Tanka, tan′ka, n. the boat population of Canton, inhabiting permanently the so-called tanka-boats, about 25 feet long.—Also Tan′kia.
Tankard, tangk′ard, n. a large vessel for holding liquors: a drinking-vessel with a lid. [O. Fr. tanquard, prob. from L. cantharus—Gr. kantharos.]
Tanner, tan′ėr, n. (slang) a sixpence. [Said to be Gipsy tano, little.]
Tannin, tan′in, n. an astringent substance found largely in oak-bark or gall-nuts, of great use in tanning.—n. Tann′ate, a salt of tannic acid.—adjs. Tann′ic; Tannif′erous, yielding tannin.—n. Tan′-ride, an enclosure spread with tan for riding.—Tannic acid, an acid forming the astringent principle of the bark of oak and other trees, used in tanning and in medicine. [Fr. tannin.]
Tanrec=Tenrec (q.v.).
Tansy, tan′zi, n. a genus of composite plants allied to Artemisia—Common tansy is a bitter, aromatic plant with small yellow flowers, common on old pasture: a pudding or cake flavoured with tansy, eaten at Easter. [O. Fr. tanasie, through Late L., from Gr. athanasia, immortality.]
Tantalise, tan′ta-līz, v.t. to torment by presenting something to excite desire, but keeping it out of reach.—ns. Tantalisā′tion, the act of tantalising: state of being tantalised; Tan′taliser, one who, or that which, tantalises.—adv. Tan′talisingly.—ns. Tan′talism, the punishment of Tantalus: a tormenting; Tan′talus, a spirit-case that locks; Tan′talus-cup, a philosophical toy, having a siphon within the figure of a man whose chin is on a level with its bend. [Tantalus, in Gr. mythology, who stood in Tartarus up to his chin in water, with branches of fruit over his head, the water receding when he wished to drink, and the fruit when he wished to eat.]
Tantalum, tan′tal-um, n. a very rare metal of no practical importance, discovered in 1801, closely allied to columbium or niobium.
Tantalus, tan′ta-lus, n. the wood-ibis, a genus of birds of the stork family, quite distinct from the true ibises.
Tantamount, tan′ta-mownt, adj. amounting to so much or to the same: equivalent: equal in value or meaning.—n. Tan′tity, the fact of being or having so much.—adv. Tan′to (mus.), so much or too much. [O. Fr., tant—L. tantum, so much, so great, and O. Fr. amonter, to amount.]