tee-to-tum

2 definitions found

tee-to-tum - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Tee-to-tum \Tee-to"-tum\, n. [Cf. Teetotaler.]
     A workingmen's resort conducted under religious influences as
     a counteractant to the drinking saloon. [Colloq. or Cant]
     [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

  Teetotum \Tee*to"tum\, n. [For T-totum. It was used for playing
     games of chance, and was four-sided, one side having the
     letter T on it, standing for Latin totum all, meaning, take
     all that is staked, whence the name. The other three sides
     each had a letter indicating an English or Latin word; as P
     meaning put down, N nothing or L. nil, H half. See Total.]
     A child's toy, somewhat resembling a top, and twirled by the
     fingers.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           The staggerings of the gentleman . . . were like those
           of a teetotum nearly spent.              --Dickens.
     [1913 Webster]