telltale[
'telteil]
n. 搬弄

非者, 迹象, 指

器
a. 搬弄
非
, 泄露
密
,
警
[
]
数器;
号装置; 指
器

telltale
[ noun ]
- someone who gossips indiscreetly
<noun.person>
[ adj ]- disclosing unintentionally
<adj.all>
a telling smile
a telltale panel of lights
a telltale patch of oil on the water marked where the boat went down

Telltale \Tell"tale`\, a.
Telling tales; babbling. ``The telltale heart.'' --Poe.
Telltale \Tell"tale`\, n.
1. One who officiously communicates information of the
private concerns of others; one who tells that which
prudence should suppress.
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.
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.
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.
5. (Zo["o]l.) The tattler. See {Tattler}.
6. A thing that serves to disclose something or give
information; a hint or indication.
It supplies many useful links and telltales.
--Saintsbury.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
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.]
Tattler \Tat"tler\, n.
1. One who tattles; an idle talker; one who tells tales.
--Jer. Taylor.
2. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of large,
long-legged sandpipers belonging to the genus {Totanus}.
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.}
Yellowlegs \Yel"low*legs`\, n. (Zo["o]l.)
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.