different between squealer vs telltale

English

Etymology

squeal +? -er

Pronunciation

Noun

squealer (plural squealers)

1. Any animal or person who squeals.
2. A pig.
3. (slang) An informant.
4. Anything that makes a squealing noise.
5. The European swift.
6. The harlequin duck.
7. The American golden plover.
8. A young pigeon.

English

Etymology

From tell +? tale.

Alternative forms

• tell-tale
• tell tale

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t?lte?l/

Noun

telltale (plural telltales)

1. One who divulges private information with intent to hurt others.

   Synonyms: blabbermouth, gossip, rumormonger, talebearer; see also Thesaurus:gossiper
2. (chiefly US, slang) Tattletale; squealer.
3. An indicator, such as a warning light, that serves to warn of a hazard or problem.
4. (figuratively) Something that serves to reveal something else.
   • 1898, George Saintsbury, A Short History of English Literature

     It supplies many useful links and tell-tales.
5. (music) A movable piece of ivory, lead, or other material, connected to the bellows of an organ, whose position indicates when the wind is exhausted.
6. (nautical) A length of yarn or ribbon attached to a sail or shroud etc to indicate the direction of the flow of the air relative to the boat.
7. (nautical) A mechanical attachment to the steering wheel, which, in the absence of a tiller, shows the position of the helm.
8. (nautical) A compass in the cabin of a vessel, usually placed where the captain can see it at all hours, and thus inform himself of the vessel's course.
9. (engineering) A machine or contrivance for indicating or recording something, particularly for keeping a check upon employees (factory hands, watchmen, drivers, etc.) by revealing to their employers what they have done or omitted.
10. A bird, the tattler.
11. A story or fable that has a moral or message.

Related terms

• tell tales

Translations

Adjective

telltale (comparative more telltale, superlative most telltale)

1. Revealing something, especially something not intended to be known.

Derived terms

• telltale compass

Translations