tasto 
a direction useil in thorough-bass, indicating that the 
given bass is to be played alone or in octaves, without 
chorda. Abbreviated t. n. 
tasty (tas'ti), it. L< '""'' ' + -.</' 1 1. Having 
good taste, or nice perception <>f i-xi-i-Urnee. 
2. Iii conformity In [he principles of good taste ; 
elegant. 
It la at once rich, laulu, and quite the thing. 
QMtmith, Citizen of the World, Ixxvli. 
3. Palatable; nice; fine. 
The meal . . . consisted of two sinull but tagty dishes 
of meat prepared with tiklll and nerved with nicety. 
Charlotte Bronte, The Protestor, xxlv. 
[Colloq. ill all uses.] 
tat' (tat), i'.; pivt.und pp. tatted, ppr. luttiiii/. 
[Also tatt ; prrlmpM < Icel. tata, tease or pick 
(wool), < txta, shreds, etc.: see tate. Cf. tat- 
luuj.\ I. trans. 1. To entangle. [Prov. Eng.] 
2. To make (trimtning) by tatting. 
II. intrann. [A senHe taken from the noun 
tatting.] To work at or make tatting. 
tat- (tat), . [A childish word, a var. of dad: 
see dorf 1 .] Dad; father. [Prov. Eng.] 
tat :i (tat), r. t. [A var. of top 2 ; cf. tit fur Int. 
orig. tip for to/).] To touch gently. [Prov. Eng.] 
Come tit me, come tat me. come throw a kiss at me. 
Dekker and Welater, Northward Ho, II. 1. 
tat 4 (tat), a. A dialectal variant of Hint, 
tat 6 (tat), ii. [Appar. abbr. of tatter*.] A rag. 
[Cant.] 
Now, I'll tell you about the tat (rag) gatherers; buying 
rags they call It, but I call it bouncing people. 
Mnntit'/r. London Labour and London Poor, I. 424. 
tat 5 (tat), r. i. [< tat*, .] To gather rags. 
[Cant.] 
He goes tatting and billy-hunting in the country (gather- 
ing rags and buying old metal). 
Muiilirir, London Labour and London Poor, I. 417. 
tat" (tat), n. [Hind, tat.] In India, cloth or 
matting made from different fibers ; especially, 
gunny-cloth. 
tat 7 (tat), H. [< Hind., Telugu, etc., tatfu, a 
pony.] A pony. [Anglo-Indian.] 
OldQhyrkins . . . rode about on a little (a<,i|uestionii>K 
beaters and shikarries. 
F. Marion Crawford, Mr. Isaacs, ix. 
tata 1 (ta'tS), n. [W.African.] In West Africa, 
the residence of a territorial or village chief- 
tain. Imp. Diet. 
tata 2 (ta'ta), . [S. Amer.] A shrub, Eugenia 
supra-axillaris, of Brazil, bearing a fruit of good 
size. 
ta-ta (ta'ta'), interj. A familiar form of saluta- 
tion at parting ; farewell; good-by. 
And so, ta-ta. I might as well have stayed away for 
ny good I've done. 
R. L. Stetrraon, Treasure of Franchard. 
tatao (ta-ta'6), n. [S. Amer.] A South Ameri- 
can tanager, Calliste tatao. 
Tatar, Tartar 3 (ta'tar, tfir'tar), n. and a. 
[As a long-established E. word, Tartar, < F. 
Tartare = Sp. Tdrtaro = Pg. It. Tartaro = D. 
Tartaar, Tarter = LG. G. Dan. Tartar = 8w. 
Tartar, Tartarer, etc., < ML. Tartarus (also Tar- 
tarinus, OF. Tartarin), a Tatar (cf. F. Tartaric 
= Sp. Tartaria = Pg. It. Tartaria = G. Tar- 
tarei, < ML. Tartaria, Tartary); an altered 
form, believed to be due to confusion with L. 
Tartarus, hell (a confusion reflected in the al- 
leged pun of the French king St. Louis, " Well 
may they be called Tartars, for their deeds are 
those of fiends from Tartarus"), the true form 
being "Tatarus (though this is not found, ap- 
parently, in medieval use), = Buss. Tatarinu, 
Pol. Tatar, etc., = Turk. Tatar, < Pers. Tatar, 
Tatar (Chinese Tah-tar, Tah-dzu), a Tatar. In 
recent E. the form Tatar, as earlier in F. Ta- 
tare = LG. G. Dan. Tatar = Icel. Tattarar, pi., 
etc., altered in ethnographical use to suit the 
form of the original word, has been used for 
Tartar in the original sense (def. 1), but not in 
the other senses. The derivative words Tar- 
tarian, Tartaric, etc., are similarly altered to 
Tatarian, Tataric, etc.; but the corresponding 
form Tatary (= (i. Tatarei) for Tartary has 
been little used.] I. . 1. (a) A member of 
one of certain Tungusic tribes whose original 
home was in the region vaguely known as 
"Chinese Tatary" (Manchuria and Mongolia), 
and who are now represented by the Fish- 
shin Tatars in northern Manchuria, and the 
Solons and Daurians in northeastern Mongolia, 
but more particularly by the Manchus, the pres- 
ent rulers of China. The chief among these tribes 
modem Manchus), who also established a dynasty, called 
Kin ('golden'), and are hence known as the Kin Tatars ; 
(i) tin- Kuni Khltal (or black Tatan), a remnant of the 
Khitans, who, when their empire was overthrown In On 
Juchi, escaped westward ana founded an empire uhirh 
stretched from the Oxus to the desert of Shaino, and from 
Tibet to the Altai; (4) the Onguts (or white Tatars). 
(b) In the middle ages, one of the host of Mon- 
gol, Turk, and Tatar warriors who swept over 
Asia under tho leadership of Jenghiz Khan, ami 
threatened Europe, (c) A member of one of 
numerous tribes or peoples of mixed Turkish, 
Mongol, and Tatar origin (descendants of the 
remnants of these hosts) now inhabiting the 
steppes of central Asia, Russia in Europe, 
Siberia (the latter with an additional inter- 
mixture of Finnish and Samoyedic blood), and 
I he Caucasus, such as the Kazan Tatars (the 
remnant of the Kipchaks, or 'Golden Horde'), 
(lie Krim Tatars in the Crimea, the Kalmucks 
or Eleuths (who are properly Mongols), etc. 
Swifter than arrow from the Tartar** bow. 
Shak., M. N. D., 111. 2. 101. 
As when the Tartar from his Russian foe, 
By Astracan, over the snowy plains, 
Retires. MMon, V. I.., x. 431. 
2. A savage, intractable person ; a person of a 
keen, irritable temper; as applied to a woman, 
a shrew; a vixen: as, she is a regular Tartar. 
[In this sense not altered to Tatar.'} 
The general had known Dr. Firmin's father also, who 
likewise had ben a colonel In the famous old Peninsular 
army. " A Tartar that fellow was, and no mistake ! " said 
the good officer. Thackeray, Philip, xlv. 
Perhaps this disconsolate suitor, whose first wife had 
been what is popularly called a Tartar, studied Mrs. Van- 
deleur's character with more attention than the rest. 
Whyte Mflnlle, White Rose, II. L 
To catch a Tartar, to lay hold of or encounter a person 
who proves too strong for the assailant. 
II. a. Of or pertaining to a Tatar or Tartar, 
or the Tatars or Tartars, or Tatary or Tartary. 
Tatar antelope, the saiga. See cut under Saiga. 
Tatar bread. See breadi. Tatar lamb. Same as Ta- 
tarian lamb. See aynui ScvMciu, under aantu. Tatar 
sable. Seeso. 
Tatare (tat'a-re), n. (^NL. (Lesson, 1831).] A 
genus of Polynesian birds, the type of which is 
T. longirostris of the Society Islands, of war- 
tatter 
Oreye clothis not fulle cN nr. 
But fretted fulle of tntarwayyei. 
RMS. iifthr Role, L 7Z57. 
tataupa (ta-ta'pil), . [S. Amer.] One of the 
Smith American* tinainous, I'l-it/itiii-n.-i Intnu/xi. 
tate (tat ), H. [Also tait; < Icel. txta (cf. equiv. 
t;<iini/r), shreds; cf. Sw. tat, a strand, twist, 
filament: see tat 1 .] A small portion of any- 
thing consisting of fibers or the like : as, a tate 
of hair or wool; a tate of hay. [Scotch.] 
tater (ta'ter), . A dialectal or vulgar form of 
potato. 
We met a cart laden with potatoes. " Uncommon fine 
tateri, them, sir!" said the Intelligent tradesman, gazing 
at them with eager Interest. A. and Q., 7th ser., XI. 28. 
tath (tath), n. [< ME. tath, < Icel. tadh = 8w. 
dial, tad, manure, dung; cf. Icel. tadha, hay 
from the home field, the home field itself; lit. 
that which is scattered'; cf. OHG. zata, zota, 
G. zote, a rag: see terf 1 .] 1. The dung or ma- 
nure left on land where live stock has been fed. 
Also teatlte. [Prov. Eng.] 2. Strong grass 
growing round the dung of cattle. [Prov. Eng.] 
tath (tath), v. t. [Also teathe; < Icel. tedhja 
(= Norw. tedja), manure, < tmlli, manure: see 
tutli, n. The same verb in a more gen. sense 
appears as E. ti-<l : see ted 1 .] To manure, as 
a field, by allowing live stock to graze upon it. 
[Prov. Eng.] 
Tatianist (ta'shi-an-ist), n. [< Tatian (gee def.) 
+ -ist.] One of a Gnostic and Encratite sect, 
followers of Tatian, originally a Christian apol- 
ogist and a disciple of Justin Martyr, but a con- 
vert to Gnosticism about A. D. 170. 
tatlet, tatlert. Old spellings of tattle, tattler. 
tatoo, !'. See tattoo 2 . 
tatou (tat'6), n. [< F. tatou = Sp. tato = Pg. 
tatu, < S. Amer. tatu.] An armadillo; specifi- 
cally, the giant armadillo. Tatusia or Priona- 
donta gigas. Also tatu. 
tatouay (tat'ij-a), . [8. Amer.] A kind of 
armadillo, Dasypus tatouay or Senurus unicinc- 
tu#. See cut under Xenvrus. 
tatOU-peba(tat'o-pe'*ba), . [S. Amer.] Same 
as peba. 
tatt, r. See tat 1 . 
tatta ' t, n. Same as daddy. Minsheu. 
tatta 2 (tat'a), n. Same as tatty?. 
tatter 1 (tat'er), n. [Formerly and dial, also 
totter; < ME. 'later (only as in part. adj. tatered, 
tatird, tattered, and appar. in tatarwag), < Icel. 
toturr, tiitturr = Norw. totra, also taltra, tttltre, 
= MLG. talteren, LG. taltern, pi., tatters, rags. 
Cf. totter 1 , totter?.] 1. A rag, or a part torn and 
hanging : commonly applied to thin and flexible 
fabrics, as cloth, paper, or leather: chiefly used 
in the plural. 
Tear a passion to tatteri, to very rags, to split the ears 
of the groundlings. Shalt., Hamlet, 111. 2. 11. 
Tatare longirestris. 
bier-like character, related to the warblers of 
the genus Acrocephalus. Seven species are described. 
The best-known is that above named, formerly called long- 
billed th, ash (Latham, lT.-:t). Also Tatarea (Reichenbach, 
1849). 
Tatarian, Tartarian (ta-, tar-ta'ri-an), a. and . 
[< Tatar, Tartar, + -tan.] I. a. Of or pertain- 
ing to the Tatars or Tartars Tatarian bread. 
Same as Tatar bread (which see, under ftreorfl). Tata- 
rian buckwheat. See Fagtipurum. Tatarian honey- 
suckle, see honeytvckle, i. Tatarian lamb. Seeo<7n 
Scythicw, under agnus. Tatarian maple, a tree, Acer 
Tataricum, of Russia and temperate Asia. Tatarian 
oat See oat, 1. Tatarian pine, the Taurian or sea- 
side pine. See Carsican pine, under pine^. Tatarian 
southernwood or wormwood. Same as tantonim, 1. 
II. n. 1. A Tatar or Tartar. 
Two Tartarian f then of the King's Stable were sent for ; 
but they were able to answer nothing to purpose. 
Milton, Hist Moscovia, T. 608. 
2f. A thief. [Cant.] [In this sense only Tar 
tartan."] 
If any thieving Tartarian shall break In upon you, . 
will with both hands nimbly lend a cast of my office to 
him. The Wandering Jew (1640). 
Tataric, Tartaric 2 (ta-. tar-tar ' ik), a. [The 
older form is Tartaric, < ML. Tartaricvs, < Tar- 
tarus, Tartar: see Tatar, Tartar*.] Of or per- 
taining to the Tatars or Tartars. 
Tatarize,Tartarize'-'(ta'-.tar'ta-riz),f.<.; pret. 
and pp. Taturized. Tnrtari:ed, ppr. Ttttanttnff, 
Tartarizing. [< Tiitm; Tartar*, + -ize.'] To 
make like a Tatar or the Tatars. 
The Tchuvashes are a Tatarized branch of the Finns of 
the Volga. Encyc. Brit., VIII. 7(>i 
tatarwagt, . [ME.; cf. tatter*.] A tatter (f). 
Time, go hang thee ! 
I will bang thee, 
Though I die in tatten. 
Dekker and Ford, Sun's Darling, 1. 1. 
2. A ragged fellow ; a tatterdemalion. 
Big. Should the grand Ruffian come to mill me, I 
Vould scorn to shuttle from my poverty. 
Pen. So, so ; well spoke, my noble English tatter 
Would scorn to shuttle from my poverty. 
x>ke, my noble Engli 
Randolph, Hey for Honesty, iii. 1. 
tatter 1 (tat'er), r. [< ME. 'tateren, in the part, 
adj. tatered: see tattered.'] I. trans. To rend 
or tear into rags or shreds; wear to tatters. 
A Lion, that hath tatter'd heer 
A goodly Heifer, there a lusty Steer. . . . 
sh outs in his Rage, and wallows in his Prey. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii.. The Decay. 
TO tatter a kip. See the quotation. (Slang.) 
My business was to attend him at auctions, to put him 
in spirits when he sat for his picture, to take the left hand 
in his chariot when not filled by another, and to assist at 
tattering a kip, as the phrase was, when be had a mind 
for a frolic. Goldsmith, Vicar, xx 
II. intrans. To fall into rags or shreds ; be- 
come ragged. 
After such bloody toll, we bid good night, 
And wound our tattering colours clearly up. 
Shale., K. John, v. 5. 7. 
tatter 2 (tat'er), r. . [< ME. tattren, chatter, 
jabber, < MD. tateren, speak shrilly, sound a 
blast on a trumpet, D. tateren, stammer, = 
MLG. tateren, > G. tattern. prattle. Cf. tattle.] 
It. To chatter; gabble; jabber. 
Tateryn, or laueryn or speke wythe owte resone (or 
langelyn . . . chateryn, laberyn). Garrio, blatero. 
Prompt Part., p. 487. 
2. To stir actively and laboriously. Halliirrll. 
[Prov. Eng.] 
tatter 3 (tat'er), n. [< ta/ 1 + -er 1 .] One who 
tats, or makes tatting. 
