Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Telltale?

\Tell"tale`\, a. Telling tales; babbling. ``The telltale heart.'' --Poe.
\Tell"tale`\, n. 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. (Zo["o]l.) The tattler. See {Tattler}.