taps
/tæps/ noun, proper noun
Also a form of tap
- noun (military) 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.
- proper noun A bugle call played by the United States Armed Forces at dusk, during flag ceremonies, and at military funerals.
Synonyms
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(“signal for extinguishing all lights in soldiers’ quarters and retiring to bed”) is from the fact that the signal was originally made using a drum.
Disputed.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “taps”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details