tick

A tiny woodland arachnid of the suborder Ixodida.

From Middle English tyke, teke, from Old English ticia (“parasitic animal, tick”), from Proto-West Germanic *tīkō, compare Dutch teek, German Zecke.


tick

The steady tick of the clock provided a comforting background for the conversation.

A relatively quiet but sharp sound generally made repeatedly by moving machinery.

At midday, the long bond is up a tick.

A mark on any scale of measurement; a unit of measurement.

(computing) A jiffy (unit of time defined by basic timer frequency).

I'll be back in a tick.

(colloquial) A short period of time, particularly a second.

(video games) A periodic increment of damage or healing caused by an ongoing status effect.

(gaming) Each of the fixed time periods, in a tick-based game, in which players or characters may perform a set number of actions.

Indicate that you are willing to receive marketing material by putting a tick in the box

Kate's choice to don her pink suit again now, at the height of the Barbiecore trend, shows the royal really does have her finger on the pulse. That, paired with her statement belt and the fact pearls are having a real fashion moment (courtesy of the Met Gala) is three big ticks from us.

2023 May 26, Natasha Harding, Alexandria Dale, “Kate Middleton just re-wore her Alexander McQueen baby pink trouser suit”, in Women's Health:

(Australia, New Zealand, British, Ireland) A mark (✓) made to indicate agreement, correctness or acknowledgement.

There are few birders who have not had stringy ticks on their lists at some stage.

1980, Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book, page 76:

A twitcher's list is very democratic. Each bird counts as one tick. There are no extra points for beauty or rarity. The humble sparrow counts just as much as a Wedge-tailed Eagle or a Paradise Parrot.

2005, Sean Dooley, The Big Twitch, Sydney: Allen and Unwin, page 41:

(birdwatching) A bird seen (or heard) by a birdwatcher, for the first time that day, year, trip, etc., and thus added to a list of observed birds.

Saxicola rubetra
Saxicola rubetra#Translingual

(ornithology) A whinchat (Saxicola rubetra).

oikein-merkki (note that a different sign is used in Finland to indicate correctness)

From Middle English *tik, tek, tyche (“light touch, tap”), from the verb (see Etymology 3 below). Compare Dutch tik (“a pat, tap”), Middle High German zic (“a slight touch”).


tick

As 2020 ticked over into 2021, some 240 worksites were active on HS2's Phase 1 route between London and the West Midlands.

2021 January 13, Richard Clinnick, “HS2 reaches key milestones and gears up for a busy 2021”, in Rail, page 12:

To make a clicking noise similar to the movement of the hands of an analog clock.

He took the computer apart to see how it ticked.

I wonder what makes her tick.

(informal, intransitive) To work or operate, especially mechanically.

Therefore you Preachers out vvith your ſvvords and ſtrike at the root; ſpeak againſt covetouſneſs, and cry out upon it. Stand not ticking and toying at the branches, nor at the boughs, for then there vvill be nevv boughs and branches ſpring again of them, but ſtrike at the root, […]

1550, Hugh Latimer, “Sermon XIV. Preached before King Edward the Sixth and His Most Honourable Council, in His Court at Westminster, in the Year 1550.”, in The Sermons of the Right Reverend Father in God, Master Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worcester. […], volume I, London: […] J. Scott, […], published 1758, →OCLC, page 274:

(birdwatching, transitive) To add (a bird) to a list of birds that have been seen (or heard).

en-verb

tick (third-person singular simple present ticks, present participle ticking, simple past and past participle ticked)

ticks (present singular third-person)
ticking (participle present)
ticked (participle past)
ticked (past)

From Middle English ticken, tiken, probably from Old English *ticcian (“to touch, tap”), from Proto-West Germanic *tikkōn (“to touch, tap”), cognate with German zecken (“to nudge, poke, jab”). Doublet of tig.


tick

She had an old tick for mattress that she stuffed with dried moss.

1997, Charles Frazier, Cold Mountain, London: Hodder and Stoughton, page 101:

A sheet that wraps around a mattress; the cover of a mattress, containing the filling.

en-noun

tick (countable and uncountable, plural ticks)

From Middle English tike, probably from Middle Dutch tike and Middle Low German teke, both ultimately from Latin theca (“cover”). Compare also German Zieche (“duvet, pillowcase”).


tick

When he had no funds he went on tick. When he could get no credit he went without, and was almost as happy.

1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 2, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:

Immediately he got any money he would pay his debt; if there was any over he would spend it; if there was not—and there seldom was—he would begin to go on tick again.

1903, Samuel Butler, chapter 42, in The Way of All Flesh:

He paid his mother-in-law rent and, when the baker or the butcher or the grocer wouldn't let her have any more on tick, he paid the bills.

1974, GB Edwards, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, New York 2007, page 190:


tick

(intransitive) To go on trust, or credit.


tick

Tickhill, Tickham, Ticknock, Tickenhall Drive, Tickenhill Manor, Tickenhurst

From Middle English tik-, tic-, tike-, tiken- (in compounds), an unassibilated form of Middle English tiche, tichen (“young goat”), from Old English tiċċen (“young goat; kid”), from Proto-West Germanic *tikkīn (“goatling”), diminutive of Proto-West Germanic *tigā (“goat”). Cognate with regional German Zicke (“nanny goat”), from Ziege (“goat; nanny goat”).


tick

tick (indefinite nominative singular)
ticks (genitive indefinite singular)
ticket (definite nominative singular)
tickets (definite genitive singular)
tick (indefinite nominative plural)
ticks (genitive indefinite plural)
ticken (definite nominative plural)
tickens (definite genitive plural)


tick

One of these maids was bringing to market a tick (a kid)

1867, “DR. RUSSELL ON THE INHABITANTS AND DIALECT OF THE BARONY OF FORTH”, in APPENDIX, page 130: