tapir 
tapir. When European cattle were introduced 
iuto Brazil, the Indians called them also lupi/- 
ra, and the tapir was then called distinctively 
/i/l>i/rn-ete('tme tapir'), the name now used by 
the Tupi-speaking tribes (> Pg. tiij>ir,-lc, Sp. 
(obs.) tapyretf, tapir). In Brazil the tapir is 
usually called an fa.] A hoofed mammal of the 
fnniilv Tapiridsf. They somewhat resemble swine, but 
belong' to a different suborder, and are more nearly allied 
to the rhinoceroses. The body is stout and clumsy, with 
thick legs, ending in four small hoofs on the fore feet and 
three on the hind. The head is peculiarly shaped, with a 
long and very flexible snout or a short proboscis, and a 
high crest or poll. The body is scantily clothed or nearly 
naked ; the hide is used for leather, and the flesh for food. 
The common American tapir, to which the name specially 
applies, is Tapirus aniericanug, about 4 feet long, entirely 
of a blackish color when adult. Other species of America 
belong to the genus Ela&nognathux ; they are E. bairdi and 
E. doiri of Central America. The Malay tapir, Tapirus (or 
Malay Tapir ( Tapirus malayanits'). 
RhiiwchfKrus) malayamts, is larger, with a longer probos- 
cis, no mane or crest, and the body with a great white 
area. See also cuts under Perixsodactyla and Tapiridte. 
Short-nosed tapir, a misnomer of the capibara. 
tapiranga (tap-i-rong'gjL), n. [Braz.] A tan- 
ager, Rlmmplioeelus brasilicnsis. 
Tapiridse (ta-pir'i-de), n.pl. [NL.. < Tapirus + 
-idsc.~\ A family of lophiodontoid perissodac- 
tyl ungulate mammals, having four front toes 
and three hind toes, and the snout produced 
into a short proboscis ; the tapirs. They are a 
lingering remnant of once numerous and diversified forms. 
Tapiridse. 
Skull of ElasmoznatkHS bairdi, showing us, ossified nasal septum ; 
JOT, superior maxillary ; pm, premaxillary ; m, mandible ; t/, tem- 
poral fossa ; oc, occipital ; c, coronoid process. 
Their nearest relatives are the extinct Lophiodontidee, and 
among living forms the rhinoceroses (not the swine, with 
which tapirs are popularly associated). The species are 
very few, though widely dispersed in both hemispheres. 
The genera aie only 8 Tapirus, the scarcely different 
lihinochferus, and the well-marked Elasmognathus, pecu- 
liar in the ossified nasal septum and some other cranial 
characters. The first and last of these are American, and 
the other is Malayan. See also cuts under tapir and Pe- 
nssodactyla. 
Tapirodon (ta-pir'o-don), n. [NL. : see ti>ir<i- 
dimt.'] A genus of extinct mammals, resem- 
bling the living tapirs in the form of the teeth, 
with a species from the Ued Ovaj;. 
6180 
tapirodont (ta-pir'o-dont), n. [< Tapirus + Gr. 
ortoi'f (bbovT-) = E. toot]!.'] In odontoy., noting a 
form of dentition like that of the tapirs and al- 
lied mammals. 
tapiroid (tap'i-roid), a. and H. [< tapir + -nid.J 
1. it. Of or pertaining to the tapirs ; resembling 
or characteristic of a tapir : as, the tapiroid sec- 
tion or series of perissodactyl ungulates (those 
which have the lower molars bilophodout, their 
crowns being disposed in transverse ridges, as 
in the tapirs), including the families Lnpliin- 
dontidie and Tapiridte. 
II. H. A hoofed mammal resembling or re- 
lated to the tapirs. The tapiroids are all extinct, and 
most of them belong not to the Tapiridx proper, but to 
the Lophiodontidse. See cut under iopfttodon. 
Tapirotherium (tap"i-ro-the'ri-nm), n. [NL. 
(lie Blainville, 1817), < tapirus, tapir, + Gr. (hj- 
piov, wild beast.] A genus of fossil Eocene tapi- 
roids, of the family Lopkiodontidse. As originally 
instituted the genus was a synonym of Lophiodon of Cu- 
vier. It has since been used in a different sense, as by 
Lartet. 
Tapirus (tap'i-rus),)i. [NL.,< tapir, q. v.] Age- 
nus of tapirs, formerly including all the Tapiri- 
dse, now restricted to the common American 
tapir, in which the nasal septum is not ossified. 
See cut under tapir. 
tapis (tap'is or ta-pe'), [In mod. use as 
mere F. ; in earlier use as in the verb ; < OF. 
tapis, tapiz, F. tapis, tapestry, hangings, carpet, 
= Pr. tapit, tapi = Sp. Pg. tapiz, < ML. tapetium, 
tapecium, also tapecius, tapecia, tapeziu, etc., fig- 
ured cloth, tapestry, carpet, nig, pall, etc., < Gr. 
TaKT/riov, dim. of TOTTJK ("<""?'"-), figured cloth, 
tapestry, etc.: see tappet*. Hence tapis, v., and 
tapistry, now tapestry.] Woolen material used 
for floor-cloths and hangings, as carpeting, rugs, 
and tapestry. Hence, since such material was used 
for table-cloths, to be upon the tapis is to be on the table, 
or under consideration. 
The House of Lords sate till past five at night. Lord 
Churchill and Lord Godolphin went away, and gave no 
votes in the matter which teas upon the tapis. 
Clarendon, Diary, May 2, 1690. 
When anything was supposed to be upon the. tapis worth 
knowing or listening to, 'twas the rule to leave the door 
not absolutely shut, but somewhat ajar. 
Sterne, Tristram Shandy, v. 6. 
Tapis de verdure. Same as verdure. 
tapist (tap'is), ?'. t. [Early mod. E. also tapess; 
< F. tapisser, furnish with tapestry, < tapis, tap- 
estry: see tapis, .] 1. To cover with orna- 
mental figures as in tapestry ; embroider. 
The windowes beautified with greene quishins, wrought 
and tapissed with floures of all colours. 
Holland, tr. of Pliny, six. 4. 
2. To carpet ; hang with tapestry ; upholster. 
The place where the assembly is is richly tapessed and 
hunged. Sir T. Smith, quoted in Stubbs'sConst. Hist. , 443. 
tapisert (tap'is-er), n. [ME., also tapicer, tape- 
cer, tapcsere, < OF. tapissier = Sp. tapicero = 
Pg. tapiceiro = It. tappezzicre, < ML. tapetiarius 
(also tapicerius, after Rom.), one who makes or 
has charge of tapestry, carpets, etc., < tapetium, 
tapestry, carpet, etc.: see tapis, tappet 1 ."] A 
maker of carpets or of tapestry. 
A webbe, a dyere, and a tapicer. 
Chaucer, Gen. Prol. to C. T., L 362. 
tapisht, v. See tappish. 
tapist (ta'pist), n. [< tape 1 + -ist.~\ One who 
deals in or uses tape; specifically and collo- 
quially, one given to red-tapery ; a strict ob- 
server of official formalities. [Bare.] 
tapistryt, . and v. See tapestry. 
tapitt, tapitet, n. and v. Same as tappet^. 
Tapitelae (tap-i-te'le), n.pl. [NL.,<L. tap(ete), 
carpet, H- teJa, web.] A division of spiders. 
Walckenaer. 
tapitert, [ME.; cf. tapiser.] Same as tap- 
iser. 
In 2 Ric. III., 1485, "it was determyned that the Tapi- 
ten, Cardemakers, and lynwevers of this Citie be togeder 
annexid to the bringing furth of the padgeantes of the 
Tapiter craft and Card-maker." 
York Plays, Int., p. xxvii., note. 
taplash(tap'lash), . [< tap 1 + lash' 2 .'] Poor 
or stale malt liquor, the refuse of the tap. 
Drinking college tap-lash . . . will let them have no 
more learning than they size, nor a drop of wit more than 
the butler sets on their heads. 
Randolph, Aristippus (Works, ed. Hazlitt, 1875, p. 14). 
The tap-lash of strong ale and wine, 
Which from his slav'ring chaps doth oft decline. 
John Taylor, Works (1630X HI. 5. (HalUvxll.) 
tapling (tap'ling), n. The strap or pair of straps 
wnich connect the swingle to the handle in the 
agricultural flail. [Prov. Eng.] 
tapnet (tap'net), . [Origin obscure.] A frail 
or basket made of rushes, etc., in which figs 
iivc imported. Sinniiifnili. 
tap-pickle 
tapoa, n. The sooty phalanger. 
tapotement (ta-pot'ment), n. [< F. tapotement, 
< tnpolt'i; tap: see tdp : ^.] In med., percussion, 
especially as a part of treatment by massage. 
It is best carried out by slappings (tapotement) done 
with the palmar surface of the fingers, or, better still, 
with the half-closed fist. Tapotement acts principally on 
tho intestinal walls, to which it imparts tone. 
Lancet, 1880, I. 422. 
tappa, . See tapn. 
tappet, An early English spelling of tit/>l. 
tappen (tap'en), H. A substance found in the 
intestine of the bear during hibernation, prob- 
ably feces modified by long retention. 
tapper 1 ! (tap'er), n. [< ME. "tappcre, tseppare, 
< AS. teeppere (= OFries. tapper = D. tapper = 
MLG. tapper, tapper = G. eapfer = Icel. tappr), 
an innkeeper, tapster, < tseppan, tap: see tap*. 
Cf. tapster.] One who taps or draws liquor; a 
tapster; specifically, an innkeeper. Hallittell. 
[Prov. Eng.] 
tapper 2 (tap'er), w. [< toj> 2 + -er 1 .] One who 
or that which taps or strikes. Specifically (o) 
A woodtapper ; a woodpecker. (6) A telegraph-key. 
tapperer(tap''r-'r),. [<. tapper' 2 + -er l .~\ Same 
as tapper* (a). [Prov. Eug.] 
tappesteret, A Middle English form of tap- 
ster. 
tappet 1 ! (tap'et), n. [Early mod. E. also tapet; 
< ME. tapct, tapett, topyt, tapite, < AS. tsepped, 
tapestry (cf. tseppet, tippet, > E. tippet), = MD. 
tapeet, tapijt, D. tapijt, carpet, = MLG. tappet, 
teppet, carpet, tapestry, = OHG. MHG. teppid, 
teppit, also, with terminal variation, OHG. tep- 
pich, tepih, tcbech, MHG. teppieli, tcpicJi, Q. tep- 
pieh, carpet, = Dan. Sw. tapet, tapestry hang- 
ing, also (with loss of the prig, final consonant, 
as in AS. tseppe, tape) Dan. tseppe, carpet, = Sw. 
tappa, a small inclosure in a garden, = It. tap- 
peto, carpet, < L. tapetc (pi. tapetia), ML. also 
tapetum and tapes, < Gr. raTr^f (-ajn/r-), dim. 
v, MGr. also ran-mof ( > ML. tapetium, ta- 
pecium, etc., > OF. tapis, >E. tapis, q. v.), cloth 
wrought with figures in different colors for cov- 
ering walls, floors, tables, couches, etc., tapes- 
try, carpet, rug, coverlet, etc. Hence (ult. from 
Gr. Tairr/f) tape, and tippet (< AS.), also tapestry, 
tapiter, etc. (< OF.): see these words. For the 
form tappet^ , ult. < AS. teeppetl, cf. abbot, ult. < 
AS. abbod."\ 1. Carpet; tapestry; a piece of 
tapestry. 
Of Tars tapites in-noghe, 
That were enbrawded &, beten wyth the best gemmes, 
That inygt be preued of prys wyth penyes to bye. 
Sir (jawayne and the Green Knight (E. E. T. S.\ 1. 77. 
The soyle was pleyue, smothe, and wonder softe, 
Al oversprad with tapites that nature 
Had made herself. 
Lydgate, Complaint of Black Knight, 1. 51. 
So to their worke they sit, and each doth chuse 
What atone she will for her tapet take. 
Spenser, Muiopotmos, L 276. 
2. In medieval armor, one of the series of flex- 
ible plates hooked to the skirts of the cuirass. 
tappet 1 !, i 1 . ' [ME. tapiten; < tappet 1 , .] To 
cover with tapestry. 
Al his halles 
I wol do peynte with pure golde, 
And tapite hem ful many folde 
Of oo sute. Chaucer, Death of Blanche, 1. 2f>0. 
tappet 2 (tap'et), . [Appar. < ta]ft + -et.~\ In 
much., an arm, collar, lever, or cam attached 
to and projecting from a mova.ble part of a 
machine in such manner that the motion of the 
machine intermittently brings it into contact 
with some other part to which it imparts an in- 
termittent motion. Tappets are much used in various 
kinds of valve-gear, in printing-machinery, and in a great 
variety of machines in which intermittent movements are 
performed. 
tappet-loom (tap'et-lom), w. A form of loom 
in which the hammers are worked by tappets. 
Chain-tappet loom. SeeZoomi. 
tappet-motion (tap' et-mo"shon), . The ap- 
paratus for working the steam-valve of a Cor- 
nish steam-engine, consisting of levers con- 
nected to the valves, moved at proper intervals 
by tappets or projecting pieces fixed on a rod 
connected with the beam. 
tappet-ring (tap'et-ring), n. In ordnance, a 
ring fitted and attached to the octagonal part 
of the breech-screw of an Armstrong gun, and 
acted upon by a lever or tappet for operating 
the breech-screw. 
tappet-rod (tap'et-rpd), n. In niaeli., a longi- 
tudinally reciprocating rod to which a tappet 
is fastened. 
tappicet (tap'is), r. Same as tappisli. 
tap-pickle (tap'pik"!). H. [< tafi*, Sc. form of 
tup, + *jiirkle. < /m7,-l (?).] The uppermost 
and choicest grain in a stalk of oats; henee, 
