See Also: tick-tack(dictionary)
tack(13)(dictionary)
tack(7)(dictionary)
tack(8)(dictionary)
tack(9)(dictionary)
tack(11)(dictionary)
tack(10)(dictionary)
tack(1)(dictionary)
tack(12)(dictionary)
Blu-Tack(dictionary)

tick-tack (iou)



tick-tack noun & verb. Also (exc. in senses A.2, B.2) tic-tac. M16.
[Imit.]
A. noun.
A repeated ticking sound, esp. one made by a clock; the sound of the firing of small artillery. Also (earlier) as interjection. M16.
Any of various contrivances for making a clattering sound against a window or door as a practical joke, esp. at Hallowe'en. Chiefly N. Amer. L19.
A kind of manual semaphore signalling used by racecourse bookmakers to exchange information. Freq. attrib. L19.
Comb.: tick-tack-toe (a) rare a game in which each player, with eyes shut, brings a pencil down on a slate with numbers on it, scoring points equal to the number hit; (b) N. Amer. (a grid for playing) noughts and crosses.
b. verb.
verb intrans. = TICK-TOCK verb. M19.
verb intrans. & trans. Make a tick-tack clatter against (a window etc.). Cf. sense A.2 above. Chiefly N. Amer. E20.
verb trans. & intrans. Racing. Signal (information) by means of tick-tack semaphore. E20.
tick-tacker noun (Racing) a practitioner of tick-tack semaphore E20.