telltale
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Tattler \Tat"tler\, n.
1. One who tattles; an idle talker; one who tells tales.
--Jer. Taylor.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.) Any one of several species of large, long-legged
sandpipers belonging to the genus {Totanus}.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The common American species are the greater tattler, or
telltale ({Totanus melanoleucus}), the smaller tattler,
or lesser yellowlegs ({Totanus flavipes}), the solitary
tattler ({Totanus solitarius}), and the semipalmated
tattler, or willet. The first two are called also
{telltale}, {telltale spine}, {telltale tattler},
{yellowlegs}, {yellowshanks}, and {yelper.}
[1913 Webster]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Telltale \Tell"tale`\, n.
1. One who officiously communicates information of the
private concerns of others; one who tells that which
prudence should suppress.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Mus.) A movable piece of ivory, lead, or other material,
connected with the bellows of an organ, that gives notice,
by its position, when the wind is exhausted.
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3. (Naut.)
(a) A mechanical attachment to the steering wheel, which,
in the absence of a tiller, shows the position of the
helm.
(b) A compass in the cabin of a vessel, usually placed
where the captain can see it at all hours, and thus
inform himself of the vessel's course.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Mach.) A machine or contrivance for indicating or
recording something, particularly for keeping a check upon
employees, as factory hands, watchmen, drivers, check
takers, and the like, by revealing to their employers what
they have done or omitted.
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5. (Zool.) The tattler. See {Tattler}.
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6. A thing that serves to disclose something or give
information; a hint or indication.
It supplies many useful links and telltales.
--Saintsbury.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
7. (Railroads) An arrangement consisting of long strips, as
of rope, wire, or leather, hanging from a bar over
railroad tracks, in such a position as to warn freight
brakemen of their approach to a low overhead bridge.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
[1913 Webster]
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
98 Moby Thesaurus words for "telltale":
a tale-bearing animal, babbling, betrayal, betrayer, blab, blabber,
blabberer, blabbering, blabbermouth, blabbing, broad hint,
busybody, catchword, clack, clue, communication leak, cue,
cue word, dead giveaway, delator, divulgation, divulgement,
divulgence, divulging, evidence, evulgation, fink, gentle hint,
gesture, giveaway, glimmer, glimmering, gossip, gossip columnist,
gossiper, gossipmonger, hint, hot lead, implication, index,
indication, indiscretion, informer, inkling, innuendo, insinuation,
intimation, key, key word, kick, lead, leak, letting out, look,
narc, newsmonger, newspaperman, nod, notion, nudge, obvious clue,
peacher, prompt, quidnunc, reporter, rumormonger, scandalmonger,
scent, sign, signal, snitch, snitcher, spoor, spy, squealer,
stool pigeon, stoolie, suggestion, suspicion, symptom, tabby,
talebearer, taleteller, tattler, tattletale, telltale sign,
tip-off, tittle-tattler, trace, track, unwitting disclosure,
vestige, whiff, whisper, whistle-blower, wind, wink, yenta
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