taps

taps
noun
(military) signal to turn the lights out
• Syn: ↑lights-out
• Hypernyms: ↑bugle call

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I.
plural of tap
present third singular of tap
II. \\ˈtaps\ noun plural but usually singular in construction
Etymology: probably alteration of obsolete taptoo tattoo — more at tattoo
1. : the last bugle call at night blown as a signal that all unauthorized lights are to be put out

taps was sounded

— compare tattoo
2. : a similar call blown as part of the final honors at military funerals and sometimes at memorial services

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/taps/, n. (used with a sing. or pl. v.) Mil.
a signal by bugle or drum, sounded at night as an order to extinguish all lights, and sometimes performed as a postlude to a military funeral.
[1815-25, Amer.; prob. tap(too), var. of TATTOO1 + -S3]

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taps «taps», noun (plural).
a signal on a bugle or drum to put out lights at night. Taps are also sounded when a soldier or sailor is buried. »

The customary volleys were fired over the grave, and Bugler Fitzgerald sounded taps, the soldier's last sad farewell (Cambridge Tribune).

Usage Taps is plural in construction but may be singular or plural in use.

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/ˈtæps/ noun [plural]
US military : a song played on a bugle at military funerals and at night as a signal for soldiers to go to bed

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • taps — U.S. military signal for lights out in soldiers quarters (played 15 minutes after tattoo), 1824, from TAP (Cf. tap) (v.), on the notion of drum taps (it originally was played on a drum, later on a bugle). As a soldier s last farewell, played over …   Etymology dictionary

  • taps — ☆ taps [taps] n. [< TAP1, because orig. a drum signal] [with sing. or pl. v.] a bugle call to put out lights in retiring for the night, as in an army camp: also sounded at a military funeral …   English World dictionary

  • taps — /taps/, n. (used with a sing. or pl. v.) Mil. a signal by bugle or drum, sounded at night as an order to extinguish all lights, and sometimes performed as a postlude to a military funeral. [1815 25, Amer.; prob. tap(too), var. of TATTOO1 + S3] *… …   Universalium

  • TAPS — steht für: The Atlantic Paranormal Society Kernkraftwerk Tarapur in Indien (Abk. steht für Tarapur Atomic Power Station) Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • taps — ● taps nom masculin Rideau de ton neutre servant soit de second rideau d avant scène, soit de fond pour une scène …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Taps — Taps,der:⇨Tollpatsch …   Das Wörterbuch der Synonyme

  • Taps — Taps(Tappes,Tapps)m 1.ungeschickterMensch;Mensch,derGegenständezuBodenfallenläßt.Tappen=plumpzugreifen;schwerfälliggehen.1700ff. 2.TapsinsMus=ungeschickterMensch.1700ff …   Wörterbuch der deutschen Umgangssprache

  • Taps —    Drame de Harold Beecker, d après le roman de Devery Freeman Father Sky, avec George C. Scott, Timothy Hutton, Ronny Cox.   Pays: États Unis   Date de sortie: 1981   Technique: couleurs   Durée: 2 h 06    Résumé    Une académie militaire… …   Dictionnaire mondial des Films

  • Taps — ↑ Depp …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

  • Taps — This article is about the musical piece. For other uses, see Taps (disambiguation). Taps is a famous musical piece, played in the U.S. military during flag ceremonies and funerals, generally on bugle or trumpet. The tune is also sometimes known… …   Wikipedia

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