TALLY • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Tally

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/tˈæli/ Listen

noun

Tally n. (pl. tallies)

Originally, a piece of wood on which notches or scores were cut, as the marks of number; later, one of two books, sheets of paper, etc., on which corresponding accounts were kept. Note: In purshasing and selling, it was once customary for traders to have two sticks, or one stick cleft into two parts, and to mark with a score or notch, on each, the number or quantity of goods delivered, the seller keeping one stick, and the purchaser the other. Before the use of writing, this, or something like it, was the only method of keeping accounts; and tallies were received as evidence in courts of justice. In the English exchequer were tallies of loans, one part being kept in the exchequer, the other being given to the creditor in lieu of an obligation for money lent to government.

Hence, any account or score kept by notches or marks, whether on wood or paper, or in a book; especially, one kept in duplicate.

One thing made to suit another; a match; a mate. "They were framed the tallies for each other."

A notch, mark, or score made on or in a tally; as, to make or earn a tally in a game.

A tally shop. See Tally shop, below.

Tally shop, a shop at which goods or articles are sold to customers on account, the account being kept in corresponding books, one called the tally, kept by the buyer, the other the counter tally, kept by the seller, and the payments being made weekly or otherwise by agreement. The trade thus regulated is called tally trade.

To strike tallies, to act in correspondence, or alike. (Obs.)

verb

Tally v. t. (past & past part. tallied; pres. part. tallying)

To score with correspondent notches; hence, to make to correspond; to cause to fit or suit. "They are not so well tallied to the present juncture."

(Naut.) To check off, as parcels of freight going inboard or outboard.

Tally on (Naut.), to dovetail together.

Tally v. i.

To be fitted; to suit; to correspond; to match. "I found pieces of tiles that exactly tallied with the channel." "Your idea... tallies exactly with mine."

To make a tally; to score; as, to tally in a game.

Tally on (Naut.), to man a rope for hauling, the men standing in a line or tail.

adverb

Tally adv. Stoutly; with spirit. (Obs.)

See images of 'Tally'

Etymology of 'Tally'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Tally" Quotes from Famous Books

... dozen of his mates fell the duty of guarding the exit from the main position to the outposts. The exit consisted of a large barbed-wire gate across a great communication trench, close to the stone wall on the beach. They did four-hour watches there night and day, taking a tally of all who came and went, and watching keenly for spies. During their daylight hours of duty, Mac and Bill sat on sandbags under the shady wall of the sap. Their bayoneted rifles leaned against the bank close at hand, while ...

— The Tale of a Trooper • Clutha N. Mackenzie

... Gateway for the ride of our lives in a six-horse tally-ho. [Place the important idea last, and make all other ideas ...

— The Century Handbook of Writing • Garland Greever

... I found him at his task again, toiling in good earnest. In and out he went, taking care to bring away the shavings at every trip, as before, and generally sounding a note or two (keeping the tally, perhaps) before he dropped them. For the fifteen minutes or so that I remained, his mate was perched in another branch of the same tree, not once shifting her position, and doing nothing whatever except to preen her feathers a little. She paid no attention to her husband, ...

— Birds in the Bush • Bradford Torrey

... or other this double-dyed knave managed to slip off, whilst I was telling over the Shades to Aeacus, as usual, and he checking them by your sister's invoice. The consequence was, we were one short of tally. Aeacus raised his eyebrows. 'Hermes,' he said, 'everything in its right place: no larcenous work here, please. You play enough of those tricks in Heaven. We keep strict accounts here: nothing escapes us. The invoice ...

— Works, V1 • Lucian of Samosata

... Also this my stick is the Kotwal of Kashi, and he keeps tally of my pilgrims. When the time comes to worship Bhairon—and it is always time—the fire-carriages move one by one, and each bears a thousand pilgrims. They do not come afoot any more, but rolling upon wheels, and my ...

— Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II • Rudyard Kipling

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