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Webster 1913 Edition

Telltale

Tell′taleˊ

,
Adj.
Telling tales; babbling.
“The telltale heart.”
Poe.

Tell′taleˊ

,
Noun.
1.
One who officiously communicates information of the private concerns of others; one who tells that which prudence should suppress.
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.
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.
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.
5.
(Zool.)
The tattler. See
Tattler
.

Definition 2025

telltale

telltale

See also: tell-tale

English

Noun

telltale ‎(plural telltales)

  1. One who divulges private information with intent to hurt others.
  2. (chiefly US, slang) Tattletale; squealer.
  3. Something that serves to reveal something else.
    The telltale was the lipstick on his shirt collar.
    • Saintsbury
      It supplies many useful links and telltales.
  4. (music) A movable piece of ivory, lead, or other material, connected to the bellows of an organ, whose position indicates when the wind is exhausted.
  5. (nautical) A length of yarn or ribbon attached to a sail or shroud etc to indicate the direction of the flow of the air relative to the boat.
  6. (nautical) A mechanical attachment to the steering wheel, which, in the absence of a tiller, shows the position of the helm.
  7. (nautical) 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.
  8. (engineering) A machine or contrivance for indicating or recording something, particularly for keeping a check upon employees (factory hands, watchmen, drivers, etc.) by revealing to their employers what they have done or omitted.
  9. A bird, the tattler.

Synonyms

Related terms

Translations

Adjective

telltale ‎(comparative more telltale, superlative most telltale)

  1. Revealing something, especially something not intended to be known.
    His eye was blinking, a telltale signal that he was lying.
    He blushed when he approached, a telltale sign that he was happy to see him.

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology

From tell +‎ tale.

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