TELLTALE


Meaning of TELLTALE in English

— telltalely , adv.

/tel"tayl'/ , n.

1. a person who heedlessly or maliciously reveals private or confidential matters; tattler; talebearer.

2. a thing serving to reveal or disclose something.

3. any of various indicating or registering devices, as a time clock.

4. Music. a gauge on an organ for indicating the air pressure.

5. an indicator showing the position of a ship's rudder.

6. a row of strips hung over a track to warn train crew members on freight trains that a low bridge, tunnel, or the like is approaching.

7. Yachting. (on a sailboat) a feather, string, or similar device, often attached to the port and starboard shrouds and to the backstay, to indicate the relative direction of the wind.

8. Squash. a narrow piece of metal across the front wall of a court, parallel to and extending 17 inches (43.2 cm) above the base: a ball striking this is an out.

adj.

9. that reveals or betrays what is not intended to be known: a telltale blush.

10. giving notice or warning of something, as a mechanical device.

[ 1540-50; TELL 1 + TALE ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .