TABLE – ADVERBS
– UNDERBOARD under the table …a1548 obs.
TABLE – NOUNS
– BEOD a table …c1000 obs.
– BOARD a table; a tailor’s table …Bk1911 Sc.
– CAIN a table …1857 UK rhyming sl. (Cain and Abel)
– CAIN AND ABEL a table …1857 UK rhyming sl.
– MAHOGANY a table, esp. a dining table …1840 colloq.
– MAHOGANY TREE a dining table …1747 jocular usage
– SHAMBLE a table or counter for displaying goods for sale, counting money, etc. …OE obs.
– TABLING tables collectively …1892
– TAFFEL; TAFFIL a table …1633 Sc. obs. exc. Eng. dial.
– TATHIL a table …1825 Sc.
TABLE – VERBS
– BEGIN THE BOARD to sit at the head of the table …c1386 obs.
– BUNCH UP to clear the table, remove the dishes from the table …1968 Amer. dial.
– REDD OFF to clear off a table, esp. after a meal …1940 Amer. dial.
– REDD UP to clear off a table, esp. after a meal …1942 Amer. dial.
– RED UP to clear off a table, esp. after a meal …1942 Amer. dial.
– RID UP to clear off a table, esp. after a meal …1965 Amer. dial.
– SET BY to take one’s place at the table; often used as an invitation to dine …1902 Amer. dial.
– SET OFF to clear a table …1950 Amer. dial.
– SET UP to pull one’s chair up to the table, to take one’s seat for a meal …1843 Amer. dial.
– SIDE THE TABLE to clear the table …1950 Amer. dial.
– SIT BY to take one’s place at the table; often used as an invitation to dine …1902 Amer. dial.
– SIT UP to pull one’s chair up to the table, to take one’s seat for a meal …1843 Amer. dial.
– TAKE UP THE TABLE to clear the table after a meal …a1300 obs.
TABLE CLOTH – NOUNS
– a tablecloth BOARD-CLOTH Bk1911 Sc.
– a tablecloth NAPE c1450 obs. rare
– a tablecloth SARFIT Bk1904 Eng. dial. obs.
– a tablecloth; a napkin NAPET c1440 obs.
– a tablecloth; a thick fabric, commonly of wool, used to cover tables, beds, etc. CARPET 1345 obs.
TABLE CLOTH – PHRASES
– to turn the table-cloth or a garment, etc. around so the dust or dirt doesn’t show GIVE IT AN IRISH WASH 1966 Amer. dial.
TABLE LINEN – NOUNS
– table linen NAPERY c1380 now rare exc. Sc.
TABLE LINEN – NOUNS, PERSON
– the person having charge of the royal table linen NAPERER 1494 obs.
– the person having charge of the royal table linen NAPIER 1880 rare
TABLESPOON – NOUNS
– a tablespoon MEAT-SPOON Bk1905 Eng. dial.
TABLE TENNIS – NOUNS, PERSON
– a table tennis player who uses the same side of the paddle for both forehand and backhand WINDSHIELD WIPER Bk1997
TACIT, TACITLY – ADJECTIVES
– tacit TACID 1651 obs. rare
TACIT etc. – ADVERBS
– tacitly TACIDLY 1640 obs. rare
TACITURN – ADJECTIVES
– taciturn and morose HUMMEL-DRUMMEL B1900 Sc.
– taciturn, sullen, unbending in manner DERF B1900 Sc.
– taciturn, unready in speech SHORT-TONGUED c1575
TACK – NOUNS
– a tack, a small nail TACKET 1316 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
TACKLE – VERBS
– to tackle someone; to contend with someone to test someone PULL ON 1963 Aust. sl.
– to tackle; to attack; to grip, to seize; to tackle; to meddle with; to fight; to engage in, to dispute YOKE 1775 Sc.
TACT – ADJECTIVES
– requiring tact or care, difficult, delicate TICKLESOME 1585 now Eng. dial.
TACT – NOUNS
– tact, discretion, sense; decency, propriety, decorum; good manners, politeness MENSE 1737 Sc. & Eng. dial.
– tact, ingenuity MANAGEMENT 1760 obs.
TACTICS – NOUNS, PERSON
– a tactician, a strategist; with reference to the degree of skill in the command of an army GENERAL 1579 military usage
– a tactician; one skilled in tactics TACTIC 1638 obs.
– a person versed in the art of tactics TACTICIAN 1798
– a person versed in the art of tactics TACTITIONIST 1881
TACTLESS – ADJECTIVES
– tactless, unpleasant, emotional, rude, unsophisticated, unfair UNCOOL 1953 sl., orig. US
– wanting in tact or in ease and grace of manner; awkward, clumsy GAUCHE 1751
TACTLESS – NOUNS
– want of tact or dexterity; awkwardness MALADDRESS 1804
– want of tact or grace of manner; awkwardness GAUCHERIE 1798
TACTLESS – NOUNS, PERSON
– a tactless, senseless person, an awkward fellow BOSTHOON 1830 Irish
TACTLESS – VERBS
– to do something tactless, to blunder PUT YOUR FOOT IN IT 1823 UK sl.
TADPOLE – see FROG
TAG – NOUNS
– the children’s game of tag CATCHER 1917 Amer. dial.
TAG (label) – NOUNS
a tag for luggage, etc. TALLY 1909
TAG (label) – VERBS
– to put a name tag on a corpse and place the body in a body bag TAG AND BAG 1981 US Vietnam war usage
TAGALONG – NOUNS, PERSON
– GO-BEHIND a tagalong; one who always follows along behind others …1969 Amer. dial.
– LAG-ALONG a tagalong; one who always follows along behind others …1966 Amer. dial.
– LAG-BEHIND a tagalong; one who always follows along behind others …1966 Amer. dial.
– LAMB’S TAIL a tagalong; one who always follows along behind others …1967 Amer. dial.
– ME-TOO a person who imitates or adopts the behavior of another; a copycat; a tagalong …1950 Amer. dial.
– PENNY-DOG a tagalong; a toady; a hanger-on; a servile follower …1953 Amer. dial.
– PENNY-PUP a tagalong; a toady; a hanger-on; a servile follower …1967 Amer. dial.
– PIGTAIL a tagalong …1967 Amer. dial.
– TAG one who ‘tags along’ behind another person, esp. for detective or spying purposes …1960s sl.
– TAG-TAIL a tagalong; a servile flatterer; one who curries favour; a sycophant; a parasite; a hanger-on; somebody who always follows along behind; one who lags behind …1834
– TAIL a tagalong; a hanger-on; one who lags behind …1965 Amer. dial.
– TAIL-BEHIND. a tagalong; a hanger-on; one who lags behind …1965 Amer. dial.
– TAIL END a tagalong; a hanger-on; one who lags behind …1965 Amer. dial.
– TAILER a tagalong; a hanger-on; one who lags behind; a follower …1942 Amer. dial.
– TAILGATE a tagalong; a hanger-on; one who lags behind …1965 Amer. dial.
– TAIL-TAGGER a tagalong; a hanger-on; one who lags behind …1965 Amer. dial.
– TAIL-TWISTER a tagalong; a hanger-on; one who lags behind …1965 Amer. dial.
– TAR BUCKET a tagalong; a hanger-on; one who lags behind …1915 Amer. dial.
TAGALONG – VERBS
– PENNY AFTER to follow persistently, to tag along …2001 Amer. dial.
– PIGTAIL to tag along; to follow …1942 Amer. sl.
TAIL – ADJECTIVES
– BESOM-TAILED having a bushy tail …1695
TAIL – NOUNS
– ALDERMAN’S NAIL an animal’s tail …19C Brit. rhyming sl.
– BESOM-TAIL a tail formed like a ‘besom’; a bushy tail …1678
– BUSH the bushy tail of a fox; the bushy tail of any animal …1575 obs.
– CAUDATION the possession of a tail …1856
– DAILY (MAIL) a tail; hence, the buttocks, the rectum …1956 UK rhyming sl.
– QUIRK the end of a pig’s tail …1885 Eng. dial.
– SCUT the tail of an animal, esp. that of a rabbit or deer …16C
– STRUNT the tail of an animal …Bk1876 Eng. dial.
– TAG a tail; any small object hanging from a larger one …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– TAILET a minute tail or tail-like appendage …1817 rare
– TEWEL a tail …Bk1905 Eng. dial. obs.
– TRINDLE-TAIL an animal with a curled tail; a curled tail …1486
– TRUNDLETAIL a curled or curly tail, as a dog’s …1486
– WAG a cow’s tail …1912 Sc.
TAIL – VERBS
– BANG to dock the tail of a horse, etc. …19C
– DECAUDALIZE to deprive of the tail …1840 nonce word
– DECAUDATE to deprive of the tail …1864
– FAWN to wag the tail …a1300 obs.
TAILOR – ADJECTIVES
– SARTORIAL belonging to a tailor or his art …1823
– SARTORIAN belonging to a tailor or his art …1668 rare
– TAILORLY like or befitting a tailor …1836
TAILOR – NOUNS
– BOARD a table; a tailor’s table …Bk1911 Sc.
– CABBAGE small off-cuts of material, taken from the job in hand and sold off as perks by tailors …M17 sl.
– CENTIPEES a tailor of soldiers’ clothing …L18 sl.
– NEVER-TOO-LATE-TO-MEND-SHOP a repairing tailor’s …Bk1902 tailors’ sl.
– PAD OF TOGS-IN-(THE)-ROUGH a tailor’s shop …1940s African-American & Southern sl.
– RAG-TRADE tailoring; dressmaking; the dry goods trade in general …c1880 sl.
– SARTRY a tailor’s workshop …1447-8 obs.
– SARTRYN a tailor’s shop …1483 obs. rare
– SILK FACINGS beer stains on the garments being made or altered …c1870 tailors’ usage
– SNIPOCRACY the tailoring profession, or its leading members …1861
– TAILORAGE tailor’s work …1858 rare
– TAILORISM tailor’s work; a tailor-made dress or garment …1839
– TAILORIZATION acting as a tailor; tailoring …1853
– TAILORY the art, craft, or occupation of a tailor …c1449
– TAILORY a tailor’s workshop or establishment …1480
– TAILORY tailor’s work, tailors’ wares; costumery …1610
TAILOR – NOUNS, PERSON
– ABIE a tailor …1940s African-American sl.
– BARAGAN TAILOR a rough tailor …Bk1890 tailors’ usage
– BENJY a waistcoat-maker …Bk1850 tailors’ sl.
– BILLY-BUTTON a journeyman tailor; in contempt …Bk1890 tailors’ sl.
– BODGER a clumsy tailor …Bk1886
– BUSHELER a tailor’s assistant; a repairer of men’s garments …1846 US
– BUSHELMAN a man employed in repair tailoring …1909 US
– BUTTON-CATCHER a tailor …Bk1903 sl.
– CABBAGE a tailor …1690 sl. obs.
– CABBAGE-CONTRACTOR a tailor …1690 sl.
– CABBAGE-EATER a tailor …L17 sl.
– CABBAGE-MONGER a tailor …L17 sl.
– CABBAGER a tailor …1690 sl.
– CLOAK-AND-SUITER a Jewish tailor …E20 US sl.
– COSIER a tailor who botches his work …Bk1907 obs.
– CUTTER a tailor …1599 obs.
– DUNG a journeyman tailor who consents to work for low or basic rates of pay; esp. one who is paid according to the number of pieces he produces, rather than by the day; also, a journeyman who continues to work while others are on strike …1765 tailor’s sl., derogatory
– DURZEE a tailor …1809 India
– ELL-WAND a tailor …1868 Sc.
– FASHIONER one who makes articles of dress; a tailor, a designer …1625 obs. or arch.
– GOOSE-PERSUADER a tailor …Bk1903 sl.
– JACK JAG THE FLAE a tailor …1873 Eng. dial.
– JACK-SNIP a botching or inferior tailor …Bk1896 UK sl.
– JAG-THE-FLEA a term of contempt for a tailor …1786 Sc.
– JEW a ship’s tailor …1916 nautical sl.
– JEWING-BLOKE a ship’s tailor …1945 nautical sl.
– KNIGHT OF THE NEEDLE a tailor …Bk1903 sl.
– KNIGHT OF THE SHEARS a tailor …1812
– KNIGHT OF THE THIMBLE a tailor …1812
– MAIDSTONE JAILER a tailor …M19 rhyming sl.
– MAISTRY a skilled workman, e.g. a cook, a tailor …1798 Indian
– NEEDLE-JERKER a tailor …1807 sl.
– NEEDLEMAN a man who works with the needle, esp. a tailor …1823
– NEEDLE-PUSHER a tailor …1920 Amer. sl.
– ONE OF THE FAITHFUL a tailor giving long credit …18C sl.
– RAG-STABBER a tailor …c1870 sl.
– REMANIER a cobbling tailor who mends clothing …1950 Amer. dial.
– RENOVATOR a repairing tailor …Bk1903 tailors’ sl.
– REVIVER a mending tailor …1864 sl.
– SANK a tailor employed in making soldiers’ clothes …1796 sl.
– SANKIPEE a tailor employed in making soldiers’ clothes …1796 sl.
– SANKY a tailor employed in making soldiers’ clothes …1796 sl.
– SARTOR a tailor …1656
– SHIP’S SHEENY a tailor aboard ship …1910 Amer. dial.
– SINBAD THE SAILOR a tailor …L19 rhyming sl.
– SKIP-LOUSE a tailor …1807
– SNIDER; SNYDER a tailor …L17 sl.
– STANGEY a tailor …Bk1823 Eng. dial.
– SUFFERER a tailor …Bk1904 sl.
– TAILLIOR a tailor …Bk1855 Eng. dial.
– TAILOR-BODY a tailor: contemptuous …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– TAILORESS woman who works as a tailor; a woman tailor …1654
– TAILOR-MAN a tailor …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– TAILYER a tailor …Bk1886 Eng. dial.
– TEALIE a tailor …Bk1855 Eng. dial.
– TIRE-MAN a man who assists at the toilet; a dresser or valet; also, a tailor …1711 obs.
– TOG-MAKER a tailor …1901
– TOM TAILOR a tailor …1820
– TWANGEY a tailor …Bk1823 Eng. dial.
– WARDROBER the tailor attached to a religious house …1526 obs.
– WELSH CRICKET a tailor …Bk1989
– WHIP-CAT a tailor or other workman who whips the cat (works as an itinerant tailor, carpenter, etc. at private houses day by day) …1851
– WHIP-THE-CAT a tailor or other workman who whips the cat (works as an itinerant tailor, carpenter, etc. at private houses day by day) …1912
– WINTER CRICKET a tailor …Bk1823
– WOODCOCK a tailor …Bk1903 sl.
TAILOR – VERBS
– BUILD to sew or tailor; to make clothing …1951 Amer. dial.
– PRICK A LOUSE to be a tailor ..1630 obs.
– TAILORESS to follow the occupation of a tailoress …1865 nonce word
– TAILORIZE to do tailor’s work, to act the tailor …1829
TAILORED, TAILORING – ADJECTIVES
– neatly and closely tailored STREAM-LINE c1940
– neatly and closely tailored STREAM-LINED c1940
– of a personally tailored garment TAILOR-MADE L19 US sl.
TAILORED etc. – NOUNS
– tailoring LOUSE-PRICKING 1710 obs.
TAILORED etc. – NOUNS, PERSON
– in tailoring: a person who takes orders direct from the actual wearer without the intervention of any contractor TALLYMAN 1889
TAINT, TAINTED, TAINTING – ADJECTIVES
– APONTED tainted …Bk1898 Eng. dial.
– FLYBLOWN contaminated; tainted
– KINEY fusty, tainted …Bk1901 Eng. dial.
– MEESY tainted, unsavoury …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– SAPPY of meat: putrescent, tainted …1573 Eng. dial.
– TAINT spoiled, tainted …1934 Amer. dial.
– TAINTY tainted, spoiled …1966 Amer. dial.
– TINTED tainted …1967 Amer. dial.
TAINT etc. – NOUNS
– NADKIN; NATKIN a strong, unpleasant odour or taste; the taint acquired by meat kept too long …1825 Sc. obs.
– TAINTURE tainting, staining, stain, defilement, pollution, infection …1593 obs.
TAINT etc. – VERBS
– CANKER to begin to decay; to spoil; to become tainted …1953 Amer. dial.
– FADE to deprive of freshness or vigour; to corrupt, to taint …c1400 obs.
– TACK to taint, to infect …1601 obs.
TAKE, TAKING – NOUNS
– ACCEPTATION the act of taking, or receiving, what is offered, whether by way of favour, satisfaction, or duty; acceptance …1426 obs.
– ACCEPTION the act of accepting; the receiving or taking of anything presented; acceptance, reception …1483 obs.
– CAPTION a taking, catching, seizure, capture …1382 rare
– RAPPING the practice of seizing and taking …1541 obs.
TAKE, TAKING – NOUNS, PERSON
– SCRABBER who snatches, grabs, or takes by force …Bk1904 Eng. dial.
TAKE, TAKING – VERBS
– AMOVE to remove, to take away from …a1425 obs.
– BENEME to take away, to take from …c1300 obs.
– BENIME; BINIME to take away …Bk1886 obs.
– CAFFLE to take, to hold, to secure …M19 UK criminals’ sl.
– CAP to take; to grab hold of …M19 UK criminals’ sl.
– CLY to seize, to take; to steal …1567 thieves’ cant
– FILE ON TO to grab, to take …1932 Can. sl.
– GAFFLE to take or seize hold of …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
– GRAB A HANDFUL OF to take, to steal, to secure for oneself …1910s US sl.
– GRAB AN ARMFUL OF to take, to steal, to secure for oneself …1910s US sl.
- HAG to rob, to take …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– JACK to steal; to hijack; to take forcibly …1980s sl., orig. US
– KEEP to seize, to lay hold of; to snatch, to take …c1000 obs.
– LAM ON TO to take something of small value that does not belong to you …1950 Amer. dial.
– LATCH to take with force; to capture; to seize upon a person or his goods …c950 obs.
– NAIL to take or obtain for oneself; to secure; to make sure of …1732 sl., orig. criminals’ usage
– NAME to take, to ‘nim’ …c1450 obs.
– PREHEND to seize, to catch, to take, to lay hold of, to apprehend …a1500 obs. rare
– REQUISITION to take by force …1864 Amer. military usage
– SCRAWL to snatch; to take anything abruptly or rudely …Bk1904 Eng. dial.
– SIPHON OFF to take little by little …Aust. sl.
– SMUSS to grab, seize, snatch; to take by force …1736 obs.
– SNAKE to take slyly or stealthily …Bk1913 Amer. dial.
– SNARF to take or grab …1968 Amer. sl.
– SNIPE to steal or take without permission …1909 sl., chiefly Amer.
– SNITCH to steal, to take …1904 sl.
– SWIPE to steal or take roughly or without permission …1889 sl.
– WHIP to steal or take roughly or without permission …1859 Brit. sl.
– YAFFLE to snatch; to take illicitly …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
TAKE AWAY, TAKE OUT, TAKING AWAY – ADJECTIVES
1567 • ABLATIVE pert. to taking away or removing (obs.)
TAKE AWAY etc. – NOUNS
1400 • BENIMMING the taking away (obs.)
1483 • DIREPTION a violent taking away (obs.)
1552 • DEMPTION the action of taking away or suppressing (obs.)
1626 • SUBLATION the act of taking away; removal
1630 • ADEMPTION a taking away
1633 • EREPTION a snatching or taking away by force (obs.)
1651 • SUFFURATION a taking away, removal (obs.)
TAKE AWAY etc. – VERBS
971 • TO-BEAR to carry in different directions; to carry off, to take away (obs.)
1000 • AFFERRE to take away, to remove; also, to snatch away, to seize and carry off (obs.)
1000 • BENIM to take away (obs.)
1065 • BESTRIP to strip clean; to deprive of or take away entirely (obs.)
1320 • BEREFT to snatch away a possession; to remove or take away by violence (obs.)
1440 • TWIST to detach, to separate, to take away (obs.)
1542 • ABLATE to take away, to remove (obs.)
1548 • SUBLATE to remove; to take away (obs.)
1570 • RAMP to remove or take away roughly
1590 • ADEMPT to take away, to remove
1613 • SUBSTRACT to take away, to deduct, to subtract
1626 • SUBDUCE to take away, to withdraw (obs.)
1632 • RAMVERSE to reverse, to withdraw; to remove, to take away (obs.)
1652 • SUBDUCT to take away from its place or position, to withdraw from use, consideration, influence etc.
1658 • DEBATE to subtract, to take away (obs.)
1758 • SUBDUCT to take away or remove surreptitiously or fraudulently
1928 • OUTEN to take out, to remove something, to erase
TAKEN – ADJECTIVES
1000 • BENOME taken away (obs.)
1000 • YFONG taken, seized, received (obs.)
1393 • ARAUGHT taken away, seized by violence (obs.)
1432 • ADEMPT taken away, removed (obs.)
1590 • ADEMPTED taken away, removed (obs.)
1619 • BEREAVEN deprived, taken away by force
1898Bk • BENIMMED taken hastily upon the sly
TAKE OFF – VERBS
1906 • HAVE OFF to take off, to remove
TAKEOVER – NOUNS, PERSON
1981 • WHITE KNIGHT a person who intervenes to thwart a hostile takeover bid
TAKING BACK – NOUNS
1538 • GAIN-TAKING taking back again (obs.)
TALCUM POWDER – NOUNS
1953 • NIGGER BATH a talcum-powder bath (derogatory)
1962 • FOOFOO talcum powder
1962 • FOOFOO DUST talcum powder
1962 • FOOFOO POWDER talcum powder
1962 • FOOFOO STUFF talcum powder
1962 • FOO STUFF talcum powder
TALE – ADJECTIVES (also see STORY)
1200 • TALEWISE given to tales or talking; addicted to gossip; loquacious, garrulous, blabbing (obs.)
1530 • TALISH of the nature of a tale or story; fabulous (obs.)
1726 • TALEFUL full of tales; making a long story; talkative
1730 • FAMIGEROUS carrying news, tales, etc. (obs.)
1905Bk • YARNY disposed to the telling of long tales
TALE – NOUNS
1205 • YED a song, a poem, a speech, a tale, a riddle (obs.)
1340 • JAPE a device to amuse; a merry or idle tale; a jest, a joke, a gibe (obs.)
1377 • A TALE OF WALTROT an idle tale, a piece of absurdity (obs.)
1382 • TALING telling of tales, talking, gossiping; also, a tale
1395 • NIFLE a trifling or fictitious tale, a jest (obs.)
1532 • BABBLERY idle talk, chattering, senseless babble or prating; a foolish tale (obs.)
1535 • CANTILENE an old song; silly prattle; idle tale, trick (obs.)
1570 • A TALE OF A ROASTED HORSE an invented story, an idle tale, a fiction, a falsehood
1671 • FAIRY TAIL • FAIRY TALE a fanciful, mendacious tale, often in aid of obtaining money or favours
1744 • TALE OF A TUB a fictitious tale, a cock-and-bull story
1766 • SCRIFT a recitation; a long-winded story; a written composition; a made-up tale; a falsehood (obs.)
1785 • UNCO a strange or unusual thing or tale; a novelty or piece of news; a wonder; a curiosity; generally plural
1791 • MAUNDRELS idle tales; foolish, feverish fancies
19C • CRAKE a talk; gossip, tale-telling, generally of an ill-natured kind
19C • RUMIGERATION a spreading a rumour or report abroad; a carrying tales
1812 • YARN a story, an adventure story, esp. a long, marvellous or incredible story; also, a mere tale
1818 • NANCY-STORY a folk-tale or fairy-tale of type popular among the Black people of the Gold Coast and the West Indies
1825 • YED a falsehood; a fib, an exaggerated tale (obs.)
1834 • TWISTER a grossly exaggerated tale; a lie (obs.)
1836 • FANCY a legend, a fanciful tale; a whim, an idea; delirious talk; general in plural 1836 • GOOSE’S GAZETTE a lying story; a flim-flam tale; a piece of reading for a ‘goose’ (simpleton)
1855 • LARUM a long, wearisome tale; a false report
1856 • BAM a false or deceitful tale
1865 • PADDY-NODDY a long, tedious tale; a roundabout story; silly matter for gossip
1865 • SANTER an adventure; an idle tale
1867 • CAUCH • KAUTCH foolish tales, nonsense
1867 • DILDRAMS • DILDRUMS strange tales, improbable stories
1868 • BABBLES AND SAUNTERS gossiping tales and repetitions
1876 • CANT gossip, tattle; merry tales; malicious talk
1881 • ISRUM • IZRAM a long, tedious tale
1887 • WHURLIEGIRKIE an untrue or fanciful tale
1891 • CUFFER a lie; a tale; an exaggerated and improbable story
1891 • NANCY-TALE a folk-tale or fairy-tale of type popular among the Black people of the Gold Coast and the West Indies
1892 • TALLYDIDDLE a foolish or untrue tale (obs.)
1895 • RANDIGAL a string of nonsense; a long, rambling tale
L19 • FAIRY PIPE a fanciful, mendacious tale, often in aid of obtaining money or favours
L19 • FAIRY YARN a fanciful, mendacious tale, often in aid of obtaining money or favours
L19 • GAG an account; a begging tale
20C • FAIRY STORY a ‘hard luck’ tale; any unlikely tale; a downright lie or excuse
1900s • FAIRY a fanciful tale, a ‘tall story’
1900s • FAIRY-TWISTER a fanciful tale, a ‘tall story’
1902Bk • LALDRUM • LELDRUM noisy, foolish talk; nonsense; an improbable tale, falsehoods
1904Bk • AULD WIFE’S SANTER an idle tale
1904Bk • REEMLE-RAMMLE a great noise; noisy, rollicking conduct; a noisy, rambling speech or tale
1904Bk • RETINUE a long, tedious tale
1904Bk • SAUNTER an idle tale; an old wife’s tale
1905Bk • QUEEN ANNER an old-fashioned tale; a tale of former times
1911 • WINDY an extravagantly exaggerated or boastful story; a tall tale, a lie
1918 • LALAPALOOZA • LOLLOPALOUSER an extremely tall tale; a lie
1920s • DAILY (MAIL) a tale, thus a lie (rhyming sl.)
1930s • ACKAMARACKER • ACKAMARAKA a fraudulent tale, a tall story, nonsense
1931 • FAKELOO a spurious tale, a ‘fairy story’
1933 • ACKAMARACKUS a fraudulent tale, a tall story, pretentious nonsense, bluff
1941 • GOLLY-WHOPPER a tall tale
1970 • BOBBE-MAYSE • BUBBE-MAYSE an old wives’ tale
TALE – NOUNS, PERSON (also see TALEBEARER)
1380 • GESTER • GESTOUR a professional reciter or singer of romances or tales; a story-teller (obs.)
1565 • FABULAR a narrator or recorder of tales or fictions (obs.)
1568 • TALESMAN the teller of a tale; the author of a story; one who brings news or originates a statement; a relater, a narrator (obs.)
1570 • TALE-WRIGHT a constructor or maker of tales
1604 • FABELLATOR an inventor of little tales; a fabulator; a story-teller
1604 • FABULATOR one who fabulates or relates fables; a teller of tales or stories; a story-teller; a narrator
1656 • TALES-MASTER the teller of a tale; the author of a story; the authority for a statement, one who brings news or originates a statement; a relater, a narrator (obs.)
1876Bk • NACKUZ one who tells a tale pretty sharply
1900s • FAIRY the teller of fanciful tales
1900s • FAIRY-TWISTER the teller of a fanciful tales
1982 • WHENEYE • WHENNIE someone, esp. a visitor or foreigner, who exasperates listeners by continually recounting tales of his or her former exploits
TALE – VERBS
1205 • TALE to discourse, to talk, to chatter; to gossip; to tell tales (obs.)
1375 • SKAIL to spread a rumour, tale, etc. (obs.)
1380 • FABLE to tell fictitious tales (obs.)
1616 • FABULATE to relate as a tale or myth; to talk or narrate in fables (obs.)
1622 • AFFABULATE to attribute by legend; to assign fabulously; to tell tales (obs.)
1746 • CUFF to tell a tale
1776 • CANT tell tales, to backbite, to slander; to scold
1794 • CRAM to make believe false or exaggerated tales
19C • TUTTLE to whisper; to carry tales
1812 • SPIN A YARN to tell a story, usually a long one; to pitch a tale; to tell lies
1812 • YARN to tell a story, to tell tales, probably implausible or far-fetched ones
1825 • YED to tell a fib; to exaggerate a tale (obs.)
1876 • CADGE to carry tales
1897 • SNEAK to tell tales; to inform on; orig. of a child: to tell a teacher about the wrongdoings of another pupil
1898 • THREEN • THRENE to tell ghost stories or superstitious tales
1900Bk • TELL DILDRAMS to tell strange tales or improbably stories
1903 • PACK NEWS to gossip; to tattle; to tell tales
1904Bk • SACKER to seem innocent when up to roguery; to tell false tales of distress
1904Bk • SCONCE to tell tales that are untrue or exaggerated to obtain one’s ends
1905Bk • WAFF ABOUT to go about telling tales
1917 • SPRUCE to tell tall tales; to lie in order to evade a duty
1930s • MADAM to tell the tale; to ‘pitch a line’
1940s • LABRISH to tell tales, to gossip
1950 • PACK TALES to gossip, to tattle, to tell tales
1968 • SHUCK to be deceptive or evasive; to tell tall tales or lies; to fool around, to tease
1990s • SIDEBUST to gossip, to tell tales
TALEBEARER, TALEBEARING – NOUNS
1440 • MUSTERING whispering; talebearing (obs.)
1677 • SYCOPHANTRY calumnious accusation; talebearing; the trade or occupation of an informer (obs.)
TALEBEARER etc. – NOUNS, PERSON
1377 • TALE-TELLER a talebearer, a telltale
1385 • TOTELER • TUTELER a whisperer, a gossip, a talebearer (obs.)
1399 • TITTLER one who tattles; a whisperer, a telltale, a talebearer; a gossip (obs.)
1450 • MUSTERER a person who whispers; a rumour-monger; a talebearer (obs.)
1523 • TITIVIL a mischievous talebearer; a tattling telltale (obs.)
1548 • SYCOPHANT an informer, a talebearer, a malicious accuser; a calumniator, a slanderer (obs.)
1550 • TATTLER an idle talker; a chatterer; a gossip; a talebearer; a telltale
1552 • TALE-CARRIER a talebearer
1555 • BABBLER one who tells too freely what he knows; a prating gossip; a teller of secrets; a blabber; a talebearer
1577 • CARRY-TALE a talebearer; a tell-tale (obs.)
1581 • TITIVILLER a tattling telltale, a mischievous talebearer, one who spreads scandal (obs.)
1598 • MUMBLE-NEWS a talebearer (obs.)
1611 • VENT-GIVER one who utters or gives vent to a statement, doctrine, etc.; a malicious talebearer
1633 • EARWIG a prying, insinuating informer or talebearer; a malicious gossip (obs.)
1670 • BLOB-TALE a telltale, talebearer, blabber (obs.)
1796 • TALE-PIET a telltale; a talebearer
1796 • TELL-PIE • TELL-PYE a talebearer
19C • TELL-A-PIE-TIT a talebearer
19C • TELL-CLACK a talebearer
19C • TELL-PIENOT a talebearer
19C • TELL-PIE TIT a talebearer
19C • TELL-TALER TIT a talebearer
19C • TELLY-PIE a talebearer
19C • TELLY-PIE-TIT a talebearer
19C • TELLY-PIOT a talebearer
19C • TELLY-PYE-TIT a talebearer
1808 • TALE-PAT a telltale, a talebearer, one who divulges secrets
1808 • TALE-PYET a telltale, a talebearer, one who divulges secrets; an informer, a tattler
1847 • LONG-TONGUE a chatterbox, talebearer, telltale, gossip, blabber, a divulger of secrets; an unusually talkative woman; a scold
1870 • CLANG-BANGER a talebearer, a gossiping mischief-maker
1875Bk • TELL-CLAT a talebearer
1876 • CANT a tattler; a gossip; a talebearer
1886Bk • TALER a talebearer
1889 • TATTLE-TALE one who discloses confidences or secrets; one who informs on or betrays others; a telltale; a talebearer; a whistle-blower
1895 • TALE-TELLING-TIT a telltale, a talebearer
1895 • TELL-TALE TIT a talebearer
1895 • TELL-TIT a talebearer
1898Bk • BLOACH a talebearer
1898Bk • CARRYTALE a talebearer
1898Bk • CAR-TALE a talebearer; a mischief-maker
1902 • TELL-PIET • TELL-PIOT a talebearer
1905Bk • WAFFLER a talebearer
1915 • GABBY a gossip; a talebearer
1936Bk • WINDY a nickname for one who told long-winded yarns
1940s • WOOFIN a person who tells tall tales
TALENT, TALENTED – ADJECTIVES
1659 • LARGE-PARTED of great parts or talents (obs.)
TALENT etc. – NOUNS
1842 • JISM energy, vim; ability, talent
1920s • PAN talent
TALENT etc. – NOUNS, PERSON
1655 • ANGEL a person of great ability, skill, etc.; one who is exceptionally talented in a particular field or context
1684 • GENIO an exceptionally talented or intelligent person; a genius; a person of superior intellect (obs.)
1711 • GENIUS an exceptionally intelligent or talented person, or one with exceptional skill in a particular area of art, science, etc.
1749 • NATURAL a person having a natural talent; one especially well suited for or likely to succeed in a particular endeavour
1842 • BRIGHT YOUNG THING a young person regarded as beautiful, talented, clever, or energetic
1872 • BRIGHT SPARK a cheerful, alert person; a person of great intelligence, talent, or wit; a problem-solver, an innovator
20C • ONE-TRICK PONY a person considered as being limited to only one single talent, capability, quality, etc.
1959 • GENIE a person likened to a genie in being noted for his or her talent within a certain sphere, or ability to perform difficult or seemingly magical acts
1977 • WIZZO a highly talented person
1994Bk • GIFTED CHILD a child with special skills or talents, or with a great aptitude for learning
TALENT etc. – VERBS
1953 • HANG THE MOON to be exceptionally able or talented
TALENT SCOUT – NOUNS, PERSON
1930 • BIRD DOG a talent scout who looks for promising young entertainers, or a baseball, football, or basketball scout who searches for promising athletes
1979 • IVORY HUNTER a talent scout
1915 • IVORY LIFTER a talent scout
1915 • IVORY SNATCHER a talent scout
Back to REVERSE INDEX T
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Updated: May 31, 2023
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