The noun is derived from Middle English tappe (“hollow device for controlling the flow of liquid from a hole, cock, faucet, spigot; hole through which the liquid flows; the liquid which thus flows”), from Old English tæppa, from Proto-West Germanic *tappō, from Proto-Germanic *tappô (“a plug, tap; peg; tapering stick”), from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂p- (“to lose; to sacrifice”). Doublet of tapa.
The verb is derived from Middle English tappen (“to obtain (liquid, chiefly liquor) from a tap; to obtain and sell (liquor)”), from Old English tæppian (“to provide (a container) with a stopper; to obtain (liquid) from a tap”), and then either:
* from Old English tæppa (see above) + -ian (suffix forming verbs); or
* from Proto-Germanic *tappōną, from *tappô (noun) (see above).
Verb etymology 1, verb sense 1.3.5 (“to turn over (a playing card or playing piece) to remind players that it has already been used in that round”) alludes to the abilities or resources of the card or piece having been drawn on to the point of temporary exhaustion: see verb etymology 1, verb sense 1.3.2.
Meanings
A conical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container.
(broadly) An object with a tapering conical form like a tap (etymology 1, noun sense 1); specifically, ellipsis of taproot (“long, tapering root of a plant”).
(broadly) A hollow device used to control the flow of a fluid, such as an alcoholic beverage from a cask, or a gas or liquid in a pipe.
Is the tap water here safe to drink?
Taps, also called spouts or spiles, are valveless pipes inserted into drilled holes in maple trees to collect their sap as part of the process of making maple syrup
We don’t have bottled water; you’ll have to get it from the tap.
(broadly, informal) A hollow device used to control the flow of a fluid, such as an alcoholic beverage from a cask, or a gas or liquid in a pipe. ▸ A procedure that removes fluid from a body cavity; paracentesis.
abdominal tap pleural tap spinal tap
(broadly) Liquor drawn through a tap (etymology 1, noun sense 2.2); hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor; also (figurative, informal), a certain kind or quality of any thing.
Here he produced a decanter of curiously light wine, and a block of curiously heavy cake, and administered instalments of those dainties to the young people: at the same time, sending out a meagre servant to offer a glass of "something" to the postboy, who answered that he thanked the gentleman, but if it was the same tap as he had tasted before, he had rather not. 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Two. The First of the Three Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 55:
Those Norwegians and those Laps
Have extraordinary taps:
Those Laps especially have strange fancies:
To see them drink,
I verily think
Would make me lose my senses. 1825, Francesco Redi, translated by Leigh Hunt, Bacchus in Tuscany, a Dithyrambic Poem, […], London: […] [J. C. Kelly] for John and H[enry] L[eigh] Hunt, […], →OCLC, page 14:
I wish my aunt would send down some of this to the governor; it's a precious good tap. 1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, “James Crawley’s Pipe Is Put Out”, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 305:
a liquor of the same tap
(broadly) A device used to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications.
(broadly) A secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; also, a recording of such a communication.
It is true—and undisputed—that, in the weeks between the 2016 election and Trump's inauguration, several top Obama administration officials asked the National Security Agency to reveal the identity of an American citizen overheard on phone taps speaking with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak—a request known as "unmasking." 2020 May 14, Fred Kaplan, “‘Obamagate’ wasn’t even a Scandal the First Time”, in Slate, New York, N.Y.: The Slate Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 May 2023:
telephone tap
(broadly) A situation where a borrowing government authority issues bonds over a period of time, usually at a fixed price, with volumes sold on a particular day dependent on market conditions.
bond tap tap issue
(broadly) A cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole, with cutting edges around the lower end and an upper end to which a handle is fitted to turn the tool.
We drilled a hole and then cut the threads with the proper tap to match the valve’s thread.
To fit the Pin therefore to a true ſize, I in my Practiſe uſe to try into vvhat Hole of the Screvv Plate, the Tap or place of the Tap, (if it be a tapering Tap,) I make the Nut vvith vvill juſt ſlide through; […] But if the Screvv-Tap have no Handle, then it hath its upper end Filed to a long ſquare, to fit into an hollovv ſquare, made near the Handle of the Screvv-Plate: Put that long ſquare hole over the long ſquare on the top of the Tap, and then by turning about the Screvv-Plate, you vvill alſo turn about the Tap in the Hole, and make Grooves and Threds in the Nut. 1678 January 11 – February 11 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Moxon, “Numb[er] II. Applied to the Making of Hinges, Locks, Keys, Screws and Nuts Small and Great.”, in Mechanick Exercises, or The Doctrine of Handy-Works, […], volume I, London: […] Joseph Moxon, published 1683, →OCLC, page 31:
(UK, abbreviation, alt-of, broadly, ellipsis) Ellipsis of taphouse or taproom (“place where alcoholic beverages are served on tap”).
Guard emerges from the tap, where he prefers breakfasting, […] 1857, [Thomas Hughes], chapter IV, in Tom Brown’s School Days. […], Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Macmillan & Co., →OCLC, part I, page 87:
[H]ere has been nothing but canting and praying ſince the fellovv entered the place.—Rabbit him! the tap vvill be ruined—vve han't ſold a caſk of beer, nor a dozen of vvine, ſince he paid his garniſh—the gentlemen get drunk vvith nothing but your damned religion.— […] 1771, [Tobias Smollett], “To Sir Watkin Phillips, Bart. of Jesus College, Oxon.”, in The Expedition of Humphry Clinker […], volume II, London: […] W. Johnston, […]; and B. Collins, […], →OCLC, pages 72–73:
For the rest, both the tap and parlor of the Six Jolly Fellowship-Porters gave upon the river, and had red curtains matching the noses of the regular customers, and were provided with comfortable fireside tin utensils, […] 1864 May – 1865 November, Charles Dickens, “Cut Adrift”, in Our Mutual Friend. […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1865, →OCLC, 1st book (The Cup and the Lip), page 47:
(UK, broadly) A connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it; a tapping.
The system was barely keeping pressure due to all of the ill-advised taps along its length.
bg отклоне́ние (connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it) · fi tappi (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · ru прослу́шка (secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; recording of such a communication) · es espiche (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · gl espita (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · sq duq (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · lv spunde (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · nl kraan (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · lv tapa (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · gl espicha (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · mi tā ngauwiri kōhao (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · fi kierteitystappi (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · izh naka (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · ru заты́чка (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · de Abhören (secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; recording of such a communication) · fi kierretappi (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · fi haaroitus (connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it) · de Innengewindeschneider (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · es derivación (connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it) · hu csapszeg (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · cy tap (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · pdt Kron (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · fr taraud (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · cy dwsel (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · bg канелка (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · bg подслу́шване (secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; recording of such a communication) · hu menetfúró (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · de Abgang (connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it) · de Zapfhahn (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · sk odposluch (secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; recording of such a communication) · hu csap (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · de Anzapfen (secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; recording of such a communication) · nn avlytting (secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; recording of such a communication) · ru ответвле́ние (connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it) · sv avledning (connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it) · fi myynti (situation where a borrowing government authority issues bonds over a period of time) · fr dérivation (connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it) · sv gängtapp (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · fi salakuuntelulaite (device used to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications — see also bug) · sv tapp (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · ru про́бка (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · eo krano (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · sv tapp (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · it rubinetto (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · it maschio (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · ca tap (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · he מַבְרֵז (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · nl aftakking (connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it) · pt espicho (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · nb avlytting (secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; recording of such a communication) · ru прослу́шивание (secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; recording of such a communication) · fi hanajuoma (liquor drawn through a tap; certain kind or quality of liquor; certain kind or quality of any thing) · es machuelo (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · ru отво́д (connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it) · pl zawór główny (connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it) · fr bouchon (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · io tapilo (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · ru ме́тчик (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · pl gwintownik (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · tr musluk (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · fi tappi (object with a tapering cylindrical form like a tap) · oc dosilh (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · fi ylimääräinen liitos (connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it) · hu lehallgatás (secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; recording of such a communication) · de Abzweig (connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it) · oc espilla (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · nb tappekran (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · cs závitník (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · ca mascle (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · sk odpočúvanie (secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; recording of such a communication) · fi salakuuntelu (secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; recording of such a communication) · es tapón (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · sv avlyssning (secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; recording of such a communication) · ga buacaire (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · ru отпа́йка (connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it) · bg метчик (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · da aflytning (secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; recording of such a communication) · de Gewindebohrer (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · pt torno (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · gl billa (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot) · nl draadtap (cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole) · hu pecek (tapering cylindrical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container — see also spigot)
The noun is derived from Middle English tappe (“hollow device for controlling the flow of liquid from a hole, cock, faucet, spigot; hole through which the liquid flows; the liquid which thus flows”), from Old English tæppa, from Proto-West Germanic *tappō, from Proto-Germanic *tappô (“a plug, tap; peg; tapering stick”), from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂p- (“to lose; to sacrifice”). Doublet of tapa.
The verb is derived from Middle English tappen (“to obtain (liquid, chiefly liquor) from a tap; to obtain and sell (liquor)”), from Old English tæppian (“to provide (a container) with a stopper; to obtain (liquid) from a tap”), and then either:
* from Old English tæppa (see above) + -ian (suffix forming verbs); or
* from Proto-Germanic *tappōną, from *tappô (noun) (see above).
Verb etymology 1, verb sense 1.3.5 (“to turn over (a playing card or playing piece) to remind players that it has already been used in that round”) alludes to the abilities or resources of the card or piece having been drawn on to the point of temporary exhaustion: see verb etymology 1, verb sense 1.3.2.
Meanings
(broadly, transitive) To furnish (a container, etc.) with a tap (noun etymology 1, noun sense 2.2) so that liquid can be drawn.
There's a very pretty brew in tap at The Pure Drop—though, to be sure, not so good as at Rolliver's. 1891, Thomas Hardy, chapter I, in Tess of the d’Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented […], volume I, London: James R[ipley] Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., […], →OCLC, phase the first (The Maiden), page 8:
The event is called "Men & Vulnerability," and when I walk in, I'm surprised to find about 50 people milling about, drinking free wine and pouring themselves beers from a tap in the communal kitchen. 2019 October 12, James D. Walsh, “I Lived Adam Neumann's Perfect Life for a Day. It was Terrible.”, in Intelligencer, New York, N.Y.: New York Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 28 May 2023:
Vladimir Putin, Russian prime minister, on Tuesday opened the tap to Nord Stream at a compressor station near Vyborg, north-west Russia. 2011 September 6, Isabel Gorst, “Russia opens $10bn Nord Stream tap”, in Financial Times, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 Mar 2022:
The tap you drink from says a lot about you. There's a hierarchy to the taps in your house, and even if you don't observe it consciously you probably abide by it in some way. You may argue that the water all comes from the same source, but its taste is inarguably defined by the vibe of its tap. 2023 January 26, Jack Vening, “The tap you drink from in your house says a lot about you”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 04 Mar 2023:
(transitive) To draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; also, to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source).
If we tap the maple trees, we can get maple syrup.
Come up, my good fellows, come to the Spotted Dog; I will tap a barrel on purpose for you; […] 1832, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter XI, in Eugene Aram. A Tale. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, book III, page 93:
My parents have been tapping their own trees since 2011. It’s become an important ritual for my family; the first sure sign of spring and one that connects us to traditions much older than written memory. 2025 March 11, Sarah Lohman, “For Nova Scotians, Local Maple Syrup Is a Disappearing Pleasure”, in Atlas Obscura:
He tapped the ten-year-old whiskey from its barrel.
Perhaps, sir, he kicked a county member, perhaps sir he tapped a lord—you may stare, sir, I repeat it—blood flowed from noses, and perhaps he tapped a lord. Who knows? 1841 February–November, Charles Dickens, “Barnaby Rudge. Chapter 51.”, in Master Humphrey’s Clock, volume III, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 231:
Theſe Buſſards thinke knowledge a burthen, tapping it before they haue halfe tunde it, venting it before they haue filled it, […] 1589, T[homas] Nashe, The Anatomie of Absurditie: […], London: […] I[ohn] Charlewood for Thomas Hacket, […], →OCLC, signature [Biv], verso:
Behold, unhappy tippler, this curious machine; […] reflect, while it is yet time, what infinite torture will this instrument in the surgeon's hand inflict upon thee, and that thou, who tappest so many barrels, shall at last be thyself a tapped barrel; […] 1844, J[ohn] Fisher Murray, “The Physiology of London Life. Chapter V. Little Bell Alley.”, in Bentley’s Miscellany, volume XV, London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 148:
Landowners and forest rangers in Maine are facing a surprising problem: thieves have been illegally tapping maple trees and stealing the gooey sap to make maple syrup. 2013 April 13, “Caught sticky-handed”, in The Economist, London: The Economist Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Jul 2023:
(informal, transitive) To draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; also, to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source). ▸ To drain off fluid from (a person or a body cavity) by paracentesis.
[…] I have, ever since my cure, been very thirsty and dropsical; therefore, I presume, it would be much better to tap me, and drink me off, than eat me at once, and have no man in the ship fit to be drunk. 1709 September 11 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele], “Wednesday, September 1, 1709”, in The Tatler, number 62; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume I, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC, page 372:
It is a hard thing to empty the vvater contained in the breaſt, becauſe the vvaies are not open by vvhich it ſhould be brought forth. Therefore Hippocrates doth adviſe to open the ſide, vvhich becauſe vve never ſee practiſed, and never read in any Author that it vvas done vvith good ſucceſs, vve cannot abſolutely approve; and vve may ſpeak of it as vve have of the Opening or Tapping for the Dropſie, in its proper Chapter. 1655, Lazarus Riverius [i.e., Lazare Rivière], “Of the Dropsie in the Breast”, in Nicholas Culpeper, Abdiah Cole, and William Rowland, transl., The Practice of Physick, […], London: […] Peter Cole, […], →OCLC, 7th book (Of the Diseases of the Breast), section III (Of Pestilential Feavers), pages 163–164:
(figuratively, transitive) To break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something; to exploit, to penetrate; tap into.
Much has been made of the connection between Instagram and the generalized hipster sensibility, which places a premium value on the old, the artisanal, and the idiosyncratic. But Instagram taps a fetishization of the past that is more universal. 2012 April 10, Ian Crouch, “Instagram’s Instant Nostalgia”, in The New Yorker, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 05 Jun 2023:
From morning to night they were begging. They wandered enormous distances, zigzagging right across the county, trailing from village and from house to house, ‘tapping’ at every butcher’s and every baker’s and every likely-looking cottage, […] 1935, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter 2, in A Clergyman’s Daughter, London: Secker & Warburg, published 1969, →OCLC, § 2, page 107:
"Yes, your buddy. A bit chewed up, I'm afraid. A burglar called it in. He was about to tap the house, then he saw the body. Pry marks on the doorjamb, so I buy it. Don't look inside if you've eaten." 1990 June, James Ellroy, L.A. Confidential, New York, N.Y.: The Mysterious Press, →ISBN, page 228:
Agents from the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, another Department of Homeland Security agency, have run facial recognition searches on millions of Americans' driver's license photos. They have tapped private databases of people's financial and utility records to learn where they live. And they have gleaned location data from license-plate reader databases that can be used to track where people drive. 2022 September 15, Drew Harwell, “DHS built huge database from cellphones, computers seized at border”, in The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 01 Oct 2022:
Then up comes Mr. Brass, very brisk and fresh: […] folds his arms, and looks at his gentleman as much as to say, "Here I am—full of evidence—Tap me!" And the gentleman does tap him presently, and with great discretion too; drawing off the evidence little by little, and making it run quite clear and bright in the eyes of all present. 1840 April – 1841 November, Charles Dickens, “Chapter the Sixty-third”, in The Old Curiosity Shop. A Tale. […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1841, →OCLC, page 153:
For our supper, Ginger tapped the local butcher, who gave us the best part of two pounds of sausages. Butchers are always very generous on Saturday nights. 1931, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], “Hop-picking”, in Sonia Orwell, Ian Angus, editors, An Age Like This: 1920–1940 (The Collected Essays, Journalism and Letters of George Orwell; I), New York, N.Y.: Harcourt, Brace & World, published 1968, →OCLC, page 57:
He tried to tap cable television without a subscription.
Businesses are trying to tap the youth market.
Ye ſee maſters yͭ one end tapt of this my ſhort deuiſe / Now muſt we broche thoter to, before the ſmoke ariſe / And by the time they haue a while run. c. 1553 (date written), “S.” [pseudonym; attributed to William Stevenson], […] Gammer Gurtons Nedle: […], London: […] Thomas Colwell, published 1575, →OCLC, Act II, scene iii, signature C, recto:
(figuratively, transitive) To deplete (something); to tap out.
At the range of a couple of hundred yards we emptied our magazines, firing bullet after bullet into the beasts, but with no more effect than if we were pelting them with pellets of paper. Their slow reptilian natures cared nothing for wounds, and the springs of their lives, with no special brain centre but scattered throughout their spinal cords, could not be tapped by any modern weapons. 1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, “‘Our Eyes have seen Great Wonders’”, in The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC, page 274:
(figuratively, informal, transitive) To ask or beg for (something) to be given for free; to cadge, to scrounge; also, to ask or beg (someone) to give something for free.
I tried to tap a cigarette off him, but he wouldn’t give me one.
Thanks, old man, Hynes said. I'll tap him too. […] Three bob I lent him in Meagher's. Three weeks. Third hint. 1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 7: Aeolus]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC, part II [Odyssey], page 115:
(figuratively, transitive) To connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; also, to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication).
On 3 May the Government decided to take over the Telephone Exchange, which had been operated since the beginning of the war mainly by C.N.T. workers; it was alleged that it was badly run and that official calls were being tapped. 1938 April, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter XI, in Homage to Catalonia, London: Secker & Warburg, →OCLC, pages 160–161:
They can’t tap the phone without a warrant.
Ever worry about shadowy forces tapping your phone calls and listening in on your private conversations? Well, astronomers have some good news for you: it won't be aliens with their ears (or whatever auditory sensory organs they have evolved) to the speaker getting into your business—unless they've done a lot better than we have at funding radio astronomers. 2023 May 23, “Is E.T. Eavesdropping on Our Phone Calls?”, in Scientific American, New York, N.Y.: Springer Nature America, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 03 Oct 2023:
"Oh, there is one thing," the Minister called after Lebel, "how did you know to tap the telephone line of Colonel Saint-Clair's private apartment?" Lebel turned in the doorway and shrugged. "I didn't," he said, "so last night I tapped all your telephones. Good day, gentlemen." 1971 August 6, Frederick Forsyth, “Anatomy of a Kill”, in The Day of the Jackal, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Viking Press, →ISBN, page 347:
mitchener. Why didn't you telephone? / balsquith. They tap the telephone. Every switchboard in London is in their hands, or in those of their young men. 1909, [George] Bernard Shaw, Press Cuttings: A Topical Sketch […], London: Constable and Company, →OCLC, page 3:
(figuratively, qualifier:board games, transitive) To turn over (a playing card or playing piece) to remind players that it has already been used in that round.
(figuratively, transitive) To force (an opponent) to place all their poker chips in the pot (that is, to go all in) by wagering all of one's own chips.
I think there's an expression in poker. I'll tap you, Mr. Maverick. 1957 October 6, Roy Huggins, “According to Hoyle”, in Maverick, season 1, episode 3 (television series), spoken by Samantha Crawford (Diane Brewster), Burbank, Calif.: Warner Bros. Pictures, →OCLC:
(transitive) To remove a taproot from (a plant).
(transitive) To cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); also, to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole, or to create an internally threaded hole in (something).
Tap an M3 thread all the way through the hole.
(transitive) To cut an external screw thread into (a bolt or rod) to create a screw.
(transitive) To put (a screw or other object) in or through another thing.
(intransitive) To act as a tapster; to draw an alcoholic beverage from a container.
[…] I heere doe damne thy licence, / Forbidding thee euer to tap, or dravv. 1625 (date written), Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old Debts: A Comœdie […], London: […] E[lizabeth] P[urslowe] for Henry Seyle, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act IV, scene ii, signature [I3], verso:
Ile entertaine Bardolfe. He ſhall tap, he ſhall dravv. c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, […] [T]he Merrie Wiues of Windsor. […] (First Quarto), London: […] T[homas] C[reede] for Arthur Ihonson, […], published 1602, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], signature B, verso:
(intransitive, obsolete) To spend money, etc., freely.
A certain country gentleman began to tap upon the first information he received of sir Roger's death: when he sent me up word that, if I would get him chosen in the place of the deceased, he would present me with a barrel of the best October I had ever drank in my life. 1712 December 11 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “SUNDAY, December 1, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 550; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume VI, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 170:
es intervenir (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · fi poistaa pääjuuri (to remove a taproot from (a plant)) · bg нарязвам резба (to cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole; to create an internally threaded hole in (something)) · nl afluisteren (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · de anzapfen (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · es chuzar (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · de mit einem Abfluss versehen (to furnish (a container, etc.) with a tap so that liquid can be drawn) · pl podsłuchiwać (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · fi valuttaa (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · arz يتصنت (to break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something — see also exploit, penetrate) · sk stiahnuť (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · fi salakuunnella (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · bg точа (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · hu csavarmenetet fúr (to cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole; to create an internally threaded hole in (something)) · fi kääntää (to turn over (a playing card or playing piece) to remind players that it has already been used in that round) · es pinchar (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · hu csapra ver (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · fi kierteittää reikä (to cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole; to create an internally threaded hole in (something)) · tr musluk takmak (to furnish (a container, etc.) with a tap so that liquid can be drawn) · mk наточува (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · bg слагам кран (to furnish (a container, etc.) with a tap so that liquid can be drawn) · de abhören (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · it estrarre (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · hu kiaknáz (to break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something — see also exploit, penetrate) · ar تَنَصَّتَ (to break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something — see also exploit, penetrate) · fi tapittaa (to furnish (a container, etc.) with a tap so that liquid can be drawn) · nl aftappen (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · pl założyć podsłuch (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · de zapfen (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · pt grampear (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · nl tappen (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · fr mettre sur écoute (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · fi valuttaa (to drain off fluid from (a person or a body cavity) by paracentesis) · fi verottaa (to break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something — see also exploit, penetrate) · de anhauen (to ask or beg for (something) to be given for free; to ask or beg (someone) to give something for free — see also cadge, scrounge) · nl meeluisteren (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · pl spuszczać płyn (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · it estrarre (to break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something — see also exploit, penetrate) · it attingere (to furnish (a container, etc.) with a tap so that liquid can be drawn) · tr gizlice dinlemek (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · fi varustaa hanalla (to furnish (a container, etc.) with a tap so that liquid can be drawn) · fi laskea (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · pl gwintować (to cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole; to create an internally threaded hole in (something)) · fi kinuta (to ask or beg for (something) to be given for free; to ask or beg (someone) to give something for free — see also cadge, scrounge) · hu lehúz (to ask or beg for (something) to be given for free; to ask or beg (someone) to give something for free — see also cadge, scrounge) · fi laskea (to drain off fluid from (a person or a body cavity) by paracentesis) · fi käyttää (hyväkseen) (to break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something — see also exploit, penetrate) · it sfruttare (to break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something — see also exploit, penetrate) · fi asentaa salakuuntelulaite (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · fi työntää ruuvi läpi (to put (a screw or other object) in or through another thing) · fi avata (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · nl aftappen (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · de anzapfen (to furnish (a container, etc.) with a tap so that liquid can be drawn) · sv tappa (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · hu megcsapol (to furnish (a container, etc.) with a tap so that liquid can be drawn) · fi tehdä naaraskierre (to cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole; to create an internally threaded hole in (something)) · de angraben (to break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something — see also exploit, penetrate) · sk stočiť (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · bg подслушвам (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · it intercettare (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · de bohren (to cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole; to create an internally threaded hole in (something)) · fi katsella luvatta (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · mk точи (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · de anpumpen (to ask or beg for (something) to be given for free; to ask or beg (someone) to give something for free — see also cadge, scrounge) · fi kerjätä (to ask or beg for (something) to be given for free; to ask or beg (someone) to give something for free — see also cadge, scrounge) · pl napoczynać (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · fi tehdä ulkokierre (to cut an external screw thread into (a bolt or rod) to create a screw) · no tappe (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · fi tehdä uroskierre (to cut an external screw thread into (a bolt or rod) to create a screw) · no avlytte (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · fr tirer (to break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something — see also exploit, penetrate) · de schneiden (to cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole; to create an internally threaded hole in (something)) · it maschiare (to cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole; to create an internally threaded hole in (something)) · nl draadtappen (to cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole; to create an internally threaded hole in (something)) · de anzapfen (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · hu lehallgat (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · sv tappa (to furnish (a container, etc.) with a tap so that liquid can be drawn) · fr tarauder (to cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole; to create an internally threaded hole in (something)) · de anzapfen (to break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something — see also exploit, penetrate) · pl wykorzystywać (to break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something — see also exploit, penetrate) · fr tirer (to draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source)) · io tapar (to cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole; to create an internally threaded hole in (something)) · de anbohren (to break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something — see also exploit, penetrate) · fi laskea hanasta (to draw an alcoholic beverage from a container) · de (ein Objekt) abzweigen (to ask or beg for (something) to be given for free; to ask or beg (someone) to give something for free — see also cadge, scrounge) · sv bugga (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · sv avlyssna (to connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication)) · hu kihasznál (to break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something — see also exploit, penetrate) · fi tehdä sisäkierre (to cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole; to create an internally threaded hole in (something))
The verb is derived from Middle English tappen, teppen (“to give (something) a knock or tap; to hit (something) lightly, pat, tap”), either:
* imitative of the making of a tapping sound; or
* from Old French tapper, taper (“to tap”) (modern French taper), from Frankish *tappōn, *dabbōn (“to strike”), or from Middle Low German tappen, tapen (“to rap, strike, tap”), or from Proto-Germanic *tabōną (“to grope, to grapple, to claw”), maybe via a Old Norse *tapa (“to strike”), as seen in the derivative tapsa (“to tap”) Doublet of dab and tave.
Verb etymology 2, verb sense 1.1.1 (“to arrest (someone)”) and etymology 2, verb sense 1.6 (“to choose or designate (someone) for a duty, etc.”) allude to a police officer or other person tapping someone on their shoulder to catch their attention or to select them.
The noun is derived from Middle English tap, tappe (“light blow or hit”), and then either:
* from Middle English tappen (verb) (see above); or
* from Old French tape (“light slap or touch, pat”) (modern French tape), from tapper, taper (verb) (see above).
Cognates
* German tappen (“to fumble; to grope”)
* Icelandic tappa, tapsa, tæpta (“to tap”)
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A light blow or strike with a clear sound; a gentle rap; a pat; also, the sound made by such a blow or strike.
[W]hen a man's ſore beaten a both ſides already,
Then the leaſt tap in jeſt goes to the guts on him; […] c. 1613, Thomas Middleton, William Rowley, “Wit at Several Weapons. A Comedy.”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act III, scene i, page 80, column 2:
[U]pon my word to Handle their fans, each of them shakes her fan at me with a smile, then gives her right-hand woman a tap upon the shoulder, then presses her lips with the extremity of her fan, then lets her arms fall in an easy motion, and stands in readiness to receive the next word of command. 1711 July 7 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “TUESDAY, June 27, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 102; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 58:
I was undressing in my own room, when, with a premonitory tap at the door, he entered, and at once began to speak:— ¶ "To-morrow I want you to bring me, before night, a set of post-mortem knives." 1897, Bram Stoker, “Dr. Seward’s Diary—continued”, in Dracula, New York, N.Y.: Modern Library, →OCLC, chapter XIII, page 180:
[T]his is the right fencing grace, my Lord, tap for tap, and ſo part faire. c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], signature C3, verso:
About eight minutes had been allowed for this tub-diet, and every one of them was by this time empty. The convicts were called off by the tap of a drum, […] 1862, George Augustus Sala, “Down among the Bad Men”, in The Seven Sons of Mammon: […], volume II, London: Tinsley Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 194:
When Steve felt a tap on his shoulder, he turned around.
[H]e ſunk into a kind of doze, and Emily continued to vvatch and vveep beſide him, till a gentle tap at the chamber-door rouſed her. 1794 May 8, Ann Radcliffe, chapter VII, in The Mysteries of Udolpho, a Romance; […], volume I, Dublin: […] Hillary and Barlow, for Messrs. P. Wogan, W. Jones, and H. Colbert, →OCLC, page 111:
And much greater is the wrong that rewardeth euill for good, than that which requireth tip for tap: […] 1573, George Gascoigne, “A Discourse of the Adventures Passed by Master F. I.”, in A Hundreth Sundrie Flowres Bounde up in One Small Poesie. […], London: […] [Henry Bynneman and Henry Middleton for] Richarde Smith, →OCLC, page 266:
[T]he water went tap, tap, tap against the bends, with a most melancholy sound. 1840, [Frederick] Marryat, “‘Recollect,’ Says the Fellow, ‘You Have Thrown Overboard a Black Tom Cat!’”, in Poor Jack. […], London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longmans, […], →OCLC, page 162:
(countable, in the negative, informal, uncountable) The smallest amount of work; a stroke of work.
That put an end to work. They've hardly done a tap since. By now we should have half the season's copra stacked and ready for shipping. But you saw the plantation. Nothing done at all. 1964, Jim Blair, The Secret of the Reef, London: Angus & Robertson, →OCLC, page 13:
Bone idle, Charlie was, he had never done a tap in the house, always 'busy' whenever she asked him to do anything. 2021, Karen Woods, Tracks, Manchester: HarperNorth, →ISBN, page 82:
For to the first floor his duties never took him, at this period, nor to the second, once he had made his bed, and swept clean his little room, which he did every morning the first thing, before coming down, on an empty stomach. Whereas Erskine never did a tap on the ground floor, but all his duties were on the first floor. 1953, Samuel Beckett, chapter II, in Watt, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Grove Press, published 1959, →OCLC, page 118:
(countable, uncountable) One of the metal pieces attached to the sole of a tap dancer's shoe at the toe and heel to cause a tapping sound.
(countable, slang, uncountable) A shot fired from a firearm.
(countable, uncountable) An act of touching a button, icon, or specific location on the touch screen of an electronic device such as a mobile phone to invoke a function.
(countable, uncountable) A single muscle contraction in vocal organs causing a consonant sound; also, the sound so made.
(UK, US, countable, dialectal, uncountable) A piece of leather or other material fastened upon the bottom of an item of footwear when repairing the heel or sole; also (England, dialectal) the sole of an item of footwear.
She had a good figure, was twenty-one, five-feet-five, hair probably brown (dyed blond), brown cloth coat, rabbit-skin collar, cotton print dress, brown calf shoes (heel taps a little run over), scuff on the right toe. 1954 June 10, John Steinbeck, “Enter Suzy”, in Sweet Thursday, 1st British edition, London: William Heinemann, →OCLC, page 33:
(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of tap dance.
Now, until you get to wearing block shoes, the same sandals do for everything except tap, and the world doesn't come to an end if you just wear your tunic knickers and a shirt for tap; but when we could get the stuff there was all that changing into rompers, and we'd special satin sandals for ballet. It was change, change, all the time. 1944, Noel Streatfeild, “Cousins”, in Curtain Up (Pennant Books), London: J[oseph] M[alaby] Dent & Sons, published 1964, →OCLC, page 97:
I had one advantage: I can keep time pretty well, especially to jazz, which effectively is all tap is. I can beat out a rhythm to any tune. 2009 February 21, Patrick Kidd, “Out of the ordinary: Tap dancing”, in The Times, London: News UK, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Nov 2022:
In this iconic staircase number [The Little Colonel], Bill "Bojangles" Robinson tutors Shirley Temple in the art of tap. 2014 March 25, Samantha Grossman, “The 10 Best Tap Dance Scenes in Film”, in Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 15 Dec 2023:
As successful commercially as it was critically, Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk established Savion Glover as the new tap superstar. 2000, Ian Driver, “Sight and Sound: Tap Dancing”, in A Century of Dance, London: Hamlyn, →ISBN, page 116, column 1:
fi tikun laittaminen ristiin (smallest amount of work) · ru нажатие (act of touching a button, icon, or specific location on the touch screen on an electronic device such as a mobile phone to invoke a function) · ru прикосновение (act of touching a button, icon, or specific location on the touch screen on an electronic device such as a mobile phone to invoke a function) · de Antippen (act of touching a button, icon, or specific location on the touch screen on an electronic device such as a mobile phone to invoke a function) · es pulsación (act of touching a button, icon, or specific location on the touch screen on an electronic device such as a mobile phone to invoke a function) · fi kosketus (act of touching a button, icon, or specific location on the touch screen on an electronic device such as a mobile phone to invoke a function) · mk допира (act of touching a button, icon, or specific location on the touch screen on an electronic device such as a mobile phone to invoke a function) · es toque (act of touching a button, icon, or specific location on the touch screen on an electronic device such as a mobile phone to invoke a function) · es pulsamiento (disused) (act of touching a button, icon, or specific location on the touch screen on an electronic device such as a mobile phone to invoke a function) · de Tippen (act of touching a button, icon, or specific location on the touch screen on an electronic device such as a mobile phone to invoke a function) · es golpecito (light blow or strike with a clear sound; sound made by such a blow or strike) · fi rauta (one of the metal pieces attached to the sole of a tap dancer’s shoe at the toe and heel to cause a tapping sound) · cy clem (one of the metal pieces attached to the sole of a tap dancer’s shoe at the toe and heel to cause a tapping sound) · fi napautus (act of touching a button, icon, or specific location on the touch screen on an electronic device such as a mobile phone to invoke a function)
The verb is derived from Middle English tappen, teppen (“to give (something) a knock or tap; to hit (something) lightly, pat, tap”), either:
* imitative of the making of a tapping sound; or
* from Old French tapper, taper (“to tap”) (modern French taper), from Frankish *tappōn, *dabbōn (“to strike”), or from Middle Low German tappen, tapen (“to rap, strike, tap”), or from Proto-Germanic *tabōną (“to grope, to grapple, to claw”), maybe via a Old Norse *tapa (“to strike”), as seen in the derivative tapsa (“to tap”) Doublet of dab and tave.
Verb etymology 2, verb sense 1.1.1 (“to arrest (someone)”) and etymology 2, verb sense 1.6 (“to choose or designate (someone) for a duty, etc.”) allude to a police officer or other person tapping someone on their shoulder to catch their attention or to select them.
The noun is derived from Middle English tap, tappe (“light blow or hit”), and then either:
* from Middle English tappen (verb) (see above); or
* from Old French tape (“light slap or touch, pat”) (modern French tape), from tapper, taper (verb) (see above).
Cognates
* German tappen (“to fumble; to grope”)
* Icelandic tappa, tapsa, tæpta (“to tap”)
Meanings
(transitive) To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard.
Let vs then get vviſdome in the guiding of all our ſpeeches, and perſvvaſions. Imitate the threſher, vvhen thou art to deale vvith thy Brother; vvho firſt Tappeth his Corne in the ſheafe, before he lay on greater ſtroakes, for elſe the good graine vvould fly into euery corner, and the ſtravv not endure the flayle: ſo, begin by degrees vvith another, and vvhen he vvill endure Tapping, then ſmite harder, or elſe thou doſt but labour in vaine. 1625, John Barlow, “Vers[e] 7. For God hath not giuen vs the Spirit of feare, but of power, and of loue, and of a sound mind.”, in An Exposition of the Second Epistle of the Apostle Paul to Timothy, the First Chapter. […], London: […] I[ohn] D[awson] for Iohn Bellamie, […], →OCLC, page 180:
I hope, continued the ſtranger, ſtroking dovvn the face of his mule vvith his left-hand as he vvas going to mount it, that you have been kind to this faithful ſlave of mine—it has carried me and my cloak-bag, continued he, tapping the mule's back, above ſix hundred leagues. 1761, [Laurence Sterne], “Slawkenbergius’s Tale”, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, volume IV, London: […] R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley […], →OCLC, page 17:
I went to bed, was tapped up as before by Bessy, assisted her to clean every thing, taking off her hands all the heaviest of the work; […] 1840, [Frederick] Marryat, “Bramble’s Method of Education Proves Very Effective. He also Points Out a Position in which You may Prefer Your Enemies to Your Friends.”, in Poor Jack. […], London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longmans, […], →OCLC, page 171:
The pedlar stopped, and tapped her on the head
With absolute forefinger, brown and ringed,
And asked if peradventure she could read; […] 1856, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Third Book”, in Aurora Leigh, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1857, →OCLC, page 123:
He did not see the sneer of contempt which passed all round the room, […] as he sate there tapping his boot with his cane, and thinking what a parcel of miserable poor devils these were. 1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, “Between London and Chatham”, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 230:
Emma tapped Jim on the shoulder to get his attention.
Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred; […] 1906 August, Alfred Noyes, “The Highwayman”, in Poems, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., published October 1906, →OCLC, part 1, stanza III, page 46:
Bradly tapped the ashes from his pipe, signifying a leisured interlude over. "Time to get a move on," he said, and began to unlace his boots for wading. 1938, Norman Lindsay, chapter XIV, in Age of Consent, London: T[homas] Werner Laurie […], →OCLC, page 143:
(slang, transitive) To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard. ▸ Also in the form tap on the shoulder: to arrest (someone).
We are certainly scented here, and I walk about like a barrel of beer at Christmas, under hourly apprehension of being tapped! 1830, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter VIII, in Paul Clifford. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 225:
"Ain't gone be no Rikers Island for you next time," I warned him. "You get tapped on another gun charge and you looking at some upstate time." 2006, Noire [pseudonym], Thug-A-Licious: An Urban Erotic Tale, New York, N.Y.: One World, Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 108:
"You have to pack up and get out of there, girl. You could end up being tapped for that pimp's murder. The police ain't gonna hear about finding your aunt Viv. Or about Andre's butt. What are y'all going to do if they point the finger at him? If the cops over there are like they are over here, they ain't gonna look no further than the first black man they can put their hands on. They'll put his long legs under the jail." 1999 February, Charlotte Carter, Coq Au Vin, New York, N.Y.: The Mysterious Press, →ISBN, page 129:
(slang, transitive, vulgar) To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard. ▸ To have sexual intercourse with (someone).
What does waiting get you? Sure, I know the score, Connie. You ain't never been tapped. But what are you saving it for? It's either going to be me or some other guy. Look, if I join up with the Dags I gotta have a deb that gives. If I don't, all the guys will be ranking me. 1959, Wenzell Brown, Teen-age Mafia, Greenwich, Conn.: Gold Medal Books, →OCLC, page 34:
Passion was wild. She was the first chick I'd been with who liked to fuck in strange places. I'd tapped that ass in the girl's bathroom in every fast food restaurant we could find. 2006, Noire [pseudonym], Thug-A-Licious: An Urban Erotic Tale, New York, N.Y.: One World, Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 138:
"He's handsome, isn't he? If he didn't have a girlfriend, I'd tap him for sure." "Excuse me?" Emma looked over to see who was talking to her. A woman old enough to be her mother was eyeing the band. "The lead singer. Everyone wants him." The woman parted her lips and sighed. 2016, Tabitha Levin, “Emma”, in Rock Hard (Rock Star; 2), [Australia]: Tabitha Levin, →OCLC:
But Sheila was in no mood for legalisms. "It never bothered you when we were married, though, did it, Denny? You and your brother cops tapping everything with a pussy. Hey, do they know? Russo and Big Monty, they know you're stirring tar?" 2017, Don Winslow, The Force, London: HarperCollinsPublishers, →ISBN, page 95:
What we're entitled to is a house in the Hamptons. Maybe a prescription drug problem. But happiness does not seem to be on the menu so smoke up and seal the deal with Blair because you're also entitled to tap that ass. 2007 September 19, Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, “Pilot”, in Gossip Girl, season 1, episode 1 (television series), spoken by Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick):
I’d tap that.
I would tap that hot girl over there.
"If I weren't married," Hasty says, eyeing Parker like he's a side of grass-fed organic beef and she's Michael Pollan, "I'd tap that." 2019, Julia Kent, chapter 2, in Perky (Do-over Series; 2), [Scotts Valley, Calif.]: [CreateSpace], →ISBN:
(slang, transitive) To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard. ▸ To shoot (someone or something) with a firearm.
Heard that, too, Rose said. A thirtyeight revolver. Only you tapped him with a rifle from a hundred yards out. 2000, Christopher Cook, Robbers, New York, N.Y.: Carroll & Graf Publishers, →ISBN, page 12:
Fuck a tap dance niggas head get tapped
If you not a real member you won't get a pass 2023 April 5, “Nicky Nine Door”performed by Smiley:
Not something he worried a lot about since in his line of work, chances were better than good that he wasn't going to live that long. When your job was to step between a bullet and its intended recipient, sooner or later you were going to be tapped, for sure. 2010, Dana Marton, The Socialite and the Bodyguard, Toronto, Ont.: Harlequin Enterprises, →ISBN, page 84:
(transitive) To (lightly) touch (a finger, foot, or other body part) on a surface, often repeatedly.
He was so nervous he began to tap his fingers on the table.
The bystanders began now to loook at each other, nod, wink significantly, and tap their fingers against their foreheads. 1819 June 23, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “Rip Van Winkle”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., number I, New York, N.Y.: […] C[ornelius] S. Van Winkle, […], →OCLC, page 87:
You can pay by tapping your card.
At this upon the sward
She tapt her tiny silken-sandal'd foot:
'That's your light way; but I would make it death
For any male thing but to peep at us.' 1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Prologue”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 8:
The attorney had the statement of title in one hand, and leaning back in his chair, read it demurely in silence, with the other tapping the seal end of his gold pencil-case between his lips. 1864, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, “Deep and Shallow”, in Wylder’s Hand. […], New York, N.Y.: Carleton, […], published 1865, →OCLC, page 262:
(transitive) To (lightly) touch (a finger, foot, or other body part) on a surface, often repeatedly. ▸ To lightly touch a touchscreen, usually an icon or button, to activate a function.
Next, tap on the browser to get on the internet.
(transitive) To (lightly) touch (a finger, foot, or other body part) on a surface, often repeatedly. ▸ To lightly and repeatedly touch (a person or one or more body parts) as part of various forms of psychological treatment.
The therapist tapped him when he was overcome by anxiety.
(qualifier:combat sports, transitive) To force (an opponent) to submit, chiefly by indicating their intention to do so by striking a hand on the ground several times; to tap out.
[Genki] Sudo weighed 1/4 of what Butterbean [i.e., Eric Esch] weighs and he still tapped Butterbean. 2004 April 7, “Araxen”, “UFC vs. Boxing”, in rec.sport.boxing (Usenet):
Hard to believe Kimo [Leopoldo] used a triangle choke to tap [Kazushi] Sak[uraba], but 4 years can make a difference. 2000 October 14, “K®Æz¥ k ° †€°”, “Kimo Tapped Sakuraba”, in alt.ufc (Usenet):
Just started bjj [Brazilian jiu-jitsu] couple of months ago and i finally tapped someone!!! WOOOHOO! The guy i tapped has been traiing a few more months than me, outweighs me by at least 30 pounds, and is in great shape from the army. 2003 April 2, “Eddie”, “I Tapped Somebody!”, in rec.martial-arts (Usenet):
(transitive) To invoke a function on an electronic device such as a mobile phone by touching (a button, icon, or specific location on its touch screen).
As you type, your fingers play an idiosyncratic composition of keystroke rhythms on your keyboard. Similarly, the swipes and taps on your touchscreen form a living signature of your movement. The emerging field of gesture biometrics uses these movement signatures in security and other applications in interface design. 2019 July 10, Vanessa Chang, “How Phone Taps and Swipes Train Us to Be Better Consumers”, in Wired, San Francisco, Calif.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 Jun 2023:
Amazon says clothes racks will feature QR codes, which customers can scan to see available sizes, colors, customer ratings, and product details. Then, with a tap of a button, selected items will be sent to a fitting room to try on without having to first rummage through racks. 2022 January 20, Jon Porter, “Amazon’s First Clothing Store Lets You Summon Clothes to the Fitting Room”, in The Verge, archived from the original on 05 Jan 2024:
Tap the Save Image button to save the picture in your iPod touch or iPhone photo library (in the Saved Images album) or tap Cancel to cancel. 2010, Tony Bove, “Your Pocket Picture Player”, in iPod & iTunes For Dummies (For Dummies), 7th edition, Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley Publishing, →ISBN, part IV (Playing It back on Your iPod or iPhone), page 301:
(UK, US, dialectal, transitive) To repair (an item of footwear) by putting on a new heel or sole, or a piece of material on to the heel or sole.
to tap shoes
(US, informal, transitive) To choose or designate (someone) for a duty, an honour, membership of an organization, or a position.
He was tapped by the president to act as a special counsel.
Hardly a radical, she was more the type that got tapped for a student-faculty committee. 2013 January 20, Emily Bazelon, “‘My Beloved World,’ by Sonia Sotomayor”, in The New York Times Book Review, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 19 Sep 2023:
Unbeknownst to Rosquette, the contract killer he'd just tapped for the job was an FBI informant. 2018 March 9, Drew Schwartz, “This New Yorker Hired a Hitman to ‘Take Care of’ His Noisy Neighbors, Feds Say”, in VICE, archived from the original on 07 Nov 2023:
With his so-called election-fraud lawsuits being thrown out left and right, the president [Donald Trump] has tapped his personal lawyer [Rudy Giuliani] to spearhead his campaign's remaining legal options. Insiders are reportedly "concerned." 2020 November 14, Charlotte Klein, “Trump Apparently Thinks Rudy Giuliani Can Save His Flailing Court Battles”, in Radhika Jones, editor, Vanity Fair, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 01 Jun 2023:
One day reconnaissance informs us that the krauts have moved up their forward outposts in our sector. It could be the prelude to an attack. A patrol is organized to knock out the positions. In our platoon Kerrigan, Berner, and Thompson get tapped for service. 1949, Audie Murphy, To Hell and Back, New York, N.Y.: Henry Holt and Company, →OCLC, page 132:
Valentino Taps Thai Actress Freen Sarocha as Brand Ambassador […] Thai actress Freen Sarocha has been appointed the house’s first female brand ambassador from Thailand. 2025 January 3, Sofia Celeste, “Valentino Taps Thai Actress Freen Sarocha as Brand Ambassador”, in wwd.com:
'Special Agent Hudgins,' he said, holding the door wide open. 'My office was closest to the scene so I got tapped to secure it for you Cincinnati guys. But I have to tell you, this wasn't what I expected when I got the call to come out here.' 2014, Karen Rose, Closer Than You Think, London: Headline Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 463:
(intransitive) Often followed by at or on: to strike lightly with a clear sound; also, to make a sharp noise through this action.
A stripling, blind, with a tapping cane, came taptaptapping by Daly's window […] 1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 11: Sirens]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC, part II [Odyssey], page 277:
The tree was swaying in the breeze and tapping on the window pane.
Night tappeth gently at a casement gleaming
With the thin fire light, flick'ring faint and low; […] 1849, Charles Swain, “The Three Callers”, in English Melodies, London: […] [Spottiswoode and Shaw] for Longman, Brown, Green, & Longmans, […], →OCLC, page 33:
There was a light in Ingram's windows, which were on the ground-floor; he tapped with his stick on one of the panes—an old signal that had been in constant use when he and Ingram were close companions and friends. 1873, William Black, “A New Day Breaks”, in A Princess of Thule. […], New York, N.Y.; London: Harper & Brothers, →OCLC, page 315:
She tapped gently at the door, and vvas anſvvered by Madame, vvho vvas alarmed at being avvakened at ſo unuſual an hour, and believed that ſome danger threatened her huſband. 1791, [Ann Radcliffe], chapter X, in The Romance of the Forest: […], volume II, London: […] T[homas] Hookham and J. Carpenter, […], →OCLC, page 82:
They heard her footsteps tap along the hard road as she stepped out to her full pace. 1891, Thomas Hardy, chapter XLIV, in Tess of the d’Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented […], volume III, London: James R[ipley] Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., […], →OCLC, phase the fifth (The Woman Pays), page 67:
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you […] 1845 February, — Quarles [pseudonym; Edgar Allan Poe], “The Raven”, in The American Review, volume I, number II, New York, N.Y.; London: Wiley & Putnam, […], →OCLC, page 144:
(intransitive) To walk by striking the ground lightly with a clear sound.
Our England for ever! Ten thouſand French, my brave Lad! I am going to tap avvay directly. 1749, Henry Fielding, “The Adventures which Sophia Met with, after Her Leaving Upton”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume IV, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book XI, page 110:
(intransitive) Of a bell, a drum, etc.: to make a sharp noise, often as a signal.
(intransitive, qualifier:combat sports) To submit to an opponent, chiefly by indicating an intention to do so by striking a hand on the ground several times; to tap out.
(intransitive, obsolete) Of a hare or rabbit: to strike the ground repeatedly with its feet during the rutting season.
[A] Bore ſcreameth: a Hare & a Cony beateth or tappeth: a Fox barketh: […] when they ſeeke or hunt after their mates. 1575, Jacques du Fouilloux, “Of the Termes of Venery”, in George Gascoigne, transl., The Noble Art of Venerie or Hunting. […], London: […] Thomas Purfoot, published 1611, →OCLC, page 240:
fi napauttaa (to make a sharp noise) · fi kopauttaa (to touch something, often repeatedly) · cmn 刷 (to touch something with a card) · sv peta (to touch something, often repeatedly) · es tamborilear (to touch something, often repeatedly) · id gamit (to touch something, often repeatedly) · de trommeln (to touch something, often repeatedly) · es cliquear (to operate an electronic device by tapping its touch screen) · ru постукивать (to make a sharp noise) · it toccare (to touch something, often repeatedly) · mk чука (to touch something, often repeatedly) · es hacer clic (to operate an electronic device by tapping its touch screen) · id sentuh (to operate an electronic device by tapping its touch screen) · fi puikottaa (to have sexual intercourse (with)) · mi pātōtō (to touch something, often repeatedly) · ca fer un toc (to operate an electronic device by tapping its touch screen) · bg чукам (to have sexual intercourse (with)) · fi kopauttaa (to make a sharp noise) · es teclear (to touch something, often repeatedly) · id tempel (to touch something with a card) · mk чука (to make a sharp noise) · it sbattere (to make a sharp noise) · ca tocar (to operate an electronic device by tapping its touch screen) · pl klepnąć (to touch something, often repeatedly) · de klopfen (to submit) · id utik-utik (to touch something, often repeatedly) · sv trycka (to touch something, often repeatedly) · es dar golpecitos (to touch something, often repeatedly) · id gamit (to operate an electronic device by tapping its touch screen) · it cliccare (to operate an electronic device by tapping its touch screen) · pt bater (to submit) · fr taper (to have sexual intercourse (with)) · de stupsen (to touch something, often repeatedly) · yue 拍 (to touch something with a card) · vo flapilön (to touch something, often repeatedly) · es tamborear (to touch something, often repeatedly) · de tippen (to touch something, often repeatedly) · bg потупвам (to touch something, often repeatedly) · fr tapoter (to touch something, often repeatedly) · pt tamborilar (to touch something, often repeatedly) · fi naputtaa (to make a sharp noise) · pl stuknąć (to touch something, often repeatedly) · fr cliquer (to operate an electronic device by tapping its touch screen) · de knallen (to have sexual intercourse (with)) · pt tocar (to operate an electronic device by tapping its touch screen) · mk тапка (to touch something, often repeatedly) · de klopfen (to make a sharp noise) · fi naputella (to touch something, often repeatedly) · es tabalear (to touch something, often repeatedly) · es golpetear (to touch something, often repeatedly) · es pulsar (to operate an electronic device by tapping its touch screen) · id ketuk (to operate an electronic device by tapping its touch screen) · de antippen (to operate an electronic device by tapping its touch screen) · tl maghimil (to touch something, often repeatedly) · pl tapnąć (to operate an electronic device by tapping its touch screen) · de pochen (to make a sharp noise) · de stippen (to touch something, often repeatedly) · es taper (to have sexual intercourse (with)) · lv pieklauvēt (to touch something, often repeatedly) · id gamit (to touch something with a card) · es pinchar (to operate an electronic device by tapping its touch screen) · nl tikken (to touch something, often repeatedly) · id ketuk (to make a sharp noise) · mk тропка (to touch something, often repeatedly) · de knattern (to have sexual intercourse (with)) · fi naputtaa (to touch something, often repeatedly) · hu koppint (to operate an electronic device by tapping its touch screen) · pt cutucar (to touch something, often repeatedly) · es palmear (to submit) · fi taputtaa (to touch something, often repeatedly) · bg почуквам (to make a sharp noise) · ja かざす (to touch something with a card)
From Persian or Urdu تب (tab, “malarial fever”), ultimately from Sanskrit ताप (tāpa, “fever; heat; pain, torment”).
Meanings
(East, India, uncountable) A malarial fever.
The country, my entertainer informed me, was considered perfectly safe, unless I feared the tap, the bad kind of fever which infests all the country at the base of the hills. 1882, F[rancis] Marion Crawford, Mr. Isaacs: A Tale of Modern India, New York, N.Y.: P. F. Collier & Son, page 261:
[…] in despair, he fell back on the unfailing reason (to the native mind) for every unaccountable action, and declared that the horses had tap, or fever. ¶ "Oh, that's all nonsense, Sooka!" replied Blunt to this assertion of his subordinate. They were walking along between the rows of stalls, making their morning inspection, and closely examining into the condition of every animal: "that's all nonsense! there's no tap here. Every one of them is as cool and nice as he can be—perfect pictures of condition most of them, No, no; there's no fever whatever amongst them." 1874, Stephen J Mac Kenna, At School With An Old Dragoon, second edition, London: Henry S. King & Co., pages 330–331:
According to the Yunani hakims dengue is a "tap safrow"—a fever due to excess of bile, and it is wonderful the amount of dark colored bile that passes away after a purgative, especially if that is not administered until the third day. [1873 February 1, James Wise, “Report on the Epidemic of Dengue in the Dacca District During 1872”, in The Indian Medical Gazette, volume VIII, Calcutta: Wyman & Co., page 32, column 2:
But, when I heard her speak soft Urdu words,
Like a white angel in her pity of us,
No whit afraid of sitla, or of tap
Fever or pest! [1888, Edwin Arnold, With Sa'di in the Garden: Or, the Book of Love, Boston, M.A.: Roberts Brothers, page 47: