| 释义 |
Definition of teetotum in English: teetotumnoun tiːˈtəʊtəmtiˈtoʊdəm A small spinning top spun with the fingers, especially one with four sides lettered to determine whether the spinner has won or lost. 手转陀螺（通常有四面，每面有字母以决定玩家输赢） Example sentencesExamples - In England and Ireland, the game of totum or teetotum, first mentioned in approximately 1500, was especially popular at Christmastime.
- A teetotum is essentially a stick with flat sides and a round stick through the middle.
- To reinforce this, the games were played with teetotums, rather than dice which were associated with gambling.
- Dominoes, playing cards, counters and teetotums were all used to play games in the 19th century but with adults more so than with children.
- Each player places a coin in the pot and then take turns spinning the teetotum following the instructions when the teetotum stops spinning.
- The Victorians believed that children should not play with dice because they were associated with gambling so instead they used teetotums, numbered tops, to determine the number of moves.
- Another guest describes a patient who thought he was a spinning top, or teetotum, and liked to spin around, at which the guest prepares to demonstrate before being interrupted by another table guest who whispers into his ear.
- However, variations of the game were invented when teetotums developed a body in the shape of a cube.
- A six-sided teetotum or die and a playing piece of a different color for each player, are also needed.
OriginEarly 18th century (as T totum): from T (representing totum, inscribed on the side of the toy) + Latin totum 'the whole' (stake). The letters on the sides (representing Latin words) were T (= totum), A (= auferre 'take away'), D (= deponere 'put down'), and N (= nihil 'nothing'). Rhymesfactotum, Gotham, scrotum, totem Definition of teetotum in US English: teetotumnountiˈtoʊdəmtēˈtōdəm A small spinning top spun with the fingers, especially one with four sides lettered to determine whether the spinner has won or lost. 手转陀螺（通常有四面，每面有字母以决定玩家输赢） Example sentencesExamples - Each player places a coin in the pot and then take turns spinning the teetotum following the instructions when the teetotum stops spinning.
- The Victorians believed that children should not play with dice because they were associated with gambling so instead they used teetotums, numbered tops, to determine the number of moves.
- However, variations of the game were invented when teetotums developed a body in the shape of a cube.
- To reinforce this, the games were played with teetotums, rather than dice which were associated with gambling.
- Dominoes, playing cards, counters and teetotums were all used to play games in the 19th century but with adults more so than with children.
- Another guest describes a patient who thought he was a spinning top, or teetotum, and liked to spin around, at which the guest prepares to demonstrate before being interrupted by another table guest who whispers into his ear.
- In England and Ireland, the game of totum or teetotum, first mentioned in approximately 1500, was especially popular at Christmastime.
- A teetotum is essentially a stick with flat sides and a round stick through the middle.
- A six-sided teetotum or die and a playing piece of a different color for each player, are also needed.
OriginEarly 18th century (as T totum): from T (representing totum, inscribed on the side of the toy) + Latin totum ‘the whole’ (stake). The letters on the sides (representing Latin words) were T (= totum), A (= auferre ‘take away’), D (= deponere ‘put down’), and N (= nihil ‘nothing’). |