T (tē), the twentieth letter of the English
alphabet, is a nonvocal consonant. With the letter h it forms the
digraph th, which has two distinct sounds, as in thin,
then. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§262-264, and
also §§153, 156, 169, 172, 176, 178-180.
The letter derives its name and form from the Latin, the form of the
Latin letter being further derived through the Greek from the
Phœnician. The ultimate origin is probably Egyptian. It is
etymologically most nearly related to d, s, th; as in
tug, duke; two, dual, L. duo;
resin, L. resina, Gr. "rhti`nh, tent,
tense, a., tenuous, thin; nostril,
thrill. See D, S.
T bandage (Surg.), a bandage shaped like
the letter T, and used principally for
application to the groin, or perineum. -- T cart,
a kind of fashionable two seated wagon for pleasure driving. --
T iron. (a) A rod with a short
crosspiece at the end, -- used as a hook. (b) Iron
in bars, having a cross section formed like the letter
T, -- used in structures. -- T
rail, a kind of rail for railroad tracks, having no flange at
the bottom so that a section resembles the letter
T. -- T square, a
ruler having a crosspiece or head at one end, for the purpose of making
parallel lines; -- so called from its shape. It is laid on a drawing board
and guided by the crosspiece, which is pressed against the straight edge of
the board. Sometimes the head is arranged to be set at different
angles. -- To a T, exactly, perfectly; as, to
suit to a T. [Colloq.]