TATOOING. The Burmese, South Sea Islanders, and others, puncture the skin until it bleeds, and then rub in fine soot and other colouring matter. The practice has become common amongst sailors.
TATTIES. Mats hung before doors and windows in India, on which water is thrown, to cool the air inside by evaporation.
TATTOO. The evening sound of drum or trumpet, after which the roll is called, and all soldiers not on leave of absence should be in their quarters.
TAUNT. High or tall, commonly applied to very long masts.—All a taunto is a ship having all her light and long spars aloft.
TAURUS. The second sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the 20th of April.
TAUT [from the Anglo-Saxon tought]. Tight.
TAUT BOWLINE. A ship sailing close-hauled is "on a taut bowline."
TAUT HAND. A strict disciplinarian.
TAUT HELM, or Taut Weather-helm. A ship with a side wind is said to carry a taut weather-helm, when the water presses heavily on the lee side of the rudder; often the result of her being too much by the head.
TAUT LEECH. A sail well set on a wind, and well filled.