teetotum

American  

[tee-toh-tuhm] / tiˈtoʊ təm /

noun

1. any small top spun with the fingers.

2. a kind of die having four sides, each marked with a different initial letter, spun with the fingers in an old game of chance.

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teetotum British  

/ tiːˈtəʊtəm /

noun

1. a spinning top bearing letters of the alphabet on its four sides

2. such a top used as a die in gambling games

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Etymology

Origin of teetotum

1710–20; earlier T totum, alteration of totum name of toy (< Latin tōtum, neuter of tōtus all) by prefixing its initial letter, which appeared on one side of the toy

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

teetotum

Though no disturbance was reported last week at Brooklyn's Evergreen Cemetery, by rights Anthony Comstock should have been spinning like a teetotum in his grave.

From Time Magazine Archive

Furlong stared, and began a reply of "Weally, I cawn't say that——" When O'Grady gruffly broke in with, "You'd better ask him, does he love teetotum."

From Handy Andy, Volume One A Tale of Irish Life, in Two Volumes by Samuel Lover

The Colonel wheeled round on his heels like a teetotum.

From Between the Dark and the Daylight by Richard Marsh

It spun round and round like a teetotum, then fell over to one side with a crash.

From A Hero of Li?ge by Herbert Strang

It is startling to see the tiny thing whirl like a reckless young teetotum.

From Lotus Buds by Amy Carmichael

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