Tachyglossa 
Tac/ti/1/loriKiiln- regarded MS a suborder of 
tn-mnta. dill, 1*7:.'. 
tachyglossal (taU-i-glos'al), . [< 
+ -ill.] Capable ill' being quickly moved in pro- 
trusion and n'traction, as the tongue of the 
aculeated ant-eaters. 
tachyglossate (tak-i-gkw'ftt). . [As '/>/,//- 
(/IIIXHII + -?<!.] I laving a taehyglossal tongue ; 
pertaining to the Tacli yaliixxa . 
Tachyglossidae (tak-i-glos'i-do), . i>l. [NL., < 
Tiicliyi/liixsiis + -idn'.} The proper name of tlie 
t'liniliy of aculeate inonolri'inatoiis mammals 
usually called l-'.i-liiiliiiil.T. derived from that of 
the genus 7'c/ii/;//,<.vw.s and including also the 
gCllllS X(lllln*snx |or .li-illlllliM/limxllK). See rut 
under Ec'liiilniilif. 
Tachyglossus(tak-i-glos'ns), ii. [NL. (Illiger. 
1811), < Or. Taxi'f, swift, + y^uaaa, tongue. | 
The typical genus of Taclii/i/limsitla; containing 
the common aculeated u n t-eiiterot Australia, T, 
iiciilfiitn or '/'. lii/xtrif. When IlHgcr proposed the 
name unly this species was known. The genus has been 
oftenest called Echidna, but that name is preoccupied In 
a different sense. Tachy<jl<nunu* is therefore the proper 
name of the present genus. 
tachygrapner (ta-kig'ra-fer), " [< tm-lii/i/raiili-y 
+ -or'.] A shorthand writer; a stenographer: 
used especially of the writers of the shorthand 
used among the ancient Greeks and Romans, 
also called imturirs. 
tachygraphic (tak-i-graf 'ik), a. [< tachygraph-y 
+ -ic. ] Of or pertaining to tachygraphy ; writ- 
ten iu shorthand. Kiicyc. Brit., XVUI. 164. 
tachygraphical (tak-i-graf 'i-kal), a. [< tachy- 
i/rai>hic -r -til.} Same as tachi/yrapltic. 
tachygraphy (ta-kig'ra-fi), n. [< Or. raxk, 
swift, + -ypaijiia, < ypaifiiiv, write.] Stenogra- 
phy, or the art of writing in abbreviations : used 
especially for the stenographic systems of the 
ancient Greeks and Romans. The signs used by 
the Romans were known as Tironinn notes. See 
Tirouian. 
As to the first origin of Greek tachygraphy, It has been 
supposed that it grew from a system of secret writing 
which was developed from forms of abbreviation. 
Encyc. Brit., XVIII. 164. 
tachylyte (tak'i-lit), . [Also tacliytite (by 
confusion with terms in -lite) : so named in al- 
lusion to the facility with which it fuses under 
the blowpipe; < Gr. Tajfa, swift, + >irrdf, 
verbal adj. of P.i'riv, loose, dissolve.] A vitre- 
ous form of basalt; basalt-glass; a rock oc- 
curring frequently along the edges or selvages 
of dikes of basalt or other kinds of basic lava, 
but sometimes forming flows of considerable 
magnitude, as at Kilauea. Tachylyte does not have 
so conchoidal a fracture as obsidian : it is much more 
fusible, and contains more water than that variety of vol- 
canic glass. The proportion of silica in tachylyte varies 
from 60 to 55 per cent. ; that in obsidian runs from 60 to 
80 per cent 
tachylyte-basalt (tak'i-Ht-ba-salf), M. The 
name given by Boricky to a variety of basalt 
having glassy selvages and a highly microlithic 
ground-mass: a variety of the "trachy basalt" 
of the same author. 
tachylytic (tak-i-lit'ik), a. [< tachylyte + -fcl.] 
Composed of, resembling, or containing tachy- 
lyte. Quart. Jour. Gcol. Soc., XLIV. 303. 
tachymeter (ta-kim'e-ter), n. [< Gr. rajrc, 
swift, + /leToov, measure.] A surveying-in- 
strument. See the quotation. Also called 
tdi'lii-timeter. 
An Instrument having a level on its telescope, a vertical 
arc or circle, and stadia wires, is adapted to the rapid lo- 
cation of points in survey, since it Is capable of measur- 
ing the three co-ordinates of a point in space, namely, the 
insular co-ordinates of azimuth and altitude, and the ra- 
dius vector or distance. The name Tachymeter, or rapid 
measurer, has been applied for many years, in Europe, to 
instruments of this description. 
Buff and Beri/er, liand-Book and 111. Cat. of Engin. and 
(Surv. Instruments, 1891, p. 1000. 
tachjrmetry (ta-kim'e-tri), . [As tachymeter 
+ -y3.] Scientific use of the tachymeter. Also 
called taehrnmetry. Huff and Berger, Hand- 
Book and 111. Cat. of Engin. and Surv. Instru- 
ments, 1891, p. 109fl. 
Tachypetes (ta-kip'e-tez), . [NL. (Vieillot, 
1810), < Gr. ra x i'c, swift, + irtreaOai, fly.] The 
only genus of TIIC/II/IK tii/,v; the frigate-pelicans 
or man-of-war birds. The common species is T. 
aquila. Also called Ataijen or Attayen (after Moehrinir, 
1752) and Freyata or Fregatta. See cut under fri'jalt- 
bird. 
Tachypetidse (tak-i-pet'i-de), w. pi. [NL., < 
Taclujitctftt + -ida?.] A family of totipalmate 
or steganopodous water-birds, represented by 
the genus Tmliy/ii-trn; the frigates or frigate- 
birds, now usually called Fregatidse. Also 
called 
tacit (tas'it), ii. [= F. tnrili = Sp. tiiritii = I'g. 
It. liu-ito, < I,, tiicitnx, that is passed over m 
silence, done without words, assumed as a 
matter of course, silent. < l/n-irr, be silent.] 
1. Silent: (|iiieseent ; giving out no sound. 
[Rare.] 
No wind that cared trouble the tacit woodi. 
Bmriiiivj, Sordello, Hi. 
So I stole into the tiirit rliumbcr. 
T. Wilithriiji, Cecil Drmnc, \i. 
2. Silently indicated or implied; under.-lood 
from conditions or circumstances ; infen-eil or 
inferable ; expressed otherwise than by speech ; 
indirectly manifested or communicated; word- 
less. 
A liberty they (the Arabs) enjoy on i sort of tacit agree- 
ment that they shall not plunder the caravans that come 
to this city. Poeoeke, Inscription of the East, II. L 144. 
He longed to assure himself of a tacit consent from her. 
Otorge Eliot, Mill on the Floss, vi. 14. 
It is In the Piazza that the inrit demonstration of hatred 
and discontent chiefly takes place. 
lloHtll*. Venetian Life, I. 
Tacit mortgage, a hypothec on property created by 
operation of law, without the Intervention of the parties. 
Tacit relocation. See relocation. 
tacitly (tas'it-li), arfr. 1. Silently; noiselessly; 
without sound. 
Bin creeps upon us In our education mi tacitly and un- 
dltcernlbly that we mistake the cause of It 
Jtr. Taylor, Works (eU. 1885X I. & 
Death came tacitly, and took them where they never see 
the sun. lirmcniwj, A Toccata of Galuppl's. 
2. Without expression in words ; in a speech- 
less or wordless manner; by implication from 
action or circumstances. 
The Athanaslan Creed, Indeed, was received tacitly, not 
formally, by the Church. /'.// Eirenicon, p. 47. 
tacitness (tas'it-nes), . The state of being 
tacit. [Rare.] 
taciturn (tas'i-tern), a. [= F. taciturne = Sp. 
Pg. It. Uiciturno, < L. tucitumus, disposed to be 
silent, < tacitus, silent: see tacit.} Silent or re- 
served in speech ; saying little ; not inclined to 
speak or converse. 
Expostulatory words crowd to my lips. From a taciturn 
man, I believe she would transform me Into a talker. 
Charlotte Bronte, Shirley, jocix. 
= Byn. Mute, Dumb (see rilrul), reserved, uncommunica- 
tive, reticent. 
taciturnist (tas'i-ter-nist), w. [< taciturn + 
-1st.} One who is habitually taciturn ; a person 
very reserved in speech. [Rare.] 
His [Von Moltke'sl more than eighty years seemed to sit 
lightly on "the great taciturnut." 
Congngationalut, Feb. 10, 1887. 
taciturnity (tas-i-ter'ni-ti), . [= F. tacitur- 
iiiti = Pr. tucitiiniitat = Sp. taeiturnidad = Pg. 
taciturnMadc = It. tai-itiirnita, < L. tacitttrni- 
ta(t-)s, a being or keeping silent, < tacitiinnig, 
disposed to be silent: see taciturn.] 1. The 
state or character of being taciturn ; paucity of 
speech ; disinclination to talk. 
I was once taken up for a Jesuit, for no other reason but 
my profound taciturnity. Steele, Spectator, No. 4. 
Our ancestors were noted as being men of truly spartan 
taciturnity. Irving, Knickerbocker, p. 198. 
2. In Scots law, a mode of extinguishing an ob- 
ligation (in a shorter period than by the forty 
years' prescription) by the silence of the credi- 
tor, and the presumption that, in the relative 
situations of himself and the debtor, he would 
not have been so long silent had not the obli- 
gation been satisfied. 
taciturnly (tas'i-tern-li). adr. In a taciturn 
manner; with little speech. [Rare.] 
tack 1 (tak), n. [< ME. tak, takke; also assibilated 
tnclte (see tack 1 , tache^); < OF. toque (found 
only in the sense of 'the back of a chimney' 
(chimney-hook f), in Roquefort), assibilated 
incite (found only in the sense of ' an instrument 
of fishing" (fish-hook T), iu Roquefort), a nail, 
hook, F. dial, tache, a nail, = Pr. taca, Uicca = 
Sp. Pg. tacha (< F. f) = It. tacca (ML. reflex 
taxtt, tnschia, etc.), a nail, tack ; cf. Ir. taca, a 
nail, pin. fastening, Gael, tacaid, a tack, peg, 
Bret, tn i-li. a small nail; origin unknown; ap- 
par. orig. Celtic, and, if so, perhaps orig. with 
initial s (\/ stak, / stag f), akin to E. stnk< 1, 
stick 1 . Cf. Fries, ttlt = D. tak, a tine, prong, 
twig, branch, = MHO. G. zacke, a tine, prong, 
tooth, twig, branch, = Dan. tak, takkt = Sw. tagg 
= Icel. tag, a twig. Some compare Gr. rfoicoc, a 
beam, Skt. dafd. a fringe. Hence ult. attack, 
uttiicli, detacli. In most senses the noun is from 
the verb, which is itself in part an unassibilated 
form of tor/i 1 , taclie 1 , r., or an aphetic form of 
attach (cf. tack for attack). Cf. tack?, tark*, 
etc.] 1. A short, sharp-pointed nail or pin, 
tack 
used as a faMener by being driven or thrust 
through the material to be fastened into the 
Mibsl; e to which it is to he fixed. Tacks are 
designed to fix in phlce carju-lH or ntli-T fiit.iii H. flexible 
1. it IMT, cardboard, jmper, etc., in niu-h manner as to ad- 
mit of !;!-) lctll'i\ ,il. I llril most I nnilll"!) f. ,1111 is that Of 
tin- r.ill" t-t;ifk un.t'l' in iu:i!i> >i/r^ lut \:ti ioilfl other ap- 
|,li>"itloiu), a short, sharp iron n:iil with n eonpmttrH] 
large flat head. A Uick inatli- for pushing into place by 
li;iinl is i-iillnl a tliiniilt-tafk, and also, from itti list- In fasten- 
ini.' 'li:t int: !':!j"'i' toalwjard. Karatnti'f-j'in. / 
in tin- furtn <>f staples, are used to fasten down induing. 
A written notice securely fastened to the grocery dnoi 
l>y four large carpet -tack* with u i i> 1< >l In i - round their 
necks. S. 0. Jeicett, Deephaven (Circus at Itenhy). 
2. In iifnlli'irnrl:. a lon^; stitcli, usually one of 
a number intended to hold two pieces of stuff 
together, preparatory to more thorough sew- 
ing. Compare touting*. 3. Xiiut.: ()A.heavy 
rope used to confine the foremost lower corner 
of the courses; also, a rope by which the outer 
lower corner of a studdingsuii is pulled out to 
the end of the boom. 
Before I got Into the top the tack parted, and away went 
the sail. It. II. Dana, Jr., Before the Mast. p. Tit 
(A) The part of a sail to which the tack is fas- 
tened, the foremost lower corner of a course, 
jib, or staysail, or the outer lower corner of a 
studdingsail. Hence (c) The course of a 
ship in relation to the position of her sails: as, 
the starboard tack, or port tack (the former 
when she is close-hauled with the wind on her 
starboard, the latter when close-hauled with 
the wind on her port side), (d) A temporary 
change of a few points in the direction of sail- 
ing, as to take advantage of a side wind ; one 
of a series of movements of a vessel to star- 
board and port alternately out of the general 
line of her course. 
Now at each tacit oar little fleet grows less ; 
And, like maimed fowl, swim lagging on the main. 
Dryden, Annus Mlralillls, st. 8ti. 
In close-hauled sailing an obstacle sometimes appears 
directly ahead which might compel a tack. 
Qualtrough, Boat Sailer's Manual, p. 112. 
We are making lurk.' backwards and forwards across the 
narrow sea, an exciting amusement for a yachtsman, as It 
requires constant attention. 
Lady Braaey, Voyage of Sunbeam, II. xxvli. 
Hence 4. A determinate course or change of 
course in general; a tactical line or turn of 
procedure ; a mode of action or conduct adopted 
or pursued for some specific reason. 
William, still adhering unchangeably to his object, 
again changed his tack. Macautay, Hist Eng., vii. 
'Ibis Improvement . . . did not escape Hardie ; he felt 
he was on the right i,i,-i.. C. neade, Hard Cash, II. 
5. In plumbing, the fastening of a pipe to a 
wall or the like, consisting of a strip of lead 
soldered to the pipe, nailed to the support, and 
turned back over the nails. 
When there are no chases, and the pipes are fixed on 
tacks, the lacks should be strong. 
8. S. UeUyer, The Plumber, p. 38. 
6. Something that is attached or fixed in place, 
or that holds, adheres, or sticks. Specifically 
(a) A shelf ; a kind of shelf made of crossed bars of wood 
suspended from the ceiling, on which to put bacon, etc. 
Italliu-fU. [Prov. Eng.} (ftt) A supplement or rider added 
or appended to a parliamentary bill, usually as a means of 
forcing the passage of some measure that would otherwise 
fail. 
Some lark* had been made to money bills In King 
Charles's reign. Bp. Burnet, Hist. Own Times, an. 1706. 
The parliament will hardly be up till June. We were 
like to be undone some days ago with a tact; but we car- 
ried it bravely, and the Whigs came In to help us. 
Sirtfl, Journal to Stella, xlvt 
7. The condition of being tacked or fastened ; 
stability; fixedness; firm grasp; reliance. See 
to hold tack, below. 8. In the arts, an adhe- 
sive or sticky condition, as of a partially dried, 
varnished, painted, or oiled surface; sticki- 
ness. 
Let your-work stand until so dry as only to have suffi- 
cient tack to hold your leaf. Gildrr'i Manual, p. 28. 
9. (a) In Scots latr, a contract by which the 
use of a thing is let for hire ; a lease : as, a tack 
of land. Hence (6) Land occupied on lease; 
a rented farm. [Scotch.] (c) Hired pasturage ; 
the renting of pasture for cattle. [Prov. Eng.] 
Aboard main tack I Seeoioardi. Tack and half- 
tack (IKII/M. a long and a short tack. Tack and tack 
(naut.), by successive tacks. 
We weighed, and began to work up, tact and tact, 
towards the island of Ireland, where the arsenal to. 
M. Scott, Tom Cringle's Log, ill. 
Tack-leathering machine, a machine for putting lea- 
ther washers on the heads of carpet-tacks. Tack Of a 
flag*, a line spliced Into the eye at the bottom of the ta- 
bling, for securing the flag to the halyards. Tin tack, 
an Iron tack coated with tin. To hold or bear tack*, 
