tattler

tattler

English

Etymology

tattle +‎ -er

Noun

tattler (plural tattlers)

1. One who tattles (notifies authorities of illicit behavior) or is inclined to do so; a tattletale.

   Synonyms: informant, narc, stool pigeon, tattletale; see also Thesaurus:informant

   My sister is a big tattler; she always tells Mommy when I hit her!

2. Either of two similar bird species in the shorebird genus Heteroscelus (Tringa in some taxonomies).
3. A device fitted to a vehicle to measure mileage etc.

   Synonym: tachograph

   • 1960, Edward Hogland, The circle home

     A few truck drivers griped drowsily about the tattlers in their cabs which graphed the mileage per hour per day.

   • 2002, National Association of EMS Physicians, Prehospital Systems and Medical Oversight, page 270:

     Electronic monitors (black box, tattlers) help to define the actions of the driver during normal and emergent operation of the EMS unit.

Usage notes

• The tattletale sense is generally applied only to children.

Translations

one who tattles

Finnish: juorukello (fi), kantelija (fi), kantelupukki German: Petze (de) f, Verpetzer m, Verpfeifer m, Anschwärzer m

Italian: chiacchierone m Spanish: delator (es) m, acusica (es) f or m, acusete (es)

bird of the genus Heteroscelus

Finnish: harmaaviklo (fi); viklo

Italian: totano m

device that records mileage, speed etc.

Finnish: ajopiirturi Italian: tachimetro (it) m

Spanish: cuentakilómetros m, velocímetro (es) m

Anagrams

• tartlet