tick-tack noun & verb. ['tɪktak] Also (exc. in senses A.2, B.2) tic-tac. M16.
[Imit.]
A. noun.
1. A repeated ticking sound, esp. one made by a clock; the sound of the firing of small artillery. Also (earlier) as interjection. M16.

2. Any of various contrivances for making a clattering sound against a window or door as a practical joke, esp. at Hallowe'en. Chiefly N. Amer. L19.

3. A kind of manual semaphore signalling used by racecourse bookmakers to exchange information. Freq. attrib. L19.

Comb.:
tick-tack-toe (a) rare a game in which each player, with eyes shut, brings a pencil down on a slate with numbers on it, scoring points equal to the number hit; (b) N. Amer. (a grid for playing) noughts and crosses.
b. verb.
1. verb intrans. = TICK-TOCK verb. M19.

2. verb intrans. & trans. Make a tick-tack clatter against (a window etc.). Cf. sense A.2 above. Chiefly N. Amer. E20.

3. verb trans. & intrans. Racing. Signal (information) by means of tick-tack semaphore. E20.

■ tick-tacker noun (Racing) a practitioner of tick-tack semaphore E20.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲