The taciturnity and the short answers which gave so much offense.
Macaulay.
Tack (?), n. [From an old or dialectal form of F. tache. See Techy.] 1.
A stain; a tache. [Obs.]
2. [Cf. L. tactus.] A peculiar flavor or taint; as, a musty tack. [Obs.
or Colloq.] Drayton.
Tack, n. [OE. tak, takke, a fastening; akin to D. tak a branch, twig,
G. zacke a twig, prong, spike, Dan. takke a tack, spike; cf. also Sw.
tagg prickle, point, Icel. tg a willow twig, Ir. taca a peg, nail,
fastening, Gael. tacaid, Armor. & Corn. tach; perhaps akin to E. take.
Cf. Attach, Attack, Detach, Tag an end, Zigzag.] 1. A small, short,
sharp-pointed nail, usually having a broad, flat head.
2. That which is attached; a supplement; an appendix. See Tack, v. t.,
3. Macaulay.
Some tacks had been made to money bills in King Charles's time.
Bp. Burnet.
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3. (Naut.) (a) A rope used to hold in place the foremost lower corners
of the courses when the vessel is closehauled (see Illust. of Ship);
also, a rope employed to pull the lower corner of a studding sail to
the boom. (b) The part of a sail to which the tack is usually fastened;
the foremost lower corner of fore-and-aft sails, as of schooners (see
Illust. of Sail). (c) The direction of a vessel in regard to the trim
of her sails; as, the starboard tack, or port tack; — the former when
she is closehauled with the wind on her starboard side; hence, the run
of a vessel on one tack; also, a change of direction.
4. (Scots Law) A contract by which the use of a thing is set, or let,
for hire; a lease. Burrill.