It supplies many useful links and telltales.
--Saintsbury.
2. (Railroads) An arrangement consisting of long strips, as
of rope, wire, or leather, hanging from a bar over
railroad tracks, in such a position as to warn freight
brakemen of their approach to a low overhead bridge.
2. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of large,
long-legged sandpipers belonging to the genus {Totanus}.
Note: The common American species are the greater tattler, or
telltale ({T. melanoleucus}), the smaller tattler, or
lesser yellowlegs ({T. flavipes}), the solitary tattler
({T. solitarius}), and the semipalmated tattler, or
willet. The first two are called also {telltale},
{telltale spine}, {telltale tattler}, {yellowlegs},
{yellowshanks}, and {yelper.}
2. (Mus.) A movable piece of ivory, lead, or other material,
connected with the bellows of an organ, that gives notice,
by its position, when the wind is exhausted.
3. (Naut.)
(a) A mechanical attachment to the steering wheel, which,
in the absence of a tiller, shows the position of the
helm.
(b) A compass in the cabin of a vessel, usually placed
where the captain can see it at all hours, and thus
inform himself of the vessel's course.
4. (Mach.) A machine or contrivance for indicating or
recording something, particularly for keeping a check upon
employees, as factory hands, watchmen, drivers, check
takers, and the like, by revealing to their employers what
they have done or omitted.
5. (Zo["o]l.) The tattler. See {Tattler}.