Hypertext Webster Gateway: "teetotum"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Tee-to-tum \Tee-to"-tum\, n. [Cf. {Teetotaler}.]
A workingmen's resort conducted under religious influences as
a counteractant to the drinking saloon. [Colloq. or Cant]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Teetotum \Tee*to"tum\, n. [For T-totum. It was used for playing
games of chance, and was four-sided, one side having the
letter {T} on it, standing for Latin totum all, meaning, take
all that is staked, whence the name. The other three sides
each had a letter indicating an English or Latin word; as {P}
meaning put down, {N} nothing or L. nil, {H} half. See
{Total}.]
A child's toy, somewhat resembling a top, and twirled by the
fingers.
The staggerings of the gentleman . . . were like those
of a teetotum nearly spent. --Dickens.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
teetotum
n : a conical child's plaything tapering to a steel point on
which it can be made to spin; "he got a bright red top
and string for his birthday" [syn: {top}, {whirligig}, {spinning
top}]
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