Etymology

taps

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Today it means: A signal, by drum or trumpet, for extinguishing all lights in soldiers' quarters and retiring to bed, usually given about a quarter of an hour after tattoo; the signal is sometimes also given during the funeral of a soldier. Full definition →

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taps · noun, noun, verb1

From tap (noun) + -s. Noun 1 sense 1 (“signal for extinguishing all lights in soldiers’ quarters and retiring to bed”) is from the fact that the signal was originally made using a drum.

Taps · proper noun2

Disputed.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.