TELL'-TALE, adjective Telling tales; babbling. TELL'-TALE, noun [tell and tale.] One who officiously communicates information of the private concerns of individuals; one who tells that which prudence should suppress, and which if told, often does mischief among neighbors. 1. A movable piece of ivory or lead on a chamber organ, that gives notice when the wind is exhausted. 2. In seamanship, a small piece of wood, traversing in a groove across the front of the poop deck, and which, by communicating with a small barrel on the axis of the steering wheel, indicates the situation of the helm.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI