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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Tattler \Tat"tler\, n.
1. One who tattles; an idle talker; one who tells tales.
--Jer. Taylor.
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2. (Zool.) Any one of several species of large, long-legged
sandpipers belonging to the genus {Totanus}.
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Note: The common American species are the greater tattler, or
telltale ({Totanus melanoleucus}), the smaller tattler,
or lesser yellowlegs ({Totanus flavipes}), the solitary
tattler ({Totanus solitarius}), and the semipalmated
tattler, or willet. The first two are called also
{telltale}, {telltale spine}, {telltale tattler},
{yellowlegs}, {yellowshanks}, and {yelper.}
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Telltale \Tell"tale`\, n.
1. One who officiously communicates information of the
private concerns of others; one who tells that which
prudence should suppress.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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5. (Zool.) The tattler. See {Tattler}.
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6. A thing that serves to disclose something or give
information; a hint or indication.

It supplies many useful links and telltales.
--Saintsbury.
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7. (Railroads) An arrangement consisting of long strips, as
of rope, wire, or leather, hanging from a bar over
railroad tracks, in such a position as to warn freight
brakemen of their approach to a low overhead bridge.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
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Telltale \Tell"tale`\, a.
Telling tales; babbling. "The telltale heart." --Poe.
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Yellowlegs \Yel"low*legs`\, n. (Zool.)
Any one of several species of long-legged sandpipers of the
genus {Totanus}, in which the legs are bright yellow; --
called also {stone snipe}, {tattler}, {telltale},
{yellowshanks}; and {yellowshins}. See {Tattler}, 2.
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