb …1868
vb. 4. to fondle, to caress; to toy …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
vb. 5. to complain; to find fault …1925 sl., orig. services’ usage
• TICK-A-LOCK
adj. silent …2003 Amer. dial.
adv. inaccessibly …1998 Amer. dial.
int. (as ‘tick a lock’) be quiet …2005 Amer. dial.
vb. (as ‘tick a lock’) to be silent …2003 Amer. dial.
• TICK AND TOY
vb. to trifle …1550
• TICKAREE
n. a hawk …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TICKED
adj. 1959 US sl. – angry
• TICKED OFF
adj. 1959 US sl. – angry
• TICKER
n. 1. a very small spot or pimple on the skin; an eruption on the face …1824 Sc.
n. 2. a watch …1829 sl.
n. 3. a dot of any kind …Bk1905 Sc.
n. 4. the heart …1930 sl., orig. US
n. 5. courage …1935 Aust. & US sl.
n. 6. a false beard …Bk1942 Amer. theatrical sl.
• TICKET
n. 1. a writing in which something is certified or authorized; a certificate or voucher; a warrant, licence, permit …1529 obs.
n. 2. an acknowledgement of indebtedness; an IOU; a promise to pay …c1600 obs.
n. 3. a minute quantity or part …1634 Eng. dial.
n. 4. a pat; a slight stroke with the hand, etc.; a smart blow; a beating …1833 Sc.
n. 5. the program or plan of action; that which is to be done …1842
n. 6. a small load of anything …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 7. a visiting card …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 8. an oddity …Bk1905 Sc.
n. 9. a trading card …1975 Amer. dial.
• THE TICKET
n. something which is wanted or needed; the exact thing, the right or correct thing …1836
• THE TICKET FOR SOUP
n. the exact thing, the right or correct thing …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TICKETTY-BOO; TICKETY-BOO
adj. 1939 Brit. sl. – satisfactory
adv. World War II British armed forces usage – very well, splendidly
• TICK FOR TACK
phr. tit for tat …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TICKLE
adj. 1. not to be depended on; uncertain; unreliable; changeable; inconstant; capricious; fickle …a1300 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
adj. 2. pleasantly stirred or excited …c1330 obs.
adj. 3. easily tickled; susceptible to tickling …1377 obs.
adj. 4. easily moved to feeling or action; easily affected in some way …1377 obs.
adj. 5. fastidious, dainty, squeamish; easily upset or disordered …c1456 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
adj. 6. in unstable equilibrium; easily upset or overthrown, insecure, tottering, crazy; delicate, sensitive …1515
adj. 7. difficult to deal with, delicate, requiring nice management …1570
adj. 8. insecure, unstable, tottering; precarious, slippery …1579 obs. or arch.
adj. 9. risky, dangerous …1579 obs. or arch.
adj. 10. of an animal: easily scared; shy, wild …1737 Eng. dial.
adj. 11. variable, uncertain, not to be relied on; used esp. of the weather …1795 Eng. dial.
adj. 12. uncertain in temper; touchy, easily offended …1874 Eng. dial.
n. 1. a name given on the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador to a narrow difficult strait or passage …1770
n. 2. a successful crime or illegal deal …1938 sl.
vb. 1. to be affected or excited by a pleasantly tingling or thrilling sensation; to be stirred or moved with a thrill of pleasure …c1330 obs.
vb. 2. to stir up, to incite, to provoke; to prompt or impel to do something …1532 obs.
vb. 3. to vex, to irritate, to provoke …1547-64 obs.
vb. 4. to whisper …1575. obs.
vb. 5. to stir a fire slightly …1589
vb. 6. to beat, to chastise, to whip …1592
vb. 7. to touch up; to improve or decorate with light touches …1845
vb. 8. to puzzle; to perplex …1865 Sc.
vb. 9. to rob or burgle …1945 sl., chiefly Aust. & NZ
• TICKLE-BACKED
adj. of an animal: sensitive to a load or rider on the back …1967 Amer. dial.
• TICKLE BONE
n. 1. the funny bone …1921 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a sense of humour …1938 Amer. dial.
• TICKLE BOX
n. 1. an imaginary organ of the body that causes uncontrollable laughter when turned over, tilted, or otherwise affected …1905 Amer. dial.
n. 2. the mouth …1969 Amer. dial.
• TICKLE-BRAIN
n. 1. one who supplies potent liquor …1596 obs.
n. 2. potent liquor …1639 obs.
• TICKLE BREECHES
n. wool or coarse-woven trousers …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• TICKLE BUMP
n. an abrupt dip or bump in a road or path, either naturally occurring, esp. in ice or snow, or deliberately made, esp. to divert runoff or, more recently, to slow automobile traffic …1969 Amer. dial.
• TICKLE-BUT
adv. headlong, impetuously …1874 Eng. dial.
• TICKLED
adj. happy, pleased …1586
• TICKLED PINK
adj. happy, pleased …1907 sl.
• TICKLED TO DEATH
adj. happy, pleased …1834 sl.
• TICKLE-HEADED
adj. light-minded, easily influenced …1583 obs.
• TICKLE-HEELED
adj. having nimble or active heels …1737 obs.
• TICKLE IN THE PALM
vb. to gratify with a tip …1694
• TICKLELY
adv. in an insecure or unstable manner …1601 obs.
• TICKLE-MY-FANCY
n. the pansy, the violet …1902 Amer. dial.
• TICKLENESS
n. insecurity, instability; critical situation, precariousness; inconstancy; uncertainty …c1390 obs.
• TICKLE ONE’S TOBY
vb. to spank or beat on the buttocks … 1842 sl.
• TICKLE-PITCHER
n. a thirsty fellow; a heavy drinker; a drunkard, a sot …a1700 sl.
• TICKLER
adj. particular …1844 Eng. & Amer. dial.
n. 1. a liquor flask, esp. one holding a half-pint; a drink of liquor …1809 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a sharp stroke with a cane or whip; a smart blow …1836 Eng. dial.
n. 3. a shrewd, cunning person or animal; a difficult person to deal with …1887 Sc.
n. 4. a small poker …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 5. a hand grenade …World War I Amer. sl.
n. 6. a hand-rolled cigarette; also, the tobacco from which it is made …1929 nautical sl.
• TICKLES
n. spectacles …Bk1905 Sc.
• TICKLESOME
adj. 1. difficult, critical, delicate, precarious …1585 now Eng. dial.
adj. 2. sensitive to tickling …1898 Ireland
• TICKLE-STOMACHED
adj. squeamish …B1900 Eng. dial.
• TICKLE-TAIL
n. 1. a loose or wanton woman …c1430 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 2. that which, or one who, tickles the ‘tail’; a schoolmaster’s rod; a schoolmaster …1785 sl.
n. 3. the penis …B1900 sl.
• TICKLE-TAIL FUNCTION
n. a prostitute …L17 sl.
• TICKLE-TEXT
n. a parson …1785 sl.
• TICKLE THE EAR(S)
vb. Bk1897 – to gratify with agreeable sounds; hence, to flatter, to coax
• TICKLE THE FANCY
vb. a1774 – to excite amusement in
• TICKLE THE IVORIES
vb. 1906 sl. – to play the piano, esp. to play it well
• TICKLE THE MINIKIN
vb. 17C sl. – to play the lute or fiddle
• TICKLE THE PETER
vb. 1945 sl., chiefly Aust. & NZ – to rob a safe, till, or cashbox
• TICKLE THE PISS OUT OF
vb. 1950s US sl. – to please or amuse someone
• TICKLE THE SHIT OUT OF
vb. 1950s US sl. – to please or amuse someone
• TICKLE-THOMAS
n. 19C sl. – the vagina
• TICKLE-TOBY
n. 1. L17 sl. – a promiscuous woman
n. 2. L17 sl. – a sword
n. 3. L17 sl. – the penis
n. 4. L17 sl. – the vagina
n. 5. 1830 – a birch, a rod, a switch
• TICKLE-TONGUED
adj. 1577 obs. – loose of tongue; talkative; garrulous
• TICKLE YOUR FANCY
n. 20C sl. – a homosexual
• TICKLING
n. 1553 – an ‘itching’ to do something; an uneasy desire, craving, hankering
• TICKLING-HOUSE
n. 1681 sl. – a place of preaching
• TICKLISH
adj. 1. 1581 – easily upset in temper; apt to be offended, sensitive, touchy
adj. 2. 1592 – liable to end in disaster unless treated with great care; needing cautious handling or action; delicate, critical, precarious, risky, hazardous
adj. 3. 1601 – unstably balanced or poised; easily unbalanced or upset; unsteady
adj. 4. 1606 – unstable, unsteady, unsettled, uncertain, fickle
adj. 5. 1681 obs. – of a horse: sensitive to touch, tender
adj. 6. 1684 obs. – sensitive; easily affected
adj. 7. 1687 – of a boat: easily capsized
adj. 8. 1826 – of game: difficult to approach; shy
adj. 9. 1900 Amer. dial. – of ice: rubbery, flexible
adj. 10. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – of the weather: changeable
adj. 11. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – skittish, mettlesome
n. 1921 Amer. dial. – the game of running or skating over broken or yielding ice
• TICKLISH-BENDER
n. 1894 Amer. dial. – an area of yielding ice made naturally or deliberately on a body of water; the sport of running or skating over such ice
• TICKLY
adj. 1. 1530 – sensitive to tickling; easily tickled
adj. 2. Bk1905 Sc. – puzzling, difficult
adj. 3. 1967 Amer. dial. – of ice: rubbery, flexible
adv. 1674 obs. – in an insecure or unstable manner
• TICKLY-BENDERS
n. 1853 – thin ice which bends under one’s weight
• TICKNEY
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – earthenware, esp. a coarse, common kind, made at Ticknall, near Derby
• TICKNEY-MAN
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – an itinerant vendor of coarse, common earthenware
• TICK OFF
vb. 1915 sl., orig. services’ usage – to reprimand
• TICK ONE OFF
vb. 1959 US sl. – to annoy or infuriate
• TICK OVER
vb. 1916 US sl. – to idle; to barely run; to operate very slowly
• TICKSIE
n. Bk1905 Sc. – a quarrel, a dispute
• TICKSY-WICKSY
n. 1864 – a baby
• TICK-TACK
n. 1. 1865 Sc. & Eng. dial. – the tick or ticking sound of a clock
n. 2. 1881 Eng. dial. – a second; a moment; a short space of time
• TICKTACK BIRD
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – a woodpecker
• TICKTACK NIGHT
n. 1899 Amer. dial. – Halloween night
• TICKTAIL
n. 1877 Eng. dial. – a somersault
• TICK TIGHT
n. 1983 Amer. dial. – a one post bed built into a corner of a room, using the two walls as support
• TICKY
adj. 1. 1857 Eng. dial. – irritable; itchy; affected by ticks or lice
adj. 2. 1886 Amer. dial. – untidy, rough, shabby, unpolished, messy
adj. 3. 1894 Amer. dial. – finicky, fussy, too particular; touchy, easily offended
adj. 4. 1894 Amer. dial. – finding fault, complaining
n. 1877 S. Afr. colloq. – a threepenny piece
• TICKY-PIG
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – the smallest pig of a litter
• TICKY-TACK
adj. 1969 US sl. – inferior; shabbily made or done
• TICKY-TACKY
adj. 1969 US sl. – inferior; shabbily made or done
n. 1962 US sl. – shabby materials; insubstantial and inferior goods
• TICO
n. 1905 sl., chiefly US – a person from Costa Rica
• TIC-TAC-MOLLARD
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – the game of ‘ducks and drakes’
• TICULAR
adj. 1937 Amer. dial. – particular
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Updated: February 26, 2023
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