taps

Meanings

1. 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.

1. plural of tap

1. third-person singular simple present indicative of tap

1. plural of TAP

1. A bugle call played by the United States Armed Forces at dusk, during flag ceremonies, and at military funerals.

1. Acronym of Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.

Etymology

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(“signal for extinguishing all lights in soldiers’ quarters and retiring to bed”) is from the fact that the signal was originally made using a drum.