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.

The staggerings of the gentleman . . . were like those of a teetotum nearly spent. Dickens.

 

© Webster 1913.

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